A/N: So this is my first Covenant fic. I am totally aware that the plot is totally cliche (Caleb's sister comes back to town--actually any girl comes to town--with some kind of thing going on and gets with one of the Sons of Ipswich). But this story is going to be more about the relationship between Caleb and his family and Caleb and the other Sons of Ipswich.

Okay, so the main character is Karilee Danvers. She's Caleb's younger sister (by a year). She'll be referred to as Kari through much of the story, and sometimes just K. I don't think there's really anything else to say, but here goes.

Oh, I found it to be a little rushed. Like things moved a little fast. But I usually feel that way about my first chapters. So. R&R. Thanks. -Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own the Covenant.

Chapter One

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

It was starting to get late as Karilee stepped into the foyer of Danvers Mansion. She was fairly certain her mother was already asleep--or passed out if she had yet to get over her 'miniscule' drinking problem. The absence of Caleb's car in the driveway made her think that he was out. Most likely with his 'boys'. The thought of the Sons of Ipswich made her groan audibly in the empty room.

The four were inseparable normally, and Kari could only imagine what they did over summer. Granted, she hadn't spent the summer at home in years. It wasn't that Pogue, Reid and Tyler bothered her--no more than her own brother did. It was that a person's sanity could only handle them in small doses. She would never be able to escape them now that she had returned home for summer.

This wasn't a situation she put herself in, either. Kari barely spoke to her own mother and brother. She attended a boarding school far away from her family and her past. She spent summers with her friends or roommate to stay close to school for start of term. It was their choice to put her in that situation. It made sure she was sheltered from all the horror of her father's addiction and the events that proceeded Caleb ascending. She was the baby girl, the youngest. Even younger than little Tyler. She shouldn't be exposed to such things. Kari hated being treated that way.

When her friend bailed on her for a family vacation last minute, instead of finding someone else to stay with--which she could have easily done--she took the first opportunity to come home. Kari smiled to herself as she moved her luggage further into the house. She couldn't wait to see the look on Caleb's face when he saw her.

Kari was just starting to settle in when she heard her brother arrive. He wasn't alone either, the hum of another motor and roar of a motorcycle gave that away. Kari sat back in one of the chairs, her legs crossed at the knees, while she waited for them all to come in. Caleb came in first, followed by Pogue who was laughing at something Caleb was saying. Reid came next, with one arm wrapped around Tyler's shoulders while he dangled his keys out of his reach. Tyler rolled his eyes as he finally caught hold of the keys to his truck.

They were halfway into the unlit living room and still hadn't seen Kari. So she brought their attention to her, herself. "Hey big brother."

Her words coincided nicely with Caleb turning on the lights. His eyes widened as he took in the presence of his little sister. He took on an expression that said 'that was not there when I left.'

"Kari? What are you doing here?" Caleb stammered out.

"What no 'hello'? No 'how are you'? No 'hey Karilee it's great to see you since I've only seen you one in nearly two years'?" Kari responded. "Where are your manners big brother?"

"That cannot be Karilee Danvers. When did you grow up?" Pogue laughed as Kari smirked.

"About the same time all of you forgot about me." Kari deadpanned.

"What are you doing here Kari?" Caleb questioned once again. "Aren't you supposed to be with your friend...Jessica?"

"Jennifer." Kari corrected. "Her family went to Hawaii for a month, so I thought I'd come visit my big brother. There's nothing wrong with that, is there Caleb?"

"Yeah Caleb," Reid nudged Caleb with his elbow, as he chuckled. "How much trouble could she really get into?"

Kari only laughed in response. How much trouble could she get into? Yes, she had been gone a long time.

"Don't underestimate her." Caleb replied before moving out of the room. One look at Kari and she followed him. She gave the other three boys a questioning look, but they all shrugged.

Caleb led Kari down the hall and further out of earshot of the others. "You're not supposed to be here Kari."

"I'm aware of that." Kari smirked. "I thought I would surprise you. This is my home too if you remember. Am I not welcome?"

"You know that's not what I meant."

"It sure sounded like it."

"Kari, you're my sister. You're always welcome with me. This is your home." Caleb said. "I just didn't think I was going to see you until next Christmas."

