.
Sacrifice
The survivors sat quietly, no word passing between them. Ron, Hego, Shego, Hirotaka, Gemini, Camille, Fukushima, and the Wego twins were unconscious with no signs of waking up any time soon. Mego was the only Team Go member still standing, barely standing. Ned was shaken and shell-shocked but focused enough to participate in conversation at least. Falsetto was exhausted but still going.
After a long moment, Ned asked, "You think Fukushima was on the level? You know, when he was murmuring about the cure being where Monkey Fist saved him? Sure he was delirious, but what if he was right?"
"Then we need to get it. It's our last hope," Falsetto replied. Mego was looking exhaustedly at his siblings. If anything happened to them… he shuddered at the thought.
"We cannot. We have lost. For one to go out there now… It would be suicide," Yori gravely said. "It is only a matter of time before we all fall."
"We could just hang ourselves," Drakken mused. The others looked at him in horror. "What? I have the vines to do it!" Drakken defended.
"Ah canno' believe tha' actually sounds like a plan," Killigan said, burying his head in his hands.
"There must be some way…" Monkey Fist mused, pacing restlessly. Right now, of course, he couldn't think of anything.
They heard zombies banging at the walls of the secret room. "How much longer can Go Tower's defenses hold up?" Will questioned defeatedly.
"I… I don't know…" Mego tiredly replied. "We've never had to use them in… in a situation like this." He pulled up a computer on his watch and tapped a few buttons. He suddenly sobbed and covered his mouth, shaking his head in denial.
"How bad is it?" Dr. Director questioned gently.
Mego got a hold of himself and let out a bitter laugh. "Drakken's onto something with the suicide pact. It would be better to just hang ourselves and get it over with. These defenses, at the current rate they're falling, won't last through the night. All their hearts dropped, and there was absolute silence.
"Well, if there's anything we want to say to anyone, I guess it's now or never," Ned said. No one spoke. He waited a minute then decided to try breaking the ice again. "I don't really have a confession to make myself. There's never... really been any reason for me to say anything to anyone before, but-but I'm glad I was able to go on this adventure with all of you..."
Silence again until Mego suddenly bent down and kissed Shego's cheek softly. The others started. Mego went on to kiss Hego's head, then the Wego Twins' foreheads. Pulling back, he said, "I'm a sorry excuse for a brother, I know that. I'm narcissistic, conceited, and self-absorbed. You… you were all nothing to me. So many times I left you to die for the sake of saving my own skin. Sure I came back, usually, but even when I didn't, you guys never gave up on me. Not even Shego. You didn't let yourselves hate me, you always forgave. I cared more about fame than heroics. I despised being under Hego's leadership. I hid behind you all so often, letting you get the worst of what was happening to us… But despite everything I do or say, when all is said and done, I love you… All of you… And I'm sorry I wasn't a better sibling… I would die a thousand times over for each one of you if I knew it would make you safe again... Even for you, Shego. We were always so much alike, weren't we? Sarcastic, disdainful, cared more about fame or riches than being heroes, cared more about ourselves than any others... Gods, I'm so, so sorry. To all of you. I'm such a failure…"
Silence again. The next one to speak was Killigan. "Ah have nothin' t' say. Me only regret es tha' we did no' make et. Tha' we could no' save ourselves or anyone else."
Drakken pursed his lips, eyes fixed on Shego, and said, "Some secrets are better left unspoken." Killigan, Mego, and Monkey Fist, if no one else, had an idea of what he meant.
"Well, it's been fun," Falsetto offered. "Quite an adventure actually, even though it didn't end the way it should have."
"We can't give up! There's a way out of this. There always is. We just need to think about it," Dr. Director insisted, protectiveness for her family consuming her.
"She's right. Where there's a will, there's a way, and we'll find a way," Jack said, seemingly intently interested in the floor. His mind was whirling a mile a minute trying to figure out just what that way would be.
