Epilogue

Thursday, August 20, 3:15 P.M.

Brenda arched an eyebrow at the dragon guarding the door- Grace, Dr. Clark's fanatically punctual secretary. The secretary just glared back, obviously unimpressed.

"You're early," the secretary said, her voice the unholy sound of nails scraping down a chalkboard.

Brenda smiled, bright and cheerful and if she didn't cut it out real soon, he'd shoot herself. "Aw, and last time you were upset because I was late. Make up your mind, would you?"

The secretary sniffed and stared at her computer monitor. Brenda sat down, and stretched out her bad leg. It could always be worse, she supposed. Bad enough that she'd been sent to the shrink for 'anger management' problems, but the pictures of Mewtwo might have actually been developed and published. Dealing with Elaine was the lesser of two evils. Dealing with Elaine was probably on par with Sheryl, as far as competence went.

She was just starting to consider flipping through the magazines out on the table when Elaine came in. Brenda was relieved. She hadn't exactly wanted to read how other women took the pounds off and kept them off. Her problem, after all, was putting the pounds on.

"Hey doc. Here for our emergency session."

Elaine nearly dropped her bags. "Oh, right. Come on in. Hope you don't mind, I had to pick my daughter up from day care. She got sick so she couldn't stay."

"She's okay, though right?" Brenda stood up and plucked the shrink's purse off the top of the mess. The look Elaine gave her was thankful; the look the secretary sent Brenda's way was murderous.

"Oh, she's well enough. Just a stomach bug. She was more put out at having to go home and stay with Lawrence for the rest of the day than anything else, really. She was going to get a gold sticker for a month of perfect attendance."

Brenda nodded, and put the purse down on the desk. The office looked more like someone used it, then the mostly empty room she'd seen on her first visit. There were certificates from various colleges and universities, mixed with copies of several famous paintings and a few photos of various people Brenda assumed were Elaine's family. The desk itself was now strewn with clutter, with several more pictures standing on one corner.

"So, what'd you do again?" Elaine sat down behind her desk and turned on her computer monitor.

"Why does everyone assume I do stuff?" Brenda asked.

"According to gossip, because people know you. Who'd you punch?"

"I didn't punch the asshole," Brenda stated. "I threw his camera into a wall. It's completely different, and I already bought him a new one."

"Do I even want to ask?"

"Probably not." Brenda picked up one of the photos on the doctor's desk, but didn't look at it. "At least the case- I told you about it, didn't I?"

Elaine nodded. "The one that's all over the news? Yeah. Those poor girls. At least the people responsible will pay for their crimes."

"That certainly seems to be the main theme, yeah. Public lambasting. Never did get in touch with the one person, though. May the Feds have that piece of fun."

The shrink chuckled, and gestured at the visitor's chair. "And this is the part where I tell you to take a seat and ask how this all is making you feel."

"Pissed, mostly." Brenda sat down, still holding the picture frame. She used it to gesture around the room, and shook her head. "Some idiot leaked who the original cops working the case were. When I find out who, they're dead."

"Metaphorically, of course."

"It's no fun to actually kill them. Then it's over and you can't freak them out any more."

At that, Elaine actually laughed. Brenda smirked, and leaned back in her chair.

"Anyways, it's just been a wild couple of days. Everyone at the station knows we did it, but the Feds are- surprise, surprise- taking all the glory. Not that I don't want them to, because who needs the shit reporters bring with them?"

"But someone tattled." Elaine shook her head. "So, there was a reporter?"

"I sure as hell never agreed to get my picture taken, and neither did Smith. So, I broke the camera."

"What else did you do?"

"Maybe threatened to feed him his own feet if he pulled that sort of shit again." Brenda shrugged. "I wouldn't actually do it. Too messy."

"So long as we've got that established." Elaine leaned forward, and smiled. "I don't really see why you're even here. Anger management my left foot."

"Hey, I like my reputation. It served me well. And until... Until certain atmospheres at the station and in the Tower change..." Brenda frowned, and stared at the window. Talking to Elaine was a lot like talking with Sheryl. She always ended up saying more then she'd meant to. "Anyways, people expect me to be a stereotype. Why disappoint?"

"Why didn't you become an actress, again?"

"I hate the lime light."

Elaine nodded. "I can believe that."

Brenda shrugged one shoulder and looked down at the picture in her hand. She felt her shoulder muscles tense. A very, very familiar face smiled up at her from behind the glass. Pale, colorless eyes with nearly white hair in a pixie cut. Even though the girl was obviously very young, there wasn't much in the way of youthful baby fat rounding her cheeks.

"Ah..." Brenda stuttered, looking up at Elaine with wide eyes. Then she bit her lip and forced herself to remain calm. "You, ah..."

"Hm? Oh, that's my daughter, Lizzie. Elizabeth. Isn't she the cutest thing?" Elaine smiled and reached for the photograph. Brenda handed it over automatically. "She's really my sister's daughter, but her father died. You know how it is." She looked up and met Brenda's eyes. "She's really quite shy, what with the recent upheavals."

Brenda nodded slowly, comparing Elaine with her memory of Four. They had the same facial shape, she decided, except Elaine's hair was darker and her eyes brown, and Elaine was very obviously sane. She wondered what Elaine's sister had looked like.

"I understand," she said, and cleared her throat. "She's definitely cute. Anyways, you want to give me a clean bill of mental health? I kind of want to get back to work. I don't trust Smith alone, he'll do something weird to my computer."

Elaine smiled, and nodded. "Sure thing! Let me just type up a quick memo for your superiors, I'll just be a minute."

Brenda nodded, and picked up the picture again. Lizzy looked like a happy and healthy three year old. Maybe, unlike Four and her sisters, she'd grow up to live a normal life. Something to pray for, she supposed. Her lip twitched as she set the picture back down on the desk. She wouldn't tell Mewtwo. The man had a tendency to obsess, and he deserved a life of his own as well.

End Notes

And so we come at last to the end, a journey that's taken most of a year (no thanks to my procrationation- sorry). I hope you all enjoyed the trip, because I did. However, I'm going to be taking a break from the Sword and Shield universe as I brush up on my interrogation scenes. And oh yeah, next story? Involves pirates! Seriously.