The anxious itch almost had him move from his position but John kept still. Even the desire to stretch out his limbs proved impossible in the cramped corner as he kept himself tucked away. All the while the teeth grating clack of Gregson on his typewriter drove John into a state of catatonia. One that threatened to leave him dozing in the corner if not for the creak of a board outside Gregson's office.

Over the clack of the keys striking the paper, Gregson remained oblivious to it. But John finally stretched himself from his corner to slide across the floor. Each of his limbs complained and John bit his tongue to keep from letting out sounds as the pins and needles resurrected feeling with twitches and starts. They even threatened not to hold his weight but John positioned himself behind the swing of the door and took a ready position on his toes.

Gregson continued at his typewriter, barely flicking his eyes toward John, and only raised his head as the door opened. It only took a moment but the shot that fired from the door struck the mirror that Talbot erected and shattered it. The distraction, and hesitation from the barrel of the gun, allowed John to slam the door into the barrel.

It clattered to the floor, knocking over the wood for Talbot to scoop into his hands as John rounded the edge of the door to grab at Braithwaite's wrist. She spun into him but John caught the fist she aimed for him and used his height and strength to wrap her in his hold. Kicking and struggling, leaving bruises on his shins and abdomen, she hissed and spit at him. John continued to hold firm as Talbot brought a chair over and Gregson closed the door.

"Is this the same woman who took killed the photograph at the studio where Ms. Smith was almost injured?"

"Yes." Talbot helped John settle Braithwaite into the chair and they quickly tied her securely in it before the three men faced her. "And the one who ruined Mr. Kent Senior's party."

"And shot James Kent." John bent down, meeting Braithwaite's seething eyes. "It's been a stretch, hasn't it?"

"Always cleaning up her messes, aren't you?" Braithwaite almost spit at John but he dodged the missile while she fought the ropes. "Ever her errand boy."

"That function falls to you now, Ms. Braithwaite." Talbot found another chair and brought it forward so he sat facing Braithwaite. "We're hoping you'd be kind enough as to tell us why you came after Mr. Gregson this evening."

"He was the next target."

"Next target?" Talbot clacked his teeth, looking at the other two men. "Oh dear, I think we've gone and made a mistake gentlemen."

"I think we have." John sighed, "We missed one."

"That's right." Braithwaite practically cackled at them. "You forgot that there were two targets."

"Besides us?" Talbot motioned between himself and John before looking back at Gregson. "What do you know? You're the special one here."

"I'm flattered." Gregson turned back to his notes while Talbot and John faced Braithwaite again.

"I'll guess the other person you went after was Green's government man." John studied Braithwaite's barest of flinches. "That's what I thought."

"It's time to start fresh." Braithwaite tried to shrug her shoulders back but the restraints on the chair stopped her. "We didn't need Bricker anyway."

"He'll be glad to hear it." Talbot leaned back over his chair, "Did you hear that Simon? You can come out now."

The drop of Braithwaite's jaw only preluded a renewed fight against her bonds as a man with wide eyes and a drawn face shakily emerged from behind the other mirror and accomplished the illusion in Gregson's office. "I killed you! You were dead in your office. I shot you through the window!"

"You shot a very well made mechanical man through the window." Talbot tapped John on the shoulder. "Remind me to tell Mr. Drosselmeyer that his creation worked spectacularly."

"I'll do just that." John moved to catch Bricker before he could retreat out the door. "Now, you remember our bargain, don't you Mr. Bricker."

"Bargain?"

"Yes," All heads turned to Gregson as the man lit up a pipe. "The one that promised your resignation from the Home Office and give me an exclusive series of interviews on your work with Mr. Nigel Green and his son, Alex Green."

"That bargain." Bricker pulled at his collar and accidently stepped too close to Braithwaite. She hissed and snapped her jaws at him, leaving the pole of a man flailing back into John's grip. "She was sent after me?"

"When one becomes a danger to Green's operation they become irrelevant." John turned to Braithwaite. "When do you think that moment is for you?"

"I'm useful to him."

"After so many failed attempts and personal vendettas, I doubt it." John pushed Bricker into Talbot before meeting Braithwaite's eyes. "Don't think I couldn't tell that he put you under again. He tried to reset you and it didn't work, did it?"

"I'm still in progress." Her snarl turned into a leering grin. "But whatever he's planned for me is nothing compared to what he planned for her."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't think he took her just for the company, do you?" Braithwaite tittered and almost squealed with glee. "Right before I left he showed me what he planned to do with her. The syringes he'll use to make sure she only emerges as he wants her to. To make sure Mrs. Cotton returns to him and then he can start anew with her instead of the wilting petal he got."

