Chapter 13: A piece of the puzzle

Xander rose with difficulty from the couch and headed after the others out of the room. As Madison tried to follow in his wake, Nick grabbed her by the arm and pulled her aside.

"I think you're right, Maddy," he whispered in her ear, "there is something about this storm."

Madison stopped her attempt to break free from his grip and blinked confused.

"What do you mean?"

Nick pulled her closer to the windows, out of sight from the others in case they returned to see what had happened to them.

"I think the storm is somehow affecting us, more specifically our elements. At first, I thought I was only imagining it but you guys are all acting strange. I've been watching you all morning. You're not yourselves."

Madison frowned.

"In what way are we not ourselves?"

Nick pursed his lips, trying to choose the right words.

"Remember how you told me you could 'sense' the storm coming?"

Madison nodded.

"Well, your element is water. Water is known to carry sounds over long distances, maybe it can carry more than just sounds. The sea is practically a creature of its own and the storm has been building up out at sea over the last week. I wouldn't be surprised if your element has picked up on the sea's worry and made you worry too. You said you've been feeling anxious."

Madison nodded but it was a slow nod, like she was trying lay the puzzle Nick was giving her the pieces to. Nick decided to help her farther.

"And think about what just happened when Chip left room. His element is electricity. Last night he was having difficulties with his hair pointing in every direction, just like he had been rubbing a balloon to his head. Today, we had difficulties getting a clear picture on the TV but the moment Chip walked out of the room, the picture suddenly cleared."

Madison bit her lip and rubbed her arms like she was cold. Nick had to put restraint on himself not to pull her into his arms.

"It wasn't a coincidence, was it?" She met his gaze and her heart leapt. She quickly shifted weight from one foot to the other to let him think she was uncomfortable rather than swooned. "It does explain Xander's soreness. Unless he didn't suddenly become the busy bee after I left, he didn't do enough at the store yesterday to deserve a soreness like that. He must be picking up the pain from the trees. And Vida has been awfully cheerful to be herself.

Nick chuckled and a cute blush appeared on his cheeks.

"I thought she was drunk last night."

"She was. There's vodka missing from the liquor cabinet." Madison smiled and shook her head as if shaking off a funny thought. "But Vida isn't the kind who giggles when she's drunk. She gets hysterical and cries over nothing. If she was just drunk last night it is more likely she would have been crying over her hair not being the right shade of pink rather than dancing to herself singing romantic love songs."

Nick arched his eyebrows in amused surprise. This was new information. It hit him that he had never been out partying with his friends. Not even after the Master had been defeated had he joined in on the celebration, instead he had taken his bike and drove out of town with Udonna and Leanbow.

"I'd like to see that sometime," he chuckled, at the same wondering what kind of drunk-personality Madison had.

"If your theory is correct," Madison said as they headed out of the room to join the other. "Why aren't you affected?"

Nick could only think of one answer to that question.

"There isn't a fire."

He was about to add "yet" when Madison spun around so suddenly, Nick almost walked right into to her.

"We need to tell the others. They have the right to know what's going on."

"Do you think that's wise?" Nick wondered. "It's not like they can do anything about it."

"Perhaps not, but I feel a little calmer now knowing I'm not going crazy. The others have probably sensed something is wrong too. Even if they can't do anything about it than maybe they will feel a little calmer knowing what's happening to them isn't their fault."

Nick couldn't argue with that. If he had been Chip or Vida or Xander, he too would have liked to know. He wouldn't have liked being kept in the dark.

"Okay, let's them. Together?"

Madison smiled and nodded. "Together."