CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: BACK TO EACH OTHER

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Sirens was wailing in the distance as Maddie and the others had arrive at a farm to see bodies and body parts laying all around the area.

"Okay. Ben is an asshole. I'll give you that. But a mass murderer?" Maddie asked as they looked around all the bodies. Some of them slide in half and was losing a limp. It was a massacre.

"Turned everyone into haggis" Lila walked over to a mutilated body before she lifted up the cut off hand and turned it around so they could see the upside down umbrella tattooed on the wrist.

"And they have terrible taste in tattoos" she said "Some next-level psycho shit" Diego said and Lila drop the arm "This could have been a rescue mission" Maddie said "More likely a massacre by two individuals who are growing increasingly violent by the minute" Reginald said "You don't know that" Viktor said as Five approached them after talking to some of his colleague from CIA.

"All right, so my guys tell me that this whole farm actually belongs to those two lunatics who ambushed us at New Grumpson. Gene and Jean Thibedeau" Five said.

"Well, maybe Ben killed them too" Luther said as Maddie poked to a body with a stick "Well forensics found fresh tracks leading out of the barn. So my guess is they escaped" Five said "They couldn't have gotten far. Based on the signs of rigor, I'd say times of death was six, maybe seven hours ago" Maddie said "She's right" Allison said "How do you two know that?" Diego put his hands on cross as he looked at Maddie and Allison.

"Wichita, PD. Thursday nights at 9/8 Central" Allison responded "Freddy taught me" Maddie responded.

"Ready the car" Reginald said as he walked away "I gotta make a call" Allison said before her and Viktor walked away while Five walked away too.

Lila glanced at Diego before following after Five "You think what I'm thinking?" she hooked her arm with his "Rarely" Five replied "There might be a way to stop all this" Lila said "The answer is no, Lila" he said, knowing what she was talking about.

"Hey, you didn't even let me ask the question" she said as they both stopped "'Cause I know I'm gonna hate it. So why wast the oxygen?" he asked "Why don't we use that little time choo-choo of yours, go back in time and stop the coming Armageddon?" she asked "How would that work?" he asked "Well, we travel back to the original Jennifer incident. Stop your Ben from ever touching that Jen" she smiled and he took a deep breath.

"Lila, if you recall, we almost got our heads blown off. And I would like to watch my kids grow up and grow old with my wife, if that is alright with you" he said "Mmm" she nodded "All right?" he asked "Plus, it would never work without a briefcase" he said "Stop being such a baby. It's worth a short. Clearly the rules are different this time. Maybe we don't even need a briefcase" she said and he looked to the side.

"You must have those powers for a reason, right? Let's use it" she smiled "All right, fine. I'm doing this because you are my sister-in-law, and you owe me one, big time. And first sign of trouble, we're coming back. And I have to tell my wife. I don't want to keep anymore secrets from her" he said and she nodded.

"You do have one problem though" she glanced to the left and Five glanced the same way too to see Diego walking towards them.

"I don't supposed we can explain any of this to him" he said "He's like a sponge that can take no more water" she said "It's a shame. But that's your problem to deal with" he said.

"Wish he was as easy to talk to as Maddie. How are you guys doing it?" she asked "Communication" he said as Diego approached them "I have to tell Maddie" Five said "Good luck with that, she might be like Diego" she said "No" Five scoff.   

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Diego looked at Lila before he looked at Five "Do you mind?" he asked "Yeah" Five nodded before walking away.

"That thing you said earlier about needing a break. You don't love me anymore?" he asked "Of course I still love you, but you make this so hard, Diego" she said "What? How? What---" he said "Every day, me and the kids have to watch you moping around the house, complaining about your life, your job, your in-laws, your fat belly" she said "You're just as bored as I am. Remember, you're the one that snuck out to those Keeper meetings" he said.

"Look, I took my big bag of shit out of the house so no one else has to deal with it. This is our life, my love. If you're not in it, then what's the point?" she looked at him before walking away.

