Chapter 14: My Eyes Are Open

Abby's breathing was heavy as she ran up the stairs of the skyscraper. Every muscle in her body was still sore after the fight with the Chimera. Her legs faltered and she fell but her shoulder hit the wall so she managed to stand. She growled at her own tiresomeness before resuming running.

'Please Ty, don't be dead. For the love of god don't be dead.'

She reached the door to the roof and violently kicked it open. Ty was lying motionless in the same place she had left him. She ran to him and got on her knees.

'He looks dead.' She dreadfully thought with a worried gulp. She placed her head on his chest. She heard faint heartbeats. He was alive but just barely. He needed medical treatment. Abby ran towards the mangled wreckage of the GRS-1, hoping the medicine in there would be of help. She pulled out her electronic key and pushed the opening button but the backdoor wouldn't open. It had been sealed together with the rest of the ship when the Chimera crushed the GRS.

"Damn it!" She exclaimed and angrily kicked the door. She ran to the cockpit and stepped thru the broken windshield. Her hopes to get to the medicine was crushed when she saw that the inside had caved in, separating the cockpit from the rest of the ship. Distraught, Abby got out of the ship and called LabRat on her Grossometer.

"LabRat!" Her stern voice made the computer wiz flinch. "Ty is injured, badly. He has been poisoned."

"A-Alright. Take him to the Gaglab. I prepare the med-bay." LabRat said worried.

"I can't. The GRS-1 is destroyed." Abby was now so worried that her voice turned squeaky like a mouse's.

"You have to find another way of transportation." LabRat stated.

Abby looked over at Ty and got an idea. "Ty's jetpack."

"What?"

"Were is the nearest GagLab entrance?" She asked, ignoring LabRat's query.

LabRat showed Abby a map of the area on the Grossometer screen. "There's a manhole in an alley across the river, only a few blocks away."

"Okay thanks." Abby turned off her Grossometer and ran back to Ty. She gently slipped the jetpack of his back put it on. It sat a bit loose so she strapped it tight around her back. She then cradled her brother and lifted him up. As she did Ty started to stir. In a moment of naiveté and premature hope Abby laid him back on the ground but what she thought was him waking up was really just cramps making his body twitch.

'Hope that isn't death rattles." She thought and once again lifted him up in her arms. She activated the jetpack. Already she felt as if the jetpack was trying to fly away with her but she stood her ground. She took a few steps before leaping of the roof and the jetpack carried her away but it went to fast and she spiraled out of control. She eventually managed to stabilize herself and got on course.

'Ugh, why did I never learn to properly use this thing?' Abby thought and then looked down at Ty.

'Because of him, you could never stand it that Ty was better than you at something.'

'That is not true. Ty is better than me in a lot of things. How many times has his scientific knowledge saved us? And now I might never be able to turn to him for advice again.'

Abby could now see the alley. She made a sharp turn towards it but she lost control of the jetpack again. She gripped her brother tighter before she crashed against a wall. One of the jetpack's wings snapped off and Abby's shoulder got scratched up before she hit the ground. The still active jetpack got lose from Abby's back, crashed into the other side of the alley and fell to the ground. It gave out a few *puff* sounds while pathetically skipping across the ground until coming to a permanent stop, letting out a streak of dark smoke.

"When Ty wakes up he is gonna kill me for ruining his jetpack." Abby sighed. 'If he wakes up.'

'No! Don't think like that, he will wake up and everything will be like it used too.'

LabRat heard Abby coming in and went to meet her but the sight was almost too much for the young shut-in. Abby was standing in the entrance with Ty in her arms. Sweat was running down her serious face and she was panting heavily. Every muscle in her body was aching from overuse.

"Um…okay, follow me." LabRat said and motioned her to the med-bay he had set up. It was a separated area of the Gaglab with a cover, a wheeled bed and a cabinet with medicine. Abby gently placed Ty on the bed.

"He is in a lot of pain." She stated tiered.

"What kind of poison was he exposed too?" LabRat asked while going thru the cabinet. Preparing a few syringes.

"Venom, from a tarantula hawkwasp." Abby replied as she headed towards a chair, which now looked like a golden throne in heaven to the tired girl. She sighed, sat down and the moment her back hit the backrest she fell asleep.

When Abby woke up she felt well rested yet groggy. Her light backache proved that the chair hadn't been too comfortable. She was never far from a computer in the Gaglab and as soon as she saw a computer screen she saw that the clock was 17:25. She remember it was around 11 when she arrived here.

LabRat walked into the room. "Good to see you are awake." He greeted politely.

"Why did you let me sleep so long?" Abby snapped, definitely annoyed that her friend let her sleep at such a delicate time.

