A/N Dedicated to xoxdefygravityxox, due to prolonged agony over this chappy! Sorry for the wait, guys, majorly busy. Hope it makes up for it! If you don't get the end, I'll explain all in ch 31. R&R!

Chapter 30

"Oh.. my..." I gasped, staggering backwards, dropping the knife. "I.. I killed Felix Diego!"

"And saved my life," Jesse added - with great difficulty. I turned, and saw that Jesse's eyes were closed in agony, and he was clutching his stomach. Blood was pouring steadily from his head.

"I'm not sure about that," I said, kneeling beside him.

"I... am," whispered Jesse. "He was going to kill me!"

I stroked his forehead, and pulled him close. "I'm so sorry, Jesse," I said, tears rolling down my cheeks. "You're bleeding, and its all my fault."

His stomach was starting to bleed from where he had hit the wooden wall with force, and his forehead was dotted with splinters.

"It could be worse," he smiled weakly, as I sniffed, and pulled him even closer. After a while, his body became limp in my arms and his head fell loosely in my lap.

"Jesse?" I asked."Are you OK?"

There came no reply. I quickly rolled him off me and felt for a pulse. There was one, but it was weak.

"Jesse!" I shrieked. "Please don't die on me now! I've just given up our future for you to God damn well stay alive! You're meant to be living a healthy, long life! Jesse!"

"Well, well, well," said Paul, striding into the barn. "I didn't have to raise a finger, yet Suze Simon managed to make a mess. All by herself."

"Paul!" I cried. "Help me take Jesse to somebody!"

"Why?" he asked nonchalantly. "You wanted him to die, didn't you? So you could meet his precious ghost?"

"Well," I said, struggling with Jesse. "Now I want him to live!" I dropped Jesse's arm, and marched up to him, angrily. "And if you don't help me, I'll-"

I didn't get to finish my little heroine speech. Because Paul had grabbed me by both my wrists and pulled me into a kiss.

"Paul!" I exploded, furiously, shrugging him off. "I've told you about that!"

"I'm sorry," Paul said, though his big stupid grin didn't show it. "You're just kinda irresistable when you're mad."

"I need to help Jesse!" I said, ignoring him. "He's unconscious already!"

"Mr De Silva? Did Mr Diego find you OK?" A voice came from outside the barn.

"Suze, lets go!" urged Paul, tugging my arm. "Before the old bag finds us and shoots!"

"No, Paul!" I said trying to release myself from his iron-vice grip. "I have to help Jesse!"

"Jesse?" came the voice again, and a knocking on the barn door. "I'm coming in, OK? Would you like me to fetch Mr O'Neil?"

"Don't, Suze," he protested. "Lets leave. If he lives, he'll be happy. If he dies, you'll be happy. Everybody wins! Come on!"

The bolt slid and the barn door began to open.

"Now's our chance!" yelled Paul, and he ran towards the door, seizing my hand. As the dor was flung open, we charged past who I assumed to be Mrs O' Neil - a startled, wrinkly woman - and out of the barn, a cloud of dust kicking up behind our heels.

"Gypsies!" shrieked Mrs O'Neil. "Shoot them, Joseph, they were gonna steal our horses!"

The bespectacled, bald Mr O'Neil fumbled with his shot-gun, and began aiming.

One lead bullet shot past my right ear, another between Paul's legs as we ran.

"Faster, Suze!" he cried. "Or they're gonna get us!"

As he said this, he feel to the floor- crippled. His leg was bleeding steadily, and Paul was wincing.

"He got me!" he gasped. "Do you think I'm blind or something?"

"No," Paul hissed angrily. "But-"

He pointed to behind me. I turned my head in time to see Mr O'Neil re-load his rifle. I clutched Paul's hand, my own fingers cold with sweat.

"Paul," I said, kneeling beside him. "What am I gonna do? He's gonna shoot."

"He's aiming," he winced, squeezing my hand in agony. "You're gonna have to take us back."

"Back?" I repeated. "Back where? Because I am not carrying you anywhere-"

"To the future!" spat Paul, impatiently. "I need an ambulance!"

"I...I can't!" I shrieked. "I won't! I won't leave Jesse!"

"You have to!" cried Paul. "Do you want us both to die?"

"No, but-"

"Suze!"

"Why can't you do it? I'm not leaving, I want to help Jesse!"

"Oh for goodness sake, Joseph, just shoot already!"

"I'm aiming , Margie, I don't wanna miss!"

"Get 'em in the head! Blasted gypsies!"

"I'm a little distracted, Suze," grunted Paul. "Now!"

"I..." I began, but I trailed off. "I'm gonna hate you forever, Paul Slater."

"We'll see," replied Paul, and he shut his eyes.

I did the same, thinking of freeways and golden beaches, of mansions and motels, and In-N-Out Burger. I whispered a goodbye to Jesse, savouring his kisses, his breath on my cheek, the touch of his fingers.

I felt the wind of 1850 on my forehead one more time, and I heard the whistle of the lead bullet speed through our fading auras. It couldn't hit our heads. Because we were gone.

Then I opened my eyes.

We were sat on the lawn of my back yard (OK, the Ackerman's), still squeezing each other's hands, and my cheeks were damp.

"Paul?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. "What are we doing in my back yard?"

"I don't know," he replied, and he hauled himself up. "Aah!"

He fell to the floor again, the open wound in his leg oozing blood.

"Paul!" I shrieked. "You've been shot?"

"I guess so," winced Paul. "But did you see any crazed gunman or rowdy gang?"

"No," I sniffed. "Come on, Paul, this is Carmel. Anyway, I don't even know how we ended up here. Its like I just woke up from a dream."

"Yeah- weird for you," he spat. "Hell for me. Help?"

"Oh yeah," I flipped open my cell and dialled for an ambulance, answering all the specific questions, bla bla bla. My hand were shaking, though they weren't cold. I was majorly disorientated, like I'd been clouted around the head and just woken up from a coma or something. I snapped my cell shut and kneeled beside Paul.

"Its OK," I said, squeezing his hand again. "Everything is gonna be OK."