On Friday morning, Hannah Frost sits at the usual table in the cafeteria, hand sliding down her fist as she dozes off before forcing her eyes open. She does it once again, this time her eyes closing for a minute. Her friends merely observe from across the table with snickers and laughter: Charlie Prescott, Michael Harms, Andrew Parker, Finch Hale, and a slightly confused Rachel Ellis who is just going along with everyone else.

"Hannah," Michael tries to wake her. "Hannah." He even goes as far as to poke her. "Han-nah."

Nothing seems to stir her from his quiet poking and prodding. Lori Fitzgerald approaches the table with a full breakfast tray and notices her dozing roommate, sighing to herself. She comes up to the seat beside her and basically drops the tray, causing Hannah to jolt awake. "If I have to suffer, then you have to suffer," she grumbles as she takes her seat. "Because it certainly wasn't me that was pacing all night up and down our bedroom, keeping my roommate who gets precious little sleep and should be seizing the moment very awake."

"I told you to ignore me," Hannah counters.

Lori just gives her a look. "Because that's possible."

Hannah raises an eyebrow. "Do I really need to bring up all the nights you've kept me up? Because we could start with the night you left me in the forest preserve by myself after finding the character and work our way through haunted by ghosts landing finally on keeping you alive after being nearly torn to bits by a dragon."

She and Lori just stare at one another for a tense moment before Lori turns to her food. "Point taken."

"Thank you." Hannah looks up just as Ben Prescott rounds the corner holding the tray for both himself and his girlfriend Kaity Klingbeil in his lap while she pushes his wheelchair. She immediately schools her features and looks down as they join the table, the air instantly becoming much tenser.

Rachel snorts. "Well, Ben must have arrived. Good morning to you."

"Morning everyone," he manages, attention of helping Kaity into her chair. She registers everyone's looks of concern with a roll of her eyes.

"You all know how it goes by now," she reminds them. "I go up. I come down. I eventually get back to normal again. Nothing to worry about."

"It just… it seems like this year there's been a lot more of them," Charlie speaks up. "We're always going to worry about you though. We get scared and worried when you get sick even if we have seen it all before. We just want you to be okay. It's what family does."

"It's a rough year," Kaity tries to play it off. "It's our junior year and a lot is on the line for graduating and scholarships." She notices Rachel flinch at the words but ignores it. "Not to mention everything that happened last semester- I… sometimes I still have dreams about being trapped in those beams." She bites her lip a moment, but shakes her head clear. "I'm not good a pressure. I'm better than I was with all of you, but it still takes a pretty big toll on me."

"Well, I think things will be smoother after this election too," Ben comforts her with a squeeze on her shoulder. "I've been putting a lot on you with this." He kisses her nose before turning to everyone. "As you all know, the voting table is open all morning and afternoon. Do whatever you feel is right."

"We're not voting," Charlie responds, causing Ben to reel a bit. "We're supporting the both of you by supporting neither of you." Michael and Lori nod in the affirmative. Ben makes his way looking over everyone at the table, stopping on Andrew who shrugs.

"It's obvious who I would choose given everything, but if it's what Fitz needs to keep herself sane then I'll fall in line." He continues and lands on Hannah, who gives him a sad smile.

"I'm not going to make our friends choose between us." Ben seems to doubt this a lot more and goes to say something, but it cut off by a confused looking scrawny blonde in a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants clearly too small for him. Everyone reacts as if this is a huge deal- shouting for him to get up. He goes to do so, but a hand holds him down.

"You're staying here," the voice commands, belonging to none other than Jess Timmermans.

"That's Caleb's seat," Hannah argues, the most distressed. Jess doesn't seem to understand the significance of this and keeps the boy there.

"And this is King Arthur," she tells the group, clearly unimpressed that this is her life now. "He showed up in my dorm room this morning. I was not amused."

"I'll put in a word with the book about where it leaves them," Lori quips. Jess just blinks at her.

"She'll actually do that," Charlie backs her up. "The book's magic and she thinks it can hear her."

Jess throws her hands in the air. "Fine. Whatever. Magic book and all that. He's yours. Take him. Do whatever the hell it is that you do." She turns to Finch. "Are you about ready to set up?"

"I was under the impression we'd have at least a half hour before the designated time arrived to set up the table," Finch questions. "Was I incorrect in that assumption?"

"You were incorrect in the assumption that President's Daughter would wait that long," Lori quips, completely ignoring the huff Jess lets out. Finch starts to rise as Lori turns her attention to the very confused Arthur, extending her hand. "Hi. I'm Lori. You might have heard of me from Merlin?" Arthur just shakes his head. "Okay, back to the usual explanation. I was kind of getting used to them knowing me already. Okay, so like Merlin I have this magical book."

"Can you please get out of that chair?" Hannah adds, Arthur immediately rising. "We'll get you another one. Just… no one sits in that one." Andrew takes her distress seriously, going to grab a chair from an empty table to her relief. "Thank you."

"No problem."

"Let's go," Jess commands Finch, with a swing of her arm. "We're wasting time with this nonsense."

"I was literally created for this what you call nonsense," Finch politely reminds her. Jess just puts a hand to her head and starts walking out, muttering to herself about how she should have gone with the green-haired kid. Finch follows after her patiently.

"Best of luck ladies," Andrew waves them off with a smile as he brings the chair back, seeming to be the only one noticing their exit as everyone else focuses on a very nervous Arthur. Eventually Lori has to rise and gently push him into his seat.

"May the best man win," Ben joins, earning a pointed finger from Kaity of all people- which surprises everyone else at the table. He sighs, instantly giving in, though in complete monotone. "May the best person win because I'm not looking to cause trouble around the important group of friends around me."

