Lori is on her knees right where we left her, wind knocked out of her as she surveys the classroom building in complete shambles. She waits for what seems like hours before finally letting out a sob, hands going around her mouth as she cries so hard she shakes.
"Lori Fitzgerald!" a voice breaks her out of it. She looks down to see Finch Hale making her way up the hill, Ben Prescott held carefully on her back- both of them looking haunted. She runs down to them, grinding to a sudden halt as Ben screams when Finch sets him down.
"What-what happened?! What's wrong?!" she cries, kneeling beside him. They both hesitate. "Tell me," she demands.
Ben covers her hand with his. "Lori, a beam came down on me. Don't freak out, but at the moment I-I can't feel my legs." She just blinks. "It's okay," he tries to comfort her. "I'm going to be okay, but we need to call 911 and get people down here right now." She just puts her hands to her moth, almost unable to process. "Lori, I'm alive. That's what's-"His face clouds before he can finish. 'There's something we need to tell you."
"Ben!" They all turn to see Kaity Klingbeil sprinting up the hill, Lori's eyes instantly drawn to the hand she is cradling. Michael Harms and Andrew Parker follow with their cuts clearly visible, Andrew limping heavily. Kaity kneels next to Ben and kisses him. "Oh thank God. Oh thank God."
Michael reaches Lori and pulls her into a hug that she doesn't reciprocate, shell-shocked at everyone's state as her eyes are locked on Andrew's limp. "We're alright. We had to jump out a second floor window, but it's nothing we can't survive. I just tried to protect Kaity as much as I could. We need to get her to a hospital for her hand and Andrew probably for his leg, but it could have been a lot worse."
"Thanks you Harms," Ben tells his friend as he cradles Kaity to him. "Thank you." He then remembers what needs to be said. "Lori-"
"Lori!" Charlie Prescott tackles her to the ground, Hannah Frost guiding Rachel Ellis behind him. "I know I broke the rules and didn't listen to you, but we needed to do something. We managed to get Hannah out by breaking a window so it was for the best and I will fully accept a lecture- Ben?" He runs to his older brother as Lori gets back on her feet. "What-what-?"
"It's true," Hannah tells a still stunned Lori. "Without him, I would have been blown sky high." She looks around at everyone and her brows furrow. "Where's Caleb?" No one answers and she turns around. "He's still in there!"
"He's not," Finch says, grabbing her arm to keep her from running. "Well… I mean…"
Hannah looks at her. "Then where is he?" She looks at everyone- most of who are just as confused and worried as she is. "Where the hell is my boyfriend?"
"Hannah," Ben says in his gentlest voice, earning everyone's attention. "I'm so sorry." She can instantly tell what that tone means and pulls free of Finch, backing away from everyone. "I am so sorry I have to tell you this, but… he fell."
"Then he's hurt," Hannah reasons. "We'll run back in and-"
"Caleb Dean hit his head," Finch cuts in, not knowing any other way to do this. "I jumped after him, but I was too late. He hit a piece of the ceiling that had fallen and when I reached him… he no longer had any vitals." Everyone recoils sharply in shock, sadness, and disbelief. Hands go to faces and heads. Tears appear- some shed, some not. Hannah is just staring, so Finch tries to make it clear. "He is no longer alive."
"No!" Hannah shouts, completely losing grasp on her emotions. "No…" she says again much weaker as falls to her knees, sobbing. "Please no." Lori goes over to her, but she pulls away as she lets it all out. "This can't be happening."
Lori just watches her, broken as well until she feels a tap on her shoulder. It's Rachel. "I'm sorry, but we need a plan and we need it now." Lori looks out over the shattered group, barely able to pull herself together- let alone the rest of them. This experience has destroyed each and every one of them in their own way. She looks down to see she doesn't have a scratch on her almost in disgust before looking at them again.
"Okay," she says in a cracking voice with none of her usual confidence. "Kaity and Andrew call 911. Something happened to the building while you were studying- your combined adrenaline meant you managed to get him out. Caleb…" Hannah lets out a cry. "Caleb wasn't so lucky. The rest of us were never here and need to head back now. Go home and… try to sleep I guess."
"I'll text you when we know about everyone," Andrew offers her. She takes a long moment before registering he said something and then nodding. "Now you guys get out of here." Lori doesn't waste a beat in heading back towards the dorms, tears running down her face as she hears her Companions fall in line behind her.
"What am I going to tell Jolene?" Michael asks himself, though she hears him and has to put a hand over her mouth. She then feels a tug on her sleeve, and looks over at Charlie.
"What are we going to do? She's still out there." Lori merely turns back and keeps walking, completely unable to answer.
