Chapter 2 - Play

It was only a 5 minutes walk from Cameron's apartment to the park, so Cameron never saw the point in driving.

As they walked, Cameron made odd comments to Dani, such as, "Aren't the leaves colorful?" or "See that bird? It's a robin."

As they caught sight of the familiar sign which welcomed pedestrians to the park, Dani let go of Cameron's hand, and ran past it, and into the grass. Although she couldn't yet read, Dani had no trouble recognising the sign.

Cameron, glad that she had worn more sturdy shoes – knowing Dani, looking after small children often involved a bit of running – jogged to catch up to Dani before she lost sight of her.

Dani had run towards the playground, and stopped just short of the slide, waiting for Cameron to get closer her, before she took off again.

"What are you going to do first?"

"Swing," Dani yelled, already half way there.

When Cameron reached her, she had already sat herself on a swing and was waiting, not patiently, for Cameron to give her a ride.

"Push," she demanded. Cameron put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows.

"Please?" Dani asked, tilting her head to the side. Cameron laughed, and shook her head. Dani always knew exactly how to get what she wanted.

"Manners do magic," Cameron reminded Dani. Dani didn't answer, but wriggled expectantly.

Cameron gave her a push. Dani immediately began to giggle.

"Help me out!" Cameron called to her. "Swing your legs."

Dani complied, but so out of time, that she wasn't swinging straight forward, but side to side as well.

This carried on for a minute or so, but Dani soon tired of the activity. She climbed out of the swing when it stopped without much difficulty.

"What next?" Cameron said, looking around the playground. Dani didn't answer.

"Is that Robert?" she asked Cameron softly, her eyes fixed on a lone figure about 3 metres away from them, his back to them.

Cameron glanced up, and froze when she saw Chase, head down, hands in pockets, slowly walking along the paved path.

"Yes," Cameron said. They both stayed silent, watching him take each step.

Suddenly, before Cameron could stop her, Dani bounded down the path after Chase.

"Dani!" Cameron called furiously. Dani didn't stop, but walked up to Chase, and tapped his leg.

If Cameron wasn't feeling so anxious about Chase's response to meeting the pair of them here, she would have laughed at his reaction to Dani. He jumped slightly, and spun around quickly. She noticed that he softened as soon as he saw the little girl.

"Hey," he said to her. "Who're you?"

"Dani," Dani said sweetly. "And you're Robert."

Cameron did laugh when he took an alarmed step back. Chase looked up and saw her.

"Cameron," he said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Taking my little one for a walk," Cameron replied, gesturing towards Dani, and moving towards the two. When Chase's mouth dropped, she hastily added, "Not mine, really. My sister's.

Only Dani didn't feel the awkwardness of the situation.

"Slide?" she requested, looking up hopefully at them both.

"Sure thing, Dani," Cameron said, bending down to pick her up. "I…guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said to Chase.

"No," Dani said stubbornly. "Robert come play."

Cameron wasn't sure whether Dani was inviting him, or telling him.

"I guess I could…" Chase said uncertainly.

They began to make their way towards the plastic red slide in the middle of the playground.

"What are you doing here, then?" Cameron asked Chase, as she set her niece down. Cameron sat on a nearby park bench, and watched Dani run towards the ladder of the slide, and begin climbing.

Taking myself for a walk," Chase answered, sitting down beside Cameron. He then nodded towards Dani. "House gives you one day off a week, and you baby-sit?"

"I like her," she stated simply.

"She obviously likes you."

"She like you," Cameron commented. Chase went quiet. Then he asked, "How did she know my name?"

"When I saw you, I told her," Cameron lied. She didn't want to think what Chase would say if he knew she kept a photo of him in her lounge.

Chase peered at her for a moment, and Cameron was afraid Chase could tell she wasn't telling the truth.

When Chase's gaze turned back to Dani, Cameron released the breath she didn't know she'd been holding, and realised that Chase had no reason to suspect her statement.

"How old is she?" Chase's question startled Cameron from her thoughts.

"Four next February."

Cameron stood up as Dani ran over to them.

"Can we play a game?"

With a quick glance at Chase, who seemed to be studying the girl, she replied.

"Sure. What kind of game?"

"A running game. At my playgroup, we always play Kiss Chase," Dani informed them.

Cameron tried not to laugh when Chase nearly fell off the bench, but couldn't manage not to let out a giggle.

Chase shot an annoyed glance in her direction as he regained his balance.

"I guess we could…" Cameron said, still grinning, looking at Chase. All unease between the two of them had evaporated in a short moment of laughter.

