Jackson spent the rest of the week in his bed healing. Scarlet, and Gypsy took turns playing nursemaid while Barbara stood guard outside. The heroes returned almost daily, asking questions and enjoying themselves to the fullest. Joseph sometimes waited outside, sitting against the wall in fear of the duel wielding Barbara. Jackson spent his time resting and studying the old magic. The old papers, held by the single ring, was half way complete. The author seemed to have gone mad for a time, the text making almost no sense for several pages. On the bright side, it looked like the book was going to start talking about golems soon. The idea of golems excited Jackson, as he wondered if he could build a new arm in that manner. He’d need material, but he was sure it could be done.

“You sure you should get out of bed?”

Gypsy and Scarlet tried to stop Jackson from going shopping. He wanted to do anything else other than lay in his bed. Barbara had brought him a shopping list, trying to figure out what half the things were, so he decided to go with her.

“I’m going stir-crazy. Just let me do this.”

“I’m coming along with you!”

“So will I. Can’t have you passing out on the street.”

And with that, the four set out for the market. Jackson had his hood pulled over his face as they move and made sure his left arm was hidden. The shopping was easy, compared to last time Barbara tried, as the group knew what everything was. Barbara was most confused by the different fruits, as they came in several shapes and sizes. Jackson just shook his head, feeling slight pain in his back. He had mostly healed, but the pain remained. He wondered how hard farming was with one arm, how hard it would be to raise cattle, and how hard it would be to earn the money to even start.

“Do dragons attack cattle?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

On their way back to the Madame’s, the inevitable happened. Joseph and the other heroes were heading to begin their daily stake out.

“Come on man, we don’t have that much money left!”

“It’s been over a week, and no new leads!”

“Imagen what people will think when they find out we’ve been stuck… there for nine days.”

Gypsy spotted them first and stopped Jackson. She pointed them out to him, who just sighed. She looked worried, he just shook his head and went to meet them. Gypsy bit her lip, not knowing what was to come next. Worst case, they tried to take him back, and Barbara got unleashed. Best case, they got their answers and fled the city as fast as they could. Jackson had prepared himself mentally for this next part. He knew he’d run into them, knew it would be one of those ‘we thought you were dead moments.’ So, like a Band-Aid he planned to get it over with fast.

“Sup.”

“Sorry, excuse us.”

Jackson went to speak to them, but Angela almost ran into him.

“That’s the first time you ever apologized to me.”

The group stopped, noticing Gypsy and Barbara catching up to Jackson, who appeared to be a cloaked figure. It was a moment of recognition and denial. Jackson failing to stop himself from laughing at their faces, lifted his right arm, and pulled the hood back.

“Sup guys.”

They almost didn’t recognize him. Kevin and Franklin actually didn’t, as they rarely interacted with Jackson at school and when they crossed worlds. Carley’s and Alice’s mouths were open in shock as they tried to reason it out in their minds. Joseph had this look on his face, the look of someone screaming ‘called it’. Angela had the most violent reaction, she moved to strike him in his messed-up face. Sadly, the sharp end of a broadsword met her halfway. Barbara’s eyes were locked on her prey, just like they locked on the rabbits.

“Barbara, Barbara! No! Down girl! Down!”

Barbara lowered the blade but moved in between Angela and Jackson. Her eyes remained cold, like staring at something small and easy to kill. Like staring at the rabbits, or the goblins.

“What the? How are you alive? The reports said no survives. None!”

Carley spoke, her eyes wide. Kevin and Franklin had that moment of realization, and then shock.

“You’re dead.”

“They said the Berserker got you!”

Barbara glared at them, her hand twitching on her blade.

“Explain!”

Angela was losing patience, and her status as a hero meant she needn’t fear Barbara’s blade. She was debating all the ways she could get around her, and re-kill Jackson.

“I didn’t die.”

“That tells us nothing.”

“What, the reports were wrong. I didn’t die on that battlefield.”

“Okay, were did those scars come from? Where have you been? Oh, and why didn’t you contact us?”

Angela advanced with each word. Gypsy started to activate her magic and moved closer to Jackson.

“And, who are they?”

“The Scars? Let’s see… The Berserker, then that dungeon, that super golem, some bandits…”

“The bandits never hit you.”

“I have fought many bandits, one must have. My defense ain’t that good.”

“Yes, it is, Barbara’s your shield.”

“She’s more like a sword, or a small army.”

“Well, I can’t disagree there.”

“Scars, scars?”

“The Wurms?”

“Right, I forgot about them.”

“How? How did you forget the Wurms?”

“Would you guys be serious!”

Angela snapped again, on the verge of striking the lot of them.

“So rude, I can’t believe these are your classmates.”

“They skipped etiquette classes. What were we answering?”

“Your battle scars.”

“Right, right. Wurms, Bandits, and a Dragon.”

“Dragon?”

Kevin and Franklin looked even more shocked.

“Dragon? Wait, did you get that hide manually?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“No, no, no you don’t get to say that. You fought a dragon, without her? That’s why you’re burned half to death. Why you’re so pissed with that town!”

“Okay, you fought a lot of stuff. Why didn’t you contact us?”

Angela was reaching the end of her patience, and Joseph placed a hand on her shoulder.

