Title: Kisses Come From the Soul Too

Chapter 2

Author: Essee! Me!

Series: Tin Man

Rating: PG-13 (that means no smex… sorry)

Warning: Same as last chapter. There will also be mentions of science that shouldn't work, so don't squick and get mad at me for it.

Author Note: Because this fic wouldn't leave me alone, and I already have something of an idea of where I want to go with it, I decided to write another chapter. So yeah, you're all in trouble, hopefully this one isn't as choppy as the last one admits it was choppy admits that this one will probably be choppy too

Chapter Two : Who is she?

Today was the day.

Glitch walked nervously down the hall, every part of his body seemed to be itching, filled with fire and sparking. He jumped at shadows, he winced at loud noises, and he kept on finding solace in the room that held his own brain. Some would say that he was withdrawing from others around him, but it wasn't so, because often enough he ended up forgetting most things and was still the happy-go-lucky carefree Glitch. Well he wasn't carefree exactly, he had his worries and his extremes, and confusion. It was about a week from the defeat of the Wicked Witch, a week since he had felt the first touch of fire that was held within Cain… Wyatt… though the first and last time that he had called him Wyatt he had been glared at and Cain had quickly exited the room… he was unhappy about something, and Glitch noticed it. It wasn't like that day. The day when after they pressed their lips together hands roamed and Glitch had found himself sporting very bright colored bruises all down his neck. There had been exclamations and screams of … well one can imagine what there were screams of. But since then the Tin Man had moved away. Every time Glitch went to touch him, at the last second before skin met skin the older man would shift away. Every time they got a chance to just be alone with each other Cain often made excuses so that he would be able to leave. It didn't take a brain to figure out that he was being avoided. So he had gone to visit himself. He'd stare at his brain in that strange green colored liquid. It was no longer powering anything, so now it seemed as if it wasn't alive, or that it wasn't needed. At one point he had tried talking to it, but had felt as if he was talking to himself, which made him feel strange because people weren't suppose to do that when they had brains… even if said brain was in a jar. So often enough it just was him sitting on the ground staring at it, thinking about what had happened after the witch was defeated. The goop was now off the floor, the only thing left was a black stain that seemed to have formed a circle around the tank. It made him uneasy, if only because he thought that the black was going to someone find its way into his gray matter and he'd become possessed too… and being possessed was NOT on his to do list.

So instead there was silence, and that silence was deafening. During it he thought, he used his empty head and the rest of his remaining synapses to think about things. His thoughts mostly traveled to Cain, he couldn't help it… he couldn't get his empty mind off of the Tin Man. He felt that he had made a breakthrough if only for a moment, when they had started to become intimate, he finally thought he was breaking through the outer shell of the untouchable heart. He felt awful now that what seemed to be something good and true had quickly been redrawn. The only other time that they had found themselves clinging to each other with lusty thoughts he had called him Adora, and he didn't know about other people but when you are trying to get to the point of sexual release with a very attractive man, and he addresses you by his late wife's name… well that ruins the mood for everyone, and it had been after that that Wy-Cain, had withdrawn. So now Glitch thought it was his fault, and having the time to sit with his brain, those thoughts were damning, and he was now certain that it was his fault. Maybe he was too stupid, or brainless, or slow, and Cain didn't like that. Well soon enough he would have his brain back, and while he'd probably never be a genius again, he'd be much smarter. He'd be able to give advice, he'd be able to read a book and not loose his track of thought. He'd be able to remember why the name Adora was plaguing his mind as much as it seemed to be going after Cain's.

He knew he knew that name. It was something that sounded so familiar to him, and so easy to think of that he wondered why he didn't remember it before. It felt like a name he had known for a really long time, like DG… or Lavender. It was a name that was ground into his mind like Azkadellia. He should never have forgotten it, but somehow he had. He forgot a lot of things, and every time he remembered something he had forgotten he felt bad. Why did he remember her? Was there something important he was suppose to tell her? Was there something important that she knew? He had no idea, but it was that fleeing memory that had scared him away from his own brain. Besides, soon he would have it back inside his own head, and he'd be able to find those memories, and he wouldn't be confused about why Cain's wife meant something to him as well. Everyone would be better off when he had his own brain. He kept telling himself that, and often said it when he was in the 'group', and pretended that he didn't see the pained expression on Cain's face when they spoke of Ambrose. Lavender had remarked that she'd be more than happy to have him back as her advisor once the surgery was a success. In fact, everything seemed to be going perfectly, except for the remnants of memories that circled in his mind. They were phantoms, pure phantoms, and while he really didn't want to admit it, but it scared him. There were so many things he couldn't remember, and so many things he was sure that he shouldn't forget that the fact of the matter was that he was afraid to get his thoughts back and find out something that had been sorely wrong.

