End

"Just a minor infection...I think we'll have to take a few X-rays," the background of the hospital droned.

'That's it, just a little further.'

"..Baby's gonna be just fine...Get me that cart, STAT!"

The little yellow cup lifted up off the stand and over the small gap between it and the bed.

"Only a minor procedure...My, what did you do to your arm?....WAH!"

The cup hovered in midair only inches from his face. 'Water,'Thomas practically drooled.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Davy asked.

"No, it's only upstairs, Davy, I think I'll be fine," Nicole replied. "I'll go up, get this checkup finished and then come back down and pick you up."

"All right, if you're sure," Davy decided. She nodded, and Thomas heard the click of her heels on the floor as she walked away.

'So thirsty..' The cup tilted in his direction.

"Mr. Jones!" the nurse called. "I'm glad I caught up with you."

'Shoot, not yet!' Thomas grumbled as he drank the water thirstily.

"Oh, why is that?"

"Well, I was hoping you could give me a little help," she replied. "It's time for Thomas' medicine." She held up a syringe.

'Man, that was GOOD.'

"Oh...and you need me?" Davy asked, a little nervous by the site of the needle.

The cup began to slowly float back to the nightstand.

"I thought maybe you could...distract him for me?"

"S-sure," Davy replied.

The cup set itself back on the nightstand just as the door opened.

Mike awoke in a still drowsy state of mind and stretched his arms over his head as he sat up. A sense of deja vu hit him as he realized he'd been sleeping on Fiona's couch.

"Ah, you're awake," Fiona said as she entered from the door that led to the kitchen. "Enjoy your nap?" she asked, handing him a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, thanks," he replied, drinking from the mug. "Peter okay?"

"He's got a bit of a cold, but it's nothing I can't handle," she replied, sitting on the low coffee table in front of him.

"Ya know, I can't thank you enough for getting us out of the cold like that," he told her as he sipped some more of his coffee.

"Well, it was the least I could do, considering that I was the one who brought you there," she replied.

"I don't know how we'll ever - What??" he interrupted himself and nearly choked on his coffe. Mike set it down before it accidently broke. "What'd you do that for?"

"Well, you needed help, so I thought I'd offer my assistance."

Mike nodded, reaching into his pants packet and pulling out the stone. "Yeah, this," he replied, rolling it over in his hands and examining it. "What's it do?"

"Nothing, exactly," she replied.

"Huh?"

"The stone can't give you powers if you have none. It only increases the power of he...or she...who owns it," Fiona explained logically.

"Who owns it?"

"Well, from the looks of it, I'd say you do," she replied.

"But that lady who gave it to us - Mari? - she said we were supposed to give it to the rightful owners."

"Ah, yes, when they come of age," she replied.

"Well, who are these rightful owners?" he asked, setting the stone down on the coffee table.

"Well, considering it was you and Peter trusted to care for it, I'd say the rightful owners would be Thomas and Skylar."

'Thanks,' Thomas told Davy as he glanced down at the bandage on his arm where the needle had gone through.

"No problem," Davy replied. "I have good news," he added, changing the subject.

'Oh?'

"I think I might know where Mike and Petah are," Davy replied.

"Really?" Thoams asked aloud in a hoarse voice. 'Where?'

"At Fiona's," Davy replied.

'Oh, you mean that lady that Uncle Mike's in love with,' Thomas replied, nodding.

"In love with?" Davy gasped.

'Yeah, isn't he?'

"Okay, I give up," Mike said, after a moment of silence. "Who's Skylar?"

"My daughter," Fiona replied. "Don't you remember?"

Mike remembered. Shortly before Thomas' birth, Fiona had visited, with a baby of her own.

"But what would she have to do with...me?" Mike asked, begining to get the picture. He stammered a moment.

"Don't you remember?" Fiona asked.

Fire. Warm bodies. Storm. Love.

"I remember," Mike replied after a moment. He was in stunned silence. "You mean - that baby- she-she-she's m-m-mine?"

Fiona nodded.

"I-I h-have a-a - I have a d-daughter?"

Davy was at a momentary loss for words. "I suppose," he replied after a thought.

'But why would they be there?'

"Well, it makes sense," Davy explained. "Fiona might have answers to their problems, she'd be someone to help them, and besides...she might have the capabilities to bring them there."

'Davy...my dad...is he alright?"

Davy looked at Thomas. "He's sick, Thomas, I won't lie to you. But I do think he'll be alright. Don't worry. They'll take good care of him."

Thomas nodded. 'I hope so,' he replied.

"Me, too," Davy replied.

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