Will and Fate
By Jeremy

Chapter 6

January 8, 1995

Whatever had been happening in meeting this guy, Claudia knew, it had been a lot to take. The proof of it was sitting in the backseat of the car, gazing throught the window, his eyes clearly showing a mix of excitement, anger and downright confusion. Part of what he was feeling obviously came from the fact that Nate had finally awakened, and the strange request/order he had given them all. Yep, part of it. But certainly not all of it. And althought they had tried their damnedest to refrain from asking about it, they weren't going to sit still with this either. The one who was going to ask first was already determined: Alex had been building up to it from the moment they had started the ride to the hospital. A decade of firm friendship was preventing her from asking, but her boyfriend didn't have that depth of it. She was just waiting for it to come out.

It did, about halfway to the hospital. It came as no surprise to anyone. It was just that the way it was asked seemed so...crude, given the circumstances.

"All right, that's it!" growled Alex. "I'm not taking this anymore, Jer! What in all hells did that guy tell you to get you so fucking screwed?!?"

Claudia winced. This could have been put far better than that. But then again Alex had no true knowledge and no patience with the subtleties of language, especially when he was feeling exasperated. Jeremy seemed to make nothing of it. In fact, his expression of confused emotions barely sharpened. When he spoke, it was in a soft, neutral tone.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked. That only seemed to agitate Alex further, and she had to admit he did have a point. Jer could be so bottled up it was frustrating at times, and this seemed to be one of the worst times.

"You know damn well what I mean!" the blonde man took a breather, calmed himself with effort, and then managed to talk more steadily. "Ever since you've had your 'talk' or whatever that was with that guy, you've been acting so detached its scary. It seems like you barely CARE if Nate has finally woken up."

Jeremy waved the comments away. "Well, I'm glad he's awake. Pretty angry at him for not letting me tell Tom..."

"He must have his reasons." Claudia cut in. He barely seemed to notice.

"...who really should know about this. And then there's what that guy - Hemmerson - told me. It a dose that I didn't need, and I don't know how I'm supposed to be feeling." his voice took on a dangerous edge. "But I DO care, Alex. Don't ever doubt that."

Alex seemed about to press the issue, but Claudia shot him a look from her place at the wheel - the kind of look that had made this slight, beautiful young woman respected by all, even the strongest - and the wrestler subisided into gloomy mutterings. Jeremy again looked out the window. Taking another peek at him, she was stunned by the slight trembling she detected, as if he was not only confused, but afraid of what he was dealing with. Seeing this coming from a guy who had stood up to violent bullies and fighters without batting an eye, was something very uncomfortable to deal with. What had they talked about, for God's sake?

No point asking right now. She just hoped Nathan would help to get throught to him. Of course, he would. Her fragile friend always had an highly deductive mind, and had a knack for finding about things. He had wormed many things out of them all, sometimes without their knowledge. Yes, he'd find a way to straighten things out. Another reason to add to fuel the joy she was feeling at knowing her childhood friend was back.

Because she was happy. Jeremy might be bound up in God-knew-what and Alex may be feeling testy, nothing could ruin her day! She had been praying for this to happen, and it seemed that someone up there had been listening.

Jeremy finally sighed. He tapped Alex on the shoulder, calling his attention.

"Sorry I snapped at you, Alex. It was uncalled for." he said.

Alex gave a weak grin. "Don't worry yourself over that. I was over the line myself. I'm sorry too. Look, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. I'll deal with it."

The brown-haired young man - who was so precocious he seemed like an eighteen year old rather than sixteen - only shook his head. "I wish I could explain, but I have some things to think through still. All I can really say is that Shadowlaw's involved."

She saw Alex stiffen at the name, and knew it wasn't good. That name seemed trouble just by the sound of it, but by the look the two exchanged, it was even worse news than that. Another street thing. They might be right calling street fighter uncultured - most of them anyway - but one thing they didn't lack was the knack for finding information. Especially on what lay below ground, where people never looked. They were very good at finding out about these things.

At length Alex spoke again. Althought he seemed calm, his eyes told another story.
"Shadowlaw, huh? That's bad news."

"You bet. Heard the rumors?"

"Who hasn't?" asked the giant restlessly. "If even HALF of what I heard is true, these guys are worse than just a bunch of terrorists. More. Far more. Monsters, thats what."