Was he married?

Did he have children too?

Was he a mean and cruel person?

Did he dance?

What was his outside life like?

Would he disappear forever?

But there was no one to answer his questions, so he was left standing there and watching everyone else go by. He was left in the same place as he forgot everyone around him, as he forgot who he was slowly inch by inch. Every now and then there would be a thought that happened to make its way into his zippered head, a loose particle of thought that he jumped upon and proclaimed to all around him, even if there was no one. It was all trivial stuff, but rather monumental to him. He remembered folk of the O.Z, he remembered the deserts especially, the desert where things go and vanish forever… he could relate to it, and if that wasn't something on the rather pathetic side, he didn't know was… unfortunately he knew three people who would agree with him on the same idea. But he wouldn't always be like the desert, because today was the day (the rest of the rhyme plagued his mind as well, and caused a rather unsettling feeling in the base of his stomach. Today is the day we give babies away with a half a pound of tea… if you know any ladies that want any babies, just send them down to me. It made him consider the fact that he might be an awful type of a man who sells babies, or a worse type of man who gives woman the said babies and hushes them up with tea). He was going to get his brain back, he was going to be able to respond to his real name, Ambrose, which the Queen kept calling him as.

It was always 'Ambrose, can you get 'this' for me', and he'd go off to get it, ignoring the looks and the questions in other peoples eyes, he'd ignore the confusion that bloomed in his own mind like a ready rose… and by the time he was getting what she had asked for he had forgotten and walked off to do something else. If anything the Queen was patient, her patience showed brilliantly with her two daughters. DG… named after the Gray Gale as her father seemed to often point out; as if it was a badge of pride she should permanently wear; was often the topic of discussion, even with her in the room. They fawned over her as the lost princess having finally returned, and by the deadpan look she gave most of them, and the monotone with some sarcasm mixed into voice she used to address them, it was a question why she was so amazing to everyone. Even Azkadellia doted upon her. Often enough she had taken to braiding her little sister's hair, or singing songs, or getting her to play games. It was understandable enough, Az had missed out on most if not all of her growing years. She never got to really have the first kiss that many people dreamed of, she never got to make her own decisions… no one seemed to understand more that Glitch that she had been a prisoner of her body for so long that she had forgotten how she was suppose to act with it. So while DG went off about motorcycles, and how she missed hers, and wondered if there was someway to create it here, he had made a promise of it, even before he had had a chance to consider what he was promising, Lavender had taken to talking with Azkadellia. She brushed her eldest daughter's hair, she made sure that she ate properly, she asked her questions of the ancient picture texts… she asked her questions about when the first of The Slippers came. It may have seemed like friendly motherly care, but it was held like an investigation… Glitch felt sorry for her. All she wanted was to find her place in life; he knew that feeling all to well.

It didn't help that he seemed to be on a permanent ignore list from the one person he wanted to fit with (it sounded dirty even when he considered what he was thinking on the method of fitting). Cain gave him a headache as well as aches of other things, and Glitch had taken a moment to mentally entertain the idea that he was the Queen's advisor because he could be trusted around her and not thought to try and take advantage and touch her inappropriately. He had no idea if he should feel good or bad about it, but whatever it was, his choice was taken away from him because the Tin Man was doing a good job of making him feel awful. Even now as he was proceeding down the hall to what would be his future, Cain was bouncing off the empty walls of his cranium. He pictured him talking about Adora, something he had taken to do a lot within the week. 'Adora was a terrible cook. I always ate what she served, even if most of what she served looked like blacken trout, even the vegetables.' 'Adora's favorite flower was poppies… she said she had trouble sleeping, and would eat one of the seeds before she went to be sure that she would get a good nights rest.' 'Adora liked to tell stories to our son, she could make things come to life that often enough I thought she was half witch and was creating spells as she spoke.' 'Adora' 'Adora' 'Adora'. It was enough to make Glitch scream, and once he almost did though had enough control to keep his mouth shut, especially when what he wanted to scream was 'Addy didn't tell you everything you know!!'. When had he began to call her Addy? When had he first called her Addy?

