I wanted to say a HUGE thank-you to the people who encouraged me. This is a very special story to me, and the first one like this I've written. Special shout outs to these special people:

WithPaperAndPen: Alert, favorite.

KrcIceGirl: Review, favorite

QuikChik: Favorite, following, review

Clara: Review

Kammy: Very nice review.

Kammy, I wanted to thank you personally for your review. I'm glad you like it. I beat up on main characters in most of my fics. I appreciate your input as to spelling/punctuation. I need all the help I can get!

Anyways, this is the next bit!

SADIE POV

I heard Walt's soft voice from across the room and I hoped he would come over. I wanted to run to him and let him hold me, but I couldn't move. I don't know what Jaz did to me or why, and I felt bad for her. I couldn't have been the best patient.

WALT

Jaz had assured Walt that Sadie would live, but somehow he had trouble believing it. She looked so lost and empty just laying there, looking at nothing.

"Is is okay for me to go over there?" Walt asked Jaz.

"Yeah. But be careful." Jaz replied. She took Carter by the arm and drug him out, despite his protests.

Walt had no idea how to handle Sadie, but he couldn't just leave. "Sadie?" He asked softly, walking slowly towards her. He gently stroked her hair and tried not to cry- she just looked so broken. He wanted to find a spell that could fix her.

Sadie's gentle laugh brought Walt out of his reverie.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Sadie giggled. She was smiling, but her voice was hollow and her blue eyes looked dead.

"I almost did." Walt replied seriously.

"You're blowing this-" Sadie paused, trying to shift so she could sit up. "completely out of proportion." She finished.

"Sadie, is this a good idea?" Walt protested. He put his arm around her bony shoulders to support her and she rested her head on his arm, exhausted.

"Maybe not." She mumbled.

"That's okay." Walt assured her, kissing her hair. He rested her head back on the pillow and she wrapped her hands around his arm.

Walt was taken aback; it was so un-Sadie-like. He had never realized how small she was until then, she always had so much power around her, he forgot he was twice her size, but now she looked like a child compared to him.

"Sadie?"

"Yeah?"

Walt wondered if it was the best time to be asking questions, but he wanted to know how to help her. "How did this happen?"

"Walt..." Sadie's soft voice cautioned.

"It's okay. Never mind." Walt said. "Just rest." He kissed her forehead.

SADIE POV

I had no idea how to pretend that everything was okay. Between Walt, who knew me really well, and my brother the lie-detector, I figured I was screwed. I didn't know how to cope any other way. All I ever did was pretend things didn't bother me. I couldn't very well tell Walt exactly what happened- the poor dear would feel terrible. I didn't want him to feel bad for something I chose. Hopefully a plan would present itself.

CARTER

Carter had no idea how to do damage control. That was always Sadie's job. He had barely managed to hold off questions while Sadie was missing, but now that she was back and Walt had disappeared into her room and made it quite plain he wasn't coming out, Carter had his hands full. Lying wasn't his strong suit, but he had to try-for Sadie.

JAZ

"You okay?" Cleo asked Jaz as as Jaz curled up on a couch in the library.

"I will never unsee that." Jaz muttered, more to herself then to Cleo.

"What?"

"Sadie's blood." Jaz shuddered.

"She's back?" Cleo's dark eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah. She got back late last night."

"Gosh. Is she okay?"

"I hope so." Jaz really didn't feel like going into detail.

"Anything I can do?" Cleo wanted to help her friend, but she was better with books than people.

"Maybe we could help Carter with damage control. The poor sucker has no idea what he's doing." Jaz had to smile- remembering Carter scrambling to do Sadie's jobs. It was funny in a sad way.

"Okay." Cleo had no idea what she was getting into.

WALT

Walt hoped it was 'crisis averted', Sadie was asleep and she seemed to be fine. He wanted her to be okay. He knew that she should see a shrink, but if this was a magic-related problem, no psychotherapist could help her. He was prepared to do whatever he could to help, but she'd have to talk first.

She stirred, a tear tracing down her pale cheek. She curled into a ball on her side, and her fingers found Walt's arm again. She whimpered, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She needed Walt's help.

SADIE POV

I couldn't go back there. I wouldn't. The things they did- I'm a lady. Please. I had no idea what I was doing, telling them I'd do anything. I just wanted Walt to be okay.

They loomed over me, whispering spells and curses that set my body on fire. I tried to scream, but I had no voice. My vision blurred as the familiar cracks resounded-the sound of my ribs being broken again. I would never escape. I had a nice dream about Walt, though. He and Anubis were separate, and I got to talk to them.

Somehow, what had happened transferred to my dream, and poor Jaz tried to help. Even on my dreams, I'm very realistic. Sadly, I'll never see them again. I hope they'll be okay...

3RD PERSON

"Sadie." Walt gently shook her shoulder. "Sadie." He tried again.

Sadie tried to sit up, her breathing fast and labored. She stopped, falling back. Walt caught her and propped her against his chest.

"Sadie? What happened?" Walt pushed some purple-streaked hair from her face.

Sadie shook her head hard, squeezing her eyes shut tight.

"Okay, okay. You don't have to say anything." Walt soothed.

"I won't go back." Sadie cried.

Walt tightened his arms around her. "You won't. You're never leaving."

She desperately hoped he was right.