John swallowed and turned to Talbot. "We need to get more information out of her and we need it now."

"I've got an interrogation room at-"

"That's not good enough." John shook his head and pointed at Braithwaite. "She's been put through a regime that includes a number of pharmaceutical grade opiates and narcotics. It's a system devised to double with careful conditioning to breakdown the mind and force it to accept a new reality."

"She's been brainwashed?"

"She's been trained." John paused, his jaw flexing. "It was part of the training program Anna endured and… And they barely survive. Some don't."

"And you think Green's doing that to her again?"

"If she's telling the truth," John pointed at Braithwaite, "And I've no reason to suspect she's lying when it's meant to hurt us."

Talbot was quiet a moment before nodding. "I know someone."

"The kind of 'someone' with expertise in inflicting injuries?" Gregson's eyebrows rose and then the trio turned to Bricker when he spoke.

"I know a few people like that." He blinked at them, as if either just realizing they were in the same or room or that he spoke aloud. "It's normal, for a man in my position, to have a few people on retainer who-"

"No." Talbot shook his head and then addressed Gregson. "She's an alienist and she did some preliminary work for me with Ms. Smith. Helped her break through a few of her mental blocks."

"Anna spoke highly of her." John glanced at Braithwaite, who only scowled back up at him from under her eyebrows, and then back to Talbot. "We need what she knows and we need it quickly."

"I've a feeling you're about to suggest something." Talbot braced, "What is it?"

"You've got a bit on your plate with…" John motioned at Bricker.

"I resent that-" Bricker tried to say, with all the indignation of his position and the white tie tuxedo he still wore, but Talbot waved him off.

"You're not wrong."

"And to make sure these two play nicely," John nodded at Gregson, who barely concealed the devious edge to his smirk, "I'm sure you'll be a bit occupied."

"Leaving you with the task of taking Braithwaite here to see Dr. Seward." Talbot sucked the inside of his cheek. "Sure you can handle her on your own? That you won't be… Tempted toward the revenge you so obviously deserve?"

"This is about something more important that trying to recover any kind of honor or dignity I might think she's taken." John flicked his gaze toward Braithwaite to catch her eye roll. "She's not taken anything from me."

"You're sure about that?" Braithwaite tried to taunt but John ignored her.

"Besides, I've got someone I feel might be more than happy to help me."

"Then I'll see you there once I've finished here." Talbot slapped his hand on Bricker's shoulder and the man's knees almost buckled. "I think we've got some things you need to tell this lovely journalist."

John carefully manipulated the ropes keeping Braithwaite immobile on the chair before reaching across Gregson's desk to handle the phone. "Operator? Yes, the Kent residence on Poole and Gover please." He waited a moment, noting the slight raise of Braithwaite's eyebrow over the steady hum of conversation from the other three men. "Yes, thank you."

"Is the pretty one going to be in any condition to be of use?" Braithwaite's voice broke through the silence for a moment but a connection on the other end of the line stopped John responding to her.

"Yes, is James Kent available? Yes I know that he… He is? Could you tell him that John Bates is on the line? I'll wait." John held the piece to his ear, holding the neck in his hand as he turned to Braithwaite. "I think he'll be interested in the chance to be of use, to answer your question."

Braithwaite opened her mouth to speak but John turned to the phone. "Yes?"

"Mr. Bates? I was surprised to get your call. They said it came from a reporter's office and I-"

"Mr. Gregson is involved in aiding me in finding Anna." John took a breath, "But I've another matter that needs your help, if you're willing."

"Of course. Anything to help you find her."

"Do you have a carriage?"

"My father's got one that I could use for… What are we doing with my father's carriage?" John waited through the pause on James's end of the line. "We're not moving a body, are we?"

"It's not dead, if that's what worries you." John twisted to see the large clock in Gregson's office. "Could you be here in a quarter of an hour? Use the office's back entrance, just for discretion."

"I'll be there."

John put the earpiece back on the neck and tapped Talbot on the shoulder. "I need you to arrange the appropriate introduction with your alienist."

When James arrived, driving the carriage himself with one arm still in a sling as he occasionally winced with movement. John nodded at him from inside the doorway before ducking out into the alley with Braithwaite. Her arms tied from her wrists to her elbows behind her back kept her immobile as the bag over her head helped muffle her struggles for speech through the gag John tied between her teeth. It only took a few moments for John to secure her inside the carriage before handing James a slip of paper with the address for Dr. Seward's office on it.

