The commotion drew Craig from his sleep; pushing groggily onto his elbow, he watched as two gurneys were moved into the emergency section of the infirmary.

Was someone hurt?

What had happened while he was recuperating?

Rose came around the corner, giving him a tight smile before collecting bandages and turning to leave.

"What is going on? Who is hurt?" Craig asked.

"Two of the prisoners in Michael's enhanced prison," Rose said before disappearing.

"Michael has a prison?" Craig frowned.

What was his brother doing with some prison under his control?

Where was the prison?

How could he get that past his family?

Did Breanna know?

If she did, why didn't she tell him, or was she still angry with him for disobeying her?

Glancing at the infirmary door as it swooshed open, his sister walked through, firing questions in every direction. Easing against the pillows again, he inhaled, allowing his body to relax on the exhale and let the pain subside while he waited. Time seemed to stand still as he listened to the commotion on the other side. Gleaning information from the questions and answers, it appeared there was a fight in his brother's prison. These two enhanced beings needed medical attention. Movement near the dividing wall caught his eye.

"How you doing?" Breanna asked, peeking around before moving into the space.

"I'm awake," Craig said, "I wish I was allowed to move around, but honestly, I understand why Hanna refuses my requests."

"Why is that?" Breanna asked, frowning.

"I'm still very ... weak," Craig said, frustration riding his words.

"Don't your Nano's work on making you stronger?" Breanna asked, concern etching her gaze.

"Usually, but before, I have never lost the amount of blood I did this time," Craig shook his head, "nor did I need to stay awake to protect myself as long as I did while bleeding out," he whispered, "I've always had someone to watch my back or a place to hole up where I know I'm protected," Craig rolled his head toward the opposite wall before looking back at his waiting sister, "this time was bad. I can barely lift myself onto my elbows or sit up without help. I don't have the strength to protect myself. I'm vulnerable and a sitting duck."

"Was the internal damage that bad?" Breanna asked, her face becoming white.

"Don't get so upset, there was internal damage which is being repaired ... still, but I'll live," Craig said, seeing her pale face, "don't look like that ... you did what you did, and I did what I did. I'm here and alive, and my children and beautiful mate are doing well. That is all I've ever wanted."

"Perhaps," Breanna said, "but Tina may not have given birth so soon if I hadn't behaved as I did, and your offspring didn't have to defend her against me, never mind you going off on your own because I was too stubborn and …" she sighed, "…tired to comprehend what you were really saying."

"You admit your part in the near disaster," Craig whispered, narrowing his gaze on her, "I would say that admission is what makes you so unlike Darcia in every way. She could never admit anything was her fault even when it was only her in the room; she was holding the evidence in her hands or when she got caught with her hand in the cookie jar .... literally."

"That is true," Breanna said, "but I have come to realise that when exhausted past what I should be or can handle …" shaking her head, she looked at Craig, "I become like her … and I don't like it and I don't want to. I want to be me and only me. So, I took matters into my own hands and allowed Dave to implement a curfew."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"What?" Craig asked, trying to sit up but finally subsiding as he panted with effort, "You're handing over control for a part of your life?"

"I … have to," Breanna said, "it has become evident that I cannot run my own life when it comes to knowing when I need to sleep or take time off. It's as if something was switched off inside of me … and I'm not sure if I can switch it on."

"Bre, I'm so sorry," Craig whispered, stretching out his hand and waiting until she allowed him to fold her hand in his, "it could have happened during any of the procedures done to you. The problem is you'll never really know."

"I know," Breanna whispered, "so David will help me learn my body and its needs by … caring and keeping me accountable."

"I'm glad you're getting help," Craig said, smiling gently, "now tell me who those people are?"

Breanna glanced toward the wall where emergency procedures were still being implemented.

"We discovered Michael had a prison where all these … enhancements were being kept, like prisoners of war," Breanna sighed, closing her eyes, "that is a matter I need to take up with Michael, but as far as those two go, they were in the food line and decided it was a good thing to lose their tempers and get physical. It caused a lot of damage to themselves as Michael has something that prevents whatever they do to affect anyone else … or something like that," Breanna shook her head, "I'm not sure exactly ..." she sighed, hanging her head while she inhaled, "there was a lot of information and several things that needed to be sorted out. I'm still in shock about this prison and …" she glanced away, "… never mind," she whispered, giving a tight smile, "you need to recover and don't need to hear my insecurities."

"Bre," Craig whispered, gripping her hand when she would have pulled away, "look at me."

He waited until his little sister looked at him, "Talk to me," he paused as she struggled with her decision as it was uncharacteristically shown in her facial expressions, "that's what I'm here for … we're actual family, and if we cannot be there for each other …" he squeezed her hand, "what hope do we have of showing everyone else what family looks like."

"Why do you have to be right?" Breanna sighed, easing her hip onto the edge of the bed, "I've trusted Michael since he came back into my life, and I remembered who he was," she said, looking at their clasped hands, "but now … with this prison thing … I wonder what else he hasn't told us," she whispered, "we haven't seen or heard from him for a while and then … boom … we discover he has a prison filled with rogue enhancements that we're literally fighting night and day to keep in check ..." she sucked in air, "and he didn't bother to tell us."

"Feel better?" Craig asked, grinning at Breanna.

"Thank you," Breanna said, grinning, "I did need to get that out of my system."

"Glad I could help," Craig said, "but I must agree. It is a little concerning …."

"A little?" Breanna spluttered.

"Okay," Craig's lips turned up in a slight grin, "very concerning, but I'd rather give him the benefit of the doubt and hear his side before I don't trust him at all."

"Benefit of the doubt," Breanna whispered, frowning, "we don't know if there is any doubt."

"We don't know anything," Craig amended, "we don't know if he didn't tell us because he is trying to protect our whereabouts … remember we went dark; if we're found … all these people we're trying to protect will become experiments in cages and labs at the hands of humans who fear us."

Breanna stared at him, "That is what haunts me the most," she shook her head, "between that and discovering what we did with the intel you sent through …" Breanna shook her head, "will this ever be over … would we be able to have normal lives?"

Craig frowned, "I don't know about you, but I've never had a normal life."

Breanna chuckled, "Yeah, that runs in our family, but you know what I mean," she frowned, swallowed hard and shook her head, "will there ever be a time when we can experience a little peace and quiet without worrying about someone with abilities freaking out and causing more harm than good."

"So, you want the white picket fence experience," Craig nodded, chuckling as Breanna grinned, "then we shouldn't have decided on becoming the police of our kind or the buffer or whatever we are …" Craig sighed, "if we were not doing what we are doing … the world out here would be burning worse than it presently is."

"That is the thing," Breanna said, "I don't think the humans know that it is burning. I think they're totally oblivious to what is truly happening."

"Would you want them to know?" Craig asked, frowning, "do you remember their response when they say Morgan and his crew carrying on?"

Breanna stilled as though memories ran through her emotions, "Right...that was bad."

"Can you imagine how they would react if they knew everything that was happening," Craig asked, watching his sister's face intently, "times that reaction by ten and then ask yourself how quickly our safety and lives would be worth more on a wanted poster than as someone's loved one."

Breanna paled, "Oh man, that is ... why do you have to have such good points? That was an awful thought," she shuddered, "with these options in mind, I vote we continue doing what we're doing regardless of what our brother tells us or not."

"I second that vote," Craig said, smiling, "now … tell me everything you know about this prison of Michaels, and I suggest you pull up a chair and whisper."