A/N:

I made a mistake in the last chapter! Stallone wasn't in Robocop, I was thinking of Judge Dredd and got confused, sorry!

Thanks again for all your reviews and I love reading them all XD

What had started off as a 'normal' routine today was slowly going downhill. I still had to meet up with that creep later to fix the bully problem, and hopefully get rid of him too. Why was he so eager and persistent anyway? It made no sense. It couldn't be that he liked me, we hated each other in school and years without seeing each other didn't change that. And it wasn't our brothers because he seemed pretty tired with the whole thing. Maybe that was it, he was tired of being the agony aunt and wanted it over with. Well, I hate to tell him this but stuff like this you just can't get in and out when you felt like it. It was a lifetime deal.

But Mackenzie was only a tiny fraction was what was bothering me. At that moment, a cold sweat was starting to make me shiver. Same time, that's what that guy on the phone had told me. And that time was crawling closer and closer. How much did he know? Was I being followed? Did he know about the Warner's? Okay, Talia, just calm down! If you were being followed, then the toons would have been taken away. And this guy clearly didn't know much if he could only get my work number through another contact and had to ask me personally for information; pretty amateur move come to think of it, so he wasn't smart either. But he did know about the Warner's and my connection with them, and that was enough to set me on edge. What if he found out about Flynn and Poppy too, then everyone would be in danger.

I gasped as a shrill ringing snapped me from my thoughts. My hands shook as I picked up the phone, "Hello, Tilton Hotel, Talia Nolan speaking; how can I help you?" how I remained so steady, I have no clue.

"I think you know how you can help me, Miss. Nolan."

"I can't say I do." I shot back.

A disgruntled growl, "I despise games, Miss. Nolan, now answer me truthfully, where are the toons?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I insisted.

"Well, if you won't talk to me, then perhaps someone more familiar?" he paused, I could almost hear him smirking, "You remember your first psychiatrist, don't you?"

The phone was passed over, and a German accented man took over, "Talia? It's been a while, ja? How are you?"

A little creeped out to be honest! Yeah, I remembered this guy. My first therapist, you don't forget something like that very easily. He had been specifically recommended to me by the studio itself, which at the time didn't make much sense to me, but now it did. I could have kicked myself for not realising it sooner. The studio was trying to cover up the toons, so when I came along and let them out, they had to make sure I was kept quiet. It made sense that I'd get a psychiatrist hired by the studio. He was the one who first told me that I'd imagined the entire thing, then when I had started to give in, he passed me on to the next one. So, where did they plan on going with this?

"Talia," he continued, his voice thick with accent, "now listen, all ve vant is to help. You see, zose kidsez ist too zany and dangerous to be out in public. If you tell us vere zey are, ve can keep them safe, ja? You vant them safe too, ja?"

"They're safe with me!" I spat, and regretted it instantly, this guy already knew how to get in my head. I hated myself, "Leave me alone."

"But zey are dangerous ven not under control! It's a miracle zey have gone so long vithout hurting someone or zemselves! Zey need to stay in the studio vere ve can help them. Help us help zem, Talia."

There was something in his tone that I wasn't sure of. From the situation, it was clear he wanted the toons back in custody too, but he seemed regretful, almost pitying, like he wasn't happy with the method of how he was getting what he wanted. It was as if he was reading from a cue card. He meant what he said, but it wasn't how he wanted to say it. Did that mean that the other guy had more control over him than I first thought? But, the doctor had all my details, name, number, address, everything. He could give his boss anything he needed and yet this was all that was handed out, why? Was he protecting me? Was he protecting the toons? What was going on here?

"Doctor, you didn't help me when you had the chance. Help me now and keep the hell away from me, and that goes for your boss too."

"Zere is more at stake zen you think, Talia. You don't understand the position I'm in."

"Then why not explain it to me?"

"I can't right now, it's difficult…"

"Then I can't help you. And tell your boss that if he doesn't leave me alone, he'll regret it."

I slammed the phone down and found that I was trembling all over. It had been an empty threat but it had given me something to hang up with. So the studio wanted the toons back in control, but why? Had they really been searching for all this time? The Warner's weren't dangerous and they were safe with me, they were just being who they were, toons. And what was waiting for them if they went back to the studio? Locked up again in the tower, or worse? I didn't want to think about it. I wouldn't think about it. I had to get home. I didn't know what I was going to say or do, but I needed to get everyone home so I knew they were safe. For now at least.


