Time: ...late!

well, sorry it's been so long. I got wrapped up in school. What's knew? blah blah blah. Well, more filler story. Hope you guys like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron.


A couple of long days passed, giving me nothing to do. Libby and Carl came in every once in a while to sit with me and talk. Basically, we talked about nothing. Carl did give me an update of where he had moved to, what he had been studying before this mission and his hopes of going back to college after this was all over. I smiled at him softly, knowing the feeling. I was so very thankful that I was out of that torture hole, and I was ready to go back to my life.

Something felt funny inside my chest. Blinking and furrowing my eyebrows.

I didn't go to college. That's right. I worked for someone. The name of the person escaped my memory at the moment, but I'm sure I would remember sooner or later. How could I forget that I didn't go to college? Sharp pains were piercing my brain, and I reached up to rub my temples.

Carl looked at me strangely, and leaned forward in the chair he was sitting in. "You okay Cindy?" He asked carefully.

"What?" I asked, completely unaware that I had been rubbing my head. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. I just got these sharp pains all of a sudden it's nothing."

He started to get up. "Are you sure? Because I could tell Jimmy and he can get some medicine for you. All you have to do is tell him. He is in charge of all the medications after all. It's locked up in his lab, where people can't touch it."

Jimmy. Carl and Libby hadn't mentioned him in the past couple of days. It was almost like he had disappeared. My heart fluttered slightly at the memory of his warm blue eyes. Shaking the image from my head, I turned to Carl, wincing a little.

"No, that's okay Carl. I'm okay. I just think I'm tired is all. I tried remembering something and suddenly felt woozy." I laughed a little at this. It sounded completely idiotic when said out loud.

I watched as Carl's face grew pale. I wasn't entirely sure that it did, but it sure seemed like it.

"R-Remembering?" He stammered, and leaned forwards carefully, "Remembering what exactly?"

Why would he want to know? "Ummm," I said carefully, leaning slightly away from him, "Who I worked for. I remember that I've never been to college, but I can seem to remember the reason."

Sitting back and sighing heavily, he crossed his arm, and stared at the ceiling.

Minutes ticked past, and he remained silent. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke, but continued to look at the ceiling.

"Tell me Cindy, what are the things you cherish most right now?"

Without thinking, I blurted, "That's easy…"

He looked at me with curiosity now. Shutting my mouth, I realized that I thought I knew what I cherished most, but now…. I couldn't remember.

"W-Well," I mumbled, "My parents first o-of all, and…..and.." I paused again. What else? There wasn't much I cherished in this world. Most of it was stripped when I was captured. "Probably you guys," I finished up, looking at him happily, satisfied at my choices.

And just when I didn't think he could get any paler…he did. He looked as if he had just seen a ghost. Great, what did I say?

"A-anything else?" He said nervously, almost as if he didn't want to hear the outcome.

I looked down at my bed, and my pajamas that Libby had given me. Clasping and unclasping my hands, thinking silently to myself.

"There is one other thing," I said and then paused.

There was silence.

"Yes?" Carl asked, almost eager to hear it.

"I-I don't know," I whispered, my eyes flickering all over my bed, "I know there's something else I should be cherishing, but…. but I just can't remember it." Again, the pain struck my brain from behind my eyelids. I winced and rubbed my head again.

"It's okay Cindy," He said soothingly, and patted my shoulder. There was defeat in his voice as he finished his sentence, "It'll come to you sooner or later." The way he said it was almost as if predicted wasn't going to ever remember.

I looked at him strangely. "Ummm. Okay then?"

He was rubbing his chin, looking at the floor. "Well Cindy," he said suddenly, "I should probably let you get some more sleep. So I will leave you alone now."

On the contrary, I didn't need any more sleep. I had been sleeping nonstop for the entire time since I was rescued. But since Carl was being so nice, I decided to not mention that I was lonely and just wanted someone to talk to.

He smiled genuinely and got up, walking to the door. Before he left he turned around once more and looked at me, as if remembering something important.

"Oh, one more thing," he said quickly, "On a scale of one to ten, how much to you value yourself?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Excuse me?" I sputtered.

His eyes widened, "I didn't mean anything like that! Yeesh, Cindy." He ran his hand through his hair, and the gesture was very familiar-like. Where had I seen that before?

I could see the gears in his head working as he tried to find words to say.

"I mean," he started over, "You cherish other people more than yourself right? How much more?"

Looking down at my hands, I thought for a moment. Now that he mentions it, I didn't cherish myself all that much. I basically though of other people before me.

"I guess…" I paused, "I don't consider myself very high on the scale. Maybe a one or two."

He nodded, relief washing over his face and walked out the door.


Roughly ten minutes later, I heard loud footsteps stomp quickly down the hallway outside my door. Pulling my bored eyes from the ceiling, I looked eagerly at the open door, hoping it was Libby. I wanted something to do, but she argued that she had orders from the captain to make me rest for at least two more days.

So, in the meantime I was playing the good little girl and sitting tight. Maybe she was coming to tell me I could move now.

Excitement rose in my chest and I eagerly awaited her figure to pop through the door.

But it wasn't her that came crashing though the metal frame. It was the tall, dark haired, blue eyed man named Jimmy.

He was breathing heavily from running, and slumped against the doorway, a small pouch held in his left hand.

Seeing as he had made an entrance, his eyes lit up and he attempted to smile. "H-Hey," he stumbled and then stood up straight, clearing his throat.

"Um, I'm sorry to intrude, but … I was talking to Carl, and…" he took a few steps in and looked at the IV drip that was still connected to me.

