Meanwhile, back at Ariel's...

Donna had watched as NT, Ariel, and Shawn brought the others back. After that they'd largely ignored her, she'd slipped into a chair in the corner and no one had said much of anything to her since they'd gotten here.

What the hell was she supposed to do now? If Tompkins was really history, that'd be great, but where'd that leave her? She could hardly go back to the apartment she'd lived in with her mother, that'd likely been rented to someone else by now. That left the streets and she knew too well what happened to girls there. She didn't think this bunch would take her sticking around, no matter what NT had said. Not after the way that little blonde had reacted to her...Ameh or whatever her name was. She stood up while everyone was fussing over Rebekah and began to slip quietly towards the door...

At that moment, the door flew open, and an excited but alarmed NT came rushing in, nearly running into Donna.

"Oh, Donna, sorry. Hey? You shouldn't be standing out here, let's sit down." she said breathlessly and took her arm and led her into the living room.

"But I don't..." Donna started to say, but Ariel cut her off.

"What happened NT? Why did you leave after seeing us back here? Something else wrong?"

"Wrong?" NT panted. "Well...Y-yes annd no. The good news is Tompkins is not and never was getting turned!"

"Hurrah!" Shawn cheered, Shirlee along with him.

Rebekah only stared, openmouthed, as did Donna for a moment before reacting.

"What?" chorused Donna, Ariel, and Sarah almost in unison.

"That wasn't really a vampire taking Tompkins's blood, that was Capri!"

"What!?" Sarah's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. "But she's not a vampire...!"

The others looked equally stunned.

"And she's gonna kill him. She's got a knife to his throat and she moved him to another place that's warded so only she and I can get in and out unless we take people along with us. I've never seen her about to knife somebody - it's scaring me, but at least it's Nathan getting it! You should see the look on his face!" She laughed, still not sure whether to be frightened or relieved.

"But what about that other vampire, the one we thought was Zoe?"

"That was all Capri," NT answered Sarah. "She was just putting on a big act to get Nathan where she could really mess him up. and giving us all time to get out of there too."

"What happened, though?" Sarah asked again. "I thought putting him on trial was her idea in the first place."

"That's what you told me was going to happen!" Donna said.

"I hope she cuts him to little pieces." growled Shawn.

"Shawn!" Shirlee remonstrated, though her heart wasn't that much in it, she wanted Nathan to hurt as much as he'd hurt her for so long.

"Well that's what she was planning up until now!" NT fired back. "I don't know, she's just out of patience and she wants Nathan gone yesterday. She said to heck with the trial she was gonna kill him now. I--I think it was what happened to Kenyon and Aaron that really made her lose it this bad. There was about as much pain in her expression as rage when she told me about Nariko and how if she hadn't had to be bothered with Nate, she mighta had a chance to save her, even if she couldn't it would've at least been a chance." NT's eyes shone with tears too when she mentioned this.

Sarah stared. "Kenyon...you don't mean Kenyon DeCant?"

NT nodded.

Sarah shook her head. "I don't...I don't know who Aaron or Nariko?...are, were..."

"Nariko was Aaron's wife," NT said to Sarah, "And Aaron is Kenyon's brother. Kenyon and Aaron are...alive, but Nariko...She was pregnant. The baby's alright, but..." NT couldn't think of any more to say.

There was a collective reaction of dismay from the others at the bad news.

Sarah began again. "but Kenyon...please, tell me he's all right." Her eyes misted with concern and pain. "Damn it Capri must be like she was that other time, if she's ready to slice Tompkins up like this. Without killing him first like she did Giovanni...." she shook her head. "You all need that trial, though, I know I won't rest until I see that Hannah woman, after what she tried to do with Elwyn." She looked at NT. "Do you think it'd do any good if I talked to her? You can get me in there, right?"

"Kenyon's okay, just shaken up, from what she said. And yes, it's worth a try." NT answered.

"And we need him alive at the trial to get Christine Benson as well." Pippi said very firmly.

"Yes - they're all gonna get what's coming but it would get them in even deeper if they were all still alive to talk against one another." NT said. "I'll take you to her."

"If you have any trouble with her and you need extra help, you may transport me as well." Pippi said.

NT nodded, and approached Sarah. In a moment, they had gone.

* * * * *

Shawn looked at Shirlee and put an arm around her. "Look, we've all had a rough night, I'm taking her home," he said to Ariel and the others. "But the minute you hear from NT let me know, all right? And if you happen to hear from Mr Corey, too--I wrote to him, right after he healed Mother, but I haven't heard anything back."

