A/N: I don't have many so please just read.

I'm leaving on vacation for 2 weeks on Oct. 16th. Out of the country for the first time :)

So I won't be updating or even have my laptop to work on :(

But I wanted to get this out before I left, hope you enjoy the chapter! Thanks for all the reviews, I love them and you guys are awesome! I did laugh at your story puretorture27, so thank for that! Also thanks to Saturnblue for stirring up some more ideas in my head.

As always let me know if you find any annoying spellings or other errors.

Warnings: Some language and violence.

.:To Infinity:.

Chapter III

One of the men gave a cry of pain as an arrow grazed his arm leaving a deep gash. In an instant the other soldiers had reacted, guns aimed in the direction the arrow came from and a barrage of bullets covered the area. Evan tried to get something between the child and bullets but wasn't fast enough for all of them and heard a child's scream before seeing him tumble from the tree. A yell from the other side announced the next attack as a young Omaticaya jumped from the trees with a sharp blade in his hand, screaming his war cry. Thankfully there hadn't been time for the guns to come around and he ended in a wrestling match with two of the patrol members, his tail lashing viciously. The third Omaticaya child had gone to his fallen friend but both froze as the other two soldiers in the group ran up to them, guns ready. The second boy still struggling stilled when he saw the fate of his two friends. Evan felt his uncertainty growing, he needed to get the soldiers to let them go and leave, he also needed to heal the boy who was shot and he…. Evan paused in his frantic thoughts feeling the vibrations in the ground beneath him. "Shit."

A moment later seven warriors burst through the foliage on their mounts, arrows up and ready to take out the threat. Evan shouldn't have been surprised, they would have been drawn to the gun shots instantly, and leading them was his stalker.

"Let the boy go now!" Tsu'tey shouted in a heavy accent; arrow aimed right in the face of one of the soldiers, bow pulled taught and itching to be released.

Three guns turned to the new threats but the other two remained on the children. It was unfortunate that they were smart enough to realize how precious the children were to the Omaticaya.

"Back off, freak." Evan's patrol captain growled; Evan hadn't bothered to learn the bastard's name. Every interaction with the man had only made Evan hate him more.

"Release them!" Tsu'tey shouted again, but Evan could see the panic growing to replace the anger in his eyes, Tsu'tey knew he was stuck.

"Lower your weapons or we hurt the boy some more." The captain growled back, grinding his gun into the side of the boy who had tried to jump them, tearing a whimper from him. The soft groans of pain from the other boy who had been shot could easily be heard in the silent clearing, and it seemed like Tsu'tey had no option. Tsu'tey glanced around the clearing again, looking for an answer but seeing none, regretfully loosened the tension in his bow about to lower it.

Evan stepped closer to the group and raised his gun to point an inch from his captain's temple.

"Let the child go." Evan said calmly and coldly, his tone held no doubt he was more than willing to pull the trigger. The Omaticaya tightened their grip on their weapons once more, exchanging uncertain glances about this new element, but not willing to miss a possible opening.

"Soldier, what are you doing?" The captain growled, looking at Evan from the corner of his eye, but not daring to move his head. The remaining four in the company glanced around looking nervous and indecisive as to whom they should be aiming their guns at now.

"I'm contemplating removing another plague from this planet." Evan replied evenly, unperturbed to be breaking an untold amount of military laws by threatening his commanding officer, besides Jake was right. Out here they were little more than mercenaries and most of all he would never stand by and watch someone hold a gun on a child.

"You're a sympathizer? To these monkey freaks? Why would a human give a fuck about them?" The captain yelled, earning more snarls from the Omaticaya, the sound of bow strings stretching clear in the suddenly silent jungle.

