Yes, this is the second shortest chapter I've ever added to this fic but it just sort of needs to be here. Next chapter will be a bit more meaty ( that sounds awkward, but true)

Chapter Twenty Six

Dynasty dropped the third magazine she had lazily devoured over the morning onto the pile at her feet. Her eyes flitted between the steadily ticking clock and the open window.

The school house garden, now awash with summer sun, seemed different to her somehow.

As Dynasty climbed unsteadily to her feet, she scanned the grass for the sinister shadow that had unsettled her this morning but found only emerald foliage, glistening from the morning rain.

Dynasty clicked her tongue impatiently but smiled brightly as Katie bustled into the living room.

"I'm sorry, Dynasty," she apologized hurriedly.

She threw her bag against the side of the sofa and waved somewhat erratically for Dynasty to sit down.

"It's fine. You alright?"

Dynasty cast her gaze over Katie's red rimmed eyes and hastily scraped back hair.

"Oh, ex boyfriends, you know." She waved the comment away with an offhand gesture until her false smile fell as Dynasty grimaced. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

Dynasty shrugged and lowered herself carefully into her usual armchair. At her silent invitation, Katie did the same and placed the Dictaphone between them.

"Okay, Dynasty, what did it look like?" Katie asked, her previously flustered attitude fading away into her professional friendliness.

"What?" Dynasty replied distractedly.

"When you called you said you'd seen something; you asked me come today."

Dynasty shook her head to clear the fog from her thoughts.

"Right, sorry. It's just..." she trailed off, considering. "Sometimes I feel like its too much. It's like my brain just can't deal with all the stuff going round in my head. Now I'm seeing things and calling you and I just..."

Dynasty cut her ramblings short breathlessly and closed her eyes for a moment. The sharp click of the Dictaphone raised Dynasty's attention again as Katie dropped the black recorder into her bag.

"Dynasty, I want you to very carefully tell me exactly what you saw, as a friend, not a client."

Dynasty smiled shyly, reassured by Katie's presence.

Her gaze lingered momentarily on the garden as she began to speak.

"It was like a shadow. Like, imagine there was someone stood in the garden, behind a bush or something and you can't see them but you can see their shadow on the grass. It was only for a minute though. I don't really remember; Kevin distracted me."

Katie nodded and reached out a hand.

Dynasty took it and bit her lip nervously, unsure whether Katie's worried expression was a fear for her sanity or not.

"Perhaps I could talk to Kevin? Did he see anything?"

"No, I didn't tell him. Besides, he's not here. They made him go back to school," Dynasty admitted.

Katie's eyes softened as Dynasty twisted her fingers together tightly.

Dynasty knew she had made the right decision for Kevin. However the loss of his constant chatter made the quiet feel oppressive to her ears and tugged loose the parts of her sanity that were still frayed from Steve-O's torment

"Are you okay with that?" Katie inquired, releasing Dynasty's hand and leaning back in her seat.

"I miss him," Dynasty muttered. "Look, I'm sorry for calling you out today. I didn't know who else to talk to without him here."

Katie shook her head zealously and beamed despite her disheveled appearance.

"Don't be silly! I'm here whenever you need me." She bundled her things together and walked towards the door, pausing with her fingers curled around the handle. "Dynasty, I think you should tell the police what you saw. In my profession you get pretty good at identifying people who are seeing things that aren't there; I don't think you're one of them."

Without another word she scuttled away.

Dynasty sucked in deep, rasping breaths as she fought to control the churning sickness in her stomach. She slumped unwillingly into her seat and attempted to clear Steve-O's glowering face from her thoughts as Katie's words had confirmed her suspicions.

"Are you alright, pet?"

Maggie's worried tones drifted to Dynasty's ears through a dulling screen, diminishing them to a low murmur.

"I... I don't feel well," Dynasty mumbled dreamily, the nausea overpowering her ability to communicate more.

She pointed shakily to the window as Maggie rested a hand on Dynasty's back and bent down beside her.

"Steve-O," Dynasty stammered.

"What about him?"

"Here... I can't... I don't..."

Dynasty shook her head and her stomach rolled sadistically as the movement rocked her dizzy head.

Maggie smoothed an icy hand across Dynasty's burning forehead.

"Hmm," she hummed, "I think someone could do with a cool bath and then you can tell me all about it."

Maggie scooped Dynasty into a one armed embrace and helped her gingerly out of her seat.