My mum says that "Patience is a virtue."

Thank you for being so virtuous!

Damn, this took me so long, but I didn't want to break it up (for obvious reasons). I'm sure you guys wont mind, though!

#Captain Planet doesn't belong to me (obviously)#

Alternate Destination

Chapter Twelve

Maybe this is forever
Forever fades away
Like a rocket ascending into space
Could you not be sad
Could you not break down
After all, I won't let go

Until you're safe and sound
Until you're safe and sound

"Safe and Sound"

Sheryl Crow

"What did you get?"

Gi opened the lid and inspected her meal closely, her nose wrinkled up in apparent distaste. After prodding the spaghetti several times with a plastic fork, she flipped a single meatball over and observed the oil and fat flowing into the plastic container, mixing with the rest of her meal.

"It looks like sheep intestines, actually..."

"Ew! Thats disgusting!"

"You try eating it, then!" Gi exclaimed with a giggle, pushing it to the side with a dismissive glance. For the next half hour, she resigned herself to nibbling on the accompanying bread roll and side salad, occasionally picking at Linka's grilled chicken and vegetables.

The flight had progressed quite smoothly (much to Linka's surprise). After supper had been served, the window flaps were lowered and the lights dimmed. Much of the cabin was now dark, with the exception of the odd television screen flickering nearby.

The events of the past few weeks had begun to catch up with Linka as she found herself nodding off every now and again, before waking and readjusting her aching, cramped limbs- to no avail. It was impossible to find a comfortable position in the reclining seats, and she was becoming frustrated as a result.

Gi eventually noticed her agitation and remedied the problem by allowing her disgruntled friend to stretch her legs over her own lap, which meant that Linka could lean against the cabin wall. Propping some pillows against her back, Linka lent back and wiggled her feet happily, thanking Gi with absolute sincerity.

"Try and get some sleep."

"Da, I need it..."

Linka closed her eyes, listening to the minute sounds coming from the plane, including the distant wail of a small child from somewhere in the next cabin. Soon, the background noise began to diminish in intensity, replaced by a dreamless, uninterrupted sleep.

A sharp pain eventually woke her, caused by an unapologetic teenager pushing past her seat and knocking her outstretched feet. At first disorientated and groggy, it took Linka a few moments to regain her senses. She stiffly sat upright, rubbing her eyes and uncomfortably aware that her skin and mouth were dry from the aircraft's ventilation system.

The Russian carefully disengaged her legs from Gi's lap and replaced them underneath the seat in front, stretching and yawning at the same time. Gi was sound asleep, her head and body lolling uncomfortably to the side.

She is going to have such a back ache when she wakes up.

Linka contemplated the idea of waking her, but eventually decided against it. Instead, she reached for the remote and turned the television monitor on, affixing the headphones that had, until then, remained unused in a transparent wrapper.

She flicked idly through the stations, soon finding the passenger flight channel which detailed their flight path and other various navigational information.

Three hours until destination? That went fast...

Linka rubbed her hands together with glee, delighted with their progress. She simply couldn't wait to land...

A hot shower. A bed. I need to get a watch, too. Toothpaste...

She contemplated these thoughts for a while, her heart warming to the idea of these simple, everyday items that she had, until now, taken for granted.

Boshe moy, I feel like a rodent has crawled into my mouth and died...

Linka knew that this was a gross over reaction, but she had always been a self-confessed, fastidious clean-freak. She took pride in her personal grooming habits, a value instilled since childhood. Linka's parents had struggled financially for many years, barely able to provide Linka and her brother with the bare necessities. However poor they had been, her mother had always ensured that her children were well-fed and clean. This responsibility had consequently passed to Nona after her beloved motherhad passed away, just after Linka's tenth birthday.

She tucked her thick brown locks behind her ears, staring ahead at the screen and seeming a million miles away.

Her emerald eyes glazed over as she contemplated a thought that had never crossed her mind until now.

Should I be with my family? Were my mother and father waiting for me?

Her brow furrowed further as she pondered her Nona.

Nona and Mishka...

