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Dillon’s ice blue eyes narrow at Phillip.

“It’s winter now, but it was a summer fling. You’re hardly in the position to do what you’re doing. It’s not just Star Wars, It may be the catalyst, but I’ve put the work in for the rest.”

He seethes at the mention of Thomas’ name and backhands Phillip wildly.

‘It’s an interesting point you’ve made. Because, deep down, you don’t know that do you? Nor do I. She might be so lost, she needs to come back to some balance. Some structure and order. I can provide that for her, hell if you comply you could both be happy there. You never know unless you try Phillip. As for finding another Thomas…no one can replace him. He has a uniqueness about him that very few understand.”

Dillon folds his arms and stares at Phillip.

“Something tells me…That I wont need to look very far. I know how you feel about Leila and I shan’t take that from you. You can’t give me what Thomas did, but I can and will mold you to what I need you to be. You’ve seen my other High Priest. You’d be a wonderful addition.”

He’s about to continue when Harding enters.

“We have movement. Prewett’s coming for him. Come with me.”

Dillon nods and briskly leaves.

~~~

Leila looks at Eddie and hugs him. The sentiment is appreciated, it really is and she doesn’t doubt he’d be able to get a few good hits in.

“I promise I will. But it’s safer for you at the farm. And if anyone turns up there I’m sure between you, Titch and Derek you’d be able to fend anyone off.”

John looks over the evidence again.

“Leila, need that pic of Phillip you got.”

She nods and sends it over. He places his phone amongst the rest of the documents and Photographs. He’s notices how Dillon’s wearing a signet ring on the hand that’s in Phillip’s hair. He frowns as he looks at the state that Phillip’s in.

“Gonna have to bring some bolt cutters by the looks of it.”

He points to the chain on the floor, though he can’t see the end attached to Phillip’s foot and subsequently the radiator, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Right, we’ll have to pick some up at the farm.”

John nods and looks at Adam and Leila disappears upstairs.

“That was brilliant, mate. The way you cracked that code. Amazing!”

It’s not long before Leila comes back down and she’s in uniform again. It fits like a glove. She’s suited entirely, all she needs in the over vest saying she’s a civilian from John’s car, the spare radio for Eddie.

“Plan of action?”

Leila takes a deep breath.

“We drop Eddie off at the farm with a radio so we can stay in contact. We, you and I, take the backroads to the old building. I’m not sure where Adam is, but maybe, if there are any more codes, he could come with us? We head in, we get Phillip, get him to the hospital and go from there.”

“What about Michelle?”

“We’ll handle that when we get there…John can you ask Adam if he’s up to sending one more small letter?”

John looks to Adam.

With a yes, Leila writes a small note to Phillip.

Hold on, I’m coming xxxx❤️

She looks at Eddie.

“Can you let Charlie and Ellie know?”

But he finds a new hope when Harding interrupts and says Leila's coming for him. He doesn't anger him more knowing it could be Leila on the receiving end instead of himself, but after Dillon leaves he smiles.

Dillon was wrong. Proven wrong! Leila wasn't broken down she was emboldened, and she wanted to find him. She was going to find him. They'd reunite not under some fucking cult.

The note he gets is even better, a confirmation that it wasn't some lie, and Phillip holds the small bit of paper gently. He kisses it and lays down on his side too weak to stay up. Mind much too full of static to even worry about the danger she's getting into. The cold tile is somehow a relief to his head. It feels like it may actually be getting warmer in here. He encloses the note in a fist to keep it hidden and holds it to his heart along with teddy.

It's only a matter of time until this is all over. Phillip sighs and doesn't try to stay awake against the impending unconsciousness.

Adam watches as Leila reenters in her uniform, and immediately has to look away, heat reaching the tip of his ears. He’d forgotten how amazing she looked, and now is not the time to be getting anymore gushy than he already has.

Leila lays out the plan, and Adam’s filled with determination. This is it. This is the moment of truth. They’re going to stop this horrid conspiracy, and Dillon and Harding are going to get exactly what’s coming to them.

Anything you need.

He says in earnest at her request. He’s more than happy to send what must be the most glorious four words Phillip’s ever read in his life.

Eddie gives another firm nod.

Of course.

He looks around the room, attempting once again to find the space Adam is occupying.

You make sure that bastard doesn’t lay a finger on her, Adam, you hear?

Adam smiles warmly.

Way ahead of you.

-

Ellie’s already managed to collect an extensive amount of documentation, including strange, vaguely worded correspondence’s from Harding’s email, the other recipient simply signing off as ‘HV’.

Idiot.

She mutters, before her phone pings with a new text.

Eddie 💖

We know where he is. Tell Charlie that Phillip’ll be home before his bedtime.

Ecstatic doesn’t fully cover how Ellie feels in that moment. She double checks the files have safely transferred onto the hard drive, before rushing to Charlie’s room.

Good news, Bub.

Charlie head shoots up from the new drawing he’s planning to send, a huge smile on his face already.

Mummy found Phillip?!

Grammy nods, and Charlie bolts towards her, arms open, and giggles as she holds him tight.

“Catching flies are we?”

He smirks and nudges Adam in the ribs. Leila looks over and raises an eyebrow.

“Your husband…you in uniform.”

Leila snorts a laugh and looks vaguely in Adam’s direction, smiles and playfully rolls her eyes. She knew how much he liked her in uniform before , and she has a feeling it would be something Phillip would definitely like too. But now wasn’t the time for that. Phillip was in danger. She had to focus.

“Right….everyone ready?”

The sun was starting to set by the time John had dropped Eddie off at the farm, not without her giving him a huge hug before she leaves, picked up the bolt cutters; They test the radios and happy that everything is working, John drives along the back roads to the old Visionary Force building. He glances in the mirror at Adam, who’s looking at Leila intently, Leila notices John’s looking in the mirror and looks behind to see nothing there.

“Adam’s joined us.”

John’s said simply and looks back to the road. Leila nods and glances back in the mirror. She wishes she could hold his hand, or see his face. But instead she clutches her pendant.

“Thanks for helping me. For helping him. For being there for Charlie. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“John.”

“Sorry. I’ll let you two…but if you want me to tell you what he says, I can.”

He says genuinely and stays quiet for them for a moment.

~~~

“Well?”

Dillon stands, arms folded as he watches the detective intently.

“Everything is as it should be. Nothing to worry about., apart from our guest upstairs. Get him another sheet, and a warm drink. We can’t have him giving up before we’ve started. Bring it to me, and I’ll take it to him, he probably wont want you to be anywhere near you after that hit.”

“Shouldn’t have pushed my buttons then.”

Dillon mutters under his breath and heads to the kitchen, then to a closet. He gives the items to Harding who heads upstairs to where Phillip is lying on the floor. She crouches down and lifts him to sit him up. He’s cold to the touch and is breaking a sweat. Not good.

“Phillip, wake up, you need to get warm. Drink this. That’s it, nice and slow.”

'Phillip, wake up, you need to get warm.'

It's the same weird feeling as being woken up midway through a light sleep while you're sick at home watching the Twilight Zone on TV and missing school. When you're awake but not fully awake and you just feel god awful and your mum is taking your temperature. There's a hand on his forehead now. And you just kind of let things happen because you lack the energy and mental fortitude to do much else. But you just want it all to be over and get back to staring at the episode and not comprehending a thing.

'Drink this.'

But no Phillip's not a kid anymore. He's a grown man. So, it wouldn't be his mum taking care of him it's his girlfriend. The warm tea hits his throat as he drinks it down unquestioningly. Rose hip tea. It's...

L...eil...a.

His voice is scratchy and slow to form words. The hand moves to brush the hair from his eyes. Not that he can even see much. But he knows she's coming for him, and who else would show him this much care. He's been through all this pain and soon he'll be back to her. And Charlie. And he'll call his mum too.

'That’s it, nice and slow.'

He'll do good for her. Phillip trusts Leila to relinquish control to her. This sort of painful migraine with white noise in his ears isn't usually what subspace feels like. And she sounds so distant. So different. So patronizing and condescending as she coos out the mild praise ad instruction.

Phillip coughs. This isn't Leila. But he feels his too heavy head fall into their palm anyway. Who is it?

Sorry about earlier. We’ve been tricked one too many times, so I get a bit…paranoid.

-

As they drive off, Adam feels another note arrive. Charlie’s handwritings back, and when he scans the words, he finds himself chuckling under his breath, before sending it off, one more small bit of energy going with it. He doesn’t mind too much, not when he imagines Dillon’s face when he’ll read it.

His gaze naturally falls to Leila, taking everything in. The red of her hair illuminated by the setting sun, her normally soft features turned hard and stormy with determination, the underlying love in her eyes. Adam’s never been the jealous type, which is handy since there’s no place for it here. He’s so glad her fire didn’t get snuffed out along with him. She deserves to love and, more so, to be loved in return. Maybe that’s why he’s still here. If he can reunite her with someone she loves and who clearly loves her deeply, he’ll know she’ll be okay, and Adam can rest peacefully. It’s a somewhat bittersweet thought; he won’t be able to watch her build her new family, or grow even more as the brilliant woman she is, but he’ll know she’s happy, and loved, and he’ll know Phillip will be the rock Adam can no longer be for her.

She meets his eyeline and holds onto the pendant, filling both of them with the warm, easy feeling once again.

“Thank you for helping me. For helping him. For being there for Charlie. For everything.”

Adam smiles softly.

It’s been a honour-

Then John’s butting in without realising, before offering to deliver Adam’s own message. He looks back to Leila.

You’re the most incredible woman, Leila. If Phillip doesn’t start ring shopping in a week, he’s a fool.

-

HA HA!!! Stoopid Dillon!! You and that mean lady ar guna go to jail and yor Mummy and Daddy will be very cross and no one will be sad that yor in jail cus yor so mean and I hope they never let you out!

Along with the new, celebratory feeling message, another sheet has been sent too with an equally childish picture. There’s a man who vaguely looks like Dillon behind bars, along with a woman, looking very sad, and a big crowd of people smiling and clapping, with a big speech bubble coming from them saying ‘Hooray!!!’.

“Like mother like son.”

He’s worked out who the boy is. He hold on to the letter this time. Because in an idea world, the boy would be correct. But this wasn’t an idea world. And though there is some truth to it, Leila was going to search for Phillip. That doesn’t mean she would find him.

Upstairs Michelle is still sat with Phillip, as she encourages him to drink. She raises an eyebrow, he must think the voice is hers.

“How hard did he hit you?”

She says softly.

“I’ll have o have a word, you’re in no state to be at the other end of his wrath.”

He starts to cough and she sits him up more.

“Careful now Phillip, you’ll choke. Just let me help you. Look, this will cheer you up. See that dot, that’s her, in John’s car, she’s looking for you. She’s trying so hard to find you.”

Michelle shows him the tracker on her phone. Sure enough there’s a dot showing John’s car speeding towards the location.

“Can’t have you being hyperthermic when she shows up at the location. Keep drinking, let me put this on you.”

She wraps the clean sheet around his shoulders.

“Leila’s coming for you.”

~~~

John looks over to Leila as he drives.

“He says it’s been an honour, and you’re an, sorry, the most incredible woman…also if Phillip doesn’t go ring shopping in a week, he’ll be a fool.”

Leila laughs, not because he’s called her incredible but at the statement of ring shopping.

“That’s exactly what his dad said about him.”

She holds the pendant close. They’re both very different men, but both so important to her. Time and circumstance and the same person have ultimately torn them apart again. Just as her life was being rebuilt, brick by brick. It felt like it was a house of straw, being blown away again. She loves them both so much. And deep down she knows that Adam understands. Hell, in another life they might have even gotten along, apart from the fandom disagreement.

“That’s if he recovers in a week.”

She hopes the pictures look worse than what they are, that they’ve just roughed him up a bit. She shakes her head, it’s best not to think like that. She will not let Dillon take another man she loves from her.

John looks at Adam.

“I’d say get a room, but…you know…Leila, how did you put up with him honestly? Do you know that when he talks about you his eyes go all big and he’s got this stupid grin on his face.”

Leila rolls her eyes.

“I don’t doubt that for a second, but could you not tease each other please? The fact that you can see him is weird enough, no offence, Adam.”

“Well, I don’t know, but it has been nice having you as a roommate actually.”

“I beg your finest pardon?”

“Oh, yeah, about that., well not literally, he’s been resting on the couch.”

Leila raises an eyebrow in amusement.

“Amazing.”

John laughs as Adam makes a comment. It’s a lighthearted moment in these trepidations times. The journey continues until Leila sits up, she recognises that building anywhere, her expression hardens.

“We’re here.”

It's fine.

He says not looking at Eddie and watching the tea steep.

Not the first time we've been judged by someone of your generation.

Love, he didn't mean it like that, all right.

Titch scoffed. Sure, the people of the village we're on the whole lovely warm people, and even those at church accepted that Titch and Derek were two men married with kids. Not everyone agreed, and with Derek being so open about his affections this isn't the first time he'd had to defend the both of them against some pretty insulting things. Never to this caliber, but of course someone with that idea about gay people would immediately assume ill intent on their part.

-

He forces his eyes open even as the light makes him feel worse. Nauseous. The dot is her,... and Miller, but mostly it's her. He reaches out for the tracker but it's pulled away further leaving his hands to hang in the air.

Leila is coming for him. Take that Dillon! Take that Harding! He smiles.

It's like Labyrinth. She'll come in time to save him before they can turn him into whatever want him to be for their evil plans. Make him join their cult, their kingdom, but wait. She's showing him the crystal ball used to spy on the heroine.

Why would she be telling him he's getting saved?

It takes him way too long to realize the danger in them knowing she's coming. Knowing when she's coming. He's been the perfect little bait just sitting here while she gets closer to them.

No... You can't- go near... her. Leave.

But he's wrapped up in a blanket instead, and at that point he doesn't even know who he's asking to leave. Harding and Dillon so that they'll be removed as obstacles, or Leila so that she doesn't risk herself for his sake.

He needs to send a note. He needs to let them know they're being tracked. He needs to stand up somehow. Go against whatever is lightly pressing him towards the floor.

Need to... need to...warn...L...

I’m not homophobic!

He cringes the second he hears it come out his mouth.

I know that sounds like what people say before they then say something homophobic, but I’m not!

He looks between the two men. Derek’s looking at him with more pity than Eddie probably deserves after raising his voice twice at him, both from a knee jerk reaction. Titch, on the other hand, looks like he might snap if Eddie says the wrong thing. It’s disconcerting being on the receiving end of the quiet protective anger, and it’s disconcerting.

Uh oh. He can feel himself starting to ramble.

It was nothing to do with you guys being gay, it really wasn’t. Last time we trusted someone on face value, my son was murdered, and every night before I nod off I hate myself for not being here to stop it, or asking more questions, or not noticing red flags what were there. I know that’s not an excuse, and I’d probably be just as angry, maybe more nowadays, but that’s the honest truth, it wasn’t anything personal, or like…that. You love who you love! My daughter-in-law’s actually Bi, and my grandson might be gay? Or not, he’s only 6, but he’s had a crush on one of his friends before, and I’ve got no issue with it at all if he is!

‘Please stop me, even if you’re going to shout at me, please!’

-

Adam narrows his eyes towards John.

She’s hot and my wife, what do you expect, mate?

He watches in mild amusement as John tries to explain the new living situation he’s found himself in. It sounds ridiculous when said aloud: ‘You’re dead husband’s ghost has been crashing on my sofa for the last few days.’

“Amazing.”

He doesn’t charge rent either, it’s great.

He quips, though misses the laugh that he gets in response, as another letter arrives at his switchboard. He sighs lightly. ‘Oh Char, you’ve gotta get better timing, bud.’ He’ll hang onto the letter for as long as he can, or until it incapacitates him. If Phillip’s conscious enough, he knows they’re coming, and now is not the time for him to get distracted by Charlie’s happy ramblings.

As they round the corner to the Visionary building, Adam feels his stomach drop at the memory of when Leila was last here. The violence, the fear, the fire, the chaos. He looks to Leila as she sits a bit straighter, and has a pang of fury rush through him that a building alone could cause her to become so on edge.

He leans forward and rubs her arm soothingly.

You’re alright. You’re not staying here. We go in, grab him, and you never have to set foot in there again.

“John, Adam, and I have arrived at the location at 6:45pm. I’ll be heading in shortly.”

She observes the building from the car.

“Look’s empty. No other vehicles here. At a guess, I’d say Harding isn’t here. Could mean that we’re only dealing with Dillon, or Dillon and a guard.”

She takes another breath and looks at John.

“Plan of action. I head in, you keep the car running. We’ll stay in contact via the radios. Any turbulence, I head back out.”

“You sure you don’t want me to come in as backup? They’re dangerous.”

She shakes her head.

“I need you to keep a lookout. If anyone turns up you’ll need to tell me. I’m not sure how log it would take for dam, to go through you, to then get to me. Besides, I know the building inside out. If I can avoid bumping into anyone, I can get Phillip and get out of there.”

She checks to make sure she has everything she needs and looks back at the building. A apartment of her wishes they had more alibi’s but would that be as safe for Phillip? She opens the car door and steps out.

“Stay safe, John.”

“You too, any sign of trouble, call me.”

She follows the track down to where the east gate is. She pushes it open and it rings an unworldly screech as she does. She looks back at John, and heads through the gardens, past the overgrown hedge maze and towards the building.

~~~

“How exactly would you warn her? Come on, show me how you do it.”

Her voice, usually full of venom is now sweet, almost sickly and mocking. She follows where his eyes are looking. A pen. She places a hand on his shoulder and gently eases him back down. Taking the pen would just be petty. She has no need for it, and he has no idea where he is. Any contact, no matter how he reaches it, will be useless. It’s not like he can tell them where he is. At the end of the day eh’s giving himself false hope.

She looks down at her phone and smiles.

“Looks like she’s arrived. Wait here.”

She stands and walks out of the room, locking it behind her.

~~~

John looks at Adam as Leila leaves.

“If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, you should go with her, just in case.”

Now alone in the vehicle John watches his surroundings. A part of him wishes he’d bought a flask, but he settles for one of the bottles of water they’d brought with them.

Leila’s stomach is in knots as she walks through the gardens, past the weeping willow, past the now dead dog Rose bus, the overgrown lawn and the bench where they sat. She looks up at the building, she was sure it didn’t look that big and ominous before. But before, there were people, now…now it’s a burnt out husk of what it formerly was. She can’t let her emotions get to her now, that would be no good. Right now, she has a task, a job to complete.

Emotions would just end up getting in the way and causing more harm than good. She can’t remind herself of the time spent here, or the pain they went through, the toil they’d faced. he can’t think of that now, all that maters is finding Phillip.

She walks up to the door, noticing it’s off of its hinges and swings it open.

She holds her torch to the level of her eye and checks either side of her.

“Police.”

She calls, and gets no answer. If she didn’t know any better she could have sworn her voice echoed and circled back to her.

Not only does Leila have to think like Dillon, she now has to think like CDI Harding too. She walks through the halls, through the kitchens and mess room, through abandoned living quarters and communal areas. She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. He’s to start from the top down. She clocks the button on her radio.

“John, living space clear, hading upstairs.”

“Roger that. Road’s are clear too.”

She heads to the top floor first. He pauses at the landing, shines her torch, and looks left and right. She decides to go left, and check Dillon’s old room first. She opens the door and finds it’s practically the same as the last time she saw it. She looks around, but there’s no evidence of anyone being here since she escaped. She heads out and shines the torch to cover herself again and heads to her room. She stops at the door with trepidation before going in.

It’s empty. Some books are on the night stand, there’s slight charring and smoke damage from the fire. But it’s empty. She looks around, memories flooding through her from when she’d first arrived. She looks under the bed to find an empty keepsake box. So the rat had been rifling through her things while he had her in the cellar. Brilliant.

She steps out quickly and looks to a final door. It’s busted open. She steps towards it and shines her light behind her to make sure she’s not being watched or followed. he heads up the stairs to the attic.

“Phillip?”

She calls and shines her light. She breathes a sigh of relief to see he’s not there, not being treated like Thomas was. Memories flood through her again of when she’d tried desperately to help him more than The High Visionary- no- Dillon, would allow. She exits the room quickly and heads to the floor below.

The library is empty, all but a pair of broken glasses on the floor. The other communal areas are empty too. She heads down again. And grimaces when she stops at the cellar.

Surely not?

Her heart is starting to pound with worry. It’s concerning how she hasn’t heard or seen anyone yet. Not to mention, it’s biting cold. She props the cellar door open and alls out.

“Police investigation. I’m coming down there.”

Her stomach flips slightly, images of Phillip falling, no, being pushed down the stairs come back to her.

“Phillip? Are you down here?” Please be down here.”

She whispered the last bit and looks around. She swallows, all she can see is where she was last there.

“Please, please, he has to be here somewhere.”

She steels her composure and runs back up the stairs to the main hall, the main ritual room.

She opens the door…

~~~

…And steps inside. Phillip is lying where she left him, he’s squinting as he looks at her, she couches down beside him. She’d holding a pillow.

“Here.”

~~~

The room is dark and charred the worst. It’s bound to have been.

“Phillip? Dillon? Where are you? Where is he? Stop hiding Dillon, you coward! Phillip, I’m here, make a noise if you can hear me.”

She tries the light switch, and of course, nothing. She shines her torch and kicks away half melted candles. She almost gives up hope when her torch flashes against the bright white of a chalk outline. She stalks towards it and sees it’s a freshly drawn eye in the middle of the floor. And in the middle of the eye she sees it. A crumpled heap in the middle it.

“Phillip!”

She runs towards it and crashes down to her knees.

“Phillip, I’m here, I’m here I-…”

She stops.

She freezes.

~~~

CDI Michelle Harding kneels infront of Phillip and places the pillow down beside him.

“Oh dear, Phillip. Look’s like she’s failed her mission. She hasn’t got to you has she? No matter, I’ll keep a close eye on her.”

~~~

In front of Leila is Phillip’s sweater from the space centre and the first note she sent to him in captivity. She reads the words over and over again and draws the sweater close to her. It still smells faintly of his cologne from her birthday.

Her shoulders drop, the torch clatters to the floor.

She screams.

She doesn’t care if all of Shropshire hears.

She screams.

She holds the sweater close and cries into it. Her whole body heaves as she wails, tears fall from her face and her stomach flips. She’s not in control, nor in this moment can she regain it.

“You bastard! You bitch! You evil fucking cunts, how could you! How could you! I hate you! You’ve taken everything I’ve ever loved, you’ve betrayed me! How could you! You’ve murderd my husband, you kidnapped me, and double crossed me, and made me believe I was going good!’

She doubles over, heaves and sobs as she screams the words, years of hurt, years of repressed rage all coming out now.

“I never got to say goodbye! And now his soul c-can’t even rest! And you’ve now taken the only other man who I could let into my heart, someone so kind and gentle who did nothing wrong!!!”

She stands and kicks the chalk outline, making the eye look distorted. Her eyes are wide as eh looks manically around the room, maybe he’s here, maybe he can hear here.

She crumples to the floor and again and bows her head as she sobs freely now.

“I’ll find you. I’ll find you, I wont let them hurt you, I can’t. They’ll have to go through me to get to you, Phillip. I’m sorry,I’m so sorry. I can’t lose anyone else, please…please…”

Her hair cascades down over her shoulders and face as she lets out her pain.

...can't...

Phillip opens his eyes and he sees her. Leila. She's here to save him. She gets down beside him and extends her hand helping him to his feet. Everything is clear now.

"I've got you" she says softly.

How?

But he doesn't actually want to know the answer. It doesn't matter how she found him or how she got past Dillon and Harding all that matters is that she's here now.

"You're safe now Phillip"

He throws his arms around her and hugs her.

I love you.

"I love you too"

But as she leans in to kiss him and he goes to kiss back she's no longer there. And he's still here. What? He could feel her, touch her, hear her, she was real! She was here she was coming to save him and she'd done it. Where was she?

'Oh dear, Phillip. Look’s like she’s failed her mission. She hasn’t got to you has she? No matter, I’ll keep a close eye on her.'

No.

John must be a mind reader as well as a clairvoyant. Adam gives him a firm nod.

Yeah, just in case.

He pops from the backseat to Leila’s side in an instant, just as she’s walking through the front door. He stays in toe with every step. He might be lacking in charge, but he can still cause some distractions if needed, enough for her to do her thing. Every new, empty room deepens the pit in his stomach. The air is too still. He should have that unnerving, rigid feeling. The one when you know someone’s walking up behind you, or watching you. But it’s not there. It’s just…still.

Leila eventually comes to the cellar, and Adam see’s the pained expression cross her face. As she opens the door, the image he had flash in his mind the night him and John chased the van comes to him again.

The realisation hits him just as Leila starts to descend the stairs. He’s not here at all. They’ve been fooled, yet again.

Leila!

He shouts, cursing the fact she can’t hear him. He speeds down the steps after her. Maybe if he shouts loud enough, he might pierce through enough for her to hear.

He’s not here! They know were onto them! We’ve gotta get out of here, now-

Leila finds the sweater and the note, and Adam can only watch as she crumbles under the agony. Why her? Why has she had to suffer so much, even from childhood? Why couldn’t fate leave her alone and allow her the peaceful, joyful life she deserved?

Once she’s finished shouting, heaped into a ball, looking so small and defeated, Adam can’t bare it anymore and throws his arms around her, cocooning her, using his remaining energy to be sure she can feel it. Really, truly feel it.

Come on, baby, come on. We’ve gotta move, before they get here.

He holds her as tight as possible, pulling her into his chest. The second her head hits his shoulder, he feels it. The tethers holding both the letter and Teddy start to loosen.

No, no, no no!

Adam squeezes his eyes shut, frantically trying to strengthen the connections, but his head’s getting fuzzy. Not now, not when everything’s already the worst it could be. It’s hard to concentrate properly. The only things he’s able to see clearly in his minds eye are their faces. His family, who have been endlessly tormented. Leila, Charlie, Mum and Dad, Leila, Charlie, Mum and Dad, Leila, Charlie-

The tethers tighten once more, but this time, in different directions. Horror fills his every nerve when he realises what’s just happened.

OH MY FUCKING GOD, NO!

-

A moment ago, Charlie had been tucked up in bed, quietly worried that Mummy hadn’t called Grammy yet to say Phillip was home. The only reason he’d managed to fall asleep was with the thought that, by the time he wakes up, Phillip will be home, and everything will be good again.

But, now, something’s wrong. Something’s very, very wrong. Charlie’s stood in his PJ’s, in front of a house that definitely isn’t Grammy and Grampy’s. This isn’t any house Charlie recognises.

There’s dead, overgrown grass and brambles crawling across the surrounding field.  Some of the brickwork looks like it’s been carved away in chunks, the surviving structure covered in sooty accents. The windows have been smothered in black paint, except one on the top floor, which has metal bars, a sheet of material occasionally parachuting against them when the wind picks up. Staring up at the strange, decidedly not nice house makes Charlie’s stomach flip itself upside down.

He looks around. He can see a long road dirt road leading into a never-ending expanse of trees and shrubs. Suddenly, the house seems much less scary.

A twig snaps. Charlie’s feet move of their own accord. He speeds over to the front door, raising his hand in anticipation to bang as loudly as he can to be let it, but when he tries, his hand disappears behind the door. He yelps in shock, retracting and clutching at his hand, as if to check it’s still there. He looks back at the door, tilting his head. Slowly, he extends a finger and inches it back towards the door, watching as it seeps through to the other side again. He stares in wonder. ‘Am I magic now?!’ He lets his arm sink further inside, then his shoulder, then his head, until he’s fully inside.

The inside doesn’t fill Charlie with comforting feelings either. It’s drab, and bare, like no one’s lived here for a very long time, and the paint on the windows make it very dark. He can see light coming from underneath one of the doors, and can hear muffled, cross sounding voices on the other side. One of the voices get closer to the door, and Charlie bolts up the stairs, only to hear another muffled, scary sounding voice. He looks around desperately, before hiding behind a small dip in the wall, just big enough to shield him. Not a second later, he hears a door creak open, and the scary voice becomes clearer.

She knows it’s him, deep down she knows as she’s being pulled into an embrace. Hopelessness fills her as her head hits his shoulder. Then like an echo on a high frequency radio.

‘OH MY FUCKING GOD NO’

“What? What is it?! What’s happening?”

~~~

Michelle steps out of the room and looks back to Dillon, she doesn’t see the boy.

“I know, Dillon, but what is the point of having him here if he’s just going to give up?”

She hisses and Dillon walks towards the door.

“He’s more trouble than he’s worth at this rate.”

“That’s not true and you know it. He will be a great asset to us. We just have to make sure we can get him better and get him on side.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Harding walks out of the door and seemingly through Charlie as she head to where Phillip is being held. He unlocks the door and heads inside.

“Phillip, you can’t give up now.”

She says as she crouches down beside him.

“You mean to tell me, that the man who swanned in and rescued Leila before is just going to give up? Aren’t you worried that we might find her? Isn’t that worth fighting for at least?”

She tilts his chin up to look at her.

“I’ve just got to head back to the station and then I’ll come back with some soup? A hot drink and some soup will do you the world of good.”

She stands and looks at him with mock pity.

“Now, what to do with Leila?”

