Chapter Four: Schuldig's troubles...What does Julia have to do with it?
"What happened?" the young precog asked.
"I had it blown up. The empath was quite grief stricken. He did graduate, but he was never quite the same. I'll do the same to the both of you if you don't leave him be." Geheim said.
Schuldig gasped slightly, eyes wide. /No... He wouldn't,/ he thought in horror.
"Is that a threat or a promise, Herr Geheim?" Brad asked coolly.
"Whichever you take it as, Mr. Crawford," the man answered smoothly.
"Then you're the biggest coward I've ever met in my life. Good day, Herr Geheim."
The young American watched the teacher pass by him and leave. He started for the door as well, but turned as he heard someone behind him. Schuldig stood there, staring at him.
Brad closed his eyes for a long moment and the glare that he had put on for Geheim eased off his features. "What the hell are you doing down here, Schuldig?" he asked quietly.
"I wanted to make sure you'd be all right. I know how his talks usually end up...."
"I can take care of myself. Thanks anyway."
"Maybe you should..." Schuldig started, then stopped. He looked away.
The young oracle frowned. "Should what, Schuldig?"
"Maybe you should just let me handle Geheim and not get any more deeply involved than you all ready have...."
"You mean do what he said and leave you alone. Ignore you. Pay no attention whatsoever to you in class, in the hall, wherever. Not care when he beats you to a pulp to protect my being?"
"Yes," the younger boy said simply.
"You want that." Brad said flatly.
"You've done enough," Schuldig said with a forced smile. "Don't think I'm not grateful. I'd like to have a friend that I could hang out with without being frightened they'd get killed by Geheim, but I don't think that's going to happen..."
Brad simply stared at him over the top of his frameless glasses for a long while. He turned to go. "Do as you wish, Schuldig, but I'm not leaving you to his devices."
"You're going to get yourself killed," Schuldig called to him, grabbing him by the arm and halting his exit.
Brad looked down at him. "I can do what I wish with my own life, ne?"
Schuldig glared up at the taller boy. "I will NOT have another death on my conscience," he growled.
Brad pulled his arm roughly away from Schuldig. "If I chose to die it won't be your conscience it's on, now will it? And for another thing, who says I'm going to die? Who says either one of us is going to die? That's not putting a whole lot of faith in either one of us." he said harshly.
Schuldig growled something in German before storming past him. "You're a fool then for protecting me. Something you don't seem to see is that he was right. I'm worthless. Worthless to everyone except people like him to torment and people like Estet to use my abilities." That said, he started out the door.
Brad reached out, grabbed the younger boy, and whirled him around so they were facing each other. He held the German by the shoulders and fought the urge to shake him senseless. "Worthless? Is that what you think you are, Schuldig? Is that all you think of yourself? You're wrong, you idiot. Worthless is when someone who gets sent away because his parents didn't want him. Worthless is someone who g
"You think no one would die to save you?" Schuldig asked quietly. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm basically giving myself to that idiot by telling you to do what I told you. I don't care anymore, though." He sighed. "Worthless is when you can't repent of what you've done. When you're guilty of everything. I killed my own parents, Brad! At least you have PARENTS!!"
"At least yours wanted you." Brad said lowly. "You didn't kill them. I don't care what made them die, but you didn't kill them. Not you. You're the most misnamed person I've ever met, Schuldig. And quite frankly I don't care if you don't care anymore. I have to have a reason to live through the next day, week, and month. And you're a good a reason as any." He released the Germans shoulders and half turned away.
Schuldig looked at his friend. "I just don't want to loose anyone else," he whispered.
Brad turned back and wrapped his arms around the German. "Then you won't," he whispered. "Because I won't let anyone take anything else from you."
Schuldig smiled and returned his friend's embrace. /Thank you./
Brad half-smiled against the green-blonde hair. /Anytime./
Schuldig and Brad made their way back to the classroom and were about to enter as the dismissal bell rang. The young German smirked. "Ah well. One more class we haven't made it to. Our teachers are going to start to get use to this."
