Cassandra Cillian had a few secrets of her own. Well, they weren't really secrets because had any of her co-workers ever asked, she would have told them. But they didn't. This new world was confusing enough and they were all still finding their way as a team. So what she did when she wasn't at the Annex wasn't really a topic for discussion.

She had a feeling though that things were changing. Christmas had brought them all closer together. Stone had been particularly friendly and she thought they were finally coming together. But something had happened when he went home for his Christmas vacation. He'd gotten sick for one and hadn't been around. And certainly ever since then he wasn't hanging around the Annex like he used to. Instead he was checking the books out and taking them home. He also wasn't making his trips home every weekend any more.

She didn't think he knew that she knew where he was going every weekend. She spent as much time in the Annex as he did, maybe more. So she noticed everyone's comings and goings. And she noticed when they changed.

Something must have happened at home, she mused that morning as she'd gotten ready. He had come back late, saying he didn't need the Back Door, that he'd be driving home. Then he called in sick. She shook her head, she could only imagine that something major had happened and now he was completely estranged from his family. She wished he could talk to someone about that. She wished she could be that person, but if not her, then maybe Baird or . . . . Probably not Ezekiel. But Stone kept to himself, so who knew? Maybe he had made friends here in Portland, maybe he had a girlfriend. Despite his not visiting Oklahoma and going home more, he did seem happier than he had been since they met.

Cassandra put her tea cup in the sink rather forcefully. A girlfriend would be the best explanation for all of that. He wasn't hanging around the Annex because he had someone to see. She was not jealous. Not at all. He said he liked her, but obviously she'd ruined any chance they had. So she had to be happy he was happy right?

There was no sense dwelling on Stone or jumping to conclusions. That ship had sailed. And today was her day to do something that her teammates didn't know about.

Ever since she'd left her parents' restrictive home and moved in with her Aunt Gertrude, Cassandra had passed her time giving back. Great-Aunt Gertie had been Cassandra's role model. Gertie was quiry, fun and always her own woman, the relative that Cassandra had most taken after and admired. She'd accepted her grand niece into her home and had always tried to get her to fly. Cassandra had always been too timid to do so. . .well until Flynn and the Library. But Gertie had also encouraged Cassandra to volunteer and do new things and meet new people.

So as soon as Cassandra was fully settled in Portland, she'd begun volunteering. Although she didn't really like babies, okay she kinda hated them, she did like children. They were much more interesting when they could walk and talk. So she volunteered with a program that helped children who had been removed from abusive situations. Some of the kids were foster, others had recently escaped with their mothers (and in a couple of cases fathers) from abusive homes, and several were being raised by grandparents, relatives or a different parent. Some of the kids were highly troubled but as she was relatively new she'd been placed primarily with a group of preschoolers who were fairly well adjusted and just needed a little help.

There was a new little boy in her group today, slightly shy with messy brown hair and blue eyes. Something was nagging the back of her mind about him when June came over to her. June was the therapist, a kindly older women with a crinkly eyed smile.

"That's Maxwell," June nodded toward the new boy. "He recently moved in with his father. His father caught his mother's boyfriend about to hit the boy. "

Cassandra shook her head. It was an all too common story here, at least he had a father who was willing to step in. All too often . . . . She let her thoughts trail off and turned back to June.

June had paused to remind one of the children to be careful with his pair of scissors and then when he obeyed, she turned back to Cassandra.

"His father doesn't know how much went on. He knows for certain his ex-wife was being abused." June shook her head sadly. "He tried to get her out too, but you know how that story goes. But she wanted him to take their son far away. As much as he can tell, the boyfriend was just largely indifferent to little Max but he certainly would have witnessed the abuse. The psychologist seems to agree with that assessment. He's very shy but otherwise he's doing okay. He probably won't be here too long but his father is very concerned."

Cassandra read between the lines when June smiled softly. Max's father felt guilty for not noticing what was going on and was now over protective. She was glad for Max's sake that he was now in a safe home. She hoped that the father was getting a little support as well. Guilt was a terrible thing, she knew from experience. And from working with these families, she also knew that often the signs were well hidden from outsiders.

She smiled at June and made her way over to the arts and crafts table. She'd been teaching the kids about numbers and shapes via art projects and it was something she loved. The kids greeted her with a chorus of hellos and mostly mispronunciations of her name. She'd thought once about having the kids try calling her 'Cassie' but that was a nickname only one person had ever given her and for some strange reason, she wanted it to be his alone. So she answered to whatever these kids chose to call her.

She'd introduced herself to Max and he'd smiled shyly at her. As the project continued, she'd stopped to admire his. He had talent that was beyond his four years.

"Wow, you're doing a great job, Max."

He smiled up at her, "thank you, ma'am." The politeness and that accent that reminded her of a certain art historian just melted her heart. If she didn't know better . . . .

From the moment she met little Max, they were best friends. Or at least as best of friends a grown woman could be with a preschooler. Sometimes her work wasn't all fun, it was certainly dangerous and could be sad. But coming in and working with the kids especially Max really helped.

Max wasn't supposed to stay in the program very long, but he ended up being there for months. June had explained that his father worked long and sometimes unpredictable hours. Which wasn't helping Max adjust as much as they'd hoped. His attachment to Cassandra, on the other hand, was helping him out quite a bit. So Max stayed right where he was. His father's mind was at ease knowing that the boy was in safe hands and Cassandra was happy to have him around.

Cassandra's regular day was two days after the ill fated mission in Collins Falls. The only teeny tiny upside to that awful mess was the fact that apparently Stone didn't have a girlfriend in Portland. Or if he had, he didn't any more. Cassandra hadn't been able to control her jealousy and she was pretty certain Stone now knew how she felt about him. Although he was just upset enough about the outcome that maybe he wouldn't remember her behavior.

"Andra?" Max asked when she came in and sat down, her usual upbeat mood down. He always called her Andra and she let him. "Are you sad?"

She nodded. "I had a very bad week. Can I have a hug?"

Max smiled and gave her a hug. "My daddy is sad this week too. He told me he . . . ." Max scrunched up his face in thought. "Lost a friend and hurt another one. He needed a hug too."

She quirked a smile at him. "Well your hugs really help."

"They used to help my mama too. When the bad man . . . ." Max bit his lip and Cassandra smiled gently at him. "I miss her. "

"I bet she misses you too."

Max nodded. "Daddy says she does. He and Mama used ta fight but not like her and the bad man. Daddy is too nice. He and Mama just . . . ."

"Didn't get along?" Cassandra asked gently, letting Max open up.

He nodded. "He isn't mean, they just yelled sometimes. After I got put in bed."

Cassandra nodded. "So they didn't know you heard?" That was nice, they tried to keep him out of it, she had a feeling that both parents really loved their son.

Max nodded. "Yep. Daddy says he tried but he says Mama is," and Max stumbled over a word that Cassandra was certain was supposed to be 'impossible.'

Cassandra actually laughed. "I bet she'd say the same thing about your Daddy."

Max nodded. "Mama loves me more than anythin'. That's why she sent me with Daddy. Daddy says some day she'll come to her senses. Don't know what that means. But til then I'm here with Daddy. And it's nice. Daddy's great and I've got you."

"You do." Cassandra was worried though, Max was probably done with the program very soon. And while she'd tried hard not to get attached, she was going to ask for his contact info. She didn't even know Max's last name.

She gave him a hug when it was time for her to go and she went home feeling at least better about that last mission. If a little sad that she might not see her little friend again.