(Unedited, sorry. Super bad lightning storm so gonna turn off computer) 

Callem-

I knew that he had to be here when Fri came ducking back through the door looking very pale. We had all heard his song, too, but Fri's actions made us sure. It was a relief that he was freed from the dry prison finally, but it was also going to be hard on Oliver to be able to see him but not take him out of his this place. 

"Are you alright, Fri?" I asked as I stepped closer. 

He jumped a little, looked up at me, then looked down. "I don't believe I have made a friend today." He mumbled, messing with his hands nervously. 

I offered him a smile. "It's alright. That is Ocar. He made a mistake a while ago and unfortunately, now the humans want him to pay for it. How his current situation came to be was unfair, but there is little we can do. Oliver has been trying his best to free him of the human prison, especially because of how dry it is. I am thankful, that they finally saw reason for that, at least." 

"They tried to keep him in a dry place?" Fri asked, not seeming to understand how that could even be possible for a mer. 

I nodded. "Yes. Human prison is not very helpful to us. A shower once a day is sometimes okay, but we need soaked often to stay healthy." 

He nodded then, seeming to understand what I was talking about. When I didn't reply any further, he turned his attention to Hice. The other mer seemed to notice he had eyes on him, because he turned away from the conversation he was having with Mellac and walked right over to pull Fri against his chest. It wasn't really a hug, but sharks weren't know for being friendly. Even to each other. 

We waited another few minutes before Oliver limped back through the door. His hair was messy but there was a new expression on his face that I had not seen in quite a long time. Hope. He got back to testing the samples he had taken from Fri with a slight smile on his face. 

The results, when he finally did finish what he could do on his own, weren't promising. There were no clear signs for what was causing Fri to still feel bad. Oliver said that the toxins he had been given before were all gone. 

I don't understand it. There must be something else there. 

Of course, I didn't understand many things involving humans and even mers. I always thought that our bodies would heal themselves as needed, but I did know that sometimes, that didn't work. It was sad to think about it, but Fri may have one of those things that can't be fixed. I wasn't going to voice those words, though. There was enough sadness among my friends with Ocar's situation, no need to add to that. Especially if I cannot be certain. 

"Hey Callem, what's on your mind?" Parker asked as he stepped into my chest. I gladly wrapped my arms around him and hugged him close, stealing a few licks on his cheek before offering a smile. 

"Just worried. I hope that everything will end well and wish that I could help more."

He nodded against my chest. "I know how you feel, but Oliver is the best when it comes to figuring out what's going on with anything aquatic. I'm great at field research and visual cues, but he's the best with the microscopic stuff." 

I nodded, then looked up as Hice ducked away from Fri and headed for the door. He seemed to be in a hurry, but when I turned my attention back to Fri, the mer looked upset. "Why did he leave?" I mumbled, not directing the question to anyone, really. 

"Fri, is Hice okay?" Parker asked, drawing the mer's attention to us. 

He looked down and shrugged, blinking quickly. "I don't know. He won't talk to me about it but he keeps leaving and never lets me come with him." 

That's odd. He seems like he cares about Fri, but to leave him several times and not allow him to come with him? 

I couldn't think about Parker leaving me like that. Sure, he had to work and most times he couldn't let me come with him, but that didn't mean I didn't know where he was or what he was doing. It was, what Parker told me, respectful, to at least let your love know where you were going if they couldn't come with you. 

 Perhaps they aren't lovers, though. 

Fri seemed to like Hice's attention, but Hice just appeared to tolerate Fri in most cases. He cared for him, possibly about him, but not like I do with Parker. 

"You do not want to follow him?" I asked as Oliver began putting away everything he didn't need looked at by someone else later. 

Fri hunched his shoulders and pursed his lips. "I do, but I can't. I don't feel well enough to swim, and he always swims away. I had tried a few times, but it was always too far or he came back and brought me back to the sand. I don't want to make him mad again by trying to follow." 

"We can just use the tracking chip, Fri." Oliver mumbled as he finished what he was doing, then walked over to a computer. 

"Right! He has a chip because of what he had done before. Good idea." Parker said with an excitement that made me want to hug him, among other things. Instead, I squeezed him a bit harder, then let him go since I could tell that he wanted to run over to the computer. 

Curiosity brought the rest of the group to it and we waited in silence as the system was brought up and Hice's short tracking number was entered into the search. It came up after a moment, showing us that he had almost made it to the ocean already. 

He has to be running, but why? Did he forget he had to leave? 

His speed picked up the moment it shows him hitting the water. Surprisingly, he didn't go very far out, and instead began heading up the coastline at a steady speed. 

"He's heading toward the old Cal-Waves facility... but why? It's closed down and guarded." Oliver said quietly, as if thinking out loud. 

Why would he go there. 

We all waited to see if he would, and sure enough, his tracker stopped moving right where the old building for Cal-Waves was marked. 

"This isn't good. He has no reason to be there." Parker said, worry beginning to show in his voice. I tugged him back against him chest and nuzzled his hair, wanting him not to worry too much. 

"Mellac and I can go see what he is up to?" I offered. 

There couldn't be anything serious going on at that place. It was closed and locked up. I wasn't worried about checking it out, especially if my brother came with me. 

"I do not mind going." Mellac added a moment later. 

"I suppose." Parker said, worry still in his tone as he looked up at me. I gave him a smile, which he returned after a second. 

"Just look around in the water, okay? Don't surface unless you need a breath. Don't go in the building." Parker said as he turned to face me in my arms. His wish for my safety made my smile widen. 

"I promise, Parker. I will not do any of those things. We will just go and see what Hice is up to for Fri's peace of mind. Nothing more." 

Mellac walked over to stand beside me and nodded. "I will make sure he doesn't wander off. My brother can be far too curious." 

I felt my face warm. He was right, I did often get distracted. 

Oliver turned from the computer and motioned for us to follow him to the exit of the building. "That should work. You guys both have tracking chips from the trial, but that also reminds me. Parker, get rid of that gun Kipper brought home that one day. You've been keeping it in the safe, but if you're caught, you could get in a lot more trouble than we can handle right now." 

Parker nodded beside me. I knew that he'd only kept it in case anyone came for us again, but it did make sense to get rid of it, too. I didn't want him to be taken from me. I will protect him. 

"Alright." He finally said as we stepped outside. The sky was darkening with a storm, but it would not hinder my brother or I. 

"We'll turn on the tracking system again on my computer at Parker's. Do you guys want a ride down to the water?" Oliver asked. 

I shook my head. "No. It will give us time to talk for a short while and for you to get the tracking set up before we hit the water." 

Oliver nodded. "Good idea. Best of luck to you two. Be careful. We all want you, and Hice, to come back safely." 

I offered him a smile, then turned to catch up to Mellac, who had already begun walking toward the ocean. I was about halfway to him when I stopped, turned, and ran back to pull Parker into my arms for a quick kiss 

"I will be back soon." I told him, earning a soft kiss in return.

"I'll be waiting. Drag that pain in the butt shark back here before dinner, okay?" 

I chuckled and nodded, messing his hair up a bit before turning and running off to join my brother. We would be back soon and this whole strange situation would be over. Nice and simple.