Putrefaction hit their senses as the team phased in. Detachment from Jasmine was quick as hands flew to cover noses and mouths.

Craig drew Tina close, whispering in her ear, "Go with Jasmine and meet up with us when the ground team come in."

Tina nodded and smiled, holding onto Jasmine as she phased out. Craig waited for them to disappear before pointing toward the sounds wafting in the breeze. The team turned and began running toward the fierce sounds of cheering peppered with sickening thuds of flesh meeting flesh.

"Incoming," a cry went up, scattering fanatics as the word bounced on the alley walls.

The team stood their ground watching the cowards disappear, leaving only a few to deal with, signalling the team to engage. Craig looked over the group, picking the most prominent and meanest looking fanatic, instinct screaming; leader. The fighting almost fell upon the Protectors. Craig defended against relentless attacks, barely standing his ground. Determination held him in place. The knowledge that Tina was close by and Jasmine was probably well aware of what was happening spurred him on. Landing a few well-placed punches and deflections kept him in much-needed practice. The sight of the barrel of a gun drawn brought cold fury to the surface at an alarming speed. Quickly disarming the burly mean fanatic and elbowing him in the ribs as hard as he could, Craig noted the crunch against his elbow. The ribs were damaged and perhaps caused the fanatic pain. He continued quickly, twisting the man around by his arm and pinning him against the wall.

Around him, Kelvin, Jarred, Simon and Jonathan engaged in hand-to-hand combat. A glimmer of silver gleamed in the moonlight catching Craig's eye.

"Gun," he bellowed, "Trev, take the shot."

The man under his hold began to struggle, but Craig wasn't interested in the distraction. He watched as the gun turned toward him. Gunfire filled the air as Craig crouched low. The bullet flew over his head, hitting the struggling man in the back.

Another shot rang out. The gunman flinched before dropping to the ground, gun still gripped in his hand. Silence fell as the fanatic group stared at two of their own on the floor. Panic hammered through those remaining. Two ran away while the remaining three roared angrily, rushing Kelvin, Jarred and Simon, who met blow for blow. Finally, only heavy breathing from the Enhanced Protectors filled the space around them as they took in the still bodies lying around them.

"Everyone okay?" Craig called, checking the area.

"We are, but we have two bodies," Simon called, walking toward the victims, "the one over here needs emergency care, but the other here hardly has a pulse."

"Are they both civilians?" Craig called.

"Looks like it," Simon called, "no necklaces or obedience devices. I don't see any scars behind the ears."

"Doesn't mean they aren't enhanced or working for Darcia and Madden," Craig said, walking over to the one body, "we need verification."

Kelvin closed his eyes, breathing in deeply before releasing it. They waited until his eyes opened slowly. Someone else was taking in the scene when he looked around the area. Craig watched Kelvin's body walk toward the two unconscious forms. The only enhancements they knew who could do this were Valencia and Cara. But something told him this was Valencia measuring the level prone bodies had been pushed to or finding out if they were human.

"What do you think, Val?" Craig asked.

"That one," Kelvin's voice sounded distorted slightly as his finger raised, pointing to the body lying on its back, "that one is human."

The hand dropped as Kelvin's head turned toward the one lying at Craig's feet, "This one ..." the pause became longer, "this one is enhanced … not sure to what level … he seems to be ..."

Craig waited, but the sentence didn't finish.

"He seems, what?" Craig asked.

"He seems to be hibernating," Kelvin closed his eyes, breathed in deeply once more, and exhaled before opening his eyes.

"Tend to that one," Craig pointed to the civilian, "get medical assistance for him."

The team broke into two groups: tending to the fanatics' bodies lying in the alley or attending to the injured human. Craig crouched next to the enhanced being, gently turning him over.

The beaten and bruised face made him frown. Blood ran from a wound near his temple and another under his left eye as he watched the bruising on the jawline coloured quickly through the different healing stages. It was clear that by morning, there would be no injuries visible.

This person wasn't in hibernation.

He was healing.

Something about him tugged at Craig's memory. Closing his eyes, Craig let the memory play. Darcia's fight tank. She was pitting one experiment against another. Craig saw the face of the man on the floor. He was shorter than the others. Refused to fight anyone; instead, Darcia allowed him to be beaten so badly he nearly died … repeatedly.

