It's nice to get back into the groove of writing. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it was a bit slow to write it, but we pulled through! Enjoy! Much love, Ghost!

Dollhouse pt3

Lin and Naru awoke Mai and Monk at 3 am and they went to bed. Mai changed clothes and went to the bathroom while Monk watched the monitors. While walking from the bathroom Mai heard a child's giggle. She quickly looked around but didn't see a thing. Picking up her pace she reached base within just a few seconds, allowing Monk to do what he needed while she watched the monitors. "So, where do you think Minnie got off to?" Monk asked as he sat next to her.

"I don't know but I have a feeling we'll have to play its game to find out any more about this case," Mai answered as she offered him a cup of tea, which he gladly accepted. They watched the monitors and Mai went to change the tapes a few times.

"Mai what is that behind you?" Monk asked over the walkie talkie. He watched as she turned around and then looked back at the camera with a confused look. "I guess it's just my imagination, hurry back to base."

Mai began to walk back to base when something caught her attention. "Hey Monk, did you see a shadow?" Mai asked over the walkie, but all she received back was static. She began to look around, the shadow disappeared and Mai quickened her pace to base. A giggle stopped Mai in her tracks. "Monk, did you pick that up?" Mai practically whispered and once again static could only be heard. A shadow ran across the hall and another giggle could be heard. Mai followed it into the living room and found Minnie sitting on the couch.

"Mai, what are you doing in there?" Monk's voice came over the walkie, causing Mai to jump. Mai picked up the doll and quickly ran to base.

"Well, it seems our game of hide and seek has ended," Mai said as she held the doll up. Monk looked at her and took the doll.

"Maybe we should tie it up," Monk suggested shivering. Mai nodded and sat down next to him. "Well I'll find something to tie her up with," he placed the doll in his chair and went to look for some rope. Mai watched the monitors as he looked and heard another giggle, before seeing a shadow move out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh, you got to be kidding me," Mai exclaimed and Monk turned to look at her. "The freaking doll is gone," Mai sighed and searched the monitors.

"How the hell did it get away?" Monk asked looking around for the doll. He sat back down with Mai and sighed. "Just how the hell did that damn doll get out of this room, without either of us seeing it?" Monk threw his arms into the air and watched the monitors.

A few hours and several cups of tea later it was 6 o'clock and everyone began to shuffle in. "Anything good happen last night?" Ayako asked yawning and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Oh, you know, playing hide n' seek with a possessed doll and having it follow me around for the rest of the night," Mai answered sarcastically causing everyone in the room to look at her. "You know the usual," Monk added standing and stretching his back.

"What do you mean you played hide n' seek with a doll?" Naru asked dryly looking between the monk and his brunette assistant. When neither answered he sighed. "Mai, Tea," he demanded and Mai complied.

"Well, Minnie decided to run around last night while I was changing the tapes in the cameras," Mai explained while she put the pot of water on the hot plate. "I kept hearing giggles and then the walkie stopped working, not to mention the shadow I saw and then I found Minnie sitting on the couch in the living room," Mai continued as she waited for the water to boil.

"Then after Mai brought Minnie back to base, I looked for something to tie that damn doll up with and it was gone," Monk said sitting down on the couch.

Ayako sat next to him and shook her head, "How the hell did that doll get passed both of you?"

"Well, it's not like we just opened the door and let it get away," Mai said annoyed as the teapot started to whistle. "Besides you probably couldn't do any better, since your so old you probably should be wearing glasses," the teapot whistled more aggressively and Mai finally took it off the hot plate, burning her hand in the process, but she didn't flinch or let anyone see that it had burned her.

"What did you say you little brat?!" Ayako screeched and went to stand. "Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners!"

"How could they, they are dead after all," Mai mumbled under her breath and the heat in her palm began to rise in temperature. No one had heard what she said and so Ayako began to move towards her. "It's obvious your parents didn't teach you a thing about how to be selfless and not to demand respect," Mai said calmly as she fixed tea for everyone.

"I do not demand respect," Ayako gasped and stared at the girl. "And I am selfless, it's just no use wasting it on a selfish brat like you," she added crossing her arms.

"Me, selfish? I spent two years helping tutor students, with very low pay, instead of going and finding a higher paying job because they needed me," Mai had turned on her heel, her face red with anger and the room became hotter.

"There's a difference between being selfless and just plain stupid," Ayako shot back with a smirk.

"Alright, that's enough," Naru's voice cut through very easily and caught the attention of both women. "Mai you're not lead on this case anymore, go watch over Ayami and as for you Matsuzaki I want you to go and pick up Father Brown if either of you has a problem with this you can leave," his voice was cold and stern. Ayako sighed dramatically and stomped out of the room. Mai finished the tea and then went to look for Ayami.

"Oh Mai, you must be on Ayami watch," Noriko smiled as Mai entered the kitchen.

"Yep, where is she?" Mai asked smiling brightly and then Ayami came around from behind Noriko. "Hey, I didn't see you there."

"When will I get Minnie back?" Ayami asked timidly.

