Disclaimer: Nadira, Wes, Jen, Eric, Kim and Alice don't belong to me, they belong to BVE and have been borrowed without permission, but no harm, no foul and no money made. Jefferson Smith is borrowed without permission from Mattel, Sony/Tristar and Foundation Imaging (no harm, no foul and no money made). Everything else, including Forgotten District, Linker, Biocon and Merck Taylor belong to me -- you're welcome to borrow, but please ask me first.

With thanks to Ekat for the beta'ing and putting up with me. To Scarletdiva for brightening up my early mornings (!) and the help with Linker AND beta'ing. To Gamine for patiently hand holding me through certain sections of this and for encouraging my somewhat perverse need to humiliate Eric, AND for nit spotting. Without you guys, this story would be all the poorer.

For all those who thought they knew where I was going...

Please offer feedback -- it tells me how I'm doing.

~*~

Max Force -- Into Action

Forgotten District was the rotten heart of Central City. No-one went there unless they were accompanied by at least a squad of heavily armed Time Force officers -- preferably an entire precinct, to be on the safe side. The decaying buildings -- some of them remnants from the Dark Times, some of them older -- were occupied by the city's underclass: the outlaws, the criminals, the vagabonds. They made the area unsafe for the unwary and incautious. The buildings, all of them blackened with age and covered in strange graffiti that -- if you stared it for too long -- tended to make you feel ill, insured that the unwary and the incautious generally steered well clear.

It was the place that Nadira had called home for most of her life, but it now made her shiver.

It had seemed like such a good idea when she'd suggested this in Major Collins' light, bright, airy office, but now -- walking through the depths of Forgotten District -- it felt like the worst idea she'd ever had.

I want to go back.

But that was the spoiled brat talking. I have to do this, she reminded herself. If I want to be a respectable citizen, if I want to prove that I have changed...if I want to earn people's trust then I have to do this.

"Who are you?" an oily voice sneered from the depths of the shadows.

Nadira forced herself to straighten. "Watch what you say, bird brain."

"Nadira?!" From out of the shadows slid a repulsive looking creature she recognised as one of her father's closer allies. Known as Linker, he was a short, grey-green, saurian with rheumy, yellow eyes and a sycophantic personality. He gave her the creeps and always had done. "I heard you'd joined Time Force."

"As if!" Nadira sneered, inwardly praying that the real events of Ransik's capture hadn't made it onto the streets.

"Then you're working to free your father?"

Nadira didn't miss the instant flash of hope and expectation. "Of course I am," she replied, managing to make her tone suggest that Linker was an idiot to even be asking the question.

He drew himself up to his full -- if unimpressive height. "You have the whole of the Forgotten District behind you, Nadira. Just say the word."

Eww! She suppressed the shudder that went with that prospect. "Right now," she said, "I want to know what's been happening while I've been fooling Time Force."

Linker nodded vigorously. "Of course. This way."

Nadira followed Linker into the heart of Forgotten District, hoping that she wouldn't have to keep the charade up for long.

~*~

Jen sat on the bed, watching as Wes bounced from closet to closet in an apparently random fashion, looking for clothing and kit that he'd need.

"You're sure about this?" he asked.

"Uh-huh." She nodded. "The sooner we get to checking the leads and information, the sooner we're going to find Biocon and the sooner we can put him behind bars. Him and Taylor."

"True but..." Wes stopped his somewhat hasty packing to face her. "Surely you've got more detective experience than me..."

"I've also got all the directional sense of a deaf and blind grolfly," Jen cut in, shaking her head.

"Grolfly?" Wes queried.

"Insect native to Xybria -- very common and very, very stupid," she explained. "I'd be lost within an hour of getting on the highway."

"Oh." He turned to his backpack and restarted squeezing things into it.

"Besides," she continued, "the chances are Jefferson Smith knows you -- if you're too well known to go under cover at Del Oro Bay College, then..." She left the sentence open ended.

"Good point." Wes frowned at the backpack. "There. Think that's everything."

Jen smiled. "Anyone would think you've done this before."

"What, packing up to tour the state by bike?" Wes suggested. Jen nodded. "I have." Jen stared. "Summer before I started college -- and with Dad's blessing, too. Life-long biker jock, that's me."

Jen snickered. "I see."

"So," said Wes, doing up the backpack's fastenings, "what's your stake in this?"

"In what?" she asked, puzzled.

"In catching Biocon," he explained.

"He's a criminal -- it's in my job description."

Wes grinned. "True. But..."

"But?"

"You're..." Wes hesitated, clearly searching for the right way to phrase his question. "Well you didn't tell Eric about your connection to Steelix...and it makes me wonder if there's something you're not telling us about Biocon."