XXX
So follow me down
Lori stands with the glowing Disney Encyclopedia. She sighs and pulls out her phone.
Where to?
Outta this town
Charlie examines his map and grabs his flashlight.
With you
Girl, you're movin way
Hannah is typing away at her computer, looking over sadly to see no one is next to her.
Too slow
So follow me down
Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders.
Which way?
Rachel is performing on stage when her phone rumbles in her boot.
Down, down, down
Ben looks at his phone, adjusting his tie.
I'll show you around
Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room.
Okay
Andrew runs out the door, nearly tripping, removing his magician's cap from his head.
There's a place we gotta go
Finch puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over.
Follow me, follow me
Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, Kaity, Finch, Rachel, and Andrew 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 Twenty B: All the Powers of Hell
XXX
Hannah walks into the bedroom, almost unable to cry anymore. She looks around the room, eyes noticing the picture of her and Caleb at the carnival she had framed on her desk. She just can't take it and in a fit of emotion throws it at the opposite wall- shattering the glass. She then proceeds to pick up other things from her desk and throw them as well, screaming in rage with each one.
This comes to a halt when Lori walks in. Hannah just freezes as her roommate observes the damage for a long minute before walking over to her own desk. She hands Hannah her pencil cup silently which Hannah throws against the wall with a sob. Lori continues to hand her items from her desk that Hannah throws for a few minutes, crying more and more. Finally, she just clutches her face sobbing- unable to handle it anymore. Lori pulls her in for a hug and the two slide to the carpet as Lori just silently continues to clutch her sobbing roommate amongst the shattered and broken items of their room- forcing herself to hold back tears and be the strong one.
"You need to kick her ass," Hannah says finally is a quiet voice.
"I will," Lori vows.
XXX
Jolene throws open her door to find Michael all cut and scraped. "Oh my God," she breathes, clutching his tight and kissing his cheek. "I heard about the classroom building and I was so-"
"Jolene," Michael delicately cuts in. "I have to tell you something." She just looks at him, telling this is very serious and she won't like it at all. She takes his hand and leads him inside her room, shutting the door behind her. A minute later there is a scream.
XXX
The next evening, Lori, bags under her eyes and looking completely drained physically and emotionally, enters the cafeteria to see Andrew, Rachel, Charlie, and Michael all having dinner together in complete silence. She grabs her tray of food but cannot bring herself to go over to them, opting to a table across the room alone. She starts to nibble on her breadstick, clearly not hungry, when she hears someone pulls up the chair next to her.
"I'm not letting you do this," Charlie tells her. "I'm not letting you pull away from everyone because you think it was your fault." She doesn't say anything, but it's clear she doesn't believe him. "He knew the risks and he went anyway. Ben said he refused to leave him trapped under a beam when he had the chance. He was a hero and he would not want you to do this." She says nothing, doesn't move. "Fine. Pull away from them, but not from me. You're not doing this to your best friend. We started this together and we will finish this together. So you can't talk to them. Then talk to me."
There is an excruciating long pause as Charlie just stares at her. "Hannah cried all night, even after she supposedly went to bed," she tells him in a hollow voice. "I listened to my roommate cry all night because I put her boyfriend, the guy I told her I though was The One, into a situation that killed him. I did it despite the fact that the book was sending me warning signs not to. He died, she was mentally tortured and won't leave her bed, Ben may never walk again from what I heard, Kaity needs to have reconstructive surgery on her hand, Michael has a broken arm, and Andrew sprained his ankle so bad it was twice its normal size. All the while I didn't get a scratch on me. The important one is safe," she ends with venom.
Charlie puts his hand over hers. "Yes, the important one if safe. I know you hate that term, but the fact of the matter is if it had been you, Caleb… he'd still be… we'd all be. She would have the book and this whole campus would be wiped out anyway. And I know it hurts to think about- it rips me apart to even hear his name," he tells her, tearing up.
"You need time to sort yourself out and grieve like we all do," he says sadly before switching tones. "But tonight she is going to destroy this place. We are out of time, Lori. So I'm sorry I have to say this to you but we need to stomach the guilt and the pain for a day and make him proud by stopping her and keeping everybody he loved safe. DIZ isn't coming- they let us down and quite frankly I blame them for all of this and not you. You did your best to salvage a plan that they ruined by lying to our faces. But the point is it's just us. We need the Lori who doesn't give up and pushes through- our fearless leader. So what're we going to do?"
She takes a beat before rising. "I don't know. I'll figure something out." She starts to walk away, but he calls after her.
"You'll tell me right?" She halts, not looking back at him. "We have a deal. We do this together. You promised."