This was getting confusing.

Soft soled shoes hitting the ground with each step, he was suppose to report to the room down the hall, Lavender had set up a medical facility there, and getting some of her attendants back… they all had hair if he was allowed to remark… they had prepared the room for the surgery. She was going to be there as well, along with DG and Azkadellia, pumping the room full of so much healing magic that if something were to go wrong at one point it was completely fixable. Raw had asked not to be there, he was actually training what was a very young protégé, and was afraid that the stress of transferring a brain back into its owners head with all the visions and extreme emotions going through the room, amplified with magic, that it would be to much for either of them. Glitch had to applaud the courageous man, it was a strong form of courage to admit you couldn't handle something, and Glitch had a feeling that when he had said that, it had been the first thing that was positive information that the echoes of his mind had managed to produce. Maybe that was why they wanted to give him his brain back sooner, it made sense after all, if he had these little pearls of wisdom, then who knows what else was in store for everyone. Moving swifter down the hall, his raggedy coat that had most certainly seen better days, flared out behind him. Underneath that he was wearing the brown pants, except now they were clean and not caked with dirt and mud… after a questioning glance once they were washed he was confused to learn that they were burgundy, and he spent something of a good half our walking around forgetting they were his pants and proceeding to try and find the real owner of them. It had been one of the few times that he had been able to talk to Cain without him spewing off about his wife, or making up excuses to leave… the blond man had managed to explain that they were Glitch's pants. Who else would wear such an obviously Glitch induced color? That had caused laughter, and Glitch didn't think about it anymore after that. His hair was clean too. What an odd challenge that was, washing his hair… if anyone else has a zipper on the top of their skull, they know what a pain it is when you manage to have left it slightly open and it fills with soapy water. They also know how much it hurts when you get soap in your eyes from the inside! Blech! That was something he was looking forward to forgetting.

So close to the large double doors, there was a little extra skip in his step. How could there not be. And with a smile on his face he reached the doors, opening them light spilt through, blinding him at first but his eyes soon became accustom to it. But what he saw made him nervous, and for a moment everything switched channels, like some obnoxious child with a remote somewhere. "Hello. Do I know you?" Even the reset button couldn't hold back the knowledge that he was sure this wasn't exactly correct.

---- ---- ---- ----

Earlier Today:

"Are you sure Azkadellia?" Lavender's voice was stern with worry, worry over the truth of the matter, worried over the possibilities of what her eldest daughter just told her. She knew that she had had access to the Wicked Witches thoughts, but she never thought that such knowledge would bring forth such terrible news. The purple eyes looked fearful as she paced back in forth. With every turn her periwinkle dress would flair around her, it was tight in the bodice and flared out immensely by the time it got to her feet, almost giving her the appearance of not actually having feet at all, and that she was merely floating where she walked. Her prematurely lightened hair was swinging in graceful waves down her back, and while she looked as young as her eldest, the wrinkles of worry that marred her forehead gave away that she was older than she looked. Turning yet again, hands wringing in nervousness. She looked at her daughter, waiting for an answer.

"Quite sure mother. Often the witch would taken hours, even days, contemplating her memories, thinking of the shoes, why they were important, what secrets they actually held. Why she wanted them so badly, why she needed them. She spoke often enough of her Eastern sister that I've come to know her as well as I know my… our… DG." The woman that was once the sorceress Azkadellia was now Princess Azkadellia, and it showed completely. There was no longer that darkness that seemed to fall over her all the time. There was no extreme sadness and loneliness in her eyes, and infact her rubied lips seemed to be turned upwards in a smile, even if they were just the shape her lips chose to go. Her own dress was much more suited for doing things, it was strong material and didn't require a tight bodice, nor ties. Infact it was cut to be at her neck, covering her ample bosom, and while it was long sleeves, she still wore gloves, having discovered that the black nails were rather permanent no matter how many times she cut them… at one point even ripping one off only to have it grow back into what resembled to herself as a black talon. It seems like forms of evil left there mark no matter what happened. Though she was sure that if her and DG worked together she could fix it there were two problems with that scenario. One was that she almost wanted to constant reminder, to tell her that she was taken and gave up her hope, and she should never allow that again, and two… she knew DG had yet to trust her, or more importantly, was not yet willing to help the O.Z repair what was needed. Even with her robot parents around, she still missed her old life, and whatever this thing called a 'motorcycle' was. It sounded like a monster, but if anyone could tame it, she knew it was going to be DG. But being besides the matter, her dark eyes trailed her mother as she paced back and forth, concentrating solely on the knowledge that her daughters interrogation had given her. Yes, Az knew an interrogation when she heard it, she had held many herself, and mainly because of the guilt that she had for doing such wrong things, she allowed it to continue. It had become a game almost, her mother asks a question, and she answered it point blank. Where did the game part come in? Well she would answer her mother with barebones answers, or exactly what she asked, 'Az… did the witch talk about her life from before?' 'Yes, Mother.' '…' '…' 'What did she say?' 'Many things mother.' '…' It had finally caught on that Lavender needed to ask direct questions in order to get an answer from her. Many people believed it was something called 'Post Traumatic Shock', but there were others that knew the truth, one of them was DG, who had been the one to think of the game. And since Azkadellia had yet to get in trouble, and was getting special treatment for it, she couldn't use the same old phrase of DG's adventures getting her into trouble.

