On to the next one

[Black Widow]

He let her rant, and more than that, even: he knew what was driving it. He may not be inside her head anymore, but he proved he KNEW her very well. He listened and he heard, and his reply cut through the resentment like a knife.

Nicolas: I love you too, Hales. And I wish I could have stayed. But without the help I received, I would have killed you ALL. And there is nothing you could have done to stop me. You, most of all, would have loved and trusted me until the painful and bitter end. I would rather you hate me now than go through that. So take care, and I love you Haleigh. If you ever need me, I will be there.

He turned to walk away, and for a split second, she watched him go. Then:

"I understand, you know. The need to leave, to recuperate, to spend time regaining control of yourself and your sanity. My sister, Morgan, Karen.... they needed to leave too. But hell, even SHARON said goodbye. They all explained what was going on and I accepted it. I just need to know WHY. I need to know you're not.... turning your back on us. [pausing] I'm sorry. I don't hate you, but I think you KNOW that. Please be careful... at Hellfire. I know you trust your aunt, but don't forget to be VIGILANT while you're there. AND..... you can always come home. Don't forget that either."

She said gently, and then let him go. She walked the opposite direction down the hall, finding her sister not too far and beckoning her to come along.

"Alright then... Alison's waiting."

 

[Rampage]

"I understand, you know. The need to leave, to recuperate, to spend time regaining control of yourself and your sanity. My sister, Morgan, Karen.... they needed to leave too. But hell, even SHARON said goodbye. They all explained what was going on and I accepted it. I just need to know WHY. I need to know you're not.... turning your back on us. [pausing] I'm sorry. I don't hate you, but I think you KNOW that. Please be careful... at Hellfire. I know you trust your aunt, but don't forget to be VIGILANT while you're there. AND..... you can always come home. Don't forget that either."

Nicolas kept walking as she spoke, and it was one of the hardest things he had ever done. He wanted to twirl her in a hug, make her smile, rub Zach's face in it JUST a bit.

Alas it was not NOW to be. But he was not sad, not in the least. It was enough for him to know that the two loves he had in his life loved him back; and that the future was brighter than it had been in some time.

Nicolas smiled as he walked out of the mansion, out to the beach and, with a leap, took to the sky. It was such a beautiful night that he decided to fly home...

 

[Harbinger]

late night conference

:: Sitting back behind her desk, Alison awaited the arrivals. First Ava, then Haleigh. Nicolas had left the mansion and Alison was glad that he didnt overplay his role in all of this. By doing what he did, he ensured a smoother return to the team when the time was right.::

:: soon they both arrived and Alison shuts the doors behind them with her TK.::

You've been waiting for this moment for some time now.

:: she let them bring their concerns and questions to her before saying anything else.::

:: there WAS cause for concern and yet, not quite in the way they thought.::

 

[Persephone]

Ava waited down the hallway for Haleigh to wrap up her conversation with Nicolas. She didn't go too far after leaving the two to talk, knowing that Haleigh was going to say her peace and leave it at that. The subject of Nicolas was sore, but it was only sore because of Cameron's constant need to leave the group high and dry anytime the going got tough. It hurt Haleigh deeply, and she was displacing that hurt onto Nicolas. Regardless, Ava's assumptions that the conversation would be short and sweet were sound. After Haleigh met up with her, they both made their way down to an already waiting Alison.

Alison: You've been waiting for this moment for some time now.

"You're starting to sound like a fortune cookie, Alison.."

Ava deadpanned sarcastically. In reality the goddess was just nervous to talk to the one person who could "see" clearly about what was going on with Delilah. She was afraid of what Alison might or might not say. A joke seemed like a good place to release the growing nerves.

Taking a seat in front of Alison's desk, it was already apparent that the precog knew why they were there.

"You already know we think that there's something off with Delilah. Someone who was in her condition doesn't simply come back after a few days and play off her suicide attempt as if she just stubbed her toe. Alison, what's going on? Are our assumptions that Hecate cast a spell on her accurate? Is Delilah even DEALING with what happened to her or was it all 'white washed' away?"

