This is my first Captain Man fanfic. This is the episode called Henry's Jelly. I started this off in the pet store when Henry had a Mexican red rump above his head. Please Read and Review. Oh and ENJOY :)

Henry's P.O.V.

"You wouldn't" Captain man asked panic evident in his tone.

This was my fault. I caused this... I looked around at the people stuck in dog carriers as Captain Man was trying to save me from my own stupidity. He was desperately trying to reason with the insane man holding a dangerous spider over my head. If only I hadn't run off, this never would have happened. I was just so jealous that Jasper was getting all the attention. But I had no excuse for putting my friend in danger. True he couldn't be destroyed, but he could feel pain, and the people he was trying to save could hurt or worse and it would be all my fault. Could I live with that?

"Get in the crate, or I drop the spider on this kids' stupid face"

I looked at Captain Man and saw the emotions play on his face. He didn't want to get in the crate, but he loved me. I could see his desire to help others fighting with his desire to save me. I knew what I had to do. I couldn't let him get hurt because I am a fool. I couldn't let these people get hurt because I was jealous. I wouldn't. He would be mad, but he would be safe. The innocent people locked in cages would be safe. I knew what I had to do.

"I'm sorry." Meeting his gaze, I reached up and flipped the lever keeping the spider in.

In slow motion I saw the fear and despair on his face as the spider fell. He tried to reach for me, but I knew he wouldn't make it. I closed my eyes tight and held my breath waiting for the sting. I felt the spider hit my head and a sigh of relief went through me. It hadn't bitten me, maybe I would get out of this with just a lecture from Ray. My joy was short lived as I felt it slide down my neck and bite the small of my back. I looked at my friend, who was more like a brother to me, and saw the same look that must have been on my face. Pure and udder shock. I was going to die. I am sorry Ray. So sorry….

I dropped to the ground as Captain Man punched the guy who was holding me. I couldn't feel anything below my waste. It was like I had been submerged in ice water, and I was sinking. I barely felt him pick me up and pull me into his arms.

"Kid, why did you do that? Don't you know how much I need you?" He whispered.

"I couldn't let my stupidity cause anyone to get hurt" I said between gasps. It was starting to get really hard to breath. 'but I need you too…'

"But you did let someone get hurt kid. You. And me." He said with tears in his eyes.

I became aware that people were watching us intently.

"Cap-captain man?" I asked gasping

"Yeah kid?"

I gathered up what was left of my fading strength "will you tell my boss Ray something?"

"Sure kid." He gazed intently at me

"Tell-tell him I am sorry. That I don't mean to leave him, but I have no choice. Tell him I am sorry I am so stupid. I hope he forgives me..."

"You are going to be fine." Captain Man says sternly.

I just give him a look. We both know I am not going to be fine. "Please" I whisper

His face falls "Well I don't know your boss, but I am sure he forgives you. And he probably loves you very much." Captain man voice breaks

I look into his eyes until I can't see anymore. Then I just kind of drift. I don't want to die. I will fight till I can't fight anymore. 'It won't be easy for you Death.'

—

CAPTAIN MANS POV

I saw the intent on Henrys face right before he reached up. No please no. Tell me this isn't happening. He met my eyes and I saw the steely determination in them. He was really going to do it. That stupid kid. I would rather live in the crate then for him to do what he was doing. I reached out to stop him, but I wasn't fast enough. The spider hit his head and bounced before falling down the back of his shirt. I prayed that it wouldn't bite him, that maybe it would just fall to the ground without biting him, but I saw the look on Henry's face and knew it had.

He started to wobble, and I ran up and punched the guy holding him. He fell unconscious on the floor. When he fell, so did Henry, as the guy was the only thing holding him up.

I got to my knees and scooped the kid up into my arms. I didn't care who was watching as tears slide down my face. He hadn't been my sidekick for long, how could I love this boy so much? When did that happen? How could I love another person this much who wasn't me? I loved him like the brother I never had. He always seemed to be able to make me laugh and vice versa. What was I going to do without him?