Who was this man? Going through the jacket pockets, Craig found a passport. Pulling it out, he flipped it open and stilled. Slowly standing, he tipped his head back, looking at the sky while tapping the passport book in the palm of his other hand. This was too neat to be a coincidence.

"What is it?" Jarred asked.

"You know how we need to find Jaxon Skully," Craig sighed.

"Yep," Jarred nodded, "what about it?"

"We found him," Craig said, flipping open the passport and showing it to the others as they crowded around the injured enhanced man.

"Why was he here?" Kelvin frowned.

"My guess," Craig shook his head, "… I have no guess, but he was never a fighter."

"We need to get him back to the infirmary," Trevet said, walking into the alley with his sniper rifle propped on his shoulder.

"Let's finish cleaning up here, and I'll contact Jasmine," Craig said quietly.

"Doesn't he need medical attention?" Jarred frowned.

"He's not hibernating," Craig shook his head, "He's healing. I faintly remember him having the nano enhancement at the same time I did."

"I'll stand guard," Jonathan murmured.

"He knows who I am," Craig said quietly, "the last thing I need is for him to go into survival mode if he comes around. Finish up here. I'll watch over him."

The men looked at each other before returning to their tasks. Craig looked down at the man lying at his feet.

"What are you up to, Jaxon?" he murmured as Jasmine and Tina appeared not far from where he stood.

Jasmine rubbed Tina's back grimacing, "I think you've all had enough phasing for today."

"Everything okay ?" Craig asked, frowning at Tina's pale face.

Tina nodded, looking toward the man at Craig's feet, "What happened to Jaxon?"

"He got beaten up helping the human over there," Craig said, watching Tina move toward him and wrapping her arms around him, "are you okay?"

Tina nodded, "I shall be," she inhaled, resting

in Craigs embrace.

"Stay close then and help me with Jaxon's wounds," Craig said, taking Tina with him in a crouch, "here ... I'll tend the face. You start with those not closing on his hands."

Tina nodded as Craig pulled out his first aid kit, and they began attending to the bleeding and open wounds.

Valencia walked into the quiet tech lab, looking around.

"She just left," Cara said from her computer station halfway down the room, "I think she was looking for coffee and a meal."

"Well, that is an improvement. Usually, it's a bottle of wine and perhaps a meal. Thanks, Cara," Valencia said, leaving the tech room and following the passageways through the sprawling mansion they were currently using as a base.

She entered the kitchen allowing her gaze to take in the massive room. In the far corner, she spotted Breanna sitting, alternating between eating her food and drinking her coffee.

"What's going on, Val?" Breanna called as Valencia made her way across the room.

"We need to get transport to Craig," Valencia said, stopping at the table, "I was contacted for verification of two people. One was a human, the other an enhanced being, who was badly injured."

"Send Hana and Rose with David, Jesse and Tania," Breanna said quietly, "I would organise it, but the last time I ate was lunch yesterday."

"Then eat," Valencia grinned, "Cara is with Tania and is already telling her."

"Val," Breanna called as Valencia turned to leave, "thank you."

Valencia nodded, "I think the teams are exhausted, Bre. They need to rest."

"When Craig's team comes back," Breanna said, sipping her coffee, "that is when we can rest. Besides, Tina needs to stop going out into the field with Craig, and some downtime would be a good thing for everyone."

"They seem to be working through this, having to be together all the time in their stride," Valencia grinned, "Tina went out with Craig tonight. I'm hoping they don't have anything weird happen with the progress of her pregnancy."

"Their pregnancy is already weird," Breanna grinned, "how more weird do you want it to get?"

"True," Valencia chuckled as she left the room preparations needed to be made, supplies arranged, and a team to bring home.

Craig tipped his head to the side. A vehicle was approaching. Signalling to the group they had company, they waited. Weapons at the ready.

"Jas, Tina, stay close," he murmured, "at the first sign of trouble, I want you to take cover."

The women nodded as the sound of sirens from the opposite end of the alley marked the approaching vehicle as the civilian's medical assistance.

The heavy tread of feet came to their ears.

"Three people," Kelvin said quietly.

"No, five people," Jarred corrected.

Five forms rounded the top corner of the alley dressed in military fatigues carrying medical bags and equipment.

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"At ease," Craig called, falling into the military cover of their team.

