Broken by Emma Love Kaitlyn felt very cold. Lewis was speaking, then Rob. Rob, he was talking about hunting and destroying Zetes, and Gabriel, if necessary. Finally, cool calm Anna agreed with them and now they all turned to her. If Anna could agree, why couldn't she. After all, he'd hurt Kaitlyn more than any of them. She finally realized what she had to do, she knew there were other options. Perhaps even one that would save them all, but she couldn't do it - not after he'd hurt her and would have done it again, if not for Tony walking in at the right moment. She owed him nothing, he'd proved that she was nothing to him. Now she would prove that he was nothing to her. But she couldn't stand the thought of watching Rob hurt Gabriel, not for Gabriel's sake, she told herself, but for Rob's sake. If he was forced to kill Gabriel; it would change him forever, and not in a good way. She couldn't watch that and she knew that unless they were willing to be completely ruthless; they wouldn't stand a chance against Zetes anyway. She put a resigned, but grim look on her face and agreed. @ @ @ She put out her cigarette and sighed, why was she remembering this now? That had been three years ago. She'd walked away, ran away. That night after everyone had went to sleep she'd snuck out of the house and ran. At the time, she hadn't known what she'd do; where she would go; she just knew she had to go. Now she was doing very well, she'd finally figured out how to make her powers useful. She hadn't really like doing it, but she'd realized that if she was going to survive alone; it was going to be necessary. She sighed again as she saw Rob enter, he was looking well, she noted. Still tanned, tall and even more athletic looking than before, with his amber colored hair, which she recalled was a few shades lighter than his eyes. He still disturbed the space around him, filling it with his presence like a golden solar flare. Perhaps that was why she was remembering now. He'd called her yesterday asking her to meet with them. He hadn't said about what and Kaitlyn had agreed, she felt she owned them that much after she'd ran out on them three years ago. All she knew was what her visions had shown her. Rob had decided against going after Zetes and was using the shard from the last pure crystal for healing, he and Anna had married recently. And apparently Zetes had decided to leave them alone, once it became clear they weren't going to be a threat to him. Nice of him, she thought bitterly. Rob hadn't said anything about her leaving, but she knew he had been deeply hurt, and it would have taken Anna a long time to heal those wounds. She was sorry she'd hurt him; sorry that she hadn't been strong enough to do what needed doing. But she couldn't change who she was. "Hello," it was formal and she knew it. But how do you address a boyfriend that you ran out on when the chips were down? Rob smiled, he knew this was hard for her. He was actually surprised she'd agreed to meet with them at all. Since he knew how hard this would be, he'd asked Anna to wait before joining them. And maybe he'd asked Anna to wait just so he could get his drooling out of the way, he thought wryly as he took in her appearance. She was as beautiful as he remembered, if not more so. He supposed she'd have to be in top form, considering she was a supermodel now. But he'd almost forgotten her strange, but wondrous eyes. Eyes that looked more witch than human. They were a smoky blue and outside each iris, as well as in the middle, were darker rings. Her eyes were always a pleasant shock to him, no matter how many times he saw them, he was still stunned by them every time. He noted that her straight autumn-fire hair was a bit longer now. And her supple figure was a bit smaller than it had been. She was gorgeous. "You're doing well," he remarked as he sat. "Yeah, it's not so hard, when you're not on the run," she replied. There was something she had to ask, something that she couldn't get from her visions. "What happened to Lewis?" Rob sighed, "He left. He went back home once he realized it was safe to do so. I wanted him to stay with us, his power, while not healing in nature would have added to ours and helped. But he chose to go home where he felt safe. I'm surprised you didn't return home." "I thought about it, but at first I was afraid if I did, I'd bring Zetes and company down on my father. I wouldn't do that to him. So I lived on the streets for awhile, then I started. Well, after I realized that Zetes wasn't coming after me, I decided to get off the streets and see about living again." "Why didn't you just talk to us that night?" Rob asked, then looked shocked at himself. He'd promised himself that he wouldn't ask that question. Kaitlyn gave a small smile. "I've had a lot of time to consider that. I was afraid you guys wouldn't understand, would try and talk me into it. I just. I just couldn't do it. And if I couldn't do it, I couldn't stand around and watch you