You should all thank Sandaa, who suggested the scenario of fishing to me and made this chapter possible. Remember, you can check out my profile under the 'my fanfiction' section for news on updates, or lack thereof. Also, there's a kind-of important notice: I went back and changed the shadow-creature's eyes from red to blue. Just thought it had a bit more significance.

Warnings: There's fluff...more fluff...heck, this whole chapter is just made of fluff. You could also call it filler, but it's kinda necessary to build the friendship (and maybe more...) between Chazz and Jaden. Hallucinations and some sexual thoughts, but that's about it. Also, remember this is told through Chazz's POV, it's up to you to make sense of what he's thinking.

Coco Gash Jirachi: (also waits eagerly for the walls to tell her what the name will be)

Yami's Chan: Rest assured, Jaden will help him, one way or another...

Garnet-Crystals: Thank you, I did work especially hard to keep Jaden in-character to make up for Chazz's relative OOC-ness.

Sandaa: Yeah, I figured after all that adventure, both Chazz and the readers probably needed a break.

Kat (and Random voice in head): Wrong, yet oddly appealing...but it's so very, very difficult to write broken!Jaden without making him OOC. He's just so damned happy all the time.

Foxxy1st: Short but sweet, thanks!

Littlest-Angel: Ah, my own words of wisdom - 'no rapey the Jaden!' Of course, you'll have to wait and see if Chazz attacks him...I've caught up with my own rough version of the story now, so anything goes until the ending.

FlameFoXX: Thank you! I always try my hardest to entertain - that's a writer's job, after all.

T: True, it's all very well trying to keep Chazz in-character - but it only really comes through when he interacting with others characters, and even more so with characters that are actually from the show. Although, don't count on me to email you when I've updated...I have a hopeless memory, chances are I'll forget.

eiensora: Well, it's my theory that when you do your research, it shows in your writing, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

JamieStabine0011: You're confusing me...do you like the story or don't you? Since you say you don't like Chazz, it does beg the question: why are you reading this story? It being centred around him and all...if you think it's nastycreepy I'm sorry, but that was done deliberately - there's little point in sugar-coating mental illness after all. It's not him being a little bit crazy - he genuinely has problems, and that needs to reflect in the tone and writing of the story, perhaps making it a little too dark for some peoples tastes.

ReaperRain does not own yugioh GX. But she simply adores referring to herself in the third person.

Delirium, part ten (Piscary)

"Fishing?" I say incredulously.

"Well yeah," Jaden scratches his nose, then holds out an old fishing rod for me, "C'mon Chazz, it'll be fun."

"What," I growl. Fun. Fun? Fun? Only Jaden Yuki could find sitting around waiting to catch a fish fun, "No. I'm not going."

"Why not?"

"Because unlike you, I actually have better things to do with my time than catching fish."

"Such as...?"

"Well, I-" I pause. Things to do, things to do...well, I've already eaten, and I don't really want to attempt sleeping in that room again, so that leaves...um...ah...

"Can't think of anything, huh?" Jaden says, not smirking because he can't really accomplish that, but there's that vaguely amused twinkle to his eye. Dammit, there must be something I can do. No? Fine, time for plan B:

"It's too cold outside - in fact, it's..." Fuck, what month is it again? November? December? "It's the middle of winter," I decide upon, "Why would you want to fish now of all seasons?"

"Why not?" Jaden shrugs, "It's not that bad outside anyway, and I've got a spare coat you can lend. Come on Chazz, I really really really really want to go fishing and I want you to come too; please, pretty please, pretty pretty please, pretty pretty pretty pl-"

"Alright, I'll go!" I snap, if only to shut him up. Jaden cheers and thrusts the fishing rod into my hands before charging off in search of a spare coat. He returns a minute later with some thick navy blue thing, which he happily throws at me before putting on his own grey overcoat.