"And you promised you'd stay on the hill," is all she fires back before throwing away her food and heading out, him just watching her sadly as she goes.
XXX
About an hour later, Hannah sits up in her bed, still wearing a nightgown and hair matted, at the sound of the filing cabinet. She sees her roommate with her sneakers and jacket on, flashlight in her hand. "What're you doing?" she asks, knowing and fearing the answer.
"I'm not going to let her destroy campus," Lori argues with her trademark strength, having taken her best friend's words to heart. "I need to go face her and end this." She starts for the door, but Hannah is off the bed and blocking her.
"You are doing no such thing," she says with ferocity. "Not without all of us coming with you."
Lori crosses her arms. "There is no all of us. Ben is in the hospital having surgery on his back, Kaity is in the hospital having surgery on her hand, and Caleb is…"
"I know what he is," Hannah growls. "And that is why I'm not going to let the same thing happen to my roommate because she feels guilty and like she needs to handle this alone. You are not going lone wolf on us, Lori Fitzgerald." She heads out of the bedroom door and props it closed with a chair. "I'm not letting you out until you agree to take us with you."
Lori tugs at the handle and pounds on the door. "This is silly, Hannah. You're the one who said yesterday-"
"I wasn't in my right mind yesterday!"
"And you clearly are today. One nap makes all the difference?"
Hannah takes a step back, hands up. "I know exactly what you're trying to do, Lori Fitzgerald. And it won't work. You can't push me away because you're stuck with me." There is a knock at the door. "Let me know when you come to your senses." She heads to the door and opens it to find Finch.
Finch takes in her disheveled appearance and frowns. "I- Hannah Frost I just wanted to-"
"You jumped after him right?" Hannah cuts in. "You tried to save him with everything I had."
"Of course I did," Finch says instantly. "My primary objective is to protect Lori Fitzgerald and her Companions. I failed on that account and it… it hurts deep in my very code."
Hannah steps forward and pulls her in for a hug. "Then it isn't you fault. You did everything you could." Finch starts to cry and Hannah soon joins her. "I'm not mad at you. I could never be mad at you after everything you've done. You don't need to apologize to me because it wasn't you fault," she adds, hand grabbing her shirt. "You need to realize that." Finch just continues to cry.
"Of all the emotions I've experienced in my time with you… I think I like this one the least."
Hannah rubs circles on her back, tears streaming down her face. "So do I."
XXX
Neither girl has realized the Lori has tied her bedsheet to her desk and climbed out the window, landing with a thud in the bushes. She rises, dusts herself off, and starts down the path away from the dorm. "Sorry, Hannah, but no one else is dying on me today." She makes the sword appear in her hand and takes off at a run, only to grind to a halt at who is waiting on the path around the corner.
Andrew gives her a small wave. "The others at dinner, they thought you'd be crazy to go. They figured you'd end up taking a night off because you just didn't have anything left in you. See… I thought you'd be crazy not to go… not to try. So I parked myself here, knowing it was only a matter of time."
She stares at him intensely. "Caleb's dead."
He frowns sadly at that. "I know."
"You're not going to stop me."
He shrugs. "I know that too."
She raises her eyebrows. "You do?" He nods. "Then what exactly is the plan here?"
"The plan is to come with you, Fitz. You need someone to have your back."
"That's not happening," she shakes her head. "You're not coming. I'm done with people trying to protect me."
"You don't need me to protect you," Andrew disagrees, striking her curiosity. "You're a tough cookie, Lori Fitzgerald. You can handle yourself. But you handle yourself best when you have people by your side to look out for. If you just run in there with blind rage she will kill you. But if I'm with you… you'll think before you act. Just like you always do- like you did yesterday to the best of your abilities. I mean I'm not as good an option as Charlie or Michael, but I'm all you've got right now."
She stares at him as if trying to figure him out. "What makes you think you've got me down to a science, Andy?"
He smiles at her. "Because you're an absurdly good person and that's what the absurdly good people do." His smile is enough to make her slightly smile too. She starts down the path and he just watches her go, waiting. Finally, she turns back.
"Aren't you coming?" He runs to catch up with her, gait slightly off from the brace around his left foot. She just smirks clearly impressed with him and in a lighter mood than she has been for a while. "Maybe you could magically enchant this blade like the fairies do?" she jokes.
"I could-"There is suddenly the sound of a loud explosion that has the both of them dropping to the ground. They look to see the new wing of the Science Building in flames on the horizon. "Well, I guess we know where we can find her."
"Let's go before she hurts someone." Lori and Andrew both take off at a run in that direction, weaving determinedly through the students coming out to stare at the scene in horror and disbelief.
