The car ride took forever in Ivy's mind, even though in reality it was less than five minutes. She kept playing all sorts of different scenarios in her mind about what she wanted to say to Michael. She hoped and prayed that Michael wouldn't hate her for what she did. "Alright, everyone out." Yumi's voice snapped Ivy back to reality.

Ivy was the first out to leave the car and didn't bother to wait for the adults before she started running towards the factory. The girl swung down the chains at top speed, just barely keeping herself from crashing to the ground. She waited impatiently for the three adults to arrive at the elevator, tapping her foot nervously and just pacing around the elevator.

"Calm down Ivy, we'll make it," Yumi told her patiently.

One agonizingly slow elevator trip later, the doors opened to reveal Jeremie and Aelita huddled around a scanner. Jeremie still had the blanket wrapped tightly around him, and was leaning slightly on Aelita for support, but his expression was grimly pleased. Aelita turned and looked at the group, smiling. "You guys arrived just in time. He should be materializing any time now."

The scanner hummed loudly. Ivy held her breath. The noise gradually died away and stopped completely, and the doors opened. A boy with wavy dark brown hair in a navy sweatshirt was curled at the bottom in a tight little ball.

Ivy ran over and squeezed herself between Jeremie and Aelita to try and get a better view. Seeing Michael on the ground, she gasped and tried to kneel down to see if he was alright, but Aelita placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her back. "Hang on Ivy," she muttered quietly to her.

Minutes passed quietly as the group watched Michael intently waiting for any sign of movement from him. After about two tense minutes, Ulrich bent down and cupped a hand over Michael's mouth. "It's okay," he announced. "He's just sleeping." A collective sigh of relief seemed to go through the room. "I'll carry him," Ulrich added, bending down and picking up his limp body. Ivy was amazed at the ease with which Ulrich lifted Michael. 'Then again,' she reminded herself, 'he does teach martial arts for a living.'

"We should take him back to the school," Jeremie suggested, looking at the sleeping student.

"Actually, I don't think that's such a good idea," replied Yumi. "After all, it's five-thirty in the morning. I think that there would be some questions raised, especially when one of them has a roommate. No, the kids can stay with us for a few more hours. Ivy needs rest."

"I don't think we should talk about her like she's not in the room with us," Ulrich pointed out quietly, turning to Ivy. "It's up to you."

"I agree. Lucas is already prying into things. He texted me asking where we were. I think if we returned it would arouse the wrong ideas. I think the safest method is staying at Yumi's," Ivy said thinking out loud, then looked to the adults to see their reaction.

Yumi nodded. "All right. Come along, you two. By the way, Jeremie? You're not allowed to stay here working."

Jeremie opened his mouth to protest. "Absolutely not," Yumi added sternly, cutting him off. "You need rest, Jeremie. Aelita, I'm counting on you to ensure that he goes home and gets some sleep."

"Don't worry," Aelita assured her, taking Jeremie's hand. "I'll make sure of it."


Ivy was sleeping slightly uncomfortable on the couch after suggesting that Michael sleep in the bedroom instead. After tossing and turning a few times, she slowly opened her eyes and sat up slowly stretching and waking herself up more. Once she was awake enough, she got up and walked to the bedroom and slowly opened it to see if Michael was awake. Unfortunately, Michael did not show any sign of waking. His pale blue eyes were closed under lids half-hidden by his wavy hair. As if sensing that she was there, his eyes flickered and he shifted a little. Ivy perked up a bit, hopeful that this was a sign that he was waking up and waited. He did not stir again.

A few quiet minutes passed before Yumi came in to check on Michael. She stopped short, apparently surprised to find Ivy there, then smiled gently at her. "Ivy. You're up. Do you want some breakfast?"

"No, I'm fine," she lied, wanting to wait for Michael to wake up before getting something to eat.

"Jeremie called a little bit ago," Yumi told her. "He said that he's explained both of your absences, and that they're expecting you back at the school some time later today."

"Okay, thanks," Ivy responded distractedly, not really looking at Yumi.

