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Insight 2.7. Interlude Panacea

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Thursday, April 14, 2011.

Skitter landed with Panacea near the Dallon residence.

"I don't know if I can do this," Amy whispered. "I don't even know if I should."

"Amy, you remember when I was in the hospital, after you healed me? What you told me to do about my bullies?"

At the healer's nod, Taylor continued. "You told me to just give it up. If there was no way to fight it, just leave it and get on with my life. After we became friends and found out more about you and your family, I've wondered: was that an advice that was just as much for yourself as for me?"

Amy flinched away as if she had been slapped. "What? No!" she denied automatically. Her mind however, said something else. Did she not want to get away from her crippling responsibilities? Did she not want to get away from the always disapproving gaze of her adoptive mother? Did she not have the right to be even a bit selfish?

Taylor stood quiet as Amy looked down thoughtfully.

"Perhaps you're right," the brown haired girl said. "I think this is one of the reasons I like you, Taylor."

"What do you mean?"

"You are the first person who put my needs first, the first person who asked what I wanted," Amy explained. "Not even Vicky ever did that. I know she loves me, but she's... self-centered. You are selfish for me." Amy gave Taylor a hug. "Thank you."

"Do you want me to come with you?" the bug user asked.

Amy shook her head. "No, it would only make this worse."

"Okay. Do you want me to listen in or do you want some privacy?"

"You can listen in," Amy said after a brief pause. The healer felt that this way, she'd have a form of support. And maybe, the girl thought, it is a way to show Taylor that I am strong enough.

"All right, I'll stay close until you tell me to go," Taylor said. "If you decide to leave tonight, I can get you a hotel room until I get us a base."

"All right,"

"And if you want me to cover them in bees, you just need to give the word," Taylor joked.

Amy giggled and drew in a breath.

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Once Amy entered the house of her adoptive family, she heard voices in the living room.

There was a sound of approaching footsteps. The healer could feel the bright aura of her sister.

"Ames," Vicky said as she took the healer into her arms.

One last time, Amy told herself. The healer returned the hug and fiercely hugged her sister. "Vicky," she whispered.

The girls hugged for almost a minute and Amy let herself drown in the physical closure and the bonfire that was Vicky's aura.

"We need to talk," Amy said once she ended the hug.

"Fuck," Vicky sighed at the dreaded words.

Amy went into the living room. Carol and Mark were on a two armchairs. Carol, looked at Amy in disapproval while Mark gave her a small smile of encouragement.

"Amy, it's good to see that you are all right," the man said.

"Your father and sister were worried about you," Carol said. "You should have come home with Victoria instead of gallivanting away with Skitter."

Was this the only thing she could say? Amy wondered. If Vicky went through a traumatizing event, she would have tried to be comforting to her. Instead, she sits there judging me as if I did something wrong.

"I needed to clear my head," Amy said trying to ignore her adoptive mother's eyes. "The confrontation with Tattletale made me realize some things."

The healer took a seat on the sofa and Victoria sat next to her.

Amy took a deep breath. "I've decided to leave New Wave," she said.

Vicky gasped in disbelief, but Carol's glare intensified, while Mark looked at Amy in understanding.

"You can't join the Wards," Carol said. "New Wave needs you."

The woman's words were like a spear of ice in the healer's chest. Even now, the only thing her so called mother thought was what she could do for her team. She didn't see her as family. A feeling of certainty filled her whole being. Until now, she had foolishly hoped that their family might miraculously fix itself. That wasn't going to happen. Carol crossed the line for the last time and therefore, Amy would say her goodbyes from the Dallon family.

I'm done. No more trying to fix what can't be fixed.

"But why?" Amy's sister asked. "What did that bitch Tattletale say to you? I'm going to fucking kill her!"

"No," Amy shook her head. "I'm actually a little thankful to her. She told me and made me realize a few things. Things I needed to know about."

"What things?" Carol asked.

"First, the name of my biological father - Marquis - he was a villain."

Vicky gasped and Carol whole body tensed.

After a few moments, Amy's hand was enveloped by her adoptive sister's hand. "I don't care about that Ames. I don't care who your real father is. You'll always be my sister. You don't have to go away just because of that. And mom and dad don't care, right?" Victoria's gaze went to her parents. "After all, you knew her real identity before she was adopted into our family, right?"

"Yes," Carol answered.