"I just love it when I'm in the dark." said Claudia sarcastically. She was even more annoyed when they didn't seem to hear her. The two young men fell silent again, but the difference was that Alex also seemed worried now. Great, just great!

The sight of the hospital lifted her slowly sinking spirits again. Finally, she was going to see her old friend again! No matter how gloomy he seemed on the phone, it probably was nothing. The guy who had beaten him so badly was gone - Jeremy, Thomas and, yes, even their old uncle/father Mattew had looked quite thoroughly, finding nothing and no one. So the case was close. No problems detected ahead.

So there really was no point in Nate's worry, right?

* * * * * * * * * *

10 minutes later...

Nathan was far more worried than he even had let on on the phone. Not because he was worried of being beaten again - althought he was concerned of that too, of course. But he was afraid Claudia hadn't truly listened to him, which would give up a very nasty result. Not that he thought he'd be in danger - there'd be Alex and Jeremy, they were strong enough to contain the situation. He was afraid of what it would destroy in the hearts of his friend. Better to talk and explain first. No more rash action, no more thinking the mind was so much stronger than the body - as he so foolishly thought and payed for.

He had just managed to momentarily get rid of his parents. Not for long of course. A lump still formed in his throat when he remembered his mother's clinging embrace, his father's relieved but shaking voice. It was clear that they had been broken by what had happened to him, and he had expected them to. But not that much. All his life, he'd always been liked by friends and family, but his analytical and bookish nature had always left him out of much of his friends activities. How could he hope to be fully understood by robust, athletic guys like Jer and... and Tom. How could he be understood by the one hundred percent extroverted Claudia? And how could he fully understand them? Because he could never truly relate to anyone, he never felt that they had. Even his family.

In this too, he had thus been wrong. Wrong in a good way, however, a stark contrast with his other mistake...

That put his overactive mind straight on the problem. What he had to say to his friends was an hard truth, but a truth nonetheless. He thus felt no true reluctance, only a lingering doubt in the back of his head, doubt about his ability to convince, to explain the facts without looking either crazy or paranoid. He knew they were bound to think him both - Claudia and Jeremy especially - if he messed up here. And he couldn't allow himself to mess up. Not if he wanted to finally stop what had almost happened to him.

He heard voices, excited voices coming from the doorway. He had trouble recognizing the male voices, but he'd know the female voice anywhere. At last, they were here. Worry mixed with pleasure boiled inside him as he waited for them to come in.

As they did, the first thing he felt was relief, then surprise. In the months he had been out of commission, the three had changed so much! Claudia was more beautiful than ever, with her figure slimmer and more elegant. Alex, who had always been impressively tall and strong, was now a mountain of rock-hard muscle that nearly burst out of his clothing. And Jeremy had gained in height and weight. Still slender for an athlete, his shoulders had nonetheless broadened and the added weight didn't seem to be fat. He also had telltale signs of a beard, and a thighter, harder face than he remembered. Looking at his friends, he felt that he had left them for years instead of months. They no longer seemed like teenagers, but real young adults.

His analysis complete, he gladly accepted the hug that Claudia gave him, as well as the fond slaps and handshakes the two guys gave each in turn. He suddenly felt reluctant to talk about what he wanted to talk, but knew they'd have to come around to it sooner rather than later. However, he felt no driving need to rush things.

So they talked of all and nothing for a while, each keeping difficult subjects out of the way. Nate insisted that he be told the entire tournament in detail, and he rejoiced that his friend had accomplished such a distinction as martial arts champion.

"Jer's the guy to beat in the region now." told Alex. "And he's really showed us quite a show back there. You really had him with that...what's the name of that tech?"

"The Flare Talon. A very imperfect one."

"Right. You know, your uncle told me you'd finally outranked his level by being able to do a full-fledged chi attack, even an imperfect one."

"I dunno. Maybe my techs are stronger but Uncle's got decades of experience on me. In a real fight, I'm sure I'd get in trouble rather easily."

Claudia laughed. "Oh, save us the modesty, Jeremy Storm! I've talked with both your uncle, your aunt and even your granddad. They all agree you're probably the one with the highest potential in this family. Higher than your mother, even, and that seems to be something."

