Fingers trailing the cold concrete, a shiver running down her spine. Her eyes were scrunched up in concentration, and she hardly felt the cool hand resting on her shoulder.

"Focus."

With a frustrated sigh, she stood, throwing her hands down.

"Cassie-"

"I can't do it."

Cassie's streaky blonde hair fell over her eyes, and she gave a frustrated sigh. The man in front of her stood, approaching her calmly.

"What's wrong? I know you can do this. I've seen your skill."

"I-I don't know, okay? I just-I just don't know."

He placed his strong, calloused hands upon her shoulders. Her gaze traveled over his scars, and a nervous flutter came over her eyes.

"Cassie?"

"Yes?" Her eyes traveled to his, which regarded her with a slight weariness.

"Lets take a break."

He released her and, with a calming breath, she turned her back on him. Her converse scuffed over the tile, and she shoved her hands into her jean shorts' pockets.

"I can't...I just-I just can't," she muttered quietly to herself.

Sinking into a plush black couch, she stared at her own hands. Simple, smooth, unworked. Nothing like Strange's. She wouldn't have even believed they were capable of magic unless she'd seen it with her own eyes. She stared around the room, it's high ceilings and dim light. There were only a few windows, high near the roof. This allowed the little light that came in to be scattered in patches across the room. Warm air drifted in from around the corner, and Cassie desired to be anywhere but this damp hall. With a deep breath, she closed her steel blue eyes and clenched her fists. Every thought in her brain was running a million miles an hour, but she struggled to condense them.

Unbeknownst to her, Cassie's mentor watched her with a mixture of worry and pride. She was too young for this, he thought. She was so much less experienced in life.

With softer steps, he approached her. Sliding next to her, he watched her face. The tension in her face was almost comical as she tried to force the magic to happen. His hands slid around her gently as he placed them on top of and around her own small ones. Her eyes opened in surprise, and she gazed up at Strange with an embarrassed smile. Strange knew she was always calmer around him. In fact, she had helped his temper as well.

"You have to relax," he murmured in her ear.

She complied, leaning her head against his chest and slowing her breathing. Cassie tried to listen as Strange whispered instructions in her ear. He was trying to calm her frustration, and she appreciated the effort. They desired to avoid another accident. As he gently squeezed her hands, she let the tension go and focused on his words.

"Don't focus on anything else," he was saying, "just on what you want to happen."

"Strange, I don't think-"

"Don't think at all," he urged. "Just focus."

Seconds passed, her eyes closed, his arms surrounding her.

"I can't..."

His arms fell limp, and he sighed.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, angrily pulling away and walking swiftly down the hall.

Turning the corner, she opened the door and stepped into the city street. Anger was pulsing through her veins. Why couldn't she get it?! What was wrong with her?! Strange learned so quickly...

Her feet shuffled past others', away from that place. With tightly curled fists and heavy breathing, Cassie didn't realize how angry she was growing. Her shuffling had turned to shoving. Anyone in her way was shoved to the side by her fists, and angry yelling by pedestrians had ensued. Her fist collided with a man's side, and he tumbled to the street, cursing her as he picked himself out of a puddle. Rising to his feet, he chased after her, giving a quick shove to her shoulder.

"What's your problem, lady?"

She turned, eyes narrowed, and took a step closer to his face. "Go away," she muttered, feeling her anger rising as he smirked at her.

"Psycho," he murmured, turning to go, his clothes dripping with the street sludge.

Her breathing quickened, and she struggled to control her rage.

"Stop it," she scolded herself. "Don't let it happen again."

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. All of a sudden, someone knocked her to the ground from behind, and as she hit the concrete with a smack, a scream of anger erupted from her throat. She jumped to her feet to see the man trying to apologize. Suddenly, an explosion seemed to shake the ground, and high-pitched screams echoed around the city block. Cassie covered her arms over her head as smoke filled her vision. There was noise everywhere-it blocked out everything. A sharp rock hit her across the face, and she fell to her knees, trying to cower under the explosion.

Minutes passed. The noise didn't die out, but the smoke dispersed. She lifted her head hesitantly and glanced around. The nearest building was partially collapsed; the street was covered in crashed cars and bodies. People lay all around her, and there were screams and crying. Blood covered the sidewalk in patches, and her once white t-shirt was red. A sob rose in her throat, and she fell forward onto her hands and knees, tears streaking her cheeks. She was choking on her own sobs, pain searing her gut.

