Chandra woke in the nurse's office. She was grateful she wasn't restrained. At least they didn't know about her power to inflict pain. Healing wasn't dangerous enough to warrant constant supervision. The last thing she needed was faculty trying to intervene in her nightlife as a fighter, or in her homelessness. It's not that she didn't make enough money to buy a home or at least rent an apartment for a month in one night, but she was contributing every dollar towards Zach's mom's surgery. While Chandra may be able to heal broken ribs, she could not heal Ms. Braun because she did not know exactly what was wrong. Ms. Braun's problem wasn't an injury, but a slow degradation of her body. It was a lot harder to pinpoint what to heal in order to stop the degradation because there were a lot of spots getting worse, but nothing was particularly injured. Besides, Chandra had no desire to see if she could reverse aging. If she did and figured it out, then others eventually would too. It was better to not have such a power. Besides, chaos would follow if the wrong person discovered her ability, assuming that she had it. So she was not willing to risk it.

However, Chandra could help by amounting the money to pay for the medical bills. Ms. Braun, while having a house, could not afford the payment, and saving for it alone as a single mother would take years. She did not have years. So Chandra continued wracking in the wins. There was no way she would let Zach lose his mom. She had already lost hers, unable to heal her as she bled out. Chandra had gotten her powers two weeks later. Two weeks too late. Chandra blocked the memory from her mind. She wouldn't dwell on the past. Instead, she would focus on the people she could save.

She was broken out of her reverie when an elderly lady with a nurse's uniform came in. Her name tag said "Nurse Spex."

"Hello, dearie," the nurse said kindly. "You overextended yourself…no need to panic," the nurse added when Chandra realized that despite not being bound, she couldn't move. "Your body is healing the muscles before the nerve endings that were fried from the exchange of power, and from Warren's involuntary heat while he was healing. Your body should regain function in a few more minutes.

Chandra attempted to move her mouth, but it seemed her vocal cords also had no connection to her brain. All she could do was blink and widen her eyes a bit, trying to communicate in that way. Chandra continued trying to speak as Nurse Spex watched her patiently. Eventually, Chandra croaked out, "How's Warren?" That surprised her as much as the nurse. Chandra heard shuffling in the background then Warren filled her vision, surprise and worry shining from his eyes. He opened and closed his mouth. "The first thing you ask about, after waking from a three-day coma, is if I'm alright." Chandra nodded, then her mind locked onto what he had said. "Wait! Three-day coma!" She said, jumping out of the bed and grabbing Warren's shoulders in an attempt to pull him down so she could look into his eyes for honesty. Warren grabbed her hands gently and looked at the nurse. It appears her body finished regaining the last bit of function in response to the fear that coursed through her when you said 'three-day coma'" the old lady explained.

Just then, Zach burst into the room. "I knew you'd be awake! I could just feel it!" Chandra started happily. Does it have anything to do with that skinned knee I healed just now?"

Warren gaped at her while Zach beamed happily. "That's the third time, Moongirl! You've got to stop overextending yourself. I know you care a lot, but care about yourself too."

"How can I care about myself when it was my fault my mother died?" she whispered angrily. Zach stared at her angrily while Warren and Spex gasped. "Chandra! You are not at fault. Your powers didn't come in until two weeks later! It is not your fault you couldn't heal 20 stab wounds before the age of four!"

She stared at him, tears brimming in her eyes. His anger receded as he saw how vulnerable she was. "You know that was the most painful day of my life," Chandra said, lost in her head. "I never forget, you know. There were 20 wounds, 10 through her chest, one in each hand and foot, pinning her to the ground, and one on each leg, one through her neck, and three on her head," she continued in a daze. "Wounds that were there because she was protecting me. Wounds that were there because of that man. A man long dead now, but who once meant everything to her." Warren put his hand on Chandra's shoulder and Zach cried, "No!" But it was too late, Warren had touched her while she was in the past, and she instinctually shot a bolt of pain through his arm he grabbed it as if he could feel a flame burning him. She snapped out of her daze at Zach's cry and saw Warren doubled over, obviously having touched her, and holding his arm in pain. She gasped and walked towards him. She braced herself, waiting for him to flinch, but he held her gaze. She then placed her hand on his arm and healed the damage.

Nurse Spex had seen something astounding. The girl had the power to inflict pain…and heal. What else could the girl be hiding? The nurse knew she should report it, but after what she just saw, no one was in danger. The girl may have a traumatic past, but she was a good person and could have a bright future if she was allowed to have one. And from the way the nurse had seen Chandra tense as she approached Warren, the last thing that girl wanted was to be feared. Zach approached Chandra fearlessly, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. Chandra buried her face in his chest, as Zach was at least 6'7' and she barely topped 5'2'.

Warren stared jealously, and was even more astounded when Zach finally pulled away and said, "Guess what you missed? I asked Magenta to be my girlfriend! And she said yes!"

Chandra jumped up into his arms and threw her arms around his shoulders. "Zach! I'm so proud of you! You will make an incredible girlfriend and, while I know you don't need my approval, I like Magenta. And you finally got a spine! You've been trying to ask her out since the first week!"

Zach blushed and muttered, "Yeah, yeah."

Chandra beamed as he put her back on the ground.

Magenta had walked into the room to be confronted with her now boyfriend hugging Chandra to him in joy. She was unsure what was happening. Had she misread the signals? Did Zach like Chandra? She scolded herself. Zach and Chandra were more like siblings than anything. Her fears were further dispelled when she heard the conversation going on.

Chandra spotted Magenta and smiled. "Mag, come here." She waved her over. "Look, you may be my friend but if you hurt my brother, there will be a price." Magenta looked terrified while Zach groaned. "Really, C? You're gonna pull that card?! I know very well that if she hurts me you will excommunicate her but the way you said it made it seem as if you'd kill her."

Chandra grinned wildly. "Oh, come on, the protective aura doesn't come across the same way without being mysterious."

"Protective aura?" Warren guffawed. "More like terrifying seriousness?" Chandra faked hurt, knowing neither of the two was terrified of her after Zach revealed her ploy.

"That hurts," she clutched her chest as if in pain.

By now everyone in the room was laughing as the tension completely cleared.

Zach added, "You know if she's willing to appear terrifying, it means she trusts you. She trusts you to know that she isn't dangerous. She trusts that you're her friend." He looked contemplatively at Chandra for a minute, "You know this is the first time you've ever acted scary to anyone but me."

Chandra went still at the thought. Then she shrugged. "I'm with friends here."

No one knew that Layla had been watching through the door. And while Magenta seemed to think Chandra wasn't dangerous. Layla had heard her describe her mom's death, and the dark undertone when she explained that the murderer was dead. The flower child didn't think Chandra was dangerous, but she also didn't think that Chandra had left the crook to the police. And Layla did not approve of violence in any way.