Note: From the next chapter, I will start on part 2 - it will continue from here with no breaks, but I have to split the fic up in two, as now even my cable modem can't handle uploading new chapter in this part. So we'll have a Journey, part I, and a Journey, part II. Hope that didn't get too confusing ^^

A/N 1: [insert very long, very boring definition of 'stuff', ranging from plotbunnies to flames] can be send to hack_heaven@usa.net. Yes, that's an e-mail address. No, I don't bite ^^

A/N 2: SilentPegasus: *bows* Thank you. *grins* And I'm glad you liked the twist on poor Jordane's pregnancy. And yeah - their child could very easily have turned out perfect -.- (well, either that, or a completely and utterly spoiled brat *amused*)

Sabrin: Yup, I tend to treat ficlets as canon, and if I can, I try to tie them in with the rest of the fic. And this one happened to fit ^^

Tiger5913: Whose child? *amused* Well, it had better be Blade's, since he's the only one she's been sleeping with for a while...

Italics indicates thoughts/telepathy

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Chapter Eighty-One: Rebirth

* * *

Jhonen...

The word was soft, murmured, but still enough to tear Jhonen out of his sleep, his dreams forgotten in an instant.

Laetitia? Still sleepy he reached out, searching for her familiar presence, not completely able to hide the hope in his voice. Lae? You there?

Of course. Another soft murmur, almost amused as she replied, invisible lips brushing against his ear, and Jhonen felt a shiver run down his spine, the hot room doing nothing to make it fade away. Suzuka is awake.

And? He blinked, wondering what she was getting at. The sun had been up for hours, but it was silent around him, no sound of footsteps audible, so the others were probably still asleep, exhausted from yesterday. So what if Suzuka was up now?

Don't you remember how angry she was at you? How much she despised you for your decision, for taking control of your own life? Laetitia whispered, and Jhonen found himself nodding slowly as she spoke. Don't you want the chance to talk to her alone again, without the others to interrupt? Show her that you don't regret anything?

Jhonen nodded, finding himself agreeing with her words. She had a point - of all his former teammates, Suzuka had reacted the strongest to his defection, doing nothing to hide her despise for him. Since the day she'd spend in the hands of the Shadow Alliance, he hadn't had the chance to talk with her without the others being around. There had always been someone, casually watching, making sure that nothing went too far.

Why don't you go talk to her? Laetitia murmured, lips brushing his ear again, and with a slow nod Jhonen started to get dressed, then left the room in search of Suzuka.

* * *

She wasn't sure what alerted her. Not sound, as she was still a bit tired, and his footsteps had been all but soundless against the soft carpet. Not sight, either - he'd been watching from the doorway, out of her line of vision. Instincts? The odd knowledge that someone was close? Maybe...

But whatever it was, it made her head snap up and turn to the doorway, her eyes coming to rest on the figure there.

"Jhonen..." It was more of a low growl than a real word, feral instincts reacting to the traitor to her pack. No one with her kind of powers could remain unaffected by their transformations - there would always be something of the animals left, fragments of emotions, of feelings, and in her case a strong sense of loyalty to her 'family'.

Jhonen stepped into the room, eyes watching her with a hint of wariness, looking for any signs that the girl might begin to transform. "Hey."

Suzuka's eyes followed him as he crossed the room, her distrust obvious. "What do you want?" she demanded, her words angry, but still far more restrained that they could have been.

Jhonen clenched his fists momentarily, angry at her distrust, even though he'd done nothing to threaten her, having gone out of his way to show that he didn't want a fight. He wanted to snap at her, his patience already wearing thin, but before he could say anything, Laetitia interrupted him.

No - don't anger her. If she transforms, she could kill you, she whispered, and Jhonen nodded faintly, the gesture almost too small to notice. His annoyance faded, and he took a slow breath, getting his anger under control again.

"I saw that you were awake, and I just...wanted to talk, I guess," he replied, still watching his former teammate carefully.

Suzuka snorted. "Talk? About what? You betrayed us, that's all there is to say. You betrayed us, and as soon as our teams split up again, you'll going back to working against us."

"I'm not working against you," Jhonen snapped. "I didn't-"

"You got Prue killed!" Suzuka growled, anger clear in her eyes. "She never hurt you, and you got her killed!"

"We had every right to get even! Ryan-"

No! Laetitia interrupted sharply. You're pushing her too far.

Again Jhonen held back his anger, forcing himself to calm down, but the sudden change was not something Suzuka was about to ignore. Jhonen looked at her, feeling her watch him closely, eyes narrowing suspiciously as she tried to make sense of his behavior.

"Who're you talking to?" she asked.

Don't answer her.

"Nobody." Jhonen's reply as curt, annoyed, and Suzuka's eyes narrowed again.