"Thank you, Vicky," Amy said. "You've always been a good sister. But there are two other issues that made me choose this."

"If you're joining the Wards," Victoria said, "then I'm coming with you."

"No you're not," Carol said flatly. "Neither of you are leaving New Wave. You're still underage and I won't allow you to join the Wards."

"I'm not joining the Wards, I'm partnering with Skitter. Let me finish first and then we can talk about what to do," Amy said. "The second reason is your aura, Vicky."

"My aura?"

"Yes. I thought I was immune, but that is not the case. I was simply too used to it. And... there is a problem with your aura."

"Problem?"

"Yes," Amy said and decided to just bite the bullet. "It's addictive."

"Wh-what? H-how?" Amy's blond sister stammered and her face paled in horror.

"It's addictive. It's for the best for both of us if we separated for a time."

"I've talked to Skitter's lawyer - Quinn Calle," Amy said, noting how Carol's mouth curled in disgust at the name. "He'll draw papers for emancipation for me. I'm seventeen - only a year away from legally being an adult, so I think it would be best for all if I got emancipated."

"No," Carol said coldly. "I won't sign in on this. And do you know who Calle is? He works for Villains!"

"I see," Amy said calmly, staring at Carol. Amy wondered if she should ask Vicky to let her talk with the adult Dallons for a while, but decided not to. She might think that there were even worse things about Vicky and that would hurt her sister even more than what she was about to say.

"There's a third thing I realized. Carol, you've never seen me as your daughter. You hated my biological father and always saw me as Marquis' daughter, never your own. You never wanted me and you've been emotionally abusive to me. Staying in this atmosphere makes me unhappy. I've been on the point of breaking for a long time and I don't want to deal with it anymore."

Vicky was gaping at her words, but Carol looked like she had been slapped. Mark was looking pained and a bit ashamed.

"I'd rather we do this as amicably as we can," Amy continued. "I have no wish for a public masquerade; I'd rather we dealt with this quietly."

Amy rose to her feet, went to her adoptive father and gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry Amy-dear," the man said, returning the hug.

"I know. It's all right."

Next Amy went to her sister, whose eyes were wet with tears. "It's all right, Vicky. You're my sister and I'll always love you, but this is for the best; for you and me."

Victoria engulfed Amy into a tight hug. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Vicky," Amy said through her own tears. "You've been the best sister I could have wanted."

After the two girls' hug ended, Amy turned towards Carol's blank face. "I'm going to stay away for a few days. I think it's better to have some space. I'll ask Calle to get in touch with you and Mark tomorrow, about my emancipation and how you want to go about it. For once in your lifetime, I ask that you do what is best for me. That is all I will ever ask of you. It is the least you can do after the way you behaved towards me for all of these years."

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Once Amy was outside, she walked off to Skitter. "I'm ready."

Taylor gave the healer a hug. "You were very brave."

Amy sniffled in Skitter's costume. "Let's go."

The wings of Taylor's Collectors started to beat silently and they rose into the sky.

"So, I've been thinking," Taylor said. "Do you want to stay at a hotel or would you want to stay at my home until I get us a place to live?"

"Taylor, that would put your civilian identity in danger!"

"No, I don't think it will. I'm thinking that if the PRT really wanted to, they could learn my secret identity. I've been seen with you in my civilian identity. Being too secretive might scare the PRT a bit too much. Now that I not only refused to answer their questions, but I also got you as a partner, they might get a little too antsy. If you disappear completely, under a false identity in a random hotel, they might get too paranoid."

"They might," Amy agreed, "but me sleeping at your house would not help."

"It might," Taylor disagreed. "If the PRT get too worried, check on your location and find you at my place, in the company of a civilian they might know you are friends with, they'll be less likely to think you've been kidnapped or mastered. If they find you in some random hotel, they might not like it."

"I see. Long-term, it's not going to put you under additional suspicion, given that at some point they will find out that Taylor Hebert is my only other friend. Shadow Stalker saw us together, so it they'll know about us being friends as soon as they have a meeting about my new status."

"Yeah, so I was thinking to throw them a bone. We can always try something to draw away suspicion from my civilian identity if we need to."

Taylor's tone of voice made Amy think that the bug user would actually relish suspicion coming on her civilian identity. The healer decided not to pry at that moment. Her friend had always showed a lot of care for both of their safety. Whatever Taylor was plotting, Amy felt certain that it was in both of their interest.