"Okay, let's go!" He beams when we're done, and saunters cheerfully towards the door, equipped with his own fishing rod and shoulder-bag of equipment, "Let's go fishing fishing fishing fishing-"

"Shut up already," I say, and thwack him over the head with my own fishing rod for good measure.

"S-slacker," I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth, "I th-thought you said the weather w-wasn't that bad!"

"It isn't," Jaden replies nonchalantly, or at least I think so - I can't really hear him over the howling winds. I can't really see him past all the snow either.

"It's f-freezi- aah!" I lose my footing on one of the rocks, slippery with ice and moss, and crash down painfully. Jaden - who got worried the first few times it happened but stopped dashing to my aid at around the seventeenth - patiently helps me back up and keeps going, secure and steady over the rocky surface. I pause to look back over the stony beach we've crossed, and thre lone house sat atop the small cliff, wondering how warm it is in there and what I wouldn't give for a hot chocolate right about now.

"Come on, Chazz!" Jaden's voice calls, and I turn around to see him considerably further away than I'd thought. With a swell of nervous panic, I scrabble over the rest of the rocks - falling twice in the process - to catch up to him, heaving for breath.

"Wow Chazz, are you okay?" He asks when I double over, as if the answer wasn't already obvious, "You're pretty out of it today. Didn't you get any sleep last night?"

"Not really," I think I might have drifted off once or twice - but every time I did, I saw the shadow-monster towering over me and whispering slimy words into my ear, startling myself awake again. I'm tired as hell, but there's no way I'll get any sleep in that room, I know it. Of course, I don't tell Jaden any of this - it's none of his business anyway.

"Ah," Is all he replies with, but I can see the thoughts going like clockwork behidn those eyes of his. He doesn't say anything, though, instead leading me further over the rocks and to some little cove where the wind is a little less harsh, kept out by natural barriers of rock.

"Here should do," Jaden declares, finding himself a moderately comfortable spot to patting for me to sit next to him. I place myself on the cold, uncomfortable ground, wincing as ice seeps straight through my trousers, and proceed to set up my fishing rod.

...Of course, since I don't actually know how to set up a rod, it doesn't go so well. Five minutes later and Jaden finishes untangling the last of the string from my hair and coat. His eyes are still a bit wide from hearing all the cussing in several languages - no surpise, since I don't normally swear...out loud, anyway.

"Now we just add the bait," Jaden explains, since despite my best bluffing efforts he's figured out I don't know anything about fishing. He hands me an open can, "You can go first if you want."

"Whatev-" I begin, then yelp and pull my hand back from the can as if I've touched fire, "What the hell was that?"

"What?" Jaden frowns, putting his hand inside the can. It re-emerges holding a wriggling pink thing, "It's just a worm, Chazz."

"Just a worm?" I glace at my hand, unable to shake the feeling of moving moistness - and germs!­ - against my fingertips. Like touching intestine or somethi- ohh, I shouldn't have thought that. Bad mental image. Feeling quite nausesous now.

"Yup, I dug 'em up earlier to use as bait. See, you just put them on the hook like this-" He threads the worm onto the- ugh, I'm gonna be sick... "-And cast your line out like this. Okay, now you try."

"I'll pass," I shove the can of worms he's holding out back at him. He looks nonplussed.

"Well you're not gonna catch anything if you don't use bait. C'mon Chazz, it's not that hard."

"I refuse to touch those...things," I sniff, glaring at the offending can, "Isn't there anything else we can use?"

"Well there's always maggots, but they're kind of unpleasant - all squishy and stuff," Jaden suggests, not noticing my slightly green complexion at the words, "Or bluebottles, but they're difficult to catch..."

"Can't we just put a biscuit on the hook or something?" I mutter, fighting the urge to throw up.

"Fish don't eat biscuits, silly," Jaden laughs, "Alright, I'll put your worm on if you don't want to. But I can't see what all the fuss is about, really..." He fiddles with another worm and cats my line out for me. Then we wait.