Who informed them of my death?

How would they have reacted?

Linka immediately felt ill, a wave of nausea passing through her body in hot waves. She pondered her beloved grandmother's situation, and the disturbing knowledge that Nona had outlived both her own children and grandchild.

More revelations began creeping to the surface, then questions that she needed answered.

Startled into action, she gripped Gi's forearm and shook her awake. The Asian planeteer stirred slightly and coughed, before resuming her steady breathing. Undeterred, Linka shook her again.

"I'm too tired, honey. Maybe tomorrow," Gi grumbled, her need for sleep overtaking all other functions.

"Gi, where is Nona?"

Gi's eyes fluttered open, observing Linka's pale face staring back at her. Gi opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, unsure of how to proceed.

"Linka, we don't need to talk about this now..." she gently replied, only serving to alarm Linka further.

"Nyet, I need to know, Gi. You said that my compensation went to a wildlife charity, so it obviously didn't go to my my family. Is Nona gone, too?"

Gi sighed and looked down examining her fingernails. She had carefully skirted the issue since Linka had turned up on her doorstep, knowing that the truth would shatter her friend's already frayed nerves.

"Do not baby me, Gi. Is she gone?" Linka's voice betrayed the conviction and determination she had been trying so hard to muster. A single nod confirmed her suspicions, leaving her rendered totally speechless.

"I'm so sorry, Linka. I wanted to wait until you were... better equipped to deal with it, I guess." Gi placed a comforting arm around her shoulders, affectionately brushing the hair from her friend's face. Gi was slightly alarmed to see the reaction on Linka's face, however. Her lips were set in a thin line, her bright eyes staring sightlessly towards the small monitor in front.

"Linka, are you..." Gi ventured cautiously, but was cut off.

"How did she die?" the Russian demanded, now aware that the compensation would have arrived soon after her own 'accident'.

Nona must have passed away shortly after I did.

"And where is Mishka?" she appealed, her voice now rising in panic

Gi stared back, totally unprepared for this interrogation. She and Ma-Ti had briefly discussed the possibility of this conversation before they had fled the cottage. The pair had both agreed to avoid the topic until Linka had adjusted to her new-found situation. She was already an emotional wreck, there was no need to upset her further.

"Linka, I... we'll fill you in when we're all together again, okay?"

Linka stared back in disbelief, shocked that Gi refused to divulge this information.

"I have a right to know, it is my family! I cannot believe you are refusing to tell me!" she snapped angrily, now incurring curious glances from their neighbors.

"For God's sake, Linka! I'm totally not comfortable with describing the details of your Nona's death after all you've been through. Please, just calm down for a moment..." Gi pleaded, tears springing to her own eyes.

"So Mishka is alive?" Linka was relentless, pressing Gi onwards towards breaking point.

"I don't know..." Gi whimpered, unable to make eye contact with her friend. Linka finally backed off, trying to make sense of the limited information she had received. The Russian lent back and glared at the monitor once again, her mind working frantically.

After a minute of silent seething, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stumbled into the aisle. She fled towards the toilet cubicle, passing Ma-Ti's worried face without a second glance. She pushed the sliding door open and stepped inside, before slamming it shut, a sob escaping her lips in the process.

She wanted to scream, to beat her fists against the walls and curse those responsible for her predicament. She sat unsteadily on the edge of the basin, working hard to regain her composure. She concentrated on her breathing, all the while chastising herself for the tears that were threatening to burst forth. Little by little, she calmed down. Linka turned slightly and glanced at her reflection, not too surprised to see a chalk-white face and swollen eyes staring back at her.

She splashed some cold water on her face and rearranged her lanky hair as best she could. Grabbing a couple of Kleenex from the box, she pushed open the door again and walked back to her seat, in time to hear the captain announcing their descent into Los Angeles.

Linka's journey through Los Angeles International Airport was a blur. She remembered very little of it, not even Ma-Ti discreetly activating his ring when an immigration officer questioned them about Linka's dubious passport details.

