***Sorry, this chapter is kind of weird filler. I promise the story will start to move along more soon! Please enjoy and review 3 ***

Chapter 2 - What Will Bring Me Home?

Sara's POV

I awoke with a lazy smile on my lips as I stretched my arms to the edges of the bed. The wisps of my wonderful dreams still clinging to me like spiderwebs as I looked around the small room. It was fully lit now and I smiled as the sun rays danced across my face. I could not remember the last time I'd seen the sunshine when I woke. Night time was when we were more active usually. Sunlight was more dangerous but I let the safety of the enclosed room keep my fears at bay. Pulling myself to my feet. I walked to the door and opened it: looking around. No one was here. At least not in the hallway. I moved to the nearest door across from me and the inside took my breath away.

There was a full on bathroom, all set and synced to the latest model. It was small: obviously not a luxury item but I had not been near fully running water for what must have been months. I stepped lightly across the small rug on the floor which was the only decoration in the house that I'd seen. I tapped the little screen on the wall and it lit up at my touch, greeting me cheerily.

"Ms. Quin. Back so soon? Oh I apologize, you are not on the register? Would you like to take a shower?" I eyed the shower hungrily before nodding. I clicked through the screen with the tap of my finger. "The usual?" a list of settings appeared on the screen and I clicked yes before pulling my shirt over my head. I turn as the water sputters on, the steady waterfall hypnotizing me as I pull the rest of my clothes off. I'll just take a quick shower and then I'll thank the person who lives here for housing me and then I'll leave, go back into hiding again but all I want right now is to hop into the steaming water. I do just that and screech at the temperature quickly hopping out and clicking the screen.

"Is something wrong, Miss?" the chirpy automated voice asks as I pull a towel around my sore skin.

"Yeah, its fucking boiling in there! Are you trying to kill me?" I whine at the machine, already feeling silly for my complaints as the pain slowly goes down.

"Oh, I can check the settings, one moment." the page goes to a different screen and I watch as it adjusts.

"You no longer want the heat settings as before? Would you like to reset anything else?" The screen opens on to the settings page and I see a music tab thats set to off. I click it with one finger and scroll through the playlists. There are so many different choices and I pick one at the top with a cutesy name. An upbeat song starts to play and the cheery lyrics seem to lighten the mood of the room. I smile as I boogie over to the shower and hop in again, the water now perfect and cleansing. I moan as I let it flow over my face. Maybe I'll take a longer shower instead.

Tegan's POV

I slumped up the stairs slowly letting my feet hit the floor hard with each step. I was so tired I wish I could just shut down. In truth I wanted to be erased and I had entertained the idea long ago. After Elle was gone I had never come out of my apartment not wanting to leave her if she returned somehow. I had sat on the bed letting tears fall freely as if there was never going to be anything worth me looking at again. The image of her in my mind had driven me crazy and given me no peace for months. Now it was back again full force as the memories of my day stayed etched in my skin like stone carvings.

We had Raided another camp today. This camp was different than the last one. They were waiting for us and when we arrived two of my comrades were jumped instantly. Hunter and Jason had been on the ground fast but I couldn't help them as another one came at my back. I had the syringe ready and the body fell against me hard as the sedative took over their limbs. I dropped her without a second thought and was able to get two more down quickly without too much harm to them or me. Just as the rush of the Raid was making my face glow and my thoughts rush I was pulled back down to earth at the sound of a thick scream behind me.

I turned on my feet quickly, one of the unconscious attackers still in my arms. It was Ted who had cried out. One of my oldest friends on the team. He was the one who had saved me from myself all those years ago. I watched in horror as the girl held him harshly: one hand clamped around his neck, the other holding a sharpened knife to his bare flesh. He was squirming in her grip but he had enough sense not to once he felt the knife dig deeper. She eyed me and gestured with her chin to the slumped form in my arms. I dropped it quickly and pulled from its holster the gun that we were forced to carry. I shot once, twice, three times. All of them hitting her head on as her face froze in surprise before she quickly fell backwards.

All at once things seemed to get worse. At the sound of my gunshots Jason and Hunter pulled out their own and began to shoot down the attackers. It was a blood bath and I had caused it. I waited as the sound of gunshots continued and then an eerie silence settled in. The metallic smell seemed to cloud my senses and made me want to retch in my helmet. I pulled it off quickly and took a few breaths before standing up straight and walking over to Ted.

