AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.

Important note: Milah is not Neal's father in this universe. Cora is I've taken some liberties again with characters and back stories. :)

Special Note: The character of TJ Morrison is a Manifest character. The characters of Nick and Greta Branson are based on Hansel(also known as Jack and Nick Branson) and Gretel from Once season 7. The character of Isaiah is a Manifest character.

Another Note: As we get further into season 2 and season 3, I will be focusing more on the major Manifest plotlines and not so much the minor ones that involve one offs with passengers, in addition to the original plots I have created for this story. Season 4 will be premiering soon and once I see what I'm working with, I'll make a decision if this story will be going with a Manifest type ending or if I have to move to more of a Once ending. Most of you that watch Manifest know that (spoiler alert) that Margaret's counterpart character in the series, Grace, dies at the end of season 3. I will not be doing that with Margaret. Either way, when the time comes, I will give this story a satisfying ending that may or may not match the series. :)

This one will update bi-weekly on Sunday nights now. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:

Jennifer Baratta: It might not be what it seems with Graham and Killian. Glad you're enjoying!

Ghostwriter: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

Sexystarwarslover: Yep, they are trying to get Emma and pin the nightclub fire on him. Yep Regina and Robin had another dalliance, but he's married. Yeah, Leopold is trying to contact Margaret, but she wants no part of him. Yep, David will find a way to beat this. Yep, it's all connected. I like Olive and TJ a team too. Glad you're enjoying!

Lightning in a Bottle

Chapter 71: Airplane Bottles, Pt 2

"It feels like we're on the verge of something. Why can't he remember what he saw?" David wondered.

"You've seen how Henry processes Callings. It's like his drawings. He's got something in his head and he just can't put it to words," Margaret reasoned. David thought for a moment.

"The plane stuck in a spider web? Is that a literal web or Captain Jones'...dark lightning?" he thought out loud.

"David?" Margaret asked.

"You're getting that look that you get," she mentioned.

"I just wish I understood what he wants to build," David lamented.

"Hey, did Henry say something about a silver dragon?" TJ asked.

"Art the dragon?" Olive asked.

"This is different. According to his journal, Alzarus had a recurring vision about a silver dragon," TJ replied.

"And on the dragon's wings was borne despair and the makings of our own demise," he read from the book.

"Henry's Calling, the book... it's got to be connected," David said.

"Well, everything's connected, right?" Margaret asked. He nodded.

"But still, spider webs, silver dragons? It doesn't make any sense," David said.

"Well, the Callings will never just come out and say something. It's the point of a puzzle. Gotta figure it out," TJ replied.

"It's getting worse!" Henry called.

"It's okay, Henry," Margaret soothed, but this time it didn't help.

"It's not okay! It won't stop until we build it!" he screamed.

"The storm's outside. We're safe in here," David assured him. But Olive looked confused, as she looked outside at the clear sky.

"Storm?" she asked.

"It's just a little weather. Nothing to be afraid of," Margaret soothed.

"Yeah, buddy," David assured him.

"Sorry, what are you guys talking about?" Olive asked.

"The rain," Margaret replied. Olive walked to the door and opened it up.

"It's beautiful outside. 65 and sunny. See?" she asked, as she put her hand out and there was no rain.

"Oh, my God. The storm isn't real," David realized, as he looked at his wife.

"It's a Calling," he said.


"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Killian asked tersely, as he closed Graham's door.

"Why am I hearing Michaela called for a union rep?" he asked.

"Apparently, George gave Internal Affairs those case files you stole," Graham replied.

"I thought you said you had everything under control," Killian questioned.

"That's when it was about you. Clearly, George called an audible and now IA's digging into everything," Graham answered.

"So, he...he's just gonna sacrifice me in order to take Emma down," he stated, with anger lacing his voice.

"Cap, this can blow up in our faces…everything we've worked for," Killian warned.

"If I were you, I'd go have words with George and find out exactly how much of a hole we're in," Graham suggested.

"This is gonna hurt a lot more people than just you and me if things go south," he added.


"What does Alzarus say about shared Callings? Mass hallucinations?" Olive asked.

"Not a lot. Although he did have a lot to say about electrical storms," TJ replied.

"Yeah?" Olive asked.

"So did Captain Daly," David answered.

"Did the captain describe anything like this?" Margaret asked.

"Just the Dark Lightning…but no spiderweb or silver dragon," he replied.

"The storm Calling has to have something to do with what happened on Flight 828," David said.

"But why are we getting it now, and what is it trying to show us?" he wondered.

""For every blessing, a price must be paid," TJ said.

