In Memory: Tracy

In Memory of: Tracy

With a wide grin, Karen crossed the room and sat on Jared’s lap. He was working on his design for Debra’s wedding gown and he looked up distractedly at his wife. “That’s going to be a beautiful gown, Jer. Are you sure she’ll wear it? Debra doesn’t strike me as the type to get all dressed up for anything, especially for something like a wedding.”

Jared gave his design a mystical smile, “She’ll wear it, Karen. The only questions are how long I have to hide it after it’s made and if I can keep it secret.” He did a few more strokes with his pencil around Karen’s shoulders. Then with a sigh, he set down both sketch and pencil and wrapped his arms around his wife. “Alright, Kara, what’s on your mind?”

Karen laughed and looked at the ceiling with her lips pursed. “Nothing much, Jer. I was just wondering how you felt about... about... oh nothing. I’ll ask you later,” she baited and tried to get up, but found her normally gentle husband cradling her in an iron grip. “Jer, let me up,” she demanded, her playfulness gone.

“Uh uh, not until you tell me what’s up. You aren’t having an affair so soon after the wedding are you?” Jared teased, though he secretly had his doubts. Karen had been hiding something from him, of that he knew, but he couldn’t imagine what it was.

“Jer, how can you ask a stupid question like that?” Karen asked. She was hurt by his implied mistrust, even if in the future she might deserve it. But nothing could be further from her mind at this point of the two month marriage than an affair. Besides there wasn’t anyone she was interested in right now more than Jared.

Reaching around, Jared turned Karen to face him. “I’m sorry, Kara, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He looked into her aqua eyes and wiped the hint of sadness from them. “Please, won’t you tell me what has you so excited the whole house is tingling?”

“The whole house? Really?” Karen said, sitting up straighter and smiling. “Jared, can you really feel my excitement? I mean without reading my mind?”

Jared rearranged his arms around his wife to hold her closer. He still marveled at having her with him. He had expected to have to fight harder for her, more like what Phil was going through with Debra, only worse. He could still remember that evening when he had asked her to marry him, beyond all logic, beyond all hope, beyond all his dreams. And the way his heart jumped in his throat and cut off his breath as he waited for her answer.

As he remembered that event of only a few months past, he realized he was feeling the exact same way now. “Yes, Kara, I can feel your emotions. The only person I can read easier than you is Debra, and that’s because of all we’ve shared in the past. And even then what I get from Debra is only half as accurate as I’d like. But with you, I can always tell what you’re feeling, even if I don’t know the exact cause. I could just take a peek into your mind...”

“Don’t you dare, Jared Bradly Morgan. I told you before the wedding that I didn’t want you in my mind unless I invited you. And you promised you wouldn’t, I’m trusting that you’ve held to your word.” She lifted her eyebrow at him and when he gave her a wicked grin she rolled her eyes. “Debra’s right, you are a positive boy sometimes.” Then her eyes narrowed shrewdly and she studied the ceiling. “Although in some ways you far exceed manhood.”

Jared chuckled and tried not to blush at her implications. He was glad they were alone, he knew what Grant would say if he ever heard Karen praise him in such a manner. “Jared?” Karen whispered in his ear, brushing her lips across his neck and up into his hair. “Why don’t we finish this in the bedroom?” Jared’s breath stilled as her lips found a particularly sensitive spot in the hollow of his neck.

Without a word, he rose with her still in his arms and found her seeking lips with his. He felt her fumble with the doorknob of the bedroom, then he kicked the door open as he heard the catch release. He understood that newly weds spent a great deal of time engaged in this particular activity, and as far as he was concerned it was a very good understanding. Gently he laid Karen on the bed and lay next to her, finding a tender place under her ear to nuzzle.

Karen lay on her side and leaned on her hand, looking at her husband as he slept. His black lashes curved against perfect golden skin, and his lips held a faint smile as he dreamed. The soft hair on his chest was still damp and curled tightly, especially around the light of his Star. Reaching over with her free hand, Karen twisted one of the tendrils of Jared’s black hair around her finger and back off his forehead. His eyes scrunched and his nose wrinkled as he started to wake.

“Jared?” she whispered, keeping her voice low and dream-like. “You’re a father.” She smiled as the words brushed across his hair. Karen leaned back waiting for the full meaning of the words to penetrate Jared’s sleep fogged mind.

He opened his dewy brown eyes and looked up at his wife and smiled. “Kara, I thought I just heard you tell me I’m a father. I must still be dreaming.” Karen didn’t share his smile, she simply nodded and continued to wait for the reaction she knew would come. Jared started to close his eyes, then they flew open and he sat up so quickly he had to grab his head to stop the spinning. “Karen, you aren’t... we aren’t... I didn’t...”

Smothering a laugh, Karen slid around to sit behind Jared. She reached over his shoulders and rested her hands against his heart, just above his Star. “I got the results of the tests from the doctor today, just before I came home from school. Emily tried unsuccessfully to discover where I’d disappeared to this morning after our breakfast date. I felt you should be the first to know that in seven and a half months, we’ll have a bouncing baby.”

Jared rubbed his hands over his face and tried to organize his thoughts. That made Karen six weeks pregnant, but she hadn’t shown any of the usual signs of an expectant mother. Then Karen’s hands tightened against him and he heard her take a sharp breath. “What is it, Kara?” Jared asked, half turning to look into her shocked face. Then he knew what had stunned her, as he himself almost fainted from surprise.

“Don’t count on me waiting the whole nine months, Mother. I want to join you and Papa as soon as I can. And I don’t like pink.” The tiny voice filled the minds of both her parents. Karen and Jared looked at each other and wondered just what they were getting into. But it didn’t matter, they were going to have a little girl.

Jared jumped out of the bed, picked up Karen and danced her around the room. Then he slipped into a bathrobe and ran to get a clean sketch pad. He came back into the room with his pencil madly scratching against the paper. “Kara, what do you think about this for her first sleepers?” Jared asked holding his work out for his wife’s approval.

Karen laughed and took her towels from the back of the closet door. “Don’t forget we have a dinner date with the Circle tonight. We have about an hour before we’ll be late.” Then she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As she stepped through the glass door, she heard Jared enter the bathroom.

He followed her into the shower and reached for the shampoo and began lathering her hair. “When do you think we should tell the others? And do you think Shrina and Jehro know?” he asked as he massaged her scalp.

Karen finished soaping her own body, then turned to do Jared’s. “I don’t know. Shrina’s been really moody lately and she hasn’t been real fun to talk to. I guess maybe I should ask her.” Then she set the soap down and rinsed her hair and body. Before she could reach for it, Jared had the conditioner and was applying it to her hair. She smiled at him, she liked the little privileges that went along with married life. It would be a long time before she considered having an affair with anyone, if she ever did have one.