Jen sighed. Trust Wes to notice that. "Yes, there is something else." Wes looked expectant. "It's not really important..."

"But?" Wes prompted.

"You're not going to leave this alone, are you?"

"Nope." Wes smiled faintly.

Jen groaned. "All right...all right." She looked down, studying her fingers and absently fiddling with Wes' gift to her. "I'm originally from Shendraville. My parents were killed." She didn't need to look up to know that Wes was staring at her. "I was visiting relatives in New Orleans at the time."

"Wow." Looking up, Jen saw Wes shaking his head. Somewhat to her surprise, he crossed the room towards her. "No wonder you want to get this guy." So saying, he drew her into an embrace.

For a second, Jen felt awkward, then her arms seemed to find their own way around Wes' waist and the awkwardness faded. From there, it seemed natural to move until she could rest her head in the crook of his neck.

"He's the reason I joined Time Force," she admitted quietly. "I told you I was driven...well now you know why."

Wes nodded. "I can understand that. We'll get him," he promised.

~*~

"Where am I?"

Alice's surprised exclamation dragged Eric from the fitful doze he'd fallen into. When he'd returned home the previous evening, he'd put Alice to bed in his own bed, intending to sleep in one of the armchairs in his living room/kitchen -- unfortunately that had proven to be something of a mistake. He was not a tall man by any stretch of the imagination, but neither of the armchairs were remotely comfortable to sleep in. In the end, his Marine training had kicked in -- a good soldier always grabs rest when he can because you never knew when you'd get another chance -- and he'd managed some sleep. Just nowhere near enough if I'm going to drive from here to Del Oro Bay, he decided ruefully as he got to his feet, stretching. I hope Jen was exaggerating how bad her sense of direction is...

Trying to stifle a face-splitting yawn, he headed into his bedroom, to see Alice sitting up and looking around in puzzlement. As her eyes fell on him, however, her expression brightened instantly. "Eric!"

He couldn't help but smile. "Good morning," he replied. "Did you sleep OK?"

She nodded vigorously. "Is this your bedroom?"

"Uh-huh."

"Cool." She then tipped her head on one side and frowned. "You haven't got much stuff," she observed.

Eric glanced around the room, trying to see it as Alice was doing, and realised for the first time how painfully bare the place actually was. "That's because I've been moving around a lot," he found himself replying.

"Hm." The frown told Eric that Alice didn't think too much of that as an excuse. "You haven't even got any pictures." But before he could make any kind of response to that, a smile crossed Alice's face. "When's your birthday?"

The question appeared to be a non-sequiteur. "Uh, why?"

She smiled sweetly. "So that I can get you a birthday present."

Eric suddenly got the sinking sensation that he knew where this might lead. Unfortunately, Alice was now looking at him with the sort of expression that promised tantrums if she didn't get the information. Resigned to his fate, he answered, "Twenty-sixth of March."

"Cool." She started to wriggle towards the edge of the bed. "May I get up now?"

"Of course." Eric had a sudden thought. "You don't need any help getting dressed, do you?" he asked...then wished he hadn't as Alice turned a haughty glare on him. He made as if to cower, holding his hands out in an apologetic gesture. "Sorry!"

She snickered. "You're forgiven," she said in an amazingly imperious tone.

"Why thank you, your majesty," Eric muttered sarcastically before he could stop himself.

Thankfully, he was spared another blast of wrath as she snickered again, and added, "But I'm not a baby."

"When you reach six feet under, stop digging," Eric murmured to himself. Alice giggled. He turned towards the bedroom door. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Pancakes?" she said in a hopeful tone of voice.

And she manages to hit on the one thing I can actually cook! Eric smiled. "Sure."

~*~

Jen sighed quietly as Wes slowed the bike to come to a halt outside Eric's home. Part of her was more than happy with the arrangement that riding pillion required -- after all, who was she to complain about having to hold on to Wes' waist? But the part of her that was still nervous about where this relationship could possibly go was relieved at the ride's end.

Trying to dismiss the turmoil from her mind, she slid off the back of the bike and shrugged out of Wes' backpack while he switched off the engine. Her own kit bag was already in the luggage area of Eric's SUV -- they had decided the previous evening that it made sense to do that rather than have to try and carry both Wes' backpack and her own on the bike. The only things missing from her duffel bag were the few oddments she'd needed over night, which had been put into a carrier bag and then tucked into the top of Wes' backpack.

"OK?" Wes asked, as she slipped off his spare helmet.

"Yep."

"Keep the helmet," he suggested. "Could be useful."

"Besides which," Jen added dryly, "where would you put it?"

Wes chuckled. "There is that," he agreed.

