Okay, short chapter,I know, don't kill me! All opinions welcome, except for unconstructive critiscm. which will be ignored.

Even when Thomas was half his original height taller, Kai could still stare straight at him.

"Tell me," Kai spat, eyes blazing. "Did you watch the Championship match where Ray ended up in hospital, seriously injured and still won? Or the one where Tyson and his opponent blew a hole in the stadium with their blades and Tyson won that one too?" He pulled Thomas away from the wall and lifted him even higher, directly over his head, the muscles standing out in his neck like ropes. "Or, have you never watched any of our matches? Go on," He was shouting now. "How many times have you actually seen us blade?" Terrified, Thomas shook his head.

"N-None." he gasped out.

"None." Kai's voice dripped sarcasm. "You're out of your league, kid. Go back to mummy and play spinning tops. Let the pros get on with the business." He dropped Thomas in disgust, wiping his hand on his trousers. As the boy limped, shaken, towards the door, Kai turned around, breathing hard.

"Oh yes, and Thomas? Tell your coach that we might consider it, if he can…persuade us a bit better." Defiance flared in Thomas's eyes for a second. Come on." Kai whispered menacingly. "Just try it." Thomas backed down hurriedly, practically running out the door and down the corridor. Kai held up a hand to silence Tyson's enthusiastic whoops, sinking onto the sofa, eyes closed, face creased in pain. The others all filed quickly out of the room, Hilary dropping the pill-bottle on to the sofa. Kai looked at them, grimaced, and swallowed one dry, pulling a face at the taste. Unnoticed by anybody, Thomas stopped halfway down the corridor and pulled a mobile phone out of his pocket.

"Wow!" Kenny's voice greeted them as they opened the door. "That was amazing!"

"You were watching?" asked Hilary.

"Of course!" Kenny exclaimed excitedly. Tyson grabbed Kenny's arm.

"Where's Max?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light, hiding the strange fear he was feeling. Kenny thought back.

"I don't know…Oh! Yes I do! He went upstairs a while ago. I think Sarah followed him up. Hey Sarah," Kenny turned to the little girl, who was clinging possessively to Tyson. "What did you and Max do up there?" Sarah frowned. "Me tried to tell you 'fore, but you no listen!" she said accusingly.

"We're all listening now. Promise!" said Tyson encouragingly. Sarah screwed her face up in thought, then sat comfortably down and began talking. "I follow Mac up stairs and into room with beds in. Then, Mac fall asleep, but he not sleep in bed, he sleep on floor!" Hilary and Ray looked at each other, confused. Tyson just stared down at Sarah.

"What happened then, Sas?" he asked. Sarah thought hard.

"Um…then I go wake Mac up, and tell him he bad boy to sleep in daytime. Then-then," Her lip began to wobble. Recognising the danger signs, Tyson knelt down and put an arm round her "Then, Mac say - he say, GO AWAY!" Sarah sobbed into his shoulder. Tyson made the appropriate comforting sounds, then pulled away. "What happened then?" he asked urgently. Scared by the desperate look in Tyson's eyes, Sarah bit her lip before continuing in a subdued voice. "Then, Mac fall asleep again. So, I remember something Mummy does, and I did it to Mac."

"Show me." Tyson said.

"Um, okay." Sarah reached up and placed her hand on Tyson's forehead. Tyson's brain was racing, trying to translate Sarah's baby language into something that made more sense. Max fell asleep on the floor…Fell onto the floor…fell…deep sleep…unconscious? Fell unconscious? Oh no. Please no…

"What did Max feel like, Sarah?" he asked desperately. Everyone looked at him, wondering why he was panicking.

Sarah shifted slightly. "Mac felt all hot." she said uncertainly. Tyson swore violently and tore upstairs as fast as he could. His voice came down to them.

"Guys! He isn't here!" Ray, Hillary and Kenny exchanged looks, then ran upstairs after him, Ray scooping up Sarah under one arm. Tyson was running round the bedroom panicking, looking everywhere but where Max might be. Hilary looked carefully round the room. Tyson seemed to have been right. Max wasn't there. But where could he be? Sarah, realising they were looking for something, pointed towards the fire escape.

"Look! Door open!" she called. Tyson spun round and ran over to the fire escape.

"You've got to be kidding me! How could he have got down here? Why would he have gone down here?" he pleaded.

"Delirious." said Hilary quietly, speaking slowly as she pieced it together in her mind. "If he was… really ill…he could've been delirious…you don't know what you're doing when you're like that."

Tyson flung himself down the fire escape, but was pulled back by Ray, kicking and struggling.

"No, Tyson, don't be stupid." he said sternly. He looked quickly round the room. "Right. Everyone in the kitchen. Let's figure out what to do next."

R&R, please!