Disclaimer: I don't own CL
A/n I know I'm taking forever to update and I'm really, really sorry. I have a bunch of stuff going on right now and it's just hectic. I'll try harder though.
The polymorphic clone disappeared, dropping Nicole to the ground. Her breathing was ridged and she coughed trying to take control of herself to sit up. Jason stood in shock. He finally came back to reality and dropped down onto his knees next to Nicole. She had her hands around her neck and continued to gasp for air. Jason rubbed her back and searched the room for his cell phone with his eyes.
'they must have got to the towers,' he thought. Sunlight began to fill the room. Through the dust some beams hit the two on the floor. They heard a ringing and Nicole reached into her pocket, producing her cell phone. She shook her head, still not able to steady her breath and pushed it towards Jason.
"hello?"
Lab
"Jason! Where's Nicole? Is she ok?" fear-stricken by the fact Nicole hadn't answered her own phone, Ulrich started interrogating Jason. The gang was crowded around Ulrich and no one moved.
"Nikki's fine. Shaken, but fine." Jason looked over to Nicole. She was slumped over now breathing a little bit lighter.
"we're ok," he sighed, then shivered.
"it's freezing in here though."
"there's some blankets in the storage closet," Jeremy said quietly.
"We'll meet you guys back in the corridor," Ulrich said. Jason said good bye and hung up.
Factory
"come on Nick," Jason said getting to his feet. She shook her head.
"Up," he laughed pulling on her arm. She laid down on the floor.
"Jas I'm so tired," she sighed. He put on a serious face. She had just had a near death experience, and she was still in shock.
"come on Nikki," he said taking her hand again. "I'll carry you." She laughed a little.
"You're crazy." but she didn't turn down his offer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up on his back. Resting her head on his shoulder, she started to drift off. Jason shuttered as he made his way around over turned tables, broken doors, shattered machinery, and other bits of debris left by the clone. Xana was getting to close. Way to close. He came around the corner where he could see the adults walking down the dusty hall with Dylan not to far behind. Yumi and Ulrich broke into a run, not realizing Nicole was only asleep. The disturbance and confusion woke the sleeping brunette. She yawned barely lifting her head.
"Nicole! Are you guys alright?" Ulrich asked reaching them first. Jason gently set Nicole down wrapping one of the blankets Jeremy had around her shoulders. Nicole nodded. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at everyone staring down at her.
"can we go home? I have a game Friday and I want to rest up. And I have to go to the stables. I promised Mr. Lunier."
"you are the crazy one," Jason said in amazement.
"you almost died."
"almost," she answered back struggling to her feet. She leaned against Ulrich a little and pulled the blanket around her tighter.
"Let's just go home," Yumi said. She brushed a hair out of Nicole's eyes. Nicole rolled her eyes and stumbled towards the front of the factory. Jason caught up with her, wrapping his arm around her waist lightly.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he whispered soothingly. She laid her head on his shoulder.
Nicole's Pov
Sure just fine, aside from the fact we almost just died and an evil super computer is trying to take over the world and one of my best friends has a deadly virus and I have a stalker and I could possibly be in love with my best friend….
"yeah," I sighed. This was the first time he ever put his arm around me because he wanted to, not to just tick off Bryan. I couldn't stop my mind from thinking all these thoughts. There has got to be an off switch somewhere.
Normal Pov
Yumi and Odd looked at each other, exchanging a smirk. Yumi glanced back over and Nicole and Jason then back to Odd. The silent conversation made the two erupt in laughter.
"It's happened Sam," Ulrich sighed.
"they've lost it." Odd and Yumi continued to laugh.
"they lost it along time ago Ulrich," Sam smirked.
"Don't you see it?" Odd asked. Sam and Ulrich exchanged a look. Yumi fought off another fit of laughter.
"See what?" Ulrich asked.
