Another Xiaolin Showdown fic. Same drill as the other...I don't own Xiaolin Showdown, I loved the show and I am writing purely for enjoyment.

Life or Death

Omi had rushed to his friend's side after seeing him get bashed over the head so violently.

Inside Jack was screaming, but on the outside he barely had the energy to move let alone defend himself. Jack felt a hand in his hair pulling...no not in his hair rather pulling on the wreath tangled in his pink mane. He felt hair extensions being ripped out, but the wreath refused to let go.

"Take it off," Albert Demanded as he dragged Jack to his feet.

"No," He spat with as much venom as he could muster, "Fuck you!"

"I wanted to," Albert pulled Jack closer, "But I doubt you would have let me. Rape is such a messy business. So much more Roy's style. I like compliant little bitches, but you were so shy and unsure. I wanted to preserve your delicate beauty. You would be able to retain your youth and beauty for centuries." Albert nuzzled Jack's cheek with his nose and inhaled. The coppery scent of blood mingled with Jack's normal musk and the perfume Wuya had made him wear. Where was she anyway. She might not be able to do anything to stop this but he would have felt better to have an ally here. Jack looked at Raimundo and wondered why the circlet had not protected him. Perhaps he was still too aggressive minded, maybe telling them how to short out the elevator constituted an act of aggression. He didn't know. Hell it might not work for him because its still calibrating to his brain waves.

Then suddenly Jack felt the grip on him loosen. Albert's expression burst into one of pain as the smallest of the four of them punched him in the ribs. Jack felt himself falling but he never hit the floor as a very pissed looking Raimundo caught him.

"You alright?" He ground out. Jack flinched at his tone but then he noticed how bunched Rai's shoulders and how his expression broke into one of pain.

The elevator doors opened with a ding.

"Friends we must go," Omi urged them into the door. Rai helped Jack in and they both leaned against the back wall.

Suddenly the deafening sound of a fire alarm went off. The doors to the elevator opened and the lobby was in chaos. They stepped out into the lobby and calmly walked out the entrance as a fire truck and ambulances arrived.

Jack was placed on a decorative stone bench in the plaza. Raimundo waved over an EMT.

"He's hurt," Rai said in an agitated tone. The man tried to look at Omi but he shook his head and pointed at Jack who was obviously on his last leg. Once Jack was on a gurney and being treated Rai and Omi left him.

They tried to go back in but the firemen barred them. A man in a yellow and black uniform stopped Rai as he tried to go in anyway, "Sorry son the hotel is on fire you need to stay here, until we are sure its safe."

"But my friends!" Rai struggled, but was stopped and when the blood on his clothing was noticed another EMT was called over, "Don't worry we're evacuating the building you're friends are probably already out and looking for you. What' your name son?"

"Rai," Raimundo clipped as he was pulled gently toward a gurney and made to sit. a light was flashed in his eyes and a hand pushed throught his hair gently. He hissed as his bruised scalp was probed.

"You have an concussion young man," The woman examining him announced then asked, "What happened?"

Rai looked around and noticed Jack being loaded up into an ambulance, "I bumped my head...hey can I go with my friend?" He hurriedly pulled free from the woman and ran to the ambulance. Rai pushed his way in and sat beside Jack. Omi scrambled in after him but Rai shook his head.

"Wait for Kim and Clay," Rai ordered. He felt bad he really did, but he thought Jack might need someone to go with him. Jack wasn't out of danger yet. They allowed him to ride along despite the protests of the other EMT his aura of defiance and need to protect Jack radiated around them thick in the air.

Kimiko easily slipped past security in the chaos. She hadn't meant to start the fire but she had been so angry and she was defending herself. She heard the fire alarm and then felt the drizzle as the sprinklers started. By the time she reached the lobby the whole hotel was in an uproar. People were being lead out the fire exits or the front doors. She saw Omi waiting alone and worried. Where were Rai and clay?

Omi saw the girl and ran to her. Omi tackled and hugged the soaked girl. "I'm so glad you are safe Kimiko. Where is clay?"

"I don't know do you know where Raimundo is?"

"He and Jack were taken away in one of those white vehicles with the red markings on them," Omi eplained.

"Those are ambulances," Kimiko explained, "...Did you say Jack? As in Jack Spicer?"

