The next morning I woke up early and got dressed in a blue tank top, black skinny jeans, black lace flats, and a brown knit cardigan which I buttoned in the middle. I began to French braid my hair into a half circle that went from the base of my skull on the left behind my ear and ended at the base of my skull behind my right ear. With that done I put on my watch, grabbed my cell phone, and dumped my wallet, along with my art stuff, into my shoulder bag before slinging it onto my shoulder. Plugging my headphones into my cellphone I turned on my music then placed it in my empty back pocket before heading out to the street. Humming under my breath I headed off in a direction and stopped outside a shop where I paid for a newspaper. Sitting at one of the tables in front of Rosemary's I read the paper after I had ordered a croissant. Quietly I circled several jobs with a borrowed pen, as I had forgotten mine back in the hotel room. Thanking the woman at the table next to me I handed the pen back to her with a smile, paid my bill, and went to look at the places I circled. First was the market but I was turned down as they had just filled the spot. For hours I went about looking for a job and finally stopped around noon as I stood by the docks. Stopping by a small general store to by a turkey sandwich before walking down the pier to sit at the end and, after taking my boots and socks off, I dangled my feet at the end of the pair.

I ate my sandwich in peace before pulling out my sketch pad and my charcoal. Silently my fingers flew over the page as I drew the harbor. Footsteps sounded on the wood behind me and I could tell, from the heaviness of the foot fall, that it was a man. For a moment the foot steps stopped then headed up a ramp by the sound of it. Taking off a piece of crust, as I didn't eat those, I tossed it out into the water and watched as a white bird with a black strip dove for it. Watching the bird I cocked my head then began to add it to my harbor drawing. Thirty minutes later I had a still drawing of the bird grabbing the bread from the water as I was still trying to catch the intelligence in its eyes.

"You are very good." A voice said and I startled badly, dropping my charcoal in the water.

I pouted at the water for a moment as I watched my charcoal float away. Turning to look at the person who had spoken I saw a pudgy man with graying hair that kind of frizzed out around his head and next to him was a balding man who had a hat on which only showed a ring of hair; glasses perched on the end of his nose. Both were rather old gentlemen but they each offered a kind smile.

"Sorry dear, didn't mean to startle you. If you like I could buy you a new one." The man said and I smiled wanly at them.

"No, thank you." I said shyly as I placed my pad back into my bag and stood up after putting my boots back on.

"Please let me, I feel bad about you losing that one because I didn't let you know I was here before speaking."

"It's one thing of charcoal and it's not even my favorite one. You don't have to." I said with a slight smile."But thank you for the offer."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I said with a smile, desperately thinking 'Please go away.'

"My name is Vince Teague and this is my brother Dave."

"A pleasure ma'am." Dave said holding out his hand. Hesitantly I took it.

"Nissa, Nissa Amarantha."

"Well Nissa it's a pleasure. Do you mind if I get a picture of you for editorial." Dave moved forward and mentally whimpered.

"Please, don't." I said holding up my hands as I took a step back. "I am not one for attention and I just know that will bring a lot of it."

As I took another step back, so I could step around them, my heel caught on the wood and I began to fall backwards. For a moment I felt like I was suspended then cold water rushed up to meet me. The water shocked me for a few seconds then I swam to the surface. I coughed water and shook my head as I swam out from under the pier where the tide had begun to push me. turning in the water I shrugged off my bag and tossed it up onto the pier with a thunk. Treading water I pulled off my cardigan with a wet plop just as I heard Dave and Vince begin yelling for someone named Nathan. Two brown headed males suddenly appeared in my line of sight and for a moment the sun blinded me as I looked up. The first face that came into focus was a face I felt I had seen before but couldn't remember then it hit me, it was the cop we had passed in the station. Going under I took my tank-top off then kicked to the surface. I tossed that in his face as he offered a hand to me. Treading water again I got a shoe off then the other. He still held his hand out and I looked over at the owner of the hand and saw Duke looking down at me with worry then his eyes kept looking out towards the bay. Raising an eyebrow I turned to see a fin disappear beneath the water.

"Please tell me that is a dolphin." I said

"I highly doubt it is." Duke said from above me. "Take my hand and we will pull you out. Nissa take my hand."

