Glinda sat cross legged on the ground, leaning forward with her elbows propped against her knees and her chin planted firmly in her hands, staring out the entrance of the cave. Originally she came up here for some fresh air but being alone meant she started thinking. And the only thing she could think about these days was Elphie.

She closed her eyes, the words that had become like a mantra to her running through her mind… Everything is going to be fine.

"Just untie me so I can feed myself."

"No."

"Why not? You can hold the gun on me."

Ignoring the voices wasn't an option in a confined space like the cave.

"This is ridiculous. I don't need someone shoveling food into my mouth like I'm a two year old. I'm a grown man for Oz's sake!"

"Stop throwing a fit."

"I'm not throwing a fit, I'm stating my opinion. And maybe if you didn't keep that disgusting rag shoved halfway down my throat all the time I wouldn't be so anxious to hear the sound of my own voice."

But she could try to tune them out.

"A dog deserves better treatment than this. Oh wait, you feed me and give me water and keep that damnable rope leash around my neck when you take me out to pee. I AM a dog."

"That's rich, coming from someone like you."

"What's that supposed to mean? Like I'm beneath you or something? Well I've got news for you! I'm not!"

Which proved to be pretty hard sometimes.

"When I get out of here… and notice I said when, not if. When I get out of here I'm going to kill you, Mason! And it's not going to be quick and painless either! I'm going to take great pleasure in ripping you limb from limb! And then I'll…"

But anything was possible if you really put some effort into it. All she had to do was picture Elphie in her mind's eye and the rest of the world melted away. It was a trick she'd learned to use back at Shiz before she even realized what she was feeling for the green girl. Everyone thought she was daydreaming about Fiyero in class when she was actually thinking of Elphie.

Of course the last time she'd seen Elphaba she was laying motionless on the ground, Eadlyn standing over her with that tree branch in his hand. So that's the image that filled her mind now. That and the sickening sound of wood on bone as Eadlyn hit Elphaba in the back of the head.

"Stop it." She whispered to herself. "Elphie is fine. It's the weather that's keeping her away. Just the weather."

One look outside proved that could be true. It had been storming non-stop for two days now.

Glinda frowned at the idea. Had it only been two days? It seemed like an eternity.

"Hey."

She looked up when she heard Mason's voice. "Hi."

"Can you believe that?" He nodded toward the pouring rain outside as he flopped down next to her. "It makes you wonder if someone's not messing with the weather."

That instantly brought thoughts of Morrible to mind, which she quickly pushed away. Morrible wasn't a weather witch anymore. She wasn't a witch anymore period thanks to Elphie and Bree.

"Sorry." Mason apologized. "I shouldn't have said that. Not after everything you went through with Madame Morrible."

Glinda gave him a sidelong glance. "You seem to know an awful lot about magic."

"He should. He studied it most of his life." Eadlyn chuckled. "Or so he says."

"His gag must have slipped." Mason scrambled to his feet.

"Ask him about the potion he gave your precious Breena."

Mason ran toward the back of the cave. "Shut up!"

"The one that bound her powers." Eadlyn spoke hurriedly as Mason rushed toward him. "Or about him about being at the camp where we were holding your moth…"

The rest of the word was lost as the gag was shoved forcefully back into Eadlyn's mouth but Glinda got the picture. Was he telling the truth? Had Mason given Breena a potion to bind her powers? Did he sit by and watch as they held her mother hostage?

"Glinda?"

She sprang to her feet when she heard his voice again. "Is he telling the truth?"

"I would love to take the easy way out and tell you he's a liar." Mason hung his head. "But I can't."

"So it's true?" Glinda's eyes were full of turmoil. "You were one of the men who kept my mother at the camp?"

He nodded.

"Did you know who she was?"

"No. A couple of the guys brought her in and Eadlyn told us to make her as comfortable as possible. She had her own tent and everything."

"Well that certainly makes it all better." Glinda's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I can't believe you gave Breena a potion to bind her powers either."

