Littleton House

"What?" Max asked, looking at Morrell in her kitchen. "What?"

He stared at her. "Someone kidnapped Amy and Jacob Brock and said they were bringing them to Cana."

She looked at John with that. "Amy and Jacob are missing?"

"And being brought to you."

She shook her head. "No one knows I'm Cana. Anyone who did…they died five years ago. Right? There has to be…is there another Cana? Some woman…someone pretending to be her? We have to find them before…We saw what Solomon did. It can't happen to those kids. Not again."

"We thought the four original Whittaker kids were in the woods," Morrell said. "You and Jonah weren't."

Jonah, Max thought, he's long gone with them. Why would he mention me? Misdirect. He's bringing them to his home…They won't suspect him. Not this time. He doesn't know who I am. He knows the fake Cana and her family that I directed him to. "And my other…my other two brothers?"

"We're watching your house. You'll have an agent on you. If they're coming here, I'm worried for your and children's safety."

"Should we get out of town? Take our kids somewhere?"

"They won't stop, Honey," John said. "If it's another Whittaker, I'm not losing you or our kids to this. We need to draw them out and find Amy and Jacob."

She nodded. "And if we're wrong? If there is another Cana…someone pretending to be her?"

"Someone knows about you," Morrell said. I hope it's not you. I hope this isn't an act and she's not a part of this. I hope she is still the cop I thought she was and really is a loving wife and mom. She looks terrified and clinging to her husband. "Someone knows you're Cana."

"I don't want to be her."

"You aren't letting those lunatics near her," John said. "She hasn't been Cana in 41 years. Do they know about Max, do they want her and them?"

"We can't let them take our kids. Amy and Jacob, John, I…if they're bringing them to me. I can…I can be Cana for that. Morrell, you need to keep our kids safe."

"We need to keep you safe," John said. "Max, I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I'll be fine."


Rome

"They aren't," Jill said. "They're Kim's kids and…Did Max do this?"

Jimmy looked up. "Morrell said there is a watch. That she agreed to do whatever he wanted to catch these people. That they're worried someone else is pretending to be Cana Whittaker."

"What if it's been her? If she was working with him?"

Max, happy with John, pregnant, marrying him…having more kids with him. "It can't be her. We're talking about Max."

"What if…She isn't really Max. She is Cana Whittaker, she was here when her father took Kim and turned her into…what if she knew?"

"She didn't know she was Cana Whittaker."

"What if she did? She hated her adoptive father. What if she did know, if she worked with Solomon? What if…she killed all of them to hide who she is?"

Jimmy looked at her for a long moment. "Why? Why would she? What would she want with Amy and Jacob?"

"If it was about Kenny, they're his kids. What they still have him? What if Max has him?"

"The FBI watched them for a month. Max goes to work, yoga, activities with her kids, a weekly date with John, a girl's night out every other week, the wildest thing they saw was Max and John…fooling around in their hot tub…there was nothing there to suggest she was part of this. She wouldn't do anything to Amy and Jacob. Whatever happened in the end with Kenny, she would die to protect his kids."

"They're our grandchildren."

"And we'll get them back."

"We didn't get Kim back."


Littleton House

"What if they're out there?" Max asked, looking at the woods beyond their house. "Why did we buy a house so close to the woods?"

"No one is there," John said. "Max, we're perfectly safe."

"How is this happening?"

"It isn't your fault."

She turned to look at him. "I'm one of them, John. It's in me…I passed it down to our kids. They're going to take us. Make us…They'll make me be Cana."

"You're not Cana. You are a smart, strong, determined, stubborn, hardheaded, kind, funny, beautiful, loving, wife, mother, friend, detective. You were saved from that life, and while the Stewart's weren't the best parents, they kept you safe. Your mother wanted a better life for you and you have that. I'm grateful that your biological mom sold you because we wouldn't have this together. You're not Cana. You're Max, and you're still my prickly and feisty deputy."

She crossed the room and wrapped herself around him. "Why do you always know the right thing to say?"

"Get out of your head and think. You're better than this."

She nodded, as he combed through her hair. "What if they take our kids?"

He rested his forehead on hers. "They won't."

"They're Whittaker's too."

"Our kids are Littleton's. Just like you. You are not Cana Whittaker. Nothing about you is like those people."

