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Marcos sighed, he hated picking Dawn up in the afternoon, much preferring the morning drop off. Not that he hated seeing the joy on little Dawns' face as she chattered about her day and who she played with. No, he didn’t like the looks he was given from the other mums as he waited.  Surely many of them are off the market considering they were waiting for their children at the elementary school, but that didn’t seem to stop them from slipping him their numbers or flirting with him. Luckily Lorna was with him often and she could be intimidating enough to ward off all the unprovoked advances.  “Daddy!” Dawn exclaimed, running through the throng of kids and into his arms.  Smiling, Marcos lifted her into a crushing hug. Giggling she held on tightly to him before he put her down and they started the short journey back to the Underground hand in hand.  The Underground was a refuge where mutants can go to get back on their feet, find a job or offer any help that may be required. It’s on the fringe of the Atlanta perimeter, near Dunwoody, the building is slightly run down and safely away from the scornful judgement of the public eye.  "Dad!" His daughter spoke up suddenly interrupting herself, pointing at a building ahead. "There’s a little boy in that building. I thought you said nobody lives there." Following his daughters gaze, he saw the face of a young boy in the upper window before it quickly ducked out of their sight. “Mmm, there isn’t suppose to be anyone living there. Remember that word I told you.. condemned? The buildings condemned meaning it's not proper to live in.”  Dawn tasted the word, rolling it around her mouth. “Con..dem..ed" As they neared the ominous building Marcos released her hand to check out the front door, and he found that the seal hadn’t been cut nor had the lock been broken. "Yeah, well done Dawn." Marcos praised grinning at his kid. “We're gonna go inside to see if he needs help. Okay?"  “Daddy it’s locked.”  “Yeah, well I’m just gonna have to unlock it then, aren’t I?” Marcos held the padlock and felt the heat obey running into his fingers and melting the metal.  "Let's go!" She proposed pushing the door open and bounding into the building.  "Don't run off!" He demanded stepping into the old factory after her. "Stay close." Her father urged as he sidled up to her and, with Dawn walking right beside him, they start exploring the building.  "Hello!" The little girl called out as they walked. "Is anybody here?" Together Dawn and Marcos sweep the abandoned factory from left to right. In the far right hand corner of the structure against the wall they find a dark blue tent pitched.  When they begin walking to the tent a shimmering violet and aquamarine sphere appears and widens depositing a woman in its place. Seeing them she immediately drops the bags in her hands and takes a protective stance in front of the tent.  The silence is deafening, as the adults stand protectively in front of their kids, and Dawn peeks out from behind her father's legs, having hidden behind him when the portal opened.  Marcos cleared his throat, knowing he'd have to be the one to break it. "I'm Marcos and this is my daughter Dawn. We saw a kid through the window and thought it best to come check, y’know incase he needed any help.” He gestured to the tent as he said 'he', referring to her kid. “Thanks.” Her voice's flat and the dismissal was clear but Marcos needed to convey that she and her son didn’t have to live like this, they could be helped.   “You're like us," Marcos demonstrated by illuminating his left hand. The woman, if possible, became more rigid and she stepped back from him in fear, widening the distance between them. Marcos' heart broke and he dropped his hands before continuing. “We are from the Underground, it’s a few blocks away and we help people, like us, adapt and find somewhere that they can call home. If you need help, you're more than welcome to come over; we’re a pretty friendly bunch,” he grinned.  “No, thanks.” She finally spoke, her voice fraught with tension, eyeing him cautiously.   Sensing that this woman wasn’t going to relax until they were gone, Marcos pulled a folded pamphlet from his back pocket and placed it on the ground before her. Standing he took his daughter into his arms and turned back the way they had come. "Please remember we will always help a fellow mutant. No judgement. It was nice meeting you." “Daddy,” Dawn whispered once they were outside, “why are they living in a tent?”  “Some mutants aren’t as lucky as us, Dawn. It can be hard to find a place where you can belong.” He told her sadly.  “She has a pretty face like Shatter. She should come live with us.” Dawn remarked, thinking of the pretty purple marks framing the lady's face.  Marcos put her on the ground so she could walk. "She's always welcome to.” He replied as they continued their journey home.  — Clarice stood protectively in front of the tent and watched the intruder and his kid leave. Once the factory door closed behind the pair, she scooped up her fallen packages and rushed into the tent, not once glancing at the pamphlet on the damp floor a few feet away.  "You know you're not supposed to be by the windows." She chastised the boy huddled up in both of their sleeping bags.  "I wanted to see if you were here yet. I'm sorry, I really don't feel good mummy."  "I know lil' soldier, that's why I went to buy soup." She reminded him as she dug through the grocery bags and pulled out their contents. "You shouldn’t have gone to the windows." She stressed opening the can.  "I heard someone come in." He whispered through the fabric of the camping equipment, peeking just above its seam to glance at his mother.  Her hands had frozen as she remembered the mans hand glow, he could have hurt them. Taking a deep breath she pulls her mask together. "It's okay, they're gone now."  "I didn't mean to put us in danger." Ian apologized moving to sit up, his voice going up an octave. He didn't even know what type of danger he'd put them in, a small voice whispered treacherously in the back of her head.  "We're okay. We're safe. We're gonna be fine." Clarice comforted running her hands through Ian's black hair. __ Clarice gently pressed her hand against Ian’s forehead as he shifted fitfully in his sleep. It'd been two days and he was still burning up. It’s cold and damp in this building, not the best place to be living though definitely not their worst.  “Mummy.” Clarice glanced down at her son, his brown eyes bloodshot, standing out in stark contrast against his too pale skin. “It hurts," he whimpered piteously.  This is bad, worse than she had thought it was. Two days with no improvement and she couldn’t let him suffer anymore. For her too brave boy to complain, it must be horrible.  Grabbing the pamphlet the man had given her days ago, she read it over again. She couldn’t stay for long, was still preserving her energy for another day of travel, via portal, for now however, she needed the help and once Ian was better they would disappear.  Nodding in resolution she cupped his cheek once more. Then she zipped up the sleeping bag and picked him up. Clutching Ian to her, she concentrated on creating a portal, it’s raining outside and a walk in the rain didn’t sound appealing. Clarice concentrated on the outside of the building, she had scoped it out yesterday in case Ian hadn’t improved.  Stepping through she was confronted by the towering building, massive compared to the one they had been sleeping in. It’s rundown but inviting; a neat front yard, with a weathered building that needs a new coat of paint. There are lights on throughout the building.  Staggering to the front door, the rain soaking them to the bone immediately, she knocked urgently. When there’s no response, she tried the handle, it was unlocked.  “Hello. Is anyone here?” She called out. She could hear people, farther off but they were obviously here. It felt so wrong to just walk into the house.  Hesitating by the doorway, she’s relieved when a woman came walking up the corridor a child in tow. She had dark red hair and looked meticulously put together, the little girl Clarice momentarily recognized as the girl who’d come with the man the day before last. Clarice knew she looked a mess but that didn’t matter at the moment, all that mattered was Ian. "A man said I could come here if I need help. My son is sick, he has a fever.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Marcos was sitting in the living room refereeing a Twister competition when the front door opened. He didn't think anything of it until Dawn skipped into the room and jumped on the couch next to him.  "Daddy, the tent lady's here." Marcos was on his feet instantly. "Sonia's taking her to the clinic." She informed him as he all but ran out of the room and down the halls tearing through the house.

"Are you alright?" He called as he rounded the corner to the clinic door. The woman he’d met the day before last looked up with tears in her eyes then glanced to the table. Immediately his gaze zeroed in on the child laying still on the examination table. "Is he okay?" Marcos asked Daniella, the stations doctor.

"His fever's very high 103.4; he should have been taken to the hospital.” She stated gravely. Sonia, who was seated next to the mother, gripped the woman's hand tighter as the doctor spoke.

“We can’t go to the hospital.” Clarice muttered demurely. Dani nodded sadly, some mutants and their children were not welcome or were refused treatment at hospitals. There were some clinics whom would treat them but they were few and far between.

“He’s severely dehydrated, I'm giving him all the broad spectrum antibiotics and saline he can handle. The meds should start to kick in and his temperature should drop. He'll be fine then."
"Thanks Dani." Marcos responded looking away from the boy and back to his distraught mother.
"I'll have Caitlin change his IV bag and give him another dose of meds when she gets in tonight." Daniella announced to both of them.

"Got it." Marcos responded. Daniella knelt down until she was level with the mother. She handed the Asian woman a tissue.

"It's okay, he should be alright. You did a brave thing by coming here, great job. I will help your son to the best of my ability.”

"Thanks doc."
S
he whispered.

"Look," Marcos said as he slowly approached her. "I can't even begin to understand what you're going through, but Dani's
great
and you are safe now." The woman looked up at him, finally, and unlike at the factory, she saw him. She saw the man who invited them to a safe harbor and not the man who was a potential weapon crashing into their
s
helter.

"I'm Marcos Diaz. I’m
o
ne of the leader
s
at this station and I live here with my family.”

“I’m Clarice and this is Ian, man of the hour.” She murmured, leaning over to run her hand through the boys sweat slick hair.

“It’s nice to meet you Clarice. Can I get you anything?”

“A clean bill of health?” She asked rhetorically.

“Well, we’re working on that, aren’t we?” He joked lightly. “How about I bring you something to eat? What do you say to a hot meal?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed.”

“Great, I’m gonna get you some pasta and bring John to meet you. He started the Underground and he likes meeting every new person when they come in.” Then he back peddled realizing that she might not be comfortable. “But if you don’t want to now, I don’t have to bring him.”
 "Clarice," Sonia spoke comfortingly, "you don't have to meet him now. You can take it at your own pace." She reassured.
“No, it’s fine. I can meet him now.”

“Alright. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” And with that Marcos exited the clinic, closing the door behind himself, and leaving Clarice under Sonia's care, as he set off up the halls and to the ground floor towards the mess hall. He ran into John in the mess. John was talking to Gus, who was packing away the leftovers from dinner.
“Hey Gus, can I have a bowl of pasta?”
“Didn’t you eat already?” He sassed rhetorically knowing that Marcos had in fact eaten to his stomachs content, having come back for seconds.

“It’s not for me, we have a new woman here.” He turned to address John. “I told her I’d bring you but to meet her.”

“Marcos, maybe she’s not up for that, she probably didn’t come in under the best of circumstances.” John elaborated. 'Though no one ever does.' He thought morosley.

“She said she’s up for it. She probably just want to get it out of the way.” Marcos surmised.

“How does she like her pasta?” Gus asked.

“Um, lets do lots of sauce and cheese.”

“Can’t believe you didn’t ask Diaz.” Gus deadpanned, turning away to fix it.

“It wasn’t the first thing on my mind honestly.” He defended. “Honestly I’m just as worried about that boy as she is.”

“What boy?” John asked.

“She only came by because her sons sick and they won’t get treated at a hospital.”

“How bad is the boy?” Gus asked, tuning into the conversation.

“103 degree fever. If it doesn’t break someone’s gonna have to take him to an emergency room. He doesn’t have marking but if his mom takes him he won’t get treated.”

“She probably wouldn’t let us just take him to the hospital without her.”

“If it’s the only option,” he shrugged, “she just might.” They fell into introspective silence.

“Here,” Gus said, pushing a steaming ceramic bowl of pasta across the counter, pulling them out of their own minds.

“Does it have to be that hot? You’re trying to burn her or what?”

“Don’t even act like that’ll burn you Diaz, I’m just making sure that it’ll still be warm when you get it to her. You are a slowpoke.”

“Hey!” The Columbian objected visibly offended.

“Not now guys. Gus, leave him alone.” Then he turned to Marcos. “Let’s go.”
  
Clarice sat in the hard plastic chair by Ian's bedside sniffling and silently wiping her tears every few seconds. Marcos had left to bring pasta and John, the man who ran the haven, to the clinic to meet her.

She knew that she should probably go to the sink and rinse her face so she could make a good first impression but she couldn't bring herself to move from Ian's side. She heard footsteps coming back down the hall and low murmured voices. In a futile attempt, she used her sleeve to dab her eyes and wipe away her tear tracks.

"No one here is going to judge you for the way you look." Sonia said as she watched Clarice attempt to not look like she'd just been crying.

"Maybe not, but I can't always look like a half drowned cat." She snarked with a small smile. Quickly she blew into the tissue she had received from the doctor, one last time, and crumpled it in her hand. The voices and footsteps grew louder and then a light knock echoed through the clinic. Marcos opened the door and stepped through.