"I didn't know who she was when I gave it to her."

"And that makes a difference how?" Glinda looked at him in disbelief. "I might not know much about potion making but I know those are the most dangerous kind to mess with. What if you've bound her powers forever? What if she gets hurt because of what you've done?"

Mason started to say she had already been hurt but thought better of it. He was in enough trouble as it was.

"Obviously he was right about you studying magic or you wouldn't have known how to make the potion." She glared at him. "Are you a witch too?"

"No." He shook his head again. "My family only studies magic."

"Interesting hobby." Glinda clinched her jaw.

"Look, I'm sorry about your mother. I know it probably won't make a difference but I told Eadlyn to let her go. And as far as Breena's concerned all I saw was a chance to use a potion I'd never tried before. Once I realized who she was I started kicking myself."

"Good." Glinda growled.

"I even tried to talk her into letting me help her escape."

That comment caught the blonde off guard. "You did?"

Mason nodded. "I apologized for what I'd done to her and offered to get her safely out of the camp but she refused to leave without your mother and the Animals."

"That sounds like Bree." Glinda had a far away look in her eyes. "She and Elphie are always thinking of other people before themselves."

"By Elphie do you mean the..."

"Don't you dare call her the Witch or I won't be responsible for my actions."

"All right." He held his hands up in a 'don't hurt me' gesture. "So she and Breena are really sisters?"

Glinda shot him a dirty look. "Why? Do you want to bind Elphie's powers too?"

"No." He gruffed. "I already told you I wouldn't have done what I did if I'd known who Breena was. Do you honestly think I want the downfall of Oz on my shoulders?"

"Downfall of Oz?"

"They're meant to do great things, Glinda. More than anyone could ever imagine."

"Like what?"

"I can't tell you that."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"Because then you might try to stop something from happening and that's not how it works." Mason tried to explain. "Their lives aren't going to be easy but they're going to be incredible."

"That sounds like a load of cryptic horseshit to me, Glinda." Eadlyn's voice sounded again. "Don't listen to him."

"Damn it!" Mason started toward the back of the cave.

"It doesn't matter anyway. Elphaba is dead and I'm willing to bet Breena is too. So Oz is doomed."

"Shut up." Mason grabbed a different rag to use as a gag, snagging a piece of rope to tie around Eadlyn's head to hold it in place while he was at it. "He's the one you shouldn't listen to, Glinda. I know I've done some bad things but don't I get points for being honest with you now?"

She turned away as he worked on Eadlyn. Every time she heard her beloved Elphie's name come out of that man's mouth it made her sick. And the fact that he kept insisting she was dead tore at her heart. After all, he was the one who actually stood over her. Who actually saw the damage he'd caused with the branch. What if he was right? What if Elphaba was...

No. She wasn't going to go down that road again. She couldn't afford to be the same emotional wreck she was when they first arrived at the cave. Not now that she knew what Mason was capable of. She was going to have to hold on to the belief that Eadlyn was wrong when it came to Elphie. Better yet, she would prove it.

Just as soon as the damned rain stopped falling.

The Wizard stared at his daughters, thinking about how unfair life could be. What right did he have to stand there, whole and healthy, while his daughters were in that bed, completely unresponsive and oblivious to anything going on around them? Parents weren't supposed to outlive their children. That's just not how it was meant to be.

He blinked back tears, mentally kicking himself as he turned away. What was he doing, thinking that way? His girls weren't going anywhere. Any minute now they were going to wake up and give him grief about being such a cry baby. Well, at least Breena would give him a good ribbing about his emotional state. Elphaba would just grip his hand and look at him with those bottomless brown eyes.

They were a constant source of amazement to him. So similar and yet so different all at the same time. They shared stunning looks, which they had to have gotten from their mothers, and incredible intellect. Not to mention their magic. But Breena was outgoing while Elphaba was borderline reclusive. Elphaba had a great sense of humor once she trusted you enough to show it while Breena wore her sarcasm and quick comebacks on her sleeve.

