If you're about to read this story, first let me say thanks. This all started when I finally realized that my favorite character had been very systematically destroyed and replaced with this new one...someone I didn't recognize or really, care to know. Tea USED to be a fiesty, spunky, wonderful character...now, she's still a deeply feeling, sweet character, but she has definitely LOST most of the attributes that made her a GREAT character. Now this is NOT a diss on FL, I hold her in the highest regard and I give her lots of credit for TRYING to stay true to Tea as much as she could.

So what I have done here is take an actual scene from the show (one that particularly annoyed me), rewrite it and go my own way from there. I don't know where it's final destination will be, the only goal I had was therapy, and a dire need to see Tea as Tea again. So anyway, hope you like it...

ELSEWHERE (by Sarah McLachlan) I love the time and in between / the calm inside me / in the space where I can breathe / I believe there is a distance I have wandered / to touch upon the years of / reaching out and reaching in / holding out and holding in...

Chorus: I believe / this is heaven to no one else but me / and I'll defend it long as I can be / left here to linger in silence / if I choose to / would you try to understand?

I know this love is passing time / passing through like liquid and / I'm drunk in my desire / but I love the way you smile at me / I love the way your hands reach out and hold me near / I believe...

Repeat Chorus

Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break free / the mold that clings like desperation / Mother can't you see I've got / to live my life the way I feel is right for me / might not be right for you / but it's right for me...

Repeat Chorus

And I would like to linger here in silence / if I choose to / would you understand it / would you try?

...start from the scene on the docks: Tea and Sykes leaning against some crates.

Sykes looks at Tea with a queer little grin on his face, silent, and Tea grows impatient.

"You know I wasn't kidding when I said I was HUN-GRY," she says.
"I know," he replies, "but I have something for you."

Tea's brow furrows a bit, then she shifts around uncomfortably as Sykes reaches in his coat pocket.
"Uh...look, you don't have to give me gifts."

"Oh no. You asked me for this," he says, handing her a folded piece of paper.

She takes it from him, staring quizzically at him the whole time. But he says nothing. Carefully, she unfolds the paper, and reads aloud. "Twenty-three." She nods, not knowing what the heck that means. She looks back at him, shrugging, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He still says nothing. After a moment, she starts to get annoyed. "Okay, look," she says, with a tolerant smile. "I really don't need another mystery to solve, so...what is this?"

Sykes just keeps grinning at her, enjoying keeping her in the dark. Finally, he folds his arms and says smugly, "Well, good. Maybe now you'll think a little more about me and MY cryptic gift."

Tea's little smile fades, and the temperature drops sharply on the already cold docks. She studies his face, as if she's seeing him for the first time. She looks away and starts to laugh to herself in disbelief as her temper rises. Sykes suddenly realizes he said the wrong thing; but just as he opens his mouth to speak, Tea turns back to him, still mock-laughing, her eyes now steely and freezing.

"Okay...okay...you know what? No. NO," she mutters, half to herself as she takes the paper and rips it up into a million pieces. "WRONG. You are so wrong...and I am so outta here." With one swift move, she tosses the little shreds in his face, throws her purse over her shoulder and takes off like a shot. It happens so fast that Sykes needs a second to realize what's just happened before he runs after her.

Tea is halfway back to the street when Sykes catches up. She doesn't slow down. Finally, he passes her and blocks her way. She lurches forward as she stops, like a car that just slammed on the brakes. Without even looking at him, she says, "Get out of my way." He doesn't move.

"Tea, please..."

"Get OUT of my way!" He still doesn't budge. She folds her arms and turns away.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry..."

She whirls back around. "WHAT?!! Oh, that is such a CROCK. What DID you mean to do? That certainly wasn't a complement!"
He tries to speak, but she's on a roll now. "I can't BELIEVE you just said that to me!"

She steps back, and laughs. "I mean, what is it with you, anyway? One minute you're telling me how wonderful I am, and the next time I turn around, you're cutting me down!"

He shakes his head no. She nods her head yes. "Yeah, you are."

He continues to disagree, still trying to get a word in. "No...Tea...that's not..."

She finishes the sentence for him. "...what you meant? Oh...okay, fine...so you just think that ...what...I enjoy this?" She pulls the key out of her purse and holds it up. "You think I GET OFF on this kinda stuff? Is that it?"

He's still too shocked to speak, and the look on his face is downright scared. Tea takes a deep breath and continues, a little calmer, but still seething.

"Look. We're gonna get something straight right now. If you're using this key, and the favor I've asked of you, just so you can manipulate me, and screw with my head, then..." She stops, searching for the words. Finally, with her hand slicing through the air, "...then just get away from me. Don't even waste your time. 'Cause I'm NOT gonna let you."

