Sophie
Robyn got out of Sophie's car and started across the road to their house.
"So, we got Dad's present," the little girl said cheerfully.
"Yeah huh," Sophie called back, getting the shopping out of the car.
Robyn stopped in the middle of the road as her bracelet fell off her wrist.
"Oh, annoyance," she murmured and bent to pick it up.
Several things happened seemingly at once.
A car roared down the road, doing about fifty kilometres over the limit. Sophie dropped the bags and vaulted the bonnet of her car, hitting the road in a dead sprint. Robyn turned to look at the car, and then Sophie scooped her up and threw her out of the path of the careening vehicle before it hit the Slayer.
She turned slightly as the the car hit her then disappeared under its wheels with a sickening crunch. The car jolted twice.
"SOPHIE!" Robyn screamed in shock as the car raced off in a screech of tyres, frightened white face looking back through the rear window.
Sophie lay in a crumpled heap, tire tracks showing in dusty streaks across her white top and blue jeans and a trickle of blood easing its way out from under her head, eyes closed.
Duke
Duke jumped at the sound of the screeching tyres and the cry of Sophie's name. Curious, he put down the console and peered out the window.
"Mum!" He cried.
Then, not waiting for a reply, ran out the front door.
"Robyn? Sophie!"
Robyn
"Oh god, Sophie, Sophie!"
Robyn ran onto the road, bawling her eyes out. Her hands fluttered above Sophie, afraid to touch her and make it worse.
Sophie's white top started to redden with blood.
Duke
Duke hurried to join Robyn.
"Robyn? Oh damn..." Duke chewed his lip seeing the blood. "Listen, Robyn, go inside and ask Mum to call... umm, Spenser, okay? Hurry!"
Robyn
Robyn nodded dumbly and ran over to his house where the door was still standing open.
"Mrs Braddock?!"
She was nearly dumb with hysteria and shock, tears pouring down her face.
"Duke says you need to call Spenser. Sophie...oh god, Sophie!"
Duke
Rowena looked down at Robyn in concern.
"Okay," she said softly. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Holding Billy in one hand, she reached for the phone to dial.
Meanwhile Duke knelt down beside Sophie.
"Ouchie..." he murmered. "Sophie? Can you hear me?"
Tentatively he put a hand to her neck to check for a pulse. He couldn't feel anything, but that didn't mean much because he always had problems feeling for pulses. Nonetheless, the absense made him nervous.
Robyn
"She got hit by a car!"
Robyn sobbed in a breath.
"And she's not moving, and there's blood there's so much blood..."
Duke
Rowena's eyes widened. Then Spenser answered the phone and she explained the situation.
Duke stood up then. He had better keep them visiable - wouldn't want another car appearing.
Robyn
"I want my Dad!"
Robyn wrapped her arms around herself, sobbing hard.
Rowena
Rowena hung up, ajdusted Billy in her arm and put her free hand on Robyn's shoulder.
"Of course you do," she said softly. "Is he home at the moment?"
Robyn
Robyn shook her head.
"No-ooo, he's at wo-ork," she hiccuped.
"And it's all my fault! My bracelet fell off, so I was picking it up and it's my fault Sophie got hit."
Duke
"Oh honey," Rowena said. "It's nobody's fault. Accidents happen all the time."
Duke heard the car coming and was waving his arms in it's direction. To his relief he soon saw it was Spenser.
"Am I glad to see you!" Duke said.
"Hi Duke," Spenser said pleasently, getting out of the car.
"You can help her, right? I mean, I couldn't feel a pulse, but that doesn't mean anything, right?"
"We'll see," Spenser replied.
He knelt down beside Sophie, put on hand on her forehead and the other over her stomach. His eyes closed in concentration.
Robyn
Robyn rubbed her eyes with her hand.
"But if I hadn't, she wouldn't've, and she'd be alright, but the car was going really fast, and they didn't stop and she went under its wheels and they drove over her!"
Duke
"Then if it's anyone's fault, it's the driver," Rowena replied. "They should have stopped. Oh, look, Spenser's arrived. Shall we go out and see if Sophie's okay?"
"Is she okay?" Duke asked, shifting anxiously from one foot to the other.
Spenser didn't answer. Just concentrated on repairing the damage and getting the blood flowing right again.
Robyn
Robyn sniffled and nodded.
"Yeah. I just..."
Her face crumpled again.
"There was so much blood!"
Duke
"She'll be fine," Rowena said assuringly. "See?"