"I would try that again with some conviction," Michael advises. "I don't think everyone is quite won over."

"Someone has him in line," Rachel whispers to Kaity with a giggle. "Good job."

"Thanks. I'm just trying to do my part in keeping this from being a complete and utter mess. Lori and I made the agreement a few weeks ago to keep our 'partners-in-crime' in line. Though it seems like I drew the short straw." She looks at Ben with a fond, soft smile. "But, hey, people do crazy things when they're in love." Rachel rolls her eyes, but clearly is happy to see her roommate in better form.

Jess leads Finch out of the cafeteria to an unfolded table with a ballot box and slips of paper atop it. They both take a spot behind it, sitting still and quietly as they prepare for voting to begin.

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.
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 Five: An Awful Pickle

XXX

Lori enters her dorm room, Arthur shuffling in behind her followed by Michael and Charlie. "So this is where you'll be staying until we get everything sorted out," she leads him to the guest room. "The bed has only so far been inhabited by a monster and a giant rabbit." She laughs, but he just looks around silently. "I know it's really overwhelming, maybe even downright traumatizing. But I promise no matter how big and scary this world seems that myself and my friends are here to keep you safe." He just stares out the window, giving her nothing. "Arthur?"

He takes a long moment before speaking in the smallest voice it seems possible. "Do… do you think you can just call me Wart?" Lori processes this, eyes going wide.

"Oh no." Michael and Charlie are clearly worried too as she turns to face them. "Please don't tell me President's daughter spoiled the story. She told us he was the king already. She wouldn't do that to spite me right?"

Michael shakes his head. "Spite doesn't seem to be in her vocabulary. Ignorance on the other hand…"

"And his actual name is Arthur," Charlie recalls. "So it might be weird that you know that, but not impossible given everything else going on around him."

"I can hear you," Arthur speaks up, causing all of them to turn- all with large smiles on their faces. "And if you're worried that I'm not the King… then you shouldn't because I am. That other girl even has my crown and cape back in her room. She said I shouldn't walk around in it… which is okay by me. So yes, I am the king. Unfortunately," he adds under his breath, but Lori catches it. He merely shrugs and turns back towards the window. "Kind of don't want to go back honestly."

"Ah, so we're post sword but pre Merlin pep talk. Looks like we need to figure out who's supposed to have a pleasant chat to help our friend out here. Of course I have my suspicions which are almost always right- thank you very much- but this could be the one time," Lori deduces, turning to her two partners-in-crime. She glances at her phone and nods. "You guys can head out. I think I know just what to do to make him a bit more comfortable and get to the bottom of this."

"Are you sure?" Michael asks.

"Yeah," she nods. "I'm not in any danger and you need to get ready for your first trip to the hospital right? You've got about an hour before you need to be there by my clock." Michael seems to realize this himself and looks at his phone before going pale, instantly heading for the door. "Good luck! You're going to be great!" Lori waves him off before turning to her best friend, not bothered at all by his quick departure. "Is he doing alright? He's seemed… off the last couple of days."

"He's stressed," Charlie admits plainly, "but he seems fine other than that. He eats, he sleeps, and he manages to get all his homework done in a timely manner. It should get a bit better after he gets the first day out of the way."

"I hope so. But keep an eye on him for me in case we need to tell him to take a break. You know he doesn't like to tell me things that make me worry about him, and he can be pretty good at hiding his feelings even under my scrutiny. We're lucky we're even able to tell and that's after years of time together."

"I will," Charlie promises. "I'm going to give you some time with Arthur without him getting too crowded with being outnumbered like you said. Plus I have a project I wanted to get started on." He gives her a quick hug that she reciprocates instantly. "I'll see you for lunch?"

"Of course," she vows with a ruffle of his hair. He heads out and she turns to Arthur, whistling to get his attention and then gesturing for him to follow her when he turns. "Come on Wart. We're going to go to the café so we can break some ice and get to know each other a bit."

She starts for the door and he follows after a beat with a very perplexed look. "But it's not even very cold outside."

"Don't worry about it."

XXX

Jess and Finch are sitting silently as a girl checks her ballot and then drops it in the box. "Thank you," they say simultaneously in their most polite voices. The girl nods and walks away giggling with her friends as they head out onto campus, the only ones in the atrium of the cafeteria at the moment.

"I know. He's so ugly with the wheelchair now, right?!" one exclaims as they are out the door. Jess doesn't waste a moment is rolling her eyes as she leans back in her chair to stretch. The two then sit in silence for a moment as breakfast continues in the cafeteria providing a background of chatter and dishware scraping across plates.

Finch finally turns to Jess, clearly trying to strike up some sort of conversation with her only companion for the majority of the day. "It seems safe to assume those votes went to your candidate. Congratulations on that, Jessica Timmermans. I am unable to tally the votes right now due to secrecy, but I am sure they will be effective in helping to secure your victory."

"Yeah, well I almost think we'd be better off without them," Jess admits, crossing her arms. "Those aren't exactly the kind of intellectuals you want backing you up."

"I would think you'd be happy with any form of vote, no matter where it came from."

Jess thinks on that for a moment before speaking again. "I suppose I do accept that they voted for us, but I don't like or appreciate it. It's a mixed bag... I guess. It's just... well it's like...I...I can't do this. Ugh, this is why I don't do people and feelings. I hate talking about them and trying to make up words that describe concepts you can't really explain. I just don't understand it and that pisses me off to no end. So we're done talking about this now that I've made a complete and total fool of myself."

