Chapter 2:
The Next Day:
Chris woke the next morning and looked around the room, and when he didn't see Martin, he truly believed he was dreaming the conversation the night before. He had a shower and then went to get breakfast, the other's soon joined him, but no one talked after greeting each other, as they sat quietly eating a voice beside Jimmy scared Chris.
"Man…I never thought I'd see the day you four were so quiet! I know you're shutting them out Chris and you shouldn't they lost me too!" Martin said scaring Chris so much he choked on his toast, he never took his eyes off Martin as the others became concerned, he took a drink of coffee to clear his throat, he spoke between coughs.
"I'm…I'm fine really! Just swallowed wrong!" Chris said. "Not again!" He said looking at Martin who only smiled smugly at him as he waved, Chris glared at him angrily.
"Not again what Chris?" Jimmy asked confused.
"They can't see or hear me Chris, only you can!" Martin said still smiling.
"Why? Why me?" Chris demanded.
"Why you what CK? Are you sure you're alright?" Aviva asked.
"You better answer her, and stop talking to me in front of them or they'll think you're crazy!" Martin said.
"Why do these things always seem to happen to me?" Chris groaned.
A couple of hour's later Martin paced while Chris once again continued his search for Stone, after his scene at breakfast Chris had stayed in his room. Martin continued trying to get him to stop, but it was useless and Chris had been ignoring him for the last hour.
"Chris I'm worried about you!" Martin said upset.
"I'm fine!" Chris said without turning from his computer.
"Are you Chris? Are you really? Look at you! This isn't fine bro!" Martin pleaded.
"Martin you're my brother, and I love you…but you're gone…dead! He took you from me, doesn't that hurt you?" Chris answered upset as he stood and looked at him.
"Chris I'd give anything to be alive again! Why would you even ask me that?" Martin asked hurt by Chris' words, Chris looked at him sadly.
"You died Martin…but I didn't! And until I see him pay for that, make him feel the pain I do everyday I won't stop!"
"Chris he's dangerous! I don't want you to end up like me!" Martin said upset.
"Go away Martin! You can't make me change my mind!" Chris said turning back to his computer.
"Chris I'm begging you, stop this!" Martin pleaded.
"Go haunt someone else I'm busy!" Chris said, as Martin again just left.
Three Month's Later:
Chris' search for Stone became an obsession, it was all he thought about, he withdrew from the team even more completely shutting them out. Martin and the other's were worried about him and tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn't and fought with them about it. Chris refused to listen to any of them, and it was really scaring Martin knowing how dangerous Stone is and was afraid Chris would end up like him. Then one night three month's later Chris took a break from his search and went to the control room for some coffee the other's were there and when he went in they stopped talking. He didn't say anything; he poured his coffee, but felt the tension and finally he spoke to them.
"Okay, what's going on?" Chris asked without turning to face them.
"Nothing, why?" Koki answered.
"Really?" Chris said shaking his head not believing they'd try to lie to him. "What would give me the idea something's wrong…hmm…I know, maybe it was the way you all shut up the second I walked into the room!" Chris said angrily finally looking at them.
"Chris its not what you think!" Aviva said quickly.
"Oh, so you three are mind readers now?" Chris said upset.
"Chris! Stop being an ass! They're our friend's!" Martin scolded him angrily.
"Go on tell me then! What is it?" Chris demanded ignoring Martin.
"We're worried about you! This obsession with Stone has gotten out of control!" Aviva said. "We just don't want you to do anything that could get you hurt!"
"Not this again!" Chris said becoming angrier at having the same fight again.
"Yes, this again! Chris we're your friend's and we know you lost Martin, we did too, but…" Chris cut Aviva off.
"Don't bring my brother into this! You have no clue what I lost that night! He was my brother, my best friend and Stone killed him in front of me! I watched as his blood left his body, I had to watch him take his last breath! None of you know what I lost, leave him out of this! You know something though, I realized something right now!" Chris said.
"What?" Jimmy asked.
"I realized that everything you three have said or done since Martin died has been one giant lie! You don't give a damn about Martin or me!" Chris yelled so angry.
"How can you say that? You know we all think of you and Martin like brothers!" Koki said upset, they all were. "You're like family to us!"
"Save your tear's, I'm done playing your game's!" Chris said as he turned to leave. "I'm doing this with or without you understand that! Martin may have bought your lie's…but I'm not Martin!" Chris said walking away.
