We Have to Go Back

By the time they reached Erik's home it was noon, but no one felt hungry or like being around one another so Erik left, saying that he was running errands, Jade said that she was tired and went to sleep on his bed after taking off her pricey dress and Drake sat down at the kitchen table, keeping a close eye on Jade as he tried to fix her ring. Holding out each individual piece he tried fitting them together like a puzzle, but each time that he thought that he was getting closer to the final piece, he realized that he'd put something wrong which meant that he had to take the whole things apart again. After multiple tries, he laid his chin on the table staring hard at the broken metal. Sighing he separated the fragments into separated groups, dividing them by what their purpose served. He actually had the entire thing in one whole piece at one point, but when he set down on the table proudly, it crumbled into a million fragments again.


"Do you want some help," Drake looked up irritatedly to see Erik. How had he come in so quietly?


"There isn't much you can do to help," he replied, swirling his finger on the table, making the broken shards swirl around with it. Then he lifted his finger into the air, the parts following. Lifting his other hand, he put them back into the order he had them last. "This is what it's supposed to look like, but," and he set it onto the table, where it shattered, "this is what happens."


"What's this?" He muttered, picking up a small golden screw of metal off the floor.


"Hmm," Drake murmured, angry with himself as he took it from Erik. "Thanks."


He strung all the pieces together, this time including the screw and set it on the table again, where it remained intact. A grin lit up across his face. "Well, there we have it and with plenty of time to spare."


"She's still asleep then?" Erik asked, glancing towards the bed.


"Yes," Drake answered slowly and then sighing said, "this was supposed to be a relaxing trip so that when we returned to Damien, we'd be ready, but I think this has just put more stress on her then anything."


"So you really did come out here for her?" Erik asked, sitting in the chair opposite him.


"Well, I mean somewhat. I wanted a break as much as she did, just not here particularly, but I guess this is better than nothing," he answered, looking around the small, crowded, dusty apartment.


"There's something that's been bothering me," Erik admitted, "how come when she traveled on the train she didn't land on the tracks but on the train?"


"Good timing I guess," Drake sighed, holding the ring up to the soft light cascading from the window and through the dust speckled air, "luck maybe?"


"How long have you been working on that thing, any ways?" He asked as he inspected the ring between Drake's fingers.


"Since she fell asleep and now it's almost dinner, so six hours I suppose," he sighed and then thought to himself I just hope the damn thing works. "Any ways, I was thinking that we'd leave tomorrow instead of the day after, if that's fine with you."


"Why?" He asked with a frown.


Drake reached into the side pocket of his pants and took out a neatly folded letter, which he tossed at Erik. 


Drake, it'd probably be best for everyone if you two cut your trip short. Damien is on edge about the two of you not being here, especially since he's in a terrible condition. He doesn't think that Erik could help Jade remember. Honestly, I think he's planning to try something himself, so maybe you two should come clean. So have a safe trip back. I will see you soon - Dane.


"So there you have it," he smiled sarcastically, "but don't frown like that, you'll see Jade when you visit with your father in a few days."


Erik returned the smile coldly and turned to glance at Jade who was still fast asleep, "She doesn't have a say in the matter does she?"


"In what matter?" Drake asked, gently setting down the ring with a clunk.


"Your decision to leave," he responded, facing Drake.


Frowning as if he were confused, Drake replied, "Neither of us do. I thought that letter made it clear."


"Hmm," he muttered, rubbing his chin between his index finger and thumb.


"But, um on that subject here," Drake said pulling out another envelope from his pocket and handed it to Erik, "thanks for letting us stay here."


Erik eyed him suspiciously and then slowly ripped apart the paper to find a crisp check for a thousand dollars, "I do not want this," he growled.


"It's funny how money is the only interchangeable thing between worlds," Drake smiled to himself, ignoring Erik.


"Seriously," he snarled, "take it back."


"No," Drake laughed, "we ate your food, used your bed, made you take off from your job, and have been terrible guests with all of the arguing and time-traveling, and your nose. I-"


"Drake, Jade is one of my closest friends I'd do anything for her, taking that money would mean more than you could understand," he said, shrugging.


"Then take it from me! It's not like she's giving it to you. Take it as compensation for me and not her," he muttered, picking the ring back up.


"No," he hissed, standing up and then laughing said, "I knew that you'd be a terrible guest when I said yes to your letter. All right? I don't want your money, Drake."


With a loud sigh, Drake shrugged off the argument, "Fine, I can't make you accept it."



"Okay then," Erik smiled, happy to have won the argument with little to no shouting, "I'm going to go pick up some dinner."


"Whatever," Drake grumbled as the door closed.


Then he remembered the ring in his hands and quietly strode over to where Jade lay fast asleep. She looked so at peace for once and he couldn't help smiling as he gently slipped the ring onto her finger. Then he bent down to kiss her forehead, but she opened her eyes, waking with a start and smacked her head into his, just like the morning they left to come to Monorail.


"Damn it, Drake," she muttered, burying her head in the pillows.


"I apologize," he laughed through the pain and sat down on the bed beside her, stroking her hair through his fingers.


"What are you doing?" She asked, turning over and staring at him through suspicious blue eyes.


A corner of his lips turned up, as he reached for the hand he'd put the ring on and held it up to her, "You're giving it back?" She said excitedly as she sat up to wrap her arms around his neck.


"Why wouldn't I?" He asked as she let go of him.


"Sure would've been more helpful in the car," she grumbled to herself.


"If you'd have told me what it was for," he said irritably, "then I would have given it back. I thought it was something stupid that Erik had given you."


"Don't talk about him like that," she said, laying back down, holding her hand in front of her so that she could admire the ring.


"Jade," he began cautiously, a tone which immediately brought her eyes onto him, "we have to leave tomorrow."


"You know that I already know," she sighed, letting her hand drop onto the covers.


"Well," he laughed, "that went a lot easier than I thought it would."


"I don't want to tell him right when we get back though," she said, seriously, "I'm not ready for him to know that I actually have my memories. Not yet."


"Fine," he smiled, "honestly he wouldn't be any less angry if we told him tomorrow than if we told him in a month."



"Sometimes I feel like this will be my life forever that I'll never escape Damien," she sighed, turning over so that her head rested on his knee.


Still smiling he glanced down at her and let his hand find it's way back to her hair, "I know. I know."


"Where's Erik," she muttered, though a long yawn.


The smile disappeared into thin air as he stood, "He went to get dinner."


Her head hit the mattress with a soft thump. Frowning to herself, she sat up, "What's the matter?"


"Nothing," he hissed, but then seemed to reconsider his tone. He said, casually, "It's fine. Everything is fine."



"Are you worried about going back?" she asked him, feeling the apprehensive chills running through his body, but not sure what they related to.


"Yes," he replied, bluntly, "but we have to go. I thought you said that you understood that. Don't try to talk me out of leaving."


"Drake," she said slowly as he turned his back to her. She wasn't the one trying to keep him from leaving. He was. He didn't want to leave at all. She stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be fine."


His shoulder began to shake and Jade was afraid that he was crying, until she heard his familiar sarcastic laughter, "Easy for you to say," he spat, "he can't lay a finger on you!"


Pursing her lips, Jade let her hand fall from his shoulder and sat back down on the creaky mattress. There was nothing that she could say to that.

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