Title: Need and Insanity
Author: Anna Maxwell
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own no one except the empathetic EMT and his partner. ^^
Feedback: starchaser478@hotmail.com
Warnings: Farf lovers may want to pass on this one.^^;;;
Author's notes: I was going through a small crisis this weekend, and when Chase and I go through different things, we use writing as an outlet. Thus, this fic was born. It is a death fic, and it contains angst and smarm and fights and fluff and stuff. ^^ The crazy Farfness partially comes from the 14th or 15th episode, I think. You know, him leaping and doing the Xena cry? (It's on the 3rd DVD, I know that.) And also in part from the fic Gods by Angelina FILTH, which both Chase and I recommend! At any rate, enjoy!
Part One: The Apartment
/I'm dreaming./ Brad told himself. /I've got to be dreaming./ He surveyed the mess before him. It was the living room in the Schwartz apartment, ripped to shreds. Blood was pooled on the floor and there were smears of it on the wall. Brad automatically reached for his gun and pulled it. "Schuldig! Doko wa?" he called. "Nagi? Farfarello?" A low, sadistic laugh answered him. He cocked his gun and aimed it into the shadows. "Who's there? Come out!" Brad demanded. Something leapt up at him, and he fired twice.
He woke up, sweating heavily, holding his gun, and facing two bullet holes in his wall. Brad blinked. /My bad.../
There was a mental growl from the room that connected to his and the door was thrown open. "Are you trying to kill me?!" the German telepath demanded as he pointed to the holes in the wall.
Brad let the gun fall onto the bed and took a deep breath. "Not especially." He answered slowly.
"Then why, might I ask, were you shooting at the wall that leads to my room?" Schuldig cocked an eyebrow. "Or better yet, what were you aiming at?"
"Not what. Who. I was dreaming, and my body was reacting." Brad said, finally looking at him.
"Dream or vision?"
"Vision."
"So what's happening?" Schuldig asked with a grin. "We going to have a new job? I've been bored...."
"It's not job, but it's just as deadly, that much I feel."
"What is it, if not a job?"
"Where is Farfarello?" Brad asked suddenly.
"In his cell," the German answered automatically. He blinked for a moment. "Nein.... In the living room. The psycho picked the lock again."
"And Nagi?"
"Asleep."
Brad stood and pulled on a t-shirt. He moved past Schuldig almost blindly, headed for the living room.
"What's going on?" the German asked, following.
Everything in the living room was in perfect order. The couch was arranged, the items on the coffee table were straight, and there was no blood in sight. "I'm not sure." Brad answered. "I didn't see who it was, but when he leapt at me, I couldn't feel you."
Schuldig's eyes flickered from one spot to another until they came to rest on the silver haired psychopath in the chair. "Aren't you suppose to be in your cell like a good madman?" he asked as he approached the teen.
"Ye had better watch your tongue." Was all the reply he got. Farfarello's eye patch was missing, but both eyes were closed.
Schuldig yawned. "I'm tired, Farf, but I'm not going to get any sleep with you roaming about. Ne... Where's your patch?" he asked, tapping Farfarello on the side of the head right next to his eye.
"Schuldig, get away from him." Brad said suddenly, blue eyes flashing.
"Nani?" the telepath questioned, turning to look at his elder friend.
Brad jerked forward when he didn't move. "Move!" he barked.
Farfarello's hand clasped around the German's wrist before he could pull away. "Let go, Farf. That's not funny..."
Brad grabbed Schuldig by the shoulders. "Let him go, now." he growled at the Irishman.
Farfarello lunged at them, sending the German stumbling back into Crawford. /Stop it, Farf,/ he commanded strongly into his mind.
Brad caught the telepath as they both backed away. "I don't think it'll help." the American said quietly.
The Irishman's golden eyes glowed eerily in the dark, though one was hollow in appearance.
"I think now would be a good time to leave," Schuldig whispered.
/Go get Nagi./ Brad instructed, shoving him out of range of the madman.
/Nagi! Get your butt in here, chibi!/ Schuldig called mentally. "The wonders of being telepathic. You don't have to move an inch. I'm not leaving you in here alone."