"You seem to have as well of a grasp as anyone," Finch comments after a beat. "You may be a little... 'Rough around the edges' I believe the phrase is, but it's all very complicated and hard to navigate. No one is an expert at it as far as I've seen."

"Well, you haven't met my dad. Try being the charmless daughter of the most charismatic man there is and constantly watching him be disappointed by you," Jess counters before realizing her mistake. "But we're not doing this." Finch just looks at her. "I'm not bearing my soul to you and telling you the sob story that is my life. So just forget what I just said, because I don't do connections with people. I don't do people when I can is my general is my rule of thumb."

"Then I suppose it is a good thing I'm not a person, but a projection."

Jess can't help but snort at that, but schools her features. "Don't even start with that craziness. I'm officially done with all of you and your lives at this point. After today it'll just be myself and Hannah meeting for strictly business. But honestly, if I'd known I was going into business with the roommate of the leader of the Campus Crazy Squad, I might have rethought my proposal a bit."

Just then, the door opens and Rachel enters the atrium with her cane. Finch smiles at the sight of her best friend. "Finch?"

"Over here. The table is slightly left and six feet in front of you." Rachel starts making her way over, Finch directing her with ease as she does so. "Okay, a little more left. And stop right there." She does right in front of her. "Hello, Rachel Ellis. What can I do for you today?"

"I'm here to cast my vote." She gently reaches out, Jess placing a paper and pen in her hand. "Thanks. Can I just write it in? The boxes might be rough."

"Sure," Jess shrugs.

Finch is more hesitant. "I-I thought the Companions were not placing votes so as to avoid conflict within ourselves."

"Yeah, that's what Lori and Charlie wanted," Rachel shrugs as she scrawls. "But I want to vote and it is my right to do so no matter what the boss or her best friend say." She sticks the paper out, Jess taking it and placing it in the box with a smile. "Their hearts are in the right place. I get it. It's hard enough to keep track of us these days, let alone keep us together. But I'm an adult and ultimately I get to make my own choices. Also, I'm not totally in love with her." Neither speaks and she lets out a huff. "Come on. I'm blind and I can see it. Never mind. You'll figure it out. Besides, she doesn't even really need to know I was here. So don't tattle on me because it's not part of your primary objective, okay? Best of luck, ladies."

"Thanks," they both say as she heads out, Finch resting her head in her hand- clearly conflicted. Jess whistles as she leaves. "She's something." The two of them settle in again as a group of students exit the cafeteria and start making their way over.

"Try being a projection not meant to comprehend emotions thrust into a world built off them while managing the fact that somehow you have manifested your own," Finch says quietly before the students reach them. Jess can't help but flash an impressed look before naturally pulling it back for her campaign smile.

"Hello! Cast your vote for President!"

XXX

Lori is sitting at the table in the living room, Arthur across from her with a chess board between them. However, the board looks to be in complete disarray with dice, Monopoly pieces, Candy Land pieces, and one lone knight decorating the board in a positively absurd fashion. Arthur ponders this for a moment before looking up at her, seeming to be coming out of his shell a bit. "So, if I move the gingerbread man to the thumbtack- we then have to do the thing with the cards?"

Lori nods. "War, yes."

"And whoever wins that then has a shot at removing an object from the guy with the red nose if they desire," he gestures to the game of Operation next to him.

"Right," Lori agrees. "Because a piece gets you a point. But failing means you lose one of your word tiles and have to answer a personal question. Lose all of those and the game ends." He nods and is about to move his piece to do so when there is a knock at the door. "It's open!" There is a brief fumbling with the handle which causes her to rise and go to the door.

"I've got it!" Ben shouts from the other side. "Just- give me a minute!" He fumbles for another few seconds before finally getting the door open. Lori holds it as he wheels in, gaze locking right on a once again fumbling Arthur. "I came to talk to him if that's alright." He looks at the room and everything that is set up. "What is all this?"

"Some games I got from the café for us to play."

"I think you're supposed to play them there Lori," he shakes his head, trying to avoid pieces as he wheels towards Arthur. "They don't have them there so you can just steal them all whenever you want to distract a King while you figure out what to do with him."

"It's the middle of a school day," she counters, crossing her arms. "I'll return them before anyone even notices."

Ben shakes his head before turning his full attention to Arthur. "I'm here for your help."

Arthur takes a step back. "I don't- I don't think-"

"Ben-"

"It's nothing big," Ben ignores the both of them. "I just wanted your help in making a speech. I was thinking about getting in there at lunch before voting ends and making one last big appeal. And I think since you're here it's clear that's what I'm supposed to do. I mean, you're King Arthur- one of the most famous great leaders of all time." The wheels in his brain seem to be turning as he completely ignores how uncomfortable Arthur looks. "Maybe you could even make part of it for me! Pretend you're a student and get everyone's attention so you can-"

"Okay," Lori cuts in, getting between the two. "That's enough. In case you can't tell, he's not exactly up for this, so-"

"Oh, come on Lori."

"We're not forcing Wart to do anything he doesn't want to. And that face cannot be any clearer about how much he doesn't want to do this."

"Who the hell is Wart? He's THE King Arthur."

"He will be," she defends the kid. "But right now he is Wart and we need to respect that. It's not happening, understand?"

"Is this for the Andrew thing?" Ben groans. "Lori, I know you're pissed but you'll be thanking me when we finally expose-"

"It's not," she cuts him off, clearly getting a bit frustrated and angry.

"Hannah? We're fine."

