AN: Okay, here it is; part 14. Sorry it's taken so long. I've had visitors in town and they just don't show themselves around! Hope you enjoy this part. There'll be more up tomorrow...

Part 14

"Alright, everybody out," Mac ordered, adding, "Tyler, you wait a minute, sweetie. I'll help you…"

Tiegan shot her brother an envious look, as she unclipped her seatbelt and climbed out, along with Gerry. He seemed unaffected by what had occurred and continued on with his chattering;

"…so, my Mum said that if I wanted my tea anytime tonight, I was to get off the Play Station and finish my homework. I told her that the teacher never really checks it, but she called me on it, because I've gotten into trouble before for not completing my homework. Miss Jackson called her into school for a lunchtime meeting and everything. I knew then that I must really be in T-R-O-U-B-L-E…"

Mac lifted Tyler out of the car, before closing the door and locking the vehicle behind her. They were parked in the Robert's driveway just behind the people carrier that Harriet drove.

"Mrs. Rabb?" Tiegan asked her newfound object of adulation, "How come your daughter didn't come with you to get us, today?"

"Mattie's in school, just now," Mac told the girl, "She's sixteen, but she still needs to go to school, just like you."

"Will she come once the big-school lets out at four?"

"No, sweetie," Mac hated to dash the child's hope, "She goes to a special school…A while back, she was in an accident and now she needs extra help to learn all the things that the accident took away."

"Oh," Tiegan sounded surprised and asked, timidly, "Was that why she was in the wheelchair, last Saturday?"

"Mmm-hmm," Mac nodded, "She doesn't need it most of the time, but if we're going to do a lot of moving about, she'll use it so she doesn't get too tired. Maybe she'll come another time, though."

This seemed to keep Tiegan happy, so they all went in and Harriet went to fix the children an after-school snack. Mac took Tyler up to AJ and Jimmy's room, settling him in the bed beneath the window. The boy was practically asleep, so Mac didn't know how far to go in ridding him of his school uniform. In the end, she took off his blazer, tie, shirt, shoes and socks, leaving him in his vest and pants (AN: Referred to as 'trousers', in the UK. 'Pants' is something else entirely!) She felt a little uneasy, knowing that the little boy didn't know her too well. Still, she felt very attached to him, even more so since they had left the school.

"Feel better, buddy," she stroked his forehead gently, brushing his hair away from his eyes.

The boy was nearly asleep, but still managed to utter something, his voice slurred with sleep and the tail end of the medication the nurse had given him.

"Night, Mrs. Rabb…I wish I had a Mum like you…"

Mac turned back to find him already drifting to sleep. She was glad she didn't have to reply, because she didn't think she could find the words to do so.

All afternoon, until she returned home, Tyler's words echoed in her head.