To The Rescue!…Or Not.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STERWOLF59!

"Are you finished yet?" Koro said in spite of Cameron's protest. Cameron felt Tod's hand connect with his face. He had never been slapped before. Tears stung his eyes and he prayed for the fighting to stop. But Koro had other ideas. "A slap? Really? Are you a man at all?" The force from Tod's punch knocked Cameron's glasses across the room. As soon as Cameron recovered from the shock of being punched he swung his head forward and made contact with Tod's nose. The crunch that came from Tod's nose sickened Cameron, but Koro loved it.

"MY FUCKIN NOSE!" Tod cried blood gushing down his face. He rolled off of Cameron in defeat. Cameron took control back from Koro and looked at his friend. A part of him was hoping Tod was faking to throw him off guard.

"Tod?" he said. Tod was curled in a ball with his hands pressed to his nose. Cameron sprang to his feet and ran to the guards just outside the room. "WELL?" he screamed.

"well what?" they said.

"He's bleeding! Aren't you going to help?" one of the guards peered into the room at Tod who was moaning.

"Seems fine to me." He said.

"You asshole! He's clearly not okay! HELP HIM!"

"I don't like your tone." The other guard said glaring at Cameron.

"Well I don't like your face!" Cameron roared. He was so pissed. He didn't even know what he was saying. He thought Koro had taken over until he heard Koro hiss

"You are a lunatic, but you are learning."

"Fine if you won't help him, I will!" Cameron said and ran back to Tod. He knelt at Tod's side hoping Tod was Tod again. "Tod?" he whispered.

"Cam?" Tod moaned.

"Yeah it's me."

"You win, just don't hurt me anymore please." Cameron could have cried. What kind of monster was he?

"I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm going to help you. Can you stand up?" Tod nodded slowly and got to his feet blood was dripping onto his white shirt. "Okay, good. Let's go to the nurse-or whatever that's called here." Tod stumbled a few steps before Cameron took his arm and helped him.

"You're bleeding." Tod said. Cameron was sure he was delirious.

"No Tod, you are bleeding."

"So are you…your mouth." Cameron brushed his hand across his lips and was shocked to find blood dripping from the left corner of his mouth.

"Never mind I'll be fine."

"Where the hell are you going?" one of the guards asked as they made their way out of the room.

"Why the hell do you care?" Cameron blurted before he could stop himself.

"What was that?"

"Well it's just you don't exactly seem to be in line for employee of the month."

"You are not allowed out of your room after dinner."

"Technically it's not after dinner, it's before breakfast."

"You little shit! Get back in your room now!"

"NO!" Cameron said practically dragging Tod as he started running down the hall. It took him a minute to realize he had no idea where he was going.

"Turn left" Tod muttered. Cameron did as he was told. The guard was so close he could practically feel his breath on his neck.

"Right" Tod muttered at the end of the hallway.

"Jesus this place is like a maze." Cameron panted.

"Fourth dour on your left." Tod said. Cameron ran as fast as he could and prayed he wouldn't trip or drop Tod. He burst through the door panting.

"Does the door lock?" he asked Tod.

"He has a key." Tod said.

"What the hell happened to you two?" a woman asked clearly frightened.

"No time. Please help my friend." Cameron panted. The woman walked over and had to practically pry Cameron off of Tod. Tod almost fell on his face with the shift of position.

"THERE YOU ARE!" the guard screamed. Cameron's eyes widened.

"Cam" Tod whimpered,

"Don't worry about it Tod." Cameron said sounding much braver than he felt. He turned to the guard "Okay you got me." He walked to the guard. "Do your worst, just please leave Tod alone, he didn't do anything." Tod was about to say something, but Cameron said "it's okay Tod. I'll be back. I promise."

"When I get done with you, you will be lucky if you even remember your fuckin' name." the guard spat. Cameron gulped.

"You are not going to touch a hair on either of these boy's heads." A familiar voice boomed.

"LANCE!" Tod squeaked. The poor nurse looked so out of place. She just stood there like a statue.

"And what are you gonna do about it?" the guard snarled. Lance grinned and pulled a pencil from his pocket. He took the pencil between his pointer finger and thumb and snapped it cleanly in two. The guard gulped.