"You should have listened to him." Farfarello said darkly, standing.
A smirk crossed the German's face. "I'm faster and you know it, Farf. So this isn't going to be too difficult."
"Faster than what, might I ask? And don't for get, /Schu/, I don't feel anything."
Schuldig moved with a lightning speed around to Farfarello's back, grabbing onto his wrists and pulling his arms behind him. "Tables have turned, ne?"
"Schuldig!" Brad snapped. Farfarello grinned and yanked his arms upward, through the German over his head and into the coffee table. "Yes. I'm afraid they have."
Schuldig felt the glass bite into his skin through his sleeping tank top and he wince. He pulled himself up out of the table..... just to come face to face with the Irishman again.
Brad sideswiped him, sending Farfarello and himself tumbling to the floor. Farfarello pulled a knife out of his vest and swung it at the Oracle.
"BRAD!" Schuldig called out, darting forward.
Brad didn't realize he had the dagger in him until he saw that Farfarello was laughing at him, and a numb feeling spread through his chest.
Schuldig pulled the cackling maniac off of his friend and shoved him away. /NAGI!/ he called again. He knelt down. "Brad? Daijoubu?"
Blood was staining the white t-shirt quickly. "I'll be all right. We have to get away from him." Brad rasped.
Schuldig sensed the madman's presence as he came up behind him and his eyes widened.
"Schuldig, move!" Brad cried.
Farfarello grabbed Schuldig by his tank top and tossed him roughly across the room. His movements reminded the German of a predator stalking his prey. Schuldig groaned as he looked up, golden eyes focusing on the tall Irishman who was standing over him, licking one of his knives.
"Nagi, wake up!" Brad bellowed, dragging himself to his feet. "Farfarello, stop! What's the matter with you?" he demanded.
The Irishman didn't turn as he lunged at the half conscious German who was slumped against the wall.
Brad made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat and tackled the madman to the floor again. They fought for control of the knife, one of them each had a hand on it.
Schuldig came to see this. /NAGI!!/ he mentally screamed at the still sleeping teen.
There was a startled cry as Nagi woke up to find his pet bird dead on the pillow next to him. /Schuldig?/ he questioned, sounding scared.
/Get yourself in here! Now!/ Schuldig struggled to his feet. He couldn't let Brad fight this battle on his own.....
Farfarello had Brad pinned under him, but the American refused to let go of the knife, no matter what. The two men glared at each other.
Schuldig placed a hand on the Irishman's shoulder and pulled back. "Get off of him, Farf!" he growled.
He could see it happening, see the knife being ripped out of his hand, swinging back, catching Schuldig's neck.. /Schuldig move!/ Brad begged with a mental cry, tightening his hold on the knife.
Schuldig dodged and came around to where Farfarello was now standing. /Nagi! We haven't got all ni-/ His mental call to the younger Schwarz member was cut off as he felt the knife make contact.
/Schuldig!/ the teenager mentally shouted. He paused and heard the German physically cry out in pain, and Crawford screaming the telepath's name.
Nagi tore his gaze away from his bird and ran out into the living room. He gasped. "Farf?"
Farfarello turned his golden eyes toward the youth.
Schuldig groaned as he hit the wooden floor. Pain raced through his body and he cringed. /Hold him, chibi,/ he whispered.
Nagi stared at the Irishman, betrayal glowing in his eyes. He slowly extended his hand and unleashed his gift.
Brad fell beside Schuldig. /Schu?/
The German groaned, pressing his hand against the wound right below his ribcage. "I'm okay," he whispered in German.
/Just a flesh wound?/ Brad questioned with a painful smile.
/I think so. You okay?/
Brad nodded slowly. /Good thing I settle for t-shirts from Wal-Mart, huh?/
Schuldig winced as he laughed, and then pushed himself up into the sitting position. "What made him freak out?"
"I don't know." Brad murmured, looking at Nagi. The younger boy was in shock, staring at Farfarello.
Farfarello was perfectly still, but his eyes were searching widely.
"So do we just through him in the cell and put a double lock on it?" Schuldig asked.
Farfarello's eyes narrowed again, and he stared back at Nagi.
Brad put a hand over the wound in his chest. "I don't know."
