Standing outside the door, Breanna watched the activity inside the infirmary; she heard Tina's cry and the newborn's wail. How could she have behaved as she had? Refusing to help her brother, acting like a dictator instead of a friend, and, worst of all, turning into her sister. Leaning her head against the glass panel, she closed her eyes and wondered how to make everything right. A knock on the glass startled her. Looking up, she saw Rose looking at her from the other side. Her gaze was clear, questioning, but no hint of judgement or malice could be seen. Stepping away from the door, Breanna waited while Rose pushed it open.

"Everything okay?" Rose asked, her words gentle and her tone soft and caring.

"That depends," Breanna said, sighing as she entered the infirmary.

"On what?" Rose asked, tilting her head.

"Whether I'll be able to say what I need to without being told to leave," Breanna shook her head, "I wouldn't blame anyone if they did... I wouldn't ..." she cleared her throat, "I wouldn't blame Tina if she told me to leave."

"Why? Because you misbehaved?" Rose asked.

"That is very nicely put," Breanna chuckled, "misbehaved is a nice way of saying I was a total ass."

Rose shrugged, "Bre, you're tired; you push yourself too far without thinking of what it's doing to you. You think everyone always needs you, but it's not true. We can do without you for a while, especially if you need to sleep," Rose said, "Hana told you the outcome of sleep deprivation wouldn't be pretty. David told you you need to rest, but you didn't listen, and it nearly cost your brother his life."

"Both Hana and David told me, you're right ... and Hana did explain what would happen to my body ... I'm so used to pushing myself I wasn't paying attention to what my body needs, but I will from now on, I have to," Breanna said, nodding at the curtained area as another cry sounded, "how is it going?"

"Considering everything that has happened," Rose smiled, "pretty well, come on … I'm needed."

Breanna slowly followed, stepping through the curtain after Rose and joining Hana to attend to the new arrivals. Silence met Breanna's appearance, and Craig stiffened while leaning against Phoenix, who glowered at her.

"I come in peace," she said, "and I bring an apology ... to everyone. "

Tina rolled her tired head in Breanna's direction, "Apology accepted," squeezing Craig's hand, "it's okay … you can relax."

David appeared next to Breanna, "Oh ... Tina," he moved forward, rounding the bed and grasping his sister's hand while Hana worked at the bottom of the bed, "I just heard. How are you doing?"

"Fine now," Tina said, looking at Craig leaning against Phoenix, who was begging him to hibernate so he could heal, "it's Craig I'm worried about."

David looked across the bed, meeting his brother-in-law's gaze, "I'm here, Craig. I'll look over them while you rest and heal."

"Thank you," Craig whispered as his eyes closed, allowing Phoenix to lower him against the pillow again, laying a protective hand on Craig's shoulder and whispering in his ear.

"How is he doing?" David asked, meeting Phoenix's worried eyes.

"He's in a bad way at the moment," Phoenix said, shaking his head, "with the loss of blood, the nano's not been able to work as they should, and his stubbornness to stay awake to help Tina through this …" he frowned, "I'm worried that not even my nano's will be able to help him."

"He doesn't have a choice," Tina said, "he has to live … there is no way I can keep those four in line."

Breanna watched the interaction of the family. This was what family was supposed to be. She wanted this from the start; she couldn't help but smile while slowly moving toward the four babies, pausing as she looked down at them. Two girls and two boys. She frowned in bewilderment before looking over her shoulder at Tina.

"You did well," she said, smiling, "but ... do you know they're all identical?"

"What?" Tina asked, frowning at Breanna, "I don't … how can that be?"

"Perhaps something you'll have to chat to Jenkins about," Breanna whispered, "one thing is certain …" she sighed, "… they are all perfect."

Tina glanced at David, her eyes brimming with wonder. "Do you think …" her words stumbled off her tongue as his eyes met hers; the sentence remained unfinished as Tina realised she didn't have the right words, so she tried another angle. Clearing her throat, and tried again, "David, would you be ready for that?"

"I'd always be ready for that. I'm not sure about Bre, though," David whispered, glancing over his shoulder as a force field appeared above the cribs, "everything okay?"

"Yeah," Breanna said, sighing, "it would seem I need to make another apology, but to all four of them."

"What do you mean?" Tina asked.

"One of them keeps telling me the apology I came with for the room isn't good enough to them," Breanna said, grinning, "oh, they have their father's determination and stubbornness."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Then you'd better apologise," David said.

Breanna nodded as she bent closer to the cribs looking over each baby before addressing them all.

"I know that I haven't made a good first impression on any of you," she whispered, "I know I said and did things that jeopardised your father's life," Breanna glanced at the bed where her brother lay, "and I know I behaved very badly toward your mother. But there is something you have to know …" she sighed, "no one is perfect, and I made a mistake because I was overtired and hungry and …" she shrugged, "well … in a bad mood … but those are all excuses because I should have taken better care of myself so I didn't become like that … and I'm so sorry you had to use your abilities to protect your mom against me. I love both your parents and would never intentionally do something to hurt them."

She waited, as did the entire room. Slowly, the force field disappeared, and Breanna sighed, "Thank you. It means the world that you trust me."