She says loud enough for him to hear before locking the door again.

~~~

John abandoned his post as soon as he heard a blood curdling scream. He bolted to the building and quickly looms around. He finds Leila and Adam, both looking worse for wear.

“Come on we have to go. Now.”

Leila stands, still holding the sweater and the note.

“They’ve tricked us.”

“It’s alright. We’ll fix it but we can’t stay here. Are you alright?”

Leila swallows and nods. Her lips purse into a thin line when she spots the remains of Phillip’s old work boots.

“I’m scared, John.”

She admits as she looks at him.

John looks to an equally exhausted Adam.

“It’s alright. It’s reasonable for you to fear what they might do, you’ve expiry first hand. But we can’t stay here, we should head back to the farm.”

He puts an arm round her arm and leads her away, he loos to Adam.

“What’s happened to you? Are you okay? We will sort this, I promise you both we’ll fix it, let’s just get back to the farm.”

Charlie.

He manages to slur, hoping his demeanour is making it clear how bad the situation is.

Charlie…Dillon…at the house…

Adam’s vision blurs, and the last thing he sees before passing out in the backseat is the terror coating John’s face.

-

Charlie’s eyes widen at the sound of that name, followed by that voice he’d replayed over and over in his head. Dillon’s here, and the lady must be the lady who used to be Mummy’s friend, but tricked her into being lost for years. He peeks round the corner and realises he recognises the woman. She was the mean seeming woman who had been there after Daddy died. The one who had only spoken to him to tell him that Daddy was dead, whilst John had tried to soothe him as he wailed.

If they’re here…Phillip must be here!

He steps out from his hiding spot, about to shout at the woman, before she steps through him instead. It makes him feel cold and shivery. He watches her as she unlocks a door and heads inside, standing himself beside the door, just out of sight.

“Phillip, you can’t give up now.”

He lets out a small gasp, holding onto the doorframe as he pokes his head round to see-

Phillip looks terrible. He looks…he can’t be dead, please don’t be dead. But he’s so floppy when the woman moves his head, and he’s not saying anything. Charlie can’t even tell if Phillip is breathing from his position. He shakes for a different reason this time. He flinches to the side as the woman walks back to the door, too panicked to go back to his hiding spot in time. She doesn’t seem to see him, however, as she delivers her final line.

“Now, what to do with Leila?”

That’s Mummy! What does that mean?! What’s the mean woman going to do to Mummy?!

He throws himself through the door, landing on his front with a grunt. He scrambles to his feet and runs over to Phillips lifeless form, before grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him with all his might.

Phillip, wake up! Please wake up! I found you, look, I found you! You need to wake up!

It was good while it lasted. He's had more joy in this time with Leila than he's had in a while. They'll have to find more help at the farm, but he's likely been replaced already, however long it's been.

Harding lifts his head but he barely catches every other word. It's so cold. He's so weak. And shouldn't he be in more pain than this? It's hard to tell. He puts up no resistance to being maneuvered. How can he. Phillip watches Harding as she leaves with one more cutting remark threatening Leila. Even if she hasn't found him they can track where she is, they'll find her first.

He sees something move in the doorframe, no not something someONE. But the next thing he sees is the little boy in front of him completely missing how and when he got over here. Must be another dream, he'd felt better during the last dream, and it was just cruel for it to be Charlie who he sees now.

Charlie who's trying to wake him up.

Charlie who looks so terrified.

Charlie

Even if he's not really there he doesn't want to see Charlie upset. He doesn't want to see him worry. Hates when people worry about him.

Phillip reaches around himself and into the sheet. He barely feels the change in texture under his fingers that means he's found what he's intended to, pulling out Teddy and handing the bear to Charlie.

Not like he needs it anymore.

Charlie.

Charlie gasps in both relief and fright. How can someone look as poorly and bruised as Phillip does and still be alive?

Phillip! Where’s Mummy? She said she was…

Charlie trails off when Phillip starts looking for something. He pulls out Teddy and slowly hands him to Charlie. Charlie frowns, looking down at the bear now in his hands, then to Phillip. The words from the scary lady from before come back to Charlie.

"...give up..."

Phillip’s giving up.

You can’t give up! Mummy loves you, and I love you, and if you give up, then…then…

Charlie feels his bottom lip wobble, as much as he tries to stop it.

Then you’ll die, and I’ll lose another Daddy!

He looks around the horrible cell Phillip’s being kept in. He spots the bars he saw outside on the window. He looks to one of the flimsier looking pipes on the wall and starts tugging as hard as he can, especially with only one hand, Teddy clutched tightly in the other. He gives a particularly hard tug, and it comes clean off. He runs at the window and starts bashing the pipe against the bars, watching as they make the smallest dents.

“What is happening?”

Leila says as John keeps looking over his shoulder.

“Need to get back to the farm, Adam’s passed out, Charlie’s with Dillon.”

“What?!”

She doesn’t mean to shout. But now she’s far away from Phillip and her son, her husband, a ghost is passed out and she’s been tricked by the very people who lead her into the cult in the first place.

“Adam, buddy, you gotta wake up.”

John says as he drives, he looks to Leila.

“We’ll get back, get Adam to wake up and get Charlie safe. I have an idea.”

Leila looks at him.

“Charlie’s with Dillon?!”

“I think it has something to do with Adam protecting Teddy, I hope this all rings a bell with you, because I’m just going off of what he’s told me. It was when Charlie was sending loads of letters, Adam didn’t want Dillon and Harding to find Teddy, so he’s…doing his ghost thing, I don’t know how it works, to protect the bear. It seems has also been zapped into that.”

Leila blinks.

“John…”

“Look, I know I’m not brave like you, I’m not really an action kinda guy, but I can’t stand by and watch you and your family go through this again. I know I’m not always ‘present’ but I am always listening even if I’m directed,it just takes a while to go in. Harding hates it.”

“Harding’s an idiot. John you’re braver than you think.”

“There’s no time for that now, but thanks.”

“What’s your plan?”

“Get back to the farm wake Adam up, get Charlie safe. I need you to call Ellie, any information any addresses that Dillon’s fucked up with, she needs to send them over.”

He looks back as Adam stirs. This is good.

“I don’t know how much longer Phillip has.”

Leila says quietly.

“Then we pull an all nighter and get him tonight. Text Eddie and get him to put the kettle on, we’ll take a flask of coffee, it helps me think. We’ll get there, and get him out today.”

“What about them?”

John thinks as he turns a corner. He hears Adam grunt as he comes to consciousness again.

“If Adam’s up to it…look one step at time. Let’s get Charlie home first.”

“We don’t even know where Phillip’s being located.”

John looks as Adam sits up.

“Well…Charlie draws, right?”

~~~

Dillon looks up when he hears a banging on the wall upstairs. He rushes up to where Phillip is being held and unlocks the door.

There’s Leila’s boy, standing next to Phillip, he can see him fully, holding the pipe and the bear.

“How the hell did you get in here? That’s not going to do you any good.”

He walks toward the boy, ignoring the weak protests from Phillip. He goes to take the pipe from Charlie’s hand before he and Teddy disappears from in front of them.

He looks to Phillip and laughs he stops when Harding comes in.

“You come stay here and keep an eye on things, but for fucks sake be careful he’s already on death’s door.. you can leave him here he’s hardly going anywhere. I’ll bring your priest with me too. I know where John and Leila are heading.”

'I’ll lose another Daddy!'

Dream or no he reaches out to hug Charlie. Comfort him when he struggles to do so much verbally. But the boy runs off, and Phillip thinks that might be the end of that dream until he hears Charlie trying to rip something off the wall and bang it against the window bars.

Then Dillon's there, and he sees Charlie too. So, it's not all in Phillip's head. And he's going to hurt his son!

Dillon... He's a...child... I told you... not to... hurt h-

But Charlie disappears just in the nick of time and Harding leaves Phillip for the cult leader to watch over.

You...you'll be... s-sorry.

Dillon tries to say something Charlie thinks is supposed to be scary, but it only makes him more furious.

SHUT UP, DILLON, YOU…

'Grammy said not to swear.'

YOU…

'Grammy said not to swear!-'

YOU FUCKING LOSER!

Dillon lurches his hand towards Charlie, who goes to swing the pipe, but before he can make contact with the man’s face, Charlie’s teleported back to where he should be, along with Teddy.

He looks around his room, which he’s stood in the middle of, then down to the pipe still in his hand. He throws the pipe against his bed covers.

What does he do?! He can’t help now he’s back in America! This isn’t fair!

As if sensing his bubbling emotions, Grammy quietly opens his door, looking slightly bewildered.

Bub? What’s wrong?

-

Adam knows it’s John and Leila’s voices he can hear as he comes to, but he’s not picking up any of the words. He braves a peek, and see’s the top of John’s car staring down at him. Good. He hasn’t been out for too long at least. He grunts as John turns a corner, jolting that little more awake.

“Let’s get Charlie home first.”

Fuck, that’s right, Charlie! He forces himself to sit up. Leila still looks anguished, probably not helped by his own colossal fuck up.

Then John says what Adam thinks might be the smartest thing he’s ever heard in his life. Of course. Charlie now knows where Phillip is! This might be the best fuck up that's ever happened!

Call Mum.

He rasps, not realising that they’ve already assigned that to the agender.

Adam let’s his mind go blank so he can focus on the link holding onto Charlie. He needs something to replace his position. He blindly fumbles for John’s notepad and pen in his shirt pocket, not explaining as he takes it and scribbles the second of his own notes.

If you’ve even tried to laid a finger on him, you'll be sorry.

I'll make sure of it.

From,

You know who.

He watches the note disappear, and it catapults Charlie straight back home. He gives a single, relieved clap, before laying his still tired head back against the seat.

He’s home, John, tell her he’s home, he’s safe.

He rambles similar sentiments under his breath, as he focus' on fully recovering.

The letter flies into Dillon’s hand and he pales. He didn’t touch the boy, he was never going to hurt Charlie. But in his mad rush to get the pipe he could see how that appears to the small child. Th ghost is going to be pissed with him he’s sure of it. He looks to Phillip.

“I wasn’t going for the child, I was going for the pipe he was making too much noise.”

He frowns and folds his arms.

“Nice to see you’ve perked up. And tell me, Phillip, with the position you’re in, how exactly am I going to be sorry? By your hand? Now this I’d like to see.”

He says smugly and crouches down in front of him. He thinks for a moment. This could be the real leverage he needs, even if it’s a lie.

“You’d best keep your wits about you. What if he comes back and you’re too far gone to help him? Seems whatever brought him here, isn’t in control, wouldn’t want to risk it now, would you Phillip?”

~~~

John breathes a sigh of relief, they’re not far from the farm and Adam has managed to send Charlie home.

“He’s home. Leila he’s home. Charlie’s safe.”

“Thank fuck.”

She says and unknowingly copies Adam’s movements and flops back against the passenger seat. It’s not long before they’re back at the farm. John helps Adam into the house.

Leila looks between everyone. Honestly she’s feeling a bit lost, but she can’t let it stop her.

“It was a false lead. A red herring. They fooled me. They were a step ahead of me.”

She holds up his sweatshirt from the Space Center.

“They left this here to taunt me.”

“I’ll make us a flask of coffee, you ring Ellie. Derek, where’s everything?”

John says as he puts Adam onto the sofa. Leila looks at Eddie sadly.

“He’s right. We need to know if Ellie has found anything in her research, and address that’s not the one we followed. Anything.”

She looks at Eddie.

“I don’t know if Charlie’s awake, but we need to talk to him too. Firstly to make sure he’s okay, but also to ask if he can help.”

She looks at Eddie’s expression.

“It’s not Adam’s fault, but there was a mishap with the letters, and trying to look after me, and he accidentally sent Charlie to Phillip.”

It'd be useless for him to fight him right now when he can barely stand. And really he'd meant Dillon would have to face Leila's wrath because Charlie hadn't mentioned anything about something bad happening to her, and he'd used 'loves' in the present tense.

But something in his head says a different name, one that he says before he recalls who that refers to. It's that same feeling he got when a voice in the back of his head thanked him for loving Leila the way he had. And though it only tells him one word he gets the sense the spirit has been protecting his family all this time. He will make Dillon pay.

Adam's.

Dillon does minutely flinch. Though he recovers quickly and goes back to threatening Phillip, the only way he can feel powerful.

You... ... ... wouldn't.

He can't hurt Charlie. He just can't. That was one of his stipulations.

Phillip forces himself to focus. He can't give up anymore. The kid had begged him not to, and though he can't do much if Charlie does come back he still needs to be here for him.

...Please. No

This is what he's been reduced to. His fate worse than death as the lives of others hang in the balance instead.

I haven’t thanked you for any of this, have I?

He’s realising it as the words tumble out of his mouth, and he can’t help but feel a little guilty.

Thank you. Really mate, thank you.

He lets go of John’s sleeve and letting himself enter a deeper statis for a while. If they’re finishing this in the next 24 hours, he needs to have every ounce of energy he can muster.

Eddie’s scowl when he see’s the sweatshirt and note is immediate. Disgusting. They couldn’t leave it at having pulled yet another cruel trick, they had to rub salt into an already painful wound.

He snaps out of his brewing anger when John mentions Pidge. He gives Leila his full attention, though is confused when she suggests Charlie ‘helping’. Then she explains, and Eddie’s filled with conflicting emotions. He’s obviously seething that Charlie was put in such a situation, but knowing it was caused by Adam attempting to help Leila in some way. He can’t pretend to understand most of how these ghost things work, but he knows for sure Adam would never have done such a thing purposely. He’s already dialling Ellie’s number as he takes Leila’s hand.

We’ll find him, Poppet, I promise.

-

Ellie picks up the call not a second later.

What’s going on?

She doesn’t mean to sound as alarmed as she probably does, but she still hasn’t managed to get out of Charlie why he was stood in the middle of his room with such a conflicted look on his face. He’s only grumbled something about ‘Dillon’ and a ‘house’. Probably a nightmare, but her gut’s telling her otherwise.

He looks down at Phillip and scoffs.

“I wouldn’t, no, you’re right. But Michelle on the other hand. Now do t get me wrong she’s hardly going to hurt a child, but she’s not the motherly type either is she? Her brain works similarly if not worse than mine.”

He leans against the sink and folds his arms in a moment of self reflection.

“If the boy turns up here and she sees him, she could quite easily suggest that the poor thing is being neglected, especially if he’s found in these conditions. She’d have every right to put him in the care of social services. So if you don’t want that and you want your little family to be safe I suggest you think wisely on your next move.”

~~~

John pauses when he feels something tug at his sleeve and he looks down at Adam.

“Hey, don’t worry about. Seriously. I would say I’m doing my job, ‘cus I am, but this is bigger than that. This is what should have been done before, and though it’s not about the past, I can’t help dwelling on those mistakes. I’m not making up for lost time, I’m making things right.”

He looks over to Leila and Adam’s father.

“I had the wool pulled over my eyes for too long and it’s cost so much. The rest of the team, and I use the term loosely let her and me down. I won’t let that happened again. Get some rest.”

He puts his hand on Adam’s shoulder and squeezes it reassuringly. He then walks over to Leila and Eddie.

“Let me know what you need.”

Leila squeezes Eddie’s hand and looks back to John and nods.

“Will do.”

She listens to Ellie and Eddie go over things, she knows this has to be fixed. She knows she has to find Phillip. Giving up isn’t an option. Having her family here helped massively, and she extended that to Derek and Titch.

Having John here, well she felt like she was back on the force. They were a great team then and a stronger team now. They worked well together each knowing when or what the other needed without overstepping boundaries. She was grateful for that.

“You’re a good man John, and a great detective.”

She looks back to the phone, though the screen was smaller, a FaceTime was needed. She goes on to explain about the false leads and the cruel use of evidence.

“Ellie, wheres’s Charlie? Is he alright? I need to talk to him, and John needs to talk to you about anything you may have found.”

She explains what’s happened and waits to see him.she raises an eyebrow to see he has a pipe in his hand.

“Charlie, I promise you’re not in trouble. Can you tell us what happened? How did you get the pipe, what did you see? This could help mummy find Phillip.”

Then Leila explains, and thank goodness they’re all already aware of the supernatural elements now firmly established in their situation, or Ellie may have thought Leila might have gone mad.

Charlie, Mummy wants to talk to you.

She tries to keep her tone as light as possible as she enters his bedroom, phone in hand. If Charlie really has seen what they’re all sure he has, the last thing he needs is the stress of thinking he’s in trouble.

Charlie’s clutching at the pipe, squeezing his eyes and desperately trying to send it, but it won’t go. Why?! It worked all the other times, and if Phillip has a weapon, he can beat Dillon up himself. He only stops when he hears his Mummy’s voice, finally looking up to see her. She’s tired, and worried, and…angry? But not at him. Even without her saying it, he knows it’s not at him. Grammy hands him the phone and he holds tightly onto it as he tries his best to remember everything. If this can help find Phillip, he needs to do it as best as he possibly can.

Well…I fell asleep, and then I woke up and I was stood in front of a super scary house, and something made a sound, so I ran into the house, but I, like, went through the door, like a ghost or something, and then I heard voices and I ran upstairs, and then the mean lady who used to be your friend said Phillips name and locked a door, so I went through that door like a ghost too, and…

Charlie swallows as he remembers that initial image of Phillip.

Phillip’s really, really hurt. He was all floppy and he sounded sleepy, and I tried waking him up more, but he was too tired. Then he gave me Teddy, and I told him he’s not allowed to give up, and then I got the pipe from the wall and smacked at the metal thingys on the window, and then Dillon opened the door, and he said something and tried to grab me, so I was going to hit him with the pipe, and then I was back here.

Adam lets his eyes open for a moment at the mention of Dillon. So he had tried to hurt Charlie. Good to know. So much for his ‘promise’. He shuts his eyes as he thinks of exactly how he’s going to follow through on his warning.

Eddie realises Charlie hasn’t fully understood Leila’s question, though it was good to know Phillip was indeed still with them.

Can you remember what the house looked like? Could you draw it, bub?

Charlie drops the phone on his bed and scrambles to grab a sheet of paper and his pencils. He draws as quickly as possible. The broken bricks of the house, the large, dead field surrounding it, the spooky tree’s in the distance, and the dirt road. He does a second drawing of the hallway he’d found upstairs, and draws an arrow to the door Phillip had been behind.

Ellie takes the phone and gets Charlie’s drawings in frame as he holds them up.

Oh, that's the old Oliver house.

They all turn to look at him expectantly. Titch comes up beside his husband. He makes sure to preface how they know the story, so nobody questions how they know about all the crime that goes down in the village.

It's a bit of village history my dad wrote about in his diaries.

This place on the edge of the village, where Jamie Oliver sold magic soups from. Well, like Margaery's magic the soup was drugs, and they were in competition with each other. Even though all the drug dealing in the village is an open secret, all right, someone called the police, and the house was raided.

The Oliver house has been abandoned ever since. Margaery tried to take over the territory, but the building has been in police custody ever since.

Titch and James's father noted his suspicions that it was Old Lady Margaery who called the police on Jamie Oliver, but nobody mentions that part aloud because she hears like a fucking bat.

The description of Phillip was mortifying she daren’t start to think what they might have done to him. What she endured was over months and years, it seems they’ve delivered it tenfold onto him in such a short space of time.

Anger swelled within her as he mentioned the idea of Dillon going towards him. But even though it was clearly an upsetting experience, he looked determined, determined enough to break Phillip out and try and wake him up more.

“Charlie, you’ve done so well. Thank you, you brave, brave boy. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

John glances over to Adam at Charlie’s description no wonder he’s so zapped. He looks at at the picture and is about to ask if Charlie could send it over, when Derek and Titch join. Something about the name rings a bell.

“Wait, I remember that case. I think he’s moved down to slough now, that’s not important hang on.”

John quickly searches through some old files on his phone. Leila looks over. She doesn’t quite recall the case.

“How long ago was it?”

“It was when you were in the cult.”

“Ah.”

There’s an awkward silence til John finds the address.

“Just to be sure…Eleanor, is this the same address you’ve found with Dillon’s information attached to?”

Leila looks to Eddie as John and Ellie collate information.

“This wouldn’t be possible without all of your help.”

John stands back in a moment of victory.

“Yes! That’s it that’s the house.”

“But how do we get there without them using Phillip as a hostage or trying to hurt one of us?”

John looks at Adam.

“How are you feeling?”

Ellie hands the phone to Charlie and brings him through to her desk so she can sift through the files.

Didn’t find an address, but I did find some random co-ordinates.

She sends over the line of numbers for John to run, brimming with John confirms it correlates to the same house.

Poppet. None of this would be possible without you.

He affectionately grasps at her shoulder.

We’ve just the skivvies, you’re the chief here.

Once John and Ellie confirm the address, Eddie skims his eyes across the map.

Here.

He finally says, pointing to a far off section.

If you follow the backroads, it’ll cut off a good 20 minutes, and they won’t know you’re coming.

Adam looks up, feeling reinvigorated.

Never better.

He stands and looks to everything they’ve gathered. The mention of coordinates causes something to dawn on him.

You never turned your GPS off in the car, did you?

He turns, and sighs as Johns reaction confirms it. His incredulousness doesn’t last long though.

Actually…actually, yes, good, that’s good! I can mess with it, send them on a goose chase!

Adam must be feeling better then.

“We’re not supposed to turn it off for our safety. But in hindsight, this is a different situation. Noted.”

He looks to the others.

“Leila we have an idea.”

He looks back to Adam.

“So, you think you can you can send the gps too. Look like we’re going to the police station, but we’re actually going to that house? Perfect.”

Leila looks around the room.

“As soon as we find him, you’ll be the first to know.”

She goes back to Ellie and Charlie.

“Don’t worry Charlie, we’ll find him I promise. Just be good for Grammy okay? I love you.”

John comes back with a flask of coffee.

“Okay, just checked the car, we have everything we need. Adam included. So, ready when you are Boss.”

Leila rolls her eyes, but nods.

“Okay, let’s go.”

~~~

Harding drives quickly to the Station, glancing over at for High Priest.

“Plan of action. Whatever you know about Leila from when she was in the cult, she’s was one of my best detectives along with John. I knew she’d have that place shut down in a year or , but I just had too much riding on it being open. Would have been perfect. But then her meddling husband got in the way and weave well, we had to dispose of him.”

She watches his expression.

“You didn’t know? Oh your High Visionary has a lot of things hiding under the surface. I truly believe if that farm boy hadn’t come around we’d still be there. As it was, no fire.”

She sighs with frustration.

“Then again, if Dillon wasn’t going to try ad sacrifice them…oh well. We’ll get them and a new addition with John and rebuild.”

~~~

Dillon paces the bathroom as he looks at Phillip. Something was off and he could feel it, he couldn’t quite put a pin in it though. He wonders if it’s the prospect of an angry Adam. Last time he really did a number on him, and now he wasn’t so sure that it might not happen again. But he swears he was only reaching for the pipe.

He’s brought out of his thoughts when he hears Phillip coughing. He whirls around and glares at him.

“What was it about her Phillip? Was it the tea? The way she sat with you on the bench? The way she tucked that stupid little buttercup behind your ear?”

He scoffs and raises an eyebrow.

“I watched the whole exchange. I watched as I saw your world crumbling only for it to be rebuilt by her in mere minutes. Fascinating display really. And now look at-…”

He stops when he hears a car pull up from outside.

“That’s quite enough of that I think. Don’t do anything stupid now, will you?”

He goes to the bathroom door and flicks the light off, leaving Phillip in total darkness. The sound of metal and loud clicking from the lock is all that can be heard once DIllon is gone.

~~~

“This is it.”

Leila says impressed with how close Charlie’s drawing was.

“No vehicles, Adam, it worked, Harding at least has gone to the station.”

“John look a light’s just turned off.”

“Fuck.”

“Do you think we’re outnumbered?”

“It’s 3 for 3 if you count Adam.”

“Plan of action. We all go in, assess which one has been left behind, Adam, if it’s Dillon, give him a good scare, and If I get my hands on him, I’ll give him more than that.”

“Leila…”

“Right. John, you and I look for Phillip. But I think we should split up. We can cover more ground, it’s a smaller house.”

“Got it. I’ll take the bottom floor.”

“I’ll take the top.”

Can you hug Phillip for me when you find him, please, Mummy?

It’s the same request he’d asked of Phillip when Mummy was still getting better, before Charlie and his grandparents could come see her.

Once the call ends, Ellie scoops Charie up and holds him close.

Won’t be long now, Bub.

Charlie frowns a little, not convinced. He’d seen how poorly Phillip looked.

What if we don’t get to Phillip in time and he dies?

Ellie freezes at the question. Whatever Charlie saw in that house has traumatised him even more than from before. It’s stolen a part of his innocence. The thought fills her with even more resentment than she already held. She takes his face between her hands, making sure he’s looking at her.

They will. No more bad things. Not any more.

She pauses, realising her words probably fall a bit short for Charlie, who’s known more ‘bad things’ happen in his small life than most adults do. Even if they do get to Phillip, Charlie probably won’t feel safe until he sees him himself.

What do you say to no school tomorrow? We’ll call Mummy as soon as she brings him home?

Charlie nods, clinging tightly onto Grammy, trying his hardest to push the scary images away.

-

The entire drive to the house, Adam is focused on two things: altering John’s GPS location, and what exsctly he’ll do the moment he sees Dillon. He nods in acknowledgment when he sees Harding’s car missing.

Perfect.

He listens intently as Leila lays out the plan, giving a humourless laugh when she says doing more than scaring him.

You and me both, hun.

He looks up at the window that went dark a few seconds ago. If it only just went out, then someone’s upstairs.

I’ll ping there.

He says, pointing to the window.

See who’s up there.

He does just that, seeing Phillip slumped in the dark, battered, bruised, thinning, weary, and generally looking incredibly worse for ware.

Demons, the pair of them.

He mutters to himself, though he flinches as Phillip seems to acknowledge him. He dismisses it quickly, too focused on the task at hand.

He strides through the wall, spotting Dillon just starting to descend the stairs. ‘Get him out of the way.’ Adam veils himself from Dillon’s view, and steps through one of the other doors in the hallway, before Bashing his fists against the wood as hard as he can.

It’s Showtime.

Just for the butterup to be crushed.

Dillon's tirade of insults. Using his love for Leila against him. Is only cut off by the sound of a car outside. Had it really been that long and Harding had returned already?

The room goes dark, and it's not like Phillip could do anything if he wanted to. He couldn't muster up a response to even shut Dillon up anymore. With the lights off he doesn't even feel fully awake or all there. Feels nothing. Sees nothing. Only tethered to reality by sound.

Demons, the pair of them.

Someone says. A specter of a man Phillip vaguely recognizes, but doesn't quite know. He's seen his face somewhere before. In a picture? He stares at him trying to piece who he is. If he'd only seen him in a picture why does his voice sound familiar.

...Yep.

He agrees. With whoever he is. But then the man disappears and Phillip realizes he probably hallucinated the whole thing. That's not good. He hears footsteps racing around the building, one on the stairs as those get closer. But apparently he can't even trust his ears.

Phillip curls in on himself and in the darkness, he doesn't even realize when his eyes are closed vs. when they're open. Does it even matter?

“No.”

His eyes widen and he looks around.

“I don’t know what he’s said…”

He says in fear to the air.

“I was going for the pipe…He was making too much noise. Couldn’t have him getting hurt! We…we made a deal!”

If there was one thing he knew was for certain, there are times when he knew he could talk his way out of things and times where he knew it would fail. The weeks with no torment have been bliss and he just had to forget himself. He swallows, not sure if what he’s about to do will incur Adam’s wrath more.

“How did he get here in the first place?!”

~~~

John watches as he sees Adam zip past him, he takes cover in a dark corner as Dillon goes by too. When Dillon goes through the door, and Adam starts messing with him, John grins and makes his way through the bottom half of the house. He checks everywhere that has tiles and a radiator. The kitchen was the first choice, but that came to no fruition. He carries on carefully, and watches as Leila heads up the stairs.

