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

~ X ~

"Italics with quotes" indicates telepathic speech

Italics without quotes indicates thoughts

~ X ~

John braced himself against the cold cement wall of the subway station, one leg on the ground, the other bent at the knee with his foot flat against the wall. His arms were crossed more in a defensive hug than a defiant gesture.

He watched the joyful family reunion uneasily, aware that many around him resented his presence. They clustered together, Roger and Stephen backslapping and hugging. Marla wept with joy unable to let go of her husband for even a moment, as if fearful of losing him again. Luca, dazed and overjoyed at the same time, not really comprehending that the man he barely remembered as his father was back. Stephen beamed from ear to ear while Astrid watched fondly, vicariously savoring his enjoyment.

The Tomorrow People were excited and disconcerted at the same time. They had trouble accepting this rollercoaster of lows and highs. Their long promised savior at first exposed as a dead man and now in a strange turn of events resurrected. Their shadowy messiah, the promised one who would lead them to the land of safety, was suddenly standing in front of them. They were hopeful, but afraid to trust it was real.

Cara beamed, relieved by the presence of Roger. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Here was someone that could assume the burden of leadership. Her gaze slid over to John and a frown darkened her face.

She strode over to accost him. "You have no right to be here."

Others in the vicinity heard her and the muttering began, rising in tempo as they worked each other up. Several balled their fists ready to take him on. John unfolded his arms and shifted his stance to stand erect ready to fight or flee, whatever the situation required.

Stephen, noticing what was going on, quickly intervened using his body as a shield between John and Cara and her angry followers.

"What are you doing? I couldn't have brought my father back without John. You should be thanking him . . I know I am."

"You wouldn't have had to bring him back if John hadn't killed him!" Cara accused. John winced, but Stephen pleaded on his behalf. "Dad . .tell them. Tell them I couldn't have done it without him."

Marla put a hand to Roger's cheek turning it towards her. A silent communication took place between them. A nod and a kiss to her palm and Roger turned to everyone, holding his hands up to catch their attention. He cleared his throat. "There's something I need to say. It's time to reveal the truth. Don't blame John. It wasn't an accident that he shot me. I could have escaped if I wanted to. I set John up."

John felt all the air in his body leave him, like he had been punched in the stomach. He was falling down a long dark cold tunnel, and words had a hard time reaching his ears as if they were somehow whipped away by the wind.

"I . . needed . . .someone . . . who . . would . . shoot . . once . . and . . . hit . . . me . . . straight . . . in . . . the . . heart . . . so . . . I. . . could. . . freeze. . . time. It. . . gave. . . me. . . the. . . time. . . to. . . make. . . him. . . promise. . . to. . . protect. . . you . .the . . . Tomorrow. . . People. . . and. . . my . . . son. He. . . was . . . the. . . only. . . one. . . who. . . could. . . do. . . it. . . so. . . I. . . planted. . . the. . . idea, . . . pulling. . . in . . . Jedikiah. . . and. . . the. . . Founder . . . making . . . them . . . think . . . it . . . was . . . their . . . "

John knew that Jack was still talking, still explaining, but he could no longer hear anything over the roaring in his ears.

All that pain!

I set John up!

All those years of guilt!

I set John up!

The agony of knowing I killed my friend!

I set John up!

All the lying I had to do, hating every moment.

I set John up!

Having to live with myself, loathing what I had done. Feeling my soul shrivel.

I set John up!

All for nothing. All because he couldn't trust me.

The stricken look on John's face finally penetrated into Roger's consciousness, making him stop.

"No . . no way . . . Dad . . . how . . . no . . say it's not . . . " Stephen's horrified protests trickled away as he saw the look on his father's and mother's faces.

"It was the only way, Stephen," his father insisted. "I had to be sure our people were protected. I had to make sure you would survive."

"It was the only way, Stephen." Marla defended her husband. "We've all suffered . . all done our part. This was John's part."

John backed away slowly from the wall while Roger followed him. People parted before the duo, as if it was a dance they didn't want to interrupt. "I had to do it, John. It was the only way to escape the Founder. I needed your promise that you would protect these people . . . that you would protect my son. I couldn't let you know. You could never have kept it from them. You were never strong enough to resist them. I needed to shock you into running."

He saw faces slide by him in slow motion, every expression, every nuance visible. Cara, hand fisted in her mouth, as if holding back a scream. Astrid looking like she could easily murder someone. A horrified Mike. Stephen, face white with shock, changing to disbelief and then shame. Russell's face screwed up like he might be sick. Luca so confused, looking from parent to parent, not comprehending what was happening here. Irene peering at him through her thick glasses. The stunned faces of people he had known for years, most of whom he had helped rescue. And finally Charlotte, the only one not surprised, her time at the Citadel leaving her cynical beyond her years.

He focused on the hand Roger reached out to him. "John, please try to understand."

"John, I didn't know. I swear I didn't know." Stephen closed his eyes, shaking his head.

His friend, the one at Ultra who never lied to him. The one who warned him . . . be careful who you share your secrets with. The one who comforted him . . . It's always darkest before you turn the lights on.

The lights would never turn on now. Not for him.

Marla, put her hand on Roger's arm, stopping him from moving closer to John. She spread her hands, arms wide and low, in the age old gesture that promised 'I will not hurt you'. She spoke low and soothing as if addressing a frightened child. "It's okay, John. It's over."

They approached him together, hand in hand, and still John backed away.

Betrayed, lied to by the only one he thought would never lie to him.

Hot scalding tears slipped down his cheeks now, and he didn't care.

"Please, John," Roger begged. "I'll make it up to you. Stay and let me talk to . . . "

John turned, stepped, and was gone.

Cara tried to reach his mind. "Please, John. Let us make it up to you."