"I love you mom," Will quietly said. Betty felt her heart sink into her stomach. Tears began threatening her eyes, and she sat next to her son, pulling him close. It didn't go unnoticed by Jack that his son had avoided telling him that he loved him... He'd lost his child forever, he knew. Nothing would return his son to him. Nothing… That hurt more than anything else ever had... He wished he could have had time to make things right again...
KP
Most of them had spread out now, mingling in the secret room and passage. Drakken was lying next to Shego, his arm around her waist. He was asleep, beyond caring what she would do to him if she woke up and saw this offense he was committing. Killigan was snoring away, too exhausted and afraid to stay awake. Sleep was a respite. Falsetto had the same idea. He now slept next to Camille. The wolfhounds were snoring soundly at his side.
"They have given up," Yori quietly said to Monkey Fist. She sat on a stair. He was perched on a roof beam.
Monkey Fist looked down at her. "They're not the only ones," he noted.
"Have you as well, my lord?" Yori asked.
"Can you claim to be different?" he asked.
"I cannot," she honestly admitted. There was silence for a long moment. After a time, she said, "Draw me up to you."
Monkey Fist looked down at her, trying to puzzle out what she meant. She looked up at him and stood, reaching her hands towards him reminiscent of medieval paintings of mortal women reaching up to deities who'd taken a fancy to them. He blinked and inwardly cursed the thought. After a moment he hung upside down and took hold of her arms, lifting her onto the beam where he was perched. "It gives you quite a feeling of security, doesn't it? To be up high," he remarked.
"It is part of it," she admitted. It took him a moment to understand what she'd hinted at, and when he did his eyes widened a bit in shock. She met his gaze boldly. "When we are not enemies, I am safe with you," she said.
He said nothing. She leaned back against him, quite bravely she would admit, but it wasn't as if she had anything left to lose at this point. He barely even moved to breathe. After a time, though, he wrapped his arms around her midsection and leaned back against the post, closing his eyes and listening to her even breathing as she drifted to sleep against his chest. Soon enough he had joined her, and his dreams were filled with lotus blossoms and cherry trees. He believed he wouldn't half mind dying now, in this oblivious and dreamlike state.
KP
Betty and Will sat on the steps a little way up the secret passage. Will's knees were drawn up to his nose, a forlorn expression on his face. Jack was standing and looking out a viewpoint down at the hordes swarming below. They'd taken care of a huge amount of them, actually. There were only about half of what had been down there at first, but the hoard's numbers would be replenished again at low tide.
Betty drew her son close and Will leaned against her chest. "Mom, I don't wanna die," he quietly said to her.
"I know, baby, I know," she softly replied, stroking her son's hair. Gently she kissed him. Jack watched them silently then turned to look out over the hoards once more, eyes narrowing and teeth subtly starting to grind. "It'll be over soon…" Betty promised. Jack sharply looked back at his wife and son, then began to restlessly pace, constantly shooting looks their way. Oh it would be over soon all right. He viciously punched a wall, prompting the two to look quickly at him, somewhat concerned.
He cursed under his breath then turned to them slowly, summing his loved ones up silently. Pain flickered into his eyes before he hid it once more. "I see my child…" Jack finally murmured.
Will and Betty exchanged confused looks then turned back to him. "What are you talking about?" Will asked.
"Earlier you asked me what I saw when I looked at you," Jack replied. "I see my child. I see the little boy I conceived with your mother and brought into this world. I see the young man who is my pride and joy. The youth I live and breathe for. The son I would die for over and over and over again."
Will stared silently at his father, feeling tears threaten his eyes. He looked miserably down. "Oh Jack…" Betty whispered, pity in her eyes.
"According to Fukushima, the cure is at the edge of the cliff," Jack said, looking back out the viewpoint.
Instantly Betty stiffened. Will sharply looked up. They didn't like the tone in the man's voice... "What are you saying?" Betty finally dared to ask.
Jack looked up at them. Will's lips slowly parted as he began to catch on. "Jack…" he breathed, quickly standing along with Betty, who was pale.
Jack shook his head at them. "I would sacrifice my life and all I had if it meant saving you two," he stated.
"Jack, talk to me!" Betty shot. "What are you planning? What are you doing?"
