As my screams echoed through the Medical Bay I didn't hear the sounds of running feet until someone ran into the room and before I knew what was happening Berto pulled me into a hug. As he did he kept asking me the same thing over and over but I was still screaming. As my friends entered, they looked on shocked as Berto suddenly raised his hand and smacked me across the face open-palmed.
Instantly my screams stopped and as I stared, eyes wide, he suddenly realized what he'd just done.
"I'm so sorry. What did I just do?" He asked and that's when I pushed him away. Before anyone knew what was happening I jumped down and shot past him, leaving everyone completely lost. "Oh man." Berto whispered before he took off after me and everyone exchanged a look.
"What just happened?" Max finally asked, breaking the silence around them, and that's when Shock went after them as well. "Did Berto just…slap her?"
"What was he thinking?" Steel said as Forge, Kat and Jefferson looked at one another. "He's never done anything like that before."
"Should we follow them?" Ven-Ghan asked, not sure what was going on and after a long moment Forge shook his head.
"They need to work this out by themselves." He told the hunter and pretty much anyone else still present. As they stood there, confused by their friend's actions, Berto was still trying to find Jessie as he mentally berated himself for raising a hand to his girlfriend.
"What was I thinking?" He said as he searched for her and as he did Shock shot in front of him, instantly stopping the scientist in his tracks. "Shock? What are you doing?"
"I'm stopping you from hurting my best friend. How dare you strike her!" He yelled and Berto cringed at the anger in the Ultralink's voice. "She's hurt and you slapped her!" With that he turned to go and Berto reached across to grab one of the Ultralink's arms. "What?"
"I'm really sorry. I wanted to stop her from screaming and I…just reacted. I need to find her and apologize. Before she hates me." He said the last part barely above a whisper and when Shock saw the pain in his eyes he softened.
"Fine. I think she's nearby." He told Berto who brightened and, letting go of his friend's arm, they went looking for Jessie. As they searched for me I was running as fast as I could and as I did I unconsciously tapped into my Turbo energy which caused me to almost slam into a wall. Ignoring the surprised looks from several N-Tek agents I took off running again and soon I was out of breath. Leaning against a nearby wall I took several deep breaths, gasping as my injuries flared up. For a few seconds I thought I was going to blackout and as I fought to keep upright someone grabbed my arm.
"Leave me…alone." I gasped as I pushed at the arm only to almost hit the floor and as I felt someone catch me I was silently grateful. "Who…?" I said and that's when I found myself looking into a familiar pair of chocolate-brown eyes.
"It's just us." Berto said and I frowned, anger clear in my eyes, and he sighed as I again tried to free myself from his grip. "If I let go of you you'll fall." He pointed out and after a few seconds I sighed and stopped resisting. Wrapping his arm around my waist and the other arm around my shoulder he helped me towards the Medical Bay but soon I was struggling to stay conscious and noticing this, Berto decided to lead me to somewhere closer. As he did I blinked from time to time as I fought to stay awake and after a few minutes I saw a door open. A few minutes later I found myself sitting on a bed and as I looked around Berto sighed before he stepped towards me. When I cringed and moved away from him he blinked.
"I'm sorry I hurt you. I wasn't thinking and…" He stopped as I rubbed at my eyes and when he saw the tears in my eyes he sighed again. "Look I really didn't mean to." He added as he moved closer and when I didn't move away from him this time he sat beside me.
"Why…did you…" I muttered as I tried to keep my tears at bay. As I did my boyfriend moved closer and when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder I buried my head into his shoulder. As I began to sob Berto looked at me then Shock, not sure just how to help me. So he sat there, gently running his hand through my hair as I sobbed.