"We're going to start failing classes." Brad grumbled.
The green-blond headed boy started to say something, but was interrupted as the door opened. Julia looked at them. "Where were you both all period? I was beginning to become worried."
"Having a chat with Herr Geheim." Brad replied. "We can make the assignment up."
Julia nodded. "You both are okay, right?"
Schuldig nodded. "Ja."
"I'll excuse you both this time. No assignment make up. You'd better hurry though, the next teacher won't be as generous I'm sure." Julia said with a smile.
They nodded and were off.
(later that day...) "Did Geheim say he blew that bus up?" Schuldig asked suddenly, looking up from his thoughtful gaze.
Brad was slightly startled by the question. "Yeah, that's what he said. Why?"
"Herr Connor told me something akin to that story once."
"What did he tell you?"
"That he lost a friend a long time ago in an explosion and he didn't think it was an accident. I suppose it was Geheim."
"He must have been the empath Geheim was talking about."
"Ja." The young German looked out from his perch on the chair at Herr Connor watching Amy play with Abby in the pool.
"Are they involved?" Brad asked.
Schuldig looked back at him. "Eh?"
"Amy and Herr Conner. Are they dating?"
"Sort of," the German responded distantly. "It's never been official. It's kinda everything but dating, ya know?"
"Yeah. Why aren't they official?"
"I'm really not sure. They just never have been. Openly anyway."
"Maybe Geheim won't allow it."
"You think Jack would listen?" Schuldig responded as he stretched out lazily in the chair.
The American rolled his eyes. "Not if he's related in any way to you."
The telepath grinned, then stood and walked over a ways away from the older boy. Brad gave him an odd look and then found out why he moved as a title wave of pool water came down around him.
He made no reaction but turned a steely gaze on the green-blonde haired man. He sat there, staring at him.
Schuldig raised his hands in defense. "I didn't tell her to do it. I simply moved when she told me to."
"Schu?" Brad asked with faked sweetness.
"Ja?"
"You may want to duck."
"Eh?"
Schuldig was hit with a massive wave of water, emanating from the dark haired Nagi Naoe. Brad clapped slowly a few times. "Very, very, nice."
Schuldig sputtered and glared. "HEY!! I told you it wasn't my fault!" He suddenly grinned evilly.
Nagi was smiling at his handiwork, but Crawford did *not* like the look on his face. /What are you thinking?/
Schuldig looked back at Abby who was grinning from ear to ear. Brad suddenly felt himself being lifted off of his chair and soon found himself in the pool. Schuldig stood on the side, grinning.
/Don't make me drown on you again./ Brad thought darkly, coming up and wiping water off his face. "Nagi? Assistance?"
"That's quite all right!" Schuldig said as he inched away from the water. "I'm wet enough all ready...."
He felt an invisible bond encase him, and he was lifted up and over the water. Nagi left him hanging there and grinned.
The bonds around him tightened as not to drop him and the German grimaced. He glared back at Crawford. /Have your little henchman put me down./
"My henchman? I'm not paying the kid you know." Brad said with a smirk.
Schuldig glared. "Just have him put me down." /My ribs hurt.../
"Drop him."
Schuldig felt the bonds let go and he had a brief moment to think about what was about to happen before he hit the water with a splash.
Brad leaned back and floated on his back. /Daijoubu?/
/No,/ came the aggravated reply as the young German made it to the top of the water. He grimaced.
/Gomen./
Schuldig found his way over to the side and hung on, not able to touch the bottom of the pool. He coughed and shuddered. Why did it seem as if his ribs just wouldn't heal?
Brad sighed. He'd done it again. He watched Schuldig pull himself out of the pool and grab a towel. There was something strange about the way he was healing, pool or no pool.
The young German sat on the edge, towel wrapped around him, and shivered.