guys do what I wasn't brave enough to. It seemed wrong somehow." Rob nodded and let it drop. He couldn't, in all honesty, reassure her that they would have understood, he didn't know. But he suspected his younger, more idealistic self, wouldn't have understood. That Rob fought evil simply because that's what good did. But he'd learned, after she ran, that helping and healing people were just as good, if not better. Finally, a shadow fell over the table and Kaitlyn smiled up at her friend. Anna, like Rob was almost exactly as Kaitlyn remembered her. She still radiated a calming influence, which affected those around her. Kaitlyn could actually feel some of the tension lesser in her shoulders. But it was more than her calming influence that you noticed about Anna. She was Native American, graceful and dark, with high cheekbones and an expression of serenity in almost every situation. Kaitlyn decided out of all of the group, she'd missed Anna most of all. "You look nice," was all Anna said. But Kaitlyn could tell that Anna wasn't bitter or angry, over the way things had happened. Kaitlyn took a deep breath, "So, what's this meeting all about?" Rob actually smiled, which told Kaitlyn they weren't going to ask her to finish the mission she'd ran out on. She felt some of the tension drain out of her body. "I mentioned earlier about Lewis, we decided to ask you to travel with us and help us heal." "Ah," she replied. She wasn't sure about that. She loved both Rob and Anna, but she wasn't sure she could travel with them, watching them interact as husband and wife, she wasn't sure her heart could handle that. And it wouldn't be fair to ask them not to act like husband and wife simply because it bothered her. She was glad they were together and happy, but she wasn't sure she wanted the constant reminder of what she'd given up. Anna watched the thoughts race across Kaitlyn's face and knew what her answer would be. Anna understood, in fact, had known when Rob suggested it that Kaitlyn probably wouldn't do it. Not because she didn't want to help, but because it would be too hard for her to be around them. Anna smiled gently at Kaitlyn. "I'm sorry, Rob. I can't, right now. I have things I can't walk away from," which wasn't a complete lie. "Maybe when things settle a bit I can." Maybe when it won't hurt to watch you two together, remained unsaid, but understood by all. "So," Anna decided to change the subject. "How are you doing? You, not Kaitlyn the supermodel, but Kaitlyn the person?" Kaitlyn smiled. "Pretty good, I just met someone. She's great, you'd like her." "She?" Rob choked on his soda. Anna chuckled and Kaitlyn grinned. "Yes, she. Aside from you, I don't like guys, remember?" "Aside from him and Gabriel," Anna pointed out. Kaitlyn almost groaned, she should have known his name would come up sooner or later. "Yeah, well, Rob is still the only guy that." Kaitlyn stopped herself not wanting to hurt Anna. "It's alright, I understand." "Good, but either way, that bridge is burned. You guys are happy and I finally have a chance to be happy." Both girls did their best to ignore the dark look that came over Rob at the mention of Gabriel. Kaitlyn knew, as she was sure Anna did, that Rob blamed Gabriel for everything. As they continued chatting, none of them noticed the two figures sitting a few tables over. Gabriel looked at Zetes, he had felt this was a waste of time to begin with. When Kaitlyn had ran all those years ago, he'd known that the entire group would fall apart and would leave them alone. However, a small part of himself had wanted to see her again, so he hadn't disagreed much when Zetes suggested that this meeting should be watched. Seeing her again, in person anyway, he had all the pictures she'd modeled for the past two years, but hadn't tried to see her in person before now. He ignored the pain he felt at her dismissal of him and her new relationship to some female. He supposed he should have realized that about her and maybe, on some level, he had. Either way, she was more beautiful now, than she'd been then, and even further out of his reach. Not that it was her fault in any way. No, he'd been the one that hurt her. He had hoped on some level when he had the power that Zetes promised; he'd have her too. Now it looked like it wasn't going to work that way. "It would appear that you were correct," Zetes said finally. "But we must be careful, they still have the crystal shard. Perhaps we should remove that from them." "If you did that, you would bring them back into the fight," Gabriel began. "Right now they won't bother you, if you don't bother them, but if you start trying to take the crystal you might manage to reunite them against you." Zetes smiled. "I see your point. However, I am not eager to have to keep my eyes on them forever. There are more important things I could do with my time. But as long as they have that shard; they cannot be ignored." Gabriel snorted, "I'm telling you, they won't do