Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction, there's no resemblance to actual persons or events or places. If so, it is utterly not intended. I do NOT own Monster High, or anything to do with it. Thank you. :)

A / n: As usual, you guys rock my socks right off! Now we have a total of 40 reviews! Yay, that's awesome. You guys honestly make writing this story so worth it. The feedback is what keeps the creative juices flowing and thanks again for doing so. Just a quick note, I did lots of research on Jackson's exact family tree, how Heath's related, etc. (I don't want this to be 'like the books' because if I had that intention, I'd have posted it in a different section, this is the cartoon section which therefore is pretty different from the books). So I've made up some tidbits here and there and took information from the cartoon / webisodes here and there. Nothing is set in stone ;D and there is no specific time frame, none of that. It's just a story my co - writer and I came up with the idea for and are having a great time writing! We hope to hear more reviews from you guys! Please enjoy the chapter!

Cast In Stone

Chapter Eight

It turned out Mrs. Bloodgood had taken the afternoon off. She of course deserved it once in awhile and the school always ran so smoothly, she didn't feel the need to be replaced if she had to leave for a half day. Mr. Where searched around the staff room, coincidentally the only teacher in there was Mr. Hackington. "Hack… I need a moment of your time, please. This absolutely cannot wait."

Hack raised an eyebrow, "You sound serious. Sad… desperate perhaps?"

Mr. Where gave a slow, sad nod. "It seems as though you revealing your concerns were that of foreshadowing my dear friend and not a moment too early."

"I don't like the sound of that… what happened, Where?" He asked bluntly.

Meanwhile Mr. Where was still trying to find the words to describe it delicately. "Under normal circumstances, I am never at a loss for words… but now, I feel like I want to speak… but I have nothing but silence in mind."

Mr. Hackington put down his coffee, looking to the other teacher skeptically. "Please, don't speak in riddles now. What's going on?"

Mr. Where hung his head down solemnly, "I… was invisible in the hallway, Heath bursted into the hallway suddenly from the creepateeria, startling me – so I turned invisible… and I noticed he seemed very upset. Then he just so happened to bump into Mr. Clawd Wolf. With some tears and hesitation… he spilled what was wrong. He told Clawd that Jackson… our dear Jackson… had the direct attempt…" how could he word this softly? Was there a possible way to do so? "at taking his own life."

Mr. Hackington didn't say anything, but if he had something in his hands it would've fallen to the floor as he entered shock. "Please," he begged softly to Mr. Where. "please tell me he didn't succeed…"

Mr. Where couldn't have been happier feeling inside to tell him that and it be the exact truth. "He didn't… he didn't take his life, but he did still attempt to. He's residing in the hospital now… unconscious – that's what I could get for the most part out of the conversation. Clawd very kindly offered to drive Heath there so he could visit. It seemed like you bringing things up with Headmistress wasn't a moment too soon."

Hack gave another slow nod. "Yes… I just, my poor boy. He just… attempted… not to live anymore?"

Mr. Where nodded, "I will let you know more as soon as I myself do. I promise it, Hack." He honestly wasn't surprised seeing Mr. Hackington react to this news as if he were a blood related parent to him. Most all the staff knew that Jackson was highly respected and adored by him and of course vice verse.

"Thank you, Where. I'll be… lingering around. Thank you. You will tell Mrs. Bloodgood, won't you? I… I can hardly bare to think about it." He told the other, much solemn manner spreading about.

Mr. Where nodded, "Of course… but as far as students, or anyone goes – this is strictly confidential until we have all the required answers and proper knowledge to distribute."

Hack watched the other teacher leave, taking that moment to let his own emotions out. It was much too close a call. Too close a call indeed.

"Would… uh, would it be cool if… I came, in too?" Clawd asked Heath hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He wasn't sure what the other would say. Sure they weren't extremely close; Clawd and Jackson, but the thought of never having gotten the chance to known him and now coming so close in losing him to suicide truly did scare him.

Heath looked to Clawd skeptically, "You seriously want to come in and see Jackson?"

Clawd shifted his gaze downward, shoving his hands in the pockets of his hoodie as he gave his big shoulders a shrug. "Well, why not?"

Heath gave a sigh, it was very chilly out at the moment and he was feeling rather cold. He suddenly narrowed his eyes, "Because Clawd, it would seem really… fake of you – in my eyes. If I were in Jackson's position, that's how I'd see it." Before waiting to see if Clawd was even paying attention, he continued on anyway. "I mean, yesterday he was still feeling in pain… no one cared then. But because he attempted to take his life, now everyone's going to notice? Now everyone is going to 'get to know him' to try ease their own conscience? Please, how damn fake is that?" He then went on once more, "Here, lemme answer that for you - very."

