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 character of TJ Morrison is a Manifest 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: Yep, Neal thinks he's doing the right thing here, but he's probably not. I hope he can work things out with his dad too. Glad you're enjoying!
Jennifer Baratta: I know, Neal is not being smart here. I think Ruby and Emma will make a good team. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: I know, this Calling is a frightening one. I hope they can free TJ too! Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: I know, Neal is having a Calling and is in jail. That's not great. Yeah, they will not be happy that she went to that hearing. I feel for Gold too. He wants a second chance. Hopefully, he can get one. Yep, I think Olive will get her wish here. I know, I feel bad for Johanna too. Yep, a big red flag. Yes, Killian should listen to David on this one. Yep, Emma and Ruby are one the case. Yep, David was right. Glad you're enjoying it!
Happy Easter/Resurrection Day to those who celebrate!
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 54: Grounded, Pt 3
Regina examined the blood sample in the microscope with scrutiny. She had taken some blood from Margaret and was examining it to see if her sister now had the same anomaly in her blood, due to the baby.
"Dr. Mills?" Dr. Whale asked, as he stepped in. She jumped and stood up, hoping to get him to leave quickly.
"Yes, what can I do for you?" she asked nervously.
"It's about your research. I'm not sure you're aware, but I was looking over everything to get the ball rolling for the next phase of trials in teens when I noticed a bit of an anomaly in the blood of one of your patients. Henry Nolan," he said. Fear crept up in her.
"An…an anomaly?" she asked, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Yes…were you aware of this odd marker in Henry Nolan's scans?" he asked.
"I thought it was something to be concerned about…but I don't think it is," she replied quickly.
"Are you sure? It's not a common thing and he did have cancer," he said.
"Yes…I thought it might be, but it's not, because his mother has it too. I've determined it's genetics," she replied. That didn't make much sense to Whale.
"I still think we should record it in his file," he said.
"Well, I don't…and he's my patient. I appreciate your assistance, Dr. Whale, but he's my nephew and I want to personally handle all aspects of his case," she replied.
"That's…not how this works," he argued.
"Really? Because I can smell the alcohol on your breath and your latest conquest is probably at the nurse's station. So leave this alone and I won't say a word about you being half drunk," she threatened. His eyes widened and he was taken aback by her sudden threat.
"I'll leave it to you then," he said in a measured tone, before leaving. Regina sighed and looked back in her microscope. She didn't have any definitive answers yet, despite what she had told Whale. She already suspected that the baby had the marker though, due to the Callings. She just didn't know what to make of any of it yet. She sighed and looked at her phone, before dialing.
"Hi…do you have any openings this afternoon?" she asked and then nodded.
"Great…I'll see you then," she replied, as she hung up her phone and got ready to leave.
Margaret parked the van at the station and glanced back at Olive, seeing the almost broken look on her face.
"Hey honey…go on in and find your Dad. We'll be in soon," she said, as he got out and went inside.
"Olive…" she said.
"I don't want to talk about it," Olive replied.
"But we need to, sweetie. We all love you so much…" Margaret said.
"Yeah, I know and now you all might die. How do we know that you don't have the death date now?" Olive asked.
"You know that's unlikely," Margaret replied.
"Maybe, but Dad has it. Henry and Aunt Emma too…and my new Aunt Regina. We could lose everyone again, Mom…and if I lose you too, I'll be alone," Olive said.
"Olive…your father and I are going to do everything we can to stop that from happening. We're going to figure out how to beat this death date. Just because Griffin succumbed to his does not mean there is no way out," she said, pausing for a moment.
"If there is one thing I've learned from your father…it's to always have hope and faith in our love," she added, as she squeezed her daughter's hand.
"And I know you're feeling left out now, because you don't get Callings, but we still need you. We love you," she said.
"I know…I just kind of wish I knew what it was like," Olive replied. Margaret smiled.
"Well…as someone who didn't know before, I can tell you that it's a little overwhelming, but I didn't sense any malice from them," she explained.
"Then you agree that they're a miracle," Olive said.
"I suppose so," Margaret replied.
"Then why are you and Dad so against all the people from that church? They're preaching a message of hope and miracles," Olive said.
"No honey…Baron Samdi is using the Callings for his own monetary gain. He's telling people that the passengers can perform miracles and we know that isn't exactly true. The Callings have done some amazing things, but it's not something controllable. Suggesting that they are is very deceptive and put your Aunt Regina in a lot of danger when she couldn't perform a miracle," Margaret explained.
