AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.
Important note: Milah is not Neal's father in this universe. Cora is I've taken some liberties again with characters and back stories. :)
Special Note: The characters of TJ Morrison is a Manifests character.
This one will update bi-weekly on Wednesday nights now. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yeah, it back fired. Gold wants to help Neal, but he's not cooperating. Glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, his jealousy is showing. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: I know, Cora is the worst. I like TJ too and am glad to be including him. I know, poor Emma. I hope they can get through to Neal too. Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Emma and her snacks. Yeah, another Calling and this time Neal is on the plane, which is very curious. Yep, David was taken and Margaret is frantic. But she found him and showered him with kisses. Yep, Vance is alive! He faked his death to fool the Major. Yeah, in this case, Neal should let his father help him. Yep, some Snowing lovemaking. Yeah, they are far from normal, but it's true love. He is definitely Prince Charming, even here. Yep, Henry knows Neal is supposed to be with them. Yeah, Cora is still up to no good and forcing Johanna to do some dirty work for her. She's the worst. Yeah, Emma probably is best having a new partner. Yep, TJ has joined. Yep, it's getting crazier. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: Yep, a Calling with Neal on the plane, which is very curious. Yeah, David is okay. Margaret was frantic, but found him. Vance is alive too and faked his death to fool the Major. Yeah, Gold is probably very impressed. It is a very Rumple move. I hope the baby doesn't have the death date either. Yep, TJ has joined the fray. Yeah, we may see why Cora is like this. Even so, she's the worst. Yeah, Killian admitted he doesn't trust Emma so they're probably best not being partners at this point. I'm excited that TJ is in the story now too. Glad you're enjoying!
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 53: Grounded, Pt 2
"I keep seeing it…there's the courtyard and someone is being buried," TJ explained.
"Can you see anyone? Maybe who is doing the burial?" David asked. He shook his head.
"No…it's too dark. It's happening at night," he said.
"But you're sure it's the campus courtyard?" David asked.
"I wasn't…but I just had it again. It was clearer this time," he said, as he started hurrying through campus and David followed him to a patch of dirt. Curiously, he watched the young man kneel down and start to dig through the dirt, until he uncovered a hand. TJ cried out and jumped back in horror.
"You weren't seeing your grave…" David said, as he took his phone out and called the Police.
Emma looked at the courtroom doors and took a breath, before going in. Her Captain would be throwing a fit right now if he knew she was coming to Neal's hearing, but she had to and joined Mr. Gold in the same row.
"Thank you for coming…" he said.
"Here for support…hopefully, he'll make bail," she replied.
"I'm afraid he won't…he has refused Council," Gold said. Emma's eyes widened.
"What?" she asked.
"I offered to get him the best legal team available, but he refused and is pleading guilty," Gold replied.
"He can't do that…he'll go to prison, possibly for years!" she whispered.
"I know that…but he won't let me help. Maybe you can convince him otherwise, but he won't listen to me," Gold said, as Neal was brought in from lockup and faced the Judge, as she entered.
"Arrangement for Neal Cassidy on the charges of attempted murder in the second degree and possession of an illegal firearm. I understand that you have waved Council, Mr. Cassidy, how do you plead?" the Judge questioned, as Neal got to his feet. He looked at Emma and her eyes pleaded with him. But he looked away.
"Guilty, Your Honor," he announced.
"Neal…don't do this," Emma blurted out, as she shot up from her seat. The Judge slammed the gavel down, as the Courtroom filled with commotion.
"Order…Detective Nolan, please sit down," the Judge ordered sternly.
"I'm sorry, Your Honor, but…" she started to say, but was cut off again.
"Officers, please remove Detective Nolan from this courtroom," she ordered, as Emma was quite literally thrown out.
"The Court accepts your guilty plea, Mr. Cassidy and sentencing will be determined at a later hearing. Dismissed," the Judge ordered, as he was led away, leaving Gold feeling helpless.
Olive put the bags in the trunk and closed it.
"Guess it's a good thing you didn't get rid of all the baby stuff or we'd have even more to buy later on," she mentioned. Margaret smiled.
