AN: Wow... So, it's been a while, eh? Sheesh. I just haven't had the incentive to finish this story for some reason. But now it's FINISHED! I'm finally DONE!... And now I have to move on to the third part. Hopefully, I'll learn from this experience: write the WHOLE story before I post it so there's no waiting for YEARLY updates, yes? Well, anyway, I'd just like to apologize for taking so long to get this last chapter up. It's ridiculous, I know. I was really banking on finding the ending that I had written, but I never did, so I had to write this one from scratch. Hope you enjoy this last piece to the puzzle!
And just to recap from the last chapter:
The next few minutes were a blur of green light, high-pitched screeching, and a black mass of swirling shadow. The green light emanating from Harry's "staff" hit the invader like lightning, causing JD's head to fall back and small tendrils of light to envelop him as he trembled with the shockwave. The scream was not one voice but many -- like a thousand nails scraping across a chalkboard. Swirls of black cloud began seeping from the young man's eyes, nose, and mouth, and he collapsed to the floor, writhing and convulsing.
"JD!" Perry yelled hoarsely, straining against the large man, who held him back from the scene. "Harry, stop! You'll kill him!"
"That's the idea," the Janitor said quietly, having to squint his eyes at the brilliant light. "An act of evil for an act of good."
"No!" Perry continued to scream.
Suddenly, the green light vanished, and all that remained were the limp bodies of Harry and JD, sprawled across the floor.
Chapter Ten:
//JD gasped and fell to his knees, the palms of his hands smacking hard against the tiled corridor floor of Sacred Heart. He shuddered as the last of the black cloud dissipated with a horrifying screech of resistance. His whole being shivered as if all the warmth had been sucked out of him and the surrounding area. Suddenly, a pair of warm arms wrapped around him, engulfing him with life and strength.
"JD?" A familiar voice said softly against his ear, and he looked up with wide, tear-laced eyes.
"Harry?" He croaked, and his bottom lip quivered. "Perry . . . did he . . ."
"He's fine, JD," the wizard smiled. "You saved him. He's okay. He's waiting for you."
JD could have cried. He wanted to – oh, he wanted to – but things weren't right yet. Until he could see for himself that Perry was safe – which posed an all-together different problem on its own – things would not get back to normal.
"It's time for you to get back, JD," Harry suggested, helping him to his feet. "You've done so much more than any Guardian has ever been asked to do."
"Will you come with me?" The young man pleaded, leaning heavily on him. His legs felt like pudding. Vanilla pudding – the vanilla was always more jiggly then the chocolate; he and Turk had tested it once.
Harry looked regretful. "I'm sorry, JD. I'm done here on earth."
JD looked horrified. "You're dead? Because of me? Oh, Harry, no! There's been a mistake! You can't! You can't be dead!" The young man's fingers were digging into Harry's shoulders.
"JD, calm down," the wizard soothed. "I'm not . . . dead, per say. The Council just has some work for me."
The young doctor stared at him for a long while before saying, "Will you be back?"
Harry shrugged. "Eventually, I'm sure. And I'll drop by from time to time." JD nodded solemnly. "You'll take care of Bob, won't you?"
Another nod. "All right, kid. It's time to sleep."
"Sleep?"
Without another word, Harry's hand ghosted over JD's face, and everything went black.//
0 o 0 o 0
"JD?" A worried, familiar voice breached the darkness, and JD reached for it with all his might. "JD! Come on, damn it! Wake up!" The young man pulled in lungful after burning lungful of air, coughing. "That's it, JD. Come on, you can do this. Just open your eyes. Let me see those beautiful bl-"
Perry's sentence was cut short as the young man finally did open his eyes, revealing the damage done.
"No," the older man breathed, shaking his head as he ran his fingers through JD's hair. The young man's head lay in his lap, Perry seated on the cold morgue floor. He'd sent Doug for help nearly five minutes ago and didn't expect him back anytime soon.
Harry – or Harry's body; Perry wasn't quite sure – had disappeared with the roller-skating Janitor to who-knew-where . . . which left him with JD's now semiconscious – and blind – form.
"Oh, JD, what have I done?" The older man groaned. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Perry?" JD called weakly, trying to move his arm and finding it near impossible. He whimpered and grimaced at the failed effort. Perry immediately grasped the young man's hand, holding it to his stubbled cheek and brushing his lips against the fingertips.
"Thought you were gone, Perry," JD whispered, his head lolling to one side as exhaustion overtook him. "Thought I'd lost you."
"Same here, JD," Perry said, trying his best to keep his tears at bay but failing in the end. They rolled down his cheeks, soaking JD's fingers.