"Sir?" Five asked as he approached his boss "Mr. Five. I though you said you had this situation under control" Lance said "Well the situation is proving more kinetic than anticipated" Five said "No shit. We have the Texas Tentacle Massacre out here" Lance said as he glanced around before stopping "Okay, I need to know who's responsible for this bloodbath" he said "Well, sir, I do have a few leads but I need a favor before I can follow up" Five said "I'm listening" Lance said and Five turned around "Okay, you see these two idiots over there?" Five pointed at Luther and Diego "Those are my brothers. Now, they're kind of stepping all over the crime scene, asking dumb questions, getting in my way" Five looked back at his boss.

"Do you mind taken 'em back to HQ?" he asked and Lance lifted an eyebrow as he looked back at Five "You know, show 'em around. Maybe let them hold some guns" he said and Lance let out a disgruntled sigh "You're asking me to babysit?" he asked "You want this case solved, don't you?" Five asked "You owe me, Five" Lance said and Five turned around "DIEGO! LUTHER!" he called out "Come over here. I want introduce you to my boss" he said before he looked back at his boss "Deputy Director Lance Ribbons" Five said before walking away.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir" Diego shook Lance's hand "Hello, Lance" Luther also shook Lance's hand.

"I understand you gentleman have a keen interest in the CIA. I'd love to give you an insider's look, if you're interested" Lance said "Not, not really--" but Diego put a hand on his brother's chest "Are you kidding?" he asked "We're in" he said "Good" Lance said before pulling out a small business card from his inner pocket  "Meet me at the office" he gave it to Diego before walking away.

Luther then gave Diego a small punch at the shoulder "What?" Diego asked "Why do I have to go?" Luther asked "'Cause he wants both of us" Diego said and Luther sighed "Come on, Luther. I really need this right now, man. Life sucks" Diego said "All right, fine" Luther said "Yes!" Diego smiled "We're gonna need suits" he said "Suits?" Luther looked at him "Yeah, man" Diego put on some sunglasses "Gotta look the part, playboy" he said "Did you steal those from a dead guy?" Luther asked.

---

"Hey" Maddie said as Five approached her "Hey" he walked up to her "I think we need to go back to the kids" Maddie said and Five looked at her "We have being away from them for far too long, they need us, and I miss them" she said "So do I, but I can't go" he said "Why not?" she asked.

"Listen I gotta tell you something" she looked at him "I have being going to a meeting undercover about the Keepers, there I met Lila. And that is why I know about the Keepers, and about Gene and Jean" he said "Okay" she said "Wait?" he asked confuse.

"You are not angry at me for not telling?" he asked "No, why would I be mad? Beside I had a feeling about it. I'm just glad you told me the truth, that is how we make our marriage work, communication, and no secrets" she said and he smiled.

She noticed the look he had on his face "There is more right?" she asked and he nodded "I think I might have a way to fix this without you have to fight and without Ben dying" he said "How?" she asked "When I blink, I land in a strange subway. But it is not a normal subway, it is a subway that take you to different timelines" he said "Like a portal, just like those time travel briefcase?" she asked and he nodded.

"It's like a waypoint between alternate timelines of the same moment in time" he said "So you think this subway is your new powers? Did you create or did it always exist and your abilities now is to see it and access it?" she asked "If I created it, I have no memories of doing so" he replied "If the train really takes us to different timelines, does that mean we're getting paradox phychosis" she said. 

"Well, Lila suggested that her and I blink to that subway, take the train, travel back to the original timeline and stop Ben from ever touching Jennifer" he said "So change the past?" he nodded "But didn't you say that it was dangerous" she said "It is" he said "Maybe we should call Freddy since he is---" "No" Five cut her off "We don't need to disturb Freddy with this, Lila and I will fix this" he said "But isn't it dangerous being in different timeline?" she asked "It is. We almost got our heads blow up by another younger version of me" he said "I'm not comfortable that you are doing this" she said and he put his left hand on her right cheek "It's the only way for this to work without anyone dying. And stopping you from fighting this thing. I will be fine" he storke his hand down her cheek.

