Chapter 19: A Part Together
[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 13: The Battle of Two Bridges from Trollhunters]
The chilling reality came barging into Jim's mind as soon as he woke up in the hospital. Only, it was even worse than he imagined. Not only had Bular taken Toby but, when Jim checked his phone, he found that Blinky had once more been captured, searching for Killahead Bridge on his own. Now, he was alone in the hospital room, lost and crushed by his failure.
His secrets had put his friends in danger again. Even though he knew what was going to happen, even though he had so much more skill and experience this time around, it wound up worse than the first time. Toby was kidnapped and Blinky was still in danger. AAARRRGGHH was injured and Jim didn't have anyone to turn to for help.
"Jim, how are you feeling?" The curtain was brushed away as Jim saw his mom walk into his room, dressed in her white doctor's coat and holding his charts.
"Hi, mom. I'm feeling fine." Jim answered, though he was anything but fine at the moment.
"I'm surprised Toby isn't here with you. You two are inseparable." Barbara commented, but her words only cut an even deeper wound in Jim's heart. "Well, there was a girl here with you all night. Said her name was Claire I think."
Jim wasn't very responsive. Instead, he was looking at his reflection in the window as rain poured down outside. Most of his injuries were bruises, but when Bular had struck him in the head and shattered his helmet, it left a long, rough scar across Jim's brow and bridge of nose. A scar that was eerily similar to the injury he sustained under the abuse of the Arcane Order.
He was starting to wonder if Nari's words had led him astray. Time may unfold differently, but maybe it was all destined to end up at the same place. Maybe he couldn't really change things. Maybe he would just end up making it all worse.
"Jim. I want you to talk to me." Barbara sat down on the side of his bed, placing a hand over his. "You can tell me the truth. What were you doing in those woods?"
Jim felt his heart clench in fear as he looked back at his mother wide wide eyes. He had been through this before, so many times. Not only in the previous loop, but also in his head. Night after night, Jim had deliberated about telling his mom everything. He wanted to tell her sooner, so she wouldn't worry as much, but he also had to consider everything else with Strickler and the timeline.
However, Jim felt too weak to keep it all to himself anymore. He couldn't keep it up. Even if he couldn't say everything at the moment, he needed to tell her. For the first time in so many years, Jim felt like a little kid again. A scared, confused child who just needed his mother's comfort.
Taking a deep breath, Jim opened his mouth, explaining what he could. He told his mom about the trolls and goblins. He explained why he was at Claire's house and what happened in the woods, how he was attacked and Toby was kidnapped. Barbara seemed confused at first, not fully believing him but, when he showed her Merlin's amulet, she began to open up, her expression changing as she looked up at Jim once more.
It took a long time to explain everything, but Barbara sat patiently until the end as Jim wove his fantastical tale before speaking up.
"Jim… you're really telling the truth about this, aren't you?"
"Yeah… I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner, but it's… complicated." Jim clenched his fist as he bit his lip, his emotions still raging inside him like a storm.
"So Toby, he's…"
"Being held by Bular and his evil trolls. Yeah." Jim nodded. "I have to go save him."
"No, Jim. I mean… This is just…" Barbara looked flustered and on the verge of tears, reaching out and gently caressing Jim's face. "You shouldn't be putting yourself in danger like this. I'm your mother, I should be protecting you."
"I know, but this is what I'm meant to do. I know it." Jim replied, feeling tears form in his eyes and roll down his bruised cheeks. "But it's hard, and there's so much I'm afraid of losing."
"Jim, you've always been my hero. You've always cared so much about others." Barbara looked down at the glowing amulet in Jim's hand, taking a deep breath. "I'm proud that my son is so strong, and I'll always be here for you. I'll always worry, but, in the end, it's your decision if you want to keep doing this. I won't make that choice for you."
Placing her hand over Merlin's amulet, Barbara closed Jim's fingers around the cool, glowing metal.
"What do you need me to do?"
Jim held the amulet tight, leaning into his mother's touch as he felt himself calm down, his tears finally subsiding. He was still scared. He was still so afraid of losing Toby again and putting his friends in danger, but his mom just reminded him of his greatest strength.
He wasn't alone.
"I need your help. And I need some other help too."
"So… you've been living in our basement for… how long exactly?"
"Umm… a few weeks, perhaps?"
"Mom, we need to focus. Can we have this conversation later?"
"Right, right. Just… trying to still wrap my head around this." Barbara took a deep breath as she fanned her face with her hands.
As Jim walked around the kitchen gathering what supplies he could, Draal stood awkwardly against the far wall, eyes darting back and forth between Jim and his mother.
"Trollhunter, explain." Draal whispered as Jim walked close.
"I told my mom everything about Trollmarket. I need her help if we're going to save Tobes and Blinky." Jim explained simply.
"Help? From another flesh bag? This is an absurd plan." Draal shook his horned head. "You plan to face off against Bular and his Changelings with the aid of a human female?"
"Hey, I can hear you back there." Barbara looked back from where she was in the dining room, giving Draal a stern look. "This ' human female' has an orange belt in Krav Maga."
Jim gave Draal a look and the large blue troll snorted, intimidated by his mom's spark, but still dissatisfied with the circumstances.
"You'll just have to trust me, Draal." Jim replied, continuing to gather supplies.
"I trust you, but I also fear for you." Draal shook his head. "You are walking into a den of death. For what? Blinky and your flesh bag friend?"
"Draal." Jim gave the troll a stern look, holding his gaze. "I would walk into the Darklands itself and I'd face down Gunmar, or anyone else who tries to hurt my friends if it meant I could save them. I'd do the same for you too."
The spiked troll looked taken aback at the statement, unsure of how to respond. However, before he could find any words, Barbara came back into the room carrying a bunch of supplies.
"You sure this will work?" She looked at Jim quizzically. "Seems… I don't know… a little odd?"
" This is a little odd?" Jim smiled as he took the supplies from his mom. "I just told you trolls exist and you find this odd?"
"What can I say? I never thought I'd weaponize my cleaning supplies." Barbara shrugged. "Is this everything?"
"AAARRRGGHH will be waiting for us at the museum." Jim reassured her. "But we'll also have some more help waiting for us when we get inside."
"If you say so, kiddo." Barbara shrugged. "Now, let me see, I'm sure I left that pepper spray somewhere."
"Trollhunter, I have seen hundreds of battlefields and faced many a foe." Draal tapped Jim on the shoulder, catching his attention. "However, your fleshbag mother, she scares me."
"You know, Draal, I can't say I blame you."