"Well hello Jade."

Jenna's quiet, weak but unmistakable voice startled me. I'd almost been falling asleep in my chair at her bedside. "Jen!" I reached out and gently took her hand. "You're awake! How are you feeling?"

"Like I got drugged to the gills," she said softly, but I was sure there was an ever so slight smile on her face. "Where is everyone?"

I took a deep breath. How the hell was I going to explain this? I wasn't even sure myself. I also didn't want to worry Jenna right now. She had enough to deal with getting that damn drug out of her system. Again, guilt wormed its way through my stomach. "Lance and Dad went out for a while," I half lied. I hated lying to my sister, but if I told her the truth… What? Was I worried she'd hate me even more for making them leave to look for me? "Craig and Mum have gone to find them." To add braces to my story, I pulled out my phone and texted Craig.

Jenna's awake and talking.

Putting away my phone, I braced myself. I was sure Jenna was about to give me a piece of her mind and I wasn't wrong.

"Listen to me Jade Myers," she began and I winced. I knew I deserved it and she sure as hell had more reason than any of the others to tell me off. For that reason, I'd hear her out. "What the fuck were you thinking of?" I was surprised sparks didn't fly from Jenna's mouth. Her voice was weak, but the anger in her eyes sure wasn't. "You could've got yourself killed!" I still might, I thought, thinking of Michael's anger. I shivered a little.

"The whole reason they took me was because they wanted you for ransom! So you decided to walk straight up to them, did you? Might as well have made them tea while you were at it!"

I flinched. I knew I deserved this, but… "What was I supposed to do Jen?" I asked softly. "You're my sister. They had no right to do that to you. Ransom or no ransom. That was cruel, calculated and evil. I'd do it all over again if I had to you know. Nothing's changed there and won't, no matter what you say to me. You're my world, Jenna Ellis."

"Jade, oh Jade," Jenna blinked back tears. "You stupid, foolish, idiot…" She hesitated. "I love you so fucking much…"

"Come on Dad," Craig murmured, Myers still gently holding him up. "Let's go. It's getting cold out here."

"Don't touch me!" Steve drew back from Craig, who raised his hands. "Ok, I won't touch you, but let's get home hey?"

Lance leant forward and spoke quietly to Craig. "I think it's a PTSD thing. I've got 2 friends who have it. They hate being touched by anyone except one specific person. In this case it seems to be the one who triggered it. Can happen that way sometimes. Only Michael can get close to him."

Craig nodded, as they slowly led Steve towards the car. "Damn it!" He cursed, looking at his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. "Jenna's awake and talking and I'm not there!" For a second, he looked close to tears. Alice gently pulled him in to a tight hug.

"You will be sweetheart," she murmured in to his ear. "I expect Jade's wishing she wasn't."

Craig smirked a little. They all smiled fondly. Jenna wasn't afraid to speak her mind. They were sure Jade was getting it from both barrels right now for her attempted alone rescue mission.

Myers gently supported Steve on to the back seat, before Alice sat beside him and tentatively touched his shoulder. He didn't pull back. Lance took the other side, while Craig and Michael were up front. Craig started the engine and they headed back towards home.

"I know," Craig breathed to the killer. "What this is about. I saw the coverage at the time. If Steve's forgiven you, then so have I."

Myers just looked back at him, giving no response of any kind.

"How did you let her go?"

"What do you mean?"

Like I said to you at the time, you're a million times the woman I am. After all the hell she put you through, most of it mental which is often worse than physical, you just let her walk out that door!"

"I wish I hadn't," I said quietly. "Just this once, I think I understand Michael."

Jenna covered her mouth. "You serious?"

"You said yourself you'd have let her die. I don't mean I could've killed her, no way. I mean I can see why he would've wanted to."

"Just please," Jen looked straight at me. "Promise me you won't do that again? That was so stupid! If I run in to trouble in future, wait for help? Please?"

"No promises," I said softly. Jenna threw up her hands in exasperation, then sighed.