LabRat rolled his eyes annoyed. "Right, as if I am gonna wake that sleeping giant."

"Oh fat jokes, really appropriate." She snarled.

"I wasn't making a fat joke." He deadpanned.

Abby sighed, took a deep breath and pinched her nose bridge as she collected her thoughts. "You know, I am sorry I snapped. I am just frustrated and tiered and worried. Not to mention I have been confused all day today."

LabRat tilted his head and raised a puzzled eyebrow. What could confuse Abby an entire day? "It is okay. I guess you want to look up on Ty." He said lightheartedly and thumbed towards the med-bay.

Abby walked over and pulled the cover aside. Ty was still unconscious but at least his breathing sounded normal and he didn't seem to be in any pain. "How is he?" She asked with a depressed expression.

"I managed to stabilize him. Gave him some painkillers for the pain and some sedatives for his rapid heart." Was LabRat's tiered but specific answer. It hadn't been an easy procedure but at least now it was done. He was thankful over the results but wished he could have done more.

"Was there no anti-dote?" She asked without taking her eyes of Ty.

"Wouldn't have mattered. The issue was how his body was reacting, not the venom itself."

"Will he-*gulp*-will he wake up soon?" Abby asked, trying to not to sob.

"By my estimates he will be awake by tomorrow. He will be fine Abby." LabRat stated.

Abby took a step closer. She moved a strand of hair off his forehead. Her mind went back to what he said in the warehouse. All his warnings.

"It is all my fault." She whispered to herself. "What will I tell my parents?" she asked LabRat.

"I sent them a message from Ty's cellphone saying he is staying at Andy's."

Abby gave LabRat a blank, confused stare. She was used to lie about their whereabouts, she did it this morning. It was part of the job yet lying to her parents while her brother was hurt just seemed wrong somehow. He was their son, they should know how he was feeling.

LabRat squinted his left eye. "Was that wrong?" He asked puzzled.

Abby shook her head. "No, no. It was good thinking. You did well. I better get going now before my parents wonder where I am." She reluctantly left Ty and headed for the exit.

"Alright. See ya." LabRat said and raised a hand as a goodbye.

Abby shot him an obvious forced smile and waved goodbye. "Take care."

LabRat's mournful eyes followed her until she was gone. He felt so sorry for the Archer sister. He then looked over at Ty and he smiled. 'He will be okay, she will be okay, we will all be okay. That is how it works around here. Pain and heartache always comes and goes but we persevere and once the dark has past we will appreciate the light so much more. I just hope Abby will see the light soon.'

He placed a mug of water next to Ty's bed (figuring he would be thirsty when he woke up) and patted his friends shoulder. "Get better soon buddy." Then he went to feed Hermes.

Abby opened the door to her house. Her eyes were so tearful they stung but being the strong girl that she was she kept them in check. It was weird, this morning all she could think about was Chester, now it was Ty screaming in pain.

Her mother walked up to her. "Hey honey."

"Hey mom." Abby said before her mom gave her the traditional motherly hug. Cold, it felt cold.

"Were have you been all day?" Petunia asked.

Abby hadn't even thought about an excuse for that. "Um, I was studying at the library and fell asleep." 'Why was it so easy to lie about that but not about Ty?'

Her dad Harvey came into the hall, having overheard their conversation. "That is okay sweetie. It happens the best of us. Ty sent a message saying he would sleep over at Andy's place. Would you like to ask a friend of your own to come over?" He said in a jolly tone.

A feeling of disgust filled the pit of Abby's stomach. Seeing her parents so happy and casual when their son was almost dead made her feel horrible. They should be worried sick but they didn't know about Ty's predicament. Only she cared.

"No, it's okay." She sighed and started walking up the stairs.

"Oh, one more thing." Her mother called out, prompting Abby to turn in the middle of the staircase.

"WHAT?" Abby snapped aggressively.

Petunia flinched. "Um, I would like you to put up new flyers for the planthouse."

"Why?" Abby asked, sounding disinterested.

"The midnight showing has been postponed by about a month. I don't know why, something having to do with security at the custom." Petunia explained.

Abby didn't care. "Okay." She sighed and continued walking up the stairs.

"Are you sure you are okay Abby." Harvey asked concerned.

Abby stopped again but she didn't turn around. She squeezed the rail. "Everything is fine dad." She growled with a spit of accidental venom before storming off to her room. Once shutting the door behind her Abby couldn't hold it back anymore. She ran to her bed and started crying into her pillow.

'What is wrong with me? I can't blame my parents for not knowing. It's a secret I have kept for years. Everything is my fault. If I had listen to Ty Insectiva wouldn't have ambushed us and Ty wouldn't have gotten hurt. He must have been in so much pain. Is that the last I will remember him by?'

