A/N: before anyone reads, can i just give a big thanks to Viper5336 for your continuous support and reviewing. You're the reason I keep writing this. You're awesome. ;)

I think i should just add...

Disclaimer: Unless money starts falling from trees in £50 notes, and the BBC lose all of their money, then no, I don't own any of the characters, only the little extra's.

"Clyde!" they all shouted in unison. They didn't have time to process the shocking news they had been told though, as Clyde had just collapsed in a heap onto the floor. They ran over to him, turning him onto his back. He was pale, and had a few cuts and bruises beginning to form dotted across his body. With a struggle, they lifted him up as carefully as they could, and placed him onto the couch. They adjusted his head so it was lying comfortably on a pillow before they started to treat him. It was only then as they moved his leg that they saw blood on the couch. The three gasped, not realising how serious his injuries were. Blood was continually flowing out, refusing to stop, or even slow down, causing worry to the people trying to help.

"Luke, go to the bathroom and grab the first aid kit. Bring a towel too please." Sarah Jane asked, keeping her voice calm and level, even though she was feeling nothing like that inside. She had learnt from a very special man that there were two types of people in the world - there were those who panic, and then there them. Luke raced out of the attic, ignoring his ribs begging not to. He concentrated on Clyde, and how he hated to see him looking so vulnerable to stop him screaming out in agony. Right now though, it was Clyde that needed attention – not him. He grabbed the bag with the cross on and a box of painkillers (for himself as well as Clyde), making sure he grabbed a towel before pushing himself back to the attic. He ran straight over to Clyde, wrapping the towel around his leg, keeping constant pressure on it. Sarah Jane took out a long bandage, using almost the whole role. Sarah Jane told Luke to remove the towel when she counted to three, so she could wrap the bandage tightly around.

"I wish I had some anaesthetic for the cut on his leg. The last thing anybody wants is it getting infected." Rani and Luke nodded as Sarah Jane secured the end of the bandage.

"Should we wake him up?" Rani asked. She knew it was selfish of her, but whether Luke liked it or not, she was going to talk to Clyde about this "problem".

"No, let him rest. Besides, we need to talk about the Slitheen. What could they possibly want this time?" Luke answered wisely, as if reading Rani's thoughts, trying to keep her preoccupied. Rani sighed, annoyed, but there was sense in what Luke had said, even though at the moment he was making no sense, if that makes sense.

"They most probably want what they always want - money. To turn Earth in to some huge money making machine." Sarah Jane sighed. Soon she would be too old to do this kind of thing, and she would be left at home while her son and two friends saved the world. At least she would be leaving Earth in safe hands. She shook her head – she had plenty of years left yet.

"And revenge," Rani added "It's not like we've been welcoming to them, and we've ruined every plan they have had to destroy Earth." Sarah Jane nodded, not knowing what to expect, and when to expect it. She hated that.

Everyone was silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, until a groan disrupted the quiet. The three turned their heads so they were looking down on Clyde, who was slowly shaking his head side-to-side, mumbling something inaudible. He gently eased his eyes open. At first he saw double, everything was blurry, but after a few blinks, he started focusing on the things around him. Sarah Jane was standing over him, a frown visible on her forehead, worry written in her eyes. Clyde willed himself up, attempting to swing his legs around so he was in a sitting position, but he quickly realised that lying down was much better when his leg started throbbing, making a small whimper escape from his dried lips. Sarah Jane noticed this, and immediately her motherly instinct kicked in. She gently eased Clyde back down, so his head was positioned comfortably on the centre of a cushion.

"Just rest Clyde. Would you like me to call your Mum to see if you can stay round tonight? You can stay in the guest room." She asked soothingly, doing what any caring person would do. Besides, what would Clyde say to his mother once she saw her boy limping, his uniform shredded and dirty.

Clyde gave a half hearted nod in agreement, before drifting to a place no one could disturb him. Rani ran over to Sarah Jane, looking over Clyde as he peacefully slept. She stared unblinkingly into his face, thankful that he would be here the night with Luke, even if it was in the spare room. Her curiosity and worry was so intense (and the Slitheen weren't keeping fear at a minimal) she wondered if it was possible to explode with emotions. A feint smile appeared on her lips – her thoughts were all over the place – but she quickly wiped it off. The Slitheen were going to attack at some point, one of her best friends was breaking down from the inside from some unknown reason, and her other best friend was lying unconscious in her neighbours attic. Why is everything always complicated? She thought sadly. Because you're a teenager fighting aliens as a hobby. Some wise voice in her head answered.