anything without Kaitlyn. "And I doubt she'd be willing to help them, unless you did attack them. That could be what would draw her out." "Possibly," Zetes said. But Gabriel could see his mind was on a different track. He really wasn't concerned about Kaitlyn joining them, he only wanted the shard to destroy the last remaining threat to his power. Gabriel could only hope that Zetes could get the crystal without getting Kaitlyn involved. He would not attack her again, he'd already destroyed her. That broke him on some level, if he'd known how badly that would affect her. He admitted to himself that he'd have probably done it, anyway. At the time, he'd wanted to show them all how bad he was, and how powerful he was; they hadn't mattered to him otherwise. Finally, the group broke up and left, after a few moments Zetes and himself followed, heading back to the office. A few weeks later, as Kaitlyn watched a coffin being lowered into the ground, she turned her thoughts to Rob's offer, mainly to keep from crying. Since Jackie was dead, perhaps she should join Rob and Anna, she kept telling herself that would be better than suicide. Right now, she was so cold inside that she felt she could stand watching them together. It wasn't fair that Jackie was dead, and that Kaitlyn hadn't gotten a vision to help her stop it. A car wreck of all things, sometimes life really wasn't fair. Sometime later, she glanced up and realized, the service had long ago ended, and she was standing alone at the grave. She made no move to leave. Simply went back into her thoughts. Jackie had been her shot at happiness and a somewhat normal life. But like her infant relationship with Rob, it had been snuffed out before it really started, maybe it was her punishment for running. To begin relationships, only to have them end before they began. In that moment she knew she could never have a relationship again, she couldn't handle the pain of it. Being single might not be fun, but at least she could avoid the pain of loss. 'But you'll also never soar to heights of happiness,' her mind whispered. 'So what?' she answered back. She would give almost anything not to feel this pain ever again, if that meant not having blissful happiness, so be it. "I'm sorry," a familiar voice whispered startling Kaitlyn out of her thoughts. "You." She said, she'd meant it to sound harsh, but it came out cold and flat. Gabriel simply stood there, he didn't know what else to say. He wasn't even sure why he'd come out of his hiding place. He knew he was probably the last person on the planet who could comfort her now, but the expression on her face tugged at his heart, what little of it was left. "I guess this is old home week," she said, and this time her voice didn't shake. "Actually, it's been a few weeks." "I know," she snapped. Then it hit her. "You knew?" "Of course, Zetes was afraid you were meeting to plot his downfall." Kaitlyn sighed, she didn't need this now. What she needed now was a hot warm bath and a nice long cry. She did not need to be standing here staring into Gabriel's dark gray eyes. He was still the only person in California that didn't have a tan at all. Where Rob was a golden boy, Gabriel was a complete contrast to him. "Well, we're not. Be happy and go away!" As she spun to walk away, he grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry," he said again, and she knew he wasn't talking about the death of her girlfriend this time. "I..." "What?" she knew she was being harsh, but she was past caring. This monster had tried to hurt her, and seeing sympathy in those usually cold dark eyes was too much. "Just go away and leave me alone! I won't be coming after you or Zetes, I don't care. Right now he could destroy the planet and I wouldn't give a damn. It's a worthless place anyway." The pain in her voice again tore at his heart, maybe the kindest thing he could do at this point was leave her alone. After all, his orders hadn't included talking to her, just watching her while Zetes made his move for the shard from the others. He'd decided that the death of Kaitlyn's girlfriend was the perfect time to make his move. Gabriel had only agreed to watch Kaitlyn, because if he hadn't one of the others would have. And he knew that if she started to help her friends, they would hurt her. He would do anything in his power to make sure Kaitlyn was never again hurt. "Let go," she practically screamed at him as she pulled her arm away from his and quickly walked away. He let her go and after a few moments followed her. As he watched her bathe, he knew he would end up having to destroy Zetes himself. Even after Zetes got the shard, he'd have to go after the group and take care of them personally. They still had information that could prove damaging to him, Gabriel wondered why he hadn't realized that before. 