Ariel nodded. "Of course. But no one else's heard from him since then, either. We'll keep trying to reach him, though."

Shawn nodded. "Thanks." And with that he and Shirlee vanished.

Rebekah had managed to calm herself somewhat, but she still was upset. To find out the baby she'd thought dead for so many years was alive after all, but no one knew where she was!

Pippi sat with her, continuing to calm her and talk softly to her.

Ariel was about to join them, when she noticed Donna edging towards the door again. "You're not leaving, it's not safe out there for a girl alone at night." she said. "I guess you have been a bit neglected, I'm sorry. Now, come back in here and take a seat." She motioned for Donna to take a seat in one of the chairs, then she herself, sat down in the nearest one. "Is there anyone I should call in the morning to let know you're alright?"

Donna shook her head. "No there isn't. We didn't have any other relatives, none that Mother ever told me about anyway." She shook her head. "And I can't stay here, I don't belong here. Your friend had a fit when she saw me..." she sighed and looked down at the floor. "And all my things are still at Tompkins'"

Ariel looked confused. "Which friend? Who had a fit?"

Pippi cut in. "When NT took Donna here to get her away from Nathan and get the charm deactivated, Ameh detected it and that it was tied to Christine." Then turning to Donna Pippi said, "Ameh will come around."

Donna didn't want to go back to Nathan's. Even if he was finally getting his, there were too many bad memories in that mansion...but it was the closest thing to home she had, or had had for the last seven months.

"And you are staying here. You can share the room downstairs with NT." Ariel said.

"You might not want me here after--" Then it all came rushing out, the whole sorry story of Donna's mother, and how Nathan had gotten her off in exchange for "favors" from Donna, and how he and Christine had both used her to accomplish certain magic tasks and other such jobs. Donna was in tears well before she was finished.

When she was through, Ariel got up and went and put an arm around her. "Listen, the only way any of that matters is that it's going to get Tompkins in even deeper. Now, we don't blame you for any of this, and we're not letting you stay on the streets or back at Nathan's place. You're staying here and, with no arguments about it until your mother is out and is able to take you back in."

Donna sniffled. She didn't have the strength to argue, not after the wringer she'd been through tonight. "Can I at least get my clothes and stuff out of there? If your friend's got Nathan locked up somewhere, he won't be there to get to me again."

"Yes, but I'll help you." and with that, Ariel transported herself and Donna.

It didn't take the two of them long to pack up Donna's belongings and come back. When they did, they found Capri, NT, and Sarah had just returned.

"Are you alright, you look sick." Pippi asked in concern.

"Yer right, I don't feel so good. 'Scuse me." and Capri left the room.

A few minutes later there was the sound of the bathroom door slamming and faint sounds of retching could be heard.

A short while later, Capri returned, looking somewhat paler but otherwise all right.

Ariel went over to her and asked as much.

"'M okay now. Sorta." Capri replied. That's when she saw the girl who'd been helping Tompkins sitting to one side. "What th''ell is she doin' 'ere? She shoulda been locked up with them other two!"

Donna looked down at the floor, trying not to start crying again.

"It's alright, this is Donna," Ariel explained. "She will be staying here as she has no other place to go."

"Wha!" Capri couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"It's all right," NT added, "she's not on Nathan's side. Nathan and Christine abused and blackmailed her just like they do everybody else! They made her help them and that's not all. You know Nathan and girls." NT didn't actually come out and say it, but the look in her eyes was unmistakable, and Capri got the hint. She went on before Capri could react, telling her all about the plight and Christine's involvement.

Capri looked about to storm but she held back and bit her lip. "Ya shoulda jus' lemme finish 'im off when I 'ad the chance." she growled. "But it ain't gonna be long now."

"It's all right with you though if Donna stays here," Ariel appealed.

"Course it is." Capri replied, looking as if to say, 'Did you have to ask?' "She can stay in my room." Capri volunteered.

"Well actually I thought of having her share the basement with NNT since Susan will be in that room upstairs." Ariel said.

"Whichever way's alright with me." Capri responded.

Donna glanced at the tall Indian woman and bit her lip, wondering again what she'd gotten into by agreeing to stay here. But what else could she do? Ariel Dawson was right, she couldn't go back to Tompkins', and she had nowhere else.

Donna let Ariel put her to bed, though she didn't sleep all that well.