"You can't see," the older man cried. "You can't see, and it's all my fault."
"I can see you, Perry," the young man replied sleepily. "I can see you just fine."
And then he drifted into unconsciousness again.
0 o 0 o 0
/Three Weeks Later:/
Perry slouched further into his sofa, bringing a beer to his lips and taking a few gulps from it as he stared at the television screen – thankfully, one of his sports buddies had TiVo-ed all of the games he had missed, giving him plenty to catch up on upon their return home barely two days ago. His other hand absently ran through the dark locks of the head resting in his lap. JD lay across the couch, his fingers slowly moving over the small bumps on the page of the book propped up against his bent knees, the cover boldly stating How to Read Braille. It was a book highly recommended by several respected psychologists, and one that Perry and several other Sacred Heart doctors had personally recommended to patients who had suffered sudden loss of sight due to an accident or a disease.
Perry had bought it for him not long after he was released – JD having to stay quite a bit longer due to the extremity of his injuries – claiming it would be a good way to pass the time while his eyes healed.
If they heal, JD had thought to himself, but he had smiled and nodded and hugged Perry for the thoughtfulness.
The older doctor glanced over momentarily, watching as JD's forefinger, suddenly, stopped over one particular set of bumps, his eyebrows furrowing as he ran the pad of his finger over it back and forth. After a couple of minutes, he sighed in frustration, closing the book roughly and letting it slip to the floor.
"Problem, Newbie?" The older man asked before tipping his beer again and swallowing the rest of the bottle's contents.
"Only if you count the possibility of never having my sight return as a problem," JD bit back angrily, immediately regretting the words but not showing it. Perry leaned forward, pushing JD up off his lap as he set the empty bottle on the coffee table.
"Sorry, Patricia, this isn't a pity party," he replied airily. "You want sympathy, go find that black boyfriend of yours. I'm sure if you cry hard enough, he'll get you that pony you've always wanted." JD's face became distant, and the older doctor snapped his fingers in front of his face to pull him back into reality. "And I swear, Amber, that if you start daydreaming about ponies, I will personally see to it that stuffed dog of yours finds a shelter – preferably the dark and dank dumpster just outside this apartment building. Got it?"
"Her name would be Falicia, and we'd have wondrous adventures in San Francisco," the young man mused with a dreamy smile.
Perry sighed with an exasperated shake of his head, placing his face in his hands.
"Per?" JD asked softly, timidly reaching a hand out and following the length of the older man's arm to his wrist, then to the fingers splayed across his face. "Are you all right?"
Perry took the young man's hand in his, leaning back against the couch and playing idly with JD's fingers. "I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine." The younger doctor pointed out, molding himself to Perry's side and resting his head on the other man's shoulder. "You sound . . . tired."
Perry forced a bark of laughter. "Tired?" JD nodded. "Tired doesn't even begin to explain it."
The young man smiled against Perry's shoulder, saying, "I know something that could take your mind off of it."
"And risk ripping your stitches? I don't think so, Newbie. You heard the doc. No 'strenuous activities' for at least a few more weeks."
"It's not strenuous if I'm not the one doing all the work."
Perry eyed him critically, realizing too late that the look was completely wasted . . . perhaps.
JD frowned. "And don't make that face at me, mister. I know you. There's no way you'll last a few weeks. Not even a few hours."
"I've lasted a couple days already," the older man argued with a certain air of indignation. He crossed his arms.
"Then I've got something to work with," JD said with a smirk, suddenly swinging one leg over Perry's thighs to straddle him.
"What're you-" Perry hesitated in placing his hands on the young man, knowing JD's tactic all too well.
"A few weeks?" JD asked, running his fingers tantalizingly along Perry's broad shoulders and down his arms to knead the bulging biceps. "You sure about that?" His fingertips edged up the other man's sleeves, brushing the skin beneath and leaving goosebumps in their wake.
Perry shivered. "This isn't . . . fair."
"I think it's more than fair," the young man shrugged, his hands moving and splaying palms-down on the other's well-muscled chest. He found the first button of Perry's shirt and went from their. Soon the second and third buttons were undone, curly chest hair tickling the pads of JD's fingers. He smiled, reveling in the feeling. He never used to; revel, that is. He had always appreciated, of course. With a man like Perry, who wouldn't? But reveling was different – reveling didn't necessarily involve sight, and since JD was clearly lacking in that department, he had a chance to indulge.
Perry cocked his head to one side, studying his young lover intently. "What are you thinking about?" He whispered, wondering what thoughts could possibly put a look of complete . . . bliss on the face of someone who had every right to be miserable.
