Title: Second Chances

Author: American Fairy

Rating: PG but that might change in the future

Characters: Pretty much everyone from the show including a few OCs

Pairings: Cain/DG UST, Jeb/OFC, Ahamo/Lavender

Summary: They're all looking for second chances. As they learn that the witch's plans went beyond just bringing darkness to the OZ will they be able to redeem themselves or are they doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?

Warnings: Drama in the extreme

Disclaimer: I do not own Tin Man or The Wizard of Oz. Just a fangirl throwing in my thoughts from the peanut gallery. StrangLittleSwirl was actually the first person to have the Tin Men call each other "Tin Man so-and-so" so credit for that goes to her. Seeing as I read more fanfiction than a person should if I accidently borrowed something from you and didn't credit please let me know so I can fix it. Any other mistakes are my own.

A/N: A thousand and one apologies for the delay. RL, college, and an ADD muse had to be taken care of first. I hope that I haven't lost any readers in the process. Remember that comments and reviews feed the muse!

Word Count: 1,795

Ambrose stood in the queen's office going through the papers in his hands. Sunlight flowed in through the large windows opposite the door illuminating cream colored wall and cobalt carpeting. Sitting at a large wooden desk to the right of the door facing the opposite wall was Queen Lavender. Her husband stood behind her silent and supportive.

"So far we have received replies from the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Guilds." Ambrose informed the queen.

"And from the mining communities? Have you heard from them?" Lavender was eager to gather as many council representatives as possible.

"No Highness. I suppose they are unwilling to cross the fields of the Papay."

Ahamo stepped forward from where he had been standing by the wall and placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder. She sighed and reached up to grasp his hand. "Maybe there is a way to create a safe route through the fields of the Papay?" he suggested.

Lavender shook her head. "No. I already know what you're thinking and I'm not going to put her through that."

"But she healed one tree already." Ahamo stated.

"No!"

"Your Highness," Ambrose interrupted, "She can do it. She's strong enough for the task."

Standing up abruptly she walked over to the window. From there she could see DG working on her lessons with Tutor. She was attempting to use her magic to lift and stack stones like building blocks then take them down again.

She's been working so hard, Lavender thought to herself. How could we ask her to do more?

"My Angel," she whispered.

"I know you don't want to push DG," Ahamo's voice came from behind her. "Gods knows I don't want to. But she's the only one who's strong enough to do it."

Ambrose chimed in. "The Papay are starving, you Highness. They've been starving for a long time. It could be possible that if DG heals their orchards then not only will peaceful relations ensue between the Papay and the other peoples of the OZ but they might even be willing to agree to an alliance."

"We've never had to have an alliance with the Papay before," Lavender replied. "They'd always been a peaceful group."

Ambrose took a step closer to her. "Times have changed."

After a long moment Lavender turned from the window and looked at both men in the room. "I'll think about it."

Ahamo nodded and Ambrose bowed his head slightly both men knowing that that was as close to a yes as they were going to get at the moment.

"Are there any other matters that you wish to discuss with me, Ambrose?"

"No, Highness. That's all for the moment."

"Thank you then," she nodded her head in dismissal.

Ambrose bowed the both the queen and the consort before exiting the room knowing that they were probably going to talk about DG after he left.

Speaking of DG he realized hadn't see her since breakfast. At the time she had looked like she might be in need of a friend and he didn't doubt that she still was.

He headed outside to where he knew she was having her magic lessons. She should be getting a break soon and he could visit with her then.

After dismissing the latest applicant with a promise that he would be notified when a decision was made Cain groaned and passed a hand roughly over his face. He had forgotten how hard this job was.

That's because you were part of a protection detail and not head of security. Let's face it. You're in way over your head this time.

Shut up! He silently berated his inner voice.

Admit it old man. You're not doing this for the royal family or the OZ. You're doing this for DG.

And why wouldn't I want my friend safe?

Oh really? So, she's just a friend? Nothing more?

She's just a kid!

Cain's internal argument was interrupted by soft knocking at the door.

"Yeah, come in!" he called out distractedly as he bent over to place the file he had been going through in the correct drawer. He heard the visitor take a few steps in the stop without saying a word. Suspicions roused, Cain's hand immediately went to his gun as he slowly sat up. A heavily cloaked figure stood before him his face hidden in shadow.

"How can I help you?" Cain asked quietly as he fingered the safety.

"Cain the one who needs help," the cloaked figure replied. Cain noted that the voice sounded slightly familiar as he stealthily un-holstered his gun. The figure reached up to tug down his hood and the sight that greeted Cain nearly caused him to drop his gun.

"Raw?" Cain stared in shock at the person before him for a few seconds before breaking into a grin and jumping up to shake his hand. "What brings you here?"

