MY PENNAME WILL BE CHANGING IN A FEW WEEKS! WARNING ANY GUEST USERS! (Message is already on my profile, but just in case.)
Sorry to start this update with another rant, but is my story that horrible? I'm three chapters in and I've only got 10 reviews and well over 200 people reading this story. Again, I know slash isn't very popular but it's what I like to write for and I'm not asking everyone to review, but I spend ages writing a chapter, so it's annoying when I get hardly anything in return, even for a slash fic. And before anyone says, "Just write Kick, you've done it before", I depise the pairing, I'm sick of it and I only finished my story about them because I hate deleting stories or leaving them unfinished.
But whatever. I hope you all like this chapter and review. I'll need over fifteen (I'm tempted to say 20, although that might piss people off) for an update. :)
Jerry was unsure of how long the room had been silent after he had revealed Jack's Zombie bite to the rest of them; it was eerie. It was like somebody had actually died. Although Jack wasn't dead, he couldn't let himself think about it. He couldn't imagine life without his best friend by his side. It would be the end of the Dojo, end of the Wasabi Warriors, no more Kung Fu Lightning concerts... It was too horrible to think there would be this huge void in his life, in his heart.
"So, I guess this is it then," Jack somberly from where he laid on the sofa, pulling his shirt over his bite, covering it from his friends devastated eyes.
"Why, where are you going?" Jerry asked lightly. He knew full well what Jack was talking about, but he didn't want to think about it. So he smoothed it over the only way he knew how - a joke. Only difference was that this time, Jack wasn't smiling. No-one was.
"Jerry, have you been paying any attention to the situation?!" Jack snapped at him incredulously, eyes wild. "As usual, you don't even focus," he added harshly and Jerry was taken aback. Did Jack really feel that way? "I've got a Zombie bite and I'm going to die!" he yelled loudly, stunning everyone in the room, especially Jerry, but his eyes softened immediately after and he looked extremely guilty. He had never yelled at anyone like that before.
"Jack," Jerry began softly, laying a hand on Jack's shoulder. His stress was clearly affecting them all.
Jack shook his head, looking apologetic. "No, I'm sorry," he said gently, looking around at everyone briefly, before settling his eyes on Jerry again. "I didn't mean it that way." He licked his lips guiltily. "I'm just..." he trailed off, swallowing hard.
"Just what?" Jerry asked, leaning intently towards him.
"I'm scared," Jack said after a short pause and Jerry's eyes widened as he turned to look at Kim, Milton, Eddie and Rudy, gauging their reactions; they all looked at a blanket-clad Jack in disbelief.
For Jack to flat-out admit something like that... Jerry felt like he'd just been hit by a wrecking ball. Jack was the unspoken leader of the Wasabi Warriors - without him they wouldn't even exist - and if he was falling apart, it was going to have lasting consequences on them all. Jack always held together during crises while someone else cracked, but now it was him, nobody really knew what to do.
Everyone came forwards, crowding around the sofa as Rudy laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You've got us here, Jack," he said reassuringly.
"I know." Jack nodded with a smile. "And I always will, right?" That question was not rhetorical. If worst came to worst, they would all stick with Jack through his final moments as a human before they had to put an end to him as a Zombie.
Eddie looked uncomfortable for a split second, fidgeting. "Actually, I've gotta be home by five so-"
Kim elbowed him sharply in the ribs, cutting him off. She grabbed his ear tightly and he yelped. "I'll be back in a minute," she said, smiling sweetly before her lip curved in a scowl and she dragged a protesting Eddie outside.
Rudy's eyes widened at the sound of Eddie's shrill screams. "Yeesh..." he groaned, wincing as Kim's hits seemed to get harder, He was going to be sore tomorrow. "What do we do?" he asked in despair, scanning Jack over and seemingly lost for words for the first time since Jerry met him.
"I don't know," Jack shrugged his shoulders and slumped against the soda, wincing in pain. He needed comfort, but Jerry didn't know what to offer. He knew a hug wouldn't be enough this time.
