Craig watched the activity of the infirmary. Impulse pushed him to help, he wanted to help, but the hand he held reminded him why he remained at this particular bedside. Tina needed him. Harvey had shown him the four little fast-growing bodies, and if Tina pulled through, they would have their family set. Right now, he didn't care if they were all one gender or another or a mix. Fatherhood would eventually be his to hold. Something he never thought would happen. Not for him, ever. A gnawing feeling of letting down his teammates and everyone in the Agency rippled through him. He frowned as Harvey pushed another gurney into the infirmary holding another unconscious form. What was going on? Was there some sort of epidemic or assembly line in progress?

"Hana," Craig called as she hurried by, "what is going on?"

"Since Fiona," Hana said quickly, "everyone seems to be going through the equaliser. Once that happens, they need to go through the modular adaptor soon after."

"Why?" Craig frowned, "who is making them do that?"

"We have no idea why they have chosen to do it, and no one is making anyone do this," Hana acknowledged Rose calling her, "they are doing it on their own."

Craig sank into his chair again, "Why would they put themselves through more hell and land up with abilities they need to become more familiar with?"

"Maybe because most of them are feeling as though they could do more," Tina murmured from the bed, "how long have you been sitting there?"

"Tina," Craig sat forward, kissing her hand, "you're awake."

"Answer my question," Tina muttered, "where am I?"

"I've been here since you were brought to the infirmary," Craig whispered, "did you know you're pregnant?"

Tina chuckled, "That is a good one," she rolled her head on the pillow in his direction, "we were together twice."

"I'm not joking," Craig said, "you're carrying four little souls; according to their size, it looks like you're three months along."

"You were never a joker," Tina grinned, "why are you starting now?"

"Tina, I'm not joking," Craig whispered, moving closer. "Babe, I'm serious. You are pregnant. Our four children are advancing in their growth quicker than is normal. Since it was supposed to be impossible for any enhanced being to procreate, we are worried."

"Is that why I'm here?" Tina said, looking around, "did I start an epidemic?"

"No, and there is no epidemic," Craig chuckled, "you're here because you were non-responsive when Cala came to wake you for the walk you promised her. It was discovered you were pregnant, and now, we need to make sure you come through this, that you all come through this."

"You are serious, I'm ... we're ... " Tina sputtered, "four?"

Craig smiled, "Yes, love, we're pregnant, and we are in the process of bringing four lives into the world."

"Wow, it's a lot to take in. What time is it?" Tina frowned deeply.

"A little after nine," Craig said, "at night. You've been asleep a while."

"I've been asleep for hours." Tina said worry in her words, "is it because of the pregnancy?"

"Mostly, but also due to the adaptation of your cellular structure to carry the babies to term," Craig explained.

"Why do you look so worried?" Tina asked.

"If I'm not here," Craig whispered, "there is a real possibility you all could die."

Tina paled as she heard the words fall in the space between them.

"If you're here, who is leading your team?" Tina whispered, "Craig, I will not allow you to give up everything for us. I don't even know how long I will be pregnant."

"Tina," Craig whispered, "I will be here for all of you until they are born and after as well," Craig rubbed the pad of his thumb over the back of her hand, "my job will be there when I'm done here. Bre will do a brilliant job. Plus, Jesse and David are good at handling the difficulties of my team members. I refuse to allow you to die because I'm not here."

"I won't die if you're not here," Tina raised her voice, drawing the attention of others in the room. She blushed before turning back to Craig, "I can do this."

"I know you can," Craig smiled, "but I'm not going to take the chance of you not being a successful case."

Tina shook her head, asking, "Can I get something to drink and eat?"

"Already here," Jenkins said as he placed a tray on her portable table and swung it over the bed before helping Craig lift her into a sitting position.

"What is this?" Tina smelt the air, "it smells delicious."

"A little of everything," Jenkins smiled as he removed the cover to the tray, "enjoy."

Moving to the end of the bed, Craig met Jenkins as they watched Tina ferociously clear the various plates. She ate as though she had never seen the food before.

