Hello to all! This is the fourth chapter and I thank those who have left comments and hurray to my first follow! I'm happy to know there are people out there enjoying this.

They stood on the metro platform searching eagerly for the small French boy. Nick sighed as he watched Cassie run ahead of him again with her drawing book outstretched in front of her. They'd been out here for twenty minutes and he'd grown tired already of the rude shoves and impatient people around him trying to catch a train. That and the fact that he had know idea who he should be looking for. All Cassie said was 'a little French boy' but seeing as how they were in France that didn't exactly number it down.

"He's here, I Saw him" Cassie said as she reappeared beside him

She had had a growth spur within the year and now stood at Nicks shoulders, skinny as ever. She hunched over to examain her drawing once again for any clues. As she did Nick noticed a bulge protruding from her back.

"Cassie!" Nick whispered hoarsely into her ear "Did you bring your gun?"

She smiled up at him mischievously. "Always." She replied

Nick groaned in frustration. Cassie had insisted she learn to shoot a gun in Moscow after Nick had failed to find another Watcher to train her. 'I'm completely unprotected' was her reasoning. Nick had agreed with her, since considering who they were going up against there were going to be many times where her ability fell short. It had benefited him too since his main choice of attack was by Moving guns. He had enjoyed the time training together and surprisingly Cassie had proven herself a deathly shot, a trait she never failed to mention in every conversation she could. Despite her comfortability in handling a gun, Nick was beginning to regreat his decision. She was only sixteen and he wasn't sure what was or wasn't legal in this country. He mentioned this to Cassie as they continued walking. Naturally she shrugged him off.

"We're practically fugitives, who cares about whether what we do is legal or illegal at this point?"

"I thought you said we were finding a kid?" retorted Nick

"We are." She was slightly annoyed at having to explain herself once again to him. "But he's a Special, so who knows what or who is after him."

"Cassie, are you sure this is a good idea? This could mean more trouble for us."

It had taken a long time for Cassie to convince Nick that they had to find this boy. She had Seen him leading them to her mother and was certain that he was a key in finding her. Nick, trusting her judgment, had reluctantly agreed to go along.

"There." Cassie said ignoring Nicks questions. She pointed her figure in towards the crowd.

It took awhile for Nick to see the young boy through the ever moving mass of people. Following Cassies finger he finally spotted the poor kid.

He was standing against the graffiti ridden wall. His hair was disheveled and his clothes were covered in dirt like he'd been living on the streets for weeks. Nick assumed his hair was blonde, but with all the grease and dirt he couldn't be for sure. Walking up to him Nick realized just how young he looked. He couldn't be more than eleven. Cassie grabbed Nicks hand and led them over to him. Without letting go of Nick, Cassie knelt down to meet the boy in the eye. He look terrified at the sight of them but didn't move.

"Hello Tom. I'm Cassie."

It hadn't taken more than a few minutes to get Tom to blindly follow them back to their flat. He had barely mumbled a few English words, but Cassie convinced him nonetheless. Nick figured it was probably Cassies smile. She had a way of getting him to do anything once she flashed him her brilliant teeth. Nick was sure it wasn't just him her charms worked on.

Cassie was now in the bathroom desperately trying to help clean up Tom while Nick was searching through the kitchen looking for food to offer their more than starved guest.

After much awkward persuasion, Cassie had managed to get Tom down to his ratty boxers. As soon as she took off his shirt she noticed bruising all over his body. She was about to ask what happened to him when she noticed he was shying away from her touch and slowly turning his torso to the opposite wall. His attempt to conceal his injuries went in vain since his back was riddled with scarred cuts and more bruises. Cassie gasped at the sight. Hes so young, she thought. Who would do such a thing?

"Do you want to take a bath?" she asked softly, trying hard not to stare down at his battered body.

Tom shook his head yes and Cassie turned from him to start the water.

"Would you like help?" she continued after the water was running.

Toms eyes went wide and Cassie saw a flush creep up his body. She realized that perhaps he wasn't as young as she thought and suddenly felt stupidly similar to Nick. She silently cursed herself.

"Right, sorry. I'll just leave then. I left some clothes near the sink."

With that she quietly exited the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen. She found Nick running around with several pots already on the stove. She watched him for a minute smiling to herself.