"Would you stop it already, please?" Olive said in exasperation.

"Dad, he thinks the storm is payback for all the good things that have happened," she explained.

"TJ, get over it!" David suddenly snapped.

"Dad," Olive chided and he sighed.

"I'm sorry. It's just we've never had a Calling like this before, one that lasted for an extended period of time. And are we the only ones seeing it?" he wondered.

You guys find out what the storm has to do with the book," he said, as he went back to the living room.

"Keep me updated," he added.

"And where are you going?" Olive asked.

"Your brother thinks building a spider web is the way out of all this. I'm gonna help him," he said, as he made a call, but got voicemail.

"Emma…are you seeing a storm? Give me a call back," David said, as he started to help Henry.

"Okay, is this close to what you're seeing in your head?" he asked.

"No! It's not right! Take it off!" Henry cried.

"It's okay, Henry," he tried to sooth.

"The storm isn't real, remember?" he asked.

"I said take it off!" Henry yelled again.

"Okay! Just watch your tone," David snapped, as the structure he was trying to build collapsed, as Margaret tried to help too.

"Now look at what you made me do!" Henry cried.

"Henry! Your mom's only trying to help. We all are," David scolded.


The shop door opened, just as Belle finished ringing up a customer and she saw Mr. Gold's son and Regina come in.

"Hey…it's good to see you," she said.

"You too…you seem to be adjusting well," Neal mentioned.

"It's a really good job…and though I haven't had one in a while, there's no judgment when I get Callings," she said, looking fondly at Gold.

"It's good to see you both, but I sense this isn't a social call," he said.

"Unfortunately no…" Regina replied.

"Then there's no progress with his condition?" Gold asked.

"She doesn't want to risk experimenting on me, even though I'm probably going to die anyway," Neal replied.

"Don't say that…there still may be a way out of this that's not medical and I'm going to keep researching. But we're actually not here about that," Regina said.

"Then what is it?" Belle asked.

"I think we need to go back to trying to find the Major. She stole my research and she has all the government resources and money to fast track it all," Regina replied.

"Plus she lacks ethics and knows she'll experiment on people, regardless of what horror she inflicts," Neal added. Regina nodded.

"You want to find Vance then," Gold surmised.

"I know he's still playing dead…but surely you have a way to contact him," Neal said.

"I know of a way…but it's not directly and she may refuse," Gold replied.

"We have to try…" Regina said and Gold looked at his son, particularly his frostbitten hands.

"His wife. She knows how to contact him. You'd be best to catch her at the school where she's principal. I'll text you the name and address," Gold replied.

"Thanks Dad," Neal said.

"Anything to save you, my boy…" Gold replied.

"Any luck on the Cora front?" Regina asked.

"No…she's become a ghost, just like the Major," Gold replied.

"You think she's in league with the Major?" Neal asked.

"No proof…but Cora is always drawn to power. Now that she's wanted, she'll do whatever she has to in order to keep herself out of prison," Gold replied.

"Why would someone like the Major bother helping Cora though?" Belle asked. Regina's eyes widened.

"Because Cora thinks she can deliver my family to the Major on a silver platter," Regina realized.

"Henry…he's the Holy Grail she was looking for," Neal added.

"Let's go see if we can get Mrs. Vance to get us in contact with her husband," Regina said, as they exchanged goodbyes with Belle and Gold, before leaving for the address Gold had provided for them.


"You got nothing, 'cause if you did, we'd be having a real different conversation," Emma's union rep argued on her behalf.

"Why don't you tell us what you think is going on, Officer DiBacco?" the female IA officer said.

"Whistleblower retaliation. Rogers is trying to shut her up," DiBacco replied.

"Our questions about Detective Nolan's record have nothing to do with Rogers," the male IA officer countered.

"So, those files just walked themselves into your hand?" Emma interjected. But her representative cut her off.

"Just zip it," he ordered.

"Now, the two of you are supposed to be the unbiased voice of justice, not looking to take her down, because a passenger with a badge doesn't reflect well on the department," he accused.

"Sir, we are trying to understand what involvement Detective Nolan may have had in the nightclub fire," the woman explained.

"You want to know about the fire? Fine. It was a trap set to kill me, my family, and a slew of others…" Emma exclaimed, but her rep cut her off again.

"Emma…" he reprimanded.

"Why don't you tell us how you knew it was a trap?" she asked, as Officer DiBaccio pulled her aside.

"You know, if you keep talking, they're gonna hang you with your own words," he warned, as he spoke for her again.