He wants to follow her. Make sure she’s safe, but something is telling him to stay on the lower level. Maybe it was the fear of Harding coming back, and he needed to get to the car, or slow her down. At the very least, he knows he will do anything to stop her from getting to Leila and Phillip. He continues his search.

~~~

Leila heads up the stairs and starts at the room closest to her. She thinks about Charlie’s drawing, if he was right, which he was looking to be, Phillip was being kept in a room that had bars on the window, with one pane shoddily patched up.

She makes her way down the corridor, each room opens freely as she checks them until she comes to a locked door.

“Phillip?”

She calls as she tries that handle. No use. It was locked. She waits for what she presumes is Adam to make another sound before she shoulders the door to try and open it. Though it’s an old house, it’s not as maintained as the Visionary building was, the wood was old and frail, she was sure she could do this.

“Stay away from the door!”

She ages a few steps back and shoulders it again to open it. There’s a crack this time and she can almost see it opening.

Third time’s the charm when she forces herself against it and it swings open and almost off of it’s hinges. She pauses in the doorway to catch her breath. When her radio goes off.

“You okay?”

“Copy that, all good, just getting a door open.”

“Got that. No problem.”

She takes a deep breath and shines her torch inside. When she locates the light switch, she turns it on and turns around to see him.

She freezes.

“No!”

Her breath catches in her throat and she almost drops her torch clattering to the ground. The room is deeper than she imagined, there’s bloodstains on the floor and walls and worse yet, on him.

“Phillip!”

She runs over and slides to her knees to get to him. He’s curled into a ball and barely moving. She can feel the tears brimming in her eyes.

“Phillip, I’m here. I’m here. You’re going to be alright. I’m here, please, please wake up. It’s me. It’s Leila.”

She reaches forward and oh so carefully pulls him around to face her. She swallows thickly as she takes him in. He’s battered and bruised, his hands are covered in lacerations. He’s thin, oh so thin, and his beard has grown. They’ve not even spared him the dignity of clean clothes and they’ve taken his shoes. She wipes away the burning sensation in her own eyes and tries to wake him.

“God, what have they done to you?”

He’s still wearing the same clothes that he worse on her birthday. He’s barely awake.

“I’m going to check you over. I need to move you.”

She manoeuvres him and regretfully peels the sorry excuse for a duvet off of Phillip’s frame, he barely responds, but tries to curl up more from the cold.

“You’re as cold as ice. We have to get you out of here.”

She sees the chain around his ankle and gets the bolt cutters.

“Keep still.”

She watches him, it was hardly like he was going to move, but just in case. She cuts the chain as close to the cuff as possible, being careful not to make the metal ding in anymore.

“Phillip. Can you hear me? We’re getting out of here. Can you stand?”

She takes a deep breath and moves him to sit up. She doesn’t know how long she’s been but she knows she’s running out of time. She activates her radio.

“John, need you to get to the car. Start the engine. I’ve got him. I can bring him to the car. Need you to be ready.”

“Got that. Going now.”

He does, he makes his way back down the corridor, to where Adam is torturing Dillon.

“Adam. She’s got him. We have to go!”

Leila brushes her hand through Phillip’s hair and her heart breaks when he flinches away from her.

“Phillip, We’re going to get out of here. I’m getting you out of here. Hang on. It’s okay. It’s okay…”

She could only be rational, emotions would be no good in this moment. She hooks an arm around him and helps him to stand. They hobble, he’s too weak, to limp to move, to the stairs.

Leila takes a deep breath and hauls Phillip into a fireman’s carry to get down the stairs. Once at the bottom, he can barely stand now.

“Hang on. Just a bit further.”

With all the adrenaline she could muster, she lifts Phillip into a bridal hold. She doesn’t care how ridiculous it looks with the height difference. She just has to get him to the car.

“Call ahead. Not much time.”

As Leila is getting Phillip to the car Adam blinks into the front of the car, he calls the farm.

“We have him. Heading to the hospital now.”

John watches as they emerge from the building. He helps Leila put Phillip into the back seat. Leila holds Phillip close.

“John. Blues. Hospital. Now!”

“On it.”

He nods, starts the sirens blaring and radios ahead to the hospital.

'Phillip!'

He hears her voice now too. The sounds of someone colliding with a door. He tried that. There's no way they can get out of the cellar that way... she's stuck down here with him. And she told him he's stupid for going back.

Then he sees her. She looks panicked, but her black eye is healed. So this isn't the cellar. No, because he escaped that. He curls up moments before the cold actually registers.

'ila?

He watches her through half lidded eyes glancing through his lashes but never looking away as she stares at him back her gaze roaming across him.

She does not like what she sees.

'You’re as cold as ice. We have to get you out of here.'

N't real...

He reminds himself. This isn't Leila. She's not here. He's not going to be saved. He doesn't even push her away or tell her to run, because this isn't actually her.

But the vision won't fade. The longer it stays the more it hurts.

He feels a hand in his hair and pulls away from it. He can't handle being lifted up by his hair anymore. It's a stinging pain and not in the good way. Didn't he used to like that feeling? When it was nice and gentle...

There's a click of metal. He tries to stand when she asks him too, key word is try, and the next thing Phillip knows is he's being bodily lifted off the ground. It hurts his rib but he doesn't even outwardly react. The second position he's carried in feels a bit better.

Is this what dying feels like?

That scene in snow white when the prince kisses her and carries her off on horseback to the castle in the sky. Some theorize it's supposed to represent her dying and going to the afterlife. Is this Phillip dying and going to the afterlife?

When he looks up at who's carrying him it still looks like Leila. He lays his head against her. He blinks and now it feels like they're moving even if Leila is seated. There's lights and muffled sounds. This all feels so disorienting but at least he gets to see her now. He looks over at her dazedly, and smiles slightly.

I love you.

He says his gaze still on her. Though he isn't quite sure why he'd say it knowing she's not really there. It doesn't matter. On the off chance she was he felt the need to say it again. He's always pointed out the obvious, stuff people should know.

Then he questions how Charlie found himself in the house, and for whatever reason, that’s the straw that breaks Adam. He morphs himself into his ‘decayed’ form, looking even more skeletal and ghoulish than the last time he’d put on the costume. His skin looks so thin, his bones are starting to poke through the skin all over. His eyes look as if they’ll pop out the sockets at any moment, unnaturally wide and protruding. He emits that familiar fragrance of almonds, before seeping through the door and revealing himself to Dillon, silently satisfied as the man startles to the ground.

You broke that deal the second you let that first letter burn!

He snarls, making a black, tarry substance drip from his mouth as he speaks. He starts backing Dillon up down the hall, looking at the three other doors by their sides. He makes them slam open, apparitions of all of Dillon’s victims stood glaring down at him in disgust. Thomas, Gemma, Tommy, Leila, Eddie, Eleanor, Charlie, Andrea, Dillon’s Father and Mother, even a handful of the cult members Adam could remember the faces of, they’re all there, filled with pure contempt.

You’re the reason he was here.

He has Dillon be dragged to one of the walls by an invisible force, forcing him to sit with his back against it, unable to wriggle away. The apparitions step out and stand with Adam. Charlie comes to take Adam’s hand, judging eyes still locked on Dillon.

You tried to take everything from him. And he knows you’re the reason all of this has happened. He hates you so much, he willed himself here. And he led us here, all by himself. You got outsmarted by a six-year-old.

He chuckles, and the apparitions grab Dillon, some clutching at his arms and legs, the others gripping any part of him they can reach, before they haul him up to his feet. They lock him in place against the wall as Adam takes a step closer to Dillon.

He’s sure going to remember you when he’s older. I suppose, in that sense, you got what you wanted.

Adam clasps his hands around Dillon’s scalp, squeezing just enough to hurt, and for the bones of his fingers to poke against the skin.

Energy vibrates from Adam’s hands, and he floods Dillons body with every ounce of pain he’s caused, not just Adam’s family, but all of his victims. All of it. Every punch, burn, slap, or kick he ever dealt to Leila, Thomas, and the other cult members. All the fear Thomas felt every second he spent under Dillon’s thumb, and every ache in his heart when he thought of Gemma and Tommy. All the self-loathing that came with each demeaning insult. He feels the two years worth of anger and anguish that Gemma shouldered alone, incensed that she’d be left to raise a child alone, whilst mourning the deep love that had been snatched away. He feels Eddie’s seething rage, and Eleanor’s aching grief, losing a child they’d been desperate to have, all because Dillon couldn’t give up on his fantasies.

Adam makes sure Dillon really feels the torment he’s put the children through. He sees every time Tommy asked when Dad would come home, only to be told he won’t. He sees the night Charlie was taken to the foster home, terrified as he sobbed himself to sleep, knowing Adam was never coming back. He sees Thomas exploding into a frantic tirade in the middle of their home, caving under years of trauma, Tommy having to watch in frightened confusion, not knowing the full extent of the abuse his Dad faced. He sees Charlie, cowering under a table, shaking, and crying so hard he can barely breathe.

Lastly, Adam shows him Leila, screaming at the top of her lungs as she clutches Phillip’s sweater. The anger, pain, remorse, hate, and the near hopelessness; it rattles against Dillon’s very bones.

You’ll be remembered, Dillon. As what you truly are. Loathsome. Vile. Cruel. A vermin.

He lets go, a satisfied grin on his face at the look on Dillon’s face.

He turns to see John, giving a quick nod, before turning back to Dillon.

Hope it was all worth it, Dillon.

The apparitions suddenly throw him to the floor, before they start attacking. Punching, kicking, twisting limbs in unnatural positions, all with crazed looks in their eyes, and unleashing the most animalistic, corse noises Dillon’s ever heard. Adam allows them to keep going, until Dillon’s matching Phillip in different shades of black and blue, along with some healthy smatterings of red.

See you in hell.

With that both he and the apparitions disappear, and he pings to the front seat of the car, watching as Leila and John haul Phillip into the back.

The strain of the emotional turmoil he’d channeled in particular hits him, and he lays his head back, trying desperately to hold the veil on their location up. It’s still slipping.

Shit, GPS is gunna slip any second, mate. I’ll keep it up as long as I can, but go as quick as you can.

-

Eddie could laugh with hysterics. They got him. He’s clearly not in a good way, but they got him, and no one else has been hurt.

We’ll meet you there!

He realises as he looks up at Derek and Titch that that was probably a bit presumptuous.

If that’s alright?…We should probably call his mother as well, pick her up on the way?

-

Ellie’s fell asleep no more than a few minutes ago, cradling Charlie in hers and Eddie’s bed, after he’d asked to stay with her instead of sleeping alone. She’d instantly agreed, frankly not wanting to be alone herself. At least if he poofed somewhere he shouldn’t be again, she’d know instantly and be able to let the others know.

Then her phone rings, and she’s pulled from her light sleep, snatching the phone from her nightstand and answering after only one ring.

Hello?

They’re out. We’re heading to the hospital now. They got him, Pidge, they got him!

Ellie covers her mouth to stifle her relieved sob, looking down to make sure Charlie’s still soundly sleeping. Better that he’s well rested, and that the doctors have had time to check Phillip over before letting him know.

Charlie stirs as Grammy moves slightly, but he stays deep in sleep, a slightly odd image in his dreamscape. Phillip and Mummy are in the back of a car, whilst John and his Daddy are sat in the front. Mummy’s holding Phillip close, who looks just as floppy and poorly as when Charlie had seen him, and John presses a button that makes a siren blare and blue lights flash outside the windows. Most of it makes sense to him, but the fact he’s seeing it doesn’t. He looks to Phillip, wishing he could reach out and tell him that it’s okay now, Mummy has him, and everything’s going to be okay. He doesn’t dare though, not after the last ‘dream’ he had.

“I didn’t burn it! It was her! I didn’t have time I…I…”

He knew pleading would t work. And the next thing he knows he feels like a rag-doll being tossed around.

“Wait…”

He breathes but it’s no use as every awful thing he’d done comes back to literally haunt him. He’s not sure if they’re really here or if Adam’s rage is causing it. One thing he does know is how real it feels.

The pain, not just his, but theirs. Years of torment coming back on to him. He flinches and closes his eyes but he can’t escape.

Just like they couldn’t.

He can’t fight back.

Just like they couldn’t.

His horrid deeds come back to him, upon him and rattle his very core.

He spits the blood from his mouth and tries to crawl away. Eventually he gives up and curls into a ball, he takes the savagery l, not bothering to fight back.

A part of him knows this is what he deserves.

‘See you in hell.’

It stops.

He wishes Adam had killed him.

He lies there, beaten and bloodied, he barely looks up when he hears Leila’s voice over John’s radio.

He’s left totally alone until Harding and the high priest find him.

~~~

John sips from his travel mug as he pulls away from the absconded building. He doesn’t look back he just goes forward. He’s laser focused on the road, taking in every vehicle around him. He listens for Leila’s instruction but otherwise ignores everything else.

He expertly drives along, weaving between traffic and pedestrians safely, but fast. He’s going faster than Adam did with the truck. Right now. He had to get a dying man to hospital.

Leila holds Phillip and presses a kiss to his temple.

“It’s not far. John will get us there. Please don’t give up.”

He’s so cold in her arms. She wants to pull the hair from his eyes, let him know it’s okay.

‘I love you.’

He’s slipping from consciousness.

“Phillip, please, please stay awake. I love you too, I love you so much. And you’re here with me. I’m here. I’m real. I promise I’m real, please Phillip. You’re in my arms. I’m hugging you, Charlie asked me to give you a hug too. We love you so much. Just a little bit longer. You’re going to be okay. Please…”

She tries so hard not to sob. She pulls him closer, not knowing what’s been done to him. Or his rib being broken, or that he was dragged along by his hair. She tries not imagine it. Right now she has to focus on keeping him alive.

“I love you. I’m here. I’m here.”

A calmness washes over Adam as he realises what he needs to do. Leila needs Phillip, far more than she needs Adam now. So does Charlie. Andrea needs him. Maybe when Adam’s soul was brought back, it was for this very reason.

He turns to John, only able to offer a determined, though mildly frightened stare.

The GPS will go back to normal in a second…You’re a good officer John. And a brilliant friend.

He twists himself in the chair so he can lean over, arms out ready. Just as he’s about to place his hands against the back of Phillips head, Leila unknowingly catches his gaze. She’s so frightened. It only further cements the fact that this has to be the way it ends.

Have a beautiful rest of your life, baby.

He shuts his eyes, takes Phillips head gently into his hands, and pours all of his remaining energy into him. It seems to take forever and no time at all, as Phillip absorbs golden light throughout his body. Adam feels his own eyes droop, but fights against it. He needs to give Phillip everything, give him every drop of his own life force for him to have a fighting chance.

I know you’ll look after them.

He mumbles, starting to see stars.

I know you'll love them…

Then, all at once, Adam see’s and hears nothing, assuming he’s drifting back into the ether from whence he came.

Only his ‘body’s still there, flopping backwards against the car door, completely limp and unresponsive.

-

Charlie sees the panic and distress, helplessly watching as his Mummy begs Phillip to wake up, just like he had. He was right. They were too late, and Phillip won’t ever make it to the hospital.

Then his Daddy’s saying something to John that Charlie doesn’t fully understand. He says something to Mummy, and Charlie watches as light fluxes and beams as it soaks into Phillips skin, before Daddy falls back and goes to sleep. Charlie blinks. He doesn’t know what just happened, but he knows that something’s happened. Something magic. He looks back to Phillip, hoping beyond hope that whatever Daddy just did is enough to wake Phillip up, even a little bit.

Alright love.

Tey share a quick kiss before Derek rushes out to the car and begins dialing Andrea Willoughby's number. She picks up instantly on the first ring.

They've found him. He's being taken to hospital as we speak, alright. We're going to come and pick you up. Which station?

He starts the car as Eddie gets in.

He's alive.

Derek confirms. His tone conveys everything. He's alive right now as far as they know. There's been no update son his condition, but they're hopeful.

-

He's being hugged. Held onto for dear life like he could slip away at any moment. Phillip hears voices layer over each others. Leila's pleading for him to stay awake saying she loves him, and another voice a resigned yet hopeful one trusting him to love and look after those Adam cares about.

Suddenly he doesn't feel on the verge of unconsciousness. Everything gains clarity, he can feel a bit of pain, and he can feel how cold he is, and he can feel Leila as she is physically there. And it's real. He's safe.

Leila?

Nothing else matters but her, he's only watching her, and he really wants to kiss her but when he coughs. His body now having the energy to. He coughs out a bit of blood and has the mental wherewithal to realize that's not the best ide right now.

I'm here.

Then he hears a new voice. John's. And he looks over to see the man driving the car and another slumped over in the passenger seat. The same spirit looking man he saw before. So, he's not completely out of the woods yet.

He looks back at Leila.

Pleased to see you again.

Theres a bit of humor in his smile, like he's hoping to distract her form the fact he was on deaths door a minute ago.

By the time they make it to the hospital he finds the newfound energy fading slightly. He's pulled from Leila's arms by medical professionals and through she tries to hold onto him, out of fear, he can't hold onto her back.

They lay him on a gurney and rush him through the hospital hallways. Doctors speak over him while inspecting him. Read out monitor readings, none are normal. They mention the cuts on his hands, and his temperature. But seeing he's awake they reassure him and ask him questions. Same ones he usually gets asked whenever he hits his head.

His name is Phillip Willoughby. He doesn't know today's date, but it's too much to explain that's from a lost track of time and not a memory thing. And he knows he's currently in a hospital. They also ask who the people he was with are and he replies: Leila, John, and they don't seem to need the third name when he trails off trying to recall.

After that the pain medicine and sedatives kick in and he feels himself fading again. It's nicer this time. It takes away his panic and his fears, and he floats down instead of crashes. It helps that he feels safe. That he knows Leila is nearby. That the doctors tell him they're calling his emergency contact. His mum. And so, everything will be fine.

“Mate, what are you talking about?”

Then it hits him. He’s sacrificing himself for Phillip.

“John?”

He falters slightly as he listens to what Adam’s telling her.

“Adam…he’s, sacrificing himself for Phillip. He’s telling you to have a beautiful rest of your life.”

He’s choked up himself as he delivers the news.

“Adam…”

Her voice breaks, he’s been back in her life literally in spirit, and he’s helped her through some of the most horrendous time in her life, now the second and it concerns her current boyfriend.

“I can’t lose you again, but…I can’t lose home too.”

She sobs and looks up, unknowingly into his eyes.

“I love you. I love you both so much. I’ll never forget you. Never.”

She sees the golden light. It illuminates Phillip’s face before dissolving into his very being. She lets out another sob and presses her forehead against his.

Phillip wakes. He’s slightly more lucid.

“You’re here.”

She rasps with a watery smile. She can’t help but laugh through the tears as he tries to make light of things.

“I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to see you.”

John glances over at Adam’s ‘lifeless’ form. He’s still here. Maybe he’s in stasis. Maybe it’ll take a while. He still can’t help but feel at a loss too.

“Bye, mate.”

He whispers as he drives. He pulls up and doctors and nurses are airing for them.

“I’ll meet you both in there, I’ll park up. I won’t be long I promise.”

Leila helps Phillip out of the car and he’s taken from her arms and placed into a gurney.

“We’ll take it from here.”

“Wait…”

“He’s going to be fine.”

“Let me come with you.”

“It’s safer for him if you leave it with us. I’m sorry.”

Leila stands she’ll shocked in the middle of the aisle. She understands their decision but, she’s only just got him back. It feels like forever until John catches up with her.

“Hey…hey…, we did it. He’s going to be okay. C’mere.”

He pulls her into a hug and guides her over to a seat in the waiting room.

~~~

They sedate Phillip and check him over.

“I don’t understand. From his condition, he should t be that active.”

“Perhaps it’s an adrenaline rush? A last push to stay alive?”

“I’m not sure. We have to dress his wounds, get him out of these clothes and check for any infection from the bacteria of the conditions he was in.”

“What were they?”

“The officer who radioed ahead said a bathroom of an abandoned building.”

“Fuck. We’ll have to trim his beard down, I can see some infection from where I can only assume he’s been hit.”

“We’d better get to it. I’ve called his next of kin.”

~~~

“What’s happened to my boy?…That’s all you know? I’ll be on the first train tomorrow morning. Thank you for telling me.”

As soon as Derek hangs up there’s another call, this time from the hospital.

Andrea crashes down into a chair when the doctor lists off everything.

“Malnourished? Beaten? Bruised? What the hell happened to him? Of course, I’m sorry, it’s just…he’s my boy. I know he’s a grown man, but…alright. Thank you.”

She hangs up and starts to pack a bag. She has to see her son. She has to know he’s safe. She swears she will personally find the person responsible for this and give them what for.

Silently she books the trains and gets up to back her bags.

If he dies, I’ll kill him.

A truly ridiculous statement, but the last few days has made him realise just how fond he really is of Phillip. He’d proven Eddie’s paranoid scepticism wrong at every opportunity, and had shown immense understanding for said scepticism. He’d been nothing but respectful and conscientious about coming into their lives, and had embraced everything that came with that so easily. Phillip’s a good man, a great one even, and Eddie couldn’t have been more wrong about him during their first meeting. He’ll need to make sure Phillip knows how deeply he appreciates him, as well as congratulate his mother on raising such an honourable man. Hopefully it doesn’t need to be followed by condolences.

When they arrive, he strides as fast his leg will allow him, which he’ll probably regret in a few hours, pausing as he and Derek enter the waiting room. It doesn’t take them long to spot Leila and John before joining them.

How’s he doing?

He askes quietly, not wanting to startle Leila, given how shaken she already looks.

-

As soon as Phillip wakes up in the car, Charlie wakes up, a strange mix of relief and confusion swimming around in his head. He twists to face Grammy, gently tugging on her sleeve to wake her. Grammy wakes fairly quickly, like she’d not long gone to sleep anyway.

Grammy.

Hm?

I want to go see Phillip.

Ellie studies Charlie’s determined little face, sighing as she realises that he will not budge from this particular request.

If you go back to sleep…I’ll see what I can do in the morning.

Promise?

Promise.

Charlie seems satisfied with the answer, wriggling himself tighter into her arms.

He turned around from his spot at the science station on the bridge to see Captain Leila Prewett pacing back and forth.

Captain?

She stopped and looked over at him.

I don't understand what still worries you. The mission was a complete success.

"It's not yet, Lieutenant"

Phillip felt odd. Of course, that was the proper way for him to be addressed by his Captain, but why did it feel like that wasn't something she would say. He shook off the weird feeling.

What still needs to be done, ma'am?

"John, take the helm. I need a word with Lieutenant Willoughby"

As she strides out of the bridge Phillip follows her. In no time at all they're in what look to be ship quarters. It's a bedroom, it doesn't look like his own, a familiar bedroom though.

Leila.

He begins. Insubordination though it maybe it feels right to use her name. Especially when it's followed up with his Captain taking a step towards him, gripping the front of his science blue uniform shirt, and pressing him against the wall while kissing him.

Phillip smiles to himself for a second before kissing her back. His arms around her waist, her other hand finding its way into his hair. He pulls away just long enough to say breathily.

Computer. Lock doors.

"Emergency override only"

Not wanting any interruptions. He can't recall the last time they've done this. But he never wants to go without it again. Then Leila pulls back and looks at him with a sad and confused expression.

"Why aren't you in sickbay, Phillip?"

Sickbay? I hate sickbay. I'm fine.

"How can you be fine? You were stuck on that desolate ice planet for days and we only just rescued you. You were freezing and barely responsive. I thought you were going to die."

I'm not. I'm here.

She wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly sobbing softly into his chest. Despite her tears her voice holds relief.

"We found you"

You did.

“We’ve got the results back form the full body scan, he has one cracked rib and two broken ribs on either side. There’s a tear to the lung, but not punctured. Will have to keep an eye on that.”

“I’ve introduced an IV, we need to get his fluids and electrolytes up. Due to he cuts on his hand, he’ll need help with eating until they’re fully healed. I’ve also put a feeding tube in, probably best to see how he takes to it.”

“He was so animated earlier, this is a complete juxtaposition.”

“He got to us in time, it can happen moments before death, that’s the only thing I can think of, he’s lucky to have got here when he did.”

“What he’s been through is sick, who would do such a thing?”

“Or better yet, why? What do they gain from it?’

The doctor looks down at her pager and raises an eyebrow.

“Got another emergency in. It’s…he was here a month ago, the man from the flat explosion.”

“What do you suggest?”

“You and I will continue here with Mr Willoughby, Mr Smith will have to have another doctor. When we’re finished here, I think it best, to limit infection, that Phillip has a private room.Right now, we need to focus on getting Phillip’s vitals up and stable. I’ve also got to cut that cuff from his ankle and dress that too.”

“It’s not down to the bone is it?”

“He’s clearly pulled at it quite a bit, but it’s pretty deep, not quite at the bone yet, which is good.”

“He’s not in a good way.”

“No, but he’s in good hands now. I’ll continue here, could you inform the family of the progress please?”

The nurse nods and makes his way out of the room.

~~~

Leila stands and hugs Eddie close. She clears her throat.

“The nurse has just been out, they’ve been with him for a long time. He’s…stable. But not in a good way. He really wasn’t in a good way when we found him, Eddie. I don’t think I can begin to start to describe the condition he was in.”

They sit back down and she rests her head against Eddie’s shoulder.

“I’ll get us a drink. It’s going to be a long night I think.”

Leila sits up a bit and turns to look at Eddie when John leaves. She falters slightly over her words. She’s trying so hard to be strong, something tells her she can’t give up yet. Even with the last bolt of energy from Adam, Phillip couldn’t feel how cold he was, see how thin he was. Reality comes crashing down as she looks down at herself, seeing Phillip’s blood on her. How could she possibly explain how thin he was, how beaten and broken he was, how scared he was and how cold.

Phillip’s not meant to be cold. He’s warm. Like a ray of light peaking through the clouds. He’s a hot water bottle on a cold night. He was the buttercup facing the sun in a field of grass. He’s the light in her dark and the flame had slowly dimmed to nothing but an ember. It frightened her.

“Dad, I don’t know what to do.”

He readily sits with her, his arm round her shoulder, still holding her close.

The fear in her voice would be enough for himself to break, if she didn’t need him as a rock right now. He kisses her forehead and wraps her even tighter into his arms.

Oh, Poppet…

He sighs deeply, wishing he had any comforting words to soothe her. He’d tell her that Phillip will be fine, but it feels almost cruel to make such a promise. She doesn’t need empty promises right now, she’s had quite enough of those slung her way.

You make them pay.

He finally answers, starting to absent-mindedly smooth her hair.

They know that if you hand any evidence in, they’re fucked. They’re banking on you feeling so broken by everything that you won’t fight anymore. But they don’t get to walk away. Not this time.

He shifts to look her dead in the eyes.

You make them pay for all of it. You don’t let them win.

The fact they’ve still managed to manipulate the system again. And that doesn’t even touch the surface of the fact it’s evident that Phillip was tortured, emotionally and physically.

“You’re right.”

She knows it’s not going to be easy. Not by a long shot. But she can’t give up, even if the worst happens…she hopes it doesn’t, but she cannot give up. She looks up as John come back over with some drinks for Eddie and Leila, but none for himself. He’s about to head over to them when he’s stopped by the doctor. He walks over to her.

“Everything alright?”

“We’re still monitoring him, we have to raise his body temperature as well as make sure he takes to the fluid and feeding tubes safely.”

“I feel there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“You were the detective leading the case, yes?”

He nods.

“Well we think it’s best that only authorised personal such as yourself and his next of kin go and see him, given the circumstances.”

John looks over to Leila and Eddie.

“His partner is over there and she was a farmer police officer. She was a massive part of the reason he’s here now, it’s only fair she gets to see him.”

“We can’t take that risk. She’s not named as an emergency contact, I’ve got a Derek, Titch and Andrea, that’s it.”

“Not even just to see him when he’s stable? What if I go in with her?”

The doctor considers it.

“I’ll allow it, but I have a duty of care. Until Mr Willoughby can confirm he knows her, I don’t think it’s right.”

“It’s not my place to tell you what she’s been through, what they’ve both been rough, but when he’s stable. At least grant her a moment with him. Just for her own peaceI’ll be right by her side.”

“I’ll consider it. I must get back to him.”

John tightens his grip on the drinks and heads back to Eddie and Leila.

“Here, this should help.”

“What about you?”

“Already drank mine. Don’t worry.”

“What was that about? Is Phillip okay?”

John sighs.

“About that,”

He starts to explain what the doctor use told him.

~~~

The nurse looks up as the doctor walks back in.

“How has he been?”

“Stable, he’s taking to fluids well, vitals are steady with minimal dips, brain function is active. We just need to get his temp up a bit more and we can move him to a private room.”

A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind.

A journey into a wondrous land of imagination.

This is Phillip Willoughby, mid 30's.

A man protected by a suit of armor all held together by one bolt.

Just a moment ago, someone removed the bolt.

Mr Willougby's protection fell away from him and left him a naked target.

He's been cannonaded this afternoon by all the enemies of his life.

His insecurity has shelled him.

His deep-rooted disquiet about his own worth has blown him apart.

Mr Phillip Willoughby, secondary farm assistant will move into the Twilight Zone.

In a desperate search for survival.

Phillip finds himself walking around a village he's never seen before. He's been lost, and restless. Every time he closes his eyes there's this woman, and it's almost as if she's calling to him. Everything in him wants to follow, but he can't. He shouldn't. Although, every time he opens his eyes all he sees is this town he doesn't know.

Is it walking distance from Shropshire? Did he take a train and get off at some odd stop?

Most peculiar of all there doesn't seem to be anyone around.

'Where is everybody?'

He wonders to himself as he wanders around and it's almost like a dream. Perchance it is a dream. He hasn't seen anybody for a while, except for that woman, the one he sees in his mind's eye.

And then he comes across a building.

It's not the farmhouse or his childhood home but he knows this building.

He stands at the frost step, and feels like he should have something, like there's some item he's missing. A gift? A knife? A map? Something tells him he shouldn't approach this place empty handed and ill-prepared.

The she opens the door.

It feels warmer. Brighter. He feels stronger. A bit bold. He smiles. A bit flirtatiously, and she tucks a stand of red hair behind her ear. The woman of his dreams, from his dreams, unless this is the dream.

Strange.

Charlie?!

She grabs her phone as she sprints to the bedroom door, ready to call Leila or Eddie, to tell them Charlie’s vanished to god knows where. Yes, they got him back fine last time, but what if they can’t this time? If he ends up anywhere near those two again, what would they do to him, now that Phillip had successfully been rescued? If they’re capable of the long list of crimes they’ve already committed, they could hardly be above harming a child in the name of revenge.

She swings Charlie’s bedroom door open.

At first, she’s relieved to find him, sat crosslegged on the carpet, with dozens of pieces of scribbled paper surrounding him. Then she notices how scrunched up and red his face is, like he’s about to burst.

Charlie?

He doesn’t answer. He only keeps his ees fixed on the collection of paper. Ellie treads cautiously over and crouches down.

Charlie, can you look at me.

Charlie slowly turns to her, the confusion and disheartenment so evident in his eyes.

The letters aren’t magic anymore.

Ellie looks a little closer at the paper strewn across the floor. Charlie’s written to everyone he can seemingly think of, even ‘Phillips Mummy’, at least three time each. But they’re still here. If the ‘magic’ isn’t working, and the thing that makes them magic is Adam…

Oh, Bub…

She picks him up and lets him cling to her, biting back her own sadness at the realisation.

-

It’s about 6am when Eddie’s mobile wakes him up. He’d fallen asleep, hand still on Leila’s, as they did the only thing they could; wait. He blearily answers, about to mumble some form of greeting, when Pidge beats him to it.

We’re flying over. Today.

That certainly wakes him up.

Huh?!

Charlie needs Leila. He’s a wreck, Ed. I can’t stand another minute of it, I can’t, he needs his Mum.

No, Pidge, you need to stay there, it’s still not safe-

And I’m not sitting here to find out what’s going on through a screen.

Eddie bites on the inside of his cheek. He can hardly argue with his own words being thrown back at him. He sighs and rubs at his forehead, looking to Leila, dreading the panic the next sentence will most likely cause her.

Someone’s going to need to pick Pidge and Charlie up from the airport.

-

Through the dark, empty expanse, a pinprick of light reveals itself. It’s hard to miss when everything else is devoid of form. It shouldn’t be there. There should be nothing. Less than nothing.

Yet, there it is, and a single, easily dismissible speck of familiar warmth traces around the pendant on Leila’s chest.

She didn’t care about the price though, what she did care about was getting to her son.

She boarded the first train that arrived. She could catch up on some sleep on the journey. With a change and Bristol, and then a change Birmingham she should arrive at the main train station in Shropshire by 11:30. She could be with Phillip by midday.

