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.
This one will update bi-weekly on Sunday nights now. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: I know, poor Margaret. But yeah, David will help her thru it. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Yeah, Emma handled that officer better than I probably would, lol. Yeah, Leopold is a terrible human being, but is telling the truth and didn't murder anyone. Glad you're enjoying!
Number Ten: I am excited for it! Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yeah, it was quite a twist. But no one is really crying over Leopold being arrested, even though he didn't actually do it. Yeah, Margaret has David to help her get through this and Emma will be investigating. Unfortunately, the news about the baby is out and reporters are salivating. Yeah, Olive is hiding the fact that she is attending Samdi's church. That probably won't be well received. Of course Leopold has hired the best legal team. Not guilty, but you can't help but want him to go down. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: Yep, connections everywhere. Yeah, what Logan's brother did was pretty crappy, but he did need to calm down. Yep, they love the numerology and playing with it. Yep, another peacock. Cora is definitely the murderer, as much as we don't like Leopold, he's actually innocent in this. I don't feel sorry for Leopold either. He's scum. Glad you're enjoying!
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 62: Coordinated Flight, Pt 2
Regina stood in her apartment, stunned by what she was seeing, which was nothing at the moment. Finally, after staying late at her step-sister's following the news of Leopold's arrest, Regina came home. After her conversation with Vance earlier in the evening, she was sure that they had the upper hand. But as she stared at her empty home lab, she felt like she had been punched in the gut. She quickly dialed his unlisted number.
"It's gone…" she uttered once he answered.
"It seems our cover is blown…the Major figured out you were playing her," Vance said regrettably.
"How? We had her!" Regina insisted.
"She's a seasoned intelligence officer…this was always a possibility," Vance said.
"So what now? That was most of my work!" Regina exclaimed.
"I know…it's a setback, but she'll pop up again, I'm sure of it. And so will your research," Vance said.
"So…now I'm just in standby mode again?" she asked.
"For now…I'm afraid so," he replied, as he hung up. Regina huffed and tossed her phone on the couch. It was a setback…but it wouldn't stop her. She would continue her research to cure them of the Death Date Calling, no matter what it took and when the opportunity to make the Major pay came around again, she wouldn't hesitate to go for the jugular this time…
David sat in his office that morning, between classes, and soon noticed TJ in his doorway.
"Hey…" TJ said.
"Hey…" David said, a little surprised. He honestly thought TJ was never going to speak to him again, let alone come to him.
"So, first, you tell me I have a Death Date, and now some magic compass your sister found in a safe-deposit box is gonna be the way we avoid it?" TJ asked.
"Well, I'm not sure I would say magic, but yeah…it might be a key or at least a clue," David replied.
"Sorry…magic is just kind of a built-in excuse not to look for an explanation, but I still think there is one," he added.
"Well, as long as it can save us, I don't care what we call it," TJ replied, as he sat down.
"Those engravings... They're not part of the original design," David said, as they looked at the compass, which Emma had given him to hang onto.
"The weird star in the peacock?" TJ asked.
"The peacock was part of the Death Date Calling," David replied.
"So, who engraved it, and why?" TJ wondered.
"That's what we need to find out," David answered.
"Have you heard what happened at Samdi's church?" TJ asked. David shook his head.
"No…I haven't," he replied, as TJ turned on the television in David's office.
"If you're just joining us…we have a confirmed attack on a church, run by a flight 828 passenger. There are no leads on the identity of the assailants and there are only minor injuries to one man, but it is clear the tension between the public and these mysterious passengers only continues to escalate," the reporter said. David sighed and muted it.
"You think it's the X'ers again?" TJ asked. He nodded.
"Definitely…and Samdi is only fueling the flames with his church. Some of his followers think we're Gods or something and it's going to get people hurt…or people we love," David lamented. TJ wondered if he should tell David that he had attended a service, but then decided against it, because then he would find out that Olive was attending services at the church. She seemed enthralled by it, but he thought Samdi was a charlatan, though he hadn't told her that yet.
"Save her," David heard in his head and he took a sharp breath.
"You just had one…you just had another Calling," TJ said.
"Save her…" David said, as TJ checked his phone.
