They spent most of that evening trading braille lessons for sign language lessons. Caesar was an incredible teacher, but an even better student. By the time Amanda called a halt because she was getting tired, and because she wanted to go downstairs and watch one of her all-time favorite movies, King Kong, Caesar was already writing everyone's names as well as simple sentences in braille.

Amanda was surprised when he joined her in front of the TV. When Charles came in and discretely dropped a box of tissues in to Amanda's lap, Caesar was puzzled.

"Why tissues?" he signed to Amanda.

"Oh, I'll need them," she told Caesar, already wiping one tear from her eye and the movie was just getting started. "This is a sad sad movie."

"Then, why watch?" Caesar asked, even more puzzled.

"Because it's great!" Amanda exclaimed. "Watching King Kong is kind of a family tradition. Course I usually watch this with Dad and Lewis—"

She broke off and sighed. She really missed her big brother but was not about to admit it out loud.

"It's a classic movie, Caesar. It's got I don't know how many remakes, though this one is the best of them all."

She hesitated then.

"hmm … maybe you shouldn't watch it, though," she said worriedly.

"Why," Caesar demanded indignantly. 'If Amanda is old enough, so am I."

"Well, okay, but there are parts you might not like."

The movie started, and both Caesar and Amanda were completely enthralled. Caesar thought the girl, Ann, was very pretty and could sing and dance very well. But when Kong made his first appearance, Caesar did not move, his eyes glued to the screen.

And when it was finally over, both he and Amanda were using the tissues from the box.

"Hey, what were you guys watching, anyway," Will asked, finally coming out of his office.

He saw the credits scrolling by, and frowned.

"King Kong?" he asked.

Caesar stood up, beat his chest and did a decent Kong impression, pretending to defend Amanda from imaginary dinosaur foes.

Will still looked a little concerned but laughed despite himself.

"Okay, Buddy, I get it," he chuckled. "But it's way past your bedtime … both of you."

Both Caesar and Amanda made very similar noises of complaint.

"Come on now, you can protect Amanda from big lizards tomorrow, now go get ready for bed you two. Scoot!"

Still grumbling with irritation, they both headed upstairs. But when Will's back was turned, and Charles already asleep, Amanda made her way quietly up to Caesar's room. She knew he'd still be awake, and she didn't feel like sleeping, either. She settled in next to Caesar, and the two began to talk.

The phone rang very early the next morning, jolting Amanda out of her deep sleep. Despite having her own bedroom set up, she ended up falling asleep curled up in Caesar's room after all. But she didn't remember lying on all those pillows or the blankets wrapped around her, almost like a nest.

Caesar must have got them for me, Amanda thought. Oh, that chimp is so sweet!

"Amanda," Will was calling up the stairs. "Amanda, honey, it's for you."

Grumbling, Amanda climbed to her feet and rushed downstairs. Was she in trouble for sleeping in Caesar's room and not hers?

"Should I hire you a secretary?" Will teased.

Amanda started to scowl, but it turned in to a yawn. She hated early mornings.

"Mom Dad or Lewis?" she yawned and stretched, wondering why any of them would be calling so early.

'No, it's Caroline at the Zoo," Will told the little girl quietly. Something in his voice sent dread all through her.

"Dr. Oranda? What's wrong?" Amanda said almost before Will had handed her the phone.

She listened for a while, her eyes slowly filling with tears.

"Can I come and see him?" she asked. "Please, Caroline? Please?"

Amanda handed the phone back to Will. She turned and bolted up to her room to get her jacket. As she was putting on her coat, a light touch on her arm made her jump.

"Oh, Caesar! How can you be so quiet?" she asked, sniffing and pulling some tissue from her coat pocket.

Caesar touched her wet cheek with one finger. Then he took her hand, and began to sign.

"What's wrong?" he signed. "Why cry?"

'I—I have to go see a sick friend," Amanda told him, her voice breaking.

Caesar whimpered softly in sympathy for his new friend.

"Real sick?" he asked.

'Yeah, Caroline says he … he might not—"

Caesar hugged the girl, and Amanda cried quietly in to his fur.

"OH, I'm sorry," she apologized when she finally pulled away. "I'm getting you all wet."

Caesar just huffed as if telling her he didn't care.

Taking her hands, he signed again,

"Caroline best doctor. You and Caroline will make sick friend better. Caesar will have surprise when Amanda gets home."

Just then, a car horn hooted.