She rescued her carrier bag from his backpack and watched him swing the bulky bag onto his back. "You'll keep in touch?"

She got the feeling he was smirking beneath his helmet. "Yes mom," he drawled. She glared and he relented. "I'll be in Del Oro Bay on Tuesday -- promise."

Jen smiled ruefully. "I can't help being worried."

Wes nodded. "I know. We will do this." He turned and swung his leg over the bike. "I'll talk to you this evening. OK?"

"OK." Jen you're making a scene. Get a grip. "Good luck!"

"You too."

Jen watched as Wes pulled away. She wanted to yell stop. She wanted to throw herself at him and make sure he didn't leave. She wanted to tell him she didn't want him to go. She wanted to...

"Hi there."

Jen jumped. She'd been so intent on watching Wes depart that she hadn't noticed the speaker walk up to her. Looking round, however, she got a mild shock. She was positive she'd never met the petite brunette woman standing on the sidewalk behind her and yet...

"Was that Wes I saw departing in a cloud of dust?" the brunette continued. Dumbly, Jen nodded. "Are you a friend of his?" Again, Jen nodded. The brunette frowned for a moment. "I know how cliché this is, but...do I know you?"

"I don't think so," Jen finally said. "Jen Scotts."

"Ah!" the brunette grinned. "The famous Jen."

"The what?"

"Sorry -- Wes hasn't stopped talking about you since October."

"You know Wes?" Jen queried.

"Only through Eric," the brunette explained. "I'm Eric's neighbour, Kimberly."

Maybe Eric has a picture of her on his desk, Jen decided. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Kimberly said, smiling. She headed in the direction of Eric's house. "I'll show you the easy way in."

Jen blinked. "Pardon?"

"I'm guessing you're here to see Eric, right?" said Kimberly. Jen nodded. "I'm on my way over to collect my daughter. I'll show you the easy way in."

Jen smiled as she realised what Kimberly meant. "OK -- thank you."

Jen followed Kimberly round into Eric's backyard. "See, he never locks his back door," Kimberly explained, "because Alice 'bird sits' for him, and he's kinda slow to answer his front door -- in fact, I'd swear the buzzer doesn't work, although he swears it does."

"Bird sits?" Jen echoed, trying to imagine what on earth Kimberly could mean by that.

"He keeps love birds," Kimberly replied.

"Oh." Jen slowly shook her head.

Kimberly smiled. "Somewhere underneath the SOB exterior is a heart of marshmallow."

"Clearly."

"Here we go." Kimberly indicated the door. "After you."

Jen smiled in gratitude and slid into the house, only to be greeted by a sight and sound that left her more than somewhat stunned.

The first thing that she processed was that Eric was apparently cooking. She'd figured he'd be the type to live purely on ready-meals. The second thing she noted was that music was coming from somewhere, although the source was hidden. The third thing was that Eric was singing along -- and actually doing it pretty well -- and...Jen bit her lip, trying not to laugh as she realised that he was also moving in time to the music. It could almost be described as dancing. The thing that sealed the sight, as far as Jen was concerned, was the small, blonde child -- Alice, presumably -- who was perched on a stool next to Eric, watching him with rapt attention.

Behind her, she heard Kimberly give a muffled snort -- presumably as her eyes fell on the same scene.

Definitely a heart of marshmallow, Jen decided, trying not to start giggling.

"Mommy!" Alice exclaimed, looking round and spotting them.

Jen watched as Eric first froze, then blushed, then shrugged. "You guys want pancakes too?" he asked, not looking round. Jen found herself exchanging looks with Kimberly. "I've made plenty," he added.

"I've eaten already, thanks," said Kimberly.

"Jen?"

"Ah..." she shrugged. "Sure." They can't possibly be any worse than Lucas'.

"You don't have to sound so enthusiastic," Eric retorted with sarcasm.

Jen realised what she'd said had been somewhat less than polite. "Sorry -- I just wasn't... This is kinda a surprise."

"What, me cooking?" Eric asked, starting to dish up the contents of the pan. "There should be syrup in that cupboard there, Alice," he added, directing Alice towards one of the cupboards just above where she was sat.

"Neat!" Alice carefully reached for the cupboard

"Um -- yeah."

Eric gave a rueful laugh. "Jen, Kim -- I live on my own, have done for a very long time and I have yet to poison myself."

"Nobody does 'huff' quite so well as a guy whose ability to cook has just been insulted," Kimberly whispered.

"I heard that!" Eric objected.

Jen snickered. "True," she agreed.

"For that," Eric muttered, "you can do the dishes."

Alice, who had been busily tucking into a plate of pancakes, heavily laden with syrup, suddenly piped up, "Mommy you should try some -- they're really good."

Eric smirked as he handed Jen a plateful. "See? And help yourself to syrup."

