What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
And fall awake and die
And I'm never goin' to bed

Kraken braced himself, ready for the ripping that had happened to Dr. Terminal. Curiously enough it didn't come. After a minute or two he opened his eyes. Nothing had really changed. Her hands were still where they had been beforehand. Now though, tears poured from her eyes and her fingers trembled.

"Why can't I do this?" she seethed, "Why can't…?"

It seemed like her face was changing, like there was some sort of struggle.

"Get the fuck away," she murmured to no one in particular, "Stop whimpering!"

Her eyes flickered from insane to desperate. Back and forth they went like flashcards, fast as light.

"Vanya?" he murmured, using the hand nearest hers to touch hers.

"Just shut up!" the White Violin yelled as she clutched her forehead.

Footsteps alerted the presence of another person. The White Violin lifted her tear-stained face to see her sister, hands in pockets and staring at her.

"Now what the fuck do you want you mute bitch?" she snarled.

Unfazed Rumor took one of her hands out of her pocket. She moved it quickly around. The White Violin cocked her head in confusion. Then her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the floor.

"It actually worked," .05 said, coming out of the shadows and uncocking his gun.

"Brilliant," Séance said.

"What just happened?" Kraken said, trying to get up.

"Your girlfriend went psycho," .05 said.

"Not her fault."

"No, but she did," said .05 as he started to unbuckle the restraints.

Séance wandered over and started freeing Spaceboy.

"I was actually wondering what she did," Kraken said, gesturing to Rumor with his head.

Rumor wrote down on her notepad;

"Sign language is a form of communication that can only come from me in this form. Works sort of like my voice, only I think the recipient needs to understand. Vanya was teaching me. And calm down, I just said that rebrainwashing is an unstable process and doesn't last more then ten minutes. It was a guess."

"A lucky one," snorted .05 as he released Kraken.

Unsteadily Kraken got to his feet and hobbled over to Vanya. He kneeled down and propped her up. Her eyelids fluttered once before she opened them.

"I'm…I'm sorry," she whispered, "I tried…I really did…I'm sorry…"

"You seem to be saying that a lot lately," Rumor wrote.

"Shut the hell up before I stick that pencil your eye," snarled Kraken before he turned back to Vanya, "Don't worry. You didn't kill anyone. All that'll happen is that the big ape'll have a headache when he wakes up."

"Speaking of big, a little help here?" Séance called as he tried to lift Space.

Rumor and .05 went over as Vanya and Kraken helped each other up. After much maneuvering the other three managed to get Spaceboy up.

"I give this place two stars," sniffed Séance, "the bellboys don't even help you with your luggage."

.

.

.

"The court has come to a decision," the judge said.

It was two weeks later and Rumor was looking steadfastedly at the floor. The stern looks on the judges faces as they gave Patrick full custody last time was hard enough. She didn't have to go through it again.

"Last review was short," the judge continued, "Giving the father full custody of the child. Ms. Hargreeves activities in the past are not conducive to good motherhood."

Out of the corner of her eye she could see the smug smile on Patrick's face. Rumor held back the furious tears that were coming.

"However," the judge said, "It has come to our attention that recently the father had been involved in activities of a less then legal nature."

Rumor's head shot up and Patrick looked surprised.

"A source that wishes to remain anonymous has given us evidence that Patrick Mason has been involved in eight robberies in the past year. Petty thieveries, but lending nothing close to an appropriate atmosphere for a child. This will lead to a separate trial in four weeks time. For lack of a better option the custody of the child Claire Mason will be given to her mother, Allison Hargreeves. Court dismissed."

With the bang of the gavel Patrick started shouting. Numbness and confusion filled Rumor. What had just happened? It took Claire running up and hugging her to begin to snap her out of it. On the taxi ride home Claire wouldn't stop talking about going to the moon and becoming a crime fighter then marrying Prince Charming after eating an apple. Kid stuff.

As soon as they got home she showed Claire to her room. It was eight o'clock, past Claire's bed time. There wasn't enough time to figure out a room of her own. Tomorrow perhaps. Claire had gone to bed only reluctantly. Rumor had had to promise her that she could go exploring later. Also she had to get a bedtime story, even though all the books were in the living room.

.05 was sitting on the couch, stroking Spot idly when she walked in.

"Did you win?" he asked casually.

Producing her notepad Rumor wrote;

"Yes."

"Great," snorted .05, "Now we have another person in this house. I refuse to baby-sit."

"I wouldn't ask you to," wrote Rumor irritably.

"In any case," continued .05, "Why did you win?"

"Apparently Patrick robs places for kicks," scribbled Rumor.

"Jewelry stores," .05 specified, "His girlfriend has expensive taste."

He rolled his eyes when he saw the shocked look on Rumor's face.

"You can't honestly tell me you didn't know who left that 'anonymous tip'?"

"Space?" she wrote.

.05 rolled his eyes again.

"Not entirely false. He was the biggest helper certainly. But he didn't come up with the idea. Use your paltry brain cells and think."

Rumor looked blankly at him. Irritated more then ever, .05 jerked his head in the direction of one of the bedrooms. Rumor followed his gaze. Her mouth dropped open as she turned to .05.

"Get it now?" he asked.

"Vanya?" she wrote incredulously.

"She didn't think it was fair that you got such a bad wrap about your kid," .05 said coolly, "So she hounded us all about it. Even Séance got so fed up that he lent a hand. We all had to investigate. Nobody forced me though. I did it because I was bored."

He paused speculatively for a minute.

"She did ask for us not to tell you though," continued .05, "Something about you wouldn't like it if it came from her. Too late I suppose. Anyway, tell your brat to stay out of my room."

With that .05 picked up his puppy and left. Rumor stood there for a few minutes staring off into space. She felt pangs of guilt for the way she had been treating Vanya. Vanya had deserved it though! She had taken her voice. Of course, she had been brainwashed then. She recalled her conversation with her 'mother' several months ago. Vanya hadn't known what she was doing. It wasn't really her fault.

Her hand reached up and touched the scar on her throat. Even though she could still use her powers to some degree she was still angry about losing her voice. How long was she going to stay bitter though? Close to a year had already passed. If Vanya wanted to mend things up, then shouldn't she at least make the effort? But was she willing to try the hard way for once in her life?

Maybe one day. One day soon. Right now though, it was late and her daughter was waiting for a bedtime story. She'd be ready for it one day. Just not that night. Picking out The Wolves in the Walls she turned around and went back into her room.