"We'll drive you back in a little while," Yumi added, a touch of concern in her tone. "Are you sure that you don't want anything to eat?"

"I'm fine, Yumi. I just want to make sure Michael is as well."

"I'm sure that he's fine," assured Yumi. "He's just exhausted, and with good reason, too."

"I know, but I feel responsible for this all and I just want to make sure he's alright." Ivy sighed sadly, staring at Michael.

"He'll be fine," repeated Yumi patiently.

"I wish you luck waking him up, though," came a voice from the doorway. "I tried a while ago. No go." Ulrich slouched in, looking only half-awake, and busied himself making another packet of Yumi's terrible instant coffee. He gave a hiss of pain as he burned his thumb on the hot water from Yumi's electric kettle.

Yumi marched over, taking Ulrich's arm and gently but firmly dragged him over to one of the chairs, forcing him to sit down. Ulrich offered no resistance. "No heavy machinery for you," Yumi chided as she finished the coffee. "Or hot water, apparently."

"Thanks," Ulrich mumbled just staring at the cup of 'coffee' in front of him waiting for it to cool down a bit before taking a drink of it.

"We were just talking about how we're going to get back to the school," Yumi informed. "Which might be a bad idea, with Michael still asleep."

"Probably... right," Ulrich agreed with another yawn. "But Jeremie said that they're expecting them back soon."

"If we can get him to the infirmary without anyone seeing him then it should be fine," Ivy suggested turning to look at Ulrich.

"Why the infirmary?" Yumi asked her. "There's nothing wrong with him, right? He's just asleep."

"If we take him to his room Lucas will try to wake him up or question me about why he's sleeping," Ivy explained to Yumi.

"But wouldn't the school nurse do the same thing?" Ulrich asked.

"True…" Ivy conceded with a sigh. "Can't you guys come up with a story?"

"Like what?" Ulrich rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm. "All I'm saying is, if the school nurse kicks up a fuss, we will have ambulances and police and all sorts of messes that I don't even want to think about. I don't know this Lucas kid, but it seems to me that a teenager would be easier to convince not to tell anyone then an adult."

"You're right... But maybe he'll ask more questions and we might have to tell him everything," Ivy said thinking as she looked at Michael. After a few minutes she sighed. "But I guess I'll need to come up with a good story then,"

"I'm sure you'll be able to think of something. Besides, it's the middle of the morning. He'll probably be in class.." Ulrich stood, ready to pick Michael up like he had the night before, but stumbled.

"I already called Odd," Yumi said quickly, guiding him back to the chair. As if arriving on cue, the doorbell rang. "We can handle it, Ulrich. You're still not really awake."

Ulrich looked dissatisfied, but saw the logic in her words. He sat back down and took a long drink of his coffee and made a face. "Alright, next time I go shopping, I'm getting you better coffee. I don't know how you can drink this…" he promised her, setting the cup down again.

"I don't," Yumi pointed out lightly while she walked to the door and opened it. "Good morning Odd," she greeted stepping aside to let him in.

"Morning Yumi!" Odd greeted stepping in. He managed to be remarkably cheerful for someone who was running on a maximum of three hours' sleep, Ivy noted. "So, everyone ready to go back to school?"

"Yup, just help me carry Michael," Yumi explained, leading him to the bedroom and grabbing his legs.

"What, he's still out?" Odd shook his head, but followed her, and picked up Michael's torso. "Sure you get the lighter end," he grumbled to himself as they headed for the door. Ivy stepped back to give them room. Ulrich stood off to one side, leaning against the wall and rubbing his temples. Ivy cast him a glance.

"What?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at her. "Everything okay?"

"Just wondering if you were okay, that's all," replied Ivy honestly.

"I'm fine," Ulrich said with a reassuring smile. "Just tired. And this coffee is no help at all." He nodded at the pair lugging Michael's body into the car. "You should go out and join them."

The car ride lasted a little longer than the trip to the factory. When the car slowed to a stop outside of Kadic Academy, Yumi stepped out of the vehicle. "Principal Delmas knows that we're coming, but she said that it's okay if you guys don't check in with her until later," she told Ivy as she opened up the car door to pull Michael out. "Which is good, because it will give Michael some more time to wake up."

