"He's out in one of the entrances with Shield, seeing what they can do to improve our defenses. He's called for a meeting at six-thirty,"

Talia said, emerging from one of the subway cars.

"Hey Talia," Red said with a smile. Talia was her best friend and a fellow lycanthrope (of the werewolf variety), and one of the few people she let herself lean on in times of crisis.

"Hey, why didn't you come get me for my shift? What're people going to think if I start blowing off . . ."

"I told everyone that you were going to need your sleep, so I picked up your shift," she said, smiling at Jane who began to blush Like there was no tomorrow.

"I dropped by and noticed that you weren't alone, so I thought I'd let you get some more rest."

"Talia..."

"Red . . ." Talia replied, whining extravagantly. Then she wrapped her arms around both her friends and hugged them together.

“I was wondering how long it would take for you two to figure things out."

Then she wandered off.

"She . . . knew?" Jane asked.

Red chuckled as she shook her head.

“Talia's a little too smart for her own good." She turned and gave Jane another quick kiss.

“Why don't you go get something to eat, and I'll see you in a bit."

Jane stared hard at Red's hourglass shape and heart-shaped behind as she headed into the entrance tunnels looking for Tarloh. Jane sighed contentedly, but her contentment was short lived. As she climbed up to the upper platform, she saw a few bloodstains remaining from the previous night's fight . . . some red and some green. The bodies had all been removed and the subway car that Jane had used as a weapon had been pushed to the side. 'I did a lot of this,' she thought. She noticed some of the Strays glancing at her out of the corners of their eyes. ‘Are they afraid of me? Do they trust me? Do they know about me and Red? How should . . .*

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Jane shook her head.

"Huh . . . hey Anya."

“How are you feeling?" Anya asked.

“About Last night. That was some impressive shit you did and . . . and I never got to thank you for saving my hide. And don't you dare say that ‘it was nothing’ or ‘anyone could have done it' because neither is true.”

"You would've done the same for me," Jane whispered.

"Now THAT is true," Anya said.

"I owe you one babe, and I always pay my debts." Anya wrapped an elegant arm around Jane's shoulders.

"You look . . . good, by the way. You finally sleepin’ better?"