Title: Promises (can't always be kept)

Author: Tahra Rating: G

Category: J/V

Summary: When Josie and Vaughn fall sick with a mysterious illness it's up to the rest of the science club, and Professor Z, to save them. But does Josie want to be saved?

Disclaimer: BHH does not belong to me. Wish it did, coz then I could have my wicked way with a certain Professor, but it doesn't, so there you go.

Spoilers: Past, Inquiry, Conclusions, with possible others.

Author's note: This story just came to me, having just seen Conclusions (finally), and I felt I had to share. The story is set between Friction and Past, with spoilers for Conclusions. There may be a Sequel, as there are some events that happen in this fic that aren't quite conducive with Past, Inquiry and Conclusions. If there is, it'll probably just be little snippets to explain stuff that was in my fic that wasn't in any of those episodes. So keep an eye open for it.

And also, I now as readers you get this a lot, but please FB. Us writers like to know we're appreciated:D

"So," Josie Trent said, as she matched her stride with that of Vaughn Pearson. "This thing… You know, between you and Corrine? Is it… Over? For good?"

Vaughn looked down at the petite red head, who had an anxious look on her face, though she was trying hard to hide it. Feelings for her bubbled up inside him, as he grinned ironically at her.

"Are you jealous, Trent?" he teased.

"Who, me? No! Of course not, what would make you think that?" she replied hastily, using her hands to emphasize that fact that she was not jealous, not one bit.

"Because if you were…" he said in a sing-song voice.

Josie raised her eyebrows and smirked. "If I was… What?" She folded her hands across her chest and looked up at him. "Well?"

Vaughn bit his lip and scratched his blonde hair. "Nothing," he replied, shying away from the turn in the discussion. "Nothing, I was just… Never mind."

She sighed and looked away, wondering if they were ever going to be completely honest with each other. They'd made a pact a long time ago, to share everything, but that hadn't meant feelings, and Josie was just dying to know how Vaughn really felt about her.

The pair were walking on the outskirts of the school grounds listening to all the activity going on up at the school. As it was a Saturday, and it being a gorgeous day, everyone was outside hanging out with their friends, or playing tennis.

"Anyway, back to my original question," Josie said. "Is this whole thing over? Because for a while there you would have needed a knife to cut the tension between you."

Vaughn nodded. "Yea, it's over. All I wanted to know was why she'd lied to me. And of course, now I know, she never was. My mom erased her memory. I just wish I knew why. Why would she do that? What was she trying to stop us from finding out?"

Josie laid her hand on Vaughn's arm, in a comforting gesture. "I don't know Vaughn. I don't have the answers. But I know how you feel." She looked down at her feet helplessly, knowing Vaughn was hurting, but not knowing how to help him.

"I know you don't Josie. It's cool. I just wish someone did have the answers."

They continued to walk around the school together, chatting lightly about school, friends, the science club, music.

"So then Marshall said…"

Vaughn stopped mid-sentence and looked down at Josie. She had one hand on his arm, the other on her stomach, and had stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong Josie?" Vaughn asked, with a worried note in his voice.

She grimaced as if she were in pain. "I don't know… I just feel…" She put her hand to her mouth. "Queasy… I don't feel right, Vaughn."

"Let's get you back to the school," he replied, watching her swallow hard.

Josie nodded silently. Vaughn grabbed her around the waist, to hold her up, and started to walk back towards the school. She moaned slightly and moved one hand up to her forehead, to shield her eyes from the sun.

"I'm feeling really dizzy, Vaughn," Josie said weakly. "Everything keeps spinning."

Suddenly Josie slipped out of Vaughn's arms. He made a frantic grab for her, but she slid from his grasp to the ground. Her eyes were closed; her breath came in ragged, shallow gasps, her face a pale white. Vaughn crouched next to the unconscious girl and shook her by the shoulder.

"Josie? Josie… Come on, you're freaking me out here. Wake up!"

Josie lay still on the ground.

Frantically, Vaughn stood up and looked around him, searching for any sign of people. There was no one around.

"Come on Josie!"

He grabbed her under the shoulders, and started to pick her up. But even though he was a football player, and she was petite, he couldn't quite pick her up properly. Half dragging her, half carrying, he made his way closer to the school. Head bent, he walked, trying not to stumble over the various broken branches on the ground.

Vaughn looked up in time to see Professor Z crossing the lawn. He was walking away from Josie and Vaughn, his back turned to them.

"Professor Z!" Vaughn called out.

Z stopped and turned towards them. When he saw Vaughn holding an unconscious Josie, he raced down to meet them, his heart pounding. He'd never admit it to anyone, but Josie was one of his favorite pupils, because of the weird Father/Daughter bond they had.

"What happened?" he asked Vaughn, the tone of his voice slightly panicked.

Vaughn shook his head, as Z began to pick Josie up in his arms. "I don't know, Professor," he replied, his hands outstretched. "One minute she was fine, the next she was complaining that she didn't feel too well, and then she collapsed on the ground. I tried to pick her up, but…"

"Okay," Z said, beginning to walk to the school with Josie. "We need to get her to the nurse."

Vaughn grabbed Z by the arm and turned him around. "But what if this is, like, connected to the Black Hole? Should we go to the nurse? There might be nothing she can do for Josie. Besides, Josie could wake up at any minute, couldn't she?"

Z stood still, trying to figure out the best solution. "Okay. We go to her room, and hope that she wakes up. If not, I insist on taking her to the school nurse," he compromised.

Vaughn nodded, and the pair started walking back up to the school.