.

Behind Closed Doors

For the next three days the group held out under the zombie attacks, fighting them back and defending Go Tower, but now the tower's defenses were weakening and supplies were diminishing. The roof was swarmed with infected at this point, so there was zero chance of going up there, getting the jet, flying back to Senior's island, gathering supplies, coming back, and still making it back into the tower unscathed. It would be a suicide mission. They didn't know how much longer they could last like this though…

They were starting to lose hope when all at once, early on the morning of the fourth day, Drakken burst into the room with DNAmy, blurting, "We've done it! The cure is ready for testing!" Everyone cheered.

"Then this is where Gemini comes in," Falsetto said, turning to the man.

"Finally," Gemini said, feeling tired and weak. He couldn't fight this disease much longer. How he'd lasted the full four days was beyond him.

"Are you ready?" Justine questioned.

"To be completely truthful, I don't know," Gemini admitted, eyeing the cure skeptically.

"Every minute wasted is another minute we don't have, Sheldon," Betty said quietly, squeezing his arm gently. As much as she tried to deny it, she was terrified for her twin.

"Uncle, please, you're exhausted," Will insisted. "You haven't let yourself sleep for days!"

Gemini sighed deeply. "How long will it take?" he asked.

"Not a clue," Drakken dryly answered.

"It could take seconds or it could take days, but hopefully either way it'll prevent you from turning," Amy said.

"Very well. Give it to me," Gemini said. At least he'd be able to sleep without worrying about waking up a zombie, he supposed. DNAmy approached and carefully administered the drug. Gemini groaned in pain, flinching. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, the antidote coursing through his blood.

"Easy, Sheldon," Betty said, concern in her eyes. She took her brother's hand. "Just... just hold on." She hated how her voice had cracked. He raised an eyebrow at her then smirked in some amusement at his twin's concern. Gently he squeezed her hand.

The needle was soon withdrawn. "Now all we can do is wait," Amy said.

"How much longer can we hold out for, though?" Tara asked, looking nervously at the camera showing them the hoard packed outside the tower. It grew bigger and bigger each day...

KP

Jack sat on a windowsill looking down at the swarms of zombies below Go Tower, every one of them trying to get inside or climb up the building. Once in a while he drew a gun and shot at an infected that decided to try and climb up to where he was perched with the window open. He heard footsteps and turned cautiously, gun at the ready. Barkin was coming towards him. He checked his pistol. Out of ammo. Well, that was useless. He sighed and tucked the weapon away. "Murder?" Jack asked calmly, looking warily over at Barkin. He wouldn't honestly be surprised if the man shoved him out of the tower. If their positions had been reversed, he certainly would have seriously considered it. Right now, he was at the other man's mercy and had no way to really fight Barkin other than physically. He wasn't up to snuff on the hand-to-hand combat stuff. He left that to his clients and his henchmen. He could hold his own in a fight, but no better than any other average guy on the street.

"I... Look, maybe not everything you said was completely out left field," Barkin soon said.

Jack eyed him warily a moment, then shrugged and looked away. "Maybe not everything you said was either," he answered.

"Maybe you were right. Maybe no one is truly free. Maybe this world will never be what we want it to be, but that doesn't mean we have to give up on it," Barkin said, swallowing his stubborn pride and forcing himself to try and be cordial to the man. "Now before you go off on a rant about the uselessness of war, I'm not talking about war. Or even freedom! I'm not talking about governments or ideals or anything. Look, there's nothing wrong with the world, Hench. It's just the people living in it. And the good ones? Well, they're the ones fighting to become worthy of calling this planet our home. It's a goal we'll never achieve, but darned if we don't try! It's the principle of the thing."

"What good are principles?" Jack asked, not turning around.

"I don't know. Maybe no good at all, but what is there if we don't have hope? What is there if there's nothing worth fighting for?" Barkin answered, coming up to the window and looking down on the sea of infected.

"When there's nothing left to lose, death isn't an enemy anymore. It's not really a friend either. It's just this thing no one escapes," Jack replied.

"Fine, but you have something to lose, Hench. Something more important than anything else. You have a family, man, a family! Don't tell me that that doesn't make this world worth living in and fighting for," Barkin said. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Jack silent and watching after him quietly, honestly a little impressed.

KP

"Stevie, Jack Hench, Senor Junior, who next?" Drakken sulked as he sat on a couch with Shego, arms crossed. What can I say? I'm a hit," Shego, feet casually up on the coffee table, replied with a smirk as she filed her gloves. Nails. Whatever it was she was filing. Drakken had never been able to figure that one out.

"Humph. Bully for you," he bit.

