I feel sooo bad! I am sosososososo sorry that this has taken so long! I don't have internet at my house at all right now. Luckily I was able to use my dad's work computer long enough to get this up today. I'm sorry...

And to get to the point... I really don't like this chapter. I mean. It's kind of bad. I make myself look like a basket case. Bleh. I ususally like most of what I write too. Feel free to skip this chapter because it focuses so much on Alexi that it drives me crazy. I was going to change it, but I don't think that I can not update any longer. Don't mean to sound pessimistic. It's good I just... Yeah. Sorry. Hopefully you guys will like it.

And once again, I'm sorry! That long of not updating and you get... this chapter. I promise that it won't take as long next time. I'm going to find a way to get back on. I will!

P.S. This has a slightly freaky part in it. But it's probably only freaky to me. But just in case, I thought I'd warn you. I read a scary story before writing a couple of the paragraphs near the end.

The next few days passed with no change from Alexi. Keagan did the best he could with the recourses he had, but finally realized that maybe he needed to get information from another source. His plan was to visit somebody else for information, and then get back to her. He had already told her that he would be back, but that was assuming that she could hear him. But she was fighting. And he was sure that she wouldn't go while he was gone.

Finally reaching Ash's house, he knocked on the door.

Ash answered and seemed surprised. "Keagan, I thought you-"

"I was. Can I talk to you?"

Ash blinked and then nodded and let him in. Keagan looked around the living room as they entered. "Where are Makaila and Misty?"

Ash shrugged. "Shopping or something. They don't do it that often, so Makaila was pretty excited. What did you want to talk about?" Ash asked sitting down.

"Alexi." Keagan sat down beside him. "She's gone into some sort of depression induced sickness. I… talked to Skye. I think I need to understand a little more of what she went through."

Ash paused. "So… you want me to tell you what happened?" Keagan nodded and Ash closed his eyes. "This isn't really a topic to be taken lightly."

"I know that. That's why I only came to you when it was a matter of life or death."

"Life or death?" Ash asked slowly while raising an eyebrow.

"Skye says that if she doesn't fight, she'll die."

Ash sighed. "Ok… so what do you want to know?"

"Well, what would help me?"

Ash paused. "When we were somewhere around nine, Alexi snook out of the building to look at snow at Christmas. She dragged me with her. When we got back they almost caught us, but we managed to cover up with Jason's help. Jason used to like her, but she was to clueless to see it."

"Who's Jason?"

"The kid who looked over her test subject section. It was his job to watch out for her, among others, and give them punishments… when necessary. He avoided it as much as possible, which is part of the reason that she's still alive. She never followed any rules. Anyway, when she first ran away he was forced to punish her when she got back and she suddenly grew afraid of him."

"What did he do?"

Ash paused again. "They were mostly into vials, and poisons and liquids and stuff. He gave her something of sort. Sent her body into major shock. She was exhausted as soon as he forced it down her throat. But…"

"Is that it?"

"No. But I'm not sure that I should be the one to tell you the rest."

"Okay."

Ash looked up at the ceiling as he ran through memories. "She had a habit of… seeing a random child and watching over them until they were gone. Uh…. Za…Ze…. No. Zain? No. It was Zachary. Yeah. He was one of very first the kids she was looking after. Most kids are taken from there homes when they're babies. But he was taken when he was around six, which is really old for a grunt. He was suddenly thrust into Team Rocket work and he was scared. He didn't do well and he couldn't fight. They switched him to a test-subject and sent him to the next test, which just happened to be one that his body wouldn't be able to handle. That was one of the first times she lost a kid she was looking over. She's very motherly and it was really hard for her."

"First time?"

"It happened a lot."

Keagan paused and leaned back on the couch.

"And then there was that stupid grunt that was always mad at her for speaking out, even when she did nothing. Skye helped her with him once."

"Skye said that she was pestering him."

Ash shrugged. "Maybe she was and maybe she wasn't. Skye had quite a different view on things back then. Sarah had died not to long before that too."

"How old was he?"

Ash paused. "Not even he knows his real age."

"Is there anything I should know?"