And wait.

And wait.

"This is boring," I announce loudly, standing up, "Let's go back inside."

"Wait, Chazz!" He grabs the hem of my coat and pulls me back down, "You can't expect them to start biting right away. It takes time."

"What sort of fish would be swimming about in this temperature?" I shoot back, "A moron fish, that's what - like the moron who dragged me out here to freeze my backside off. No, the fish probably all migrated to the Pacific ocean or somewhere warm. Warm. Like we would be. Indoors."

"Aw come on, Chazz, it's not that cold."

"Yes it is," I insist, and exhale a mouthful of cold mist for emphasis, "Do you see? Do you see how cold it is? An can you imagine how not-cold it would be back inside?"

"But this is fun," Jaden points out.

I scowl; "To you, maybe. To me it's just freezing."

"If you're cold, just move closer to me."

"What?"

"We can share body heat; we'll be warmer that way," Jaden says, and pulls me closer before I can say anything. I growl loudly and prepare to shuffle away again when I realise it actually is warmer near Jaden. With a resigned sigh, I crowd closer to him, claiming as much heat as I can.

"See? This isn't so bad," He smiles.

"Still cold," I remind him, feeling a winter gale whip at my cheeks. I yelp when he leans in closer, hooking one arm around me, "Slacker, what do you think you're doing?"

"Keeping you warm," Jaden replies with a puzzled look. That's right, it's just Jaden. He wasn't trying anything. A completely innocent gesture. Calm down, Chazz, calm down...

"I don't like being touched," I snap, shrugging his arm off - then immediately miss the warmth, but I choose not to say anything.

"You need all the warmth you can get," His fingers ghost over my own pale hand, "You really are cold, aren't you? Your hands are like ice."

"Not all of us have the properties of a human radiator," I answer, smacking his hand away and bringing my arms around myself as a shield against the cold. Jaden looks at me oddly.

"We'll go inside soon," He promises, and puts his arms around me again; this time, I don't protest.

'Soon' turns out to be several hours later. And we caught one fish. One fish. Looks like there really was a moron fish swimming out there after all. The other moron - one named Jaden Yuki - seems happy enough though, saying something about 'good catch', 'big fish' and 'supper'. I ignore him as we cross the stony beach - and I slipped again dammit - and find our way back to the welcoming warmth of the house.

Of course, winter still manages to find its way in.

"Nasty cough you got there," Jaden comments as I hack violently into my fist, chest burning. I reach for a tissue when he isn't looking and cough up viscous phlegm, disposing of it before he can see.

"Mm-hm, I can't wait to start dinner tonight," Jaden speaks, more to himself than me. He lands the fish on the counter with a wet smack before going to tidy up all the fishing stuff and release the worms back into their natural habitat. I hang my coat up and make my way into the living room, rubbing at my sore throat in the hopes to soothe it. My head feels oddly light, legs unsteady.

"Slacker," I call hoarsely, room spinning slightly as I turn my head, "Jaden, I don't feel so good."

"What was that, Chazz?" His voice comes out muffled from the storage cupboard beneath the stairs, accompanied by the rattling of things being put away, "Hold on, I'll be out in a minute."

"Maybe I should lie down for a bit," I mumble, bringing a hand to my forehead. I glance over at the wall-mirror, vision blurring then re-focusing. My face is ashen-grey, lips taking on a slightly bluish tint.

"All done. Now, did you want somethi-" Jaden arrives at the doorway, eyes widening when he sees me, "Chazz...?"

"Ah...dammit," Sharp pain shoots through my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Vision blurring, blackening. I hear my name called out once more in a panicked voice before my limbs buckle under my limp weight, sending me to the floor.

There she is, lying on the bed in that white kimono gown of hers, only...no, it's not her usual one. This has some sort of red speckled pattern down the front. Is it a pattern? It doesn't seem to have any sequence, just random spatterings of scarlet.

