This one is a little shorter, but I am working on the next one, promise! Hope you all enjoy and I'll get on to the reviews at the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I own anyone that S.E. Hinton doesn't.

Dedication: To Rock and Keira who are both in need of a good rest, not that this will help, but hey.

I know a thousand and one stories always start out with 'It was a dark and stormy night', but that's how my newest adventure started. The wind rang hallow under the bridge and blew the embers from the fire everywhere. Once in a while we'd get a gust of wind that would make it hiss like a threatened snake. Mr. Christ didn't seem to notice it, but there was something on the wind I didn't like and, if it hadn't been so miserable out, I would have moved right there and then. At the time I thought it was because I had hung around for nearly a week and a half, but three more days and I could collect my check and move on. Still, something told me I should have been on the move.

"You should get some sleep, child," Mr. Christ suggested

I glanced over at him and wondered; as I had every night since I met him, if I could trust him. I fingered the hilt of my blade and wondered if he had some motive. I decided he was a little crazy, but in a harmless way and nodded.

"Sounds like a plan, Mr. Christ," I said, settling under my blanket

He started humming some old song I had never heard of before, but he did a lot of things I had never heard of before. He had a very long beard and only had sandals for his feet. I wondered if he was cold, but he never complained and always acted like he was some very regal person. If he wasn't Jesus Christ, then he was doing a very good job of acting it.

I was still thinking on it when I work up the next morning and let my eyes adjust to the grey morning light. It was still raining and sitting under the bridge was nice. I glanced over at Mr. Christ. What drives a person to claim they are someone who could be purely myth? I shook my head and looked over at where Mr. Christ was still asleep. It had gotten cold down here and the fire was completely out. It didn't surprise me.

I shrugged out of my blanket and began packing my bag. I didn't have to be to my job until the afternoon, but I didn't like just sitting around here. Something told me I had to get moving, no matter what. I didn't like those feelings.

"Where are you off to so early, my child?" Mr. Christ asked, sitting up

"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling about sitting here all day," I explained

"You're right. One must get one's exercise." He stood and stretched

I didn't feel like explaining everything to him, so I let him be content with that as my reasoning. He started trying to get the fire going again while I got ready to leave and go see Sam. Two-Bit had kind of grown on me and I was hoping to see him, too. I knew I couldn't come back here if I felt so uncomfortable about the place. Something was going to happen and I knew it, but what was a mystery.

"Morning, folks."

The hair on the back of my neck rose with those words and I slowly turned to see two uniformed police officers and some guy in a suit, scrambling down the bank from the road.

I glanced over at Mr. Christ, who looked like he was completely calm; I just hoped he didn't tell them what he thought his name was. It wouldn't be good if they thought he was nuts. Questions would be asked, questions I would not answer and I'd probably be shipped back to the life I hated. So, I couldn't afford for them to do anymore than tell us to get out of town.

The man looked at us, expecting a welcome, but neither of us gave it; we just watched him. The fingered his moustache for a moment and looked around our makeshift home. I guess he was tired of wasting time, so he took a step towards us and I was pleased at how much mud he had on his expensive looking shoes.

"Well, I'm Mr. Franklin of the Tulsa Municipal Committee," he introduced himself

"What brings you down here, sir?" Mr. Christ asked

"Well, we've had some complaints about you choice of lodging."

"Who has been complaining?" He asked

"Several members of our committee have received complaints-"

"I don't believe any of my followers would do that," Mr. Christ cut him off

I nearly groaned and wanted to smack him. Now he'd gone and done it. He couldn't have just dropped the act for five whole minutes. Franklin looked at him, for a moment, and chose to ignore his remark.

"It would have been fine if it were just one or two, but we received many complaints and a petition was signed before we voted on it."

"Voted on what?" I asked, cautiously

"To get rid of you no good hobos," one of the cops spoke for Franklin

"I am no hobo. I am Jesus Christ-"

"Not now," I whispered

"Excuse me?" Franklin looked skeptical

"Did you hear that, Rodger?" the first cop asked the second "That one thinks he's Jesus Christ! Do you reckon she's Mary?"