"Is this what you saw?" Schuldig whispered.
"No." Brad whispered back.
The German blinked. "So that's still to come?"
"Brad..." Nagi said quietly.
The precog looked over. "What is it?"
"I can't..."
About that time, Farfarello broke free of the telekinetic teen's hold.
Nagi fell back against the door, unable to react as the Irishman rushed him.
"Nagi!" Schuldig screamed, racing toward him.
"Why oh why did he have to be crazy..." Brad muttered. "Get Nagi out of here!" He shouted. He had to get his gun. They couldn't fight him.
Schuldig grabbed Nagi and dragged him out. He stopped at the boy's room. "Lock the door and if you hear him trying to get in, get out the window. And don't come out unless one of us tells you to." That said, Schuldig turned to go.
Nagi grabbed his arm. "What happened?" he whispered. "Why's he doing this?"
"I don't know..." the telepath admitted.
"He killed my bird..." Nagi said softly.
Schuldig looked puzzled. "I don't even want to try getting into his head to find his motive, if there is one. I think I might get lost..."
"Be careful, both of you."
"Ja," the German said with a wink, and was gone.
Nagi slowly locked his bedroom door and knelt by the window.
Brad had dashed to his bedroom, and he could feel the Irishman coming behind him. He got there, but the gun wasn't on the bed where he'd dropped it earlier. But where?
/BRAD! BEHIND YOU!/
The American jerked and turned around. There was a small explosion and he could feel himself falling. He caught the edge of the bed, trying to keep himself up on his knees. "Didn't see that coming, I'll give you that," he gasped, looking up at Farfarello who was holding the smoking gun.
"Leave him!" Schuldig growled as he came into the room.
"Too late." Brad whispered, meeting the green eyes. Fresh blood was soaking the white t-shirt as Brad tried to hold on to the end of the bed.
Schuldig's eyes widened. "Brad...." he whispered. "Nein.. Get away from him, Farfarello!"
"As you wish. I am finished with him." Farfarello said, dismissing Brad in his mind.
"I'll personally rip you limb from limb," the telepath growled.
Farfarello stared at him. "I won't feel it. Your vengeance will do you no good."
"It'll do my mind some good."
Farfarello threw the gun to the side and curved a finger. "Come on then, fight."
Schuldig used his speed to get to the Irishman and around him before he could move. He grabbed one of his arms and twisted it behind his back, and then reached for the next. /If I can just trap him, we can deal with him,/ he thought.
/I have an,/ Brad inhaled painfully, /order for you./
/I'm kind of busy at the moment..../
/Kill him./
/No arguments here!/ Schuldig agreed. "Not after what you did, no arguments at all," the German muttered.
/Schwartz is finished. Just do it./ Brad said, his voice becoming quieter in Schuldig's mind.
Schuldig stepped back, reached out his hand and focused on the madman's mind. /You'll feel this./
Farfarello's eyes glittered as he prepared to attack.
The German man let loose his own attack on the Irishman's mind.
And he did feel it. The madman staggered back under the power of Schuldig's attack. He had no shields, nothing to protect his mind.
/It's your own fault for betraying us,/ Schuldig growled in his mind.
/There was nothing left to do./ Farfarello shot at him.
/You get bored or something? That's not our fault./
/I killed my family once. I thought it would be ironic to do it again. Poor Nagi, though./ His face held no remorse.
/Just shut up and die!/ Schuldig screamed. This attack was mentally and physically exhausting. He needed it to be done.
Brad watched with glassy eyes. His fingers were cold, he realized, and he could no longer feel the fabric of his blanket under his fingertips. He was fading, he knew. In one last attempt to attack, Farfarello leapt at him, but fell under the pressure in his mind. He didn't move again. Brad could feel his grip loosen on the bed and he fell forward.
Schuldig caught him before he hit the floor and eased him down. "Brad?" he whispered.
Blood soaked from Brad's shirt to Schuldig's' as the American lay limp in his arms.
"Please don't die..." the German whispered in broken English. "Don't die... Please...."
Nagi appeared in the doorway, blue eyes wide. "I called an ambulance." he whispered.
