It was a quiet drive. Bearmon only looked to the floor of the car. Madi spaced out, thinking as she drove. They weren't far from home, but the trip seemed to stretch on, the air being very thick with angst. After the battle, Bearmon had just got into the car and slumped down while Madi and the others exchanged information. He didn't even say bye to Renamon.
"Are you mad at me?" Bearmon finally asks quietly, looking up at Madi.
She's quiet for several moments, squinting as she watches the road, thinking of how to answer. She finally says, "I don't know what I am."
Bearmon looks at the floor again. "I was only trying to protect you."
Madi answers back immediately, "That's not your job."
"My job?" Bearmon asks, "My job!? I'm your partner, not your employee." He shoots back.
She pulls over, putting her hands to her temples. "Is that what this is about?" She asks, not waiting for an answer. "You think someone is supposed to be in charge?" She starts to raise her voice.
"No, but I'm not here to be ordered around by you either!" He shoots back, raising his voice.
Madi's eyes go wide. "Excuse me?" She is speechless at the accusation. She can't believe he would think that of her.
Bearmon doesn't let back, "I'm your partner, I'm supposed to protect you, especially now!"
Madi's face, eyes still wide, twists into confusion and then realization. "I am NOT some damsel in distress now!" She turns the car off, flinging her seatbelt off, not bothering to grab the key.
"Where are you going?" He asks, unbuckling his.
She steps out, "Away from you!" She slams the door, walking away.
Bearmon follows her, "What, can't handle being called out?" He calls out after her.
"No, can't handle your sudden pigheadedness!" She sneers. "In what reality do I need your protection?" She continues, not letting him answer, "You're not supposed to protect me, you're supposed to have my back and I don't order your around!" She points her finger at him,"I thought we had the same goal, to help people. Like we always do!" She turns her back on him, breathing heavily.
The two just stand there, like statues for the next few moments.
Bearmon is the one to break the silence again. "I can't just do something that will leave you open to getting hurt." No longer yelling.
"You're not supposed to." She answers. "You're supposed to trust I know what I'm doing." She brings her hands to her face, wiping her cheeks before turning back to Bearmon. "Everything we've been through together, and you think that because I'm different now, I'm suddenly incapable?" She asks, defensively.
He doesn't answer. He can't, he doesn't know what to say. She's right. He's been treating her different, afraid she'll get taken from him again.
"Bearmon." She says, softer now, taking a few steps toward him, "You know me better than anyone else. My strength doesn't just come from me. It comes from everyone I love. I'm able to be who I am, because people believe in me. That's includes you too."
The digimon's eyes start to tear up now, "But I don't want to lose you." He says, finally. "It was hard enough when I went back to the Digital World. But at least I knew you were out there. If you get taken, I can't know that. They might kill you."
"They won't," She answers, "as long as you fight alongside me, instead of for me. When we're together, we can't lose."
Bearmon opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. She's right.
The sky, several shades darker than it was a few moments ago, let's out a roar of thunder. Dark clouds moving in, quickly. The wind picks up, like something out of a movie.
The two silently head back to the car, but are suddenly thrown back by a shockwave before them.
Two dark figures stand above them as they land, rolling to a stop.
"Take her." One says, grabbing Madi as she's trying to gain her senses.
Another goes after Bearmon, slamming a fist down at him. He manages to roll out of the way, being knocked away by the shockwave.
"Bearmon,help!" Madi yells, unable to break free from, whatever this thing was.
Bearmon tears forward, trying to get past the obsidian like foes before him. A hand reaches forward, narrowly missing the bear digimon. He hits the ground, running to his friend. "Madi, no!" He jumps to her, holding out a hand to grab hers.
In a brilliant flash of light, everyone is thrown to the ground, their attackers included. Bearmon shakes his head, trying to gain his senses. He can't see anything, but he's surround by something. Leaves?
As his vision clears, he finds himself surrounded by dead corn stalks. He was knocked into a field. He stumbles forward, groggily pushing on. He has to get to Madi, this is what he feared, what he was trying to prevent. They'd have never stopped if he hadn't said what he had.
He finally finds his way out, finding the car, charred earth, and nothing else. "Madi!" He yells, listening for her, the rain starting to come down. As he stumbles forward, he finds her necklace, a heart shaped locket. He clasps it in his hand. "Madi!" He yells louder, more desperate. After tirelessly searching, he returns to the car, drenched. He crawls inside, not sure what to do as he collapses into the seat. He places the necklace in the cup holder, spotting her phone as he does.
Bearmon takes the phone from the dash board, lifting it from the holder. He taps the screen, entering in the pass code. He looks through the phone book, looking for the newest contacts, finding Rika's number. After tapping it, he holds it to his ear. It rings a couple times before picking up. A voice greets him at the other end.
"I need your help. They took Madi!" He says, urgently.