"Thank you," Craig murmured, "I would never know what to feed her."

"This is basics for the beginning of the pregnancy," Jenkins spoke softly, "she will start to take on some of their traits as they grow, and the cravings will start to appear. Has she felt any of them kick?"

"Not that I know of," Craig frowned, "how will we know if one of them does?"

"You'll know," Jenkins turned at the mention of his name, "excuse me."

Craig watched him walk toward Harvey as he attended yet another equaliser user.

"How did he know what I would want to eat?" Tina asked before taking another bite, "this is so delicious."

"Glad you enjoy your food for a change," Craig hedged, unwilling to answer her question.

"Craig," she raised her eyebrows, "what is the answer to my question?"

"When did you become so particular?" Craig frowned; her persistence was out of character.

"I ..." Tina hesitated, thinking, "I guess recently. It's not like me to be so pushy."

"You're beginning to display a characteristic of one or all of the babies," Craig said, "if you have any cravings, please let Jenkins and I know."

"Craig," Tina sighed, putting down her knife and fork, "what is really going on? You're behaving like pregnancy doesn't happen all the time."

Craig sank into the chair next to her. He watched his finger fist and unfist on his knees while trying to put all the information together in some form that would not scare Tina ... too much.

"Craig," Tina sighed, "would you please just tell me. All this hesitation scares me more than anything you say."

Craig cleared his throat and looked up into the most tenacious gaze encountered in a long time.

"Pregnancy does happen all the time," he said softly, "just not ... with our kind."

"Really," Tina frowned, "your kind."

"Remember I said it's supposed to be impossible for an enhanced being to procreate. We believed that until ..." pausing before sighing and continuing," ... it was discovered ordinary women have fallen pregnant with enhanced babies," Craig inhaled deeply. "There are not many cases of survival due to the male mate being absent at any time during the pregnancy."

"Have there been success cases?" Tina asked, "have any of those women lived?"

Craig nodded, "Those who had their mate present at all times."

"Seriously," Tina huffed, "why?"

"At this point, there is not much data," Craig said, "just the trend I have told you of, I know you said you don't want to stop me from doing my job, but you and those four lives are part of me, my blood. I'm not leaving until you're all through this. I want you all to live."

"Now, all that paranoid talk from earlier makes sense," Tina nodded, "where is this information coming from?"

"Harvey and Jenkins," Craig said, looking at the two men helping Hana and Rose with the influx of patients. "Harvey has attended to a few of the cases, and Jenkins was at the unsuccessful side of a case."

"He lost his wife?" Tina glanced across the room at the man who had fed her, "what about the children?"d

Craig shook his head, "He lost them all."

Tina paled as the gravity of the situation sunk in. She now understood what was at stack.

"It's that serious. You're not kidding, are you?" the panicked whisper caught at his heart.

"No, babe," Craig shook his head, "I've never been more serious in my life."

"Does David know?" Tina asked quietly.

"I think he has the basic details, but I haven't seen him since the diagnoses," Craig said, "I wouldn't blame him if he beat me to a pulp."

"Why would he do that?" Tina frowned, "David will be okay."

"We'll soon find out," Craig indicated with his head toward the door.

The anger radiating from David as he came toward them could be cut with a knife. Craig glanced at Tina. She didn't seem to be worried about her brother's emotional state at all.

"Tina, you're awake," David smiled tightly at his sister, ignoring Craig completely, "how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Tina smiled gently, "hungry and eating a lot but fine."

"Good," David nodded "if you need anything, just let me know."

"Thanks, Dave," Tina reached out, taking Craig's hand, "I have everything I need right here."

Craig met the cold, furious glare as Tina held his hand tightly.

"Well," David looked back at his sister, "if you need anything ... just ask."

"Thanks, Dave," Tina sighed as David strode from the bed, "I think you are right."

"Told you he wouldn't be happy," Craig sighed, "if it could have been any other way ..."

"Are you unhappy about me being pregnant?" Tina frowned at him.

"No," Craig shook his head, feeling the icy appear under his feet, "I'm thrilled you're pregnant. I'm just worried and wished I was normal for the first time in a long time."