Taking a deep breath, Karen closed her eyes and listened to that place in her mind that was Shrina. When the two came together, Shrina began immediately to complain about insensitive men and nosey neighbors. “Shrina,” Karen said calmly. Every time she spoke with her counter, she understood how it must have been with the others before she and Debra became friends. “I want you to listen to me, I’ve something to tell you. Something not even Debra knows yet.” Karen knew that would get Shrina’s instant attention. She liked to know things that Tris and Debra didn’t.

“What, Karen? What bit of news can I spring on Tris and shock the living daylights out of her with?” Her voice was eager, but Karen could still feel the underlying tones of illness in her counter.

“It isn’t so much something that’s important to the Circle as it is to you and Jehro.” Karen started, then felt Shrina grab onto the thought of something happening to Jehro and grew very rigid. Karen got the impression that she had better have good news about their mates, or else she would have a very angry assassin plotting against her. “The reason you’ve been feeling sick these past few days, is because I’m going to have a baby.” Karen rushed, hoping Shrina would take it in the right way.

For a minute Shrina couldn’t believe her ears. Her counter had said that she was going to have a baby, which was nice. But what did that have to do with her and Jehro? Then it dawned on her. “Karen, if you’re expecting, does that mean I am too?”

“That’s what it means, Shrina. How do you feel about it?” Karen asked, unable to read her counter’s feelings right then.

Wincing at the power of the shout of joy, Karen stumbled into Jared as he finished rinsing his own hair. He caught her, but knew better than to ask her what was wrong while she was still linked to Shrina. “I say it’s about time! Hot damn, we beat Tyra and Fini! Thank you, Karen, this has made all this miserableness worth it. I can’t wait to tell everybody here. Take care, Karen, I want this child, so don’t go losing it on me.”

“The same to you, Shrina,” Karen warned, then they broke contact and she was grateful for Jared’s support. “Well, to say that she’s excited would be the understatement of the century. My ears are still ringing from her shouts of joy. I think we’d better tell our Circle tonight. Shrina’s wasting no time in spreading the news to hers.” Then Karen chuckled and turned off the water. Wrapping the towel around her body, she laughed even harder.

“Mind letting me in on the joke.” Jared asked as he rubbed a towel furiously against his wet hair.

“Shrina reminded me of a very important fact. To quote her, ‘Hot damn, we beat Tyra and Fini!’ Or in our case, Emily and Grant. Won’t Em turn green with envy when we have a baby before they do?” Karen stated with relish and hurried to change into clean slacks and blouse for the evening’s get together. She heard Jared chuckling to himself in the bathroom as she finished tying a knot into the scarf around her waist.

Walking back into the bathroom, Karen took out her comb, blow dryer, and mousse. After combing out the last of the tangles in her blond hair, she worked in the mousse and dried it. Jared left the room as she started on her hair and returned fully dressed as she finished. “And what makes you so sure Emily isn’t also expecting?”

“Because just yesterday she was complaining to me and Bridget that Grant won’t let her have a baby until she finished with the bar. And that won’t be for another six months. That’s how I know.” Karen said, and put on the final touches of her make-up with relish. “How do I look?”

Jared knew he had to pretend to be critical of her appearance, other wise she didn’t think he cared. So he folded his arms across his chest and lifted one hand to his mouth as he did when inspecting a new design. He let his eyes wander over her, and wondered if he could see any tell tale signs of her pregnancy. He couldn’t, but he also didn’t like the way her scarf bunched up at the narrow ends. “Fix your scarf and then you’ll be perfect. Oh and don’t wear the beads, put on a choker, it’ll better compliment the outfit and your Star.” Then he kissed her and left to get their jackets. On his way through the bedroom, he picked up his sketchbook full of baby clothes designs.

Karen sat down next to Debra and began to talk to her about an upcoming book tour. Jared tucked himself into a corner and bent over his drawings. They were at Phil’s house, which wasn’t unusual, but it wasn’t Debra who was racing around the kitchen getting the meal together, which was. When Karen commented on this, Debra gave her an amused grin. “Phil wanted to do this one by himself. He made me promise I wouldn’t interfere even if he screamed for help. Instead he’s called Emily and Bridget at least fifty times for tips on everything from table settings to jello molds.” Debra chuckled and Emily rolled her eyes.

Bridget came out of the kitchen with her teeth clenched. “I don’t know how you’ve dealt with him this long, Debra, but I’m definitely nominating you for sainthood. Regardless of what he says, Phil really does need and want your help. Why don’t you poke your head in and ask when it’ll be ready, and see how fast he snaps up your un-offer for help.” Debra stood and nodding to the beautiful girl, cracked the door. Karen was surprised at how fast Phil’s arm snaked out and pulled her into the kitchen.

Mike and Darin walked in then and Darin went straight for Bridget and sat at her feet. Mike stood by the bookcase and surveyed his companions. Phil came out of the kitchen looking very much relieved and took his favorite place on the couch. “This is positively sickening. Will you look at this, Phil? It seems that you, Debra, and I are the only ones who arrive at these little group gatherings with dry hair. Oh, I know, you all use hair dryers, but we can all tell you jumped out of the shower minutes before you left your homes. Is this supposed to be one of those secrets of marriage I’ll understand after I’m settled?”

“You’re just jealous, Mike, that you don’t have someone to arrive late with. And if you notice, I didn’t come with freshly washed hair,” Darin said, giving his cousin a disgusted look. “And I thought we’d left this conversation in the car.”

“I’m just entering into a new phase, Darin.” Mike then noticed that two members of the Circle weren’t paying attention to him. He watched as Jared put the finishing touches on his sketch with a flourish and waved a perturbed hand at the designer. Then he looked around for Debra, he saw Grant point to the kitchen, and was satisfied. “So when are you and Bridget going to tie the knot?”

Darin glared at his cousin and was physically restrained from leaving by Bridget’s gentle hand on his shoulder. “When we’re ready, Mike. Like Debra and Phil, we’ll wait until the time’s right,” the quiet Texan drawled, smiling at her lover.

Debra stuck her head out of the kitchen after hearing her name and asked what was going on. Then Mike got a sly smile on his lips. “Debra, how’d you feel about marrying me instead of Phil?”

A stunned silence filled the room at the question. Phil looked at the white faced Debra and wondered what she would say. “Either you’re joking, drunk, in-between girlfriends, or depressed, Mike, otherwise you would never have asked such a stupid question. We’re friends and Circle family, but you aren’t in love me any more than I am with you. We just aren’t suited to each other. Besides, there’s no one on Earth or Sandeenai I’d marry but Phil.” Debra stated then stalked out of the house to cool a rage the other’s could see begin in her eyes.

