Teddy was having a horrible day at school. Nate hadn’t shown up this morning when he was going to tell him about Renee. The aforementioned girl was now sitting next to him acting as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn’t hexed his brother.

  The symbols he’d looked up didn’t make any coherent sense. What she was having him draw didn’t line up with anything he could find. Whatever it was, it was not a shield. That he could at least ascertain. She was using him, for what it was anyone’s guess. At the very least he couldn’t let her know that he’d found out. Her presence still made his heart flutter. He just wasn’t sure if it was genuine.

  Could that also be an effect that she put on him? They had only known each other for a few days, but she acted like they’d known one another for forever. It unnerved him now that he was aware of it. Before he could just think that's how kids should be.

  The two of them strayed away from topics of the paranormal today. It seemed that Renee was lost in thought throughout the day. Teddy didn’t know she was thinking about the unusual spiritual fluctuations that had happened the night before.

  Near the end of school Ms. Bridget received a note. For a moment Teddy worried that it was another weirdo transfer student. He was in luck as it was not. His luck ran dry there.

  “Teddy grab your things they need you in the office. Your grandfather is here to get you. Something about your brother.”

  She wasn’t supposed to announce everything in front of the class. She’d forgotten to tell him privately. Teddy wasn’t embarrassed in the least bit. He sprung from his seat like it was on fire. If he had taken a moment to look at Renee, he’d have noticed her deep frown.

  To Teddy nothing could ever happen to Nate. He was stronger than Hercules, more durable than a Nokia. If his parents told him that Nate was adopted from a rocket that hit their farm he’d believe it. Tearing through the hallway, Teddy slammed face first into an old man.

  “Well, if it ain’t my grandson.”

  A tooth gapped smile stared down at Teddy. It was old man Myfster. His coyote cane took on all his weight, he looked even older than he had at the funeral. He tapped Teddy lightly on the shoulder in a gentle manner.

  “Son, Nate’s been in an accident. We need to go to him. He may not make it.”

  His little body shook. Accident. That had been what they’d said about his mother. Just an accident. Panic gripped his chest. He could feel a warm gentle sensation there. It was as if it was reassuring him.

  The feeling wasn’t far off from when his mother would console him when he was sad. Warm and gentle circular motions. He stabilized his breathing quickly. Looking up into the old man's eyes his gaze was unwavering. Conviction filled his tiny body. He knew that Nate was fine.

  “Nat will be fine. We should go visit. He won’t want to be alone.”

  He spoke strong words as he walked toward the exit. His actions caught the old man off guard. For a moment he saw Nate where Ted had stood. A man on a mission and someone ready to be exploited. Father like son more like brother like brother. The old man thought himself clever for that particular thought.

  At the hospital the brothers were reunited. Teddy didn’t give Nate a head spear welcome this time, simply hugging him. His eyes welled up with tears but he choked them back. No need to cry because he was safe.

  “Nat, I knew you’d be safe.”

  “Teddy, it takes more than this to get me down.”

  The brothers chatted for a time, with Mandy helping to fill in the lies about what had happened. Teddy sat next to her. He took her hand, holding it tightly. He could feel the turmoil in her heart; this is all he could do to comfort her. She knew what he was doing, feeling embarrassed that she should be the one comforting instead.

  “Uh, whatever it is. You’ll be ok big sis.”

  Mandy’s eyes looked about to burst. She took a page from Teddy’s book. Holding back her tears she gave him a light peck on the cheek. His cheeks grew rosy.

  “You're a very good brother.”

  Nate asked his grandfather a question as Teddy settled down and Mandy excused herself. She needed to make a phone call. The old man looked at him in feigned surprise.

  “Mr. Myfster, what is this going to cost me?”

  “Who me. Why would I demand a price for showing up on my day off. Being completely put out. When I’m not even supposed to be working today. My poor old bones had to come down special to take care of my charges. But what if I want them dropped. Woe is me you think I would exploit a child in need.”

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  His words were full of hate and malice, not one truth was spoken. A retiree who was living life to the fullest. Nate just wondered why he’d actually have come. It’s not as if he knew about Nate’s wind fall.

  “Cut the crap. They said I can’t leave for at least a week if not longer. I’m healing faster than anyone they’ve seen, but I know you’ll want something. Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

  The old man looked genuinely surprised at the news. He’d been told by a prestigious figure that the boy was going to die. Even a heartless man like him would bring his brother to him in his final moments. Well, for a price.

