"Oh god, my head is in tatters!" Amy rocked her head in pain. Cora peeped through the car window where her Irish friend sat, suffering from a strong case of Hangover- itis.

She looked her friend up and down and shook her head like a disapproving parent finding their child after a late night with friends, "You've only yourself to blame, the way you choked down cocktails I'm surprised your liver hasn't exploded all over the backseat."

Amy huffed in a voice sore like a whispering cat, "Sounds like boring Cora's back, parties over; when I'm refreshed I should go back to the club and look for Pop Diva Cora, she was fun." She jested while Cora push away from the car.

"Oh so you think i'm boring do you?" Cora asked feigning hurt. Amy pulled her haggard self up and open the door.calling out to her friend and soul sister in comfort, "Oh come on, last night was a blast, I heard you got a bonus from the boss."

"Nope, and don't think you can do the same thing twice, I promised him and myself not to let you or me do that again. I swear one more song I'd have been under the stage," Cora held her head steadily still heavy from concentrating on her work and play, in contrast with the other women who where heavy from overindulgence.

"Ha, one more drink and I'd have been under the barman!" Amy cackled crudely.

Cora also cackled, how she missed the good old fashion humor of satire and wit, she had nearly forgotten the last time she laughed like a person free from care or worry, the days were starting to blend together, little use counting them anymore, none of them were expecting sudden changes or developments; work, train and try to keep fed was everyone's priorities according to the master of operations, Drago. The work was easy enough to do in routine, training however was proving difficult since Drago had forgotten to teach them how to use magic, most of their combat training came from Strikemaster Ice, MC Cobra and DJ Fist. befoe she went back to sleep

Cora sat up and washed her knees of the dirt and grime.

she cleared her throat, "I'm going into town to get some breakfast, you want anything?" latley Cora had become more confident, yesterday see happen to see several supermarkets on the way to the San Fran Fiesta.

"Yeah, a sausage bap, a cup o' coffee and a bottle of aspirin." the last order she hissed through the thumps in her head before she slipped back to sleep.

30 minutes later Cora had returned with two bags of food. Glowing proudly. Amy, Gemma and the Ice gang turned their heads at the arrival of their fair caregiver.

"Behold, the mighty hunter has brought food for her starving friends!" she opened the bags contents onto Amy's car bonnet and everyone crowded round respectively for their share. "For Amy; I got a slightly soggy sausage sandwich and a regular coffee with aspirin."

Amy took hers, sat down in the back seat and wolfed the bap down in two bites, then washed it down with the strong tasting black liquid and a pain reliever.

"For Gemma; cereal and milk, WITH a bowl to put them in and a spoon to eat it with!" Gemma took her nourishment and sat next to Amy in the front seat, opening the milk carton hastily. Cora was lucky to have found some cheap plastic in place of crockery on the way from the stores.

Cora turned to the three young men and shrugged apologetically. "I didn't know what you guys wanted so I got some fruit and a loaf of French bread; hot out the oven."

MC took the bag of fruit and smile sweetly. "Thanks." This is more than Drago ever gave us. then Ice snatch the bag for first pick; the leader always eats first.

Kaura made no announcement to herself that was needed; the small collection reserved for herself needed no speech other than a sigh of satisfaction. A paper cup of tea with little milk but much sugar to help ready her for a demanding day, fruit yogurt for a sweet taste and a cut of the bread she handed out already as a solid although tasteless was warm and inviting with promise of slow energy.

Everyone sat around surrounded by scrap and rust and ate heartily. Like the hunters of old they ate together as equals. the only one who wouldn't share in the company was Drago.

"That was a good breakfast," Amy started brushing off the crumbs from her lips, "so what do we do now."

Cora shrugged, "I wouldn't mind going for a walk, there's still a lot of shops in San Francisco I haven't seen yet; could come in useful."

"Great" Amy jumped to her feet, "I'll come with you." Not even asking for permission or invitation she slipped her feet into her shoes. She looks at Gemma expectantly, wondering if three would be a crowd.

"No thanks, I'm fine here," Gemma added. "How 'bout you boys?" she waved the boys over, "want to stretch your legs? show the ladies around?"

"No way" Ice said plainly, "some of us have work to do."

Please yourself

"Well look at you; coming out of your comfort zone and into the shopping centre!" Amy was quick to notice the change in Cora; true she didnt know her very well but when they first met she was so cautious and secluded like a shy child; now she's really starting to open up, a sign of maturity perhaps.

"New places make me nervous, that's all." Cora replied, turning back to the street demanding to leave the subject at that.

