The Detective

"All right, once again from the start," detective Jake Paulson told his partner. "What do we know?"

He could hear Karim sigh at this, but the man started anyway. "On the twenty-first of December a gang known as the Gilded Rings kidnapped fourteen-year old David Boyd, apparently better known to about half the underworld as Dave. From what we've found out he's a small-time pickpocket who's never actually been busted."

"But plans on doing bigger things," Jake pointed out.

"Yes, a boy with a lot of plans. Although from what I've heard he doesn't seem like the type to get mixed up in anything that would do more than material harm."

"Agreed. Except of course, for the whole reason we're sitting here."

"Right. Now, what we assume-"

Jake cut his partner of again "No, only the facts this time." With those words he started pacing the small office.

"It's your investigation," Karim shrugged. "The boy was apparently kept in the headquarters of the Gilded Rings. He didn't stay there long however as someone had tracked down the Gilded Rings and took them out Punisher style."

"Skip the comic references. Although I still wish we knew at least how many invaders there were, and how big a portion of the dead they make up."

"You're not the only one," Karim sighed. "Anyway, after the killing the invaders left, presumably taking Boyd with them, and burned up the entire building so we wouldn't have anything to work with."

"Again with the presumably," Jake muttered, more to himself this time than his partner. He hated how little they knew about this case: not only did they have no a clue about the reason for the kidnapping, they had no idea who had killed the gang members, and they didn't even know where to find someone who, according to all his sources, was usually easier to find than the president.

"Yeah," Karim agreed. "I almost wish we could just write it off as a gang-war and be done with it."

"Almost, but not quite. Right?"

"You know me better than that Jake," his partner smiled. "Now, you know what I believe to be behind this."

"Still haven't given up on that conspiracy theory?" Jake asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not a conspiracy theory. They really exist."

"A group of highly trained assassins? That kind of thing doesn't exactly make a lot of sense you know. I agree that whoever did this was good, but a group like what you describe couldn't possibly stay under the radar. There are many reasons why it isn't likely, but I'll only give you one: to survive they'd have to do a large number of hits a week. So many unexplained deaths couldn't possibly go unnoticed."

"Unless they didn't go for the humans," Karim seemed to murmur. Of course, he couldn't have possibly heard that right because what else was there for an assassin to hunt? Deer?

"What?"

"Never mind. I still think it explains a lot though, especially her."

Ah yes. The greatest mystery of them all: a little girl. There weren't many cases where the evidence seemed to point in the direction of a young girl nobody knew, and even after what he'd heard about her, Jake couldn't believe any little girl could do something like this. It just didn't make any sense. "Do you think she could have done that?"

There was no need to explain what he meant as Karim knew what he was talking about. "I don't know. With a lot of training it should be possible, but I don't..."

"You don't think even your theoretical assassins would train anyone that young," Jake finished for him.

"Exactly. How old did they say she was? Somewhere between ten and thirteen years old? Anybody willing to train somebody that young is just plain crazy."

"On the other hand, if you've been trained since birth you will be extremely good once you're old enough to actually go on a mission."

"Sure, but the chances you'd create someone who'd betray you are pretty good as well."

Jake didn't quite follow that logic. "Betray?"

"Nobody would come out of that training completely sane. They would have a total disregard for any life but their own, and if they believed you were a danger there is no way they'd let you live. Whether you trained them or not."

Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, Jake let himself fall in his chair. "All right, and you don't think your group of assassins is that stupid?"

"I've never heard of them employing children in the field. I don't doubt they train them at least somewhat, but not to the level displayed by the girl. And I'm not so much talking about the throw itself, but more about the total lack of emotion she showed."

True, there was something incredibly scary about the idea that a little girl could throw a knife in such a way it would prevent someone from firing a gun at her. But that she didn't even have the decency to look scared she might fail, or sorry she had to do it, was far worse. Karim was right about that at least: it simply wasn't natural.

Looking at the description he'd written down, Jake tried once again to figure out how exactly this young, between ten and thirteen years old; brunette, long hair; athletic looking girl fit into the picture. Only one person had been willing to talk about her: a friend of the man who got hit by the knife. Everybody else was silent, but that was something he'd gotten used to over the years.

"She works for somebody and was supposed to meet Boyd about a job of some kind," he said before looking at Karim again. Despite his silent hopes though, his partner didn't seem to have come up with a new theory.