"See, I didn't think there was a reason for me to stay away. Dad was gone, you had ascended, you all had ascended, the fifth was destroyed to the best of your knowledge, and mom is slowly drinking herself into an alcohol-induced coma. All the reasons the two of you sent me away for aren't relevant anymore. Why shouldn't I be home?" Kari asked.

Caleb looked angry now. He wasn't happy with her comments. "Don't do this Kari. Not now. Don't come back here without any notice and give me a hard time about this..."

"Fine. We'll pretend it never happened." Kari responded, frustrated, before she returned to living room without another word.

Pogue, Reid and Tyler had made themselves comfortable with Caleb and Kari had argued. They couldn't hear what the two were going at it about, but the muffled sounds that reached them related that both Kari and Caleb were yelling. But hey, siblings never get along, do they? It just makes it worse when one gets the idea that sheltering the other will do well to save her from any corruption. Mostly because the overprotection only spurs rebellion. Which is exactly what Kari had done by coming home.

Kari was halfway into the living room before Caleb caught up with her. "Kari, we're not done with this!"

"But big brother, you have company." Kari said, gesturing toward the others. "I don't want to keep you from them."

"Kari this isn't some big joke." Caleb replied angrily, his tone low.

Kari smirked. "Well, it would be if I could just remember that punch line."

Reid snickered, but was quickly silenced by a glare from Caleb. "What? It was funny."

"Kari, please. Not here, not now." Caleb voice was firm, but just short of begging.

"I said, fine." Kari nonchalantly responded, plopping down in the only empty seat on the couch Reid and Tyler occupied. Pogue had taken the chair she had originally sat in.

"Kari..." Caleb warned.

"Oh don't go all authority figure on her, Caleb." Reid smirked as he said, "I'm sure she gets that enough at her school...Was it an all girls school?"

Kari laughed, "You wish. No, it was co-ed. Not that it did anything for the social scene."

"So what? No midnight pillow fights or late night--" Reid began flirtatiously.

"Reid!" Caleb exclaimed, as he sat down in an empty chair. Reid just shrugged, attempting to look innocent.

Kari leaned over to whisper an answer to Reid anyway. "Now I didn't say that..."

"Don't encourage him." Tyler shook his head as he rolled his eyes.

"You know you guys aren't nearly as annoying as I remember you." Kari stated with a smile.

"Well, thanks." Reid responded sarcastically. "And from what I remember you're not as--"

"Reid!" This time the warning came from Pogue.

"Hey, that comment could have been purely innocent. She was like nine the last time I saw her." Reid defended himself.

"Uh, it was more like fourteen." Kari corrected.

"Same difference." Reid shrugged. "You were small."

"That's what you remember me as? Small?" Kari asked, looking to Pogue and Tyler for an answer as well.

"Small-er." Pogue replied, and Reid and Tyler nodded.

"That's it, huh? You really can't remember anything else about me?" Kari shook her head. "That's pathetic. What do you use your brains for?"

"Okay, okay. If you have such a brilliant memory, Karilee..." Pogue challenged. "Why don't you tell us what you remember about us, other than that we were more annoying."

"Well, Pogue. I remember how bad you wanted a motorcycle. You used to daydream about it complete with hand gestures and 'vroom vroom' noises." Kari responded, before demonstrating the actions. The other three boys laughed, and Pogue sat back in his seat--he wasn't too happy with the memory.

"I remember that." Reid snickered. "He was obsessed."

"I also remember how panicked Reid was when he found a girl liked him for the first time. He was terrified when he rushed over here to talk to Caleb. Girls still had cooties back then I guess." Kari added, sending a smirk at Reid.

"I was young and innocent." Reid countered, "Much like you are now."

"There are a lot of words to describe me, Reid Garwin." Kari replied as she stood, then gave Reid a flirtatious look. "But innocent is not one of them."

Kari flipped around and made to leave the room, but stopped when Caleb called out. "Kari!"

"Goodnight big brother." Kari said. "Night boys."

Kari picked up her luggage and headed for the stairs. She didn't say another word or look back. She'd left quite enough of an impression for one night. Caleb was not happy with Kari's little surprise, or her little show for his friends. Kari couldn't help but smile to herself as she entered her old room. To her, there was nothing more fun than pissing off her big brother. And she had a lot of fun tonight.

But tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.