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Colin calls his supplier, who happily checks the delivery list to see who fills those newspaper boxes.  Danny Craine is the name he gets.  Danny delivers to all the newspaper boxes near the arson sites and a few of the news stands in town.

OOC: Do you want to go out o the route and try to talk to him?

OOC: Of course. Kel and friends aren't the only one who can have some irresponsible fun. ;)

Colin slides silently on the damp empty street of the cold october morning. The wind that was so gentle a couple nights ago has gotten a mean edge. He went through his paper route an hour earlier than usual, and got one of his best times on it, to have the time to go to what in his mind he has called the 'fire zone' and intercept the delivery guy there. He has the name of one of the rapists now, but it feels wrong in his mind to go after them before finding the girl. She is more important. She needs his help. They can go to hell later.

He gets to the newspaper box on the busiest street and wait patiently there, rubbing his gloved hands.

Colin doens't have too long to wait.  The sun is still more then an hour away when a beat up van pulls up to the curb.  A guy gets out, in his twenties maybe, he comes around to the side of the van and opens the cargo door, taking papers out.  He comes over to the paper box and opens it, taking out the old papers and sliding in the new ones.  He smiles and nods at Collin, saying "Morning." as he goes about his work.

"Good morning, sir. Excuse me, are you Danny Craine?"

Assuming the man would be quite surprised, Colin quickly explains.

"I'm on my school newspaper staff, and we're doing a piece on the fires that have occurred around here. Since they all started during the night, we thought that someone who worked on the streets on the early morning could have seen one or more of them. Actually the idea came to me because I work as a paperboy. Would you mind if I asked you a couple questions?"

Colin keeps his eyes on the man. He's smiling, but he's also curious about his reactions.

"Yeah, I'm Danny."  He listens to Colin, then nods.  "Sure, I can spare you a few minutes.  Don't know how much help I can be though, the fire crews were mostly doing cleanup by the time I came by.  I didn't actually see the fires, they were put out by the time I came by fro deliveries."

"Oh. I see." Colin is a bit disappointed. This is gonna require more legwork.

"Still, have you got your idea on who could be behind them? The Tribune openly accuses a paranormal. What does people around here say?

There is also the rumor these buildings have been used by teenagers to throw parties. Have you heard of that? Maybe your children talked about that?"

Danny shrugs.  "Dunno.  I guess if the paper says it's a paranormla there must be some proof of that, right?"


Danny laughs, "I don't have any kids, that I know of anyway.  My kid sister has mentioned that these old abandoned buildings sometimes get used for parties.  I guess she went to a few over the summer.  You get a text message with the address or something like that."  he shurgs again, "I'm not up on all the cool in things though."

OOC: I totally missed him being in his twenties when I asked about his children. Somehow I pictured him older. I'm really embarrassed now.  :-[  ;D

Colin does his best not to perk up at the mention of a kid sister.

"Yes, that's what I've heard too. How old is your sister?

Well, thank you anyway, you've been really kind. Usually people run away as soon as I say newspaper. Have a nice day!"

Colin jumps on his bike and runs off in whatever direction gets him closer to a phone book.

"She turned sixteen over the summer.  She's a sophmore over at Trinity High in River Forest."


"No problem.  You take it easy."

As Colin leaves Danny finishes up what he's doing and moves onto his next stop.

Colin looks at the time and considers his options.

Ok. Let's assume this is the right lead. First thing I get a phone book and I take down the address of all the Craines around. Then I need a Trinity High yearbook. I'll check at the public library. If it's not there... I dunno.
I'll ask Chris or Dave.

Let's hope it's her."

Danny Craine is listed in the phonebook, with an address in River Forest.  There are a few others, but the addresses seem a bit far away for the sister to attend Trinity High.

The Public Library is open at 9AM, and Colin is first in the door.  He finds the yearbook for Trinity High for last year, and with little effort finds Darla Craine.  It's the girl he's looking for.

OOC: I'm having a moment where I'm not sure I've already given a name to this NPC?  If not, then it's Darla, if I have what was it?

OOC: I don't think you've given her a name before.

Colin passes his fingers over the the picture of the smiling girl in the yearbook, and feels quite sad.

I'm going to help you, Darla. I won't let you burn alone.

He looks back at the note he took of the address. He wonders if the Danny that he met this morning is a Danny Jr., and the one of the phonebook a Danny Sr. Otherwise, does she live with her brother? What of her parents?
He couldn't imagine surviving what she suffered without his mom.

Looking at his watch, he sees that it's not 10 am yet. It's still a bit soon, and he has something else to do here before going to River Forest.

He asks the librarian for the yellow pages and takes down the addresses of the pawn shops around. He has "his" lighter to find out. Bobby's advice is always important.

He thanks the librarian, and he's out on his bike again.

Colin has to circle and backtrack a few times as the various pawn shops he has on his list open at the oddest times.  He searches several and finds nothing that interests him.  Naked women, assorted devils, skulls, pot leaves, and Chinese characters that he finds he's able to read even though he knows no Chinese that he's aware of.

Finally, he walks into Fast $ Pawn.  The portly man behind the bullet-proof glass and bars is eating a sandwich, and wearing as much mustard as he must have in his mouth.  He nods as Colin comes inside, "What can I get for you, Gameboy, XBox, what?"  The man's voice sounds like tires crunching over gravel, and his every inhale gives the listener the impression that the man is about to fall over dead from a heart attack.

Colin thinks that this man really deserves a picture taken, but also that he would never consent. Maybe if he sneaked one from the window...

Focus, Colin, you're here for something else.

"No, thanks. I was looking for... a lighter? Something nice, it would be a gift."

"Yeah, you don't strike me as a smoker."  He gets up and heads towards a shelf, grabbing a box.  He sets the box into the safe box and pulls the handle, sliding the box onto Colin's side of the Safety glass.

There on top is a Zippo lighter in excelletn condition.  The logo catches Colin's eye.

