Title: The Hallway (3/3)
Author: erinm_4600
Characters, Pairing: Cain, DG, the Queen (mention of Mystic Man)
Rating: G
Summary: Cain reminds DG.
Warning: AU, left and right, since Part Three has aired. Follows You Know Who She is Now and Showdown
Disclaimer: The original characters belongs to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. Oh! And Cain's red coat belongs to John Crichton, Peacekeeper. Don't ask. o.O
Originally posted: Dec 5, 2007

DG slipped away from the party forming in the hall. Cain had slipped out earlier and she wanted – needed – to find him. Turning the corner, DG found herself looking down a hall of doors. She had passed about three doors when she noticed one slightly ajar. As she neared, DG could see Cain, just inside the room, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, staring into space.

Slowly, DG moved to the opposite side of the door frame and slid down the wall, mimicking his position. After a few moments, Cain said softly, "I'm sorry." DG turned to face him with a sigh.

"It wasn't your- Actually," she straightened. "You knew, all along, and you said nothing?" She opened her mouth to continue, but no sound came. Cain turned to her, the look on his face making her anger disappear.

"I made a promise to keep you safe. I wasn't going to fail you again," he trailed off, returning his gaze to the room.

"Again?" DG asked, leaning into the door jamb. Cain smiled and responded,

"I wasn't always the Mystic Man's security detail." He turned to her as she realized what he meant.

"You were my security detail." Cain nodded, ever-so-slightly, then his face fell.

"If I had been doing my job-" DG reached for him, then pulled back.

"You couldn't have known that my sister was possessed by an evil witch. Besides, if anyone's to blame, it's me." DG slumped back against the wall. "If I hadn't dragged her into that cave..." She looked to the opposite wall and sighed. They'd both made enough excuses to last a lifetime. Her sister was free; the witch was gone. It was time to move forward.

DG sniffed and began to reach for her pocket, as Cain did the same. She waved to him as she pulled a white handkerchief from her pants pocket and shook it out. Cain noticed the colors and stitching and held out a hand as she wiped at her nose and eyes.

"May I?" DG looked at it, then to Cain and nodded. Handing it over, she commented,

"Sorry it's a little... gross." Cain smiled slightly and held it up at two corners, examining the pattern. "Wipe away the cry," she said after a moment. Cain looked up, realizing she'd spoken, but he hadn't heard her.

"What?" DG nodded to the cloth.

"W-A-C. Wipe away the cry. At least, that's what my Dad always said." Cain smiled again and passed it back. Reaching into his own pocket, he pulled out a similar piece of cloth and held it up for DG to see. It was exact, down to the green and silver thread.

"Or Wyatt and Adora Cain?" DG looked at the fabric in her hand, then back up to Cain. He looked back into the room with a smile, and began,

"You were... four cycles? Sick with Winkie Flu." He laughed at the memory. "Refused to come out of your room. Wouldn't talk to anyone. Your mother was desperate to get you to eat something. You were..." Cain sighed, looking for the right word.

"A child?" DG supplied.

"Stubborn," Cain said, making a face. DG made a face of her own and looked at the handkerchief again.

"I must've picked it up from my security detail," DG responded. Raising an eyebrow, Cain simply said,

"Heh."

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The Queen knocked again. "DG, please. You must eat something. You won't get better," she said calmly. Turning slightly, she noticed that Cain was trying not to smile. Narrowing her eyes, she faced him. Cain nodded and took a step forward.

"Highness, you have my word. She will clear the plate." The Queen knew Cain was a man of his word. That was why her husband had chosen him. She also knew that if anyone could get through to her young daughter, it was this tough old man. And she should be jealous of that.

She stepped away with a nod and headed down the hall. Cain watched her move farther away and looked to DG's door. With a smirk, he undid the buttons of his overcoat and shook the heavy, red coat off. He set the coat down on the sitting chair just next to DG's door. Next to the chair was an end table, currently holding the tray with DG's lunch. Cain picked up the tray and set in down on the floor, centered on the door.

He then turned his back to the wall and slid down to the floor. Taking a deep breath, Cain crossed his legs and looked around the hallway. Soon, he was removing the plate cover and picked up one of the finest vegetables the O.Z. had to offer. Once he'd finished chewing, Cain looked back to the door and knocked softly.

"Hey, kiddo. If you're not gonna eat, mind if I? Missed lunch and... well, it's just sittin' here." He watched the door for a moment and smiled as a large square of paper slipped under the door. In large, very unpracticed handwriting, was the word 'NO.' Cain smiled and picked up half the sandwich. Taking a bite, he over-acted like a pro.

"Oh! It's a good thing you turned this down, kiddo! It's just terrible. You wouldn't like it." He smiled as he heard the lock click and picked up the other half of the sandwich. "Not one bit," he added softly, as the door opened. Holding out the fresh half, Cain didn't even look at her as DG slowly reached for the sandwich.

From the end of the hall, the Queen watched her daughter's small arm reach through the doorway and take the sandwich. She smiled, and wondered if Wyatt Cain knew that the little girl's heart would always belong to him.

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"My nose was running," DG said, staring at the wall in front of her. Cain nodded with a smile. "You pulled this out of your pocket and-" She looked at him and then to the doorway. They both laughed at the realization they were in the same position.

Cain sighed, pulled himself up and held out a hand. "Come on. Somethin' to show you." DG took his hand and he pulled her up and into the room. The room was dark, except for the light outside.

"Watch you eyes," Cain ordered, the flipped a switch on the wall. The room was suddenly full of light. DG looked around the room. Her room. Dusty, but her room. She looked at Cain and smiled.