Joe recovered his senses quickly...but not quickly enough to prevent "Jill's" escape..or her brutal assault on John. "John...are you okay?" The words slipped out of his mouth before he took a closer look at him. She'd cut him badly during his brief loss of consciousness..with his BoneKnife, which she'd taken with her. All the better to lessen his power. She was crafty...and dangerous. "I'm sorry you got involved in this John. Really, I am."

John coughed. and forced a smile. "I've felt better Joe."

"Sorry John, that was a stupid question. Just hold on, I'll get you to the hospital..."

"Don't bother Joe, I'm dying here. Go after her...I saw that look in her eyes...and it was full of hate.  thought we could have something, I really did, but I guess I was just a damn fool...too easy because she made believe that she wanted me because I was someone special. What an idiot eh?"

"I'll catch her yet John, but it will have to wait...you're my priority now." He raced into the bedroom and returned with a blanket and a pillow and wrapped John up. He reached for the pouch on his belt and pulled out a spray and spritzed out a small quantity in the air above him. "Don't worry John, this will help."

John coughed again. "Tell me what's happening Joe...please, I'm dying...don't I deserve to know? After all...would this have happened if you hadn't showed up?"

Anger on John's part, Joe was not surprised by this...but now was not the time for a lengthy conversation between them. The spray was only a temporary solution, if he delayed...it would not be good for John. "I'll tell you what you need to know later John, really, but now...I need to get you to the hospital."

"Whatever."

Joe shrugged, inwardly. He knew things that John did not, but that if he did...he would think differently. Still, saving John's life was the matter at hand so he ignored his own "hurt" and picked him up and bundled him into the backseat of his car, going back to the house only to lock it up. These were not the days of yore, things like that were important now.

He jumped back in and raced to the hospital...not needing to know where it was, for this was more than just a car, it was his home on the road..and it could tell him just about anything he needed to know. So he input the data and followed the instructions. And as he sped towards the hospital he wondered what would he do if he lost his car..not that that was a real concern of his, not with a car like this...he was just prone to such wonderings.

This is the end for now...There's more to the tale of course, but I'm moving on to blog.ca for the next week. These past couple of story drives, here and in Yahoo 360 remind me that I got to stick with the stories I start. So no more stories begun and just left to be...no promises, but...plans to  stick with them better.

Until June...I'm in my usual places.

 

Charles Petrie