Sorry bout the problem with chapter two but I fixed it and I now have a system so that shouldn't happen again. AND to make up for that I'll put three up right after two. :) Hope you like it.

Chapter 2: Needed

"I think you girls should talk to Jeb about going on a raid." Lily said walking out of the bathing room and standing next to me. "We're really low on Shampoo and Conditioner."

All us girls had gotten comfortable with the additional comforts that we could afford thanks to me going on raids.

"What?" Sharon said gasping in fake horror. "You're actually suggesting we send this poor defenseless thing into the mouth of the enemy?" she grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. "Lily how could you say such a thing."

"Oh give it a rest Shar." Mel said smiling, "I was thinking along the same lines as Lily. We also need some other womanly necessities." She looked at me purposefully and winked.

I rolled my eyes and quickly hugged Sharon back before we broke the hug, "I'd be happy to go on a raid."

"Only because you've been moping around for a week complaining that you couldn't be useful." Trudy said resuming her finger brushing of my hair to getting all the tangles out.

"Have I been complaining?" I asked and everyone laughed.

"Maybe not directly but you say little things that make it sound like complaining." Mel said.

"Then it's settled?" Lily asked, "You'll go on a raid?"

"Absolutely." I said.

"Absolutely not!" Ian said turning to face me.

I'd just got back from my bath and was brushing my hair all ready for bed.

"There is no way that you are going out on a raid…."

I turned toward him, "Ian. We need to. Us girls are almost out of Shampoo and Conditioner and we need some…." My firm voice faltered, "Woman necessities."

He took a moment to respond, "Well then we can send Mel and Jared out. Mel's not as good as you but she'll get the raid done."

I shook my head, "Ian that's dangerous. Plus I wouldn't let Mel go in without me. Mel would agree to this but Jared would be acting just like you are."

He walked over and put his hands on either side of my face and rubbed his thumb on my cheeks, "Wanda. Every time you go out I can't help but think that it'll end badly. That something will happen to you and…."

I stood up on my toes and placed a kiss on his lips. I didn't want him to finish that sentence. Besides nothing was going to happen, nothing had happened before. We were always careful and no one ever suspected anything might be wrong.

When we broke the kiss he connecter our foreheads and noses so that we were so close. "Ian. Love of my life. Keeper of my heart. Nothing is going to happen. Nothing bad ever happens and why would this raid be any different?"

He didn't answer for a few moments before kissing me, "Your right." He kissed me again, "I'm just" again "worrying" again "about your" again "safely" again "my wanderer."

I laughed. He was so funny and cute when he did that, kissed me every other word that he spoke. "You can even come with me." I said smiling widely at him, "Nothing will hurt me as long as your there."

We were in the van driving toward the nearest shopping center in Phoenix. Jared was driving one handed while holding Mel's hand in his other. Ian and I were in the back fingers entwined, my head on his shoulder. This was comfortable, just a quick raid to get some things to tide us over for another few weeks before we went on a month long raid for things to last longer.

The best thing about going close was I was started to get recognized. This, instead of being dangerous was actually making it easier. They'd know what I wanted before I even asked. And they didn't suspect anything because I was familiar. Mel was even comfortable with going in. She used the name 'Sings the Love Song' and used all of my wisdom and memories of the singing world to blend in rather nicely. I changed my name only slightly in case someone came looking for 'Pedals Open to the Moon' I changed it to 'Pedals Soaking up the Rays' I kept the Pedals part so I could still go by Pet.

When we pulled up to the shopping center I got out of the back with the list and heard Mel get out too. I knew Jared wouldn't be happy with that but Mel rarely gave him a choice.

"Make it quick Babe." Jared called from the window and he drove around to park the van.

Mel and I walked through the automatic doors and Mel and I saw the same greeter that was always there when we came. "Ahhhh Sings the Love Song and Pedals Soaking up the Rays. It's nice to see you again. Coming to pick up your usual things?"

"Yes we are Cory." Mel said waving.

We grabbed a cart and began to pile it up with different scented Shampoo and Conditioner and a couple of body washes. Mel had the list and checked off names as we got theirs. Lily, Trudy, Sharon, Wanda, Mel, Violetta, Ruth Ann, Paige, Lucina. We even double checked the list and got a couple extra's, just in case. We went down the next isle which had the tampons, birth control, condoms and pregnancy tests. We made sure to get lots of the first three and at least 5 of the pregnancy tests; just in case.

