Building up to the ending, guys, a few more chapters to go _

'Where is he...?'

Blossom rubbed her hands together as she kept looking into the distance. Several hours had passed since Brick had left with the greens. She'd been sitting on the beach, unable to move, too anxious to do anything else. Different scenarios played into her head, all of them ending with her regretting that she left her sister alone with the two ruffs. She berated herself for putting her blind trust into him and kept wondering what she could have done instead.

'Buttercup, I'm so sorry....If this ends well, I'll make it up for you. If not...' her train of thought took a brutal halt. 'If not, what? What will you do..? ' a small voice dared to ask. Butch's crazed face appeared at the forefront of her thoughts, grinning sadistically. Antidote X kept popping in her mind.

'I'll kill him.''What about Brick..?' the small voice dared to ask again.

Something clawed at her chest as she remembered the redhead 's promise. She imagined him failing, coming back with Buttercup still stuck to her tormentor.

'I guess I'd have to kill him, too. Destroy them all.' She sank her hands into the nearby sand, trying to ignore the something that clawed at her heart.

It was almost evening already when she noticed someone sitting next to her, passing her a sandwich.

'You should eat something, you know.' the blue ruff nudged her.

'Don't worry, he's coming back. Relax a little.'

'I can't, I'm not hungry, sorry.' Blossom mumbled under her breath.

'More for me, I guess.' he took a big bite from it, and Blossom had to admit it looked delicious.

'I'm going back inside, wanna come with? It's kinda depressing out here alone.'

'I'm fine. Waiting for Brick.'

'Ok, I'm in the living room if you need anything. ' he gave her a quick pat on the shoulder, before making his way back into the brightly lit beach house.

More time passed, the waves crashing into the shore like a strange matra. Blossom felt her eyelids closing, she hadn't slept in almost 48 hours already. She thought she was dreaming as she noticed a wobbly figure walking on the beach, slowly making its way towards the house.

Blossom sprang to life as she realized it was Brick and flew closer to meet him.

He was a strange sight to behold, he seemed badly hurt, even though no wounds were visible. His face looked thinner and pale, like his life force had been sucked out of it. His gait was strange, like he had forgotten how to walk properly. Brick was barely holding his brother's body in his arms, who seemed as wounded as he'd looked when they left.

'Brick!' Blossom yelled, putting an arm around his weakened body.

'What happened??' she picked them both up, taking him into the house.

'I did it.. she's ok.' he weakly whispered.

'What did you do?? What happened?' she asked, laying them on the couch.

'Don't ask. She's back in Townsville... You can call and ask. We...have to leave soon. I don't want her to find us.'

In the cold light of the house he looked even worse. A thin web of purple veins covered his pale skin, and the bright red of his eyes had lost its sheen, Blossom had never seen anything like it.

'What did you do...?'

Brick gave her an annoyed, tired look. She realized she clearly wasn't going to get any answers now.

'Find Boomer, we're leaving.'

'I'm here.' Boomer's voice could be heard from the kitchen. 'Are you alright? How's Butch?'

'I'm fine... But we need to get the hell out of here.' Brick said, massaging his temples. 'Give her a phone, she should call her sister before we leave.'

Boomer went in another room and returned with yet another burner phone and passed it to the redhead. Blossom quickly picked her up, her hands shaking as she tapped in the number.

Her heart boomed as the phone rang once, then then twice, then someone eventually answered.

'Hello?' She recognised Bubbles' hesitant voice.

'Bubbles, thank God! Is Buttercup there?'

'Blossom?! What happened? Where are you?'

'There's no time. Is she there??' the desperation in Blossom's voice became more evident as the conversation continued.

'She's here, very hurt. The police found her just outside of Townsville. She's with the professor now. What happened??'

Blossom noticed Brick's searching gaze, he was clearly listening on the conversation, watching her every move.

'I can't talk right now. Please take care!' Blossom pleaded into the phone as she killed off the conversation, giving Boomer back the burner phone and watching it disintegrate into his hands.

'You've got proof that she's fine. We have to leave now.' Brick calmly told her as he picked himself up from the couch.

'Well, it was nice while it lasted.' Boomer sighed, picking up his bloody green brother who had begun moaning in annoyance.

'Where...am..' the green ruff croaked.

