Donna didn't know what else to do, she reached out as if to hug Capri--then stopped herself, uncertain if that was the right thing to do or if it'd only make Capri more upset. "Umm...maybe...maybe I should go...?" she murmured, looking down at the floor. "I didn't mean to make you more upset."

"It ain't you it's them." Capri said. "Don'tcha go feelin bad about that too." Then her voice became gentle again. "An' you ain't goin nowhere, not jus' yet." She had seen the look of compassion in Donna's eyes, as the girl had almost reached out it seemed, to give Capri a hug. Capri wasn't completely sure that was what it was but it sure looked as if Donna had been just about to. Then, Capri saw the timidity return again as Donna apologized for upsetting her, and offering to go. "Why don'tcha go ahead an' do whatever it was ya thoughta b'fore ya said ya were goin. B'sides I could use a good hot drink an' ya can 'elp yerself to one as well." And Capri leaned forward a little and put a hand out.

Donna just looked at Capri for a long moment, then her desire to help overcame her and she pulled Capri into a hug. "That's for everything. Last night...and the night before that with Rev Myles, and...well, everything." she finished, not sure what else to say.

Capri returned the hug and just held Donna that way for a few moments. "I been wantin ta give ya one o' these since findin out all the...It can't take away er erase what 'appened t'ya, but it's somethin. I'm sorry 'bout frightenin ya back at the 'ouse. I didn' know yet. So, thanks fer finally lettin me show ya I really ain't no monster even if I look kinda tough." As she talked softly in that kind deep tone of voice reserved only for moments like this and special people, Capri occasionally patted Donna gently on the back. When they had hugged, Capri said to her, "Thanks, Donna, I needed that."

Donna found herself smiling out of great relief. "You're welcome. "Ummm...what'd you want to drink, I...I'll get it...?"

"Uh,hmmmmm...Oh, there's some herbal orange/mango tea, if you could make me some o' that, an' I think there's other kinds there ya can choose from in the cupboard above the counter there." Capri gestured toward a cupboard. "there's also chocolate milk mix - ya can make it hot er cold - it's good either way, an' lemonade - how can ya tell NT was by earlier? (grin) An' the usual, milk, water, ice-tea,pop, well, just about anythin ya could ask for. I'm jus' gonna get a blanket." And Capri got up, went to her room, and returned to the couch with a blanket which she put over hherself with a satisfied sigh.

* * * * *

After chatting with Capri a bit more, Donna left her to get some rest. But when she went back to her room, she found Kendra in a similar condition to Capri. That prompted a call to the doctor, and after his visit, Donna wrote to NT again.

* * * *

NT,

What Capri had this morning...now Mom's got it, too. *sigh* And the doctor says so do a bunch of other people. Damn it what can go wrong next...no, forget I asked. I don't want to know.

Didn't I read somewhere about magic could be used to heal people? Do you know how to do that?

Donna

* * * * *

NT wrote back...

* * * * *

Hi Donna,

I'm really scared! There is some magic that can heal people, but I don't have that ability and neither does anybody else I know.

:(

NT

* * * * *

Donna wrote back...

* * * * *

NT,

*sigh* That lets out asking Ameh--I was about to do that, when your letter came. And I guess that other one you told me about, still hasn't been heard from? Valyn something or other...didn't you tell me he could do something like that? Or am I not remembering right?

Donna

* * * * *

A few minutes later, NT's reply arrived.

* * * * *

Hi Donna,

:(

Valyn is just nowhere. I can't get any reach/communication to/from him at all and I've tried and tried and tried!!!!!!! So he can't do it if he's not here and I can't get through to him. So i guess he's out of the question too.

He's not here and Connor's not here and Nathan is here and that's not right it's just not right!!!!! This is all Nathan's fault! If he never showed up in the first place none of this would be happening! I hope whatever this is, he gets it!

NT

* * * * *

As the evening wore on, more and more people came down with the mysterious illness. Among them, Shawn and Shirlee Catlin, Benjamin and Susan Myles.

After having gone to the hospital to check on NT (who'd been hurt trying to help Sarah), Donna went back to check on her mother.

"I'd left one of the Tompkinsville girls with her." Donna called out to Miranda. "I hope she's still okay..."

Donna opened the door and went in. The lights in the front room were on, but she didn't hear anything except soft moaning. "Mom?" she called, even as she rushed into the dark hallway that led to the bedrooms and past the kitchen.

Only to trip over something just outside the kitchen door.

Donna picked herself up and only then did she see it properly. Oh damn it no. It wasn't a what it was a who. Kelly MacLeod. Megan's sister--the girl she'd asked to watch her mother--passed out just outside the kitchen with, Donna now realized, a puddle of water and a tipped-over cup next to her hand.

Damn damn damn..."Mom!" she called, racing towards the bedroom.

"D-donna....?!?" came Kendra's weak voice.

Donna raced in and hugged her.

"Donna...don't..." Kendra pleaded, trying to push Donna away. "I...don't want you...s-sick too....*cough* *cough*" She looked up at Donna, finally managing to stop coughing long enough to continue. "p-please...so th-thirsty....and...Kelly n-never came back...she s-said she'd get me s-some water...and she never c-came back."

"She's sick, too." Donna replied. "I'll get some and then I'm getting you to that hospital. It's been crazy tonight." she said, but didn't want to panic Kendra by saying just how much. When Kendra'd fallen ill, there'd only been a few others, it hadn't been a full blown epidemic yet.

