A teenager with a leather jacket and brunette hair in a ponytail wanders towards the exit of campus as a quick pace. He hands are deep in his pants pockets, head ducked down looking almost uncomfortable and out of place. He decides to head across the street without looking both ways only to have a car grind to a halt and honk loudly at him. He gives it a nod and halts when he notices a very unamused Lori Fitzgerald with her arms folded and eyebrow raised.

He lets out an audible sigh, running his hand through his hair. "Well, if it isn't the warden."

She rolls her eyes. "I promise I'm not trying to be some horrible person that locks you in our dorm room. But I can't have you up and wandering around without any of us with you." She grabs his sleeve and starts dragging him back towards the dorms. "Especially when it seems you're okay with throwing yourself in harm's way. Luckily no one's seen your movie so we aren't getting too many questions or funny looks."

He yanks his arm free and glares at her. "I was just looking around. I'm sure you're aware it's quite different from where I come from- primitive even."

"Lori! Hey!" She turns with a wide smile as Shawn Zimmerman comes up to her at a run and kisses her. "It's good to see you. I'm sorry to hear about the arm," he says regarding her cast. "What happened again?"

"Fell down the stairs," she answers automatically. "Luckily Charlie and Michael there."

Shawn finally notices the very bored third party beside them. "Who's this?"

"Jim Hawkins," he offers, causing Lori to flinch.

Shawn blinks before responding. "As in Treasure Island Jim Hawkins?" Lori lets out a sigh of relief.

Jim puts his hands in his pocket and start wandering. "Sure. Whatever."

Lori grabs him. "I'm showing him around campus. He's considering coming to Trinity next year."

Shawn smiles wide. "Do it." He puts and arm around Lori. "This place is perfect. I'll call you after practice." She nods with a large smile and he leaves. She lets out a sigh.

"That almost made me throw up," Jim mutters.

Lori starts pulling him along again. "I don't understand why you're so sulky. This is you after Treasure Planet. You're supposed to have your life put together."

"I do. And now I'm trapped here until you learn something. It's not the best situation." They enter the dorm building and head into her dorm to find Hannah Frost typing away.

"Hannah, you've been at it for three days," Lori says kindly. "You should really take a break. No one's even seen it."

Her roommate doesn't even look up. "I'm not taking that chance. I am shutting it down once and for all."

Jim flops into the chair and gestures grandly at Hannah. "Now you see why I wanted to take off? Psycho." This makes Lori laugh.

XXX

So follow me down

(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town

(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way

(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow

So follow me down

(Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders)
Which way?
Down, down, down

(Ben looks at his phone and sighs, adjusting his tie)
I'll show you around

(Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room)
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)

Follow me, follow me

(Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, and Kaity are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Fifteen: I'm Still Here

XXX

A little while later in the lounge, Ben Prescott is pacing back and forth nervously. On the couch sitting stock still is someone who looks exactly like Lori but in very skintight attire named Finch. She tries to appear emotionless but is clearly nervous.

Ben kneels in front of her. "Okay, they'll all be here in a minute. We can do this."

The program doesn't look convinced. "They're not going to believe you," she answers in a voice quite her own. "There's a 98% chance-"

"Then I'm shooting for the two." At that moment, Lori and her Companions enter: Hannah, Kaity Klingbeil, Michael Harms, and Charlie Prescott. Jim follows behind them grumbling to himself. They all halt at the sight of Finch- the room instantly becoming colder.

"What's the robot doing here?" Kaity voices.

"Just… have a seat. It-she factors into it," Ben requests. They all do reluctantly and warily. "Now I know it's been a rough couple of weeks with Finch."

Michael can't help but cut in. "Really? We had no idea."

Ben ignores him. "And I've heard whispers of shutting the program down because it's no help. But we can't do that."

"Why not?" Hannah questions harshly.

"Because it would be like killing a person." Everyone reacts with disbelief as he continues. "I've spent more time with it-her than anyone and I've come to realize that she's not just a projection. She's alive." Finch nods. The others take a minute before everyone but Jim and Kaity to burst into uncontrollable laughter. Ben narrows his eyes, serious. "I'm not kidding around."

