Archive of Our Own

Cape Rogue was quiet and serene on another morning in Haven. Jennifer was changing out of her pajamas. Duke was getting out of the shower. Separately they were both humming a tune neither of them remembered learning.

Across town, in a house too big for its single occupant, Nathan Wuornos woke up cranky and numb as he did every day. A melancholy melody played in his head, but he didn’t take particular notice.

In her room above The Gull, Audrey Parker slept soundly, the only person in Haven today that isn’t feeling the music. Until the music comes to her.

Audrey startled awake to the sound of a jaunty piano tune coming through her window. She blinked, as the stranger sang outside.

“I’m not wearing underwear today! No I’m not wearing underwear today!”

Audrey moved to her window to see a man walking, or more accurately, dancing by. It didn’t look like he had any instruments with him, but the music behind his voice was loud and clear.

“Not that you probably care much about my underwear, still none the less I gotta say that I’m not wearing underwear today!”

The Lexie part of her made Audrey shout, “Get a life bud!”

The man looked up at her voice. “Oh, um. Sorry!” He hunched his shoulders and kept walking, the pep apparently no longer in his step.

Audrey pushed away from the window and dropped down on her couch. She kept a window open so she could wake to the sound of birds, not wanna-be singers. The guy himself wasn’t especially concerning. The music from nowhere though? That was definitely a Trouble.

Audrey didn’t mind musicals. She thought they were usually cute, if a bit repetitive. Lexie, she remembered, was not a fan. She groaned whenever her friend Rhonda suggested one for a movie night.

If Lucy, or any the other women she used to be, had any say on the matter, she didn’t know it.

She sent out a text to Duke: Hey, have you heard anyone singing lately? Accompanied by music coming from nowhere?

Duke’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. He was scraping the last of his eggs off a plate while telling Jennifer about one of the Gull’s regular customers.

“I’m telling you, it’s not just bushy eyebrows! His eyebrows are where his eyes should be. I have never seen his pupils. I don’t know if it’s a trouble or a weird bloodline but something’s up with this guy.”

Duke picked up his phone and frowned at the text.

“What’s that?” Jennifer asked, taking a bite of toast.

“Text from Lexie. Have you been outside today?” Jennifer shook her head. “I’m gonna go check real quick.”

As Duke climbed to the upper deck, he could hear rhythmic thumps from outside. When he stepped out, the docks revealed a dozen fishermen dancing, stomping, and singing about what a great day it is to be a sailor. His eyes moved from boat to boat and although he knew he could hear a fiddle, there wasn’t one in sight.

He sent off a text: Headin your way now.

“Sorry Jennifer,” Back in the boat, Duke gathered his things. “Looks like something’s come up.”

“Is it a trouble? Did someone get hurt?”

“Yes but no. I mean, not so far but it’s early. Who’s to say it’ll it stay that way.”

“Should I do something?” Jennifer asked, just like she had nearly every day since she got to Haven.

“Just try to avoid dancing fishermen and I think you’ll be okay.” Keys and jacket in hand, Duke gave her a kiss on the head. “Call if you need anything.”

Duke left so quickly, he didn’t even notice the music that started playing inside the boat.

Jennifer tapped her fingers on the counter and began to sing. “One day we're just like a normal couple. No screaming voices inside my head. And then he’s off on a trip to save the world. Working with detectives on a mystery. Following the clues and saving lives.”

She stands and dances slowly with herself. “And I don’t mind. They’ll find key to calming troubles down. One small town fighting to stay afloat.”

On a turn, she notices the plates of half eaten food left behind. “And I’m a part of that. I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that.”

She grabs the plates and takes them to the sink, letting the water run over the dishes, washing the jelly and bread crumbs from her hands. “Next day it's just like ‘Well that was something’. We're back to playing the flirting game. Until the phone call. It's time to save the world. Running off to Nathan or to Lexie.”

A washcloth in hand, she turns off the water. She twists the washcloth between her hands. “They're the perfect team and who am I?”

She shakes her head and drops the washcloth. “But I don't mind. He's back and safe and how can I complain? They saved the day! Another trouble quelled… And I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that.”

Jennifer makes her way up the ladder to the deck, the clear sky and ocean unfolding itself to her.

“And it's true I tend to follow from behind. He says to run, I hide til denouement. True that I have questions, I have doubts. I said I wanted out of troubled thoughts.”

Her hands grip the railing as she sings to the sea. “And now they're gone… I don't mind. I'm normal now. That's fine. I left my home and the world I knew behind for his smile and this town that makes no sense. Everything's tense and I'm here flying blind.”

For the first time, Jennifer seems surprised at the words she’s singing. “But… I’m a part of that. I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that… aren't I? I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that. I'm a part of that…”

The music fades as Jennifer comes back to the sounds of seagulls and waves. It’s not until the music is gone that she realizes that singing impromptu songs about her thoughts isn’t something she normally does.

“Oh. Just great.” She quickly got her bag and headed out. No one had died ‘yet’ but that didn’t mean anything. The safest place to be would be wherever the trio was. She was sure it was fine for her to join the case. She was a part of it after all.

*

At Audrey’s apartment, Duke leaned against a wall and told her about the singing and dancing at the docks. “Downstairs, Jill was singing about how angry she was with the closing crew. Didn’t even seem to notice anything was weird until the song was over and she made me promise not to tell them.”

“Have you sung anything?” Audrey asked from her seat at the table, nursing the coffee he’d brought her.

“Nope. Thank goodness.”

“Can’t sing?” She said, sympathetically.

“Worse. I have an amazing singing voice. It would distract everyone.”

Audrey scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Well, Nathan hasn’t called and said there are bodies so maybe it’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad? You live in the same Haven I do?”

“It could happen! Maybe there’s nothing wrong with having a little song and dance every once and while.”

“Oh really, Lexie?” Duke leaned on her table. “And if I see someone from the Guard or Nathan, what’s going to stop me from literally singing like a canary?”

She averted her eyes and she took a sip. “Point one, Crocker.”

Duke sighed and sat down. “Look, I wasn’t gonna say anything, but I think you need to stay away from Nathan until we figure out what we’re gonna do.”

“Stay away from Nathan? You do realize I’m his partner right?”

“Yeah and that’s exactly the problem! The more time you spend around him, as partners, the more likely it is that he notices that you’re not really Lexie.”

“What? I’m great at being Lexie.”

“I figured it out the first day.”

“Okay that was a fluke. There were extenuating circumstances.”

“Would Lexie say ‘extenuating circumstances’?”

Audrey glared but the corner of her mouth lifted. “Maybe she watches a lot of Law and Order.”

Duke laughed. “I’m just saying, you know when you really-” He stopped before saying the word they both knew he was going to stay. “When you care about someone, you notice things about them.”

A knock came at the door and they heard it open from the next room. “Uh, Lexie?” Nathan’s voice called.

Audrey stood, going into her Lexie stance, one hip out and leaning unevenly. “Yeah, in here.”

Nathan came into the kitchen, holding a paper tray of coffees in one hand and a takeout bag in the other, looking like he was uncomfortable being in her space. They all knew Nathan had been here before, but it was Lexie’s place now and he was stepping softly.

“Hey.” Duke said.

Nate gave an uncharacteristically soft ‘hey’ back, before his eyes went back to… well, Lexie now. “I got you coffees and a bagel. I didn’t know what you liked so…”

“Unless the shop you went to makes makes an Irish coffee,” Lexie said, “I’m gonna pass.”

