Enjoy!

M.

Chapter XX

March 25th, 2004

SGC

"Sorry, Colonel," Janet interrupted, "I will like to hear all they have to share with us. But I want to make sure we are not dealing with Goa'ulds."

"Oh, they aren't Goa'ulds," Catherine affirmed.

"I understand you know them, Catherine. And in any other circumstance, your word would have been enough. However, sir, they still must pass through our medical exams, and we already have breached the protocol for them."

"Don't worry, Catherine dear; even after we helped your alien friend with our equipment and knowledge, Dr. Frasier doesn't seem to trust in our equipment or analysis skills," Nikola grinned. "Or in ourselves."

"She might be on the right track with you, Nikola," Helen smirked.

"Oh, Helen, you wound me."

"It's not an issue, General. We want you to trust us, and if your safety protocol measures require us to be analyzed; then, by all means, we should go as soon as possible. The sooner the results are available, the earlier you'll shed some calm over your troubled minds," Helen nodded.

"Well, that and the fact we agreed to follow your protocols with Henry," Nikola added. "You agreed to that too fast," he whispered to Helen. "Half an hour more, and he would have changed his opinion."

"You know as well as I do, that's not true. Half an hour more, and Henry would have prohibited you from coming," Helen pointed.

"Let me make them stop for a while," Will said to the other people in the room. "Magnus?" Helen smiled at him.

"I'm sorry."

"Well, since we already have agreed to these exams, where do we go? I want to get them over as soon as I can." Will said Hammond nodded at Janet once, and she stood up

"Well, if you all follow me," Janet trailed

"Do you mind if I join them, General?" Catherine asked.

"Of course, Catherine. You know about the SGC as much as the next officer," he nodded, and she joined the group.

"You know how much I hate needles, don't you?" Henry complained.

"You have like thousands of piercings, dude! Same thing." Ashley rolled her eyes.

"You are complaining? I'm under Magnus exams almost every day," Will whined.

"It's not her fault that you are clumsy, Will," Ashley says and laughs. "If you didn't fall, break, hit, get electrocuted, or offer yourself as abnormal food, she wouldn't have to check you up daily. At least not for that," she wriggled her eyebrows.

"Dude! That's our mom you are talking about!" Ashley raised an eyebrow; she still found cute that sometimes Henry considered Helen his mom, "our boss you are talking about!" Henry corrected, and Will blushed.

"Oh, hush! It doesn't matter if she's my mom or our boss; she still has needs," Ashley pointed bluntly.

"Ashley!" Will blushed even deeper

"What? It's nothing but the truth," she rolled her eyes. "It's not like we don't have eyes... or can't smell," she whispered the last one.

"You had to bring it on, do you?" Henry huffed.

"Oh, now I wish I had joined them in the elevator, this is getting highly uncomfortable."

Janet listened to the exchange trying hard not to laugh. If she didn't know they worked for Helen and that Ashley was most likely an abnormal herself, then she would have thought they were just a well-knitted team.

One who had to spend a lot of time holed up together and knew exactly which buttons to push to annoy each other and laugh at each other. When they arrived at the infirmary floor, most of the group scrunched up their noses at the peculiar smell of disinfectant.

"What kind of tests we agreed to pass, Magnus?" Will whined, falling into step beside her, as they followed Janet.

"We agreed to CT scans, for them to verify we are not lying about not having a symbiotic lifeform in our spine, and to a regular blood test. They will be looking for a specific protein marker and to check if we have Naquadah in our bloodstream."

"Yes, we also need to check; for virus, infections, anything out of the usual."

"Anything?" Henry frowned, "What happens if we don't pass your test?" Henry said a little bit concerned

"Then you will be held until we figure out what to do with you."

"Oh, men! Magnus I don't want to be stuck. I have a wife and a kid on the way. Can I go home?" Henry pouted, Ashley had labeled the expression of his face as starved wolfy look.

"Why would you be held? According to your boss, you don't have anything to be worried. Just like we shouldn't have to worry about you," Janet smirked. "Unless, of course, you are hiding something."

"Of course, there's nothing for you to worry. Now, I'm in a position that will allow me to make your life uncomfortable if you happen to try and do a full DNA test and scans, Doctor Frasier." Helen smiled softly, and something in her demeanor made Janet understand that if pushed, Helen Magnus she was fully prepared to go to any extent.

