Author's note: This will, hopefully, become a full fic at some point, so this section is actually from the middle, just after the 'Vida is a vampire' arc. To explain a small joke, Nick first mets Lauren when he's running out of the woods in episode two, and when asked who he is he answers "Leaving."

Chapter Three

Something was wrong, and Nick couldn't put his finger on it.

The party to celebrate Vida's return had been going on for a while; Vida had carefully apologised to everyone before Xander started music going. Udonna was clearly not too impressed with his choice, but Clare was enjoying it, dancing with Chip.

"What's wrong?" Maddie asked, sitting next to him and offering him a glass.

"Don't know. Something's bugging me, but I can't grasp it."

"Not Koragg?"

"No." He smiled faintly at the thought that their enemy was now the first thing any of them thought of when he felt off. "Definitely not Koragg; I know when it's him. I don't know what it is, though."

"Well, do you think something's wrong? Should we be worried?"

Xander, walking past them, about faced and came back. "What are we worried about?"

"We're not worried," Nick said irritably.

"Something's wrong," Maddie said at the same time.

"What kind of something?" Xander asked.

Nick shook his head. "Not anything to worry about. I'll figure it out." Xander spread his hands questioningly and Nick shrugged. "I'm missing something. Something right in front of me that I can't see. I'll get it, don't worry."

"Not worried," Xander assured him. Glancing over his shoulder, he added, "You want to take off? We'll cover for you."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Take your bike out," Maddie suggested. "That always helps you think."

"Maybe I will," he agreed distantly, heading for the door.

He was halfway across the clearing before he realised what was bothering him. He almost turned to go back in, but some instinct stopped him, and instead he headed for Phineas' camp.

The Troblin wasn't there, but Lauren was, huddled on a fallen tree. Nick shook his head with a sigh; she was as miserable a picture as he'd ever seen. He wondered vaguely if she was doing it on purpose; but she shot to her feet as he approached, scrubbing at her cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here? Something wrong?"

"No." She was holding his gaze, though, and he could see the lie in her eyes.

"I think something's wrong," he said gently, moving to sit on the log. She sat, warily, keeping a distance between them. "Is it something I can help with?"

"No." He could see the moment she decided to tell him; she seemed to deflate, curling in on herself. "It's stupid. Don't...go back to the party, Leaving. I'm fine."

"Not stupid if you're upset about it."

"It is stupid."

"Try me."

It took her a while. Nick waited patiently while she thought about it. Finally she blurted out "They're not supposed to come to our homes."

"Who's not?"

Lauren shrugged, eyes on her hands. One wrist was still red and swollen where Vida had thrown her aside during her escape. "The bad guys."

"You mean Vida?"

"Her too. Our homes are meant to be safe. It's not right that they can walk in whenever they like."

Nick nodded slowly. "I think she could only get in because she's a Ranger. We'll pay closer attention in future; they won't get us that way again."

"Told you it was stupid," Lauren muttered.

"It's not stupid. You should feel safe in your home."

"Even when it's not really my home?"

"Isn't it?" She didn't answer, kicking at the log, and he smiled faintly. "You'll have to tell me sometime."

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous."

"I'll risk it. When you're ready."

They sat in silence for a long time, and he was starting to idly wonder where Phineas was and how soon they'd be interrupted when Lauren blurted "They came to my house. To attack. That's why I'm here, with Udonna. My home burned."

"Not safe at home," he murmured, remembering her words of weeks ago. "Who attacked?"

She shook her head. "I can't, Nick, I really can't."

"Ok," he agreed quickly. "Hey, you used my name."

"Slip of the tongue," she muttered, rubbing at her cheeks.

Clare rounded a tree, blinking in surprise at them. "Lauren! We thought you were upstairs. Udonna's worried about you. What's wrong?" she added, voice softening as she got close enough to see her.

"Nothing's wrong," Lauren said quickly, glancing at Nick.

He had half a second to make his decision, and later he realised that he'd made it because she was part of his team now. "Lauren's just a bit upset that evil Vida made it to Rootcore. Because of her home before."

"Nick!" Lauren protested.

Clare softened the rest of the way, though. "Lauren, I'm sorry, we never even thought about that. It only worked because Vida's a Ranger. I promise, it won't happen again."

"I'm fine," Lauren insisted, twisting away from the hand Clare tried to rest on her shoulder. "I'll go back, if Udonna's looking for me."

"Lauren," Clare protested, but the younger girl was gone.

"It won't happen again, will it?" Nick asked quietly.

"No one gets into Rootcore except the Mystic Warriors, Lauren and me. We had to twist the wards all kinds of ways to let her in. It definitely won't happen again."

He nodded. "Her home burned, Clare?"

"She told you that?" Clare squeaked.

"Is she not supposed to?"

"No - I mean, yes, she can if she wants, it's her story. But she hasn't, not at all."

"Well, I guess I should feel special," he muttered. "Let's get out of here before Phineas gets back. Keep an eye on her, ok?"

"I will."

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