Sun and Shadow

The Aftermath

Connor looks around the rooftop where Jude delivered them and spots two bodies lying up against a small wall near the edge, covered with blankets. Stepping over to them, Jude right behind him, he takes a deep breath as he emits a soft light that illuminates the reclining forms. Gasping at the scene, Connor quickly turns toward Jude, eyes wide, to see his response but Jude's face is unreadable. Looking back at the battered and bruised face of Jetstream, her eyes swollen shut, blood dried in her hair, and Connor can hear her ragged breathing . The Commander looks better in the face, but his breathing was also ragged, like he couldn't quite catch his breath.

"Sounds like broken ribs or a punctured lung" Jude said emotionlessly as he knelt beside the famous super. "Jetstream looks pretty banged up and I think that her leg is broken too." Connor looks down and sees her twisted leg that he hadn't noticed before.

Connor looked at Jude in shock. "How are you okay with this?" he croaks.

Jude looks at him in surprise. "I'm not okay Con, but seeing people I know beaten up? You learn to shut down your feelings and focus on getting them help." Connor swallows nervously as he realizes what Jude means but rather than reply, he just nods.

"So what should we..." he asks uncertainly.

"You pick up and carry the Commander. I will carry Jetstream and I will walk us back to the house" Jude tells him crisply.

Connor frowns in thought. "Why don't I fly him?"

"Better to not risk anyone seeing us" Jude explains.

Connor nods and picks up the Commander and wonders at the strangeness of it all. Here he is, Connor Stevens, 14 year old and a new Super, carrying the most famous Super in his arms like a little kid. He never imagined something like this happening to him. He steps over to where Jude has stood up, Jetstream held in his arms, as Connor maneuvers his arm to link with Jude's.

"Hold on" Jude warns and everything goes black. Connor has traveled with Jude in the shadows before, but it never gets any less weird. The black and white world with random glowing shapes are hard for him to focus on and he wonders if Jude sees it differently. Jude is walking a stop/go gait where he pauses after each step. The scenery blurs with each step but it only takes a few steps before he stops and gives Connor a nod to warn him and then they are standing in his back yard.

"SHIT!" they hear a sudden yell and look over to see Jesus jumping back with a look of terror on his face before he recognizes them. "BRO! Don't do that it's really...Oh my god! Is that the Commander?" Jesus yells looking at the man Connor is carrying. He looks at Jude and his eyes widen further "And Jetstream?" he squeaks.

Jude moves toward the house with Connor right behind him "Get the door" he says to his brother who jumps and runs to open it for them. They walk in only to see Callie and Mariana coming out of the kitchen looking confused and when they see them, they start to freak out.

"OH MY GOD!" Mariana yells. Lena comes running with Brandon behind her and she sees them holding the supers and suddenly her face turns serious.

"Jude, why aren't they in a hospital?" she asks as she directs them to the couch where Jude lays Jetstream down. Connor lays the Commander down on the floor next to her, putting a pillow under his head.

"Will said he called for healers and to bring them here" he tells her as he stands up. Lena looks uncertain but she tells Mariana and Callie to go get the first aid kit which she uses to try and help Jetstream with her injuries.

"Hello?" they hear a man's voice coming from the kitchen.

Everyone looks panicked for a moment.