"Okay, I trust that you can handle it, I trust and believe in you" she said.

"You are more than welcome to come" he said "No" she lightly shook her head "As much as I want to, one of us need to go back home to the kids. And since you have more experience in this time travel different timeline stuff, you need to go" she said "I would love if you come with me" he said "We will both be fine. But I need to get home to the kids" she said "I'm not really comfortable for leaving you out my sight" he said.

"I will be fine" she put her left hand his right cheek "You see if we can fix this, and I hold the stuff at peace here" she said "I know you will" he said "Just be careful. I want the kids to have a dad when they grow up, I want you to watch them grow up. And I want to be wife, not widow" she said "I promise to be careful" he kissed her knuckled.

"Just promise me, if this reaction merge stuff is complete, promise me that you wouldn't try to fight it until I'm back, until we have talk about it" he said "I promise. But then you gotta promise me something?" she asked "Anything" he said.

"Promise me that you will come back to me, to the kids" she said and he put her face in his hands "I promise you that I will come back to you, back to the kids" he said "I know you will. 'Cause we always seems to find our way back to each other" she said "And I promise you that no matter what, I will come back to the kids, to you. I promise you that. I will find my way back to the kids, to you" he said and she smiled before kissing him.

No matter what they say
My love for you is greater than their powers
And their armies from above

They pulled away before resting their foreheads against each other "I love you, always and forever" she said "I love you, always and forever and I will be back before you know it" he said before hugging her "I will be back before dinner, I promise" he said and she nodded before they hugged tighter, it was like they were not going to see each other for years.  

You give me strength
I'm with you either way
If I die, if I stay
Give me strength
I'm with you either way
Nothing's lost, no more pain
Just give me strength

"Are we going or what?" Lila asked as she approached the two and the couple pulled away.

"Watch out and take care of him Lila. If he comes back with a scratch, I will hurt you" she said "Don't worry, I will babysit that little shit" Lila said and Five rolled his eyes before he looked back at his wife "How are you going to get home?" he asked "I will get cap" Maddie said and Five nodded "Give Noa and Sam a hug and kiss from me, and tell them that I love them and will be back soon" he said and she nodded before kissing him again.

"Come on, we're losing daylight" Lila said and Five pulled away before he walked over to Lila and grab her hand before they blink away and Maddie let out a sigh when she watch her husband disappear in a purple light.

---

Both Five and Lila appeared in the underground subway. "Okay" he said before they started walking forward "Do exactly what we did last time. Just ride one stop eastbound. Go up to the apocalypse timeline. Avoid getting killed, and wrap back to 2006. If the station is part of my new power, it must include some way to change the system so we can travel between time and the timelines. We search for that way. Stop Ben from ever going on the Moldovan mission. Got that?" Five looked at Lila.

"Relax. It's a rookie time travel mission, Five. We've done this a thousand times" she said and he sighed as they walked down the stairs.

"But time travel-wise, I don't get the whole subway thing, right?" she asked as the train arrived "I'm much more of a DeLorean kind of person, yeah?" she asked as the warped voice speaking backwards over PA was heard and Lila noticed a map laying on a bench so she grab it. Thinking it might be useful.

She turned to see Five looking at her "Just in case..." she said and the subway alert chimes as the train stopped and the door opened.

"After you" Lila said and Five walked into the train with Lila right behind him.

The door closed and the warped voice speaking backwards over PA was heard before the train started moving

"By the way, what did you tell Maddie?" she asked "The truth" he replied and she looked at him "The truth about what?" she asked "About me going undercover, and what you and I have to do" he said "And how did she take it?" she asked "As you noticed really well" he said "I don't get how you two can keep doing it" she said "Maybe you and Diego can learn something from Maddie and I" he said and she rolled her eyes.

