Well here it is, chapter 6. I had to get this out of the way before we can jump back into Wanda's mind. So just bare a little more of Ian's catatonic state. 'This too shall pass.'

DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me they belong to Stephanie Meyer's author of the wonderful book 'The Host'

Chapter 6: Allied

I picked at my roll. I wasn't even listening to Jamie as he talked about how he got in trouble in class and I didn't hit Jared when he approved of his conniving efforts.

"Mel? Are you ok Mel?" Jamie asked grabbing my hand.

I looked up, "Oh sure Jamie. Sure I'm fine." I was lying.

Truth was I was thinking. Thinking hard. Talking to Ian last night had got me thinking; how were we going to get her back? I knew we needed to get intel to see if she was still in Phoenix or wither she was gone somewhere else. It could be that they contacted Pet's parents and they'd come to get her. Of course that would mean that we'd have to go to Washington and find a way to get her out. It wouldn't be easy getting out of the caves without anyone stopping us let alone walking into a healing facility and asking about the human's kidnapped victim. We needed someone on the inside.

"Man I wish that Wanda was still around." I heard Aaron say, "Then she could get some sunburn ointment for me. It'll do wonders for my tan but man does it burn."

I jumped up, "Burns." I whispered.

"What was that Mel?" Jared asked turning to me.

I looked at him, "Nothing."

I could see that he didn't buy it. But I didn't give him a chance to ask me anymore questions. I leaned over and kissed both him and Jamie on the head and walked out.

How could I be so stupid, Of course! Burns liked Wanda too of course he'd want to help. Now to tell Ian, though he'd never been fond of Burns, I know he'd see the brilliance in it. Then there was the problem of contacting him. My first thought would be the cell that we had for contacting the other human settlements but Jared had taken out the battery and hidden it. He'd hidden it well too. The other way would be to take the phone and try to get a new battery; what a stupid idea. Or we could wonder around looking for him; that was even more stupid.

I reached the entrance to the game room. "Ian?"

There was a mumble and a moan from the far side of the room.

"Ian I have to talk to you." A groan, "It's about Wanderer."

"What about her?" Ha I knew that'd get him to respond.

"I have an idea for a plan." I said strolling in, "Still got your flashlight?"

There was a groan and a click. Ian was lying on the floor on his back and aiming the flashlight at the sealing. I went and sat next to him.

"So what's this big idea for a plan?"

"Burns."

He turned off the flashlight and groaned again, "I hate that guy."

I rolled my eyes, "Because he made googely eyes at Wanda once." He grunted his assent. "Well he's our only chance to get intel. If we go bursting into healing facilities then we're sure to get killed. But if we make sure she's there then we can come up with a tactical plan to get her out."

He was quiet for a minute. "How do we contact him?"

"I'll search my room to find the battery to the phone and then we'll call him and he can come and meet us in Phoenix. I know how to blend in better than anyone in the caves, besides Sunny, because I have lived among them."

Ian clicked on the flashlight. I reached over and took it out of his hands and he didn't make a grab for it. It almost looked like he'd died if it weren't for his small movement. He just didn't have the energy or will to do anything. I set the flashlight down and knelt by his head leaning down close.

"Listen Ian. We could get a little apartment. A two bedroom apartment away from prying eyes and then we could plan. Plan for it. Ya know?" I grabbed his face with my hands and made him look at me. I could barely discern the blue from the red. "Ian. You want to don't you? You want to get out of here and…."

I heard something and stopped mid sentence. I sat there kneeling, my hands still on Ian's face, but all of my attention was to my ears. I defiantly heard something. I stood up and turned my back on Ian. "I know your there. Come out."

From out of the corridor came…. "Jared?" I said surprised, "What are you doing here?"

"I might ask you the same thing." He said staring at me.

"Talking to Ian."

"Really?" he asked raising a eyebrow.

"Yes." It was the truth.

"Then maybe we should talk." He said and turned and left.

I looked after him, What was his problem?

"You should go after him." Ian said weakly behind me. I looked at him. "Mel he thinks we were…. Together. Go." I nodded and turned to go. "Oh Mel." I looked at him, "The plan; I'm for it." I turned and ran from the room. I looked behind me and saw Ian clicking off the flashlight.

I ran through the tunnel and through the tunnels leading out. When I got to the big room I ran into Jeb.

"Whoa there kid. Your gonna kill someone." He said

"I'm looking for Jared. Have you seen him?" I asked.

"He was walking towards the bedrooms a minute ago." I started running again and heard him call after me, "Bring him back with you. Ya got chores to do."

I sprinted avoiding a collision twice and finally made it to Jared and I's room. I opened the screen, "Jared?"

He was there just sitting on the bed with his back to me. "Jared?" I repeat unsure closing the screen.