"Most likely, and whoever she worked for got angry enough about Boyd's kidnapping that they went to the Gilded Rings and killed them all."

"But we still don't have a clue about who she works for, what the job was, or why they approached Boyd for it. He might know a lot of the right people, but he doesn't have the cloud needed to arrange a job of any kind."

"Which brings us back to the whole middle-man thing," Karim sighed as they once again got back to where they'd ended up every time for the past two weeks. "I hate it when people use children like that."

"You and me both buddy, you and me both."

They remained silent for several minutes, a time Jake spent thinking what he'd do if he ever found anyone who was willing to use children in order to achieve his own selfish goals. He knew that if he acted on pure instinct he'd draw his gun and shoot the bastard, but that wasn't his job. He had sworn to protect people, and he was supposed to do so by following the law.

Of course, Jake also realized that if one of the children used was Angela he wouldn't hesitate for even a moment in firing his gun. The price he'd pay for an doing that was worth it if it helped his own daughter.

"We need to find at least one of these kids and ask them who they work for," Karim said in a frustrated tone.

"Yes, we do. So, I guess it's time for us to head out again," Jake glumly said, "let's hope we've got more luck this time. There has to be someone who knows where they disappeared to."

Putting on their coats, the two of them first walked over to the front-desk: just in case something had turned up. Taking a sip of the bitter coffee he'd collected on his way there, Jake listened to Benning's answer.

"Sorry guys, no calls from hospitals, morgues, or other districts concerning your kids. Blake brought in a boy about an hour ago who looked like he might be yours-"

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Karim interrupted.

"But it didn't pan out," Benning continued without even allowing the question to interrupt his report.

Damn, Jake mentally swore. Not that he'd expected anything more today than yesterday, but there was always the hope. Well, except for the morgue part. If the kids were found there it would put the investigation on a dead track, and he would never get to punish the bastards who'd used them. Oh well, back to doing some old-fashioned legwork then.

"Thanks," he therefore told the sergeant before starting out, Karim quickly catching up.

As they walked on the parking place, his partner wanted to learn Jake's plans. "What's it gonna be today? The bar, the burned headquarter, or walking the streets and asking annoying questions?"

"I don't think we'll find anything else at the site, and the bar hasn't been very useful either. Let's just bask in the warm welcome we receive in that neighborhood."

"Ah, you always say the nicest things," Karim said with a smile as he opened his door and got in the car.

"Let's hope the natives agree with you this time. By the way, how is the wife doing? Is her morning-sickness starting to ease up?"

Seeing the dreamy smile on his partner's face, Jake focused his attention on starting the car. It wouldn't do for Karim to see him grin at the younger man's expression. After all, he'd worn the same expression himself only seven years ago. And the answer he received to his question was one that reminded him even more of those days: "Why do you think I got here this early?"

This time he couldn't help but let out a short burst of laughter. "Sorry to hear that man."

"Yeah, you really sound like it," Karim said, although his expression belied the grim tone of his voice.

"Cheer up, once the kid's born you'll wish for the times you were only bothered in the morning."

"What's this? Tell-Karim-all-the-bad-parts-of-fatherhood-day? You know you love playing daddy to your little girl."

"Oh yes I do. Hey, have I told you yet how she got detention in school last week?"

"Detention? What did she do?"

"She pulled a joke on the teacher, who for some reason didn't appreciate it."

"Ah, and you had to tell her how it wasn't a good thing all the while you were trying to hold in your laughter?"

Nodding, Jake told the story of how his daughter had switched the crayon the teacher used on the blackboard for the candy type. He was so engrossed in the story of Angela's exploits he barely noticed when they reached their destination and he had to cut the story he was telling short. "...and then she- Oh well, I guess it's time to get back to work."

Walking the streets and asking questions from random people wasn't the fastest way to get useful answers, something they were both aware of, but unfortunately they had exhausted all the other sources earlier in the investigation. Admittedly, they'd done this before as well, but Jake still held the hope that maybe they would be lucky today.

He really wanted to nail the bastards who used kids as their messengers, and trained at least one of them in a way that was far from healthy, before he was pulled off the case. Something that was becoming more and more likely with each fruitless day. Fortunately, after less than half an hour walking around the neighborhood they struck gold.