"Clarice this is John Proudstar. John founded and runs this station of the Underground." Clarice watched the door as another man entered. He looked vaguely familiar and it hit her at the same time it hit him. She watched, only faintly amused, as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Nice to meet you." She cut in before he could find any words. His mouth shut with an audible click, making Marcos look away from her and, both him and Sonia, turn to him questioningly. Clarice challengingly rose an eyebrow at him behind Marcos and Sonia's backs. Albeit a bit reluctantly, taking her cue John noded.

"Nice to meet you too, Ms.—“

"Evans. Clarice Evans."

“Here you go Clarice, or do you prefer—“ Marcos started asking.

“Clarice is fine.” She stated, cutting him off.

“Okay. Here you go. I didn’t know how you prefer it so I asked Gus to put on lots of tomato sauce and cheese.” He said with a smile.

“Sounds perfect. Thanks Marcos.” Clarice said, smiling back slightly.

“Your welcome. It’s a little too hot so let it cool down for a second before digging in.” He cautioned. She nodded and took the bowl, letting it warm her clammy hands.

“I have to go put my daughter to bed but I will come to check on you afterwards.”

“Alright.” She replied. Marcos gave her an encouraging smile then left.

"Clarice, I have to go as well. I have to take care of some tasks but I can come back immediatley when I've finished. Would you like me to come back?" She asked, her voice steady, not giving any indecation as which she would prefer so as not to influence Clarice's decision.

"Yes Sonia, I would. Thank you."

When Sonia left, Johns gaze was drawn
to the boy, his brow furrowed as he started to drift off in thought. Clarice cleared her throat to get his attention because as long as he was focused on her he wasn't focused on Ian.

"Fancy meeting you here." She said, breaking the silence. John chuckled softly.

"I thought I'd never see you again." He replied, soft brown eyes searching hers.

"Guess you didn't get the memo that you're not supposed to meet one night stands again." She responded wiping her slightly runny nose with the cuff of her sleeve.

His eyes ran over her as if assessing her. "What size are you?" Clarice's eyebrow rose in question. “So
I can
bring you some dry clothes." He
elaborated. She looked at her feet so he couldn't see her
s
mall smile, he saw it nonetheless.

Clarice looked back up biting her lip and nervously pushed a few wet locks of hair behind her right ear. Borrowing someone’s clothes felt a little too permanent, though the urge to change out of the wet clothes is high. “I'm size 2.” She murmured, attempting to push away the uncomfortable feeling she got at the thought of having to depend on other people.

“Alright, I’ll see what I can find.” John smiled before leaving to find clothes. John slowly made his way towards the room which acted as a large walk in closet of donated clothes. He walked over to the standing rack that had size 2’s on it. Operating on auto pilot, he grabbed a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie, his mind focused on the image of Clarice and her son. The thought of the boy made John cross the room to the chest of children’s clothes and pull out a set of dry clothes for the boy as well. He remembered her face like it was yesterday.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

