A/N: Thanks to Raging Raven, Angelsgift00, ihrtjensen, and Niffer01 for their reviews of chapter 4. 'Diablo Rojo' is by Rodrigo y Gabriela and is from their self-titled album. Definitely recommended. Happy birthday to Taylor Kitsch!

"Some one didn't take their happy pill this morning," Tal whispered into Tyler's ear, repeating the same thing Jess had said about her a thousand times. Shooting angry glace a Reid, she walked through the door. Prick. Jackass. Jerk. Hottie. –No, wait…

They made their way to Nicky's, her, Reid and Tyler riding in Tyler's hummer, with Tyler trying to fill the tense silence by pointing out landmarks and places of interest on the way. Mostly it was trees and rickety old buildings.

Earlier, when they had walked into the dorm room, she really had been surprised. She should have heard them coming a mile down the hall, but she had been so wrapped up in listening to Diablo Rojo that she hadn't been paying attention. Great work, Tal. Your first day on the job and you've already lost your edge.

They pulled into a parking lot next to a run down looking wooden building with neon lights glowing in the windows. This must be Nicky's. Interesting.

They met up with Caleb and Sarah who were waiting next to Caleb's convertible. As they went through the doors into Nicky's, they were hit by a wall of sound and heat. The place was quite large, but jam-packed full of young, laughing people. There was a central bar with pool tables on one side and a small dance floor on the other. Tables were dotted around randomly and the bar was completely surrounded. Kinda reminds me of the Boss's place back in Chicago.

She stiffened as she felt the presence of another shifter in the room, somewhere near the bar. She was about to investigate when Sarah suddenly exclaimed, "There's Pogue! Come on, I'll introduce you." With that, she began to drag Talia by the arm.

"Hey Pogue!" Sarah said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Talia stood back as the guys did the whole manly-handshake-hug-thing. "This is my new roommate Talia Sarka. Talia, this is Pogue Parry,"

Noting the flicker in his eyes at the mention of 'roommate', she shook his proffered hand and smiled at Sarah's obvious intentions, saying, "Nice to meet you Pogue, and everyone calls me Tal," That girl's about as subtle as a freight train.

Pogue seemed charming enough, and hansom like the other three, but he was staring in desperation and Caleb as Sarah started chatting happily, seeming determined to tell Pogue's entire life history to Tal. Noticing the man's unease, Tal decided to take pity on him.

"I'm parched!" she exclaimed, interrupting. "Drinks are on me. What can I get you guys?"

After taking orders and declining Tyler's offer of help, she made her way over to the bar, eyes and ears open for the other shifter. Her eyes snapped to the burly bearded guy behind the bar. Bear. Sensing her, his eyes snapped up and he nodded his head towards the end of the bar.

"Talia, of the Sarka pack. I'm here on council orders. I wasn't aware of any shifter groups in the area," she said formally, waiting for an answer to her unasked question.

"Nicky. Black bear. It's just my mate and I. Why would the council send a cub to do their work?" he asked in a deep voice, common among bears.

She watched him for a moment, and deciding that he wasn't insulting her, answered, "Because I'm good at it. My team were tracking a rogue wolf, found out he's up to something in Ipswitch possibly involving the 'Sons'. Do you know them, or anything about the rogue?"

"They boys have been comin' here for years. I know they got power, but apart from a couple months ago; there ain't been any trouble. I guess you know about that?"

"Yeah. Did you report it to the council?" They hadn't told her anything.

"Nah, magic shit ain't none of my buisiness. It all blew over, and that Collins kid always smelled funny to me. The boys seem okay, just stupid pranks mostly, occasional fights with a couple other students, but nothin' serious," he said, shrugging his broad shoulders.

This reply my have seemed strange, but 'he smelled funny' was a valid response from a species that can smell fear, anger, arousal and other strong emotions. Shifters tended to steer clear of magic users too, due to certain…animosities. Nicky was not duty bound to report anything that happened unless shifters were involved.

"Any other shifters in the area that I should know about?"

"A couple students, some loners from town, no one that'll give you any trouble," he said, eyeing the crowd at the bar and his harassed looking bar maid.

Smiling she replied, "Sorry, I'll let you get back to work. My team are at the Yum Yum Tree motel, room 207. When you have time, go there and tell them what you know," he nodded. "And I'll have one cola and five diets, please," He smiled and went back behind the bar.

Just as she was about to walk over to grab the drinks he was serving, as voice close to her ear said, "You're new here, right?"

She turned around coming face to face with a leering smile attached to an arrogant face. "Um, yeah."

"I'm Aaron Abbot, and you are?" the creepy smile widened as his eyes passed slowly over her body. Slug.

"Talia. Excuse me please," she tried to get past him, but he just moved closer.

"Come on, stay and talk for a minute. Don't you want to make friends?" he pouted. If he gets any closer, I'll rip his throat out. Talia definitely did not like the way he smelled. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. He was obviously attracted to her, but he smelled very intimately of another human female. Definitely a slug. Clenching her fist at her sides, she tried to hold on to her temper.

