Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long, but here's another chappy. I got more reviews! Whoot! Thanks to everyone who reviewed between last chapter and this one.

"I'm home, Bill!" Samantha called as she walked through the door. "We actually didn't get to work on the project that much. Terry had to go to his job partway through, so I offered to baby-sit his brother. His mom invited me over for dinner when she got home. Guess what? She likes pineapple pizza, too."

She looked around the apartment, but found it empty. Bill's bedroom door was closed, and she sighed. "Why do I bother?"

Give it time. He'll snap out of it. Arabus commented. It was good of you to offer to baby-sit, though. And to cover for Terry.

"What's your point, luv?" Samantha asked tiredly. He always had a point.

How come you did it? Arabus asked.

"Because he's my friend. You know how I am with friends, Ara. You annoy me about it all the time." Samantha replied.

Samantha didn't make friends very often, but when she did, she had a fierce, unwavering loyalty to them. It was because of this that she chose her friends carefully. She suspected it had something to do with her practice in the Art.

You've never made friends quickly. Arabus reminded her.

Samantha shrugged. "Terry's….Different. I can sense something about him. Second sight, or whatever. Though that was Mom's specialty."

Are you sure? Arabus pressed. Sure it's not something more?

"It's not anything more, Ara." Samantha told him tersely. "He's a friend. I can tell. And it's not just him. Max has it, too." She added, when she sensed his disbelief.

Arabus sighed mentally. All right, Sammie. You go to sleep, then. You're still tired from last night.

"Thank you ever so much for your permission." Samantha muttered sarcastically as she crawled under the covers.

Terry lie awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had been vaguely surprised that Samantha didn't put up a fuss to his leaving, and strangely happy with her reaction. Despite that, he felt guilty for sticking Samantha with Matt, even though she didn't seem to mind. He also felt bad for comparing her actions to Dana's, especially when he hadn't told Dana Samantha was coming over. He still wasn't sure why he hadn't told her. It wasn't like he and Samantha were doing anything. It was just….Well, he didn't know what it was just.

With a sigh, Terry tossed off the covers and slid out of bed. He wasn't at all tired, despite his rather rough time with a gang of Jokers that evening. He scrolled a note saying he was working and left it on his bed, in case his mother woke up and went in to check on him. He then pulled on his suit and quietly launched himself out the window.

He toured the city, stopping a few muggings and other petty crimes. When nothing else seemed to be happening, he stopped on the roof of a building and dialed Max's cell phone, figuring if she was still up, they could do some research. He got her answering machine, though, so he just hung up. He didn't bother leaving a message or calling the emergency line that was hooked into her computer, since this definitely wasn't an emergency and, if Max was actually getting some sleep, he wasn't about to wake her.

He was making another loop around the city when his communicator buzzed to life.

"McGinnis." Wayne commented. "You're out late."

"Couldn't sleep." He replied. "What's up?"

"I have a friend who's a reliable member of the Pagan network. She doesn't know much, but she can establish you amongst the others." Wayne told him. "If you're going to get any of them to talk to you, you need credibility. She won't vouch for you unless she meets you. Something about reading your aura."

"Okay." Batman muttered. Then, "You want me to go over there now?"

"She's nocturnal." Wayne replied simply, then gave him the address.

Batman sighed and switched his course. He swooped in over the small residential area and found the place. It was a small but nice house, completely normal looking. He walked up to the door, figuring it would be more polite to knock.

In a few moments, the door opened slowly and a middle-aged woman peered out. She had silvery blonde hair and light green eyes and was wearing jeans and a loose, flowing shirt.

"Uh, hi…" Batman started.

The woman wordlessly held the door open for him. He entered the house and she shut it behind him, locking the door. The inside of the house looked just as normal as the outside, and he began to wonder if he had the right place.

"Hello, Batman." The woman greeted. "I know why you are here."

She stepped closer to him, green eyes flicking over him at an incredibly rapid pace. "I'm Sabin. And you….are in love." She informed him, grinning now. "Murky waters ahead. Ooo, baby."

He stared at her.

She flashed him another grin. "Into the community you seek. I will do all I can. Most don't take to strangers. Burning times are still fresh in minds. Some quite literally." She then laughed, apparently amused.

"So….you can get them to talk to me?" He asked.

She laughed again. "My best, I will do." She looked him over. "Don't wear that."

She looked him over again, then nodded. "I will make the calls. Get back to you tomorrow. Kisses to Wayne."

Without further comment, she walked over to the door and unlocked it, then held it open. Still a bit confused, Batman walked out, thanking her as he did.

"Are they all going to be like that?" Batman asked when he was back in the air.

"Most of them." Wayne replied, amusement evident in his voice. "It's the normal ones that'll really freak you."

The next day, when school let out, Terry walked outside with Max and Samantha. Dana was ticked at him for some reason or another, probably because he wasn't able to go to the arcade with her after school.

"You need a ride, Sam?" He asked as they walked. "I have to get to work, but I can probably drop you off."

Samantha shook her head. "Nah. I'm covered. I'll see you two later." She gave Max a hug in farewell, then strolled off.

She probably could have used a ride, but Samantha had sensed that Terry really needed to get going. She wasn't too good with aura reading, but she could still get strong feelings. As long as they didn't have to do with her, for some reason.

As she was walking home, her mind picked up a heart-breakingly familiar signature and she stopped where she was.

Zeus? She asked silently.

Zeus was the puppy she had gotten for Christmas a few years back. They were incredibly devoted to each other, almost as close as she was with Arabus. She wasn't supposed to have pets in her new apartment, though, so she had had to leave him with her neighbors in California. It was too far out of her range for them to connect minds, so she called him nearly every day to tell him she loved him. Although he couldn't reply, he understood English and got the gist. Now, though, she was sensing him.

