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Johnny wouldn't let the paramedics come anywhere near him, looking at them with a caged, primal expression. He looked up at Ben, begging him with his eyes to make the chest-racking coughs stop. He knew that Ben would help him.

Ben tore one of the oxygen tanks away from one of the harried paramedics. He knelt down beside his friend, putting the mask over his face. He smoothed back the young man's hair, watching as tears, the body's automatic fire-prevention system, dropped down his cheeks. Eventually the coughs stopped and Johnny's exhausted body became limp and still.

Lifting him up as gently as he could, Ben brought Johnny back to Reed and Susan, who were waiting just outside the range of the rubble. Reed hadn't let Susan go any further; for fear that she might become hysterical. "Let's go home." Ben's gravely voice was low and menacing. He was beating himself up for allowing Johnny to come in the first place.

Back at the lab, Reed placed an unconscious Johnny on the metal table where he had lain far too often in the past weeks. He frowned as he read the scale that showed to one side of the bed.

"He's too light. But we'll worry about that later." Reed gently pulled away the torn remains of Johnny's suit, frowning at the bruises and cuts. He felt the young man's arms and legs for fractures, furrowing his brow when he found a couple.

Ben stood to one side, having taken over the job of comforting Susan, who was naturally upset at seeing her brother in such a horrible state. He looked Susan over, and then looked over at his partner.

Both had cuts and bruises all over their bodies. Their eyes were sunken and dull. Trying to save Johnny was taking their toll.

Finally, finally, Johnny opened his eyes, wincing from the pain that seemed to encase him. He had become used to pain, to a point where only the worst imaginable would make him really "lose it". He looked over at Ben and gave him a smile. Johnny remembered who had pulled him out of the rubble.

Ben smiled back, laying one of his huge hands on Johnny's shoulder, careful not to put to much pressure on it.

Reed asked Johnny a few questions, trying to sooth him as he moved his fractured wrist to a position where he could try to heal it. Johnny bit his lip, determined not to cry out and hoping that he wouldn't cough.

Susan, getting more control, left the lab. She went into the kitchen and started making a cake. Just doing something with her hands made her feel so much better. She knew that "her boys" would take good care of Johnny.

The next day, a letter was delivered to the Fantastic Four's residence. It was addressed to Mr. Torch using a blue crayon. Johnny, who was on the couch (again) opened it. Inside he found a card. On the outside was a burning building. He flipped it open.

Mr. Torch, (it read)

Thank you for saving me from the fire. I was really scared but you made it better. Then I was scared when you didn't come out. But your friend made you better. Thank you for getting me back to my mommy and daddy. I hope you're not hurt.

Avery Kline

Johnny smiled when he read it. The entire thing was written in red crayon. On the back was a picture of a person (at least, Johnny thought it was a person) hugging two bigger person-looking things. Johnny laughed, feeling the laugh sting his throat. He laughed long and loud, drawing the entire team around him.

He refused to say what he was laughing about.

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