A warm arm circled her waist, and Reid pulled her close, resting his chin on her shoulder as he said "She's already got friends, don't you Babe? So why don't you let her be, hmm Aaron?" His body pressed against hers was sending shivers through her body, and dirty thoughts through her mind. Damn. I'm supposed to be angry with him.

Managing to keep a mild mannered look on her face she said, "Nice meeting you Aaron, but I've gotta get back to the others. See ya around!" With that, see moved over to where Nicky had left the drinks, Reid's arm still wrapped around her waist.

Trying not to show her disappointment when he let go, she turned to him smiling. "Thank you Reid. That guy was creeping me out."

He shrugged. "He can do that. It was nothing." Hmm. Maybe he's not so bad after all. He grabbed two of the drinks. "I'll take these," She thought he was being kind until he moved off in the other direction to where Tyler was waiting at the pool tables. Figures.

Grabbing the remaining glasses, she made her way back to the table, where Sarah was taking animatedly at Caleb, and Pogue was looking bored.

"Here we go," she said placing the glasses on the table.

"I saw Abbot taking to you, was he bothering you?" Caleb asked frowning.

"Only a little. Anyway, Reid saved me," Talia said rolling her eyes.

"If he bothers you again, just tell one of the boys, they'll get him to stop." Sarah said smiling. "Come dance with me Caleb," She dragged him off, leaving Talia and Pogue alone.

"Not exactly subtle, is she?" Pogue said, a small smile on his face.

"Nah, but it's okay. She reminds me of a friend of mine, actually. Can I ask why she's trying to fix us up?" He looked down for a moment, his long hair curtaining his face. She wasn't sure he was going to answer.

"My girlfriend and I broke up before Christmas, and she transferred out over the holidays," He said finally.

"That must have been difficult,"

"Yeah. We had been together for a long time, off and on. She was Sarah's old roommate and her best friend. I guess she thinks I need to move on,"

"And what do you think?" Talia asked, leaning back.

"I think she's right, but I also think being single for a while would do me some good. No offense," he added.

"None taken," she smiled. "Actually, you kinda remind me of my brother,"

"Is that a compliment, or an insult?" he grinned.

"Hmmm, I don't know. He's womaniser, bad boy and big time party-goer. He's also loyal to a fault, and a good guy, no matter how much he irritates me."

"Sounds more like Reid to me," Pogue laughed.

"Maybe, maybe not. You haven't met my brother,"

"True,"

They chatted idly for a few minutes, until the song ended and Caleb dragged Sarah back to the tables.

"So, are you two getting along?" Sarah asked hopefully.

"Yeah, while you were away we had a torrid affair, but unfortunately we've decided to break up," Talia remarked looking sadly at Pogue.

He took her hand in his, saying dramatically, "Baby, we both know it would never have worked in the long run. It's for the best," Talia just nodded, sniffing back imaginary tears.

Caleb and Sarah stared in disbelief for a moment before Caleb let out a very loud laugh and Sarah turned red and had the good grace to look sheepish.

After a half an hour of random getting-to-know-you talk, Tal found her way over to Reid and Tyler. She watched them play pool for a few minutes, unobserved in the shadows. Reid was obviously cheating to win, she had seen his eyes flash black twice already. I'll have to remember to tell Jess. It could help ID their power.

"So I take it you guys play a lot then?" she asked, moving out from the shadows. Both guys looked mildly surprised that she was there. Reid just grunted an affirmative and Tyler nodded, smiling.

After another few minutes watching them play she asked, "Why do they call you 'Baby Boy'?"

Tyler flushed, but it was Reid that answered, "Cause he's the youngest," The 'duh' was implied. Well at least he's joined the conversation.

"You seem angry. Why are you angry?" she asked, tilting her head to the side the way Jess did. It always drove Tal crazy.

"I'm not angry. You're just a bitch," he said sneering. Obviously he thought that would upset her. I wonder what you would say if you found out that technically, that's exactly what I am?

"Reid!" Tyler hissed.

Pausing for a moment to think it out, she realised what he was talking about. Moving slowly towards the table, she said, "Because I ignored you, then glared at you, you think I'm a bitch?" Reid shrugged. "When I ignored you, you had called my family name, the name my parents gave me weird. When I glared at you, you had just finished suggesting that my parents didn't want me, when in fact they're dead,"

Reid looked so stricken, she almost laughed. Not that she thought her parent's death was funny, but Reid was looking as though he felt his ill-made comment was the thing that had killed them.

"Don't you feel like a major jerk now? How 'bout we just start over hmmm? You don't call me a bitch and I won't call you and insensitive prick." She grinned.

Tyler was having a hard time hiding his amusement, and one look at Reid gaping like a fish sent him into howls of laughter. It wasn't that funny. Seriously, they were getting odd looks.

After they got Baby Boy –uh Tyler, calmed down, Reid turned to her and asked, "Are your folks really dead?"

"Yeah,"

He paused, as if weighing out what he wanted to say.

Then he let out his breath in a loud whoosh. "Sorry for being a jerk,"

"Sorry for being a bitch,"

He looked at her and grinned, his blue eyes flashing.

Maybe this assignment won't be so boring after all.