Author Notes:

Well here's the bonus chapter! Hope you like it. There will still be a chapter up tomorrow as well.

Chapter 12

Apologies

Bonnie groaned as he shifted. Slowly his mind drifted back to consciousness, skirting around his migraine. Oh what a migraine it was too. It pounded through his head, making it feel like his skull was being hit with a sledgehammer.

Why did he have a migraine? He usually didn't feel this bad after the possession.

Possession…

Bonnie shot upright in shock and immediately regretted it. He cradled his head and shut his eyes against the bright orange paint that covered him.

Well, Ruby had been busy.

He also expected that the headache had been caused by a certain baseball bat. That girl had a seriously good arm.

Moving more slowly he pushed himself up and leaned against the wall. Thinking about Ruby caused dread to settle in his stomach. He swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat and scrunched his eyes even more.

Had one of them killed the energetic night guard?

The thought worried him but he couldn't find the strength to go and check. He didn't know if he could handle finding one of his friends distraught and covered in blood again.

He slumped against the wall, resting his head in his hands.

Maybe, maybe she had survived though?

"Bonnie?" a small voice sounded from his left.

He turned his aching head to look at the pizza covered chicken. As his eyes landed on the jacket she was nervously clutching in her hands though, he felt his heart plummet.

Even if they didn't want to admit it, they hadn't been able to stop the small spark of hope that Ruby would be able to stop the nightmarish cycle they were trapped in.

Foxy leaned against the wall, lost in his own distant thoughts while he stared blankly at the dried crimson blood on his hand.

It had happened again.

Was there really no way out of this nightmare?

As his heart dropped into a pit of depression and self-loathing Goldy popped out of nowhere, appearing in front of him.

"Foxy!" she cried excitedly, seemingly unaware of her covering of foam and the fact that Foxy had jumped in shock.

"Goldy-" he growled, annoyed and wanting to be left alone to wallow in his misery and guilt.

Goldy's hands clamped around his muzzle though and cut off his comment. She seemed to almost be buzzing in place.

"She survived!" Goldy exclaimed excitedly. "It was night six Foxy and she survived!"

Foxy blinked and it took a moment for those words to sink in.

"The lass is alive?" he asked softly, hardly daring to hope.

"Yes!" Goldy yelled giddily. "Which means the ghosts lost! So as long as she's the night guard they can't take over again!"

The golden bear looked like she might be crying. Foxy sprang to his feet, eyes slightly wild.

"Where is she? Did she go home already?" he asked.

Goldy shook her head as she wiped at her eyes. "She went to sleep in the staffroom."

That was all he needed as he took off down the hallway, ignoring the fact that he was covered in glitter and that he had a headache forming.

It didn't take long for him to reach the room but he hesitated outside. Did the girl really want to see one of the robots that had tried to kill her? And one that had definitely hurt her? His eyes were drawn down to his bloody hand when suddenly the door was yanked open.

Ruby smirked up at him, satisfaction showing through even the exhaustion on her face.

"I've got a little brother so I've got an extra 'someone's loitering at the door and wants to talk' sense." She grinned and reached up, standing on her tip-toes to rap on his head lightly.

"You back in there Captain?" she asked, that grin still in place.

Foxy couldn't help the startled laugh that slipped out.

Her smile widened. "That's better. Don't look so down Foxy. I won! Told you that I'd out-stubborn them. Sorry about the glitter though…"

Her grin turned a little sheepish.

Foxy just chuckled bitterly, the sound slightly strangled. "Got the feeling that you're not the one who should be apologising lass."

His eyes flickered between his hand, the cut on her cheek and her slightly stiff posture. No matter how she tried to hide it he could see that she was in pain.

She snorted. "Tis naught but a flesh wound."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Besides, it was the ghost brats, not you guys."

Ruby paused after a moment and studied his face for a moment, taking in the blatant guilt and worry. She sighed, a soft look entering her tired eyes.

"Hey, do you know where the first aid box is?" she asked, pulling Foxy into the room by the arm. "I don't think they'd appreciate it if I bled all over their couch."

As she made a beeline for the coffee machine Foxy stared at her, wondering how she was so good at reading and comforting others.

Goldy eventually found Freddy and explained what had happened to him. It took them a while to find Bonnie and Chica but they did in the end. The two were sitting against a wall, looking absolutely miserable. Bonnie was still cradling his head in his hands while Chica was fiddling with the jacket nervously.

However they perked up when they heard what had actually happened and looked relieved.

"So it's over?" Bonnie asked hopefully.

"For now." Freddy murmured as he leaned against a wall.

Silence settled over them for a moment.

"So, do you think we should go talk to her?" the rabbit asked hesitantly.

Goldy shrugged. "Foxy went. And I don't think she's mad since she asked me to pass on apologies."

"Well, we kind of owe her apologies too." Bonnie murmured, looking down and pushing the pounding in his head to the side.

"Maybe we should get cleaned up first." Goldy suggested, looking down at the foam covering her again.

The group agreed and headed off to the bathrooms.

Half an hour later the four neared the staffroom, nervousness and guilt slowing their steps.

"How badly was she hurt?" Chica asked softly, fiddling with the black jacket again.

Goldy looked down. "A few cuts and bruises. I think her ribs were bruised too from the way she moved."

They all flinched again.

Goldy hesitated before floating forward. They at least owed her an apology. At the very least.

The door flew open before Goldy even touched it.