"Yes, I've been briefed about the negotiation. I have a detailed list of tests to which you've agreed and which ones you didn't. I'm acutely aware of what we can and can't do," Janet confirmed.

"Then, by all means, let's start," Helen pointed.

"This way, please, whoever is going first," Janet finished walking towards one of the beds.

"Janet," Catherine called, "Can I use your office to talk to Helen while you do your tests on the others?"

"Sure, Catherine. My office is open; go ahead."

Janet's Office

Catherine's POV

I see the one who introduced as Dr. William Zimmerman frown, and Helen winks at him, making him nod slightly at her before he jumps into the bed Janet had pointed him, not losing the eye contact.

"This way," I say to her, and I feel I've just interrupted some conversation no one else knew they were having. She grins at me and follows me to the end of the infirmary, where Janet's office is. I want to find something to say before jumping into the subject I want to know, but, she smiles at me knowingly.

"Go ahead, straight to the point will always be the fastest way," Helen grins at me.

"I know you and Nikola you are not normal, or rather, I know you both are abnormals. What about the people in your team?"

"Well, they look normal," she chews her inner cheek, "however, no, they aren't. Henry is a HAP; Will has a mutation which allows his mind to work differently, and he falls in the same range of abnormality that James had."

"Had?" I ask with a frown; I met James Watson a long time ago.

"Yes, we lost James a few years ago," Helen gulped, "All the affected were already there or notified when he didn't get back from Bhalasaam," she cleared her throat, to contain her feelings on the matter. Or so I guess.

"I'm truly sorry," I say, giving her hand a slight press, "I know what he meant to you."

"Yes, he was a dear friend. But as it is for most, his days on this Earth weren't as long as mine," she smiled sadly. "There's only one human being in my current team, she decided she didn't want to come," her attempt on changing the subject wasn't that subtle, but I nod in agreement.

"So, they all are?" I trail, looking outside. They don't seem abnormal; they don't look strange. But then again, nor Helen, nor Nikola seem out of the ordinary or appear close to their real ages.

"Yes."

"Why are you allowing them blood scans?"

"None of them will show anything irregular in a blood test. Our differences are DNA based, being that in the genome, structure or merely in the proteins. If this happened a couple of decades earlier, there would've been two positive results for the protein they are searching. However, due to the timing, not even that would be found."

"Would you tell them?" I say, pointing to Janet, "will you explain to them you are all abnormals?" I know SGC policies, and knowing Jack as well as I do, I can be sure he won't like the idea of abnormals running free at the SGC.

"They are vaguely aware of Nikola and my situation. So far, there were no more mentions or reactions; the antipathy and doubts came even before they knew. I do hope to spare them from telling or showing their skills," she smiled, biting the inside of her cheek. I inhale deeply.

"I feel I must ask, you know my curiosity was always one of my bests and worse traits," she nods, "Is she related to you?"

"Whom? Ashley is my daughter; I've mentioned that" I had to see that one coming; I am talking with Helen Magnus. I roll my eyes before continuing

"You know quite well I'm not talking about Ashley. I am speaking about," she closed her eyes and sighed.

"Samantha."

"Yes, the likeness is," she raised her hand to stop me. With the other one, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"What I can tell you, Catherine, because we've known each other for a long time, is that we are, for all intents and purposes, related. However, disclosing the extent of our relationship is entirely on her hands; I hope you don't mind that." She apologized, I sigh.

"Oh, well. I believe I know you well enough to understand you are protecting Sam from something." We exchange a smile, "but let me assure you something. Sam, she doesn't need protection; she is a strong, independent woman, with a good head on her shoulders and an incredible heart. She is just like you, I might add." And even if I see the moisture gathering in her eyes, she doesn't relent. And that's the Helen Magnus I've always known, the one who would respect others decisions no matter how costly they were for her.

Same time

Briefing Room

"I asked you to remain here because I wanted to know what happened. I know you were under their care and that somehow Janet got to you. But there wasn't much information coming on."

"Well, we found your Godzillas, sir. And they attacked us. They said the Godzillas infected us with something, and we ended up being under their protection because they know how to fix it. They fixed us, and Teal'c, and here we are now," Jack summed it up.

"I don't understand if they had all you needed to heal you. Why bother to call Janet?" Hammond mused out loud.

