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Rattlecat: Yes, I did!

Kia1334: O.O (Turns to Wilt) You were sneaking around in the forest with her after Prom? Wilt edges away saying "Sorry!" What would Satin say!

cheeseisawesome: Hope you like this! Hopefully we'll only have one or two chapters more of this street bumbling.

Chapter 14: Misdirection

A single patrol car pulled into the Daleton Police station. It was a slow night. Imaginary eyes watched from the darkness as the driver opened his door.

"'Scuzi, officer?" came a voice from the shadows.

Joe, who was exiting his car, looked up. A bat-like imaginary friend stood beside his car, her amber eyes turned up to him.

"Hey there. Can I help you?" Joe asked, over-looking her raggedy appearance.

"Yes. I tink you can." she said in a rich rolling accent, "Ze young friend you yust took vith you? Vhere did you take her?"

Joe looked at her with mild suspicion, "May I ask why you want to know this?"

She smiled, "I am a friend of a friend. My friend Vilt, he is looking for her."

"Why?"

"She vas staying vith him vhile she looked for her creator. He vants to be sure she is fine." she replied, gesturing with the two hooks that ended each of her wings.

"Well, she had me take her to 245 Emerson Street, on the east side of town. She was fine when I dropped her off." Joe replied. While he doubted the friend's story he couldn't help be see the look of genuine concern in her eyes.

"Thank you! He vill be pleased." she smiled, her milk white fangs gleaming.

"No problem. Happy to help." he replied, heading across the parking lot. It was odd, usually Daleton only had one to two imaginary friend incidents, even minor ones, in a month. And here two had come to the station tonight for help. Wondering at the increase, he went inside.

Wilt walked confidently towards the police station, Crackers half-asleep between his eyestalks. These people would be able to help him he hoped. If not then he was on his own.

"Vell, Vell, Vell, look vhat ze cat dragged in." came a familiar voice from the shadows of the door.

Wilt looked down and exclaimed in happy surprise, "Batrah? Hey! It's great to see you! What are you doing here?"

"Clay sent me. He vas vorried." she explained, tossing her mane back with a shake of her head.

"He vas? Sorry, I mean, he was?" Wilt asked, concerned.

"Yes, he vas. He sent me to help." she replied, "Now coome vith me. I vill show you vhere your friend vent."

"How do you know?" Wilt asked, confused.

"I arrived here ahead of your bous. I saw Satine get into a car vith a police officer." she said, gesturing with her claws, "I yust spoke vith ze officer. He said he took her to 245 Emeerson Street. It is on ze other side of town."

Wilt groaned slightly, "Oh man! This is not okay! We'll never get there before she gets to Natalie!"

Crackers chose this moment to wake up. He lifted his little pink head and yawned, "What?"

Wilt sighed, "Satin's across town Crackers. I don't know if we'll get there in time."

"Oh." Crackers scratched his head for a moment then opened his eyes very wide, "Ooooooh. What will Natalie do when she finds out Satin came home?"

Wilt shook his head, visibly upset, "I'm sorry but I don't know. She might take her back to Foster's or she might turn her out."

Crackers huddled close to Wilt's scalp for comfort.

"You vait here Vilt." Batrah said, patting his hand, "I vill find her."

Wilt looked down at Batrah, "You vill? Sorry, I mean, you will?"

"Vhy, of course! Vilt, you are my friend, yes?" she asked, a smile on her face.

"Yeah, we're friends." Wilt replied.

"And friends help friends, yes?" Batrah asked.

Wilt smiled knowingly, "Yes."

"I have helped you before Vilt. And I know you vill return ze favor soomeday." she said, rising into the air.

"Thank you and be careful!" Wilt called to her retreating form, then to himself he whispered, "Find her for me . . ."

Crackers looked up at the two eyestalks he was nestled between, a tear slid down one, and puddled in the fur beside him. He carefully patted Wilt's head, "Don't worry, Wilt, she'll find her."

Wilt sat down on a bench outside the police station, leaning back against the wall, a realization washing over him. He loved her. That was the only way to explain it, this desperation, this feeling of despair . . . He'd only felt this once before. On that day when he sat on the stoop of Jodee's empty house, knowing she'd given up. He'd had Frankie track her down from time to time since then, to find out what had happened to her. He knew he should let go but he couldn't . . . and he couldn't do that to Satin either. Even if she loved someone else, he had to at least let her know how he felt. If he didn't he'd go insane with wondering what might have happened. Crackers's small voice broke into his thoughts suddenly, "Wilt? Wilt are you all right?"