Once in his room he knew Martin was there and ignored him as he paced, Martin stood by the door watching him so disappointed in him, Chris suddenly spoke as he paced.
"I know you want to say something! So say it already!" Chris said.
"What do you want me to say Chris? You want me to tell you how much of an ass you were? Or how about how selfish your being, does that work for you? I have plenty more if those one's don't work!" Martin said angrily.
"I'm being an ass?" Chris asked shocked as he stopped and looked at him. "How am I being an ass?"
"Yeah Chris you're being an ass! You have done nothing, but push the team away when all they're trying to do is help you! Oh, and let's not forget your sick obsession with Stone, and your completely juvenile meltdown just now with the team! You know you were in the wrong Chris!" Martin answered.
"My own brother is against me now, great! This is just perfect! Does your 'We Hate Chris Kratt' club come with a membership card?" Chris said angrily.
"Chris will you listen to yourself? You have completely lost your mind! Listen to me for once in your life Chris, Stone is a seriously dangerous dude! He killed me without a second thought; do you honestly think for one nanosecond he wouldn't do the same to you?" Martin said pleading with him.
"I thought of all people, the one person I could count on to have my back no matter what would have been you!" Chris said sadly.
"I do Chris! Why do you think I'm here?"
"No, Martin…you don't! Not anymore! If you did you'd understand why I need to do this!" Chris said sadly turning away.
"Chris you're my brother and I love you, but I won't watch as you kill yourself! I'm sorry!" Martin said sadly.
"I'm sorry too! I'm doing this Martin, and I hope when its over you can understand?"
"I'll never understand you throwing your life away for revenge!" Martin said his voice breaking as he turned and disappeared.
"I'm sorry Martin!" Chris said his heart breaking.
The Next Day:
The next day after his fight with the team and Martin, Chris stayed in his room. He never left his computer, finally by nightfall he learned Stone had returned to the forest, he had obviously waited for the heat to die down after Martin was killed. He smiled to himself as he pictured taking Stone's life the way he had taken Martin's. After getting his thing's ready he snuck out and using the coordinate's he had programmed into his Creature pod before he left he went after Stone. As he got closer to Stone, he parked the Createrra and got out and went the rest of the way on foot. As he neared the jet Martin suddenly appeared, Chris stopped and they starred at each other, finally Martin spoke sadly.
"Chris, I'm begging you! Don't do this please! He will kill you, its not going to change anything!"
"Its going to change everything Martin! I'm going to make him feel the pain I feel every second of every day!"
"Then what huh?" Martin asked angrily.
"What?" Chris asked confused.
"Let's say you do get your revenge! Then what happens?"
"Then I'll have my revenge and it end's! Haven't you been listening to me?"
"I've listened to every crazy, foolish thing you've said! That's why I know its not going to end there!"
"Really? So now you can see into the future?" Chris said frustrated.
"Chris as your brother I'm begging you don't do this! What's it going to prove?"
"It won't prove a damn thing!" Chris said as he looked through the bushes, Martin stood with him, and then suddenly he just disappeared. Chris felt very alone after he left him, he was so used to having Martin with him, but now he was alone and he could only rely on himself. Just then Martin reappeared, Chris quickly hid his relief and happiness at having his brother back with him, Martin looked at the jet and spoke.
"There's only Stone and Carter on board! Carter was talking to Stone telling him the others won't be back for awhile; they've gone after the animals!"
"What? Does…does this mean you're helping me?" Chris asked confused.
"Let me make this perfectly clear! I'm only doing this so you won't get your stubborn ass killed! I do not agree or understand any of this nor do I want too! Are we clear?"
"Yeah, yeah we're clear!" Chris answered hurt by his tone.
"The first thing we need to do is get rid of Carter! I'll distract him long enough for you to knock him out and tie him up. Once he's taken care of we go after Stone, you get your revenge, and then we leave! Got it?" Martin said.
"Got it!" Chris said trying to hide the fact that Martin's word's and tone hurt him. "I'm ready when you are!"
"Let's go!" Martin said. "I'll go first and give you the signal and then you follow me!"