Chase shrugged. He was still looking a little disgruntled at being laughed at, but he went along with it.

They stood up, and followed Dani to a grassy patch in which they could run more freely.

"Ok, who's It?" Cameron asked.

"Who's what?" Chase said, turning to her.

"It," Cameron repeated. "You have played Chase before, right?"

"I…didn't really like those kinds of games."

"Or you didn't have anyone to play those kinds of games with."

Chase stuck his tongue out at her.

"'It' is the chaser," Cameron explained. "Who tries to catch the others," she added, in case Chase really was as ignorant as he seemed.

"I'm not totally from a different planet," he said irritably.

"Come on!" Dani pressed impatiently, pulling at Cameron's arm. "I'm It first."

"Ready, Chase?" Cameron said over her shoulder, then without waiting for a reply, "Run!"

Dani immediately began to run after Cameron, though she would've had an easier time going for Chase, as he hadn't moved on Cameron's command. Cameron wasn't running fast, but Dani was still struggling to catch her. Cameron slowed down surreptitiously, to let Dani reach her. She had no idea where Chase had gone.

"Got you!" Dani yelled, almost crashing into Cameron in excitement. "Kiss," she ordered, smiling.

Cameron picked up her niece and gave her what she requested.

"I guess I'm It now, huh?"

Dani nodded violently, jumping up and down.

"You won't catch me!" Dani taunted, skipping hurriedly away from her.

"You think?" Cameron yelled, getting carried away, running fiercely after her. Dani screamed loudly.

Cameron, not wanting to catch her too quickly, hung back, and was sent flying when someone collided with her right side.

Cameron flung her arms out to break her fall, which thy succeeded in doing.

"Oh, Cameron, sorry!" It was Chase who knocked her over. Cameron had to remind herself that it was also Chase pulling her to her feet again. "Did I hurt you?"

Cameron tested her arms and shoulder in turn and, finding no overly sore points, shook her head.

"I'm ok. Where were you?"

"Don't we have to hide first?

Cameron shook her head again, this time in disbelief.

"You are from another planet," she laughed.

Chase punched her lightly on the shoulder.

"Ow." Cameron shuddered at his touch, though it wasn't terribly painful. Chase withdrew his hand anxiously.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "Oh, here comes Dani."

He began to jog in the opposite direction. Cameron followed him

"Dani's not It anymore."

"What?" Chase asked distractedly, his eyes on the approaching child.

"She caught me." Cameron spoke deliberately slowly to give Chase the chance to understand.

He did, after a moment, but only faintly.

"Does that mean you're…" he hesitated. Cameron nodded, then tapped his arm.

"And I just caught you."

"Hey, no fair," he protested, fuming. "I didn't know."

"You would've if you hadn't hidden yourself away," Cameron said sensibly.

Chase scowled.

"Nobody explained the rules of the game," he muttered, then more loudly said, "Fine, so now I'm It? Why aren't you running?"

Cameron didn't answer the question, more to avoid doing what she had to do than anything else, but looked, mildly guiltily, around for Dani. She hadn't heard exasperated cries that they were taking too long.

"Where's Dani?" Chase had caught on quickly that that was what she was looking for.

"I don't know," she replied nervously. She began to walk back to the playground, increasing her speed with each step. She could hear Chase doing the same behind her, trying to keep up.

"Dani?" she called. "Dani!"

Cameron needn't have worried, Dani came running to them as soon as Cameron called. Cameron didn't know what to do with her hands; she hugged Dani, smoothed down Dani's hair – though it bounced back into her usual curls as soon as Cameron's fingers left it – placed them on both sides of Dani's face, then came to rest on her shoulders.

"Why'd you run away like that?" Cameron snapped. "You scared me."

Dani buried her face into Cameron's shoulder, and Cameron had to pry her out to speak to her.

"It's ok," she soothed. "just tell me where you're going next time."

Dani nodded.

"I was practising on the swing," she said earnestly. "Come see, I can almost do it."

Cameron and Chase followed her, and stood to the side of the swing set. Cameron pulled Chase close to her.

A/N: Ha ha, what's going to happen?

You anonymous reviewers annoy me; I like to reply to you all. Here goes.

Cold blooded jelly donut: …thank you. I don't like sticks. I shall update quickly. :)

TheOneAndOnlyMe: Thanks. I think so too :). Will do.

Ashley: You really truly do? Damn, I'd better think of some interesting disclaimers, then. …Chase's dad is a doctor. Where've I said he wasn't? I'd better fix it.

alt: Thank you. Have done so, just for you :)