Oracle had to pretty much sprint to make it to Café Gardenia by half six. As expected, the café was long since open, a steady stream of dock workers passing through to grab morning breakfast or dinner depending on what schedule they were on. As usual there were also a few teenagers huddled in the rear booths taking advantage of a free hot meal.

"Oracle!" a strident female voice called as soon as she set foot inside. "You haven't been here for weeks, young lady. I expect better."

The voice belonged to the grey-haired waitress whom Oracle was fairly sure ran the entire dock on force of personality alone. Nana Sandy had time for everyone and a heart big enough to enclose the entire world if needed. She was also terrifying if you crossed her or someone she cared about. Nana Sandy knew everyone and everyone who was anyone knew Nana Sandy.

"Sorry Nana" Oracle replied knowing that she wasn't about to get off that easy.

"Oh no you don't, you're coming with me. Now. Stephen, I'll be in the store" she called over her shoulder before taking Oracle's arm in a death grip and marching her through the kitchen doors.

Passing through the kitchen they stopped only long enough for Nana Sandy to open a side door and throw Oracle through before she demanded;

"Where have you been?"

"Ah, well…" Oracle tailed off. Nana Sandy did not approve of her fighting and she could hardly tell her about whatever the hell was happening with International Rescue.

"Spit it out, I haven't got all day!" The elderly woman blocked the door, hands on her hips, the very picture of fuming matriarch.

"Well, I sort of, er, got involved-"

"Oh, you met someone!" Hands came off hips and embraced Oracle so fast she didn't have time to pull away.

"What? No! Well, kind of, but it's not. I mean-"

"Full sentences, my lovely, you can do it" Nana Sandy smiled and released Oracle from the crushing hug.

"I really don't think I can" Oracle murmured. Virgil was definitely not what she'd intended to tell Nana Sandy about but it'd do if it took the old woman's attention from where she'd actually been these past few weeks.

"It's not young Nicholas, is it?"

"Jesus, no!" Oracle said appalled. Nick was not her sort at all. The thought gave her pause as she'd never really considered that she had a 'sort' before. She carefully kept a smile off her face as she realised that Virgil definitely counted as her sort.

"Good. He's been causing trouble recently, trying to entice some of the young boys out to the clubs you and he like." That last comment came with a pointed disapproving look.

"Thank you for telling me about Warren" Oracle said desperately trying to change the subject.

"Oh no you don't, tell me about this young man of yours."

"He's not mine!"

"Ah, but there is a young man."

Oracle took a breath. She knew there was no winning with Nana Sandy when she got her teeth into something. Suddenly telling Virgil to meet her here was looking like a mistake. He'd have been difficult enough to pass off as a friend given his accent and clearly higher social standing. Now Nana Sandy would be on him like a viper.

"Nana" she put her best whining voice on. "There isn't anything to tell, I haven't known him that long."

"But you like him?"

"Yes?"

"And he likes you."

Or he's just generally a cuddly sleeper. The thought must have shown on her face.

"I see he does. You will bring him here, and I will see for myself." It was a command and Oracle knew it. She also knew she needed to warn Virgil. The idea of telling him not to come vanished. If Nana Sandy wanted something she got it and when Nana Sandy was in full grandmother mode you didn't get in the way. Oracle was on thin ice with her already and frankly she couldn't afford to be. There weren't many places in the city you could troll in to at 4am and get some warm food with no questions asked but Café Gardenia was one of them. It came at a price though and the price was Nana Sandy trying to get into every aspect of your life whilst steering you back on a 'good path.' She'd helped hundreds of street kids, homeless and hopeless people this way and Oracle was more than a little in awe of her.

"Now" Nana Sandy gestured to the boxes behind her. "Pick yourself some new clothes and tell me something about yourself and this time Oracle" the warning tone returned. "There will be no getting out of it. You've pushed your luck long enough. Warren is fine and in steady employment it's time we got you sorted."

This was true, thanks entirely to Nana Sandy, Warren had managed to land a job which he'd somehow turned into another job as an entertainer on one of the cruise ships. He was making decent money, getting regular meals and generally living like a person. Oracle was thrilled for him and held no illusions that the same could happen for her.

She turned and started to dig through the boxes, looking for a long-sleeved t-shirt and a replacement for her jeans. Her blood-stained jeans. Damn it, Nana Sandy was going to see the bandage and then Oracle would be for it again.

"My first name is Jasmine" she said desperately looking for a subject to take Nana's attention.

There was only one top with long sleeves, it was a sort of beige with trees in silhouette on it. All in all, it was terrible but then beggars couldn't be choosers.

Nana Sandy didn't say anything, instead she moved to another box and located jeans, underwear and a zip up hoodie in moments.

"Thank you for finally telling me that" she said warmly. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"I'm not sure what sort of thing you mean?" Oracle began to get changed, knowing there was no way Nana Sandy was going to leave. She stripped off her boots and jeans and quickly changed. Holding the awful brown top, she hesitated. "Nana, I'd rather you didn't see what's under here."

"Is it worse than the bandage on your leg?"

"No! No, it's not a wound. Erm, not a fresh one, anyway."

"I understand, my lovely." Nana's eyes filled with sympathy that set Oracle's stomach on edge. Sympathy was the last thing she deserved. "Everyone is self-conscious about something." Nana Sandy politely turned her back but still didn't leave. Oracle scrambled to change quickly, throwing the old clothes in the to-be-washed bin.

"So" Nana started "in short, you're still fighting." A hand was held up to forestall anything Oracle was about to say. "You've got yourself involved in something you know I won't approve of – though knowing you, you probably did it for a good reason, and you've met someone you're quite keen on but it's still very new."

"I swear you could work as a GDF interrogator" Oracle said flummoxed. Nana Sandy turned back around.

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Last night?"

"Where?"

"See what I mean about the interrogation?"

"You deserve it for pulling a three and a half week disappearing act. Where?"

"… In a hotel." How was Sandy making her feel about ten years old? For God's sake she had been the eldest of her brothers, she had been the one that kept them and the other kids in line and there were very few people who tried the same thing with her. It might have been a while but there was a time when her word was law. But then Nana didn't ask for that kind of respect. She assumed she had it and went from there.

"With the young man." It wasn't a question. "You will bring him here later today."

"Yes Nana" the response was out before Oracle had thought about it. It was the correct response to a direct order, something that had been practically hardwired into her. Sandy caught it too and her eyes narrowed slightly the way they did when Nana was on to something she didn't like and was determined to fix. Oracle shook herself, "he's meeting me here at ten."

"Good girl. Now, come along, Warren will be here shortly. I apologise for letting you know so late" Nana turned to leave knowing Oracle would follow. "I'll get you something to eat, you can wash the dishes later to pay for it and the clothes."

"Yes Nana" she replied crisply. The woman's razor-sharp eyes narrowed again and she tutted to herself. Oracle had no idea why.