A/N: Not starting the next chapter until like a month after you finish the last one… Good job, Allie... Here ya go, peeps! Minimum word count for this chapter (imposed by my good friend) is 1,000 but I think we all know I can top that. (3,676!)

(and I did, even though this chapter took me like three months to write dammit)

Chapter 7: Bad to Worse

Dodger was struggling to get me off of him - as I learned with Keaton, I'm very good at digging my nails in and holding on. He growled and finally managed to grab the back of my shirt and throw me across the room.

I hit the wall with a thump, narrowly avoiding cracking my head on it and getting another concussion.

Upon hitting the ground, I rolled to the side. Dodger missed me by a fraction of an inch. He swung again, clipping my jaw with his fist. The taste of rust exploded through my mouth - he'd managed to force the inside of my lip into my sharp fang on that side. I spat the blood out.

"You'll die here," He said lowly, "I'll kill you."

"Keep telling yourself that." I replied flippantly and jumped on him again.

He was ready this time, however, and I regretted my decision to fight him. He was stronger than Keaton was… A lot stronger. If Keaton had punched me in the gut, I would've lost my breath for a moment, but I could've still gotten a punch in. When Dodger punched me in the gut… At least one of my ribs broke.

It also knocked me back a few feet, sending what was left of my breath whooshing out of my lungs. I couldn't move for a second, and that second was all it took for Dodger to walk over to me. He yanked me up by the collar and met my eyes.

"You're very cocky for someone who can be knocked around so easily."

"I guess…" I wheezed, "I guess I underestimated… Your strength… I thought Keaton was… the strongest guy I'd ever fight but…" I had to fight for another gulp of air. My vision was black around the edges.

"But?" He prompted.

"You're stronger than he is." I managed after a second, "A lot stronger. Which is why I suppose I respect you." My vision cleared a bit, my breath came easier. I'm a fast healer. "But your strength won't save you."

"Oh, won't it?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Nope."

I grabbed hold of his wrist - he had me dangling a few inches off the ground - and swung my legs up. I kicked him with what strength I could muster, and he stumbled backwards, letting go of my collar. I flipped backwards with the rest of my momentum and landed with practiced grace.

Dodger rubbed his cheek where I'd kicked him. "Your size is deceiving." He noted. "You're stronger -"

"Than I look?" I raised an eyebrow. When he nodded, "Yeah, I get that a lot. Unfortunately, my arms aren't anywhere near that strong. I don't do as much lifting as I should, I guess."

"You probably do a lot of running though, don't you?"

"Yeah. More than I'd like, actually. When I was in the orphanage I hated running."

"So you are an orphan." Dodger nodded, like he was impressed.

"Well, everyone says my parents are MIA, but I find that hard to believe. I mean, it's been ten fucking years since I saw them. I think they're dead, so, yeah. I'm an orphan. Why do you look so impressed?"

"The emotional heartache of living in an orphanage makes you stronger. Believe me - I would know."

I liked this Dodger guy. He might've been an abusive fuck, according to Atlas, but he understood a lot of very fine details. Details few others got.

"Not always," I argued, regardless, "Sometimes it just makes you into a weakling. Not everyone is strong enough to begin with to handle the pain without being irreparably damaged by it."

"True enough." Dodger nodded, approval glimmering in his eyes.

"You seem like a decent person… I hate to kill you." I was actually regretting my decision to do so.

"You seem like a decent person… I hate to kill you." He replied before lunging at me this time.

I used the Slow move and bolted out of the way. "It's a real shame one of us has to die." I said when I stopped.

"Yes, it is."

I went invisible and unsheathed my knife. "A real shame…"

I sighed to myself and snuck up behind him. He sniffed and turned around, roundhousing me without a second thought. I lost my concentration and landed hard on the ground. I grimaced, not in pain, but at the thought of what I knew I had to do. He pounced. I raised my knife.

I knew when it sunk into his stomach, not because my hand was suddenly coated in warm, sticky blood, but when his eyes widened. I pushed him off me, knife still in his stomach, and straddled him. I grimaced at that as well - it felt wrong on so many levels to be straddling a man who was at least ten years older than me.

"I'm sorry." I told him, "But you really do need to die."

I yanked the knife out, and he coughed up a little blood.

"You told me you would do this," He coughed again, weakly, "months ago. YOu told me in one of our then frequent conversations that one day you'd kill me. In fact you said you'd technically already done it."

