Gem couldn't believe she was back in this hellhole. She'd wished she wouldn't have to come back to this room again. It looked exactly the same, though, the last time she'd seen it, it was demolished, seemingly beyond repair. She hugged her knees, closing her eyes as she chanted in her head.

'This isn't real-This isn't real-This isn't real. It's just a nightmare-A nightmare-A nightmare. Ruby said it was just a nightmare. Mom said it was just a nightmare. Dad said it was just a nightmare. It's just a nightmare.'

She calmed down slightly, when she thought back to what happened at the lair.

'Why, Ben? Why did you have to do it?'

She felt like her heart was torn out, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She buried her head in her knees, remembering his words.

'He didn't want to…but Kane made him…'

A shiver ran down her spine at the name of the demon god, but her fear was justified.

'Ben…if anything, please come and save me…please…'

She heard the doorknob turn, and the thought of her previous 'visit' to this room made her ears lay back and her tail lower. But when she saw Ben's familiar face, she perked slightly.

"Ben?"

He raised his hands, whispering, "Shhh…I'm here to get you out. Come on…" she immediately trusted him, a trait Ruby said would one day get her killed, though she never thought much of it. She followed him silently, which surprised him. She still seemed to open and trusting, though he'd betrayed her. He'd ripped his own heart out doing it, but he'd done it, nonetheless.

He led her out the back, whispering, "I can't leave. I'm sorry for what I've done, I really am. But as long as you're free, I'll live with it. Now go!" she hesitated, but he pushed her towards the manhole across the street, and she obediently went. She gave him pleading eyes before going down, and he felt the guilt lift off his heart.

'As long as she's safe…that's all I need to know…'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rose was still beating herself up as her Aunt Amber and Uncle Leo fumed, ready to kill the two boys, when a small, innocent voice drifted through the doorway.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

The only one who still called their parents was Gem, and everyone's heads snapped up to see her.

"Gem!!"

Amber immediately calmed down as she hugged her daughter.

"Are you okay? How did you escape?"

"Ben helped me."

Everyone seemed guarded as Amber asked, "Why would Ben help you?"

"He said he was sorry, mommy, and he compensated by freeing me."

"I'm not sure that was his intention." Ruby said, steely-eyed, and pissed off.

"I'm sure it was! He said he was sorry, and I believe him!"

Gem seemed so sure…Rose wasn't so sure, though she wished she had that much trust in Andy. She shook her head as Gem argued with her sister over the means of her escape, and said, "Andy said he was sorry…that he didn't want anyone hurt…that all Kane had wanted was Gem…" she looked up at her father. "I think he really didn't WANT to do this, dad…I think Kane made them, one way or another…"

"I think they just did it, so it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not."

Raph retorted, angry with himself that he'd left his daughter with him, and nearly lost his niece. Gem seemed furious, her temper flaring dangerously.

"You don't know him!"

She ran off to her room, and Ruby immediately softened, looking ashamed.

"Gem! Wait!"

Ruby went to apologize her sister as Rose stood up, her face troubled. She glared lightly at the wall, saying, "I'm going out." Before her father could argue, she was gone, and he cursed. He grabbed his trench coat and fedora, following his daughter as Sapphire sighed, rubbing her temples. 'I should've seen this coming!' she berated herself.

'I should've…but I didn't…'