-Dusty-

I was flying around the territory, playing a little game with Olivia to cheer her up. It was like tag only when she thought she was able to make a break for it..

Down I came and scooped her up bringing her into the air.

She was laughing and cheering so it seemed to be doing just what I hoped it would.

She smiled holding on tight. "Love you.."

Aw kiddo… "Love you too Olivia.."

Things were quiet as I set her down again. Before we both stopped hearing someone calling my name.

"Dusty..!? Dusty…"

I looked around before hurrying to where the voice was coming from. "Olivia stay put!"

"O-okay."

That sounds...No it couldn't be… I wound up stopping dead in my tracks when I saw her.

She was sprawled on the ground reaching up black hair hanging around her, eyes looking exhausted...Desperate.

I knew those eyes though. I knew that voice.

"Dusty...Please…"

D-Dottie? I knelt to her level pulling her into my arms getting a better look at her.

She was wearing a long sleeved shirt and jeans and had really long black hair. She looked exhausted and she could barely move. "Dottie...Wha-what happened?" I asked looking her over.

She let out a whimper burying her face in my shirt. "Dusty...It hurt..It really, really hurt." She sniffed a little.

I tried not to growl as I held her closer. They got me...They've gotten others...But her….HER…

That's going too far...

My best friend… I lifted her up carefully starting to carry her back to the house as Olivia caught up to us. She was quiet though, guess she figured it wasn't a good time for questions.

Dottie was shaking the whole way back, she gave a few complains about being in pain.

Her whole body is like it's gone...Well limp… She kept trying to grip onto my jacket but her fingers couldn't keep a grip at all just going slack.

"Hurts...It hurts…"

"Shh….I got you...I got you…"

Not just my best friend…

My sister… Olivia got the door as I carried her in setting her on the couch. "Olivia..Go get the first aid kit okay?"

"Okay."

I covered up Dottie a little, as she leaned her head down trying to keep as covered up as she could. I felt her forehead, she felt hot...I don't remember feeling like that when I had been changed. It burned yes but the heat didn't stay with me.

I wonder… "Dottie..? Besides pain what else are you feeling?"

"Cold...Really cold…"

Great...She's not just sore….I think she's sick too… I thought. I wasn't a doctor but I had learned a few things since first becoming human.

"Olivia is the thermometer in the first aid kit?" I asked as she ran back over holding it out.

"Ahuh!"

"Thanks...Can you get Dottie some water too?" I asked her getting what I needed out.

"Sure!"

It took a bit to help get her comfortable and to get a good reading but it came back...100 degree's.

Poor Dottie...Not only can she barely move but she's sick too…

I just hope she'll be alright…

"Mommy'll be home soon...She'll help take care of her...And I'll help too." Olivia said sitting down by us looking up at me.

I ruffled her hair a little. "Thanks kiddo...I think we'll need all the help we can get.."

Dottie coughed a little. "Ugh...I swear overheating's less painful…" She shivered curling up as much as she was able to under the blanket.

I ran my hand through her hair. "Shh...Just try to relax…I got you…"

"Dusty...I'm glad your my friend…"

"Your not just my friend...Your my sister."

-N/A-

Sarah had came home a few hours after Dusty had brought Dottie home and jumped into action as it were. She had a few tricks up her sleeves regarding sickness including fevers. Within an hour Dottie was fast asleep and relaxed.

"So she's your forklift friend.." She asked quietly changing the cold compress on the machine-turned woman's head.

Dusty nodded keeping quiet for a moment. "I...I just wish I knew why they picked her of all machines...For flying out loud...She's..She's my mechanic...She's my best friend…" His voice cracked as he closed his eyes tightly trying to hold it together.

Sarah brought her arm around his shoulders giving him a gentle squeeze. "I know...It hurts...But she's gonna be okay..You found her before she got too sick..She'll be right as rain.."

"But..She can't even grip things.."

"Then we'll teach her how...She just needs time Dusty just like you did…" She spoke softly stroking his hair a little. He had been with them so long she started to see him like one of her own.

He relaxed letting out a sigh. "Thanks Sarah..I'm...I'm really sorry about all of this...I know it's kind of cramped in here as it is.."

She waved it off with a small smile. "Kindness is worth it...And any friends of my boys is a friend of mine."

He smiled and side hugged her. "Thanks…"

She's not my real mom...But it's nice to have someone who reminds me a lot of her…

"Why don't you get some rest? I'll watch her for you." She suggested as he let out a small yawn.

"I-I'm fine." He tried to insist, but she knew the look of a person who had a long enough day as it is.

"Go to bed Dusty. Now." She used her free arm to point to the area where the bedrooms were.

He held up his hands in a: "I surrender." manner and got up with a sigh. "Alright 'mom'...Goodnight…" He sighed heading to the guest room that was his.

Sarah smirked a bit. "Goodnight son."

Little did they know… They were missing someone.

Brody was standing at the edge of town looking around nervously gripping something tightly in his hands which were shaking.

He couldn't believe he was doing this.