John shook himself so as not to wander down memory lane and got back to the task at hand, he didn’t want Clarice to end up as sick as her son. He pushed any thoughts of their meeting and subsequent time together to the back of his mind and, after putting the accumulated clothes into a hamper, he started back to the infirmary.Clarice let out a small sigh of relief whilst gazing at her son, her fork in hand and warm pasta bowl in the other. Who would have known that one night, which was enjoyable while it lasted, would have given her the best thing in her life. She glanced at her son and saw the subtle similarities: his nose, his heart, and knowing that behind closed eyelids rested the same soft, kind, brown eyes. Clarice clenched her hands in her lap, feeling a slight sense of panic encroach upon her. She couldn't let John figure it out, he wouldn't let them leave if he knew. She couldn’t allow them to become trapped, not again.Moving to Ian's side, she's half tempted to leave, yearning to open a portal and be gone before he got back, before it's too late. Clarice looked down at her son once again. His face is relaxed due to the medicine and he looks peaceful, more so than he’s been in days, there's no way she would jeopardize his health by portaling them away. There's a sturdy knock on the door to alert her that someone is coming in. John opened the door a basket of clothing in his arms."So I found some things that should fit, it may not be much for style but it'll keep you warm." He offered, extending the basket to her. And the basket is for your wet clothes. They'll be put in the dryer and delivered to your room.""My room?" Clarice questioned confused.“Sorry?”“You said our clothes would be put in my room.”"Yeah, we give people who are staying with us a room. You understand that it's going to take some time for your son to get better." John said. The violet haired mutant looked despondently towards her child's prone figure."You're right, I guess I'm going to need a room." She reasoned. “Thanks." She responded taking the basket from him and placing it on the chair she had vacated. Her hands touched the edge of her sweater then hesitated. Clarice turned back to him then, eyeing him expectantly."Yes?" John asked bemusedly, watching her watch him."I need to change." She said it slowly as if talking to a child and John flushed."Yeah, sorry. I'll be right outside, just lemme know when you're done." He said, quickly ducking out the door in a flash.Clarice chuckled after him before turning to sort through the clothes he brought her. After several minutes she changed into dark sweatpants, a grey long sleeved shirt, and pulled a white hoodie over that. Clarice picked up a blue sweater and wrangled Ian's limbs out of his wet clothes and through the dry kids clothing. She knocked on the door to alert him then opened it and handed John the basket of wet clothing. He took it and walked away. He came back a couple minutes later, to find her eating, and sat in the chair beside her. They sat together in silence while she finished eating."How did you start this—" she absently waved her fork around gesturing beyond the clinic, "whole thing?""When I got back, from overseas, I saw that even though I'd been fighting for equality for all in the Middle East we didn’t have equality here and it felt a little hypocritical. Besides that, I wanted to help my kind so I didn't re-up and I found people with similar interests: Lorna, Marcos, Shatter, Trader, Gus, and we all bought this building and we've been doing what we can. That's actually why I was in New York." Clarice's gaze snapped up to him at the mention of New York, obviously apprehensively, and John made a note not to bring it up again after this conversation. "I had a meeting with Charles Xavier of the Xavier Institute to get funding for the expansion of the stations. He saw what we were doing here and he offered to help. Now there are stations in seven different states." John said proudly."That's amazing, congratulations." She commented genuinely impressed."What about you?" John asked smiling at her. "What did you do after?" ‘After you left’ was left unspoken yet heavily implied and she nearly balked at the question."Uhh, I-," she stared, fiddling with her empty bowl, "I went for a funeral, my foster fathers.""I'm sorry for your loss." He whispered immediately."Yeah, he was a great man, he was killed by a drunk driver and it wasn't fair. He and his wife dedicated their lives to raising mutant children, the ones who couldn’t pass for human, making us feel loved and wanted. For such a selfless man to be killed by such a selfish action." She shook her head in disgust. "Anyway, I came home after and nothing much happened.""You have a kid." John reminded her. She smiled softly looking in Ian's direction. "And you're married now," John said with a pointed glance at left her hand where a tan line ringed around her third finger."Yeah, there's that." She murmured the smile disappearing instantly and wringing her hands together.After observing her hesitance and reluctance John assumed that her husband was a mutant as well and something had happened to him which made her and her son run. “What happened to your husband?" He gently probed."I don't want to talk about it." She retorted. John backed off instantly, raising his hands in surrender."Fair enough." He answered. The door opened unexpectedly, making both adults turn towards the intruder."Hi, I'm Caitlin Strucker." The blonde woman introduced herself before moving to look at the whiteboard that had the instructions Dani wrote on it. "I'm a nurse, I stay the night three times a week when we have patients. I understand that you’re new."“Yeah.”“Well, despite the circumstances of your arrival, welcome. You’re safe now.” She said with such warmth and affection that Clarice momentarily believed it, then the blonde looked away, having picked up Ian’s chart and started reading it, and Clarice remembered that she was never safe— that she would never be safe.“What’s happening?” She asked anxiously. As nurse Caitlin walked to the IV and read the bags, then checked his temperature.“The meds that Daniella administered have started working, his fever has fallen a little so I believe that it has broken and the worst is behind him. I’m optimistic.” She said turning back to the young mother. A relieved smile broke out upon Clarice’s face and John allowed himself be happy for both mother and boy.Caitlin stayed for ten minutes and after administering more meds and checking Ian’s sats, she left.“Let’s show you to your room.” John suggested standing and stretching his legs.“I’m not leaving him.”“Clarice, he needs to stay here for observation, Caitlin’s going to come back and there’s no room for you here. I can take you to your room, you can sleep in a bed and come back in the morning.”“I can’t leave him.” She protested, a note of distress coloring her tone.“It’ll just be for a few hours, it’s incredibly late. You can come back first thing in the morning. You should try to get some rest.” He stated compassionately. She turned back to look at her son and John stepped forward. “He’s a cute kid. My son is seven, how old is yours?” He saw Clarice’s jaw tick before she opened her mouth to respond.“He’s four.” She replied, the lie niggling at her conscious but she reigned it in with the fact that freedom was close and no one would jeopardize that goal.“That’s a good age.” He commented.She turned to face him. “You know what?” She asked, pulling John’s attention from the boy back to the mother. “I think I can do with a good nights sleep.”“Alright.” He instantly replied amidst some confusion, she had just been so adamant about not leaving and now she was prepared to walk away, obviously she didn’t like answering questions about her kid either. “If you need another moment I can wait outside.” He suggested.“Yeah, thanks. I’ll be just another minute.” As soon as the door closed she turned back to her sleeping son. Clarice leaned over and pressed a hard kiss to his sweaty forehead. “I’ll be back soon, bao bae.” She whispered. Then she turned and left the room to follow John.“I want to bring him a blanket and a pillow.”“Of course.” He nodded immediately. “I’ll go to the linen closet and get both. You can wait here, I’ll be right back.”“Can you also bring a washcloth?”“Yeah.” He came back quickly a thick woolen blanket in one arm and a fluffy pillow under the other. She took the pillow and gently tucked it under Ian’s head. While John spread the blanket over the sleeping boy, Clarice took the washcloth and ran it under cold water. Then she folded it and placed it on his forehead to help cool him down.“Sleep tight, little love.” She whispered in his ear. Then she followed John out of the infirmary and down the hallway to the stairs up to the second floor where, he explained the bedrooms and bathrooms were located. As they walked down the corridor to the next available room Clarice noticed that some doors were decorated. She then looked down the hall to see that most of the doors were closed and there were six door open, signifying that there were six empty rooms.“How many people live here?”“Well thirty people live at the station, excluding Marcos, his family, and myself along with my son, Caspian, and another leader Gus. Marcos and I live in apartments off of the first floor. That’s where the infirmary, family room, cafeteria and the welcoming center is located. The second floor houses all personal quarters and there are five communal bathrooms up here, equipped with showers. Then we have volunteers both human and mutant who come during the daytime, or at night to help situate any mutants who show up, they run the clothing center, and help with job hunting and all sorts of things.” John stopped at an open door that had a bunk bed set. The twin bed was the upper bunk and the bottom bunk was a full sized mattress a brand new set of sheets were folded atop both beds. “This will be your room. Your son can join you once Daniella deems him ready. Do you need help with the bed sheets?”“No, thank you. I’ve got it.”“Alright then, goodnight Clarice.”“Goodnight John.” Then she shut the door and flicked the light switch. The bedroom walls were painted mint, there was a window with drawn blinds. A dresser sat against the wall opposite the bunk beds with an alarm clock on top of it, so you would have to leave bed to turn off the alarm effectively waking you up. Next to the dresser was a basket which held her and Ian’s dried clothes on top of a folded comforter. With a small smile Clarice walked over to the bottom bunk and picked up the bed sheets.                                                                                         ————— 1 Hr Later —————Ian woke blearily with a warm blanket wrapped around his shoulders, a wet washcloth on his forehead and a pillow under his head. He curled into the thick comforter and sighed contentedly. He hadn’t been this warm and cozy since they’d had to leave home. Startled by that thought, Ian shot up. He threw off the comforter and hopped off of the surface he was on. He looked around frantically.“Where was his mom? Where were they? Had being sick made them vulnerable? Had they been found??”Terrified his heart leapt into his throat and he cautiously opened the door. The soft glow of hall lights and a finger painted floral picture hanging lopsidedly on the wall greeted him. Nervously he peeked his head outside the door looking back and forth. The thought that they hadn’t been found comforted him and emboldened his steps, and he set off down the hall. Ian was drowning in the new sweater that he was wearing, nevertheless he padded barefoot down the hall with the sweater dragging on the floor. He observed the building as he walked about. It was empty, there was nobody there.“Mummy?” He called out, since the building appeared empty. “Oma? Where are you?” A door opened farther down in response and instinctively Ian started towards it until a little boy popped his head out. Ian froze in his tracks as he stared at the other boy. The boy stared right back, his face had red ridges sticking out of it and his hair was white and curly. The boy then stepped out of the room and began walking towards him. Freaking out, Ian turned tail and ran.“Hey, wait!” The boy called behind him and, when he risked a glance over his shoulder, he saw the kid chasing after him only prompting Ian to run faster.                                                                                         •••••• 5 minutes earlier••••••Caspian sat on the couch next to his dad, a nearly empty cup of hot chocolate in his lagging grip.“Do you think you can go to sleep with no more nightmares tonight?”“Five more minutes,” his son beseeched curling up into Johns side.“Come on Cas, it’s way past time to go to bed kiddo.” John stated taking the cocoa mug and standing the two of them up. “You told me you’re too old to be held so up you get.” Caspian groaned softly and reluctantly stood. He trailed after his dad, following him from the living room to their tiny kitchen, where he leaned against Johns legs as he washed the dirty mug. Then John took Caspian’s hand in his, with the intention of leading him back to bed.Caspian followed his dad wearily, letting himself be pulled along. As they amble along the hallway towards their rooms they pass the door and Caspian heard a faint creak which had him sliding his finger out of his fathers and pausing. John turned around and quirked his eyebrow.“I heard something,” his son replied, moving the few feet to door and opened it to peer out into the hall, “there’s a kid in the hall.”“Who?”“Dunno.” He answered turning his head over his shoulder to reply, looking back out he door he called out “hey wait!” and took off. Almost immediately afterwards a child began screaming bloody murder. John was out the door in a second flat.John ran, following the shrill screams to the common room. Lorna and Marcos’s door opened and the confused face of Lorna Dane appeared, seeing him running towards the sound she quickly joined him. When they entered the entertainment area he saw his son, climbing the media cabinet after Clarice’s son.“Caspian, no! Get down.” He admonished running up to his kid and pulling him off the sturdy oak cabinets.“I’m just trying to get him off dad.” His seven year old protested, wriggling in his arms.“Omaaaaa!!!!!” Clarice’s son wailed, tears running down flushed cheeks as he huddled against the wall trying to get as far away from the three people as he possibly could.“Lorna can you get Clarice? She’s in room 211.”“I’m here,” a frantic voice said from just over his shoulder. “Ian.” She called out and the screaming immediately stopped.“Oma?” The scared child whispered.“I’m right here, yeogie jebal.” Immediately he crept towards the edge of the media cabinet and when Clarice extended her arms he grabbed onto her and she pulled him down and cradled him to her chest.“I’m so sorry for leaving you alone.” She whispered into her sons hair. “Never again, I promise.” He leaned back in her embrace and she stared him in the eyes. “What are we?” She questioned.“Were a team.” He whispered back, wiping the tears away from his cheeks with the back of his hands.“That’s right, you and me against the world.” She whispered to him, resting her forehead against his.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lorna watched the mother cuddle her son close and calm him down. She then turned to John who had put Caspian down and was reprimanding him for chasing the younger boy up the media cabinet.“Is he alright?” She questioned slowly approaching the mother and son duo, pulling them back to the present and reminding them that they weren’t alone.“He’ll be fine. He just didn’t know where we were; he hasn’t been awake all day.” Clarice answered, running her hand thru her sons hair. The boy pressed his head farther into her shoulder. Ian peeked over Clarice’s shoulder and instinctively flinched back, causing Lorna to look over her shoulder to see what he’d flinched away from. She saw John was leading Caspian towards them, the seven year old looking despondently at the ground, John struck an imposing figure even when he didn’t look angry but upset she could see how the boy would be scared of him.When the pair stood even with Lorna, John nudged Caspian forward. The blond boy sighed but stepped forward. “I’m sorry for chasing and scaring you.” He apologized.“No problem, I’m fine.” The younger boy responded all the while looking at John and not Caspian whom he was addressing. Lorna noticed that he was watching John warily.“Come on its way past your bedtime.” John remarked, taking Caspians hand and leading him back to their apartment.“I’ll show you back to the infirmary and have Caitlin bandage up his arm and then to your room.” At the mention of his arm, both the boy and his mother looked at his right arm, which had previously held an IV drip, and noticed that it was bleeding undoubtably from where he’d blown the IV by hopping off the table.“Oh.” Ian mumbled as he watched the blood run down his arm.“Holy crap!” Clarice gasped, as she grabbed her son’s arm and raised it above his head to slow the bleeding. “Jeez kid, how did you not feel this?”“Dunno.” He murmured.“He was probably just afraid and couldn’t feel it. I’ll call Caitlyn to fix his arm. Follow me please.” The mother started to follow Lorna before she turned and stared at the media cabinet and the floor, before sighing.“Ian you got blood everywhere.” She chastised.“I’ll have someone come clean it. It is safe for us to handle right?”“Why wouldn’t it be?”“My husbands mutation changes his blood.”“Oh well then no, Ian’s blood is safe.”“Okay then, come with me.” Lorna instructed the distressed mother. Lorna led her back through the interconnecting hallways to the infirmary where Caitlyn Strucker was waiting. As soon as Clarice put the boy down Caitlyn descended upon him. In no time at all his arm was bandaged, the blood trail wiped away, and a new central line in his other arm.“Alright now that that’s handled, I think it’s time to go to sleep.”“I can stay though right?” Clarice asked apprehensively and at her tone Ian clung to her fiercely. Lorna observed the pair and the boy began trembling at the prospect of their parting.“How about,” Lorna proposed as Caitlyn opened her mouth to speak, “we hang the saline bag above their bed and you can go to sleep in your room?”“That could work. Although I do not recommend it.” Strucker sighed.“I’d prefer that to leaving him here, again.” Clarice spoke up.“If that’s what you want.” Strucker said resigned. She then grabbed everything she’d need to set up the boy in the room with his mom and then gestured. “After you.”Clarice held her son to her and followed Lorna back to the room John had given her, the nurse walked behind her and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy having her back to the woman.“Here we are,” Lorna spoke as they neared the door. The nurse walked past them both to the bunk bed and began hanging the IV from the rails of the top bunk, so the bag would be suspended over the bottom bunk. Clarice settled down onto the mattress with Ian and laid him down. Strucker then connected the lead to the IV tube and taped a section of the tube to his arm to secure it.“All done.” She smiled once she finished.“Thank you, both.”“You’re welcome.” Nurse Strucker responded.“Have a good nights sleep and don’t forget to take him back to the infirmary to see Dani in the morning.” Lorna instructed as she walked out the bedroom door.“Alright, I will. Good night.” Clarice stated closing the door behind the two women.“Oma?”“It’s alright,” she immediately placated. “We’re staying here till you get better, they’re going to help us, love.” Clarice climbed into the full sized bottom bunk of the bed, crawling over her son who lay on the outside, to settle next to the wall. “We’re going to be safe,”she affirmed. ‘For now’ her brain supplied treacherously.The next morning Clarice woke up warm, relaxed, and comfortable, for the first time in a long time. Opening her eyes she sees Ian sleeping safely beside her, then the memories from last night come back to her; the underground, John, and the fact that she needed to take Ian back to the infirmary. Gazing at her son, she swept her eyes across his features easily distinguishing her traits and now his: Ian has his black hair, her bone structure, his short eyelashes, his eye color and the way he smiles. Gently she brushed her knuckles across her son’s cheek, subtley checking his temperature whilst softly coaxing him awake.“Oma?” His voice croaked, laden with sleep.“I'm right here." She soothed stroking his cheek, glad to note that his face was no longer on fire as it had been for the past few days, although it was still too warm."Where are we?" he asked as he opened his big brown eyes and looked around the room they were sleeping in."Somewhere safe. We have to go back to the clinic so that the doctor can check you out." His face scrunched up unpleasantly at the thought. "It's okay baobae, no shots promise. Now we've gotta get up." She said rolling over him and getting out of bed. Ian groaned and burried his face in the pillow beneath him as Clarice chuckled and then put her clean dry clothes on, the clothes that she'd arrived in. "Come on Ian, your clothes are clean. Change out of that extra-large sweater." Clarice instructed, pulling her grey short sleeved shirt over her black long sleeved shirt."Oma, there's a string in my arm." Ian remarked staring down at the IV in his arm."Don't pull that out!" She exclaimed as she popped her head out of the shirt. Then she rushed to his side and took down the mostly empty IV which had been suspended from the bars of the bunk bed. "You're gonna hold this in your hand and I'm going to help you change. Okay?""I don't need help getting dressed anymore." He protested, holding the bag and the plastic tubing in his little hand."I know, you're such a big boy but I don't want you to accidentally take this out, it has to stay attached so I'm going to help you." Clarice stated, rephrasing it so she wasn't asking for his permission. Ian pouted and she dropped a quick kiss to his forehead in an attempt to placate him. Turning away from her kid sitting on the bed she went and got his green cargo pants and tan three quarter length shirt. Carefully Clarice guided his arms through the sleeves of the sweater and tugged it over his head and off. Then she threaded his shirt over his right arm which held the IV and tubing secure while he poked his left arm and head through with a grin. Kneeling Clarice helped him step into his pants and settled them into place on his hips. As she stood, she scooped up her son perched him on her hip and left room.Clarice walked down the hall slowly, unsure of direction she should be walking to get to the clinic. Descending from the second floor and taking a brief glance around she realized that there are signs and started off towards the clinic. A man who looked like a dark elf, with ears far pointer than her own, and gray skin nodded to her in greeting as she walked past him in the hall. Not even a minute later she arrived at the clinic, and walked right in having found the door wide open. There's a man leaning against the wall speaking with the doctor. Clarice stopped, afraid of interrupting-- bad things happen when she interrupts, but Dani looked up her and Ian and smiled widely."Good morning you both, I was getting a little worried to be honest. I received Caitlin's note so I knew where Ian was but I'm glad to see you both still here." Then she looked at her companion and introduced him. "This is Shatter.""My name is Jerome," he sighed heavily, "I don’t think I'm getting rid of that nickname anytime soon." The man said introducing himself."I'm Clarice and this is Ian.""Your nickname's cool." Ian whispered shyly ducking his head further into Clarice's neck. Jerome chuckled and smiled softly at the little boy."Thank you Ian." He replied politely, then he turned to Clarice as he came to a realization. "You haven't missed breakfast yet, I can show you to the mess hall. I'll wait outside while you finish up with Dani. I hope you feel better little man." Then he nodded towards Dani and walked outside to lounge against the wall while he waited for Clarice."Shatter's a genuinely nice guy, you shouldn't read into it much." Dani advised having taken in Clarice's rigid posture during that interaction. "Now let's check on our little patient." The Latina ushered them to a cot, where she sat her five year old down. Dani took the IV bag and hung it next to the bed then took his temperature, blood pressure and listened to his lungs and heart."His fever has going down considerably, considering where it was yesterday night now it's at 99.7* which is still too high for a child his age but he's over the dangerous part. I'll give him some acetaminophen to help reduce the fever as well as for the discomfort he's still feeling. His blood sugar should be getting low given how his BP fluctuated the way it did, so you should bring him some applesauce or toast or a banana for him to eat." She ducked her head to look at the little boy and spoke clearly. "Ian you have to eat, even though you don't want to right now." Then she looked back up at Clarice. "I'll give him a Gatorade to drink while you go eat breakfast, it'll help replenish his electrolytes and hold him over until the toast.""You're extremely efficient." Clarice praised, as she realized that it took Dani only five minutes to do this little check up. "I'll be back very soon baobae." She promised as she kissed his head. When she exited the clinic she saw Jerome waiting a few feet down the hall. He looked up and waved her over with a smile.“So, there are a couple ways to get to the mess hall, if you get lost trying to go anywhere there are signs taped to the wall.”“I found them, it’s how I got to the clinic this morning. I wasn’t really paying attention last night.” She confessed.“All that means is that you won’t get lost wandering around here.” “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you hear about the Underground?”“Um, Marcos he gave me a pamphlet and it advertised an in-house mutant doctor, it seemed like the best option available so I brought us here.”“Daniella’s a very good doctor, your son is in good hands.”“I believe that.”“Also we have Caitlin Strucker, a nurse, who’s great with mutant physiology.”“She’s not a mutant?”“No, but her entire family is and they all do volunteer work with the Underground. Her husband Reed provides legal council, for those who need it, and their kids lead activities for our residents and occasional weekend excursions.”“You have excursions?” She scoffed disbelievingly.“Yeah, in two weeks were taking a trip to the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta. Maybe if your son recovers in time you’d like to join?” Shatter phrased it in such a way that she knows she doesn’t have to answer and is grateful. Then he opened a large double door and led her into the mess hall. It was the size of an elementary school cafeteria, and had round tables dispersed across the floor. There was a little line leading up to the food station and it was set up kinda like a school cafeteria. Clarice immediately recognized John as a server as well as Marcos but there was a teen she didn’t know with them and a young girl.“Good morning Clarice.” John greeted. Jerome let out an affronted huff and John quickly back pedaled to greet his friend. “Hi Shatter, how are you?”“I’m good, just showing my companion Clarice to the mess hall, because someone didn’t give her a map when they brought her in and let her wander around this big-ass building. Marcos looked a little chagrined at the fact that he and John both forgot to give her a map.“That skipped my mind man, I was worried about her kid.” Marcos defended.“I’ll arrange for someone to give you a tour and a map,” he tacked on at the end with a pointed look at Shatter. “I’ll ask Sonia to give you the tour.”“I feel like you’re just trying to make me meet new people.” Clarice accused, making John smile.“Maybe just a little.” He confessed grinning goodnatureamiably.“What would you like?” Marcos asked gesturing to the spread. There was a tray of waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns. The little girl was hanging out prices of fruit and the teenager was pouring juice and or coffee into mugs. Shatter finished being served and walked off.“Oh, uh, can I have a little of each?”“Sure.” John replied, picking up a plate and putting a waffle on it. Then added a scoop of eggs. John passed the plate to Marcos who added two sausage and a dollop of hash browns before handing the plate to Clarice.“And can I have toast for Ian?”“Yeah, when you’re finished eating just come back up and I’ll make some toast.”“Thanks.” Clarice muttered and walked further down the line to the girl, who smiled at her and asked what fruit she wanted. Then she was handed an orange and a banana. With a small ‘thanks’, Clarice walked to the nearest empty table and sat, not bothering to get a cup of coffee.Sighing as she sunk into the chair at the empty table, Clarice surveyed the veritable feast before. It was so much better than the cans of soup that she’s been making them consist off of for nearly the last month. Picking up the fork she began to eat, while simultaneously feeling guilty because she was eating real food and Ian was stuck with bland toast and a banana.Halfway through her meal the chair across her got pulled out and some guy sat down.The guy looked at her and nodded in greeting before he turned his attention to his coffee cup. Clarice finished her food, sans the orange and banana she intended to eat with her son. The man looked up at her again when he finished his coffee and gestured to her empty platter.“I can take that for you, if you like.” He offered.“I know how to wash a plate.” Clarice scoffed. Coffee guy chuckled lowly.“It’s not that simple here, but I just meant so you could get back to your kid faster.”“How do you know about my kid?” She quipped quickly on the defensive.“Sorry, I’m Gus. I’m one of the leaders of this station. I was made aware of your situation by the other leaders. Sorry if it freaked you out.” He replied, holding his hands up.“John mentioned you briefly, yesterday.” She replied vaguely.“How was the pasta last night?” Gus redirected.“Marcos brought me that.”“I prepared it tho.”“It was good, so thanks, I guess.” Clarice offered, making him chuckle lightly.“You’re welcome.” He smirked prompting her to lightly roll her eyes. “You can leave your plate with me and go back to your kid.”“I’ve gotta get him something to eat first.”“Okay then.” Gus replied, wiping his hands together to dust off imaginary crumbs and standing. “Seeing as the kitchens my preview I’ll make you something to take to him. What’s Dani say he could eat right now?”“The brat diet.”“So toast and applesauce for the little man, coming right up.” He said congenially picking up her plate and his mug. “Follow me.” Gus encouraged tossing a smile over his shoulder. Clarice was a bit taken aback by his candor and affability, then she stood and walked after him, a number of feet behind. Clarice felt a pair of eyes on her as she followed Gus and as she looked up she easily found whose eyes were on her, John’s. Clarice stared back raising an eyebrow daringly. John’s lips tweaked upwards and he looked down at his plate. Having won whatever that was, Clarice walked through the metal doors and into the large kitchen. She found Gus easily, he was standing in front of an industrial freezer, having just recently emerged with a container of Motts applesauce brandished victoriously in his hands.“Viola.” He smiled as he filled a ramekin while the toaster popped and two slices of toast bounced up. Gus plated then and placed the saucer and ramekin on a tray. “Last but not least,” he added laying a banana down next to the meal. With a quick ‘thanks’ Clarice took the tray and declined the offer of being led back to the infirmary then left the kitchen and mess hall backtracking her steps to Ian, stomach more full than it's been in weeks.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The door to the infirmary opened and Clarice looked up from her spot in an armchair at Ian’s bedside. A woman with long red hair entered and approached.