"Geez Dave, where've you been," he suddenly heard a young voice pipe up from around the corner they had just reached. Could it be they actually were going to be lucky? After all those useless days wasted here in these streets?

Looking at Karim he could see from his partner's expression he held the same hope. Still, they weren't going to move until they knew for sure. The voice was coming in their direction, so within a couple of seconds they'd find out.

"I had to get away for a while."

"Dude, the cops are looking for you..." the first voice tapered off as they rounded the corner and almost walked right into Jake. A first voice he now recognized as belonging to one of the kids he'd asked about Dave. Kyle, if he wasn't mistaken. "Oh fuck."

"Hello Kyle," Karim greeted the boys, confirming Dave's suspicions about the boy's name, "your friend here wouldn't happen to be David Boyd, would he?"

"What's it to you?" David demanded.

"I'm detective Musharraf, and this is my partner detective Paulson. We have some questions for you."

"What about?" the boy now wanted to know. Jake was impressed with David's self-control as the boy barely flinched at Karim's words. The only reason he actually saw it was because he'd been looking for it. This boy was obviously good at keeping secrets, which was probably why he'd been chosen by his bosses as a messenger.

"The murder and subsequent burning of all members of the Gilded Rings."

"The Rings are dead? Damn, that's pretty intense. When did that happen?"

A bit of a quaver in his voice was all the proof Jake needed to be certain the boy was lying through his teeth, and he decided to point that out. "When you were their guest, or have you forgotten about that too?"

"Ah, so you're the bad cop?"

Great, well he'd put himself in this position which meant he couldn't blame anyone else for it. Man, did he hate playing the bad cop in front of children. "It looks like it, doesn't it?"

"I guess we'll be going to your station now then?" the boy said calmly, although Jake could almost see the cracks forming. Yes, the boy knew how to keep a secret, but could he stand up against a real interrogation? He didn't look like he was strong enough yet to keep that up. If this had happened two years from now, Jake had no doubts the boy before him would have been completely different. Far more certain of himself, and with two additional years of training in resisting interrogation. His bosses had obviously overplayed their hand by allowing him back on the streets this soon.

"Yes we will, and when we're there you'll do us the favor of answering some questions, won't you?"

"Am I under arrest?"

"Not yet, but if that's how you want to play it we can do that."

"Nah, bracelets aren't my style. I think I'll just come along peacefully. Hey Kyle,"

"Yeah Dave?" the other kid, who did seem nervous, asked.

"Could you perhaps keep this quiet? I really don't want everyone to know I willingly left with a couple of cops."

Kyle shrugged before giving his consent and walking away quickly. No doubt the boy had a guilty conscience about something. Karim didn't pay attention to that, instead opting to keep his eyes on David. "Ready now?"

"Sure."

"Just curious by the way, but do you really believe your friend will keep quiet?"

"Kyle? Are you kidding me? Within fifteen minutes the whole area will know I've been arrested."

"You haven't been arrested, remember?" Jake pointed out.

A snort was his only answer to that. "Like anyone would believe that. Hell, I'm standing here and don't believe it for a second. Although I do wonder what you're after."

"Let's get back to the station and we'll tell you what we're after."

"Sure man, lead the way."

The ride over to the station was pretty uneventful, with some light probing from Karim the boy managed to deflect easily. Although the way he did made Jake doubt his earlier assessment a bit. Maybe the boy wasn't actually trained to resist an interrogation after all: the answers he provided were more like the ones he'd expect from any kid who'd spent the past couple of years on the streets.

Damn, this kid really was young. It was moments like this that Jake was actually glad he wasn't allowed to interrogate a minor without a legal representative present. While it didn't help much with regards to the investigation it did ensure he wouldn't break a child by pushing too hard. That reminded him, there was another question he had. "Where are your parents? We couldn't find them when we were looking for you."

"They're not around right now," David answered quickly. Too quickly. "They went on a trip out of the city."

Shit. He'd more or less known the kid was no longer living with his parents, but to actually hear his suspicions confirmed made him once again curse the cruel world that would leave children to fend for themselves. Entering the station, Karim took the boy to their office while Jake was going to report to the captain.

Knocking on the door he waited for the expected "Enter" and explained the situation to the captain, who was more than happy to hear about the progress.

"You've finally found the boy?"

"From what we gathered he was out of town, but too much is at stake here not to play it by the book."