Brad took in a deep breath of air and allowed himself to sink in the pool. He honestly wanted to help and protect Schuldig. It just seemed that at the moment he was making it worse and not better. But he couldn't...wouldn't...leave him to Geheim.
/Don't drown yourself,/ came Schuldig's amused thoughts.
Brad released a small bubble of air as a response, but smiled anyway.
/Just to let you know that I'm not coming in after you if you do drown./
/You're one in a million./
Schuldig grinned as he curled up by the side of the pool. /I don't feel well,/ he grumbled. /So I'm gonna stay out a while./
/Tell me if it hurts too badly./ Brad opened his eyes and stared at the water above him. The way the light hit it and made everything blur and seem beautiful was captivating. He'd have to remember to dive for his glasses later, which were now on the bottom of the pool.
Schuldig coughed but did not respond. He curled up tighter, willing away the pain.
Brad felt himself lightly brush the bottom of the pool. He still had about twenty seconds before he needed air. He touched Schuldig's mind with his own. /Let me have it./
No response came from the young German.
/Onegai, Schuldig./ Crawford looked up when he heard the muffled sounds of Abby and Amy above the water. He swam up and broke the surface to see Schuldig lying, eyes closed, with the two girls by his side, trying to wake him. Connor was making his way over to them.
"What happened?" Brad demanded, swimming in that direction.
"I'm not sure," Amy responded, still trying to wake the young German. "I called over to him and he didn't respond. When Abby and I came over, he was out cold."
Brad reached the edge of the pool by where they were. /Schuldig, wake up. Talk to me, Schuldig./
The young German groaned softly, but did not wake.
"We should get him dry and in bed." Conner said.
/Schuldig, listen to me. Just wake up long enough for me to take some of the pain away./
Schuldig's eyes snapped open as consciences returned to him, accompanied by pain. He bit back a scream as he curled up tighter.
As soon as he opened his eyes, Brad touched their minds and pulled the pain away from Schuldig's mind and body.
The German coughed violently and then relaxed, pulling his hands away from his mouth and staring up at his friend. /Thank you, once again,/ he thought to him.
/Like I said, I can take something for it./ Brad said with forced smile.
Schuldig forced himself into a sitting position, coughing again. /Maybe I'm just getting sick or something,/ he thought as another coughing spell hit him again.
/I'm going to find some Tylenol.../ Brad thought.
Nagi came over and handed him a pill bottle.
Schuldig weakly lay back down where he had been, still coughing slightly. /What's the matter with me...?/
/I'm not sure. You probably have a cold./ Brad said. He had an idea, though. He thanked Nagi, and wondered how the boy knew he needed it.
/I don't get sick,/ Schuldig responded. /Or at least I never have as far back as I can remember. No one here does very often./
Brad narrowed his eyes. /Oh, really?/
/Ja,/ the young German answered. He brought his hand up to his mouth as he coughed again. He tasted blood and brought his hand away, closing it quickly.
Brad noticed the jerky reaction and gently grabbed Schuldig's hand.
Schuldig kept it clenched tightly. /What?/
/Let me see your palm./
The German looked up at his American friend. He slowly released his fist.
Brad grimaced and touched the blood with his index finger. He cursed under his breath and stood quickly.
Amy looked up from where she and Connor had been discussing quietly. Connor stood. "What is it?"
"He's bleeding."
"I'm fine," Schuldig whispered
"Take care of him. I've got to see Frauline Julia."
Schuldig crawled to his feet. /Brad?/
/Stay. I'll be right back./
Schuldig couldn't respond as he felt an other coughing spell come upon him and he lost himself to the darkness he'd been fighting for the past few minutes.
Brad pulled on a t-shirt over his trunks and quickly walked down the hall to Julia's door. He pounded on it. "Julia!"
The young woman opened the door. "Hello there, Mr. Crawford. How can I help you?"
"You know what he's doing, don't you? You know what Geheim is up too." Brad nearly shouted.
