Unfortunately, when he'd tried to contact Ben at the hospital where he was working, he'd been told that Mr. Taylor no longer worked there and that he'd left no forwarding address. Leary hadn't questioned them any further, afraid of who, or more precisely what, might be listening at the other end, he'd just thanked them and hung up the pay phone he was calling from.

He'd cursed soundly all the way back to the shack, not sure what to do next. He'd known they'd needed a place to lay low and make plans. The shack was no protection, being so close to the Visitors camp, and they could be found out at any time. He'd also known they couldn't just take up their lives where they left off, if the reports they'd heard on the radio Dane had 'found' were true all of them, excluding Maggie who wasn't mentioned in the report, were wanted felons now. What he didn't know was how to get them out of the situation they were in. Fortunately Maggie had had an idea when he'd gotten back and told them he hadn't been able to talk to Ben, saving him from telling them he was clueless as what to do next.

Her idea had been for her and one of the SEALs to go meet up with her friend Tari Donavan, who's brother was the photojournalist, Mike Donavan. Once at Tari's they could contact Mike and tell him what was going on, he'd help them out and get a big scope at the same time. Leary was sceptical, but Maggie insisted that Mike was a good friend and would believe her, and against his better judgement he agreed to Maggie's plan, but put some restrictions of his own on it.

First he would go with Maggie to check out Tari Donavan's house, if it looked like there were any Visitor's hanging around they wouldn't even approach her. Second, if things checked out ok with Tari than they might possibly contact Mike Donavan, but only if Leary thought it was safe. Maggie had agreed and the two of them had taken off for Tari's house.

*****

Later that day....

As the sun had set, Leary hadn't noticed how beautiful it looked or even thought of how he could have turned the situation into a romantic one with Maggie standing beside him. He was more concerned about the disbelief on her face as the two of them had spied on Tari and the Visitor that she was talking to. Well if you wanted to call that kiss they'd witnessed talking that is, Leary had thought.

"I can't believe it! She kissed him! Daniel how could she?? Doesn't she know what they are?" Maggie had exclaimed with a shiver, and Leary had known she was thinking back to Carl.

"Oh god, Daniel what are we going to do? We have to tell her!"

"Look, it's obvious we can't go to your friend right now, or her brother either. We don't know just how close they are to the Visitors but it looks like your friend at least is real close and from all reports so is her brother," He didn't tell her how a part of him, the part that hadn't liked the familiar way she'd said Mike Donavan's name, was pleased with this turn of events. Things were still too new between them and he wasn't ready to face a potential ex-boyfriend," I think it's safe to say right now Tari Donavan's safer not knowing the truth."

"What?? Are you crazy?" Maggie had intruppted him before he could finish, "Tari wouldn't have anything to do with those monsters if she knew what they were! That's why we've got--"

"Hush," he'd ordered in a tone that caught her attention, "I didn't say we weren't going to contact her at all, just not right now. Okay?"

"Okay, but what are we going to do then?" He could tell she wasn't happy at all, that it was all she could do to stand there with him when she'd wanted to run and save her friend. But she knew what he said was true and was willing to give him a listen, for which Leary was thankful.

"Well I've been thinking it over and though I couldn't get ahold of Ben at the hospital he worked at, I think I know a way to contact him. I think I remember where his father lives, it's over on 29th and James Street. Caleb's a good man and I'm sure he'll help us out. So let's go over there and see if we can find him, if we can I'm sure he'll be able to tell us where Ben is and what exactly has been going on okay? Then when we know what we're facing we'll come back and talk to your friend."

"Promise?" She'd asked with a weariness that hadn't been there before.

"Yes I promise. SEAL's honor." He'd said and made a crossing motion over his heart, bringing a reluctant smile to her lips.

"Ok but as soon as we get some information from your friends we come back for Tari."

"Okay than, let's go before your friend sees us."

*******

Half an hour later.....

"Thanks Caleb, you've been a big help and sorry to have bothered you." Leary said as he shook hands with the older man in front of him.