"He wasn't going to let her through," he explained, once they were all settled on the New York flight. Gi nodded distractedly, her worried gaze still focused on Linka's stony expression. She hadn't spoken a word since her return from the bathroom on the flight to LA.

Some three hours later, they finally arrived at New York's JFK airport. Clearing customs after 10pm, the crowd made their way towards the Baggage Claim. Ma-Ti remained behind the girls by some distance, lost within the sea of people. His face was a mirror of concentration, his ring ablaze in the dimly-lit hallway.

As Linka rounded the corner and stepped into the massive area, she immediately spotted her luggage on Conveyor Belt Three, the small suitcase rotating away from the approaching crowd. She retrieved the case and pulled it to the ground, before dragging it towards a nearby pillar and sitting on it, her back leaning against the cold concrete.

Still waiting, Gi stood on her toes and peered over the luggage slide for a glimpse of her own bags. Ma-Ti approached the Asian woman, glancing uneasily at a forlorn-looking Linka sitting alone on the other side of the room, her knees drawn up to her chin.

"Will you look out for my luggage? I need to make a phone call."

Gi looked momentarily confused.

"To who?" she asked, but Ma-Ti only shook his head, jogging towards the row of pay-phones near the information desk.

With an exhausted shrug, she resumed scanning the conveyor belt, finally spotting the two missing suitcases. Pulling them both from the turn-style, she dragged them towards Linka and collapsed onto the marble floor beside her.

It was about ten minutes before Ma-Ti returned, his expression unreadable.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah, lets go get some sleep," was Gi's quick reply. With that, the trio rose and headed out of the terminal, towards the bustling taxi rank and the bright lights of New York City.

They had found a small bed and breakfast in Chelsea, with two double beds and a pull out single available for three nights. The room was small but cozy, with a lovely view of the city through it's quaint, bay window. Gi offered Linka first shower, which she accepted with a small smile which didn't quite meet her eyes. Grabbing a towel from her bed, Linka closed the door quietly behind her. Ma-Ti listened for the sound of running water before he spoke.

"I found him!" he hissed, gaining Gi's immediate attention. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she looked up in surprise and asked the Indian to elaborate.

"I found Wheeler!" he repeated, a grin stretching across his dark face. "I beamed him at JFK and told him about Linka. That's why I went to the phone box! I gave him the phone number of the pay-phone and he actually rung back!"

What a night, Gi lamented, unsure how much more she could take. "Is he coming?"

"I think so," Ma-Ti replied, trying to recall the dynamics of the short conversation. "He didn't actually say, so we'd better keep this from her, in case he... ."

"In case he doesn't show," Gi interjected, the strain of the past 24 hours beginning to show on her face. "Great. More secrets. She's not going to like that." Gi was tired and irritable, made worse by the fact that Linka was beginning to unravel in front of their eyes.

"God, I hope he's not married or we're in for World War Three."

Unrelenting rain hit the tin roof, keeping the little girl awake for the third night running. She lay on her side, curled into a foetal position under an astonishing pile of brightly colored blanket and rugs. It had been a particularly cold winter in Russia, especially within in the isolated mountain areas.

The wind howled through the trees like a banshee, rattling the windows of her tiny room... but she was unafraid. The girl listened intently to the scuffling noises coming from the wooden hallway linking the bedrooms to the kitchen, her Nona's frantic footsteps scaring her more than the storm.

She was an intuitive child, intelligent beyond her years. She knew something was happening.

Was her mother sick again? Petra Ivanova had now been bedridden for a month, her existence confirmed only by the constant smell of camphor and the deep, chesty coughs which issued at a steady rate from the warm kitchen. The little girl had been forbidden from entering her mother's bedroom, an order which pained her greatly.

She turned away from the sound, trying to block it out as best she could. She picked at the threads of her favorite rug, made years earlier by Mama. Her happiest memories consisted of nights by the fire, listening to the clicking of the knitting needles resonating throughout the small cabin. Those days were all but over, since Mama's hands were now to weak to even bathe herself.