Muttering darkly I toed my shoes off till they were on my toes then grabbed them from the water. Just as I did the shark resurfaced, far closer to me. It began to circle me and I still ignored the hands that were offered to me as I staid calm because thrashing about and panicking wouldn't help me. It turned a little more and I was able to catch one of the black eyes. Turning in the water with it I kept my eyes on its one as I pushed thoughts to the shark, trying to make it see that I wasn't food and therefore had no interest in me. After a long moment the shark turned and swam off, turning in the water I tossed my flats up onto the pier, still ignoring the hands above me. Going under the water I shimmied out of my pants and tossed them up as well. Duke raised an eyebrow at me.

"Point me in the direction of the nearest shore." I said calmly lazily keeping myself afloat.

"You'll never make it. The water it too cold." Nathan, or at least that's what I'm guessing his name is, said watching me with a critical eye.

"Watch me." I said calmly "Now please point me in the right direction."

Duke pointed to the east and I nodded my head in thanks but he stopped me with a question. "Why not just get out using the ladder?"

"Well I am in the water, might as well make it worth it. Plus it is a rather nice day for a swim, don't you think?" With a grin I twisted in the water and dove down.

With easy even strokes I began cutting through the water like I had been taught to years ago. The water was cold but not freezing, definitely not the worst I had been in by far. I heard yelling but ignored it, as it sounded like Nathan. Slicing through the water I headed towards the shore and watched as a jeep drove parallel to me on the shore, my jeep. Nala had two others in the car with her. Diving I twisted under a boat and came up swiftly on the other side. Treading water for a moment I pushed my body parallel to the shore and continued swimming with the current. Finally I saw it the beach; with measured paces I reached it and walked when I could. Nala stood there with a towel and a smile while Duke and the cop stood behind her.

"Nice day for a dip." Nala said with a smile and I nodded my thanks as I took the towel and wrapped it around my shoulders then walked to the jeep. "Your clothes are in the back. Your bag is fine. You were smart to have that water proofed."

"I learned my lesson in Guatemala." I said as I went to the back and dropped my towel I pulled on my soaked tank, then my jeans before looking at everyone, leaning against the jeep.

"You should be checked for hypothermia." The cop said

"I don't have it." I said calmly my eyes like ice as I watched the cop warily.

"You wouldn't know." He said

"I would because I have had it before therefore I'm telling you I don't have it." I said calmly Nala stepped up

"Why don't we just get checked so he'll leave you be." My eyes softened when I looked at her then sighed.

"Fine, but only because you asked me to." I said calmly. As I said that an ambulance pulled up. My eyes flashed dangerously but I said nothing and walked over to them as they opened the back. They pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around me. I was sat down and they took my temperature while the other paramedic had me go through exercises.

"Well your temperature is normal, if a little raised. Watch for a cold or other illness but otherwise you are fine." The female parametric said.

"Thank you, happy Nala?"

"Yes." She said with a smile then bounced over to me for a hug.

Gently I hugged her back, aware of the fact that she was taller then me and that we were being watched by four strangers, even if one was a part of my past life. My phone went off in the jeep and I pulled away. Moving to the jeep I shrugged off the blanket and folded it calmly before before opening the back of the jeep with a heavy sigh. Muttering soft insults in Russian I opened my bag and pulled out the phone.

"Yo." I greeted Razz as I heard him grumble on the other. My hair began to drip water on my nose and with a huffy breath I shoved it back with an agitated hand, acutely aware of the eyes watching me.

"Nissa? Palan v poryadke." A rough voice said on the other end. (Nissa? The plan is in order.)

"Zamechatel'no, spasibo. A ostal'nyye?" I asked calmly (Wonderful, thank you. And the others?)

"Pozabotilis' o ikh storony." He said calmly and I heard drunken yelling in the back and smiled slightly (Have taken care of their part.)

"Zamechatel'no, spasibo. Teper' ya deystvitel'no me khochu uslyshat ot vas snova, yesli eto ne vse ushli v ad." I said a slight laugh in my voice. ( Wonderful, thank you. Now I really don't want to hear from you again unless it has all gone to hell.)

"Kak ledi pozhelaniya. Beregi sebya, ten'." he said (As the lady wishes. Take care, Shadow.)

