Lean not to your own understanding

[Seer]

<< And so, The Six take their leave. Millenia fullfills her end of the agreement, not really "moved" by anything that was said to her. She was as she had always been...but she HAD to know that she'd need to finda better way in the future. MorningStar's words of sincerity and Spellbinder's own change of heart were the two things that would remain with her, no matter what she said or didnt say. What happened next in her life would be determined by her actions but at least she knew there was a real chance she could be FREE of this "problem" she had if she really wanted to. interestingly enough, she didnt seem as eager to be free from the "curse" as she had always felt she was before this night on the empire state building. perhaps it WAS the gift that Barbara Minerva had tried to get her to see it for after all.>>

<< night gives way to day. a world away courtesy of Delilah's wormhole, the team returns to the aerie that is host to Minerva's Mansion.>>

<< Shadow Weaver, has informed the team that Morgan was still alive and seemingly stable. The doctor looks very weary but shows no signs of entertaining anyone's suggestion that she herself rest. She also FORBADE the Six to come into the Infirmary until the sword of anger was permanently put away.>>

<< Alison sends Nicolas and Delilah away for the time being. Delilah needs a chance to decompress and refresh herself and Nicolas decides to watch from the observation booth high above in the infirmary as a solemn Shadow Weaver and Firebird sit on either side of Morgan's bed. The sorceress looks "cold". She battered and assaulted nearly to death by Black's touch. Would Shadow Weaver and Alison's protocalls be enough to save her?? Nicolas gazed intently from above. The woman whom he had loved and shared a bond with was now laying there, looking as cold and as devoid of life as someone could...before they might reanimate. Of course no one BUT a member of the Six could possibly think of that. >>

<< and deep below ground, in the catacobs, Harbinger, Persephone and Black Widow stand just inside the vault. Harbinger could NOT proceed any further with anything until the sword was properly contained. it was one of those moments where the Six could see where her dutie as Barbara Minerva's successor differed from her role when she was with the Six fulltime.>>

<< Black Widow knew where the seer stood on this matter and Persephone, not to mention the others backed her on that...BUT in light of what happened with Bianca and the very nature of the sword, Haleigh had offered to keep it contained. Alison was willing to at least hear what she had to say before making her final descision on that but it was a far better thing to do it down here than above inthe mansion anywhere near Morgan. It also gave Delilah a chance to be by herself before she would attempt to see Morgan....and Bishop who was also housed inthe infirmary.>>

 

[Harbinger]

Mansion- the vault

:: Looking at Haleigh, the Seer, like all the others showed signs of fatigue both emotional and physical, but Harbinger tapped into a discipline and mental reserves she had...she could NOT go any further with ANYTHING else, not even Morgan, UNTIL the sword was safely and permanently secured.::

Haleigh, I've brought you and Persephone down here so we can take care of this. There really SHOULD NOT be any discussion. You KNOW my duties as Barbara's successor and what I must do to protect the contents in this Vault. Bianca took advantage of circumstance and used manipulation and guile to the highest degree to get as far as she did, but in the end, it availed her nothing and had it NOT been for Morgan, and the rest of us...she'd be DEAD and Black would be on the loose. Morgan is all but dead NOW.

If ANYONE ELSE deserves BLAME for this...it is I.

:: she said with cold and almost pained tone.::

All those nights months earlier...when I told you I felt something was wrong, but I couldnt SEE the anamoly moving across time threads toward us...it was HER. She took advantage ofher own "curse", barbara's kindness andher prior time here and our own situations that we were involved in to advance her own agenda. I was unable to perceive her until BISHOP of all people revealed knowledge of her. Even after I learned more about her, I saw the deathglow around Morgan and Delilah..and I did not do enough to stop it. My failure to anticipate and properly compensate for this opportunistic bitch has now left Morgan in a COMA.


That sword MUST be sealed where NO ONE can access it, where no innocent blood can reawaken it. I planned on putting it in the CORE of the Vault where nothing ORGANIC can physically penetrate the surrounding membrane, but you say you have a better solution.

:: she softens her gaze upon Haleigh.::

I've known you long enough...GROWN with you enough to know that i CAN trust you. BUT i must NOT let personal feelings effect my decisions when it comes to the contents in this vault.

You have 5 minutes to tell me why i should let YOU seal the sword elsewhere and I will determine if your reasoning and plan is sound and safe enough to follow.

 

[Rampage]

They intervened and saved Bianca after some posturing. Nicolas could honestly give a shit.The entire time that the woman had been working, he had been trying different gambits to track her. If he ever wanted her dead later on she would die. Simple as that.

He followed the team back to Aerie, back to where Shadow Weaver had taken Morgan and rendered her comatose to heal. Mike was busy tearing the staff a new asshole for their failure in this caper (he could "hear" the yelling) and setting more stringent protocols for the future. Karen had banned them until after the sword was put away and he respected her wishes, walking to the observation deck without a word.

He scanned Morgan's vitals:

Heart Rate: 12 beats/minute
O2: 88%
Respiration: 4 shallow breaths/minute

In addition her BP was low for her physiology; she was in terrible shape. He could not even look into her mind with her block intact; to not know of the shape her mind was in was maddening.

He was pacing and scanning, his gaze fixed upon the sorceress. He would not eat or sleep until she was better, perhaps it was a good thing that he essentially did not have to. His own injuries were healing and he waved away an attendant nurse with a grunt when she offered to treat him, offer him something to help him recover.

He turned and stopped, looking at Morgan, unblinking, unmoving. He was wracking his mind, thinking of a way she could be recovered, could be revived. He thought of an idea, but he was not sure if the others would fin it as good an idea as he did. He decided to bring it up when next they met, after Alison put that damned sword away.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah closed the wormhole behind the group, and it was then that she realized how completely exhausted she really was. And weary. The others could posture all they wanted, but Bianca couldn’t be killed – and that was something they couldn’t do anything about.

Delilah couldn’t help but feel somewhat empathetic with Bianca. It was hard for someone so proud (and let’s face it, bitchy) to admit that she was wrong and she was not going to get any forgiveness anytime soon, if ever. And the longing to have a normal life was something Delilah had struggled with for a very long time. But recents events had shown her that her life would never be normal, and that there was something of importance in recognizing you were wrong and saying so.

Despite wanting desperately to check on Morgan herself, she didn’t even argue with Karen or Alison, and retired to her room for a shower and change of clothes. Those things made her feel 150% better, and she decided to lie down for a power nap before she keeled over and was no help to anyone. She knew Alison would alert her when it was time to see Morgan – or if there was any change in her condition. So she slept for the first time in what seemed ages.

Delilah found herself briskly walking down a stone hallway. There were others – she could feel them following behind her. She could feel the sword in her hand – but no, it wasn’t the Sword of Anger. This was different – another time. She tried to ask what was going on, but she had no control over her own body – it was as if she was a spectator in someone else’s life. They came to a wooden door, and she knew that was their destination. She stepped aside, and one of the men behind her – who she could see now was wearing the garb of a Roman soldier – kicked the door in. Another of the soldiers entered the room, carrying a torch and she followed.