"Kid, why did you do that? Don't you know how much I need you?" I whispered. Did I even know how much I needed him? I could see the color draining from his face.

"I couldn't let my stupidity cause anyone to get hurt" he said gasping.

My heart jumped painfully.

"But you did let someone get hurt kid. You. And me." I said looking into his eyes.

"Cap-captain man?"

"Yeah kid?" Wondering how long he could continue to talk to me. Maybe if I kept him talking I could hold onto him forever.

"Will you tell my boss Ray something?"

I started. What could he possibly want to tell me? "Sure kid" I looked deep into his face. I knew whatever he had to tell me was important. I didn't care who saw.

"Tell-tell him I am sorry. That I don't mean to leave him, but I have no choice. Tell him I am sorry I am so stupid. I hope he forgives me..."

How. How could he say that? Does he think I hate him? Doesn't he know how much I love him? I can't let him think that. I can't. "you are going to be fine." I say angrily.

He just gives me a look. He knows he is dying. That just plunges the dagger in my heart. How could I do this to him?

"Well I don't know your boss, but I am sure he forgives you. And he probably loves you very much." I say with my voice breaking. I do Henry, I love you very much. And I need you to fight.

I watch as his eyes got cloudy and closed. I felt myself dying with him. My body was hollow, and for the first time in a long time, I wished I could really die.

I heard rustling behind me and I realized I still hadn't let the prisoners out of their cages. Not letting go of Henry or looking away from him I reached up to the nearest cage and opened it.

"Please let the others out and call an ambulance." I said in a hollow tone still holding Kid Dangers lifeless corpse.

He's gone became a mantra in my head. He's gone and it's my fault. If I hadn't been in the shower, then he never could have left without me. I am so stupid. He's gone. Never again will I hear him laugh, or say up the tube, scream when he comes down the elevator, or even have him correct my grammar. I used to hate it, but I would pay any amount of money to hear him yell at me right now. What am I going to do without him? He's gone.

So lost am I in my thoughts that I don't notice the ambulance has arrived until they try to take him out of my arms. I fight. I don't want to lose him.

"Captain Man, lets us take him. He needs medical attention."

"He doesn't need medical attention, because he is DEAD!" I scream at the top of my lungs. Can't they see that? Why do they insist on twisting the knife? He is dead because of me.

I see the ambulance workers glance at each other. They think I have lost my mind. Well maybe I have. I don't care what they think. Why should I care, when Henry is gone?

"Captain Man. He isn't dead. At least not yet. That's why we have to get him to a hospital."

Did I hear that right? "He- he isn't dead?" I look at their faces for confirmation that I just heard what I thought I heard. They nod. I clutch the words close to my heart. He is alive. There is hope. I look down at his face and see his chest rise ever so slightly. 'fight Kid, you've gotta fight.'

I get into the ambulance with Henry. The ambulance workers don't say anything, but I see them exchange looks. I look up from Henry's sleeping face to address them.

"Look. This kid risked his life to save a store full of people he didn't know. That makes him important. I am not leaving his side till he wakes up and I can thank him in person." I say, hoping to stop the unwarranted attention so I can just be there for Henry.

They nod and go about hooking him up with tubes. I grab his hand and hold it. 'Why did you do this Kid, huh? Can't you see that if you die this will destroy me? I can't bear this, so please wake up now. Come on kid, show me how strong you are and open your eyes' I say silently, hoping that maybe he can hear me wherever he is.

When we get to the hospital I am not permitted to go into the Intensive Care unit with him. I understand. I would just be in the way. I let the hospital call Henry's parents and I head outside for some fresh air. I flip my watch to see if I can contact Schwoz. It rings a few times with no answer.

I call and call. After 5 times Schwoz strolls into view. "Finally! Where have you been?" I demand angry. The anger feels great so I latch onto it. Anything is better than the empty feeling I have had ever since I saw the Kid's face when that spider bit him.

"I was working upstairs with Charlotte. Why? What is wrong? And where is Henry?" Schwoz asks confused.