---

Maddie opened the door to her house "I'm home!" she called out.

"MOMMMY!" Noa and Sam called as they came running over to her and she crouched down before opening up her arms.

"You're home. We missed you" the kids hugged their mom "I missed you two, so much" she smiled as she hugged them.

"Where have you being?" Noa asked as the three pulled away "Where is daddy?" Sam asked "Daddy had some work he needed to do, but he will be back as soon as he can" Maddie said and the kids' face fell.

"But look what we got" Maddie pulled up two stuff animals which caused Noa and Sam to smile as Maddie gave one stuff animal to them.

"Thank you" the two said "Come on Sam, let's play" Noa grab Sam's hand before the two walked into the living room.

"Welcome home Mrs. Maddie" Alfred said "Hey Alfred, thank you for watching them" she said "No mention it, I have know them both since they were born" Alfred smiled.

"By the way, an older couple came to the door while you and Mr. Five was away" he said "What did they want?" she asked "Their name was Gene and Jean. And they wanted to talk to you" Maddie's eyes widened.

"What did you tell them?" she asked "Don't worry Mrs. I didn't tell them where you were. I told them that you were unable to talk and if they wanted to talk to you, they gotta go through the whole thing" he said and she nodded "If they arrive here again, call the police" she said and he nodded before she walked into the living room to watch her kids play.

Maddie was actually scared, why was Gene and Jean here? What do they want?

She wish she could call Five, but she knew that would be no phone service where he was.

---

The sound of subway alert chimes as and the warped voice started speaking backward over PA as the train door opened and Five and Lila step out.

"Okay. Broken vending machine. Australia" Five said as he looked around the station "Three burnt-out light bulbs" he said "See? Your poetry book came in handy" Lila  said and he pointed towards the stairs.

"All right" he sighed as the two walked towards the stairs "Knowing me, I probably set a trap, so be careful" he said before they walked up the stairs to the apocalypse.

Five pulled up the binoculars before looking around, trying to see if he could spot his other self by looking over at the camp but he couldn't see anything.

"All right" he lowered the binoculars "There's no sign of him" he put the binoculars into his inner pocket again.

"Okay. Well, let's get going before you start farting" she turned to him "Yeah" he said "Ready? 2006, here we come" she said as they put one hand on each other's back before they blink away.

They both appeared inside the academy "Did it work?" she asked and Five walked over to a small table where some papers was laying "Are we here?" she asked as she looked around while Five looked at the papers "I don't know" she said.

"October 14, 2006" Five pulled up a newspaper and she walked over to him "Great. Okay" she said and Five put the newspaper down "So we go in, we snuff Ben out, we get back on the tube, we're back before bath time" she said as they walked down the hallway.

"We're not here to kill him, Lila" he put a hand on her back as they looked to the right down a hallway, making sure that they didn't get spotted.

"We're just diverting him. Making sure he doesn't go on the Moldova mission. And also making sure Maddie don't go either" he said "Why her too?" she asked "'Cause she also wanted to open that container and if Ben don't do it, she will and she will be the one that dad kills instead. And then you can figure out what will happen when we return back" he said "Mmm" she nodded "Grandfather paradox which will create the Kugelblitz" she said.

"Now a guy I haven't seen in like, five years so he might be a little jumpy. Just play it cool. And this version of Maddie, haven't seen me in years, so she might be the one we shall talk to" he said "Like polar bear nipples" she said.

Then the klaxon started blaring "Oh shit!" Five grab Lila before the two quickly hide behind a corner.

"Step lively, children. We have a mission to do. Number One, round up the children!" Reginald called out and Luther step out of his bedroom. His uniform was red instead of blue.

"Let's go" he clapped his hands "Get your asses in gear" he looked at Diego "My man, Diego" he patted his shoulder "My ass is always in gear" Diego said "Come on, guys" Luther said and Klaus started giggling "Are you kidding me? You just got out of rehab" a boy voice said "I'm California sober, Alphonso" Klaus said.