Kimiko forgot everything for a second as Omi nodded. She nearly barked out a laugh but remembered the dire situation.

"Were they hurt?"

"Yes Jack was injured very badly. He was bleeding all over that pretty dress he wore," Omi explained.

Kimiko tried not to get angry but Rai left them for Jack? When she had been harboring a crush on him since they had met.

"Why did Rai go?"

"He was also hurt. That man hit him with a tool and made him faint for a short time."

Kimiko hated that she felt better, considering her friend was hurt, but Rai had gone because he was hurt and probably made to go by the EMT's.

...Clay and Dojo circled the Hotel for a moment until they noticed the smoke and the fire trucks pulling in. He knew Kimiko probably had something to do with the fire, and he worried for the little gal. Dojo and he swooped down close to the ground Clay hopped off as the dragon started to shrink. He ran around the hotel and quickly spotted two of his companions, looking unhurt thankfully. He met up with them and learned that their friend and Jack Spicer (wearing a dress no less) Had shared an ambulance to the hospital. Somehow he felt that they were far from being safe yet. These people were not going to let them go so easily surely.

...There was no fight left in him. Jack Stared listlessly at the ceiling of the ambulance. He felt them working to staunch the blood flow, but he had lost so much already. Did they have time to save him or would he die here with nobody caring who he was. Maybe he would just give in to the darkness creeping around the edge of his vision. Let himself sleep and not wake up. Sleep sounded nice.

Then he felt someone take his hand and squeeze it. He looked over and blinked. His eyes widened in surprise as the Brazilian boy brought his hand to his lips and kissed.

Hell, Raimundo didn't know why he had done that. It just felt right. Rai held Jack's thin hand to his cheek and let a sigh out. He was worried, the look on Jack's face had been so resigned, so calm and accepting. It scared Rai. Jack looked like a man on death row awaiting his last moment. The serene look in Jack's eyes though. He looked so at peace. Rai felt his heart plummet when the portable heart monitor flat-lined. He was pushed out of the way as they attempted to bring him back.

"Hold on Jack!" Rai shouted feeling helpless otherwise, "Damn you! you better not die on me!"

Jack felt so warm. It was so much nicer in the fuzzy blackness than in the harsh cold world that was life. He felt his breathing slowing his heart slow and stop...It was so quiet.

Then he heard someone calling him, "Jack! Jack you fool. You must wake up or the Wu will be lost." Oh it was Wuya. Of course she only cared about the Wu.

"Where are you Wuya?" Jack grumbled to himself.

"I've been with you this whole time fool," She growled, "Do you think I would have done nothing if I could have? That man was disgusting. As is the boy who would take advantage of you while you are weak."

"Take advantage?" Jack asked the darkness, "Raimundo rescued me, he and Omi..."

"Were probably planning to take the wu or use you as a shield. The boy kissed you! While you were passed out! Kissed you, and probably would have done more if he had half a chance." Jack heard a strained note in her voice, but also he couldn't shake the feeling he was being manipulated by her, "Rai's not perfect but he is one of the good guys."

"You don't get it do you Jack," She sighed, "Good is an illusion as is evil. They are two different sides of the same coin. One wraps itself in the cloak of purity and order, but it still craves power as much as the other side. Both sides want to rule and both sides eventually give into the corruption of power. The Heylin are just more accepting of that corruption because they don't hide their true nature from themselves."

"Whatev-" Jack couldn't finish his dismissal as his world was lit up and his body caught on fire.

They were losing him. There was no choice; the dress was cut away revealing his slim chest. Ribs showing almost sickeningly when his back arched against the straps of the gurney as they applied the paddles to shock the life back in him. His pulse stabilized and he relaxed once more. The stab wound in his side gushed as he moved filling the bandages and leaking onto his snowy white skin. Raimundo wanted to vomit at the sight but he checked himself. He felt rather dizzy actually. When it was clear that they had him stable Rai scooted closer to hold his hand. It was clammy, but Jack gave him a weak squeeze.

He felt his eyes growing heavy. He shouldn't close his eyes he knew he shouldn't.

When they arrived at the hospital the two boys were both checked in. The purple ghost was either not noticed or ignored as it followed the boy in the dress.