"This does not bode well. I don't know why we didn't consider this before. Our ancestor was able to destroy the witch the first time, or so we believed. We had no idea that she would take refuge in a cave so close to our home, and bide her time to strike… and if she could survive her greatest enemy of water, why can't we imagine that her sister was able to survive a house. No one did find remains of her, and she was wearing the slippers long enough that if she had chosen to perform magic while trapped under the house there was no one to stop her. What are we going to do? If what you said is true, she in on her way to building a formidable army." The Queen shivered, she couldn't help it. When she had explicitly asked Az if the Witch of the East was still alive and the answer was yes, she had thought that her heart would stop, or that the old land of Oz would suddenly go dark. She felt as if a candle had snuffed out her life for a bleak moment. She didn't like that, and the two of them had yet to tell anyone about this knowledge, about the fact that someone was going to have to wield the emerald and defend the city, or go out to find the truth, or even defeat the witch. Lavender didn't say anything because she knew that DG would jump at the chance to do it, she had already seen that in her daughter's eyes, and it frightened her.

"Mother… there… I'm sorry to say, but there is more than just one reason why we took Ambrose's brain. It's because of his family…" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, purple eyes were nearly staring right into her soul, there was angry lightning flickering within their depths, and a frown creased her face.

"What business is there to do with my advisor." Her tone was serious and chilling, like she just dared her daughter to convict him of something, all Az could do was bow her head and tell her, or begin to tell her. As each word spilt out of her mouth it was like she was causing visible pain to her dear mother, and it hurt her, but they had to know. Just because he invented a machine to take the day away from The O.Z didn't mean that it was the only reason, the man may have been to smart for his own good, but all the brains in the world weren't the only reason he had taken his own mind away from him. Finishing what she was saying, she happened to look up at the Queen and held back her wince, trying not to show as there were tears forming in the purple eyes, a hand poised at her mouth as if trying to keep her from screaming. The news was bad and good at the same time, it could solve the problems, or it could create so much more. Then a name pricked at Lavender's own mind, and she wondered if this was how Glitch felt, the little flying thoughts that escaped her grasp oh so easily. But then she had a firm grasp on it, and gasped with the realization.

"But Cain…"

That was when Azkadellia let the tears fall, she had done so many wrong things when she was The Sorceress, and this was just one of them. Her own heart hurt, and she wanted desperately to escape to somewhere but wasn't able to. She had to stand where she was and watch as her mother tried very hard not to start screaming, or something equally as loud and un-queen like as possible. What Az was not expecting was motherly arms encircling her. "shh shh my darling Azkadellia… you cry because your heart hurts with the knowledge that you can't stop what has already happened. I'm angry, but not at you my dear." When Az looked up she could see it was true, and took a shuddering breath and nodded, already seeing a plan form in the violet eyes.

"It's a plan, a simple one, but a plan none-the-less. Come… we have to go tell Cain that everything he thinks he remembers might not be the truth he wishes it to be so… and we may have to tell Glitch what we have all hidden from him… we may have to tell Ambrose what has even been hidden from him." She almost couldn't help but smile at the remembrance of her best friend, her friend since childhood, "he won't be pleased at all about that. He's always been rather… hard headed."

No one laughed, but if either of them had it would have been nervous laughter.

