Pulse: Season One

by LVCEBREROS

Freddie Benson will begin college and, after a shocking series of events, will become a crime fighting superhero known as Pulse. This show is kind of a spin off TV series of my creation. Several OCCs as well as a few familiar faces. I hope everyone likes it! There is SEDDIE in the future! Stay tuned :P

5. Episode Five: Stranger Than Fiction

Author's Note: Hello again! I apologize for the EXTREMELY long wait. I've been working on some new projects (feel free to check them out.) Hope that you guys enjoyed the last installment and I'll do my best to keep updating but it could take a while. I intend to finish Season One and if you guys want, will possibly do a Season Two.

I've been getting some feedback that I appreciate greatly from all my readers. Especially you DeppThroat! You rock!

This 'episode' is going to appear to be a bit jumbled and if it is, I apologize. I'm setting some stuff up in this one that is going to affect some subplots in the 'series' so please keep that in mind. I hope it isn't too cluttered for you guys to understand. If it's not my best, I understand and will do better next time.

Also, I've taken creative liberties with certain things because I'm not an expert on the law and police procedure or medical terms. I hope this doesn't hurt the experience for anyone.

I've been getting a few readers demanding or begging for some Seddie stuff. I know I promised and the tidbits I've been giving aren't enough but I will say this... I will have Seddie, you guys just have to be patient. I'm setting things up so they fall into place. However, I might give you a scene between Freddie and Sam that won't be a dream or a figment of Freddie's imagination in this very episode. How will it play out? Well... stay tuned kiddies (doing the Cryptkeeper laugh... and for those who don't know, look it up :P)

Disclaimer: Apart from the character I created, I own nothing that is the property of Dan Schneider and the team of Schneider's Bakery. That includes any characters, places, or items created by him or his production company.

UPDATE: I am also recasting Cassie but if you've got to this chapter, you already know that. I hope you enjoy who she is being played by now.

Also, there's a scene in here that is VERY similar to a scene from a 2012 Summer Blockbuster that starred six of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I don't own the scene even though it doesn't play like THAT scene. Just covering my bases.

Alrighty then, let's dive into Episode Five!

•••

•••

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

- Oscar Wilde

•••

It was 8:39 pm. Another night. Another potential crime.

It was dark and a bit chilly but a quiet evening. A large delivery truck was driving down a warehouse section of the city. Two delivery guys were riding in the cab, armed with standard firearms and wearing dark-toned uniforms.

From a rooftop less than a block away, Pulse stands on the ledge and watches as the truck rolls along. Printed on the side of the truck was the name 'Webb Pharmaceuticals'.

"I've been tailing these guys for the last three hours. Are you sure they'll get hit?" Freddie asked via the com link.

"Positive. Webb Pharm has been losing mass quantities of their medical supplies for the past month." Gabe told him. "Most of the items taken were parts for different kinds of sensitive hospital equipment and supplies."

"What do you think they're doing?" Freddie asked curiously.

"From what was taken, it could be several things." Cassie can be heard saying. "My guess would be some kind of black market organ harvesting operation."

"Taking a bit of a leap, hey Athena?" Freddie joked.

"Thinking realistically, Dear Boy." Cassie stated.

"Maybe they're running some sort of back alley hospital for the poor?" Gabe guessed.

"And I'M taking the leap?" Cassie quips.

Suddenly, a long white van zooms into the scene in front of the truck. The truck comes to a screeching halt as the side door of the van opens and several people wearing strange-looking masks jump out. The men held up assault rifles at the guards who had stepped out of the truck.

"Looks like I'm gonna find out." Freddie stated.

"What's up?" Gabe asked.

"Looks like I'm not the only one rocking a mask." Freddie replied. "Five of them. Three men, two women. One of the men is in the driver's seat though."

"They armed?" Cassie asked.

"Yep. The two other men look like they're carrying AK-47s. The women are jumping into the van to loot it." Freddie explained.

The women place a few boxes into the van and go for one large box. The guards tried to defend themselves but armed men proceeded to knock out the delivery men with the butt of their guns.

"What's happening now?" Cassie asked.

"This is getting ugly, fast. I should make my presence felt." Freddie stated, watching the scene.

"I'm surprised you haven't already." Gabe joked.

Pulse jumps onto the fire escape and climbs down the side of the building. He uses the ladder to slide down gracefully to the floor and runs off.

•••

The masked gang continued robbing the truck. The two armed men pointed their guns at the unconscious delivery men if one or both would come as the two women unload the large box of supplies. These thieves look like they have done this before.

The taller man wore a mask that had the appearance of a King from a deck of cards and the shorter man wore a mask that looked like a sack with two eye holes and an opening in the mouth and nose area. The getaway driver wore a sheep mask over his face.

The two women wore different-looking but aesthetically similar feminine masks. The light-haired young woman who appeared to be about seventeen wore a Baby Doll mask while the older woman, close to her late thirties, had light brown hair tied back in a ponytail and was wearing a Pin Up mask.

The one thing they all had in common is that they wore black hooded sweatshirts.

"Quick, get it in! Get it in!" The sack man yelled.

"Hey, give us a break! This thing weighs a ton!" Baby Doll said.

"Keep it down! We gotta move before we draw attention to ourselves!" The King demanded sternly.

The women loaded the box inside. "I just hope we can get it there in time." Pin Up stated. "If we don't-"

The King walks over and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't talk like that. We'll make it."

"I don't think any of that belongs to you."

The gang looks around and sees Pulse standing in the shadows. He was leaning against a dumpster and then strides toward them.

"You've gotta be kidding." Sack Man said incredulously. "Get lost on your way to a Cosplay convention?"

"The guy wearing the sack over his face is making fun of my outfit?" Freddie joked. "I think there's a saying - pot calling the kettle black?"

"No way!" Baby Doll exclaimed. "It's Pulse!"

"Who?" Sack Man asked.

"He's some costumed crime fighter. Bloggers are talking about this guy." Baby Doll said.

"Well, seeing as I now don't have to formally introduce myself, I'll have to ask you to place the items you've taken back into that truck." Freddie replied. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

"Oh no." Gabe stated.

"Oh jeez." Cassie is heard saying.

Sack Man grins and opens fire on him but fortunately, Pulse was able to duck out of the way with only one of the rounds bouncing off the armored shoulder of his battle suit.

Pulse lets out a gasp of pain that Cassie and Gabe hear. "What happened? Are you okay?" Cassie asked with concern in her voice.

"I'm fine. Except I got a hit with a bullet." Freddie said. "This suit's bulletproof but it still hurts."

"Is it like getting shot with a paintball?" Gabe asked.

"A little bit." Freddie said, wincing in pain.

Sack Man continues firing but The King stops him. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked.

"Taking care of the problem." Sack Man said.

"All that noise is going to attract the police! Could you for once be less of an idiot!" The King spat.

"Screw off, Old Man!" Sack Man said angrily but the argument was interrupted by police sirens.

"See what you've done!" The King said.

"We don't have time for this! We need to go!" Pin Up stated.

The gang gets into their van as quickly as possible.

"Drive!" The King ordered Sheep Man who floored it.

The van zooms through the alleyways to avoid being spotted. The two women appear to be nervous, particularly Baby Doll. Sack Man seems to be annoyed at the King who had jumped into the passenger's seat.

As they drove, Sheep Man noticed something in the rearview mirror. "Um, we've got a stowaway!"

The King looks behind the two back door windows of the van and sees Pulse holding onto the back of the van. "Shake him!" The King ordered.

"I'm trying!" Sheep Man replied.

The King pulls out a small handgun. "Get down!" He orders the other thieves who do so fearfully. He shoots out the windows in hopes of hitting Pulse but his shots barely miss their intended target.

"This guy's persistent!" The King replied.

Baby Doll looks at the other rearview mirror. "Guys, we've got bigger problems!"

A police car begins chasing the van with its sirens blaring. Suddenly, something jumps on the roof of the van. It was Pulse who had jumped on and was hanging onto the roof. The King points upwards and fires three more shots that miss but almost hit Pulse who desperately dodges the shots.

"Great! We've got the cops and some freak on our tail!" Sack Man said. "Got any plans on how to lose them both?"

The King looked at the road before them and said "Sharp turn! Now!"

The Sheep Man did as instructed and turned the steering wheel quickly. The quick move causes Pulse to lose his grip and land in a pile of garbage in an alley which broke his fall.

Pulse watches from the ground as the police continue to chase the van only to watch them lose it as well. He lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Well... that could've gone better." Freddie said as he removed a banana peel from his shoulder.

•••

Freddie was back at the hideout, rubbing his left shoulder where he got hit. He wasn't wearing his battle suit, now in civilian clothing - a black sleeveless shirt that allowed him to display a large welt where he was hit by the round from the AK-47. His shirt was paired with dark jeans.

Gabe came into the room holding an ice pack in his hands. He was wearing a light blue T-shirt underneath a dark blue knitted but masculine-looking sweater and jeans. Gabe was still wearing the bandage on his nose from the beating he had taken from Jackie and Novak. "You tried reasoning with these people?" He asks as he tosses the pack to Freddie who catches it with his uninjured right arm.

"Thought maybe they would've responded well to logic." Freddie stated as he placed the pack on the bruised shoulder. "Ah! You'll have to pardon me for assuming too much."

"That kind of thinking is going to get you killed." Cassie said as she walks into the room holding a bottle of water. Cassie wore a short-sleeved dark tight fitting blue blouse with dark jeans and black ankle boots. Her blond hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. She sets the bottle on the table next to Freddie and places a small item in his palm. "The last two. Remind me to pick up more painkillers at the drugstore."

Freddie looks in his hands and sees two tablets Cassie had placed in his hands. He pops the pills into his mouth then opens the bottle and takes a sip. "I'm only glad you didn't decide to crush these with a mallet." He said as he swallowed the water.

"You're lucky I didn't decide to crush something else with a mallet." She threatened, which caught Freddie and Gabe off guard. "Look, I've decided to skip the full-blown pseudo-parental lecture as you've been through enough tonight." Cassie stated as Freddie breathed a sigh of relief which was short-lived. "However I will say one thing - just because that expensive and quite impressive super suit is bulletproof, it doesn't make you indestructible."

"Would be awesome if I were." Freddie said with a smile only to look up and see his aunt giving him a frustrated glare. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"I found out what those guys took from that truck." Gabe said, breaking the tension.

"What was stolen?" Freddie asked as the three walked to Gabe's computer.

"I managed to hack into Webb Pharmaceuticals and looked at the delivery routes and the cargo they were shipping. The thieves took mainly strong drugs and several syringes." Gabe said as he pulled up the information.

"You sure that's all they took?" Cassie asked.

"I was watching them closely before Mr. Sack got trigger-happy. That's all they took. It was like they knew what they were looking for." Freddie explained.

"Wonder why they need that stuff for?" Gabe said.

"They might be selling the stuff." Cassie estimates. "Drug peddlers would pay big bucks to get their hands on equipment in decent or excellent condition."

Freddie has a thought. "Gabe, you looked at the records of all the robberies Webb Pharm reported?"

"Yeah, why?" Gabe asked.

"Check what was taken in each of the heists." Freddie told him.

"What are you thinking?" Cassie asked with curiosity.

"If the same kind of items were stolen, we can find out when the next robbery could take place." Freddie stated. "We'll check which shipment is carrying those exact items and bust them as soon as they make their next move."

Cassie grins at this, very impressed. "You're getting a hang of the detective work."

"I'm learning from the best." Freddie said that makes Cassie smile.

"Bruce Wayne?" Gabe joked which caused Cassie to smack the back of his head. "Ow! What? He is the World's Greatest Detective."

"Just get back to work, Johnny Lee Miller." Cassie quips.

Gabe looked through the files but a look of disappointment came upon his face. "Nope. Nothing similar. It pretty much runs all over the map. Mostly equipment and several bags of chemicals with names I can't pronounce without butchering the English language."

"There has to be a reason they're taking this stuff." Freddie stated as he sips more water.

"Well, it'll have to wait til tomorrow. You two boys are going back to your dorm to get some sleep and I have to pick up Millie and take her home." Cassie told them. "We're closing early tonight."

Freddie checks his Pearphone. "It's 9:37. I could still-"

"A couple of hours ago, you were hit with a round from an assault rifle, got thrown off a speeding vehicle, and landed on a pile of garbage that prevented you from becoming a smear on the road." The blond replied. "I know you've been fighting crime for two and a half weeks but do you REALLY wanna press your luck?"

Freddie sighs as he sees the point in his aunt's logic. "Fine, we'll call it a night."

Cassie grins a bit as Gabe begins shutting down the tech in the hideout as Freddie slowly puts on a black hooded jacket. He groans a bit as he places his injured left arm into the jacket. Cassie helps him put on the jacket. She gently places her hand on Freddie's injured shoulder as her hand glows with a blue aura. Freddie checks to see if Gabe was looking but he was preoccupied with his tech to notice anything.

Cassie quickly pulls her hand away as she lets out a deep breath of mild exhaustion.

Freddie stares at his aunt with concern. "You okay?" He asked quietly. She nods quickly to reassure him. "Thanks."

"Question: where's our resident man of mystery?" Gabe asked. "Thought Petey was supposed to be here?"

"Uh- Pete told me he's going out of town for a few days. Told me he's going to see a sick friend in Trenton." Cassie explained. "Said he's leaving tomorrow morning on the train."

"He had a choice between helping us fight crime or going to New Jersey, dude chose Jersey?" Gabe joked. "Something's not right about that."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You're reading too much into it, Gabriel."

"And the professional PI isn't?" Gabe questioned. "He must make you weak in the knees to make you put the blinders on." Cassie glares at him. "And let me say this before you decide to break out the Kung Fu that you have your reasons."

Freddie playfully smacks Gabe "Let it go, dude."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Gabe stated as they left.

Cassie swallows hard, he did make a good point.

•••

Pete walks across the street towards Luzoni's while talking on his cell phone. "I'm meeting him there tomorrow. I have to- I know. I didn't tell her. I just... I hate having to be the one to fill the blanks. Look, I'll talk to you later."

He hangs up as he opens the door and finds Millie standing in front of the register. Millie was back to her normal civilian life for a bit since her boss Mr. Luzoni got out of the hospital after the attack by Emil Dahl. She had to keep her day job so her dad didn't become suspicious but when she got out of work, Cassie would pick her up and bring her to the hideout in case Freddie needed any mending.

"Hey, you!" Millie replied. "Thought you'd be with the... study group tonight?"

"I'm going to see an old friend in Trenton. They aren't in good shape." Pete stated. "Have to catch the train bright and early tomorrow."

"It's not serious?" Millie asked.

"No, just has to have his appendix removed." Pete answered.

"Appendicitis is pretty serious. Trust me, we were studying this case where a guy-" Millie explained but stopped herself. "I don't think I should talk about this if you're going to order food. Um, we're about to close so if you're gonna order something, my suggestion is make it to go."

"Just give me some bottled water is fine." Pete said. Millie reaches to the fridge and hands Pete the small bottle.

"That'll be 2.39." Millie said as she rang it up.

Pete pulls out a ten-dollar bill. "Keep the change, sunshine."

Millie smiles as he takes the bottle and drinks from it. The front door to the restaurant opens and a young man about nineteen with long light blond hair walks in with an eighteen-year-old girl who also had long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Pete walks past the pair but the boy accidentally bumps into Pete. The boy just continues walking which offends Pete a bit.

"Manners do count, kid." Pete said.

"Too bad I don't have any." The boy said bitterly.

"Cut it out, Gavin." The girl said. "Sorry, they hit the soft spot on his head when he was a baby too often." Gavin stares at her and sticks his tongue out at the girl.

"It's all right." Pete said. He looks back at Millie who gives him a nod to signal she'd be fine and he leaves.

The pair walks over to the counter. "Are you guys still open?" Gavin asked.

"Yeah but if you're ordering anything, it has to be to-go. We're closing soon." Millie informed them.

"No prob. We'll take three medium pizzas. One pepperoni with extra cheese, supreme hold the bell peppers, and a Hawaiian style." The girl ordered.

"Okay," Millie said, ringing them up. "That'll be 26.88."

Gavin hands Millie a twenty, a five, and two one-dollar bills. The money was pretty beat up but was still transferable. She hands Gavin his change.

"So... Millie?" Gavin said, reading her name tag. "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?"

"Uh, making sure you get your food so you can take it home." Millie said, feeling uncomfortable.

"Gavin, leave her alone." The girl demanded with a bit of embarrassment in her voice.

"Can I ask you something else?" Gavin asked. "Got any plans later?"

"I do. I plan to go home where my dad is waiting for me." Millie said. "He's a cop with A LOT of guns."

Gavin's smile fades as the girl laughs loudly. He steps back from the register as he and the girl sit at a table.

"Oh yeah, she was feeling the love." The girl joked.

"Put a sock in it, Liv!" He told her, throwing a crumpled napkin at her. "Okay, who's the Hawaiian pizza for? No one likes it."

"Billy does." Liv told him. "He loves pineapples. You know that."

Gavin became silent. "He won't be able to eat it. What's the point?"

"It's the thought that counts. Dad said we need to think about him. We have to be considerate." Liv stated.

"He's dying, Liv. How's a pizza gonna help?" Gavin spat.

"Don't talk like that! Dad said he's going to be okay." Liv replied.

"Dad said. Dad said." Gavin said mockingly. "Dad doesn't know everything."

"He knows enough not to be reckless and stupid." Liv snidely said to him. "What were you thinking?"

