David stood at the arrivals gate at JFK eagerly awaiting the arrival of his long absent boss. It had been months since anyone had seen or heard from the polite English girl he worked for and that had been far too long for his taste.

He still remembered driving her to the airport at 9 o’clock at night with no idea where she was going or why she was going there. She had said she needed to go away for a bit and that he shouldn’t worry but he couldn’t help but worry. She had been teetering on the edge of sanity since her mother’s death and at the time David wasn’t even sure if he should let her go. What if she lost herself wherever she was going and she never came back? Or worse even, what if something happened to her out there in the world and no one ever knew because she didn’t tell anyone where she was going? All of this was so up in the air and David didn’t like it, but as her employee he could do nothing but voice his concern and let her go.

As people began to file down the stairs and into the arrivals area, David started to wonder if he should have brought some kind of sign or if she would just be able to see him in the sea of people. Though as he scanned the crowd for a familiar face he didn’t find one. Did he have the right flight? He reached into his pocket and looked at the itinerary she had sent and it was the correct time and gate.


“David?”

He looked up to see a pretty blonde girl he didn’t recognize approaching him from the bottom of the stairs.

“It’s me. Kate.”

He was taken aback, “You’re…”

“Blonde?”

All he could do was shake his head at the drastic changes his boss had gone through. Not only was she blonde but she was wearing pants. As long as he had known her she had warn nothing but cute little dresses. It was rather endearing really.

“Is it really that bad? I mean Henry seemed to like it, but he never saw me as a brunette.”

“No… it’s nice. You just look… different. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“I know. I really needed some changes in my life, so I went for it.”

“Hmmm… good for you.” David turned to head in the direction of Kate’s bags, “Why don’t’ we get you home.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Little did David know, Kate didn’t really think of that as home these days. It was going to take her some time to readjust to being at the mansion and she didn’t even know if she was ready for it.

---

Kate looked up at the large wood front doors of the mansion and was suddenly not so sure of this move, but at the same time she knew it was necessary. They were only getting worse and she needed to find out why.

“Do you want me to help you up to your room?”

Kate turned to see David’s familiar smile waiting for a response, “Actually… if you wouldn’t mind I would like to go up and talk to Sam about some things. Can you take them up without me?”

“Of course.”

It was now or never. Kate walked through the door with David in tow. They continued in silence until they split off and Kate headed for the offices.

She looked around the empty corridor to make sure she was alone before she acknowledged how much pain she was really in. Her eyes closed tightly and her hands grabbed onto her throbbing head. This is why she was here. Every day the headaches got worse and worse and the only person she knew that could help here was down this corridor.

She took a deep breath and pushed the pain back long enough to walk down the hall and knock on the familiar door of Sam Johnson.

Today's batch of paperwork was nearly finished. Nothing was out of the ordinary with it. Andrew on the other hand, well there was always something strange going on with him wasn't there? He glanced at his left arm. It was covered so he couldn't see the four bands of black that marred the skin there but he knew they were there. Martin hadn't summoned him again yet so he wasn't having too much extra stress on those promises but it was still difficult. He leaned back in his chair when a knock sounded on the door. Who could that be? Most people didn't knock. Instead of just telling them to come in Andrew stood, made the small walk across the room and opened the door.

"Ye.."

The s on the end of the word yes died on Andrew's lips. There at the door was a girl he hadn't seen in a good while. She'd just up and disappeared, leaving only a note. He hadn't been too pleased about that when he'd heard. A lot had happened since he'd last seen Kate Finch-Hatton. He stood quiet for a moment as he looked at her. She was blonde now and wearing pants instead of the dresses he remembered. He left the door open and motioned for Kate to come in while he sat back down at the desk to finish up paperwork.

"Here to see Sam I'd guess."

It was more a statement than a question. After all, Kate nearly always went to Sam when she needed help if he remembered. Maybe he was a little bitter, maybe he'd hoped for a chance to be a better friend to her. It didn't matter now. Andrew finished the rest of the paperwork and set it aside to put away later. He looked at Kate but didn't say anything more. He didn't really have anything to say that was worth wasting air on. His opinions didn't matter in the long run anyway so there was no need to voice them.

Kate would never say she regretted leaving. So much had happened that she couldn’t and wouldn’t let go of. She had done things she had only dreamed of before and been with people she never thought she would know.

Kate was pulled out of her thoughts by the door finally being pulled open and a familiar face looking at her with surprise.

>>Ye..