XXX
Hannah removes the chair and runs into the bedroom to find the open window. "Shit!" she shouts, pounding the windowsill as Finch comes running in. She looks at the Science Building in flames on the other side of campus. "She took off. Round up the others who are still here. We need to get to her before she kills herself." She doesn't even bother getting dressed, merely throwing a coat on and heading for the door.
"Protect Lori Fitzgerald and her Companions," Finch vows as she stares out the window, eyes narrowing. She then turns and takes off to catch up with Hannah at ease, fingers going to her temple as she attempts to contact the others. They arrive at the front of the dorm where Hannah notices one of the Security cars sitting empty in the driveway.
"Finch, can you hotrod a car?"
XXX
Lori and Andrew come to a halt at the sidewalk leading right up to the Science Building, taking in the flames. "Well, Mulan was looking for a burn." They start down the sidewalks when a car nearly barrels into them, blocking their path as it spins and stop.
"Lori Fitzgerald!" Hannah scolds her roommate as she climbs out of the passenger seat. Lori lets out a sigh as Charlie, Michael, and Rachel climb out the back and Finch from the driver's seat. "When I lock you in a room, you should know to stay in that room!" They all come up to her, blocking her way.
"Great. You're here," she says with a fake smile. "Now if you'll excuse me-"
Michael grabs her wrist. "We're not letting you go in there," Hannah informs her with crossed arms.
"I need to, guys. She's going to destroy the entire campus if I don't!"
"Too bad!" Rachel fires back. "I may not be able to see the situation, but even I know the exploding building is suicide. She's trying to get you on her terms in a battle you already can't win." Lori can see they're not budging and her eyes lock with Michael's.
"You know I need to do this," she whispers. He squeezes her arm and she becomes relieved. He taps her wrist once, twice, and then three times before letting go. The two of them sprint around the car, Lori sliding over the hood, towards the Science Center. Everyone follows shouting after them, but do not manage to catch up before Lori and Michael throw the doors open and head into the building. Charlie is literally one step behind them and makes it in as well. But then debris conveniently falls and blocks the rest from entering. Hannah hits the rock in anger and starts back for the car, resigned. Everyone else goes to follow, but Andrew merely stands there staring at it.
He then starts moving whatever rocks he can as quickly as he can. "What are you doing?" Hannah questions harshly.
"I believe in Fitz," he tells her. "I believe that she can do this, especially when she has her mind on protecting her two best friends. She is going to have to get out of there, and I am going to make sure she can. Because she is coming back," he says with pure confidence. Hannah, Finch, and Rachel take a mere beat before they head over to join him- Finch clearing bigger pieces while the others take the smaller ones. Rachel struggles a bit but is clearly as invested as the rest of them are.
XXX
Lori grinds to a halt in the hallway of the familiar Science Center, the flames having suddenly dies down enough to clear a path to the new wing. Michael and Charlie come up on either side of her. "Just the three of us in the Science Building," Michael comments. "It somehow seems poetic."
"I'm not sorry we followed you in here," Charlie adds with slight venom. Lori looks back at him with a smile.
"I'm not either. Someone reminded me I do my best work when you guys are around." They both look surprised at this, but then happy as they realize this is the Lori they know and love. "Just please listen to whatever I say this time- otherwise no hockey game!" They both nod and stay behind her as she runs down the hallway, handing the book to Michael and gripping the sword with both hands.
They all burst into the brand new observatory and take a moment to look around in awe. The room is gigantic and completely glass with large models of the planets hanging from the ceiling. But their eyes quickly fall on Maleficent in the middle of the room, cruel smirk on her face.
"I dressed for the funeral," she quips, gesturing to her black cloak. "I hope I will be invited." Lori grips the sword tighter but doesn't take the bait. "It's such a shame he had to pay the price for your not listening. And you waited until the last minute to spare your campus as well. One has to wonder if you truly are the hero the mouse claims you to be."
"I suppose you'll find out the hard way when I send you back, you bitch," Lori shoots back. Maleficent merely laughs.
"I'd like to see you try." She raises her hand, but then stops. "You expressed interest in my dragon form when you were making your plan. Perhaps you'd like to face you demise in a more… biting manner then?" Lori doesn't answer. "Say no more. I'm happy to oblige." She then throws her arms out and a magic cloud swirls about her. Lori turns to Michael and Charlie.
"Stay back. I'm going to find a way to get to her and finish this. Dragon will be easier then sorcery." She turns back after their nods to see the green-eyed dragon towering over her with smoke pouring from its nostrils. It barely fits in the observatory it's so large, making Lori lose her nerve just a tad at the intimidating beast. "Okay. You can do this, Lori. You can do this."