"What happened?" the young precog asked.
"I had it blown up. The empath was quite grief stricken. He did graduate, but he was never quite the same. I'll do the same to the both of you if you don't leave him be." Geheim said.
Schuldig gasped slightly, eyes wide. /No... He wouldn't,/ he thought in horror.
"Is that a threat or a promise, Herr Geheim?" Brad asked coolly.
"Whichever you take it as, Mr. Crawford," the man answered smoothly.
"Then you're the biggest coward I've ever met in my life. Good day, Herr Geheim."
The young American watched the teacher pass by him and leave. He started for the door as well, but turned as he heard someone behind him. Schuldig stood there, staring at him.
Brad closed his eyes for a long moment and the glare that he had put on for Geheim eased off his features. "What the hell are you doing down here, Schuldig?" he asked quietly.
"I wanted to make sure you'd be all right. I know how his talks usually end up...."
"I can take care of myself. Thanks anyway."
"Maybe you should..." Schuldig started, then stopped. He looked away.
The young oracle frowned. "Should what, Schuldig?"
"Maybe you should just let me handle Geheim and not get any more deeply involved than you all ready have...."
"You mean do what he said and leave you alone. Ignore you. Pay no attention whatsoever to you in class, in the hall, wherever. Not care when he beats you to a pulp to protect my being?"
"Yes," the younger boy said simply.
"You want that." Brad said flatly.
"You've done enough," Schuldig said with a forced smile. "Don't think I'm not grateful. I'd like to have a friend that I could hang out with without being frightened they'd get killed by Geheim, but I don't think that's going to happen..."
Brad simply stared at him over the top of his frameless glasses for a long while. He turned to go. "Do as you wish, Schuldig, but I'm not leaving you to his devices."
"You're going to get yourself killed," Schuldig called to him, grabbing him by the arm and halting his exit.
Brad looked down at him. "I can do what I wish with my own life, ne?"
Schuldig glared up at the taller boy. "I will NOT have another death on my conscience," he growled.
Brad pulled his arm roughly away from Schuldig. "If I chose to die it won't be your conscience it's on, now will it? And for another thing, who says I'm going to die? Who says either one of us is going to die? That's not putting a whole lot of faith in either one of us." he said harshly.
Schuldig growled something in German before storming past him. "You're a fool then for protecting me. Something you don't seem to see is that he was right. I'm worthless. Worthless to everyone except people like him to torment and people like Estet to use my abilities." That said, he started out the door.
Brad reached out, grabbed the younger boy, and whirled him around so they were facing each other. He held the German by the shoulders and fought the urge to shake him senseless. "Worthless? Is that what you think you are, Schuldig? Is that all you think of yourself? You're wrong, you idiot. Worthless is when someone who gets sent away because his parents didn't want him. Worthless is someone who g
"You think no one would die to save you?" Schuldig asked quietly. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm basically giving myself to that idiot by telling you to do what I told you. I don't care anymore, though." He sighed. "Worthless is when you can't repent of what you've done. When you're guilty of everything. I killed my own parents, Brad! At least you have PARENTS!!"
"At least yours wanted you." Brad said lowly. "You didn't kill them. I don't care what made them die, but you didn't kill them. Not you. You're the most misnamed person I've ever met, Schuldig. And quite frankly I don't care if you don't care anymore. I have to have a reason to live through the next day, week, and month. And you're a good a reason as any." He released the Germans shoulders and half turned away.
Schuldig looked at his friend. "I just don't want to loose anyone else," he whispered.
Brad turned back and wrapped his arms around the German. "Then you won't," he whispered. "Because I won't let anyone take anything else from you."
Schuldig smiled and returned his friend's embrace. /Thank you./
Brad half-smiled against the green-blonde hair. /Anytime./
Schuldig and Brad made their way back to the classroom and were about to enter as the dismissal bell rang. The young German smirked. "Ah well. One more class we haven't made it to. Our teachers are going to start to get use to this."