Once again, I'd been more than relieved to see that all five of my charges were safe and sound. Wait, did I just say five? Huh, I guess I did. I guess these past few days have really taken a toll on me. But you know what, I didn't care. What I did care about was their safety. For some reason, knowing that the therapist was hiding information from his employer was helpful, but at the same time unnerving that he could let slip at any moment. However, I was convincing myself that we were in the clear for now. Flynn and Poppy would be in a more experienced adults care for a few hours and I was pretty sure that the toons could handle themselves for less than two hours… Although, at the moment, I was getting worried that Dot was going to have trouble handling me if she tried to put anymore hairspray on me…

"Dot. This is totally unnecessary…"

Dot held her thumb out towards me like an artist to a blank canvas, "Trust me, kid, it's necessary."

"She says in the nicest possible way." I said sarcastically.

"Well you gotta show that guy what he's missing, right?"

Finally I managed to get away from her and, to be honest she'd done a pretty good job. She'd made my hair sleek and straight with my bangs smoothed to the side and a hint of makeup that made my eyes look brighter than they actually were. Any other day, I would have loved this, but today it was just unneeded. Now it looked like I was trying to impress the jerk. Well, I was running late so there was nothing I could do about it now. But I thanked her all the same, I'd have to get her to do this again sometime.

"Talia! He's doing it again!" Poppy giggled from downstairs.

I rushed downstairs to find Wakko with his cheeks inflated, forcing his lips into a pout and his eyes wide and glazed over with hypnotic spirals. He pulled his face from time to time, his gookie I think he called it. Sometimes it was funny, others it was confusing and occasionally it was just creepy. This was one of those times it was funny I guessed considering Poppy was clutching her sides. Also, what was making her laugh more was that Flynn was also trying to attempt it. He had the puffed up cheeks perfectly, but the eyes could only go into a squint.

"Middle-kid syndrome." Yakko explained while shaking his head at them, he turned and took a look at me and the effects of my unwanted make-over made his jaw slack slightly. He took a breath:

I clamped my hand over his mouth, knowing what was coming next, "Don't even think about it." I warned, taking my hand away.

He flashed his teeth cunningly, "You know me so well!"

"Lucky me." I rolled my eyes and turned to my siblings, "Okay guys, you head next door and I'll be back in about an hour and a half tops. Warners'…" I sighed with a knowing smile, "Just be good."

They batted their eyes innocently, "Aren't we always?" the chanted.

Well, in their own way. Not really behaving, but never really crossing a line either, and that was good enough for me. I escorted Flynn and Poppy to Mrs. Fishers house before getting into my car and taking off. Why had Flynn kept giving them little glances of… something. I couldn't be sure, but at that moment I didn't have the time to think much on it. The coffee house was coming up fast and I had to figure out a strategy. I wanted this guy away from me and his brother away from my family. But from what I'd seen, Mackenzie was a little slow on the update, so I'd have to be blunt and clear.

I didn't see him when I first walked in, so I went to the bar and ordered myself an ice-tea. I'd never really had a taste for coffee. There was a table free near the far wall which was made of glass, revealing the half-busy street outside. The coffee house seemed pretty nice. There was a little cake stall, a kitchen if anyone was ordering a meal, the employees seemed friendly enough and there was a little platform not far away from me for performers. Tonight it was empty, a lonely microphone just in view form the dim lights. Yeah, I could learn to like this place, another time though.

"Oh you're here!" Mackenzie said, sitting opposite me and snapping me from my thoughts, "You beat me."

"What do I win?" I asked sarcastically.

"A chance to stop the hostility for just a couple of hours?" he shot back.

"Thanks…"

"Look, I know that my brother is a little moron…" he looked at me dead in the eyes, "And I know that he's following me like that. But he's hard a hard time. Parents arguing and… I guess he just wanted to take it out on someone that's had a worse time than him."

I arched an eyebrow expectantly. Okay, wasn't expecting this, but if it got me out of here sooner than that was fine with me. Oh wait, don't tell me this was going to be one of those long-overdue and equally long-winded apologise that made you wish they'd never bothered, is it? Because as much as I'd like an apology, we weren't here for me. And was the sob story really necessary? Everyone's parents had a fight from time to time; that was nothing.

"Just skip to the part where Flynn gets Scott away from him and we'll leave it at that, okay?" I said with a casual sip of my drink.

"Just give me a chance, Talia, things have been pretty rough lately."

I sighed and chose to go down the rout that would get me out the here as soon as possible, "So, what is it about my family that seems to make your family tick?"

"Easy targets?" he flushed at my glare, hopefully regretting those words the minute he said them, "I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry, that was out of order. What I meant was… Uh, you hungry?"