She sat up and hugged her knees.

'I am being irrational. LabRat said he will be okay and LabRat is never wrong, but why then do I then feel like I am never going to see him again? I wish I wasn't alone. I wish someone could be here for me. Is this how Chester feels every day? Chester."

Her eyes darted to the cellphone on her bedtable. She remember the dream she had last night. Chester didn't live far away and he knew about her secret double life. He has so often made her feel better.

'No, I can't call him. I can't lay all this on him and what will he think of me? He might think I have feelings for him. Which I don't, do I?' She stared at the phone for what felt like an eternity. 'No matter what I feel for him he is still my friend and he does care about me and I really need a friend right now.

Her hand quickly swiped the phone of the bedtable and called Chester's number. She held it to her ear. "Hello, it's Chester." The moment she heard his voice she regretted calling him. She felt stupid but it was too late hang up now.

"He-hey Chester." Abby sobbed unintentionally.

"Is something wrong?" Chester asked concerned.

"It *sob* it is Ty." Abby replied. It was hard for her to talk. Her throat felt thick and her eyes were running.

"Ty? What is wrong with him?" Chester sounded even more concerned.

"He got injured on a mission. He-he was in a lot of pain."

"Is he okay?" He asked.

"I-I think so but I feel…" She almost choked on her own words. "I'm scared."

Chester was quite for a moment. "Do you…" He gulped nervously. "Do you want me to come over?" There was a feel of both worry and concern in his voice.

Abby bit her nails. She didn't really want to spring all this on Chester but hearing his voice, knowing that he cared made her feel somewhat better. "Only if you want to." She finally replied.

"O-okay…I'll be over soon. Um, Abby? it-it will be okay." He said and hung up.

Once turning off her phone Abby sighed. Chester would be here soon, seeing her at her most vulnerable. She didn't know if Chester's sadness was similar to her own but she knew he was sad quit often. Now she understood why he never talked about it, reaching out was a hard thing to do.

Chester rang the Archer's doorbell. He was nervous. Abby had sounded so scared and distraught over the phone. He had never tried to comfort someone before but Abby had comforted him when he was sad. It was something friends did for each other.

Petunia Archer opened the door. "Oh, hey Chester." She greeted friendly yet a bit surprised.

Chester had only meet Petunia and Harvey once before which was also the only other time he'd been to this house. He liked them, they were nice and generous people but it was a bit hard for Chester to look at them without being reminded that he himself lacked parents.

"Hey Mrs. Archer. Abby said she wanted to meet me." Chester said.

Petunia stepped to the side and let Chester in. "We did ask Abby if she wanted a friend over but she said no. I guess she must have changed her mind. Ty is sleeping over at a friend's house you see and Abby so rarely have friends over. We just figured she wanted company." Petunia explained.

"Oh." Chester started to suspect what must have happened. "Well, I am happy to be here. Is Abby in her room?" He asked and jerked his thumb to the stairs.

"Yes, do you remember where her room is?"

"Yes, thank you." Chester replied and walked up the stairs. When he reached the door he became a bit more nervous. He had never walked into a girl's room before so just to be on the safe side he knocked. "Abby, are you in there?" He got no response. "Abby, I'm coming in."

He opened the door and stepped in. Abby was sitting cross-legged on her bed, a pillow in her arms and her face buried in the pillow. Her breathing came in tiny sobs. She looked up from the pillow. Everything about her face, her eyes, her cheeks, her eye lids was red and swollen. It took Chester all willpower he had not to run to her and take the girl in his arms.

"Hey Chester." Abby whipped some snot of her face with her sleeve. "Sorry to drag you into this."

Chester ignored her apology. "Abby what happened? Why are you so sad?" He asked concerned and sounded almost desperate. Seeing Abby like this almost made him cry.

"It-it- it was all my fault." She managed to croak before starting crying again.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"…Trap…Ty…Insectiva…Lab…my parents…" Abby got out between her crying but she couldn't form coherent sentences. She was so confused she couldn't think straight.

Chester wanted to comfort Abby. He took a step forth but then he hesitated. 'No, I can't help her. I am Chester, I have never been able to help anyone. I just make things worse and if I try to touch her she will be disgusted.'

Suddenly Chester felt as if he had been mentally slapped across the face.

'How can you even think like that? Look at her. She is your friend, your only friend and she is in pain and she reached out to you for help yet all you can think of is how this affects you. Stop being a selfish coward for once. This is your chance to show Abby the kindness she has always shown you but never deserved.'

With some newfound confidence Chester sat down next to Abby. He tenderly laid one hand on one of hers while rubbing her back with the other. "It is okay Abby, it's going to be okay. Don't cry. Tell me what's wrong." Chester was almost surprised over how kind his voice sounded.