"I…I know, but that woman was clearly unhinged. That doesn't mean all the believers are like that," Olive replied.
"You're right…but it's Baron Samdi that worries us most. Your father looked him up and he calls himself an entrepreneur, but he has been a snake oil salesman most of his adult life. This is just his next scheme and if you got caught up in something that put you in danger, it would kill us," Margaret said. Olive nodded.
"Okay…" she agreed, as they got out of the van and shared a hug, before going inside.
Henry was standing with David and they joined them, as Margaret put her arms around him.
"Hey…what's going on?" she asked.
"The student that asked me for help was arrested for murder…but I know he didn't do. I just hope Emma can prove it," he said, as he dropped a kiss on her head.
"If he's innocent, then you know Emma will get to the truth," she assured him.
"I hope so…she's under a lot of pressure to go with the obvious answer," he said.
"We came, because Henry says he needs to see Emma. It's about a Calling," she whispered. He knelt down.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Me, Emma, and Neal all had it, but he's in jail. We were all on the plane and it was shaking really bad," Henry explained.
"He was shaking too, David…I haven't seen one like this before," Margaret added, as he looked up at her.
"Neal pleading guilty was a really bad idea. They're going to think he's strung out or something in prison if he starts shaking all the time," he muttered to her.
"You didn't have this one?" she asked.
"No…but I've been busy with TJ," he said, as he motioned to the cell where he was and Olive took notice too.
"Dad…do you think you can prove he's innocent?" she asked. He smiled gently and put his arm around her.
"It's up to your Aunt Emma now, but your mother is right. She doesn't stop until she has the truth," he said.
"And then he came in asking about my work…and I almost panicked," Regina explained to her therapist.
"You mean the blood marker?" Fiona asked, as she pretended to jot things down on her pad. Regina nodded.
"Forgive me, but is there something wrong with other doctors examining this patient's blood?" she asked.
"Normally no…but the passengers that I've examined so far all have this anomaly and I'm worried about them being poked and prodded if too many people find out. They'll want to study it," Regina replied.
"You mean they'll want to study your family?" Fiona asked. Regina looked at her and nodded reluctantly.
"There's more…" Regina said.
"Tell me…you know our talks go no further than this room," Fiona lied. Regina sighed.
"I'm testing my step-sister's blood too," she revealed.
"Why? She wasn't on the plane, if I recall," Fiona said.
"She wasn't…but David was and we're concerned about the baby," Regina revealed. Fiona paused for a moment and had to hide her rapt interest behind her façade of indifferent concern.
"You think the marker was passed genetically?" Fiona asked.
"We're not sure…but let's just say that it's very possible," Regina replied.
"Your work is quite fascinating, even if I don't understand all the technical terms," Fiona said.
"It's okay…it's just nice to have a sounding board that isn't emotionally involved in all of this," she said.
"But Margaret is still excited for her baby?" Fiona asked. Regina smiled.
"Oh yes…she and David are over the moon. I am too, honestly. I love having a niece and nephew and now there will soon be another," she replied.
"That's wonderful and I'm glad you called me when you had an anxiety attack," Fiona said. Regina nodded and got up, before getting her coat.
"Thanks for seeing me on short notice," she said, before walking out.
"No problem…it was most enlightening," Fiona said quietly to herself after Regina left.
Emma and Ruby approached the security desk and she flashed her badge.
"Hi…I need to ask some questions about this young woman that was found dead," she said, as he showed him a picture.
"Oh yeah…I heard about that," he said.
"Yeah…her roommate said that her ID badge went missing a few nights before she died and I want to see when this one was issued," she asked. She noticed that the man paused for a moment and then took the badge for her, as he checked the computer.
"Uh…we didn't issue her a second badge," he said. Emma exchanged a glance with her partner and then looked back at him.
"That's funny…because we found this one in her room and she was found with another ID on her body," Emma said, as she saw the panic in his eyes. She was quick as lightning though and had her gun pointed at him in a flashed.
"Don't move…" she warned, as Ruby cuffed him.
"Wow…this was one hell of a hunch," she commented. Emma sighed. She knew it was more than a hunch. David was right to press her to investigate further. The guard had likely erased the issue of the badge from the computer to cover his tracks and they would have never discovered this otherwise.
"Yeah…something like that," Emma said. But it was no hunch. As always, it was the Callings, using them to right another wrong.