"I heard him, Karl," Rodger replied "Looks like another one for the doc to talk to."

Doc…this was definitely not good.

"I am sorry if we have done something wrong, gentlemen. We will move on within the hour," Mr. Christ assured them

"Do you really believe you're Jesus Christ?" Franklin asked

"Don't answer that," I told him "You have rights."

"My child, I also have responsibilities. One of them is to be who I am and face whatever is coming to me." Mr. Christ smiled "I am Jesus Christ."

"You shouldn't have said that," I whispered to myself

"Definitely one for the Doc," Karl said reaching for his handcuffs

"No, you can't do that. He has rights, just like you do," I defended

"Listen, little lady, your father-" Karl started

"He's not my father."

Now it was Mr. Christ's turn to give me an odd look. I knew that was the last thing I should have said. I was a minor and I looked it. If he wasn't my kin they'd go looking for them.

Mr. Franklin glanced at me and whispered to the cops. I glanced at Mr. Christ. He may have been short a couple bolts, but better the enemy you know than the one you don't. I had gotten used to him. He smiled, like he was trying to make me believe everything was all right, but this was all his fault and I wasn't about to forget it.

"This seems to pose a problem," Franklin pointed out "You can't be older than sixteen."

I looked at him now. I knew there was nothing he could use against me if I stayed quiet. So I stood there and looked him in the eye, wishing I had gotten out of there sooner. How could I have been so stupid?

The next thing I knew they dragged Mr. Christ and I up the hill to where there was a cop car and another car parked. The other car belonged to Mr. Franklin and the last time I would ever see Mr. Christ was when my duffle and me were put in the back seat of it.

I felt as helpless as a baby rabbit when he locked the doors and started driving, I had no choice but looking out the window the entire way or talking to Franklin. I decided the scenery was better. Franklin gave up after a while and I was content to just listen to the hum of the motor.

Finally he pulled up in front of a building that I knew the moment I saw it. My heart sank into the pit of my stomach and I felt like a coward. I'd been here before, different state, different reason, but it was the same sign wherever you went: 'Oklahoma State Social Services Office' was what this one said. I willed my courage to stay with me and kept a hold of my duffle as Franklin escorted me into the building. Here goes nothing.

"Morning, Matt," a lady greeted warmly "What can we do for you today?"

"This little girl seems to be a run away, Agnes," he said, indicating me

"The poor dear!" she gushed

I bit my tongue at what I wanted to say to being called 'poor 'and 'little', but instead I took the chair that was offered to me on the back wall and looked around. There were a lot of secretaries, like the one who had greeted Franklin, but not many other people. It was just Franklin and a couple other kids. I guess this is where people got processed and then a social worker took it from there. It occurred to me that I could be there for hours when Franklin sat down beside me. I had work and I needed money if I ever wanted to make Florida

"I have to be going." I said, standing

"I don't think that is an option. You wouldn't tell me where you lived or why you were under that bridge, so I can only assume you are a runaway and this is where runaways are taken care of."

"How many runaways have jobs they have to get to at some point?" I asked, not sitting

"If you tell me where you belong and your parents or guardian come to retrieve you, then I will let this slide," he informed me

I sat then. I didn't have anybody I wanted to mention and I wanted out of here, soon. I guess the best thing to do was be a good little girl and hope that someone fed Sam while I was being 'processed'. I don't remember how the system worked exactly, but it took a hell of a long time. I guess when you're little everything takes a long time, but I didn't want to be here long enough to remember it being that long.

Finally a man in a suit came out and Franklin talked to him. I took the opportunity to move my knife from somewhere as obvious as my boot, to a pocket on the inside of my coat. The pocket was on the back, where I had sewn it. Unfortunately, you could see the knife, there too, so I decided to hold my coat.

I knew it was just a knife, but I had strong feelings about the way it should be handled and who should do the handling.