My kids won't go to the woods, she thought, I want to stay here with him. Master had to die to ensure that, and then Jonah tried to reel me in. I can stop them again. Amy and Jacob…a nice distraction. Fake Cana, he can take fake Cana. Not me. Be sad and scared for John. "You make me believe that."


Jonah Whittaker

"This is your home. Cana will be your mother soon."

Amy Brock looked up at him. "I want Grandma."

"Your Grandma is dead. You belong here now," Jonah continued, as he shoved them through the maze of caves. "Cana is your Master now."

Jacob hugged his sister tightly. "Let my sister go. I'll stay."

"You will know your family here. You are home and will serve us."


Littleton House

Be Detective Littleton, Max thought, working with the FBI. Think like a cop here, Max. Morrell trusts me. The Brocks need me. Amy and Jacob…in underground caves in Minnesota. As much as I would love to have Kenny's kids here with me…It's over. They'll serve Jonah well. As will fake Cana when the time comes…the woman he thinks is me. Sitting on the bench, she looked at the woods. The tip, the man and children in rags, she thought. Are they here? Did they find me? I should rescue Jacob and Amy, bring them home to Jimmy and Jill…really clear my good name in this.

"There," she heard in her ear. "Stay sitting, Detective."

They aren't here, Max thought, looking at them in their rags through her sunglasses. There is no way they got here from Minnesota. Are there more that Master didn't tell me about? His children, did he send his adult children out to start their own branches? Do they know me? Think like a cop.

"Cana."

She stiffened at that. The FBI is here…how do they know me? I only met with Father. Rarely. Play dumb, don't show fear.

"Let them approach."

She studied her phone. Run. My kids. They're with John, with an agent. They're fine…

"Cana."

She looked up at him…the sharpened teeth, the tattooed pack marks…How? "Oh…I should go. Can I help you? I don't have any money, but…I have snacks and things."

"Cana," he said again. "My Master."

She looked at the kids on the fringes of the woods. Not Amy and Jacob. Not here. Why is the pack here? How? "I'm sorry…I don't know a Cana."

He smiled, yanking her to her feet. "Come home with me, Sweet Cana. We need you."

She yanked herself back from him, stumbling into the one behind her. "Please, don't hurt me! I can get you money…whatever you want. Let me go."

"You're our Master."

"Let me go!" Max cried, her training kicking in as she elbowed him in the neck and ducked out of his grasp. They know me. Father told them…how did they know where I am now? John, my kids…the bunker. Sighing in relief as the FBI swarmed in, she caught Morrell's eye. "How?"

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, watching as the cult was handcuffed and lead away. "I didn't believe they were here. They called me Cana and…How? Are John and the kids safe?" Were Amy and Jacob here?"

Morrell looked at her for a long moment. "They have been kidnapping women who look like you, Detective. Witnesses say they call them all Cana. She is practically a saint to them. You just happen to be the real Cana."

Max shook her head. How can they do this? "I thought…Solomon's cult was the only one. Who are these people? What is going on? Are they here?"

"What brought you and John to Oregon?"

"He got a job offer to run the district attorney's office out here. He couldn't say no to that…we thought a fresh start would be good for us away from Rome."

"Like your recruitment to Rome."

Max paled at that. "No…How long…How long have they been watching me? Playing with my life like that? Oh, God, are they going to do that to our kids? Did they do it to John's career? How can they? They live in the woods…how do they…Are my kids safe?"


Rome

"They weren't there."

"According to Max?" Jill asked. "Or Cana?"

Jimmy looked his wife at that. "The FBI cleared her. She's working with them. John said she feels guilty and…It sounded like she was pulling back from him and the kids."

"Is the cult after her? Do they know she's Cana?"

"Morrell thinks they do. How is the question."


The Littleton House

"You're shaking."

Max looked up at John in their living room. "They're here, John. They called me Cana. I didn't want to believe Morrell when he said they were and…How did they find me? How do they know?"

"Max," he started, joining her on the couch, even as she tensed at that. "We can figure it out."

She looked at him. "How can you still look at me like that? John don't."

"Hey," he said, as she pulled back from him. "Don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Pull away because you're scared. You're not Cana Whittaker, at least you haven't been since you were three months old. You're a wonderful wife, fantastic mother, a great detective, you are smart, fun, and even in the chaos of our life? It's you and me, Honey, and it has been since you kissed me in the middle of the street on our first date."