"Jade," she looked straight at me. "You're too loyal for your own damn good! I love you!" Gently and still with a weak grip, she pulled me to her in a hug. "I'm a fine one to talk, I'd be doing the same for you in a heartbeat."

"Can I tell you something?" I asked eventually, blinking back tears as she held me in her arms. She looked exhausted just as I was but for a totally different reason and part of me didn't want to burden her with this, but I was in agony. I had to tell someone.

"Anything," Jenna said quietly. She looked like she was about to drop back off to sleep at any second.

"It's ok," I changed my mind. "I'll tell you tomorrow."

My heart clenched with anger at Taylor, as Jenna's eyes closed before I'd even finished speaking.

"JADE MYERS, GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!"

Dad's shout jolted me from my sleep. What the hell? I'd never heard him shout like that. Not ever. Ok maybe if we'd done something stupid as kids, summersaulted over the top of a climbing frame for instance, but this? Oh shit. This was going to be bad…

"Steve…" I heard Mum plead as I headed down the stairs. "It's not her fault. Please…"

"THE HELL IT ISN'T," Dad yelled as I entered the room. There was no sign of Michael or Lance. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! IF YOU HADN'T MADE LANCE AND I GO OUT LOOKING FOR YOU…"

"Steve!" Mum almost shouted now. I felt guilt hit all over again. He was right. Whatever had happened probably was my fault. Craig too moved towards Dad, but he shoved him back. My mouth opened in pure shock. Dad wasn't a violent man. What the hell had happened out there?

YOU SELFISH BITCH!" Dad yelled at me then and I was so shocked I couldn't move. I felt tears spring to my eyes and Mum grabbed me in a tight hug. Craig joined me on my other side.

"CUT IT OUT!" He shouted at Dad and I stared at him in pure shock. What the…

I didn't see Michael and Lance re-enter, as it of course was silent. Dad continued as if he hadn't heard Craig or Mum.

YOU SELFISH BITCH, JADE MYERS! NOT ONLY DO YOU PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER WITHOUT A CARE FOR ANY OF US, YOU THEN CAUSE LANCE AND I TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIND YOU! THERE WAS A MASKED KILLER OUT THERE, JUST INCASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN! HE'D GONE OUT FOR THE KILL AND OH WHY WAS THAT? OH YEAH, IT WAS BECAUSE YOU'D ANGERED HIM! DO YOU HAVE ANY REGARD FOR YOUR FAMILY? WE ADOPTED YOU BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU, DON'T MAKE US REGRET IT!"

"STEVE!" Lance, Craig and Alice yelled in unison. I was too shocked to move. Tears fell silently down my face. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Craig yelled at his father in law. "TOO FAR, STEVE! WAY TOO FAR! IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL YOUR ANGER, STEP OUT OF THIS ROOM UNTIL YOU CAN! DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THIS OUT ON JADE! SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT!"

"About what?" My voice was hardly above a whisper with shock. Dad had never, ever spoken to me like that before. Mum was already leading me towards the door, almost glaring at Dad too.

"YEAH, GET OUT OF MY DAMN SIGHT!" Dad yelled. "I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU TONIGHT! SLEEP IN YOUR DAMN CAR FOR ALL I CARE! YOU COULD'VE GOT LANCE AND I KILLED! I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY NOW!"

"Dad," Craig's voice was dangerously soft. "Please may I remind you whose house you are currently standing in? You have no authority to send anyone anywhere. Jade, stay right where you are."

Dad opened his mouth again but got no further. That was the first time I saw Michael, when he grabbed Dad's collar none too gently and pulled him to him. Dad struggled, but didn't stand a chance.

"Want my advice?" Craig's tone hadn't changed. "Don't struggle. Just stay there, take a few deep breaths, drink this water and calm down. Jade, come on babe."

"Shh." Lance soothed me, as I cried without restraint. Dad's words hurt so much. Were they regretting adopting me?

"No way sweetheart," Mum said, as if she'd read my mind. Maybe she had. "Dad's just… Not very well at the moment."