"Alphonso?" Lila looked at Five while Klaus giggled as him and Alphonso stepped out of the bathroom.

"Umbrellas" Lila whispered.

Then a young Fei walked out of her bedroom "Sparrows" Lila whispered "Who's that?" she asked as she looked at another young girl. Her hair was red, she was wearing red make-up, and a piercing in her nose. She look more like a bad girl.

"Maddie?" Five whispered "That's Maddie?" Lila asked "I know Maddie in every timeline, but this is not the one I know, not the one I have know since we were kids, she didn't look like that. Far from it. She is the opposite of that person. This is not the Maddie I'm married to" he said "What does that mean?" she asked "We're in the wrong timeline. We need to go" he whispered.

"Hey!" the boy whose name was Phil said as they spotted Five and Lila "Who the hell are you?" he asked as Five got out of cover to stand in front of them "Rude" Lila got up and stood next to Five.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing" she said and Maddie scoff "We're the Dragon Academy" she had her arm rested on the Phil's shoulder.

"Maddie, Love" Five smiled.

Lila lookd at Five, she saw the way Five looked at Maddie, his eyes soft, his lips slightly parted, as if he were seeing a ghost. Despite the danger, despite the fact that this Maddie didn't knew who he was and she was probably going to hurt him, Five was still lovestruck by her. It left Lila stunned.

It also shown, that no matter what version of Maddie. Five would always be lovestruck by her, he will always love her.

A red energy ball appeared on Maddie's left palm while Phil that was standing next to her used his powers too, causing a fire ball to appear "And we're about to fuck you up" he said "Let's get them" Maddie said before her and Phil shot the red energy ball and the fire ball towards Five and Lila.

Because Five was not focus because he was not in the right state of mind after seeing Maddie here. Lila had to take action. So she grab Five and blink them both away before they were hit by the fire and the red energy ball.

---

Lila let out a laugh as her and Five walked back down to the underground train station.

"Okay, slight hiccup" she said "You think?" he asked "Okay. Well, look. We're in the wrong timeline, but clearly, we're in the neighborhood" she said "Neighborhood of what?" he asked as he stopped.

"Christ, I never should have listened to you, if I hadn't. I would be home right now, with my beloved wife and amazing kids who probably miss me like hell just as much as I miss them, and they're wondering where there daddy is, but I had to listen to you" he said.

"Chill out, Five!" she stopped before she turned to look at him "We'll figure out, okay? You know why?" she asked and he put his hands in his pocket "Because someone brought a map" she pulled up a map as he approached her.

"Hmm" he just responded and she laughed "All right" she sat down on the bench.

Meanwhile Five was feeling the anxious energy buzzing inside him as he sat down next to her while she folded out the map to look at it.

Lila's eyes were scanning the map with determination.

"Look, we're here" she put the map on her lap "Take this train three stops to this squiggly line. Transfer at the division symbol" she said.

Five's impatience got the better of him and he stood up again, pacing slighty as he waited for the train to arrive.

Lila squinted at the map, her brow furrowed in concentration but she was struggling to decipher its cryptic sympols and lines.

"Oh fuck!" Lila said as she looked at the map "Oh no, wait!" she tried to read it.

Five sighed, relief flooding him when the train finally came into view.

"We're here. Two stops on the ampersand" she said as the train stopped "No more winging it" he said "Is that an umlaut or an ablaut?" she asked "Let's get back to where we came from" Five pointed at the train as the door opened.

"Lila!" Five called out as he turned to her.

The warped voice started speaking backwards over PA as Five entered the train.

His irritation flared when he noticed that she was still sitting on the bench, her eyes darting over the map without making any progress.