"We know!" Hannah chokes out between tears. "It's just so ridiculous!"

Everyone manages to get a grip, Michael trying to add reason. "Seriously, Prescott, it's not possible. Hannah can tell you all about how it's just code. It doesn't have a heart. It doesn't have a brain. It doesn't even have a skeleton for Pete's sake!"

"Harms-"

"It doesn't breathe," Michael adds, earning a glare from Ben. He puts his hands up. "I'm just trying to make you see reason here."

"Well, I see it," Ben admits to his disbelieving audience. "But the fact of the matter is that we're not exactly dealing with logic. We're dealing with a magic book."

Hannah rises, shaking her head. "I can't believe this. I knew you were an idiot, but this is just- it's brainwashed him or something. Can we just shut the program down now before it tears his mind apart?" she asks Lori.

Finch rises. "I must insist-"

Charlie looks at his step-brother. "I don't get it, Ben. How would it be alive? It's just silly."

Ben tires to regain control. "Just listen to me. We-"

"We need to shut it down is what we need to do!" Hannah appeals to Lori.

"We can't murder her!" Ben shouts.

"But there isn't a her!" Charlie joins in. "It's a robot. It's our pet robot."

"She-"

Lori rises, instantly gaining attention and control. "This meeting's dismissed." Ben's jaw drops as she locks eyes with him. "We're done here. It's obvious this isn't doing anything for anyone." The other Companions quickly head out, still laughing over Ben's "revelation". Lori starts for the door.

Ben decides to give it one last try. "Lori-"

She stops but doesn't face him. "Just… no." She exits and he gives a glance down after meeting eyes with Finch. The two head out in opposite directions, defeated. Jim just stands in the corner having observed it all.

XXX

That evening, Kaity sits at her desk when there's a knock and Ben enters. She only spares him a glance. "What do you want?" she asks harshly.

He shrugs. "I couldn't help but notice you didn't seem like yourself back there. I've been hearing about your having a rough time, so I thought I'd drop in to check up on you."

This manages to earn a small smile. "I can appreciate the honesty." She pauses before speaking up again. "In all fairness, with some of the thoughts in my head I need someone watching me."

"See, you're just as honest as I am." He sits on the bed. "I'll stay here as long as you need me to."

She stares at her blank sheet of paper a few minutes before speaking. "I lied to Lori," she admits, ashamed. "I promised I would be truthful about my condition to her, and she even called me out on that. I still lied to her and told her I was fine."

"So now you're afraid of what she'll do when you tell her that?" Ben deduces, earning a nod. "I told her the same thing once. And I ended up lying to her as well." Kaity finally looks at him. "But I was delusional enough to think I was doing the right thing."

"What happened?"

"She found out and I almost lost one of my best friends," he answers, grim but honest. "You may think the worst thing in the world is going to be Lori when you tell her you lied to her. You're wrong. It's her face when she finds out you not only lied to her but then never told her. Trust me."

"I do," she responds sheepishly. "I'm just worried that you'll-"

"Kaity, we know you're not crazy. We won't abandon you just because of some hard times. And this is coming from the guy who would once give anything to cut and run. Why else would we keep checking up on you?"

"I just-"

Ben rises. "You don't have to say anything. I was really used to people being too busy to care about me. It even ended with me in a lot of trouble." He puts a hand on her shoulder. "But then my step-father stepped in and gave me a chance. Lori's that chance. It wasn't some professor. It's the people who truly care about you and would be really sorry if they lost you." He starts for the door, pausing at it. "I'm here if you need anything. Know that."

She brushes the hair from in front of her eye, looking a little pale. "I need to go back to therapy, but I'm scared."

"Then I'll go with you," he responds as if it's obvious. "Say no more." He exits and she quickly goes and pulls the note from her drawer. The other Kaity appears beside her and opens her mouth.

"Go. Away!" the real Kaity says forcefully. The hallucination vanishes in a burst of smoke and she pumps her fist in satisfaction.

XXX

The next morning, before dawn eve, Jim sneakily exits the dorm building and takes off at a run down the empty path. He grinds to a halt as a figure steps in front of him.

"I would not suggest this." He sees it's Finch and sighs in relief.