The tuberculosis had taken an aggressive hold on Petra. Proclaimed the town beauty from an early age, she possessed a kind and gentle nature, traits which she had passed down to her only daughter. Sparkling, green eyes and an overwhelming smile were her trademark. Unfortunately, her once beautiful features had gradually wasted away, revealing only a former shadow of herself. Now that her kidneys were failing, little could be done for her by the limited medical resources that were available.

More hurried footsteps accompanied hushed voices as Linka buried herself under the covers, with only her green eyes peeking out from under the blankets. The coughing had subsided completely, and this troubled her. The front door slammed loudly, startling her as she sat upright, her hair falling into her eyes. Linka pulled the blankets back and quietly placed her feet into the slippers, alarmed to hear the sound of Nona sobbing in the kitchen.

She padded into the hallway, before pausing halfway towards her destination. Second thoughts clouded her senses, an oppressive veil which shrouded her confidence. She pressed on regardless, gripping her white nightgown around her for warmth, and partly for comfort. Bright light filtered through the partly closed door as Linka approached, the sound of Nona's sobs still assaulting her ears.

Linka reached the opening and peeked through the gap, her wide eyes blinking furiously as she became accustomed to the light.

Nona was seated at the kitchen table, her head in her hands. Papa was nowhere to be seen, so feeling brave, Linka pushed open the door and made her presence known.

"Is Mama ill again?" she asked, as Nona looked up, registering her grand daughters presence in abject horror.

Nona jumped to her feet and rushed forward, her arms outstretched, scaring Linka. She backed away, frightened by the uncharacteristic gesture.

"Nyet, Linka!"

Turning uncertainly, Linka moved towards the door, glimpsing a white sheet to her right as she passed. A small, clammy hand dangled loosely from the tattered couch, not quite touching the floor. The world stopped for a fraction of a second as the little girl froze, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. She felt her Nona's arms embrace her around the waist, half lifting/half dragging her from the kitchen. Linka's eyes did not stray from the limp appendage until it was out of sight.

A moment of clarity, of numb realization.

The screaming started soon after.

Linka's eyelids fluttered open, her mind still reeling from the painful memory. She stretched lazily, her fingers grazing the timber head-board above her.

The pale blue curtains had been drawn, shielding the sleepers from the bright sunshine peeking through the gaps in the soft material. Linka turned onto her side and observed the digital clock on the small table, the luminescent numbers showing 12:45 on the dial.

Is it really 12:45?

She sat up and shuffled her body towards the head-board, leaning her back and head against it. Gi's distinctive form could just be made out under the covers of her bed beside the window. Buried under the blankets, she resembled a cream-colored, bulky lump.

Grabbing a small throw cushion, Linka aimed it squarely towards the top half of Gi's bed and threw the object with all her might. It bounced of Gi's head and scuttled onto the floor, the force of the blow causing Gi to throw herself away from the perceived threat. She dropped to the floor with an almighty crash, with her arms and legs still tangled up inside the blankets. Gi squealed in fright and frantically tried to disengage herself, but succeeded only in tangling herself further and falling to the floor again.

Now awake, Ma-Ti clamped a hand to his mouth, trying to control the fit of laughter threatening to burst forth from his throat. Gi remained on the floor, looking distinctly like a distressed caterpillar.

"I did not mean to throw it so hard," Linka offered as an apology, jumping out of bed and pulling her disorientated friend to her feet.

"I'm glad you did, Linka," Ma-Ti remarked, still chuckling. "The look on her face was totally worth it!"

"Shut up, Ma-Ti," Gi grumbled, rubbing her shoulder and glaring at the Indian's amused expression. "I'm having a shower."

"Linka and I will get some breakfast... er, lunch, I guess," Ma-Ti called to Gi's retreating figure. The Asian woman waved in response, before closing the door loudly. "Don't forget to call your husband," he yelled through the door, earning a muffled reply.

"Bagels?" he asked Linka, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

"Da, bagels sound good," she remarked, "Is Harry's Bagels still on 49th?"

Ma-Ti frowned, considering the question as he pulled a pair of jeans on and approached the door. "I sure hope so. I'll wait for you outside."

