Deliver Me

By Zyris De'Lat

Chapter Nine:

What Jerrica said to Rory really hurt him to the core. Rory released Jerrica and looked a way. There was a deep sadness to his eyes. Jerrica saw how much she hurt Rory. Jerrica started to say something in protest then stopped. She wanted to apologize, but why should she. It wasn't her fault, Rory wanted to know what she thought of him.

"It is a shame that you think that way of me. I wish you thought differently of me my love." Rory then gave Jerrica a lingering kiss on the lips. Jerrica tried to protest and pull away but she could feel his desire, it traveled through her whole entire body.

Rory then released her and whispered, "There is no use in denying your desire for me. I can feel it as much as you can feel mine, my love."

Rory then left Jerrica standing there dumb founded. Jerrica touched her right index and middle fingers to her lips were Rory kissed her. A single tear rolled down her cheek. 'Oh Rio I wish you were here.'

Jerrica slid down the wall and brought her knees up to her chest and cried.

"Jerrica, what is the matter?" a voice asked. A pink haze then formed into a female figure in front of Jerrica. Jerrica lifted her head up off of her knees and looked up at Synergy.

"Synergy, how did you know…?" Jerrica asked with astonishment.

"Remember, I can hear everything you can hear through a certain pair of Jem Star earrings," Synergy stated as a reminder.

Jerrica gave a half chuckle, "I forget sometimes that you are always with me." Jerrica then looked off into the distance. Synergy was the project her father, Emmett Benton, was working on for seven years after the death of her mother, Jacqui Benton. Synergy was Emmett's world. Emmett worked on her day and night up until the day he passed away. Synergy was a friend, a mother, a teacher, and a guide to Jerrica and the rest of the Holograms. Emmett Benton built Synergy's basis on his wife, Jacqui Benton. Synergy was the closest Jerrica could relate to as a mother, because Jerrica was ten when her mother passed away. There were only a few things Jerrica remembers from her mother, basically through old photos, home videos, or from some of her mother's old possessions. When Jerrica looked at Synergy, she doesn't see her mother, she sees Synergy as she is. Jerrica always felt that Synergy is more of a friend than a mother. And no one will ever replace her mother, no matter how close they could be in comparison.

Jerrica was very grateful for Synergy to appear, but sometimes she feels a bit annoyed because Synergy is just a computer. No matter how advanced or complex she is. Synergy can not comprehend situations of love or hate, Synergy is not capable of having emotions. So how could she help with a situation when she can not relate to one of her own?

"Synergy, I am very thankful for your concern, but I don't think you can really help me with this one," Jerrica said while looking up at Synergy with swollen, red, puffy eyes.

"Jerrica, you should not think so pessimistically. It is a bad characteristic for your personality," Synergy commented.

Jerrica looked up with a puzzled look on her face. "Was that a joke, or are you serious?"

"I am only stating the facts that I know are true," Synergy voiced.

"Figures, you have no personality, you are just a computer," Jerrica said sullenly. Jerrica looked up into Synergy's pale grey eyes. "I would like to be alone right now. Please leave."

"As you wish, Jerrica," Synergy replied monotonously. Synergy disappeared, or a more fitting word would be dissolved into a pink haze. If Jerrica would not have known any better, she would have sworn there was some disgust, annoyance, or even some anger added to her name when Synergy said it. Jerrica suddenly felt a shiver run down her back. She quickly wrapped herself into a hug to comfort and to warm herself up.

"Jerrica? Jerrica? Where did you… Jerrica!" A voice called with frantic desperation and emotion. The figure then ran up and hugged Jerrica. Jerrica looked up into Kimber's big blue eyes. There were tears running down her cheeks.

"Kimber, what is wrong with you? You are crying!" Jerrica exclaimed. Jerrica then took her thumb and wiped away Kimber's tears, leaving Kimber with streaks in her foundation.

"Jerrica, you are really scaring me. You are not yourself lately." Kimber grabbed Jerrica's hand that was wiping her tears away and held it firmly in her hand. Kimber then continued, "one, you are constantly depressed. I try to cheer you up by taking you shopping, or to a concert, but nothing ever seems to work." Kimber really emphasized on the word ever.