"You're not her. You're the robot, right?"

She folds her arms before going back at the pointlessness of the action. "My name is Finch."

"I'm sorry," Jim responds sincerely, surprising her. "You're right. I have a friend like you back home. His name's B.E.N. He's a little… less put together though."

Finch can no longer hide her puzzlement. "You refer to this friend as a him?"

"Yeah, just like you're a she," he says as if it's obvious. "In the future, this is a pretty common thing. There are even people who are half and half!"

Finch contemplates this. "Maybe I could go back- no. That objects with my primary objective to protect Lori Fitzgerald," she responds to herself robotically.

Jim kicks at the ground. "Really? You'd stick around here and have her back even though she treats you like how she did."

She responds without hesitation. "Affirmative."

"But is it because you have to or because you want to?"

"I don't understand the distinction quite yet," Finch admits, stumbling over what to say. "It is still very grey in my programming. I am not to desire more than my objective, but I find myself seeking more. "

This makes Jim smile. "Keep it up. Don't be what they want you to be. Be who you want to be. You're the one who's going to have to live with yourself." Shawn rounds the corner in uniform for early practice when he notices the two. He stops, fuming silently.

"I do plan on continuing down this path despite what the others aside from Benjamin Prescott are saying. I do not know what I am anymore, but I don't know if I wish to go back either. I will continue gathering data."

"Good. Now I suppose you're going to take me inside," Jim groans.

"Affirmative." She escorts him into the building and Shawn walks away, disgusted.

XXX

A few minutes later, Hannah paces the dorm room in her pajamas while Jim lounges at her desk bored- feet on the desk. Lori is sleepily sitting up in her bed, though she looks like she could fall over any moment.

"I don't know what kind of shenanigans you're trying to get into by sneaking out young man, but I will have none of it!" Hannah lectures, pointing a finger at Jim. "You are grounded here for the rest of your visit!" Lori snorts as she wipes the sleep from her eyes. "What?!"

"I just got a vision of what your kids are going to go through. I'll have to be the fun aunt they seek solace from on the weekends," she quips.

Hannah smiles sincerely. "Who made you aunt?"

"Let's face it. I'm sticking around for them. They are going to need me." Lori hops off the bed and goes over to Jim. "But she's got a point Jim. We can't trust you if you keep up this kind of reckless behavior. There's a lot at stake here. You've given us no reason to trust you."

"You've given me no reason to listen to you," he shoots back. This catches her off guard and she stumbles to respond when there is a knock.

Lori pats Hannah on the shoulder as she heads for the door. "I've got it. You take care of him."

"Naturally. His voice is the closest to Joseph Gordon Levitt I'm ever going to get," Hannah whispers with a sly smile. "If I can get him to say "I love you" I'll die a happy Hannah." Jim just rolls his eyes at this as Lori exits and opens the door to reveal Kaity.

"I know it's late, but I couldn't sleep and had to talk to you now. I'm benching myself."

Lori's brain tries to catch up with how fast she's talking. "Oh-"

"I lied to you," Kaity continues before she loses her nerve. "I'm not fine. I'm in possibly the worst depression I've ever been in. I was even considering the note again. I added you guys to it."

Lori tries again. "Oh-"

"So I'm pulling myself out until I get better and I mean really get better. I've even made plans to see the therapist as much as I need to. You're not going to give up on me, so I can't give up on myself," Kaity concludes strongly before looking down. "I know you're disappointed-"

"Quite the opposite actually," Lori finally edges in, crossing her arms. "I'm very proud of you. I'm not happy you lied to me, but you were big enough to admit it pretty quickly."

This makes Kaity light up. "You can thank Ben. He certainly knows what to say."

This makes Lori halt and think for a moment before she answers. "Tell me about it." A grunt sounds from the bedroom along with a crash. "Give me a moment." She runs in to find Hannah holding Jim back from the window.

"He's totally trying to make a break for it!" she shouts. "And he won't say he loves me!" Kaity walks in and observes the scene.

"Let go of me!" Jim shouts. "I swear I was just getting some fresh air! I swear!"

"A likely story! Lori! I could use a hand here!"