Schuldig didn't look up as he clung to his friend, tears streaming down his pale face.
/Don't....cry....Schu./ Brad breathed into his mind.
/Then don't die, ne?/
/You've got to...take care of him.../
/I can't. I can't even take care of myself, much less the kid..... We need you here, Brad.../
/Promise me,/
/Only if you promise that you'll be okay./
Brad cringed against him. /I can't, you just have to.../ he shivered.
Schuldig choked back a sob. "I can't live without you, Brad...." he whispered.
Brad could feel the cold tears on his own face as he struggled against his body's wish to quit, and his need for Schuldig. /I don't have anything to give you,/ he whispered brokenly.
/I told you I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. I'm still going to follow you..../
/Just wait for me.../ Brad faded.
Nagi jumped as the door was broken in. He heard different exclamations from the EMTs as they viewed the damage done. "We're here!" Nagi shouted.
Schuldig felt the tears streaming down his face, and he didn't look back as the EMTs came in. Nagi place a hand on his shoulder.
"Let him go. They have to help." the boy said softly.
Schuldig felt Nagi pull him away, and he did not resist. He simply sat and stared into nothingness.
"Jeeze, look at the blood in this place." One of the men muttered as they eased Crawford onto a stretcher.
His partner shook his head when he found no pulse on Farfarello and turned his attention to Schuldig. "Come on. Can you stand? You need attention as well."
"I'm fine," Schuldig managed.
The partners exchanged glances as they recognized shock. "Why don't you come in the ambulance with us. This guy's your partner, ne?"
"Schuldig, onegai?" Nagi whispered.
The German blinked at the boy for half a moment, but then nodded.
He stood shakily and the two of them followed the EMTs to the ambulance outside. "The kid can ride in the front. You should stick with him." The elder man said to Schuldig.
Schuldig nodded again and sat down. /Brad?/
The Oracle's mind was silent as the EMT attached him to the equipment. The heart monitor came to life, beeping steadily. The man nodded in an approval and began looking at the bullet wound.
"Is he going to be okay?" Schuldig asked quietly.
"I have brain activity, and his pulse is steady. As long as we get him stitched up and on a blood supply, I think he'll be fine." The man answered.
Schuldig nodded, returning his eyes to Brad's still form.
"You two have some sort of connection, don't you?" he asked, not looking at the German.
"You could say that."
"I thought as much."
"Why is that?"
"I can feel it. I could feel it as we parked."
/Empath?/
/Yes./
Schuldig glanced at him, half surprised to get an answer. /Do you work for Estet?/
/No. I wasn't interested./ He said, not alarmed to be holding a mental conversation with him.
/Not many people who are in Estet are interested./
The man laughed quietly. /I like my job. I didn't want the threat of any screw-up and instant death./
/You're a lucky man./
/You could say that./
Schuldig leaned back, a little more at ease than he had been when he got into the ambulance, and when his mind wasn't focused completely on making sure Brad would be all right, it started to register the pain.
After stabilizing the American, the man pulled out his abrasions kit and moved closer to the German.
Schuldig's golden eyes opened as he sensed the man moving closer.
"That's a nasty stab wound. I need to look at it." He said calmly.
"I'm all right."
"Please. It's my job, okay? If that gets infected you won't be any good to your partner."
Schuldig nodded after a moment. "Was Farfarello dead?" he whispered.
"Yes. Should I express condolences or no?"
"He was a former team member, but he's the reason that we're in the shape we are in."
"I see. I'm sorry."
Schuldig snorted. "He couldn't feel pain, but he felt it before he died," he said distantly.
"I have no doubt." The man said understandingly. "You'll need to change the bandage on that larger wound once a day. I'll get you some antibiotics for it later. I get the feeling you won't see a doctor, so I'll spare you the trouble."
Schuldig smirked. "I never had much use for them."
"The boy looked unharmed."
"I don't think he got hurt. He slept through most of it."
The ambulance pulled to a stop. The man's partner came around and helped lower the stretcher. "They're ready for him." he said.
Nagi appeared at the door and Schuldig jumped down to the ground. /They said he'd be just fine./
They watched as Crawford was wheeled away and whisked into an emergency room for surgery.
