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. The characters of Nick and Greta Branson are based on Hansel(also known as Jack and Nick Branson) and Gretel from Once season 7.
Sorry for the delay on this too. It's a couple days late. Things aren't quite back to normal, as my Mom is staying with me until the movers arrive with her stuff so it's been harder to get writing done in the evenings. Hopefully, I'll be back to normal soon.
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 Regina is about to turn the tables. It is illegal without consent, but still gets done. You have to prove it too, which isn't easy. Glad you're enjoying.
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, Regina is about to turn the tables. Glad you're enjoying.
Sexystarwarslover: No worries, hopefully your notifications start coming through again. Yep, TJ saved the day a bit for David and Margaret was very grateful for that. Yep, Emma found Neal. Yes, the Major must be stopped. Hopefully, that can happen now that Regina is aware and working with Vance. Yep, some celebrating for David and Margaret. Lol, yeah I couldn't resist making a Cruella reference. Yeah, Whale's just been put up to spying. Yep, now it's time to turn the tables. Yeah, Regina is good at being sneaky. Yeah, that woman doesn't want Margaret's help. She is very small minded. And she wished bad on her so she's horrible. Yeah, Emma threw Killian under the bus, but he wasn't being very reasonable. Yep, Margaret came to Professor Nolan's office to flirt, lol. Yep, George and Bo are married here and he had ulterior motives for hiring him. I know, I don't like Olive getting deeper into this cult either. Yeah, Regina is very clever. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Yep, Regina is setting the trap this time. I know, Bonnie is horrible. Emma threw Killian under the bus and he kind of deserved it. He's being very unreasonable. Glad you're enjoying!
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 58: Black Box, Pt 1
Flashback
The Airport in Jamaica, 2014
Ten-year-old Olive browsed the books in the airport bookstore for the flight with her Mom. She picked up one with a dog on it and then heard a voice.
"Old Yellar's Descent…cute dog," he said, as she looked up at a handsome, tall young man, who made heat rise in her cheeks.
"Uh…yeah," Olive replied shyly.
"Bummer ending though, but if you want a really cool adventure, check out a Wrinkle in Time," he said, as he handed the book to her.
"Thanks…I will," she said, as she decided this would be her selection at his suggestion.
"Come on Ollie…we're next," Margaret called, as they both put a book on the counter for the clerk so they could pay.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay behind on the later flight with your brother?" Margaret asked. The twins had rarely, if ever, been apart for more than a few hours their entire lives.
"No…I like us having girl time," Olive replied. Margaret smiled.
"Me too," she replied, as she paid for the books and they put them in their carry-ons. Olive's eyes then wandered to the young man she had just met and she noticed that he was approaching the flight desk.
"Final call for JFK passengers willing to take a later flight," she said, as Olive saw him taking a ticket for the later flight.
"Actually Mom, would you be mad if I stayed behind with Dad and Henry?" she asked.
"What happened to Mom/daughter time?" Margaret asked.
"Next weekend…we can do mani-pedi's?" Olive asked. Margaret smiled and hurried her off.
"Okay…go," she said, as Olive approached the desk behind the young man.
"The book is really good so far," she said to strike up a conversation with him. He smiled.
"Yeah…if you like that, then you'll love Homer," he joked.
"I don't read Latin…I'm ten and a half," she joked back.
"What's up ten and a half, I'm TJ," he said. She smiled shyly. But once Olive reached the desk, all the tickets for the later flight were gone so she went ahead with her Mom, not knowing at that moment that her life would change forever.
"Miracles," Baron Samdi said, as he stood before his congregation, including Olive, who was snapped back from her memories to the present time.
"All the world's religions have been based on apocryphal miracles," he stated.
"Resurrection, reincarnation...all rumors and myths that trace back millennia," Baron continued.
"Until Flight 828 returned. That 191 miracle returnees reappeared on Earth makes an undeniable case for miracles tomorrow. Believe in the miracle of Flight 828," he said.
