Kamen Rider Fusion – episode 52, Destiny

Special Note from the author SciKaiju:Before the final episode get’s going I wanted to give out some “thanks you”, I’m new at this so please bear with me and hopefully it won’t be too corny. First of all I want to thank Keith for wanting to put this on the front page. And I want to thank to Ragna “D” BloodEdge and Dami-chan for the banners, and a special shout out to “D” for doing those banners every episode. I also want to thank Gryphman for creating the image of Fusion that appears in those banners. All you guys rock. And while Toei owns the Kamen Rider franchise I want to give a special thanks to Shoutaro Ishinomori for creating a concept that has lasted this long and that let my imagination run a little wild. And hopefully he doesn’t mind what I did with it. And I want to thank those of you who took time to read this thing, or just skimmed it (looks at Keith). Hopefully it was worth the ride and you enjoyed it.

Note from Keith Justice: Thank YOU scikaiju… damn glad to have this up on the front page and I hope everyone else enjoyed as well. See you on the otherside at Super Sentai Special Police DekaOps!

<Episode 52>

His face felt like it was on fire as Anderson slashed his cheek with his claws. Jack had to check to make sure he didn’t tear his face off when he saw the staff lying there. It looked so far away it wasn’t even funny. Still it was the only idea he had at the moment so he crawled for it. Jack was expecting Anderson to pounce on him at any moment but he slowly made his way toward the staff. Jack didn’t feel anything as he grabbed it and struggled to his feet. Snapping it to its full length he twisted the ring all the way, if this didn’t work he was dead. “Do you think there’s enough of a charge in to defeat me?” Anderson taunted.

“Who says I’m going after you?” Turning around he ran for the device. Swinging for the fences he broke the glass around it with the other end. Not even stopping to see where Anderson was he jammed the other end into it and popped the electrode. The device sparked a couple of seconds later. The sparks ran up the wires connecting it and then parts of the ceiling started to short out. As the sparks rained down on top of them he finally looked at Anderson. He was standing there shielding himself from the shower.

Ignoring the pain in face, arm, leg and everywhere else he was feeling it Jack raised his left arm across his chest. The belt materialized around his waist a moment later. Swinging his arm to the side he raised his right arm to his face. “Henshin!”, he shouted as he slammed his hand down on top of the belt. Anderson looked at him as the belt scanned his body and covered him in the black body suit and blue insect style armor of the system.

Then Anderson started clapping, momentarily reverting to his human form. Jack took a step back as he walked foreword. “An excellent job Mr. Davidson,” he said, “a truly excellent job. I must say you have performed better than I ever dreamed possible. I must say I’m feeling a little bit of pride when I look at you.”

“I’m touched,” he said sarcastically. “But tell me one thing, why were you so interested in my condition a while back.”

“Curiosity mainly,” Anderson answered him, “and I’ll admit a little bit of concern as well. The person I saw didn’t seem the like the type to succumb to a mental breakdown, or whatever it was that was afflicting you. But honestly I knew you wouldn’t be down forever, I knew you would be able to pull yourself back together eventually.” They looked at each other for a few more seconds, “I suppose there is only one way for this to end?”

“Yup,” Jack said. In the next instant Anderson changed back into his cheetah form and Jack rushed him. He got in a punch before the Drakan could react. The cheetah stumbled back from the impact. He had a feeling Anderson was one of those warrior kings so he wasn’t going to give him any breathing room as he pressed the attack. He tried to pound Anderson down but the Drakan refused to go down. Suddenly he pressed an attack of his own swiping in claws at his chest armor. Jack was pushed back and saw Anderson come at him.

Falling back Jack got his foot on his gut and was able to flip him. The cheetah hit the tube behind him hard. Jack got up and aimed a kick at his head. Anderson moved at the last second and his foot went through the glass of the tube. The blue goop inside poured through the opening as he tried to get free. He wasn’t fast enough as Anderson grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Then he picked him up and threw him through another tube. Jack freed himself from the person inside and threw a right cross as Anderson jumped at him. He connected flushed in the head and could tell he stunned him. Jack grabbed him and threw him into a tube in return. Going in his head snapped back as a foot kicked him under the chin. Trying to quickly clear the stars he didn’t see Anderson until it was too late. He grabbed Jack by the head and slammed him to the floor.

