Disclaimer: Read Ch. 1

"The past could always be annihilated. Regret, denial, or forgetfulness could do that. But the future was inevitable." – "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

Ch. 17: Behind the Gray Picture

The Council sat in their seats after Jane's speech with Dorian stepping to the front. "We heard everything we need to hear," Dorian started.

"Gray, I will be the one to decide if we heard everything," Dracula argued. The count then brought his gaze at Dani then to Hyde. "Do you consider yourself an evil half," Dracula leaned forward.

Red eyes darted to Dani then to the others before the dark figure stood up from the ground. They then raised their hands to their eye level to take in dark mist. They were not really hands but resembled the shape. Hyde clenched their fists tightly then released them, seeing the mist fade once more. They glanced at Dani, locking eyes with her; it seemed that both were having a conversation, one only they could understand.

Were they truly two halves or two different people, Maura pondered. The doctor observed many interactions, learned from and through Jane on how to understand them (somewhat). Part of her as a doctor could say that Hyde was another personality of Dani's but, seeing them separated from each other, the veil that was a personality shifted to an actual individual.

A person who feels and has thoughts.

"Speak," Dracula ordered, breaking the eye contact.

Hyde's eyes focused on Dracula. "I was made to stop an evil, Vladimir," Hyde refuted. "I was meant to stop Edward Hyde. Henry Jekyll tried to make a difference and because of idiots of a council like this, drove him to madness!"

"You think calling us idiots will change your fate," O'Neil barked.

"No," Hyde lowered their voice. "I know where I stand in this world and the next but I'm not evil or a vice, I am Hyde."

Dracula took his attention from Hyde to Dani. "Explain the affair of my wife-"

"Vlad," Mina ejected.

Dracula raised his hand, prompting Mina to stop speak. Dani cleared her throat, "When the Lycan and Vampire war was happening, and she was lonely and felt abandoned and I…was dealing with Van Helsing being ill and dying. It happened for only a bit then I ended it."

Jane could watch as the nostrils flare up and the anger was seeping into the red eyes. "Did you love her," he questioned lowly.

Regina felt her heart clenched, closing her eyes until she heard, "No, I only loved two women in my life. One in my past and now." Her eyes opened to see Dani looking at her with a small smile then continued, "This has nothing to do with my condition. Move on, Vlad. It's over and you are letting a killer run."

"I'm protecting our community."

"You're hurting it with this false trial," Maura argued, stepping forward. The crowd started to rise in volume; the whispers Maura once heard were louder and obvious more than ever. Civilians rumbling about whether they were safe if Dracula has lost his mind finally.

It was enough to cause the vampire to shout, "Silence." The room became silent as Dracula calmed himself, running his hands up and down his chest to smooth out his shirt. "I believe it's time to determine whether or not you live or die, Danielle."

Dani and Hyde looked at each other, standing far away from each other while the others stood behind Dani. Seeing that Hyde was alone, Dani looked back at Jane and Maura, "Go over there and support Hyde."

Jane touched Dani's shoulder, "You sure?"

Dani nodded and the two walked over, standing behind Hyde. The figure looked at the detective and doctor and for the first time, Jane saw a sparkle of Dani as Hyde bowed in thanks. They then all brought all their attention to Dracula speaking to the other council members before he spoke once more, "Danielle Jekyll and Hyde, based on the evidence heard and the recent revelations…I've noticed my own flaws that have caused turmoil among the community and…my marriage." Dracula sighed, "After speaking with the other members, it has been decided that the two; Hyde and Danielle Jekyll do not pose a threat to our community."

The words had not sunk in when Dani was hugged ardently by Regina. Hyde's shoulders relaxed as the crowd was clapping until two shots rang out.

Time slowed, Adam unholstered his gun and quickly, kicked the door open for the people to evacuate while Jane sheltered Maura with Hyde dropping to the ground quickly, clenching their shoulder and Regina looked down to see that Dani was on the ground out in pain with blood coming out of her shoulder. Eyes then darted up to see Dracula clenching his chest with Mina trying to help him.

Adam's eyes scanned the room until he felt a barrel against his back. "I wouldn't move any further, Creature," Dorian spoke, cocking the hammer back on his gun. "There are several people in this room, armed like me with guns loaded with silver laced bullets."

"Dorian, what are you doing," Clayton growled, trying to put pressure on Dracula's wound with Mina.

