Chapter twenty eight

Ghosts

Sam led the way through the underbrush, his legs aching with the effort. No one complained. They hadn't said a word since leaving Snitch Gravel's base, as if talking would kill their wounded. Sam hadn't dared ask if Jimmy and Kay were still alive.

The sweat dripping down his face left marks in the fluorescent dust covering him. One of Tom's crazier but better ideas. If they hadn't scared the wits out of Snitch Gravel's men, things could have been worse.

As they approached camp, Jerry ran past him and led the group around the trap. The others picked up the pace too. As soon as they entered camp Harry came running towards them, his face pale.

"Sam? What happened?"

Sam felt a sudden desire to punch Herrison and everyone else in that agency for endangering everyone he held dear. Would he find Lisa next? But he had no time for this now. He motioned for Harry to come help them.

He came over and took Tom's place to help Billy take Jimmy to his tent while Jerry motioned for Kyle to get Kay to hers. Jessie and Alice rushed to Jimmy while Angie chased after Kyle. Christine and Tina hesitated for a moment then followed Angie. Sam and Tom remained in the center of camp with only Jerry for company.

Jerry stared at them for a few seconds then hugged them both at once, knocking their heads together. "I was so worried, so... how...?" He let go and analyzed them. "Are you okay? What's with that bloody rag around your head, Sam?"

Sam tugged at what used to be the sleeve of his shirt. He'd used it for a bandage after he'd bumped his head against a rock. "I'm fine. I just forgot to take it off. We're obviously walking, talking and breathing. You seem much worse."

Jerry, who had a huge bruise under one eye and a bloody gush across his t-shirt, waved him away. "Nothing serious. I should go tend to Kay." He ran towards her tent.

The moment he was gone, Harry and Billy came out of Jimmy's tent, both of their face screwed up as if they'd just seen someone throwing up.

"This sucks," Billy said while Harry hugged Sam. "Jimmy's bad. And that stupid Alice won't let Jessie take care of it. I was so close to slapping her."

Sam stomach seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet, leaving a painful void behind. He looked around for Christine. He needed her more than ever. Instead, Kyle limped towards them and hugged Sam so hard, he almost choked. Before he could pull himself together, Kyle let him go to hug Tom and Billy.

Christine, Tina and Angie came back, too. The vise around Sam's heart loosened. He stepped towards Christine, but the appearance of Jessie, her eyes red and full of tears, stopped him. All of them stared at her.

"I..." Her voice cracked and she raised her eyes. "I can't stop the bleeding. Whatever I do, it won't stop." She looked at them as though expecting punishment.

Tom walked to her and hugged her.

She hugged him back, crying on his shoulder. "I'm so happy you're okay." She smiled between tears, looking at Sam and Billy. "Did the arrows we carved in the trees lead you back?"

"You're a genius, d'you know that?" Tom asked, rubbing her arms.

Jessie's smile faded. "If I were, I'd be able to make Jimmy better."

"I'll help you, Jessie. I took first aid," Harry said.

"I'll help, too," Tina said and she and Harry headed for Jimmy's tent.

"Billy, I want you to go get Alice there," Sam said. "I don't care how you do it. Trick her with candy if you have to."

Jessie threw a worried look at Sam and Kyle, detached herself from Tom's arms and followed Billy towards the tent.

Kyle looked from Sam and Tom to Angie and Christine, mumbled something about checking on Kay and limped out of sight.

Sam glanced at the two girls standing at a decent distance from them, appearing thoroughly confused, then turned away, clutching his head in his hands. It only then sunk in what Jessie's words meant. Jimmy was dying and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Oh, please explode, dear head," he mumbled.

Christine stepped towards him and put her hand on his shoulder. "I have no idea what's going on. You coming back from the dead is... shocking, to say the least. But it's you. Your head is always ready to explode because you think too much. You're my Sam."