Andrea sighed softly as she looked out of the window, to see the dawn breaking over the horizon.

~~~

Leila was sleeping lightly when she could have sworn the pendant, Adam’s pendant, was warming up. She woke with a start but realised she was still in the hospital waiting room with Eddie and that he was on the phone.

Her hand went to the pendant, perhaps she was just dreaming. But she was sure it was real. But, if it was real, and it was warming up, does that mean Adam’s come back? Doesn’t mean Phillip doesn’t make it?

She pulled from her thoughts when Eddie hangs up and tells her Ellie will need picking up from the airport.

“They can’t come here, I don’t know what state Phillip will be in and what if it hurts Charlie more to see him that way?”

But she knows there’s no egging with Ellie. She resigns quickly.

“There’s safety in numbers I suppose, I’m worried about poor Charlie. But Derek had a late night and I can’t drive us.”

“I can pick them up.”

John says groggily.

“John…”

“It’s fine. I can go and get some sleep in the back of the car for a few hours and go and pick them up. I promise. You need to be here. Even if they don’t let you see him, you’ll be able to find out how he is.”

He looks between Leila and Eddie.

“I promise I’ll get them and they’ll be safe.”

He gives Leila a reassuring smile and puts his hand on Eddie’s shoulder before heading off to the car. He gets inside and looks over to the passenger seat. His shoulders slump and he gathers himself as she notices Adam isn’t there anymore.

He goes to find somewhere secluded to park up. He puts his seat back and sets a timer on his phone.

He looks up at the big plane as they walk through the gate, hoping the journey goes quickly.

I want Mummy.

He mumbles, not expecting a response from Grammy.  Her hugs and nice words are good, and he knows he’s safe as long as Grammy is beside him, but he wants his Mummy, as quickly as possible. He wants to feel that same secure feeling he felt after crashing into her arms all those weeks ago. He wants that from Phillip too, but doesn’t let himself hope too hard. It would only hurt more if Phillip doesn't make it. Instead, he tries to loop the sentence over and over in his mind. ‘I want Mummy. I want Mummy I want Mummy I want Phillip- I want Mummy I want Mummy I want Phillip- I want Mummy’

Ellie looks down when Charlie says his first sentence since leaving the house. She gently pulls him closer to herself and lets him wrap his free arm around her leg. It’s not the first time she’d heard Charlie say those words in such a mournful tone. The last time he’d said it was about two weeks before Leila’s first email landed in her inbox.

Shall we send her a message? Let her know we’re coming?

Of course Ellie knows Eddie would have told Leila already, but if it helps ease Charlie even slightly, especially now he can’t directly send a message alone, then a small fib doesn’t hurt. It seems like the right move as well, since Charlie nods enthusiastically.

She hands Charlie her phone, helping him when he gets a bit confused by the keyboard. She reads it aloud, making sure he’s happy with the text, before sending it, and they’re called for boarding.

-

Leila’s text tone rings.

Dear Mummy. Me and Grammy ar coming over on the plane. I wood have sent you a letter but they dont work any more. I fink the majic went away when Daddy put the glowy lite in Phillip. I miss you. I love you. I miss Phillip. I love Phillip. Im very scard Mummy. I wish the plane cood go even faster. Im sorry if the letters got Phillip beeten up even more. I didnt mean them to. Im sorry I lied abowt them and then I lied again cus I sent Dillon some mean letters cus he made me so cross and I swor at him but I am super sorry Mummy. I love you more than I fink any one can love any one. Love Charlie. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Not long after it arriving, another text pops up from Ellie.

I knew about the Dillon letters. I apologise for not letting you know, but I’m not sorry he sent them. We’re just about to board. We’ll see you soon. I’ll make sure he knows that none of this is his fault. Keep your chin up. Love you, darling. – Mum xxxx

And neither are they black and white like any Twilight Zone episode he's seen.

And there's not a Tardis in sight.

What kind of Sci-fi vision is he having now?

Just over a hill he sees a faint glowing blue and rushes over to the hologram in the distance. Instinctively he reaches to the side to grab for a weapon a phaser or sonic screwdriver or something. But instead he pulls out merely a metal handle.

Phillip looks down at his clothes. A brown robe and whit tunic. He's not seen this in any piece of media he's watched... but others have. Yeah, he's seen this sort of robe at cons before.

Wait.

Finally, the hologram figure becomes clear. It's the ghost he's seen before. The man from the pictures in Leila's house. It's Adam.

Adam?

He steps closer as the figure turns at the call of his name to face him.

This is your dream, isn't it?

Their paths converge on this. Before Adam had been too weak to imagine, and now Phillip had been pulled into the ghost's world. The thing that gave him comfort.

And its...

Phillip clicks the button on the handle and a beam of blue light emits.

Star Wars.

Adam steps closer, straining to focus. Textures and colours begin to settle, a sharp, monotone beep echoing across the void.

It’s a hospital bed. There’s tubes strung across the body lying on top, all attached to various types of liquids Adam has no reference of their purpose. He can’t make out who they’re attached to, until he takes another step closer, and the image becomes sharp focused.

Phillip.

He watches as a shadow of gold, beneath Phillip’s hospital gown, pulsing in time with his heart.

How long has it been? It feels like second ago Adam did the transfer, but in this void, time doesn’t seem to move as it should. It could have been weeks, years, Adam has no idea.

You gotta wake up, mate.

His own voice bounces endlessly off of nothing, like a perpetual feedback loop. The wisps dissipate, before forming a new image.

Leila. Dad.

Leila looks like the shell of a woman, whilst his Dad holds her close. Did he fail? Is that what this is? Phillip died and now Adam’s stuck in whatever purgatory he’s found himself in?

You make them pay.

The wisps shimmer and shift once more, another, larger bed forming, a two figures curled up beneath the covers.

I want to go see Phillip.

His son and Mums faces become clear.

If you go back to sleep…I’ll see what I can do in the morning.

To see Phillip? In the hospital? In a funeral parlour? Which one?! Why didn’t it work, it was supposed to work!-

Suddenly the wisps explode across the entirety of the space, momentarily blinding Adam, who shields his eyes with his arm.

Captain?

Adam squints as he pulls his arm away, only seeing the mere suggestion of people at first. He lets his eyes adjust, a new wave of confusion hitting him when he takes in his surroundings.

He’s…On the Enterprise? And Leila, John, and Phillip are all dressed in Starfleet uniforms? Is this hell? It must be.

He watches Leila and Phillip leave to a bedroom, and suddenly she’s pressing Phillip up against the wall and-

Adam covers his ears and squeezes his eyes shut.

Nope! No! Lalalalalalala!!

Once he stops his petulant display, Adam hears something else muffled through his palms.

I’m fine.

"How can you be fine?...”

So…Phillip is okay? Then what’s all this? It’s like some kind of…

Oh…Phillip’s dreaming. And somehow Adam can see it. Because part of Adam is a part of Phillip? Why can’t any of this ‘dead’ stuff be straight forward?!

Blissfully, the image is swept away by a train, revealing a monochrome village.

He’s following Phillip, who seems to be wandering aimlessly, before he stops at a building. It looks so familiar, but slightly wrong. If Adam didn’t know better, he’d think it was-

The door opens, and a shock of red hair contrasts against the black and white. She’s smiling, the brightest she has since all of this started. Like none of the awfulness happened.

A large gust of wind roars around Adam, sand beginning to swarm him like a tornado. It’s so thick, he can’t see a thing, having to cover his eyes so none of the coarse grains scratch at them. Once the roaring dies down, and he’s no longer being tussled from side to side, he looks around.

A desert. A vast, golden desert, stretching for miles, and two adjacent suns hanging high in the sky. Adam knows exactly where he is. He laughs lightly to himself. If this was purgatory, it might not be so bad. He could try and find a few droids to befriend, or even a TIE fighter to whizz around in, or-

Adam?

His daydreaming screeches to a halt, and he turns.

Phillip?

He steps towards the man, only now noticing the blue light emanating off his own body. He laughs, harder this time.

Yeah, definitely my dream.

He watches the sinking realisation cross Phillip’s face, culminating into horror as the lightsabre lights up.

Listen, I had to watch your Star Trek fantasy, and you guys…you know! This only seems fair!

The reality of the situation comes back to him, and Adam’s tone becomes more sombre.

Phillip… I’m not supposed to be here. I should have disappeared as soon as I gave you that energy. You need to wake up or…I mean, I don’t know, but I’ve got a feeling that if you don’t, we’re both stuck. They need you...I need you to be there for them.

That was the start.

He corrects, because Phillip' Star Trek fantasy's are usually more in depth. They contain a lot more action and exploration and story. Not to mention he'd like to have done more than just kissing.

His playful expression falls when Adam's voice shifts from petulant embarrassment to something more serious. He nods at Adam's assessment. In the first dream he'd been totally engrained in the world not even feeling like there was another universe he needed to be in. In the second he'd felt a sense of wrongness but didn't know why. By this third he was fully aware it was a dream, but not sure what to do with that information.

You're right.

He glances over at the lightsaber on the ground.

Hate to be stuck here.

Had his third dream been Doctor Who or The Little Mermaid hell even The Princess Bride it might have taken more convincing, but Phillip really didn't want to stick around in this Star Wars space. He looks around.

How do I get off this...Death Star?

He has no clue what this place is actually called. But Adam quotes something about focus and reality, that sounds totally like he's using a Star Wars quote at him, and Phillip closes his eyes trying to imagine the farm, his room, Leila' house, any place that would take him back to where he's meant to be.

And then he opens his eyes and sees a hospital room, with Adam no longer a force ghost but sitting slumped over in in a visitor chair as he slowly wakes up as well.

Phillip wants to make a quip as the nurse notices he's awake, but he's still too exhausted, and hazy, and there's things blocking his throat.

Adam corrects, almost rolling his eyes at Phillip thinking the Death Star is a desert covered planet, and not an overbearing, world destroying weapon. He considers Phillip’s question, not entirely sure himself, but if every piece of Sci-fi based media has taught him anything, it’s that:

Your focus determines your reality.

Phillip must realise where Adam’s pulled the quote from, given the mild irritation that crosses his features, but he shuts his eyes all the same.

Adam watches the dual suns merge together in the sky, their combined light reaching every inch of their environment. The sand glistens, twinkling as everything slowly fades into nothingness once again. Adam looks back to Phillip, watching him slowly fade away too, and braces himself for what must be his final moments, after fulfilling his true last act. He closes his eyes, ready to accept that this is it. Phillip will wake up, and everyone will be safe. They’ll live their lives, and even if he can’t be there to see it, Adam can rest knowing that they’ll be okay.

Another wind picks up, gentler this time, and Adam lets his mind go blank as it lifts him.

But instead of ascending higher, like he expected, he’s dropped into something soft, and yet mildly uncomfortable. He groans, suddenly overcome with grogginess. He sits back against whatever he’s been plonked onto, chancing a brief peek through his heavy eyelids.

The hospital bed again. And Phillip’s still there, a nurse standing over him, looking both relieved and perplexed. He focus’ a tiny bit more, perplexed himself when he realises that Phillip’s looking directly at him. Not through him, or at something behind him, but at him.

I don’t…

He shakes his head, letting his eyes shut again, still too exhausted to question how or why he’s still here. The fact is he is still here, and Phillip’s awake.

He peeks one more time at Phillip, lifting a tired, but just as sincere thumbs up.

As soon as he receives some kind of response, the room vanishes, and he’s slouched in the back of a moving car, his thumb still up, but this time pointed up at-

John!

“It’s alright, don’t panic, don’t try to speak for a minute, breathe, breathe, you’re okay. You have a feeding tube, it’s going to be uncomfortable, but we need to slowly but steadily get nutrients into your system, as well as fluids. Give yourself a minute to get used to it, it’s going to feel odd. You’re in safe hands, Phillip.”

He watches eye line and looks to her right shoulder. She can’t see anyone there, but he does look perplexed.

“You’re bound to feel confused. We had to sedate you. It was a close call, but you’re going to be alright.”

He checks his vitals and stands back.

“I’m going to explain what we’ve done, and when you’ve come to a bit, we’re going to move you to a private room.”

He pauses to give Phillip time to take everything in.

“The conditions you were being kept in, were truly vile, we’ve had to trim your facial hair to make sure there’s no lingering harmful bacteria on your face or around your eyes. We’ve also, cleaned you and changed your clothes to a hospital gown, so if there’s a way of getting someone to bring some loose fitting pyjamas to you, so you can feel at ease, I’d suggest that. Both your hands are bandaged, we’ve also treated the other lacerations too, as well as where your foot was chained. You have two broken ribs and a cracked rib, the outer wall of your lung is punctured too.with monitoring, it should heal on its own, but we will need to keep you in for a time anyway. Because of this, we don’t recommend you fly or go diving for at least 4 months. Those are your major injuries, as well as the bruising to your eyes and face, and your scalp is rather sore too. I’ll let you take this in for a moment.”

~~~

The doctor approaches Leila and Eddie, she keeps reading over the text from Ellie and Charlie. She responded a while ago. Wanting to reassure Charlie so he wasn’t nervous on the plane and letting Ellie know John was going to pick them up. She can’t be cross at them, if anything it would be a relief to see them. If anything bad happened…at least this time they would be together.

She takes a shaky breath and looks up as the doctor approaches.

“He’s awake and stable. We have to monitor him for a while, and then we are going to transfer him to a private room.”

“I suppose I still can’t see him.”

“Not without an escort, or until he asks for you and you have ID. Right now, he has to focus on coming round and getting used to everything.”

Leila watches the doctor go and slumps back down in the chair. At least Ellie and Charlie will be here soon. And be together with them and Eddie.

She doesn’t notice a woman with suitcases walk up to the reception.

“I’m Mrs Willoughby, I’ve been told my son is here.”

~~~

Feeling refreshed after his nap, John stretches and reaches for the now lukewarm coffee in the flask. He gulps it down. And goes to check he at least has a booster seat in the boot of the car. He shocks himself when there is one. He takes a deep breath and prepares to drive to the airport.

He watches the rolling hills pass by as he drives, he can’t help but feel a little lost. He wishes circumstances were different and that he and Leila were working on a separate case, one that doesn’t hit so close to home. One that doesn’t involve her partner and her late husband being in danger, one where he hasn’t lost a good friend.

He sighs softly and focuses on the road when he hears a shout.

“John!”

“Ahh! What the fuck? What the fuck!! Shit, fuck…”

He pulls over as safely as possible and turns to look behind him.

“Adam?!”

A wash of relief and happiness flows through him, until a sense of dread falls to the pit of his stomach.

“If you’re here…is Phillip!? Please tell me he’s not dead…I’m going to pick up your mum and Charlie now, I can’t tell him his other dad is dead!”

I’ll go get us some teas. Earl Grey, hot, if they’ve got it.

He says, hoping to get at least a smile out of her. He gives her shoulder a light squeeze, before making his way over to the hot drinks machines. Whilst he’s struggling his way through the touchscreen options, getting a little frustrated when he has to start over after selecting the wrong one, something pricks his ears.

“…Willoughby…my son..”

He doesn’t catch all of the interaction, since he’s a few paces away, but he looks through the corner of his eye, seeing a blonde woman stood at the front desk, who he can’t to help but notice has the same nose and eyes as Phillip. He swiftly turns his eyes back to the machine, trying to seem nonchalant. No sense in approaching the poor woman. For one, she has no idea who Leila is, never mind Eddie, but beyond that, she’s no doubt far more interested in seeing Phillip as soon as possible. He finally manages to acquire two Earl Greys, turning and almost bumping into Andrea as she’s led by a nurse, presumably to Phillips room.

Apologies.

He mutters, unconsciously ducking his head, only walking back over to his seat once she keeps following the nurse. He hands Leila her drink, pensively looking down at his own.

His Mother’s here.

He tells her in hushed tones.

-

Adam finds himself chuckling at John’s reaction, which considering the circumstances, one of which he’s behind the wheel whilst being scared out of his wits, isn’t funny at all.

He quickly cools off when he realises the panic John’s suddenly hit with, doing his best to focus on how to explain this, especially when his head is still foggy.

Dreams…confusing…Phillip awake…

He frowns as the rest of John’s register.

Huh?!…Mum? Charlie?!

Adam is gone, and so Phillip is left here to sit in his thoughts as they drift. He's still cold, still alone, but at least he's safe. No longer in that godforsaken bathroom or the fucking deserts of "Tatooine".

He's about to fall back into a light sleep when they return to move him to another room. Monitors beeping, fluids dripping, being bothered on the hour and then left to sit for long periods of time. He wants to ask if someone is here to see him. He remembers Leila saving him, John was there too he'd take talking with him over nothing. But he can't speak.

There's a TV in his room and a nurse turns the channel on since his hands are bandaged. It's just the news. Plain background noise. Better than the monitor beeping and he can't ask for it to be changed.

Part of him wishes to see what he looks like right now. How badly bruised is his face? What's his facial hair look like? He wonders how bad his hands must look under their wrappings. What's his ankle look like without the chain on it? Will it scar like the one Grandad got from being in prison? But the rest of him is tucked in under the blankets. As if they don't want him to know. Don't think he should see himself.

Like the Twilight Zone episode Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Iconic.

He's staring down at his hand trying to picture it, trying to lift it or move his fingers despite the sedation still in his system when someone says.

Phillip, your mother is here to see you.

He nods as soon as he can so that they can let her in. Hoping this isn't a pain killer induced hallucination because his mum lives all the way in Sommerset and he's in Shropshire. But no re remembers sending a note out for them to call her. So obviously she'd be here.

Mnm?

Phillip tries to say 'mum' around the tube in his throat but it comes out garbled. His mother looks tired, and upset, and worried, he hates when she looks worried. But she's here, and she's happy he's here too.

"Make it so."

She says softly and watches Eddie leave. She's too busy in her own thoughts to notice the blond woman standing at the desk. It makes sense that she'd be flustered. If she was visiting a loved one and they were hurt like Phillip was, Leila would no doubt feel the same.

She looks up though when Eddie comes back and watches her follow the nurse down to Phillip's room. She sighs softly and gratefully accepts the tea.

“She’s going to be in for a shock.”

~~~

John can’t help but smile.

“I’m so glad you’re alright.”

Even though Adam was clearly coming out of stasis, a little lightheaded, can ghosts be lightheaded?

“Phillips awake? It worked! And you’re still here, this great.”

He takes a breath and slows himself down.

“Charlie and Ellie will be landing soon. They wanted to see Phillip, or at the very least, Charlie needed his mum. I think when the letters didn’t work…it was the straw that broke the camels back…so they’re coming over. It’ll be good to tell them that at the very least, Phillip’s awake.”

He offers a smile.

“Why don’t you get some more rest, I’ll keep driving, don’t want to be late now, do we?”

~~~

Andrea barely takes notice of her shaking hands, she nods politely at the man with two teas in his hand…the distinct smell of early grey passes he nose, she smiles at that. Phillip might need a hot drink, she wonder if she should get him one? She curses herself for not bringing a get well soon gift.

No matter. She’s here now and that’s what matters. She takes a deep breath before going through the door into the private room.

The door is shut behind her by the nurse and she’s left alone with her son.

Her mouth gapes open, she brings her hands up to it and stifles a sob. The sight almost knocks her for six. She takes a shaky breath and rushes towards him.

“Oh, my poor boy, Phillip, it’s alright. I’m here now.”

She sits in the chair next to him and her hand hovers above his. She daren’t touch him incase she accidentally hurts him.

“What have they done to you?”

She frowns and can’t help but reach to brush his hair out of his eyes. She freezes as he flinches.

“I’ll kill them. As soon as I know you’re well, I’ll bloody kill ‘em.”

She knows it’s asinine, a reactive statement, but she’s so angry she could swear she’d do it. Her accent l, a soft West Country lily becomes harsher the more upset she gets.

“Ignore me, Tribble, I’m just tired. I’m just glad you’re alive.”

She blinks and holds back tears, staying strong for her son.

“Is there anything I can get for you?”

Nah, not late.

He mumbles, resting his head against the back of the seat. He lets a slow smile cross his lips.

Good to see you, mate.

-

Ellie’s busy fitting Charlie’s bobble hat to his head as they stand outside the airport.  

Don’t want you getting a cold, do we, my love?

Nuh uh.

Charlie’s only half paying attention, too busy looking for the car Mummy had described in her text to Grammy that John would be arriving in. Every second he doesn’t see it feels like an eternity.

They might have hot chocolate in the hospital, that’ll warm you up. They might have some marshmallows too, that’d be nice, wouldn’t it?

Ellie knows she’s rambling, but Charlie’s barely spoken since they took off. She hates the silence. Mostly because it’s an obvious indicator that Charlie’s worried, but also because it leaves her with nothing but her own dread to dwell on. It normally worked, her distraction tactics, but nothing seems to pull Charlie away from his thoughts this time.

Charlie spots the car, the same one he remembers from his dream, suddenly feeling anxious about getting in when it parks beside them, and John steps out. Charlie half hides himself behind Grammy, peeking out at John as he greets Grammy. He knows John is a safe person, he’s Mummy’s friend after all, but the last time Charlie saw John in person was when he was driven to a home that wasn’t his, and told he’d be staying there until his grandparents could pick him up.

Ellie gives John the brightest smile she can muster.

Thank you, sorry it was such short notice.

She looks down at Charlie, who ducks his head behind her skirt when John attempts to greet him.

Mum.

Phillip repeats staring at his mother and hoping she won't disappear, when she touches his hair it's a good reminder that she is actually physically there, but he unconsciously flinches away from it on reflex. He breaks down as tears finally fall, half from relief and half from despair.

They- they wanted to break me. To join their cult. Evil cult. A Star Wars inspired cult! And they were...

He gasps for breath.

...going to hurt her. Hurt her through me. Hurt Charlie too. Mum, I'm sorry. The needs of the many. I didn't want them to. Find her. And hurt her.

His breathing grows rapid and panicked.

I- I made them angry. With me. Instead. Worked too well. And I'm sorry. I couldn't-

The monitor beeps in wild alarm as his heartrate speeds u too far passed what they want it to be at. One of the medical staff rush in as his mum is trying to calm Phillip down herself. The nurse presses a button and he's given another small dose of the sedative. Just enough to calm him back down.

Sorry. 's my fault. Got kidnapped.

He's not yet on too strong a medication to start rambling to his mum about the days activities before he got kidnapped, luckily. This would not be the time to start admitting to his drinking and almost sexual encounter with his girlfriend. When she asks if he needs anything only one answer comes to mind.

Leila.

“Phillip, my love, the needs of the many, does not equate when it comes to you.”

She aware that what she’s saying is cruel, but Phillip is her son, and they, whoever they are, almost killed him. For what? A woman? A cult? What the hell were their motives.

“Star Wars?!”

She frowns, she can’t help but feel vitriol towards the franchise. Her hate, like his is warranted, this is the second time her son has been badly hurt, emotionally and physically by a Star Wars fan. Granted he was just a boy, the first time, but it clearly had an effect on him.

She vaguely remembers the chat they had on the phone, when Phillip called her to tell her about his new girlfriend. The one he had met there. She’s just has heightened as he is, but keeps it hidden, that doesn’t stop her from overthinking though.

How could they know where he was? Why did they target him? Did she put them up to this? Was she part of the reason he was taken? She was there before? Perhaps it was her job to lure people in, like in This Side of Paradise.

“Those were empty threats love, Phillip who’s Charlie?”

She huffs knowing what she’s saying isn’t helping, but she can’t help but say what’s on her mind.

“Phillip, sweetheart, please try and breathe, it’s alright. I’m here, you’re here, you’re not there, they can’t hurt you now. It’s alright, there we are, look a nurse has come to help too, you’re safe, you’re not there now. You’re not.you’re here, and I’m right by your side.”

She carefully hold him and resists carding her hand through his hair. It used to help calm him as a boy, but they’ve hurt him so badly, she doesn’t want to add to his pain.

“Son, it’s not your fault. And it never will be your fault for getting kidnapped. Was it Spock’s fault in This Side of Paradise for being lured in by…”

He says her name and she freezes.

“…Leila Kalomi? Not it wasn’t his fault at all, it was hers. You are not to blame.”

~~~

John smiles warmly as she greets them.

“It’s honestly my pleasure, I’m just glad I could help.”

He looks down at Charlie and gets down on one knee to greet him.

“Hey Charlie, you’ve grown since I’ve last seen you, well that’s how time works.”

He chuckles softly.

“But the last time I saw you, was a very scary day for you. And you were so brave. And you’re being so brave now. Your mummy is so proud of you.”

He looks up and catches Ellie’s eye.

“I have some news about Phillip, he’s awake, and he on the way to getting better. But I won’t lie, I think it’s good to be truthful, he still very poorly. So when you see him, he might not look very well, I just wanted to let you know in case seeing him that way makes you feel sad. That way, you can make the choice when you’re ready to see him.”

John stands and nods to Ellie.

“He’s awake, just about stable, but not in a good way. It will take time for him to get better.”

He leads them to the car, and looks between them.

“You both have your own personal police car with me as chauffeur, now Charlie, do you want to sit with your Grammy, or in the front of the police car with me? I won’t be worried if you don’t want to sit with me, perhaps I can give you a ride, with everyone’s permission, another time.”

He only offers as a treat to help Charlie feel better.

He listens carefully when John mentions Phillip’s name, feeling a little better knowing Phillip was getting better, not worse. The thought of him still looking so unwell doesn’t phase Charlie like it would have a few days ago. He’d already seen Phillip look the most unwell he thinks you can see a person look. If he’s getting better, he can’t look any worse than that.

Not surprising, unfortunately.

Ellie offers as her reaction.

Stable’s better than nothing.

She takes Charlie’s hand as they head towards the car, gasping in exaggerated excitement at John’s offer.

How cool’s that, Bub? You want to ride up the front with John? You can pretend you’re a police man too, and you’re on a mission!

Charlie finally cracks a smile, his unease lessening the closer they get to the car. His voice is still quiet when he responds, but his mood is brightening ever so slightly.

Yes, please.

Adam counts the seconds as they roll by, mostly to give his brain something to do as he waits for John to come back with his Mum and Charlie, his eyes still closed. He opens them when he hears the unmistakable lilt in his Mum’s voice, the one she used to have when she was trying to get him excited about something as a kid. He watches as John opens the front passenger side, setting up the booster seat and strapping Charlie in securely, before shutting the door and helping his mum put their luggage in the boot.

Hey, buddy.

Adam reaches out, giving Charlie’s hair a ruffle, not remembering how frightening the action would be for a small boy who can’t see him.

Charlie freezes as he feels something make contact with him, his overly active imagination telling him at first that it’s Dillon, who’s somehow hidden in the back of the car without John noticing, ready to steal Charlie, or even Grammy.

He flinches and lets out a small yelp, spinning round, only to see nothing. He frowns. ‘But Daddy died again. The letters don’t work anymore, so he’s double dead. Isn’t he?’

John and Grammy climb in, Grammy instantly looking concerned when she see’s Charlie’s expression.

Charlie, what’s wrong?

Charlie points directly at the seat behind him, from John’s perspective, at Adam. He looks up at John, so much hope in his eyes

Is Daddy still here?!

Charlie's her son. My family. I love them. Leila didn't kidnap me.

When his mom brings up this side of paradise he remembers how he made that same connection. Minus the sinister intentions. He has the wayward thought that Charlie also shares a name with an antagonist character from an early episode, but really hopes his mum doesn't start comparing him to the kid who blew up whole other ships with his mind because he was upset.

Dillon and Harding. Plato's Stepchildren. They did this.

He tries to explain. Equating his experience to the humiliation faced by the crew in the episode in order to get McCoy back. As they wanted to keep him there with them. Held others in the balance to do so. This was not what his mother thought was happening, sure Leila and him had the buttercup, and she has the same name, and he made her happy, but she didn't want to hurt him or keep him away from anyone.

Mum. Please. Understand. Leila saved me. Don't be mad at her.

How does he get his mum to understand that Leila's been through so much already? How does he get her to realize he was apologizing for causing everyone he loves more pain. Its his fault his mum is upset, and his fault Leila almost lost someone else at the hands of Dillon and Harding.

Where is she?

He wants to see Leila. Let her know he's okay. Have her meet his mum, sure it's not the best time, but...

“Your family? Phillip you’ve known them for 5 minutes, my love.”

Then two new names are mentioned. She’ll have to ask more about them later. What if this, Leila, already knew them? What does a woman in a cult want with a man like Phillip? A means to leave? To leech off of him? She doesn’t know the full extent of everything and from her point of view, how could she possibly trust this woman.

She opens her mouth to speak but stops and listens. They’ve done this, for a majority of Phillip’s childhood through to now. They’d watch The Original series together, and they’d speak in references to make a point of what they mean, Phillip stated it of course, but it was easy for Andrea to follow along. She watches him as he explains, her heart sinking a little of what he went through.

“I just don’t understand, Tribble.”

She says quietly. She runs a hand over her tired face as she tries to make sense of all of this. Phillip found his way into a cult. He met a pretty woman and has fallen in love. They get out and she stays with him for a while. He’s then kidnapped by the same cult, and this woman is able to rescue him this time? She simmers for a moment while she thinks. She wishes he could see himself, the state he’s in. Though she’s suppose him living it is enough. But if he could just see it from her perspective. She’s trying not to be angry, she thinks on it, maybe she should give this Leila, a chance, she hasn’t even met her.

“She saved you? While you’re in this condition? Who is she, Linda Carter?”

He’s about to answer when she stops him.

“It’s rhetorical love, I know she’s not Wonder Woman. I don’t even know if she’s here.”

She sighs when he looks at her longingly. She tuts softly, and stands, how could she deny him.

“I’ll go and ask, I’ll be right back. If she’s not here, I will be.”

She gently squeezes his arm and heads out of the room and to the doctor.

“He’s asking for someone called Leila?”

The doctor looks over Andrea’ shoulder to where Eddie and Leila are sat. Andrea raises an eyebrow.

“Are you Leila?”

Leila breathes a sigh of relief and nods.

“I have ID, Yes, I’m Leila, This is Eddie. Can we see him?”

The doctor nods, it’s just up to Andrea now.

“Well, he is asking for you.”

She turns and walks back down the corridor, Leila gives Eddie and look before following. They follow her into the room, Leila’s eyes widen, seeing him wounded was one thing, but the aftermath and all of the tubes and wires.

“Phillip.”

She breathes and rushes to his side.

~~~

John frowns a tad at Adam and then looks at Charlie.

“Timing mate…Well, he is here yes, but he’s still getting better. He…well, he decided to help Phillip, by giving Phillip his energy, so Phillip can get better and look after you and your mum, and I…Well, Phillip’s awake now, and when your Dad spends a lot of energy he needs to sleep. So he was in a big sleep for a while, I’m not sure how that bit works, but he’s sleepy, but he’s back.”

John smiles and gives Charlie a reassuring nod.

“I promise. Also, Charlie, I don’t know why I can see your dad. But I can.”

He looks at Charlie sincerely before turning to look at Ellie.

She’s only worried. Just be yourself, she’ll come round eventually.

Whatever Eddie was expecting from Leila and John’s descriptions, it wasn’t enough to prepare him for the reality of Phillip’s condition. He actively stops himself bolting over to the bed alongside Leila, instead hanging back, and standing a respectful distance beside Andrea. His hand tightens around his cane, and he clenches his teeth to stop himself blurting out all the expletives he can think of.

He tentatively looks to Andrea. They know nothing of each other, and she knows nothing of their past, but he immediately feels a kinship. They both understand the crushing helplessness that fills your soul when seeing your child in such a position. Granted, his experience had a bleaker conclusion, but Andrea’s hadn’t been far off ending the same way.

How do you take your tea?

Part of him wonders if she’ll even accept the offer. He probably wouldn’t. Besides, that’s not really what he’s trying to communicate. ‘Whatever you're feeling, I get it.’

-

Even though he knew that’s what his Daddy had done, hearing John confirm it, and learning that it hadn’t double killed him at all, brings a bright sparkle to Charlie’s eyes. It’s as if whatever wall was blocking all of his positivity and optimism is broken down brick by brick with each word John says. He still can’t quite vocalise his thoughts, it’s a lot of information for a child to take in over the last 24 hours, but he sits back, beaming, feeling that buzzy, happy feeling he hadn’t felt since the moment he learnt Phillip was missing. They’re both okay, and they’ll both get better, that's all he needs to know.

Ellie shoots John an apprehensive look, mildly worried he might be doing what she might do in his position; tell a white lie to please a frightened little boy.

Adam zones in and out of the conversation, but he clocks his Mum’s trepidation immediately. He shifts over so he’s sat directly beside her and, maybe through his own need for maternal comfort, rests his head on her shoulder, before zoning out again.

Ellie stills as soon as she feels the warmth settle by her side, looking to John for confirmation of what she thinks is happening. If Charlie wasn’t in the car, she might let have herself weep. To lose Adam once was soul destroying, but the thought of losing his spirit had threatened to double that feeling.

She nods for John to start driving, only vaguely aware as Charlie starts talking John’s ear off throughout the journey. Eventually, she leans her head lightly against where she assumes Adam’s must be resting, sighing the rest of her tension away.

 -My teacher’s called Mr Miller too! He’s super nice as well, but he’s American, but how cool’s that?! And he’s very clever too! Do you think you might be Mr Miller’s cousin? That’d be so cool!-

Leila.

He smiles at her, but she rushes on and doesn't smile back, she looks terrified. Looking him over, and man he really must look like shit. It's a good thing Phillip already cried like a scared child in front of his mum now he can be strong for Leila.

You're okay.

How she made it out with him he doesn't yet fully know, but at least now that he's conscious he can tell she's not hurt. That's good. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, but he listened to Leila first.

“Earl Grey, hot…”

It gets a groan from Phillip and she raises an eyebrow.

“Earl Grey if they have it, just as it comes, no milk or sugar…please.”

Leila looks over at them before looking back at Phillip.

“It’s alright, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, we just have to focus on you getting better. You’re safe now.”

She looks over him, they’ve shaved him, cleaned him, even while helping it’s still intrusive. She sighs softly.

“It’s good to see you again, I’ve missed you so much.”

She says softly, she reaches out and puts a hand on his arm.

Andrea watches them like a hawk. She bites her tongue while Eddie, she presumes is Leila’s father, is still in the room.

~~~

John looks in the mirror as he drives. He smiles softly at the image of Adam and his mum sitting together, being there for each other.

He puts his attention back to Charlie and the road.

“I don’t suppose you know his first name? That’s cool though! Well I do have a cousin in America but the chances are very slim. Hey Charlie, what’s your favourite lesson? Mine was art, but I really liked music too…”

They’re well matched in talking with each other as they conform topic to topic, quite easily.

He does catch the moment Andrea’s jaw tightens as she looks at Leila and Phillip. He considers inviting Andrea to join him, mostly so he can better explain everything, but he hardly thinks she would leave Phillip alone with anyone other than doctors. Probably the smart move, to be fair.

I’ll be back, Poppet. John should be back with Pidge and Charlie soon.

He calls lightly. Even if he can’t lessen Andrea’s tension, he can still make sure Leila knows she’s not alone. He gives Andrea another polite nod, before heading down the hall.

-

Charlie loves how much John talks. It’s nice to meet an adult who matches his energy. He tells John about how his favourite lesson is science, of course, and that he’s going to be an astronaut, and that Phillip loves Star Trek too, and so does Grampy, and that they should all be friends and talk about Star Trek things together.

Adam chortles at Charlie and John’s back and forth, enjoying the brief respite. It’s such a normal conversation. Nothing about kidnappings, or cults, or conspiracies, just two people sharing their thoughts and interests. The simplicity is wonderful.

Ellie inwardly grimaces at the mention of the boys convening to talk sci-fi. She barely understands half the things Eddie, Phillip, and Charlie say when they start talking space, never mind with an extra voice to join the conversation.

She looks up as they pass a road sign directing them towards the hospital, bracing herself for whatever they’re about to walk into.

He'd hold her hand if his weren't so bandaged up, and if he wasn't scared moving would dislodge one of the tens of wires he was hooked up with to monitor him.

His heartrate spikes a bit at the mention of Charlie, he has the vague memory of seeing him back when he'd been locked up, and Charlie had been upset. It almost felt like he was seeing things, but he hadn't been since Dillon had seen him too, and Charlie was distressed to see Phillip so broken down and on the verge of dying.

He doesn't want him to see him like that again.

Charlie's coming?! You sure he should? How is he?

But on the other hand, it'd probably be best for the kid to see him getting a bit better if his last mental image of Phillip is dying on the bathroom floor. His heartrate calms down with the realization and as Leila answers his questions.

When Eddie leaves and he notices his mum is just stood there now, awkwardly a bit far away, without another parent to talk to. And with their talk of Charlie, she's kind of been left out of the conversation. Phillip hadn't meant to be rude or seem like he didn't want to see his mum when he's asked for Leila, he was just scared since she'd been with him during the escape and rescue. He looks past Leila and towards her.

