Jake>
I was in peregrine falcon morph flying at top speed to Roach's house. Roach was Jason's best friend from school and right now I wasn't too happy with him. I demorphed and knocked on the front door.
"Hey Mr. Berenson, what's up?"
I grabbed him by his jacket and pulled close. "What the hell possessed you to give my son Valium and Zanex?!"
"He said he was having trouble sleeping after... you know?"
"Well, thanks to you he's now in the hospital from an overdose!" I shouted.
"He OD'ed?!"
"And slit his wrists."
He ran his fingers through his shoulder length blue hair. The kid looked like a rock star, leather jacket and spiked dog collar included. "Gee Mr. Berenson, I'm sorry. I honestly didn't know he'd do something like this."
"I'm not mad at you Roach, I'm just worried about Jason. I don't know if he'll even pull out of this."
"I've know him since daycare, he's stubborn."
"He gets it from his mother."
Memories of Shannon flooded my mind. Visser One murdered her in order to hurt me perso-nally. I remember the day I received the news. Her body had been discovered in the woods by some campers and the authorities were notified. Visser One and David were in eagle morph watching my reaction as they told me the woman I had been married to for over fifteen years was dead. I snapped out of my daze. Now was not the time for grief, my son needed me more than ever. I morphed and went back to the hospital and waited for any changes in his condition. Roach would be by later to visit. Rachel and Tobias sat in the waiting room with everyone else. I guess Nicole and Cheyenne had called them.
"Any word yet?" I asked.
"Not yet," Rachel said.
Cassie came up and hugged me. "Jake I'm so sorry."
"Hey man, don't worry," Marco said. "He's an Animorph, he's tough."
"I hope so."
"Master Jake, if I may inquire? What would cause Prince Jason to try and take his life?" Ketara asked me.
"It's called depression. It's a mental illness that, if not treated immediately, will make a person committ suicide. I guess all the stress from recent events has taken its toll on him."
"I guess I was pressuring him too much to take charge," Nicole said.
"Don't blame yourself," Rachel told her. "It's not easy being the one to make decisions on the fate of the world."
Nicole stared at Jason, hoping that he would wake soon. But even I knew
he wouldn't be any time soon. I just hoped that he was strong enough.