Alexis swiped at her eyes and shook her head, "Attending here has answered so many questions I've had about Mandy. Thank you."

Breanna stood looking down at the babies, their eyes wide and attentive, looking back at her. One with the brightest blue, one with the deepest green, one with eyes so dark the hazel ring around the outer edge was almost white, and the fourth a beautiful hue of violet it took her breath away. She may have only seen these new lives now, but Craig had seen them before and knew he would do anything to make the world safer for his children. How could she have been so blind as to not understand that?

She had been blind to a lot of things. But with David insisting she rest or he would tranquillise her, Breanna had time to think, reason and rest, something she hadn't allowed herself in many days. Breanna connected to Valencia and requested everything retrieved from Craig's uploads. She wouldn't waste anything he had risked his life for them to use. If another Madden and Darica clone was out there, she would end it.

Turning, she took in the area, each person doing something required to get Tina comfortable. The smell of blood and newborns hung in the air. There was a lot worth protecting, and many families needed protection. Breanna sighed; she needed to be the person they required to stand between them and whatever was threatening them right now. Striding toward the opening, she left the area, determination bubbling from somewhere she never knew existed deep within.

"Breanna, where are you going?" Alexis asked, following her out of the curtained area.

"To finish what my brother started," Breanna said, "I'm ashamed to say I allowed myself to become something I never wanted to be, and now I need to make it right."

"How are you going to do that?" Alexis asked.

"Put an end to those two clones Madden made," Breanna said, "Craig risked his life to get that info to us … the least I can do is use it to end whatever they are doing and themselves."

Alexis cocked her head, "You're rested and determined. That is good. It may be advantageous not to allow yourself to become what you were before. I like this version of you."

"Version?" Breanna asked, frowning.

"Everyone has versions of themselves," Alexis smiled, "some versions are nicer than others, but we always have a choice of which one will be more dominant."

Nodding, Breanna smiled, "That is a good explanation," she sighed, "thanks, Alexis."

Alexis smiled and nodded, "Go make it right."

Breanna left the infirmary, plans already darting through her mind. She had one chance to get this right and would do it. She wasn't diverted by Phoenix's cover story about Craig's condition; she had seen the stats when he had been brought in. Craig's condition was critical, and he needed more attention than everyone was letting Tina know about; the fact that he woke to help her proved his love for his family. That action may have cost him his life, but Hana and Rose would give him the required attention, but he would need more, especially from Phoenix. No one understood what was happening more than Phoenix, and Hana knew that and understood the complexities of Craig's recovery. Breanna could see Hana was thankful Phoenix would not leave Craig until he was whole.

That is what Breanna was going to do, make them whole, and if that meant eradicating this backup version of Darcia and Madden, then that was the plan. She needed to do it in a way that would be permanent. That meant all the information was required regarding them. Entering the tech room, she glanced around; everyone paused, awaiting an update from the infirmary.

"Mother and babies are well ..." she inhaled, "Craig still has a long way to go, but Phoenix is in attendance and will ensure he pulls through."

Smiles and nods greeted the news, and the murmur of voices rose again. Finding Valencia / Birgit, she moved toward them.

"What do you two have?" Breanna asked.

"We're still pulling up the information, but you'll want to see these," Valencia said, "it was the first load Craig sent through."

Breanna moved to a screen where the pictures were appearing. She took them in, looking at each one carefully. Shaking her head, she looked at the screen again.

"Can one of you enlarge this one," she pointed at the picture; she couldn't believe what she saw.

"Sure," Birgit said, "what is it?"

"Do you know this face?" Breanna asked.

"No," Birgit said, "should I?"

"What about Val?" Breanna asked, a feeling of dread moving through her.

"The face is familiar," Valencia said, "but the person next to that woman I do know …" she gasped, "isn't that …" turning to Breanna, "isn't that your cousin?"

"I think it is," Breanna said, "which means if that is the child the Darcia fake is threatening with her family …" Breanna leaned on the desk, closing her eyes and inhaling, "I am so angry right now …" she whispered, "angry at myself for not listening, for doubting and angrier at these two clones for threatening my family … again."

"We have to end this, Bre," Valencia said, "the cycle is getting a bit old."

"I have to agree," Breanna said, "there is more we have to deal with out there than an old story …" Breanna straightened, staring at the screen, "Find out everything we can about the people running that place, what is in there, what is done there and how to get in and out. I want every detail. Don't assume anything. Everything is important, no matter what it is. Leave no stone unturned ... no matter what you find. Do you understand?"

Valencia / Birgit nodded.

"What do you mean to do?" Birgit asked.

"Destroy them," Breanna said, "eradicate anything they have done, are doing or even think of doing … then freeing those families from their hold and anyone else who doesn't want to be there."

"Sounds like a plan," Valencia said, watching Breanna leave the tech room.

"Where do you think she's going?" Birgit asked.

"Training room," Valencia whispered, "I feel sorry for the punching bags."

"Let's get to work," Birgit murmured as they returned to their station, and their fingers flew over the keys, "we have a lot to do and not much time to do it."