title: The Awakening: Part One
author: Equihua, Guinevere
description: Mara Hallden is living. She lives on her own with her pampered cousin, works as a student assistant, is dating the heartthrob of the city and makes time to bring down food for Bergita and her ferret, Sir Darcy, before escaping to her safe-haven art studio downtown. It made Mara proud that she was living out the promise made to herself over a year ago and taking it one day at a time. But even with her new life-style and friends, Mara can't seem to stop her thoughts of the Henry family. She'd ceased all communication with Ben and the others to heal from the broken heart that Mara was sure she'd never overcome. Being around the family only reminded Mara she was responsible for them losing Nathan. To make her guilt worse, her heart ached every second with the only son left being Nathan's spitting image. And so Mara cut off all ties without warning, except for Adam when he's send Mara an update on the family through e-mail; never expecting nor receiving a reply in return. Adam understood Mara needing to move on with her life since his asshole best friend didn't want her isolated again. Although he and Ben were rarely took assignments anymore, they would lend a hand to the military bases and police force to keep busy. Adam loves his family, but knew the happy-sadness that circulated throughout their home was causing strain. Yet he couldn't complain since they were safe, and so was Mara. Or so he thought until approached with an assignment of high threat risking the life of a politician's son. Only the son happens to be Steven Marshall, Mara's boyfriend. So Mara finds herself back in the world of bodyguards, speed-chases, shoot-outs, and fear pulses through her veins when the name Travosky comes into play. Now Mara, Adam, Ben, and the others will have to come together with an underground SWAT team given the same assignment. And through this underground team appears a familiar face.