that you did… Tino was very claustrophobic, and he didn’t stop struggling. No matter what I did I couldn’t get the plant to let go of him.” Shade stopped and looked back at Baloo and the big bear could see tears building up in the young pups eyes. “I failed to help him, and he’s dead because of that.”

“Now hold on, you can’t blame your self for that.” As Baloo walked up to Shade he looked down at him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, getting Shade to wince slightly. “Listen I don’t know what happened in the past, but you’ve helped a lot of other people out as the Ghost, don’t you think it’s time to give it up? I mean before you get your self killed.” Shade looked up at Baloo, and then at his hand, and after taking a deep breath he looked down at his feet as if beaten.

“I’m tired Baloo, and I need you to listen to me.”

“About what?” with that Shade pushed Baloo’s hand on his shoulder still keeping his gaze towards the ground.

“Please Baloo, when this is over, when Kit is well and we’re all back in the city, please stop trying to get close to me, stop trying to be my friend, I don’t want anyone else hurt because of me.” As shade spoke these words he turned his back on Baloo, and started to walk away from the big bear, leaving him stunned at what had just happened. As he watched Shade push on he could tell that the pup was bothered by something, both physically and mentally.

“Was it something I said?”

(Sea Duck)

Rebecca had wrapped Kit in a blanket, and was holding him in her lap, she could feel the tears started to stream down her face, time was running out and she knew it. It had been hours and nether Baloo or Shade had come back, making her wondering if they had gotten hurt in the forest.

***************

Fear of the present

***************

Kit Walked into Higher for hire from another day of school smiling as he held a test paper in his hand with an A+ on it. It was like any normal dream it was a great day for him as he walked into the building and saw Rebecca and Baloo smiling. “There’s are Ace.” Baloo said, as he smiled towards Kit.

“Yep are brave little man.” Rebecca said, as she knelt down and held her arms out towards Kit, and as Kit started to run into her arms. Shade walked past him and excepted the hug causing Kit to stop in his tracks as the two adults huddled around Shade. “That’s what I’ve been missing all day a good huge from my son.” As Rebecca looked up at Kit a scowl came across her face as she glared at him. “Baloo he’s back.” with those words Kit noticed that his cloths had changed, they where torn and tattered his hat was missing and his hand were covered in filth.

“Pa-pa bear what’s going on?” As Kit said these words, Baloo stomped forward and back handed him sending the cub slamming into the railing next to the bay. As Kit stood up rubbing his face he was about to say something when Baloo grabbed him by the throat and held him out over the bay.

“HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!! YOUR NOT MY SON!!! “ These words hurt more than the grip around his throat.

“Please Baloo your hurting me.”

“Good then maybe next time you’ll remember that you where fired, and told to keep that grubby mug of yours away from my plane, my family and are home.” with that Baloo let Kit fall into the bay, as he came up sputtering water he slowly swam over to the ladder and started to climb up but stopped when his hand touch the top rung and Rebecca stepped on it.

“Now you listen good this time, you worthless little street rat, if you ever come near my business again and scare of any of my customers you wont have to worry about your future because it’ll be over then and there.” with that Rebecca kicked Kit in the face sending him back into the bay causing him to come up sputtering again, tears streaming down his face as he swam for the shore only to find Shade standing there waiting for him.

“YOU!” Kit lunged at Shade only to pass through him and get a mouth full of sand.

“Get use to it kid, I’m better then you, You’ve been tested, scored, and be found unsatisfactory by them. You’ve been replaced, get use to it and stay away from my new family.” with that Rebecca walked up behind Shade as he stood up and looked down at him. “She’s abandoned you Cloudkicker, she doesn’t want you, she never real did want you.”

***********************************

“Why did you leave me?” Kit asked, still mumbling slightly in his sleep.

“I didn’t leave you sweetie I would never leave you.”

“you threw me out of higher for hire.”

“I didn’t, I swear, I would never do such a thing.” Rebecca knew that Kit was having bad dreams but these where hurtful to her, as she listened to him rambling on about what she was doing in his dreams, she held him closer and hugged even tighter hopping that it would stop the nightmares.

“W-why did you abandon me?” That was the final straw, as Rebecca stood up holding Kit in her arms she went to a hiding place that her and Baloo had put the custody papers. As she sat back down she held Kit up slightly and uncovered his arms. “Kit, Me, and Baloo were going to wait to tell you, I know you can’t see it but just feel this.” Rebecca said, as she put the custody papers in Kit’s arms. “This paper says that me and Baloo have custody over you, we are your guardians.” Kit’s arms moved around the paper and pulled it close to his chest. “And right after we’re married.”

“M-married?” The good news was forcing Kit’s nightmares back, his heart was beating he was smiling as Rebecca held him close.

“That’s right honey married, Baloo proposed to me this at lunch today, he even paid for the meal. You should have seen the big knuckle head stumbling over his words.” Rebecca shed some tears as she wrapped Kit back up with the paper still held in his arms. “I want you to listen to me Kit, once me and Baloo get married I promise you that we’ll adopt you, and you’ll have a proper family again, nothing is going to change that, but for right now we have to wait until Shade.” the smile vanished from Kit’s face at the mentioning of Shade’s name.

“He’s going to take you from me.” Kit said, as he leaned up against Rebecca and curled up letting her hold him closer. “He’s going to turn you on me.”

“No Kit never, he could never do that.” Rebecca said, as she held Kit close and rocked slightly. “I need you to listen to me, please I’ll never stop loving you, you’ve been such a joy in my life I could never stop loving you, and there is nothing Shade could do that would ever turn me against you.”

“He’ll make a helmet that will brain wash you, or a gas that will hypnotize you, or a dart that will control your every move.” Rebecca couldn’t help but smiled as she looked at Kit, as he listed off all the things he thought Shade was capable of.

“Don’t be silly, and even if he tried it, you my future son, would always be there to save us. Kit Cloudkicker, the smartest, sweetest, and most loveable boy I know. If Shade tried all those things I would always know that you would find away to free us.” Rebecca said, praising Kit and getting a smile from him. “And even if he didn’t there is no way that he could change the way I feel about you Kit.” as Rebecca rubbed her cheek against Kit’s a tear fell from her eyes onto his face.

“I love you… mom.” Kit whispered faintly, as Rebecca hugged him. As the good feeling held on Kit’s nightmares remained at bay, Rebecca only hopped that they would stay away long enough for Shade and Baloo to get back with the cure.

“Please hurry Baloo, are little boy needs your help.” Rebecca whimpered as she held Kit close, not knowing how much longer she could watch Kit suffer like this.

(Back in the forest)

As Shade stumbles to the ground Baloo walks up behind him and helps him back to his feet, hearing the young pup breathing heavy Baloo started to get concerned, about the way Shade had been acting as of late. “You alright kiddo?” Shade looked at Baloo and smiled weakly.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” with that Baloo nodded and then watched as Shade started to press on.

“Listen I know where helping Kit, but it’s not going to do me any good if you pass out, why don’t you take a breather, we can rest for five minutes and then keep going.” Shade shook his head and kept walking onward. “I’m telling you, you need to rest.”

“I’ll rest when I’m dead, until then I fight. Now save your strength and just keep walking, the plant is just past this cliff.” As Baloo was about to say something he stopped as he walked up and looked down the side of a cliff just below it was an old temple, void of any plant life.

“How are we going to get down there, and where is the plant?”

“In the temple.”

“Oh well that’s good.”

“No that’s bad.” Shade said, as he walked away and left Baloo looking over the edge

“How is that bad?”

“Because surrounding that temple is a very deadly plant, that I don’t know how to stop, it’s kind of like a watch dog.”