[img]http://www.kfaq.net/marvels/2011/Game/AtlantaLogo.png[img]

It's the logo of the ship his father died on.

Colin tries not to put on more than an evaluating look, but it's hard to to make his hands tremble watching it. If he wanted a sign, he surely found it. He just wasn't expecting it to hurt so much. He makes a show of watching the others as well but it's like they aren't even there.

"This one 's nice. I like the bird. How much would it be for it?"

OOC: I'm assuming Colin doesn't pick it up, just points at it.

"Hrm.  Le'me see."  The man says pulling the box back through and looking over the lighter.  He makes some grunting noises and holds it up, "For you, ten bucks kid.  I'll even put a new flint in it and fluid, cause I'm a nice guy."

OOC: yep. No touching. He feels weird enough just looking at it.

Colin fumbles a bit with his jacket, but manages to get out his wallet, and two five-dollars bills out of it. He really doesn't feel like haggling over it now. He just needs to get it and get out of there as soon as possible. He waits for the man to be done with the flint and fluid, trying not to twitch too much in expectation.

The man drops it in a small paper bag and takes Colin's cash.  "Eh, pleasure do'ing busiiness with ya.  You have a nice day."

Colin grabs the bag, makes a quick nod of goodbye, and is out of there, eager for some wind on his face. He pedals fast to the nearest park, where he looks for a place that could offer some privacy, and lays the bike and himself on the still damp grass.

Then he lets the lighter out of the bag into his hand, takes a deep breath, and lights it.

Everything but the lighter fades, the world grows dark and then spikes of color emerge form the lighter, forming a new image.  He's in a sunny place, and he can hear seagulls.  "Hey, Blevins."  he calls, but it's not his voice.  It's his father's.  "You dropped your lighter."  A man turns, and shaking his head reaches out to take the lighter.

"Thanks Crow.  Sometimes I think I should tape it to my hand."

Both men laugh, and then the image dissolves into a million grains of sand, and colin finds himself looking at the flame of the still lit lighter, fluttering defiantly against a building breeze.

OOC: Does that work on the latin word of the lighter too?

"Daddy..."

How can I still miss you so much after all this years?

He passes his fingers over the flame, then picks a blade of grass, and let the fire burn it slowly, watching a thin ribbon of smoke rise from that. He inspires and exhales deeply.

"Daddy, I'm about to do your job again. It is definitely a fire this that I'm going to try to put out before someone else gets hurt. And I'm not sure how to do it. Please, if you can give me a hand, from wherever you are."

He watches the flame for another couple minutes, then he slowly closes the lighter. He gets out his phone instead, and texts his friends that he found the girl, but that what he has in mind is gonna be difficult, so they're not to come if they aren't sure they can control their emotions.

OOC: Yes.

OOC:  Did Colin or SO pick out the Atlanta as the ship?  The ship's motto and the motto of the City of Atlanta are the same.  The bird is a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

OOC: Like always happens, doc made the ship up.  I wikipedia'd it and came up with the sub and fate gave us it's logo and motto.

OOC: I picked it at random in my background, and in this contest it was so creepy both SO and I liked it. :) It's  the ship where Colin's dad died in the course of duty. Since he was a firefighter, my mind probably did some weird association and it got me to Atlanta. :)

OOC:  Weird coincidences always pop up in SO's games.  Things just seem to fall into place.

Sammy gets out of bed on Saturday morning, much against her personal wishes.  She'd really rather just hide under the blankets all day today.  She is downstairs plowing through a stack of pancakes and maple syrup (somehow Dad always knows when they are necessary) when Colin's message reaches her.  She responds with "I'll be there soon."  She goes upstairs and pulls on jeans and a sweatshirt, puts on her coat, and heads out.

Sylvia's there to meet Colin at the appointed time and place, looking a little wiped out.  Her late night became an early morning, and her early morning became a grueling training scenario--especially when that dog came out of nowhere and chased them four blocks until they found a balcony to climb.  After answering Colin's call to arms, she'll have to get ready for the game and, after the game, she and Donnie are headed somewhere.  It'll be a hell of a day, for sure.

[Making a few assumptions, sesame.  Happy to edit to your taste.]

Megan had gotten up early, despite being out so late, in order to get out of the house and stay away to frustrate any attempts by the photographer.  Though he would most likely try to come at night to get her getting ready for bed, it was better to be sure.  When she got Colin’s message, she was at the mall, keeping herself busy shopping, which was not quite as much fun alone. 

She looks at her phone for a moment.  While not exactly the most fun thing to do, but clearly something important.  She could not even begin to imagine how the girl felt, and hoped they could some how get through to her.  She would rather help her bring the guys responsible to the police than have to fight the girl to stop her from trying to seriously hurt or kill the attackers.

She texts back, “I’ll be there, where are we meeting?”, as she makes her way back towards the dressing room to change out of the outfit she was trying on so she could get started on the way to where everyone was heading.

Kel wakes up groggy and hung over as his cell phone vibrates on his night stand.  He grumbles as each vibration feels like a drill bit in his head, and grabs it checking the message.  At first he stares at it trying to figure out what girl it could possibly refer to, then when it finally hits him, he thumbs a response of "Sure thang, where?" and drags himself from bed.  He assembles himself a prarie oyster, and then gets ready, heading out for the meeting place once Colin alerts him.

Colin has given appointment in a park in River Forest, not far from Darla's house. They find him already there, toying with a lighter.

Once they're all there he explains how he found her, and his plan to help her.

"You all know that I can ask for the spirits' help in healing someone's body. I also managed healing someone's soul before. Sylvia and Sarah were there. But... this is probably gonna be more complicated. You see, anger... is sticky. We like to be angry, even when it does us harm. It gives us a sort of sick satisfaction. And she is burning with it. Literally. So, if I try to help her, to cure her, I'm afraid she will resist me.
Also, She has suffered. A lot. I bet she's not very trustful of strangers right now. So if you have any suggestion on how to earn her trust, so I can at least take her hand and get her to relax, I'm listening."