"Shhh. It's okay. I'm sorry." He soothed and after a few minutes I went quiet as I felt my eyes begin to close. Exhausted and still in pain from the injuries I'd suffered earlier I stopped fighting to stay awake and when he noticed that I'd stopped crying he moved his head slightly to look down at me. Finding me fast asleep he smiled and gently lowered me onto the bed. Completely obvious I slept on and he grabbed a blanket before pulling it over me so only my head was visible. "Should I leave her here or…?" He asked Shock who looked down at his partner for a moment.
"I'll watch over her. When she wakes up I'll let you know." Shock told him and the scientist gave him a grateful smile. As soon as he was gone Shock sighed as he looked down at me. "He seems genuinely sorry for what he did. " He commented as I shifted slightly and he smiled at me as I snuggled into the blanket.
While Shock watched over me Berto was slowly making his way back to his lab, still unable to believe that he'd actually struck me. Lost in thought he almost walked into Max and Steel who had decided to go looking for their friends and as they stared at the scientist he sighed.
"How did it go?" Max asked and for a moment Berto seemed lost. "You know…with you and Jessie?"
"Oh yeah. I think we're okay. I just can't believe that…" Berto sighed for the millionth time and Steel looked at Max for a moment. "I'll be surprised if she can ever forgive me." He added as he looked into the distance.
"Hey I'm sure Jessie will." Steel said as Max nodded in agreement and even though Berto brightened he still seemed unsure. "Just give her a little time to herself and let Shock take care of her."
"Yeah okay. I'd better get back to my lab. I have things to do." Berto said before he walked away and both Ultralink and Turbo user looked at one another.
"He seems really upset. I hope everything works out." Max said as they continued towards the Com Room.
For the rest of the day I spent my time resting and when I finally began to wake, slowly opening my eyes, I saw Shock watching over me. When he saw that I was awake he hovered in front of me as I yawned and rubbed at my eyes.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as I shifted on the bed and I gave him a tired smile, still in some pain.
"I'm still hurting all over. Where am I?" I asked and he explained that I'd run away from the Medical Bay. "Huh? Why did I do that?" I said as I went to sit up and when I felt dizzy I lay on my side.
"Take it easy. You're still injured." Shock said as he reached over and pulled the blanket over me. "Just rest and I'll tell you everything later. Okay?" Too tired to argue I yawned and soon my eyes closed as I fell asleep again. "I just hope that you can forgive him." He added as he looked at me. Back in his lab the scientist found himself unable to concentrated and as the wrench slipped from his hand for the third time that evening he growled to himself.
"Maldita sea!" He grumbled as he knelt and retrieved the wrench and as he straightened he saw Forge standing just inside the room. "Anything I can do for you Commander?" He asked.
"Actually I wanted to see how you and Jessie were doing. Though from the look on your face…" He trailed off as Berto cringed. "How is she?"
"The last time I checked she was sleeping on my bed." He answered and when Forge's eyebrows shot up in surprise Berto blushed. "It's not like that. She almost fainted while I was leading her back to the Medical Bay and that was the closest place with a bed. Nothing happened." He quickly added and Forge gave him a nod.
"I was kidding Berto. Anyway I know that she's going to be okay. It's you I'm not so sure about." He replied and the scientist gave him a strained smile. "Maybe you should take a break." He added and after a few seconds Berto gave him a nod.
"Has there been any sighting of the three Ultralink monsters?" He asked Forge as he walked towards his computer and when the Commander stared at him he shook his head. "The least I can do is keeping Jessie safe."
"Okay. So far no one's seen them but at the very least we have Mega Elementor safely locked in the Stasis Cells." He told Berto as the scientist typed away as his computer. After a few seconds an image of the surrounding area of Copper Canyon came up. "They're not there. Kat and Jefferson searched there hours ago."
"Then what am I doing?" Berto said and Forge frowned at him. "Sorry. Maybe I should take a break." He admitted and Forge gave him a smile. As Berto left the room Forge shook his head.
"I hope Jessie doesn't stay mad at him." He said to himself before he walked back to his office. As Berto walked back to his room he wondered how his girlfriend was going and just as he reached for the doorknob he stopped.