Author: Anna Maxwell
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own no one except the empathetic EMT and his partner. ^^
Feedback: starchaser478@hotmail.com
Warnings: Farf lovers may want to pass on this one.^^;;;
Author's notes: I was going through a small crisis this weekend, and when Chase and I go through different things, we use writing as an outlet. Thus, this fic was born. It is a death fic, and it contains angst and smarm and fights and fluff and stuff. ^^ The crazy Farfness partially comes from the 14th or 15th episode, I think. You know, him leaping and doing the Xena cry? (It's on the 3rd DVD, I know that.) And also in part from the fic Gods by Angelina FILTH, which both Chase and I recommend! At any rate, enjoy!
Part One: The Apartment
/I'm dreaming./ Brad told himself. /I've got to be dreaming./ He surveyed the mess before him. It was the living room in the Schwartz apartment, ripped to shreds. Blood was pooled on the floor and there were smears of it on the wall. Brad automatically reached for his gun and pulled it. "Schuldig! Doko wa?" he called. "Nagi? Farfarello?" A low, sadistic laugh answered him. He cocked his gun and aimed it into the shadows. "Who's there? Come out!" Brad demanded. Something leapt up at him, and he fired twice.
He woke up, sweating heavily, holding his gun, and facing two bullet holes in his wall. Brad blinked. /My bad.../
There was a mental growl from the room that connected to his and the door was thrown open. "Are you trying to kill me?!" the German telepath demanded as he pointed to the holes in the wall.
Brad let the gun fall onto the bed and took a deep breath. "Not especially." He answered slowly.
"Then why, might I ask, were you shooting at the wall that leads to my room?" Schuldig cocked an eyebrow. "Or better yet, what were you aiming at?"
"Not what. Who. I was dreaming, and my body was reacting." Brad said, finally looking at him.
"Dream or vision?"
"Vision."
"So what's happening?" Schuldig asked with a grin. "We going to have a new job? I've been bored...."
"It's not job, but it's just as deadly, that much I feel."
"What is it, if not a job?"
"Where is Farfarello?" Brad asked suddenly.
"In his cell," the German answered automatically. He blinked for a moment. "Nein.... In the living room. The psycho picked the lock again."
"And Nagi?"
"Asleep."
Brad stood and pulled on a t-shirt. He moved past Schuldig almost blindly, headed for the living room.
"What's going on?" the German asked, following.
Everything in the living room was in perfect order. The couch was arranged, the items on the coffee table were straight, and there was no blood in sight. "I'm not sure." Brad answered. "I didn't see who it was, but when he leapt at me, I couldn't feel you."
Schuldig's eyes flickered from one spot to another until they came to rest on the silver haired psychopath in the chair. "Aren't you suppose to be in your cell like a good madman?" he asked as he approached the teen.
"Ye had better watch your tongue." Was all the reply he got. Farfarello's eye patch was missing, but both eyes were closed.
Schuldig yawned. "I'm tired, Farf, but I'm not going to get any sleep with you roaming about. Ne... Where's your patch?" he asked, tapping Farfarello on the side of the head right next to his eye.
"Schuldig, get away from him." Brad said suddenly, blue eyes flashing.
"Nani?" the telepath questioned, turning to look at his elder friend.
Brad jerked forward when he didn't move. "Move!" he barked.
Farfarello's hand clasped around the German's wrist before he could pull away. "Let go, Farf. That's not funny..."
Brad grabbed Schuldig by the shoulders. "Let him go, now." he growled at the Irishman.
Farfarello lunged at them, sending the German stumbling back into Crawford. /Stop it, Farf,/ he commanded strongly into his mind.
Brad caught the telepath as they both backed away. "I don't think it'll help." the American said quietly.
The Irishman's golden eyes glowed eerily in the dark, though one was hollow in appearance.
"I think now would be a good time to leave," Schuldig whispered.
/Go get Nagi./ Brad instructed, shoving him out of range of the madman.
/Nagi! Get your butt in here, chibi!/ Schuldig called mentally. "The wonders of being telepathic. You don't have to move an inch. I'm not leaving you in here alone."
"You should have listened to him." Farfarello said darkly, standing.