"Taking action." Dorian pushed the gun further into Adam's back while the other gunmen cocked their guns and aimed at Jane, Maura, and Regina. Slowly, Jane stood up and one of the gunmen immediately took her licensed firearm, they did the same with Adam before making them get on their knees. "I had hope that Vladimir would actually convict you, Detective," Dorian informed. "But, of course, you have persuaded yourself out of the situation."

"Not persuasion if it's the truth," Jane argued.

Dorian shrugged and walked over toward Dani who was still gripping her shoulder, crouching down. "Van Helsing still protecting you even beyond the grave. Always saw the good in you even with that atrocity attached to you."

"Why," Dani hissed.

"Because I'm tired of this world of ours. Humans and immortals separated because of the Contract, Dracula and the Lycans getting away with their war, living in secret, and you escaping punishment."

"She was found clear by this Council," Mama Lorna argued.

Dorian pointed his gun at Mama, "I don't care what this Council has to say. It is a corrupted system, and I shall break it."

"Dorian, this isn't the way-"

Suddenly, a shot went off and Hyde could hear a scream. It was a jolt to the mind to move; dark hands trying to drag their body from their open position to somewhere more hidden. Pain radiated, feeling the bullet lodged in their shoulder. Hyde's red eyes spotted Dani turning her head; in separate bodies, they felt each other's pain. Despite having taken the bullet, Hyde only felt the impact and pain however, Dani felt the pain and was the one bleeding.

Hyde could see the Italian stuck with the doctor and the Creature was in the same situation as well. Everyone was a hostage except Hyde and Dani; most likely because Dorian saw them incapacitated.

Jane looked at Maura and whispered softly, "Do you still have your gun?" Maura gave a small nod, her eyes directing toward her hip with the holster showing. Jane's eyes darted toward the gunmen behind her, seeing that their attention was toward Dorian.

Dorian approached the Council's desk area, keeping his gun pointed toward Clayton then toward O'Neil until he reached Dracula who was breathing heavily. Mina's hands were covered blood and frantically, she was trying to put pressure on her husband's wound. The man hovered over the great vampire and slipped his other hand into his jacket to reveal a vial. He used his gun and pistol-whipped Mina causing Dracula to shriek.

"Grab her," Dorian ordered then in a swift motion, shoved the vial into Dracula's wound.

"You're mad," O' Neil shouted.

Dorian turned quickly, pointing the gun at O'Neil's forehead. "You know that one bullet can kill you right now, Lycan."

As O'Neil was sitting down in his chair with his hands up, Jane whispered, "I'm going to grab the gun and as soon as I do, you need to drop to the ground immediately and find shelter."

Maura's eyes widened, "Jane."

"Maura, for my own sake, please find shelter."

"What about Regina," she questioned.

"Quiet," the gunmen ordered, shoving Jane forward. It was enough for the detective to notice Hyde was no longer in their original spot and Dani seemed to have moved as well. She watched as Hyde moved to a new spot; behind the podium and was reaching over to the cane that the others brought and twisted the cane's handle to reveal a small sword.

Dorian turned and began to walk away from Dracula, walking toward Hyde's direction. Hearing the footsteps, they gripped the sword and prepared to fight, despite being injured, until Dani spoke, "All this time, you've been behind the deaths, the robbery, trying to kill us."

The man turned and retorted, "You make deals with those who are willing to do it. My business partner and I need certain things including your brother's journal."

"Xigbar and Randolf won't be able to find it. I don't even know what happened to it."

Dorian laughed and pointed the gun, "Those idiots are dead because they couldn't do their job and kill you. They were my lieutenants and the other boss decided that they had no use anymore."

"Have you no value of life," Dani questioned.

Dorian pointed the gun at Dani, "No and once I'm done with you, your Regina is next then the humans."

"Fuck that," Hyde shouted, hurling the cane sword toward Dorian with Dani rolling away. As the knife penetrated Dorian's back through his chest, Jane pushed Maura to the ground and grabbed her gun, taking quick shots of their captors behind them.

The gunmen snarled in pain with blood dripping from their clothes and prepared to aim their weapons at Jane until they were pushed back by an invisible force. Jane looked up to see a tear stained Regina with her hands glowing with magic.

Meanwhile, Adam strong-armed his captor, taking the gun and shooting him in the leg to slow him down. Dorian looked at the unfolding scene, pulling out the sword from his body. It healed over immediately, tossing the sword aside and shouted, "Fuck, the guns! Become the monsters that you are!"

