"She wants to die?" the redhead asked.

"She's afraid to live," Nat corrected. She still cared enough for Red and knew that woman well enough to see and feel the woman's heart collapsing.

“Red, she kept saying that she couldn't get him out of her head, and that the Dark One used it to drive her over the edge.

Then she . . . she just kind of babbled herself to sleep. What is she talking about?"

Those closest to Jane shared a look.

"You think she's talking about her stepfather?" Talia asked of Red.

“Who else? Damn it, is that piece of shit ever going to leave her alone?" Red looked at Tarloh.

"You all decide whatever you're going to do. I'm going to go check on her." She stood up and made as brisk a pace towards her quarters as she could. As she descended the stairs, she realized that Talia had followed her.

“I want to be there for her too," Red's best friend stated firmly.

“I'll go with whatever the rest of the Strays decide. Red, I think I can help."

Red agreed by remaining silent and continuing to her room. Jane was still asleep, albeit fitfully. Talia could see the two women's pain reflected on each other faces. Neither of them deserved what had happened to them, nor did they deserve the continuous strain that their burgeoning relationship had been under. It's hard to fall in love when you don't have time to breathe and while you're fighting for your life.

Red gently sat down on the bed next to the prone Jane, who stirred and opened her eyes. For a moment, there was hope behind those green eyes and no small amount of devotion. But there was also despair.

Red didn't mince words.

"Natasha told me what you said," she whispered.

"Why?"

"She shouldn't have," came Jane's raspy voice.

"I can't live. I'm a danger to you. There's got to be a reason it picked me," the increasingly agitated girl said.

"I'm evil. That's why . . ."

"Don't you dare say that's why this has happened to you, and don't say your evil," Red almost snapped.

"You've done good things when any sane person would have turned away, and you've been a good person when you had no reason to be. These aren't the acts of someone capable of being evil.”

“It's still out there," Jane practically sighed.

“It's out there and I won't be able to resist it. I wasn't able to last time."

“Jane . . . I need you to tell us what happened down there," Talia requested.

"If the Dark One is still alive Jane's eyes turned glassy.