She looked at him with that. "What if I'm like him? What if I do something to our kids? What if it is inside me like that?"

"You're nothing like him. I know you."

Be who he wants. Don't be Cana…don't let her in. What I did for my father…I am a Whittaker. I gave him eight wives, used the explosive button and poisoned the rest. I did it for me. To be free…and they're still coming. They won't stop. There are others like me, outsiders who help them. "What if."

"No what ifs. I love you. I need you. Don't pull away."

She looked at him with that. "If I go with them…maybe they'll take me to Jacob and Amy. I can bring them home."

"You aren't going with them. Is that what Morrell wants?"

She bit her lip. "They're my family, my biological family, they won't hurt me. They think I'm one of them…I can find them, bring them back to Jimmy and Jill…it won't ever make up for what they did but."

He looked at her for a long moment. "They brainwashed Kim into…she became one of them."

"They don't need to brainwash me. I'm a…Whittaker, John, at least by blood. That's why they want me. I can go, Morrell can track me and pull me out. We can stop the cult; our kids will be safe from it. We thought…when all those people died in the woods…how many are there?"

Morrell, John thought, he put this in her head. My wife, I haven't seen this reckless and impulsive Max in a while. Running into the fire. "You'd do that? Selfishly? I want you with me and the kids. Not…I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Nothing is going to happen to me. I'm coming home to you."


Rome

"She's what?"

"She's going to let herself be taken. Morrell and the FBI are bugging her. The cult is bigger than just Solomon Whittaker," Jimmy said. "When he poisoned and killed his cult here…there is a branch in Oregon, Rhode Island and Colorado. They've been setting up around Max for years, since she was a kid. Watching her, waiting…Morrell said she's a mess over it."

"Why didn't they take her, Jimmy? They took all those other women. The took Kim."

"They think of Cana as their Goddess. When the world ends, she's the one who is going to lead them from the woods to the new world. They found a bible of the Whittaker Cult."

"Max is a goddess?"

Jimmy nodded. "I talked to John again. He said she's pretty freaked out by it…but is going along with the FBI."


The Littleton House

Left Minnesota, Max thought, here in Oregon…for me. Goddess Cana. It's kind of nice to be their goddess…Why me? The missing child lost in a world…who will lead them to salvation. Nice, Master, nice. John is so worried. They've followed me…he always knew. The cult knew. I'll kill them all. "Don't look so worried."

"You're about to let yourself get kidnapped," John said, just looking at her. "I'm going to be worried."

Max crossed the room and hugged him tightly, ignoring the buzzing FBI agents around him. Take care of this and come back to my very own pack. I want this life, with him and our kids. John does make me happy…more than Kenny would have. John wanted me, only me, he pursued me, and I became exactly what he wanted as a girlfriend, wife and mother…and I like this me. I'll do anything to keep this life now. "I'm coming home to you."

John looked at Morrell. "If anything happens to her."

"I'll be fine," Max interjected, drinking him in. "I'm not vanishing. Hug the kids extra tightly for me?"

She shouldn't he thought…I want to drag her home, not let go of her, trust her. She's a cop down to her bones, ah, she's scared. "Just come home, Honey, come home."


In the Woods

"Cana."

Bugged, Max thought, it's under my skin. A tracker…they put in three. Sitting up, she stared at him. Jonah, she thought, my big brother. The same red hair…he looks like Master. "How am I here?"

"You're home, Cana, just like Master planned. The children are waiting for you."

Max stared at him with that. "My children?"

"Your children are tainted with black blood."

She felt her temper flare at that. My children are wonderful, they are the best part of me. "Please, let me go. I don't belong here."

"Cana," he breathed, pulling her to her feet. "Cana, you're home."

"I'm not Cana."

"You know who you are. Master followed you. He made sure you were safe. It's time for you to lead us."

She gulped, Jonah…Oh, home. With my brother…surviving Whittaker's. "Please, I don't belong here. I have a husband, kids, family…I won't tell anyone. Let me go home to them."

"We're you're family, Cana. You know that," Jonah smiled, combing through her long hair. "Everything we do is for you. Our goddess."

Oh, she thought, as her brother kissed her. Wrong, so wrong…hmm. Nice, really. No. Pushing back. "What do you want with me?"