"I hadn't expected anything else from you," captain O'Reilly said with a smile. "You said you couldn't find the boy's parents, right?"

"Right, and when I asked him about them he dodged the question."

"Runaway?"

"Probably, or his parents might have died and nobody ever found out about him."

The captain sighed at that, but nodded in acceptance. "Another one who slipped through the cracks. You go back to the kid, I'll make sure someone will be there to represent him within the hour."

"Thanks," Jake said before walking back to where he knew Karim and the boy to be. He had a good feeling about today: they were going to crack this case.

Hours later that good feeling had been replaced with weary resignation. Retracting the keys from his front door lock, Jake considered what had happened during the interrogation. Not that there was much to think about as the boy hadn't said anything. Even his lawyer had urged David to say who he worked for. Not that the lawyer had done so in their presence, he was a professional after all, but it was obvious after one of the breaks there was tension between the boy and the lawyer that could only be caused by something like that.

In the end the only thing they could do was to keep the boy at the station for the night. Maybe after a night there he would be more willing to talk. God, he really, really, hated taking freedom away from a child, especially one who had been used like David. Anyway, time to become the happy father that his daughter would recognize.

Stepping inside he was met by a shouting whirlwind that sometimes went by the name of Angela. "Daddy!"

"Hello beautiful," Jake returned the greeting while catching her as she ran at him and swung her around. "How was your day?"

"It was great! There were some scary boys, but Chloe told them to go away, and-"

Scary boys? That wasn't the kind of thing he liked to hear from his daughter, but knowing from experience he wouldn't get a useful answer he focused on the other part. "Who is Chloe?"

"My new friend, she's talking to mommy now. Come on, you've got to meet her." Curious about this new friend, and, more importantly, wanting an explanation of what had happened to Angela he allowed her to pull him along.

In the living room he was faced with not only his beautiful wife, but his daughter's new friend as well. A friend who was at least twelve years old. Getting over the shock of the age difference, but also realizing how this Chloe had been able to scare the boys away because of that age difference, he took her in with a practiced eye.

She was blond, wearing her long hair loose and speckled with an incredible amount of glitter. Was that some kind of new thing? He'd never seen it taken to such an extreme before, and took a moment to take the effect in. Well, if the girl liked that it was her prerogative to wear it. As long as Angela wouldn't copy it he wasn't bothered by it. How her parents could stand it was another matter, but not his problem.

Tearing his attention away from the strange hairdo, he examined the rest of her. She appeared athletic, he couldn't quite figure out which sports she did but judging by the way she looked he figured it was pretty balanced. Maybe swimming? No, the muscle tone didn't seem to match that.

Ugh, he just noticed the black Goth-like nail polish covering every part of her nails and he had to suppress a shiver of disgust. Her clothes too seemed only designed to draw as much attention as they possibly could: mixing several garish colors, although none of them clashed. On the top of her head she also wore the most ridiculous pair of sunglasses he'd ever seen, and he had no doubt that if she'd walked the streets nobody would willingly talk to her.

Nobody but Angela that is.

Sometimes he despaired at how friendly she always was. At least this girl appeared to be normal - except for her horrific fashion sense - so it wasn't much of a problem. This time.

"Hello," he said when he reached the girl while extending his hand, "I'm Jake."

"Hi, I'm Chloe," the girl said with a smile on her face. Yes, that smile did clean her up quite a bit, and if she'd dressed a bit less extreme it might have even made her pretty. Okay, if she'd dressed quite a bit better. "So, you're Angie's dad? She told me you're a cop, you know that's really cool: keeping the streets safe from the bad guys and everything so the rest of us can walk around safely. Oh, but you're a bit shocked by the way I look, aren't you? Don't worry, it doesn't make you a bad cop, because it always takes time to grow on people. They usually find I'm quite nice underneath this all though, even if they don't believe it at first. Are you alright? You look a bit shocked?

Having stood there gaping in surprise at the girl, Jake blinked in an attempt to make sense of the torrent of words; before giving up. What he'd been able to decipher was that she was actually a nice kid, but that the clothes took attention away from that. Of course, she was the one saying she was nice, and if that was the case why would she be wearing those clothes? In any case, he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. "I'm alright, although I must admit your appearance was a surprise."

"I know, and I'm really sorry to hear that. Did Angie tell you how we met yet?"

