AN: Just to remind you, there is a character death in this chapter. (I always put those kind of warnings in bold so that people are aware).

Otherwise I hope you will enjoy this chapter. I must admit, it's not long to go until this story is over and I'm actually surprised at that as I've managed to get this story up and going quite well.

Oh, and before I forget, this chapter is a bit longer than usual. Again, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 18:

"I don't understand, what's happening?" Judy asked in a panic as Stoic created a protective circle barrier around the group, "Why is she doing this?"

"Tenebris slashed her upstairs," Stoic answered.

"I know that,"

"He infected her, he knew she would run for Rachel to help her, so he scratched her, the curse in her blood and it's taken over and confused her mind, she's not herself,"

BANG!

Was the noise the group heard in the living room as Quinn was still attempting to reach Rachel who had managed to evade capture through almost any means, including going under the couch. Which Quinn had overturned, Rachel scrambled out of the room and into the front hallway as Stoic had to catch the couch before it went out the window or landed on other women in the room.

"Get over here," Quinn yelled as Rachel ran and ducked.

"No, give Quinn back you meany," Rachel yelled back.

"I am Quinn,"

"No you're not,"

"Oh good god," Santana groaned in annoyance yet fear, "Mami, this is ridiculous we should do something, it can't be that bad,"

"You can't though," Stoic said as he put the couch down and reinforced the protective barrier around the women again so that Quinn couldn't get through if she tried.

"Why? This doesn't make any sense,"

"It never does,"

"Well why don't you do something about then Mr Demon?"

"Because I need my powers to not only help Mike but heal Quinn after Rachel manages to help her, plus I'm thinking, okay, there has to be a way to help her but I can't think of it just yet that doesn't involve me tearing her head off and killing her,"

"How about we bind her?" Judy suggested as Rachel shrieked at the vase flying towards her head that she caught and threw back at Quinn.

Stoic made a sound like he wasn't so sure it'd work.

"What?" Judy asked.

"It may work, but then it may not, it could break her bones especially if she's this determined to get Rachel," he answered.

"I still think you should do something," Maribel said.

"I don't think he can," Jenny said as she looked strongly at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Because he's still bleeding from his fight with his brother and it's affected him very badly,"

Maribel looked at him, "What is she talking about?" she asked.

Stoic just looked at her then looked away as he looked after Rachel, she was still going well and managed to trap Quinn in the broom closet.

"Give Quinn back," Rachel was heard yelling.

"I am Quinn," Quinn yelled back.

"No you're not," Rachel yelled back then paused as she started to move backwards from the door, "UH-OH, GANGWAY,"

Rachel squealed as she ran back to the living room and passed through the adults and teens who were safely in the middle of the room as Quinn unleashed a powerful blast and glared angrily at the retreating brunette.

Santana sighed, "Only the Hobbit and the Lemon would be able to turn a freaking creepy showdown into a fluffy comedy," she muttered.

"C'mon Rachel, just give me your powers," Quinn said as she walked into the living room.

"I retract that statement," Santana said as she shuddered at the murderous look on her friends face.

"I can't, they're mine," Rachel said as she looked at Quinn from behind the adults, "Give Quinn back,"

"I am Quinn," Quinn said angrily.

"No you're not, you're not my sunshine, Quinn is my only sunshine who makes me happy, you're not her,"

Stoic finally had a thought that hit him, he turned and looked at Judy and asked, "Judy, was Quinn always called Quinn?"

"No, she was once called Lucy," Judy answered, "Why?"

"Oh god, I'm an idiot, of course she is, she's the one Rachel had been talking about, Lucy, Lucy Fabray, had braces and was a little chubby as a child,"

"Yes, why's that relevant?"

"Before Quinn became Quinn, she was Lucy, don't you remember her and Rachel playing as children?"

"Once, but Russel put a stop to that,"

"Rachel told me, well Bunny me, that she met a girl who was like sunshine before telling me that this girl found happiness with her, that she seemed very happy, and then one day she disappeared, the sunshine had gone away, with all this fighting and arguing and turmoil I can't believe I forgot this,"

"Okay I'm lost,"

"Memory, if we can get Quinn to remember she can fight this and I can burn out the rest,"

"So like an exorcism?"

