A.N: Yo! Once again, I've returned with the conclusion of Not Alone Anymore. It gets a little weird in here, but I don't really care. If you do, why not say so? Review and tell me how much I suck. I won't mind, I promise.

Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing. A cheap coffee mug maybe, but Cott? Nope!

Not Alone In My Head.

"No, no, you don't have to do that." Archie gestured to the chair beside him, and Theresa stubbornly shook her head, avoiding his eyes. She started to turn away, still refusing to look at him, her face a mask of pain. Archie's conscience took another swing at him. She's right there man! Don't you let her walk away! Shaking his head, Archie quickly got to his feet, "Theresa, wait."

Theresa paused, her back to him, not looking at him as he moved closer. Archie sighed as he moved in front of her, eyes searching her countenance. Her face was downcast, her hair in front of her face, hiding her from the world. From him. Archie carefully lifted his hand and touched her arm, gently closing his hand over her bent elbow, holding her in place. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I was in a bad mood, and I lashed out at you unfairly."

His apology made Theresa lift her eyes. For a brief moment, wide green eyes met half-closed brown ones, and Archie's breath was caught in his chest. I can see her spirit in her eyes. Then, the Fighter lowered her eyes again, giving a small shoulder shrug, "You did lash out at me. But I know why you did." Again, her eyes shot up to search his face, before they darted away.

A small smirk playing on his face, Archie gently squeezed Theresa's arm. "You were trying to get into my head. That's a dangerous place you know." his smirk grew as he watched the girl's face flush. "When did you learn to do that? I thought you told Jay you couldn't."

"Before a few weeks ago, that was true." she met his eyes again, and a hint of her old spirit glittered in her eyes for a moment, "Persephone taught me the basics, and I've been learning since then."

Archie gave Theresa a real smile, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't pleased when she returned it with one of her own. Then he grinned, and his free hand shot out and poked her in the ribs, making her yelp. "Why'd you try to get into my head anyways? Did you think I would let you get away with it or something?"

Theresa sighed, and suddenly pulled away from the Warrior, crossing her arms over her chest, again refusing to look at him, "I don't think I should tell you. You'll laugh."

A frowned creased Archie's eyebrows, and he moved forward again, gently touching the girl's shoulder. "Hey, come on Theresa. I promise, I won't laugh at you."

She shot him a glance, a little smile playing on her lips, "Since when do you make me promises, Archie?"

Rolling his eyes, Archie moved so he was standing beside her, their shoulders touching as they both stared out over the city. "Maybe I'm trying to make things up for you." he nudged her, smiling down or her, "Or maybe it's just because I care."

The pleased smile he noticed on Theresa's face hinted to Archie that he'd said the right thing, and he gave a mental sigh of relief. Then she started to speak, her voice soft, "Right before Jay and I started having problems with our relationship; that was when I learned how to enter minds." Archie's eyes widened in surprise, but he said nothing as she continued, "At first, I was excited by it. It's easy to control, and most of the time, impossible to detect."

Archie smirk, and said, "Most of the time, eh?" he grinned at Theresa's scowl, but stopped himself from interrupting again.

"Well I knew it was sometimes detectable, but it takes a certain mindset for that to happen!" She snapped at him, before turning away with a huff, again crossing her arms.

Rolling his eyes, Archie responded, "O.K., take it easy Miss Drama Queen." then he frowned, "And exactly what kind of mindset is required to be able to detect mind reading?"

"Mind Looking." Theresa corrected him, turning around as she put her hands on her hips. At his confused expression, she explained, "I look into your mind, I don't read it. It's not like reading a book or something. I can't just close my eyes and read your thoughts."

Archie grinned at Theresa, "That's a relief." Chuckling at her angered expression, he walked over to the roof's edge, and leaned against the railing. Theresa followed him, still frowning at him. "So I have the right kind of mind to detect mind looking?" he asked.

Theresa nodded slowly. "Persephone told me that there would be a few people who would know when someone was looking. She said they'd usually be someone with a painful history, or someone who's naturally suspicious."

Archie gave a low, mirthless chuckle, "That sounds like me alright." Scratching his nose, the youth asked, "So what did this new ability have to do with you and Jay?"

A bitter smile appeared on Theresa's face. "My visions, my...powers, take a lot out of me sometimes." Archie nodded slowly, watching the Fighter as she crossed her arms over her chest, gripping her elbows tightly. It makes sense that her abilities would take a lot out of her. She continued, her voice still low, "Mind looking probably isn't the right term for what I can do. When I get in someone's head, I have to make a connection with them, one that's deeper than most people can normally make. That connection can't just be made in a few seconds. It takes feelings from both the people."

A light clicked on in Archie's head, and realization dawned in his eyes. He asked in a low voice, carefully watching the girl beside him, "You couldn't make that connection with Jay, could you?"

