I hate this chapter with a passion, but it's the only way I could come up with it. Fights can be so damn hard to write (for me anyway). I almost cut the scene out all together. But the chapter would have been about a paragraph long. I really don't need to be shot for that. So please forgive the suckiness. You will be rewarded with shirtless guys and crunch stixx.

Lyrics: "Cold"–Crossfade

Ch 18: Make Damn Sure

"How the hell did you escape?" a familiar voice asked as I materialized in Qain's living room. I turned around and found myself face to face with Jesse. Well, his body anyway.

Wow, that sounds so wrong.

Now really isn't the time to be perverted, Simon.

Before I could even open my mouth to respond, Jesse and Hector emerged beside me, both looking livid. Took them long enough.

May I take this moment to say how confusing it is to see three Jesse's? I love the guy, and can't get enough of him, but this...this was too much. Even for me.

"Dammit!" Qain swore loudly at the sight of the other two. "This wasn't suppose to happen! How did this happen?"

Looking back at me I see that I never really got it right
I never stopped to think of you
I'm always wrapped up in things I cannot win
You are the antidote that gets me by
Something strong like a drug that gets me high

Qain sneered at Hector as someone behind him groaned hoarsely.

"Qain, what's going on?"

Oh shit. That's me. Well, my body. Damn I sound bad. At least I'm not dead.

Yet. What to be positive, Suze.

Qain turned around and pushed Saben back down on the couch as she tried to sit up.

"The incantation," Jesse came up and whispered in my ear. "Start the exorcism."

Jesse glided in front of me, obscuring me from the view of others. Carefully, I pulled the incantation from my pocket.

"Hello, Susannah," Hector prowled over to where my body lay. I heard Saben gasp harshly, and I began mumbling the Egyptian translation (as best as I could.)

"What is she doing?" Qain asked, causing me to glance up. One hand was on Hector's shoulder, the other pointing a finger at me.

"Nothing," Jesse replied casually as he continued to block me.

"She's—son of a bitch!" Qain lunched at me, but Jesse caught him around the waist and hurled him to the floor.

"Hurry, Susannah!" Jesse grunted as Qain thrust a knee at his abdomen. Saben attempted to jump up and rescue Qain, but only managed to fall off the couch and scream. Hector flipped her onto her back and straddled her. She was too weak to fight back–maybe she didn't want to.

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
Never meant to be so cold

Suddenly my legs were kicked out from underneath me and I landed on my back with a thud. The hex fluttered from my hands, landing on the floor a few feet away.

"Stupid bitch," Qain straddled my waist and pulled his arm back. I closed my eyes tightly in anticipation of the blow I was about to receive. But it never came. In fact, Qain's weight shifted off of me roughly–Hector tackled him to the floor and was trying to pin him down.

"Susannah," he bellowed back at me as Qain tried to flip him over. Shaken from my daze I pounced at the exorcism and finished the last bit of it.

"Evict the souls of Hathor followers. The name of Amin-Ra commands–release the bodies they possess," I yelled above the ruckus. As if struck, both bodies seized forward, then collapsed. The souls emerged effortlessly, leaving the bodies behind, unconscious in their wake.

Saben grinned at me maliciously. "You're mine now."

Rather than cower away in fear, I dropped the exorcism and took a step towards her. Qain and Hector circled each other, waiting for an opportune moment to strike. Hector's hair was disheveled while Qain's nose was oozing blood. Jesse, too, was close by, waiting to attack, and looking rough.

"If you want me. Come and get me," I offered up coyly. Saben cocked her head to the side, amused, then dematerialized. Confused, I looked around for her.

Bad idea.

An arm snaked around my throat, pulling me backwards. I threw my weight back, causing Saben to lose her balance and fall. Skillfully (not) I landed on Saben's chest, knocking the wind out of her. I rolled off her and scrambled back to my feet before she could recover.

"You can't win," Saben laughed darkly as she twisted on the floor. I feigned hurt at her as I aimed a kick at her ribs.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you to have faith in yourself?"

Saben barely flinched as my foot connected with her side. Her hand shot out and clutched my ankle, then twisted it to a painful angle. I dropped to my free knee and tried to un-contort myself when something solid rammed into my head. Saben, using her mind, levitated the coffee table and slammed it against my skull again.

"Mother fu– " I grabbed my head and cursed. So, she wants it rough, does she? Well, two can play this game.

I concentrated on the television across the room with all my might. Slowly it rose from its resting place. Saben, who wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings, obviously, cackled at me again as she stood up.

"You get a B for effort. Your skills, however, leave something to be desired."

The tv smashed into her, shattering the screen into a million pieces. Saben collapsed to the floor, with some of the tv remains on her back.