"What do you think I'm thinking?" JD asked cryptically. His fingers balled the fabric of his shirt, suddenly, and he ground their hips together, eliciting a sharp hiss from Perry as the older man grabbed JD's thighs tightly.
"Oh, Newbie," he groaned, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. "Don't . . . Don't do that."
"Don't do what?" The young man asked with a smirk. "This?" Another electric shock as he moved against Perry with just the right about of pressure.
This time, Perry gasped, one hand fisting JD's shirt at the small of his back and the other surging up to his messy locks and pulling his head down to lock their lips in a desperate kiss. "Yea," the older man breathed heavily as they reluctantly pulled apart. "That."
"Oh," JD sighed with a nod. "All right, then." He swiftly raised himself from Perry's lap, effortlessly making his way around the couch and towards their bedroom without any help whatsoever. Perry stared after him in disbelief. Was the young man seriously considering leaving him on their sofa like-
"Are you coming?" JD called from the bedroom, and Perry was on his feet in an instant.
"Oh, I will be," he growled, frantically ripping his shirt off and stalking in after the young man.
0 o 0 o 0
Perry awoke with the feeling that something life-altering was going to happen, and this time he wasn't sure if it would be good or bad. He turned on his side, stretching his arm over JD's chest and sighing with contentment as he reveled in the feeling of the young man's torso moving upward and downward in a steady motion. His ease was short-lived, however, as he looked to JD's face to find him staring with a glazed expression at the ceiling.
"How long have you been awake?" He asked, morning huskiness tainting his words.
"I don't think I've gone to sleep yet," JD replied nonchalantly, and Perry sat up on one elbow to look down at him.
"And what exactly were you doing all night?" He demanded a little more harshly than he'd intended. JD took a moment to answer, his unblinking eyes still directed towards the ceiling.
"Thinking," he replied airily, as if he had the biggest secret in the world. A small smile graced his lips, and Perry, suddenly, got very suspicious.
"About what?"
"About how sexy those red boxers make your ass look," the young man said cheekily, his smile widening. Perry looked down, finding that he was wearing his favorite red boxers – the ones that JD had gotten him last Christmas – and that they, indeed, made his ass look sexy as hell.
"JD, how-" Perry turned back to the young man to find a pair of beautiful blues staring back at him – seeing him. The older man's mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to speak the words his mind was screaming.
He could see them – those big, bright blue Newbie eyes that no one could resist. They were back.
"I saw Harry last night," JD explained. "He said that normally the Council isn't supposed to interfere. But he didn't think they'd kick him out after just inducting him."
"So," Perry said thoughtfully, "Harry was here last night?" JD nodded. "He's doing all right?" The young man nodded again. "And he saw me in my sexy, red boxers?"
"He said they're very becoming," JD noted seriously, and Perry laughed. But JD stayed stoic.
"Almost lost you, Per," he said softly, seeking out the man's hand beneath the covers.
"Almost lost you, JD," Perry mirrored, grasping the hand in his tightly.
"If Harry hadn't been there-"
"If you hadn't rescued me from that damned nightmare-"
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Perry," JD whispered, his eyes wide with tears. "I just . . . I don't know."
"I'm not going anywhere," the older man promised with a reassuring smile, "and neither are you."
"Oh, yes I am," JD laughed and stood, scrunching his nose. "I'm taking a long. Hot. Shower." He disappeared, leaving Perry to stare after him in bemusement.
He laid back against the pillows, his hand behind his head. He closed his eyes and breathed easy for the first time in a long time. After a moment, JD poked his head our of the bathroom door.
"You coming?" He asked impatiently, as if Perry was supposed to have gone after him right away.
"You bet your skinny, white ass," the older man growled. JD pouted his bottom lip out as Perry jumped up and started toward him.
"It's not that white, is it?"
"I know a way to turn it red," Perry suggested, an evil smile on his lips as he shoved the young man back into the bathroom.
0 o 0 o 0
"You haven't told him, have you?"
JD looked up from the blade of grass he was twiddling between his fingers to the young girl sitting on her own gravestone. Her legs swung back and forth as she studied him carefully.
Melanie. He'd seen her back when he was dead – a ghost mourning over his own headstone. He had no idea why he could still see her, but he was grateful for the company. And the conversations they had from time to time.
"Told him what?" JD purposely played dumb, swallowing as he averted his gaze once more.
"There's something coming," the small ghost said absently, staring over JD's shoulder at nothing in particular. "Something big." Her gaze focused on the young man again, her eyes filled deep with worry. "Too big. JD, I don't think you can do it alone."
JD shook his head. "He's been through too much. I couldn't ask him to bear my problems too. It wouldn't be fair."
