" You don’t need me here," Cy shrugged. " I’ll swing by Sacha’s then head to your place. If Doc is right then they still want her and Dr. Feelgood might be out of his depth."

" Keep me informed "

Cy threw up his hand, " yeah yeah…"

Ed slid into the van. " Feeling better? "

" I’m fine. I admit I was getting hungry, sorry I couldn’t eat it all though."

" Its all right your appetite will improve, it’s better not to force yourself. Any ideas where we’re going? "

Raine closed her eyes and nodded, " take me to Michael."

" Michael? I thought you said that was a bad idea? "

" It still is but the longer we delay the more um strained things will become."

Ed shrugged, "All right where to boss?"

He watched her worriedly, " why don’t you give me the directions then try to sleep a bit longer? "

She nodded wanly; "maybe I will she whispered I’ve certainly had better days."

The scent of food reminded him he hadn’t eaten or bathed for that matter in days shrugging it off they offered he just wasn’t interested. Daniels was staring at his coffee, Attwood was moving steadily through his with obvious relish. While Sloan merely pushed it around the container. His cell phone drew him from his thoughts.

" Yes. I see. Who was it? All right fine call me if it changes."

Michael pocketed the phone; " they weren’t at Raine’s mothers but someone was."

" More dominants," Sloan asked?

Michael nodded.

" It’s starting all over again," Tom stated quietly. " They’re not going to allow you the luxury of staying on the fence." " They want her sooner or later they will have her, you can’t watch her all the time. When they get her they will break her everyone breaks you know that everyone…. What your left with will no longer be Raine, as you know her. Do you want that for her? "

Sloan urged, " Raine feels we can co-exist doesn’t her wishes in this mean anything it is her life? "

He walked to the desk looking down at the files. " Raine is more trusting in many ways, than I am no matter how often she’s betrayed." His face took on a dark and dangerous cast " I take care of my own never doubt it."

Suddenly his mouth twisting in a parody of a smile, " do you really think its going to be that easy Dr. Parker?" " And Daniels just how do you see all this ending? " Without unity on both sides," he shrugged frankly its hopeless." Once the malcontents are gone, they will come after the rest of us."

" Trust takes time on both sides that can’t be rushed," Attwood said quietly.

" I agree but just what kind of foundation are you offering? I have no desire to submit myself for testing or alterations to help humanity sleep better at night, nor will I help your people indiscriminately

destroy those that are no threat to me or mine."

" They’re trying to destroy us," Sloan pointed out. " We are simply trying to find solutions for those that are in a manner less permanent than theirs."

Michael nodded and took a seat in the chair leaning back, " as I see it there are only a few options unite both sides into one common goal. Harmony with one another’s differences." Or you could alter Homo Dominant into Humans before they alter you into Dominants." But here’s where you run into to a few snags those that really don’t want the honor you will end up forcing on them. Or vice versa in fairness. " And don’t kid yourself Doctor it would come to forcible alterations." And where Dr. does Daniels fit into the scheme of things? " Surely you’ve considered that do you think they will give a damn about Daniels helping you and ignore him? "

" That’s enough Michael," Tom said quietly.

Michael stared at Tom then shrugged, " She has to face reality sooner or later." Michael stared pityingly at Sloan, " why should they care Dr.? " He’s different when its all said and done, do you think because you find 5 or 500 people that swear what an up standing citizen he was through this crisis that will change anything."

" It doesn’t have to. Walter tell them! " She searched his face frantically, only to have him lower his gaze to his desk.

" No Sloan," Michael said firmly, " Tom has always known look at his face he’s accepted it long ago its the price he’ll pay for staying by your side."

" Tom, Sloan whispered blinking back tears it doesn’t have to come to that…"

Tom shook his head. He walked to her, " Sloan it doesn’t matter " He raised his hands cupping each side of her face gently, " I told you I would never leave you that hasn’t changed whatever comes."

Michael smiled thinly. " It will be a witch hunt history is full of them. Like you said Dr. Parker its evolution you have to destroy us your people wont feel safe otherwise." What demons your own insecurities don’t create Lewis and like-minded will. No one will be safe human or dominant alike."

Restless with his thoughts he stood, walking to the window he pushed a slat from the blind down watching the dwindling dance of light across the sky; before the curtain fell announcing the end of the day.

He spoke softly as if to himself, " Destiny Doctor has decreed humanity is about to write another bloody chapter in the annals of history. I can honestly can tell you I don’t see how it can be stopped as much as many of us might want to try. "

###

Continued…