Chapter 38

Tobias

I started to wake up. I could feel consciousness returning to my mind. My mind flashed with images of being in the woods with Rachel, of passing out, of the Ellimists deal, and my foggy mind wondered if my friends succeeded. It seemed my mind was getting clearer, but it could be a delusion of a dead man; a dream or a hallucination before death. I felt a soft hand on my forehead and I felt my head move slightly into it. I heard a gasp and I tried to open my eyes, but my brain and motor functions weren't cooperating.

"Tobias?" The person said. The voice was familiar, but I couldn't place it. I tried to open my eyes again, but I couldn't. I tried to find my voice, and it didn't work either. I heard myself let out a low groan, and I tried to open my eyes again.

I felt the hand return to my forehead and I concentrated on the familiar touch.

"Tobias?" The person said again, the voice more urgent.

"Rachel?" My voice croaked, and I was able to get my eyes opened, but closed them again against the bright light of the barn; which I knew normally was rather dim.

"How do you feel?" She asked. I opened my eyes again, slowly, and let the room come into focus. I felt fine. Slightly sluggish, but I think that was a left over side effect of being so sick. I pushed myself up so I was sitting upright, and blinked a couple of times to clear my head.

"I feel fine." I said. Rachel smiled and launched herself around me in a bone-crushing hug. I was squishing the urge to jump away and before I registered she was hugging me, she pulled away slightly and kissed me passionately which stumped me even more than the bone-crushing hug. She pulled away and I stared at her, completely dumb founded and feeling like an idiot.

"You're alive." She said, and I could hear the emotion in her voice.

"Yes, I'm alive." I said, feeling confused.

"I was worried we'd come back and you'd be dead." She said, looking away from me. I had no clue what to say to that. A simple, well I'm fine now, didn't seem to cover it, so I just moved closer to her and wrapped my arm around her and pulled her closer in a half hug. Rachel leaned her head on my shoulder.

"Do I want to ask how it went?" Rachel gave me an unreadable look and I decided to drop it. We sat together in silence, both of us content to be with each other.

"You almost died." Rachel whispered.

"And you guys saved me." I said, not sure what she was getting at. She moved away from me and turned to face me.

"I was afraid, I'd come back and you'd be dead." She repeated. I frowned. I knew something was wrong, but I was at a loss as to what it was. Rachel didn't get emotional very often. That's just how she was. I didn't know what to say or what to do to make it better. "I was afraid we'd fail, and we'd come back and you'd die, and I would never get the chance to tell you that…" She stopped and looked away from me, like she was ashamed. I put my hand under her chin and made her look me in the eyes.

"Tell me what?" I asked, feeling scared. That she hated me and wanted to go out with some other guy? I panicked slightly, not sure I wanted to know.

"That I love you." Time seemed to stop. I was froze; completely and utterly numb. I knew Rachel loved me. She knew I loved her. We just never really said it in those words. Rachel kept staring into my eyes, taking in my reaction and I realized that I was stoic to her; life as a hawk does that to you. Hawks don't need to smile or show any other emotions. I didn't know how to make a face for what I was feeling, totally and completely happy, so I just did what I knew she'd understand. I leaned forward and I kissed her as passionately as she kissed me earlier and I knew then that I could die a happy man…or bird…or whatever it was that I am.

Reviews from Chapter 36:

Lilly: review of small words. :D I'm hoping you were reviewing because you like, not because you hated it.

Rg13: It has been a pleasure reading/answering your reviews. Thanks for being so 'loyal' to my fic. I'm glad you like this story.

C101: lol, you're reviews always amuse me and it's been fun reading and answering your reviews. Thanks for all the fun reviews. I'm glad you like this story and I hope you enjoy the ending.

LN86: lol! Good to know you're excited. :D Thanks for the reviews, it means a lot to see them.

Quillian: thanks for all your constructive criticism and consistant reviews. Hope you enjoy the ending.