>> "That's Agnes…Thank you, Big League. Chase will be home in no time."

>> "You're welcome,"

He smirked and nodded his thanks to Big League as he stepped away to return to his friend’s sides. They still snickered at him. His being scooped up by the police officer was going to be the talk of their group for at least the next 24 hours. Until then, Big League could enjoy the attention and simply recount his harrowing adventure with the large officer and how he got a few good kicks in.

Jorge, meanwhile, had turned back to Gemma. She looked slightly relieved but she was obviously still scared for the boy.

>> "Let's go find Agnes. She should be in her room, or maybe the library..."

Jorge nodded. He couldn’t agree more. Agnes was a good kid and since she had Chase had something in common, she doubted she would let it stand his fleeing in such a way. If anything she would want them to find him sooner.

“Lead the way,” he said to Gemma with a nod. Once they started on their way, he smiled sympathetically as he reached out and very gently took Gemma’s hand in his. “Hey, don’t worry, we’ll find him, okay?”

>>“Lead the way. Hey, don’t worry, we’ll find him, okay?”

He held her hand, and she squeezed it, smiling up at him. "I know."

She was worried, but she had no doubts. They would find Chase, soon, and everything was going to be all right. They already knew where he went, and knew who to ask about that secret hiding place.

Gemma knocked on Agnes' door.

"Agnes?" she called, in case she was not expecting visitors "It's Ms. Taylor, and Detective Cervantes. We need your help."

She was used to introducing herself; some kids, especially the ones with the bad family backgrounds, tended to run if there was an unexpected knock on their door...

“Yeah, I know. I know!” Agnes responded with a laugh as she sat back on her bed. The runaway sighed as she sat, holding the receiving to the phone against her ear. She was just giggling as she listened to her girlfriend chatter along on the other end of the line. “Well, what did they expect? Yeah…yeah! Exactly!”

Agnes sighed. She always had the best of times whenever she spoke to Jasmine on the phone. She stood up from her bed, slipped her feet into her ladybug slippers and headed to her desk to grab some homework. She had called to ask Jasmine’s assistance on some homework she was having trouble understanding, but before she could even reach her desk, someone suddenly began to knock on her door.

“Who is it?” she asked absentmindedly as she searched her desk. “What? Oh no, just someone at my do-“

>> "It's Ms. Taylor, and Detective Cervantes. We need your help."

She stiffened up and paused, turning her attention towards the door. Both Ms. Taylor AND Detective Cervantes? What exactly was going on?

“Um…Just a sec!” she announced and then turned back to the phone. “I’ll call you back, hun.”

She hung up her phone and tossed it onto her bed as she quickly made her way back to the door. Dressed in her sweatpants and deep green sweater, her ladybug clad feet silently carried her towards the door as she unlocked and opened it. She blinked at the sight of both Ms. Taylor, the guidance counselor that helped her ever since she first showed up at the mansion, and Detective Cervantes, the police officer who helped put her parents away behind bars. She certainly owed them a lot and would gladly help out with anything.

“Hi,” she said curiously. “I-Is everything okay? What’s wrong?”

It only took a few moments before Agnes opened the door. She looked cheerful and curious. Gemma smiled.

>>“Hi. I-Is everything okay? What’s wrong?”

"I hope not" she sighed, looking at her "Chase ran away. There was a misunderstanding; he saw me talking to his parents, and he got scraed we would send him away. So he ran. Big League told us you might know where he went. You have a friend in common?..."

She was calm, explaining what just happened; but the only thing she could think about was hope. Agnes had to know where Chase went. She had to.

Jorge had waited patiently on the other side of the door. He glanced at Gemma. He knew that his girlfriend was worried about Chase but now that they had a solid lead that they could turn to, he hoped that things would be okay. Chase was a shape shifter and if he had run out into the world in order to not be found, then he definitely would not be found. At least with Agnes they have a solid lead on where to start looking. Whoever this mysterious person was that Chase could feel well enough to trust with hiding him had to be someone special.