"Detective Nolan was the target of the attack in question. It strains credulity that you would try and pin it on her," he stated.

"When the fire started, you were one of the first people out of that building," the male investigator said.

"I went back in to help!" Emma cried.

"Because you knew it would be safe? Because you wanted to be a hero?" the woman asked.

"Because people were dying!" Emma shouted.

"That's enough!" Officer DiBaccio exclaimed.

"I need a moment to confer with Detective Nolan," he requested.


Henry became frustrated again, as the structure they were trying to build failed again.

"Come on, we just gotta try again. Each time we build it, we get a little closer," David urged.

"I've tried! I don't know what it's supposed to be!" Henry cried.

"Please, can Henry, you just try again?" Margaret requested.

"I can't do it! I can't!" he cried.

"This was a Calling, okay? It is not your fault," David assured him, as he heard another argument in the kitchen.

"For every good that comes, a trial must follow," TJ insisted. Olive sighed.

"I was supposed to die in that fire, Olive. Now everyone here has to suffer because I didn't," he insisted.

"TJ, the Callings saved you for a reason, okay? We need you here. I need you here," Olive siad. David felt an unusual frustration filling him.

"Guys! Where are you with the book?! Henry needs help. We've got to find a way to stop this," David snapped.

"What does this say?" David asked, pointing at the journal. TJ sighed in annoyance.

"That more bad things are gonna happen," he said tersely.

"TJ! What does this say?!" David demanded to know.

"The cure begat the affliction. According to this, some of Alzarus's men tried to get rid of the Callings, but ended up going mad. Some even threw themselves overboard," TJ said, scoffing.

"I wonder why," he added.

"Wait. Wait, wait, you guys are seeing things that aren't there. Alzarus was a sailor, right?" Olive asked. David nodded.

"Mom...she's seasick. Henry is losing his temper, TJ is upset, off-balance, and blaming himself," Olive pointed out. David's eyes widened.

"The storm. It's what happened to the men on the boat. I think we're all going mad," David realized.


"What are you thinking in coming here?" George asked curtly.

David Nolan's office is just down the hall!" he added.

"And why the bloody hell do I care? You get to blow up my job and I have to stay clear of yours? This is not why I gave you Emma's case files," Killian retorted.

"Really, Killian? What'd you think was gonna happen? " George questioned.

"The plan was to dump information about the 828 passengers onto the Web, not to feed Emma''s cases to Internal Affairs, George!" he exclaimed.

"We have new information about the passengers. Plans changed," George answered.

"You're concerned," he added.

"I worked on those cases with her. An IA investigation blows back on me," Killian pointed out.

"They're not looking at you for the nightclub fire, are they?" George questioned.

"It doesn't matter. She knows I took those files. Now she's got plenty of ammo to take me down," Killian argued.

"Don't worry about it. You know you have like-minded friends at the NYPD," George replied. A slither of fear rippled down Killian's spine.

"What are you talking about?" he questioned.

"If Emma Nolan goes on the offensive, your friends will have your back," George stated.

"How are you gonna stop her from talking?" Killian questioned. George smirked deviously.

"What happened to nonviolence?" Killian demanded to know.

"Killian, this isn't an ideology. It's a wake-up call. Did Emma Nolan ever talk to you about telepathy? The 828 passengers are able to see the future. Her brother's been keeping quite copious records," George replied.

"That's news to me," Killian claimed.

"For all we know, they're manipulating the events around us, controlling us in ways we don't even realize. It's everything we've feared. But it's no longer just a theory. It's a fact," George said.

"And now that one of them is coming right at us? Emma Nolan is a threat. We'll do what needs to be done," George added. Killian realized at that moment that it was worse than he knew. He had to get back to the station and do something…or Emma might not make it through the day.


"This is so wrong. This entire inquiry is driven by circumstantial evidence and anti-828 bias," Emma claimed to her union rep, as they spoke with each other.

"You've been on the other side of this table plenty of times. They're baiting you, waiting for you to trip up," he warned.

"This was supposed to be about Killian and the Xers," she hissed.

"Well, forget about Rogers. Save yourself," he advised.

"From what, a conspiracy theory that I burnt these people down? That's crap. They know it," she said.

"People have questions, okay? You make a good fall guy. Don't help them," he replied.

"Thank you for that," she said.

Oh, and, uh, simple answers...yes or no. And for God's sakes, when I tell you not to answer…shut the hell up," he replied, as they sat back down at the table.

"Let's back things up a little," the female IA agent said.

"You first met the alleged nightclub arsonist, Isaiah McCann, when you interviewed him following an assault and vandalism at the Church of the Believers?" she asked.

