“Ox.” Molly said sternly, stepping out into the open, “Stop.”

Ox turned his gun and aimed it at Molly, but held his fire, taken in a bit by Molly’s aura of innocence.

“I’ll…I’ll do it.” Ox stammered.

Molly, showing a new sense of bravery, stood her ground, it was a dangerous move, Ox could shoot her down at any moment.

“No, you won’t.” she replied, “You know we’re cured, look deep inside you Ox, look into our eyes. The eyes don’t lie. It’s over. We won.”

“It’s too risky…I have to…” he raised the gun again.

“Then do what you must.” Molly said, sticking both of her arms out, “I know the truth, and am willing to sacrifice myself for that. I hope you are willing to take that risk as well Ox, because if you’re wrong, and we really are telling the truth well…., I think you know the consequences. Remember, you’ll have to take us ALL. “

Ox seemed to be listening, remaining at a cease fire, a conflicted look on his face.

Oh hell no

That was the thought going through Sam’s head as the incident with Ox developed. He had been to hell and back… well at least sort of… Was the potential of being a tree for the rest of his life hell? Well, he wasn’t certain of that, but he did know he was back and did not want to give up being human or lose what he’d just regained.

He stepped up next to Molly, glad to see Ox swing the rifle towards him and away from his friend. She might have been willing to take the risk, but Sam was not so much into having Molly or anyone else hurt. Although, he didn’t want to try and rush Ox, he didn’t want anymore blood on his hands.

“Your duty is to protect against the curse, right? Well nothing about this, about us has been like the others, has it? Something different happened this time, didn’t it? Maybe you should try finding out why, what’s different?” Sam stopped, not voicing the last little piece of what he had been thinking. Where they really cured or might something come back?

“Yeah.” Oliver joined in. “We have learned so much about how to fight the curse. You’ll be able to save people from now on!” Oliver moved a little closer, still elated about being human again. “See? I’m no longer a dog. We’ve seen the cave, we cured ourselves. You’d have to go back to the 1800’s to find someone who knows about the curse as much as us.”

The argument made sense. Now that they were cured, the Knights of the Grove have not had a better opportunity to learn. Ox must be able to understand this.

“We can help you Ox.” Oliver moved closer.

“Get back!” Ox raised his gun and pointed it at Oliver. Ollie stopped, realizing he was being a little to overconfident that the argument was working.

“Listen to them.” Mal’s voice came as he stepped in next to the trio, followed by Roger. All five friends stood united, as Ox waved the gun frantically between them.

“You have one shot.” Molly said, “You won’t be fast enough to shoot all of us, so if that’s where you want to take this. You better make it count.”

Molly felt more confidence come over her, as she stood united with her friends.

“Look into our eyes Ox, and you’ll see it. We’re cured. I promise, if you pull that trigger it won’t end well for you. I can tell, you know we’re telling the truth.” she said with a smile.

“She’s not lying.” Mal joined in, “I’m not a fucking rock anymore man.”

“Please Ox…” Molly pleaded, “Please listen to us.

They were almost there, Ox seemed to be at least listening now, but not quite convinced yet.

“Just put the gun down.” Milton told Ox. “We can figure this out calmly without anyone getting hurt.”

“We can’t let the curse escape.” Ox said, gritting his teeth. “They are too dangerous.”

“Please, just don’t shoot.” Roger pleaded.

“We are cured.” Oliver was getting frustrated. “Why are you doing this?”

“Why?” They could hear anger in Ox’s voice. “Why? Because you are dangerous that’s why! The cursed tricked Deborah, but you ain’t going to trick me.”

“Is that what this is about?” Jan asked.

“This is a completely different situation.” Milton argued.

“Deborah felt bad for those kids too.” Ox sounded like he was almost crying. “She tried to help them, but that girl just mauled her. How can you guys expect me to make the same mistake?”

Mauled? Oliver remembered one of Kevin Reynolds friends had turned into a large cat of some kind. A cheetah.

“One of Kevin’s friends hurt someone?” Oliver asked feeling sympathetic.

“Killed her.” Ox said angrily.

“Deborah was one of us, and Ox’s fiancee.” Jan explained.

“You did what Deborah wanted! She wanted to help and you guys did it!” Oliver hoped he wasn’t being insensitive, but they had come to far to be shot now.

“He’s right. Is this what Deborah would have wanted?” Milton asked. “Remember she thought there could be a better way.”

Ox stood still for a moment, before lowering his gun.

“This better not be a trick.”

Jan came over and took Ox’s rifle, while the five teens sighed with relief.

Molly gave up her big time singing dreams, as a few months after the vacation she found a job. at a daycare, where her career started, and she truly found herself. The kids liked her songs, much like the young girl who greeted them on their trip.

After working the daycare for a few years, she found the big break she was looking for when she got signed to have her own children’s show, Miss Molly’s World. The show was an instant success, and she even got to tour with The Wiggles.

Her show was her baby, the height of her career was winning a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for best Nick Jr. show. The appearances by Roger The Robot and Animal Trainer Ollie were always a favorite among her young fans and they loved watching them stop Mischievous Malachi from such crimes stealing all the ice cream in the world other times, Ranger Sam would stop by to teach about trees and nature. Even Miss Emily simply appeared as Miss Molly’s #1 Gal Pal a few times.

Miss Molly’s World aired for sixteen seasons, but Miss Molly continued to appear on the various kid shows that followed as she grew older.

In her personal life, she married a man named Evan whon she met on the set of her show, they had a twins named Jason and Jennifer, and both lived a full happy life, until Molly passed at seventy-eight years young surrounded by her friends and family, she never lost her youthfulness, but did learn to keep it at a healthy balance.