She pointed out the window.
"Spenser is taking care of her right now. He's an alien with a healing power. She'll be right as rain."
Spenser took a deep breath as he pulled away.
"She should be all right now," he said. "But she lost a lot of blood. We should take her inside and lie her down."
"Okay," said Duke. "I'll get the door."
Spenser nodded and lifted up Sophie carefully to take her into the house.
Sophie
Sophie gasped in a breath, tensing slightly, then relaxing as she felt no demonic entities around her.
"Ow," she said hoarsely.
Duke
Duke held open the front door.
"How you feeling there, miss?" asked Spenser, looking down at her as he manouvered his way through the door.
Sophie
"Like I fought a hundred vampires at once," Sophie said faintly.
"And lost. Big time."
"Sophie!"
Robyn bit her lip, still crying.
"Hey brat..."
Duke
"You lost a lot of blood," Spenser said. "I managed to heal the damage, but I can't replicate blood, I'm afraid."
He set her down carefully on the lounge.
"But she's going to be okay isn't she?" Duke asked.
"Yes, yes, she'll be fine."
Billy burst into tears, and Rowena sighed.
"Excuse me," she said. "I have a nappy to change. It's good to know there isn't any permanent damage, Sophie."
She gave her a small smile, then headed upstairs.
Sophie
Robyn threw her arms around her sister and bawled.
"Hey, look, all good here, just a little dizzy," Sophie said, patting her back awkwardly.
"I thought you were de-ead!"
Duke
"But yay she's not," Duke said. "Thank you Spenser."
"T'was no problem," Spenser smiled. "And on that note, I should be off. Say I said good bye to your mother, Duke."
"Okay!"
And Spenser left.
Sophie
"Robyn, Robyn, you can let go now," Sophie said.
"You'll get blood on your top."
Robyn hugged her tighter and cried harder.
Duke
"C'mon, Robyn," Duke said. "Let go, you don't wanna choke the life out of her. Besides, blood? Major fashion don't there."
He nodded sagely.
Sophie
"Duke, not helping," Sophie said.
Duke
Duke gave a mock heavy sigh.
"Then I guess I will just have to restort to using my big manly muscles," he said.
He put his arms around Robyn's torso and pulled her off.
Sophie
Sophie sat up carefully, testing the stretch of the muscles.
"I s'pose tis to much to ask for that you got the number of the car?"
"It was covered in mud," Robyn said.
"And besides, what would you tell the police? Sorry officer, despite the lack of wounding to support my statement, this car ran over me and I nearly died?"
Duke
Duke grinned and rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"There are other ways," he said with an evil laugh.
Then he paused.
"Why am I acting like that? Unless we find the car, we can't egg it... rats."
Sophie
"Or slash its tires," Robyn said vindictively.
"Lalalala, champion of good, I don't hear you," Sophie said, then got an evilly thoughtful look on her face.
"I'm not allowed to kill humans. But no one said anything about hurting them a lot. Or just a little. Or annoying them."
"We can invite vampires into their house!" Robyn said.
"I think that falls in the category of I didn't hear it, so I can't be responsible for it if you do that thing I didn't hear," Sophie said.
Duke
Duke laughed.
"Mwa ha ha," he said. "We should track them down and do things that we can't say in front of Sophie."
Robyn
"Yes."
Robyn nodded.
"There is a plan."
Duke
"Yep," Duke nodded. "Hey, Sophie-loafie, you okay now?"
Sophie
"Fine, just dizzy and really, really tired," Sophie said.
"Do you want to go home?" Robn asked.
"Honestly? I don't think I can move."
Duke
"Aww," Duke said. "It's okay. You can sleep over. Or maybe your Dad can carry you over when he gets back from work."
Sophie
"MMhmm," Sophie agreed.
Robyn bit her lip and then wiped her eyes with the bottom of her shirt.
"I'm just glad you're alright."
"Me too, brat. Who would Mi start her paranormal detective agency with if I died?"
Duke
Duke chuckled.
"Exactly," he grinned.
Sophie
"Thanks, Ro," Sophie said, looking across at the older woman.
"See, isn't it a good thing to be friends with aliens?" she said to Robyn.
Duke
Rowena chuckled, having rentered after tending to Billy.
"Yay for aliens," Duke grinned.
Sophie
"Yeah, but really, thanks," Sophie said.
"Robyn, do you want to run home and get me a shirt? And close the car up, I left it open."