She pointed the sword at the bed where its sleeping occupant was startling awake.

“Take him.”

She instructed the others with her, who moved to the bed and took hold of the man by his arms. And then the torch light flickered such that she could clearly see the man’s face, and that it was a face she knew. Bishop!

“Delilah! What are you-?”

Her own voice came steadily out, though she had no control over it.

“General Bassus, by order of the Emperor you are to be executed immediately.”

Then to the soldiers:

“Take him to the courtyard. I want to see his head on a spike while I eat my breakfast.”

Bishop’s unbelieving face looked pleadingly up at her.

“Delilah, I thought you were on my side?”

She turned away and as she reached the doorway, turned back.

“You should never have asked me to choose you over my family.”

The scene changed, and now she was on a balcony. But she couldn’t see over it, because she was crouched on the floor, crying. A voice called her name, and she quickly wiped her face and stood. But before she went, she took one last glance back over the railing…at a row of severed heads stuck into the ground with wooden stakes…

Delilah sat straight up in her bed on Aerie. She was breathing hard, and she shook her head trying to clear the images out of her mind. She felt as if she hadn’t slept at all, but she didn’t dare go back to sleep for fear another nightmare would come to her. So she quickly washed her face and dressed, then headed towards the infirmary. Even if Karen wouldn’t let her see Morgan, at least she could be there.

 

[Bishop]

Alison and the others had not yet returned, and Karen was adamant that she know the sword was under wraps BEFORE anyone visited Morgan. But there was a second patient in the infirmary, and though she didn’t really want to, Delilah felt obligated to look in on him while she waited.

Bishop laid there. He could have tried leaving, but Dr. Victoria was nice and they’d probably launch an all-out military operation to find him. So he just laid there. He’d never slept so much in his life. In fact, he was on his third nap of the day when Delilah entered the room.

The bed was a mess. He was shirtless and the sheet was tangled about his legs though his feet were uncovered. Delilah sat down in the chair next to the bed and took his hand. He inhaled sharply as he startled awake. She let go of his hand.

Delilah cleared her throat, uncomfortable.

Delilah: “Would it kill you to wear a hospital gown?”

He ran a hand through his hair, then bent one arm behind his head.

“It might.”

Delilah: “I see your wound is healing. So much for your new scar-free body.”

He looked down at the healing wound in his chest.

“Yeah, I still heal quickly. Didn’t take that away when they brought me back.”

He sat up a little, a smile playing on his lips.

“And I think Dr. Victoria likes me a little. She pretends to hate me and all, but I know, deep down, she has a little crush.”

Delilah: “I seriously doubt that.”

Bishop shrugged.

Delilah: “Listen. I want to say thank you for coming after me back there.”

He shifted position again.

“It wasn’t enough. Almost got myself killed.”

Delilah: “No, you could’ve just ran. So thanks. And thanks for – for trusting me to handle the mission myself.”

He shook his head.

“I should have just kept my damn mouth shut. I’m trained to say nothing under torture for god’s sake. I should have just stuck to my story and your friends would’ve let me go eventually. But I was afraid Bianca would get to you in the meantime. But now that she’s dead, I guess it doesn’t matter.”

Delilah: “Bianca’s not dead.”

“What do you mean she’s not dead?”

Delilah: “We let her go.”

“Jesus, Delilah, what were you thinking?! She’s tried to kill you at least twice!”

Delilah: “She screwed up, and she knows it. It’s not easy being…what we are. Listen to me – LISTEN to me. You are not to go after her, do you hear me? You broke your promise to me once. If you do it again and hurt Bianca, I will kill you myself. Again. Understand?”

“After everything that’s happened, how can you leave her alive? Haven’t you learned ANYTHING?”

Bishop was really agitated now, and his heart rate monitor started to beep loudly.

Delilah: “Calm down, will you?”

He lay back, and took deep breaths.

Delilah: “People deserve a chance to change. You of all people should know that.”

Delilah sighed.

Delilah: “Speaking of second chances…”

She took a deep breath.

Delilah: “We can’t do this anymore. I should never have chosen you over them. It was wrong of me-”

“Hold on - don’t do that. Don’t let them tell you what to think.”

Delilah: “I’m not-“

“Yes, you are. I’m not some mutant hating bigot like your friend Morgan says. I went after your friends because they were killers. I was wrong about them and I admit that – but don’t let them tell you that being a good person is a bad thing, Delilah. Don’t let them change you.”

He got out of the bed and stood by the door.

“But I think you’re right – this isn’t going to work out. When we’re together I’m compromised – I let my emotions get the better of me and that’s dangerous. Now that Bianca is – neutralized – I have work to get back to and I can’t be distracted.”

He motioned to the door.

“You should just go, check on Morgan. I read the name Black in Bianca’s dossier on Spellbinder. Must be pretty bad.”

Delilah didn’t say anything and moved past him to the door.

“Oh, wait, one more thing.”

Delilah turned back in the doorway.

“Have you been having any strange dreams lately?”

Delilah crossed her arms over her chest, and lied.

Delilah: “No.”

Bishop slammed the door shut after her. Delilah went into the waiting area outside Morgan’s room, sat down and rested her head in her hands.

 

[Seer]

and so

<< time seemed to go by so slowly. Battle and urgency was replaced with silence...uncertain, almost painful silence. the soft humming of energy and other sounds were the only things heard throughout the ultra highend tech infirmary. perharps the only thing louder than that for some [Rampage and MorningStar] were their own thoughts and heartbeats as they both now waited and watched for Spellbinder.>>

<< From the observation booth high above in the ceiling of Morgan's room, Nicolas continued to stand at the circular panoramic window, with one hand pressed on the unbreakable glass. He monitored Morgan's functions as intently, if not more deeply than the machines present, carefull NOT to overstep his bounds knowing that Shadow Weaver and Firebird were both intently focused on Morgan via their bonds as mother/child & sisters. >>

<< Delilah sat in a chair, not facing outward. She had her head down and her face buried in her hands following her vist with Bishop in his room. It seemed that he really hadnt changed...but SHE had.>>

<< After a time, Black Widow & Persephone arrived. Both looked rather calm. Harbinger was not with them. She was below, entering the room along with two nurses who came to administer some continued treatments/therapy and check on Morgan.>>

<< Nicolas watched as Alison and Karen embraced tightly and held one another for a few moments. Then Alison and Blaze. the audio was off at the moment so none of their dialogue was heard. But he did hear what was being said in the observation booth among Delilah, Haleigh and Ava as Delilah asked about the status of the sword of anger.>>

<< Ava informs Delilah that Haleigh did relinquish the sword to Alison. That was the FIRST thing. Delilah exhales with relief as Haleigh goes on to quickly explain that Alison showed her the "CORE" of the vault, it was the innermost area of the vault and contained the most VOLATILE /DANGEROUS objects thus far recovered by Barbara. The structure consisted of a sphere shaped "membrane" composed of an utterly "alien" technology and it was totally UNACCESSIBLE by ANYTHING organic. It had TEMPORAL properties which meant it was keyed to Harbinger's time/space powers and she could extract any object she needed from it via teleblinking BUT NOTHING organic...human or otherwise could breach it without being maimed or KILLED outright. Haleigh knew this was a truly safe, SECURE holding place for the sword. She never wanted to keep it for HER personal use, she simply wanted to make sure NOBODY ELSE ever got to it the way Bianca did.>>

