I know, I know. You can slap me. I promised I would resolve this cliff hanger before Spring Break ended and it's been... three weeks now... I really should update this story more often, since it's completely written. BUT! Here is the resolution to that lovely cliff-hanger I left you in chapter 7! Last we saw, Claire was sent flying down a cliff!

Review Replies:

TeddyxSac: Ha! You really like Teddy, huh? I do too. You're comment made my day XD I can safely say that Teddy isn't the one jumping after her, though.

Wolfclaw: Okay, I can see that. We'll see what happens, right?

So, on to my HORRIBLY LATE chapter!

Chapter 8

Jedediah

"Claire, hold on!" Jed cried out.

Caagel screeched in shock as the others trapped him against the cliff edge. "This isn't over! I'm coming for that Tablet!" He vanished without a trace and didn't return.

Jed rushed to the cliff face and leaped, aiming for a ledge. "Jed! No!" Larry shouted, leaping to catch him.

The night guard missed and scrambled backwards to avoid falling. Jed safely landed on the ledge and then jumped down to another one. He was actually having a little fun when he landed on a weak ledge. It buckled beneath his weight, sending him tumbling down the cliff wall. He came to a halt when he slammed onto another ledge. "That's gonna leave a mark." He groaned, rubbing his back.

One quick glance showed torn clothes, scrapes, cuts and bruises already forming. Dust dappled his face, body, hair and clothes in different places, and his foot felt sore. His hat was dusty but intact. He picked it up and dusted it off a bit before settling it on his head again. Then he continued on down to Claire. When he was above her, Jed finally saw the extent of her injuries.

Claire was lying with her back against the cliff wall, her sword arm lying limply across her waist. Multiple cuts, scrapes and bruises dappled her face and body, and her clothes were torn and jagged. Dust also dappled her face, hair, body and clothes. A bone from one of her legs jutted out through the skin and blood was pouring from the wound. Her breath was coming in shallow, ragged gasps, and Jed feared that each one would be her last.

Somehow, she had survived the fall.

Jed steadied his feet against the cliff wall and gripped a small ledge with his hand. He reached down toward her with his other hand, but thought better of it and gently lowered himself down to the Highlander's side. Getting closer to her showed that he had to get Claire out of this canyon so that Sacagawea could treat her. He gently touched Claire's face, hoping for a reaction. She didn't move or give an indication that she'd felt it.

She's probably out cold… Jed thought, worried. I have to stop the bleeding… Good thing I always keep a spare bandana on me!

He tugged the bandana out of his pocket and wrapped it firmly around Claire's leg. Hopefully that would work.

"Jedediah!" Octavius shouted. "Are you two alright?"

"I'm fine!" Jed shouted back up. "But Claire is badly hurt and she needs treated before she dies!"

"We can set up a rope to pull her up!"

"I'm not sure if that's wise. You'd have to see her to understand what I mean!"

"I'll send Dex to find a way out!" Larry shouted down. "Try and find a way out too!"

"I can come down and try and treat her!" Sacagawea pitched in.

"I think all the ledges are more unstable since I landed on them, partner." Jed answered grimly. "You'll have to treat her when I get back up."

Jed turned and looked around, studying everything. Claire's sword was still safely sheathed in its scabbard. Her amulet was missing and he felt a flash of alarm. That amulet meant everything to her. Where was it? He looked around closer and spotted it half hidden in a pile of dust. He gently fished it out and found it to be in near perfect condition. He considered putting it around her neck and then realized that he could lose it easier that way. Instead, he clasped it around his own neck, settling it above the red bandana he always wore.

He picked Claire up bridal-style and looked around for the best way out. Dexter caught his attention and then darted off in the direction he wanted Jed to go in. Jed followed him as best he could, scrambling over boulders and limping across flat areas. He always looked up to see Dex, and the little Capuchin always made sure he could stay in Jed's line of sight. The dusty blond cowboy kept going for what felt like hours. He wondered absently if dawn would come before everyone got back to the museum. Hopefully not!

"J-Jed…?" He froze at Claire's weak, whispered words.

Jed looked down to see her looking at him weakly. But she was losing consciousness fast. "It's okay, partner, I'm here. You're goin' to be fine." He smiled.

Claire gave a very small, very weak smile and then she slipped into unconsciousness again. Jed lifted his head and a determined expression settled itself across his face. He was going to make it, or he'd die trying. Dexter chattered impatiently and Jed broke into a slow, limping run. His body ached and his foot hurt worse with each step, but he pushed on. This was nothing compared to what Claire was feeling right now.

You'll make it, partner. No matter what, you'll make it.

"How do we sneak past security with one unconscious, terribly hurt Highlander and one exhausted, hurt cowboy?" Nick hissed.

Everyone was staring in dismay at the back entrance of the museum. This guard was smart enough to not fall asleep, and was keeping an eye on every camera. Nick was right: Claire was in no state to sneak in and Jed was exhausted. He'd run for an hour, scrambling over boulders and then he had to climb up a fairly steep slope with Claire on his back. It had been worth it, though. Sacagawea had been able to set the bone back into place, so it would heal better, and Claire was breathing a little easier. Her breath was still shallow and ragged though.

"If we could somehow distract him…" Larry frowned.

"You don't have to worry about me." Jed hissed wearily. "I can sneak in. We just have to worry about Claire and that trail of blood she might leave."