"Lori!" Michael shouts. She turns to him just as a claw slams into her and sends her into the wall across the room, sword clattering to the ground at Michael and Charlie's feet. She manages to sit up just as the dragon bears down on her two friends, getting ready to hurl a stream of fire their way.
"No!"
XXX
Kaity is sitting in a hospital bad, trying to avoid looking at her hand which has pins and needles sticking out at all angles. Her phone vibrates on the table next to her and she sees it's Rachel. She snatches it up and answers. "What's going on?"
"Lori is in the Science Center with Michael and Charlie and what appears to be a dragon judging from the roar," Rachel rattles off. "We are currently unblocking her way out so she can escape when she cleans up shop." Kaity slides out of the bed and makes her way down the hallway, ignoring the pain in her hand. "I'm going to put you on speaker and keep you in my pocket so you can stay in the loop like you asked."
"Yes. Thank you," Kaity says gratefully as she enters a room where Ben Prescott is sitting on another hospital bed unconscious. She slides in bed next to him, waking him up. "Hey. They're in the Science Center with the dragon. Rachel has us in her pocket." He lets out a low moan as she squeezes closer next to him. "I know. I'm worried about them too." She puts the phone on the pillow next to her ear and the two listen as the other continue to shout and move debris from the entrance.
XXX
Lori can barely get to her feet, hands clutching her ribs in agony, by the time Maleficent is shooting a stream of fire at her two best friends. She screams as Michael covers Charlie with his own body before they vanish in a haze of green fire. She runs up to the dragon's feet and tries to grab her attention with a swift kick of anger. "Hey! It's me you need to kill, you ugly lizard!"
The dragon stops her stream of fire and gazes down at Lori, easily pinning her under a clawed foot. She starts to drag her talons downward, making Lori scream and writhe as three deep claw marks form in her right shoulder- tearing her jacket and shirt. The dragon almost laughs at this before starting to put pressure by pushing downward, making Lori gasp and choke for breath.
She does notice as the smoke fades that a barrier has formed around Charlie and Michael stemming from the book he holds under his arm. It crackles and fades, leading the two to look around confused and stunned to be alive. Lori would have smiled if not for the searing pain of being crushed that makes her howl as everything starts to turn white.
Michael is quick to notice this, what the book just did, and the fact Maleficent doesn't know the two are alive. "Hey!" he shouts, waving madly. "Looks like you're not as hot as you once were!" Maleficent looks back over at them, snarling. "If you want to hurt Lori, and I mean really hurt her, I would suggest killing the two people she loves most in this world first!" The dragon pivots to face them, forcing her to lift her claws and Lori to roll out of the way. She chokes and gasps painfully as Maleficent shoots another stream of fire at the two.
Lori manages to gain enough sense to see she needs a plan and looks about. She sees stairs to a landing and drags herself up slowly, wincing every second. She then makes her way over towards the metal stairs when the dragon's tail flicks in her direction. It sends her into the railing with a clang and she feels blood dripping from a deep cut on her cheek. Maleficent is still distracted with trying to overcome the barrier and get to the boys, making noises of frustration and increasing the intensity of her fire. Lori uses the metal rungs to pulls herself back to her feet, and slowly climbs the ladder to the landing that is about chest level with the dragon- though it's back is to her. She notices the dangling giant model of Saturn about three feet from the railing and makes a quick decision before Maleficent tries to locate her, taking a deep breath to bury all the pain.
She then runs as best she can and throws herself off the railing, gripping one of the rings around Saturn in a way that makes her cry out. She starts to pull herself up when Maleficent notices her out of the corner of her eye and sends her tail slamming into the planet. This sets the system all the planets are on spinning, causing Lori to start swinging in a quick circle around the outer edge of the room as she barely clings to the planet- her right arm slipping.
"Lori!" Charlie shouts from the floor, where the boys are basically now forgotten as Maleficent waits for Lori to come back around.
XXX
Finch hurls the last of the debris out of the way and the group rushes into the building, only for the fire to appear in front of them and block them from making it any further down the hallway. Hannah finds herself turning to Andrew. "What do we do now?"
"We wait," he answers. Hannah looks ready to argue. "She's not going to let us in there if she doesn't want us to be. This will vanish as soon as she beats her. It's all her magic. We just need to wait and then we go get our friends out of here." No one likes the idea, but all stare into the flames waiting and praying for them to vanish sooner rather than later.