Grant let out a sigh and shook his head as if relieving tension. “I guess that settles that question.” Then he noticed Jared had gone back to his drawings and was mumbling something about why not like pink. “Jer, what are you doing? This is supposed to be a party, not an extension of work.” He reached for the sketch pad and snatched it from Jared’s hands. He studied the pages of drawings with a growing smile on his face. “My, my, my, do we have babies on the mind, Jared?” Then he swung his head to look straight at Karen.

Karen shrugged and continued thumbing through the entertainment section of the newspaper. Grant turned back to Jared and held the pad just beyond his reach, teasing him. “Grant, I’ll only warn you once, give me back my sketches or you’ll regret it,” Jared said calmly, but his voice was frigid.

“May I see those, Grant?” Phil asked, and silently asked Jared as well. The medical student handed the pages to Phil and sat back to enjoy Jared’s discomfort. “These are good, Jer. But you don’t have anything for a boy here? And what are all these names along the side bars? Kimberly? Jessica? Rachel? Melissa?”

In their attempt to get either Jared or Karen to break, Debra quietly walked in the front door. She looked over Phil’s shoulder at the drawings, then over to Karen. With a half wink, Karen answered Debra’s slightly nodded question. Still un-noticed by the rest, Debra walked behind Jared and whispered her congratulations in his ear.

“Wait a minute. Debra, what do you know about this?” Emily asked as she noticed Jared and Debra talking quietly in the corner. Debra looked up as if she were confused. “What do I know about what?” she asked, no hint of anything other than broken concentration in her face or voice.

“About Karen maybe being pregnant,” Darin stated.

Debra’s face broke into a smile as she gushed her reply. “Karen, are you? Oh that’s wonderful. Congratulations.” Then she tried to turned back to her interrupted conversation with Jared.

“We didn’t say she was pregnant, just that we think she is,” Mike corrected, wondering if Debra was pretending or really was innocent of knowledge. He and the others were very familiar with her acting abilities. Especially when it came to secrets between her and Jared and jokes between her and Karen.

Debra looked back up, “Oh, am I premature? Karen, yes or no, are you going to have a baby?” Debra asked, knowing from Jared that it was exactly what Karen wanted to be asked.

Karen looked at Debra and Jared and shared a smile with them. Then her face clouded over a minute as she listened to the tiny voice of her daughter rejecting all the name ideas Phil had read out loud. Jared and Debra broke into stifled chuckles and were rewarded by a grimace from Karen. “Yes, Debra, I am. Six weeks along to be precise, and I was the one who had to inform Shrina as to what caused her sudden illness. And I’ll kindly thank you for not gossiping with my husband about Jehro and Shrina.”

Debra nodded her head and giving a last smile to Jared, announced that dinner was ready. Talk all the rest of the night centered around Karen’s pregnancy, much to her delight, and she kept Debra’s approval close to her heart. It had been a struggle for Karen to accept Debra, but once she had, a very close friendship developed with a speed that surprised the others of the Circle. And it meant a great deal to her that Debra understood her joy and excitement at this time in her life.

“Jared, I think we’d better leave now,” Karen said, holding her swollen belly in both hands. “Jared, if you don’t get out of this bed right now and take me to the hospital, you’ll have to deliver this child yourself!” Her voice was urgent as another contraction rippled across her stomach. Jared rolled over and saw the motion on his wife’s belly and his heart stopped. When Karen started breathing easier, he jumped up and pulled on the closest pair of jeans and slipped into his sandals. Then yanking a shirt over his head, he grabbed the duffle bag that had been waiting for this night for three weeks.

Carefully, Jared wrapped her coat around Karen’s shoulders and led her to the car. He took a second to send an urgent call to Debra, then fired up the ignition and rushed to the hospital. Reassuring Karen for the twentieth time that Debra was on the way, Jared helped her into the emergency entrance of the hospital.

In a flurry of doctors, nurses, orderlies, and admission staff, Karen was hustled into a room. Jared finished giving the front desk the necessary information and turned to find the whole Circle there. Debra hustled him into Karen’s room, telling him not to faint when he saw the blood. He gave her a disgusted smile, then understood she was teasing him and felt better.

When Jared walked in, Karen was holding a one sided argument with no one. “Now you tell me? Couldn’t you’ve said something about this a little earlier? I see, alright then, what do you suggest?” Karen glanced up and seeing Jared, rolled her eyes. “It seems our daughter wants Grant to deliver her, and she’s not coming out until he’s here.”

Jared laughed and poked his head out the door and called to his friend. “What’s up, Jer?” Grant asked, trying not to yawn. “Oh, hi Karen. Is something wrong besides the time?”

Karen snorted and cocked her head to listen. “Absolutely not. I will not... Look missy, I’m the parent here, not you. And I’m telling you to stop this nonsense and be satisfied with what I’m offering. Pouting isn’t going to help, so let’s get this over with. When you’re older we’ll discuss this latest tactic of yours.” Grant looked at Jared and saw him trying to hide a smile. “Grant, be very glad you and Emily don’t have any telepathic talents. This is murder.”

Then Karen’s doctor came in and tried to shoo Grant out. “Sorry, Doctor Adams, but I want Grant to do the delivery,” Karen stated. Doctor Adams knew when she used that tone of voice there was no arguing with her. He would be very glad when this woman was out of his care and if she wanted this Grant person to deliver the baby, then he was more than happy to oblige.

Leading Grant into the scrub room, the doctor told the nurse to move Karen and Jared into the delivery room. “Uh, Grant? Do you know what you’re going to be doing?”

“I just started residency at the university’s med unit, I’ve only observed delivery up till now. If Karen and Jared weren’t such good friends, I might’ve turned her down. But you heard her tone of voice? Yes, I thought you had. When she gets that way only two people can reason with her, and Jared didn’t look like he was even going to try. So if you’ll talk me through it, I’ll try not to look too amateurish,” Grant said, taking the offered towel and gown.

Doctor Adams finished scrubbing and gave Grant a measured look. “You’ll do just fine. And since it appears that Mrs. Morgan has the utmost confidence in your talents, I don’t think we should disappoint her. But I’m curious, who’s the second person?”

“Her substitute mom, Debra. But I wouldn’t count on Debra, she’s trying to keep our other friends calm. You’d think after all we’ve been through together, Karen’s having a baby would be nothing. But you can never guess what’ll excite some people. Shall we?” Grant said and pushed the door open with his back.

“It’s about time you decided to join us, Grant! What were you doing in there? Exchanging battle scars? In case you hadn’t noticed I’m having a baby and she’s not waiting for your convenience!” Karen yelled, half sitting, half lying in the stirrups. She took a deep breath and tried to hold it as another contraction rippled across her belly. Jared grabbed her hand again, reminding her to breath, she glared but did as he told her. “You have this kid, Jared, if you think it’s so damn easy!”