"Dr. D, I'm too strong, independent, and smart of a woman to bother with pointless things like 'love' or 'marriage'. I'm perfectly happy on my own. No commitments, no cares, plenty of freedom..." Shego began.

"Careful Shego. There are men out there who may take that as a challenge," Drakken lowly said. Shego glanced up, raising an eyebrow, and stiffened a bit at the look he was giving her. Almost, dare she say it, smoldering. Whoa. He pulled that off. She felt a shiver run through her and her eye twitched a bit. Oh heck no! No man got to make her shiver!

"They can bring it on," she replied, frowning and recovering herself.

"Perhaps they already have," Drakken said, standing up. "By the way, doesn't Mego say the same thing? That he's too 'independent' and 'clever' to bother with pointless things like love and marriage?"

"Ugh, Mego," Shego said. "Don't even get me started on Mego!"

Drakken smirked and chuckled. "Goodnight, Shego," he said, waving as he headed off.

Shego stared after him silently before realizing she'd probably been looking too long and shaking her head. Ugh, what was she even thinking? Focus Shego, focus.

KP

Yori quietly approached the meditating monkey lord. She paused, watching him a long moment. She bit her bottom lip uncertainly, pondering whether to awaken him from his trance and ask if she could join him. She decided against it and sat, closing her eyes and trying to center. She thought about entering his thoughts again but chose not to. His thoughts were his own, his refuge, his privacy. It would be wrong of her to intrude on them with no reason to do so.

For a long time, the two sat across from each other, meditating in dead silence. There wasn't even the sound of a creaking door. You could almost forget what was happening down below the tower, and over in the city. It was dark. It was silent. It was peaceful. A solitary candle cast an eerie glow on the two, the ninja and the monkey master. He was the first to come out of the meditation. He sighed deeply, feeling finally relaxed and calm. And tired if he was to be completely honest. He opened his eyes and started. Across from him sat Yori, deep in her own state of unawareness. How long had she been here with him, he wondered. Probably from the time his thoughts had turned from death and darkness to lotus blossoms and cherry trees.

Whenever she was near while he was meditating, even if she was simply walking by or pausing a moment to observe him, there always seemed to be lotus flowers and cherry blossoms consuming his mind, killing every other thought he had; demise, magic curses, the Yono… All dark musings gave way to thoughts of beauty and power, but not corrupting power. A different kind of power. He wasn't sure what type, exactly, but it was better than any other sensation of supremacy he'd ever felt. Not anything sappy like the power of love or the power of friendship. Ugh, he felt nauseous at the very idea. Gods forbid he actually gave two cents about what happened to the ninja girl, but still… Whatever this power was that he detected, it was tempting.

Of course, he blamed her scent for the reasons such thoughts came upon him. The girl always smelled of the fragrant lotus blossom. Why, it was no wonder he couldn't focus on his condemning thoughts with such an aroma assailing his senses. Did she smell like the flowers naturally? He'd never seen her use a perfume bottle for as long as he'd known her. Perhaps it was a shampoo or body cream.

He cocked his head to the side. It gave him such a welcome relief from himself, to have even those brief moments of peace when his mind became filled with beauty… He supposed that, in a way, he was grateful to her for that if nothing else. He wasn't sure how long he sat there watching her, or why he'd stayed at all. The candle was about to flicker out by the time he thought to move again. Not to leave, though. To brush a strand of hair lightly back from her face, gently coaxing her into waking up again.

Her eyes flickered open and she looked for a moment confused, blinking at him in some surprise. "Lord Monkey Fist," she said, blushing a bit. "I-I am sorry if I have disturbed..." she began.

"Shampoo, body cream, or perfume I wonder?" he asked, cutting her off.

She started, a bit surprised by the question. "I do not understand," she replied, a bit confused.

"Hmm... Perhaps it comes from having lived your whole life surrounded by lotus and sakura, be they wild in the jungles or tamed in a garden. Humph, for that scent to permeate your entire body, you would have had to spend every waking moment you could find among them, encircled by their fragrant, pretty little petals," he continued.

She felt her blush deepen and wasn't quite sure how to feel about that or how to react. She looked nervously around. No one was near. She turned back to him, considered her options a moment, then drew a breath and did probably the single boldest thing she had ever done in her entire life. She tilted her head, extending her neck a little in a silent invitation for him to take in the scent far more... personally than was usual for, well, either of them.

He smirked in some amusement. "Dear girl, as flattered as I am, you realize of course that I was about your age when you were newly born?"

"I am no longer an infant," she replied, frowning a bit at him.

"Hmm..." he mused. "No. No, you are not. Nor are you fully yet a woman."

"How young was she?" Yori challenged.