Amy viewed the sharp eyes of the shut-off women; then feeling a new sensation in her stomach, she checked her watch 12:00 on the dot, "I'm getting hungry, want to stop to eat?"

"OK, there's a coffee shop other there."

"OK, you get me a latte, I'll be back in a sec; there's something I need to check out first." Amy whizzed off once again.

Cora stepped inside and was immediately greeted by the smell of coffee beans and warm pastries. It was like any other coffee shop, except for the counter with stools which reminded her of a 50's diner. Carefully she made her way to the cashier and opened her purse ready to pay.

"I'll have a latte, a hot chocolate and two chocolate chip muffins, thank you". The cashier left to prepare the order, so she sat up a stool and waited patiently; she watched the other customers, quite regular in all, except for one who stood out.

Sat in the corner not too far from her limited view, I must get a new pair of glasses soon, a man in a green two piece suit sat hunched over the counter, warming his hands with a cup of black coffee. At first glace she could tell he had seen better days. His suit, although quite unique in color code, was tarnished and wrinkled for repetitive use without regular washing. His hair was a smashing blonde which was a rare sight in a time when anyone could dye themselves blonde. He wore it back with a tie; the hair fell down the back of his jacket. Shame it was greasy with natural oils. His face, long and angular, hung above his coffee as he breathed in the strong aroma.

wonder what he's going through?

"Your order, miss."

Cora refocused on the cashier with her drinks on a plastic tray. After paying she found a free table with two large leather seats.

"I'm back!" Amy appeared seemingly out of nowhere and sat down, "Nice seats and thanks for the muffin."

"So where'd you go?" Cora asked rather sternly.

Amy looked over her mug and remembered, "Oh yeah, I went to the ATM and got some money and on the way back I saw this amazing blue off the shoulder number that I thought you'd like."

No response?

Amy followed Cora's line of sight, stopping at the man in green, she raised her eyebrow in confusion.

"Nice, is he?"

Cora turned around; snapping out of her thoughts again, "What?"

"Barely been in America a month and you're already checking out the sights, a little old for my taste; you usually like the sugar daddy's," giggling while taking another small sip from her white mug.

"I'm not checking out anyone!" Cora answered defending herself, "I'm just…"

"Being nosy?" Amy cut her off.

"No, observant, he isn't exactly who you normally see in a coffee shop."

"Well, when in Rome," Amy finished dismissively, sipping quietly, swallowing she smirked, "You want me to get his number for you?"

"Shut up!" Cora said a little too loudly.

This got his attention; he snapped around to them and glared at them. Instinctively Cora lowered her head, masking her face like she said nothing. The man turned back on his seat with a squeak. Cora looked up again certain he took no notice, but she was wrong he eyed her like an attack dog ready to kill.

"What are you looking at?" he hissed.

Unable to reply Cora looked at her lap like an embarrassed child while he continued like, "better next time you keep to you own business!"

"There's no call for that, mate!" Amy pointed out firmly.

"Amy, forget it, let's just go." Cora grabbed her bag and quickly made her way to the door. Stopping to see that Amy hadn't made it outside, instead she was up against the table giving the stranger a look of disapproval.

"You'd think a man your age would know how to talk to lady."

He scoffed "Lady?" this angered Amy further.

"Amy, come on!" Cora commanded.

Amy followed through her friend with a sneer. That insufferable snob, I should have kicked his teeth in.

Upon returning to the junkyard Cora, Amy and Gemma sat down on a set of makeshift pillows to finish what food was left and to share out the clothes they bought. Gemma held a newspaper.

"Oh no, this'll never do." Gemma said under her breath.

"Yes, we heard you first time, what won't do?" Amy asked impatiently.

Gemma folded her newspaper and replied, While you were gone I told Drago we need a better place to hide out; somewhere clean, dry, with plumbing."

"And what did he say." Cora asked, ashamed she never asked Drago.

"He said "then you do something about it!" talk about a snap dragon."

Amy exclaimed in agreement, "you know for a protector he's not very protective."

"I'm surprised you got to talk to him at all; I haven't seen hide or scale of him all day."

"Weird isn't it?" Gemma asked. "Maybe he's just busy."

"Doing what? Scratch that, I'm not sure I want to know."

Gemma reopened her paper and continued reading, "once we get enough we should be able to get a small place, if we're lucky. I found one here it the paper, "seeking roommate, any sex, no pet, the rents minimal and it's only a few miles from here."

"OK, I'll look at that tomorrow," Cora examined her watch, "I've got to get ready for work."

"Jackie, get packing!" Uncle exclaimed. "Capricorn has revealed herself."