After getting inside the jet unseen, Chris waited in the hallway while Martin checked out a room, he gave him the signal and he snuck inside and hid. Second's later Carter came in talking on his phone to one of Stone's thug's. Seeing him Chris remembered how he had been beaten on by the man who now stood only step's away and he tensed he wanted to return the beating, but stayed where he was. Chris watched as Martin followed Carter around the room, he knew Martin was stalling, just then Martin saw him put his cell phone on the table. Martin knocked his phone off the table he had his back to Martin, but when his phone fell he quickly turned confused he picked it up and spoke to himself.
"Damn phone!" Carter said as Chris watched Martin smile at Carter, he was confused until Martin shoved Carter who stumbled. "What the…whose there?" Carter demanded as he turned in a circle angry as he turned his back to Chris again Martin nodded and Chris grabbed a metal pipe he had found outside and brought in with him and snuck up behind Carter. Once behind him he swung the pipe and connected with the back of his head, Carter fell to the floor knocked out, Martin told him about some rope in the corner and so Chris grabbed it and quickly tied him up, then he turned to Martin and spoke.
"Now what?"
"We go after Stone!" Martin said going to check the hall; he returned a few second's later. "Its all clear, but Stone's headed outside with keys, I think he's leaving."
"Where would he be going?" Chris asked as they quickly headed outside too, once outside they hid behind the jet's wheel's and watched, Chris spoke worried.
"He's getting into a jeep, we have to follow or we'll lose him! I think I can get into the backseat if you distract him for me!"
"Fine! Be careful Chris!" Martin said as he quickly went up to Stone. He had to think of something, so he did the only thing he could think of and shoved Stone causing him to fall to his knee's Chris smiled. Then he kicked the keys towards the bushes so his back would be to the jeep, seeing this Chris quickly, but quietly raced to the jeep and got in the back hiding under a tarp that was there. Second's later he heard Stone get in cursing under his breath, Martin got in the passenger's seat and told Chris where they were going. They reached their destination and Stone parked and smiling got out, he walked to the middle of the clearing and took a deep breath before he spoke aloud to himself.
"Soon this forest will be nothing more than a memory! I'll take my animals, and then I'll turn this place into high priced houses and I'll become even richer than I already am!" Stone spoke as he looked at the tree's, the brother's listened quietly before Martin gave the signal and Chris snuck out and hid in some nearby bushes Stone turned to go back to the jeep. "Before I do, I need to find out where the hell Carter got too! He was supposed to meet me here the little weasel!" Stone said as he reached the jeep and Chris staying behind the bushes circled around him before he snuck out and spoke.
"Good help is so hard to find nowadays!" Chris said from behind him. "You know I saw Carter and I think he's going to be tied up for a little while!"
"If it isn't the Green Wild Ratt! How was your brother's funeral? I'm real sorry I missed it!" Stone said making Chris angry.
"Don't let him in your head Chris!" Martin warned.
"Aw…did I touch a nerve? Wait…don't tell me! You're here to get revenge for him right?"
"Wow, you do have a brain in that ugly head of your's after all!" Chris answered.
"Where's your backup?" Stone asked unshaken by him as he leaned against the jeep's door. "Surely you weren't stupid enough to come alone?"
"There is none! I know you're alone too Stone!" Chris answered smiling.
"Well, well, well! You're pretty brave aren't you? Or stupid!" Stone said smiling.
"I'm done talking Stone! You took my brother from me and I've waited too long to get my revenge!" Chris said angrily.
"Come and get it then boy!" Stone said smiling as he stepped away from the jeep, Chris ran at him and connected hard sending them backwards into the jeep door. They both fell to the ground, Stone fell onto his stomach Chris wasted no time he turned him over and began punching him. As he did, Martin watched he suddenly saw Stone reach for his knife, he quickly raced to where they were and called out to Chris to warn him.
"CHRIS!" Martin yelled causing Chris to look up distracted, Stone in that instant went to stab Chris, but Martin knocked the knife out of his hand sending it flying away from them. In the commotion, Stone punched Chris knocking him off and onto the ground, he then got up and took off running into the trees. The brother's gave chase, as they neared a clearing neither brother saw Stone hiding behind a tree until it was too late. Stone swung the large branch he held, and connected with Chris' stomach bringing him to his knees, before he swung it again hitting him in the back. Martin seeing Stone was about to hit Chris again warned him and Chris dodged it, Stone hit the ground instead causing him to lose his balance. Chris then grabbed the branch and took it from Stone and swung it like a bat and connected hard with Stone's stomach. The fight went back and forth with both men giving and receiving hits. Martin helped Chris anyway he could, and warned him about Stone's hit's, but this was Chris' battle he needed this to move on so Martin stood by helplessly watching. As the fight continued Martin realized they were on a cliff, he looked over the edge and saw only sharp rocks, and a few bushes below. He turned back to the fight and saw Chris had gotten the upper hand and now knelt by Stone who was on his back. Chris grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him towards him and began to punch Stone again and again, he was so lost in his anger and grief. Martin knowing this tried to stop him, but at first couldn't it was like Chris never heard him, he kept trying.