"No." I said bluntly.

He was drowning, and I was not throwing him a lifeline. Hopefully if I made him really uncomfortable, we could leave earlier. Plus, if he didn't want to talk to me, then he'd make sure that his brother left Flynn alone because if not, he'd have to come looking for me again. And after tonight I don't think anyone would want that.

"I really didn't mean that." He swallowed.

I was about to speak, when I was suddenly interrupted: "Bonjour, menus for le Mademoiselle et Mousier?"

I looked up at the obviously fake French accent and felt my jaw hit the table in shock. Standing at the table next to us; holding two menus tucked under his arm and dressed in a standard uniform consisting of black pants and green shirt with a white apron over the front, with the addition of a pair of lensless glasses; was Wakko. My heart hammered against my chest in panic. Mackenzie looked up and studied him for a few seconds; which to me seemed to last hours. Oh no, he knew; he was going to start a panic and then those people on the phone would find them and then –

"Great." Mackenzie answered before looking at me, "You sure you're not eating?"

I shook my head. Seriously, this idiot was buying this? Our 'waiter' was so obviously not human and yet no one seemed to notice at all! Wait, no one else was in here, when did that happen? A minute ago there were other customers, a cashier at least! How the hell…? And was Mackenzie he just more stupid that I first thought or was this a better disguise than it looked? Well, it looked more like the former. Wakko handed out two menus despite me not wanting food and went to leave, stopping just behind Mackenzie and removing his glasses to wink at me like he was revealing some big secret. I gave him a cynical look. Was that really needed? I could obviously tell it was him! There was a badge pinned into the side of his hat that read: employee. Yeah we wouldn't want to forget that would we? If you're going to sell it, sell it big. Mackenzie scanned the list of food and I couldn't help but look down at my own. I blinked in surprise as there only four words printed before me. Just go with it! Okay, what was that supposed to mean?

"Ready to order?"

Oh great… Yakko was up next in a similar uniform and glasses, a notepad in hand and pencil tucked in the corner of his ear. He removed the pencil with a look of amused expectance and licked the pencil tip, pressing it to the paper in preparation.

"I highly recommend the waitress's meal."

"Is that the special?" asked Mackenzie.

"No, she just couldn't finish it." Yakko answered, "And it's not polite to waste food you know."

"Uh… No thanks." He stammered, "I noticed all the dishes are Italian today. Is it a theme night or something?"

"No but it makes the leftovers look more appetising." Yakko answered, still keeping up the accent.

"So you're French, serving only Italian food, in an American coffee house?" he questioned.

"Hey it's a small world."

"Ich stimme." I muttered, German for 'I agree'.

"Sorehodo." Yakko added in what sounded like Japanese, huh, I didn't know he could speak that.

"Uh, hi? Can I get the Spaghetti?" Mackenzie said, looking a little baffled.

"I don't know, can you?" he challenged.

"Huh?"

"Quick, isn't he? As you wish, Monsieur!" Yakko nudged me playfully, "Anything for le Mademoiselle?"

I arched by brow and discreetly flashed him the message inside my menu before handing it over, "I'm good thanks."

He smiled cheekily and nodded, "Excellent choice."

"Look pal, we're trying to have a conversation here." Mackenzie pressed, giving out 'waiter' an irritable look.

He shrugged, "Well make it quick before the entertainment starts… or she falls asleep, you really need to work on your schmoozing skills my friend."

Before another word would be exchanged, he vanished into the kitchen behind his brother. I sniggered and took a long time with my drink to cover it up. Mackenzie was just stuck in a bemused expression.

"Can you believe that guy?"

I shrugged, "Seemed alright to me."

"Lady and moron-I mean… Well moving on. Our entertainment for the night!" Yakko's voice announced over the intercom, "Performing, in his own way… Ode to Joy! Those in the first few rows may want o move back…"

I watched in confusion, if slight amusement as Wakko stepped onto the small platform, dressed in a formal suit. He cleared his throat and bowed so low that his nose almost touched the floor. Mackenzie and I applauded for him out of politeness as the music started. He adjusted the microphone and took a breath. I was interested to see how he was going to sing along to this; but then it turned out that he didn't. Instead, he started belching along to it. Okay, that was unexpected and a little gross, but also pretty impressive. Mackenzie however didn't look like he was able to stomach it. But luckily for him, his phone started to ring and he excused himself. The song came to a close, Wakko ending on a loud and glass-rattling burp before bowing low and hopping off stage. I clapped and rolled my eyes.

