They hadn't lied; Mara had received a steady stream of visitors. The fever stayed manageable, and the other withdrawal symptoms she took one by one. Duke insisted on holding her hair and rubbing her back and she wondered occasionally if he was borrowing the Sarah personality matrix, just a little.
He was kind of a mother hen.
Vince and Dave came the first day, a few hours after Dwight left. Duke frowned darkly, but Mara insisted on coming out to visit, reminding him that she'd already taken the fever reducer and was going to be sitting the whole time. But still, he sat with his arm around her, trying to be stealthy about checking her temperature; brushing her hair out of her face, touching her neck.
He wasn't nearly as sneaky as his reputation indicated.
Vince and Dave sat, and as Nathan was passing behind them, he snatched a recorder out of Vince's shirt pocket and took his notepad.
"Off the record. She's sick."
Vince looked like someone had stolen his candy and Mara had to squeeze Duke's leg to keep from laughing.
Mara looked at them for a moment, waiting to see what they would start with.
Vince gave her a searching look. "What do you remember?"
Mara smiled faintly. "More than you'd like, certainly."
Dave sat forward eagerly. "Do you remember all the lives, Mara?"
"All 19. Well, 18 and 1/2, since Lexie never really took. But all 19 plus my own."
"Do you still feel them like your own memories, or are they... fake now?"
Her expression turned sweet as she looked at Dave, her voice gentle. "Of course they're not fake. They were never fake. They're all just different parts of my overall life. The actual love, the emotions- those have always been me. My mother is very smart, but she can't create a soul. Until Audrey, I was that soul. Even for a little while after Audrey came here. Then we started to diverge, and she became a different person. But nothing has ever been fake."
She held up her finger at Vince before he could speak. "Yes, I remember, no, we will not talk about it and it's not the same thing, you filthy, filthy man."
Everyone looked confused but Vince laughed, slapping his knee. "Did you get telepathy, too?"
"No, I just know you too well, Vince."
They laughed together for a moment. Mara sat back, wiping her eyes a little.
After that, everyone relaxed, and they all settled into their new relationship. They made it feel so simple. Audrey was Audrey, Mara was everyone else, and nobody had to lie or think about what story they had told before.
It felt like family.
People from all over town came. People from the station, citizens who Audrey had helped, even a young woman from the high school had come to ask for an interview for the school newspaper about the 'amazing missing twin'. Mara wondered how boring that school must be.
The most interesting visit happened on her third day conscious.
They were all sitting in the living room, Mara picking listlessly at a frozen waffle. She freely admitted the withdrawal was kicking her ass, and she'd had no appetite at all for the last two days, but she kept picking at that waffle so Duke would quit giving her the worried look.
There was a knock at the door and they all looked at each other, shrugging. Audrey and Nathan had started sleeping back in their own bed once Mara was lucid, but they still came every morning. Nobody seemed to be expecting company, so Nathan went with Duke to answer the door while Mara and Audrey kept looking at each other curiously.
That curious glance turned confused as Duke walked in, blushing furiously and refusing to look at their visitor. Nathan looked pretty damned uncomfortable too. Nobody had warned them that Chris Brody was in town.
Duke rubbed the back of his neck, refusing to look at anyone but Audrey waved at Chris uncomfortably as she tried to disappear back into her seat.
"Mara, this is Chris Brody. He used to live here. Chris, this is Mara, Audrey's sister."
She had to bite her lip for a moment to keep from laughing. "Nice to meet you. You're the marine biologist, right?" She held out her hand to shake, he took it and kissed it instead.
Chris was smiling, obviously trying to turn on the charm. "I am. So, you've heard about me?"
"Yeah, I've heard a little about you. I don't know a lot of people here just yet. Are you staying in Haven?"
"For the time being, yeah. Just finished getting some work done in Europe, but I always seem to end up back here."
Mara chuckled. "I know how that can be."
Taking the seat closest to Mara without actually taking Duke's spot on the couch, Chris got comfortable.
