The four boxes by Emmylou

Disclaimer-I'm not sure who relic hunter belongs to, but I'm damn sure it's not me!

Archive; if you want it, take it, but just send an email so I can go look.

Summary-4 boxes affect Sydney and Nigel's behaviour.

PG/PG-13

Feedback- Yes please!! I try to thank everyone who reviews in the author's notes, but if I forget you, tell me and I'll apologise.

Thank you: Gqlover2003, Reven Eid, jemma, and airefree051 for the reviews

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In the stunned seconds after Syd had fallen unconscious, Nigel saw his life flash before his eyes. Not his childhood or his life in London, not previous relic hunts, not even the recent wonderful time in Paris. What he did see was his future, or at least the future that had been so nearly in his grasp. The one with family, a nice house, more relic hunts, recognition as a couple, and children. Oh god, children, pets, cats, dogs, children playing with hamsters, an amusing scenario in which a hamster had made an escape into their bedroom, nights out with Syd, even cosier nights in with Syd, Syd with him all the time, sharing her precious life with him.

He had stopped screaming now, which surprised even him, because once it became apparent she wasn't waking up it seemed that all he was doing by it was making himself deteriorate faster, not that he really cared, but he really wanted to be alone in his head now without his shouts disturbing him.

And he kept his eyes screwed shut, not wanting to look at the unconscious body that represented what he couldn't have now, but wanted to go out with the precious dreams of what could have been. There was so much he wanted to see, to do, and now as one final joke the supreme prankster Gustopher had put it within his grasp as the gods had offered water to Tantalus only to take it so cruelly away.

But as he felt the body of her slump so finally towards him he found himself unable to think of anything but her, spinning every second he had ever spent with her through his mind while still chocking on the poisonous gas. The life *he* should have had suddenly wasn't so important anymore, what was killing him was the thought of the life she *deserved*, in her short years she had given so much, and had never once taken anything she shouldn't have. She had saved him so many times, and now he would never get the chance to save her.

Unless...his mind managed to hack up a feeble idea through the clouds of gas that hung humidly in the air...unless he could save her...maybe if he hurried she might still survive...what had he to loose?

What was left of his mind didn't waste time questioning his thoughts, but concentrated on staying awake through the haze, his idea burned through his head refusing to let his attention be drawn away. He forced himself to move, but his body was only responding half-heatedly to his desperate request. He had to use his head before it got swept away to never-never land on a toxic cloud.

Nigel groped behind him on the seat...trying not to get carried away in trying to see if Sydney was breathing in and out or not...which was a worrying though that had settled in a much needed sane space in his head and was niggling at him hysterically. Still he searched for something that could help him out.

Then his wrist banged into something fairly sharp, not enough to cut him, but enough to give him what felt like a friction burn.

Nigel had no clue what it was actually, and he wasn't going to waste precious seconds watching his new wife waste away because he wanted to look a gifted horse in the mouth or something to that effect. He just began rubbing it against the tight cords until he was sure it would catch on fire and his head would roll of from the shaking.

It took less time than he imagined, the desperation spurning him forwards.

To his wrists regret he yanked the worn cords apart before he'd even made it to halfway through them. And the shock to his body had him slumped in exhaustion against the back seat, he was so tired. And the exertion was forcing him to rasp even more of toxin into his body. He wanted to collapse, to give into sleep, but the weight of Sydney's head pressed against his shoulder kept prickling at him.

His hands were free, and Nigel realised that they hadn't locked them into the cars. He could, with one big burst of energy carry Syd towards the tarpaulin covered window, throw her and himself through it and collapse, but to his body it seemed like a gargantuan effort, still, he had to try. If he had learned nothing else from Syd it was never to go down without a fight.

After the third try the opener opened and he fell out of the car, the wave of gas hitting him was even stronger in the garage, and he was sure for one horrible moment that the shed actually was on fire which would explain the foul smelling foggy smoke.

Okay...sooo...after much effort he was on his feet, now he could leave....what was....wha' was...missing...it had been right...here...he was sure...oh! He stumbled back triumphantly towards the car and dragged Sydney out of it with a yank thank sent both her and him toppling backwards to the floor with the weight of her stopping him standing again.

Oh great...he couldn't move...she never weighed that much before sure...sure...surely. The room twirled out of focus creating a pretty cloudy tornado behind his eyes. He was all out of struggle now...but hey...he'd tried...

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Oh I just get worse don't I? *insert evil laugh here*

This chapter wasn't officially planned, but that's what ended up coming out.

Seriously, thanks for reading, please review, I'm not sure about this chapter actually and I'd like your comments please.