Linka smiled fondly, remembering her last visit to Wheeler's favorite bagel shop. Baked fresh on the premises, they came in all varieties and were prepared to order. Linka always stuck with her favorite: a toasted sesame bagel with cheese, ham and tomato, watered down with a delicious hot chocolate- she rarely consumed coffee.

Wheeler had dragged them there on numerous occasions. The last few times however, it had just been the two of them. They had sat and eaten at the bar window, watching the crowds pass by in the light of the afternoon sun. Linka had been thoroughly entertained by Wheeler for the entire visit as he observed random walkers and predicted their occupations and habits.

"Okay, that guy obviously breeds pit-bull terriers... cuz' you can kinda see the resemblance."

"Wheeler, that is an awful..."

"Oh, see the chick at the crossing with the ugly bag?"

"Da," she responded between a fresh waves of giggles, glancing at the woman's pinched face and large glasses.

"She jumps in front of cars and sues the driver."

"That is not a very healthy career choice," she laughed, before seeing a little boy ambling towards them with his mother. "What about that child over there?"

Wheeler gave her an amused glance, placing his hands behind his head and leaning back. "He doesn't have a career yet, baboushka," he explained with patient sarcasm.

Linka leaned over and swatted him across the head. "I know that, Yankee. When he grows up?"

Without hesitation, he replied "A background dancer for Madonna."

Linka choked and spluttered her drink into the air, before wiping the frothy foam from her trousers. "He has at least another fifteen years before that happens," she exclaimed indignantly.

"Yeah, well Madonna'll still be annoying us well into her sixties," he complained bitterly. "Geez, Linka... could you have possibly spat your hot chocolate any further?" Wiping milk off his shirt, he picked up his empty bagel dish and tipped the crumbs over her head, much to Linka's horror.

"Wheeler!" The Russian had retaliated immediately by grabbing his coke and spilling the left-over contents over him. Her thoughts of retribution quickly turned to uncertainty as he stood and shook the droplets out of his hair, an unpredictable expression on his face. Linka swallowed the impulse driving her to apologize, as she too stood and slipped behind her chair- more for protection than a desire to leave.

"Babe, you are going down..." he growled and she was out the door in a flash, her blonde hair streaming behind her and a wide grin lighting up her beautiful face.

"He certainly got you back, Linka," Gi remarked much later, struggling to pull on a skirt that was a size too small for her figure.

"Da."

A squeeze bottle of honey and an all-out, kitchen-floor wrestling match was Wheeler's choice of revenge, meted out as an unprepared Linka washed up the night's dinner dishes. He had unceremoniously dragged the startled girl to the floor, pinned her body down beneath his and proceeded to drain the contents of the entire bottle into her hair. Her flimsy protests had been no match for Wheeler's far superior strength, although Gi's 'convenient' timing had prevented Linka from further humiliation.

"Get a room, you two!" she had commented dryly as she passed into the living room, amused as always by their constant flirting.

A hint of a smile momentarily reached the corners of Linka's lips, but it soon faded away, replaced by an undeniable feeling of loneliness and isolation.

A dull ache remained from last night's confrontation, buried in the back of her mind. She kept up appearances, sharing in Gi and Ma-Ti's excitement about the impending dinner, but the depression was unshakable.

They have all moved on. I am nothing but a burden to them.

Sighing, Linka stepped into the black dress and zipped it up, her thoughts now focused on Kwame and Wheeler. She prayed that they would show up, knowing the possibility of disappointment was looming ominously over her head. Truthfully, she didn't know how she would cope if Wheeler wasn't there. Linka found herself craving his laugh, his uncanny ability to lighten up even the most serious situation. She sat on the edge of her bed, missing him more than she ever thought possible.

"You're not wearing that, are you?" Gi's eyes narrowed as they moved over Ma-Ti's choice of clothing: a t-shirt, jeans and black boots.

"What about it?" he asked, his hands crossed defensively across his broad chest. "Stop bothering me, woman."

"Don't woman me, you..."

