Don't Want To Lose You Now (Stefan/Ryan)

[Josephine Harding]

Friday 9th October 2009

Jo hadn't been talking to Stefan for almost two days now. After their last discussion, she didn't think she could face him. She just wanted to stay with him like the way she was right now, and never grow old, while he stayed the same way he was, and will always be. It had killed Jo inside when she told him to just leave, but she didn't have the heart to tell him that he was not invited into her apartment, because she knew that she would undoubtedly let him back in. So she let him leave.

So now it was getting onto nine thirty, and Jo was working the tables near the bar. She started to move around towards the back of the bar, and noticed a guy sitting in the shadows. As she was moving in his direction, Jo noticed him wave her over. She got to his table, but just couldn't get a good look at his face. Then all of a sudden, he quickly stood up, and injected a needle into Jo's neck. There were no screams or yells from Jo, but she heard herself gasp. The needle was out of her faster than it had gone in, and the man soon ran off. Sadly for her sake, there was no one around to witness that little bit of drama. Her right hand went instantly up to the right hand side of her neck, where the needle went in. She removed her hand, and looked down at her fingers to see if there was any evidence of what just happened. Nothing.

Jo slowly made her way up to the bar, which was now packed. Her eyes slowly wandered around, trying to find the guy who owns the bar, Louis, but couldn't find him. Sighing quietly, feeling okay now, Jo went back to her job, and this time stayed where the light was to get people's orders.

**** 11pm - 1 & 1/2 hours later ****

Now Jo was working behind the bar, letting the new staff take over what she had been doing. She served a woman a cocktail, and took the money off of her. As she spun around to put it in the cash register, Jo stops in her tracks, feeling really giddy all of a sudden. She instantly grabs a hold of the bar, trying to shake the feeling away. "Hey Jo, you okay?" Jo slowly looked at Louis, whom she had been looking for over an hour ago. She gave him a weak smile. "Not really. Just really dizzy for some reason." Jo stood up, and went to put the money into the cash register. As she finally got it in, the room began to spin a bit more. She quickly moved to the chair nearby, and sat down. "Maybe you should go home early. There is enough of us here to cover you. Just get better okay?" Jo could only nod a little. "Thanks Louis." She slowly got up, grabbed her bag from behind the bar, and slowly made her way home.

Lucky for Jo her apartment wasn't too far from her work. Along the way, Jo got out her phone, and tried to focus on trying to texted Stefan:

Hey Stefan. Just heading home early. Not feeling the best. Can you come over? I am really sorry.

Jo slowly closed her phone and fumbled it into her bag, finally feeling it slip back into its holder. After walking a couple of blocks, Jo finally reached her apartment. She slowly climbed the stairs, holding onto the railing. Her palms, she noticed, were very sweaty. Jo wiped them on her jeans, and slowly dragged her body up the one flight of stairs up to her apartment. Once in front of her door, Jo tried to find her keys, but her eyes were starting to blur over a little. She blinked, trying to focus, finally feeling them in the bottom of her bag. Jo fumbled for the right key and placed it into the lock, turning and hearing the click. She pulled out the key, and opened her door, almost falling into the apartment.

Jo closed the door, with her bum, leaning her whole body there, leading to the door closing loudly. She stood there, for a few seconds, just leaning on the door. Jo let go of her bag, letting it slip off of her shoulders, hearing it hit the ground. She licked her lips, feeling that her mouth was dry all of a sudden. Whatever was happening, she was feeling like crap. Jo dropped the keys on the table near the door, took a few steps, then just collapsed, hitting the ground hard, not making the lounge at all.

[stefan]

Two days ago Damon had come back into Stefan’s life with a severe reality bump. He hated his brother with a passion. In fact he probably had has much hate for his brother as he had compassion for the human race. It didn’t matter what Stefan did, or where he went, Damon would soon come showing his face like a bad smell, and Stefan was quite frankly sick of it. His untimely visit had led to Jo having a panic attack and she had called out to him. With the connection they had shared from the moment Stefan had met her, he was able to hear her clearly, even though Jo was at home and he was at work. Ever since becoming one when they got intimate, the connection was so strong, Stefan felt nothing could break it. Even now, with Jo not talking to him, the connection was still there, he constantly felt her emotions.

For the two days, his life felt like it wasn’t worth living anymore, he just felt lost and incomplete without Jo in his life and she hadn’t even contacted him since he had refused to turn her into a vampire, into a monster like him. He couldn’t believe that she could witness what Damon was like, realise what he had done to her, and then ask him to turn her into one of them. However, she hadn’t uninvited him, which was a good thing, he could still go to her house if he wanted to, but Stefan wasn’t like Damon, he didn’t invade people’s privacy and he decided to leave her be, she would contact him when she was ready, of that he was certain.

On top of the issue of Jo refusing to talk to him, Stefan had worked a double shift, so he hadn’t been easy to get a hold of anyway, and he was given the Friday off for his troubles much to his enjoyment. He sat with his mobile in his hand, pondering whether to text Jo or not a few times, and then kept deciding against it, thinking she would just go off at him, if he didn’t give her the space she obviously needed to get her head around the fact he wouldn’t turn her into a vampire. Stefan was so down about it all, he wasn’t even drinking the human blood that Ryan had made for him, he just couldn’t face it, in fact, he really wasn’t drinking at all even though he should be, he needed blood to survive, but right then, with Jo not contacting him, he just felt like it might as well be the end for him.

