Disclaimer: I don't own anybody. However, I do own Matt's crossword puzzles from hell.


Ted sat on the floor, eyes shut, legs crossed. He made a small explosion in his right hand, then a few seconds later, he made one in his left. It wasn't exactly traditional Zen, but explosions calmed him. He really didn't know why. Explosion in right hand, explosion in left. His feelings were all jumbled up ever since that bear attack. For some reason, when Matt was tending to his wounds Ted was reminded of his wife, bandaging him up after he got into a scrap with a dog. His wife...he thought he had moved on, but had he really? Ted sighed, concentrating again. He had begun to glow. It sucked when his powers reflected his feelings. Explosion in right, explosion in left. He could hear Matt approaching. He could hear his feet loudly crunch the leaves on the ground. Explosion in right hand, explosion in left. A bird chirped. He didn't like birds, but at least they were better than bears. Explosion in right hand, explosion in left. He heard the door slam shut and a clunk near the fireplace. Ah, Matt got firewood. That's good. But...they had a fireplace? Explosion in right hand, explosion in left. Since when was there a fireplace? Was it that insertion in the wall covered in cobwebs?

"Ted? HELP!" Ted opened his eyes and sprang up. He ran over to Matt, who was looking at his leg, trying to frantically brush something off. Ted walked over and looked at his leg. There was something small and brown moving on his leg.

"Just a tick?" Ted said, looking up at Matt. He frowned. Why was Matt freaking out so much? "I'll just burn it off." His right hand started to glow. He pointed a finger at the tick, hoping to make it run away or burn it to death. He really didn't want to set Matt's leg on fire. They already used up most of the bandages on him.

"Don't let it bite me," Matt said, looking down at Ted. "And save the head!"

"Why the hell do you save the head?"

"So we can check it for Lyme Disease when we get back home."

"Lyme Disease? What the fuck?" Ted looked up at Matt. How did he know these things? Was there a class in cop school called 'diseases for dumbasses' or something like that?

"My cousin got it, I don't know what it is-just get the damn tick off!" The tick was starting to smoke now. Ted moved his finger back, toning his glow down.

"Uh Matt?"

"Yeah Ted?"

"Erm, I think I killed it." He brushed the now dead tick off of Matt's leg. Matt's eyes followed Ted as he stood up. The two stared at each other for a moment.

"Did you save the head?" Ted glared at Matt. How was he supposed to remember to save the head? He was trying to not fry his leg! Did Matt want a large burn on his leg? Apparently he freaking did! Still glaring at Matt, Ted stormed over to the fireplace. Sighing, Matt walked over and patted Ted on the shoulder in a comforting manner. "Thanks for killing it."

- - - -

Matt closed his eyes, thinking. He sat at a chair at the almost-broken table. To most people, he looked asleep. However, if you looked closely his chest was rising up and down in a rhythmic matter. His foot was lightly tapping on the floor. He was awake. Awake and confused.

He had a wife. He loved his wife dearly. After all, he chose her out of all the women in Los Angeles. She was pregnant with their baby. But...is it possible to love another as dearly as he loved his wife? He would give up his life for Janice. But he would also give it up for Ted. Is it possible he made a mistake? Matt hated to admit it, but he was pretty sure that he loved Ted. He had grown fond of the man during their misadventures. Very fond. But...he loved Janice. If he had to choose, who would it be? Not wanting to dive further into his abyss of thoughts, he returned to his previous activity.

Matt sighed, tapping the table with a pencil. At a gas station, he bought a book of crossword puzzles, hoping that they would keep him entertained. Unfortunately, he wasn't good at crossword puzzles. All of the crossword puzzles also seemed to be at demonic-hard level. He didn't know what he was thinking when he bought it. The radio played in the background, playing solely static.

He wondered how Ted's job was coming. He personally thought Ted was insane when he said that he would radiate the green stuff off of the sink. At the moment, he smelled a faint whiff of smoke coming from the bathroom. Damn, was he trying to fry the plumbing? Matt concentrated on Ted. Christ, this is harder than I thought. Damn shit won't come off. Matt sighed.

Six letter word for 'Large dog, Border is a popular variety'. Border what? Matt sighed, thinking. Border Chihuahua, Border Sheepdog, Border Collie? That sounded right, Border Collie. Writing it down, he sighed. Well, that raised his total to ten words out of sixty. Seven letter word for 'Blondie hit'. How was Ted doing?

I am NOT touching the toilet. The green shit in there can keep on growing. Matt can take care of that. This thing is hell to burn off. It's working...slowly...burn dammit! That's it. Matt saw a bit more glow shine from the crack between the door and the floor.

Five letter word for 'James Earl '. Well that one was easy. James Earl Jones. He wrote down the answer and moved on to the next one. Nine letter word for 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor '. Erm, what the fuck? Matt had never heard of that in his entire life. He turned his attention back to Ted.

Damn green shit, damn Bennet, damn cabin, damn-

"Squeek."

Wait a moment...

"Squeek."

HOLY SHIT! There was what sounded like a small explosion from the bathroom. Matt's eyes widened as he stood up and raced to the bathroom.

"Ted? What the hell just happened?"

"Uh...I'm fine. You might not want to come in here. I'll clean it up, don't worry."