The older male knew exactly where Heath was coming from and he couldn't blame him one bit. "You're absolutely right Heath, but I have my reasons and I have spoken to Jackson on quite a few occasions, I know his name. So, may I proceed?"

Heath was slightly taken aback, but he was glad he was and that Clawd cared enough to stand his ground. "Yes, and thank you Clawd."

Before either of the two could say another word, a tall, handsome man stepped out of the hospital doors. Clawd took one look at the man's deep red hair, then glanced at Heath. "Hey dad," Heath greeted, no where near as happy as he would normally sound. "uh, how's Jackson doing?"

Isaac's brown eyes seemed to be rather dull just at the mere mentioning of his nephew, noting the current circumstances. "Well, when your mother and I got here we convinced your aunt to go home and get some sleep. I told her we'd call her if there were any changes or updates. She was a mess, shaking… crying, trying to tell us it was her fault." He stopped his point, looking to Clawd. "Hello. You are?"

Clawd gave a nod in acknowledgement. "Clawd Wolf, sir. I brought Heath here and… I was hoping I could visit with the n- uh, Jackson."

Heath watched as Isaac gave Clawd a skeptical look, almost identical to the one he often gave, "Well, I won't begrudge it. But you'd best have nothing but the purest of intentions, or else. Understood?"

Clawd could see where Heath got his protective yet angered side from – of course he had no idea that the actual fire attributed parent Heath took after, was not his father but his mother. "Yes sir, completely understood."

Isaac looked to Heath, who gave a nod of reassurance. "Alright, both of you… follow me." He had almost forgotten that Clawd Wolf was with them as he started up conversation again. "Apparently, my sister decided it'd be a great idea… to have Jackson tag along, on a visit to the asylum. I've told her time and time again until her husband and his father shows signs of being very stable, Jackson and Ho- uh, he just shouldn't be anywhere near him. That's not fair to him, having to hear those hurtful comments coming directly from his own flesh and blood… his own father..."

Clawd was just letting this information sink in. Jackson's biological father… was in an insane asylum? That was some seriously deep shit. He never would've known that had he not been there right now.

Heath looked to his father, very curiously. "What… did he say?"

Isaac sighed heavily, "Oh you know, the same thing every single time Jackson visits. The whole, 'You're dead to me' and 'I have no son' and 'You're nothing but a disgrace' and Jackson being the 'Demon child from the true depths of hell' and so on. I'm surprised this is Jackson's first attempt to be honest with you, I know I'd have attempted a lot sooner. It's not right Heath, Jackson having to live with the fact that… he doesn't exist to his own father and his mother wants things to go right back to normal as soon as possible… but I don't think they ever will and she's not letting that go. She's living in the past and it's hurting Jackson deeply. It's only creating a cut that's getting deeper and deeper until - surprise, he snapped." Isaac ran a hand through his soft hair. He then shook his head, his arm dropping to the side with a shrug of his strong shoulders. "I could discuss this with my sister until I'm blue in the face but it just won't set in… as sad as it seems, maybe now this incident… will clear her mind a little bit more." That seemed to be a good place to end this part of the rant for now.

Heath gave a nod, he glanced to Clawd for a moment, then to his father. "It seems sad that for a point to be proven, someone needed to be sacrificed. I'm glad he didn't succeed… I just, love him too much to let him go."

Isaac nodded, "Of course, as do your mother and I Heath. We all love Jackson and, well – dearly. But is it selfish of us to keep him alive, only for him to live in misery?"

What Heath's father had said, really stung in Clawd's mind. He did have a point, even though they didn't want to lose Jackson… he was apparently suffering inside. Enough. A lot – to attempt something like suicide. Could he get better and move on from it? Would there be more attempts? Clawd felt his heart stop just at the thought.

Heath lightly shrugged, "Yeah… you're right. I just, dad... I'm not ready to let him go. Not now…"

They stopped just short of the room Jackson was residing in. Isaac reached out and gently pulled Heath into a hug, rubbing his back gently. "I know, I know… me neither. Heath… I'm preparing you, he's a little wired for sound." He lightly chuckled at the pun. "Y'know, IV's and stuff… human stuff." He looked over to Clawd and inquisitively asked, "Are you ready?"

Clawd took in a shaky breath, letting it out finally. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Well - review, review, review please! It's greatly appreciated, as always!

P.s. Cliffhanger much? ;D don't hate me though, more to come soon!