Teagan was waiting anxiously by Chief Thomas' side. There was constant radio chatter in the tech van as PART teams engaged the Rat King's swarm rats. They were some ways away from the epicenter of the battle, but still close enough for Teagan to hear sporadic gun fire, the thunder of lightning, the whir of the helicopter witnessing it all from above.

	The ex firefighter felt so out of place here, behind the perimeter. She remembered how exhilarated she'd felt when sweeping the blocks with Regan, looking for civilians to evacuate. Even more so when that rat thing had jumped them from above. How she'd felt something almost caress her cheek and than without even knowing she was moving she was suddenly shoving Regan to the side as the foul creature had landed on the floor of the store. The young mother had screamed than, clutching her baby to her chest even tighter. And for the second time in seconds Teagan's body had moved on its own, propelling her towards the swarm rat. Crashing with it into the wall, using the momentum to bring her baton and bash his rodent skull in.

	Oh, she'd felt such exhilaration once in her life. When she'd saved Megan all those years back. As a wilderness firefighter Teagan did't often have to rescue people from danger. Her job entailed preventing disasters on a major scale. And she'd loved every minute of it. After all, she'd dedicated most of her adult life to it. And sure, she'd saved enough people as part of search and rescue parties. But that was most often than not due to peoples' own foolishness, carelessness and general unpreparedness for the hardships of trekking, camping, mountain climbing and the such. But when she'd saved Megan she'd felt like she had literally pulled her from the clutches of a vicious enemy. The fire'd wanted to devour the little girl whole, without leaving any evidence of her existence. And Teagan had prevented it. She'd snatched her from its hungry claws.

	It was exactly how she'd felt after pushing Regan aside and taking out that swarm rat. Not that Regan couldn't have done it her self. She was PART! She was most certainly ways better than her in dispatching with Freaks and even Epics. But still. Teagan'd felt so alive in that moment. All her senses were on high alert and her muscles were primed for action. A state she would get into only before jumping in the fire. And than everything had exploded into action. They were running, the rat things were chasing them. The wall of shields. The extermination of the rats chasing them.

	She'd felt the pain from her reopened shoulder wound only when Regan'd bumped it in salute for job well done.

	Regan with the stormy grey eyes. With the gentle husky voice and compassionate words assuring the young mother they'd help.

	Teagan was pulled out of her thoughts by the radio coming to life with the words: "The Rat King is dead!" There was a moment of complete and utter silence and than everything erupted in shouting cheers. People were highfiving, pumping fist in the air in victory. The more stern folk were allowing smiles to adorn their faces. "The rest of the rats are dead or fleeing." The PART teams started reporting in one by one. Chief Thomas nodded in approval. In the flurry of unfamiliar voices over the radio Teagan heard the smoky alto of Corporal Murphy and her heart lifted a bit.

	The Chief exited the tech van. "Allright, lets get our PART teams back and start cleaning up this mess!"

	Teagan also stepped out of the van and was scanning the streets when her phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered.

	"Hello."

	"Teagan, honey." Her mothers trembling voice came through the speaker.

	"Ma, I'm all right." The firefighter hurried to assure her mother who was probably worried that her daughter had run straight into the fire as was her nature.

	"Thank the Gods for that." The woman acknowledged. "We heard the Epics got that monstrosity." Martha referred to the Rat King's demise. "We were worried, but we know you can take care of yourself." There was a disturbing pause. "Sweetheart, that's not why I'm calling."

	"Ma, what's wrong?" Teagan demanded, her voice shaking just a bit. She didn't notice Regan approaching her all bloodied and glorious in her battle gear. "Ye're startin' to worry me, Ma!  Is Da alright? You?"

	"We're fine, honey." Her mother hastened to assure her. "You need to come home. It's Megan. She's here."

	Teagan was confused. Megan was with her parents? Was she visiting? She finally noticed Regan who was peering into her eyes questioningly. And why did her mother sound so morbid?!?

	"Is she visiting with her parents?" Teagan asked hopefully, dread slowly starting to take over. She felt Regan clasp her free hand.

	Silence.

	"Sara and Jorge are dead. Teagan, you need to come home." Her mother whispered brokenly.

	Teagan froze. She couldn't move, couldn't breath, couldn't hear or see. Dead. Sara and Jorge Robinson dead! Megan's parents were dead!!!

	"Megan..." She whispered her green eyes swarmed with pain and sadness. "I'm on my way." She croaked and exploded into sudden movement only to be restrained by steady hands.

	"Wow, hey. What's going on?" The gentleness in Regan's husky voice almost did the older woman in.

	"Family emergency." She managed to rasp out not daring to look in Regan's grey eyes fearing the compassion and understanding she knew she would find there. If she allowed herself to look she would want to fold. To let her sooth the pain away. And she needed to feel it. Needed it to make her strong. She had to be strong for Megan. Now more than ever. "I need to go to Megan!" She barked desperately more to herself than to Regan, who was still holding her in place, and tried once again to brake free.

	"Hey, hey, hey..." Regan cooed. "I don't know what's going on. But I don't feel good leaving you like this." She desperately tried to make Teagan look at her, but to no avail. The tiny rejection hurt, much to her surprise, but Teagan was obviously suffering and she couldn't just stand by and do nothing. "Let me at least give you a ride."

	Teagan allowed herself a tiny look. It was as she feared. Compassion and understanding and something else. Something surprising. She swallowed hard and nodded.

	"Okay." Regan whispered. "Wait here. I'll take this off and come get you." She disappeared quickly and Teagan was left alone to struggle with her churning emotions. The loss of Megan's parents, which still hadn't hit her in full and the mystifying euphoria she was feeling under Regan's care. She didn't have much time to process as the PART officer was next to her in a flash in civilian wear. She'd cleaned up most of the blood and gore. She lead Teagan to a sturdy looking Chevy cruiser. "Where to?" She asked when both of them were inside the cab.

	Teagan mumbled the address and receded into the welcoming leather interior.

	They rode in tense silence for a couple of minutes. Regan respecting the firefighter's need for privacy.

	"My goddaughter's parents are dead. My mother just called to tell me Megan's home." Teagan announced to no one in particular. She just couldn't stand the silence anymore. It was deafening. A tear dislodged from her eyelid and sploshed on her thigh. Her shoulders shook once.

	Regan squeezed the steering wheel. "Jesus, Teagan. I'm so sorry."

	"Thank you." Teagan whispered.

	Regan glanced at her. "For what?"

	Teagan shrugged. "For being here." She raised her head and stared long and hard at Regan's profile. "You can stop here." She announced when they'd arrived at her mother and father's apartment building.

	Regan parked and twisted to look at Teagan. She was pale and troubled, but there was a fire burning in her jade eyes. "Megan is lucky to have you." She stated simply.

	Teagan swallowed hard, the implications of that statement finally hitting her hard. Megan was under her care now! A strong hand clasped her own and squeezed. She stared at her hand entwined with Regan's.

	"May I..." Her voice betrayed her. She cleared her throat, dismayed. "May I call you... sometimes?" She sounded almost like a small child looking for someone to help it feel safe.

	Regan wrestled the lump in her throat down, swallowing. "Anytime." She assured without hesitation.

	Teagan nodded, squeezed the hand holding her own tightly, than let go, exited the cruiser and disappeared into the building.

	The PART Corporal sat still in her truck for another minute or two, before she finally rested her forehead on the wheel and sighed. "Oh, man, I'm in big trouble." She commiserated, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.