He snorted in derision. "The both of us were too young," he replied. "I was consistently too young."

"I do not ask for your kiss, Lord Fiske. Or for an intimate touch, or for your love," she said.

He was quiet, watching her. Soon, though, he sighed through the nose and relented, leaning in close. She felt his breath hot against her neck. His warm hand caressed her cheek, delicately tracing her jawline. He breathed deeply in, taking in her scent, and she shivered ever so slightly. He gave no indication he had noticed how she'd trembled at his touch but knew he'd felt it.

After a moment, he pulled away. She looked calmly at him giving no indication she'd been shaken, but he knew full well how flustered she was. His hand remained on her cheek and jaw, and she covered it softly with her own and leaned against it, closing her eyes and relishing it. This was wrong, she thought to herself. She shouldn't feel such things in his presence. Her American friends would be appalled. He would be shunned and labeled horribly if anyone saw it!

It isn't romantic. It wasn't meant to be romantic.

The candle had almost flickered out, leaving them barely visible in the dim glow as he traced her skin ponderously. It was almost as if he were a child, exploring something totally new to him that he didn't understand, taking in every sensation, tracing every crevice, feeling every texture. "Do you approve, my lord?" she asked quietly.

He felt a hot flush burn his cheeks at the intrusive thought that raced through his mind. A new bride standing before her husband on the marriage night. "Very much so, though I marvel at how you could possibly think the same of me," he dryly replied. An almost giggle escaped her lips before she stifled it. He smirked ever so slightly, but slowly the smirk vanished. "It makes me deeply, deeply uncomfortable how drawn I am to you," he quietly said. Her own smile slowly fell. Sighing, he boldly bent forward, pressing his lips to her forehead tenderly. He had no idea why he'd done so, but at the moment he was quite sure he didn't care. He'd become curious, and far be it for a scholar of his caliber to resist exploring a theory on a whim. She blushed and looked modestly down, then stood up. She bowed low to him in deep respect, then turned and walked away. The candle died out as she went, leaving him to be consumed by darkness. It was eerily symbolic in a way, he felt. He resented that immensely.

KP

"Babe, totally rad idea. Seriously. Sneaking into the pantry was genius," Ed said to Adrena, the two leaning against the fridge and eating some hidden goodies Team Go had had.

"What can I say? I'm a risk taker," she replied, grinning.

"Risk works for you, righteously," Ed stated. She smiled and turned back to her soda, finishing it off.

The two leaned back against the wall with content sighs. She looked up at him lazily, smirking. He was grinning in satisfaction, his eyes closed. Her smile slowly fell to a look of uncertainty and vulnerability. She didn't like feeling uncertain and vulnerable, so she shook it off and leaned against his shoulder. "I love you. You know that, right?" she asked.

"Love you too, babe," Ed replied.

"Maybe, but what am I to you? Really?" she asked.

He started and looked at her, confused. "Excuse me?" he asked.

She closed her eyes tight. Oh she didn't want to have this conversation right now. After a moment, though, she looked up at him and said, "Don't get me wrong, lover, I've had a freaky amazing time with you, ripping down the road in your tricked-out trucks, but what am I to you? Really?"

"Babe, I don't know what you're talkin' about," Ed replied.

"Am I a woman, a lover, or an ornament?" she asked flat out, expression serious now. There was no playing around anymore.

"You're my little lady, babe, seriously!" Ed replied.

"What is a lady to you?" she asked.

He didn't believe he understood. "Someone of the opposite gender?" he lamely asked.

"Am I just a decoration in your eyes?" she asked, sadness in her expression. She didn't know if she wanted his answer, because the truth might just be so, so painful.

"Heck no! Totally not. Decorations get old, decorations lose their beauty, decorations get replaced, seriously," Ed said.

"But I will get old, I will lose my beauty," Adrena said.

"Uh, yeah, everyone knows that. Not like you'll get there before me," Ed replied.

"So when the time comes I'll be replaced?" she said, looking down and away from him miserably.

Ed blinked and his eyes lit up in realization. "Whoa, hold the phone, babe, no way are you getting replaced, seriously. Nothing could replace you," he immediately and vehemently stated.

"Plenty of men have said that same thing to women before," Adrena murmured, gazing at the wall. Suddenly it seemed very interesting.

"No way, yo!" Ed exclaimed, quickly turning her to him. "You aren't going anywhere, not for anything," he insisted.

"Eddie…" she began. She was cut off by a firm, unrelenting, passionate kiss. She melted into the embrace, feeling relieved tears burning her eyes.

He pulled back. "Nothing's gonna replace you," he promised. Her mouth quivered. Whether he would stay true to his words would be revealed in time she knew, but for now, she could let herself believe him.