<< unknown to Delilah and Nicolas, Haleigh even offered an apology to Alison for even giving the impression she wanted the sword for some other reason. she understood NOW more than ever the power and deadliness of the sword and simply wanted to make sure it never hurt Morgan or anyone of them ever again and now, within the CORE of the vault, that was all the reassurance she, alison and ALL of them needed.>>

<< finally THAT loose end of the Black caper was tied up and now, they could turn as a team, a FAMILY toward this truly pressing matter...Spellbinder and her life which seems to be hanging in the balance.>>

<< Haleigh informs Nicolas and Delilah that Alison wanted them ALL to stay up here. When Delilah asks why...Ava informs them that Alison said "it is the best thing you can do..." and that the tone of her voice, the look on her face suggested this was precognitive. Delilah and Nicolas both look uncertain as Haleigh states that Alison told her to wait a few moments before activating the audio channel to allow hearing/communication between those in the booth and those down in the room.>>

<< and so, as they all moved near the window, after that discussion, Haleigh activates the audio. they now hear Morgan's heart monitor and can communicate with Shadow Weaver and discuss what, if anything they can do to help Morgan.>>

<< however, Delilah needed something more. She NEEDED to go down to Morgan and talk TO her. Despite this delicate time, she had to follow her heart and ask Karen to let her come down.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah did feel a sense of relief hearing that the Sword of Anger was finally out of harm's way. But that feeling was fleeting for, now that the other distractions had gone and the adrenaline dissipated, the reality of the situation became very apparent to Delilah. The need to ensure the team's safety had left a void now to be filled with worry and grief as she watched her best friend dying below her.

Haleigh turned the audio on to the hospital room, and Delilah gasped in spite of herself at hearing the sounds from the room - the heart monitor, Morgan's own heartbeart, and her ragged breathing. In that moment Delilah was sure that Morgan was going to die, and it was all she could do to fight back the tears that were coming to her eyes.

Alison had requested they stay up here, but she couldn't. She couldn't just watch and let Morgan die...she needed to do something before...

"Karen?"

Her voice faltered, so she began again.

"Karen, could I come down please? Just for a minute, I promise...but I need to come down there."

She swallowed hard.

"Please?" she said again.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Infirmary

<< amongs the frantic attempts to stablilize Morgan's body and detox her of Black's negaenergy, the staff in the infirmary deftly assist the doctor.>>

<< and as the hours passed-several times she's tried this now and each time little to nothing. Karen sits by her daughter's bedside. sitting very upright and proper. Her eyes closed as she slows her breathing and concentrates and reaches out...via her bond with Morgan as mother & child on the astral plane.>>

<< she tries to call her daughter's astral form back...to communicate with her, but each time NOTHING.>>

<< that's not a good sign. even when she rendered her daughter comatose and scrambled her powers for her own safety there's NOTHING that can prevent their psychic link via the bond of mother & child. not even Set could interfere with it. but now...it seemed to be very weak, almost SEVERED and the only time that happens is when....>>

no!

<< tears roll down from her opal blue eyes as she shudders a bit, blinking a few times and coming back to full consciousness.>>

<< She looks at Blaze, who was trying the same thing. Both know the other has failed again.>>

<< Alison comes and Karen knows Alison would not be here if the sword was not truly put away and so she welcomes her hug and tries her best not to cry more.>>

<< Alison and Blaze hug and talk softly as Karen walks around a bit. She's wearing her current costume.>>

<< soon, she hears a voice from above. Delilah.>>

"Karen?"

Her voice faltered, so she began again.

"Karen, could I come down please? Just for a minute, I promise...but I need to come down there."

She swallowed hard.

"Please?" she said again.

<< Alison and Blaze stayed together and waited to see what Karen would say.>>

<< after a few moments, Karen nods affirmative.>>

Please come down, Delilah. The rest of you stay back.

Harbinger: I'll join the others, Karen. I'll fill them in on what's happened with Morgan since you brought her here and i'll take Firebird up to see them as well. She hasnt seen the team since the Barbas caper.

<< Alison walks with Blaze, her arm reassuringly around Blaze's back. They exit as Delilah arrives but she is suddenly stopped by Karen, who blocks her way through the door.>>

Not so fast.

<< Karen says as she looks into Delilah's eyes. For Delilah...it was ALMOST like seeing that alternate Karen...the one who was to be burned at the stake for killing alternate Nicolas, who had brutally raped and killed alternate Morgan. Still, this was no alternate timeline, this was HER Karen. the same woman who had often regarded her as a surrogate daughter. After all, she and Morgan had been close friends since childhood.>>

<< Delilah could see up close now that Karen was very tired, her eyes looked rather strained from the tears she had shed many times since being here. Delilah could only imagine what else had been going on since bringing Morgan back to try to keep her alive.>>

That is my daughter in there....lying in a coma.

<< Karen says in a low tone.>>

She went to save you...from that derranged woman, Bianca. In some ways it served a very important purpose, for Morgan finally was confronted with a real casualty of the Inferno...one OUTSIDE of her circle. an INNOCENT- at least she was at the time of the INFERNO.

At the moment it mattered MOST, she exercised CONTROL, the control she feared she'd NEVER get after the Inferno. She accepted her role in Bianca's madness, APOLOGIZED and offered to HELP HER, tried to SAVE her from the threat of BLACK.

She...she did it YOUR way because she KNEW it was the right way.

<< Karen's voice was now trembling...was it with grief? or rage? Delilah had seen HER karen grieve...and she'd seen the RAGE of two alternate Shadow Weavers...which one would she get NOW?>>

and now...she's in a COMA. she's DYING.

And...I understand...that you....LET that woman LIVE. you let her GO. After ALL that she DID to you...ALL of you. MY DAUGHTER! YOUR FRIEND OF ALL THESE YEARS!

WHY Delilah!? WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON?! Is your sense of "RIGHT" so PURE and JUST that you're willing to highlight it with the BLOOD of your own friends and family?

Bianca could have gotten the help she needed from my daughter if ONLY she had done things DIFFERENTLY. Morgan would have JUMPED at the chance to do ANYTHING to help someone that she knew had been a victim of the Inferno. DO you remember MASTER MOLD!?

But no, that woman did what she wanted no matter who it hurt or placed in danger...there was nothing NOBLE or JUSTIFIABLE about it save perhaps that she was...IS INSANE.

She violated Harbinger's security, she unleashed the DEADLIEST THREAT to my daughter's existence...and you....

<< Karen clenches her fist. Would she strike or attack Delilah?>>

....you LET HER GO...YOU LET HER LIVE! while MY DAUGHTER LIES IN A COMA!


