author's notes: okay, so while 30 would be a nice round number to end things, i've decided to split the end in two, since it was on the insanely-long side. so here's the second-to-last chapter! i also should say that in the middle of this chapter there's a point of view change from Chad's to Cree's, and it's separated by a "." rather than a "---" as they usually are, since it's supposed to be the same scene and i didn't want to disrupt the flow of it too much. i hope it's not too jarring.

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---

Kissing Maurce felt...wrong. Cree had no idea why, she had kissed him many times before, and this one was just like the others...but somehow she realized that not only was this kiss somehow awkward, inappropriate, just not right, but so was every kiss before this one.

She pulled away from the kiss just at the same moment Maurice had. In truth, it rather felt as though he were pushing her away. She stared at him, confused, and just a little offended.

"I—" he stammered, "sorry, I forgot. Something—at my house. Sorry!" And then he ran off.

She stared after him, more annoyed than anything else. It was odd that she wasn't more hurt. She had told him that she loved him and he ran off like she had the plague or something.

No matter. She closed the front door and returned to the kitchen; she still had those appetizers to finish and... Chad. She still had to face him after running out on him earlier. She paused before reentering the kitchen. She felt terrible for running away like that. But why should I? It's not like we're... No, it was just her. Her own mind being weird, or something. She took a breath and entered the kitchen.

He wasn't there. There was the platter of crackers, several slices of cheese, but Chad was nowhere to be found. Cree was suddenly worried. Maybe he went to the bathroom or something, she tried to reason to herself. But that was when she noticed the door to the back yard was open. She went and stared out to the street. She saw no sign of him.

"Chad...?" she called out uncertainly, but didn't receive, or even expect any response. She returned to the kitchen, frowning in concern. It wasn't like him.

He could still be in the house, she continued to tell herself. She walked into the living room, the dining room, then upstairs, knowing logically he wouldn't be there. She went to her sister's room and knocked on the door as she opened it.

"Abby? Do you know—"

Her sister stared at her, her cell phone in hand. "What did you do?" she demanded.

Cree looked at her, stunned by the accusatory tone in her sister's voice. "What do you mean?"

Abby presented her cell phone to her. "What did you do?"

She took the phone and listened to the voice mail message. It was Chad. Her feeling of concern multiplied a hundred times over as she heard his words, and worse, his tone. "What does it mean?"

"You tell me."

"How am I supposed to know?" Cree cried, anxiety ringing in her voice. "Call him back! Do something!"

"I tried calling him; he won't answer his cell phone."

"Well, I—" She put her hands to her head and tried to think. She returned the phone to her sister and left the room.

"Where are you going?" Abby asked.

"I don't know. I don't know. I've got to find him."

---

Chad stared up at the treehouse. Sector W's Treehouse looked rather similar to those of Sectors Q and V. Understandable, as they were in the same general vicinity. Taking a breath, he walked in. The Treehouse's defense array, now standard in most Treehouses, was on, but it wasn't anything a former non-decommissioned operative couldn't override. He climbed the seemingly endless spiral steps, up to the mission prep room. This was also familiar—similar, but different. Plenty of wood (of course), and 2x4 technology. It was empty; he should have known it would be, getting inside was much too easy.

He sighed impatiently and began to wander the room. He scaled the few steps to the raised platform and stood behind the podium. He looked down at the seating area beneath the hologram projector. How often had he stood behind this podium when he was leader of his own team? He didn't remember. Soon, he wouldn't remember at all….

Hearing a noise, Chad's eyes flew to the entrance to the room.

"Lee…?" came a girl's voice. "Are you here? The defense array was off when I—" She stopped short when she saw Chad standing on the platform.

He regarded her without recognition. Blonde, pigtailed, she could have been any little girl in the crowd. Chad preferred it that way. He didn't want to be taken in by someone he knew.

He descended the platform and walked towards her.

"W-wait—stop right there!" she stammered reaching behind her for a weapon. She pulled out a teddy bear launcher, and aimed at him unsteadily. "I-I-I know who you are! Just because you used to be a Kids Next Door operative doesn't mean you can defeat me!"

"Calm down," Chad replied, mildly annoyed. He raised his hands, showing his lack of firearms. "I'm not here to fight. I'm turning myself in."

"You're what?"

"I'm turning myself in," he repeated. "Look, just slap on some cuffs and take me to Moonbase to be decommissioned. I want to get this over with."

The girl eyed him suspiciously. "How do I know that this isn't just some teen trick?"

"Listen, kid, I'm trying to do you a favor here. Wouldn't you like to be known as the one who brought down former Numbuh 274, fallen 'legendary' operative, blah, blah, blah?" He sighed wearily. "Or I could just go to Moonbase and turn myself in." He frowned, not looking forward to Numbuh 86's inevitable crowing. "Look, are we going to do this or not?" He held out his hands to her to be bound.