Lori turns to Kaity. "I might need your help. You can restrain Hannah while I-"

Kaity throws her hands up, sly smile on her face. "Benched remember? Have fun." Lori sighs and rolls up her sleeves before heading for the fray.

XXX

Ben opens his door later that morning to find a nervous and fidgety Lori. He just regards her coldly. "I want to hear you out," she says quickly, earning his attention. He lets her in and she faces him twiddling her thumbs. "I'm coming here with an open mind and the knowledge that you would never lie to me. You've promised that and putting mistrust when you deserve none is not right. And I'm sorry for how I've been treating you," she adds, very sincere. "It hasn't been fair to you and it's not who I like to think I am as a leader anymore."

Ben nods. "I appreciate that."

She flops into a chair. "And on the off chance she-it… I shudder to think if we end up killing her."

"But it won't have to come to that." He sits across from her. "Lori, she feels emotions. You've heard Michael too- she's laughed. She's snapped out of that monotone if you guys would actually listen to her. She's even breathing now."

"But how do we know that's not part of the programming- to simulate life?"

"Because it terrifies her," Ben reasons. "She has no clue what's happening. They are anomalies she can't locate in her programming. I'm sure Hannah wouldn't find them either if you want to check. The bottom line is this wasn't intended to happen."

Lori considers this. "Then what's your theory for how it did?"

"I think it's actually pretty simple. She used the book as a power source. She used magic and now it's working inside of her, changing her as she interacts with us. She's not just a pet robot anymore. She's-"

"More than she was designed to be," Lori answers for him, now becoming lost in her own thoughts. "Just like what Stitch said when she first arrived. Maybe that… I just don't know," she mutters, putting her head in her hands. "It's so much to wrap your head around. The magic book turned a computer program into a person."

"Not fully of course. She's still ones and zeros. There's just more to her now than even she was expecting."

Lori catches onto something that makes her look up. "You keep calling it her. You really believe this."

"I do. And my conscience won't be clear it I don't at least try to convince you before Hannah sends her off to her death. She's accepted that. I won't." Lori rises and he takes her arm. "Just promise me you'll think about all this."

"I absolutely will," she vows. "You gave me a lot to consider. Have a great night."

"You too."

"And thank you for Kaity," she adds. "I almost forgot, but she's ready to do what she needs to do. I don't know what you said or did, but that was all you. You're definitely my MVP for the week. You are a very special, irreplaceable member of this team."

That almost makes Ben tear up but he reigns it in. "That means a lot Lori. It really does. Thanks." She exits and he sinks into his chair, letting out a sigh of relief.

XXX

That evening, Charlie sits in the living room area studying. The lock clicks and Finch enters, only to pause when she sees it's only him. "I'm sorry. I was just looking for Ben."

"He took off a bit ago."

Finch starts backpedaling. "Then I should-"

"Wait!" She freezes and he walks right up to her, looking her in the eyes for an uncomfortably long time. He finally steps back, nodding. "Okay."

"I do not comprehend," Finch admits.

Charlie returns to his work. "I see it. I really do. You're a person."

"All it took was looking at me?" Finch voices her disbelief. "As I said I do not comprehend your methods."

"And like I said, I just see it. It's hard to explain. But you're different from when we first activated you and I choose to believe Ben's explanation why. We can't shut you down," he decides. "We can't kill you. We just have to do a better job at helping you."

At that moment Ben enters, smiling widely at the sight of Finch. "I laid the groundwork with the boss this morning. You have to go seal the deal."

"Lori Fitzgerald is considering our explanation?" Finch questions.

Ben nods. "She is. She's listening. Go talk to her."

Charlie gives her a thumbs up. "You can do it. Once you get her it'll all be downhill." Finch nods and exits after a deep breath. Charlie looks at Ben. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I wasn't really looking, but once I did I couldn't deny it."

"It's alright. It's just a really weird situation altogether."

Charlie laughs. "We seem to come across an awful lot of those. You didn't stop fighting for her though. You are an astonishingly good person. I'm proud to be your brother."

Ben lets that sink in. "I just hope it works out down there."

Charlie returns to his homework, confident. "It will. Lori's an astonishingly good person as well."