'Maybe because you didn't want to,' his mind informed him. And he knew it was right, he wanted the power Zetes promised him and as long as he left Kaitlyn alone; it hadn't mattered to him what happened to the others. Now it would, because while she might not care about anything at the moment, if something happened to one of the others she would involve herself. He knew that Kaitlyn would feel personally responsible if anything happened to them, as long as the others were healthy and happy, she could ignore her guilt at running out on them, but once harm come to them - Her guilt wouldn't let her do anything less than get involved. He watched her rise slowly from the tub, then rush into the bedroom. He moved his position so he could see her, once he did, he relaxed a bit. She was only on the phone. Before he'd finished the thought, she slammed down the phone and grabbed what looked like a one piece jumpsuit and quickly dressed; something was up and he needed to know what. Kaitlyn kept telling herself that she didn't care, but it was a lie and she knew it. Rob was hurt, according to Anna he was hurt very bad and the crystal - the one shot they had at possibly healing him was gone, stolen by the same man who'd left Rob for dead, Zetes. 'So that's what Gabriel was doing at the cemetery,' her mind noted as she grabbed her car keys and headed out the door. 'Watching me to make sure I didn't interfere with his master.' As she opened her car door; she spun around. "Rob's dying, you cold hearted son of a bitch and I'm going to him. You can follow, but don't you dare try and stop me." Gabriel almost smiled, her old fire was still there, just buried. But the smile was wiped from his face at the thought of Rob dying. Sure he would have killed Rob himself once, he just wasn't sure how he felt about it. Despite himself, he liked and respected Rob, though he'd never admit that to anyone. "I'll drive," he said, taking the keys from her. She didn't argue, because she wasn't sure she was in any shape to drive. She almost smiled, 'Maybe Anna will kill him, the moment he walks through the door with me.' Somewhere along the way to the hospital, Kaitlyn finally allowed herself to think about Gabriel and why he was here now seemingly wanting to help. She thought maybe he'd finally realized what he lost when he joined with Zetes. 'Good,' she thought bitterly. Then stopped herself. Maybe it was time to let bygones be bygones. But she couldn't forgive him, not yet. He'd hurt her deeply, even more deeply than she'd realized at the time. But maybe she could stop being bitter over it. She realized that she'd lied to Rob and Anna when she'd spoken about Gabriel. If Gabriel had been interested, he could have broken her lesbian barrier as easily as Rob. But it was too late for that now, way too late. They might become friends again, and as long as none of the five died, they'd still be mind-mates, but she would not allow herself to fall in love ever again. Suddenly, she realized that she was grateful for Gabriel's presence, it was a long way to the hospital in Rob's town. And she would have never made it trying to drive herself. Because, she wasn't sure if it was her own pain, Anna's pain, or Rob's, but through the web she was feeling tremendous amounts of pain. Gabriel sighed with relief as he saw the hospital come into view, he was feeling Rob's pain, and it was getting very hard to drive. It occurred to him that he was glad Rob hadn't died while they'd been on the open road, because he was certain everyone in the mind-web would feel it when he died. But he had been blocking out most of the pain, besides Kaitlyn's. He felt he deserved to feel her pain, he'd been the cause of most of it. He was actually surprised that she didn't seem more bitter toward him. They saw Anna, but before any of them could speak, they felt Rob die. Kaitlyn's knees buckled and she couldn't breath. Anna cried out and began sobbing. Gabriel didn't make a sound, but he did sway on his feet. Somehow Kaitlyn made her way to Anna and grabbed the girl in a massive hug. She might not be able to read Anna's mind anymore, but she knew, as well as she knew her name, how Anna was feeling. As the girls stood clinging to each other, Gabriel tested. He pushed with his physic powers and couldn't feel their minds at all. But as much as he'd wanted to get out of this mind web, the price (he decided) had been too high. Rob was dead, nothing would ever be the same again. It wasn't fair, Gabriel fumed. He, not Rob, was the fuck up, the one that was expected to end up dead or on death row. But it seemed that Rob had paid the price for his sins. In that moment, he realized that he'd never hated Rob at all. He'd looked up to Rob, wanted to be Rob, but never hated him. Only hated his self. Finally, Anna looked up and met Gabriel's eyes, a hard look. "I'm going after him," she said simply. He nodded. Kaitlyn took a deep breath, she could do this - For Rob. Bitterly, she realized that it was a little late to do anything for Rob, but she would do it in his honor. She would kill the bastard that killed him, and she would destroy his