Jeremy smiled and bowed, saying nothing, noncommital as always. When he straightened, however, all of the mirth washed away. His face became worried and serious. Nathan sighed inwardly. It was coming. He knew he expected it, wanted it even, but felt dread of it either way. He thus waited for Jeremy to make the opening move. He didn't have to wait very long.

"By the way, speaking of family, why were you so adamant about not seeing Tom? I'm sure he would have liked to come as well - our personal feud nonwithstanding." He crossed his arms.

Claudia frowned while Alex seemed to really want to be elsewhere. "Jer, I don't think..." started the girl. He cut her off impatiently.

"I asked a reasonable question, Claudia." he retorted, never raising his voice, still calm and mild. "And reasonable questions usually mean resonable answers. Well, Nate?"

The blonde girl seemed to recognize the fact that her friend's question was valid, but also seemed ready to step up the confrontation. Nate decided to stop this before things could escalate.

"You're absolutely right, Jer." he said softly. "I have to explain myself. And I will. But for that, I need to explain things from the beginning, and its rather long as far as stories go."

His grey-eyed friend only shrugged. "Go ahead. Its Saturday. We got plenty of time to spare."

"I gotta admit I'm curious." added Alex. He raised his hands as Claudia looked at him. "Hey, hey! I didn't say anything wrong, here! I just think getting all the facts straight's a good idea. Don't you think so?"

Claudia seemed torn for a moment longer, but finally seemed to deflate a bit, and nodded. "Gotta admit, I'm as curious as you guys. But still..." she shook her head. "Fine, go ahead, Nate. Just don't push yourself."

Nathan nodded, wearily choosing how to begin, as his three friends took up more comfortable positions to listen, Alex laning by the window, Claudia sitting at the adge of the bed and Jeremy sitting on the small chair of the room. Nathan swallowed hard, breathed, and launched himself unto his narration.

"I think you all know that, for the past five years or so, there have been irregular murderous acts around our town, specifically around our own neighbourhood. Seven cases of violent murders: Anna Sheldon in October 1990, Frank Hammerbound in May 1991, Bernard DuChateau in November 1993, and on and on. Following me?" Jeremy and Claudia gave firm nods, having been around. Alex was more hesitant, but then again he never had had direct news of the murders, only stories in the news and some info from Claudia. But then, he wasn't important in this. "Right. So, about a year and a half ago, I started to look into it. Just for fun, at first. But then I became more involved in it. Its about that time you started to see less and less of me. I was occupied pestering anyone who could giveme clues, hacking away at files on my computers, and all the info together with things I had observed at the time."

"Must have been hard keeping up with all that." mused Claudia, looking at him with worry and disapproval. Jeremy said nothing.

Nathan nodded. "You can say that again. In fact, I was completely overflowed with info, thoroughly incapable of doing anything else. Involvement became obsession, I started to neglect everything else in my life. You, school, my family... I really worried everyone then, I guess."

"We did wonder what you were doing all that time. More than once." said Jeremy with a nod.

"But then I stumbled across something. A piece of information that you wrote, Claudia. It startled me, and I ventured in a new direction, reluctantly. But then things started to click, small bits from my memory and from what you guys had said started to fill gaps in my reasoning. And, as I was getting closer to the truth, the less I wanted to believe in it at all."

"What was that piece of information?" asked Alex curiously.

"Well, it was in an old book of Claudia's." Claudia glared at him. He smiled nervously. "Sorry. Yes, it was a diary. Now I only read this," he added quickly, " because I had knocked it off a shelf and I absent-mindedly read a few sentences. I really stumbled on that by accident and I really didn't read anything personal okay?" he finished with a pleading look at Claudia. She sniffed and he sighed.

"What was the info?" Alex pressed again.

Nathan swallowed hard, his throat dry. This was where it was going to get ugly. He looked at Jeremy: the guy was looking at him with interest. Obviously nothing had clicked in yet. He started again, choosing his words with great care.

"It...it was a note of hers, that was about Frank's murder in 1991. The note said that it was surprising that Tom, that Tom knew so much about the murder. Just a thought, but one that I really couldn't ignore. I checked it out of habit, but then I...I..." Jeremy's face became stony. What he was saying had become clear. Alex and Claudia just stared in disbelief. He knew he had to finish this, knew it and hated it. "I found evidence. Subtle evidence. Oh, nothing that could stand up to anything in court, but facts and little tidbits that made me sure of it."

