A/N: I am so sorry that I haven't updated this in ages; life has been hectic and to be honest I had a really bad case of writers block. Thank you to those who still read this ff I appreciate your patience. So here it is...

Chapter 4

The race to get to Jessi felt like hours to Kyle when in reality it was only minutes; but those few minutes, however, were very hazy with his mind frozen in fear that Jessi was slipping away from him. Leaving him alone in this world and taking with her apart of him with her leaving him incomplete. Unable to function Kyle sat at the base of the tree with Jessi in his arms rocking back and forth, whispering her name over and over again like a spell trying to bring her back to him and failing miserably.

It was Foss who shook him out of his catatonic state "Kyle what are you doing. We have to get out of here and get Jessi help." Grabbing hold of his shoulders Foss shook Kyle back into reality "Kyle she's still alive, just badly injured and if we don't get her out of here soon she's going to get worse and she could possible die. Damn it snap out of it, I need your help!."

Jerking his head round Kyle stared sightlessly at Foss with his words finally registering in his mind "help...we need need to get her to the hospital..." looking down into her battered face he gently stroked her hair speaking softly "Jessi Jessi can you hear please hang on we're going to get you some help" pleaded Kyle hoping for a sign that she heard him.

The answer to his prayers came in form of a twitch of her hand, not much but to Kyle in that moment it was everything. It was all he needed to propel him into action. Picking up Jessi as gently as he could Kyle started to carry her out of the woods and to their car.

"We need to take her to the hospital, she's got too many injuries that need immediate attention and I can't heal her myself, it would take too long for me to heal just one of her injuries. The rest of her injuries could kill her before I even finished healing one of her injuries let alone get to them all" he informed Foss who walked beside him with their prisoner slung over his shoulder passed out.

"No Kyle we can't take Jessi to a hospital that would only cause them to ask questions and call in the police, plus too a hospital would leave her open to another attack for whom ever hired this guy. They could come back to finish what they started, there's now way we could protect Jessi and your secret at the hospital."

"I don't care!" shouted Kyle "Jessi needs help fast she could be dying, we will just have to deal with whatever comes up when it happens. All I care about is Jessi and her recovery and then we can deal with everything else."

"Kyle stop and listen. I never said that we couldn't get Jessi help I said that we couldn't go to the local hospital; we're going to get her some help but just not from a hospital. I have a buddy I'm going to call, he runs a clinic. He owes me. We can take Jessi there. It will be safer and she will get the treatment she needs" reasoned Foss.

"Ok but lets hurry she's still unconscious."

With Kyle agreeing to take Jessi to the clinic Foss got out his phone to make the necessary arrangements with Dylan. Foss knew that Kyle was ruled by his emotions but lately his emotions seemed to be bringing out a darker side of Kyle that he had never seen before. He didn't know if this was good or bad but he knew that he would have to keep a closer eye on Kyle from now on making sure he doesn't do anything reckless.

Arriving at the car Foss proceeded to put their prisoner in the boot whilst Kyle carefully laid Jessi on the backseat of the SUV trying as best as he could not to make her injuries any worse. Going round Kyle sat himself in the back with Jessi's head in his lap waiting for Foss to start the car, looking down at Jessi Kyle was once again reminded just how badly she was hurt, one of her eyes was starting to swell up and her jaw was turning into different shades of purple. Stroking her face Kyle wished that he and Jessi had had a normal childhood with loving parents and the only thing they had to worry about is where they were going to go to college, instead they had to worry about a secret organisation of scientist trying to kidnap and attack not on them but also those that they loved. It was starting to get too much for Kyle; he hated seeing those he loved hurt especially Jessi who had been through so much in her short life, it had to stop.

Pulling up to the entrance of the private clinic Foss jumped out of the car and raced to open the passenger side door; Jessi's breathing had gotten steadily worse as they had made the ride over to the clinic jolting her into consciousness in order to catch her breath causing her now to wheeze from what he assumed was a puncture lung. Gently taking her from Kyle Foss turned and was glad to see Dylan, a couple of nurses and a stretcher waiting for them at the entrance.