"That's easily explained, General, even if Teal'c wasn't injured. I was. We all know my case isn't easy for Janet, and she has been treating me since Jolinar. We knew they called someone high up to find who our CMO was; we never thought it would be President Hayes."

"Yes, apparently, that's what they did. Doctor Magnus called President Hayes; when we talked, he had nothing but good things to say about her; he didn't mention anyone else." Hammond added, "And what are your instincts telling you, Colonel?"

"I don't like her. She has too many secrets," O'Neill said

"I have my doubts, they know too much about too many things. They knew Teal'c was Jaffa and they knew about the gate. But, on the other hands, they were nothing more than welcoming to us, they treated us well and overall, they helped Teal'c. We must have in consideration they all have been cooperating so far," Daniel finished.

"Indeed, they have been very hospitable. Doctor Magnus seems wise beyond her years. However, I stand with O'Neill."

"I'm not sure why we are discussing this, General. She is abnormal, for crying out loud!"

"Abnormal?" Hammond frowned.

"Nonhuman, sir. Doctor Magnus and the Tesla guy are nonhumans; they are THE abnormals who killed a snake just because it was in their bodies! Look! I trust them as much as I trust in the Tok'ra. But if they can kill a snake, how do we even know what they are capable of!" O'Neill finished with a frown.

"Abnormal or not, I like her, Sir. I found nothing but help during our stay, they willingly shared all they could about the technology they have available, and answered most of my questions," Sam said, "we are giving them more grief that we gave to the next alien. Just think for a second, if anyone of them were bad people we probably wouldn't be having this conversation! And sir, you heard General Hammond, the President vouched for her."

"Oh my God, Carter! How you can say they are people! You saw what they had in there! You don't know what kind of monsters they are underneath that crisp exterior they put up for the show!" Jack exclaimed while Carter clenched her jaw. Sam felt as if she was slapped in the face by the man she loved, "and let's face it, she probably looks like you on purpose, to make you feel comfortable around her."

"Holy Hannah! That's with what you are going? Have you taken a moment or two to remind yourself how it was for me the last few times I've seen someone who looked just like me? Because I don't quite remember being all friendly and kind with the darn Replicarter!" She huffed

"Then what if she looks like you just to get into the SGC and destroy everything from the inside?" He pointed.

"Then she waited long enough!" She exclaimed, "The President knows her, Catherine knows her, sir. For what I had experienced last week, I'm willing to bet that, if she wanted to, she would be head of the SGC or it wouldn't be an SGC now." She stood up, "You know, sir, you should try not to get so caught up on hating them because they are different. One day, Teal'c too was someone who we didn't know, someone we didn't understand."

"That's different!"

"Why? Because he helped us out there? Let me remind you, sir. She helped us here. We would be dead without anyone knowing what the hell was wrong with us if it wasn't for them." Sam was furious, and she knew she was walking the insubordination line there. She felt her face hot, and her hands were forcibly pressed against the table, her knuckles white. "Excuse me, sir," she turned towards Hammond, who nodded her.

She turned around and left the room. Jack started to walk towards the exit. However, George knew them both enough to know Sam was beyond pissed with Jack stubbornness, and he also knew better than allowing the Colonel to walk headfirst into a situation where the risk of it ending with a court-martial for her was too high.

"Jack, just leave her," Hammond said. The Colonel was about to argue, but he found himself under the steely glance of his CO. "It is an order, Coronel. Let her settle, understood?" Jack nodded, "For what I've heard, I recon the division of thoughts of SG1. It seems two like her, and two don't."

"I like DoctorMagnus, General Hammond. I'm aware she has many secrets to which we didn't have access. I used not to trust people who hid things from others until I came to the SGC."

"What changed?"

"How can I judge someone who hid things from others for their good? When I'm doing the same with the reality of the Stargate." Teal'c added, his eyebrow raised in a curious glance. "Perhaps it will be wise to keep her close; maybe her secrets as those we own, exist only to protect those who are under her care. "

"I agree with Teal'c; we should keep a close eye on her. She willingly helped, and I know no one who does that does it just for the heck of it. Everyone wants something in return. I can't decide what's what she wants. She is abnormal, she's too smart for my liking, and she has too many connections. I don't trust people with that many connections."

"Me neither son, me neither."

Somewhere at the SGC.