And I'm sorry about all the lies
Maybe in a different light
You could see me stand on my own again
Cause now I can see
You were the antidote that got me by
Something strong like a drug that got me high

I glanced over at Qain. Hector was punching him any and everywhere he could. Jesse helped hold him down, watching as his double viciously vented his pent up rage. The dagger lay on the carpet next to Hector, begging to be used. I scrambled over the debris as fast as I could, and snatched the dagger from the floor. Saben stirred behind me, starting to regain her strength. I had to get ot her while she was still weak...

"You bitch," she hissed and threw the television off herself. Grasping the dagger firmly I dematerialized across the room. Saben looked only slightly shocked when I appeared beside her, then threw myself at her. My weight crushed her against the floor as I grabbed a handful of her thick hair. I pulled back her head, exposing her neck, and placed the blade right above her skin, mindful not to touch it yet.

"Why did you do this? Why are you hurting him?"

"Who?" she growled up at me, her eyes burning into mine fiercely.

"Hector." Saben let out a shrill laugh that sent a chill up my spine.

"Qain is more of a man than Hector will ever be." I yanked her head back further.

"Qain is a liar, a user, and a bastard. Not a man."

"Says you. You haven't fucked him, or you'd agree."

I rolled my eyes. God, she truly is pathetic. "Yeah, I'm not into screwing guys old enough to be my dad. Sorry."

Saben shook beneath me as laughter continued to escape her bloody lips.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're the same age," she chided bitterly. My smirk widened too and I jerked her head in the direction of her beloved, so she could see him.

"You don't honestly think a 17 year old could manipulate a disease, did you?"

Saben quit laughing and stared back at me, disbelievingly.

"By now, you should realized that 17 year old boys are only good at manipulating one thing," I lowered myself and whispered in her ear. "Miserable whores, like you."

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
Never meant to be so cold
I never meant to be so cold

Okay. I was being harsh, I know. But I am pissed. And in life, you're either the pisser or one getting pissed on. And I refuse to be the latter.

"No," Saben shook her head as hard as she could. "He...no!"

"Charles, meet Susannah. Susannah meet Charles," I said loud enough for both to hear. Qain's head snapped in our direction, and he gawked at us through a stratum of blood.

"Oh God," Saben choked back a sob beneath me.

"Don't listen to her, Susannah! You mustn't believe them!"

But she was, I could tell.

"Kill me," she turned back and whispered to me. "Please. I can't take this."

I glared down at her and moved the dagger so it hovered above where her heart would be.

"You know," I whispered at her hostilely. "I finally get the hint from my nightmare. Solamente. You claimed to be the only one, but you weren't. Not yet. That was your unintentional way of saying you were going to kill me, wasn't it?"

"Please," tears tainted her cheeks. "I'm begging you. Kill me!"

Anger coursed through me as I watched her cry in shame. "You're already dead."

I thrust the dagger downward and watched it pierce her ghostly flesh. She gaped at me for a split second, then disappeared into the silver blade. The eyes of the serpent shimmered more than before, almost as if alive.

"Susannah!" Hector shouted. I automatically looked back at them, the dagger still in my grasp. Jesse ducked a mirror that flew towards him as he held Qain to the floor. I dematerialized to where they were and handed Hector the dagger. From the looks of it, Qain put up a hell of a fight. Jesse and Hector, though healing, were cut and bloody.

"For mi querida," Hector sneered at Qain and stabbed him in the stomach. Like Saben, Qain

froze momentarily before vanishing from sight. The ruby snake eyes were shined brighter than ever.

I never really wanted you to see
the screwed up side of me that I keep
Locked inside of me so deep
It always seems to get to me
I never really wanted you to go
So many things you should have known
I guess for me there's just no hope
I never meant to be so cold

Jesse pushed himself to his feet then slowly approached me.

"Querida, are you alright?" he asked as he worked his way around the mass of rubble the fight had produced.

"Querida?"

Glass, porcelain, cushion stuffing, dust, wood, plaster..blood–everywhere. Covering the floor, the walls, the ceiling...

"Susannah?" Jesse placed a large hand on ym shoulder as he studied me, worriedly. Shaken from my musing, I stared back. That is, until I came to my senses and threw my arms around him, burying my face in his strong chest. His arms gently comforted me, his hands occasionally stroking my hair.

"Nombre Di Dios," a strangled voice came from beside us. I reluctantly pulled away from Jesse, and watched Hector.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said flatly, sounding anything but contrite. "But we really should get you two back in your bodies. There will be plenty of time for that–" he motioned at our embrace. "–later."

"Right," Jesse cleared his throat, seeming slightly embarrassed. "What do we do?"

