A Million Reasons

"It's----It's Fox X--." She was cut off when Derek leapt out of his seat, overturning the table. "Nooooo!" He growled out. "We don't want or need her help," he shouted. He pointed to Maggie and himself. "Look at what they've done to us! The only thing we want from them is a cure." Elisa looked pleadingly at the silent lioness. "She wants to give you money to buy food, clothes, medicine. You could help the homeless people living down here to get back on their feet," she stated. Derek roared, the sound drowning out all other noise in the lab. "Who will help us get our humanity back?" He argued. "Who is there to give us our lives back?" He looked at her accusingly. "Go back to your lover and tell her we don't want her charity," he shouted at her. Elisa looked at him in surprise. "I can smell her all over you. Did you forget I'm not quite human anymore? I have the senses of a cat thanks to Fox and her husband," he stated. "How can you call yourself my sister and let her touch you?" His eyes widened in horror. She reared back in her seat when he walked up to her, sniffing the air around her. "Did Xanatos touch you?" He asked, paws balled up in large fists. For the first time since his mutation, knowing who he was, Elisa was afraid of him. "I would never let David Xanatos touch me," Elisa defended. She reached out to put a hand on Derek's shoulder, trying to calm him. He moved away avoiding her touch. Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Maggie intervened. "The Xanatos' owe us for what they did. We should take the money Fox wants to give. It would benefit everyone living down here," she said, softly stroking his furry chest. "Just because we can't leave doesn't mean the humans have to be trapped too," she argued compassionately. He growled softly at his mate and walked away from her to stand alone. "We will call a meeting and put it to a vote to see who wants to accept her help," he said with his back to them. He looked over his shoulder to stare at Elisa. "If you choose to be with Fox Xanatos, then you're no longer welcome here," he told her. "She is my enemy and so is anyone who lays with her. So decide who is more important: Your brother or your lover." He concluded as he walked out, not once turning around. "I'm sorry," Maggie whispered sympathetically. "Derek hates David Xanatos, so his wife is guilty by association------and now so are you. I'll call you with our decision." Elisa nodded unable to speak. She found her way out of the labyrinth in a daze not believing what had just happened. (tbc)