"We're going to start failing classes." Brad grumbled.
The green-blond headed boy started to say something, but was interrupted as the door opened. Julia looked at them. "Where were you both all period? I was beginning to become worried."
"Having a chat with Herr Geheim." Brad replied. "We can make the assignment up."
Julia nodded. "You both are okay, right?"
Schuldig nodded. "Ja."
"I'll excuse you both this time. No assignment make up. You'd better hurry though, the next teacher won't be as generous I'm sure." Julia said with a smile.
They nodded and were off.
(later that day...) "Did Geheim say he blew that bus up?" Schuldig asked suddenly, looking up from his thoughtful gaze.
Brad was slightly startled by the question. "Yeah, that's what he said. Why?"
"Herr Connor told me something akin to that story once."
"What did he tell you?"
"That he lost a friend a long time ago in an explosion and he didn't think it was an accident. I suppose it was Geheim."
"He must have been the empath Geheim was talking about."
"Ja." The young German looked out from his perch on the chair at Herr Connor watching Amy play with Abby in the pool.
"Are they involved?" Brad asked.
Schuldig looked back at him. "Eh?"
"Amy and Herr Conner. Are they dating?"
"Sort of," the German responded distantly. "It's never been official. It's kinda everything but dating, ya know?"
"Yeah. Why aren't they official?"
"I'm really not sure. They just never have been. Openly anyway."
"Maybe Geheim won't allow it."
"You think Jack would listen?" Schuldig responded as he stretched out lazily in the chair.
The American rolled his eyes. "Not if he's related in any way to you."
The telepath grinned, then stood and walked over a ways away from the older boy. Brad gave him an odd look and then found out why he moved as a title wave of pool water came down around him.
He made no reaction but turned a steely gaze on the green-blonde haired man. He sat there, staring at him.
Schuldig raised his hands in defense. "I didn't tell her to do it. I simply moved when she told me to."
"Schu?" Brad asked with faked sweetness.
"Ja?"
"You may want to duck."
"Eh?"
Schuldig was hit with a massive wave of water, emanating from the dark haired Nagi Naoe. Brad clapped slowly a few times. "Very, very, nice."
Schuldig sputtered and glared. "HEY!! I told you it wasn't my fault!" He suddenly grinned evilly.
Nagi was smiling at his handiwork, but Crawford did *not* like the look on his face. /What are you thinking?/
Schuldig looked back at Abby who was grinning from ear to ear. Brad suddenly felt himself being lifted off of his chair and soon found himself in the pool. Schuldig stood on the side, grinning.
/Don't make me drown on you again./ Brad thought darkly, coming up and wiping water off his face. "Nagi? Assistance?"
"That's quite all right!" Schuldig said as he inched away from the water. "I'm wet enough all ready...."
He felt an invisible bond encase him, and he was lifted up and over the water. Nagi left him hanging there and grinned.
The bonds around him tightened as not to drop him and the German grimaced. He glared back at Crawford. /Have your little henchman put me down./
"My henchman? I'm not paying the kid you know." Brad said with a smirk.
Schuldig glared. "Just have him put me down." /My ribs hurt.../
"Drop him."
Schuldig felt the bonds let go and he had a brief moment to think about what was about to happen before he hit the water with a splash.
Brad leaned back and floated on his back. /Daijoubu?/
/No,/ came the aggravated reply as the young German made it to the top of the water. He grimaced.
/Gomen./
Schuldig found his way over to the side and hung on, not able to touch the bottom of the pool. He coughed and shuddered. Why did it seem as if his ribs just wouldn't heal?
Brad sighed. He'd done it again. He watched Schuldig pull himself out of the pool and grab a towel. There was something strange about the way he was healing, pool or no pool.
The young German sat on the edge, towel wrapped around him, and shivered.