Nathan wasn’t sure if that was a joke so he only half laughed. “Right. So um, there have been some accidents-”

Knocking from the door cut him off, followed by a voice. “Hello? The door’s unlocked. I hope that doesn’t mean you guys are being attacked right now…”

“Jennifer?” Duke called out, surprised.

Her head popped up in the entryway. “Oh good. You’re all here. Morning Lexie. Nathan.”

Duke moved to meet her. “Is something wrong?”

“No!” She automatically started to wave it off but stopped. “I mean, maybe. You just said there was a trouble and then right after you left I started singing. Not like hearing a song and singing along. Like there was music that wasn’t there before and I wasn’t choosing what to sing, it was just pouring out of me. So I figured it must be that trouble you were talking about.”

“You guys already knew about the singing trouble?” Nathan asked, looking between them.

“Uh yeah.” Lexie said. “Woke up to some dude belting about his underwear. Or lack of it. Why do you know about it? Cops get called about singing now?”

“And dancing in the streets. Coffee?” He offered the tray of drinks to Jennifer who gladly took the one marked ‘cream & sugar’. Duke took the tray just so Nathan would look a little less pathetic. “They’ve caused an accident and a few near misses.”

Jennifer nodded. “Yeah I almost ran over a guy doing cartwheels on my way here. Didn’t seem intentional though.”

“Great.” Lexie said. “People are unintentionally throwing themselves into the street.”

“We should get down to the station.” Nathan told Lexie.

She raised her eyebrows skeptically. “Why? So I can listen to complaints about jay walking? Jay dancing? Hah!”

“We need to investigate where it’s coming from.”

“Oh I am not an investigator.” Lexie put up air-quotes. “I’m just here to get people to stop right? You find ‘em, I’ll find you, okay? In the mean time…” She pointed at the paper bag Nathan was still carrying. “What kinda bagels did you get?”

Nathan sputtered in a mix of confusion and annoyance.

“Nate,” Duke jumped in. “Can I talk to you for a second?” He took Nathan’s arm, still holding onto the bag and pulled him into the next room.

Jennifer watched them go and then turned to Lexie, giving a nervous smile.

“Anyway,” Lexie dropped into her seat and took a deep whiff of the spiked coffee Duke had brought her. “Back to my sweet sweet Baileys.”

In the other room Nathan shook off Duke’s grip. “What are you doing?”

“Look, maybe you should let Lexie stay out of it. Just for today.”

“We’re supposed to be working together.”

Duke stood straighter just so he could look down at Nathan. “You’re supposed to be getting her to fall in love with you. And you’re not doing a great job so far.”

“It’s only been a week. We’re still getting to know each other.”

“This is you getting to know her?” Duke gestured at the bag. “Getting her two types of coffee and bagels like the most boring college boyfriend ever? Girls like Lexie aren’t into that. Look, you and Audrey could bond over being cops. But Lexie is more into liquor and motorcycles and, y’know, cool stuff.”

Nathan let out an offended scoff. “I can be cool.”

“Sure.” Duke said agreeably. “I mean, ten years ago, yeah. Now?” He winced.

Nathan’s mouth dropped in offended shock. “You watch. I am at my coolest when I’m investigating.” Nathan pushed past Duke, to the kitchen.

He dropped his bag onto a table just as an invisible violin started being plucked.

“I’ve got a theory. That it’s teen girl. Related to a troubled person from another case.”

Jennifer jumped in. “I’ve got a theory. A troubled jukebox. And we hear music every time that our song gets played.”

Duke touched her shoulder. “I’ve got a feeling we should move along.”

They all looked at each other. “Cause there are things we shouldn’t be revealing in a song.”

Jennifer sang, “Oh I’ve been thinking! We should ask Vince and Dave. I mean they seem to know a lot about the town and have the paper and their research but they don’t really seem to like you so I guess I’ll just stop…”

Nathan took a breath. “I’ve got a-”

“I’ve got a theory!” Lexie yelled. “If you don’t shut up, someone’s gonna throw themself in front of a car. And it’ll be me!”

The troubled people in the room stopped in their tracks. No more music seemed to continue.

“Are we done?” Duke said.

“Looks like you threw us off our rhythm.” Nathan said, giving a small smile to Lexie. “Good job.”

She scrunched up her nose with an exaggerated smile. “Thanks.” She said sarcastically.

Duke clapped his hands together. “Okay it’s settled. Nathan and Jennifer will look into his theory and I’ll bring Lexie over when you found our guy.”

Nathan and Jennifer looked warily at each other and then back at Duke. Lexie tried not to laugh into her coffee.

*

At Jordan’s insistence, Wade brought her down into the Cape Rogue.

Jordan had been pursuing Wade in a way that almost could be called courting. Long glances, slow conversation, no touching.

She had told him she wanted to talk to him, but so far she had managed to tell him absolutely nothing.

Inside, Jordan whistled at the interior, eyes roaming over the framed pictures and leather upholstered seats. “Who knew Duke Crocker could decorate?”

“He’d be pissed if he knew I brought you here.”

“Isn’t that the fun of it?” Jordan smirked.

Wade stepped closer to her. “Are we having fun yet?”

Jordan stepped away. “Not quite.”

He sighed. “Jordan… what are you doing here? Why have you been flirting with me when you know we can’t touch?”

“You’re an attractive man Wade.” Jordan shrugged. “And I wanted to get to know you. See if I could trust you.”

“You can.”

“And now I believe you.” Jordan leaned against the counter, leather gloves running along it sensually. “You’re special Wade. You have power your brother doesn’t want you to know about.”

Wade blinked. “What do you mean power?”

“It’s… It’s a trouble but not like mine. You can save people. You can end the troubles.”

His eyes went wide with disbelief. “Me? I don’t have any power. I’m not the special one.”

“That’s just what your brother wants you to think. Trust me, you have a big responsibility. And I’ll help you. I just need a few things in place first.”

None of this made sense to Wade, but that was just a typical day in Haven for him.

As for Jordan, she was just hoping that when her plan came to a head, he wouldn’t hate her too much.

“I need to know what Lexie is up to today.” Jordan reached into a pocket on her jacket and pulled out a pen. “This has a camera and a microphone. Plant it in her office and we’ll be able to know whatever their plans are.”

Wade nodded.

“They have people in and out of the station all the time. It’ll be fine as long as you’re not suspicious.”

*

When Wade walked into the station his heart was beating hard. Jordan’s words repeat in his head. He’ll be fine as long as he’s not suspicious.

He heard a piano start playing a spy tune.

“Don’t be suspicious. Don’t be suspicious.” Wade’s thoughts slowly started leaking out of his mouth.

His shoulders started to shimmy as music played around him.

“Don’t- don’t be suspicious. Don’t be suspicious. Now! Don’t be suspicious!”

Hips? Swiveled.

Head? Banged.

Wade. Was. Getting. Into it.

He struck a confident pose.

And then he noticed the crowd.

Of police officers.

Because he was at the police station.

Right.

Wade tried to laugh it off. “Wow. That was… some music, huh guys? Did everybody hear that or…?”

“Wade?” He looked and saw Nathan standing by an office. The office he was supposed to have infiltrated… stealthily.

Jennifer walked out of the office. Great. So everyone he knew saw that.

“Hey,” Jennifer said. “Did you need something?”

“Yeah.” Nathan said, stone cold. “Need something?”

Wade shook his head. “Nope. Just um… just checking out the…” He tried to point out something he would need to be checking out but couldn’t find anything. “...nothing. See ya.”

He stumbled out of the station and scrambled for his phone to call Jordan.