---- ---- ---- ----

The scene before him briefly reminded him of a funeral. The time when everyone gathered around the casket and either cried or said words, well some of it was off. The smell of everything being to clean, the look of cold metal everywhere, and the fact that there was one of those bald scientists back with elbow length gloves being held up and away from his body. There was certain uneasiness throughout the entire room. So the right was the Queen… Lavender, who met his eyes for a second before quickly looking away, next to her were the two Princesses. DG was looking straight at him, her wide eyes full of question and adventure, Azkadellia wouldn't even meet his eyes at all, and all she did was look straight ahead, her gloved hand laced tightly with her sisters. It was almost like she couldn't imagine standing without holding onto someone. Behind all three of them was the man of the Royal family, Glitch would call him a King but in the face of a Queen, in the O.Z they didn't matter as much. So he was just Ahamo, the husband of the beautiful Queen and the two fabled Princesses. Ahamo actually looked at him and didn't turn away, nor assessed him like he was a riddle, they held mutual respect for each other, or at least… they used to. It had been odd within the week when he had been sitting in the library, trying to gain back some of the knowledge he desperately grasped for, and the elder man stepped into the room and sat down next to him. It had been a strange first few minutes when Glitch had asked who he was, clearly not remembering him, and Ahamo had just hit him on the back laughing. Later he had mentioned that Ambrose was never as funny as him. The last time they had spent time together in what was Ambrose's realm… the library… he said that Ambrose had glared at him because he had touched a book after he had smoked a pipe and had ordered the man out as quickly as possible as he was staining the texts with disgusting smells of smoke. So yes, there was respect, but no mutual friendship, and the simple fact that Ahamo had taken the time out to extend that olive branch… well it didn't mean anything to Glitch actually, but he supposed that Ambrose would find that amiable and allow the man to glance through the royal library now and then without being yelled at.

The other side of the room made Glitch's heart swell. Raw had kept his promise and had not come to this event, only Lavender knows how much she tried and begged of him to come with the new knowledge she had been given, but Raw had something of a strong spine now and had been able to say no and not worry about getting skinned and made into a rug. Instead he was staring right into the glassy blue eyes of the man who made his head spin and his heart beat violently within his chest. He had the sudden memory of the smell of metal and smoke that covered the Tin Man like a second skin, and the taste of his lips which was like rust and fire. He had actually shown up, which meant that he wanted to help Gl-Am-him, Cain wanted to help him. Or for a second he thought he did before the glassy look in the man's eyes switched for a moment between blinks to reveal anger and sadness and finally he looked away to stare at the green jar that housed the person that was Ambrose. The brainless man didn't like that, and his own eyes following the line of sight he saw something that stopped his own heart.

The table.

The long silver metal table with the straps on it. The thing that had held him down before when they had taken out his brain. He remembered that. In fact he remembered all of that! He remembered the crooked smiles of Azkadellia's scientist crones that held up the sharp blades, he remembered being awake the entire time as they cut in a straight line along the part in his head, slicing through skin like a hot knife through butter, blood welling up into his hair and running down his face into his eyes. He remembered screaming and screaming and screaming, and no one came, he remembered crying and begging for forgiveness and wondered what was going up there because the brain itself didn't have any feeling. He wasn't allowed to fall asleep, they had taken certain cares to keep him awake, feeling as if that part of the torture would allow him to finally snap and they wouldn't have to go to the extreme measure they were doing. But he had just begged them, and called for someone to help him. He called for Lavender but only got laughter from that, and then he had called for… he had called for… he had called for.

Black.

Blinking several times as he opened his eyes, it was as if none of it had ever happened, on no, wait, someone happened to be holding him. Oh that was rather pleasant, glancing at that person, it was Cain… who looked like he was terrified. That was when Glitch realized that the arms that were around him were a little to tight, and the dirty nails that the Tin Man owned were digging into his stomach. It was unpleasant, and held nothing of the niceties he wanted to share with the ex-police man. Trying to push away, he only got so far before the vice-like arms showed why they were called vice-like arms. That left him laughing with a confused sound, a smile with that, "Hello. Hey! Do I know you?!" It did nothing, for once he had been completely knowledgeable about what was going on, well save for that blackout, but he knew who Cain was, and Cain knew that Glitch knew, and wasn't buying the confused brainless act. There was an icy coldness in his glance that he hadn't had since he had first gotten taken out of what should have been his metal tomb, it made him swallow convulsively, and was even more confused when Cain finally spoke.

"Addy." It was a simple word, a statement and a question at the same time, and Glitch was confused and didn't know what Cain was talking about… had he finally gone round the bend before the brainless wonder had, or had he decided that the soon to be Ambrose needed a nickname that didn't fit at all.

