"James?" She asked, hands clasped on her mouth.

"Mom?" Scar's eyes widened as he recognized her.

"It is you!" She cried out and hugged Scar fiercely. Her eyes were shut tightly as she cried tears of joy and relief. "After what happened..." Trailing off, she leaned backward, still holding her son's shoulders. Her eyes fell upon Chris, standing a little awkwardly off to the side. "Who might you be?" She asked, not unkindly.

"Flyyn, Mrs..." Chris waited for her reply. She had to be the same age as him, but he was a respectful man.

"Oh! You can call me Helen, Flyyn." She then seemed to realize that they were all standing outside. "Oh, my bad manners! Come in, come in!" Helen ushered both of them inside, stirring a pot of soup on the way. "I'll get my husband, he'll be overjoyed to see you again." Scar's mom whisked out of the room, leaving Scar and Chris alone.

"I see that you aren't the only one who adopted a new name, although it was pretty obvious Scar wasn't your birth name." Chris glanced at Scar, who seemed to be in shock. His eyes were watering as he gazed out the sliding glass door his mother had slipped through.

"I-I didn't realize..." He gulped, clearly at a loss of words. "I didn't know my parents- they were still alive-..."

Chris felt sorrowful happiness for Scar, well James. He would have to ask him what he would like to be called. After all, he was so used to the name Chris, that his birth name, Flyyn, was almost foreign to him. "I guess they assumed the same thing about you? When-"

"I was nineteen." Scar broke in, confirming Chris' suspicion of it happening ten years ago. It was then that a lot of Shapeshifters had come to his shelter, set up over twenty years ago. He as well as Nick and others had to expand the lodge a ton, as well as help the others learn about Star Dust. Before Scar arrived, everyone relied on morphing to heal themselves. They were very lucky that Scar was a brilliant and kind doctor.

"I don't know who did it either." Scar continued. "It wasn't your brother." He was being thoughtful, not adding anymore evil doings to Charles' long list.

"You don't have to spare me," Chris said through a pained smile. "I knew he and I weren't on the same page when he tried to stab a knife through my heart. If you don't mind my asking, what happened that made you think they were dead?"

"Someone started a fire..." James started in a hushed tone, shuddering a little at the memory. "My parents and I- we got separated in the house. Right when I got out, the house exploded." Movement came from outside, Helen and her spouse running to the house. "I never saw them after that, only the person who started it. That's why I'm a doctor. To help people."

Right as Scar finished, the screen door opened and Scar was tackle-hugged by both parents. He melted into the hug, after the initial shock of seeing them alive after countless years.

"Oh James, I've let you down. I should have tried harder to find you."

"Dad, you wouldn't have found me, no matter how hard you tried. Ch- Flyyn helped me hide."

"Flyyn?" Scar's dad stepped back. He had salt and pepper hair, stubble on his face. Chris admired the fact that Scar's dad had aged well. He could only hope that the grey showing in his hair wasn't contrasting strongly.

"Yes, sir." Chris dipped his head in respect. "There are many where I come from. We have been nothing but safe." He tactfully avoided the whole Ollie situation as well as the increased threat of his brother. Chris also chose to avoid the shapeshifters part, as he didn't know how much Scar's parents knew.

"Well, then. Thank you for helping my son." The father of Scar paused for a moment, evaluating Chris. "Call me Micheal."

"I'm so glad you found us, James!" Helen cried.

"How did you find us?" Micheal asked, a trifle suspicious about the reunion. Scar chimed in before Chris could, saving him from an awkward reply.

"Chris is a physicist, he as well as others have figured out teleportation. It messes up sometimes though."

"Why haven't I seen this on the news? Are they still covering stuff up?" Helen glanced at Chris before ushering them all to a couch.

"Well," Chris started, clasping his hands together and glancing at Scar. "People don't want us to exist. They are putting in all their effort to take us off of the books."

Helen glanced at James, then Flyyn, understanding flashing in her eyes. "You can morph too, can't you Flyyn?"

Chris was a little shocked at the directed question and the intellect in Helen's eyes. it took him a second to compose himself again. "Yes, in fact I am."

"I understand what's going on now. Where have you guys been?" Helen was looking intently into Chris' eyes now. He dropped them after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"I'm- I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. For your safety and ours..." He didn't dare look back up again, fearing what he might see. A minute of silence followed with some shifting before Micheal spoke up.