"'K."
Robyn took the car keys and left.
"So, how's life, mate?" Sophie said to Duke.
"Anyone who I should put on the non-patrol list?"
Duke
"Life is good," Duke said. "And I think you have my list of people to put on the non-patrol list already."
He grinned broadly.
"Cause y'know them bullies... evil people."
Sophie
"Yep."
Sophie nodded.
"More evil then demons, I think. Least demons have no soul."
Duke
"I think bullies have lessons with demons on how to be evil," Duke said. "I wonder how much the bullies charge?"
Sophie
"Too much?" Sophie said.
Robyn came back with a top and Sophie caught it as the younger girl threw it to her.
Duke
"Well, they wouldn't be bullies if they weren't demanding too much," Duke nodded.
Sophie
"S'true."
Sophie strted to get up slowly to go get changed, face paling with dizziness, then sitting straight back down.
"Ok, headspins. Not good."
Duke
"Not good at all," Rowena agreed. "Duke? Why don't you go and get a blanket?"
"Umm, 'kay..."
"And a glass of water."
Duke sighed and left reluctantly.
Sophie
"Thanks, Ro," Sophie said.
"I haven't felt this sick since before I became a Slayer."
Duke
"It's okay, Sophie," Rowena said. "I'm always happy to help."
"Here you go," Duke said, reentering with the glass of water.
"Thanks, Duke."
"Go get blanket now."
Rowena smiled as he left the room again and gave Sophie the water.
Sophie
Sophie sipped at the water, watching Duke leave.
"Hmm. Dad's going to go berserk."
Rowena
"Speaking of your Dad, would you like me to give him a call?" Rowena asked. "Let him know what's happened?"
Sophie
"Yeah, that would be a good thing."
Sophie told Rowena the phone number.
Duke
Rowena trotted off to the phone just as Duke reentered.
"Here ya go, Sophie," Duke said, putting the blanket over her.
Rowena dialed the number.
Sophie
"Sank chaaa, Duke," Sophie said.
She arranged the blanket more comfortably.
"Hello, Sean O'Shaughnessy speaking," Sean said, picking up the phone.
Duke
"No problemo dude," Duke replied in a mock American accent.
"Hi, Sean, Ro here," Rowena said.
Sophie
Sophie shook her head slightly.
"That was bad."
"Hello, Ro, what can I do for you?" Sean said pleasantly.
Duke
Duke grinned.
"Yeah, I know," he said normally.
"I'm afraid Sophie was in a car accident," Rowena said. "She's all right, we have a friend who was able to heal her. She's here at the moment."
Sophie
"And yet you persist...tell me, why didn't your mother smother you with a pillow when you were a baby and she could pass it off as cot death?"
Sophie grinned back.
"She, what?!"
Sean went white.
"But she's ok? She's alright? Oh my god..."
Duke
"Because my Mum is a nice person," Duke replied solomnly.
"Yes, yes she's fine," Rowena replied. "A little lightheaded at the moment, because she lost a lot of blood, but it'll pass."
Sophie
"Yes, yes she is."
Sophie nodded.
"Excuse me while I restart my heart then pass out," Sean said dryly.
"Is Robyn ok?"
Duke
"Which is good," Duke went on. "Because if she wasn't a nice person I would have a hard time loving her as much as I do."
"She's a little shaken, blaming herself, I'm sorry to say, because Sophie was getting her out of the way at the time," Rowena replied softly.
Sophie
"Aw, but everyone loves your mum. Can't say the same about you though."
Sophie reached over and ruffled his hair.
"I'll talk to her when I get home," Sean said.
"What happened? DO you know?"
Duke
Duke put his hands to his hair and unruffled it.
"Don't do that," he objected.
"I believe Robyn said she dropped her bracelet, and was bending down to pick it up when Sophie endevoured to rescuse that. I didn't press too much into it, she was rather upset," Rowena replied.
Sophie
"Aw, but you're so cute and little."
Sophie re-ruffled his hair.
"Like a puppy."
Sean was thoughtfully silent for a few moments.
"But they're both alright now?"
Duke
"Donnnn't..." Duke whined.
"As far as I can tell, yes," Rowena replied assuredly.
Sophie
"Awwww..."
Sophie ran her hand through his hair a few more times. Robyn almost smiled.
"So cute."
"Good, good..."
Sean bit his lip.
Duke
Duke pulled Sophie's hand off.
