Maggie: *sighing, she turns around to head back to her office, but is
stopped by the sight of Lija, standing there in nothing but his
jeans. Distracted by the sight of his bare chest, she almost doesn't
hear his concerned question*

Elijah: You aren't thinkin' about becoming a were aren’t ya?

Maggie: *looking up at the gentle tone in his voice* I don't know. I
was before you came to town....I just feel left out…isolated…alone
sometimes because I'm not part of the whole were thing.

Elijah: *sighing gives her a hard stare* You've seen what happens
when we shift. Do you really want to go through that?

Maggie: *biting her lip* Not really...but I know everyone always
worries about me being the only human around when bad things pop up.

Elijah: Yes because we love you and care deeply about you.

Maggie: Well sometimes I think I'm in the way and I worry that Noah
would be happier with a were...

Elijah: If that were the case he would have never have showed you as
much affection as he has.

Maggie: I guess...but I worry that I'm more trouble than I'm
worth...at least if I became infected you guy wouldn't have to worry
so much about whether I would GET infected or that I could be killed
so easily.

Elijah: Maggie we would worry even more. You're stronger than you
realize.

Maggie: *Biting lip, recalls a similar conversation with the Oya*
Luna says you guys would still have to look out for me because as a
new were I would be very weak and it would obviously interfere with
my work. Gigs just pointed that out to me too. *Sighs* As for the
compliment, thanks but I don't feel strong. *mumbles under my breath*
besides if I were infected, I wouldn't feel like an outsider always
looking in.

Elijah: *giving her a stern, concerned look* Maggie. You aren't an
outsider. Do you want me to talk to Noah? Maybe I can get him to open
up a bit.
Maggie: *shrugs, wanting to ask for help but afraid of depending on
the Tore too much* You could try. Luna knows more about his past than
I do. I have gotten from hints that some human he cared about once
before was hurt because of his nature. I don't know if was a
girlfriend or a family member...but whatever the case he has pretty
much cut off his ties to his family and tries to keep the were stuff
away from me.

Elijah: That hurts both of you. You can ask me anything. I will try
to tell you.

Maggie: *smiling that her friend is always so willing to help* I
appreciate that and I know it hurts us both but I don't know how to
make him change

Elijah: You can't make him change.

Maggie: I know I can't. He's so determined to protect me from it all
that he doesn't realize he makes me feel like I'm not welcome in that
part of his life....that there is a part of him he will share with
you guys that I cant touch.

Elijah: And there's a part of your life....that I can't share.

Maggie: A part of my life..... ? *A bit confused at first, then
afraid she understands all too well the difficulty he's feeling
because she's felt it herself* Do I make things more difficult for
you?

Elijah: No, not more difficult. I make my things difficult on my own.
*Looking into her eyes* You belong to Noah, but I feel that you are
also a part of me. *looks away* But that's a line I can't cross.

Maggie: *scared but needing to get the words out* I feel that to. I
thought it was just me.

Elijah: I felt it from the first moment I lay eyes on you, but Noah
trusts me.

Maggie: I felt it even then too, despite the fact that the Oya was
telling me you were trouble and not to trust you so easily. I
couldn't help it. *struggling to find the words* Something inside me
demanded I surrender my trust to you. I know Noah trusts you. He
trusts me too. I would never do anything to willing hurt either of
you.
Elijah: I know you wouldn't. But I am the outsider Maggie. My own
Nimir-Ra is hunting me. It would be best for everyone if I left.

Maggie: *panicking at the thought of losing this soul friend when
she's just found him* No it wouldn't. It wouldn't be best for anyone.
You said yourself that Noah trusts you. That would aid your case for
joining Micah's pard. We can find a way to deal with your Nimir-Ra.

Elijah: *voice becoming hard, there is a steel glint in his eyes* I
don't want to be part of another pard controlled by a female.

Maggie: Anita isn't like Tabitha. She isn't a queen so much as a mom
and only because her leopards, and some of Micah's need one. She
doesn't mess with the alphas unless there is trouble. Even then, look
how far she let Elizabeth go before she reprimanded her

Elijah: I'd rather go solo.

Maggie: Could you stay in St Louis without joining the Pard? Have you
talked to Patrick about this? I know I'm asking a lot of questions
of you but I don't want to see you go. *tears in eyes* I.....we don't
want to lose you.

Elijah: Patrick is a good friend, but he doesn't own me. He didn't
make me. I killed that one.

Maggie: *takes a deep breath* I know he doesn't own you and he didn't
make you. You were made by another Tore as I understand it. I only
meant that he seemed like a trusted friend that knows your situation
so I wondered if you had talked this through with him.

Elijah: He'd only try to stop me.

Maggie: Did you ever stop to think that's because he cares? He cares,
Noah cares, Luna is coming to care, *lowers head, voice shaking and
quiet* I care.

Elijah: I know you care. *voice becomes softer and compassion fills
his eyes* Do you actually think I'd want to hurt you?

Maggie: *looking up through tear rimmed eyes* No, you know I trust
you. Our souls are connected. My only fear is that you will leave
without warning, thinking that you will be protecting me that way.
But you wouldn't be. You would be hurting us all.
Elijah: *Running a hand through my hair in frustration* If I stay and
she comes after me...it will make what happened at NIC look like a
schoolyard brawl. Sebastion won't stop her. He thinks she loves him.

Maggie: *voice becoming firmer with the conviction she can help him
make the decision to stand his ground* You have friends here. At
least here you have a fighting chance. What is the alternative? To
keep running forever? Or to let her win? *shaking her head* Sebastion
sounds like an idiot.

Elijah: Love blinds some… When this thing with Luna is over...I want
to take you out for a real dinner, away from here, somewhere a little
more stylish.

Maggie: You don't have to do that if you don't want to. You do so
much for me as it is. I would like a night out away from the lair, heck away from the
District, but I don't want you to feel it's necessary.

Elijah: I don't feel it's necessary. I want to do it. *getting a mischievous glint in his eyes* With Noah's permission of course.

Maggie: *smiling* Of course. Time away from here with you....um....away from the craziness of the lair sounds heavenly.

Elijah: Great. I'll look forward to it.

Maggie: I will too my forever friend.

Elijah: I suppose I should get back to Luna.

Maggie: *sighing* Yeah, I guess she needs you right now more than I
do.

Elijah: If her dreams are this powerful...she shouldn't be left alone.

Maggie: True. No telling what Ga....may happen.

Elijah: *Looking at her frowning* What were you going to say?

Maggie: *shakes head looking down, refuses to meet his eyes* I shouldn't say anything. Luna trusts me to keep her confidence.

Elijah: *Cupping her chin. I raise her face to meet mine* If she has told you something in confidence then by all means do not betray it. *Placing a gentle kiss on her lips* I'll go keep the Oya warm then.*Walks back into the padded room*

Maggie: *momentarily speechless, touches lips then quietly says* thank you Lija. *sighs and head back toward office*