Slipping into the bathroom, Linka tuned out the familiar bickering by applying a small amount of make-up to her face, then turning the hair dryer onto full power. Using a round brush, she spent fifteen minutes straightening her thick hair. Her brown locks fell to the middle of her back, curling stubbornly at the ends. She observed her reflection for a moment, a myriad of emotions causing her stomach to flutter uncomfortably. Swallowing her fear, Linka stepped into the living area and grabbed her bag from the table.

"You ready?" Gi inquired softly, aware of the internal struggle her friend was currently experiencing.

"Da. Ready as I will ever be..."

Dusk had settled, bathing the streets in a pleasant red glow. The trio hurried towards the Italian restaurant, weaving through the dense, peak-hour crowds heading towards the subway stations. They were running over fifteen minutes late and Linka was already out of breath, struggling to keep up with Gi's frantic pace.

"Would you guys hurry up?" Gi had paused ahead at the corner and was now hopping impatiently from one foot to the other.

Ma-Ti gestured for Gi to continue without them, so she turned the corner and disappeared from view without them.

"She is just excited, Linka," he commented wryly, glancing at Linka's profile as they walked. She smiled at him briefly, before returning her gaze to the footpath, obviously deep in thought. Ma-Ti really couldn't blame her... things had been especially tense since their confrontation on the LA flight.

The implications of Gaia's decision were starting to take it's toll on the Russian Planeteer. As they rounded the corner and approached the glass doors, Linka paused and leaned against the menu stand, her hands visibly shaking. Her breath came in shuddering gasps as uncertainty and fear gripped her with unrelenting force. She was so unsure of herself, so afraid of what she might find waiting inside the restaurant. .

Ma-Ti instinctively understood her inner turmoil and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I can't begin to imagine how you must be feeling, Linka," the Indian confessed, slightly alarmed at her pale face and tightly clenched fists. "We just have to take it one step at a time."

"I feel so alone, Ma-Ti. I feel like I have totally... dis-robed... um, disrupted everybody's..."

Ma-Ti rapidly shook his head, holding his right hand palm-out in Linka's direction. The action stopped her in mid-sentence. He sighed, glancing briefly into the restaurant for a glimpse of some familiar faces, but his view was obscured by a crowd of revelers at the bar.

"You are our family, Linka. You always have been, you know that. We'll go in, introduce you and give em' a heart attack, eat dinner and if the Yankee doesn't show himself over the course of the night, we'll go find him. You can administer the beating yourself, okay?"

Linka pondered the enticing proposition for a few moments. "I still have questions."

Ma-Ti nodded. "If they don't answer them, I will. You have my word on that." He held out his arm, waiting for her response.

Linka flashed a genuine smile of relief in his direction. A small weight had been lifted off her shoulders, although Ma-Ti had always had a knack for putting anxious minds at ease.

"Spasiba, Ma-Ti," she responded warmly, clutching his offered limb within her own. Together, they passed through the doors and into the warmth of the foyer area.

The delicious aroma of tomatoes and garlic wafted through the air. Linka breathed in the tantalizing scent while allowing Ma-Ti to lead her towards the back of the room. A champagne bottle popped to her right, the frothy foam cascading over the rim in waves of yellow bubbles. The room was softly lit and alive with the chatter of friends, relatives and acquaintances enjoying a night out.

"MA-TI!" A deep voice called out over the din, diverting Linka's attention towards the left-hand corner. A tall, handsome man waved, an infectious grin warming his dark skin. To the man's left sat a pretty woman with fine features, garbed in a brightly-colored dress. Huge earrings adorned her delicate earlobes and a head-scarf complimented the outfit. Gi sat intrusively between the two, grinning in Linka's direction.

"Ma-Ti! It has been too long," the man exclaimed as he stood and approached the Indian, embracing him warmly. "It is wonderful to see you!"

The two chatted for a moment, leaving Linka standing awkwardly to the side and feeling the pressure of Gi's penetrating stare. Finally, Ma-Ti disengaged himself from the exuberant African and turned his attention towards the brunette standing behind him.