Back at the metro after Tom was in cart, Cassie had realized she was still holding onto Nicks hand. It had felt so natural there and yet once she realized it she began to feel unnaturally hot. Nick seemed oblivious to the connection and took no notice to her sudden discomfort of it. At least until an older woman who was eyeing them up gave Nick a passing wink and an endearing smile. Nick had quickly pulled his hand away from Cassie after that, afraid of the womans meaning. Cassie wanted more than anything to turn and look at Nick for some kind of reaction, but decided against it to make things more comfortable. She couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment at Nicks recoil from the idea that someone may look at them as a couple instead of siblings. Was it that big of a deal?

"He likes you." Nick said disrupting her from her thoughts.

"What?" she replied startled. She wondered how long Nick noticed her there and if he caught her staring. She quickly walked over to help him with the silverware.

"Tom." Nick answered looking at her oddly. "I think he's got a little crush on you."

"Ha. Ha." She said sarcastically, but feeling Nicks teasing nudge she turned her head and smiled up at him widely. Surprisingly Nick turned away uncomfortably from the sight.

"You okay?" Cassie asked

"Yeah…I'm just tired I guess." Nick said clearing his throat.

"I can finish this up if you want to lay down."

"And risk you burning all this hard work? Hell no. Its almost down anyway." He replied

Cassie sat down at the table and pulled out her drawing book. She was starting to get better with her doodles. Nothing to brag about, but for all the times shes had to draw Nick and herself, she almost got them pinned. She tilted her chair back and eyed the bathroom door. Nicks eyes followed hers.

"Something bothering you?" He asked curiously

"Just doesn't seem right leaving him alone in there…" She trailed off

Nick gave a smirk. "He'll be alright."

She looked over at him, unsure of herself. "He had bruises all over him, Nick." She said in barely a whisper. Nick met her eyes and held it for a long while before they both heard the door to the bathroom open. Cassie quickly stood up and beckoned Tom over to sit next to her. The rest of diner went on quietly. It was obvious that Toms English wasn't the best and his insecurities about that mixed in with whatever else he'd had gone through made it apparent that it would take a while for him to warm up and trust them. Although he conversation lacked, there was no doubt he was grateful for the meal that laid in front of him. He had scarfed his first helping down within minutes, and his second. On his third he finally began slowing down, but still did not have a problem finishing every last bite on his plate. Nick and Cassie only looked on encouragingly.

That night Nick offered his bed to Tom. Nick had situated himself on the one sofa couch they had in their tiny flat, as Cassie showed Tom where to go. Once she closed the door, Nick heard her footsteps disappear behind her own door. Despite how tired he was he struggled getting to sleep, his mind racing on the days events. For some reason everything seemed to bother him, something he couldn't pinpoint. There was no reason for him to be upset. They had found the boy they were looking for and even though he didn't talk much through dinner, he seemed to be already coming around to Cassie. He laid for what seemed like hours contemplating it before it finally hit him.

Cassie was growing up.

Somewhere between all her smart ass comments and recklessness, Nick had missed the important moment in time when Cassie grew a few inches taller and more her own person. Although it shouldn't have been remorse he was feeling he couldn't help it. She wouldn't need to rely on him as much, something, for all his nagging, he loved to do. It gave him meaning and purpose. He didn't want to let her go. Thinking about it, Nick realized this had been a revelation a long time coming. He had begun feeling awkward calling her his sister anymore when they checked into motels. She was too grown up now for him to consider it logical. In many ways, Nick felt she was older than him. He had come to think of her as more as his best friend than anything. It surprised him that its taken him this long to realize it. She'll probably want her own motel room now, he thought smiling. His smile faded quickly when he realized that that idea bothered him even more. Before he had time to confuse himself all over again as to the meaning of his emotions, he got up to distract himself and headed to the bathroom. Along his way he realized that Cassies door was opened. A slight moment of panic sunk through him before he realized what had happened. As he peered through the room he saw Cassies petite form snuggled around what looked like an even smaller lump in the bed. It took his eyes some adjusting to the darkness before he realized that the smaller lump was Tom. He must have snuck in while Nick was distracting himself. Well at least I can sleep in my own bed, he thought as he continued on down the hall. I knew he had a crush on her.