He looked at Jeremy, brown eyes meeting grey eyes squarely. Then he said what he had been waiting to say all this time since he had woken up, the thing he should have said months ago. The thing that might well scar his friend forever.

"I found, then, for certain, that it was Tom that had killed them all. All those guys and girls. And the reason I'm in the hospital right now, is that I was foolish enought to go and ask him to stop killing."

* * * * * * * * * *
At the same time...

Melissa was worried and angry. Not surprising really. After all, her boyfriend and the two other people she had been with had just left her alone with barely a good-bye. And they hadn't even thought of asking her if she wanted to come along to see this friend. This really doing nothing to help her not feeling left out.

What's worse, she couldn't find old uncle out there. The man was lost amongst the people as minor prizes were being passed. She sighed. So much for having some fun on a saturday! She was starting to consider heading back herself, uncle or not, even if it meant going by foot, when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around. Looming over her, tall and strong, was Thomas Storm.

She didn't know whether to be happy or not about this new turn of events. She had never seemed to be able to make her mind about the bigger of the Storm cousins. Jeremy she had liked on sight, and soon fell in love with him as she started to know each other. Strong, arrogant, extremely straightforward and as stubborn as they came, she had also seen him shy, mild, gentle and bound by a strict personal code that was vague to people around but that everyone had come to respect. And she had felt that there was no secret, no hidden darkness, in Jeremy Storm, even at his harshest.

She couldn't say the same about Thomas. Just as arrogant but louder in showing it, he was a most lively fellow, but also a very strange one. Prone to fits of anger, he sometimes acted like a bully with those he didn't like. He was very envious of his cousin, who was the only one in school whom he knew could stand up to him and deck him if it came to that. That envy had only heightened recently. Most importantly, he unlike his milder - if more powerful - cousin, seemed to hold parts of himself in, showing them to no one. The few glimpses she had caught of that hidden side had hinted at dark things, things that scared her. Yet he had always been nice and polite with her.

Her uncertainty as to how she should react made her look confused. To her relief, Thomas seemed to recognize this as startlement and apologized with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Bah, I went to see Jer, of course. Its his big day and I came to see him win." His tone seemed forced - he certainly wasn't enjoying this as much as he claimed. Melissa wondered if he had really come to see his cousin win, or gloat over him if he came down to losing to someone. Once again, she had mixed impressions of the large young man who, true to the precocious nature of the Storm family, looked more mature than his seventeen years.

He caught her uncertain gaze. "What is it?"

She flushed, kicking herself for being so obvious, but decided to stick to what she had thought, lies not being something she was good with.

"I thought, " she stated carefully, "that maybe you'd prefer not to come, you know. After the other day..." She stopped when he winced. Wrong thing to say, she thought.

"That wasn't the best action I ever undertook." he said gloomily. "Nor the smartest. But that's in the past, now. I really was coming to see him win this." He looked around. "And it looks like I went throught all this trouble for nothing. It's obviously over or just about. So, did he win?"

She nodded, unable to hold back a smile of pride and triumph, and went on to tell about the spectacular fight between Jeremy and his final opponent. Thomas listened with rapt attention, occasionally exclaming or making a small commentary. In the end, he looked both happy and disappointed.

"That's great. Too bad I can't tell him that." he shrugged in defeat and gradual acceptance. "Seems like there won't be any reconciliation today.

He seemed so down in that moment, so deflated, that she felt extremely uncomfortable and cast about for something, anything, to cheer him up. It fortunately came to her easily enough.

"Well, then, why don't you go tell him at the hospital?" she blurted. He looked at here curiously.

"He went to the hospital. Why? To see if Nate is any better?"

She shook her head. "Nope. To see Nate, period. Don't you know? He's woken up!"

For a moment he stood uncomprehending, then something changed in his face, or rather passed throught for a moment. She couldn't pinpoint the expression, but it made faint alarm bells go off like crazy in her head. For a moment, it was like something deep inside him, something that could only be dangerous, had surfaced.

For a moment. And then he laughed happily and heartily, and raised his arms up, bellowing joy for all to see. Such was the contrast that she doubted herself for seeing the dark flash. Perhaps her imagination had played a trick on her. Or maybe he had just been unable to deal with the immensity of the news for a time. Whatever it was, it was something she couldn't tag, and thus stopped paying attention to it and to the weird feeling she had all of a sudden.