She stared for a second then decided and scrambled for a means to restrain him. He watched her without interest. Eventually she returned with a pair of 2x4 cuffs and a written document.

As the girl fastened the restraints, she read: "You are hereby scheduled for immediate decommissioning, former operative Numbuh 274, alias Chad—um, what's your last name?"

"Does it matter?" he grumbled.

"Well, according to procedure, I have to state your full—"

There was a loud explosion of glass and wood and smoke. Chad heard a cry from the girl then the sound of her thudding to the floor several feet away. His eyes watered in the smoke as he whirled around, trying to find the cause of the commotion. Someone grabbed him by the arm and began to pull him away. He resisted.

"Chad! Come on! Let's go!"

He recognized her voice and his stomach sank. She was the last person he wanted to see right now.

He yanked his arm away from her. The cuffs dangled uselessly from one of his wrists. "Cree, what are you doing here?" In the back of his mind he did wonder—what was she doing there when just a little while ago she was telling Maurice…. But no. He wasn't going to make the stupid mistake of hoping. Not again.

"I should be asking you that. But we don't have time now, we'll talk later."

"No," Chad stated firmly. The smoke was starting to clear and he looked at her steadily in her Battle Ready Armor. "I'm staying; I'm turning myself in."

"But…why?" She sounded genuinely confused.

"Why? Why? I'm sick of this—that's why! I'm sick of wasting my time, trying to…. It's just—all so pointless. I'm sick of being…." The anger in his voice dissipated. He stared out the window at the cheerless gray sky. He continued in a soft voice: "I don't want to remember anything. I…don't want to play anymore."

They stood silently as the smoke blew slowly through the ruined room. They could hear voices in the Treehouse; other operatives would be there soon.

Chad continued to stare out of the window. He didn't care what happened to him. Kids would charge in any moment now, weapons firing. They'd attack then capture him, and drag him to be decommissioned. He had hoped it wouldn't be as dramatic as all that, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that it was over.

"You'd better get going," he said detachedly.

Cree watched him with concern. Her head armor folded back and she took a step towards him. "But Chad…I need you."

He turned slowly to regard her. What he really wanted, more than anything, was to be able to look at her and not feel as if someone were trying to rip his heart in two. He wanted to forget….

The voices were getting closer. The blonde girl was starting to stir, groaning slightly.

"Chad…?" Cree pleaded him with her eyes, and tentatively offered a hand.

God, how I hate her!

"Fine," he resigned. Damn it, why do I always give in to her? He reached out and took her hand.

Her expression brightened. She grasped his hand tightly, and pulled him with her. They made their retreat just in time, jumping into Cree's waiting aircraft as the operatives entered, weapons blazing.

---

Cree set her aircraft down in his backyard. Without a word, not even a glance back to her, Chad walked to his house.

"Chad—wait." Cree disembarked from her ship and followed him into his house.

He stopped but refused to look at her.

"I don't understand, Chad. Why…all of a sudden you…. If they decommissioned you, you wouldn't remember anything, not even…not even me. Aren't we friends?"

She sounded hurt. Good, he thought to himself, trying to squash the prick of guilt.

Aloud, he said in a voice as steady as he could muster, "I'm tired, Cree. I don't want to do this anymore. I would have quit a long time ago if it weren't…."

Cree waited for him to finish, but he didn't. After several long moments of silence, she began, "I can't say I understand it, but if you want to talk…?"

He clenched his jaw and stared at the floor. It's your fault. Your fault. Aloud he said, "I hate my life. Everything about it. I just want everything to go away."

She took in this information. Then ventured, "Everything?"

"Everything." He said the word with finality.
.

Cree shifted uncomfortably, uncertain how to reply. It was hard to believe that this was the same friend who she laughed with just the other day...just a few hours ago, even. "I…didn't know…that you were so unhappy. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—that is—if you decide…that you still want to be decom—"

"I lied," Chad interrupted. He was facing her now, gazing upon her with sad, warm eyes. "I don't hate everything."

Cree met his eyes, feeling her cheeks grow hot under his stare. She smiled awkwardly. "I'm glad," she finally said, to fill the silence, if nothing else.

Chad didn't look glad at all.

She waited several moments, and it seemed that he wasn't going to say more. She wanted to ask him, why? How could you be so unhappy when I'm always so happy when I'm with you? But she didn't dare. She was afraid of the answer. She didn't know what to say. "Well, I should be going now."

"Cree—" Chad called as she headed for the door.

She turned and looked at him questioningly.

"Cree," he repeated, closing the distance between them. "I know that you're…with Maurice, and that…" he stumbled over the words, staring fixedly at the floor. "…and that you…." He looked up into her eyes for a brief moment before quickly focusing elsewhere. He was silent. For too long. "I'm sorry, this is really bad timing. You—you should go." He glanced up at her again, looking as miserable as ever.