"Trying to stop that guy." Gavin said. "Besides, it was more than what the old man did."

Liv sighs "Still can't believe it. Pulse is real."

The last statement catches Millie's attention. Had they seen Freddie out on patrol while he was chasing some bad guys?

"You guys saw Pulse?" Millie asked curiously.

"Yeah. They were chasing these badasses in a van." Gavin stated smugly.

"Criminals?" Millie stated.

"Tomato. Tomatoe." Gavin replied as Liv kicked his shin. "Ow."

"I would be afraid to say stuff like that." Liv said quietly. She changes the subject. "Have you ever seen him?"

"Yeah. I have." Millie said, thinking a bit. "He saved my life."

"Oh," Liv replied as she raised an eyebrow. "Is he cute?"

Millie grins a bit. "Kinda."

"Must have a thing for dudes in masks?" Gavin joked.

"Depends on the mask." Millie retorts as Mr. Luzoni gave her the pizzas. Stefano Luzoni was an older man in his early fifties, who came out of the kitchen. He seems kind but could be a hothead sometimes. He was a proud Old-World Italian with a lot of heart.

"Here you go, Millicent. Last order of the night." Mr. Luzoni stated.

"Thank you." Millie said cheerfully. "Order up!"

•••

Gavin and Liv walk out of the restaurant with their pizzas. "I kinda wanna go back in there and ask her out." Gavin replied.

"Really?" Liv said in disbelief. "She did everything except turn on a neon sign that reads 'Not a Chance, Loser!'"

Gavin rolls his eyes as they walk to their car, a van with two blown-out back windows. They get into the van and The King and Pin Up are seen inside through the broken windows as it drives off.

•••

Millie opens the door to her and her dad's apartment. It's a moderately sized apartment that Millie tried to keep tidy. The color of the walls was forest green. A color Millie's mother picked out ages ago and Victor didn't have the heart to change. There was a beat-up couch and a dining room table in the kitchen which had a few dirty dishes. There were some knickknacks and unique keepsakes on a tall bookshelf where a family photo of herself as a small child and both her parents sat.

Millie steps inside with Cassie standing in the hallway as she turns to her. "Thanks again for driving me home. I don't like taking the subway by myself anymore."

"Considering what happened to you, I don't blame you." Cassie stated as she began to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait!" Millie replied, which caused Cassie to stop and turn to face her. "Look, I don't know when my dad's gonna be home and I was wondering-"

"If I wanted to stay with you until Victor comes home?" Cassie asked.

"Please! We can talk about boys... Watch some movies." Millie stated. "Braid each other's hair-"

"I'm not the sleepover type." Cassie interjected. Millie began to look disappointed and Cassie let out a sigh. "What movies do you have?"

Millie becomes giddy which catches Cassie off guard as she walks over and grabs three DVD cases from one of those movie kiosks. "I got Warm Bodies, Interview with the Vampire, and Jennifer's Body."

"A lovestruck zombie, a boy-eating cheerleader, and 90s Brad Pitt? You have good taste." Cassie replies mildly impressed as an excited Millie pulls her inside.

"I'll make the popcorn." Millie said, shutting the front door and going into the kitchen.

"Good, keep me out of the kitchen." Cassie said, removing her tan leather jacket. "The only thing I can make is boiling water and even I can't do that right." She sat on the couch and felt something stab her hand, which caused her to gasp in pain.

"You okay?" Millie asked from the kitchen.

Cassie lifts her hand and finds a long nail sticking through the palm of her hand. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got scratched by a nail."

"I keep telling my dad we need a new couch or someone's gonna get hurt." Millie announced.

"Too little too late." Cassie said in a hushed tone. She quickly yanks out the nail and watches it heal. The large hole the nail made in her palm closes up.

"You sure you're okay?" Millie asked as the microwave dinged to signal the popcorn was ready. Cassie grabs her jacket and pulls out a travel pack of wet naps from her pocket.

"I'm fine," Cassie said, wiping the blood from her hand and the nail. She places the nail in a candy dish and puts the used wet nap in her jacket pocket.

Millie walks into the living room with a large bowl of popcorn. "Caramel chocolate chip popcorn."

"Ooh, sweet." Cassie quipped as she grabbed a piece of popcorn.

"So, what are we watching first?" Millie asked as she picked up the DVD cases.

"How about Jennifer's Body? I love the dialogue in that." Cassie replied.

"Yeah, boys came for the girl-on-girl action while the girls stayed for the witty banter." Millie jokes as she puts the DVD in. Cassie laughs as Millie plops down next to her. "No hogging the popcorn!"

Cassie grins as she hands her the bowl.

•••

The next morning, the alarm on Freddie's Pearphone rang and woke him from his short but deep sleep. He stares at the phone with a look of annoyance. "I hate you sometimes."

"Don't blame technology for your nightlife, Benson," Gabe said, coming out of the bathroom dressed for class. Gabe wore a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark blue jeans.

"You're up early." Freddie said as he rubs his eyes.

"Yeah… Got a call from my mom." Gabe said softly. "But I'm guessing you probably knew that."

"I did. I was just humoring you." Freddie said with a smirk. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. She just called to check in on me. Also to tell me the specialist had arrived." Gabe told him.

"He's a top surgeon, right?" Freddie asked.

"Yeah. Dr. Roland Erskine. Top in his field. Best of the best." Gabe told him. "The old man has spared no expense to fly this guy out here."

"That's great." Freddie stated but sensed something was bothering Gabe. "It IS great, right?"

"Sure. It was- several months ago, my dad couldn't care less about my mom. She's sick and all of a sudden he's moving heaven and earth to save her? I don't buy his savior act for a nanosecond." Gabe replied.

"Didn't you last week not want to talk to her?" Freddie asked as he walked to the closet to grab some of his clothes. "You pretty much avoided her like the plague."

"Well- I just- Okay, I sound like a jerk but I'm justified. I was raised by an army of nannies while she got drunk and my dad passed the buck on to someone else so he could become the biggest name in weapons technology." Gabe explained. "He spent their entire marriage ignoring her and gallivanting with other women which caused her to hit the bottle. HARD. So by all reasonable factors, my strained relationship with my mother is his fault."

"How do you figure that?" Freddie asked as he walked to the bathroom.

"It's what my therapist used to tell me." Gabe replied.

Freddie laughs as he closes the door leaving it open a crack. "At least you have both your parents. My dad abandoned me just a little after I turned two. Leaving me alone with my mom who is kinda a few monks short of a monastery."

"Come on, how bad could your mom be?" Gabe asked, laughing.

"When I was two, she took me to Venezuela and had a questionable doctor implant a tracking chip in my still soft infant skull just so she could keep track of where I was at all times." Freddie said frankly which caused Gabe's smile to fade.

"Please tell me you're joking." Gabe asked with a raised eyebrow.

Freddie steps out of the bathroom, dressed for class - wearing a long-sleeved dark teal blue plaid shirt with black jeans and black Chuck Taylors. "Trust me, I couldn't make that up if I tried." Freddie said as he heard his phone chime.

"E-mail?" Gabe asked.

"No. It's a reminder from my calendar. I have it set to remind me of important dates. Birthdays, anniversaries..." Freddie said as he checked his phone. "Usually set it a day or so in advance so I can be prepared."

"Do you practice being a stand-up guy or does that come naturally for you?" Gabe replied but saw Freddie's smile fade. "What is it?"

"That's coming up?" Freddie said with a look of dread.

"What? Is it Millie's birthday?" Gabe asked. "No, that's August 2nd."

"No, it's-" Freddie pushes the button on the phone to lock the screen. "Nothing. Forget it." He walks over to the bed and puts on a black coat that sat on his bed then grabs his messenger bag and drapes it over his shoulder. "We should go to class now."

Freddie walks over to the door and exits the dorm, leaving Gabe feeling very confused.

"Yeah, that wasn't cryptic." Gabe retorts as he grabs his black leather jacket then follows his roommate out and shuts the door.

•••

In the early morning hours at Trenton Train Station, a train arrives and several passengers get out and one of those passengers was Pete Sawyer. He wore a long-sleeved black sweater and dark pants and had brought only a small bag with him as he left the area of hustle and bustle.

Pete grabs his phone and makes a call. "I'm here. Where are we meeting? Okay. I'll be there soon." He hangs up and walks off.

•••

Freddie was entering his entertainment technology class where Professor Tommy Bennett was looking at his computer, grading papers. He softly knocks on the doorframe to get his professor's attention, which works and Tommy looks at the door to see who had knocked.

"You wanted to see me?" Freddie asked. "This a bad time?"

"Not at all, please come in." Tommy said, getting up from his seat. "What do you know about Pulse? The vigilante?"

Freddie appeared dumbfounded, a bit at a loss for words. He quickly collects himself and says "W-well, not much. He fights crime but that makes sense for who he is, right?"

"Have you ever seen him?" Tommy asked.

"No!" Freddie said quickly which caused Tommy to raise an eyebrow. "I mean, no. No, I haven't."

"Oh, okay." Tommy asked.

"Why are you asking about Pulse?" Freddie asked curiously.

"Take a look at this." Tommy said as he motioned for Freddie to walk over to the computer which he did so. "This was just posted this morning."

Freddie looks at the screen and reads 'Hunt for Pulse', an article on a website advertising a contest. His eyes widened in horror.

"What is this?" Freddie asked with a twinge of hidden terror in his voice.

"It's a social media contest started by the online news site, The Spotlight." Tommy explained. "It says that the first person to send in crystal clear visual evidence of Pulse will get a cash prize of fifty thousand dollars. I'm surprised you haven't heard about this."

"Well, I've been busy... Studying." Freddie said to cover things up. "Why are you so interested in this?"

"I am teaching entertainment technology and this has strong results in altering how the media does things." Tommy stated. "And with your videography skills and being one of my top students, I wanted to point you to a great opportunity your way."

"Um, you did point something to my attention." Freddie said, staring at the screen. This could not be good.

•••

Cassie walks with Victor Flores into the precinct. She was still wearing the clothes she had worn the night before but her hair was down and combed into soft curls.

"Why does Captain Thompson want to speak to you?" Victor asked.

"He didn't say. He usually just asks me if I've heard anything on the street." Cassie explained. "Usually something small."

"Listen, I appreciate you staying with Millie last night. She tends to get a little lonely." Victor stated.

"It was fun and Millie's a good kid." Cassie stated. "It's kinda like hanging out with the little sister I never had."

"Wouldn't that make me your father?" Victor joked.

"And you just made it creepy." Cassie quips which makes Victor chuckle.

•••

Danny Parker sat at his desk, looking through some paperwork when his thoughts drift elsewhere. He thought about what happened with Pulse which quickly shifts to thinking of the woman he had been chasing the night they first saw him. The woman hurled herself out of a four-story window and landed on the ground below but was nowhere in sight moments later.

So many questions ran through his head. Why did she do it? Where did she go? But the most important question rattled him - how did she survive a fall like that?

"Am I interrupting?"

Danny's concentration is broken as he looks up to find Cassie standing a few feet away. "Cassie, what do I owe the nuisance?" He asked with mild annoyance in his voice.

"Nice to see you too." Cassie replied as she sat in the chair in front of Victor's desk, crossing her legs. "If this is how you treat women, it might explain why you're single."

"And what makes you come to that logical conclusion?" Danny asked.

Cassie cocks her head to one side and begins to examine him. "Let's see, I don't see a wedding band on your finger or any tan line where a ring would have been. I don't see any photographs of a person that could be interpreted as a significant other, male or female. Won't judge either option, I'm a firm supporter of the LGBT community. Just saying that most have a picture of their significant other and family." Danny bites his bottom lip as if to agree with her. "You aren't clean-shaven. Most men in stable and happy relationships tend to keep themselves neat. Not that you're rocking the Grizzly Adams beard but you aren't Clark Kent either. Scruff and untamed. Most women like that so points for that."

"Anything else?" Danny asked, perturbed at being cross-examined.

"You have been staring at me for the entire time I've been sitting here." Cassie stated. "Either you're invested in this conversation or you're undressing me with your eyes. Wonder which one it is?"

Danny clears his throat as Victor walks over to the desks holding a coffee mug. "I have never been more happy to see you."

Victor glances at Cassie. "What did you do?"

"I just made your partner a touch uncomfortable." Cassie retorts.

"In most workplaces, that would be considered sexual harassment." Danny replied.

Cassie blushes but quickly hides her embarrassment as she gets off Victor's chair. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Is there a reason you're here or are you finding new ways to disturb me?" Danny asked.

"I'm here on business. Messing with you is just too much fun." Cassie quips. "So... how's the whole superhero manhunt going?"

"Not as well as we'd like. It feels like every time we get a lead, we hit a dead end." Danny explained.

"We'd get somewhere if it wasn't for your little side mission," Victor said as he stared at Danny. "Tell her."

"I'm not going to tell her this. No one else believes me, why would she?" Danny states.

"Try me." Cassie bluntly said.

Danny looks at Cassie as she folds her arms over her chest and waits for an answer. "Well, the other night we ran into Pulse. We were about to bring him into custody but we learned he's not working alone."

"He has an accomplice?" Cassie asked, acting as if she was unaware of what was happening.

"It appeared so. She came out of nowhere and knocked us to the ground." Danny told her. "This girl has some serious moves.

"Really?" Cassie said as a smile creeps on her lips.

"And that's not all. Tell her what she did." Victor said.

Danny lets out a sigh. "I chased after for about two blocks before we ended up at the top of a four-story building. I was about to arrest her but..."

"But what?" Cassie asked as Danny became silent. "Out with it, Parker. What did this chick do?"

"She jumped out of a window," Danny told her.

"I'm sorry, what?" Cassie asked, pretending not to know what that meant. "Wow, do women wanna get away from you bad enough to hurl themselves to their deaths."

"Anyway... that isn't the weird part," Danny told her.

"What's weirder than a woman swan diving out a window to her death?" Cassie asked.

"The possibility that she may not be dead," Danny said.

Cassie feigned shock. "Wait a minute, someone pulled a Claire Bennet on you?" The two cops stare at her with confusion. "The indestructible cheerleader from that show Heroes. She tended to throw herself through windows to escape from certain situations."

"Never understood that show," Victor stated.

"It's a lot easier to understand than Lost," Danny replied.

Victor glares at his partner.

"Let me get this straight, you're now looking for not one but TWO people with superpowers?" Cassie stated. "And they say tax money isn't being spent wisely."

"And that's your professional opinion?" Danny asked.

"No, just social commentary." Cassie stated. "You want my professional opinion? Maybe the indestructible female Kato is close to Pulse? A friend, family member?"

Danny sits there and makes a mental note of what she had said. Could be important later.

"We don't even know who this guy is and you want us to try to find his invincible older sister?" Victor asked.

"It's the best advice I can give. If you wanna find out who Pulse is, I'd try there." Cassie stated.

"Any other advice you'd like to give us?" Victor asked.

"Sorry, that advice was free. You boys have to pay 150 bucks a syllable for more." Cassie said with a smirk.

"Cassandra!"

Cassie, Victor, and Danny turn their attention to Captain Irving Thompson who was standing near his office. "I'm a very busy man, I don't have all day." The older man replied.

Cassie looked at Victor and Danny. "Looks like I'm being called to the principal's office. Hope he doesn't give me detention."

Cassie strides towards the captain's office and walks inside.

Danny watches this intrigued. "Wonder what the captain wants to talk to her about?"

"I think that's between the two of them and if he wants us to know, he'd tell us." Victor stated. "Right now, we need to find a way to track down a lightning-throwing vigilante."

Danny nods and goes back to his work but stares at the door to the office and looks back down at his work again.

•••

"Care to tell me what this is about?" Cassie asked

"Have a seat, Cassandra." Thompson replied as he sat at his desk.

Cassie sighs and sits down in the chair in front of his desk. "Is this about those overdue parking tickets because I'm-"

"Do you know who Pulse is?" Thompson asked bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Cassie asked, appearing shocked.

"Don't play dumb with me, you've never been good at it." Thompson stated. "Do you know who he is?"

Cassie stares him down. "If I did, what are you gonna do? Arrest me?"

"If I have to, yes." Thompson said.

"Please, I know you well enough to know when you're bluffing. You've always had a lousy poker face." Cassie scoffs. Thompson stares at her, still looking for an answer. "No. I don't know who he is. From what I do know, he's been doing a lot of good in the city."

"What he's doing is breaking the law." Thompson retorts.

"Yes, because the world is black and white and it's SO easy to spot who the good guys are by the color of the hats they're wearing. You and I both know that thinking like that only leads to death and more death." Cassie spat as she sprang up from her chair. "So, if we're done here-"

"Cassie!" He yelled quickly which caused her to stop. "Before joining that... organization, your brother was my partner and I know you as well as he did. I gave him my word a long time ago that I would look after you. Make sure that you stay out of trouble."

"And I never made it easy, did I?" Cassie stated. She turns to face him with a smile.

"But you've got your life together. Doing good, your parents would be proud." Thompson said. "So would Lenny."

"Thanks... Irv." Cassie said which made the captain grin a bit. "If I find out anything, I promise you're the first one to know." She holds up her hand and balls her fist then sticks up her pinkie finger. "Pinkie swear."

Thompson smiles a bit and he accepts the pinkie promise. "You haven't done that since you were thirteen."

"Nothing beats the classics." Cassie joked as she heads out.

"Just keep out of trouble." Thompson ordered.

Cassie looks back with a mischievous grin. "Don't I always?" With that, she left him.