"Chris! Enough! Let him go! You told me it would end!" Martin begged. "You aren't like him Chris! You're not a monster!" Martin pleaded, Chris stopped his fist inches from Stone's face, he hung his head. "You're not him…you're my brother!"
"Leave!" Chris began letting Stone go. "Remember one thing Stone…I never forget! You killed my brother and I should kill you, but I can't because I'm not like you! Leave now!" Chris said getting up, he turned to leave and went to walk away, Martin saw Stone get up about to attack Chris so he quickly called out to him to warn him about it.
"Chris behind you!" Martin yelled, Chris turned just in time to see Stone go to charge, but the ground beneath Stone gave way and fell over the edge, Stone called for help. Both brother's went to the edge and looked over to see Stone holding onto a root, Stone saw Chris and begged him for help, but Chris didn't move or speak. He just stood there standing over him as the root began to break and he just smiled, Martin tried to help him, but couldn't so upset he turned to Chris and told him he needed to save Stone.
"Chris what are you doing? Help him!" Martin yelled, but Chris ignored him, his eye's never left Stone. "I can't help him, you need too! CHRIS!" Martin yelled at him upset.
Martin couldn't understand why Chris wasn't doing anything to help him, finally before Martin could say or do anything else Chris finally helped Stone up just before he fell. Martin was proud of him, and he watched as once Stone was safe, Chris stood and went to leave, but Stone reached out and tripped him, Stone stood smiling as he spoke.
"You coward! I should have killed you too! Maybe I killed the wrong brother? I'm sure your brother would have given me more of a fight! You made your last mistake letting me live boy! Say hello to your brother for me!" Stone said as he stood over Chris smiling. Chris had gotten to his knee's, and began to crawl away and finally stood turning to see Stone charging him. Chris waited and at the last minute he moved and Stone unable to stop fell off the edge to his death. Chris got up and stood with Martin as they looked down on his body, Chris didn't speak he just turned and began to walk away.
Back at the Tortuga Chris' wound's were checked and bandaged by Aviva; the team had discovered him gone 15 minute's after he had left to go after Stone. No one spoke while he was fixed, and afterwards he went to his room where he sat on his bed and sighed. He didn't know where Martin was; after Chris had gotten into the Createrra back at Stone's jet Martin had left him without saying a word, and now an hour later there was still no sign of him anywhere. Chris flopped backwards onto the bed from where he had sat, and he starred at the ceiling he felt numb, nothing had changed now that Stone was dead like he had hoped, Martin had been right the whole time and Chris felt like an ass.
"You okay?"
"Crap! You scared me Martin! You really need to warn a guy you're there!" Chris said as he sat up, Martin sat beside him and looked at Chris as he spoke again.
"Sorry! You didn't answer my question though?" Martin pushed.
"I'm fine! Great actually!" Chris lied faking his smile as he stood and turned his back to Martin, not believing him Martin stood and spoke again calling him on his lies.
"Chris you've always been a horrible liar! Why don't you try telling me the truth now huh?"
"Fine! Here's the truth! I feel…nothing okay? I thought knowing Stone was dead I'd feel…I don't know…something! I thought by him being dead I'd finally be able to feel again! Nothing's changed Martin…you're still dead!" Chris said finally breaking down after having held it in for so long, Martin said nothing knowing he needed to let it out after running from it. "How am I supposed to go on without you huh? Whose going to have my back now?" Chris sobbed, as Martin hugged him.
"Chris you're not alone! You have Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy, you all still have each other!" Martin said gently as he held him.
"Its not the same Martin and you know it! We're brother's Martin, how can you expect me to replace you?" Chris demanded upset as he pulled away, Martin spoke.