XXX
Lori swings back to the front of the dragon as she manages to pull herself on top of the ring, Maleficent managing to catch her entire right side with her fire as she keeps spinning. She still manages to force herself to climb to the very top and holds the chain with her left hand, right dangling uselessly at her side. "Okay," she whispers. "One shot." She makes the sword appear in her left hand as she circles the back of the dragon. "Trust the sword. Make it count." As she reaches Maleficent's front and the dragon rears up to set her aflame, Lori takes a grand leap off the rotating planet.
She buries the sword in Maleficent's chest with a triumphant shout, jamming it as deep as she can. She can't hold on for long though before falling to the ground on her stomach, but the damage appears to be enough as Maleficent's attack is halted and her pupils shrink. She groans in pain, looking up as Maleficent lets out a yell of pain so loud it shatters the glass surrounding them. It starts to fall down upon them in shards with rain droplets, Michael once again shielding Charlie with his body. Lori buries her head in her hands, feeling pieces cut and tear her up a bit with a grimace.
Once the glass has fallen he looks to see Lori trying to force herself up, but clearly does not have the power to. He then slides the book over to her with is miraculously falling open to the glowing poem. Lori sticks her head up at the flailing dragon with a triumphant smile. "It looks like the only funeral you'll be attending is your own!" Maleficent merely continues shaking violently in agony, roaring once again. "One gift, an iron will To beat the beast and earn the kill!"
There is a burst of darkness so large it blinds them all, but once it has faded the dragon has vanished, leaving only her destruction in her wake. Michael and Charlie sprint to Lori, the future Doctor looking her over quickly. "We need to get her out of here before anyone shows up."
At that moment, the others burst into the Conservatory and halt at the sheer amount of damage before seeing Lori and the others. They run up to them, worried. "We're fine," Charlie tells them, grabbing the book from the floor. He and Michael have only a few cuts from the falling glass.
"She can't walk though," Michael diagnoses. "Finch, I need you to look her over, download the list of supplies I need, get them from the training room, and meet us back in the room." The projection nods looks Lori over before taking off. "We need to get her back to the room and in the shower for these burns." He turns to Andrew. "You have to carry her."
Andrew takes a large step back. "No. No. I can't."
"Listen, I know you don't like germs but her life is literally at stake." Andrew clearly looks ashamed by this, but shakes him hanging head. Michael groans. "Hannah, I'll need you help to support her then." Hannah helps him with getting an exhausted Lori to her feet, each draping an arm around their shoulders and starting back towards the car- the others following.
"I-I just slayed a dragon," Lori tells Michael, almost delirious.
"You slayed a dragon," he repeats.
"I freaking slayed a dragon!" she exclaims.
"You freaking slayed it good!" he matches, making her laugh and then looking pained as her ribs protest from the motion.
XXX
Kaity and Ben both look at each other, sighing in relief as they hear the group load into the car and start driving back towards the dorm. "They're okay," she tells him with a smile, hanging up the phone as she yawns with exhaustion.
He nods, glancing down at his legs with a frown. She sees this and kisses his nose. "We'll get through it together, alright?" He looks at her and she snuggles into his chest, both of them drifting off together.
XXX
Lori opens her eyes to the bright sunshine streaming into the bedroom. She blinks a few times before the pain hits her like a truck and she grits her teeth. "Easy," Hannah says kindly. "It happens every time you wake up. It'll pass a bit in a few seconds." Sure enough, it fades enough that Lori turns her head to see her roommate perched on the end of the bed by her pillow, still in pajamas and hair down. "Let's see how long you stay awake this time."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"For the past four days you've been drifting in and out. The pain's too much and you pass out. This might actually be the longest conversation we've had." She looks over at her roommate. "So much for not getting hurt, right?" Lori tries to move, but winces in pain. "I'm afraid you're stuck right there. Don't try."
"What exactly is wrong with me?" she manages.
"The better question would be what is right. Where's the list?" Hannah pulls out a notebook and opens it to the first page. "This is from the Doctor, who stops in close to every two hours for you- Charlie right behind him. You have twenty plus cuts from the glass that have been treated with First Aid ointment and Band-Aids. Three had glass sticking out of them he had to remove with forceps. You entire right side had some pretty bad burns that made you pass out when we got you in the shower. I had to stand in there with you- it was very romantic. Those are being treated with the best burn cream Kaity can sneak us from the hospital. Three claw marks in your shoulder that had to be stitched. Eight broken ribs and once stitched cut to the face that is certainly going to leave a scar." She closes the notebook. "Basically, you're lucky to be alive and not have internal bleeding from a dragon stepping on you!"
"Then why aren't I in a hospital right now?"