“Did you get it?” Her voice sounded pleased already. Wade always hated being the bearer of bad news.

“Um. Not quite.”

Jordan didn’t reply right away, taking a breath. “What happened?”

“Honestly, I have no idea. It was like my body was just dancing without me telling it too. I mean, I didn’t feel like I was being controlled, but I also didn’t realize that I shouldn’t be dancing. I don’t know what it was. Was I possessed? Is this what troubles are like?”

“Oh Wade.” Jordan sighed. “If only.”

“I don’t think Lexie was in there anyway.”

“She wasn’t?”

“No. Nathan was there with Jennifer.”

“Duke’s new girlfriend was there but Lexie wasn’t? That doesn’t make any sense. Why?”

“I don’t know!” Wade shouted, frazzled, and then glanced at the other people walking down the street. He was doing terribly in public today. “I had to leave after making a scene but if Lexie was there, I didn’t see her.”

“Okay Wade. New mission. Find Lexie. She’s the key to this whole thing.”

Wade started to reply affirmatively but she had already hung up.

*

Audrey was alone, looking through the smatterings of notes she had left in her apartment. Full reports of cases, and thus most of the details, were at the station, but she couldn’t risk getting pulled in by Nathan. Maybe later she would take Jennifer’s advice and go to the Teagues to find a better solution to ending the troubles.

But right now something was bothering her.

Nathan had said (sung) that he thought the person causing the singing was the daughter of a troubled person they already met. But they’d never done a singing trouble before so who did he mean?

It had been all over the streets simultaneously, so it probably isn’t person to person. Who had they met that had a trouble that effected the whole town?

There was the Christmas trouble. But even if it had manifested as something different, Nathan hadn’t noticed anything wrong with Christmas being in July. No one was saying it was any holiday this time and they all seemed to realize singing your thoughts was unusual once the song was over.

There was the guy who brought the plagues because he had read the Bible. Maybe someone read music and that turned the town into a musical? That would be pretty simple to undo if that was the case. Just read something normal.

There was Anson Shumway and his repeating day... She hadn’t been able to save him. That one had really hurt. If she had just figured out who the driver was sooner, she could’ve-

Audrey sighed in frustration. What was the point? It’s not like she’d be able to tell Nathan if he was on the wrong track without giving herself away. But it was torture not knowing what was going on. She should’ve made some excuse to get to the station. Now Nathan was out and Duke certainly wasn’t going to take her. Too bad the Barn didn’t spit her out with a car this time.

A voice floated in from outside, weak but definitely live and in person. Another person compelled to sing their feelings.

Audrey sighed as she went to the balcony to shout at the singing passerby. Or maybe just watch. Other than the apparent inability to choose what you were singing, it almost seemed fun.

Leaning on the railing, Audrey smiled down at the woman tap dancing, just her and the music.

The woman threw her body into the dance so hard it might’ve been painful.

Then she turned and Audrey saw her face. Wait. Was it actually painful? Tears welled up in her eyes and her breathing was ragged.

“Stop! Hey!” Audrey ran down the stairs.

The woman began vocalizing and her voice was strained. Her body kept moving and her feet stomped with a fury.

Audrey hesitated not knowing if it would be worse if she collided with the dance. But no, that’s what she needed to do. Throw her off the rhythm! Audrey grabbed her shoulders and shook her off beat.

The song ended. The woman dropped, as if her strings had been cut, and Audrey lowered her to the ground.

“It’s okay.” She whispered to the stranger. “You’re gonna be okay.”

The woman panted, clinging to Audrey’s arms. “Thank you.” She whispered, barely able to get it out her throat was so dry.

Audrey slowly brought her up the stairs to her apartment and gave her a cup of water. She started heating water for tea.

“Must be awful.” Audrey said, standing by the coffee maker. “Don’t respond. You clearly need the rest. If you haven’t noticed it’s been all over town since this morning so I’m sure it’s been a rough day.”

The woman eeked out, “Since last night.”

Audrey blinked. She didn’t hear anyone else say anything about that. “Really? I just heard it a few hours ago.”

The woman nodded and took another drink of water.

Audrey sat next to her. “Okay just nod or shake your head but, were you with someone when it happened?”

She shook her head no.

“So you didn’t see or hear anyone else singing?”

She started to shake her head again but paused to think, then nodded. “Neighbor.”

“Your neighbor was singing. Did it seem… coerced, like you were just now?”

Shake. No.

“So they were singing with a CD?”

Another no. She turned and pointed at the piano Audrey rarely touched.

“They were playing music.”

Nod. Yes.

That was a lead if she’d ever heard one. “Do you have a car here?”

Shake. No.

Damn it.

The coffee maker beeped and she went to get it. Did Audrey even have tea? Why did she think she had tea? She might have hot cocoa mix somewhere…

Audrey was thinking about just asking Duke for a ride when her eyes found one of the coffee cups Nathan had brought. It was marked cream & sugar. A set of car keys sat next to it.

She smiled and mentally thanked Jennifer.

“Let me drive you home.”

*

Jordan was driving to an apartment that held a few unofficial Guard members. She wanted backup but most of the people she knew would ask for Vince’s approval. These guys were mostly just people they’d helped and not contacted. Unlikely they knew who the boss was, given that she hadn’t until recently. If she acted like she was in charge, hopefully they wouldn’t ask too many questions.

Vince’s car appeared in her rear view mirror. Great.

Jordan parked a block away and started walking. Predictably, Vince did the same.

“What are you doing on this side of town Jordan?” Vince asked, walking beside her.

“Getting in a good stroll Vince. What about you?”

“Stop it.” His voice attempted to be commanding. “I know what you’re up to. I’ve seen you with Wade. You want to use the Crocker curse on Lexie to end the troubles. It won’t work. She’s not troubled. That’s not her connection here.”

“Oh, now suddenly you know what her connection to the troubles is?” Jordan stopped and turned to him. “Please, share.”

Vince stuttered, shocked. “Well, she’s here to help them of course. She always is.”

“She always is?” Jordan said, skeptically. “How convincing.” She went back to walking.

Vince continued. “Our best shot is for her to kill someone she loves. It’s the only way we know works for sure. What you’re doing is-”

“What you’re doing leaves a lot more bodies behind than I am.”

Jordan walked away.

“Jordan!” She kept walking. “Wait!”

Wait? Jordan had been waiting. She waited for the Barn to take Audrey. She waited for the door to bring her back. She was done waiting.

She pulled a glove off.

Vince’s body shook with pain when her hand squeezed his neck, but she held on.

He dropped.

Tears threatened to break free. She hated doing that. She had been doing a lot of things she hated lately. But things didn’t get better without sacrificing something. Nathan refused to do it. So she would.

*

Duke was having a pretty fun time at the Gull. They had just opened for brunch, and a set of customers seated in the middle seemed to be having some sort of bet. They’re doing a barbershop quartet style number about it and Duke did not at all feel bad about watching.

Honestly, he was thinking about hiring whoever this troubled kid was. They could use some good entertainment in this town.

The doors opened and his brother walked in, jacket slung sullenly over his shoulder.

Duke nodded a greeting. “Long night?”

Wade slumped into a bar stool like a lonely regular. “Early morning.”

Duke lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Wade hadn’t been an early riser since the divorce. “Getting ready to move out?”

Wade gave a small sad laugh, keeping his head down. “Still waiting for me to leave.”

“I’m waiting for you to realize it’s not safe here. Or don’t you remember I was possessed last week?”

“I remember I learned something about this place that you never wanted me to. That you didn’t think I could handle.”