"This seems to be our key problem doesn't it?" she cuts him off. "We never seem to be able to communicate to one another what exactly we mean. We just assume and never listen to one another. It's why this whole thing never worked." She takes a deep breath to regain control. "This isn't about anyone but Wart. We do not force characters to do things for our own benefit. You cannot force a character to be there for you."

"Who said I was? I think it's pretty obvious he's here to help me out."

"No, you only think that because you're desperate for the votes from Hannah. You're worried he's here for her and you want to snatch him away as quickly as possible to prevent that from happening." She walks up to Ben, raising her eyebrow in challenge. "You only want him because you believe the winner will."

"Don't get all self-righteous with me."

"I won't," she shrugs. She tries to soften a bit to let him in more. "Because I once did the same exact thing. It was first semester which seems like years ago at this point, but I was you once. And it nearly cost me both Hannah and Charlie as Companions and more importantly as friends. So I'm not going to let you make that same mistake because being Class President… it's not worth hurting him or them. He's not ready for something like this and forcing him would hurt him and his story in a very large way. Try to see the bigger picture. Please."

"Then I guess I'm done here." He starts to wheel back to the door. "I'm sure if Hannah was here your tune would be different."

"It'd be the exact same thing and you know that. I have been nothing but neutral about this whole situation despite it being really difficult. I'm finally convinced it won't break us. Don't change that for me." He opens the door. "It's not about what you want-"

"Oh, save it," he says with a lot of bile. "I'm getting so damn tired of that phrase so stop. I don't want to hear it anymore." He looks down at his legs and Lori instantly picks up on what's bothering him. "I don't," he chokes.

"Ben-"But he's gone before she can say anymore, slamming the door behind him. She turns back to Arthur, obviously upset but holding it back. "I'm sorry about that. It's… it's complicated… being a leader. You try to do the right thing, but unfortunately it's not always the popular choice." She sits on the couch with her head in her hands and a beat later Arthur is next to her.

"Now can you see why I don't want the job?" She looks up at him. "Imagine it being a whole kingdom counting on you. I'd much rather go back to being Wart, no matter how much everyone seems to want Arthur. I don't want him at all."

Lori can see the ball has really been dropped and tries to fix it. "Do you want to get back to our game?" She nudges him with her shoulder. "You were winning after all."

He shakes his head and rises. "No thanks. I don't really feel up for it anymore. I'm going to take some time by myself if that's alright." He starts for the guest bedroom, leaving Lori to stare after him before kicking the table to send the game piece scattering.

"Way to go Lori. Way to ruin everything," she chides herself before falling back on the couch with a sigh.

XXX

The last of the students are exiting lunch, a few stragglers casting their votes at the table Finch and Jess still occupy. Andrew exits with Kaity, waving her off as he approaches the table. Finch lets out a sigh. "Are you here to disobey Lori's request and vote as well?"

"What? No," he makes immediately clear, hands up. "I would never… Lori asked and I'm oblige to happy… happy to oblige." He sees Jess giving him a look, curious. "Sorry, it happens… especially when I'm going a little faster than my brain."

"Have you always been like that?" she asks quite bluntly. "Brain damaged?"

Even Finch seems to sense this is improper and goes to say something, but Andrew gets there first. "I-I like to think of it as a fun little quirk than brain damage. It is though I suppose," he tries to keep things from being awkward. "I've had it since I was little though. I'll spare you the story."

"That's fine," Jess nods, seeming to reign in what just happened to her for her typical inflection. "You obviously don't care for me enough to tell it. Plus I really kind of don't care or am interested in knowing since I'm not interested in learning about you."

"You cut a man right to the core," Andrew clutches his chest, starting to adjust to how bluntly she conducts herself and not taking it personally.

"That's what happens when you don't vote. You lose interest in my time."

Andrew smirks. "Well, we can't have that." He pulls out a pen and scribbles something on one of the slips quickly in his scrawl. He folds it and holds it out to Jess. "There you are."

"You put it in the box."

"It only works if you look at it." She is confused by this, taking the piece of paper and going to put it in the box herself. "I would look at it first though if I were you. I might have wrote something offensive you don't want the Board to see when they tally the votes- especially if your old man is there." She gives him a look. "Sorry. Didn't mean to offend, but you never know what I'm capable of since you could care less about me."

She huffs. "I somehow doubt that." He just nods towards the paper and with a sigh she opens it only to see the paper is blank. He jaw drops. "But… I saw you… what… how did you-?"

He takes a bow. "A magician never reveals his secrets, Jess." Finch applauds politely and he winks at her. "Now that I've put a smile on what was once a rather glum table, I think I will take my leave. See you lovely ladies at the announcement," he heads out with a wave.

"Goodbye Andrew Parker," Finch waves back. She turns to Jess, who is still looking at the paper. "He received a concussion at a young age," she explains. "You're able to see the effect of the trauma when looking at his brain chemistry as I am able to. It doesn't seem to impede him in any other way though. I've checked to see if it has a link to his positivity but there seems to be none."

"Well, isn't he something then," Jess shoves the paper in her pocket and rises, brushing the encounter off. "I guess we should get this ballot box to the board so they can tally it up by the announcement. It looks like everyone's out of the cafeteria."

"I would agree Jess Timmermans." Finch rises and grabs the box, the two of them starting up the set of stairs behind them. "I enjoyed this morning with you for company and I hope the best candidate wins and we remain respectful of one another after this has concluded."

Jess comes to a stop and Finch does the same a moment later looking at her. Jess takes a deep breath before extending her hand into the space between them. She opens her mouth, but is unable to find any of the words she's looking for and struggles. Finch seems to understand though, closing the gap and shaking her hand wordlessly. After a moment the two then continue their trek to the offices side by side.