XXX

Meanwhile, Lori is absently flipping through pages of the book in her desk chair while Michael watches her from her desk. Jim sits in the corner fiddling with Ben's coffee maker.

"You're considering believing him?" Michael says in disbelief. "Really?"

"He brought up some good points," Lori argues. "And if he's right-"

"It doesn't have a heart," Michael starts listing off on his fingers. "It doesn't have a brain. It-"

"But what if it can feel?" Lori cuts in, obviously stressed and distressed at this scenario.

"What if she isn't the stereotype everybody seems to want her to be?" Jim adds with a final twist of a screwdriver. "I think I got it. Tell Ben it should work twice as well now."

Michael takes it from him with a polite smile. "Thanks. Lores, what exactly are you expecting to find in there? He hasn't really taught us anything yet." Jim starts humming absently as he cleans up the tools, and the tune catches Lori's attention.

"How can the world want me to change?" she begins.

"They're the ones that stay the same," Jim responds, confused as to how she knows it.

"And I want a moment to be real," she continues, growing more excited as she understands.

"Wanna touch things I don't feel," Jim continues, growing more confused. Michael just looks back and forth between the two baffled.

"Wanna hold on and feel I belong," Lori concludes, flipping to a page that glows. The three just look between one another for a moment.

"How do you know that?" Jim asks. "I don't even know how I know that. What- I feel like I've heard that playing in my head or something before. I don't know why but is just sticks with me."

Lori smiles at the page. "Good thing I've seen the movie." She goes to add something when there is a pounding at the door.

"Lori!" Shawn's voice shouts from outside. "I know you lied to me! I know he's probably in there right now! He isn't just some guy looking at campus!" They all rise, Lori looking about ready to faint at the severity of his tone.

"What are we going to do?" she manages to whisper. Michael grabs the book and shuts it as the pounding and shouting continue.

"Do you want to tell him?" he asks calmly.

"What?!" Lori squeaks.

Michael puts a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to tell him the truth? Do you think it's time?"

"No," she answers adamantly, shaking her head. "God no." He throws open the window.

"Then give us a minute before you let him in." Jim understands and reluctantly joins him.

Lori shakes her head, looking out the window at the large drop. "We may be on the first floor on the building, but on this side it's a three story drop because of the hill. You can't-"

"I'll do what I need to do. Come on Jim."

Lori heads for the door but halts. "You're really about to jump out of a window for me." Michael nods and she can't help but look touched.

"Go." She rushes to the door and opens it to reveal a so angry he's physically trembling Shawn. She tries to look casual.

"Hey." He shoves past her and she runs to him, grabbing his arm. "It's not what you think! I was just temporarily house-sitting since Ben's really paranoid when the three of them are out," she lies.

"Yeah, house-sitting with Jim Hawkins. I should have known that name was fake. You two were probably laughing about that one behind my back."

"He left yesterday after his tour," Lori insists.

"Then why did I see him at the crack of dawn this morning with you in a ridiculous white outfit. And then you led him into the dorm!" Lori outwardly simply blinks, but is clearly mentally cursing.

"He stopped by again because he forgot his phone which was in my room. It was important and he really needed it back," she reasons calmly and logically. "And that was my jogging uniform. Yes, I jog," she answers to his incredulous look. "You don't know everything about me yet. But you can look. He's not here. Though I don't think Michael will appreciate this when he gets back." Shawn walks off and she crosses her fingers. He returns a moment later- tail between his legs as he looks upset and ashamed.

"I swear I saw-"She simply throws her arm around him.

"It's alright," she soothes. "I forgive you. It could happen to anyone."

"I'm really sorry," he says sincerely, pulling her to him. "This is a really bad foot to start out on. I trust you. I do. But I've been through this before and-"

She smiles up at him. "You don't have to say anything. We'll forget it ever happened." She kisses him. "I understand."

They pull apart, still holding hands. "You're too good for me," he whispers, exiting. "I'll see you tomorrow for lunch." She nods as their hands finally separate.

