Hey, I own nothing.
I guess I had slipped into sleep, because the next thing I knew, Kim and Ron were there, standing over me. "Tim?" Kim whispered, kneeling down beside me and holding my hand in hers. I almost jumped from the heat. She was so warm!
Kim nodded to Ron, and he scooped me up. For a string-bean guy, Ron was pretty strong. I nestled my head on his shoulder, too tired to think about the fact that I couldn't move or Rival or Jim.
Jim.
"K-Kim." I called out weakly. Even that small cry was enough to stop Kim in her tracks.
"What, Tim?" she asked hurriedly. I could see her casting dark looks over her shoulder. This will have to be quick.
"Jim." I managed to croak. I suddenly felt tired. So tired. I curled up again on Ron's arms, feeling nothing.
"KP, we have to stop. He's dead weight." Ron set me down next to a pillar. He draped his sweatshirt over me and ruffled my hair-like an older brother. Next, he set Rufus down next to me. "You protect him, 'kay, Rufus?"
Rufus nodded vigorously, scrambling up onto my shoulder. I barely felt him, I hugged the sweatshirt tight around me and drifted back into sleep. The last thing I heard was the pounding of Kim and Ron's shoes as they went further and further away.
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
I didn't want to leave Tim there, not like that, but what choices did I have? I needed Ron, and Tim would have become a liability.
Great, I'm thinking of my brother as a liability.
Focus. I told myself. I needed to find Jim. Now. Who knew what Rival would do to him? I remembered the brief description of Rival that Wade had given me on the ride here. He was a small-time crook that had decided to steal the Crown Jewels. I had arrested him three years ago, and know he wanted revenge.
With my brothers.
Raw anger flowed through me. I had seen Tim; he will probably have permanent nerve damage in his fingers and toes from the frostbite he undoubtedly got in that freezer. Jim wasn't likely to be in any better condition.
Then I heard the laugh. A low, soft hiss that turned into a full-out roar. "Tsk, tsk, Kim. You didn't think I'm that easy, did you? I've gotten better over the years."
"Show yourself, Rival!" I demanded, but almost before the words were out of my mouth, I saw Ron fall to my left. "Ron!" I screamed.
Then I fell, too.
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