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They initially weren't worried about telling people. Obviously, they were in a precarious living situation, constantly moving, fighting, running- wasn't the ideal place for a pregnant woman. But they were all a family – first and foremost. They take care of each other and make it work.

Or, so Clarice thought.

Still feeling shaken by the news, and the role reversal of how she found out, (guess that's a story for the kid, "Hey, your dad is human pregnancy test-have fun with that!") she wasn't completely in the mindset to tell other people yet. John understood, feeling uneasy at keeping such a big thing from the group, but respecting everything that Clarice was dealing with.

It felt like just yesterday, she was on her own, hiding in abandoned buildings, sheds, or the occasional church basement to scrape by. Now, not only is she an instrumental part of a movement, and an essential member on missions, but she was a part of a family. Family, there's a new word. Clarice still wasn't used to that just rolling off of her tongue, but she had to admit, she had found a pretty impressive one, even if it was a little broken right now.

Clarice paused in her sorting, the newest shipment of medical supplies momentarily slipped from her mind and were replaced by a certain emerald-haired pain in the ass. She huffed; as much as she would love to hate her, a small part of Clarice understood why Lorna had done what she had done. The Underground was taking loss after loss; it was certainly a difficult time to feel as though you are making a difference in the city, much less the entire country. The Inner Circle may use horrific methods, but for better or worse, they were forcing change. Change that would benefit everyone.

Including you, kid. Clarice smiled as her hand brushed her stomach. She was still a little unsettled at the idea of growing a person, but John's excitement was infectious; she practically had to pry him away from her stomach at night in bed- Clarice, I just wish you could hear what I hear, he'd whisper in awe.

Resuming her restocking of supplies, she thought about the next step she would have to take before that could be a reality- telling Caitlyn, and by extension the team. After much discussion (or bickering, depending on who you ask), they had decided to wait for just a little while longer, give things a chance to die down just a bit. It also allowed them a little more time to themselves, the calm before the storm of opinions, interjections, and even threats of the world.

"Clarice!" She heard John call from the front room; returning from a meeting with Marcos and Caitlyn. Another contact promised information about the Inner Circle, but she had passed on going with; she couldn't handle another dead end right now,

"Back here," she called back, finishing up with the last of the gauze, before securing the cabinet lock and hanging up the key. Turning the corner, she could see from the expressions and Marcos' poorly concealed frustration that the contact had nothing useful to offer. John gave her a tired smile, which she returned. No one knew how much more of this they could all take.

"We were right there, we had them!" Marcos exclaimed, "We should've chased after him, if we had just been a little faster-"

Caitlyn leaned forward in her chair, eyes closed as she rubbed her forehead, "He could phase, Marcos, last time I checked none of you can walk through walls. There wasn't anything we could do." Clearly not a new conversation, Clarice thought as she eyed Marcos' frantic pacing.

Letting out a growl of frustration, Marcos continued to push it, "What about Clarice? If she had been there, we might have our guy right now!" She felt John bristle next to her, but Clarice just rolled her eyes.

"Okay, last time, I am not a wizard; I have to be able to see where I'm going. Which I can't do through a wall, I use windows as much as the next person." Marcos stopped his pacing, opening his mouth to fire back a response when a whoosh was heard from the front room.

"The hell was that?" Clarice asked as the other three sprung into action, Caitlyn and Marcos moving towards the front room as John pulled her closer to him, ensuring he was in front of her.

"Looks like our guy decided to follow us back, and he's way better at it," John whispered, keeping his senses alive for the phaser. "This guy is dangerous, Clarice can you get us an exit?"

She nodded, glancing around the room, the familiar clinic now turning into a thousand places for the phaser to emerge from. Focusing on the energy around her, she concentrated, and opened a small portal to a remote parking lot not far from their base. While successful, the energy seemed to be fighting her, and it took twice the effort to accomplish. Well, that's not normal, shaking it off and focusing on the task at hand.

John moved forward into the front room, "Guys, we need to leave, we're not ready for this," he whispered, motioning them to Clarice. Caitlyn nodded and moved to go to the portal, and was immediately met by two ethereal arms slamming her back into the wall. With a small cry, she hit the plaster, but quickly bounced back. Marcos and John both lunged at the man, but their hands passed right through him. A skirmish ensued, with the team unable to really land even the lightest of blows on the man.

The mystery phaser switched directions, suddenly charging the back of the room, running right through Marcos, and headed straight for Clarice. Wanting to find an ending to the ghost fight, she fought the energy, willing it to bend and reshape, and she grew her portal, lobbing it forward a foot, catching the phaser off-guard. He stumbled through it, into the parking lot, and with a yell, she slammed it shut, trapping him across town.

Panting, the room began to swim before her, and she grabbed the counter to keep from falling. "Whoa," John rushed forward to catch her, and she clung to him, please don't let me puke on my boyfriend, praying that the room stop spinning. "Clarice," John gently grabbed her face examining her for injury, voice laced with worry.

"What's wrong?" Caitlyn asked, grabbing a chair for Clarice to sit in. Clarice looked John in the eye, silently pleading with him not to say anything. Frowning, John sighed and gave her one last look, before looking to Caitlyn.

"She's pregnant." Clarice shut her eyes, dammit John. This is not how this was supposed to go; granted she didn't know how she did want it to go but she knew it certainly wasn't this. she groaned into her hands, half not wanting to see their reaction and half hoping to stifle any projectile vomiting. Every girl's dream.

Caitlyn paused in shock, certainly surprised at the news, but overall happy. "How-How long have you known?" she managed.

"About two weeks," John replied, kneeling down next to Clarice, rubbing her back. "Do you think this could be a side effect; the pregnancy interfering with her powers?" Clarice groaned again, the nausea decreasing slightly as her frustration increased.

"It's possible," Caitlyn theorized, "I would have to do an examination, run some tests to be sure-" A laugh abruptly cut Caitlyn off; a short, cynical bark. Eyes all turned to Marcos, who was rooted in place across the room, an exasperated expression on his face. Clarice looked up from her hands at the man she had come to consider a friend as he spoke.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he spits, and all ideas of family crumbled before her.