Chapter 9 "Trying, Failing, and Trying Again"

The trip home was, in reality, short, but to the Loonatics, it seemed like an eternity before they reached Acmetropolis. All of them were unusually quiet, even Rev.

Cassidy bravely tried to swallow her tears so she could help the others. Ace suggested that she take Tech's spot, beside him. "Because someone needs to be there," He claimed, but he actually wanted to keep an eye on the younger girl. He knew how close she and Tech were, and he understood how she felt. Every once in a while, Ace would reach over and squeeze her shoulder encouragingly.
Much to the other Loonatics' relief and joy, Tech began breathing again. All their hopes soared, but when a week passed and Tech's condition had not raised above 'critical,' they were beginning to run out of it.

The accident had affected Cassidy and Rev the most. Both of them refused to leave the med lab. They had not eaten or slept since they reached Acmetropolis. Cassidy had returned to the state she was in during her first months as a Loonatic. She barely spoke, but pretended that everything was fine so that the others wouldn't worry. But, they were too smart to fall for it. Rev, also, became unusually silent. His voice had lost its bright, cheery tone and its unbelievable speed.

Ace hesitated before entering the med-lab. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. It wouldn't be for any of them, and it hadn't been. "Rev? Cassidy? You guys wanna come out for a bit?"

"No thanks, Ace." Rev replied, his voice slow.

"Okay, I know that the past few days have not been great, but you two have to come out. Look at yourselves! You're thin as twigs!"

"I doesn't matter.." Cassidy answered.

Slam reached out and grabbed Cassidy's arm, trying to bring her with him. Cassidy's eyes sparked a bit as she tried to pull against the Tasmanian devil. But it was no use, and Cassidy bowed her head and turned away from them. "Please, Slam. I... I can't."

Duck nudged Slam's arm, and Slam let go of Cassidy.

"It was my fault, Ace." Cassidy said simply.

"No, you can't blame yourself." Ace insisted.

"Yes, it is! You weren't there! You didn't see what happened!" Cassidy sobbed.

Ace placed his hand on Cassidy's shoulder. "Well, then, tell me."

Cassidy took a deep breath before talking. "Andrew threatened to kill Tech and my family if I didn't hand myself over to him. I... I didn't know what to do. I refused. Andrew got angry. He came close to killing me several times when Tech stepped in to stop him. Andrew fired at me. At me, Ace! That shot shoudn't of hit Tech, it should have hit me! Tech pushed me out of the way before it did. I could have done something. I could have jumped out of the way before Tech had to rescue me, but I didn't! I hesitated. Froze. Thanks to me, Tech might die!"

Ace was about to say something when Duck interrupted him. "Cassidy, if that shot had hit you, you would have been killed instantly. Tech knew that. He also knew that if he was hit, there would be a small chance of him surviving. And he was willing to take it for you because he cares about you... And so do we. Besides, you've seen his vital signs. Heck, we all have. There's a chance he might make it."

Ace, Lexi, Rev, and Slam stared at Duck blankly for a minute. Cassidy thought for a few minutes before looking up at Duck. "You're right. All of you are right. I need to stop blaming myself and focus on helping Tech."

Lexi smiled and hugged Cassidy."That's our Cassidy."

For the first time since they had left Sari, she smiled. "And Tech was right, too."

"How?"

"You guys really are the best friends anyone could ask for. Thanks."

"You've told us that before." Lexi pointed out.

"Because it's true. You guys don't know how much you mean to me. You guys let me in, treated me like family, which is something I barely got as a kid. You helped me out when I was stuck. You gave me something important in my life. And I can't thank you guys enough for it."

"Hey, it's what friends do, help each other out." Ace said. "Are you sure that you don't want to come out?"

Rev just nodded. Cassidy joined him.

"Positive? Cause there's someone who wants to talk to you, Cassidy."

"My father?" She guessed.

Ace rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... yeah."

"I'm sorry, Ace. But, I just can't... I'm not ready to face him. Not yet."

Ace nodded slowly. "I understand." He turned around and led the others out the door.

"Wait!" She called after them. They glanced back at her curiously. "There's something I want you to know. If... if Tech doesn't make it... I'm going back to Sari."

The other Loonatics exchanged worried glances but nodded, then left the room.

But, Zadavia stayed behind, having seen a picture frame on one of the desks. The picture was of Tech, Rev and Cassidy. Rev and Cassidy were laughing, but Tech was trying not to, but failing at the same time.

"You and Tech were really close?" Zadavia noted, glancing at the picture frame before handing it to Rev.

"Yeah, he was my best freind." Rev said slowly. He stared at the picture before passing it to Cassidy.

Cassidy took one look at the picture and had to turn away. A gnawing pain grew in her stomach, and she felt like her heart was being torn. Rev, understanding, put it back on the shelf. Zadavia and Rev exchanged worried glances. "Cassidy? Is there something you want to talk about?"

There was a long pause. Cassidy was trying to decide how to tell them. Finally, she gave in. "I love him."

Rev blinked. He was so confused, he bagan stuttering. "Yoo..ou.. llloove... Te... Tech?"

Cassidy nodded. "For a very long time."

"Why didn't you tell him?" Zadavia questioned.

"I was afraid. Afraid he didn't feel the same. Afraid of messing up our freindship, and somehow affecting the team..." Tears welled up in Cassidy's eyes. "But now..."

Zadavia felt something pulling on her heart. She hesitated before reaching out and hugging Cassidy tightly. Cassidy felt extremely weirded out, her boss giving her a hug, but her emotions conquered the slight wierdness she felt. Zadavia, sensing that Cassidy felt ackward, let go.

Cassidy smiled appreciatively at her. Then she glanced at Rev. "I'm so sorry, Rev. Tech told me that you were his best friend. He told me about the times when you helped him fix something he couldn't, how your attitude cheered him up sometimes."

Rev half-smiled. "Thanks. Tech used to tell me the same stuff about you. I guess that's why us three made a great team in the lab."

Her gaze turned to Tech's unconcsious body. She slipped her hand into Tech's and squeezed it, trying to keep herself from crying again. 'Oh, Tech, I'm so sorry. How could I have let my brother do this to you?

As if by magic, Cassidy felt her hand being squeezed, and a rough, weak voice answer her, as though it was reading her thoughts. "It wasn't your fault, Cass."

(END CHAPTER)

-GASPS- COULD IT BE? IS TECH ALLRIGHT? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, 'EVERYDAY!'