"You think he won't want to help you?" A voice said from behind, and JD turned to find Harry towering over him, hands in his pockets and a stern look on his face. "After all you've been through?"
"No," JD sighed, turning back to his blade of grass, "I know he'll want to help me . . . and that's what scares me the most." Harry sat down beside him. "I can't lose him."
"Hey," the wizard said softly, and JD looked up at him, "who said anything about losing anyone?" The young man's eyes filled with anxiety, and a heavy feeling settled in Harry's gut.
"I've seen something, Harry," JD whispered, bringing his knees up to his chest and circling his shins with his arms. "In my dreams . . . Perry's screaming, and I can't help him."
"JD, it's just a dream," Harry reassured him, but the doctor shook his head.
"No, this is . . . It's different. I can see it as if I'm actually there, watching it happen."
"Buddy, you have to tell him," Harry sighed. "If you don't, then I-"
"No," JD said harshly, surprising the older man. "You won't tell him anything. I'll deal with this when it comes. But until then-" He raised a finger. "-not one word. You hear me?" Harry saw the seriousness in the young man's eyes and frowned, nodding in understanding.
Melanie watched with worry, biting her lower lip as she tried to think of a way to stop the fighting.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said abruptly, and both men turned to her.
"Leaving?" JD asked with confusion, and the girl nodded.
"My daddy's coming to get me," she replied excitedly. "I'll get to hug him for real, and this time he'll be able to see me and hug me back."
JD smiled sadly. "Good for you, Sweetie."
"Where will you go?" Harry asked curiously.
Melanie shrugged. "To see my mommy in heaven, maybe."
"How will you . . . get there?" JD inquired, sitting forward slightly.
"Him," Melanie pointed off to the right, and both men turned to find Perry standing not a few feet away. JD's stomach dropped.
"How long has he been standing there?" He asked either of the two sitting near him.
"Long enough to know you think you can take on this big, bad world all by yourself, Melissa," Perry snapped, stomping forward and pulling the young man to his feet. "I thought we trusted each other."
"I trust you," JD said desperately. "I do."
"Apparently not enough." The older man let him go, turning and beginning to walk away.
"Perry," JD called, his shoulders slumping. He glanced back toward Harry and Melanie desperately. The small girl rolled her eyes and made a 'go get him' motion with her hands, Harry's eyebrows raised as he shrugged.
JD took Melanie's advice.
"Perry!" He said as he grabbed hold of the man's upper arm and blocked his path. Perry flicked his nose and crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. JD swallowed hard and took a deep breath, finding it difficult with his chest so tight.
"We need to talk," he said, glad that his voice didn't waver.
"About?" The older doctor demanded, giving the other a pointed look.
"Everything," JD sighed, offering Perry an exhausted look. "I want to tell you everything." The older man eyed him warily.
"This isn't going to be one of those autobiography moments, is it? 'Cause to tell the truth, Sheila, I don't think I have that much time."
JD chuckled with relief. "Can we get ice cream first?"
"What are we? Two?" Perry griped, snaking an arm around the younger man's waist and leading him towards the cemetery gates.
Harry and Melanie stared after them.
"You think they'll make it?" The wizard-turned-higher-being asked.
The young ghost sighed. "I hope so."
Harry turned to find her looking at her wringing hands, eyebrows furrowed and lips drawn into a frown. "Something is coming, isn't it?"
She nodded. "Something they won't be able to handle by themselves. They'll need help. Lots of it."
"I think I can handle that," Harry replied, a corner of his mouth quirking slightly.
Her sharp eyes met his soft brown ones. "Can you?"
His smile waned. "Are you saying I can't?"
"I'm saying it will be difficult. Things will be different. You've never fought anything like this before." Melanie's voice was quiet but firm, her words holding wisdom far beyond her years.
"What do you mean?"
The girl, suddenly, looked up, her gaze settling somewhere near the cemetery gates and a broad smile spreading her lips thinly. "Daddy!" She called, jumping from the headstone. Before her feet even reached the ground, she was gone, a gust of wind brushing by the grave site.
Harry stood, looking around for a moment before letting loose a defeated groan. "What do you mean?" He whispered, shoving his hands in his pockets and taking a step backward. With a swirling wind of his own, he disappeared.
The cemetery grew cold as birds fled the surrounding trees. The air thickened with that familiar sense one gets when being watched. Voices wafted along the breeze weaving around the headstones, whispering, "Soon."
AN: Yea, that's about all I have. I think there will be a next part... Here's hoping, yea? Later, Gators! Thanks for sticking with me through this crazy time. Catch you on the flip side!