"Yes, anyway, I thought I should let you know," Rowena said.
Sophie
"Awwwwwwww. You should cater to my whims. I'm injured and oh so brave."
Sophie pouted at Duke. Robyn smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Ro," Sean said gratefully.
"Where are they now?"
Duke
"I got you water and a blanket, didn't I?" Duke said. "I waited with you and made sure another car didn't hitcha while we were waiting for Spenser."
"They're here," Rowena said. "And they welcome to stay here."
Sophie
"Cos you're such a nice guy. Now, sit down and let me play with your hair, like a good little bishounen."
Sophie grinned.
"Thank you, Ro," Sean said.
"That certainly makes me feel better. I can;t say how grateful I am..."
Duke
"Noooo," Duke objected. "I'm not a doll."
"It's fine," Rowena replied. "I'm always happy to help."
Sophie
"Yes you are. You're a younger sibling. What else are you good for?" Sopie said logically.
"Sit."
"Thank you so much, Ro," Sean said.
"I'll get off work as soon as I can, and come home."
Duke
"No," Duke said stubbornly, crossing his arms.
"Okay," Rowena said. "See you when you come home then."
Sophie
"Awwww..."
Sophie pouted at him, then grinned.
"I'll give you a kiss."
"Thanks again, Ro. I'll see you when I get there."
Sean hung up.
Duke
Duke unfolded his arms and stared.
"What kind of kiss?" he asked suspiciously.
Rowena hung up as well and walked back into the room.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" She asked Sophie. "Maybe Duke would like to put a movie on."
Sophie
"That depends on how good a little bishounen you are," Sophie said.
Robyn giggled.
"A movie would be nice, thanks, Ro."
Duke
Duke considered this.
"Duke? Would you like to scour through the movies please?"
"Okay, Mum."
"I'm going to start on dinner."
"Okay."
Rowena left the room and Duke wandered over to the video cupboard.
"What do I have to do..." Duke asked thoughtfully, "to get one on the lips, with tongue for about five minutes?"
Sophie
Sophie looked amused. Robyn made vomiting noises.
"Ew, gross! Bleagh!"
"That would go into the makeup stages of a makeover."
Duke
Duke considered it.
"Okay," he agreed.
Sophie
"Can I just ask, why?" Sophie said.
"You two, ewwww! You're not my sister! Bleagh, cooties!"
Robyn was still in her major disgust for males attack.
Duke
Duke grinned broadly.
"I'm an actor," he said. "Gotta where make up when doing certain performances otherwise the light drain the colour from your face and you look like a zombie or something."
He patted Sophie's shoulder.
"Plus, I'm gonna get something really really good out of it and Miette says I'm... I must be really secure in my sexuality."
Sophie
"Horny, you mean," Sophie said dryly.
"So gross! Yuuuuuuuuuck!"
Duke
Duke grinned.
"Well, I am a teenage guy. What do you expect?"
Sophie
"Not much else, you're too young to have developed dignity yet," Sophie said.
Robyn stared at her sister.
"You're not *really* going to do it, are you?"
Sophie shrugged slightly.
"Depends on how much I want to braid his hair."
Duke
"Oh don't you know?" Duke asked. "I don't have dignity. Dignity is a luxury when you get bullied all the time."
He nodded solomnly, then turned to the video cupboard.
"So what will it be?"
Sophie
"Hmm..."
Sophie looked thoughtful.
"Nothing with vampires, car accidents or military testing. Do you have some stupid American comedies?"
Duke
"Hmm, well... we have Sargent Bilko," Duke said. "Actually we have a few Steve Martin movies. And a few Robin Williams - yay Flubber."
Sophie
"Flubber sounds good," Sophie said.
Robyn nodded.
"And think about it. You'll have kissed, gasp, an older and most attractive girl. Something most of those idiotic bullies will never do."
"Full of it, aren't you?" Robyn said.
"No, I'm just that good I don't have to be modest."
Duke
"That's the idea," Duke grinned.
He pulled Flubber out of the cupboard and set it up. Then he sat down infront of the lounge Sophie was lying on and pressed play.
Sophie
Sophie started to fiddle with his hair as the ads started.
"Robyn, be good and fast forward?"
"Mm."
Robyn grabbed the remote and fast forwarded to the beginning of the movie.
Duke
Duke always thought that it was weird the way girls always wanted to play with people's hair.
He chuckled all through the movie.
Sophie
Sophie started making little braids through his hair, as she halfwatched the movie. Robyn just shook her head.