All day he just lay on his sofa in the living room doing nothing, he didn’t even feel like listening to music, or reading, he just wanted to waste the day away and that’s exactly what he did. Even when he did begin to feel ravenous, he made human food to eat even though he knew it would not sustain him. He just lay on the sofa with his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling, hoping and praying for Jo to call him or text him or something, but nothing. Stefan soon closed his eyes and drifted off into a sleep. He must have been sleeping for what he thought was only about a half hour or so, but had in fact been a whole lot longer, when he got a sense of fear wash over him, and he sat up on the sofa with a start. His brow was furrowed, he knew what he was sensing must have been coming from Jo, he didn’t sense feelings like this from anyone but Jo and Damon, and he knew it wasn’t Damon, it must be Jo.

He wasn’t sure what was wrong, but he knew something wasn’t right, he immediately went to the fridge and pulled out one of the bottles of blood Ryan had given him and drank it immediately. Because he hadn’t had any all day, the whites of his eyes turned red and his irises turned onyx, and he knew the veins were out in his face once more. He wasn’t meant to drink it like this, after that first day when he lost it with those villains, he knew he would have to start drinking the human blood in small doses. He had gone against his own rules, but it was only because of how he had been feeling at Jo’s rejection to him the past couple of days. Then he heard the text come through on his phone. He ran into the living room and flipped it open and sure enough, there it was, a text from Jo saying she had been sent home early as she wasn’t feeling good could he come over and she was sorry.

He knew he could have gotten to her house quicker than it would take to text, but he wanted her to know that he had got the text and so he replied.

My love, I will be there immediately. I love you.

Within minutes he was there, and knocking on the door, “Josephine, Josephine, my love, are you alright?” However he got no reply, and immediately he took out the key Jo had given to him in case he should ever need to use it, well he felt this was one of those times. He fumbled with the key in the lock because he was shaking, with Jo not replying to him, he was very worried. Soon he had the door open, and it didn’t take long for him to find her. She was slumped on the floor. He immediately bent down to her level and took her in his arms, but her body seemed lifeless. What was wrong with her? The look of worry on Stefan’s face was evident.

“Josephine? Josephine, can you hear me?” However he was getting no response, and Stefan was an emotional man, and he had his love in his arms looking deathly pale and not talking to him, he was lost, as the tears began to fall down his face. “Maybe I should have made you a vampire, then I would not have found you like this. I cannot lose you, I cannot live without you.” He gently scooped her up into his arms and carried her through into her living room and placed her down onto the sofa gently. He then bent down again, and began to sooth her hair away from her face, she just looked like she was sleeping, she was so beautiful, but he knew she wasn’t sleeping. Something had happened to her.

Being a vampire he had a lot of excessive senses, one of them being sight, and he soon saw a very small pin prick mark on her neck, it looked to him as if she had been injected with something, but what the hell could it be? Stefan was a paramedic, but with her not being able to speak to him, he had no idea of what had happened at all, he didn’t know what to do. The tears were still in his eyes, with several falling every so often. Then he thought about Ryan, and what he could do, and he seemed to know a lot about abilities so he wondered if he should contact him, and that’s exactly what he did. Making sure the tears were gone, he called Ryan, not even giving Ryan any time to say anything as the call was answered;


“Ryan, it’s Stefan, I need you. Can you come to Josephine’s apartment right away, something is wrong with her I do not know what, but she is unconscious and even for a paramedic unless I have an idea of what is going on I am clueless. She does have a small pin prick mark on her neck, looks like she may have been injected with something. Can you please hurry, you are the only I could think of who could help.” Once Ryan replied, he gave him Jo’s address and then flipped the phone closed, and lifted her up gently so he could sit with her in his arms cradling her, with fresh tears falling, until Ryan arrived.

[rocky5]

On this cold night of October a young man sits at home in his apartment. Shuffling threw paper work and files. Cases and specials that have escaped the company he worked for. One name stuck out. A man who would be able to give any ability to anyone. His name was Kyle Maze. Ryan had been tracking him down for a while now, But he couldn't get his hands on him. This was the last known file that the company possessed. Ryan set it down on the table. His fingers ran across the words. He read the text out loud. "Kyle Maze, Ability to bestow any power to himself or others. Has been seen giving abilities to small children around schools. Has been known to hate the company and agents who try to capture him. He was once an agent himself. He has preformed various crimes using different abilities." Ryan turned away for a moment to get a drink. He left the document on the table and walked to his fridge. Walking back with a cool beverage in hand he took a sip. Sitting back down at his table he noticed the file was missing. A note was left in its place. {Leave me alone, focus on your friend he needs your help.} Written in pen this note appeared out of no were. "Time travel?" Ryan asked himself then he got the hint. "My friend needs my help?" As he said this his phone rang.

