Hello my lovely readers. I want to thank you for the favs, follows, and reviews. You guys are wonderful, especially since you guys have been hanging in there as I keep taking forever to update. Summer break has finally come, my classes are over, and for the next two/three glorious months I am free unless I can manage to find a job, which I really really need! Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lost girl or anything you recognize. I only own Simone and the little plot points.

[004]

The Dal Riata was a small pub hidden away in a side ally in the middle of Toronto. Anyone would have a hard time finding it if they weren't actually looking for it. Simone would never admit it, because she was in fact looking for it, but she actually had some trouble finding the place. She knew little about the pub itself beside the name of it, the owner, and that it was strictly Fae only with a few choice exceptions. She had tried her hardest to find it without having to look at a map or use a GPS system but she didn't know the city. In the end she had simply plugged the address Dyson had left her on the note into her car's directional system and followed it step by step.

It wasn't quite eight when she walked through the door, feeling the pulse of Fae energy beat against her damaged skin. She took a deep breath, smelled the beer and other alcohol as well as a mixture of all kinds of Fae. It made her smile, a place where she could be herself and not fit to human norms. She could let her hair down, growl if she wanted, and trade stories about her past without others thinking she was a few crayons short of a full box.

She didn't stride in as gracefully as she could have considering she was limping. The medicine that Lauren had given her had worn off hours ago, sometime during her nap she supposed. She would have to take something when she returned to Dyson's place to ward off the pain as well as help her catch up on some more sleep. However that wasn't for a couple of more hours. Right now she wanted a beer and to talk to a couple of people in particular.

She weaved her way through the small groups of people. Some gave her a few odd looks, a few males gave her a once over, and several females snarled a bit in her direction. She happened to be used to looks such as those. Something about her red hair and pale skin upset women, or at least made them feel more insecure about themselves. She hadn't figured that out, she wasn't as pretty as some where and in her mind it shouldn't have mattered about her looks. She was just another Fae looking for a place to have a drink and be social.

Walking around in front of the bar she finally found a nice spot near the end where there weren't as many people gathered. She slipped onto a stool hissing softly as she felt the stretching of some of her stitches and the protest of most of her muscles. She settled herself before turning herself around on the chair, it was one of the ones that rotated thankfully. She took in the activity of the pub wondering for a moment where Dyson might be among them. She might have even beat him there, though she really really doubted it, she caught his scent as soon as she had walked in the door. She was never good with timing anyways. She had almost always been late to major gatherings and events, a habit her mother had tried her hardest to beat out of her. It never happened and at moments it had it's advantages, like now.

Simone found herself smiling at herself as she wondered how long it had been since she had actually been able to take a deep breath and enjoy her surroundings. She saw women flirting with men, men flirting with women, hell even men flirting with men. She spotted a group of girls no more than fifteen at least hugging and squealing as if they hadn't seen one another in years rather than the hours it had been since they had gotten out of school. Old friends were having beers at the bar while new friends were being made as people mingled with one another. She loved it! The hive of activity and hum of conversation. It almost felt like a movie and for a moment she was completely under its spell.

Someone cleared their throat behind her. She shook her head just as she heard the person ask, "Can I get you anything?"

The voice was familiar, a voice she had known when she was only a child. Her smile spread even wider as she turned the stool around. She had the satisfaction of watching the man's face go from borderline bored to stunned to exceedingly happy in under two seconds.

"Hello Trick," she said trying to hide her own happiness as she sat there nearly vibrating in her seat.

His smile was still in place but the shock of seeing her dimmed a bit. "It's been a while Simone."

She couldn't quite figure out why she felt guilty. There was no reason for it. She was a grown adult, she was allowed to disappear for years if she felt like it. Yet she found herself feeling the guilt as the years came down hard on her. "I know. I've been meaning to look you up its—well it's been a rough couple of decades for me."

"It's been a hundred years Simone."

She winced. "I know," she said reaching back and scratching her head, finding a bruised part she hadn't known about before. She wondered if that was why her head had a dull throb. "It's nice to see you though." She gave him a warm smile hoping that it would erase the worry he had felt for her since they had last spoken.

