(In this scene the darkness is lifted to veil Nick's face as he raises it to face Astrick. There is anger and rage deep within his eyes and he stands to face Astrick. With one quick move he crushes his hand up into Astrick's neck and Astrick is thrown back)
Nick: (takes the sword and walks towards Astrick, holding the point of it to Astrick's throat) Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you.
Astrick: (gasps, trying to slither out of the sword's way) You don't understand…
Nick: (smirks) I never do. (choked rage) Look, I'll make this very simple for you, Astrick. Either bring her back or die.
Astrick: (gasps) You needed to learn, and trust me you don't want to do this. You're the good guy…
Nick: And you killed an innocent.
Astrick: Only to teach you that you can't let emotions rule you…
Nick: (loud, and angry) BRING HER BACK!
Astrick: Nick…
Nick: NO! Just do it!
(Astrick shakes his head and watches as the amulet swings freely around Nick's throat)
Astrick: She couldn't be saved, Nick. You had to let go, you understand? If you do this you will no longer be considered a warrior.
Nick: (pulls back for a moment to stare at Astrick blankly) Good… cause I quit. (lifts the sword to plunge through Astrick when a bright light blinds them)
(The bright light dims to reveal Earth where we see Gabrielle first, lying limply in the middle of the circle of warriors that have waited for Nick to return. Shrieks and screams followed by sobs escape each of the girls. Nick lifts his head from his position leaning over Astrick and he runs to Gabrielle. Eeveryone is in shock who isn't in tears as they watch Nick and Gabrielle. Brian shifts his eyes to Astrick than to Nick who is by this time sobbing openly)
Brian: (confused) I don't understand… Nick didn't…
Astrick: (cuts Brian off) There is a rule of our worlds. Each one of us were born to only one world, and with that comes the death. No one can die in an alternate world when they do not originally exist there.
Brian: (grins) Hey! That sounds like good news, but how did she…
Astrick: No more questions, Bri.
Brian: (nods) Oh… yeah, sorry.
(Cut to Gabrielle choking in Nick's arms. A gasp comes from Nick of complete disbelief, but when Gabrielle's eyes open his face brightens with a smile)
Gabrielle: (smiles with exhaustion in her eyes) Nick? (laughs and brings a hand to his cheek) Nick…
Nick: (nods) Yeah, it's me. You… all right?
Gabrielle: (throws her arms around Nick and sighs) You're here, and I made it. (pulls back) You saved me didn't you? You won the battle for me against Madness. You never should've done that, you know. You could've gotten hurt or… (gulps)
Nick: (frames Gabrielle's face in his hands and kisses her softly) I'm okay, and I have to admit I'd do it again if I had to.
Gabrielle: (stares at Nick and protests) No! You will not…
(Nick tugs her to him, bringing her lips to his romantically and her words sputter off in the romance. She loops her arms around his neck and he slides his hands around her back planting them near the back of her neck. As the kiss becomes more passionate and deep… the focus pans to Rain and Howie)
Rain: (shakes her head trying to avoid the tears) This shouldn't have happened.
Howie: (turns to Rain, concerned) What?
Rain: They were risking their lives, Howie. Nick and Gabrielle might not even be with us now if it weren't for some rule. What if that rule didn't exist?
Howie: But it does.
Rain: (desperately) We could've lost them!
Howie: Rain, we didn't lose anyone, okay? We won't lose…
(Howie sputters off when Rain gasps and looks to be thrown off balance. She screams and grabs a hold of her head, but before she can drop to the ground, Howie catches her to hold her up)
Rain: (gasping) Let me go… let me go!
(Howie loosens his grip and Rain vanishes into the night. He chases after her. Next we see the others following slowly, not sure what to think of Rain's behavior. Close up on Gabrielle struggling to get up from Nick's arms)
Gabrielle: What happened?
Nick: (looks to the two figures running through the darkness) I don't know, but we better go check it out.
Gabrielle: Yes… Rain is… (she lifts herself up to her feet and wavers dizzily)
Nick: (catches Gabrielle) Come on. (scoops Gabrielle up under the knees to cradle her against him) It's okay.