Sarah shows up with Sylvia chatting about their run and the dog.  "It was huge!  Monstrous with teeth all over the place.  Who has an animal like that outside of some mad scientist lab?" 

She smiles at Colin and gives him a warm hug.  Her hair is pulled back in a short ponytail and she is pink with exertion from a good long run with Sylvia.  She wraps her arms around her boy and gives him a big hug.  "It was terrifying."  She gives him big soulful eyes before breaking into a familiar grin. 

Colin puts the lighter in his pocket and welcomes Sarah in his arms. Yes. This is exactly what he's going to need.

"I'm so glad you could come. Next time, bring me too. Maybe I can do something about monsters like that."
Colin suddenly thinks of his encounter in the wood. "I have an even scarier story to tell you sometimes. But if it isn't a no-boys-allowed thing, I'd gladly come with you. My running and my rolls could use some exercise. I mean Jack tortures me with those, but it's been a while since I tried them to have fun."

Plus, I get to see you in that outfit... HEY! Brain! Behave yourself! This is not the time nor the place!

John, who had arrived just before Sarah and Sylvia, spoke up.  "She's been practicing, so she's familiar with her powers, but she might not have total control of them.  No matter what, it's best that we try really hard not to make her angry.  People with fire powers have a high instance of anger issues,"  his voice trails off osme, "And mental instability."

Sylvia is saying, "Was it even a dog?  Could it have been a cougar?  Are there cougars around here?" but once Colin tells them what's gone on, all that giddy exhilaration drops away.


"She probably doesn't want to talk to all of us.  Mobbing her won't help.  Maybe call her?  Ask her if she wants to meet us somewhere?  Or do you think she's too far gone for that?"

"Fire needs fuel and air to burn.  If it comes down to it, I might be able to take away the air.  I can try."  Sammy shifts around.  "Sylvia is right.  It might be less stressful for her if she was not confronted by a big crowd.  That might make her defensive.  Maybe just Colin and Sarah should go to the door, and the rest of us could stand by in case she freaks out?"

Megan had arrived just about the same time as Sarah and Sammy, coming from a different direction.  She was dressed in a Nanette Lepore navy cashmere sweater and a pair of Frankie B jeans.  Part of her wished she could have gone home and changed, not as if she could not have done so quickly, but for various reasons knew she could not.  She gave John a smile first, before giving the others one, trying to lighten the mood some, given the task ahead of them.

As the others began responding to Colin’s question, she listened and added.  “I agree, a big group is not a good idea.  Sammy’s suggestion is probably the best Colin, you and Sarah might make the best choices for approaching her.  Sarah should be able to keep you both safe with her staff.  If it comes to that.”

"I really hope I won't get her to burn her own house. But it sounds like a good plan."

He turns to Sarah.

"Would you come? She will probably feel less threatened by a boy and a girl than by a boy alone."

"But it could be dangerous." he adds.

Sylvia seems troubled.  She tries to get it out before Sarah can reply.  "I'd like to go.  I'd like to see this girl."

"Me?  Keep us safe from fire?  I don't know.. no one's ever lobbed fire at me.  Tennis balls, no problem.  Rocks probably no big deal.  Gouts of flame?  Haven't tested that one yet... but what the heck.  First time for everything.  Sammy get ready to block out that air..."

She looks at Colin and nods.  "Works for me I guess.  Should we bring some cookies or something?"

Sarah looks at Sylvia... "You could definitely be there... why don't you travel in disguise?  Shrub?  Trashcan?  That dog? No... not that dog.. too scary.  Maybe a nice golden lab?"

Sylvia smiles at Sarah's perpetual good humor, but that guilty look is on her face again, just for a second.

"If things go downhill, Megan and I can pull you guys out of the way.  But, let's hope they don't go down hill."  John is standin up stright, something most teenage boys don't do.  His general smiling demenour is a bit more serious and he's more focused tehn he has seemed to normally be.

Sarah tilts her head at Sylvia with a whats up look.

Sammy says, "The rest of us should keep her from getting away if she runs, and try to contain any potential damage.  If it is necessary, I can try to back up the talkers or the extractors with an air wall to keep the flames off of them."

And suddenly Sylvia is a stone, nothing on her face but that blank, doll-like expression of utter, earnest innocence.  Donnie warned them.

“Well, as much as I like to fill up my day planner with blocks of time and be organized, I think we are hitting a point where we can try to plan for every possible event but she will still do something we don’t anticipate.”  Megan said.  “We all seem to agree that Sarah and Colin should approach, and Sylvia wants to as well, that’s three, two girls and a guy, so shouldn’t be too threatening.  John and I will be ready to get you all away if she doesn’t want to listen, and Sammy is ready to back everyone up or maybe even stop the girl’s ability to cause any flames at all.  From there, I think we can just be ready to react to what happens, and as Sammy says, keep her from doing too much damage and try not to hurt her.”

She stops a moment and then says.  “But perhaps as important, have you thought about what you will say?”  She asks the three that wanted to go up to talk to the girl.

There is a stiff breeze for a moment, then colin hears a voice.  A familiar voice.  A voice that is painful for him to hear.  "Let her know that she's not alone, that you're there to help her.  Share her pain."

Sarah thinks for a second.  "Hey, she's got a gift.  Maybe she might like to do something good with it.  She might be the next Usual Suspect.  So don't anybody go for the fatality bonus.  Kel I'm looking at you."

Colin definitely thinks sooner or later he'll have to talk with Sylvia. He just hopes she won't be too much of a distraction today. He needs to focus.


The voice is painful to hear, but it's a good kind of pain, if such a thing exist. Also, it makes him feel reassured. As if there was some unseen void deep within him that is slowly filling up.

Thank you. That's what i was thinking too.


"What about the truth? It's always worked for me so far."

Megan looked at Colin as he spoke up.  “Well, I suppose that is the best approach.  But I would say be ready for her to really be resistant to the idea that any of us could really understand what she went through and feels.”

