A/N 1: [insert very long, very boring definition of 'stuff', ranging from plotbunnies to flames] can be send to hack_heaven@usa.net. Yes, that's an e-mail address. No, I don't bite ^^

Italics indicates thoughts/telepathy

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Chapter Eighty: In Noctem

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Pregnant?

The word came crashing down on her mind in all its horrifying simplicity, bringing with it a chaos of emotions. Her hand automatically found her abdomen, her nails digging into the soft skin there, the pain helping for barely a second before the panic claimed her mind again. She wasn't stupid - she knew that a child would slow her down, that it would only be a matter of months before it would start to show, and Christ...

"Pregnant?" Jordane's voice was low, hoarse, a hint of desperation clear in her words. "I can't-I can't be pregnant, I'm on the pill."

"The pill isn't completely infallible," the doctor reminded her, then hesitated for a moment before continuing. "And I'm afraid there's more, ma'am."

Jordane looked up, eyes widening slightly at the tone the doctor had used, feeling Blade's hand close protectively around hers, the comforting gesture doing little to dispel her fears. "More?" she repeated, afraid to ask, but unable to stop herself.

The doctor nodded, his eyes coming to rest on the file in his hands for a moment. "Your body has been heavily drugged. The pills alone are dangerous to an embryo - with the added effect of the chemicals used in power suppressant and sedatives..." he trailed off, and Jordane was vaguely aware that Blade tensed.

"How bad is it?" he asked.

The doctor looked at them, waiting until he was sure that he had Jordane's attention again, then continued. "As it is, power suppressant are dangerous to an adult...to an unborn child, the effects are far worse. If your child survives, it's likely to be severely mentally and physically damaged. There is a chance that it will survive unharmed, but...it's a small one."

"How bad?" Blade repeated, the worry he felt for Jordane clear in the words.

The doctor sighed. "Based on previous cases...the chance that the child will survive unharmed is around five percent, maybe less. I'm sorry."

A small sound of fear and shock and blinding worry broke the sudden silence, and Jordane was only vaguely aware that the sound came from herself, feeling the world crashing down around her, broken fragments of thoughts flying through her mind, another soft whimper following as she curled up on the bed, hugging herself tightly. She felt a hand on her shoulder, caressing, soothing, murmured words of comfort reaching her ears, but they made no sense to her chaotic mind, doing little to get through her confusion. The murmured words faded, and Jordane was vaguely aware that Blade took a step closer to the doctor.

"And can't you do anything to help her?" The words somehow made their way to her mind, and a small part of her knew that she should pay attention, but the fear and anxiety overwhelmed her once more, turning the doctor's reply into meaningless sounds.

"I'm sorry, but no," the doctor said, honest regret in his words. "Her body has been heavily drugged for the better part of a week...the damage has already been done. We can't reverse the effects."

Blade didn't reply, for once unsure of what to say, his eyes turning to Jordane once more, feeling his worry intensify as he saw her reaction, taking in her almost catatonic appearance. The doctor paused, watching the two for a moment before continuing, realizing just as Blade had that Jordane was beyond the point of rational thought.

"In this situation, the best option would be to consider an abortion," the man said slowly, then continued as he saw Blade's head snap up, turning his attention to the doctor again. "The child is unlikely to survive, and going through with the pregnancy could endanger your wife as well."

"An abortion?" Blade repeated, looking at Jordane once more. It was the most logical option, but he knew Jordane, knew how mentally fragile she was, how little it would take to push her over the edge. Stress alone had more than once been enough to make her cut herself. Something like this... "Isn't there something else you can do? Anything?"

The doctor sighed and shook his head. "No, sir. I'm sorry, but we've done all we could. We'll keep her overnight for observation and see what we can do to clean her system of the last effects of the drugs, but..." he trailed off, and Blade nodded slowly.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his attention on Jordane once more, only absently noticing that the doctor left the room to give them some privacy. "Jordane?" his voice was low, soothing, but her only reaction was another soft whimper, her body trembling beneath his touch, her eyes closed, a wet trail visible on her cheek, betraying the tears she was trying to hide.

"Jordane..." the word was barely more than a soft sigh, his hand caressing her shoulder, trying to calm her down, watching her, unwilling to look away, knowing all too well how close she was to breaking down completely.

And for the first time in years, he was afraid.

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Zahra looked up from the couch as Hal stepped into the main room, dark eyes watching the albino with faint curiosity, taking in the appearance of the older girl.

"How did it go?" she asked, the curiosity echoed in her words. A few of them had stayed at the motel - there was no reason to endanger all of them, especially not someone like Zahra who didn't have a mutation to offer her protection in a situation like that.

Hal smiled faintly and sat down next to Zahra, absently brushing a stand of damp white hair out of her face. "It...could have gone better, but we got them out of there."

Zahra wrinkled her nose. "You smell like burned rubber," she commented. "Was that part of the plan?"

"No," Hal admitted with a wry smile, then shrugged. "It turned out that the police had been warned. They'd prepared an ambush, and we needed something to distract them with."

"So you..."

