A/N: heads up. We're very much near the end. I calculate a length of 15 or 16 chapters at most.

This chap is also kinda longish. Enjoy!

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Chapter 13

Time seemed to freeze then as she panted from panic and ran back to the dining room where she felt a rush of relief wash over her as she saw Professor Oak still sitting there, quietly sipping his coffee, in the Victorian dining room, that looked more sombre than usual.

"Professor!" She shouted as she stumbled into the room. Samuel Oak instantly looked up, expecting the interruption of the quietness surrounding him. "It's Gary" She said choked up. "God, he... I don't know, he just passed out, he..." she inhaled sharply "Please, he's in the living room!" she finished, panting. But something triggered in her mind as she saw Professor Oak get back to his coffee, sipping it calmly.

"Professor Oak!" She shouted again, trying to get his attention

But Samuel Oak was still sipping his coffee. He motioned her to take a seat next to him, right where Gary used to sit. Misty couldn't hide the disbelief in her face. "What? But Gary! He's unconscious!"

"Misty, it's alright. Take a seat. Calm down" his soothing voice only exasperated her more. But as she stood there hesitating whether to run back to the living room or restrain herself from beating on an elder, she froze up in her spot. Samuel Oak let out a breath. "Misty, Gary's Ok. He's only sleeping"

Misty seemed to gawk at him, not understanding. The eyes of Samuel Oak hardened as he motioned her to the seat again. "Sit down" He said, his imperative voice forcing her to comply. Misty hesitated but took solemn steps towards the seat and reluctantly sat down, apprehensive. Samuel Oak put down his mug of coffee and fell quiet for a few seconds that felt like forever to her. She was about to cry out in impotence but he interrupted her.

"Gary's been working too hard, Misty" Samuel Oak explained. "As much as I care for this investigation I care more about my grandson's health" he said calmly. "If he wasn't planning on downgrading his working pace, I was prepared to do it for him" With that, he nonchalantly reached to his pocket and took out a used tablet that used to contain a pill. Misty took it and read the label. It was a powerful sedative. Samuel Oak nodded. "I slipped this in the sugar of his coffee" he confessed, looking down.

She was gaping at the old man. "You DRUGGED him!" She yelled out, outraged.

Samuel Oak tried to defend himself. "Misty, you should see him at his worst. He ... reminds me too much of myself. I do not want him to end up like me"

But Misty was still gawking at the tablet with her eyes opened at their most. "You drugged him!" she said again, shaking her head trying to absorb the information. She looked up at Professor Oak with such mistrust and disbelief it made him wince. "What if he had been climbing the stairs, or in a... b-balcony or in the-the shower or something!"

Professor Oak seemed to look responsible and nodded sombrely. "He wasn't supposed to last that long. This is a strong sedative; he should have been asleep in 8 minutes tops. Somehow he seemed to last over 15. He must have fought with all his willpower to stay awake"

Misty still let out a breath that drained her lungs from all remaining air. She clenched her jaw and looked down. "When will he wake up?" she asked harshly.

"Twelve hours or so."

She nodded and stood up "Don't you ever talk your problems out?" She said and regretted her outburst almost instantly. She looked apologetically almost instantly and flinched. As she looked at Samuel Oak he waved the topic off. "It's okay if you're angry Misty. You just went through hell because of me"

Still looking down she clenched her fists trying to control her eyes which were starting to ache. Samuel Oak felt guilty at her distress and stood up as well. "I'm going to take him to his room now" he stole a glance at the door which connected the dining room to the living room. "I think it would give us both some tranquillity if you would look after him" Pushing the coffee mug away, he made his way through the dining room and pushed the door leading to the living room. Misty stood there, alone, the scent of food and caffeine strong in the air, feeling numb. Her heart was still pounding; she had never felt more scared or angry in her entire life and the mere thought of losing him somehow made her quiver in fright. But for now she had to be strong and as she silently cursed how the family seemed to work out their differences or rather, didn't, she mentally reminded herself that Samuel Oak was going to take him to his room, and would probably need some help.

Samuel Oak was impressively strong for someone his age, and a full time researcher. He picked up his grandson with such fluid moments and carried him over his shoulder as Gary had jokingly done with her a long time ago. Misty felt herself grow useless, and only opened up some doors to let the scientists pass. Before a trek too long, they reached his room. Samuel Oak dropped him on his bed where Gary didn't even flinch. He looked at Misty apologetically once again but remained silent and only nodded at her silently saying she was in charge now. With no further notice or exchange he left the room leaving them alone.

'He must have fought with all his willpower to stay awake'

Samuel Oak's words lingered in her mind and made her shut her eyes in angry helplessness. She took a seat in the border of his bed and stared at the wall in front of her. She had never actually been in his room before but it seemed to be everything she had expected it to be. The walls had no wallpaper in them, but were painted over with a greyish blue. There was a desk in the corner, almost invisible, covered in research documents and files. In the other corner there was a huge pile of birthday presents yet unopened and she smiled grimly. There was a small table to her right with nothing but a lamp and the book she had gotten in anticipation by speaking to Rutherford herself. The female researcher had always been a fan of her sisters' shows.