"I didn't mean to," she sobbed. "I didn't mean to."

Strange heard the explosion, and there was no hesitation as he ran from the building, skidding into the street. His face fell in shock-the damage she'd caused was more than he'd expected. He knew where she must be-a building was still slowly crumbling. As he ran quickly towards the scene, his heart filled with fear. That could have been too much for her-she could have killed someone. His heart lurched, and Strange was forced to stop. The building was going to collapse, and there were still people inside.

Cassie lay curled in a ball crying, her eyes red from tears. There was nothing she could do now. A grating noise filled her ears, and Cassie clenched her fists, stuffing them over her ears, closing her eyes tight.

When she opened again, the building above her was standing again, and people were pouring out. Standing not far off was Doctor Strange, and he was helping the many people she'd injured. The pain in her gut was too overwhelming-she couldn't walk over to him. She would have to wait. He needed to help all of these people first.

Red and blue lights began flashing all down the street before long. She lay waiting, tears still streaking her face, guilt overcoming her. The pounding of her own beating heart had begun to drown out all noise. That is, until she felt the hand on her shoulder, the yelling voice above her.

"Ma'am?! Ma'am?"

Eyes flickering open, she stared up into an officer's face. He was blond, with concerned blue eyes. He was kneeling beside her, his hand on the concrete. She rolled over onto her back and stared up at him with silent tears.

"Is anyone dead?" she whispered.

His brow furrowed, and he grimaced, refusing to answer her question. The blond tried to help her sit, but the pain was overwhelming, and she cried out, falling back to the pavement. Strange had disappeared, and with no other options, she tried to focus on the officer's questions.

"Are you hurt?" he inquired.

Weakly, she nodded.

"Where?" His eyes roved over her body, looking for a source of pain. He lifted her shirt, pressing his fingers against her ribs and abdomen, assuming that's where the blood on her t-shirt was originating from.

"Inside..." she whispered.

Suddenly, the man lifted his head and gazed at someone approaching.

"She's mine."

Cassie heard Strange's voice. Relief overcame her, and she waited to see his blue-gray eyes. He kneeled, lifting her in his arms, refusing to make eye contact. Curling against his chest, Cassie wasn't even sure what else he said to the officer. She was listening to the steady beating of his heart-it was soothing. The pounding in her head and pain in her gut was causing a quiet moaning.

Strange stared down at her face, screwed up in pain. He could see the wet tear tracks on her cheeks and could tell the ordeal had been too much for her body. His disappointment was great-she had failed to control her anger, and the toll was high. Yet relief had filled him when he saw her awake, talking to an officer. She was okay-alive.

He carried her back across New York to the Sanctum. As he walked up the steps, he saw her eyes flickering open and closed.

"Stay with me," he murmured.

Striding swiftly down the hall, he pushed open a door with his foot and laid her gently upon his bed. With a gentle hand, he pushed her blonde hair from her forehead and leaned forward, gently shaking her shoulder.

"Cassie?"

She heard Strange's voice, and her eyes opened reluctantly. She moaned and tried to sit, wrapping her arms around his neck. Strange stiffened, surprised, but had no hesitation in pulling her closer, allowing her to rest against him.

"Cassie, do you know what happened?"

She pulled away, shock filling her eyes again. Her lip trembled, and she glanced away, trying to hide the tears filling her eyes. "I-I didn't mean to...I didn't want to...I-I-" He reached forward, turning her face towards his own.

"I know."

She fell forward, sobbing into the sheets, trembling wracking her body.

"Strange, will they take me away?" she choked out.

"No. They have no way of knowing that was you. But, Cassie...you caused a lot of damage. You hurt a lot of people."

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "That can never happen again."

She could hear the anger in his voice, the presumption. To her, it was apparent what he was thinking: She should have been able to control her feelings, and her power. And, of course, he was right. This wasn't the first time it had happened, either, but never before had she hurt anyone.

"I must go survey the rest of the damage. Just-stay here," he ordered with a displeased sigh.

She nodded weakly and crushed the sheets tight in her fist, content to never leave the Sanctum again.