WHY!?

<< as grief stricken and as ANGRY as Karen was...she did not go as far as she MIGHT have. NOR would she attack Delilah. That was the difference between HER and her alternates. She could be vicious and deadly, ESPECIALLY when it came to her daughter or her own well being, BUT she'd prooven time and again [such as when persephone murdered mike] that she knew how to display just ANGER and punishment WITHOUT going overboard to needless violence and abuse.>>

I DEMAND an explanation, Delilah!

<< Now it was time for Delilah to explain herself. >>

 

[MorningStar]

Karen gave her the okay. Somewhere inside her Delilah hadn’t really thought she would. She descended the stairs and met Karen at the door. As she started to walk by her into Morgan’s room, Karen stopped her.

…WHY?...I DEMAND an explanation, Delilah!

How strange that KAREN, her own mother figure, would say nearly the same thing Bishop had just said to her. She took a step backwards, looking up at Karen with the shame of a naughty child. Shame and guilt had overpowered Delilah for so long now that it was as natural to her as the air she breathed. But she knew her reasons, and she knew that in this moment, what they had done was the right thing – for her, for Morgan and for them all. The future could very well prove her wrong, but at THIS point in time, she could speak with conviction.

“Because killing Bianca would make us no better than she is. Than Bishop was when he tried to kill Sharon.”

She turned and walked a few paces to the other side of the hallway from Karen.

“Bianca wanted to hurt Morgan because of what she had become during the Inferno. Bishop wanted to hurt Sharon and the rest of us because of things we’d done with our powers when we weren’t ourselves. If others judged us at our worst moments, without seeing the big picture, the reasons why – then they would say we all deserve to be dead right now. But we don’t!”

Delilah turned around, her face pleading with Karen to understand.

“Morgan is not the person that she was during the Inferno. You said it yourself – she forgave and even wanted to help Bianca. If we had killed her after she had seen that Morgan was not at fault for her predicament, that there were people out there who would help her – Morgan would have carried the guilt of that innocent with her for the rest of her life. I know what that’s like and I didn’t want it for her!”

She gestured at the room where Morgan lay.

“You asked whose side I’m on? I’m on MORGAN’S side. I’ve always been on her side, on this team’s side. I didn’t show it in the right way, and for that I’m sorry. I understand now that sometimes we have to do things for the greater good, things we don’t necessarily want to. I understand now that our powers mean we do play by different rules. BUT I won’t let my friends lose their humanity by it! We’re still people – good people. We can’t lose ourselves in revenge – sometime it’s up to the victims to do the right thing. If we murder Bianca now – and that’s what it would be – where does it end? Who do we go after next? That would make us no better than MALICE.”

She took a breath, calming herself.

“I remember Master Mold every single moment of every day. It was my greatest fears realized. But if we allow ourselves to lose that which makes us human – what good is being alive?”

She looked down at the ground for a moment, then back up and into Karen’s eyes.

“I promise you that if Bianca makes one move in the direction of Morgan, I will kill her myself. But she – like we all – deserves the chance to change. And Morgan deserves the chance to put Inferno behind her. And if I've learned one thing through all of this, it's that we are not defined by our mistakes.”

Bianca may not have been the nicest person in the world, but that made her no less worthy of that chance. For who might not be a little hostile in the face of the emptiness of the present and the dread of endless tomorrows?

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the infirmary

<< as nearly beside herself as she was...she was determined to force Delilah to explain herself once and for all.>>

<< she watched Delilah unwaveringly as the young woman spoke with true conviction and moved here and there.>>

“Morgan is not the person that she was during the Inferno. You said it yourself – she forgave and even wanted to help Bianca. If we had killed her after she had seen that Morgan was not at fault for her predicament, that there were people out there who would help her – Morgan would have carried the guilt of that innocent with her for the rest of her life. I know what that’s like and I didn’t want it for her!”

She gestured at the room where Morgan lay.

“You asked whose side I’m on? I’m on MORGAN’S side. I’ve always been on her side, on this team’s side. I didn’t show it in the right way, and for that I’m sorry. I understand now that sometimes we have to do things for the greater good, things we don’t necessarily want to. I understand now that our powers mean we do play by different rules. BUT I won’t let my friends lose their humanity by it! We’re still people – good people. We can’t lose ourselves in revenge – sometime it’s up to the victims to do the right thing. If we murder Bianca now – and that’s what it would be – where does it end? Who do we go after next? That would make us no better than MALICE.”

She took a breath, calming herself.

“I remember Master Mold every single moment of every day. It was my greatest fears realized. But if we allow ourselves to lose that which makes us human – what good is being alive?”

She looked down at the ground for a moment, then back up and into Karen’s eyes.

“I promise you that if Bianca makes one move in the direction of Morgan, I will kill her myself. But she – like we all – deserves the chance to change. And Morgan deserves the chance to put Inferno behind her. And if I've learned one thing through all of this, it's that we are not defined by our mistakes.”

<< it was at that moment that Karen's intense facial expression and glare at delilah began to soften.>>

<< she sensed that at long last, the Delilah SHE remembered those days leading up to the Inferno had RETURNED. But it wasnt merely an old "persona" reasserting...it was the strength of CLARITY and the BALANCE of UNDERSTANDING that Karen had not seen in Delilah for quite sometime.>>

<< she heard Delilah's words...and sensed the change in her, the GROWTH and most of all...the affirmation of her love and care for Morgan and their team.>>


<< she was not a possible threat that Karen would have to protect Morgan from.>>

<< Karen's facial expression softened and she exhaled.>>


<< she walked forward, leaving the doorway clear.>>

Go and see your friend. Talk to her. Tell HER how you feel. The last time you had spoken in depth, it was shortly after Bishop's return. It was not pleasant.


<< Karen spoke softly but with approval as she gestured for Delilah to pass.>>

<< Karen herself would journey up to the observation booth to see the others for the first time since taking Morgan away from the battle.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah nodded as Karen told her she could finally see Morgan. But as the older woman started to join the others, Delilah stopped her.

“Karen?”

The Doctor turned, and Delilah hugged her.

“Thank you.”

Delilah smiled and let her go, stepping through the doorway into Morgan’s room. Her smile disappeared. Morgan was so still. Delilah sat in the chair Karen had vacated next to Morgan’s bed, and took her hand. But Morgan didn’t wake up as Bishop had, as had been her hope. She looked down at Morgan’s sleeping face, so peaceful. She really was a beautiful girl.

“I don’t know if you can hear me…”

She spoke to her softly, but from the heart.

“Oh Morgan, I’m so sorry. For everything. I’ve been so wrong and made so many mistakes.”

She turned her head and blinked away tears before continuing.

“I’m never going to be okay with killing, you know that, but I’m sorry I made you feel like I thought I was better than you. I’m sorry for abandoning you when things got hard. I should have talked to you. You’re my best friend, Morgan, and I’m sorry I didn’t come to you like I should have. I should have trusted you. But I will be there for you from now on, I promise.”

Delilah put her other hand on top of Morgan’s and her own, as the tears feel freely now.