At least he hoped that whoever it was was a good person. He prayed…

When Agnes finally opened the door, she looked so different than from the first time that he had met her. She looked far more happy, far more relaxed and in tune with her environment. She used to be such a shy girl, someone who he was scared would not be able to adjust to a regular life. But she seemed to be thriving, even after the incident with her parents coming back. That made him all the more pleased…

>> “Hi…I-Is everything okay? What’s wrong?”

>> "I hope not…Chase ran away. There was a misunderstanding; he saw me talking to his parents, and he got scraed we would send him away. So he ran. Big League told us you might know where he went. You have a friend in common?..."

Jorge nodded with a warm smile.

“If you know anything, Agnes, it will be more than helpful,” he said with a nod. “We need to find him as soon as possible.”

Agnes blinked as she looked between the two adults. They looked as if they were worried about something but they didn’t want to show it. She held her breath. Was everything okay? Was Gina okay? Was the school okay? Were they hear to kick her out because she was a graduate? Her mind raced with the possibilities until finally the guidance counselor opened her mouth to settle her fears…

>> "I hope not…Chase ran away. There was a misunderstanding; he saw me talking to his parents, and he got scraed we would send him away. So he ran. Big League told us you might know where he went. You have a friend in common?..."

>> “If you know anything, Agnes, it will be more than helpful…We need to find him as soon as possible.”

Agnes mouth gapped.

“Chase is gone?” she asked startled.

Chase was doing so well at the mansion that he only came to see her every once and awhile. He was doing great with the friends that he was making, especially Big League, but now he was gone? Of course it had to be his parents that came and ruined his time here for him. She was astounded more and more by how much she and Chase had in common. She despised her parents, enough to run away from them and their home. Chase was in the same boat.

But now he was started to flee and try to fend for himself again? She shook her head. This never should have happened. Where would be go though? Well, there was only one option.

She looked to both the detective and the guidance counselor.

“Aedus, his name is Aedus. He’s a bike messenger.” she said with a firm nod. “Chase, myself, and Aedus met when and I saved Chase from an angry mob. He promised Chase that if he ever needed a place to stay that he could stay with him and gave him a key to his apartment. He was an extremely nice and sweet guy and he liked the school but I haven’t seen him since then. But I know where his apartment is at.”

>>“Aedus, his name is Aedus. He’s a bike messenger. Chase, myself, and Aedus met when and I saved Chase from an angry mob. He promised Chase that if he ever needed a place to stay that he could stay with him and gave him a key to his apartment. He was an extremely nice and sweet guy and he liked the school but I haven’t seen him since then. But I know where his apartment is at.”

Gemma sighed. Everything was going to be all right. Chase had run to someone he could trust - at least Agnes seemed to trust him, and Gemma knew enough about her to know that was not easily achieved. And Agnes knew where he was. They would find him in no time now.

"Great" she smiled at the girl "That's great. Can you give us directions? I know Chase is safe there, but I am afraid he is very upset about what just happened, and I want to find him so I can explain. And bring him back here."

Friend or not, the Mansion was where Chase belonged now.

Agnes was obviously shocked by the idea of what happened. To know that Chase, someone that she knew, who shared a background similar to her own, to know that he had run away from the people who were trying to helping him, it looked like it really bothered her. That had to be hard for her because she was she knew what that life was like. And it was obvious that she didn’t want something like that for him.

She gave up the information that much most quicker…

>> “Aedus, his name is Aedus. He’s a bike messenger. Chase, myself, and Aedus met when and I saved Chase from an angry mob. He promised Chase that if he ever needed a place to stay that he could stay with him and gave him a key to his apartment. He was an extremely nice and sweet guy and he liked the school but I haven’t seen him since then. But I know where his apartment is at.”[/color]

He actually sighed in relief. Agnes was a smart girl and not the type of person who could be easily fooled. If she trusts this guy then he hoped that there was something to that. He hoped that that was where Chase had run off to…

>> "Great…That's great. Can you give us directions? I know Chase is safe there, but I am afraid he is very upset about what just happened, and I want to find him so I can explain. And bring him back here."

Gemma was relieved. But she was worried too…

“Thank you Agnes, for your help.” he finally said with a nod. “We really do appreciate it.”

>> "Great…That's great. Can you give us directions? I know Chase is safe there, but I am afraid he is very upset about what just happened, and I want to find him so I can explain. And bring him back here."