Putting a foot on his throat he pressed down with all he had. Jack struggled to breath before grabbing the foot and forced it off his neck. Sucking in the air as fast as he could he backed away from Anderson. “This is most exhilarating Mr. Davidson,” he told him, “I haven’t had this type of a workout in quite some time.”

Jack looked around him at the other doors. Arron was just starting to come too and they didn’t need the EMP device to get damaged. “Why don’t we take this where we’ll have a little more room?” He ran for the nearest door with Anderson right behind him.

***

“Do we have a progress report?”, Melissa asked. Rachel, Emily and the others huddled around the comm. center. Their cell and the others had never had ran an operation this big before and she was amazed there was an audio connection to their forces. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing at the moment.

“It just came in a couple of seconds ago,” the man at it said. “Anderson’s troops have the opening pretty well protected. They’re pretty much at a stalemate at the moment. Susan had an idea though, she sent a small group to the vent Jaime and the others used. She’s thinking they can surprise them from behind.”

“At the very least,” Rachel said, “they’ll divide their attention.” Melissa squeezed her shoulder, she was doing everything to not think about were Jack was in the middle of that mess. “That should increase their odds.”

“I can’t help but think Chris would have something inspirational to say here,” Melissa said. “He’d be there saying it personally but he’d still be saying it.”

“They knew what the stakes were child,” Emily told her.

“What if Jack takes out Anderson?”, Rachel asked suddenly. “What’s going to happen then? I mean he took over the company after killing Allen’s father. He’s going to have something in place. What if the next guy is worse than him? If that’s even possible.”

She could feel Emily look at her. She knew what Chris planned to do and she really didn’t want to think about it, but she knew she had to go through with it if they had any chance of surviving. Still she told Rachel, “Let’s just say we’re going to have to act fast.”

***

Somehow Davidson led them to a manufacturing lab. Yes they had more room to maneuver, but there were still some rather heavy equipment to use. A fact Davidson proved when he picked up something and threw it at him. Anderson easily ducked it and continued after him. Before he could grab something else Anderson jumped on top of him, swiping at his head on the way down. Small sparks flew as his claws scratched the metal of his helmet. Hauling him up he kicked him in the gut and kneed him in the head to get him back standing. A jumping spin kick knocked him into a table. Anderson grabbed and threw him into a series of lockers. He fell to the ground but still he tried to get back up. “I do realize you are angry that I killed the monkey before you had the chance Mr. Davidson, but really. Why continue to get up?”

“Because… because,” he said between breath as he got to his knees, “I’m their champion.” Getting a foot under him he started to stand, “And thanks to you I finally figured it out.” Hunched over he looked at him, “I’m not angry you killed the monkey. I’m pissed you thought you had the right to do this to them!” Standing at his full height he finished, “I’m stopping you no matter what.”

“Brave words Mr. Davidson,” Anderson told him, but he could tell he was still in pain. Despite that Davidson waved him on and he obliged.

***

The last time Jack felt this exhausted was when he was fighting Melissa’s brother and his men. Like back then he knew he had to keep going, this time more than ever. Because the rebels were never going to be safe as long as this Drakan was still around. But it was strange, while he was fighting Anderson he had never felt so right about anything in his life. As he ran in with a uppercut that jacked Anderson’s jaw he knew they were right, this was his destiny and he stopped fighting it.

He was able to grab the cheetah from behind and threw him over his head. The Drakan flipped in the air and landed on his feet, a backhand as he turned around floored him. Getting to a knee Jack clasped his hands together and swung for the fences again. He saw a tooth fly out of the cheetah’s mouth. Jack ran in as he stumbled back and jumped off Anderson’s leg as he kicked him in the side of the head. Running in again he grabbed him around the waist and picked him up, slamming him into the wall. Holding him there Jack slammed his fist into the Drakan’s gut repeatedly. Suddenly he grabbed his wrist and twisted. Jack went down to a knee as it felt like he was going to tear his arm right out of its socket. Anderson let go and grabbed him around the shoulders and slammed him against the wall again and again and again.