"You have to know what to do!" Rudy exploded suddenly, making Jack jump. "You're the leader of the group!" he said, grabbing Jack's shoulders and shaking him frantically.
Jerry could see Jack's eyes were beginning to roll and he was going limp from his Sensei's treatment of him. Jerry tapped him on the shoulder, not prepared to lose his best friend early because of a hysterical man shaking him. "Uh, Rudy-"
"Leader of the group, Jerry!" he declared loudly, letting Jack crash back against the sofa once more. He shook his head, dazed and dizzy.
"Rudy, calm down," Milton interjected softly as he took a rapid breath and Jerry turned in surprise, he had forgotten Milton was here. "I'm sure we'll be able to find something on a cure or how to prolong the symptoms," he said reassuringly and Jerry felt relieved. It wasn't enough, but it was enough for now.
"You really think we could do that?" he asked hopefully and Jack sat up from the sofa to listen.
"Probably." Milton nodded with a smile. "Is there a computer somewhere?" he asked.
Rudy's face immediately fell and so did Jack's. "Yeah," he said, shifting uneasily. "Packed up in there." He pointed towards his cupboard and Milton and Jerry sighed as their latest idea came crashing down. The chances of finding the computer in Rudy's cupboard where about the same as Rudy finding a girlfriend.
"I'm dead," Jack declared - Jerry couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or pessimistic - dryly, humourlessly. He retreated back onto the sofa, wrapping the blanket around him more tightly.
"Don't even think like that, Jack," Rudy ordered, pointing a finger at him. "You are not becoming the walking dead if I've got anything to say about it," he said sternly, seeming agitated and more on-edge than Jack was, and he was the one that had been bitten. "You're not gonna die! It's not your time!" he yelled frantically, doubling over and wheezing.
"Whoa." Jack sat up and Jerry peered at Rudy intently. "Are you crying?" they asked together in disbelief, looking at each other briefly.
"Sorry," Rudy apologised, standing up, eyes red and puffy. "It's just..." his breath caught in his throat and he sniffed. "I need a moment," he choked and made a beeline for his office, slamming the door behind him.
Jerry stared after him. He had wanted to hold himself together for Jack, feeling he would need the support, but he felt a large lump swelling in his throat at Rudy's reaction; he wanted to cry so badly and be told everything would be alright, but he knew that would be a lie, even if it came from Jack's mouth. And if they all started acting like Rudy did, he found himself asking what would happen.
"I'm touched and everything," Jack began with a smile. "But if any of you start crying on me like that" - he looked at Jerry and Milton - "I'll slap all of you," he finished threateningly, and Jerry knew that Zombie bite or not, Jack would do it.
All the color suddenly drained from Jack's face and he twisted to the side, lurching forwards and violently threw up; this time blood lurked among the contents of his stomach. Jerry went over to him and rubbed his back while he panted shallowly, looking ashen-faced.
"Gross..." His face scrunched up in disgust and he shivered.
Jerry honestly didn't know what to do. There was no joke to tell, no way to make Jack smile, no way to make everything seem okay because the truth was... it wouldn't be.
The doors banged opened and everyone spun around, fearing for another Zombie attack, but relaxed when they saw it was only Kim yanking a messy Eddie back into the Dojo. She meant well, but the girl was scary at times.
"Got that, Eddie?!" she hissed as he fell on the floor, scrambling back up.
Jack and Jerry looked at each other in surprise; Kim had really outdone herself this time. Jerry wondered what she had said to get Eddie looking so worried, although it didn't take much.
"Yes, Ma'am," Eddie said shakily.
"Good," she said brightly, grinning at him. She walked towards Jack, but took a step back. "Ew!" she groaned as she nearly stepped into Jack's vomit.
Jack sat up and folded his arms. "I can't help what comes out of my body, Kim!" he growled angrily.