"Believe in the passengers, who, after escaping death, will now walk among you for decades to come," he said.
That part gave Olive pause and sowed a tiny seed of doubt. Baron Samdi didn't know about the death date. None of the other passengers did as far as they knew and her Dad said it wasn't time to tell anyone until he made progress in figuring out how to beat it. But she wasn't sure that was the right recourse. If Baron knew, maybe he could offer a different perspective; one she was doubtful that her parents would be willing to hear. They thought Baron Samdi was a con-artist, but Olive believed differently and the decision on whether or not to tell him about the death date was weighing heavily on her.
David sat in front of the laptop in his home office and removed his glasses, as he prepared the webcam to record a video for him. It had been over a month now since he started at the University and he hadn't discovered a single clue as to how to beat the death date. He wasn't losing hope yet, but he decided that it was time to prepare for the worst case scenario. He pressed play.
"Olive…if you're watching this, well, then I'm gone, probably for good this time," he said.
"I'm sorry…leaving you was never something I intended. You know your Mom and me. We had our whole lives planned out since we were ten and for the most part, everything went our way," he added.
"I wish I could be there for all the milestones I'm going to miss and my biggest regret will always be the ones I already missed. I wish I was there to walk you down the aisle…for my first grandchild. But if you're watching this, that wasn't meant to be, I guess," he said, holding back tears.
"I need you to know that I never, never stopped trying, Olive," he implored, as Margaret came in.
"What are you doing?" she asked, as he closed the laptop hurriedly and looked at her.
"David Nolan…you delete that video. You delete that video right now," she said sternly.
"MM…" he started to say.
"No David…I won't let you give up," she said, as there was a catch in her voice.
"I won't lose you again," she cried, as he stood up and pulled her into his arms, feeling the swell of her belly now against him and his hand immediately went to her baby bump.
"I'm not giving up, my love," he promised.
"I'm just preparing for the worst…but I'm hoping that never comes," he added, as he gently brushed a tear away from cheek.
"It can't…it can't come. I can't lose you again…I won't survive that again," she cried.
"I'm not going anywhere this time…I am not going to stop until I find a way to beat the death date," he promised.
"I was just preparing…you know how I am," he said.
"I do…and that's why I forgive you for it. Delete it," she insisted. He sighed and opened the laptop, letting her watch him do just that.
"There," he said. He still marveled at how easily she got her way with him. He hugged her gently and she held onto him fiercely. She wanted to scream to whatever was bringing them the callings to spare her beloved and so she did.
"Please…don't take them again. You took them away for years already and you brought them back. Why would you bring them back only to take them again?" she asked silently.
"Please don't take them away a second time," she pleaded again, as he pulled back and looked at her.
"Whatever the Callings are…I'll figure out their ultimate goal and pass whatever test I must to stay with you and our children," he said. She nodded and he kissed her passionately.
"We find a way…we always do," he promised again. She smiled.
"You're so good…and I know the Callings probably chose you for that reason. I know you're the best one to figure all of this out," she said confidently. He smiled.
"You may be giving me too much credit, but I'll do anything to keep this family together," he said, as they hugged again and she just enjoyed being in his arms.
"I have to go into work for a bit, but I'll bring home dinner?" he asked. She smiled.
"That sounds great…and ice cream. The baby wants ice cream," she replied. He smirked.
"You want ice cream," he corrected.
"It's the same thing," she said, as he kissed her again and grabbed his coat and briefcase, before leaving for the University.
Regina prepared for the next test and turned on her recording device, bringing it to her lips.
"After a month of testing, I was able to confirm elimination of the 828 anomaly in a petri dish," she recorded.
"Now I need to move on to phase two…" she said, as she carefully selected a mouse from the cage.
"Test the viability and toxicity of the serum I created on a living specimen," she said, as she prepared the syringe. It was either going to be an antidote or a lethal injection, most likely.
"Alright, hero, let's do this," she said, as she gave the mouse the injection.