"Well of course I was only joking." He said and let go of Cameron. Cameron was too relieved to move. As soon as the guard was gone Lance said

"Are you two okay?" Cameron walked up to Lance and gave him a hug. He was grateful Lance was caught off guard because even his hug could have been deadly for a stick like Cameron.

"Okay, okay that's enough you are getting blood on my shirt." Lance said with a smile. He turned to the nurse "Make sure you patch these kids up well" and walked away. The nurse slowly nodded.

"Well…come on." She said dragging Tod and motioning for Cameron to follow her to the back where there were six beds in a row. She gently sat Tod down on the first one and motioned for Cameron to sit on the second one. She grabbed tissues and started to dab at Tod's face. In record time Tod's nose was patched and Cameron's mouth was clean. Tod's nose had to be taped.

"I know you're injuries aren't too serious, but why don't you two just stay here tonight…er I mean this morning." They both nodded silently. She walked back to the front room, leaving them alone.

"Cam?"

"Yeah Tod?"

"What the hell happened?"

"Hell if I know." Cameron said. They both laughed.

"Cam?"

"yes Tod?"

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for I'm the one that nearly killed you?"

"I should have told you the truth."

"It's okay, it's none of my business."

"Well I was sick, but.. you remember the other guard outside our room? Not the one that nearly killed you, but the other one?"

"Yeah, vaguely." Cameron said with a grin.

"He tripped me on my way back to my room." Cameron sat up.

"Tod, that's horrible!"

"He tripped me and kicked my side while I was down. My face smacked against the floor I'm glad this black eye is all I have to show for it."

"Tod…didn't his foot hurt your side?"

"I…hope not. I don't know I've been a little distracted since."

"Can I look?" Tod didn't answer. Cameron slid over to Tod's bed.

"Which side did he kick?"

"Right" Duh. Cameron thought that's why he's lying on his left. Cameron slowly slid Tod's shirt up with shaking hands. Tod whimpered.

"Sshh it's okay" Cameron said. He didn't have to lift Tod's shirt far before he found a giant bruise. The bruise took up at least half of Tod's side. "How many times did he kick you?" Cameron asked.

"Twice" Tod whimpered.

"Fuck" Cameron breathed and sat back.

"What?" Tod asked.

"I can't believe this happened…and then I go and crack you in the face. How could you not notice this when he were fighting?"

"I wasn't really myself when he were fighting…I can't really explain. "

"Trust me I know what you mean." Cameron breathed. Tod yawned. Cameron chuckled and ran his hand gently through Tod's hair. "Go to sleep. We'll think of something in the morning…well later in the morning I guess." Cameron slid back to his bed.

"But what if the guards come back?"

"Did you see how scared the one guard was? I think he's gonna leave us alone for a while."

"but what about the other one?" Cameron shrugged wishing he could say something to comfort Tod.

"I'll stay up and kick his ass if he comes near you." Tod smiled already half asleep.

"How?"

"Well, I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but I'm secretly a ninja."

"I wish I could be brave like you." Tod's smile broadened as he fell asleep.

"Brave like me?...fuck fuck fuck" Cameron thought.

"Now now no need for profanity." Koro hissed.

"No need for profanity? Did you see his side? What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"You'll think of something."

"Come on Koro this is your territory here! I'm not the violent one!"

"could have fooled me with the way you handled that guard."

"Our lives were at stake"

"and you think Tod's isn't now?"

\ "I don't know"

"Well you had better figure it out…and fast" Cameron must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew he was being woken up by a different nurse than the one that had helped them.

"Breakfast time" she said. Cameron sat up and immediately glanced at the bed next to him for Tod. Tod was sitting up glancing back at Cameron. Tod was sitting in a weird position holding his side.

"Tod?"

"I'm good. Let's go to breakfast." He said hopping off the bed. Cameron got up as well and followed him. They walked in silence to the cafeteria, both of them thinking about their future.

Keith was not surprised when Dr. Vanderbuilt led them into an empty examination room.

"Sit" Dr. Vanerbuilt said to Keith motioning to the examination table. He pulled up a chair next to the table and sat.