"And who is your friend, Ma-Ti?" Kwame asked politely, openly appraising the attractive woman and mistakenly believing her to be there at Ma-Ti's invitation. He beckoned for them to join them at the table. Linka slid uncertainly into the booth and sat beside the petite African woman.

"Um, she is... um..." Ma-Ti struggled to find the appropriate choice of words.

"She's from out of town." Gi added deviously, enjoying Kwame's confused reaction.

Ma-Ti chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," he replied. "Do you want to field this one?" he asked Linka, who was now aware that Kwame was quietly observing her with intense scrutiny.

She looks so much like Linka! The disturbing thought refused to leave him, passing through his brain in a continuous loop. Fragments of stored memories and images were beginning to unravel in Kwame's mind, his eyes reflecting both confusion and an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

"You look a lot like someone I used to know," he ventured, each word articulated with the utmost caution and clarity. His happy expression had vanished, replaced by one of the utmost seriousness.

Linka smiled shyly at Kwame's baffled expression, trying to think of something monumental to say.

Her attempt was a failure. She simply stared back at him, shrugging her shoulders in defeat.

"Da, I get that a lot," she replied, quietly observing Kwame's mouth drop in disbelief as he heard her voice for the first time in four years.

"You have got to be... how could this... Linka?" he hissed, his voice cracking on the last syllable. Kwame abruptly stood, knocking the table and sending two glasses tumbling onto the floor. They shattered, causing the restaurant's patrons to glance curiously in their direction.

"Sit down, you idiot..." Gi seethed, grabbing him by the shirt and forcibly pulling him back to his previous position.

The African woman looked on in confusion, before bending down to pick up the broken glass from the terracotta tiles. Kwame's face had turned an an unhealthy shade of gray, but he refused to take his eyes of the brunette sitting opposite him

"Calm down, Kwame," Ma-Ti muttered, alarmed at the perspiration that had broken out on his friend's forehead. "Just calm down for a minute, and we'll explain..."

"EXPLAIN WHAT? THAT THERE'S A DEAD PERSON SITTING WITH US!" he rasped, blinking his eyes rapidly, as if expecting Linka to disappear into the rustic woodwork paneling.

"What is it, Kwame? What is going on?" Kwame's friend was clearly uncomfortable, her heavily accented voice trembling slightly.

Gi forcibly stepped in at this point, dismayed at the look of horror on Kwame's face, and the fear reflected on Linka's.

"It's Gaia's doing. She brought Linka back. Zarm is..."

"BROUGHT HER BACK? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BROUGHT HER BACK?" Kwame was on his feet again, his hands balled up into tight fists. "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

Ignoring the repeated pleas to sit down quietly, Kwame lurched sideways and disengaged himself from the table, before bearing down on a devastated Linka. The room was quiet now, all in the restaurant distracted by Kwame's feverish voice. He grabbed Linka by the arm and dragged her roughly out of her seat.

"HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT IS HER? PLUNDER HAS BEEN WATCHING US FOR YEARS! HOW DO WE KNOW SHE IS NOT A SPY?" he fumed, shaking her by the arm.

Hot tears began to fall as Linka's fragile state of mind finally began to fail her. She sobbed in pain as Ma-Ti forcibly restrained the African man and shoved him back into his seat. Kwame's shaking hands moved to his temples and stayed there, shielding the shocked occupants of the room from his red eyes and clammy complexion.

Gi began to move out from her seat, intending to comfort the distressed girl. She paused when Linka took a frightened step backwards towards the door.

"Linka..., he's just in shock, honey," Gi soothed, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. "Linka, please..."

I don't belong here.

She shook her head, unable to deal with Kwame's outrageous behavior, or the curious stares directed towards her from the shocked patrons. The room began to shrink around her as she frantically fought to regain a sense of control. She took another step backwards, feeling hot and feverish.

"Linka..." Ma-Ti said softly, but it made no difference.

She turned and fled the restaurant, nearly colliding with a waiter bringing a tray of food from the kitchen. Finding the exit, she paused briefly before turning to her left and running blindly through the evening crowds. Ma-Ti quickly followed, but lost sight of her soon after exiting the premises.

