A/N: I do not own The Fantastic Four or any of it's characters. Though I wouldn't mind own Reed--or Ioan for that matter! Who agrees with me? (silence) Okay...anyway, all I own is Gabrielle.

Thanks to TeEn TiTaN 11, Xdaisy chainX, jinxyknockonwood, The Messenger, and Alana Xavier1!

Chapter 9: Quick Decisions

Sue was nervously pacing on the roof, alone. She was the first to arrive and, not only was it freezing cold, but she had no way of knowing if her boys were okay. For all she knew, Gabrielle had killed them all. Just the thought of one of the three hurt or dead was enough to send her over the edge. She wanted to swear to kill Gabrielle, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Just as she thought about going back inside to find them and drag them to the roof herself, she saw both Johnny and Ben burst through the door. Sue couldn't even restrain herself from running over and hugging them both so hard that they thought she would cut off their oxygen supply.

"Are you two okay? Did she find you? Where's Reed?" She asked in one large breath, looking between the two with worry.

"We thought Reed was with you..." Ben said, trailing off, as he looked around slightly.

"No, we split up, remember?" Sue watched as Johnny and Ben looked from one another then back to her, a sheepish smile on her brother's face as he shrugged. "Oh, my God! If he's not here, then he's still in there with her. He could be hurt or dying, and we wouldn't even know it! He could be--"

"Just fine?" She turned around at the confusedannouncement and saw Reed, perfectly fine, walking over to her. Without even thinking, Sue ran over and kissed him, hugging him tightly, afraid to let go. Why did they always have to cut these things so close?

"Hey, Reed. Good to see 'ya." Reed nodded to Ben, giving his best friend a small smile and nod. None of them knew just how close he had been to not waking up in that hallway.

"Good thing Sue here didn't panic." Sue turned around in Reed's arm and glared at Johnny with everything she had, but he just smirked at her. "What happened to you?"

"She cornered me and, uh...performed a small scientific experiement." He explained, smartly leaving out what the experiment was. Unfortuantely for him, questioning looks went all around and he knew he'd have to tell them the truth. "She strangled me until she thought I was dead, then left." The others nodded and he silently commended himself. Not the whole truth, but did they really need to know about the kiss? "I thought she would've been smart enough to check my pulse."

"A mistake I can assure you I won't make again." Everyone turned at the sound of the voice and saw Gabrielle. She had the same sadistic smile on her face, eyes dead, as she slammed the roof door shut.

"Johnny, go." Reed ordered, standing protectively in front of Sue, glaring at Gabrielle.

"What! You can't think I'm just gonna leave you guys here!"

"Johnny, this is no time to argue! Go!" Reed turned to the younger man and, without warning, stretched his arm and pushed Johnny towards the edge of the roof.

"Geez, all right! Don't have to tell me twice. Flame on!" Johnny shouted and burst into a brilliant display of flames, flying off into the night sky.

"Let's talk, Gabrielle." Reed said, surprisingly calm considering the situation.

"Let's not. Besides, if I can't kill Reed, I might as well kill your idiot brother." Sue paled at Gabrielle's words. She opened her mouth to protest, stepping out from behind Reed, but was too late to say anything as Gabrielle flew off after Johnny.

"Reed!" Sue admonished, scowling at Reed.

"I thought she would stay here to fight us!" Reed explained, feeling guilty and stupid all at once. "I didn't think she'd go after him!"

"All she wants to do is hurt me, Reed! The best way to do that is to kill the people I love! Of course she'd go after my brother!"

"Save the lovers spat for later you two." Ben shouted from the edge of the roof, and the arguing couple looked over at him. "Looks like flame boy's in trouble." Quickly running to the edge of the roof, Reed and Sue looked up and watched the night sky with Ben. They could clearly see Johnny, for obvious reasons, andthey saw Gabrielle right behind her, her wings glowing in the moonlight, catching up to him rather quickly.