"So…according to Twitter there was only one victim from today's attack, but it was a man," TJ said.
"The Calling said, "Save her." David said.
"Who is "her"? You sure it had to do with what happened at the Believers?" TJ asked.
"The only thing I'm sure of is somebody needs my help," David said, as his phone chimed.
"It's Margaret," he said.
"I'll give you some privacy. I'm going to head down to the library," TJ said. David nodded and answered his phone, as the youth left.
"Hi baby," Margaret said. An instant smile came to his face.
"Hey yourself, beautiful," he answered.
"Henry and I were hoping you could pick up pizza on the way home. We've both got a craving," she said playfully. He smiled.
"Consider it done," he replied.
"How's your day?" she asked.
"It's okay…I just had another Calling though," he replied.
"What was it?" she asked.
"Just "Save her". Did you or Henry feel anything?" he asked.
"No, nothing here. Save who?" Margaret wondered.
"I don't know. But I got a bad feeling about this," David replied.
"Did you talk to your Emma?" she asked.
"Not yet…she's working a case, so I haven't been able…" he said, but was cut off when he heard Henry yell.
"Mom!" he called.
"What the...?!" he heard Margaret cry and then scream.
"Margaret!?" he cried.
"Margaret!?" he cried again, as he listened to all the scary noises and waited, though he was already running for his car.
"We're here…" Margaret finally answered.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Someone sideswiped us and we hit a pole. We're okay though I think," she replied.
"Where are you? I'm on my way!" he called, as he jumped in his car and sped off for the location that she gave to him.
Emma resisted the urge to sigh in frustration, as she questioned Isaiah, but pressed on.
"Sorry. I didn't get a good look," Isaiah insisted.
"So, you said that you were in here, and then you heard a noise and went out there to investigate?" Emma asked. He nodded.
"But you didn't get a good look," she continued.
"Were their faces covered?" Emma questioned.
"No," Isaiah said.
"Isaiah, we've met before. Do you remember that?" Emma asked.
"Of course I do. You're one of the Returned. You...you saved me," he answered.
"Look, I know that you're scared, but you are safe now. We will protect you," she insisted.
"I'm not scared. I didn't see them," he claimed.
"These men, they are dangerous, and we can't catch them unless you help us," she implored.
"Who pulled the fire alarm? Did they get a better look?" Emma questioned.
"I don't know," Isaiah answered.
"Don't you want to see the people who did this to you, to your church, punished?" she asked.
"It is not my place to judge. Their eyes will be opened in time," he insisted cryptically.
"I'll be right back," Emma said, as she approached Baron Samdi.
"Mr. Samdi…we need to talk," she said, as he turned to her.
"What did you say to Isaiah? Why won't he talk to us?" Emma questioned.
"Emma, it's not like I have some superpower. These people can speak to you about anything they want," he answered.
"And yet, they won't. You do realize that if we don't catch these people, the attacks are just going to get worse" she asked.
"Have you considered that arresting them may make things worse? Especially if you're the one who does it?" he countered.
"If I do nothing, then I might be next, or my family or you. Today was baseball bats. Tomorrow might be guns. Do you see where that's going?" she questioned.
"I believe in Gandhi's path. The minute we move to the offensive, we become a force to be feared. Then sympathy evaporates," he warned.
"So, this is a PR campaign?" she asked.
"This is about instilling hope," he corrected.
"To what end, though? People are getting hurt" she reminded him.
"To a world that understands and embraces us as a miracle," he preached.
"You mean embraces you and donates to you. That's what you're all about, isn't it?" she questioned. He smirked and turned back to his desk.
"I think we've answered all your questions, Detective," he said, indicating that he was done talking.
"Let me give you a hand," Killian offered, as he helped Greta lift some cartons of liquor onto the counter to be unloaded.
"Way to ruin my workout," she joked.
"You're really not good at casual, are you?" she asked.
"What, so, now I have to apologize for my mama raising me right?" he joked.
"Man, why do I always end up with the mama's boys?" she teased.
"What was she like? Your mother?" Greta asked curiously, but they were interrupted by her obnoxious twin brother.
"Hey, Greta…I'm taking the Buick," Nick said.