"Liar - you act just like you used to when you talked to a-" she paused, suddenly realizing what she'd just said. "You're talking to Nike, aren't you?" she asked, disgust clear in her words. "That's why you've been so distant - she's been talking to you all this time, hasn't she?"

Jhonen didn't reply, too surprised by her words, and Suzuka glared at him.

"Hasn't she?!" she demanded angrily, her eyes never leaving Jhonen.

That's-

"-None of your business, girl," Jhonen said coldly, and saw Suzuka eyes widen slightly in surprise, feeling the emotion mirrored in himself. That hadn't been him - it had been Laetitia. The words, the tone, the slight arrogance...

"Nike?" Suzuka whispered, not quite believing what she'd just heard, but unable to dismiss it as just a figment of her imagination. "How...?"

Jhonen looked at her, real confusion in his eyes, and Suzuka trailed off, taken aback. Jhonen looked just as surprised as she felt. But if he had Nike in his head, shouldn't he have known? "How did she...?"

"I-" Jhonen stopped, not sure what to say. How *had* she done it?

Later, Jhonen. Not now, Laetitia mumbled, and Jhonen frowned.

But-

Later. This time her reply was stronger, and Jhonen automatically nodded, accepting her words, too scared that continuing to push her might maker her leave for good.

"Jhonen?" He looked up at Suzuka's question, trying to form a reply, but was once again saved by Laetitia's interruption.

We've got company.

Her words were followed by the sound of a car arriving, Jhonen and Suzuka both too absorbed in their argument to have heard it before. Suzuka quickly got out of the chair, hurrying to the window, followed closely by Jhonen. There hadn't been any sirens, and there had only been one car, so it was unlikely to be the cops, but still...

Jhonen drew a small, relieved breath as he saw Blade and Jordane get out of the car, but the relief quickly turned to worry as he got the chance to take a closer look at the girl. Her head was lowered and her movements were slow, automatic, Blade's hand resting lightly on her back as they walked up to the door.

Jhonen frowned, concerned, and got up to open the door, watching as they stepped inside the room. Jordane didn't give any indication that she was aware of their presence, her head still lowered, and Jhonen hesitated, unsure of what to do. He was worried about Jordane, but he didn't want to anger Blade by asking him about something that was none of his business.

Before he could decide on something, he heard footsteps approach and looked at the door, seeing Hal appear.

"Jhonen? Suzuka? What's going on? I heard a..." the albino trailed off as she saw Jordane, a frown appearing on her face. "Jordane?"

The girl didn't reply, not even raising her head to look at the younger girl, and Blade sent Hal a brief look before turning to Jordane again.

"Go get some rest. I'll be there in a moment, all right?" His words were low, soothing, and Jordane nodded mutely, never looking up as she made her way out of the room.

Hal waited until she heard the door to one of the bedrooms shut, then turned to Blade. "What-"

Blade held up his hand, cutting off her words. "Not here," he replied, his eyes lingering for a moment on the others in the room, and Hal got the meaning immediately.

"There's a garden in the back...we can talk there," she suggested, moving towards the door. Blade just nodded and followed her out of the room.

* * *

The small garden that belonged to the motel was dry at the moment, the grass a dirty brown, dried out by the merciless sun. Hal heard the soft sound of dead grass crumble beneath her feet, and finally stopped in the shadow of a small tree. Even if she didn't show it, she still felt nervous. Up until now she'd never seen Blade act like this, and his concern for Jordane told her beyond any doubt that something was seriously wrong.

"What's wrong with her?" she asked, real concern reflected in her words. She cared about Jordane, having grown to think of the older girl as a good friend, and she couldn't hide the worry she now felt.

Blade sighed faintly. "Poisoning. Poisoning, and...." he trailed off, then shook his head slightly before continuing. "Sufficient to say, she's not doing well right now. Physically, she'll be all right, eventually. Mentally..."

He fell silent, and Hal watched, waiting for him to continue.

"Mentally, she's...fragile."

Hal frowned. "How bad is it?"

Blade looked at her, pale eyes serious. "Bad enough. She can't be left alone, Hal, not for prolonged periods of time. If I'm not there to keep an eye on her, you have to be."

Can't be left-

Hal's head snapped up, seeing all to clear the meaning behind the words. "What happened to her?"

Blade's eyes grew cold, and Hal felt her confidence falter, realizing that she might have pushed him too far, and that his patience would already have been affected by Jordane's condition. "That's none of your business, Hal. Stay out of it, and do as you're told. Understood?"

The harsh words made her look up again, red eyes locking with blue in a silent fight for control. For a moment neither moved, both unwilling to back down, then Hal looked away for a brief moment, finally giving in.

"Yes...I understand."

* * *