I'm sorry for the long wait, you guys! Most of you know I was in Yellowstone, then when I got back I had volleyball tryouts, then practice, then….Anyway, I do still love you, but I'm not on this site because I have free time! XD I hope you enjoy.

At about eight AM, Sherman slipped into the infirmary. He found Vert slumped over in the chair next to Agura's cot, sleeping soundly. Sherman shook his head, easily picking up Vert and carrying him into his room. He had to feel for his leader, he thought, gently laying him down on his own bed. To be a leader and lose anyone on your team was awful, but for Vert to lose someone like Agura…it was heart-wrenching.

If only there was something we could do...

But there wasn't. Sage had researched everything; there was no known cure. He and Tezz had personally dived into the databanks.

There was nothing. No way to save her, no way to help the pain.

Nothing.

Just like he feared their team would be once she was gone.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tezz nervously checked his watch.10:57 AM. Most of his teammates would still be taking advantage of the lack of training and sleeping in, but he planned to take full advantage of the solitude. He entered the infirmary, slipping over to Agura's cot. He checked her monitors; thankfully the vitals were normal.

"Agura?" He awkwardly nudged her shoulder, trying to wake her up as gently as possible. Agura tried to roll over, but due to the IV he was forced to restrain her.

"Mm…" She fought his grip, but Tezz couldn't let her adjust her position. Finally, Agura's eyes opened, bleary with sleep. "Oh. Hi, Tezz."

"Uhm, hello, Agura." He stated uneasily. Tezz hadn't known Agura for very long, and surely their bond wasn't nearly as strong as the ones between the primary members of the team, but he felt he had to say goodbye all the same.

"What's up?" She yawned.

"Well, I wanted to express my sorrows for your, ah, condition." He began awkwardly. "I want you to know that Sherman and I have tried to find a cure, and we both regret that we were not able to succeed." He paused for a second; it all felt too forced. Tezz launched into another point in his farewell.

"Statistically, you have attained nearly twenty-seven percent off the Battle Keys. We would not have been able to capture the Magmatrox without your help or hunting ability, not to mention numerous other assists. You have clearly…" Tezz's voice cracked. "Been a valuable asset to the team, and I wish…" He trailed off, unable to go on. Agura surprised him by taking his hand.

"It's okay, Tezz. I'll miss you too."

Tezz was startled. How had she known...A tear formed in the corner of his eye, and he shamefully brushed it away. Agura gave him a warm smile, and his chest ached.

What would they do without her?

All statistics forgotten, Tezz looked into the face of his dying friend and did something that shocked even him; an emotion he hadn't felt for others in a longer time than he could remember.

Tezz began to cry. Small tears that slid down his cheek, he apologized over and over again to Agura, desperately trying to make it up to her. She comforted him, and they shared that small moment where emotions were finally just let loose. Agura had never seen Tezz like this, and it was killing her. She hated this; hated dying, hated seeing her teammates in such despair. And for some odd reason, she was the one who had to be strong. And being the mother, she was okay with that. Tezz sniffled, a sad, forlorn noise, and her throat tightened.

"Thank you." He said softly, standing to go. "I…I will miss you. It was an honor fighting by your side."

"Ditto." Agura smiled as he left. Hot tears burned in her eyes, then turned to rage. She wanted out. She loathed being laid up, wires plugged in everywhere, unable to move or doing anything for herself. Her plan was not to die here. If anything, it would be in battle, remembered at her fiercest. Instead, she would pass like a helpless cripple, and, in all crude honesty?

It sucked.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Stanford came in next, to rouse her from wallowing. He was holding his speakers, iPod and a checkerboard.

"Wanna play?" He asked, as if they were sitting in the diner. To some, it may have seemed thoughtless, but for Agura it was exactly what she needed. Normalcy.

"Yes." She answered immediately, and they set up the board. Agura couldn't reach very far, and she was forced to let Stanford help her with some of the checkers. After just a few minutes, she could tell that he was intentionally losing.

"Stanford! Quit trying to lose!" She laughed, hitting him. Stanford blushed, trying to hide it.

"I am not trying to lose!" He defended.

"Yes you are!"

"Please! Why would royalty ever try to lose?"

"I don't know about royalty, but you, on the other hand-"

"Oh, are you saying I'm not royalty?"

"If the peasant clothing fits…."

Sherman laughed as he walked by the infirmary. It was almost nice to hear those two at it again.