At the sound of these words, the Lycans and vampires dropped their weapons, and began to change. Taking this as an opportunity, Hyde staggered up and took the wooden part of the cane and smacking Dorian straight across the jaw.

The sound of bone breaking didn't stop Dorian but continued his walk as he shoved Hyde aside. Jane stepped back, pointing her gun at the Lycans before her. She fired a couple of shots, trying to slow them down, wounding them. They howled but continued their charge as Jane shouted, "A little help here."

Regina raised her hand quickly and, with a flick, one of benches covered Jane enough for the detective to do cover fire to reach Dani and to avoid the Lycans attack. The Lycans growled, lunging toward Regina and a covered Maura. Seeing the trouble, Adam grabbed one of the Lycans, pulling it back and tossing them aside.

Jane grabbed Dani, lifting her off the ground and began to drag her by her collar and hid behind cover. "You okay," Jane questioned, looking down at Dani to see the bullet wound in her shoulder.

"Hurts like hell," Dani hissed.

"How are you injured?"

"Despite being separated, it seems that Hyde and I still feel each other's pain and apparently, can receive wounds."

Jane fired a couple shots, with the vampires shielding Dorian who was walking up to Mina, grabbing her from the waist. He holstered his weapon, grabbing Mina then pulled out a vial as he shouted, "Frankenstein!"

Adam froze at the sound of the name; a name he hadn't heard in so long time that it caused his guard to come down as a Lycan was charging at him. "Adam," the Creature heard before a vampire tackled Hyde to the ground and they were wrestling for dominance.

Maura noticed the struggle as Dani felt her body take the bruising that Hyde was experiencing. Trying to protect their body, Hyde did several kicks but seemed to struggle to reach for something. The doctor's eyes followed the path as Adam tried to grab the vampire with no avail. "It's too strong," Adam yelled as he attempted once more to pull the vampire away until there was howl.

Suddenly, Adam and the vampire were tackled to the ground by Lycan form of O'Neil attacking. Able to move from the fray, Adam crawled out to escape and grabbed the wood of the cane sword, snapping it in half. Seeing what he did, Jane looked at Dani and instructed, "Stay down."

"Yeah, no problem."

Jane charged, grabbing the other half of the sword cane sheath and stabbed the vampire in the back, hoping she hit the heart. As the vampire became dust, O'Neil and the Lycan continued to fight with claws, ripping skins and blood spreading. Adam took the other half of the sheath and stabbed the Lycan through the heart, making it scream then snapped its neck, making it drop to the ground.

With the room seemed to become quiet, Maura stepped out from her hiding spot and approached Hyde. They struggled to stand up, feeling their body scream from pain; a feeling that they hadn't felt for a long time. Maura was by Hyde's side, she tried to place her hands to pull Hyde away from the fray until Hyde ordered, "Don't touch me."

"You are injured."

"I'll be fine," Hyde hissed as they regained their stance. Maura attempted to help once more but Hyde fanned her hand away, "Go help Regina with Mama Lorna."

Maura nodded, standing back up and running from different spaces until she reached behind the Council's table with Regina. Hyde turned their attention toward the final Lycan in the room; it was larger than the others and showed more scars. Hyde picked up the sword then they heard a couple footsteps behind them to see Dani standing up besides Hyde.

Jane and Adam aimed their weapons, making sure there was no crossfire. The Lycan showed its teeth as it howled and started to charge at Dani and Hyde. Jane fired a couple rounds as did Adam causing the Lycan to bleed but it wasn't slowing down.

Hyde glanced at Dani and as if on instinct, Dani stepped back, and Hyde swung at the legs. As the sword sliced the skin, the Lycan swung its arm at Hyde with a fierce roar and bringing its attention toward Hyde. Noticing that they brought attention to themselves, Hyde shouted, "Danielle!"

Dani looked over and noticed that Hyde tossed the sword to her as Hyde took the hit to the stomach. Noticing Hyde crashing being tackled by the Lycan, the sword flew in the air before it landed on the ground with a clang. Seeing the sword on the ground, Dani rushed toward the sword, picking it up. Hyde kicked the Lycan in the chest, making the wolf stagger back from being stunned. The Lycan growled once more, regaining posture while Hyde attempted to get their footing back. Dani stared down at the Lycan then glanced up, prompting Jane to look up quickly up.