"Wow," Tina shook her head as she returned to eating.

Craig sighed. Leaning back, he said nothing as she finished her food and pushed the mobile table away.

Jesse took the list of equaliser personnel, as they were now called, from Breanna, who moved to the large round table in the basement tech room to meet Betty. The second name on the list had him squeezing his eyes shut and pushing the rising anger into a space that would contain it until he could work through it.

"There's a lot here, Bre," Jesse called to her as she chatted with Betty, who had brought them food and beverages from the kitchen.

"I know," Breanna said, walking back to where Jesse stood, "Betty told me that she has been trying to poke at emotional triggers, and there has been no response."

"What does that mean?" Jesse frowned, "they may have emotions, but nothing that will make them expendable?"

"Something along those lines," Breanna nodded, "apparently Betty has been trying anything and everything she knows, even the tactics been done in the madhouse," Breanna shrugged. "It looks like going through the equaliser, and the modular adaptor stabilises the enhancements."

"So, your Dad took a piece of equipment designed to torture by extracting abilities and changed it to stabilise what was done to us. Thereby helping us to live with ourselves," Jesse nodded. "I have to wonder if Darcia knew about this possibility and chose not to work with it."

"Darcia must have known," Breanna sighed, "she chose not to use the humane side of it because she had a reason. The reason was for her end purposes only."

"What could those purposes be?" Jesse frowned, "extracting energy from us and selling it to the highest bidder?"

"Yes," Breanna nodded, "that and heaven knows what else she planned or dreamed up."

"Your sister was one mean woman," Jesse shook his head.

"Yes, she was," Breanna sighed before taking back the list, "if the emotional trigger problem has been solved, perhaps the team could be a little bigger."

"The team is already bigger," Jenkins smiled, "and it has always been bigger. We have a lot more here than you would believe."

"Jenkins," Breanna smiled, "I heard you are helping with Tina. Thank you."

"I want for Craig what I lost," Jenkins swallowed hard, "if that means making sure Tina gets the right food, then it is my pleasure."

"Tell me about having a lot more than I would believe," Breanna nodded.

"The Admiral never believed in what Darcia was doing," Jenkins sighed, "he was more proud of you than of Darcia. He hoped that Darcia would turn from what she was doing, but when the military pulled her funding. She continued, he asked me to dig a little into where the money was coming from."

"What did you find?" Jesse asked, dread filling his veins.

"The money was coming from many sources," Jenkins said, not meeting their attentive gazes. "Mostly from energy conglomerates and a few wishing to invest in something ... unusual and make a profit by any means."

"Darcia's research shows that around the same time, she deviated from the set perimeters of the specifications for the super solider," Jenkins cleared his throat.

"Darcia was making a super-soldier for the military," Breanna said.

"She knew of the modular adapter and what it could do," Jesse said, "which means she was aware of the emotional triggers. She had a solution for it, but her twisted ethics and her Adonis complex kept her from following through and proving the military wrong."

"She changed the machine into what we knew and continued in her twisted ways," Breanna scrubbed her hands over her face, "it doesn't make it easier to swallow."

"Bre," Jesse rested a hand on her shoulder, "it shows that Darcia had the knowledge at her fingertips and refused to use it."

"That is correct," Tamhas said, coming off the bottom stair, "when I was asked to change the machine to what it is now, the Admiral already had the original plans. We were required to find parts which had been removed and replace parts that seemed a little odd when looking at the design. The modular adaptor was originally required to stabilise, not extract. Darcia knew this and went to the path of money instead of making right what she had done and ending the agony. All of you have been living, breathing time bombs."

"The Admiral asked me to find out what Darcia was getting out of the deal," Harvey spoke from an open panel in the "rock" wall. Stepping out, he waited until it closed fully before walking toward them.

"Harvey, what about the equaliser and the modulator?" Jesse frowned.

"There is a lull at the moment," Harvey smiled, "both are in use, so I have a moment of peace to fill you in."

"Thank you," Breanna nodded, "what did you find?"