"That's low ya know." He said a little hoarse. "Cheating and taking advantage of a broken man. I didn't think you were capable of that much evil Melanie Stryder."

I exhaled, Ian had been right. I rolled my eyes and walked over to stand in front of him. "That's true. Well part of it is anyway."

He stood up and glared at me, "Your gonna deny it too? Unbelievable."

I wanted to smile at him. He was being ridiculous. So I matched his glare with one of my own. "Jared Howe you have no idea what happened. And you're going to jump to conclusions again? Jump to conclusions that I understand with Wanda but now you think that after I almost died trying to get back to you; you think I would cheat on you? You're unbelievable." I turned my back on him crossing my arms.

It was a moment before anything happened. Jared stepped closed to me and then started kissing my neck.

I tried to remember that I was angry with him and not get lost in the fire spreading from the point when his lips touched my skin.

I turned around and he crushed his lips to mine before pulling back. I saw tears in his eyes.

"Then what happened Mel? Cause from where I was standing it looked like…." He broke off as a tear fell.

I wiped it off and cupped his face in my hands. "Jared. I would never cheat on you. And I'd never take advantage of Ian's state." I pressed my lips briefly to his, "I was talking to Ian about our plan to get Wanda back."

" 'Get a little apartment. A two bedroom apartment away from prying eyes.' " He quoted. I tried not to roll my eyes. "That doesn't sound like a rescue mission."

I smiled a little. "You aren't prying eyes Jared. Jeb is prying eyes. We never even talked about you."

"Start from the beginning from when we were sitting in the kitchen then." He said pulling me onto the bed. We sat facing each other and I started to tell him.

"I was thinking of the problems with going to rescue Wanda and then I thought of the best way to get intel from the souls. Burns. He could go and check on wither Wanda was there or not so that we don't die running into a healing facility that Wanda's not in. So I went to tell Ian my plan because he's the only one in this place besides me who is serious about going to get Wanda." I only stopped to breath for a second, "he went all quiet when I mentioned Burns because he doesn't like him ya know? So I kneeled by his head and made him look at me. What I was saying was about the mission. We, the people on the mission, could get an apartment and we could live there while we plan how to best extract Wanda from the souls. Then I heard you."

He nodded while I breathed and he took my hands in his. "Mel. I want Wanda back just as much as you but…."

I shook my head. "No Jared there's no buts. And you wouldn't say that if you-"

Jared put a finger on my lips. "Like I was saying; but Jeb isn't going to be easy to distract while we get out. And we'll have to tell Jamie so he can cover for us and he doesn't worry why we're gone."

My eyes started to fill with tears as I crushed my lips to his. The force of my attack knocked us over and I laid on top of him kissing every part of him I could reach.

Jared rolled me over onto my back and smiled, "Mel. Why did you just attack me?"

"Because you're amazing…." I leaned up to kiss him. "And I don't deserve you."

He leaned in close, "You've got that backwards." He kissed me again.

We would have gone further but a rap on the screen drew us away. "Jeb says that if you don't get your love struck butts out to the field he's gonna make you make cactus soap."

I didn't know who it was and I didn't care. Jared got up and grabbed my hands and pulled me onto my feet. "We'll continue our conversation later." Jared said kissing me on my nose.

I smiled, "I look forward to it."

It was dinner time and I grabbed two trays when it was my turn.

"Whoa there Mel. Hungry?" Jared asked chuckling.

"The other one if for Ian. I don't think he has the strength to get up and get it himself. And he has to eat." I said filling the trays.

"Speaking of him has anyone seen Ian since last night?" Kyle asked before taking a giant bite of his roll.

"He's in the game room." I said trying to balance the two trays.

"Hey Jamie," Jared said as we saw Jamie walk in through the entrance. "Come help Mel with Ian's tray. I'll get you one and the three of us will go keep Ian company."

"Ok." Jamie said taking a tray from me and walking back out. "How is Ian?"

"He's really upset." I said walking towards the game room.

"Where the two of ya headin'?" Jeb asked looking at us with our trays.

"We're going to make sure that Ian doesn't starve. Jared's bringing my tray." Jamie said.

"Alright." He said, "But tell him that Wanda wouldn't want him to be a total slacker. I let him off today but tomorrow he's doin' chores."

I nodded and started walking again; maybe we won't be here tomorrow. I wanted to get this going as fast as possible. The more time Wanda spent away from Ian, the more catatonic he'd be. In less he got his shit straight which isn't likely. And the more time that we let Wanda be out there the farther away she could get. They might have even shipped her off to the other side of the country to give her a new start. Or maybe she gave them Pet's name and they've contacted her family and they've taken her home. That would be preferable because then I knew where she'd be; it'd be easier to take her from there rather than from an unknown location in an unknown state.

I quickened my pace unconsciously and only realized it when Jamie said something, "Jee Mel I know I'm fast but I'm not that fast."