Sam pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her hair. Her chocolaty smell calmed him down. "You're the only one who can make me feel better in moments like this." He kissed the top of her head. "You're like a ray of sunlight."

Christine pulled her head back, smiled and wiped some of the fluorescence off his face. "Let's let the doctors work their miracles. I want to know how come you're alive...and shiny."

*

Tom watched Sam and Christine walk away, his twin's arm wrapped around her. He and Angie were alone now, yet she kept her distance. He marched to her, put his arms around her and kissed the crook of her neck.

"Whoa, where did this come from?" She put her hands on his chest to put some distance between them.

"Why? Don't you like it?"

Angie's eyes widened and her arms fell slack. She shook her head and put both hands on his face. "You're different. I feel as if I'm cheating on you." She smiled, but her face dropped the following second. "Okay, not anymore. Hands off butt, mister."

"Are you sure?" he asked cheekily, but moved his hands up her back.

"Look, before we get all comfy-cozy, I need some answers." She pulled out of his arms. "It's been hard for me to get used to the idea that you're gone. This is hard to take in." She eyed him from head to foot. "How come you glow in the dark?"

"Oh, this." Tom wiped his face. "We found the stuff in Snitch Gravel's base. I thought we could use it to scare them. It shouldn't freak you."

"Well, it does. Take it off." Her commanding tone made him laugh. He stopped when he realized that it was nothing but a coping mechanism. Angie wasn't comfortable.

He took her hands and led them to his face. "Help me take it off."

Angie bit her lip, but began wiping the fluorescence off his face with gently moves. It felt more as if she was caressing him. His blood boiled and he flexed his fingers, trying not to grab her. She'd shown she didn't want him that close yet.

She finished his face and started stroking his neck, his shoulders, his chest and back. The fluorescence refused to leave the fabric of his t-shirt, but she persisted. Come on! She can't be doing this innocently. He took her hands and wrapped them around his waist, pulling her against him and not letting her wrists go. "Angie, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. That's what you have to get used to. I know I've been an idiot towards you, getting jealous and everything."

Her arms tightened around his waist. "You were jealous?"

Tom huffed. "Duh! I'm really sorry for acting up, baby."

Angie's eyes seemed to sparkle and her mouth fell open. "You called me baby."

"Baby, honey, sweetie, sweetheart, darling... you name it!" Tom let go of her wrists and let ran his hands up and down her back. "What I'm trying to say is that..." It was so darn hard to concentrate when she was looking at him like that. "I'm over the whole past thing. I don't care about that anymore." She brought her hands to the back of his head and he could swear she wanted him to bend towards her. He did, stopping a few inches from her waiting mouth. "I want you." Oh, crap! Bad thing to say. "To be my girlfriend." Save.

There was a trace of a smile in Angie's eyes. "I liked baby best," she whispered, undoubtedly pulling him lower, her fingers entwined in his hair. She closed her eyes and Tom's heart went into hyper-drive.

He tightened his arms around her and hovered above her for a few seconds. She was so beautiful. His lips brushed against hers and stayed there. She pulled him lower, pressing his mouth firmer on hers. He'd never felt butterflies in his stomach before or such a mounting desire to take this much further.

"Tom!"

They jerked apart and it was over before it even started. Sam was gawking at them, red in the face.

"I'll kill you," Tom snarled, letting Angie go. She grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

"I'm sorry, I was just worried." Sam glanced from left to right as though searching for a savior.

"Where's Christine?" Angie asked.

"I told her to get some sleep." Sam looked as if someone was beating a kitten up in front of him. "I could tell she was exhausted and... I'm sorry for butting in, but... I think..." He bit his lip. "It's just that we've wasted enough time."

"Wasted time?" Angie asked. "You've spent like, what? Seven minutes with Christine? We never thought you'd be back so fast."

"Yeah, I would've hurried up," Tom mumbled, wrapping his arms around Angie.

"I'm just really worried about—" Sam didn't finish.

