Author's Note: A weird chapter with a slightly different style of writing, but I thought the situation warranted it. Don't hate me too much! Just another chapter or so to go.

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"I wish... Jareth..."

It was the smallest of soft voices. But it had the unparalleled effect of stopping a very officious Goblin King straight in his tracks. The goblin he had been tiredly conversing with stared as the pale face went even whiter, becoming more bloodless than usual in an instant.

Such voices always echoed around this part of the Castle, so Griggs the cobbler did not see any reason to stand and stare into space like a statue. Indeed, he was sourly of the opinion that such things shouldn't be allowed, considering he was trying to have a conversation with the half-goblin in question! He screwed his screwed-up little face even further and folded his stubby arms, glaring up as the slender figure swayed with some indecisive thought.

"We was talking," he reminded Jareth belligerently.

"Find the dwarf," Jareth said instead, "Tell Hoggle to contact the Williams girl. Something's wrong with her brother. Now, you little twit! Don't gape like a fish!"

Griggs ran off in a fright, a crystal blazing fire on his trail. His cries and protests went unheeded as Jareth assumed bird-form, taking to the skies in indecent haste. The streaking colours of dawn threaded their way through the moonless sky of the Underground and a distracted Jareth changed his animus from his typical owl to a white hawk, soaring faster and ever faster as he expended precious energy to command the wind to carry him to the Aboveground.

Hoggle got his message when someone clumped into his house and thumped him soundly on the head.

"Ow," he complained, springing upright and shying away, a hand clasped sleepily to his head, "What is it?"

"King... voice... Williams," the fat old goblin gasped, still dancing around the room as a crystal made pretend rushes at his heels.

"Stay still," Hoggle groaned, clambering out of bed and picking up a pail of water. He was always afraid that his house would burn down and now silly goblins were trailing burning crystals across the floor! The crystal was drenched, the flame went out and the goblin collapsed in a gasping heap on the floor.

"King Jareth," Griggs finally panted, "'E said... you was... talk to the Williams girl. Somethum about her brother."

"Toby? What's wrong?" Hoggle demanded, picking him up by the lapel and shaking him.

"Don't know, don't know," the cobbler yelled, letting out a plaintive 'oof' as he was dropped. "'E took off to the Aboveground. Said you is to check with the Williams."

Hoggle nodded and ran to his mirror. "Sarah," he called, beginning to bounce up and down and tap on it, "Sarah, you there? It's important!"

Jareth was, by this time, well enough between the two worlds to feel the usual warping of dimensions that such journeys always involved. One never felt it if one apparated, but actually breaching the barriers meant a very heady mix of adrenaline. And considering how worked-up he already was, his blood was sent pounding in his ears. He circled over the house he had studiously avoided for over two months. The house from his dreams and- more recently- his nightmares; how he prayed that he was over-reacting.

"Jareth, please..."

The child had begged! He had asked! How the devil could the Goblin King deny him anything? Not with those blue eyes turned to him and that sweet wide mouth tempting and crying to be made love to. How could anyone have expected that?

"So cold..."

He circled, watching the ground rush up to meet him as he made for the familiar branch where he had once sat watching Sarah. Hopping and flapping to the branch next to it, he checked through all the windows, following the faint echo of that voice from his Castle. Where was the dratted boy?

Alarmed, he felt the tremors begin in the feathered tips of his wings. Swearing softly, he transformed back to human shape, crouching on the branch for a few moments as he shut his eyes and fought the nausea. This was the reason that he hated using more magic than he needed in this world.

"Hoggle?"

The moon-blond strands of hair floated as Jareth's head snapped up. He twisted his neck a little to the right, trying to ascertain where the voice was coming from.

"Hoggle, slow down! What are you talking about? Toby's fine!"

Sarah! He pondered the distance and made a few rapid calculations. Sighing, he simply shut his eyes and jumped.

Sarah whirled around and screamed; leaping up from her seat before the mirror as Jareth quickly pulled himself in at the window.

"Where is Toby?" he demanded, a little out of breath, but too worried to bother with niceties.

"Why?" Sarah asked immediately, "Why do you want to know?"

"I don't have time for this, Sarah. Where is he!"

"You can yell all you want," Sarah spat, "I'm not telling you anything. At least, not until you listen to me. Toby's in pain. He's depressed and suicidal and... ow!"

Jareth had already grabbed her arm viciously and now he shook her. "He is in trouble," he growled, "He would not call me if he was not. Tell me now, Sarah, before I lose my patience."

"He's fine," Sarah protested, not in the least intimidated, "And he's safe."

"Really?" Jareth sneered, letting her go so suddenly that she stumbled backwards against the chair of her dressing table. "Well, then. Explain why it is not quite daylight in your world and your brother is not in his bed!"

Sarah gasped, a hand rising to cover her mouth. Green eyes widened in fright and apprehension. A quick flash of understanding and then she straightened. "He went to the park last night," she said quickly, making for the door and beckoning Jareth after her, "He was gone very late, but he came back. I'm sure he did!"

"Did you see him?"

"Dad and Karen..."