KP

Junior gazed into the big screen TV, tears burning his eyes as he watched his father, Bonnie, and Zita all gathered in a room to speak to him. He missed them… "My son, it is good to see you are well," Senior stated, love in his voice and in his eyes. "I miss you so very much."

"I miss you too, father," Junior replied, forcing a smile. Smiling was the last thing he felt like doing, though.

"When are you coming home?" Zita sadly asked. "Cuz, I'm so worried about you."

"I do not know, Zita," Junior honestly admitted. "The cure has been developed. It is in its testing stages, though. We do not know how long it will take to start working. Gemini has not shown any signs of improving, but at least he is not turning either.

"Come back to me, Junior," Bonnie quietly pled, gazing into her boyfriend's eyes, tears pricking her own. She began coughing and worriedly Zita patted her back as Senior held her steady.

"What is wrong, ma paloma?" Junior asked gently. As if he needed to ask. He already had a pretty good idea of the answer. He swallowed over a painful lump in his throat.

"She's getting sick, Junior," Zita answered worriedly. Bonnie looked forlornly up at him.

Junior closed his eyes tightly, willing back tears and taking a deep breath. Finally, he opened them and forced a smile, saying, "I will come back to you, Bonnie, but you must promise to still be there when I return."

She laughed wryly and said, "I'll still be here, and I'll be normal."

"Only a little longer, my love, and this will all be over," Junior promised.

"Let us hope you are correct. I love you, son," Senior softly said, tears burning his eyes now as well.

"I love you too pappy," Junior answered. Reluctantly he hung up and buried his face in his hands.

KP

Falsetto was sitting in Team Go's living room, reading through a book. His wolfhounds were at his feet contentedly, relishing in their master's touch as he stroked them softly. The dogs looked up adoringly and licked his fingers, sleepily blinking at him and giving their tails a couple of wags before lying down again. Falsetto smirked affectionately at them. The door to the living room opened and he frowned, cautiously looking up, hand automatically going to the pistol he'd taken to carrying since the trafficking incident. Just on the off chance someone got wise and figured out his deceit. Of course, he had nothing to worry about in the middle of this apocalypse except for the infected, and his fellow survivors if things started to get tense, but those two worries were reason enough for him to be ready to shoot with the aim of death.

It was Camille who entered. She looked wearily up at him. He raised an eyebrow and removed his hand from the weapon before going back to his book. The dogs looked up and began panting, tails wagging. They rose and approached the ex-heiress. Camille smiled and knelt, hugging the two animals and cooing to them as they licked her face and whined for more attention. "I'm surprised they didn't rip you to shreds. They don't warm up to just anyone," Falsetto remarked.

"Don't ask me why they did. I hate dogs. I'm really more of a cat person…" she said, standing up. The dogs growled. She blinked at them a little nervously and added, "But I mean, I can't help it. They've totally grown on me. I was like, terrified of dogs when I was little, but these precious guys? Who couldn't love them?" she said, kneeling down again and putting her arms around their necks.

"Precious?" Falsetto incredulously asked, looking doubtfully at her.

"All right, so they're more majestic than precious, but the point totally stands," Camille said, standing again and walking towards him.

He let it go and closed the book, resting it on his lap. "I would have assumed you'd be in bed, Miss Leon," he said.

Camille sat on the arm of the chair he was on. He frowned a little, curious, and gave her a somewhat wary look. She looked for a moment vulnerable and frightened, he noted, and he grimaced a bit. He supposed he really couldn't blame her for that one. "I couldn't sleep. Everything that's happening… It's just like, so totally unsettling. I'm… I'm scared."

"Camille, we all are," Falsetto said. He wasn't kidding either.

"I just, I don't know, need to talk to someone or something," she said. He was flattered she'd seek him out, especially given his voice. He never really spoke unless he needed to. Almost as if she'd read his mind, she said, "Um, Falsetto, no offense, but will your voice ever go back to normal?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, and I'm beyond really caring. I used to be sensitive about it. Now I just go with the flow."

"What did it sound like before?" she asked.

"Normal," he answered. "Less falsetto, more tenor." Pity, she thought. She did like tenors. Base was a little too, she didn't know, not her thing. Base could be really creepy, really intimidating, or just too husky and smooth. Alto wasn't her style either. Too immature sounding. She believed she would have liked to hear his normal voice, but this was his normal now, she guessed. She was a little surprised she didn't find it all that annoying. Don't get her wrong, it was pretty irritating, but somehow she was used to it. She couldn't really imagine him with another pitch in his tone.

"So, like, what happened?" she asked.