"Yeah." Ash looked up and wiped some hair from his forehead. "Skye's her brother."

Keagan stared at Ash in complete shock. "What?!"

"She doesn't know."

Keagan stared at Ash a little longer, trying to absorb the information. "Her… Her brother? Why didn't Skye say any-?"

"He doesn't know either."

"Then how do you know?"

Ash looked down at his hands and sighed. "I had a computer assignment as a test once. I was browsing through and found it in some files."

"They let you access that information?"

"It was kind of an accident." He admitted. "I think they actually wanted me to find something. But I found that instead."

"Wow." Keagan leaned back and shook his head. "I'm not sure why I believe you, but I do."

"What reason do you have not to believe me?"

Keagan stayed silent for a few moments before speaking. "Just forget I said that. Anything else?"

"You still want more?!"

"Well if it would help..."

Ash groaned. "She's not the only one who had to go through this you know. If you really want to know anything else, you'll have to ask her."

"I've tried."

"I'm sorry. That's all I can tell you. I don't know much more than that anyway."

Keagan nodded softly and rose. "Thank you."

As Keagan headed for the door Ash bit his lip and finally called out, "Keagan!" Keagan turned and waited for him to continue.

"Alexi was… the only friend I had there and I don't – I don't want… Just don't let her die. Ok?"

"I won't." Keagan answered firmly before closing the door and making his way back to Alexi's house.

He reached Alexi's house and began climbing the stairs before opening the door and wondering whether he should be happy or worried.

She was still asleep, but rolling around, groaning and muttering his name repeatedly.

Keagan rushed to her side and grabbed her hand while kneeling beside her bed.

"Alexi." Alexi continued and repeated her name again. She simply shivered and Keagan joined her on the bed, bringing his arms around her. "Alexi." He pulled her away slightly and she instinctively pulled herself back to him. He could see tears in her eyes and finally understood what she had previously been incoherently muttering. "D-Don't go."

Keagan held her hand tighter and brought her back to him. "I won't."

"Drake!"

"Leave me alone!"

"Aw. C'mon Drake."

"No! Leave me alone!"

"But he's so cool-"

"We're not aloud."

"But-"

"We aren't aloud!"

"Drake. Please Drake!"

"No!"

This conversation had been going on for some time. Makaila finally felt the need to introduce her new friend to someone. Unfortunately she had informed Drake that they had to go into the forest to do it. And as Drake had pointed out, they were not aloud.

"Okay then. I have an idea. You stand outside the forest, and I'll bring him out to meet you. Okay?"

Drake groaned and stood up, beginning to follow her to the forest. "Fine!"

"Yes!" Makaila began running down the hill towards the forest with Drake slowly following behind her.

Makaila continued to run into the forest and began looking around. "Hey are you in here? I know you're here! Come out!" She began searching through the greenery nearest her and then heard a loud noise above her. She looked up and shrieked as a pile of something suddenly fell from a tree, hanging loosely in front of her. She closed her eyes and stayed still then opened them. Her expression changed to one of surprise and confusion.

The boy yet to be named was hanging upside down in front of her, tangled completely in vines from his torso to his feet, an embarrassed smile on his face.

Makaila stared at him with wide eyes, and then looked up at as his feet before bursting into fits of giggles.

An embarrassed blush rose to his face as he attempted to lift himself so he could untangle himself. Surprisingly, he could lift half of his body upside down to his feet quite well. However, try holding yourself in that position while untangling a pile of vines from your body.

A moment later, he gave up and fell back to his upside down position.

"Need help?" Makaila asked with a light giggle. He nodded softly and Makaila began climbing the tree to which the vines were attached.

The boy began waving his hands frantically, sending his dark hair over his eyes and covering his ears while trying to get her to stop, and opening his mouth only to have no sound come from it.

Makaila pulled herself onto the high branch, and then carefully began crawling across it on her hands and knees.

The boy watched her with scared eyes until she reached the vines and began disconnecting the major ones from their wrapped around position on the tree.

A moment later, he crashed to the ground, completely tangled in vines. He stood as quickly as he could and began frantically untangling the vines from himself before flinging his arms out before him. Not a moment to late, as it happened.