"I don't know yet, but how about we go play outside?" Mai smiled and Ayami took her hand. They walked outside and the sun had just risen. Mai sat on the porch and watched Ayami run around giggling.

"Here we are, I thought you two would enjoy some snacks," Noriko said sitting beside Mai. "Ayami, come eat some snacks."

"Thank you, auntie," Ayami beamed and ran towards them. "Hey Mai, do you want to have a tea party with me?" she asked with a huge smile.

"Sure," Mai smiled and Ayami ate a few cookies, before pulling Mai to her room. "Ayami let's go play in the living room."

"But my teacups are in my room," Ayami whined and Mai covered her view of the wall. Noriko had followed them and once she saw what was written on the wall she screamed.

The gang, except for Lin, raced up the stairs. "Mai get Ayami downstairs," Naru ordered and Mai nodded pulling Ayami along with Noriko. Before they could get to the stairs Noriko's ankle was pulled and she began to be dragged across the floor. Mai grabbed her hand and Monk began to chant. Noriko was soon released and Mai helped her up. "Let's go to base and have Lin look it over since Matsuzaki is away. Mai, please take a picture of this for the file and clean it off, Takigawa will watch over Ayami until you are done," Naru ordered and lead the rest to base.

"This is what happens to bad girls," Mai sighed as she read the words out loud. "Is this Minnie's doing? Is it because of Ayami letting us take her?" Mai asked herself while she took a picture of it with her phone. Once she sent the picture to Lin, she looked for a sponge and some cleaning solution.

"It seems your ankle has been dislocated," Lin said and started to wrap it up. "We should get to the hospital so it can be properly examined."

"I can take her," Monk offered and Naru nodded. "I guess I can take Ayami with me," Monk said and once again Naru only nodded.

"I'll be fine, there's no need to take me to the hospital," Noriko smiled and waved them off. "I have some crutches, from when I sprained my ankle a few years back, so it's fine."

"Alright, let me help you go get them," Monk offered her a hand and she gladly took it. As they were walking out of base, Mai walked in. "Done so soon?" Monk paused and asked her.

"Yep, it's not that hard to clean a wall off with the right solution," Mai smiled and Ayami ran to her.

"I'm so sorry, it's all my fault," Ayami cried hugging Mai. "I shouldn't have let you take Minnie," she continued on rambling and cried more.

"Ayami, sweetie it's not your fault," Mai soothed and hugged her back. "Is this what Minnie said she'd do if you disobeyed her?" Ayami only shook her head and cried.

"Listen here Ayami, your aunt Noriko is hurt badly and if you don't tell us, we can't prevent her from getting hurt even more," Naru demanded coldly, grabbing Ayami from Mai and made her look at him, causing Ayami to cry more.

"Are you serious Naru, she's just a child!" Mai yelled at him and then slapped him, to which he just stared at her in shock. "Ayami come here sweetie, let's sit on the couch," she took Ayami's hand and led her over to the couch where she soothed the child and calmed her down. Mai still shot a glare at Naru every now and then.

"You should have known better Noll," Lin looked at his young charge, shaking his head slightly in disappointment. "Ayami is just a child, no older than 6. You had to of expected that outcome," Lin continued to watch Naru as he crouched down near the couch.

"You know you'd be a great mother Mai," John said from the doorway, causing Mai to blush and look away. "Now, where is this doll?" he asked coming into the room fully and looking around.

"We haven't been able to find her," Ayako walked in behind him and plopped down in the closest chair.

"Matsuzaki, Noriko was attacked by the spirit, Lin looked at her ankle, but I think a more professional opinion would be better. She's in her room," Naru said and Ayako huffed. "We will search for the doll once Ayami has told us what she knows," he informed John.

"Ayami, what has Minnie said to you?" Mai asked her softly and the small child sniffled. "We promise to keep Noriko safe."

"You do?" Ayami sniffled some more and Mai nodded. "Well, when we moved in Minnie started talking and she told me that Kana was an evil witch and put aunt Noriko and daddy under her spell and made them her slaves," she paused and sniffled, rubbing her eyes a bit. "Then she said none of them could be trusted and that I wasn't allowed to play with aunt Noriko or she would make terrible things happen," Ayami began to cry once more. "It's all my fault."

"Ayami, when did the other children start showing up?" Naru asked as he finished writing down notes in his black book.

"Minnie invited them, first it was just two and then more started to show up," Ayami was still crying and Mai glared at Naru.

"Thank you Ayami, you've been a big help," Mai comforted Ayami calming her once again, but she started to hiccup. "Let's fix you a cup of tea," Mai took stood, but Ayami grabbed her hand causing her to pause. "I'm not going far, just to the other side of the room," squeezing her hand a little Mai smiled and the child released her hand.

Ok, so everyone says that Ayako and Monk were real jerks when they all first met and I mean you never really see it, so I hope you enjoy that little scene and understand why Naru took Mai off the case. Don't forget to leave a review and tell me how you liked it or if you noticed any mistakes!