Hi Again Everyone. Sorry If This Chapter Is A Little Short, But It Seemed Like A Good Stopping Point. Hope It Is Still Good. Back To Karkat With The Next One.

Also I Am Going To Ignore That In BoaF, Time Moves Faster In Alternia Compared With Earth (It Was About One Earth Day To One Alternian Week) Because Otherwise Talking Over The Pesterchum Client Would Be Impossible (Since It Would Take Like Half An Hour Or Something In Alternia To Wait For One Of John's Replies And Karkat's Would Come To John Almost Instantaneously.) Sorry If This Upsets Anyone.

After closing the pesterlog, John sat in his chair a moment longer, practicing taking deep breaths and exhaling them slowly, wiling his pulse to return to normal. It had been a few days since the whole debacle on Alternia that had ultimately led to him winding up back in his own bed, screaming and convinced that Karkat, Tavros, and everyone else were dead.

His father had kind of comforted him, telling him that it was all a bad dream, and John wanted to believe it, but he knew it wasn't possible. Not when his father also claimed that he had been at Dave's the past few weeks and the junk food had probably been the cause of the nightmare. John knew for a fact that he hadn't been at Dave's and while he was thankful that his friend had covered for him, he was also furious when Dave seemed resistant to discussing everything that had happened.

So what if John started hyperventilating every time he talked about it? He needed to. He needed his moirail... But Tavros was... And then he would break into hysterics that Dave couldn't deal with. Rose diagnosed it as severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but even though she insisted he needed help, he refused, and there was nothing she could do about it.

The second day, John had fallen violently ill. His father had taken him to the hospital, though he knew his dad was sweating the bills as he always did and though he felt guilty, he couldn't rouse himself to care. It was as though all emotion had been drained from him – the only way he could deal things was by locking his emotions away. Feeling anything at all reminded him of something about the trolls, from the awkward way Tavros uncertainly laughed at himself, to the way Gamzee was always so chill, to the way Karkat... oh God, Karkat... made him want to laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time.

It was all too much.

On the third day, John had been released from the hospital back home, with orders from the doctors for him not to move around too much, get plenty of rest, and drink plenty of fluids. His stomach was weaker than ever, so only bland foods like crackers and chicken noodle soup were recommended. John almost had to be taken back to the hospital when he remembered how the trolls would have called it cluckbeast noodle soup and started sobbing so hard he could barely breathe.

It was on the fourth day when he was allowed back onto his computer. His father was strict about it and limited his hours, not wanting him to do anything too taxing or stay up late. John had half-heartedly decided to contact Dave when the chat box had flashed up, with Dave making the first move. After a brief exchange, his friend had passed him along a handle – carcinoGeneticist – and said it was some guy named Karkat.

John nearly had a panic attack right there, but he forced himself to stay calm without getting too hopeful as he shakingly messaged CG.

And now here he was, staring at the pesterlog, his hands pressed to his mouth as tears traced paths down his cheeks. He knew Karkat was right about Jack – and he had to get moving – but for a moment, just a moment longer, he had to treasure this, the way he felt himself coming back together. He was a little tentative in trusting that this mysterious person was really Karkat, but who else would know about Jack? Who else spoke like that?

It was surreal, after how much he'd worked himself up the past few days to finally realize everything was ok, but after he took the necessary moment to gather himself, there was a purpose back in his shining sapphire eyes – and that purpose was to keep himself alive and get back to Karkat and the others in whatever way possible.

- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG]-

EB: hey dave.

TG: hey john hows it going

TG: dont tell me you somehow psychically knew that i just finished dropping some sick fires man you should hear these ill beats

EB: maybe later.

EB: actually i have a favor to ask you.

TG: yeah i guess since you ask nicely you can have my autograph for free

TG: shipping and handling is still five bucks though

EB: hehehe, actually i was wondering if i could come stay with you for a while.

EB: i need to learn how to fight and you're the most bad-ass motherfucker i know, excuse my language.

TG: fuck your language man how fucking rude bro

- timaeusTestified [TT] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] -

TT: So I hear you need to learn to fight.

EB: woah, yeah, did dave tell you?

EB: apparently i'm in danger, and not only do i need to learn to fight but me and my dad kind of need somewhere to hide for a while.

TT: Pack your things.

TT: And your dad.

TT: I'll be there in three hours.

- timaeusTestified [TT] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] -

EB: i think your brother is spying on you dave.

EB: he just messaged me and told me he'd be here in a few hours.

EB: I guess he's bringing me back to your place?

TG: oh shit dude

TG: is he going to teach you to fight

TG: can i have your stuff when you die

EB: no way! i'm going to have like, a shrine built around me out of my nic cage dvds and my posters are going to be taped up inside my coffin.

EB: hehehe, i seriously have that in my official will.