“Jer, call Debra,” Grant whispered as he rested his hand on Karen’s forehead. “You going to be okay, kiddo?” Grant asked Karen and took her glare to mean yes. He stepped back and following Doctor Adams instructions, checked Karen’s dilation. “If you think things are bad now, Karen, wait until you’re fully dilated. You still have one and a half centimeters to go.”

Just as Karen opened her mouth to give a scathing retort, the door cracked and Debra slipped in. “Don’t say it, Karen,” she said quietly and to the amazement of Doctor Adams, Karen closed her mouth. Going to her other side, Debra gave Jared a nod, then rested her hand on Karen’s breastbone. “Think about what poor Shrina’s going through with ’Lissa, or vice versa,” Debra said and rolled her eyes.

Karen started giggling, then panted as another contraction spread across her navel. Grant grinned at the dumbfounded Doctor Adams, and getting his attention, raised his eyebrows. The baby’s head poked through and Grant gave a shout. After the head crowned, the rest followed much easier than expected. “Well, Jer, Karen, you have a beautiful baby girl. And she has a full head of black hair. Congrats, Loves.” Grant beamed as he helped Jared cut the cord and then wrap up the screaming infant to hand to Karen.

Doctor Adams finished the after birth, as Karen was surrounded by her husband and Grant and Debra. “What’s her name, Karen?” Grant asked as he looked into the serene face of his friend and her daughter.

Jared and Karen smiled at their daughter and then in unison answered, “Tracy.” Then Karen looked up at Debra, “We’d like to give her the full name Tracy Debra Morgan, if it’s alright with you?” They all watched as Debra’s eyes misted, she didn’t say anything, just nodded and left. “Jer?”

He turned back from the door and beamed at Karen. “She didn’t know what to say, Kara. I think it’s the first time any of us has really surprised her. But from what I read, she’s more than pleased to share her name with Tracy, and even happier that we thought of it.” Jared lightly brushed his finger across the delicate skin of his daughter’s face and smiled at the tiny frown creasing her forehead. “With a name like yours Tracy, you have quite a lot to live up to. I hope you’re up to it.”

After Grant had seen Karen back to her room and little Tracy cleaned up, he went to tell the others the news. He was met by a very worried Emily and Circle. “What happened Grant? Why did Debra come out crying? She wouldn’t tell us anything, she just waved for us to stay here and left. Are Karen and the baby alright?”

Grant folded his wife against his chest, holding her tightly. He still found it hard to believe Debra had reacted as she did. He met Phil’s eyes and grinned. “Everything’s wonderful, Em. Karen, Jared, and little Tracy are doing well and expecting all of you to visit them as soon as you can. I can’t tell you why Debra didn’t say anything, I’m still trying to figure that one out myself. Jer and Karen named their daughter Tracy Debra Morgan, and when they told Deb, she started tearing up, nodded, and left.” Grant shrugged not knowing what else to say.

“Tracy Debra Morgan. Grant, what’s she like?” Jamie asked. She had rejoined the group a few months ago and she was a great source of knowledge about their leader. “As for Deb, that’s easy, I know the cause of her tears. Don’t stare at me as if I’d suddenly sprouted a second head, Phil. You should know Deb well enough by now to know she doesn’t think she deserves the praise we all lavish on her. She’s undoubtedly touched by this gesture on Karen’s part, but doesn’t quite know how to deal with it. Give her time to think it through and she’ll be back; probably with a huge bunch of balloons too.”

Mike stared at his girlfriend and shook his head. “Jamie, you’re amazing, do you know that?” He turned to the others, still shaking his head. “All you ever wanted to know about Debra 101 right here folks. You should write a book about our esteemed leader. But let’s go see the newest addition to our family.”

The room was crowded with cooing and doting adults. Tracy looked through half closed eyes and wondered if these people would ever leave her alone so she could get some sleep. And just when she thought she would get the chance to lie down, another pair of arms wrapped themselves around her. “Good grief, what do these people think I am, some kind of doll?” Tracy thought and wondered if squirming would work to free herself from the latest grown up.

Looking around the room and then at her namesake, Debra decided it was enough. The others didn’t know she had returned, but they did as soon as she moved. Walking over to Darin she took Tracy from him and laid her down in her bassinet. Gently pulling the soft yellow blanket up and over the child’s head, Debra gave Tracy the privacy she needed to sleep. “It’s time for mother and daughter to take a nap. Karen, thank you for thinking of me when choosing names for your daughter, I hope I’ll be the kind of godmother she needs. I’ll come back later, after you’ve had a chance to be alone and become a family.” Then she folded her arms and waited until the room was empty except for parents and child, and quietly slipped out.

“I still don’t understand, Aunt Debra? Why can’t I go with you and the others? I want to help too,” Tracy said, trying not to whine. She knew her aunt didn’t give in like her mom did when she pouted. Besides if she really wanted to be considered a big girl she had to act like it, that’s what her papa told her.

“Tracy, I know you want to help, but this isn’t something you can help with. You have younger sisters and a brother to think about. Matthew’s only a year old, he won’t understand your parents being gone for so long. So he’ll need you to make him feel secure, to reassure him everything will be alright. You know your grandmother doesn’t share telepathy with Matthew,” Debra said, sitting on the lawn with the sullen six year old in her lap.

Tracy had her father’s black hair and mother’s aqua eyes. She had dimples in both cheeks that had a way of coming out with the most mischievous of grins. She had Jared’s sunny temperament combined with Karen’s curiosity. Tracy was the oldest of the Circle’s children by a year. Emily and Grant had a son a year and three weeks after Karen and Jared. Debra hid a smile as Tracy reluctantly agreed to stay behind and help with her baby brother. Matthew had deep golden hair, like his mother and dark brown eyes, like his father. But he was as much like Tracy as the twins; Camianne and Amanda, were different. And as much as she liked to complain about him, Debra knew Tracy loved Matthew more than life itself.

“Aunt Debra?” Tracy asked again, the note in her voice different. “If I was ever in trouble, would you rescue me?”

“Of course I would, Tracy. Why? Is something wrong I don’t know about?” Debra answered, tightening her hold on the girl. She wondered what brought on the change of subject.

“No, not really. It’s just that I’ve been having this dream. I’m backed into a corner facing some very scary men and I can’t get away. I know I’m all that’s standing between these men and a whole lot of other kids, some of them from the Circle. I’m really scared, but I know you and Mom and Papa would want me to protect the others. Then a man lifts a gun and I wake up sweating and breathing really hard. Sometimes I wake up Papa with mental screams I don’t remember screaming. I just wanted to know if I was ever in trouble like this dream, if you’d hear me and help me,” Tracy said, clinging to Debra’s arms with all her young strength. Debra felt Tracy’s fear of this dream in the slight trembling of her godchild’s voice and hands.