"Get Charlotte."

"Ray, what is wrong?"

"GET CHARLOTTE!" I scream at my wrist.

Schwoz looks hurt, but I don't care. I am only going to say what happened once. I don't even know how I am going to get through this. The telling. I have to go through my failure blow by blow. What is Charlotte going to say? Will she hate me? She can't hate me anymore then I hate myself.

Schwoz and Charlotte come into view.

"Ray?" Charlotte says hesitantly "Where is Henry? What happened?"

I tell them how I was in the shower, and Henry left without me to go to the pet store. I tell them everything, right up to the part where the spider bit Henry. I am emotionless. I sound like a robot, but I don't care. I can't let myself feel the pain again. Charlottes face loses all color. She knows what that means. I don't realize it, but I have been crying the entire time I tell the story. Even Schwoz looks sad. He didn't even really have a great connection with the Kid, but it just goes to show how much one person can touch so many. 'you better survive this Kid. Or there will be a giant hole in a lot of peoples' lives'

Charlotte is silent for a long time. When she opens her mouth to speak I brace myself. It was my fault. I should have moved faster, and gotten to him before the spider bit him. It should have been me. I did this to him. How could I be so stupid?

"Ray. It's not your fault." Charlotte says quietly

I look up at her. "Of course it's my fault. I did this. I wasn't strong enough or fast enough to protect him. I understand if you hate me." I try to stay in my robot form, but the emotions are creeping in. There is a dull ache where my heart used to be. An ache that won't go away after 2 seconds like all my other pain. This pain is here to stay.

"No Ray. It's not." Charlotte insists.

"THEN WHOSE FAULT IS IT CHARLOTTE?! HUH?! IF IT'S NOT MY FAULT WHO IS TO BLAME? Don't you DARE say it's Henry's." He was just looking out for everyone. It wasn't his fault, and no one had better blame him in my presence.

"No Ray, it's not Henry's fault either." She tells me gently "It's the guy who took over the pet's stores fault. Don't carry something that's not yours to carry. It's NOT your fault Captain Man."

I start and look away. I had forgotten about that jerk. Anger comes quickly now, I embrace it, I welcome it, I cherish it. My mind is filled with images of punching that guy over and over till he either dies, or is in the same condition Henry is.

"Ray look at me." I hear Charlotte in the back of my mind. She sounds insistent. I look up from the spot I was staring at

"Do you know how much Henry respects you?" She says in a firm voice.

"Don't." I warn through my anger haze

"Don't do anything to lose that respect. Don't do anything to tarnish your reputation. Be the Captain Man that Henry and all of Swellview love and admire. Hurting that guy won't help Henry, and it won't make you feel any better. Even if you think it will, it won't. Revenge is never the answer." She cries desperately.

I look at her. She is smarter than anyone I know, and she is only a kid. I don't know how I lived without her and Henry before he became my sidekick, but I never want to go back to not having both of them in my life. I nod at her and tell her what hospital we are at. She tells me she is on her way and disconnects.

I go inside the hospital and see Henry's parents crying in the waiting room. Sighing I walk over to them. I know they are going to have questions that only I can answer. I hope I am up for this; I can't fall to pieces. They need me to be Captain Man, and I will be there for them… The only question was, who was going to be there for me?

I answer their questions in a hollow voice. When will this be over? I would give anything to just be in the man cave with Charlotte, Henry, and Schwoz watching TV.

After the questioning, I ask them for a favor. I want, no I NEED to be with Henry with he wakes up, but in order to do that I need their permission to stay with him at night. They ask me about Kid Danger. 'Oh Crap.' I think before coming up with an excuse that Kid Danger was with his grandmother and would be for a while. They seem to buy it.

Just as they were giving me permission to stay, Charlotte walks in with Schwoz. Her face is puffy and I can tell she has been crying. Schwoz is somber for the first time in ever. She looks at me trying to decide something.