Stefan's voice was on the other line. He sounded frightened and about to panic, Ryan tried to calm him down. "Don't worry I'll be right over." He told Stephan. Ryan didn't have time to deal with this missing file now. He didn't have time to figure out what the hell was going on. All he knew was that Stefan needed his help and that he wasn't about to let his friends girlfriend die. That wouldn't be in his nature. Ryan evidently jumped out of his 2nd floor window and landed on the ground. His leg muscles heightened due to his ability. Ryan took off his shirt as to not rip his clothes, There in his front yard he grew angelic wings. They spouted from his back and immediately flapped down. Propelling Ryan high into the air. The cold night sky didn't bother Ryan as he tried to remember were Stefan had told him the house was. He flew passed the tall buildings dodging and weaving under and over wires and such. He found the house. Immediately Ryan retracted his wings falling down on top of the roof.

He put his shirt on quickly and jumped off of this roof he used as a landing space. Onto the ground he circled around and pounded on the door. He felt like an idiot but he was raised to always knock. It was just a habit of his. Then he tried to open it. Luckily it was unlocked so Stefan wouldn't have to leave his beloved. Ryan went into the room were they were. His hart dropped as he saw the sight of them on the sofa. Josephine being cradled in Stefan's arms. Ryan sprinted over to the pair. He gently grabbed Josephine and laid her on her back. "Stefan get a pillow or something for her head to rest on." Ryan immediately went into his mind state of things to do while trying to save someone. He first needed to make sure what he thought was wrong with her was actually true. He touched her body with his pointer and middle finger. He closed his eyes scanning her biological design. There was a disruption in her brain. The virus had already taken her ability and was now eating away at her body. With this rapid activity she could become brain dead.

"This is not good. The virus she has is called the Shanti Virus. It attacks people with abilities and is very deadly. Ryan gently turned her neck to see the markings Stefan talked about. "The company?" Ryan couldn't figure out who would do this. He worked for the company. If they caused Jo to become like this then Ryan would get to the bottom of it. "Ryan placed his hands on Josephine's head. "Stefan I'm going to need to preform surgery. Its.... Well its going to be painful for her but she is strong. She can endure it if it means saving her life." Ryan informed Stefan so he wont become surprised by his actions. Ryan pressed down on her head slightly cutting off all nerves. He didn't want her to feel the surgery. He held his finger up creating a knife out of his bone. However he didn't realize what his other hand was doing. A white glow came from the hand still on her head. It was healing Josephine.

Ryan had never used this power before and couldn't figure out were it had came from. He then remembered. "Yin energy, It must be trying to heal her. As Ryan was healing her with this new ability of his with his other hand he monitored the results. "Shes slowly regaining her health back. This is amazing I didn't even knew I had this ability." Ryan said in excitement, He tried to revive her all the way but it didn't work. He still didn't have control over it yet. He tried to put out more healing energy but it didn't work. "Thats all the juice I had, Sorry I managed to heal her and get rid of the virus Bur she still is without an ability. Shes not completely healed but maybe I can rearrange her nerves and give her the ability to heal herself. So she can be able to finish the job with her own body." Ryan suggested, He waited to see what Stefan had to say. Jo should be coming about now as she would just feel tired and sick like a normal flue. The virus is gone but the damage it had already done was to much for Ryan to heal.

[Josephine Harding]

As soon as Jo had slipped the phone back into her bag, it beeped, saying that she had a message. Again she fumbled for it, trying to concentrate on where it was, and soon the phone was opened up, and she read the message, or tried to. Jo just didn't have the energy to reply. She just wanted to get home, and just crawl into bed, and just hope that when she woke up, Stefan would still be there holding her, and that she was feeling a lot better than she was right now.

After Jo had collapsed, she had instantly blacked out. The moments before had really gotten her worried. She had no idea why she was feeling the way she had. It was nothing like she had ever felt before if she had been unwell. Normally Jo would have the flu like symptoms, but now just felt wrong. She had been glad that her boss had told her to go home. But now it just seemed that she had something much more worse. Jo's mind was still active, as she lay unconsious, and she remembered that a man had somehow put a needle into her neck. So her thoughts went to drugs. Great, thought Jo, I have been drugged.

Then Jo's thoughts went to Stefan. The one man who she had loved from the beginning, and still loved. Their little disagreement only a couple of days earlier just seemed trivial now, compared to what was happening now. Jo willed herself to wake up, but it wasn't working. She felt like she was screaming out to Stefan. "Hey, I am still in here. Don't give up on me. I am not dead." Inside, Jo was so upset, and also angry at the person who had done this to her. Why must these things happen when I am so happy with my life. thought Jo, it's not fair.

Jo then felt her head start to swim, and then soon realised that she was starting to come around. Her head felt like it was on fire, and was throbbing so much. What is happening, thought Jo. She then felt all of a sudden really weak, feeling like she had no energy at all inside her. Jo squinted her eyes, which were still shut, and frowned, not wanting to move her head as it ached liked hell. She then swallowed, feeling that she so needed a drink of water, or something wet, to get rid of the dry feeling in her throat and mouth. Jo finally got the energy to slowly open her eyes, but then she closed them after a couple of seconds. The light was too bright on her eyes right now, and she closed them again.

