A/N: Thanks for tuning in, here's another chapter for you.

Disclaimer: Once more with feeling, I do not own Halloween (sadly) or anything related, it belongs to John Carpenter. The only thing I own is my character Clementine. Thank you.

October 31st, 1988

There was absolutely no way she was dressing up for this event she was leading up to tonight. Halloween the night of all nights that was supposed to be full of scares and dressing up, among other things. She wasn't fooled, not when you live in this town, especially when you were there that night ten years ago. It only made sense that Cementine be suspicious definitely after what she saw this evening at the drugstore. Maybe she had just been seeing things, maybe, as Rachel had put it, she "just saw a mask and it scared you". Oh, she wouldn't forget that comment. She knew deep down that the other woman had been trying to calm Jamie, but that just wasn't the right thing to say.

It is a terrible thing when no one believes you.

Eventually things were going to come to a head and she would be prepared this time; protect Jamie at all costs tonight... or at least try. Tilting her head to one side as if trying to recongize the woman staring back at her in the mirror. Shaking herself from her thoughts she took her leave from her "home" and made it outside to her car. Getting situated in her vehicle, she began her very short drive to the Carruthers'.

Upon arriving there, she parked her car on the side of the road and stepped out of the car after locking it up, Clem walked up to the front door and gave a quick knock. She could hear chatter on the other side of the door so she just stayed put and laced her fingers together, rocking herself back and forth. When the door opened up to reveal Jamie all dressed up in her costume, she held her arms out for the hug she always got from the child. "You look wonderful." Clementine whispered in her ear, seeing that smiling face beam up at her, she could only smile in return.

"Let's go." Rachel said as she closed the door to their home and started off in the direction of the neighborhood where no doubt all kinds of treats would be awaiting the children tonight. She could tell that Jamie was more than excited as she went from door to door, Rachel and Clementine barely able to keep up with her. Once again she felt that strange feeling of contentment whilst watching Jamie. The little girl had gone through so much, but she still managed to smile and that had been good enough for Clem.

This was only a matter of time. There it was again, that little voice in the back of her mind that was warning her that this was only temporary. It was probably going to end tonight, the night air had that feeling in it. The nightmares that Jamie had been having which were increasing with intensity every night, keeping her from getting much sleep. Clementine felt terrible for the little girl, but probably not nearly as much as she was about to as the night carried on.

Taking in a sharp breath, the brunette kept up with Jamie's pace as she hit every house that came into their view. Smiling as she watched the child run over to her and Rachel. "Can we hit one more house?" Glancing over at Rachel who gave a nod and a smile to match, "Sure." Once she got the approval, she ran off in the direction of one of the other houses before she noticed some other children, who Clem guessed to be from her school. They complimented Jamie on her costume and she seemed rather surprised to be hearing such things from these kids especially.

So it made Clementine wonder just what was the problem here. She quirked a brow as she saw Jamie turn to Rachel after one of the little kids suggested that maybe she would like to join them. "Can I?" Jamie inquired, watching her adoptive sister with hopeful eyes. "Go ahead." There was the approval. After it was all said, the little girl rushed with the other children and up the steps of the house. However, right as the door opened there was the sheriff's daughter wearing a lovely ensemble, and she spoke to Rachel who seemed to be okay one second, but that all changed when she spotted a guy in the house.

Oh no.

There was Brady. Rachel's boyfriend. There were moments where Clem questioned if Rachel was the right protector of Jamie when she couldn't be, but right now was not one of those times. She was frozen still as the kids started to rush off to the next house. No matter how much she wanted to hear this, she decided against it and started off in the direction after the children, figuring that Rachel would soon follow.

As they continued their path down the road, still checking every once and a while to see if she spotted Rachel, Clementine turned her attention back to Jamie. "See ya." One of the kids said to Jamie as they parted ways and Jamie looked right up at Clem, worry in her eyes. "Where's Rachel?" She asked, "My guess is she's still back there. Come on let's see if we can't find her, yeah?" Seeing the child nod, the nurse smiled and placed a hand gently on Jamie's shoulder as they walked back down the sidewalk to see if they couldn't see Jamie's adoptive sister.

"Rachel?" Clem and Jamie called out together, seeing how lonely the streets had turned due to how late it was becoming. Maybe they'd never find her. That couldn't happen. Rachel was apart of Jamie's new family and she would make more than certain that they be reunited somehow. This was her main job now. Protect Michael's niece from Michael himself. That was one of the last things that Laurie had made her promise her before her "death". She would do her best, that was all she could promise.

Clementine did know that if Michael wanted to kill Jamie aboslutely nothing would stand in his way if he wanted it bad enough. It was a miracle she hadn't died all those years ago, but she did get her way in the matter, she got to apologize and she truly believed Michael had put her safety first that night. She had been grateful, but she had a job to do and that would probably cause the two of them to clash soon.

Snap!

This caused both Jamie and Clementine to turn their attention in the direction the twig snapping was in.

Jamie clutched onto Clem's left side out of instinct, able to tell she was afraid, but she was possibly the only one to know why she was reacting in such a way. "It's all right, Jamie." She reassured her and gently stroked at her hair, Clementine's eyes darting off in every direction before slowly starting to move a little further with the child still attached. Maybe it was all in her head. Maybe, or maybe it wasn't.

Then came the rushing flood of footsteps that caused both of them to turn and look. Running in from somewhere beyond, Rachel looked to both Clem and Jamie with relief coming over her facial features as she kneeled down to her adoptive sister and placed her hands on both sides of her face. Glancing up at Clementine she smiled genuinely. "Thank you for watching after her." All Clem did was nod briefly.

Jamie had eventually let go of Clementine and was looking gratefully at her adoptive sister, obviously more relieved to see her than ever. There was a spare moment where they thought they may not ever see her, but Clem was glad to see she had been wrong. Just as Rachel grabbed a hold of Jamie's hand lights came flashing right in their faces. It was the sheriff's car. What could this mean? Only one guess.

A/N: This was a bit longer and hopefully more enjoyable. The good stuff is coming up, so hang in there! Again thanks for reading and if you liked the chapter drop a review. Make me smile like an idiot. (Forgive me for any typos.)