Kyle hurried towards them and Tom got a huge knot in his throat. His brother didn't look happy, which meant Kay was not okay.

"Why are you two fighting?" Kyle asked, stopping next to Sam.

Sam frowned. "We're not fighting."

"But I heard you yell at him—" Kyle turned to Tom and his mouth fell open. Then, a genuine smile lit his features and Tom couldn't help but feel the knot loosening. "It was about time something good happened," Kyle said, looking at them fondly.

Tom grinned. "Better things could have happened if Sam didn't butt in." He stepped away from Angie once he noticed Jerry coming over. He was in no mood for a lecture.

Strangely, neither was Jerry. He gazed at Tom and Angie with empty eyes, but otherwise didn't acknowledge them.

"We need to talk," he said to Kyle and turned away without waiting for an answer. Kyle followed him without a peep of protest.

"They're talking to each other?" Tom and Sam asked at once.

Angie shrugged noncommittally.

*

Kyle followed Jerry to the entrance of Kay's tent where his brother stopped abruptly and pivoted to face him.

"I need to ask you something," he said briskly.

Kyle frowned. "Ask me? I thought you had news about Kay."

"She's alive. And here's where my question comes in." Jerry clenched his fists and turned beet red. He opened his mouth, but seemed to decide he couldn't look Kyle in the eyes, so he stared at his own shoes instead. "Can I take Kay's shirt off?"

Kyle blinked. He must've heard wrong. "What?"

"Kay was shot in the chest, and to check her wound—" Jerry started, on a business-like tone.

Kyle felt like slugging Jerry upside the head. "I know she was shot in the freakin' chest! I was there," he yelled, taking a step towards his brother, his fists clenched. "What the hell did you do until now? Stare at her?"

Jerry cowered. "No. I checked her vitals and wounds that were not on certain parts of her body I shouldn't be seeing without your approval."

"You idiot!" Kyle said through gritted teeth. "You think I care if you see her naked before I do? In a moment like this?"

"Oh, no. It's just her shirt I have to..." Jerry stared at Kyle. "You've never seen her naked?"

Kyle bit back one of the most gruesome swear words that had ever come to his mind. "Of course not. We'd only been together for a few hours when I was shipped home. Go in there and see to that bullet or I'll kill you with my bare hands!"

Jerry did a little pirouette and disappeared inside his tent. Kyle cursed under his breath and dropped on the ground, at the roots of a nearby tree. His heart was beating erratically, too fast then skipping beats, and all his wounds throbbed. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm down. Kay wasn't dead. There was still a chance she would be okay. Unless she bled to death because Jerry was a damn prude.

Kyle shook his head and looked upwards at the rustling leafs of the tree. The crashing thunder and wind were the only sounds keeping his heartbeat company. Kay will be okay. She has to be.

He got up and started pacing, ignoring his stinging cut. What was Jerry doing in there? Couldn't he at least come out and tell him how bad it was? Kyle turned on his heels again, ready to complete another lap, but stopped. Jerry stood in front of the entrance. His hands were clenched, his eyes glazed and a muscle twitched in his jaw.

Kyle swallowed heavily and his insides froze. There were tear stains on his brother's cheeks.

Jerry reached out and shoved something in his hand. It was the necklace he'd given her. He couldn't even look at it.

He squeezed it in his fist. "Is she dead?" Even he was surprised by how choked his voice sounded.

"You gave her this necklace, didn't you?" Jerry's voice shook slightly.

"Yes." He clutched it to his chest, trying to fight the smothering sensation inside him. This was it. This was how he would feel from now on, for the rest of his life.

"I guessed that much," Jerry said, his tone indecently light. "It means you're always meant to save her. Even indirectly."

Kyle frowned and loosened his grip on the amulet. "What are you on about?"

Jerry nodded toward his hand. "Take a proper look at the rock."

Kyle opened his fist and analyzed the rock. It was chipped and a chunk of it was missing. His eyes widened.