XXX

A short while later after classes, Rachel comes into the bedroom to the sound of Kaity typing away at her computer. She starts for her own desk, resting the cane against it. "I can say I don't think I've ever heard you type before." She starts counting her fingers. "Sleeping, painting, drawing, sketching, eating, making out with Ben… no. Never." She laughs and sits at her desk. "I can't see the look you're giving me but I can feel it."

"I'm just working on an essay for the Art Scholarship. I have to be in a good mood to write it otherwise I'm not able to get through the part about my Bipolar Disorder without wanting to throw my laptop through a window," she explains.

Rachel reflects on this for a moment. "Why are you mentioning it at all? From what I understand it's about our work and what it means to us."

"Yeah, but sometimes you have to play the sob story card if you want to get some things in life. My speaking about how I'm trying to depict the balance of nature in my new painting is boring, but mentioning how I had to start over after taking a paintbrush to it on a valley makes me kind of look like a rock star." Rachel snorts and Kaity stops. "Come on. You weren't planning on mentioning the whole blind actress thing?"

"Actually no," Rachel disagrees. "Mine is about the work I've done on character and putting pieces of myself into the characters I create. I want to win the scholarship on merit."

"Oh, I'd still win it on merit," Kaity cuts in. "I'm leagues better than any of the other applicants. I just like to play my trump card to make sure no one else gets in on a fluke."

"But that's so hypocritical. You always insist no one treat you any differently because of your situation. You practically swear up a storm at Lori and the Doctor when they try to have you take a day off after being in the hospital. You're better than that every other time. Why is this different?"

"Lori's not offering me cash my family doesn't have for the youngest of seven kids pursuing art. But I'm sure that's something you wouldn't understand Hollywood."

Rachel looks taken aback for a moment before pulling it together. "Wow. I need… I'm going to leave because I'm not slinging any arrows. I'm not doing this… being childish like this. We both knew this was the situation we were coming into this year and promised we'd be civil. I don't know about you, but I mean the promises I make." She grabs her cane and starts for the door as Kaity just rolls her eyes and starts typing again. "And for the record, I'm paying for this all myself. My parents didn't offer and I didn't ask. I'll be back."

"Have fun!" Kaity calls after her, still typing. "Ten dollars say the word blind is mentioned in your paper at least seven times, liar. But I doubt blind actress wins over a girl whose brain literally rebels against her at any turn. Especially when I mention the hallucinations of a recently passed friend of ours." As soon as she types that she stops, taking a deep breath. "She's right. That's too far Kaitlyn." She deletes the entire paragraph. "Sorry Caleb. I wasn't thinking. I would never… I'm so sorry." She then starts typing again, though slower. "I'll apologize when she gets back. I promise."

XXX

Everyone has gathered in the courtyard where the stage has been erected again. Hannah, Jess, Ben, and Finch all sit on the stage with the other two opponents waiting tensely. Lori enters from one of the paths and sees Charlie waving to her where there are two empty seats next to him. He sits at the end of the line of Andrew, Michael, Kaity, and Rachel. She comes over to join him. "He's not here?" Charlie asks.

Lori shakes her head. "He didn't want to leave the guestroom," she explains as she takes her seat. "I haven't been able to get him out of his funk since our unexpected guest dropped in. Though it was me that lost my cool so I take the blame. I'm hoping this gets over with soon so we can get things moving on that front." She sees Michael two people down from her. "How'd it go?!" Andrew senses their conversation and swiftly moves to the other side of her so Michael can move one closer. "Thanks Andy. I've been thinking about you all day in a real hospital."

"It went well," Michael tells her with a large smile she sees as fake instantly. "It's going to be a lot but it's just so exciting to actually be there. My first rotation is with this nurse in the ICU. I'm just trying to embrace the situation for all the learning opportunities and not… it's a heavy place I have a bit of a history with." Lori takes his hand in comfort, Charlie putting his on top of it.

"You're going to be great Doctor," she promises with absolute confidence. "You earned this. You deserve it. It's going to be great and everything you wanted. Don't let the ghosts get to you. Save that for Halloween."

He gives her a hint of a real smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you Lores."

"Let me know if you need anything at all. I am here to help you in any way you can… even if it means a day off." He gives her a look but she holds firm. "You heard me. This is your future, much more important that putting a Band-Aid on one of my cuts."

"If only it was putting a Band-Aid on a cut I was worried about."

"Point taken," she admits. "Anyway you're-"

They are interrupted by the school fight song sounding, Lori letting go of his hand as they all focus on the podium as the President walks up to it. "Welcome fellow students," he greets them warmly, charming to a fault. "It is so great that all of you have decided to put in an appearance today. It shows a level of care in your school that makes me so proud to call this my place of work." Michael snorts.

"Jess is this guy's daughter?" Lori gives him a playful but stern look. "I mean, talk about an orange falling from the apple tree, right?"

"There's no law that says we have to be like our parents," she counters. "Lord knows I'm not quite the paragon of a housewife my mom is."

"And I know nothing about cars," Charlie adds.

Michael nods. "Still, it must be hard having that as the head of your household when you're… different in a lot of ways."

"But let us get right into the main event. It has been a thrilling race this year and now it has come to a close," President Timmermans continues, pulling an envelope out of his jacket. Lori takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, no one noticing but Andrew. He glances down at the hand gripping the side of her chair.

The President opens the envelope as Andrew seems to debate something. "And the winner is…" As he looks down, Andrew makes the choice. He puts his hand over Lori's and wraps it around hers. She lets go and wraps it completely in his, not seeming to realize what's going on in the moment. "Hannah Frost and Jess!" Lori lets out a breath and he squeezes her hand, desperately trying to keep his breathing under control.