"Audrey, you didn't tell me you had any siblings."
"Yeah, well, it's hard keeping siblings together in the system. Happens a lot. One kid gets sent to one foster home, one to a different one, or to a group home."
Mara understood why Duke and Nathan were so uncomfortable, and it made her laugh.
"So Mara, do you know much about Haven?"
She smiled wryly. "More than you'd think. You mean the Troubles?"
"Yeah, those.'
"I know about them. And yes, I'm immune, same as Audrey."
"Wow- do you know why?"
Ah, there it was. The excitement and interest that had made him chase Audrey. Humans always wanted what they couldn't have.
"Yeah, we're aliens."
Everyone looked around at each other, startled. People really were fun sometimes.
"Kidding. It's a genetic glitch. We're identical twins, so we're identical oddities."
"I heard you were in an accident. I'm sorry. How are you feeling? Anything you need, don't hesitate to call. I'd be happy to help."
"I've got a lot of help. I'd be lost without them. Especially Duke. He's been doing absolutely everything for me. Audrey was kind enough to take me in when I needed help, but she can't carry me around or anything, and Duke has been a godsend." She smiled at Duke, taking his hand and tugging him down with her.
She leaned in close to whisper in Duke's ear. "Remember how I accidentally activated you? You're Immune. Calm down and trust me, you can look at him."
Duke chanced a look up and his whole body slumped. "Oh thank god." He wrapped his arms around Mara, kissing her gratefully. She could even taste his gratitude and it made her laugh.
Chris, on the other hand, looked crushed.
"So, you and Duke, you're..."
"Dating? Yeah. Like I said, he's been taking care of me, and we just kind of... clicked. Not many men who would sit up with you for days on end just to make sure you're okay." She smiled lovingly at Duke, taking his hand.
It wasn't that she hated Chris. Well, mostly. She'd been horrified and disgusted when Audrey had started sleeping with him- honestly, she at least understood her attraction to Nathan, but Brody? Really?- But Mara hated that he was only (or, perhaps more specifically primarily) into Audrey because she was the only one immune to him. She deserved more than that.
The fact that she got a little nauseated every time she thought of having sex with him wasn't his fault and she tried not to blame him for it. Audrey had been trying to take her mind off Nathan and Chris had helped with that. Kind of. For a few minutes.
There had been one time, one single time when Mara had actually helped Audrey on purpose. Audrey and Chris had been on a 'date', which meant they were at her place, in bed, and Audrey had been fantasizing. The second Mara knew she was about to say Nathan's name, Mara had acted almost through reflex, keeping the wail wordless.
She'd covered for Audrey, but that five seconds still made Mara want to shower.
The women looked at each other, obviously thinking of the same moment and froze, both on the edge of laughter, both fighting it for all they were worth.
Trying to save them both, Mara grabbed Duke's hand. "Hey, it's time to change the bandages, you told me to remind you." She gazed at Duke imploringly and like the gentleman he was, he stood immediately, nodding and playing along. She raised her arms a little, still watching his eyes, and he didn't miss a beat, scooping her up though she'd been walking for days.
He carried her to the bedroom, pushing the door closed behind him. "So, what did I just assist with?" He laid her on the bed, stretching out next to her.
"Audrey and I just had a really funny thought and we were both about to start laughing, we were setting each other off. So to protect the ego of Chris Brody, I removed myself until she's calm."
Duke thought her words over for a second before burying his face against Mara to laugh. "Oh god, she said Nate's name, didn't she?"
Mara rolled onto her side so they could whisper together. "She was about to! It's one of the very, very few times I purposely acted just to protect her and not 'us'. Not a survival thing. I took over long enough to keep her from using any words at all, but damn, she still owes me. That's the problem with a memory like mine. I don't forget, so I get grossed out every time."
Duke pulled her closer, tucking her against his body.
Jealous Duke was one of her favorites.
"We could overwrite that memory right now."
Now this had possibilities. She hadn't had sex since before she got sick, Duke was so afraid to break her. But maybe Jealous Duke could remedy that.