"He didn't return," Jareth interrupted positively, "He could be anywhere. Check his room. Call his friends. I don't care if you rouse the entire population of this god-forsaken town, just find out where he is!"

The half-goblin bounded lightly down the stairs, noiseless feet barely touching the carpet as he strode for the door.

"Where are you going?" Sarah yelled after him.

"Park," came the growled answer, "I'll start there."

"Jareth!"

He turned back and saw an enormous pair of green eyes speak uncertainty. For a moment he could almost imagine jeans and a peasant blouse. But then he shook his blond head and saw the reality of a warm dressing gown over a long nightshirt, dark hair cut short and bobbed. There were no sparkling dresses and fairytale balls for him here. "I'll bring him right back," he promised.

Then he was gone, leaving Sarah to stand on the steps of her home, bewildered and alone in the quietness, wondering if she had actually witnessed that scene or gone mad. But Karen's white face descending to her side and her father's worried eyes snapped her out of it. For once, she would be happy that the Goblin King was involved, for if anyone had the means to find Toby before he did something stupid, he did.

But said Goblin King was not so sure. Heels clicking a noiseless patter of steps, he made his way swiftly down the streets of the little town. Dawn was coming fast and the air promised a cold day ahead, filled with the crispness of a sharp breeze. But there was no time to enjoy nature; Toby was yet to be found.

People stared and Jareth ignored them, refusing to acknowledge the sideways glances of surprise at his flamboyance and his billowing shirts. They were not important. He felt his heart squeeze within his chest at the thought of the one reason why he would ever have come up to this place at this time, clenching his teeth and exhorting his body to move faster.

"Excuse me," he said pleasantly, stopping abruptly in front of a man walking his dog. A sharp glance down and the animal sat quiet and waited for him to finish his conversation. "Is there such a thing as a public park in your town?"

"Yeah, there sure is."

"Where?"

"You new in town?"

"In a manner of speaking. Answer the question, please; I've no time to chat!"

The man looked visibly apologetic and gave directions, using his finger to point the way out behind him. Jareth thanked him, surreptitiously slipped a wish crystal into an unsuspecting pocket and stalked off, just a step short of running in his fear.

But surely there was nothing to fear! Toby was probably only feeling a little upset or something; nothing that needed such vehement action. After all, the half-goblin reasoned, had something happened to the boy then he would surely have felt it even with the bond being as tenuous as it was. But Archer had sent him early to bed and he had slept so terribly deeply. Surely that couldn't have happened if Toby had needed him? Or was the bond even thinner now that they were in different worlds?

Trees! There were trees! Yes, he remembered this place now. Sarah had come here to rehearse her little plays when she's been young and he'd been bored enough to take an interest.

The bridge!

Jareth made for the bridge, a little put out that the place was just big enough to take precious minutes scouring it away from him. True, he probably had enough magic to turn himself into a bloodhound, but he preferred to keep that store of energy in case of later emergencies.

Gold!

"Toby?"

Blood!

"Toby, open your eyes. Come on, my elf, wake up."

Far too much blood! And a knife! His knife! His present!

"Toby!"

In his pure frenzy of desperation, he completely forgot to wonder about the nakedness of his bond mate. All he knew was that the exposed skin was far too cold from blood loss and the night air, and that the knife was still embedded in Toby's stomach.

"Let's get you to safety," Jareth whispered, shrugged out of his coat, "Don't worry. You'll be fine now."

Mismatched eyes darted around to ascertain that no one was watching, or lying in wait. But the deft hands were already wrapping the small body up, taking care not to disturb or move the knife from its position. In truth, he knew he was probably doing more bad than good by moving the boy at all, but he could not tend to him in a public park!

'Suicidal' he remembered Sarah mentioning; had Toby done this himself? Jareth had not thought that even Toby would sink so far to the darkness for him to want to die! And besides, he reasoned, lifting the still figure up into his arms, even had Toby stuck the knife in himself he had certainly never made those bruises.

And Jareth had a nasty suspicion he had seen bruises like those before, though never in such abundance.

He used the last bursts of his magic to apparate them both back to the Williams' house, handing Toby over to his father with an exhausted nod. "Wait," he begged, "Don't call the ambulance. I'll heal him."

"You stay the hell away from my son," Harold snarled, "And get out of my house."

"I am exhausted, but not deaf. Refrain from shouting or I will cut your tongue out." His voice and eyes dared the human to defy or disbelieve him, holding stormy blue-grey eyes for a long moment before turning to Karen. "Your son is dying," he said abruptly, "Your doctors will not be able to save him now. But I know someone who can. Keep him warm and as covered as you can. But do not touch the knife or try to remove it. Try not to bring him around; if you even succeed it will only send him into shock. Am I clear?"

"Very," Karen agreed, "Harold, upstairs. Sarah, bring warm water and a cloth- move!"

Jareth blessed the no-nonsense streak of the little human woman and pushed himself. His magic was severely depleted for what he wanted to do, but life force held a magic all its own. And he had no scruples about using it in such a case. It stung terribly, but once he had Arienne brought to Toby's side, he would be able to rest.