A/N This is the second to last chapter. Though the next chapter is similar to an epilogue. A lot of the ending comes into place in this chapter. Hope you all enjoy it! I realize there are mistakes. Hopefully they'll be easy to get over. I don't have any time to go over it and I have to post it today or wait a week. I figure it's best to post it today. I hope you all like it! I'm definitely getting a beta for the future.

I'm sorry to who I didn't respond to in the last chapter and for the confusion. I will try to clear it up as soon as possible. I've been really busy this week and now I'm sick. Hopefully this chapter clears up some confusion, and will still be enjoyable. I will respond as soon as I can. Thank you so much for the great reviews!

Makaila was, ironically, the only one who didn't fully understand the meaning behind Eitan's words.

The boy's hands balled into fists at his sides as he forced himself not to move.

Ash couldn't believe it. Numbly he sat, turning slowly to see the effects the words would have on his daughter and only finding worry and confusion in her expression. He glanced to the boy behind them, body stiff as he focused on none but Makaila even as Eitan lay dying.

It all finally made sense. The boy was like Eitan. Eitan was like the boy. They had both been pumped with a serum and used as an experiment. Both experiments had failed. But then . . . that meant that Eitan had probably been sent to watch her for that reason. It was no wonder that they hadn't come to take her sooner.

Ash wanted to scream. He wasn't sure what to do. Both in love . . . Was it love? Or just obsession or some chemical imbalance telling them to take care of her? It only took him a moment to think back on Eitan's expression as Makaila was mentioned. The annoyance. The anger. His expression of betrayal to himself as he dove to save her life, risking his. Painful sacrifice . . . but no, he didn't love her.

But . . . the boy?

Suddenly the entire hallway around them shook. Distant yells reached them at precisely the same moment. Looking down he found that Eitan had faded from consciousness completely. And no wonder with the small puddle pooling behind his shoulder. Though Ash suspected that there was more involved. He didn't have time to think about it. Quickly he reached down and pulled Eitan up and over his own shoulder with effort.

"Is . . . Is he dead?" Makaila whispered.

" . . . We don't have time to check."

"Ash!" Misty's scold came before she filter it. He couldn't have said, 'no?' Couldn't have left her with that hope for the moment?

Ash sighed. "I'm sorry. We don't have the time. We'll see."

Makaila nodded, stubbornly trying to hide the tears that were starting. She knew it. He was different then he appeared. He was . . . something like her father had probably been.

Another shake. Ash nearly crumbled with weight over his shoulder and quickly steadied himself against the wall. This time a very loud and definite scream reached them. Even closer.

Misty paled. "Makaila, let's go."

Makaila nodded and followed as Misty reached Ash and they all began to run once more, all silent about the body of Grant they left behind.

"Go." Skye pulled Alexi once again from the chair to hurry them all out.

This time Alexi pulled her arm from his, looking to him with a glare. "I'm not a toy!"

Skye paused and stared back at her, an annoyed expression coming over his face.

Gary glanced between them in a slightly aggravated way and turned to leave. "I'm getting Brock."

Skye gave one last look to Alexi and turned to follow, knowing that Gary would need his help.

Gary came up short in surprise as Keagan suddenly barreled into the room right in front of them, leaning over to catch his breath. Standing with a hurried expression he said quickly, "we put bombs in the rooms." He was met with similar looks of frozen shock and ironically immediately followed with a loud bang and a the walls shaking around them. Keagan paled.

Skye cursed under his breath. Raising his hand as if to grab something he took a look at Alexi's glare and dropped it, moving forward. "You could of let us know earlier? What took you so long?"

An embarrassed expression came over Keagan's face. He glanced away nervously, still looking hurried.

Alexi rose an eyebrow. "You got lost."

Keagan's mouth twitched. He looked back up with a guilty expression that only made Alexi want to laugh but under the circumstances she only moved forward to join him. Gary had already slipped out into the hall and Skye hurried to follow, passing both Alexi and Keagan. Both were running, but Skye was faster. Within moments he had passed the corner of the hallway that Gary had already turned down. Gary was opening the door.

When Skye entered, he sighed in aggravation. It was clear that Brock was taking his promise seriously. Even his entrance did nothing to break Brock from the trance he was in. He looked vacantly ahead of himself, eyes glazed and body shaking. Skye thought to himself that if Brock wasn't so incredibly strong willed he would have passed out already. It was a miracle that he was still awake. "Time to go Brock," he stated, coming forward.

Brock blinked dazedly and turned to him slowly. Skye bent and took of hold of Brock's arm, starting to pull it over his shoulder as Gary moved to do the same on his opposite side. Brock winced lightly when his left arm was raised. After a moment he shook his head and mumbled quietly, "I heard something."

Gary grunted as they raised Brock to his feet, who was much heavier in his dazed state. "A bomb exploded somewhere," Gary stated calmly.

Brock gave no indication that he had heard Gary's reply, staring at the floor as if thinking.

Skye grunted. "It's good you're still awake, but can you help us walk?"

Again, Brock only continued to stare ahead. Skye frowned. "Hey!"

Gary ground his teeth. "He's loosing it. You should have expected this."

Skye glared around Brock. "I did. It was you who insisted that we bring him."

Gary looked insulted. "Don't be stupid, it was him."

"I can walk."

Gary and Skye broke their rather short argument to look at Brock. He was looking a little faintly towards Skye and looked aware, though tired. When neither did anything he repeated. "I'll walk. Let's go."

Though his voice was a bit faint, both took this as the good sign that it was and quickly taking advantage of it, they began to walk.

Alexi looked on with concern as the exited the room. "Is there anything we can do?"

"Yeah, get out of the way and get out period."

Alexi sighed at Skye's reply and moved herself towards Keagan, making room for the three to pass. Brock was almost nodding as they went on walking. Having never seen anything like this, Alexi leaned around the group to look at him, taking in his glazed eyes. "Are you okay Brock?"

Brock blinked twice and turned to her. "Good," he muttered.

Alexi frowned.

