Author's note: A little something extra I wrote up early in the process of writing this fic, before realising it didn't really fit. You can pretend she came back to the Bay if you like. :D

Several of you commented that you'd love to see other fics I wrote. I started one, but haven't finished it. It's a bit more Kyle centric than this one. I can start posting it if you like, but there is no guarantee it'll ever be finished; you might be left hanging on a cliffhanger. Votes in your comments, please. :D

A Short Extra

"You're going to behave, yes?"

"Don't I always?"

"Casey, I'm serious."

"Kayla, so am I."

"I like this guy."

"That's fine."

"Casey…"

"Kayla…"

Kayla scowled, turning away and flopping into the couch. "Why did I agree to meet him here?"

"Because you knew what would happen if you didn't."

"You would not actually have chased me across town to meet him." Casey raised an eyebrow, and she sighed. "You would actually have chased me across town to meet him."

"Look, if he's as nice as you say, there's nothing to worry about, is there?"

"You're a bully."

"You love me."

"That's beside the point!"

Casey glanced over her shoulder. "Hey, man, you must be Daniel. Come on in."

Kayla jumped, spinning to look. "Hey, Daniel. I'm really sorry, Casey insisted on ambushing you."

"This isn't an ambush," Casey said innocently. "I just wanted to meet the guy Kayla's been –"

"Casey!"

"Talking about," he finished with a grin. "Come in, Daniel, sit down. Drink?"

"No, thanks," Daniel said politely, perching on the couch beside Kayla.

"He's going to try and scare you," she said apologetically. "Just don't react. He'll get bored eventually."

"That's all right, I've been wanting to meet him."

"You have?" Casey said in surprise, feeling oddly wrong-footed.

"Aw, I think you took all the fun out of it," Kayla said with a grin.

Daniel smiled, turning to look at Casey. "Kayla talks about you all the time. You and your brothers. I've been looking forward to meeting you." And he offered his hand.

Casey studied him for a moment, and Kayla grinned again. "Not fun anymore?"

"Not so much," he admitted, shaking Daniel's hand firmly. "So where are you going, Daniel?"

"Just down to the Diner for a milkshake. We probably won't even be very long, but I think we're going back to Mrs Patterson's after?"

"Yes," Kayla agreed firmly. "We are. Because Leah and Dr Nate are working, and VJ is in Jett's. So we'll have the house all to ourselves and we can do anything we want."

"That might bother me, if I didn't know that your wants generally revolve around music and books," Casey told her, sounding bored.

"You never know."

Kyle appeared in the doorway and Casey perked up. "Hey, Kyle's home! Hey Kyle, remember that time you nearly killed a guy in the outback? Good times, eh?"

Kyle blinked, taking his bag off. "Yeah, I remember that. You should, too. What's going on?"

Kayla leaned across to smack Casey, scowling at him. "Stop that. Kyle, Daniel, Daniel, Kyle."

"Hey." Daniel stood, offering his hand again.

Kyle shook it. "Daniel, hey. You're Kayla's...yeah, I did nearly kill a guy that time. So, you know, be careful. Or whatever. Can I go?"

"Yes, you're useless," Casey agreed, waving him off.

Kyle grinned and then turned back to Daniel, letting the smile fall away. "In all seriousness. You hurt Kayla, you got trouble. Understand?"

"I understand," Daniel agreed, sitting down hastily.

Kyle smiled again, turning to Kayla. "Stop leaving my guitar out of the case when you're done."

"Harley was crying," she protested.

"And what are you doing right now?"

"If I leave Daniel alone, you guys will scare him off."

"What, me? Me and Daniel have an understanding now. Don't we, Daniel."

"Yessir," Daniel said quickly.

"Why can't I do that?" Casey complained. "I just got 'glad to meet you!' "

"He is glad to meet you," Kayla pointed out. "Should he say he isn't? That's lying, and then you'd think he's bad. And rude. And he isn't either of those, he's nice and I like him so stop being mean."

"We're just teasing," Casey told her, watching carefully.

"Kyle wasn't teasing."

"I wasn't teasing," Kyle agreed. "But unless Daniel actually, physically hurts you, there's nothing to worry about. And if he does that, I won't be the first one lining up to pay him back. No offense, Daniel, I'm sure you're a really nice guy."

"Conman," Kayla muttered, pushing to her feet. "Guitar," she said sharply when Casey refused to move; he shifted enough to let her past, watching as she vanished into the bedrooms.

"She all right?" Daniel asked. Casey glanced at him, and he added, "I've seen her do that before, but I'm not sure what's set her off this time. Should someone go after her?"

"Nah, she's right." Casey studied him. "You've seen her do that?"

"The masking thing, yeah, with her words. When something's upset her or she doesn't like someone."

"There aren't many people she lets see that," Casey murmured, looking at Kyle.

Kyle sighed, coming around the couch to join them. "Look, you know we don't have anything against you, right? You seem like a nice kid. But if you hurt her…"

He trailed off and Daniel nodded quickly. "Anyone who hurt her would deserve whatever you did."

"Uh huh," Casey drawled. "And what are you hoping to get out of this relationship?"

"It's really more of a friendship," Daniel told him. "I am hoping to get to know a smart, funny, amazing girl. I think anyone who's been through what she's been through must be incredibly strong and brave, and if she just wants to be friends I'm happy to be friends."

"Smooth," Casey noted towards Kyle.

"Yep."

"Do we trust smooth?"

"I don't think it's about what we trust."

"You can keep glaring at me if you like," Daniel offered.

"We're not friendly enough for you to be glib," Casey warned him, and then sighed. "Go get Kayla. She's either in the hall listening to us or in the bedroom closest to the kitchen. Oi, and Daniel? You're back out here in sixty seconds or less, yes?"

Daniel scrambled towards the bedrooms and Kyle laughed softly, heading for the kitchen. "You're cruel."

"Just playing my part. She never would have forgiven me otherwise."

"Probably not. So you don't really mind him?"

"Oh, I asked Zac. Daniel's a good kid. Doesn't get in trouble, good grades, doesn't mess the girls around. She could do worse."

"Don't say that too loud, he's coming back."

Casey glanced up as Kayla trailed after Daniel into the sitting room. "You could do worse," he told her. "Text me when you get back to Leah's."

"Yep." She grinned at him. "Can I hug you?"

"Any time."