When they arrived at the station, Emma had the guard's statement and the evidence bagged that he was the real killer. Killian let TJ go and he hugged David in relief.
"Thanks…I don't know how I'll ever repay you," he said.
"No need…this is my wife Margaret, our daughter Olive, and our son Henry," he said, as he introduced them.
"David's right…justice being served is all we need," she said, as she shook his hand and then a long look passed between him and Olive.
"Uh…I think we're just going to pick up some takeout on the way home. Why don't you join us?" David asked.
"Sure…sounds great," TJ replied, as they headed out to the car, while David stayed behind for a moment.
"Thanks for digging…I know I was a little demanding before," he said.
"It's okay…you were right," she replied, as they shared a hug.
"I have to talk to the Captain, but then I'll be home if those dinner plans include me," she said. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"You know they do…we'll grab your favorites," he said, as he left, while she joined Killian in the Captain's office.
"Another case wrapped up…but do you mind telling me how you figured out it was the guard when all the evidence pointed to Mr. Morrison?" Graham asked.
"An anonymous tip," Emma answered.
"And therein lies the problem. Your growing list of solved cases all have that in common. It's always an anonymous tip and internal affairs is going to start noticing. If they start digging…I can't stop them," he warned. Emma sighed.
"Understood," she said, knowing that there was soon to be a microscope on everything she did.
"Neither of you are to work the same cases anymore and these anonymous tips can't keep recurring," he warned. They nodded, before she left the office without a word. Killian watched her go and sighed, before returning to his desk.
After dinner, David and Margaret took TJ home, while Robert stayed with Henry. Olive said she was going to study with a friend, so they took the opportunity to visit Vance at the Travel Agency. They entered his office, hand in hand, and he motioned them in.
"Hey…you said you had a development?" David asked.
"I do…didn't think you'd both come, but I guess I should be used to the fact that you do everything together," Vance replied. Margaret smiled.
"We do," she said, as he smiled at her.
"So what's going on?" David asked.
"I think the Major is somehow aware of the possible genetic transference from the passengers," Vance replied.
"But how would she know that? We're the only ones that know about Regina's research," David said.
"I don't know…but someone is keeping tabs on her research and it's getting back to the Major," Vance said.
"David…remember Regina said that Dr. Whale is working on getting the cancer treatment that her research led to be approved for more age groups," Margaret replied.
"You think this Dr. Whale could be spying for the Major?" Vance asked.
"He's pretty slimy and Regina said that she got him to back off by threatening him. He's probably lucky he still has a license since he drinks…and fraternizes with the nursing staff," Margaret replied.
"Blackmail…he'll be the perfect mole if the Major does have one inside the hospital," Vance said.
"What do you need from us?" David asked.
"Nothing for now. I want to see how much she manages to get. When the time is right…we can come up with a plan for a trap if we need to," Vance replied. He nodded and they walked out. They were careful to go out the back and park there so no one would see them. They were well aware of the press's obsession with them and knew it would only get worse when they could no longer hide her pregnancy. Thankfully, they had a few weeks yet before she would really start to show.
Olive arrived at the Church of the Returned and looked up at the sign with hesitation.
"Hey…you came!" the blonde from earlier said. She nodded.
"Yeah…I'm not sure I should have though," she replied.
"Don't worry…you'll love it. Come on," Chloe said, as she led her inside for the evening service.
"Blessed are the returned," Baron Samdi announced, as he began that evening's sermon to a captive audience.
After eating with her family, Emma made her way back to her apartment and sat down to write a letter to Neal. He was refusing to see her, but she only hoped he'd accept the letter and read it. As she put the pen to paper though, she was gripped by another Calling.
She was back on the plane and Henry was beside her. Neal was there too, but even as they shouted to him, it seemed that he couldn't hear them. Emma yelped, as the window of the plane next to her caught fire and she tried in vain to undo her seatbelt. But it wouldn't budge. Fortunately, the Calling ended and she took deep breaths, before texting her nephew, knowing he had experienced the same thing. She was troubled though, because she couldn't contact Neal and had no idea how he was getting through these violent Callings.
Neal shook uncontrollably and assaulted a guard accidentally, as he thrashed his limbs. He was dragged to the medical bay and forcibly strapped down to a bed. The turbulence continued, causing him to thrash more, until the medic injected him with drugs to sedate him. He slowly became unconscious, forcibly ending the strange, violent Calling, ensuring that it would continue when he awoke…