"It's okay." Gary stated.

Skye nodded. "He'll be fine. He's just going to be out of it until we get him some help." Both Gary and Alexi frowned at this.

Alexi looked back over his burn. "Maybe," she muttered.

"C'mon," Keagan touched Alexi's arm to get her attention. She swiveled to him, only now taking him in since the time that they had separated. Without realizing it she quickly gave him a once over, checking for injuries. Realizing what she was doing she stopped and looked back up to his face. She found him smiling, on the verge of a smirk, looking a bit too pleased with himself.

She rolled her eyes, turning to leave. A hand grabbed her arm before she could. She had been grabbed enough in one day, and was about to tell him off when she turned and saw the look on his face. Very intense, barely concerned. She wasn't sure what to do with the expression. It started a strange feeling in her gut that she had only become normal when around Keagan, but she still wasn't used to. A blush started for reasons she couldn't name.

"You're alright?" He asked quietly.

She nodded, a small smile starting.

He let out a breath. "Good."

Blinking at the calm reply, she nodded back and looked down the hall. "We have to hurry, don't we?"

He nodded. But deliberating a moment longer, struggle all over his face, used the grip he had on her arm to pull her closer and kiss her.

Alexi stiffened in surprise. When he pulled away she stared at him in slight surprise. After a moment to absorb what had just happened, she gulped. There was no blush this time. Keagan looked ready for a response and so she muttered the first thing that came from her lips.

"Tha-That . . . was nice."

She twitched at her own response but only got an amused look in response. Keagan nodded. "Yeah it was." A smile still on his face he rushed out, "I want to be with you, more than we were before, when we get out."

Alexi's eyes widened. "I-I thought we were doing that? What comes after what we were doing?"

Keagan tilted his head to the side, firm yet amused expression still in place. Her eyes widened and he nodded.

The wildest butterflies in existence were suddenly in the pit of her stomach, a horrible, wonderfully excited feeling. Gulping once more, she gave one nod.

A huge smile split Keagan's face. Alexi found a deep blush starting on her face as he leaned down to kiss her once again, but she still couldn't stop the way she melted beneath it. This time when he pulled back she was smiling. Blushing, she gave a nervous giggle and muttered, "okay."

"Hey!"

Alexi frowned in annoyance. "He should be the little brother," she muttered to herself.

Keagan blinked at the words, but Skye continued before he could comment.

"We're leaving. You coming?"

"You're half way down the hall," Alexi deadpanned.

"So get your butt down here."

Alexi frowned, expression tightening.

Keagan shrugged. "He's right."

She sighed, nodded and turned to go. Pausing once, she pulled back and grabbed Keagan's hand, a blush starting again. Looking away she asked, "Can you run like this?"

Keagan smiled to himself. "I could probably do anything to be like this."

Alexi rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Then let's run."

Keagan nodded, holding her hand back tighter.

Ash breathed out in relief as their group all exited the door that Alexi had pulled up on their way in, leaving them in the relief of the setting sun. He quickly walked some distance away and laid Eitan down on his stomach on the grass. He kneeled down beside him to assess the wound even as he looked around for the others. He looked up to see Michael standing some feet away, looking at them with concern. He didn't have time to answer any questions and so he looked back to Eitan.

Misty looked around in concern. "Should we help the others?"

"No," Ash answered. "They won't have time to do anything but help themselves. If we go back in, we may not find them and you'd be trapped yourself. We have . . . to trust them."

Misty took in the words with a careful ear, then seeming to decide that it was true, she nodded to herself, still biting her bottom lip in nervousness.

Taylor appeared behind Michael. "Is Skye out?"

Michael shook his head. "No. He will be though. Don't worry."

Lips pursing, Taylor nodded.

Noise from behind them caused all but Ash to turn towards the door as Alexi and Keagan came running out.

As Michael filled Taylor in, Alexi turned to look back towards the building. A loud explosion made them all turn. Though not obvious from the outside, all heard the loud sounds of crumbling from the inside. Alexi's expression tightened, becoming worried. "Where did you put the bombs?"

Keagan stood from catching his breath, still breathing deeply. "In the rooms with the records. We accidentally left one in the weapons room."

Ash stiffened, raising his head slowly to look at Keagan. "You . . . You left one in the weapons room?"

Keagan turned, brows coming together in concern, and nodded.

Ash pulled Eitan into his arms quickly and moved him further away on the grass. "Get farther from the building," he announced. "We need to be at least five hundred feet away."

Alexi turned in alarm. "Five hundred? Why?"

"There are bombs in that room that only kill live organisms," Ash answered. They will reach five hundred feet from that room."

Alexi paled, her entire body freezing. "You mean . . . everyone inside will die?"

Ash paused, then nodded solemnly.

Alexi spun back to face the building, her face looking panicked and began to run strait back in. Keagan caught her arm before she could, eyes wide. "What are you doing?"

Alexi was beginning to breath heavily, a panicked, terrified look in her eyes. "The-The kids. All of the kids. They'll die. . . . They'll die. I f-I forgot. I can't-believe I forgot. They can't die." She pulled on Keagan's arm. "They can't die! It would be my fault! I-" Her rant was cut short as Keagan pulled her firmly to him, holding on tight.

"I know," he stated. "You can't get them all out on time, Alexi. You can't."

The words prompted violet struggling. "I don't care! I can get some of them out! I can! I won't let them all die! You can't-" here her voice broke "-you can't tell me that!"

Keagan's teeth clenched. "I-I'm so sorry."

"No! Keagan, don't! I'm begging, please!"

Alexi suddenly found herself on the ground. At first she was shocked, wondering why Keagan would throw her, how this had somehow warranted the action. And then she looked up and saw Keagan standing above her, staring strait ahead instead. There was silence on the grass as everyone saw a lone grunt standing before the entryway, looking just as trapped as they were surprised. He looked left and right, a panicked expression on his face.

Keagan made the mistake of taking a defensive stance.

In desperation, the grunt pulled his only weapon from his belt, a small gun, shot Keagan, and ran strait through the trees.

