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John and Megan left the party on foot.  They had been dancing and having a good time, but she needed to get back home in time to be bait for the peeping photographer.  It was a good way from where the party was being held to her house, but John and Megan made the time pass with pleasant conversation.

"So, I decided that I wanted to play football this year.  I've never been allowed to play sports, so I thought this year I'd give it a go.  My folks are worried I'll hurt someone, but I'm being extra careful, so it should be fine."

Megan had on the jacket she had brought with her, glad for it in the chilling night air.  While at the party, with John, Lisa and her other friends, she had been able to relax and enjoy herself, not thinking about what was likely waiting for her at home.  Now, the anxiety was building a little.  But looking over at John while he spoke up, she felt very comforted by his presence, and more reassured knowing he would be there in case things somehow went wrong.

She gave him a smile.  “I am glad they let you.”  She replied.  “I guess they are only being cautious, but it must have been hard not being allowed to participate in things everyone else was.”  She said, wondering how things had been for John having to deal with his strength all his life.  She had only had her powers for about a month and a half, and hers was hardly one that she could accidentally hurt anyone with. 

Sliding a little closer to John as they walked, she added, “I can imagine you have always had to be careful.”

"I used to practice by carrying an egg around the house.  Which didn't make mom too happy when I'd mess up and she'd have egg on the couch, or the carpet."  He laughs, "I eventually got to the point where it's a conscious effort to exert my strength now."  He wrapped an arm around Megan, and she felt the warmth of his body.  He seemed unusually warm.  "It was kind of spooky, but cool growing up this way.  Never sure what new power would emerge next, then learning to control it when it did."

Megan chuckled at the thought of a young John leaving egg mess all over the house.  As John put his arm around her, Megan slid closer, finding his unusually warm body very comforting.  “That had to have been strange.  Who knows, maybe you might have some tips for the rest of us on some things.  But most of us seem to have things pretty well under control now.  For me, a lot of what I have learned has been by chance really.  Like learning that when I get going I can run up or down a wall.”

"That's cool.  I've sort of run down a wall before, but never up one.  No matter what, don't get creeped out.  sometimes your powers might do things that suprise you, you just have to roll with it."

Megan smiled as she leaned her head in on John’s shoulder as they walked along, very comforted by his warm presence.  “Yeah, rolling with it is pretty much what I have been doing so far.  Have to admit, there are some great fringe benefits to my powers, such as being able to get my homework done in a tenth of the time it would normally take.”

As they went along, Megan guided John on a rout that would bring them up behind her parents’ house, so he could hide in the backyard and she could show him the window to her room and the door that would be best for him to come in through if needed.  “So John, you said that you wanted to be a doctor, but is using your powers as well part of your plan?”

"Sure."  He said, lifting Megan up into his arms.  With a quick squat and then a jump they were over the fence in her backyard.  He set her down with a smile.  "Should I open the door, or will I have to break it?"

“Whoa.”  Megan said as she was suddenly lifted up and John leapt into the air.  She had wrapped her arms around his neck as she looked over at him.  Though it had caught her slightly by surprise, she actually found his holding her very nice.  “Sorry, just caught me a bit off guard there.”  She said with a smile as he sat her back down.  “I think I’m starting to get a bit jittery. I,” she paused a moment, “I’m really glad you’re here.”

"I'll be able to see you from here, and all you have to do is call out for me, I'll be right there."  He gives her a hug, whispering in her ear, "You'll be fine.  I'm only seconds away."

Megan rested her head against his warm body as he hugged her, the comfort helping make her a bit less nervous.  “I know.”  She whispered back.  She stepped back and gave him a smile and chuckled.  “Time to go make the girls’ showers safe again.”  She started to turn away and then stopped and looked back.  “If you don’t need to come in, would you be able to wait a little bit until the aftermath is done and I can try to come back out to say goodnight?”

John smiled, "Sure.  I can do that."

Megan returned the smile and then turned away and was then off in a flash, running over towards the fence and up one of the fence poles, gracefully flipping over to land on the other side.  Once over, she sped off towards one of the cross streets to the one that went by the front of her parents’ property.  Slowing to normal speed, she came out onto the sidewalk and made her way to the front entrance to her home.  As she went, she put the radio that Brian had given her in her ear after turning it on.  “Brendan, can you hear me?  I am almost home now.”  She said quietly.

