Nothing to say other than that this is a filler chapter and it had fluff. So... ya.

A Random Human: *insert evil luagh here* yes the dreaded cliff-hangers of doom that I also love using. :)

RangerTakara: Yes, and knowing me there will be a bit of it later on. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you cringe, so I'm going to give you a heads up now that there will be more mentions of blood to come.

Ranger Belle: *raises hands in succsess* YES! I'm not alone! It is so annoying. And I like your idea that they have a cloning facility somewher better than your sisters idea of the wigs, though that would also make sense, it's not nearly as interesting.

Random Fan: *tilts head* What do you mean? You know what I'm not going to poke my nose where it might not belong so I won't pry. Thanks for the review.

Disclaimer: I will never ever ever ever ever own the rights to Pokemon.

Word Count: 2,236 words

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Chapter 11

Many awakenings

The first time I woke up, well, I wasn't really awake. My eyes wouldn't open; they felt as heavy as lead, so that left me stranded in a world of black, with only a vague sense of what was going on around me. First I noticed that I was bent over something, laying on my stomach, what it was I wouldn't find out for a long time. A breeze blew past, so I might have been in the air, I wouldn't ever truly know that though. There was a faint pulse in the back of my mind, uneven, slow, harsh, but it was there; only just barely fellable beyond the throbbing in my right leg and about three inches above my left eye. Though that faint sporadic pulse was all I needed to feel then. Good, World's End didn't have the shard, and, if I have my way, they won't ever have it.

I couldn't feel anything running down my face, though it felt crusty, and slightly wet. Maybe the scratch had tapered off to prevent any further bleeding. My leg on the other hand, something was still running down it. Did the tip of that pick really go that far into my leg? When I saw it; it didn't look that deep. It had to have only gone as far as a centimeter in. Looks can be deceiving, I guess. Unconscious was tugging me into its cold grip. But, before it could pull me under, I managed to hear someone mutter "Come on, come on, hurry up." Then I moved under the fine line between consciousness and unconsciousness, its icy grip pulling me under.

The second time I woke up I couldn't feel anything dripping down my leg, and my head didn't feel crusty or slightly wet. Actually, it felt as though someone had put some form of pressure on those areas and dried them. But it could have just been my imagination. I tried opening my eyes; they didn't feel like they weighed as much as lead, maybe as much as aluminum or plastic, so I actually managed to open them slightly. Though, I had to close them immediately. Darn it, the room was to bright, it hurt my eyes.

I tried opening my eyes, slower this time, hoping that it wouldn't hurt as much. Once my eyes were open as far as they would go, I immediately felt confused. Sure my vision was hazy, but this was not the hole I fell unconscious in on Layuda Island. Though, I couldn't determine if that was a good thing, or a bad thing. Good because I probably won't bleed to death, bad because I have no clue where I am right now, good because I might be at Rand's or Booker's, bad because World's End might have beat Ben and taken both of us hostage. Actually, cross out that last one. Ben is a top ranger, he wouldn't lose to some grunts, he's better than that.

There was no one else in the room that I could see through my haze filled vision. Raising my hand to my head was an effort that wasn't worth it. My arms weighed a ton. Ugh. I hated it. It would be my luck that all this would happen. Looking back on it, I was in far better condition back then, than what I'm in now. But that still doesn't change the fact that I hated it. The simple fact that I felt like everything weighed tons made me feel useless, still does, and that annoys me more than anything else. That's when I noticed something, just barely though, despite the fact that my head and leg were still throbbing (which was really starting to annoy me) I couldn't feel any pulse… no pulse… the shard! I wanted to try getting up, but somehow, I knew that would be a bad idea. Sleep started to cloud my mind. "No, not now!" I thought frantically. This was not the time to be falling asleep. Where was the shard, I swore if World's End took it… the threat would always remain incomplete as I fell into unconsciousness for the third time that day.

The third and final time I woke up the first two things I realized was a) I was in the same room, and b)the room wasn't hazy anymore, but it was darker. Not that it mattered much, I could still see the shadowy outlines of the major pieces of furniture that was in the room. There was a chair a few feet to my left, what I think might be bookshelves on the right wall until they stop before a window, a desk on the other side of the room with a box or something on top of it, and then scattered around the room were pieces of what might have been machines that might have worked at one point but where dismantled.

My head was still throbbing, but my leg just felt numb, it was as though it was never there, I could hardly even feel it was there. When I tried to block out the throbbing that was resonating throughout my skull I was rewarded with nothing. No pulse from the shard, I really didn't have it anymore, did I? "Dang it." I muttered harshly, trying to raise my arm, at least it didn't feel like it weighed a ton now, I hit my hand against my head. Not the best idea in the world, and I honestly don't even know why I did it. What I do know is that I must have hit the spot where the scratch was because a flare of pain built up behind my eyes before exploding, to which I responded with a hiss of pain. A single word came out of my mouth, harsh, silent, self-loathing, venomous "Idiot." The worst part was I knew it was true.