•••

"Fifty thousand dollars?"

Freddie, Gabe, and Millie were walking through the CityTech campus as Freddie finished telling them about the Spotlight's contest. Millie was wearing a jean jacket over a blue and white floral top paired with a solid-colored blue skirt and matching Mary Jane shoes.

"Yeah, fifty G's to get Pulse on video." Freddie said anxiously. "Why would they do this?"

"It's a news media outlet and you're now the new 'It' story right now." Gabe explained.

"I miss the days when news outlets chased after female celebrity train wrecks who forgot to wear their underwear." Millie joked.

"I'm not proud to say that I've been those tabloid sites' poster boy since I turned sixteen. They follow anything or anyone who will give them more hits on their sites." Gabe explained.

"And your poster boy status had nothing to do with you deflowering a certain Dingo Channel star turned pop sensation, did it?" Millie said playfully.

"Hey, that press helped her ditch her 'good girl' image." Gabe stated as Millie rolled her eyes. "It was her using me rather than vice versa."

"Let's be serious, guys." Freddie said, stopping the two from going further. "Everyone and their mother are going to be chasing after Pulse to get that cash."

"It'll make doing your job very difficult." Gabe said.

"Not just that. If a civilian were to follow you into a dangerous situation, they'd get themselves hurt." Millie stated.

"Or worse." Freddie said grimly.

The three look up and see Jane Louis make her way toward them. "Hey there, stranger!" Jane said, hugging Freddie.

Freddie pulls back a bit. "Hey, Jane."

Jane notices his somber demeanor. "Why so glum, chum?"

Freddie bit his lip as his friends snickered at Jane's wordplay. "Nothing. Just having a tough day."

"I know what'll make you feel better. Why don't we go see a movie? I heard the original version of the first Galaxy Wars is playing at the Cinema Revue." Jane suggested. "I'll even do my hair as Princess Oblangata if you'd like?"

"You don't have to... Unless you're willing to wear the Robe of Curiosity?" Freddie joked which made Jane giggle. "How about we make it a double date? Gabe, you think Lucy would like to go?"

"Actually, yeah. She's kind of a HUGE fan of Galaxy Wars and was begging for me to take her." Gabe stated. "I'm not that big a fan but I'll do anything for a pretty face."

"Still find it amazing you two are still dating." Millie replied. "This must be a new record for you."

"Ha ha." Gabe said sarcastically.

Freddie looks at Jane. "Are you okay with this? It's just, watching Galaxy Wars in a movie theater isn't as fun unless in a group."

Jane smiles. "Certainly can't say 'no' to that face." With that, she kisses him on the lips but something causes her to rear back in pain. "Ow!"

"Are you okay?" Freddie asked worriedly as Gabe and Millie looked on with grave concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Jane states. "You've seriously got the worst case of static electricity."

"Yeah, I should probably get that checked." Freddie nervously laughs. "I'll see you tonight?"

"You bet." Jane said. As she walks away, she rubs her bottom lip.

Gabe and Millie walk over to Freddie. "What was that?"

"I-I don't know. It just... happens." Freddie answered.

"Hold on. That's happened before?" Millie asked.

"Not counting that time? Yeah." Freddie said. "Three times before."

Millie stares at him and has a few thoughts go through her mind.

•••

Pete walks into an old 50s-style diner that looks like it's seen much better days. He looks around and sees a man sitting at a booth who was wearing a dark blue baseball cap on his head.

Pete walks over to the booth and faces the man. He was drinking a cup of black coffee.

"How's the coffee?" Pete asked the man.

The man takes a sip and grimaces as he speaks with a thick Russian accent. "I wouldn't use it to unclog my toilet."

Pete sat down in front of him. "Do you have it?"

"Getting down to business, are we?" The man replied. "In my country, we would consider that rude."

"And in my country, we consider it rude to kidnap, torture, and murder people. It's a tad frowned upon." Pete stated. "Do you have it?"

The man holds out his left hand to show a flash drive in his palm. "The files regarding Project Archimedes as you requested."

Pete goes to take it but the man pulls his hand away. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Have you forgotten protocol? You never accept this kind of sensitive material in a public setting." The man told him. "This meeting was to assure you that I have what you need."

Pete nods. "Of course. My apologies."

"You've grown careless. What would cause a former agent of your caliber to lose focus?" The man asked until he realized something. "She must be beautiful."

Pete stares at him "Why does that matter?"

"Take it from experience, comrade, women have been the downfall of all great men." The man replied. "Why is this girl so special?"

Pete stares at him. "That's for me to know. Right now, I'm focusing on making sure she and her nephew don't end up in the crosshairs of Division 6."

The man gets up from his seat and shakes his hand. "Meet me at the Fisher King Motel. I will give you what you need then."

"Thank you, Douglas." Pete replied.

Douglas walks out of the diner, leaving Pete to pensively look ahead, thinking of his predicament.

•••

That afternoon, Gabe and Millie sat in the warehouse hideout in what normally would be the training area but Freddie was nowhere in sight. They both sat on a couch with Millie studying from an organic chemistry book while Gabe was repairing the gauntlet with the computing device on it.

They sat in silence as Gabe's phone vibrated on the table in front of them. Gabe just sighs as it continues to vibrate. Millie looks up from her studies and stares at Gabe. "Aren't you going to answer that?"

"Let it go to voicemail." Gabe said without looking up from his work. "I know who it is."

Millie glares at him. "That better not be Lucy. If you even think about playing phone tag with her, I will-"

"Ease up on the impassioned speech, Mills," Gabe replied as he looked up. "It's my mom."

Millie remained silent until she spoke up. "I thought you weren't going to ignore your sick mother anymore."

Gabe stares at her "Freddie told you?"

"Yeah, and I think you're being a complete jerk for doing that." Millie said bluntly.

"Well don't hold back, tell me how you REALLY feel." Gabe jokes.

"I'm serious, Gabe. Your mom is at death's door and you're giving her the runaround." Millie retorts.

"I talked to her." Gabe told her. "She keeps asking me if I'm coming to see her but I keep telling her I'm busy, promising her that I'll see her soon."

Millie rubs her forehead. "For being a genius, you have got to be the most clueless boy I've ever met. She doesn't just want to talk. She wants to see you while she still can."

"And I will but, in case you haven't noticed, I've been busy helping our mutual superhero friend." Gabe said.

"'I've been busy.' You know who you sounded like when you said that?" Millie asked. "Your dad."

Gabe was about to say something but stops himself and sighs. "That's a low blow, you know that?"

"I'm sorry but it needed to be said. Why don't you want to see her?" Millie asked.

Gabe looks at her. "I don't think I can. I can't see her like that. She- When I talked to her this morning, she sounded… she sounded small and it scares me that this surgery won't matter." Tears begin to fall as Millie puts her hand on his knee and goes to clasp his hand. "You know, the moments when she was kinda somber, she used to tell me it was us against the world. I-I can't see her- I can't see her because-"

"Because then it's real." Millie said softly. "I've been there. At my mom's funeral, it didn't feel real to me. I thought it was all a game and she was going to come out and say everything was going to be okay. It wasn't until I saw her... I touched her- She was SO cold. That's when I realized it was real."

Gabe places his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Millie wipes the tears from her eyes. "You need to see her just to shake yourself out of your apathy because if not, you're gonna end up becoming your father." Gabe stares at her as that statement hits close to home. "I would give anything to get a moment to talk to my mom again, so you should go see your mom while you still can."

Gabe smiles "I will. Thanks."

Millie glances at the basement door. "Do you know what's up with Freddie?"

"Besides becoming the latest target of the paparazzi? Not sure." Gabe said. "Something else is bugging him. But we should wait before we tell Cassie."

"Tell me what?"

Gabe and Millie jump back in surprise as they see Cassie standing behind them inside the warehouse. She had changed clothes and was now wearing a long-sleeved dark green top with dark blue jeans and black high-heeled ankle boots. Still rocking her trademark tan leather jacket and her blond hair was down in soft curls.

"Dude! Don't do that!" Gabe said, startled. "I don't think my heart can take your ninja tactics."

"I know, I don't think we even heard you come in." Millie said with a nervous laugh.

"That's the point of being stealthy but you didn't answer my question. What do you need to tell me?" Cassie exclaimed as she looked around. "Where's Freddie?"

"In the inner sanctum." Gabe said. "He took a few punching bags down there with him."

Cassie stares at the two and sighs. "What happened?"

Millie and Gabe glance at each other. "W-what makes you think something's wrong?"

Cassie folds her arms over her chest. "Well, you two are dodging my questions which means something happened to him that you three don't want me to know about. The two of you practically look as thick as thieves."

"Man, you're good." Gabe stated.

"I know." Cassie said with a mischievous smile. "Now spill, what happened to my nephew?"

The pair stared at each other and saw they didn't have much choice but to tell Cassie.

•••

Freddie wore a tight white short-sleeved T-shirt with gray sweatpants and hand wrap on his fists. He was hitting a punching bag chained to the ceiling of the basement hideout. It was in a more extended room away from the expensive tech equipment Gabe had 'borrowed' from Morgan Innovations. The room was lit by a few lights and it looked like a training area. Cassie had decided to take their training into their hideout where their sessions can't be heard.

Freddie was delivering light but quick punches to the bag which began to become harder as his mind began to race. Heard thoughts that he wished would leave but wouldn't.

"You really never kissed anyone?"

"Nope."

He punches the bag harder as the thoughts block out everything.

"I was just gonna say-"

"That we should kiss?"

"Just so both of us can get it over with?"

"Just to get it over with."

As his and Sam's first kiss played in his mind, Freddie hit the bag even harder. Each punch causes the bag to vibrate with each blow.

"Hey, I hate you."

"Hate you too."

With one strong punch, Freddie knocks the bag off its chain and sends it hurling at the wall. The sand in the bag spews from it as it hits the wall, landing on the other side.

Freddie breathes hard as he wipes sweat on his brow. He walks over to a spot on the floor at two other intact punching bags on the floor. He grabs one then effortlessly lifts it and puts it on the chain. He proceeds to punch the new bag.

"Tough day?"

Freddie looks behind him at the entrance and finds Cassie standing at the door then goes back to lightly punching the new bag.

"I take it that they told you." Freddie asked as he continued to hit the bag.

"They gave me the cliff notes version of events but I pretty much got the gist of it," Cassie said as she walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Fifty thousand dollars. Can you believe that?" Freddie said with annoyance in his tone of voice. "Someone is willing to pay fifty grand to get Pulse on tape."

"Gabe told me this contest is being run by a tabloid news site run by a guy who makes Harvey Levin look like Walter Cronkite." Cassie replied.

"Who is willing to pay top dollar to get footage of me? What is the point?" Freddie spat. "I won't be able to do my work without a bunch of yahoos chasing me with a camera. How am I going to catch those thieves with everyone gunning for me?" Before he could unleash another volley of punches, Cassie stands in front of the bag. "What are you doing?"

"This whole 'becoming the next amateur paparazzi target' thing isn't the only thing that's bothering you, is it?" Cassie stated and just before he could hit it again "Hey! These bags aren't cheap, kiddo. Gabe and I can't afford you having a super-powered temper tantrum."

Freddie groans and backs away from the bag. "Tomorrow, it'll be four years since..."

"Since what?" Cassie asked.

"You're gonna think this sounds stupid." Freddie lets out a deep breath. "Since my first kiss." Cassie lets out an amused gasp. "See, I knew it sounded stupid!"

"No, I am not laughing at that. I swear." Cassie retorts, still a bit amused. "I just didn't peg you for being sentimental. The girl must've been special."

"Yeah. She was." Freddie said as he began to remove the tape from his hands.

"It was Princess Puckett, wasn't it?" Cassie asks as Freddie turns to her and grins. "What?"

"I used to call her that." Freddie said with a smile on his face. "It WAS Sam. We were each other's first kiss."

"That's the sweetest thing I have ever heard." Cassie smiled at Freddie. "And you're still in love with her?"

Freddie sighs. "Wouldn't matter if I was. I don't think she feels the same way."

"Wouldn't hurt to find out. Could help you decide if you should continue seeing Jane." Cassie replied as Freddie stared at her questioningly. "Jane cares about you but it isn't fair to string her along if you don't feel the same."

Freddie stares at her. "Would it be a bad idea to see her tonight? Jane and I are going on a double date with Gabe and Lucy. We're going to see the original version of Galaxy Wars."

"Wow, look at you, trying to have a normal social life." Cassie stated. "I mean, there's no sense you spending ALL your free-time fighting crime."

Freddie smiled. "So you're cool with me taking the night off?"

"Kiddo, I wholeheartedly encourage it. The better question is are you cool with it?" Cassie stated.

"I don't know. What if those thieves steal from Webb Pharm again?" Freddie asked.

Cassie raises an eyebrow. "You do know you aren't Batman, right? You are allowed a life every once in a while." Freddie laughs at this. "Go out and be a normal teenager. And don't worry about being chased by a bunch of TMZ wannabes. I'll take care of it."

"What are you going to do? Hold the guy running the contest by his ankles from a high rise until he calls it off?" Freddie asked.

"Please, I am far more subtle than that." Cassie told her nephew. "But if my original plan doesn't work, that's Plan B."

Freddie grins, shaking his head as he goes to leave. "Guess I'd better get ready for my date."

"Wait a second!" Cassie called out as Freddie turned to face her. She points at the destroyed punching bag. "You are going to clean up your mess before you go anywhere. Superhero or not - you make a mess, you clean it."

Freddie looks annoyed at his aunt.

•••

Inside an old abandoned factory, Liv and Gavin sat on a couch. They were playing cards with a bald man in his late thirties with an athletic build. Might have served in the military but looks like he could be at home under the hood of a car.

"Got any threes?" Liv asked the bald man.

The man relents and hands her two of his cards. "Still trying to figure out how you do that, Blondie."

"It's easy. I'm psychic." Liv joked.

"If you were SO psychic, why didn't you see Pulse coming?" Gavin asked in a taunting manner.

"I'm only psychic when it comes to 'Go Fish'," Liv stated. "And with that let me say... I won!"

The two men look disappointed. "That is the fifth time!" Gavin yelled.

"Like I said, psychic." Liv jokes. "Play again?"

•••

A woman sits at the bedside of a sickly and frail thirteen-year-old boy who had dark brown hair whose skin was jaundiced and he looked puffy. The woman had long light brown hair and appeared to be in her early forties. This was the woman behind the Pin Up mask.

"Mom, it hurts." The boy said weakly as his mother held his hand.

"I know, sweetheart, but I promise you're going to feel better." The mother told her son.

The boy smiled weakly as a man with short light brown hair stood on the other side of the boy's bed. He was tall whose stature made him a bit intimidating but he smiled warmly at the boy. This was the man underneath the King's mask.

"Billy, I'm going to give you an injection that's going to take some of the pain away." The man told him.

"Is it going to help?" Billy asked. "I'm going to die, aren't I?"

"No. No, you're not." The man told Billy. "I give you my word you're gonna make it through this. You trust me, don't you bud?" Billy nods as he smiles at him. "Good."

With that, the father injects Billy with the chemical. He seems to know what he's doing. As if he had medical training of some kind. As the man finishes the procedure, Billy slowly drifts off to sleep. The couple walks a bit away from the boy.

"That'll buy us more time until the next shipment." The father said.

"He's getting worse, Clive. Billy might not last much longer." The mother said with tears in her eyes.

The father, Clive hugs her "It's going to be okay, Tara. We're going to save our boy. I give you my word."

"We're only delaying the inevitable. He needs a transplant soon." Tara replied as she wipes the tears in her eyes.

"I know. I know. And I have a plan." Clive told her as he looks at the front of a newspaper and hands it to Tara. "Tonight, we're going to make one more run but you're going to sit this one out."

"Okay, I'll stay. But be careful." Tara told her husband.

Clive strides over to Gavin, Liv, and the bald man who were playing cards but stops as they look at him. "Time to go. Is everything ready, Luke?" Clive asked the bald man.

"Yep. Ride's tank is full and the rifles are loaded." Luke, the bald man said.

"Okay, get your gear on. We're leaving after dark." Clive told the group.

The three get up from their seats and walk over to a table full of items. Liv puts on the Babydoll mask as Gavin puts on the Sack mask over his face. Luke grabs the Sheep mask and places it over his face. Gavin checks his rifle as Lucas helps him with it while Liv puts on her hooded sweatshirt.

Clive puts on the King mask over his head and sees the sun was gone and is now officially night.

"Are we ready?" Clive asked. He sees that the three were dressed in their outfits. "Good. Now remember that whatever happens and whatever we do, we're doing this for Billy."

"For Billy." Liv nods as the others agree.

Luke gets into the driver's seat as Gavin opens a garage door. They all quickly get into the van and the vehicle speeds off.

Tara looks at her sleeping son and then at the newspaper Clive had given her. The story her husband had highlighted read 'Dr. Roland Erskine: Renowned Surgeon Arrives in NYC'. She seemed nervous about what was going to happen next.

•••

Pete arrives at the parking lot of the Fisher King Motel. It was a ratty old-looking motel that might be a great place for a hooker to take a John. He walks over to the door of room 105 and knocks on the door.

The door opens to reveal Douglas standing at the door. "You have trouble finding the place?" He asked with an amused smirk.

"No. I just asked a very nice lady of the evening. She was more than happy to show me, for the right price." Pete joked. "May I come in?"

Douglas invites Pete inside the motel room. "Before I give you the flash drive, I have a few more questions."