A smirk crossed the German's face. "I'm faster and you know it, Farf. So this isn't going to be too difficult."
"Faster than what, might I ask? And don't for get, /Schu/, I don't feel anything."
Schuldig moved with a lightning speed around to Farfarello's back, grabbing onto his wrists and pulling his arms behind him. "Tables have turned, ne?"
"Schuldig!" Brad snapped. Farfarello grinned and yanked his arms upward, through the German over his head and into the coffee table. "Yes. I'm afraid they have."
Schuldig felt the glass bite into his skin through his sleeping tank top and he wince. He pulled himself up out of the table..... just to come face to face with the Irishman again.
Brad sideswiped him, sending Farfarello and himself tumbling to the floor. Farfarello pulled a knife out of his vest and swung it at the Oracle.
"BRAD!" Schuldig called out, darting forward.
Brad didn't realize he had the dagger in him until he saw that Farfarello was laughing at him, and a numb feeling spread through his chest.
Schuldig pulled the cackling maniac off of his friend and shoved him away. /NAGI!/ he called again. He knelt down. "Brad? Daijoubu?"
Blood was staining the white t-shirt quickly. "I'll be all right. We have to get away from him." Brad rasped.
Schuldig sensed the madman's presence as he came up behind him and his eyes widened.
"Schuldig, move!" Brad cried.
Farfarello grabbed Schuldig by his tank top and tossed him roughly across the room. His movements reminded the German of a predator stalking his prey. Schuldig groaned as he looked up, golden eyes focusing on the tall Irishman who was standing over him, licking one of his knives.
"Nagi, wake up!" Brad bellowed, dragging himself to his feet. "Farfarello, stop! What's the matter with you?" he demanded.
The Irishman didn't turn as he lunged at the half conscious German who was slumped against the wall.
Brad made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat and tackled the madman to the floor again. They fought for control of the knife, one of them each had a hand on it.
Schuldig came to see this. /NAGI!!/ he mentally screamed at the still sleeping teen.
There was a startled cry as Nagi woke up to find his pet bird dead on the pillow next to him. /Schuldig?/ he questioned, sounding scared.
/Get yourself in here! Now!/ Schuldig struggled to his feet. He couldn't let Brad fight this battle on his own.....
Farfarello had Brad pinned under him, but the American refused to let go of the knife, no matter what. The two men glared at each other.
Schuldig placed a hand on the Irishman's shoulder and pulled back. "Get off of him, Farf!" he growled.
He could see it happening, see the knife being ripped out of his hand, swinging back, catching Schuldig's neck.. /Schuldig move!/ Brad begged with a mental cry, tightening his hold on the knife.
Schuldig dodged and came around to where Farfarello was now standing. /Nagi! We haven't got all ni-/ His mental call to the younger Schwarz member was cut off as he felt the knife make contact.
/Schuldig!/ the teenager mentally shouted. He paused and heard the German physically cry out in pain, and Crawford screaming the telepath's name.
Nagi tore his gaze away from his bird and ran out into the living room. He gasped. "Farf?"
Farfarello turned his golden eyes toward the youth.
Schuldig groaned as he hit the wooden floor. Pain raced through his body and he cringed. /Hold him, chibi,/ he whispered.
Nagi stared at the Irishman, betrayal glowing in his eyes. He slowly extended his hand and unleashed his gift.
Brad fell beside Schuldig. /Schu?/
The German groaned, pressing his hand against the wound right below his ribcage. "I'm okay," he whispered in German.
/Just a flesh wound?/ Brad questioned with a painful smile.
/I think so. You okay?/
Brad nodded slowly. /Good thing I settle for t-shirts from Wal-Mart, huh?/
Schuldig winced as he laughed, and then pushed himself up into the sitting position. "What made him freak out?"
"I don't know." Brad murmured, looking at Nagi. The younger boy was in shock, staring at Farfarello.
Farfarello was perfectly still, but his eyes were searching widely.
"So do we just through him in the cell and put a double lock on it?" Schuldig asked.
Farfarello's eyes narrowed again, and he stared back at Nagi.
Brad put a hand over the wound in his chest. "I don't know."