crystal. She would do this even if it killed her, that was almost laughable. She should have fought with them against Zetes in the first place, maybe if she had, he'd still be alive. Of course, if she had, Gabriel would probably be dead now, or maybe even her. The funeral was a subdued affair, Kaitlyn hung to the back with Gabriel. Since she felt like Rob's death was somewhat her fault she couldn't stand being around Rob's family, she could barely stand being around Anna. Her inner voice kept telling her that it was her fault that Anna and Rob would never have a life together. Lewis stood next to Anna, wanting to ask questions about Gabriel. But even he knew this wasn't the right time to ask. Finally, Anna turned to him and smiled gently. "Don't worry, we will try to explain things soon. We have a lot of work ahead of us." Lewis nodded, trying to look like he understood. Anna tried to really focus on him, it wasn't his fault Rob was dead and it wasn't his fault he didn't understand what happened, but now was not the time. There would be time for filling him in and preparing for battle later. He was as she remembered him, short with black hair and almond shaped eyes. But saying Lewis had black hair was something of an understatement, his hair was pure black, which meant in certain lights, it looked blue. He looked back to where Gabriel and Kaitlyn stood, he decided maybe he should head over there. He felt like he was out of place standing next to Anna and Rob's family. Gabriel didn't seem to notice Lewis, Kaitlyn noted absently. Though he hadn't seemed to notice much of anything since Rob's death. 'He's numb,' she realized. She managed to mumble 'hey' as Lewis approached, but the lump in her throat wouldn't let her say more than that. She was starting to realize that Rob's death may have taken the heart out of them all. He was staring hard at Gabriel, but he knew that Gabriel wasn't here to hurt. Obviously, he'd hurt Kaitlyn worse than any of them, and she was calmly standing next to him. Finally, Gabriel noted as everyone started for their cars, it was over. He hadn't even wanted to come, he knew it was his fault Rob was dead. He'd known Zetes would go after the crystal and he'd done nothing to stop it. But Anna insisted that he be there, saying that Rob had really liked him. That had touched him, though he'd never admit it to anyone. But Rob was the perfect one, the one who could do no wrong. He, Gabriel, was the fuck up, the one who ruined everything he touched. Deep down, he supposed he'd always known he wanted to be like Rob. By the same token, he'd always known that was impossible. That had been one of the many reasons he'd joined Zetes in the first place. He was evil and he knew it, even when he tried to be good, bad things happened. Maybe not to him, but always to those around him. They entered Anna and Rob's house, Anna collapsed on the sofa, while Kaitlyn and Gabriel stood stiffly by the door. Lewis just looked back and fourth between them, wondering where his place was with all of them. Before it had been in the mental web, but with Rob's death the web was gone. So now he wasn't sure where he fit in, was beginning to wonder if he should have come at all. After what seemed like hours, but had probably only been about fifteen minutes, Anna composed herself and began to speak, mainly to Lewis. Filling him in on current events, after some time she finished, and he looked up, noting that Kaitlyn and Gabriel were no longer in the room. "So you guys are really going after him?" Lewis finally asked in a small voice. Anna felt her face break into a real smile. Some things never changed, Lewis was still the same timid, but funny, boy he'd always been. For some strange reason, she found it comforting. But before she could say anything, Kaitlyn's choked voice rang out, telling them to come into the kitchen. Anna entered in front of Lewis and it was a good thing, the moment she saw what had caused Kaitlyn's distress, she lost her footing and started to fall. If it hadn't been for Lewis behind her, she would have landed hard on the floor. The shimmering figure smiled gently as Anna finally managed to stand without the aid of Lewis. "Sorry," Rob said. "I wasn't sure how to handle this part. But you guys can't take Zetes by yourself." For a moment, the shimmering figure frowned. Now that he was dead, he was being filled with information, at times the information was overwhelming. So, he knew that Kaitlyn could have changed it, though he'd never tell her. She already knew it on some level and Rob would not hurt her, anymore. He really understood now, then she hadn't been ready, she was too scared. Now she was ready and that was enough for Rob. She could do what she was meant to do, but she needed the others. "So, you're here to help us," Gabriel said sarcastically. "How? In case you forgot you're dead, dust. Not much you can do to hurt him." Rob smiled, which managed to irritate Gabriel more. "No, I can't do anything