There's a slight edit in Chapter 9, Sorry, I'm Not Sorry. It's not going to be important to later chapters, but it is significant to the story. It's near the end of the chapter, in case you're wondering. I forgot to add it in. Thank you for your cooperation.

Chapter 10: What?

Kowalski was just on his way to the school laboratory to pick up some things that he had run out of. The school laboratory was well stocked, with supplies coming in every month; compared to the laboratories uptown. Not only do they hate the scientist, due to certain competition involving him and their employees, but they refuse to give out supplies and there was no way Kowalski was going to beg for them to take him back in. So now the scientist was forced to get his materials from the school laboratory, not that the old custodian there cared before. He usually got away with it and nobody would complain. The new one, unfortunately, had helpers and he had to be careful in taking what he needed, not what he wanted. He'd forgotten to get the supplies yesterday and he had to start now, dragging the rest of the team with him. Naturally, Rico was just asleep in the back, since he wasn't driving, with Barbie cradled under his arm and Skipper was sitting far away from them, watching the sidewalks intently. Apparently, his 'wounds' had healed and he was good to go back on missions. To say Marlene's babysitting job was uneventful after the 'accident' was a lie, but the officer wanted no one to know how the microwave exploded, why there were knives sticking to the ceiling of the living room and why the girls needed a new television set, which he was obliged to pay for a new one.

"Kowalski," Private looked over at the man in the driver's seat from the scenery outside, "what's up with Selena?"

"How would I know? She's a woman. They have their own thing."

"Not that." Kowalski could have sworn he saw the boy glare at him, but he didn't check. "You went to school together with her, right?" He didn't answer but the boy continued talking. "You would know her more, wouldn't you?" Kowalski tapped his fingers on the wheel rhythmically, still not answering. "Well? What was she like back then?"

"Why do you want to know, Private?"

"She's my friend. And I don't want to ask her about her past. It looks like she doesn't want anyone to find out."

"She's, uh, not normal."

"How?"

"She, can see...things."

"Things? You mean she has a third eye or something?"

"Something like that..." He murmured under his breath, not wanting to continue the subject. But the boy was persistent.

"Is that why she acts loopy sometimes?"

"Well, I suppose if you've been seeing things that shouldn't be there and you're the only one who can see it, then you would most definitely go crazy."

"You don't believe her?"

"And you do?" Kowalski inquired of the boy before shaking his head at him and turning back to the road. "There's no such things as ghosts, lost spirits or the supernatural world. It does not exist. And she says she's a man of Science too."

"She says Julien can see them too. That's why Julien has her on board his team. To keep him sane I think. It's working, you know? He's not acting like an older version of Mort so much anymore."

Kowalski rolled his eyes with a scoff and mumbled under his breath while he ran a hand through his hair. "And she says she can see Benjamin Franklin too."

"She did?"

Kowalski dropped his other hand on the wheel and glared at the boy. "Absolutely not! The guy's been dead more than three centuries! That's just ridiculous, Private. You can't see ghosts, there's no such thing."

"Then won't you tell me why she's acting like something's out to get her all the time? I mean, every time Andy has a session with her, she looks behind her or stares at something behind him and it's just freaky."

"Why don't you ask Jay? He's the father after all."

"I don't think Jay's going to tell me if she's not going to tell me."

Kowalski bit down on his lip and shook his head. "Are you sure she doesn't want to tell you?" He looked over at the boy with a raised brow. "Or you never did ask her?"

"Uh..."

"Figured. Well, it's not my business to tell you about other people's pasts. I can't just tell you without permission from her."

"Not if I'm involved." The two looked at Skipper, who was now sitting behind the space between the two seats. "She's sensitive about the topic, Kowalski. There's no need to tell the private about it."

Private turned about in his seat and stared at the man.

"You know about it too?"

"And you're involved?" Kowalski added with a note of slight betrayal. Skipper raised a nonchalant brow at him.

"I saved her her second time there and brought her with me to Denmark. That's how she knew me." He then turned to the curious Private. "And I'm not telling you. It's a sensitive subject. She usually breaks down trying to explain it. It's not a good sight."

Kowalski shook his head, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. "That's a lie. She doesn't care about it anymore."

"Well, were you there when I rescued her? I don't believe so. Maybe her first time wasn't all bad, but her second time must have really hurt."