“Hello, I’m Sonia. I was asked to give you a tour.”

“I didn’t know he was serious about that.” She sighed. Sonia seemed puzzled by the utterance but went with it. “I’m Clarice,” the mother introduced, “and this is Ian.”

“I’m glad to see he’s doing better. I was really worried when I brought you both in yesterday night.” Sonia replied, walking closer to get a good look at the little boy asleep on the infirmary cot. “He’s handsome.”

“Yes, he is. He looks even cuter when he’s sleeping.” Clarice responded making Sonia smile.

“How about I give you a quick tour while he rests. It should only be about ten, fifteen minutes, tops. I can probably get you back before he wakes up.” She proposed.

“Alright.” Clarice agreed sighing as she stood while casting another glance at her son. Sonia led her out of the infirmary and up the hall through a few winding corridors and to the front door.

“I’ll start from the beginning.” The redhead commenced. “This is our foyer. To the left there’s an activity board that has flyers and posters of the events and outings we do, each voluntary. The wall to the left was actually built with the purpose of having a secure foyer, on the other side of that wall is the mess hall. To the right is the front desk and then the gate which blocks off this part of the foyer from in case the guest is uninvited.” Sonia explained as they walked past the chest high gate that looked to be made out of wood but had a magnetic lock securing it to the desk that was sitting on an elevated platform about four feet away from the door jamb leading to the next room.

“Beyond the gate is the living room where we have movie and game events. Johns apartment is off of the first floor attached to the living room. Beyond that we have the large three storied staircase. The second floor, as you know has been converted into dormitories, Lorna and Marcos live in an apartment off of the second floor, it’s the green door if you haven’t seen it yet you’ll definitely notice it now.” She commented wryly, as they descended the stairs. “Meanwhile the basement has been converted into classrooms.” She explained as she reached the bottom and led the way down a well lit corridor with doors on one half, some doors open, meaning they were empty, some closed, meaning a class was in session. “These classrooms do everything from ability training to Math and English tutoring to karate classes. Most of the adults in this station teach a class. Lorna and John teach others how to control their abilities. Marcos and Pedro give Spanish lessons. Caitlyn teaches first aid basics and tutors biology. I give art classes and Gus administers Karate lessons. We try not to just focus on ability training, since most of the people who come here are children we want them to feel a semblance of normal while also getting help in any of the subjects they may struggle in.”

“Why would you teach them how to use their ability at all?” Clarice questioned as they peeked into one classroom just in time to see Lorna attack a girl who defended herself with water.

“Well if the only way most mutants can use their abilities is when they’re scared or in danger then they run the risk of hurting someone inadvertently or being hurt because they can’t use their ability when they most need it. We teach control, so when you’re scared you don’t accidentally lash out and being able to steadily rely in your ability regardless of if you’re in danger.” Sonia explained as she led Clarice back to the staircase.

“This is the only way up and down?” Clarice asked.

“Yes it’s the only way to get upstairs from downstairs. Each classroom has an exit it leads to the backyard which is fenced in and inaccessible to the outside world. So if someone’s out in the yard and then they can come in through the doors in each classroom but this is the only staircase in the building.” Sonia clarified as they walked back to the main floor. “So beyond the foyer and living room and personal apartment, this floor also has two offices, one is used by Mr. Reed Strucker he helps the Underground and the  individual guests with legal matters. The other office is used as a goodwill/clothing store we just call it the closet. We get a lot of donations from the community, as well as organizations that we have good relationships with.”

“That’s neat.” Clarice murmured.

“And as you know the infirmary is on this level, as well as the mess hall.” Sonia concluded as she opened a door and showed Clarice that they’d come full circle  back to the infirmary door. Sonia glanced at her wrist watch, “ten minutes exactly.” She said with a hint of pride.

After the tour Sonia Wales away leaving Clarice at the infirmary door where she was met with the sight of Ian still sleeping and greeted by Dr. Dani with good news.

“Clarice, great timing just who I wanted to see.”

“Is something wrong with Ian?”

“No he’s recovering wonderfully in fact he should be over the fever in about two days with no lingering side effects. However I would like to keep him a full week for observation.”

“A full week?” She questioned aghast.

“I would prefer that, yes. Of course it’s your decision.” Dani reminded her.

“He should stay, he needs to be healthy before we can start moving again.”
“Thank you,I just want him to give him enough time to recover, and make sure that having been sick for as long as he had hasn’t damaged his body at all.”
“His fever could’ve damaged his body?”

“Well in any young child a fever over 104 can cause brain damage, however if his fever was caused by an infection then it’s unlikely. Also this could’ve been scarlet fever, had you noticed any rash on him at all while he was sick?”

“Not on his face, but I kept him dressed and covered so that it wouldn’t get worse where we were. But when I changed his clothes yesterday it looked like his arms were red.”

“Possibly buy given that he’d been wrapped up for so long as well as drenched in the rain last night that could also account for the flush. Especially considering the fact that the redness was gone when I checked him over this morning. However since there isn’t a vaccine for scarlet fever it could also be a possibility. How long had he had his fever?”

“Just a few days, today makes day 4 but it’s already coming down.”

