Chapter 4

Chazz stopped walking to catch his breath. "Where is that slacker? Where did he run off to?" Chazz sighed and leaned against a tree. He was tired and covered in dirt not to mention the twigs and leaves in his hair. He was becoming short tempered and he knew it. "Where the hell is he!"

A rustling to the right of him caused him to jump. Ever since he had been captured and forced to 'see the light', the woods made him nervous, especially the thicker areas. He found himself hesitant to look at what was making the noise, unsure if it was his own fear or something deeper causing this anxiety. Swallowing hard he took a step forward and cleared the bush away. A frayed red jacket hung off the figures shoulders.

"Hey! You shouldn't be out here!" He ran toward the figure, wanting to give them a lecture, "It's dangerous out here." He reached the mysterious person and had to bite his lip to stop the gasp wanting to escape. Jaden was standing there, eyes cast towards him. They were blank, devoid of emotion. The teen started to swagger but Chazz was quick to catch him forcing Chazz to fall to the forest floor.

Awareness came to Jaden's eyes as he watched the dark haired teen. "Are you real?" Chazz looked at him as if he'd hit his head.

"Of course I am."

"But you always disappear." Jaden whispered. Apparently he wasn't aware of things as previously thought. "You always disappear," he whispered again and raised a hand to touch Chazz's cheek. "You feel real but you'll disappear like always. Always…"

At first Chazz didn't know what to say. Jaden was holding his face in warm caring manor. "I'm real," Chazz replied and dipped his face toward Jaden's. He didn't know what possessed him but he kissed Jaden gently on the forehead. He pulled back, shocked and nervous, wondering why the hell he did that.

"That's good, promise you won't leave me." Chazz didn't know what to say and just took hold of Jaden's hand. There was warmth in that hand despite its chilly temperature.

"I…"

"Promise me!" Jaden sat up and looked at up at him. Chazz wondered where he had found the strength. "Please…just promise…promise you won't leave me alone. I don't want to be there anymore, it's dark…so dark…" Chazz started to worry. "Please. If you leave, than the others will and I'll be…"

"You'll be what?"

"I don't want to be! PLEASE! If you leave…I don't, I'll fade away."

"You wont fade away. You're too stubborn."

"No…I'll fade away into nothingness." Chazz frowned and noticed how ill Jaden looked. His skin was pale, too pale and his eyes were dull. "Please…" Jaden moved closer, their lips were so close. Chazz felt the need to move closer but pushed it away. "No…not again."

"What? Jaden!" The brunette fell limp against Chazz. "Wake up slacker!" Chazz looked up at the stars through the clearing. "What's going on?"

"Chazz!" The others had found them.

0-------------------0

"Did you find any sign of Jaden?"

"Not one sis," Atticus frowned, "They have to be around here somewhere. If they aren't then…"

"Guys! I think we found them!" Syrus and Hassleberry came running toward the group, "Bastion is with them right now." Syrus looked on the verge of tears.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Jaden…he's…"

"He's not in good condition," Hassleberry voiced and turned around. Everyone frowned when Bastion and Chazz came into view. Jaden was limp in Chazz's arms but, they did look really cute together, Alexis mused. She shook her head and sighed.

"Not a good a time to think of stuff like that. We have to get Jaden to the infirmary." They all nodded in agreement. "Why don't you take a break Chazz and let Bastion or Hassleberry carry him."

"We would have switched sooner but every time we tried to move Jaden his hold on Chazz would tighten and he wouldn't let go." Chazz growled at Bastion who just scratched the back of his head.

0---------------------------0

"Oh my! What on earth happened!" The nurse ushered Jaden over to a bed. He was set down but refused to let go of Chazz. The nurse had to remove his hand and saw a bruise forming on Chazz's hand.

"We're not sure," Syrus frowned, "Up until now he seemed normal."

"Oh dear, it looks like he hasn't slept in two weeks. He must be exhausted, poor dear."

"It was like he was afraid to go to sleep though," Chazz grimaced as ice was applied to the bruise, "He was saying things like he was going to disappear." The nurse pulled out a syringe and injected some liquid into the sleeping teens body. "What did you give him?"

"Something to knock him out completely, dreams and all." She frowned when sweat began to form on Jaden's forehead, "And he's developing a fever at that."

"What's wrong with him?"

"That, my dear, we wont know till he wakes up. That won't be happening for a while and I'm afraid his body is malnourished. Whatever is troubling him has caused this. We'll have to find out when he wakes up." The nurse worked quickly and inserted an IV into his arm. The teen didn't even cringe in his medicated sleep.

"Can we stay?"

"For three more hours but then you must leave, but if this is really important to you can arrange for shifts or for someone to stay the night with him. Is that okay?"

"Yes, thank you." Bastion smiled as the nurse walked into her office. "Well, I'll stay the first night," Syrus spoke up but Hassleberry protested. They had almost reached a full-blown argument before the most unlikely person spoke up.

"I'll stay. You morons are going to wake him up if you fight. Make a schedule at the dorm." They all left, fearing Chazz's glare. "You better get better," Chazz muttered, "I owe you a big bruise." The nurse came back out with a few bandages and had Chazz hold Jaden up as she wrapped up his torso. It had numerous deep cuts that had been bleeding red. His arms also had rather deep cuts in them as well as his legs.

"He must have been wandering about half asleep." She sighed, "How did it get to such a point?" She looked over at Chazz, "Get some sleep. There's a shower over there if you want one and some clean pajamas. Just get some rest, you won't be any good if you're tired." He took her advice and jumped into the shower.

"Get better slacker."

The nurse quickly changed Jaden into clean boxers and pajamas. The teen looked peaceful as she tucked the blanket under his chin. "Get better, if not for your friends for yourself."