"That's one way to put it," Craig muttered. He still looked angry. "Jesus Christ! That was too fucking far!"

"I agree," Mum said softly. "I'll be telling him as much, don't worry about that!" The doorbell chimed then.

"Thank God for that," Craig said as he opened the door. It was Dr Sartain.

With a soft smile at Craig, the Psychiatrist gently eased past us in to the living room.

"What the hell's going on?" I asked, still shaking from Dad's words.

"Sweetheart," Mum murmured gently. "Your father has PTSD. Something happened in his past and tonight has set it off. That's all. He doesn't mean any of what he just said to you, I promise you this with all my heart."

"Was it…" I started.

"No." Craig, Mum and Lance said together. "Nothing you did," Mum finished. "Not at all. You have nothing to do with it."

"When?" I asked.

"Years ago," Mum held me close. "You were a teenager."

"Why haven't you told us?"

"It wasn't my place darling and Dad didn't want it to affect you or Jenna's lives. No other reason than that. Plus the fact it had nothing to do with either of you. You weren't responsible for it."

"But he was never in the army," I looked at her blankly. As far as I knew that was the only way you could get PTSD, although I knew that was a stupid and naïve thing to think.

"No," Mum agreed. "Listen darling, if he wants to tell you he will. It's not our place to do so. Craig and Lance only found out because they had to."

"Go up and be with Jen," Craig murmured. "She needs you babe. Are you ok?"

"I… I don't know," I admitted. "That's really shaken me up…"

"Come on sweetheart," Lance said as he and Mum gently helped me towards the stairs. "This calls for a special Alice hot chocolate, don't you think?"

"That was the worst hint I've ever heard," Mum smiled with tears in her eyes as she hugged Lance, then me, before heading in to the kitchen as Lance pulled me in to his arms and practically carried me up the stairs.

"That… That fucking alley," Steve's voice shook. Myers was still holding him to him, but not as hard now. "I lost it…"

"But you took it out the wrong way," Sartain murmured softly. "It wasn't Jade's fault, Steve. She wasn't even there. Now, or at the time in question."

"I was just so angry with her," Steve ran his hands through his hair. "Still am. There's still part of me which doesn't want to see her right now. It was only because of her we went out there in the first place."

"But do you hear Lance shouting at her?" Sartain asked. "He was with you, if you remember. He's up there right now trying to comfort her. You've really shaken her up, Steve. Alice told me."

When Alice had passed the Psychiatrist and Michael their coffee and Steve a cool glass of water as he took an extra pill, she'd told Sartain what'd happen, unable to look at her husband at all throughout her story.

"You should've taken time out and then spoken to her. You know you're angry when it's bad, why didn't you take time to calm down?"

When Sartain had first entered the room, Steve had almost yelled at him too in his anger. Myers had grabbed him to stop him from moving a step towards him. If Steve had been thinking, he would've registered the irony of this. Michael Myers was protecting his Doctor from harm, after all the times he would've harmed him in the past years. Also would've remembered the conversation when Michael had written "perhaps," when asked if he'd kill Sartain and Steve's certainty he wouldn't.

"Go to bed." Sartain said quietly now. "You're exhausted, that's not helping. You don't have to see anyone now until later today. Get some sleep, Steve. You need it I think." Steve glared at Sartain and opened his mouth.

"Steve!" Sartain sounded a little stern now. "Listen to me! You're being totally unreasonable! You can't be reached right now; you won't listen to anything anyone says to you. Get some sleep, I'm not telling you what to do, I'm advising it. You've just had a big shock to the system and that's not helping. It's made everything seem a lot worse than it actually is. Get some rest. Can we trust you to just leave and go up to bed? Don't try and speak to Jade right now?" Steve glared at the Psychiatrist for another minute, then slowly nodded. Myers released his grip.

