When Berto woke early the next morning for a moment he wasn't sure where he was. But as he opened his eyes and saw Shock hovering nearby he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"You're in our apartment." The Ultralink told his friend who seemed to think about this for a few seconds and when that piece of information finally hit he blushed. "Chill Berto. She let you in after you were...Ultralinked. Shouldn't really bring that up but you wanted to know."
"Eso está bien. I should have realized." Berto replied as he reached over intending to wake me and when he found the bed empty he raised an eyebrow. "Hey where's Jessie?"
"Jessie woke up a few minutes ago and went into the bathroom. I can hear the shower running so I guess she's taking a shower right now." Shock explained as he looked towards the bathroom door and that's right when Berto stood, a grin on his face and Shock frowned at him. "Uh oh what are you doing?" He asked crossing his arms as he watched Berto remove his jacket and pants before he walked towards the bathroom but as he reached for the doorknob Shock shot over and blocked him.
"Shock really?" Berto muttered as his friend glared at him. "She might still be upset and..." He trailed off as Shock's green eye went huge. "Look just this once. Por Favor?" Berto begged and after staring at his friend for a few seconds Shock finally sighed and moved aside. With a grateful smile Berto opened the door and slipped inside leaving the Ultralink to roll his eye.
"Why do I let them talk me into these things?" He muttered as he flew into the living room and turned on the tv. "One track minds. Seriously."
As I stood under the shower I tried to figure out my next move. With Makino on his way and my darker half and I fighting for control I wondered how I was going to keep myself sane. With a sigh I went to reach for my face washer only to find it gone and I blinked a little unsure as to where it had disappeared to. Until I heard footsteps and as I turned around I saw Berto standing just outside the shower holding the face washer in his hand and with a cheeky grin on his face. Puzzled I stared at him for a few seconds and as I realized he was standing there in just his shirt and boxers it finally made sense. "Just what are you doing?" I asked pretending to be annoyed though I couldn't help the slight smile that crept onto my lips.
"I found you gone and I...well I'm worried about you." Berto told me as he moved closer and after handing me the face washer he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Are you okay? Really?" He asked me as I rested my head against his chest and hearing me sigh he frowned. "I knew it. Look you know you can tell me anything."
"I know but its really hard to explain that I'm worried my other half will take control...if I lose it again. Its not easy staying calm when you're constently in danger from Makino and an alien invasion or fighting villans. I don't know what to do anymore." I replied as I felt him gently kiss the top of my head.
"Its fine to be scared but I know just how brave you are. Besides you have a lot of friends who will fight alongisde you. Including me." Berto replied before I felt his lips brush a light kiss against my neck and I snuggled closer, enjoying his company. "So don't keep everything to yourself. If you need help just ask for it, okay?" He asked and I tilted my head to look back at him, giving him a slight nod. For the next few minutes we just stood together and thinking Berto nuzzled my neck and I giggled.
"I've been wondering just why you came in here. I think I know why now." I said and he gave me a grin before he leaned in and as he gently kissed me I felt his grip on me tighten. As he held me against his chest Berto reached up and I gasped into his mouth as he ran his fingers across my stomach. "Mmm..." I mumbled and when we came up for air he smiled at me before he took his arms off my waist and slowly removed his shirt and my eyes went wide as I caught sight of his hip. "I'm so sorry." I whispered as tears welled in my eyes and he froze looking at the saddness on my face.
"It's just a scar. It could have been a lot worse." Berto told me as he looked down the left side of his hip. After Dark Titan had slashed open his side, even with Doctor Conrad's expert treatment a scar had been left after his injury was sewn up. Turning around I reached over and very gently traced the scar with my fingers and after a few seconds Berto gasped and I instantly let go. "Its okay. I'm just a little ticklish there." He told me and I brightened before I reached across again and he burst out laughing as I started running the tips of my fingers across the spot. Berto tried to move away but I wouldn't let him as I was having too much fun.
"Shouldn't have told me that." I giggled as I wrapped my arm around his waist keeping him close. Eventually I ended up with the hiccups and Berto grinned as I sighed. "Not...hic...funny."
"Yeah it is." He said as he hugged me and to his surprise I sniffed. "Hey its okay." He muttered as I buried my face in his chest, fighting back my tears. Knowing what I needed he gently ran a hand through my hair and it helped me a little.
"I really don't know what's wrong with me lately. I'm getting overly emotional about everything and...I don't know what I'm doing." I sighed as I lifted my head , eyes red and he sighed as I sniffed again. "Maybe I shouldn't fight Makino. I mean I can barely think straight so what good will I be in..." But before I could finish Berto pulled me forward and my next words were muffled by his lips. When we finally came up for air I know I had a silly grin on my face because Berto started laughing.
"You look like you're feeling better. You know you can tell me anything." Berto said and I gave him a smile, resting my head against his chest. When I didn't speak, content to be held, he smiled and held me a little tighter. A few minutes passed before we heard a quiet knock on the bathroom door and I giggled as I heard Shock's voice.
"Is it safe to come in? It got so quiet in here and I wasn't sure what was going on." Shock called out and Berto lifted his head slighty, grinning at me before he called out. As Shock opened the door he sighed relieved that I only being held by Berto and I smiled at him as he flew over. "Are you okay, Jess?" He asked me and I sighed not sure how to explain how I felt.
"Jessie needs us right now." Berto answered for me as he saw how I was struggling to answer my best friend and I nodded happy that he understood. "Maybe we should go back inside the bedroom and..." Before he could finish Shock suddenly glared, his green eye going huge and it clicked just how that sounded. "It didn't mean it like that! I meant that we could sit down and plan how we're gonna beat Makino." He answered and Shock crossed his arms, not looking totally convinced and I almost burst out laughing at the pair of them.
Gently pushing away from Berto I made my way back to my bedroom, grabbing a towel as I did and as I towel dried my hair Berto and Shock exchanged a look. Still worried about me Berto quickly used the remaining dry towel to dry himself and as he followed me Shock stared after us, curious. By the time he reached the bedroom I was sitting on the edge of the bed silently looking down at the floor as Berto watched me, not sure why I was so quiet. Finally he coughed and I blinked before I looked up having forgotten they were nearby and Berto sighed knowing that I was still not myself.
"What's wrong, Jess? You've been so quiet lately and its worrying us." Shock said and Berto just nodded his chocolate-brown eyes looking directly into mine and I felt a tightness in my chest as I tried to gather my thoughts.
"My other half...thinks I should let her fight Makino." I answered in a quiet voice and as my friends stared at me, eyes going wide, I closed my eyes and fought back the tears begining to well there. "I'm not sure I can beat him and...maybe she's right. I haven't been much of a help recently." I sighed and Berto instantly wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.
"Don't say that!" He shouted and when I cringed he shook his head. "Didn't mean to yell but you keep putting yourself down every time you mention Makino or your dark half. You know you can beat Makino and your dark half is a part of you." When I stared at him he continued hoping his words would get through. "You have control and not her so stop thinking you're not in control." Once he finished I sat there in silence and as I stared at the floor both he and Shock wondered if I had really taken what Berto said to heart. Then I looked up and once I gave them both a grin they grinned back thankful that I hadn't given up on myself. Of course it wasn't as easy as they said but I hadn't given up the fight yet and as Makino's fleet approached I decided that I needed to get as much training as possible so that I could be ready for anything at the alien could throw at me. But even spending my weekends and free time at N-Tek didn't make me feel any more ready to face him and his army and with a week to go I was pushing myself pretty hard.
