Nick picked up his car from Mindi's and drove himself back to A.J.'s alone. It was about two in the morning and he was exhausted. He let himself in and stumbled up to bed, managing to remember to seal the room before falling asleep. In his study on the main floor A.J. heard Nick come in. He sensed Nick's fatigue and elected not to bother him.

Amanda had come home that evening similarly exhausted, but she was a light sleeper. A.J. was worrying about Nick downstairs so she could sleep. He stared at the computer screen which held the results of an hour's work on the Internet. It was tough finding a person when all you knew about them was their name and what they looked like.

Fortunately, or not, depending on how he thought about it, his first search, a People Search, had only turned up a few pages of results. There were about twenty-five "L Allen"s but only two Linas, both in the U.K.. Nick *had* said thousands of miles, so they were possible. But after that, he wasn't sure what else to do. He wasn't about to email both of them, asking if they were psychic. Also, he knew that most email listings were voluntary - Lina wasn't necessarily either of them.

His second search was of the world wide web itself. It occurred to A.J. that people put up pictures on webpages. Maybe he'd get lucky. He had been checking out the second page of results on *that* when Nick came in.

Nick's exhaustion was contagious. A.J. stared at the "12 pages of results" link with despair. This was going to take forever. Nevertheless he bookmarked the search before calling it a night.

Teacher? Teacher? Please Teacher, I need help!

Peggy's soft but insistent mental voice woke Lina from a restless sleep.

What's wrong, Peggy? What do you need?

Shelter.

Lina's heart sank. Peggy was one of her favourite students, one of the kids she'd watched grow up, knowing that when they hit puberty they'd become part of the Community. She was bright, vivacious, totally self-assured. It wasn't fair.

You came out to your parents? she kept talking while grabbing clothing.

How'd you guess? The ironic tone to that thought told Lina that Peggy hadn't been entirely shattered by rejection. I thought it would help them accept Jeremy. She laughed bitterly. Well, at least now there won't be any problem about seeing him publicly.

Jeremy was Peggy's partner. Her parents had had several problems with their 16-year-old baby girl dating a 19-year-old black boy. Apparently they had even more problems with the idea of their 16-year-old baby girl being psychic.

Come on. Lina teleported to one of her "safe" places,a tree-filled park a few blocks away from her house. She acted as anchor for Peggy, and gave the younger girl a hug when she arrived. "Are you going to be okay?"

Peggy's face was tear-stained, her impossibly pale face a shade paler than normal, making her freckles stand out like chocolate blotches on her skin. But her eyes were resolute, and she nodded. "I just need someplace to stay."

"Jeremy can't...?"

"I live in residence, Lina. I don't think that's going to work out." The words came from Peggy's lips but the voice was Jeremy's. "And my parents live in Montreal."

Lina blinked. Without thinking she asked, "Jeremy, what are you doing right now?"

"Psychology exam. I'll be done in an hour and a half."

"How can you..." she trailed off, biting her lip. "Don't answer that. All right. Someone who can take Peggy in. There's not necessarily going to be anyone in Toronto, you know?"

"I know."

"And you don't want mediation?"

Peggy looked at her feet and began to dig a hole in the dirt with the toe of one shoe. "I threw a vase across the room with teekay. I was upset, it smashed against the wall and knocked a crucifix down. Mother thinks I'm possessed."

"Oh." Lina gave her student another hug. There wasn't much she could say to that one, but she let her feelings of regret and support flow over the younger woman. "Now, get yourself on a bus and up to York. That'll give Jeremy time to finish his exam, and then the two of you can hang out."

"I'll be fine," Peggy insisted. "I have first period in ten minutes - I can't miss class."

"Peggy..."

"She doesn't need to be with me to lean on me," Jeremy pointed out through Peggy again. "I'll take care of her and pick her up after class."

Lina took a deep breath as she was reminded once again of the inadequacy of her once-partnership with Nick. "You know best," she admitted. "I'll put the word out. Call me if you need anything."

"Thanks," Peggy's smile was subdued but genuine. She had already ported to her high school when Lina got up the courage to ask;

Was it worth it, Peggy?

Was what worth it?

Is... he enough, if everything else falls apart? Lina waited for an answer, suddenly conscious that even in telepathy Jeremy heard every word. The answer that came without hesitation was from both of them at once.

If everything else falls apart, we'll build something new. It's never just us. Peggy spoke solo again, He's not my life, Teacher - he's part of me. I knew what I was doing when I talked to my parents. I would have talked to them eventually and they would have rejected me the same way, even without Jeremy in the picture. If you can't find anyone to take me in, there's a counselor at the school I've been talking to about my parents' attitudes. She'll find me something through the usual ways.

Life goes on. We'll survive this. Jeremy spoke directly to her for the first time and Lina realised that it wasn't a case of his protectiveness, but another side of Peggy speaking through Jeremy. She felt hollow.

Chapter Fourteen
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