She should have expected this. She hadn’t said goodbye to anybody before leaving and after this long she wouldn’t’ have been surprised if they thought she wasn’t going to come back at all. Not to mention the fact that she looked completely different.

>>Here to see Sam I'd guess.

“Yes.” Kate slowly stepped into the room, “I have a bit of a problem and I believe he may be the only one that can help me solve.”

There was a long pause as Kate waited for Andrew to finish his work and look back up at her, “It’s good to see you.”

He'd been right in his supposition. She needed Sam's help and that was apparently the only reason she'd bothered to come back.

"Well he's not here at the moment but feel free to wait here until he shows up."

Andrew paused as she spoke. He nodded.

"It's good to see you too. You'll be leaving again after you get whatever is sorted out?"

After all she'd run out on them previously instead of sticking around and asking for help. It made sense to Andrew that she wouldn't wish to come back long term. He could have been more enthusiastic and welcomed her back properly but with his promises to Martin he didn't want to get too involved here. There was always the chance that Martin would ask him for a betrayal and regardless of how he felt about it he'd have to acquiesce or suffer. Andrew didn't want that. It was better that they learn not to like or trust him. That might limit the damage any information he was forced to give to Martin would do.

Andrew gave Kate a closer inspection, making no effort to disguise the look. She looked well, despite any problems she might have. The new look suited her. He leaned back in his chair. Neither of them were the same as they used to be. She'd gone blonde and had discovered that pants existed and he'd gotten stronger, collected plenty of new scars, and had many more promises than he'd had when she'd disappeared.

"You look good."

It was a matter of fact statement instead of anything flirtatious or shy. Andrew sighed and began to straighten up the various things on the desk.

>>Well he's not here at the moment but feel free to wait here until he shows up.

Kate moved into the room.

>>It's good to see you too. You'll be leaving again after you get whatever is sorted out?

“I don’t know, maybe.” Kate looked down at the ground and took a deep breath, “I’m sorry for running. It was just something I had to do.”

They sat for a long moment before anyone said anything. Kate watched as Andrew looked her over. She knew she had changed a lot in the past couple months and was expecting such reactions and worse.

>>You look good.

“Thanks. I did a lot of growing up. Made a lot of changes.”

His eyes stayed firmly locked on hers as Kate made excuses for her actions. Previously Andrew might have gone on about how they cared for her here and how worried her disappearance had made them. His response however was a shrug.

"It was your choice to make. I doubt anyone forced you to leave. We may not like that you left but you don't need to make excuses. Just be prepared for the others to be less than happy."

He paused while she gave a very brief summary of what she'd spent her time away doing. Andrew nodded.

"You're welcome."

There wasn't much else to say. She'd changed, he'd changed, and he certainly wasn't going to pry. Andrew grabbed the papers and walked over to the filing cabinet to get started putting the papers away. She could sit in silence. As much as he might want to ask her where she'd been and what she'd done he felt it better that he not, in light of his promises to Martin. Kate didn't deserve to be hurt should she tell him something and it prove useful to Martin.

Lately Kate had taken a great notice to the change in her personality, which she blamed solely on her current best friend, Hanna Walters. Hanna was outspoken, opinionated and occasionally rude. These rather dominate personality traits somehow seemed to rub off on the polite English lady and as a result she had become much more opinionated, not rude just opinionated. And right now she defiantly had an opinion.

“Are you really that mad at me,” Kate stood up quickly, “I mean we were never that close and I didn’t expect you to be that upset, but I did expect some kind of emotional reaction. You’re just standing there being terrible uncaring about the whole thing.”

She thought he was mad at her? That wasn't the case at all but his mind was quickly taken from that by her next words. They weren't close? He'd tried darn it! He'd tried to be her friend but Drew was hardly good at that stuff. Though he'd be loathe to admit it that comment hurt. When he'd met Kate he was still getting used to opening up to people again and trying to have friends. To be told that his efforts were essentially wasted hurt. It showed on his face for several sections before he schooled his expression back into cool indifference.

"I'm sorry if I seem mad. I'm not. I've just had a bad few weeks."

It was a pathetic excuse and he knew it. Andrew focused his attention away from the blonde that he was quickly realizing he'd never really known, at least according to her, and put it squarely back on the paperwork. Pull open a drawer, find the right file, tuck a paper away, repeat. It was a comforting routine and it served now to distract him from what Kate had just said. At least partially.