"I know…and the cribs are in good shape, which is going to save some money," she said, as she put her hand to her belly.
"And as soon as we know what this little one is going to be, we'll know if you'll be wearing Henry's hand-me downs or yours," she added, making Olive smile.
"I'm rooting for another girl," Olive said.
"That's not surprising, because your brother wants a brother," she said, as she happened to see Johanna coming out of one of the shops where they were parked. Their eyes met and Margaret approached.
"Johanna…" she said.
"Mary Margaret…" she said.
"Just Margaret now," she said.
"Of course," Johanna said awkwardly.
"Well…Olive, we better go," she said.
"Margaret, wait…" Johanna called, as the younger woman turned back.
"I want to apologize…for being so cold to you a few weeks ago. I've been having a very hard time since I've been back," she said. Margaret nodded.
"I understand…" she said.
"Not everyone welcomed us back with open arms, as you know. You were overjoyed to get your husband back, but my husband had already moved on. He couldn't get divorce papers drawn up fast enough," Johanna replied, as Margaret and Olive exchanged a glance.
"I'm sorry…that's terrible. Maybe we can start over?" Margaret asked. Johanna smiled.
"I'd like that," she said.
"Would you like to come back to our house for coffee?" she asked.
"I'd love that. My car is just parked down a ways. I can follow you," Johanna replied, as they waited. While they did, Olive bumped into a young woman on the sidewalk.
"Hey…cool jacket," the young woman said.
"Thanks…I like the color in your hair," she replied.
"Thanks…you could totally pull it off too. I'm Chloe Barnes," the blonde said.
"Olive Nolan," she replied and the girl's eyes widened.
"Wait…like that Nolan from the plane?" she asked in amazement.
"Oh…yeah I wasn't on it. Just my dad, my brother, and my aunt," Olive replied.
"Wow…that's wild! Listen, if you're not doing anything, you could come to fellowship with me," she said, as she handed her a flier. Olive saw Adrian on the cover of the pamphlet underneath the words, church of the returned.
"Oh…I'm not sure. I'll check with my parents," she said.
"Cool…maybe I'll see you," Chloe replied, as she left.
"Who was that?" Margaret asked.
"Oh…just a girl I was talking to," Olive replied, but Margaret saw the flier before she could hide it.
"Honey…I don't want you anywhere near this place. Or these people," Margaret said.
"She seemed nice, Mom," Olive protested.
"One of the people from that place nearly killed your Aunt Regina. These people are dangerous to us, Olive. Promise me you won't go there," Margaret said sternly. The teen rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she muttered, as they got into the car.
"You know, maybe they're not all like that," she said. Margaret sighed, as she started the car.
"I'm sure they're not, Olive…but Adrian is filling their heads with nonsense," she said.
"Mom…it was a miracle that Dad came back, with Henry and Aunt Emma. Maybe he's onto something. The Callings help people," Olive protested.
"I know…but they can also be dangerous and bad things can happen if they are exploited. It's…it's a lot to take in when you have one," she mentioned.
"Well, I wouldn't know," Olive said sarcastically. Margaret bit her bottom lip.
"What?" she asked.
"I…I sort of had one," Margaret replied.
"What? A Calling? How is that possible?" Olive asked.
"We think it's the baby…" she replied. Olive scoffed.
"Great…so now I'm the only one! At least we had something in common before, but now that you get them, it's just me," Olive said in frustration.
"Honey…you are just as much a part of this family as any of us," Margaret assured her. Olive hummed in response and there was silence the rest of the way home. Olive was starting to feel like the outcast in her own family.
"Hey…" a young woman said, as she approached Emma's desk.
"Hi…you must be my new partner," Emma replied. The other woman put her hand out.
"Ruby Lucas," she said, introducing herself.
"Emma Nolan," she replied.
"Oh I know…your record is impressive. I look forward to learning from you," she replied, as she took a seat at her desk near Emma. The blonde knew that not being partnered with Killian was for the best, but it was too complicated or even dangerous to try and explain the Callings to someone new. She would have to be extra careful until she knew what kind of person her new partner was.