For a moment, there was only stunned silence. And then Alexi pushed herself to her knees and moved the barely two feet to him. Keagan stared above him with a stunned expression.

Alexi couldn't speak. She felt the very breath stolen from her body. In disbelief and deep fear, she slowly muttered, "K-Keagan?"

There was no reply, and then his eyes turned to meet hers and she felt like sobbing in relief. "Y-You're okay."

Keagan blinked at her. She suddenly understood that his silence was not to him being okay. Alexi looked down to see his hand twitching to his side and saw the blood, on his thigh, only beginning to color the blue fabric of his jeans.

Tears came. "A-Ash!"

He was there in a second, dropping to the grass beside them. He moved in front of her to look at the wound while Keagan continued to stare ahead with wide eyes. Ash muttered something to himself that Alexi didn't catch, then placed his fingers on the fabric around the hole. "I need Skye," she finally heard in him mutter. But only a moment later he looked at pressed around the wound and sighed in relief.

Alexi watched with her heart in her throat. "Is he okay?"

Ash almost laughed. "I'm sure it hurts like nothing ever has right now." He paused to look at her. "But he's going to be okay. We'll have to wait for Skye to really treat it."

Alexi's shoulders fell. "O-Okay." She reached down and grabbed Keagan's hand. "You'll be okay, alright?"

Keagan only nodded faintly, and then he glanced behind her fearfully. She gathered suddenly the meaning to the fear and gulped to herself. Keagan saw the change and grabbed tightly back to her hands. "No!"

Alexi didn't answer. Pulling her hands gently from his (he tried desperately to pull them back without sitting up). "He . . . He's going to be okay?"

Ash watched her carefully and nodded. "He'll make it out alright. Alive at least."

Alexi's lips trembled as she turned back to Keagan. He stared up at her with wide eyes. "You can't," he whispered.

Alexi bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. "I'm . . . so sorry."

"No!" Keagan yelled as Alexi glanced once at him, stood and ran. His eyes were wide and panicked as he watched her go. "No . . ." Looking desperately to Ash he heard Makaila yell in shock. "Dad! Eitan's really pale!"

Ash gulped back to Keagan, glancing behind them and then looking to Eitan. "He'll die if I don't stop the bleeding." He said quietly.

Keagan's expression was a mask of numb fear but with no reply, Ash rose quickly to treat Eitan. As he did he said to Misty, "rip some fabric from the bottom of his shirt and tie it tight above the bullet. Don't worry about it being too tight." Misty nodded and kneeled down beside him the same time as May and Drake came running out of the building.

May stopped in surprise. "What happened?"

"Keagan was shot," Misty answered back.

"Can I help?"

Misty nodded. "Come here."

Keagan was trembling. May had no way of knowing that it wasn't because of the bullet.

The last of their group finally exited the building. Drew was attempting to help to support Brock. The process was slow. Finally, they all paused to catch their breath.

"Skye!" Keagan yelled out, startling both of the girls.

"I need you to help Keagan," Ash announced, interrupting. "He was shot in the thigh."

Skye passed Brock's other side off to Drew and hurried over, pushing the girls as gently as he could muster aside. As he leaned over to see the wound he was taken by surprise as Keagan's hand fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer. Skye stared, too surprised to be annoyed. "You have to go get her."

Skye blinked, brows coming together. "Are you delusional already?"

"They put a bomb in the weapon's room," Ash put in helpfully, looking intently to the deep wound on Eitan's back. It took Skye a moment to realize what this meant. When he put it together, his eyes widened as he looked to them and gauged their distance from the building. "We're okay," Ash went on. "But . . . Alexi went back inside."

Skye's expression went aghast. "Why the hell did she do that?"

"She's saving the test subjects."

Skye grunted in annoyance and managed to pull one of Keagan's hands from his shirt. "Stupid," he muttered.

Keagan's emotions rose. He held on tight with his other hand, despite the annoyance on Skye's face and forced quick words around the pain. "You have to get her out." His hand shook in Skye's shirt. "She's your sister. You're sister. You don't show emotion towards it, but somewhere in there it has got to mean something to you!"

Keagan's eyes shut in desperation. "Please, go in. I watched . . . my sister-if you don't do something you are going to regret it for the rest of your life. I know what it feels like. And-And now she . . . " Keagan choked. "She's your sister. You're little sister. You can't let her die. P-Please. . . ."

Skye pulled Keagan's other hand from his shirt in silence. He stood, deliberating. "You realize that if I were to leave, it would leave you without anyone to treat that leg."

"I don't care!" Keagan nearly yelled. "Just get her out. It's-It's all I need." Keagan opened his eyes fully, waiting with bated breath to see the reaction he would get.

Skye's mouth twisted. "I don't like men who beg." But then he turned and ran, re-entering the building.

Keagan collapsed fully to the grass with the weight of his relief.

Misty and May watched Skye leave with similar expressions. "I guess it's up to us again," Misty stated. May nodded and followed Misty's lead.

Alexi froze. A yell of anger and fear was far closer to her than she would have liked. She suspected that though a few of the grunts were being assembled, some of them were like the one that had shot Keagan: leaving despite orders. But why would they keep the grunts in the building? They didn't know about the gas, so they weren't trying to kill them. It came together quickly for her. They must not have known about the gas or the extent of the bombs. They were probably sending the grunts to look for them.

She grit her teeth. That would mean that she would need to hide from any grunts that came her way. But did she have time? One of the bombs had already gone off. Was it the one in the weapons room? How long would it take for the gas to spread?

Instead of making her want to turn around, this spurred her quicker down the hall. She had to be fast.

Turning quickly around a corner Alexi almost didn't stop before she ran into a person coming around the same bend. She stepping back and took him in, and her eyes widened. With the expression of one caught in the act, Jason stood before her, eyes wide in surprise similar to hers. His lips trembled as he glanced behind her.

She frowned. This was the person who had dragged her kicking and complaining into a room to be drugged. The person who did it to multiple people on a daily basis.

