Once they got back to the hotel Jay slipped the tape into the player. Nico was looking forward to see what Hoodie had made, he had only had one night. Even though he had worked through it without sleeping, Nico was interested to see what he could come up with in such a short time. Jay was just about to press the pay button when Masky stole both their attention by freezing suddenly.

"On no." He mumbled before he started coughing. Nico, Shade, and Jay glanced at each other in alarm but none of them were coughing, so it wasn't the operator. Jay was the first one to act, in a flash he was kneeling in front of Masky with his hands on his shoulders.

"Tim, did you forget to take your pills?" Jay asked sounding panicked. Masky nodded, shit with all the drama and with Nico 'going missing' he must have forgot. "Where are they?!" Jay asked and Masky shook his head. "You don't know!?" Masky nodded and doubled over coughing "What do we do?" It was Nico's turn to snap into action. They couldn't be assured they would find the pills in time but he knew exactly where something else was. Those tie things Jay had bought. Nico had no idea what they were for when he had first gotten them but they would work for this.

Darting to the curtains, Nico drew them and then darted around to the bag where the ties were. Taking them out he called to Jay and tossed a few of them to him before kneeling down in front of Masky as well and showing him the ties.

"I think it might be the best way to keep you from running off or hurting anyone. Are you okay with this?" Masky met Nico's eyes through another coughing fit and then nodded. Jay hesitated while Nico got to work immediately before Masky's coughing could translate into the twitching fit that would make it almost impossible to secure him. They had only gotten his final limb secured before the twitching started.

"He'll dislocate his arm if we don't hold him still, help me!" Nico did his best not to shout because Jay had backed away panicking, Shade had knelt down to hold Masky's legs and pulled Jay forward, growling at him. Nico had thought that Jay was sensible for a mortal having seen enough things to be cool under pressure but apparently not. Shaking his head, Jay did come back though and helped Nico keep Masky from jerking his arms out of their sockets. He would have bruises on his wrists though, still they couldn't be helped. Once Masky stopped twitching, Nico backed away and pulled Jay back with him, and Shade scrambled back. He suspected that Masky's violent streak would begin any second and it would be best if they weren't to near by.

Nico had another idea and drew Jay with him behind Masky where they couldn't be seen. If they stayed out of his line of sight and quiet they might not trigger him.

"Stay as quiet as you can." Nico breathed almost directly in Jay's ear so Masky couldn't hear. "With nothing to trigger him there's a chance he might just pass out without the freak out bit." Jay nodded and did his best to stay quiet. It frustrated Nico how loud Jay's breathing was but he suspected Jay couldn't help it. Nico kept his eyes on Masky as he looked around the room and pulled slightly at his restraints, not seeming particularly bothered by them. Nico had been right, with nothing to catch Masky's attention or attack he stayed pretty calm, acting more like a bird in a darkened cage.

It didn't take long for his head to loll to the side and his breathing to become long and regular. Very carefully Nico padded around to the side, his footstep silent on the carpeted floor. He waved to Jay to stay still, Jay's footsteps were louder and until Nico was sure Masky had passed out it was best for Jay to stay still. Masky's eyes were closed, Nico took a deep breath and let it out in an audible sigh, Masky didn't react. Nico waved Jay over.

"I don't know how long he'll sleep for, but we should find his pills before he wakes up." Nico whispered to Jay once he was close enough. Jay nodded and they started looking. Jay found the pills about twenty minutes later in a pocket of Masky's bag. He took out one of the pills and got a glass of water so that they would be ready to give Masky the pill as soon as he woke up.

Jay was nearest to Masky when he woke up and made sure he took the pills. Nico watched from behind, there was something wrong with Masky's mannerisms. The coldness that Nico had always felt radiating from Masky was gone.

Shade noticed the same thing as Nico and leaned closer to whisper, "I don't like this."

"I know, just be quiet."

"Tim?" Jay asked softly making Tim look him in the eye. Nico padded around them, he didn't feel like letting them be between him and the door right now.

"Jay?" Masky asked softly then looked around his eyes growing wide. "Where are we? I don't remember getting here." Nico let out a soft hiss, that was the problem then, this wasn't Masky, it really was Tim. Hoody would be mad, Nico could guess now that Tim had been the 'him' Masky had promised wouldn't take him away.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Jay asked carefully.