Before I can figure it out, she runs up to me, jumps into my arms and starts crying. I hold her, just waiting for her tears to run out. "It's ok little girl. It's ok. Captain Man is here. He is going to be alright." I say soothingly. I can't let anyone know how attached I am to this girl, or that we have even met before.

Eventually she calms down and stops crying. I set her back down and she turns to Henry's parents. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make a scene. I just saw Captain Man and I was so glad he was here for Henry." She says sheepishly looking down at her shoes.

Henry's parents assure her it's alright, then ask where Ray is. "He is still at the store, he couldn't get away, but he is extremely worried about Henry and will probably be here tomorrow to look in on him."
Charlotte says in a rush.

'You're darn right he will be here tomorrow.' I think to myself.

The doctor's come out to tell us Henry is stable, but he is in a coma. There is no telling when or if he will wake up. The doctor also tells us that we can start to see him if we want. Henry's parents go first, Charlotte and I let them go alone. They need time to say things to him without an audience. It might be their last chance to be alone with their son. Charlotte says nothing but takes my hand and I look down at her.

She isn't looking at me, but the look on her face is heartbreaking. It's like my hand is the only thing holding her up. I squeeze her hand back, the only lifeline that is holding me on this earth. I rely on her almost as much as I rely on Henry. That thought shocks me to my core…I am used to not needing anyone, and now these two little kids have wormed their way into my heart. I don't know how long we were there, but eventually Henry's parents come out and say their goodbyes to us.

I let go of Charlotte and gently push her towards Henrys door. She looked at me with a question in her eyes.

"No Charlotte, I am not going in with you this is your time to talk to Henry. You don't need me there."

Saying nothing she squared her shoulders and walked in.

I sat down in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room and waited. After about a half an hour Charlotte came out. I have no idea what she said to him, but she looked exhausted. She came up to me and squeezed my shoulder.

"It's your turn," she said in a small, tired voice.

I nodded, hugged her and walked to the door. I paused to try to get myself composed before I saw him. Taking a deep breath, I looked in. I was unprepared for what I saw. He was hooked up to tubes, and no part of him looked like the happy go lucky kid he was this morning. My heart shuddered and I pulled up a chair so I could sit right next to his bed.

"Hey Kid. How are you?" I said grabbing his hand. "I don't think I ever really told you this, at least not in a way you would believe me, but I really do think of you as my little brother. Do you know when that happened? Cause I sure don't. I didn't know how much you meant to me until you reached up and flipped that lever. I have never been so scared in all my life. Even my Dad taking away my childhood didn't hurt as much as this does." I say my throat tight. I clear it and continue "I still don't understand why you did it. Did you not think I would get into that crate for you? I would get into a thousand crates to keep you safe. Why did you do it?" I pause as if waiting for an answer I know won't come

I get up and start pacing around the room. I keep glancing at him to see if his eyes have opened. When they haven't I continue talking.

"So your parents were here. I outta take away your Kid Danger privileges for making your mother cry. Come on Kid, just wake up. Open your eyes and look at me."

I stare into his face for the longest time. There are no signs of life other than the slow steady beeping of the machines he is hooked up to.

"Maybe I am wasting my breath. I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, I need for you to fight. This is going to be the hardest thing you have ever faced, but I know you can do it. You are a smart kid and braver then most. I will never forget the day we met, when you beat up my employee Boris because he shot me." I chuckle "I heard the determination in your voice when you tackled him, and I knew right then that you were my new sidekick. I have never regretted that decision. Never. I have always been slightly in awe of you. It's like you were made for this kind of work. It took an accident for me to be super, but you were super all along. If you wake up I will tell you how much you mean to me, but you gotta wake up. You just gotta." My voice breaks and I can't continue.

I go over to the chair and sit back down, all my energy spent. I sat there all night, not moving just staring at his face. It's almost like he is sleeping. I wish there was something I could do for him. But I know this is a battle he has to fight alone. I would give anything to fight it for him, but he has to be the one to decide to stay.

As the sun comes up over the clouds I squeeze his hand one last time "I love you Kid. Remember that."