"Is this what you saw?" Schuldig whispered.
"No." Brad whispered back.
The German blinked. "So that's still to come?"
"Brad..." Nagi said quietly.
The precog looked over. "What is it?"
"I can't..."
About that time, Farfarello broke free of the telekinetic teen's hold.
Nagi fell back against the door, unable to react as the Irishman rushed him.
"Nagi!" Schuldig screamed, racing toward him.
"Why oh why did he have to be crazy..." Brad muttered. "Get Nagi out of here!" He shouted. He had to get his gun. They couldn't fight him.
Schuldig grabbed Nagi and dragged him out. He stopped at the boy's room. "Lock the door and if you hear him trying to get in, get out the window. And don't come out unless one of us tells you to." That said, Schuldig turned to go.
Nagi grabbed his arm. "What happened?" he whispered. "Why's he doing this?"
"I don't know..." the telepath admitted.
"He killed my bird..." Nagi said softly.
Schuldig looked puzzled. "I don't even want to try getting into his head to find his motive, if there is one. I think I might get lost..."
"Be careful, both of you."
"Ja," the German said with a wink, and was gone.
Nagi slowly locked his bedroom door and knelt by the window.
Brad had dashed to his bedroom, and he could feel the Irishman coming behind him. He got there, but the gun wasn't on the bed where he'd dropped it earlier. But where?
/BRAD! BEHIND YOU!/
The American jerked and turned around. There was a small explosion and he could feel himself falling. He caught the edge of the bed, trying to keep himself up on his knees. "Didn't see that coming, I'll give you that," he gasped, looking up at Farfarello who was holding the smoking gun.
"Leave him!" Schuldig growled as he came into the room.
"Too late." Brad whispered, meeting the green eyes. Fresh blood was soaking the white t-shirt as Brad tried to hold on to the end of the bed.
Schuldig's eyes widened. "Brad...." he whispered. "Nein.. Get away from him, Farfarello!"
"As you wish. I am finished with him." Farfarello said, dismissing Brad in his mind.
"I'll personally rip you limb from limb," the telepath growled.
Farfarello stared at him. "I won't feel it. Your vengeance will do you no good."
"It'll do my mind some good."
Farfarello threw the gun to the side and curved a finger. "Come on then, fight."
Schuldig used his speed to get to the Irishman and around him before he could move. He grabbed one of his arms and twisted it behind his back, and then reached for the next. /If I can just trap him, we can deal with him,/ he thought.
/I have an,/ Brad inhaled painfully, /order for you./
/I'm kind of busy at the moment..../
/Kill him./
/No arguments here!/ Schuldig agreed. "Not after what you did, no arguments at all," the German muttered.
/Schwartz is finished. Just do it./ Brad said, his voice becoming quieter in Schuldig's mind.
Schuldig stepped back, reached out his hand and focused on the madman's mind. /You'll feel this./
Farfarello's eyes glittered as he prepared to attack.
The German man let loose his own attack on the Irishman's mind.
And he did feel it. The madman staggered back under the power of Schuldig's attack. He had no shields, nothing to protect his mind.
/It's your own fault for betraying us,/ Schuldig growled in his mind.
/There was nothing left to do./ Farfarello shot at him.
/You get bored or something? That's not our fault./
/I killed my family once. I thought it would be ironic to do it again. Poor Nagi, though./ His face held no remorse.
/Just shut up and die!/ Schuldig screamed. This attack was mentally and physically exhausting. He needed it to be done.
Brad watched with glassy eyes. His fingers were cold, he realized, and he could no longer feel the fabric of his blanket under his fingertips. He was fading, he knew. In one last attempt to attack, Farfarello leapt at him, but fell under the pressure in his mind. He didn't move again. Brad could feel his grip loosen on the bed and he fell forward.
Schuldig caught him before he hit the floor and eased him down. "Brad?" he whispered.
Blood soaked from Brad's shirt to Schuldig's' as the American lay limp in his arms.
"Please don't die..." the German whispered in broken English. "Don't die... Please...."
Nagi appeared in the doorway, blue eyes wide. "I called an ambulance." he whispered.