Duke leaned on the counter. It felt weird to be separated from his brother like this, as if he were anyone who could walk in, but it would be worse if they were on the same side. “Not everyone was made to be in Haven, Wade. It’s not a criticism. It's just... the truth.”

Wade gave a sad smile down to the counter. “Except I am made to be in Haven… because I’m troubled.” He finally look up at his brother. “We are troubled.”

Duke tensed. “Who have you been talking to?”

Wade let out a breath. “So Jordan was right.”

“Jordan?”

“What can we do? How- how do I know how to control it?”

“Why was Jordan telling you about our curse?”

Wade’s back went straight. “Now we’re cursed?

Duke put a hand to his head. “No it’s- yes. But you won’t get it if you stay out of Haven.”

“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“Why won’t you tell me what you’ve been doing with Jordan?”

At the thought of his failed plan, at Jordan’s disappointed voice, Wade’s shoulders dropped. He leaned into the bar and curled up his fists. “Screwing up apparently.”

Wade’s eyes were glassy, holding back tears as a piano melody began.

“Maybe I make things a mess. And maybe you're right to have doubts in me. Maybe, but nevertheless.” The stool scraped on the floor with the force of Wade standing. “If you, for once, could just trust me! Just this once, let me come through for you. The way that you want me to.”

His eyes pleaded and Duke couldn’t look away.

“Let me make you proud. Let me show you the best in me. Let me give you a reason to believe that I can stand tall. And when I return and I'm more than you dreamt I'd be,” Wade’s face screwed up in anger, “maybe then you will realize that you never actually knew me at all!”

He grabs his jacket and stomps away. Duke swore under his breath and followed his brother.

“Wade, listen, Jordan hates our family. Whatever she’s telling you, it’s no good.”

Wade turns to him and continues singing. “Sure, I've made lots of mistakes. I know that I've disappointed you.”

“No, that’s not-”

Wade didn’t pause. “Still, though, whatever it takes… I'm gonna fix it, just watch me! Just you wait, I'll make it up to you,” he turned away, “if it's the last thing I'll ever do.”

He threw the Gull doors open. “I will make you proud. I will make you have faith in me. I will prove that the way I used to be is all in the past.”

Duke watched Wade throw a hand in the air and lean on his truck dramatically. He didn’t think about how this trouble worked or whether he should try to stop it. For the moment, he didn’t see anything wrong with the sight of his brother climbing onto the roof of Duke’s car and singing.

“I will save the day and come back here triumphantly! 'Cause I long for that look of surprise when you see that I’m rising at last. The pride in your eyes when you see that I’m rising at laaaaaast!”

Wade’s face started turning red as he belted to the sky.

And now Duke was remembering that this was a trouble. And troubles didn’t play nice.

“No Wade! Stop! Song’s over, come on!”

Wade didn’t stop, belting “at last” at the top of his lungs for a long note. The note strained with lack of air.

“Stop it please!” He turned to call up the stairs, “Audrey- damn it. Lexie! Just- whoever you are get down here! How did you fix us before?”

There was no response.

Duke climbed onto the car with his brother and grabbed his arms. Wade grabbed his arms back like it was a dance. No, damn it. He pressed his shoulders down, forcing him to his knees. The thump of Wade kneeling finally snapped him out of the final note to the song.

Duke looked around a moment, wondering if the music would return.

Wade groaned into his hands. “Oh god not again.”

“Yeah.” Duke said. “Told you Haven sucked.”

*

Nathan pulled his truck up to a gazebo near the high school. It’d been here since he was a teenager and he knew some of the seniors still went to lunch there.

“Alright,” he said to Jennifer. “You just stay here.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“You’re not a cop.”

“Neither is Duke and he helps you guys all the time. I don’t think I was sent here to stay in the car.”

“No,” Nathan rolls his eyes. “You were sent here because Duke wants me away from Lexie because he thinks I’m… hurting my chances.”

Jennifer crossed her arms. “Well if you treat all the new kids like you treat me I can’t blame him.”

Nathan scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means when I came here you were just upset I wasn’t Audrey and you only tolerated me because I could help find her.” She glared at him. “If all you’re trying to do is use Lexie as the new Audrey, then it’s no wonder she doesn’t like you!”

He turned to her. “I am not using Lexie. I am trying to save the town. Now I’m sorry we didn’t become girlfriends and braid each others hair, but trust me, if you knew how many friends have gotten hurt because of me, you wouldn’t be so eager to be one of them.”

Nathan threw his door open and climbed out. He strutted up to the group of teens that had just sat down around a park table.

“Haven PD.” He flashed his badge. “Is one of you Phoebe Smith?

“Nope.” A blonde girl said, popping the word.

“I’m not looking to get anyone in trouble. You guys have seen the singing happening lately?”

“No.” The same one said.

On cue, a dry cleaners across the way opened its doors to let out an operatic chorus of “They got the mustard out!”

“Like that?” He gestured.

“She said no.” A boy with a buzzcut said. “Now can we eat?”

Nathan sighed. If he pressed, they might start dance fighting like they were in West Side Story and he was not interested in being pulled into another musical number.

“Alright, have a nice day.”

He slid back into his truck. “Didn’t want to go to the principal but looks like-”

Jennifer climbed out and slammed the door behind her.

Nathan guffawed, watching her back. At first he thought she was going to angrily walk all the way home, but she just sat down at the bench with the teens, and leaned on her arms and started talking to them.

He crossed his arms and watched as they gave her the same cold stares as they had given him. For a moment. But then something changed and they were talking to her freely. They were nodding along with what she was saying. What was going on?

With a wave, Jennifer left them and returned to the truck.

Nathan gave her an open stare that said ‘what the hell was that?’

“Phoebe doesn’t have TJ’s trouble.” She said casually, buckling herself back in.

“I never told you the guy’s name.”

“I know because you don’t trust me.” She stuck her chin up. “Bad move by the way. I’m very helpful. Phoebe told me he tried to give her blood once and they were incompatible. She also got swept into a song at gym class. It’s not her.”

Nathan pressed back into his seat, the knowledge of resistance almost registering as touch. “Guess my theory was wrong then.” He said, and drove out of the parking lot.

Jennifer groaned. “You’re welcome by the way!”

“Thanks.” He glanced at her. “How’d you do it?”

“I spoke to them like people and not suspects. You’d think that would be the first resort.”

“Haven’s not a first resort kinda town.”

She scoffed. “If troubles are triggered by stress – or trauma or whatever – you’d think you’d have a lighter hand with them.”

He nodded solemnly. “Maybe I should. Audrey usually dealt with that.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m sure she was a sweet-talker.”

“Not at first.”

Jennifer was surprised at that. All anyone had told her since she got there was how good and important Audrey was. There wasn’t time to ask though, because they pulled up to the station at the same time as Duke.

“Thought you were staying with Lexie?” Nathan called, climbing out of the truck.

“Funny story.” Duke said, a wincing smile on his face. “Lexie’s gone.”

*

“It’s done. He’s awake.” The muscled man helping Jordan didn’t have a problem tying Vince to a chair, once she made assurances that she wasn’t going to kill him for no good reason. She loved the Guard sometimes.

Inside, Vince sat straight, putting on that regal disposition he usually hid behind an air of humble buffoonery.

She offered him a bottle of water with a straw. Her trouble often left people out of sorts and strained. A little hydration was always good. He refused, of course, but at least she could give herself credit for trying.

She paced in front of him, and music slowly swelled.

“Jordan you’re making a terrible mistake.”