"Ugh."

He turned quickly when he heard the soft moan only to find Addena shifting on the couch. They were taking turns staying with Elphaba and Breena so they wouldn't be alone. Or should he say Addena was in the room all the time and someone else tried to be there too to keep her from exhausting herself. He had somehow convinced her to try to get some sleep, assuring her that he would wake her the minute there was any change.

Not that there ever was. There hadn't been for two days now.

"Stop that." He quietly chastised himself. "No more negative thoughts."

"Bree?"

The Wizard's heart leapt when he heard the voice, quickly turning back toward the bed. "Elphaba?"

The green woman was already well on her way to sitting up but she only had eyes for her sister. "Bree?" She gripped her by the shoulders. "Come on, Breena. Please." Tears filled her eyes as she drank in her sister's lax features.

"Elphaba?" He repeated her name as he hurried back over to the bed. "What's going on?"

"She's supposed to be waking up." Elphaba continued to stare at her sister.

The Wizard's joy at having his daughter back was quickly tempered by how odd she was acting. He almost turned to wake Addena so she could deal with it but remembered something the doctor had said about confusion being a side effect of a head injury. That's what it had to be. Elphaba was just confused. Maybe if he got her to lay back down everything would be all right.

"And she will." His tone was soothing as he reached for her. "Now why don't you…"

"No!" Elphaba shrugged his hand away when he tried to touch her. "You don't understand. I was just with her. It was supposed to work!"

Addena popped up on the couch. "What's going on?"

"Elphaba's awake." He was quick to answer. "But she's acting very strange."

"Come on, Bree." Elphaba didn't seem to notice either of them. "Just open your eyes for me."

"Elphaba?" Addena got off the couch and went to the bed.

"Don't you start too." Elphaba pointed at her as she appeared next to Breena. "I know what I'm talking about. She's supposed to be waking up, Addena." She moved one of her hands to brush her fingers across her sister's cheek. "Maybe she just needs another minute."

"And maybe you need to lie back down and let Addena take a look at you." The Wizard reached for her again.

"No!" Elphaba frowned.

"Could you keep it down?" Breena's eyes opened slowly. "Some of us are trying to sleep around here."

"Bree?" Addena said her name tentatively.

"Breena." The Wizard couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Bree!" Elphaba pulled her sister into her arms.

"Guess it worked, huh?" Breena questioned as Elphaba gently lowered her back down on her pillows. "Way to have faith in yourself sis."

Elphaba grinned. "I have to listen to you sometime, don't I?"

"Bree." Addena said her name again, her breath catching in her throat as those emerald eyes turned toward her.

"Hey doc."

"You're back." Addena cupped her cheek.

"But the question is does she plan on sticking around this time."

Breena grinned at the Wizard's comment. "Hi Dad."

"Hi yourself." He raised an eyebrow. "Now answer the question."

"Oh, she's sticking around all right." Elphaba answered for her. "I didn't pull her out of there for nothing."

The Wizard looked confused. "Pull her out of where?"

"Oblivion." Breena answered as she tried to sit up.

"Whoa!" Addena gripped her shoulder. "What do you think you're doing?"

Breena frowned at her reaction. "Getting more comfortable."

Addena shook her head. "I don't think so."

"But…"

"You've had a high fever for three days, Bree. It's come down quite a bit, but it's not gone."

"You mean I can't even…"

"No." Addena shook her head again. "Not until I've had a chance to examine you." She looked at Elphaba. "The same goes for you."

It was Elphaba's turn to frown. "But I feel fine."

"You've been unconscious for two days, Elphaba." The Wizard argued. "Do as she says."

"Two days?" Elphaba's frown deepened. "You're kidding, right?"

"No he's not." Addena pointed to the up until then unnoticed needle in the back of the green woman's hand, which was attached to a tube leading to a bag next to the bed. "We had you both hooked up to IVs to keep you hydrated and fed."

"Has there been any word on Glinda?"

Addena furrowed her brow at Breena's question. "How do you know about Glinda?"