"How would we do that?"
His fingers were teasing around her waistband, and he looked hesitant. "I keep forgetting how sick you've been."
No, no, no. Must keep Jealous Duke and send Worried Duke to the corner. Mara was tired of sitting and thinking and worrying.
"You know what I can't forget?
"Huh?"
She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "When I had to take over to save Audrey's ass, I had to feel that man inside me. You know how I am about sex. Now every time he looks at me I get all queasy, I know he's thinking about that twin thing. I mean, can you imagine? It was my body.
"I know I don't look my best, but I want you, Duke. I want you to be the only one I feel."
He still tooked hesitant, so she pulled off her shirt, bringing his hand to her breast as she stretched to kiss him.
"Make it go away, Duke. Make it so I can't feel anyone but you. We have at least 15 more uninterrupted minutes." Was it underhanded and wrong to resort to using his devoted nature against him like this? Absolutely.
Was Mara willing to take that karmic hit?
Hell yes.
She pushed her hand down between them, under his waistband. He was half-hard and she wrapped her hand around him, squeezing and pulling slowly. Her thumb ran over the head and his eyes went dark, the hand on her breast squeezing, and she felt him crack just a moment before he muttered, "Fuck it, I can't wait."
He surged forward to kiss her insistently, and she pulled off his shirt, pressing herself tight against him as she fought to open his fly.
When they were both bare, Duke rolled them so he could watch her, rubbing himself against her until she was gasping his name. Smiling, his eyes never left hers as he pressed into her.
It had been too long, and she couldn't breathe. Mara's legs came up to lock around Duke's hips and he started moving- really moving, not like she was a fragile china doll. She heard the sound of their skin slapping together and her back arched, pulling at him harder.
"Yes, gods yes, I missed this so much. Harder, please!" She fought to whisper, scratching his back and sucking on his neck, marking him. It felt like they'd been apart for a lifetime, and Duke's hand shot out so he could brace himself on the wall, somehow managing to push deeper, to give her even more of himself.
In that moment, Mara was certain he'd give her all of himself, if she were to ask. A possible future stretched out ahead of her as she examined the Paths of Possibilty, but it was a certain one that stopped her, that piqued her interest.
She and Duke, together. She was free, Audrey was free, and while the Troubles may never really die out, they were managing.
They were happy.
They were friends.
Friends with kids.
Mara could make a future with Duke. A home. Something neither of them had ever had before.
She could be more than this broken shell. More than sharp, jagged edges that cut everyone who tried to touch her. Maybe she could be loved.
She whispered against his lips, between frantic kisses. "I need you. I can't stand the thought of you with anyone else. Please, Duke, please. Be mine."
His breath stopped completely and his head fell back, spine arched as he pushed so deep she wasn't sure where she ended and he began. He stayed like that for a long moment, purposely altering into a smooth, slow rhythm.
"Say it again." He was moving slowly, but continuously. His eyes burned, silver shooting through the black.
"I need you. I don't want you with anyone else. I want you to be mine!"
"Say you love me, Mara."
"You're the only one I ever have loved! I don't know who I am anymore and sometimes I don't even care because you're still there."
He pushed harder and faster, and suddenly Mara knew exactly what he was doing. She couldn't lie to him- not out of spite or to stroke his ego.
He was getting every question answered.
But she could do this. "I get so jealous when you're with other women. I was stuck, trapped, watching them throw themselves at you. I was working overtime to get Audrey to not make a pass at you." She met him thrust for thrust, pulling him hard against her.
She could barely breathe; her vision blackening, Mara snarled, "I was the one who should have carried your first baby. I've loved you longer than any of them!"
Something about those words- the honesty or acceptance or something she couldn't comprehend sent Duke over the edge, and as he thrust raggedly into her, his voice full of hushed groans while he came, she fell apart around him.
