It was fully dark in New Orleans and the smaller branches of the oak trees waved in the night breeze over Dr. Dewey's house and carriage house.

"Where are we going?" Rile demanded. "Why are we leaving Alex alone?"

He walked back to the window and craned his neck to see first the front stairs and then the far narrower and rickety ones from the back door.

"She's lost hope and I don't trust her. I want to follow her tonight to see what she does. I hope that she doesn't fly. I thought if she knew that we were gone, she wouldn't fly. We'll follow her," Gabe said. "Dr. Dewey doesn't have any night classes this week, so he's safe enough."

"Idiot, she just flew off the front stoop," Rile said.

"Burn it!" Gabe slapped his staff in his palm.

"Let's walk to the alley where she found you," Cale said. "We'll scout from there. Perhaps she frequents the same area. Agama are creatures of habit. Maybe humans are too."

Rile sheathed his sword and staff, grumbling. Cale did the same, anxiously watching both brothers. Gabe strode out in the lead.

They walked for an hour before Gabe motioned for silence. The humans exiting their expensive cars in this shabby neighborhood alerted him. Their furtive behavior warned him even more. The three that exited from the red Acura Integra faced off against the four that slid out from the black 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Gabe nodded to his brothers and they passed the sign for guns. Disagreeing as to the number, in the end, they accepted Cale's number, knowing that he was the farthest-sighted

When the money started changing hands, white fiery blasts from above scattered the men. Alex flew down and set on the pavement between them.

"Hugs, not drugs," she mocked.

One of the men cursed and raised his gun. A quick palm-strike sent him to the ground. Another grabbed her from behind and she slapped his crotch so he released her.

"Why isn't she using her powers now that they grabbed her?" Rile hissed.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

The sound of handgun fire. The brothers rushed in, swords and staffs a blur.

"What the fire truck are y'all doing here?" Alex screamed. She lit her hands and the blasts started in earnest.

Rile sliced the arm of a drug dealer whose aim went wide, handgun firing. Rile then punched him with his free hand, breaking his nose and the blood flew. Gabe slammed the tip of his staff into the gut of another and then bashed his head when he doubled over. Cale swung with grim intensity, his staff strikes bringing down any drug dealer that wasn't hit by Alex's blasts or by his brothers.

"Hold my hands," Alex ordered when no other humans were left standing. "The cops or more gang members are on their way."

Gabe and Rile each grasped one of her hands while Cale held onto her forearm. Alex sped straight up into the night sky. After a brief flight of speed bursts, she landed in front of the carriage house.

"What is wrong with y'all? Are y'all dragon stalkers? I thought y'all had someplace to be." Alex's Southern lilt shone through in her anger. She put her hands on her hips and glowered at them.

  "Why didn't you use your powers when you were outnumbered?" Gabe asked. "In fact, why did you land in the middle of that situation?"

"None of your business, Chief Stalker," Alex retorted. The orange tabby Alex called "TNR", same as the cat at her last apartment, wound among her legs, meowing. Alex stooped and unhooked the metal food container. She scooped out a cup of food into the waiting bowl.  "It's okay, TNR, you still have food and water. If you would let me pet you, I could place you in a home where you're safe and loved."

Like the brothers need to be: safe and loved and away from me.

"May we go inside?" Cale asked quietly. "I'm really cold."

Alex's anger evaporated. "Are you hurt? Were you shot? Bullets start flying and you may not realize until later. Come inside. I have gauze and Hibiclens." She bounced up her stairs.

Rile looked at his middle brother, who smiled a small smile. Gabe caught the interaction and nodded slightly in approval.

Alex unlocked the door and said, "Cale, sit at the kitchen table. The best light is there. Take a deep breath and think if anything hurts. Roll up your sleeves."

He can't have been hurt helping my idiot suicidal self. Not Cale, he's so sweet and caring. Then again, the world destroys those types first. How can I save him, them...from me?

Cale obeyed. "I don't think I was shot. I just feel really cold."

Alex inspected his arms, her fingers lightly trailing over the ultra-soft leathery hide. "Feel around your torso for any blood or tender spots. Do you want me to make coffee? I can make coffee. Or tea? It's late. I'll make herbal tea. Are you hungry? I'll make soup. Hot soup will warm you and it's nutritious." She felt his forehead.

"I'm cold too," Rile said.

"You're fine," Alex replied automatically.