"Hurt? You don't know what they do at the institution. It's like going back to the medieval ages with a mix of the modern torture. Meaning, you get hurt physically, emotionally and mentally. You don't come out a fully functioning human being. You could be armless, thoughtless, or emotionless. They won't let you out until you're broken somewhere. Sometimes, they don't let you out at all, because you're already DEAD." Private jumped at the anger in his mentor's tone, but quickly calmed himself down and nodded in understanding.

"I suppose...if it's that bad." He noticed that Kowalski had released his tight hold on the wheel and was relaxing too."I don't want her to remember anything bad."

With a sigh, Kowalski shook his head again and leaned against his seat.

"You should just ask her. Trust me, she'll tell you. If she thinks you're up to it."

Yesterday...

"Tell me," Kowalski had just entered the Cast Out, diner by day and club by night and owned by no other than Julien, "how do you get over a conniving little bee?" Skipper and Rico went straight to the upper level of the diner, which was restricted to others but not to Julien, his employees, VIPs or the boys while Private and Barbie followed the tall man to the counter where Marlene, Gloria and Selena were. Gloria took a sip from the drink in her hand and raised it to Selena, who grabbed the coffee pot, poured more coffee into the cup and settled down on the stool behind the bar.

"You just do." Gloria told the other as she set her cup down. "'Cause basically, she's not worth it."

Selena sighed and played with the empty cup she had, rolling the lone drop of coffee inside. "I wish he can find someone worthwhile. That's the boss' problem."

"Jacobs?" Barbie stopped before them and blinked. "Jacobs' got a love problem? Over who?"

"His girlfriend?" Marlene raised a brow at the blonde. "Barbie, where have you been?"

"I swear I did not know that." Her sister rolled her eyes and turned back to arranging the pastries in the display. "So, what happened? And when?"

Now it was Selena's turn to raise a brow at Barbie, who stared back at her. She poured herself the coffee into the paper cup and picked it up but spoke instead of drinking it.

"Last press conference he had. Precisely three nights before our arrival here. Some guy questioned him about a photo of the bee kissing another guy. The whole paparazzi got the whole break up made by the bee and I know it totally boosted both their popularity, but the guy's damn heartbroken. Apparently, she wanted nothing to do with the guy. Just using him for, you know, career gain. And she got it, so she's done with him. It's what he's moping about lately?"

"Ouch." Private commented and looked up at the upper level, though he couldn't see anyone at the moment. It was clear that was where the 'king' was when he wasn't at his condo or the apartment. He seemed now like the 'vampeer' he used to talk about. Even Skipper missed his random drop ins, not that Private's older brother was complaining. He just missed them. It was quiet in the apartment when Rico wasn't busy doing inventory, when Kowalski wasn't doing some crazy experiment and when Private would watch TV at full volume.

"And he looks like Enrique Iglesias with the mumps and the dumps. Wish I could avenge him."

"Wanna make it happen?" Barbie chirped and pushed her duffel bag closer to Selena, patting the top of it. "I've got the note right here. Just give me a plan of action, chief, and we'll bring this bee down."

"Don't be silly. You know I don't like things like that."

"You're no fun."

"I'm not hurting someone, even if he or she deserves it. Go do it yourself. I want nothing to do with it." Barbie frowned and took her duffel back while Kowalski crossed his arms and looked down at the Asian.

"You hit me all the time."

Selena looked up at him and shrugged casually.

"Eh." She proceeded to down the coffee in a few gulps, folded the now empty cup and tucked it into her pocket. Kowalski raised a brow at the action but took no notice of it. He knew she was just saving the cup to use later, instead of using one of the glasses in the diner. She was just that weird, he had thought then before following her when she proceeded to the upper level leaving poor Private behind with the females.

"Selena."

The Asian paused on the steps and turned to face him.

"What?"

"You've been ignoring Kyle lately."

"What's it to you?"

"I know you're naturally rude," Selena let out her breath through her nostrils and crossed her arms.

"Are we having a conversation or a fight? Because I'm not in the mood for either." The man continued to stare at her, just watching her reaction. "It's about him, isn't it?"

"How..."

"Well," she shrugged with her arms still crossed, "it is about him. You only come to me if you want something about him. That's pretty much all you'll do with me."

"Is Kyle in any trouble then?"

"Once she's out of the country, I don't think so."

"You're sending me away?"