"We had agreed that sense it was over we wouldn't talk anymore. I left Jessica but I couldn't get rid of the idea that it all was my fault, that I was some sort of disease carrier. So about two months after we parted, I tried to kill myself." Looking around Tim said. "I guess it didn't work." Jay hugged Tim.

"If you were doing that bad you could have called me, Tim. We agreed we would call if it was an emergency and that sounds like an emergency to me."

"It didn't to me." Tim said with a shrug. "It just felt like something that needed to be done. Do I need to stay tied to the chair?"

"No. Sorry." Jay said and started to cut the ties. Nico would have gone forward to help but he didn't. He didn't know Tim, didn't trust him and doubted that Tim would trust him either.

"Who's that?" Tim asked finally noticing Nico, Causing Shade to creep closer to the window and prepared to jump if need be.

"I'm you cousin Nico. Don't you remember me?" Nico asked carefully keeping his arms down by his side.

"I don't have a cousin." Tim said looking confused. "My mom was an only child and my uncle never had kids so you can't be my cousin." Nico didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything.

"Wait, if you don't remember anything does that mean it's been the other one this entire time." Jay suddenly asked. It had taken him this long to realize that?

"I guess it must have been, hadn't it." Tim said looking back at Jay. Jay stood and turned to face Nico.

"Why would that one say you were his cousin." Jay asked narrowing his eyes at Nico. "You're one of them aren't you?"

"No." Nico said, he was being honest he thought, he didn't consider himself one of anything particularly. But he could see that Jay and Tim weren't convinced. Now Tim was standing and acquiring a bit of the coldness that Masky always had. "But you don't believe that do you? I came with you because I have the same disorder as you Tim, that's why I'm here." Nico saw a flicker of uncertainty in Tim's face but Jay seemed to have already made up his mind.

"I knew there was something weird about you." Jay accused.

"Ya well if you couldn't tell that Tim was actually Masky this entire time that shows how good your instincts are doesn't it?" Nico snapped back.

"Wait how did you know what he calls himself?" Tim asked his eyes narrowing as well. Well shit Nico hadn't censored himself well enough. Turning he bolted to the door scooping up his shoes but not bothering to put them on as he dashed out. He could hear their heavier footsteps right behind him but it was night outside. He only had to reach those shadows and he could get away easily. But it was easier then that, Tim was fast but Jay was out of breath and Nico was more lithe than both of them and he made up time on corners.

Leaping down the stairs he dodged out the door immediately darting into a shadow and materializing behind the tree line on the other side of the parking lot where he could watch them. They paused and looked around for him once they were outside, Nico retrieved farther into the shadows.

"How do they always disappear like that!" Nico heard Jay yell as he kicked something. Tim seemed to calm Jay down and they came towards to tree line. Nico retreated deeper until Hoody found him.

"There's been a problem." Nico told him in a hushed tone. "I think we should go away to talk about it, Jay's looking for me." Nico suspected Hoody would react very badly to this news and didn't want to even hint at it till they were out of earshot in case Hoody shouted. Hoody nodded and went to start jogging away. "Wait my way is faster, just tell me where you want to go."

"The old b-building we sp-spent the night at yesterday." Hoody said just as softly. Nico nodded and grabbed Hoody's arm.

"I think you'd better close your eyes. If you don't you might see something you don't like." Hoody nodded, after giving Hoody a moment to close his eyes Nico pulled him back through the shadows and into the old building. "We're here you can open your eyes now." Nico said in a normal voice. Nico heard a yelp behind him and ducked instinctively as Toby carried out his knee jerk response to attack. "It's us, Toby calm down!"

"Oh sorry Nico." Toby said awkwardly.

"N-never mind. Wh-what happened N-Nico?" Hoody asked. Nico took a deep breath, he didn't want to be the one to bring this news but no one else would.

"While they were looking for me I guess Masky forgot to take his pills. He had a seizure but we managed to keep him under control then he passed out but, but I guess it wasn't Masky that woke up. I'm pretty sure it was Tim, he didn't remember getting here anyway and he didn't know who I was. They chased me out."

"Are you s-sure?" Hoody asked his voice softer than usual with emotion that Nico couldn't read. Nico looked down but nodded.