"It is," he came from around the bar. "Come." That was all he said leaving Simone no option but to follow him. Sliding off the stool proved to be a more painful endeavor than getting onto has been. She tried not to squeak as she landed wrong on her bad leg but she ended up going down.

She landed with a thud and a moan on the ground. Several people turned to look at her but no one rushed to her aid. She struggled to find her footing but her ankle gave out once more. She gave another cry until she felt two strong arms pulling her up. Turning her head up she found that the person helping her was a very concerned Dyson. She felt the tears well up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She was stronger than that. She would not cry, not here at least.

"Thanks," she murmured as she leaned into him. Looking forwards he saw Trick looking at her with concern on his face. She wondered why he hadn't helped her up but then again his frame was a lot smaller than hers and she doubted he would have been able to help her up anymore than she had been able to help herself up. She also knew that he knew her pride was her deadly sin. Her pride had harmed her more than it had ever helped her over the years.

"You're welcome." Dyson released her after she was stable on her feet. He ushered her off towards Trick while picking up a beer from the bar, the beer he had most likely sat down while helping her to her feet. He took the seat she had abandoned, smiled, and made a shooing motion.

Rolling her eyes she walked, limping a little more than she had been before, off in the direction Trick had disappeared to. She pushed open the door, closed it behind her, and took the proffered seat in front of a table with a large book on top. She knew this routine. All way-stations were required to have a sign in to catalog any and all Fae who had been passing through whether this was their usual spot of their new one. It was, in a way, a form of keeping tabs of both clans and their members.

"You know what to do?" Trick asked, his eyes crinkling around the edges from his smile. She wasn't sure if it was pity or worry that flowed through his eyes at this point.

Simone nodded. "I've done this hundreds of times. No need to walk me through it." She took up the quill, dipped it in the inkwell, and signed her name, her parent's names, her affiliation, and why she was there.

Looking just as surprised as she imagined her mother would look upon learning her side choice, Trick reread her affiliation. "You finally chose the Light?" It was more a question as to why she had done that rather than confirming what she had written.

She wanted to sigh but knew that would be rude. "It is a rather long story but yes I'm Light."

"Your parents must be happy, especially your mother considering her standing in the community." He closed the book as he spoke, laying the still ink soaked quill on the old scarred wood table.

Chuckling Simone leaned back into the old chair. It was comfortable despite the fact that it didn't looking like it should have been. "Yes, mother will be happy considering she is an Ash. Finally her little girl has picked a side. I've no doubt that she's had an earful from the elders about me being neutral. However she doesn't know quite yet."

"You haven't spoken to her yet?" He was surprised once more. It would appear she was surprising everyone, including The Ash himself. She actually enjoyed it.

Shaking her head she explained a little, "My mother and I haven't been on good terms lately. I think it's because of my lack of affiliation."

"You should tell her then. It might make things better between the two of you."

"Trick, my mother and I haven't been close ever since my brother died. She blames me and I don't begrudge her that. I blame myself a little as well. I don't think telling her that I am finally Light will help much. It might alleviate the affiliation tension but nothing more. Our wounds go deep and they aren't healed yet."

"You are far to wise for your age." Trick teased.

Simone snorted. "I'm an old soul, what can I say." She shrugged before laughing a little. "Now how about a beer?"

"First," Trick said taking her arm as she began to stand. "What happened to you Simone? The last time we talked you said you would never pick a side. Something had to have happened, especially since you seem to be riddled with wounds and can't hold your own footing. That and you couldn't stand even hearing Dyson's name."

Sighing, she tossed herself back into the chair closing her eyes for a second before rubbing them with her fisted hands, much in the manner a child would do to rub away the sleep. "Like you said it's been a century since we last spoke. A lot has changed in me and I've had some trouble. I figured picking a side would be better than fighting this alone."

"What is 'this' Simone? What happened to you?" There was genuine concern written over the older Fae's face. For a moment it felt like she was talking to her father. He was such a soft spoken and strong man that she would pretty much spill her soul if he had asked. She wondered if maybe her father had learned that from Trick himself all those years ago. That quiet strength and willfulness.

She had to fight the urge to talk, to reveal what had been going on in her life. The Ash already knew, yet he had promised never to tell anyone unless he had to. "Trick, please not tonight. I just want a beer, a beer would be wonderful."