“Tracy,” Debra said, turning the girl in her arms so she could look in her eyes. “I promise you, that if you’re ever in danger I’ll come as soon as I know. And I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and the other children. Do you believe me?” The girl nodded and buried her face against her favorite aunt’s shoulder. “I’m glad, Tracy, because as long as I have anything to say about it, nothing will ever harm you.” Debra kissed the thick hair on Tracy’s head and held her close. She tried not to think of Tracy and the other kids ever in such a dangerous position, but knew it was a possibility. She silently vowed that if ever such a time came, she’d stop at nothing, even turning to her Demon ties to prevent or avenge any deaths.

“And what do we have here? I see two of my favorite girls together getting wet in the lawn?” Jared asked, coming from the house. He smiled at Debra and braced himself as his oldest daughter launched herself into his open arms. “What stories has Aunt Debra been telling you today, Pixie, something to do with Dragons and warriors, or Elves and Unicorn?”

Tracy giggled and wrapped her arms around Jared’s neck and kissed his handsome face. “Papa, you know Aunt Debra doesn’t tell stories like you do. But she does teach me new ways to surprise you and Mom.” Then her face clouded over as she thought about it. “But today, I told her something.”

Jer looked from his daughter’s serious face to Debra and saw the fiercely protective gleam in Debra’s eye. “Can you tell me what you told Aunt Debra, or is it a secret?” he said and joined Deb on the lawn. Tracy settled comfortably in her father’s lap and tried to find the words.

“Well, Papa, I told Aunt Debra about my nightmare, the one that keeps waking me up every night. And she told me I didn’t have to be afraid of it anymore because she’d protect me from it ever coming true. And I believe her, Papa. Even if it does happen the way I dream it, everything will be okay, cause Aunt Debra will make it so,” Tracy said with more conviction than Jared had ever heard her use before. He looked up and Debra gave him the signal for later and he nodded.

Jared made his voice as confident as his daughter’s. “Tracy, you can always believe what your Aunt Debra tells you. And I’m glad she helped you with your nightmare. How about if we go inside and see what your mother has planned for dinner. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Jared said, making his voice weary with hunger. Tracy giggled and jumped up to race her dad into the house. Giving Debra one last look, Jared followed the six year old into his home. As Debra drove back to her apartment, she kept hearing Tracy’s fear and hoped the dream wouldn’t come true.

Karen and Jared weren’t too surprised to find Tracy asleep on the front couch when they returned. “Jer, do you think Tracy’s dream could ever come true?” Karen asked as she brushed a strand of hair from her daughter’s face. Jared picked up the small girl and carried her to her bedroom.

“I hope and pray it doesn’t, Kara. But if it does, we have to trust Debra; she’d give her life for the children, if she could, you know that, Love. We shouldn’t think about it, it might trigger the nightmare’s return. Come on, I don’t know about you, but I’m bushed.” He held the door open to their bedroom and waited until Karen entered before him.

Jared carefully stripped off his tunic and red cloak, putting them in the hamper hidden in the back of their closet. His garments were soon joined by Karen’s yellow ones. Both were stained with sweat and blood, and his needed to be repaired where a lucky terrorist had stuck him with a knife.

“How’s your side, Jer?” Karen asked as she gently probed the rapidly healing wound. She reached into the shelves behind the trapdoor in their closet and pulled out a few items. “I don’t like the way it’s still red and swollen. Hold still or I’m calling Grant,” Karen warned as Jared tried to get away from the salve his wife was trying to smear on him.

Jared looked down at the blond head bent in concentration over his right side. He hated the smell of the salve the Circle used to speed up healing. Although he did have to admit he was still sore and the wound burned, so he was glad Karen kept a supply of the stuff on hand. He also didn’t mind having his wife so close to him.

Karen cursed softly as they heard a knock on the door. “I thought it was Darin’s turn to head off Mark. No, don’t you go, Jer, he’ll only get suspicious of your pain. Besides you aren’t dressed and I am. Lay down and I’ll be back in a few minutes to finish dressing this wound,” Karen said, then went to open the door. “Grant? What are you doing here?” Karen asked as she let him in. He was still wearing his tunic, but had taken off his cloak and weapons.

“I came to take a look at Jared. He was pretty stiff, and I’m worried about him,” Grant said as he followed Karen into the bedroom. In the few minutes Karen had been gone, Jared tried to pull on a robe and passed out on the floor. The tear in his flesh had re-opened and was bleeding again. “Help me get him to the bed.” Grant ran to his friend when they saw Jared’s pale figure on the carpet.

Karen lifted Jared’s legs and eased him onto their bed, tears were threatening her eyes. After she let go of her husband, she called Debra. “Debra, I need you, right now. It’s Jared, he’s... Yes, Grant’s here, and he isn’t too happy... Here he is.” Karen handed the phone to Grant and covered her face with her hands to keep from crying out loud.

“Yes, Debra?... I’d say it was poisoned and he’s reacting to it... She’s calm, but worried... Okay. Okay. Okay... I’ll tell her and see you in about sixty seconds,” Grant said and hung up the phone. “Everything’s going to be fine, Karen. Deb’s on her way and she’ll help. Are you going to be alright? Do you want me to call Emily?”

Karen shook her head no and sat down under Grant’s guidance. A minute later, Debra and Phil stepped into the room. Phil took Grant’s place at Karen’s side, so Grant could help Debra with Jared. Karen leaned against Phil and tried to stop the fear from growing. Then a cry reminded her of her family and standing, she wiped her face and went to get Matthew before he woke up Tracy.

“Mom, what happened to Papa?” Tracy asked as Karen came into Matthew’s room. Tracy heard the knocking and woke up, then hearing Uncle Grant’s voice, she started to worry. When she heard something heavy fall in her parents bedroom, worry was replace by fear. Tracy knew about the Circle and what they did, unlike some of the other children. She also knew that when something went wrong who was called in for what. Uncle Grant meant that her papa was hurt, bad, and could be sick for a long time. And if Aunt Debra was called, then it meant that if her papa wasn’t special the way he was, he would be dead. “Is Aunt Debra here with Uncle Grant?”

Karen nodded and took Matthew from Tracy, noticing she had already changed his diaper. “Go get his bottle and I’ll tell you about it. The twins are still asleep aren’t they?” Karen sighed in relief when Tracy nodded, then went to do as her mother asked.