The applause sounds as Hannah and Jess rise, stepping forward with large smiles and waving politely. Finch turns and says something to Ben, who remains neutral as she rises and claps as well. It has only been about ten second when Lori pulls her hand away to clap. She then seems to register something and turns to Andrew with wide eyes, watching as he shakes his hand out. The two of them lock eyes and he gives his best tense smile.

"Thank you," she whispers to him sincerely. "You didn't have to-"

"I know," he says instantly. "I-I wanted to," he manages, swallowing his anxiety a bit to clap for Jess and Hannah. Lori turns her attention back to them and lets out a whoop. He takes the moment to slip away, gone by the time she turns back at a run. She sees his retreating form sprint for the dorms and looks at her hand sadly.

She's not the only one to notice him sprint off. Jess catches it too and is quite confused at the sight. She takes that moment to pull out the piece of paper again, unfolding it to see his scrawl has returned. 'Guess this makes us friends now, Timmermans'

She can't help but smile at it, only to bury it in her pocket as her father comes up and shakes her hand. "We'll talk later," he whispers to her before pulling away with a huge smile. She tries to reciprocate but is unable to look convincing in the slightest to her frustration.

Hannah has meanwhile moved to Ben, who extends his hand to her. "Are we okay?" she asks instead, concerned. "Because if we're not, I'll go over there and tell him no right now. I mean it."

He shakes his head. "That won't be necessary at all." He is then surprised as she tackles him in a large hug.

"Good, because I missed you," she says into his shoulder. He gradually puts his arms around her, patting her on the back. "I missed this. Don't ever tell anyone but I love you Ben. It's so good to be back to normal."

"I love you too, Hannah," he answers before pulling away. "Now go greet your adoring public, President." She nods and heads to the others, Charlie hugging her first before they all pile in on her. Ben just watches, hands running over the wheels of his chair.

"Ben!" He snaps up to see Hannah gesturing for him to come over. "Get in here!" He takes a deep breath, forces a smile, and wheels his way across the stage towards the group hug. Once he gets there he becomes painfully reminded of how awkward it is with him in the chair, being forced into the center when he clearly doesn't want to be.

XXX

Hannah and Lori enter the dorm a time later, both laughing and cheering with joy. Hannah stops when she notices the closed door of the other bedroom. Lori notices it too and lets out a sigh. "I'm afraid I ruined everything."

"I'll go talk to him. Maybe since I'm President my first official act can be to restore some confidence in the kid." Lori gestures for her to go in.

"It's worth a try I suppose. I had my suspicions but clearly I'm not in top form today by any stretch of the imagination." Hannah nods and braces herself to go in, but Lori speaks up before she does. "Andy held my hand during the ceremony thing."

She halts. "Seriously?"

"It was like ten seconds before he freaked out and ran off. It's just… I'm such a sucky leader I can't even help him in the slightest. I just end up in situations that make the whole thing worse."

Hannah stares at her a minute. "I think you are actually."

Lori smirks. "That's all you have to offer me?"

"I'm afraid I'm going to be taking lessons from you- not the other way around. I have my suspicions too though. You'll see eventually." With that, she enters the room to find Arthur sitting on the bed staring at the wall.

"I heard," he speaks up first. "Congratulations." Hannah takes a seat next to him.

"I'm going to shoot straight with you," she begins. "I know what you're doing hiding in here. You're stalling. You don't want us to send you back… and you're not the first to feel that way. But that's not how this process works I'm afraid. So… you need to tell me what you need from me to make you willing to go home. Because I have a feeling that's what needs to happen here." He stays silent. "Arthur…"

"Wart," he reminds her. "It's Wart."

"Wart, President to King, what can I do to help you?"

He takes a beat before answering. "Not make me go back. Because you and Lori have showed me the most important thing I could learn. I'm not you and I'm certainly not her. I can't do this. I can't be like the two of you. Meeting you has proved that to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'm not meant to be giving orders as a King. I'm meant to a squire who follows them. I'm Wart."

Hannah's face falls and she doesn't know how to respond, fumbling with her words.

XXX

Jess enters her father's office, note clenched in one of her hands as she holds them behind her. He looks up as he hears her enter and gestures for her to sit. "No thanks," she responds blankly. "I got the impression you wanted to see me- most likely to yell at me for going through with it."

"On the contrary," he rises himself and steps around towards her. "I wanted to congratulate you. I'm under the impression your guidance was crucial to Ms. Frost in navigating you way to victory."

Jess shakes her head. "Dad, I've lived under this roof for twenty years. You don't have to put on the charm with me. You know I don't respond to it half the time anyway. Broken emotions and all that."

His face instantly falls. "I just wanted to discuss the amount of time and the proper way to conduct yourself around your President."

"You want me to stay away from them," Jess guesses. "I should have figured."

"Jessica, I cannot tell you everything but we have evidence the group of them are involved in something that has caused nothing but trouble for this campus we have cultivated. I understand you'll have to meet with Hannah about things, but the rest of them can be avoided easily if you try."

"Dad, I've met all of them multiple times now. They are hands down the weirdest group of people I have ever met between the magician and the grump in the wheelchair. Don't get me started on Lori and her obsession with nicknames either. But they are good people from what I can judge who are just trying to get through their four to six years while having each other's backs in every way possible. I can actually almost see the appeal in it- having friends and all that when those are the group of friends you get to have. Even the kid's pretty entertaining."