“Maybe. But if I end the troubles that would be a great silver lining.”

“The path of fear is a dangerous track. I’ve been there before and it’s hard to turn back. It seems like one time, but soon you will find how they grow. Learn from me. I’ve done the same with my own troubled blood. What started as rain turned to a flood. Was left without love, a fate that you already know.”

Jordan’s jaw clenched.

“Suddenly a life is lost and can’t return. Stop before that lesson’s learned. The only one you’ll have to blame is you. Soon you’ll see you lose your way and lose our chance. A risk can’t be made in advance.

You can’t be sure there’s nothing left to lose! Nothing left to lose… I thought I was saving people, but I was only becoming a monster.”

“Is that what you think I am?” Jordan yelled. “The path I’m on isn’t made out of fear. My judgment's not clouded. It’s all become clear. No one is willing to say what I already know. Yes, it’s true the risk is great but I see where it ends. One person dies and we’re all free again. Despise me, okay. There’s only one way this can go.”

Jordan turned her eyes to the window, the sky, the future. “So I choose to lose the past you’re holding on. But one of us needs to be strong. End the war we’ve all been going through.” She glared at him. “Sorry Vince. You've had your chance and nothing changed. There's only one choice that remains, now that I have nothing left to lose! Nothing left to lose…”

He pleaded. “There’s still more we haven’t tried.”

“I can’t sit back idly by.”

“Listen please! You've lost your grip and lost your head. You’ll leave behind a trail of dead. There’s other options. More that we can do. Wait!”

Jordan braced her hands on Vince’s chair, hovering over him. “I lose no tears and lose no sleep. Someone has to take the leap. You can’t stop the turning of the screws.”

In her pocket was a piece of cloth she had been planning to gag him with. Now though?

“And about you using your blood to activate Crocker? Good idea.” She pulled out a pocket knife and cut a line on Vince’s arm, pressing the cloth against the cut to absorb the blood.

She pulled it back and walked away before she could see the look on his face. The warehouse door slammed behind her.

“Now I have nothing left to lose.”

She took out her cellphone and called Wade. “Where are you? Doesn’t matter. Get here.”

*

Duke explained the situation in Nathan's office.

Wade stayed in the car to minimize interactions that could lead to possible singing.

"It wasn't like this morning with Lexie. I couldn't snap him out by talking to him. I had to slam him to the ground."

"And Lexie is gone? Where?"

"I don't know. I was hoping here.”

“She’s not Audrey anymore. The police station isn’t her go-to.”

Duke shrugs. “She’s new to town. Not really sure where her go-to would be. I called in the car but she didn’t answer. I just got a text saying, ‘be right back’. You think she was just tired of being in the apartment?”

“Not a bad guess, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she felt called to help a troubled person. That’s what she always does, right?”

Duke nods. “That does sound right.” He looked up at Nathan who was leaning against the desk, looking back at him. “Wait, aren’t you usually freaking out right about now?”

“Usually, yes. But I’m trying to find less… aggressive ways of figuring things out. See if it helps any.”

“No complaints so far.”

“Matter of time.” Nathan moved behind his desk and sat down, picking up some of the descriptions of where in town there were singing based accidents.

His eyes skimmed the page but he couldn’t keep from sliding back to Duke, fidgeting in the chair. Duke. So uncomfortable in a police station but still determined to be comfortable anywhere. He hadn’t aged a day over the months everyone thought he was dead.

Nathan had aged years in that time. But like always, when Duke was nearby he felt like a teenager.

Soft music rose as Nathan smiled to himself and sang.

“Gone for so long I thought he was goner. Filled me with shame. Guilty and filthy running from my-

Well, all of our fates. Pulled me from the abyss. When he was gone I truly missed. Now I only wish…” He looked down. “He'll never know.”

Duke stood and started touching the framed pictures around the office. Thoughtlessly, he began singing.

“A badge and the gun means that he is no fun. He used to be great. Sneak out at night, start a fight or a fire. My best pal Nate! But now he's gotten cold. I can't get past the grudge he holds. Sometimes I think that-- No.” He dropped his hand. “He’ll never know.”

They sang together. “Cause there’s nothing to know.”

They glanced at each other but they missed each others eyes, as they often did.

Duke tapped his foot to the music. “He’s mean.”

“He’s lawless.”

“Acts like he's freaking flawless.”

“He's never met a promise that he couldn't break. I just manage to scold him.”

“I wish that I could hold him. But if I ever told him, he would run away.”

Duke dropped into a rolling chair and they spun together. “It's not a simple question.”

Nathan stood. “I'm not giving a confession.”

“Was he born filled with repression?”

“All he does is make a mess and leave us trading blows.”

Together. “So thank God he’ll never know.”

Nathan went and adjusted the pictures Duke had moved out of place.

Duke rolled his eyes. “He acts so titchy. More than a little bitchy. If we were to get hitched it’d be huge a mistake.”

“He flirts with strangers. Goes running when there's danger. He never--”

“Can’t control his anger.” Duke coughed.

“Seriously? Even in a song you’re interrupting me. I can’t go five seconds-”

“You can’t blame me that it rhymed!” Duke threw up a hand and spun around. “Oh no. Looks like there’s a dance break so. Can’t talk!”

“Are you kidding me?” Nathan threw his hands up and Duke grabbed them to pull him into a dance.

They fell into step, spinning around each other. They bounced and bobbed and eventually they tumbled out into the lobby.

Across from them, Dwight was singing a sad ballad to Jennifer. A lot slower than they’re current frenzied song. They slowly backed away back into the office as quietly as they could.

Nathan sighed. “If only it was easy.”

“You believed me.”

“Although you manipulate me.”

“And you barely tolerate me.”

“Still I wish that you would-”

Duke put a hand to his ear. “What was that?"

“Just-”

"What’s the rhyme there?”

Nathan pushed him away. “Just shut up.”

Duke dropped down onto the couch. “It’s hell.”

Nathan went and dropped down back behind his desk. “Without him.”

“Know everything about him.”

Nathan pondered staring at a pen. “That’s why I’m so confounded that I’m still in love. I know his games. He makes me feel insane.”

Duke’s eyes were on him. “I think we’re both to blame for what was given up.”

They stood and circled each other. “I lied saying it’s over. We’ve tried. But that was so long ago.”

“Any second, he could turn on me.”

“Does this sound good? Am I still on key?”

“Does it make things more complexing when I’m out here courting Lexie?”

“Yeah, he’s barking up the wrong tree. Soon he’ll see it’s really Audrey.”

“I need a drink.”

“Make it double.”

“Is this asshole worth the trouble?”

They turned into a synchronized dance. “Be a shame to burst his bubble, so move on with the show. I won’t tell and he’ll never know. I swear that he’ll never know.”

Duke shrugged at one of the photos. “My lips are sealed. I plead the fifth.”

Nathan eyed an invisible camera. “Nothing to see. Move it along.”

“He’ll never know.”

They sat on the couch with the last note of the song.

There was a pause between them.

Duke winced. “Is there any way that was just in my head?”

Nathan’s head snapped to him. “Lexie is Audrey?”

“That’s a no then.”

Nathan pulled out his phone and called her.

The voice on the other end was so sweetly familiar now. “Jesus man. I literally just texted Duke and you’re crawling up my-”

“Audrey? I can’t believe it’s you.”

There was a pause. “Uh, no. I thought we already went over this.”

Duke called over the phone. “Like a canary.”

Audrey groaned. “Damn it Duke.”

“Where are you? I need to see you.”

