Okay, I have recieved a review that saying I have made Gerad Mystery out of character, well I must admit I have. I'm not one to deny their mistakes but just like Martin, he is a bit out of character too. Believe it or not, he was actually scared about what happened to Martin. My flash backs I can see possible, but this is the divide that does make it so they can repair their relashionship a bit. It's just taking a bit of time but hopefully this will help things. I have taken some advice offered to me and I will admit, I have been a bit hard on Gerad, for which I am sorry. :( Hopefully this chapter will help in the story. I will take into account your suggestions and use them. Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 9:

Bonding

A week later...

Martin watched the water in the pool, keeping his feet in the water. He frowned when his fathers reflection came into view. "What do you want?" Martin asked not bothering to hide his annoyance at the man. The reflection frowned and walked closer to him.

"Just to...talk." Martin looked up, an ebrow raised. "Why do you look so surprised?"

"Everytime you want to talk I'm either grounded or it turns into a shouting match." Martin rubbed the spot on his arm where his father had a fierce hold only a few days before, "Lets face it, you actully hurt me last time." Gerad frowned and watched his son.

"That bad huh?" Martin nodded, "Look it's hard for me to say I'm s...s-"

"Sorry." Martin watched his father looked away, "What's so hard about it? It's one word." Martin stood up and winced but ignored most of the pain, "Just try and understand. It's not as simple as saying your sorry anymore. Though I'd like it to be that easy it's not." Martin faced his father, "When you can see that there's more to me then you think then maybe we can...talk." Martin walked away leaving his father stunned.

Gerad Mystery sat up in bed. His dream had said what he'd wanted to say for the most part but he found it quite difficult to talk to his son right now. He stood up from his bed and wandered down to Martin's bedroom. The door was open slightly allowing the light from the stars and moon to glow through the window and crack of the door. He opened the door fully and watched his son sleeping.

Martin was curled up in a ball with his head on the pillow. He groaned and turned over, nearly falling off the bed. His father caught him just in time and covered him up again, making sure he was warm. Gerad ran a hand through his hair and sat down on the couch inside the room. Martin looked a little flushed in his opinion. He walked over to him and put a hand to his forehead. There was a fever and it was growing.

Gerad quickly dampened a cloth and put it on Martin's forehead. The teen moaned but didn't wake up as the coolness of the cloth sunk in. Martin groaned a few more times before opening his eyes. They shot up wide in surprise but Gerad pushed his son down and smiled at him.

"You have to rest." Gerad commented gently, "You have a fever."

"Why are you...doing...this?" Martin paused every now and then, using hand gestures trying to emphisis his point.

"I'm doing this because I want to say that I'm sor-so-"

"Sorry." Martin's ebrow rose on one side, a frown marking it's place on his face. "You can't even say it."

"Martin you know I am."

"Do I know you're sorry? Do I? I mean, look at the years we've had. Now, do you think I know you're sorry? I'm not sure."

"Alright! I'm sorry!" Gerad snapped out, "Happy now?"

"No," Martin shook his head, "Because you didn't mean it. I had to make you say it. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"For what? You're poor grades or your attitude." Martin frowned but didn't respond right away.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be your perfect son." Martin turns over and closes his eyes, "Could you please leave for a bit?"

"I...I am sorry Martin." Gerad replied walking toward the door, "I didn't mean to make it sound the way it did." Martin laughed and sat up, watching the man in front of him. "Honestly."

"I know but you did." Martin looked at him for a moment, golden brown eyes flickering breifly before becoming deep calm depths again, "This is the way it is between us. Ever since..." Martin looked away, "Nevermind. I'm tired and I'm sure you are too. Go to bed." Martin fell back down against his bed, sleep pulling him in. Gerad left his son alone and retired to his own room, but sleep iluded him. He sighed and pulled a book of the table, reading it.

Reading didn't seem to help and forced him to look back at his behavior for the past few days. Martin seemed to be fading away from him, he knew that much, but again he didn't want to the put the blame on himself but with no one around to tell him it wasn't he was forced to face the truth. He closed his eyes, trying not to think about about all the painful memories between. He sighed and looked out his own window. He questioned himself and even more so tonight.

He questioned himself on one of the main issues brewing within his tired mind, why had he been so mean to Martin these past few days. His mind suddenly wandered back to the hospital and how his own son had kicked him out. Most fathers would have been welcomed to stay but he couldn't blame Martin. He had said some terrible things and called his own son foolish for rushing in to save Diana when he knew he would have done the same thing. Martin was probably right when he meant there had been no time to get help.

Gerad was proud of his completely but when it came to showing it, well...he lacked in that area. He had tried showing his love for Martin but he was pushed away, his son mistaking it for another round of fighting. There had been no shouting at least but he was still worried about Martin. He was worried that they would never get close again. He closed his eyes and stood up, heading towards Martin's room again.

