Teagan was sitting on the sofa in her parents' living room, the TV on, the news report just finishing. She wasn't paying it any attention though. Her mind was blank, and so was her gaze. A familiar voice drew her eyes back to the TV. It was an interview with Traveler. A small smile drew on Teagan's lips. [i]At least you got out okay, you cheeky devil![/i] The firefighter thought remembering the young woman she'd met at the party. She liked Alex and was glad she got out of the fight apparently not worse for wear.

	She watched for a while than got up and padded softly to the guest room. Megan's room. She gently cracked the door open, out of habit, Megan couldn't really hear her, and waited for her eyes to get used to the darkness in the room. Megan was sleeping peacefully at the moment. Thank goodness. She'd cried herself to sleep in Teagan's arms when she'd arrived after her mother's phone call. She'd learned what had happened from her parents, who had found out from the police officers who'd contacted them about Megan.

	Sara and Jorge had apparently finally decided to relocate to Epic City to benefit from the relative safety within its borders. On the way to the city they'd stop at a roadside restaurant to rest and use the utilities and were caught in the crossfire between minor epics being chased by Khan's Kryptonites. While most of the patrons had managed to escape before the shooting had started, Megan and her parent's weren't as fortunate. The girl had been in the restroom when the commotion first started, accompanied by her mother, while Jorge had stayed to order lunch.

	Apparently the epics had decided to use the restaurant as a means to hide among its patrons. But they hadn't managed to fool the Kryptonites, who upon recognizing them had shouted to all the normals to run, before opening fire on the epics. Jorge, not willing to abandon his wife and daughter, had hid with the hope to wait it out.

	The police had found Megan in the restroom, covered by her mother, killed by an errant bullet. Jorge was also killed, by an unidentified epic power. Megan was apparently in shock and unresponsive. The poor girl had lived the horror of the ordeal entirely through her mother's reactions and frantic efforts to keep her daughter safe from an unheard threat. The police had found Jorge sprawled on the floor, apparently in an attempt to crawl to his girls. He had died before managing it.

	Teagan closed her eyes for a second, trying to stave off the tears that sprang uncalled. She opened them and observed the young woman for another minute or two. Mute as she was Megan couldn't scream her horror if she were to have a nightmare and Teagan couldn't stand not being by her side in a second when something like that happened.

	[i]Anytime![/i] The face of Regan swam in Teagan's mind. She looked at her watch. [i]You can't call her now, she's probably at work already![/i] The firefighter chastised herself. And besides, what was she gonna tell her. She wasn't ready to talk. Not by far. [i]Admit it! You just want to hear her voice.[/i] She taught. Teagan sighed and dropped on the sofa again. Traveler's interview had finished. Teagan reached for her cell. She wasn't gonna call. Still she flipped through her contacts stopping on Regan's name. She toggled the message icon.

	'[i]I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk yet...[/i]' She started typing. '[i]Megan is so very hurt and I feel so inadequate in consoling her...[/i]' She stopped. She couldn't continue. She really wasn't ready. Her eyes misted over. "Shaite!" Teagan cursed under her breath. She stared at the written words. '[i]I don't even know why I'm writing this to you... Sorry![/i]' She smashed the 'send' button before she lost her nerve. She replaced her cell on the end table and closing her eyes let her head fall back.

	She had drifted off, when her cell phone vibrated on the end table, waking her up. She picked it up and stared at it.
	
	'[i]I will be here when you're ready. Even if it's just to be by your side.[/i]'

	"Oh, man!" Teagan drew a shaky breath, her heart skipping a beat. She punched 'reply' and typed: '[i]I would like that. Later, Murphy.[/i]'

	'[i]Later, Hayes.[/i]' Came the reply.

	Teagan awoke midday with a tingling sensation in her thigh. When she opened her eyes she saw Megan curled up next to her on the sofa, her head in Teagan's lap. [i]Oh, sweet baby girl.[/i] Teagan gently caressed the young woman's hair. "We'll make it through!" She vowed in a whisper.