Jo felt that her body was lying on something hard, but soon felt a carpet, so she soon made a note that she was infact lying on a floor. She attempted to move her body, to sit up, but she felt sick just doing that movement. So Jo laid back down, and slowly put a hand to her mouth, like she was physically feeling like she was going to be sick. Jo slowly allowed her eyes to adjust, and started to move once again, trying to get up. Jo looked around and saw a guy right near her, which made her eyes grow wide. Jo had never seen this guy before, and went to cry out, when her attention turned to the other person, who was next to her on the other side. Tears started to well up in her eyes. Stefan had come after all.

Jo went to open her mouth, but no words escaped her lips. Her eyes moved over Stefan's face, trying to get an answer to what had just happened. She swallowed, then attempted again to talk, laying back in his arms, feeling so weak. All she could get out was, "I'm sorry... Stefan."

[stefan]

When Ryan spoke saying he would be right over, Stefan replied with one answer, “Thank you.” He then gave him Jo’s address and flipped the phone closed. Stefan hoped Ryan would use one of his many abilities to get him here fast; he was so worried about Jo. He had no idea what was wrong.

Stefan continued to hold Jo in his arms as she remained unconscious, he was so worried about her, he really didn’t want to lose her; he couldn’t. He was now very torn over his decision when she asked him to make her a vampire. He hadn’t wanted to take her soul away, but now she might lose more than her soul, and he would lose her for good. Stefan couldn’t stop the odd tear from falling from his eyes, as he continued to rock with her slightly in his arms, and kissing her head every so often. “Do not die Josephine, I cannot live without you.” He kept saying the same thing over and over, unaware of Jo’s thoughts telling him she was still there, because he couldn’t hear them now that he had made her wear the pendant constantly.

Soon Stefan could hear Ryan pounding on the door, "It's opened, you can just come in." Stefan shouted and soon Ryan was standing in the living room; Stefan just looked up at him with deep sorrow in his eyes. Tears were welling once more, but now he was in the company of another man, he was doing his best to hold them back as much as possible. Ryan went right to them, and gently grabbed Jo and laid her down, then asked Stefan to get a pillow for her head, so that's exactly what he did, getting one from Jo's bed and gave it to Ryan seconds later. Stefan then watched as Ryan looked at Jo obviously trying to figure out what was wrong with her, inside he was praying it wouldn’t be anything too serious. Funny that Stefan should call on his friend to help, when he was a paramedic himself, but for some reason, since he and Jo shared the greater bond, he was just too grief stricken to deal with it properly himself.

When Ryan spoke next, the first few words made Stefan so upset and worried, that a growl escaped from the back of his throat, he coughed it away and then hardly being able to get the words out he spoke, “Why...what is wrong with her Ryan?” Stefan put his hands up to his head, looking down at Jo with pain etched across his face, whatever was wrong, if Ryan said it wasn’t good, then it must be very dangerous, he could not lose her. When Ryan continued to speak, the words were a bit of a blur at first, Shanti Virus, The Company; Stefan lowered his hands and looked at Ryan with a serious look on his face, “Shanti Virus, The Company? Ryan what are you talking about? Please tell me Josephine will not die, I cannot lose her.” Stefan wanted to cry, he could feel the tears at the back of his eyes again, but no, he would keep his emotions in check in front of his friend Ryan.

Ryan then spoke some more talking about performing surgery and how it would be painful for her, but she was strong and could endure it, Stefan just nodded his head, “Do what you have to do to save her Ryan please, I cannot lose her.” Stefan then stood back a little to give Ryan space and watched as he began to do whatever was necessary to help Jo. When he saw the knife being created out of Ryan’s bone, Stefan thought he might have to turn away, until he saw a white glow come from the hand which was on Jo’s head. “What is that?” Stefan asked immediately, “What is that doing?” His voice wasn’t angry or worried; more interested because he knew Ryan wouldn’t do anything to hurt Jo.

Ryan then said something about yin energy and it must be trying to heal her. “Yin energy, what is that Ryan?” Just like Ryan was full of questions about Stefan and his race the first day they met, Stefan was just as full of questions about his abilities and what he was doing to help Jo. Stefan didn’t know enough about all the abilities out there, he just knew they existed. Ryan then spoke some more saying Jo was slowly regaining her health back and how he didn’t even know he had that ability. “She is going to be alright then?” Stefan asked, knowing full well what Ryan had said, but wanting confirmation from him that he’d heard Ryan correctly. Ryan then told him that he had given all the juice he had that he had healed her and got rid of the virus but she was without an ability. So the Shanti Virus can make a special lost their power thought Stefan, not good, Jo would be even more vulnerable now that she had lost her power of strength. He was about to ask Ryan if there was anything they could do to give her an ability back, when Ryan spoke. Stefan listened to him, and nodded his head when he spoke of giving Jo the ability to heal, in fact, it made Stefan smile thinking about it, because that was the very power he had wished Jo possessed because then they would both stay young, he just never thought it was going to be possible for it to happen. “Do it Ryan, I can guarantee Josephine will be happy with her new power.”

Not long after Stefan could feel slight movement and he noticed that Jo was beginning to come around, and so he looked at her, and gave her a warm smile, and instantly put his hand to her head and soothing down her hair. “I am here my love. This is my friend Ryan, he came to help you.” He knew she would probably be too weak to speak at that point, as Ryan still hadn’t given her the new ability yet. Jo then said she was sorry. “Hush Josephine, it is alright, there is nothing to apologise about. I am just so happy that you are still with me.” He didn’t think there was any point in explaining to Jo what Ryan was going to do next, he would wait until he had done it, and then explain, when he knew Jo would be much stronger and able to communicate better.

