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Kealey nodded when her suspicions were confirmed and then she smiled. Even though Ireland and England were very different places, it was always nice to find someone else who was away from home. It was almost like a little bit of built in camaraderie where there may have been none before. It felt good.

Casey was observant, and Kealey glanced over her shoulder at the picture when the other girl pointed it out. The blond nodded her head, curls bouncing with the movement, ”Happy as clams since…June.” she replied.

“Shin usually does the greeter thing, but he’s got a lot of other responsibilities right now too. I try to help him out when I can.”

Casey took the paperwork and Kealey settled into Shin’s chair to wait while that was happening. Her fingers itched to organize something, but knew she had no room to talk after the way her room looked. Her hands folded in her lap and she sighed, focusing instead on the emotions of the girl in front of her.

There was something about her, something that suggested that she was closed down. Her emotions almost seemed dampened and Kealey wondered if that was natural or some side effect of the girl’s mutation. The blond wanted to ask, but was trying to avoid being unintentionally rude with every fiber of her being.

Casey asked about her clothes and Kealey glanced down then shook her head.

”You’re very observant.” she commented, ”I do make a lot of clothes, but not these. I’m a second year fashion student over at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Most of my stuff is…different than off the rack casual wear though.”

The answer had been to succinct and silence stretched again, Kealey glanced at the clip board she’d handed the other girl and started looking for a set of room keys. Finding one, the blond waited patiently.

”As soon as you’re done with all of that, we’ll get you a room.”

It really was starting to get cold in New York City. Kealey crossed her arms and pulled her coat closer around herself as she made her way down the street that led to her apartment building. It had been a long time since she’d been there, and it was always good to check on things to make sure they were okay. Kealey wondered sometimes why she kept the apartment, she practically lived in the Mansion and she could have been saving money instead of using it on rent. Something about the little place called to her though and she just couldn’t give it up. Besides, Kealey thought, her closet at the Mansion wouldn’t have appreciated the influx of items moving would have entailed.

A cool gust of wind blew by, and as Kealey walked from the bus stop, her mind wandered slightly. It was always that way when she came into the city after a long time at the Mansion. There were too many emotions to concentrate as well as she would have liked, and she had too many other things on her mind try. She wasn’t really in the city to visit her apartment. Nope, she was really there to visit her landlord/neighbor.

It had been a while since Kealey had seen Ghost, and she hoped that their interaction would be as easy as it had been when they’d done the Pokemon tournament and when they’d helped foil that hostage situation. That would be necessary. Kealey was asking a lot.

When Shin had asked her to go to Japan, Kealey had been thrilled. He wanted her to meet his parents and see where he was from. That was a big deal. You didn’t do those sorts of things unless you were serious about someone. Kealey had already known that was the case. Emotions were a great indication, but it was still nice to know through the traditional means as well. There were problems though. Problems that Kealey couldn’t really talk to Shin about. It wasn’t that she doubted his ability to make her feel better…but they were things it just didn’t seem right to question him about. There had been a breakdown of understanding when he’d gotten that email and Kealey couldn’t help but go back to it every time she opened her mouth to ask him a question. Maybe Ghost could help? Kealey didn’t have many girlfriends…but she definitely counted Ghost among the ones she did have. Shin had said that the other woman knew some Japanese and Kealey had seized the opportunity to set up this meeting. If nothing else, maybe she’d learn a bit.

She reached the building and moved to go up the back stairwell Garrett had shown her when he gave her the first tour of the apartment building that would be hers. The hallway that housed the apartments looked the same as always and Kealey smiled slightly as she walked past the door that she knew was hers. She’d come back later to check on things. Past the doors Kealey went, stopping at the one that housed Ghost, her husband, and their adopted son. She rose her hand.

Knock knock.

Kealey nodded her head as Lance gave a succinct summary of the situation. There would be time for details later if they were needed, and if the girl wanted to give them. The Mansion wasn’t really in the business of pry into peoples’ business. At least not when they were in need of help as obviously as this young girl was. It had been a rough night.

Kealey tilted her head slightly as the girl suggested she’d like to be called ‘legs’ surely that was a joke. Casey was deflecting, Kealey could tell from the emotions rolling around in the younger woman. There was mental exhaustion there, as well as a healthy dose of longing and depression. It made the blond frown, brows drawing together slightly.

Lance pointed out that she would need a shower, and probably somewhere to stay. Kealey nodded again, a smile lighting her features in spite of the slightly dreary emotional climate.

”Well, you came to the right place.” She said, moving back to the circulation desk to grab her cell phone, ”Shin isn’t around, but I know where everything is in his office.” she turned another friendly glance on Casey.

”If you’re wanting a place to stay, I’ll need a little paperwork, but I can’t imagine it being a problem if you want to clean yourself up first. You can even use my room if you want. It’s a mess, but I have fluffy towels.”

