Author's note: Thanks again for the review.

She is hungry. Terribly so.

She hadn't had much of an appetite back in the GDF headquarters. Most of that could probably be attributed to the fact that she'd had other things on her mind and had been too darn tired to be hungry. Now though, her stomach rumbles, reminds her that she's missed decent meals in every sense. Whilst she wasn't quite suicidal enough to think that something cooked up by Grandma would be something that she'd enjoy, she had missed those meals prepared by her brothers, father or Jeff.

She settles on down as she's offered a bagel. Although they've already eaten, the rest of her family sit down with her. Automatically, she goes for it with her right hand before being reminded once more that it's broken. She'll have to make do with the left. Easier said than done. She finds it to be something of a challenge to grab a hold of it without some of its contents spilling out. It's her father who comes to her aid, taking a knife and cutting it in half for her.

Kayo knows that she should hate it. She should despise being babied and treated as if she's an invalid. Six months ago, even the fact that they'd interrupted what they were doing to come and keep her company would have irritated her, she'd have asked them politely not to trouble themselves about her. Instead, she's just grateful to no longer be alone, to know that there are others around her to care for her.

"Thanks..." She mutters softly.

"It's fine my dear."

"I've never had a cast before." It seems like a strange thing to note given everything else that she's been through. "Think I'll have it long?"

"It was a bad break. You'll have it a few months. I'm afraid." Grandma tells her.

The young woman looks down at the plaster for a few moments before taking a bite of her bagel once more. She still needs a painkiller but at least her stomach is getting filled slowly but surely. She can see the question on all their faces, it's just on the tip of their tongue, they just don't dare to ask it, still treading on eggshells. They're not like her in that respect. If somebody had hurt one of the brothers or someone else close to her, she would have wanted names and addresses to ensure that she could return the favor. They don't want to delve into any of that, not quite yet and she doesn't blame them.

There are however a number of other questions which need to be addressed. Some of which are perhaps somewhat more urgent.

"Kayo, I know it's quite soon..." Jeff begins after a short while. "But the GDF said that they found that warehouse you were in because someone sent a message. Do you have any who that could have been?"

"Oh. That was me." She answers somewhat nonchalantly.

"You? I thought you were locked up."

"I slipped my cuffs. I thought I could maybe slip out and send a message." She frowned, her gaze resting once more upon her damaged hand. "Havoc caught me before I could send anything else... Made sure I couldn't do it again."

She doesn't add anything else, assuming that it didn't need to be said. She's given them enough to piece everything together. Her father places a hand on her shoulder squeezing slightly. There's an awkward silence as nobody quite knows what to say or to add to her statement. What can be said to someone whose lived though what she has? "Sorry to hear that" just doesn't quite seem to cut it… With another bite, she finishes her bagel. After a few moments, she manages to force a somewhat watery smile, attempting to convey that despite everything she's alright. She isn't. She knows that but for everyone's sake, she tries to pretend otherwise.

Gordon appears to be lost in his thoughts for a few minutes, his gaze rests firmly upon her cast. She's about to move it away so that it rests on her lap and is less apparent when he finally speaks:

"Hey… How about we all sign it?" The second youngest of the brothers suggests.

"Sign it?" This time the grin is a little more sincere. Then, she remembers just who it is she's talking to. "No funny business… I'm going to have this thing on me for months."

"Pff… Who do you take me for?"

She consents. After all, it's just a few names on a cast. They should mean the world to her.

She's safe now. She's home.

Why isn't that a comfort?

Havoc had screamed and cursed. It was a surprisingly easily done thing to underestimate a prisoner, despite her employer's constant reminders that his niece was most definitely not to be trifled with or taken lightly, no matter how weak she might appear or how tightly they might have bound her. A few seconds of carelessness had cost her dearly. She'd reached down in an attempt to force their captive to her feet, only to find that Kayo wasn't quite as spent as they had assumed. As she'd gone for her shoulder, Tanusha had lashed out and bitten the offending hand. It was about all she could do.

Retribution had been swift. A couple of sharp kicks to her ribs; the first to convince her to let go, the second purely an act of spiteful vengeance. Kayo had lay gasping for breath. She was yanked onto her feet with little care and dragged along by the siblings. She fought, did all that she could to make their task difficult. It was all for naught. She'd known that the game was up almost as soon as they'd taken to the skies. She could only pray that Scott was alright.

The young woman was lead out into some hangar. She took the opportunity to stop her fighting, just for a moment and take in her surroundings. Her father had taught her long ago that the smallest of details could sometimes provide either a previous clue or even something which might then serve to save her life. What struck her the most here was how disorganized everything appeared to be. Boxes were being moved around, crates unloaded… This was an operation still getting off of its feet she realized quite quickly.

"Ah… There you are."

It was a voice that she really wished wasn't all that familiar which caused Kayo to turn around. There, standing not all that far away, with his hands behind his back and already changed out of his prison garbs and into his suit was her uncle. He wore a mocking smirk, one which informed her he was enjoying every moment of this. Hatred had boiled up within her, outweighing her caution. She'd lunged forwards, restrained promptly by the pair of siblings and forced down to her knees. She growled, fighting against them to the best of her ability.

"You certainly took your time! I'm sorry that there's no proper reception waiting for you but as you can see, we're still unpacking."

"You god-damn-" A kick to her back prevented her from continuing. "How'd you get out?"

"Now, now Tanusha a magician never reveals his tricks."

"My name is Kayo."

"No, it isn't. That's the silly name the Tracys came up with for you. Your name is Tanusha Kyrano."

She rolled her eyes. It seemed like a stupid discussion to be having given the current situation. She channeled all of her hatred into a single and simply glare. Her uncle didn't look away. If anything, the smirk on his face seemed to spread, as if he was amused by all of this somehow. It was enough to invite some uncertainty. She didn't want to even risk taking her eyes off of the man least it prove to be her downfall.

"I'm going to offer you a chance, Tanusha. Just the once but I want you to remember that I offered it later: join me."

"You know the answer to that..." The young woman growled. "Never! I'd rather die!"

"Very well..." The man let out a sigh, shaking his head slowly. "Like I said, remember that you had a choice."

His words struck something within her. She wasn't too sure what it was. She'd been expecting them in many ways. They were family after all and despite everything, she did get the feeling that he would have preferred to have her as his ally than another enemy to have to get ride of. Still, there was something there, a hidden menage. Already, she knew that what was to follow was going to be something terrible. For the time being, she didn't care to even try and imagine just what that might be.

Like it or not, whilst she managed to hide it all behind anger and hatred, there was some inescapable and unmistakable fear within her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She turned her fear into a challenge, yelling at him as she dared him to explain himself.

"Temper… Don't worry niece, I promise you, soon, you and I will be seeing eye to eye."