The four 'rowdy' customers were quickly ejected from the restaurant for improper behavior. After much argument, Kwame had persuaded his girlfriend to return to the hotel. After brief, forced introductions, she had left them at the front of the restaurant.

"We should wait outside, guys. She might come back," Gi muttered, glaring in Kwame's direction.

"You should have warned me," he replied in his defense. "In my tribe, the dead return only to torment the living."

"Yeah, well after what she's been through, that was the last thing she needed!" she bit back savagely. Kwame hung his head, ashamed beyond belief.

The trio squeezed onto a dilapidated looking bus-stop seat and maintained a watchful vigil. By eight-thirty, there was still no sign of her.

Checking his watch, Ma-Ti sighed. He looked worn out, both emotionally and physically. He slumped back against the wooden railing and inspected the cracks in the pavement.

"I'll be able to track her. Let's just give her some time."

Gi could no longer contain her fury and launched into an impressive tirade, directed at Kwame.

"I can't believe you can be so insensitive!"

"ME! WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU DRAG ME OUT HERE AND CHOOSE NOT TO TELL ME THAT SHE IS ALIVE?" Kwame's deep voice bellowed loudly, but Gi was undeterred.

"WE DIDN'T GET MUCH OF A WARNING EITHER, KWAME! SHE TURNED UP ON MY DOORSTEP A FEW DAYS AGO WITH GAIA"

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT!"

"YOU DIDN'T GIVE US THE CHANCE, YOU IDIOT!"

"Guys, would you tone it down?" Ma-Ti pleaded. They ignored him, continuing their incessant bickering with no regard for the strange stares they were receiving.

Exhaling deeply, he tuned out for a moment, but was suddenly overcome by the distinct feeling that they were being watched. Ma-Ti's eyes wandered in the direction of their hotel, becoming aware of a figure standing on the corner, observing them silently. The streetlights bathed the surroundings in a soft glow, and Ma -Ti had to squint for a better look.

Dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, the man approached the bus-stop with hands deeply within his pockets. The long, striding gait was familiar to Ma-Ti as he sat upright and observed the figure further, Kwame's protests still assaulting the Indians ears.

Oblivious to the approaching stranger, Gi and Kwame were now on their feet and yelling at each other heatedly, their faces red from the effort.

"WELL, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO HER!"

"I SAID THAT I'D GO AND FIND HER, GI!"

"AND DO WHAT? INSULT HER AGAIN? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU..."

Ma-Ti's face broke into a relieved grin as the figure finally reached the dueling pair, grabbed them by the back of their necks and pulled them apart. The man pushed them back into the wooden seat, causing a surprised grunt to escape from Gi's mouth.

Muttering under his breath, the stranger proceeded to sit cross-legged on the pathway beside Ma-Ti, looking out at the passing traffic. Three disbelieving faces craned towards him for a better look, shocked beyond belief at his appearance.

"Wheeler?" gasped Gi, overwhelmed at the extent of the nights' events.

"Hey," he responded, giving an awkward wave.

Wheeler smiled at them, before returning his gaze towards the street. A strong, Bronx accent and a touch of frustration accompanied his stinging accusation.

"You've lost her again, haven't you."

Lost for words, Kwame simply stared at the American Planeteer. Gi loosened her tongue sufficiently enough to respond.

"Yes, and only because someone scared her off," she replied causticly, as the African immediately jumped to his defense. The argument heated up once again as Wheeler jumped to his feet and began walking away.

"Where are you going?" Ma-Ti called after him, not prepared to let Wheeler out of his sight.

"I'm gonna' go find her. You coming, monkey-man?" he asked, before leveling an unsettling look upon the Water and Earth Planeteers.. "You two should go back to the hotel. Looks like you've done enough."

The remaining two sat silently, stunned at the brief exchange after four, long years. As Ma-Ti and Wheeler disappeared out of sight, they slowly got to their feet and ambled back towards their accommodation.

"Long day," sighed Gi, suddenly very tired.

Kwame chose not to reply.