On the last one the cheetah let go and walked away for some reason. Jack tried to stand up again as he saw something out of the corner of his eye. Anderson rammed some sort of drill press into the side of his head. As Jack went back down he hit with it again and again and again. He felt some sort of breeze while his heard ringing in his ears when he finally stopped. Jack felt Anderson pick him up and drag him away from the wall before getting him a seated position and standing over him. Then he felt those claws on his cheek again as he realized the helmet was cracked open. On instinct he tried to stop him as Anderson tried to rip it off of him. There were several small cracking sounds that turned into one long on before the Cheetah roared and strained as his helmet broke in half.

Taking a step back to regain his footing as Jack fell backwards Anderson studied his face as the back half fell off his head. Then he looked at the front half of his helmet before dropping it to the ground. “Now it ends Mr. Davidson.”

***

Emily walked away from the rest of the group for the moment. Although all of them knew her gift didn’t work that way every so often one of them would look in her direction. She could see the question in their eyes even though they never asked it. She didn’t walk away because they wanted to ask it, she walked away because she did not have an answer for them. And that hurt her more than it usually did.

But occasionally she would get a flash of something, multiple images, multiple outcomes of Jack’s encounter with Anderson. And not all of them ended with Jack being victorious. But she had to have faith in Jack, they needed him to finish the fight, she just prayed he would survive the outcome.

***

Even though he was now maskless Davidson still fought. Although he was trying to defend his head more now that it was exposed he didn’t change his strategy all that much. In a small way this human was actually earning his respect. A feat only Mitchell was able to accomplish up till now. Davidson was able to catch him off guard when he jumped up and caught him with an elbow strike that landed between his eyes. Anderson was momentarily stunned, enough that Davidson was able to pick him up around the waist and slam both of them down to the floor. He pounded away at him, it took everything he had to push him off and free himself. Again Davidson got to his feet fighting, the tenacity of this particular human.

This time Anderson grabbed him and tried to drive him into a wall. That wall turned out to be a door as it opened a second after impact. They sprawled on the floor of a large construction bay of some kind, with multiple catwalks above them. Both of them scrambled to their feet. Davidson had reacted first as he was able to grab his head and began throwing knees into his face. He captured the human’s leg and with a grunt and a roar was able to throw him over his head. Before Davidson could get up Anderson hauled him up and hurled him into a nearby table. He was disgusted with himself for taking the fight to this level but in battle you had to do what you had to do. Davidson tried to use the table for support, so he kicked his leg out from under him. Picking him up again he threw him into a wall. Davidson grunted in pain as he fell to all fours.

“A valiant effort Mr. Davidson, a truly valiant effort,” he grunted trying to compose himself as he walked toward him. Davidson was staying on the ground this time. “But unfortunately for you this day was already decided.” Davidson was able to get to a kneeling position but his face showed he was still in pain. “A long time ago I went to see the seer like so many others. She told me two things. My decisions would change our world. And no human could truly hurt me. So while I admire your fighting spirit this was over before it really ever begun. Goodbye Mr. Davidson, I will honor and respect your memory.”

He raised his right fist at his exposed head, one quick killing blow to end it. Davidson caught it with his left hand so he tried it again with his other hand. Again he caught it. Holding on to his fist he stood. When he picked up his head Anderson couldn’t hide his disbelief, there was a fire in his eyes that wasn’t there before. “Then start shaking,” he growled right before letting go and hitting him with a right cross. “Because thanks,” he followed up with a left, “to you” again with the right, “I’m not,” a left, “exactly,” a right, “human,” a left, “any,” a right, “more!” another left. Anderson fell back, Davidson picked him up and started throwing him into the various pieces of equipment in the room.

