Most of the Characters belong to well others soo..... I'm only playing with them for a little while I'll put them back none the worse for wear when I'm done Scouts honor.... If anyone noticed or cared a few of the characters are revisiting you just can't seem to keep them locked up once they get be a part of a story they just want more so here is my attempt to give them more...

The doorbell rang she ignored it. The breeze blew the curtains behind her gently, you could see the lights over near the marina no one dies on a nite this beautiful she thought the sound of voices carried out to her still she ignored it.Karen had adored this view it was one of the reasons she took this apartment.

Dragging Raine to the balcony she had linked their arms she smiled "now look at that view..come on look at it not me."Raine had laughed, "hey your right the smog seems lighter today think it will last?" Raine had surprised a part laugh half snort out of Karen,shoving her arm away placed her hands on her hips and glared "look at that view its soothing guaranteed to sooth even the most fiercest beasts.She sniffed trust me right now you could use the soothing."

What happened next? O God I can't remember...it was as clear as if it just happened and now I can't remember she bit her lip hard concentrating.Suddenly as if a light switched on it came to her, she was so relieved she felt dizzy grasping the wall of the balcony she closed her eyes remembering..turning she had stifled her laugh assumed a serious expression and studied the view.

Glancing over her shoulder she nodded,"your right its beautiful truly a work of art.Your going to need this view to sooth your beast when your eating beans to pay the rent on this place." She wanted to stop time to ignore responsibilities ignore the presence at her back reality decreed otherwise though.

"Hello. Tom, Sloan. We meet again."She didn't feel like blocking him so she didn't bother,she no longer cared about who saw behind the walls forcing herself to turn she met their gaze.She was hardly aware of what she was saying she heard herself ask,

"not to be rude but why are you here?"

"Ed called us," Tom admitted. Raine nodded,"why?" Sloan stepped closer and reached to touch her arm but faltered hesitant to invade her space.Raine felt worry sadness and her ever present curiosity but it seemed dampened tonite out of compassion she supposed.

Sloan shifted her shoulders uneasily,"why don't you let us take you home.Or if you don't trust us let us at least call a cab for you."Or a friend? Michael? A relative? You don't want to be alone right now." Raine blinked she was so tired,her mind was swiss cheese she needed sleep but couldn't figure out why they were here and what they wanted from her.

Her expression or her confusion must have all but shouted it outloud because Tom explained,"the circumstances surrounding her illness and death are a mystery you don't want to be here when they take her to run some tests." The activity within the apartment finally registered she watched Ed talking to a tall African American male whose body language screamed police.She stiffened as the man looked her way their glances met and locked.

Arranging her expression in the appearance of calm she probed fear,suspicion,anger "why have you brought police here?"

"Do you suspect I harmed Karen am I now to be led to jail,"she asked in a monotone voice indifferent to whatever happened next.

"O Raine..Sloans words held a wealth of sadness,"no Ray's no longer with the police force he's here to help us find out what happened if anything did. And find out if anyone suspicious was hanging around after you and Michael took her home."

Tom reached for her arm leading her off the balcony Ed and Ray looked up as they entered. She could feel Ed's guilt no matter where she was and she felt bad about it. Her confusion rose another notch he had no reason to feel guilty he had tried only to help instinctively she grasped his hand.

"Ed.. Don't! he met her gaze reluctantly,"you did all you could and that is all we can do any of us can do" she tried to smiled but it quivered and failed,giving his hand a squeeze she released him.

"I need to call her parents they can't find out from the papers.I can't do that to them," pushing her hair back behind her shoulders, "they retired to Los Osos. "

Peterson ventured,"why don't you let us handle that, she jerked forgetting he was there they will want to run some tests that I'm sure her parents don't need to be concerned about."

Raine held his gaze intently,"right now he added it would only offer more pain and questions that no one has the answers to right now."

She nodded,"I should go now."

"Is there some way we can reach you?" Ray asked.

"Reach me?" she echoed.

"Raine why don't you stay with me a few days," Sloan offered. She frowned,"no that's very kind of you but I couldn't impose.I have a home I'm just concerned about drawing attention to it."

"Then stay..At least the nite at my place,she urged that's the last place anyone would look for you."

Raine looked down her hair fell in waves around her face and arms obscuring her from view trying to make some sense of her thoughts but all she could seem to come up with was she noticed she was barefoot and hadn't put her shoes on yet.

"Raine... Raine??" She glance up wearily,"stay the nite with Sloan," Tom coaxed.She sighed,allowing herself to be carried along she slowly nodded.

The last few days had been exhausting and she needed rest everything was so fuzzy walking to the closet she grabbed her sneakers and her leather jacket it wasn't needed for tonite but she couldn't seem to get warm.

Meeting their looks took some effort,"you'll let me know what you find? Whatever you find?? The truth no matter what.."

"Raine you can't do.."Ed's shoulders slumped.With what seemed like respect,Ray answered over Ed "as soon as we know what happened we'll let you know."

With a solemn nod that seemed to thank him,she silently took a last look around whispered a goodbye then walked out Karen's door for the last time.