"Yes,"

Rachel squealed as she jumped into Stoic's arms, "Mr Tibbs, she's not stopping, why won't she let Quinn come back, I want Quinn back," Rachel said as she huddled into the demon.

"I can get her back," Stoic said.

"You can?"

"Yes, do you trust me?"

"Yes,"

"Good," Stoic said as he put Rachel down and stepped outside of the protective barrier, "Hello Lucy,"

"The hell you want demon?" Quinn said.

"You don't really want to kill Rachel do you?"

"I want her power how I get it is irrelevant,"

"No you don't, you never have, c'mon Lucy Quinn focus, the human side of you is stronger than this, better than this, think about what you will lose if you do this, if you hurt the one person who you said made you happy, focus on that memory,"

Quinn was seen physically moving as if her mind was tearing apart from the inside, "No," she started.

"Quinn think of Rachel and how she made you happy, think of how you felt when you were Lucy, you can't have that if you kill her or die yourself, you can do this,"

"You have no influence over me...brother," Quinn smirked.

"Wait, what?" Santana started.

"It's Tenebris's influence, he left an imprint behind," Stoic said, "I'm not talking to the curse in your veins, I'm talking to the human inside, Quinn I know you can hear me, you can fight this, Tenebris can't have power over you unless you let him, c'mon I know you can fight him,"

"NO," Quinn started as she shook her head, "I am, I am his, his, he is the Master, the power, I want it,"

"Quinn you know you truly don't, you love Rachel don't you?"

"No, I, no, the power, I want it, but why do I want it?" Quinn said as she moved back then began to cough and thrash violently.

"By the powers of God, and of the heavenly hosts," Stoic started as he started to unleash some of his powers as he made the symbol of the cross in the air over Quinn's body, "I command the curse that is riddling this young woman's body to get out of her and dissipate by the blood of Christ may her body be cleaned,"

And just as he finished the incantation he let out a powerful spell that was filled with water wash through Quinn's body causing her to cough and thrash as she looked like she was drowning.

"QUINN!" Rachel and Santana both screamed at the same time.

"Judy, hold her up right," Stoic said, "The curse is slowly coming out,"

Judy did as instructed and held onto Quinn's shoulders as the blonde had fallen to the ground and began to vomit blackened blood.

"That's it Quinn, think about Rachel, your Rachel, the little girl you stared down a demon for, the girl that you for all those years have loved but was never allowed to until now," Stoic said.

"How does he know she has loved Rachel all this time?" Jenny asked Maribel quietly.

"I think he's guessing that part, must be true if she's focusing again," Maribel answered.

Stoic looked pleased as he focused on his power, "Santana, Brittany, hold Rachel back and do not let her go," he instructed as the two nodded their heads and held Rachel, making the little wonder why, "Okay Quinn, this is going to hurt, a lot, Judy hold her,"

Judy drew in a breath as she held Quinn. Stoic began to concentrate as he drew out his powers and roared. A fire burned the bloodied black vomit on the ground before it entered Quinn's body causing the blonde to scream in pain.

"What are you doing to her? MR TIBBS, STOP IT," Rachel screamed as she struggled against Brittany and Santana's grip, "Let me go, I have to help Quinn,"

"No, stay back," Santana said as she held Rachel closer, "Trust that Stoic's doing his job, okay,"

"But,"

Santana just looked down at Rachel as the little girl stopped fighting.

As Quinn was heard crying from the pain Judy had to hold her daughter's hand tight, "It's almost over Quinn," Stoic said as he finally reached the core of the curse and said loudly, "Hey Tenebris,"

That caused Quinn's face to change as Tenebris's appeared for a moment glaring at him.

"I condemn your fucking curse and you to the abyss," Stoic said as a loud rumble was heard and Tenebris's face soon disappeared and Quinn screamed as the last of the curse burned out of her body causing her to collapse into her mother's arms, "It's done, she's healed,"

"Are you sure?" Judy asked.

Stoic just nodded his head, "I am very certain this time, I checked, she just needs to rest now,"

As Quinn lay resting with Rachel curled up next to her. Santana and Brittany sat on the couch watching a comedy.

"Do you think Stoic is going to be okay?" Brittany asked.

"No, I don't think he will be," Santana answered.

"What makes you say that?"