The blonde teen was asleep again, his sleep destirbed for a few moments as the fever forced a groan out of him. He had paled quite a bit from last time and had sifted to his good side, holding the other in pain. Gerad moved quickly to his sons side and pulled the pajama top up just a bit. The area around the stitches had turned red and it looked like the wound had become infected. Gerad, with a bit of difficulty, picked up his son and put him in the wheel chair and pushed him towards the car to get him to a hospital near the property.

An hour later Martin was released back to his father and brought back home. Martin had been givin at least two sets of pills, one to keep the infection away and the other to help get rid of it. They were currently in the car when Martin began to stir.

"You're up? How do you feel?"

"Sick. What am I doing in the car?"

"I took you to the hospital. You're stitches got infected." He stopped the car in front of the house, "You weren't doing too well when I came to check on you." Martin looked at his dad then looked down.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. I want you to stay in bed for a couple of days, just to rest. The nurse said you would probably still feel sick for a few days because of the medication." Martin nodded and closed his eyes again. "Are you tired?"

"A little. Why did you help?"

"Why do you need to ask? I love you more than you think I do. I just treat you...tougher because you don't take your lessons seriously. You devote your time to all the unrational ideas. You've got a good head on your shoulders, I don't doubt that." He turned to his sons, "I love you Martin it's just-"

"What?"

"It's just a little bit harder to show. You're so much more different then your sister and your spirit is just as wild as your mothers." Martin looked up, his eyes lighting up for a few seconds before appearing dull again. Those memories brought on the best and worst kind of feelings in both father and son, "It's so hard to tell what your thinking and I usually end up yelling at you for it."

"Why has it been so much worse lately?" It was a good question to ask leaving Martin's father quiet for a moment, needing time to think.

"I guess I was just so...afraid."

"Of what?"

"You dieing." Martin's eyes grew wide, "I almost lost you. You're sister almost lost you. Do you know what that would have done to us? Martin you are one of the very few people on this earth who bring a smile to someone's face and over the years I've failed to notice that. I do love you though. I love both you and your sister equaly and if I ever lost either of you...Martin...we almost lost you. I almost lost you and that scared the hell out of me. If you had died a part of me would have too."

"Do you...do you mean all that? Or are you just saying that so that I'll stop being angry?" Gerad sighed and watched as Martin's eyes became down cast.

"I mean it with all of my heart Martin. We may not always agree on your ideas or thearies but..."

"Don't." Gerad looked at Martin, "We don't agree but that doesn't mean we can't...meet in the middle." Martin smiled and it made it's way all the way to his eyes.

"I like that idea. I do realize this will take time." Martin nodded, "How about we get you inside and back to bed. When you get some rest we can go...camping, as a family."

"I like that idea."

The Next Day...

M.O.M stood in front of the blue doorway. She had her suitcase and files in hand. "Do you really have to go so soon?" Diana asked, holding Martin's hand. Martin just smiled at her and watched as she backed toward the portal.

"I'm afraid so. Things have gotten a little crazy lately. I'm glad you and your father are getting along on better terms though."

"Thanks." M.O.M looked at him, confused. A faint pink colour tinted his pale cheeks, "For being there for me and...talking to me and stuff. I really needed that." M.O.M smiled and nodded.

"I expect you back at the centre next month."

"You bet! Save the best cases for us!"

"Yes, and I'll be sure to hide all breakable objects." Everyone laughed as M.O.M left with Billy and Java in tow. The door closed leaving the Mystery family alone. Gerad looked down at his son.

"You get back to bed and rest and Diana and I can plan the trip. Maybe we can visit one of those temples, see if there's a ghost or two." Martin and Diana smiled.

"And maybe we can look at the writtings on the wall, see what ancient peoples used to live there."

"Sounds cool," Diana commented, "You want help to your room?" Martin nodded, falling asleep in the wheel chair. "More tired then he thought he was. I hope that infection clears up soon."

"It should." Gerad Mystery replied and frowned. If anything, Martin had grown more pale then before. The father didn't know what to do and grew more worried as the day passed. Martin seemed to sleep longer and he seemed to be getting sicker with each passing minute. If the medicine didn't help in another two days he would be taking Martin back.

Okay! Another chapter done, but fear not. This is not the last chapter. I still want to build that father son relashionship. As mentioned before, in chapter 8 I did go out of character but, in a way it was essential to the story. Kinda like being over dramatic in the arguments then being a tad over dramatic here, but I guess that story works with it. :D I want to thank all those that have reviewed. You've been so loyal. As for M.O.M staying with Martin, I've always felt that she had a soft spot for him.

As mentioned before, this is not the last chapter. I estimate there a about two or three more. So, for now, I hope you've enjoyed this story. It's certainly kept me on my toes, as have you reviews. :D