A/N: Okay, so this is better right? No 3 month absence? I thought it was pretty good. Apparently you all did for last chapter too because there were some kind reviews, Nelle07, bookworm2001, Ember91, and my two anonymous reviewers Kelly & HappyReviewer – thanks!

Note: There is no song for this chapter, and the title of this chapter is not from the same song as all the other chapter titles, or any chapter in fact, because this chapter is supposed to cover the missed time from chapter 6, and therefore fits into it.

Chapter 7.Recapture

A look at the week of intermediate time in chapter 6.

Day One

Hospitals had always made me uncomfortable. Really, nothing ever good had ever happened in hospital. It was a dreary place. People dying, people sick. Morbidity hung in over patients and visitors like a blanket that smothered the air. The building encased hopelessness, from the after life effects of the lights, to the sterilized effects of the rooms.

I woke up in one of these rooms. My vision as swimming and as I tried to lift my head I felt a stinging pain in my head. I saw a nurse run into the room; she took a quick look at my chart and then started adjusting things. I saw her turn and inject something into a bag filled with fluid.

- x -

Day Two

The second time I woke up I had more control over my motor functions. When I rolled my head to the side I saw my mother of all people sitting there, on a chair fast asleep. I wondered what time it was but I couldn't see a clock anywhere. I couldn't find the energy to lift my arm and my voice felt it like it hadn't been used in ages. The most I could do was rasp or groan.

I wasn't sure if I should be flattered that my mother had come all the way from the sunny state of California to see me, or if I should be insulted that I had to hospitalized for her to want to come visit. It had been to long since I'd last seen her. Her short blonde locks laid softly on her face and her head was resting on her folded arms. We looked nothing like each other, my mother was more the feminine beauty type, whereas I was the tomboy. When I first developed my powers I used to think I was adopted.

Everything was wrong. So wrong. I had been using my powers with for increased periods of time and frequency the week earlier. I couldn't be sure if it was because I was I over using my powers, or because I was getting sloppy and had stopped paying attention. Or maybe it wasn't my fault at all. I had been told a long time ago that the future is constantly changing. It is based on the decision and reactions of each individual. Every time someone changes their mind the future changes. Had Patrick decided to take a more homicidal route of action? Every time I look at the future and act on it, it changes. Had Patrick's course of action changed into one more dangerous every time I had looked ahead to plan his apprehension? There was no way to tell, but I knew I would have to take a break from my powers and start to do things the old fashioned way.

There was no way to alert anyone that I was awake, so I decided to just lay back and fell asleep again. I would have to wait till morning to find out what had happened.

Day Three

Something wet was pressing against my lips, and I woke with a start.

"Hello Dearie, welcome to Maxville General."

I nodded in response. From experience I knew that I was in the secret basement of Maxville General dedicated to the treatment of supers. I felt a bit sorry for the attendants here, most of them lived here underground and hadn't ventured to the surface in many years.

My nurse was sickeningly pale. Compared to her I imagine I must have seemed the picture of health. She grazed her index finger across my forehead and I couldn't suppress a shudder.

"Well looks like you're just about ready to go. Maybe just a few more hours of observation," she smiled kindly, " and you have few visitors here, I'll just send one of them in to keep you company."

A few minutes after the nurse bustled out of the door, my mother entered. I was surprised my father had allowed her to see me before him.

"Hey baby"

"Mom"

She took note of the tone of my voice when I said that. It was an unused word for me, I was wasn't comfortable speaking it. I mean, the woman had practically ditched me once she figured out I had powers. Yet, here she was years later trying to play house, or hospital.

"Look, honey, I know his might be a little... awkward."

What was awkward was when she put her hand her on mine. She wasn't quite sure where to place it and I could see her hesitation despite how well she hid it.

She began to go into some long winded explanation about how she'd been writhing with guilt ever since she sent me away. Now she was here to make amends. She told me about her lovely new house, and her lovely new job, and her lovely new life. All of which had been constructed in the years of my absence.

"That's great, I'm glad you're still happy there."

"Really?" She flushed with pride and continued her rambling. This time the words came quicker and with the tiny encouragement I had offered her, more confidently, "Well, the thing is, I've been looking into this whole powers business. You know there's a nice school back home, and it's not in the sky either. And all your old friends are there honey! And I've got the papers and everything all set up for whenever you're ready –"

She stopped. She must have finally looked at the incredulous look on my face. She finds some super school and she thinks I'll drop my entire life here to move back there with her? Unbelievable. I mean sure, I didn't have any friends left. But I kind of had Layla and Mag, and I was acquainted Zach, Ethan, and Will. Besides my Dad was here... and Warren was here. Even if he didn't need me to be here for him, I did.