As she came to the driveway that lead back to the house, she looked at it for a moment, the front lights illuminating the turnaround in front.  Somewhere there, the invisible photographer was likely waiting.  She wondered if her parents were home yet, or still up.  Taking a breath, she started down the driveway and was soon walking in through the front door.

"Loud and clear."  Brendan's voice came back.  "Your brother was here for about an hour around eight o'clock with some girl who's moan's I couldn't recognize.  It sounded like they had a good time.  Your parents got home about two hours ago and had a screaming match, something about her taking  a job and that not being part of the deal.  They got quiet about an hour ago.  Other then that, it's been very peaceful."

“Thanks, that was more information about my brother than I really needed.”  Megan whispered back as she was still on her way to the house, not particularly caring who her bother might be having sex with.  The news about her parents was more troubling however, screaming matches were an extremely rare event.  She could not see why her dad would be that concerned about her mom taking the job, particularly at a place as prestigious as the Wayne Foundation, where she likely could make good contacts for him.  Well, if nothing else, their anger would likely be focused on her in a bit.  But it made any thoughts of telling them about her powers a bit more complicated.

“Showtime.”  She said as she started down the driveway, hating the pun even as she said it.  When she reached the door, she had a giddy smile on her face, like any other teenage girl who had just come home from a really fun party with a cute guy should have.  It was not really fake after all, for she had had a lot of fun at the parry with John.

Opening the front door, she made her way in, playing the cautious teen that was worried about waking her parents as she went in.  This left the door open longer than she might otherwise have left it, had to let the guy get in after all.  After she quietly shut the door behind her, Megan slowly made her way back to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water and drinking it.  Setting the glass in the dishwasher, she then made her way back to the front hall and up the main staircase, as if she was trying to keep quite.

She then made her way back towards the wing of the house where her room was located.  As she got closer to her room, her steps got bouncier, and she began humming a song from the party that John had particularly enjoyed dancing to.  Making her way into her room, she switched on the light and left the door enough ajar that someone could follow her in, if they were not there already. 

Making her way across the room, she stopped in front of the full length mirror on one of the doors to her long closet.  She stopped and looked at her reflection, pretending to admire herself, striking a couple shyly seductive poses as if recalling having used them during the night.  She figured the more time she played her part, the more chance for Brendan to spot the photographer and make his way up. 

She moved over to her dresser by doing a spinning dance turn that was part of one of the squad’s dance routines.  Opening a drawer, she took out a pair of flannel pajamas, moving over towards her bed and setting them on it.  Turning away, she moved over towards her dresser again, her arms crossing in front over her as she grabbed the bottom of her top and smoothly pulled it over her head.  Underneath she had on a navy bra from Victoria Secrets’ PINK collection, written all over it was the phrase “I ♥ Kissing”.  Looking at herself in the long mirror over her dresser, she picked up a brush off the top of the dresser and began brushing her hair.

"Well, it's certainly worth the price of admission."  Brndan said.  "He's in the corner of the room, nearest the window.  Came in a few seconds before you.  He's certainly taking pictures, but I'm not picking anything up on audio but you.  Give me a minute to get upstairs, then go over and casually hit the panic button."

Megan continued to brush her hair, using all her willpower to keep from glancing over towards the corner of the room Brendan had said the photographer was in.  Enjoy the show while you can creep.  She thought as she gave Brendan the time he asked for to move up into position.  After a little over a minute, she sat her brush back down on the dresser and kicked her shoes off, both landing just in front of her closet. 

She then started humming “Sexyback” as she moved back over next to her bed, her hips and body swaying to the hummed beat.  Stopping near her nightstand, she was slightly turned towards where the photographer was (or at least had been), her right hand coming up to the top button of her jeans.  As she slowly began to undo the button, her left hand, shielded by her body, reached up to her nightstand to press the button that Brain had set up next to her alarm clock, setting off the house alarm. 