I blinked at him. "I don't know what you're talking about, Dodger." I shook my head, "But it really doesn't matter. It's time for you to go to sleep… Forever. Say goodnight, dear."

He locked eyes with me as I raised my knife. I saw something in his eyes… Something that resembled… Trust. I didn't question it - if I didn't kill him now I'd never do it. I'd lose my nerve.

"I'll see you on the other side, Sophie Caldicot." Was the last thing he said before I plunged my knife into his chest.

I stayed where I was for a few moments afterwards, confusion overriding everything else. What did he mean 'Sophie Caldicot'? I was Sophie Cooper! I didn't have any idea what he meant, and honestly it scared me. Slowly I got to my feet and walked silently toward the door to his office. I knocked quietly, and Atlas opened it hesitantly. He let me in, with only a short look at the corpse of his stepfather and the knife I had yet to remove from his chest.

"So he's dead, huh?" Atlas asked quietly as I looked around the office.

I nodded silently. Something about the name 'Caldicot' seemed oddly familiar, although I couldn't for the life of me place why. He didn't notice my distraction, simply taking my silence as proof that I had actually killed the man he'd no doubt heard me speaking with.

"Um, I haven't found anything useful yet," Atlas said sheepishly, "But I did find this." He held out a blue book, "I think this is his journal. I saw him writing in it a lot."

I nodded and accepted the book. "I'll read it later… Maybe he kept something pertaining to Keaton in this."

"Maybe… Also, I found these." His fur had gone a shade lighter.

He held out a thick stack of papers. At a glance they were a simple stack of legal papers, but when I took them and actually got a good look… I realized what they were. They were a contract between Dodger and a woman I could only assume was Atlas's mother (a Missus Andromeda Makara). A contract saying that she would pretend he beat her so that Atlas would be raised strong. And it was suggested by his mother! They might have been falsified, but I did have a cop for a cousin, and I could get Henry to check it out.

"Do you think it's true?" Atlas asked weakly. "Do you think mom really… That Dodger was actually a relatively good guy after all?"

"It's hard to tell. Legal papers can be made at home, you know, and he could have had these made and forced your mom to sign it - I'll have Henry check it out for you, okay?"

He nodded. "And one last thing."

He handed me what looked like a simple note. I scanned it quickly, eyes widening.

"Oh my gods…" I finally managed, "He was… he was a homosexual!"

Atlas nodded, "I always suspected, but… You don't have anything against homosexuals, do you?"

I shook my head, "No, not at all! In fact they're my favorite kind of people!"

He smiled, "Mine too, surprisingly. I had a few gay friends, and they were all great… The flirting is an unfortunate side effect."

I laughed, "For you, maybe. I don't mind getting flirted with - I see nothing wrong with it at all!"

He snorted, chuckles shaking his body a bit. I smiled, then looked at the note again. My smile widened and I tucked the note into my pocket.

Atlas sobered up quickly, and, watching as I tucked the other documents he found into my bag, seemed to have an idea.

"Hey, I think I might be able to convince my mom to let you and the Gang use this as a part time safe house when you're in the area - I don't think she'd mind."

"That's a great idea, actually… But if you do get her approval, let's not tell the others just yet, okay? We'll save it for emergencies."

"Sounds good to me."

With that we exited the office, and Atlas made sure to tell me that he'd keep everything in there exactly like it was, so that even if his mom vetoed the hideout idea, I'd be able to go through Dodger's stuff. I told him it was a great idea as I carefully pulled my knife out of Dodger's chest. I didn't hesitate to wipe the blood off on my pants. Atlas only grimaced a little bit at that.

The power suddenly all decided to flicker back on as we made our way down the hallway, and a woman who I assumed was Atlas' mother stepped out of a side room.

"Atlas! What happened? Who is this girl? Why is she covered in blood?"

Atlas flinched, "Uh, Soph, maybe you should go - I'll deal with my mom."

I nodded, "Okay. I'll wait in the van - I'm sorry to say but I can't really leave you here after you just helped me take down one of the people who could've made my life a living hell."

He nodded too, "I understand. I'll meet you out there when I'm done."

I made my way down to the main floor, taking my time and actually pausing to grab a bucket of water and scrub my bloody message off the wall. After a moment of looking, I decided to throw Fafner over my shoulder and haul him up to the area outside Dodger's office and lay him next to him. According to that note, they were lovers, and I wasn't going to let them part, even in death.

