Sarah's POV

I relax as I watch Aquata fall still again, a sigh escaping my lips as I lean back against the countertop. "That was intense," I mutter. "What exactly was she trying to do with her hand?"

"Just throw us backwards," Miss Santos replies. "That's about all she had the strength to do at the moment. I think she was hoping to knock us out."

"Well it's a good thing you're here or I just might have been."

The older mermaid frowns. "She shouldn't have tried to use her powers. They come naturally but the do consume a lot of energy," She explains with a sigh, shaking her head. "Mermaids have always been incredibly stubborn."

I grin, "are you lumping yourself in with them too?"

"Unfortunately yes, I have it too. Though I suppose you've witnessed our stubbornness first hand with the girls. She doesn't show it as often, but even Sirena has it."

I nod and run a finger along my left wrist. "I'm well aware. I still have a bit of a scar from Lyla's first escape attempt."

"First?"

"Yes. Including the one that actually succeeded, there were three," I reply. Miss Santos laughs.

"See what I mean?" I nod and join her, sinking down onto the wooden bench and rubbing at my temples. "Long night?" Rita guesses.

"You have no idea," I complain. "I love it, but this job can really suck sometimes."

"I bet. I couldn't pull the long hours, I'm amazed you can. How do you manage it?"

"Humans have discovered and harnessed a bit of magic too."

The mermaid raises an eyebrow. "Oh really, like what?"

"A wonderful creation called coffee," I reply. Rita's laughter echoes in the small room.

"Yes, I suppose its effects are miraculous," she responds, fingering the small seahorse pendant.

"Symbolic of an ocean friend?" I inquire.

"Hmm?" she looks up, then glances at the necklace. "Oh, no, just a gift," she replies letting in fall back against her collar bone. She groans and rubs at her forehead, glancing at the clock on the wall above my desk. "I hate to leave you here when you've clearly got to stay up with her, but I think I'm going to pass out either way. Hopefully she'll stay asleep this time and you shouldn't have any problems with her if she does wake up," she explains. I nod.

"Its fine, I've done this before, besides, I haven't swum for hours and given blood. Go rest. Ask anyone who's still here and they'll show you, Lyla, and Nixie to some of the spare upstairs apartments. Normally they're for staff, but you're welcome to them," I offer. "I'd show you myself but like you said; I really shouldn't leave a patient unattended."

"Thank you," she murmurs, rising from the bench. "I'd best go track down Nixie and Lyla and haul them off to bed, Sirena too if she's still awake. They should get some rest."

Sirena's POV

I yawn and stretch my legs, opening my eyes. Confusion fills me as my gaze falls on white concrete walls, rather than the seashell spread of our room at the cottage. After a moment I remember where I am. Stretching my arms above my head I sit up groggily.

"Finally awake huh?" I gasp, startled, and fall forward. Diana grabs ahold of my arm to keep me from pitching forward off of the cot. "Sorry."

I rub the sleep residue from my eyes and yawn again. "How long have you been sitting here?" I ask, turning to see Diana. Her brown wavy hair is loose for a change, tumbling freely down her back like chestnut waterfalls. She's sitting on the edge of the cot.

"A few minutes. I just came up to check on you. Are you hungry?"

I'm about to decline when my stomach answers for me, grumbling loudly. Diana laughs and passes me a plate with a tuna and cheese sandwich on it.

"Thanks," I murmur, taking a bite. "How long was I asleep?" I inquire.

"All night," Diana replies. "I'm not surprised, you all looked exhausted yesterday."

"All night?" I panic. "But I- how's my sister?"

"Relax, she's fine. I haven't been down there yet, but I've been told she was awake for a couple minutes last night," Diana replies.

"What?" I exclaim, scrambling off the bed. "Is she awake now? Does she know I'm here? Can I go see her?"

Diana catches my arm. "Calm down. As far as I know, Aquata is still asleep. Sarah doesn't want anyone down there at the moment. If she does wake up though, you will be the first to know," she promises.