Slipping back into the room with a cat-like stealth that rivaled both of her parents, Tracy handed her mother Matthew’s bottle. Then got his blanket and tucked it around his growing body. She could remember when her mom and papa had brought Matthew home, he had been so tiny that Tracy thought he would break if she held him too roughly. She had been delighted to hear his thoughts and find them as orderly as hers, unlike the twins who thought nothing but nonsense.

Tracy shared a smile with her mother as Matthew took his bottle and stopped fusing. “I think he’ll be more like me than the twins are, Mom. I heard Uncle Phil’s voice when I was in the hall. He asked Aunt Debra if she needed him to call Aunt Jamie. I couldn’t hear what the answer was. What happened to Papa?”

Karen looked into her daughter’s eyes and saw worry and fear in them, the same emotions she was feeling herself. “You know we went to save that embassy in Russia, the one in all the pictures?” Tracy nodded and Karen shifted Matthew in her arms. “Well, the terrorists were waiting for us with swords and knives as well as guns and they wore infra-red scanners. You know what those are, don’t you? I thought you did, anyway, we didn’t give them the surprise we thought we would.

“Your Papa was with Uncle Phil, myself, Uncle Darin and Aunt Bridget. A small group of men came out of a hidden room and attacked us from behind. Uncle Darin and your Papa turned to fight the men behind us, while the rest of us moved on. It was over quickly, but one of the men who was already dying, made a stab for Uncle Phil’s neck. And your Papa got in the way of the knife so Uncle Phil wouldn’t be hurt. We rescued the people inside and took care of the rest of the terrorists.

“Aunt Debra did a quick heal on all of us who had been hurt. When we got home and could do a better job of it, it was too late. Uncle Grant believes the knife that wounded your Papa was poisoned. And that’s why both he and Aunt Debra are here. The cut wasn’t too deep or wide, but if it truly was poisoned, it wouldn’t need to be. And that’s what happened.”

“Were you hurt, Mom?” Tracy asked, her worry now doubled. Karen gave a half chuckle and nodded.

“Yes, Tracy, but it wasn’t anything bad. Look, I’ll show you, but you’ll have to hold Matthew.” She handed her son to Tracy and rolled up her sleeve. And as Tracy and she watched, the tiny red line faded and disappeared. “See, nothing to worry about, just a cut from a broken window.” Karen pulled her sleeve back into place and shrugged her shoulders. “It was a stupid mistake, I know, but I had other things on my mind.”

Tracy handed Matthew back to her mom after sharing with him a grin. His brown eyes flashed as his thoughts echoed his sister’s. “Mom, Matthew and I both agree, you need to be more careful. What were you thinking about when you scraped your arm against the broken window?”

Karen laughed softly and blushed at the question. “I was thinking about your father’s and my anniversary, I’m planning something special for him. Tracy, don’t you ever tell your father how much he distracts me. I think he secretly believes I’m plotting to have an affair.” Tracy giggled and promised. She agreed with her mom that no one was as wonderful as her papa.

The laughter stopped when the door opened and Debra walked into the nursery. “I’m crushed, you were laughing at me,” she teased, then dropped down in front of Tracy. “And what are you doing up at this hour, young lady?”

“Aunt Debra, is Papa going to be alright?” Tracy asked in a trembling voice, tears threatening to fall.

Debra took the child in her arms and held her. “Yes, Tracy, your Papa’s a very strong man and it’ll take more than a fang to stop him. In fact when he wakes up tomorrow at about lunch time, he’ll be fine except for a headache. Well, he may be a little sore from his antics, but that has nothing to do with his wound. So what do you say to getting to bed, your Papa won’t be too happy if his favorite girl’s too tired to talk to him when he wakes up.” Debra looked at Karen and gave a reassuring nod. Karen couldn’t help but let a tiny sob of relief out at the news.

“Can I see him first?” Tracy asked. She stood back from Debra and wiped her eyes, holding her head high.

“Of course you can, Tracy. I’ll come and tuck you in after I talk with your Mom a minute. And don’t give me that long face, it doesn’t have anything to do with your Papa. If you can keep a secret, I’ll even tell you it has something to do with Uncle Phil’s birthday,” Debra said giving Tracy a wink and sly smile. With a small giggle, Tracy ran off to see her papa.

Without a sound, Tracy opened the door and slipped into her parent’s bedroom. She stopped and leaned against the wall, her bottom lip caught in her teeth. Uncle Grant was throwing some bloody towels into a hamper and Uncle Phil was cleaning up blood on the carpet. Her papa was laying very still on the bed, his chest hardly rising with his even breathing. He looked very pale and helpless, and she didn’t like it. A muffled sob broke from her, getting the attention of both her uncles. “What are you doing up at this hour, munchkin?” Grant said and picked her up.

Phil watched Grant holding Tracy with a slight twinge of jealousy, though he smiled at his goddaughter and tweaked her nose. “Tracy, everything’s fine. Your Papa’s sleeping and Uncle Grant assures us he’ll be up and about tomorrow as if none of this ever happened.”

“Can I take a closer look?” Tracy’s large blue-green eyes pleading where her voice merely asked. Grant nodded and set her down. Tracy walked over to the bed and climbed next to her papa. She picked up his hand and let her breath loose when she felt its warmth. Closing her eyes, she mentally whispered, “Papa?”

A faint smile crossed her lips as she felt him hear her. “Tracy? What’s wrong, Pixie?” She could see him in her mind and his soft brown eyes had tears in them for her.

“Nothing, Papa, I heard you and Mom come home and wanted to wish you good night. But I had to wait until after Uncle Grant and Aunt Debra finished fixing the hole in your stomach.” She kept her mental voice steady, but knew her papa could feel her tears of joy, relief, and fear.

Jared’s voice and mental arms were strong as he held his daughter. “Tracy, I’m fine, I promise you. I don’t want to hear anymore of this silliness about me dying. Good grief, child, that’ll never happen as long as I have you, your mother and brother and sisters. Besides it’s impossible. Now, it’s late and you need sleep. I won’t make you go to school tomorrow, but on Thursday you’d better be ready.”

Tracy sniffled and nodded. “Yes, Papa, I will be.” She had a hint of her usual good nature back in her voice and mentally, Jared gently caressed her face. “I love you, Papa. Good night.” Then she kissed his cheek, climbed off the bed and without looking back at her papa or at either of her uncles, went to bed.

Grant exchanged a glance with Phil as Karen and Debra came in. “Karen, I have to say that your little Tracy is something special. She’ll be a fine woman when she grows up.” Grant’s voice was filled with wonder as he spoke the thought that passed between himself and Phil. “She just left here and went to bed. Jason would never do that, he’d stay up all night crying himself sick if either Emily or myself were this hurt. Then we’d have to deal with him on top of whatever hurt we had as well as the other children. That isn’t something that can be learned, Karen, that’s something instinctive. You should be proud of your daughter.”