Police tape was partitioned around the crime scene, as the woman was unearthed. She was identified as a student at the University.
"Did you know the victim?" Killian asked, as he interviewed them. TJ shook his head.
"No…everyone that was here before the plane disappeared is mostly gone and no one is really clamoring to be friends with the weird plane kid," he said.
"How did you know she was here then?" he asked. TJ looked at David and he looked at Killian, who sighed.
"Let me guess…I can't put down how you found her, because you heard a voice in your head," Killian replied.
"Shhh…I don't think they heard you in Tibet," David scolded.
"I'm sorry David, but you know how this looks," Killian said, as he pulled him aside.
"I know…but why would he come to me and want her found if he did it? That doesn't make any sense," David said.
"Unless it was an accident and he has a guilty conscience," Killian replied, but David shook his head.
"No…this was a Calling. He didn't do this," David assured him.
"David…you're a trusting guy and that's great, but not everyone deserves your trust," he admonished.
"I know…Emma has given me this lecture a dozen times, but when it comes to Callings, I know what they're like and how vague they can be. I struggle to understand them and I get them all the time. It's even more difficult for someone who doesn't know what they are to understand them," he argued.
"He's still a suspect…I can't rule him out yet. You better hope he doesn't take off," Killian said.
"Do you see him running?" David asked, as they saw the troubled look on the young man's face.
"I'll be in touch," Killian said, as he went to file the report, while the coroner bagged the body.
"So what now?" TJ asked.
"Not sure…hopefully, they'll find whoever did this to her," David replied.
"You two need to come down to the precinct and make your statements," Killian said. David nodded and they followed Killian to the car.
Olive stormed up to her room once they got home and Margaret winced, as she started making coffee.
"Sorry about that, you know teenagers," Margaret mentioned.
"It's all right…it's a very emotional age," Johanna replied.
"This whole situation must be difficult for her," she mentioned.
"Mmm…a bit. I mean, she loves that her daddy is back and her twin, even if they're not the same age anymore. But there have been challenges," Margaret said.
"Then there was no one else while your husband was gone?" Johanna probed curiously.
"Oh no…there never could be. I tried dating once, but it was a disaster and I realized I was trying to move on, because other people thought it was the thing I should do. But David is the only man I'll ever love or want to be with," Margaret replied.
"That's wonderful…you're very lucky," Johanna said.
"I know," Margaret replied.
"Even then though, it seems like some very strange things have happened since the plane came back," Johanna mentioned.
"A few I suppose. Anything strange with you?" Margaret asked curiously.
"You might think I'm crazy," Johanna replied. Margaret smiled.
"Trust me…there is no crazy. There is obviously something bigger than all of us at work here," she said.
"Then your husband has had experiences too?" Johanna asked vaguely.
"Quite a few…but he's helped a lot of people," Margaret replied. It was still a bit vague, but Johanna knew she couldn't press too hard at first for answers or Margaret might become suspicious.
"It sounds like you understand exactly what it's like for the passengers. He's lucky to have such support," she said.
"I support him implicitly and I'm here for you too," Margaret replied.
"Thank you…I'll keep that in mind," she said, as Margaret served them some coffee and they continued to talk, until Henry interrupted.
"Mom!" he called from his room. Margaret smiled.
"I'll be right back," she said, as she went to check on him, while Johanna looked at her phone and saw Cora's text with the simple request. Report.
"I'm at her house now. She suspects nothing, but is also guarded about her family," Johanna texted.
"Gain her trust," Cora texted back in return. Johanna sighed and waited for Margaret to return.
David sat in a chair next to TJ at the precinct, as they waited to give their statements.
"So…is it just you? Do you have any family I can call for you?" David asked. He shook his head.
"I had my Mom…before the plane. She was my best friend," he said, as he swallowed thickly.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I found out when we got back that she was so devastated at losing me that she overdosed on pills about three months after the plane disappeared," TJ revealed. David sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry…" he said, as he saw Emma approach.