Sam's POV

I know I blew it, I was way too close to insubordination or I was entirely in it. But General Hammond didn't stop me, and Colonel O'Neill; Jack, he kept coming at me. I practically stormed out of the room too annoyed with his words and greatly hurt by them.

I reach the infirmary before I know for sure why I'm here, the angriness and pain I'm feeling fueling my every step. I want; no, I need someone who knows what I'm feeling, someone who can tell me everything will be okay. And she's not there. I see Ashley's frown, and Will's observing gaze.

"Is she here?" I ask, my voice still sounds angered. How could it not? He just told me they are monsters, and if he sees them like that. What will he think of me then?

"Sam, what happened?" Janet asks me, worry etched in her expressive eyes. But she wouldn't understand not even if she tried.

"Is she here? Doctor Magnus?" I manage to let out, and I feel my voice breaking, there's not that much time until I break.

"Yes, she is in my office talking," I heard her whereabouts and storm over there, my walls slowly crumbling with each step. And once I open the door, I notice I must have interrupted something, and I clench my jaw tightly.

"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you, I'll come back later," I manage to say, but I turn around slowly, not wanting to go out and face all those eyes again.

"Come on in Samantha; you didn't interrupt much. , please do close the door," Helen says to me, and I nod. I stand awkwardly next to the door, and I look from one to the other. I know both can read my discomfort. So, I try to divert them, and myself from what I've just lived.

"Can I know the truth of how did you know each other?" I ask. They smile, Catherine raises an inquiring eyebrow towards Helen, who nods as an answer. The exchange makes me believe, Catherine knows much more than we did about Helen Magnus and the abnormals who roam the Earth.

"We met a long time ago," Catherine starts, and I wonder if she knows about her unique skill, "when I was a child," my eyes widen, and I look at them for a moment. They both nod several times.

"So you know about … not being… that she doesn't…" I try to create a complete sentence, but my brain can't provide me with the things I need, not when one of the persons I've known for years, sits there telling me she had known my biological mother for that long.

"That she isn't normal?" she asks for me, and I can help but nod. "What is normal, anyway?" Catherine says, smiling. "I didn't know at first; I was a kid, then I didn't believe it…."

1928

Giza

Catherine's POV

It's been four days since our arrival. I think I've never had this much sand in me before, not even at the beach. Until the day before yesterday, I joined my father as he worked in the field. But something changed in the afternoon. They found a rock, it was gigantic, and they found a ring under it. Since then, my father kept himself occupied with the ring, and I go wandering around, trying not to annoy or disturb the workers since my father pointed it was not polite.

This morning I was walking around, contemplating the skies which I believe never were so blue before and daydreaming with Pharaohs, princesses, and jewels and all that sort of things. And I was so focused on the sky, that I ended up bumping into something and falling to the ground. That was when, I figured by the shadow it cast over me, that I didn't hit something but someone.

Thankfully, it wasn't a worker disturbed out of his job, but if I were someone else, it probably would have been worse, since I bumped my father's boss. She didn't fall to the floor, but she was forced to take a step back to gain stability again, and I blushed when I noticed I almost managed to make her fall. And you are not supposed to bump into bosses, especially not when they were so kind to you. I tried to formulate some apologies, but I was mesmerized by the woman who had given me my first piece of Egypt just for myself. I was somewhat smitten with Doctor Helen Magnus.

She frowned a little when she managed to catch herself and looked around to try and figure out what had just happened, but I was still unable to voice anything. Or to find a way up from the sandy floor. She gasped when she saw me.

"Catherine, dear; are you okay?" she kneeled quickly, and she's checking me for injuries. And I find myself looking straight into her bright blue eyes, just like today's sky. Suddenly I feel shy and overwhelmed, and I turn a bit red.

"Yes, sorry I disturbed you, Miss Magnus," I say as firm as I can, but my voice is nothing but a whisper. She finishes her check-up and stands

"Do you like ancient history?" she asks me and starts to walk, and I guess that I must follow her lead.

"Yes, I like history and Egypt. When I grow up, I want to be an archeologist, just like my father," apparently, that pleases her, her smile widens.

"Oh, that's true, you've mentioned it before. I consider your father had an excellent idea when he decided to bring you with him. If you want to take my advice, let me confess, the best place to start learning about history or what an archaeologist does, is by being where the history happened."