Karen smiled at Grant, then went to Jared’s side and sat next to him. She rested her hand against his cheek and then looked back at Grant. “Thank you for the compliment. Jared and I are both very proud of Tracy. I just wish we could say the same for the twins. I’m thinking of sending them to a boarding school in Switzerland,” Karen confided to her friends. “And thank you for helping Jared, it means a great deal to me.

“Tracy spoke with her father didn’t she?” Karen asked. Phil and Grant looked at each other and shrugged. “She got close to him and closed her eyes, right?” Both nodded and Karen smiled. “She spoke with him. She doesn’t have to be near him, but seeing how worried she was, I suspected she’d get as close as she could. I’ll see you all later today, right?” Karen stated, then with a nod, let them know they could go. Debra gave the two men a scolding glare, sending them to their homes. With a final check on Tracy and Matthew, Debra also left.

Tracy came home from school and smiled at the note she found stuck under her door. She knew it was from Matthew before she even got close enough to read the writing. He would be getting home from kindergarten soon and demand her attention for at least an hour to play with him. She didn’t mind, in fact she enjoyed the time she spent with her little brother. It was the snob twins she couldn’t stand for any length of time. They drove both her and Matthew crazy. How they could have sisters like Camianne and Amanda, Tracy would never know.

She dumped her books on her desk and opened the note. It was a picture Matthew had drawn for her of the two of them in a forest on Sandeenai. It was one of their favorite games, making up adventures and stories about the world their parents went to. He always played the second in command and she was the leader. But he made up better stories than she did and had an artistic touch Tracy didn’t.

On her way to the kitchen to get an apple, she saw her mom and papa, she still called him that, in their study. They were both reading a letter and frowning. Tracy knew that look very well. In her ten years, she had learned that when her parents wore that look, they would be making a midnight journey somewhere. She knocked on the open door and waited until they looked up before entering. “When will you be going? Should I prepare for a visit afterwards, it’s your turn isn’t it?” Tracy said coming to hug her parents.

Jared wrapped his arm around Tracy’s waist and shook his head. “We aren’t going any where, but you’re right about it being our turn. This is just a warning, and I think it’s one we should have Debra look at if she didn’t also get a copy of it.” Then he shook himself and leaned back in his chair. “Enough of this, how was school today, Pixie?”

Tracy giggled and kissed her papa on his cheek. “Just fine. I flunked English, Math, and Science tests today, which means I’ll have to take sixth grade over again. My teachers say I’m just too social to do well in a middle school. I can’t seem to concentrate on my studies with so many boys around. I keep wanting to beat them up, because they bother me. What do you suggest I do?”

Karen and Jared laughed. “You could try giving them a taste of their own medicine. And we’re very proud of you acing your tests,” Karen told her daughter and pinched her chin. “Why don’t you get some sausage and pepperoni out of the freezer and we’ll have pizza for dinner tonight. Okay?”

“You got yourself a deal, Mom. If something comes up, let me know and I’ll handle it,” Tracy said, then ran off to do as her mom asked before Matthew got home.

Jared looked at Karen, his face lost its humor and was once again angry and pale. “We have to move on this, Kara. I’m just glad we have a daughter like Tracy who’s able to handle this. I’ll call Debra and let her know.” Karen nodded and left as she heard Jared’s voice on the phone to Debra.

Tracy set the frozen meats on the counter just as Matthew ran into the house. “Tracy! Tracy, are you home yet?!” he called out and skidded to a stop at the kitchen door. “Didcha like my picture, Tracy? I drew it for you after you went to school this morning. Will you get me an apple too?”

Tracy laughed at her brother’s wide eyes and nodded. She picked out a shiny red apple and tossed it to him, and he made a perfect catch. “I loved the picture, Matthew. Is it the Circle’s forest or the Samtin forest?”

“The Samtin. I pictured Tris and Airidon leading the Circle to battle against Junior. And they had to go to Trinthalas to get Ambrisander before they could join Shendra Felias. What do you think?” Matthew said as he took a big bite of his apple and sucked the juice in before it ran down his chin. His solemn brown eyes peeked out from golden hair as he watched his sister.

Tracy put her arm around his shoulders and led him outside. “I think it’s a great story and from what’s been happening lately, it might be true. But tell me all about school today,” she said as they sat on the back steps and watched the clouds float by. She listened to the excited recounting of kindergarten from Matthew, while in the back of her mind, she worried about her parents and the letter.

The peacefulness of the time with her brother came to an end when the twins came around the corner of the house. They both had blue eyes and blond hair and looked exactly alike, they even dressed alike. It drove Tracy crazy the way they put on a show of being twins, they even used we instead of I when talking. “What are you doing?” Amanda whined.

“Can we play?” Camianne giggled. “We want an apple too. Are Mommy and Daddy home?” Tracy looked at Matthew, sharing a grin with him. “We’re telling if you don’t stop talking telpatically. You know Mom said you couldn’t keep us out of a game by doing that.”

Matthew stood up disgustedly, walked to his sisters and looked at them. “It’s telepathic, not telpatic, Camianne. And we weren’t talking, we were laughing. And I hope you do tell Mom, cause then I can tell her about you two sneaking into her closet to play with her cloak.” Then he ran off to his private playhouse and locked the door.

Tracy didn’t say anything, she just gave her younger sisters a warning glare and left them alone. Camianne and Amanda sat on the back steps and stared at the back fence. Matthew and Tracy shared a private joke between them about their sisters. It went like this: What’s the difference between the snob twins and slugs? Slugs use their brains once in a while. And from watching them just sit there and stare at nothing, Matthew was convinced that no intelligent life stirred in either of them. Then he went back to his crayons and sketch pads to draw Tracy another picture.

After Matthew and the twins were asleep, Karen asked Tracy to come into the study. Jared and Karen waited there with Debra and Phil. Tracy studied their faces and nodded. “It’s the letter. When do you have to go?” she said and sat down with her papa.

Debra came and knelt down in front of Tracy. Tracy’s face seemed very pale under her thick black hair and her blue-green eyes watched all the adults carefully. “Tracy, we aren’t going anywhere. There’s trouble in Sandeenai right now, Junior’s making his move and Tris will be going to war. But this is about the letter.” Tracy met Debra’s eyes and instantly her stomach tensed with fear. “Do you remember the nightmare you told me about when you were younger?” Nodding, Tracy swallowed, trying to moisten her suddenly dry mouth and throat.

Jared wrapped his arm around Tracy’s shoulders and hugged her close. “It’s okay, Pixie, let the fear go. Take a deep breath.” He encouraged his daughter to relax as he read her emotions of fear.