"I'm sure." Nico said equally softly. "If it was Masky why would he say he didn't know me? That wasn't part of the plan that I know of." Hoody shook his head and then suddenly whirled around, kicked the wall and then ran out of the building. Nico was about to follow him but was stopped by Toby's arms around his waist.

"Let him go." Toby murmured. "Hoody doesn't like anyone to see when he's upset, he just needs to calm down. He'll come back when he's ready." Nico sighed but nodded agreement and twisted around in Toby's arms to face him. He rested his forehead on Toby's shoulder sighing deeply.

"Masky promised he wouldn't let this happen. I heard him and Hoody talking about it in the car when they thought we were sleep. This really hurts Hoody doesn't it?" Nico asked softly. Toby nodded silently and then they stayed still. Mrs. O'Leary propped her head on the edge of the window to watch them until Hoody came back.

"Nico?" Hoody finally called from outside. Glancing at Toby, Nico went out to meet Hoody. "D-do you think you c-can go back and s-steal their car k-keys?" he asked. "They're heading b-back to the hotel now but if I d-distract them you'll have a c-couple minutes. T-Tim's are in his coat p-pocket and Jay's should b-be in the inner front p-pocket of his bag."

"Of course but I won't be able to shadow travel again once I get back and I'll have to rest." Nico said quickly. "Do you want me to go now?"

"Yes." Hoody said nodding definitely. "T-Toby can take you b-back to Clockwork and b-Bloody Painter's apartment after. I c-can watch them for the night."

"Are you sure?" Toby said. Nico was sure, he continued his objection but Nico didn't hear it because he was already stepping back inside the abandoned building and through the deeper shadows in it.

In an instant he was back in the empty hotel room. He scowled at the ties on the floor and went over to Masky's jacket, which was tossed across one of the beds. He checked the pocket and sure enough there were the keys. It took him longer to find Jay's because there were a few different pockets in his bag but eventually Nico got them. Slipping both sets of keys into his pants pockets, he grabbed his own backpack before he left stepping back through the shadows.

When he got back to the abandoned building he stumbled and almost fell, six times in one day was too many times to shadow travel. Settling his bag down on the ground, he leaned against the wall and breathed deeply for a moment. Nico jumped when someone stood up from one of the shadows on the other side of the room, but relaxed when he saw it was Toby.

"Hoody insists on watching them tonight even though he hasn't slept. He says he couldn't now so there's no point in trying." Toby relayed frowning deeply.

"Should we stay with him then? Just in case?" Nico did his best to straighten but he could feel the shadows pulling at his bones, and he just ended up hunching again. Carefully, Nico pressed his fingers against the solid wall behind him, reassuring himself of his own solidity.

"What are you doing?" Toby asked tilting his head to the side curiously and moving closer.

"I've shadow traveled too much today." Nico replied tiredly sliding down the wall so he was sitting and pressing his hand against the floor instead.

"What happens when you do that." Toby asked curiously kneeling down in front of Nico.

"My body starts to forget it's not part of the shadows." Toby looked confused, he obviously didn't understand. Sighing, Nico lifted his hand off the ground letting the shadows pull at it for a moment he told Toby "Hold out your hand please." Toby did, Nico reached out trying to take Toby's hand only to have his own hand go through Toby's like air, just as he had known it would.

"What was that? Why did that happen?" Toby said sounding scared.

"Shadows don't have a physical form, Toby. When my body forgets it's not part of the shadows it forgets to be a body at all. If I'm not careful I could become one of the shadows, a speechless ghost with no memory, sense of self or time." Nico sighed and pressed his hand against the floor again. "That's why I said I would need to rest so far it's the only thing that."

"If it's that bad will you even be able to get back to Clockwork and Bloody Painters place?" Toby asked sounding scared. Nico noticed he had given up on staying with Hoody.

"I will in a minute. I need you to go into the front pocket of my bag. There's a plastic bag with some things that look like lemon squares in it." Toby had pulled Nico's bag over and was doing what Nico asked him to do as he asked so Nico quickly added. "Be careful not to touch them. It's ambrosia, food of the gods, it burns mortals. Just pick up the bag carefully and pass it to me. I wasn't sure I could deal with the zipper right now."