All at once he approached her and took her arms, kissing her adoringly. After a moment he pulled away. "I still love you," he whispered. "I wish I could have one more night at your side. I wish we could have grown old together."
"Jack, talk to me!" she cried, terror overwhelming her.
"It ends here, love," he said before kissing her once more. She almost fainted on the spot, eyes filling with dread.
"No. No, you can't!" she said, shaking her head vehemently. Now there was no question of his plan. "Don't do this to me, please!" She caught her breath, closing her eyes tightly as tears began slipping from them. "Jack…" she said, voice breaking.
Jack turned to his son, releasing his wife's arms. Will was gaping at him in horror, pale as a ghost. By now he had caught on too. Jack met his boy's eyes and held them for a long moment. Finally, he said, "I love you more than you can possibly begin to imagine, and I understand if you don't believe me, but I mean every single word..."
"J-Jack…" Will began, feeling suddenly terrified. He felt like blacking out. Jack turned and began walking away, wiping away a stray tear. "Jack!" Will called, tears starting to burn his eyes. Betty began sobbing, covering her face and sinking down onto the stair. She knew what had to be done... Jack didn't stop. "Dad!" Will screamed, losing it and racing after his father.
Jack turned and gasped as suddenly Will threw himself into his arms sobbing helplessly and holding him as tightly as he possibly could. "Will…" the man began in shock.
"Don't go! You can't go! I won't let you!" Will sobbed desperately. Jack was stunned. All at once, though, he wrapped his arms tightly around his son and buried his face in the boy's hair. "Don't leave me! Da, please!" The boy was near hysterical.
Jack closed his eyes tightly, clenching his teeth. Oh gods, why now? Why did Will have to make this all the more difficult now? "Oh gods. William, don't," he pled. "Not now. Not here."
"I don't want you to die! I don't hate you!" Will insisted through tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry. I love you! Dad, please, I love you! Don't go! Don't leave me and mom!" His whole body was shaking with sobs.
Jack could take it no more. He broke down weeping and kissed his child's head adoringly. "Forgive me," he begged desperately. "Please, please forgive me." All at once he pulled away from his son and bolted before he could completely crumble.
"Dad!" Will screamed, running after him.
"Jack!" Betty shrieked, chasing her husband along with her son.
KP
The others were awakened, even the injured, by the sobbing and screaming. Confused, they looked up - and in Monkey Fist and Yori's case down - as Jack ran toward the door pursued by Betty and Will. Gemini had only to look at his best friend's eyes to understand what was happening, and he paled. "Jack, don't!" he cried, leaping up.
"What's he doing?!" Shego demanded, hardly aware of Drakken holding her tightly and nervously.
Jack suddenly threw open the secret entrance and darted out. The others went white, immediately catching on if they hadn't already. "No!" they all screamed, staggering up, even the wounded. Before anyone could move the door was slammed behind him. Gemini grabbed Will tightly when the boy tried to run out after his father.
"Will, stay!" Gemini pled. He had to leap to catch his sister.
"Let me go!" Betty screamed. Gemini refused to do so.
"Dad!" Will screamed, trying to escape his Uncle as well. Gemini shook his head in grief, tears burning his eyes, and yanked them both close. Betty collapsed against his chest, weeping. Will's knees buckled in grief as the boy cried out in anguish. Gemini was all that kept him from hitting the floor.
KP
Jack ran through the hordes, dodging them at every turn. He didn't stop to fight. He hardly stopped to process their existence. He knew where he was heading and why, he knew it might as well have been a suicide mission, but he would not under any circumstance sit by and do nothing. He would not wait for the infected to slaughter his family and the other survivors!
He ran solely on adrenaline, tears burning his eyes and regrets eating away at his thoughts. He was hardly aware of the infected ripping at his skin, trying to tear him to pieces. He didn't even realize how badly he was hurt until his clothing was wet and stained with red, and his vision was starting to blur. Humph, he thought he'd been doing better than this.