"Tom" greeted Dylan "What have you got for me?"

"Female, 17, she was attacked and she was unconscious for at least 15 minutes or so and in the last 5 minutes she started to wheeze like she can't get enough oxygen." Reported Foss giving Dylan a look that clearly stated that that's all he was going to get concerning who Jessi was and what happened to her.

Knowing Foss Dylan shrugged good naturedly getting the message, turning back to Jessi who was now on the stretcher before him he offered her a friendly smile.

"Hi my name is Dylan, I need you to relax and let me take care of you." "Ok people lets move I want an MRI, CT and an EKG stat" he ordered on the run.

As Dylan rushed Jessi inside Foss turned to Kyle "are you going to be ok here for a little while by yourself because I need to secure our friend in the boot before anybody notices the thumping" he pointed to the noise coming from the boot of the SUV.

"I will be back as soon as I have secured him so keep me updated."

Moving quickly to the driver's side Foss got in and drove off as the thumps and the curses from the boot got louder causing a few heads to turn in their direction.

Having been shown to the waiting room Kyle couldn't stand not knowing what was going on with Jessi, never before feeling this worried and anxious made his powers hard to control. The lights kept flickering on and off with the occasional fluorescent light bulb exploding. Knowing that he had to get back control over his abilities before someone came to investigate the flickering lights and the noise coming from the room, Kyle stopped pacing and decide that he need to focus his nervous energy.

Knowing that only news of Jessi's condition would be the antidote to his lack of control and agitation, Kyle concentrated on the noise in the clinic until he found the voice he was looking for. Dylan's. Focusing on Dylan's voice he listened to Dylan barking out orders as he treated Jessi.

"Her stomach is ridged...there might be some internal bleeding...page for a consult..."

"Her BP is crashing..."

"Forget the page; let's take her straight up to surgery..."

Jessi's need for surgery broke Kyle's concentration and instead of knowledge on her condition and that she was getting treated calming him down it caused him even more worry bring tears to his eyes. Not knowing how he would cope, Kyle thought of the one person who he needed to help him through this and be strong for Jessi, Nicole.

Pulling out his phone Kyle dialled home.

Deciding that everybody needed to eat whilst they waited for word on Kyle and Jessi Nicole started to make lunch for everybody. Her movements confident and sure masked the turmoil in her mind; flashes of different dangerous scenarios were playing in through it like a movie with the ending always the same no matter what the scenario was - she would always lose one of her children. Like Kyle she had come to think of Jessi as one of her children becoming just as fiercely protective of her as she was for any of her other children, maybe even more so given all that she had been through in her short life.

Once she had finished preparing the sandwiches Nicole began to set the table before calling the family in, setting extra places for Kyle and Jessi just in case they arrived in time, unhurt and ready for lunch. Where they would all sit down and laugh at how they worried over nothing and the next time Jessi was late or decided to cut her connection with Kyle she had to call or let someone know where she was so they didn't worry.

Sighing Nicole wished life could be that simple and uneventful. Looking one more time at the clock she shook her head at her wistfulness before heading back into the lounge to announce that lunch was ready. Stopping when the phone started ringing, frozen for a second she sent up a pray to god that it was either Jessi or Kyle before answering.

"Hello" whispered Nicole

"Nicole its Kyle, Foss and I found Jessi. She was attacked and she's badly injured and I don't know what to do" answered the scared voice of Kyle.

"Oh God! Where are you, are you ok, are you guys safe?" demanded Nicole, jumping when a hand rubbed gently across her back. Turning she came face to face with her husband who had snuck up behind her when the phone rang. He too had hoped that it was either Kyle or Jessi with good news but from the look on her face he knew that their prayers hadn't been answered.