"Hang on…she's in here so where am I supposed to sleep?" He said and after a few seconds he opened the door and as he did he found me sprawled on the bed, the blanket only half covering me and my pillow now on the floor as I sighed in my sleep. When Shock looked over at the scientist he looked at Jessie and shrugged his arms. "How did the pillow end up there?" He asked the Ultralink as he walked over and bent down to retrieve it.
"She keeps moving and that's pretty much how she's been for the last few minutes. Not completely sure how the pillow ended up on the floor. I fell asleep for about an hour so your guess is as good as mine."
"Oh well." Berto said as he sat and attempted to place the pillow underneath Jessie. But I shifted slightly just as he managed to set the pillow under my head and he overbalanced, ending up lying over me. Blushing furiously he went to sit up and that's when I opened one eye, woken up by the blow to my hip and when I found Berto lying across me I opened the other eye.
"What's…going on?" I muttered as he looked at me, his face red as he tried to apologize. "Doesn't matter." I said as I closed my eyes and he sighed, probably relieved that I didn't get mad. "Where am I anyway?" I asked suddenly and when he didn't answer I opened an eye.
"You're in his bedroom." Shock answered for Berto who stared at him, wide eyed, and as I processed that piece of information Berto wondered just how I'd react. After a full minute I opened both eyes.
"I'm hurt and you…wait what did you do?" I asked as I tried to remember what had happened in the last few hours.
"Nothing!" Berto shouted and I winced as my head flared up. "Sorry but all I did was bring you here so you could rest. I didn't think you would be able to walk back to the Medical Bay." He explained as I rubbed at my eyes, wanting to go back to sleep.
"It's true. You looked like you were about to pass out. And I think you're about to drop too, Berto." Shock said as we both looked at him.
"Yeah…I'm a little tired. But I'll have to stay in my lab for tonight. Seeing as you're in my bed." He commented and that's when I moved over, surprising him. "What are you…?" He started to say before I shook my head.
"This is your room and you're staying here. I have an apartment so I can…stay…there." I muttered as I set both feet on the floor. But I began to feel dizzy and that's when Shock hovered in front of me.
"You're in no condition to go home. Look just stay here until you feel better." Shock said.
"Yeah alright." I replied as I rubbed the bridge of my nose with one of my hands. "Just for now anyway." I said as I lay on my side. Not sure what to do Berto sat on the other side of the bed until Shock flew over to him.
"Behave yourself okay?" Shock said before he flew over and hovered over me. Sitting there Berto wondered what the Ultralink meant and when he figured it out he frowned.
"Like I'm really going to….very funny Shock." He grumbled as he lay on his side, his back to me as he made himself comfortable. After a few long moments he felt his eyes close and as he fell asleep he thought he heard the Ultralink chuckle.
Late into the next morning Berto shifted slightly on his bed and as he did he sighed. Then as he went to move over, trying to get comfortable, he found himself unable to move. Confused he opened an eye and looking down he found someone's arm wrapped around his waist and it took him a few seconds to realize that it was mine. His first instinct was to untangle himself from me but as I sighed in my sleep and snuggled against his back he smiled, not having the heart to wake me. Soon Berto found himself beginning to doze and resting his head on the bed he fell asleep. A couple of hours later I heard someone speaking to me and when I didn't respond I felt someone run his fingers through my hair and I knew just who it was. But I didn't feel like waking up just yet and when I buried my head in the bed I heard a chuckle.
"I don't think she wants to move." Shock commented as he and Berto looked down at me. Grinning Berto let go of my hair.
"I guess she doesn't want to join us for lunch then." He said and to his amusement I opened my eyes and looked up at him.
"Did you say something Berto?" I asked as I sat up and he grinned at me as I rubbed my eyes with one hand. "I thought you said…" Before I could finish everyone heard a weird gurgling noise and I blushed as I realized that it was my stomach. When both my friends cracked up I frowned slightly and crossed my arms, annoyed at the pair of them. But my anger didn't last long when Berto reached over and hugged me, wrapping an arm around my waist.