Leaning against a table Davidson came up behind him. Swinging an elbow back out of desperation he was able to get a glancing blow. It was enough to cut open the side of his forehead as he went down. Picking him up again he threw him on top of the table and held him there. “You may be an enhanced human but you are still human Davidson.” He had his claws out for a killing strike. Davidson was able to knee him in the side, distracting him long enough to get away.

***

Jack knew this was going to be tough but damn. And he was really hoping he didn’t miss that opening Emily told him about. He couldn’t think about it, he had to concentrate on stopping Anderson. Jack jumped on a table and rolled to the other side as the Drakan tried to claw his face off again. Looking around he saw an impact hammer and threw it at him. Anderson jumped up to avoid it grabbing one of the catwalk above them. Pulling himself up he balanced himself on the railing before jumping to a higher level. “No you don’t,” Jack grunted as he ran for the nearest set of stairs to chase after him.

When he reached the same level he was on Jack fell to a knee and held his gut, not able to ignore it anymore. His helmet may be off but he was positive the meter was one continuous flash right now. He had to end this now. Getting back to his feet he stared at Anderson on the other end and he stared right back. Through his teeth he said, “Rider kick,” and ran at him.

***

Anderson knew what he was going to do before he announced it. So he ran at him in return, claws out intending to rip out his jugular like he did the senior Allen. Davidson twisted the pod down as he ran. He could see the massive charge go down his leg, he grunted in pain as it did but still he came at him. A warrior to the end, he would break with tradition just this one time to herald him into the afterlife. Both of them jumped up. Davidson positioned himself for the kick. He was ready for the killing blow.

Suddenly Anderson remembered a time from his youth. He was seeing the seer, as tradition demanded. She told him, like she told so many others, his apparent destiny. It went exactly like he remembered it until one moment. She said, “No ordinary human will be able to hurt you.” That wasn’t what she said, she said no human not no ordinary human.

That brief distraction was enough that Davidson kicked him in the chest. The charge he absorbed threw him back hard as he felt himself being ripped apart on the inside. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to change their…

***

Jack landed as Anderson flew back and hit the other end of the catwalk. He exploded and Jack went down and clutched at his leg, damn it he did it again. But he did it, he actually did it. Part of him was expecting a hoard of World Inc. Shock troops to bust in and surround him but none where coming. Slowly getting back up he limped down the stairs, he had to find out what happened to the others. Finding his way back to the main lab and the other Fusions he found what was left of their particular unit who were in their human forms. Sparky shoulder had a makeshift bandage around it. Both him and Jaime looked worse for wear but they were still moving. Arron was sporting a few new bruises but he was still alive as well. He was working on the EMP device when he looked up and saw him. “Damn man, you look like hell.”

Jack grinned a bit, “You should see the other guy Fido.” He’s been waiting a long time to say that. “Are we ready to blow that thing or what?”

“We hit a little snag,” Jaime said. “The timer got busted during the fight. Me and Arron we able to hook up a hand trigger, so one of us is going to have to stay behind. I imagine whatever troops are left will be barging in here after it happens.”

“Yeah but is it going to be big enough?”, Jack asked as he gestured around the room.

“We think that controls the life support system,” Jaime pointed to a computer room behind a glass wall on the other side. “We’re going to set it off in there.”

“Hopefully it works,” Sparky winced.

“Same here,” Arron said. “I was able to look at some of these tubes. I think there might be an internal back up in case of a massive power failure. I really couldn’t tell for sure.”

“We got to risk it,” Jaime told him. “We’re not going to be safe as long as long as even one of these Fusion operatives are around.”

“Yeah,” Jack said absentmindedly. Sparky saw the look on his face and started to say something before Arron announced.

“We’re ready to go. Somebody just has to hit the trigger right here.” As he stood up Jack punched him out.

“Jack what the hell?!”, Jaime demanded.

Grabbing the device he headed for the computer room, “Get out of here while you can. This might be your only chance.”

“Jack stop,” Sparky cried out.