Once the alarm goes off, she will drop the act and go for the fire extinguisher that was hidden between the nightstand and the bed.

The claxon for the house alarm is loud, and the system automatically calls the police if it's tripped.  The door to Megan's room comes open suddenly, and a burst from a fireextinguisher fills the doorway, covering the form of her invisible visitor.  The figure coughs, and then a second later Brendan drives the body of the large red firextinguisher into the head of the figure, sending him to the floor.  Brendan drops the extinguisher and is on the boy in a second, flipping him over to handcuff him. 

Megan's mother and father are in her doorway only a few seconds later.  "What in the hell is going on?"  her father says over the din of the house alarm.

It felt rather strange watching events unfold at normal speed, everything seemed to happen so fast.  Well, looks like Brendan did have everything under control.  Megan though as she saw the photographer go down.  While Brendan was handcuffing him, she moved over to her dresser, pulling out a Princeton sweatshirt and pulled it on. 

As her parents arrived a few seconds later, she looked up at them, giving them a weak smile.  “Mom, dad, this is Brendan, one of the members of the Con Debate team.  The handcuffed creep on the ground is the guy who has been taking those pictures in the girls’ showers at school.  He came into the house invisible and was taking pictures of me while I was undressing.”  She glanced over at Brendan and then looked back at her parents.  “We...set a trap to catch him.”

"WHAT?"  Her father's face was turning red, and one could almost imagine his head popping off under the strain.

There was a banging on the door downstairs, and the flashing of lights and wail of sirens signalled the arrival of the police.  Megan's father looked at Brendan, then Megan.  He turned and went downstairs to let the police in.

Megan's mom came over and hugged her, "Are you allright honey?"  she asked, holding Megan and checking to see if her daughter was hurt.

A few moments later the police come in and take the photographer into custody, and take Brendan downstairs to get his statement.  Megan's father returns, not looking any happier.  "Do you realize how dangerous this little stunt of yours was?  I don't know what's gotten into the two of you lately, but it needs to stop."  He turns and leaves the room, ignoring any protests.

Megan winced slightly at her dad’s reaction, but was not particularly surprised by it.  She hugged her mom back when she came over, all her anger at her over the last week pretty much gone now.  “Yeah, I am fine.”  She replied.

After the police had taken away the photographer and Brendan had gone downstairs to give his statement, her dad had returned, still extremely angry, having less than pleasant words for Megan and her mom.  Megan looked at her mom with an apologetic look.  “I’m sorry to have caused you problems mom.”  She said.  “This was something I just think I had to do.  Brendan was really focused on getting this jerk.”  She paused a moment and then went on.  “Laura told me that a few years ago, his girlfriend was murdered and it really affected him.  When he was discussing ways to try to catch this guy, I was the one that suggested that he should request pictures of a girl the photographer didn’t have ones of already.”

“Brendan had found out for me that there were none of me, so, when I made the suggestion, I didn’t feel right having them find some other girl to use as the bait.  I know we should have told someone, or the police, but we were kinda afraid that the police would think it was too risky, or might somehow tip the guy off and he would never fall into the trap.”

"Don't worry about it honey, what you did was a good thing.  Maybe a little reckless, but you had backup and a plan, so you've got nothing to worry baout.  No, your dad's just a little upset with me is all.  I told him I was thinking of taking the Wayne Foundation job, and he didn't take it well.  That and there's something else he's not telling me.  Something about his career.  Maybe he didn't get the funding he thought he would for the Senate race."

A few minutes later one of the officer's takes Megan's statement.  They are wrapping up when Brendan comes over to her, "Thanks.  This never would have come off without your help.  I appreciate it."   He offers her his hand.

Megan was not very happy to hear that her dad might be having some problems.  She nodded to her mom and said.  “Mom, after things wrap up here, if you feel up for it, there are some things I want to talk to you about.  Including what I have been doing when I was sneaking out at night over the last month.” 

After giving her statement, she gave Brendan a smile as she shook his hand.  “Your welcome Brendan, but it was your plan.  I was just the pretty distraction.”