"My little sister," he smiled. "We will create a new generation here. Come Cana…we need to start."

"You want to get me pregnant?"

"Master should have taken you earlier…he thought your children would lead us, but they're tainted. Their tainted blood is not welcome here."

My children are wonderful, Max thought, I was born to be a mother. Of these children…the Whittaker children need me more than…no, I decided I'm going to be Max and not Cana…they need to die. "I made them…Let me go home to them. No one will know about them."

"Those are not your children anymore, Cana. The pack will rid the world of your abominations."


The Littleton House

"I want Mom," Gracie stated. "Dad, why did she leave?"

John looked at his kids in their safe house after Jonah's revelation. "She's coming home…she's a detective. She needs to work this case."

"I miss Mommy," Anna stated. "We're reading a book."

"I'll read with you, Banana," Kara said, looking at her dad. "And finish your diorama, Noah."

Gracie looked at her. "But, where is she? Dad, you look so sad."

So much like her mother, John thought, Gracie is going to change the world. "We don't know. It's police work. She'll be home soon."


In the Woods

Max wrapped her arms around herself, as Jonah lead her through the caves. My home, where I would be if my mother hadn't given me to the Stewarts. I'd be one of them…I am one of them. I can be Cana here…I can pull these trackers out and be Cana forever.

"Mama."

She froze as the children gathered around her. Born to be a mother, it's in my blood. These kids need me…I can save them. They can't exist in the world. This is their world "Hi."

"They need you, Cana."

She nodded, scanning the for Amy and Jacob. "How many are there? Children?"

He smiled at her, wrapped in a bearskin robe. "You're all of their mother now."

"How many?"

"All, Cana," he smiled, kissing her again. "Come, Sweet Cana, we must make you one of us."

"Wait," Max said. I don't want tattoos, my teeth… "I'm a goddess. I will remake myself. Children go with your father."

Jonah smiled again at her. "You will be lovely, Sweet Cana."

She nodded at that. "As a goddess, I need to be different things for different people. The pack markings and teeth…I need to be able to blend in before the end of the world."

"A brilliant goddess."


Oregon

"She's doing fine," Morrell said, his heart racing. She doesn't believe a word of it. If I don't bring her home… "We need to move in. Now."

His team nodded. "On your word."


In the Woods

Jesus Christ, Max thought, looking at herself in the cracked mirrors of the caves. Bearskin cape, some weird furry shorts and torn up shirt…My hair, that John runs his fingers through so lovingly, being tightly braided…like my daughters. No tattoos for Goddess Cana. Shakily she used the paints to mark her exposed skin. Cana…

"Lovely," Laila smiled. "I knew Master, Cana. He sent a group of us away."

Max looked at her with that. "He did?"

"Before he was murdered by that world."

Max shook her head. "No…he killed all those people. Then himself."

"Master would never. He was preparing for our arrival in the new world. He was preparing to bring you to us. He liked to watch you."

She gulped, listen Morrell listen, I'm a victim. "He did?"

Laila smiled. "He knew you were the one to lead us to the new world."

"Did you know Kimberly Brock?" Max asked. "She…she died with him. She was pregnant…she had twins."

Laila stared at her. "I knew no Kimberly. Elena had twins."

Max bit her lip at that. "Is that what he called her? Her boyfriend…did he…he vanished…did he…is he here?"

"You needn't worry. You're home, Cana."

Home, she thought, fiddling with her braided hair. They don't know me anymore than John does. "Please, my kids…my husband…I don't belong here."


Rome

"She's there. With the cult."

"Did she find them?" Jill asked. "Amy and Jacob?"


In the Woods

Max smiled to herself, enjoying her reflection. Furry skins, she thought, running her fingers over them…my face painted in my own patterns, and my newly braided hair. A goddess to them…this is me being Cana. Her life…would John love this me? Would my tainted kids know me? Cana…Oh.

"Sweet Cana."

Max gulped, seeing Jonah look at her. He doesn't know me…they don't know what I did. "Take me to my children, Brother."

"We will make our own children."

She just looked at him, as he led her down the chambers. Freezing in the doorway, she forced herself to keep her face neutral. Amy and Jacob…they have Kenny's eyes. Save them for the Brocks. Clear myself, rid the world of the Whittaker legacy. The FBI can't stop this. I can. "Hello, Children. I am Cana."