Mum!

He calls her over to introduce them.

My girlfriend, Leila.

Then nods towards Leila and looks back over to his mother by way of gesturing between the two.

Leila. My mum... Andrea.

It felt weird, and a little like Journey to Babel, to call her by her first name given she's his mother, but Leila needed to know what to call her. And maybe now that they've met, his mum will understand that Leila is a kind person, and she's only ever helped him.

But then when she walks over and introducers herself as 'Ms. Willoughby' clearly showing she doesn't want Leila calling her by her first name. He knows this isn't going to go smoothly.

“It’s alright, he wanted to come, it was eating him up not being able to see you and, well if, things turned southwards…it would have been closure for him. I’ll talk with him before he comes in though and if you need some space from him chatting your ear off…”

She chuckles despite herself.

“He can come in when you’re ready though. No matter how long it takes.”

Andrea watches them from where she’s stood. She’s keeping her composure as best as she can. She folds her arms refrains from audibly huffing. Bringing a boy, a young boy by the sounds of it, to see Phillip is preposterous. And who on earth is Pidge? A dog? She’s finding all of this a hard to believe, how has she not seen any photos of this boy if Phillip cares about him so much? He’d not even spoken about him in their weekly phone calls.

Leila looks at Phillip in slight shock when he calls her his girlfriend. Sure they were together, sure they said they were I love with each other, but they’d never put a label on it. Hearing it out loud felt wonderful. She smiled brightly at the term, despite herself and turned to look at Andrea.

His mother watched the reaction and narrowed her eyes. Why would this Leila be shocked by that term? None of this was adding up. She walks over to the both.

“Ms. Willoughby.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Leila stands and holds out her hand to shake, but Andrea denies it.

“I wish I could say the same.”

Leila’s heart dropped. She tries to keep her reaction neutral and pleasant, the last thing either of them needed was to upset Phillip.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“So it would seem, you see, I don’t trust you.”

She glances at Phillip.

“Try and see it from my perspective. Growing up my son was a very independent boy and has grown into a very independent man. Why he wandered into that place those months ago, I have no idea, but he meets you in there, and doesn’t talk about you for the longest time, why is that?”

Leila doesn’t have time to answer before Andrea starts again. She’s upset and frustrated, angry tears brim in her eyes, but she maintains focus.

“And what exactly were you doing in there in the first place? Did you leave your son behind? How do I know, that this isn’t something to do with you? How do I know that you aren’t working with this, this Dillon and whoever Harding is? Who are they?”

“Please, if you let me explain, it’s not how it looks-…”

“Isn’t it? Because from my point of viewers, my son almost died, and you, the only connection to the cult managed to get him out? It’s too suspicious! It makes no sense to me. I can’t believe a woman like you, would fall for him so quickly if you didn’t have anything to agin from it.”

“Andrea…”

“Don’t Andrea me. You have no idea how scared I’ve been. I’m his mother, I’ve seen him go through so much and I can’t bare to lose him. Not to a cult and not to anyone who would hurt him. Honestly, you’re a mother yourself, and what on earth would your parents think of all of this? I…”

Leila gasps steps back. She goes to Phillip’s side and squeezes his arm again.

“I…I think you and your mother need some space.”

She says quietly, smiling as best as she can.

“I promise, I promise I’ll be back, I just need some air.”

She goes to lean down to kiss him but stops herself, for Andrea’s sake. She walks past Andrea and to the door just as Eddie comes back.

“I just need some air, Ed, I’ll be back in a minute.”

She clears her throat and walks to the front of the building. She leans agains the wall and tilts her head back to rest it as she looks up at the sky.She can’t blame Andrea for. How this looks, it’s understandable,and she will go back and explain everything, but, even though Eddie and Ellie are very much her parents, the last comment felt like a knife, slowly being plunged into her heart.

She wipes at her eyes and turns to go back in when she hears an unmistakable voice call her name. She turns and rushes towards Charlie and scoops him up and hugs him so, so close. She then brings Ellie into the hug.

“Phillip is awake. He’s okay.”

She manages to let them know as she hugs them.

Phillip stares at his mum in disbelief. He knew she could made a snappy remark just as well as he could, but he didn't expect her to do so now. Then she goes on getting more upset with Leila and says she doesn't trust her. What was with their parental figures and not trusting the new person in their lives?

'...and doesn’t talk about you for the longest time, why is that?'

I-

Even if the question wasn't directed at him Phillip feels like it'd be best if he jumped in and explained. Because he didn't want to jix it. What he and Leila had was new and fragile, and built upon this shared bad experience he didn't trust admitting it out loud until he could confidently call it what it was.

Also, he'd wanted to put off telling his mum about the cult thing. But he doesn't get to explain that.

'I can’t believe a woman like you, would fall for him so quickly if you didn’t have anything to gain from it'

Mum!

He exclaims, embarrassed, at the same time Leila says 'Andrea'. His own mother didn't think a woman like Leila could fall for him like she did. She didn't believe he'd get a girlfriend on his own without ulterior motives behind it. That hurt. Sure, he'd been single a long time... wait when did he start mentally calling Leila his girlfriend, did they have that conversation about what their relationship should be called.

Then something his mum says really hits Leila hard, what causes it he's not sure, but she squeezes his arm and speaks to him in a quiet voice.

Leila?

He pleads softly not wanting to see her leave so upset, but nods when she promises to return. He leans up a few millimeters, as much as he can manage really, thinking they might kiss. Then rests his head back down on the pillow when she leaves without it.

There's silence for a moment as both of them watch her go, but the door swings closed and Phillip looks at his mother again. The heart monitor beeps, warning that his heartrate is slightly elevated again.

Mum!

He says appalled.

How-? Why-? What-?

The questions die as his head swims with a barrage of ideas attempting to form. He's at such a loss for words, and his drugged state to dull the pain and make sure he can't move enough to aggravate his injuries is not well suited to the complicated nature of the situation. He needs a clear head for this, but emotions are high and logic is out the window.

She's not Kolomi!

He's offended on her behalf.

I waited to tell you about her. And Charlie. That's my fault.

But wasn't the main thing.

I visited for stupid reasons. Curiosity and-. She was in the cult, undercover, to take them down. Dillon - the cult leader - tried to sacrifice her, mum. In front of me. He wanted to kill her!

He says the sentence with full seriousness. The heart monitor spikes rapidly and before it's enough to set off the alarm he tries to calm himself down giving his mum a chance to speak.

And you can't believe she'd fall for me? She couldn't love me? I thought the same at first. She's too good for me...

He lets out a dry pathetic laugh.

There's very little to say about it. Except that. She makes me happy.

It's a pretty damming admission that doesn't help his case given it's almost the exact quote from the episode his mother claimed his relationship paralleled. One he'd just tried to deny.

He's not helping. Not making this any better. He feels sick, and exhausted, and yet he can't rest knowing Leila is upset and his mum is upset.

The next part of Phillip’s solidifies Eddie’s respect for Phillip, though he’s confused by how Phillip think’s he’s not good enough for Leila. Mind you, Eddie probably didn’t help that particular anxiety during their first meeting.

He waits for a lull in the back and forth, before finally handing Andrea her Earl Grey.

I didn’t trust Phillip one bit when I met him. My daughter-in-law is held against her will in a cult for two years, my son’s murdered by the same cult, and suddenly she turns up, claiming a random bloke came and helped her escape, and that she’s staying with him. How do you trust that?

He’s not sure whether he should keep going or not, but regardless, he ploughs on.

I was convinced he was one of them. That it was some long con. Give her a bit of freedom before trapping her again, that kind of thing. But I was wrong.

He looks over to Phillip and very lightly taps him on the shoulder.

I’m glad I was wrong.

He turns back to Andrea, bracing. Either he’s successfully laid out the parrel, or he’s about to become the new target for her ire.

-

Charlie’s hand in hand with Grammy and John, who’s telling him stories about him and Daddy being such silly friends, like how John teases his Daddy about loving Mummy, or how Daddy hides John’s coffee cup sometimes, just to annoy him. Then Grammy taps his shoulder and points.

He gasps when he see’s Mummy, picking up his pace and dragging the adults along with him.

Mummy!!

He grins when she sees him, latching his arms around her as soon as she picks him up.

I know! John told us when he picked us up, and that Daddy’s okay too! He’s very sleepy though, and him and John keep being silly!

Ellie gives Leila the tightest hug she’s capable of without hurting her, before kissing her cheek.

I can’t tell you how relieved I am, darling.

She raises an eyebrow when she notices the puffiness in Leila’s eyes.

Are you okay?

Adam, who’s still stumbling from time to time, but somewhat able to hold himself up, frowns as he registers Leila’s demeanour. He can’t focus long enough to question what the cause is for too long, so does the only thing he can think of to try ease her. He focuses on her pendant and allows the heat to gently radiate inwards.

“You are not at fault for this!”

How can he possibly say these things and blame himself?

“What do you mean you were curious? What sacrifice? Phillip-…”

She’s about to bombard him with more questions out of sheer worry for him when the doctor walks in and sees the distress in both Andrea and Phillip’s eyes.

“If you can’t stay calm around your son, I’m going to have to restrict visitors. Now please, calm down. For his sake.”

The doctor stays for a moment to monitor Phillip until he calms again.

“If this happens again, because of tension in the air, I will have to ask you to leave.”

“Of course, sorry.”

When the doctor leaves Andrea quietens her tone a little.

“Phillip, that’s not what I meant and you know it. Of course a beautiful women would fall for you, I just wasn’t expecting her to be part of a cult. And don’t put yourself down, no one is too good for you. Why do you hold her to such a high standard?”

He quotes the episode he’s trying to deny and Andrea raises an eyebrow.

“For the first time?”

Before Phillip can respond Eddie’s handing her the drink. She takes it and says ‘thank you’, before she can start again she stops and listens to Eddie. She cocks her head as she had it’s he didn’t trust Phillip, for a moment she supposed it was similar, a father looking out for his daughter, just as she is looking out for Phillip.

Then it hits her, the admission of his son being murdered by the same cult. His son, Leila’s boyfriend or husband, likely husband if she has a child.

“You’re saying you’re not her father? Your son was…oh dear god I’m so sorry.”

Then Eddie goes over to Phillip and taps him on the shoulder and she can see that the man does care about him, so they’ve met? They’ve met and Eddie distrusted him, she puts herself in his shoes having literally done the same with his daughter in law, he must care about her a lot, Andrea thinks, if even after the passing of his son, he’s still by her side.

Andrea flattens her lips in thought, so when Phillip met Leila, she wasn’t a member per se, she was also there against her will, just as Phillip had been? She feels the guilt drop in her stomach, like a lead weight, she’s jumped the gun. She’s made an assumption with only half of the information, and worse still, she practically ignored Phillip, not wanting to hear it because of how injured he was and now she’s made it worse by over reacting.

But then he mentions that Leila is his daughter in law. And her own words play in her mind as well as Leila’s reaction. She forces herself to calm down, to be rational.

She sips the tea and looks between her son and Eddie before heading to the chair and siting down. Why would she be here with her father in law and not her family unless… Her face is an emotional rollercoaster as she processes all of this information. The scene plays over and over, ‘Plato’s Stepchildren’, ‘Leila saved me, don’t be mad at her.’

“I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

~~~

Leila hugs Charlie close and pulls back at bit. Daddy? Adam’s alright? She looks to John for confirmation and he nods a yes before nodding in the general direction of where Adam is. He also hasn’t missed she’s upset.

Leila takes a deep breath and nods as she looks at Ellie. She carefully chooses her words.

“I will be. Phillip’s mum is here…”

She looks at Charlie, then to Eleanor.

“She’s….upset and scared, frustrated…I don’t blame her, it must have been quite a shock…but she’s looking for closure, someone to blame, and all fingers point to me at the moment.”

She feels the pendant warm, she closes her eyes as a grateful look crosses her face briefly.

“She said some things out of anger and I just needed to step outside as I didn’t want to upset Phillip any more than necessary.”

She goes over to a bench and sit down with Charlie still in her arms, she brushes some hair out of his face.

“Charlie, Phillip has lots of bandages, and special wires that are attached to him. They’re helping him get better. He’s also a little bit sleepy, and he can’t really move with everything attached to him. But he’s got medicine that’s going to help him in the wires, and food too.”

She explains the image as truthfully but as tactfully as possible, as she doubts Charlie has seen anyone look like that before. Especially with tubes coming out of his nose too.

Then it all sort of dawns on his mum and he can't even feel the satisfaction of finally getting through. He didn't want her to feel bad, just see the situation for what it really was, and not have to be scared for him.

He takes a breath. Theres a silence in the room now as she's processing everything that happened.

It's okay. I could've explained better. Not the first time in my life I felt happy. Just different.

He tells her. Phillip wasn't an unhappy child, even if he knows that's sometimes his mother's fear. He got over his phase of wanting his dad back, but it coincided with his whole never needing anyone and then later typical teenage rebellion. So, maybe once he grew up, he looked back and realized he hadn't properly let his mum know how much she was appreciated. That's why the call regularly. Every week, plus anytime he watches The Empty Child episode of Doctor Who.

Then because even on a normal day Phillip can't help pointing out the obvious and now he's got no filter and his mind is less quick he turns over to Eddie as a realization comes to him.

He knew Eddie and Ellie were Adam's, and meeting them felt so much like meeting the parents he really never thought to ask. Not like he had reason to bring the topic up to Leila either. But he started thinking about his own situation and realized he doesn't know. Before he can voice the question, Eddie must read it in his expression, and his own look communicates back he's not the one to give him the answer.

Then a nurse comes in satisfied with the lack of obvious argument and minimal distress.

There's a child asking to see you.

Charlie?

They nod. He thinks for a moment, but decides he needs a bit of levity and if Charlie thinks he's up for seeing him he wants to see him too.

If Phillip can forgive me treating him how I did, I’m sure Leila can forgive whatever mistake’s been made.

Eddie’s got an inkling what the ‘mistake’ might be, given her surprise at him not being Leila’s biological father. He’s never known Leila to hold a grudge - other than the obvious, extremely reasonable one - and he doubts she’ll hold onto whatever Andrea’s said in anger and confusion against her.

He catches Phillip’s eye as he seems to be putting some pieces together. He gives him a small tilt of the head, confirming that he’s on the right track, but it’s Leila’s story to tell.

He looks up as the nurse pokes their head in. He forces himself not to object to Charlie coming in. If he saw Phillip without the bandages and tubes, this is probably a much better visual for him to see.

-

Mummy’s description barely phased Charlie at all. The main thing he’s told himself is to not ask Phillip too many questions. If he’s still sleepy, he’s probably not able to answer many.

He’s clutching his Mummy’s hand tightly as a nice nurse leads them down to Phillip’s room, looking up at her every now and then. He’s doesn’t fully understand why, but she looks nervous. She’s doing that face where she’s trying to hide it, but Charlie can tell.

Ellie trails behind Leila, instantly feeling air re-enter her lungs when they step inside the room, and she see’s Eddie. It might have only been a few days, but his absence had taken a lot more of her courage than she’d realised.

As soon as Pidge enters, Eddie’s already taking strides in her direction, like she’s a magnet pulling him towards her. He wraps her into a tight embrace the second he’s close enough, happy to have the safety of her presence back by his side.

Remind me to never leave home without you again, Pidge.

She giggles softly.

Happily, you silly man.

Even with all the medical apparatus attached to him, Charlie much prefers how Phillip looks now compared to the last time he saw him. He breaks into a huge grin and doesn’t even register the blonde lady sat next to the bed, rushing over as quickly as he can.

Phillip!!

He reaches the bedside, having to peek through the bars that meet his eye-line to look up at Phillip.

You didn’t give up! I told you Mummy would find you!

He jumps to try and see him a bit better, grateful when Mummy moves one of the extra chair so he can stand on it. He instinctively puts his arms out for a hug, before remembering that it might not be very comfortable for Phillip right now. Instead, he reaches his hands towards one of Phillip’s, being very careful to hold as lightly as he can.

I’m so glad Daddy used the glowy light magic! He’s super sleepy now too, but he’s okay! I missed you sooo much! When you’re better, we should watch all your favourite Star Trek episodes, and have ice cream, and play Minecraft, and whatever you want to do!

His brain finally catches up to his surroundings, and he fully sees the lady sat next to Phillip. He feels that same shyness overcome him as he did when he met Phillip for the first time, ducking his head slightly. Of course, it’s only a matter of seconds before he starts rambling.

Are you Phillip’s Mummy? I tried to send you a magic letter, but it didn’t work cause Daddy was too tired. I’m Charlie! What’s your name? Do you like Star Trek too like Phillip and Grampy?

Adam slumps against the doorframe. Even though no one but John can see him, and potentially Phillip, though that’s still up in the air, it feels intrusive for him to step any further inside. This is about Phillip and his family. Sure, it’s Adam’s family too, minus Andrea, but right now they’re Phillip’s.

Leila smiles softly as Eddie instantly goes over to Eleanor. She briefly looks over at Andrea and gives her a polite nod, but she focuses her attention on Charlie. She a see he’s being careful, but he’s clearly exited to see Phillip.

“Careful, let me get you a chair.”

Leila says and helps him up so he’s as close to Phillip as possible. She smiles softly at Phillip.

As Charlie rambles at Phillip her eyebrows raise, he saw that Adam had done that for Phillip? No wonder he was so sad. She glanced over at Andrea again whose face was quite the picture. She’s not as upset, but more confused than ever now.

Andrea watches the exchange and is surprised at how thrilled the boy is in seeing Phillip. She first thought it was like dragging a. Child a long to see a relative they don’t really know, but she was genuinely pleasantly surprised to see how much Charlie really was happy to see Phillip. And just how chatty he was too. But what he was talking about surprised her. He seemed to be talking about his dad, well she’d just learned that Charlie’s father was sadly no longer with them, he must have a very active imagination she supposed.

Then Charlie notices her and she changes her expression as he goes a little shy. The first question though seems to open a floodgate.

“I…”

She begins and can’t help but smile and glance over at Phillip. Charlie was just like him when he was small boy, very chatty, very observant and wanted to know everything about everyone and everything. She hoped that confidence wouldn’t be taken from Charlie as it had her own son.

“I’m Phillip’s mum, yes. A magic letter?”

She looks around to see if this made sense to everyone.

“Hello, Charlie, I’m Andrea.I do like Star Trek actually, I used to watch it with Phillip when he was your age.”

His infectious personality almost causes her to retell some stories of a young Phillip, but she stops herself, feeling guilty for how she treated everyone earlier. When she gets a moment, she makes a promise to herself she’ll take Leila aside to have a quiet word and apologise.

Phillip smiles hearing the kid run into the room calling his name. He can finally see him once he hops onto the chair. And his smile widens seeing Leila there too.

You did. And you were right. She saved me.

Giving up was not his proudest moment. He was glad Charlie had been there to knocks him back to reality. Remind him that despite the odds he had people to fight for who would miss him when he was gone. At Charlie's mention of Adam, he glances over to the ghost, and comments while the kid is still rambling.

I see that.

He huffs out a laugh at Charlie's enthusiasm at what they're going to do once he's better.

Sounds like fun. You can have all the ice cream.

Then he whispers but it's not even that quiet a whisper especially with Leila right there obviously able to still hear him.

Don't tell your mum.

Then Charlie is talking to his mum, and he confirms his guess is correct before letting his mother introduce herself.

Yep.

Phillip feels happy, more now in this moment than he has in a while despite his condition, he's surrounded by loved ones. People who care about him. And know things about him. He's warmer and he feels calmer, though that could also be the treatments used to get his core temp up and keep his pain down. But he's sure it has something to do with the people too.

Don't worry about the magic letters, mum. I'll explain later.

How much of his life had change since meeting Leila? How much felt too weird to explain, and that he could just ignore mentioning on the phone until it all came to a head now. Too much. Best not to focus on it.

Wanting to join us Trekkies?

He asks when Charlie mentions the show to his mum. Good to get them hooked early. He smirks as Adam pleads for his son not to join the dark side. Adam is like the one Star Wars fan Phillip tolerates (Leila doesn't count she likes fantasy). When Charlie confirms he's still sticking with his dad's sci-fi fandom, but he can like both, he adds him to that list and changes it from tolerates to likes.

Happy to see everyone.

He looks to those in the room, and the ghost in the doorway. Feeling a small crash in energy as the panic and adrenaline wear off and the effects of talking so much and staying awake hit him. Phillip starts to feel sleep call him back, but he pushes through it to be here in the moment.

Good to be back.

Phillips sighs contentedly. Then asks.

How long was I gone?

Charlie giggles, glad that Phillip’s feeling good enough to be silly with him. He’ll happily eat all the ice cream. As long as Phillip’s there, that’s all that matters.

Charlie likes the name Andrea. It’s very nice sounding, and he thinks it suits Phillip’s Mummy well. He’s about to explain all about the magic letters, before Phillip gets in first, telling her not to worry about them. Charlie supposes he’s right. The letter’s don’t matter right now.

Wanting to join us Trekkies?

No! It’s a trap! Charlie, don’t fall to the dark side, bud!

Adam’s not losing his only ally in this nerd war, dead or alive, he refuses!

To his despair, Charlie starts nodding, enthusiastic as ever.

Uh huh! And then we can play Trek Wars!

Adam glares, though there’s no real malice behind it. In reality, it confirms to him that all of this was worth it, and that even if Charlie can’t, and may never see him, he’s still holding onto a part of Adam, as well as embracing Phillip. Charlie can love both franchises if he wants to...But he’ll still act wounded about it whenever he gets the chance.

“Don’t tell me what?”

She playfully says and gently tickles Charlie’s sides. She looks over to Eddie and Ellie as Charlie talks with Phillip and Andrea, she smiles softly at them and turns her attention to the door when Phillip mentions he can see Adam.

Then Charlie offers a fairy clever portmanteau of both fandoms and Leila stifles a laugh.

‘That’ll go down like a lead balloon.’

She thinks to herself and looks over again as John walks by, he’d been patrolling for a while, but he stops at Charlie’s offer.

“Ha! Nice one Charlie!”

He claps a hand on Adam’s shoulder and laughs before going back to give them some space.

Andrea watches the scene quietly, she does notice the police officer’s hand stop in mid air. Maybe he’s just playing along for the child’s sake? She notices how Charlie carefully tries to move closer to Phillip and he doesn’t seem scared by the wires at all.

She looks at Eddie and who she can only assume is Pidge, she’ll have to get her real name at some point, seeing how closer they are, how relieved she looks that Phillip is alright. So it seems they know each other quite well. Times for civil questions can wait. Now they just have to focus on Phillip. She notices he’s happier, more content with everyone being there. She also notices Leila has barely taken her eyes off of him.

Leila moves a little closer with Charlie and hold on to him as an extension of wanting to be close to Phillip, for her own comfort.

“It’s good to have you back.”

Her breath catches slightly at his question.

“Just about a week and a half. I’m

Sorriest sooner. Then here, you came around about 12 hours since being admitted.”

Andrea looks between Leila and Eddie.

“You’ve been here here whole time?”

I’m gunna swap all your coffee to decaf!

As he watches John wander off down the hall, he has a double take, something catching his eye. He watches a group of nurses, wheeling another hospital bed through the corridor. They’re obstructing exactly who it is they’re transferring from his position, but as they turn a corner, just as they disappear, he catches a glimpse of those familiar, striking blue eyes. He looks back to everyone, before making eye contact with Phillip.

I’ll be back.

He stumbles his way towards where the nurses went, just about managing to catch up with them.

Eddie frowns as Andrea addresses him and Leila, the answer seeming obvious to him.

Of course.

Ellie rolls her eyes at Eddie’s bluntness to the question. Andrea’s clearly digging for a ‘why’, not just confirmation.

Phillip’s part of the family now.

Eddie skims his eyeline to Phillip, giving him a small smile and a nod.

Ellie gasps, suddenly realising Andrea must be very confused by her presence.

I do apologise, I’m being so rude! I’m Eleanor, but you can call me Ellie, and I assume you’ve already been introduced to my husband, Eddie.

As she speaks, she pulls Andrea into a hug, momentarily forgetting the tension that was clearly still hanging in the room. She hushes her voice a little, just so Andrea can hear.

You’ve raised such a wonderful man. I’m sorry they’ve put you and him through this too.

Charlie sits watching everyone, but mostly Phillip, grinning whenever Phillip looks back at him. The grown ups are still acting weird and awkward with each other, but who cares?!

Though there is still one worry on his mind. He gently taps Phillip's shoulder and leans up to whisper to him.

Is Dillon gone now?

Andreas taken aback slightly at Eddie’s bluntness, not because it upset her, but more how determined he seemed. She looks at the Norman in front of her and goes to reach out her hand but she finds herself in an embrace.

“Ellie, I’m Andrea…pleasure to meet you.”

She’s lost for words a little. Ellie seems to genuinely care for Phillip and her words reaffirm that Leila has indeed been through something similar. And here she was being hostile to the poor girl, not only that they’d lost their son to the blasted cult too. When she gets a moment, she’ll have to have a word with Leila.

“I have met your husband, yes. He makes a good ear grey.”

She knows she trying to fill the silence and stall for time until she can talk with Leila alone.

Leila looks at Charlie and she can’t help but empathise, if only Phillip weren’t in such pain she’d let Charlie hug him, he’ll she’d hug him herself; she can just about hear what he asks and her heart drops.

She lets Phillip answer before reaching over and squeezing his arm.

“Do you need some space? You’re probably exhausted.”

Is Dillon gone now?

Phillip's gaze flicks over to Leila. Part to confirm if she heard the question Charlie whispered and part for a possible answer. Because he doesn't know. He'd been pretty out of it when they saved him Dillion's whereabouts aren't something he's aware of. How did they get past Dillon to get to him...

But Charlie asks it so hopefully. Wanting him to confirm the bad man who hurt his mother and killed his father and kidnapped Phillip himself is gone now. Sadly Phillip doesn't have a satisfying answer, and it'd be unsafe to lie.

I don't know.

He really wanted the answer to be 'Yep' 'Dillon is gone' but the man's like a single episode antagonist who came back in a whole movie and became a major villain.

Seeing the look of despair on Charlie's face almost makes him cry again. For the kid who will never seen to escape Dillon's torment. But Charlie quickly hides his distress so Phillip does too.

Never well enough to completely hide it though. Leila holds his arm and asks if he needs space. And he's too exhausted to even fix his answer away from the one she knows is always a cop out from him.

'm fine...

He doesn't want to send anyone away. He liked having them here. He'd been alone for so long. Only seeing people who wanted the worst for him, and now he's surrounded by those he loves those he trusts.

There's nothing he'd trade for this. But as he looks at Leila, smiling, he can feel himself seeping back into unconsciousness. His body demands rest so it can heal.

Ellie spots the sudden shift between Phillip, Leila, and Charlie, as well as Andrea’s anxiousness, quickly thinking up a reason for them to be left alone.

Why don’t we go see the park down the road, Bub? Let Phillip sleep a little more?

Charlie looks back and forth from Grammy and Phillip, really not wanting to leave now he’s finally here. If they don’t know where Dillon is, he could be anywhere, and he could do anything whilst they were gone.

Eddie realises what Ellie’s trying to do, and quickly pieces together what’s going on in Charlie’s little head.

Andrea and Mummy will look after Phillip.

That seems to ease Charlie’s worries. He still takes a few seconds before making any move from his chair, only letting go of Phillips hand when he absolutely has to.

We’ll be super quick, Phillip!

He calls, as he walks out, keeping Phillip in his vison until they round the corner.

-

As Adam arrives at the room he watched the nurses wheel the bed into, he’s caught off guard by how similar Dillon looks to Phillip right now. That had been the goal, obviously, make him experience exactly what he had dished out, but then a question pops in his head. How is Dillon alive, meanwhile Phillip needed borrowed life to help stabilise him.

The nurses leave for a few moments, and Adam dares the few steps it takes to reach Dillon’s bedside, hovering his head into his eyeline.

He lived. Fuck you.

Dillon rasps, he noticed Adam from the moment he awoke and for a moment wondered if he was dead too.

“Not my fault he gave up…on himself.”

He’s careful with his words, even those he’d moderately safe here he knows how wrathful Adam can be. For a moment he wishes he were left in the house to die. Harding and his high priest turned police officer found him in the nick of time.

~

John sits on a seat near the reception as he waits for Leila and makes sure she and the family are safe. He looks up when Harding comes in with another officer.

He was new to the forces joined and trained not long after the cult burnt down. He had some nasty marks in his arms, they looked on the way to being infected. Though John supposed being in that house didn’t help. How many more people had Dillon and Harding manipulated, twisted their thought soo they belied the lies.

“Stay here. I’m going to make sure your ‘High Visionary’ is alright.”

She hisses, John ducks his head, he sticks out like a sore thumb, but Michelle’s on a mission, he’s hoping he’s not seen, but he plans to keep an eye on her. Right now they’re at a stalemate, Botha till employed, both working on the edge of what’s right within the law.

John stands and hovers closer to Phillip’s room while keep an eye on the other officer. He can’t help but notice he looks pale.

~

Harding bursts into the room and shivers as though someone has walked over her grave. In truth, she’s once again walked through Adam.

“Did she do this to you?”

Dillon shakes his head and regrets it instantly.

“Prewett’s husband?”

Dillon flicks his eyes over to Adam and back to hear as she sits beside him.

“This has gone too far.”

Harding raises an eyebrow and sneers.

“That’s the medicine talking. We can’t lose out now. There’s a lot of money at stake.”

Dillon swallows and glances away, his head is pounding.

“What we did to Phillip, was only what we did to Prewett.”

Dillon glances at Adam.

“That was over the course of months, years, not a week.”

“Why have you gone soft?”

“Look at the state of me!”

She calms and sits back.

“Who did this to you? Because no one will believe it’s the ghost of Leila’s husband. So I need a name, who did this to you?”

Dillon groans his head is swimming. He’s tempted to throw his high priest under the bus, but another name comes to mind as he can’t prove it was, which one was it? David? But there is a definitive who was there.

He looks back at her flicking his eyes to Adam.

“John Miller.”

Harding slowly smiles.

“Good.”

~

“You are not fine.”

They say it at the same time and look at each other.

Leila looks at Eddie and Ellie gratefully and hugs Charlie close.

“It’s okay, you go and get some air and have an ice cream for Phillip? When you come back, why doesn’t we head back and you can help me pick some clothes for him?”

She supposes Eddie was quite tired too and she could do with a quick rest too, but for now she’ll stay with Phillip.

Andrea watches them go and looks between Leila and her son, she softens her tone.

“Leila…”

She clears her throat.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s probably too late, and excuses won’t help but may explain it. I let my fear guide my emotions, and seeing Philip lying here, looking like that, and knowing what he’s been through…I jumped to the worse conclusions. I said some awful things I’d like to take accountability for. I’d like to get to know you and your son and your family if you’d let me. I mean it would have been handy if someone, had maybe told me a little more.”

She chuckles a little and glances at Phillip.

“I can see how much he loves you, Justin these moments. I’m sorry for what I said.”

Leila listens and nods along.

“I understand. And I love him.”

She says after a moment.

“And thank you. I can see how it looks. I really can, and truth be told I don’t know why he came back for me, but he did, and I told him he was an idiot to do so, but I’d still be there now if he hadn’t. I had no clue that there was a vendetta against him, and by extension me.”

She looks back at Phillip, wanting to brush her hand through his hair.

“Andrea, Eddie and Ellie might as well be my parents, they all but took me in from the moment they met me. Before meeting their son, I, had friends, a fling with an exchange student, but no one close. No real family found or otherwise. Then I learned what Dillon had done to my husband, their son, and I believed I’d be in that place until my last day. I never thought I’d see them or my son again. And Phillip…he bent over backwards to help me. I would do the same and more for him.”

Andrea nods. This isn’t the time to ask about her real parents but she gets the idea.

“He’s too independent for his own good, and he’ll talk my ear off and not tell me how he’s feeling. He’s learned that from a young age, and I’ve only ever wanted to protect him. Living so far away…was truly heartbreaking to learn what had happened. I don’t know what I’d do if he didn’t survive.”

Leila stands and walks over to Andrea.

“I won’t let that happen, I promise.”

She leans down and hugs her, Andrea hugs her back.

What you gunna buy? A soul?

He folds his arms against the railings of Dillon’s bed, looking far more casual than he should. The mere existence of this conversation is baffling to him. It’s foolish. Moronic, even. Surely Harding realises the game is well and truly up?

“I need a name, who did this to you?”

Ah. So that’s her plan. Adam probably should have thought that through before going quite so hard with his theatrics.

“John Miller.”

Adam instantly locks eyes with Dillon, initially incensed. Then, as the fear flickers across Dillon’s eyes, an idea comes to him, and a small, sly smile crosses his lips.

I think you’ll find Michelle Harding did this to you.

He leans further over the railing, getting right in his face, amused by Dillon’s attempt at hiding what’s happening from an oblivious Harding.

You said it yourself, this has gone too far. We’ve already got everything we need to send you both down for an incredibly long time. Why add another crime to the list? If you don’t want me following you to whatever hole you end up in, you’re going to say she did this.

He leans back, letting the information sink in.

You lose either way, Dillon. Why lose and let her believe she’s the one in control?

If the threat of Adam’s fury isn’t enough to convince him, maybe appealing to his ego will sway him. Adam steps towards the door, pausing as he passes Harding’s chair. Even with the little energy he’s regained, the temptation to mess with her is too strong. He looks at the radio on her vest and causes an awful screeching static to fill the room, before there’s a loud pop of the battery frying, and light smoke trails out from the cracks. He shoots Dillon a knowing look, before fazing through the wall.

He waits a few paces before picking up his speed down the hall, fumbling a little more than before. He spots John close to Phillip’s room, about to call for him, before also spotting the fake officer close by.  John looks like he’s about to acknowledge his presence, before Adam quickly signals for him to stop, be quiet! He hurries over, whispering, however redundant it might be.

I need you to listen and not react, okay?

And now he’s stuck between a rock and Harding. He sighs, though it’s more of a groan of anguish. Harding turns to look at him.

“You should rest. I’m surprised you pulled through if I’m honest. If we didn’t find you, you would have perished in that house. This is twice i’ve had to come to your aid, Dillon. This is hardly an easy cover up each time you’re in here, people are going to get suspicious.”

Dillon looks over to her.

“You could have just left me there.”

He points out, knowing the power play wont work in his position.

“Let’s face it, you need me. There’s no other reason for keeping me alive.”

“Dillon, do you really think that I think so little of you?”

Adam’s words drive into his head, he could say it was her, after all part of it, a large part of it was her idea. He looks back to Adam as he messes with her radio and leaves. She swears and throws the offending item away from her.

~

John looks up as Adam comes over, he smiles but it drops as Adam signals to him. He raises his eyes and slightly nods in acknowledgment. He notices the direction he’s come from, it was near Dillon’s room. And he knows Harding went in there. This can’t be good. So many questions start coming to mind, but he glances over to the other officer, who seems to be refusing help for his burns and pulls out his phone, he doesn’t look at anything in particular, but he needs to look inconspicuous. He opens his notes app and starts to type, to make it look like he’s texting.

[Everything okay?]

~

Andrea looks over at Phillip who’s still sleeping. Leila goes back to sit next to him and encourages Andrea to join them.

“You must be tired?”

Leila nods a little.

“I’ll be okay, I’m used to long nights.”

She says, leaving it vague, right now, her priority is Phillip, though in the back of her mind she wonders if Ellie, Charlie and Eddie, are alright. It’s been a tough time for them too.

“You travelled all the way from Somerset?”

Andrea nods.

“I left early this morning. Took everything to convince his grandfathers not to come too. Oh shit, speaking of…”

She quickly texts her father to tell him about Phillip’s condition.

“I’d offer to let you stay with me, but I’ll likely have Charlie and Eddie and Ellie with me. Derek and Titch, Phillip’s boss and coworker respectively said that there’s room with them though. I can double check with them if you like?”

Andrea finishes texting and nods a little.

“Perhaps, between us we could take turns staying with him, I got a a full rest last night, and, well I genuinely don’t mean to be rude, but you look awful.”

Leila laughs a little.

“I feel awful, but I think that’s a good idea.”

She looks back at. Phillip.

“I’m sure Charlie will want t stay a little before we head home though.”

“Of course. He’s a sweet boy.”

“He is. Absolutely adores Phillip. They have a lot in common.”

Andrea tilts her head as she watches Leila.

“He thinks you’re out of his league you know.”

“I know. And I’ve told him that’s not true. I don’t know why he would think that, he’s a wonderful man.”

“Does he know about…well he must do, Oh how do I put this delicately…’

“Adam?”

Andrea nods.

“He knows about my late husband, yes. That was one of the first things I told him when I left, I told him about Charlie, and that Dillon had murdered my husband.”

Though, with what Phillip said earlier about seeing Adam in the doorway, she has a feeling they might be getting to know each other too in due course. But that was something to explain to Andrea later.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. It’s why I was so determined to find Phillip, I can’t lose someone else I love. Not at the hands of those monsters. Not again.”

Leila goes on to explain how she ended up there in the first place. Her job, her boss, everything that made the most sense, as not to board Andrea too much. Andrea looks away for a moment.

“I really did get the wrong end of the stick didn’t I?”

‘You were worried for your son and quite rightly too. I’d be more worried if after hearing everything you still hated me.”

“Well, from now on, I’d like to get to know my potential future daughter in law. And I know that’s presumptuous, but I still want to get to know you.”

“And I’d like to get it know you too.”

Leila smiles softly and looks over as Phillip stirs a little.

Harding’s going to try to frame you for what I did to Dillon.

The immediate alarm is clear in John’s demeanour.

Don’t panic! I’ve given Dillon an ultimatum. Either he goes along with Harding’s plan, and I stalk him for the rest of his life, or he says it’s Harding, and I leave him alone. I’m about…70% sure he’ll go with the latter, but we’ve got to be insanely careful with how we go about next steps. One wrong move and we risk you getting the blame.

A thought occurs to him as John processes everything.

Is your cars GPS recorded and logged anywhere at all? We could use that as an alibi? Maybe?

-

Charlie’s busy very cautiously holding a bunch of yellow, pink, and white hollyhocks, as him, Grammy, and Grampy walk back to the hospital. Grampy hand suggested that maybe Grammy carry them, but Charlie had insisted. Grammy had picked all the colours, and Grampy had paid for them, so it only seemed fair that Charlie hold them as his own contribution to the gesture. Plus, it meant Grammy and Grampy could hold hands, which they haven’t been able to do for ages!

Eddie was the one to suggest popping into the florist on the way back, though Ellie hadn’t been too far behind with the idea.  

As they head back inside, Eddie notices John looking slightly perturbed outside Phillip’s room. He hangs back as Ellie and Charlie head into the room, close enough that John can hear him when he mutters.

You alright?

Charlie peeks over the top of the bouquet, seeing both Andrea’s and Mummy’s surprised faces.

Grammy picked these!

Ellie chuckles and helps guide Charlie over to the bedside so he place them on the side table, before taking one stem of each colour and handing them to Andrea.

We thought a bit of colour might brighten things up a bit.

[Okay. Right now, I just want to make sure everyone in there is safe. I can’t trust Dillon and I can’t trust her. I’ll work something out. Thanks Adam.]

He smiles as best he can at Adam. He has a feeling even if Dillon were to blame Harding, she’d stop at nothing to shift that blame. Right now, Adam’s right. He has to play it safe. Taking the blame wasn’t the issue for John. It was what Harding might do, something tells him the normal system wasn’t going to be in her agenda.

[I’ll see what I can pull up, hopefully it will prove we were at the station, it’s difficult, what we did was right, but not in the eyes of the law.]

He looks up and beams at Charlie as they come back into the hospital.

“Hello Charlie, those look good! Phillip will love them!’

He stands aside so Charlie, Eddie and Ellie can go back into the room. He looks at Eddie as he stops and makes sure Charlie is far enough away.

“I’m fine, just tired, Eddie.”

He pauses for a moment, not wanting to lie.

“I’m just on edge because Dillon is in a room down the corridor. It’s alright, Leila doesn’t know. And I’m here and I’ve clocked the cctv camera too. I’m guessing Harding brought him in.”

He looks towards the room and then back to Eddie.

“I’ll keep you safe, I promise. She can’t do anything here and if she does, she’s sighed her own warrant at that point. She’d be an idiot to try anything.”

And unfortunately, an idiot she is not.