Shaking her head, Tracy kept her eyes pinned on Debra. “No, Papa, it isn’t okay. The dream’s back, only Matthew’s having it too. The letter, it’s a threat, isn’t it? Someone found you and is threatening us, the children, right?” Her voice was steady, but they could all see how tightly she held her hands. “Aunt Debra, I still trust you and I’ll do what I have to, to protect the others. I’ll start picking up Matthew at school, and Jason can walk Camianne and Amanda home. That way they can’t get just one of us.”

“Tracy, slow down,” Jared said, his own voice betraying fear. “It’ll be alright, we won’t be going anywhere until we’ve dealt with this threat. We just wanted you to be aware of what was happening, so you wouldn’t worry. Okay, Pixie?”

Tracy nodded but her panic didn’t lessen as she left the adults to discuss what actions to take. While she was returning to her room, she saw Matthew’s door cracked. She went in and found him curled in a ball with tears running down his face. “Tracy,” he whispered, holding on to her. “I had that dream again. I went to your room and you weren’t there. Where’d you go?”

“I had to ask Papa a question, Matthew. It’s okay, I’m here now, I’ll stay until you’re asleep again.” Tracy leaned against the wall as her brother nestled closer to her and closed his eyes with a contented sigh. She watched her brother’s face as he slept, memorizing it. She was more afraid of his dream than hers, in hers she didn’t know what happened. In his, she died before Debra could get to her. She wondered if any of the adults heard her tell them about Matthew’s nightmare.

As Tracy left for school that morning, she knew something was going to happen. She tried to tell her papa, but he was getting ready to go to Sandeenai. Tris had taken her Circle to war and Debra was bringing her Circle in to help. Tracy hoped it was the war that had her stomach tied in knots, but didn’t believe it.

Each hour brought more dread for her. At lunch she got a panicked mental call from Matthew; reminding her, he had the nightmare again, only this time it was more real than a dream. She told him not to worry, Aunt Debra would protect them, and that she would pick him up from school if he wanted, he did. He felt better after her promise, but she didn’t.

When the final bell of the day and week sounded in the halls of her middle school, Tracy felt as if she would never hear it again. She took a minute to tell her papa she was picking up Matthew, so he wouldn’t worry. He sent a reassurance that everything was alright, but it didn’t settle the fear growing in her stomach as she took each step toward the elementary school.

Coming into the empty playground, Tracy stopped. That wasn’t right, the kindergartners should have been outside waiting for buses and parents. She fought the urge to send a scream of help to Debra, as she began to walk forward again. Her heart was beating so hard she could hardly hear anything else. Slowly opening the school door, Tracy took a deep breath to steady her shaking hands. The school was deadly silent, the classrooms as empty as the playground. Then a gun was sticking in her back and she sent the call for help, praying it wasn’t too late.

She walked where she was told, and when the gloved hand opened the gym door, Tracy was overwhelmed by the fear of hundreds of children. She noticed the children of the Circle had been separated from the others. Camianne and Amanda were crying and clinging to each other; Matthew stood by himself, glaring impotently at his captures. Jason hovered over the others, not sure he wanted to be a target like Matthew and Tracy.

Ignoring the gun and the armed men, Tracy walked over to her brother and sisters. The twins ran to her, sobbing and clinging to her; Matthew stared at her, silently crying, both knowing this was the end. A rough pair of gloved hands tore the twins from Tracy and threw them back with the others.

Turning slowly, Tracy faced the terrorists with her head held high. “You don’t need all of us, let the others go, and take me,” she said in a soft, steady voice, feeling the movement behind her as the other children crowded in. She sent another, desperate scream to Debra and her papa. She felt them hear and their anger at the men.

“I don’t think so, missy,” said the harsh voice of the man in front of her. She watched him pull the hammer of his gun and release the safety, making it ready to fire, as if it were in a slow motion movie. “My boss wants all of you, dead, just like our comrades your parents killed. When we’ve cut off your heads, we’ll send them to your parents, special delivery. And my boss will be there to watch.”

Tracy shook her head in defiance. “You’ll never succeed. Already my parents are on the way, along with others. It’ll be easier for you if you haven’t harmed us, but the choice is yours. I should warn you, my godmother will personally tear you limb from limb if we are so much as scratched.”

He took the two steps separating them and hit her across the face with his gun. “Shut up, missy, I don’t need to hear any lecture from any smart ass kid.”

Tracy lifted her head, a stream of blood running from the cut near her left eye. She felt the tingle of magic telling her Debra had arrived. A smile slowly built across her face and she spit at the terrorist. A deafening roar echoed in the gym, followed by many voices screaming. The door flew open and Tracy saw her papa running toward her through a white mist. There was a burning pain in her chest and a great weight on her body. Then she saw the most beautiful lady she had ever seen walking to her; another girl about the same age was with her, as well as a wolf. She took the hand the lady offered, and stood. Tracy didn’t look back, she followed this lady, girl, and wolf to a silvery place that was warm and safe.

Jared was the first through the door after the shot. He saw Tracy stumble backwards, a red stain spreading across her chest. Screaming, he ran to his daughter, catching her as she fell. He saw her see him, then see something else, and then she was gone. He held her body to him, sobbing defiance. Setting her down gently, he stood, grabbed the gunman with his bare hands and ripped out his throat.

The first thing Emily did was get the other children out of the gym and to safety. When she came back into the building, Jared was covered in the blood of his daughter and the man who had killed her. Debra called on Tris’s Demon relations and turned the rest of the terrorists into a snack for them. Karen bent over Tracy’s body, sobbing, while the others were trying to comfort Jared.

The Demons left, taking the bodies of the terrorists with them. Except for Tracy and her grieving parents, the gym was clean. When the police arrived, Phil dealt with them. After the police left, Debra sent Jared, Karen, Emily, Grant, and Tracy to the Morgan’s home, then gathered the other children together. Jamie and Bridget held the sobbing twins, while Darin and Mike tried to help the others.

Matthew came to Debra, touching her tear-streaked face. “She knew, Aunt Debra. We both did. She chose to protect us rather than hide. We both knew, this morning, and she tried telling Mom and Papa, but they didn’t hear. We shouldn’t cry too long, I saw her with a beautiful lady; I think the lady was Serenity because she reminded me of your Stars. There was another girl with her, and a wolf too. She’s alright, Aunt Debra. Tell Mom and Papa, I don’t think they know.”

Debra and Phil stared in wonder at the young boy, his face was white and his eyes were red, but his voice was confidant. In his own turn, Matthew watched the faces of Debra and Phil, they looked at each other, breathing deeply. Satisfied they understood, he went to a lonely book bag and picked it up, hugged it to his chest and walked home.

The End