"...Blew up a few cars," Hal finished, seeing no point in hiding the truth. "It was the best way to distract them."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting for the objection she was sure would come, but Zahra just nodded, and this time it was Hal's turn to send her a curious look. "You're not going to say anything?"

Zahra raised a dark eyebrow. "Should I? You all got away, and managed to get rid of the cops, too. Wasn't that the point?"

"Daryn would disagree," Hal remarked, red eyes watching Zahra, never looking away.

"Daryn's naïve."

Hal smiled faintly. "I see. And you're not?"

"No." The reply was short, emotionless. "Daryn's always been protected - first by his parents, then by his powers. I didn't have that luxury."

Hal nodded, understanding how the other felt, knowing all too well how it felt to be alone on the streets. "And what do you intend to do now?" she asked, red eyes meeting black ones.

For a moment Zahra actually hesitated, her confident facade weakening for a moment before her shield were up again, her facade as strong as ever. "I was hoping that...I could stay with you and the others."

Again Hal nodded, having half expected the reply. "And you're sure? As I'm sure Ryan has told you repeatedly, what we do isn't exactly safe," she commented, the hint of a wry smile lingering on her lips.

"If you don't want me, just say so," Zahra snapped.

Hal sent her an amused smile. "I never said that. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into."

Zahra nodded slowly, secretly relieved by Hal's reply. "And...what about Blade and Melee?"

"I'll ask them when they get back, but I doubt Blade will disagree with me on this," Hal replied.

"Get back?" Zahra frowned, and Hal shrugged with a deliberate casualness, belying the worry she felt.

"Jordane didn't feel very well, so Blade took her to a hospital. They should be back soon."

Zahra nodded, accepting the explanation, then frowned faintly. "And Daryn?"

"He's okay. I think he's in your room."

"I think I'll go check on him, then." Zahra got up from the couch and crossed the room, then paused by the door, her eyes lingering for just a moment on Hal. "Thank you," she said quietly, then disappeared into the hallway, leaving Hal on the couch, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

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"Daryn?"

Daryn blinked, slowly waking up from the blissful oblivion of sleep, and found himself staring into a pair of familiar black eyes. "Z'ra?" he mumbled, not completely awake yet, his mind still feeling oddly muddy.

He felt her hand brush lightly over his hair, then the bed shifting as she sat down beside him. "How are you doing?"

"...Tired," Daryn mumbled, slowly waking up. "Head hurts."

Zahra sent him a sympathetic smile. "Want me to get a painkiller for you?"

Daryn blinked again, his mind slowly starting to work, and shook his head slightly. "Don't have to...I can handle it without."

Zahra nodded in reply, her hand still stroking his hair, a hint of concern in the motion, the small movements soothing. "Are you okay? Hal told me it turned out to be an ambush," she said, the concern clear this time. He was young - sure, he was older than her by six months, but he was still young. Young, and innocent, and all too vulnerable to be involved in something like this.

"My head hurts...and I'm tired," Daryn repeated, and Zahra smiled faintly.

"Yeah, you told me," she reminded him. "But how are you feeling? No physically, but..."

"Mentally?" Daryn looked up, brown eyes locking with black, and then he sighed softly, curling up on the bed under the covers. "Confused," he admitted, trusting Zahra enough to tell her what he didn't want to share with the others. "It was...I tried to keep an eye on everything, but there was too much to keep track of. And...it wasn't about skills. We got out of there only because of luck. Hal and Ryan would probably disagree, but...it was luck. Pure dumb luck."

"Luck?" Zahra repeated, encouraging him to continue, and Daryn nodded.

"They fired a grenade at us...we're - we're kids, and they fired a *grenade* at us," he whispered, mentally shifting through his memories, barely aware of Zahra's presence. "Hal thought they just missed, but she's wrong. I deflected it, and...and I only saw it because I looked out the window when I did. Two more seconds, and we would have been dead." He paused, then looked up, his voice low, tired. "It was luck."

"Sometimes, luck is necessary," Zahra reminded him.

"You don't understand - it was a chaos. It was loud and confusing and...I don't know how they can deal with it." Daryn shook his head, and Zahra shrugged faintly.

"They're used to it."

"And you'll be, too, if you stay with them," Daryn pointed out, his eyes once again locking with hers.

Zahra didn't reply, not wanted to have that discussion while Daryn was exhausted - she'd made her choice, and he wouldn't be able to change her mind, anyway. No need for him to use his strength on an argument he couldn't win.

"I don't want to see you get hurt," he whispered, his tiredness catching up with him again.

"And I won't be," Zahra replied, her hand stroking his hair once more, the soothing motion only adding to his sleepiness.

"But you can't promise me that, can you?" Daryn mumbled, already half asleep, his eyes closed, his mind longing for rest.

No...I can't, she wanted to say, but didn't, and instead leaned down and kissed his brow lightly. They both knew the answer to his question, even if she didn't want to admit it, and there was no need to exhaust him any further by continuing the argument. She heard his breathing slow down, becoming calm and steady, and with a soundless sigh she curled up beside him, watching as he slept.

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