But he was also the little boy who had soaked blood from the back of her head after a grunt threw her to the floor. At another time he had grabbed her while she yelled at him and forced her to hold still till the drugs were out of her body. She still didn't know why. Above all, he had been in charge of taking care of them afterwards. Because of it, they had hated him. It didn't make much sense, but he was always there . . . and always alone.

The sadness hit her fully. Another victim to Team Rocket. But with him, nobody had even cared.

Taking in his expression, still carefully watching her back, she swallowed and slowly backed up, placing her back against the wall.

Jason's shoulders relaxed, his expression changing from scared to confused.

Alexi stared back, hoping that he would understand . . . that she finally understood.

Jason knew something. He stilled, and nodding softly to her, he turned to continue running. He started but Alexi still couldn't look away as he disappeared farther down the hall. He glanced over his shoulder. "Watch your head!"

Alexi blinked. And then the meaning of the words came and she couldn't stop the bittersweet smile. She nodded.

Letting out a breath akin to something she had rarely experienced (only in letting go of her past did this feeling come at all), she turned, gathered herself, and prepared to run.

On her very first step, the entire building shook. Alexi fell to the ground. This was not a distant rumble or a panicked yell. This was here. Where she was. Where the children were.

Alexi ran.

Skye cursed as he threw another grunt to the wall. There were too many of them. Everywhere. Alexi wouldn't stand a chance. They were all either running for their lives or going after their group. Skye had the element of surprise with his grunt outfit. Throwing them against walls and to the floor was simply his plan to get them all out of the way as his annoyance mounted. Alexi couldn't do that.

Scrunching up his face he sneered. Why did he care? She was annoying. If anything, it would be a relief to be rid of her. A cold feeling filled him when he thought of the words, a strong, bitter, sick feeling that tempted him to take it back. It was a feeling he had only felt in a few circumstances. The feeling that came when his clone had accused him of leaving Sarah to die. The feeling that came when Taylor had yelled at him in her sleep as a child. "Don't leave me!" He winced and then couldn't help it. He sighed. He did care.

Why did he care? Why should he care?

"You're going the wrong way!"

Skye rolled his eyes, flinging his arm behind him on instinct. The thud prompted him to turn to see the scientist who had spoken knocked out on the floor beside the wall, white coat twisted over his head. Skye blinked, slowly looking down at his arm in interest. Had . . . he done that?

A distant bang got his attention. It was less like the sounds of explosion and more like the sound of a gun. Skye straitened and began to run again, hoping to find Alexi around the next bend. He knew where she was headed.

When he came around it he paused in annoyance. Why wasn't she there? This was the testing hall. It was so silent and dark in this hall that he was automatically suspicious. Didn't anyone care about this section of the building. Slowly walking to one of the doors, ever cautious, he leaned to see through the window. He was surprised to find it empty. It wasn't that strange, but still . . . Curiosity overcoming him, Skye moved to the next door . . . and the next, and the next.

They were all empty.

Had Alexi done it? Had she rescued them all? He would guess not. The doors were all locked shut still, and the hallway was so silent. But it was strange. Glancing to the end of the hallway he saw a door he hadn't been able to see before in the dim lighting. There was a door open, he realized. Walking a few more steps showed him that three more doors were open likewise.

Three doors. . . . Could there be more?

Skye moved quickly to the next hallway. Again he found every door closed, no test subjects within the rooms. Where were they?

It was in the third hallway that he finally saw her.

Alexi turned, startled, up on her toes to look through a window.

Five children behind her.

Skye blinked. "How did you do it?" He whispered to himself.

Alexi's brows came together. She looked into the window again, then fell back to her heels and ran to the next one.

Skye looked on in annoyance. "They're not here."

She spun to face him, anger on her face. "Really? There are none here?"

Skye glanced to the children. There were two girls and three boys. Two of the boys were identical in every way, down to their red and scratched arms, probably five years old. The oldest girl, probably around seven stood behind them, hovering protectively. The other boy looked to be a bit younger than the twins, barely a toddler. Black hair stood on end and dark brown eyes blinked at him. He stepped back. The last girl looked to be about the same age as the boys, and stood to the side, blond hair almost glowing around her as she glared with deadly intent at Skye.

Skye couldn't look away from her. He realized that she was probably looking at him the way she was because of the outfit he was wearing, but what about the other four? They were cowering, the twins and girl huddled together. As interested as he was, he knew that they didn't have time. He took a moment longer to take in their attire and forms. They were so small, so skinny.

It clicked.

"Alexi, they're not here."

Alexi turned, looking suspicious. "How do you know that? They're here." She motioned to the children.

He frowned. She wouldn't like the response, but he didn't have time to put it kindly. "They're either terminal or no longer useful."

Alexi flinched. "What?"

"They just don't need them or care anymore. That's why they're still here."

Alexi stared at him blankly. "So . . . the others are gone. . . . And they aren't because . . . Because they weren't worth . . . the effort."

Skye nodded.

Alexi turned to the children. The three cuddled together did turn to her. One of the twins looked at her, the other seemed dead and stared at the floor. But the girl . . . her face changed from fear to determination. She firmed her jaw and pulled the boys closer, turning her chin to the ceiling, and stared back.

Alexi felt relief. "I was terminal once. . . . We all were." She turned back to Skye. "I believe you. But I won't leave them here."

Skye looked annoyed. He glanced at the children and muttered. "They may just die anyway."

Alexi shuddered. "Don't say that." Trembling she stared at the floor. "I don't care. They might not be. . . . I'm keeping them."

Again, Skye looked to the blond girl, the youngest he guessed, who still hadn't looked away from him, her little face set in determination. He almost rolled his eyes. "Then let's go."

Alexi raised her head to look at him in shock. Stunned wonder lit her face. Skye wasn't sure what she was thinking. She would just do what she wanted anyway. But she smiled, nodding with a look of deep gratitude.

Skye turned quickly with a sneer. "Let's go, I said."