Oh gods... Forgive me Will, forgive me Betty, forgive me Sheldon…
He spotted the cure and leapt for it, seizing the concentrated antidote. He turned around as the hordes closed in on him. He scowled and dropped to the ground, driving the container into the stone with such raw force that it veritably shattered! He felt himself tackled by a group of infected, then felt himself toppling over the cliff with them ripping into him as they fell with him. He heard the zombies choking on the gas that was spreading through the air. The moment he hit the water, he blacked out and surrendered completely to whatever fate had planned for him be it death or a second chance...
Sometime Later
It was over… it was done… The cure had been unleashed, and all around the world people were going back to normal. The hordes had vanished, having recovered, and others had been turned back to normal as well and informed of what had happened.
Betty gazed out over the ocean, arms wrapped tightly around her body and tears slipping from her eye, unsure of what to do. Nothing else registered except her husband's final words to her… and his kiss… She couldn't even cry, though she desperately wanted to. Somehow she was beyond that point. They'd searched for him... They'd searched so hard, but they'd found neither man nor body. "We didn't do this. We couldn't have," she heard Kim numbly say, still in shock.
She was aware of them muttering amongst themselves, but couldn't bring herself to care. Even as Team Go finally coaxed the others back into the tower for some recovery time, she stayed. She stayed and begged the powers that be to give him back to her... Mouth quivering, she finally broke the moment she knew she was alone and collapsed to the ground on her knees, covering her mouth with a hand. A shriek welled up in her throat, and in grief she screamed as loudly as she possibly could dissolving into tears and sobs. She didn't move from her place on the ground until her twin came to her and gently took her arms, pulling her to her feet and leading her away from the cliff.
KP
Needless to say, the reunion with the others they'd left on Senior's Island had been dramatic. Well, Shego had stayed with her brothers a little longer, deciding to help clean up Go Tower a bit before she left again. At least, that's what she told them. They knew there was something else to it though. Senior, Bonnie, and Zita wept in relief, holding Junior tightly, Bonnie kissing him fervently.
Drakken and Eddie had approached Mama, or in Ed's case Aunt, Lipsky, looking haggard and exhausted. The woman had run to the two in tears and had almost broken their backs with the force of the hug she'd given them. Felix and Ned had approached each other, both looking tired. They'd pounded fists together then threw aside all dignity, hugging.
Monkey Fist had approached his mother stoically, in the way he'd been trained to all his life. She'd stood regal and tall in the way she had, looking as if she were hardly affected. The Monkey Lord came up to Maim, head held high, then knelt, kissing her hands tenderly. The woman hadn't been able to handle it. Without warning she suddenly burst into tears and fell next to her son, drawing him close and rocking him adoringly.
As the story was told to them, they listened in shock and grief to what had happened to Jack. Falsetto, Gemini, and Senior said little throughout the whole thing, hardly even looking up from the ground. Betty and Will said nothing at all. Gradually, things calmed down, and eventually, they'd all returned to their various homes and or lairs.
Days Later
Betty watched her son miserably, peering into his room at Jack's house in concern. He hadn't spoken since, well… Enough said. Her heart broke with every moment she watched him. He sat on his bed, face buried in his knees. She swallowed painfully and quietly shut his bedroom door. She looked quietly around the luxurious home. This was the place to which they'd returned. After all, she needed to settle her late husband's affairs, and Will… He just wanted to be here. In some way, he wanted to be near his father and hold onto some sort of connection to him.
Betty sniffed, wiping at her eyes desperately. "I don't believe he's gone," Gemini said to her, silently approaching his sister.
"Don't," she said firmly.
"There was no body," Gemini said.
"Because he was ripped to pieces," she hollowly replied.
"Do you have so little faith in the Serpent's Bane?" Gemini asked.
Betty was quiet. She had no answer to that. Part of her said no, but the other part... "It hurts…" she whispered.
Gemini sighed deeply and looked down. He approached his sister and put a hand on her shoulder softly. "It will pass. It'll never leave you completely, but at least it'll lessen."
"What about Will? I don't know what to say to him. He won't speak. He hasn't eaten since…" Betty began. She couldn't continue.