"An alienist?" James frowned at the paper before starting slightly at the sight of the gun in John's hand. "You're not using that, are you?"

"She had it with her and I took it upon myself to remove it as an issue." John used the barrel to motion towards the office windows still emitting light. "They've got to clean the glass from the mirror she shattered with the bullet."

"She tried to kill the journalist?"

John nodded and climbed into the carriage. "Now we've got to figure out what else she knows that we need to know as well."

"And then?" James grabbed John's arm when he tried to physically dodge the question by escaping into the carriage. "What then, Mr. Bates?"

"Then Talbot proves his worth and gets to the island to shut down Green's operation so it never harms another family again."

James's fingers pulled away from John's coat sleeve. "And if he can't?"

"Then I go and get Anna myself." John managed a little smile, "If she's not rescued herself already… Which is a genuine possibility."

James managed a smile of his own then. "She's always been better than the rest of us at getting herself out of trouble."

"She's the best of us." John climbed into the carriage and closed the door, removing the hood from Braithwaite's head. She hissed and snarled at him from behind the gag but John only shook his head. "You can't say this isn't better than you deserve after all you've done."

Braithwaite only snorted and leaned back in the seat, angling to keep her arms from pressing into the cushions so her shoulders took most of the pressure as the carriage wobbled into motion.

"Whatever you want to say now, whatever excuse you'll give, I don't much care to hear it." John paused, "I saw the person you became after Anna got away. And if you think you're entitled to my pity then I'll remind you that you're not the only one who was abandoned because of what happened."

Braithwaite shook her head, adding an eye roll John almost did not catch between the streetlamps as they continued through the barely populated streets at the late hour.

"She's not perfect but she isn't what you let yourself become." John paused, "Not that I'd know who that is. We're not who we wanted to be, none of us. That is something we'll all have to suffer through as we confront the kinds of people we still hope to be."

Braithwaite spoke slowly against the gag and John only just made out her words. "Then you'll kill me?"

"I shouldn't think that's what an alienist will do." John let out a sigh, "Maybe she'll fix you. Make you whole again."

"I don't need fixing."

"We all need fixing." John set the gun to the side and massaged his hands. "Some of us just need a different kind of it than others."

The carriage stopped at the house and John exited to see a woman, with hair cut drastically around her jaw line, standing before him with her hands clasped together. Her blouse was perfectly buttoned and straight, her skirt added to the line of her form that made her almost the Queen on a chessboard. To match it all was the unforgiving demeanor she gave when they stared at one another. This was not a woman with whom to attempt trifling.

"Doctor." John bowed his head to her and reached into the carriage for Braithwaite. He left the hood and the gun as he escorted his bound prisoner up the stairs to stand on the same level as the woman. "I apologize for the lateness of the hour but this is a rather urgent matter."

"I'd assume so since you've tied her rather tightly." Dr. Seward looked Braithwaite over before even meeting her eyes. "You're full of contradictions in there, aren't you?"

Braithwaite almost recoiled in John's grip as James joined them, holding the hood and the gun as is confused what to do with either of them. Dr. Seward snatched the hood from him, tossing it toward a rubbish heap just below the stairs, and then the gun. "If you don't know how to handle one of these, perhaps you shouldn't be handling them at all."

James shrank back as they all filed into the offices after Dr. Seward and John helped Braithwaite take a chair before untying her. The moment her arms were free she swung them toward John but the click of the hammer on the gun stopped everyone from moving. Braithwaite froze, her arms in position to bring one of her hands around to box at John's temples, and John matched her motion with his arms ready to block the blow. They all saw Dr. Seward confidently holding the gun in her hands and using it to motion them to their seats.

"As much as I'm sure you've no desire to be here, Miss, you're my guest now. And while the door is free for you to use at any time I'll not allow any violence in my offices. This is a place of healing."

"This isn't a surgery."

"There is more to healing than mending the body, Miss." Dr. Seward nodded at the chair and Braithwaite took it, adjusting her skirt over her knees to sit primly as John took the other chair and James made do on the little stool by the door. Another moment passed, as if Dr. Seward wanted to ensure they were serious about their commitment, before she took her seat and left the cocked gun on her desk. "Now, I do believe it's time we began."

Each question and delve, every side trick and phrase, any details that could be exploited were laid bare. John almost dozed in his seat no less than three times over the course of the night and well into the next morning before James finally shook him. Blinking at him, but gratefully accepting the tea cup from the service James brought, he adjusted in his chair before almost jumping out of it.

