Author's Note: The first chapter I've written in a while (I wrote the last few a while back). I hope it's up to par.

Jimmy Neutron belongs to DNA/Helix Productions, Nick, Viacom, and whoever else claims it.

Chapter Ten: United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Flippy. Jimmy's eyes narrowed and, motioning silently to Cindy, the two crossed the threshold into his control center. Cindy blinked, astonished at the extent to which Jimmy had wired the town and the intricacy of the instruments flashing before her. The question on the tip of her tongue compelled her to ask it. Snatching his hand, she squeezed it hard and gulped.

"Jimmy, did you intend to spend the rest of your life here?" she inquired urgently. "You've got enough stores to manage it…and the place is hotwired to an unremitting energy source."

"I…" Glancing away and shaking off her comfort, he traced the panels with his fingers. What can I say? The truth?

"You were going to live in exile until you died…" she breathed and hurt flashed in emerald eyes. I'm not important enough to tether you to our Retroville. Am I just a distraction? If Flippy hadn't returned, would you have come for me at all?

"It's not like that," he defended weakly. "You don't understand."

"What's there to understand, Neutron? I'm only worthy of your time because I'm being hunted by scrap wood," she retorted, folding her arms across her chest. This time, she inflicted the damage and he flinched, turning to avoid her piercing gaze. Good. She wanted him to experience the pain she'd suffered at the thought of being an extraneous part of his life. He needed to comprehend once and for all that if something happened to him, he wasn't the only affected. And he wasn't the only one in his world, although, at the moment, if she hadn't been dragged here, he would be.

"Don't call him 'scrap wood'," Jimmy snapped. He killed my father. If he were scrap wood, Dad would still be alive.

"Fine, then. Your mutated experiment," she retorted and, judging by the expression on his face, she realized she'd gone a step too far. The guards he'd dropped before sprang up again, triple reinforced. Unmitigated hatred flashed in his sapphire eyes and she recoiled, assuming a defensive stance.

"I thought you said this wasn't my fault," he hissed. "You're just like Sheen."

"I didn't mean it," she whispered and he shoved her rudely aside. Stomping off in the direction Goddard had indicated, he left her to catch up. Shoulders hunched, he ignored any of her apologies and, once they rounded a corner in the labyrinth, he finally spoke again.

"Once I find the portal, you're going back to Retroville. That's it. I'm through with you."

Cindy's mouth fell agape and not for the first time since his father died, she yearned to whack sense into him. Prodding him in the chest, she glared heatedly at him. No, she wouldn't permit him to end this on his terms. Not when she'd gotten so far. Not when he needed her. He couldn't do this alone. He'd let Flippy destroy him if he formed his own decisions. Jimmy Neutron, boy martyr.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily. Apparently, that big head of yours is full of fat instead of brains because you won't accept it. I know you're agitated about meeting Flippy again after he killed your father and almost killed me, but get over it. I won't let you wallow in self-pity nor are you going to throw your life away.

"I love you. You you, not the moping boy who tosses everyone's regard in the garbage because he thinks he ought to play the martyr. I shouldn't have said what I did, but I can't help it. I'm…I'm worried about you. I can't stand seeing you like this. It's not normal."

Gently, she raised her hand to his face and caressed his cheek. Shutting his eyes, he snatched her hand off and she thought he'd fling it away. Instead, he kissed it and squeezed it within his own. In her chest, her heart raced. Things might not be perfect between them, but she'd paved the way at least. He cupped her chin in his palm and leaned forward, grazing her cheek with his lips.

"I…I know it's abnormal, Cindy. The psychological definition of a defense mechanism is that the user utilizes it without conscious knowledge. My defense mechanism has been to shove everyone away because I thought I could spare them," he explained, hanging his head. She lifted it tenderly and her breath caught in her throat. If unimpeded, maybe that kiss would happen now.

"You don't need to spare me, Jimmy. You never had to," she whispered and he leaned forward again. Shutting her eyes, his warm breath heated her cheeks and he was so close, she could smell him. Their lips were less than an inch apart when….

"Ahem!" A voice cried over the loudspeaker and they sprang apart. Cindy's eyes flashed mutinously and she clenched her free fist (Jimmy held her other).

"When I'm done with you, I'll use you for my next bonfire," she snapped. "You'll be the piece de resistance."

Flippy scoffed, but Jimmy laughed. Surprised, she pivoted to see him clutch his stomach mirthfully and chuckle. She grinned, delighted, though the laugh was more to relieve the tension than because her threat had been amusing. Still, it was nice to witness.

"Cindy?"

"Yeah?" she said, grinning from ear to ear.

Regaining his composure, grinning like her, he hugged her tightly. Her heart skipped a beat and she forgot to breathe.