By the time I got to the main staircase, some guards had gathered at the bottom. They all looked at me with the same expression - a mixture of respect and fear, and even a little sadness.

They had formed a semicircle around the foot of the stairs, and when I reached the bottom one of them stepped forward and held something out to me.

"Sophie Cooper…" I reached out, hesitantly, and took what he was offering me, "We want to give you this. It was his most prized possession, and he always said that he wanted it given to whoever killed him."

It was a military medal… And not just any military medal. It was a Purple Heart. I took a shuddering breath. The guard smiled shakily.

"He said that anyone brave enough to face him in combat and kill him deserved it."

I met his eyes, "You seem like a decent person." I said quietly, "It's a shame you were working for a man allied with my enemy. But I guess you can put that behind you now."

They all nodded, all of them murmuring their agreement. But I kept my eyes on the guard in front of me. I reached into my bag and pulled out one of many bags of money. I handed it to him.

"Here. Spread this among yourselves. Use it to get a start on your careers, or to support your families if you have them. How you spend it doesn't matter to me, only the fact that I gave you all the chance to pursue your dreams… A chance I've taken away from one too many people as of today."

With that, and a lot of murmurs of thanks and appreciation and understanding, they all parted so I could walk to the doors. I did so slowly, and I only faintly noticed them all lining up on either side of me and saluting me. The last two of them took the handles of the doors and pulled them open for me when I reached them.

I stepped outside and slowly turned around, looking back at all of them as the doors were slowly pushed closed. I raised my hand and saluted right back at them.

As soon as I was done I set about walking right out the front gates and up the block to my van. I got in and proceeded to drive up to the gates and sit there for I don't know how long. I didn't have anything better to do, so I started thinking about what Dodger had said.

What did he mean, 'Sophie Caldicot'? I wasn't Sophie Caldicot! I didn't even know who that was. It couldn't have been my mother's maiden name- her name was Charity Haverford. But where would he get Caldicot, honestly?

I was still stewing over it when Atlas climbed into the passenger seat, but I decided to let it go for the time being.

"¿Listo?"

It took him a second to understand what I said, but when he did he nodded.

"Si."

"Bueno." I started the van and we set off, muttering under my breath, "No estoy seguro de cuánto tiempo más podría haber esperado de todos modos."

I'll tell you now, that as I thought I was Sophie Cooper at the time and I had all her memories, I held with her habit of switching to Spanish randomly. Atlas didn't question what I had said, which I was thankful for, as I didn't feel like translating.

We drove back at the same speed we'd driven there, meaning we again had to stop for the night.

••••••••••••

When we pulled up to the hideout the next day, Atlas was quick to guess that Rudy and Ritchie weren't gonna be happy about me offering him a place in the team. He was right on the dot, but I was the leader, dammit, and if I thought Atlas deserved a place they're damn well trust my freaking judgement.

Just as we'd both thought, when I delivered the news, they both reacted horribly. Rajan actually kind of took my side against them, and Lindsey backed me up as well.

"Some kid you just met, Sophie?!" Ritchie asked, disbelieving.

"Some kid I just met who proved his fucking worth!" I snapped back.

"Hey," Rajan cut in before Ritchie could reply, "If I were you I'd trust her judgement. She let you join the team, didn't she?"

Ritchie promptly shut up. Rudy fought a little more - not surprising, of course, wolves are a little more confrontational than foxes.

"And how exactly did he prove his worth, Sophie? By letting you kill his psycho step dad?"

"Partially. But he actually did it by, 1, not murdering me in my sleep, 2, helping me kill his stepdad's favorite guard, 3, convincing his mother not to call the cops on me for murder, 4, not calling the cops on me himself, and 5, actually fucking listening to me."

Rudy went to retort, but Lindsey jumped in.

"Rudy, seriously, stop criticizing her! Criticizing her, questioning her judgement, planning heists, building gear, setting up explosives, and driving gigantic rifts in the team because of the first two are all my jobs."

"Your girlfriend has a point," Rajan said.

Rudy huffed but shut up as well. He and Ritchie left the kitchen, where we'd been arguing. Atlas just stayed where he was, looking at the tabletop. Lindsey sat down next to him and started up a conversation. I left the kitchen to try and get a cap on my temper, which was most certainly getting out of check.