Alexi quickly ushered the children to move ahead of her. The three together moved. The youngest boy flinched and pulled from her touch, nervously staying ahead of her shooing hands. The last girl looked at Skye, looked to Alexi with suspicion, and then seeming to come to a decision, ran forward the first few spaces herself (halfway between Alexi and Skye).

Skye moved too fast, for four weak and possibly drugged children, but Alexi ushered them on with what speed she could, working with all her might to stay within reach of Alexi. As they reached the door to the outside, Skye sighed in relief. They were going to make it.

The little girl stopped, tilting her head to the side and blinking as she saw the world beyond the door. All of the green and colors. Tentatively she took a step forward, the ran the rest of the way. Skye watched with a raised eyebrow as she passed him and ventured strait outside, shaking his head. Turning he found the three huddled moving much slower. Taken by the knowledge of how close they were to being killed he hurried to the group. When they winced at his presence he rolled his eyes. "Let's move it kids."

Alexi frowned but looked to the kids. "He's right this time."

The little girl frowned, but looked to the twins. Gently she pulled from them and gave them a little push. They both glanced at her, but she nodded. One of the twins continued to stare blankly, the other took the initiative and grabbed his brother's hand, pulling him to the door as he began to run with small strides. His brother simply allowed himself to be pulled. Skye was even more convinced that at least one of the brothers was drugged. The other girl took off behind them to follow. The boy looked up at Skye nervously, then went to follow, gaining on the other children as he took in the trees.

Skye nodded and turned to Alexi. Alexi watched the children exit completely behind him. "You too . . . " he muttered.

Alexi couldn't stop the smile and nodded.

Keagan breathed deeply, not noticing the children exiting the building some feet from them. May gasped. "She's there."

Keagan blinked and began to sit up, wincing painfully, but Misty pushed him back down. "She's alright. It's enough, so don't go moving yet."

He shook his head. "I want to see."

Drew frowned from Brock's side, only a few short feet from Ash. Lifting a hand, he counted down on his fingers. "Ash," he stated.

Ash nodded, focusing intently on Eitan and the strips of fabric beside him (almost everybody's shirt was a strip shorter).

Drew looked distantly to his thoughts, then turned to the building. "Has the orb rebounded yet?

Ash shook his head.

"So . . . when it explodes . . ."

"The whole building will come down." Ash turned to Alexi and Skye, still barely within the door. " Skye! Alexi! Get out!"

Skye and Alexi straitened at the yell, turning.

The building shook.

Skye grabbed Alexi as she began to fall, and the entire group watched in stunned silence as the building rocked completely beneath the ground and the floor of the entrance exploded.

Misty was on her feet in a moment. The children had stopped and she ran forward quickly, scooping the twins up in either arm as Michael grabbed the oldest girl, and the youngest boy, pulling them away from the wreckage and working just to hold their footing as the ground continued to shake.

When it finally stopped the air was thick with dirt.

Skye stared in stunned disbelief at the mess before them. The explosion and pushed the floor up and brought the ceiling down right in front of them. Alexi coughed and hissed instantly, reaching to her leg and bringing it back with blood. Pushing the fear away she pushed the bolder that had landed beside her off the side of her leg and rose to her feet, relieved she could still stand on it. Then she looked to the mess.

Skye continued to stare. He knew they couldn't climb through it. They could barely see.

"I'm sorry," came the soft voice beside him.

Skye stiffened. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't answer.

This wasn't the time for apologies.

The group stared in shock.

And then surprisingly, Taylor was the one to run forward.

Michael's eyes widened. Quickly he dropped the children and ran to catch her. "Taylor stop!"

The rest of the group could only stare. What could they do? When would the gas reach them?

Keagan stared, eyes wide with horror, frozen as he tried to absorb what had happened. It was unbelievable. They were so close.

Trembling, Ash took the role of leader. "Taylor, you have to come back! You'll die if you stay within range!"

Michael reached her just as Ash's words did. He caught her barely before she reached a bolder she couldn't see, and held her as she began to struggle. "You have to let me go! I have to get closer!"

They were some feet from the building. Skye and Alexi wouldn't even have the chance of hearing them.

Taylor grit her teeth in determination. "Listen to me! I can help them if I can just get close enough for him to hear!"

Ash was torn. Did they have time to unbury the door? They couldn't let them die. But the gas . . . it would be spreading by now. They had to be able to do something.

Drew was the one to speak. "Michael, get her back. You'll both die!"

Taken by a sudden desperation, with nothing else to keep her still, Michael turned her and kissed her lips.

Taylor froze.

Michael yelped.

Hand raising to his cheek in surprise, he looked to Taylor. She glared through sightless eyes, tears coming. "They're not dead. I know it. D-Don't ever, ever kiss me for something like that. I'm not stupid. I'm blind." Closing her eyes she cried, "There's a difference!"

Michael could only stare. Taylor spun quickly, moving as quickly as she could towards the building. It was May who cried out helpfully, "You're close!"

Taylor cupped her hands over her mouth and screamed at the rubble. "Use the sphere!"

Dropping her hands she breathed deeply from the effort of navigating to the door blindly. With the breath of a whisper she said to herself. "They're not dead."

Michael could only stare. Softly, he requested, "Taylor. Come back."

Taylor turned to him and nodded. Navigating once again towards him.

Skye was aware that both he and Alexi were about to die. If the building falling down around them didn't kill them, the gas that was beginning to spread would. Alexi could do nothing for the guilt and shock that was suddenly upon her. It wouldn't have been so bad if it was just her. But Skye . . .

"Use the sphere!"

Skye blinked. The voice was faint. Taylor's voice.

Use the sphere?

At first Skye thought she was referring to the ball that had taken the building down. But then it clicked.

It wasn't that at all.

Spinning on his heel, Skye stared down the hall, trying to think of where to find it from here. Alexi screamed and moved towards him as the wall beside her finished crumbling and covered the floor. Before Alexi could complain, Skye took her by the arm and dragged her down the hall.

The floor shook under their feet. The lights were out completely now and the ceiling above them looked ready to cave completely.

