“All I can imagine is Winnie is getting help from somewhere, Jo.  She has no money whatsoever to speak of.  She certainly hasn’t dipped into anything we shared together, or I’d have known.”  Helena offered and Jo reached into her back pocket and handed her the small stuffed animal.  Helena’s eyes watered and Jo bit her lip, the whole table silent as they watched the odd scene unfolding.

            “Your son’s?”  Jo asked and Helena nodded, tears flowing from her bright blue eyes.

            “Yes.”  Jo saw the tears, then she felt the emotions behind them.

            This just isn’t fair!   Jo closed her eyes, the white hot flash darting into her head, just the voice.   No scene or vision, just the voice of the girl.  Jo put a shaky hand to her face,

            “He picked it out when we went to the circus months ago; he doesn’t go anywhere without it.”  Jo nodded, looking up and Alice was studying her with hard dark eyes.  Jo remembered the promise that Alice had made to her, that she’d go Buffy on her if her intentions were anything but honorable.  The look in Alice’s eyes told that she might just have a stake in her handbag.

            “He didn’t leave it behind…”  Jo began, but was interrupted with yet another quick sharp interlude.

            It’s all your FAULT!  Mommy Helena would never….

            “Willingly…  Son of a…” Jo said, standing up and the chair rocked back, but Jenny reached out and caught it before it fell and drew more attention to themselves.  Jo’s right hand clenched, and Susan realized she was still wearing the ring that Shane had put on her finger the night of the vortex.

            “Jo.”  Susan began, standing up and kissing a seemingly distraught Alice on the cheek, “Jo… Come with me.”  Susan moved around the table, grasping Jo’s hand and leading her to the small hallway leading to Marina’s office.  A semi private space, and Susan studied Jo.

            “What is happening to you?”  Susan demanded, and Jo’s whole body shuddered violently.

            “I don’t know…”  Jo admitted, sounding like a child instead of a cold blooded killer and Susan put her hand on Jo’s chest and felt it.