“But don’t you see I need you, Morgan? You can’t leave me. You can’t leave me here alone.”

Delilah sniffed and wiped her face with one hand, still holding on to Morgan’s with the other.

“Besides, who will be here to tell me about myself when I act like a jerk if you don’t do it? And I know you don’t expect me to deal with Haleigh alone.”

She smiled weakly.

“Well, I’ll let you rest. I’m sure Karen will be wanting to come sit with you.”

Delilah stood then, and with one last look at Morgan, left the room and walked slowly up the stairs to the observation room.

 

[Seer]

and so

<< Karen arrives in the observation pod above Morgan's room. As she enters, Haleigh, Nicolas and Ava all get a good look at how weary she is. and yet she's still going, still remains vigilant. Harbinger already informed them of her and the medical staff's efforts to stabilize Morgan and detox her body from Black's negaenergy. >>

<< they also just heard her exchange with Delilah- her sharp and direct questioning of the woman. She accepted Delilah's explanation AND let her pass to see Morgan. Nicolas, Haleigh and even Ava from her own timeline's Karen knew her well enough to know that the sorceress would NOT have done that if she hadnt accepted Delilah's word and not held her responsible for Morgan's condition.>>

<< Shadow Weaver doesnt speak. She doesnt have any words at the moment. She just looks at them all. >>


<< As Delilah shares her personal, heartfelt thoughts with Morgan, Alison had shut off the audio to grant her privacy. As she left, trying to contain her emotions, the nurse practicioner and her two assistants arrived to perform the next round of therapy , check vitals etc. They dimmed the lights in the room and worked efficiently under the nurse practicioner's direction.>>

<< Delilah finally returns to the observation pod. Now the six, harbinger, shadow weaver and firebird were all together- the only one missing was sharon. the first time since barbas. so much had happend...some good, mostly bad...and now this. ghosts of the past coming back to haunt them had been a reocurring them the last few capers and this was no exception but this one...this very moment was the end result of an issue...a ghost...a trauma that had fell upon the team not too long ago. that trauma primarily took the form of a man called bishop and ultimately Bianca, a remnant of the Inferno>>


<< both delilah and the team had been traumatized many times over by his actions even after his death at delilah's hands. they thought she had gotten over it...they thought THEY were over it. they were wrong on both counts.>>

<< in many ways...this ran deeper than even the caper and trauma of Set.>>

<< Delilah's suicide; Bishop's shocking return; the reopening of old wounds and revisiting of bitter resentments; the revelation of bianca and her tie in w/bishop; the return of black and now Morgan lying near death.>>

<< as bad as this was...it wouldnt stop. not until things were settled. not until delilah spoke to them as she had Karen and just now Morgan....not until they heard....LISTENED and took their bravest measure yet...toward resolution. but could she? could THEY? With Morgan near death...now was the time to pull together. FOR REAL>>

 

[MorningStar]

The first thing Delilah did upon entering the observation room, still upset from her visit with Morgan, was to pull Blaze wordlessly into a long hug. It had been a long time since she had seen Firebird, and though this was not the exact Blaze Delilah had been friends with for so long, the two had become close after this Blaze’s return with them to their timeline. And that was her sister down there.

Delilah pulled back, and moved a strand of hair out of Blaze’s face and gave her a reassuring smile as best as she could. Then she gave Blaze’s hand one last squeeze and took a few steps away and faced the others.

“I need to say something.”

She wiped her eyes and paused to take a breath.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for Bishop, I’m sorry for upsetting you, I’m sorry for shutting you out of this mission. I thought I was doing what was best for everyone, though I know now I went about it in the wrong way. But I’m truly sorry for the hurt I’ve caused you all.”

She fought to stay strong and hold back the tears that wanted to come once again.

“I don’t know if you can forgive me. I hope you can. But if you can’t-“

Her voice broke then, and she had to pause to compose herself.

“If you can’t, then you have to let me go. We can’t go on like this. I can’t go on like this. With my past held over my head like a guillotine, and the shadow of your distrust always there between us. I can’t- I just can’t.“

Delilah put a hand to her visibly upset face, and made to leave the room before she broke down.

 

[Harbinger]

infirmary- observation pod

:: Alison welcomed Karen into the observation pod and helped her to a seat.::

Karen, please take one of my elixir potions. You're EXHAUSTED and you are trembling. I see you PASSING OUT in any of you possible varied time threads!

:: While Alison retrieves a potion from one of the cabinets, the others remain solemn. a word here and there...but not too much. the silence is most telling.::

:: Firebird goes over to stand by Karen.::

:: Delilah returns after a time, and she and Firebird embrace.::

:: Firebird, the more powerfull crosstime alternate of Foxfire & heralding from the apocolyptic timeline where her own Spellbinder, along with Karen had died, had chose to escape her nightmare world to follow the mainstreams & reconnect with the crosstime alternate Spellbinder. She had come to form close bonds with mainstream Silver Swan, MorningStar, Shadow Weaver and Spellbinder. She'd earned the trust and respect of Rampage, Black Widow, Harbinger & Persephone as well. Alternate or not...she was THEIR Morgan's sister now.::


:: and now, nearly all the "family" was together. that last lingering ember of the inferno had gotten one last burn in before SHE was sent on her way but this awfull ghost hung among them. well HE wasnt really a ghost anymore....::

:: Delilah spoke to them all. She was shaken but honest and sincere.::

:: Alison looked at her with concern as she seemed to be losing her battle to hold her emotion in as she acknowledged the pain of Bishop and apologized for her own mishandling of certain things. she asked for forgiveness but seemed to think she wouldnt get it and started to leave.::

:: Alison quickly steps forward and takes Delilah's arm gently.::

:: speaking softly.::

No, Delilah....stop. You can't leave. This is where you belong. Here...with us. We're NEVER going to settle this if we dont see it through TOGETHER as the FAMILY we are.

You lost your life because of this....and now Morgan is ...on the verge of dying as well. Stay, face this...we have to face it too.

None of us did the best job of making sure you were OKAY after Bishop. We were traumatized as well and none of us was able to really help each other recover. not completely. we just assumed that we'd do what we always did..."come together when it mattered most."

morgan and i...we were so cruel to you on aerie following that whole experience....we were hurt because you seemed turn on us and abandon us for HIM. The two of us....the whole TEAM ...we didnt know who you were anymore. It hurt Morgan DEEPLY. Even when everyone else...including me...[it pained Alison to reveal this part] was ready to write you off as a TRAITOR and treat you as such, Morgan was DETERMINED to reach out to you and have faith that you'd come back to us before it was too late. That's why she came to his apartment to try talking to you while we went on to Arklay forest.

But then, you came through after all. You saved Sharon. You STOPPED him and that allowed Sharon to release her son from that HELL Mystech had damned him to. You saved her life and countless other mutants that he WOULD HAVE targeted had he lived and gone on unchecked- innocents who had nothing to do with anything except being born as they are. the man was NO BETTER than he believed us to be and you did the right thing. he was a murdering, mutant hating bigot who sold out to the highest bidder. He went after normal HUMANS too! Alycia and many others. there was NOTHING nobel or redeeming about his cause.