Kel, who has spent more time concentrating on standing up without wobbling, flings his head up when Sarah mentions his name and fatality, then he gives a small heh, "Actually here for quite the opposite reason, the girl I've got no problem with."  He doesn't elaborate any further, just lets it hang what he's there for.

Bzzzzzzz.

Sylvia's phone buzzes with a new text message.

Good Luck! Call aftr evthing!1
Wsh I could b there
<3<3<3
-D

Sylvia blinks at that.  "Donnie's got something else going on.  Won't be making it today."

"That's cool Kel."  Sarah nods to Kel... even if he was looking as green as Reptile.  Is he coming down with something?  Hope not.   Well as long as he doesn't yak when we're trying to look all super.  That'll kill the impression.

"We can try that truth thing Colin.  If she's not buying it ... well lying through our teeth is good to.  I mean... our main goal is to get her out of the arson business before we start reading about terrible things in the news.  We don't have any plan for what to do if she ever so politely tells us to go do something anatomically impossible.  We've got no legal proof.  So what do we do?  I don't think we can just knock her down and drag her off.  That might be kinda bad..  So if this doesn't work out.. we watch her.  There are a lot of us.  We can keep her on the clock and if something goes down we step in.  Call the cops and make a citizens arrest.  It's kinda simple." 
She pauses and thinks about that.

"Which is probably why it occured to me."

Colin looks at Sarah with a puzzled expression for a moment, then he flashes her a bright smile. He never stops finding something he likes in her.

"Sure. Let's call this Plan B. But if you don't mind a little shamany thing: the simplest things are often the hardest to understand.

Ok, let's go. Her house is two blocks from here. I'll give you time to position, then I'll ring the door bell."

Colin walks there slowly, focusing. But there's just a little bit of smile on his face.

Maybe that's where Bobby's perennial smile comes from? His faith?
I have faith too. I knew I was doing the right thing even before daddy suggested it to me.
Daddy is here to help me. I'm going to help her.
I don't know if I'll succeed or not, but I'll do my best. Because I really want to help her.
I'm going to find in my heart the right way to help her.

And whatever happens, it's part of the plan.

Megan grinned at Sarah’s back up plan.  “I don’t think that is really that simple Sarah, but does sounds like a good plan B as Colin said.”  When Colin indicated they were only two blocks away, Megan nodded, and moved over near John as they started looking for a place to wait.  She really wanted to talk to him about some things, but knew that had to wait until later, for what they were focusing on right now was far more important.  She gave him a warm smile and said.  “So, if things go bad, I’ll grab Sylvia, you can get Sarah and Colin.”

Colin and his entorage approach the house, and as they make their way up the walk he can feel the crushing waves of dispair.  He rings the bell and waits.  A minute later a young girl answers the door.  She looks at Colin, Sarah, and Sylvia.  It's obvious she's been crying, but has stopped and wiped her face before answering the door.  "Yes?"  Her voice washes over Colin, and it's filled with the heat of her rage.

Plan B.  Hmpf.  At least they didn't pat me on the head.  Sarah gets over herself by the time they've walked up to the girl's house.  She lets Colin do the talking.

There is nothing more satisfying when things go bad then to have a Plan B to fall back on.

Colin looks at her for a moment, and when he speak, his voice is a bit different. Warmer, a bit deeper, more confident. Something changed.

"Darla? My name is Colin. We are here to help you."

He pauses for a moment. Then resumes, looking straight in her eyes, speaking calmly, slowly, as if his voice could begin to soothe her pain.

"You've suffered a great, great injustice. And you've been left alone with it. But it doesn't have to be this way anymore. I am here for you. You are not alone. What happened is not your fault. You don't have to face all that pain, all that shame, all that rage alone. You can share it with me. Give it to me. I can take it. I am here to help you. Please trust me, just for a moment. Give me a chance. Take my hand."

He gently offers her his hand, and waits patiently for her. She needs her time. She can't trust the first stranger that comes to her door. Not after what happened to her. But he stays there, with his open hand, looking at her with his honest eyes, asking only for a chance, asking only for her not to slam the door on his face.

Take my hand. Help us both.

Darla's eyes well up with tears.  she looks at the others, then back at Colin.  Her lip begins to tremble, and she reaches out her hand to his.

OOC: Colin, Will Save DC 16

OOC: I sure love Invisible Castle, especially for Will saves. :)
Will Save (1d20+4=17) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=846388)

Megan was standing next to John, Sammy and Kel nearby as well.  As the door opened, and Colin started talking with the girl, she started to tense, ready to rush forward at the first sign of trouble.  Time seemed to slow down some to her as she was ready to speed forward, and she wished she had her costume, perhaps she could figure a way to carry it around more regularly.  “I’d tell you to be careful.”  She said quietly to John.  “But from what you have said, you likely are safer than most of us.”

Darla's hand touches Colin's, and he wraps her fingers in his.  Instantly he feels the torrent of emotions surge from inside her, washing over him.  It splashes out and catches Sarah and Sylvia as well, and then the tears begin to flow.  She collapses into colin's arms, and her sobs become his new heartbeat, her tears the blood in his veins.  Her hatred and anger, and guilt and remorse flow into him, and he purifies them.  They flow in with a darkened cast and wash out of him as hope and possibility.

Suddenly Colin knows who they all are.  Their faces, and the smell of their sweat.  He can feel how she felt, and he knows he can share that, that violation.  He could put it into the hearts and souls of those responsible, a stain on them like it is on her.

The backlog of emotion and pain is gone, and with it the lion's share of her rage.  What happened is an open wound though, and it will continue to leak pain.  colin knows he's done all he can, now it's the time for her to find solace in more earthly measures.  To get the help she needs to face the days ahead.

He can hear voices, a man and a woman.  They're thanking him and his friends, for taking this risk to help their daughter.  And suddenly Darla's voice, trembling and weak surfaces, "Mom, dad?"