"Angie? She allows you to call her Angie?" Chloe might have used that name somewhere in that waterfall she used as an introduction, but it was still strange to hear someone call Angela by that name as it wasn't something she usually accepted. In fact, the last time anyone had tried that Angela had thrown up a temper tantrum without equal.

"Well, not immediately, but in the end we decided it was all right for me to call her that. Wasn't it Angie?"

"Only because you insisted on calling me sweetie if I didn't," Angela replied with all the attitude and haughtiness her six years could bring to bear.

Chloe didn't seem fazed by it though and beamed a happy smile at Jake. "Isn't she sweet? I always wanted a little sister, but my mom and dad saw me and decided one child was more than enough. And I didn't even cry that much!"

Having faced one Chloe, Jake could very well understand why nobody would want to have to deal with two of them. Oh god, he suddenly had a horrific thought: what if this kind of behavior was contagious?

Please no, he was fearing Angela's teenage years as it was; there was no need to make it even worse.

Calm, deep breaths. Yes, that's the spirit, calm down. He really should stop thinking about a doom scenario like that: he was far too young for a heart-attack. "I'm sure your parents had other reasons than you for not having a second child." Even as he said it he felt like hitting himself: why did he always have to act the responsible parent for everybody he met? He wasn't the one who should look out for this girl. Oh well, that's why he joined the force.

"Oh, I know that. It's just something I like to say." Ah good, and judging by the defensive tone he figured that she did care quite a bit about her parents.

"Excellent, now why don't you two tell me what happened this afternoon." Pointedly he made sure to include Angela in the request as well.

And of course, Angela started bubbling about it almost before he managed to finish the sentence. "It was great! Well at first it was a bit scary, because they were really big boys."

"They were between ten and twelve years old," Chloe explained quietly, trying not to interrupt Angela.

Ah, that cleared things up a bit, a tiny bit. "Yeah, they were like really old and they were being all mean and stuff. They even hit Toby!"

Toby was the oldest among Angela's friends, at least before she met Chloe, and if these kids had hit him it was no wonder his little girl had been afraid of them. "Go on, what happened then?"

"They were being mean, but before they could do much more Chloe came and helped us! She was really great, walking up to them and telling them to stop. They didn't listen to her, and even tried to hit her. But Chloe was better, and he missed. Then she took his arm and then she did something I didn't see and then he was on the ground. That was so cool! It was as if she used magic or something, and then the other boys ran away and she told the one on the ground to run as well. Because if she saw him again she'd make him wish she hadn't."

Angela had always spoken like this when she was excited, but Jake still took a moment to wish that the similarities with Chloe would end there, and not with how she dressed. In any case, it was quite an explanation. Of course, it was from the perspective of a six-year old which meant that some things had to be taken with a grain of salt.

Others though, were obviously the truth: "So, Chloe, where did you learn to fight like that?" And where did she learn to control herself like that? Jake didn't doubt she could have done serious damage to the boys if she'd wanted. Anyone good enough to act like she had, and didn't continue, had excellent self-control. Something that wasn't all too common these days.

"My cousin Scott taught me, he says he learned it from a real Japanese master, but I think he just learned it in a dojo."

She learned it from her cousin? No way a child could have taught her this well. "What makes you think that?"

"Because that's where I went after a while, and that's where I really learned how to do it." Ah, yes that made more sense.

"Can I go there as well daddy? Mommy said it was all right."

"That's not what I said, honey," Alona interrupted. "I said it might not be a bad idea, but that your father and I would have to discuss it first."

"That's what I said!" Angela said. "So I asked him for you, that'll make everything go quicker and I can go learn how to fight."

Jake didn't like to hear that. Learning to defend herself was one thing, but learning to really fight was another. On the other hand, if she could learn self-control as well it might not be a bad thing. Like Alona said though, they'd have to discuss it first.

"Your mommy and I will talk about, okay?"

Pouting because she hadn't immediately received the answer she liked, Angela nonetheless agreed. "Okay, but you will let me, won't you daddy?" Of course, a little extra emotional blackmail had to be expected.

"We'll see. Now Chloe, would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I can't mister Paulson."

"Jake, remember?"

"Jake," she corrected herself, "but I really have to go home now or my mom and dad will be worried."

"You can call them if you want."

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to impose anyway. Besides, mom and dad had something planned for tonight so I have to be home."

Well, if she really didn't want to. "Let me take you home then."

