Voices. I could hear someone talking directly to me as several other voices shouted orders. Then the voices faded and the darkness swallowed me.

"Can I see her?" Jason asked as he stood just outside the Medical Bay, trying to see inside and Forge blocked the doorway. "Why not?" He demanded to know.

"Crystal's in bad shape. Right now she's being worked on by some of N-Tek's best doctors so you need to stay here." Forge explained and Jason bit his lip his eyes going back to the doorway. "Look I know you're worried about her but you need to stay out of their way." He said and Jason shook his head, about to argue when Berto showed up holding a clipboard in his hands.

"Jason, I could really use your help." Berto asked as Jason finally sighed. With Jason following him,Berto couldn't help noticing that his gaze was on the floor. "Hey I know that you care about Crystal but she's in good hands." He explained and Jason looked up for a moment not even trying to hide the fear in his face.

"Everyone keeps saying that but Crystal took on Dredd alone and no one helped her. Where was Max Steel when she got hurt?" Jason growled and Berto sighed, shaking his head at the villian. "Where are the training rooms?" He sudden asked and after a slight pause Berto led the way knowing exactly why. Frustrated that Max Steel, the supposed hero of Copper Canyon, had failed to protect me Jason decided that working out his anger in one of N-Tek's training rooms would be a better option then picking a fight with the hero instead.

I'm more than a match for him so why didn't I find Max Steel and take out my anger on that 'hero', Jason wondered as he followed Berto. After a few seconds he shook his head the tiniest of smiles appearing on his lips. I guess Crystal's a bad influence on me, he grinned.

With an IV drip attached to her right hand and her left arm bandaged from wrist to elbow, Crystal lay unconscious in the Medical Bay. Having been knocked out the moment her head slammed into the pavement she resisted all attempts to wake her. Thankfully the helmet had absorbed most of the impact though the shock of the blow from Dredd had left her out cold and with a deep gash just below her left ear. However from time to time anyone who checked on her injuries could hear her make a faint whimpering noise. But as soon as anyone checked the noise ceased and she went back to being erriely quiet.

As the day passed Jason finally called a halt to his training sessions, leaning against the wall as he caught his breath. Actually Berto had called a halt watching on as Jason returned to his human form, panting heavily.

"Why did you...stop?" Jason gasped as he straightened and Berto just shook his head, getting a frown as his response.

"Because you're about to fall on your face and I am not picking you up." Berto replied as he walked over, still holding his remote. "You could use a break and besides I know you want to check on Crystal." He added and Jason let out a snort, folding his arms against his chest like that was the dumbest idea in history. Though he did leave a few minutes later pretending to head for the Com Room when in fact he just happened to past the Medical Bay.

"Might as well check on her since I'm already here." Jason muttered as he poked his head through the door making sure all of the doctors had left before he wandered inside.

As he stepped through the door he looked from one corner of the room to the other before he saw Crystal lying a few feet away. Walking over he found that his friend was still very much asleep and he grinned, reaching out with his fingers to stroke my forehead only to pause as he heard a whimper.

"Crystal?" He whispered and this time he heard a groan. Curious he leant in and as his face closed the distance his friend began to stir. Seconds passed and as he watched her eyelids opened and he found a set of pale grey eyes watching him.

"Jason? What's going on?" I whispered as I tried to move only to find my body won't allow me and I let out a frustrated groan. "Why...can't I move?"

"Maybe because you're hurt? Besides there's a IV drip attached to your hand so moving would pull it out." Jason grinned as he gently lifts my right hand several inches off the bed and I stare at the needle taped to the back of my hand.

"How did I...get hurt again?" I whispered and Jason started to explain only to watch as my eyes slowly closed. When I let out a snort Jason tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh and when I went quiet, slipping into a light doze he smiled.

"I start talking and she falls asleep." Jason complained though as he walked away he couldn't help but grin.

A day later I woke to find Doctor Alexander standing over me and when I managed a tired smile he grinned back.

"How are feeling, Miss Crystal?" He asked as he checked my IV drip and pulse.

"Not too bad. Did something happen to my hand?" I asked as I lifted it up and he gave me a slight nod, taking hold of it and setting it back down on the bed. "Is it broken?"

"Actually its only sprained but we had to stitch your arm and wrist in several places. You cut it up pretty badly." Doctor Alexander explained giving me a smile when I grimaced. "Don't worry in a few weeks it'll heal."

"A few weeks? So I'm stuck here?" I whispered and getting a slight nod I groaned as I stared up at the ceiling, not even noticing when someone moved into the room.

"Quit complaining. At least you're still in one piece." Jason commented and I glared at him, watching as he wandered over. "Most people end up worse than you after crossing Dredd."

"If you need anything just call. I'll leave you two alone." Doctor Alexander told me as he straightened but I didn't even notice as he left, too busy glaring at Jason who just chuckled.

"I'm stuck here because of you." I growled as Jason stood against my bed. "I'm aching all over, my arm itches and I can't even scratch it. And you laugh at me?"

"Crystal, I came here to check on you. So stop getting so wound up." Jason told me and I snorted still very annoyed that he'd poke fun at him. "Want me to sign your cast?" He added and I let out another growl telling him what I thought about that idea. With a huge smile he knelt beside me and I was taken aback when his lips gently brushed my forehead then the band-aid below my ear. Shocked by his gentleness I didn't move an inch only watching on with the tiniest of smiles as he kissed my throat.