Evan laughed, but his gun never wavered. "You think instead I should help you destroy Pandora?" He laughed again, deeply amused before turning serious. "Besides, who said that I was human?" Evan asked, earning confused looks from everyone until he slowly let the illusion fall. His hair grew out to its long length, while his skin took on an odd glow and sharp nails formed on his hands. He banished his contacts, knowing it was the eyes that would frighten them the most. They had become consumed by an empty darkness, seeming to see nothing and yet into their very souls. The last thing he did was move one hand to pull off the oxygen mask, letting it fall to the ground. With just one glance it was clear to everyone that there was nothing human about him.

Harry cocked his head as if he was contemplating something he couldn't understand, but the gun still held steady. The plants of the jungle reached out for him, enjoying the feel of his open power but made sure not to hinder or bind him.

"What the…" The captain started, gun turning with his body towards Harry and that's when they struck. The second the gun was turned away from the child, Tsu'tey's arrow was through the air and then through the captains neck. He gurgled and started to fall to the forest floor but Harry's gun had already shifted, pointing to another member of his squad and releasing a string of bullets. By the time the echo of gun shots had faded all five men were on the ground dead, arrows littering their bodies.

Harry lowered his weapon and turned to observe the Omaticaya staring at him, only half the weapons were drawn on him but all had an arrow notched and ready to be pulled. He stared curiously at Tsu'tey for a moment to see what he would do, but could see the confusion and indecision on his face. Harry waited a second more before dropping his weapon and starting to head towards the boy who had been shot. Instantly all bows were on him again, and he turned to see fierce determination in Tsu'tey's eyes.

"Do not move."

"He was shot multiple times, let me heal him."

"We have our own healers; we don't need your help." Tsu'tey snarled, but it held a note of uncertainty. The being in front of him might still be the size of sky-people and hold some resemblance, but there was no doubt that he wasn't one of them.

"I can hear from here that he won't even last another three minutes, and he's already beyond your healers' ability. I'm offering my help; in recompense for not moving fast enough before."

Tsu'tey paused for another second but then took another glance at the plants, still reaching for and caressing Harry. If his home didn't see this… being as a threat, he would trust it for now. He nodded and lowered his weapon, the warriors around him following his cue. Harry moved with his unnatural grace to the child's side, only now taking notice that his friend that had gone to help him was female, and she was putting tight pressure on his main wound. She looked at him hesitantly with no small amount of uncertainty or fear, but didn't back away or remove her hands.

Harry gave an attempt at a smile, but gave up when she cringed and turned away.

"Let me see." He said instead and slowly the girl took her bloody hands away revealing the heavily bleeding wound.

Harry moved swiftly, putting one hand to hold the child still and the other over the wound to call the bullet out. The child cried out, making the warriors around him shift, but Harry paid no mind and turned back to the wound a light growing beneath his hands as he called forth the magic in him and the surrounding earth to heal the boy. He heard the murmurs of the Omaticaya around him but remained focused on repairing the damage. A tickle on his arm and then others along his neck and shoulders, told him some of the past spirits had come. He felt a brush against his mind and spared a brief thought to allow the connection.

My son, please heal my son.

The voice said, and Harry could see in his mind's eye a tall warrior, with the same nose and jaw as the child under his hands.

"Your son will be fine Rot'sulek, you have my word."

There were more gasps from the Omaticaya around him, but the boy turned to the spirit traveler on his arm.

"Dad?" He asked hesitantly, a lone tear slipping down; the only one since being shot multiple times. "I'm sorry, I failed. I wanted…"