Sighing the old Fae stood up. Simone towered over him yet he looked at her as if she were the insolent teenager who had to be humored for the time being. "You'll have to tell me sooner or later Simone."

Smiling a small sad smile, she nodded. "I'm aware but not tonight. Tonight is for rekindling friendships."

"And romances," he added none to subtly.

"Maybe," Simone said softly, almost wistfully as she cast her gaze to the main room of the bar.

000000000

Dyson finished off his beer just as Simone had entered to the room with Trick. He knew Trick would ask her want was going on and why she was so injured but he doubted that even he could get that information out of the redhead. She was stubborn and her pride, if anything, would keep that secret until she was ready to tell someone. It had taken her fifty years to air the issues which had split them apart in the end, so he knew that it would take quite a while for her to explain what had happen to her for five nights out in the middle of the woods.

What he still didn't understand was how she had made it from Alberta to Toronto in five days if she had been on foot, or in her wolf form. He knew it took at least two days by car so it should have taken more than five days for her to arrive in the city, or on the outskirts at least. He wondered for a moment if maybe she hadn't been in Alberta when she had been attacked, maybe she had been closer. That was what he wanted to know, maybe then he could find out exactly what had happened without having to directly ask her.

Since he couldn't ask her that now and it didn't do to dwell on the subject, he allowed his mind to wander about the fact that no one had helped her up when she had fallen from her stool. He had seen others fall and others come to their aid, even if it wasn't wanted. What was so different about Simone? He doubted it was because she was new to the area or maybe it was. He just didn't know how people thought anymore. There had been a time where if someone, a woman no less, had fallen she would have had to pick someone to help her to her feet. Maybe he was showing his age or maybe the world was just changing more than he had realized.

Simone came out of the door, still limping, with Trick following behind her. He didn't look pleased which gave Dyson the indication that he hadn't been able to get any answers from her either.

"Hey," she mumbled as she hauled herself onto a stool beside him. "So treat me to a beer?"

"Why?" He asked, his face had a smile to lessen the sting that the question might inflict. He didn't see hurt on her face, in fact he saw a bit of teasing in her eyes as the pain flashed intermittently with joy.

She fluttered her eye lashes in an over dramatic fashion. "Because I'm broke, injured, and I really really need that drink after the week I've had." Chuckling, he motioned for Trick to pour two beers for them. "Thanks Dyson. You have no idea how grateful I am. I know we have some issues but thank you anyways." Her hand now sat on his arm, sending a spark through his body. He could not believe how strong his reaction to her was, even after so much time had passed. He hoped against all hope that he could trample down that reaction for as long as she was staying with him.

"You needed help. I'm not one to turn down a friend in need, especially someone I've known for so long." He meant it, he would always mean that. Their relationship had been forged out of battle, out of need, out of attraction. Nothing would change that. He would always been there for her no matter what happened between them because that was the warrior in him and she had been his fellow warrior.

Simone seemed to let go of some of the tension she had felt, some of whatever she had been struggling with since wandering into his apartment twenty four long hours ago. Her face seemed a little more free, her eyes a bit more bright, her smile softer. He liked her like this. Of course with Simone things could change in a minute and they did have a plethora of things they needed to talk about. They had left so many things in the open, unsolved, when they had the fight that tore them apart. Only time would tell if those old scars would rip open and if the river of blood would flow.

000000000

Two hours and two beers later for Simone they were sitting there at the bar rather quietly. Simone had gone back to people watching while Dyson continued to watch her for any signs of distress. He had refused her a third beer, trading it instead for tea, because of the fact that she was injured and would be taking medication when the returned home. He didn't want the alcohol and medicine to interact badly and he prayed that the drinks would be out of her system before they left.

"More tea?" Trick came up to them from behind the bar. He held a pot of tea out towards Simone. She gave a quick nod watching as the cup was filled with the sweet honey nectar. Trick had made the pot specifically for the Fae, having already known how she took her tea.

"I still can't believe you remember how I take my tea," she even sounded surprised and a little bit humbled, as if she shouldn't matter that much that someone would remember how she took her tea. To remember after a century of not having seen her proved just how much the other Fae had cared for her. It was enough to bring tears to her eyes. The only other person besides her brother to care that much was Dyson and now she knew Trick did too.