"Alright, phew," Rudy exclaimed from behind his office door before it opened and he walked out. His eyes were noticeably more puffy, but he was much more composed than a few minutes ago. "I'm okay," he said with a gentle smile towards Jack. "First things first, we need to untangle that dinosaur of a computer from its wire cocoon and find out how to keep Jack from dying as long as we can-"
"I can just use the internet on my phone," Kim cut in, pulling her phone out of her pocket.
"Kim, you genius!" Rudy, Jack and Jerry yelled happily in unison, their eyes lighting up. Jerry felt something flicker to life in him. Maybe Jack wasn't going to die after all.
"Hey, I'm the genius!" Milton's affronted voice cut in and everyone turned towards him, seeing him pouting.
"You can type it in if it'll make you feel better," Kim offered, holding her phone out for Milton to take. He looked touched that he could actually excercise his brain on a task so simple.
"Will someone do it before Jack starts decomposing and craving our brains?!" Rudy yelled, looking like he wanted to tear his hair out.
"On it," Kim and Milton said together, pressing their heads together as their fingers quickly tapped on the screen. Jerry bit his lip anxiously. Everyone's hopes of finding something to keep Jack alive were depending on an internet search!
Rudy smiled in satisfaction at Kim and Milton before turning to Jack, Jerry and Eddie. "Now, where was I?" he asked himself in confusion. His eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, yeah!"
He cleared his throat briskly and cracked his knuckles. "Second thing, we need to keep Jack here since hospitals are getting dangerous and Phil's is across the courtyard if we get hungry," he explained. Jerry wasn't sure what was safe anymore, the Zombie's were relentless and everywhere. "I'll stay with him all night and any of you are free to go home when you want," Rudy said, maintaining a fatherly guise, one that Jerry had only seen a handful of times.
A loud groan distracted all of them, making them all spin around abruptly. Jack had gone limp, slumping against the sofa, his eyes un-focusing and staring into space.
"Jack?!" Rudy called as he rushed over to him.
Jerry jumped on the sofa next to him, grabbing the sides of his head and holding it to stop it from lolling like a rag doll. Jack was unresponsive and it was scaring him. "Come on, buddy," he urged him lightly, patting his cheek with anticipation. "Speak to me," he demanded lightly, but Jack's eyes didn't move from where they were subconsciously staring at the ceiling.
"Kim? Milton?" Rudy yelled over to them and they jolted back to life, returning their attention back to Kim's phone. "How're you coming with those symptoms?" he asked with a worried look at Jack as he started to pale rapidly.
"There's next to nothing," Kim panicked, biting her lip.
Jack coughed weakly, his eyes rolling as he tried to move his head. He was the color of a dead man and Jerry had never been so concerned in his life. "I'm so tired..." he muttered quietly to himself, his voice fading into a scratchy whisper as his eyes closed slowly and his head went heavy against Jerry's hands and he had to let it drop gently onto the arm of the sofa.
Rudy pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Jerry. "Put this over his head," he whispered and Jerry straightened it up, placing the cold cloth over Jack's forehead. "Keep his fever down," he added quietly. As if to contradict him, Jack coughed throatily, turning his head to the side and throwing the cloth off.
Jerry grabbed the cloth and walked over to the bathroom, going inside and heading to the sink. He ran the cloth under the cold tap and wrung most of the water out. He remembered vaguely from a health class he hadn't fallen asleep in that in order to cool a fever down, anything in contact with the body intended to do that needed to have a sufficient amount of cold moisture in it.
"Found something!" Kim's triumphant voice whispered behind the door and Jerry tore across the room eagerly, still clutching the wet cloth, but he doubled back when he realised he had left the tap running. He turned it off and burst out of the bathroom, although he didn't run towards Kim.
He skidded onto his knees towards the sofa and put the cloth against Jack's forehead, dabbing it to allow a few drops of water to trickle across his face and cool him down, as Rudy and Eddie crowded around Kim and Milton, not wanting to miss a single word as Kim started reading from the screen.