The chandelier, Jane noticed. Hoping that she understood what Dani was glancing at, Jane raised her gun and took a shot at the chandelier. Seeing this, Adam joined while the Lycan continued its approach toward Dani. Suddenly, there was a snap causing the Lycan to pause finally and look up to see the chandelier falling toward it.

With the crash, Dani limped over quickly as it was struggling to lift the chandelier off its body. Seeing this, Dani took the sword and stabbed the Lycan into its shoulder causing it to scream in pain. Hyde with Jane and Adam rushed over; the Lycan began to revert, groaning in pain as returned as a human. Without hesitation, Dani pulled out the sword causing a roar to erupt, prompting Jane and Adam to raise their gun once more. However, the human did not move prompting Dani to ask quietly, "Where did they go?"

"I…don't know…" the Lycan hissed.

"I doubt that." Jane kept her gun still pointed at the Lycan.

Lycan gritted, "London…I only know…that they are looking in…London."

"London," Hyde mumbled.

Adam stepped, pressing his foot on the Lycan's shoulder. "What about Frankenstein," he interrogated.

The Lycan hissed, "I don't know."

"Tell me!" The foot press harder.

"I don't know!"

"Adam," Dani stopped her partner, prompting Adam to release the pressure.

"Mama, stay with us." Hearing this, Jane, Dani, and Hyde rushed over to see Maura trying to keep pressure on the wound, her hands soaked in blood with Regina trying to use some sort of magic to help in the process.

Dani crouched down, looking down at Mama Lorna's bullet wound in her chest. Despite the magic, Regina struggled to heal, and the wound would not close. Eventually, she felt a hand on her wrist, prompting her to stop and look down at Mama. "Sweetheart…" the older woman spoke.

"Mama, save your breath," Regina pleaded.

Mama shook her head, taking her other hand, and pulled her necklace with a simple snap. She handed it to Regina and whispered, "It's…your time." Regina shook her head, clasping on Mama Lorna's necklace and the older woman gave a small smile. Her eyes then glanced at Dani, moving her hand from Regina to Dani, placing her hand over Dani's heart. "You and Hyde…are connected…different…must live together."

Dani looked up at Hyde, standing up from her spot and approached Hyde who was watching from a distance. Maura crouched back down as Mama brought her attention back to Regina; the young witch felt the soft touch of Mama's. Regina pressed her forehead against Mama's hand, whispering soft words before she felt the hand become limp.

Seeing this, Maura checked Mama Lorna's pulse then placed the hand on Mama's chest. "She's gone," the doctor informed gently.

Hyde and Dani looked at each other, nodding in agreement before Dani placed a hand out. "Separated, we can't do anything," Dani pointed out.

"But together, we are stronger."

Without any other words, Dani and Hyde linked their hands together. Suddenly, Jane watched as the black mist shaped body sunk back into Dani's body. There was no scream of pain, and the body contortions were barely noticeable but strong enough to make Dani drop onto one knee. Jane and Adam approached slowly until Dani pushed herself slowly up, she struggled for a moment to gain her balance and Jane took a hold of her.

"You okay," Jane asked. Dani nodded and Jane gave a surprised expression as one eye was pure red and the other was the light brown. But after a quick blink of the eyes, the red eye was gone. Jane released Dani gave her a pat on her back then declared with adamant, "We need to go to London. This bastard has gone too far."

"How are we going to do that," Adam inquired.

Maura pulled out her phone, "I will call for a flight on the private jet."

"Can she do that?"

Jane nodded with a small smirk, "If she can, she will."

"Your team will go…. then, Detective…" The group looked up to see Dracula being held up by O'Neil and Clayton. The vampire was still bleeding from his chest, "Bring…back…my…wife."

"We will," Jane assured.

Dani walked by and bowed her head, "We will find Mina."

"All of us will," Regina added, wiping some of the tears off her cheek.

"Are you sure," Maura asked in concern.

Regina nodded, feeling Dani wrap her arm around her waist, "I need to. For Mama."

Maura gave a small smile at the sight despite the sadness. Jane reached Maura's hand, giving it a soft squeeze on the hand.

First thing was that everyone headed to their individual homes. Jane and Maura met up with their individual bags with of course, Angela stopping them in progress trying to find out why they were leaving the country and looked disheveled.