"No, no I'll stand it's okay." Emmet muttered. Keith snickered but Dr. Vanderbuilt didn't seem to notice.

"So what's up Doc?" Keith asked sitting on the table.

"I want to give you the gift of sight." He said.

"What?" Keith asked. Dr. Vanderbuilt chuckled.

"I mean I am going to remove the stitches from your left eye."

"Thanks Doc."

"Don't thank me, thank your eye for healing so quickly. Now, I know you don't like operations so would you prefer I put you to sleep for this?" Keith nodded.

"Emmet, you gonna be here when I am done?"

"You are not going to get rid of me that easily." He said with a grin. Keith nodded. Dr. Vanderbuilt did something and told Keith to count backwards from 10 before Keith could get to 6 he was out.

Keith was lying on his back in the middle of a sidewalk. As far as he could tell there was nothing out of the ordinary with this sidewalk…except for the fact that it's not the examination table he remembered being on. He slowly brought his hand to his left eye to find it completely normal. In fact, everything was normal, his ribs weren't broken, his nose was fine, and he was completely fine.

"Keith!"

"George?"

"Keith get up you are going to be late!" Keith heard what George was saying, but he had no idea what he meant.

"Keith!" George was right over top of Keith now, at least this thing sounded like George, but looked like a giant orange bunny. Keith wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or hide. Here was this giant orange bunny with George's face and voice.

"George?" Keith said again slowly sitting up. " What the hell happened? What the hell am I going to be late for?"

"What do you mean what happened? You wanted to lay down in the middle of the sidewalk and so you did…I'm guessing you fell asleep. No time for explanations you know what you are going to be late for come on!" George said hopping away angrily. Keith stood up and realized he was wearing tight sequenced silver pants and a multicolor, tight, sequenced button downed shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned. "What the hell am I wearing...at least I have converse on." He thought glancing at his black high top converse with pride.

"KEITH!LET'S GO!" George called from the door of a building shaped like an apple.

"Jeez bunny George is cranky." Keith said and walked to the building.

"Here you need this…hell what am I your mother?" George said tossing something at Keith. Keith caught it.

"Umm…George…what exactly is this?" Keith asked holding up what looked like a giant yellow blanket with a turquoise surfboard on it.

"Come on Keith use your head it's you're cape."

"M-my…cape?"

"You know as well as I do that according to rule 654 every superhero needs a cape."

"Superhero? 654?"

"Rule number 654 in the superhero handbook!" George said grabbing a carrot out of a box on the floor and crunching it. Keith stifled a laugh. George was too cute when he was a mad bunny crunching on a carrot. "Now we need to find your sidekick. I wonder where that rascal has gone to."

"Sidekick"

"Oy you're superpower is not annoyance so stop repeating everything I say! Now go find him!"

"Me? Er I mean how?"

"I don't know he's not MY boy wonder. No go!...and leave your cape here it won't do to rip it again."

"oh…um sure okay." Keith said as George practically pushed him out of the door. Keith had no idea who his sidekick was let alone where he would be so he chose to go left. He stumbled having no idea where to go, just when he was about to turn back and tell George he had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do when he saw a sign. The sign said "Keith go this way you idiot!" in big red letters. "Why not?" Keith thought and followed the arrow on the sign. He was more than a little nervous to find the sign led down a dirt path and into a forest. His eyes scanned everything for any sign of danger. He was so preoccupied searching above his head he wasn't paying attention to where his feet were going and he tripped on something. "This can't be right." He thought as he picked up his baby blanket with a smile. "Mr. Wuggles" a tear slipped down his face "What are you doing here?" The turquoise material was faded and torn. "What kind of place is this?". When he looked up again he was shocked to find the trees weren't really trees, they were surfboards and guitars… HIS surfboards and guitars. "What the hell?" His eyes immediately went to his first surfboard. The red material still looked like it had on the day he had gotten it. He walked towards the "tree" but stopped when something fell on his head. "Ouch" he cried out. Keith bent over to pick up the thing that hit him and found out it was a cup. Normally cups didn't mean much to him as long as they held something good to drink he didn't care but his cup had special value. This cup was the cup he drank his first beer out of. It was orange and had the name of some bar painted in purple letters on it. He looked up to see where it fell from. He was standing under the only real tree in the whole "forest". This tree had a plethora of bottles, cups, and cans sprouting off the branches like leaves.