"IT," Odd said through his teeth motioning his head towards Jason and Nicole. Ulrich looked over. He quickly averted his gaze to Yumi with a questioning look. The gang was almost to Yumi and Ulrich's house. Sam was repeatedly blinking with her tilted to the side. Jeremy and Aelita shook their heads and Dylan was laughing along with Odd and Yumi. After so many years their friends were still immature. Jason and Nicole were oblivious. They made their way up the driveway and onto the front porch. Nicole unlocked the door and stumbled into the living room.
"Nicole! What happened dear?" It was Mrs. Ishiyama. She rushed off the couch and pulled Nicole farther into the room.
'crap,' Jason thought.
'need a good lie!' Nicole was to tired to even answer so she threw herself down onto the couch.
"She… got done with practice and we went to the stables and she fell in a puddle. Storm spooked her," Jason came up with quickly. Nicole managed to glare at him but then smiled her thanks.
"I'm gonna go take a hot shower," She mumbled forcing herself up. The others had made their way into the living room. Odd, Dylan and Yumi were still making fun of Ulrich and Sam's reactions and Aelita and Jeremy continued to shake their heads at their friends. Nicole ran the water in the shower, turning on the hot water full blast. She walked back into her room and grabbed a green Cami and a pair of grey sweat pants. She went back into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Dylan dropped himself onto a chair but was forced to move when Aelita took out her laptop and looked for a place to sit down. Instead, he spread himself out on the floor next to Jason who was spacing out. Yumi and Ulrich were sitting on a couch across from the other couch where her parents were sitting. Odd was sitting on the arm of the chair Sam was sitting in, Aelita was sitting in a chair opposite the fire place, and Jeremy was leaning against the wall. Dylan cell phone went off, playing a random noise. He rolled over onto his back and pulled it out of his pocket, ignoring the chatter in the room.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dyl, It's Kai Lee. What's up?"
"hanging out," he answered. Jason returned to earth and smirked in his best friends direction.
'shut up' Dylan mouthed to him.
"Cool. I'm going to see a movie, want to come with?" Kai lee asked.
"Sure! See you in a bit,"
"ok, hey wasn't that storm weird?" Kai lee added. Dylan nodded and sighed.
"very."
"kay. See you soon."
"bye." Dylan hung up. He looked over to his parents. They were both looking at him with eyebrows raised.
"Please, please say I don't have to stay," Dylan almost whined. Jeremy sighed.
"go ahead." Dylan jumped up from the ground, messing up Jason's hair he ran out the door. Nicole made her way down the stairs. Her skin was pink from the hot water. Her still wet hair was pulled up in a tight bun on the back of her head and a single stand of brunette hair fell into her eyes. She seemed more awake. Jason smiled at her and padded the floor next to him. She laughed and ran and slid into a sitting position, half on him. Odd and Yumi glanced at each other before busting out laughing yet again. Fighting back the urge to blush, and move under the uncomfortable gaze of his friends and parents, Jason smiled at Nicole.
"they just love laughing don't they?" Jason asked sarcastically.
"seriously. They need jobs or something," Nicole agreed. Sam went to protest the fact they had jobs but picked up on Nicole's sarcasm, clearly inherited from her father.
"we weren't that bad," Yumi muttered under her breath.
"no just your style," Odd heard her and laughed. She blinked.
"what are you talking about?" She asked.
"oh come on Yumes," Odd said repositioning himself to face her.
"remember your green outfit with the cat ears?" He asked.
"I mean come on! Who in their right mind would wear that?" Ulrich cringed.
"Odd.." he warned.
"If I remember correctly, YOU!" Yumi yelled.
"you'll never learn," Ulrich said to Odd sighing.
"well you bought it," Odd defended.
"ODD!" Yumi almost leaped off the couch but Ulrich grabbed her and picked her up off the ground bridal style.
"haha! Thanks Ulrich," Odd laughed.
"I'm only doing this because I don't want my wife to be a murder... and I don't want her to kick you butt in front of your son." Ulrich smirked on the last line.
"oh I don't mind," Jason chimed in.
