Disclaimer: While this fic doesn't directly deal with any series, the original concepts for TF come from Rysher (Highlander) and Tetra/Thames Television and Roger Damon Price (Tomorrow People).

Author's Note: I've jumped ahead of myself again - this fic is after the still-in-edits "Never Alone". It's a Oliver and Vanessa piece, although Oliver may have gotten too old for his own good. Square brackets ([]) indicate telepathic thought.

Making it home
by Selma McCrory
copyright 1999

Oliver woke up in a strange bed. Looking up at the ceiling, he realized that it was the same bed he'd gone to bed in, in the same room with the same ceiling. Greer Lewis' guest room. Actually, his new bedroom, once they cooked up a legal identity for him and Greer officially adopted him.

[Are you okay?] a voice said. He struggled to recognize it. Vanessa.

[I'm just not used to here yet,] he replied. [I didn't recognize where I was at first.]

[Do you want us to send you home after all?] Vanessa asked. [I know that there might be more problems, but it was my fault in the first place.]

[No. I know what'll happen if I go back.]

[What might happen, you mean.]

[Do I have the right to deny your existance to go home? Besides, even if I went home, I'd still have to have a new identity and live somewhere else.]

She was silent for a moment. [It's up to you,] she replied. [Greer's been a sort-of parent to all of us - but she isn't you mother and father.]

[But I'm safe here,] he said. [I wasn't safe there.]

[It's not home.]

[No, but I can make it home,] Oliver said, with determination. [These things happen. I wish I was still home, with my parents, and we hadn't been found. But I know that things didn't happen that way.]

[You sound so adult,] Vanessa said. [So mature. You shouldn't have to be this way.]

[But I am,] he replied. [I'm changing - I've changed. I refuse to be a victim anymore. I have to go on with my life. I've gotten used to it before, I can do it again.]

[If you say so,] Vanessa said, sounding resigned. [Wish there was something I could do to fix things.]

[I think you're doing all you can,] Oliver responded. [There's only so much you *can* do.]

[That doesn't stop me from wanting to do more,] she said.

[It never does,] Oliver responded.

-end

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