'Ah, good, you're awake.' Brick noticed, and gave his green brother a punch to his face, but it wasn't strong enough to actually make any damage. 'If you pull another stunt like this again I'm sticking you back into that fucking dungeon, Butch. You. will. rot. there. You hear me? You'll go insane and nobody's going to be there to give a shit.'

Hearing this Blossom noticed terror building up into the green boy's eyes.

'Do you understand, Butch? Am I making myself clear?'

'...yes...' Butch weakly answered, avoiding eye contact with Brick's steely gaze.

'Don't bother looking for the chains back there. I've hid them well this time.'

'And don't you EVER dare to follow me again!' he said menacingly, looking his brother straight in the eyes.

When Butch didn't answer, Brick pinned him down and choked him with his right hand.

'ANSWER ME!'

Blossom felt shivers down her spine as Brick's grip tightened around his brother's neck.

'...Yes...' the green ruff begrudgingly answered.

'Good.' Brick replied, squinting his eyes. 'Let's go.'

Boomer had gathered a small bag with his essential belongings, mostly his drug kit.

'Well, I'm ready. How about you guys?'

Brick nodded as he made his way towards the exit, dragging his green brother by the collar. Blossom cautiously followed, she felt a fresh wave of fear following Brick's interaction with Butch.

'... Dungeon...? could it be the dungeon where HIM kept them prisoners?'

Brick dashed into the night sky, and she followed suit. He seemed to gain back a bit of his strength as time passed, his flight seemed smoother and quicker. Blossom tried to study his face as they kept going, but it didn't reveal anything: he seemed exhausted and vaguely annoyed. Eventually Brick decided to stop in a snowy area, it looked like steep mountain top.

There was a blizzard going on, but Blossom could tell the contours of a cabin in the distance.

Brick advanced through the snow until he got to the wooden porch. He threw his brother's body near the door and forcefully opened it. They all entered the cabin, it was freezing, Blossom wondered why he'd chosen such an unpleaseant place. The room they'd entered was cramped, but at least Blossom noticed a fireplace close by and enough wood next to it to get it going. She decided she'd get a fire going, before anyone suggested it.

Brick sat on an old, worn couch beside the fireplace, Boomer brought in his green brother and sat down himself as Blossom busied herself with the fire.

'I don't think that's enough wood to last us though the night. We need to get some for the boiler as well, I need to take a shower. Boomer, can you get some more ?'

Boomer moaned in dissapproval for a moment before making his way out the cabin, leaving the two reds in front of the cackling fire. Blossom tried to busy herself with the fireplace, but couldn't ignore Brick's penetrating gaze dissecting her every move.

'I don't ever break my word.' Brick's gaze fixated on her face.

Blossom kept watching the fire, and eventually answered:

'Good.'

'You must know, I did it all for you. For all I care, they could have stayed chained forever. '

Blossom continued tending to the fire, avoiding his stare.

'Not even a 'thank you'? Brick raised his brow at her.

'This wasn't supposed to happen in the first place.' Blossom mumbled under her breath.

Brick sighed, and Blossom turned to face him. the veins on his face were less pronounced now, he looked healthier, less pale. A long pause followed before he answered:

'You're right. This wasn't supposed to happen. Butch is a wildcard and I should have supervised him better.'

Butch moaned something incomprehensible, and Brick dissmissed him with a flick of his hand.

'I...apologise your sister got involved in this.' Brick said softly, Blossom barely believing her ears.

'...apology accepted .' Blossom answered, a new softness in her voice.

Boomer loudly walked back into the cabin holding a huge pile of wood.

'Do you want me to get the boiler going, Brick? '

'Yeah, thanks,I'll help you.' Brick got off the couch and they both headed out of the main room, leaving Blossom alone with a limp Butch.

'...ey...' Butch moaned, trying to get her attention.

'What do you want, Butch?' Blossom asked, barely containing her anger.

'You...turned...Brick...into a pussy..bitch.'

'A pussy who's got you under his thumb, so I wouldn't worry about him if I were you. ' Blossom bit back, feeling a tingle of pleasure when she noticed his annoyance.

The room got warmer, and finally Blossom could see the appeal of this cabin. She sat herself comfortably on the bear hide next to the fireplace, still keeping an eye on Butch whose wounds were quickly mending. She hoped Buttercup's recovery would be similarly quick.

