"Jessie? Can you hear me? Come on girl, answer me." I heard someone say. Hurting all over I somehow managed to open my eyes, finding Berto leaning over me. When he saw that I was awake he smiled.
"Hey." I muttered as I managed to sit up. "Where am I?" I asked as I rubbed at my eyes.
"Medical bay, again. You've been out for three hours." Forge answered walking over to me and I glared suddenly at him.
"What do you want? I'll leave now if that's what you want." I growled, attempting to stand. That proved to be a mistake when the room spun and Berto only just caught me in time.
"Hey take it easy." Berto said as he helped me back to the couch.
"Please make the world stop spinning." I groaned as I held my head between my hands, my eyes shut tight.
"Look I'm sorry. I thought...well that you'd led Dredd to us. I didn't realize that he'd planted a tracking device on your phone after he kidnapped you." Forge explained, looking guilty when I opened one eye in surprise. "You're always welcome at N-Tek." He added and left before I could say anything.
"He should feel guilty. It really hurt to have someone say that you're not wanted." I said as I opened both eyes.
"You got hurt, again, after I told you to take it easy." Berto told me and I sighed.
"I can't help it. I saw Naught try to hurt Max and I didn't think, I just acted." I replied, feeling a bit guilty when Berto crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Geeze I'm sorry okay?" I added and after a moment he nodded. Then, stepping forward, he hugged me with his one good arm.
"After I told you to be careful and everything. What am I going to do with you?" Berto said, letting go of me and grinning. "Still I guess that's why I like you."
"You know you're never going to stop her from rushing like an idiot into danger." Shock pointed out, hovering in front of me.
"I am not an idiot." I grumbled and that made Berto crack up laughing. And me soon afterwards. Rolling his eye once again at the two of us, Shock told us that he was going to find Steel and Max. Still giggling I didn't notice Berto stop laughing and sit beside me. When I did I stared at him. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing. Why do you look so nervous?" He asked with a smile and I frowned at him.
"After what happened last time, I think I have a right to be." I answered and he shook his head in disbelief.
"Man you are pretty uptight today." He said and as I watched he gave me the oddest smile. "I can fix that." He added as he reached over and placed his hand on my abdomen.
"Umm just what are you planning?" I asked, looking from him to his hand resting on the spot just below my ribs. "Wait I know. Okay now I'm worried."
"I realized something earlier and it's this; when you're injured you use your Turbo energy to heal yourself. Unfortunately Dredd siphoned most of it away in the last battle." Berto explained.
"Apparently when you're in a good mode your powers recharge faster so I thought that…" That's when I blushed.
"So you think if you do...what you did before…my Turbo powers will recharge and I'll heal faster? I can't believe I just suggested that you…oh boy." I muttered and Berto grinned. "Fine I guess I have no choice in the matter."
"If you don't want me to do this, just say no." Berto said and I sighed.
"Sorry I've felt a little down. I keep getting beaten up and it's not helping me. Go ahead." I replied and he smiled at me. As Berto gently moved his fingers over my abdomen I bit back a groan. Encouraged by that Berto continued and I soon couldn't stop the moans that escaped from my lips. A wicked smile on his lips, Berto stopped for a moment and I stared at him.
"One second." He said and as I watched he unwound the bandage on his left hand. Confused I asked what he was doing. "I've meant to tell you that my hand's better now so I don't need to wear the bandage anymore. It still might take another couple of days to completely heal but it's almost fixed." He explained and I gave him a smile, relieved. After a moment he placed his left hand near the right. Then, thinking quickly, he moved his left hand over the left side of my hip and his right hand over my stomach and began to move his fingers, going slow at first and then speeding up. Now completely at his mercy I leant my head back as I moaned. Laughing at the expression on my face, Berto continued and I moaned loud enough that I'm pretty sure that someone outside the room must have heard me. Though I really didn't care. Within seconds a familiar green light emerged from my eyes and hands, engulfing the same computer I had already destroyed twice before. To my surprise it didn't explode and I somehow managed to ask why, even a little out of breath.
"That's because I modified it so your Turbo touch wouldn't affect it." Berto answered and I stared at him, dazed. "I guess the plan worked." He added as he went to remove his hands, only for me to raise my eyebrows at him in disbelief. Noticing the look on my face, he chuckled. "Unless you'd like me to continue?" He asked and when I quickly nodded he laughed. "Sure thing babe." He added giving me a smile.
"Ohh baby." I groaned as I closed my eyes. Thankfully no one walked in on us this time and eventually I fell asleep from exhaustion. Placing a blanket over my sleeping form, Berto leant down and gently kissed me on the forehead before leaving me to rest. When Max found him in his lab a short time later, the first thing he noticed was that the scientist was whistling for some reason.