We keep talking, or rather, she keeps digging information out of me as we stroll back to the camp. I hadn't realized how far away, I was from the base camp. Until Mister Tesla comes searching for her

"Helen, dear. We've been searching for you for ages! I think I figured out the word I was missing."

"I went for a walk, I thought needed more space, and maybe I was lucky enough to get hit by inspiration, which seems it isn't required any longer. Luckily, this young lady collided into me and brought me back to camp safely," Nikola looks at her, and I notice right then and there, that when I grew up, I want someone who looks at me in the same way he does to Helen.

"Thank you, Catherine, dear. You have no idea how much I appreciate you have taken care of our Helen," he winks at me. Then, they both smile at me and wave goodbyes, and I see them walking faster towards the ring.

I was bored and left alone again. But I find a rock in which I can sit, and I'm back to sky gazing, and I can't help but play with the necklace she gave to me. And out of nowhere something brings my attention back to the floor. I see someone looking at me with an anxious face, he seems afraid to come closer, but I wave to him, and he runs towards me. He looks scared.

"You have to stay away from that… That woman," he whispers in a terrified voice. And considering that Helen is the only woman in the whole area, I guess he is talking about her. But she wasn't anything but polite with me.

"Why?" I ask with a frown

"She is a witch. She eats children's souls to stay forever young. She marked you this afternoon, child. Run, run away from her," and before I can ask anything, he disappears into the diggings once again. Strange man, I think.

I wait for the night, and as soon as my father enters our tents, I rush out of my divided corner, and I left out everything the guy told me. And all my worries rush out of my body with my dad's reaction to the news. He laughs as I never saw him before, and tells me to not believe in everything people said, or I will end up dead by some silly superstition.

Present

SGC Infirmary

Janet's POV

"Man! That look was so Magnus! Am I free to go now?" Henry said. I like him he is cute, too bad he's already taken.

"Where would you go, anyway? Is not like there is much to do in here?" Tesla says, well he is annoying, and he knows it

"You mad? The dial-up program seems awesome! And if that's here, who knows what other goodies they have in store," he comments eagerly.

"Chill out, my dear Heinrich. There's not much we can do even if we want, I'm pretty sure we need supervision, specifically hers," he adds pointing to where Sam just went in

"Quoting the Great Doctor Magnus: 'Bloody Hell'" he huffed, really between Sam's Holy Hannah and Magnus Bloody Hell I don't know which one is my favorite

"Do I need supervision for training? I could use a good fight with the trained military, you know? To test my skills," Ashley adds with a big grin on her face

"Do I need supervision just to wander around?" Doctor Zimmerman adds, and we all look at him. "What? I am a psychiatrist, what I am supposed to do in here?" He has a point, what is he doing here?

"Why are you here in the first place, protege? You didn't need to come."

"You know that protege thing is ancient."

"Hold your horse's everybody!" I intervene, even though I curious to know more about that nickname, "You all need CT's to which you will be escorted one by one. As for you, Miss Magnus," she rolls her eyes

"You can call me Ashley? Or Ash"

"I still have to get your blood, Ashley. And yes, you all need a bodyguard of sorts to wander around, even if you don't know why you are here."

"Great, I'll guess we wait. You still need Helen's blood and," Will grimaces, "you probably want her taking Ashley's." The girls nod profusely. And I raise an eyebrow.

"I'm perfectly capable of drawing blood; I've enough experience to do it."

Same time

Janet's Office

SAM's POV

"Since that day, I don't believe in superstitions. I thought back then the fear she instilled was related to being a woman in a man's job. I didn't know for sure what she was, until many years later." She shrugs, Helen keeps quiet.

"How?" I ask.

"Well, when my father was in his last days, he told me that if I ever needed anything at all, I had to contact Helen Magnus. I laughed, by then around twelve years had passed since I met her, and I joked with him that the most likely thing was that Helen died before I needed help. He caressed my face and smiled at me, and then he added, 'My dear, she probably will survive us all.' I blamed it on the medications he was taking until I needed funding, and I called the Sanctuary. When I saw her, and she looked exactly as I remembered, I understood he wasn't joking."

"And you weren't freaked out? I mean, it must be a shock to find that someone you met when you were just a child, hadn't changed at all."

"Yes, of course, I was scared; everybody fears what they don't know. Aren't you scared when you go through the gate?" Catherine asks, and I nod.

