Note: This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of "Ringer." The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of WB, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of said work. The author shall not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site.

Season 1 Episode 23 part 3

"The difference between you & me"

Having survived multiple assassination attempts, Bridget felt stronger than she had ever felt before – despite being now utterly alone in the world. The newly found love of her life had promptly left her when he found out who she truly was, but she had risked it all in telling him the truth and did not regret it. Her best friend was most likely dead-killed by the same murderous people who tried to find her-but he was -at least- avenged and- at best- escaped to a new life, safe without her. Those who tried to kill her dead sister fled but were exposed and ruined. Her old life was a pale shadow cast against the present moment.

"What's this?"

"I have something to show you."

She accepted the package that her body guard, Solomon, forced on her with some urgency.

What normally would have driven her to substance abuse, mental, or physical escape no longer applied. Single-handedly, she had defended herself against Macawi, a demonic hitman who had thus far eluded every FBI and police agent sent for him through a combination of bribery, corruption, intimidation and massacre. She had ended his reign of terror with a 0.45 caliber bullet to every vital organ she could hit before the clip ran out.

"You might want to take a seat," he warned.

She chose to stand.

Nothing could possibly shock her anymore, except when she saw the footage that her body guard, Solomon, handed to her. The footage that clearly showed that her beloved twin sister, Siobhan – the one whom she adored since childhood, the one who had taken care of her when she was sick, the one who she longed to truly reconcile with – was very much alive. In black and white, an elegant blond woman with large dark unmistakable sunglasses climbed out of a small dingy the very day she was supposed to have died. Her body sank to the floor.

Solomon rushed to grab a seat.

Henry rubbed his unwashed hair and cleared his dry throat.

For months, Bridget had thought her sister had died; that she had drowned in a horrible boating accident or had committed suicide. She wondered what she could have done differently to stop her, to save her. If she had been awake instead of asleep when it happened… If they had not gone boating… If they had not gone so far out to sea… If the coast guard had answered her radio calls for help…. If she wasn't so sure that Siobhan had killed herself, things might have turned out differently. -Instead, Bridget had rashly escaped her own life. She had traded places with her dead sister in a desperate attempt to flee Macawi's reach. In the process, she had fallen in love with her dead sister's husband. Her family. Her life. All of the things that Siobhan left behind.

Siobhan had never forgiven her. Siobhan had faked her own death.

"But why…."

The dawning realization hit her with the weight she could not bear.

Henry, betrayed by the same woman, finally put his arm on her elbow.

"Siobhan knew that somebody was trying to kill her… and she wanted you to take her place."

Her heart fought with her eyes in what had she just witnessed.

First, denial. Her head shook violently. Her arms and fingers trembled to core. Then, settled.

Then, acceptance at the truth. It was a horrible, bitter truth. It was something she had known in the recesses of her intoxicated, junked up, strung-out existence. Ever since, the accident. The horrible drunk driving accident that had taken away the life of the only person Siobhan had really truly cared for.

"For what you did to Sean…" He explained, throat hoarse.

Sean was the son that Siobhan had. The son who had died while under Bridget's care. The son whose death drove one sister to guilt. To self-harm. To alcoholism. To drugs. To self-punishment. To numbing the pain. She had not killed him, but it would have been the same as if she had.

"Siobhan wanted me dead."

Siobhan had always wanted me dead.

The death of Sean who drove the other sister to hatred. To revenge. To vengeance. To anger. To hurt. To betrayal. To sickness. To blame.

Bridget was never thinking of the consequences of her actions. But Siobhan was always plotting the outcome. Retribution. Just punishment.

"What do we do next?" Solomon asked after a belabored pause.

Henry looked uncomfortable, as he turned his back. "We cut our losses."

He had known that Siobhan was alive. He had helped her when she returned. He had believed all the wonderful lies she told. It was only now that he had decided that her lies were what was poisoning them all. She was the reason his wife was dead. She was toxic.

But a change had taken place in that room. All the truths that had been known for some time finally came to light. The pieces of the puzzle that did not make sense. Why her sister had behaved the way she did. Why she kept hurting others. It would not stop. It would never stop. Not on its own. Her sister had become a monster.

"We stop Siobhan."

All eyes turned to Bridget.

TBD