Sarah Jane lifted herself off the couch, studying the two teen's faces. They were both depressed; some reasons identical, others completely different. "Can you two keep an eye on Clyde in case he wakes up? I'm going to call Clyde's mum, check to see if he can stay round" She began out the door, but turned just before she was completely out of view. "He'll be alright. He just needs some rest...and some painkillers" she said, gently pulling the wooden shut. She figured that Rani and Luke needed to talk about something, something other than Clyde, she just didn't know what. She would wait until they decided to tell her, and not force anything out of them. She had also learnt long ago that the more you try to dig into someone's head, the harder the protective layer will get.

Rani was still bent over Clyde, waiting until she heard Sarah Jane's shoes hit the stairs. Now was the time to find out what was wrong with Luke. She mentally took a deep breath – she had no idea what to expect. As if reading her thoughts though, Luke quickly – maybe a little too quickly for his ribs liking – turned to Mr Smith, asking him the first thing that popped into his head.

"Umm...Mr Smith, do you have any ideas what the Slitheen might want?" he asked, desperately hoping Mr Smith could answer with some long and pointless speech about how he didn't. Rani frowned at Luke. She knew exactly what he was doing, and was not going to allow it.

"Actually Mr Smith, I think we have enough ideas as to what they might want." Rani said quickly, interrupting Mr Smith from whatever he was about to say.

Luke sighed. He knew only too well that once Rani had something on her mind, she wouldn't let it go at any cost. "Rani..."

"No, listen Luke. I have no idea what is going on, which means I have no idea how to help. Tell me for goodness sake, so when Clyde wakes up we can sort this out!" She almost shouted desperation and annoyance mixing in her tone. Luke shook his head, making his silky brown hair fall over one of his stressed, worried eyes.

"I can't. Not yet." He whispered simply, before leaving out the door, not being able to stand the tension any more. He slowly but surely made his way downstairs and into the kitchen where Sarah Jane had just hung up the phone.

"Right, I need to quickly go to Clyde's house to pick up some stuff for him to stay the night. Keep an eye on Rani and Clyde for me please." Sarah Jane asked. It was times like this when she realised she wasn't 30 anymore, and couldn't do everything at once. This was why she was so glad to have Luke. For company, for someone to love...and for helping with tasks. She placed her hand on the back of Luke's head and kissed his forehead, pretending to ignore the clearly visible flinch that the boy made when her hand came in contact with his head. Although Luke healed faster than regular humans along with a stronger immune system, he still felt as much pain as anyone else, and this was one downside he would trade for anything right now. She pulled back and studied his face, searching his crystal blue eyes like Rani had done not long ago. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asked uncertainty creeping through her veins.

"Yeah, I'm fine" He sighed. Sarah Jane gave him a reassuring smile, a smile that said more than words like "I can help you", or "You can tell me anything", just "I'll be here when you need me". Luke returned the smile, part of it forced, part of it grateful, just happy that it was being used at all genuinely today. Sarah Jane took this as a cue to leave. She walked towards the door, willing herself not to look back at Luke. She shut the door behind her climbed into her old yet trustworthy turquoise car. She pulled away, only looking in her car mirror once.

Luke stared at the door blankly. He knew Sarah Jane would never dream of hurting him on purpose, but her touch on his head had just brought back the memories of earlier that day.

He suddenly feels a sharp pull from his hair. He is forced to look into the eyes of an angry Bradley. Bradley pushes himself right onto Luke, making it exceptionally hard to breath, and whispers directly in front of his face:

"You ever try something like that again, and you'll get a lot worse than this"

Before Luke had even begun to prepare himself for what was coming, he was being repeatedly bashed against the lockers, still in Bradley's firm grip. He was being incessantly pulled towards Bradley, and then shoved into the hard metal lockers, his spine digging in to the chunky locks. His back would smack into the metal, followed by his already wounded head whack against a lock. Each blow made it more and more difficult for him to breathe, his vision becoming darker and more blurred, his sound becoming more and more muffled, and his feeling becoming more and more number...but not numb enough. Still each collision with the lockers sent a piercing shot of pain through his body, making him let out an involuntary groan. Gratefully, his eyes began to close and darkness began to take over – but not completely.

His eyes were closing, but out of pure exhaustion. He just couldn't wait for this day to be over.

A/N: Like any other chapter, this is the part where i beg you to review with some stupid hint or something lol. Sooo, PLEASE REVIEW! Not really hidden in some long essay of writing I know, but I just wanted to get straight to the point =P

PS – MONDAY 11TH OCTOBER, ON THE CBBC CHANNEL, 5:15 PM, SARAH JANE ADVENTURES, SERIES 4, EPISODE 1, THE NIGHTMARE MAN – in case you didn't know ;)