To the observers across the street the scene seemed normal, until Darla touched Colin's hand.  There was a wave that rippled through the air and a bird made of pale flame lept into existance for a second over Darla, and then it flew into the heavens and faded.  A moment later there were two pale ghosts standing behind your friends, and then they too faded.

Megan relaxed slightly when the girl took Colin’s hand.  She watched the scene that unfolded with a bit of amazement, and fully relaxed as she looked over at the others.  “Umm, it seems things are okay.  Think we should wait for a signal to go over?”  She asks.

Sarah finally closes her mouth from amazement and turns back towards the standby group and gives them the thumbs up. 

Sammy stands down.  "Looks like everything is under control.  Time to go.  I don't know about you, but I have somewhere to be in about an hour.  Some pain in the neck football team needs mood music or something.  Go figure."  She nods to Megan and John.  "See you guys there.  I'll be the one in the shako."  She departs.

Megan nods in agreement with Sammy as Sarah flashes a thumbs up.  When Sammy states that she needed to get go get ready for the game with the rest of the band, the blond teen smiled and waved as she left.  “See you there Sammy.”  She then looked up at John.  “We will need to be going as well soon, but I kinda feel we should probably go over and see what is going on.”  She glanced over at the girl Colin was holding, feeling a lot of sympathy for her.

Kel shakes his head and says, "I don't think we should walk over or anything.  Right now she just needs to sort things out.  We'll wait for them over here, if they think we should be there, they'll ask for us."

Colin holds Darla gently in his arms as long as she feels the need to. He needs time too, to recover. He feels like he was caught in a hurricane, and now he stumbles on the storm-swept shore, slowly putting the pieces of himself back together.


"They helped me help you, Darla. They're watching upon you. You're not alone." he whispers to her. "Now you'll have to pick up your life again. It won't be easy. But I know you're strong and you can do it. And if you need me, if you need someone to talk to, I'll come again."

Once she stands up and stops sobbing, Colin tries to remember how to smile. He's still a little confused, but he doesn't do a bad job of it.

"Darla, there are some friends I'd like to introduce to you. You can trust them. And... if you feel like it, we can talk about what to do now."

He gestures to his friends to come out. And he turns to where he feels the blackbird will be.

Thank you. I don't remember if I ever thanked you, but I do it now. If you hadn't chosen me, I would have never been able to do... this. Just thank you.

And daddy, thank you too. For everything.

Seeing the gesture he says, "Guess they do want us."  He then walks over to the grouping in a lackadaisical way, and then smiles at everyone present, "Howdy."

Megan nodded at Kel’s comment, looked up at John and then started after Kel.  She came over and gave the girl a smile, her eyes showing concern.  “Hi, I’m Megan.”

John remains near the back, trying to stay quiet and out of the way.

Darla invites the group in.  She's still a bit shaken, "I need to call the police."  she says, "I...I killed that man, and I burned those buildings."  She seems to be in a bit of a daze, unable to focus on anything in particular.

Colin sits beside her.

"Yes. But you weren't yourself, you have suffered a great trauma. And you didn't know of that man. Don't call the police yet. I have a friend that may be able to help us."

Colin gets out the phone, and stares at it for a moment.

Then he stands up, and dials a number.

"Stan Juzskowski? This is Colin Crow. We met, I don't know if you remember. I was given your number by Bobby Six-Killer. I... have a problem."

Megan stands near John, a bit in front as they go inside with the girl.  The girl seemed really shaken, thought that was hardly surprising.  Colin replied first, and then says he will contact a friend to see what can be done.  Megan wanted to say something, but could not really come up with anything to say at the moment.  Everything this girl had been trough and tried to deal with all alone.  The blond teen felt rather petty to think that she had ever had it hard trying to deal with her powers on her own during the first month she had them. 

She waited to see what Colin might learn, glancing back at John, hoping to get some sort of comfort from his presence. 

Sarah shuffles in with the rest mostly relieved that she didn't have to test the flame block theory. 

Who's Stan Juzskowski?  Silence is golden though next time around we should probably find out what the entirety of Plan A is first.

She remains close to Colin ... just in case. 

"What can I do to help?"  is Stan's reply.


John notices her glance and puts a hand on her shoulder, moving a little closer to her.

"Well... if hypothetically I knew who is behind the fires that got all over the news, but also knew that it isn't really his fault, since he wasn't really himself, what should I do? He has already suffered enough, and doesn't deserve to be... well, something so awful was done to him, that he couldn't really control it. Should he call the police? Would they understand? Is there... I dunno, a good lawyer that could help him?"

"Someone died, but I think that something could be worked out.  If it was an accident, the D.A. might be willing to accept an offer and let the matter go with probation and counseling.  Is this person a minor, if so then I'm sure some kind of compromise could be reached."

Megan gave John a smile as she felt a bit better and focused back on Colin as he talked to this Stan Juzskowski, she almost rolled her eyes when he talked about his “hypothetical” issue.  That was all but tantamount to saying your hypothetical was anything but.  But it did not really matter, if Colin was even calling this guy first, he likely would give advice “off the record”.  Megan did not really know any criminal lawyers, but she was sure her dad at least knew of some, but asking for referrals from her dad would bring far too many questions.   She just waited to see what Colin might discover, looking over at Darla and giving her a reassuring smile.

Kel has been standing about, watching the whole thing progress.  He's unsure of what to do in this situation, all this touchy feely stuff was Colin's bag, and law stuff was far from something he wanted to get into.  Kel just tries to be as unimposing as possible as he leans against a wall.

"Well, let's say he is.  And that it was kind of an accident... when someone can't really control himself it's an accident, isn't it? If my story was true, what would you tell me to do? Who should I call? Chris could deal with this?"

"I tell you what.  Let me call a friend in the D.A.'s office.  I'll talk to them, and then Chris.  I'll get the facts all sorted out and then talk to you again.  This person, if they actually exist.  Do they need to talk to a counselor or someone right away, or can they make it until Monday?"

Colin looks at  Darla, then at his friends all around.