Shin’s stability helped…it helped more than he could possibly know. Over time, Kealey had figured out that while she was good at looking at and analyzing everyone else’s emotions, she struggled with her own sometimes. Her emotions towards Shin…she’d figured out a long time ago…those were easy. All of the emotions that were popping up while dealing with her sister? A different thing entirely. Shin was steady, and sure enough for the two of them.

That was good because Kealey was a nervous wreck.

He didn’t reply when she tried to walk away, he just looked right back at her, steady and calm. She changed her mind and came back, and he was pleased. He hadn’t even had to say anything, he knew not to say anything. Kealey took a deep breath to try and slow down her brain and all the things rolling around inside of it. She focused on Shin’s feelings, the ones that were so familiar they were almost her own. Along with the determination he was feeling, it helped.

Shin led the way. Kealey only hesitated for a moment before following him. The door opened with surprising ease…but then again Kealey didn’t know what she’d expected. People had to get in somehow. The inside was very…institutional. There was a desk and there was a lot of bullet proof glass. Kealey shuddered a bit…then she showed the visitation pass she’d been given. The next few minutes were full of paperwork and Kealey found herself growing impatient. Would Maire be expecting a visitor? Had they told her who the visitor was? Kealey didn’t know how these things worked, but the institutionalism of the place was really starting to get under her skin.

”You’ll wait out here for me?” she said, turning to Shin as she waited to enter the visiting area. She knew he would, but for some reason she wanted to hear the words.

Then it was time. Kealey watched as the guard opened the door, then she stepped through.

This room was strange too, it looked like someone had tried to replicate a friendly park inside a building with white cinderblock walls. There were…picnic tables, the ones that are obviously metal with the little plastic coating over them to make them warmer and more inviting. There were various women sitting around in various states of pleasure at the prospect of a guest. All but one.

Kealey knew before she turned her head to look at the woman sitting at the table that it was her sister. The second she’d walked into the room a little flame of hatred and anger had blossomed and was steadily growing. Kealey felt her cheeks color. This had been a bad idea…but she was already there. She couldn’t turn back now.

Kealey lifted her chin slightly, taking a deep breath and approaching the redhead.

”Hello Maire.”

It was Sunday, but that didn’t mean that it was time to lie about. Kealey sorted through returns at the circulation desk and hummed while she worked. Shin was off doing one of the hundreds of things he had on his plate, and Kealey had decided to take the opportunity to get a little work done so that when he came back she’d have time. School was just starting and time partitioning was going to be important. The blond could tell.

The library was quiet, she was the only one there, and the relative emotional silence was relaxing. Sure, her range extended beyond the library, but only a little ways. It was more like emotional echoes. That was good. She hadn’t left the doors open after she’d unlocked them, and the closed sign was still flipped. Hopefully there wouldn’t be too many students wandering in for help with assignments.

Finishing her sorting, Kealey grabbed the wheeled cart next to her and pushed it from around the circulation desk. There hadn’t been too many books this week, but with the school year starting that would change. Best to be organized before the rush instead of getting slammed later, Kealey thought. Even with her new assistant things were probably going to be a little difficult.

The blond headed for the fiction section first, a vast majority of the books on her cart being from that genre. That was another thing that would change. She found the appropriate shelf, and started to put the books in their proper place, still humming.

She was halfway through the shelf when new emotions entered her field of “view”. Surprise and hope were paramount, but there were lots of other things too. Mostly the things that Kealey associated with a really long night. She frowned just as the voice called out. Kealey closed her eyes and concentrated, deciding that there were two people just as voice rang out.

The voice was familiar, and Kealey smiled slightly, still mildly concerned with the emotions she was feeling. ”Hello Lance” she called, Irish accent tinting the words lightly as she finished with the book in her hand and made her way out of the stacks.

The two were just inside the door and Kealey nodded to Lance before her eyes fell on the girl who’d followed him into the library. She was a mess.

”Hello. Who’s your friend? It looks like you two have had a bit of a rough time.”

Kealey approached the two, welcoming smile spread across her face for the newcomer. ”I’m Kealey by the way, welcome to the Mansion. How can I help?” Shin would be proud, that had been a great greeting.

”And you sir, are a flatterer!” the blond laughingly accused as she continued to bounce around to the song. ”Don’t stop, I love it.” Man, she was in a good mood. Dancing and singing were things that just did that to a person though. How could someone not be happy when they were doing something so great?

Shin announced that all her moving and singing made him feel like he needed to join in and Kealey beamed, her bouncing slowing a bit before finally stopping as Shin went to work on his laptop. Kealey caught her breath and waited for him to find the song he was looking for.

Shin said to sit down and Kealey did as instructed, preparing herself. If Shin said something was going to be epic, it was usually pretty epic. Besides, he was going to dance…Kealey wanted a good view.

”Take it away. The floor is all yours.”