(Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to everyone in the ONC community! Making this the most supportive competition on Wattpad in my opinion)

Shadow wasn't sure if he could believe what Aron promised, but the offer was too tempting to resist. His quarry, the man he had been stalking all this time, was apparently prepared to receive him. Of his own accord.

His lip curled in derision. He hadn't realized the man, Rik, was such an utter fool. As soon as he was inside his head, they would soon see who was boss. His time inside Aron, brief though it was, had taught him a few important tricks. He would lie low, pretending to be compliant, until he discovered Rik's weak points, and then he would seize control. Rik wouldn't know what had hit him until it was too late.

He slipped from Aron to Rik as easily as crossing the street, marvelling that he hadn't stumbled on this trick before. He took his time, making sure all of him was inside and settled comfortably before raising his barriers to listen to what his new host was saying. It wasn't what he had expected.

"Welcome, brother."

There was that word again. Brother. Aron had used it, as if he thought it would mean something to him, but it was just meaningless noise as far as he was concerned.

Shadow waited, bracing himself, preparing for that moment when Rik would change his mind and evict him. Or try to. But nothing happened, it seemed Rik was waiting, too. Even more annoying, he could tell Rik had his own mental barriers, to keep Shadow at bay.

Deliberately, Shadow relived the moment of triumph when he had stood over Ari's body... and waited gleefully for Rik's horror.

Which he felt in delicious waves, before Rik flooded him in turn with memories of two children. A little boy peering over the side of a crib, putting his finger gently into a tiny fist, and smiling... two boys, playing together with small coloured bricks, building a ship of some sort, the elder helping the younger to find the right pieces...

"US!" said Rik, as loudly as he could, drowning out Shadow's voice. "YOU AND ME. WE ARE BROTHERS!"

He kept the images going, one after the other, bombarding Shadow with their past.

"STOP! These mean nothing to me!"

But Rik heard the uncertainty. He kept on, jumping ahead to that time Jaxon had caught him playing with his new powers, standing in the doorway of his room, while he flickered in and out of sight.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" the raw scream shocked him into silence.

For a long time, there was nothing but the sound of his own breathing. Rik searched his consciousness, afraid he might have panicked Jaxon into fleeing and jumping worlds, but then he sensed his presence, very small and quiet. Protecting himself.

"Your name is Jaxon Sandro," Rik murmured, projecting warm confidence. "You were born twenty years ago on the planet Earth. And I am your brother, Rik. We are dimension travellers, but something terrible happened to you when you first jumped. I think it sent you mad... for a time. But you can fight it, you can change. We can work through this together, if you let me help. Bit by bit, there's no hurry. We have all the time you need."

~~~~

When Rik opened his eyes, he was lying on top of his bed in his own room. Ned was sitting in a chair, reading, by lamplight.

He must have made some slight sound, because Ned looked up.

"Are you all right?" asked Ned anxiously, putting the book down. "It's been hours. I was getting worried. How are you feeling?"

"Honestly, I don't know," admitted Rik. "It's the weirdest sensation you can imagine."

"Is Jaxon still... with you? I gather you persuaded him to leave Aron."

"Yes, he's with me, inside my head, but separate."

Rik looked around, as if searching for someone.

"Aron went home. He wanted to stay and say 'thank you' but he just... couldn't." And from the apologetic expression on Ned's face, Rik understood that he wouldn't be seeing Aron again, at least, not for a very long time.

"That's fine. I understand." And Rik did. Aron must have been terrified, fearing Shadow might decide to return to him before he could escape. Having someone else inside his head was difficult enough for him, Rik, and he had done it willingly. Aron must have been totally freaked out and Rik could only be thankful he had managed to hold himself together as well as he had.

Rik looked into Ned's eyes and then he told him about the murders. Ned had a right to know who, or what, he was sheltering in his own home.

Ned didn't look as shocked as Rik had expected. "I thought it must have been something like that," he said. "I know Aron thought he was about to kill him, when he woke up just in time."

"I think so," agreed Rik, regretfully.

"So who's in charge then?" asked Ned. "Do I need to have the lamp handy?" he asked, only half joking.

"I am," Rik quickly assured him. "We have a bargain. Shadow has promised there will be no more violence, in return for me helping him remember his past. But I certainly won't be upset if you want to keep that lamp close by... just in case."

Rik took a deep breath. "Be honest with me, is this all too hard? Do you want me to leave? Just say the word and I'll go. I'll take Jaxon with me and you won't see us again."

"I don't want you to go, as long as you stay you, if that makes sense," Ned gave a half laugh. "From what you've told me, now that you're looking after him, Shadow no longer has the same motivation to attack people. The dynamics have changed dramatically."

"I believe so," agreed Rik. In fact, he was risking his life on that belief.

Ned reached over and touched Rik lightly on his hand.

"I can live with a bit of risk. To be honest, I'm more worried about what happens if you want privacy. Is he looking over your shoulder the whole time? What happens if you want to have a... a relationship? I can't think of anything much more likely to put a damper on things!"

A peculiar expression crossed Rik's face for a moment and then he laughed.

"Well I think that's one thing we won't have to worry about. Jaxon isn't gay. I just got an 'ew' emotion when I thought about us, er... kissing. He'll stay well away. As a matter of fact, I think, when he feels more secure, he'll be able to leave me entirely and return without any assistence. He could have left Aron, he just didn't want to."

"Excellent," said Ned, with a wide grin, thrilled that Rik had immediately thought of him when he mentioned a relationship. "I can be patient. Just let me know when you feel ready for er-kissing."