"More hoops I have to jump through?" Pete asked.

"After the intense training you endured as a child, you should be used to being tested." Douglas replied.

Pete sighed. "What do you need to know?"

"Has Leonard contacted you recently?" Douglas asked.

"I spoke to him... a few days ago." Pete told him.

"Do you know where he is?" Douglas inquiries.

"No, he's so off the grid that he doesn't even know where he is," Pete replied which makes Douglas laugh.

"How is he able to contact you?" Douglas asked.

"Old Division 6 skills. I believe he was the man who perfected the technique." Pete stated. He looks around the room. Something about Douglas' demeanor worried Pete. "Is the question-answer portion of this test over?"

There was a knock at the door as Douglas walks over and opens the door. "Yes, I believe it is." Standing at the door were two burly-looking men in dark suits.

Pete scowls at Douglas. "I should've figured you were playing me."

"My apologies, comrade, but Frost knows my price." Douglas stated with an evil smile as the men walked inside. "He's looking forward to seeing you again."

Pete wastes no time and grabs a lamp on the TV stand and bashes one of the goons in the head with it, stunning him. The other goon charges at Pete and pins him to the wall. Pete grabs the back of his neck which causes the goon to wail in pain. The back of the goon's neck smoldered and he fell to his knees. Pete grabs his neck and snaps his neck violently.

Douglas stood there with his eyes widened in horror as the stunned goon began to come to. "Stop him!"

The goon stares at his dead ally and looks at Pete whose hands were smoking. He charges at Pete but Pete slides past him while clipping his leg to take him down.

Pete looks at Douglas who takes out the flash drive. "You wish to have this? I will give it to you, so long as you tell us where Leonard is hiding."

Pete simply punches Douglas in the face, knocking him out. "Or I could do that." He proceeds to take the flash drive from his left hand. The goon begins to get to his feet and Pete runs out the door.

Douglas regains his bearings and stares at the goon. "Don't just stand there and gawk at me! Go after him!"

The goon began to pursue Pete while Douglas followed him.

•••

"Wonder what he's up to?"

Millie and Cassie were hanging out at Cassie's apartment. They were sitting outside on the fire escape next to the window in Cassie's living room.

"Who?" Cassie asked curiously.

Millie smacks Cassie playfully on the shoulder. "Don't play coy. Pete. The international man of mystery."

"Oh, him." Cassie said, playing clueless. "I'm not sure. Pete's- I can't get read on him. Usually, I can look at someone and know their motivations. What makes them tick? Pete's... He's an enigma."

"We girls do love the mysterious stranger types, don't we?" Millie joked.

"Is that why you like Gabe?" Cassie asked as Millie glared at her. "Come on, I see the way you look at him. You guys have a history-"

"One where my mother died inside his family's mansion under circumstances that not even my dad could figure out." Millie replied. "I care about him but he'll always be the boy who found my mother's body at the bottom of the stairs."

Cassie gives her a sympathetic glance as they hear a car pull up to the front of Cassie's apartment. The girls look over and see Victor and Danny get out of the car. Danny looks up and sees Cassie who turns away from his gaze. The two detectives make their way inside the building.

"Okay, what was that?" Millie asked.

"What was what?" Cassie asked until she realized something. "Don't you dare say it!"

"What's wrong with it? You and Danny would make such a cute couple." Millie replied as Cassie goes back into her apartment with Millie in tow.

"There is one tiny detail you're overlooking, Millicent." Cassie replied.

"What's that?" Millie asked.

"Oh, I don't know. How about the tiny fact that I don't like him all that much." Cassie said bluntly. "He's an uptight jerk who wouldn't know fun if it bit him in the-"

"Then why do you visit the precinct almost regularly?" Millie asked.

"Because I am scouting the authorities so I can be the first one to warn Freddie if the police are getting close to busting him." Cassie told her which caused Millie to roll her eyes.

"And denial is just a river in Egypt." Millie joked.

There was a knock at the door. "Remember the plan, I will do most of the talking." Cassie said and Millie nodded. She walks over to the door to her apartment and opens it. "Detectives, what a nice surprise."

"It would be if it weren't for the fact that you called us." Danny said dryly.

Cassie sighs ."It's called making polite conversation. Would've thought they taught you manners on your planet."

Danny shakes his head as he and Victor walk inside. "You said you found something about Pulse."

"I did. Do you guys know about the 'Hunt for Pulse' contest?" Cassie asked the men.

The pair looks perplexed. "What are you talking about?" Victor asked.

"Okay, I'm gonna take that as a 'no'." Cassie replies as she pulls out her Pearphone, taps on a few keys for her passcode, swipes a bit on the screen, and shows them a website. "It's a contest the tabloid news site 'The Spotlight' is holding. They say that the first person to get a crystal clear video of Pulse wins a cash prize of fifty thousand dollars."

"Wait, fifty thousand?" Danny asked.

"I found that out this morning. A bunch of kids at school are going to attempt this." Millie said.

"This could be a disaster waiting to happen." Victor said. "People are going to end putting themselves in dangerous situations just to get Pulse on tape."

"This contest could become a threat to public safety." Danny stated.

"People will do stupid things for fame and glory. The internet is full of desperate people looking to cash in on their fifteen minutes." Cassie said as she puts away her phone.

"Wouldn't that count your nephew as one of those kinds of people?" Danny quips but quickly regrets saying that as Cassie gives him a look that could probably scare Beetlejuice out of his skin.

"The point is that this could jeopardize your case, right?" Cassie said. "If someone catches Pulse, won't this make your department look bad?"

"That is true." Victor agreed. "I say we talk to this guy who is running the site in the morning and get him to pull the plug on this."

"Let's run this by the captain first." Danny said to his partner as he looks over Cassie "Thanks for telling us about this."

"No need. Glad I could be of help." Cassie said.

"Okay, Millie, grab your things and we'll let you girls say good night. See you later, Cassie." Victor said as the two men walked out the door.

"Count on it." Cassie said as they close the door. She slowly opens the door and watches them walk down the hall. Seeing that they are gone, Cassie lets out a sigh of relief and closes the door.

"I still don't know how you do that without jumping out of your skin?" Millie said anxiously.

"Years of practice, sweetie." Cassie simply said. "Now you get downstairs before your dad gets suspicious."

Millie grabs her bag and gives Cassie a quick hug. "See ya tomorrow! Bye."

"Bye." Cassie said with a laugh as she watched Millie leave the apartment.

•••

Pete ran down a street as he tried to outrun Ivan and his goon. He reaches a warehouse filled with barrels of unknown chemicals. He uncaps one of the barrels and smells the odor.

He turns around at a noise and sees Douglas and the remaining goon approach. The goon charges at Pete and the two men exchange a series of hard punches and a few kicks until the goon gains the upper hand by punching Pete hard across the face which knocks him to the ground.

Pete sees something that causes him to smile weakly as he slowly gets to his feet.

"You don't give up, do you?" Douglas said snidely. "This frivolous act of defiance has reached its end. Where is Leonard Benson?"

Pete manages to deliver a swift kick to the open barrel which gets knocked over and its contents spill all over Douglas and the goon.

"Let me answer that question for you." Pete said as a small fire engulfs his hand.

The open barrel rolls toward the men as Ivan sees all the barrels read 'Caution: Flammable'

"NO!" Douglas yelled as Pete threw a fireball at the liquid. The flames quickly consume the men as Pete walks away but looks back at them before he makes a swift exit as all the barrels catch fire.

Pete was far away from the scene to watch the warehouse explode which is now covered in flames. "Hope the money was worth it, comrade." He pulls out the flash drive and stares at it then walks away.

•••

At the Cinema Revue, a crowd of individuals dressed in costumes waited outside in line to get inside. Two people waiting further back in line were Freddie and Gabe. Freddie was wearing a dark jacket over a dark blue shirt and jeans but still the same shoes while Gabe wore a dark brown crew neck shirt with blue jeans.

"Can you believe this line?" Gabe asked. "It looks like a Galaxy Wars convention threw up."

"I wouldn't make jokes about that. War-Heads are the most hardcore fans out there. Most of us take things very seriously." Freddie said as gave him a look.

"War-Heads? Really?" Gabe asked with a perplexed look on his face.

Someone taps Freddie on the shoulder which causes Freddie to turn around to find Jane standing behind him. She is wearing a slinky black leather catsuit with thigh-high combat boots and matching gloves. Her hair was pulled back in a long ponytail that was braided and she had a jet-black toy phaser strapped to her waist.

Gabe stares at Jane and whispers to Freddie. "Dude, can I trade you?"

Freddie elbows him in the ribs as he turns to Jane. "Wow, you're-"

"Kailay Veet. Intergalactic bounty hunter extraordinaire." Jane stated, holding up her phaser.

"And one of the biggest bad guys in Galaxy Wars." Freddie stated. "She helped the Galactic Empire capture members of the Rebellion."

"She's more morally gray. Besides, hasn't anyone told you? Being bad is so much more fun." Jane said playfully.

"You had this just lying around?" Gabe asked, referring to her outfit.

"Girl's always gotta have a leather outfit." Jane said as she put away her phaser. "Keeps things interesting."

Freddie looks behind him and sees someone coming toward Gabe. "You still wanna trade?"

Gabe turns around and finds Lucy walking over to them. Lucy was dressed as Princess Oblangata wearing the Robe of Curiosity. She smiles as she hugs Gabe.

"What do you think?" Lucy asked playfully.

"That I need to watch this movie more often." Gabe replied.

Lucy glances over at Jane and sees her outfit. "Kailay Veet?"

"Yeah... Your Highness." Jane quipped.

"Not bad. I mostly see cosplayers dress up as Skynoughts or Nug Nug. Very impressive." Lucy replied.

"Thanks." Jane said.

"Jane, this is Gabe's lady friend Lucy Shepard. Lucy, this is Jane Louis." Freddie introduced.

"Nice to meet you." Lucy said cheerfully.

"Ditto." Jane simply said. Freddie senses Jane might be upset.

"Freddie?"

Freddie turns around and sees a familiar face. "Brad?"

It was indeed Brad, iCarly's former intern and a close friend of Freddie's. He seems to have built up some muscle as he looked more broad-shouldered and was a few inches taller than the last time Freddie saw him. He had a high-tech digital camera in his hands.

"Hey." Brad said as the two boys shook hands which turned into a bro hug.

"How's it going?" Freddie asked

"Good. School's been pretty tough." Brad told his friend.

"I heard you got into NYU. That's awesome." Freddie said.

"Thanks, and you got into City Tech, right?" Brad asked.

"I got a full scholarship." Freddie said as he looked back at the others. "Brad, this is my roommate and new bud Gabe Morgan. Gabe, this is Brad Warner. He's a good friend as well as the second intern for us on iCarly."

"Who was the first?" Lucy asked.

"We don't talk about him." Freddie asked quickly to not mention Cort, the good-looking but dangerously stupid intern of the web show.

"Good to meet ya." Gabe replied as he extended his hand to shake Brad's.

"Wait. Morgan? You're not the same Gabe Morgan who's the son of tech master David Morgan?" Brad asked.

"The very same." Gabe said sheepishly.

"These are our dates, Lucy Shepard and Jane Louis." Freddie told him.

"So I'm going to guess that the blond Princess is your date, Freddie." Brad guessed as Jane looked down.

"No, the brunette bounty hunter is my date." Freddie explained as he puts his arm around Jane. Jane inches away from him a bit.

"I thought you preferred blonds." Brad joked.

"I date one blond-headed demon and I suddenly prefer blonds." Freddie joked as he laughed nervously and he quickly changed the subject. "So, what are you doing here? You gonna see the movie?"

"Nah, I'm scoping out the area." Brad told him. "I heard some people have seen Pulse patrolling this part of town."

Freddie and Gabe look taken aback by this news. "Wait, are you trying to win that 'Hunt for Pulse' contest?" Freddie asked.

"It's fifty thousand dollars. Who could pass that up?" Brad stated with excitement. "I bet you're probably all over it, right Freddie?"

"Uh, actually I've been busy. You know, with school work." Freddie stated.

"Yeah, he and Gabe are studying practically every night." Jane stated.

"I bet these guys might graduate early." Lucy retorts.

Freddie and Gabe laugh nervously as they give each a look of concern.

"Well, I'll let you guys continue with your date. You guys have a good night." Brad said as he began to walk off.

"Just be careful out there. It's a rough neighborhood." Freddie warned his friend. Brad gives him a strange look as do Jane and Lucy. "Or so I've heard."

"I'll be careful." Brad told him.

Freddie watches his friend leave as Gabe nudges him. "This bad?"

"Very." Freddie said to him.

•••

Millie was sitting in the backseat of Victor's car as he drove and Danny sat in the passenger's seat. Millie receives a text message and she pulls out her Pearphone to read it. It was from Freddie and it says, 'Meet us at the hideout in the morning. We have a problem.'

"Who's that?" Victor asked as a stunned Millie looked up.

"Oh, it's Freddie. Just wanted to make sure I was okay." Millie said.

"Then why do you look like he just told you he accidentally ran over your dog?" Danny inquired.

"No reason." Millie said, trying to play it off.

"The kid has been very protective of you." Victor stated.

"No more so than you have been since... ever." Millie replied.

This makes Danny laugh and Victor smirk at his daughter's remark.

Millie looks out the window and then at Danny. "So Danny, can I ask you some questions?"

Danny looks back at her "What do you want to know?"

"Um, what's your family like? Your parents? Any brothers or sisters?" Millie asked with Victor looking at her through the rearview mirror.

"I'm an only child. My mom still works as a registered nurse." Danny told her which made Millie smile. "She works in a hospital back in Chicago."

"Cool." Millie said. "What about your dad?"

After a long pause, Danny says "He's not in the picture. He abandoned us a long time ago. My mom raised me by herself with the help of my grandfather."

"Oh, sorry." Millie said, slightly embarrassed for bringing it up.

"No, it's okay. I've dealt with it. Realized from an early age that I didn't need him." Danny stated. "Who your parents are doesn't make you who you are. It's the choices you make."

"Hm, sage words." Millie simply said as Victor makes a face. "I got one more question."

"Millie." Victor said sternly.

"Victor, it's okay. She just wants to get to know her dad's partner." Danny said as he grabbed a cup of coffee from the cup holder. "Fire away, Millie."

"Okay... Do you think Cassie's hot?" Millie asked, which caused Danny to choke on his coffee. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Danny coughed. "The scalding coffee just went down the wrong pipe."

"I think you almost killed my partner, Millicent." Victor joked.

"I was just curious. I mean, you're both single. She's pretty and you're not too bad to look at yourself, Detective." Millie retorts.

"She's also a brash and obnoxious show-off. So yeah, she's hot... a hot mess." Danny told her as he looked at her and Victor. "I understand Cassie's your friend but that's just my opinion."

"You are entitled to it." Millie said but the next statement she says in a hushed tone. "Even though you're wrong."

"Excuse me?" Danny asked.

Suddenly, a white van zooms in and clips their car as it was driving in an intersection. The two vehicles come to a halt as a police cruiser enters the scene. The two officers step out of the vehicle and pull out their guns.

"Exit the vehicle and put your hands in the air!" One of the officers ordered.

Victor looks back at his daughter who was shell-shocked over the crash. She gives him a quick nod to assure him she was okay. He glances at Danny who silently lets him know he was also doing fine.

Victor gets out of the car and pulls out his badge. "What's going on?" He asked the officers.

"Detective Flores, we caught these guys stealing from a delivery truck from Webb Pharmaceuticals. We've been chasing them for about four blocks until..." The other officer told him. They worked at Victor and Danny's precinct. "They got the driver in there with them as a hostage."

Danny looks back and checks on Millie. "You all right?"

Millie nods as she looks out the window and sees the driver of the vehicle was wearing a sheep mask and could've sworn there was someone in the car wearing a Babydoll mask who seemed to be staring at Millie. Almost like she recognizes Millie.

The van's side door opens and Clive comes out with the driver, holding a gun to his head. "Let us go or I blow his brains out!" Clive barked.

Millie proceeds to pull out her cell phone and starts taking video of the scene as a crowd of people gathered around to observe the scene from the sidewalk.

"I don't want to do this!" Clive yelled. "I just want to save him!"

"Calm down." Victor said with a calm tone. Danny gets out of the car as he and Victor take out their service weapons. "We can end this peacefully if you surrender. Drop the gun!"

Clive looks at the man with genuine remorse in his voice. "I'm sorry."

Suddenly, he shoots the driver in the head and drops to the ground which causes Millie to scream which she covered with her hands. The police fire a few shots but the van zooms off and they speed away.

"Go after them!" Victor ordered. "We'll take care of this!"

The officers nod and they go after the van. Danny gets on his phone and calls for emergency services.

Millie steps out of the car and watches the cruiser speed away, still in shock after what happened. Victor rushes over and checks on his daughter. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Millie said softly as she looked down at the dead man lying on the ground and let out a low gasp.

Victor pulls her close and hugs her. "It's okay. It's okay. They're gonna catch those people."

Millie looks at the phone she still held in her hand. "Yeah. I know they will."

•••

Freddie, Gabe, and their dates exit the movie along with the large crowd of people that went to see the movie. "I've only seen that movie twice, someone explain to me how that thing was able to blow a planet?" Gabe asked, appearing confused.

"I don't know." Lucy said. "Science."

"Guess that's why it's called Science Fiction." Gabe stated. "Give me guys in tights any day." The trio stares at him oddly. "That fight crime."