>> “Thank you Agnes, for your help…We really do appreciate it.”

She nodded to each of them but then a resolute look came across her eyes. Chase was out there, by himself, heading for Aedus’ apartment, also by himself. There was no telling what kind of trouble he could get himself into if they didn’t hurry to find him. He was a resourceful kind, Agnes knew that, but the changing factor in all of this was that he was scared. Agnes did not want to leave him to his own devices for too long, especially since he didn’t know all the facts about what happened here.

And here both Detective Cervantes and Ms. Taylor wanted to go and get him? On their own? If her own experiences taught her anything it is that when you’re on the run, people in authority are the first people you keep an eye out for and flee from.

She shook her head. The two of them alone was not going to do it, especially since Aedus knew nothing of either of them. He may just as well think that they were working for Chase’s parents and resist.

No…there needed to be a buffer…a sign of proof that everything was okay…

“How about I go with you and show you?” she asked gently. “Aedus doesn’t know you and Chase is already scared that you both are probably working for his parents. If I’m there, he’ll be more inclined to listen. Please, let me go…?” she pleaded.

>>“How about I go with you and show you? Aedus doesn’t know you and Chase is already scared that you both are probably working for his parents. If I’m there, he’ll be more inclined to listen. Please, let me go…?”

Gemma thought about it for a moment, even though she could tell right away that Agnes was right. Chase was probably frightened, if he saw them together with his parents; he was a lot younger, but Agnes was still closer to his age, a friend, and a fellow student, not a teacher (or a conselor, or a cop). She glanced at Jorge before she turned back to Agnes and nodded.

"Yes. Thank you" she smiled a bit "I think it is a good idea. Would you be willing to come now?..." she glanced at Jorge again, then back at Agnes "We'll wait for you downstairs."

- Elsewhere in the City, Thirty Minutes Prior -

It was a strange feeling, being on the streets once again. Being on the run after a brief period of having a home. I'm going back, Chase told himself, I'll go back, this isn't permanent. I just need to wait until Mom and Dad are gone. Maybe Miss Gemma won't give me back to them. Maybe she'll let me stay. Just the thought of going back made Chase's stomach flop, though. If his parents knew about that place, then it would no longer be a safe place for him to go. He'd have to run again.

Nobody paid any heed to the young form as it cut through the crowds, for with his hood drawn, it was impossible to see the look on his face. His look was that of a very real, raw terror, and there were tears in his eyes, which were dominated by the blackness of fear and a deep, sorrowful purple. It would be safe to say that Chase really didn't want to go back home.

His feet moved mechanically beneath him, never once slowing to any less than a jog. He kept his hood drawn, backpack bouncing as the diminutive, hooded figure navigated the streets assuredly. Chase knew exactly where he was going. Of course, Aedus would be a bit surprised to see him. Evening was settling, now, it was nearly time for supper... hopefully Aedus was home. Even though Chase had a key, he hesitated to utilize it. It was still Aedus' apartment, barging in would be most impolite.

In what seemed like no time whatsoever, though Chase had traversed a good many blocks to get there, Chase arrived at Aedus' apartment building. He went in assuredly, followed the stairs up to his floor, and soon found himself standing at the door to Aedus apartment. Chase was emotionally exhausted, and physically as well. He could feel his human form shudder, but Chase clung to it, refusing to lose for just yet. Aedus didn't know the inhuman-Chase, only the human one. What if he didn't let him in, because he didn't recongize him? Chase had to get in first, before he could unshift. Chase mopped up the tears in his eyes, and went after the runny nose. He knocked twice, shyly, upon the door, his composure slipping quickly. Please, let Aedus be home, because Chase wouldn't go in without him there.

Jorge listened as Agnes explained the situation. He had to admit that she really did have a point. If Chase, being as young as he was, was that scared, then he may in fact bolt the second that he caught sight of either him or Gemma. That was the last thing that they wanted. If Chase at all felt that his friend’s place was not safe then the chances of him returning to Aedus’ apartment was slim.

Maybe Agnes would be a good buffer to keep him from bolting…

>> "Yes. Thank you…I think it is a good idea. Would you be willing to come now?”

