Fandom: The 4400

Title: Winds of Change

By: Anjirika

Disclaimers: These characters do not belong to me, and the story was written after I saw episode 4.10 on Sunday August 19th 2007. Any similarities to upcoming episodes are purely synchronicity.

1. In Darkened Corners

"Wh-what do you mean?" Isabelle Tyler asked as she shrunk away from Tom and into the headboard of what she assumed was Kyle's old bed. "What do you mean, you'll give me back my powers and then I'll bring Jordan to you."

"Oh," Tom mused, his eyes almost glowing demonically in the dark. "-so it's Jordan now is it?"

"Tom?" Isabelle asked again as she leaned forward, studying the NTAC agent's face and eyes. And then her own eyes narrowed in fear and suspicion. "You're not Tom Baldwin- are you..."

It was more a statement than a question and Tom- or at least the physical body of Tom just had to laugh. "And we have a winner," he stated with a knowing chuckle. "Tell me Isabelle, when did you become so naive?"

Isabelle didn't answer his question, instead she asked one of her own. "You're Michael Ross, aren't you."

Again it was a statement and not a question, and once again Tom merely smiled- intrigued at Isabelle's quick deduction. "Maybe you're not so naive after all," he mused quietly looking Isabelle over. "Tell me, how is it that you alone can tell that I am not who I appear to be?"

"It's the eyes Michael." Isabelle stated unemotionally. "Your eyes are cold and dark and dead. And anyone like you who has a soul so rotten is stupid to think that I would join you."

"Isabelle-" 'Tom' chastised with a shake of his head. "I'm surprised at you. I thought that you would be itching to get your abilities back."

"Oh I am." Isabelle agreed as she rose to her knees, drawing herself up taller than 'Tom' "But if getting my powers back means that I have to betray Jordan, Kyle and the movement- then I don't want any part of it."

"What about your dear father Isabelle?" 'Tom' asked with a wicked grin. "Don't you want to save him?"

"My father betrayed me." Isabelle spat out with anger in her tone. "He took me away from all I helped build, and all I held dear. My powers are not worth his freedom."

"And what about your freedom Isabelle?" 'Tom' asked with a smirk. "The world thinks that you are on the run again. No one in the world knows that you're here and I can keep you here for a very, very long time. As long as necessary..."

Isabelle said nothing. She merely turned her head away and 'Tom' laughed. He knew that he had her cornered.

"Well, it seems that you need more time- and I have all the time in the world."

Isabelle remained silent and while she was lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that 'Tom' injected her with a sedative. Her last thoughts as she fell asleep were of Maia Skouris and she hoped that the young girl would have a vision of some sort that would save her.