Hi, dear readers and awesome ppl that you are. Just wanted to say thanks so much for reading the story thus far, espeically after that sorry excuse for a chapter 9. Hopefully this will help explain things- and raise more questions, but that's the fun part. ^^ Thanks again for reading!

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By the time she had reached the top of the stairs into her flat, Aelita half-expected her legs to give out. She glared, over the unconscious Jeremie's head, at Odd. "You do know you could help with the weight some, dear cousin," she snapped, trying to catch her breath. "You brought him here."

"Would you rather have had me leave him out there?" Odd retorted, but tried to lift their passenger a little higher out of the way.

"I-" Aelita opened her mouth, then shut it again. The idea of leaving Jeremie unconscious in the middle of the London streets gave her an ugly pinch in her stomach. A chill went up her spine as she looked down into the still face of the man she carried. Why had he been out so late anyway? And why on earth was he attacked? Pushing the questions out of her head, Aelita huffed and turned into her living room.

"Put him on the couch," she instructed Odd, who nodded. Just then, the sound of footsteps sounded behind them.

"Aelita, I'm sorry about-"

Aelita glanced back to see Yumi staring open mouthed at the sight before her. If it had been a different situation, Aelita would have laughed out loud at her friend's expression. It was not easy to shock Yumi Ishyama. But now she just shook her head.

"Oddric's found another stowaway," she explained wryly as the other woman composed herself. "He's lost some blood. Could you get the bandages in the cabinet?"

"Yes, Miss."

After setting Jeremie gently as they could on the small couch, Aelita stood slowly, wincing when her back cracked. After a second, she rounded on Odd.

"What happened?"

Odd shook his head, his expression innocent. "He was mugged, Princess. That's what it looked like." He shook his head.

Aelita gapped at him. "Mugged? Where?! By whom?"

Odd shrugged. "He was done on Whimpole Street, and was surrounded by the time I got there." Despite the situation, he sniggered slightly. "He was trying reason with them. Three sheets to the wind, the lot of them, and took off quick when they saw me coming." He finished this last sentence and stood as if posing for a statue. Aelita's lips twitched and she shook her head.

"It's good you got there when you did." She eyed him suspiciously. "Not three sheets yourself, there, Oddric?" Odd opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Yumi with the bandages.

"I brought them all," she explained quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as she handed the white fabric out to Aelita. "I'm sorry if it's too-"

Aelita shook her head. "It's perfect. Now, could you help me roll him over?" She swallowed hard at the sight of the dark stain on Jeremie's jacket, and braced herself. "We have to be gentle, or it will only strain his shoulder more."

"Bloody hell, what'd he do to deserve that?!" Odd cursed a second later when they started gingerly peeling the coat from him. Red blood turned the dark blue shirt he wore black, a stain that trickled half way up his arm.

"One of his attackers had a knife, perhaps?" Yumi suggested as she helped peel the shirt back. The sleeping professor winced and grunted. Aelita swore softly.

"We need to hurry. It will hurt far more if he wakes up."

"I don't know how to tie a bandage," Odd admitted, shaking his head. He angled his neck to peer at the ugly scratches and bruise that decorated Jeremie's shoulder.

Yumi copied him, looking pale. "I do, but it needs to be cleaned first. Otherwise it'll get infected."

"I will do it." Odd both stared at her, and Aelita suddenly wondered why she had volunteered. She swallowed hard, trying not to look at the blood stains. Instead, she focused on Jeremie's still face and sighed. "I'll do it," she repeated, her voice stronger this time.. "Oddric, the soap in the-"

"Already on it, Princess."

Aelita nodded, then looked down at him. "Not the time for modesty, I guess," she muttered, and proceeded to peel the rest of Jeremie's shirt off. Luckily, the blood hadn't gone farther.

"I'll get the stains out of his clothing," Yumi told her. "It's easy to do."