NONE OF US truly RECOVERED from all of that...and the aftermath which saw all of us nearly die and then wind up in exile....after all we'd risked and lost in the man of protecting the world from mystech.

But we...especially morgan and myself, didnt need to PUNISH YOU for HIS actions we did on Aerie. Yes we seemed to make amends after a time, but we didnt realize how deeply traumatized you were by what you did....what you HAD to do to stop Bishop, save Sharon and countless others.

I dont think you understood what trauma we had either. We were ALL haunted in different ways by this...by HIM.

And we never did address this...ethical RIFT that seemed to form. We didnt address ...we didnt truly deal with...and it resulted in your suicide, the reopening of old wounds and resentments...

There's been a COLLECTIVE fail here. and now he's back...which made it worse.

::looking among them all::

then we found out the backstory behind his stalking and attacks on us, on sharon...which brought us back to another trauma in our family history...the first one. the INFERNO.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas was silently watching as Delilah went to Morgan's side, then came back upstairs and apologized. He was more than ab it surprised to be honest. But when she seemed to place forgiveness with her leaving, Nicolas was not as impressed as the others.

Alison spoke of their time on Aerie, but she had omitted one very important part of it: Nicolas and Mike had reached out to her before ANY of them, helped create her place, tried to keep her connected while the others sorted things through. And she had repaid that by attempting to marginalize one of them (Mike) due to his lack of powers and held the others (Nicolas) mistakes over his head like Sisyphus rock, ever rolling back down the hill no matter how hard he tried. He had cared for her, tried to be there, and for what? And then to top it off she left them in death. Left HIM. Hell no.

He listened while Alison spoke, and he decided that it was finally time to say his peace.

Not so fast. The truth of the matter is this: the people who you really give a damn about in this room will let you off, and that is well enough. But your ability to demand absolution while giving none is repugnant and small, and that you would threaten anyone with walking away rather than standing and taking well-deserved mistrust and blame is cowardly. You seem incapable of understanding that to offer an apology along with a goodbye is cowardice. I will not let you off so easily. You are judgmental and have twice allowed your emotions to limit your usefulness to this team to detrimental result. When you are trustworthy I will trust you, and not a day sooner. Today is not that day.

You probably could give a shit about what I just said, but watching how you hurt all of u- I mean all of THEM by taking your own life?! I'll pass for today.

Nicolas quickly grew quiet, and tried to look on seemingly unmoved. Most of them would likely know better though.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the observation pod

<< Karen hadnt taken the potion yet and Alison had quickly shifted her immediate attention to keep Delilah from leaving. It was the right thing to do.>>

<< as Firebird stood by Karen and rested her hand on the woman's shoulder, Alison opened the door for much needed dialogue. The time had come for them to really address some things that were the framework of the dark moment they were all currently in. Nicolas was next and perhaps he was not as detached as he wanted to believe he was. As exhausted as she was, the doctor HAD to help Alison keep things going in the right direction. MUCH depended on it.>>

<< she knew the pain nicolas felt, the resentment. she'd talked with mike time and again privately about HIS feelings of offense at being seemingly marginalized by delilah. she also remembered first hand how he genuinely reached out to delilah when so many others had turned their backs on her when they first arrived on aerie. to deal with the pain of rejection and other feelings he was left with from the effects these things had on him, he tried to present himself as detached. he was tying to behave like ALISON from several years ago but even the precog had since learned a better way and while it was a GOOD thing to be HONEST, in this his expression of it was completely malformed.>>

Nicolas, listen to yourself.

The child is filled with shame and regret. Born from an all too clear awareness of her role in all this. But more importantly- she's reached a new place in this struggle. She's taken a not so easy FIRST STEP here with what she's said to us and while it may not have been as eloquent or choreographed as you seem to think it should have been...YOU are apart of this equation too. You ARE apart of this family. You are apart of the OTHER side that was JUST as traumatized by Bishop AND Delilah's depature then as well as her suicide just a few months ago. You are ALSO apart of some of the ADD ONS that have brought us to where we are now and try as you may to detach yourself...that is no better a behavior than the behavior you are unhappy with her about.

Being honest about how you were made to feel is one thing. being unecessarily cruel is an entirely different thing all together. Using the truth, no matter how clear it may be as a WEAPON is as tasteless and counterproductive as anything you would point out.

I confronted her downstairs. I know that NOW more than ever before she is truly ready to settle this, as are WE. But that doesnt mean we need to DUMP on her. This was, As Alison has defined in her own way, a "COLLECTIVE FAIL" we need to ALL lay these things to REST and move FORWARD.



its because that DIDNT happen before that so many things that have happened SINCE have added to the trauma and pain, leading us to where we are. where morgan is now. that includes you and your feelings...which ARE hurt. don't hide behind a harsh condemnation for that makes you no better than the judgement she unfairly placed upon you and others.

<< looking to Delilah.>>

Delilah, what concerns me as a doctor...and as someone who has thought of you as a daughter of my own for many years, is that while you ARE at a critical moment of truth and clarity about all of this...are you TRULY ready to FACE IT and lay it to rest? Including the rift between yourself and the others that they did not know how deep it ran AND that you would not allow them to bridge the gap to you? Nicolas' harshness is nothing more than a mask for his own REAL HURT born from the care he has for you, the same hurt we felt the night you left Illustra or what Morgan and Alison felt on Aerie. The same hurt and indignation that Ava and Haleigh felt here after your suicide. The same PAIN youve carried in your own mind and heart all this time. This HURT is all that has been lurking below the surface for more than one of you and filling the rift between both sides and its been FED by the ghost of BISHOP. Are you ready to LET GO of HIM?

<< looking at the others>> after addrssing them openly...are YOU ready to LET GO of any feelings, resentment you may have and embrace a life together AFTER?

Sometimes the final act of LETTING GO can be more difficult when you've become so USED to carrying guilt, shame and being at war with yourself. "comfort" in ones own personal HELL becomes preferrable than the uncertainty of FREEDOM and life AFTER recovery that you dont know.

<< Karen pauses...she seems to falter for a moment as Firebird asks if she's okay...


It's alright...I'm okay... << she blinks a few times.>>

<< looking at Delilah.>>

It's OKAY if you even STUMBLE through this. There's no macro for moments like this...only the need for truth and and willingness to GET THROUGH it but you MUST give the others the same chance i KNOW you want them to give you right now.

and WE << looking at the others>> must do the same thing.

time.....<< gesturing to the panoramic circular window, which lead to a view of morgan>> is of the essence.

 

[Bishop]

“Excuse me, Dr. Victoria.”

Bishop slowly entered the room, now dressed (thankfully) in a pair of hospital scrubs.

“But there’s something that needs to be said here.”

Delilah: “Maxim, don’t-“

But he continued. His tone wasn’t accusatory, or angry, or upset – it was matter of fact.