"… No… I'm Glitch. Please to meet you!" Ah, there was a reset button activating, and as soon as it did he was pushing himself away from Cain for real, and about ready to extend a hand in greeting when he saw the room again, saw the brain simply bobbing and floating in the oxygenated liquid, alive and waiting. Then he remembered again, "Mr. Cain… you came to see my rebrainment. Did you know that I was the one to invent the process of reinserting someone's brain? At least I think I was, I think I remember that we found some convicts that were innocent and we had to develop a way to put everything back in without causing problems. The worst problem ended up being when a man who had been separated from his brain… oh that's my brain! Are we doing this today?" All smiles again, he walked away from Cain, or tried to, as suddenly his wrist was grabbed and he was yanked back violently, not lust or need or want in there, just anger in the touch. In a dead stop, one foot still raised to proceed over to the table that he was sure he should be afraid of, though couldn't understand why, he almost fell over, instead putting his foot down and looking back at Cain, a question on his face (and a rhyme in his head… well something had to be there). "Mr. Cain…"

"Whose Addy?!" It was yelled, not spoken, not asked, it was demanded, demanded of Glitch to know the answer and to give him the answer as soon as he possibly could. But as soon as it was asked, even though the name sounded familiar, he couldn't deny that it felt familiar as he echoed it, the straws he tried to grasp and hold onto slipped through his fingertips as easily as water. "I… I don't remember!" It may have been the desperation in his voice, or it may have been because he could tell that Glitch really didn't know, but Cain let go and looked up at the group of royals that were watching with almost interest, except for Azkadellia, she was making motions to the bald doctor. The man had spent so much time underneath the sorceress rule that he took the orders from her as easily as he would from other royals, but he'd make sure to follow hers to a tea. As soon as Glitch was released, he nearly feel to the ground, holding his shoulder. "you know, I'll have you know that not everyone is made out of easy put back together pieces… I am not a scarecrow you can just put the hay back into, and you almost twisted my arm off. I want an apologie as soon as I remember what this fight was about!" Even though there hadn't been a fight, even though Glitch didn't know that for about five minutes he had been crying and screaming for Addy at the top of his lungs as he scrambled to try and escape from the room, he was still expecting an apology, and rightly so as he believed that he had done nothing wrong, and Cain had been the one that had been so very rude in the past week. It was Lavender that stepped forward and seemingly saved the day and Cain from saying something that his cold heart would ultimately be guilty of later.

"Instead of trying to question answers unknown, why don't we continue with what we had planned today, Ambrose?" Glitch was sticking his tongue out at Cain when he saw it this time, when the name Ambrose was said he saw the visible flinch, a flinch that wasn't a happy one, and while he was being ushered towards the table. That look caused him not to see where he was going, instead as Cain finally looked up what Glitch managed was a weak smile, uncharistically weak for him, and what would have been a wave. Then he'd remember that things went to hell. As soon as he felt the chill against his back of the metal table everything went black again and he knew he was screaming.

---- ---- ---- ----

Cain wanted to leave the room, as soon as he saw Glitch see the table and had started screaming and made a dead run for the door, it had been of a simple inclination of Lavender's head and he had grabbed the lithe male and was holding his squirming and distressed body against his own. After nearly a week of avoiding the advisor it was as if electricity was poured into his veins, his skin was on fire wherever he was touching the absentminded man, and he tried his best not to show it as his body was most definitely going against those wishes and Glitch had his full attention. How could he help it when the other was writhing against him trying to escape invisible bonds, moaning out in what could have been pain but Wyatt's body was saying was pleasure. He couldn't even hide the blush on his face, and in a less serious situation he was sure that the companions in the room would be trying to hide their smiles. But this wasn't a light hearted situation, it was deathly serious. He hadn't even expected to be in the room, and infact was taking a rest in the room presented to him. Finally able to relax on his bed, staring up at the clockwork ceiling that changed with the time of day, his hat off, his gun holster, even his shirt was off and the soft breeze coming through the window was playing the blond hair on his chest that followed the trail down to his navel, and then disappeared into his pants. It seemed like the timing was perfect because as soon as he closed his eyes his door was being knocked upon.