"Stan, let me check the facts on my story too. I'll call you back shortly."

He puts away the phone and sits back to his place. As he talks, he looks Darla, but his eyes dart around for his friend's approval too.

"Stan is... a friend. A very good friend, with lots of contacts. He says that since you're a minor, and you didn't mean... those things, they could be lenient. You would be on probation, and they would get a counselor to help you. Someone that would help you get over this. He could call his friends on the D.A.'s office, and put in a good word for you. He probably can find someone to help you right now. I think it's a good offer, but I want you to think about it, ok. You should talk with your brother too. I think this would be the right thing to do, but I understand if you need more time. What do you say, Darla?"

"And you?" He turns to Sarah, and one by one toall of his friends. "What do you think?"

Megan listened as Colin explained what Stan could possibly set up, glad that Darla could be helped and not be in too serious of trouble.  She still felt badly that she had to be in trouble at all.  When Colin looks to them for their opinions, she thinks a moment, trying to remember some of the things she had heard her dad mention about criminal law, which were minimal and mostly connected to white collar crimes. 

“I think it is about as good as you could hope.”  She said, looking over at Darla.  “Perhaps they might even be willing to be more lenient, but that is hard to say.  But even with the D.A. working with you, you need to have a lawyer, to advise you of your rights all along the way.”

Sarah nods, "Megan's right.  A lawyer is a good idea.  Colin could probably magic one up for you as well.  Everyone in this room came out to help you today.  If you need anything you can call on us for help.  Day or night.  Monday to Sunday, Twenty-Four-Seven.  Doesn't matter if it's just to talk or your in danger, we'll be there.  You can count on us." 

Megan looked over at Sarah, giving her old friend a smile.  “As much as I respect Colin’s abilities, I don’t think we need to resort to a magic-upped attorney.  Sides, they might have a slight issue of not being admitted to the Illinois state bar.”  She looked back over at Darla as she continued.  “You have a right to have an attorney appointed for you, and while many of those pubic defenders are dedicated and talented, they tend to be far too overworked.  I think we might be able to do better than that.”

“Even the biggest, money making law firms in the country encourage or require their attorneys to perform some pro bono work each year.  With the D.A.’s office likely to be working with you for a lenient outcome, the man hours required to provide counsel would likely be low.  I think I might be able to help find a high quality firm that could provide you with excellent counsel pro bono.”   Megan knew she could not go through her father for this, it would raise far too many questions that she was not quite ready to answer, not to mention the others likely would be leery of the idea of her father leaning anything about them, even if it did not included names and the like.  But she knew someone else she thought she might be able to turn to, someone that she was pretty sure she could trust, given his connection to Jack.

"That would just be wonderful, Megan." he tells her with a smile.

"I need to talk to my brother, but I want to do what's right.  I don't want to live with this, not anymore."  She looks around at everyone.  "How did you know?"

"Well, we have to thank Kel and John. Kel thought it was a good idea to investigate the fires, and when we went there... You see, sometimes I can connect with things, or places, and know what happened there. We immediately decided to find you,to help you. John drew a map of the fires, and it led me in the right direction. I followed it, and this morning I met Danny. And now we're here."

With apparent agreement to the idea of getting Darla legal council, Megan looked over at John and gave him a smile, touching his hand on her shoulder before she moved off to one side so the others could talk while she made a couple calls.  First she dialed Jack’s number.

A brief chat with Jack gets her the information she wanted.

Getting off the phone with Jack, Megan dials in Paul’s number and looks at the cellphone’s screen for a moment.  She felt a bit bad bothering him on the weekend, but she knew it was best to get things rolling as soon as possible for Darla to have good legal counsel.  As much as she was sure Colin’s contact was likely right that the D.A. would be accommodating, the blond teen still would feel more comfortable knowing Darla had sound advice on whatever was offered her. 

Hitting the dial button, she put the phone back to her ear and waited for it to pick up.  When she hears Paul’s voice, she says, “Mr. Patillio, this is Megan Howell.”

"Is everything allright?"  Pauls voice seemed different for a moment, almost spooky through the connection of the cell phone.

“Yes, well, sort of.  I am really sorry to bother on the weekend, but there is something I need some suggestions on or help with.”  She replied, pausing a moment.  “It’s really hard to explain over the phone, but it’s somewhat urgent.  I only though to call you because I know you know Jack Donaldson.”

"And you know Jack?"  Megan hears Paul's voice, more subtle, the way she rememberd it from teh party.  Then he laughs.  "sorry, something just made sense to me.  How can I help?"

“Yeah, I’m…one of his students.”  Megan replied, wondering what exactly had made sense to Paul.  Thinking about Greg, and how he had figured out who she was, and how smart her mom had said Paul was, had he noticed something about her at the party?  Pushing those unimportant thoughts from her mind, she focused on what was needed.  Looking back in the other room where the others were talking, she moved over a little further and replied.

“Well, like I said, it’s a bit hard to fully explain on the phone, but myself and Jack’s other students have found the person responsible for those arsons around the city.  She…she had a terrible thing happen to her, and was dealing with a lot of anguish when her powers developed.  I think she is better now, but lneeds some help and wants to turn herself in.  One of us contacted someone connected with the police force and they think the D.A. might be very willing to make a deal for leniency for this girl.” 

“I am sure they will, but, I would feel a lot better if she had really competent legal advice.  After what she had been through, I would hate for her to take a deal that might not be as good as she could get, or have consequences down the road she isn’t fully advised of.  Normally I would talk to my dad about something like this, but…right now that would raise questions I am not sure I am ready to answer.  I was hoping you might have some ideas on a firm that might be willing to help her pro bono.”

"Ok, I know someone in town who can take the case.  I'll call her, and you're friend can call the firm's office there, Perkins and LeMasters.  Have them ask for Denise Bauer and have them use my name.  We'll get this sorted out, no problem."

