Be shocked! I updated! I actually have a couple more chapters written that I will put up once I figure out exactly where I'm going with this. I do want to finish the whole trilogy - although who knows how long that will take! Enjoy! -Ali

Chapter 2

"She's so closed up, but I know she's vulnerable underneath her walls." Nick smiled as he watched Chloe talk about the teenager she found.

"Well, have you found out why she's got so many walls?'

Chloe was quiet for a moment. "I don't actually know. All she's ever said was that her brother is missing. I suppose that might have something to do with it. I told her I'd help her find him."

"I'll keep an eye out for him too," Nick promised.

Chloe giggled softly. "I think that will be a little difficult. Her brother is a shape-shifter. He could look like anyone."

"So basically a mutant with multiple personality disorder," Nick replied.

"Yeah, that's a good way to put it. Instead of all the personalities just changing his voice, he can change his appearance too," Chloe said thoughtfully.

"How's she fitting in with the rest of the team?" Nick asked.

Chloe rolled over and snuggled up against his chest. She frowned slightly. "Her dynamic with them is…interesting."

Nick chuckled. "What exactly is interesting?"

Chloe grimaced. "Well…."

Laughter filled Sanctuary as Taylor and Scott spared in the living room. Lexa knew that about five minutes earlier the two had been playing Scrabble. If there was one thing she had learned in her two days at Sanctuary, it was the elemental and psyonic could turn anything into a contact sport.

Lexa liked the two well enough, but she didn't feel like she had anything in common with them. The two of them were years older than her and Lexa felt like she had so many more life experiences than them. Lexa scolded herself for being so quick to judge. Chloe had said she had taken Taylor and Scott from mutant prison, so maybe both of them had a harder life than she thought.

The molecular crept past the two playful mutants and turned the corner to see what Adam was up to. The scientist was in the lab, engrossed in his work. Even without going invisible, Lexa was good at sneaking around. Adam didn't notice the teenager enter the room.

"Adam?" Lexa tapped him on the shoulder.

He jumped about 10 feet in the air and let out a little yelp. "Oh Lexa, hi." He placed a hand on her shoulder and breathed a heavy sigh.

"A little distracted?" Lexa smiled slightly.

"Yeah," he offered her a smile.

"What are you working on, if you don't mind my asking?" Lexa peered over his shoulder curiously.

"Actually," Adam shut off the computer screen. "I would rather not talk about it." Lexa looked like she had been slapped. "I mean, I don't really like to talk about my work when it's still in-progress."

"Okay, whatever," Lexa took a step back. "Chloe asked me to talk to you about finding my brother."

"What about it? Chloe is the leader of the group and has the connections," Adam raised his eyebrow.

"Well, since she's with Nick, I think she just wanted you to do a search for him," Lexa frowned at Adam's abrasiveness.

Adam looked at her closely, "Who's Nick?"

Lexa immediately shut her mouth.

"Lexa, who's Nick?" Adam repeated a little more forcibly.

Lexa maintained eye contact with the older man. She had greatly misinterpreted Chloe's relationship with the rest of the team. She had to get herself out of this without revealing anymore information about Chloe.

"I don't know," Lexa mentally slapped herself. Like genius Adam Kane would buy that one.

Adam frowned and raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

Lexa winced. "I don't want to say?" She tried.

Adam nodded shortly and turned his back to her. After a few moments Lexa heard him quietly comment, "You're apart of a team now. There should be no secrets among us."

"I didn't realize there were any. I will not make that mistake again."

Adam heard Lexa's footsteps click through the door and down the hall. He sighed. That girl, something about her didn't sit right with him.

After her "talk" with Adam, Lexa didn't stop walking until she had reached the garage. She grabbed a helmet off the rack and sped off, far away from the problems she had created. It was easier to leave things behind.

Chloe's laughter still rung in Nick's ears as she went to grab her cell phone. The smile was instantly wiped from her face. "What happened? Do you know where she went? Yeah, well thanks for calling Scott, I appreciate it." Chloe flipped her phone closed and sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead.

"What happened?" Nick stood and rushed over to her.

"Lexa's gone," Chloe shook her head. "She took one of the motorcycles and left. Scott and Taylor just noticed."

"She could be anywhere," Nick took her in his arms.

Chloe sighed into his chest. "I should go back."

Nick nodded. "Okay, I'll go look for her a bit."

"You've never met her," Chloe cracked a smile.

"Well, what does she look like?"

"Um, long dark hair, really blue eyes, medium skin. I'd say about 5'10"," Chloe rattled off while picking up all her clothes. "Remember she can go invisible, so you'll have to use your feral eyes."

Nick tossed her the keys to her car and opened the door for her. "I'll walk you out, okay?"

"Okay," Chloe gave him a quick peck on the lips and hurried out the door.

She mumbled angrily to him as they walked out to her car. Chloe looked down, fumbling for her cell when it started ringing.

"Hey Chlo – dark hair, blue eyes, medium skin, tall?" Nick asked.

"Yup," Chloe said without looking up.

"Is that her?" Nick pointed and Chloe followed his finger to her car.

"Lexa," Chloe took off at a run towards the girl.

"I guess so," Nick picked up his pace to catch up to her.

Chloe didn't have any words when she reached Lexa. She scowled at the molecular and gestured at her angrily.

"What?" Lexa looked extremely confused.

"I just got a call from Scott, who told me that you were missing. I was worried!" Chloe shouted.

Lexa looked shocked. "You were worried?"

"Of course! No one knew where you were. You're apart of a team now, you can't just disappear," Chloe continued.

"Chloe," Lexa grabbed her hands, stopping Chloe's rant short. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I would be missed. I had a confrontation with Adam, so I left. But then I saw your car, so I wanted to apologize for accidentally telling Adam about Nick. I didn't know he didn't know."

"It's okay, just don't do that again – the running away thing," Chloe reached out and fingered the girl's dark curls affectionately. "Let's go back. I think you can fit the motorcycle in the back of my SUV. Nick, can you help? Oh Lexa, this is Nick."

"Hi," Lexa waved shyly. "Sorry I didn't make a better first impression."

"It's okay. It's nice to meet you," Nick grinned.

They loaded the motorcycle into the car, Chloe gave Nick a quick kiss goodbye, and then Chloe and Lexa were off.

"So, you said that you and Adam had a confrontation?" Chloe glanced over at the teen.

"Yeah…" Lexa sighed. "It seems we have an instant oil/water feel. He was mad at me for keeping your secret."

"Or maybe because you know more about me than he does," Chloe reasoned.

"I didn't realize how little they knew about you," Lexa commented.

"Yeah, well I have a lot of secrets," Chloe frowned.

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, why are you keeping secrets from your team?" Lexa glanced over at her.

"I'm not. This isn't my team," Chloe replied simply.

Lexa looked at her confused, yet a flicker of understanding was revealed in her eyes.