When she could focus again, Mara stared up at Duke, touching his hair where it was starting to get unruly, falling into his face. He was still inside her and she squeezed around him gently, watching his face. His eyes slipped closed and he smiled. "Further proof that god likes women more than men. You can have multiple orgasms within minutes without being hooked to some kind of gatorade IV."
She laughed quietly and Duke pulled out as he said, "Remind me to make you laugh again next time, because- wow."
They wore matching cheshire grins as they pulled their clothes on and Mara was pleased to note that her bite was obvious even with his clothes on. "I guess you have to carry me back out there, since you did set the precedent."
Duke scooped her up like she weighed nothing. "You're very wise. Now tell me, did we get the Chris memory out of your head?"
"Chris who now?"
Duke's grin only got wider. "That's my girl."
Duke carried Mara back to the living room, settling her gently on the couch. He went to get them water while Audrey gave her 'the look'. "How are the bandages doing, Mara?"
Silly Audrey. "Much better, thanks. There's just too much space that I can't reach well."
Chris coughed into his coffee, and his voice sounded a little strangled. "If you don't mind my asking, how are you hurt?"
Mara's voice was barely hidden laughter as she replied. "Lots of things. I got very lucky, I could have died. But I'll live. No patient could refuse those puppydog eyes, and since I needed help anyway..."
Mara could feel Nathan's irritation through the Aether. He hadn't been made immune to Brody and his 'Trouble' and he felt like an idiot, constantly having to keep his eyes away from Chris.
Eventually, Mara took pity. "Come here for a second, Nathan?"
Happy for the distraction, Nathan jumped up and came right over, leaning over Mara next to Duke. "What can I do?"
Mara's hand came up to curl around the back of his neck, squeezing as she stared into his eyes. "You can be yourself, steady Nathan Wuornos, but you'll have a much higher than normal resistance to the Troubles. I haven't figured out how to give full immunity to a human yet, but I will. This should be enough to hold off the current issue at the moment. Do you trust me?"
Nathan settled on the balls of his feet, looking curiously at Mara. "What do you mean?"
Mara leaned close to Nathan's ear, whispering. "I need to use Aether on you. I'm sorry, but you look so uncomfortable and I swear I'll only alter the Immunity sequence. It at least gives you a fighting chance in a Trouble call. Can you trust me enough to do this for you?"
The tiny smile that curled his lips made her feel so happy, and when he said, "Please, I trust you." Mara's smile was almost blinding. Keeping her hand on his neck, Mara pushed, letting the Aether in her body flow into Nathan, replacing the Aether that had made him numb, making him closer to Mara's side of Immunity. A gift, not a curse or a Trouble.
When she nodded to him and let go, only she, Duke and Audrey could see the black handprint edged in fire on his neck. He chanced a glimpse at Chris and relaxed, winking at Mara and taking his place with Audrey, arm possessively around her shoulders.
Dear gods, Nathan had willingly allowed her to use Aether on him.
Either he was starting to really trust her or he was really sick of loving Chris Brody.
Maybe both.
Probably both.
Happy and relaxed, Mara said, "So, Chris, how long are you in Haven for?"
"That's actually open-ended, really."
Audrey tried to sound conversational, but Mara could hear the dread in her voice. "Wow, what happened to London?"
"I followed your advice. I got what I needed, but then I was done and I figured, why not come back and see if I can help."
Mara squeezed Duke's hand, hard. She was biting her tongue. He wanted to help after nearly getting her and other people killed because he thought he was smarter and more important than the rest of them. She and Audrey would have been dead, no way to ever end the Troubles.
And he wanted to help.
"Duke, a word?"
He hopped up to lift Mara with a jaunty, "Be right back". In the bedroom, he set her down and she looked at him seriously.
"I know I'm not well, I know, but hear me out. That man will cause nothing but problems, and now he's going to fixate on me just like he did Audrey, because I'm immune. It's not that he deserves the cure right away, but I do fear he may need it."
"Mara, it's got to be able to wait a few days. You're just starting to get better." She took a breath, reminding herself that Duke was simply worried for her.
"A few days, Duke, but I sure as hell hope we don't regret this."