"Rose and Hana," Trevet said, "with back up."

Craig moved to one side, allowing the women access Jaxon Scully's body. Watching the other end of the alley, he noticed the paramedics' hesitation as they entered. Waving them forward, he turned to the group.

"We need to secure the alley," Craig said quietly, "both ends and rooftops. Watch out for anything weird or suspicious."

Turning, he joined the approaching group greeting them with a nod and indicating the body being watched over by Trevet.

"Who is this?" the one paramedic indicated Jaxon's body.

"Military personnel who came to the assistance of the man over there," Craig said, walking them past the working pair.

The paramedics nodded their attention, moving to the unconscious form.

"Trev," Craig called, "let them work."

Craig watched over the two groups working on the injured. He trusted his team to cover the general security of the scene. Sensing the fanatics close by and knowing they would not let a prize like Jaxon be taken away without resistance. Craig vigilantly watched the scene, frowning. Something was in the planning; he could guess the fanatics didn't want to tip their hand too early by attacking the secured location with the humans on site.

"Trevet, Jarred, secure the paramedics and escort them to the ambulance," Craig tossed the order abruptly. A smile twitched as the two men fell into the cover with frightening ease.

"We're ready to go," Rose and Hana murmured as David and Kelvin picked up the stretcher Jaxon Scully lay on.

Craig nodded, signalling Tina and Jasmine to go with them. Waiting for Trevet and Jarred to join him before he followed the tightly formed group to the open back of the armoured SUV, carefully lifting the stretcher and sliding it in. Hana and Rose swung themselves up before sitting on the bench next to the still form. Kelvin lifted their gear effortlessly into the back, stowing it away under their seats, ensuring they could use it without the contents sliding around or spilling.

"Load up," Craig called to the others to get into the front of the vehicle.

Scanning the area for any potential threats while they were vulnerable, Craig waited until his team was in the vehicle before swinging into the back seat next to Jesse. Craig closed the door.

"Let's go," he called to Tania and David, "we need to disappear."

David put the vehicle in gear and began travelling through the streets at breakneck speed. The ever-vigilant Tania watched the surroundings and rooftops in a swooping glance.

"You found him," Jesse said, glancing at Craig.

"It looks like it," Craig muttered, "I can't shake the idea or the feeling that he found us."

"Either way," Jesse nodded, "he can be reunited with his family."

"Yeah, perhaps," Craig sighed.

"What do you mean?' Jesse frowned.

"Jesse, he had a passport on him," Craig said quietly, "he has been in many places in the last three weeks."

"What are you saying?" Jesse frowned.

"I'm saying that he could disappear again. Looking at his passport, it seems he was searching for someone...or something or perhaps even a place," Craig shook his head. "My gut is telling me he couldn't find his family or couldn't get to his family, so he found us instead."

"I wonder why he needs to search. Perhaps it has something to do with his enhancements," Jesse said.

"Maybe," Craig shrugged, "but if he has someone like Mandy, what are the odds there are others out there like her," Craig muttered, "perhaps taken from their parents and already being used as a lab rat."

"That is one scenario," Jesse nodded, "I wonder what his enhancements are? It would be interesting to know."

"It would," Craig nodded, "Tina said he can remove foreign objects from the body. Other than that and the nano procedure, I'm not sure."

"We're here," Tania called as they wound along the tree line driveway through the old estate once belonging to Craig's parents but now belonged to Craig, Breanna and Michael.

The property was one of many they used as a base of operations. Those more suitable for having families and people staying in were used as safe houses for those who needed a place to heal, get back on their feet or start fresh.

"How many of these places do you have, Craig?" Kelvin whispered, "have our things been moved here already?"

"Yes," Tina answered, "Michael felt it was necessary to move unexpectedly."

"Kel, you'll have to ask Michael how many of these places are at our disposal," Craig murmured. He took in the passing property as David pulled into a spacious doorless garage built into the rock face below the mansion.

"Tania," David called, climbing from the vehicle, "get our ride."

"On it," Tania said, swinging from the vehicle and jogging to the opposite end of the garage area, pressing a disc-like button camouflaged to look like the rock wall. A whirring sound could be heard as the hydraulics at work purred through the open space.

Kelvin and Jonathon helped Hana and Rose from the back, handing them their gear. They eased the stretcher from the vehicle, manoeuvring through the space toward Tania.