Trick chuckled, setting the pot down putting a cozy over it before patting her hand lightly having seen her eyes gloss over with unshed tears. "It's a little hard to forget considering you like your tea strong and sweetened with honey and nothing else." He wandered off to help some others at the bar and to fill orders.

Just as Dyson was about to ask how her tea was Hale, his work partner and close friend, spotted him at the bar and made a beeline for him. "Hey Dyson! I didn't except to see you here tonight." The two of them shared a what Simone would later refer to as a bro-hug. It was basically a half hug half back slap. He used to share hugs like that with her brother once upon a time.

"I'm treating an old friend to a night out. I think she deserves it," Dyson responded by grabbing the bottom of Simone's stool and turning it directly to face Hale. He heard the hiss of pain as the movement caught her off guard. "Hale this is Simone. Simone, Hale. He works with me."

Simone held out her hand for the man to shake, ignoring the pain. He was as a slender man, no doubt fit underneath his clothing. He wore a fedora which on most people would have looked silly but on him it didn't. His skin was like milk chocolate and his smile was radiant as he took her hand in his soft one. She couldn't help but smile at him. "Its a pleasure Hale."

"Oh, from across the pond I see," Hale teased taking a seat beside Dyson, moving the chair so that he wasn't directly behind his pal. Simone was now facing them both, having slowly turned her chair without the harsh help of Dyson.

Dyson chuckled while Simone tried not to giggle at the comment. Most people caught the accent right off the bat and said the same thing. "Actually if you look at my birth certificate right now it would say I hail from Alberta. But yes I am from the United Kingdom."

"Where?" he implored rather lazily already having hazarded a guess as to her birth place.

"Northern Ireland." She confirmed just as lazily.

"Celtic, just like our boy here is," he said slapping Dyson on the back once more. "Nice. Must be fun being back with an old friend." The stress Hale put on old friend had Dyson cringing and waiting for Simone to say something.

He didn't actually expect her to agree. "Yes, it has been. Dyson has been so sweet to me this last past day."

Hale looked thoughtful for a moment before something struck him. "Hold up, are you that Fae? You know the one that just recently joined the Light? The one that had a meeting with The Ash this morning?"

"Yes I am that Fae," she didn't say it with annoyance, but a bit of pride and a hint of tiredness.

"Awesome. So glad you aren't Dark. This would have been awkward if you had been." He took a drink from a beer which had appeared moments ago, left then by Trick who obviously knew what the Fae would want.

Simone took a drink of her tea. "You and Dyson work together huh?"

"Yep, police partners."

"Cops. Sounds like a fun job to have."

"Boring mostly," Dyson joined in the conversation finally. "That reminds me, what job do you think The Ash will give you?"

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, hissed when she pulled something, and finally sat still. "I don't know honestly. I'm hoping he will put me somewhere in the medical field. I have a masters degree in nursing and I'm certified in Canada, the UK, and the US. He'll be able to see that in my paperwork so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I can be of some help to our kind, especially in hospitals."

Both men nodded to her statement, not really adding anything on what she had said. She was logical in her assumption of what would be a good place for for her but sometimes The Ash didn't take into account the educational background of an incoming Fae.

Dyson planned to drop a suggestion to The Ash tomorrow already knowing the perfect hospital for her to work at. "I can put in a good word if you want." He hadn't wanted to say it out loud but somehow it had slipped out before her could reign it in.

"I would be in your debt more so than I am if you would do that. I don't want to end up in a field I don't enjoy and I love being a nurse," she gushed before giving a yawn. "Excuse me." She blushed lightly.

Dyson stood up and held out his hand for Simone. "Come on lets get you home. You need some more sleep and a pill."

"Aw, don't take her away yet!" Hale whined childishly. "I don't even know what kind of Fae she is."

"Wolf-shifter and you're a siren. There you two know a little more about one another. She needs sleep Hale. She's been run ragged for the last week." He almost snarled at his friend. He chalked it up to lack of sleep on his part as well.

Hale sighed, not wanting to test this new found protectiveness of his friend. "Fine whatever. See you soon Simone. It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," she said as she took Dyson's offered hand and slide herself very carefully off the stool. This time she didn't fall nor did she feel much pain besides the urge to fall asleep. She wondered how she was going to get back to his apartment since she had drove there. She felt her pockets and Dyson paid his tab, hers was on the house as welcome to the city gift.

