Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.

Season Three Episode Seven: "They Call Me MISTER Tubbs!" Chapter Five

As the paramedics worked to move Martin to the hospital, Irma couldn't be kept away. She stuck close by, asking over and over if they were sure he was alright. Finally, one of them pulled her aside. "Look, your friend will be just fine. We've got to make sure he doesn't have a concussion, but even if he does there's no reason to think he won't fully recover."

"Are you sure? Really sure?"

"Yes. Listen, the only possible long-term impact is that he might have some retrograde amnesia."

"Retro-what?"

"It means he might not remember the moment of the injury, and up to several minutes beforehand. Look, they've got him ready, we've got to move. You better et yourself checked out too, though. You've taken a nasty bump on the head too." The medics left with Martin on a stretcher.

As Irma watched them leave, the others gathered around her. "You see?" Hay Lin said. "He's gonna be fine."

"Didn't you hear what the medic said? He might not remember what he saw."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Caleb asked.

Irma replied, "Yesterday I would have said yes. Today… I dunno, once he saw me, I think a part of me liked the idea of him knowing."

"Well, it's not certain he'll forget." Will said. "Now let's get you to the hospital too."

Later that day, after getting a clean bill of health, Irma made her way to Martin's hospital room. He was awake. She quietly knocked on the door, and he asked her in. Martin slid over slightly and asked her to sit on the edge of the bed. She did.

"So… How are you feeling?" Irma asked.

"Been better. But they tell me I'm not concussed, so it'll pass pretty quickly."

"Let's get this over with." Irma thought. Said, "Martin, do you remember…?"

"I remember it all. And you'd better guess I have some questions."

"I know. And I'll tell you everything. But not here, a hospital doesn't exactly provide the privacy for a full explanation. But Martin, I have to tell you… When Garix threw me into that wall, when I blacked out, hearing was the last thing to go. I heard you telling the big guy off. It was incredibly brave."

"Nah. I was shaking in my boots the whole time. But that's what you do for friends, you stand up for them, keep them safe." Martin grew quiet for a moment, then said, "Irma, I want you to know that in spite of all the fights we've had, in spite of our differences, in spite of the fact that I know we'll never be what I'd like us to be… You can trust me."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… I won't tell anyone you aren't really human."

Irma laughed. "Oh, Martin you saw what you saw, but you misunderstood it. What you see sitting on this bed next to you? That's the real me, who I am and what I've always been. The Guardian stuff, that's recent, and only when I'm expecting a fight."

Irma thought for a moment about the other part of what Martin had said. "And another thing…" she leaned over and kissed him. "Don't sell yourself short. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out, I'd still be in the dark if you hadn't been endangered, but I do like you, and I do hope we can be more than friends."

"Wow. That came out of nowhere. But I think I like this." They kissed again.

Outside the hospital room, the other Guardians, Matt, and Miranda waited. When they saw the second kiss, they couldn't wait outside anymore. They entered together. "About time." Cornelia said.

Slightly embarrassed, Irma and Martin separated. "How you feeling Martin?" Matt asked.

He looked at Irma. "Much better now. Miranda I'm glad to see you got out unhurt. Is Caleb okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine. He wasn't even inside when the fight was on."

Martin stared at Miranda for a moment. Looked around and noticed Cornelia was looking pretty roughed up herself. "Wait." He looked at Irma. "Do they…?'

Irma grinned. "Do they know? Yeah. They're actually a part of it. Again, it's a long story not suited to tell here. But I'll tell you this much; Garix failed to get a hold of you, so they can't ever try again. You're safe."

"That's good to know." Martin chuckled. "My friend the super-hero."

"Your girlfriend the super-hero." Irma corrected. They kissed again, not caring who else was in the room.