Even though our shopping trips are a chore on raids I always feel like we're just two best friends shopping together. I imagined a better time, me not being an alien, Mel and I would go to a big shopping center like this but we'd try on clothes and check out boys, Ian and Jared, and do other things that girl friends before the invasion did. I liked to think that she enjoyed our time shopping together just as much as I did.

When we were done I grabbed a gallon of Mint chocolate chip ice cream for Ian and Mel grabbed a couple of boxes that she said I didn't really need to know about for her and Jared. I took her word for it and left it alone although I could guess what they were for by the way that Mel was blushing and trying to hide them.

We had them scan them and declined any requests to help us unload. I was totally unaware of anything wrong until I saw the cars. There were cars with lights on them parked near the exit in the parking lot. My body seized up as Mel grabbed my hand and started to walk a bit faster. Ian and Jared had noticed it too, probably when they pulled in because when we were still a row away they jumped out of the car and waited to unload.

When I got to the car Ian pulled me into a hug, "Get in the van." He whispered and began to unload things. I tried to help unload as well, I grabbed a bag that had the pregnancy tests and put it in the van. When I went back for a second bag I noticed four seekers walking towards the van. They'd pulled their cars over to block the exit. We were trapped.

I thought of the secret that we held. The way back to the others. To Jamie, my little brother. To Jeb, who was like a father to me. To Kyle and Sunny, who were like a second brother and sister to me. To Trudy, Lily and the other girls. To Sharon and Maggie who had just started to accept me. To Lucina and her boys who I wanted to protect. To Doc, who kept everyone healthy and who would protect my soul brothers and sisters during extraction. To my home…. And my family.

Why would they have to die. How could I save them? And what about Mel, my sister. And Jared. And Ian. My heart broke. Ian. My Ian. He was in danger. He protected me so much, even saved me. I had to protect him, I had to save him.

One of the Seekers looked directly to me and held out his hand, "Hello. I'm Rome's the Ice Fields."

I took a deep breath and stepped towards him, "I am Pedals Soaking up the Rays. Pet." I glanced back at Mel, Jared and Ian who had just loaded the last of the bags into the back. Ian was sitting next to the bags about to get in, but he wouldn't not without me. I knew that. I made eye contact with Mel and motioned with my eyes at Ian.

Jared was near the driver's door. I knew he kept a gun in the front. The Glock, that Lacey had shot Wes with.

"It's nice to meet you Pet." Rome's the Ice Fields said moving his gaze to the humans behind me. "I'm sorry to bother you but we got a call from a worried citizen that was concerned because they thought they saw a van with humans in it. The description matches this van."

The three other seekers pulled out guns and pointed them at Mel, Jared and Ian behind me. "She may be a soul but these three are not." A black seeker said, his gun centered straight at Ian's chest.

Rome's the Ice Fields was still holding my hand and he pulled me away. I turned towards my humans with my back to the seekers.

Again I looked straight at Mel and tried to tell her what to do. Hopefully she'd read my mind like she usually did and do it. I thought as hard as I could begging that it was showing threw my eyes, all of you get in the van and go. Get in the van and go.

Jared opened the driver's door and one of the seekers with his gun on Jared spoke, "Sir, please close the door and step away from the vehicle." Jared didn't listen.

Mel had read my mind and with a look of regret she walked over to Ian and nudged him to get further in. He did, he scooted back and let Mel in.

Ian's eyes were on me. I could tell that he wanted to shout my name, to jump out and grab me but that would give it away that I was with them and because I was too far he would most likely get shot.

Jared got inside the van and closed the door; I prayed that he wasn't reaching for the gun.

"Sir please step out of the van with your hands raised."

The others were saying similar orders to Ian and Mel but my humans didn't listen. Jared started the van and the seekers increased the volume of their useless demands

I briefly smiled at Mel and mouthed 'I love you' to Ian. Then I caused the diversion they needed.

I turned around to run at Rome's the Ice Fields; I ran and hugged him and started to cry. It was easy for the tears to form and start to flow because I was going to lose my humans. "They kidnapped me. They took me and made me get things from the store for them. I was so scared."

At that same time I heard the door of the van slam shut and heard a muted "Step on it!" from inside.

The seekers were too distracted by my outburst to notice it but when they did Jared had already driven for three parking spots. I turned and tried to seem afraid, it was only slightly hard because I was afraid for the people in the van. Though the seekers took it that I was afraid of them, not for them.

Jared drove down the row and behind a crowded row of cars and souls doing their shopping so that the seekers couldn't shoot with a clear shot or without hitting someone. And then, because the exit was blocked, Jared hocked the horn to warn other cars and he drove out threw the entrance.

When the van was safely out of site I started to breathe easier. They were gone but they were safe.