Abby didn't look at Chester but his touch made her feel safe. She rubbed her eyes until they were dry. "Okay." Her voice was so quiet.

Abby then told Chester everything. Ty's warnings that she had refused to listen too, the Chimera poisoning Ty, LabRat's medical assessment, her irrational fears for Ty and anger towards her parents.

When she was done talking she felt calmer, not better but calmer. Chester was silent for a while and Abby found herself hating the silence. 'He probably hates me now. He probably thinks I am a horrible person to put my brother in danger and taking my frustration out on others that don't deserve it.'

Chester finally spoke. "You have no reason to feel guilty Abby." Abby looked questioningly at him and he gave her a reassuring smile. Chester may not have any experience in comforting people but what he did have was a great sense of sympathy, an analytical mind and a well of experience in dealing with hardship.

"Abby from what you told me you had no choice. Like you said, you had civilians to think of and you couldn't risk their safety by heading deeper into danger and as for Ty getting injured you couldn't have preventet that. Ty will always risk his wellbeing if it means protecting others. That's the kind of person he is, the kind of person you are. Also, if LabRat thinks Ty will be good by tomorrow I am fully convinced he will be. LabRat is one of the smartest men I know."

"Then why do I feel like I have lost him?" Abby asked in a sad tone.

"Well, I can't know for certain how you feel but maybe your initial shock from seeing Ty hurt still haven't left you or maybe it's just because you care so much about him." Chester said carefully, never having any siblings he didn't really know for sure how the relationship was like but he could see how much Ty & Abby cared about one another.

Abby managed to smile a bit (understanding her emotions a bit better now) but that smile was short lived. "But what about my parents? Why do I feel so angry at them when I know they had nothing to do with it?"

Chester took a few moments to think the question over. "I don't know much about parents Abby, I haven't had any for years but as I understand it parents are supposed to make their kids feel safe but your parents can't always do that for you and Ty because you two took a vow of silence in protecting the city. Maybe you are angry because you feel like something is wrong cause something is wrong but it isn't your parent's fault and it isn't your fault either." His lips tugged into a humble smile. "Abby, what you and Ty do is so admirable and not just because you save people but also because what you sacrifice for it. It is okay for you to be sad but please don't blame yourself, you have nothing to feel guilty over."

Abby looked up at Chester and for the first time she saw him in a new light. She didn't see him just as a victim anymore. Sure, he had had harsh life but Abby knew plenty of people that's been thru hardship like Insectiva and Fartor. The difference was that Chester hadn't become hard or callous from it. He was one of the noblest souls Abby ever known. When she had first meet him he had volunteered to leave the city, to isolate himself from humanity in order to keep it safe. She remember the look of temptation in his eyes when Kid Rot had offered him power, power he so desperately needed to feel safe but he had refused it so that she wouldn't have to suffer like he had suffered and he was still here for her, to help her in her time of need. Even after she had rejected him Chester had never shown any spite towards her or pressure her on anything. He had just been happy to be part of her life and right now Abby never wanted him to leave it.

She slowly snaked her arms around Chester's neck and the two locked eyes. Chester stiffen from nervousness. "A-A-Abby?"

"Chester." Abby echoed. She cautiously leaned in towards him and they closed their eyes.

"Abby." He whispered.

"Chester." Her breath caressed his lips before she closed the gap between them in their first true kiss.

Author's Note:

I have a few announcements to make before I can talk about this chapter. First off, you might have noticed that I have changed the title from Kid Rot's Master Plan to Rot in Paradise. The reason for this is that while Kid Rot's plan is a big part of this, it is still just a part of it. The main focus will be on the relationships between the characters.

Second announcement is that I have two other Grossology projects on the way. The first one is Grossology: Evolution which will be focusing on the children of Ty and Abby as the new Grossologists. It might sound a bit cliché but I have big plans for it. The other one is Sludge Squad. This will be the Grossology version of Suicide Squad. Hope you guys see forward to that.

Alright, time to discuss this latest chapter. So wow, first kiss that isn't in a fantasy sequence or part of Kid Rot's rapey foreplay. That's a big step. I know the entire comfort leads to love thing is a cliché that's been done to death but it is one of those clichés I really like (it's like slow-motion or shooting a rapist's dick off). Hopefully the progression of their relationship doesn't seem forced or too fast. I also want you to take notice to the things Petunia says in this chapter because it will play a part later on. The title of this chapter My Eyes Are Open does not just reference Abby's realization but is also a famous line from the movie Fight Club who's main character also have a split personality.

Also, a little warning for the next chapter. Your feels will be kicked.

Please, leave a review for this chapter. They mean the world to me.