Alexi stared at him in panicked confusion. "Skye! Where are we going?"

Skye didn't answer. At the end of the hallway he stopped and looked down both hallways, squinting in the dim lighting. Alexi jumped beside him as the left hallway crumbled. "I guess that answers that," Skye stated. Again he spun, taking Alexi with him. Behind them a louder crumbling started in the same hallway.

"What is it?"

"The higher floors are coming down," Skye answered.

Finally he stopped, turned and opened the door . . .

. . . to be met with a room full of grunts.

Alexi moved towards him subconsciously. Taking a quick breath he surprised Alexi by walking strait into the room.

"Get out."

Alexi's mouth fell open. Skye resonated power the same way he had resonated weakness when he had portrayed a simple grunt. The right wall suddenly caving answered any hesitation the grunts were having. They passed Skye, running strait out into the hallway.

The moment they were gone, Skye slammed the door closed and locked it, then ran strait for the platform in the middle of the room. He pulled Alexi towards it and began to push her.

"What are you doing?"

"Get on the platform! Now!"

She was in no position to argue. Confusion mounting, Alexi pulled herself onto the platform, followed swiftly by Skye. The table was tight for one person. Skye bent at the waist and pressed a button on the side of the display. When nothing happened he cursed and looked at the ceiling.

Alexi gulped. "A . . . Are we going to die here?"

Skye grit his teeth. "Shut up, Alexi." Her wince was felt, close as they were, but Skye went on. "You have to live. . . . Keagan wouldn't forgive me."

Alexi stared. With a pained smile she asked, "since when do you care what Keagan thinks?"

"Since my little sister's in love with him."

Alexi felt frozen, unable to speak. Finally, ignoring the crumbling around them, she muttered. "None of you cared. I-I don't have a family."

Skye grit his teeth. "Seriously, would you shut up?" Finally turning to her he stated boldly. "Look, our parents might not of cared, but I did! It's not fair for you to say that."

Alexi trembled, tears came that she couldn't battle away. "You care," she whispered.

Looking even more annoyed at her crying he nodded. "As much as you drive me crazy sometimes, I care. Now would you stop crying and help me? You're not allowed to die. Got it?"

Alexi laughed. "Not allowed? Damn, you're annoying."

Skye smirked. "Welcome to my world. Now come here. You have to be close."

Pulling herself back to the current situation, Alexi curled into Skye's side and placed them both within the perimeters of the stand. With a deep breath. Skye raised his hands to the ceiling. Alexi was confused until she saw the a glass ring beginning to fall, slowly coming down to circle the platform. Skye's expression was laced with stress, as if he were physically pulling it, though his arms were only placed up. She had forgotten . . .

Finally the glass came down around them and was nearly to their feet, when it stopped. Skye cursed.

"Is-Is it stuck?"

Skye didn't answer. He stared at the bottom with a glare. Placing his hands palm out to the floor he tried to shut it, but nothing happened. He was hit with a sudden panic. It didn't happen often, but this was too familiar. Unable to stop himself he stared at the wall far off. That was where he had stood, and where stood was where Sarah had died. Had it felt like this? Had she panicked, unable to do anything, only waiting for the tube to fill with a gas that would kill her? The situation was so similar he couldn't stand it. In a way it seemed strangely fitting, that he would die in the same place, in the same manner, that he hadn't been able to save her.

"Skye, don't stop." Alexi grabbed his arm, seeing him beginning to drift. She had never seen any form of defeat on his face, but now it seemed to fill his body. "Skye, please."

Slowly he turned to her. "I'm sorry."

Alexi stared with wide eyes. "You're so close," she whispered. Then tightening her expression she yelled. "Why are you giving up? You never give up! What-" Her eyes widened. He looked distant, seeing something that wasn't there. He only did it around Taylor, and sometime with the expression was the statement of a name that wasn't hers . . . . Sarah.

"I-It's her, isn't it? Is this . . ." She looked around them, putting the pieces together. "Is this where Sarah died? Is that why Taylor knew of it?"

Skye remained silent.

Turning back to him she hissed. "Well wake up! Sarah wouldn't want you to die! You're being stupid!" He looked away. "Skye, please."

Alexi suddenly registered something she hadn't even noticed. There had been yells, so many that they blended with the collapsing of the building. The building was still collapsing, but where were the yells? Alexi went on desperately. "Skye!" Taking a leaf from his book, she grabbed his face to look at her. "Taylor." He blinked. "Taylor is still alive." She looked between his now empty eyes, hoping he would understand. "Taylor needs you." There was something in his eyes now, but he still looked doubtful. She knew nothing else to say. Voice cracking the words came before she could stop them, "I need you. . . . R-Right now."

"Okay."

Alexi's eyes widened. "Okay?"

He nodded.

Swiftly she let go of him.

Skye turned to the bottom of the sphere again. Kneeling as well as he could, he placed his palms out and concentrated. It still did nothing. Skye was on the brink, ready to give up, when a soft word echoed by his ear, accompanied by a soft voice he had wished to hear for years. "Skye," it whispered. Skye stilled.

The tube snapped shut.

Skye pulled himself up and lacking the walls he usually erected he pulled Alexi to his chest. He couldn't shake it. A real voice.

Her voice.

There was silence between them all. Ash had finished wrapping Eitan, and he knew he should do more but he couldn't look away from the sight in front of them. He was just as mentally trapped by the hopeless picture as everyone else was.

The building had crumbled. Completely. The gas would have spread. They couldn't get close.

Skye and Aleksi were still inside.

Nobody had to tell Taylor what had happened. She stood frozen, facing the building with wide, anxious eyes, as if she could truly see the haunting image in front of them.

It was an entire minute before anyone spoke. And the first word. . . wasn't even a word.

Keagan yelled.

With Keagan's cry the fragile aura broke. Taylor split from her spot, once more running towards the building. Michael caught her this time without any guilt to holding her there.

Michael spoke loudly with a panicked tone, trying to get her attention as she struggled.

