A/N This chapter will steer away from the script slightly. But the second chunk of the chapter will veer back to the original storyline/script of the episode. I hope that clears things up a bit before we begin.

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

"I understand about indecision

But I don't care if I get behind

People livin' in competition

All I want is to have my peace of mind"-

Boston, "Peace of Mind."

Chapter Forty-Five: The New Atlantis (s2 ep10 part 1)

"Macey, can you do this for me?"

"I can help you, but I can't do it for you."

Jade, who was hunched over her math worksheet, groaned in prolonged frustration. She'd been trying to complete the worksheet for at least thirty minutes now, and she was only on question three. The worksheet assigned on Monday was due tomorrow- and Jackie and I had only found out about it today. Today was Thursday.

"Jade, you had a week to do this." Fun Macey was now replaced by Firm, Parental Macey. I felt guilty for being hard on her, but she should have at least told us about it the day it was assigned. "I can help you, but I already passed the fifth grade."

Jade exhaled heavily. "It's so hard! B squared plus b squared is-" She tried counting on her fingers, but then gave up. "Ugh. I can't do it." She slumped in her seat, resting her chin on the table in defeat.

I pulled my chair over from the computer and sat next to her. "Did you try using the calculator? Here." I shoved the calculator across the table toward her, but she stared at it as if it were some fossil Jackie had dug up. "Come on, Jade. I know it's hard, but you at least have to try."

"I am trying." Jade rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

She wasn't the only one feeling a headache coming on. "You're not convincing me of that, Jade. You've only done three problems." I don't know how anyone could be a teacher. As much as I love kids- and Jade- this would drive me nuts if I had to deal with it daily. "You've got to show me that you're trying. Come on, one more problem, and then you can have a ten-minute break."

Jade perked up like a puppy who'd just been asked if she wanted a treat. "And I can have cookies and juice?"

"Yes, yes. Come on, try re-writing it on a separate sheet of paper and use the calculator." I passed her a clean sheet of scrap paper, pencil, and tapped the calculator with my thumb. "Chop chop."

Jade, without complaint- I guess the promise of cookies and juice serving as her driving force- got to work, copying the problem down on the lined paper. Her tongue poked through the corner of her mouth as she concentrated, mumbling to herself.

"You've got to get out of the habit of the mumbling, Jade," I reminded her, digging around in her school binder until I located and deposited a ruler. "It'll distract the other students if it's silent work time."

Jade didn't even avert her eyes from her paper as she pointed out, "But I'm not at school right now."

I sighed. "Fair enough."

Last night, Jackie had cornered me at the computer in the middle of working on research for an article. "I need to speak with you."

Of course, immediately, my mind drifted to worst case scenario. "Yeah? I mean, what's up?" I drummed my fingers on the tabletop.

"Jade needs a tutor." Worry lines creased Jackie's forehead- obviously, this was something he'd been mulling over for awhile now. "She's a very smart girl and gets good grades, but she does not test well. She has difficulty sitting still in class and even more so difficulty with paying attention. Whenever it is pointed out to her or when she gets in trouble, she says she can't help it."

"And you'd like for me to tutor her?" This, I wouldn't mind. Jade may be a little energetic, (hey, aren't all kids?) but she wouldn't be impossible. "I'd be more than happy to tutor Jade. Maybe she just needs a little extra push, that's all."

Jackie looked relieved. "Thank you so much. I've tried working with her, but you know how she is. Maybe she'll actually listen to you."

Now, I padded into the kitchen while Jade continued working on the third problem. I could hear her talking to herself from the kitchen as I prepared cookies and juice for Jade and some hot herbal tea for myself. She still sounded somewhat frustrated, but nevertheless, was pushing through. While my tea brewed, I brought in Jade's cookies and juice and placed them on the table in front of her.

"Yes!" She pumped her fist triumphantly and dug in, the math problems forgotten.

I sat down across from her, my chin resting on my hands.

Jade's knee jerked against under the table, sending the orange juice glass toppling over. Pulpy, orange liquid poured onto the wooden surface.

I sighed, and Jade said defensively, "So-rry! If I don't mutter, I have to kick."

I wondered if Jade should see a pediatrician about this. "It's okay, Jade." I mopped up the juice with a napkin. "See? No harm, no foul." I picked up the over-turned glass. "I'll refill your drink."

After refilling the cup, I returned to the office with my tea and Jade's juice, where Jade was now doodling on the scrap paper and humming.

"See, there's this kid in my class named Drew," Jade said as I sat down next to her. "He doesn't believe me when I tell him about Jackie's missions. He always picks on me about it. And he gets the other kids to gang up on me about it, too. He's the most annoying kid in the whole class."

"You shouldn't be telling people in general about Jackie's private matters, Jade." I was more worried about someone calling child services- or a psychiatric hospital- if Jade spilled too many beans about Jackie's work with Section 13.

"Why?"

"Because they're called private matters for a reason, Jade."

Jade stared at her hands. "Drew says that there's no such thing as ninjas."

"You can tell Drew to mind his own business." I flicked at the sheet of paper with my fingernail. "Let's work while we eat."

Jade rolled her eyes but got back to work, a chocolate chip cookie hanging from the corner of her mouth as she worked through the problems.

Little did Jackie and I know that Jade's problems with school were the least of our worries.