Radar led the nervous Garfield through the last of security towards the waiting area for families picking up international flights. The flight had been eight hours long, and it took another hour to go through airport security. Luckily Marie had given Radar the correct documentation for getting Garfield, who was not only a minor, but also not his biological relative, through the FCIA security. There had been a couple awkward questions when he had to take off the hoody Radar gave him and had to reveal his green skin, but phrases like 'skin deficiency' and 'seeing some of Star Labs best' got them out of it mostly unscathed.

"Hey Ray?" Garfield glanced around at the huge building, admiring all the shop windows and their displays.

"Yeah Garfield?"

"Is my skin really that weird?"

Not hearing anything from his guardian, Gar peaked up from under his hoodie and saw the man trying to avoid eye contact. "It's not- uh, I guess it's a little weird since I knew you… before. It's just that it's… green."

"Yeah?" Garfield prodded, still not really understanding. Miss Martian was green, and she was amazing! So why was it when he turned green, everyone either treated him weird or wanted to hurt him? Except his parents, of course, and Ray.

But… what if Rita didn't want to help him 'cause he was green?

"Look, Garfield, what would you think if I… suddenly grew shark fins and… could bite through metal?"

The little boy looked towards the ceiling, trying to imagine Ray stopping a runaway plane by chomping down on the engine with his teeth. "That… would be awesome!"

"Ugh, okay, so that scenario isn't going to work…" They lapsed into an uneasy silence, listening to the droning announcements of canceled and delayed flights.

Garfield looked back to his family's friend. "Hey Ray?"

"Yeah Garfield?"

"What if Rita thinks my skin is weird too, and won't help us?"

Radar looked down at the boy, surprised. Gar was trying to look brave, and casually curious, but he could see the underlining worry in his eyes. Christ, he hadn't thought of that either. Did this chick even know? Had Marie warned her?

"Uh…" He looked forward and realized they had come to their destination. "Well, I guess we're about to find out." God, I hope they take him, as much as I love the Logan family, there's no way I can stay in the states with him, and Marie would kill me if he came back to Quarac…

XXX

Garfield Logan immediately knew it was Rita. The brunette was older, and had maybe a few smile lines, but she was beautiful, a mature version of the pretty girl he had seen in the photo with his mom. It made him feel instantly shy, and he pulled his hood down further to obscure his face. There was a man standing beside her that Garfield didn't recognize, a friend maybe? Or her husband?

When he and Radar were about ten feet away they stopped uneasily, not sure whether to move forward or not. Gar wasn't too keen on going closer; the man was staring at him really intently, like he was trying to figure him out. Kind of like the scientists back home.

Rita was the first one to break the tense atmosphere, walking up to the eight year old and giving him a big hug. "Garfield, it's so good to see you!" She leaned away, trying to peer under his hood. "The last time I saw you, you were just-" She broke off with a gasp, pulling his hood back a bit to reveal dark green hair, green eyes, and green skin. "G-Garfield?"

The man who had been standing with her tensed slightly, his eyes widening as he took in the boys strange color.

Garfield shrunk in on himself, not sure what to do. "Um… so I guess this means mom didn't tell you why I was coming?"

Rita's beautiful features furrowed into a confused frown. "Er, Marie mentioned that things were becoming dangerous for you back home…"

Realizing he was drawing stares again, the eight year old meekly stepped away from her and drew up the hood. "Sorry, I didn't realize it was so weird. After my skin changed color, mom didn't let me leave the house. I didn't think…" He couldn't finish the sentence, his eyes becoming somewhat tortured. He didn't think it was that horrible. He didn't think it was that bad of a thing. He didn't think people would be afraid of him, come after him.

Something in Rita's face shifted, gently grabbing hold of one of his hands. "I understand what you mean. Superheroes are a natural part of the states, but people are still shocked now and then to see one in civilian clothing."