It was crazy, he could easily be found out and punished. So why was he doing it?

Guilt…

That's it...He felt guilty, like scum. If this helped make things right in the end then it was worth it.

He could see a flashlight in the distance and the sound of running.

She got the note… He had left a note on her windowsill, asking her to come to where the fields had once been.

He smiled in semi-relief as the image of his daughter appeared. She nearly dropped her flashlight.

"Hey pumpkin…" He knelt holding his arms out to her.

Olivia dropped her flashlight tears welling up in her eyes. She ran to him and leapt into his arms crying. "Daddy...Daddy your back…" She sniffled curling up in his arms as he rubbed her back to calm her down.

"Shhh...I got you…" The father whispered rocking her in his arms looking around before ducking down with his daughter behind some brush.

Olivia gradually calmed down curled up listening to her father's heartbeat. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Uncle Jason brought you back…" Her voice was still cracked from how much crying she had done.

Brody stroked her hair. "Only for a bit Olive." He murmure using her nickname that only he used.

She looked up at him frowning. "Why?"

"Because Daddy's doing something...Something dangerous and I can't let you kids get hurt."

Olivia looked at him confused as he got up setting her down and knelt to her level.

"W-what are you doing?" She asked taking a step back.

"I have something I need you to keep safe for me Olive...It's something very special...Can I trust you to keep this special secret safe?" He asked gently, quietly his left hand enclosed around something.

Olivia looked at his hand and nodded. "Yes Daddy…" She smiled and gave a little salute. "You can count on me."

Brody smiled. "That's my girl." He opened his hand and held up what it was.

A necklace with a shiny silver chain and a locket that looked like two angel wings enclosed around a jewel. "This holds a very special secret...You musn't ever open it. Ever. Can you do that?"

She nodded mesmerized by the beauty of the locket. Not taking her eyes off of it even when her father tied it around her neck. "Thank you Daddy...I'll keep it safe...But what do I tell everyone when they see it?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

Brody patted her head. "Just say...You found it. Okay?" He stood up and handed her, her flashlight. "Now get back home before all the lights go out…"

She took it and clicked it back on. "Will you come home soon?" She asked.

Brody sighed. "..I'll try. As long as you keep the secret...Okay Olive?"

"Okay…" Olivia watched her dad start to walk away as she started to head back home.

Keeping her head down she felt like she had a lump in her throat as she cried quietly.

A few tears bouncing off of her locket unaware that what was inside could put everyone in danger.

-Andy-

"Andrew! Get off the phone!" Philipe yelled as I covered the mouth piece.

"Will you give me just TEN more minutes!?" I yelled back. He was one of the few people in the territory who actually did have a phone so I used it to the one girl I knew with her own phone number.

A girl I hadn't been able to get my mind off of...I had been writing to her, finding out things about her, new things I didn't know...And I was just happy. "Fine!"

"Thanks. Alright My I'm back.."

Maya giggled on the other side. I smiled to myself leaning against the wall, I loved hearing that laugh. I was out a little later but it was worth it. "Don't get yourself in trouble Andy...Sorry I wasn't able to come out...Crazy stuff going on."

"...The racecar?" I grumbled a little. I knew she had been hanging out with a racecar who had been turned human...I was a little ashamed to admit I was a little jealous.

She laughed. "Andy Lightning is like a brother to me. I've been showing him how to horse back ride, that's all."

"...That's all?" I looked around to be sure no one was listening. "You sure?"

"Yes…" She whispered. "There's nothing else weird going on here….Well except that Lightning's...Really fast for a human now...He outruns even the chainsaw wielding doc…"

"So they finally sprung him for that second bout of heatstroke?"

"Yep...And he outran the chainsaw man...By oh...Sixty five miles per hour…"

I nearly dropped the phone.

SIXTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR!? "What!?" I whisper/yelled. "Your serious!?"

So...He's tapped into his speed...Like Dusty for his flight….

"Yeah..Even Star had a hard time keeping up.."

"So...He's one of them…"

"I think so...He's staying with Dr. Carmen next door..I think she's been lonely so having him there's been good for her...She stopped threatening to turn our rooster into fried chicken."

I blinked, from what I heard that doctor could be totally batty in the mornings. "Well that's good...I think."

"Yep...Oh and guess what?" She sounded excited now.

"What?" I smiled chuckling a bit.

"I'll be coming out next month!"

"Really!? I mean...Really!?"

She laughed. "Yes really."

I smiled, this may have been a pretty hard time...But she was making it better.

"Thanks Maya…"

"Anytime Andy...Goodnight…"

"'Night…"

I hung up and thanked my neighbor before running back home slowing a bit as I saw my sister trying to sneak in through the back door.

"Olivia?"

She squeaked a bit and turned around. "H-hi bro…"

"...What are you doing out so late?"

"What are YOU doing out so late?" She mimicked.

"...We speak nothing of this night okay?" I said as I helped her sneak in, sneaking in myself.

I didn't know it at the time...But nothing would ever be quiet again...At least not the way I knew it…