Once he was gone, Sartain made to leave the room, having told Alice he'd return later that day to check on Steve. But just as he reached the door, Myers gently took his doctor's arm. Sartain turned to face the killer. Doctor and patient looked straight at each other. There was a soft knock on the door and Lance quietly slipped in, grabbing his jacket from the chair and pulling out his phone. With a whispered, "sorry guys," he made to leave again, but Michael also gently grabbed his arm, stopping him. Slowly as if it took a huge effort, Michael withdrew his notepad, typed briefly, then raised it. When Lance saw the message, he grasped Michael's free hand. The effort it must've taken didn't escape Lance.

Dr Sartain, I need to talk to you.

The Psychiatrists' face remained expressionless, but Lance could almost see his mouth opening in shock at this huge year's long breakthrough. 15 years he'd been trying to reach the killer, him and Loomis combined and it'd turned out to be Jade who'd done it. Lance gave the doctor a smile, knowing what he was thinking. How he kept his face blank Lance had no idea, but marvelled and deeply respected his professionalism. Michael raised his pad again.

But not in MSU. Here, or nowhere, as they say they've agreed with you.

Sartain nodded once.

"I have one question Michael. Will we need glass? Is my life in any danger from you? Our conversations have not been easy in years gone by and I do not wish to find myself in life or death trouble over something we may discuss."

No.

Again, Lance wasn't sure how the doctor kept his face blank. If it were him, Lance thought. He'd be saying what, I'm just supposed to trust you Michael Myers? This was a huge gamble Sartain was taking.

"Even one slight slip," the Psychiatrist said. "We will be back in MSU. I'll take you back every night, but security will be back in full operation. Do we understand each other?"

Slowly, the killer nodded.

"Jade said to me that if she's needed," Lance murmured. "She'll let you use her to calm you crave if things get intense."

Sartain nodded. "That's what she said to me also." He looked at Lance. "Where is Jade? Is she alright?"

Lance sighed. "Steve's really upset her," he said quietly. "She's upstairs with Jenna I think." He smiled sadly. "After all the times Jenna's comforted her, now they're trying to comfort each other. I can't believe he said that about regretting adopting her. Alice is furious, Doctor. I mean, furious…"

"It's Ranbir, Mr. Lawson."

Lance stepped forward and shook the Doctor's hand. "Wo that's way too formal man," he grinned. "If you're Ranbir, then I'm Lance."

"Done, Lance. It's nice to meet you."

"You too Ranbir. I'm sorry it's in these circumstances."

"All in a day's work," the Psychiatrist smiled warmly at Lance, who liked and trusted him instantly. Jade had mentioned before about the soothing quality of his voice, his gentle smile and now Lance totally understood what she'd meant.

"What the fuck Dad?" Jenna fumed, as Alice passed her and Jade their hot chocolates. She'd also made one for Michael, Sartain and Lance.

"Their famous in this household," Lance grinned at them. "You'll love them. An Alice hot chocolate is worth dying for!"

"He's ill," Alice murmured, stroking Jenna's cheek with one hand and Jade's with the other. "He loves you both so much."

"He may regret adopting me," Jade said in a small voice.

"Wait," Jenna made as if to sit up. "What the fucking hell? He said that?"

A few minutes later, they heard Steve's footsteps on the stairs. Jade tensed, as did Jenna but for totally different reasons. Alice lovingly and gently restrained her daughters. Jenna in anger, Jade in fear.

"It's ok sweetheart," she assured Jade. "He didn't mean a word he said. He'll apologise tomorrow, or later today I should say. Trust me on this." Both girls saw the anger in Alice's eyes as if to say at least he damn well better.

"I've angered so many people tonight," Jade said quietly. "Dad, Michael, you Jen, Mum…"

"Shh babe." Alice and Jenna both hugged her close. Jenna had slept about another hour and was now more awake than before. "He didn't mean it, I'm telling you."

"I shouldn't have said that to Michael, or even mentioned it to Lance or to you," Jade blinked back tears "What the fuck?" She looked at her sister. "I told him that if the kills didn't stop, I may well have to leave him! But I was in shock damn it! He'd just taken Lance and I on a death ride! Killed at least 10 people while we were trapped in that car! I'd promised him I wouldn't leave and he said I'm trusting your promise, so I was trapped there! Lance had come out looking for me and ended up likewise."