I sigh and sit back down, drawing my knees up to my chest. "I just miss her a lot," I admit. Diana places a hand on my shoulder.

"I know this has got to be hard on you and it's a horrible way to be reunited with someone you love, but you've got to hang in there okay? She'll pull through; you just have to give her time."

I hang my head. "I know," I breathe, "but I feel so useless just sitting here waiting. I want to do something to help."

She stands, pulling me to my feet along with her and gestures for me to follow her. I do, trailing behind her as we head down the hall. She pulls open a door that leads to a small kitchen. Set out on the counter are two steel buckets with wire handles. Diana scoops one up and nods towards the other one. I wrap my hand around the handle and lift the heavy object off the countertop. Its half filled with dead fish submerged in water.

As we leave the kitchen I ask, "what are we doing?"

"You said you wanted to help," Diana explains, smiling. "Well, the dolphins need to be fed."

"Are you sure no one will see me?" I inquire nervously. Diana nods.

"The top of the tank isn't visible form the observation decks, but if it makes you feel better, you can tuck your tail underneath you," she replies. I nod.

"Okay then." I glance into the water at the two dolphins swimming in the tank. Diana puts two fingers in her mouth and whistles shrilly. A moment later both dolphins surface. Diana reaches into one of the buckets and holds up a fish by the tail. She tosses it into the gaping beak of one of the sleek grey mammals. A second fish follows, snapped up by the second dolphin. I curl my legs to the side; toes parallel to the side of the tank, and reach into the bucket. I ignore the savory look of the fish as I toss it to one of the dolphins. Both chatter at me excitedly when my fin forms.

"Mermaid!"

"Come swim with us!"

I laugh and shake my head. "I cannot right now, people would see me. Perhaps later." I reply. One of the dolphins snorts, the sound of the air passing sharply through his blow hole sounds like a fart and I giggle. Diana looks between me and the marine clowns.

"I'm feeling a little left out of the conversation over here Sirena," she comments.

"It nothing, they're just being silly," I reply.

"What is the strange land dweller saying?" the one on the left inquires.

"That she feels left out of our conversation. May I know your name?"

"Baharin," he replies. "And my brother is Staro. And you are?"

"Sirena. If it is alright, I would like to be your friend." Baharin bobs his head and I smile. "Then dive." I smack the bucket beside me with my fin, sending it into the water, spilling its contents through the tank. Both dolphins duck down, descending onto their meal. I laugh.

"I hope you intend to get that back," Diana states.

"Don't worry, Baharin will likely fetch it for us," I answer.

"Who?"

"Baharin is the dolphin who was on the left. His brother's name is Staro."

Diana shakes her head. "I hope you don't mind if I continue to address them by Jet and James. Those are a little more pronounceable.

"I doubt they'll mind. They don't really pay much attention to you anyways."

"Nice to know."

"I didn't mean it like that," I say. "Dolphins are easily distracted."

The door behind us open and a girl roughly my age hurries in. her dark brown hair is tied back in a tight bun on top of her head and her face is flushed.

"Dr. Evans," she gasps. "Dr. Williams sent me to find you."

"Sarah's looking for me? Why? I'm sorry what's your name again?"

"Chelsey," the girl replies. "And I was told if I found you I'd either find someone named Sirena or you would know where she is. Do you?"

"Hi," I call waving to the girl. "You need me for something?"

"Yeah," she replies distractedly, her eyes fixed on my tail. I sigh and steam it dry, standing.

"What for?" Chelsey's eyes have bulged out of her head.

"That was really cool," she shakes her head. "Right, sorry. Dr. Williams sent me to tell you that your sister is awake and asking for you."

I was going to make this longer and include Aquata's POV, but I want to update this today and I really should be doing school work at the moment, considering exams are next week. So unfortunately this is all you get at the moment, but I'll try to update sometime soon after exams… so not next week but probably the one after… so two weeks from now. As always I love your comments and feedback and I'm sorry this chapter was all talk no action. I promise that things will pick up soon.

-Mermaid.