Hey peoples! Sorry this took so long! Had temporary case of writer's block.. Only one chapter left!

Chapter 13: "Recovery"

"Hey Lex." Ace called, walking into the kitchen where Lexi was making herself some lunch. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Ace." Lexi smiled, returning the kiss. "Where have you been hiding all day?"

"I wasn't hiding. I was workin' off all that food you and Cassidy cooked the other day." He half-lied.

"Sure." Lexi rolled her eyes. "So, what was up with you last night? You were acting weird. Plus, you left me with your mom.."

"Sorry about that. Did you two talk?"

"Yes..." Lexi paused. "And she apologized for what she said. But I never said anything about it to her. Did you?"

Ace didn't answer, but Lexi caught the slight smile on his face.

"Ace!" She screeched, slapping him. "You know I didn't want to make a fuss over it!"

"If you're done yelling at me, I have some exciting news.."

"What?" Lexi asked, suddenly interested.

"Well, before you walked in on us, I was talking with my parents, and they told me something..."

"Are you gonna tell me or will I have to slap you again?"

"They're going to try getting back together..."

Lexi gasped, then squealed. "Really?"

Ace nodded, smiling widely.

"Oh, that's so great I'm so happy for them!" She said, hugging him tightly. Ace chuckled and hugged her back.

Lexi suddenly let go of him, a look of concetration on her face. Lexi's ears started glowing pink. "What do you hear?" Ace asked.

"Footsteps." She answered. "Rapid ones"

"Rev?" He guessed.

"No. They're short and choppy." Lexi had learned to tell her teammate's footsteps apart. Cassidy, being the second shortest of them, depended on how fast her legs could go rather than how far they could go in one step, as the others, except Duck, did. Even though they used the same technique to keep up with the others, Lexi could still tell whose were whose, as Duck's sounded hollow, probably because of his being a duck. Plus, Cassidy had a nervous habit she had picked up after the meteor. She would take a few steps then do a small hop, then continue. But, now she only did it when she was nervous or excited. And that's what Lexi could hear.

"Cassidy? Why would she be running?"

Just then, the black-and-blue clad coyote burst through the kitchen door, scaring nearly five years off the end of Ace's life, who jumped six inches off his seat.

She ran up to Lexi and practically tackled the bunny. "Oh, Lexi you'll never guess! I have the most exciting news"

"I'm barely over the last peice of news!" She giggled.

"What's up, kiddo?" Ace asked. 'Kiddo' was a nickname Ace had given to Cassidy when she first joined. He rarely used it now, considering that the girl had proved herself to Ace, who hadn't been completely sure about her. But, every once in a while he still called her that.

"The hospital called! Tech's getting better"

Before either rabbit could react, Rev burst throught the door, followed by Duck and Slam. "Oh, what's going on what's the news I saw you run in here like you were being chased by a monster, Cassidy but I didn't see a monster behind you so I figured it was pretty important news what's going on??" Rev asked, running up to Cassidy.

Cassidy calmly repeated her story to the roadrunner. Rev's green eyes sparkled and he gave out a whoop of joy. "Oh that's better than good news that's great news actually it's even better than great news it's amazing news!" He practically tackled the coyote to the ground in a back-popping hug. Then, he let go of her and went running around HQ in sheer happiness.

"Oh. So that's what you said." Duck spoke.

.RED TRIANGLE.

After telling the parents and celebrating, they all rushed to the hospital to visit Tech. They stayed there all day, talking to

Tech and telling him everything that had happened. Which, actually, wasn't much, as they had been so wrapped up in worrying about him that they hadn't done much. So, the six let Tech be alone with his family for a while.

The day came to a fast end, and the Loonatics' parents had to leave.

"I'm so sorry to have to leave you in this condition, honey, but your father has to work tommorrow and Bailey has to get ready for when school comes back in a few weeks"

"Don't worry about it, Mom." Tech whispered. Although his recovery was progressing extremely well, his voice was still very weak and hoarse, and he didn't talk very much. When he did, it was short sentences and they were barely above a whisper.

Melissa hugged her son tightly. When she let go of him, Bailey hugged him. "I'll see ya later, Wise Guy."

"You too, Shortstuff."

Mike set his hand on Tech shoulder. "Tech. You know we were skeptical about your job, but we're very proud of you. And consider yourself lucky to have Cassidy. She's one in a million, that girl."