Aelita stared at her. "You're not even effected by the sight of it?" When Yumi didn't answer, Aelita reached out with her free hand and touched her friend's pale face. "I'm sorry, Yumi-chan. Are you sure that you're-"

Yumi nodded, suddenly standing quite straight. "I can do it," she replied. "Please excuse me." Taking the soiled clothes, Yumi bustled off into the other room. Frowning slightly, Aelita turned back to her makeshift patient and the ugly red marks that skittered up his shoulder. His chest was bruised too, she noticed, not touching him. What on earth had he done to deserve this?

"No...nothing..."

Aelita gasped and jumped back. Jeremie's eyes were still shut, but he was muttering something now. "There...just have to...find them..." He sighed, and feel silent again.

"Talking in our sleep, are we?" Aelita muttered, shaking her head, finally brushing off the last of the excess blood around the wound. Hearing quiet footfalls behind her, didn't turn, but spoke a little louder. "Did you find the soap?"

Odd stepped to her side, and grinned at her. "Yes, and how'd you know it was me?"

Aelita raised an eyebrow. "You walk like a cat, how could I not?" Before he could respond, she took the soap and cloth he handed her and started dabbing gently at the cleared cuts. "Goodness," she muttered, wincing. "I'm glad he's sleeping. This would hurt like the devil. Did he know why they attacked him?"

Odd shook his head as he handed her another cloth. "He thought they were muggers, and tried to take his papers."

Aelita blinked. "Papers?" She glanced up at her cousin and saw he had picked something out of Jeremie's limp hand. "Oddric! What are you-"

"He's looking for the author," Odd said softly, his eyes narrowing. "It's from the oddity section. F.S."

Aelita blinked at him. "F.-" She gasped and looked from her cousin, to the papers in his hand, to the comatose professor, and back again. "Give this here, please." Without waiting for him to hand them to her, she took the papers, her wide eyes skimming the contents. "But these are about the...the Timepiece," she stopped the gasp that threatened to choke her breath. Instead she looked up, met her cousins purple-grey eyes. "He said he was looking for the author?"

Odd nodded, a small, twisted smile kicking up the side of his mouth. "That's what he said, I was wondering what you'd tell him."

Aelita glared at him, then put the papers down on the table. "Nothing. The author is dead."

Odd's eyebrows raised slightly. "Protecting this fellow, are you?"

Aelita glared at him. "Hardly. If he's looking for the author on these articles...no one can know why they stopped."

"Because other wise he might have a wolfie leaping at him too?"

Her eyes flashed as she scowled. "No, Oddric, that has nothing to do with it. That was nothing."

"Nothing? A big ugly metal wolf and a messy warning?" Odd shook his head. "I know when something isn't nothing, there cousin. I don't believe half the madness you know, Princess, but I know when you're worried about someone. Unless you think he made the wolfie," he added pointedly.

"It was an automaton, you git," she snapped, keeping her voice low despite her anger. "And I am not affected by threats-"

"You don't even know who's sending them," Odd reminded her grimily, but she shook her head.

"I know what I have to do, and it has nothing to do with him!" She guestered at the sleeping Jeremie. "You said yourself you don't believe in it, so don't tell me what to do or who to protect!"

"Yes, but-"

"Hush!" Aelita put a finger over lips and guestered to the sleeping man on the couch. "Do you really want him to hear?"

Odd shrugged, his smile wry. "I don't know why you have to not tell him, but alright. You were always good at keep secrets with Uncle Frank."

Aelita rolled her eyes. "Someday you'll see, Oddric. My father wasn't mad. And neither am I." Scowling, she turned on her heel and walked out.

Her cousin stared after, eyebrows raised. Then smiling slightly, he glanced down at the sleeping Jeremie. "I dunno, Professor," he told him as if the man could understand. "But I think you got yourself a protector." He looked back up at the place Aelita had been moments ago, and for a moment his expression went bleak. "Now she just needs to let herself be protected."

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Why did everything hurt so much?

Jeremie winced and took a deep breath. His shoulder hurt like it was stuck with pins and his head throbbed harder than thunder cracks. Something nudged him, something less painful, and he struggled to open his eyes. After a moment he gave up, pain stinging the backs of his eyes like pins.

Someone was humming. A quiet, sad sound that none the less somehow made the pain lesson slightly. There was a steady clicking, like a clock. Mutters and footsteps sounded muffled, as if they were above him. Taking another deep breath, something nudged his hand, and a small chill ran up his arm.

