Author's note - thanks for the reviews, they really inspire me. If ya'll have any suggestions I'd be happy to take them seriously. A good writer always has to look outside the box, right? In truth, I'm making this up as I go, but I dunno what happened to Melissa anymore than you do, but she's with a bad person now so let's both hope nothing absolutely shattering is gonna happen. And read on to see what really happens to Rodney. And! I've finally figured out something that actually works in separating the time difference. I stoled from another flight 29 down story, but whoever came up with the ingenius ZEROS, I salute you.

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A loud piercing scream broke through the sudden silence the loud gun shot had left. Rodney had fallen to his knees, gripping his shoulder, unable to stop the blood from running through his finger. "Son of a bitch. You son of a bitch," he shouted, jumping to his feet. Adrenaline was fueling his anger and suddenly the pain wasn't quite so bad. He hit Jackson hard, who stood there, quite unsure of what to do.

Jackson had only shot anybody once, and he liked to believe it was a life or death situation. His father sure had straightened him out though. But he never did go at his mom quite so much after Jackson had shot him, and deep down Jackson wanted to believe that maybe he had actually scared his father. Maybe he wasn't such a joke anymore. But now having Rodney back in his life all of his insecurities and concerns were suddenly there, staring back at him.

Jackson released an unexpected yelp as his head hit the ground hard. Rodney had started punching him but the pain in his throbbing head and his suddenly bleeding back had numbed him. He vaguely noted that all five of the remaining group was trying to pull Rodney off of him but Rodney had locked his legs around Jackson's abdomen and had a tight grip on him.

"Stop it, you're killing him!" Lex's incredulous shreak of a voice broke through all of the shouting and the haze that had enveloped Jackson. Blood had already begun flowing and Jackson almost gagged on the lengthy flow that coarsed from his nose.

Nathan had finally had enough and resorted to outside affairs. He had seeked out a large stick and hit Rodney hard over the head with it. Rodney dropped like a sack of rocks and Daley and Nathan pulled Jackson out from underneath his brother, happy to know that he was still conscious. Unconsciousness could mean a ton of unwanted things. Jackson wasn't ready for a concussion right now.

"Jackson," Daley asked, kneeling over Jackson. "Stay conscious Jackson. Stay with us."

"We have to find Melissa like ten minutes ago," Nathan added helpfully.

Jackson shifted and groaned as his burning back suddenly kicked it up a few more notches. Home hadn't ever been anything he'd ever longed for and despite their recent troubles (what with drinking contaminated water and Nathan and Daley almost drowning in their escape attempt) he hadn't ever minded being stranded on this island. But now more than ever he just wanted to go home to whatever foster family he was living with this week and curl up in whatever bed they'd give him and sleep until the next ice age. But he couldn't do any of this. Melissa, the first person from school to speak to him, to look his way and consider him, the only person that pursued him, was now in trouble and like Cassidy, he didn't want Melissa defiled in any way either.

Jackson patted the ground around him, finally finding and seizing the gun. He groggily and very slowly rolled onto his knees and heaved himself to his feet. Once he was up he cocked the gun. "What are you doing?" Daley demanded.

"All right," Eric chorttled. "Good. Shoot the bastard."

Jackson nodded, intending to do just that but Daley and Nathan blocked his path. Their unity was really beginning to piss him off. "Move," he commanded.

"If you shoot him how are we going to find Melissa?" Lex inquired, stepping in front of Daley and Nathan. "You're not a killer, Jackson."

"Not yet," Jackson agreed, brushing past the trio and up to Rodney who was barely conscious. "Say good bye, brother," he declared, aiming the gun once more, this time at Rodney's head.

"You can't be serious," Taylor gasped. "That's...gross. And mean."

"And in front of Lex," Daley added. "Nice job traumatizing a kid."

"Thanks," Lex muttered under his breath.

