The two Grimm brothers and the doctor stood at the edge of the forest. It was threatening. Jake clutched his book to his chest. Will had a firm grip on his dagger that he was careful to keep hidden. He could remember the pain of the cold steel plunging deep into his chest. He never talked about it with Jake, he didn't want to increase his younger brother's guilt. He knew that Jake had enough on his mind already.

Anyway he had kept the knife with him since then. He had kept it with him ever since, to ensure neither he or his brother had to feel that pain again.

"Well," said Will choosing to break the silence, "shall we?" Jake looked at him briefly then started moving quickly into the forest. Will almost had to run to keep up while the doctor scurried behind.

Jake didn't know why he was running but he had to. He had left Anjelika to the mercy of those things too long already. Part of him feared that she was already dead,

'No, I would feel it if she were dead. I know she's out there, she's waiting for me. I'm the knight.'

Jake suddenly had to stop dead in his tracks. He started coughing again. This one was bad. He put his hand on a tree for support. The coughing grew louder, heavier; he could feel his face going red. His legs went numb and he sunk to the ground.

'God please make it stop.' He started gagging. He knew he had hacked something up but his body was attacking him too much for him to open his eyes. He was now convulsing quite violently until he was left sweating and panting.

He recovered enough to open his eyes he was shocked at what he saw. There was blood on the dead leaves beneath him. He reached up and touched his mouth. There was something sticky and warm on it. His fears were confirmed when he looked at his had his own fresh blood covered it. He had been coughing up blood.

"More than a cold," he said this very quietly.

Will was finally catching up, "Jake, there's a thing called waiti--." He went cold when he saw Jakob crouched down by the tree, obviously the result of another coughing fit. He dashed towards the younger man.

"Jake? Jake!" Jake heard him coming and quickly wiped away the blood from his mouth and hand. He buried it in the leaves as best he could.

Finally Will came upon him. He kneeled down beside him and gently put his hand on his back. "Jake, what is it?" His voice was lined with concern.

Jake looked over at his brother's pleading eyes, "Nothing Will, it's just a cold." He feigned a smile.

"Are you sure?" Jake said nothing his eyes were furiously watering.

Finally the doctor walked in on the scene. "What's going on? Are you all right young man?"

"Yes doctor, I'm fine," he looked back to Will, "really."

"All right, come on then." Will pulled Jake to his feet. "Um, Dr. Opper where are the bags.

"Oh, I left them back there. Just past those trees."

"You left them? We'll never find them. Haven't you ever been in here?" Will was on the verge of panic.

"Well," the doctor continued, "no not really. As a child my parents forbade me and as an adult I never had any desire to. Unlike my son."

Will stared at him, "y-your son? Where is he?"

Dr. Opper stared at the ground, "he's not here." He said it simply. Will didn't press it any further.

"Well we still have to have a way to get out of here!" "Will calm down, we'll just find that toad." "Well that would be a marvelous idea Jakob if I knew were the toad was!"

"Will calm down now!" Will looked at Jake shocked at how he was taking charge. "Listen the sun is starting to set, we'll just camp here tonight and work it out tomorrow."

"How Jakob? We don't even know where to look. This forest is huge and frankly I don't think you're in the best shape to be out here! Look at you! You're barely standing."

Jake fought back, "Will stop it! I told you over and over again that I was fine and I am. Besides you said you wouldn't leave without her. I know I won't whether you stay or not!

Will sighed, "You know I'll stay."

"Good, then help make a fire before the sun sets."

Authors Note: Well hopefully that chapter was a little longer and more interesting. I have a long weekend coming up so chapter 5 should be here soon. Lots of writing time. R&R. Thanks!