“Well then, good news, that means that it’s not Scarlet fever, it last longer than 3 days, which means that its highly unlikely that the fever caused damage to his heart.” She rambled seemingly to herself, but catching a glimpse of the terrified look on Clarices face she realized that she should t be rationalizing this aloud and quickly corrected herself. “Which is a good thing, it means it’s most likely just a good old fashioned fever.” She comforted the mother who was staring forlornly at her sleeping child. Clarice nodded slightly placated, and Danielle got up and went into the supply closet to bash her head against the wall for rambling in front of the patients mother and unnecessarily terrifying her. She’d never had the best bedside manner.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Lunch came and went, Ian slept and Clarice stayed by his bedside. Dani brought a sandwich back to the infirmary for the woman but she hardly even touched it. Danielle knew she couldn’t have Clarice wasting away while her son recovered so she decided that during dinner she asked Sonia to come by tomorrow and take her to attend a training session. “Are you positive you won’t come to the canteen for dinner?” “I’m not hungry.” Clarice responded. Dani shook her head but let it slide, again.”I’ll bring you back something but after you eat you’ve got to go to your room for the night. Caitlyn will be here shortly to take over, Ian will be in good hands.” She reiterated, then she left the infirmary for the mess hall. She had one goal in mind as she attended dinner, find Sonia. It wasn’t a difficult task in all actuality, as no other residents had flaming red hair, and it was rather convenient, as her intended target was the one handing out cups of juice at the end of the assembly line. Dani took a tray and impatiently waited in the remarkably short line. “Hey Dani.” Shatter greeted her as he placed asparagus on her plate, knowing that she loved asparagus. She couldn’t help it her face warmed and her ears turned pink, but when she spoke her voice didn’t betray her, which she took as a small victory. “Hello Jerome, thanks for the spears.” She was practically the only person who called him Jerome still so it felt like a term of endearment when she would. He smiled at her and she, thankfully, didn’t audibly sigh as she moved down the assembly line to Gus.“Hey Doc, where’s the newbie?” Gus questioned, looking at the man next to her who was decidedly not Clarice. “She said she wasn’t hungry and she wasn’t going to come.” “She‘lll only end up in a bed next to her kid if she keeps this up.” “I know Pulse. Which is why I had a great idea.” She said loud enough that it pulled Sonias attention from the juice in front of her and to her friend. “I was thinking that tomorrow Sonia could come and take Clarice to a training session. She’d have to eat prior to the class, it’d get her out of the infirmary, she’d work up an appetite, all good things really.” “If she agrees to it then I will.” Sonia replied. “Great!” Dani cheered. “Now the only task I’ve got left will be convincing her to get some rest in her room tonight.” A task which seemed daunting but the reality of that turned out easier than she thought, mainly because when she returned to the infirmary she found that Caitlyn had arrived, while she’d been at dinner, and had already spoken to her about it. So when Dani entered the infirmary Caitlin was leading the mother out of it. “Hey Dani, I’ll be right back and we’ll go over everything. I’m going to walk Clarice to her room.” “Alright. Have a good night Clarice, get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.” “See you in the morning doctor.” The purple haired mother replied, as nurse Strucker led her away.”I know it’s hard but you’ve got to take care of yourself as well Clarice.” Caitlyn reiterated as she walked with the young woman up to the second floor. “All you want is to sit at his bedside but you have to eat and you have to sleep regardless. Otherwise you’ll end up putting yourself in a bed beside him.” “I know,” she sighed, “but I can’t help it. I didn’t come for help sooner and he could’ve died. His temperature was so high he should’ve been in the hospital, but I didn’t want to take him. I nearly killed my son.”“You’re a parent, we nearly kill our kids everyday.” Caitlyn joked. “I know hospitals can seem daunting for homeless mutants but you did the best you could, and you’ve learned from this.” She stated as the reached the second floor where all the bedrooms were. “I know that if the situation arose again you wouldn’t wait as long as you did this time, and more importantly I know that you know it too. Have a good night Clarice, everything will look better in the morning.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ian woke up the next evening, having slept straight through the rest of yesterday and this morning. He was greeted by Dr. Dani who told him he’d be staying for seven days. Meaning he wasn’t allowed to leave until Dr. Dani said he was 1000 better, when he asked after his mom he was told that his mom had been roused to leave his side. Tired, Ian looked at Doctor Dani for the 12th time in the last  minute. She was still sitting at the desk doing paper work. Sensing little eyes, Dani looked up at him.

“You must be bored, huh?”

“Resting’s boring.”

“It can be, but it also gives you a lot of time to do other things.”

“What other things?” He asked curiously.

“Oh, I dunno.” The doctor Dani said, facetiously, as she opened a drawer in her desk and picked up a coloring book. “Maybe all sorts of things, things like coloring.” She smiled as she turned around holding a coloring book aloft in her hand. Ian’s face split with a wide grin.

“Can I?” He asked uncertainly.

“Of course, lemme just run out and get you some crayons. Okay?”

“Okay.” He chirped, happy that soon he wouldn’t be bored.

“I’ll be right back Ian.” Dr. Dani assured as she left the infirmary in search of crayons.

“Hey,” a small voice said about a minute later. Ian turned around to look at the door and saw the boy who chased him two days ago standing in the doorway.

“Hi.” He mumbled back

“I’m really sorry about before, chasing and scaring you. I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, you already apologized. Your dad made you.”

“But I mean it, I’m not just sorry cuz he made me say it.”

“I get why you would, your dad’s scary.”

“Nah, he only looks like that, he’s as soft as a stuffy. Where’s your dad? Why isn’t he here too?”

“Matt’s not my dad.” Ian hissed glaring at the blanket on his lap.

“I’m sorry you don’t have a dad, dads are cool.”

“Moms are cooler.” Ian argued.

“I wouldn’t know, I don’t have a mom.”

“Sorry you don’t have a mom, they’re amazing.”

“Whatcha doing?”

“Nothing yet but I’m bout to color.”

“Can I see?” Cas asked excitedly.

“Sure.” Ian shrugged and moved to the side a little to open a spot for Caspian. The blonde haired boy climbed up on to the bed a little uncoordinatedly, then plodded down beside the younger boy.

“I’m Caspian.” He introduced sticking his hand out.

“I’m Ian.”

“What are you gonna color?” Caspian asked and the younger boy opened the picture book.

“I wanna do the one of the giraffe in Africa. See, look.” He said, flipping through the pages to the colorless one he wanted to do.

“Can I color with you?” Cas question the younger boy.

“Sure, Dani’s getting some crayons for me.” Ian said, “so we have to wait until she comes back.”

“What’d you wanna do while we wait? Do you wanna play a hand game?” Caspian asked. “I know a really good one. I can teach it to you.”

“Sure.” Ian replied. Caspian smiled and then crawled to the foot of the bed so that he was facing the younger boy. He taught him “Slide” and “Rockin’ Robin”, and they played until they both dissolved into giggles.

“Whatcha playing boys?” Dani asked from the doorway.

“Rockin’ Robin” Ian laughed.

“Nothing” Caspian said at the same time, “just waiting for you to bring crayons.”

“Well you’re in luck cuz I’ve got a bunch of them.” She replied holding out the tub of crayons she’d pilfered from the craft room.

___________________

(flashback to Clarices day with Sonia)

Sonia walked into the infirmary with one goal in mind the next morning, to make Clarice leave that room, it couldn’t be good for her mental health to side by his side and worry all day. She walked into the infirmary with a plan, to entice her to do some ability training after breakfast.

“Good morning Clarice. How’s Ian doing?” She asked walking up to the mother.

“His temperature is back within normal range but he hasn’t woken up since yesterday.”

“He’s likely just sleeping off the last bit and when he wakes up he’ll be good as new.”

“I hope so.”

“Come on let’s go to mess for breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry.” She lied.

“Clarice,” Sonia intoned, waking around to stand in front of her. “He’s doing his best to get better you shouldn’t sit here and starve and worry yourself into the bed beside him. You have to take care of you while he gets better, you also have to make a plan. I know you don’t want to stay here, which is absolutely your choice, but you shouldn’t leave without a plan or funds or having a grasp on your ability. All of these can save your life, but let’s take a beat and get something to eat then work on the rest, okay?”

“Alright.” Clarice sighed, having it spelled out for her made her realize that she had work to do while Ian worked on getting better.

“Come on, we’ve got a busy day ahead.”

“You’re going to do all of that with me?” She questioned dubiously.

“Of course, we all want you to succeed so I’ll help you in any way I can.” The red head promised, grasping her hand lightly, before tugging at her to prompt her to stand. “But first breakfast.”

—————

After breakfast Sonia led her to the lowest level of classrooms for ability training, to her eternal relief that the woman with the green hair was in charge of today’s training. Clarice was terrified it would’ve been John and she hadn’t been in close proximity to him again since that first night, much to her relief. When Sonia led her into the ability room she noticed that there was metal seemingly wielded to the walls and ceiling. Having caught her glancing around Sonia explained. “It’s so that the ppl in training can’t damage the rest of the building.”

“That’s smart.” She replied. There were about five people in the session, excluding herself and Sonia, all were the teenagers she’d peeked in on yesterday during the tour. The woman walked up to her and Sonia.

“Hi, you must be Clarice. Im Lorna, I was sorry to hear that your son was sick but I’ve heard that he’s recovering and I’m glad you’re at training today. What’s your gift?”

“I can portal.” She supplied, mentally rolling her eyes at the word ‘gift’.

“Sounds cool, can you show us?”

“Not really, that’s why I came down here.”Clarice muttered.

Lorna ignored the not so subtle sass and kept on. “How often do you use your ability?”

“I didn’t use it often before but now I’ll portal us like every other day.”

“Did you only use it when you’re scared or when something/someone was chasing you? Or when you felt the need to protect yourself and your son?”

“All of the above, actually.”

“So you’ve only actually used your ability when you’re scared. Scared of someone or something, scared that you can’t protect your son or yourself. Fear has always motivated your gift, right?” Lorna surmised. Clarice nodded stiffly, uncomfortable at how accurate that assumption was.  “So now what you need to do to harness your ability is to change your motivating factor. So let’s try this, think of your son. Don’t think of him being in danger just think of how much you love him, picture him and portal to him.” Lorna theorized.

“It’s that simple?” She scoffed.

“Maybe not, but it could be. You never know unless you try.”

“I have to be able to see a location, I can’t just portal to a person.” Clarice explained.

“Okay well he’s in the infirmary, picture it. The layout of the room, the empty beds, the open privacy curtains, the posters on the wall, Dani’s desk. You’ve spent the last two days in the infirmary, you should know what it looks like by now.”

“Fair enough.” The purple haired woman commented as she closed her eyes. She pictured leaving Ian last night, him sleeping in the bed, the steady rhythmic beating of his monitors, the fluorescent lights blindingly above, the white tiles of the floor, the rest of the ward empty. With her destination clearly in her mind, Clarice opened her hands and created a spark. Her violet and blue energy spark, danced between her palms and she tenuously grasped it and painstakingly pulled it wider, until it the portal was the size of a dinner plate. Then the portal dissipated, leaving her just a bit ticked off.

“And then we try again.” Sonia encouraged softly, “that’s how we start to gain stability with our abilities.”

“Maybe.” She groused trying again.

After her third failed attempt to open a portal to the infirmary Sonia suggested trying to open one to the far side of the classroom, which helped immensely. Instead of painting a picture in her minds eye and portaling she just focused on maintaining a plate sized portal for a few minutes at a time. For the next hour Lorna and Sonia worked with Clarice to help her sustain small portals.

“That’s all the time for today, there’ll be another training session in two days time. Good work everyone.” Lorna announced, as the clock on the wall struck noon.

“You did very well Clarice. You can sustain a portal for two whole minutes now. I’m very excited for you.” The redhead cheered jaunting up to the exhausted woman.
___________________ (Back to Infirmary with Ian)
“Alright Cas, I know it’s time for you to go help Gus make dinner.”

“Okay,” he sighed resigned. “I’ll make sure to come bring you food Ian and come back to visit tomorrow.” He promised as he wiggled off of the infirmary cot. “I can bring my favorite book tomorrow and read it to you. I’ll also ask my daddy about the sleepover too.” Caspian replied excitedly.

“I can stay longer though.” Dawn promised picking up a different crayon.

Dani ran into Clarice on her way out for the night. “Hey I wanted to see you before I left,” the doctor called out as she saw the mother of her charge. The panic that flashed across the mothers face was clear and Dani quickly backpedaled. “Sorry, no it’s both anything bad, Ian’s recovering steadily. I just wanted to let you know that he’s such a thoughtful helpful child and I gave him a coloring book to help ease his boredom and he made a friend.” She informed the mother.

“He loves to color, thank you.”

“I’m heading out for the night Caitlyn is gonna be here in five minutes and I’ll see you and Ian tomorrow.

“Have a good night doctor.”

“Please, call me Dani and have a good night Clarice.”

“Everyone’s friendly like that here.” Sonia says as Clarice joins her again. “It’s very common, you’ll get used to it.” A warm feeling began to glow in Clarice’s chest. ‘I would like to get used to people being nice for a change.’

————Chapter End—
Ch(?)
•Caspian brings Dawn to the infirmary to meet Ian, and the three spend the day playing together.
•Clarice and Gus become friendly.  
Ch(?)
 •Ian spends the night in a pillow fort with Dawn, Caspian and Andy, as a supervisor.( & the other children who live in the station( •Gus and Clarice’s friendship deepens and he begins to suspect why she ran away.  
“Let’s make a pillow fort, it’ll be Ian’s first night not in the infirmary. Let’s make a surprise.” Dawn suggested.

“We need to ask his mom.” Andy reminded the swarm of excited younger children.

“I’ll ask her.” Caspian volunteered bounding to his feet and thrusting his hand in the air, waving it about in a frantic motion.

“Alrighty then, after we have her permission we’ll ask to borrow spare blankets and pillows and start building the fort.”

“Yay!” A concert of bound voices shouted joyously. As the clamor died down Caspian left the room to ask for Clarice’s permission for the sleepover.

He found her in the kitchen helping Gus prepare dinner.

“Clarice!” He shouted as he ran up to her.

“Slow down Cas.” His uncle admonished lightly.

“What’s wrong?” The Asian woman questioned.

“Can Ian have a sleep over with me now that he’s better?” The little boy asked bouncing excitedly on his toes. “Puh-leeaasee!” He begged.