"I understand, and I can tell that you have been through a lot, Flyyn. Is there anything we can do?"

Without hesitating, Chris replied. "If you find anyone else call this number, but only for emergencies." He handed them a card that was tucked away in one of his many pockets.

Scar turned towards him with a look of shock. "I didn't even know we had a phone?"

"Phones can be tracked, which is why we live off the grid."

"Who is tracking you?" Helen asked, looking as if she wanted to take James and bundle him away in safety.

"My- my brother most likely," Chris hated that he had to say that, knowing that it would downgrade their perception on him.

"Why would your brother track you?"

This was yet another question that was not going to go over well. Sighing, Chris stopped trying to beat around the bush. "Because he wants me dead more than anyone else."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well that went well, didn't it?" Scar sighed as they left the house with tearful goodbyes and promises.

"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable." Chris held out his hand. Scar took it, but hesitated for a moment.

"I wasn't expecting to see my parents.. alive after all these years." He sighed and looked out into the distance, looking at something Chris could not see. "I took the name Scar, because it had left such a scar in my life, but that scar isn't there anymore."

"You want your old name back, don't you?" Chris gently squeezed James' hand before teleporting them to the place they were supposed to be. He let go, and waited for Scar's reply.

"I'd like that a lot."

Chris smiled and led them out of the trees and onto a crowded street. "First stop is food."

"Wait, how are we going to carry all of this?" James looked at the street and the buildings lining it. Shops advertising their goods in brightly lit signs and cars spewing out their fumes distracted him from being able to focus.

"Teleportation."

James started to nod as they walked towards the bulk store at the end, but then seemed to rethink the idea. "What if they end up somewhere else instead of the lodge?"

Weaving skillfully through the crowd, Chris cleared a path for James to follow, making it inside the store in record time. "That chance is extremely slim."

"I'm starting to question the slim chances here, but at the moment it seems like it's our only choice," James resigned.

"You would be correct in thinking so," Chris opened the door to the bulk grocery store as James grabbed the cart. The stores design was more function rather than style. Tall metal racks held more goods than a person could go through in a year, all held in place by a strange wrap. Bright industrial grade lights illuminated the entirety of the building, revealing it was just the metal skeleton and steel girders. A medium sized sign was perched on the wall reading: "Proudly made by AE."

"Does AE make everything nowadays?" James commented on the sign, giving it a look of repulsion.

"Wouldn't be surprised. Ryan founded it well." Chris sighed as he directed the fuming James down the canned food isle.

"They don't give him any credit for his work! No one knows his name anymore, even though he started one of the most successful companies of today! Everyone knows Steve Jobs, just as they know Apple. Does Ryan even get any money from them?" James clearly needed to vent a little, although he was careful to keep his voice low as to not draw attention. He put himself to work by marking off items as they were gathered.

"Steve Jobs wasn't a morph as far as I know," Sighed Chris as he easily lifted a fifty pound bag of flour into the cart. "As for the money, Ryan has most of it given to his parents and siblings. The rest goes to funding the supplies that we can't make at The Sanctuary. It's just enough to get by."

"That's not right." James muttered to himself.

"Segregation isn't right, yet here we are as a species years later in another segregation."

"It's easier to pretend we don't exist though. We should be things of fairy tales, granting wishes. Instead we are forced into hiding, stripped away from our families, fighting for our lives." James turned to Chris and gave him a helpless look. "Why are we the only ones? Have they really murdered all the others?"

Chris could not smile. For the answer was anything but a happy one. His voice dropped very low and cracked a little from time to time. "There are- places that are like ours. They do their best, but- Many have not made it."

James just stared at him in shock. "I've been so close minded. So we have been fighting Evil, who are they fighting?"

"People like my brother. All over the world. We are just a small part of a giant group."

"They can't hide us forever."

"Sadly they can." Chris slumped. "They use threats and fear to wrangle us into submission. Even now we are fearing."

"What's to fear but fear itself?"

Chris looked at James, his expression hollow. "For some of us, nothing. I used to have nothing to lose, but now... now I have a family again. I can't lose that."

James fell silent and pushed the cart with less enthusiasm. He had just discovered his family was alive after the huge disaster ten years ago. He wasn't sure he would be able to take it again if they died for real.

