WOOHOO NEW CHAPTER DONE AFTER BEING STUCK FOR A FEW WEEKS! I got another one at least started, I'm gonna edit it around and figure some things out to see where it goes and will post it as soon as I can finish it.

Till then hope you enjoy this new chapter!

Henry was having a hard time focusing. First off he recently learned that he was drafted and only had a few weeks left in the studio… second was the declining health of both Susie and Boris's voice actor, Mike. It made Henry's blood boil especially with what happened to Nick a year ago.

The animator didn't want to tell any of the toons what he saw with Nick… He didn't want them to feel like they were to blame for it after all. It wasn't their fault how they were brought into the world… it was Joey's.

He's been playing with that book for too long… Henry thought with a scowl, his eyes narrowed at the work that was on his desk but not focusing on the paper… nor the tall wolf that entered his room.

"Henry? You alright?" Boris asked, his ears lowering at the angry look on the animator's face. Henry blinked in surprised and slowly he replaced the anger he had towards his friend with a smile towards the wolf.

"Just the stress getting to me bud. What's up?" Henry asked, trying to change the conversation to something else… Boris didn't seem to want to change it though.

"Stress about what? Did… did something bad happen?" Henry's smile fell and he tried to look away. He should have known Boris's bleeding heart wouldn't let the wolf let something like that slip by him.

"Just… it's not that important Boris…" Henry tried to focus on the work he had at his desk instead of the upset look on the wolf's face. As he tried to ignore the toon wolf, he was soon finding himself getting lost in thought again… especially since he would be leaving for the war soon and he still hadn't told Bendy, Alice or… or Boris.

As soon as those thoughts crossed his mind he felt arms wrap around him in a comforting embrace. Henry blinked and took a small glance over his shoulder only to see Boris practically nuzzling into his back as the wolf hugged him.

I… must have been making an upset look… Henry thought as he placed a comforting hand on the toon wolf's head. Henry always did have a bad poker face after all when he wasn't paying attention.

The two sat there for a while in quiet, the only thing that interrupted them was the arrival of Joey Drew himself… Henry was instantly on edge.

"There you are Boris. Norman was looking for you," Joey smiled as he watched the toon and his old friend. Boris perked up and glanced between the creator and the animator for a moment, only for Henry to look up at him with a smile.

"Go on Bud. I heard we got a few new clarinets down there if you want to give them a go," Henry smiled as he saw how Boris's expression brightened considerably at the mention of new clarinets. The wolf left, after giving a small hug to Henry and a whisper of "Hope you feel better", leaving the two humans alone.

"What's your real reason for being here Joey?" Henry asked, his calm fatherly expression shifting into one of anger as he looked up to his oldest friend.

"Well for starters it's my studio," Joey laughed as if nothing was wrong… but Henry knew better.

"Have you even looked in that damned book of yours to save Mike and Susie?" Henry questioned, getting straight to the point… after all from what he himself found in that book they both didn't have more than a year or two left. Joey's smile fell, making his face almost look blank at Henry's words.

"Not unless you want Boris and Alice to suffer instead," Joey's voice was cold, but his smirk returned when he saw Henry flinch at what was said. "After all, they are the ones taking their souls in order to live… I could just do a reverse ritual and undo everything… But how do you think Bendy would feel at losing his fellow toons?"

"How do you think he would feel about knowing how they came to be?!" Henry snapped, getting that overconfident smirk off Joey's face and replacing it with surprise. "DO you even have an idea of how they would even react Joey? Breaking News Joey, they would feel like shit and blame themselves!"

To Joey's own credit he stayed unmoving from the doorway, even as Henry got up in his face.

"Bendy would feel the most guilt as Nick's dead and can't be brought back Joey! Boris wouldn't want ANYONE to suffer and do what he thinks is best to help! Alice would hate herself and want Susie to live! She would do that reverse ritual herself Joey!" Henry shouted, all his repressed anger bubbling over the top by this point and he felt like he was just getting started… but Joey cut him off by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I know… Look Henry, I am sorry about Nick. That one was an accident. Mike I thought was a coincidence but when Susie began to get sick…" Joey looked down, actually almost looking guilty for once. "What's done is done Henry… I looked through the book there's no way for both the toons and the actors to live unless we give up one or the other."

Henry wanted to shout more at Joey… but he couldn't… it really hurt and he felt selfish for even wanting the toons to stay alive instead of the actors. Even if he kept fighting Joey on this the animator knew either way would end in loss.

"Henry." The animator looked up, his expression defeated with only a weak glare left in his eyes. Joey on the other hand had a very serious look on his face.

"I am working on something that might help." That had Henry's attention… as well as a bad feeling in his gut.

"Help how?"

"Given time, I'm sure it'll make everything better, perfect even. Henry… I just need time to work everything out."

"Didn't you say-"

"I know… but that was just one book," Henry tensed and looked on at his friend in shock.

"Joey-"

"Trust me Henry. I'm sure this second book has more answers in it to our little problem. Just give me time and I can fix everything."

Henry felt conflicted… he wanted to slap Joey and take the second book away… but… if it could help keep both the actors and toons alive….

"... Swear to me that you don't use any other ritual in that book, even when I return from war."

"I swear old friend," Joey smiled, and shook Henry's hand as if they just made a deal. Neither one noticing the toon angel outside the doorway having listened to their entire argument and stumbling away in shock at what she had learned.