Megan wrote down the information Paul gave her for the contact information.  “Thank you Mr. Patillio.”  Megan replied.  “Hopefully if the D.A.’s office is as cooperative as our contact thinks they will, this won’t require too much time.  This girl just deserves to have someone on her side for a change.”

She paused a moment and then added.  “And if could ask you.  Please don’t mention this to my mom.”

"Of course.  It's not my place to mention this to your mother."  Paul says, "Call if you need anything else."

Megan was relieved when Paul said he would not mention it to her mother.  “Thank you Mr. Patillio.  I will have the girl and her brother contact Ms. Bauer first thing Monday then.  I look forward to talking with you again soon.”  She hung up and though a moment.  She might be talking to him very soon, for perhaps he could offer some advice on things that were bothering her and seemed to be drawing towards a collision course. 

Chiding herself for focusing on her own problems, she copied down what Paul had told her more legibly.  Opening a phonebook she found the number for the law firm and then made her way back to where the others were talking.

She walked over towards where Darla was sitting and sat down on the arm of the sofa next to her and held out the piece of paper in her hand.  “Here Darla, this is the phone number for the law firm of Perkins and LeMasters.  You and your brother should call them first thing in the morning Monday and ask for Denise Bauer.  Tell them that Paul Patillio referred you.  Ms. Bauer will represent you in your dealing with the D.A.  My cell number is at the bottom.  I want you to call me once you contact them and again after you meet with Ms. Bauer, okay?”  She gave the girl a friendly smile, hoping to reassure her.

Darla took the slip of paper from Megan and smiled.  "Thank you, all of you.  I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to be a ble to go on before."  She stops suddenly, and her emotions look like the might well up again, but she takes a deep breath to let them settle.  "Thank you."  she says again, her voice soft.

"It's ok, Darla. You're welcome. Now let me call back Stan, and, if you don't need anything else, I guess we can go. I'm giving you my number. For anything, even just to talk a bit. But I think you'll be fine." he says with a smile.

He calls back Stan.

"Hello, Stan, it's Colin again. Things are more settled now, so it's not a hypothetical story anymore. Sorry for that."

He moves to a different room, he doesn't want Darla to hear him explaining things to Stan.

"It's a girl, her name is Darla Craine and she's 15. She has been... gangraped, and in the stress following that she couldn't really control her new powers. We found her a lawyer, Stan, and I think she'll be ready as soon as monday. I think she's fine now, so we don't need a counselor right away, but thanks. And... please, call the D.A. office, but... can I call Chris? I don't want him to think I don't trust him, that I got around him, I just had to protect her. What should I tell him?"

"Just what you told me.  I'll gt a hold of my D.A. friend and we'll get the wheels turning.  Once she has her lawyer, then they can do all the official stuff.  You've done good Colin.  Chris'll be proud of you."

"Thank you, Stan. I owe you one."

He thinks for a moment, and then calls Chris.

"Chris, it's Colin. I've got something to tell you."

He explains him Darla's story and how they found her, in much more detail than he told Stan.

"I'm sorry I haven't been honest and I didn't tell you immediately, but... I didn't want to... put you in an uncomfortable position. I just tried to do what was best for her."

"What matters is you did the right thing Colin."  Chris says, "It sounds like you've got everything under control.  I'll talk to the arson investigators and let them know that the case should be resolved soon then.  Thanks for the update."

"We should probably clear out."  says Sarah.  She smiles at Darla and adds, "You probably need a little time to get this all straight in your head.  If you want someone to talk to, or yell at or go out for a run with or eat pints of Ben & Jerry's... well we're pretty good at that stuff to.  Just contact Colin and he can get a hold of any of us pretty fast.  I didn't think it would be great to throw all our numbers at you at once."

Also probably not great in case someone else gets a hold of those numbers.

"I'm glad it's ok for you, Chris. See you at home. I mean... well, you know."

It's my home, not his home. Yet, at least. Mom said things are fine this way, for the moment. It's not my place, to rush things, I guess.

He comes back to the room where Darla and the others are, and gives her his number.

"It should be all right now. I'll call you on monday to check how it went, ok? Goodbye, Darla."

He hugs her one last time and follows his friends out of the door.

He remains silent for a while, then he starts to tremble. He finds a place to sit for a moment, just to regain his inner balance.

"God and Great Spirit. This has been... intense. I was... I could..." he tries to find the words to explains to her friends looking at him in concern.

"I... cleaned her wounds. I soothed her. I... shared her pain. And it's just within me now, like a dark bag of horrors with all what she felt within. I... I know them. I know their names, their faces, even how they smell."

He takes a deep breath, and looks down.

"I could give it back to them. I could make them feel everything she felt, everything they made her feel. Should I? What...  what do we do now?"

When Colin came back from calling in the information to the police and signaled for them to leave, Megan stood up and nodded.  She gave Darla a hug as well, before making her way outside beside John.  Though she felt good that they, well Colin mainly, had been able to help her, there was still a long road ahead for Darla. 

They had not gotten very far when Colin stopped and trembled some, sitting down for a moment.  Megan looked over at him worriedly before he finally spoke up, explaining what he had managed to do for Darla, and what it had done to him.  The blonde teen felt a great pang of sympathy for Colin, as she touched a hand to his shoulder.  She thought a few moments as he explained what he could do to the attackers, and if it was something they should do.

“I..don’t want to see them get away with this, but..”  She started and then paused.  “The best thing would be for them to be charged with the attack, but that might be extremely difficult as there is no physical evidence left.”  She looked at Colin and asked, “has Chris or Kevin ever said anything to you about whether your visions could be used in court?” (1)

When Colin responded in the negative, Megan nodded, looking down.  “Our choices are really difficult then.  What would we do if we went after them?  Beat them badly, taking the law into our own hands?  As satisfying as that might sound, I…don’t think I can do that, even though we know they are guilty.  As for passing on the experience Colin, I find that almost fitting, but, would that be considered an assault as well?”

