(BMC)Five Squips and a Jeremy

Chapter 11

Jeremy was now in his room, wide smile on his face as he laid on his bed cuddling the dolphin plush.

"Today was great." He mumbled happily and his Squips watched the display of joy in front of them.

"Glad you had fun, but we have a problem." Winston told him and he cocked his head. "Sal has made a holographic clone of Nick. And is flirting with it."  Jeremy turned to see Sal in his computer chair, and on his lap was a life-size, holographic clone of Nick, and the two were nuzzling each other with their noses.

"How did he..."

"I mean I made a holo-clone of you and did the tango with it." Eric deadpanned and Jeremy turned red as he remembered that.

"Yeah I remember that...that was... something..." Jeremy threw his shoes off and lay back down on the bed, snuggling his dolphin plush again.

"Furry." Eric laughed and Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Brooke is too." Jeremy mumbled, and he basically stopped acknowledging his Squips and was acknowledging only the dolphin plush. "Besides you aren't wrong. I am."

"Exactly. But it suits your ner-geeky nature." Eric smiled awkwardly at Jeremy, and he smiled back.

"Thanks, I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"It probably is, I wasn't particularly nice before my...our reactivation but I'm trying." Eric sat on the end of the bed calmly and Jeremy watched him from his laid down position.

"You're doin' pretty good." Jeremy closed his eyes again and Eric sighed.

"I mean...I did mention shocking you again..."

"You were joking."

"I don't care if I was joking or not it still...I shouldn't have even thought it."

"Eric it's fine really I'm okay-"

"It isn't okay Jeremy I just...I don't... I'm bad okay...I can't be good even if you think I can..."

"But you're not evil anymo-"

"I don't mean like that Jeremy just...I need some time alone to think." Eric pulled up a screen and deactivated himself. Jeremy sighed and began cuddling his dolphin yet again, eventually falling asleep on his bed calmly.

***

He woke up that night at probably 2 AM and noticed all the Squips were off, probably on sleep mode, but then he seen a faint blue glow and turned to see his computer chair was by the window, and Eric was looking outside sadly.

'Eric why are you on so late? And why are the others on sleep mode?'

"Well they were all exhausted from today so I let them go in sleep mode. I was on dream duty until your dreams stopped, and I've been active for a while now."

'Oh well you looked sad so I wanted to know if you're okay. Are you?' Jeremy thought and Eric sighed, looking up into space and sighing.

"No. I'm just thinking about...the play." Eric mumbled and Jeremy got up and walked over to the window, opening it and letting the slightly warm air fill his room.

'Talk about it. It'll help.'

"I just...I know I failed you. I wanted to be perfect...I didn't want to screw up, but the moment Christine said she liked Jake I knew I screwed up. I screwed up everything...I honestly didn't want to fail or hurt you but my processor wouldn't allow me to show sympathy. I just wanted to be a perfect Squip to you...so you wouldn't deactivate me...guess that didn't work out...you still deactivated me..." Jeremy seen tears falling down Eric's tan cheeks and quickly moved closer to him.

'Eric I...I was scared. That's why I wanted to deactivate you. You took control and hurt those I loved most, granted you didn't know right from wrong back then but...still...and I know you were scared...and it's okay, I mean you basically died, and I know that probably hurt you...and I'm sorry...but that was over two weeks ago. Things are okay now. I got with Christine and Michael, today I had the best date in my life, and nobody is hurting.'

"I am."

'What?'

"I'm hurting...ever since me and Winston got in that fight...the shock...I still feel it." Eric looked at his arms and ran a hand across the gray conduction bracelets. "And these are why. I'm the only one who has them...they hold in electricity and can easily release it unless locked...and I think Winston locked them as punishment...and it hurts..." Eric whispered and Jeremy's eyes widened at the idea that his nicest Squip, other than Shane, had done this.

"Winston, can you reactivate." He spoke and he seen Winston manifest next to Eric. 'Did you lock Eric's electric bracelet things? As punishment?' Jeremy's inner voice sounded very angry.

"Why would I do that Jeremy?" Winston was sweating and Jeremy glared at him from apast Eric.

'I dunno, because Eric used to abuse me. And he's clearly hurt, look at him. Did you lock his electric things or not?' Jeremy was standing straight up(or bi up really but-), hands in fists.

"Yes but can you blame me? He abused you ever since he showed up! I think he deserves some punishment for that! Besides, he can't shock you when they're locked."

'Winston, unlock them now.'

"Jeremy that's not a go-"

"Now." Jeremy repeated and Winston pulled up a screen and unlocked something, and Jeremy noticed Eric's expression change. "Thank you. Now, deactivate please."

"Jeremy-"

"Winston I'm not going to repeat myself. You have to listen to me like everybody else. Now deactivate." Winston nodded and shut himself off, and Eric was staring at Jeremy in shock(no pun intended). 'You okay Eric?'

"Yeah...why did you do that?" Eric asked and Jeremy smiled at him, hugging him slowly.

'Because I love all of you. I don't care if Winston's nice to me, well I do but, he needs to be nice to you too. Yes you did some crap, but I don't care anymore, I just want you all to be okay. Okay? Now you can get some rest if you want.'

"Jeremy I'm on dream duty I can't sleep."

'Oh well, g'night then Eric.' Jeremy smiled as he walked back to his bed and crawled in, snuggling the dolphin once more.

"Night slugger. See you tomorrow morning." Jeremy then closed his eyes and let sleep take over his body. "And thanks for standing up for me like you did...it means a lot to know you care about someone like me."