"That tree has every drink you have ever taken on it."

"Becs?" Keith said looking around for his sister, Rebecca.

"Keith, over here, on the tree." Keith looked and looked but didn't see his sister.

"Becs, I can't find you."

"Hold on a sec I'll come to you." Keith scanned everywhere for his sister, but all he saw was a yellow cat jumping off of the last branch of the drink tree. The cat walked towards Keith and sat by his feet and looked up. "Here I am"

"Becs…you're …a cat?"

"Yes and don't you think I look fabulous!" she said strutting around Keith a few times.

"What are you doing here?"

"Do you know where here is?" she asked.

"of course I do" the cat jumped on Keith's shoulder and dug her claws into his shoulder.

"Don't be a smart ass."

"Ouch okay okay you got me I have no idea where here is."

"Of course you don't. This is your life so far. This is your past. You should consider yourself lucky, not many people get to see their life laid out like this."

"But why do I get to?"

"You are under a lot of pressure and sometimes that pressure can cloud over what is really important to you."

"How is this going to help me?"

"I can't tell you everything." Rebecca said and jumped off of Keith's shoulder and walked away.

"Great, George is a bunny, Rebecca is a cat, and I'm a freaken superhero?" Keith murmured and continued to walk. He could se the end of the forest and he was kind of sad to leave so he took one last look around and found his favorite hat. The black one he got for his 19th birthday and right next to it was a picture of him and Rebecca with their parents on his graduation day. "Jee I really thought my life would be a bit more organized. I really have to mke a mental note of that." As he stood up and prepared to take the final steps out of the forest he heard a laugh. He stood up and turned towards the laugh.

"Hey Keithy. Ya miss me?"

Neil must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew Ryan's lips were gently brushing against his forehead.

"Neil hon, you had better wake up. George texted me six times and he's eager to get back to Damian." Neil's eyes fluttered open. He was surprised to find he was under the covers and Ryan was standing over him.

"Damnit!" Neil exclaimed sitting up

"What?" Ryan asked surprised.

"I fell asleep didn't I?" Ryan chuckled.

"Don't worry about it."

"What time is it?"

"8:30"

"You've been awake this whole time?" Ryan nodded. "Babe are you alright?" Neil asked getting out of bed and walking over to Ryan and putting his hands on Ryan's shoulders. That's when he felt how tense Ryan was. "Babe you are so tense." Ryan turned to look at Neil and Neil noticed how tired he looked. He could see the start of bags under his eyes. "Is this Damian thing bothering you?" Neil asked. Ryan shrugged Neil's hands off of his shoulder and stepped forward to grab his coat.

"C'mon George is waiting for us in the lobby." Ryan said. Neil decided to let this go for now but he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Ryan.

"Finally!" George said as they came into the lobby.

"Sorry I couldn't wake sleeping beauty here." Ryan said cracking a smile and putting his arm around Neil. Neil laughed. They headed out the door into the crisp morning air. Ryan took a deep breath and sighed. The walk to the hospital seemed all too short before they knew it they were at the hospital door and then in Damian's room. Damian was asleep and they decided not to wake him. A sigh slipped out of each of their mouths as they collapsed into chairs.

"You just missed Keith." Damian muttered not opening his eyes. George nearly fell out of his chair with surprise.

"Damo, you are up." Ryan said.

"Yeah" Damian said sitting up and opening his eyes.

"Where'd Keith go?" Neil asked. Damian just shrugged too tired to explain.

"But guess what guys?" Damian said with a smile and his eyes widening.

"What?" they all asked.

"Tonight's my last night in here." They all gave him a quizzical look. "I'm nowhere near better, but I get to go home and get treatment there."

"Congratulations Damo!" they all echoed.

"I hope you know that just because you are getting out of the hospital doesn't mean you are getting rid of us just yet." Neil said.

"Of course not, I love having you guys here. I miss you lot…god knows why but I do." Damian said with a smile.

"We miss ya too Damo." George said.