A screech came from above him and Makaila slipped from the branch, landing perfectly in his arms. Makaila blinked. "Could you please put me down?"

He frowned and gave his eyes a half roll, but sat her down all the same.

"Why do I always find you in some weird place? Why can't you just walk out like a normal person?" she asked as they began walking.

He sighed and shrugged before she remembered why she had come. "Oh! I want you to meet somebody!" She turned and began walking.

Behind her, the boy froze nervously. His eyes grew and he slowly and quietly began stepping backwards.

Makaila stopped and turned around, cocking her head curiously. "What?"

His mouth opened and he glanced beyond her, gulped, and shook his head frantically.

Makaila noticed a light pink hue spread across his cheeks and saw something she never expected to see on his face: fear. "You're… scared?"

The shaking increased.

"Then… why- Hey! Where are you going?"

He had already begun running, but stopped and turned around guiltily at her tone. He gave her a soft, short-lived, look that portrayed a clear emotion, before turning back around and leaving.

Makaila watched him go silently, pondering the message he had sent her with the look: 'I'm sorry.'

Makaila turned and exited the forest, passing Drake on her way out.

"Where is he?"

"He didn't wanna meet you," she answered softly.

"Riiight…."

She turned to him with a glare. "You don't believe me?"

He shrugged. "You know, you're the only one who's ever seen him."

Makaila paused as she realized that he was right. Then she glared. "No wait. Those boys saw him. The one's that were beating him up."

"Says you." He said softly as he began walking away. He didn't mean for it to sound the way it had. However, being a seven year old, he dismissed it. For Makaila however, the words stung.

Keagan woke with a start when more groaning from came from Alexi. He pulled her to him again and waited patiently for her to calm down before he began whispering. "I know you've been through a lot Alexi. I know what you went through. I asked… I asked Ash." she started shaking, despite the fact that she was asleep, and he held her firmer before continuing. "I care about you. I love you Alexi. I-I need you back. My parents and sister died from them too you know. Alexi, please wake up. Please. I love you. I need you to wake up."

"Keagan?"

Keagan looked down in surprise before relief overtook him. "Y-You're awake."

"Mmm." Alexi's eyes began closing again, but Keagan quickly shook her. "Don't go back to sleep."

"But I'm tired.

"I know. You can sleep later. Ok?"

Finally she nodded, but Keagan could see how hard she was trying to stay awake.

"What did Ash tell you?"

Keagan stared at her. "You heard me?"

She paused and then nodded. "Y-You scared me. What did he tell you?"

"Why…Why would that scare you?"

"How much did he tell you?" she repeated.

Keagan told her all that Ash had told him, then watched to see her reaction.

"But there was more…. So much more than that." She whispered quietly with tears rising to her eyes.

"Tell me."

"I-I can't."

"Alexi, please tell me."

"Wh-What do you want to know?"

"Anything you've kept to yourself."

She didn't know what to say, and tears filled her eyes even more until she literally collapsed into his arms for the first time, sobbing. "I miss them so much! How-How can they just kill innocent little kids? Why am I the only one left after everything we went through? Why?!"

"Who's we?"

"All of the tests they used to put us through. Of all of the different groups, why me?"

"What are you talking about?" The more she said, the more confused he felt. He was glad that she was finally letting out her past, but what was the point if he couldn't understand her?

"The test. They singled me out! Why me? Was it just to strengthen me for even more tests?"

"Alexi-"

"A-All of those kids…right in front of me."

"I can't understand you. Alexi calm down. What happened? What test?"

Alexi let out an uneasy breath, attempting to calm herself and went on. "They stuck me. They stuck me with something that made me feel stronger, like I could protect anyone I needed to. A…And then they brought out these kids I had never met. But I felt like I knew them, and I wanted to help them. They killed them. All of them. And th-then they just left me. And I realized that I'm not fit to protect anyone. They just killed them. And the whole time my senses were swimming. I felt like I could do anything, but I still felt so helpless. I-It was scary." Keagan felt his breath pulled out of them. He had no idea that their tests went this far. She broke into sobs again and Keagan simply held her, mentally cursing Team Rocket and wondering what else she had gone through. How could anyone do these things?