Raw smiled sheepishly and gave a half-shrug. "Raw here to help," was all he said.

"And how did you know I needed help?"

"I feel it. Cain need help choosing guards."

"Well, you're right about that," Cain replied as he sat on the edge of his desk. "I've had plenty of applications and all of them have good qualifications. The biggest problem has been where it concerns Princess Azkadellia. I'm having a hard time finding someone who's not going to murder her in her sleep." He sighed wearily. Every applicant had a good reason to grudge the princess.

"Raw help," the viewer was eager to ease his friend's frustration. "I can screen applicants. See what's in their hearts."

Cain smiled at his friend. "I'd appreciate that."

Raw smiled back as he felt the waves of gratitude coming off of Cain. "Always happy to help friends."

"Concentrate DG. Let the light flow through you."

Frustrated, DG managed to shoot a quick glare towards Tutor before turning her attention back to the rocks in front of her. "I am concentrating. This isn't exactly easy you know."

As the rocks slid to the ground she groaned. "Honestly, you can say 'let the light flow through you' as many times as you want but it won't make much of a difference."

"That's because you're thinking too much. Don't think it, feel it."

DG sighed and turned back to the rocks. From the corner of her eye she caught sight of Jeb and Miranda sitting on the grass in quiet conversation. Seeing Jeb caused DG's mind to turn to the elder Cain as she focused on her light. The large stones began to rise up and form a neat stack in front of her.

"Yes, yes DG!" You're doing great!" Tutor called out.

She was able to hold the stones for about ten seconds before they tumbled back to the ground. Lowering her head in defeat DG grumbled, "I can't believe I lost to a bunch of rocks."

"Maybe it's time for a break," Tutor suggested.

"No," DG shook her head. "I've got to get this right."

"Alright let me rephrase that. I want a break." Tutor replied calmly.

"Oh, okay then."

Tutor started to walk away then stopped and turned to pat DG on the arm. "You're doing great, DG. I've never seen anyone advance as quickly as you have."

"Yeah?" She was still unconvinced.

"It's true." He waited until she looked up and made eye contact with him then patted her arm one more time. She found a smile for him and, satisfied with her response, he walked away.

DG quickly decided that it would be best to avoid Jeb and Miranda during her break. First of all, they looked like they were having a pleasant conversation and she didn't want to interrupt. Second, Jeb's comments from the other night had taken her by surprise and she was still trying to go over it in her head. Maybe she was reading too much into it? That happens sometimes. She spotted Ambrose taking a seat on a nearby bench and decided to join him.

"Hey Doll!" he greeted her cheerfully as she sat. "Looking good out there."

DG snorted. "Hardly. I can't seem to get them to stay put."

"But you got them up. That's a start isn't it?" He started fishing through his pockets.

"I guess so." She twisted her head to look at him. "How goes this business with the Council?"

Ambrose waved his hand dismissively as he continued to search his pockets. "Not now, you're on break. I never mix business with pleasure." Finding what he was looking for he pulled it out triumphantly and held it out to her. "Apple?"

"Thanks," she accepted the fruit and took a bite. About mid-chew she put her hand over her mouth to cover a yawn.

"Still not sleeping are you?"

"Not really."

He gently bumped his shoulder against hers. "Want to talk about it?"

DG shrugged. "There's not much to talk about."

"Sometimes talking about it helps you to feel better," he prodded gently.

She sighed. "I don't know, Glitch. They're just a bunch of crazy dreams." She paused and Ambrose waited patiently while she gathered her thoughts. "The one that I get the most is where I'm walking down this hallway and it's dark except for this light at the end. As I approach the light I realize that it's actually an ornate glass door and I can hear what sounds like moaning coming from behind it – many voices moaning. Suddenly, a hand appears pressed up against the glass, then another and another. Soon there are dozens of hands beating on the door and the moaning keeps getting louder and louder. I try to back away but I can't move. It's as if I'm stuck." DG broke out of her thoughts with a start and shook her head. "That's the worst one, really. The other ones are usually a jumbled mess of thoughts and memories that make no sense."

Ambrose frowned in concern. He hand known that DG had been having trouble sleeping but it didn't occur to him that is was because she was being plagued by nightmares. Now he felt like a bad friend for not noticing.

"Have you talked to anyone about this?" he asked her.

"No," she chewed on her apple absently. "You're the first person I've told."

"You should try talking to your parents."

"Maybe," she replied vaguely.

Glitch sighed as he patted her arm. He wished he knew how to help her but this was out of his area of expertise. All he could do was support his friend and let her know that he was there for her, something he'd failed miserably at during the post-eclipse shuffle. He made a silent vow to be a better friend to DG from that moment on.