"I love you too."

Flippy scowled and glared at his camera screen. What a waste. He'd prevented three near kisses in one day only to have them grow closer nonetheless. What was the point of driving a wedge between them if they kicked it aside? Jimmy Neutron didn't deserve happiness, yet it pursued him ardently. Curses.

If he lured Jimmy into a showdown, he could force him to aid him in his endeavors- namely, ridding himself of his father's presence. Right now, the aforementioned voice in the back of his head remained blissfully silent, though he sensed its attention lingered on Jimmy and his semi girlfriend. Hugh hadn't known the schematics of their relationship before his death and was, therefore, surprised to witness them like this, but Flippy, rather than be enchanted by it like Hugh, loathed it with all his being. Cindy was a distraction, one that very well might destroy his plan.

If he didn't rid himself of Hugh's influence very soon, he didn't know what he'd do. Whenever he broached the possibility of seriously harming either Jimmy or Judy, Hugh held him back. He couldn't very well destroy his 'creator' with his father calling the shots. Naturally, right now he'd beaten him into submission, but he had a nasty feeling the instant he tried to injure either party, Hugh would immobilize him. How dare a person reduced to mere brain waves exact such a toll on him. How dare he intercede.

A father's love. Ha. He scoffed at the concept. What good would his love do him in his death? How could Hugh protect Jimmy beyond the grave? Paternal instincts aside, the only remaining parts of him would be subdued and, then, once he had Jimmy's unwilling help, he'd cast them out completely. Jimmy might even accost him willingly if he believed it would help his father. What he didn't know, what he wouldn't tell him, was the instant his father's brain waves were separated from Flippy, Hugh would cease to be entirely. Jimmy would kill off the last of his father.

Flippy laughed cruelly at the notion and stiffened, sensing trouble on the horizon. Maybe he should kill Cindy now. That girl was nothing but a nuisance. Currently, she walked hand in hand with Jimmy as the two wended their way through his construct. He drew his strength from her and she donated it extravagantly. Their very sight made him murderous. With Cindy in the way, he'd never accomplish his means. She'd never let Jimmy wander onto the brink of self destruction again.

"I'll scalp your pretty blonde hair and give it to Jimmy as a cap," Flippy snorted, snickering. "Bothersome girl."

"How big is this place?" Cindy muttered, scowling. "Please tell me you have an idea where we are."

Goddard produced his chest monitor at his prompting and a blinking dot amidst the maze Jimmy traced to their location. Patting his dog affectionately, he commanded him to continue tracking Flippy until his behest.

"We have a little way to go, but we should reach him-"

A crackling rent the air and the very air molecules shifted. Cindy clutched Jimmy's arm and the two exchanged glances, Jimmy's horrified. Throwing all caution to the winds, he spurted ahead, Cindy at his heels and Goddard hovering by his master. In five minutes, they reached a swirling vortex Cindy recognized as one of Jimmy's portals. The energy readings were off the chart, but none of them noticed that. Their eyes were linked to Flippy, performing bizarre acrobatic feats above their heads.

"Well, well, Jimmy. You came. I have a proposition for you- but first, ditch the girl."

Flippy's eyes rolled maliciously in their wooden sockets and he grinned cruelly, flinging Jimmy's hypercube at Cindy's chest. She sidestepped it narrowly and it clattered to the ground ineffectively. Jimmy glared at him; first a murderer, now a thief. Always a jerk.

"I don't think so," Jimmy replied smoothly the same instant Cindy uttered another threat. Flippy smirked at her reaction and produced the infamous girl eating plant. Its leaves drooped- Jimmy hadn't watered it in a good year. It sniffed the air, detected Cindy, licked its lips, and promptly died. She stared.

"Wow, that's pathetic," she muttered, prodding it with her shoe. "That's the best you could do?"

Speaking as though he hadn't heard her, Flippy said, "I'll let you extract your dear old father's brain waves so you can resurrect him- I need to be rid them myself."

"And what do you get out of it?" Jimmy retorted, disbelieving that it could be that easy.

"Better weapons?" Cindy muttered, kicking the dead plant into a corner of the room. The pot shattered upon impact and dust filled her nostrils. Grimacing, she coughed.

"Why, Jimbo," Flippy said in his father's voice, sending chills down Jimmy's back. If looks could kill, Flippy would have endured each and every one of Cindy's threats. Jimmy could practically hear the flames licking his body.

"I'll have you."

Yanking Cindy's ponytail, he flipped himself into the portal. "I'll be waiting in the real Retroville for your answer. In your lab. With whoever strikes my fancy as a hostage. Ta-ta for now, Jimbo."

Darkly, trembling furiously, Jimmy muttered, "I'm starting to think a bonfire's too good for him."