"Rest, Betty, I'll try to talk to him," Sheldon assured. Betty nodded and looked gratefully at her brother. Suddenly she kissed his cheek gently. Gemini started, surprised. He supposed in time they'd go back to being enemies, but for now, he didn't mind the neutral ground.
"Thank you," she said to her twin.
"You're welcome," Gemini replied.
Quietly Betty walked away and went out to the balcony. She looked down on the gazebo where Hench had kissed her so long ago. After a moment she came down off the balcony and entered it. Silently she gazed across the peaceful lake. "I still love you…" she whispered. Softly she blew a kiss towards the waters.
KP
Gemini entered his nephew's room. He went to the bed where the young man was silently weeping. Will heard him approach and exhaustedly looked up. He'd hardly been able to sleep since it had all ended. "You were right…" he quietly said to his uncle.
"I know," Gemini replied.
"Why couldn't I see sooner?" Will asked.
"Because you didn't want to. You were afraid," Gemini replied.
Will was silent. Finally he said, voice breaking, "I want my father back…"
"I want your father back too," Gemini replied, sadly smiling. He may have been the pillar of strength right now, but in reality, he was dying inside. There was a huge void within him that felt like it would never be filled. Jack had been his best friend…
"Why does everything bad happen to me? How can I possibly screw up so much?" Will asked.
"Because that's what young men do. They make mistakes and they learn from them," Gemini replied.
"But why did this mistake have to be so painful?" Will asked.
"It wasn't your fault, Will," Gemini said.
"He felt like he had nothing to live for, nothing to lose… Because of me…" Will replied.
"No… Jack knew he had everything to live for," Gemini assured. "That was why he did what he did. The most dangerous of people are those who have nothing left to lose… Or those who are protecting their children... That, my boy, is something equivalent to, if not more powerful than, having nothing left to lose. He would have bent heaven and earth for you, whether he believed he'd lost you or not." Will sobbed and fell into his uncle's arms, weeping. Gemini held him tightly.
KP
Betty, tears spilling silently from her eyes, cursed them. Hadn't she wept enough, she bitterly thought? Apparently not, because stubbornly they came without any sign of letting up. She heard footsteps approaching her from behind. Her brother, most likely, so she didn't bother turning around. "I want him back," she said to her twin, voice breaking. No answer, but hands gently slipped around her waist, wrapping around her midsection. She sniffed and closed her eyes tightly, bowing her head. "There wasn't even a body to bury," she said.
"Probably because there wasn't a body to find," a voice said softly to her, but it wasn't her brother's voice. Her eyes slowly opened and she stopped breathing… No… No, she was hearing things… It-it couldn't be. But gently a kiss was placed against her neck, tender and loving. She began to shiver, not daring to turn. She couldn't bring herself to. She shook, knees becoming weak, and he turned her face to him, met her eyes briefly, then took her lips. She almost fainted dead away, knees giving out, but the man held her firmly up. Her fingers curled around his shirt. After a long moment, he released her lips and nuzzled her nose softly. "Hi honey," he whispered, grinning softly and tiredly.
"Jack?" she almost squeaked.
"Yeah. Sorry I took so long," he murmured.
"Oh gods…" she began, shivering. "I'm dreaming. I-I have to be dreaming…"
He gently stroked her face. "If you were dreaming, you wouldn't be able to feel this," he said before kissing her again and lightly biting her lower lip, pulling it a little. She burst into tears of joy, falling against him. He held her tightly, rocking her adoringly.
KP
Gemini was rubbing his temples, finally finding an alone moment. No Will, no Betty. He didn't have to be the shoulder for them to cry on. He could finally mourn in peace. And oh how he was mourning. A tear slid from his eye which he wiped away, annoyed and disgusted at the inconvenience. Jack wasn't dead. He couldn't be. The man was like a cockroach. Nothing killed him. "Oh gods…" Gemini moaned. He couldn't keep up his optimism much longer.
"You know, wearing the weight of the world on your shoulders isn't all it's cracked up to be," a voice said from behind. Gemini gasped, going white, and spun, mouth agape.
