BEFORE YOU READ THIS RETURN TO CHAPTER 10….and then this chapter will make sense.

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Taryn hid in the bathroom standing on top of the stool when she heard the footsteps of a teacher turn into more than one and then there was a small crowd gathered outside of the bathroom to figure out what had happened to Jack. Tears streaming down her face she pressed her lips together hoping no one heard her or investigated further.

On the other side of the hall in the office Tara walked into the empty office stopping at a small kiosk where she could sign in as a visitor. Taking her time to type a random name to choose a random teacher she began to roam the halls in the direction of where she felt the energy that had inspired her impromptu hunt. She rounded a corner in the maze of mirror hallways donning pictures of colored letters of small bios and pictures of overly elated children with uneven teeth. This was school. How much of this thing they called a school system educated these children about the real world and how much of it was designed to shield them from it. The fae almost rounded a corner when she heard the scratch of a walkie talkie and a security guard being called to assist them.

Leaning her shoulder against the wall she listened to voices contemplating what could happen and then the discovery of a little girl. From what she could tell without looking a boy was found knocked unconscious in the entranceway of the girl's bathroom. Holding her judgment's she heard them as they rounded the corner she was leaning against to listen to the trouble. She moved quickly enough to disappear in an empty classroom left open seeing a teacher with his back to her sneaking a cigarette. The boy was wailing now conscious and in pain, but that's all he was good for crying, he either couldn't get out what happened or chose not to volunteer it. In any case Tara hadn't come for the wailing boy leaving the classroom and the teacher to his cigarette shutting the door softly.

The children's bathroom didn't have a door, just a small hallway with several stalls that were partially closed. She walked to the other side of the bathroom sensing that whatever had brought her here was inside the middle stall. Wary of what she might find she pushed on it half surprised it wasn't latched and even more surprised when she discovered the teary eyed girl on the other side. She lurched back when she saw Tara—she didn't recognize her—the only thing that registered was that she was an adult and she assumed she must have known what she'd done.

"I didn't mean to do it," she tried to explain. The reasons why whirring around in her hair she didn't voice because it might get her in more trouble then she wanted to be in.

Tara stepped back and dropping the hand that was paralyzed on the smooth surfaces of the stall door.

"What's your name?"

The nine year old didn't think anything of the question or the fact that she was talking to a stranger so she answered it.

Tara struggled to figure out what this meant, but she already had a strong idea this young girl had no idea what she was.

"I'm Tara," she introduced herself hoping the girl couldn't sense her nervousness.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No."

They didn't have much time. The girl's teacher whoever she was would be worried and come looking for her and eventually. Then there was a matter of the crying boy in the office and explaining things to the school. It was best if the girl hadn't been there hadn't seen a thing, so Tara gave her Taryn her first crash course in telling a feasible lie. The girl nodded her head that she understood and Tara asked her to repeat it at least once for the girl to make the lie her own.

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Pam dreaded staff meetings when Russell wasn't on his best behavior. Something personal was always just beneath the surface and of all the people he wanted to confide in he chose Pam. So, when everyone rose from their leather seats practically speeding out of the office feeling the remnants of their boss's bad mood denting their egos to start from scratch on every idea he didn't eviscerate and rename as terrible. The only person who was left was a blond in a purple blouse and black pants with purple heels tapping the floor.

"He's a bitch," Russell said aggravated leaning his head back in his chair holding his hands over his face. "And I hate him."

Lafayette's confession from the night Russell pulled her along as his wing woman rang in her head and she wondered if she should just share the whole diabolical plan.

"I don't know what he wants from me," Russell continued.

Pam knew.

"He's hot then cold and the whole time I think he's stringing me along with some bigger picture he's got in his head."

The blond still hadn't opened his mouth to speak allowing him all the time he needed to vent his frustrations regaling him about this Lafayette person he claims is just a friend, but his suspicions tell him otherwise. And when he finally caught his breath and moved close enough for her to inhale his pleasant cologne on the side of the table he sat looking down on her with a curious glint in his eye she didn't trust.