She moves in closer. "Are we clear?"

He swallows whatever explanation he had. "Crystal."

Tea takes another deep breath and steps back, looking at the ground. There's a long, awkward silence. Finally, Sykes gets up the nerve to talk.

"I'm...I...that...was an awful thing for me to say. I'm sorry...forgive me."

She sighs, then nods, but still won't look at him. He bends a little to try to get in her line of sight.

"It's just that...I can see that he still gets to you. And I guess...that gets to ME."

She sniffs, shaking her head, still avoiding his eyes. She hasn't taken his head off yet, so he steps closer, getting braver.

"Listen, Tea...you say you won't allow me to manipulate you. You're laying down the law with me, and that's fine. But...I just don't understand why you can't do the same thing with Todd."

Her face flashes with anger. But the words do sink in.

"He could be anywhere...thousands of miles away from here...and he's still pulling your strings. Why, Tea? Why are you LETTING him do this to you?"

As she listens, Tea's angry eyes start to slowly gloss over with tears. She closes them to stop them from spilling over. There's truth in what he says, she knows it. But she still can't get away from her instincts...that are driving her to figure out what Todd is trying to tell her. When she's sure her urge to cry is gone, she turns back to Sykes, awaiting her response. She stares him square in the face, and speaks quietly.

"You know, you seem to think that just because I've asked for your help, that you're entitled to something you're not. You seem to think that knowing about this key gives you the right to think that you can presume to speak to me about Todd...and stick your nose in my business. Well, I'm gonna tell you something...it doesn't. I don't OWE you an explanation for ANYTHING I do, and I've told you once already...I will NOT discuss Todd with you. Now if you can't deal with that, then...just forget I ever asked you for anything...and go."

She turns away. Once again, he's shocked by her frankness. He backs off, at a loss.

"Twenty-three is the number of a locker at the bus station. The key opens it," he says with a heavy sigh.

Still looking away, Tea takes it in. Her eyes widen and her heart starts to beat a little faster, but she keeps a lid on it. She slowly turns back to face him. He stares at her, nervous, trying to anticipate her next move. There's another long silence as she searches his face. Then she turns her body and takes step towards him, as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out another copy of the key, and hands it to her.

She takes it, cocking her head to one side. "A locker at the bus station." He nods. She lifts an eyebrow.

"There's an awful lot of bus stations in Pennsylvania. Not to mention the rest of the country."

He smiles. "Yeah...yeah there are. But I figured I'd try the closest one first." He shrugs. "It worked."

She cracks up, in spite of herself. She looks up to see him staring at her, and she searches his eyes again to see if they'll tell her anything about him, as she can't really figure him out. But all she sees is an anxiousness, a yearning to get closer to her...something she's not ready for, or is even sure she wants. She looks away for a second, then turns back.

"Well...thank you. I really do appreciate it."

"Anything for you, counselor. What do you say...truce?"

She sighs, considering. She feels an attraction towards him...but she doesn't trust herself enough to know whether it's really him she wants, or if she's just lonely. And even though she gets the feeling there's a side to him she hasn't seen much of, a side she probably wouldn't like, a side that leaks out in nasty comments like the one he made earlier...at the same time, she doesn't really want to drive him away, either. So she gives...softening, she lets one of her famous smiles escape, and nods. They shift around awkwardly for a while. Finally, he reaches out and lightly chucks her shoulder.

"So...shall we head over there and open it up?"

She looks at him, questioningly. "You mean you don't already know what's in it?"

He shakes his head. "I just tried the lock. When it clicked, I just closed it up again."
She nods, but for some reason, isn't sure she believes him.

"Oh. Well...um...actually, I don't want to go right now."

His eyes widen, intrigued. "Really?"

She grins. "Na... I'm still hungry. Let's get some FOOD, already, before I pass out."

He smiles broadly, encouraged by this. More confident now, he holds out an arm. Cautiously, she hooks her arm around his. They walk back to the street in silence. The whole time, Tea's mind is racing. As much as she hates to admit it, she is desperate...desperate to get to that locker. But something is stopping her from bolting right then. The uneasiness she feels suddenly makes her realize what that something is. She glances at Sykes quickly. Not missing a trick, he turns to look at her. She smiles a little smile and turns her head back, staring at the sidewalk. He looks at his watch.

"I think we can still get to that French place before they close."

Tea makes a clicking noise with her mouth. "You know...suddenly I don't feel much like haute cuisine."

"Oh. I thought that's where you wanted to go."

"Yeah...I did. Hours ago. Actually, I could REALLY do some damage to a pizza right now."

He smiles at her seductively. "Mmmm...can I watch?"

She gives him an "oh puhleeze" look, then smiles one of her famous smiles.

"Sure...but it won't be pretty."