A perfect circle

 "Sara?"  asked Janie, one day "Can we talk?"

"Yes.  Sit down."  ordered the other woman, as she switched on the electric tea kettle.  "I can't stand this thing."

"The kettle?  It's faster than using a stove."

"It's not the same."  said Sara  "What did you need to talk about?"

"I miss my family."

"...Then stop wasting time and go home."

"I don't want to talk to any of them.  I don't want to see them."

"But you miss them?"  asked Sara, beginning to prepare the tea.  "Why don't you want to talk or see them?"

"I don't know!  There's nothing to say, and...  they are all a pack.  Family."

"Aren't you part of that?"

"...Yes."

"You can't expect them to take you by the hand every day and talk about how wonderful a family member you are."

"But...  they all have these connections.  And I don't.  Everyone I love has gone away."

"Get over it!  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you're looking for a little nookie then find it.  Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, and you have to realize that everything must come to an end."

"What if...  It's over?  I mean.  if I'm not supposed to be around Phoenix, or Lynn or Julian anymore.  If that world is done for me?"

"If that was the case, you would have to keep going.  Keep moving until you find somewhere else to stick your roots for a while.  But, if I had to guess, I'd say Lynn isn't nowhere near ready to be done with you, and neither is your buddy Julian."

"She's never needed me.  And everything that happened felt like a... reset.  It's all happened before."

"That child has never needed you more."  Sara said, after a moment "What do you mean it's happened before?"

"Different things that have happened in my life.  I've um, been on different sides of the same situations.  Doesn't that mean things have come full circle?"

"Perhaps.   Does a circle have an end?"

"What?"

"Go back and stay for a bit, see how things are.  Then you'll know if it's really time to move on.  Don't you have other buddies too?"

"Aunt Sara-"

"Janie.  You've always got me, honey.  Always.  Anytime you want to talk just call me or stop by.  Anything that I can give you I will.  You never have to be alone and you know that."

"...But you're not going to be around forever."

"You're a time traveler, sweetheart."

"I still don't have my powers back."

"Don't you have a machine in your pocket that will take you anywhere?  And a boat somewhere that'll do the same thing?"

"Yes, but it's not-"

"You can find me, even if I'm dead and gone."

"That's cheating, isn't it?"

"This coming from the girl that hired someone to do your homework for you?"

"I wish you were my Mama."

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

"Janie Louise!"  called Sara, early one afternoon.  She was still stuck on Ome Aztlan, away from her boyfriend and her life in a far away land.  Her rescuer wasn't back on duty yet, which meant that she had to stay in a safe house until he was able to get her home.

The safe house was nice, and even had a large yard, but it also had Janie.

"Janie Louise!"  she repeated "Did you switch my sugar with salt?"

"Who would DO such a thing?"  Janie asked, laughing "Was your tea ~sal~ Tea?"

"...That's not funny."

"Oops?  Do you want more tea-tea?"

Sara gave Janie a stern look, then searched the cabinet for the sugar.  "Did you switch bodies with Lynn?"

"Did I what?"

"You're acting like a child."

"No!  That wasn't an easy prank.  You've caught it every other time."

"I've ignored it."

"Ohh."  Janie had another grin on her face  "Sugar is in the freezer."  The grin fell when Sara removed the cup of water that would have fallen over when she opened the freezer.

"You need to go home."

"They're pranks!  I don't mean no harm."

"I'm going to be leaving soon, and you need to do something other than hide away and play pranks."

"Can I paint my boat purple?"

"Purple...  It's your own damn boat, do what you want."

"It was a joke Ma."

"You're not the only one that can joke"

"What's that mean?"  she asked, taking a seat since she was done with the pranks for now.

"You'll see.  Go home Janie, and I'll come visit you before I go back to my home."

"To see your Prince?  Is he handsome?  Are you two going to get married?"

"No.  I'm only dating him.  He'll find someone more suitable."

"Will you elope?"

"No."  Sara turned to leave the room, and Janie tried to get up to follow.  She was stuck fast to the seat

"Sara!"

The other woman softly laughed to herself, then watched as Janie began to laugh, one she realized she'd been pranked.

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Rescue Me/My Thread