 

[Harbinger]

in the study

:: Alison waves her hand dismissively and "fake laughs" at Ava's deadpan humour. If ever there were someone among the group to offer up remarks like that in serious moments and pull it off, it would be Ava.::

Taking a seat in front of Alison's desk, it was already apparent that the precog knew why they were there.

"You already know we think that there's something off with Delilah. Someone who was in her condition doesn't simply come back after a few days and play off her suicide attempt as if she just stubbed her toe. Alison, what's going on? Are our assumptions that Hecate cast a spell on her accurate? Is Delilah even DEALING with what happened to her or was it all 'white washed' away?"

:: Alison listened as she leaned back in her chair. Yes there was something definately amiss and Ava and Haleigh were definately observant of that.::

I wont insult you by pretending you're not on to something.

Normally, I do not attempt to pry into Ororo's affairs. I trust her and beyond that, my precognition is always hampered in Limbo whether I'm there or with others who are there.

But even BEFORE this, I had said that when Delilah return, I saw an anamoly of sorts ever present in all timethreads related to her...whether highly likely or remote.

Now that she's here, its clear that something is changed...something is wrong. Not necessarily WITH HER though.

What i can see clearly is that Ororo acted as she always does...responsible, firm, thoughtful and carefull. She DID revive Delilah and attempted to counsel her to help her as she once did Morgan, Cameron and myself.

:: Alison's eyes turn solid white as she concentrates...she can't fix on ORORO clearly, but she can fix on Delilah and her recent chain of events now that she's back on Earth.::

Ororo did all that she could...all that she WOULD. She has her limits and she wont let ANYONE persuade her to cross them. Her ultimate duty is the Dark Trinity.

Delilah was gripped...CRIPPLED by the pain of GUILT...GUILT and SADNESS OVER BISHOP.

:: Alison says with dismay::

Try as she could, Ororo could NOT console her or get her to see...to understand on her own. Delilah just...didnt have it in her.

Whatever happened to Delilah between the time she left Ororo and was returned here happened while she was in the presence of Hecate.

It was something about what Delilah wanted...Ororo would not do it but HECATE would.

:: Alison's eyes return to their norma colbalt blue state.::

Hecate took away the pain...took away the guilt. She gave Delilah what she asked for. Delilah felt that she could not go on like this...

:: looking at Ava and Haleigh::

And she was right. She would not have been able to function. It would have hampered and crippled her in all ways. She knew better than any of us could suspect how deep this was and she wanted...needed...BEGGED for a way out. She beseeched the goddesses Athena and Hecate and they answered her.

Athena deems Delilah a warrior worthy and Hecate considered this "returning a favor."

They didnt harm her, or CHANGE anything Ororo did. They gave her what she wanted.

Was it in keeping with a NATURAL recovery? No it wasnt. But then again, being brought back from the dead itself isnt exactly natural either.

I know neither of you will like this, but I'm telling you that you CAN'T question Delilah about her choice. Ororo did all she could to inform Delilah of the possible consequences of her actions and Delilah made her choice.

The more pressing thing is this..."ANAMOLY"...i cant call it anything else because I can't get a better fix on it...but something relating to Delilah is now looming and its moving across time threads! it's becoming IMMINENT that whatever it is...will manifest before her and WE need to be ready to stand by her and help her....PROTECT her if necessary.

I wish i could tell you more, but I can't.

 

[Black Widow]

Ava said nothing about Nicolas and for this, Haleigh was grateful. In the back of her mind, she was preparing for the possibility that Nicolas would still let her down. prepare for the worst, hope for the best. She felt guilty that she thought this way, but her history with Cameron, and even Nicolas himself, her made her cautious. She also felt guilty that she allowed Nicolas the power to hurt her by disappointing her, but such was the consequence of life as an emotional being.