"Elly told me."

The Wizard cocked his head. "When? You've been out of it since before Fiyero brought her here."

"I tried to tell you we were together before I woke up." Elphaba explained.

"She pulled me into her subconscious mind." Breena added.

"We don't know if that's what happened or not."

"Do you have a better explanation?"

Elphaba reluctantly said, "No."

"Then that's what we're going with." Breena returned her attention to their father. "We think it's a new aspect of her powers. Although I have to admit I didn't think you'd be able to bring me with you when you started waking up."

"So let me get this straight." Addena gestured with her hand. "You were both unconscious so Elphaba, you were able to pull Bree into your subconscious mind?"

Elphaba nodded.

"Then when you felt yourself waking up you decided to bring her with you?"

"She sure did." Breena answered.

"Well we think you're healing power used Elphaba to keep you alive so I guess that makes sense."

"What?" Breena scrunched her face.

"You were… let's just say you weren't doing so well." The Wizard spoke up, trying to help Addena out. "After Elphaba came to she insisted on coming in here to be with you. She fell asleep holding your hand. The next thing we know you're both comatose with the same heartbeat and respirations."

"Get out, really?" Breena grinned.

"I'm not sure if comatose is the right word to use but that's how it happened." Addena agreed. "And stop smiling. It wasn't the least bit funny."

"You saved my life, Elly." Breena ignored her girlfriend's command to stop grinning.

Elphaba took her sister's hand. "I told you I wasn't going to lose you. Besides, I still owed you one from when Boq stabbed me."

"Let's not go there," the Wizard warned.

"But if Breena drew off of my strength to get better, why am I healed?"

"You've essentially been resting for two days." Addena pointed out. "You're bound to feel better."

"I don't just feel better, I feel great." Elphaba probed the back of her head. "And the bump's gone."

Addena frowned. "That's not possible."

Elphaba leaned over her sister. "Here. Feel for yourself."

"I don't understand." Addena was still frowning as she finished her impromptu exam. "You should at least still have some tenderness and maybe even a headache."

"Not if Bree healed me."

"But she doesn't have her powers." The Wizard joined back in.

"Maybe I do thanks to the jump start from Elly." Breena shrugged. "There's only one way to tell." She put her hand on Addena's bruised cheek.

"What are you…" Addena's voice faltered when she felt a familiar tingling sensation. "Stop it." She physically pulled Breena's hand away when she saw a little of the color leak out of the witch's cheeks. "Stop!"

"My powers are back." Breena gave her a weak grin.

"You're going to think you're powers are back in a minute." Addena growled at her. "Damn it, Bree, you still have an infection. Even if you were one hundred percent I wouldn't want you trying something like that until we were sure you were all right. What if you made your fever go up again? What if…"

Breena grabbed the front of the doctor's dress, pulling her down for a kiss. She let her lips linger against Addena's for a moment before letting go of her again. "Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful when you're angry?"

Elphaba bit her lip to keep from chuckling at the expression on the doctor's face. "Now that that's settled, I need to start looking for Glinda."

"Oh no you don't." The Wizard grabbed her arm as she climbed off the bed. "You're not going anywhere until Addena has had a chance to examine you."

"But…"

"Don't argue with me young lady. I know you're worried about Glinda but you're not going to be any good to anyone if you go off half cocked and not completely healed. The last thing we need is someone carrying you through the front door again."

"He's right, Elphaba." Addena gave her a sympathetic look. "I really should look you over."

"Come on sis." Breena patted the bed next to her. "You can be stuck with me for a little while longer."

"I'm not stuck with you." Elphaba sighed as she sat back down on the bed.

"If it makes you feel better, Addy can check you out first."

That made the corner of the green woman's mouth turn up. "Gee, thanks."

Breena smiled. "Dad really told you, didn't he? I knew that 'young lady' comment earlier was going to come back to bite you in the butt."

Tears filled the Wizard's eyes as the sound of their banter filled the room. He had his girls back.