"Explosions, helium, fire, small room, treachery, blocked door, aching throat, total asphyxiation due to smoke and helium inhalation... I quite literally visited death's door and met the Grim Reaper face to face about eight times before they were able to stabilize me. Need I elaborate further?" he asked, frowning at the memory.

She blinked blankly and grimaced. "Ugh, sounds totally awful," she said.

"I survived, didn't I?" he replied slightly testily.

"Sorry, sheesh. You don't have to bite my head off for it," she said.

"That's my beloved wolfhounds' job," Falsetto said, gesturing to the creatures.

"What are their names again?" Camille wondered.

"Adomas and Alexandras," he answered.

The dogs wagged their tails upon hearing their names, looking up at their master. Falsetto scratched their ears, each one in turn.

"I like those," she tiredly said before yawning and stretching out.

Falsetto's expression became sympathetic. "You need to sleep, Miss Leon," he murmured.

"I'm afraid of what I'll wake up to," she answered, standing up.

"Then sleep here by the fire and I'll be right close by," he replied, going back to his book. "At least you'll know for sure that one person is still around. You don't have anything to fear. Adomas and Alexandras will be sure of that. So will I.

She started and looked back at him, eyes filled with surprise. She blushed and looked down once more. "Uh, thanks," she quietly said, rubbing an arm. Yawning again, she stretched out on the floor in front of the fireplace.

Falsetto watched her silently. "Adomas, Alexandras, protect," he ordered, pointing at her. The two wolfhounds, stood up and approached the heiress, then lay one at her head and one at her feet. Falsetto harrumphed then sprawled comfortably across the armchair, reading his book and keeping an eye on her until he nodded off as well.

KP

Will was agitatedly practicing some combat moves on a practice dummy, trying to work out his frustration and anger with this whole situation. Mainly Jack, always Jack. He hit the dummy extra hard at the thought of the man. Gods only knew how much he hated his sorry excuse for a father. He hoped the zombies ripped him to shreds. Will stopped at that thought, eyes becoming a bit nervous. No, not nervous! He wasn't afraid of that. He hoped it would happen. He… he hoped… Didn't he?

"You know, nephew, I think I've finally determined why you claim that you can't stand your father," a voice said from behind.

Will spun around quickly, eyes wide in hope. "Uncle Gemini?" he asked. "You're okay!"

"That remains to be seen, but I've had some time to think and figured if this cure didn't work, now was as good a time as any to have a little heart-to-heart with you about the whole situation between you and your father. Before I run out of chances."

Will's expression hardened a bit. "What do you know about it?" he grumbled, crossing his arms and looking away from the man.

"Everything Jack and Betty do, but not so much you," Gemini replied. "You, it seems, are something of an enigma who won't even open up to your mother about it. But I think I know enough by now to understand the root of the problem." Will gave him a wary look. "Fear of being betrayed, maybe, but if fear of betrayal contributes at all, it contributes to only a portion of your resentment."

"And what, pray tell, is the other portion?" Will challenged, frowning at him with eyes narrowed.

"You're afraid the old man is going to croak," Gemini bluntly replied with a cool smirk.

Will started. Eyes widening. "What?!" he demanded. "I don't care if my father dies! I border on outright wanting that!"

"Yet every time things start looking bad for your father, every time something like death is even suggested in regards to him, every time a frightening event happens and you think you're going to lose him only for him to bounce right back, you can't contain yourself," Gemini said.

"That's not true!" Will defended.

"I know what happened the night you were at the fair with your father. You were twelve, I believe?" Gemini said. Will stiffened a bit. "I know what you witnessed. I know what you saw. I know what... what the scary man threatened to make you do..."

"Don't!" Will immediately said. He wanted to forget that day had ever happened. "Just don't."

"What happened the day you rejected the gift he brought you? When you promised your mother you would behave and went back on it?" Gemini asked.

Will was silent, looking down at the ground. "Nothing," he quietly said.

That night his father asked him to get him something from the car. He'd opened the door and begun searching. Then he'd found the wire. Thin. Almost invisible. Attached to the gearshift. He'd been lucky the light had caught it like it had. Common sense more than GJ training had told him mysterious wires inside commonly used things were a bad sign. He'd cut it, investigated the inner workings of his dad's car... There'd been an explosive device wired up inside ready to blow the moment his father moved that gear stick. An assassination attempt on Jack's life, no doubt. He'd approached his father about it, showing it to him at dinner, and Jack… he'd just waved it off like it was nothing. Waved it off like he'd suspected it was there the whole time.

"The night you went horseback riding with him, what caused you to turn on him the very next day? He said you two had been getting along. Bonding. He said he'd felt like things were starting to repair. So what changed?" Gemini pressed, almost certain now that he'd uncovered a huge part of this mystery.