"And what exactly are you hoping to gain here?" I asked, all three Warner's popping up and leaning on the table casually.

"Nothing." Dot insisted, "We're just having some fun."

"That guy's a real jerk!" Wakko muttered, poking his tongue out in the direction Mackenzie left.

"What, you expected a fake one?" Yakko asked, before winking suggestively at me, "We're not interrupting anything, are we kiddo?"

I scoffed, "As if! You guys can carry on."

At this, they looked taken back, like the time I'd told them that I trusted them, like they'd never heard it before. To clarify what I said, I laughed and leant over to adjust their badges back into place. They beamed. The door opened and the boys scarpered. Dot clasped her hands together,

"Here comes my big unveiling!" she whispered excitedly before rushing into the kitchen.

I collected myself and eyed Mackenzie suspiciously as he took his seat, "Your friends checking up on you?"

He cleared his throat, looking a little flushed, "Uh, yeah, something like that. Food here yet?"

He was hiding something, he was suddenly shiftier than before and he looked as though he's been raising his voice. I could tell by the way his Adams apple was shaking as he breathed. However, my thoughts were interrupted by a girlish call from behind.

"Order up!"

Dot appeared in a uniform of her own, but instead of black pants she wore a black skirt along with a shoulder-length brunette wig. She was coated in makeup, her eyelids deep blue and her lips thick with lipstick. She set the food in front of Mackenzie before grabbing his chin to force it upwards to face her. She scowled playfully as if she was an old friend of his.

"Mackie? Oh I knew you'd come down to see me!" she giggled, throwing herself onto his lap and planting a kiss on his cheek, leaving a lipstick print, "Always kidding, as if you'd be working on my birthday!"

All of a sudden, she turned to look at me like she'd never noticed me sitting there. I had to hold back a shudder as she glared at me with fire in her eyes. She turned her gaze to a very shell-shocked Mackenzie and pointed at me.

"Who's she?" she demanded, "Are you cheating on me? Again! You cad! I knew you were too good to be true! Mother was right about you!"

I arched my brow in fake surprise, "You never told me you had a girlfriend, Mackie." I taunted, "Is she who you were calling a minute ago?"

He widened his eyes, "What? No, I don't! I don't even know her!"

Dot jumped up and slapped him harshly across the cheek, eyes bright at the new material, "There's another girl too! You promised me this would never happen again, Mackie! You said I was special! And on my birthday too! You're despicable!"

"Hey is everything okay over here?" Yakko asked, appearing to put an arm over his sisters shoulders.

"Not really!" Mackenzie stammered, rubbing his sore cheek, "This nut-job just slapped me! Tell them, Talia!"

All eyes on me, I only shrugged, "Seems like you deserved it, Mackie."

"I don't know her!"

Dot cried through floods of tears, turning to point at the confused boy, "Well for the past few weeks it's as if I don't know you anymore, Mackie, what happened to us? Where did we go wrong?"

"Well Mack, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Yakko shrugged, thumbing over his shoulder towards the door.

"What?" he cried, "I'm not leaving, I'm a paying customer!"

"But you haven't paid yet." Wakko pointed out, joining in the show.

"So you're a thief as well, eh?" Yakko demanded, "There's a place for people like you!"

"Disney Channel." Wakko answered with a chuckle.

"This is ridiculous!" Mackenzie snapped.

"So's that haircut but you don't see us stating the obvious." Yakko retorted.

"But we're not afraid to go there." Dot added.

"Forget this, I'm leaving! Come on, Talia!"

He paused at the door when he saw that I hadn't moved. I shrugged and nonchalantly took a long drink and wiped my mouth, getting to my feet to get a better look at him. Did he really think he could order me about? As if! Plus, I think I'd gotten everything that I needed and more out of tonight.

"You know what; I think I'm going to stick around here for a while."

"Seriously?" he gaped at me, "You want to stay in this wacky-shack?"

"In that case, I think I fit in quite well here, wouldn't you say?" I shot him an icy glare, and started to quote him, "Easy targets?"

"Is this really the time to start all that again?" he narrowed his eyes in thought, "Give me a break, Talia, things have been hard enough without this."

"Isn't that why we're here in the first place, to fix that? And enough with the sob story."

"This isn't American Idol, you know." Yakko smirked.

"You can shut up or you'll regret it!" Mackenzie warned, turning his tone to sarcasm as he looked at me, "And Talia, are you that scared that someone is going to outdo your own sob story? Stop hiding behind it, it's getting old!"