"Jack!" he exclaimed. The man was watching him, amused. "H-how? When? Why? Where…"
"How did I survive? I have no clue. When did I arrive? About an hour ago. Why didn't I come back sooner or call? Because Go City was in shambles, there were no humans in sight, and no phones worked. Long story short, I was pretty sure I was a wandering ghost before I finally started seeing people and the remnants of a civilization rebuilding itself. Where have I been all this time? Trying to find a way back home. Eventually, my mind started functioning again and I realized my best bet was returning to Go Tower, so I did. I got quite the reception too. Team Go looked like they were seeing a ghost. Shego stood there in total shock gawking, still as a statue. Mego fainted. Hego could only gape in horror with the Wego Twins. In fact, Wego Two asked me if I was from this world or the next. Ultimately Shego gave me a ride back to Middleton," Jack said.
"Who else…?" Gemini began.
"Knows I'm alive?" Jack asked. "My friend, soon enough everyone will."
Gemini burst into laughter suddenly, and went straight to his friend, embracing him tightly. "I knew you were alive! I knew it! You have more lives than a cat!" Gemini suddenly gasped. "My sister…"
"She knows," Jack said. In fact, she'd sobbed into his arms for a good long time before she'd finally recovered enough to return with him to the house. As it was, she was currently laying on their bed trying to get over the shock of it all.
"William…" Gemini began.
"He'll know soon enough," Jack said, pulling away from his friend and heading towards his son's room.
KP
Will had finally managed to fall into a fitful slumber. It was haunted by nightmares, though, and the young man tossed and turned, desperately trying to get rid of the images in his head. He was fairly sure he was crying in his sleep. He kept seeing his father being torn to pieces by the zombies. It was the only image playing through his mind… His father's last words to him echoed in his memory over and over.
"Dad… dad, come back," he begged in his sleep.
All at once, he felt a firm hand placed on his forehead, and a strong and familiar voice said gently, "Hey Sport. Daddy's right here. It's okay. You're okay. I'll always be here…" Will sobbed, shaking his head. He didn't want to hear the voice anymore. He didn't want this to be a dream! He wanted it to be real! He wanted his father back. He felt himself being shaken gently. All at once he gasped and woke up, sitting bolt upright in bed.
He felt himself being caught in the firm embrace of someone. It wasn't his mother, it was definitely a man, so it was probably Uncle Sheldon. Except this embrace felt somehow different, somehow more secure. He was sobbing, though, so he didn't think too much about it. Gently the man stroked his hair. "Dad!" Will cried helplessly.
"I'm here, Will. I'm here," the man holding him replied. Will went white and gasped, looking quickly up with eyes wide. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing was coming out. He was indeed gazing into the very alive eyes of his father! "I'm back," Jack said to his son, grinning softly and brushing the young man's hair out of his face.
"Dad?" Will squeaked uncertainly. Jack nodded, eyes filled with love. "Dad!" Will cried, throwing himself into his father's arms and breaking down. "You're alive! You're alive!"
"Sorry I scared you, kiddo," Jack said softly to his child.
"I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" Will wept.
"Shh, shh, it's okay. It's okay," Jack reassuringly said.
Will couldn't bring himself to speak anymore, just nodded. He never wanted his father to let him go again and prayed this wasn't just some cruel dream. He wouldn't be surprised if it was. Jack chuckled softly and kissed the young man's head tenderly.
KP
Jack returned to his room, after having made sure Will was fast asleep, and looked at the bed. Betty was there gazing up at the roof. She'd heard her son crying and calling for his father in his sleep. He'd stopped now, thank goodness. "I'm sorry," Jack softly said from the door.
She turned, startled, and her eyes filled with love. "So am I," she whispered. Jack approached and sat next to her on the bed, kissing her adoringly. "Promise me you'll never do this again," she whispered.
"You know I can't," he answered, leisurely undoing the buttons of her nightshirt. She sniffed, hating the truth in those words, and pulled him close, kissing him tenderly again. "I'm here, love, and I won't be going anywhere anytime soon," he mumbled when she released his lips. She nodded and pulled him down on top of her, welcoming his embrace...
END