"Seriously," Vicki said straight faced, "You're name is Clark Kent." She was staring at him, wondering. Her life this past couple of years had been anything but ordinary so nothing would really shock her at this point.
"Yes ma'am." He replied politely.
"Hm, Okay," Vicki shrugged then added to Coreen, "Oh, right, I forget, he's here to take you to lunch, uh, just close for an hour."
Coreen shrugged an okay and started gathering her things.
Vicki looked once more at Clark, shook her head and walked out with Mike trailing behind her.
Once they got in the car, Vicki said," There's something about him." Mike started laughing, something that made him feel a little less edgy.
"Vicki, just because his name is "Clark Kent?" Come on.."
"No, because I could feel power prickling over me." She said matter-of-factly.
Mike rolled his eyes, not because of the "power" reference, he knew all too well after being with her, Henry and now being married to a true witch, those things happen. He rolled them because he thought she was being too suspicious.
"Vicki, let Coreen choose." Mike said out loud.
Vicki shot him a sideways glance, "Like she has chosen so well in the past? She needs protecting Mike. She's young and too sweet sometimes. I feel responsible for her, my gosh, she's lost one boyfriend to a demon, was almost a demon bride and then there was the artist-or have you forgotten? I just want to make sure he is not something else."
"Boy, you are really into this whole mother thing now huh?" She punched him, hard.
"OW! What was that for?" He asked rubbing his shoulder.
"I AM NOT old enough to be her MOTHER thank you.." she said her eyes shooting flames at him.
"Oh for the love of...I just meant, never mind.." he sighed.
"Coreen's been through a lot, she's my..well like my family really. Like a little sister, I'd kill for her..hell I have killed for her. No more wise cracks either.." she smiled at him letting him know he was off the hook-for now.
When they arrived at Mike and Kate's house , Vicki was more than grateful for her recently acquired ability to see better.
She scanned the room and asked, "Is this exactly how everything was?" still scanning as she was waiting for an answer.
"Yes, I called for them, the house felt weird so I just checked everything out and came to you." he said watching her intently.
He hadn't seen her looking over a crime scene like this in a long time. He looked at her with admiration, she caught him looking at her.
"What?" she demanded.
"Oh, uh, nothing, it's just good to see you like this again," he smiled weakly..something still pulled at his heart for her. It always would but he knew they just weren't good together. Yes, he loved Kate, but Vicki was well, Vicki...that bastard Henry, what a lucky man...
"Mike!" Vicki yelled from the baby's room, "get in here!"
He rushed into the room, "What?" he said looking all around.
Vicki stood up and was rubbing her shoulders as if she were cold.
"I felt a rush of power and look, look on the ground. You can barely see it but it's there." Vicki pointed to an area just in front of M.J.'s crib-a circle of salt.
Mike started forward, she grabbed his arm,"NO! Don't touch it..I want someone else to check it out. It's a protective circle. Something came for them and Kate tried to protect them, but right at the edge, it's smeared. That must be what weakened it."
Mike was angry again at himself for missing this huge clue. In his defense, Vicki was now sensitive to these things and the salt was barely visible on the creme colored carpet.
"So, someone evil came and took them?" Mike asked fearfully.
"Not necessarily, it means someone with magical ability was probably here. That's what I'm feeling, residual, that's what Maggie calls it."
"Is that who you are going to get in here?" Mike asked.
"No, I'm going to ask Clark Kent.." Vicki said, pulling out her cell phone and dialing Coreen..
"Huh.?" ...