"It wasn't an option," Hannah says logically. "The school is in enough hot water with Andrew, Kaity, and Ben being in the classroom building that randomly fell apart and a Science Center that somehow burst into flames the week of its opening. We could manage what you had and needed to so as not to draw any more suspicion to our involvement in any of it. I took care of the security tapes. We were never in the Science Center that night and neither was Maleficent. They're trying to keep people from running away from here as fast as they can at this point. So in a way she kind of won, actually."
"We beat her though," Lori manages. "Everyone's safe. Caleb can rest easy knowing that."
"Yeah," Hannah can't help but agree. "He can. You… you did him proud." There is a beat before she speaks again. "Given this is the longest conversation we've had I suppose I can assume you're going to stay conscious this time."
"I suppose so. Then tell me…what else have I missed? With everyone?"
"Well, Finch took the rest of your Finals as you. She says you did pretty well. She also has forged a few phone calls home so your parents knew you were staying. Kaity had her surgery and should be relatively fine since no tendons in her hand were cut and it was actually mostly superficial outside broken bones- thank God. Otherwise she might never have used her dominant hand again. Her parents might be suing the school. Andrew's still in the brace for a few days. Michael still has the cast. Jolene still hasn't talked to him yet and he's panicking about that. And Ben… Ben is getting used to the idea of a wheelchair," she finishes. Lori stares at the ceiling, frowning. "His parents are suing campus. The funeral for Caleb is Friday," she adds, twiddling her thumbs. "They let anyone who wanted to stay for it to remain on campus a little longer." She pauses. "I met his parents. They seem really nice."
"Then I'd better rest up so I can go."
Hannah snorts. "We'll see if you can even sit up by then. It's going to be slow going for you, roomie. It just sucks we can't give you anything for the pain."
Lori sighs. "You're telling me." There's a pause. "We made it though."
"We did," Hannah nods, taking her left hand. "Oh, and I also cleaned up the room. Nothing like putting you out of commission that puts my head on straight again."
"Then we can just say I totally planned all this. It makes me feel less pathetic."
Hannah snorts. "Lori, you're literally a goddamn hero who took down a dragon with your wits and a sword. Give yourself some credit." They hear the sound of the door opening. "Company. They'll be glad to see you're finally up." Lori turns her head and smiles as Charlie and Michael come running in- ecstatic to see her awake.
XXX
Half a week later, Hannah opens up the door after a knock in her black dress to find Andrew dressed in a suit waiting. He gives a little wave. "I thought we were all meeting in the lobby?" she questions, voice very somber.
He nods and produces a large bouquet of bright colorful flowers behind his back. "I know its lame," he says, handing them to her. "But they literally were… were literally the only thing I could think of that would help you get through today."
She gives a forced smile. "No. No. Thank you." She looks them over. "They're very… bright," she tries to be polite.
He nods, having expected this. "Well… watch this." He waves his hand over the flowers and they all turn white, color somehow drained from them. This manages to coax a true smile of amazement out of her as she looks down at them. "There she is," he smiles back.
She looks at him. "Thank you," she says again, completely sincere this time. She heads over to where her boxes are stacked in the living room and digs through them to find a pitcher to put them in.
"How's Fitz?"
Hannah scoffs. "Pissed beyond belief the Doctor isn't clearing her to go. But she can barely stand up at this point- let alone us somehow getting her to funeral where she'll have to walk." She heads to the bathroom to fill the pitcher with water. "You can go back there."
"Thanks." He heads into the bedroom where Lori is sitting up in her bed, clearly very moody. "Good morning," he offers her, leaning against the bedframe. "Though I hear you're having a rough go."
"I should be there. I should be there but instead I'm stuck in this bed for another day losing my mind. I need to go… see him one last time and tell him… tell him…"
Andy looks at her hand clutching the sheets in frustration and probably pain. For a moment he doesn't think and just extends his hand towards her, desperately wanting to comfort her. But right before they touch he catches himself and abruptly pulls back his hand to his chest like he's been burned- hyperventilating a bit. He looks to see she hadn't even noticed in her moping and sighs in relief, making himself seem normal again.
"I have an idea," he proposes, earning her attention. "I know it's tacky and it won't beat being there, but I will call you and have the phone up so you can hear every word. And then I'll make sure you get to say a few last words. It's not perfect, I know. But it's all I can-"
"You'd really look like the jackass on his phone at the funeral for me?" Lori asks in amazement.
"Anything for you, Fitz," he once again repeats. "You deserve to say what you need to so you can move on too." He takes a step back. "And then I know Hannah planned on having everyone here for one last sleepover before we head out in a few days. So I will see you then."
"Yes. Thank you!" she calls after him as he heads out, in a much better mood than before. He runs into Hannah in the hallway who can only shake her head.