TG: you would

TG: it just figures

TG: not that i want any of your shitty nic cage movies they arent even good ironically

EB: hey! you take that back.

EB: nic cage is the best thing that ever happened, don't deny it.

EB: anyway, i need to pack and start convincing my dad that we're going to be moving in three hours, so, i'll talk to you later.

TG: see ya try not to let my bro murder you

EB: hehe, i'll try, bye.

- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG]-

Even though it had only been a few days since he'd last smiled, it felt like ages and the feeling was a welcome one. It was strange how only a few days with the trolls had changed his life so completely and utterly, but he was okay with that… so long as everyone survived. Plus, if what Jack had said was true about his destiny, he doubted he could have avoided tumbling into this mess for long, whether the trolls had deliberately sought him out or not.

And so John began to pack up his stuff, lamenting just how heavy Colonel Sassacre's Daunting Text of Magical Frivolity and Practical Japery was. It was just about the last thing he wanted to leave behind, but it was excessively heavy to take along on a quest that he had no idea how long would last – if it ever ended. At least, he realized with a little mixed outrage and relief, Karkat had Liv Taylor and his Nic Cage DVD collection, which he'd brought John around Perigree's Eve.

The boy set up about picking out things he couldn't live without – like all of his posters – and packing them up. Once he had packed up everything in his room that he wanted, he knew it was time to face his father – a task he should have already taken care of but had been putting off.

Swallowing thickly, John made his way downstairs, looking around for his dad… only to discover his father wasn't there.

How typical.

"I was so sick yesterday that I had to go to the hospital, yet he couldn't even stick around for a single day," John pouted to himself as he looked around the abandoned house, gathering up any other items that he wanted. At least he would be free of all of these harlequin dolls once they went to Dave's. The only problem was Dave's bro's fascination with puppets. Augh. John didn't know what was worse.

Soon enough, a few hours had passed and a car was pulling into the driveway. John jumped up from his seat on the couch, hoping it was his dad, but the man stepping from the car was not his father at all, but Dave's bro. The man sauntered up the drive to knock casually on the door. Biting his lower lip, John opened it.

"My dad's not home yet…" he said softly, frowning. "Also, how did you get here from Texas in three hours?"

Dirk leaned against the doorframe and smirked, exuding cool. "All right, my little man. Well, if you're in danger, it wouldn't be the best idea to stick around. Know where he works?" As he spoke, he flicked one hand through his pointed blonde hair casually.

"Erm…" John paused when just at that moment, another car pulled in – his father's car.

Chuckling to himself, Dirk turned on one heel to stride from the house again, "Man's got good timing," he remarked.

John couldn't agree more and he grabbed his bags and followed Dirk out of the house, tagging along behind him. His father got out of his car and met them halfway, looking at the pair with a slightly confused expression. "Are you going to Dave's again so soon? With how sick you've been lately, I don't know if I can approve," he said. Of course he never wanted to limit his son, but it wouldn't be good for John's health for him to be constantly moving back and forth across the country all the time.

"I'm sorry you came all this way, Dirk, but John has been under the weather lately and travel wouldn't be good for him," John's dad said, addressing the Strider.

"Dad," John started, wondering how he could explain this all when suddenly Dirk grabbed the older man and threw him into the backseat of his convertible before grabbing John and jumping over the side of the car.

Slamming the car into reverse, he spun out of the driveway just as the front door to John's house opened and someone – or something – peeked out. John shrieked upon seeing the glaring, beady little eye lost in what looked like simply a shadow in the darkness of the house, but he knew quite well was a certain black Carapacian.

"Who was that?" John's dad asked as Dirk sped down the road and the house quickly faded into the distance. John didn't know how he'd begin to explain, but he had at least three hours to do so before they arrived in Texas.

The car ride back was around five hours or so, with Dirk only going about twenty miles per hour over the speed limit at any given time. The few times they passed a cop, John expected them to get pulled over, but nothing would happen and he'd glance at the speedometer, amazed to find it at the perfect speed, yet any other time he looked at it, it was going anywhere from 70 miles per hour to over 100.

Still, that was plenty of time for John to fumble through trying to explain what was going on to his dad and Dirk. Dave's bro, thankfully, accepted everything with nothing more than a silent nod. John's dad, however, took more convincing. A lot more convincing. If it hadn't been for the sight of Jack just as they'd left the house, he probably wouldn't have believed at all.

But once he had finally been convinced, he became subdued, mulling it over. There were his jobs to think of, and their house, and the bills... but he loved John, and everything he had ever done, he had done for his son. Now was no different and he was willing to give up the life he had had if it meant protecting his son.

"There's an empty apartment in the building where Dave and I live," Dirk said as he continued to drive far more quickly than was surely safe. It was his way of saying that they could move in there, at least temporarily, and there were always more jobs for John's father to busy himself with while John learned to fight.