"Like hell you are," she protested.
"Last time, it took me a month to get the smell out," she added, as Nick noticed the familiar detective sitting at the bar.
"You're becoming a fixture around here, aren't you?" he asked.
"Best breakfast around," Killian replied, as he continued to eat.
"Breakfast is for regulars," Nick commented.
"Keep it up, and you're gonna find yourself right off the list," he added in an attempt to intimidate him.
"You want a ride, Nick? I could have one of my squad cars come by and pick you up," Killian retorted, as Nick decided to get in his face at that.
"Okay, aren't you, uh, late meeting up with your loser friends?" Greta questioned.
"You're one to talk," Nick spat back, as he stormed out.
"Your brother's a real prince," Killian mentioned.
"He's not a bad kid. He just... fell in with the wrong crowd," she said.
"Kids who fall into the wrong crowd tend to become bad kids," Killian warned.
"What about guys who hang out with sassy bartenders? What do they end up as?" she teased. He smirked.
I don't know. Regulars?" he mused, as she took his plate and put it in the sink.
"It all happened so fast," Margaret said, as the officer took her statement at the scene.
"By the time I got my bearings, they were gone. I'm sorry. It's... It's all kind of a blur," she added, as her husband's car pulled up and he jumped out in a panic.
"Margaret!" he cried, as he rushed to her and Henry.
"We're okay," she promised, as he cupped her face in his hands and put his hand on Henry's shoulder.
"I heard the impact on the phone. What happened?" he asked.
"I-It was a blue truck," she said.
"They didn't even try to stop," Henry added.
"They hit you on purpose?" David asked.
"I don't know. They were speeding. I tried to get out of the way. But.." Margaret answered, trailing off.
"Driver was probably texting. It happens all the time," the officer said flippantly.
"They side-swipe them and just take off?" David questioned with scrutiny.
"Probably uninsured. We'll keep an eye out," the officer replied, still with a flippant attitude.
"There's got to be witnesses or traffic cameras. A truck like that doesn't just disappear into thin air!" David cried.
"Your insurance company can request…" the officer started to say, without looking up from his tablet.
"Hey, buddy, can you just take this a little more seriously? This is my family," he snapped, as Margaret put a hand on his arm. He sighed.
"Look, my sister's a cop in the 28…" he started to say, but Margaret interrupted and he saw that she had a hand on her belly.
"David…I think there's something wrong with the baby…" she said fearfully.
Killian got to the station that morning and found a blank folder on his desk. He sat down and began to look through the contents and what he found was very surprising. He looked around the precinct and wondered who could have given this to him. It was a treasure trove of incriminating evidence against Cora Mills and if any of it was true, then Leopold Blanchard might be innocent. Not completely, of course, but innocent of this crime. Before he took it to the Captain though, he decided to dig and check out all the information for himself. He picked up the phone.
"Yeah…it's Detective Rogers. I have some bank records that seem to have a lot of untraceable dummy accounts where large sums of money are going. I need someone in cyber to trace them," he said and then nodded.
"Thanks…I'll bring them down," he said, before hanging up and grabbing his coat.
Margaret waited impatiently, as the doctor prepared the ultrasound. To be safe, they had taken an ambulance to the hospital and now nervously awaited to see if everything was okay. David clutched her hands and he was the only thing keeping her from bursting into tears at the thought of something being wrong with their baby.
"Okay…there we go," the doctor said, as the machine whirred to life and she smiled at the wonder on their faces.
"That's a strong heartbeat," the doctor added.
"So, everything's okay?" Margaret asked.
"Um, she appears to be fine…" the doctor replied, as they looked stunned and smiled at each other.
"Uh...oh, my goodness. Did I just...were you not finding out?" the doctor asked.
"Not really," Margaret replied.
"It's a girl!" David said, as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm so sorry," the doctor apologized.
"Don't be," Margaret said, as he kissed her forehead.
"Oh…" the doctor said, as she saw something on the monitor.
"Doctor, we're in the clear, right?" David asked.
"I'd like to run some tests and make sure there's no placental abruption," the doctor said.
"Oh my God…" Margaret uttered in fear.