"Sorry Jamie." I said slowing down.

We walked down and stopped at the entrance to the game room. "Hey Ian." Jamie said softly. I could tell that he didn't know if Ian was sleeping or awake.

"How about playing with your flashlight huh?" I said at normal volume, "I brought you food."

"We." Jamie corrected me at normal volume.

The flashlight clicked on and was pointed at the ceiling. He looked better, he was sitting up at least but he was still propped up against a wall, not having the strength to sit up without support. His eyes were almost not puffy and it looked like he'd slept even a little.

I stared at him, "Have you even left this room?" I asked walking over to him and set my tray in front of him.

"No reason to." He mumbled

"What about eating?" Jamie asked sitting at Ian's side, "You have to eat."

I bent down and lifted his head to make him look at me, "Wanda would want you to eat."

I saw his pupil's contract then expand again, "Your right." I let go of his face and he began to eat.

"Jamie, when Jared gets here we need to talk to you about something." I said as he passed her the other tray.

"Why?" he asked curiously, "I thought you and Jared weren't mad about what I said earlier."

I chuckled, "No Jamie. As far as I'm concerned you can get in trouble in here as many times as you want. But I would advise not doing anything to anyone, even Sharon, for a while at least not while everyone's grieving." He nodded.

I started to hear footsteps down the tunnel and turned to see Jared walk in with two trays. "Here ya go kid." He said passing him a tray and sitting next to me.

"Anyone fallow you?" I asked.

"Jeb went to eat. Coast is clear." He said kissing my cheek.

"Alright. I'll tell them then."

Ian looked up at me and I could almost see the word echoing in his eyes, them?

I nodded and looked at Jamie. "No sense beating around the bush but you have to promise not to scream or breathe a word of this to anyone outside of this room; Got it?" He smiled and nodded drawing a cross over his chest. I took a deep breath, "We're going to get Wanda."

His smiled grew wider but true to his word he didn't scream in fact he whispered, "Awesome. When do we leave?"

I shook my head, "Let me rephrase; Ian, Jared and I are going to get Wanda."

His face fell, "I wanna go!"

Jared took a drink of his water and looked at Jamie, "Jamie, you've got the most important job of all."

"Oh yea?" he said doubt in his voice.

"Yea. You get to be our eyes and ears here." Jared said.

"How?" he said pouting.

"We're leaving the phone here with you." Jared said smiling, "We won't be able to call for a while but once we do you get to tell us what happened since we left."

"And" I interjected, "in addition to being our eyes and ears you are now on Jeb duty."

"Jeb duty?" Jamie asked.

"Yea, Jeb doesn't want us to leave to go get her." I explained.

"He threatened to shoot me if I came back." Ian said.

"What?" Jamie said shocked looking at him.

I glared at Ian, "You eat. Jared and I will talk."

Ian shrugged and began eating what was left on his tray. I turned back to Jamie.

"See your gonna make sure he's distracted while we sneak out. Then you have to go sleep in our room and make up a cover story for why we're gone."

Jamie frowned, "Why can't we just tell him you went to get Wanda? Uncle Jeb wants her back too and he won't be able to stop you after you're gone."

"He won't let us come back." Jared said.

"Actually," Ian said wiping his mouth on his dirty shirt. "He'd let the two of you back. But he wouldn't let me back."

"No he wouldn't." I said.

"Sure he would. He brought you in while you had a soul in you. You're his niece. And you have to be here for Jamie. Then Jared is too important to the survival of his community. But I'm just another pair of hands and an extra mouth to feed."

"No you aren't." Jamie and I said at the same time.

"Your family." Jamie said in a matter-of-fact tone. I nodded.

"Ya know…." Jared said slowly. "Ian's got a point. He only told Mel to just be patient then when everything cooled down we'd go get her. He never actually said we couldn't go he just said be patient. I don't agree with you being just another pair of hands and a mouth to feed. Your part of the community too Ian."

I looked at him. He was rationalizing telling Jeb? I trusted him! "No Jared." I said.

"Think about it. Jeb isn't gonna try to make us come back by risking discovery. And with Jamie as our contact we can have Burns have Nate help with giving them food. And Jeb would know we were safe cause Jamie could tell him." Jared said with that 'pre-raid' concentrated look on his face.

I thought about it. I guess it did make sense. But I wasn't so sure that Jeb would keep letting Jamie be out contact if he knew. He'd probably take the phone and demand we come home when we call. But Jamie was safe from Jeb's rath because of his age and his being related to Jeb. Family was important to Jeb. "I guess…. In a way it makes sense." I said.

Ian, Jared and Jamie were smirking at me. I'd come around.

Hey. I'm thinking about skipping the whole 'How we snuck by Jeb' part. In fact I'm thinking about just picking up with them when they find out Wanda isn't in Phoenix anymore. Thoughts?