"There's my ride," Amanda said.

She gave Caesar one quick hug, then snatching up her cane from the floor and unfolding it, she fled downstairs and out the door, her coat half on and half off her shoulders. Will was leaning in to the car talking with someone whom Amanda could hear was franklin, who often spend his few days off volunteering at the San Fran zoo. Amanda was so relieved it was Franklin that Caroline sent to pick her up. If she started to cry again on the way there, franklin wouldn't be mean and tease her about it. Truth to tell, he was far more likely to start sniffling right with her.

"Come on, Fay Wray," Franklin called to the child as she ran towards them. 'We need you."

Amanda got in the car, and before fastening her seatbelt, she gave franklin a friendly poke in the ribs.

"Stop calling me that," she complained.

Franklin pretended to wince in more pain than he really was.

"Ouch! Oh, sure sweets, just don't hit me anymore, okay. I surrender, already."

"Good luck you two, will wished them both. He reached through the car window to gently pat Amanda's shoulder. "Chin up, honey. It's going to be okay.

"Will it,' Amanda asked Franklin as they sped towards the zoo. "Be okay, I mean."

"The doc says he still isn't eating," Franklin said.

"But, it's been days," Amanda protested. "He can't go on not eating like that or … or he'll-"

Amanda gulped back a sob.

"Old Doc Oranda says there's nothing physically wrong with him that they can tell. He's just so depressed," Franklin said quietly.

"Well, if my big brother died, I'd be depressed, too," Amanda mumbled. "And don't you dare ever tell him that 'cause I'll deny it."

"Oh, blackmail information. I'll remember that."

Franklin tried to tease a smile out of the child. He failed miserably.

While sitting at the stop light he reached over and patted Amanda's hand.

Boy, I wish my sister and I were as close as you and Lewis," Franklin remarked.

"I didn't even know you had a sister," Amanda said.

"I don't, least not according to her."

"Doesn't mean she doesn't love you," Amanda informed the older man. "I sometimes don't really have a brother, either, least that's what I tell people."

They didn't have time for further conversation as Franklin pulled in to the employee's parking lot. Unfastening her seatbelt and unfolding her cane, Amanda scrambled from the car. She started to head straight in, but Franklin caught her arm.

"Hey Fay, don't run away," he told her, turning them both in another direction. "They've done some re-arranging since you were here a few days ago."

Amanda brightened a little bit.

"Did they finally get that larger area for the apes done?" she asked.

"Yeah, finally," Franklin told her.

Amanda grinned, but then it hit her. Her friend might never be able to see it, and she sobered noticeably yet again.

Not saying another word, she meekly allowed Franklin to lead her to the new location for Dr. Caroline Randa's clinic. On the way, many apes acknowledged the little girl's presence with happy and excited pant-hoots. Many pressed themselves against the edges of their enclosures, and Amanda stopped briefly to say 'hi' to them.

"I'll be back later, guys," she told them. "I gotta go to the clinic."

Many of the apes mimed being sick, even making coughing and gagging sounds. Most of them seemed aware of Amanda's blindness and made sure to make sounds to go along with their visual display.

"No, I'm not sick. I gotta go see a sick gorilla."

Every ape bowed their heads, and began to whimper and keen sadly.

"You are really amazing, have I told you that today?" Franklin commented as then entered the clinic.

Amanda blushed. She always loved getting praise from Franklin, whom she secretly had a very huge crush on, but she was sure he was just exaggerating. She shook her head, but Franklin was not letting her back out quite so easy this time,

"I'm telling you, Mandy, it's true. They don't act that way with the rest of us, not even a little bit. It's like they know you can't see, and they're, uh, acting differently because of it so you can understand them."

Amanda heaved a great sigh.

"Well, duh," she commented dryly. "Sometimes, you really disappoint me, Robbie," Amanda told Franklin sternly, sounding much older than her nine years as they headed for one of the isolation rooms. "I thought you understood apes. Of course, they know and are reacting to it. They're not dumb beasts, you know."

"Go easy on him, Mandy," Dr. Caroline Randa very gently scolded the girl as they came in. "He's one of the best handlers and volunteers I've ever worked with. If we could afford it, we'd steal him from the labs."

"Thanks, doc," franklin replied gratefully. "Thought I was gonna have to defend myself today. And, get the powers that be to make me an offer and we'll talk. I'm so sick of Gen-Sys, anyway."