He had done his best to ignore that quick dream that consisted of a dancing Glitch and his bodies very strong response to it as he pulled on a light blue button up shirt, having gotten a new shirt that didn't have a bullet hole in it, and had walked to his door to open it up to see the Queen and her two daughters. DG was grinning ear to ear, and giving him moon eyes, Azkadellia wasn't even noticing he was there, not meeting his eyes, or staring at his shoes, either nervous or embarrassed by his semi-undressed state. Looking at Lavender, he cocked an eyebrow, wondering what as going on, and all she needed to say was, "Adora…" and he was grabbing his hat and walking quickly behind them. What he didn't know was that he was going to end up watching Glitch have nearly a breakdown, or more when finally he gave up yelling for Lavender, and he started crying out for Addy. 'Please Addy, please I'm so sorry, I promise they won't find out! Please save me Addy! Please please please! I promise that I'll look in the book! I promise I'll visit! Addy! Oh Ozma please Addy help me!' And it had felt like Cain had taken a cold shower, his body was immediately turned off, and the squirming had stopped as Glitch just sagged in his arms, and had woken up… and Wyatt had been upset that Glitch knew about Adora's nickname, that is sounded like he was keeping secrets about her.

It made him angry that it was a possibility that there were things he didn't know about his wife, he was angry that Glitch cried out for her, but what did he expect him to yell? Was he secretly hoping that he'd hear his own name wrenched from those soft lips? And that made him angry too, that was the only emotion he seemed able to produce recently, pure anger… frustration and the want to hurt someone or something, or maybe go outside and hunt a creature. But since the life was brought back to the vineyard there was no reason to hunt those beasties… it was as if evil had been eradicated from the land, it made him uneasy, but his own mind was getting off track from things, it seemed like Glitch was contagious. Maybe tomorrow he'd laugh about that if he got some real answers, which he had a feeling he was going to very soon as they were lowering him against the table. Then there was screaming.

Holy, could Glitch scream, and it was probably why the bald scientist was standing by, the little man was stronger than he looked as he was easily pinning Glitches arm to his side, slipping his wrists into the leather cuffs that held him in place and tightening them to the point that he could see his hands starting to change colors. A leather belt went over his legs below his knee and at his hips, another one over his chest and arms, one even around his neck, and the most important was around his skull. He was begging again. "Please don't do this, really… I won't say anything, I promise. Please let me go, please, there isn't anything important in my head, not really. Please!" Cain actually couldn't look away, even when the tears started to fall out of his eyes, even when the zipper was undone and the man with gloves was reaching inside his head with a scalpel.

What was going on? He thought it was as easy as just putting the brain back in there, but instead there was pain, he could see the sweat break out on the fair skin of the advisor, saw all the muscles in his arms tighten, his hands clench and his back slightly lift from the metal table, but it was forced down as breath came in sharp gasps. His dark eyes were very wide, and looking around, but Cain could tell that they didn't see anything at all. He could feel his own blue eyes going as round as saucers as the bald man pulled his hand from Glitches head to show syrupy dark red blood dripping from his hands, dripping onto Glitches paling face, looking like blood upon snow. More old stories, blood red lips, snow white skin, a hair so dark. As the doctor shifted more blood seemed to seep out and start to wind its way into the curled hair, it would mat the curls when it dried, and there was so much pain. But with another tool, this one with a hook at the end, the doctor went back into the empty skull and with quick jerks of the wrist he began to prick at who knows what inside of Glitch's mind. He kept doing it, like he was trying to unravel an intricate embroidery piece. He could see the blood sometimes squirting out, and with every twitch of Glitch he knew it hurt more and more, his face was completely drained of color and tears were running down his face every second. By this time the only two people watching were himself and Azkadellia, but she was more focused on her ex-minion to make sure he did nothing to hurt Glitch… no one else could stand the site of the man sobbing out his pain, crying out his hopelessness, getting wrapped up in the first memories he had without his brain, of the fear of loosing his mind again.