"Jason!" Sam growled. Jason shrugged. Yumi was pouting with her arms crossed. Ulrich rested his forehead against hers.
"is it safe to put you down?" he asked.
"Is Odd going to stop acting like a 9-year-old?" she asked in the same tone.
"has he ever?" Ulrich asked, continuing the tone. Yumi sighed and Ulrich seen it as a sign that it was safe to put her down. Jason snickered.
"no," he answered quietly.
"JASON!" Sam yelled yet again. Jason just shrugged.
"yeah mom?" he laughed. Sam just shook her head. Both her boys, hopeless. It must be in the genes or something. Jason went to look and Nicole's reaction to the conversation, but she was asleep in his lap. Yumi and Odd, once again on the same side, started snickering at the teens.
"I'll take her upstairs," Jason said picking up the exhausted girl. Odd almost fell off the chair.
"don't get any ideas Jas!" Odd yelled up after him. Sam smacked him in the back of the head.
"leave them alone would you?" she barked.
"We have to go," Jeremy said helping Aelita to her feet.
"see you guys tomorrow," Yumi waved. Ulrich nodded and the two left.
"us too," Sam said dragging Odd behind her.
"send Jas home when he's done tucking in sleeping beauty, kay?" she laughed over her shoulder. Yumi bust out laughing again. Ulrich gave her a 'we-need-to-talk' look.
Later That Night
Yumi was sitting up in bed, amused by Ulrich who was pacing the floor with his arms behind his back. Yumi let a giggle escape her lips.
"what's the big deal?" she asked. Ulrich stopped and stared at her.
"she's 14!"
"And? You were 14 once," Yumi said. Ulrich threw his hands up.
"exactly! So I know what goes threw a 14-year-olds mind when he sees someone like Nicole!" Yumi almost fell over laughing.
"It's Jason. We've known Jason his whole life. He's your best friends son."
"Beside the point! What if they end up like, like us!" Ulrich shot at her.
"Uh.. Happily married?" Yumi asked.
"Yes! ..well, no but.. You're missing the point!" Ulrich yelled aggravated.
"Now you sound like my dad," Yumi sighed. Ulrich growled and sat down on the end of the bed, back towards Yumi. She crawled forward wrapping her arms around his neck. Her hair fell against his cheek and he sighed.
"she's not so little anymore," Yumi whispered with a bit of sadness present in her voice. Ulrich nodded slowly.
"what do we do?" he asked. Yumi laughed.
"we don't do anything. Besides, it's Jason. Remember the time Nikki decided it was a good idea to get up on the roof and then the window got jammed? Jason got up on a latter and convinced her to come down." she said moving herself to sit next to him.
"so?" he asked.
"Jason is scared to death of heights," Yumi pointed out. Ulrich sighed again.
"you're right. At least it's not some guy…" he didn't finish his sentence and Yumi laughed.
"like you?" she asked.
"hey!" he protested, turning towards her and pulling her down onto the bed with him. She laughed.
"you said it not me," she defended. He then proceeded to tickle her until she couldn't breathe.
"Stop! Stop! I give up!" Yumi gasped, red faced. Ulrich grinned at her and laughed a little.
"maybe you're right," he sighed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and yawned. He smiled and kissed her.
"I'm always right," she whispered before allowing sleep to take over. Ulrich reached over and turned off the lamp.
"yeah right."
Tada. You know you love the fluff. Thanks for reading!
Vic92091: first review of the chappie! Thanks for reading. I wouldn't kill Nicole. She's my favorite. Lol.
Lyoko's Princess: That's a great idea! Lol. You're my new beta so FFHD should be reduced by a bit.
Yumi Stern: I know. I know. Bad Rena, bad. :hits hand: thanks for reading.
Top20fan13: thanks so much!
American-Kitty: I have a bunch left. Like 5 or 6. Thanks for reading!
AngelBolt: hehe. Sorry. I just had to make it a cliffy.
PrincessYumi44: hehe. I get it I get it. Really I do. Don't hit me! Lol. Thanks, you're review made my day.