After talking with Brendan, and while the police are gathering up the evidence from the surveillance equipment Brian had set up, Megan told her mom she wanted to get a bit of fresh air and goes out into the backyard and over towards where she had left John.

John gives her a hug when she comes out to meet him.  "I heard what happened.  Your dad sure sounded mad."

Megan returns John’s hug, the unusual warmth of his body ever more comforting.  She stayed there with her head on his chest, part of her wishing she could stay like this forever.  “Yeah, I have never seen him that mad.  I wish I could say it was all about finding some pervert in his fourteen year old daughter’s room, but my mom said there might be some problems with his plans to run for the Senate.”

She sighed, and after a moment, finally lifts her head off his chest and looks up at him, her arms still around his back.  “Thanks for being here John, though Brendan clearly had everything under control.  And thanks for a fun evening, I had a great time with you at the party.”  She had a wide smile on her face as she looked into his eyes.

"No problem.  I'm here for you anytime you need me."  He hugged her again and then leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips.  "I had a great time too, and I'm sure it wont be the last."  He looks up towards the house like he hears something.  "You should go, your dad is looking for you."

Megan welcomed John’s kiss, gently returning it.  When he said he had a great time as well, and that he expected it to not be the least, she grinned.  “You had better believe that.”  When he stated her dad was looking for her, she looked back at the house and nodded.  “Yeah, I had better go.”  She turned to him again, giving him another quick kiss before stepping back.  “I’ll call you tomorrow before you come over.  You have a lot of catching up to do, so better be ready for some serious studying.”  She said with a wide grin.  “Night John.”  She said before she started off, looking back after a short distance and giving him a wave before she turned and hurried back to the house.

Getting back inside, she made her way to where she heard her dad’s voice, replying.  “I’m here dad.  I was just had to get a bit of fresh air.”

Her father had a cup of tea, and was sitting at a sttol in the kitchen.  "Come sit down Megan."  he says, pointing to one of the other stools.  "What's gotten into you?  You'd never have done something like this before, your brother and sister certainly wouldn't have done anything as irresponsible as this.  what were you trying to accomplish?"

Megan was glad her father seemed to have calmed down as she took a seat on the stool he had indicated.  When he asked what was going on, she met his gaze with a very steady one of her own as she replied.  “What was I trying to accomplish?  I would think it would be pretty apparent dad.  I was helping Brendan catch a perverted creep with enough evidence to hopefully get him some kind of meaningful punishment.”

Before he could try to interrupt, she quickly continued.  “Maybe Denise and Donnie have never done anything like this because they never have had to.  I don’t think I need to tell you about all the crazy things that have happened in just the last month and a half, and there is always seeming to be more.”

“When Brendan first talked about trying to catch this guy, I said that it should be left to the police, but he was rather certain it would be low priority for them.  After all, criminals strung out on ‘Superman’ appear a lot more dangerous.  When he and Brian pretty much determined this guy had to be invisible to be doing what he was, standing inside the girls’ showers, and even going into girls’ bedrooms, to take pictures, it was clear he could be a danger.  Who knows how many girls he has victimized, and they never even knew he was there.  How many more would he have if he hadn’t been caught?  Don’t you think it might have only been a matter of time before he was coming after me anyway?  We would not have not he had.”

“And I was the one that suggested that the best way to be sure where this guy would be was to ask him for pictures of a girl he had not photographed yet.  Brendan had found out for me last week that I was not in any of the pictures in circulation.  To have him come back this week and ask for pictures of me, it was not a request that would make the photographer suspicious, I was the logical choice.  Not to mention, after suggesting using someone as bait, how could I make some other girl fill that roll?”

“You might say this was irresponsible dad, but the way I see it, is you can sit around waiting, and hope you don’t become a victim, or, when a good opportunity comes by to do something about one of the terrible things going on, you can act.  I chose to act.”

"You sound exactly like your mother."  He says absently.  Taking another sip of tea he looks at Megan.  "This conversation isn't over, but for tonight let's just leave it as it is.  You've said your peace and I've said mine.  You should head upstairs and get some rest."