"Loitering senses going haywire." Ruby smirked at them. "So everyone back in their heads?"

The mischievous light in her eyes hadn't changed at all and even though she looked tired and leaned on the doorframe for support, it did nothing to diminish the triumphant air around her.

She took one look at them before groaning loudly.

"Alright, everyone inside. Looks like I've got to give everyone a lecture on this guilt thing." She spun around and headed back inside the room.

Foxy was just finishing returning the first aid kit she had used to its place when they followed after her. He had gone to get cleaned up in the staff bathroom at her insistence and by the time he was back she had wrapped up her torso in bandages and was working on her arm.

She had also taped a strip of bandage to her cheek to cover the cut there.

Foxy ended up having to help with her arm since her right wrist was sprained and the injury was on her left arm. He felt slightly better after having helped a little but it didn't feel like nearly enough.

He glanced at the others and saw the same guilt in their eyes.

Ruby had risked her life to help them even though she really didn't have too. They owed her more than she could ever know, even if it was just until she left the job.

Freedom was freedom after all, regardless of how fleeting.

The 'bots stood around awkwardly while Ruby sat down on the couch and nearly inhaled a cup of coffee.

"Okay, so you bunch are radiating guilt like stink off a marathoner." She declared, snapping them out of their discreet assessment of her injuries. "That's stupid because it was the ghost brats who did it. And I'm not even hurt that bad."
"Lass-" Foxy sighed, feeling like shaking some self-preservation instincts into her.

She held up her hand though, expression serious.

"Listen." She stressed.

He quieted and looked at her. When she was sure that she had their attention she continued.

"It was my choice to take this job. It was my choice to stay after I found out the truth. It was my choice to challenge the ghosts. My choice. None of it was your choice. So I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused without asking for your input but I'm a stubborn girl." She grinned lopsidedly at them.

They fidgeted, getting the feeling that she really was lecturing them.

"Guys." Her softer voice made them look up and meet her gentle eyes. "I've been through it too, blaming myself for something I was helpless against. I know the frustration, anger and self-hatred. But it doesn't help. The only way forward from here is to accept that helplessness. It's like swallowing bitter medicine. You really don't want to but you feel better afterwards."

As she was speaking her voice grew sad and her eyes looked distant for a moment.

She seemed so different from the crazy night guard they were used to. She also looked far older than she should have. Just what was she remembering?

But then she blinked and the moment was gone. She smirked at them over the top of her coffee cup.

"But if you still feel bad then you can make it up to me." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "Spend time with me!"

She threw her arms open wide, spilling coffee over the sofa but not seeming to notice. "After all we're co-workers! The hunting thing was getting boring anyway. Winning all the time's no fun. We can find something else to do every night."

It was really hard not to laugh at that, even with them still stunned from her little speech.

"Yeah lass." Foxy chuckled, feeling lighter than he had for a while. "Got the feeling that things aren't going to be boring with you around."

Bonnie chuckled too, nodding his head before wincing and reaching up to rub at his temples.

Ruby looked like she was about to say something, concern flickering across her face before Chica caught her attention. The animatronic was holding out her leather jacket nervously.

"Hey thanks! I was wondering where that went." Ruby chirped, lighting up.

The girl bounced forward, pulling the jacket on happily with a barely noticeable wince.

"This is my favourite jacket too." She grinned.

Her lack of aversion to a close proximity with them threw them for a loop again. Suddenly she stumbled slightly, almost losing her balance and catching herself on a piece of furniture.

"Whoa, think that nap's more necessary than I thought." She mumbled. "We done with the lecture? Good."

Before any of them could react she had stumbled over to the couch and cuddled up with a contented sigh. Seconds later she was asleep.

Everyone stared at her.

Goldy finally broke the silence. "Well, she did say that she was tired."

"Guess we should leave her to sleep." Chica murmured.

The others nodded and they shuffled out of the room, glancing back once or twice.

It was quiet until the cleaners arrived as the 'bots thought about what had happened. It seemed that the security guard was never lacking in surprises.

The cleaners, obviously expecting blood and death, were still dismayed to discover the sheer amount of glitter and paint spread through the building.

By the time they found the night guard they were fully prepared to yell at her for her irresponsible behaviour. However as one of them shook her shoulder rather roughly, she yelped as the movement pulled at her injuries.

Angry and still half-asleep she lashed out, hitting the guy in the stomach with her foot.

As he crumpled like a sack of potatoes, she glared at the rest so fiercely they were surprised that they didn't burst into flames. They did take a few steps back unconsciously though.

"Don't do that again." She snarled, giving a pretty good impression of a tiger.

She stood up and snatched up her backpack from the floor before she stalked out of the room.

As she headed for the front door she glanced at the stage for a moment before waving goodbye.

"See ya tomorrow night guys." She called back, a smile tugging at her mouth even as she yawned. "Don't worry if you hear explosions. I was going to warn the cleaners about the remaining traps but then they woke me up so they can find them themselves."

Bonnie held back a snicker. He could really appreciate the girl's vindictive sense of humour.

"Oh and thanks for the exciting night." She smirked at them over her shoulder, that mischievous light back in her eyes. "It was a really interesting birthday."

She disappeared with a laugh leaving the dumbfounded 'bots behind.

"Birthday?!" Bonnie choked out and stared at the others.

They just looked stunned.

A distant explosion went off and Ruby walked off down the sidewalk humming Happy Birthday to herself.

Author notes:

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Until next time then :P