"Vy tozhe , moy drug." I said softly before closing the phone. (You too, my friend.)

"What was that about?"

"Just Razz telling me everyone is missing us" I said giving her a smile.

"How is he?"

"Fine, drunk as always so you know he's okay."

Nala laughed softly and nodded her head. I turned to look at the men, "Want a ride back to your cars?"

Duke answered for both of them. "Yes."

I nodded and Nala tossed me the keys, which I easily caught, before getting in the driver's side. Nala offered the front to Duke who had the longest legs out of all of us then jumped into the back behind him with Nathan. The music turned on and filled the car with sound as everyone, and by that I mean me and the men, was being awkwardly silent. Under my breath I sang along with the music while Nala sang happily along in the back seat. A soft smile lifted my lips as I backed up then turned the car around and came back the way I had swam.

"I tried killing them." Nala said happily and I raised and eyebrow at her, glancing in the rear view mirror. "We went off the beaten path and they didn't enjoy it as much as I did."

"Which is why I have the jeep and you have the truck." I said, amusement heavily coloring my words.

She fell into a fit of giggles and I just rolled my eyes but a bright grin lifted my lips higher. "Yeah I know but I had a feeling that you would need help and I know how you are with cramped spaces and unknown people. The jeep at least gives you a little room unlike the truck would have."

"Mmm." After that Nala went back to singing along with the music and I focused on driving. A few minutes later Nathan spoke up.

"You have some interesting tattoos. What does the tattoo on your arm mean?"

"None of your business." I said coolly.

"How about the one on your right shoulder?"

"Also none of your business."

"Nissa doesn't like cops." Nala said cheerily in the back "She thinks their corrupt and useless."

Duke looked at me but I didn't say anything. "How did you learn Russian?" The cop tried again to get information.

"The same way anyone learns a language." I replied in the same monotone.

"Where are you from."

"Everywhere and nowhere."

"What are you doing here?"

"Driving." Out of the corner of my eye I could see Duke trying not to laugh but the grin on his lips and the slight shake of his shoulders were giving him away.

Nala stopped the questions with her next words. "If I called you gay would you hit me with your purse?" She deadpanned at the cop.

That did it, Duke broke into a fit of laughter, Nala began giggling like a hyena, and my smile returned all the while the cop fell silent. As the silence grew thicker my phone went off again.

'I know what it's like staying up all night nursing wounds
It takes more than I have, pick fights with the past, I always lose
Oh, don't you know? That's no way to live
I know what it's like staying up all night nursing wounds.'

Nala answered it as I was driving and it was only a few moments later that she was closing the call."The Chief?" I guessed

"Yep." Nala said

"How did you know?" Nathan asked

"Didn't have a ringer. The ring tone you heard is what I use in general, everyone I care about or am in contact with has a ringtone." I said calmly.

"Wow that's the first straight answer you've given him." Duke said looking over at me.

"First one that wasn't personal." I said calmly

"What's you name?" The cop asked and I rolled my eyes.

"And you were doing so well." I said sarcastically.

He frowned and I smirked slightly before easing the car back onto the road so the bump wasn't to bad. I followed Nala's path and made it back to the docks easily, driving a tad more then the speed limit, slowing when I got to the dock parking lot where I saw Vince and Dave still standing around. Stopping the car I let the guys get out and Nathan immediately went over to Vince and Dave before heading to the over to a beat up old truck.

"Aren't you going to head to your car?" I asked as Duke went to get out and started for the docks.

"I don't need to." He said with a slight smile as he leaned int eh window looking at me.

"Why?"

"My house it the Cape Rouge, which is the freighter where your boat docked and docked at the pier in which you fell off."

"That's still a little while down the dock." I said calmly. He looked at me for a moment but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Peaking from the corner of my eye I saw him smile slightly then move back into his seat and close the door. Watching the cop head for his car I let him get to his car door before driving off and stopping down near the end of the parking lot where a yellowish jeep sat. Duke opened his door and got out but turned to smile back at me.

"See you later."

"With the way we seem to bump into each other, I don't doubt it." I said with a grin and he chuckled slightly before he closed the door and headed along the docks to his ship.