"No," Makaila whispered.

"This can't . . ." Drew started, looking almost comically confused, as if he hadn't imagined such a thing could happen. The comic was stolen by the fear.

May stared stoically, breath stolen. "Are . . .Are they-"

"They're not dead!"

Taylor's exclamation nearly quieted the field. All who had begun to speak turned to her. Her scream was near hysterical. She couldn't stand all the assumptions of their death.

Michael trembled. "T-Taylor. They-"

"Don't say it! Don't say it!" Strengthening herself, stopping herself from continuing, she looked to him with wide, determined eyes and said firmly. "They're alive. I know it."

Michael could say nothing to such a faithful statement. He was shaken. He wanted to believe it. He almost could, with the strange fire in her eyes.

Her composure crumbled. Quietly, just so he would hear, she whispered desperately, "Believe me."

This was about so much more than them, he realized. He could believe her. Even if she wasn't right, she knew it. "I-I do."

Taylor crumbled completely, her head falling to his chest as she clung tightly. Michael held her back, recognizing her fear past the strong statement.

And Ash just watched. There was nothing more that could be done. He was going insane, sitting on the ground and watching the fear climb around him, like a wall only he could see. It felt so wrong to watch, after all they had done. He had dragged them into this. If Alexi . . . and Skye, didn't get out of this, he would never forgive himself. And yet he felt that he was watching them die in front of him as he stared at the building without doing anything.

No. There was something. Wasn't there? Wasn't there always something? Ash looked across the field, eye catching on the bag beside Drake's feet. Desperation and hope mounting Ash called out, "Drake!"

Drake turned numbly to him. "Are those the pokemon?"

Drake blinked, feeling wronged with the timing of the question and nodded. "Pull out Skye's pokeball."

Ash was confused by the look of deeper loss in Drake's eyes. "They thought he was one of them . . . he has his pokemon with him."

Ash gulped. His pokemon was probably safe, stuck to his belt. Skye was ruthless in many ways, but for some reason, Ash was sure that with the threat of the gas, and with the pokemon who had been knocked out earlier, Skye wouldn't have taken his pokemon out. Not even if would save them.

Ash grit his teeth. "Who-"

"I'm not sending my pokemon in there." Drew stated firmly. His words were silently agreed by all of them. Ash wanted to yell, but he knew Drew was right. It wouldn't matter how strong the wind it could create was. It wouldn't matter how high above the building it could fly if it couldn't see Skye and Alexi. There was a chance it would die, and there was no way sending a pokemon in could actually save them. Not now.

Unless . . .

Ash stood quickly and rummaged through the bag of pokeballs. The group watched in confusion and concern, wondering what he was doing and if it would be a smart move or not. It became understandable as Ash finally pulled up with a pokeball and threw it into the air, releasing Staraptor.

"Oh." Makaila muttered.

Ash pointed to the building. "Skye and Alexi are trapped in there. Please, see if you can find them. You have to stay above the building-as far away as you can get while still seeing. Let us know if you see them."

Staraptor took off without a response but Ash knew that he had understood.

May covered her eyes as Staraptor flew higher and higher. Wincing she looked up towards the sky. "Can he really see from that far?"

"Yeah, he can," Ash answered quickly.

For some moments they all stayed still, until finally Ash's shoulders fell in surprise and everyone looked up in shock as Staraptor shouted down to them all.

"Does . . . Does he see them?" May asked.

Ash only stared.

"Is that a good thing . . . or a bad thing?" Drake asked.

This prompted Ash to finally move. "It's been long enough."

Misty looked to Brock nervously, wondering if she should do something. He was looking worse, completely out of it at this point. Somehow still conscious enough he glanced to Misty. "It's ok. Get them." Misty recognized the choppy speech as a result of the extension of his burns. Shaking her head she sat down beside him, unwilling to leave, to watch and make sure he would be alright. It was more dangerous to leave him then it was to leave Alexi and Skye to the others.

As Ash continued to walk strait towards the falling building, those who could walk stood to follow him, stopping only to gather pokeballs and release their pokemon who could also aid in the search or rescue. Ash began to climb the rubble indicating to Staraptor that it was safe to come down. And come he did, in a fast swipe strait towards the forms he had been staring at. He ended up a distance away, though not to far, into the rubble. Ash balanced on the rocks and began to near where Staraptor hovered, watching patiently but anxiously.

"Ash, be careful!" Misty called to him.

"Yeah," he answered back, focusing more on the unbalanced boulders under his feet. It took a couple minutes of careful maneuvering for him to reach Staraptor. When he did, he was for a moment confused. He didn't see anything. He could imagine the eye-rolling as Staraptor landed beside him and leaned over the rock Ash was standing on. Misty would have shrank back should she have been beside him. Ash tried not to laugh at the thought as he dropped to his knees and placed his hands on the edge of the boulder, leaning over as much as he could to safely see around and beneath the boulder he was on, dropping his head upside down over the edge. His eyes widened. Under the ledge he was standing on, a few feet back, was a long glass tube covered in dirt. Barely visible inside the dirt was a form with two heads, or two forms close together. Had he been on the other side of the boulder, he wouldn't have had a problem seeing them, which explained Staraptor seeing them so easily.

He stood quickly, staring anxiously at his feet. He was almost on top of them. How did he get them out? They couldn't very well melt the rock, they would boil Alexi and Skye if they did that. So they would have to move it somehow. Ash paused. Turning over his shoulder he finally realized that the others had joined him. Drew and Gary stood some feet behind him. Gary looking annoyed but strangely hopeful, Drew in sort of an uncomfortable crouch but waiting. The others were rising to help, all but Misty, who stayed on the ground beside Brock (who seemed to have finally passed out). Ash quickly but painfully pushed his worry for Brock aside as he turned to the others. "We have to move this boulder."

Drew blinked and looked down. Gary raised an eyebrow. "You mean the one you're standing on?"

Ash nodded and walked back to them to get off of it. "Skye and Alexi are in a subject tube attached to it."