"I've got to go, but if you survive this, little buddy, then we might have a chance of beating the Death Date. Fingers crossed and lips sealed," she said, as she placed him back in his cage.
"So…nice digs," Emma said, as she looked around Mr. Gold's house, though Emma thought it was more like a small mansion.
"Yeah…Dad has done well, but ruthless pawnbrokers usually do," Neal replied.
"He must be over the moon to have you home," she mentioned.
"It's not like I have much choice. No one likes hiring a former addict, especially one who is missing a year on his resume," Neal said.
"You'll find something," Emma replied, as she looked at all the books on a very tall shelf, which was filled with them.
"That's quite a collection," she mentioned.
"Dad says that his profession requires him to know a little of everything since he never knows what's going to come into his shop," he said.
"Makes sense…why don't you just work at the shop?" she asked.
"I'd rather not," Neal replied and she didn't press him on it. Just the fact that he was staying with his father now was enough.
"Well…I better get to the station. Thanks for lunch…you can cook like MM and she'll be happy to know I didn't eat pop-tarts for lunch," Emma said. He chuckled.
"Good thing you have us…or you'd eat like a child," he joked. She smiled.
"Don't knock it…sugar is pretty great," she joked, as she left and headed out to her car while he watched her go fondly.
After the service, Olive helped out with cleaning up the refreshments and lagged around a little when she was done. Finally, she made her decision and decided to approach
Mr. Samdi.
"Isaiah, you're taking the lead on the soup kitchen in Corona tonight," he instructed, as he looked at his clipboard.
"Got it. Uh, I've got new flyers ready for distribution, too," Isaiah said, as she approached.
"Olive," he greeted.
"Can I speak to you? Privately?" she asked. He nodded and showed her into his office.
"Something is troubling you?" he asked. She nodded.
"What you said at your sermon today, "decades to come"?" she questioned. He nodded.
"Have you heard about the Death Date?" she asked.
"Enlighten me," he requested. She was still apprehensive though. Telling him felt like betraying her parents…but she needed to talk to someone about this. Someone that wasn't family.
"Olive, whatever it is, it's okay," Baron assured her.
"It's not," she insisted.
"My dad, Cal, my Aunt Mick, they all had these Callings
showing that they're gonna die 51/2 years after 828 returned. They know the exact date," she said, as he listened intently.
"June 2, 2024. I'm sorry to drop this bomb on you, but my dad's been working like crazy to find a way around it, but so far, he hasn't," she explained.
"I'm afraid…I think he is too and so is my Mom. They try to hide it and always find strength in each other, but my Mom is terrified of losing him again. I am too…and my brother and my Aunt. And…" she said, as she trailed off. She probably shouldn't tell him yet about the baby, though it was starting to get hard for her mother to hide. They wanted to stave off the press as long as possible.
"And?" he asked, but she shook her head.
"And I don't know what to do," she said, redirecting her thoughts.
"Olive…We choose which path we follow. Fear begets fear, and miracles beget miracles. We were saved before. We'll be saved again. If we believe," he preached.
"Hey, Professor Nolan. Busy?" TJ asked, as he poked his head into David's office.
"Professor Nolan." David said, mulling over how it sounded. He liked it.
"That never gets old," he said and TJ smiled.
"Just grading papers. What can I do for you, TJ?" he asked.
"I had another Calling," he said, as he came into the office.
"What do you know about a bug, a bird, a fish, and a tiger?" he continued. David's brows furrowed, as he thought about that for a moment and then listened to TJ explain the entire Calling.
The woman behind the bar observed him, as he ate a meal at her bar again. He was a NYPD detective, from what she had learned, and he had been a regular in her place for the past month. He was handsome and seemed lonely and angry. She'd seen this enough and knew it was likely from a broken heart. Maybe all he needed was to move on.
"Coincidence you've been eating here so much during my shifts?" she asked.
"Coincidence you've been working so much during my meals?" Killian retorted.
"Just ask me out for dinner already," she said.