"Is that Kyle?" asked Stephen. Nodding her head was all the only answer she gave as she tried to wrap her head around the situation.

Listening intently Nicole tried to block everyone else out as Amanda and her children flung questions at her, turning away from her family she tired to make sense of what Kyle was saying.

"Jessi was attacked, she's badly injured Nicole and I couldn't reach her. I tried but the connection was barely there, I can feel her slipping away from me. Its bad Nicole "mumbled Kyle.

"Oh God. Where are you, what hospital we'll be right there."

"We couldn't take her to a hospital; Foss said that they would ask too many questions and call the police. We're at a private clinic on 35th avenue downtown called the Drayton Medical Centre; Foss has a friend in the clinic who knows not to ask any questions" stated Kyle.

"Ok we're on our way, just stay there, we'll be there as soon as possible."

"Please Hurry Nicole..." trailed Kyle.

"Kyle, listen to me, we'll be there as soon as we can but you have to hold on and remember how strong and determined Jessi is. She's the strongest person we know and after everything she's been through she's survived. She can definitely survive this with our help. You just hang on and be strong and we'll be there as soon as we can."

"Ok I will. Bye" replied Kyle with more conviction.

Looking at Steven with tears in her eyes Nicole stepped into his arms and started to cry, "Jessi's been attacked and from Kyle said its bad Steven, very bad. God why can't they leave them alone, they're kids for god sake!"She sobbed.

"I don't know, I don't know Nicole. What I do know is that like you told Kyle Jessi has a very strong and determine will to survive and if anybody can pull through this it's her." Rubbing her back Steven steered her towards the hall to get his keys and coat.

Standing up straighter Nicole grabbed her coat "your right, your definitely right we've survived everything they've thrown at us and come through the other end. We're definitely going to survive this."

"Lori, Josh get your coats Jessi has been attacked and Kyle needs us" finding her children already in their coats she then turned to Steven, " Kyle said that they couldn't take Jessi to the hospital because they ask too many questions that we cant afford to answer right know, so Foss took then to a private clinic on 35th Avenue called the Drayton Medical Centre, do you know where it is."

"I'll drive" stated a nodding Steven grabbing his keys and heading towards the door running into Amanda in the process. "Oh sorry Amanda, I forgot you here. Ummm maybe you should head on home and we'll let you know what happens."

Instead of obeying meekly Amanda squared her shoulders and looked directly at Steven and the rest of the Trager family "I'd like to come with you if that's ok. Kyle might need me."

Wearily the Tragers agreed putting aside their reservations about Amanda, Jessi and Kyle's triangle focusing all their energy on getting to Kyle and Jessi.

Pulling out of the drive way none of the Tragers or Amanda saw the black Mercedes parked across from the house start up and follow.

Pacing up and down feeling frustrated Kyle kept trying to reach Jessi through their link but everytime he thought he felt her through their connection it slipped from his grasp and fizzled out. The silence was starting to fray on his nerves making his movements jerky and agitated; until this moment Kyle never realised how much he needed the connection he and Jessi shared it brought him a sense of peace and belonging, and now without it it felt like he had misplaced a much needed vital organ.

Kyle was so agitated and worried that he failed to notice Amanda and the rest of his family hurrying down the corridor towards him, only noticing them when Nicole put her arms around him in comfort.

"Kyle what's happening, where's Jessi, have you talked to the doctors yet?" were the questions fired rapidly at him from Steven alerting him to the rest of the families presence.

Finally able to rest a bit now that his family had arrived Kyle took a cleansing breath and faced his family with fear in his eyes, "they had to rush Jessi into surgery and I haven't heard anything since they took her in. I heard them talking about how she was bleeding internally."

"Oh god" cried Lori softly.

"Lets not get historical" came Steven's voice of reason "let me go and see if I can find a doctor for an update on Jessi's condition" stated Steven manoeuvring the family into seats inside the waiting them sitting huddled together Steven quickly left to find s nurse or a doctor to get an update knowing that they were all praying for a positive report.