"Yes," Emma responded.

"You determined that those responsible belonged to a group known as the X'ers.

"McCann knew your niece, Olive Nolan. They were members of the same cult," she said. Emma nodded.

"Olive is the one who identified Mr. McCann's attackers at the church, am I right?" she asked.

"Yes," Emma answered.

"Your niece must really look up to you. Her cool aunt, a Flight 828 survivor, a successful detective. She'd probably do anything you asked," the woman said.

"No, that is…Olive Nolan's statement and the assault case checked out," Emma replied.

"You brother, David Nolan, he was involved in a number of your cases, as well, wasn't he?" the male IA investigator asked.

"I had nothing to do with the fire," Emma answered.

"You had motive and opportunity. This can't be all just one big coincidence," he said.

"No, it's a smokescreen, and you're falling for it. Killian Rogers is an Xer," Emma replied.

"Emma…you and your family had to know that sooner or later it was going to catch up with you," the woman stated.

"You can't honestly think that my family had anything to do with this!" Emma exclaimed.

"We'll know when we get their statements," the man replied.

"Killian is the criminal here! You have the damn surveillance!" Emma shouted.

"The surveillance you provided is inconclusive. A guy is allowed an off-duty drink," the woman replied.

"This isn't just any bar!" Emma cried.

"If you can prove Rogers is guilty of actual crimes, we're all ears," the male IA investigator prompted.

"This is your badge we're talking about. Don't take the bait," her union rep warned.

"They don't care about the truth. They're gonna run me for it anyways," Emma said.

"Look, Killian brought this on himself. He brings a threat to my family. You don't think I'm gonna fight back?" she added, as she turned back to them.

"What do you want to know? I'll tell you anything," Emma said. The woman smirked.

"Before we proceed, we need to make clear that in no way is this an offer of leniency in exchange for your informing on another officer. Whistleblowing doesn't give you immunity," she warned.

"Okay, fine. I understand," Emma replied.

"No, you don't understand! Okay, we need to take this to a neutral location and now," the union rep requested.

"On what grounds?" the male investigator asked.

"On the grounds that you're railroading this detective in her own house! She didn't do anything wrong, but other people here did. And, frankly, the walls have ears," he claimed.

"That doesn't seem to be a problem for her thus far," the woman replied.

"That's before we were talking about career suicide! On top of which, now she's being pressured to implicate another member of my union. I'm gonna need to confer with my own superior," he added.

"If this is some sort of stalling tactic…" he warned.

"Or we can stay here, my friend, and I can file an appeal on the basis of coercion and intimidation," the rep threatened.

"We'll reserve a conference room downtown. You have one hour," the male investigator decided.


The structure collapsed again and Henry was definitely succumbing to the madness of this prolonged and unusual Calling.

"It doesn't work! It's never gonna work!" he cried.

"Henry, you have to calm down! This Calling is making everyone crazy, me included," he said, sighing, as he saw his wife. She looked sick and he knelt down in front of her.

"I'm fine…help Henry," she assured.

"Alzarus and his men went through the same thing. It's the storm. But we have to find a way to make it stop," David said.

"I can't!" Henry shouted.

"Yes, you can!" David snapped.

"We're here to help!" Olive cried to TJ, as he made his way to the door.

"Please, don't leave!" she pleaded.

"I have to!" TJ insisted.

"Why won't you just tell me what the book is saying?!" she cried.

"This storm is because of me! If I leave, maybe you'll all be safe!" TJ surmised.

"The storm isn't real!" Olive reminded him.

"To you! Don't you see what it's doing to everyone else?!" TJ cried.

"TJ, you cannot run out on a Calling! It won't work! For all we know, you go out there, you could get yourself killed," David interjected.

"Well, I'm supposed to be dead already!" TJ shot back hotly.

"You're supposed to be right where you are... here. What does the book say?" Olive pressed.

"That the Callings won't stop. Ever. Now, just let me go," TJ shouted.

"No! No! Every Calling needs to be solved. Now, you had the Calling, which means you can help," Olive said.

"TJ, whatever is going on in here, whatever is going on out there, it is all connected," David said, as he saw lightning flash outside.

"Lightning," he said, as he grabbed the journal.

"It's got to be here. Where is it?" he said, as he flipped through the pages.

"I saw this exact lightning bolt outside just now," David said.

"Yeah, I did, too. What do you think it means?" TJ asked, as lightning flashed again.

"Did you see that?" David asked. Olive shrugged.

"See what?" she asked, as he pointed to the page, as another flash lit up the room just right so they could see it on the page.