"Chazz...Chazz?" She calls out, body writhing feverishly on silken sheets, "Where's Chazz? Where's my baby?"

I say something in reply. It's...Mama? Yes, I think that's what comes out. Mama. I shuffle over to her on nervous legs. Everything looks bigger from down here.

"Chazz. My Chazz," She says breathlessly, hand reaching out to me; it looks clean but there's dried crimson staining the edges of her nails, "Come over here, let Mama see you properly."

I'm right here, Mama...spoken uncertainly, climbing onto the bed so she has a better view. I can't see her eyes though, oddly blurred and erased from sight. Parts of her are fuzzy, unclear - other parts are in perfect detail, like the sheen of her long black hair, pooling around her head like a halo. Hm. The pillow is stained red as well. Are you alright, Mama?

"I'm fine," She answers, then laughs humorlessly, "No...there's no use lying now. I'm not fine, Chazz. Or rather, I won't be."

Why not?

"The doctors don't think I'll last much longer...although they also think I belong in an asylum," She laughs again, a little more on edge this time, "An asylum, I tell you! They think I'm mad!"

Her lips are red, I notice. The most beautiful, brilliant red I've ever seen, not like the dark, dried stain on the pillow or the front of her robes; like twin rubies, dazzling.

"So doing what's right makes me mad..." She murmurs, running one hand fondly through my hair, "I only wanted to protect my baby, to make sure he didn't turn out like the last two. Like their father..." She shudders; her hands fall back down on the bed, "Does that make me mad, Chazz?"

I don't know what to say, so I shake my head as a no.

"No, no it doesn't. You agree with me, that's what matters," She stops suddenly to cough, the sound coming out in desperate, painful hacks. Unable to find anything else,. she wipes her mouth on the corner of one of the sheets, and when she takes it away there's a fresh red mark there.

"No-one else would agree though, not even your brothers. So much like him..." And now she's crying as well, "Where did I go wrong? I tried to raise them well, I really did, but...didn't work...so similar to him...can't stand it..." Her voice keeps fading in and out, parts of the conversation missed or forgotten, "Managed to raise one right at least...not like the other two...and yet they call me mad...necessary..."

I don't say anything, just stroke her forehead through her nonsense ramblings. Her skin is blisteringly hot to the touch, slick with sweat.

"But Mama can't protect you anymore," Her voice is clear again, tinged with sadness; she takes my hand and kisses it lightly, leaving crimson residue on my knuckles, "Mama has to leave soon, so you'll have to protect yourself from now on."

Will I see you again? I ask.

"Maybe," But her smile falters; she seems to forget I'm here, "But I don't think they'd let me past the pearly gates...I married a man for all the wrong reasons, gave birth to two children that'll grow up as merciless as him, then left my youngest child to his own defenses...God, I'm going straight to hell."

I'll go there then too, I tell her. She laughs sadly.

"Oh Chazz...my darling boy," Her hands caress my cheeks, voice becoming tight and raw, "I don't want to leave you, not yet."

Then why are you going?

"It's my time, baby - I just wish it wasn't so soon. And when it happens...oh lord, those two will be on you like vultures. But you mustn't let them change you; you have to be strong, no matter what," I see her eyes now, gazing up at me pleadingly, bloodshot and weeping with disease, "Just promise me one thing, Chazz."

Anything, Mama.

"Promise me...you'll never become like them."

"Dammit Chazz, breathe!"

My eyes flutter open weakly to see a mop on unruly brunet hair inches away. Hands clutch desperately at my jumper, and warm lips on mine force breath don my throat.

Lips.

On mine.

OhmyfuckinggodJadenYukiiskissingme.

He doesn't seem to have noticed I'm awake. I try to push him off, find I can't, so settle for slapping him across the cheek instead. He lifts his head, dazed, then sees me glaring at him angrily.

"Chazz, you're awake!" He exclaims and tries to hug me, but I keep him at arms length:

"What the hell were you doing?"