She gave Kendra another hug and then ran to the kitchen, careful this time to not stumble. She paused just for a minute to get Kelly into a more comfortable position--then had to clean up the resulting mess as Kelly started retching violently.

Once she'd gotten Kelly cleaned up and onto the couch, she got a glass of water for Kendra and then called the ambulance...she hoped Miranda was having a better time at the Myles'.

* * * * *

While Donna waited, she sent a note to Ariel.

It's getting worse, whatever this is. I just went to check on Mom, she's pretty much the same as when I'd left her, but now...Megan's sister Kelly, the one I'd asked to stay with her, is sick too. It looks like she was going to get Mom some water and passed out coming back.

Mom'd wanted to stay here, but I decided to send both her and Kelly to the hospital. I'll see you there I guess...though I'm going to check on how Miranda's doing first.

Donna

* * * * *

Ariel wrote back...

* * * * *

Donna,

I just don't know what to do any more. I've just got the rug cleaned up from what happened with Madonna, and I was going to head back and join you and Miranda at Rebekah Myles's. But Brett says that there is no one watching Tompkins and Benson now since MacTaggart has fallen ill as well as Lisa Halden, and now Madonna Gale. I can't hold my own against either of those two! I guess all I can do now is summon Ameh and hope she doesn't kill them outright and end up being the one on trial as a result. Even if Capri suddenly recovered it would be too much to ask of her so soon - she's gotten so run down and exhausted.

Ariel Dawson

* * * * *

As things went on, and more messages came through about more people getting sick, Donna became more worried.

Donna'd seen some of the messages on the Telegraph, and was desperate to *do* something, sitting here worrying about her mother and all the rest was only making her crazy.

Mrs Myles was missing, now? That didn't sound too good--the last time that'd happened...she knew only too well what'd happened then, she'd been part of it herself.

But that couldn't be happening now. It just couldn't. Then, she'd been helping Nathan. There was no one doing that now, or was there?

She had to see. She had to.

She transported herself to the corridor near the cell area, to see Melanie Benson pacing the floor outside. A small container sat on the floor beside her.

"Melanie?" Donna asked the woman, "I'm sorry but I just had to see for myself if he's doing anything."

"Not a peep. Still glaring daggers at everybody, and still bright green, but that's all." Melanie replied.

Donna felt very strange. Something just wasn't right and she knew it...but Melanie didn't seem to think so. She took a few steps forward so she could see into the cell.

And her hands went to her mouth. Nathan standing over Rebekah, beating her... "What the hell do you mean not a peep!" she cried. "Look in there--he's got Rebekah!"

"What the hell are you talking about? He doesn't have anybody in there. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" Melanie exclaimed, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Am *I* all right??" Donna was equally incredulous. "Are *you*? Or are you blind? Deaf? Can't you hear her screaming?"

"No way, Donna, it's just Nathan in there."

From inside her little cage, Christine piped up. "You must be a touch feverish, Donna, there's nothing wrong in there. or maybe your magic is playing tricks on you - you know how out of control it's been getting lately--"

"You shut up or I'll toss this stupid little box out the window, with you in it!" Melanie snapped.

"I'm not feverish, and I *am* in control! I'll never let you control my magic again, Benson!" Donna railed, glaring deadly daggers at Christine in the cage.

"Oh my my aren't we the plucky one all of a sudden, Donna? And you, Melanie, that threat isn't so far removed from the games I used to play with you and especially Ameh. I knew that no matter how much you rebelled you'd eventually turn out just like me."

"I'm nothing like you, bitch!" Melanie cried, then, turning her attention back to Donna, she saw with horror that Donna was going for the door. "Hey! What are you trying to do, set the bastarrd free? Maybe Christine's using her magic to make you think Nathan has somebody in there! You go in, and he'll split! You're walking right into their stupid trap!"

"No, dammit, she's in there! Can't you hear her screaming!?"

"It's just one of Christine's stupid magic tricks! Dammit Donna you're gonna let a killer free!"

"No, maybe Christine's playing one on you! That has to be it! I should know since I have magic too!"

"Which is probably what's wrong with you, you're probably getting sick and your magic is going awry!"

"Melanie!"

"Donna!"

The woman and the girl struggled with each other, their hands wrestling for a hold on the door knob. But then another girl blasted at the door from several feet away.

It fell open, and the fighting between Melanie and Donna grew even more intense. But the third girl managed to shove her way past them and into the room, hurling grievous insults at Nathan all the while. A blast knocked Nathan to the floor, winding him, The magic Christine had wove surrounding Rebekah was disspelled, and NT was soon helping Rebekah to get up, and trying to reassure her.

"Oh my gawd!" Melanie wailed.

NT got Ariel and Pippi, then went after Nathan.

In the hallway, the commotion distracted Donna and Melanie. Donna, realizing Melanie didn't have any magic, and afraid something would come flying out of the cell, was doing her best to shield Melanie.

From the small box came more shouting, largely unheard with the racket coming from the cell.

Eventually, Pippi managed to get NT calmed down, and once she found out what had happened, got it all sorted out. Nathan and Christine were returned to their cells, and Ariel took Rebekah back with her to get her taken care of. Donna and Melanie apologized to each other and things settled down for what was left of the night.