Lance was currently carrying the Highlander, as Jed was too exhausted to carry her anymore. Octavius was holding the dusty blond cowboy up and was helping him walk. Jed wanted nothing more than to see Claire somewhere safe and to see himself off his feet.

"No, we have to worry about you. Jed, you can shrink down and then you can ride in my coat pocket." Larry gazed at him, worry filling his eyes.

"But… Claire… I have to make sure she's okay." Jed protested.

"She'll be fine. We can ask Keegan if he can heal her. You just take a load off for a while."

Jed sighed. "You aren't givin' me any choice, are you?" Before the black haired night guard could answer, Jed continued on. "Me ridin' in your pocket solves one problem. But you still have to think of a solution for Claire, and you'd better do it faster than the Iron Horse can run! Dawn's approachin', partner!"

Larry glanced up quickly and muttered something under his breath. "This isn't good."

"Do you guys need a hand?" Keegan's voice suddenly filled their minds.

"Yes, we do!" Larry sighed. "And we need help fast. If dawn rises while the exhibits are still out here…"

"They'll turn to dust. I know. We all know. I'll distract the guard. You guys sneak in."

A loud clattering sound came from the hidden side of the guards building. The guard stiffened and hurried around to look. Another fainter clattering sound came. Larry gave the signal to run and everyone sprang forward.

Jed was still at normal size, so he and Oct lagged behind a bit. But there was no time for him to shrink now, so he kept pushing himself as fast as he could. Larry was urgently beckoning them, and he kept glancing at the sky hurriedly. Jed pushed hard and Oct helped push him along. The cowboy and the Roman tumbled into the museum and to the ground. Larry closed the door just in time. The windows filled with light as the sun peeked over the horizon. "You guys okay?" Larry asked.

Since dawn had come, the exhibits had frozen in place. The quickly came back to life. "I'm okay, Giagantor." Jed grunted wearily.

"I'm alright." Octavius helped Jed to his feet.

"Now, let's get Claire back to her brother." Jed limped off, the other's quickly following.

"When we stop next, I need to treat you, Jed." Sacagawea murmured.

Jed just nodded. As they approached the bear exhibit, everyone tensed, but the bears, not knowing about the ability to come to life at any time, were back in their normal places. Finally, the New York exhibits emerged in the nature exhibit to find Keegan missing. "He's probably back in his normal place." Teddy mused, marching onward.

By now, Jed was nearly dropping from exhaustion, but he kept putting one foot in front of the other. Octavius was still supporting him and he murmured soothing words. Everything blurred until Oct's voice broke through the haze. "Hey, Jed. Jed. Jedediah?"

"Huh-what? Jed shook his head roughly. "Sorry, what is it?"

"We're in the Scottish Warriors exhibit." Octavius explained gently. "Keegan is looking at Claire right now, and Sacagawea's ready to look at you. Here, my friend, why don't you sit down?"

Jed gratefully flopped down onto a bench and pulled his foot up to his lap. "If anythin' hurts the worse right now, it's this dadgum foot!" He muttered.

"You've probably sprained it or you have some small fractures." Sacagawea's sweet voice reached his ears.

Jed rubbed his eyes. "Why am I so tired?" He complained.

"Well let's see. You fought a bear, ran for an hour straight only to be caught by a magician. Then you watched someone you care for deeply get blasted off a cliff. Then you leaped off said cliff to chase after her, only to find a weak ledge and injure yourself a bit. Upon finding your friend, you find her to be near death. Then you had to carry her out of the canyon after trying to find a way out and scrambling over boulders. You get a small break and then run for another hour straight." Sacagawea mused. "If it makes you feel any better, we're all tired.

"Thanks for the explanation." Jed grunted dryly. "And that sort of makes me feel better."

During this time, Sacagawea had carefully removed Jed's boot and sock and was examining his foot. He winced as her hand passed over a particularly sore spot and she nodded. "Just as I thought. There's a small fracture here. Your foot probably smacked into the cliff face as you tumbled down." She carefully wrapped it. "You'll be fine, but you'll need to rest for a while."

"I'm okay with sleepin' for a few months." Jed groaned. "How's Claire doin'?"

The Garuda spoke in his quick, chattering language. Everyone stared at him blankly. He sighed and slunk off. Ahk answered for him. "Keegan's healed her as best he can, but he's a bit spent after slowing Caagel's spell down and preventing him from speeding it up."

"Will she live?" Jed demanded a bit more strength to his tone.

"She will." Keegan answered wearily. "She'll be out for a while, but she'll be fine. Now you, mister hotshot cowboy, you need to sleep. We all could use some shut eye, actually."

Larry waved his arms around. "Right here? In the middle of this exhibit? Are you nuts? We have to hide!"

Keegan paused. "I think I have enough power to put a cloaking spell on you…" He closed his eyes and muttered something inaudible. "There." He swayed a bit, but didn't fall.

"Alright, let's go find a storage room or something." Larry sighed.

The found the storage room and everyone stretched out, each one too tired to care where they slept. Jed thought sleep would never come, through the pain, worry and disappointment. But he was asleep as soon as his head touched his hand.

Okay, hopefully this chapter makes up for the long wait XD

QotD: What do you think of Caagel, Claire and Keegan's father? And what do you think will happen to Claire?