My loves! Here you are, since I know how long you waited for this... at least a week! I wrote this a while ago, just kept forgetting to put it up. So sorry! Please forgive me! Anyway, here you are!

Disclaimer: I don't own ID, because if I did, Jem wouldn't be dying and Will would get a happy ending. Thanks a lot, CASSIE.

Chapter: Belle

Belle stepped out of the shower, loving the feeling of being so clean and warm. She had just returned to the Institute after her few days with Riley, and no matter how much she loved being with him, it was nice to be back. She slipped on her pajama pants, but realized she had forgotten her shirt in her bedroom. Damn it, she thought, wrapping a towel around her top half. She ran to her room and opened the door, stepping inside quickly, breathing a sigh of relief that no one had seen her. Wait a minute- there was someone inside the room already, a tall, slender someone who had been facing the window but turned in confusion to see who had entered. Belle's heart skipped a beat when she saw the perpetually messy silver hair and curious eyes of the same hue. Jem.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry," Belle said, blushing furiously. "I– wrong room. I'll, ah– I'll go now."

Jem smiled, though his face was a similar shade of pink. "Yeah, I– I think your room is actually across the hall."

Belle shook her head. "I must have gotten turned around somehow. I'll– I'll see you later?"

"When you're, um, dressed, you can come back. I mean, if you want. You don't have to, I just thought–"

"I'd like that," Belle said softly, interrupting Jem's rambling.

She ran across the hall to her own room and changed quickly. She decided to take Jem up on his offer, and she walked cautiously back to his room. She knocked softly.

"Come in," Jem called from inside, and she did.

"Sorry about before. I, ah, forgot my shirt in my room when I went to take a shower, and I messed up the rooms…"

"It's fine," Jem said, waving away her apology. "Come, sit." He gestured for her to sit on the bed. He was perched in a chair by the window, the moonlight making his hair a halo around his pale face.

"Lucky you aren't more like Will, or I'd never hear the end of it," Belle remarked thoughtfully as Jem nodded. "I agree completely. I'm glad you're back, by the way."

Belle looked out the window at the city, and apparently her face belied some of the homesickness she felt, for when Jem spoke next his voice was gentle. "How do you like London?"

Belle snapped back to reality. "Oh– I like it fine. It's just so… gray. The sky, the buildings, even the people!"

Jem chuckled. "I remember feeling that way when I first came here. I missed the color green most of all. You get used to it, after a while."

Belle tilted her head to the side. "Where did you come from? Where you in Idris?"

Jem shook his head. "Shanghai."

Belle desperately wanted to ask what had brought him to London, but she couldn't think of a way to ask without sounding rude. Instead she said, "I miss green, too. New York was mostly silver, but Central Park was beautiful… And Paris was lovely…"

Jem nodded, understanding. "It's hard at first, but you'll learn to love London. If you want, I can show you my favorite places, the places that are more green than gray. Down by the river…"

Belle hopped up and ran to the window, where the Thames was visible in the distance. She pointed to it. "Look, even the river is gray!"

Jem laughed and took a look. "That's silver, not gray. That's just the moonlight. Silver is more appealing than gray, don't you think?"

Belle reached out and brushed a strand of Jem's silky hair off his forehead. "Sure is," she agreed, though at that point it was unlikely she was talking about the river.

Jem swallowed. "I still like green best, though," he said quietly, looking into Belle's emerald eyes.

Belle was suddenly unable to look at Jem any longer without feeling her face burn, so she rested one cheek on the cool glass of the window, looking at the stars. "What does Will think of London? Does he love it as you do?"

"I think it's unlikely Will loves anything but himself. That's not to say he doesn't care about anything, it's just that he feels that love is an emotion left for the most important things in life."

"And he is one of the most important things in life?"

"He certainly seems to think so."

Belle was quiet for a minute. "He loves you." Seeing that Jem was taken aback by the statement, she corrected herself. "You two are as close as brothers, right? Brothers love each other."

Jem thought for a moment. "Will–" He broke into a fit of coughing, putting a pale, slender hand to his mouth. When he pulled it away, Belle saw that it was stained red- blood. She blanched. "Jem?" she asked nervously, her eyes huge with fear. He fell to his knees, still coughing, his skin whiter than the shirt he wore. He looked up at her, and she could see that his silver eyes had diluted to nearly white. "Need– Will–" he choked out.

Belle ran out the door, screaming Will's name as loud as she could. He appeared at the bottom of the staircase, grinning. "You ought to know that won't impress me. I'm used to girls screaming my name." He didn't seem to notice Belle's terrified expression.

"Will, it's Jem! He's coughing up blood, this is no time for you to be making innuendoes at me!" Before she had even finished speaking, Will paled and flew upstairs into Jem's room. Belle followed, watching Will kneel by Jem. "Where is it, Jem?" he asked in a carefully controlled voice.

Jem shook his head. "I don't–" He broke into a fresh fit of coughing, red flowers spreading across his shirt where there were none before. Accepting defeat, he pointed soundlessly to his dresser. Will leapt up, opened the top dresser drawer and took out a small box. He opened it and took out a small spoonful of powder the same shade of silver as Jem's hair and eyes.

Jem managed to swallow the powder, grimacing. He took a few deep breaths, the coughing over. His mouth was red with blood, the only color in his ghostly pale face. With help from Will, he stood and collapsed on his bed, eyes closing as he was rendered unconscious. Will swept Jem's hair off his face, sighing. "Sleep, James," he said softly. This was the most caring he had ever been. Belle put a hand to her face, surprised to find it wet– she hadn't realized she was crying. She took a deep shuddering breath and started sobbing quietly.

Will jumped and spun; it seemed he had forgotten she was there. He said nothing, just turned back to Jem, now sleeping quietly.

"Is– is he going to be okay?" Belle asked softly and fearfully.

"I don't suppose it's any of your business," Will said, blinking.

"Why wouldn't it be? I was here when it happened. I deserve to know what's wrong with him."

"He can tell you himself," Will said firmly.

"Oh, well, good thing he's so alert, then. I can ask him right now," Belle said sarcastically.

"Are you going to be glib about this? He could have died," Will said furiously, struggling to keep his voice down so as not to wake Jem.

"I want an answer! I care about him, too," Belle said softly.

"Not more than I do. He'll tell you if and when he wants to. And don't ask him about it. You should leave, anyway."

"Why? Why should I leave?"

"There's nothing you can do here," Will insisted. When Belle didn't move, he raised his voice. "Get out!"

Belle stared for as minute, looking as though she was going to say something. Instead, though, she turned on her heel and stormed out, at least being careful enough to close the door softly.

Oh no! Jem! Well, you'll see what happens next. Actually, I don't know what happens next... awkward...