Standing I head out the door to find the doctor. I tell him that no change has been seen but I would be back tonight. He nods and heads into Henrys room to do some tests.

I stretch my entire body. It gets cramped sitting in one position all night. I walk outside to a dumpster and blow my gum and instantly I am Ray again. I walk back into the hospital and ask to see Henry. They let me in and I go up to Henry and take his hand.

"Hey Henry. It's Ray," I say for the benefit of the doctor in the room. "I heard about what happened with the Mexican Red Rump. Don't you eat those things for breakfast? I think it's time to stop scaring everyone and get out of that bed. Come on now Henry. Stop joking and hop on out of that bed."

The doctor looks at me sadly. I say nothing to him and sit in my chair to resume my vigil. Visitors for Henry trickle in throughout the day, saying words or encouragement or just telling him about that day in school who said what or who did this. All throughout I sit and watch him. Just trying to find any signs of life. Charlotte comes towards the end of the day, bringing me something to eat. I don't even know what it is, but I put it in my mouth and take a couple bites. It tastes like glue. I only take a few bites before I stop.

"Ray you have to eat something."

I glare at her. "I am fine."

"Please... I don't want to have to visit 2 people I love in the hospital."

Saying nothing I reach over and force the food down my throat. Staring at Henry the whole time.

'Come on kid. You can pull through this.' I can feel Charlotte's eyes on me, but I don't look at her. After a while she leaves and I am again alone with Henry.

The Doctor's come to kick me out when night falls, but I just go outside and change to Captain Man and come right back in.

Days and Nights pass. I get sleep in snatches, and if I have to leave because of an emergency my thoughts are on Henry. Lying in a hospital, hooked up to machines because of me. My actions towards criminals are ruthless. I spend the day with Henry as Ray, and the nights as Captain man.

A week has gone by since he was first bitten by that spider. A week of me desperately trying to find some kind of life within him, something to show he was still with us. It is nighttime and I am in with Henry as Captain Man. I get up and stare at the stars

"Hey Kid, do you think there is life on other planets? I bet there is. It's too big to not have some kind of life out there." I get no response but the steady beeping of the machines.

"Maybe I am deluding myself. Maybe you can't get back to us. I know you are trying, but sometimes that isn't enough. Maybe you are already gone, maybe I am just talking to myself." Turning I look at him. "Come on Kid. Tell me I am not talking to myself. Wake up and tell me…wake up…" I fall to my knees and lay my head on his stomach and cry.

I cry until I can't cry anymore. Spent I leave my head where it is and listen to him breathe. Suddenly I feel a pressure on my head. Looking up I see the thing I was afraid I would never see again…his eyes were open, focused and looking right at me.

Henry's P.O.V.

I am drifting. There is nothing but darkness and pain. The pain is fleeting, but I came to welcome it, it was the only thing that proved to me I was still alive.

Every now and again I would hear voices. Fleeting, like whispers. Sometimes I could make it out, and sometimes I could only tell who was speaking. First it was my parents: telling me they loved me, and to be strong. Then came Piper. In my dream state I couldn't be sure what I was hearing, but she was talking to me, begging me to wake up. I tried to tell her that I was OK, and to stop worrying, but my body was so heavy. I just listened to her talk, it was kind of soothing.

Charlotte was harder to hear. I could tell she was crying. 'Come on Char, don't cry. I will be alright,' but I was trapped listening to her. I knew she was worried, but I couldn't comfort her. No matter how hard I tried.

The one that talked the most was Ray. I couldn't always hear what he said, but I knew he was worried about me, and angry with himself. 'It's not your fault Ray. I did this, be mad at me. Not yourself.' He also talked about nonsense. Sometimes I wondered if he was just talking to talk, I appreciated it though. I knew I was not alone, and it was comforting. We were a team, and if it was him drifting I would right there beside him too.

After an eternity in the darkness, I heard Ray talking. "Life … ….. planets? I bet t..re is. It's too b… to not have s…. kind of life out there."