[rocky5]

The Girl seemed as if she was some beautiful princess cursed with a evil spell that made her sick and sleep. Only to awaken with a simple kiss from her prince. The would live happily ever after together, side by side for all eternity. Yet this wasn't a fairy tale and even a prince as strong as Stefan couldn't save his princess by himself. Thats when Ryan was called. He tried to save the girl known as Josephine. While doing so he remembered why he wanted to become this super hero type person he has been known to play. Ryan looked at Josephine with an idea that she was the pretty love interest for the hero of another story. That story was Stefan's, Ryan's new best Friend. He felt like he had the life Ryan had always wanted. Someone to hold at night and connect with. Someone to share there deepest feelings and just to be there for each other. Stefan was the kind of man simile to Ryan, that would do anything to protect and help the ones they loved. However sometimes things are just out of there reach.

Ryan came over quickly with the use of the powers he believed god had given him. The wings of an angel carried him threw the night. Pleading for answers Stefan had asked what was wrong with his princess. Why couldn't a simple kiss from her true love be enough to save her? Ryan looked at Stefan with depressed expression. He didn't say a word for he was to busy trying to save her life and needed to concentrate. Ryan was bad at multi tasking and this was one of those cases that he needed to focus on. As Ryan spoke of the shanti virus and the company Stefan questioned what in-fact that actually meant. Ryan forgot that he had never told Stephan about the company before. He would have to fill him in. Ryan could tell Stefan was in emotional pain and it seemed as if Jo was feeling very sick and if she was awake inside her own mind then there was no telling how that must have felt. Ryan himself didn't realize her situation even while talking to Stefan and preforming on her. Ryan then noticed small brain activity. "She can hear us, She's conscious but just can not move or speak. Its like shes trapped inside her own body." Ryan informed Stefan of the situation. He figured now would be the best time to inform Stefan of the Shanti virus.

"The Shanti virus is a life-threatening disease that attacks the nervous system. One of its side effects is that it prevents evolved humans who have the disease from using their abilities. Shanti Suresh was the first known victim." Ryan explained. Her brothers blood seems to be the only natural cure to this virus as seen in many cases the company has on this subject." Ryan continued bringing up the company again which he forgot to tell Stefan about. "A mutated version of the original strain of the Shanti virus was discovered. This strain is used by the Company to block abilities without any apparent harm to the subject. Besides this effect, this strain appears to be asymptomatic; infected characters don't show any visible sign of health damage. " Ryan still described the virus to him. However while talking about it he grew confused. "She seems to have the original strand which makes things complicated."

Ryan didn't have the time or energy to describe the company to him. He just simple looked at Jo. "Stefan I'll fill you in on the company later on, when shes safe." Some things had to remain a secrete from even specials who were not in the company. Ryan couldn't go blabbing his mouth off about there organization just yet. He trusted Stefan to keep his secrete but he didn't even know Jo yet. After Ryan told Stefan that he might have to preform the surgery Stefan answered telling him to do what ever he had to. Ryan nodded he knew that Stefan would say that because well he himself would say the same thing. Ryan and Stephan already shown that they are very alike and that was just another trait they both shared. Ryan started to preform the surgery but then the white glowing energy appeared and healed Jo. Stefan questioned it as did Ryan at first. But he soon realized what it was. "Its energy derived from pure goodness, Yin means good in Asian languages. I sort of been preforming surgery on my own mind to give myself more powers. I used my knowledge I learned in Genetics to rework my brain to allow up to seven abilities. I've kept my original ability I called Frankenstein but the newer ones seem to only work when I'm in situations like this. This ability was from an Asian special with the power to manipulate positive and negative energy in different ways." He informed his Friend.

Stefan asked if Josephine would be OK now. Ryan nodded. "Shes still very weak and her ability is gone for good but for the most part she should be fine. A little rest and some medicine and she should be back to normal in no time. But the damage to her insides will make her immune system weaker and she could become allergic to things or get sick faster then most. However If she had that ability to heal it would prevent this from happening." Ryan told Stefan and he knew that she would be OK for the most part but Ryan was sad that he couldn't bring her to her full health without giving her that power. He didn't want her to have to choose between this new power or being sick. He just wished she could be normal away from all this mess specials seem to find themselves in. She seemed like to good of girl to get mixed up with everything.

Josephine came around but she still was weak and it was hard for her to talk. After a small exchange of words from Jo and Stefan, Stefan informed Ryan to go ahead with the surgery and give Jo the power to heal. Ryan placed his hands on her head again. This time to change her brain patterns and link up damaged nerve endings. Ryan seeped tiny cells he created from his own body into Josephine's, Cells to create the needed brain tissue for this to work. Soon Jo had the power to heal and her health would return to normal. Ryan looked at Stefan. "Its done I gave her the power that my niece Claire has, Its called rapid cell regeneration, a trait that allows her to recover from almost any injury in a matter of seconds. She also feels relatively little pain from even serious injuries. Her blood can be used to heal others the same way it heals her." Ryan told Stefan and this time the revived Jo as well

[Josephine Harding]

After Jo attempted to say something, anything to Stefan, she heard him speak to her, and felt his hand on her head, which was starting to feel a little better. Though she still felt really weak, not really understanding that a lot right now. When Stefan mentioned the guy's name that was in the room with them, Jo looked at him slowly. So Stefan had others like him, who were able to help. Whatever had happened to her, it must have been bad if Stefan wasn't able to help. But she was still glad that he was there, with her, despite the words that were exchanged two days ago.