"Soooo besides the whole poison/hospital thing how's LA treating you?" Ryan said.

"Well I'm not really sure I mean as soon as I stepped off the plane …hell broke loose." There was an awkward silence and Neil could feel Ryan tense up. He knew he had to do something to get Ryan to relax, but before he could think of anything Ryan jumped up and screamed "WELL SHOULDN'T THAT BE A SIGN?" Damian jumped. George looked terrified. They had never seen Ryan get pissed before. Neil had. He was holding Ryan's hand and jumped u when he did.

"Ryan, darling not here, not now. Remember it's Damo." Ryan was completely gone he hardly heard Neil.

"COME ON DAMIAN! I KNOW YOU ARE SMARTER THAN THIS! COME BACK WITH US! EVERYONE WOULD WELCOME YOU BACK WITH OPEN ARMS! END THIS MADNESS AND COME BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG! INCASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED YOU ARE RIPPING THIS GROUP APART…which may not mean much to you because you've moved onto bigger and better things but some of us, like me, some of us don't have shit outside of this group and I am not going to let your bullshit need to feel …popular ruin it. I am going to fight tooth and nail to keep this group together…but I can only fight as long as someone besides me cares and right now I don't think anybody else does." Neil gripped Ryan's arm tighter.

"Ryan, hon." Damian was shaking. Paul was one thing, but Ryan? Paul chose to walk out but Ryan was practically begging to stay. " Ryan I love you and George, Damian, Keith, Paul, and even Daniel love you too. It doesn't matter if we are singing together or sharing a cardboard box on the side of a highway together the point it we will be together. I know you are scared and so am I but giving poor Damian a heart attack is not going to help anybody." Neil said. Ryan calmed down so fast the change was almost tangible.

"Excuse me" he said and walked out of Damian's room. Neil wanted to follow him, but decided against it.

"A-aren't you going after him?" George stammered.

"No, he needs some alone time. Damo, you okay?" Damian didn't answer. He couldn't. His image of Ryan was completely shattered. He broke Ryan.

Tod and Cameron ate their breakfast in silence. Cameron glanced over at Tod about halfway through the meal and was shocked to find him bent over clutching his side in tears.

"Tod? I would ask if you are okay but that seems like a really dumb question." Tod looked at Cameron.

"It just hurts so much." He pleaded. "I keep seeing his face, the crazy look in his eyes, not like us crazy, but more like Charles Lee Ray or Hitler crazy."

"I really want to give you a hug right now, but I am afraid I will hurt you." Tod leaned forward and put his head on Cameron's shoulder, his arms still clutching his side. Cameron gently put his left arm across Tod's shoulders. "I think we need to get your side checked by the nurse. H-he may have broken a rib or two." Tod shook his head no.

"We can't because then the nurse will want to know how I got it and I can't tell her. He said he would kill me if I did."

"Sshhh okay we don't have to. It was just a thought." Cameron was amazed at the fact that they could be having this Lifetime moment and nobody else noticed.

"Alright listen up!" a voice boomed across the cafeteria. Tod sat up. "Today we have a special treat for you scumbags. Today we will be going outside, yes you heard me outside right after breakfast, and doing the military-approved obstacle course. You are to do it until you reach the approved time which is 2 minutes and 15 seconds. This course consists of rope climbing, rock climbing, tire hopping, and various other strenuous physical activities. Consider it…a reward for such nice crazies." Cameron turned to Tod who was as pale as a piece of paper and shaking like a leaf.

"I can't do that." He moaned.

"I know right. I have the strength of a wet noodle."

"No I mean I CAN'T do it. My side will kill me."

"Oh…well what do we do?"

"I don't know. We can't let anybody know." He put his hand to his face and jumped. When he looked back at Cameron he was smiling.

"What?" Cameron asked slightly creeped out.

"Well Keithy? Did ya?"

"Trixie?

"What are ye doing here?"

"I'm part of your past…unfortunately I didn't make the cut for your future. I'm glad you remember me though. I mean I'm sure you've had plenty of other girls since-"

"Stop"

"but Keithy don't cha wanna take a trip down memory lane?"

"Not that particular aspect."