"Oh, peasant clothing? Coming from you, that's hardly an insult!"

"And coming from you, I can't even tell when the compliments stop and the insults begin!"

"Oh, I'll give you an insult alright!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

They both pretended to stare each other down for a moment, holding in the laughter, when suddenly tears came out instead. They were caught between laughing and crying; they had argued like siblings and would miss each other too much for words.

But actions are worth more anyway.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

After Stanford left, Agura realized he had left his iPod. She tried calling for him, but he was far gone, so she switched it on. The previous song had just ended, and it switched to a new one.

A/N: This song is sad, but beautiful somehow too and EVERAHBODY SHOULD LISTEN TO IT! XD jk :) I don't own.

If I die young,

Bury me in satin

Lay me down on a, bed of roses.

Sink me in the river

At dawn.

Send me away with the words of a love song.

Agura shook her head. The iPod was on shuffle, but really? Still, it was a pleasant song, and she had nothing better to do.

Lord make me a rainbow; I'll shine down on my mother.

She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors,

Oh, and, life ain't always what you think it oughtta be, no.

Ain't even gray but she buries her baby.

This line made her want to cry all over again. Her parents had stopped in twice already this morning; if it was hard on her she couldn't imagine how they must have felt.

Dying was worse when you had to watch your loved ones suffer more than you did.

Agura drifted off here, having heard the song hundreds of times, but tuned back in a bit later.

I've never known the loving of a man but

it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand.

These words couldn't have rung truer.

There's a, boy here in town

says he'll love me forever.

Well, she thought. Not yet.

What were Vert's feelings? With him finally getting some sleep, she couldn't help but raise the question. Agura had half a mind to ask him herself, but it was possible that would just lead to disappointment.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

AJ had stopped in earlier for checkers, even letting her adjust the thermostat in a show of true sacrifice. Together she and Spinner were now watching Will Ferrell movies. They had discovered a mutual love of the actor ever since Christmas, when she had walked in on him watching Elf, the same movie they were viewing together now. At first, Agura had argued, saying it was only a Christmas movie, but Spinner had persuaded her that it was a classic, so here they were, quoting and laughing at every line.

"God I love this movie!" Spinner laughed.

"Me too." Agura grinned, for once glad to have the comedian around. After all, they say laughter is the best medicine.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vert walked down the hall. He saw his teammates walk past him, silent as ghosts. He lifted his hand, said a hello, but received no acknowledgement. He knew something was deathly wrong. They were coming from the infirmary.

Oh, God, please no!

Vert began running, faster than he thought he could, but the air was like murky water, pushing against him, restraining him. He finally broke through the haze, running into the door.

Agura wasn't there. Sage was by the cot-side, cleaning up machines.

"Sage?" He yelled, desperate. "SAGE?" She didn't turn, didn't hear him. Vert's heart pounded in his chest. He sprinted out again, down to the center of the Hub. He found Tezz, testing a new invention. He didn't care. The Tangler was gone.

"Where is it?" He screamed at Tezz, needing someone to respond.

"She took it." He said blankly, not even moving. Vert knew where he needed to go, dashing to the elevator. As he entered the garage, he saw the Tangler idling just outside.

"Agura!" His heart leapt into his throat. The Tangler slowly began to drive away. "Wait, Agura! Agura? AGURA, NO!" He screamed, pushing his body to catch her. Finally, Vert collapsed on the hard desert ground, tears burning in his eyes. He heard the engine give one final roar and lifted his head.

The Tangler had disappeared. It wasn't in the horizon, too far for him to catch. It was simply...gone. Vanished.

"Bye, Vert."

Her voice. Ringing in his ears. Vert clutched his chest, falling again to his knees.

He hadn't even said goodbye...

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vert awoke in a cold sweat; his sheets tangled around his legs, entrapping them. Heart pounding, he immediately sat up, freeing himself from the sheets and darting out of his room. Vert's legs pounded the ground as he sprinted with only one goal: her.

It was just a dream, but he needed to be sure. He couldn't let her go.

"Agura?" Vert shouted upon entering. She sat up in the cot, startled.

"Vert?"

"Oh thank God!" He cried, running over and kneeling next to her. "I-I had the worst dream, and….I'm just so glad you're okay!"

"Vert…" Agura laughed, shaking her head. "What is going on?"

"Agura." He took her hand, looking straight into her eyes.

"I love you."

And then all hell broke loose.