Sam! He called gleefully.

What are you doing here, baby? She questioned.

I missed you. He replied, a bit of "duh" in his tone.

Okay, so that was a stupid question. She admitted. How about this one: How did you get here?

I hid in the cargo of a plane. He answered. And now I'm here.

Stay there. Samantha told him. I'm coming to get you.

Okay. He agreed, followed by, Ow!

What? She demanded. What happened?

I…I fell. He answered, pain obvious in his mental signature. I think I broke something.

Oh, Goddess….I'll be right there. She said, picking up her pace to a full out run.

His path led her out by the ocean, then up a hill and right to the front gate of…Wayne Manor.

"Oh, Lordy." Samantha muttered. "Of all the places…" She gave a sigh, then pushed the call button. "Mr. Wayne?" She asked. "I'm really sorry to bother you, but there's a hurt dog in your front yard…I can see him through the fence. I'm not some loony, I swear." When he didn't answer, she pushed it again. "Please, Mr. Wayne, he's crying, and…I think he's my dog!" There was a long pause. Then she pushed it again, voice annoyed. "Fine. Be that way. I'm jumping over to help him, and if you call the cops on me I'm telling them I slipped through your fence 'cause I hurt myself in a fall and just wanted to use your phone."

She was halfway up the gate when it suddenly opened. She almost lost her balance, but managed to slide back down and slip through the fence. She ran to her dog, who was a fairly large black lab and Dalmatian mix. His left foreleg was lying limp at his side.

"It's okay, sweetie, I'm here." She crooned quietly, stroking him.

She had taken some classes in veterinary medicine, so she did a brief pre-lim to make sure it was okay to move him. His head was also a bit tender, and she didn't want to move him too far, but she figured it would be in his best interest to take him to a vet. Worried, she began pondering a way to do so without hurting him further.

Barking distracted her, though, and she opened her mind. Hello?

Intruder! The dog replied.

I'm not! Samantha protested. My baby was hurt. I just want to help him.

The dog paused. Hurt?

Yes. Samantha replied. He was crying. I'm not here to do anything wrong. What's your name, sugar?

Ace. The dog replied. And I'm watching you.

Read my thoughts. Samantha told him. You'll see my intentions. She sent them out, feeling the dog pick up on them.

Ace was stronger than she realized, for he picked up some of her memories as well. She wasn't sure which ones, but they must have been good, for he relaxed.

Okay. Ace said. I believe you.

He appeared, then, a large black Great Dane. Behind him was Bruce Wayne.

Samantha stood. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne…I didn't mean to make you come out."

"Is he okay?" Wayne asked, looking at Zeus.

"He should be." Samantha answered, looking tenderly at him. "Once I get him to a vet. I don't think it's very safe to move him too far, though."

Wayne considered, then nodded. "We'll bring him up to the house. Ace's vet makes house calls."

Samantha's eyes lit up. "Thank you…If it was anyone else hurt, I wouldn't even think of imposing, but…"

"I understand." Wayne replied. "What's his name?"

"Zeus." She said. "I assume that's Ace?"

Wayne nodded and she smiled. "He's beautiful."

Ace let out a bark of agreement and Wayne smiled ever so slightly. He bent over to pick up Zeus.

"I can do that." Samantha interjected, then blushed. "Umm, not that I think you don't know how to handle dogs. I mean, obviously, you've got Ace. It's just…I want him to know I'm here."

He blinked at her, and she detected surprise at her objection. Not that she objected, but surprise at the reason for it. She didn't get anymore than that, though, and he stepped aside to let her gently scoop up her dog. They headed back to the house, slowly and carefully so as not to hurt Zeus. When they got him inside, Wayne told her she could put him on the couch and went to go call the vet.

When he returned, Samantha was leaning over her dog, tenderly stroking his side. "It's gonna be okay, baby." She murmured softly.

He cleared his throat, then told her, "The vet is on the way."

"Thank you." She told him. "So much."

He nodded and sat down in one of the chairs. She perched on the end of the couch her dog was on, which happened to be the end closest to Wayne's chair. Ace lifted his head to look at her and she reached out to pet him. Wayne opened his mouth to warn her, then closed it as Ace calmly sat there and let her tousle his ears.

He blinked at her. "You must have a way with dogs."

She smiled slightly. "I love them."

"I can see that." He commented. "Not many people would jump over a fence at the threat of the cops for their dog."

"Well, they're not very good people, then." She then paused, and colored, looking down. "I'm sorry…I'm being rude. My name is Samantha Redbone."

"Native American?" He asked. "Which tribe?"

"Cheysuli." She replied, a note of pride in her voice.

"Ahh." He said, leaning back. "Animal worshippers. No wonder you have an affinity with dogs."

She smiled a bit. "That's what my mother said."

They sat in companionable silence while they waited for the vet. Not that her dog wasn't in immediate danger, Samantha seemed to have fallen back into her shyness. The vet arrived soon after that and looked over Zeus while Samantha hovered worriedly around. The vet put his leg in a cast and bandaged his head, informing them the leg was broken and he had a concussion, so it would be best not to move him too much for the next few weeks.

"I suppose he'll just have to stay here." Wayne said. "If that's all right with you."

In response, Samantha promptly hugged him. His eyes widened in surprise and he patted her shoulder awkwardly.

"Thank you." She told him, releasing him. She then turned to the vet. "How much do I owe you?"

The vet shook her head. "It's on me, sweetie." She replied.

Samantha hugged her, too, feeling vaguely over-whelmed. When the vet left, Samantha slid down on the couch next to Zeus. "I think I have to revise my opinion that people suck." She commented absently.