"And here I thought I was awkward." Freddie joked which caused Gabe to hit him in the shoulder. Jane seemed distracted which Freddie noticed. "Jane, you okay?"

Jane snaps out of her thought and looks up at him. "What? Oh, nothing. I'm fine."

"Really, because you were quiet for the entire movie." Freddie stated.

"I think you're sorta supposed to be quiet during a movie." Jane said, sounding oddly bitter.

Freddie looks confused as Gabe knows the demeanor Jane was exhibiting. Gabe turns and looks at Lucy. "Say, why don't we go somewhere quieter."

"This the part where we're supposed to give them a moment alone because they're about to fight?" Lucy asked frankly. She knew what was going on as well.

"Yes, but I wanted to avoid saying that." Gabe said as he pulled her off.

Freddie calmly starts to confront Jane. "What's going on? I thought we were having a good time?"

"We were." Jane said, dismissively.

"Could've fooled me." Freddie stated, mildly transparent.

"Tell me something... am I your girlfriend?" Jane asked in a frank manner.

"Sure, we are dating, right?" Freddie stated but this statement causes her to glare at him. He flinches as he realizes he shouldn't have said that. "I said the wrong thing, didn't I?"

"Bingo." Jane simply said, anger in her voice. "I'll see you tomorrow... maybe."

Before she leaves, Freddie grabs her by the arm. "Jane, please. Tell me what I did wrong."

"When we were talking to your friend earlier, not once did you say 'this is my girlfriend'. Not once." Jane spat. "I know this sounds shallow but I'm starting to wonder if this relationship even has a point."

"Jane, come on." Freddie said.

"There's also that pesky fact that I hardly ever see you. You're either studying or helping your aunt." Jane explained with frustration in her voice. "I've been playing the supportive partner in this but I'm wondering what is SO important that you'd rather do that than spend time with me?"

Freddie looks down. He didn't have an answer. Not one he could give without revealing his secret identity. "It's complicated."

Jane rolls her eyes at the common phrase. "You're seriously fishing out THAT tired cliché?"

"What do you want me to say?" Freddie asked in desperation.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Jane shouted. She composed herself when she realized she was causing a scene. "I'm sorry but… I-I think I should give you time to work stuff out. Right now... we need to not see each other for a while."

"Jane..." Freddie began but she put her hand up to stop his impassioned speech before it began.

"Please, don't." Jane said as she turned and walked away.

Freddie watches as she walks off as Gabe and Lucy walk over to him.

"What happened?" Lucy asked.

"She- Jane dumped me." Freddie stated, thunderstruck.

"Man, this has not been your week, has it?" Gabe frankly said which caused Freddie to give Gabe the look of death. "I'm not helping, am I?"

"Not really." Freddie said bluntly. He looks over at Gabe and stares at his jacket when suddenly Gabe's phone rings. "You might want to take that."

Gabe shakes his head as he checks the caller ID then answers. "Millie, what's up?" Gabe listens to the conversation and looks stunned. "Oh. Oh, man. We'll see you in the morning. Okay, bye."

"Is everything okay?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah. She just wanted to tell me something. Not a big thing." Gabe said and Lucy just shrugs.

Freddie knew better as he quietly asked. "What's going on?"

"Something happened." Gabe told his friend and Freddie read the look on his friend's face. It wasn't good.

•••

The following morning, Pete lies on a bed in a different motel in Trenton. He was shirtless but had his lower abdomen bandaged up. He had a few cuts and welts on his face.

His fight from the night before left more damage on him than he thought.

Pete hears a sound outside his window and he slowly gets out of bed to look out the window. He had checked into a motel a few blocks away from the exploded warehouse where he dispatched former friend Ivan. There were emergency vehicles and news vans all around the area.

His cell phone rings and Pete answers it. "Yeah? Don't worry, I got the files. But it cost me." After a moment of silence, he spoke. "He tried to double-cross me. Had to get rid of him." Another pause. "How do you think? Look, it's done. I'll guard it with my life. I promise."

Pete hangs up and stares out the window. He needed to get back to New York as soon as possible.

•••

Cassie was sitting with Millie in the hideout. Millie appeared very upset and Cassie had a comforting hand on her shoulder. Millie was wearing a pale pink short-sleeved top with black skinny jeans and black flats while Cassie wore a white button-up blouse with dark boot-cut blue jeans and high-heeled boots. Cassie had a knife holster with a hunting knife inside strapped to her leg.

All of a sudden, the door opens and closes as Freddie and Gabe make their way down the stairs. Freddie was wearing a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up at the elbow that was underneath a light brown coat with black jeans. Gabe was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a black button-up vest over it and black pants. The boys appear very concerned as they make their way towards the girls.

"Are you okay?" Freddie asked Millie.

"I'm fine." Millie said with a quiver in her voice.

"She's a little shaken up." Cassie told them.

"He just shot him." Millie said quietly.

"I'm sorry." Freddie said guiltily. Millie looks at him with a grin as if he had promised her he wouldn't say that. "Yeah, I forgot."

Millie looks at the boys. "So those were the thieves you've been trying to stop?"

"Yep." Gabe said.

"You're gonna stop 'em, right?" Millie said, looking at Freddie. "Before they hurt anyone else."

Freddie sighs. "I'll try."

"You said you caught the incident on your phone?" Gabe asked.

"Uh, yeah. I was able to get it all on tape." Millie said, pulling out her Pearphone. "Including..."

"Sweetie, we don't have to talk about that." Cassie said in a kind and gentle manner. "It's okay."

Millie nods as she hands Gabe her phone. "What are you going to do with it?"

"I'm gonna import the video into my computer and see if it's clear enough to get any information. License plate number. The make and model of the car. Something that'll help catch these people." Gabe said as he began to go to work.

"And if it's not, I'll clean up the footage a bit." Freddie said.

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Tech Wizard." Gabe quips dismissively which makes Freddie smirk and Millie smile a bit.

"What are these people stealing?" Millie asked.

"Hospital equipment. Drugs. Stuff that seemed a bit random but they've been robbing from the same company. Webb Pharmaceuticals." Cassie told her.

"Do you know what kind of stuff?" Millie asked.

"Gabe printed out a list of the items that were stolen from Webb." Freddie told her.

"We were hoping there'd be some kind of connection but apart from the company they were stolen from, no other real connection." Cassie stated.

An idea pops into Millie's mind. "Can I see?" The three stared at her perplexed. "Guys, I'm studying to be a nurse. I might be able to recognize the items on the list. Maybe figure out what they need this stuff for."

Cassie looks at the boys. "That's not a bad idea."

Freddie nods and grabs a few sheets of paper from the table. He hands them over to Millie so she can see. "Take a look."

Millie gives him a small smile as she reads from the papers.

"I got the video up." Gabe said which caught Cassie and Freddie's attention while Millie intently read the list. "It's a decent quality. Good job, Mills."

"Means I won't have to work my video editing magic on it?" Freddie asked.

"Not this time." Gabe simply said as they watched the video. "I got a license plate. I'll look at the DMV records and see who this van is registered to."

"Guys." Millie said, catching their attention. "I know what the connection is."

"What is it?" Cassie asked.

"All this stuff is meant to treat a specific condition." Millie said. "It's called hepatocellular carcinoma."

"What's that?" Freddie asked.

Millie sighs "In layman's terms, it's-"

"Liver cancer." Gabe replies softly which catches the gang's attention.

"How did you-" Millie began with astonishment in her voice.

"It's the reason my mom needs a liver transplant." Gabe stated with others exchanging glances at each other and then looking at Gabe. "Her years of alcohol abuse caused her to develop liver disease which advanced into HCC."

"That isn't the only way you can get it." Millie stated. "HCC can also be caused by a viral hepatitis infection. Mainly Hep B or C."

"How did you figure it out..." Freddie began.

"Hepatocellular carcinoma? Well, the supplies taken were parts for a standard life support system. These thieves are trying to keep someone alive. And one of the drugs that were stolen is called a percutaneous ethanol injection. It's a well-tolerated treatment for small solitary tumors and it achieves a 5-year survival rate of around 60% for patients with small HCC."

"If that's the case, why are these heists still taking place?" Cassie asked.

"Maybe the tumor has become too large for these treatments to have any success. Or this person requires the last resort." Millie said grimly. "Liver transplant."

Gabe spoke up. "If they killed that driver last night..."

"They might do just about anything to get a transplant for this person." Freddie replied.

The computer dings and Gabe looks at the monitor "I got a hit on who owns that van. It's registered to Lucas Young but the registration expired about two months ago."

"See if you can pull up anything of this guy." Cassie replied.

"Way ahead of ya, Mama Cass." Gabe says as pulls up his information and it shows that it was Luke, AKA Sheep Man. "Lucas Young is a war vet. Did two tours of duty, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Received a Purple Heart after being injured in a bombing that killed half his squad."

"Wait, that was the driver!" Millie exclaimed as the gang looked at her. "I didn't get a look at his face but he had to be the guy wearing the Sheep mask."

"I saw Sheep Man, too. I got a look at the thieves before one of them tried turning me into Swiss cheese." Freddie said as he read his information "A war vet? I'm surprised they didn't sic him on me instead of trying to shoot me."

"What would cause a decorated war veteran to become the getaway driver for a group of thieves?" Millie asked.

"Maybe he knows them personally." Freddie estimated. "If what Millie is saying is true, they're not trying to make a quick buck off this stuff."

"Can you pull up his last known address?" Cassie asked Gabe.

"Should be a snap." Gabe said as he typed madly on his computer. "Got it. His last known address was in an apartment in Queens."

"Print me out a copy, Loki." Cassie told him.

Freddie looks at his aunt. "You got a plan?"

"Gonna pay Mr. Young a house call." Cassie said as she put on her leather jacket.

"I don't think you should go alone." Freddie said concerned. "What if he's there and he tries something?"

"I'm more than capable of taking care of myself, Fredward." Cassie said smiling.

"Clearly." Freddie said with a smirk. "But these guys aren't above killing to keep from getting caught. I don't think I can handle it if something were to happen to you."

"Then come with me." Cassie said smiling as Freddie stared at her. "You guys don't have classes today and wouldn't mind having Pulse watching my back."

Freddie gives her a small smile then his eyes furrow.

"I know that look. Who's getting the transmission?" Gabe asked jokingly. Suddenly, Gabe's phone rings and he pulls it out but doesn't recognize the number. "Hello?"

"Hello? Is this Gabriel Morgan?" A voice asked.

"Um, yeah. Who's this?" Gabe asked, sounding a little annoyed.

"Oh terribly sorry. This is Dr. Roland Erskine. I'm going to be performing your mother's surgery." The doctor told him.

"Oh yeah. My mother told me about you. Is everything alright?" Gabe asked as worry came upon his face. "Is she-"

"No, she's all right. I wanted to inform you that we've gotten a donor liver and are going to prepare for surgery in a few hours." Dr. Erskine told him. "She wanted me to ask if you could make it down here."

"Oh. I'll be there as soon as I can." Gabe replied. "Has my father-"

"I'm afraid not. His legal advisor informed me this morning that he had some business to take care of in Los Angeles. He won't be back until tomorrow." Dr. Erskine replied.

A look of intense anger fell on Gabe's face which the gang saw. "I'm on my way." He hangs up and kicks the chair in front of him.

"Whoa!" Freddie exclaimed.

"What happened?" Millie asked with concern. "Is your mom okay?"

"She's fine. She's... She's going into surgery in a few hours and my father picked today to take a business trip." Gabe spat. "He has the nerve-"

"Calm down." Cassie said to him as he tried collecting himself. "Just go be with your mom."

"But what about busting these thieves?" Gabe asked. "Won't you guys need me?"

"Dude, we got it. You worry about your mom." Freddie said supportively.

"I'll go but I'm taking my Pearbook and find out anything about these guys while I wait for my mom to get out of surgery." Gabe said. "It'll take my mind off things while I'm there."

"Thanks, man." Freddie said.

Gabe grabs his computer and his bookbag, he goes to leave but when he stops halfway up the stairs.

"Gabe, what is it?" Millie asked.

Gabe looks back at his friends. "I don't think I can go alone."

Millie walks towards the stairs and looks up at him. "I'll go with you."

Gabe looks at her. "You sure? My mom wasn't exactly kind to your family. Are you up to see her?"

"Not really but you need a friend right now." Millie said. "And seeing as I'm the non-superhero and non-über female in the group, I'm pretty available." Gabe smiles as she looks back at Freddie and Cassie. "You guys be careful."

"We will." Cassie said.

"We'll drop by once we're done with our scouting mission." Freddie said.

"Thanks, guys." Gabe said as he and Millie left.

•••

Victor and Danny walk into an office building that was abuzz with activity. Several twenty-somethings running around, busily at work.

"I got Ginger Fox chasing after her publicist with a grilling fork."

"Shelby Marx is seen with a heartthrob from that TV teen vampire drama. He reached for a kiss but she put him in a headlock."

"I got Wade Collins getting pelted with rotten eggs after being spotted shopping in SoHo."

Victor looks at Danny "Glad to see this site has its priorities."

"Please, this is just the shallow end of internet gossip sites. You don't want to see how deep the scum goes." Danny replied. "I hope we can reason with this guy."

"Don't worry. I'm sure this guy isn't some irrational nutjob." Victor stated.

The two detectives round the corner and find a slightly pudgy bald man of average height in his early forties. He was yelling at a smaller young man in his late twenties who looked fresh out of college.

"Are you kidding me? E! already got this two weeks ago and Hollywood Unleashed did a 'Fall from Grace' expose last week." The man spat at the young man. "Todd, find me something useful, or else the next story your story will be printed on the back of a newsletter in a Chinese restaurant!"

"Yes sir, Mr. Montgomery." Todd said, walking off in fear. Todd accidentally bumps into Victor and Danny. "Sorry." The young man ran off in terror back to his desk.

"You treat all your employees like this?" Victor asked.

"What are you? The polite police?" Montgomery asked.

"Not exactly." Danny said as he and Victor pulled out their badges. "I'm Detective Parker. This is Detective Flores. We'd like to speak to you."

"Look, that car came out of nowhere and I only tapped it." Montgomery said in a panic.

"I'd suggest you not say something to incriminate yourself in a different crime we aren't aware of, Mr. Montgomery." Danny quipped.

"We're here to discuss another matter with you." Victor stated. "Is there someplace we can speak privately?"

"Let's step into my office, gentlemen." Mr. Montgomery said as he led them to his office. The detectives walk inside and Montgomery walks in but not before shutting the door behind him.

The office was large with several expensive pieces of office furniture inside including a large Oak desk, two cushioned chairs in front of the desk, and a huge red desk chair behind the desk. There was a name plaque on the desk that read 'Vincent Montgomery: Editor in Chief'

"Have a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?" Montgomery asked as he sat in his chair.

"No, we came to ask you a few questions," Victor replied.

"What about?" Montgomery asked.

"Your 'Hunt for Pulse' contest." Danny stated.

"Oh, it's an ingenious idea that I've come up with." Montgomery said proudly. "That superhero wannabe is gonna get me the greatest amount of site traffic anyone has ever had on the web."

"Are you aware that this contest could put the general public at risk?" Danny said sternly.

"What risk?" Montgomery asked. "I'm just simply looking to get my site more traffic."

"And it could lead to people going into dangerous places to get a shot of Pulse." Victor replied. "You might have a lawsuit on your hands."

"And my legal team has already drafted a few documents to keep me from becoming libel." Montgomery stated.

Victor and Danny look at each other with mutual disgust. "You are also undermining several pending police investigations?"

"Oh, you mean the accident atop a school library on the City Tech campus?" Montgomery asked, reading from a file on his desk. "Or that bust of the human trafficking ring of notorious Queen Pin known as Mother?

"And where exactly are you getting your information from?" Danny asked, mildly aghast.

"Please, in this century, nothing stays secret." Montgomery replied arrogance in his voice. "I think we're done here."

Victor glared at him "Sir, if you don't call off this contest, we'll-"

"What? Violate my civil rights? It's called freedom of the press and I'm allowed to do what I please with my site." Montgomery replied. "You can't touch me."

Danny and Victor were extremely annoyed by his arrogant behavior.

•••

Victor and Danny are back at the precinct, still upset about their meeting with Montgomery.

"Well, that was a complete waste of time." Danny said as he sat on his desk.

"He's right, you know." Victor said, also sitting at his desk. "If we were to come after him, he's got an army of lawyers waiting to sue the department. Could cost us our jobs."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Danny asked.

"We find Pulse before someone else does." Victor said frankly.

Danny nods as they get back to work. Danny stares at a piece of paper on his desk - it was the detailed hand-drawn picture of Cassie in her disguise who he dubbed 'The Woman in Black'. This picture was drawn by Danny himself. He stares at the picture and remembers something, the color of the mystery woman's eyes - they were blue, almost sapphire-like tone.

Danny grabs a blue pen and draws the color into her eyes. He looks back and has a feeling he should know who this is.

Captain Thompson walks over to the two with urgency. "Gentlemen, stop whatever it is you're working on right now. I need you for a separate case."

"What case?" Danny asked.

"You stumbled on it last night. Several robberies of delivery trucks from Webb Pharmaceuticals." Thompson stated.

"So, last night wasn't the first time that it's happened?" Victor asked.

"More like the tenth. We've been on this case for the last month and haven't made much headway." Thompson told them as he set down a large file. "I think a fresh pair of eyes might help."

"Got any leads?" Danny asked as he and Victor leafed through the file.