Lucky for Kyle and the rest of the family they didn't have to wait long as the morose silence was starting to suffocate the occupants, all of them showing different signs of stress from the need to wait. Josh started to produce a nervous tick in his leg that was getting on Lori's nerves, whilst Kyle's constant pacing was starting to make Amanda feel dizzy and after numerous unsuccessful tries to get Kyle to calm down and take a seat Amanda realised that soon her only options were going to be either step outside or dash into the bathroom to be sick. Compared to her children, however, Nicole projected an aura of calmness to the other occupants of the room, little did they know that in her mind Nicole had lapsed back into her forgotten religion and was promising god everything and anything to get Jessi through this.

Walking back into the room Steven quickly took stock of his family, noticing how much they had all grown not only in size but also in maturity and in that second he knew that he would do anything to keep them together. Coming to the realisation that they were only surviving Latnok's attacks; they were constantly on the defensive and it was costing them. They would have to change their approach if they every wanted to lead semi normal lives, he would have to talk to Kyle about taking a new approach once Jessi was well.

"I've spoken to a nurse and she said that they won't be much longer and that once Jessi is settled in recovery the doctor will come and talk to us" announced Steven when they look up with the question in their eyes. Taking a seat next to Nicole Steven with the rest of the family and Amanda waited.

To Lori it felt like they had been waiting for hours but in realty it was just under an hour when the doctor stepped into the room. Springing up from their seats together they all asked the same questions.

"Hows Jessi?"

"When can we see her?"

Surprised to see so many in the waiting having expected just Foss and the young man with him Dylan was momentarily startled by the rest of the Tragers presence. Quickly switching back to doctor mode Dylan addressed Nicole and Steven who he assumed were Jessi's parents"I take it that all of you are the young ladies family and that her name is Jessi." Receiving nods from everyone except the blonde girl Dylan stepped further into the room.

"Right well Jessi came into the clinic unconscious and upon examination we found that she had four cracked ribs one of which pierced her lung, a broken left leg, a concussion that worried us and her stomach was ridged with fluid, that lead us to believe that she was bleeding internally. We rushed her straight to theatre for surgery; there we re-inflated her lung which had collapsed and then we had to remove her spleen as this was the cause of her internal bleeding. Whilst we were there we notice that her kidneys are also bruised but luckily they did not require any surgery. We set her right leg and put it into a cast up to her knee she'll have that for at least 6 weeks, and when I left they were taking Jessi into recovery where she will be for a couple of days until she stabilises. Unfortunately Jessi has gone into a coma due to the head trauma that she sustained in her accident and we'll know the extent of her condition once we get the CT scans back."

Seeing the devastated looks on their faces Dylan tried to give them a bit of hope and encouragement.

"You can see her in a little while however only one person at a time can go into the recovery suite, but you can all be with her together in a couple of days when we move her into her own room."

Turning to Kyle "do you know where Tom is by any chance, I need to have a few words with him" asked Dylan.

Looking uncomfortable for a second the young man answered "No sorry I don't but he said he would be back soon."

"Ok then but if you see him first please let him know that I want to talk to him. For now I'm going to check on Jessi and then ill have a nurse come fetch you once she's settled in recovery."

Leaving them to check in with is patient Dylan wondered what Foss had dragged him into this time, it couldn't be anything good.

Kyle was still filtering everything the doctor had said when Lori burst into tears; the seriousness of Jessi's injuries and the situation finally impacting her driving home the point not just to her, but also to the rest of the family that Kyle and Jessi were not invincible they could be hurt along with the fact that Latnok was a very real dangerous presence in their lives.

"Kyle can't you heal Jessi like you did with Andy and mom" Josh asked and by the looks of the rest of the family they were all wondering the same thing; could Kyle heal Jessi and bring her out of her coma.

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