“I’m about to go into the trouble person’s house. Peter Krebs. I just texted Duke the address but don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

“Audrey there’s so much-”

“I know but just… not right now okay? I’ll see you as soon as I fix this musical okay?”

She hung up. Audrey. Nathan couldn’t believe she was really back. He wanted to punch Duke for lying to him. He wanted to cry.

He cleared his throat. “Alright Duke. She said she texted you where she was.”

Duke’s thumb pointed behind him. “I left it in the car.”

They opened the door and the lobby was back to normal, but the Chief’s office was closed.

“Where’s Jennifer?” Duke looked around but didn’t see her.

“You think she’s…” Nathan nodded his head to Dwight’s closed door.

Duke smirked at him. “Well things can happen in the passion of a song.”

Nathan rolled his eyes.

Jennifer came in through the entrance. “Duke! You’re still here?”

“Of course. Where else would I be?”

She pointed at the doors behind her. “I just saw your car leave and I thought-”

“Wade.” Duke turned to Nathan. “He has my phone.”

“And Audrey’s location.”

“He’s been talking to Jordan.”

Nathan nodded. “Let’s go.”

*

Peter Krebs was a mouse of a man, curled up on his piano chair like he was scared of Audrey even though all she’d done was ask to come inside.

“Your neighbor said she could hear you playing the piano last night.”

He nodded. “Yeah was I too loud? Sorry I’ll keep it down.”

“I don’t think that’s it. And I think you know what the problem is. You just got home, right? Which means you’ve seen the people singing through town? Running into the streets? Sharing their secrets?”

He nodded jerkily, not making eye contact with her.

“You know why that is?”

“I guess you do if you’re here, asking about it. Are you gonna arrest me?”

“For singing? No. But I would like to know what changed last night. Was that the first time you’ve played in awhile?”

Peter shook his head, turning to the piano and pressing down middle C. At the sound, he relaxed a little, and moved one hand up and down the keys.

“No, I’ve played for years. Even after the troubles started, it didn’t do anything. I’ve written dozens of songs just this year.”

“You were writing a song last night?” Now there was a thread to follow.

“This woman I’ve been dating, Rebekah. I was trying to write a song for her and it just… It just wasn’t working. She deserves better.”

Audrey moved closer. Better than his song? Better than him? “Why do you say that?”

He took his hands off the piano. “How do I fix this trouble thing? Finish the song?”

“I don’t know Peter. I have to know why it started first. Why couldn’t you finish Rebekah’s song?”

“Because I’m weak!” He hissed, eyes watering. “And fickle and– and– and a terrible person!”

“You cheated on her?”

“I might as well have. I was trying to write a song for her and I kept thinking about someone else.” He leaned on his knees, putting his head in his hands. “I thought I could finally make a commitment. I thought I loved her!”

Audrey put her hands on Peter’s shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re not a bad person for not constantly thinking about the person you’re dating. You can’t beat yourself up when you haven’t actually acted on anything… Maybe you should tell Rebekah.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. The person I’m thinking about. It’s her best friend. She would be heart broken.” Peter wiped his eyes. “It’s stupid. The song just made me think about how different they are, but similar at the same time, you know?”

Audrey did know. She knew far too well.

“I know that you don’t want to hurt anyone. But holding back your feelings, pretending something isn’t there when it is... that hurts people too.”

Peter was still looking dejectedly at his lap, which was good, because that meant he couldn’t see the how personal it was when Audrey said, “It hurts you too.”

Outside of Peter Krebs’ house, Duke’s car arrived without Duke in it.

Jordan moved from the spot she’d been waiting and slid into the passenger’s seat. She didn’t stop to listen to Wade’s question before shoving the bloody rag on his exposed arms. Wade groaned as his skin absorbed the blood and his eyes turned silver.

He looked at his hands, expecting his veins to be glowing but the power he felt pumping through himself wasn’t visible to him. After a moment the feeling was swept away and he was left with only himself.

“Wow.” Wade gasped. “That was-”

“There’s no time.” Jordan said. “In that house is Lexie. She made the troubles. You need to kill her so the troubles go away.”

“Kill her? Why-”

“We don’t have time for this, Wade.” Jordan pulled out a knife and pressed it into his hand. “You wanna help? You wanna be special? This is it.”

The Bronco rolled down the street, bright blue, and a sore on Jordan’s eyes. It slid into the driveway behind them.

As soon as Duke and Jennifer climbed out of the Bronco, they were grabbed by the two men Jordan had brought.

Nathan, however, moved out of their reach and pulled out his gun.

“Shit.” Jordan hissed to Wade. “They usually leave Jennifer behind. We’re one guard short. I’ll have to deal with Nathan myself. When I give the signal, get to the house and finish Lexie.”

She stepped out into view.

“Jordan?” Nathan had his gun trained on the men holding his – well they weren’t friends. Colleagues? – his team, but lowered it when he saw Jordan. “What are you doing with Duke’s car?”

“She has Wade!” Duke growled, struggling where he was held.

Jordan rolled her eyes. “Wade isn’t anywhere he doesn’t want to be.”

She casually walked toward the house and Nathan grabbed her arm, just like she knew he would.

At the touch, her hair stood on end, and music grew around them. Which was great for her. She couldn’t control what she sang, but it sure was a distraction.

Nathan pulled, turning her to face him. “This has to stop now. Whatever it is that you’re trying here. If it doesn’t end with me dying here, you can’t hurt anyone.”

Jordan pushed his chest. “No! This has to stop now. This thing where you act like you’re saving me, but you’re just manipulating me the way you’ve always done.”

They circled each other.

“Jordan, listen.”

“I’m listening.”

“I know this isn’t you.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Just look into my eyes.”

“Well?”

“Just tell me what to do.”

“Like I’d trust you.”

“Jordan, listen.” Nathan offered his hand.

“Oh I’m listening.” She coolly accepted it.

“I swear we still have time. So before you ruin everything with your reckless hate of him and me, you're about to cross a line. You’re messing with people’s families now.”

Jordan’s hands tightened around the handcuff she’d slid around his unfeeling wrist.

“You’re damn right I am.” She pushed Nathan against the yard's fence and cuffed him to it. By the time Nathan saw what her hands were doing, it was too late.

Fire blazed in his eyes. “Let me go!”

Jordan walked back to the Guard and sang. “There's a line between the winners and the losers.” She gestured between Duke and Jennifer. “There's a line between the chosen and the rest. And I've done the best I could, but I've always known just where we stood. Me, here with the luckless. You, there with the blessed.”

She narrowed her eyes at Nathan as she pulled her gloves off. “But the line you think connects us both together? That's a line that I'm not falling for again. 'Cause this time my eyes are open wide. I've been trapped by lines you never had to live in.”

Her face twisted in hurt. “You were never really on my side. So I'm doing what I should have, way back when. I’m crossing the line!” She smacked the lid of Duke’s car and Wade jumped out.

At the sight of his brother, Duke headbutted the guy behind him, forcing him to loosen his grip for a moment. Before he could move far, Jordan was in front of him, gloves off.

Her hands barely grazed him as he tried to push past, but that was enough to put him on his knees. Nathan shouted from his place in the fence, the chain link rattling.

Her backup grabbed Duke to keep him down.

Jordan strode, head high to the porch. Wade stood there, hesitating. Jordan didn't have any doubts. “If that makes me a monster, that’s fine!”

The door to the house opened and Lexie stepped out. “What the hell’s happening?”

Jordan stopped right in front of her. “I’m crossing the line.”

Wade stabbed the knife into her stomach.