"Just a name, Clive Barrow." Thompson stated. "Unfortunately he and his family have gone off the grid. No one has been able to find them."

"Let's hope we can find this guy before anyone else gets hurt." Victor retorts.

The two detectives begin their investigation and flip to a page that reads 'Monarch Estates'

•••

Cassie and Freddie step out of Black Beauty and walk towards an apartment building on a busy street corner in Queens.

"This it?" Freddie asked.

"Yep. Monarch Estates." Cassie stated.

"An apartment building in Queens called the Monarch Estates?" Freddie said perplexed. "Place doesn't exactly look very royal."

Cassie notices the tension in Freddie's. "You sure you can do this? I know you've got a lot on your mind. Especially with today being-"

"I'm fine." Freddie said bluntly. "Let's just get this done, okay?"

Cassie sensed the angst he was feeling but chose to let the matter go. She looks around and she sees a bald African American man in his late thirties. The man was tall and he was selling homemade jewelry and lanyards. She walks over and Freddie follows her. "Wayne?"

He looks up at Cassie and smiles then hugs her. "How's it going, Blondie?"

"Good. Keeping your nose clean?" Cassie said.

"Don't worry. I'm on the straight and narrow." Wayne said as he looked over at Freddie. "Who's the kid? Your apprentice?"

"No. This is my nephew Freddie Benson. Freddie, this is Wayne Torrence. He's a good friend as well as my eyes and ears on the street." Cassie stated as Freddie offered a handshake.

"Good to meet ya, kid." Wayne said as he shook Freddie's hand. "So, you here to support a hard-working entrepreneur?"

"I'm looking for some information." She said as she pulled out a picture of Lucas Young. "You see this guy around here?"

Wayne looks at the photo. "I think so. I've been selling my wares on this block for about a month and I've only seen him twice."

"Was he alone?" Freddie asked.

"No, I usually saw him with a couple. The man had light brown hair and looked professional, a doctor maybe." Wayne told them. "The woman had long brown hair, pretty. Might've been your guy's relative."

"A sister?" Cassie asked curiously.

"Maybe. Anyway, I haven't seen him or his friends in a long while." Wayne replied. "Hope that helped."

"Your tips always do." Cassie said sweetly.

"I'm just glad you didn't ask me if I knew how to find that Pulse guy." Wayne stated. "I think a dozen people have asked me if I've seen this guy."

Freddie swallows hard as Cassie stares at her friend. "HAVE you seen him?" She asked.

"Never had the pleasure. Heard from a lot of people that he doesn't mess around." Wayne said.

Cassie looks at Freddie for a second. "Yeah, I heard the same thing. We'll let you get back to business. Take care."

"You too, Goldilocks." Wayne said with a smile.

Cassie shoots him a smile as she and Freddie walk toward the Monarch Estates. A woman in her late fifties with graying brown hair was sweeping the steps outside.

"Excuse me." Cassie spoke up, catching the woman's attention. "Are you the superintendent for this building?"

"I am, yes. What do you want?" The woman asked bluntly.

"Sorry, my name is Sandy Rushman." Cassie said.

The woman looks at Freddie curiously. "And the kid?"

"Oh, this is-" Cassie began.

"Chess Masterson." Freddie stated as Cassie looked at him with a look of confusion. "I'm an associate of Ms. Rushman."

"I'm Edna Romano." The woman replied. "So what's this about?"

"I'm a private investigator and we're looking to speak to one of your tenants. Lucas Young." Cassie told her.

"You're trying to find Luke?" Mrs Romano asked.

"Yes, ma'am." Freddie said politely.

"Really?" Mrs. Romano stated. "So am I."

Cassie and Freddie glance at one another and then back at Mrs. Romano.

•••

Mrs. Romano was at the door to Luke Young's apartment with Cassie and Freddie standing behind her. "Guy just took off about a month ago. Not a word. He didn't even bother to take anything." Mrs Romano said.

"How was he as a tenant?" Cassie asked.

"He was nice. Quiet. Always paid his rent on time." Mrs. Romano said. "A real-life gentle giant."

"Did Luke make any trouble? Get into any altercations with your other tenants? Display any odd behavior?" Cassie asked.

"Apart from him disappearing, he seemed fairly normal. Had a lot of respect from the people in this building because of his military career. I got a lot of older veterans who live here so it's expected." Mrs. Romano stated as she finally got the door open. "Hope you can find out where he is."

"We hope so too, Ma'am." Freddie said as they walked inside.

"Call me when you're done looking around." Mrs. Romano said as she walked off down the hall.

Freddie and Cassie survey the apartment. The place was dirty and dingy, uninhibited for what it seemed for quite a while. The dust has collected on hard surfaces that were visible to the naked eye but it was furnished with personal belongings.

"She wasn't kidding when she said he just left." Cassie said, handing her nephew a pair of blue latex gloves. "Hey, Chess! Put these on. Don't wanna leave any fingerprints."

"Is what we're doing legal?" Freddie asked as he put on the gloves. Cassie stares at him with a raised eyebrow as she puts her blond hair in a ponytail and then put on her own set of gloves. "Never mind."

"Where did you come up with that alias anyway?" Cassie asked.

"Long story involving Carly's two-timing ex, an insane house party, and a guy dressed up like a panda." Freddie said as they looked around the apartment. "And don't you give me a hard time... Sandy. Where exactly did you fish your alias from?"

Cassie sighs. "The last name just popped into my head but... Your dad used to call me Sandy." Silence fell between them until Cassie spoke up. "Come on, we gotta get this over with. You check one side and I'll look through the other."

The pair began to survey the scene. Cassie inspected the living room but slowly walked into his bedroom while Freddie inspected the kitchen. He sees a picture on the refrigerator which had Luke in uniform standing alongside Clive and his family. They appeared to be very happy and Billy looked healthy. Freddie turns the picture over to reveal handwriting which reads 'April 17th, 2012'.

Cassie walks back into the living room. "Nothing in his bedroom but it looks like he just grabbed his clothes and left. You found something?"

"I think so," Freddie said, holding up the photograph.

Cassie takes the photograph and stares at it. "This could be pivotal. Take a picture of it with your phone."

"Why can't we take it with us?" Freddie asked.

"Because eventually the police are going to come searching the place and they'll find out something is missing." Cassie said.

Freddie sighs as he pulls out his Pearphone and takes a picture of the front and back of the photograph. He then takes the photo and places it back where he found it. "Um, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"What?" Cassie asked as he turned to face her.

"Something's been bugging me... about you." Freddie said.

"Okaaay." Cassie said with confusion. "What is it?"

"How exactly do your healing powers work?" Freddie asked.

Cassie grins a bit. "To be honest, half the time I don't even know. But I do have some ideas." Freddie stares at her curiously. "I can heal certain injuries. That's how I was able to save you from the internal injuries you suffered at the hands of Dahl."

"Can you heal the sick?" Freddie asked.

Cassie shakes her head. "I've tried but it never worked. Also, I can't help a person regrow a severed limb like say a hand or finger. Has to be placed back in its place of origin."

"By 'placed', you mean..." Freddie began.

"Sewn back on." Cassie frankly said which causes Freddie to nod in understanding. "And the injury has to be fresh otherwise the healing won't work and you'll end up losing that part of you for good."

"Can you bring the dead back to life?" Freddie asked which caused Cassie to become silent.

Cassie lets out a deep breath. "No. I can't. Not that never tried, it's- The energy I use is connected to my life force. If I were to try to heal someone who has already died, I'd be transferring my own life into their body. They'd be alive but I would end up dying in the process."

Freddie looks taken aback. "That why you get all dizzy after you healed me?"

Cassie nods. "It's fine. Goes away just as quickly as it comes. However, I don't make a habit of it unless I have to."

"Makes sense." Freddie stated.

"So don't decide to go and die on me because I can only keep the Reaper back for so long." Cassie said.

"I'll keep that in mind." Freddie said as looks around. "Let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."

"Can't argue with you there, Mr. Masterson." Cassie said jokingly as they made their way out.

•••

Gabe and Millie walk down the hallway of Sacred Mercy Hospital. It was a far more highly expensive-looking medical facility than St James due to it being funded by several high-profile and wealthy figures.

Gabe stands in front of a door to a hospital room but doesn't go in.

"Gabe, you all right?" Millie asked worriedly.

"I-I don't think I can go in there." Gabe muttered.

Millie gently grabs his hand. "It's okay. How about we go in together."

Gabe flashes a warm smile and the pair walks inside the hospital room.

Inside they find an average-height balding man wearing a doctor's coat talking to a patient with a nurse standing next to him. This was Dr. Roland Erskine.

The nurse was a few inches shorter than the doctor with dark brown hair tied back in a bun. She was writing down on a patient chart.

The patient on the bed was Fiona Morgan, Gabe's mother. Fiona's skin appeared jaundiced and looked very puffy. She had a patterned purple scarf tied on her forehead and her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looks up and upon seeing Gabe, her face lights up.

"Gabe." Fiona said weakly. She tries to extend her arms for an embrace but was too weak. Gabe takes it upon himself to walk over to her bedside and hug her. "You came."

"Told you I would." Gabe replied with an anxious smile as he pulls away a bit. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better now that you're here." Fiona said. She slowly turns to face the doctor. "Doctor, could you give us a minute?"

"Of course, Mrs Morgan. I'll be close to finishing my surgery prep." Dr. Erskine said. "Come along, Donna."

Donna, the nurse, follows Dr. Erskine out of the room. Millie stands to one side to let them exit.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come at all and after all that's happened, I wouldn't have blamed you. I was a lousy mother." Fiona began.

"Mom, don't." Gabe said.

"It's okay. I'm trying to atone for the sins I committed... while I still can." Fiona said but stops speaking when Gabe gently takes her hand.

"That doesn't matter right now." Gabe stated. "All that matters is you getting better because I know you will."

"How can you be so sure?" She asked softly.

"Haven't you heard? I'm kind of a genius and geniuses tend to be right 99.99% of the time." Gabe said jokingly to make her smile. "And there's a .00001% margin of error so it's like a sure thing."

Fiona touches his face. "My sweet angel. I named you after an archangel, you know that right?"

"I'm not exactly a saint, Mom." Gabe stated.

"And I'm mostly to blame for that. And by 'mostly'... I mean fully." Fiona said sadly.

"I think Dad can take credit for my questionable upbringing." Gabe jokes.

Fiona looks over at Millie who awkwardly stood in the room, unsure she should be in there now that mother and child were having a touching reunion. "Millicent."

Millie looks up at Fiona. "Hey, Mrs Morgan." She said sheepishly.

"For a second, I thought it was your mother standing there." Fiona said. "You look so much like her."

Millie smiles a bit but tears well up and she quickly wipes them away. "My dad tells me that a lot."

"I've always thought Victor was a smart man." Fiona said. "I believe I owe you the most of an apology. I treated your family terribly during my drunken stupors."

"Mrs. Morgan, it's-" Millie started to say.

"Don't let me off the hook for my behavior. I could've handled my situation better but I chose to bury myself in a bottle." Fiona said. "Guess the bottle's burying me."

"Mom, you're going to be fine." Gabe said softly.

Fiona stares into her son's eyes. "I know, sweetheart, but if dying of this disease is my penance for my horrible actions, that's just the price I'll have to pay."

Gabe tries to remain composed as a tear rolls down his right cheek

•••

Dr Erskine was discussing something with Donna when Liv, AKA Babydoll, approaches him wearing a sleeveless pink tank top and black jeans.

"Excuse me, Doctor?" Liv said, catching his and Donna's attention. "Hi, do you drive a black Jaguar?"

"Yes, I do. Why do you ask?" Dr. Erskine asked.

"Because I think it's being towed." Liv stated.

"You have got to be joking! I know I didn't park anywhere that could result in the car being taken." Dr. Erskine stated angrily.

"Don't tell me, tell the tow truck guy. I think he's still there." Liv said. "Come on."

"Go ahead. I'll continue preparing Mrs. Morgan for surgery." Donna told a troubled Dr. Erskine.

"Thank you." Dr Erskine said and follows Liv into an elevator.

•••

Dr. Erskine and Liv exit the elevator to the underground parking lot. The doctor sees his car - a classic all-black Jaguar convertible still sitting in the place he parked it.

"I thought you said it was being towed?" Dr. Erskine asked as he ran over to his car.

"I could've sworn they were towing it." Liv said, playing ignorant.

Dr. Erskine looks around and finds two unconscious security guards lying on the ground next to a white van. He becomes terrified and looks at Liv.

"I'm sorry." Liv said in a remorseful tone.

Suddenly, Clive in his King mask comes up behind the doctor and places a cloth over his mouth. Erskine struggles to get free until the doctor becomes limp and lifeless. However, he wasn't dead. Just unconscious.

"Nicely done, Liv." Clive told his daughter who looked a bit guilty for doing this.

Gavin and Luke, both in their respective Sack and Sheep masks, exit their parked van.

"Want us to grab him?" Gavin asked.

"And be careful, we need him in good shape to perform the surgery." Clive ordered.

Gavin and Luke grab the unconscious doctor and load him into the van.

Clive walks over to his remorseful and anxious daughter. "Are you ready to do what you must to save Billy?"

Liv swallows hard and looks at her dad. She nods apprehensively.

The thieves got into the van with their 'precious cargo' and drove off.

One of the guards slowly regains consciousness and grabs his radio. "We have a security breach! I repeat, we have a security breach."

•••

Gabe and Millie stood outside Fiona's hospital room. He was still shaken up after seeing his mom and it takes a lot of stress to shake Gabe's composure. Like what happened with Lucy. He had been uncharacteristically silent since they left the room.

Millie tries to get him out of his depression. "You wanna get something to eat? I think the cafeteria is still open."

Gabe looked over and without missing a beat said "I've taken too many risks in the past few weeks, the last thing I need to do is eat a chicken salad sandwich that's probably been in that fridge since W. Bush's first term."

Millie smiles at him. "Welcome back, Gabe's biting wit. We missed you."

Gabe gives her a small smile. "I know you're trying to help but I won't feel better until my mom's out of surgery."

Millie nods with a warm smile on her face. The pair looks over and sees a commotion taking place at the end of the hall. "Wonder what's going on?"

"Let's be meddling kids and find out." Gabe said as he headed down the hall with Millie in tow.

They walk over to a group of security personnel and uniformed police officers gathered as Dr Erskine's nurse Donna walks over to the group.

"Excuse me, have you seen Dr Erskine?" Donna asked.

"When was the last time you saw him?" One of the security guards asked.

"Fifteen minutes ago. He went down to the parking garage with a young girl who said his car was being towed. Is something wrong?" Donna asked.

"We have reason to believe the doctor's been kidnapped." An officer told her.

Gabe and Millie look over at each other. This didn't sound good.

At that moment, Freddie and Cassie walk out of the elevator. They see the commotion going on and walk over to their friends.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Freddie asked.

"I'm not sure but I think my Mom's only chance at beating HCC might have been kidnapped." Gabe stated.

Cassie and Freddie look at each other.

•••

The parking garage had been taped off as Victor and Danny stood investigating the scene.

"Why would anyone want to kidnap a respected surgeon?" Danny asked his partner.

"I'll take a wild guess and say it has something to do with those thieves from last night." Victor guessed.

"That's quite a leap, Vic. Got any proof?" Danny asked.

Victor walks over to the tread mark on the ground. "These tread marks match the same tread mark left by the van from last night."

"This doesn't add up. I'm questioning why a group of thieves would escalate to kidnapping?" Danny said.

"One of them murdered that driver last night, I think all bets are off." Victor said. He walks to a guard. "I need to get a look at the security tapes."

•••

Gabe was on his laptop in the waiting area, his eyes intense and furrowed. The rest of the gang stood back watching. "Getting access to their security files is proving tougher than it has to be." He said. "Should take me less than a minute."

"Least we didn't have to break into a security suite and have to sift through tapes." Cassie stated.

"Agreed. I don't think we have time for that." Freddie said.

"But why kidnap Dr. Erskine? What good would it do to take him?" Millie stated the obvious.

"I'd wager that the person they're trying to save needs that transplant and soon." Gabe said as he smiled. "Got something."

The group gathered around and saw the kidnapping occur on the footage.

"Those are our guys." Freddie said as a sight caught Millie's attention. "Millie, what is it?"

"Rewind it a few frames." Millie ordered curtly.

"All right. All right." Gabe said. "Could've said please though."

Gabe rewinds the footage and what they see makes Millie's eyes widen.

"Oh my gosh. I know her."

•••

Inside the security suite in the hospital, Victor and Danny are shown the footage of Liv talking to Dr. Erskine in the hallway inside of the hospital.

"She was the last person seen with the doctor?" Victor asked.

"It appears so." Danny said. "Any idea who she is?"

"Not a clue." Victor states.

The two detectives share a look.

•••

"Her name's Liv. She and her brother Gavin came into Luzoni's the other day." Millie told them as the gang stared at her. "What? I remember names."

The gang tries piecing together what is happening.

"You're sure?" Cassie asked.

"I'm pretty good with faces and trust me, that's her." Millie stated.

"She must be a part of the gang." Gabe estimated. "The girl in the BabyDoll mask?"

"Does fit the build." Freddie said.

"But why would a seventeen-year-old join a band of thieves?" Millie asked.

A thought dawned on Cassie. "Maybe it's a family affair?"

Millie and Gabe appear confused but Freddie knew what she meant.

"The picture?" Freddie asked. Cassie nods and he pulls out his phone. Freddie shows Millie and Gabe the picture he found at Luke's apartment. "Does anybody look familiar?"