"The investors, such as they were, paid her handsomely to continue her enhancement work, but for another reason," Harvey shook his head. "She was supplied with everything from equipment, chemicals, a house, car, and connections with the underworld to achieve the end target."

"That is how they met Jasmine's father," Jesse whispered thoughtfully. "If they had those connections, that would mean there could be others out there she left the knowledge to ... if and when she died, the work could be continued."

Breanna nodded, "That also fits in with her deviation from military-only subjects and branching out into civilian subjects as well."

"She still had military subjects," Harvey frowned, "how did she get that right?"

"I suspect that not everyone knew she had been cut off," Jenkins said, "why else would they send subjects there?"

"No," Breanna shook her head, "they were paid to send people into that place. I know; my unit and I were such subjects."

"No moral fibre," Harvey shuddered, "shows through when she did what she has to her own family."

"You should have known about the moral fibre," Jesse said, indicating Jenkins. "If she could work on Jenkins and Tamhas in her teens, imagine what she could get up to when there were no restraints placed on her."

"The military had restraints, and it didn't stop her," Breanna said, "or she could have been doing both at the same time from the start. We may never know."

"Perhaps," Jesse nodded, "right now ... we need to stop what Madden is carrying through on her behalf."

"Harvey, you may leave when you wish to," Breanna acknowledged the older man, "but we all have work to do."

"Thank you, Miss Breanna," Harvey said quietly, "if I may advise, it may be better if everyone went through the equaliser and adaptor before you leave. Most emotional triggers can be eliminated that way."

"See what you can do," Breanna nodded, "Jesse, please check in with Valencia and Birgit."

Jesse stared at Breanna for the longest unable to say whether he wanted to see them. Emotions ripped through him. He knew he had to talk to her, face the anger and work it out, but he was unsure if she would be open to his style of honesty. They needed to do this together, except they hadn't kept to that agreement.

"I believe they are eating in the kitchen," Harvey said, indicating that Jesse would follow him, "I'll take you to them."

Jesse sighed heavily, glancing at Breanna and followed Harvey up to the stairway.

"They have a lot to sort out," Jenkins said, watching them.

"Yes," Breanna agreed. "It doesn't help that Valencia is becoming an impulsive person when she thinks no one is going to allow her to do something."

"If it weren't for her and Fiona, the rest wouldn't have done what they did," Jenkins said, "if Craig didn't have to stay out of this, no one would have stepped up to the plate."

"Are you always this half-glass full person?" Breanna grinned.

"Not always," Jenkins shook his head, "I believe there is a reason for everything, and the knock-on effect of one action will lead to an inevitable outcome.'

"Like Darcia deciding to use the modulator for what it wasn't supposed to be used for," Breanna observed Jenkins.

Nodding slowly, Jenkins met Breanna's gaze, "Something like that. The knock-on effect was that the Admiral worked out what she was doing. He gave in names of suspected personnel selling their fellow militia out and then proceeded to steal the machine."

"It's not a small machine," Breanna frowned, "how did he do that?"

"There are subjects within the walls which do not agree with what is happening," Jenkins mused, "all that is needed is a reason to make something disappear."

"Insiders," Breanna smiled, "Phoenix?"

"One of them," Jenkins nodded, "there are still others."

"If they knew what was happening and why," Breanna frowned, "do you think they would try to help."

"They probably know more than we do," Jenkins grinned, "we just have to show up, and they will give whatever they have planned."

"We plan on our side," Breanna mused, "they plan on their side. We show up like they know we are going to, and somehow the plans coincide."

"It may seem as though the plans are not coinciding," Jenkins whispered, "they cannot let on that they know what is happening, but in the end, good will always win. Even in the most surprising ways."

"My father always used to say - having faith was more than believing something was going to happen," Breanna smiled. "It was believing it would work at the moment and expecting it to happen."

Jenkins smiled gently, "Wise man, the Admiral."

"Let's get to work," Breanna grinned as Jenkins stepped up to the table, picking up the list of those who had gone through both machines, "there is an answer to everything. We just need to find the best solution."