"In the meantime," Taylor continued, "I'd feel better if I know you were close. Also... I don't want you to be alone when you most need it."

Amy melted a bit at her friend's words. "All right, if you think your father will be fine with it." Sleeping at her only friend's house sounded a lot nicer that crashing at some random hotel.

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Taylor and Amy entered the Hebert home in their civilian identities.

"Dad, I'm home," Taylor said.

A short man came out of the kitchen and greeted them with a smile. "Taylor, it's good to finally meet your friend."

"Dad this is my friend Amy," Taylor said. "Amy, this is dad, Danny Hebert."

Danny blinked at Amy in confusion. "Panacea?" the man asked in incredulity.

Amy smiled uncertainly.

"Huh." Danny turned his eyes to his daughter. "Taylor, when you told me you made a friend, you never told me she was Panacea."

"Sorry," Taylor said. "It's never a good idea to spread information about the capes. They tend to assume inquiries about the personal life of capes as very intrusive. There's all sort of unwritten rules about parahumans."

"I think I see."

"Yeah... so if anyone asks," Taylor said, "you should never talk freely about it, even if it's Legend who's asking."

Danny nodded. "Of course. Anyway, Miss. Dallon..."

"Just Amy,"

"Amy, I understand you'll be spending a few days with us."

The healer blushed and nodded. "If it's not too much of a trouble."

"Of course it isn't," Danny said indignantly. "You healed Taylor when she was in the hospital." The man glanced at Taylor and his face softened. "And I think you had something to do with the improvement in my daughter's life. You're welcomed in this house as long as you need it."

"Thank you, Mr. Hebert."

"Thanks dad," Taylor voiced echoed Amy's.

Danny nodded and motioned for the girls towards the kitchen. "Well, let's eat. Dinner is ready."

The meal passed in easy conversation. Danny talked about the docks and never tried to pry in exactly why Amy needed someplace to stay. Amy could tell that the man truly loved his daughter, unlike her own adoptive mother. It was nice.

Was this what a real family was like? Amy wondered. The healer could only imagine how life in the Hebert household was when Annette - Taylor's mother was alive. It must have been wonderful.

Once the meal was done, Danny sent the girls up to Taylor's room. "I'll take care of the dishes," he said waving them off.

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Once the two girls stepped into Taylor's room, Amy froze realizing that she had no idea what the sleeping arrangements would be. She didn't even have proper sleepwear.

"Uh, Taylor... where am I going to be sleeping?"

The dark haired girl grinned mischievously. "Why, in my bed, of course."

"But-but," the healer stammered. "That's your bed. I..."

Taylor grinned in amusement. "Don't worry, I won't bite. Besides, the only other place you could sleep, is on the downstairs sofa. That's way too uncomfortable to sleep on, so I'm not going to subject either of us to it."

"All right," Amy said, blushing at the situation.

Taylor went to her closet, grabbed some nightclothes and handed them to Amy. "Here," the bug user said. "They're in my size, but they'll fit you well enough."

Taylor took her own nightwear and proceeded to change.

Amy copied her actions, trying not to look at the other girl. She could tell that the nightwear was made from the now familiar spider silk.

"We have a spare toothbrush," Taylor said once they were done changing. "Uh actually... do you actually need one or does your power take care of things like oral hygiene?"

"I actually don't to," Amy said. "But I do it all the same."

Once they got ready for bed, Taylor turned off the lights and crawled into bed. "Come on, let's try to get some sleep. This day was exhausting."

Amy laid down, facing Taylor, who threw a hand around the healer's back.

"Good night, Amy," the bug user said.

"Good night, Taylor," Amy replied. She had slept like this with her sister. But ever since she realized that she was attracted to Vicky, her pleasure at being so close to the object of her worship and the self-loathing that it produced, soured all the joy out of it.

But there is nothing wrong about this, Amy realized. Taylor said she liked me.

It's not wrong to like her back.

The freckled girl shifted closer to her friend, mirroring her posture. Her head lowered below Taylor's chin.

This is nice, the healer thought as sleep overtook her.

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Author's Note: Looking over the reviews and thinking... I've realized that as Quinn Calle is actually a good choice. Given that Amy asked for him, his firm is not going go pass the chance at helping a healer of her caliber. And Skitter is going to be worth millions, so they would love to be on her permanent retainer. She has a monopoly on a product. That's very valuable.

Published: January 25, 2015.