The silence ensued as the cart continued to fill up with necessary goods until James broke it again. "Why do you stay up so late?"

Chris looked back at him then to the floor after the initial shock of the question. "I'd ask you how you knew..." He sighed. "But you're the doctor."

James raised an eyebrow knowing that Chris was avoiding the question. "You think there is going to be something huge going on soon, don't you?"

Realizing his avoidance was not going to escape with James' keen eye, Chris decided to explain. "Remember the American Revolution?"

"Well, yeah. It's taught in grade schools across the country. What about it?"

"That's just one example of people tired of being oppressed and fighting. How about the American Civil War?"

"Again, it's taught all over. Why America though?"

"We currently live in America, James."

"Ah I see. Couldn't find any examples from the UK?"

"You wouldn't get it as much though." Chris smiled. "My point is that people cannot be forced into complete submission forever."

"Your point being?" James raised an eyebrow.

"The oppression led to war. War leads to thousands of deaths. Innocent and guilty deaths. Some of us aren't going to come out of this alive."

James seemed to consider it for a second then gave his response. "I'd rather die for a noble cause, fighting for the freedom of me and those around me, than die hiding in fear. As Patrick Henry said, 'Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" When Chris didn't reply in a significant way, James bumped him lightly on the arm. "When did you get so methodical and so worrying?"

"When Ollie started feeling like a son to me."

"Oh." James was shocked to say the least. Ollie was fun and playful, clumsy and a little devious, but in a good way. It would make sense age wise for that kind of feeling... "I didn't know people grew bonds that strong that fast."

"They don't," Chris assured the doctor. "I was there for him when he was a young child, right after he lost his parents."

"So the concern you're feeling is less for yourself and more for him?"

Nodding, Chris pilled the last of what they needed into the cart.

"I'm sure if you asked him, he would give the same reply that I gave you."

"He already died once."

James sputtered, losing his balance and gripping tightly onto the cart to keep his head from cracking on the concrete. "I'm sorry, WHAT!?!"

"He was healed by a strange golden light, the same you saw when the group of us came home."

"You can't just drop that bomb on me like that!" James gasped. "People don't usually just die and come back to life!"

"Haven't you learned to be surprised by Shapeshifters?"

"My body is going to collapse from all the surprise that I've had. This is a little much for my brain to handle."

"That's ironic coming from a doctor."

"You weren't shocked by this at all?"

"I'm more of a keep the shock to myself kind of guy."

"You can say that again..." James muttered as he managed to compose himself enough to load the items onto a conveyor belt. The cashier gave them a strange look at the massive amount of food they had.

"Buying food for the entire year?" She joked as her fingers flung across the keypad.

"Nope, just got a lot of hungry mouths to feed." Chris pulled a wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans.

"You must have a big family then."

"In a way, yes, I guess I do."

The cashier decided not to press that, seeing as it would come up with some strange answers. The man looked old enough to have kids of his own, and the younger one could easily be his son. When she had scanned the entire boatload of goods, she announced the total.

"That will be £886.79."

James looked at Chris with shock. "Food has gotten more expensive recently, hasn't it?"

"All the more thankful I am of Ryan's cut from the company," Chris replied swiping a card with the AE logo on it.

"Don't mind me asking, but," The cashier glanced at the card. "But is the Ryan you know the founder of AE?"

Both James and Chris gave each other a glance before Chris gave a very guarded answer. "I didn't know anyone knew that name anymore."

The cashier lowered her voice and leaned in quickly. "I'm Ryan's cousin. I wasn't too happy with the way they shut him out. I don't know specifically who you are, but I know who my cousin is. Please tell him that we miss him." She leaned back out and handed Chris the receipt. "My name is Debra, he knows who I am."

Shocked, Chris silently took the receipt. As he turned to leave, he gave Debra one last call. "I'll tell him."

James pushed the cart into the parking lot and they went to the very back, out of sight as much as possible from prying eyes. "That was unexpected." He commented as Chris put a device on the bundle of food.

"I didn't know so many knew."

"As far as we know, only the family." James pointed out as the stock of food disappeared from sight. "Families can be huge though." The leaves of the trees rustled in the autumn wind,  the wind cutting through the fabric of their clothes.

"So where do we need to get the medical supplies? Last I checked, the things you were looking for aren't sold to everyday citizens." Chris pulled his jacket ever so tighter around himself.