When he had expended his joy apparently sufficiently, drawing stares to himself, he managed to face her again, a grin nearly splitting his face in two.

"This is perfect! Perfect! Just the way it should be!!!" He gestured to the exit. "Come on!!! Lets go see him!!"

"But how?" she asked.

"Well, by car, what else? Remember Jer and I can drive now. I didn't come here walking, you know!! Now come on, I want to see his face when I come to talk to him! Its gonna be priceless!!! Coming??"

Melissa was sorely tempted, but something held her back for a moment. The feeling of dread had appeared again, stronger. She was suddenly reminded of Claudia telling Jeremy he couldn't tell Tom yet. That was probably it. But then she also remembered her disappointment when they had all taken off without her. So she should really come along. She'd be able to explain she hadn't meant to spill the news and she would at the same time get them back for leaving with barely a word.

She nodded decisively. "Let's go!" She exclaimed.

"Great!" he said happily. "This is gonna rock!" He started to walk toward the door quickly, humming a tune. Melissa followed him.

She smiled. Whether they'd be happy or not, those three were in for quite a surprise.

* * * * * * * * * *
Five minutes later...

It had all happened so quickly. One moment they were hearing Nathan's reasoning, torn between disbelief and comprehension. Then the crippled man a seemed to rally, and had faced Jeremy, giving off his shattering pronouncement in a calm, if reluctant voice. For a moment nothing had happened...

...and then Nathan had been litterally torn off the bed and slammed hard against the wall by a very pissed and agitated Jeremy. He had hit the wall so hard that Alex had thought he might have broken something. He did cry out on impact, but then had stood completely still, his gaze not showing fear but calm and what could only be regret.

"PROOF! I want some DAMN proof, Nate!" Jeremy shouted, unheeding of the fact that all that noise was bound to bring hordes of nurses and ordelies and security guards charging throught. "I want proof of what you're saying. Right here. Right now. And if you can't give them to me, I'll put you back into a coma MYSELF!"

"Jer...!!" screeched Claudia, distraught, fearful and angry at the same time. Alex made a move to move his friend off Nate, but was stopped dead in his track by said friend turning a searing gaze toward him. His eyes were widened as wide as they could go, his pupils dilated. There was something wild and desperate and dangerous about him, and it showed as he sent a warning towards both he and Claudia.

"Don't touch me! You DON'T want to touch me! You don't want to TALK to me." his tone, which had reached a dangerous, near-hysteric edge, became colder than ice. "I attack the first who does either, even if its you two. So leave me be." When they held completely still, he turned back towards Nathan. "Proof. Now."

And then the scarred, crippled young man, who had kept calm and silent under the terrible threat, smiled sadly. "Of course. I expected to give you no less. Claudia, there's a thick blue-binded book on the counter just by the door. Please get it, okay?" Claudia hesitated, but finally did as told. She came back in seconds with a blue book - very thick indeed - and stood by the two uncertaintly. Nathan nodded to her, unheeding of the fact that he was still being held against a wall. He looked back at his furious captor.

"Jer, in this book that I asked my mother to bring, stand all the proof that you want. You go ahead and read it. You'll see that I'm right, because I am. I hate saying it for this, but I am."

Jeremy looked him furiously for a moment, his eyes narrowed. Then he gave an abrupt, angry nod. He then flung Nate back into his bed with one arm, snatching the book from Claudia with his free hand and sat on his chair in one fluid movement, opening the book with a savage swing that almost tore it apart. At first he barely glanced at the pages, which were covered, Alex glimpsed, with newspaper articles, police records - hacked, probably - and lots of well-ordered written lines. He flipped pages and scanned furiously, sometimes stopping to read a tidbit more attentively. Alex helped Nate get comfortable again, staying near him if Jeremy went ballistic again, while Claudia went to make sure there'd be no security guards or orderlies would come barging in. They dared no disturb him. So the angry flipping continued for some time.

Then it slowed, and finally stopped completely. The newly-named champion started to really read the pages, his expression at first only still furious, but less so as time went on. His face became pale, his eyes feverish and his expression, appalled. As he flipped the pages, devouring the content, his breath started to come faster, the hands holding the book started to tremble. Alex exchanged a worried look with Claudia, and as one they looked at Nathan.