“ALL of you need to stop blaming Delilah for the things I’VE done. All that girl has ever done is try and PROTECT you at the expense of everything else in her life. I was there. I watched her run into an exploding building because she thought that would save the rest of you. She tried to keep you as far from Bianca as she could – especially Morgan. To keep you all safe.”

He made eye contact with Delilah.

“And she didn’t betray you for me. She believed the lies I told her.”

He turned back to the others.

“She thought you were about to kill an innocent man and she was afraid you would be exposed to the world as murderers and hunted down. She was trying to do the right thing, and here she is, apologizing for it. You have broken her spirit that much that she would apologize for something she didn’t even do. Now, you all can blame me all you want, but you and I BOTH know that Delilah didn’t walk out into that ocean ONLY because of me. I take responsibility for my part, but what about you? You made it so bad for her that the only thing she could do was kill herself. You made her think you all were better off without her, one way or another. The pressure on her was so great that SHE committed suicide, and yet you have turned even THAT into a way to criticize her and made it all about how hurt YOU are. I’m sorry, but YOU ALL weren’t hurt – SHE was hurt. All of this mistrust and blame and guilt you’ve heaped on her – can’t you see it’s KILLING her?”

He gestured at Delilah. After a pause, he turned to Alison, gave her a half smile then continued.

“And Alison, I have to tell you, I’m not a bigot. If I wanted all mutants dead I would have let Bianca murder you all in your beds like you know she could have. I took the job to take out Sharon Kelly because she had murdered a church full of innocent people – not because she was a mutant. She was someone I put out into the world and I thought it was my responsibility to fix it. And the rest of you – look at the things you’ve done. The mistakes you’ve made.”

He held up his hands in an appeasing manner.

“Now , now – I was wrong then, I know that. And I’ve done the best I can to make reparations for it now. But how can you judge her for something that wasn’t even her fault in the face of all of that? And Nicolas, man – you cheated on her best friend. ‘Aint no woman alive going to forgive you for that. But I’ll bet you a shiny new sports car she’s never blamed you for that whole Set business itself. She’s not even allowed to make a tiny mistake while everyone else can nearly destroy the city or the world even and it’s all right. Instead of consoling her about how she was duped by an asshole like me, you acted as if she had done the things I did. As if the things that happened were her fault instead of mine. Did you ever once thank her for saving Sharon, for saving you all? She killed me, going against everything she believed in and upheld about what’s right and wrong, for YOU.”

He paused and took a breath, staying calm as he did.

“Now you can continue to blame her, and blame me, but what you need to do – what she needs you to do - is take a look at yourselves. Take a look at the facts. I can see it right here – you say you forgive her and then whenever it’s convenient you suddenly don’t trust her. And the fact of the matter is she’s never EVER given you a reason not to trust her. She’s ALWAYS had your back and put YOU first. Ahead of her own personal feelings. You don’t have to like me, but please LISTEN to what I’m telling you.”

He was imploring them now to really see themselves and Delilah, the reality of the situation without the tints of their own emotions. For Delilah’s sake as well as their own.

“I may be out of her life now, but when I leave here, I don’t want to have to worry that she’s going to end up right back out there in that water. So get it together, folks. For people who are so into saving the world you’re acting awfully self-centered.”

He turned, finally, back to Karen.

“That’s all I have to say. Thanks.”

 

[Shadow Weaver]

observation pod

<< Karen's finely shaped eyebrows raise and her open with surprise as a stranger's voice interjects. It's BISHOP. Not only had he left HIS room without permission BUT he was now in MORGAN'S room.>>

“Excuse me, Dr. Victoria.”

Bishop slowly entered the room, now dressed (thankfully) in a pair of hospital scrubs.

“But there’s something that needs to be said here.”

Delilah: “Maxim, don’t-“

<< Karen LOUDLY and STERNLY cut Bishop off before he can continue>>

YOUNG MAN!

THIS is a PRIVATE MATTER amongst FAMILY. You are NOT family.

This is MY DAUGHTER'S room. How DARE you come in here!

You should NOT be out of bed! Your own injuries are not completely healed.

The hippocratic oath REQUIRED me to save your life , DESPITE what youve done to my daughter Morgan and my OTHER daughter Delilah, not to mention the others. But DON'T mistake that to mean that I will NOT protect MY DAUGHTERS from you NOW by REMOVING YOU from this room!

Firebird: BEAT IT, ASSHOLE!

Karen:I will put you BACK in your room and BIND you into the bed with mystic chains if you make it necessary!

<< Delilah looked so TORN UP at the moment. Karen paused. She looked at Blaze, silently indicating the fire elemental to stand watch over him. For Delilah's sake, she'd allow him to stand right where he was and have his say...but ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT, any type of coersion of Delilah or provocation of the others and Firebird would forcibly remove him from the room.>>

<< after that, he began to proceed.>>

 

[Harbinger]

observation pod

:: Harbinger, along with the others felt some hope for REAL resolution as Karen, despite how weary she was, instictively shifted into therapist mode to help guide them. but it wasnt like before, Karen seemed to sense Delilah AND the others were on the cusp of something truly healing and she didnt want to see them slide back anymore. She didnt want to see them hurt anymore over this, ESPECIALLY DELILAH and Alison AGREED.;;

:: Nicolas THOUGHT he was doing one thing, but Karen revealed his true motive, the one he'd hope no one would guess. surely he underestimated karen's prowess as a doctor or her experience and perception as a mother and mother figure to the six. it made alison think about a few things with regard to him. try as he may to seem detached, he had his share of hurt AND culpability too. they all did and now was the time to address it.::


:: but then BISHOP showed up. He tried to get involvedl. Alison exhaled loudly with annoyance and Karen immediately checked him. Firebird was ready to get physical and throw him out but she waited until it was absolutely necessary. apparently karen seemed to sense that his input MIGHT have some validity and insight.::

:: folding her arms, Alison looks rather grim as Bishop continues.::

He gestured at Delilah. After a pause, he turned to Alison, gave her a half smile then continued.

“And Alison, I have to tell you, I’m not a bigot. If I wanted all mutants dead I would have let Bianca murder you all in your beds like you know she could have. I took the job to take out Sharon Kelly because she had murdered a church full of innocent people – not because she was a mutant. She was someone I put out into the world and I thought it was my responsibility to fix it. And the rest of you – look at the things you’ve done. The mistakes you’ve made.”

Sharon Kelly was an INNOCENT when you saved her life. She DIED a HERO after a long career as a senator who championed mutants rights. Silver Swan and her murderous, INSANE rampage through that church were the DIRECT result of MYSTECH. The woman didnt ASK to come back from the dead, let alone be TURNED INTO A MUTATE. And WE eventually contained her, FREED and helped set her on a BETTER PATH. Did you think about any of THAT before you went after her? US? Did you think about ANYTHING other than that paycheck and your misguided sense of morality?


We LIVE WITH our mistakes EVERYDAY...though clearly we've not dealt with some of them as we thought, which is why we're here NOW. We dont need YOU to tell us ANYTHING.

He held up his hands in an appeasing manner.