"Now!" he shouted, making her snap out of her thoughts and she looked at him "Hey!" she got up "What?" he asked as she rushed over to the train "Do you wanna miss the train?" he asked "Well, who made you in charge?" she asked as she entered the train and the door closed.

"Jesus! You were gonna leave without me" she said "I will if I grow more tired of you, so zip it" he said.

---

Viktor and Maddie was sitting next to each other with Reginald across from them in a café, Viktor have told Reginald that he had a plan to stop Ben and Jennifer without killing them. And Viktor have ask Maddie to come with him to talk to Reginald which she agree to.

Just like Maddie, Reginald also had bodyguards with him, just in case.

Alfred who was Maddie's butler and head of security was standing closest to Maddie.  

"Let's hear it, then. Your brilliant plan" Reginald said "I can remove Ben's marigold" Viktor said "That's not possible" Reginald "I've done it before" Viktor said "I assume it wasn't without risk" Reginald said "It had its challenges" Viktor said "Then why would you want to do it again?" Reginald asked "'Cause he is our brother" Maddie said and Viktor nodded "A meaningless connection" Reginald said "You're wrong" Viktor and Maddie shook their heads "Rarely?" Reginald said with a smile.

"You never did understand what it means to be part of a family" Maddie said "And thank goodness for that. You children bicker constantly" Reginald said "Yeah!" Maddie and Viktor did a slightly nod while letting out a small chuckled.

"Yeah. And we drive each other crazy, but every family does that" Maddie said "That's why I moved as far away from then as possible. But when things go to hell, which inevitably they do, they're there for me" Viktor and Maddie smiled "We're always there for each other, every step of the way" she said "More evidence humans are an inferior species" Reginald said "If that's what you think, we feel sorry for you" Maddie said "Spare me your pity, kids" Reginald said before he looked at Viktor "Even with your powers, I am your superior in every way" he said before he poured some syrup on his pancakes.         

"Maybe" Viktor said "But in every timeline, you're also a complete asshole" Maddie said before her and Viktor got up and exit the café.

"I better get home to the kids" Maddie said "Yeah, thanks for coming" Viktor said "Of course" Maddie smiled before she looked at him.

"Are you sure you can do this, taken away Ben's marigold?" she asked "I done it before, and it is the only way without killing him and without you risking your life again fighting him" he said and she smiled, knowing that Viktor also did this to keep her safe and protect her, so she wouldn't have to sacrifice her own life by fighting this Durango Cleanse things. 

"If you find a way to take Ben's power, then I believe in you. Just be careful" she said "I will" Viktor said "I can help you, if you like" she said "No, let me handle it, go back to Sam and Noa, you have being away from them for far too long, they need their parents" he said "Okay" she said before the two hugged.  

"Listen if you want help, don't hesitate to call me, okay. We're a family Viktor, and a family is always and forever, we are there for you" she said "I know. Give Noa and Sam a hug for me" he said "I will. I love you Vik" she said "Love you too sis" he said.

The two pulled away and Maddie got into her car with Alfred behind the wheel before driving away.

---

Five and Lila was stil inside the train as it was driving through the tunnel.

It came to a station but didn't stop as it kept driving and that cause a confuse face to appear on Five since that was the station they were going to get off.

"That  was our stop" Five looked through the door's windows. 

Then the PA system started chimes and a warped voice started again speaking backwards over PA which cause Lila and Five to turned to look up at the PA to hear better what it said.

"...the express" 

"Bollocks" Lila said "Shit" Five said as they both knew what it means. They were going to travel to another timeline.

The sound og harsh, grating audio distortion was heard as the train travel to another portal before the sound of shimmering, warped tones distort was heard as the tunnel glow green.

"I'm sorry Maddie, I'm sorry Noa and Sam, I don't think I will be home for dinner. But I will find my way back to you, no matter what, I promise, even if I have to go through million of timelines...I promise I'll find my way back to you, I'll be with you and the kids again" Five said.

A/N: What do you think that Gene and Jean wanted? 

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