Tech smiled. "Thanks, Dad. I know." His gaze flew to Cassidy, who was saying goodbye to Bailey. 'I really am lucky...'

As Mike was leaving, Cassidy came in. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, now that you're here."

Cassidy smiled. "Why? Were you lonely without me?"

Tech nodded.

"Well, you don't have to worry, cause the doctors said I can camp out with you in here for tonight. And, depending on how you are tommorrow, you might be able to go home."

"Yes!" Tech punched his fist in the air, but this sudden movement threw him into a coughing fit. Once it settled down, Cassidy sat down beside him and kissed his forehead.

"I ain't interupting anything, am I?"

The two looked up to see Duck standing in the doorway. "Ace said for me to stay with you two tonight. So we're havin' like a little sleepover, without all the girlyishness."

Tech and Cassidy exchanged confused looks. That didn't sound like Ace. They shrugged it off and Cassidy climbed into the bed beside Tech's.

Just then, Cassidy's father and sister came into the room. They walked up to Cassidy's bed.

Cassidy smiled at her father. "Come to tuck me into bed?"

King John smiled back. "One of the many things I missed doing with you."

Cassidy's smile faded slightly. "I'm sorry things didn't turn out how we planned, and I'm really sorry we didn't get to spend much time together." She apologized, looking up at both of them.

"Hey, don't worry, Baby Sis, we'll get another chance soon, I know it." Maria said.

"Yeah, maybe I can get a weekend off and visit you or something. And I promise to call you at least once a month!" Cassidy said with all of her heart.

John gave his yooungest daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Sounds great to us. Goodnight, Aurora."

"Goodnight, Father. Goodnight Maria." Cassidy replied, hugging her sister.

A few minutes later, all was quiet in the room. Duck glanced over at Cassidy, who was curled up under the blankets. "Is she asleep?"

Tech nodded.

"Good. Cause I wanted to talk. I... I'm sorry."

Tech blinked.

"I know it sounds really weird coming from me, but I mean it. I was a jerk the other day, yelling at you guys. And I want to thank you for trying to help me."

Tech reached out and put his hand on Duck's arm. "We forgive you, Duck." He whispered.

Duck smiled a bit.

"You two aren't gonna start a male-bonding thing, are you?" Cassidy asked, stifling a yawn.

Duck looked at Tech. "I thought you said she was asleep!"

Tech shrugged. "Sorry. She's a light sleeper."

"One question, did she tell you that, or did you learn that by personal experience?"

"DUCK!" Cassidy screeched, sitting up.

"I figured he'd know cause you two..."

Cassidy kept Duck from saying any more by chucking a pillow at his head.

"Owww... I was just asking!" Duck picked the pillow up and tossed it back at her. He then yawned. "Okay, I'm hittin' the hay."

"Yeah, we all should." Cassidy agreed, yawing as well. "Goodnight, Tech." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Duck."

Duck held out his hands. "You don't need to give me a goodnight kiss." He said, pulling a disgusted face.

Cassidy rolled her eyes and curled up under the covers.

"Night Cass. Night Duck." Tech said, his voice still weak and hoarse.

"Yeah, Goodnight Tech." Then, with extra enthusiasm just to annoy her, Duck added. "Goodnight, Princess."

Another pillow came flying over Tech and hit Duck in the head. "Oww!"

.GREEN TRIANGLE.

Cassidy woke up to the feeling of somebody's hand on her cheek. Much to her surprise Tech was sitting on her bed, stroking her cheek. "Tech?" She gasped. "What are you doing up? You're supposed to be resting!"

"I'm feeling better."

"But this kind of rebound from infection is impossible, even for you! You're gonna hurt yourself!" She scolded him lightly, inside feeling happy to see him up.

Tech chuckled. "I thought you'd be happy to see me up." He feigned insult.

Cassidy giggled and sat up, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You know I am."

"Hey!" A voice broke through to them.

Tech and Cassidy looked around to see Duck standing nearby.

"You're making me feel left out here!"

Tech and Cassidy laughed and pulled him in, making it a group hug. A few seconds later, Duck quacked out of it. "Sorry, I forgot that I hate mushy-gushy stuff."

(END CHAPTER)

I was planinng on having this the last chapter, but alas, my imagination went too far adn I have one last chapter to write!!