“Where’s it gonna be? Your apartment?”

“We’re gonna build a fort in the activity room, with pillows and blankets.” Caspian proclaimed. Clarice hesitated to answer, instead she looked askance where she saw Gus shrug. She found herself replying.

“Sure, I don’t see why not.” The little boys face split into a huge grin and he hugged her briefly then ran off to tell everyone the good news. As the two adults watched Caspian disappear from sight Clarice turned to Gus. “What did I just do?”

He chortled and replied. “You just made a little boys dream come true.” He snarked.

“You’re an ass.” Clarice laughed, throwing a green bean at him.

“Don’t start a food fight with him. You won’t win.” John stated as he entered the kitchen. “I know firsthand.” He chuckled. Gus noticed Clarice’s disposition shift when John approached.

“Come and lend me a hand John.” He called, to attract his attention. As the bulky man approached Clarice threw him a grateful glance and a small smile.

“What can I do for you Pulse?”

“You can peel these potatoes and dice them, so they boil easily.”
 
Ch(?)

•Clarice opens up to Gus about running away from her husband. Gus convinces her to talk to Reed.
 
Someone grabbed her shoulder and Clarice flinched, pulling herself away and seemingly shrinking. Gus automatically raised his hands and backed away from her. He watched Clarice sink into herself as she started trembling.

“Please don’t.” She whispered, eyes glazed over, a million miles away.

“Clarice, are you alright? Clarice where are you? Please come back.” Gus shrugged off his jacket and settled it around her shoulders, not knowing if it would help her stop shivering or not.

“What happened?” She asked after a couple of minutes, her eyes still fixed on the ground.

“I startled you, I’m sorry.” He apologized still kneeling beside her. She looked up confusion clouding her eyes.

“Why am I wearing your jacket?”

“You were shivering.” He explained, slowly leaning closer as though approaching a wild animal he Clarice are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She lied, standing up. Gus rose with her, his hand out to steady her if necessary.

“Are you certain Clarice? Because that looked like a ptsd episode.” He probed gently.

“In some ways, I guess it was.” Clarice confessed.

“If you would ever like to talk, Im here for you.”

“Thanks Gus, but I’m not ready.”

—————— (Missing a whole bunch of bonding)

“My husband used to hit me, he’d grab me and wrench me around and hit me. Punch me, hold me down and twist my wrist. He’d threatened to kill me if I tried to use my ability. I was supposed to be a stay at home mom. He’d give me an allowance so that I was dependent on him, so that we couldn’t leave. When he hit Ian for the first time I knew we had to leave. So the next day when he went to work I told Ian to pack and then I created a portal. I knew he’d be mad and try to find us. We tried to hide. Eventually I found a battered woman’s shelter, we stayed there for about a ten days before he found us.”

“They wouldn’t have let him in.” Gus stated.

“They didn’t. But he wouldn’t leave and he fought the owners and made it upstairs. I portaled us out of the building and we’ve never stayed in the same place for more than a few days at a time. We can’t stay in any one place anymore. He’s probably just a day away. We put everyone in danger by being here.”

“He won’t get to you here. We won’t let him. I cannot begin to understand how difficult this is for you, or even imagine everything you’ve been through, but we can help. I think you should meet with Reed, he can work to help you file for divorce and see about a restraining order. The benefit of being in a safe place means  that you can take the time you need to heal, and you know that we can be trusted with Ian. Let us help you Clarice, let me.” Gus implored.

“I’ll try.” She decided.
 ————Chapter End— 
Ch(?)

•Clarice meets with Reed in confidence.

“I set you an appointment with Reed, our lawyer. It’s for this afternoon at two.” Gus greeted as he sat by Clarice at breakfast.

“I didn’t agree to that Gus.”

“Call it a preemptive measure. It’s better if you make the first move, than if he does.”

“I’m not ready.” She sighed biting into an apple.

“You‘ll never be ready.” He sighed in a ‘it is what it is’ way. “What’re you doing after this?”

“I’ve got training with Lorna.”

“Lorna’s not on training today, John is.”

“Fuck me.” She sighed before demolishing the apple. Gus stifled his laughter in his cup of coffee. “What’re you up to?” She asked.

“I’m going to do collection pick ups today.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Kinda, I’m just going to our partner charities to pick up what they’ve set aside for us.”

“Do you have a strict timeline or could you detour?”

“How much of a detour are we talking?”

“Donuts.”

“I’ll make you a deal. You don’t skip your training session, which you were totally going to blow off when I told you John was teaching it, and you try as hard as you can during your session. And I’ll bring you back a box.”

“Warm jelly donuts, or no deal.”

“I will make them my final stop so that they are warm.”

“Deal.” And the pair shook on it, as thick as thieves.

———————

(Try to use the training session from the episode where she loses her abilities)

———————

“Hi, Gus set up an appointment with me for you. I’m Reed, I’m the lawyer with the Underground. You’re Clarice, correct?”

“I am.” She confirmed, squirming uncomfortably in the seat across from the wooden desk. “Gus convinced me to come. Honestly I don’t know if you can help.”

“It can’t hurt to have me try though.” Reed chuckled.

“It could actually.” Clarice murmured. The man’s brow furrowed. “Never mind.”

“No, please explain.”

“I need to get a divorce.”

“‘Need’?” He questioned lightly.

“Yes.” She affirmed.

“What happened?”
“I was stupid and Ian was little and I thought he needed a dad and Matt was nice, at first. After we were married he changed. I guess he got his rocks off by being with a mutant, by being stronger than a mutant.”
“Clarice, can you tell me what happened to you?” Reed implored.

“I don’t want to talk about it again.” She immediately dismissed.

“You’ve spoken with someone about this?”

“Gus.” She admitted softly.

“Gus is a good empathetic man but he’s not a therapist. You will most likely need a professional to help you overcome domestic abuse.”

“I‘m not ready for that yet.”

“No one’s ever ready Clarice. I will file on your behalf for a restraining order, divorce and emergency custody.”

“Emergency custody?”

“For Ian, so that your husband cannot sue you for child endangerment.”

“Ian’s not his, not by blood and not on paper. He has no rights to my son, he can’t take him.” She sibilated. “He’s mine and mine alone.” Clarice defended. “He can’t even begin to take him away.”

“Your husband didn’t adopt your son, you didn’t write his name on Ian’s birth certificate.”

“No, he didn’t and I didn’t.”

“May I ask why?”

“I guess because I knew. I knew if I let him, he’d try to take Ian away from me. He never asked and I never insisted. Smartest thing I ever did, apparently.” She said self deprecatingly.

“The best and bravest decision you ever had to make was leaving. I’ll handle the rest.” Reed comforted.
 
————Chapter End—

Ch(?)
 
•Clarice forms a tentative friendship with John. She becomes like bffs with Gus and Lauren and she goes to pick up her last paycheck.

“I get paid for every time I worked this month today and if I don’t pick up my chèque then it’ll gte mailed to my house and I won’t have enough to make it by.”

“Clarice that’s dangerous, what if he’s there just lying in wait for you? It might not be worth the risk Clarice.”

“He won’t be there cuz he never knew that I got a job, I never told him. But at this point he’s realized and found my secret account so I can’t touch that now or all this is for nothing.”

“I don’t think you can risk picking it up.”

“It’s not up for discussion Gus, I’m going.”

“Fine then, at least allow me to come as back up. Please?”

“Okay but you stay in the car.” Gus raised his hands in surrender. “We need to leave immediately.”

“Alright lemme just get my car keys.”

“I have to tell Ian I’ll be leaving for a bit.”

“Meet you in the front hall in five?”

“Alright.” And they parted ways. Clarice found Ian easily, he was playing in the backyard with the nine children who lived at the shelter. When she opens the back door he saw her immediately and waved. With a hand gesture she beckoned him to her and he obediently came.

“Oma, we’re playing dodgeball mutant style.”

“Mutant style?”

“That’s how Margaret explained it, she said in mutant style you get to use your abilities and they slit up the teams evenly so that even those who don’t have abilities have a fighting chance.”

“It looks like you are having fun.”

“It’s really fun Oma!”

“Alright well I’ll let you get back to it in a second. I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to pick up my chèque from work.”

“No, it’s dangerous.”

“Gus is coming with me to watch my back so that I’ll be safe.”

“Gus can’t take on Matt.” Ian scoffed as though it were obvious. In his own mind he’d built up Matt as an undefeatable monster.

“Gus was a Marine, he can take on anyone.” Clarice reassured the worried child. “I’ll be back really soon, you won’t even have time to miss me cuz you’ll be playing mutant dodgeball.”

“But—“ Ian began. Clarice squatted down and wrapped her arms around her son.

“Ne baobae, go play. Everything’s gonna be fine. I’ll be back before you know it, promise.” She whispered into his hair then she pressed a kiss to his forehead.“Salanghae baobae.”

“Eomma Salanghae.” Then she stood and walked back inside. Ian stared at the back door as she disappeared through it then resigned turned back to the game being played and his best friends who waved at him to come join back in. Despondently Ian walked back to the game to play but his heart wasn’t in it anymore, instead it was laden with worry for his mother.
—————
Gus and Clarice parked in the parking lot of the small strip mall. The blonde turned to look at her apprehensively and sighed. “You don’t have to go in there.”

“I do, we need that money. Ian and I can get farther away. We need that.”

“You’ve already spoken with Reed. Now it’s just a waiting game and in the meantime the Underground can protect you.”

“That’s too optimistic Gus.” She countered as she opened the door and exited the car.  Gus got out too, she threw him a questioning look.

“Don’t tell me you honestly thought I was going to stay in the car.” Gus chortled. Clarice pulled her hood up and walked towards the Learning Academy, her friend a few feet behind. She bypassed everyone and walked straight back to the managers office. Taking a breath to steel her nerves, she knocked and opened the door.

“Ah, Mrs. Jones, you’ve missed work for the last two weeks without notice. Your entire schedule of tutoring lessons called me to inform me that you’d never signed in for their appointments, that’s very unprofessional of you. Unfortunately we’ve had to terminate you. We’ve kept your last paycheck on file and we were prepared to mail it to your house.” 
 
————Chapter End—
 
Ch(?)
 
•Clarice and Ian teach Gus, Caspian, Lauren, Sonia and Dawn how to make dumplings.
 
“I can’t wait to try this out.” Gus whispered to Lauren as they assembled around the main island. They all had bowls in front of them and the ingredients were in the fridge.

“We’re going to teach you how to make dumplings today. I am going to teach you adults.”

“And I’m going to teach the kids!” Ian said happily. “And then we’re going to see who’s dumplings are better the adults or the kids.”

“Obviously we’re gonna win.” Gus whispered to Sonia.

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. We’ve never done this before and Ian obviously has. We’re at a disadvantage here Pulse.” Sonia informed him.

————Chapter End— Ch (?)Matthew looked up at the building he'd seen on Google Maps. He glanced at the mailbox to make sure he was in the right place, the address matched what google told him. It hadn’t been difficult finding the place from what Heather, his wife’s co-worker, told him all he had to do was google ‘mutant havens’, it was all too easy. Matt sauntered up to the door and opened it. He immediately saw a redhead woman and a Hispanic man in conversation. When they noticed him, they ceased speaking and turned to give him their full attention.  "Hi there! I'm Sonia and this is Marcos, can we help you?" The woman greeted pulling away from the man, Marcos, and walking over to him.  
"Hello, I'm Matt. It's a pleasure to meet you." He charmed as he shook her hand. "I sure hope you can, I'm looking for my wife."

“What’s her name?” Sonia asked lightly.

“Clarice, she’s very memorable. She’s got purple hair and nearly neon green eyes.”

At his description Sonia stiffened slightly, instantly going on guard as she realized whom she was speaking with. She offered something that was a cross between a smile and a grimace whilst Marcos moved forward until he was standing slightly in front of Sonia.