"You're both nuts."
"Mmmmmaybe."
Duke
"Just nuts?" Duke asked. "Darn, I was going for straight-jacket worthy. I'll have to try harder."
Sophie
"Nice men in white jackets will be coming soon," Robyn said.
"With happy, happy drugs!" Sophie said cheerfully.
Duke
"Yay!" Duke grinned.
Then he gestured to the screen.
"Do they have Flubber too?"
Sophie
"Possibly."
Sophie looked at Robyn.
"Robyn, do you have some ribbons?"
"I'm not sure."
Duke
"Yeah, ribbons look good on me," Duke said dryly.
Sophie
"Yep, they would," Sophie said.
"White ones. Or possibly pink."
Duke
"If you're going to use pink, be careful what make up colours you chose," Duke advised. "Don't want it to clash, after all. Aww! Poor Weeble got smashed by the baseball bat!"
Sophie
"Oh, you're definetely an earth tones person," Sophie said.
"Maybe yellow would be better for ribbons. Robyn, go home and get my stuff."
"You're both seriously weird."
Duke
"You're just jealous I'd rather get a kiss from Sophie than you," Duke joked.
Robyn
"Boys have germs," Robyn said in a serious voice.
"They're yucky."
Duke
"Good, that means the plan is working," Duke said.
Then he laughed evilly.
Sophie
"What plan?" Sophie asked.
"Cos if it's a plan for global domination, you're just gonna have to get in line."
She kept plaiting his hair.
Duke
"Naw," Duke replied. "Why would you want to dominate the world? I mean, not only is that incredibly cliche, but once you've dominated the world, you then spend the rest of your life fighting to keep it."
He nodded solomnly.
Sophie
"Don't nod!" Sophie said.
"You'll pull your hair out of my fingers. Anyway, I just want to own a small country. Is that too much to ask?"
Duke
"Umm, can I give you a raincheck?" Duke asked.
He gave Robyn a grin.
Sophie
Robyn poked her tongue out at him.
"You're gonna kiss my sister. On the mouth. With *tongue*. Do you know how many germs there are in the human mouth? Ewwwwww!"
"But we're neither of us human, smarty," Sophie said.
"Psssh. You're both still disgusting."
Duke
"Well," Duke said thoughtfully. "Technically, I'm half human. And seeing as I don't have powers I think I'm more human than Dath."
He paused, and a sly smile crossed his face.
"Although, I don't get drunk on alcohol. Or at least, if I do, I haven't drunk enough to get drunk."
Sophie.
"I should hope you haven't," Sophie said.
"Oh, and you can say the same, I bet," Robyn said.
"Miss Priss."
"Ah, but how would you know, Robbie?" Sophie said.
"I can still get drunk. It just takes a lot of alcohol to do it. ALways amusing to bet some guy I can drink him under the table, and then do it."
Duke
Duke grinned.
"Well, seeing as Daths don't get drunk on alcohol..." he grinned. "But you are right. Thirteen year olds probably shouldn't be drinking. But yeah... I just got curious after I heard Oli telling Miette that he could drink the same amount as his friends and just be a little tipsy while they were passed out of the floor."
Sophie.
When the movie finished, Sophie felt steady enough to walk home. Robyn ran ahead, but not before turning, making a disgusted face and going 'Ewwwwwwwwwwww!'
Sophie chuckled slightly as she walked with one hand on Duke's shoulder.
"Ah, I remember being that young...boys still had cooties."
Duke
Duke grinned.
"Have you changed your mind? Or decided you were right?" he teased.
Sophie.
"Oh, I don't break promises. Ask Robyn."
Sophie looked around then pulled him behind a tree where they wouldn't be seen from either house.
"Your mother would kill me if she saw this. All that corruption of a minor...yeah, I'm a bad, bad Slayer."
She ruffled his hair, fingers running over the plaits.
"Pity you're not about four years older. You'd be cute."
She grinned at him.
Duke
"Well, I have two older brothers, if that's any consolation," Duke grinned.
Yes! Sophie was gonna kiss him! YAY!
Sophie.
"Maybe I should look them up," Sophie joked.
"Anyway..."
True to her word, Sophie kissed him for about five minutes. Properly.
"See ya, Duke."
She walked up to her house and disappeared inside.
Duke
"Yes!" Duke exhulted.
Nearly delirious with delight, Duke bounded back inside. Sophie kissed him!