"Right there. A spider web. I think I know what Henry's trying to build," he said, as he rushed back to the living room.


"It's out of my hands now. She's gonna give the rest of her testimony down at OnePP," Graham told Killian when he returned and the latter looked over at the officer that was Emma's union rep. He frowned, as he recalled seeing him before at an x'er meeting. He was one of them. He realized that if he didn't do something now, even if it was rash, Emma would never see another day.

"She's not gonna make it downtown," he said, as he approached.

"Emma, you're under arrest for arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and homicide," Killian said, as he arrested her in the squad room.

"Are you out of your mind right now?" she asked, but he ignored her question.

"Please put your hands on the desk," Killian ordered.

"Captain, what is…" Emma asked, but her union rep interrupted her.

"Detective Rogers, what do you think you're doing?" he asked, but he was ignored too.

"It's called police work. I'm arresting my suspect. You have the right to remain silent," he told her, as he led her back toward the holding cells.

"Are you seriously trying to handcuff me in our own precinct?" she hissed, but he continued to ignore her.

"Detective, your colleague's a subject in an active Internal Affairs investigation. According to procedure…" the union rep said, but Killian cut him off too.

"You can take your procedure and shove it right up your bloody arse," Rogers answered.

"She's not going anywhere except a holding cell," he added for show.

"Think about what you're doing right now!" Emma cried. But he continued to act like he didn't hear her.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law," he said, reading her rights to her.

"You are never gonna live this down, Killian!" she shouted.

"You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot hire an attorney…" he said, continuing to read her rights to her.


David finished building the structure and stepped back.

"Is this what you saw?" David asked.

"Uh, more spread out. Tie it up there," Henry said, as his father did as he instructed.

"Yeah, like that," Henry confirmed.

"I really don't get what you're trying to prove here," TJ said.

"Solving the Calling will get us out of this," David replied.

"There's no way out. It says right here on the page! In the end, there is no way to be rid of the Voice. The only way to survive is to accept," TJ said. David looked at him.

"Accept what? That we have to live like this forever?" Olive asked and then David realized something.

"That it's all connected," he said, as the scenery around them changed, except for Olive. Suddenly, they were all on a ship in the ocean, in the midst of a storm. David held Margaret tightly, as they looked around. It was Alzarus' ship…they were on his ship. David watched the sky light up with dark lightning and the spider web-like presence in the sky. His eyes widened, as he saw something else.

"The silver dragon," he uttered. It was the plane. The silver dragon in Alzarus' journal was the plane. The Calling faded and they were suddenly back in their living room. The storm was gone and he looked around.

"Um... What just happened?" Olive asked, as the only one in the room not to experience what had just happened.

"It is all connected," David said.

"What was that in the sky? Was that... Flight 828?" Margaret asked, as he put a hand on their son's shoulder.

"Buddy, is that what you saw?" David asked. He nodded.

"I think so," Henry answered.

"Is it possible? Were Alzarus' ship and Flight 828 somehow in the same place at the same time? The same storm?" TJ asked.

"How?" Olive wondered.

"What does it mean for us?" David also wondered, as he looked at his wife. She looked much better and was not sick anymore. But he was still worried.

"I'm going to get you some water," he said, as he pressed a kiss to her hair. TJ followed him to the kitchen.

"Hey," TJ said.

"Oh, hey," David replied.

"I wanted to say thank you for not giving up on me back there. I sort of lost my mind," TJ said.

"Yeah, we all did. It was the Calling. But thankfully, you were here, and we had all the right pieces to solve it. TJ, thanks to you, I think we just learned how to beat the Death Date," David replied. His brow furrowed.

"How so?" he asked. David pointed at the journal

"Here. You translated it yourself. There is no way to be rid of the Voice. The only way to survive is to accept," he said.

"Accept the Voice? The Callings," TJ replied. David nodded.

"Now, he's telling us following the Callings is the only way we have a chance. He's telling you more than just that. Keep reading," he said.

"All other paths lead to disaster," David said. They now had confirmation that following the Callings was the right thing to do.


"You know damn well I didn't start that fire. You're being vindictive. I don't care if I burn this entire precinct down. I will out you for every remotely questionable thing you've ever done!" Emma spat.

"Em…shut up?!" he growled and she was taken aback.

"You have to keep your mouth shut. I just saved your life," he hissed, confusing her, just as Neal arrived.

"Neal…" she said, as he glared at Killian.

"We're getting you out of here…I just called David and we're getting you a lawyer," he assured. But now Emma wondered if there was more going on here than she knew…