"It just happened," Will answered, not meeting his eyes.

They'd been riding along the edge of the cliff they'd only just raced along. Jack's horse had been startled by a rabbit leaping out, and the steed had thrown its rider. Hench had almost gone over the cliff before catching the horse's reigns. The stallion had pulled its shaken rider dutifully back to safety. Apparently, it had been trained to handle emergency situations like that. Will hadn't thought much of it, finding it funny more than anything else. The two had laughed about it when they returned… Then later that night there was a news report about a man going over that same cliff and dying earlier that day. Enter nightmare, enter realization, enter desperation, enter despair and terror. It could have been Hench...

"Stop lying to yourself, William," Gemini said.

"I'm not lying to myself! I hate my father! I want nothing to do with him! The man can squander his life on whatever the hell it is he does all he wants! I'm not having any part of it! I'm not worried about my sperm donor. He can take care of himself," Will said.

"He was nearly killed the night you disowned him. Shot twice, once in the chest and once in the back. The bullets should have been fatal. Against all odds, he survived. He had the foresight to wear a HenchCo modified bulletproof vest prototype that needed to be tested. Clearly it worked. He ran, escaping with you into the night, and he brushed it off," Gemini said.

"Was he insane?! Did he think it was some sort of a joke?! I watched my father get shot!" Will snapped, body shaking in anger. "What, was he blind? Did he even see how scared I'd been? Did he even care? I don't think so! The only person Jack Hench cares about is Jack Hench! He can rot in Hades for all I care!"

"But do you really mean that?" Gemini asked.

"I mean it," Will insisted.

"Hmm... Apparently, your parents neglected to tell you what happened later that night. Not that I can blame them. It isn't really something you discuss with an already traumatized child... The night you disowned your father, Will, he attempted to take his own life," Gemini bluntly said.

"That's just like him! He didn't even stop to think about what his death would do to anyone close to him!" Will snapped, despair filling his eyes.

"What did he have to lose? You'd just walked out of his life, disowned him as your father, and your mother was already gone from it," Gemini said. Will felt a cold sense of dread wash through him. He'd never really thought of it that way. "You keep pinning all the blame on Hench for being so self-absorbed, but the way you're thinking is self-absorbed too. Doubtless you got the tendency from him, but maybe if you stopped and actually genuinely talked to your mom and dad about all of this, you'd see another side of the story."

"That... He... Well…" Will began, but there was nowhere he could go from there.

"You're afraid of losing him. What you fail to understand is that you're losing him already. Frankly, I don't believe the man thinks he has much of anything to live for anymore. It's why he's been so calm throughout all of this. It's why he's been so in control. Nothing is holding him back. The most dangerous people are those who have nothing left to lose."

Will was silent, looking down. "Why are you talking to me about this?" he quietly asked.

"Hmm... Your father loves you, William. He would give his life for yours in a heartbeat. Know that, and don't let yourself forget it. Don't think for a moment he doesn't care, because he does. Deeply. You're losing him, but you haven't lost him yet. Maybe it's time you grew up and made amends while you still have the chance," Gemini said, arms crossed.

"I don't care about my father!" Will insisted angrily, eyes practically shooting icicles.

"You know, if you don't address this now, then one day you'll regret it, and you'll find yourself standing over his grave lamenting the fact you couldn't get over your issues and face up to your old man before he was gone," Gemini said. A flash of grief briefly took over Will's features before being quickly masked. Gemini nodded, satisfied, and left. He'd done his best. The rest was up to William now.

Will, breathing quickly and hating the burning sensation in his eyes, scowled and whirled, kicking the dummy so hard it broke. He sank down to the ground and sobbed, burying his head in his knees. What if his Uncle was right...?

KP

Jack took a sip of the drink he'd prepared and grimaced as it burned his throat. Oh yes, this was why he avoided alcohol for the most part. He wasn't a fan of the burning, the taste, the inhibition it induced, or anything about it. The warm feeling was meh, he'd give it that, and the stress and pain-reducing factors were decent enough as long as he didn't overdo it, which he never, ever did, but beyond that, it really had nothing going for it. "Life's a bi…" he began. He caught himself, though, inwardly chastising the thought. He didn't need to mope about how life sucked right now. Besides, he had nothing to complain about. Well, other than the apocalyptic scenario playing out down below. He looked out the window and shook his head.

Suddenly he felt gentle hands slip onto his shoulders. He stiffened then shivered a bit. He knew this touch. Gently the hands began to massage. It certainly beat the alcohol. He sipped from the glass once more before placing it down. He moaned in pleasure as she kneaded a stress point. "You really should stop sulking you know," Dr. Director murmured to him. "It won't get us anywhere."