"Kay only has a heart-shaped bruise on her chest. I couldn't find the bullet. It probably fell out when you picked her up."

But the blood on her shirt? Now that he stopped to think about it, it was there before she got shot. He'd just been too worried to put two and two together. A wave of happiness so powerful swept through Kyle, he wondered how come he wasn't knocked off his feet. He put the necklace back in his pocket and put one hand on Jerry's shoulder. "That whole saving her thing... that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Jerry smiled. "I'll go keep an eye on her for a while. Just to be safe." He squeezed Kyle's shoulder. "You can come in and see her."

Kyle shook his head. "I'll go see how Jimmy's doing first."

Jerry nodded, though his chin trembled again. "Let me know if Jessie needs my help. And please come back soon. We have to do something about your leg."

Kyle nodded and headed towards his tent. He entered and stopped in the doorway. Jessie sat on her knees next to Jimmy, her head in her hands, crying her heart out. He sat down next to her and took her in his arms. Jessie hugged him back, sinking her face in his chest, crying worse than before.

"He's dying, Kyle," she sobbed. "He's dying and there's nothing I can do about it."

Kyle rubbed her back with one hand and sunk the other in her curly hair. He could tell, even without her confirming. Jimmy's breathing was raspy and heavy, as though he had a giant weight on his chest. Every part of him was bruised, cut or swollen and the side of his head kept trickling blood. Most of his cuts were clean, but Jessie hadn't bandaged him.

"Can Jerry help?" Jessie shook her head. "How much longer?" He felt like a total douche for asking that, but there was no use pretending he didn't know how bad it was.

"A couple of hours at most," Jessie said quietly. "His breathing is getting worse with every second. I think his lungs might be filled with liquid. From time to time it sounds as if he's gurgling water. I just... I feel so alive. Why can't I give some of that to him?"

Kyle hugged Jessie tighter. She hugged him back, not crying anymore. His pulse seemed to slow down to a halt. If only he'd jumped to their aid sooner, this wouldn't have happened. But he'd just stood there.

"This is my fault."

Jessie pushed him away. "Don't say that." She frowned and tears ran down her face again. "If you hadn't stepped in, we'd have carried his body out of there. You saved him."

"I didn't save him," Kyle said spitefully. "I just gave him a few more hours of pain."

"That's not true. If anyone's to blame for this, it's me." She sunk her face in her hands. "If he hadn't been so busy defending me, he'd have taken care of himself. He didn't parry one hit. Heroic idiot."

Kyle opened his mouth to argue, but changed his mind. This argument was pointless.

Jessie crawled closer to Jimmy and sunk her hand in his hair. "He doesn't even know I love him. And I'm never going to get to tell him."

"Maybe you should tell him. Get it off your chest. Even if he can't hear you." Kyle stood. "I'll leave the two of you alone."

"No, don't." There was a note of panic in Jessie's voice. "I'll do it when I say goodbye to him. We should tell the others to come in and see him...and say goodbye." Her voice broke.

Kyle took her hand and pulled her to her feet and into a hug. He knew exactly how she felt – the same way he had for those few seconds in which he thought Kay was dead. "I wish there was something we could do."

"Maybe there is."

Jessie and Kyle both jumped and looked towards the entrance. The tall, cloaked stranger stood there, glowing dimly, the way Sam, Tom and Billy did in Snitch Gravel's base.

"Wha—" Jessie started, but Kyle squeezed her arm to quiet her.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

The man let out an annoying sneer. "I know everything. I thought you got that. How are you feeling? Better? No more trances?" He fired the questions without waiting for an answer and Kyle had the feeling he already knew the answers. He walked past them, towards Jimmy, all the while fumbling inside his robes. A syringe and the flask of sickly green liquid appeared in his hands. He filled the syringe with the content of the flask.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Kyle said stepping towards him. The man's back stiffened and Kyle stopped. "Why are you injecting him with that stupid thing I have in me?"