"Jenny was right, he's still bleeding, I saw it under his suit jacket, whatever Tenebris did to him, it's pretty bad,"

"Oh," Brittany said as she leaned her head against the Latina, "I just want this to be over, I want to go back to worry about cheerleading and being with you,"

"Yeah, me too B," Santana said as she kissed the side of the blonde's head, "Me too,"

As the four were resting upstairs, Stoic was with the mothers downstairs.

"Your time is coming to an end," Stoic said as he glared at Demon Mike, "It won't take long for me to kill you,"

"Now listen to me Abel, you don't have to do this, you don't, I can heal you, I can see what he did to you," Demon Mike began to bargain.

"I know what he did to me, I know my time is coming to an end, but for now I'll just kill you,"

"You do that and the boy's body will disintegrate to ashes,"

"Not with healing waters it won't," Stoic said with a small smirk as Demon Mike began to pale, "Oh, you think I'd forget about that did you? Well, let's go shall we,"

"You can't,"

"I can and I will, but first, Michael Chang, I'm addressing you now, get out of that stolen and empty body," Stoic commanded as Mike's spirit was seen walking out of the body, "Hello Michael,"

"Hello," Mike said as he looked at Stoic.

"I'm here with an offer for you,"

"Oh?"

"I can bring you back, you can have a life again, a life that this demon stole,"

"Isn't there always a price to pay for something like this?"

"Yes,"

"What is the price?"

"You will have to drink blood because while you'll be back you won't be fully human either,"

"Can I still eat a good pizza?"

"If you wish,"

"Then I'm good,"

Stoic just looked at him.

"I just like pizza, it wouldn't have been a deal breaker if I couldn't eat it, what's the other price?"

"You must sacrifice your life to helping fight and there will be times when you can't even be human, it's a condition for coming back, you're more than able to live a life you please, but there will be times when you can't, you won't be able to be in the sun for too long, on the plus side you will have faster reflexes, be stronger, be faster, and you can see the spirit world so you know what you're doing when it's time to fight,"

Mike thought about it, he thought about his family, he thought about what his life would be like before asking, "Can I still have a family?"

"Yes, but you must realise that they won't always be safe, especially if you have children," Stoic answered.

Mike just nodded his head, "Will I age?"

"No,"

"But, what about if I marry?"

"You can't age, it's a condition of being a shade,"

"What happens if I die, will I go to heaven?"

"You will go to whichever after life you believe in based on the life you lived,"

"Okay, but, aging, I just, if I got married and had children, I just,"

"This is the price you pay, you will be immortal but remember that it doesn't mean that you can't die in battle, and you cannot kill yourself either if it gets too much,"

Mike just nodded his head, "What about my soul?"

"It will be held by someone, I will give it to Maribel or Jenny first to hold, but then you must decide who you trust enough to have it safe guarded, it will be trapped in an amulet,"

Mike nodded his head again, "Is there a way to be human again? Fully?"

"There probably is, but I don't have time to look," Stoic said as Mike thought again, "You must make your decision now Michael,"

"I'll do it,"

"Okay, for now, just wait," Stoic finished saying as he began to chant a Sanskrit mantra as Demon Mike began to scream at the pain of being burnt alive; but Stoic didn't stop, he just kept chanting as Mike's body began to burn in a crisp and the demon inside was casts into a fiery abyss to experience torture and pain until the end of time for the crimes he had done to humanity.

As Mike's body disappeared everyone looked at him.

"Now what?" Judy asked.

"I create a new body for him," Stoic said, "This will take some time,"

"I'll go check on the girls," Jenny said as Maribel and Judy nodded their heads.

-page break-

The whole ritual itself took about an hour and a half for Stoic to do as he created a new body for Mike, but eventually the ritual was done and Mike was once again standing in front of them.

"Thanks Stoic, I appreciate this," Mike said as he looked at his physical hands again.

"You just do a good job and protect the innocent," Stoic said.

"I will, oh damn, I have to call my Mom, she's so going to kick my ass," Mike said as he ran out of the room.

"MIKE!" Rachel said happily as she ran up to the guy and hugged him, "Welcome back,"

"It's good to be back, were you just asleep?"

"No,"

"Aha,"

"Yes, Mike, Mike, are you going to teach me more dancing?"