She was buried next to her husband, her memory a reminder to keep your loved ones close and to always keep at least a little bit of a kid inside you.

It was on her birthday the year following her passing , that her kids, decided to take their own families on a trip to a certain grove, the place Molly in life, had said changed her forever, but always refused to take her family to visit.

“Dr. Grayson?”

Sam looked up from the plant he was tending, smiling as he saw Jeffrey. He kept the smile as he looked over the woman trailing behind Jeffrey, picking up details such as the standard government issue briefcase she carried, as he took off his gardening gloves and moved to greet the two.

“Agent Anderson is here. I have stocked your fridge with meals for a week and remember I am going on vacation for two weeks. Are you sure you do not want me to set up a temp housekeeper?”

“No, I’ll manage, the local Chinese place loves it when I have to fend for myself.”

“Alright, I am off then. TGIF, have a great weekend and cheers,” Jeffrey said as he left the conservatory whispering to Agent Anderson as he passed her. “A fair warning, his bark is much worse than his bite.”

Sam rolled his eyes at Jeffrey and then refocused on the visitor. “Agent Anderson, please forgive me, are you local or…”

“I’m from Washington,” she answered, then began walking as Sam waved her to follow.

“Another missing person’s case?”

“I was told you are one of the best with this type. Honestly I don’t really believe your track record. But then I was told you are very selective,” she trailed off, watching Sam as they walked.

He said nothing, focusing on the plants that littered the hallway and rooms they walked through. He made sure to touch each one, his fingers brushing over the foliage. As they reached the kitchen, he spoke, “Is that all you have been told about me?” he held her gaze a moment before turning away, moving to the counter by the refrigerator.

“Well,” there was hesitation in her voice. “There are some that say you think you’re a regular Mulder.”

Sam said nothing, he looked at the assorted messages, papers and magnets pinned on the fridge.

“This is a very important case.”

“They all are important,” he plucked a photo from the fridge, a snapshot of his friends standing with Milton. To most it looked like 6 people standing in front of a building posing for a simple group photo. But he could see the shadows clinging to the group, he knew there was so much hidden. “Is this where you wait for me to say ‘The Truth is Out There’?”

He put the photo back in its place next to one of him, Milton and a group of other people. It had been taken last year at a retreat he had attended where he had finally been inducted into the Knights. Milton had been his mentor and he had been working more and more with the Knights wanting to help and to save others. A motivation that had guided him since leaving the Grove.

“This is where you say you’ll help me with this case.”

“Are you leaving your case files and heading back to DC?”

“I’ve been cleared to stay here if you are taking the case. Some of the suspected incident sites are only a few hours drive from here. I could tour the scenes for you.”

“Well, I am taking my nieces to see the live Miss Molly’s World concert tonight,” Sam pulled the tickets from the magnet that held them to the fridge and put them on the counter.

“My sister’s kids are into that show,” Anderson said.

“Good, then you can help me field all of their questions. Their mother is sick and had to cancel,” he put his finger on one of the tickets and pushed it to her. “You give me the files, you take the ticket. Meet us here at 5 - we are going for pizza before the show. Then, tomorrow, you can take me to the sites,” he looked up, waiting for a response.

She picked up the ticket, “You are serio…,” she trailed off as she made eye contact with Sam.

“I’m always serious, something Molly and others tell me I need to stop doing so intensely. Someday maybe I’ll lighten up. Once everyone’s saved.”

Anderson opened her case and took out a stack of folders, putting them on the counter. “Then you’ll never stop. Maybe you should shoot for when you’ve saved just one more.”

“Maybe.”

“Good, I like a challenge. Thank you Dr. Grayson, I can show myself out, see you at 5… Ranger Sam,” she gave him a wink as she headed out. “Told you my sister’s kids like that show. Who do you think watches it with them?”

Sam stood, just looking at the files. He then smiled and finally laughed, it was a cathartic action, one he had needed for a long time. “Just one more, alright Agent, we’ll try it your way.”

“Are you serious?” Malachi looked at Ollie wide-eyed. “You and Theresa are getting married?”

“Yep.” Oliver grinned and nodded. “We have been together for a year so I figured, no time like the present.”

Mal shook his head. “I can’t believe my bud Ollie’s settling down.”

Oliver could hardly believe it himself. Before he wouldn’t of even had the courage to ask Theresa out on a date. But after having his world fall apart and almost turning into a dog, there was no where else to go but up. Sure his parents got divorced, but after starting at community college he eventually did make it to his choice university to study as a lawyer.

“So what’s new with you?” Oliver asked.

“Well I decided to take a cue from you. Since your focused on animal rights.” Oliver’s experience led him to volunteer for animal rights non-profit organizations. “I decided to focus on statue rights.”

A look of confusion came over Ollie’s face.

“Kidding. I’m going volunteering with the peace corp.”

“Wow, that’s great.”

“Yeah, since I deprived the world of an amazing work of sculpture of myself I figured I give back in some other way to make up for it.”

“I doubt the Museum of Bad Art had room for another sculpture.” Ollie said. Mal grinned.

“Un huh. So does Theresa take you for walks or do you hire a walker?” Mal retorted. Oliver was about to respond when a voice interrupted.

“Hey guys.” It was Roger. “Sam has arrived so they want to put us in makeup. Molly’s show is supposed to start in like 30 minutes.”

“Hey Roger.” Mal, Roger and Ollie started walking towards the dressing rooms. “Our little Ollie got big news.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you with the others. Molly and Sam are waiting for us.”