Jo did feel partly to blame for what happened two days ago, and had that urge to say sorry to Stefan. She felt a bit more calmer now, knowing that Stefan was here, and that she would be okay. But right now she was not feeling okay. Whatever was in that needle had had an effect on her, and she didn't like it. At least now she was conscious, rather than screaming out in her mind that she was still here. In response to what Stefan had said, she blinked a couple of times, and licked at her lips. She so wanted water right now. Something to get her going again.

Jo thought it was best to just lay still until she felt a bit better, then she heard Stefan tell Ryan that he could do whatever it was to Jo. She frowned slowly, looking at Stefan, wondering what the hell he was going to do to her. Then all of a sudden, Ryan put his hands on her head, and then it started to hurt all over again. Jo arched her back, feeling her head on fire again. She squinted her eyes, and scream a little with the pain of what Ryan was doing. With her hands in fists, she was pulling at the carpet, praying for all of it to be over. It felt like her brain was about explode, and her heart was about to just do the same, with how fast it was going.

Just as soon as that feeling was there, it started to subside. Jo felt her body starting to relax, and her body went back to laying on the carpeted floor. Her hands went back to being open and her right hand went straight to her chest, where her heart was now beating normally. Her head felt clearer, and much more capable of thinking now. Jo then heard Stefan talking, and caught the last part of the conversation. She felt like she could sit up, and slowly sat up on the floor, leaning her back on the lounge. Jo looked at Ryan. All she caught was something about her blood can be used to heal others, and herself. "So I don't have my strength ability? I don't understand what happened. The last things that I remember is some guy stabbing me in the neck with a needle, then almost two hours later collapsing on the floor of my apartment."

Jo turned to Stefan. "What happened?" She then turned back to Ryan. "What the hell did you do to me? I feel better, don't get me wrong, but I want some answers, and now."

[stefan]

Stefan noticed Ryan didn’t appear to be answering any of questions with regards to the Shanti Virus or The Company he had mentioned, however, he wasn’t too bothered about it at that moment, all he was bothered about was getting Josephine well again. He couldn’t stand to look at her so ill, it was killing him inside, especially when he knew he could have made her like himself, immortal. Ryan did eventually speak, but it wasn’t to answer his questions, but again Stefan wasn’t too worried about that right then. He told him that Jo could hear them; she was just unable to speak or move. Well that had to be a relatively good sign right? She could hear them, but it didn’t stop Stefan from being very worried about her. Without realising what he was doing, he began to mutter to himself, but probably loud enough for Ryan and Jo to hear, “I should have done as you wished two nights ago, then this would not have happened.” He ran a hand through his hair as he sighed deeply; he was blaming himself for what had happened to Jo.

Stefan felt like he didn’t want to say too much now, he just wanted Ryan to do what he could to help his love, he felt if he spoke to him now, he would just delay Jo getting the help she needed and then she might die and he’d lose her forever, he could not allow that to happen. However Ryan soon began to talk and he told Stefan about the Shanti Virus in better detail. “So, this virus, it only affects people such as you and Josephine?” Then Ryan went on to mention the brother having the only natural cure. “You say the only natural cure, but a person who can heal would also be able to save someone with this virus, is that right? Like you are going to save Josephine, we do not have to go to this brother of Shanti?” Stefan had no clue about this virus or if they would have to go to the natural cure. He was just worried about Josephine and wanted her better; he couldn’t help but ask so many questions.

Ryan then said he would tell him about The Company later when Jo was safe. “So, you can save her then? Then I can wait to hear about things yes, my main priority is getting Josephine better.” Stefan then stood back again from Ryan to let him carry on with what he needed to do, as he stood there with his finger in his mouth, chewing on his nail every so often, not biting it, but just chewing on it with worry and once again he said to himself, a bit quieter than last time, “I should have done as you requested.” He couldn’t stop blaming himself for Jo’s current state of health. Yet, as much as he kept saying to himself he should have done as she requested, in many ways he was still glad he hadn’t because he would have broken one of his own rules, rules he had stuck firmly to for decades, for a century and more.

When Ryan’s hand began to glow, Stefan once more questioned it, as Ryan seemed to be as surprised with it as Stefan was. He was glad when Ryan answered this question, it would seem he knew what was happening. So, this yin, energy from pure goodness was healing Josephine without Ryan having to perform the operation he had spoke of earlier. Stefan could understand why the glow was white, coming from pure goodness. “I am just glad that you have been able to save her, no matter how that was done.” Stefan could feel like he was able to relax a little now, at least she would be alright. Then Ryan spoke again saying that she was still very weak and her ability is gone for good. Stefan knew that would be her ability of strength, he was sure that Jo would be able to live without her ability if it meant she was still alive, but it did worry Stefan because it would mean she would be even more vulnerable than ever.