"Jesus," Jenna whistled. "You pour, pour things."

"Before that, Michael held me at flat sided knife point in my car. I know that was his way of telling me he loved me, that he wanted to talk, but fuck it scared me so badly! Then he takes us with him on his killing spree! It all got too much! Sitting there, surrounded by all that blood, pointless loss of life, I blurted it out to Lance! Ok I'd been thinking about it at the very back of my mind for a while but…" She put her head in her hands. "I don't think I could do it, not a chance! I adore him!"

"He knows that," Jenna soothed. "Believe me. Bloody hell Jade, I think I'd have said the same if he was my husband in that situation."

Jade managed a faint smile. "Those were Lance's exact words too."

"There you go then." Jenna gently squeezed Jade close. "We can't both be wrong."

Jade was desperate to ask to stay with Jenna, but she couldn't. Craig needed her just as badly as she did and while it wasn't impossible Craig could do as Michael had several weeks ago, Jade didn't feel right asking her. No matter what anyone said, she still took responsibility for what'd happened to her sister tonight. That wouldn't leave fast. If ever.

Soon afterwards, Jenna was sound asleep once more. Alice headed downstairs. She'd said she was sleeping on the sofa, not with her husband. Her father's words wouldn't leave Jade's head.

"WE ADOPTED YOU BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU. DON'T MAKE US REGRET IT!"

The anger in his voice, his words. Did he mean it? Was he right? Had she been a mistake to become part of the family? Would they have been better off without her? Would they still? Those thoughts came rushing back to her just as they had before. One quick something and this could all be over. A noose, or… Bottle of bleach?

If the kills don't stop, I may well have to leave him. A clenched fist squeezed her heart so tightly she almost cried out in agony. It was physical pain.

Maybe we'll talk tomorrow, I don't know.

Would Michael ever forgive her for this? Could he? Did he really think she'd deliberately fallen in love with him planning on this all along? The marriage, gaining his trust, only to leave? Tears flowed down her cheeks now. Her father possibly regretted adopting her, Michael thought she'd tricked him, her birth mother saw her as nothing but a slave…

We adopted you because we love you. Don't make us regret it."

Then something hit her.

This time, she didn't need a noose, or bleach. All she had to do was find her husband when he needed a kill. He himself had said to her tonight he wouldn't be responsible for actions he might take in anger if she accidentally came across him. So maybe it wouldn't be an accident. She knew she'd have to send a note to her family before she went to find him, so they'd know not to blame Michael, that she'd asked him to do it.

"Are you ok?"

Lance started slightly and looked over his shoulder. It was Craig. "Yeah," he nodded. "Jade's not though. She's really upset. PTSD or not, that was…"

Craig nodded. "I heard Mum shouting at him that it wasn't Jade's fault and she couldn't believe he'd said that about adopting her. She said there was no excuse for it. That Jade had been through enough without her own father turning on her. She's sleeping on the sofa tonight instead of with him."

"Where's Jade now?"

"Upstairs. I told her to call me if she needed me at any time."

"Thanks man. I told her earlier to crash with Jen but she wouldn't do it. Said I needed her more than she did and I took priority." He sighed. "Damn Jade. Too damn selfless for her own good."

Lance smiled sadly. "Do you know where Michael is?"

Craig shook his head. "Sometimes I'd rather not know."

Lance grinned a little. "I hear you there."

That was when they heard the soft beep and saw the killer standing in front of them, holding up his notepad. They both took an impulsive step back when they saw he was masked, a carving knife in his belt.

I'm here.

"Bloody hell," Craig and Lance said in unison, putting a hand to their chests. "How the hell do you do that?"

"You ok?" Lance asked the killer.

I am.

Lance and Craig exchanged a look. Not very communicative tonight it seemed. They didn't have to consider the reason why. But they knew in his own way, he cared for them.