It was getting late in the morning, maybe even early afternoon and Sam was now just finishing his first session in the danger room. ”You really are improving Kyle, just make sure to move more. The best block you can manage is not being there. Meaning move your feet or your gonna get hit.” Sam blinked with his one eye and shifted it towards the large digital clock above them. ”Best get going Kyle, your next class starts shortly and if I hear your skipping class again I’ll be sure to make sure you’ll never want to do it again.” Sam smirked slightly and nodded his head as he escorted the limping teenage who got a rather nasty Charlie horse on his left leg before the session ended.

It took Sam a few minutes to make his way to his office due to the hustle and bustle of a few of the students running around before their last few summer classes decided to come to a finish. If kids like Kyle actually managed to go to class in the first place they could have enjoyed their summer properly instead of sitting in the classrooms.

”Standing in line to see the show tonight and there’s a light on heavy glow, by the way I tried to say I’d be there waiting for you,” Sam continued to sing as the hallway was pulled closer and closer to his office by his feet. His good eye shut Sam started to whistle the chorus as he got closer and closer to his office knowing full well that Andrew was probably just managing to finish the paper work. A fact that meant Sam had the option of making the day either better or worse for his assistant who as of late had seemed more down on himself, even more than he had used to when Sam had first hired him.

He’d get the rest of the day off, maybe even the week off. Sam hadn’t decided yet but everybody needed a vacation and Sam knew he wasn’t the easiest boss to work for. ”By the way I’d tried to say I’d be…” Sam trailed off as he opened his office door and noticed a blonde he didn’t recognize. His eyes trailed up and down and he smirked. ”Who's your friend Andrew? Didn’t know you had it in you.” Sam added a satisfied nod and decided that Andrew deserved the week off for this one.

>>I'm sorry if I seem mad. I'm not. I've just had a bad few weeks.

"Trust me... I get it." Kate really did get it. Back when she had been going through all the stuff with her mum she hadn’t really been the nicest of people to be around. It was all a defense mechanism.

Kate took a deep breath and chose to wait in silence for the man who owned this office. She just stood in front of the desk looking at the things on it. She had been sitting for so long that waiting in a chair really didn’t sound very appealing at the moment.

>>By the way I’d tried to say I’d be…Who's your friend Andrew? Didn’t know you had it in you.

Some people really never did change. Kate smiled at the familiar voice of a man she had grown very close to in her time at the mansion.

As she turned she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned on the desk, “You would think after spending all that time with me in the danger room you would remember what I look like from behind.”

He honestly doubted that she 'got it' but said nothing. There was nothing more to say after all. She'd pretty much destroyed any desire he had to speak with her at all. So when Sam showed up at the door several minutes later Drew was several parts relieved and one part annoyed. The look on Kate's face when she heard Sam speak frustrated him. Sure, she was pleased as punch to see Sam but Drew got only an 'we weren't that close'. Drew squashed that sliver of envy that cropped up and smirked at Sam.

"Can't take the credit for this one boss. She's here to see you. Surely you remember Lady Kate Finch-Hatton?"

Drew stood up from the chair behind the desk.

"Paper work's been taken care of. Well, at least until you manage to make more for me. Which you will."

He rounded the desk and headed toward the door. There wasn't any more need for him in this room now that the star had rolled on in.

"Unless you need me for something else I'll just leave you two alone."

Sam’s smirk faded when the blonde turned and folded her arms and commented. The voice was the first thing Sam registered, it was familiar and it was warm like the mutation the owner possessed. Sam stopped moving and eyed the woman a little more closely. Sam smiled as he recognized the face. ”You know, comments like that could make people wonder.” Sam looked to Andrew and let out a small laugh, ”sides I was a little more focused on not getting burned. Got to stay cool you know?”

It had been far too long in his opinion since he had last seen Kate, was he surprised to see her here? No it was her home and one thing he had learned in all his time at the mansion was that no matter how far people go or what they decided to do with their life they always seem to find their way back home. A fact Sam loved about the mansion because he knew that if he ever left there was still a place for him here.

”Blonde is a good look for you, brings out your eyes.” Sam nodded slightly once again and moved closer to his desk where Andrew was near the pile of paperwork that he had competed. ”Didn’t know we were going with the titles Duke Leroy of promises and paperwork.” Sam gave Andrew a small pat on the back before he nodded his head. ”And what makes you think I wanted to give you more paperwork? Week’s yours to do with what you will. I however do have some paper work somewhere I misplaced in one of my vacation spots if you’d go find’em for me.”