"What's your name?"

"What's your name?" I asked in return

"I am Mr. Michaels. I work for the State of Tulsa to help lost kids, like you," he blabbed on and on

"I'm not lost."

"Perhaps we should talk in my office. You can leave your bag there," he directed

"I think I'll keep it with me," I said picking it up and following him

Franklin seemed to have disappeared somewhere, but that didn't bother me much. He was they type of guy who liked to get his nose in everybody else's business and I would have been happier if he had never come under our bridge. I took a seat across from the desk in the tiny, filing cabinet filled room. You could tell that social services weren't something the state spent a lot of money on.

"So, are you going to tell me your name or am I going to have to look through my files?" he asked

I didn't answer. I was going to tell him that it was useless to look for me in this state, but I just sat there and he sighed. He pulled a file folder over and started looking through it. He looked up at me, from time to time and I stared at my boots.

Over the next hour and a half he tried several times to start conversation. It was mostly 'What's your name and where are you from' but he threw in the odd 'nice weather we're having'. I guess he didn't sleep under many bridges.

Finally, hours later, the lady from before came in and handed Michaels a file folder. He opened it and smiled at the lady.

"Thank you, Agnes," he said, still looking over it "Have you started through the family line, yet?"

"Just about to get on it," she informed him, smiling at me

"When you do, I want to handle them personally."

The lady nodded, waddling from the room in her flowered dress. I glanced up at Michaels' clean-shaven, innocent, yet, middle-aged looking face. He was smiling and set the file down.

"Now I have what you could have told me hours ago."

I didn't say anything. I didn't have much to say, and I was skittish around some people, social workers at the top of the list. The only thing that made me more skittish was the fact they would be calling her and if they called her, I cold kiss any freedom at all goodbye.

Ok, kind of cliff-ish ending, but hey. Hope you all enjoyed and, again, I am working on the next one! Now, on to the reviews!

Taurus: Well, it's my lot in life to spoil your fun! Jk. Umm, you'll see. Yes, you will see. Thanks! I love Two-Bit in this, he makes me smile. Yes, shame on me! I will have to get around to that. Hope you enjoyed!

Rock: Thanks! I don't remember if that was what it was for, but Christmas gifts are good. Thanks! I am enjoying their connection, too. Everyone is waiting for that and I hope you enjoy it when I do get around to it! Hope you enjoyed and get a lot of sleep!

Keira: You know, I have no idea what you were blabbing about, now, but it was very funny. Yeah, he is creepy. I won't say anymore, because I don't want to be mean to you. Yeah, she's a pretty tough chick. Hahaha! It would have been, it would have been, but I beat ya to it! Does dance! Hope you enjoyed!

Berserker Nightwitch: Hey! Actually, I was only there for the weekend and stuff, but I like having a computer! I'm glad you enjoyed! I hope to get to that in the next couple of chapters if all goes well. Ah, I know your pain. My ingenious big brother refuses to turn it up either. Spring is coming! Hope you enjoyed!

Sodapop's#1gurl: Well, thanks! You'll have to wait and see for that one. Hope you enjoyed!

Just Playin': Well, that's what she does, so why not go by it? She has a proper name, but hey. Hope you enjoyed!

Sully: Hey. It's been a long time. I'm glad you are enjoying this. It's not my favorite, but I have something in the works you'd probably enjoy. Hope you did enjoy this, too.

I-dun-did-it: Love the name, by the way. Thanks! I'm glad and hope you enjoy!

Oblivious Misconception: Thanks! I find him amusing as well. I'll let you in on a secret. The second time he meets her is more interesting. Hope you enjoyed!

CiCi: Hahaha, Yep! I'll get to that some more, promise! Hope you enjoyed!

My-Voice-Rising: Well, thanks! I'm happy to hear that you do. Yeah, he's odd, but gone. Thanks again and hope you enjoyed!

Any comments at all are welcome and flames are accepted.

See ya in the funny papers! Tens