Lexie screamed. Jordan winced. But it was worth it right? One person’s pain had to be worth it. She watched the blood pool in Wade’s hands waiting for something to change. Lexie collapsed and Wade let go of the knife to grab her and lower her to the floor of the porch.

Wade looked up. His eyes were shining with tears, but they weren’t silver. “It’s not absorbing.” His shaking voice said. “I don’t think it worked.”

Fuck.

"No!" Nathan yelled. He pulled his hand from the cuff, leaving behind skin and blood, but not caring as he ran to Lexie. He was yelling with a different kind of pain.

Holding back tears, Jordan pulled out her phone and dialed 911. She choked out, “We need an ambulance.”

Nathan knelt down on the porch. “I’m here Parker. Stay with me, okay? Stay with me.”

Sirens rang in the distance.

*

The hospital waiting room was cold.

Nathan couldn’t feel it, but Duke couldn’t feel anything else as he shifted in his seat, curling his shoulders in. Cold from the air conditioning. Cold from the visual of his brother running a knife through the woman he was in love with.

Nathan sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder. The day before he might’ve put a space between them but not today.

The emergency room doors slid open and a newly released Vince walked through. A smaller, shabbier man came in after, but no one noticed him. Vince went to Duke and Nathan, head hung in shame, explaining where he had been.

The strange shabby man slipped to the side and watched them. He was straight backed, with thin wispy hair and a face one would call unpleasant. It was made all the more upsetting when he opened his mouth and three black orbs floated out of it and flew into the ears of the men in the waiting room.

“Excuse me.”

Duke jumped and then turned quickly. He hadn’t heard anyone approach but next o him a man in a white coat had just appeared.

“You can see her now.”

Nathan didn’t recognize the doctor, which was unusual given how small Haven was and how often Nathan needed medical attention. The man was around his age, and handsome in a soap opera doctor kind of way.

Audrey’s door was closed but he waved for them to go in. All thoughts of the doctor flew out of Nathan's head immediately as he knelt beside her.

She was still asleep, the machines steadily beeping. The setting sun cast a warm glow on her in the bed. Audrey. Not Lexie. She was Audrey and she was alive.

Duke forced himself to stay in the corner of the room with Vince to give them a moment. The doctor didn’t have any of his tact though, because he was next to Nathan, leaning in close to her.

“God.” He breathed. “She’s beautiful.”

Duke narrowed his eyes. Something was off about this guy. “You wanna give them a little space, doctor? You already were pretty close when you were sewing her up, right?”

“I’m healing her as fast as I can.” The man said, eyes not leaving Audrey. “But it’s good to see it’s taking effect.”

“That’s a strange turn of phrase.” Vince said. “When did you start working at Haven Hospital?”

“Hmm?” The man looked up at them and suddenly he wasn’t wearing the coat anymore.

Nathan stood at the unnatural change. “What are you?”

“Oh I’m William. Nice to meet you.”

Duke went to grab him but his hands only touched air. The man had disappeared.

“Behind you.” A voice said behind him and Duke spun around. The stranger laughed with a dark smile.

“I’m just kidding,” he said. “I’m not here at all. I’m actually here.”

In their minds, they saw a flash of a dark room. The man, William, lay in a bare bed, eyes closed with bandages wrapped around his stomach.

Then they were pulled back to the hospital room.

“I’m just in your head right now.” William said.

“What do you want with her?” Nathan growled, getting in his face despite knowing he wasn’t physically there.

“Me? I want to help her. You two were the idiots who stood by while she was stabbed.”

Nathan punched where William should've been and suddenly he was looking down at Duke, on the ground scared and shaking.

He looked up. Duke was standing in front of him, unharmed. William’s laughter rang through his head.

“Didn’t you hear me?” William crowed. “I’m. In. Your. Head.”

“Vince, you know this trouble?” Duke whispered.

William appeared between them and shouted. “Nope! I’m not troubled.” He disappeared and reappeared back at Audrey’s side. “I’m like her.”

“No one’s like Audrey.” Nathan said.

“Audrey never made us hallucinate before.” Duke said.

“Only because she doesn’t have the tools.” William moved his hand to brush a hair off her face but it did nothing.

“If you’re like Audrey,” Vince said, “then you should be helping us. Not playing games.”

“Helping you?” William scoffed. “Not really in the helping business.”

“Then you’re definitely not like her.” Duke said. “Because that’s all she does.”

William looked at each of them, one deadly earnest face to the next.

“You’re serious?” He asked. “You really have no idea who she is?”

“Better idea than you do.” Nathan said.

“Okay.” William nodded, not in agreement, but as if he had just gotten an idea. “I just wanted to see her. But I have the privilege of being an illusion now and given the Trouble du Jour, I think I could do something more on theme.”

He snapped his fingers and music began playing. It bounced, poppy and sinister.

“She’s not the savior of the day.” He sarcastically put his hands on his cheeks. “She’s not your angel sent to make things okay.” Eyes rolled. “She’s not a bartender or with the FBI. Seriously?” He pointed at Audrey. “She’s the bad guy.”

“What?” Nathan said, incredulous.

“All those troubled people that you see. They were all created thanks to her and me. Now, before you start screaming-”

“No!” Nathan yelled. “Don’t listen to him. It’s a lie.”

“Think about it. She’s the bad guy.”

The illusion split into two Williams singing in unison. “Didn’t you notice? It's not mitosis.” He combined back into one, looking directly into Vince’s wide eyes. “But you look so surprised. Tell me, what was the theory for our poor dearie? She keeps coming back and then you wonder why? Cause she’s the bad guy!”

“Hold on.” Duke said. “The troubles started, what, a thousand years ago?”

“Just a few hundred. At least I think so. I was sent to a place outside of time.”

Duke had to wave THAT question off. One revelation at a time. “And you two made them… what? For fun?”

“We were in love once. And we showed our love by giving each other gifts. The Troubles."

"Weird honeymoon you two had."

"Oh don't I know it!" William laughed. “If there’s a tragedy, some kind of malady, I bet we’ve already tried.” He eyed Nathan, holding Audrey’s hand, and leaned in right over him. “There’s always been a mystery to Haven’s torrid history. She’s right in front of you: the culprit of the crime.”

He straightened up. “So, why am I telling you today? Someone tried to kill her, which won’t help by the way. Her life and my life and Haven’s fate are tied. And why?” He gave a toothy grin. “Go on, say it!”

Duke walked to the other side of the bed, gazing at Audrey's sleeping face. The face that had been Lucy’s, had been dozens of others over the years. William was right. So he said it. “She’s the bad guy.”

“Yes!” William yelled. “Was that so hard?”

She stirred in bed and slowly blinked her eyes open. “Nathan?” She turned her head and smiled when she saw Duke. “You’re both here.”

Her eyes didn’t see William, as he hovered over Nathan, whispering in his ear. “Tell her I miss her.”

Nathan’s jaw clenched and he gave his head a small shake.

“Welcome back.” Duke said, strained.

“What happened?” Audrey blinked at the ceiling trying to come back to her body and remember how she got there.

“I could stay here.” William said to Nathan. “In your mind. Watching everything you do. Making you see things that aren’t there. Or you could tell her I miss her.”

Nathan swallowed. “William misses you.”

Audrey’s head snaps to him. “What? William? You know about him?”

“You know about him?” Duke said, eyebrows going up.

“Good job.” William said and disappeared.

The black substance popped out of Nathan’s ear, Duke’s, Vince’s, and went back to where it came from.

They all winced simultaneously and Audrey’s eyes darted between them. “What just happened?”