Ivy nodded her understanding getting out of the car and leading the way guiding Yumi and Odd who were carrying the still sleeping Michael. She walked ahead of them to make sure that no one was around and waved them forward whenever the coast was clear. Slowly, awkwardly, the two of them managed the two flights of stairs up to the boy's dorm. They had to stop a few times because Yumi was having a hard time holding on to Michael, and everyone was relieved when they reached the third floor. "So... which one is his room?" Yumi asked Ivy, sounding a little winded.

"This one," Ivy said, pushing the door open to reveal Michael and Lucas' room.

To her surprise and frustration, the room was not empty. Lucas was laying on his bed, tossing a ball from hand to hand. He sat up as the door opened. "Ivy!" he exclaimed. His dark brown eyes shifted to the people behind her, and to Michael's limp form. Ivy expected him to ask questions, but all he said was "Get inside."

Perplexed, the group did as he asked, shuffling their way awkwardly inside. "Put him down over there," Lucas instructed, pointing at the bed on the left side of the room. "That one's his." Yumi and Odd set Michael down on the rumpled, unmade sheets.

A brief, tense silence stretched. Lucas broke it at last. "This is the part where we introduce ourselves," he prompted. "I'm Lucas, the roommate. You two who just carried my friend's unconscious body in are...?"

Ivy expected them not to answer. However, when Odd opened his big mouth she realized that she probably should have seen that coming. "Odd Della Robbia," he responded. "And this," Odd indicated Yumi, "is Yumi Ishiyama." Yumi crossed her arms.

"Great.." His smile seemed genuine, but his tone told a different story. "Now that we're all introduced, do you mind telling my why Michael is in his current state?"

"Uuuhmmmm… Yumi, why don't you explain?" Odd flashed a smile he obviously felt was charming.

Yumi shot Odd a murderous glance, then looked back at Lucas. For a moment, Ivy really believed she was about to weave some fantastic story. Then Yumi put a hand to her head and closed her eyes for a moment. "He's... not unconscious. He's just sleeping," was all the woman managed.

"Oh? Really?" It was the other way around this time. Lucas' voice seemed light, but his face was stony. "Well, I guess that's okay then. I'll just accept the fact that my roommate disappeared for more than a day and came back unc - oh, sorry. Asleep." Lucas shrugged. "Thanks for filling me in, Odd and Yumi. Goodbye now." He looked meaningfully at each of them, then at the door.

'Oh, god," Ivy thought. 'That's it. We're done. He's going to tell the principal for sure.' She looked around, waiting for Yumi or Odd to come to her rescue. They did not. What excuse could they really make, anyway? Ivy just followed them as they filed out of the door.

"Hang on a moment." A long-fingered hand snaked out and grabbed Ivy's wrist with gentle pressure. "I didn't mention you, did I?"

Ivy groaned out loud. If anything, this was worse. ""What, Lucas?" she asked.

Lucas' pale eyebrows rose. "I did promise you that I would demand more of an explanation, did I not?" he asked, closing the door behind the other two. "There's no way you're getting off with just that."

Internally, Ivy cursed, her mind racing but finding no good solutions. Lucas waited a few moments for a reply. When none was forthcoming, he sighed. "C'mere." He pulled up a chair for her, then sat down on his bed, crossing his legs and looking at her intently. "Let's start with a simple question, shall we? How long has he been like that?" He gestured to Michael, who had begun to snore softly.

Ivy looked at Lucas as she sat down "About three hours. Perhaps a little longer."

"Three hours," Lucas repeated thoughtfully. "Well, that's not as worrying as it might be. I know that Michael can be a heavy sleeper, too. However, I would assume that you guys did all you could to try to wake him, because bringing him back like this inevitably causes questions. Am I correct?"

"Yes, we did try to wake him up," Ivy said, her annoyance growing.

"And there's only so much that even you could sleep through," Lucas said, addressing his roommate this time. "Anyway, that means that there's an underlying problem, and judging by how nervous you are, you know it." Lucas ran both hands through his hair and took a deep breath. "Okay, look. I'm just going to ask. Is he on drugs?" He pointed to Michael's unconscious form. "Are you on drugs?"