  The fact he was snaking someone brought a smile to his lips. Maybe, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. A twinkle in his eye he responded. Something like a plan forming.

  “I’ll be honest just for you. Grandson. Someone else picked up the tab this time. I won’t double dip this one. Too many eyes.”

  Nate looked at him questioningly. The old man offered no further information. He would have to take it in stride as he was bound here for now. Teddy didn’t know about the money he’d hidden so it would be hard for him to stay alone. Even if he knew about the money he was still just a kid.

  Mandy entered a smile that looked forced on her face. She looked longingly at Nate before sitting back down. She gave Teddy a gentle pat on the head.

  Nate for a moment focused inside himself. He had to get an assessment of himself before squaring Tedy away. That spirit which had busied itself with trying to save his life, was now half its original size. The pool within him was also misshapen. Whatever it had done had saved his life so he was thankful. No matter how.

  He focused on the edge of the pool. Pulling on the edge of it to smooth out the pond. As he did so it yielded to his command. He shaped the edge once more and just as he was close to being done he was brought back to reality.

  He listened closely and he could feel something nearby. Faintly he could hear a bell. It was both far off and very close. His mind felt like it was playing tricks on him. It was similar to when spirits were nearby.

  “Meow”

  A distant cat spoke and he stirred from where he slept. The sky was dark and Teddy had passed out on the bed. At some point the old man had left. Mandy still sat where she’d been inspecting his face the whole time. At least an hour had passed as he focused on fixing the shape of the pool.

  “Thank you.”

  Nate’s eyes opened to her words. Mandy was caught off guard, she’d thought he’d been asleep. Only he knew he’d been fixing whatever it was inside him that the spirit called home. Her words were meant to be spoken to his sleeping form, not when he was awake. An embarrassed smile crossed her face. The sound of the cat was completely gone.

  “I think I have to thank you. I didn’t do anything out in the parking lot. Then you even saved me by getting me here. So Thank you.”

  He returned her words in kind and she blushed a little. Her head shook back and forth. Slim fingers danced around her neck. The feeling of Paladin Wood’s hand still replaying in her mind.

  “You know you saved me.”

  She said almost in a whisper.

  “It wasn’t a big deal. I mean the way you shot him right in the head. Now that was amazing.”

  He smiled but something felt off. Was it his fault she’d been put into that danger? He couldn’t just involve her further could he? She’d nearly gotten killed.

  “I don’t think we should see one another anymore.”

  Her words came out firm, detached. They were the words he’d been trying to get her to say. Ever since she’d started following him after their break up. Finally hearing them did not feel like a relief whatsoever. It was a crushing blow at the moment.

  “I understand. You nearly died. I can’t ask you to stay around and deal with this craziness.”

  His mouth went dry as he spoke. The words hard to say. At the moment with everything that had happened he needed someone to rely on, someone to talk with. She had always been that and now she would leave.

  “My father has arranged for my enrollment into a prestigious college. I’m not sure what I’ll study but I can’t just sit around here in this town anymore. I have a feeling you won’t be long for this town either. You're going to be getting into trouble so.. Please be safe. If not for me than for Teddy.”

  A tear ran down Nate’s cheek but he didn’t let himself feel it. Acted like it was just pain, pain was easy. He just had to not feel it.

  “When do you leave?”

  He asked, his voice breaking a bit.

  “I will take off in a month or so. I’ll be looking for somewhere to stay.”

  “Can you do something for me?”

  She looked at him expectantly, if he asked her to be with him she’d throw it all away. Consequences be damned. She spoke with hope.

  “Yes, Anything.”

  “Please, look after Teddy until I’m out of the hospital. You're the only one I can trust.”

  An odd mixture of disappointment, pride, and anger filled her body. She’d never let him know, never show it. A small part of herself, the part she hated. Felt envious of Teddy, if only he hadn’t been here she could have taken Nate anywhere. Done whatever she wanted to him, with him.

  Those thoughts were crushed in an instant. She couldn’t help having them but she knew it wasn’t right. Looking at the child's sleeping face, it was just like Nate's. A motherly hand rubs his soft cheek. If Nate asked her to do it then it would be done.

  “I’ll look after him. I won’t visit anymore just in case.”

  “That would be for the best.”

  His own heart hurt as he felt his ties to Mandy come unwound.