Gary frowned. "How are we supposed to move it without taking the glass with it? We'll hurt them no matter how we move it."

Drew gathered that a subject tube was something that they had seen many times, but it wasn't hard to wrap his head around it. Blinking and raising an eyebrow himself, he stated. "Then why don't you just break the glass?"

Ash and Gary turned to him, similar blank looks on their faces. Then Gary's face went only a bit sour. "That would work."

"Yeah. Yeah it would," Ash answered. Turning to the group as a whole he stated, "we just have to get down there."

"I have Ivysaur," May offered, finally climbing unsteadily over the rocks to join them at the top. Drew winced at the drop behind her and reached forward to help May balance herself as she stepped over it.

"That's perfect May. Thanks."

May quickly released Ivysaur, and with the pokemons help, they were all safely lowered into the hole that had once been a room. May was the first to be lowered. As she landed she gasped at the tube and moved towards it, staring at the dirt to see through it. Drew walked up behind her as he was lowered and wiped off the glass with his sleeve.

"Oh," May whispered.

Drew frowned. "They're out," he announced.

Ash frowned thanking Ivysaur briefly before he joined them. "Usually oxygen is placed in the tube with them. They don't have that. It's possible they passed out."

May looked around. "Do we break it with something?"

Ash shook his head. "We won't be able to break the glass. It's thick and completely soundproof, to keep chemicals in and things like that."

May looked alarmed. "Then how do we get them out?"

Gary came up behind them and opened his mouth for a suggestion just as loud cry cut him off and made them all cover their ears. Ash's cried out as Staraptor appeared suddenly and dove strait for the glass, backing off quickly after hitting it. He wanted to scold, even if it wasn't typical of him for the danger of the move Staraptor had taken upon himself. The glass was made to uphold against many things.

. . . . Apparently it was more to hold in then to defend against anything. Before Ash could get after Staraptor, the crack that had started in the glass spread with a crack. Ash blinked and Staraptor gave a cry before flying towards it one final time. The glass cracked completely, and the side of the glass facing them fell to the floor.

Ash glanced towards Staraptor, who gave a cry of smug success and began to tend to a wing nonchalantly. Above them Ivysaur gave a low growl and turned the other way to sit on it's haunches in a extension of rolling his eyes at the pride of Staraptor.

"That's . . . one way." Gary admitted. He was the first to get over the surprise and start forward. Running to the wall, Gary grabbed two unbroken chairs and pulled them to the tube. Standing on one, he reached in for Alexi who was nearest and began to tug her from Skye. "A little help guys?"

Drew joined him before Ash could get close enough and removed the chair, helping to maneuver Alexi over the glass as Gary pulled her out. Ash moved behind them and finished pulling her out, gently placing her on the floor. Skye was harder to maneuver, but with minimal scratches they managed to remove him as well. Ash thought he would probably be annoyed at the scratches, but having his life would help him get over it. . .

Ivysaur pulled each of them up, one after another. As they were once again standing on the top of the building, Ash looked into Skye's pocket and found himself correct. He pulled Skye's pokeball from his belt and released Charizard, who looked to Skye with something akin to both surprise and annoyance (and maybe minimal concern). "Can you carry them down?" Ash asked. Charizard flipped his head, as if annoyed at the very insinuation that he wouldn't be able to. With a smile, Ash pulled Alexi up as Charizard landed and placed her on his back, followed by Skye. Ash started to follow and was met by a growl and small puff of fire. Ash half rolled his eyes. "They'll fall if I don't help." A brief pause and Charizard flipped his head back ahead, accepting without showing it. Ash understood and finished climbing up behind the two just as Charizard left the ground. Ash struggled to steady himself and the other two as quickly as he could. They were already on the ground by the time he was done.

Keagan didn't waste any time as they landed. "Is she okay?"

"They're both okay. They're just passed out."

"How?"

Ash climbed off and waited for the others to help him pull off Alexi and Skye. "They were in a subject tube. They must have sealed it to protect themselves from the gas."

Keagan stared. "So, they . . . they're okay?"

Ash nodded with reassurance. "They're fine."

Keagan dropped his head. ". . . Thank you."

"I didn't do anything."

Keagan laughed a bit. "I'm honestly not sure who I'm thanking."

Ash understood and nodded. "How's your leg?"

Keagan winced. "I feel like I stabbed it with a screwdriver."

Ash pulled a face. "Not that far from the truth I guess."

As the others pulled up behind him Ash let them handle Skye and Alexi and started over to Brock. He was breathing deeply, eyes lidded. Ash gulped and placed a hand on his forehead, wincing with the heat he found there. "Crap," he muttered. "You can sleep now Brock. We'll take care of the rest."

Brock didn't answer, but his eyes fell closed and he nodded to sleep.

Ash looked around them. Brock was asleep with a fever. Keagan was lying on the ground with a bullet in his leg. Eitan had had a gash in his shoulder. Alexi and Skye were passed out and the others were exhausted. But . . .

. . . he looked farther. Makaila was alright. Her friend, the one she seemed to care so much for. He was alive. Everyone was alive. Team Rocket . . . or at least part of it, was down. And there were five children standing afar off. Children who had been like many of them. Children who now had a chance to live. Just like Makaila and possibly even Eitan would have the chance to.

It wasn't all fixed. But they had never been safer. They had never been more free. They had never had less to worry about. After the hospital . . . they would finally be done.

Misty watched in shock as Ash crumpled to the ground, leaning over his knees. She rose from Brock to kneel beside him. "Ash?" she whispered.

"It's done," he muttered.

"Done," she repeated.

He nodded. "It's over. Finally. It's over."

Misty's face softened. It had been like a dream that she didn't realize had ended until he had stated it so plainly. He was right. They were finally free. They could go wherever they wanted. Do whatever they felt like doing.

Ash raised his head to hers, eyes full of emotion. "We're done Misty. Makaila's safe. We can do whatever we want."

Misty couldn't help the tears that gathered. She nodded, speaking past the lump in her throat. "Whatever we want."

Ash smiled.