(We watch Nick and Gabrielle walk behind the others until we are following them. The scene goes black. Cut to Rain still running, and she grabs the doors of the hotel; there is pounding going on in her head and in minutes her body jerks back and we see a blurry image of a sword being plunged into a sleeping warrior- we pull out of it to see Howie grab Rain)
Rain: (pleading tearfully) Make it stop… Howie, please. (she turns her face into his chest and cries)
(Cut to Howie's suite where he is now pacing back and forth, watching Rain as she tries to sleep, but only continues to toss and turn in the bed. Astrick is standing in the doorway, staring in at the couple)
Astrick: Rain's gift…
Howie: (shakes his head) Not a gift, even I don't get them that bad.
Astrick: You, by chance, are stronger than she.
Howie: She'll never get any sleep, Astrick. (points to the restless Rain) Look at her, she can't stand it. These girls can't handle this. Something has to be done to get them out of this mess.
Astrick: Nothing can be done, all there is left to do now is give it time.
Howie: (crawls towards Rain to slip a finger over her forehead) Take it easy, okay Rain? Relax now…
(With his touch, Rain slowly stops restlessly twisting and turning to slip her body closer to his. After a short time she moans)
Astrick: Like I said, give it time. (Astrick leaves)
(Howie slips under the blankets and brings Rain into his arms, leaning his lips into her forehead. She sighs, and grips the material of Howie's muscle top to hold as she sleeps. Soon, the scene changes into Nick's room where Gabrielle is lying against the pillows with her eyes closed. Nick is holding a cloth to her forehead)
Nick: (murmurs) How does that feel?
Gabrielle: (moans) Your hands or the cloth? (chuckles)
Nick: (smiles and lifts his hands from the cloth to place on her cheeks) Both.
Gabrielle: (opens her eyes) Good. (rests her hands on his)
(The door flies open to reveal Chastity and Destiny out of breath)
Chastity: (gasping) Hey… how are the love birds in here?
Destiny: (also gasping) Yeah…
Gabrielle: (glances to Destiny than Chastity) I have Nick's hands on me, how do you think I am? (she laughs)
Destiny: (fans herself) Is it getting a little hot in here?
Chastity: (laughs) Maybe just a little.
Destiny: Someone needs to open a window.
(Gabrielle, lifts to a sitting position and takes Nick's hands in hers)
Gabrielle: What are you two doing?
Chastity: Spying. (grins ruefully)
Destiny: Nuh uh. We were checking up on you and Rain. That's why we're so out of breath, we ran from Howie's suite to this one.
Nick: (firmly) You two should get some sleep.
Chastity: (pointing at Nick) Oh yeah we know what that means. (grabs Destiny's arm) Come on we aren't wanted here.
Gabrielle: Hey, wait…
Destiny: (shakes her head) No, no you two have fun.
Chastity: (laughs) Don't be too loud now.
(The two exit laughing and the door closes. Nick looks to Gabrielle and in concern lowers her to the pillows. She smiles and grips one of his hands to hold tight within hers)
Nick: (softly) You need to sleep.
Gabrielle: (nods) I know. (gently closes her eyes, but opens one to watch Nick climb in beside her, taking the cloth to drop on the floor) I just want to know something…
Nick: (embraces Gabrielle against him) Sleep.
Gabrielle: Is there anything about my evil side you like?
Nick: Besides trying to kill me, mocking me, and bein a tool for Madness' plan, no not really. (grins at Gabrielle)
Gabrielle: (nods) I see.
(Gabrielle smiles to herself and closes her eyes fully, making herself comfortable in his arms)
Gabrielle: Why did you do it?
Nick: Do what?
Gabrielle: Duel for me. I know that a lot of it was guilt, but the very idea that you did it was so…
Nick: (muffled) Madness was right, and so was Astrick. I'm fallin hard for you.
Gabrielle: (opens her eyes wide) Oh…
(Nick has fallen to sleep, but Gabrielle remains awake by Nick's words and the focus is on her look of shock)
Gabrielle: Okay than…