“We haven’t had anyone new recently, but if you leave us your phone number we can contact you if she comes through here.” Marcos replied, while Sonia forced herself back to the present. “It was nice to meet you, perhaps you should leave.” Marcos opened the door, indicating it was time for Matt to leave, wanting this guy gone before anyone else, particularly Clarice or Ian, came down.
Ignoring the suggestion Matt walked forward a couple of steps, checking out the framed pictures and awards which lined the wall.  His focus, then, on the sound of children in the next room. He took a step in that direction. 
"I'm sorry sir but we can't let you back there. It’s against the rules." Sonia asserted with a strained smile, moving forward till she blocked his path.
Looking down at the redheaded woman who thought she could stop him he countered, voice lowering dangerously. "I think you can and I know she’s here."  "We can't help you.”  Marcos interjected, no longer calm nor pretending to be civil, "You need to leave now!" 
"I'm not leaving without my wife." Matt hissed. "I suggest you get out of my way." He pushed past Sonia, shrugging her off as she attempted to grab his arm. When he felt her arms trying to pull him back again, the only thing stopping him from reaching his wife and her snot nosed brat, Matt whirled around and backhanded her hard. The smack rang sharply and she fell to the ground from the force of it. As Sonia fell Marcos ran forward and tackled Matt, the two men grappled on the floor, exchanging punches.

Dawn, Cas, and Ian came running into the foyer, with the intention of asking Marcos to fulfill his promise of teaching them how to play soccer, at the sight of Matthew, the ball fell from Ian’s hands and the smile vanished from his face as his laughter abruptly died in his throat. Dawns scream pulled both men’s attention and at the sight of Ian, definitive proof that Clarice was here, Matt smiled wickedly freed himself of Marcos and stalked menacingly towards the three children.

———— cuts to Clarice

“Mum, is it alright of we go play soccer down at the park?” Ian asked as he clutched the ball happily to his chest. Dawn and Caspian are behind him, arms looped together as they smile happily with childish innocence. The fears she could never quite escape, the thoughts that turned her dreams to nightmares provided all the reasons for why she should say ‘no’. The danger, the endless possibilities but as she watched Aurora lean forward to whisper something in Ian’s ear, and to see his corresponding smile, Clarice didn’t want to be the one to take that away.

“Is it just the three of you?” She’s asked, marginally proud that she can keep her internal anxiety from reaching her voice.

“No,” Caspian piped up, leaning an arm around Ians shoulders. “Tio Marcos is coming he said he would teach us how to shoot goals.”
Dawn skipped forward to sit on Clarice’s bed. “Daddy, he bet us three cookies each we wouldn’t be able to get a goal passed him.” Grinning toothily, she added, “we really want those cookies”.  Smiling at the little girl as she offered a hairband to tie her hair up, Clarice quickly assembled a pony tail out of Dawns hair. Looking at the boys, she responded to the initial question. “Okay, have fun and Ian stay with Marcos do not leave his side. Do you understand me?”
“Yes eomma.” He replied seriously, then he turned to his friends. “Let’s go!” The children cheered before leaving the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Unable to stop herself, Clarice moved to lean by the window where she had a view of the front door. As one minute turned to two, and two turned into five, the anxiety returned. Tapping her nails against the window pane nervously, Clarice watched the door where the children should have run happily out of by now. Perhaps they were just taking their time?

As another minute goes by, she found herself moving to the bedroom door, unable to stop herself from making sure they were alright. Making her way quickly down the hallway and stairs, her heart stuttered as she heard a commotion near the entry way. Crying, yelling and enraged voices and she knew that she’d been found. She knew it with the clarity in which she knows the sky is blue. Her heart clenched as though in a vice and she ran down the stairs pausing to let out a horrified gasp at the scene. It’s exactly what she expected and yet so much worse. Sonia’s on the ground lying still. Marcos’s grappling with Matthew, desperately attempting to pull him away from the kids. Caspian had transformed into a young grizzly bear and was standing protectively in front of Dawn who is curled into a ball hands pressed tightly to her ears screaming bloody murder! Her son has his arms wrapped around Dawn rocking her, trying his best to soothe her and quiet her down.

Clarice couldn’t help but freeze at the sight of Ian. A bloody gash on his cheek, shirt stretched, as if he’d been violently pulled. It made her so angry all these people being hurt, these children, because of her. Because she’d been foolish, thinking she was loved and desperate to find a home yet she’d become entrapped in the opposite.

Seeing Matthew over Marcos, preparing to hit him again, she sprang forward and grabbed his arm, attempting to stop the punch. At her touch, he tried to shrug her off and she could picture the look of annoyance on his face at the interruption, the one he always wore when she spoke, voiced her opinion, or said anything other than ‘yes dear’. He always hated being interrupted. Pulling insistently she managed to turn him, spinning him to face her.

When he finally saw her, she shuddered, watching as his anger melted and gave way to a much more sinister look. All the previous bravado and confidence fell away as he abandoned Marcos and grabbed her by the throat, pushing her backwards. Her back audibly cracked as he pinned her to the wall. Clarices head snapped against the wall and immediately began throbbing. His grip flexed and he squeezed harder just before the first slap wrenched her head to the side. The second had her tasting blood and seeing stars. The impact of the third made her jaw ache and her ears ring. Her hands clawed desperately at his forearm. He only smirked at her and then took a step back, giving him enough room to lift her from the ground. She suddenly sensed her feet leaving the floor and her panic increased tenfold.

Struggling to breathe, she watched his mouth move but she couldn’t hear his words over the buzzing in her head and the blood rushing in her ears. As she began to feel the tendrils of unconsciousness pull her down she fought, kicking and digging her nails deeper into his forearm, trying to do anything to stop him from taking them. She was almost gone when suddenly she fell to the floor.

Clarice clutched her neck gasping for breath and looking around anxiously when the next expected wave of pain doesn’t immediately come. Then she saw him, like some avenging angel flying to their rescue. John was over Matt and though she can’t see it she can hear the punches, the sound of flesh on flesh. She tries to concentrate as Gus’s voice swam in and out, he’s kneeling in front of her talking but the moment he touched her she flinched away. He automatically removed his hand then said something else before walking away, she blinked trying to regain focus as she saw he went to help Marcos. Then she saw Ian and began to crawl on her hands and knees, she blearily made her way to where the kids, all three of them, are now huddled. When she successfully reached them she grabbed Ian and dragged him down into her lap, and he squirmed around until there was no space between them, his head nestled to her chest and his arms desperately clinging to her. Then she tugged the other two close to her, Dawn instantly burrowed into her side and Clarice laid an arm protectively around Caspian who curled next to the girl.

They stayed that way, with Clarice watching, as the men restrained Matt. She ignored the taunts and jeers he yelled, the things he said about her— about them. The only time she moved was to cover Ian’s ears, in one last bid to protect him, and with every poisonous barb flung, Dawn flinched against her and Caspian tensed. Lorna joined them at some point, she forgot when, and she’s holding Sonia coaxing her awake, in favor of checking on her boyfriend or helping beat ass with her best friend. She watched seemingly in third person as everyone picked themselves up with the support of others, who came running with John, she ignored the guilt, the anger, pushing it down until later and she plots their next steps. The burgeoning plan for a future here had been scrapped as soon as the incident started. She watched Matt being led away in handcuffs, knowing this isn’t the end, it was but a temporary respite.

————Chapter End—
 
Ch (?)

Once he’s gone, at least temporarily, she lets herself deflate a little. She can’t relax, not completely— not ever again, but she can breathe a little easier knowing she has some time. Quickly she staves off an impending panic attack, pushing it down in favor of calling Dani over. She reassured Marcos and Johns kids, knowing very well that nothing will calm them down-especially right now, she doesn’t waste her breath on trying to lie to Ian. Her little soldier looks eerily calm there’s a look of knowing, a look she’s never wanted him to have, evident on his face. Having known the safety she’s felt since she’d come here, Clarice can’t help but wonder if Ian would have been better off here without her. ‘He’d be with his father.’ her treacherous mind reminded her, except now it’s no longer safe Matthew knows where here is.

Clarice spoke, almost robotically, to Sonia and Marcos, apologizing to them. The dark purple hand shaped bruise stands out in stark contrast against Sonia’s pale skin, increasing the guilt she felt tenfold. She doesn’t even think of the deeply colored bruises she knows ring around her own neck and blossom across her face.

Standing alone in the hallway, silence descending over the refuge once again, Clarice all but ran to their room to pack, knowing she had no choice but to follow through on the decision that’d been made for her.

————

When John opened Clarice's bedroom door he found her packing the meager items they had accumulated during their stay.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, already knowing the answer. None of this was okay, and it should never have happened.
"Of course I'm not alright." She muttered under her breath, never ceasing her furious movements. "We have to leave now."   
"You don't have to leave. He was arrested. You're free." She whirled around to face him then, shaking her head in frustration. 
"You don't understand. He's been arrested before. His brother's a cop, his cousin is a lawyer and their uncle is a judge. I can't win John!" She stressed sounding utterly defeated. "He was arrested! No amount of connections will exempt him from the assault charges against Sonia and Marcos." John argued.   "He'll be out of cuffs as soon as he calls his brother. If Marcos and Soina do file charges his cousin will argue that because they're mutants Matthew did what was necessary to protect himself. Ian and I need to leave now ." "You cannot just keep running."   "I can. I have no choice. He is relentless, he won't stop."   
"Please don't leave. I can protect you." He pleaded.
"You can’t, I'm sorry." She responded turning back to the bag that she was packing.   
"What about Ian?" His calm voice questioned making the blood in her veins run cold.

"What about my son?" She asked, her voice dangerously low as her body tensed.

"Clarice," John whispered beseechingly. "I know he's mine."

"He's nobody's but mine." She snapped whirling about to face him again.

"I am his father. I can protect him and you. Please don't take him away from me."

"You don't know what you're talking about." She shrugged dismissively, needing him to let it go. 
"I'm not stupid Clarice. I know he’s not four, he told Cas his birthday and I did the math. He even looks like me! I know he's mine." John argued, annoyance bleeding into his tone. "You don't know shit !" Clarice sibilated her eyes narrowing accusingly. "Hey,” John said softly, “listen to me, hear me please. I'm not going to try to take him away from you. I can help you, I want to help you. I can take you somewhere safe. A place where your husband can't find you." 
"Where could we hide that he wouldn't find us?" She asked incredulously crossing her arms defensively across her chest. Clarice's green eyes bore into his and he knew she didn't believe him.

"I can take you to the reservation I grew up on. You'll be safe with my family." John stated softly. "I don't want you to leave, it would kill me but I can't force you to stay, and I won't."

"How're you so sure that it's safe there, that he wouldn't find us?" She asked desperation bleeding into her tone.

The despair in her voice broke John's heart. How dare that jerk hurt such a kind, smart woman and her child— his child. He wished Marcos hadn’t pulled him back from wiping that smug look from his face. Taking a deep breath, he tried to achieve a sense of calm. "It's a close knit community and outsiders, white men especially, aren't welcome. If I take you there for refuge you both will be embraced." He promised, his voice thick. John glances down at his feet before looking her right in the eye.  "Please, think about it."

———

Clarice watched John back away from her, widening the distance between them with each pace. 
"I will. Thank you." She turned her back to him then, a dismissal as well as a sign of trust. At the moment she has no reason to trust any man enough to turn her back to them, and it warms his heart to see her display of trust, but he stays. He is expecting her to fall apart soon, either dissolving into tears and hysterics or dissociating, she did seem kind of out of it earlier. “Can you please leave?” She asked softly.  
“Will you be alright by yourself?”

“I dunno, but I need to be alone right now. Please John.”

“Alright.” He replied walking away. As soon as he shut the door he hears her ragged exhale. It’s nearly audible, the way she falls apart by herself behind closed doors. As much as it breaks his heart to hear he stays outside her door, knowing she wouldn’t want anyone walking in on her before she has time to slip her masks back into place. John promised himself that he’ll leave once her tears have dried.

———

It takes Clarice two hours to gratefully take John's offer. Once Dr. Dani checked Ian over Clarice sent him to pack his clothes. When she sent Ian off she sought out John. The Korean woman wasn't surprised to find him playing soccer with the other children in the backyard. When John looked up and saw her he excused himself from the game.

"Can we go to the Reservation?”

"Yeah. Cas and I will stay for a day or two to help you guys settle before heading back here." 
"When can we leave?" 
"I'll buy the tickets tonight."

"I can pay for myself an Ian's."

"You don't have to—"

"I want to." She protested cutting him off.

“Clarice you should save your money. Why is it so hard for you to accept help freely given?”

She’s silent for a moment before answering. "Because nothing’s freely given.”

“Some things are, help is one of them.”

————

"Mummy?"

"Yea, lil soldier."

"Where are we gonna go?" She could practically hear his tears. She sighed, her five year old shouldn’t be worrying about where he’s going to sleep every other day. He shouldn’t be scared of every adult male. Once again Clarice questions all of her parental decisions.