The crippled man looked at the increasingly tormented young man with sorrow and resignation. His whole body told the story: I knew this was going to happen. I hate it, I really do. But I had no choices left. Alone he seemed to understand what was going on - for now. Jeremy was obviously starting to, and its wasn't doing wonders.

After a while - an eternity! - the book was put down with a shaking hand and its reader stood up, shaking, his head down. Alex tensed. Was the trembling rage or something else? And if it was rage, who was it aimed at. Then Jer looked at them, and he saw that, whatever he would do, it wasn't going to be something that would endanger his friends. When he saw his face, he recoiled, and Claudia uttered a muffled exclamation.

His face. Alex would never forget that face. Horribly pale and drawn, it seemed to have lost all life. The lips were set in a thin, trembling line, barely discernable. The whiteness of the skin seemed to have caused the brown hair to lose all its luster and it looked like it didn't belong there for some reason. The worst of all, however, were the eyes. The grey had drakened as to nearly appear black. There was no expression that could be seen in them, they were blank and glazed, the moisture of tears were the only indication of the great turmoil that undoubtedly raged behind them. That face that had girls sighing in adoration - and not little bit of longing - was now gone, replaced by the face of someone who either was dead, was going to die, or wished he would.

He stood there, seemingly completely out of it, unaware. Then a soft, animal-like moan escaped the throat of the young man, spearing the immense blond man with its despair, its helplessness.

"Jer..." said Claudia very softly, reaching out to him to offer comfort and friendship.

That somehow was the worst thing she could have done. Tears sarted to flow from the unsseing eyes and, before anyone could react, he let out a sob and, turning tail, not even seeing his winter coat that sprawled on the back of the chair, taking it even less, Jeremy Storm ran out of the room. Immediately both he and Claudia made a swift move to the door, with every intention of catching him before something bad happened.

"No. Don't." said a sad voice.

Alex stopped, turned around, and saw Nathan looking at them pleadingly, his sorrow increased tenfold, the calm demeanor now cracked faked. He looked pitiful, truthfully, but the blond giant remembered the face of his other friend, and mentally shook his head. The two levels of grief couldn't even be compared, and he had made up his mind to go after his friend, the only one his age who had really understood his passion of fighting, no matter what Nathan thought he should do, when the scarred teen spoke again.

"He has to deal with this. Besides, we've done enought damage, we can't make it better for now."

It was then that Alex Strongfort got angry. It wasn't something that happened often. Irritation, yes, that happened often enought. True anger? No. It was something all who knew him - except Claudia, who seemed impervious - tended to avoid at all costs, for it rarely was a beautiful sight. And he wouldn't have gotten angry, if Nathan hadn't told him that unfortunate last sentence. But he did, and that was too much. He clenched his fists, reminding himself not to be violent with an effort.

"We've done enough damage? We?" he said softly and dangerously, throught clenched teeth. "We didn't mess him up like that. You did. Your book did. Don't even try to put the responsability of hurting a friend on our shoulders. Its you're fault if he's like that now. Deal with it yourself!"

Nathan flashed a look at Claudia, who looked back coldly.

"Don't look at me, Nathan. Right now I think you're despicable doing what you did. I'm behind Alex all the way on this."

The scarred and crippled man nodded sadly, unsurprised.

"I understand you. I probably would say that, too. But, unlike you, I didn't get a choice of it. I had to tell him, to make him understand."

"I'm really disppojnted in you, Nathan." said Claudia coldly. "I never knew you to be so selfish."

That last word seemed to snap something inside Nathan, for his face lost its calm and sad touch and became a mask of indignation and anger. Alex couldn't help but take a half-step back, so sudden the change had been.

"Selfish? Selfish? Selfish?!? I was selfish enought to go see that crazy sonovabitch by myself while fully knowing what he could do to try to spare that pooor fool Jeremy, who lived with a FUCKING murderer and never even started to guess it, that's how selfish I am! I've got scars that'll always mangle my face, I'll have to walk with a cane for the rest of my life and you never even heard me say a word about that, THAT'S how selfish I am!!" Nathan seemed ready to explode, his face was so red. He seemed to have totally lost his sanity. "I'm giving Jeremy, someone I'm still willing to call a friend, which many in my position wouldn't, a chance to talk some sort of reason into Tom's ugly, murderous skull while the only I think he deserves is to be KILLED outright, THAT'S HOW SELFISH I AM!!!"

