A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reading my little story. Reviews are very welcome. And now have fun with the next chapter.

"Lester," Abby started to pace through the room, "You can't send her into foster care. I've been there for too long, and it's awful. Lotte has been through enough; she should stay with someone who cares about her."

"And who would that be, Miss Maitland?" Lester's expression was stoic as always, but deep inside he was glad that Abby and Jess had objected to his suggestion.

"We have only five days to find a place for that girl." He saw the shimmer in Abby's eyes and when she was about to voice her idea, Lester cut in, "Don't even think about it. What am I supposed to tell my wife? That suddenly a homeless girl appeared in my office?"

"I don't know," frustration echoed in the blonde woman's voice.

"What about Jenny?" Connor asked. "She worked for the ARC and knows all about the anomalies and creatures. Lotte wouldn't have to hide anything. And Michael knows about the creatures as well.

The team agreed with their computer expert and Jess and Abby flashed him grateful smiles.

"I'm impressed, Temple." Lester picked up his phone and started to dial. When the team didn't leave the office, he gave them a pointed look, "Shoo shoo, I have important things to do."

The conversation with Jenny didn't go quite to his satisfaction, but it was all he could do for now.

It wasn't only the whereabouts for Lotte that Lester had to take care of. The fact that Lotte would stay in the UK meant she needed a birth certificate as well as an ID card so that the girl would be able to live a normal life without questions being asked.

He called the minister, informed him about the situation and pulled a few strings. After a bunch of phone calls, the ball was finally rolling and Lester allowed himself a gulp of his favourite whiskey.

There was no way he would ever admit it, but the child's story had stirred him up. He thought about his own daughters and hoped that they would never have to experience anything like that.

An hour later, Lester had called another meeting. Becker went in search for Jess to inform her about it. He had last seen her at the ADD, but now she was nowhere in the hub. Following his instincts, Becker walked for a third time that day to the medical section.

He entered Lotte's room and found Jess sitting on the girl's bed. Jess flashed him a bright smile and Lotte looked up, a shy grin on her lips. Both returned to the papers that were spread out between them. When the soldier stepped closer, he saw drawings with the correct English and German words under them. He smiled to himself when Jess tried to pronounce the German word for stars correctly.

"Jess, Lester wants to see us," Becker whispered.

Jess nodded and grabbed a dictionary that had been out of the soldier's sight before. She searched for the sentence she needed.

"Isch komm zuruck," Jess said slowly and Lotte began to giggle.

"Okay."

Becker placed his hand on the small of Jess back when they exited the room. "You like her a lot, don't you?"

"Yes. It's weird I know since I've only know her for a few hours, but what happened to her is so unbelievable. I wouldn't want anyone to have to experience such things, especially not a child. And look at her, she's absolutely adorable: those blue eyes, and her laughter. She laughed when I tried to talk some German. Can you believe it? After all she's gone through, that little girl is able to laugh heartily. She seems so happy to have people around her. Abby stopped by too and we taught her a bit more English. Lotte picked up the words right from the start. She's so clever."

"You're amazing," Becker complimented the young woman, who blushed at his words, but shook her head no.

"I'm not."

Becker dropped the subject until they reached Lester's office.

"You are," he said quietly before he opened the door, earning a gentle hit on his arm and a shy smile from the field-coordinator.

When the team was complete, the head of the ARC stood up and walked around his chair.

"Well, I talked to Mrs. Miller and she will think about taking in Lotte. But of course this will to be a choice made by her and her husband. Mrs. Miller promised to get back to me when they made their minds up. Though there is one problem; they leave on a three week holiday tomorrow. So, no decision is made yet and our problem isn't solved. Any suggestions?"

Lester stared at his employees, waiting for ideas.

Becker took the floor first. "She can't stay in one of the rooms like Emily did. The ARC is an inappropriate place for someone her age."

"She could stay with us, but we're still living out of our moving boxes." Abby mused out loud. She and Connor had moved into their own flat three weeks ago. Her words presented the answer for the young field-coordinator.

"She can stay with me." Jess drew all eyes on her with her answer. She looked from Abby to Lester and saw the stunned gaze Becker shot her in the corner of her eyes. Unfazed she continued. "Now that Abby and Connor moved out, there is plenty of room again."

"Miss Parker, are you sure? It's a kind offer, but you might like to take some time to consider your decision and let me know tomorrow." Lester stopped in his talking when he saw the expression in Jess' eyes.

"No, I'm sure of it, she can stay with me."

Becker stayed at the hub until the rest of them had returned to their own workstations.

"We should talk." Becker approached Jess and when she nodded her approval, Becker guided her to the side of the room.

"Do you think it's a good idea to let Lotte stay with you?" He addressed the topic of his concerns directly.

"Yes." Jess looked up at him with a serious expression, "I don't see a problem. It's nothing permanent."

"What if Jenny won't take her in? What if it stretches into a long-term arrangement?"

"Then the whole team will think about a solution, all of us."

Jess studied the man in front of her intensely, not wanting to miss the finest sign of impulse on his face. She wondered and allowed herself to hope that there was more to this conversation. Carefully she chose her next words.

"But it would be okay to you, if Lotte stayed with Connor and Abby?"

"Yes," Becker answered without hesitation.

"Well, what's the difference?"

Becker was frustrated; he was genuinely worried about Jess. He didn't want her to get hurt or to get herself in a situation of which scale no one was aware of right at the moment. He was worried she would have to handle it alone, but he couldn't find the words to tell her that.

"There are two," he called on her common sense. "What if Lotte's suffering from nightmares? Or if she has other abnormalities in her behaviour? You will be alone with her."

Jess gave him an inquiring look, but remained silent for a while.

"You're worried about me," she eventually stated matter-of-factly.

"Of course I am, Jessica, it's my job."

Jess shook her head, a small smile on her lips, "No, it's not. Not like that."