"Gods your hands are magic," he said. If he were a cat he'd definitely be purring right now. In fact, he was on the verge of purring regardless.

Dr. Director smirked and paused, leaning her chin on his shoulder and looking out the window with a deep sigh. The two were silent, watching the chaos below. For a long moment, nothing was said. Finally, though, Betty asked, "Are you afraid?"

"Yes," he replied quietly, resting his head on hers. "For you and Will."

She sighed once more through her nose and softly kissed his neck. "You don't need to be afraid for me," she murmured. "What happens from this point on happens." He frowned, forehead creasing in confusion and worry. He knew she was right, but it didn't mean he liked it. There was silence for another long moment. "This isn't your fault," she said to him.

He looked down. He remembered the last time she'd used those words… When she was pregnant and those freaks had her in their clutches. "It doesn't make it any easier. It never did," he answered.

Betty closed her eyes, burying her face in his neck and kissing him again. He shivered at her touch and turned around, embracing her lovingly and placing his forehead on hers. "You won't lose us," she whispered to him.

"I know… I'll die first," he murmured.

Looking up at him, she cupped his cheek. "Never die," she breathed. He sighed and pulled her close, rocking her gently.

"I can't make that promise," he answered.

"Why not?" she asked, though they both knew the answer. It was an impossible promise to keep.

He chuckled softly and understandingly. "Lay with me," he cooed gently, drawing her towards the bed. The two climbed onto it and she leaned back against his chest, sighing contentedly as he took her hand, holding her close and snuggling her. "Whatever happens, know that I never stopped loving you," he whispered to her, nuzzling her hair.

Her smile fell to a sad look. "Nothing's going to happen to you," she replied.

"You and Will meant everything to me. Everything," he said to her.

"Don't talk about yourself in the past tense," she firmly said, frowning back at him. "You're scaring me."

"Like I already have it all planned out?" he asked, winking at her.

"Don't do this," she hissed.

"The stage is set, the marionettes in the last stages of captivity, and the puppeteer is in full control," he stated. "Until he's no more… Then you, love, will be free. So will all the others."

"I choose you, not a release," she replied. "I choose the master of puppets. The serpent's bane." He took her lips with his own immediately. The puppeteer was a puppet in his own right, he noted, and she held all the strings...

KP

"Enough, twins. You're getting too tired," Hego worriedly said to his youngest siblings. They had been sending almost unending clones down to the base of the tower to fend off the infected.

"I don't feel good," Wego Two whimpered.

Mego glanced at him and rolled his eyes, placing a hand on the kid's forehead. He pursed his lips, feeling the heat radiating from his little brother's body. "The twins can't do this anymore. At least not Two," Mego said.

Shego glanced up from her nails with a frown, raising an eyebrow, then sighed in annoyance and stood, going to Wego One. She placed a hand against his forehead too. "One's better, but not by much. Neither of them can go out in this mess," she stated. "They'd be sitting ducks."

"Then it's all up to us," Hego said grimly.

"Perfect. Just great," Mego sarcastically said.

"Uh, guys, yeah, hello, we're not exactly alone here," Shego said. "Have you taken a tally of everyone present lately?"

"Yes, and there are a lot, but only a handful are immune," Hego answered.

"Maybe it'll be enough?" Wego One hopefully said.

"Or maybe it'll be a hindrance," Hego said. "What are these people's relationships with one another like? For all we know, they'll kill each other off before the infected get them."

"Hate to say it, sis, but we can only rely on each other right now," Mego said.

"Me rely on you people? Ugh, you've gotta be kidding," Shego replied, rolling her eyes and going back to her nails. "In case you've forgotten, I practically carried this team."

"Minus the fifty or so times each that your life was saved by one of us," Hego said.

"Compared to the hundred or more times I saved each of you? Spare me the 'sibling bond' crap," Shego said, making quotes with her fingers.

"Oh yeah?" Wego One asked.

"Then why are you here with us and not with anyone else?" Wego Two questioned.

Shego stiffened, eyes widening. She looked at her brothers blankly. Why was she here? Quickly she turned back to her nails. It didn't matter either way, she told herself! "Humph. You know what? I'm taking a walk," she said, quickly rising and leaving to go find Dr. D or someone. The twins winced a bit guiltily.

KP

Will skulked the halls, head hung low. He approached the room he knew his father and mother would be in and paused outside of the door. What if they were 'busy?' Ugh, the thought disturbed him in every conceivable way. Maybe he should just wait. After a moment, though, he reached out and tentatively knocked. "Who is it?" his mother's voice called. She didn't sound breathless, so that was a good sign. Eww, why was he thinking like this? Ugh, the thought of his parents having… It was just too unsettling to even consider.