"I don't know how you do it, but you my friend are really good at it." He shrugs and she sobers a bit. "We should get going. The others are waiting." He nods and the two of them head out the door and down the hallway, Lori falling back onto her bed as the door closes.
XXX
The next Monday, the day has come for everyone to pack up and leave campus who stayed the week longer. Hannah heads for her parked car with the last of her suitcases, looking over her shoulder as Kaity follows right behind her. They load up their bags and she shuts the trunk. "Are you sure?" she asks her small friend for what must be the hundredth time.
"Positive," she answers. "He still needs time to adjust to everything. I'll be out there to visit him frequently though. Besides, he's not going to be by himself." She points to where Ben is being pushed in his wheelchair by Finch, coming to a stop in front of them.
"So you're not staying here?" Hannah asks the projection.
"I honestly do not desire to be alone," Finch admits. "So I have decided to take Ben up on his offer to spend some time at his house for half the summer. The other half I shall travel to Rachel's and spend time with her."
Hannah smirks. "It sounds like we're all doing a lot of traveling this summer."
"Three months is too long to be apart," Andrew reminds her, coming up to the group carrying a box with Rachel right behind him. "That is why I was thrilled to learn this lovely lady lives but an hour from me and said I could visit anytime. Plus, it's going to be an awesome carpool."
"Where's Lori going?" Rachel inquires, but not before smiling at Andrew's comment. "I know she thought it was too soon to go home and have her parents see her… a little torn up I suppose might be the wording. Though my mental picture may be worse than the real thing."
"Probably not," Kaity assures her.
"She is going with Michael. He will be alone in his house with just his mom and thinks it might be good for her to have other people around," Hannah explains. "Then he never has to take an eye off her."
"Which means Charlie's going too, right?" Andrew asks, receiving a nod from Ben in confirmation. "They'll eventually get to that hockey game."
"Do you know what she said… when you held the phone up?" Ben can't help but ask.
Andrew shakes his head. "I thought it would be rude to eavesdrop. It was between the two of them and it seems she's more at peace these days. I think we all are, though it still obviously hurts an almost unbearable amount."
"Speak of the devils," Hannah comments, changing the subject. They all turn to see Michael and Charlie helping a very slow and barely walking Lori out of the dorm and towards them with worry and sadness on their faces. "She did that for us- for all of us," Hannah can't help but remind them.
Lori looks all her Companions over when she reaches them with a fond smile-pausing at the sight of Ben in his wheelchair especially. "I'm so proud of each and every one of you," she waxes. "We did something impossible. I know you all have been going through a lot while I've been out, but know I was with you every step of the way. So was Caleb. Because we are a family and if this couldn't tear us apart, then I'm positive nothing will. And I look forward to seeing what next year holds for us."
"You mean you're keeping us around?" Rachel questions, a little surprised.
"I considered it… after Caleb," she admits. "I thought about going at it alone so no one else could get hurt. But… quite frankly, that would be an insult to everything he stood for. He wanted to be a Companion and help me, keep me safe and sane. It would be a dishonor to the true, loyal Companion he was to let him be the reason I go back to being alone. I need you guys. I always will. So if you're still in… I still have room for you."
Hannah walks forward to give her a gentle hug, tears in her eyes. Everyone but Andrew soon joins, all of them just enjoying their last moment before they're separated. . When everyone has pulled away she salutes her roommate. "I suppose you can take that as all of us saying yes." Everyone nods in agreement, even Ben and Kaity, making Lori choke up a bit. "See you in three months, everybody." Everyone echoes the sentiment, Kaity and Ben have a long kiss, Rachel hugs Finch, Lori and Andrew wave at one another, Michael and Ben shakes hands before Charlie hugs them both, and then everyone heads for their vehicles- Michael and Charlie helping Lori gingerly into the backseat of his before they start off down the road.
Lori looks at all the cars behind her. Finch driving Ben's because he can't anymore. Hannah and Kaity. Andrew and Rachel. Her family. She then looks at the book she has perched in her lap and strokes it. "I know it wasn't your fault," she whispers. "You did the best you could to keep them safe just like I did. So I don't blame you, okay? We're a team weirdly- you and I. A girl and the stupid book that she has in her life for better and for worse. So…I forgive you." She just stares at it a long moment before her phone vibrates.
It's from Kaity. 'Miss you already' she has sent to a group chat. A few moments' later messages start flooding in as the various cars start heading in various directions out of Trinity, Lori quickly typing to join in the conversation, a relatively peaceful smile on her face as she looks at her two best friends and the open sunny road ahead of her.
XXX