As I strained to listen, his words became clearer

"Maybe I am deluding myself. Maybe you can't get back to us. I know you are trying, but sometimes that isn't enough. Maybe you are already gone. Maybe I am just talking to myself." I am not gone Ray. I am almost back to you. "Come on Kid. Tell me I am not talking to myself. Wake up and tell me. Wake up…"

I feel a pressure on my stomach, and then I hear and feel Ray sobbing. It took me a second to realize what was happening. Ray, the indestructible Captain Man, was crying. And not just crying, sobbing like his heart would break.

It took all the strength I had, but I lifted up my hand and put it on his head. I could feel him freeze. Looking up tentatively, like he was expecting anything but me to be awake. When his eyes found mine I could see a joy and disbelief forming in them

"Why are you crying Ray?" I asked in a very breathy small voice.

He gasped "Kid?"

"Yeah…. Man my head hurts." The fight with the darkness had tired me out and for a second I forgot what was happening looking around I notice we are in a hospital. "What happened? Is someone injured?"

"Yeah. You. What's the last thing you remember?"

I thought for a minute, pictures started swimming in my brain. "Um, I remember something about a pet store."

"Uh huh."

"And…." I start, remembering a spider falling down my back. "Did I get bit by a spider?"

He nods at me, his eyes shining.

"Oh Jeeze. How long was I out?"

"A week."

"A WEEK?!" I try to yell but only a whisper comes out.

"Shh Kid, it's ok. You are going to be fine now. You are awake, and I am here with you." He says soothingly.

"Henry." Ray says in a quiet voice. I look at him and his eyes find mine. "Why did you do what you did? Why did you flip that lever letting the spider out? When you hit the floor after it bit you I wanted to die." He pauses and I feel his words sinking in. I start to remember the darkness, and how he never left my side. "Do you know how much you mean to me? I love you Kid. I never really knew how much until you weren't there anymore. I wish I could tell you that you're fired, but I can't live without you. Don't you EVER pull a stunt like this again." He says desperately.

"I did it because I couldn't let you get hurt. You may be indestructible Captain Man, but you can be hurt. And all those people. It was my fault that you couldn't just go protect them, so it was only fair I be the one to accept the consequences. Did you get everyone out ok?" I couldn't let you get hurt Ray, I just couldn't. It would have killed me for you to get hurt due to my stupidity.

"No I didn't. I didn't get my sidekick out ok. He almost died, and if he had it would be all my fault." He says angrily. I know he is mad at himself.

"Ray," I say forcefully "It wasn't your fault. I did this, not you. The fault lies with me, and ONLY with me." He looked at me with his eyes shining. "I care about you too. I lo-care about you. Oh Screw it. Ray I love you." I choke the last words out. I do love him. I love him like a brother.

He looks at me with tears in his eyes. Saying nothing he comes over to the side of the hospital bed and pulls me into a crushing hug. Tiredly I pulled my arms up to return the hug. I put all my strength into the hug so he can feel it. When he releases me, I fall back to the bed exhausted.

I don't want to go to sleep since apparently I had been sleeping for a week, but I was so tired. "Ray…" I say quietly

"Henry?" Captain Man asked with a question in his voice.

"Look I don't want to leave you, but I am so very tired. I know you must be as well." He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Ray, I know you have been here since I have, and if I know you, you haven't slept much. Go home. I will be here when you get back. I promise." I smile reassuringly at him.

"Kid…. If I leave and you fall back into a coma I will never forgive you or myself." He says passionately.

"It's not that I don't want you here" I assure him "I just don't want you lying in a bed next to me because you collapsed from exhaustion."

He looks into my eyes for an eternity and I don't know what he saw, but whatever it was he nodded. Leaning down he gave me another hug. It was gentler this time. After he broke my hug he looked at me, leaned down and kissed the top of my head. I normally would have said something, but I understood.

He got to the door and looked back at me, eyes unreadable. "I will be here when you when you get back. I promise."

Nodding he left. I laid down and shut my eyes.

See you tomorrow, Captain Man.