"Chris that's not what I meant! No one expects you to replace me, and no one's trying too! All I'm saying Chris is that you aren't alone, you still have people who love you and will have your back!" Martin said touching his shoulder.
"Martin I…I don't think I'm strong enough to do this!" Chris answered turning away from him, Martin grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him and spoke.
"Chris Kratt you listen to me!" Martin said. "You are one of the strongest, smartest people I know! You're hurting right now and its not letting you think clearly, you can do this without me!"
"Martin I'm…I'm scared!" Chris said as Martin hugged him again, both cried as they held onto each other. "Don't leave me Martin, I need you! You're my older brother!"
"Chris I…I can't stay, I want too, but I can't we both know it! I'll always be with you, and I'll always have your back!"
"Martin, I'm sorry for everything I've said and done since you've died! Thank you for not letting me become like Stone!" Chris said smiling sadly.
"Hey, that's what big brother's are for! You'll be okay Chris, I know you will, just do me a favour?"
"What?" Chris asked.
"Talk to them please? Don't shut them out anymore!"
"I will…I promise!"
"Good! There's the Chris Kratt I know! I love you Chris!"
"I love you too Martin! Will I ever see you again?" Chris asked sadly.
"Oh yeah! You can't get rid of me that easily!" Martin said hugging him again, just then there was a knock on his door, Chris answered it wiping away his tears as he did.
"Guy's? I…I was just about to come see you!" Chris said.
"You were?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, I think its time we talk!" Chris said as they all sat, Martin stood leaning against the wall smiling at Chris who looked at him before he began to talk again. "I owe you three a huge apology!" Chris began. "When Martin died, I lost myself in my head, I didn't know who I was anymore! Then to try and make myself feel something again I focused all my energy on finding Stone, believing his death at my hands would make thing's okay again! I was lying to myself and I pushed you three away not wanting to have anyone close to me! Then tonight when I had him right where I've wanted him for so long…it changed nothing! My brother was still dead, and I still feel numb! Even after Stone was killed I…I didn't feel this calm come over me like I believed I would! Martin taught me that family is the most important thing in life, and you three are my family!"
"Chris we know losing Martin devastated you, we lost him too and we know our pain is nothing compared to your's! When you pulled away from us and withdrew into yourself we were scared we'd lose you too!" Koki said sadly.
"Chris we knew killing Stone wouldn't change anything and we didn't want you to become a monster like him!" Jimmy added.
"We forgive you Chris because we know you were lost for a little while and like you said we're family! And family doesn't turn its back on each other!" Aviva added, as they hugged him, Chris was so glad they had forgiven him and given him another chance.
"Chris?" Jimmy said quietly.
"Yeah JZ?"
"Do…do you think Martin's I don't know…happy with us becoming a family again?" Jimmy began, at the mention of his name Martin quickly looked at Jimmy and smiled sadly. "I like to think he's always with me, you know still watching my back! I know that's crazy, but…" Chris cut him off gently.
"JZ, I know my brother and I know he's definitely proud of us! I don't think what you said is crazy JZ!" Chris said smiling his word's directed to Jimmy, but his eye's never left Martin who nodded at him smiling, Jimmy shocked by his answer spoke.
"You…you don't?"
"Nope! In fact I feel the same way!" Chris said tear's in his eyes, as with one last small wave Martin disappeared, Chris closed his eye's tight and sighed Koki spoke.
"Are you okay Chris?" Koki asked gently.
"You know Koki…I' am now, we all are!" Chris answered as he opened his eye's and looked at them smiling as he took her hand. "We're all going to be okay now!"
That Night:
Later that night after everyone was in bed Chris lay in his bed on his side starring at Martin's empty bed and sighed. He thought back to everything that happened and was grateful he had been given a second chance at life. He knew the pain of Martin being gone would never go away, but knowing he was still with him made it easier to deal with! He now could feel again, and even though his heart ached, he knew as long as Aviva, Koki, Jimmy, and himself stuck together than he could be strong! He didn't know if he'd see Martin again, but he knew Martin was always with him and that was good enough for him. One day he'd be able to remember Martin the way he deserved; with love, laughter, and smile's, instead of heartache, tears, and pain! That day was somewhere in the future, for right now though they'd take it one day at a time! He soon fell asleep with that thought in his heart, and a smile on his lip's knowing Martin was never any further from them then their hearts!
THE END!