Millie's eyes widen as they stare at the picture. "Liv and Gavin."

"Gabe, pull up Luke Young's info again." Freddie ordered.

Gabe types madly on the computer. "What am I looking for exactly?"

"See if Young has any family. A sister." Freddie said.

Gabe maniacally searches the database and finishes his search. "He does, an adoptive sister. Tara Young, now Barrow. She married Clive Barrow twenty years ago and has three kids. Gavin, age nineteen. Olivia, age seventeen. William, age thirteen."

"Guessing that William might be the one who's sick." Cassie stated.

"But why resort to stealing medical supplies?" Millie asked.

"Maybe they can't afford to get him the treatment?" Cassie replied. "Procedures like this can set back a pretty penny."

"Or maybe it's personal," Gabe said as his eyes widened while staring at his computer monitor. The gang notices and stares at him. "Clive Barrow worked for Webb Pharmaceuticals for fifteen years as a researcher until last year. There was some kind of accident where his youngest son was exposed to Hepatitis C via a dirty and infected syringe."

"Did Barrow file a formal complaint?" Freddie asked.

"Yeah... but the family only received five thousand dollars in damages." Gabe said.

"Unbelievable. That wouldn't even cover a month of treatment." Millie said, extremely offended.

"I'm guessing Mr. Barrow and his family are stealing the supplies not just to save the boy but also as payback against Webb Pharm." Freddie said.

"Now what?" Gabe asked.

Freddie rubs the back of his neck with his hand. "I understand why he is doing all this… but I have to stop them before more innocent people get hurt."

"I agree with you but this needs to be handled delicately." Cassie said. "This isn't a black-and-white situation."

"And here I thought Jane dumping me would be the lowlight of my week." Freddie said which Millie and Cassie reacted to. "I'll explain later. Gabe, can you gain access to traffic stop cameras?"

"Is the Pope Catholic?" Gabe quips.

"Good, get any images of the white van. Hopefully we'll get anything that can tell us where they're headed." Freddie said as he began to leave.

"Where are you going?" Millie asked.

"Make sure no one else gets hurt." Freddie said as he left with his bag strapped to him.

•••

Freddie exits an elevator on the top floor which was under construction.

He unstraps the bag, unzips it, and pulls out his battle suit from the bag.

•••

Inside the abandoned factory, Dr. Roland Erskine starts coming as he looks around and finds himself face-to-face with Clive Barrow. He panics and tries to run but Clive shoves him down. "I wouldn't try that again if I were you," Clive said, holding up a handgun to the doctor's face.

"What is this? Where am I?" Dr. Erskine panics as he looks around and sees Gavin and Luke standing behind Clive wearing their masks.

"Not important. What is important is the fact that you're going to help us." Clive said.

"H-help you with what?" The doctor asked.

"My son, Billy. He's sick and needs a transplant." Clive told Erskine.

Erskine assesses the situation as calmly as possible. "What does your son have?"

Clive breathes deeply "Hep C. We've tried all the treatments but nothing seems to be working. Billy's gonna die if he doesn't get a liver transplant. Heard that you are the best in the surgical field, that you were going to perform the same surgery on some wealthy woman."

"And you kidnapped me, you resigned her to a slow and painful death." Erskine spat.

"Think we give a crap what happens to some rich lady. As long as Billy lives, that's all that matters." Gavin said bitterly. "Rather it be 'the Real Housewife' than my little brother dying slowly and painfully!"

"Gavin, be quiet!" Clive yelled as he turned back to Erskine. "We don't have the money to pay for surgery. Please, I can't lose my little boy."

Erskine sighs and looks at him sympathetically. "Where will I be performing the surgery?"

Clive pulls Erskine to another part of the room where two surgical tables were located. There was a life support system, oxygen tanks, and surgical implements. Everything that was needed to perform surgery.

"We've stocked up on what you need." Clive told him.

Erskine looks around. "I'd like to see the patient. I want to examine Billy and see if it is as grave as you say."

Clive nods and takes him over to another room where Liv stood and Tara sat next to a sickly and jaundiced Billy. The doctor begins to examine the boy and sees his condition didn't look good. Billy was breathing weakly and struggling to keep his eyes open.

"I'm not certain a transplant will help. The infection seems to have spread beyond the liver." Erskine told the family.

Tara gasps as Clive points his gun at the doctor's head.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Liv said in a horrified manner.

"Doc, your life depends on whether or not you can save my son." Clive ordered. "You are going to save my son... or I'll blow your head off."

Erskine looks terrified as he stares at the frail young boy. "I don't suppose you have a healthy liver lying around this dump."

Clive looks back at Liv and then at the doctor. "I do."

Erskine stares at an anxious-looking Liv with horror on his face. Clive wanted him to cut the liver out of his daughter to save his son.

•••

Danny and Victor enter the wing of the hospital where Fiona Morgan's room was.

"This was where Erskine was last seen. We need to question the people on this floor." Victor explained.

The two look around and see Cassie, Gabe, and Millie on the floor. Gabe was on his laptop while Cassie and Millie stood over him.

"Millie?" Victor spoke up causing Millie to turn to face her dad. "What are you doing?"

"I came with Gabe. His mom is getting an operation today." Millie told him.

"Do you know the name of the physician conducting the operation?" Danny asked.

"Dr. Roland Erskine. Why, what's going on?" Gabe asked, trying to play it cool.

"We have reason to believe he has been kidnapped." Victor replied and the three tried to act like they had no idea what was going on.

Millie cups her hand over her mouth. "Oh, my god."

"You three didn't see anything?" Danny asked them.

"No, Millie and I were with my mom in her room until half an hour ago," Gabe said. "Cassie got here a while ago."

"Yeah. I had no idea what's going on." Cassie replied, feigning ignorance.

"Does this have anything to do with those thieves from last night?" Millie asked them. "The ones who killed that guy?"

Victor stares at Millie "It's possible." Suddenly, Victor's phone rings, and excuses himself to take the call.

Danny looks at Cassie and looks around "Where's your nephew?"

Cassie scoffs "Why do you care?"

"Because I would assume that if his roommate and friend's mother is in the hospital, he'd be here to show his support." Danny stated.

"You know what they say about assumptions, Detective." Cassie quips but his stare is fixed on her. "He came here with me but I sent him to pick up something at my apartment."

Victor taps Danny on the shoulder. "The van was spotted. We got to go."

Cassie looks at the kids and sighs then chases after the two detectives ."Wait! Let me go with you guys."

Danny looks at Victor then back at Cassie. "Why?"

"Thinking you boys could use some backup," Cassie stated.

"Then we'll call legitimate police backup." Danny said bitterly. "We can't risk the life of a civilian."

Cassie glares at him. "I'm not most civilians. I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"You might not care about what happens to you but I do." Danny said, which caused Cassie's eyebrows to raise. Danny's eyes widen as he realizes what he had said and stammers a bit "I mean, we do. Victor and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Right, Vic?"

"Sorry, Danny, you're on your own." Victor said as Millie giggles and Gabe stifles a laugh.

"I appreciate the concern, Dan Dan, but I'll be fine." Cassie insisted and Danny tried to argue her point. "Don't argue with me. I'm going."

"Fine but don't get in the way." Victor retorts with Danny looking stunned.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Cassie said as she entered the elevator with them. She looks back at Millie and Gabe and gives them a reassuring nod as the elevator doors close.

•••

Night had fallen and Pulse, in full costume, was using speed and free running skills to jump from rooftop to rooftop, leaping onto fire escapes with ease.

It was surprising that this was the same Freddie Benson who wasn't even allowed to get on the jungle gym because of his mother's overprotective paranoia. If she so much as thought he was doing THIS, she'd have a stroke.

"Loki, am I going the right way?" Freddie asked via the com link.

"Yeah. At the speed you're going, you should make it there before the cops do." Gabe told him.

"I'm guessing Victor and Danny are on their way there." Freddie asked.

"What, are you psychic too?" Gabe jokes. "Cassie's going with 'em too."

"Why?" Freddie asked.

"You'd have to ask her." Gabe replied.

"I just hope I'm not too late." Freddie said, "For the Doctor... or your mom."

There was silence for a moment until Gabe spoke again. "Let's hope."

Pulse slides down the ladder from a fire escape and down to an alley.

At that moment, Brad was buying a pretzel from a street vendor with his camera strapped to him. He gives the vendor the money and takes a bite out of the pretzel.

Brad looks over and sees Pulse scaling down the fire escape and running down the alley across from the vendor's cart.

"Keep the change!" Brad said as he rushes off and chases after the masked vigilante with the pretzel in his hand.

•••

Blazing through traffic in Danny's car, a classic royal blue Ford Mustang, Danny drove with Victor in the passenger side and Cassie sat in the backseat.

"How much further?" Victor asked.

"About three blocks." Danny told him.

Cassie looks around, seeming impressed. "I gotta say, this is one beautiful automobile."

"Thanks. I've owned this car since I was nineteen. I finally finished the work on it about three years ago." Danny told her.

"I'm a bit of a gearhead myself. I restored a 1967 four-door Chevy Impala. Took forever to get the parts. Now she purrs like a kitten." Cassie is mildly gloating.

Danny rolls his eyes, trying to hide his impressed demeanor. "Do you get off on stroking your ego?"

"What can I say, it's a rush." Cassie said with a grin.

"Fred, Ethel, can we have this little spat later." Victor said, "Lives are hanging in the balance."

"I know, Vic." Cassie said "Just lightening the mood. We might be walking into a tragedy."

Victor and Danny share looks of agreement as Danny continues driving to the scene.

•••

Tara pushes Billy in a wheelchair towards the surgical table. He wore a surgical gown and was frail as he grabbed his mother's hand. "Mom, I-I'm scared."

Tara knelt next to him "I know, sweetie. I know. But the doctor's going to make you feel better. Right now, you're going to take a little nap and when you wake up, you're going to be okay."

Billy smiles weakly as Tara places him gently on the surgical table.

Clive brings Dr. Erskine at gunpoint while Liv comes in wearing a surgical gown. She marched as she was being led to the electric chair.

Gavin and Luke walk in behind him. Clive looks behind his son "Gavin, wait outside the factory. Warn us if the cops are coming."

Gavin nods and walks out with his AK-47 in hand.

"Are you ready?" Clive asked the doctor.

Erskine nods while Liv walks over to her little brother.

"Hey, bud." Liv said softly. "You're gonna be okay."

"That's what Mom and Dad said," Billy replied. "Maybe when I get better, we can play 'Go Fish.' Think I can beat you this time."

Liv smiled weakly and stroked his hair. "Yeah."

She walks over and lies on the empty surgical table.

"I'll need someone to administer the anesthesia. I always have an anesthesiologist perform that task." Erskine stated.

"My wife will do that. I showed her a few things." Clive told him.

Erskine resigns to this and watches Tara medically induce the drugs on both her children.

•••

Pulse sees an open window in the factory and scales up a wall to see Gavin wearing the sack mask on his face and holding his AK-47. "Guys, think I got the right place." Freddie said, speaking through the com link.

"Then get in there, who knows what they are doing with Erskine." Gabe replied through the com link.

Pulse leaps quietly to the open window and heads inside.

As this goes on, Brad quietly creeps into the alley recording with his camera. "Can't believe I got Pulse on tape." He rounds the corner only to get jumped by Gavin who knocks the camera out of the teenage tech whiz's hands.

A groggy Brad looks and finds Gavin pointing his rifle at him. "What are you doing here?" Brad stammers only to have Gavin yell at him "Tell me or I'll blow your head off!"

Suddenly, someone taps Gavin on the shoulder. He turns around only to be punched hard in the face. He stumbles back and finds Cassie standing there.

"Hey, why don't you pick on someone my own size?" Cassie stated.

Gavin points the rifle at her only to have Cassie use a swift and fluid motion to disarm him. Before Gavin could react, Cassie smacks him with the butt of the rifle, knocking him out cold.

Brad was shocked by the display of violence as Cassie offered her hand to help the boy to his feet and Victor and Danny made their way to her.

"You okay?" Cassie said calmly.

Brad nods and points at the unconscious Gavin. "H-he broke my camera."

Danny stares at Cassie, who is holding the AK-47, then at Gavin. "You do that?"

Cassie shrugs as Victor goes to check on Gavin as he removes his mask. "He's just a kid."

Danny looks at Brad. "Want to tell us what you were doing out here?"

"I was trying to film footage of Pulse. I kinda followed him here." Brad told him.

Cassie looks over at the men. "Somebody get him back to the car."

"When did you start giving us orders?" Danny asked.

"Since I disarmed the Scarecrow wannabe over there." Cassie retorts.

"I'll take him." Victor said to avoid any further arguing. "Come on, son." He grabs Brad and takes him down the alley.

"You aren't arresting me, are you?" Brad asked. Victor didn't answer and they left.

•••

Clive notices Gavin hasn't come back and looks at his wife. "Go see what's taking him so long."

Tara agrees and runs out of the building.

Out of nowhere, Pulse leaps down from the rafters of the factory which surprises Clive, Luke, and Dr. Erskine.

"You again." Clive spat.

"Well, I do have a bit of a pet peeve with people taking things that don't belong to them," Freddie replied. "Compounding my annoyance is that you kidnapped this doctor so you kinda got on my bad side."

Clive pulls out his handgun and fires six times and with three of the shots hitting Pulse in the chest. He grins but his smile fades when Pulse rubs off the bullets.

"That is annoying," Freddie said, gritting his teeth.

Clive stares at him. "Who are you?"

"No one seems to grasp the concept of the mask." Freddie quips

•••

Cassie ties up Gavin with zip ties while Danny watches. "You seriously carry zip ties?"

"I would carry handcuffs but they're a tad too clunky," Cassie said as she finished tying Gavin up.

Tara bursts into the alley and sees Cassie and Danny next to her unconscious son. "What did you do to him?"

"Listen, he's fine. We just-"

Before Cassie could finish, Tara runs and tackles her to the ground. The two women wrestle on the ground but Danny pulls Tara off Cassie.

"You need to calm down," Danny told Tara but she swiftly kicked him in the groin. He winces in pain and falls back in pain.

Tara goes to attack Cassie only to be met with a hard right across the face from Cassie.

"No one busts his balls but me!" Cassie said with a smirk as the two women got a fighting stance.

•••

Clive glares at Pulse then motions to Luke. "Take him down." Clive orders.

[Soundtrack Note - 'Destroya' by My Chemical Romance plays during the two simultaneous fight scenes.]

Luke grabs an AK-47 and strides towards Pulse who holds up his hands defensively.

"You don't have to do this." Freddie said. "We can work something out."

"Sorry. Blood is thicker than water." Luke stated.

Freddie sighs. "Then you leave me no choice." His hands spark with electricity which leaves the people in the room flabbergasted.

Luke fires three rounds at Pulse but the superhero dodges the shots with agility and luck then hides several heavy-duty crates. He continues firing until he runs out of ammo.

•••

Danny tries to get to his feet as Cassie and Tara exchange blows.

Tara tries to kick Cassie but Cassie catches her leg. She sweeps Tara's leg and flips Tara over her head.

Tara rolls and gets to her feet. She sees a shard of glass on the ground and holds it up to use it as a weapon.

Cassie smirks as she pulls her knife from her holster. "Sweetie, you brought glass to a knife fight."

Shard in hand, Tara charges at her and tries to slash Cassie and grazes her but Cassie quickly recovers and swipes with her knife then hits Tara's hand and causes Tara's shard to shatter and the pieces to fall near Gavin.

•••

Once the gunfire stopped, Pulse comes out of his hiding spot and shoots it out of his hand with a ball of electricity. The ball hits Luke in the chest and knocks him off his feet.

Luke groans in pain as he gets to his feet and glares at Pulse. He charges at Pulse and throws several quick punches at Pulse who evades all but one which clips him in the jaw. The punch causes him to slam hard onto a pillar. The impact makes Pulse groggy but he regains his awareness to duck a punch thrown by Luke.

•••

The two women were locked in combat and Tara headbutted Cassie. Cassie winces in pain only to answer with a headbutt of her own.

Tara stumbles back as Danny suddenly grabs her from behind and pins her arms back.

With Tara restrained, Cassie hits Tara with a quick right roundhouse kick that collides with Tara's face and knocks her out.

A surprised Danny glares at Cassie to which she answers with "She started it."

Victor returns to the alley and finds the scene. He glances at his partner looking for an answer for the woman on the ground.

Danny groans in pain and motions to Cassie "She did it."

Cassie rubs her arm that got grazed and grins a bit. She hauls Tara up and pins her arm behind her back. "One peep to warn your gang, and I'll crack your skull."

The three make their way inside the factory with a reluctant Tara.

•••

Luke hits the pillar and cries out in pain. He grabs his injured fist and looks back at Pulse only to be hit with a hard right from the superhero. Luke falls to the ground unconscious

[Soundtrack Note - Song Ends at 2:32]

Pulse looks at Clive who quickly grabs Erskine and points a surgical scalpel close to the doctor's throat.

"Put the scalpel down." Freddie asked. "No one else needs to get hurt."

"I don't want my son to die," Clive said through deep breaths that held back his tears.

"I know. I know what happened to your son and who is responsible." Freddie said calmly. "You don't have to do this."

In the shadows, Danny, Victor, Cassie, and Tara enter the factory, hiding behind industrial equipment. The detectives had their weapons drawn and Cassie stood close behind Danny while she had Tara's arms pinned behind her.