"It'll be fine. Everyone out there loves him."
"Yes, but until we have Aetherling guards, that means the people watching my mother love him, too. If he manages to talk to the Guards, there's nothing he can't make them do. He's egotistical enough to think he can make Momma do what he wants. He doesn't understand that she's immune from most Troubles. He already almost got us killed once.
"So we have only two options. Either I cure him or create the Aetherlings. With him here and active, he could be a real danger. We ought to talk to him either way, but I have to do something."
Duke looked thoughtful. "You're scared. If you believe Brody is a danger to what's going on... I'm with you, whatever you choose, but I'm worried about you. I wake up at night sometimes and I freak out for a second because I'll think you're still in those first few days and you won't remember me if I wake you up. It scares me."
Mara held him close, her hand on the back of his head so she could speak against Duke's ear. "I'm sorry I scared you, I truly am, and I don't want to get sick either. But I'd really rather risk a temporary relapse than have someone with his ability walking around free when Momma is locked up. He's so used to getting what he wants now, I think he honestly believes he's tougher than the rest of us, even though he knows nothing. I'll talk to him and give him the option of being reasonable. It's all I can do, right?"
He stroked her hair back. "Yeah, Mara. It's all you can do."
"I'm trying to calculate the biggest cost/benefit analysis. If I can talk to him and heal him, great. One orb.
"If he resists me, then I have no choice but to create at least a couple of Aetherlings immediately. There is no good option right now. I'm a little worried. But his Trouble wouldn't work on Aetherlings, and I have to continue processing bits of Aether at a time. At least this way it'll be in favor of the greater good. I'll just want you to stay with me. I promised Dwight I'd make guards anyway. Let's see if we can get him out here. Besides, he'll be the only one not immune to Chris, so that'll be fun, at least."
Duke laughed as they squeezed each other again. "Okay, okay. I trust you. With Aetherlings, she's guarded no matter what. Just please, if you start feeling sick, stop."
"I promise. I'll call and see if Dwight can come get them." She took out a pouch of orbs as she dialed.
"Hello?"
"Dwight, sorry you to bother you on your personal cell, but there's been a new development and I think we need to bring the Aetherlings in now. Can you come pick them up if I create them now?"
"Sure, but what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Not yet, but unchecked it will. Chris Brody came back. We can't leave guards who he could potentially sway. I think we all know he's not 100% trustworthy if it'll save his own skin. He has no set plans to leave. We have to get ahead of this before he gets involved."
"Shit."
"Yeah, that's exactly what I keep thinking."
"I can be over in about 15 minutes?"
"Thank you, Dwight."
"Anytime, Mara."
She hung up thinking about how strange people were. She'd gone from being despised, feared enemy to friend, lover and sister. Humans really were strange creatures.
Duke brought Mara back to the couch, and she gathered her thoughts. "Chris, obviously you know about the Troubles, but there's a long, long history that goes with that. I'll tell you if you want, but I'm relying on your discretion. This isn't a game or a joke, people have died because of this."
Chris leaned back in his seat, settling in. Yes, his eyes kept wandering, but he was at least listening.
Mara's eyes unfocused and her hand gripped Duke's.
She held up her wrist so Chris could see the Maze. "I'm like you, in a way. Troubled. I was actually the first Troubled person, I was born this way even though it wasn't passed on genetically like yours."
Mara gave him the very basic details, reminding him repeatedly that Charlotte was dangerous. Worse than dangerous.
Chris looked like he was paying very close attention, focused completely, but the Aether in him told Mara everything. He believed he could manipulate Charlotte. He was certain he was strong enough to outmaneuver the doctor, getting Mara or Audrey's affections in the process. There was no way he was going to let his Trouble go.
Time to pull out the big guns.
Mara cradled her pouch of orbs. It had been awhile, but she hadn't forgotten. She used the Aether inside her, directing it to take on human form. He was wearing cotton pants and shirt- the kind of clothing Mara could manufacture. She put her hand on his to steady him, and he smiled at her, coming to sit at her feet.