Ryan then continued to say if she had the ability to heal then none of what he just said would be the case and Stefan knew it would mean immortality for Josephine, something he knew she wanted, although this would be a far better way to gain it. Stefan wasn’t going to hesitate. He knew Jo would be pleased with her new ability, so he told Ryan to go ahead and do it, to give her the new ability. He then once again stood back and let Ryan do what he had to do. However, he could hear the discomfort and screams coming from Jo as Ryan worked on her, and he could feel his heart breaking. He went toward her, and placed his hands on her shoulders trying to soothe her as best as he could, he knew all the pain would be worth it in the end. Soon Ryan spoke again saying that it was done, he had given Jo the same power as his niece Claire. Stefan nodded his head; he knew all about that ability, he had learned it from Peter a while ago. “Please say I am not wrong in thinking this means Josephine will now have immortality as well?” He said the words in a slight whisper, as he wanted to be able to tell her himself, because he wanted to be able to see her face as he told her the news.

No sooner than Ryan had told him he gave her the same power as his niece, and spoke about it to him, even though Stefan already knew of the ability, he heard Jo begin to speak. He immediately went to her level and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently close to him. He was about to tell her about her new ability but then she began demanding answers from Ryan, saying that she felt better, but she wanted to know what the hell had happened. Somehow Stefan didn’t think Ryan would want to explain it all again to her after explaining it to him. “Josephine, my love, whoever stuck the needle into your neck, they injected you with something called the Shanti Virus, something Ryan says only people like you and he can suffer from. It messes with your nervous system and it takes your power away. You no longer have your ability of strength.” Stefan stopped for a second, and then continued, “Ryan saved you, but he also did something else which I think is truly wonderful, I cannot see you having a problem with this.” Stefan again paused for a second, and then turned to her smiling, “He has given you a new ability, the ability to regenerate. You know what that means? It means you can self heal from anything, but it also means immortality. It means you will stay as young as you are now.” Stefan left it at that, thinking it was probably quite a lot for her to take in and he didn’t want to completely overwhelm her.

He then looked up at Ryan giving him a warm smile, “I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me, for what you did for us, I will be forever in your debt. We now have a bond of friendship like no other, I can assure you that I will always do everything to make sure you and your family are safe for doing this for me, for doing this for us.” Stefan felt like he couldn’t thank Ryan enough, but hopefully telling him he would always do everything he could to make sure Ryan and his family were safe would be gratitude enough.

Stefan knew that he and Jo would have plenty to talk about now, with this new revelation in Jo's life, and he hated to ask his friend to leave when he had just saved his love's life, but that's what he was going to do. "Ryan, you know I am very grateful for what you have done for us, but I think Josephine and I need to talk about this new change. I am sure we will see each other again soon." With that Stefan took Ryan's hand and shook it, and then he watched as Ryan made his way out of Jo's apartment, leaving the both of them alone to talk.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo heard everything that Stefan was saying out loud. She so wanted to say something, anything to reassure him that she was still there in spirit, but not physically to talk. When he commented about what she had asked him two days ago to do for her, she just wanted to scream at him: 'It's okay. We can deal with that later. I am still here. Don't worry.' But really, Jo was still worried about herself, unsure of what was doing this to her.

As Ryan did his thing, it was hurting so much for Jo. She wanted to be strong, but since she had felt so weak, the pain of it all was killing her inside. Jo felt Stefan's hands on her shoulders, like he was trying to comfort her, but it sort of did, despite the pain. But that quite soon subsided, and Jo then demanded answers to what happened to her. It was only right to do so, as all she had remembered was being hit with the needle, then later on just falling to the floor of her apartment. And now her whole body weak, then back to normal after whatever Ryan had done to her.

Jo soon felt Stefan come over to her, getting down to her level, and wrapping an arm around her. She looked at him, looking at his face, trying to find any answer that might fit her questions. Stefan soon told her what happened, and what was injected into her. Jo didn't know alot about other things to do with her and other like herself. She had never really gone through the book that went into detail about each and every ability, so had no idea about this virus thing. Just hearing what it does to you, kind of scared her, and hoped that she never came across it ever again. When Stefan mentioned that Ryan saved her, she looked at Ryan, and just looked at him, not sure what to say or do. But she knew that she had to say something. "Thanks Ryan." Jo then turned her attention back to Stefan, to hear what else he had to say.

So now she didn't have the ability of strength. The one ability that she had been able to rely on on and off, ever since she had found out that she had it. The one thing that had been constant in her life. The one thing that was no longer. Another thing that left her life, like many other things. Jo then heard Stefan say that she had another ability. It was sort of comforting, even thought she would miss her original ability. She looked at Stefan as she tried to comprenhend what he was saying. Jo turned slightly to really look at Stefan. "So, it means that I won't grow old, while you stay the same? And how do you mean that I can self heal myself? I don't really understand." The only thing she had understood was that she wouldn't be growing old, which is what she had wanted from what she had asked him to do two days ago. So now she was able to stay human, and still be the same she is now, fifty years from now.

Jo was still trying to process everything that Stefan had told her, and she let him talk to Ryan more. She wished that she had found out about this whole virus thing when she was old enough to understand, but maybe it was something that was only out now, and she had been ignorant to any signs of adverts or articles in The Chronicle. But really, she hardly read the paper, so if it was mentioned, she was none the wiser to it.