Both Claudia and Alex were stunned by the outburst. Never had they seen Nathan so furious. So nice was he ordinarily, the giant wrestler usually found the rather mild-mannered Jeremy harsh compared to him. He didn't know what to say, what to think. And he did felt shame then. Who, indeed, was he to judge Nathan's actions? He hadn't been scarred and crippled by someone he knew, unlike his friend. But, before he could put up some kind of apology, Nathan seemed to master his grief and anger, and became calm again. However, this time he wasn't sad. He was dead cold.

"But then again, what does it matter? You minds are made up. Good. Great. Many felicitations and hurrays. Now get out, because after what you said - especially you, Claudia - I can't, and won't, call you my friends."

This seemed to snap Claudia out of her daze. "Nate you can't mean that! I was just..."

"I suggest you leave right now. Mister Strongfort, Miss Levenson, have a good day." His tone was a dismissal. He picked up the blue book and tossed it at Claudia, who caught it instinctively. "You might find this somewhat interesting, madam. It makes for a good read. Farewell."

Alex knew there was no point in staying. Even thought he gave the impression of coldness, the huge man easily felt his friend's anger. There was no more talking to him, at least not right now. He had erected a wall that they had recklessly helped create. Grabbing their coats-including Jeremy's, he pushed a very reluctant Claudia out the door and into the corridor.

As soon as they were a slight distance away, however, she stopped and looked at Nathan's room with such sad eyes that Alex hurried to find something to say.

"He's just like that, you know. He was just angry, because, you know, we got angry about something we don't understand."

Claudia suddenly set her jaw and looked at him firmly. "Then we will. We'll understand it all." she showed him the book. "We'll read this. We owe Jer, and most of all Nate, to know the truth. Otherwise...we...we..." She looked away. "I just want to know...what's destroyed one of my friend and destroying another one."

Alex bent, to her height, and kissed her on the cheek. "You're right. And I want to know, too. Let's find a quiet place to read this thing.

* * * * * * * * * *

Fifteen minutes later...

The cold was biting, as it was the case in that part of Maine in January. However, the cold wasn't even bothering Jeremy. In fact, it could have been a coal-hot day in summer and he never would have noticed, either. His body was completely secondary, his mind was taking all the space, filling his senses.

...and it seems that with the case aforementioned, namely Betty Aklem's murder, that Thomas could indeed have made the route from his summer camp to that place in the specified amount of time necessary to...

"Shut up."

...althought no proof may be found presently, I am sadly as certain as can be that it is more than probable that Vincent Hardram, after using his sharp tongue to thoroughly humiliate Thomas, may have been the object of retaliation. This more and more leads this writer to suspect that...

"Shut up!"

...That Katy Madison has been killed by someone with strong fists is no secret. That in itself is not helpful. However, if one takes time to compare the marks on the body of the victim and compare them to the Storm's Fang style of fighting, there is disturbing evidence pointing to...

"SHUT UUUP!!!!" Jeremy howled, breaking the cycle of his thoughts and returning him to reality. He wasn't taking this. Couldn't take this. This was insane. Tom was a jerk, that was true, but a murderer? How dare Nate tell that about someone he had known since childhood? That he had helped study numerous times. That he had had played with. How could he? How could he? It was unforgivable.

And, most of all, true.

True. Althought the emotional part of his mind rebelled at the revelations, the unemotional, analytical part found his friend's -could he still call him that? - investigation sound. Each proof in itself was unsettling. All of them put together made it an unbreakable wall of logic. His emotions couldn't handle it, but the truth was, he believed it. And not just because of what had been written.

For reading the book, he had remembered things himself, facts that he had paid no attention to at the time.

Tom coming home after having gone out. He had come into the room with such an expression that, for a moment, he had had goosebumps...

Tom giving little surprise to some of the murders, as if it was old news to him...

Him glimpsing Tom mumbling, holding Katy Madison's photo, with something wild in his eyes...

Tom telling him facts about the murders, slipping in details that he just couldn't know unless he had been there...