Jen sighed. "And you know the worst thing?" she muttered to Kimberly. "I'm going to have to put up with that all the way to Del Oro Bay."

"Oh? Would that be what last night's meeting was about?" Kimberly asked.

Jen noted that Eric glanced in her direction letting her decide what to say. "Yes," she answered.

"I won't ask," Kimberly decided quietly. "The less I know the better, I suspect."

"In fact," Alice continued, heedless of the grown-ups' conversation, "mommy, can Eric make me breakfast every morning? These are better than yours."

Jen chewed the inside of her lip, hard, in an effort not to laugh at the expression on Eric's face at that suggestion. First came shock. Then came horror. Then, to the serious detriment of Jen's health, he blushed. Deeply. Mumbling something, he vanished into the bathroom and moments later the shower came on.

"Mommy, where did Eric go?" Alice asked.

That was the final straw. Jen couldn't help herself, she started to laugh. So did Kimberly.

~*~

Eric gave Jen and Kimberly half an hour to stop laughing -- and giving him a chance to recover from his embarrassment. Alice certainly had a way with words. He hoped Kimberly hadn't taken too much offence (although to judge from the laughter that was still audible over the noise of the shower there wasn't too much danger of that). It had been bad enough that Jen and Kimberly had walked in on him cooking, but...

You can't hide in here all morning -- you and Jen need to hit the road. He sighed. Besides, he added with a shiver, it's not like you have a huge hot water tank.

With another shiver, he climbed out of the now freezing shower, towelled off and started to dress.

Look on the bright side; they waited until you were out of earshot before laughing.

It wasn't much of a comfort.

Might just as well get the humiliation over and done with.

But when he exited the bathroom, only Jen remained in the kitchen -- and the dishes had been cleaned and neatly stacked on the side.

"I wasn't sure where they went," she explained. "Kim and I did them between us -- we figured it was only fair."

"You didn't have to -- I was kidding."

Jen smiled. "And we didn't have to laugh -- but we did."

"I know."

"Mind you," Jen added, "if you'd seen the absolutely mortified expression on your face, you'd have been laughing too."

Eric started to put the clean dishes away. "Probably."

"And before I forget," Jen continued, "Kim says thank you very much -- and she and Alice will keep an eye on this place while you're away."

Eric found himself smiling a little at that. "I'll have to remember to let them have the keys, huh?"

"I won't let you forget," Jen replied. "So...you want to tell me what's going on between you two?"

Eric stopped. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Jen echoed, disbelief tingeing her voice. "Now, weren't you the one who said life and love was about taking risks?"

"Ye-es." Eric slowly turned to face Jen. "Jen, I am going to say this once, and once only: Kim and I are friends. That's it." Jen opened her mouth. "End of discussion." She sighed. "I need to go pack."

"Sorry," Jen called as he headed into his bedroom.

"Don't worry about it. I just..." Eric sighed and shook his head. "It's different." He started packing clothing into a kit bag. "Complicated."

Silence descended as he packed.

"Did Wes get away OK?" he asked presently.

"Uh-huh. The plan is, he'll contact us each evening -- starting tonight," Jen answered.

"Right. And I presume you have the keys and so on for this house?"

"Uh-huh."

Eric glanced around his room. Yep, that's it. "In that case, let's get this show on the road."

~*~

Kimberly sat down beside the phone. Eric had just handed over the keys to his house -- so that Alice would still be able to look after his birds -- and he and Jen had left for Del Oro Bay (although what they could possibly want in Del Oro Bay, Kimberly couldn't imagine -- but she wasn't about to ask). On second meeting, she was even more sure that she knew Jen from somewhere else -- or knew someone very like Jen from somewhen else.

With a sigh, she dialled.

"Ape Martial Arts."

Kimberly smiled. "Hey there."

"Kimberly!" the speaker was surprised. "How're you doing? And how's Silverhills?"

"Just like home, ya know?"

He laughed. "Like that, huh? So when are you gonna come visit?"

"Maybe soon...I just...need a little more time." She sighed. "How is everyone?"

"Oh, they're fine." There was a pause. "But you didn't call me up to find that out."

Kimberly sighed. "No...actually -- it was to invite you up for dinner."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. We can catch up properly."

"That's great -- when did you have in mind?"

"How does next weekend sound?"

"Sounds great. Do you want me to bring anything?"

Kimberly chewed her lip. "Actually, yeah...it's gonna sound odd, but...can you bring your junior year book?"

He laughed. "You're right, that does sound odd -- but hey, odd was a way of life at one point. No problems. I'll see you then."

"Thank you."

He laughed again. "Any time, Kim, any time."

TO BE CONTINUED...