“Now , now – I was wrong then, I know that. And I’ve done the best I can to make reparations for it now. But how can you judge her for something that wasn’t even her fault in the face of all of that?

oh, some of us HAVE gotten a clue and a better understanding and we KNOW that blaming HER was a mistake. that can happen when you're traumatized and you havent truly recovered. that doesnt excuse us...ME. that doesnt make our conscious or unconscious treatment of her RIGHT but like i said, i believe most of us UNDERSTAND THAT and that's why we're here NOW trying to fix this.

And Nicolas, man – you cheated on her best friend. ‘Aint no woman alive going to forgive you for that. But I’ll bet you a shiny new sports car she’s never blamed you for that whole Set business itself. She’s not even allowed to make a tiny mistake while everyone else can nearly destroy the city or the world even and it’s all right. Instead of consoling her about how she was duped by an asshole like me, you acted as if she had done the things I did. As if the things that happened were her fault instead of mine. Did you ever once thank her for saving Sharon, for saving you all? She killed me, going against everything she believed in and upheld about what’s right and wrong, for YOU.”

::this was what alison was referring to...the fact that some of them...hopefully ALL of them during this latest situation had come to understand these points. it was an awful thing when an outsider, especially one as repulsive as BISHOP had to be the one to help frame them. but it was no less true. similar to the night Sharon harshly told Nicolas and Haleigh about themselves after Persephone murdering Mike following her snap of insanity and Nicolas brutally attacking her.::

He paused and took a breath, staying calm as he did.

“Now you can continue to blame her, and blame me, but what you need to do – what she needs you to do - is take a look at yourselves. Take a look at the facts. I can see it right here – you say you forgive her and then whenever it’s convenient you suddenly don’t trust her. And the fact of the matter is she’s never EVER given you a reason not to trust her. She’s ALWAYS had your back and put YOU first. Ahead of her own personal feelings. You don’t have to like me, but please LISTEN to what I’m telling you.”

I'm not blaming her. not anymore because i do understand. and in case YOU didnt hear Dr. Victoria,despite standing outside the door, the time has come for ALL OF US to see things clearly,TRULY understand, forgive ourselves and each other and then LET GO! We're trying to do that, RIGHT NOW. There's no set method...but the need and desire is THERE in a way it wasnt before!

But I will ALWAYS blame YOU. Nothing you can tell US, no matter how true it may be will EVER change the fact that YOU LIED AND MANIPULATED HER. YOU FORCED HER TO MAKE A CHOICE THAT HARMED HER DOWN TO HER SOUL MORE THAN WE EVER KNEW, SHE WAS MORE THAN YOU EVER DESERVED IN LIFE OR DEATH!

:: she had half a mind to tell Blaze to jump on him now, but that was her own emotion, her own anger and DEEP emotion over this...over HIM and all of this. INSTEAD of giving in and reverting, she ACKNOWLEDGED her feeling and let it propell her to resolution....a HEALTHY one.::


Delilah, listen to me. I told you when i stopped you from leaving that this time was going to be different and I wasnt lying. I'm SORRY for the pain and punishment I gave you. Even the subconscious resentment. Just like WE didnt (and you felt we didnt) consider YOU and your trauma, I and most of US felt the same way. we never tried to talk about this, address it, go through it. It wasnt like the INFERNO when we all were there for each other. We didnt CODDLE morgan in the aftermath. She knew where we stood about her killing Haleigh and the others but we didnt ABANDON her either.

WE didnt do that for YOU on Aerie. We assumed that you'd be able to handle killing Bishop because we ALL knew killing him to save Sharon and countless others was the RIGHT THING.

We were wrong. Haleigh, Ava and I ALL realized that the night you killed yourself.

I....I just wish you could understand...consider US....how WE feel about BISHOP- not what YOU did, just HIMand what HE did. He's come to represent a HORRIBLE moment in our lives. And time and again you seemed to DISMISS OUR feelings about that too! Whether we were right or not about them, rational or not...FEELINGS are just THAT and they can be more powerful or motivating than logic.

:: Nicolas, Morgan, Haleigh, Ava, Alison and Delilah NOW all had the reality of experiencing this personally as individuals in some of their darkest moments.::

 

[Persephone]

It had been a long day; a very long day. And even though they had successfully destroyed Black, the day was not over once returning to Minerva's Mansion. After discussing where to put Black's sword with Alison and Haleigh it was finally decided that it should remain in the vault, however deep deep in the middle where no one could get to it. After that, they went up to the observation lounge above Morgan's room. She looked so still....she looked dead. Falling into a chair, Ava sighed out and pinched the bridge of her nose. It would all be in vain if Morgan died. Sure they saved the world YET AGAIN, but at what cost? They had already lost Delilah at the beginning of this ordeal, would it end by loosing Morgan too?

Karen came into the room and gave them all an update on Morgan's condition, Delilah soon followed giving a heartfelt apology. There were things that Delilah should be apologetic for, however she was putting EVERYTHING on herself, and that didn't sit well with Ava. Karen and Alison reassured her that they had all made mistakes, and they were in no position to judge. However Nicolas' feelings didn't mirror theirs. He was angry and hurt because of the judgements Delilah cast upon him in the past and never let go, yet everyone was forgiving Delilah. Ava could understand it, but she also knew that now was not the time to rehash old wounds.

Then Bishop came in.

"He's still here?"

Ava deadpanned. He immediately began to chastise them all for the way they treated Delilah, and how they blamed everything on her, and how she was the victim, and how it was their fault, and how they were selfish, mean, cruel, heartless, etc. etc. Ava scoffed out in utter frustration. It was like he was building the damn marble pedestal for Delilah to stand on.

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to this."

She snapped while rising from her seat.

"None of us are perfect. All of us have done unforgivable things. All of us have made choices that were not right for this team. The reason we go out there and save the world is because despite the fact that we are superhuman, we are just as mortal as all them out there. So for you to come in here and build Delilah up on this towering pedestal is no more helpful than us putting her up there in the first place. We are all BLINDLY aware of how we let Delilah down. Those are OUR burdens to carry--OUR mistakes. And before you came bursting through that door, we were in the middle of expressing our apologies and making amends. However your spotlight treatment of how WE are all to blame for everything horrible that has happened since she met you....no, i'm not going to listen to your bullshit. It goes BOTH ways, Bishop."

Ava would have ended it with that. Walked out. Called it a night. God knows she deserved a long hot shower and a good nights sleep. But Karen and Alison were both trying to repair the rift that had formed between Delilah and the six. The same one that Haleigh was trying to stop throughout the entire caper. So Ava inhaled a deep breath through her nose and slowly exhaled, looking AWAY from Bishop and to Delilah. As far as she was concerned he was just a bag of skin taking up space in the room.

"I am sorry for the part I had in hurting you....and if it's worth anything...I don't want you to leave this team. You belong here with us. We all flaws Delilah, I'm probably leading the pack in that department. [a bit of dry humor to lighten the mood] But that's what makes us us. It works. We all balance each other, and without you, it wouldn't be the six."