"I don't think you need that anymore," He walked around to the other side of my bed and started taking it down, "You are starting to look better."

Once the IV was out of me, I sighed happily and moved my arm around. Sweet freedom. "Thanks," I said shyly. Hmmm… When was the last time I was shy around someone? That's weird.

He seemed to think this too, because he stopped what he was doing and looked at me carefully.

"What did you say?" He asked, his wide eyes locking with mine.

Looking at him strangely, and completely enchanted by his bright blue eyes, I asked, "What do you mean?"

Fidgeting momentarily, he answered, picking his words carefully. "W-Well Vortex. I've only heard you give a genuine sign of gratitude a handful of times in my life. Usually you are harsh and constrictive…" He stopped, looking at his hand that held my IV stuff. "Never mind," he muttered.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I became frustrated.

"That's twice now you have told me to forget something, when all I do is forget." I saw his eyes flash momentarily and he regained composure. I continued, feeling anger take over quickly. I always did have a quick temper, anyone who knows me even a few minutes could tell you that.

"And you keep referring to me as if you have known me all my life! But I have absolutely no idea who you are; I've never seen you before in my life. Sorry buddy, but if you keep mistaking me for someone, you and I are going to have a serious problem."

Blood beginning to boil, I glared at him, waiting for his comeback.

I saw his jaw twitch and a small corner of his mouth pulled up for a split second. His eyes were blazing with cold ice piercing blue.

"I. Apologize." He said through a gritted smile, each word forced out, "Like I said, never mind what I say. You don't usually listen to people anyways."

I could feel my temperature rising. "Excuse me? Did you not just hear every little bit of detail I just said? I thought you were some sort of scientist. Shouldn't you be smart?" Feeling a bit confident now, I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly.

That seemed to hit home to him. His eyebrows went down, and I could see his anger rising. "Vortex," he said, his voice strained, "You were always one to get on my nerves. So stubborn and irritating!" I watched as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.

I pointed my finger at him, "There you go again! You called me by a familiar name, even though I don't know you! Whatever crap you are trying to pull, you need to stop."

Breathing a heavy breath, he grabbed my hand and put it down on the bedside. Holding it with one hand, he reached into the pouch he had brought in and pulled out a needle, with a small vile attached to it.

Panicking, I pulled at my hand, but he was stronger than me and kept my hand firmly pressed against the bedside.

"What are you doing?" I all but yelled at him, my temper still flaring, "Let me go!"

I struggled against his grip and he glared at me even more. "Stay still Vortex. I need a blood sample!"

Okay, that did it. "No way psycho! Get away from me! I'm not letting you take any blood!" Struggling, I used my other hand to try and pry his off. He dropped the needle on the bed and grabbed my other arm.

"I need it! If you don't allow me to take some, your future will be ruined! Your life may even depend on it!" He was angrily biting words in my direction, his face getting dangerously more and more closely to mine.

"Shut up!" I yelled, my voice rising a pitch, "What do you know about my future? What do you even know about my past! You know no-." My voice stopped and I felt heat rising through my hands. I instantly stopped struggling and looked down to see why my hands were so uncomfortably warm; like I was sticking them under really warm water.

Jimmy looked down too, and his eyes went wide.

Starting at the tips of my fingers, there was a bluish flame. My breath caught in my throat, I watched in horror as the flame grew and licked across my entire hand, bursting in size and heat.

Jimmy's hands released me and he took a step back.

"Dammit Vortex! Put them out! Separate the air from the spark!"

I just kept staring at my hands in horror. "W-what's going on?" I heard myself squeak, but felt too scared to say anything else. I was afraid that if my voice got loud again, the flame would get bigger.

"Seriously Cindy, you need to knock it off right now. That's no way to act when you don't get your way." His tone was a fatherly, stern chewing out sort of tone. It make me feel weak.

I waved my hands back and forth, trying to get the flame off of my hands. I hit them hard on the bed, my panicked voice yelling, "What's going on? Why are my hands on fire! Help me!"

I reached out towards Jimmy, "What's going on?"

He backed up, "Woah there Vortex! Calm down. Focus your energy on your fingers."

"Focus my what on what!" I screamed, "My hands are on fire!"

He hastily reached into his pouch where he had gotten he needle from and pulled out two small horseshoe looking things. He put one each on my wrist, careful not to touch my warm, burning hand. At a click of a button on his watch, which I had just noticed he was wearing, the metal bands, pulled my arms up on either side of my head, sticking to the back of the bed and left me helpless.

"What are you-?" I started to ask, but he held up a finger and calmly looked at my hands, leaning in and covering my right hand with his. He closed his eyes, breathing in a deep breath and then out slowly. I was watching his face, his handsome face too much that I didn't even realize what he was doing until he opened his eyes and looked at my face directly.

Glancing my eyes up to where my hand lay, I found it perfectly fine. No fire. Nothing. Just my right hand.

He reached across my body, his chest close to my face, and wrapped his hand over my left hand. As he pulled away I caught a breeze of his scent. Inhaling deeply, I felt suddenly dizzy. How delicious he smelled.

He looked at me carefully.

"You mind telling me what that was?" I asked angrily, my hands still hanging on the wall on either side of my head. He took in a sharp breath, titled his head to the ceiling and rubbed his hands through his hair, frustrated with all my questions.

Finally, when he spoke, he was quiet and reserved, unlike the anger he had shown minutes ago. "You've forgotten about your powers."

Powers? Forgotten? What in the world is going on?