"What?! No, of course not!" Ivy exclaimed. "You honestly think I would do something that stupid?"

"I wouldn't have thought so, no. But honestly, I don't know you that well, and you and Michael have been disappearing together a lot and now… this. I just want to know if I should be getting him to the hospital. What happened to him, Ivy?" Lucas' tone was almost pleading.

Again, Ivy struggled for something to say, and for a brief moment she entertained the notion of just telling him the truth. Sensing that she was close to breaking, Lucas leaned forward. "Ivy, I'm just worried about my friend," he told her in a low voice. "If you don't want me to tell anyone else, that's fine. I just need to know what is going on."

In her mind's eye, Ivy flashed back to the moment that Michael had fallen over the edge. She closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands.

"Ivy? Are you alright?" Lucas sounded concerned now. Ivy did not emerge from her hands.

The moment in which she might have told him had passed. Lucas sighed again and stood up. "Fine. But if you're lying about him being on drugs and I find out..."

"We're not on drugs," Ivy snapped, dropping her hands to glare at him, only to find that he was no longer paying attention. The blonde boy was kneeling next to the drawer attached to his bed, rummaging around in it.

At last, Lucas emerged holding what appeared to be a very old campaign button "Found it," he muttered aloud. "My dad loves to collect these,"he added in explanation to Ivy. "I found this about a month ago in an antique store and I keep forgetting to mail it to him." He unhooked the pin in the back so that the sharp end was out and stood up, moving toward Michael.

Ivy made the connection of what Lucas was intending to do and automatically took a step toward Lucas to stop him. "Lucas! You're not going-!?"

"Oh, relax." Lucas waved a hand dismissively. "I just need to see if he's responsive to pain. I won't break his skin. And even if I do by accident, what's going to happen? It's not like he'll die of a Staph infection." He waited a moment to see if she would attempt to stop him. When she did not, he moved forward. "Hey. Michael. Buddy. You gotta wake up now, see?" Lucas prodded Michael's hand with the pin. Nothing happened. He tried again, harder this time. This time, when he drew away, a tiny pinprick of blood was left behind. Still nothing. Lucas looked back at Ivy. His face, which was so often lit with amusement, was pale and serious. "We've got a problem."

"Um, how so?" she asked worried as she looked at Michael then at Lucas.

"Well, the fact that he's unresponsive to pain does not bode well," Lucas commented. "I can't be sure yet..." He grabbed one of Michael's long-sleeved arms. "Help me pick him up, will you?"

"Why? Where are we taking him?" she asked walking over to Michael's side to wrap her arms around Michael's jeans.

"To splash him with some cold water," was all that Lucas said, hoisting Michael's arm over his shoulder and struggling under his weight. Michael's head lolled like a ragdoll, and he mumbled something in his sleep, in which the only distinguishable word was "don't". Lucas, with the assistance of Ivy, half-carried, half-dragged him down the hall. He did a quick scan of the surroundings. "There's usually no one in there at this time," he told Ivy. "Come on." He stopped in front of the bathroom on this floor and pushed the door open.

Ivy stopped moving seeing that Lucas intended to fully go into the bathroom. "Oh no, I'm not going in there Lucas," she protested, looking at Lucas and then into the boy's bathroom.

"Ivy." He gave her an exasperated look. "It's either that or I drag him all over the floor of a boys bathroom. And then he really will catch something and die."

Ivy sighed reluctantly and continued to carry Michael inside the bathroom, keeping her eyes completely focused on him the whole time and trying not to see what was inside.

Lucas guided them toward one of the showers. He sat Michael up against the wall, having the good sense after a moment of thought to pull the navy blue sweatshirt off, as it would likely become a giant sponge. This left Michael in his grey undershirt, slumped against the wall and showing no more signs of waking than he had the moment he came out of the scanner. By now, Ivy was starting to worry, and as Lucas turned on the water she prayed that this would rouse the boy.