"John and Cas are going to take us to live with their family." She replied attempting to reassure him.

"Their family's here, with the Diaz' and Gus and everyone else." 
"Part of their family is here, but John's parents, his mom and dad, aunts and uncles and cousins aren't. We're going to go live with them for a while."  
"Are we going to be safe mummy?" Ian asked quietly as he stared up at the ceiling. 
Lightly fingering the bruises ringing her neck Clarice whispered hoarsely, "Yes lil man, we are.” 
 ————Chapter End—
 
Ch(?)

The minute Clarice agreed to go to the Res John excused himself from the game and bought tickets to Arizona. Their flight was leaving in the morning, take off at 7 am. Once all four tickets were purchased he called his mother.

“Yeah?” An irate voice answered instead of the soothing tone he’d expected.

“James why are you answering Ma’s phone?”

“‘Cuz she’s cooking.” His wiseass of a little brother responded.

“I need to talk to Ma James, it’s important.”

“Ugh, fine.”

John had to wait for a few minutes before his mother could come to the phone but when she answered she sounded surprised by his call.

“John?”

“Hey Ma. I’m coming to visit tomorrow.”

“What prompted this?”

“Can I leave a family with you?”

“Is this about your mutant underground?”

“Yes, but it’s for her protection.”

“Her?”

“A woman and her child they’re in danger from her husband.”

“You can’t take a mans child across their governments lines, that’s kidnapping John.”

“The kids not his, the boy is hers.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Ma I am.”

“Then I will house them.”

“Thanks. Can you have James pick us up at the airport? I’ll text him the itinerary.”

“Alright dear.”

“Thanks mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then he seeks out Lorna and Marcos. He finds them in his apartment.

Marcos is laying across his couch, a bag of frozen peas on his face and an ice pack cradled to his rib cage. Lorna is pacing back and forth holding Dawn, who it seems has finally settled down. And his son is sitting at the kitchen table observing them anxiously.

“Clarice and Ian are going—“ John announced, and immediately got interrupted by a chorus of discontent.

“No!” Cas protested.

“That’s not fair, uncle John!” Dawn cried.

“Dawn, Caspian; let me finish please.” With reluctance they stopped shouting. “Ian and Clarice are going to go to the Reservation; they’re doing to stay with Nana and Uncle James until it’s safe for them to come back home.”

“They shouldn’t have to leave.” Lorna growled.

“The cops aren’t going to do anything, and he’s just going to come around again and again. Reed is already on her case so it’s just a waiting game at this point. But they need somewhere safe to wait so we’re taking them to the Res.”

“We?” Marcos groaned from underneath the ice pack.

“Caspian and I, you need to rest and recover.”

“So does Clarice.” Lorna pointed out.
  
————Chapter End—
Ch(?)
They get strange looks and sideways glances as the four of them weave through the Hartsfield-Jackson airport, two visibly mutated mutants and non marked traveling together. When they reached their gate a man saw Clarice and Caspian waiting to board and went to complain to the gate agent.

“Mutants shouldn’t fly with us. They might be dangerous. That woman and her kid could take the whole plane down!” He hissed ferociously.

“Sir, we are a non discriminatory airline. If you’re uncomfortable with our values and or mission statement you can file a complaint with the company and either get your flight switched or fly with another airline.”  Then the agent scanned their tickets before letting them on their jetway.

Clarice smiled lightly and Caspian full out grinned up at the lady who scanned his ticket. Ian smiled too and grabbed his mom’s hand.

“She was nice.” He whispered. Clarice nodded. John thanked the ticket lady as she took his. Ian had never been in a plane before and he took to it with excitement. During the flight he chartered about how he wanted wings when his mutation came in so that he could fly whenever he wanted.

(On the Res: John and Cas stay the first 2 days then they leave. Johns mom insists that Ian calls her Nana, James teaches Ian how to play basketball and Res ball. James and Clarice get on well. James teaches her how to ride a horse. During their two month stay Clarice watches Ian become more certain of himself and his actions, he starts to make noise and open up and be a kid. Bonding between James and Ian. Johns mother figures out Ian’s parentage and has a calm conversation with Clarice, who does spook about it. The entire stay she is being kept informed through email with Reed. Who lets her know when there are papers to sign and when the trail for the assault of Sonia and Marcos is set to commence, because this time it wasn’t swept under the rug. When Reed sends news that Matthew was denied bail, Clarice decides that it’s time to go back to Georgia.) 
 ————Chapter End—
Ch(?)

(Missing their arrival, and the pair going back to the Underground. Clarice going to her house and packing up her and Ian’s belongings with Gus and Shatter. As the trio are leaving with double sets of packed suitcases Clarice checks the mailbox and finds the official document finalizing her divorce.)
————
“Your divorce is finalized now. You’re free to go anywhere you want. Where will you go?”

“John,” Clarice whispered turning to him. “We have to go away. Not run, we’re never running again but I can’t just be here. You have no idea the memories this place holds, the things that happened here,” she shuddered. “I can’t end my marriage and then stay here with you just for Ian. I have to find myself.”

John nodded to himself looking out at the sunset.

“We will be back. I won’t keep him from you, we just need time to heal together.” John didn’t speak just flexed his jaw. Clarice knew he was upset that she had decided to take Ian away. She knew he didn’t want to be separated from his son. Clarice reached out and grasped his forearm, he looked at her with surprise. “We will come back John. This isn’t goodbye.”

“I don’t want you to leave.” He confessed. “But I understand that it’s something you need to do.” He said taking her hand earnestly within his.

“Thank you.” She spoke, softly squeezing his hand.

“Caspian will miss Ian.” John revealed looking deeply into her eyes and hoping she understood what he meant. With a reassuring squeeze of her hand she stared up and him and replied.

“Ian will miss Caspian.” Then she extracted her hand from his grasp and walked away.

John watched her walk away as the last of the vibrant purple and dark blue hues in the sky receded with the sun heralding the darkness that gave way to the night. John turned back to the horizon. “Don’t worry,” he murmured to himself, “the sun will come back.”
————Chapter End—

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Caspian was 10 years old now and he hadn’t seen his little brother in three years. His dad and Ian’s mom having told both boys the truth a year ago. He and his dad would receive letters and calls from Ian every other month or so. As of last month Ian and his mom were in New Orleans visiting his Uncle Remy, knowing that they were so close Cas had asked if they could visit before heading to their next destination. His dad told him that they would be back once they’ve finished healing, Caspian wasn’t sure if they would ever be finished healing. After the incident three years ago Caspian had started going with his aunt Sonia to volunteer at battered women’s shelters. He hadn’t been able to help Ian and Clarice and he didn’t want to feel that helpless ever again. He had resolved never to let a man hurt any woman the way he’d seen Matt harm Clarice. And after seeing the way that he’d treated his wife he didn’t even want to know what Ian had endured at that man’s hands.

Caspian pulled himself out of that mentality before it led him down a rabbit hole he wouldn’t be able to escape from. Instead he picked up the last letter he’d received from Ian and re-read it. It told of their latest exploits and about how homeschooling was going. He’d written about how his Uncle Remy was teaching him to play poker and black jack without his mom knowing. He wrote about how he got his first physical mutation. He’d woken up and his ears were pointy like his mom’s but he hadn’t gotten his abilities yet, and how he’d tested himself all day attempting to make them manifest. He’d gotten in trouble when he’d tried to jump off of the roof to see if he’d be able to teleport or have dense skin and survive the long way down.

Sighing Caspian put the letter down, after folding it back up and placing it back in its envelope, tucking it in beside the others he’d received. He changed out of his pajamas and got dressed for the day. He left their apartment and went to the mess hall to have breakfast with everyone. Caspian walked into the mess hall and remembered the day when all the children had made a ginormous pillow and blanket fort that transformed half of the cafeteria and they’d all spend the night in it. It had been he first time he’d seen Ian smile since they’d arrived at the station. Turning toward the kitchen he tucked that memory away.

He entered the kitchen intent on helping Uncle Gus make breakfast for the entire station. His uncle put him to work frying up bacon and scrambling eggs.

“What’s wrong kid? You’re sullen, it’s too early for that.”

“I miss Ian. He’s in Louisiana right now. It’s the closest they’ve been since leaving. I just hoped that they’d come visit before they left he area.”

“I get it kid. It sucks that you haven’t seen your friend for a couple years. But just because you don’t see each other doesn’t mean that you’re not best friends.”

“I know.” He sighed. ‘It’s just it’d be the first time I’d seen him since I learned he’s my brother.’ His mind continued. He continued being uncharacteristically introspective while they finished making breakfast. After breakfast he sulked away outside. His dad came out looking for him, undoubtedly informed by his uncle that he was upset. His dad found him in the back corner of the garden, a spot exclusively for Dawn and himself.

“Hey Caspian,”  John greeted as he walked into the little clearing separated from the back garden by a scant few feet of woods. “May I sit?”  He shrugged in response. His dad sat beside him and sighed. “Look I know you miss Ian, I do too.”

“Why couldn’t you have asked them to stay?”

“They couldn’t have stayed. It was impossible. Do you get that?”

“Not really.” He mumbled.

“Well Ian had never been away from his mom and they were in a bad situation, and telling him the truth then it wouldn’t have done any good. And then to ask him to stay with us even though his mom was leaving, he would’ve decided to go with her either way. It wouldn’t have helped any of us.”

“I guess.” He murmured demurely.

“Look kid, I know you wanted them to visit.”

“I just wanna see and get to know my brother.” He demurred.

“Me too,” he dad replied wistfully. “We’ll see them again though.”

“How do you know that?”

“Clarice promised they’d come back and I believe that they will.”

“You like her, don’t you?” He asked cheekily.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” John jested, nudging his kids shoulder, “but yes, I do.”

“What if they never come back?” He asked sadly, making his dad stop his immediate positive response. Cas looked up at his dad and noticed that he was a little zoned out. “Dad, what happened?” Then his dad zoned back in and his face split into a huge grin.

“Come on!” He urged, pulling Cas up to his feet.

“What happened?” He questioned chasing after his father. Who ran across the garden and opened the gate to reveal Clarice and Ian standing in front of the station, determined faces on the pair. Ian turned at the motion of the gate opening.

“Caspian!” He shouted happily, running through the open gate. Clarice looked at them and smiled as well.

“You came to visit!” He shouted back, pumping his legs harder as he collided with his little brother and hugged him hard.

————————

Gus had informed him after breakfast that Caspian was upset and missing Ian, so John had tracked him into his and Dawn’s secret spot. He’d been about to reassure his son that Ian and Clarice would indeed come back to them one day when he sensed something in the back of his mind and as he tapped into his abilities he saw a portal open and smelled the faint traces of ozone that permeated the atmosphere. His eyes widened as his second sight allowed him to see Ian and Clarice walk through her portal. Caspian’s voice pulled him back to their moment and John couldn’t stop the grin that overtook his face.

“Come on.” He responded pulling the ten year old to his feet. Then he all but ran out of the clearing in the woods and across the backyard, all the while Caspian chased after him. John reached the gate and threw it open, revealing Clarice and Ian, Ian took off running to Caspian, joy all over his face but John only had eyes for Clarice. She smiled as she watched the brothers reunite, then she locked eyes with him.

“You came to visit,” He distantly heard Caspian exclaim and worry instantly overshadowed his happiness. ‘What if they weren’t here to stay?’ Realizing that he’d just been staring at her he opened his mouth, to ask if this was permanent or just a visit, but all that came out was a hoarse, “Hey.”

She laughed softly at him. “Hey yourself.” She replied walking over to the fence where he stood.

“Are you both visiting or—?” He trailed off uncertainly.

“We’re here to stay John.” The biggest most genuine smile overtook his face and she grinned back at him. Clarice stepped closer and took his hand in hers. “Thank you for giving us the space we needed to sort ourselves out.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

“More than you possibly know,” Clarice replied earnestly. She squeezed his hand and walked into the backyard, leading him. “Would you like to meet your youngest son?” She asked, rhetorically, prompting John to look past her and at the two little boys who sat in the grass laughing. Caspian was playing with Ian’s hair attempting to push it up to see his pointy ears and Ian was proudly showing off his mutation.

“I’d love nothing more.” He said, his voice catching in his throat at the sight of both happy kids. With clasped hands Clarice and John began walking over to the boys.
 
              —————END—————