Later:

Alexi had gone back to sleep and been asleep for some time. At first Keagan thought that she had gone back into the state she had been in before, but the regular breathing and completely normal shifting of sleep banished those thoughts from his mind.

She began groaning loudly but he was falling asleep and didn't notice.

He had no idea that her completely normal sleep was plagued by a completely un-normal dream. A dream about him. Alexi felt the temperature in her hands go up and sat strait up, letting out a high scream that instantly woke Keagan.

Keagan rushed to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. Alexi looked at him with wide empty eyes, and then recoiled, hitting her back hard into the wall. She didn't seem to notice and just stared at him in what he could only describe as fear.

"Alexi." No other movement came. He moved slightly and realized that her eyes didn't follow him. She was still sleeping.

Keagan moved onto the bed and attempted to pull her to him, only to be met with more screaming and kicking as she did all she could to get away. He continued to repeat her name over and over again until finally she stopped kicking, but he almost wished that she was. Instead she looked fearfully around the room and then down at her hands. She continued to stare at them in frenzied fear until she burst into tears, finally allowing him to somewhat hold her. "Where-Where did they-"

"Alexi, you were sleeping."

"No! K-Keagan-"

"You were sleeping." He repeated.

"B-But it was everywhere. I-I did it. Keagan, it was me. It was all my fault." Her words were scattered and scared and she sobbed before looking fearfully back to her hands. "Th-There was so much…."

"There was so much what?" he asked quietly. Realizing that the sun had gone down, he reached over and flicked on the lamp. He was shocked at what the light revealed.

Alexi's hands were covered in a layer of red liquid.

"Alexi…." He whispered. Fear was finally beginning to eat at him. Skye had said that she would make it through. But now, he wasn't even sure. "Wh-Where did the blood come from?"

"I did it." She repeated with tears of fear. "I-I did it."

"Alexi, stop it!"

Alexi looked at him and then her eyes glossed over before she passed out.

"Skye, I need you here now!"

"Keagan, it's almost midnight."

"This is important! I have no idea what to do! She just woke up screaming and-"

"Um… give her a hug or something?"

Keagan interrupted with anger in his usually cheerful voice. "She has blood on her hands and I have no idea how it got there! She went on about how she 'did it', and then just passed out! I'm admitting it right now, she's scaring me. And I can not handle it on my own. I need help. I need to know what's wrong with her."

Skye didn't even bother answering. He just hung up the phone, grabbed his coat, and hurried out the door.

When he reached the house, for the second time, Keagan opened the door and then hurried up the stairs. "I don't want to leave her for long."

Skye didn't answer until they reached the top.

Alexi was sitting on her bed, seemingly lost in a daze. Sky kneeled in front of her and grabbed her wrists, and still she showed no signs of noticing the men in front of her.

"Keagan. Reach into my bag. There's a yellow/green vial." Keagan reached in and pulled it up. Alexi didn't seem to see them until the tip of a needle touched her wrist and she pulled away sharply.

"I'm no going to hurt you Alexi." Skye whispered calmly. She shivered and Keagan crawled into the bed beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and whispering in her ear to get her to calm down.

Alexi stayed still, but allowed Skye to pull her arm to him and send the needle through her wrist. "Alexi, I need you to stay calm for a few minutes. Can you do that?" His response was silence and he glanced at Keagan. "Keagan will stay with you. Just stay as calm as you can for about four minutes." His response, once again, was silence, but he took that as a yes.

"What's wrong with her?" Keagan asked quietly.

Alexi shuddered at the question and Skye's gaze flitted to her before he answered softly. "There's nothing wrong with her. She's a victim." He pulled his sleeves up, exposing the light skin. "I used to have that problem. It has something to do with her blood thinning. It just kind of seeped through."

Alexi started shaking and tried to pull away from Keagan, but he hardly noticed. "Her blood just seeped through the skin? Is that even… possible?"

Skye's face changed to one of annoyance. "Obviously."