"Where's Braithwaite?"

"Ms. Braithwaite," Both heads turned to see Dr. Seward coming down the stairs from behind a door formerly hidden in shadow when their only light was the gas lamps and flicking electric bulbs in the corner. "Is upstairs resting."

"Miss?" John's eyebrows rose and he drank some of the tea before cringing at the level of sugar. James only shrugged his apologies before offering the same to Dr. Seward. She refused with a twitch of her lip toward the disdainful.

"Coffee for me, young man, I'm an American and I do still have standards." Dr. Seward turned to John. "And yes, 'Miss', despite your tone of disbelief."

"That's not the name she takes for herself."

"Perhaps not when she was split between two minds but it is her name." Dr. Seward sat back in her chair and urged John to do the same. "The suffering that girl has endured is deserving of pity, not contempt."

"We'll not discuss the people she's assassinated and murdered then?"

"No, 'we' won't." Dr. Seward looked up to see James still holding the tray. "If you'd like to be useful, young man, you can attempt at brewing me some coffee. If not, please take a seat. I get nervous about people who hover."

James hurried into the other seat and Dr. Seward sighed. "Pity."

"What?" James blinked at her, almost twitching in his seat.

"Nothing." She addressed John again. "Whatever justice needs to come for the actions of Ms. Braithwaite's more murderous personality will be worked out between she, the law, and whatever intercession Mr. Talbot deems plausible. That being said, I will recommend she be placed under care where she can recover herself and try to amend for actions outside her control."

"Because she wasn't in control of her faculties?"

"Precisely." Dr. Seward tapped the gun with her finger and John noted the hammer back in neutral. "Those who tend to use these weapons are those driven to do so. Be them coppers, soldiers, or madmen there's always a reason. Ms. Braithwaite was manipulated and brainwashed until her actions were not entirely her own. That doesn't take away from the horrors of her crimes but it does provide solace that she's no cold-blooded killer."

"Then what else did she tell you that could help us save others from her fate?" John scooted to the edge of his seat. "Whatever else she told you, I've little care about. I'm here about saving others."

"You've no interest in saving her?"

"Not particularly, no." John paused, "I wish Braithw-"

"Ms. Braithwaite."

"I wish Ms. Braithwaite no ill. Nor do I wish her harm. But there are others in harm's way that need help and I need to know what might prevent me helping them." John tried to discern any trace of sympathy from Dr. Seward's face but only found contemplative study of himself there. "Whatever you may think of me, I'm here because I've other people I need to save."

"You mean Anna?" John almost spoke but satisfied himself with a nod. Dr. Seward took a moment before speaking. "I can understand the desire to save those that you care about above the others."

"If you-"

"I'm not castigating you, sir. I'm making a notation about humankind in general. What you're asking is the definition of human nature and you're not unique in your desires." Dr. Seward nodded at him. "She told me that Green's plans aren't for anything interesting. If you go and… Storm the island, as I think you might, you'll find nothing but the defenses you're expecting."

"Thank you." John stood, extending a hand to her. Dr. Seward took it and shook it as firmly as anyone with whom he ever shared a shake. "For everything."

"It was, sincerely, my pleasure." She released his hand. "For as much as I detest the people for whom Mr. Talbot works and the general nature of the kind of work he debases himself to do, I admire his ability to think outside the box. He always brings me the most interesting of problems."

"I'll let him know." John paused before pointing toward the stairs. "What about Ms. Braithwaite?"

"She'll stay here until she's ready to greet the world. Then I'll discuss with Mr. Talbot about what'll happen to her." Dr. Seward smiled to herself, "She's my greatest challenge yet and I'm more than a little excited about what this could mean for my practice."

"How'd you mean?"

"If you're about to 'raid' the island where all the people like Ms. Braithwaite are then…" Dr. Seward's mouth almost managed a smile from her permanent press but it faded so quickly John practically imagined it. "I think I'll be very busy trying to make people whole in the near future."

"Then I wish you my best, Doctor, although I doubt you need it from me."

"It's welcome all the same, sir."

"Why do you keep calling him 'sir'?" Both of them turned to see James standing near the door. "And I'm 'young man'?"

"I don't know either of your names." Dr. Seward pointed to the door, "Your exit is that way, gentlemen."

They took James's carriage back to Gregson's office and James barely stopped John going immediately inside. "I want to help."

"You already have."

"I mean…" James swallowed, "When you go to rescue Anna. I want to help. It's the least I can do giving what I've already done."