And she looked at him, lying on his back, peacefully asleep. She smiled sweetly. In the day there was always that rough around the edges look that made him stand out and get her constant attention, but blissfully oblivious as he was, he seemed... boyish. It was cute and made her momentarily forget her worry, so she ran a hand through his spiky hair tousling it and feeling it surprisingly smooth. Misty let out a breath knowing it would be a long vigil and kicked off her shoes, raising her feet to rest against the mattress, she leaned her back against the cold wall and sighed, deciding to check out the book Gary seemed to like so much.

She didn't even remember opening it but she was fast asleep, with the weight of the book pressing against her chest.

Her last thought before sleeping was the mere question of how he could read those books from cover to cover and anxiously wait for a new one. Stealing one last glance at him she had smiled, and when she blinked, she just didn't open her eyes again.

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She woke up only instants before he did, and that meant she had slept the day away. It had been a mix of both comfort and safety that had made her sleep away the sun, and she startled awake as she remembered about him, thinking for a second that he was gone. When she opened her eyes she saw a roof she didn't recognize as the previous events flooded her mind in reminiscence. She looked to her side and saw him.

Their positions had shifted slightly. She had only been sitting against the wall, but was now fully lying on her back, the book still pressed against her chest. Gary, who had been lying on his back, was now lying on his stomach, but his neck was turned so he was facing her. She felt something warm on her abdomen as she saw he had his right arm casually draped over her stomach, his hand resting idly on her hip bone. The unconscious gesture made her smile heart-warmingly. Her subtle movement disturbed him in the least as he started to come to.

The arm draped over her stomach seemed to press her against the mattress as he started to awaken. Gary groaned as he felt his muscles sore. What had just happened? He started to stir and rolled his head to the other side before raising it and opening his eyes. The very first thing he saw was Misty, looking at him, perplexed. Gary gawked at her trying to make something out of the fuzzy memories he had.

'What!' he thought as his eyes widened. The brief flashback of the breakfast passed through his head. The flashback of Misty leading him to the leaving room ensued. A kiss, more than just a kiss, a hug a... 'Oh.' It was all his conscience could mutter as he remembered his vision fading to black and could almost recall Misty's voice calling after him in fright, from a far away distance. The sound of her worried voice seeming muffled as if something had been covering his ears. But... why?

"Misty" he blurted out.

She seemed to blush at the embarrassing position and realized he didn't even know what had happened. Waking up to that would only confuse him more. "What the hell happened to me?" he questioned, dissipating her doubts. She sighed, relieved.

"Gary!" She greeted relieved. "Um..." she paused, in a sincere lack of words. "...your coffee was a bit low on the caffeine and a bit high on the tranquillizer"

He seemed taken aback. "There was a sedative in my coffee!" His vision grew sombre with disbelief. "...Samuel" He almost growled, accusing.

She didn't reply, but her silence granted. "I'm never gonna let that old sack fix me a drink again." He protested as he incorporated himself into a sitting position and withdrew the arm lying in her stomach. The removal of the comfortable weight and the cold air that invaded the place it used to be warm made her miss the contact instantly.

"I think you two really should sit down and talk it all out" She commented. "Who on earth drugs someone to show affection!" She questioned, but fell silent for a moment, contemplating back on the day. "You... you really scared me back there"

Gary smiled genuinely and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "You really walked into some wacky family here, Red"

"Oh, so I'm family now?" She questioned, raising a playful eyebrow.

Gary chuckled. "No, of course not" He pulled closer to her. "Wouldn't want to be related to you" He laid a soft kiss on her forehead. Misty chuckled as they both rested their backs against the cold dark wall. Misty took the book out and closed it, placing it on the nightstand. She drew closer to the edge of the bed and stood up shakily almost loosing her balance the first time. "Man, and I wasn't even the drugged one" She laughed and he raised an eyebrow.

The door flung open, revealing May behind it. She looked suspiciously at Misty and then back at Gary. "Came to check on the slumber party going on here" The mocking tone of her voice indicated she had stopped by before, maybe more than once. "To see if I should take more pictures or should be happy with the ones I already took" She smugly smiled at an embarrassed Misty. Gary just rolled her eyes.

"When did you get back?" Misty asked.

May frowned. "Hun, my meeting was from 8 'til 9am" She said. When she saw Misty was not following she rolled her eyes. "It's 7 PM!"

Misty widened her eyes. "WHAT!"

"Yeah. Believe me. When I got back the house was really creepy-quiet. Don't worry; I scolded Samuel too" May said victoriously since it was usually the other way around.

Gary stood up reluctantly. "Better go tell that old sack I'm alive" He muttered under his breath as he made his way to the door leaving the two girls alone.

It was time for a long overdue confrontation

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A/N: dun dun duuuun. We get explanations in next chapter; don't get your knickers in a twist! xD Well I hope you liked this chappie! And stick around!

Midnight Mist

:cough: review :cough:. Subliminal messages? Me? NEVER! xD