“You of all people can’t be the one who does this,” Jaime tried to tell him.

Jack stopped and looked at them, “You said it yourself Jaime. You’re not going to be safe until all the Fusions are gone. That includes me, because who knows how long before somebody tries to use me against you. Guys it’s been real and it’s been fun. I guess that means it’s been real fun.” He headed back toward the computer room. They didn’t try to stop him as he hit the control on the glass door.

Putting the device down in the center of the room he hit the top of the belt, he wanted to look like a man when this went down. What was left of his armor faded away as the pain he was feeling increased but he ignored it. Looking out the glass at the people in the tubes he said to them, “Trust me I’m doing you a favor.” He started to hit the trigger but he hesitated. Tears forming and starting to fall he closed his eyes, “I’m sorry Rachel.” He hit the trigger.

***

There was a commotion going on around her. People were praying. People working communications were shouting out updates about what was going on. But right now Rachel wasn’t paying attention to any of it. For some reason she felt suddenly cold and alone. Her eyes started to water as a word escaped her lips, “Jack.”

***

“Get that tube working now!”

“I can’t get it to come on!”

“Don’t you do this to her Jack, do you hear me? Do not do this to her!”

***

Five months, it had been five months since Anderson died. And like she told Rachel they had to act quickly the moment they found out. Emily told her once that Chris never planned to take over World Inc. after they took Anderson out of power. He was going to give it to her thinking she could have done a better job than he ever could. In those five months she tried to prove him right. They were able to use a fairly common rule of family succession to take over. Since her cousin never had any children of his own and she was the closest thing he had to family in the area she was able to claim the company as hers. Fortunately any of the Drakan under him that was powerful enough to challenge her claim were lost months ago. That still didn’t stop those who remained from voicing their displeasure or leaving outright. Looking back Melissa realized that was the easy part.

No the hard part was coming up, and she was dreading this to no end. They were in no shape to defend themselves if the other pacts decided to push the matter through force. Still she had to try, they fought for the right to live they wanted for so long Melissa was not going to let it slip through their fingers. The door opened and she stood up from behind her desk, and it was her desk. She had just about everything in the office removed a couple of days after she took over. Not out of any need to make this hers, but his presence seemed to come off as a vibe from just about everything in there, and that made her feel uncomfortable.

Walking around the glass desk that replaced his wooden one she greeted the group that came in. Arron and his father Thomas, a few other pact Alphas from nearby cities, and of course Emily. “Please, why don’t you have a seat.” She took her chair behind the desk as Arron stood behind his father as he and the others took the offered chairs. She didn’t fail to notice that Emily sat on the couch. “I’m grateful you could take the time for this meeting.

“We’re just trying to see what crap you’re trying to pull,” one of them said. “Trying having some sort of beacon for ‘equality’ between the classes and stirring up trouble.” Arron started to say something but a look from her and his father kept him quiet.

“We’re not trying to pull or stir up anything,” she told him. Addressing the group she said, “What we want is what we always wanted, to live our lives in peace. No more and no less.”

“Why should we believe that?”, another demanded. “You’re actions up till now weren’t all that peaceful.”

She didn’t need her gift to see the contempt and arrogance in most of them. “While I freely admit that some individuals own actions were more violent than any of us would have liked, they were a minority. The rest of the time we were acting in self-defense, seeing how some refused to let us live peacefully and actively hunted us down.” A couple of them shifted in their seats uncomfortably, unfortunately the rest held firm.

“So what are you planning on doing now?”, the first one asked. “Are you going to turn this city into a staging ground to alter our very way of life?”

“It was never our intent to force our way of life onto others,” Melissa answered. “If anybody wants to drop the old ways behind and live with us peacefully we will welcome them with open arms. But,” she leaned forward slightly, “if we ever find out that somebody was sent in to disrupt what we’re trying to do we will fight back.” She looked at each of them. A few were impressed with her conviction, still the others…

“That sounded like a threat,” one said standing up.

“Sit down,” Arron’s father said.