Theresa sighed, her grip on her elbows tightening. "No. No I couldn't," she whispered mournfully. "I tried to, I really did, but no matter how hard I tried, Jay's walls stayed in place, and I couldn't." She closed her eyes, a deeply troubled, and very sad, expression on her face.

"Hey." Archie's voice was low, but firm. Theresa's eyes opened, and they slowly lifted, meeting his. Keeping eye contact, Archie lifted his hand, gently brushing away a tear that was rolling down her face. He let his hand linger on her soft cheek, and he silently marveled at the warmth he could feel underneath his fingers. The girl's breathing hitched, and Archie's heart started to thump faster. What is she doing to me? She was chewing her bottom lip, staring into his eyes. Better question, Am I going to stop her? Swallowing the lump in his throat, Archie whispered, "Just because Jay didn't open up to you, doesn't mean anything. You're a pretty awesome girl Theresa. Don't let a fool like Jay make you think otherwise."

She was still staring up at him with her big green eyes. Archie's heart was racing now, thumping so wildly he was sure Theresa could hear it. She nodded slowly, and her cheeks tinted a light red. I swear, she looks so... "Thank you."

Archie blinked. "What?"

Theresa gave him a gentle smile. "Thank you Archie. Somehow, you understand me, and you're exactly what I need right now." Archie's thoughts whirled crazily, and he stared down at Theresa, awed. I'm what she... needs?

He opened his mouth without thinking, "Theresa, I'm going to do something rather stupid in a second if you keep staring at me like that."

She blinked up at him, her eyes still very wide. Her full, red lips parted as she whispered, "What are you going to do, Archie?"

She had uncrossed her arms, and was leaning towards him slightly, one hand lightly resting on his chest. Archie's heart was pounding rapidly, his hands were sweating, his thoughts still flying crazily around his head. I've never wanted anything so much as I want to --

His thought was suddenly interrupted by a loud screeching of an unknown bird. It was random and unexpected, and enough of an interruption to break the moment. They both jumped away from each other, Archie's face burning a deep red, Theresa's eyes widening as her face paled. Archie cursed mentally, but he was grateful at the same time. Oh wow. I nearly... and she nearly... Shaking his head, trying to clear it of his crazy thoughts, Archie tried to ask, his voice only slightly shaky, "So, what, uh..." He trailed off, clearing his throat, his thoughts still swimming about his head.

Theresa shook her head, shaking her hair in front of her eyes. Still behind her curtain of hair, she quietly whispered, "I-I should head b-back inside. I-I'm not feeling very well." With that, she turned away, and started walking quickly for the door.

For a very brief moment, the Warrior considered letting her walk away. Theresa can take care of herself, can't she? Then, a light clicked on over his head. "A connection!" Of course! Archie called out to Theresa, starting after her, "Theresa, don't you try walking away from me."

Theresa's head came up as she froze in her tracks. Archie caught her arm and turned her around, before he put both his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. Staring into the girl's eyes, Archie asked, his voice a little breathless, "Theresa, that connection thing you mentioned. Just how deep do the emotions between the two people have to be for the connection to exist?" I'm going to lose it in a second if she says...

Theresa gave Archie a smile, one that somehow spoke of changes to come, of a future to be made, of new things to be created, and of, very possibly, new hope for the both of them. She whispered up at him, that same little smile still on her face, "What do you think Archie?" For a brief moment, her eyes glittered a light blue, and Archie heard her whisper again, 'How deep do you want them to go?' This time, he heard her voice, but her lips didn't move. She was leaning closer to him again.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he open them again, she was so close he could count the freckles on her cheeks. Staring into her eyes, Archie thought, 'I can get lost in your eyes, do you know that?'

Immediately, Theresa's eyes widened, and she stared at Archie, her face a mixture of shock, happiness, awe and joy. She stammered weakly, her smile slowly growing bigger, "D-did you j-just do wha-what I think you did?"

Archie couldn't help but smirk as he teased, "I might have."

Jay's eyes nearly fell out of his head at he watched Theresa lean forward and brush her lips against Archie's. The Warrior looked startled by the action, and for a brief moment, Jay saw pain flash across Theresa's face. Then, without warning, Archie's arms wrapped themselves around the Fighter's slim waist, and he lifted her in the air, spinning them both, a wide, happy grin on his face. Her laughter rang out over the rooftop of the brownstone, and as Archie set Theresa back on her feet, and leaned forward to kiss her, Jay quickly closed the door.

Leaning his forehead against the cool metal, the Leader closed his eyes, letting his heart ache for a brief moment. Then, he opened his eyes, and staring at the door, felt a weight lift from his shoulder's that he hadn't even known was there. "Goodbye Theresa. I'm glad you've found what you were looking for." With that, Jay turned and walked down the stairs. Walking into his bedroom, he closed the door behind him with a gentle click.

The End.

There. Not to bad, was it?