Jackson ignored them all. "I'm sorry," he heard to his right. It was Nathan and with that he brought his new weapon, the wooden branch down hard on Jackson's hard. Jackson dropped the gun before he could brace himself for the blow and Daley darted down after the gun.

"Fuck," Jackson shouted, grasping at his arm. Maybe Nathan had hit him a little too hard. "Nathan! You fucking boy scout." He was really pissed, because his arm probably hurt more than the rest combined.

Daley handed Nathan the gun because she hated how it felt in her hand, like dead weight, heavy and fatal. She walked closer to Rodney and kicked him hard in the ribs. "Wake up. Take us to Melissa or Jackson's gonna put another bullet in you."

Rodney shoot his head, coughing slightly, his whole body was numb. "I ain't lyin' I don't know where he took her." A thin smile split his face, his teeth gleemed red with blood. "It wasn't part of the deal. All I wanted was a little taste of what could happen. She was just supposed to get the cash."

"And then you were supposed to kill us right?" Jackson shouted, kicking Rodney hard.

"You've really gone off the deep end, huh," Rodney coughed. "You know insanity is when you're a threat to yourself OR others. Psycho."

"You know stupidity is when you don't know when to shut the fuck up," Jackson snapped. He walked briskly backwards and began to pace. He didn't know why but suddenly he felt obligated to move. He hadn't ever paced before.

Nathan reached down and roughly pulled Rodney to his feet, taking the time to steady the boy. "Where is this...Cassidy? Where are you keeping him?"

Jackson suddenly looked up and briskly walked back to Rodney. "Yeah. Where's Cassidy?" He asked.

Rodney grinned widely. "Do you think it's wise to reunite me with my buddies?"

"Yes," Jackson said through clenched teeth.

Rodney shrugged. "It's this way then," he murmured, striding across the plain unsteadily. Jackson was behind the group as they all entered the woods. The walk was long and Daley suddenly regretted not suiting up for it. They were all thirsty and they didn't have any water, or any food. It must've been more than a day since the last time they ate.

Rodney suddenly stopped. There was a small clearing in the midst of all the trees, if Jackson didn't know any better he'd have said it looked man made. There were two guys that Jackson recognized as Rodney's friends and then in the middle of them was Cassidy.

His name was Beaver Cassidy. He was very thin, but tall. He was Jackson's age, but that was probably the only similarities they had. Beaver's face had a darker look than Jackson's. It always had but Jackson never quite knew why. This is what forced Jackson to treat him different from the rest. He just couldn't ignore Beaver like he did everybody else. Beaver was different.

"Beaver," Jackson murmured, striding forward to greet Beaver. Beaver quickly rose and the two embraced with hard hugs.

"You look like shit," Beaver assessed, pulling away to get a closer look at Jackson's face - still caked in dry blood.

"I feel worst," Jackson admitted.

"I'm to blame for that," Rodney announced, bowing.

"Who's to blame for that hole in your body," Beaver asked. Rodney's eyes narrowed.

"Don't get smart with me punk," Rodney warned. "We all saw what happens when you're faced with a scuffle. Wheezy little bitch." Beaver has asthma.

"Shut up," Jackson snapped. "You're not in charge anymore."

"We don't have time for reunions," Daley cut in. "Melissa's still out there."

"That chick that Creu took?" Beaver asked. Jackson nodded quickly, swallowing his nausea. "Yeah, he cut across the island with a boat. You'll never reach them before he...you have to swim or she'll probably be dead by the time you get to her."

Jackson nodded, cutting out, across the island, toward the water the only way he knee of, Beaver following closely behind. "You can't swim like this," Taylor said loudly, pressing closer to Jackson and Beaver. "You're too weak."

"Thanks Taylor," Jackson replied over his shoulder.

"She's right," Daley agreed. "You're in no position for long distance swimming."

"Neither does Rodney," Jackson told Daley. "The difference is I know how to swim and Rodney doesn't. Wanna place a bet to see who drowns first?"