Lucas jumped back a second later to avoid the torrent of freezing-cold water. They only kept it on for a few minutes, and while Michael did turn his head in protest, he did not wake. Lucas turned off the water, looking grave. "This is bad, Ivy," he said. "I'd think that he was in a coma or something if he didn't keep moving." As if to prove Lucas' point, Michael shifted and slowly began to slide down the wall.

Ivy looked at Lucas and then at Michael worriedly. She chewed on her lip for a few moments, debating internally. At last, she sighed heavily and dug out her phone in her pocket and started dialing Jeremie's number.

Lucas looked at her strangely. "Who are you calling? The police?"

"No. A friend," Ivy said as she waited for Jeremie to pick up.

"Oh, that's helpful," Lucas commented dryly. Ivy just gave Lucas a look before focusing on the phone as the call went through.

Before Ivy could say anything, Jeremie immediately started the conversation. "Ivy! Thank goodness. Are you still with Yumi and Odd?"

All at once, Ivy thought better of talking where Lucas could here. She stepped out of the bathroom, leaving Lucas and the still-dripping Michael inside so that she could talk to Jeremie in relative privacy. "No, I'm at Kadic," she answered, careful not to speak too loudly just in case. "Michael's not waking up. I think something is wrong."

Either Jeremie did not hear this new fact or he ignored it. "Ivy, I need you to find out if they're still on-campus," he told her. "If they are, don't let them leave. Something weird is going on. Ulrich called me awhile back to say that he wasn't feeling well, and now he won't pick up."

Ivy raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Jeremie?" she asked, starting off at a half-jog down the hallway.

"I mean, I've called him a dozen times. No response, nothing. And he wasn't making a whole lot of sense before then, either." Ivy was halfway down the stairs, trying both to focus on Jeremie's words and take the stairs quickly at the same time. "If Michael's not waking up, I don't think that could possibly be a coincidence."

Ivy was on the school grounds now, running all out though she had little hope that Odd and Yumi would still be there. As it turned out, they were, but not in the way that she had hoped. Whatever Ivy had been meaning to say to Jeremie died in her throat as she took in the road beyond the gate and stopped short. Her green eyes took in the crowd that had begun to accumulate that had run into the lamp post at full speed. Yumi's car. "Oh my god," Ivy breathed.

"Ivy? Ivy, tell me what's happening," Jeremie said.

"An accident. They're been in an accident," Ivy answered numbly. She noticed the group was split into two, the second milling around something that she could not see on the ground. A flash of purple and red was all she needed to put together pieces. "He wasn't buckled in yet… Oh my god…" All at once, Ivy found herself running, sprinting toward the accident at full speed. She was not sure what she was going to do, all she knew was that she had to help somehow, these were her friends, she needed to get to them…

"Ivy, stop." Jeremie's voice, commanding and cold in her ear, brought Ivy to a halt. "Do not go to them."

"Jeremie, they're hurt -" Ivy began, tears choking her voice.

"I know," Jeremie said. There was a hint of honest pain in his voice, but it was mostly determination. The same determination that Ivy had seen from him so far when it came to Lyoko, and it was only now that she began to understand it. "But you can't get involved in that. This is XANA, this is real. We're going to need your help."

"But…" Ivy began again. Again, Jeremie cut her off.

"They're going to be fine. They alive, or else…" Jeremie hesitated, then just repeated, "They're alive."

Ivy was an A-student, and it did not take a genius to connect the dots. She knew exactly what he had meant to say. 'They're alive, or else we can't help them anyway,' she thought almost dreamily. She seemed to have entered a world in which things did not seem quite real.

"You need to get to the factory," continued Jeremie. "Aelita and I are on our way. I need you and Michael here as soon as possible."

This brought Ivy back to reality slightly. "Michael?" she echoed, confused. "He's unconscious. Why would you need him?"

Again, Jeremie hesitated, and then he confessed. "I can put something into his programming to help track him a little more easily, give us a better chance of finding him. I'm sorry, Ivy, but when I do a return to the past, everything is going to go back to how it was before. I have to send Michael back to the digital sea."