to hurt him. I never could have," he finally replied. "Who?" Anna asked in a soft, but controlled voice. "All of you, all of us together." That was when the headache hit them all, all save Rob. When he realized what was happening he vanished. Anna seeing him fade away, managed to cry out through the pain exploding through her head. It was Kaitlyn who got it first, Zetes was doing one of his famous physic attacks on them. Which meant he knew Gabriel wasn't on his side anymore. "Light," she ground out between clenched teeth. Gabriel looked at her blankly for a moment, then she could tell he remembered. So together they all thought of light, pure golden healing light. But soon it became clear to Kaitlyn, it wasn't working this time. Then she knew, before when they'd fought them off they had been in the mental web, telepathically linked to each other, sharing power on a basic level. Now because of Rob's death the link was gone, and they weren't as strong apart as they'd been together. Before she could think of anything, Gabriel was shouting. "Direct your power, focus on Kaitlyn." 'Why me?' she started to ask, but she knew that was it, if they could lend their power to her, she could focus it and do what needed doing. She just hoped it would be enough, even focusing on her, the group was still one person short. After the longest time, Kaitlyn managed to push the attackers back. But it took everything they had. Finally, Lewis realized they were all on the floor. He hadn't remember the attacks being this powerful before. They'd been more annoying and bothersome, but not crippling. Before he could say what was on his mind, Anna was already answering his unspoken thoughts. "It's Rob, without his power. Without his powers added to ours, Zetes' and his gang are much stronger than we are." Gabriel swore, and Kaitlyn looked sick. "Where is Rob?" Lewis asked. "Here," he said faintly. The gang looked at him and realized that his shimmering form wasn't as bright as it had been before. "I helped where I could, but it almost wasn't enough. We have to hurry. I don't know if you can withstand another attack from him." "But," Kaitlyn came out of her stupor. "We don't know where he is, where the crystal is. And even if we did, you said it yourself, Zetes and company are much stronger than we are now." "This is where I can help you. Gabriel knows where Zetes is." "The Institute," he said roughly. "Though I would have thought he'd move, when he realized I switched sides again." "He's arrogant," Anna said. "He doesn't think we are much of a threat to him now. Not without Rob, but he doesn't know Rob is sorta here. Maybe that gives us an edge." "Yes," Rob replied. "And I know exactly where the crystal is. I have enough in me to distract Zetes so you can get the pure crystal shard and use it against his. But you'll have to move fast, I won't be able to keep them all distracted long." As they finished working the plan out, Kaitlyn noted that Rob's figure was starting to look brighter again. She wondered what he'd done against Zetes that had drained him so bad. It was all set, Gabriel would go in and get the crystal shard, Anna would go with him, just in case Rob's distraction didn't work or didn't distract them long enough. While they were getting the shard, Lewis and Kaitlyn would head into the secret room, Lewis was the key person in getting to Zetes crystal, without his psychokinesis, none of the others would be able to get in the room, unlike Rob, the others couldn't simply walk through walls. Kaitlyn wanted to argue that she should go with Gabriel. But she knew it was better this way. Her and Gabriel were the strongest, so it was better for them to split up just in case things went bad. "The crystal is guarded, but you won't have any trouble. The two guards won't be much trouble without Zetes to give them orders." They understood, if things got ugly they might all be joining Rob, then there would be no one left to stop Zetes and save the others. If the others could be saved, according to Gabriel; their contact with Zetes crystal had left them less than sane. But Rob assured them; that once the crystal was destroyed; the others would return to normal. After sneaking into the Institute, and getting downstairs, Kaitlyn could only stare in shock at the sight in front of her, a sight that had little to do with the scary veiny green looking crystal in front of her, which seemed to be pulsating projecting an evil essence outward. No, it had to do with the human pupae guarding it. The guards, Rob had said, wouldn't be a problem. She hoped he was right, because just laying passive on the floor in front of the crystal they horrified her. She glanced at Lewis and could tell by his face that his thoughts were running along the same lines hers was. They had to have been made this way by too much contact with the crystal, because she could tell they were still powerful, as a matter of fact the power radiating from them was impressive. But their minds were so far gone that they were wearing straitjackets and black trash bags for diapers. She shivered, if they hadn't ran away when they had, they might have ended up like this. The thought scared her more than anything she'd ever feared before. 