"And I have to hear through the grapevine," he protecting his source which he knew Pam would mostly likely and correctly deduce as Sookie, "that you've dived back into the dating pool."

"You know I don't date," her eyes retreated to her notes as her hands needlessly straightened her folder, "I'm dedicated to my work."

"My ass, when do I get to meet prince charming that's got you defrosting as we speak."

"I haven't subjected him to my family what makes you think I'd throw him to you?"

"Because I'll be nice."

Blue glared disbelieving and Russell admitted that he might have been overstating. "Lets go on a double date I can size him up and a guarantee of a little fun."

"That doesn't sound in the least bit tempting."

"I will fire you if you don't introduce me to your young man."

Pam stood done entertaining Russell, "no you won't."

"Fine," he jumped off the table coming round to meet her at the door and escort her to her office. In the elevator he began to speak freely again, "please."

Startled by the request Pam looked at him strangely, wondering if he'd even said it because his face hadn't moved since she heard the request staring blankly at the steel doors.

"Pardon."

"You heard me and don't make me say it again. Raphael has become insufferable, he wants us to enjoy the company of another couple and since I can't stand couples you and your boy toy will do."

"He's not a boy toy."

"Your whatever," he acquiesced, "because I refuse to believe everything I hear."

Pam was alert, "what did you hear?"

"Don't worry yourself with rumors hon," he smirked knowingly, "I take those things as a grain of salt because I think it's too early to the throwing around the 'l' word."

"What?"

He stepped off the elevator and Pam almost forgetting to step out threw her arm to the door so it wouldn't close eventually catching up.

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Tara followed Taryn's routine for three days before she saw an opening where she could insinuate herself in the girl's life. The excitement of a mission thrilled her, but like a trained soldier it was tempered via discipline and the objective to find answers. Taryn was nine year old her parents were Nancy and Ryan Flake they lived in a ranch style home in Snellville in a small residential area with homes with subtle differences, but at the heart were as homey and similar as any uninspiring block that catered to a family friendly community.

It started with a morning jog. Nancy, Taryn's mother ran every morning at five around the block then returned in time to get her daughter up and drive her to school. On Wednesday Tara introduced herself as their new temporary neighbor because the Sanderson's, on vacation, had entrusted her services for the month they would be gone. Nancy who had never been that curious about her older neighbors didn't question Tara's story and had jumped at the chance to have coffee with her new 'neighbor'. Tara knew almost everything about the woman's life in one afternoon, but nothing as of yet clued her into the little girl's connection with Lennox. Wednesday night, aware that Nancy's husband left very early for work, Tara tampered with the housewife's car ready to volunteer to give them a ride to her daughter's school since she was headed out for early errands.

"I don't want to be any trouble," she stated willing to take the stranger's hospitality only after she was sure the dark skinned woman wouldn't mind.

Nancy hurriedly introduced Tara as their neighbor needlessly to the little girl, who remembered Tara from a few days earlier.

"Hey kid," Tara spoke when Nancy ran back in the house to get her purse.

"You were at my school," she stated.

"Yea, and how about we keep that between us huh?"

The girl didn't answer her distrust was palpable and the fae considered what she could do to correct it.

Tara looked to the house then crouched in front of the child, "your special and I'm special too," she lifted up her hand displaying and impressive, but small glowing ball.

Taryn's eyes widened and her mouth dropped in shock, "special people stick together," she closed her hand when she heard the front door slam.

"Ready," Nancy breathed.

Rising to her feet Tara opened the door for the quiet little girl who jumped in as her mother took the passenger seat. When Tara got in for the fifth time she thanked Tara again for her kindness.

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funny note: I thought I was losing my touch since no one hadn't really commented on my new chapter when in fact I hadn't gone any further than submitting it to the doc manager...my bad...