"There's no cause for alarm. We'll just keep you here for a few hours, monitor the baby. Okay?" the doctor asked. They nodded numbly.
"I'll be right back," the doctor said.
"David…" she uttered.
"It's going to be okay…we've been through thick and thin and we'll get through this too," he promised, as he pressed a kiss to her lips.
"Save her," he realized at that moment.
"Your Calling…you think it's about the baby?" she asked.
"I don't know…but you and our baby are my first priority," he promised, as they waited for the doctor to return.
Neal sat in his chair at a meeting and for the first time, was finally volunteering to speak, mostly at Emma's urging. She insisted it would be therapeutic and he was finding out that she was right.
"I was a wreck, you know? I was hopeless and powerless. Alone, which I deserved.
"But now I've found someone who believes in me and who has accepted me with open arms," he confessed.
"That's wonderful," the counselor assured him.
"But I feel like a fraud, you know?" he questioned.
"Cause I'm still tempted. When I was first in recovery, I also struggled with relationships.
I finally realized that I had to feel comfortable with myself before I could be comfortable with someone else. I'm trying. It's just...it's not easy," Neal confessed.
"A big part of that was seeking forgiveness from the people you hurt while you were using," the counselor advised.
"I know, but...how can we start something new with the past hanging over our heads?" Neal asked.
"When you're ready, the next step is to make amends," the counselor said.
"I don't know if the people I hurt will ever forgive me. I don't know if they should. My father has, but then that's not surprising. Others…I'm not sure," Neal said.
"It's not about them. It's about you. And moving on. Taking stock of how far you've come and seeing yourself as someone worthy of being loved," the counselor advised. That was the end of the meeting, as the message was true for everyone in attendance. Neal left and made his way back to Emma's apartment, only to find someone waiting for him…someone he hadn't seen since his days as an addict.
"Hey…" she said.
"Tamara…what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I…I found out that you were back in town. You disappeared for a while and I thought we should talk," she replied. He sighed.
"Yeah…I'm clean now and I'm not into the life we used to be," he said. She smiled.
"Me too…I need to make amends," she replied. He nodded.
"Me too…but you have to know that I've moved on. We…we were really bad for each other," Neal said.
"I know…I get it. I'm not here to rekindle anything between us. I just want to clear the air and make a clean break," she insisted. He nodded and let her into the apartment so they could talk.
"David…" Emma called, as she finally arrived at the hospital.
"Oh, finally…what took you so long?" he asked impatiently, as they hugged.
"Sorry…I got here as quickly as I could. How's MM and Henry?" she asked.
"Henry's okay…shaken, but okay. Dad took him to get ice cream," David replied.
"Margaret is putting on her brave face. They're still running tests on the baby," he lamented, but then smiled.
"It's a girl," he added wistfully.
"She's going to be okay…" Emma implored.
"I can feel it," she added, as they caught a glimpse of the news in the lobby waiting room. It was another fearful person being interviewed about the Church attack. David clenched his teeth in frustration at that.
"Every... every time Samdi does another sermon or some idiot goes on TV and invokes 828, these attacks ramp up. It's just gonna get worse," he lamented.
"There is still a chance that it was an accident," Emma reminded him.
"It wasn't. I had another Calling. "Save her," he said.
"Margaret, Henry, and the baby were targeted because of 828. Now how am I supposed to save the passengers when I can't even protect my own family?" he asked in frustration.
"David… it's not all on you, okay? I'm going after the Xers. Vance is tracking down the Major. Regina...she's going to find a cure for the Death Date," Emma insisted.
"Yeah, I'm starting to worry we're not gonna make it that far," he muttered.
"You can't think that way and more importantly, don't let MM hear that." she chided.
"Em…I need all the reports that the NYPD has on violence against passengers.
"There may be some mention of a blue truck or what…" he said, but she cut him off.
"That is a long shot. There are a lot of incidents," she warned.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing. Em…please," he pleaded.
"Okay, I'll send them your way," she relented, as she gave him a hug.
"I'm going to say hi to MM and then I gotta get back," she replied. He nodded and took her into Margaret's room to see her, for he knew his wife would be happy to see her, while they waited impatiently on the tests the doctor was running on the baby…