"But Keithy-" she walked over twirling a strand of blonde hair around her fire engine red nail. Her green low cut shirt hugged her curves and her tight pants painted a most desirable picture. " We had a good time."

"Maybe you did." She laughed.

"Come on don't pretend I know you liked it just as much as I did."

"No Trixie, I didn't…I didn't want to…I was in dark place in my life then. I was drunk and lonely and needed some form of human interaction." Trixie draped her arms around Keith's neck.

"So you chose sex?"

"L-look it-it-"

"Aww stuttering just like last time, you really haven't changed much over the years have you."

"You're wrong. I am a completely different person."

"Oh really, so I suppose you would go back and change it if you could?"

"No, the decision I made to go to-your work and…s-see you was probably the darkest point in my life. I was a scared kid. B-but I would not change that because it led me to the man I am today."

"And what kind of man is that exactly?"

"My kind of man." Keith nearly had a heart attack. He hadn't felt the other arm drape over Trixie's arm on his neck. He looked and saw Damian there perfectly healthy and grinning.

"Damian, why are you here? Is this a sign that you are part of my past and I should let you go?"

"Relax Keith. I'm here to lead you out of your past and to where you need to go."

"Are you my sidekick?" Damian laughed.

"Not even close, just someone who is madly in love with you." Keith felt Trixie's arms slowly disappear Damian took his hand and they walked out of the forest together.

"You know something Damo?"

"What Keith?"

"I'm really tired of all of these meaningful dreams." Damian laughed.

"Come on Keith you have a job to do."

"I do?"

"You have to save Cameron." Keith gulped.

"That seems like a tall order."

"As soon as we find your sidekick I have full confidence that you will succeed."

"So who is my sidekick?"

"Can't tell ya."

"Why?"

"I-I have no damn idea." Damian said.

"Well as long as we have that established. Where are we going?"

"Well…according to the sign we are going to … Marsh street."

"Marsh street? That seems awfully normal."

" Well only one way to find out." Damian said as they turned onto the street.

"Do you know if we are close to finding him?"

"Closer than you think."

"Hmm"

"Oy you with the hair!" someone shouted.

"I believe he's talking to you" Damian whispered in Keith's ear.

"Who?" Keith looked around.

"Me!" A black version of Oscar the Grouch popped out of a garbage can.

"R-Ryan? Why-or er- I mean ummm.." Keith stammered.

"Enough with the chit chat, you need to get your ass in gear!"

"Ryan what's wrong with you?"

"I'm pissed and not myself."

"Okkkaaayyyy then"

"No more small talk move your feet more than you know depends on your success!"

"You stopped me to tell me to hurry up?"

"Yes now go"

"Alright, alright I'm goin'." Keith turned to Damian. "Everybody's so cranky and weird."

"Not me though." Damian said with a grin.

"No Damo, not you." They walked in silence for a few minutes then Damian stopped.

"This is where I leave you."

"What? Why?"

"Complete this quest alone you must." Damian said and vanished. Keith shook his head.

"so weird" he muttered. When he turned to look at the road ahead of him he ran smack into a giant trampoline .

"Hey Keith"

"Emmet? Why are you on a trampoline?"

"Come jump with me and I'll tell you."

"Okay" Keith said climbing onto the trampoline. That's when he noticed that Emmet was wearing almost the exact same outfit he was.

"Do you want the cool cryptic version or the boring straightforward answer?"

"Please just tell me straightforward"

"Okay…I am your sidekick. I'm on a trampoline because in case you haven't noticed when you jump I land and vice versa. This symbolizes that when you need a friend the most I'm there to help you 'bounce' back, but we really should get off."

"Why?"

"You're about to wake up."

"What about the mission?"

"Well how can we save Cameron if you are asleep?"

"Keith…Keith…Keith…Keith" someone was shaking him awake. He opened his eyes and saw Dr. Vanderbuilt. "So? You like having both eyes back?"

"Sure" Keith said not fully awake yet. He slowly sat up and opened his eyes.

"You will have a small scar, but I think it's pretty badass." Keith's eyes ell on Emmet and he let out a sigh of relief.

"What?" Emmet asked.

"Thank God you are not wearing sequenced pants." Emmet laughed.

