Bartimaeus

Nouda came ever closer, jaws wide. The staff was in our hands, ready to explode. Only my considerable power held it in check. Underneath it all, Nathaniel muttered the words to the dismissal. I couldn't let him do this. I couldn't save Ptolemy, but I might be able to save him. No. I forced him to close his mouth, cutting him off.

Both of us don't have to die. Let me finish.

Neither of us have to. With all of our remaining strength, I hurled the staff at the fast approaching monster. It flew right into his mouth. I tapped our heel, activating the seven league boots, and turned and ran. The shock wave, along with a good deal of glass and iron, lifted us up, slamming us against a wall. Our vision decaying at the edges, I lifted a shield, protecting us from the worst of it. Then everything dissolved into darkness.

Nathaniel

He woke up, squinting against the bright light. As he became more awake, he realized he was in a hospital bed, an IV hooked in his arm. Where am I?

A hospital. A commoner found us after we passed out and brought us here. We very nearly died.

Bartimaeus?

Who else, Natty boy? Forget that you're not alone in your head?

You saved me.

Damn right.

Thank you. Nathaniel felt a flash of surprise from Bartimaeus travel across his mind.

You mean it. It wasn't a question. Bartimaeus knew.

Yes. You could have been dismissed. You didn't have to risk your own life for me.

He felt a sigh. Are you complaining?"

No. A thought flitted across Bartimaeus's mind, something that made Nathaniel pause in shock. What was that?

The thought immediately disappeared. What are you talking about?

What you were just thinking about. That emotion. What was it?

Don't know what you mean.

Yes, you do.

No.

Yes.

No.

They were startled out of their silent argument when Kitty burst through the hospital room door, panting slightly. "Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel felt a surge of affection for her, which he felt repeated by Bartimaeus. Kitty ran over and hugged him gently. The lines on her face had begun to fade, and her brown eyes were as sharp as ever. "Oh my God, Nathaniel. What were you thinking? I was so worried, they took forever to ID you and we didn't know for days whether you were alive or dead somewhere..."

"I'm here too." His mouth said, Bartimaeus bubbling up.

Kitty peered at his face, like if she looked hard enough she would glimpse the djinni within. "Bartimeaus?"

"In the flesh, unfortunately."

"I can dismiss you, if you'd like." Nathaniel offered.

"Please." Nathaniel began the words, still wondering at that brief flash of thought, emotion really, that he had felt from Bartimaeus. It was impossible to interpret. He finished, and the other presence was immediately lifted from his mind.

"Is he gone?" Kitty asked, sitting next to him on the cot.

"Yes."

"How did you two survive? What happened?"

"Nouda was coming towards us. Bartimaeus was barely holding the staff's power in check. I was going to dismiss it, but it stopped me. Bartimaeus threw the staff into Nouda's mouth, activated the seven league boots, and ran. It saved me.

Kitty examined him critically. "You owe him an awful lot."

"I know. Also, you know Bartimaeus isn't really a he, right? It could choose to be either."

"I know, but it sounds so wrong to call him it. He's a person. Not a human person, but a person."

"Whatever you say, Kitty." Nathaniel privately agreed, even though it went against everything his masters had taught him. Every spirit had their own unique personality, their own likes and dislikes. His masters had taught him that spirits were forever waiting for an opportunity to kill their master and wreak havoc, but Bartimaeus had been in his head. He could have taken complete control, but instead chose to share, going as far as saving Nathaniel's life at great personal risk. Again, he thought of that brief surge of emotion, so quickly hidden. Nathaniel could not place what it had been.

She hugged him again. "I'm glad you're safe." He returned the embrace.

"So what's been going on?"

She pulled back, and drew up a chair. "Farrar's disappeared, along with most of the Night Police. There's talk about forming a police force of commoners." Nathaniel felt mixed emotions at that news. He had once had a crush on Jane Farrar, but no longer. "I've been asked to be a part of the council."

"And?"

"I declined. I want to travel, see the world."

Nathaniel nodded. A job catering to people higher ranked than her would not suit Kitty well. He had visions of screaming fights and incense candles being thrown at peoples heads over matters of unfairness. He didn't know who would break first, Kitty or the other members of the council. "Good for you."

"And you?" What will you do, John Mandrake?"

He winced. He knew it was necessary to keep his birth name under wraps, but he would be glad if he never heard the name John Mandrake again. John Mandrake was a cruel, officious, overly ambitious beast of a man. He had hurt Bartimaeus, Kitty, and countless others. Nathaniel refused become him ever again. "I'll take a spot in parliament. The magicians who are left need all the help they can get. I doubt most of them can summon a foliot. Who knows, maybe I can do some good." Kitty smiled.

Kitty

After awhile, Nathaniel fell asleep. She went down to the hospital cafeteria and bought two blueberry muffins, one for Nathaniel and one for her. She sat near the fountain, eating her muffin, people-watching. The hospital was crowded from the attacks, and worried friends, family members, and assorted doctors and nurses trekked past. She watched as a snarling wolf was hauled in, chained and muzzled, a long cut running from shoulder to hindquarters. A member of the Night Police, crazy with pain. She shivered. She had been almost killed by the werewolves on more than one occasion.

Later, she took the elevator back to Nat's room and said her goodbyes, dropping off his muffin. She began the walk home, stepping over rubble that still littered the streets. Even this late, workmen still hauled pulverized bits of stone and brick, restoring walls and windows. She entered a quieter part of the neighbourhood. She gasped and tried to scream as she was tackled into an alley. Hands clamped over her mouth, holding a cloth soaked with something that smelt awful and made her feel woozy. She tried to fight, vision darkening. Finally, she slipped into unconsciousness, her last thoughts swirling around and around, chasing her into sleep. What's happening? Someone help me.

Hey, guys! Not sure if anyone still even reads or writes on this anymore, but I though I'd give it a shot. Please review!