Keagan glanced at Alexi and then gently let go of her and walked to the other side of the room. Skye followed and Keagan lowered his voice to just barely over a whisper. "This can't just be something that she needs to get over. I can't sit here and watch more and more things happen to her. There has to be something wrong with her. There's something you're not telling me."

Skye gave him a hard glare. "There is nothing wrong with her." He said softly, enunciating each word clearly.

"I don't mean like that." Keagan hissed. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing that you need to know. She was a test subject. There are things that happen as effects. I have nothing else to tell you, Keagan."

Keagan clenched his teeth. "Then why did it all just start now when she's had years of torture?"

There was silence for a moment, when for the first time Skye avoided his gaze.

"What is it?"

"She's… a protector." He muttered.

"What?"

"She's a protector." Skye repeated louder. He finally turned back to him. "A protector. Like me."

"I don't understand."

"When she was ten they gave her something. It sharpens your instincts until they seem to completely control you. Your subconscious chooses someone to protect and from that moment on, you do everything in your power to keep that one person safe. Their death outweighs your death. Anyone's death. If they are hurt, you hurt much more than if it were you. Because you have a strong obligation."

Keagan stayed still for a moment. "I… I don't understand."

"I hope you never have to." Skye's eyes glanced behind Keagan without letting his head move an inch and then looked back to Keagan. "She's crying."

Keagan turned and ran back to the bed while Skye picked up his pack and threw a pill filled with white powder onto the bed. "Keagan I promise…" Keagan looked up at him while holding onto Alexi. "If you do this right, she will get better. Things might go wrong, but she will get better. Got it?" Keagan nodded after a moment and Skye turned and left.

Sometime later, Alexi fell back asleep. It was uneasy but it was better. He shook her lightly until she looked up at him. "Keagan…?"

"Yeah."

"Wh-What is it?" she muttered sleepily.

Keagan smiled softly. "Remember in that old hotel where you were having trouble walking?" Alexi nodded softly. "Remember how you wouldn't let me hold you and then fell down?" It took a bit longer this time before she nodded. "And then… how you let me help you back up?" Alexi stared, finally beginning to understand him. "Remember how you felt after that, when you got better?" Alexi didn't nod anymore, she just let him continue. "And…And then… H-How… we kind of made up?" Alexi blushed and looked down without an answer. "You know how you always listen to music while you're upside down on this bed, with your head over the edge and your legs bent to the wall?" The blush increased as she looked farther away. "I like that." Alexi looked back. "You're kind of… spontaneous. I like how you sing when you're cooking, or when you think I'm not around here…. How you just do random things."

"R-Really?"

Keagan smiled and raised her face to meet his gaze. "Yes. And I miss your smile…. I miss you."

Alexi raised a hand and wiped swiftly at her eyes. "I can't help it."

"Yes, you can. Alexi, I want you back. It's been a long time since I've been able to talk to you. I really miss you. I-I love you." He didn't get a response from her. "Alexi." He repeated louder. "I love you."

She finally looked up with tears in her eyes and collapsed to him. The tears continued to come until she fell asleep once more. But this sleep was much calmer, much more planned. As the minutes rolled by, Keagan wiped some hair out of her face and smiled. He was sure that she would make it.

He was right. It would'nt be long before the tears would stop altogether.

Makaila stretched and stepped out of her bed. Almost instantly, her eyes brightened and she ran to the calendar on her wall. Today was her ninth birthday. She felt excitement flood her system. Quickly she turned to her window and walked to the frame. Resting upon it was a small box that had been left on her windowsill. She opened it and smiled brightly at the large, blue, tear shaped necklace. She eagerly placed it around her neck and then leaned out the window. She looked over the roof and then down to the edge of the forest with a smile. She couldn't see anybody, but she knew who had given it to her. In attempt to reach him, she raised her hand and waved, then yelled into the sweet morning air. "Thanks!"

A/N Lol. Like I said. I didn't really like this chapter. Except for the boy/Makaila stuff. Hope the title change wasn't confusing. This chapter was actually important for later chapters though (depending on if I stick to what I was gonna do.) So... yeah. Once again, sorry.

Thankyou all so much for sticking to this story! I really appreciate it!