“But Thomas,” a look from him silenced him and made him sit down. Melissa held her breath. Arron’s father was a very powerful alpha. Their future may very well depend on him. They studied each other for a moment.

Finally he said, “All right, we’ll leave you alone.” Like she expected most of them protested. Another look silenced all of them. “Let them live in their little fairy world. Sooner or later this little experiment will fail.” They nodded in silent agreement. Melissa just arched an eyebrow.

They left only leaving herself, Emily, Arron and his father. “I studied that file about Anderson activities you released to us,” Thomas said after awhile, “especially the ones dealing with the Drakan Killer. Although that file seemed a tad incomplete.”

“It didn’t seem like a good idea to just give out the information on how to build one,” she told him.

Thomas nodded, “I would have done the same. You know your cousin tried to tell me he was a creation by you rebels, a concoction to get people on your side.” Before she could say anything he continued, “My son told me about the man behind this particular myth. What was your take of him?”

“We had a rough start but I eventually considered him my friend.”

“A pity he’s no longer around. I was hoping I could thank him for sparing my son.” Looking at Arron he said, “I’ll be downstairs, I’ll give you a few minutes.” He stopped at the door mumbling, “Thank you for looking after my boy,” then left.

Left speechless she saw Emily started to leave as well, “I do believe that worked out better than you thought. But it was just one step child, one of many.” As she left she said something confusing as well, “I told him he would change our world.”

While she pondered that particular statement she turned her attention to Arron, “So what are you planning on doing now?”

“I’m still working it out,” he admitted. “I want to help you guys out here but my dad needs me too. Maybe I can direct some guys this way while I working on making some changes on my own. I guess we’ll find out how it goes in the long run.”

“You’re always welcomed here Arron,” she told him, “I hope you know that.”

“I do,” he said gratefully. His mood changed a bit, “How is she?”

“Still the same,” Melissa said. “I was planning on heading over and seeing them today. Dusty said she could use the company.”

***

She looked out at the lake as she sat on a crate at the end of the docks. The chilly air made her tighten the jacket around her, his jacket. After all this time she could still smell him when she wore it. She remembered a long time ago when she tried to get him to give her this jacket during a cold night stakeout.

“Rachel!” she looked behind her and saw Dusty standing at the entrance of the warehouse. She jumped off the crate and ran toward him not able to read his face. Trying not to get her hopes up for nothing. She looked inside and her heart jumped. Inside the same make shift labs that housed his friend Angie, Sparky and Friedman were trying to get him to calm down. Dusty went over to help them saying, “Harry was he this much trouble the first time you pulled him out or is this a recent development?”

“He was sleeping like a baby the first time.”

“Calm down son,” Dusty said as they continued struggling with him.

“WHY?!” he demanded.

“Jack,” Rachel said. He stopped struggling and looked at her. They let him go and backed away. She reached out to him. He backed away from her. He backed away and his eyes held noting but hurt and betrayal. “Jack,” she said again, he wouldn’t look at her. Her heart being torn in two she ran out of there. Tears freely falling she put a hand to her mouth, “Oh God what did I do?”

Angie and Sparky was at her side in the next moment. She said, “He’s just a little disorientated right now. Give him some time to get his head together.”

“Yeah,” Sparky agreed, “we’ll be bugging you guys to go on double dates before you know it.” Rachel ignored them as she stood there crying to herself.

***

“I can officially say I wasn’t expecting this,” Melissa said as she sat across from Jack. Emily stood beside her. He was wearing some sweats and a T-shirt but he looked really uncomfortable. “But I can honestly say it’s a pleasant surprise.” He said nothing. “It took some doing but we were able to clear your and Rachel’s name. We even ended the government involvement in the company so you don’t have to worry there. This one Senator made some noise but he quieted down eventually. But you didn’t want to listen to me talk about business.” Still he said nothing.

