Note from Destiny: Exactly six replies. I didn't think it would be difficult to obtain, and yet, I'm disappointed..perhaps I need to work a good deal more at my writing. But thank you to those of you who did reply, and by the way, Cutie5, checked out your story, loved it..but you confuse me. You said it's great to see some good writers emerging on this site for Jimmy Neutron. There are over 300 fanfics for Jimmy as it is, but since some of those are repeat authors, let's assume that there are 200 writers. Are there so few that write well? In your opinion (aside from Dory and GaDs2000, and yourself, I am quite aware of them) who are writers you would recommend? Perhaps I am just over annalyzing a simple compliment, but it's something I do well. Also, my spelling tends to be on the horrid side, and I've never been sure whether the word is continuum, continuim, or something like, but it refers to the space-time continuim (which is how I'll be spelling it).
Goddard whimpered, but Jimmy shook his head. "I don't care about the time-space continuim right now." He looked down at his project, and clipped a lose wire. "Cindy's the one on the line here." Goddard's screen popped open. But Cindy's dead, GTV pointed out. Jimmy snorted. "Well, she won't be, not after this." But she's supposed to be. GTV flashed. What if it makes something worse happen? "Not possible, Goddard, there's..there's nothing worse than losing Cindy. Nothing at all."
The tone of Jimmy's voice, and the sad look in his eyes forced Goddard to give up on his argument. Logic would not be enough to talk Jimmy out of this. His plan was simple enough - travel back in time to save Cindy before she drowned, but so many things could go wrong. What if Cindy didn't listen to Jimmy's argument? What if the time-traveling caused such a huge rip in the space continuim that it would permanently alter the past, present, and future? So many things that could go wrong..things that normally would have been running through Jimmy's mind, making him realize how bad of an idea this was, but all that was on his mind was Cindy and the opportunity to save her.
"Goddard, set the time." Jimmy ordered. He was using the somnus portal, which he had hooked to the time booth, to get back to the past. Obediently, Goddard used his extendable arm to type in the date, two weeks ago, at seven thirty. Instinctively, the metallic dog didn't want to go along with the plan, but he was also smart enough to know that Jimmy couldn't truely function without Cindy. He would exist, true enough, but Cindy, whether dead or alive, still held his heart. He pulled the switch, and a glowing pink and orange tunnel errupted in the somnus portal. Jimmy bit his lip, took a deep breath, and walked in.
He came out on the other side to find his lab in utter dissarray - a can of Purple Flurp was lying on its side on a desk, dripping its contents on a near computer, there was paper everywhere, and Goddard was on the floor, clearly in sleep mode. Carefully, Jimmy stepped over the mechanical pooch, and righted the Purple Flurp. Then, he walked outside. It was a calm twilight, the sun was setting slowly, casting the sky a vibrant mix of orange and pink. Seemed like a dumb night to kill yourself, Jimmy thought bitterly.
Though Jimmy knew the neighbours would think it weird to see a teenage boy that was supposed to be in a coma walking around, he didn't bother himself with worries about it. If anyone approached him and asked if he was out of the hospital, he'd lie and tell them yes. He reached the front steps of the Vortexs' without anybody asking him where he was. This in itself was odd, the cul-de-sac where he lived was filled with most of the nosiest neighbours imaginable. The street seemed deserted, as finally, one-by-one, the steetlights flickered on. He hadn't even realized that the sun had set. He pushed the door open, and was glad to find it open.
It would be a more difficult task for Jimmy to get up the stairs without Mrs. Vortex suspecting anything odd. As far as she knew, he was still in the hospital. But Sashau Vortex was nowhere to be seen, so Jimmy took a break for it. He bounded up the steps, determined to make it to the bathroom.
Jimmy reached the white door to the bathroom within a minute. The door was just slightly open, steam pouring from out of the room, so hot Jimmy was reminded of a sauna. There was water all over the floor.."Cindy?" He whispered. She didn't hear him. "Cindy?" This time, she should have heard him. Jimmy was sure Mrs. Vortex had heard him downstairs. If Cindy wasn't answering, was she already...
Jimmy's legs didn't seem to want to support him. His knees buckled, nearly giving out on him. But it was for Cindy. He had to do this. He reached forward and pushed the door open. Gingerly, he stepped in. The water was off, but the steam continued until Jimmy pushed the door open more behind him. Cindy was lying at the bottom of the water. Jimmy was sick of seeing her eyes closed now...Without much thought for anything other that her safety, he reached under the water and used both hands to pull her up, cradling her body close to him.
Cindy's eyelids fluttered open, and she pulled away from Jimmy. She spat out some water, and then sat back and stared at him. It took both of them a few minutes to realize that Cindy was naked. They both noticed at the same moment, and both reached for the towel at the exact same time. "Thanks." Cindy muttered, wrapping it around herself. "Jimmy..is that really you?"
"In a way, yes." He answered, taking her hand in his. She was alive..he was talking to her. He had stopped that unspeakable act from happening, Cindy was alive!
"In a way?" Cindy sat on the edge of the tub, her wet hair spilling over her shoulder on the right side. "Jimmy, what do you mean?"
"What does it matter? You're alive.." Jimmy couldn't help but smile. But Cindy grabbed her hand back, staring at Jimmy, with an almost scared look in her eyes. "Do you mean I was supposed to go through with that?" She asked. Jimmy wanted more than anything to lie to her. But he found himself unable to.
Looking away, he answered. "Yes. You were supposed to, but..Cindy, I couldn't bare it! I can't stand being without you.." He bit his lip. Don't say you're leaving again, Cindy..don't let me feel that kind of pain again..Jimmy thought desperately. Cindy fiddled with a strand of her hair nervously.
"You time traveled?" She asked. Jimmy nodded. "Jimmy, you're not supposed to alter the past. It can have really bad consequences. You know that. If I'm supposed to die, then I need to do it. I'm just glad you made it out of the hospital." Now she was crying. Jimmy wouldn't have noticed at first, because the tears merely looked like the many droples of water on her skin, but her eyes were turning red. She put her arms around Jimmy. "You're safe..what more could I want?"
"Cindy," Jimmy put his hands on her shoulder and pushed her away, so that her eyes met his perfectly. "That's what I want for you. For you to be safe, to be with me. And.." Jimmy knew what threat would make her stay alive now. "If you kill yourself, I swear, I'll follow you. I don't give a damn about the space-time continuim.."
Cindy looked thoughtful for a moment, before pressing into Jimmy once more, sobbing into his chest. All he could do was keep his arms around her, holding her as closely as he could. "All right." She agreed, still crying. "But if this affects you in the hospital at all, if it keeps you from ever waking up, I'll come after you."
"All right." Jimmy promised. Cindy pressed his lips to his, her arms moved around his neck as his encircled her waist. "No matter what," He whispered, "I love you."