About four deep breaths later, Rajan followed me out.

I glanced at him when he went to walk past.

"Hey, Rajan?"

He looked at me over his shoulder.

"Thanks for that." For a second, I let him see my sincerity. And then I slapped my emotions down and turned away quickly, "Maybe you aren't completely worthless."

For once, he didn't take that as a cue to argue. "You're welcome. And of course I'm not… You let me on the team, didn't you? I trust your judgement."

And he walked off.

I had to slam a cap down on my emotions again. I needed to go talk to Henry anyway…

"Hey, I'm gonna go have Henry check out those papers. I'll be back later."

I forced some cheer into my voice, and Lindsey and Atlas smiled.

"Okay!" They chorused.

I slunk down the hallway and through the living room, avoiding Ritchie and Rudy completely on my way through. I didn't want to start an argument with them. They didn't notice me until I shut the door behind me. But neither of them came after me, or even went to the window to look out.

The cap popped off my emotions. I slammed my fist into the side of the van in a fit of self loathing for being such an idiot and being angry at Rajan for no reason… For being so angry for no reason, period.

Luckily for me, the punch didn't break my knuckles. Unluckily for my beautiful van, the punch left a nice dent in the driver side door. I took a deep breath and climbed in. I noticed an alarmed Rudy looking out the living room window at me.

Apparently the punch had made more noise than I thought it did.

I glanced at my hand, taking off my glove to get a better look even as I drove to Henry's house. It was already bruising. I locked my eyes on the road and sighed.

I really needed to get a hold on my temper. It was getting out of control way too quickly lately.

Henry, thankfully, was home this time. I pulled up behind the house and knocked on the back door, praying that he didn't have any law-enforcement type company over. He didn't, that much was obvious when he opened the door.

"What is it?" He asked, only sparing a slightly worried glance to my right hand, which I was cradling with my left.

"I have some legal papers I need you to take a look at - see if they're legit."

"Okay - what did you do to your hand?"

"Oh… I had a brief lapse in control and punched the van. I really need anger management classes lately."

He rolled his eyes, "Good job, Sophie. Really."

I stuck my tongue out, then shoved the contract at him. "Just look at the damn papers."

"Alright, come on in. This could take a little while."

A few hours later, Henry 'aha'd. Clearly he'd found something. I was nodding off on the couch when he did, so I was slightly startled.

"Huh?"

"Found it. Yeah, they're legit, Sophie." He said as he handed them back, "I don't see how they ever got it approved. The judge is someone I don't recognize though…"

I tilted my head to the side, and he showed me the records he'd dug up.

Judge Kiero Grayson.

"Kiero Grayson?" I blinked. "Wait. Grayson? That's Ritchie's last name!"

"It could be his grandfather," Henry suggested.

"No… No I don't think it is."

He gave me a questioning look.

I had an idea - a crazy idea, but it was possible.

"Not his grandfather. I think it's his dad. Last year, Ritchie was working for Keaton… Think about it, Henry! Kiero Grayson! Keaton! And Ritchie didn't have a reason in the world to work for him… But if Keaton was his dad, and he knew Keaton was his dad, there's a possibility that he'd work for him because he thought it would make his dad love him."

Henry looked thoughtful, "It does make sense… I'll run a background check on both of them."

"Okay, gimme whatever you dig up soon… I have a feeling I'm gonna have a reason to come by and vent. I can feel it in my bones."

He nodded. "You going then?"

"Yeah. It's about time to start dinner and it's my turn tonight. See you sometime this week… Maybe next week."

"See you."

••••••••••••

I got home and went straight to the kitchen. Everyone else was either in the living room or upstairs, so it was clear they were expecting me back in time to cook. It wasn't like we could order pizza or anything.

I got to work immediately, and when Atlas popped in, I decided I ought to break the news.

"Hey, Atlas?"

"Yeah?"

"I had Henry check those papers out, like I said I would and… uh… They're legit."

He paled considerably, "So you mean… Dodger was actually not an abusive prick?"

I nodded, "I'm afraid that's exactly what I mean."

"I… I, uh… I think I'm gonna need a little time to get over that then." He said slowly.

"I understand. I figured it was best to tell you now."

"Yeah… Thank you Sophie."

He left the kitchen. I sighed for the millionth time.

My month was going horribly. But I got the strangest feeling that there were still worse things to come… Much worse.