Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People is the property of the CW. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Notes: I've always hated this scene in All Tomorrow's Parties where Cara confronts John. His side breaks my heart, hers drives me crazy. It was because of this scene that I did not like Cara for a long time ... not until the last few episodes where she actually started to act like she cared about John. Also, "italicized text" indicates thoughts.

xxx TTP xxx

John dreaded this moment. He knew this day would come ... eventually. He had a bit of hope it never would, but of course it did. Cara now knew one of his deepest, darkest secrets. He was an Ultra freak that could kill.

"Why didn't you tell me," Cara demanded as John walked by.

He tried to avoid the question. "We never should have gone up there."

"You know damn well that's not what I'm talking about." Her anger was getting the best of her.

"Cara ... I don't know what to tell you," John said as he grasped the railing, his shame and guilt making it hard to look at her.

"How about the truth," she insisted.

Okay, she wants the truth, here it is. He finally looked at her.

"That I'm a killer? Genetically enhanced freak."

"I don't understand how ...," she said as she ascended the stairs. "The Annex project? You're a ... you're a part of it?"

"I was one of the lucky ones who survived the beta test." He half smiled at that, at the sheer absurdity of being "lucky" to be able to kill.

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because this part of me was supposed to stay dead." The stoic John returning, emphasizing how much he wanted this part to be true.

"This is what you've been hiding from me all these years? This is why you've been keeping me at arm's length?"

"What choice did I have? How do you think they'd take the news? That Jedikiah had turned their fearless leader into a freak. That I wasn't one of them anymore." His fear started to seep through.

"I'm not talking about them. Why didn't you tell me?" Cara's hurt was evident.

"'Cause of the way ... Because of the way you're looking at me right now. Like I'm some monster. " He looked as though his greatest fear had been realized.

Referring to himself like that shook something inside of her. He is one of the most kind and gentle men she ever met, which made the revelation even harder to believe. Yet, she saw him gun down that agent. The anger started to fade, slowly being replaced by compassion.

"No, John, that is not ... I'm angry you kept it from me," she stated then softened her tone. "No, John, you are not a monster."

She walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm, he turned away from her.

"Killian was a monster, Jedikiah is a monster ..." She used her other hand to turn his head, to look him in the eye and said, "John ... you are not a monster."

Cara then embraced him. John hesitated, reluctant to return it, but relented and wrapped his arms around her. A single tear trickled down his cheek. The walls he had carefully constructed started to weaken.

Author's Note: Okay, better or worse? Realistic or too romanticized?