"Yes, every time. However, I am not afraid of them," I sigh and let out my current fear, "I am afraid of how people would react to me." Catherine's eyes widen, and she looks from me to Helen and then back at me

"What do you mean? Are you an abnormal too?" Catherine squints

"She didn't tell you?" I ask surprised, I mean, if I were her, I would have told her everything. Especially since they seem quite well acquainted. Helen looks at me with a soft smile and loving eyes, the same way she had looked at me since the beginning.

"I told you, I loved you all your life. I can't pretend for you to accept what I offer, or change what you have become just because I've appeared. I am conscious that I can't come and destroy the life you created for yourself just by my desire to tell everybody what you are to me. It is your choice; I have no rights," she finishes, her voice is barely a whisper.

I don't know if it is in her words, the eyes, the tears she's holding back or if I just reached my breaking point, but for the first time I don't feel like betraying my adoptive mom when I think of Helen as my mom. She bites her lower lip.

"I've already lost you once; I don't want to lose you again, even though I know I will."

"I have no idea of what you two are talking about, but I feel that I need to go out now and give you both some space," Catherine rose from her seat and started to walk to the door

"Catherine! Wait!" My mom and I hold our gazes for a moment, "I have to start somewhere," I shrug, "I trust you, Catherine, and what's important she trusts you. It is a bonus you know about the abnormals, and you feel no different about them that you would for a regular human. I know I can tell you this and be sure it won't change your opinion of me," I wait for her sit before I continue. "I am not only an abnormal; I am the test tube child of two of them." She frowns.

"My parents made me during the '50s. I, well my egg, was frozen and I was born later. According to Janet studies, my DNA is unique, and it shouldn't exist at all, but here I am... 33 years old, apparently not aging and healing way too fast, oh! And my parents are two of the greatest minds in history."

"You mean?" She looks at Helen and then outside.

"Yes, I am the child of Nikola Tesla and Helen Magnus."

"Oh, my God! That explains many things I couldn't understand before."

"Whatever you mean Catherine?" Helen asks

"Well, taking apart the physical appearance, there is something in her that is special. Her way of thinking of everything, her fast learning, I don't know, just things I guess."

"I'm sorry to interrupt this lovely gathering, but Helen we need you outside now," Tesla says storming inside

"Whatever happened?" She asks frowning.

"Ashley," he adds as if that's the most explicative thing to say, but judging by my mother's reaction, it is. She walks fast out and straight towards Ashley.

"Mom, please!" Ashley says, and from my position, I can see her eyes changing from her regular ones, to entirely black, and then to bright red. "Doctor Frasier needs the sample, we told her to, uh, oof," Ashley finished, she is struggling with something inside her body.

"Breath, Ashley, talk to me." She whispers lovingly, she jumps into the bed and sits behind Ashley, surrounding her with her body. "Come on, Ash, you know you can control it, it is part of you, but it isn't who you are," Helen continues whispering, one hand caressing her daughter.

She allowed us to see a side of Helen Magnus, that I've never got to see before, the motherly Helen. And apparently, her team doesn't see it often because they are all staring in awe. Helen's eyes lock on Will's, and he nods.

"What is she?" Janet asks, the fear in her voice is noticeable.

"If you fear her, you probably have to go now, fear only makes it worse," Will adds.

Helen is still talking slowly to Ashley, oblivious to the rest of us. Or at least she seems to, but when Will walks close enough, she extends a hand, and he places the needle and vial in it. And without stopping her actions, she inserts the needle in Ashley's arm and takes the sample Janet couldn't get.

And I can't think anything more than: with this? How can anyone believe they are monsters? But I risk a glance to Janet, and her horrified look points me to precisely the contrary. For her, they are monsters. Or maybe, it is just fear.

"I know, I know. Don't worry," Helen's voice is firmer than before.

"I will need a big sparring session later on," Ashley adds, and we all laugh.

"I'll see that with General Hammond," my mother adds, not a hint of a joke in her voice. And it hits me, Ashley wasn't joking, she needs it.

"Thanks," she adds, closing her eyes for a while.

"You should take mine now, Doctor Frasier. And start with the CTs If we want to go back anytime soon," she winks at me. And I understand, she is trying to make Janet come closer to Ashley, to prove her there's nothing wrong with it. To show her they are no monsters, just a sick daughter, and a preoccupied mother.

I turn to Catherine and smile at her, before I whisper, "I'm thrilled I've found them."