"You seem in a good mood." Max said as he walked over and Berto looked up from his computer.
"Yeah my hand's almost fully healed and Jessie's safe so why shouldn't I be?" Berto answered, returning to his keyboard and typing something in.
"So what are you working on?" Max asked. Seconds later an image came up onscreen and it only took a moment for Max to realize that it was a new Turbo mode.
"It's something that I came up with recently. But I haven't been able to test it yet." Berto explained.
"So what does it do?" Max asked as Berto looked up.
"Using Turbo energy it creates a sort of stasis field that stops an enemy in his tracks. Though it has two flaws; it takes a lot of energy to charge up and then it only works for, at most, ten seconds." Berto explained as Max looked on.
"Hey ten seconds is more than enough time to take Dredd, Naught or Toxzon down. Speaking of Toxzon any luck finding him?" Max asked and Berto shook his head. "Better not tell Jessie. She really has it in for him."
"Me as well. He put my girlfriend in danger. I'll be looking forward to the day when he's safely locked away where he can't hurt anyone." Berto replied his arms crossed against his chest. "Where's Steel and Shock by the way?"
"Steel and Shock were working on a computer when I last saw them. Something about trying to find out what they could about Toxzon's whereabouts. By the way how's Jessie?" Max asked and for a second he thought Berto actually looked embarrassed. "Did something happen?"
"Kind off." Berto answered, trying to act innocent. Now curious about what had happened, Max kept staring at Berto. Eventually the young scientist rubbed his eyes. "Fine. If you have to know that badly Jessie and I were…" Just then Max held up a hand, cutting him off mid sentence.
"I think I can guess. That explains the noise I heard outside in the corridor earlier." Max replied and Berto buried his head in his hands. "I'm pretty sure Jessie's the embarrassed one is this situation."
"You're probably right. Please don't let on that you know." Berto begged and Max laughed.
"I'm pretty sure all of N-Tek knows about that, dude. Okay I promise I won't say a thing." Max said and Berto sighed. "Of course that's only me promising that. Not sure about Forge, Jefferson or Kat."
"I didn't think of them. Now I wish I'd never suggested it in the first place." Berto grumbled and Max raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by 'suggested'?" He asked and after hesitating for a few seconds Berto told him. When he did Max stared at him for a moment before he burst out laughing. "You're not helping." Berto muttered at his friend.
"Hah…you suggested…man that's hilarious!" Max said and Berto glared at him. "Hey at least it worked." He added as Berto looked at him, blushing. "Where is she anyway?"
"In the Medical bay, resting." Berto answered and Max grinned at him.
"I'm not surprised." Max replied and Berto wanted to disappear right there. "Okay fine. I won't say anything else."
"Thank you. Anyway getting back to what I was saying earlier as soon as Jessie's awake I'll make sure her and Shock get to test the newest Mode." Berto said. "Whenever that it anyway."
"That reminds me. Are you meeting up with Sydney and Kirby Friday?" Max asked and Berto gave a nod.
"If Jessie's well enough sure." Berto said as Steel and Shock entered. "Hey guys." He said, greeting the two Ultralinks.
"Hey have you seen Jessie?" Shock asked and Berto told him that his partner was in the Medical bay, currently resting. "That's a relief. I've been worried about her since the battle."
"She'll be fine. By the way I have a new mode for you and Jessie to test out when she's better." Berto said as he showed the Ultralink the computer screen. After scanning it Shock turned around.
"I'm looking forward to testing it out. So when do you get to meet Sydney and Kirby?" He asked.
"Friday so tomorrow. About 1pm if I remember right." Berto answered and Shock nodded. "It's going to be interesting meeting your friends."
"Yeah. Too bad I have to stay in Jessie's bag. Oh well at least I get to go anyway. The joys of being a super hero." Shock replied and Berto grinned.
"I hear that. I probably should get going now. I have homework and it needs to be finished by tomorrow or I'll never hear the end of it from mom. See you guys tomorrow at school." Max said and left with Steel.
"You seem a little preoccupied. What's wrong?" Shock asked Berto who shrugged.
"I guess I'm thinking about Jessie. I'm glad she's recovering from the battles with Toxzon and Dredd. She had me worried when she collapsed like that." He said and Shock nodded. "I'll check on her in about an hour or so." It was then he remembered that Jessie's phone had been hacked and so he asked Shock if he wanted to make sure that it never happened again.
"Count me in." The Ultralink said and so they went about upgrading the phone.