Jerrica gave a deep sigh and looked away from Kimber. Kimber would not tolerate this. She grabbed Jerrica's face under the chin and turned it so Jerrica was looking directly into Kimber's eyes. "Please look at me when I am talking to you," Kimber said with a hint of anger showing. "And I will continue with two, you are constantly zoning out, and half the time is when I am trying to talk to you." Kimber then continued, "And if you don't zone out on me, you faint and fall over, or you just wander off and disappear on me." Tears started to roll down Kimber's face again. This time the tears were bringing eyeliner and mascara with it. Please, Jerrica! I am begging you to try to work with me here. I don't want to lose you!" Kimber cried out with emotion. Kimber then was looking from one eye to the other, searching for some answer or clue within Jerrica's eyes. Searching for something that told her that Jerrica understood or comprehended what Kimber just said. Kimber did not find anything. She was looking into dead, emotionless eyes. A cold shiver ran down Kimber's back. She pulled back from Jerrica to leave herself an arms length of room.

Jerrica looked back at Kimber, giving her no satisfaction. Jerrica then opened her mouth to say, "What do you want me to say? That I will take your speech into consideration and shape my life around it? I will, however, take your time and effort of concern into consideration. But I really do feel that you try to hard Kimber.

Kimber's jaw dropped open in shock. Anger then crawled into her face, making her face appear redder in color. Kimber drew back her hand and swung it hard across Jerrica's face, resulting in a loud smack. "You selfish conceited B#tch!" Kimber screamed. "Everything was always about you. Poor Jerrica this and poor Jerrica that! And it still is!" Kimber stood up and took a deep breath. She glared down into Jerrica's eyes and stated with great anger and hatred. "This whole entire week I was being nice and looking out for you during this hard time. And is this all I get in reply? Well, I am not going to take your crap anymore. I am leaving to spend the rest of my month off with Sean. I hope you enjoy the rest of your month alone, sulking over your pathetic love life." Kimber turned and stalked off and called behind her, "See you in a month, sister."

Jerrica raised her hand up and touched the corner of her mouth where Kimber struck her. Jerrica pulled back her hand and saw bright red blood on the tips of her fingers. 'I am so sorry Kimber. But it is better if I kept you out of my problems as well. I know my life is pathetic. But how does a person change? They don't. I am stuck with my pathetic, helpless life. I like my other half better, which doesn't exist. It is only an illusion, and I can never grasp it as reality for myself. So I will continue to live in my pathetic life, just to make others happy with their lives. I will continue to be perfect and happy, because I am the ideal Jem. Jerrica is nobody and I hate it.'

Jerrica struck the wall behind her with her fists. She then stood up and walked back to the main room where the concert was held earlier. The room was deserted except for one bartender who was cleaning up the room. Jerrica quickly used the phone to call a taxi, then Jerrica nodded goodnight to the bartender and left the building. She did not expect Kimber to be waiting for her, especially after what she put her sister through.

Jerrica pulled her long coat tighter around her to keep the chilled night air out. Even though the days in California were warm and hot almost all year around in Los Angeles, the nights were a bit cooler.

While Jerrica was waiting for the taxi, her phone rang. Jerrica pulled out her cell phone and looked at the number, St. Mary's Hospital. Jerrica's heart skipped a beat while ideas started to race across her mind with what could have gone wrong. Jerrica answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hello, Jerrica Benton?" A male voice on the other end of the line asked.

"Yes, this is she?"

"This is Dr. Aodhan from St. Mary's Hospital. I would like to inform you that Rio Pacheco has awoken from his coma. He has asked for your presence, so I took the liberty to call you and ask you to come down. I also need you to fill out some paper work as a cosigner beside Rio Pacheco's name," the doctor stated.

Jerrica felt very weak in the knees, she leaned against the side of the building to steady herself.

"Are you still there Jerrica?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, I am here. And yes, I will stop by tonight, if that is okay with you, Dr. Aodhan," Jerrica replied.

"Yes, it is. It is about nine-thirty right now. Should I expect you around ten?" The doctor questioned.

"Sure, sounds great," Jerrica replied.

"Ohh, and before I hang up, Rio was moved into Room 393. That is the Recovery ward on the third floor. His room is the second to last in the right wing. Well, see you soon," The doctor said.

"Yes. And thank you, doctor. Bye." Jerrica then hung up the phone as the taxi was pulling up. Jerrica opened up the back door and crawled in.

"Take me to St. Mary's Hospital. And make it fast!" The taxi driver looked at Jerrica and smiled while the taxi shot off into the distance.

Jem, and everyone within it, is owned by Hasbro.