"Jessica-"

"I'm not finished," she counters. "I'm also an adult and fully capable of making my own decisions in terms of who I associate with. I moved out to get some independence, not to have my dad okay the people I spend time with in his office like it's another business meeting you could never be at dinner for." She reigns it in. "God, I wish I could just be a brick wall around you like with Mom. It would make this whole relationship so much easier. You just know how to push my buttons."

"I'm sorry Jessica, but I don't think you've just demonstrated why you're not capable of doing this. You're not the best at reading others intentions. We know this and have been through this time and time again. It's okay though because I get to see them too. I saw them just today at the announcement, carrying on like they aren't taking this whole school down and my reputation along with it. I understand who they are and I can tell you that you are seeing the completely wrong things about them and their unexplainable hobbies."

Jess takes a step back. "Back to those broken emotions, huh?"

He slams a hand on the desk behind him. "Stop saying that! I hate it when you say that!"

Jess stares him down for a minute before turning and heading for the door. "I have studying to do."

"Jessica, just- I'm trying to help you. They're-"

She whirls back around. "You're not though! You're thinking about your reputation and your school like you always do. You know how I know that? Because if you were thinking about me, you'd be encouraging me to be part of something like that. They might just be the only ones on campus who would be willing to accept me for who I am. I'd actually fit in and Lord knows we never thought we could say that. You would care, President Timmermans. Just like you'd be at dinner." With that, she throws the door open and exits, ignoring his calls after her.

She runs out of the house and leans against the door, taking a deep breath. Her eyes lock on the note again and something seems to click into place in her head. She takes off at a run back towards campus, going as fast as she can towards her dorm.

XXX

Charlie walks into the bedroom after taking his shower and notices Ben reading a book at his desk. "You're still on the same page as when I left," he comments. "What's wrong? You pretend to read when you're angry about something- like when you and Dad fought about paying for college." Ben looks up but doesn't say anything. "You can tell me."

"You'll just go running to your best friend about it," he replies clinically, returning to the book.

"Not if you don't want me to. I'm just reporting back about Michael right now. She hasn't said anything about you."

"She is unbelievable and I really don't want to talk about her right now. So I'm going back to my book, thank you very much."

Charlie waits a beat before speaking up. "She didn't do anything wrong, you know. She was just trying to do what was right for Arthur. It's her job after all."

Ben slams the book shut and looks at him. "She told you?"

"Of course. She was worried about it and you. She thinks she could have done better with the whole thing and was giving you tonight before she talked to you again. She cares about you Ben."

He scoffs at that. "Well, aren't I lucky? I get the love and devotion of Lori Fitzgerald."

Michael sticks his head in. "Is everything alright? Andrew and I couldn't help but hear-"

"We're fine. Tell him to keep his nose out of this," Ben says with clear bile.

"I'm just trying to help, Prescott. I know it's been a rough day-"

"Just leave me alone. All of you." He wheels past the two of them. "I'm going to see Kaity." He is out the door shortly after as Michael looks at Charlie in disbelief. Charlie shrugs and hops onto his bed with a book, getting to work on his homework. Michael exits the room but stops in the bathroom before returning to his own.

He locks the door and takes a long shuddering breath before several more wheezes comes out as he clenches his chest. He slaps himself across the face. "Get it together. You're fine. Everything's fine." He gets it under control, splashing water on his face and forcing his breathing back to normal before returning to his own bedroom. Andrew glances at him as he walks past.

"You alright? You look a little pale."

"Just remembering something I saw in the ICU today. I'll be fine in a minute." Andrew doesn't seem to believe him, but trusts him enough to nod and return to his work. Michael falls on his bed with a deep breath, staring up at the ceiling.

"Counting helps," Andrew says suddenly. "That's what I do when someone brushes against me- count backwards from ten."

"Thanks for the tip, but I'm fine now," Michael smiles at him. "I'll let you know if that changes."

"I hope you do, because I know I wouldn't."

"That makes two of us," Michael whispers to himself, rolling over to his side and grabbing his music player to listen to- drowning everything out. He doesn't notice that Andrew keeps glancing his way though.

XXX

Lori is sitting on the couch when the door gets thrown open violently. She looks up to see Jess enter, robe and crown tucked under her arm. "Where is he?" she demands of Lori, who nods towards the bedroom. Jess wastes no time in heading over there as Lori leans back with a smile.

"Guess you haven't lost it after all, my friend."

Jess enters the room to find Hannah and Arthur on the bed. "These are yours," she thrusts them at the King before turning to Hannah. "Give us a minute."

"Excuse me?"

"Just give us a minute. Talk to Lori- she clearly gets it. She can be smart when she wants to be." Hannah takes the cue and rises, heading for the door and closing it behind her almost in fear. Jess then turns her attention to Arthur. "Well, here I am. I got the message. You're for me."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Well, let me impart my wisdom on you, Arthur."

"Wart."

She gives him a look. "Shut up. Your name is Arthur. King Arthur actually, unless the crown is really nice plastic and the history books lied. You're not the Squire you're pretending you still are. You need to get that through your head and I think I'm supposed to be the one who tells you that."

"You're quite-"

"Rude? Mean? A bitch? I've heard them all, believe me. Listen, I'm about to do something I never do, but I know it's what I need to do to get you off my back. So just listen because I already hate that I'm doing this. I'm not doing it twice." She starts pacing in front of him. "My dad runs this place… and his dad did before him. My dad managed to get the job while on an interview where he gave a fake name so they wouldn't make the connection. He wanted it on his own merit and charmed himself into the job on sheer personality. He practically made this campus into what it is. And then he gets me for a kid."

"He seems like a great leader."