That was when I felt something soft around my head, it was probably a bandage or something. Slowly I put my arm down to my side, and closed my eyes. "Idiot." For the first time that day unconsciousness wouldn't come, but I wanted it to. At least if I was unconscious I couldn't feel any shame. I lost it, how could I lose it? "Idiot…" Tears were starting to form, I wouldn't let them fall. I was stronger than that. Even if it was true. "Why am I so stupid?"

How could I have let that happen? I had no real clue where I was, though I could try to guess, or, more importantly, where Ben was and if he was okay. Why was I beating myself up over some shard, I know it's important, but more important than a human life? I didn't think so. Ben was far more important than if I was okay, and, maybe, more important than some stupid shard. Wait… did I really just think that? Not that Ben isn't important or anything, after all life is something we only get to live once and we don't have any second chances. And, ugh, what am I thinking?! He's practically my adopted brother, I'll never tell him that to his face, but, why am I even still thinking about this?!

Where was he? Was he okay? So long as he was okay I figured I'd be fine. Guess, I really did see him as family. When Teran was still there for me, I guess I cared for him the same way, ugh, what does it matter? I just wanted to know if the kid was alright, why was my mind going so far into it. The door opened and light from outside invaded the dark space causing me to close my eyes in a sad attempt to block out the light. More light flooded the room, and I could hear the door close. There were two pairs of footsteps coming closer to me, one fast, and one slow. "Pichu pi!" Suddenly I could feel the right side barely move down from the pressure. So, wait, if Pichu was here, okay so I was at Rand's so chances are that Ben's alright. That's good. Someone chuckled, though it seemed upset, dark, lifeless.

I could feel small paws touch my left arm, and I could feel the right side of the bed come down even more due to the extra pressure on that end. A hand touched mine, and the person whispered "Hope you get up soon, Sum, we're waiting for ya." Ben… as much as I wanted to tell him not to call me Sum… but, I think, just this once, I'll let it slide. Slowly a smile made its way onto my face. His hand left mine. "Sum…?" Okay, I let that slide once, not a second time.

"I thought I told you not to call me that, Benji." My voice was sort of harsh, but it didn't matter to me. And, I didn't even have to open my eyes to tell that he was either a) blushing or b) blushing with a surprised look on his face. Knowing him, it was probably the second option. When I opened my eyes, I was right. His mouth was slightly open, his hazel eyes wide with happiness and shock, and he was blushing, barely, but it was enough to be noticed.

Arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a tight embrace, now it was my turn to be startled, but that quickly wore off, and I returned the embrace. Everything seemed to leave my mind, the fact I couldn't really feel my leg, my head slightly throbbing, everything, it was like someone had come and wiped my mind without even realizing it. And, you know what, I didn't mind; I really didn't. I don't know how long we stayed like that, arms around each other, I just know by the end of it one of us was crying silent tears of relief, maybe even both of us. "You okay, dude?"

He pulled away, his face actually did look a little wet, but maybe it was just a trick of the light. "I'm fine. What I'm worried about is you." I thought I saw him cringe slightly, okay it couldn't have been that bad, I mean really. There's no way that it was enough for him not like remembering it.

With a sigh, I shook my head, not the best idea I ever had, slight pain flared up behind my eyes and I strategically hid the wince that had followed soon after. Locking eyes with him I muttered "I'm fine, Ben, I can handle myself. There just cuts, not like I'll die." Then I smiled lightly "But I'm sorry I made you worry." He smiled back, and hugged me again. I felt the pressure on the bed lighten ever so slightly, Pichu must have left, I couldn't blame him, who would want to watch to friends hug? Sure it's cute the first time, but after the second time, it isn't really cute anymore.

"Just don't do it again." He whispered. I could tell he was sincere, I just hoped he wouldn't make me promise it. That is the one promise that no own can keep. The promise that I'd stay safe, no one can keep that promise, it's impossible to.

But for some reason I said it. "Alright. I'll try."

"Promise?" That made me shake my head and bite my lip.

"I can't make a promise I know I can't keep." Was my simple reply. After a few seconds silence reigned, neither of us spoke a word. "Did Leanne find anything on the shards yet?" It was all I could do, a sad attempt to change the subject.

He smiled, it was small, but it was there. "Ya, she did. Not much but she found something."

"Alright, we better go hear what she found."

"You sure you're up for that?" His voice was skeptical, worried, but gentle all the same. "I mean, you have been sleeping for almost three days now." I raised an eyebrow, I had really been asleep for that long? Somehow, that didn't surprise me, yet, at the same time, it did. So that would mean I had woken up at least once a day. After thinking on what he had asked I nodded my head.

"I'm fine."

"Okay then, I'll get Leanne to come here."

"Why make her come to us, it's not like I can't walk."

"Still, you really shouldn't be leaving the room, none the less, the bed."

"Ben, I'm fine. How many times do I have to say it. Worst comes to worst you have to help me up the stairs, big deal."

"Well… if you're sure-"

"Which I am."

"Alright let's go." I smiled and started to move out from the blankets while a single thought seeped into my mind. "Maybe I can finally figure out why I can feel those things."

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Hope you liked the filler chapter. I'll see you next week when we finally find out the importantance of the crystal shards.

Later,

Ember