They reached the study. Alison made the most obvious statement, possibly ever. Ava had a sense of humor and Haleigh simply sat down in the chair next to her sister. they broached the topic of Delilah, and Alison was gracious enough to be absolutely honest and as concise as her abilities afforded. she explained Ororo's stance, and it was exactly as Ava and Haleigh had suspected.

Alison: Delilah was gripped...CRIPPLED by the pain of GUILT...GUILT and SADNESS OVER BISHOP. Try as she could, Ororo could NOT console her or get her to see...to understand on her own. Delilah just...didn't have it in her.

"Of course not. Delilah is not like us. She ENTIRELY lacks the capacity to kill dispassionately, and it is a virtue none of the rest of us can claim. I didn't understand that before; I barely can now, but I shouldn't have allowed her to kill Bishop. I assumed the act would be her redemption, instead of her undoing, and I was fatally wrong."

Alison went on to explain that Hecate granted this concession and that Delilah DID in fact need it, and admonished them not to question Delilah about her decision. Haleigh nodded begrudgingly.

"Well... it was, after all, HER choice. I know we must respect that. Doesn't mean I'm particularly comfortable with this sense of doom I feel."

Alison explained the anomaly to the best of her ability, and Haleigh slumped back in her chair, disappointed.

"So we do.... nothing?"

She asked, with a note of apprehension.

 

[Persephone]

Alison explained in full detail exactly what was going on with Delilah, and confirmed that Haleigh and Ava's concerns were correct--Hecate DID do something to Delilah that took away the pain she was feeling. Ava could understand where Delilah was coming from. There were so many times in her past that she wished someone could just all her hardships disappear....but it just didn't seem RIGHT.

Alison: "Well... it was, after all, HER choice. I know we must respect that. Doesn't mean I'm particularly comfortable with this sense of doom I feel."

"Well I think it's a crock of shit. Delilah is a DAMN STRONG individual who lost herself because of that bastard Bishop. She could have worked through her problems. We could have HELPED her if she would have given us the chance. What is there to say that every time something bad happens from here on out, one of us wont run to Hecate so she can wave her magic wand and make it all disappear? [sighing] Whatever."

Ava was noticeably agitated that Alison and Haleigh were so easy to dismiss the situation. ESPECIALLY Alison. If it were only that easy dealing with despair back when they were held captive and torchered for months in an alternate timeline. Ava had to deal with her problems with very brutal therapy sessions, and even THEN she had a damn breakdown which resulted in her murdering Mike. It wasn't until her self imposed exile to Arie that she actually felt like herself again. But it took nearly a year to fully feel "normal". It just grated at Ava's nerves--made her JEALOUS--that it was so easily fixed for Delilah....she wished the same could have been done for her.

"Regardless, I won't say anything. As much as I dislike how she went about getting help, she is a good friend and i'm glad she is alive, safe, and well in mind and soul. I just hope this doesn't come to bite her in the ass later..."

Haleigh: "So we do....nothing?"

Looking at Alison, Ava was curious of the answer as well. She added onto the question.

"And do we tell Morgan of what has happened?"

 

[Harbinger]

:: Alison nodded to the negative on both their feelings about "doing nothing" or "being simply okay" with it. it wasnt that simple.::

I've been thinking about it before you even decided to come and talk to me about it. I've been going over it in my head. am I okay with it? No i'm NOT. But I'd rather have had someone like HECATE indulge Delilah if for no other reason than to keep her going down a timethread where she is a victim of her own inability to recover and becomes something that she would rather die than live as.

Remember what i said...she was CRIPPLED by this and because it all happened the way it did, we were left with very few options. Ororo and Hecate are not in her daily life their attitudes towards handling these things are different than ours and though Ororo is more "conservative" than Hecate in someways, Ororo will only go so far with anyone outside of the Dark Trinity.

She gave Delilah fair warning and counsel after she restored her. Delilah was incapable of understanding much coming to terms with it or the idea of "recovering" from it? not even possible for her to fathom.