"What if I was shot?" Rile whined.

"Were you?" Alex asked in concern and laid the back of her hand on his forehead beforeremembering herself and snatching her hand back.

Don't touch the gorgeous, muscular one who wants to execute Morgan and you want to bond with fighting thugs.

"Feel around. I have gauze in my bathroom. The Hibiclens is in there too. It'll clean the wounds, although bullets are so hot that they're sterile. Do you feel any blood on your clothing?"

"He wasn't shot," Gabe said. "Baby boy can't stand for anyone else to have attention."

"So speaks the perfect eldest son," Rile said.

  Alex groaned. "Family feud. Perfect. Cale, what do you want? Coffee, tea, or soup?"

  "Whatever is easiest."

"Hot tea. For everyone." Alex put the kettle on the stove. She took out several boxes from the cupboard and placed them on the table. "Pick your favorite. I'll find the mugs."

Alex set mismatched Tulane, LSU, and Saints mugs on the table. The brothers inspected the boxes of tea.

"Dr. Dewey showed us how to brew tea here on Earth." Cale extracted a teabag from a box and his brothers followed suit.

Alex poured the hot water once the teakettle whistled. She poured herself a mug and sat down with them. The scents of the herbal teas, chamomile, lavender, and lemon grass gently swirled around the table. She inhaled deeply and enjoyed the warmth of the steam on her face.

Cale placed his hand on her forearm."Why you were trying to commit suicide?"

His compassion twisted her heart and she looked at him ever-so-briefly with admiration. "You're so kind and caring as well as insightful. The world needs more of that." Alex squeezed his hand but then laid it on the table and rubbed it in a reassuring way. "Don't waste that on me. Others need it more. I'm too far gone and too short-lived."

"I decide who is worth my time and you are morethan deserving. Please tell us. Maybe we can help." Cale looked at his brothers, who nodded.

 Alex sipped her tea, cupping the mug in both hands to warm them, the steam curling around her. "Y'all gave me hope. It hurt too much when that hope died. I can't go through that again. Don'tfeel bad because it's just speeding up my timetable. Weird, illegal powers, nuclear fission generator in my chest and topped with an obsessed psychopath on my trail, remember? Death imminent."

"Why did that hope die?" Cale asked gently.

Alex looked at Rile. He grimaced but then nodded.

"Morgan showed up. Rile and I couldn't stop him. He ran away."

Gabe slammed his fist on the table. It creaked and one of the crooked legs bent a little more. "Morgan showed himself and you didn't tell me?"

"I wasn't keen on broadcasting my failure and asked Rile to keep quiet. Don't blame your brother. Blame me," Alex said

"He's Agama enough to take responsibility for his actions," Gabe hiss-growled deep in his chest.

That is way scarier than hissing. I think I heard it on Animal Planet from a Komodo dragon or something. Hard to remember.

"I am," Rile hissed back, but it was only a hiss. "Morgan came when I shadowed Alex, not you. Because you're incompetent."

"You were incompetent to stop Morgan," Gabe said.

"He ran like the vermin he is."

"Morgan can't be stopped." Alex tapped her splinted finger. "He's no ordinary human. He has preliminary implants. He's faster and stronger than an ordinary human. Smarter and psychotic, too. He's coming after me. Won't stop until he has me or I'm dead. I won't give him one ounce of knowledge about my implants to make him faster or stronger. See my choices now? Y'all gave me hope and it hurt when that died." Alex pushed back from the table. "Going to bed. Tired enough that I need even a nightmare-filled sleep. Night."

Gabe stood. "Cale, Rile, return to our apartment. Rile, we'll speak of your failure and disobedience later."

Alex was surprised that neither argued and that the two brothers left quickly.

"Alex, will you sit on the couch with me?"

She nodded and followed him there. She waited until he sat and then sat a few inches away from him.

"Hope may hurt, but it gives life. If Morgan is flushed out when Rile shadows you, then we'll use that.  You will lead him into an ambush where Cale and I are waiting. He'll not overpower the three of us. You should have told me and I would have instituted this plan earlier. Do you see that?"

Alex nodded.

"Do you have nightmares when you sleep on the couch with me?"

Alex shook her head.

"Do you trust me to sleep on the couch with me again? I promise to act honorably."

"Only because your past behavior speaks louder than words," Alex said.