'Hurry,' she barely managed to stop herself from screaming to the others. She wanted this over, she did not want to stand here contemplating what had happened to the guards, which had once been human, in front of her. Whatever had been done to them, she knew destroying the crystal wouldn't fix. One of them was staring at her out of his red albino eyes. She could sense his power rush toward her again, as it had when they'd first entered, and again it dispersed just before reaching them. "Rob," Lewis whispered, more to himself than Kaitlyn. "Has to be Rob." "We got it," Anna's calm voice rang out as she entered the room a few steps in front of Gabriel, who was actually holding the shard. Gabriel wasted no time, he went straight for the crystal, determined to end this. But before he reached it - the door crashed in reveling Zetes and company. One look and Gabriel knew Zetes was livid. And he knew he'd never reach the crystal before Zetes reached him. Sure enough, the air started to thicken around him. Making him feel as if he were moving underwater, and before long he wouldn't be able to move at all. "Damn!" Kaitlyn cursed, apparently Rob could no longer keep the guards power at bay. "What do we do now?" Anna was about to answer with her own helpless 'I don't know', but the words turned in to a cry as Rob's shimmering figure appeared. 'Throw the shard,' Rob commanded Gabriel. 'Focus on the shard,' he told the others. Kaitlyn wasn't sure if he'd spoken aloud of telepathically, but he must not have spoken aloud, because until the shard left Gabriel's hand, Zetes and crew had looked triumphant. The moment Zetes saw the shard flying toward the crystal; he screamed, and threw himself toward the shard. But he wasn't going to make it in time, Kaitlyn noted with satisfaction. Then Kaitlyn felt power rush from her and the others into the shard, then into the large crystal. It shattered, exploded in a blinding flash of light, which left everyone shielding their eyes. Anna was the first to open her eyes again, the guards were dead and she was pleased to note that they'd died wearing very peaceful expressions. "Zetes?" Lewis asked. "Dead," Gabriel said flatly. "He was too close to the crystal, when it exploded it took him with it." "Good," Kaitlyn said harshly. Anna looked at Kaitlyn for the first time since entering the room, and started toward her. "We did it," she said softly as she embraced Kaitlyn. "It's over." "We did it," Lewis echoed louder. "We really did it!" Even Zetes original students seemed happy, except two. Frost and Jackal Mac stood apart from the others. Jackal Mac with his jackal eyes and bald head, looked closed and apprehensive. Frost with her long light blond hair and perpetual look of disdain looked ready to bolt. As soon as Gabriel finished the thought, the pair did just that. There was nothing else for him to focus on now, nothing at all except the shimmering figure in front of him. Rob smiled as Gabriel finally looked directly at him. "Don't worry, they'll be okay." "You're leaving too," it wasn't a question, somehow he just knew. "Afraid so. I've completed what I was meant to do." Gabriel sighed, wanting to yell it wasn't fair, and knowing that fate or whatever it was didn't care about fair. He was brought out of his thoughts when he realized that Rob was speaking again. "Buddy, somebody's got to look after those two," Rob motioned with his translucent hands toward the embracing Kaitlyn and Anna. "And since I'm dead, it's up to you. You know how much trouble they can get in to." Gabriel grinned, but it was from more than just Rob's words. Rob was trusting him, trusting him to do something right and to take care of people. Gabriel wouldn't let him down. "You got it," he said. "Goodbye. I'll..." "Yeah," Rob replied, then grinned. "What? I can't have you getting all mushy on me, it would destroy that manly image of yours." With that, the ghost of Rob faded away, leaving Gabriel alone with Zetes now sane students and his friends. He turned to Kaitlyn, Anna, and Lewis. Lewis was standing apart from Kaitlyn and Anna, talking with Lydia. Gabriel knew that getting everyone back to normal, while the spell of the crystal was broken it didn't mean everything the others had done was forgotten, wasn't going to be easy. Zetes old students had done even worse things than he had, but somehow he knew it would all work out. He just wished Rob was here. But he understood that this had been Rob's last act on this plane, and he'd moved on. Sighing to himself, he couldn't help but wish Rob was still here and alive. Now that things were settling a bit there was so much they could have done. But that was a bridge that could never be crossed now. It wasn't fair. Fin.