"I'm heading up," Craig said. "See you guys later. I'm so tired I need to crash or I'll fall over."

"That's before you're drunk," Lance grinned. Craig smirked. "Oh yeah? I've heard of your exploits at parties young Mr. Lawson. I know you can dance on tables, or throw glasses across the room, or…"

"Shut it!" Lance slapped Craig's arm, but they were both laughing. "I'll kill the twins."

Michael gently tugged Craig's sleeve. Craig turned to him; his earlier thoughts confirmed when he read the killer's next message. Affection swelled his heart.

Jenna?

"On the mend. She's just sleeping it off. I'll give her your love when she wakes up."

Do so.

Craig smiled and nodded. The killer turned and walked away without any further communication. Craig and Lance glanced at each other once more. Lance too could feel the cloud of exhaustion starting to take hold, so followed Craig towards the stairs.

"Talkative tonight, isn't he?" Lance said quietly. Craig smiled a little. "Yeah. I don't like to approach him then. He's craving a kill."

Lance said nothing. As far as he knew, Craig didn't know what Jade had told him and it wouldn't be he who broke her confidence. "Forgot to mention," Lance murmured. "I heard Alice shout at Steve "I married you because I love you, don't make me regret it."

Craig whistled. "Ouch. Throwing his own words back at him."

"I think he deserved it," Lance said. Craig nodded. "I don't disagree with you there."

I love you all so much, but I can't do this anymore. It started since my birth mother tracked us down the first time. She threw those remarks at me, kidnapped Jenna, got Craig stabbed. All of which I blame myself for. Not to mention I may very well have seriously jeopardised my marriage in one stupid moment. But I'll die before you can take me back to that Psychiatric hospital for another 3 months! Not happening! Michael is right! Of course I knew he was a killer when I married him so what kind of person am I to say it now? I… I was just in shock seeing all those people die and of course I wish it would stop, but I love him! So fucking much it hurts! Just as I love all of you. But you'd be better off without me. Are you regretting adopting me? I don't blame you if you are. I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment to you all. I tried to be the best daughter I could. But Jenna got hurt because of me, Craig got hurt because of me and you all could've been killed tonight because of me. Then there's the Locks, Andy, Scott… I'm going to go and find Michael, ask him to finish the job. He's a professional, he knows how to do it. Me? Yeah, sure! Failed once already didn't I? So many ways it could go wrong. All I want is for it to be quick. Why does everyone I love get hurt in one way or another because of me? Now I know this isn't going to be painless and I'm not going to lie to you. At least I'll get the chance to see him one last time and if he's merciful it'll be quick. I love you all so much. Thank you for the best decade of my life. Jade M. XXX.

"We adopted you because we love you. Don't make us regret it."

Had they started to when Julie tracked us down the first time? Was Dad voicing something they'd all privately been thinking? I had seen the look on Mum's face when he'd said that, cold furry. I'd never seen her so angry if truth be told. But was he telling the truth? Was she angry because he'd said it? Or because he'd told a truth they weren't going to tell me? Or at least not then?

Dad regretted adopting me. He regretted it. Had he done so for years? I tried to tell myself he'd just said that in worry filled anger, but it didn't work. Had he meant it? Really? Then there was Michael. I still hadn't had the chance to talk to him and now I never would. How could I have even thought it? Yes, the sight in front of Lance and I had been horrific, but I couldn't leave him. Not really, literally do it. I knew it now, so how had I even voiced it? But sitting here in this very car amongst all that death, it'd come out and yes, I'd thought it before when he'd killed, but I'd never really meant it. Not really in my heart of hearts. How I wanted to hold him, kiss him, tell him I'd never meant it, but now I'd never get the chance.

My heart clenched as I thought of my husband. I was going to wait until I knew he was craving the kill, then go and find him. Masked, craving blood, but there would be one difference.

I would say to him 4 words I knew countless people had to no effect, please don't kill me? Except I would take one out.

Please, kill me?