"Do you think Tina and Jaxon were pitted against each other?" Jesse murmured.

"I don't think so," Craig sighed, watching Tina as she stayed next to the stretcher, "Tina was used specifically for cloning. Jaxon was used as bait to make other experiments aggressive or get their ability levels higher more quickly."

"How do you know that?" Jesse stopped turning to Craig.

"It's one of the memories I try to forget," Craig shook his head, "watching someone beaten by bullies while you are helpless to save him. The only way they will accept the intervention is by embracing your dark ability..." Craig shuddered, "not something you forget easily."

"That is a sick process," Jesse frowned, "at least he is not in the facility anymore. He has sunshine and happiness ahead of him."

"Sunshine and happiness," Craig shook his head, "you have a point" Craig grinned at Jesse's goofiness. "I'm going to shower, and hopefully, Tina will be back from the infirmary."

Jesse and Craig joined the others as a low hum vibrated the air before stonelike doors opened, revealing a large, ventilated metal box. The group stepped in quickly, and the doors silently slid shut.

A hum of activity met them as they stepped out of the elevator. A gurney appeared, making it easier for Rose and Hana to manoeuvre Jaxon through the winding passageways. Kelvin and Jonathan handed their weapons to Jesse before falling in with Hana and Rose, assisting the women with the heavy gurney.

"I will oversee the weapons," Jesse said, reaching for Craigs, "but your gear bags are for you to attend to on your own."

"Fair enough," Craig nodded, "get something to eat, guys and rest as much as you can."

The team nodded before heading toward the training room and armoury.

"Thanks, Jesse," Craig nodded, "I'll come through shortly to sort out my gear bag."

Jesse hefted the bags to his shoulders and strode off after the team.

"Craig," Tina whispered, as she tucked under his arm, wrapping her arms around him, "thank you."

"Thank you for what?" he pulled her close, feeling her edginess.

"Finding him, bringing him back here," she snuggled closer before wincing, "I think I need to eat."

"Then let's feed all of you," he smiled as he watched Jesse turn the corner in the passageway.

Ambling through the passageways toward their accommodation, Craig thought about everything that had happened until now. Somehow, he felt all this coming to light was a precision strike to the Agency and himself. It has been years of working to forget, move past everything experienced and find the balance between what he was and what he is. The sudden appearance of someone like Jaxon in his life at this moment when he had found someone to accept him as he was, it felt personal. Rounding the corner, he stopped dead, taking in the slime form of Alexis cradling her baby. Tears ran down her face as she looked first one way and then the other. She jumped nervously when she spotted Craig and Tina.

"Are you okay?" he asked, moving toward her.

"I heard Jaxon was found," she whispered while bouncing her niggly child.

"We did find Jaxon," he said, soothing a suddenly twitchy Tina, "he was trying to assist someone who was being beaten."

"That sounds like Jax," she nodded, "apparently he is in the infirmary, but I don't know where that is."

"Let me take you there," Craig said, indicating the direction she needed to go, "Tina, why don't you go to our suite, and I'll meet you there?"

"I'd prefer to come with you," Tina said, frowning as her hands twisted nervously.

"You need to eat," Craig said, "I'll take Alexis to the infirmary and come back to you. Okay?"

"Ah ..." Tina grimaced, "okay, but please ... be quick."

Craig watched Tina enter their suite before smiling at Alexis, "After you," he murmured, waiting for her to move down the passageway. "Tell me, what do you know about Jaxon?"

"What do you mean?" Alexis frowned, glancing up at him as she tried to keep pace with his long strides.

"Do you know his history?" Craig watched her as various expressions raced across her face.

"History," she shook her head, "I know Jax didn't have it easy after getting out of school."

"Do you know where he has been in the past three weeks?"

"No," Alexis stopped walking, "do you?"

"We found a passport on him," Craig nodded, "he has travelled extensively."

"Why? Where did he go?" Alexis followed Craig once more.

"A lot of countries, but where exactly we don't know," he said, pushing the infirmary door open, "have you seen anything extraordinary with Jaxon?"

"Yes," she nodded, "he cut himself once while helping me in the kitchen. I was going to get the first aid kit, but the cut healed and disappeared before I even moved."

"Did Jaxon know you saw that?" Craig asked.