She looked around at the others and continued.  “Maybe we can try something else first?  Before we consider that course of action.  We could see if there is more evidence that could be gained?  Maybe other attacks?  More accusers increases the chance of conviction.  If these bastards are repeat offenders, we might be able to watch them somehow and catch them attempting another attack.  Then we would be justified in beating them bloody while arresting them.  And have them for a crime.”




(1) Doc had already told me the answer based on an earlier talk Colin had with Chris, so, to keep from having to put in several short posts, I just moved on. (with Doc's permission)

"We need to get one of them to roll on the others.  Get one of them to testify maybe, or catch them in the act.  This is the hard part, isn't it.  We have these powers that only seem to be good for one thing, but it never seems to be the right thing."  John seems as wrapped up in his own thoughts as the conversation.

It takes Sylvia a while to chew through this.  She's been intent on giving Darla her own particular brand of emotional support, and it's left her a little shaky and drained.  "We find them," she says coldy, "and we make them regret."

Colin nods and listens. He needs this, his friends to tell him what they think, he's not sure he can take the next step alone. That's why he calls Donnie, Sammy and Seth too. All those he involved in this story. He explains them what happened at Darla's, and asks them the same question: what to do now?

(via phone)
"You find them and make them experience what she felt. If they are put away for their crimes, all the better, but they will never look at the act the same way again. i don't give a shit what they may feel now; remorse, depression, smugness. Whatever. they need to know, Colin, and you can give that to them. Plus, if any of them are happy or proud, let Sarah or Megan kick their ass "

(via phone)

Sammy says, "You have the power to make them feel as bad as she felt, or even worse.  I wouldn't make it constant though.  I would let them feel the pain, then hide it behind a trigger.  If they EVER do anything, or even think of doing anything like what they did to her, make it so the pain flows again to remind them.  The only reason I say not to make it constant is because it could backfire on you.  It could drive them insane so that they did something horrible to other people, or they could kill themselves to escape the guilt and pain -- could you live with that on your conscience?  Give them as much punishment as you will, but stop where it starts damaging your own soul.  Does that make any sense?"

"Yes, it does. Till yesterday I was sure I wanted them to realize what they did and who they are, and to know it for the rest of their lives. Now I'm not so sure. One thing is thinking about it, and another is actually doing it."

"I could do it, but I'm not sure I would like myself after that."

"Then stop where your heart tells you to stop, Colin.  Give them enough to scare them into good behavior, enough to make them heartily sorry for what they have done, but not so much that it destroys them or you.  There's a thin line between justice and revenge.  You belong on the side of justice."

Megan was not sure what to make of Sylvia’s cold comment about making them pay, but she didn’t say anything as she listed to Colin talking on the phone to Donnie and then Sammy.  Colin seemed to have a lot on his shoulders with this, and Megan felt badly for him.  “Colin, why should you have to be the one to determine this alone?”  She asked.  “Should we not try some other avenues first?  Like John said, if we could get one to testify against the others, we could get them in jail.  You said you know them?  From what you learned, did any seem hesitant in…participating?  If so, maybe they would be the one to go to get them to roll over.”

Kel clears his throat to get everyone's attention, "I say, we go after one of them, rough them up a bit to get them to testify.  Make them realize somehow that what they did was wrong and then bring the rest of them to justice."  He emphasizes the word justice slightly more than any of the others, though the context makes it seem like he wants them to go to trial, the emphasis seems out of place.

"Colin?  I can hear Kel talking.  Listen, its true that you are the only one of us who knows who these guys are, right? I want them punished as much as anybody else, but I can't let any of us do something to them that you don't want done.  You are the one who will point the rapists out, which means even if you don't do the hitting yourself, it reflects back on you in some way.  Take as much time as you need to decide what to do.  In the meantime, you know who they are, so they can be watched to keep them from doing anything more.  Don't let anybody pressure you, because I know that you'll figure out the right thing to do.  When you know, I'll help you in any way I can to teach them all about compassion and remorse, in a way they'll never forget.  OK?"

Colin listens to each of his friends, and looks at Sarah, who remained silent. He frowns at her for just a moment, since her opinion is important to him, but the frowns quickly dissolves in a smile. She has been with him through so much, she has already given him a lot, sometimes without even realizing it. He can't hold a grudge against her for this. Besides, he think he has an idea.

"I think I have an idea, that would probably make me feel more comfortable, and I hope you too.
I know what they have done. I think I could made them realize this. I'd give a chance, just one chance. An anonymous note, just enough to make them realize their secret is not a secret. This letter would say that they have... how much? one day? two days? To turn themselves in and confess. After that, they are gonna realize what they did and who they are. Just this. No threats. No anythings. Just this.
I really hope they do the right thing immediately, and that even one or a few of them confessing is enough to condemn them all.
If they miss this chance, which is already much more than they have given Darla, that's what will happen. They'll realize. I'm willing to give them just a taste of what they did, and offer them to confess again, but if they don't... Darla deserves some justice, and they can't be allowed to do this to anyone else. I would do as Sammy said, I would make it stay with them, and come up every time they so much as look at a girl the wrong way.

Would it work for you? Would it be right?

I can't pull this off alone though. I'd need your help, if you feel like helping me with this. And if you don't feel like it, I'm not gonna hold it against you. You're my friends. The best I could ever find."

Megan looks over at Kel as he speaks up, a version of what John and she had talked about, but with clearly more force involved.  Then Colin speaks up again, laying out another possible plan.  To her, his plan sounded far better than attacking them, it gave them a chance to go face at least some of the punishment they deserved.  Only a few doing so could end it for the others.  “I don’t know if it will work Colin, but I think it might be a way to get at least a few to come forward and admit what they did.  I would say not to give them much time, two days at most.”   

Kel shrugs, "I suppose it's better than nothing.  I'll help ya out."

"Thank you, Kel. It's important to me, really. If it wasn't for you, we would have never found out about Darla in time. You saved her."

In Colin's eyes, Kel can read only respect and sincere admiration for his so different friend. Clearly he must see something in him.