"Sure, but next time, okay, I better go home, my Mom and Dad must be worried about me as I never called home,"

"But you couldn't,"

"I know, but they don't know that,"

As Mike bid them farewell and left, Maribel turned to look at Stoic again who was coughing a big.

"How long do you have left?" Maribel asked Stoic as the demon, who was now back in human form looked at her, "It isn't long is it?"

Stoic shook his head, "A couple of hours now," he answered as he put his hand on his aching side that was still bleeding.

"What happens to Mike once you go?"

"Well he'll be his own man, he can do as he wishes and not even have to fight this war unless he really wants to, but he'll still have to drink blood and be careful about going out during the day, blah, blah, blah,"

Stoic's breathing became more laboured as he stood up.

"We can find a way to heal you," Maribel offered.

"There is no way to heal me, my brother dealt me a fatal wound, he meant to prolong my suffering," Stoic answered, "It's in his nature,"

"What are you going to do with what time you have left?"

"Mr Tibbs, can we go to the park?, I know it's late but can we go?" Rachel asked as she ran up to Stoic and held his hand.

"Spend time with Rachel," he answered with a small smile, "Farewell Maribel, may life bring you enough,"

Maribel smiled as she pulled the demon into a hug, "I'm sorry I doubted you,"

"It happens, I'm just glad that I saved Rachel and the girls in time,"

Stoic looked at Rachel before saying, "Listen Rachel, could you go see Judy and ask her to take us to the park, that would be great,"

"Okay," she said as she ran off enthusiastically.

"You want to go to the park now? It's getting late," Maribel started.

"Yeah, I know, but this is my last chance to be with her, plus the park will have no one there at this time so that's always good," he answered as Santana and Brittany got up and walked up to him.

"Hey you two, I have to go, like go, so tell Tina I say goodbye, even though she's never met me, oh and Mike too," Stoic requested.

"Yeah, we will, goodbye Stoic," Santana said as she hugged him, "I don't normally do hugs so this didn't happen,"

"Okay,"

"Bye Mr Tibbs, I hope that wherever it is you're going that you'll be good and happy," Brittany said as she pulled him into a hug.

"Goodbye Abel, I hope you are reborn as someone who is of a good and well life," Jenny said.

"I hope so," Stoic as he hugged her.

Quinn was soon seen standing at the doorway of the living room, "Thanks for what you did for me Stoic, I appreciate it," she said as she hugged him, "I'm going to say goodbye to you now because when we're at the park, I don't want to ruin the last moment for Rachel because she'll have to say goodbye to you last,"

"I know," Stoic said as he saw Rachel running up to him with Judy just behind her.

At the park, Stoic played with Rachel for about an hour on the playground and relished in watching her laugh with joy as she played her games with him. It wasn't long before Quinn felt well enough to fully join in as Stoic passed Rachel on to her so he could sit down next to Judy and take a break.

At the park bench Judy looked at Stoic and said, "Thank you Abel, for what you've done for my daughter,"

Stoic just nodded his head at her.

"What will happen to you after all of this?" she asked.

"I don't know, I could fade from existence, I could be in a state of purgatory, I could be in hell, I don't know," he answered as he looked at Rachel.

"Will you get to see your family again?"

"No,"

"I've been meaning to ask you, since I figured you'd know, about Rachel?"

"Please look after her,"

"To the best of my ability,"

Stoic nodded his head.

"About Rachel, who in her family had powers like her?" Judy asked, "Do you know?"

"I looked into it, now I know that Shelby doesn't have any powers and nor do the Berry men, but Rachel's Bubbe did which is why Hiram wanted to contact her in the after world to seek advice through the Ouija Board,"

"That man, sometimes I wonder where his head is at, I mean he knew not to play with that thing, we told him not to play with it, why would he do it?"

"Stupidity and over cautiousness, it's why he was so cruel to Shelby in that hospital and didn't even let a first time mother hold who would become her only child well, before she adopted your granddaughter anyway,"

"I can't believe that he didn't even let her hold Rachel?"

"Yeah, over cautious, when Rachel was born he was under the mindset that they had to be the parents that Rachel held on to, that they were the only ones, that Shelby didn't matter, who knew that years later that would eventually bite him and the family in the ass because Rachel wanted to know who her Mom was, but then again he is her biological father and he knows it, probably why he started getting more worried and more cautious; LeRoy I always did like, he had more of a father nature to Rachel, cautious when needed but more willing to let Rachel be who she was supposed to,"

"What?"

