Chapter 10

Holly Short had reached E1 Tara, Ireland, an hour after she had left the warehouse.

Despite his assuredness that he was in no danger, she worried about him. Why was he in danger and not her? They had always been stuck in these situations together, sometimes unwillingly, but together they had succeeded.

Holly coasted down towards the bend in the river at Tara. She could definitely sneak in a few minutes of fresh air. She removed her helmet, reveling in the fresh air, and the breeze. The air was sweet and clear here. She wondered if this was why she had become a Recon officer.

No, she assured herself, I became an officer so I could help people. This is just an occasional bonus. She knelt to the ground, searching for an acorn. She realized she had only about an hour of darkness left, then she had to be underground. Not a problem, this was more time than she had ever had to just relax aboveground.

Though she had removed her helmet and placed it on the ground, her hand remained gripped on the neutrino. This place held both bad and good memories for her.

Years ago, this was the very place that Artemis had kidnapped her. Now she didn't know what to think of this it.

Her own mind contradicted itself, she couldn't decide if this place held happy memories because she had met one of her best friends here, or angry because of the cold young boy who had once abducted her there. Maybe she'd never know.

Holly picked up a small acorn.

"And so return thanks, for this gift, to the ground," she said.

The blue sparks shocked their way up her arm, caressing her, and filling her with warmth up to the brim. Replenishing your magic was better than a hot bubble bath after a hard day at work.

Holly Short sat at the bend in the river for about half an hour before she decided she should return underground.

The faintest orange glow was visible in the distance, the sun was coming up.

Holly grabbed her helmet, carefully putting it one her head, wiggling it so to maneuver it carefully over her pointy ears.

New message, flashed on the screen.

Holly hesitantly opened the message, it was from either Butler or Artemis, from their secure line.

Her eyes widened as she read the message.

Needs healing at manor.

That one clicked in her mind.

Holly opened the throttle on her wings. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she sped to Fowl manor. She would beat a few records on the way.

BREAK

When Holly reached Fowl manor the sun was peeking over the horizon. If she stayed out too much longer her magic would be diluted, sucked out of her, and then Artemis would die.

She barged right in the back door. It was unlocked, unusual.

Holly didn't shield, that would waste her magic, and it sounded like Artemis needed all he could get.

Tears dripped down her face as she maneuvered carefully around the manor, checking every room she passed by.

She would save Artemis, she would do everything she possibly could.

As she continued to frantically search the house, dodging a close encounter with Artemis Fowl Senior, she began to wonder if she would ever see him again.

Throughout the years, she had learned even the genius boy was mortal. Still, somehow her mind led her to believe that if the boy died, his body would simply disappear.

Artemis Fowl would not leave a body behind. He would leave this earth being as much of a mystery as he had been living on it.

Then Holly took the last few steps down the stairs, and there he was.

Despite her earlier thoughts, she was sure he was dead.

Artemis Fowl lay sprawled on the ground. He had a large bleeding gash on his head, and his eyes were closed.

Holly rushed to him, rolling him onto his back and frantically checking for a heartbeat.

It was only then that she realized she should never have moved him.

His leg stuck out on a horrible angle, and he had a bullet lodged in his stomach. Holly gasped, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked at his white button down shirt, covered in blood.

There was no heartbeat. She checked again, the tears flowing down her cheeks and dropping onto Artemis' blood stained shirt.

There it was, a faint slow thump. He had lost so much blood.

Holly had made her decision years ago. She would try her best to heal Artemis, no matter what the cost.

Holly rolled up her sleeves, first she had to remove the bullet. She grimaced briefly thrusting her small hand in the bullet hole. She grabbed it, yanking it out quickly.

It wasn't clean, but the magic could deal with that. There was nothing she could do about his leg. She had to focus on the potentially fatal wounds, his head and abdomen.

Holly pressed her hands firmly down on Artemis' chest.

"Heal," she whispered.

The blue sparks rushed through her, pulsing from her heart, and scurrying down her arms, straight towards to bullet hole.

Holly moved her hands to each side of his head, placing his head in her lap. She cradled it, stroking his jet black hair. Her magic began targeting the wound on his head. The skin knitted back together.

Holly could feel it coming, she held his head as firmly as she could, she couldn't let him hit it on the hard concrete floor.

Artemis' body began shaking violently, from his head to his toes, and Holly fought to keep it still. Then his arms began thrashing, and his legs. She could hear loud cracks as Artemis hit his broken leg on the concrete floor. Holly couldn't do anything about it.

Artemis' continued to thrash and buck, unintelligible words pouring out of his mouth. His bright blue eyes opened, seemingly staring straight at Holly. She could hear his heart thumping in his chest, and she pushed the last bit of magic out of her system.

That was it, she had nothing more. Artemis was suddenly still. She took his pulse, feeling no heartbeat.

A/N: I have now finished writing the entire fanfic. How many reviews I get will determine how soon I update. Yep, I'm being the jerk author on this one.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!!