"I don't think so," Alexis whispered back, "is he … one of the different people?"

"Different people?" Craig met Alexis' frightened gaze.

"Yes, people who can do different things," she whispered, "there have been rumours of experiments done on humans making them … different."

"Did you believe the rumours?" Craig smiled slightly.

"Not at first, but when I met Jax and saw what I saw …" she shrugged, "hard not to believe them after that. Plus, I'm seeing a lot of strange things happening with Mandy. So, is it true?"

Craig sighed, turning toward her, "Yes, but at least the people responsible for it have been killed. What you need to understand is that you are safe here."

"Safe from what?" Alexis breathed in deeply.

"The group beating the civilian," Craig cleared his throat, "are also different people, but they enjoy using their difference to hurt people. Others prefer to use their difference to help people."

Craig opened the second door into the bustling infirmary and waited for Alexis to enter. She moved in slowly, looking around at the activity. Seeing and understanding for the first time what had been there all along.

"Everyone here is different, aren't they?" she swallowed hard.

"Yes, but we are here to help you and Mandy," Craig said, easing himself between the closed door and Alexis, "there is no need to be frightened."

Alexis swallowed again as she watched Hana and Rose attend to Fiona's laceration on her thigh.

"What are they doing?" she asked, watching the two women work.

"Hana and Rose are enhanced to attend to injuries of all kinds," Craig spoke softly, "they attended to Jaxon when we found him and after he arrived."

Alexis looked down at her child, "I know Many is different but was she made different? The way Jaxon was?"

"Valencia can sense other enhanced beings. According to her, Mandy is different, but she seems to be born that way," Craig mused, "how different Mandy is, we'll have to wait and see."

"I need to see Jaxon," Alexis said, swallowing hard. Craig could sense the fear making her heart beat against the pulse point in her throat and her breath pant.

Looking up at the board near the door, he found Jaxon's name, "It seems he is in the second cubicle."

Craig walked to the second cubicle to check, but the used bed was empty.

"Craig," Rose called, drying her hands, "we moved him to his own room. When he came around, he was disorientated and asked for his family. Although he had been injured, he was healed and ready to leave shortly after coming around as the disorientation faded fast."

"Rose, this is Alexis and Mandy," Craig introduced the two women, "they are Jaxon's family."

"What a beautiful baby," Rose smiled, "may I hold her?"

Alexis nodded while carefully placing the tiny bundle in Roses' arms, watching her croon at Mandy before frowning.

"Has she been coughing or not eating, perhaps sleeping too much?" Rose asked.

"Since getting here ... all of that and yet none of that," Alexis said, frowning, "is something wrong?"

"Hana," Rose called, "please assist."

"What is wrong?" Alexis's hand flew to cover her mouth.

"Your baby is ill," Rose said quietly, "but not in the conventional human way."

Hana stopped next to her, "What do you find?"

"Her little chest seems to be clogged," Rose said quietly.

"Clogged?' Alexis frowned, "you mean, congested."

Hana and Rose slowly ran their hands over the tiny body, "she has many anomalies, but that clogging in the chest is the worst," Hana whispered.

"What are you doing to my baby?" Alexis asked frantically, trying to pull Mandy from Rose's arms.

Craig gently grasped her arms, "They are helping Mandy."

"They mustn't hurt her; please, she is just a baby," Alexis continued reaching for her daughter.

"Alexis," Jaxon stood in the doorway, "let them help her."

"Jax," Alexis gasped, flying across the room and into his arms, "they say her chest is clogged."

"It probably is," he said, holding her close, "Hana and Rose know what they are doing. They helped me heal."

Craig turned to the pair hovering over Mandy, "How is she?"

"A fighter," Hana murmured, "I think we unclogged most of her chest."

"Hana," Rose whispered, looking down at the baby whose eyes opened, revealing a shade of brilliant blue.

"Oh, my," Rose whispered, tipping the child so her parents could see her.

"That is the first time she opened her eyes," Alexis sobbed against Jaxon's shoulder, "her eyes are beautiful."

"They are and indicate her difference," Hana said quietly, "let's chat about the way going forward to help her."

Craig left the family to chat with Hana and Rose while he walked the passageways to find Tina again.

He was exhausted and needed to shower, but most of all, he needed to see Tina.