Jo then watched as Ryan headed out the door, and out of their lifes, despite how he had helped her. Helped them, in a way. Once they were alone, Jo looked at Stefan. "I am still sorry for the way I acted the other day. I just feel now that it was such a trivial thing that I asked of you. Just thinking about what I just went through was just so much more terrifying than I could ever imagine. I just never want to go through it again." With that all the emotion of those passed few minutes just came crashing down around her, and the tears soon began to come.

[stefan]

After Jo thanked Ryan she turned her attention back to Stefan to get the answers she so obviously wanted. Stefan knew it would have been a lot for Jo to take in, but he really thought once she realised what the new ability was she would be much more happier than she was before she had taken the virus. She could now stay the way she was, never grow old while watching him stay the same, and she could be that way without Stefan having to make her like he was. It was a win, win situation for the both of them, so Stefan felt.

When Jo asked if it meant she wouldn’t grow old while he stayed the same, Stefan nodded his head slowly and smiled at her, “Exactly Josephine, you will be like me, you will forever stay the way you are now, no matter how old you are. You could have been healed and left with no power, but I thought you would have liked this, because of what it would mean.” Jo had then gone on to say she didn’t understand what he meant by being able to heal herself. Stefan smiled, remembering what Ryan had told him, and of what he had heard of with this ability.

“If you were to hurt yourself, say cut yourself while slicing a tomato; it would stop bleeding and heal over within seconds. I can actually do the same thing being what I am. Stefan then allowed his fangs to protrude, “Watch this.” He then bit into his arm, blood came flowing out for a few seconds, but slowly it stopped and soon the wounds healed over. “That is what will happen to you now. Do you understand? Your body will constantly regenerate. Broken bones will mend once you snap them back into place. You have one are, usually located at the back of the neck, where an object being stabbed into it, would actually kill you, but the soon as the object is removed you will begin to regenerate again. Peter told me it happened to his niece Claire, she was actually going through an autopsy at the time and the soon as the object was removed she began to regenerate and woke up seeing her body cut wide open. She pulled the pieces of skin back together, and they just healed as if nothing had happened.”

Stefan knew what he had just told her probably sounded rather gross, but he felt it was necessary to explain to her exactly what her ability could do for her now. “You will never take another illness, you will be able to drink as much alcohol as you like you will never be drunk, your liver will just keep regenerating. I learned a lot from Peter as he told me about his niece.” Stefan didn’t want Jo to think he was some know it all, because he wasn’t, he only knew so much about that particular ability and a few others, because Peter had told him about them. After explaining all of that to Jo, Stefan then expressed his gratitude to Ryan for what he had done for the both of them, but he had then also told Ryan that he and Jo had a lot to talk about and could he leave them to talk. He watched as Ryan left them once Stefan shook his hand, he would be sure to meet up with Ryan at a later date to express his gratitude in greater detail.

Jo then began to speak again apologising for the way she had acted toward him a couple of days ago, and felt given what had happened, that what she had asked of him was so trivial. Stefan took Jo into his arms allowing for her head to lean against his chest if necessary. “It is alright Josephine my love, I am not angry at what you asked of me, I truly understood why, I just needed you to understand why I could not. However, it seems that all the worry was now for nothing, as you are now going to be like me but in a very different way. I do not want you to go through it again, and now with this new power you have, you never will have to.” He then heard Jo begin to cry; Stefan pulled her closer to him and rested his chin on her head, hushing her in soothing noises. “Josephine, it is alright. I am here, I was always here when you needed me, I always will be.” Stefan knew it was best to allow her to cry and let it out of her system, he just continued to hold her, and soothe her as she did so, he was just glad she was alive; as he knew he couldn’t live without her.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo listened to what Stefan said, about how she couldn't grow old now, and will be forever the way she looks now. She nodded slightly, when Stefan said that she could have just been healed and left with no power, but he thought that she would have liked the power she has now, because of what it would mean. "Well, I can understand it a bit more, so thank you for making that decision for me. I think I am just going to have to adjust to it all now, not having my old ability at all." Stefan soon then explained about the whole healing herself as well, which made it more clearer in her head.

He gave another example of another person who had her ability, and what happened to them. Well she hoped that would never happen to her. All Jo could do was nod at what he said. It was a lot to take in, but she knew in time that she would fully understand. Just hearing more about what would never ever happen to her, and what she could do because of the ability. "Well it will be an interesting and handy ability to have, that is for sure. Will just take one day at a time." Jo just looked at Stefan, just knowing that he would be there to help as well with anything else he knew about the ability.

After Ryan left her apartment, Jo had spoken to Stefan, apologising for the way she had acted two days ago with him. Jo listened to what he said, nodding a couple of times, as she rested her head against his chest, and wrapped her arms around his body. Everything he said was all true, and despite what had happened, she was grateful that she was okay, and that she still had Stefan in her life. With all that had happened, Jo began to cry, and stayed wrapped up in Stefan's arms until she let it all out. Jo had hoped, after that one night when she had met Stefan, that she would so much stronger. But now all that had happened had made her stronger somehow. She didn't have the ability of strength, but she was now going to be like Stefan, somewhat. The only question now was, how to tell her mum.