"Mom, can I come in?" he called uncertainly.

He heard her rise and come to the door. She opened it up and looked curiously at her child. "Will, what's wrong?" she asked concernedly, placing her hands on her son's shoulders. By the gods, how he'd grown. She remembered when he was still an infant, big enough for her to hold in her two hands. Given he'd been one month premature, he'd been a very, very tiny baby. Dangerously so. Jack had been able to pretty well fit him in one hand.

"I… I want to talk… to you… and Jack," Will answered, vulnerably looking at her.

"Of course, sweetheart, come in," his mother worriedly said. Something must really have been bugging him for him to voluntarily seek not just her out, but his father too.

Will entered and saw Jack fixing his hair and a disheveled shirt, looking annoyed. Will frowned. It seemed he'd interrupted at an inconvenient time. Likely right before his parents were about to have some 'fun.' "What? Is everything I do an annoyance to you?" Will nipped at his father before he could stop himself. He bit his tongue immediately after, regretting it. He wasn't here to fight or vent his issues on his dad. He was here to talk. He could put aside his biases for now. He wasn't a kid anymore. Well, he was, but he was also almost an adult! It was time he started acting like one. Or at least trying to.

"Do you have something important or constructive to say to me, Will?" Jack asked, frowning at the boy, obviously put out by the attitude.

"Is anything I say important to you?!" Will shot sharply, unable to stop himself. Okay, enough. He needed to slow down.

"Maybe we should talk alone, Will," Betty said gently. She was used to situations like this. It was her that the boy came to for advice or to talk to. In Will's eyes, Jack was just there, an obstacle that needed to be removed from the picture. For most of his life, their son had relied on her.

"No! No. I came here to talk to-to Jack. Or at least try to," Will answered.

Jack started and raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" he incredulously asked.

"I… I came here to talk to you," Will repeated.

Jack stared blankly at his son. "Kiddo, is this about girls? Is it something about the measure of a man? Questions about body development and maturation? Money matters?" he fished, trying to figure out what Will could possibly want from him.

"No!" Will defended. "I can't be bothered with love interests, I certainly don't need you telling me what the measure of a man is, and body development? Seriously? Come on, Jack, I was tutored by some of the greatest minds in the world! What they didn't teach me in biology, mom or Uncle Sheldon supplied," Will replied. "Money isn't really my issue right now either. Not with your trust fund sitting pretty in a bank somewhere."

"Then what is this about?" Jack suspiciously asked. If it was another 'get out of my life and leave my mother and me alone' speech, he didn't want to hear it. He'd heard enough of them.

"Do you care?" Will asked.

Jack and Betty exchanged confused looks before turning back to him, Jack with a frown. "Agent Du, be more specific," he said. "Do I care what this conversation will be about?"

"Do you care about me?" Will growled lowly, fighting to keep his temper in check, fists clenched tightly.

Jack's eyes widened in shock. Betty blinked at her son, also stunned at the question. Jack shook his head, snapping out of the temporary stupor, and frowned. "Of course I do! What makes you think for a split second that I don't?" he somewhat testily asked.

"Do you want a list?" Will sarcastically replied. Ugh, he really had to get that sarcasm in check.

"Will…" Betty began.

"Why did you marry dad?" Will asked her.

Betty was silent. After a moment, she replied, "He was interesting, clever, wily, intelligent. He was mysterious and beguiling, sometimes funny... I'd always liked mysteries." Jack smirked at her. "He was one of the very few people in my life I felt comfortable truly opening up to. He listened and understood, he offered support and reassurance. He enraptured me. Do you need more? I wasn't blind to what your father was, Will, but damned if he didn't have some form of honor and morals."

"Don't make him into some Rubin Hood slash Zarro figure, okay? I know what he is too," Will said.

"But not half as well as me," Betty said.

Will glowered at her, then turned to his father. "What do you see when you look at me?" he coldly asked the man.

"My flesh and blood?" Jack answered like it was obvious.

"Try again," Will replied.

"An heir," he said.

"Wrong answer," Will growled.

"I see my son," Jack said, frowning now. "Sport, what are you waiting to hear?"

"I don't know," Will answered, bowing his head. Looking up again, he said, "Something that will make everything right again." Jack could find nothing to say to that. Will sniffed and turned on his heel, quickly leaving.

"Wait, Will!" Jack began, moving to go after the boy. Will slammed the door, though, and Jack stopped.

"Hey, I'll talk to him once he's cooled down, okay? We'll fix this," Betty worriedly assured her husband, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently. Jack forlornly looked at her, nodding.