Author's note - thanks for the reviews. I do know it'd help to read over the chapters, but I get impatient. I will try to spell check and all that tho. Sorry if the mispelled words or incorrect words bothered anybody from my other wise perfect chapters. No, seriously, if ya'll have any more bothers feel free to tell me. I like pleasing people. ALSO!!! Yes, I did steal Beaver Cassidy from Veronica mars. I was so tempted to just name him Cassidy Casablancas - greatest name ever, but I didn't want to be a complete thief. I was kinda thinking of Kyle Gallner, and I honestly didn't think that many would notice. But nobody has to envision Beaver as kyle or anything. I mean, who wouldn't want to envision kyle? But whatever. Sorry, if the name irritates anyone, but I love the name Cassidy. It's adorable!

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The team had wasted no time changing or preparing, really, for the task at hand. It'd been decided that Eric, Taylor, Lex and Beaver would stay behind. It was completely too dangerous for Lex, Beaver had asthma and Taylor absolutely refused, something about hydrophobia. Eric, of course, opted to stay behind to 'watch' over the team. So after tying up the two men they'd found guarding Beaver, the remaining - Jackson, Rodney, Nathan and Daley prepared in the quickest way possible to dive in. Nathan pulled off his shirt over his head and discarded his shoes and socks. As little baggage as possible was best, really.

Jackson strode out as far as he could without swimming, hissing as the salt water stung his back horridly. Jackson had taken the shackles Rodney had been carrying, probably thanks to the tribesmen and shackled him and Rodney together. Jackson now wrenched his arm forward, forcing Rodney along side him. "You can't be serious," Rodney hissed. "It's too far."

"It's not that far," Daley murmured gently, waddling up along side Jackson. "Just concentrate on swimming."

"Lets get this over with," Jacksn muttered as Nathan reached the trio. Jackson jerked forward, dragging Rodney with him. Swimming was awkward and definetly a lot more tiring than Jackson remembered. Carrying Rodney was like carrying a sack of rocks. Jackson had lost count of the times Rodney had dragged him underwater. The water was eating at his clothes, freezing him to the bone. His back was at a numb sort of burning state already and he could see the dark dots eating away the edges of his vision.

Jackson was slipping under, and he could feel Rodney moving frantically beside him. Then strong hands gripped his free arm and he was pulled out of the water. His lungs were on fire and he couldn't stop shaking. "Jackson. Jackson." Jackson blinked hard, coughing up a mouthful of water. "Jackson, are you alright? Jackson, speak. Jackson."

"Shut up," Jackson gasped. His body felt like it weighed a ton. "I'm fine."

"Son of a bitch," Rodney swore beside him, wiping the water out of his eyes. "You almost drowned me, crazy bastard." Rodney was squirming beside him. "Unlock the handcuffs," he commanded.

"No," Jackson coughed.

"What do you mean no?" Rodney asked loudly, sitting up quickly.

"No," Jackson repeated, slowly sitting up, wincing.

"Cody," Rodney warned.

"Let's go," Jackson murmured, attempting to stand up but he was shaking too badly.

"Maybe we should stay here and rest for a little bit first," Daley suggested.

"We don't have time." Jackson made it to his feet, dragging Rodney up with him. "Let's go."

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"I spy something green," Taylor announced.

"That tree," Beaver guessed, pointing straight ahead.

"No," Taylor said.

"That tree?" Eric asked pointing at a different tree.

"No."

"That bush?" Lex suggested.

"No."

"That tree?" Beaver asked, pointing at a different tree.

"No."

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"Jackson, you're bleeding," Nathan said, gazing at Jackson's bare back. Jackson's walking had slowed and his breathing was heavier. "Don't be a hero."

"Somebody has to," Jackson gasped, breathing deeply.

"Why didn't we bring water?" Daley asked loudly.

"Why won't you take a break?" Rodney asked Jackson.

"Because Creu is a very impatient little boy," Jackson snapped. "It could already be too late."

"Whatever," Rodney muttered as Jackson pressed onward.

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"That tree?" Eric asked, pointing to a tree that oddly enough, seemed very familiar.

"I already said no to that one," Taylor replied impatiently.

"Is it that tree Taylor?" Beaver asked.

"No." Her answer was met by many groans. "Well it's not my fault you both suck."

"Yes it is," Eric argued. "I think you're lying. Quit changing the answers! What tree is it?"

"I can't just give you the answer," Taylor replied defensively.

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"Shhhh," Nathan said suddenly. "I hear voices."

The group stopped to listen and they did hear voices, but the voices were too quiet and muffled for any of them to make out the words. "It could be female," Daley offered.

"Or male," Nathan answered darkly.

"Or both," Rodney replied brightly.

"There's nobody else," Jackson muttered, digging his hands through his pockets for the key to the shackles. He found it and dug it out but Rodney lurched forward and knocked it out of his hands. "What the fuck are you doing?" Jackson demanded.

A weird smile played on Rodney's lips as he kicked the key and dirt around. "You don't have time to find the key, Codikins."

Jackson narrowed his eyes and roughly jerked Rodney forward, trudging onward. A shriek came loud and clear. "Melissa," Daley, Nathan and Jackson admonished in unison. They quickened their pace.

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"Just tell me if it is that tree, Taylor," Eric commanded, pointing a violent figure at a tree. "Tell me now!"

"No," Taylor said. "If you don't want to play nicely I don't want to play at all."

A round of shots went off behind the group, making them all jump and turn around quickly.

"Oh dear," Beaver breathed.

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The group finally stumbled into a clearing. Jackson first saw Creu and then he saw red, only one intent in his mind as he quickly crossed the clearing. Underneath Creu was Melissa. She didn't look as bad as Jackson but she didn't look good, the usually peaceful look about her completely gone.

"Bastard," Jackson shouted. He attempted to launch himself at Creu but Rodney stopped him. Jackson glanced back at Rodney. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, little brother."