~~~

Leila beams and scoops Charlie into a hug.

“These are beautiful! Thank you for carrying them in so carefully!”

Andrea accepts the flowers gratefully and smiles at Ellie.

“Thank you. Really, that’s very kind.”

She starts looking around for something she can use as a vase.

Eddie’s expression must make it clear that he doesn’t believe John with his initial answer, and the second causes his eye brows to raise.

Really?

It’s as rhetorical as it is incredulous a statement. He listens to the rest of John’s explanation, genuinely grateful that John’s trying his best to reassure him, even though if it doesn’t quite work. Not that Eddie doesn’t think John will do his best to keep the two of them away, and he is correct that Harding would have to be particularly stupid to go anywhere near them right now, but the knowledge of their presence shoots adrenaline through him. Any tiredness from the very little sleep he’s had is gone, and he can only focus on the need he’s had for a long time; confrontation. Not to cause a scene, or dig a hole that’ll bury all of their hard work so far, but just to make it clear that they are far outnumbered.

He looks down at the phone in John’s hand, an idea popping into his head. He turns to Leila.

Did you find his phone, Poppet?

Adam frowns at his Dad's sudden pivot in topic.

John, you might want to keep an eye on my Dad. I think he's up to something.

Phillip wakes up slowly, stirring a bit at first then a long time later coming to fully again. It's pretty disorienting like it had been when he'd based out while captured but at least this time it's less painful, less hopeless, and he wakes up to people he knows rather than more suffering.

He could almost believe no time had passed at all as everyone was back in the room. If it weren't for the obvious differences, like the flowers and the changed atmosphere between Leila and his mum.

Charlie notices he's awake first and barely gives him enough time to blink the sleep from his eyes and the fog from his mind before excitedly talking to him again.

He glances over at the flowers.

Thanks.

He tells Charlie, grateful for them, and speaking is what finally keys everyone else in to the fact that Phillip is in fact awake again and Charlie hasn't just been talking to him in his sleep.

But he doesn't feel quite awake. Still a little cloudy and heavy but lucid and attentive enough.

Miss anything while I was out?

He asks lightly, thinking it'll just be some minor conversations they'll fill him in on because as someone who prides himself on being in the know it feels weird to be so out of the loop, but he notices the way John of all people seems to flinch at the question, and Adam looks over at him, his expression mirrors the look Eddie throws John as well. They have quite the family resemblance.

So, there's something important, but not everyone seems to be aware of it. Interesting.

Leila takes her eyes off of Charlie and Phillip for a moment and looks to Eddie. He stops herself from swearing, of all the things to forget, it had incriminating evidence on it.

“No. He was alone when I found him. Didn’t think to look in the other rooms for it.”

In the back of her mind, she’s tempted to head back and try and find it.

“He hasn’t had his phone?”

Andrea asked, though she knew it to be true deep down when he didn’t answer her calls.

“They took it from him.”

Leila explained, not wanting to go into too much detail with Charlie around. Andrea nods and frowns at the thought. If they had the phone they may have seen her messages to him. She flattens her lips in frustration. If that monster of a man were here she’d give him a piece of her mind and more.

Leila goes to speak, to ask Eddie what made him think of it when Charlie starts to talk with, or rather to, Phillip. Her head whips around and she smiles softly and brushes her hand through Charlie’s hair.

“Gently, Phillip’s just woken up, love.”

She presses a kiss to the top of his head and looks over to Phillip and smiles softly.

“The flowers were Ellie’s idea, Charlie helped carry them.”

Andrea looked Phillip over, the urge to fuss over him was strong, but she didn’t want to coddle him in front of everyone.

“No, nothing to report.”

Andrea informs him. John exchanges a look with Eddie and Adam.

“I’ll be out here if you need anything.”

He closes the door to give them some space and watches out for Harding. He looks over at the other officer who’s now sat with a coffee as he waits for the next instruction. He wonders for a moment if he should head over.

Phillip! Grammy and Grampy took me to the park, and there were loads of conkers, and I found a huge one, and Grammy said I could keep it to show you, and then Grampy saw the flower shop and we bought these for you!

Charlie’s so pleased that Phillip’s awake that he’s barely aware of the conversation going on around him. He only notices when Phillip looks over to John, and there’s clearly a secret that he’s not aware of. He looks up at Phillip, silently trying to figure out if Phillip knows the secret either.

Eddie nods slowly as Leila answers, taking note of the tension that rises in Andrea. He taps his finger against his stick. Andrea would probably be up for a confrontation too, and there’s safety in numbers. Plus, now they have a legitimate reason to find Dillon’s room.

He briefly acknowledges John, realising they’ll need a convincing reason to leave the room, so that Eddie can explain the situation to Andrea without causing alarm. He clears his throat.

Andrea, one of the nurses wanted to speak to you. Something about needing to re-confirm some of your details.

Ellie frowns, scanning her eyes up and down Eddie.

Did they? When was that?

The only sign of being caught off guard Eddie shows is the brief pause in his blink.

Before you and Charlie got here. I forgot until now.

But she knows John is out there. And it would be nice to spend a little time with Phillip without Andrea there. Even if they’re on good terms now, she can relax a little and fuss over him, as with Andrea there it feels a little awkward.

Andrea narrows her eyes slightly but nods regardless.

“Alright, I’ll come and have a word with them, I’ll be back in a moment Phillip, I’m sure it’s easy to sort.”

She puts a hand on his arm and gets up to follow Eddie out of the room, giving Ellie a polite smile as she does.

As they’re talking John moves away from the door slightly. He doesn’t see Harding leave the room and head outside. He goes up to the other officer and raises an eyebrow.

“Look mate, your so called high visionary is in there getting treated, why don’t you do the same those wounds look terrible.”

He watches as a plethora of looks cross the officer’s features. He nods at John and pulls out his phone, as he holds back how he’s really feeling. He texts someone before heading over to a nurse. John watches him, not seeing Andrea and Eddie head in the other direction.

-

Phillip looks up at his mum, wishing he was in a sharp enough mindset to put together what was really going on. Clearly something more than this fake nurse story. But he simply nods slightly and smiles.

Okay, mum.

When she leaves, he turns to Leila smile widening until he break off into a small laugh. Bolstered on by the medication making it harder for him to hold back his reactions, or filter them.

"Gently."

He repeats the word she'd told Charlie. Finding way too much amusement in its unintentional connection especially in this context.

Like in the Princess Bride. After the pit of despair. And before to the pain.

Since Charlie and Ellie are still in the room he does hold back on quoting the line which starts that scene since it's about breasts.

Apt. Feels like I lost some years off my life.

Except if this was that scene he and Leila would be kissing a lot by now. Phillip wouldn't mind if they did that. He laughs, the movement would likely hurt if he could feel it. Despite his smile tears build in Phillip's eyes and he doesn't even quite know why yet.

I know where Phillip’s phone is. Sort of. I at least know where we can probably find it.

He checks no one passing by in the corridor is paying them any mind and lowers his voice a bit more.

Dillon and Harding, the people behind all of this, they’re here somewhere, in one of the rooms.

He gives Andrea a moment to process the information. It’s obvious what he’s suggesting, but he’d rather take Andrea’s lead given, it’s her son.

-

Charlie wishes more than even before that he could hug Phillip when he notices the tears starting to form. He suddenly remembers something that be just as good, pulling out Teddy from his backpack and sitting him carefully on Phillip’s lap.

Did Teddy do good looking after you whilst you were lost, Phillip?

Dillon’s ice blue eyes narrow at Phillip.

“It’s winter now, but it was a summer fling. You’re hardly in the position to do what you’re doing. It’s not just Star Wars, It may be the catalyst, but I’ve put the work in for the rest.”

He seethes at the mention of Thomas’ name and backhands Phillip wildly.

‘It’s an interesting point you’ve made. Because, deep down, you don’t know that do you? Nor do I. She might be so lost, she needs to come back to some balance. Some structure and order. I can provide that for her, hell if you comply you could both be happy there. You never know unless you try Phillip. As for finding another Thomas…no one can replace him. He has a uniqueness about him that very few understand.”

Dillon folds his arms and stares at Phillip.

“Something tells me…That I wont need to look very far. I know how you feel about Leila and I shan’t take that from you. You can’t give me what Thomas did, but I can and will mold you to what I need you to be. You’ve seen my other High Priest. You’d be a wonderful addition.”

He’s about to continue when Harding enters.

“We have movement. Prewett’s coming for him. Come with me.”

Dillon nods and briskly leaves.

~~~

Leila looks at Eddie and hugs him. The sentiment is appreciated, it really is and she doesn’t doubt he’d be able to get a few good hits in.

“I promise I will. But it’s safer for you at the farm. And if anyone turns up there I’m sure between you, Titch and Derek you’d be able to fend anyone off.”

John looks over the evidence again.

“Leila, need that pic of Phillip you got.”

She nods and sends it over. He places his phone amongst the rest of the documents and Photographs. He’s notices how Dillon’s wearing a signet ring on the hand that’s in Phillip’s hair. He frowns as he looks at the state that Phillip’s in.

“Gonna have to bring some bolt cutters by the looks of it.”

He points to the chain on the floor, though he can’t see the end attached to Phillip’s foot and subsequently the radiator, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Right, we’ll have to pick some up at the farm.”

John nods and looks at Adam and Leila disappears upstairs.

“That was brilliant, mate. The way you cracked that code. Amazing!”

It’s not long before Leila comes back down and she’s in uniform again. It fits like a glove. She’s suited entirely, all she needs in the over vest saying she’s a civilian from John’s car, the spare radio for Eddie.

“Plan of action?”

Leila takes a deep breath.

“We drop Eddie off at the farm with a radio so we can stay in contact. We, you and I, take the backroads to the old building. I’m not sure where Adam is, but maybe, if there are any more codes, he could come with us? We head in, we get Phillip, get him to the hospital and go from there.”

“What about Michelle?”

“We’ll handle that when we get there…John can you ask Adam if he’s up to sending one more small letter?”

John looks to Adam.

With a yes, Leila writes a small note to Phillip.

Hold on, I’m coming xxxx❤️

She looks at Eddie.

“Can you let Charlie and Ellie know?”

But he finds a new hope when Harding interrupts and says Leila's coming for him. He doesn't anger him more knowing it could be Leila on the receiving end instead of himself, but after Dillon leaves he smiles.

Dillon was wrong. Proven wrong! Leila wasn't broken down she was emboldened, and she wanted to find him. She was going to find him. They'd reunite not under some fucking cult.

The note he gets is even better, a confirmation that it wasn't some lie, and Phillip holds the small bit of paper gently. He kisses it and lays down on his side too weak to stay up. Mind much too full of static to even worry about the danger she's getting into. The cold tile is somehow a relief to his head. It feels like it may actually be getting warmer in here. He encloses the note in a fist to keep it hidden and holds it to his heart along with teddy.

It's only a matter of time until this is all over. Phillip sighs and doesn't try to stay awake against the impending unconsciousness.

Adam watches as Leila reenters in her uniform, and immediately has to look away, heat reaching the tip of his ears. He’d forgotten how amazing she looked, and now is not the time to be getting anymore gushy than he already has.

Leila lays out the plan, and Adam’s filled with determination. This is it. This is the moment of truth. They’re going to stop this horrid conspiracy, and Dillon and Harding are going to get exactly what’s coming to them.

Anything you need.

He says in earnest at her request. He’s more than happy to send what must be the most glorious four words Phillip’s ever read in his life.

Eddie gives another firm nod.

Of course.

He looks around the room, attempting once again to find the space Adam is occupying.

You make sure that bastard doesn’t lay a finger on her, Adam, you hear?

Adam smiles warmly.

Way ahead of you.

-

Ellie’s already managed to collect an extensive amount of documentation, including strange, vaguely worded correspondence’s from Harding’s email, the other recipient simply signing off as ‘HV’.

Idiot.

She mutters, before her phone pings with a new text.

Eddie 💖

We know where he is. Tell Charlie that Phillip’ll be home before his bedtime.

Ecstatic doesn’t fully cover how Ellie feels in that moment. She double checks the files have safely transferred onto the hard drive, before rushing to Charlie’s room.

Good news, Bub.

Charlie head shoots up from the new drawing he’s planning to send, a huge smile on his face already.

Mummy found Phillip?!

Grammy nods, and Charlie bolts towards her, arms open, and giggles as she holds him tight.

“Catching flies are we?”

He smirks and nudges Adam in the ribs. Leila looks over and raises an eyebrow.

“Your husband…you in uniform.”

Leila snorts a laugh and looks vaguely in Adam’s direction, smiles and playfully rolls her eyes. She knew how much he liked her in uniform before , and she has a feeling it would be something Phillip would definitely like too. But now wasn’t the time for that. Phillip was in danger. She had to focus.

“Right….everyone ready?”

The sun was starting to set by the time John had dropped Eddie off at the farm, not without her giving him a huge hug before she leaves, picked up the bolt cutters; They test the radios and happy that everything is working, John drives along the back roads to the old Visionary Force building. He glances in the mirror at Adam, who’s looking at Leila intently, Leila notices John’s looking in the mirror and looks behind to see nothing there.

“Adam’s joined us.”

John’s said simply and looks back to the road. Leila nods and glances back in the mirror. She wishes she could hold his hand, or see his face. But instead she clutches her pendant.

“Thanks for helping me. For helping him. For being there for Charlie. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“John.”

“Sorry. I’ll let you two…but if you want me to tell you what he says, I can.”

He says genuinely and stays quiet for them for a moment.

~~~

“Well?”

Dillon stands, arms folded as he watches the detective intently.

“Everything is as it should be. Nothing to worry about., apart from our guest upstairs. Get him another sheet, and a warm drink. We can’t have him giving up before we’ve started. Bring it to me, and I’ll take it to him, he probably wont want you to be anywhere near you after that hit.”

“Shouldn’t have pushed my buttons then.”

Dillon mutters under his breath and heads to the kitchen, then to a closet. He gives the items to Harding who heads upstairs to where Phillip is lying on the floor. She crouches down and lifts him to sit him up. He’s cold to the touch and is breaking a sweat. Not good.

“Phillip, wake up, you need to get warm. Drink this. That’s it, nice and slow.”

'Phillip, wake up, you need to get warm.'

It's the same weird feeling as being woken up midway through a light sleep while you're sick at home watching the Twilight Zone on TV and missing school. When you're awake but not fully awake and you just feel god awful and your mum is taking your temperature. There's a hand on his forehead now. And you just kind of let things happen because you lack the energy and mental fortitude to do much else. But you just want it all to be over and get back to staring at the episode and not comprehending a thing.

'Drink this.'

But no Phillip's not a kid anymore. He's a grown man. So, it wouldn't be his mum taking care of him it's his girlfriend. The warm tea hits his throat as he drinks it down unquestioningly. Rose hip tea. It's...

L...eil...a.

His voice is scratchy and slow to form words. The hand moves to brush the hair from his eyes. Not that he can even see much. But he knows she's coming for him, and who else would show him this much care. He's been through all this pain and soon he'll be back to her. And Charlie. And he'll call his mum too.

'That’s it, nice and slow.'

He'll do good for her. Phillip trusts Leila to relinquish control to her. This sort of painful migraine with white noise in his ears isn't usually what subspace feels like. And she sounds so distant. So different. So patronizing and condescending as she coos out the mild praise ad instruction.

Phillip coughs. This isn't Leila. But he feels his too heavy head fall into their palm anyway. Who is it?

Sorry about earlier. We’ve been tricked one too many times, so I get a bit…paranoid.

-

As they drive off, Adam feels another note arrive. Charlie’s handwritings back, and when he scans the words, he finds himself chuckling under his breath, before sending it off, one more small bit of energy going with it. He doesn’t mind too much, not when he imagines Dillon’s face when he’ll read it.

His gaze naturally falls to Leila, taking everything in. The red of her hair illuminated by the setting sun, her normally soft features turned hard and stormy with determination, the underlying love in her eyes. Adam’s never been the jealous type, which is handy since there’s no place for it here. He’s so glad her fire didn’t get snuffed out along with him. She deserves to love and, more so, to be loved in return. Maybe that’s why he’s still here. If he can reunite her with someone she loves and who clearly loves her deeply, he’ll know she’ll be okay, and Adam can rest peacefully. It’s a somewhat bittersweet thought; he won’t be able to watch her build her new family, or grow even more as the brilliant woman she is, but he’ll know she’s happy, and loved, and he’ll know Phillip will be the rock Adam can no longer be for her.

She meets his eyeline and holds onto the pendant, filling both of them with the warm, easy feeling once again.

“Thank you for helping me. For helping him. For being there for Charlie. For everything.”

Adam smiles softly.

It’s been a honour-

Then John’s butting in without realising, before offering to deliver Adam’s own message. He looks back to Leila.

You’re the most incredible woman, Leila. If Phillip doesn’t start ring shopping in a week, he’s a fool.

-

HA HA!!! Stoopid Dillon!! You and that mean lady ar guna go to jail and yor Mummy and Daddy will be very cross and no one will be sad that yor in jail cus yor so mean and I hope they never let you out!

Along with the new, celebratory feeling message, another sheet has been sent too with an equally childish picture. There’s a man who vaguely looks like Dillon behind bars, along with a woman, looking very sad, and a big crowd of people smiling and clapping, with a big speech bubble coming from them saying ‘Hooray!!!’.

“Like mother like son.”

He’s worked out who the boy is. He hold on to the letter this time. Because in an idea world, the boy would be correct. But this wasn’t an idea world. And though there is some truth to it, Leila was going to search for Phillip. That doesn’t mean she would find him.

Upstairs Michelle is still sat with Phillip, as she encourages him to drink. She raises an eyebrow, he must think the voice is hers.

“How hard did he hit you?”

She says softly.

“I’ll have o have a word, you’re in no state to be at the other end of his wrath.”

He starts to cough and she sits him up more.

“Careful now Phillip, you’ll choke. Just let me help you. Look, this will cheer you up. See that dot, that’s her, in John’s car, she’s looking for you. She’s trying so hard to find you.”

Michelle shows him the tracker on her phone. Sure enough there’s a dot showing John’s car speeding towards the location.

“Can’t have you being hyperthermic when she shows up at the location. Keep drinking, let me put this on you.”

She wraps the clean sheet around his shoulders.

“Leila’s coming for you.”

~~~

John looks over to Leila as he drives.

“He says it’s been an honour, and you’re an, sorry, the most incredible woman…also if Phillip doesn’t go ring shopping in a week, he’ll be a fool.”

Leila laughs, not because he’s called her incredible but at the statement of ring shopping.

“That’s exactly what his dad said about him.”

She holds the pendant close. They’re both very different men, but both so important to her. Time and circumstance and the same person have ultimately torn them apart again. Just as her life was being rebuilt, brick by brick. It felt like it was a house of straw, being blown away again. She loves them both so much. And deep down she knows that Adam understands. Hell, in another life they might have even gotten along, apart from the fandom disagreement.

“That’s if he recovers in a week.”

She hopes the pictures look worse than what they are, that they’ve just roughed him up a bit. She shakes her head, it’s best not to think like that. She will not let Dillon take another man she loves from her.

John looks at Adam.

“I’d say get a room, but…you know…Leila, how did you put up with him honestly? Do you know that when he talks about you his eyes go all big and he’s got this stupid grin on his face.”

Leila rolls her eyes.

“I don’t doubt that for a second, but could you not tease each other please? The fact that you can see him is weird enough, no offence, Adam.”

“Well, I don’t know, but it has been nice having you as a roommate actually.”

“I beg your finest pardon?”

“Oh, yeah, about that., well not literally, he’s been resting on the couch.”

Leila raises an eyebrow in amusement.

“Amazing.”

John laughs as Adam makes a comment. It’s a lighthearted moment in these trepidations times. The journey continues until Leila sits up, she recognises that building anywhere, her expression hardens.

“We’re here.”

It's fine.

He says not looking at Eddie and watching the tea steep.

Not the first time we've been judged by someone of your generation.

Love, he didn't mean it like that, all right.

Titch scoffed. Sure, the people of the village we're on the whole lovely warm people, and even those at church accepted that Titch and Derek were two men married with kids. Not everyone agreed, and with Derek being so open about his affections this isn't the first time he'd had to defend the both of them against some pretty insulting things. Never to this caliber, but of course someone with that idea about gay people would immediately assume ill intent on their part.

-

He forces his eyes open even as the light makes him feel worse. Nauseous. The dot is her,... and Miller, but mostly it's her. He reaches out for the tracker but it's pulled away further leaving his hands to hang in the air.

Leila is coming for him. Take that Dillon! Take that Harding! He smiles.

It's like Labyrinth. She'll come in time to save him before they can turn him into whatever want him to be for their evil plans. Make him join their cult, their kingdom, but wait. She's showing him the crystal ball used to spy on the heroine.

Why would she be telling him he's getting saved?

It takes him way too long to realize the danger in them knowing she's coming. Knowing when she's coming. He's been the perfect little bait just sitting here while she gets closer to them.

No... You can't- go near... her. Leave.

But he's wrapped up in a blanket instead, and at that point he doesn't even know who he's asking to leave. Harding and Dillon so that they'll be removed as obstacles, or Leila so that she doesn't risk herself for his sake.

He needs to send a note. He needs to let them know they're being tracked. He needs to stand up somehow. Go against whatever is lightly pressing him towards the floor.

Need to... need to...warn...L...

I’m not homophobic!

He cringes the second he hears it come out his mouth.

I know that sounds like what people say before they then say something homophobic, but I’m not!

He looks between the two men. Derek’s looking at him with more pity than Eddie probably deserves after raising his voice twice at him, both from a knee jerk reaction. Titch, on the other hand, looks like he might snap if Eddie says the wrong thing. It’s disconcerting being on the receiving end of the quiet protective anger, and it’s disconcerting.

Uh oh. He can feel himself starting to ramble.

It was nothing to do with you guys being gay, it really wasn’t. Last time we trusted someone on face value, my son was murdered, and every night before I nod off I hate myself for not being here to stop it, or asking more questions, or not noticing red flags what were there. I know that’s not an excuse, and I’d probably be just as angry, maybe more nowadays, but that’s the honest truth, it wasn’t anything personal, or like…that. You love who you love! My daughter-in-law’s actually Bi, and my grandson might be gay? Or not, he’s only 6, but he’s had a crush on one of his friends before, and I’ve got no issue with it at all if he is!

‘Please stop me, even if you’re going to shout at me, please!’

-

Adam narrows his eyes towards John.

She’s hot and my wife, what do you expect, mate?

He watches in mild amusement as John tries to explain the new living situation he’s found himself in. It sounds ridiculous when said aloud: ‘You’re dead husband’s ghost has been crashing on my sofa for the last few days.’

“Amazing.”

He doesn’t charge rent either, it’s great.

He quips, though misses the laugh that he gets in response, as another letter arrives at his switchboard. He sighs lightly. ‘Oh Char, you’ve gotta get better timing, bud.’ He’ll hang onto the letter for as long as he can, or until it incapacitates him. If Phillip’s conscious enough, he knows they’re coming, and now is not the time for him to get distracted by Charlie’s happy ramblings.

As they round the corner to the Visionary building, Adam feels his stomach drop at the memory of when Leila was last here. The violence, the fear, the fire, the chaos. He looks to Leila as she sits a bit straighter, and has a pang of fury rush through him that a building alone could cause her to become so on edge.

He leans forward and rubs her arm soothingly.

You’re alright. You’re not staying here. We go in, grab him, and you never have to set foot in there again.

“John, Adam, and I have arrived at the location at 6:45pm. I’ll be heading in shortly.”

She observes the building from the car.

“Look’s empty. No other vehicles here. At a guess, I’d say Harding isn’t here. Could mean that we’re only dealing with Dillon, or Dillon and a guard.”

She takes another breath and looks at John.

“Plan of action. I head in, you keep the car running. We’ll stay in contact via the radios. Any turbulence, I head back out.”

“You sure you don’t want me to come in as backup? They’re dangerous.”

She shakes her head.

“I need you to keep a lookout. If anyone turns up you’ll need to tell me. I’m not sure how log it would take for dam, to go through you, to then get to me. Besides, I know the building inside out. If I can avoid bumping into anyone, I can get Phillip and get out of there.”

She checks to make sure she has everything she needs and looks back at the building. A apartment of her wishes they had more alibi’s but would that be as safe for Phillip? She opens the car door and steps out.

“Stay safe, John.”

“You too, any sign of trouble, call me.”

She follows the track down to where the east gate is. She pushes it open and it rings an unworldly screech as she does. She looks back at John, and heads through the gardens, past the overgrown hedge maze and towards the building.