Once he's gone, she slides against the door to the ground- completely overtaken by guilt. "You have no idea how untrue that is." She takes a moment of running a hand through her hair upset when there's a knock. She opens it to see Jim and Michael with a few scratches but otherwise seemingly fine.

Michael extends his arms, offering her the book. "I kept it-"She throws her arms around him in a hug which he instantly reciprocates.

"Are you okay?"

He shrugs. "Just a few scratches from the bush. I wouldn't trade it for how it padded our fall though." She pulls away and looks up at him with a tearful smile.

"Thank you." He hands her the book. "I just… I'm not ready to tell him yet. Hopefully, I never have to."

"I don't know," Michael admits. "I don't think you can stand lying to him that long. You have enough issues with guilt as it is." She nods and hugs Jim as well.

"Thank you. Tomorrow you can wander around as much as you'd like- take a free day before we send you back."

His face lights up at this. "You're welcome."

XXX

The next afternoon once classes have concluded, Lori opens her door at a knock to find Finch standing there. She leans against the doorframe as the projection begins.

"I intended to visit you yesterday, but I sensed a commotion and decided to postpone our conversation," she begins, cautious. "Instead I accompanied Jim Hawkins around campus and kept watch over him. I know you gave him freedom, but I know you still wanted to ensure his safety."

This makes Lori sigh. "This has got to stop."

Finch instantly backpedals. "Excuse me. I was unaware-"

"You have got to stop looking like me," Lori clears up. "If you're going to wander around campus where my boyfriend and others are clearly watching, we need to fix you up somehow."

Finch is clearly relieved and nods in agreement. "Affirmative." She puts the two fingers to her temple but pauses. "What should I change to?"

Lori shrugs. "Whatever you feel matches your personality."

Finch catches this. "Are you insinuating…?"

"I'm warming up to the idea is all I'm saying," Lori offers nonchalantly. "I don't know if I believe it quite yet, but stranger things have happened to me this past year and a half. So it's time for you to stop being me and to be yourself. Trust me you don't really want to be me anyway."

"Negative," Finch disagrees. "But I'll try." She puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over. Suddenly, she bursts in an array of pixels around the room. Lori can only watch in amazement as they come together to build a completely different person. "Better?"

Lori takes her in. She is now taller and leaner with a long-sleeved white dress shirt and black dress pants. A red tie hangs from around her neck and glasses are in front of her dark brown eyes. Her hair is now black in a nice ponytail with a single streak of yellow for her bangs.

"Much," Lori finally voices when she overcomes her speechlessness. "I like the glasses- very modern. Tie's a nice choice. Wonder where you got that from?" she jokes with a smile.

"One might say I was inspired." Jim enters the dorm with a smile on his face.

"Hey, I'm back. Who's this?"

"This is the new and improved Finch," Lori says grandly.

"Cool."

"How was your day?" Lori questions as Finch looks herself over.

"It was pretty great. I just went for a nice long walk through the forest preserve across the street. We don't have forest preserves on my planet. It was pretty cool to see all the trees and stuff."

"That's why you wanted to get out so bad? That's it?" Lori says in disbelief as Jim shrugs. "Why didn't you say so?!" He merely kicks at the ground and she groans. "Well, I'm glad you got what you wanted to out of this experience. I'll go grab the book." She exits into the bedroom.

"You're going to be fine," Jim tells Finch. "It's not going to be easy, but you're going to show them what Finch is made of." Lori returns with the open book on the glowing poem, giving him a last hug.

"Can you do me one more favor?" He nods and she pulls out her phone. "Can you say it for her? I'll record it and she'll die happy with you never having to face her again."

Jim groans. "Fine!" She hits Record. "Hannah, I love you. You're the love of my life. Marry me?" She stops it and they both can't help but laugh before she returns to the book.

"They can't tell me who to be" She glances at Finch. "'Cause I'm not what they see" He vanishes in a burst of light and she shuts the book. "Remind me to never have teenagers."

"Noted," Finch offers.

Lori gives her a genuine smile. "Now let's see if we can keep Hannah from killing you."

XXX

Tune in next week as the two factions face down one another on the subject of Finch and the decision to terminate her reaches its conclusion. Meanwhile, Kaity begins her true fight with the MVP by her side.