Megan figured this was about as good as she could expect for the moment.  Perhaps he would be in a better mood tomorrow after his people assured him there was a way they could put a positive spin on the event.  Standing up, she looked at him and said.  “Good night daddy.”  She then turned and made her way back towards her room.

Megan's mom is vacuming up the dry chemical mess that was on the floor of her room when Megan came up.  "I just didn't want you to track this everywhere."  she says as she finishes up.  "I'll wipe everything down tomorrow, just be careful when you get up so you don't get it all over your cloths."

“Thanks mom.”  Megan said with a smile, taking a seat on her bed.  She looked over at her mom as she was putting up the vacuum cleaner and said.  “I can take care of it though, and I’ll be careful about getting it on anything.”

She paused a moment and then continued.  “Mom, I wanted to say I’m sorry for being so distant this week.  But, I was pretty mad at you after last weekend.”  She sighed lightly, thinking back to things, and what she had felt before.  While part of her still felt a bit angry, it was nothing like she had been feeling earlier in the week, and she could not help but wonder if John had anything to do with the change in feelings.  “When we were driving home and I was talking to you, I…just felt betrayed when you laughed at the things I was telling you.  It made me feel that my point of view on things was just a joke to you, some silly high school thing that was unimportant.” 

She focused on her mom as she continued.  “That made me stop from telling you what had really been bothering me, which was that Greg had said some things, that, while I am sure he likely did not mean to, hurt and made me feel badly about myself.”  She looked down, feeling bad about how strongly she had reacted to how her mom had been acting.  “I just felt that what you had said earlier in the week, about always being able to talk to you about stuff had just been a lie.  I had wanted to never really tell you anything again.  But I could never do that mom.  I care about you too much.”

Megan's mom comes and sits next to her, putting her arm around her daughter's shoulder.  "Honey, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to hurt you.  I shouldn't have laughed, it was kind of insensitive of me.  No matter what though honey, I want you to know that I'm always gonna be behind you.  I don';t ever want you to think that I don't take you seriously."

Megan smiled at her mom and hugged her with one arm.  “I know mom.  That is one of the things I have always most valued about you.  And I want to try to be here for you as much as I can as well.”

The blonde teen was now feeling somewhat nervous, for she had told her mom she would talk about her odd night time behavior and such.  And as tired as her mother might be from fighting with her dad and the other events of tonight, Megan knew her mom was far to smart to forget that.  Meeting her mom’s gaze, she thought about some of the things John had said earlier at the party and also Thursday.  “Mom, there was another reason I let myself be used as the bait for this creep tonight.  I felt that it would allow me to be involved in Brendan’s plan, so I could be there to protect him should things prove too dangerous.”

“I should have talked to you and dad about this before, but…since the accident, well..I’m Velocity.”

The room falls into a silence that is almost unnatural.  It might just be Megan's accelerated perceptions, but nothibg happens for a very long time, then her mom blinks.  It's so quiet, Megan is sure she heard it.  "Oh my."  her mother says, in a tone sounds like Megan has just told her she spilt some milk on the counter.  "That's wonderful dear."  Again her tone is not quiet right.  It's almost as though she were in shock from the news, but not wanting to panic Megan.  She puts her hands on Megan's knee for a moment.  "Um.  Let's not tell your father for a little bit, okay.  I need to think about this, I mean.  This is big news Megan, I just need a little time to think about this."  She leans over and gives Megan a kiss on the cheek, "You should get some rest.  I'll talk to you in the morning about this, okay."

She gets up and goes to the door, stopping before leaving.  "I want you to know that no matter what you decide to do, you'll have my support.  Just remember that, okay?"

Megan was a bit worried about her mother’s reaction, wondering if maybe it would be too much even for her.  Or maybe it was too much for her to have to deal with in one night.  When she said to not mention it to her father just yet, Megan nodded.  “Yeah, given how he seems right now, I figured it would not be something to bring up.”  When her mom kissed her cheek, Megan gave her a little hug.  “Night mom, try not to worry too much about me, okay?”

After she was gone, Megan feel back on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.  Well, I guess it could have gone worse.  Getting back up after a moment, Megan changed for bed, being careful about the chemical mess from the fire extinguisher, and then went to sleep.