He trailed off but Harry understood now what could cause three children to recklessly attack a group of six armed humans. Harry finished healing the wound and turned to the next most dangerous, a shot through the boys thigh, while the spirit stroked his sons face and offered what comfort he could. By the time Harry was finished with that one, and two others that had only been grazes, the boy he was unconscious from blood loss, his father's spirit still floating by his head. He stood and backed away allowing the other Omaticaya to pick him up. The Spirits that had been resting on his shoulders slowly floated off and Harry took the chance to take in the clearing. The bodies of all five men were gone, where to, Harry couldn't care less. The other boy was being held up by two other warriors. His face was a bloody mess, and he had one arm thrown over one of their shoulders and his other arm was wrapped around his ribs. Harry caught Tsu'tey's eyes and then glanced questioningly at the boy. Tsu'tey nodded, still looking hesitant and very confused by Harry, but Harry did observe that no more weapons were at hand. He took a few steps towards the other boy who looked nervous but also in too much pain to be too concerned. He reached up to set his hands along the ribs and healed the crack and bruising easily enough. Harry could barely reach the boys face despite him not being full grown, but the two on his sides noticed and brought the boy closer to Harry's level. The boys face looked like it had taken the butt of the gun multiple times. The left side of his jaw was cracked and dislocated, the nose smashed to pulp and his eye on the same side was almost completely swollen shut. Harry was just glad there had been no blows to the boys' brain, there were some things he didn't have the knowledge to fix. The face took much longer than the ribs, but those holding the boy showed no strain or impatience. Harry heard half the group take the other two children home, leaving the boy Harry was healing, the two holding him, Tsu'tey and one other warrior. It was dead silent as Harry worked, besides the boy's soft grunts as he was healed and the sound of bones shifting into place. When he was done, Harry stepped back observing his work, pleased to see it looked far better, besides the blood that remained.

"Thank you." He said softly, looking more uncertain now that pain wasn't the main thing on his mind. Harry just nodded in acknowledgement and watched as the two Omaticaya refused to leave his side despite the healing and helped him home. He could hear the lecture starting from one of them and was pleased that at least one of the children still had family alive.

"Thank you." Tsu'tey said, drawing his attention. Harry had the feeling that normally Tsu'tey had a hard time saying those words, but currently he seemed still in shock. "I couldn't trust that if we put down our weapons, the humans would too."

"I wouldn't have either." Harry replied, turning his eyes to stare straight into Tsu'tey's. There was no fear there, just curiosity and confusion.

"Why?...Where do you plan to go?"

"I think it would be best if the humans think I am dead with the others. But I have no place to go."

"Come with us. The People will wish to give thanks for helping to protect our children. "

Harry hesitated, knowing he would find Jake with them, and not sure if he wanted that kind of attention. He took a step closer to Tsu'tey until there was just inches separating them and he had to crane his neck back to keep hold of the much taller man's eyes. There was something about this warrior that continued to pull his attention.

A subtle cough reminded them that one other warrior remained causing Tsu'tey to step back looking uncomfortable.

"No. Not for now. I think I will explore Pandora on my own."

"It is not safe…"

Harry let out a harsh laugh at those words, his teeth visibly turning into a predators sharp fangs, eyes burning yellow, fur, scales and unknown things shifting over his skin.

Tsu'tey took all this in as well as the vines reaching up and wrapping around him and realized the being in front of him was in no need of protection.

"I think I will manage. But who knows, perhaps you will run into me at night… if u can track me."

Tsu'tey's breath caught for a moment as he understood what was being said. This being is what he had been following at night? No wonder it had known he was there he told himself, his pride comforted some with this new knowledge.

Regaining his normal composure Tsu'tey nodded and turned to head back with his fellow warrior, trying to assimilate everything that had happened that day. Before they turned out of view Tsu'tey glanced over at the being that was turning his life upside down only to see no one there.

-0.0-

That night Evan snuck back into the compound. Well he really just walked on and made sure that his magic kept everyone's eyes off of him. He didn't bother stopping at the barracks for any of his items before they bagged them up and officially declared him dead. There was nothing of interest he needed. The only item he would have wanted was an ancient dagger that he kept on himself anyway.

Evan walked into the science department expecting to find Jake, but he was missing. Confused he turned around and headed back down the hall to the left. Jake hadn't made much use of his assigned room yet but it was a possibility.

Overriding the security code to get in, Evan stuck his head in to see Jake and at the sight of him let the magic hiding him fall. It took a second later to notice that Jake was hunched over something and was trembling.

"Jake?"

Jake jumped in his chair jerking around at sound of his name, face deathly pale and eyes wide.