Schuldig didn't look up as he clung to his friend, tears streaming down his pale face.
/Don't....cry....Schu./ Brad breathed into his mind.
/Then don't die, ne?/
/You've got to...take care of him.../
/I can't. I can't even take care of myself, much less the kid..... We need you here, Brad.../
/Promise me,/
/Only if you promise that you'll be okay./
Brad cringed against him. /I can't, you just have to.../ he shivered.
Schuldig choked back a sob. "I can't live without you, Brad...." he whispered.
Brad could feel the cold tears on his own face as he struggled against his body's wish to quit, and his need for Schuldig. /I don't have anything to give you,/ he whispered brokenly.
/I told you I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. I'm still going to follow you..../
/Just wait for me.../ Brad faded.
Nagi jumped as the door was broken in. He heard different exclamations from the EMTs as they viewed the damage done. "We're here!" Nagi shouted.
Schuldig felt the tears streaming down his face, and he didn't look back as the EMTs came in. Nagi place a hand on his shoulder.
"Let him go. They have to help." the boy said softly.
Schuldig felt Nagi pull him away, and he did not resist. He simply sat and stared into nothingness.
"Jeeze, look at the blood in this place." One of the men muttered as they eased Crawford onto a stretcher.
His partner shook his head when he found no pulse on Farfarello and turned his attention to Schuldig. "Come on. Can you stand? You need attention as well."
"I'm fine," Schuldig managed.
The partners exchanged glances as they recognized shock. "Why don't you come in the ambulance with us. This guy's your partner, ne?"
"Schuldig, onegai?" Nagi whispered.
The German blinked at the boy for half a moment, but then nodded.
He stood shakily and the two of them followed the EMTs to the ambulance outside. "The kid can ride in the front. You should stick with him." The elder man said to Schuldig.
Schuldig nodded again and sat down. /Brad?/
The Oracle's mind was silent as the EMT attached him to the equipment. The heart monitor came to life, beeping steadily. The man nodded in an approval and began looking at the bullet wound.
"Is he going to be okay?" Schuldig asked quietly.
"I have brain activity, and his pulse is steady. As long as we get him stitched up and on a blood supply, I think he'll be fine." The man answered.
Schuldig nodded, returning his eyes to Brad's still form.
"You two have some sort of connection, don't you?" he asked, not looking at the German.
"You could say that."
"I thought as much."
"Why is that?"
"I can feel it. I could feel it as we parked."
/Empath?/
/Yes./
Schuldig glanced at him, half surprised to get an answer. /Do you work for Estet?/
/No. I wasn't interested./ He said, not alarmed to be holding a mental conversation with him.
/Not many people who are in Estet are interested./
The man laughed quietly. /I like my job. I didn't want the threat of any screw-up and instant death./
/You're a lucky man./
/You could say that./
Schuldig leaned back, a little more at ease than he had been when he got into the ambulance, and when his mind wasn't focused completely on making sure Brad would be all right, it started to register the pain.
After stabilizing the American, the man pulled out his abrasions kit and moved closer to the German.
Schuldig's golden eyes opened as he sensed the man moving closer.
"That's a nasty stab wound. I need to look at it." He said calmly.
"I'm all right."
"Please. It's my job, okay? If that gets infected you won't be any good to your partner."
Schuldig nodded after a moment. "Was Farfarello dead?" he whispered.
"Yes. Should I express condolences or no?"
"He was a former team member, but he's the reason that we're in the shape we are in."
"I see. I'm sorry."
Schuldig snorted. "He couldn't feel pain, but he felt it before he died," he said distantly.
"I have no doubt." The man said understandingly. "You'll need to change the bandage on that larger wound once a day. I'll get you some antibiotics for it later. I get the feeling you won't see a doctor, so I'll spare you the trouble."
Schuldig smirked. "I never had much use for them."
"The boy looked unharmed."
"I don't think he got hurt. He slept through most of it."
The ambulance pulled to a stop. The man's partner came around and helped lower the stretcher. "They're ready for him." he said.
Nagi appeared at the door and Schuldig jumped down to the ground. /They said he'd be just fine./
They watched as Crawford was wheeled away and whisked into an emergency room for surgery.