"Look I won't push this on you. But I've talked about this to your Dad and I'm not looking for an answer now." She took a fat envelope out of her purse and placed it on the stand next to my bed, "But if you're curious there are some pictures of the house in there, and some pictures of your room too."

She got up and spared the door a glance. Offering me a smile, a kiss, and mumbling something about my father she exited the room.

Like this was some sort of relations parade, my father traipsed in next. At least this was a welcome visit.

He smiled and walked up to my bed, I rolled my head to the side so I could get a good look at him. He looked scruffy. Poor guy probably had been eating tv dinners without me to cook for him.

"Hi Dad"

"Hey Kid. Banged your self up pretty good huh?" He stroked my forehead, "the Docs say your pyro friend must have lost control or something. Something like his powers accelerated and flared and that caused the car to explode."

"Oh. How is he?"

"Don't worry, he's fine. And you'll be too. You're just here till the end of the week for observations, then you can come home. Whichever home you choose." He cleared his throat gruffly.

"Dad, I wouldn't, I mean I'm not about to-"

"It's ok. Whatever you choose is okay. Your mother and I talked about it." He eyed the photo bundle surreptitiously.

"I actually have to get back to work sweetie, I'm sorry. But you've been out quite awhile."

"It's okay"

With another forehead kiss he was off.

When he left I had expected another visitor to continue the procession. No one came in, I guess I wasn't as popular as I thought. I couldn't stop thinking about what my dad has just told me. They didn't even know it was Patrick. They didn't know it was a villain. Everyone thought Warren has just lost control of his powers. Maybe Warren's powers and Patrick's are connected. Like Warren can create fire, but Patrick can control it. Patrick's power was combustion... flame combustion... explosion combustion. Would Patrick be able to control Warren's powers? If so, that meant Warren would not be able to power up to fight him. My powers weren't useful offensively, so we'd pretty much be like civilians trying to take down a villain. The more I thought about the more it made sense, and the worse I felt. I was practically sick to my stomach thinking about the mess Warren and I were in.

I was in the middle of mentally cursing Principal Powers for dealing Warren and I our villain when I heard a soft knock at my door.

"Come in" I said softly. Probably too softly to hear. Layla came in anyways. She looked quite different since I'd last seen her. Somehow she seemed older, maybe a bit wiser. Wordlessly she glided over to my bedside and pulled up the chair. Once she has settled herself she looked at me, cleared her throat, and began.

"I have to say some stuff to you, and I need you to listen. I... I just don't want to be interrupted, okay?" I nodded my ascent. She sighed and looked down.

"So you know Will and I broke up, in fact, you probably knew we were going to before we even did. And that has nothing to do with your powers, Will told me Emily saw you and him one night. But you knew, you knew and you didn't tell me." She looked at me with her big brown eyes, she looked at me desperately like she was trying to see the good in my actions, "you had so many chances and I just can't see why... look I didn't come here to yell, or to scream at you. I'm sure you had your reasons. It just hurt, I thought we were friends."

At this I didn't know what to say. I thought we were friends too. I wanted to be her friend, really I did. Before, I thought I was being her friend, by not telling her, by protecting her from the pain. That's what friends do right? They protect you. Just like heroes.

I was a lousy hero; it made sense that I would be a lousy friend too.

I didn't know how to put this in audible words for Layla stayed sealed, and with silence to assure her of my remorse, she continued.

"But like I said, I'm not here about me, or Will, or Emily," She said Emily's name like it was a brand of particularly fine animal fur, "I'm here about Warren."

This, had caught my interest the most. While my father had glossed over the medical condition of Warren, I was sure that Layla would not spare me the details I craved. I needed to know how he was, where he was. The worst thing about it was, when my dad said he was okay I was a little disappointed. Some minute part of me wanted him to be hurt, to injured so he could stop being my partner, and he could stop being in my life. I wanted it to be an easy way for me to rid myself of the treacherous feeling that caused me to betray my friends. When had I become this person?