As Franklin took something from a tray, the slight metal clank got Amanda's immediate attention. It was an all too familiar sound, but she did not like it.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Now honey, you know the rules," Franklin told her firmly. "You don't go in there without me and the tranquilizer gun. He's not a little baby gorilla you can hold in your arms anymore, it's the other way around now. But if you just want to sit out here and talk to him through the wire and glass—"

'Oh alright," Amanda huffed. "Give it a rest, huh Franklin! I know the drill by now, but that doesn't mean I Have to like it," Amanda complained as Franklin opened the door and let her in to the large cage.

A young and painfully thin silver-back gorilla lounged listlessly on a bed of straw and leaves. He stared at the ceiling of his cage, seeming to take no notice of what or who was around him.

"Hiya big guy," Franklin said cheerfully. He took an apple from his pocket and held it hopefully towards the animal. "I got you a treat?"

The gorilla showed no aggression. In fact, he showed nothing at all, determinedly ignoring Franklin and the fruit with equal disdain.

"Now that's not very nice, buddy. I brought you a visitor. She's anxious to see you."

Franklin stepped aside to allow Amanda to come out from behind him.

"Luca," the little girl said softly. "Luca, it's me, Amanda. Hey, Robbie, give me that apple, huh?

Franklin handed it to the little girl and stood back to watch her do her magic.

At the sound of her voice the gorilla's head turned, his eyes now fixed on Amanda's face. He grunted and purred softly, and for just a second, Amanda could almost let herself believe he was saying her name, trying to, anyway.

The little girl went and sat down beside the gorilla.

"They tell me you won't eat," she said sadly, putting one small hand on Luca's arm. "Aren't you hungry, Luca? I'm hungry, and I ate just last night. Won't you just take one little bite, please?"

She leaned close and held the apple towards the gorilla.

Luca raised one hand, and very gently pushed the fruit away. He nudged it towards Amanda.

"You want me to eat it?" Amanda asked.

The gorilla she'd named Luca when he was a baby grunted.

"No," Amanda told him firmly. "No, I won't take a bite unless you eat it, too."

Just then, as if to prove a point, both Amanda and Luca's stomachs growled in protest.

"Ah ha! So, you are hungry after all!"

Amanda smiled, and leaned forward to gently stroke Luca's head.

"I'll eat if you eat, how about it. And if you eat, maybe they can let you out of here," she added hopefully. "Luca, your family misses and needs you. You're the man of the family now. Uh, I mean, you're the ape of the family now?"

Both Luca and Franklin made sniggering sounds. Amanda stuck her tongue out at Franklin, and Luca openly seemed to chuckle. When he opened his mouth and drew in a breath, the girl was fast enough and slipped the apple in to it.

Biting in to the apple, Luca gave a muffled grunt.

"Oh, come on, Luca, just eat it, okay . They'll get us some more … won't you?" Amanda asked back over her shoulder.

"Yes, my Queen," Franklin gave the girl a solute and turned to the intercom to order more food.

By the time Amanda and Franklin left, Luca had eaten nearly a full meal. And after him giving Amanda one giant but gentle gorilla hug, and her promising to come back, Caroline had promised that if he kept that up, he would be out of the hospital in a day or so. So, Amanda returned to Will's home in a much happier mood than when she had left, certain now that her friend was not going to die of depression.

When she dropped off her coat in her room, she found a note left on her bed. Picking up the piece of braille paper, she read:

Amanda, come down to the kitchen, please?

As she came down the stairs, she noticed the wonderful scent she had missed earlier … chocolate.

"Welcome home," Charles greeted her at the kitchen door. "We have a special treat for our little lady today," and he took her hand putting it on his arm. "This way, Madam."

Suppressing a giggle, Amanda allowed Charles to escort her to the dinning room table, pull out her chair, and settle her comfortably in it.

"Chef Caesar, you're on?" Charles called.

Amanda smelled the scent of Chocolate coming closer, then Caesar was there, and he set a small plate with a little cake in front of Amanda.

'Yes, I think he's gonna be fine, Caesar. Thanks," Amanda said.

A second or two of silence greeted Amanda's statement. And, though she could not see Charles and Caesar exchange looks. Then, it hit her. She had answered Caesar's burning question before he'd had time to take her hand and sign it to her. It was all happening, again …

A/N:

A huge thanks to anyone who is still here , reading after so long an absence. And, a big welcome to any new readers who might have just joined Amanda on her adventures. As always, please keep the reviews and PMs coming.