A/N: Chapter Two is ready. I do not own Tracy Beaker Returns or the Dumping Ground, both belong to CBBC.

Chapter Two: The Visitor

Liam's POV

"Liam?!" Outside Frank's door, I see Tracy Beaker and nearly everyone else.

"Surprise," I grin, ignoring Tracy's daggers nearly as bad as Frank's.

"Liam!" Harry comes over and gives me a hug. "Did you see the monster? He didn't hurt you did he?"

Harry looks frightened, and then I realize….when I'd come last night, I must have been too noisy and the storm wasn't blocking it out well enough.

"Nah," I say. "Sent that bloke runnin','' I run a hand through his hair. "Hope our fight didn't scare Jeff too badly."

"Good," Harry says, stepping back. "No he's okay now."

"Glad to hear it,"

"How long are you staying?" Carmen asks.

"Dunno, just thought I'd pop in for a bit." I shrug.

"Well, I think that's great." Tee says. "How's your brother?"

"He's alright," I reply. "Is there anything for breakfast round here? I'm starving."

"Yeah, come on," Johnny and Tee lead the way back downstairs and I follow.

When I get downstairs, It's almost eerie how the same everything seems. Six months hasn't changed much about this old place apparently. And Tyler shoves me down the last step.

"Still here? Good for you." I quip. Apparently he managed to keep himself in check.

"Welcome back," Tyler chuckles.

"Say Liam, why don't we make a plate?" Tracy calls me over, surprised? Can't say I am.

I go over. "Still managing to keep the Dumping Ground in one piece, nice work." I say as I grab some toast and Tracy opens the pot spooning the beans over the top.

"Oi, I'm not entirely hopeless." Tracy glances at me.

"Sure,"

"How are things going with Jack? You okay?" Tracy asks.

"Yeah, everything's great. Just wanted to visit." I take the plate to the table and sit next to Gus before Tracy can say another word.

"Liam, you're back." Gus looks over.

"Hi,"

"You're supposed to be with Jack."

"I know, but I'm visiting. Sapph visits all the time, doesn't she?"

"Oh," Gus says. "She does. But Mike knows."

"It was a surprise Gus, for Mike too." I begin picking around at the beans and toast. "I couldn't tell them. It'd spoil it."

"Like we didn't tell Tracy about her party?"

"Like that," I nod and begin to eat slowly.

Frank comes to the table. I notice the medicine bottle is out of sight. Good.

"Tracy, can I…?" I look up as I see Mike enter the room. "Oh, hello Liam,"

"How's it going Mike?" I nod in greeting.

"Good to see you again Liam. Tracy...the office, now please." Mike looks like he's going to be sick and turns back to Tracy.

"Sure," Tracy follows Mike.

I clench my fist tightly under the table trying to hide my wince as my nails dug in.

Tracy's POV

I follow Mike to his office.

"Close the door," Mike says.

I do, and sit down. "What's going on Mike?"

"Do you know how long Liam was here for?"

I think back to when we'd found Liam. He'd been slightly soaked, I'd noticed. That meant it had to be since last night. "He didn't say," I tell the truth. He hadn't told me.

"That was Jack on the line. He woke this morning and found Liam's window open." Mike says. "Bed barely slept in."

"You're joking, Liam pulled a runner?" Honestly, I don't know why I'm surprised. It was Liam. Well, I do. Things seemed as though they were going okay. "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that he's on his way. Figures they should talk here."

I nod. "I'll see what I can find out."

"Just keep an eye on him." Mike says.

"Yeah, course." I leave the office frowning slightly. That was odd. I know I need to try to find out what's going on at least before Jack gets here so we know exactly what we're dealing with. I know exactly who to talk to first.

A/N: So Liam says that his visit was a surprise, and it was...just not necessarily a nice pre-planned one. And Jack is on his way to the Dumping Ground as Tracy needs to figure out what is going on hopefully before he arrives. Can she do it?