“Dusty and Friedman were able to figure out how to counter act the smell of Drakan blood. I had them make exactly two full treatments and destroy the formula. There no need for that to get in the wrong hands. I owed you two at least that much. Your system is still active though,” she waited for any type of reaction and still got nothing. “It would have involved a major redesign of the system but we think we were able to stop you from activating the armor. Friedman is still working on it though, he sees it more as a medical thing than a military thing. And before I forget we unfroze your bank account so you should be set for awhile. Actually I pulled some strings and doubled the amount inside. I felt you deserved it after everything you did for us.”

Finally he said, “Whose idea was this?”

“I think you know who,” Melissa told him. He closed his eyes, “Jack…”

“My road was supposed to end when I faced Anderson,” he said.

“No, you were told that this part of your journey would end,” Emily spoke up. “No one said it would end permanently. I did tell you that your choices would decide your destiny.”

“So if I didn’t become a mass murderer I would have stayed dead?”, he spat.

“Jack listen to me,” Melissa said. “You did what you had to do. I don’t know why you thought you had to sacrifice yourself but it’s a little late to wonder about it now.”

“I should have stayed dead.”

“Jack you just got a second chance at a normal life,” she told him. “Don’t waste it acting like this.”

***

He stood at the end of the peer looking out at the sun starting to set. Standing there in a black tee, jeans and sneakers he was starting to feel the chill in the air. In his hands was the front half of his helmet. Why they decided to save this piece of junk was beyond him. He reared back to throw it into the lake but stopped. Looking at it he brushed his fingers lightly over it. Was it actually over? He still couldn’t believe it.

Hearing footsteps behind him Jack looked back and saw Rachel standing a few feet away holding his jacket. She let her hair grow out, how did he not notice that until now? “It looks like you might need this.” She held it out to him.

Looking back out at the lake he told her, “Keep it.” That came out harsher than he wanted. He added, “It looks better on you anyway.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. And he didn’t. They told him so much about what happened in the past five months he was still trying to process it all. For some reason he wanted to ask, “Where have you been staying?”

“At Dusty’s when I wasn’t here,” her voice cracked a bit. “He says he wants you there too. I can take the couch this time if it helps. I want to talk to you about why…”

“I was fine with the idea that I wasn’t coming back,” he blurted.

“I wasn’t,” she told him. He couldn’t say anything so she eventually started to walk away.

He tried to convince himself it was for the best. Yeah he was shocked she went to this length but he was over the initial shock. Jack wanted desperately to go to her but deep down he knew she deserved better than him. Why would she want to be with somebody like him? Why would she want to waste her time with somebody as screwed up as he is? Why would she put herself through that?

Why was he hearing Richie threaten to come back and kick his ass if he let her walk away?

“Rachel,” he said. She stopped and looked at him. Oh God what was he going to say to her? “I… I used to go to this café pretty regular before all of this started. I was wondering if it was still open after all of this time.” He gulped a bit, “I think I saw jambalaya on the menu once. It might have been a onetime special, I don’t really remember.”

“I guess there’s only one way to find out,” she said starting to smile. One step by both of them quickly turned into a run. The moment they were within reach they wrapped their arms around each other. Both of them cried as they held on to the other for a long time.

“God I was being a jerk,” he said thinking about how he was acting.

“That’s because you are a jerk,” she told him. Looking at him she added, “But you’re my jerk. I’m still willing to sleep on the couch if you do want to stay with Dusty for a while.”

“I really don’t want to be alone tonight,” he told her as he kissed her. Taking the jacket from her he helped her put it on. Reaching behind her he pulled the hood over her head, “It’s getting cold out here. I don’t want you catching anything.” About then both of them noticed he was still holding the front half of his helmet.

“What are you going to do with that?”, she asked.

“It might sound a little strange but I was thinking about keeping it. Kinda as a memento of where we started.” She smiled and agreed with him. Looking at her he said what was in his heart, “I love you Rachel Haily.”

“I love you too you big lug.” Taking his hand she led him away from the dock. “Come on, the others have been planning a welcome back party for you since you woke up. But afterwards you are all mine Jack Davidson.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The sun set as they walked, ready to face whatever this new road was going to take them.