"Hero?" Gar brightened, taking to the idea. "You think I look like a hero? Could be a hero?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." The man from before walked forward, still seeming serious, but now there was an amused glint in his eyes. "In the mean time, we should probably head home."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Garfield!" Rita stood next to the man, her fingers intertwining with his. "This is my fiancée, Stan Dayton." She smiled well naturedly. "He can be a stick in the mud, but I promise he won't bite."

"Rita." The man scowled lightly, smiling at his lover's tease. Looking back to Garfield, "Sorry, but we're actually running late for a meeting, so we need to get going now."

Garfield nodded his head vigorously, the Stan guy did seem a bit gruff, but he was nice enough. Suddenly remembering Radar, he turned back and ran to him, embracing the long-time friend. "I'll see you again, right Radar?" Green eyes searched the Quarac citizen hopefully. He didn't want to keep saying good-bye to everything; he had to know that he'd at least get to see Radar again. "When my parents come, we'll come see you, okay?"

The man smiled kindly at the eight-year-old, ruffling his hoodie good-naturedly. "Duh! Of course I'll see you crazy Logan's again. Where would my life be if your family didn't make it interesting?" He winked at the kid conspiringly. "If I have time, I'll stop by the reserve to check on Monkey for you, how 'bout that?"

"You would? Awesome!" Giggling, the boy gave him one last squeeze, "Thanks again Radar!" quickly letting go, ignoring the sad feeling in his chest, he hurried back to the waiting couple. I'll see him again, Garfield told himself with certainty; when mom and dad get here, we'll go see him together, for sure!

Stan glanced around when Garfield came back over. "So, where are your bags?"

"Oh, uh…" the green boy looked down, rapidly feeling abashed. "I don't have any. We… kinda left in a hurry."

Rita's frown came back, but Stan just nodded, all business once again. "Alright, then let's get going, we can stop by a store and grab the essentials until your parents get here." He cocked his head slightly, smiling at the wide eyed youngster. "You know, something tells me you have a big story to share."

Gar laughed slightly as he stepped in line with them, walking towards the exit. "You don't know the half of it."

XXX

As the trio walked passed some of the waiting passengers, a sharp set of eyes watched them carefully. He had been given a picture to identify the pilot, the Quarcian who was now heading back to his plane. But his real target was the small, bouncing child eagerly asking all about Fawcett City. When they passed him he looked down to his baggage, rummaging for an apparently lost laptop power cord. After they were out of ear shot, he glanced back up to see the couple and child continuing on their way, towards parking. Casually flicking open his phone, the nondescript man glanced at his watch as if waiting for a plane's arrival.

A clipped voice sounded from the other end. Cold and brittle. "Report."

"Our target dropped off the kid, he's been picked up by an unfamiliar couple. A woman with auburn hair, medium height, and a tall graying man. No sign of any other person belonging with the group, other than the pilot that dropped him off."

Another static voice played over the phone, also speaking to the leader. "Team B has them in their sites, heading to parking ramp 4."

Further voices jumped in as well. "This is Team 3 checking in; I have them in my sights. Target is getting into a maroon SUV, license plate number 429-TDP."

"Affirmative, tracing the cars numbers now, we'll have the results in two minutes, tops."

"'Hobo' from Team 3 has bumped into the car, tracer is in place."

"This is command team affirming that tracer is active, should we begin pursuit?"

The man shivered slightly as the cold, dangerous voice played over the line once again, silencing all the others. "Keep them monitored, but no active pursuing. Not until we have knowledge of the target's current carriers.

All teams hurry to rondevu point to begin phase two."

"Affirmative." Echoed several voices.

The man casually closed his phone, once again checked the time, then hurried off, only vaguely thinking back to the strange little boy who had become a target for such a notorious group.

Sorry it's taken so long to get this out guys, I've been way focused on my other story, 'Possession'. Also, I was kinda hoping they'd have a Beast Boy character tag by now, what's with the slow poke in adding season 2 characters? :/

:D Hope you enjoyed! Thanks so much to everybody who has reviewed thus far! And yes, just so you know if this chapter confused you, Gar's parents are dead, I don't plan any miracles are going to occur with them. :'(