Brad took in a deep breath of air and allowed himself to sink in the pool. He honestly wanted to help and protect Schuldig. It just seemed that at the moment he was making it worse and not better. But he couldn't...wouldn't...leave him to Geheim.
/Don't drown yourself,/ came Schuldig's amused thoughts.
Brad released a small bubble of air as a response, but smiled anyway.
/Just to let you know that I'm not coming in after you if you do drown./
/You're one in a million./
Schuldig grinned as he curled up by the side of the pool. /I don't feel well,/ he grumbled. /So I'm gonna stay out a while./
/Tell me if it hurts too badly./ Brad opened his eyes and stared at the water above him. The way the light hit it and made everything blur and seem beautiful was captivating. He'd have to remember to dive for his glasses later, which were now on the bottom of the pool.
Schuldig coughed but did not respond. He curled up tighter, willing away the pain.
Brad felt himself lightly brush the bottom of the pool. He still had about twenty seconds before he needed air. He touched Schuldig's mind with his own. /Let me have it./
No response came from the young German.
/Onegai, Schuldig./ Crawford looked up when he heard the muffled sounds of Abby and Amy above the water. He swam up and broke the surface to see Schuldig lying, eyes closed, with the two girls by his side, trying to wake him. Connor was making his way over to them.
"What happened?" Brad demanded, swimming in that direction.
"I'm not sure," Amy responded, still trying to wake the young German. "I called over to him and he didn't respond. When Abby and I came over, he was out cold."
Brad reached the edge of the pool by where they were. /Schuldig, wake up. Talk to me, Schuldig./
The young German groaned softly, but did not wake.
"We should get him dry and in bed." Conner said.
/Schuldig, listen to me. Just wake up long enough for me to take some of the pain away./
Schuldig's eyes snapped open as consciences returned to him, accompanied by pain. He bit back a scream as he curled up tighter.
As soon as he opened his eyes, Brad touched their minds and pulled the pain away from Schuldig's mind and body.
The German coughed violently and then relaxed, pulling his hands away from his mouth and staring up at his friend. /Thank you, once again,/ he thought to him.
/Like I said, I can take something for it./ Brad said with forced smile.
Schuldig forced himself into a sitting position, coughing again. /Maybe I'm just getting sick or something,/ he thought as another coughing spell hit him again.
/I'm going to find some Tylenol.../ Brad thought.
Nagi came over and handed him a pill bottle.
Schuldig weakly lay back down where he had been, still coughing slightly. /What's the matter with me...?/
/I'm not sure. You probably have a cold./ Brad said. He had an idea, though. He thanked Nagi, and wondered how the boy knew he needed it.
/I don't get sick,/ Schuldig responded. /Or at least I never have as far back as I can remember. No one here does very often./
Brad narrowed his eyes. /Oh, really?/
/Ja,/ the young German answered. He brought his hand up to his mouth as he coughed again. He tasted blood and brought his hand away, closing it quickly.
Brad noticed the jerky reaction and gently grabbed Schuldig's hand.
Schuldig kept it clenched tightly. /What?/
/Let me see your palm./
The German looked up at his American friend. He slowly released his fist.
Brad grimaced and touched the blood with his index finger. He cursed under his breath and stood quickly.
Amy looked up from where she and Connor had been discussing quietly. Connor stood. "What is it?"
"He's bleeding."
"I'm fine," Schuldig whispered
"Take care of him. I've got to see Frauline Julia."
Schuldig crawled to his feet. /Brad?/
/Stay. I'll be right back./
Schuldig couldn't respond as he felt an other coughing spell come upon him and he lost himself to the darkness he'd been fighting for the past few minutes.
Brad pulled on a t-shirt over his trunks and quickly walked down the hall to Julia's door. He pounded on it. "Julia!"
The young woman opened the door. "Hello there, Mr. Crawford. How can I help you?"
"You know what he's doing, don't you? You know what Geheim is up too." Brad nearly shouted.