"Would it help if I said I was sorry?" He asked me and after a long minute I blinked at him.
"Sorry about what? Oh yeah you…slapped me." I replied and when I went quiet I heard him sigh.
"I didn't mean to but you were screaming and I panicked when you wouldn't stop. Lo siento." He explained and I didn't react for a full minute. Then he heard me sniff and soon I began to cry. "Hey it's okay." He said but as I continued to cry he held me tighter. After a while I finally stopped crying and still upset with him I tried to move away, only for Berto to wrap his other arm around my waist preventing me from moving.
"Let me go." I muttered and when he shook his head I felt my Turbo powers flare up as I got angry. My eyes glowed green but Berto didn't react beyond raising his eyebrows at me and I finally calmed down, not wanting to blow up the room and hurt my friends. "I'm…sorry I guess." I said as I rested my head on his chest, not sure what I was apologizing for.
"Don't worry about it. I'm the one you should be mad at." Berto told me as he held me. After a while I looked at him and noticing the pain in my face he asked what was wrong.
"I had a really bad nightmare. Everyone was dead and…then I died." I told him, not wanting to explain further if I started to cry. Clearly confused Berto wanted to know more and as I remembered what had woken me screaming I felt tears threatening. "I finally figured out Dark titan's identity and Shock and I were on our way back to N-Tek when we found the building ablaze. We rushed inside and everyone we found…was already dead. I rushed into your lab and found you badly hurt but still alive and you warned me that someone was still in the room. That's when Dark Titan attacked me, impaling me with his sword. When he ripped it from me I collapsed to the floor and tried to reach for you…only to find that you were already…." Then I took a deep shuddering breath before I finished. "Helpless I watched as he raised his sword and brought it down on me. And that's when I woke up screaming."
"Oh Jessie." Berto said and hearing the concern in his voice made me start crying all over again and as I did he held me. Burying my face in his chest I bawled my eyes out. "Hey it's okay." He told me as I shook, tears running down my face and after a while I began to make a hiccupping sound. Eventually my tears stopped and as I lifted my head Berto and Shock caught a glimpse of my red eyes and they both looked worried.
"I'm…okay. Just needed to do that." I muttered and for a few seconds I actually felt better. Then as my two best friends watched on I began to mumble something. Puzzled Berto exchanged a look with Shock who flew over and hovered in front of me.
"Are you alright?" He asked as Berto looked on and I mumbled something incoherent. "There's something wrong. Hang on." Shock said as he brought up a visual of my vital readings and as he studied them Berto looked at me. "Hmm…" The Ultralink muttered to himself, glancing at me for a moment as I stared at him.
"What…are you…staring at?" I mumbled as I looked up at him. As I did I began to feel really sleepy and after a few seconds my eyelids drooped. "What…ever." I muttered before I closed my eyes and ended up falling asleep in Berto's arms.
"What's wrong with her?" Berto asked as he held me and when Shock frowned slightly he raised an eyebrow. "Is she going to be okay?"
"She's just completely worn out." Shock told him as the visual vanished. "Plus her injuries haven't even begun to heal and she keeps wearing herself out. We should let her sleep and check back on her in a couple of hours." When Berto seemed unsure the Ultralink chuckled. "She'll be fine."
"That's a relief. I wish she'd take it easy but she never listens does she?" Berto said with a smile on his face as he ran his fingers through my hair. "Okay then should we leave her here?" When Shock gave him a nod he carefully moved me onto the bed and spread a blanket over me. Oblivious I mumbled something and snuggled into the blanket as they looked on. As Shock opened the door to the room and waited outside Berto looked down at me for a long moment before he leaned down and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Then he left the room and as he did he wondered if I was really going to be okay.