The Littleton House

Damn it, Max, John thought pacing their house. I should have dragged her home and cuffed her to the bed. For her own good…This is who she is deep down, that same deputy who leaps before she looks, puts herself in danger without thinking it through. In the woods, with her insane family cult who worship her. All I wanted was a family with her, the normal, fun, chaotic, Littleton family, I loved her staying home with the kids for a few years before going back to work, her surprise at being a detective…a spark back in her then.

"Dad?"

"Hey, Kid," he said, as Kara sat next to him. "What's going on?"

"I know there was stuff you and Mom weren't telling us, but is she okay? Is she coming home?"

"She's off being a cop…it's a serious case, Kara. It's why the police wanted us in a safe a place. Your mom is fine, she's coming come to us."

"Dad are you okay?"

Not even close, he thought, I'm not sleeping until she is home. "I'm good, Kid. I'm always going to worry, but Max is pretty smart, she's a great detective and I trust her to do her job and come home to us."

"Has Mom killed people?"

"It's something she doesn't like to talk about. She's been a police officer a long time."

"But you know? Were they bad people? Is she stopping bad people now?"

"She's trying to."


In the Woods

"Hi," Max said quietly, crouching down to look at Amy and Jacob. Kenny's kids, she thought, with Kim…who he wanted over me. He never wanted me, he never loved me…and what I have with John is better. Why couldn't I see that? John wanted only me. He didn't want to let me go. "Jacob? Amy?"

"Cana," Jacob said, bowing to her. "My Goddess."

She looked over at a terrified Amy Brock. "Are you okay?"

"Don't hurt me."

She shook her head. Save them. My last connection to Kenny shouldn't be here…I need to sever the cult. I needn't ever be Cana again. "I won't hurt you."


Oregon

"What is this place? Where are they?" Morrell said, as the FBI swarmed over the tracker's location. "She should be right here. Fan out. Find her."

"Sir? What is that?"

Morrell looked up, seeing the people emerging from the woods. Raising their guns. "Freeze! Where is Cana?"


In the Woods

I don't know where to go, she thought, looking at them. Jacob…he's one of them now. A Whittaker, they don't know he isn't one, that he's Kenny's kid. Brainwashed, like all the people brought here. Amy, she's still in there. I can bring her back…Jacob he's like the rest. I can't chance…he looks so much like Kenny. "Do you know who I am?"

"Cana," Amy whispered. "The goddess."

"I knew your parents."

"My parents died."

Max nodded at that. "I know. I knew them before that. Your dad was my best friend and your mom was…she had her whole life ahead of her. I know your grandparents, they miss you."

"Are you here to save us, Cana?"

Back to the world, she thought, they're safe here. I can be their mother…all their mother. The mother of this new generation…be the goddess Cana. Revered. No. I choose John and my family. I choose being Max. "Yes. We're going home."

"Cana."

She looked up at her brother. "Jonah. I'm getting to know my children. My family."

He smiled at his sister. "Come, Cana."

She looked at her hand in his. I can't…it's wrong. "Where?"

"With me, My Sweet."

Where are you Morrell? Looking at a converted Jacob and scared Amy…she'd make a fine Whittaker bride. Like me? No, I'm a Littleton now. I can't think… I don't want to be Cana, I don't…Max. I'm Max. A detective. Wife. Mother. Pillar of the community. Whatever I did before, I'm Max now. "I want to stay with the children. They need me."

"Cana?" he asked, as the screams came from the tunnels. "They found us."

She looked up at him. "Who?"

"The outsiders."

"Bring them to me."

"They will feed us."

Cannibal, Max thought, what did I do? What did I send those women off too? I should stay…take my lumps. It would destroy John, my kids, if they knew. No, I can make it go away. I can commit to doing good. "I want to see them."

"They murdered our people."

"Take me to them," Max started as they threw Agent Morrell at her feet. Oh, crap. Crap. "Who is this?"

"They murdered our people."

She caught his surprise at her appearance. One of them…who am I really? "You murdered my people?"

Morrell stared at her. "Cana?"

"Why are you here? You're scaring my children."

"Cana?" he asked again, searching her face. "We've been looking for you for a long time."

She smiled at him, crouching down to his level. "You found me."