Author's Note In the last couple of chapters I missed out on one piece of info: Tobias' red-tailed hawk form is familiar to the Yeerks. Thanks to Soul Raider 116 for pointing this out to me. Because I missed out on this piece of information, I went on to say Tobias recklessly spied on Jake. In this chapter Cassie tells him off for it! So thankyou to Soul Raider 116 for pointing this out to me! THANKYOU!

Tobias

((Am I late?)) I asked as I flew into the rafters of Cassie's barn.

"Oh, only about half an hour," Marco said snidely. "But don't worry, you're worth it."

((So, what's this meeting about?)) I asked.

Everyone was there, with the exception of Jake. Marco was lounging on a bale of hay. Rachel was on a separate bale of hay, examining her nails. Cassie was attending to a sick horse and Ax, who was in human morph, was standing in a corner.

"I thought it would be a good chance to let everything out," Cassie said.

Marco stared at her. "You called this meeting so we could let everything out?" he asked mockingly. "I thought this meeting was to decide if Rachel was going to the school prom with Greg or Anthony."

"Shut up," Rachel snapped. "I've already decided who I'm going with, anyway."

She gave me a smile and if I were human I'd have given her one back.

Marco shuddered. "That's a horrible image," he said. "Have you thought about the kids?"

"I'm serious guys," Cassie said. "This is big. Jake's going to need our support and we need to get everything out of the way if we want to do that."

((Guys, I don't think Jake would appreciate our help,)) I said, uncomfortably.

"Why not, Tobias?" Ax asked. "Ob-ias. Tob. Bias."

((Because, I went to check on him last night…))

"You went to check on him again?" Marco demanded. "Who gave you that right?"

((Has it occurred to you that Jake's brother is a controller and this is a perfect opportunity to infest him?)) I snapped.

"Yeah, we should have thought about that," Cassie agreed. "But you still shouldn't have done that Tobias. What if Tom saw you? You are known among the Yeerks. They'll put two and two together."

I hadn't thought about that, but now that I contemplated it, I realised I had put everyone at risk. Instead of doing something I thought was right, I might have sentenced my friends to infestation or death.

"You were saying?" Rachel asked me, smiling at me comfortingly.

((He woke up in the middle of the night and tried to morph,)) I continued, feeling awkward. ((I ordered him to demorph. Luckily he hadn't morphed anywhere where the injuries are noticeable.))

"He tried to morph?" Cassie said. "But that would mean he'd be uninjured. That would expose him and us."

((I stopped him just in time,)) I reassured her. ((But he bit my head off. I explained that I was trying to look out for him and he told me to get out.))

"I would too," Marco said. "It kind of looks like you're a stalker."

((Thanks for that Marco,)) I said dryly.

"Maybe he was just upset that you were trying to protect him," Rachel suggested. "You know that whole male pride thing you guys have going on? And Jake hates to be protected."

"You mean you're a man?" Marco teased.

Rachel gave him a glare and threw a rock at him. It rebounded off his head and landed on the floor.

((I don't think so,)) I said, as Marco rubbed his head. ((But there's another thing…))

"What?" Cassie asked.

((Well, before he could morph tiger and maul me, his mum interrupted. She asked him about the accident…)) I paused. What I was going to say would make Jake sound sneaky and deceiving, but I couldn't keep my friends in the dark. ((He said he couldn't remember what happened.))

"So?" Marco said. "He's got a bit of amnesia. Doesn't matter as long as he can remember the basics."

"You think he was lying," Cassie said softly.

((Yeah, I do,)) I said.

"This is Jake we're talking about," Rachel objected a little uncomfortably I noticed. "He wouldn't lie about something like this."

"Maybe he is protecting his father's reputation," Ax suggested wisely, and then he ruined it. "A-tion. Ta-tion. What a funny word. I know I have done a similar act in the past."

Everyone thought about that.

"That still doesn't excuse the fact that he's still Jake," Rachel protested still looking hesitant.

((What would you do?)) I asked. ((This could turn bad for his dad. Think about it. Steve is a respected doctor, a great man in the eyes of the community. Then the media gets a hold of the story. How this brilliant man drove on the wrong side of the road. How he was reckless.))

"Bird-boy here has a point," Marco said, thinking carefully. "I mean it's no secret Jake would do anything for his family. I mean look at Tom. And what if Jake's hiding the reason why they crashed. What if Steve did it on purpose?"

"Hold it, wolverine," Rachel interrupted. "My uncle is not suicidal, no matter what anyone says."

"You might know that," Marco said. "But the media doesn't know that."

That stopped everyone.

"So we have to get Jake to speak," Rachel said, a little too desperately.

((You know maybe I'm making a big deal out of it,)) I said. ((I could have made it into something it wasn't.))

"Yeah," Marco agreed. "It has to be nothing."

We all paused.

"So, anyone want to say anything?" Cassie asked finally.

We all stared at her. She sighed.

"How are we supposed to be strong for Jake if we don't talk about it?" she asked, exasperated.

"I really don't think Jake is going to be breaking down in tears," Rachel said. "I don't think we need to be strong for him. He's pretty strong. He can handle it."

"Yeah, I agree with Rachel," Marco said. "Being strong for someone is more a girl thing. So I guess you've volunteered Cassie."

Cassie growled. "Fine, I'll go to the hospital then."

"I'll come with you," Marco said, standing up. "But I'm not comforting him."

Rachel stood up. "You coming Tobias? Ax?"

"I will visit Prince Jake later," Ax said, walking out of the barn

((I'm not coming,)) I said. ((He'd probably be still upset with me.))

"Alright," Rachel said, following Cassie and Marco out. "Bye."

((Bye.))