'She probably hates me now. Thinks I'm staying with them.'

She rubbed her hands together in an attempt to warm them up.

'The serum is done. I could leave now.'

She put a new log on the fire, and it got quickly engulfed by the flames.

'I could leave now. Buttercup's free. Even tonight.'

Her heart raced, the mere thought drove her I to a panic.

'Tonight?? But what about the chains? Brick could use them again if he wanted.'

'He doesn't have them with him. You could make sure he doesn't get them before we inject him. ' a small voice answered. 'He's weak tonight. It's the perfect moment. Do it.'

it added.

Her breathing quickened, she could picture the betrayal in Brick's eyes.

'I can't tonight. I'm not ready.'

'You'll never really be ready.' the voice answered.

Boomer came returned, holding a small bundle of clothes in his hands.

'Hey, found this nightgown around here. Thought you might use it.' he gave it to her.

'You should really go to bed, I can watch Butch. You haven't slept in forever.'

'Fine, thanks.' she grabbed the clothes. 'Where are the beds?'

'There's only one big bed, but I can sleep with Butch here, it's a sofa-bed.' he winked at her. He pointed towards the other corner of the room. 'There's a small hallway there: second door to the left there. Sleep tight.'

Blossom got to the dark hallway, the wooden planks creaking under her feet. As she walked towards the bedroom she noticed the first door on the left was ajar, light and a thin veil of steam were seeping into the hallway.

She stood outside the door for a moment, when she heard Brick's soft voice calling for her.

'Blossom.'

She froze, not daring to open the bathroom door, her hand stuck on the handle.

'Come here.' he said. 'Please. And close the door behind you.'

Blossom obliged and entered the bathroom. It was similarly wooden like the rest of the house, and in it's farthest corner there was a big tub, filled to the brim with hot water.

Inside it was Brick, his long hair undone and wet, his head resting on the edge of the white enamel tub. The fine purple veins had almost dissapeared and now were being replaced with thick dark circles under his eyes. She remained close to the door, unsure of what to do.

'Come closer.' Blossom approached him, and was now within arms' reach.

'Take off your clothes.' he flatly said, his eyes closed in relaxation. 'Please.' he added.

Blossom hesitated until she felt saw Brick's hand reach out of the water for hers. He began caressing it, drawing small circles with his thumb on her knuckles.

'Take them off.' he whispered softly, locking her gaze with his own.

She began slowly taking off her clothes, remaining in her underwear. The floor felt cold under her bare soles now.

'Underwear, too.'

She removed her bra and panties as well, and felt her chest burst with expectation as he studied her intently.

He reached out for her, quickly dragging her into the tub with him, making a big splash. The hot water enveloped her as Brick propped her on top of him, straddling his hips.

Brick grabbed the back of her neck with his hand and drew her closer for a kiss. Their lips connected, and Blossom felt his tongue quickly enter her parted lips. She reciprocated as Brick gently pulled at her hair, getting her closer.

Brick rested his hand on her hips as the kiss continued, firmly grabbing on her flesh.

'I heard you.' he said between kisses.

'I couldn't sleep as well as I wanted to. And I heard you.'

Blossom was confused and drunken with lust, she wasn't sure what he meant.

'I heard you say...' he kissed her neck. 'that you're in love with me.'

Blossom momentarily froze, then Brick continued:

'I want to believe it's true...but I don't think it is.' he grabbed her hands and kissed her wrists before pinning them behind her back. 'But I know we're getting there.' He kept her hands tied up as she sucked on one of her breasts, making Blossom moan softly.

'I...' Blossom began, struggling to come up with an answer.

'You don't have to say anything. You're falling for me, whether you like it or not.'

'He grabbed her lips once again, this time the kiss lasting longer, his tongue hungrily exploring her mouth, teeth biting at her lower lip. He broke it off first, leaving her lips red and slightly swollen.

Brick smirked when he noticed the darkened look in Blossom's eyes and swiftly got out of the bath, leaving her alone in the tub.

'You should take a bath as well, it's pretty relaxing and the water's warm. ' he chuckled as he covered himself with a towel, using another one to dry his long hair.

He closed the door, leaving a dazed and bothered Blossom behind him.

'Fuck.'