Disclaimer: The Night World is the work of L.J Smith. Only the story is mine. I apologise if this chapter makes no sense but I have never been to America before, so I don't know all the right words to use- please tell me if I am wrong

4

Mary-Lynnette cursed silently (trying not to wake up Ash, who was having a nap) as she saw the blue lights flashing them to pull the car over. She had kept her fingers crossed when she heard the sirens- but it wasn't as though tonight was her lucky night. Rowan had floored it all the way along the highway and they had been making good time. Had being the operative word. She looked worryingly at Ash, whose breathing was becoming increasingly laboured.

"What shall we do?" Rowan whispered.

"Can you lose them or influence the police officer?" Mary-Lynnette asked.

Ash stirred uneasily and beads of sweat fell down his cheeks from his forehead. His face was shining with perspiration. Rowan looked at him over her shoulder. She thought for a moment. "I'll make an exception for my little brother. I'll influence the police driver."

Mary-Lynnette squeezed her shoulder gently. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."

Ash moaned gently in his sleep. His face was very pale. Mary-Lynnette was worried- his hands were as cold as ice.

Rowan indicated and pulled the car over to the side of the road. She took a deep breath. "Here goes."

"Yeah." Mary-Lynnette was biting her lip nervously.

The police car stopped behind them and two police officers walked out.

"Two of them?" Rowan exclaimed in dismay. "This is not going to be easy. And I'm out of practice."

The police officers walked up to the car as Rowan wound down her window. Mary-Lynnette hurriedly covered Ash with a blanket. The last thing that they needed was to draw attention to him.

"Anything wrong officer?" Mary-Lynnette was impressed at how calm and level Rowan's voice was.

"You were driving down the highway at over 110mph." The man said coldly. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

Mary-Lynnette watched with interest as his face went blank. Rowan spoke with effort. "We were only driving down the highway at 50mph. You were mistaken."

The man spoke. "Right. Um… sorry."

His colleague looked at him sharply. "What!" She shook him. "We saw them. They were driving at a ridiculous speed." She looked at the blanket. "What have you got under there?"

Mary-Lynnette looked at Rowan pleadingly. "I…can't…control… them both …at once."

"Please try. Please."

The police woman stepped back from the door, looking at them both as though they were lunatics. Rowan spoke to her, beads of perspiration shining on her face. "Come… c-come here." Mary-Lynnette looked at the police woman, not daring to breathe. She started coming towards Rowan haltingly.

Rowan started shaking with the effort of controlling both minds at once and Mary-Lynnette looked with horror as her control over the police woman was slipping.

Suddenly, the police woman's face went blank.

"Good job Rowan!" Mary-Lynnette cried.

"It's not me! I'm only controlling the police man."

Ash sat up slowly and painfully from under the blanket. "Y-you… c-can…go now." He said to the woman.

"Ash! You can't… you're…you're too weak." Mary-Lynnette cried.

Ash looked at her and smiled faintly. He turned to the police woman. "You can go now."

"Yes." The police woman went back to her vehicle. Evidently, Rowan had done the same as her colleague followed her.

Mary-Lynnette turned to Ash, hysterical. "You idiot! The effort could have killed you."

Ash looked at her. "Nice…to…see the…e-effort was ap-appreciated." His face creased with pain.

Mary-Lynnette supported him as he slumped back.

"When was the last time you fed?"

He frowned. "Y-yesterday." He looked at her, realization dawning. "I…won't."

Mary-Lynnette pulled her hair away from her neck. "Yes you bloody well are. I don't want you to die. It's stupid to go without blood when the only thing stopping you from keeling over is that potion. You need it." She screamed.

"H-how can…I argue with… that?"

Mary-Lynnette pulled his head gently to her neck. She felt his rasping breath on her neck for a moment and then felt the jellyfish sting.

Her mind merged with his.

You'll be alright. She told him.

His mind was jewel bright, changing colour by the second. To her joy, the black parts had faded. She could tell what he had done for her. His barriers were down- he was too weak to close them. She saw him rescuing a girl- Gillian.

It's rude to look without being invited. Ash said desperately. Mary-Lynnette was shocked at how weak his mental voice was.

Ash!

I'll be fine. He insisted.

But Mary-Lynnette could tell he was lying. He was drowning in despair. That he would die and never be with her.

I love you. She said fiercely.

She could tell he did too.

I won't let anything happen to you. She told him.

But Mary-Lynnette could tell that he was weakening. Her blood was not enough to save him.

Ash wanted to believe that she could save him. But that wasn't enough.

Ash pulled away from her, shaking. "I love you." He whispered. Mary-Lynnette could barely hear him.

"NO!" Mary-Lynnette held him as he slipped into unconsciousness. She turned to Rowan with despair etched on her face. Rowan was crying. "DRIVE!" Mary-Lynnette screamed.

Rowan shook herself and turned the keys in the ignition. The car spluttered. She turned the keys again.

"We're out of petrol." Rowan sobbed. "Your…petrol gauge must be broken."

Mary-Lynnette pounded the car window in frustration and anguish. "WHY? WHY NOW?"

An evil cliffhanger. Mwah ha ha ha!

Undeveloped Story- Thanks! I am posting as soon as I can. I am in the middle of my exams- but I like to get my story out there- I know how much I hate waiting for the next chapter!

Xanthia Nightshade- Hi fellow Brit. Thanks for the compliment.

Jinxed4Ever- Sorry I like short chapters- it's kind of easier for me to handle them. I leave the chapters at cliffhangers to keep people interested. Hee Hee. My telepathy is in bold and italics, except when the character is weak- their mental voice gets quieter, so I take off the bold. I had great fun on my hol thanks- I now have my bridesmaid dress for my cousins wedding. I went up to my Grandparents to have 'fittings'.

Strekoza- Thanks- I thought I would be a little more original with 'saving' him. Glad you're getting used to the telepathy.

Mary Lou Out Of Order-Exams- You don't have to review every chapter if you don't want too. I hope you enjoyed chapter 4. I couldn't resist adding in some shin kicking in chapter 2 or the Star Wars crack. I hope you enjoy the new film. Sorry if it was confusing- but Ash is the one who has changed, Mary-Lynnette is pretty much her old shin kicking self.

Twin 1- Ash is the greatest!