Hector snorted and rolled his eyes. I think I'm rubbing off on him. "Touch yourself."

Despite all we had been through, I couldn't help the laughter that escaped my control. Both men stared at me as I gripped the sofa remains next to me for support. Hector must have read my mind since he groaned and reiterated as my giggling began to die down.

"Dios, Susannah! Touch your body!"

That only spurred the laughter back to life. I know, this is a serious situation. Most people would be in shock.. But come on. How could Hector say that and keep a straight face? And how could Jesse not get it? Note to self: Update Jesse's lingo. I've said it once, I'm saying it again.

Hector rolled his eyes once more and grabbed my arm. "Alright, alright," I choked out and walked to where my body was. Jesse had a cushion and a cup on his body, which he chucked across the room. I kicked table shards away from my leg and removed a piece of glass from my stomach. Luckily, it was lying on my shirt, and didn't puncture the skin. Like I didn't already have enough problems to deal with.

"I'll go get Padre," Hector sighed and dematerialized. I peeked over at Jesse as he grabbed his body and was sucked into it. Other than he rise and fall of his chest, he wasn't moving. At least there was that much.

I took a deep breath I reached out and touched the pale skin on my arm. Sudden darkness engulfed me. After a few moments I could feel someone shaking me as they called my name. But I couldn't see them, my eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

"Susannah, don't. Don't die on me. Querida, I love you. Please."

I tried to reply but the pain rushing through me kept me immobile. It was too great. I gave in.

Now the sounds around me were muffled. I could no longer hear Jesse's beautiful voice.

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
Never meant to be so cold

--

"Alert the ICU; we have a trauma one with possible hemorrhaging."

"Sir, her bp is 180/120."

"She's in pain. Start her on morphine, IV drip."

"Heart rate 154 and climbing."

"She's pre-tac arrest. Let's go people!"

The voices around me dissipated as quickly as they'd returned. I'd faded in and out of consciousness a few times before the paramedics arrived. Jesse was okay–the plan had worked.

As the lighter voices faded once more, a deeper one replaced them.

"You shouldn't be here," Adias's voice echoed in the dark. The dark that was gradually becoming foggy and littered with stars.

Ah damn.

"I know, I don't have the dagger. But I–"

"No. That isn't what I mean."

"Oh." I frowned.

Adias spoke in a tone I'd never heard him use before. Almost...gentle. "It's not your time to die, Susannah."

I looked around the familiar hallway, lost. One wall was completely gone, consumed by darkness.

"And yet, you remain..." his tone was filled with wonder. Like I knew why I was here...dead. I mean, its not like I planned for this to happen. But since I was in the neighborhood...

"Yeah...I need a favor from you."

Adias cocked an eyebrow at me. What? No demeaning remark?

"Hector–he's been through so much, and I was hoping, maybe..."

I think I've seen that one Jet Li movie too many times. Sigh.

"Don't worry. He will be adequately rewarded for all he has done"

I smiled genuinely. "Thanks. I really app–"

"Go," he pointed to the eerie shadow. I cautiously walked from the fog, back into black. Confused, I looked to Adias for more instructions, but he was gone, along with the fog.

"Clear!" I heard a stern voice say, then felt a jolt to my chest. Cool fingers lightly pushed on my neck.

"Still no pulse."

"Charge to 250."

Beep.

"Wait."

Beep. Beep.

The soft prodding on my throat resumed.

"She has a pulse. It's weak, but growing stronger."

Sudden warm hands clasped mine and stroked the pale skin. I could feel warm breath against my cheek, and a tear as it fell onto me.

"Never scare me like that again," a soothing male voice whispered. "I thought I almost lost you."

I opened my eyes and stared up at Jesse. He moved the oxygen mask that was covering my face a bit.

"You almost did," I replied softly, and moved to stroke his tear stained cheeks. Jesse turned his head and kissed my palm, his facial hair making my hand tingle. Though woozy, I managed to give him a small smile.

"I lurv you," my words slurred and my eyes drooped. Jesse chuckled lightly.

"I love you too, Querida."

"Jesse?" I tried to hold my eyes open but failed.

"Hmm?"

"I don't want to sleep."

Jesse's hold on my hands tightened slightly. "Don't worry, Susannah. I won't let anything hurt you. I promise."

I nodded my head. " 'Kay."

Before drifting off to sleep, I felt Jesse kiss my forehead. He rested his head next to me on the hospital bed, and hummed a quiet lullaby. A lullaby that continued into my peaceful, well missed, dreams.

I already have a few written pages finished for chapter 19. So...there should only be two more chapters to go.

Bp: blood pressure

pre-tac arrest: tachycardia is usually a precursor to going into cardiac arrest