“How are you okay with this?”

“Because he’s alive. I knew it man, I knew some Berserker couldn’t kill you. You got too much to live for, to fight for.”

“Jackson, does this guy know you at all?”

“Believe it or not, but he’s the closest thing I had to a friend before Barbara and you.”

“I need a drink.”

“That sound good. Something strong.”

“Why didn’t you contact us!”

“Why would I contact you guys?”

Jackson finally responded to Angela. His eyes heated.

“Why? Why? We were worried sick. We thought you were dead! How could you do that to your classmates?”

Jackson shook his head and started to head towards the Madame’s. That honestly angered him, of all the things they had discussed in the past few minutes, it was that which struck a nerve.

“Jack, answer me!”

“Don’t call me Jack! And do you really want to know why I didn’t contact you guys? Are you sure you can take it?”

“Dear we should get that drink now! Barbara help me!”

“Yeah, I want to know. I can’t think of any reason you wouldn’t. So why did the great Jack not feel the need to contact us?”

“Angela.”

“Don’t call me Jack. Jack was my father. And, the reason I didn’t want to contact you guys, the same reason I didn’t feel a need to hang out with you guys at school. Everything’s so peachy in your little world. You said it yourself, the entire class believed the rumors. They didn’t just believe them, they hung them over my head. The entire school hated me; thought I was some type of monster. Guess what, the person everyone talked about, avoided and insult had no desire to return to that hell hole of a life.”

“So, you were just running away. Do they even know. Do your girlfriends even know mister killer?”

“They know.”

Gypsy bit her lip, while Barbara hands twitched on her blade.

“Let’s calm down.”

Joseph stepped forwards, his charisma taking effect on his friends.

“Once we take care of the Berserker, we can all go home together.”

“What about the Berserker?”

“They’re hunting the Berserker honey. Didn’t I tell you?”

“I fought a dragon, kind of drove most thoughts from my mind.”

“Really a dragon? Not a drake, or a big lizard?”

Franklin was in disbelief. He always thought Jackson was some weakling, just some slacker.

“Yes, it was a dragon. I have the scars, and armor to prove it. Listen, the Berserker’s not a problem anymore.”

“Did you kill it? Like the dragon.”

Kevin asked. He was wide eyed, wondering about all the adventures Jackson had gone on.

“Of course not. Just trust me, the Berserker is not a problem anymore. It just wants to be left alone.”

“You’re the second person to say that.”

Alice remembered what Joseph said the Madame had said. Joseph moved forwards, reaching out a hand for Jackson. Barbara bared her teeth and gave a low growl.

“Mine!”

She snapped at his hand, like a dog protecting her pups. Jackson raised his hand, extending a finger towards the sky.

“Did she just speak? Please tell me you heard her speak.”

“Yeah, our little girl learned a word. I didn’t think she had the brain power for such a thing.”

Jackson spun her around, grabbing her shoulder and shook her slightly.

“Say more words!”

“You’re going to scare her if you do that. What if, you know.”

“I can handle it! Please, I have so many questions for you. Say more words.”

Barbara didn’t seem to know how to respond and looked frightened of the sudden change in Jackson. When she didn’t speak, Jackson let his arm fall to the side in defeat.

“Man, I understand things were hard, but there different now. There’s no reason not to come back and help us out. If you can fight the Berserker, I’m sure you’ll be welcome as an even bigger hero.”

“I’m not going back. I got a good job here, easy money with two great people. Why would I ever give this up to go back to a group of people that hate me?”

“They don’t hate you, and just bring them back with you. No one will mind.”

“I’d mind.”

Angela murmured under her breath, while blushing slightly.

“No. Gypsy has to look out for her friends, and Barbara’s… well she’s Barbara. I can’t force them to go live under the king’s nose.”

Gypsy nodded while Barbara once more took her guard stance.

“But you’d want for nothing?”

“I already want for nothing.”

Joseph could tell negotiations were going downhill.

“How about a match. You versus me. That should be fair right?”

“Joseph, he fought a dragon!”

“Get off the dragon thing Franklin.”

“A good old fair fight. I win, you come home with us, you win we leave you alone.”

“Fair, in what way would it be fair?”

Jackson unclipped his cape, and Gypsy caught it before it hit the ground. Once more shock over came the heroes. Jackson smiled as he helped put it back on.

“How? When? What?”

Angela was lost for words, trying to figure it out in her mind. She never expected to see him in such a state. The stories of the cripple came back into her mind, and it all clicked to perfectly.

“The first time I fought the Berserker, this is how I was dragged off the battlefield. Barbara here is to thanks for me still being alive. If you excuse me, there’s a drink with my name on it.”

With his one arm, Jackson started to lead Barbara away from his old classmates, feeling no regret as he thought about how strong to order his drink. Gypsy was on his heels, and Scarlet, the most confused of the lot, stayed on her side. Angela gripped her own left arm, as the reality hit her. This was the first time she felt mortal, felt that the title of hero was meaningless. The others had a dark look about them as well. Only Joseph didn’t seem to understand, just had a look of defeat on his face. Angela stepped off, not wanting to lose sight of Jackson, and followed them to the Madame’s bar.