"In the case of a Zombie bite, death is inevitable" - Jerry frowned as he straightened the cloth on Jack's forehead; why would Kim say something like that?! - "but the symptoms can be prolonged, causing the initial transformation to be more painless," she explained and Jerry sighed in relief.
"How?" Rudy asked incredulously.
"I'm scrolling!" she hissed back in agitation, with a nervous glance at Jack. Jerry smiled at her, telling her he had it under control. "The symptoms that are the easiest to prolong are the one's that come in between the main one's that chronicle the transformation," "If a fever occurs, the victim must be kept awake to prevent their body from going into lockdown-"
Jerry looked at Jack's sleeping body with wide eyes, before coming to his senses and ripping the cloth off Jack's head, slapping it hard against his cheek.
He fell off the sofa from the force of it and startled himself awake, looking around in confusion. His eyes narrowed on Jerry holding the cloth as he rubbed his cheek where Jerry had hit him.
He quickly hid his hands behind his back and whistled nonchalantly, trying to ignore Jack's death glare. It looked more terrifying than playful when Jack's eyes were circled in darkness.
"What was that for?!" Jack hissed at him, picking himself up off the floor with a groan and depositing himself back on the sofa.
"She said it," Jerry pointed to Kim accusatorily, but nobody was looking. He took this opportunity to walk to where Rudy, Kim, Milton and Eddie were standing.
Milton took the phone from Kim and began reading the rest. "The bleeding, if any, must be staunched quickly to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of the body," he read out and Jerry swallowed. That was all it took for it to spread? Even the tiniest of cuts?
"During a seizure of pain, the victim's head must be held off the ground to decrease the risk of death and an early transformation," he explained with a brisk air in his voice, although it was clear he was trying not to sound scared. "And during the hallucination stage, the victim must be kept under careful watch as cases have been reported when victims have wandered off and ended up killing their family members in their dementia," he finished, his eyes widening slightly. He couldn't believe what he'd just read.
Neither could anyone else. They were like Jack's second family - all this got Jerry thinking about Jack's Mum; where was she in all of this? Did she know her son was turning into a Zombie? - and he wouldn't dream of hurting them. But dementia meant he wouldn't be in his right mind and they would be the closest people to him, physically and mentally.
Jerry turned to look at Jack in concern and fear shot through him as he saw Jack on the ground, violently convulsing and writhing, his head hitting dully against the ground.
During a seizure of pain, the victim's head must be held off the ground to decrease the risk of death and an early transformation, Milton's voice reading out the symptom echoed in his mind. "His head..." Jerry muttered quietly to himself, then he realised the severity of what was going on. "Jack!" he screamed, alerting everyone else to the danger as he shot over to where Jack was, kneeling down beside him.
"Jerry, get his head!" Rudy called to him and Jerry held him still, gently pulling him up to rest on his lap while he calmed down.
Jack spasmed a few times before he stilled, opening his eyes. "It's okay," he reassured them with a smile. "I don't think it's a-" He stopped talking and everyone, minus Jerry, jumped back as they knew what was coming. Jack threw up again, his breathing evening as he coughed.
He eyed his vomit in disgust, turning away from it. "I can't stand this!" he yelled in frustration and Jerry stroked his hair reassuringly. It seemed to calm him down, but not a lot.
"I can't stand seeing my floor like this," Rudy said with a concerned look. He would actually have to clean those mats now. "But you too," he added with a smile, seeing everyone glaring at him. "Mostly you." He patted Jack's arm and laughed nervously.
"I'm gonna be one of them, guys," Jack said quietly as he sat up, looking around at all of them guiltily. It seemed harder to accept the truth as it came from his mouth. "I'd rather it be quick," he decided.
"You're gonna be okay, dude," Jerry said firmly, hugging him tightly, trying not to pull away in recoil. Jack's body was on fire, yet he was shivering. "I promise."
And Jerry had never promised something so hard in his life, although in reality, things were looking pretty bleak.