I reached the dead girl first, her body thrown back in a strange position as her hand with the knife lay slack to her side. My breath caught in my throat. The sight of her blood making me wish I hadn't done what I had but I couldn't take it back and as I ran to Ted who was kneeling a few feet away as he tried to breath I was grateful he was okay. I set one hand on his back to steady him and eventually his breathing returned to normal. He turned to me and then to the girl's body.

"Thanks Tee." He said once his eyes met mine again and I nodded before starting to lift him. We exited the building as the cleanup crew entered quickly with stretchers. I eyed them tiredly but continued walking, knowing there was nothing I could do to honor the dead anyway. I escorted Ted to a medic and then took off before anyone could stop me to talk. I'd slipped behind a corner a few blocks away and slipped a needle from my inside pocket. I stared at it questioningly as the light of the sky illuminated it strangely. Without a second thought I stuck it into my skin and the calming serum took over my body. I relaxed into the brick wall and laid there as my body stopped shaking.

Sliding the door open with a small creaking. My eyes fell instantly on the curled up form of my forbidden house guest. She was sleeping again. Laying in a fetal position and shivering on the end of my couch. With the events of today I'd forgotten about her almost entirely. Now she was the only thing on my mind as I worked hard not to disturb her. She looked so peaceful, her hair was a slightly darker color and I assumed she'd taken a shower because there were wet footprints across the floor. I kneeled in front of her for a moment before the annoying buzz of the in home robot sounded through the room.

"Can I help you get cleaned up, Ms. Quin. There are signs of bacteria on your suit." I froze at the voice and the signs of irritation grew on the girls face. Her eyebrows scrunched a little and her pink lips shaped into a frown.

"Shut up and get me a blanket." I hiss to the room and it beeps slightly in recognition before the lights leave my back and rush down the hallway. She stirs again in her sleep before cracking her eyes open slightly.

"Emmmy?" she mumbles slightly her eyes unseeing as they stare up at me.

"Shhh. Go back to sleep." I feel the blanket drop down to the floor beside me and I grab it quickly setting it around her. She seems to relax into the warmth instantly and I tuck it around her closer so she can't get cold again. As I lift my hands away from her she grabs it with her own and laces holds it tightly.

"Emy, I'm scared. I don't know what's going on." she stares at our joined fingers with a sad look in her eye. She's still so tired I feel horrible as she seeks the companionship of someone she'd probably never see again. I had taken her away from her people and why? I didn't know. I squeezed her hand tightly and whispered as gently as I could.

"Its okay, I'm here. Go back to sleep." she nods slightly and then settles back into her previous position.

"Don't leave me, Em." she mumbles before falling asleep. I watch her as sleep again overtakes her and the worry lines slowly fade from her face. At least her dreams can comfort her for a time. I feel her hand loosen around mine and I slowly let it slide from my grip. Instantly wishing I could rejoin them I stand and head to the backroom to change.

I feel the robotic presence over my shoulder as I change out of my clothes and slowly put on a pair of pants and a comfortable tank top. With a sigh I turn and the light greets me with a chirpy "Hello."

"What do you want?" I ask grouchily eyeing it warily as I cross the room to get some cleaning rags from a cupboard.

"Will our guest be staying long?" the robotic host asks and I sigh wishing yet again that I hadn't let Elle buy it. What use was a robot to me? I was practically one myself and all the thing did was drive me crazy. He chirped lightly again, waiting for me to pay attention and answer him.

"I don't know how long she's staying, alright. It wasn't really planned. Why do you care anyway?" I ask with venom in my voice. The robot looks hurt by my anger but continues anyway.

"I have checked the guests samples and she is running low on nourishment. After she has finished replenishing her energy she will need food and I cannot provide something suitable for her system. I groaned in realization, letting the items fall from my hand.

"So she's gonna starve?" the robot laughs at me and I glare at it warningly.

"No, you can cook her something. There is one of Miss Elle's cookbooks still in the kitchen, I've pulled it out for you." I nod as I stand and head to the kitchen with the stupid thing in tow.