"He is. He always has been. And I was supposed to do the same thing. I was supposed to take over. But then they realized I was different. I don't comprehend people like he does. I don't know how to phrase things properly as you probably can clearly see. I had some friends, or at least what I perceived as friends. Because I was happy and didn't see anything wrong with who I was. But then I walked into the kitchen one day when I was five. He was telling my mom he wouldn't be home and she had him on speakerphone. I heard my father tell my mother that I had broken emotions." She kneels in front of him. "Broken emotions… from my dad."

She takes a breath before continuing. "My mom saw me then and freaked out, ending the call. But I had heard it. And for the rest of my life I was broken to my father despite how many apologies I got. I could see that now. Just like they convinced you that you were nothing but a Squire."

"I'm sorry," Arthur apologizes.

"There's no need to be," she shrugs him off. "I'm fine. I've accepted it. But the key here is I accepted what he thought of me but I never adopted it. I'm never going to be what he wants. I'm never going to run this school. But that's okay because I like who I am and I don't let his words stop me from doing a damn thing I want to do. The reason I'm here right now is because I know what I need to do, what my part is. He doesn't and he never will. I get that and I refuse to believe it myself because no one knows me better than me." She puts a hand on his shoulder. "You are the King, Arthur. They don't have power over you anymore. I know you think you can't do this and it's hard to get rid of years of training of what your worth is, but you are the freaking King and you need to go home and act like one." She grabs the crown and places it on his head. "Got it? And spoilers, I know it turns out fine."

"You're quite… different from the others."

"Well, I get the feeling it was what the doctor ordered. So… do you think you can do this?"

"I don't… I might not… but then again I might…I think I owe it to myself to find out, don't I?" He takes a deep breath. "I mean, a lot of people are counting on me after all."

"Me too," she nods towards the next room. "Maybe if we work together we won't disappoint them. Because we are good enough. We're not broken. We're not Squires. We're the King and the Vice President."

"Then let's go show them!" Arthur goes above a quiet voice for the first time, taking charge as the two exit the room to find Lori and Hannah on the couch with the book between them.

"Wart-"

Arthur puts his hand up. "It's Arthur, actually." He looks back at Jess before nodding. "And I think it's time I was sent home. Kingdoms don't run themselves after all."

Lori opens the book to a glowing poem. "Indeed they don't. Give Merlin my love… if he knows who I am at this point. You'll find the more you do The more she'll keep insisting"

Arthur turns to Jess as the light starts. "Thank you."

"Just part of what I think is going to be my new job."

"It should be. You're quite good at it." With that, there is the blast of light and he leaves just the three ladies in the room. Lori shuts the book while taking Jess in, who sighs.

"I got the picture." Lori nods and wordlessly extends her hand. Jess reaches, but then stops. "I want to give it a trial run. If it starts interfering too much I'm out." Lori nods and she reaches again but stops. "I also won't go against my dad. It's been hard on him and I won't add to that."

"Done."

Jess nods and reaches, but stops again. "I reserve the right to still have a personal life away from all of you-"

Lori grabs her hand and shakes it. "Welcome onboard as a Companion, Jessica Timmermans. Something tells me you'll make things quite interesting." Jess pulls her hand away.

"Good. Now that that's settled, Hannah and I should start planning our first event."

"I don't get the day off?"

"Ha! You just won. You haven't even close to earned one yet."

Lori just shakes her head. "You kids have fun. I'll be in our room, not being corralled by President's Daughter." Jess glares at her. "I'm sorry, but the nickname wasn't part of your negotiations. Have a nice night." And with that she heads into the bedroom, book under her arm. "Sooner than expected, but almost inevitable in a lot of ways. You work fast these days," she tells the book. "I appreciate it. Maybe we can be through all the characters by the end of next week. How's that sound? Good. I'm glad we're in agreement," she smiles as she puts it away in the filing cabinet. "Good talk."

XXX

Abbot sits at her desk, reading the e-mail that she has received from Finch with clear frustration. 'I regret to inform you that Lori and her Companions have added another member and are just as strong as ever, if not more so. This past year has been rough and though we have our differences, we refuse to let them break us because we are family. Thus I have no way of believing you could break us either. I will report in again next week if I find the time. Have a good week. Finch Hale'

XXX

The next morning Lori opens the door to find Ben. "Hey, I'm glad you're here. I wanted to apologize for-"

"You know that thing you said about us never hearing one another?" Ben cuts in, earning a nod from Lori. "Well, it's true. Because you may have never said anything, but you weren't neutral. You were always on Hannah's side. It made you feel better that she was moving on from Caleb, getting a hobby. So you failed to notice that I needed this too. That I was pleading for you to help me because I lost something too and everyone seems to forget that."

"Ben, I don't-"

"She gets to be the hero while I'm the villain who's getting in her way. Despite the fact that because of all this I will never be able to walk again. And I'm stuck here two years after I was supposed to graduate on a campus with one ramp. And I want you to acknowledge it for once instead of acting like it is water under the bridge. Because it is not for me! It is my every moment, always!"

"You're right. I haven't-"

"Save it. I don't want it now. It's too late because I'm done."

"Wh-what are you saying?"

"That Caleb was your fault. That this was your fault. That every reason why bad thing have happened to me here all directly link back to you. That you don't listen to me still after all these years. That I quit." He sits taller in his wheelchair as she just stares at him in shock. "You heard me, Lori Fitzgerald. I quit being a Companion permanently."

XXX

Tune in next week as the ladies have a particular difficulty around the villain who comes to terrorize them in her own unique way. Will they need the boys to save them or will they be able to get the job done themselves?