Gently, Wilt reached up and retrieved Crackers, settling him down onto the bench, "I'm okay Crackers, just worried."

"Me too." Crackers said, wiping at his eyes.

Wilt patted him on the head, half wanting to tell him that he knew how he felt about Satin and that he felt the same way but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Instead he smiled, "She'll be okay. We'll be home before morning."

Then Crackers looked up at Wilt in surprise, "That's right . . . How are we getting home?"

Wilt paused, he'd spent the only change he had on the bus fare to Daleton . . . How were they getting home?

Satin trembled, the tears falling hot and fast. Natalie didn't want her anymore. Didn't need her anymore. She'd left her alone . . .

She felt raw and ripped, torn, hurting . . . And slowly, that hurt turned into something entirely different. How dare she! They were friends! They were sisters! They were family! You couldn't just take someone into your life and love them for thirteen years then throw them out like an outgrown sweater! She was not a hand-me-down! You couldn't use a person like that so why should it be different for an imaginary friend? Satin clutched at her shirt and rocked a little, the anger seething through her. Her hands twisting the fabric unthinkingly. She felt one pearly button come off in her hand. One pearly button sewn by Natalie's hand. Natalie's cruel, betraying hand . . .

Another button tore off.

Then another.

And another.

The fabric tore in her hands, swatches fluttering onto the lawn as she ripped it to pieces. She shredded the cloth like their friendship, all the building anger pouring out into this one defiant act. Tearing her skirt from her body she began to methodically destroy it. Pieces of green paisley fell to the lawn like broken butterflies. Panting, Satin stared at the torn pieces, her shaking hands . . .

All of the things Natalie had given her were lies. The love, the family, the friendship. All of it . . .

Satin fell to her knees and covered her head with her hands. Her breathing came in racked coughs and sobs. Her fists pounded into the soft turf as she let her anger out. Finally she felt her breathing slow, her tears stop, her fists rest . . .

She was homeless . . . Alone . . .

"This is where imaginary friends go when they need a place to stay. We love having you here."

"You're like a big sister to me . . ."

"We're not going to shove you out the door, Satin. You're always welcome at Foster's."

The voices came to her with a rush of emotion. Shame filled her heart as she sat up. She wasn't alone . . . She wasn't homeless . . .

Lowering her eyes to the ground, she shook her head. They were probably worried . . . Frightened for her, and here she was throwing a tantrum like a three year old over things she couldn't change. A stray tear slid down her cheek at the thought of her creator and she briskly wiped it away, this was no time to feel sorry for herself, she needed to think of her friends. Standing, she looked around at the pieces of cloth that littered the lawn. As much as it embarrassed her to do it, she scooped them up and piled them into the backpack she'd brought. Looking into the bag she couldn't bring herself to get dressed in the clothes she'd brought. They had all been made by Natalie.

With a sigh, she smoothed her ruffled fur and finger combed her hair in an attempt to make herself presentable. The lack of clothing didn't bother her. Like most imaginary friends she considered her clothes accessories, not necessities. Quietly, she began to make her way from streetlight to streetlight, hoping she would remember how to get to the police station.

Batrah flew low over the neighborhood. It was empty and dark this late at night. She spotted the house almost instantly, Satin was nowhere in sight . .

Because at that moment Satin passed beneath some trees and out of Batrah's range of vision. After a few more sweeps over the house, Batrah came to the conclusion that she would have to return to Wilt and tell him that Satin was not where they believed her to be . . .

Wilt was pacing, Batrah hadn't gotten back yet and it was already going towards eleven thirty. At this rate, they would never find Satin. With a sigh, he turned to Crackers, "Look, I'm sorry to ask this Crackers but can you do me a favor?"

Crackers looked up at him, "Sure, Wilt. What?"

"Could you wait here for Batrah for me? I'm going to look around for Satin awhile would that be okay? I'll be back soon . . ." Wilt asked, looking pleadingly at Crackers.

Cracker thought it over, he would be right outside the police station. He'd be fine for awhile and Batrah wouldn't be too long . . . He hoped.

He nodded at Wilt. Wilt rose and said, "Thanks, Crackers, I'll be back, promise!"

Wilt trotted off into the night to find Satin . . . Hoping he wasn't too late.