"We have no choice." Clive said heartbroken. "We can't let Billy die."

"Because you can't afford the treatments, right?" Freddie asked.

"How did you-" Clive breathed.

"I told you that I know what happened to your son." Freddie said as he turns to Clive who still had the scalpel to Dr Erskine's neck. "He was infected with Hepatitis C from a dirty needle when he visited you at work. They never took responsibility for what happened."

"I warned them about the hazardous material but they didn't listen!" Clive yelled. "Now my son is paying for their incompetence... And my lack of a backbone. I didn't stand up to them."

The three watch the scene intently as Freddie speaks again. "And how many more lives have to suffer because of this? One person is already dead. Do you want your son to live with the guilt of the lives taken to save his life? Including his sister."

"She would do anything for him." Clive quivered.

"I get that. A child would do what they could for their parents the same a parent would do for their child." Freddie said. "But it isn't fair to him or any of them, is it?"

Clive stares at Pulse then looks back at his sedated children. He resigns and sets down the scalpel, releasing Erskine from his grasp.

Victor and Danny came out of their hiding places with their guns drawn.

"Police! Hands in the air!" Victor called out.

Clive raises their hands slowly. Cassie lets go of Tara who runs over to her husband. She embraces him as the detectives go to the couple and begin to handcuff them. They begin to read them their rights as Cassie stands next to Pulse.

"Check on the doctor." Freddie orders Cassie.

Cassie nods and walks over to Dr Erskine who was checking on Billy. "Is he all right?"

He looks up at Cassie as he looks at Billy and Liv. "We need to get them to a hospital."

Pulse goes to leave but Danny points his gun at Pulse while Victor finishes handcuffing Clive.

"Hands in the air!" Danny ordered Pulse.

The sound of a gun's safety clicking is heard as Danny turns to see Gavin standing behind him pointing the AK-47 at his head.

"You're gonna put the gun down and put your hands in the air." Gavin ordered.

"Gavin, no!" Tara begged.

"Drop the gun, son." Clive said as Victor gets him to his feet. "It's over."

"NO! I am not going to jail!" Gavin said as he laughed maniacally. "We're all getting out of here."

All of sudden, Cassie tackles Gavin to the ground which causes his rifle to fall out of his hand. He tries grabbing it but Cassie kicks him in the stomach.

The young man falls to his side in pain, Cassie grabs some zip ties she had on her. "Should've stayed in the alley, kid."

Danny was stunned by Cassie's act of bravery, so much so that he failed to notice that Pulse had escaped. He looks around to see where he went but no sign of where he went.

Police sirens can be heard approaching. Clive stares at his family, lastly focusing on Billy who was being tended to by Dr Erskine.

•••

Hours later at the hospital, Millie and Gabe sit outside waiting as Victor, Danny, and Cassie walk toward them. Millie walks over to her dad and hugs him tightly.

Cassie places her hand on Gabe's shoulder "Is your mom okay?"

"Yeah. They're prepping her for surgery." Gabe told her. "Erskine is going to be supervising the surgery while one of the local surgeons will be performing the surgery. Says his hands are still shaking after what happened."

"We're glad we got to him in time," Victor said while he continued hugging his daughter.

"Same can't be said for Billy." Danny replied somberly.

"Billy?" Millie asked sadly "Barrow's little boy? He died?"

"The infection spread too far. There was no way to save him." Cassie said.

"Does Barrow know?" Gabe asked.

"Yeah. The entire family does... except Liv." Cassie stated.

"Where is she?" Millie asked.

"She's recovering, under guard until she's well enough to be booked." Victor said.

"You guys are still going to arrest her?" Millie asked her father.

"Sweetheart, she broke the law. I can't just ignore that." Victor said.

"So if it were me and I was in her same position, you'd arrest me?" Millie asked angrily.

"Millie..."

"I want to see her." Millie demanded, "I want her to have some support since her family is in jail."

Victor sighs. "Come on."

The father and daughter walk off and Danny remains with Cassie and Gabe.

Gabe gets up from his chair "I'm gonna get something to drink. I'll be back." He walks off and leaves Cassie alone with Danny.

Danny and Cassie exchange looks and he glances at her arm that got nicked by Tara. "How's your arm?"

Cassie stares at her arm. "Oh. I completely forgot. It's fine, I guess."

She awkwardly tries to avoid his gaze and fails as Danny continues looking at her.

"What?" Cassie asked.

"Nothing," Danny stated.

"You going to ride me on how I shouldn't have been so rough on that kid, right?" Cassie guessed. "Sorry but he tried to shoot you and if you expect me to apologize for-"

"Could you shut up for five seconds and listen?" Danny told her which surprised Cassie. "I was trying to find the words to say thank you. You saved my life."

Cassie smiles. "Well, I don't think Vic has time to break in another partner so soon. Besides, I've kinda grown attached so you're pretty much stuck with me."

"I will take that as a compliment, Cassie." Danny said. "I'm a bit curious where you learned to fight like that."

Cassie smirks. "Please, those were my basic skill set. I have a pretty diverse set of skills that would knock your socks off."

"I bet." Danny said with a smile, seeming amused by her antics.

Just then, Freddie exits the elevator and sees his aunt. "Cassie!"

Cassie turns to see her nephew and walks over to him. "What took you?"

"Sorry, traffic was a pain." Freddie said as he saw Danny and acknowledged his presence then looked back at Cassie "How's Gabe? Has his mom gone into surgery? They found the doctor, right?"

"Thankfully we found him in time." Cassie replied.

"We? Thought PIs and the NYPD didn't mix?" Freddie jokes.

"I think when they have someone as amazing as me, they can't refuse my services." Cassie joked and Danny rolled his eyes.

"So, they caught the guy who could have kidnapped the doctor?" Freddie asked, trying to feign ignorance.

"Yeah. The police think he's the leader of that gang of thieves stealing from that pharmaceutical company." Cassie informs him.

"It looks pretty definite." Danny stated. "We also caught some kid trying to get footage of Pulse for that stupid contest."

"What kid?" Freddie asked

"Brad Warner." Danny told Freddie which shocked him "Kid almost got himself killed."

"Whoa, is he okay?" Freddie asked with concern in his voice.

Cassie and Danny seem surprised. "You know him?"

"We went to high school together, he's a close friend. Is he here?" Freddie asked.

Cassie shakes her head. "We took him back to his dorm. He's a little shaken up, that's all."

"Also, his camera got broken in his struggle with one of the thieves." Danny replied.

"Dang, Brad's got to be bummed about that." Freddie estimated.

"I think he's just lucky to be alive." Cassie said.

"I gotta go check on Victor, see if he needs any backup," Danny said and with that, he leaves.

Freddie rubs his face with exhaustion written on it. "This is my fault."

"Don't. Don't blame yourself." Cassie told him.

"I can't help it. Brad almost got killed because he was chasing Pulse. Barrow and his family are going to jail after their youngest son died." Freddie said feeling guilty. "This wouldn't have happened if-"

"Sweetie, you can't control the actions of others. Barrow made his choice and god only knows what would've happened if you hadn't stopped him." Cassie told him "But you were able to talk him down. You got through to him."

"What does that matter? He and the entire family are still going to jail for trying to save Billy." Freddie said as he sat on the couch in the waiting area.

Cassie plops down next to him. "We don't control the universe. Things aren't as black and white as most want to believe."

"No matter what I do, it won't matter." Freddie said somberly.

"Doesn't mean you have to stop trying. You aren't some garden variety vigilante, you care about people. You try." Cassie assured her nephew. "You're a hero, kiddo, and I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm biased."

Freddie smiles, "It could've gone worse."

"Oh, most definitely." Cassie said frankly. Freddie smiles as Cassie hugs him tightly but he groans in pain. "Oh. Wow. You okay?"

"Yeah, Barrow shot me a few times. Still thankful the suit's bulletproof." Freddie replied with a pained laugh. "

"I'm taking you back to your dorm." Cassie replied. "You need to rest."

"I can't leave. Gabe's mom hasn't gone into surgery yet." Freddie said worriedly.

"Don't worry about it." Gabe's voice called out. The two turn to see Gabe standing behind them. "You deserve some R&R right now."

"You think?" Freddie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Dude, you rescued Dr. Erskine so indirectly you saved my Mom's life." Gabe said.

"But I came for moral support." Freddie replied.

"Yeah, the whole life-saving thing counts as HUGE moral support." Gabe said, which makes Freddie laugh "Go get some sleep."

Freddie and Cassie get up from the couch "I don't think I've gotten a decent night's sleep in a while."

"Which you deserve, by the way." Gabe jokes. The two gave each other a warm bro hug. "I'll call you in the morning to tell you how it went."

"Thanks, man. Tell Millie I'll see her tomorrow." Freddie said.

"I will." Gabe said as Freddie and Cassie entered the elevator.

Gabe waves at them as the elevator doors close.

•••

[Soundtrack Note - 'Wonderwall' by Cat Power plays during this montage]

Millie and Victor walk towards Liv's hospital room where Liv lies there with both her hands restrained. Victor quietly dismisses the guards as Millie steps into the room.

Liv looks up at her, recognizing Millie. She sees the aspiring nurse's forlorn eyes as Millie sat beside her.

Liv stares at the girl and realizes what was going on. She starts bawling and becomes inconsolable.

Victor watches as he sees Liv start to burst into tears. Millie embraces the sobbing girl to offer Liv some kind of comfort.

•••

In a different part of the hospital, Gabe watches as they wheel Fiona to an operating room on a stretcher. She looks up at him and waves at him with a weak but warm smile on her face.

Gabe smiles as she fully enters the operating room. Once inside, he leans against a wall and slowly sits on the floor. He starts to weep softly.

•••

Danny stood in a hallway of the hospital and pulled out his notepad where the drawing of the woman in black was. He stares at it for a while and sighs. He knows her but from where?

His thoughts go back to Cassie and how she saved his life.

•••

Cassie rounds the corner to head towards her apartment but she sees a sight that stops her dead in her tracks - Pete sitting on the floor.

"Pete?" Cassie asked softly.

Pete turns his head and smiles weakly at Cassie "Hey there, Princess." He looks pain, sweaty, and in pain.

"Are you all right?" Cassie asked as she inches closer. "You look like hell."

"Really? 'Cause I feel like crap." Pete said as he got to his feet but as soon as he did, he became weak in the knees and toppled over.

Luckily, Cassie rushes over to her and prevents him from completely falling to the floor. "Pete? Pete, can you hear me? Pete?" She lifts his shirt and sees his bandaged abdomen. "Oh God."

[Soundtrack Note - Song ends]

•••

It was after hours at the Spotlight offices and Vincent Montgomery walked towards his office while talking on his phone. "I am going to need those quotes ASAP! Look, I don't care who you have to pay off to get them, GET THEM!"

Montgomery roughly hangs up and opens the door to his office. He stops dead in his tracks when he sees the leather chair in front of his desk facing the wall and occupied by an unseen individual.

"I still find it fascinating how anyone can read the trash you put on your site and call that entertainment."

The chair turns to face Montgomery and sitting in the chair was Alec Grayson. He was looking very dapper in his dark suit and long black overcoat.

"How'd you get in here?" Montgomery asked with a twinge of fear in his voice.

"Your security let me in. It's amazing what people will do with a large sum of cash." Alec said arrogantly. He gets out of the chair and walks towards him.

"What do you want?" Montgomery asked him.

"Come on, Vince. Can't I catch up with a good friend?" Alec stated, with a laugh.

"The first time we met, you called me a bottom-feeding scum-bag," Montgomery replied.

Alec grins. "I meant that as a compliment." Montgomery laughs weakly. "I came here to check on your progress. How is your little contest moving?"

"Uh, slowly. The public isn't sending footage worth using." Montgomery said.

"Perhaps you should sweeten the pot. There's going to be another 50,000 dollars deposited into your account. Add it to the reward." Alec explained as he made his way out.

"Do I have permission to ask a question?" Montgomery asked.

Alec stops and turns to him. "Ask away."

"What does your boss want with Pulse?" Montgomery inquired. "How much of a threat is this kid to the Maestro?"

Alec grins and states. "I learned a long time ago that asking questions like that will get you killed." He continues to walk away as he speaks again. "We'll be in touch."

Montgomery stood in his office, filled with a foreboding sense of dread.

•••

Freddie walks into the dorm with his bag that had his suit, feeling drained both physically and mentally. He throws himself on his bed and looks at his Pearbook that sat on his bed. A strange look came upon his face as he slowly opened it up.

Suddenly, the computer chimes to inform him that he had an incoming video chat. Freddie's eyes widen at who it was as he clicks to accept.

"Hey there, Fred-bag."

It was indeed Sam Puckett. She still looked as beautiful as he remembered.

"Sam, hey," Freddie answered nervously as he brushed his hair back. "How goes it?"

"Meh, not much. Just doing my thang." Sam said with her quirky charm that made Freddie smile. "How about you? How's school?"

"Sam Puckett is asking me how I'm doing in school?" Freddie asked quizzically.

"Just making conversation. Besides, it's not like you have any else going on." Sam said.

Freddie laughs nervously. "You might be surprised."

Sam looks down a bit. "So..."

"You didn't just call me to say 'what's up', right?" Freddie asked.

"It's that obvious?" Sam asked.

"A little." Freddie replied. "You know what today is, don't you?"

Sam smiles, "Three years since we kissed on the fire escape outside your apartment."

"I didn't think you'd remember." Freddie retorts.

"How could I forget? That was MY first kiss too, Benson." Sam stated. "I figured that'd be on your mind. Probably the best kiss you ever had."

Freddie grins a bit "Uh technically, it was the only kiss I ever had."

"Whatever, Fred-wad." Sam said as she stared at him which Freddie noticed.

"What's wrong?" Freddie asked.

"IS everything okay?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Why?" Freddie asked perplexed.

"You look terrible." Sam simply said. "Like you haven't slept in days."

Freddie appears to be nervous as he musters an excuse. "School's been tough. That's all."

"Benson, are you lying to me?" She asked him.

"Sam, when have I EVER been good at lying?" He stated.

"Guess you're right. You couldn't lie your way out of a paper bag." Sam joked.

Freddie laughed at this "Hey, you never know. Maybe I'm trying to be a little abnormal."

Sam grins at him as a voice calls to her.

"Sam, I can't find my tin of Bibble!"

Sam shouts back. "Check the cabinets."

After a moment of silence, the voice said "Oh, there it is."

Sam looks at Freddie. "Do me a favor and take care of yourself, Benson."

"Didn't think you cared." Freddie replied.

"I care, I just choose not to show you." Sam retorts "And if something were to happen to you, Carly would be crushed and I'd have to help her pick up the pieces."

Freddie became anxious after hearing their mutual best friend's name. "Oh. Listen, about that. The night she left, Carly-"

"Kissed you?" Sam finished his sentence. "Carly told me. After she got settled in at her new place."

Freddie stammers a bit. "Oh. I was going to tell you-"

"It's okay. I get it, you still have feelings for Carly." Sam stated.

"That's just it. I don't think I do." Freddie stated which peaks Sam's attention. "I don't think she does either. I don't know why she kissed me but I don't think it's because she was in love with me."

"I got that from her too," Sam told him. "She does care about you."

"And I care about her too. I'm just not sure I'm in love with her anymore." Freddie told her.

"So, what does that mean?" Sam asked him.

"Means I have a lot to think about." Freddie replied.

"Well when you've made up your mind, let me know." Sam stated.

"Believe me, you'll be the first to know." Freddie replied.

"I gotta go. Get some sleep, Freedo." Sam quips.

Freddie rolls his eyes at the name. "I will. Good night."

The link to the video chat shut off to signal the call had been ended from Sam's end.

Freddie lies back on his bed and stares at the wristband Jane had given him the day he left the hospital. He was completely torn about what to do now.

•••

•••

Main Cast

Fredward 'Freddie' Benson - Nathan Kress

Cassandra 'Cassie' Sinclair - Sarah Michelle Gellar

Millicent 'Millie' Flores - Ashley Argota

Gabriel 'Gabe' Morgan - Landon Liboiron

Peter 'Pete' Sawyer - Charlie Hunnam

Also Starring

Detective Victor Flores - Daniel Dae Kim

Jane Louis - Vanessa Morgan

Detective Daniel 'Danny' Parker - David Giuntoli

Guest Starring

Brad Warner - Justin Prentice

Professor Thomas 'Tommy' Bennett - Marc Blucas

Captain Irving Thompson - Ernie Hudson

Lucy Shepard - AJ Michalka

Fiona Morgan - Mary-Louise Parker

Clive Barrow/The King - JR Bourne

Tara Barrow/Pin Up - Julie Benz

Gavin Barrow/Sack Man - Brett Davern

Olivia 'Liv' Barrow/BabyDoll - Sarah Fisher

Lucas 'Luke' Young/Sheep Man - Brian Patrick Wade

Vincent Montgomery – Ian Gomez

Wayne Torrence - IronE Singleton

Alec Grayson - Colin Donnell

And...

Samantha 'Sam' Puckett - Jeanette McCurdy

•••

•••

I gave you guys a bit of Seddie. It wasn't much but I'm setting stuff up for the rest of the series.

I know it's not my best episode but I will try. It's difficult to write fictional 'TV' series by yourself. I will update more but I have a lot of projects I'm currently working on. However, I will try my best to keep this going until I finish Season One.

There were minor tweaks for grammar corrections, this episode was mostly the same. I am going through these episodes for changes that make me feel content.

Thanks again for your patience :)