"I would, honestly. I just got out of something. Two somethings, actually. Not really ready for another something," Killian replied.
"Then maybe we just skip the dinner," she countered, as they shared a long stare.
"Hey, leave the poor bastard alone and get me another beer, sis," one of the men, who was playing pool, called.
"Saved by the brother," she said, as she opened a beer for him.
"Coming up, Nicky," she said, as she slid it over to him.
"I didn't get your name," Killian mentioned. She smiled.
"Greta. Greta Branson," she answered.
On her way to the station, Emma had a Calling, the first one in almost a month, but it was like it was making up for lost time, because she heard it repeating in her head.
"Bring him back," the voice said.
"Bring who back?"
"Bring him back," the voice repeated. The voice repeated several times, annoyingly so, until she found herself on the sidewalk, staring at Neal.
"Bring him back?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yeah…guess you got it too," she replied, as she walked closer to him.
"What do you think it means?" he asked.
"No clue…" she replied. Before they could contemplate further, they heard it again and so they followed it, until they were inside a bank.
"Why would it bring us here?" Neal asked.
"I'm just as lost as you," Emma replied.
"Maybe we call your brother? He seems good at puzzles," Neal said, making Emma chuckle.
"He is…he's such a nerd," she joked and he shared in the joke with a chuckle.
"You don't like puzzles?" he asked.
"If you mean do I like curling up on the couch with a good crossword, then no…though MM loves to do it with him," she replied.
"I dunno…sounds kind of romantic," he mentioned, as an awkward pause came between them. Before they could speak further, a man with a gun entered the bank.
"Shit…" Emma cursed.
"Everybody down! Everybody get down!" the nervous, masked man shouted. He saw one of the teller's going for the panic button and pointed his gun.
"Don't touch it! Don't touch it! Get down! Everybody down on the floor now!" he ordered, as Neal and Emma did as he asked.
"You're not armed?" Neal whispered.
"I wasn't on duty yet. I don't have my gun," Emma whispered back.
"Get down!" he ordered, making sure everyone was on the floor.
"The Calling brought us here for this?" Neal wondered and Emma was as confused as he was.
"Everyone move to the back and put your phones on the floor, now!" he shouted, as all the phones were placed in a pile as instructed. Emma noticed he was nervous, sweating and really had no idea what he was doing. Which was good and bad. Good in the fact that he was most likely a desperate person that didn't really want to do this. But it was bad, because it made him unpredictable and easily agitated.
"We need to calm this guy down," Emma whispered.
"You're the cop," Neal said.
"He's an ameteur," Emma said.
"How can you tell?" Neal asked.
He's got no body armor, no backup. He hasn't taken out a single camera," she explained.
"Most of the time these guys are in and out, three minutes max," Emma added.
"So he doesn't know what he's doing," Neal deduced.
"That's a good thing, right?" he asked
"No, it means he's unpredictable…dangerous," Emma answered.
"Yeah, but if he's not a pro, maybe we can figure out a way to take him down," Neal said.
"Hey…" Emma said, as she slowly stood up with her hands up and he nervously pointed the gun at her.
"Get down…get down!" he ordered.
"I can tell that you haven't done this before," she said.
"No talking!" he ordered.
"You don't want anyone to get hurt, right?" she asked. But he didn't answer.
"How about we get him some money out of the drawers?" she asked again.
"No, I don't care about money. I need to get into the vault," he demanded, as she looked at the bank manager.
"The vault is locked. It shuts down automatically whenever the silent alarm is triggered," he said nervously.
"Buddy, you're better off just getting money from the register," Emma said, but he snapped at that.
"You're not listening to me! I don't care about money! I need to get into the vault!" he cried, as Neal tackled him to the ground.
"Neal!" Emma cried, as he managed to pull the robber's mask off. Emma looked at him and realized she had seen him before. On David's wall.
"You were on Flight 828," she said, surprising Neal, though it probably shouldn't have.
"So was I…" Emma revealed to him, as he looked at her in surprise as well…