Sam was serious about the vacation he was also serious about sending Drew where he’d please. It was hard being Sam’s assistant between the danger room sessions and the masses of paperwork. ”You can stay if you’d like Drew, I’m sure you missed Kate as well. Unless this is more of private matter?” Sam finished looking to Kate who Sam still had to take a moment to recognize due to the hair color.

She grew up, it was obvious she wasn’t the same person she was once before. Soul searching Sam guessed, her time in Rome seemed to do her some good. Yes, Sam knew where she went where she stayed and who she became friends and closer with. H did make a promise after all to keep an eye on her and he also had friends from back in the day who still owed him a few favors. Friends, one that took pride in their job of going unnoticed and were willing to make sure a certain firemancer who lived a very sheltered life still new to being on her own stayed safe.

>>You know, comments like that could make people wonder. sides I was a little more focused on not getting burned. Got to stay cool you know?[/i]

“Since when have you ever been cool?” Kate gave the one eyed man a mock confused look, “Oh wait! You’re talking about your mutation. I should have known.”

>>Blonde is a good look for you, brings out your eyes.

“Thank you. I quite like it myself.”

>>Can't take the credit for this one boss. She's here to see you. Surely you remember Lady Kate Finch-Hatton?

Kate felt a twinge of pain as Andrew said her name as he did. Sure they had never been as close as she and Gawain or Sam had been but she still thought they were friends. No matter what had happened to him over these past weeks she did not deserve to be treated like a stranger. Let alone a stranger he didn’t like.

>>Didn’t know we were going with the titles Duke Leroy of promises and paperwork. ”And what makes you think I wanted to give you more paperwork? Week’s yours to do with what you will. I however do have some paper work somewhere I misplaced in one of my vacation spots if you’d go find’em for me.

Kate listened to the exchange silently. Sam seemed like he was trying in his own way to cheer up the younger man, but he was all business. She really was not appreciating the way Andrew had been acting since she had gotten there. Sure Sam’s entrance had cheered him up a little, but still…

>>You can stay if you’d like Drew, I’m sure you missed Kate as well. Unless this is more of private matter?

“I leave it up to Andrew whether he would like to stay or not. I will say it is a rather unhappy matter having to do with my mutation,” Kate was still to polite for her own good sometimes. She really didn’t want Andrew’s less then nice presence around her when she was having such a hard time keeping her emotions pleasant these days. That and he was starting to erk her.

Drew didn't pay much attention to the byplay between Kate and Sam. He was already angry, on top of everything else. Drew didn't want or need a reminder that Kate liked his boss much better than him. Sam on the other hand seemed to be trying to cheer him up. It was a shame, a real shame, what he was being forced to do. He wanted to just shout out about his promises to Martin right then and there. He even tried to do so but he just couldn't find the words. It hurt to betray them like this even if he had no choice. These people meant more to him than his own family. Resigning himself to the situation, Drew suppressed the problems and smiled at Sam.

"Thanks Sam but no thanks. My place is here with the paperwork and whatnot."

Sam offered to have him stay and Kate's words said she didn't object but he knew better. Sam didn't care if he stayed and Kate didn't want him there. Drew just gave Sam another smile.

"You're right, I did miss her." he said quietly but with just a hint of a tone that said that missing her might have been a mistake, "But you two don't need me hanging around. I'll go do some DR training or something."

Drew gave Kate a look.

"Whatever it is I'm sure Sam can help. He always does."

He turned and left the office without saying anything else. It was just better that he go.

There was tension in the room Sam didn’t know why but he could feel it. He blinked once with his good eye and shifted his attention from one to the other. It seemed that Drew was leaving now as well whatever had been said between the two had put both of them on edge and Sam didn’t really understand it.

He blinked once and then nodded his head towards Drew, ”Take the day off,” Sam said slightly more stern than his usual tone, ”You work harder than I do, and this isn’t a request I see you working I’ll put you on a plane myself.” Sam said with a darker grin to let Andrew know he was serious.

Once Andrew had left the office Sam looked to Kate and then scratched the back of his head, ”Well that was awkward… lot of tension between you two or something?” Sam asked curiously as he gestured towards the chair across his desk from him.

”You hungry? I could call in a pizza if you’d like?” Sam asked remembering their last sit down conversation over some pizza. One that ended up in the danger room where he taught her the basics of skating and making snowmen and angels.

After a moment he continued on with the conversation, ”Been a while, next time you’d leave I’d like a little notice.” Sam said his tone a little more serious than before, ”Had some of us worried when you just upped and left, I take it you found what you were looking for?” Sam asked alluding to the fact that he didn’t know where she had went and what she was doing in her time away from the mansion.