“Of course!”

“That settles it,” Jorge replied.

Jorge nodded as Agnes replied. It really was a good plan. With Agnes there, someone he did trust and with no connection to his parents, then that would make him more inclined to give them a chance to speak. They needed to make sure that he knew that he was in no danger of returning to his parents’ home. As unfortunate as it is to learn that your parents do not want you, for Chase, it would hopefully be viewed as a godsend.

>> “We'll wait for you downstairs."

He turned to walk with Gemma down to the front of the stairway that led to the dormitories. He sighed as he stuffed his hands in his coat, waiting for Agnes to join them. He wanted to get to Chase ASAP, but he knew that Agnes was going to be pivotal in getting to the boy. So as much as he didn’t like just waiting around, he knew that it was better than the alternative.

He looked up and smiled warmly to her.

“How you holding up?” he asked as he gently took her hand and squeezed it. He knew that she had the biggest heart and she felt for each and every single one of her kids. And the fact that she was adopting Chase only meant that she felt even more for his safety.

Aedus had been enjoying a solitary day in, Noel was busy with work, and he’d had enough excitement for the week, meeting Sebastian, meeting blood, meeting Emily and reuniting with Lydia. He was ready for a day in of reading and junk food. He woke up to eat a bowl of fruit loops and watch DVDs. He was catching up on burn notice. They liked to cut to women in bathing suits a lot. The show was good on its own, but apparently the Miami locale was not purely for plot purposes but a good reason to zoom in on scantily clad rumps. Not that he was complaining.

Aedus downed the rest of the chocolate shake he just made himself for lunch, hopped up off his couch and… brain freeze. He rubbed his temples for a moment and then walked a little bit more slowly to the door. Aedus opened the door and looked down. He the figure was sniffling, short and had their hood up. Did this kid have the right address?

“Can I help, you?” Aedus asked. What he didn’t think about was that though his voice spoke in calming tones it was attached to a six foot obsidian man in jeans and had lava pools for eyes. Not exactly what someone might look for in a shoulder to cry on.

>> “Can I help, you?”

"Um-m," Chase looked up as someone who sounded like Aedus pulled open the door to Aedus' appartment, but he was greeted by a living, black statue with flaming eyes. That was most certainly not Aedus. Chase jumped, having expected someone completely different, his eyes going an anxious meld of orange and black. Someone he didn't know, and a scary someone. His head dipped low, and he fussed with his hood. Maybe this was another mutant that Aedus knew, another guy who was permitted to use his apartment when he hadn't anywhere else to go.

"I-I-I'm h-here to s-see Aedus," Chase stammered quickly. He was freaked out by the obsidian-skinned man, and it didn't help that he was in tears, either. It was surprising that he could even find the voice to speak, "I'm a f-friend of his. I'm-m... uh... my name is Chase. I-Is he a-a-avail-able?"

A shapeshifter, of all people, should have understood that appearances were not a consistent thing. And, while Chase looked just as he had the day that Aedus had met him, Aedus looked differently-- and Chase had mistaken him for someone else. He shyly looked towards the number on the door. Yeah, this was the apartment. His gaze flickered towards the statue-man hesitantly. The eight-year-old was getting antsy. He didn't have time to beg for entrance into the apartment-- it was do-or-die, fight-or-flight. Chase had nowhere else to go.

(hope its ok to assume you'd enter.)

Aedus was now talking at the same time as the young man, even as he stammered in fright at his unexpected appearance."Chase! It's me!I'll explain the new look. Come in, you are safe now, ok?" Aedus stepped to the side to let the young man enter,he looked around for anyone who might have frightened him and then shut the door afterwards.

He wasn't sure what was going on, but he didn't like it. If he needed something mundane then He or Agnes would have called him, otherwise he would have waited til he came by on a random weekday visit or on Saturday when they planned. He was crying and scared maybe. Aedus was not happy with whoever was making Chase cry.

"I'll make you a shake. while you tell me whats going on." Aedus walked to the kitchen and held up a gallon of chocolate and a a gallon of vanilla. He started cleaning the pitcher for the blender. While he listened and got prepared to make a shake that would help calm the kid down.