"You haven't been a bother, Daniel. It's good to have seen you, even under these circumstances. I'll contact Ben and set up a meeting for you okay? Give me a day or two though, with all these Visitors," As Caleb said the word Leary could hear the disgust in his voice. And though neither Leary nor Maggie had told him the truth about the aliens, Caleb Taylor had no love of them even thinking they were human-like. "Saying he and his friends are conspiring against them he's got to be careful about where he's seen."

"I understand Caleb, believe me I understand. Listen, to make it easier for everyone, there's a small park just down the road. You put the time and place Ben wants to meet on a small note and place it inside a newpaper and put the newpaper inside the trashcan next to the red bench beside the water fountain on the far side of the park, okay? That away if anyone is watching you, all they'll see is you reading a paper and throwing it away. Then I'll come along and get it a little after you leave."

"Okay, if that's what you want. But I don't care what though idiots say, neither you nor my boy are criminals." Caleb had agreed reluctantly.

"Thanks Caleb. Well we'd better be going, thanks again." With those words he and Maggie hurried down the street, blending in with the people on the sidewalks.

"You think we can trust him?" Maggie, who'd said very little during the whole meeting, asked.

"Yeah, Caleb's a good man and he loves those boys of his. He's not gonna help anyone who says his son's a criminal. We don't have to worry bout him." It's your friend I'm worried bout, Leary added silently.

As if knowing what he was thinking Maggie asked, "So now that we've spoken to your friend let's go get Tari."

"I'm not sure we should do that Maggie--."

"WHAT?? You said when were were done talking with Caleb we'd go warn Tari! Did you lie to me Daniel Leary??" Maggie demanded, her fear for her friend making her more aggressive than she normally was.

"Whoa there! Calm down now!" Leary commanded, pulling her into a side alley, his own temper starting to heat up. "You need to get that red-headed temper under control. Now listen I didn't say we weren't going to go--."

"Yes you did! You--." Maggie started again only to be hushed when Daniel's lips covered her's in a mind blowing kiss that took all the heat of anger out of her and replacing it with the heat of desire.

"I what?" Leary asked, several minutes later when he reluctantly broke the kiss.

"Y-you were saying?" Maggie, questioned haltingly as she tried to gather her wits from the mind blowing kiss.

"What I was going to say, before you interrupted me, was that although I wasn't sure we should go see your friend, I said we would and we would. But if there's the least little sign of trouble we leave, got it?"

"Okay." Maggie agreed reluctantly. *But if I think Tari needs me, I'm gonna help her. So take that and Mr. Haul-you-off-the-street-and-kiss-you-senseless. * She mumbled as they walked out of the alley and started toward Tari's house.

"What?"

"I didn't say anything." Maggie replied, her hand slipping into Daniel's as they walked along.

*****

"Mike" Maggie had whispered, watching the man looking wearily around before moving from his position next to the trees.

Leary had seen the man go around the back of the house and had felt himself tense as he'd heard Maggie whisper the man's name. Leary hadn't liked the way she's said his name, with a familiarity that went beyond mere acquaintances. Maybe that's why he'd stopped Maggie from heading toward Tari's house. Or maybe it was the man, standing further down the street, in the business suit, wearing glasses that Leary had only ever seen on Visitors, who'd just picked up what looked to be a communication devise and was speaking into it. Whatever it was, minutes later, when the Visitor shuttle had landed further down the street, Leary knew he'd been right to wait.

"Let's go around to the back of the street, ok? Maybe we can get into Tari's that away, okay?" Maggie had whispered, her concern for her friend plainly showing on her face.

"I don't think so, Maggie. That shuttle craft means they are going to have troops out soon, why I don't know, but I think we'd better go for now. We can come back later and talk to your friend." He'd ordered, knowing before he'd finished speaking she had been going to argue with him, even though they'd discussed this before they'd arrived.

"But Daniel, what if Tari needs help? I can't just leave her!"

"Listen, I know you are concerned about your friend but if we get caught by those troopers we aren't going to do her much good now are we?" He'd argued back softly, his only concern keeping her safe.

He could tell my the angered acceptance on her face that she agreed but was having a hard time admitting it, so he'd made it easy by grabbing her about the waist and leading her off.

"We'll come back later and check on her, now act natural so we aren't spotted." He'd ordered as they's walked away.