He blinks; "Huh?"

"Your lips. On mine. Kissing. Explanation," I demand, still scowling. He frowns momentarily, them his mouth breaks into a cheerful grin.

"I wasn't kissing you, I was performing CPR," And now he looks concerned; It's amazing just how quickly this guy switches emotion, "You passed out on the floor, Chazz! Your lips were blue, and you weren't breathing, so I got really worried, and then I-"

"I get the picture," I cut him off and sit up, causing the room to sway from side to side; oh-kay, maybe that wasn't such a good idea...ooh, dizzydizzydizzy...

"So what happened anyway?" He asks, "Why did you faint all of a sudden?"

"Because you kept me sitting out in the freezing cold for hours, dumbass," I snap, smacking his head lightly and causing him to wince, "It's your fault I caught a cold!"

"But Chazz..." He frowns, rubbing his head tenderly, "Having a cold doesn't make you fall unconscious like that...it must be pretty serious."

"I'm fine," I wave a hand carelessly, even though it takes a massive effort to do so, "I just blacked out for a minute or two, that's all-"

"-And stopped breathing," Jaden interrupts.

"And stopped breathing," I add grudgingly, "But it's not that big a deal."

"I think not breathing is a pretty big deal," He says quietly.

"Yeah, well you're an idiot," I fold my arms crossly, "I'm fine now, so get over it."

"I don't think you fainted from sitting in the cold for a few hours. And I was keeping you warm to whole time."

"Yes..." My hands subconsciously brush my lap, where a lingering warmth still remains.

"So did you have a cold before you came here?"

"Slacker, just shut up about it already-"

"Was it something you got at Pandora?"

"No," I say forcefully. Dangerous territory, bad memories...I went into shock whilst I was there and I'm not about to tell him why; blue-eyes reasons shall remain unknown. But now large brown eyes are staring at me with obvious 'I-don't-believe-you' written across the umber depths. Hm...they're quite a nice shade actually, never really noticed that before...kind of light brown with dark flecks, and that hint of gold that catches just so...

"You did have something before you came here, didn't you?" He asks, voice distracting me from other features. I blink a few times - what was he talking about again? Oh yes, a cold. And fainting. Telling lies about Pandora.

"I'm perfectly healthy, slacker, there's nothing wrong with me," My eye twitches slightly at his disagreeing stare, "I'm fine! I just chose a somewhat inopportune time to make my escape, that's all."

"Hm..." He doesn't look entirely convinced by my half-truth, but decides to let it go, "Well I don't want you to get sick. I'm gonna go get you some cough medicine, okay?"

"I don't need-" But he's already gone. I give a resigned sigh and pick myself up from the floor - wait, I was on the floor? Why didn't I notice that earlier? - and slump on the couch, somehow drained. I can hear Jaden's footsteps upstairs, probably searching around the bathroom cabinets for medicine.

Such a nice boy...don't you just want to hurt him?

A chill runs straight up my spine and raises the tiny hairs on the back of my neck. I don't need to turn around; I can already hear the sickeningly heavy breaths, feel the electric blue eyes burning into the back of my skull. A thick droplet of saliva-like substance falls onto my hand and trickles between my fingers, slimy and grey.

"Go away," I whisper, for fear of Jaden hearing me, "I don't want you here."

You don't have a say in the matter, It purrs right next to my ear, breathing cold against my skin. I hear a triumphant exclamation of 'aha!' from upstairs, Looks like he found your medicine. So kind and caring...doesn't it make you want to throw up?

"Shut-" I hear footsteps heading towards the stairs, "-Up," I finish, lowering my voice. The shadow doesn't comply.

Sweet as sugar. Probably tastes like it too, It continues, Don't you want to taste him? To sink your teeth into his flesh and rip it away? The colour red suits him well - can you imagine how beautiful he'd look covered from head to toe?

