Disclaimer: If it came from Cinda Williams Chima, it's not mine.

It hadn't been difficult to find ways to contact him. He cut a wide path wherever he went, leaving a trail she could have picked up in her sleep. That she knew him well had nothing to do with it. The phone number was scribbled on the back of an old shopping receipt that sat on the counter in front of her, creased from her fingers. She didn't need to look. She'd had the number memorized days ago.

The most difficult part was forcing her fingers to dial the phone. It took several minutes to work up to it, her stomach clenched with anxiety the entire time. She half-panicked when the number four failed to enter. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was no good in being nervous. He'd be able to tell, and then what would be the point of all of this?

Jack. She had to think of him. Jack and Becka, the ones who would suffer the most if she couldn't manage this. They were counting on her to help, even if they didn't know it.

Even if she was breaking all the rules she'd lived by for the past years to do so.

She took another deep breath to steady herself. Then, with renewed purpose she picked up the phone. The number four didn't stick, and after a few moments, she heard a faint ring on the other end.

It rang once, twice, three times before he answered.

"Hello?" His voice was clearer, sharper than all of her memories, and her stomach lurched at the sound. She found herself unable to speak. She realized she hadn't expected him to actually answer. She found she didn't know what to do now that she was hearing his voice. In that instant everything came back to her.

"Hello?" he repeated, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Any second now he would hang up, and she would be able to try and forget all over again. Any second the line would go dead and she would be try to pretend it hadn't happened. After all, he would never know it was her who had called...Any second...

Jack. She was doing this for him. He didn't have a chance if this fell through. She had to protect him. She took a deep breath, clenching her fists to keep them from shaking.

"Lee?"