"Jason...why are you being...so nice to me?" I whispered and in response he nuzzled my throat leaving me suddenly wanting more. After a minute passed he straightened, running his fingers through my hair. "All I've done is make fun of you."

"Maybe you did." He answered as he stared down at me, his orange eyes glowing. "But after you protected me from Master Dredd maybe my opinon of you has changed ." He added as he leant over, brushing his lips against mine. I was a little surprised but pleasantly so and I didn't resist, going so far as to open my mouth slightly and the kiss became a heated open-mouthed one. I was still feeling pretty woozy, both from the pain of my injuries and whatever medication currently being pumped through my IV drip but I forgot about that throughout the kiss. Of course once Jason's mouth released mine I winced, the pain hitting all over again.

"My wrist hurts." I whimpered as I lifted it giving the bandage a glare as if that would help and Jason laughed. "You're not helping at all." I grumbled as he stood over me.

"Maybe you should rest for a while. That might stop all your complaining." Jason joked and I rolled my eyes at him. "Anyway you did take a beating from Dredd." He reminded me and I sighed, trying to nod at him. I knew I had to rest but I wouldn't let Jason know he was right at least not without a fight. Though as he stroked my forehead with the tips of his fingers I found myself wanting to sleep and soon I closed my eyes letting out a quiet sigh. To test if I had really fallen asleep Jason prodded my arm and when I didn't make a move to stop him or even comment he gave me a smile. "See you in the morning." He whispered giving my forehead a kiss before he made his way outside.

Finding myself confirmed to the Medical Bay for a week wasn't the best way to prove myself as an N-Tek agent though word had spread in the short time I'd been unconscious that I'd protected a villan. That didn't earn me a great, or even good reputation with most of N-Tek that I would knowingly save an enemy but I knew that if I could have made the descion again I would have gladly protected Jason. Why I still didn't know but when he came to see me a full day later he found me trying to disconnect the drip from my hand.

"Just where are you going?" Jason asked as he leant against the doorway and I jumped thinking I'd been caught by Commander Forge. When I saw only Jason in the room I let out a breath before I reached for the drip again, only for him to cross the gap between the door and my bed. "Maybe you should leave that drip in. I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure only a medical professional should be taking it out." He said but I ignored him, concentrating on removing the needle attached to my vein and he sighed as he reached across and gripped my hand.

"Jason, what are you doing? I'm going stir crazy staying in here." I grumbled as I moved my hand and he gave it a slight squeeze making me gasp, instantly making me relax my hold on the drip.

"You need to stay here and heal. Or do you want to injure yourself again?" Jason told me as he released his grip and I rubbed my wrist giving him my coldest glare. Letting out a sigh he shook his head. "I didn't do this, Dredd did so would you are getting angry at me?" Jason asked as he leant against the nearest bed and after staring at his face for a few seconds I sighed, looking down at the bed.

"I'm sorry I'm just...so bored. No one will let me out of this room and its driving me crazy!" I explained and Jason smiled as he moved closer. "I don't know why you're so happy, you're stuck at N-Tek too since Commander Forge's agreement with me still stands." I muttered as he looked down at me unable to hide a smile as I pouted.

"Maybe I am but at least I can see a bright side to this." Jason answered and I looked up eyes narrowed until he leant in close. Finding myself face to face with him I blushed a little as he stroked my face.

"What's the bright side?" I asked as he leant in and when he kissed me, I sighed. Now this is what I call a bright side, I thought as I returned the kiss. Of course Jason being, well Jason he decided that now was the right time to test my affection for him and when his hand brushed the buttons of my shirt I growled. "I'm sick and injured and you try to...?"

"Is now not a good time?" Jason asked keeping his fingers just out of reach and getting another growl he sighed. "I'm just trying to help you and you snap at me."

"Excuse me? You were trying to take my top off!" I shot back glaring at him as he raised an eyebrow at me. "Besides I'm not your girlfriend." I added as I stared at the bed, fiddling with the blanket someone had covered me with.

"Is that why you're so uptight? I guess we haven't really gone out on a date yet but you do keep ending up in this room." Jason replied as I kept straing at the blanket my bandaged wrist lying in my lap and after seeing the sadness in my eyes he shook his head. "There's something bothering you and its not me, at least I don't think so. I hope not anyway."

"Its not you. Look I need to explain something to you. When I was a teenager I thought that any guy who was nice to me actually liked me. We went out on a few dates and I thought they liked me...until I found them with another girl and it broke my heart. They were just using me to help them with their homework or an exam. After it happened a third time I resolved never to let myself fall for anyone else. I just didn't want my heart broken again." I whispered and as Jason watched my eyes welled with tears.

"That's pretty cruel and trust me I should know. I am a villan." Jason joked and I went to laugh only to sniff instead. Burying my face in my hands I started to sob not noticing when Jason knelt beside me though as his arm wrapped around me I uncovered my face to see him give me a slight smile. "Imagine someone being stupid enough to let go of you." He said and I sniffed, giving him a brief smile before I buried my face in his chest. As he silently comforted me Jason wondered, once again, why he was acting so nice around me.

Well I guess I'm making up for Crystal trying to defend me against Mast...I mean Dredd he thought as I snuggled against him. Besides this way she'll be in my debt.

Sadly I couldn't read thoughts or I might have been at least a little annoyed at his ulterior motive. But when I lifted my head, tears streaking my face he gave me a smile and leant in close. When his lips pressed against mine I let out a little sigh before I started to kiss him back.