"You're not even real. I refuse to listen to a hallucination," Feet coming down the stairs.

And he feels so warm, The voice seems no longer next to my ear but in my head, buzzing with each word and summoning an inevitable migraine, So soft and warm in your arms...why not steal that warmth for yourself? Then he'd be cold and limp and white and-

"Stop," I insist desperately. Shuffling through the halls.

-Beautiful. Don't fight it, Chazz, you know you want it. To take him, break him, make him bleed. Hear him screaming underneath you and begging you to stop. Then who'd be the victor? It'd be so easy...

"Be-" The door opens, "-Quiet!"

"Hm?" Jaden says, "What was that, Chazz?"

"Nothing," I say quickly, and upon seeing the bottle in his hand, change the subject, "So you found some then?"

"Yep! There's cough syrup and some tablets left over from when I had the flu. I don't think they're past the expiry date..." He chats happily, walking over to join me on the couch, "I heard that hot orange is good for colds too. You want me to make you some?"

"I'll be alright," I answer, relaxing slightly. The shadow-voice is gone for now, there's nothing to worry about...

Oh really?

I stiffen at the voice. Turning around slowly I see it there, sat poised on the edge of the couch with glowing cerulean eyes and a jack-o-lantern smile. It's different from last time, no longer tall and towering but about my size, with the same head of proud spikes - a black silhouette of me, though it's edges curl and drift upwards like cigarette smoke.

"What are you doing here?" I hiss.

"Huh?" Jaden frowns, "Who're you talking to?"

"What, you can't see it?"

He only looks more confused, "See what?"

"...Nothing," I turn my back on the shadow in the hopes of ignoring it. No such luck.

Jaden can't see me, remember? It reminds me silkily, sliding off the couch and into my lap. I try to shove it off but my hand slides straight though; Jaden looks at me oddly, But you still can. And I have no intention of leaving...

Ignore it, I decide. I turn my head towards Jaden and try to look nonchalant. He shakes his head and starts unscrewing the bottle of cough medicine.

Please. I won't go away that easily.

"It's been ages since I was ill," Jaden says, and I cling onto his words as a welcome distraction, "Even before I came to Duel Academy. It snowed all night and covered everything like a white blanket - even the sea had ice floating in it..."

I want to play, The shadow whispers in my other ear, Let's play with Jaden, Chazz. We'll tie him up just like you were in that straightjacket, and you can be Dr Adams.

"I went outside and made snowmen all day - didn't even realise I was ill until I came back inside," Jaden continues, blissfully ignorant of the shadow right next to him, pouring the thick amber liquid of the medicine into a large spoon, "Boy was I ill, I don't think I've ever been that sick before. Open wide," The spoon passes straight through the shadow and towards my mouth. I'm certain I see grey slime oozing over the sides, but I ignore it and open my mouth. It burns going down, but the sudden warmth in my chest tells me it's working.

Look at him, always so happy, so carefree, The shadow continues, glaring hatefully at an unaware Jaden, Let's have some fun with him, Chazz. Let's tie him to the bed and make him scream. Wouldn't he feel good writhing underneath you?

"Anyway, I still have some pills left over from then, they should help," He starts opening a packet of pills. His voice seems quieter and more distant now, not so much of a distraction - whereas the obscene voice in my ear grows louder, more victorious.

Want, take, have...you want him, don't you? I know you do. Then take him. Have him. He's yours to own, another pretty possession to add to the list - yours for the taking.

I need another distraction...Jaden is the only option, so I focus on the way the light falls on his hair, illuminating the golden strands almost like a halo...

"But I was up all night, going hot and cold, sneezing and sniffling, coughing and hacking everywhere..."

He's like a toy - play with it until you're bored, then throw it aside for the next one...

His voice reminds me of summer, a breeze playing through tall grass and wildflowers on a cloudless day...

"Everything I ate I threw back up again..."