~~~

“How exactly would you warn her? Come on, show me how you do it.”

Her voice, usually full of venom is now sweet, almost sickly and mocking. She follows where his eyes are looking. A pen. She places a hand on his shoulder and gently eases him back down. Taking the pen would just be petty. She has no need for it, and he has no idea where he is. Any contact, no matter how he reaches it, will be useless. It’s not like he can tell them where he is. At the end of the day eh’s giving himself false hope.

She looks down at her phone and smiles.

“Looks like she’s arrived. Wait here.”

She stands and walks out of the room, locking it behind her.

~~~

John looks at Adam as Leila leaves.

“If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, you should go with her, just in case.”

Now alone in the vehicle John watches his surroundings. A part of him wishes he’d bought a flask, but he settles for one of the bottles of water they’d brought with them.

Leila’s stomach is in knots as she walks through the gardens, past the weeping willow, past the now dead dog Rose bus, the overgrown lawn and the bench where they sat. She looks up at the building, she was sure it didn’t look that big and ominous before. But before, there were people, now…now it’s a burnt out husk of what it formerly was. She can’t let her emotions get to her now, that would be no good. Right now, she has a task, a job to complete.

Emotions would just end up getting in the way and causing more harm than good. She can’t remind herself of the time spent here, or the pain they went through, the toil they’d faced. he can’t think of that now, all that maters is finding Phillip.

She walks up to the door, noticing it’s off of its hinges and swings it open.

She holds her torch to the level of her eye and checks either side of her.

“Police.”

She calls, and gets no answer. If she didn’t know any better she could have sworn her voice echoed and circled back to her.

Not only does Leila have to think like Dillon, she now has to think like CDI Harding too. She walks through the halls, through the kitchens and mess room, through abandoned living quarters and communal areas. She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. He’s to start from the top down. She clocks the button on her radio.

“John, living space clear, hading upstairs.”

“Roger that. Road’s are clear too.”

She heads to the top floor first. He pauses at the landing, shines her torch, and looks left and right. She decides to go left, and check Dillon’s old room first. She opens the door and finds it’s practically the same as the last time she saw it. She looks around, but there’s no evidence of anyone being here since she escaped. She heads out and shines the torch to cover herself again and heads to her room. She stops at the door with trepidation before going in.

It’s empty. Some books are on the night stand, there’s slight charring and smoke damage from the fire. But it’s empty. She looks around, memories flooding through her from when she’d first arrived. She looks under the bed to find an empty keepsake box. So the rat had been rifling through her things while he had her in the cellar. Brilliant.

She steps out quickly and looks to a final door. It’s busted open. She steps towards it and shines her light behind her to make sure she’s not being watched or followed. he heads up the stairs to the attic.

“Phillip?”

She calls and shines her light. She breathes a sigh of relief to see he’s not there, not being treated like Thomas was. Memories flood through her again of when she’d tried desperately to help him more than The High Visionary- no- Dillon, would allow. She exits the room quickly and heads to the floor below.

The library is empty, all but a pair of broken glasses on the floor. The other communal areas are empty too. She heads down again. And grimaces when she stops at the cellar.

Surely not?

Her heart is starting to pound with worry. It’s concerning how she hasn’t heard or seen anyone yet. Not to mention, it’s biting cold. She props the cellar door open and alls out.

“Police investigation. I’m coming down there.”

Her stomach flips slightly, images of Phillip falling, no, being pushed down the stairs come back to her.

“Phillip? Are you down here?” Please be down here.”

She whispered the last bit and looks around. She swallows, all she can see is where she was last there.

“Please, please, he has to be here somewhere.”

She steels her composure and runs back up the stairs to the main hall, the main ritual room.

She opens the door…

~~~

…And steps inside. Phillip is lying where she left him, he’s squinting as he looks at her, she couches down beside him. She’d holding a pillow.

“Here.”

~~~

The room is dark and charred the worst. It’s bound to have been.

“Phillip? Dillon? Where are you? Where is he? Stop hiding Dillon, you coward! Phillip, I’m here, make a noise if you can hear me.”

She tries the light switch, and of course, nothing. She shines her torch and kicks away half melted candles. She almost gives up hope when her torch flashes against the bright white of a chalk outline. She stalks towards it and sees it’s a freshly drawn eye in the middle of the floor. And in the middle of the eye she sees it. A crumpled heap in the middle it.

“Phillip!”

She runs towards it and crashes down to her knees.

“Phillip, I’m here, I’m here I-…”

She stops.

She freezes.

~~~

CDI Michelle Harding kneels infront of Phillip and places the pillow down beside him.

“Oh dear, Phillip. Look’s like she’s failed her mission. She hasn’t got to you has she? No matter, I’ll keep a close eye on her.”

~~~

In front of Leila is Phillip’s sweater from the space centre and the first note she sent to him in captivity. She reads the words over and over again and draws the sweater close to her. It still smells faintly of his cologne from her birthday.

Her shoulders drop, the torch clatters to the floor.

She screams.

She doesn’t care if all of Shropshire hears.

She screams.

She holds the sweater close and cries into it. Her whole body heaves as she wails, tears fall from her face and her stomach flips. She’s not in control, nor in this moment can she regain it.

“You bastard! You bitch! You evil fucking cunts, how could you! How could you! I hate you! You’ve taken everything I’ve ever loved, you’ve betrayed me! How could you! You’ve murderd my husband, you kidnapped me, and double crossed me, and made me believe I was going good!’

She doubles over, heaves and sobs as she screams the words, years of hurt, years of repressed rage all coming out now.

“I never got to say goodbye! And now his soul c-can’t even rest! And you’ve now taken the only other man who I could let into my heart, someone so kind and gentle who did nothing wrong!!!”

She stands and kicks the chalk outline, making the eye look distorted. Her eyes are wide as eh looks manically around the room, maybe he’s here, maybe he can hear here.

She crumples to the floor and again and bows her head as she sobs freely now.

“I’ll find you. I’ll find you, I wont let them hurt you, I can’t. They’ll have to go through me to get to you, Phillip. I’m sorry,I’m so sorry. I can’t lose anyone else, please…please…”

Her hair cascades down over her shoulders and face as she lets out her pain.

...can't...

Phillip opens his eyes and he sees her. Leila. She's here to save him. She gets down beside him and extends her hand helping him to his feet. Everything is clear now.

"I've got you" she says softly.

How?

But he doesn't actually want to know the answer. It doesn't matter how she found him or how she got past Dillon and Harding all that matters is that she's here now.

"You're safe now Phillip"

He throws his arms around her and hugs her.

I love you.

"I love you too"

But as she leans in to kiss him and he goes to kiss back she's no longer there. And he's still here. What? He could feel her, touch her, hear her, she was real! She was here she was coming to save him and she'd done it. Where was she?

'Oh dear, Phillip. Look’s like she’s failed her mission. She hasn’t got to you has she? No matter, I’ll keep a close eye on her.'

No.

John must be a mind reader as well as a clairvoyant. Adam gives him a firm nod.

Yeah, just in case.

He pops from the backseat to Leila’s side in an instant, just as she’s walking through the front door. He stays in toe with every step. He might be lacking in charge, but he can still cause some distractions if needed, enough for her to do her thing. Every new, empty room deepens the pit in his stomach. The air is too still. He should have that unnerving, rigid feeling. The one when you know someone’s walking up behind you, or watching you. But it’s not there. It’s just…still.

Leila eventually comes to the cellar, and Adam see’s the pained expression cross her face. As she opens the door, the image he had flash in his mind the night him and John chased the van comes to him again.

The realisation hits him just as Leila starts to descend the stairs. He’s not here at all. They’ve been fooled, yet again.

Leila!

He shouts, cursing the fact she can’t hear him. He speeds down the steps after her. Maybe if he shouts loud enough, he might pierce through enough for her to hear.

He’s not here! They know were onto them! We’ve gotta get out of here, now-

Leila finds the sweater and the note, and Adam can only watch as she crumbles under the agony. Why her? Why has she had to suffer so much, even from childhood? Why couldn’t fate leave her alone and allow her the peaceful, joyful life she deserved?

Once she’s finished shouting, heaped into a ball, looking so small and defeated, Adam can’t bare it anymore and throws his arms around her, cocooning her, using his remaining energy to be sure she can feel it. Really, truly feel it.

Come on, baby, come on. We’ve gotta move, before they get here.

He holds her as tight as possible, pulling her into his chest. The second her head hits his shoulder, he feels it. The tethers holding both the letter and Teddy start to loosen.

No, no, no no!

Adam squeezes his eyes shut, frantically trying to strengthen the connections, but his head’s getting fuzzy. Not now, not when everything’s already the worst it could be. It’s hard to concentrate properly. The only things he’s able to see clearly in his minds eye are their faces. His family, who have been endlessly tormented. Leila, Charlie, Mum and Dad, Leila, Charlie, Mum and Dad, Leila, Charlie-

The tethers tighten once more, but this time, in different directions. Horror fills his every nerve when he realises what’s just happened.

OH MY FUCKING GOD, NO!

-

A moment ago, Charlie had been tucked up in bed, quietly worried that Mummy hadn’t called Grammy yet to say Phillip was home. The only reason he’d managed to fall asleep was with the thought that, by the time he wakes up, Phillip will be home, and everything will be good again.

But, now, something’s wrong. Something’s very, very wrong. Charlie’s stood in his PJ’s, in front of a house that definitely isn’t Grammy and Grampy’s. This isn’t any house Charlie recognises.

There’s dead, overgrown grass and brambles crawling across the surrounding field.  Some of the brickwork looks like it’s been carved away in chunks, the surviving structure covered in sooty accents. The windows have been smothered in black paint, except one on the top floor, which has metal bars, a sheet of material occasionally parachuting against them when the wind picks up. Staring up at the strange, decidedly not nice house makes Charlie’s stomach flip itself upside down.

He looks around. He can see a long road dirt road leading into a never-ending expanse of trees and shrubs. Suddenly, the house seems much less scary.

A twig snaps. Charlie’s feet move of their own accord. He speeds over to the front door, raising his hand in anticipation to bang as loudly as he can to be let it, but when he tries, his hand disappears behind the door. He yelps in shock, retracting and clutching at his hand, as if to check it’s still there. He looks back at the door, tilting his head. Slowly, he extends a finger and inches it back towards the door, watching as it seeps through to the other side again. He stares in wonder. ‘Am I magic now?!’ He lets his arm sink further inside, then his shoulder, then his head, until he’s fully inside.

The inside doesn’t fill Charlie with comforting feelings either. It’s drab, and bare, like no one’s lived here for a very long time, and the paint on the windows make it very dark. He can see light coming from underneath one of the doors, and can hear muffled, cross sounding voices on the other side. One of the voices get closer to the door, and Charlie bolts up the stairs, only to hear another muffled, scary sounding voice. He looks around desperately, before hiding behind a small dip in the wall, just big enough to shield him. Not a second later, he hears a door creak open, and the scary voice becomes clearer.

She knows it’s him, deep down she knows as she’s being pulled into an embrace. Hopelessness fills her as her head hits his shoulder. Then like an echo on a high frequency radio.

‘OH MY FUCKING GOD NO’

“What? What is it?! What’s happening?”

~~~

Michelle steps out of the room and looks back to Dillon, she doesn’t see the boy.

“I know, Dillon, but what is the point of having him here if he’s just going to give up?”

She hisses and Dillon walks towards the door.

“He’s more trouble than he’s worth at this rate.”

“That’s not true and you know it. He will be a great asset to us. We just have to make sure we can get him better and get him on side.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Harding walks out of the door and seemingly through Charlie as she head to where Phillip is being held. He unlocks the door and heads inside.

“Phillip, you can’t give up now.”

She says as she crouches down beside him.

“You mean to tell me, that the man who swanned in and rescued Leila before is just going to give up? Aren’t you worried that we might find her? Isn’t that worth fighting for at least?”

She tilts his chin up to look at her.

“I’ve just got to head back to the station and then I’ll come back with some soup? A hot drink and some soup will do you the world of good.”

She stands and looks at him with mock pity.

“Now, what to do with Leila?”

She says loud enough for him to hear before locking the door again.

~~~

John abandoned his post as soon as he heard a blood curdling scream. He bolted to the building and quickly looms around. He finds Leila and Adam, both looking worse for wear.

“Come on we have to go. Now.”

Leila stands, still holding the sweater and the note.

“They’ve tricked us.”

“It’s alright. We’ll fix it but we can’t stay here. Are you alright?”

Leila swallows and nods. Her lips purse into a thin line when she spots the remains of Phillip’s old work boots.

“I’m scared, John.”

She admits as she looks at him.

John looks to an equally exhausted Adam.

“It’s alright. It’s reasonable for you to fear what they might do, you’ve expiry first hand. But we can’t stay here, we should head back to the farm.”

He puts an arm round her arm and leads her away, he loos to Adam.

“What’s happened to you? Are you okay? We will sort this, I promise you both we’ll fix it, let’s just get back to the farm.”

Charlie.

He manages to slur, hoping his demeanour is making it clear how bad the situation is.

Charlie…Dillon…at the house…

Adam’s vision blurs, and the last thing he sees before passing out in the backseat is the terror coating John’s face.

-

Charlie’s eyes widen at the sound of that name, followed by that voice he’d replayed over and over in his head. Dillon’s here, and the lady must be the lady who used to be Mummy’s friend, but tricked her into being lost for years. He peeks round the corner and realises he recognises the woman. She was the mean seeming woman who had been there after Daddy died. The one who had only spoken to him to tell him that Daddy was dead, whilst John had tried to soothe him as he wailed.

If they’re here…Phillip must be here!

He steps out from his hiding spot, about to shout at the woman, before she steps through him instead. It makes him feel cold and shivery. He watches her as she unlocks a door and heads inside, standing himself beside the door, just out of sight.

“Phillip, you can’t give up now.”

He lets out a small gasp, holding onto the doorframe as he pokes his head round to see-

Phillip looks terrible. He looks…he can’t be dead, please don’t be dead. But he’s so floppy when the woman moves his head, and he’s not saying anything. Charlie can’t even tell if Phillip is breathing from his position. He shakes for a different reason this time. He flinches to the side as the woman walks back to the door, too panicked to go back to his hiding spot in time. She doesn’t seem to see him, however, as she delivers her final line.

“Now, what to do with Leila?”

That’s Mummy! What does that mean?! What’s the mean woman going to do to Mummy?!

He throws himself through the door, landing on his front with a grunt. He scrambles to his feet and runs over to Phillips lifeless form, before grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him with all his might.

Phillip, wake up! Please wake up! I found you, look, I found you! You need to wake up!

It was good while it lasted. He's had more joy in this time with Leila than he's had in a while. They'll have to find more help at the farm, but he's likely been replaced already, however long it's been.

Harding lifts his head but he barely catches every other word. It's so cold. He's so weak. And shouldn't he be in more pain than this? It's hard to tell. He puts up no resistance to being maneuvered. How can he. Phillip watches Harding as she leaves with one more cutting remark threatening Leila. Even if she hasn't found him they can track where she is, they'll find her first.

He sees something move in the doorframe, no not something someONE. But the next thing he sees is the little boy in front of him completely missing how and when he got over here. Must be another dream, he'd felt better during the last dream, and it was just cruel for it to be Charlie who he sees now.

Charlie who's trying to wake him up.

Charlie who looks so terrified.

Charlie

Even if he's not really there he doesn't want to see Charlie upset. He doesn't want to see him worry. Hates when people worry about him.

Phillip reaches around himself and into the sheet. He barely feels the change in texture under his fingers that means he's found what he's intended to, pulling out Teddy and handing the bear to Charlie.

Not like he needs it anymore.

Charlie.

Charlie gasps in both relief and fright. How can someone look as poorly and bruised as Phillip does and still be alive?

Phillip! Where’s Mummy? She said she was…

Charlie trails off when Phillip starts looking for something. He pulls out Teddy and slowly hands him to Charlie. Charlie frowns, looking down at the bear now in his hands, then to Phillip. The words from the scary lady from before come back to Charlie.

"...give up..."

Phillip’s giving up.

You can’t give up! Mummy loves you, and I love you, and if you give up, then…then…

Charlie feels his bottom lip wobble, as much as he tries to stop it.

Then you’ll die, and I’ll lose another Daddy!

He looks around the horrible cell Phillip’s being kept in. He spots the bars he saw outside on the window. He looks to one of the flimsier looking pipes on the wall and starts tugging as hard as he can, especially with only one hand, Teddy clutched tightly in the other. He gives a particularly hard tug, and it comes clean off. He runs at the window and starts bashing the pipe against the bars, watching as they make the smallest dents.

“What is happening?”

Leila says as John keeps looking over his shoulder.

“Need to get back to the farm, Adam’s passed out, Charlie’s with Dillon.”

“What?!”

She doesn’t mean to shout. But now she’s far away from Phillip and her son, her husband, a ghost is passed out and she’s been tricked by the very people who lead her into the cult in the first place.

“Adam, buddy, you gotta wake up.”

John says as he drives, he looks to Leila.

“We’ll get back, get Adam to wake up and get Charlie safe. I have an idea.”

Leila looks at him.

“Charlie’s with Dillon?!”

“I think it has something to do with Adam protecting Teddy, I hope this all rings a bell with you, because I’m just going off of what he’s told me. It was when Charlie was sending loads of letters, Adam didn’t want Dillon and Harding to find Teddy, so he’s…doing his ghost thing, I don’t know how it works, to protect the bear. It seems has also been zapped into that.”

Leila blinks.

“John…”

“Look, I know I’m not brave like you, I’m not really an action kinda guy, but I can’t stand by and watch you and your family go through this again. I know I’m not always ‘present’ but I am always listening even if I’m directed,it just takes a while to go in. Harding hates it.”

“Harding’s an idiot. John you’re braver than you think.”

“There’s no time for that now, but thanks.”

“What’s your plan?”

“Get back to the farm wake Adam up, get Charlie safe. I need you to call Ellie, any information any addresses that Dillon’s fucked up with, she needs to send them over.”

He looks back as Adam stirs. This is good.

“I don’t know how much longer Phillip has.”

Leila says quietly.

“Then we pull an all nighter and get him tonight. Text Eddie and get him to put the kettle on, we’ll take a flask of coffee, it helps me think. We’ll get there, and get him out today.”

“What about them?”

John thinks as he turns a corner. He hears Adam grunt as he comes to consciousness again.

“If Adam’s up to it…look one step at time. Let’s get Charlie home first.”

“We don’t even know where Phillip’s being located.”

John looks as Adam sits up.

“Well…Charlie draws, right?”

~~~

Dillon looks up when he hears a banging on the wall upstairs. He rushes up to where Phillip is being held and unlocks the door.

There’s Leila’s boy, standing next to Phillip, he can see him fully, holding the pipe and the bear.

“How the hell did you get in here? That’s not going to do you any good.”

He walks toward the boy, ignoring the weak protests from Phillip. He goes to take the pipe from Charlie’s hand before he and Teddy disappears from in front of them.

He looks to Phillip and laughs he stops when Harding comes in.

“You come stay here and keep an eye on things, but for fucks sake be careful he’s already on death’s door.. you can leave him here he’s hardly going anywhere. I’ll bring your priest with me too. I know where John and Leila are heading.”

'I’ll lose another Daddy!'

Dream or no he reaches out to hug Charlie. Comfort him when he struggles to do so much verbally. But the boy runs off, and Phillip thinks that might be the end of that dream until he hears Charlie trying to rip something off the wall and bang it against the window bars.

Then Dillon's there, and he sees Charlie too. So, it's not all in Phillip's head. And he's going to hurt his son!

Dillon... He's a...child... I told you... not to... hurt h-

But Charlie disappears just in the nick of time and Harding leaves Phillip for the cult leader to watch over.

You...you'll be... s-sorry.

Dillon tries to say something Charlie thinks is supposed to be scary, but it only makes him more furious.

SHUT UP, DILLON, YOU…

'Grammy said not to swear.'

YOU…

'Grammy said not to swear!-'

YOU FUCKING LOSER!

Dillon lurches his hand towards Charlie, who goes to swing the pipe, but before he can make contact with the man’s face, Charlie’s teleported back to where he should be, along with Teddy.

He looks around his room, which he’s stood in the middle of, then down to the pipe still in his hand. He throws the pipe against his bed covers.

What does he do?! He can’t help now he’s back in America! This isn’t fair!

As if sensing his bubbling emotions, Grammy quietly opens his door, looking slightly bewildered.

Bub? What’s wrong?

-

Adam knows it’s John and Leila’s voices he can hear as he comes to, but he’s not picking up any of the words. He braves a peek, and see’s the top of John’s car staring down at him. Good. He hasn’t been out for too long at least. He grunts as John turns a corner, jolting that little more awake.

“Let’s get Charlie home first.”

Fuck, that’s right, Charlie! He forces himself to sit up. Leila still looks anguished, probably not helped by his own colossal fuck up.

Then John says what Adam thinks might be the smartest thing he’s ever heard in his life. Of course. Charlie now knows where Phillip is! This might be the best fuck up that's ever happened!

Call Mum.

He rasps, not realising that they’ve already assigned that to the agender.

Adam let’s his mind go blank so he can focus on the link holding onto Charlie. He needs something to replace his position. He blindly fumbles for John’s notepad and pen in his shirt pocket, not explaining as he takes it and scribbles the second of his own notes.

If you’ve even tried to laid a finger on him, you'll be sorry.

I'll make sure of it.

From,

You know who.

He watches the note disappear, and it catapults Charlie straight back home. He gives a single, relieved clap, before laying his still tired head back against the seat.

He’s home, John, tell her he’s home, he’s safe.

He rambles similar sentiments under his breath, as he focus' on fully recovering.

The letter flies into Dillon’s hand and he pales. He didn’t touch the boy, he was never going to hurt Charlie. But in his mad rush to get the pipe he could see how that appears to the small child. Th ghost is going to be pissed with him he’s sure of it. He looks to Phillip.

“I wasn’t going for the child, I was going for the pipe he was making too much noise.”

He frowns and folds his arms.

“Nice to see you’ve perked up. And tell me, Phillip, with the position you’re in, how exactly am I going to be sorry? By your hand? Now this I’d like to see.”

He says smugly and crouches down in front of him. He thinks for a moment. This could be the real leverage he needs, even if it’s a lie.

“You’d best keep your wits about you. What if he comes back and you’re too far gone to help him? Seems whatever brought him here, isn’t in control, wouldn’t want to risk it now, would you Phillip?”

~~~

John breathes a sigh of relief, they’re not far from the farm and Adam has managed to send Charlie home.

“He’s home. Leila he’s home. Charlie’s safe.”

“Thank fuck.”

She says and unknowingly copies Adam’s movements and flops back against the passenger seat. It’s not long before they’re back at the farm. John helps Adam into the house.

Leila looks between everyone. Honestly she’s feeling a bit lost, but she can’t let it stop her.

“It was a false lead. A red herring. They fooled me. They were a step ahead of me.”

She holds up his sweatshirt from the Space Center.

“They left this here to taunt me.”

“I’ll make us a flask of coffee, you ring Ellie. Derek, where’s everything?”

John says as he puts Adam onto the sofa. Leila looks at Eddie sadly.

“He’s right. We need to know if Ellie has found anything in her research, and address that’s not the one we followed. Anything.”

She looks at Eddie.

“I don’t know if Charlie’s awake, but we need to talk to him too. Firstly to make sure he’s okay, but also to ask if he can help.”

She looks at Eddie’s expression.

“It’s not Adam’s fault, but there was a mishap with the letters, and trying to look after me, and he accidentally sent Charlie to Phillip.”

It'd be useless for him to fight him right now when he can barely stand. And really he'd meant Dillon would have to face Leila's wrath because Charlie hadn't mentioned anything about something bad happening to her, and he'd used 'loves' in the present tense.

But something in his head says a different name, one that he says before he recalls who that refers to. It's that same feeling he got when a voice in the back of his head thanked him for loving Leila the way he had. And though it only tells him one word he gets the sense the spirit has been protecting his family all this time. He will make Dillon pay.

Adam's.

Dillon does minutely flinch. Though he recovers quickly and goes back to threatening Phillip, the only way he can feel powerful.

You... ... ... wouldn't.

He can't hurt Charlie. He just can't. That was one of his stipulations.

Phillip forces himself to focus. He can't give up anymore. The kid had begged him not to, and though he can't do much if Charlie does come back he still needs to be here for him.

...Please. No

This is what he's been reduced to. His fate worse than death as the lives of others hang in the balance instead.

I haven’t thanked you for any of this, have I?

He’s realising it as the words tumble out of his mouth, and he can’t help but feel a little guilty.

Thank you. Really mate, thank you.

He lets go of John’s sleeve and letting himself enter a deeper statis for a while. If they’re finishing this in the next 24 hours, he needs to have every ounce of energy he can muster.

Eddie’s scowl when he see’s the sweatshirt and note is immediate. Disgusting. They couldn’t leave it at having pulled yet another cruel trick, they had to rub salt into an already painful wound.

He snaps out of his brewing anger when John mentions Pidge. He gives Leila his full attention, though is confused when she suggests Charlie ‘helping’. Then she explains, and Eddie’s filled with conflicting emotions. He’s obviously seething that Charlie was put in such a situation, but knowing it was caused by Adam attempting to help Leila in some way. He can’t pretend to understand most of how these ghost things work, but he knows for sure Adam would never have done such a thing purposely. He’s already dialling Ellie’s number as he takes Leila’s hand.

We’ll find him, Poppet, I promise.

-

Ellie picks up the call not a second later.

What’s going on?

She doesn’t mean to sound as alarmed as she probably does, but she still hasn’t managed to get out of Charlie why he was stood in the middle of his room with such a conflicted look on his face. He’s only grumbled something about ‘Dillon’ and a ‘house’. Probably a nightmare, but her gut’s telling her otherwise.

He looks down at Phillip and scoffs.

“I wouldn’t, no, you’re right. But Michelle on the other hand. Now do t get me wrong she’s hardly going to hurt a child, but she’s not the motherly type either is she? Her brain works similarly if not worse than mine.”

He leans against the sink and folds his arms in a moment of self reflection.

“If the boy turns up here and she sees him, she could quite easily suggest that the poor thing is being neglected, especially if he’s found in these conditions. She’d have every right to put him in the care of social services. So if you don’t want that and you want your little family to be safe I suggest you think wisely on your next move.”

~~~

John pauses when he feels something tug at his sleeve and he looks down at Adam.

“Hey, don’t worry about. Seriously. I would say I’m doing my job, ‘cus I am, but this is bigger than that. This is what should have been done before, and though it’s not about the past, I can’t help dwelling on those mistakes. I’m not making up for lost time, I’m making things right.”

He looks over to Leila and Adam’s father.

“I had the wool pulled over my eyes for too long and it’s cost so much. The rest of the team, and I use the term loosely let her and me down. I won’t let that happened again. Get some rest.”

He puts his hand on Adam’s shoulder and squeezes it reassuringly. He then walks over to Leila and Eddie.

“Let me know what you need.”

Leila squeezes Eddie’s hand and looks back to John and nods.

“Will do.”

She listens to Ellie and Eddie go over things, she knows this has to be fixed. She knows she has to find Phillip. Giving up isn’t an option. Having her family here helped massively, and she extended that to Derek and Titch.

Having John here, well she felt like she was back on the force. They were a great team then and a stronger team now. They worked well together each knowing when or what the other needed without overstepping boundaries. She was grateful for that.

“You’re a good man John, and a great detective.”

She looks back to the phone, though the screen was smaller, a FaceTime was needed. She goes on to explain about the false leads and the cruel use of evidence.

“Ellie, wheres’s Charlie? Is he alright? I need to talk to him, and John needs to talk to you about anything you may have found.”

She explains what’s happened and waits to see him.she raises an eyebrow to see he has a pipe in his hand.

“Charlie, I promise you’re not in trouble. Can you tell us what happened? How did you get the pipe, what did you see? This could help mummy find Phillip.”

Then Leila explains, and thank goodness they’re all already aware of the supernatural elements now firmly established in their situation, or Ellie may have thought Leila might have gone mad.

Charlie, Mummy wants to talk to you.

She tries to keep her tone as light as possible as she enters his bedroom, phone in hand. If Charlie really has seen what they’re all sure he has, the last thing he needs is the stress of thinking he’s in trouble.

Charlie’s clutching at the pipe, squeezing his eyes and desperately trying to send it, but it won’t go. Why?! It worked all the other times, and if Phillip has a weapon, he can beat Dillon up himself. He only stops when he hears his Mummy’s voice, finally looking up to see her. She’s tired, and worried, and…angry? But not at him. Even without her saying it, he knows it’s not at him. Grammy hands him the phone and he holds tightly onto it as he tries his best to remember everything. If this can help find Phillip, he needs to do it as best as he possibly can.

Well…I fell asleep, and then I woke up and I was stood in front of a super scary house, and something made a sound, so I ran into the house, but I, like, went through the door, like a ghost or something, and then I heard voices and I ran upstairs, and then the mean lady who used to be your friend said Phillips name and locked a door, so I went through that door like a ghost too, and…

Charlie swallows as he remembers that initial image of Phillip.

Phillip’s really, really hurt. He was all floppy and he sounded sleepy, and I tried waking him up more, but he was too tired. Then he gave me Teddy, and I told him he’s not allowed to give up, and then I got the pipe from the wall and smacked at the metal thingys on the window, and then Dillon opened the door, and he said something and tried to grab me, so I was going to hit him with the pipe, and then I was back here.

Adam lets his eyes open for a moment at the mention of Dillon. So he had tried to hurt Charlie. Good to know. So much for his ‘promise’. He shuts his eyes as he thinks of exactly how he’s going to follow through on his warning.

Eddie realises Charlie hasn’t fully understood Leila’s question, though it was good to know Phillip was indeed still with them.

Can you remember what the house looked like? Could you draw it, bub?