How dare he! My body started shaking with rage and I was struggling to stop tears from falling. I had never hidden behind my situation, I battled through it! He had no right to accuse me of something like that. If anyone was hiding behind anything, it was him! All he'd done since we got here is try and cover up for him and his brother by talking about family problems! That arrogant, horrible, vile –

"Your beverage, Mademoiselle?" Dot muttered.

I didn't even look at her, but my hand snatched out and took the drink from her and tossed its icy contents over the boy in front of me. He gasped in shock and rubbed it from his eyes. It wasn't enough to satisfy me, but it's all I could do at the time.

"Fine… Have it your way." He spat.

"And don't forget your spaghetti!" Wakko prompted, jumping up behind Mackenzie and smacking a bowl of the pasta over his head.

"It's on the house." Yakko added.

"And don't even think about calling me!" Dot warned.

Mackenzie stormed out of the coffee shop and there was the slam of his car door, followed by the screech of rubber wheels against the ground. There was something odd about the way Mackenzie had said that last part, but I didn't care. Slowly, I slumped back down into my seat and tried to control my breathing. Right now, I just wanted to scream, or hit something, or just cry. How could anyone be such a jerk? There was something not right here, and I'd had enough of things not being right. But right now, I just wanted to get home.

"Men, what can you do?" Dot sighed, patting my shoulder.

The two brothers sat on the table either side of me, Wakko flicked some spaghetti from my hair that had gone astray. Yakko tilted his head, "You okay, kiddo?"

I blinked away my leftover anger with difficulty and forced a smile, "I will be." Once again I took them by surprise by pulling them softly into a group hug, more for my benefit really; and this time they were willing to submit to it, "You guys are awesome."


*Psychiatrist's POV*

My previous Patient had always been a stubborn, so difficult to talk to. She was so headstrong and I doubted of she ever truly believed the lies I told her. It disgusted me telling her those lies, but I did what I was paid to do. This was a difficult job to get, and more difficult to go without. So I did what I had to do.

Over the years, everyone who was involved in this cartoon cover-up was on full alert to track down the Warner's. Everyday bringing a new failure. It was I who had made the discovery of their arrival in Talia's hometown, it was just a sighting by a dog-walker that had not been taken seriously, but my contact had alerted me right away. It didn't take a genius to figure out that they would be going to visit her again after that. After all, once you meet the Warner's, they never truly leave you alone, they just take breaks. I should know… At fist I wasn't going to tell my employer, I'd wait until they moved on so that we could be prepared and leave the poor girl out of it. But my contact was secretly working for my employer, so nothing was hidden for long. Now she was being dragged into something that did not concern her. But the man sitting opposite me was relentless, so I hid all documents concerning Talia to keep her safe, all but one with her work number. I wanted this girl safe because she was innocent, as was her family. It was the characters we were after, not them. Now it was turning into a big mess that could have been avoided. And here I was once again standing before my employer as a angry haze came over him.

"You told me that she would trust you!" my employer spat.

"No, Sir! I told you she vouldn't trust me, I lied to her all zeze years, vhy vould she trust me? Now ve are back to square von." I insisted, my voice shaky, making it harder to understand me behind my accent.

He smirked, "That's what you think…"

I understood that we needed the toons back in the studio, if the world found out about them, among other characters too, then there would be nothing but trouble. Testing, experiments, publicity that we didn't want, revolts, rallies… Disaster! But that didn't mean that I liked the methods; they were careless and rushed. But that's what the boss was like, he didn't think very often. But what could I do? I just had to follow orders.

"Sir?"

"You may be losing your usefulness to me with every passing day, but our contact however, he's doing very well. Very well in deed."

"Vat do you mean, Sir?" I didn't like the sound of this.

"I mean, he's gaining her trust. We're closing in! Pretty soon, she's going to need to confess to someone, and who will be there waiting but our man himself!"

"I doubt it's as simple as zat, Sir…"

"Our trap is set, Doctor, and soon it's going to snap shut."

The phone rang, making me jump. Instantly it was picked up and I was forced to listen to hushed mumbles from the unknown caller and my employer. Soon, the phone was put down and my employer smirked wryly, making me on edge. He pressed his fingertips together and nodded smugly, as if to correct me.

"Snap goes the trap."

A/N:

Now things are getting interesting… I hope XD

I hope this went okay and if anyone wants to take guesses at what's going on, then by all means do, but try not to give too much away in reviews for future readers, if I get any, lol! I welcome PM's too and I look forward to hearing from you XD Okay I love you, buh-bye!