Lee just looked at Tarin for a couple moments, not sure what to say about his story suggestions. Ok, maybe he was able to come up with a couple things that would be appropriate for their six-year-old to hear, but at the same time...

"What about all the times when the bad guy mummy was saving daddy from was daddy?" Lee asked, her voice low enough so that Alice wouldn't be able to hear. "I still don't want her to know about that, Tarin."

By this point, both Neena and Tarin were taking DocProf's side in arguing the fact that she was too tense, even going further to claim that she should start actually listening and believing what he said. "He hasn't stopped telling me yet, and it's been six years," Lee pointed out. Then she turned back to DocProf. "You're sure?" She questioned again. "You can actually tell this quickly?" So what if she was doing exactly the opposite of what Tarin said. Lee had to make sure.

Getting a nod, Lee took a deep breath and looked up at Tarin as she heard Neena talking to Alice. "Our own clothes would be a lot nicer," she agreed with Tarin, then glanced toward their daughter. "Are you finished already?" she asked. "Can I see, sweetie?"

Tarin sighed and let his head drop back when Lee worried, more about the fact that he wanted to tell stories. He was well aware of the fact that Lee didn't want Alice to know about the spirits that sometimes managed to take him over. It hadn't happened in a long enough time that Tarin could actually think about it without breaking into a cold sweat, but the thought that it could still happen terrified him. Absolutely terrified him.

"I know Lee...I told her they would be stories, I didn't say they'd be completely true." he said on a sigh, but kept his arm around her shoulders as she turned to interrogate the doctor about the results of the tests some more.

Alice had obviously figured out that they were talking about something important, because even as Lee was reluctantly agreeing that their normal clothes would be far more comfortable, Alice was bringing up a hastily colored picture of a tiger.

"It's beautiful Alice. I'm going to hang it where everyone can see it." he said, bending down to eye level with the little girl. "What do you say we head back to our room, put on our jams, pop some popcorn and watch Sleeping Beauty?"

Alice was enthusiastic and Tarin grinned at her and hefted her up to hip level, "Thanks doc." he said, casting a truely grateful glance in the other man's direction, to which as always the Doctor merely grinned back and went about his business.

Tarin shifted his glance to Lee now and smiled, "You can join our movie club tonight if you want. Then we're going to talk about Neena's idea. I think we're way past due."

"Past due for what?!" Alice chirped and Tarin laughed, "Way past due for popcorn and movies."

"Our own clothes would be a lot nicer. Are you finished already? Can I see, sweetie?"

"It's beautiful Alice. I'm going to hang it where everyone can see it. What do you say we head back to our room, put on our jams, pop some popcorn and watch Sleeping Beauty?"

Neena stayed where she was, simply listening to the family talk, and glad to hear it be happy talk.

"Thanks doc." She could hear the relief in Tarin's voice, as clearly as if she would have once seen it. "You can join our movie club tonight if you want. Then we're going to talk about Neena's idea. I think we're way past due."

"Past due for what?!"

"Way past due for popcorn and movies."

She chuckled. "Have fun, kiddo," she winked at Alice.

She followed them out into the waiting room, then sat in her original chair again, leaning her head back and closing her eyes for a few minutes. When their footsteps had faded out of earshot, while the Doc's had not moved, she spoke up.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"C'mon, Doc. Whatever you want to say, bottom-line it. You know it won't surprise me."

She could practically hear the man's eyes rolling around in his head.

"Alice has an xgene."

Neena blinked and lifted her head. "Active?"

"Not yet. And there's no way to tell when or if it will ever be."

"Does Lee know?"

"I haven't told her yet. Or Tarin. I'm debating whether I should or not."

Neena snorted. "My vote? Don't. Lee will never let the poor kid out of her sight. She'll be thirty before they let her date." She sighed, and stood up. "I feel so sorry for the first date that little girl ever brings home...."

"Hmm." He paused, then glanced at her. "Aren't you due for a tetanus shot?"

Turning in the healer's direction, she smiled, and perfectly avoided answering the question. "Thanks Doc. You're a wonder sometimes. See ya later!"

"Indeed," was the resigned snip as she walked away.

"Alright," Lee reluctantly agreed when Tarin pointed out the fact that the stories he was going to be telling their daughter weren't necessarily going to be completely true. That would work better, at least.

But then Alice was back with her picture for Tarin. For a six year old, she definitely did have some talent, even if the picture had been drawn in a rush. "Good job, honey," Lee murmured. The picture was for Tarin, to make up for not seeing the tigers in person that day, so Lee didn't want to intrude too much on him and Alice talking about the picture.

Alice was excited by this point about the movie and popcorn night Tarin had just promised her. Lee didn't know what it was about him, but her husband seemed to have a near amazing ability to make people excited about things, eager, even if they hadn't thought they'd be. Or at least that's how it often seemed to work with her and Alice.

"Only if we have the good popcorn," Lee said, grinning at her daughter in Tarin's arms. "It's no good if it doesn't have lots of butter, right?

"So how 'bout you two go put your jams on and get the movie ready while I get the popcorn?" Lee asked as she stood up and gave Tarin's free hand a quick squeeze. "Thanks Doc, Neena," Lee said as she left the room with her family.