Charlie drops the phone on his bed and scrambles to grab a sheet of paper and his pencils. He draws as quickly as possible. The broken bricks of the house, the large, dead field surrounding it, the spooky tree’s in the distance, and the dirt road. He does a second drawing of the hallway he’d found upstairs, and draws an arrow to the door Phillip had been behind.

Ellie takes the phone and gets Charlie’s drawings in frame as he holds them up.

Oh, that's the old Oliver house.

They all turn to look at him expectantly. Titch comes up beside his husband. He makes sure to preface how they know the story, so nobody questions how they know about all the crime that goes down in the village.

It's a bit of village history my dad wrote about in his diaries.

This place on the edge of the village, where Jamie Oliver sold magic soups from. Well, like Margaery's magic the soup was drugs, and they were in competition with each other. Even though all the drug dealing in the village is an open secret, all right, someone called the police, and the house was raided.

The Oliver house has been abandoned ever since. Margaery tried to take over the territory, but the building has been in police custody ever since.

Titch and James's father noted his suspicions that it was Old Lady Margaery who called the police on Jamie Oliver, but nobody mentions that part aloud because she hears like a fucking bat.

The description of Phillip was mortifying she daren’t start to think what they might have done to him. What she endured was over months and years, it seems they’ve delivered it tenfold onto him in such a short space of time.

Anger swelled within her as he mentioned the idea of Dillon going towards him. But even though it was clearly an upsetting experience, he looked determined, determined enough to break Phillip out and try and wake him up more.

“Charlie, you’ve done so well. Thank you, you brave, brave boy. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

John glances over to Adam at Charlie’s description no wonder he’s so zapped. He looks at at the picture and is about to ask if Charlie could send it over, when Derek and Titch join. Something about the name rings a bell.

“Wait, I remember that case. I think he’s moved down to slough now, that’s not important hang on.”

John quickly searches through some old files on his phone. Leila looks over. She doesn’t quite recall the case.

“How long ago was it?”

“It was when you were in the cult.”

“Ah.”

There’s an awkward silence til John finds the address.

“Just to be sure…Eleanor, is this the same address you’ve found with Dillon’s information attached to?”

Leila looks to Eddie as John and Ellie collate information.

“This wouldn’t be possible without all of your help.”

John stands back in a moment of victory.

“Yes! That’s it that’s the house.”

“But how do we get there without them using Phillip as a hostage or trying to hurt one of us?”

John looks at Adam.

“How are you feeling?”

Ellie hands the phone to Charlie and brings him through to her desk so she can sift through the files.

Didn’t find an address, but I did find some random co-ordinates.

She sends over the line of numbers for John to run, brimming with John confirms it correlates to the same house.

Poppet. None of this would be possible without you.

He affectionately grasps at her shoulder.

We’ve just the skivvies, you’re the chief here.

Once John and Ellie confirm the address, Eddie skims his eyes across the map.

Here.

He finally says, pointing to a far off section.

If you follow the backroads, it’ll cut off a good 20 minutes, and they won’t know you’re coming.

Adam looks up, feeling reinvigorated.

Never better.

He stands and looks to everything they’ve gathered. The mention of coordinates causes something to dawn on him.

You never turned your GPS off in the car, did you?

He turns, and sighs as Johns reaction confirms it. His incredulousness doesn’t last long though.

Actually…actually, yes, good, that’s good! I can mess with it, send them on a goose chase!

Adam must be feeling better then.

“We’re not supposed to turn it off for our safety. But in hindsight, this is a different situation. Noted.”

He looks to the others.

“Leila we have an idea.”

He looks back to Adam.

“So, you think you can you can send the gps too. Look like we’re going to the police station, but we’re actually going to that house? Perfect.”

Leila looks around the room.

“As soon as we find him, you’ll be the first to know.”

She goes back to Ellie and Charlie.

“Don’t worry Charlie, we’ll find him I promise. Just be good for Grammy okay? I love you.”

John comes back with a flask of coffee.

“Okay, just checked the car, we have everything we need. Adam included. So, ready when you are Boss.”

Leila rolls her eyes, but nods.

“Okay, let’s go.”

~~~

Harding drives quickly to the Station, glancing over at for High Priest.

“Plan of action. Whatever you know about Leila from when she was in the cult, she’s was one of my best detectives along with John. I knew she’d have that place shut down in a year or , but I just had too much riding on it being open. Would have been perfect. But then her meddling husband got in the way and weave well, we had to dispose of him.”

She watches his expression.

“You didn’t know? Oh your High Visionary has a lot of things hiding under the surface. I truly believe if that farm boy hadn’t come around we’d still be there. As it was, no fire.”

She sighs with frustration.

“Then again, if Dillon wasn’t going to try ad sacrifice them…oh well. We’ll get them and a new addition with John and rebuild.”

~~~

Dillon paces the bathroom as he looks at Phillip. Something was off and he could feel it, he couldn’t quite put a pin in it though. He wonders if it’s the prospect of an angry Adam. Last time he really did a number on him, and now he wasn’t so sure that it might not happen again. But he swears he was only reaching for the pipe.

He’s brought out of his thoughts when he hears Phillip coughing. He whirls around and glares at him.

“What was it about her Phillip? Was it the tea? The way she sat with you on the bench? The way she tucked that stupid little buttercup behind your ear?”

He scoffs and raises an eyebrow.

“I watched the whole exchange. I watched as I saw your world crumbling only for it to be rebuilt by her in mere minutes. Fascinating display really. And now look at-…”

He stops when he hears a car pull up from outside.

“That’s quite enough of that I think. Don’t do anything stupid now, will you?”

He goes to the bathroom door and flicks the light off, leaving Phillip in total darkness. The sound of metal and loud clicking from the lock is all that can be heard once DIllon is gone.

~~~

“This is it.”

Leila says impressed with how close Charlie’s drawing was.

“No vehicles, Adam, it worked, Harding at least has gone to the station.”

“John look a light’s just turned off.”

“Fuck.”

“Do you think we’re outnumbered?”

“It’s 3 for 3 if you count Adam.”

“Plan of action. We all go in, assess which one has been left behind, Adam, if it’s Dillon, give him a good scare, and If I get my hands on him, I’ll give him more than that.”

“Leila…”

“Right. John, you and I look for Phillip. But I think we should split up. We can cover more ground, it’s a smaller house.”

“Got it. I’ll take the bottom floor.”

“I’ll take the top.”

Can you hug Phillip for me when you find him, please, Mummy?

It’s the same request he’d asked of Phillip when Mummy was still getting better, before Charlie and his grandparents could come see her.

Once the call ends, Ellie scoops Charie up and holds him close.

Won’t be long now, Bub.

Charlie frowns a little, not convinced. He’d seen how poorly Phillip looked.

What if we don’t get to Phillip in time and he dies?

Ellie freezes at the question. Whatever Charlie saw in that house has traumatised him even more than from before. It’s stolen a part of his innocence. The thought fills her with even more resentment than she already held. She takes his face between her hands, making sure he’s looking at her.

They will. No more bad things. Not any more.

She pauses, realising her words probably fall a bit short for Charlie, who’s known more ‘bad things’ happen in his small life than most adults do. Even if they do get to Phillip, Charlie probably won’t feel safe until he sees him himself.

What do you say to no school tomorrow? We’ll call Mummy as soon as she brings him home?

Charlie nods, clinging tightly onto Grammy, trying his hardest to push the scary images away.

-

The entire drive to the house, Adam is focused on two things: altering John’s GPS location, and what exsctly he’ll do the moment he sees Dillon. He nods in acknowledgment when he sees Harding’s car missing.

Perfect.

He listens intently as Leila lays out the plan, giving a humourless laugh when she says doing more than scaring him.

You and me both, hun.

He looks up at the window that went dark a few seconds ago. If it only just went out, then someone’s upstairs.

I’ll ping there.

He says, pointing to the window.

See who’s up there.

He does just that, seeing Phillip slumped in the dark, battered, bruised, thinning, weary, and generally looking incredibly worse for ware.

Demons, the pair of them.

He mutters to himself, though he flinches as Phillip seems to acknowledge him. He dismisses it quickly, too focused on the task at hand.

He strides through the wall, spotting Dillon just starting to descend the stairs. ‘Get him out of the way.’ Adam veils himself from Dillon’s view, and steps through one of the other doors in the hallway, before Bashing his fists against the wood as hard as he can.

It’s Showtime.

Just for the butterup to be crushed.

Dillon's tirade of insults. Using his love for Leila against him. Is only cut off by the sound of a car outside. Had it really been that long and Harding had returned already?

The room goes dark, and it's not like Phillip could do anything if he wanted to. He couldn't muster up a response to even shut Dillon up anymore. With the lights off he doesn't even feel fully awake or all there. Feels nothing. Sees nothing. Only tethered to reality by sound.

Demons, the pair of them.

Someone says. A specter of a man Phillip vaguely recognizes, but doesn't quite know. He's seen his face somewhere before. In a picture? He stares at him trying to piece who he is. If he'd only seen him in a picture why does his voice sound familiar.

...Yep.

He agrees. With whoever he is. But then the man disappears and Phillip realizes he probably hallucinated the whole thing. That's not good. He hears footsteps racing around the building, one on the stairs as those get closer. But apparently he can't even trust his ears.

Phillip curls in on himself and in the darkness, he doesn't even realize when his eyes are closed vs. when they're open. Does it even matter?

“No.”

His eyes widen and he looks around.

“I don’t know what he’s said…”

He says in fear to the air.

“I was going for the pipe…He was making too much noise. Couldn’t have him getting hurt! We…we made a deal!”

If there was one thing he knew was for certain, there are times when he knew he could talk his way out of things and times where he knew it would fail. The weeks with no torment have been bliss and he just had to forget himself. He swallows, not sure if what he’s about to do will incur Adam’s wrath more.

“How did he get here in the first place?!”

~~~

John watches as he sees Adam zip past him, he takes cover in a dark corner as Dillon goes by too. When Dillon goes through the door, and Adam starts messing with him, John grins and makes his way through the bottom half of the house. He checks everywhere that has tiles and a radiator. The kitchen was the first choice, but that came to no fruition. He carries on carefully, and watches as Leila heads up the stairs.

He wants to follow her. Make sure she’s safe, but something is telling him to stay on the lower level. Maybe it was the fear of Harding coming back, and he needed to get to the car, or slow her down. At the very least, he knows he will do anything to stop her from getting to Leila and Phillip. He continues his search.

~~~

Leila heads up the stairs and starts at the room closest to her. She thinks about Charlie’s drawing, if he was right, which he was looking to be, Phillip was being kept in a room that had bars on the window, with one pane shoddily patched up.

She makes her way down the corridor, each room opens freely as she checks them until she comes to a locked door.

“Phillip?”

She calls as she tries that handle. No use. It was locked. She waits for what she presumes is Adam to make another sound before she shoulders the door to try and open it. Though it’s an old house, it’s not as maintained as the Visionary building was, the wood was old and frail, she was sure she could do this.

“Stay away from the door!”

She ages a few steps back and shoulders it again to open it. There’s a crack this time and she can almost see it opening.

Third time’s the charm when she forces herself against it and it swings open and almost off of it’s hinges. She pauses in the doorway to catch her breath. When her radio goes off.

“You okay?”

“Copy that, all good, just getting a door open.”

“Got that. No problem.”

She takes a deep breath and shines her torch inside. When she locates the light switch, she turns it on and turns around to see him.

She freezes.

“No!”

Her breath catches in her throat and she almost drops her torch clattering to the ground. The room is deeper than she imagined, there’s bloodstains on the floor and walls and worse yet, on him.

“Phillip!”

She runs over and slides to her knees to get to him. He’s curled into a ball and barely moving. She can feel the tears brimming in her eyes.

“Phillip, I’m here. I’m here. You’re going to be alright. I’m here, please, please wake up. It’s me. It’s Leila.”

She reaches forward and oh so carefully pulls him around to face her. She swallows thickly as she takes him in. He’s battered and bruised, his hands are covered in lacerations. He’s thin, oh so thin, and his beard has grown. They’ve not even spared him the dignity of clean clothes and they’ve taken his shoes. She wipes away the burning sensation in her own eyes and tries to wake him.

“God, what have they done to you?”

He’s still wearing the same clothes that he worse on her birthday. He’s barely awake.

“I’m going to check you over. I need to move you.”

She manoeuvres him and regretfully peels the sorry excuse for a duvet off of Phillip’s frame, he barely responds, but tries to curl up more from the cold.

“You’re as cold as ice. We have to get you out of here.”

She sees the chain around his ankle and gets the bolt cutters.

“Keep still.”

She watches him, it was hardly like he was going to move, but just in case. She cuts the chain as close to the cuff as possible, being careful not to make the metal ding in anymore.

“Phillip. Can you hear me? We’re getting out of here. Can you stand?”

She takes a deep breath and moves him to sit up. She doesn’t know how long she’s been but she knows she’s running out of time. She activates her radio.

“John, need you to get to the car. Start the engine. I’ve got him. I can bring him to the car. Need you to be ready.”

“Got that. Going now.”

He does, he makes his way back down the corridor, to where Adam is torturing Dillon.

“Adam. She’s got him. We have to go!”

Leila brushes her hand through Phillip’s hair and her heart breaks when he flinches away from her.

“Phillip, We’re going to get out of here. I’m getting you out of here. Hang on. It’s okay. It’s okay…”

She could only be rational, emotions would be no good in this moment. She hooks an arm around him and helps him to stand. They hobble, he’s too weak, to limp to move, to the stairs.

Leila takes a deep breath and hauls Phillip into a fireman’s carry to get down the stairs. Once at the bottom, he can barely stand now.

“Hang on. Just a bit further.”

With all the adrenaline she could muster, she lifts Phillip into a bridal hold. She doesn’t care how ridiculous it looks with the height difference. She just has to get him to the car.

“Call ahead. Not much time.”

As Leila is getting Phillip to the car Adam blinks into the front of the car, he calls the farm.

“We have him. Heading to the hospital now.”

John watches as they emerge from the building. He helps Leila put Phillip into the back seat. Leila holds Phillip close.

“John. Blues. Hospital. Now!”

“On it.”

He nods, starts the sirens blaring and radios ahead to the hospital.

'Phillip!'

He hears her voice now too. The sounds of someone colliding with a door. He tried that. There's no way they can get out of the cellar that way... she's stuck down here with him. And she told him he's stupid for going back.

Then he sees her. She looks panicked, but her black eye is healed. So this isn't the cellar. No, because he escaped that. He curls up moments before the cold actually registers.

'ila?

He watches her through half lidded eyes glancing through his lashes but never looking away as she stares at him back her gaze roaming across him.

She does not like what she sees.

'You’re as cold as ice. We have to get you out of here.'

N't real...

He reminds himself. This isn't Leila. She's not here. He's not going to be saved. He doesn't even push her away or tell her to run, because this isn't actually her.

But the vision won't fade. The longer it stays the more it hurts.

He feels a hand in his hair and pulls away from it. He can't handle being lifted up by his hair anymore. It's a stinging pain and not in the good way. Didn't he used to like that feeling? When it was nice and gentle...

There's a click of metal. He tries to stand when she asks him too, key word is try, and the next thing Phillip knows is he's being bodily lifted off the ground. It hurts his rib but he doesn't even outwardly react. The second position he's carried in feels a bit better.

Is this what dying feels like?

That scene in snow white when the prince kisses her and carries her off on horseback to the castle in the sky. Some theorize it's supposed to represent her dying and going to the afterlife. Is this Phillip dying and going to the afterlife?

When he looks up at who's carrying him it still looks like Leila. He lays his head against her. He blinks and now it feels like they're moving even if Leila is seated. There's lights and muffled sounds. This all feels so disorienting but at least he gets to see her now. He looks over at her dazedly, and smiles slightly.

I love you.

He says his gaze still on her. Though he isn't quite sure why he'd say it knowing she's not really there. It doesn't matter. On the off chance she was he felt the need to say it again. He's always pointed out the obvious, stuff people should know.

Then he questions how Charlie found himself in the house, and for whatever reason, that’s the straw that breaks Adam. He morphs himself into his ‘decayed’ form, looking even more skeletal and ghoulish than the last time he’d put on the costume. His skin looks so thin, his bones are starting to poke through the skin all over. His eyes look as if they’ll pop out the sockets at any moment, unnaturally wide and protruding. He emits that familiar fragrance of almonds, before seeping through the door and revealing himself to Dillon, silently satisfied as the man startles to the ground.

You broke that deal the second you let that first letter burn!

He snarls, making a black, tarry substance drip from his mouth as he speaks. He starts backing Dillon up down the hall, looking at the three other doors by their sides. He makes them slam open, apparitions of all of Dillon’s victims stood glaring down at him in disgust. Thomas, Gemma, Tommy, Leila, Eddie, Eleanor, Charlie, Andrea, Dillon’s Father and Mother, even a handful of the cult members Adam could remember the faces of, they’re all there, filled with pure contempt.

You’re the reason he was here.

He has Dillon be dragged to one of the walls by an invisible force, forcing him to sit with his back against it, unable to wriggle away. The apparitions step out and stand with Adam. Charlie comes to take Adam’s hand, judging eyes still locked on Dillon.

You tried to take everything from him. And he knows you’re the reason all of this has happened. He hates you so much, he willed himself here. And he led us here, all by himself. You got outsmarted by a six-year-old.

He chuckles, and the apparitions grab Dillon, some clutching at his arms and legs, the others gripping any part of him they can reach, before they haul him up to his feet. They lock him in place against the wall as Adam takes a step closer to Dillon.

He’s sure going to remember you when he’s older. I suppose, in that sense, you got what you wanted.

Adam clasps his hands around Dillon’s scalp, squeezing just enough to hurt, and for the bones of his fingers to poke against the skin.

Energy vibrates from Adam’s hands, and he floods Dillons body with every ounce of pain he’s caused, not just Adam’s family, but all of his victims. All of it. Every punch, burn, slap, or kick he ever dealt to Leila, Thomas, and the other cult members. All the fear Thomas felt every second he spent under Dillon’s thumb, and every ache in his heart when he thought of Gemma and Tommy. All the self-loathing that came with each demeaning insult. He feels the two years worth of anger and anguish that Gemma shouldered alone, incensed that she’d be left to raise a child alone, whilst mourning the deep love that had been snatched away. He feels Eddie’s seething rage, and Eleanor’s aching grief, losing a child they’d been desperate to have, all because Dillon couldn’t give up on his fantasies.

Adam makes sure Dillon really feels the torment he’s put the children through. He sees every time Tommy asked when Dad would come home, only to be told he won’t. He sees the night Charlie was taken to the foster home, terrified as he sobbed himself to sleep, knowing Adam was never coming back. He sees Thomas exploding into a frantic tirade in the middle of their home, caving under years of trauma, Tommy having to watch in frightened confusion, not knowing the full extent of the abuse his Dad faced. He sees Charlie, cowering under a table, shaking, and crying so hard he can barely breathe.

Lastly, Adam shows him Leila, screaming at the top of her lungs as she clutches Phillip’s sweater. The anger, pain, remorse, hate, and the near hopelessness; it rattles against Dillon’s very bones.

You’ll be remembered, Dillon. As what you truly are. Loathsome. Vile. Cruel. A vermin.

He lets go, a satisfied grin on his face at the look on Dillon’s face.

He turns to see John, giving a quick nod, before turning back to Dillon.

Hope it was all worth it, Dillon.

The apparitions suddenly throw him to the floor, before they start attacking. Punching, kicking, twisting limbs in unnatural positions, all with crazed looks in their eyes, and unleashing the most animalistic, corse noises Dillon’s ever heard. Adam allows them to keep going, until Dillon’s matching Phillip in different shades of black and blue, along with some healthy smatterings of red.

See you in hell.

With that both he and the apparitions disappear, and he pings to the front seat of the car, watching as Leila and John haul Phillip into the back.

The strain of the emotional turmoil he’d channeled in particular hits him, and he lays his head back, trying desperately to hold the veil on their location up. It’s still slipping.

Shit, GPS is gunna slip any second, mate. I’ll keep it up as long as I can, but go as quick as you can.

-

Eddie could laugh with hysterics. They got him. He’s clearly not in a good way, but they got him, and no one else has been hurt.

We’ll meet you there!

He realises as he looks up at Derek and Titch that that was probably a bit presumptuous.

If that’s alright?…We should probably call his mother as well, pick her up on the way?

-

Ellie’s fell asleep no more than a few minutes ago, cradling Charlie in hers and Eddie’s bed, after he’d asked to stay with her instead of sleeping alone. She’d instantly agreed, frankly not wanting to be alone herself. At least if he poofed somewhere he shouldn’t be again, she’d know instantly and be able to let the others know.

Then her phone rings, and she’s pulled from her light sleep, snatching the phone from her nightstand and answering after only one ring.

Hello?

They’re out. We’re heading to the hospital now. They got him, Pidge, they got him!

Ellie covers her mouth to stifle her relieved sob, looking down to make sure Charlie’s still soundly sleeping. Better that he’s well rested, and that the doctors have had time to check Phillip over before letting him know.

Charlie stirs as Grammy moves slightly, but he stays deep in sleep, a slightly odd image in his dreamscape. Phillip and Mummy are in the back of a car, whilst John and his Daddy are sat in the front. Mummy’s holding Phillip close, who looks just as floppy and poorly as when Charlie had seen him, and John presses a button that makes a siren blare and blue lights flash outside the windows. Most of it makes sense to him, but the fact he’s seeing it doesn’t. He looks to Phillip, wishing he could reach out and tell him that it’s okay now, Mummy has him, and everything’s going to be okay. He doesn’t dare though, not after the last ‘dream’ he had.

“I didn’t burn it! It was her! I didn’t have time I…I…”

He knew pleading would t work. And the next thing he knows he feels like a rag-doll being tossed around.

“Wait…”

He breathes but it’s no use as every awful thing he’d done comes back to literally haunt him. He’s not sure if they’re really here or if Adam’s rage is causing it. One thing he does know is how real it feels.

The pain, not just his, but theirs. Years of torment coming back on to him. He flinches and closes his eyes but he can’t escape.

Just like they couldn’t.

He can’t fight back.

Just like they couldn’t.

His horrid deeds come back to him, upon him and rattle his very core.

He spits the blood from his mouth and tries to crawl away. Eventually he gives up and curls into a ball, he takes the savagery l, not bothering to fight back.

A part of him knows this is what he deserves.

‘See you in hell.’

It stops.

He wishes Adam had killed him.

He lies there, beaten and bloodied, he barely looks up when he hears Leila’s voice over John’s radio.

He’s left totally alone until Harding and the high priest find him.

~~~

John sips from his travel mug as he pulls away from the absconded building. He doesn’t look back he just goes forward. He’s laser focused on the road, taking in every vehicle around him. He listens for Leila’s instruction but otherwise ignores everything else.

He expertly drives along, weaving between traffic and pedestrians safely, but fast. He’s going faster than Adam did with the truck. Right now. He had to get a dying man to hospital.

Leila holds Phillip and presses a kiss to his temple.

“It’s not far. John will get us there. Please don’t give up.”

He’s so cold in her arms. She wants to pull the hair from his eyes, let him know it’s okay.

‘I love you.’

He’s slipping from consciousness.

“Phillip, please, please stay awake. I love you too, I love you so much. And you’re here with me. I’m here. I’m real. I promise I’m real, please Phillip. You’re in my arms. I’m hugging you, Charlie asked me to give you a hug too. We love you so much. Just a little bit longer. You’re going to be okay. Please…”

She tries so hard not to sob. She pulls him closer, not knowing what’s been done to him. Or his rib being broken, or that he was dragged along by his hair. She tries not imagine it. Right now she has to focus on keeping him alive.

“I love you. I’m here. I’m here.”

A calmness washes over Adam as he realises what he needs to do. Leila needs Phillip, far more than she needs Adam now. So does Charlie. Andrea needs him. Maybe when Adam’s soul was brought back, it was for this very reason.

He turns to John, only able to offer a determined, though mildly frightened stare.

The GPS will go back to normal in a second…You’re a good officer John. And a brilliant friend.

He twists himself in the chair so he can lean over, arms out ready. Just as he’s about to place his hands against the back of Phillips head, Leila unknowingly catches his gaze. She’s so frightened. It only further cements the fact that this has to be the way it ends.

Have a beautiful rest of your life, baby.

He shuts his eyes, takes Phillips head gently into his hands, and pours all of his remaining energy into him. It seems to take forever and no time at all, as Phillip absorbs golden light throughout his body. Adam feels his own eyes droop, but fights against it. He needs to give Phillip everything, give him every drop of his own life force for him to have a fighting chance.

I know you’ll look after them.

He mumbles, starting to see stars.

I know you'll love them…

Then, all at once, Adam see’s and hears nothing, assuming he’s drifting back into the ether from whence he came.

Only his ‘body’s still there, flopping backwards against the car door, completely limp and unresponsive.

-

Charlie sees the panic and distress, helplessly watching as his Mummy begs Phillip to wake up, just like he had. He was right. They were too late, and Phillip won’t ever make it to the hospital.

Then his Daddy’s saying something to John that Charlie doesn’t fully understand. He says something to Mummy, and Charlie watches as light fluxes and beams as it soaks into Phillips skin, before Daddy falls back and goes to sleep. Charlie blinks. He doesn’t know what just happened, but he knows that something’s happened. Something magic. He looks back to Phillip, hoping beyond hope that whatever Daddy just did is enough to wake Phillip up, even a little bit.

Alright love.

Tey share a quick kiss before Derek rushes out to the car and begins dialing Andrea Willoughby's number. She picks up instantly on the first ring.

They've found him. He's being taken to hospital as we speak, alright. We're going to come and pick you up. Which station?

He starts the car as Eddie gets in.

He's alive.

Derek confirms. His tone conveys everything. He's alive right now as far as they know. There's been no update son his condition, but they're hopeful.

-

He's being hugged. Held onto for dear life like he could slip away at any moment. Phillip hears voices layer over each others. Leila's pleading for him to stay awake saying she loves him, and another voice a resigned yet hopeful one trusting him to love and look after those Adam cares about.

Suddenly he doesn't feel on the verge of unconsciousness. Everything gains clarity, he can feel a bit of pain, and he can feel how cold he is, and he can feel Leila as she is physically there. And it's real. He's safe.

Leila?

Nothing else matters but her, he's only watching her, and he really wants to kiss her but when he coughs. His body now having the energy to. He coughs out a bit of blood and has the mental wherewithal to realize that's not the best ide right now.

I'm here.

Then he hears a new voice. John's. And he looks over to see the man driving the car and another slumped over in the passenger seat. The same spirit looking man he saw before. So, he's not completely out of the woods yet.

He looks back at Leila.

Pleased to see you again.

Theres a bit of humor in his smile, like he's hoping to distract her form the fact he was on deaths door a minute ago.

By the time they make it to the hospital he finds the newfound energy fading slightly. He's pulled from Leila's arms by medical professionals and through she tries to hold onto him, out of fear, he can't hold onto her back.

They lay him on a gurney and rush him through the hospital hallways. Doctors speak over him while inspecting him. Read out monitor readings, none are normal. They mention the cuts on his hands, and his temperature. But seeing he's awake they reassure him and ask him questions. Same ones he usually gets asked whenever he hits his head.

His name is Phillip Willoughby. He doesn't know today's date, but it's too much to explain that's from a lost track of time and not a memory thing. And he knows he's currently in a hospital. They also ask who the people he was with are and he replies: Leila, John, and they don't seem to need the third name when he trails off trying to recall.

After that the pain medicine and sedatives kick in and he feels himself fading again. It's nicer this time. It takes away his panic and his fears, and he floats down instead of crashes. It helps that he feels safe. That he knows Leila is nearby. That the doctors tell him they're calling his emergency contact. His mum. And so, everything will be fine.

“Mate, what are you talking about?”

Then it hits him. He’s sacrificing himself for Phillip.

“John?”

He falters slightly as he listens to what Adam’s telling her.

“Adam…he’s, sacrificing himself for Phillip. He’s telling you to have a beautiful rest of your life.”

He’s choked up himself as he delivers the news.

“Adam…”

Her voice breaks, he’s been back in her life literally in spirit, and he’s helped her through some of the most horrendous time in her life, now the second and it concerns her current boyfriend.

“I can’t lose you again, but…I can’t lose home too.”

She sobs and looks up, unknowingly into his eyes.

“I love you. I love you both so much. I’ll never forget you. Never.”

She sees the golden light. It illuminates Phillip’s face before dissolving into his very being. She lets out another sob and presses her forehead against his.

Phillip wakes. He’s slightly more lucid.

“You’re here.”

She rasps with a watery smile. She can’t help but laugh through the tears as he tries to make light of things.

“I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to see you.”

John glances over at Adam’s ‘lifeless’ form. He’s still here. Maybe he’s in stasis. Maybe it’ll take a while. He still can’t help but feel at a loss too.

“Bye, mate.”

He whispers as he drives. He pulls up and doctors and nurses are airing for them.

“I’ll meet you both in there, I’ll park up. I won’t be long I promise.”

Leila helps Phillip out of the car and he’s taken from her arms and placed into a gurney.

“We’ll take it from here.”

“Wait…”

“He’s going to be fine.”

“Let me come with you.”

“It’s safer for him if you leave it with us. I’m sorry.”

Leila stands she’ll shocked in the middle of the aisle. She understands their decision but, she’s only just got him back. It feels like forever until John catches up with her.

“Hey…hey…, we did it. He’s going to be okay. C’mere.”

He pulls her into a hug and guides her over to a seat in the waiting room.

~~~

They sedate Phillip and check him over.

“I don’t understand. From his condition, he should t be that active.”

“Perhaps it’s an adrenaline rush? A last push to stay alive?”

“I’m not sure. We have to dress his wounds, get him out of these clothes and check for any infection from the bacteria of the conditions he was in.”

“What were they?”

“The officer who radioed ahead said a bathroom of an abandoned building.”

“Fuck. We’ll have to trim his beard down, I can see some infection from where I can only assume he’s been hit.”

“We’d better get to it. I’ve called his next of kin.”

~~~

“What’s happened to my boy?…That’s all you know? I’ll be on the first train tomorrow morning. Thank you for telling me.”

As soon as Derek hangs up there’s another call, this time from the hospital.

Andrea crashes down into a chair when the doctor lists off everything.

“Malnourished? Beaten? Bruised? What the hell happened to him? Of course, I’m sorry, it’s just…he’s my boy. I know he’s a grown man, but…alright. Thank you.”

She hangs up and starts to pack a bag. She has to see her son. She has to know he’s safe. She swears she will personally find the person responsible for this and give them what for.

Silently she books the trains and gets up to back her bags.

If he dies, I’ll kill him.

A truly ridiculous statement, but the last few days has made him realise just how fond he really is of Phillip. He’d proven Eddie’s paranoid scepticism wrong at every opportunity, and had shown immense understanding for said scepticism. He’d been nothing but respectful and conscientious about coming into their lives, and had embraced everything that came with that so easily. Phillip’s a good man, a great one even, and Eddie couldn’t have been more wrong about him during their first meeting. He’ll need to make sure Phillip knows how deeply he appreciates him, as well as congratulate his mother on raising such an honourable man. Hopefully it doesn’t need to be followed by condolences.

When they arrive, he strides as fast his leg will allow him, which he’ll probably regret in a few hours, pausing as he and Derek enter the waiting room. It doesn’t take them long to spot Leila and John before joining them.

How’s he doing?

He askes quietly, not wanting to startle Leila, given how shaken she already looks.

-

As soon as Phillip wakes up in the car, Charlie wakes up, a strange mix of relief and confusion swimming around in his head. He twists to face Grammy, gently tugging on her sleeve to wake her. Grammy wakes fairly quickly, like she’d not long gone to sleep anyway.