"How'd you mean?"

"I threw her over for someone else."

John stifled the desire to laugh. "I don't think she'll find you've besmirched her honor, James."

"But still-"

"You're injured, James." John pointed toward the sling. "And for as much as I'd like a man as loyal as you at my side, I think you're best here. I couldn't have your death on my conscience."

"I'm not new at the idea of fighting, Mr. Bates." James tried to stand taller but John did not match him in the attempt. "I was a soldier."

"This isn't war, James. This is… This is dirty. It's a kind of fighting where you'd be outmatched in a moment. It's street fighting and back alley work and… And the kind of thing where you're military precision won't do you any good."

"Then you'll not take me?"

"I won't take you to die, no." John nodded toward the carriage. "Take that back home. Spend time with your nurse-fiancé, and know that I'll either come back with Anna or not at all."

"That's not comforting."

"But it means I'll either succeed or die trying." John feigned a proud pout, "It's supposed to be noble, like you."

James shoved at him. "Go then and rescue her."

"I will."

By the time John got back to Gregson's office the man was furiously typing away at his notes that piled in haphazard piles around his desk. He barely noticed John but Talbot and Bricker did… Although Talbot pushed Bricker back into his seat when the man rose to try and speak.

"Did it work?"

"Dr. Seward said only traditional defenses." John nodded, "We'll be alright if we go now."

"Then it's a good thing I've already got a few commandos to help us as well." Talbot patted Bricker's shoulder. "Friends like this come in handy occasionally."

"I can see that." John motioned toward the door, "No time like the present?"

"Lead the way."

It took them two days to get everything together. Or, it would have if John waited for them. Instead he left with the midnight tide and put a note at the meeting spot with Talbot to warn him. Whatever conversation Talbot intended to have with him later would be had later. For the moment all John needed was to get to the island and to Anna.

Pulling the borrowed boat up the dock almost gave John shivers as the hairs rose on his arms. Subduing the guards took less time than he expected and he left them tied loosely to the supports of the dock. The only true moment of violence was when a boat hook slashed out at him in the small hours as he left the dock and passed the watchman's hut.

John rolled and held up his hands in a defensive stance as the shadow with the shining hook circled him. He flailed out and managed to grab ahold of a broken oar and brandished it toward the potential attacker. The other shadow took a step back, catching the weak light from the hut and the moon so John dropped the oar.

"Thomas?"

"John?" They stared at one another before Thomas put his good hand to his face. "Bugger me you came for her."

"Did you think I wouldn't?" John wrapped the man in a hug that Thomas returned with a solid thump to the back with his good hand. "Where is she?"

"She's…" Thomas's face contorted. "He took her to Mermaid Lagoon, John. She's… She's already been under for two days. I don't… I don't think…"

"Don't say that." John leveled a finger at Thomas. "She's stronger than that. You and I both know it."

"But does she still know it?" John turned to see Green, flanked by a group of masked individuals. "I don't think she's as good as you think she is if she's still trapped down there. I left her once the regimen was over and look… No sign of her."

Green stepped right up to John, "In another day or so I'll see if she's dead. The tides this time of year are… higher. So if she's not washed away then there'll be a body I'll let you bury before I beat you to death."

"You'll beat me to death?" John shoved Green back with his forearm before disarming one of the masked individuals. He held the sword at Green's throat as the man coughed on the ground. "I could kill you right here and be done with all of this. It'll only be a moment."

"And yet," Green pushed the edge of the blade away with his hand. "You won't. And why? Because she wouldn't do it and you'd never want to disappoint the love of your sorry life."

Green stood and took a sword for himself, practicing a few strokes as John took his stance. "I don't remember you being a very fencer, when you were here. In fact," Green took the moment to put a finger to his chin, as if straining to remember as torches lit around them and John blinked in the sudden glare. "I think I thrashed you soundly every time."

"This time it'll be different."

"You're right," Green took his position across from John. "It will be because this time, I'll kill you."

John swallowed and raised his sword, fingers tightening until the whites of his knuckles were visible, but a hand handed on his wrist. He started and readied to face Thomas but his jaw dropped when he recognized the source of the interruption. With no words to fill his gaping mouth or the silence of the impromptu circle in the gray of the early morning, John could only step aside at the gentle pry of the sword from his hand and the solid but considerate push on his arm.

"This is my fight, John." Anna balanced the sword in her hand, swiping it once before settling into a practiced stance to face Green. "He's always been mine and this time we'll end it once and for all."