The behavior I really want is you curled around me.Blast it all. How can I push them away if I keep cuddling up to Gabe? What's wrong with me? I've always kept everyone away.

"Do you want to retrieve that blanket or should I? You seem fond of it." Gabe touched her shoulder, peering with concern in her face.

"It's hideous," Alex said with a small smile. "But it has good memories. I'll get it." Once she had it in her hand, she said, "Sit first, please." She flipped it over him. "There, draconic alien with Salvation Army, ugly, afghan covering him." She sat next to him and arranged it over her as well. "Good night."

After a few minutes, Gabe asked, "Why won't you call me friend?"

"That way lies betrayal and pain."

"I won't betray you."

"That's what they all say. Good night."

"Would you betray me?"

"No, but I'll die soon. If you're my friend, you'll feel pain. Best to never say friend. Good night," Alex emphasized the last two words.

"I'll feel pain if you die. Don't sacrifice yourself needlessly like you tried tonight."

"Then I guess you're fire-trucked. It's not like I'm slitting my wrists. I would have taken some of them down with me."

Gabe mulled that over. "Would you feel regret if I died?"

After a moment of silence, Alex said, "I guess you aren't the only one fire-trucked. But you seem more rational than me and you don't have the enemies that I have. Or the nightmares and suicidal tendencies. Please sleep. This conversation is taking an unsettling turn."

"Because I am your friend, I will try to save you, no matter what dangerous situation you place yourself. That means you're endangering my life every time you endanger yours," Gabe said.

"You have no idea what you just stepped in." She put her fists to her eyes. "My life is a nightmare."

"Then I'd say I stepped into the perfect place." Gabe put his arm around her and she leaned against him.

In three breaths, she was asleep.

*****

When the morning wrestling match on Alex's doorstep began, her head was pillowed on Gabe's thighs.

"Still not giving you the key," Cale called out.

"Still gonna make you," Rile said.

Scuffling ensued.

"This game is called 'Does Cale bend this way?'" Rile said.

Cale laughed. "Also known as 'Rile still doesn't have the key'."

There were two thuds on the door as they hit it during their match. Alex awoke, looked up at Gabe, gasped, and rolled off his lap, tangling in the afghan.

"Alex, please," Gabe pleaded.

At the last second, she refrained from blasting him, but still tore off the afghan and dashed into the bedroom. She slammed the door shut and locked it. Gabe hiss-growled and stalked to the door. He jerked it open.

"Was that enough time?" Cale asked from where he was held in a head lock by Rile.

"Release him," Gabe ordered Rile. "Yes, it was enough time."

Rile freed Cale so quickly that his middle brother hit the ground.

"Where's the princess?" Rile asked.

Gabe shoved him against the wall. "She doesn't like princess jokes. Stop them immediately."

"Well, well, well," Rile said. "Aren't we the brave defender? She also likes sticking up for herself."

"She's in the bedroom," Gabe replied. "I'll do it for her. Stop the princess jokes. Now."

Rile sidled out of his brother's grip and hissed in triumph.

"I hear the shower," Cale said. "I'll start the pancakes and boudin. Is she working today?"

"I don't know," Gabe said.

"Yes. Her day off is tomorrow," Rile said with smugness.

Gabe hissed at him and Rile hissed back.

"Stop the hissing match and set the table," Cale said.

*****

This time Alex came out of the bedroom, steaming only literally, from her shower. She had rushed through her obsessive cleaning routine because she knew the brothers were waiting for breakfast.

"I couldn't find the boudin," Cale said.

"Ran out. I'll shop on my day off," Alex said. "Morgan might know that grocery store since I went there from my old place, though."

"Good. I'm not done killing him," Rile said.

"I don't want him tracking me here," Alex said. "Y'all live here and Dr. Dewey doesn't deserve a psychopath knowing where he lives. I'll ask at the office for a new place to buy boudin. Who's shadowing me today?"

"I am," Rile said. "Teaching Cale, too. Perfect Eldest Son is too arrogant for lessons."

"Shut up," Gabe said. "I'm buying groceries. Dr. Dewey paid us for our monthly escort. I'll buy boudin along with the containers of pancakes."

"Thank you," Alex said. "You two ready?"

******

A/N:

The brothers were smart enough to save Alex this time.

Have they convinced her to stay in the fight?

Dedicated to: charlottemallory

Jagermeanshunter[the car part]