"Oh no, that isn't necessary. I've got a bus pass."

And a bus pass was of course something that needed to be used at every opportunity. "Let me at least take you to the station then."

"Sure, thanks mi- Jake."

"No problem," he smiled at the girl. Chloe seemed nice enough, and if she'd been a little older - and got rid of the hideous clothes and makeup - she might even make an interesting baby-sitter for Angela. After all, she had an advantage most other sitters didn't have: Angela liked her.

Driving the girl to the station she'd indicated would take her straight home, Jake continued with the questions in an attempt to find out more about the girl's character. "Why did you help Angela and her friends?"

"Because they needed it."

"Weren't you afraid the boys might hurt you too?"

A strange smile flitted across Chloe's face. "No, it was obvious they weren't good enough for that. If it had been really necessary I could have taken them all on. Besides, they picked on kids smaller than them, that means they are cowards."

Interesting analysis. It wasn't that Jake disagreed with it; he just didn't expect a little girl to see anything like that. "I'm impressed you can see that, and in any case I'm very grateful for the way you helped Angela."

"No problem," Chloe shrugged, "I'd hate to see something happen to a nice kid like that."

That seemed like a weird thing to say, but as they'd arrived at their destination Jake shrugged it off and asked a question he had no doubt that Angela had already asked. "So, will we see you again anytime soon?"

"Only if it's necessary," was the rather enigmatic return. "Goodbye mister Paulson."

"Only if it's necessary," Jake replied in confusion as the girl got out and made her way to the bus. What could she mean by that?

He didn't puzzle about it for long though, as he noticed Chloe getting on a bus that was already waiting. Turning the car around he made his way home, all the while thinking about the girl. She had seemed even stranger during this ride than she had at home, but he couldn't figure out what it really was that had suddenly put him on edge. Her answers had been a bit strange, even creepy in a way, but that wasn't all.

There was something else about her, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. A thought that started nagging at the back of his head ever since she stepped out of the car.

Parking the car on the driveway he put that thought on hold and turned his focus back on his family: it was time to enjoy their presence. Getting out of the car and into the house he was once again greeted with the exuberant Angela. Soon after the three of them were having dinner and the realization of what had been off about Chloe came crashing down by one of Angela's simple questions.

"Daddy?"

"Yes dear?" Jake asked.

"What is extreme detention?" his little girl asked, clearly proud that she'd so easily managed the two difficult words.

"Extreme detention? What do you mean?"

"Chloe said that a friend of her has that, and she really wants him to be free. But I don't know what it means."

"I figure that it means that her friend isn't allowed out of her room for a long time," Alona decided to answer, as confused as he was.

"Oh, that's really sad. I hope Dave gets out soon then."

Dave.

Jake held a full fork that had been on its way to his mouth, but the moment he realized the situation his hand froze. Now he knew what had been bothering him, but that didn't make any sense! No sense at all! A young girl like that couldn't be so calm in a situation like this. Still, Chloe had been a young, athletic, girl who was very capable of fighting and judging a tactical situation. A girl with a friend named Dave who had 'extreme detention', which was a euphemism if he'd ever heard one.

"Only if it's necessary," he suddenly whispered as a terrible thought struck him. Oh god, the girl had threatened his daughter and he hadn't even noticed it. The flashy clothes, the weird hair, everything had simply been a distraction.

"Jake?" Alona asked while she looked at him strangely.

"Daddy?" Angela piped in, but he didn't answer either of them. If there was one thing he wouldn't tolerate it was someone who threatened his family. Who threatened the people he loved.

Picking up the telephone he dialed the number of his captain, and waited impatiently until the damn machine was answered. As soon as he heard his captain's voice, he spoke "This is Paulson. We've got a lead." In as few words as possible he then described what had happened and what should happen next, all the while knowing that both his daughter and wife were staring at him with surprised looks on their faces.

He would die before he allowed anything to happen to them, but he preferred the other side to suffer those losses.

-x-x-x-

Short author's note: Some of you pointed out the fact that I got Buffy's age wrong in the previous chapter. My apologies for this, it has now been fixed. On another note, while I appreciate all feedback I receive, site policy prevents me from answering any feedback in the story itself, so if you ask questions (and want them answered) it helps if I get any contact information. If you don't want to publish any of them, you can always look at my profile for the link that allows you to send me an e-mail.