Nico thanked Toby when he passed him the bag. Nico carefully took out a square. He only ate about two bites feeling strength flood back into his limbs making them more sure of themselves. Sighing in relief, Nico slipped what was left of the square back into the plastic bag and then back into his bag.

"I'll be fine until we get there now." Nico said smiling and reaching for his backpack. Toby didn't let him reach it before he had slung it across his own back.

"I'll carry it don't worry." Toby reassured helping Nico up carefully.

"Really, I'll be fine now." Nico said but Toby just shook his head. He went to let go of Nico's hand but Nico held on tightly adding quickly. "Just don't let go of my hand please. I need you to anchor me here." Instantly Toby's grip tightened almost painfully around Nico's hand again.

"Of course." Toby murmured looking into Nico's eyes for a long moment. Nico would have blushed if he had the blood to spare just then. He had the feeling that those words had meant much more to both of them than Nico had intended or could be bothered to analyze just then. He was too tired.

Toby lead the way outside and into the woods. Mrs. O'Leary tried to follow them until Nico called back to her to stay and look after Hoody. Mrs. O'Leary bounded off into the woods in the opposite direction. Nico was mildly surprised that she already knew Hoody's name but didn't question it. She was a hell hound after all, not a normal dog no matter how much she liked to act like one.

Nico didn't pay attention to where they were going. Letting Toby lead him through the woods, then into the city streets and finally into the Lobby of an apartment building where he rung up to an apartment and got the let in. Nico fidgeted unhappily in the elevator on the way up. Going up did not feel natural to him but they got out only a few stories up which was better than the tenth floor or something ridiculous like that so Nico let it go. Toby knocked on a door and it opened but by then the ambrosia had worn off and Nico was so tired he couldn't see straight.

"Can introductions wait?" Nico heard Toby ask as he got an impression of a pair of blue eyes and one green eye staring at him with concern. "He's over extended himself and he really, really needs to rest."

"We don't have another spare bedroom." A girls voice said in concern.

"That's alright." Toby said quickly. "We don't mind sharing. Just let me get him there before he passes out." And then Nico was being lead again and laid down on a bed. Toby carefully unbuckled Nico's sword and took off his shoes before climbing onto the bed with Nico and settling down next to him. "Nico, should you take some of my energy before you go to sleep? Would that help?"

"Probably." Nico sighed in annoyance, he just wanted to sleep but he knew Toby was right. Nico felt Toby's lips press against his and carefully kissed back drawing out just enough energy that Toby would be able to recover it with sleep. He had to be careful not to take more this time as the rush it gave was better than ambrosia and he desperately wanted more. He made himself stop, Toby relaxed curling up under the covers with Nico.

"So is this just a thing we're doing now or are we actually boyfriends?" Toby mumbled sleepily draping one arm over Nico's chest and wiggling a bit closer.

It took Nico a moment to place what the word boyfriend meant. He didn't think it had been used when he was young but finally he remembered. Toby was right, they hadn't agreed to actually date, only that sleeping with someone else kept the nightmares at bay and Nico feeding off of Toy's energy could be mutually beneficial sense excess energy couldn't replace sleep. That might be easier than actually dating but. But.

"I'll be your boyfriend if you want." Nico said yawning widely. He saw a smile flicker over Toby's face before his eyes slid inexorably closed.

"I'd be hard put to think of anything I wanted more." Nico heard Toby reply and then he was asleep.

Back at the hotel Tim and Jay questioned Shade extensively. "Who are you, and don't lie to me." Jay said to Shade who was tied to a chair.

"I swear, I didn't know what he was going on about, he was a childhood friend, he got me to go for some reason, because, I truly have your disease, I will occasionally be a different person, I thought he was trying to help me." Shade said remembering his mask and bowie knife in his duffel bag.

Tim looked at him with wide eyes, and walked closer and grabbed his shoulders. "How long has it been affecting you?"

"Seven years ago, my brother helped me home after somebody jumped me and Nico was called over to watch me so my brother could work. Then after I woke up, my brother was dead and my bowie knife I used for hunting was in my lap, along with the mask." Shade quickly thought up a story that made sense. "I have been changing at random times ever since that day." Tim looked at Jay and sighed and took twopills out of his meds so Shade could take them.

"Here, I trust you, as long as you wont kill me if you change."