Lest I Be Afraid...

[Hiro McVeil]

How opposite they were. Where Hiro would have accepted help she was determined to face things alone. She hid everything, her troubles, her true feelings everything. Not even in her voice did she give away hints, always masking it with a tint of anger to hide how she really felt. The only time he was going to get anything was during those little bursts when she couldn't bottle it up anymore...but at least he had something now.

"It's not your fault." Hiro said still coming closer to his girlfriend. He assumed that she was talking about her brother's betrayal but she could be on a whole new set of problems and he wouldn't know anything. "You don't have to do anything by yourself there are plenty of people very willing to help you. You have to stop pushing them away."

If she insisted that he leave then he would, after all you could squeeze blood from a stone cold statue.

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie felt the need to correct him, despite trying to avoid the confrontation. "It was my fault, period," Charlie said flatly. "If I hadn't come here, Mike wouldn't have gone to the Deva. He could be going to study with Dan next year. And my family would be talking to me..."

She wanted to keep challenging everything Hiro said. In a way, it made her feel better. "Seriously? Who's gonna help me find Mike when he belongs to the freakin' Deva? And Amber? Anyone up to search Merlin knows where for some stupid ghost?" Settled frustration grew up in her again as she contemplated her dizzying goals. She couldn't tell how she wanted to juggle going into Qudditch professionally and hunting down those who did her wrong.

[Hiro McVeil]

Well that was flawed thinking. Just because two things might have some dependency didn't mean that fate hadn't stepped into the equation. If Hiro hadn't been friends with Akira he probably wouldn't have lost his sight but that didn't mean Akira was to blame. Though it was her choice to come here that didn't mean that it was the start of a whole string of events.

"Listen Charlie sometimes people aren't all they seem to be. People aren't always what you believe they should be." Hiro knew that this might sound like a personal attack against one of the Jones' but it was the most likely case.

As far as Mike went though Hiro couldn't forgive the man. Hiro had sworn to use all his power to help those he cared for against the Deva. He joined an illegal organization to fight against the Deva and if he had the chance he'd get in a few shots against known members. In all honesty there were plenty of people who wanted to find Mike and Hiro couldn't offer his help because he wouldn't have a peaceful meeting with him even with how close he was to Charlie.

"Why would you want to find Amber again?" The cruel seductress that had taken over Charlie's body was forced out with Charlie's will guided by his help. She was gone now and had left them in peace ever since, it was confusing why she would try and seek out the abomination.

[Charlie Jones]

"He's been exposed to Muggle culture all his life, he's into skateboarding... how can he just give it all up for some sadistic, useless organization?" Charlie said through gritted teeth. She heard him out about people not being what you once thought, because she knew it was too true for her brother Mike. Yet she had maybe thought that even though he hated her, he wouldn't have used her like that. What did family matter to him now? "I gotta get him back somehow. I don't want him dead, I want him in prison," the rough words cut through her, making sure she knew what she was saying. Never in her life had she expected to say something to that degree.

"She shouldn't even be a ghost, Hiro," She commented blatantly. "She should be gone. Now that I know that she can't possess me or anyone, I have an advantage over her. I want her to cross over already and leave me or anyone else the hell alone."

[Hiro McVeil]

Though jail was the suitable thing for someone with his crimes Hiro knew deep down that someone like Mike could walk if he was willing to talk. Despite what he did to Charlie Hiro hadn't heard him at the invasion and was pretty sure he wasn't devoted enough to keep his mouth shut. The invasion had made Hiro lose faith in the authority, he found it too corrupt with red tape and other guidelines that nothing could go through without the Deva's knowledge.

But that was just one of the issues, how does one fight or banish a ghost? They have no fear of death due to what they are, insubstantial so catching one is next to impossible, and immune to most if not all spells. What was she planning to do? Amber wasn't one to be asked to leave the living world. It was hard to choose what route to take, either way Hiro didn't have much hope to give.

"You know what you're saying isn't going to be easy." Of course she already knew this, just sometimes it was needed to hear someone else say it. "Neither one is going to go down without a fight."

[Charlie Jones]

Easy? She hardly saw anything that was coming to her easy. Maybe catching a bludger to protect a chaser. That had been easy to do. For now, it was all taken away from her, and she had very little to go on. It was all going to be hard, she had known for a long time. However, if she wanted any sort of results, she had to go through everything herself. "Me neither," she told him solemnly.

With her legs in a lazy Indian-style, she felt like a tired mess. Things remained bottled up, but she didn't see the point in divulging anyone with it. Still, the distress and exhaustion rested in her voice. After her own pause... she sighed. "I'm wonderin'... I'm wonderin' if I can go home anymore." For as long as Mike was out there, she didn't think she belonged with her family.

[Hiro McVeil]

What part of her kept her going on alone? Hiro wondered as he took a seat near where she had rested. It wasn't her body, her voice gave away that she was exhausted. Mentally holding things in would cause her to burst like tonight or worse. Emotionally she was drained he could tell from her words. Something he couldn't put his finger on told her to keep fighting alone, whether this made her a stronger person or not he couldn't tell. If she was so stubborn to push on ahead by herself Hiro wouldn't stop her...even though he found it unwise.

All he could do now was be here for her. If she choose to open up to him was out of his hands but at least it was an option. Hiro couldn't claim to know the answer to her question, he couldn't even know the pain. He had left home and never turned back after his move from Japan and this was what made him happy. But the Jones family were close, they had a long and rich history of unity. To be severed from that was something Hiro wasn't an expert on. Hiro had considered his Hogwarts friends to be his family and so he hoped that the two might connect even if it was only a little.

