Corbin was tucked away in the back seat of Shade's coupe, wrapped up in the blanket used earlier by Gideon, while Shade drove toward his apartment. Gideon was using the vanity mirror on the passenger side's sun visor to inspect the burns that still lingered on his otherwise dashing features, but were slowly disappearing. The first few miles away from the warehouse were observed in mutual silence between the three after Corbin had given simple directions to his apartment, then Gideon turned in his seat to face Corbin with a cell phone in his hand.

    "Their are two very concerned persons waiting anxiously back at the manor for an important phone call. I think they would both be thrilled if you made that call,"Gideon suggested, extending the phone to Corbin. "Just press the send button," he added.

    Corbin snaked his arm out from under the blanket with an acknowledging smirk and took the phone. Gideon twisted back around in his seat, giving Corbin all the privacy of the back seat. With a long, deep breath Corbin prepared himself then pushed the send button. Two rings were all that separated him from the eager, hopeful voice of his oldest sister.

    "Hello?" Gale answered expectantly.

    "Gale, it's Corbin."

   "Corbin...Oh, thank heavens! Are you alright? Where are you?"

    "I'm fine. I'm with Gideon and Shade, they're fine too. We're headed to my place to pick up a few things."

    "We've been so worried!"

    "Yeah I know, Gideon told me all about Lydia's vision, but it's okay now, everything is fine."

    "Were you in danger?"

    "The worst kind, but my rescuers arrived in the nick of time," he said, crediting Gideon and Shade's efforts.

    "Oh Corbin..."

    "Don't worry, everything really is fine now. I found the answers I was looking for and when we get back to the manor we'll tell you about everything."

    "So you're coming back with Gideon and Shade?"

    "Yes."

    "That sounds wonderful." Gale declared warmly.

    "And Gale?"

    "Yes?"

    "Thanks."

    "For what?"

    "For your part in my rescue too. I know you helped with the directions and believe me, every moment counted."

    Before Gale's modesty could wiggle her out of accepting any praise for her part, she was suddenly distracted. Through the phone Corbin heard Lydia's voice approach Gale with an eager question as to who was on the phone.

    "Hang on Corbin, there's someone here who really wants to talk to you," Gale said, casually mentioning Corbin's name to rouse Lydia's  joyous relief.

     "Corbin!" Lydia asked excitedly when she got the phone.

     "Hey you." Corbin answered happily. 

    "Corbin!...I had this...awful vision...you were in...terrible danger...and..." Lydia's words were filtered through instant, emotional sobs.

    "Hey, don't cry. It's okay, I'm fine, really. Please stop crying."

    "...I can't...help it..."

    "Yeah but, if you don't stop crying then I'll start crying, and then how will I be able to say thank you?"

    "...Thank you?..." Lydia pondered, her sobs slowing due to her curiosity.

    "Yeah, for saving me, again."

    "But I..."

    "When I get back there, I'll thank you properly."

    "You're coming home?" Lydia asked hopefully.

    "Yep, for good."

    A silent pause on Lydia's end was caused by a smile so broad that it kept her from speaking.

    "Well, we're at my apartment now so I guess I should go. See ya soon little sis," Corbin said, affectionately acknowledging Lydia as his youngest sibling.

    "Not soon enough big brother," Lydia returned, equally as affectionately. 

    Corbin handed the phone back to Gideon then scoped out the path to his apartment through the small window of the back seat to ensure their were no people whose suspicions might be roused by his blanket-covered body. The early morning had passed, allowing the nearing afternoon in the factory based town to grant that most people were either at work, or sleeping off the nightshift. Finding the coast clear, Corbin climbed out of the back seat after Shade got out. Gideon elected to remain in the car, having had enough of the sunlight for a while.

    Corbin led the way up the stairs to his apartment as quickly as his bare feet could shuffle in the tightly wound blanket. Shade followed, tossing vigilant glances everywhere as she went. When they reached the door to his unit, he stepped aside, motioning to Shade to do her thing since he had no key to unlock the door. She obliged with a supersonic kick that separated the door from it's wooden frame with a splintering crash. 

    He peeked in cautiously and was quickly satisfied that no surprises awaited them, so he rushed in, heading straight for his bedroom. Shade roamed in, observing the tidy little apartment with a personal interest. While she waited for Corbin to get dressed, she wandered around the confining spaces outside the bedroom, taking note of anything that might be an indicator of his interests or lifestyle. Within a few minutes he emerged from his bedroom fully dressed with the blanket wadded up under his arm, looking ready to leave.

    "So what do you wanna take with you? We can fit more than you think in the trunk of my car," Shade offered.

    Corbin swept the apartment with a stoic glance then said firmly,"Nothing here means anything to me anymore. With the exception of you and Gideon, everything I need is a long way from here."

    Shade grinned happily, then turned to leave, but Corbin stopped her with a request. "But I do need to make a couple of stops on our way out of town."

    "Sure thing," Shade replied, then turned to leave again.

    "Shade?" Corbin uttered, again halting her.

    "Yeah?" She answered, turning back to him.

     Corbin tossed the blanket down and marched deliberately up to her, taking her into a heartfelt embrace before she knew what hit her. He bowed his head beside hers to put his mouth close to her ear as he hugged her mightily, sending his relief and gratitude out to her through the strength of his arms.

    "Thank you, for coming for me," he whispered earnestly.

    "That's what family does. I'll always come for you," Shade vowed as she returned the loving hold of his embrace around him. They stood locked tightly together for a long, bonding moment. Then they separated, both with watery eyes that Shade tried to blink dry and Corbin unabashedly wiped with the sleeves of his shirt. She noticed something different about his eyes as he wiped them dry.

    "Corbin, your eyes...," she said in wonder.

    "What about them?"

     "They're...different," she revealed.

    Corbin strode curiously over to the bathroom, where he flipped on the lights and gazed into the mirror to see what had Shade moderately astonished. To his own surprise, under his raised brow, he saw a pair of purple-tinted eyes where his hazel ones used to be.

    "Whoah...," was his dumbfounded response.

    "Yeah," Shade agreed with a savoring smirk as she stuck her head into the room and got a better look under the lights.

    When they got back in the car, Shade pointed out the change to Gideon, who twisted around toward the back seat to have a look. Corbin widened his eyes a bit to put them on display and Gideon admired them with a pleased smile.

    "I haven't seen eyes like those since the last time I saw my own in a mirror before I was turned; you are truly one with your gift now," Gideon gladly shared.

    "Just a couple more stops, then we're on our way," Shade informed Gideon as she started the car.