She stroked the Aetherling's hair as her other hand created another Aetherling. Female this time, smaller but quick as lightning. She too sat at Mara's feet, wearing a white sundress, her auburn hair falling to her shoulders.
For good measure, she pushed out one more, another man with black hair and a mischievous smile who made her think a little of Duke.
The Aetherlings settled around Mara, and Chris's eyes were round and shocked. "I- what the hell just happened? I know Haven, and that... that is not a Trouble I have ever seen."
"These are my friends. They help me when regular people can't."
"But do they just live inside you? How many people are in there?"
"Just me in here. I just help give them form. Dwight is on the way, he's going to pick them up to help ensure that nobody gets to my mother. The Aetherlings are immune to Troubles, aren't petty or narcissistic or vindictive like normal people are." The shivering set in, and she fought to keep her teeth from chattering.
Chris looked concerned. "You- you don't look like you feel very well. Can I do something?"
Duke's voice was almost a snarl as he muttered, "I've got her. Thanks."
He pressed his face against hers, mouth to ear. "This wouldn't even be necessary if it weren't for him. Fuck, are you getting warm again?"
Even whispering, she sounded exhausted. "No worse than this morning. Minor setback. Maybe we'll sleep better now." Mara rested her head against his neck, just waiting for Dwight so she could get some sleep.
Mara thought she was having issues, but poor Audrey, though she appeared calm, Mara could feel her discomfort. Nathan was looking very pleased though.
"Must be a culture shock, going from Europe to Haven. How's the transition?"
"It's kind of like when you go away for college and you come back. Everything is different. Aside from Audrey, Mara is the only person I've encountered who isn't affected. On the bright side, I've raised a lot for the environmental funds I've been working on."
It was still worth a try.
"Chris, if we had a way to remove your Trouble, without killing you, what would you want to do?"
Well, that caught him of guard.
"I gave up on that a long time ago. I've never liked being the center of attention, but I use it to try and do good things. People listen to me who never would have before."
"You can say that again." Audrey mumbled under her breath. That was one thing Mara understood and respected- Audrey and Mara were alike in some ways, primarily being able to hold a grudge.
Mara nodded thoughtfully. "So you've found practical applications for your ability. You won't want to let go of it."
"I thought there was no way to get rid of a Trouble. What's going on?"
"That's the thing, Chris. Science is ever-evolving. Yes, we can remove your Trouble. But as long as you're not hurting anyone, it should be your choice. But that 'not hurting anyone' extends to not allowing others to be hurt because of your ability. If someone who knows what they're doing- say, a cop- tells you to do something in an emergency, then you do it."
"Wait, that- that's not how it happened, you can't just listen to what other people say-"
"Brody. Shut it." Mara stared holes in him, pointing her finger at him. "I'm not done talking. You look me in my eye and tell me you didn't betray Audrey's confidence and give an abusive son of a bitch access to her weapon. You look at me and tell me you didn't almost get her and whoever else killed because you were inconvenienced. I dare you. I'm not a moron, that's the very first thing you should know about me."
Chris got very wide eyed and pale. He also looked disturbingly turned on. She wondered if he just really missed getting slapped. "You're right. I did, and I'm sorry."
"Just don't bullshit me. I don't like when people lie to me. If I ask a question I want an honest answer. I'm not one of those women who fish for compliments by asking if a dress makes my ass look too big."
Nathan, Audrey and Duke all stared in shock, but Mara relaxed back into the couch. Duke handed her two Tylenol with that half-smile that he reserved for when she surprised him and Mara took them without hesitation.
There was frantic pounding on the door, and Duke leapt up to check it out, letting Dwight in. Dwight looked panicked, something they'd never really seen before, and Mara sat straight, the Aetherlings jumping up to stand at attention.
"Dwight, what's wrong?" Mara didn't want to know, but she needed to.
"You've got to hide, you and Audrey both. There's a Trouble, and they're looking for you."