"Hey…what's going on?" she asked.
"Emma…this is TJ Morrison. He was on the plane too. This is my sister Emma," he said, as they shook hands.
"You found the body?" she asked. He nodded.
"I…I guess it's called a Calling? I saw it in my head," he explained, as she exchanged a glance with her brother. She nodded and saw Killian wave her over.
"I'll be right back," she said, as she went over to him.
"What's up?" she asked.
"TJ's fingerprints are all over the victim's room…I have to arrest him," he said. She sighed and nodded, before going back over to them.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Emma asked, as she pulled her brother aside.
"You really believe he had a Calling?" she asked. He blanched slightly.
"Yeah…he had a Calling. He described seeing someone being buried and then led us to the body," David replied.
"Maybe because he put the body there," she said.
"No…he didn't do this, Emma. I can feel it," David argued.
"David…you're really trusting. Are you sure TJ isn't taking advantage of that?" she asked.
"No…I'm not that trusting and you know it. How many times did Dad lie to us when we were growing up? You know that aside from you and Margaret, I don't trust many people at all. I trust TJ," David replied.
"His fingerprints are all over the victim's dorm room…we have to arrest him," Emma revealed, as Killian started reading him his rights and cuffed him.
"I…I didn't do this," he pleaded.
"I know…we're going to figure this out," David said, as he looked at his sister.
"Please Emma…he's innocent," he pleaded. She rolled her eyes and then went to find her new partner.
"Hey…want to do a little digging with me?" she asked. Ruby nodded.
"Sure…let's go," she replied, as they headed for the University.
"Honey?" Margaret asked, as she walked into Henry's room to find him shaking.
"Sweetie…what is it?" she asked, as Olive peered in.
"A Calling…" he replied, as he shook almost violently.
"What do you see?" he asked.
"Aunt Emma…and Neal. The plane," he replied vaguely.
"I need to see Aunt Emma!" he pleaded. She nodded and hugged him.
"Stay with him and I'll make up an excuse to get Johanna to leave," Margaret replied, as she went downstairs.
"Johanna…I hate to do this, but we need to leave. David needs us to come pick him up," she said.
"Oh of course, no worries, dear. But I do hope we can get together again soon," she replied. Margaret smiled.
"Of course," she said, as they exchanged a hug and she saw her out, just as her kids came down the stairs.
"Okay…let's go," she said, as they headed out to the car.
Emma flashed her badge and they were admitted to the victim's room. They started looking around and Emma noticed some artwork done by the victim and noticed TJ's photo among the items, along with a woman.
"I thought he said he didn't know the victim," Ruby said.
"He said he didn't…" Emma replied, as the victim's roommate came in.
"Oh sorry…" she said.
"It's okay…did your roommate make these?" Emma asked curiously, referring to the artwork and items around her displays.
"Oh yeah…she liked to rescue stuff from the trash that got thrown out and use it in her artwork," the girl said.
"So this guy…she didn't know him?" Emma asked. She shook her head.
"No…I remember she rescued his stuff from the trash. Campus staff threw it out after the plane disappeared," she replied. Emma's eyes widened and she discovered a duplicate badge belonging to the victim.
"Do you know why she would have had two ID's?" Emma asked.
"Oh, she lost hers a couple days before she…she was killed. She got a duplicate from Campus security," the girl answered.
"Thanks…" Emma said, as she stepped out of the room with her partner.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"There was an ID on the victim's body. If this was the duplicate, then why did she have the original on her?" Emma asked.
"I don't know…maybe she found it?" Ruby asked.
"Maybe…but now I know why TJ's fingerprints are all over her room. That's his stuff in there…" Emma said.
"So what now?" Ruby asked.
"Let's make a visit to campus security about this ID," Emma suggested, as they headed there.
In his cell at Rikers, Neal slept a little on his cot, until he was suddenly assaulted by a Calling. But this one was different than the rest and he started shaking violently. It was enough to attract the attention of two of the guards, who burst into his cell and thought he was having a seizure. The shaking didn't get any better and he was carted off to the medical bay…