He'd be unrecognisable by the end of it. Bruises and bite marks all over his skin, limbs twisted out of shape. fingers broken...

That sleek golden skin glowing slightly in the fire light, Adams apple moving underneath his throat with every word. Just a glimpse of pink tongue as his mouth moves - I can barely hear the words - and his lips, so soft...

"Couldn't even keep a glass of water down..."

Eyes bloody with tears, clumps of hair ripped out, red scratches all down his chest...

Oh god...his lips...

"But I got right better after I took the tablets- Chazz? What's wrong?"

Throat red raw from screaming your name, screaming in agony...

I just...want to...

"Chazz, are you- hands braced against you, trying to push you off, too weak to succeed..." The voices blur together, I don't know which one to listen to. Jaden's so close, I could just- rip him in two "-get you something to drink?"

"I think..." My own voice comes out faint and shaken. His face is drifting closer to mine, or mine to his. Just one, just one - no, I can't - yes, I can-

"The Chazz last please light tell flickering me from what's his wrong eyes..."

"I need to rest," I say suddenly, standing up; the room sways and tilts dangerously, "I'm going to lie down for a bit. Don't disturb me."

I walk off before he can protest, sure to keep up my proud stride. The moment I'm outside the door, however, I break into a run - up the stairs and into the white room, slamming the door behind me before stumbling to the floor not a second later. Numbly my hands reach out, dragging the rest of my body to the crisp linen sheets of the bed. I struggle to heave myself upwards, collapsing against the pillows, exhausted. The shadow is gone for now, but its seductive words still remain, the mental images...Time passes, who knows how much. A few minutes? A few hours? The world seems to blur by whilst I lay on the cold bed, half-way between reality and dreams.

"Chazz?" A muffled voice says, barely a murmur to my ears. The door opens; footsteps enter slowly, cautiously. Something is set on the bedside table.

"I brought you some hot orange..." Spoken apprehensively - I don't reply, "You don't have to drink it if you don't want to..."

I don't - can't - say anything. Cold blue eyes. The rustling of a straightjacket. Kimono silk. Golden light like a halo...halo...haloperidol...

"Chazz? Are you awake?" the mattress sinks slightly as a second person sits beside me, "Guess not, huh?"

Escape, guards, Pandora...I wonder if Adams is still searching for me? Probably. He must be going frantic by now, in case I tell everyone...

"Chazz...why won't you tell me what's wrong with you...?"

I could go to the police, tell them what he did...no, I can't. They'd never believe me, just throw me back in Pandora, back to Adams to play with...

"I'm not stupid you know. I mean, I know I'm a bit slow at times, and I don't always understand big words, but even I can see there's something wrong."

I don't want to go back there...please, don't send me back...

"Something bad happened, right? It must've done," I feel warmth radiating off the second person as they lean closer, voice lowered to a whisper. I want to reach out, but my arm won't lift... "Was it at Pandora? Is that why you really ran away? Of maybe it was after you escaped..."

Adams...blue eyes...cold touch...no! Oh god, no! Don't touch me there! Let go!

"I wish I could help you," A hand runs through my hair comfortingly, like Mom, "But I can't if you won't tell me what's wrong, you know?"

Please don't...not there, not now, not him...

"I suppose..." A sigh, "You'll tell me when you're good and ready. Until then, I'll wait. And I'll take good care of you 'til you get better...if you get better."

Adams is...gone. No coldness, just gentle, golden warmth; a summer breeze and a clear blue sky. Everything will be fine, it tells me. Everything will be okay.

"I don't know what happened to you, but..." Sudden determination; the wind rustles forcefully, "I won't let anyone else hurt you, Chazz. I promise."

Promise.

Promise?

...Thank you.

Please tell me you found that ending at beautiful as I did. The next chapter should come sooner since I actually know what happens, but you know how unreliable I am with updates. I love this story, it's a joy to write, but damn does it give me writers block sometimes.