A/N: -   I'm sorry this has been so long coming but I have been very, very busy with other stories and stuff going on inside and outside of school. I know that is no excuse to let my readers down but I will honestly try and update at least once a month, maybe more if I can, so that you'll all stay interested. I know I don't deserve it for taking so long L but please READ and REVIEW and then you'll get the next chapters…and possibly a sequel (as I have one ready and waiting to go!).

Marlin hurtled towards the evil fish with Gill following close behind him. They rammed into the evil fish and began fighting them. Nemo and Deb seized their chance and set about freeing Dory.

"Am I…dead yet?" she murmured weakly.

"No, you're gonna be fine," Deb reassured her.

"Tell Marlin…I said…goodbye,"

"No! You are not going to give up on us now. We'll all get through this, I promise."

"Dory, my Dad will fall apart without you," Nemo added softly.

    Meanwhile, Marlin and Gill were losing their fight. Eventually, the evil fish fled but Marlin and Gill needed a little time to catch their breath and make sure they could still swim properly. They had momentarily forgotten what had happened but it soon dawned on them.

"Dory, Dory, Dory, are you ok? Oh, what a stupid question; of course you're not ok! Those fish worked for Linus, I know it, and I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you into this," Marlin clutched her fin tightly.

"It's ok, Marlin," Dory whispered, gently squeezing Marlin's fin in response, "what have you dragged me into anyway? I don't remember." She was stung and bruised all over but her eyes still shone with childish energy. She was losing strength fast and it was all Linus' fault. He'd wanted to kill Dory from the beginning and he evidently wasn't going to stop trying until he succeeded. Unfortunately, this meant that they weren't safe anywhere. Marlin turned his attention back to his best friend, who had passed out and was breathing shallowly but, thankfully, steadily.

   Nemo was trembling in shock and hugged Gill and Deb tightly. No child should ever have to go through the horrors he'd experienced in the past few months. He just wanted things to go back to the way they were. Him, his Dad, Dory and the Tank Gang all living happily on the reef together with no interruptions or disturbances. He, like everyone else present, hated Linus with all his young heart and didn't understand why he had it in for Dory. Coral was gone and nothing was ever going to bring her back so the other clownfish should have been happy that Marlin had managed to move on. He looked over to where his Dad was and had to look away again. What if Dory couldn't be saved? How would Marlin cope? The truth was obvious…he wouldn't.

    At about midnight, Nemo woke up. He saw his Dad still at Dory's side but verging on sleep. Quietly he swam over and floated beside his Dad.

"Dad?"

"Hmmm?"

"You should get some rest, we all know you need it."

"But who's gonna…?"

"I'll stay with Dory for a couple of hours and I'll wake you if she wakes up or gets worse, ok?"

"Thanks, son,"

    Nemo waited until he was sure his Dad was asleep before he began to sob (A/N: Yes, I know fish can't cry but, then again, who's actually heard a fish talk or seen them in a friendly pelican's mouth?!).

"Please wake up, Dory. Dad's falling to pieces and I can't cope with it. I know he loves me but he'll forget it all if you don't recover. And I don't want Dad to get all over-protective again."

"He won't, Nemo,"

"You got my name right!"

"I did? Wow…where's Marlin?"

"Ooh, ooh, I'll go and get him! DAD, GILL, DEB!!!! DORY'S AWAKE!"

"What?!" Marlin rushed over to his now upright but swaying friend and hugged her. Gill watched from the sidelines. After the general excitement had died down, Dory decided she was tired and went back to sleep again…which was completely understandable!

     Next morning, she was awoken by Marlin. He seemed concerned and Dory barely had time to open her eyes before she was shoved behind some large rocks. She was about to ask what was going on when Marlin clamped a fin over her mouth and gave her a warning glance. Keeping silent, no easy task for Dory, she soon saw what they were hiding from. It was Linus and Marcia with the two evil fish.

"They're not here!" Marcia exclaimed.

"They can't have got far," one evil fish said.

"They all had injuries," finished the other.

"But did you get Marlin?" Linus asked impatiently.

"Not exactly…"

"What do you mean 'not exactly'?"

"Well, we thought you wanted us to capture the kid and the girl, so we did. We lured Marlin to us but he had another two fish with him. Needless to say we lost the battle but, if the girl dies, and she wasn't looking too good, then he'll want revenge and you can kill him yourself."

"And if the girl doesn't die?"

"We'll have to keep on trying…"

A/N: - Yes, I know it's short but the next chapter is quite a bit longer…so look out for it J…in the meanwhile, you can now review this one!