She couldn't find her keys..anywhere. "Where are my keys?" she squeaked, fearing she had lost them or someone had stolen them.

"You aren't driving, I am." He held up her keys as if they were some kind of war prize. Even his grin read that he viewed them as a prize.

"How?" She narrowed her eyes dangerously but there was still a sparkle of laughter there, proving she wasn't angry or upset in anyway that he had nicked her keys from her pocket.

He didn't give her an answer as he left Hale laughing and her staring at him in disbelief. She patted all her pockets making sure that nothing else was missing besides her keys. She found her phone in her pocket safe and sound with fifteen missed calls from a number she didn't know.

She tried to place the number as she waltzed out of the pub giving a wave back to Trick and Hale absently. Stopping dead in her tracks outside the pub door, she paled as she looked hard at her phone. She knew the phone number, knew where it came from. She felt a cold chill run down her spine as her head whipped up and she looked around her, turning in a full circle at least twice before realizing that there was no one around her, at least no one that she could see. It didn't matter, she felt like someone was watching her and she couldn't shake that feeling.

She turned off the phone, stuck it in her pocket vowing to get a new one tomorrow so that the number wasn't known. Looking once more to her left and then to the right she walked as fast as she could until she was right beside her Mini. Dyson was leaning on the driver's side giving her a look that told her he knew something was up but wasn't about to ask until she was ready to spill.

When she didn't offer anything in the way of information on what he had just witnessed, he climbed in unlocking the door for her. She slipped in quietly buckling herself. Leaning her head back against the headrest, she closed her eyes fighting the long built up urge to hurl herself out of the car, shift, and run. She had been in the cycle of flight for so long it was ingrained in her mind to do so. She manged to fight it, to sit there as Dyson drove her car back from the Dal to his apartment.

It felt so surreal as she climbed out slamming the door. She couldn't smile this time, knowing that they had been calling her repeatedly over the last nine hours. Fifteen times, more if she turned the phone back on now.

"I need to get a new phone tomorrow," she said casually as he unlocked the door allowing her inside.

"Why?" he asked closing and locking it behind them.

She shrugged as she sat on the couch to begin tugging off her shoes. "I just do. My cell is old and it keeps glitching. I want to get one of those new iPhones anyways." It wasn't so much a lie as a stretch of the truth. Dyson ignored it.

"Okay," he kicked off his shoes just as she was tying the laces of her two shoes together. "I'll take the couch. You need to bed more than I do."

Simone rubbed her face. "This is your flat, not mine. You take the bed and I'll take the couch. It's the polite thing to do."

"Polite my ass Simone. You're injured and in pain. I have the pills Lauren gave you. Take one and take the bed. If you are so adamant, I'll share the bed with you."

Simone's green eyes turned wide, her pupils dilating, before closing them for a second. "Like I said, your flat your rules. If you want to share the bed just be warned I kick and I'm a bit of a bed hog."

"Just like the old days," Dyson teased watching her rustle through a couple of bags before coming up with night clothing. She grabbed a couple of things, walked to the bathroom, and came back five minutes later. She took a pill washing it down with water from the tap and finally crawled her way into bed. She patted the sheets and moved to make room for Dyson.

He didn't think he would actually lay down beside her but after changing in the bathroom as she had done he crawled in beside her wearing only a pair of drawstring flannel pants. "Goodnight."

"'Night Dyson." He heard the sleep in her voice and within moments she was out, her breathing even and solid, better than it had been when he had first walked into his apartment and saw her sleeping there on his bed as if she belonged.

He didn't know why but it felt like she did belong, like she had in the past. He couldn't put his finger on it but he sound found himself drifting off to sleep, the first solid and comfortable sleep in a long time.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Suggestions? Reviews are welcome!

A/N: Um, so yeah. I apologize for this taking so long. I have 90% of the next couple of chapters written. I am trying to move into the show itself so I'm having a hard time since I have to actually watch the episodes and transcribe them a bit since I can't seem to find transcriptions anywhere online. If you can find them and can send me a link I will forever love you and give you a shout out! Anyways I hope you enjoy the chapter! Until next time!