One scene had let loose that well of images, of neglected facts that went on so well with Nate's observations. Years ago, the night of Frank Hammerbound's murder, a sentence so innocent at the time.

"Yep. an old man found him. He'd been dragged out of the woods and on the walkway
in front of his house."

It had never been told in any news reports. How had he know? How could he have known? Unless he had seen the murder.

Unless he had done it. After all, he'd had his first mishap with chi that night, and might have been out for quite a while. Long enoughjt for Tom to...

NO! He shook his head violently, still unheeding the cold. He couldn't make himself belive it. Sure, Tom was a bastard, but a murderer? No way. He'd have seen it. He have felt it, in those years when they were always together, before their feud.

And yet...something inside him told him Nate wouldn't simply invent this, wouldn't destroy someone's life on purpose.

Two possiblilities. Two paths. One true. One not. Which one to take? Which one?

Madness or madness. Which is the maddest? How can I choose?

He stood still for moment, freezing. Then his eyes opened and were aware, and shivered for the first time since he had been out in the cold. His mien was grieved, but determined.

I'll see what Fate wants me to see, he decided, and judge accordingly.

Decision made, he trudged a very cold walk back to the hospital before he became nothing more than a large icicle.

* * * * * * * * * *

That night...

Thomas Storm had it easy getting in the hospital. The security system was old and easily avoidable. The security guards. Well, most of them were lazy anyway. One of those and two nurses had stumbled on him, but they'd been knocked out swiftly before they could see his face. Knocked out. Not killed. Never killed. There was just one person he wanted to kill tonight. A betrayer that had once dared call himself his friend. Tonight he would finish what had been interrupted all these months ago.

As he made his way to Nathan McIntyre's room, his plan of action was clear. He unsheated a wicked knife, hefting it and testing its balance perfect. One swift punch on the head to knock him out, then a thrust throught the heart, then out thye way he had come. No one would ever be the wiser.

Fleeting thoughts of guilt swept throught him. He easily crushed them all.

There's no reason for guilt here. He betrayed me, tried to rat out on me. A betrayer is all that it is. It betrays other people, betrays everyone, yes. Can't live with those around nonono. Gotta get rid of them, yes of course. Nate should thank me, I'm actually helping him atone for his betrayals. Better than he usually gave. Better than a betrayer would give him, yes. But then, he had always been so merciful at heart, yesyes. But not so merciful not to see the truth, nonono. Betrayers were betrayers. Nothing else. No guilt, just redemption for those poor souls. After all, it is Truth. And Truth does not betray.

He opened the door soundlessly, reminded of another half-finished job. That girl. Melissa. Had betrayed a secret that had been given to her by her lover, his cousin. Althought it had made him realize what danger he was him, it also made her a Betrayer. So he had had to take care of her, too. She wasn't dead...yet. But she would be the next time he saw her. She had betrayed a member of his Family. Her death would not be pleasant, as it should be.

He stepped into the darkened room. Nothing stirred. He smiled in satisfaction. Soon the betrayer would be put to rest and the sould would be set free. He stepped forward to do his deed...

...And stopped as alarms went off in his head. Something was wrong in this room. He couldn't see but there seemed to be a presence. A very awake presence. A very dangerous one. He tensed.

The lights of a lamp went on. And Thomas found himself staring at the both grieving and angered face of his cousin. The moment, althought short, seemed to last an eternity. Jeremy looked at the knife in Thomas's hand, his expression becoming even sadder. He then looked back and met his eyes again. He then spoke. Evenly. Slowly. Bleakly.

"So, moving Nathan was the wise move. You won't find him." he voice cracked and shaked as he said the words. He stood "I know the truth, now. Things must end tonight, they must. Tonight things will bet set between us, for good and for ill." His eyes gleamed with unshed tears.

Thomas nodded, somehow understanding. Tonight was the times to know were the two of them stood, whether his cousin was a Betrayer or not, and whether things could go on between them. Tonight was the night. He smiled.

Tonight, we settle things. he thought, it is time for a reckoning.

_______________________________________________________________________

Long time no see! Sorry to have been gone so long, but my studies have been frantic these days and I had little free time. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! Please give me feedback. And stay tuned for chapter 7!

On chapter 7: Confrontations, horror, heartbreak and decisions are in store for Jeremy and his friends on Chapter 7 of Will & Fate!

Jeremy