"Holy fuck'n shit! fuck!"

Evan paused a bit into the room, letting the door slide shut behind him. Jake hardly ever used curse words and to hear that litany from him was surprising.

"You! You're supposed to be dead!"

'Oh yes, almost forgot about that.' Evan thought.

"I'm not Jake. I'm fine."

Jake still was standing stunned, and it was then that Evan saw what he had been hunched over. Griped tight in his hand was an old photo of the two of them, arms slung over each other.

"I'm sorry I made you worry Jake." Evan said gently before coming closer and taking the framed photo from him and setting it back beside his bed and taking a knee beside him.

"Worry?" Jake said softly, a slight hysterical edge to his words. "Why would I worry when I've been notified that my only and best friend on this planet is dead?" Jake shouted, causing me to jerk back in surprise.

"I didn't think…"

"That's the problem! You don't think! You don't consider that other people might care about you! You jump in dangerous situations or vanish off without a word for who knows how long. Don't you realize I… I can't lose you as well. Not so soon after him."

Evan remained blank faced and frozen, staring at Jake, he didn't know what to say, and Jake had never been this mad at him.

"Damnit." Jake snarled, wiping viciously away at the tears that had been escaping. Finally it seemed things had caught up with him. The death of his brother, the stress and huge changes from this new job and life he had found. The stress from little sleep and the difficult position he had now found himself in. Evan's rumored death had made it all too much.

Evan sat there numb, unable to understand or sympathies with his only friend the way he wanted to. Knowing his silence and lack of emotional response was only hurting him more.

"I'm sorry." Evan tried lamely, but the words seemed so empty and useless.

Jake let out a harsh scoff before letting out a deep sigh and composed himself. "I just… I don't understand you sometimes. I love you like a brother but… forget it. The others will be happy. You're actually starting to rub off on Grace and they hate having to take one of the other soldiers for the runs."

The small smile he had been holding to reassure Jake feel at hearing his words. "Jake, to everyone else I'm going to stay dead." Evan saw Jakes stunned confusion, and the anger building again so started explaining quickly.

"I helped kill the squad I went out with today."

Jake jerked back in his chair, away from Evan, but remained silent.

"Three Na'vi children attempted to attack our group. When they we restrained, and badly injured, a group of their warriors came up. My captain was going to make them drop their weapons. Then he would have killed them, and then the children."

Evan could see the anger in Jake's face and knew that he was aware that some of the soldiers would enjoy doing that all too well.

"I understand, are you staying with the Na'vi? Will they let you? How are you going to get more air? Do you need some clothes…"

"Easy Jake." Evan stopped him; pleased with the knowledge that, despite his anger, his friend was still ready to help him. "I'm not staying with the Na'vi, but I'll be fine." Evan rushed to get in seeing Jakes' mouth opening in protest.

"It's dangerous out there Evan you can't possibly…"

"Trust me Jake, please."

There was silence between the two men as Jake tried to understand Evan's certainty of safety. Evan contemplated spilling all his secrets but it wasn't time. He wasn't sure how he knew, maybe he wasn't ready, or maybe Jake didn't need another thing pilled on his shoulders right then, but he knew it wasn't time yet.

In the end Jake did have to trust in his friend.

"Am I going to see you?"

"I'll leave you letters in here if I don't catch you myself, so you know I'm ok."

"Alright. Stay safe will you? I don't want to be getting a report that they found your body." Jake said while reaching out and pulling him close for a hug.

"You won't, I promise. You stay safe as well. Listen to the Na'vi, they can teach you a lot." Evan felt the nod of Jake's head against his shoulder before they both let go and took a last look at each other. "I'll be keeping an eye on you from time to time, if you ever need me just shout my name. I promise I'll hear you."

Jake looked skeptic of the idea, but was used to indulging his friends' strange quirks and gave a nod of agreement. Without anything more needing to be said Evan walked out of the room, pulling up his magic again and disappearing into the jungles of Pandora.

{/Ava - }