"What about what?"

"Her biological father,"

"Oh, right, that, Hiram went against LeRoy's wishes and he took a DNA sample from Rachel and tested it, he's her biological father, it's why he's been so invested and worried, yet ignorant because he didn't know how to cope with a psychic daughter, he's a bit of an asshole and I don't like him,"

"Does Rachel have any other family history of having psychics?"

"Not that I know of, you know sometimes people are just born with a gift and that's how it is,"

"Hmmm, that is true,"

"Rachel's a special kid,"

"I can see that you love her to pieces,"

"I don't want to go," Stoic said as a tear fell from his face, "I have a job and I have to make sure she can make it,"

Judy patted the demon's back, "And we will do our best to make sure that she survives this, but we promise you this, your brother will be destroyed,"

"Good, he can burn for all I care,"

Judy sat back as she watched Quinn and Rachel play on the swings and then on the teeter totter.

"I just can't believe Hiram is at the centre of all this without even being around, if he wasn't so stupid about things, if he had just listened to his daughter, or listened to us," Judy started again.

"Yeah,"

Judy rubbed her forehead as she was thinking of how hard she wanted to hit Hiram over the head.

"If you're thinking of hitting him over the head, please do one for me," Stoic asked.

"I will," Judy said with a smile, "And I know this is far too late, but I'm sorry that I doubted you,"

"In your position, I'd have done the same, so forgiven,"

Stoic soon got up as he felt his heart begin to race, "Oh god," he said as he coughed and collapsed in pain.

"Mr Tibbs?" Rachel said as she paused and ran up to him.

"Hey, hey, Sweetpea," Stoic said as he turned and face her.

"What's wrong?"

"I have to go now,"

"But, you can't,"

"I served for as long as I could and my body is too badly hurt, my brother damaged my insides beyond repair and I am not allowed to heal myself with my powers,"

"But,"

"I love you Sweetpea, you be a good girl and grow up well, okay, promise?"

"Mr Tibbs?"

"Promise?"

"But you promised you'd be there for me,"

"I know, and I wish I could, I'm so sorry,"

Rachel just looked at him as she curled up to his chest, "I promise that I'll be good,"

"Good girl," Stoic said proudly.

"And I love you too Mr Tibbs,"

Stoic smiled as he closed his eyes and let out a final whispery breath.

"NO, NO, MR TIBBS DON'T LEAVE ME YET," Rachel screamed and cried as tears poured down her little face. She grasped at the demons body that eventually turned to dust in her hands and blew away, "NOOOO! MR TIBBS COME BACK, PLEASE, PLEASE COME BACK,"

"Rachel I'm so sorry," Quinn said as she picked Rachel up and held her.

"I want him to come back," Rachel said in tears.

It was a while before Rachel calmed down and again the air had changed around her, she angry and heartbroken and she knew now who to blame for this.

"Don't mourn for the fool," Tenebris was heard saying, "Don't worry little Rachel, I still have at least ten other people to hurt, what was that club you loved so much?"

"The other gleeks won't be harmed because the battle is coming," Rachel said angrily and finally as she jumped out of Quinn's arms, "I will see to it that Cain burns for his crimes, the seventh fold is coming and he deserves it, he's not longer human, his human curse no longer applies and I will kill him for what he's done,"

She could hear the demon laughing at her.

The sixteen year old finally had enough as she bursts forth and took over from the four year old, "I've had enough of you Tenebris, too long you have haunted me, too long have you taunted me, this battle is coming to an end, I WILL KILL YOU FOR THOSE YOU'VE TAKEN FROM ME,"

"Rachel wait," Quinn started as Rachel looked up at her with sixteen year old eyes.

"I am going to battle him in my home, that's where it fully started and there shall it end," Rachel said as she used her powers and disappeared.

"NO!" Quinn cried as she tried to reach the girl and missed her as she disappeared.

AN 2: Next chapter is in the works, but I have to see how I am going to run it.

Also, I hope that it answers some questions about Shelby and the Berry men, and no, Shelby will not be playing any role in this.

Until next time team.