"Have you never noticed how fast you heal?" the stranger asked in a bored voice. "Anyway, he won't be like you. My guess is that the serum will concentrate on healing him. I doubt it will do anything for his strength. And even if it does, it will be a minor side effect."

"You can't inject him with that!" Jessie made to step towards him, but Kyle grabbed her arm.

He showed her his left forearm. "I don't even have a scar. The cut was deep and yet I healed in a matter of days." He put his hand over his bandaged thigh. "And I shouldn't be able to walk, but look at me. I didn't find it weird because I've been this way my whole life. But for Jimmy, this is his best chance to survive." His only chance.

The man sniggered and sunk the syringe in the crook of Jimmy's arm. Kyle watched him, holding his breath. He wasn't sure what he expected, but that weirdo had saved his life. Maybe he would manage to save Jimmy's as well. And no one knew the effects of that potion better than him.

For a few seconds, nothing happen, then Jimmy turned over raising his knees to his chest, his face screwed up in pain. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Jessie yanked her arm out of Kyle's grip and knelt next to Jimmy. The stranger took a few steps back and watched them from under his hood.

Jimmy groaned and his breathing became the gurgling sound Jessie had mentioned. She tipped him on his front and he immediately vomited blood. Jessie looked from him to the hooded man, her eyes wide with fear, but didn't let go of him. Jimmy took in a sharp breath and retched again, though not as badly as before. He took a few shallow breaths and the gurgling sound was gone. Sweat ran down his face.

"Take his pulse," said the man, nodding to Jessie. "How is it?"

"Fast." Jessie frowned. "Very fast."

"Throwing up will do that. He'll be fine. The quick pulse will make sure the serum spreads rapidly through his body."

"You made him throw up so the serum would work faster?" Kyle asked shocked.

"I didn't make him throw up. The serum did. That..." The man pointed towards the blood. "Was in his lungs." He shrugged and headed for the door.

"Why?" Jessie asked. "Why are you helping us?"

The man chuckled. "Still not sure. All I know is I'm expecting something in return. You will pay for this. I don't know when and how, but you will pay." He exited the tent and was out of sight.

Kyle looked after him, hoping he was right, that Jimmy would recover.

"Kyle, look!" Jessie yelped.

Kyle turned to Jimmy and his eyes widened. His brother's face had deflated completely, his breathing was becoming deeper and normal and his wounds were closing before their eyes. The cut on his temple stopped bleeding. Only the bruises were just as bad as before. But it made sense. Kyle's bruises didn't heal faster than normal either.

Speaking of which... He took off his t-shirt and started unstrapping his bulletproof vest. He had a bruise he hadn't checked.

"I can't believe it," Jessie said.

"His bruises won't heal." He took the vest off and checked his stomach. There was a dark-purple mark there.

"How can you be sure?" She squinted at him.

"I'm like that, too." Kyle nodded to Jimmy. "Everything that implies spilling blood closes fast."

Jessie's eyes widened. "You heal this fast?"

Kyle smiled. "Of course not. The weirdo said the serum will concentrate on healing Jimmy. In my case, it concentrates on helping me bust through walls. Though I don't think he'll keep healing like this after this one time. Maybe it runs out after a while."

"I have no idea how it works and I don't care right now." Jessie raised her eyes and stared at Kyle who was taking the bullet out of the vest. "You've been shot?"

"Yeah. First time, too." Kyle strapped his vest back on. "More painful than I thought." He looked at Jimmy, but his brother seemed to be sleeping. He suddenly felt as if he shouldn't be there. He needed to be by Kay's side. And Jessie didn't seem to need him anymore. She was ruffling Jimmy's hair, smiling.

"I'm out. Let us know when there's improvement."

Jessie looked up at him. "Thanks for being here."

Kyle smiled weakly and walked out. He was sure she would've done the same for him.