"He never asked me to come and do this, but I thought I should anyways," She looked away and blushed, "and I would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to him. He'd be angry if he knew I came to do this, and I think you owe it to me to keep at least one secret for me. I can see what's between you and Warren; the way you act around each other, the way you orient yourself when he's present, and I don't like it. He's with Katie now. You should accept that. They way you pursue him... well you don't exactly pursue him, but you make yourself available. And you know he's attracted to you. She's your friend! Your making yourself into this, cheating figure. You're... 'the other girl' and you shouldn't be. You owe it to yourself, and to Warren and Katie. I know how it feels to be cheated on."

By this point of her speech we couldn't make eye contact with each other. I was very aware that everything she was saying was true. The same sentiments she was expressing now were the ones that had been weaselling their way into my conscience for awhile now, but I had selfishly ignored them. My face felt hot, I could only imagine what shade of embarrassment it was. Layla herself seemed flustered from having to behave in such an heated and resentful way, completely opposite to her forgiving care-free nature. It didn't suit her.

She began to gather her stuff and nodded a farewell to me. I wondered if this would be the last time we could freely talk and if our encounters afterward would be filled with awkward silences and wandering glances. Before I could gather up the courage to make a sort of feeling vocalized she had left, the door shutting with a loud thud after her.

The silence left me with a lot of time to think. It had been a long day.

Day Four

I woke feeling groggy, as I turned lifted my head and stretched my weary limbs I checked the clock. It was twelve-thirty in the afternoon, half my day had gone to waste. I had spent a lot of time brooding after the one sided conversation between Layla and I yesterday. I came to the same conclusion as her and I made a early new year's resolution, to keep my space.

I never really knew how I managed to get myself in those 'situations' with Warren or why I acted the way I did. I believe it was something along the lines of taking the opportunity that was presenting itself to you. Well, it was high time I learned to say 'no' to that opportunity. I had resolved my self to display more self restraint and control when I saw Warren. And after our senior project was done, that was it. It was over, so we would be too.

With my mind set and my visit with Morpheus over, I noticed there was a folded sheet of thick paper on my bed stand. The burnt corner was a clear indication of who it was from so I picked it up and read it. Typical, he hadn't even signed it.

Bethany,

Hope your okay. Pyros can't burn. When you get out come to 11845 25 st I have a plan.

I wondered how early he had been here, and how long he stayed. Best to stop that train of thought; if he has a plan all the better, this needed to end. That would be a good time to tell him my theory of the potential uselessness of his powers. He'd probably be angry, more at the situation than me I suppose. When you're a pyrokinetic you rarely feel useless. Warren would be able to get in touch with his inner sidekick. This thought brought a smirk to my lips, I remembered how he'd made casual references to the offensive inability of my powers in a fight.

The nurse bustled in and announced the doctor wanted to see me.

- x -

After I had been biometrically scanned – multiple times I might add – I was finally released. With lots of medication, crutches, and air castes for my disposal. I was told to spend two more days bed resting at home, and after that I was free to get myself into the normal teenage scrapes that would be expected of an carefree young woman. Or so said the doctor.

I don't quite think that the word normal would have applied to any part of my life in the last couple years. But if by teenage scrapes he meant 'go get fried by some villain' then I hope he knew I was taking his advice to heart.

Day Seven (New Year's)

How close are you allowed to get to your ex-best friends boyfriend? That was a question I was pondering as I walked over to Warren's apartment block. I had resolved myself to stay away, but while we were still hunting Patrick together, close proximity would be required. It was the first day of the new year and you know what they say, how you spend new year's day is how you spend the year. The problem with this belief was that the way things had been going between Warren and I, well, that would just make for a very awkward, tensions filled year.

But I mean this is high school right? Life is supposed to be tough, we're just supposed to be tougher - I was having a hard time being that just then. What with the attempted murder, the long nightssitting in the hospital, getting chewed out by Layla, getting side offers from my mother, and having to have shrapnel removed from my head; This wasn't one of my better years. I sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. I was just at the doors to Warren's building about to buzz him to let me up. I really wanted to avoid it, but I couldn't - it was too dangerous. It used to be about a petty criminal, and a school project, now it was about our lives. And faults be damned, we were both too stupid or stubborn to run to our parents, and teachers and let them know that we couldn't handle it.

A/N: Okay, so this last italicized bit, is the into to last chapter [6 just to re-cap for you all. Glad I made this update before school started, I forsee about 1-2 chapters after this chapter [7. And, I updated my lj, so if you have an lj check it out! Yes, that was a shameless plug.