"Ma, just watch Jo Friday and Bass for us," Jane told her mother, trying to get to the front door.

Angela placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Janie, you and Maura come in, looking like you got into a fight with boxer! Now, you're leaving without telling your mother anything."

Before Jane could reply, Maura cut in, "Angela, I know it's confusing and it seems like a rush but, we have to go now."

"But why?"

"Ma, it's a matter of life and death," Jane answered, opening the door. "I need to go and so does, Maura. Korsak, Frost, Frankie, and Nina are tagging along as well. Please, watch Jo and Bass."

Angela huffed, watching as the two placed their bags in their car. She knew that the women would not tell her where they were going or why they needed to go especially if it involved life and death. Unfortunately, she's not going to be able to stop them either much to ire.

"Just be safe," Angela sighed.

Jane turned around, walking up to her mother and hugged her tightly. "I love you, Ma," Jane whispered in her mother's ear.

Feeling the intensity of the hug, Angela choked up and hugged Jane back with the same ferocity. "I love you too, Janie," Angela replied. She then let go of Jane and grabbed a hold of Maura, hugging her tightly. "Watch out for my baby," Angela implored softly in Maura's ear.

"With my life."

RI

Reaching the jet, everyone loaded up and it helped that travel would be private enough that Adam didn't need to worry about wandering eyes. Jane entered and let out a whistle in amazement then said, "Damn…this is nice."

Maura gave a small smile at Jane's expression. "One of the small perks of being a member of the Isles Foundation," she informed her girlfriend.

"This is a small perk?" Maura nodded and Jane shook her head in disbelief, taking a seat in the jet. Korsak, Frost, Frankie, and Nina all boarded and settled down before Adam came in with Dani and Regina trailing behind.

"Man, that fight was that intense," Frankie pointed out, seeing Dani's fresh cuts. Jane hit Frankie in the back of the head, making him hiss. "Hey, I'm just asking."

"Regina also lost her mentor. Read the room, Frankie," Jane scolded.

"What," Nina gasped. Without hesitation, the young woman stood up and approached Regina, someone she didn't quite know, and asked softly, "Do you mind?" Regina didn't shake her head and Nina engulfed Regina in a hug.

Dani mouthed a small 'thank you,' placing her satchel down on the ground and took a seat. Maura leaned over and asked, "How is she doing?"

"Struggling," Dani answered. "I would prefer that she would stay. To mourn and recover but, Dorian made this personal and I won't take that away from her."

Maura nodded and sat back in her seat as Regina took her seat next to Dani, resting her head on Dani's shoulder. Maura did the same to Jane who stretched her arm around her shoulder and hoping to sleep away the night.

"Jane," she heard.

Her eyes opened to see that the airplane was empty. Confusion hit her and stood up quickly, shouting, "Maura!"

"Jane, help me!"

Jane drew her gun, looking around. "Maura," Jane shouted again, walking down the aisle however, each aisle was empty. No one was on board; she was alone in pure darkness and Maura was missing.

She then heard it again, "Jane!"

"Maura!"

"Smells like lavender and fear."

"Jane, wake up," the detective's eyes snapped open to see Maura staring at her in a concern face. The Italian was breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath then she raised her hand, touching Maura's cheek.

Reassurance, Maura understood from the touch. "I'm right here," Maura whispered, taking the hand, and kissing the knuckles. "I'm right here." Jane pressed her forehead against Maura's, taking in the warmth, fighting the sleep that still was in her eyes.

"I couldn't…find you," Jane murmured. She could feel Maura's thumb rub against her scar; a way to comfort Jane and ease any pain that may have come to the dream.

More of a nightmare, Jane's brain reminded. That reminder snapped Jane's mind back to how the dream bothered her. "You were calling for help and I couldn't find you," Maura heard. The sleepiness was gone, and Jane could feel the fear return prompting her to add, "I heard his voice, Maur."

"He will never hurt you, Jane," Maura assured. "He won't hurt us."

Jane nodded in agreement, feeling Maura's lips against her forehead. The detective sighed, feeling a weight release from her shoulders, her personal demon pushed away, and the detective started to fall asleep once more. "I love you, Jane," Maura hummed, closing her eyes.

"Love you too, Maur," Jane hummed back with their peace returning once more.

Hello everyone! Sorry for the unintentional hiatus but writer's block, life, etc! Anyways, please review!