It broke her heart, seeing him like that. He looked in so much pain. And she wished more than anything that she could ease it. But how? She didn't know, so she played the coward's part and ran away. "Okay," she said softly before turning once again towards the door.

"I love you," he announced to her back.

Cree stood still for several seconds without facing him. Strange how those few words could set her heart racing. She slowly turned around and looked at Chad. Am I trembling? It felt like she was.

He gazed at her intently. "I know you and Maurice…. I just want you to know. I don't expect anything from you. You don't need to say anything." He watched her with pained eyes.

Cree's gaze was fixed on his. She knew he must be able to see her shaking and she wished she could stop. More than that, she wished she knew how to respond. Her heart was pounding so hard she couldn't think. "I…I…."

"It's okay," he interrupted quickly. He turned away, sniffling slightly, then immediately attempted a laugh and didn't quite succeed. "I know you two have a thing going, and I don't want to get in the way of that." He rubbed his eyes hastily. "I just wanted to tell you…maybe I shouldn't have…. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she comforted, stepping closer to him. But her brain wouldn't work; it just spun and spun. "You're…so sweet."

Chad made a sound that was halfway between a sob and a chuckle, and again wiped his eyes roughly. "Do you…" he cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I…?" Before he finished his request, he gently put his arms around her and held her close to him.

Cree was a little taken aback, but accepted his embrace. She felt him take a long breath then exhale slowly. It was warm in his arms, and comforting. She closed her eyes. Her mind stopped careening in her skull and her heart took on a less frantic, more certain beat. I know this feeling…what is it?

His arms loosened and he released her. Cree opened her eyes unwillingly; it felt as if she were awakening from a dream. She looked up into his eyes, so sad. But he smiled at her.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

---

She walked from Chad's house in a daze. Chad loves me…. That was the first time a boy said that to her; she certainly never heard it from…. And that hug…she knew that embrace. He had never held her like that in his arms before, and yet it was as if she remembered it. How…?

She paused on the sidewalk and thought, though it was more like recalling an old memory, even like dreaming.

Dreaming…my dream. The one who always comes to hold me close. It was Chad all along?

But of course it was. It was suddenly so obvious, as if a thick veil had been pulled away, and she could finally see.

Of course it was Chad. How could I have been this stupid? For so long? I….

And then just as abruptly it became clear as well; the one who always ran from her in her dream wasn't Maurice, and it wasn't even Abby. The hat had thrown her off, but now she realized—

It's me.

It was herself, back when she was Numbuh Eleven. She had been chasing herself all this time. It was her days back in Sector V that she had been trying to reclaim, back when her life was simpler and she was happy. She had her sister, she had the admiration of her teammates; her crush was always nearby. She didn't realize until now how much she missed those days. She didn't realize that she had been clinging to her past for all this time.

But it was a pointless pursuit. She could never get back her childhood, she could never make life the way it was back then. Abby had grown and changed, so had Maurice.

So have I.

With a sad smile, Cree let Numbuh Eleven dash to the past, where she belonged. She would stay here, an unremarkable teenager with an estranged sister and a boyfriend who didn't love her.

But she had something that not everyone had: a dear friend who she could talk to and laugh with, someone who comforted her with bologna sandwiches and could arrange crackers on a plate like nobody's business. Someone who she never realized before how much she depended on, someone who had just told her that he loved her.

She looked in the direction of Chad's house. But then, deciding quickly, she ran to Maurice's at a rapid pace.

---

Maurice sighed as he lounged on his couch once again. His attempt at breaking up with Cree was a miserable failure. In fact it could hardly be called an attempt at all, he didn't say anything to her other than "Hey, Cree."

And then she said it, she dropped the bomb (out of nowhere!) and he was left speechless. And then she kissed him, and it all felt so wrong. How could she not feel how wrong this whole relationship is?

He had panicked. He pushed her away with probably too much force and stammered something about forgetting something at home before turning tail and running.

Miserable Failure.

And he was still left with the same problem—How am I going to break up with Cree?

He frowned as he heard frenetic pounding at his front door. He rose from the couch reluctantly and plodded to the door, opening it without even checking to see who it was. He regretted this as soon as he saw Cree on the other side.

"Maurice!" she exclaimed.

Dammit, too late to hide and pretend I'm not home. "Hi, Cr—"

"You don't love me, do you?"

He stared at her, looking stunned. Mostly because the words she just used weren't usually said with such a wide smile.

"I…."

"It's okay, I don't love you either. I don't know what made me say it earlier, I must have been crazy."

Maurice's mouth hung open in a baffled expression. "Are…you breaking up with me?"

"That's it exactly! I'm so glad you understand!" She reached forward and gave him a tight, quick hug. "Thank you," she said then hastened away.

He stared after her rapidly retreating form.

Well, that was…easy.

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author's notes: Cree's strange behavior, finally explained! and Cree and Maurice have finally split. whoo-hoo!