Strong though she may be, of a higher moral fiber than most of us though she may be....THIS was the one thing SHE could not overcome on her own. We ALL have that part of us...that issue within ourselves. Desperation motivated her to reach out to someone that had the power and willingness to do what she could not. She didnt feel that ANY of us...not even Morgan or Karen could understand...would "Forgive" her...or be able to help her. WE know or at least we BELIEVE that's not true. But it was HER life and she needed to have a sense of control that she felt she no longer had.

Hecate wouldnt do something to one of her own's [morgan's] nearest and dearest to HURT her. but at the same time, we all know that Hecate does things HER OWN way and it may not be immediately clear what the over impact is.

:: Alison looks at them with a furrowed brown as she leans forward and rests her elbows on her desk.::

I've gone over this many a time in the few hours...i've considered other time threads and outcomes. Given the hand we've been dealt, THIS is the best way to go.


Does it mean that it will stay this way? ...REMEMBER what i just said...there's some kind of anamoly now MOVING across time threads linked Delilah...going from REMOTE to clearly IMMINENT. That change is directly linked to her choice of action but I can't tell what it is.

All i can say is that we're going to have to be READY to stand by her...help her...and PROTECT her.

Haleigh, it's like that time i showed you the crystaline chess board...all we could do was go by what we saw on it when the "clock" struck midnight.

Try to understand, as questionable or even as objectionable as we may find Delilah's choice...ours is not to judge or question her. We have to be ready to deal with the OUTCOME and though I can't be sure, i suspect that in that, she will come to terms with herself in a way she could not at THIS time.

:: and as for the subject of Morgan::

I have a strong suspicion Morgan KNOWS and just didnt want to let on. When it comes to those she holds nearest and dearest, we all know how protective she can be. But a few nights ago, she had a conversation with Demeter, who appeared before her when she was most distressed.

Morgan has centered herself and is ready for whatever's coming. I can tell you that she'll be receptive to what we may decide to say to her.

we should all just keep ourselves free of as much personal judgement as we can. Don't look at Delilah as if she's grown a third eye or anything like that.

the good thing is that this is happening HERE, where we can deal with it privately and among ourselves and whatever may be coming, we'll have "home court advantage".

 

[Persephone]

Well at least her assumptions that Delilah's decision was going to lead to problems was correct. Alison confirmed that some sort of anomaly was shifting through the all the time lines directly linked to Delilah. Now it was just a matter of finding out if it was a minor bump or a giant shit storm on the way.

With a sigh, Ava nodded her head agreeing not to treat Delilah any differently than before. But honestly, how could they not? Even if Delilah HADN'T gone to Hecate and had her guilt removed, it was still an awkward situation. Delilah literally killed herself....how were they NOT supposed to act differently around her? But Ava always took Alison's visions and suggestions seriously, therefore she would act as if nothing ever happened.

"Well i'm at least glad that Morgan isn't oblivious to what is going on. The last thing we need right now is a rift in the team; especially with this anomaly you're talking about involving Delilah."

Hearing the large grandfather clock begin to chime, Ava glanced at the time seeing it was six o'clock. For the past week, since Delilah was first taken away by Ororo, the remaining members of the six [and Pandora] ate dinner every night at six. Not that anyone really enjoyed the dinner or ate much for that matter. Everyone's thoughts and concerns were about Delilah. But tonight, with Delilah's return, there was sure to be some normal and light hearted discussions.

"We should probably head down to dinner..."

 

[Seer]

and so

<< sometimes the most pressing and uncertain situations dont manifest in the form of a monster or a disaster. sometimes they come from the most unlikely of places or PEOPLE...>>

Zooming through the mansion on a slumbering Delilah.

<< another day and evening pass, as the the active members of the Six and Harbinger prepare to go forward knowing that although things are better...they're still not RIGHT.>>

<< What happens next will be right in line with the extraordinary circumstances that the Six often find themselves in...and yet...it will be a trust test for each of them as once again the old effects and even HAUNTS the new.>>