Disclaimer: The Night World is the work of L.J Smith. Only the story is mine.

3

Mary-Lynnette ran for Ash. She ran for herself. She could not begin to imagine what her life would be like without him. She raced through the trees single-mindedly. She sprinted so fast even the others had trouble keeping up with her with her- and the girls were vampires. She knew exactly where to go. Nothing was going to get in her way.

Ash gritted his teeth in pain as another twinge rocked his body. He cursed. He might have staked vampires in the past but he made sure that the death was clean. He hoped he would at least he would get a chance to see Mary-Lynnette before…

He told himself off. He shouldn't think that way. But it was hard to avoid being morbid when he had just pulled a wooden spear out of his stomach. It hurt.

Mary-Lynnette crashed through the bushes into the clearing. Cursing she fell forward face first.
Ash heard someone coming through the bushes to his left. Well, more like falling through. He turned his head towards the bushes painfully. It was her. "Mary-Lynnette." He whispered.

"Ash?" She screamed. "Oh my God! Your…" She trailed off and started sobbing. She crawled towards him and held his hand, ignoring the blood, sending positive thoughts through the pink haze that came with being soulmates. She wouldn't ever let go. "You're going to be fine, just fine…" She stroked his hair, attempting a wobbly smile.

Don't cry. I don't want you to ever cry. Ash lifted a hand and wiped her tears away with his thumb, his hand shaking with the effort.

Mary-Lynnette held back her tears- for him- but his mental voice was weaker than it had ever been.

Rowan, Kestrel and Jade came through the bushes- rather more silently than Mary-Lynnette had. They took one look at their brother and gasped. Jade started to run towards him, but Rowan held her back. Give them a minute.

They haven't got a minute. Ash will die if we don't help him NOW. Jade exclaimed.

Kestrel nodded as Mark came through the bushes panting heavily.

Ash looked at them. "Looks like I get a family leaving party" he said, with a ghost of his old humour.

Rowan walked over to him. "Not a leaving party. We're not letting you go that easily." She pulled out a tarnished bottle.

Mary-Lynnette looked at her. "What's that? Where did it come from?"

"It's a way to buy time till we can get Ash to some healers. It will stop the poison spreading further- for a time. But it can't get rid of it and we have to get to the healer fast." She looked at Mary-Lynnette. "A witch gave it to me." She continued.

Mary-Lynnette took the bottle and pulled out the stopper with trembling hands. "You'll get through this." She gently lifted Ash's head up and put the bottle to his lips. "Drink it all." She implored him.

Ash drank it. "Tastes foul." He grimaced.

Mary-Lynnette laughed nervously. "We've got to get you to the car." She glanced at him. "We're going to have to carry you to the car."

"I can walk thanks. I don't need carrying."

"Stop being pig-headed and arrogant." Mark and Ash's sisters exchanged looks.

"Don't tell me what to do." Ash told her and tried getting up. He winced; then controlled it admirably. But he couldn't stop himself sinking back. "Ow."

"I told you."

"Hmm."

Mary-Lynnette looked at the others. "Right. But we have to be careful with him."

Kestrel smirked. "Sure."

Ash grunted as they lifted him. "More careful with the goods, hey?" Mary-Lynnette snorted.

"What?"

"Well, you don't seem to have changed that much." She looked at him. "Where do we find healers?"

"The best healers are at Thierry's house. Las Vegas."

The sisters looked horrified. "Thierry?"

"It's okay. He's the leader of Circle Daybreak."

Rowan looked at him intently. "You have changed." Mary-Lynnette looked at them, but decided not to follow the issue any further.

Slowly, they made the way to Mary-Lynnette's Dad's car. Very carefully, they put Ash lying across the back seat.

"I'll drive." Rowan said.

"Thank you." Mary-Lynnette sat in the back, she put Ash's head gently in her lap and clasped his hand.

Kestrel shut the car door for her. "We'll follow you in our car." Last month the sisters had pulled together and bought themselves a car.

Mary-Lynnette nodded; her mouth dry. She looked into Ash's eyes. "I love you."

"I know."

She socked him gently. "I'll give you, quoting Han Solo in Star Wars."

"Sorry- I couldn't resist." He winced. "Ouch." He gasped.

"He's so pale." Mary-Lynnette thought.

It becomes me. He said weakly.

Mare-Lynnette was too worried to tell him off for reading her mind without invitation.

Rowan put her foot on the accelerator pedal. "Let's hurry!"

Hi! I wrote this chapter almost as soon as I got back. Hope you like it. I've been gone less than a week and I already had 95 emails in my inbox! Reviews are much appreciated- they encourage me to go on.

Strekoza- Here's the next chapter. I hope the telepathy isn't getting too confusing.