"Well funny you should mention that…" Emmet started.

"What?" Keith asked.

"My boxers have sequence." He said reaching in his pants and showing of the top of his boxers. Keith laughed he felt like he had seen that pattern before…somewhere.

"Anyway we had better go." Keith said. "Thanks doc." Emmet nodded.

"Good luck" Dr. Vanderbuilt said. Keith almost fell on his face when he hopped down from the table.

"Whoa there Supernan." Emmet said catching him. Keith looked at him and regained his balance. "So clothes first then Cameron?" Keith nodded.

"Tod, what?" Cameron asked.

"Hit me on the nose again." Tod said. Cameron was confused.

"What? No? I can barely stomach the fact that I hit you once."

"Never mind I'll do it myself."

"Tod what the hell are you talking about?" Tod didn't answer. He strategically placed his elbow on the very edge of the table then he pretended to sneeze which brought his already bandaged nose crashing into the palm of his hand which made his arm slide off the table and is nose met the table with a sickening crunch. When Tod looked back up at Cameron tears were streaming out of his eyes and fresh blood was streaming down his nose. "TOD! HAVE YOU GONE COMPLETELY INSANE? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO?"

"Cameron walk with me to the nurse okay?" Tod said completely calm. Cameron didn't say anything. Tod stood up and Cameron followed. They walked out of the cafeteria in silence.

"Have you completely lost your marbles?"

"Look where we are, you wanna rephrase that?" Before Cameron could respond he found himself being lifted off of his feet and a rough hand covering his mouth.

"If you value your life you won't make a sound."

"Cam?" Tod said. Tod stopped and looked around. He was alone. "Cam? This is not funny! Come on." His heart raced.

"Oh I completely agree, there is nothing funny about this." Tod spun around and found the guard that had kicked him. Tod swallowed hard trying to remain calm.

"What did you do with Cam?" Tod said sounding much braver than he felt.

"Oh he's fine…for now. I'd be more concerned about myself right now if I were you." The guard took a step forward and Tod flinched. "You see we have a problem here. We can't have some crazies running around thinking they are above the rules. They need to be taught that when they break the rules they get punished." The guard was getting closer and closer and just as Tod was contemplating his chances of getting away if he started running the guard grabbed his shoulders and shoved him. Tod's knees buckled and he was on the floor. He had forgotten about the blood on his face until he looked down and saw the blood on his shirt.

"You will never get away with this!" Tod cried trying to make as much noise as possible.

"Keep telling yourself that."

Cameron chomped down hard on the hand covering his mouth. He refused to let go until he tasted blood.

"You little shit! Take this." Before Cameron could move he felt himself being stabbed with some sort of syringe almost instantly he fell to his knees his vision blurring. One swift kick the the jaw and he was out.

"Okay okay, but let's make it quick okay?" Keith pleaded with Emmet as they got in the taxi.

"Come on Keith we have been in these clothes forever. I mean I know you have already found the love of your life, possibly two of them, but some of us are still looking and it damages my reputation to be seen in the same clothes." Emmet said.

"I don't know Emmet, from the way Dr. Vanderbuilt told me you were chatting up that secretary I think you may have found yours as well." Emmet blushed.

"He heard that?"

"and saw it."

"That was n-nothing." Emmet said his blush deepening.

"Aw you better not let her hear ya talkin like that."

"Come on now I didn't even get her number."

"Give it time."

"Where to?" The taxi driver asked once they finally got in the car.

"Closest place to buy clothes."

"Hey Emmet?"

"Yeah Keith?"

"Will you put my money in your wallet?"

"Don't trust your sock do ya?"

"Not at all" Keith said with a smile.

"Sure." Emmet said with a yawn.

"When's the last time you slept?" Emmet shrugged. "How far away are we going?"

"oh about 35 minutes." Said the taxi driver.

"Jee this is LA you think there would be something closer." Emmet said with another yawn.

"go to sleep, I'll wake you up when we get there." Keith said. Emmet was already half asleep and Keith smiled.

"What about you?" Emmet murmured.

"What about me?"

"Why don't you sleep?"

"I'm not tired." Emmet didn't answer and Keith let his head fall against the window. This was going to be the longest trip ever.