"You know you have family here." He said with the best of his ability. After the words left his mouth though he felt like it would have been better to say nothing.

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie wanted to believe that it was the late hour that was making her tired. It felt today was another day's useless energy that had been fruitlessly spent. She was tired of being mad, but she was tired of not doing anything about it. The more she was just there, unable to prevent not even a drop of evil from the Deva, the more it hurt her, as if it could cause her tangible pain.

Family....? she thought as she looked at him as though he had unlocked a completely an enormous secret for her. Both Hiro and Felicity had connected it for her, striking her with a surprise that gave her a taste of what it meant to be thankful. Actually grateful.

Charlie, what's horrible? Felicity had remarked when they were alone. You've a wonderful boyfriend, and from what I understand great friends...

Slowly, and almost reluctantly, she nodded. "You guys are really my family...."

[Hiro McVeil]

Hiro couldn't help but smile when he heard the hope return to her voice. He had always thought of Drew as a brother almost since Hiro had transfered over and from there his small family grew. Hiro's smile grew as a joke popped into his head and, even though it probably wasn't the right time, he decided to share it.

"Good thing we haven't kissed, it would be weird kissing your brother." Somewhere in Hiro's subconscious he choose the word kiss instead of date for the (probably ill timed) joke. It wasn't even very funny, jokes were just Hiro's way of coping.

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie was caught off guard with the joke. The both of them were aware of what had been missing in their relationship, and it had never come up until then. Despite the absurdity and its timing, she liked that it was coming to change the topic. She chuckled unexpectedly at him and raised an eyebrow. "What?" Maybe he was lightening her mood after all...

"So you're sayin' you're glad we haven't... y'know... kissed, right?" She paused to think about it, and then gave him a punch on the shoulder. "'Kay, then for now on we're gonna just be siblings."

[Hiro McVeil]

Smooth move there dummy! The voice in his head had to remind him of his foolish mistake. Hiro couldn't think of what to say as his face started to get red. His mind scrambled as he tried to think of something witty to say. Then the silence was broken by a thud of a fist to his shoulder and her claiming that they were now siblings. He was pretty sure she was kidding but words were still stuck between his brain and his mouth. She has to be joking. Come on jokes are your special!!

"Right." That's a start. "In that case I get to make fun of your boyfriend." Hiro took the best examples of siblings he could think of...the Thorntons. Appearently his brain was too scrambled to think of anything good.

[Charlie Jones]

"Ha, by all means, bro," Charlie said with a bit of dry humor. She hadn't completely soaked up her last intense moment, but she was getting to be nicer and more cooperative. It must have been her ability to not hold on to unnecessay grudges so easily, because she was feeling the beginning of the night fade on her. She knew where her irrationalities were, and nowadays it was hard to control when she had so much anger and inner turmoil. Nothing like this had really ever happened, nothing to shake the family except for her mother's death. She had been sure that things were going well until this happened. Often, she swore by her assumptions that it was all her fault for her family's tragedies. Her birth brought her mother's death. Her existence brought Mike to a life of crime and prejudice.

[Hiro McVeil]

Alright too early for jokes. Hiro concluded as Charlie's (almost hostile) words reached his ears. Especially about family.

With no jokes to work with and a stillness lingering in the air Hiro had trouble thinking of what to say. Perhaps a small story would help her out...

"You know, during the Deva invasion, there was a time when I lost hope." As he said this he moved closer to Charlie and put one of his arms around her shoulders. "We had all thought you and the rest of the group were safe somewhere. When you guys left I couldn't keep my smile going for the younger students and even though Raynor was there I still felt empty. Raynor brought hope to other students but for me I lost you and Drew and Hannah and I couldn't help anyone."

[Charlie Jones]

She had remained slumped in her place, barely holding onto the broom handle anymore. That was it. Her heartbeats slowed, the adrenaline was gone... but her thoughts in her head still raced. What an annoyance, to leave that planned world of high spirits and sportmanship for a constant anger within herself. No matter what in the end, she would still be angry, at others and herself. Regrets were not being built, but there was a progression of animosity.

It would have felt like she would have sunk low to the floor, but Hiro had held her up. It was hard to resist when he let her know that she had support of some sort. Plus... it wasn't as if she didn't like it. She listened to him as she just let him hold her. It was easy to interpret that she was still tense-- from the contact, from the entire night-- but for the most part the beast was pacified.

"Nobody was gonna be left behind," she replied to him. "Even if we went somewhere safe, you sure as hell shoulda bet I woulda come back. I was free, and it made me feel better... but it wasn't right." She took a deep breath to try to avoid any harshness in her tone, and she only succeeded slightly. "If there's gonna be somethin' with the Deva around-- no way in hell I'll ever be escorted nicely outta there." Not anymore, she reminded herself after being remembering her initial confusion and bitter obedience.

[Hiro McVeil]

(Sorry computer hates me )

Deep down Hiro knew that neither Charlie nor Drew would have been sitting idle, perhaps that was why Raynor choose them. But he couldn't help but feel a little alienated when they did go, those two were the closest to him. As for Charlie she was still tight as a drum from tension he could feel it as he held her. Her voice too gave away how she felt there was no denying something was still very wrong.

"I know you would have." Hiro said as he held her closer for support. "But sometimes you just feel overwhelmed."