Then the puncturing stopped, and the doctor withdrew his hands and walked over to the tank. His hands were blood-soaked, but he didn't seem to care about that at all as he unscrewed the side panel, oxygenated fluid running out onto his clothes, onto the ground were it followed a path that was understandable to only one soon-to-be-person in the room. And with sure hands that left red marks where every they touched, he picked up the brain, detaching the little extras that were hooked into the gray matter, and once it was free from it all he spun around and quickly strolled over to Glitch and with a nod to Azkadellia, Cain's peripheral vision could see that she grabbed her sisters hand and with eyes closed they both began to concentrate as hard as they possibly could. Immediately the air changed, everything seemed to feel better and felt nicer, the air was cleaner, his lungs seemed to work better, and the bruise that was still around from the bullet being blocked disappeared, the pain associated with it disappeared like magic. It was magic. Pure magic that fixed everything that it was close too, he couldn't even imagine the affect it was having on Glitch when he was right next to them. What Cain didn't see was the sudden furrowed brow of both DG and Azkadellia as they concentrating on healing their advisor as the doctor worked on putting the brain back in, squishing it into the blood filled space, it was blood filled because as it was pressed down blood seriously gushed out everywhere till instead of just small simple trails being on his face his face was awash in red. Wyatt would have lost his lunch if he had eaten. Another tool was brought out, this one looked like a pair of tweezers but the very end turned and was very thin and rounded, it sparkled silver in the bright light of the room, and with the motions of sewing the bald man began to… what Cain could only think of comparing to… as sewing the brain back in place. Whatever he had plucked out from the empty space must have needed to be reattached to the brain and that was what he was doing. Blue eyes took a quick glance at Glitch's face, and saw that his eyes were still open, blood having fallen into them, filling them, it was sheer will of his own character that he didn't run towards him to take the blood out. Instead he was glued in place, and could only watch as the doctor kept on his sewing.

The first clue that something was wrong was when Azkadellia fell to her knees, the second clue was when DG started swaying on the spot, their hands clenched together, and glowing as brightly as ever even with Az's gloved hand. Lavender ran towards her daughters, and did her best to pump her own power into the equation, none of them noticed that the doctor stopped his sewing and was zipping the zipper up. But Cain did, even when the doctors that had been handing the bald one his tools and such ran over to see Azkadellia and DG and what had happened Cain didn't look away. He watched it all. He watched as several moments passed, seconds? Hours? Lifetimes? Whatever it was he watched until Glitch's eyes opened up, filled with blood it was impossible to see the lights spark within them, the overabundance of knowledge that filled them. It was Cain that walked over and started to undo the leather belts, his fingers trying to stay away from contact as much as possible. It was him who accidentally let himself trail his fingertips over the blood covered face, revealing the still unordinary pale skin underneath the blood. It was him that leaned forwards, only barely inches away from Glitch's lips. He had watched this man go through hell for the second time, and he had seen him cry and call out for people that never came to him. His heart ached for something that he had in kinship with him, his heart ached for just Glitch. He ignored the fact that it wasn't Glitch anymore, and the next words out of his mouth would cement the fact that the mixed up man was gone and Ambrose the snob had taken his place… Ambrose the man that Cain didn't really want to touch. He quieted that voice and while they were fussing over the magical princesses, and with the advisor still stuck to the table, Cain let his lips press gentle onto the blood covered ones.

It wasn't the same kiss as before, this one was gentle, and questioning, and confused, and wanting, and apology all in one, it took a cough from Ahamo to tear Cain away, quickly wiping at his lips and spreading the blood to be up on his cheek and heading towards his ear. The one he had been kissing was blinking at him, one free hand raised as if it was getting ready to try to grab onto very short blond hair. With a quick glance at Ahamo, a smile on the mans knowing face, he was made aware that the women had yet to see, and were just now recovering.

"w-what happened?"

Lavender glanced over at him, a raised eyebrow as if she was saying 'weren't you listening or watching'? But she cleared her voice, her arms secure in both the arms of her daughters. "Something interfered with their power, something overrode it, and overrode them as well. I've never even heard of such power, but the doctor says that whatever it was, healed Glitch as well."

"Ambrose." All eyes turned to the blood covered man on the table, there was something not quite a smile on his face, and he was wiping the blood away from his face and his eyes, using the arm of his coat as a rag as well as he could. "My name is Ambrose."

There should have been commotion, but there wasn't, instead there was dead silence. There were questions to be asked. Was the Wicked Witch of the East still alive? How are you involved with her? Whose name do you keep calling out? But Cain was quicker, quicker with the draw, quicker to getting straight to the point.

"How do you know Addy?" His voice was softer than it had been earlier, and even as Ambrose's eyes turned towards him he felt the base of his world start to crumble beneath him. His air was pulled from his chest, and he tried not to show it, but the shock couldn't be helped. The eyes that stared at him were… he'd never forget those eyes ever. The smile on the advisor's lips seemed to spread enough that it was obvious he was proud that he knew something others didn't.

"Addy? You mean Adora? What do you mean 'How do I know her?' Of course I'd know my own sister."