*

Wade sat in the Chief’s office, hands cuffed together, head hanging.

Dwight just looked at him.

Wade squirmed in his chair with the need to break the silence.

He broke. “Are you gonna put me in jail?

“Don’t see what good that would do. It would just force you to be in Haven longer.”

Wade rubbed his hands together and shuddered when he noticed they were still tinted pink from blood.

“Look,” Dwight leaned forward. “If I let you go and you hurt more people, you’re not getting a second chance.”

“I won’t!” Wade shook his head ferociously. “I never want to see that again.”

“Okay.” Dwight made intense eye contact. “Then you’ll leave Haven and never tell anyone what happened here.”

Wade started to nod automatically before he stopped to consider it. “Honestly… I’ll probably need therapy.”

Dwight stood and uncuffed Wade’s hands. “Then tell whoever you pick to move to Haven. We could use a new therapist. Go.”

Wade walked out and showed his free hands to Jennifer. She stood from the table, ready to drive him to get his things from Cape Rouge.

Jordan stood too, though she wore no cuffs over her shaking gloved hands. She walked into Dwight’s office without meeting his eyes.

“I guess I should leave too.” She said as the door closed.

Dwight sighed. “Jordan-”

“Wade only did it because of me. It was my plan. I literally kidnapped Vince. There’s plenty of blood on my hands.”

“I’m not arguing there’s not. But Lexie’s okay. You called the ambulance in time.”

Tears welled up in Jordan’s eyes and she had to make the terrible decision of whether to either wipe them away and pretend there was something in her eye, or keep them open and risk them falling. Either was embarrassing. Unfitting for an attempted murderer.

She blinked and wiped her eyes. "Thank you for trying but-"

"Listen," Dwight put a hand up. "If you wanna go, I'm not going to keep you. A lot of us have done bad things in our attempts to save Haven. My name is probably at the top of that list. But if I wasn't here, I definitely wouldn't be able to make things better. The troubles are still going and if we want the best chance to end them for good, it's gotta be all hands. I'd feel a lot better knowing you're here, more than anyone else in the Guard."

"Even though I literally sang an evil song? Two of them even."

Dwight smirked. "You weren’t around to hear the kind of things I was singing about. I don't think we should go down that particular road."

Jordan snorted and a couple tears fell from her eyes. She quickly brushed them away.

Dwight sat back on his desk, lowering himself closer to her height.

He nodded to the door. "You can go. If you want to."

Jordan heard it for the invitation it was, the possibility of going. She had never wanted to leave Haven more.

She had never been more certain she would stay.

*

Audrey was released the next morning.

Her doctor (the real one was a woman) said she was healing "remarkably fast" and that it was “lucky the ambulance got there so quickly.”

Duke and Nathan explained what happened before she was stabbed (glossing over how exactly Nathan learned she wasn’t really Lexie) and their encounter with William.

"You said this guy was in the Barn?" Duke asked, back at her apartment.

Audrey nodded, curled up on her couch. “He helped me get out of that Barn. He said that my life as Lexie wasn’t real, which was true.”

“That doesn’t mean everything he said was true.” Nathan said.

“I don’t know Nathan. I’m the only person who’s immune to the troubles. Wouldn’t it make sense if… if I…”

“Not you.” Duke said. “Maybe whoever used to be in your head created the troubles, but not you. Audrey Parker fixes them.”

Audrey swallowed.

“If the troubles are gifts… if I did love this William guy… maybe he’s how we end them.” She made eye contact with Nathan. “Maybe the person I’m supposed to kill is him.”

“Hold on there.” Duke threw his hands up. “He was acting like you getting stabbed hurt him too. If you kill him-”

“Yeah.” Audrey said. “I could die too.”

“No.” Nathan shook his head. “It’s me. I’m the one. You should-”

A knock on Audrey’s door.

They all froze. They looked at each other. If Audrey was recovered, maybe William had too.

Nathan reached for his gun. Duke slid up to the window to catch a glimpse of who it was.

“Not William.” He announced. “Short, balding, pasty. Holding a folder. Are you getting served?”

“It must be Peter Krebs,” Audrey said. “The guy with the musical trouble.”

She opened the door and Peter smiled wide.

“Oh good, you’re okay! I have no idea what was going on on my lawn. There were all those men and then the ambulance came. I’m sorry I wan’t able to help-”

“Peter, it’s okay. What are you doing here?”

“I just came to say thank you. I talked to Rebekah and I think things are going to be okay between the three of us. I finished my song. Since you helped me I thought I’d give you a copy, as a thank you. You recovered so quickly, I didn’t have time to record it. Do you know how to read music?”

Audrey took the folder and looked down at the sheet music. “Sometimes I’m surprised by the things I know, Peter.” She sighed and smiled at him. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“The least I could do.” He nodded, waved to Nathan lurking behind her, and walked away.

“That was the guy causing all the singing and dancing?” Duke said, watching him from the window. “Not the ball of charisma I was expecting.

“Troubles are genetic.” Nathan said, smirking. “Maybe his mom was a Rockette.”

Audrey sat down at the piano in her living room, spreading the music across. She tentatively placed her hands on the keys, moving her fingers until they felt right, testing out her instincts.

“Does this sound right to you?” She asked, pressing what she thought was the first note.

“Dunno what it’s supposed to sound like.”

“Me neither.” Audrey plucked out a few chords, feeling it out. Some forgotten muscle memory telling her how to spread her fingers.

“Should we leave you alone with the piano?” Duke’s voice was smooth and teasing, flirtatious in that lighthearted way he had.

Audrey’s heart sped up a little, remembering exactly why Krebs hadn’t been able to finish this song sooner, his conflicting emotions, and her own advice.

“Actually,” she said. “The song is written foe three people. You two should sing it with me.”

“I think I’ve sang enough for the day. Or the year.” Nathan mumbled, looking at the ground.

“Ah come on Nate.” Duke moved to stand at Audrey’s right, looking at the music. “What’s one more embarrassing moment in a lifetime of them?”

“Very convincing.” Audrey said sarcastically. “Please Nathan. Just to help me see if I can actually play this? There’s a lot about myself we need to figure out. This is the only one that isn’t terrifying.”

Nathan dropped his shoulders deliberately in an attempt to seem relaxed. He rarely was, but he could pretend. He stepped up to the other side and put a hand on her shoulder, Audrey’s shoulder. Audrey was here, safe and alive… for now.

She played one soft note and sang. “Now, now more ever, we must stick together, united.”

Duke started. “Now, it's now or never. So let's face the future, clear-sighted.”

They both looked expectantly at Nathan. He took a breath. “Somehow we've managed to make it this far. It's been one hell of a ride.”

They all joined together. “There’s nothing I couldn’t do. Not with you by my side.”

Audrey played and sang. Her fingers were getting into the groove. It was fun. There were a couple fingers that didn’t hit the mark, a few notes she had to redo. Still, she looked at the music and understood it. She had never felt that kind of ease from creating something, unless putting together a gun counted.

“What in the world would I do?”

Duke knelt by her and rubbed her back. “Without you.”

She leaned into him. “Without you.”

His hand brushed Nathan’s on her shoulder and he pulled back. Nathan’s hand stopped him. “Without you.”

The air hung thick between them.

Audrey put her hand on theirs.

They sang the last line together. “By my side.”

Their voices floated out the window to the woman at the bottom of the stairs. Jennifer stood, frozen at their song.

The trouble wasn’t active anymore. When Jennifer sang, only the wind accompanied her.

“I’m a part of that. I’m a part of that…”

–