JEremie gasped, and his eyes creaked open.

At first all he saw was a blur. Dark brown wood above him, around him. A maroon something to his left, something soft under him. Someone was gently rubbing his painful arm, as if trying to loosen it up. It hurt, but not nearly as bad as it had before.

But why...

The hummer moved into view, and his eyes focused on her like a dying man. It was just the light, he thought numbly, staring in awe. How else could it appear that she was glowing? He couldn't read her expression, but her eyes seemed downcast, almost closed. The unnatural pink hair fell in curls, hiding her face slightly. The song she hummed grew slower and sadder, and the glow, a gentle, softer shade of pink than her hair, grew.

Then he blinked, and it vanished as if nothing was there.

Her gaze slid up suddenly, and met his. Aelita stared at him, as if surprised. Then, slowly, she smiled.

Footsteps thundered above them suddenly, and Jeremie felt pain snap through his head. Aelita's face began to blur again, but Jeremie fought to keep his eyes open.

"You...you are... like an angel."

Aelita drew back with a gasp, but Jeremie could no longer keep his eyes open. Sighing, he gave in, letting his mind send him back to sleep.

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"What was that about?"

Aelita jumped about a foot and whirled. "Ulrich! What-"

The solider limped around the end of the stairwell, trying to smile charmingly. "Look, Aelita, it was really kind of you to set me up here, but really, I should get back. My captain insists on the men staying together, and..." He shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling far more self-conscious under the stern green gaze of this tiny young woman than he had ever felt in front of the rest of his troop.

"Oddric brought you here, so I suggest him. There's more than enough room for you, although I'd ask you to be a little quieter. It is, after all the middle of the night."

Ulrich raised an eyebrow, winced when the motion at pulled his head wound, and nodded. "Alright..I'll try not to be a bother...um..."

When he trailed off, Aelita cocked her head to one side. "You seemed to frighten my friend Yumi easily enough without being loud," she said after a moment. "She doesn't scare easily." When Ulrich said nothing, Aelita's eyes narrowed. "Friend as you are, if that cursed war has turned you to cruelty, you'll be out before you can think, I hope you-" She stopped when, to her surprise, a red blush started creeping up the soldier's tan cheeks.

"Yes. I know." He shook his head quickly, cursed when his brain pounded. "It...I was surprised to see her here. That is all."

I highly doubt that, Aelita thought dryly, but she simply shrugged. It wasn't her place to pry. She'd talk it over when Yumi was ready. "You are rested now?"

Ulrich nodded. "Yes," he lied, forcing a smile. Rest wouldn't come, he knew Not after seeing that face again for the first time in two years. Yumi had been terrified to see him, and had run away. Stared at him as if he was a monster, and bloody run away from him.

Feeling foolish and bitter, Ulrich muttered a curse and turned to go back up the stairs.

"Ulrich?"

He hesitated, then turned. Aelita was smiling slightly, as if nervous. "Forgive me if I accused you of something that angered you. You're welcome here, if you're welcome to it."

"I'm grateful, Miss Shaffer," he replied, not rudely.

"It's Stones, now, actually."

Ulrich blinked. "Stones?"

Her face had gone pale. "Yes. I go by that surname now."

"Your...father?" Aelita shook her head, and Ulrich winced. "I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have brought it up, but-"

A soft groan cut off his words, and Ulrich and Aelita both jumped. "The bloody-" Ulrich looked around as Aelita turned back to what ever she had been doing on the other side of the room. Then Ulrich noticed the man sleeping on the couch. He raised an eyebrow.

"I guess I did disturb something earlier, I'm sorry," he said quickly, but Aelita shook her head quickly. Her face turned pink even as she frowned.

"No, no, Ulrich, that's not it." She looked back at the sleeping man. "He's...a..." she hesitated, her back to him. "A friend."

"Right." Not sure what to think, Ulrich shook his head, and headed back up stairs. "Uh...have a...goodnight..." he called awkwardly. When he heard no response, he sighed, and left Odd's strange cousin alone with her demons.