"Probably because if you don't know how to use it properly, it can kill you." James thought for a second. "Where are we? I know of a place, I just don't know where we are."

"In the UK," Chris grinned. "I couldn't think of a store in the US that would fit our needs."

"I'd ask why the cashier doesn't have an accent, but I've gotten so used to yours... Plus Ryan is from America, I'd bet Debra is too." James sighed and instructed Chris on where to go. "Teleport us to a place in Arizona, Medical Tech and Supplies."

When Chris heard the place he took his jacket off and tied it around his waist. Arizona wasn't exactly known for its cold temperatures. If he remembered right, even in the fall it was still quite like an oven. James had opted for a long sleeve shirt that day, so the best he could do was roll up his sleeves.

The moment they teleported they were hit by a wave of stagnant dry air. Not a breeze tempered the area as the sun beat down relentlessly on the concrete.

"People live here?" Chris felt his body break into a sweat as he did his best to shield his eyes from the sheer brightness of the day.

"Yeah, I never saw the appeal either." James was starting to turn red from heating up. He pointed at a unique building no more than sixty yards in front of them. "Our destination."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Daniel yawned as he kept an ear out for any complications with the monitor. Except for the rhythmic beating of Ollie's heart being registered, the room was relatively quiet. Too quiet.

The lodge had quite a few occupants at this point, which meant there was nary a moment of silence. Daniel could only guess that everyone was off doing their own thing. What was it like being in a coma?

What if you were actually sub-conscious during the coma, but were in a kind of a there but not there state? Daniel had questions about all sorts of things, but he usually kept them to himself or his journal of questions.

A quiet but not timid knock pulled him out of his reverie.

"Come in," He called, forcing himself to full alertness. Phoebe opened the door gently, her long black hair twisted up in a loose bun. "Phoebe!" Daniel sat a little straighter in surprise. "What brings you here?"

"I came to check on Ollie," She replied softly, gliding over to the cot.

"I'm afraid nothing has changed since he went unconscious." Daniel stood up and joined her next to the bed.

"He went right into being unconscious after whatever was controlling him left?" Her deep blue eyes turned on him, simply asking many questions.

"As far as I know. Scar or Chris could tell you more about it."

"Chris doesn't know as much as you think..." Phoebe trailed off as she gently lifted Ollie's hand and studied the glove Hope had skillfully stitched up. "After all, we are only human."

"Pardon?" Daniel didn't know what she was talking with about Chris. He knew that Chris didn't know everything, although he was a great deal wiser than the rest of the group.

"He questions all these things just as much as you or I, but he will do his best to ease our minds." She let Ollie's hand drop gently to the soft mattress. "He told me of the night that changed everything for him."

"Shouldn't he tell me that?" Daniel interrupted. Phoebe was way more reserved than the rest of everyone at The Sanctuary, staying mostly to her chemistry experiments.

"He gave me permission to tell when the time was right. Memories are to be learned from.

"He watched with horror as the glinting metal hovered near his heart. The sharp edges gleamed in the dim light, provided by the waning moon. He didn't care about the knife, he cared about the person holding it. Hatred gleamed in his twin's eyes, even as the hand holding the weapon trembled ever so slightly. Chris felt his heart pump faster, and his eyes widened to let in as much light as possible. It was fight or flight now, but he couldn't bring himself to harm his brother. Even if his brother would.

"Charles... Why?" He hoarsely whispered, his voice dry from sleep.

"You took everything away from me!"

Chris could have sworn he saw the trace of a tear as the knife started to shake violently.

"Brother, please."

"Don't call me that!" Charles stabbed the knife down but missed Chris's heart.

Gasping, Chris pulled himself away, as his brother stared at his own hands and the blood seeping Chris's shirt. The windowsill was right there if only he could make it...

Dimly he heard the pounding of footsteps as his twin ran away. His vision pulsing and dimming, the pain almost too much to bear, he flicked the window open with the last of his energy.

He vaguely remembered pulling out the knife, and his body throbbing from it so much. His brain hurt to no end, and his vision was scattered. He remembered falling, but falling without blood. Then he blacked out."

"Wha-"

"Chris blacked out for over a week from the traumatic morphing."

"I see now." Daniel sat down again. "Ollie isn't waking up any time soon."