(no subject)

Fry smiles slightly at Rahne, when she arrives at the house. The little girl is still with her care worker, and looks a bit unsure. Her hair remains in the same tight plaits, and she's wearing another unflattering brown dress.

"Hi." she says. "I came to play video games."

"Hi." Fry then nods to the care worker. "Did Max talk to you about the witness thing?"

"Yeah, you two are fine to socialise; even if your case goes to court they'll only use the statement Rahne already gave." the care worker says. "All right Rahne? Give me a call when you want picking up."

Rahne nods. Fry shows her into the living room and turns the games console on.

"I don't know what I'd do if my parents didn't let me buy games." he says, tossing her a cushion to sit on. "For having people over, I mean."

"I don't really have people over." Rahne says, accepting the cushion and the console.

"I didn't use to. Until I went to my new school." Fry says. "Is your school rough?"

Rahne nods. "I used to be home schooled. But I have to go to regular school now."

Fry glances at her, and decides to put her out of her misery.

"It's okay Rahne, I know you're in care. It doesn't bother me."

Rahne looks at him. "Is it that obvious?"

"Nah." Fry shakes his head. "I recognised your care worker. My friend Lenny had a brief stint in the children's home you're in."

"Oh! Lenny... tall, barricades himself in his room, likes screws?"

"That's the one. Small world." Fry loads up the game. "So you have a Dad but you're in care."

"It's just temporary." Rahne says. "Until he gets better."

"What's wrong with him?" Fry asks.

"You ask a lot of questions."

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No, it's okay. Most people just tip-toe around me. It's refreshing to have someone get to the point." Rahne sends her pokemon around to battle. "He had a brain tumour a few years ago, frontal lobe. They took it out but, well, he's always had a bit of a temper but now he finds it harder to control. Sometimes he starts screaming and hits people when he's angry."

"You have an impressive knowledge of neuroanatomy for a ten-year-old." Fry comments.

Rahne shrugs. "Advantage of home schooling; the curriculum is what I need at the time. He's very open about it with me."

"Did he hit you? Is that why you're in care?"

Rahne nods.

"He was really sorry afterwards. The police took him away when I was at the hospital. He's in a secure psychiatric unit at the moment. The kids at school read about it in the paper and now everyone calls him my 'Mad Dad'. But it's not his fault he had a brain tumour. Before then he was just strict, he never hurt me, and he always looked out for me after Mum left."

"But you can't live with your mum now?" Fry asks.

"I wouldn't want to even if she was allowed." Rahne says. "Last time she applied for custody of me I was six, and she was turned down outright. Dad never really explained why, but in the children's home I broke into the office one night and read my file, so I know she's a heroin addict."

Fry is quiet for a moment, and glances at her. She glances back, trying to see if she's put her new friend off, but Fry just looks sorry for her.

"Don't tell anyone, please?" she asks.

"I won't." Fry says. "I was just wondering why you told me."

"Well, to be honest, you're the first person apart from my social worker who actually seems to want to know for reasons other than to pick on me."