Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Xavier pondered inwardly, "If 'Blade' himself is admitting that his skills aren't as good as Alyssa's... Just how skilled is Alyssa?"
Alyssa and Jasper had hurried over to Taylor General Hospital the moment they heard the news.
Maggie was stabilized in time and transferred to a normal ward for recovery. Meanwhile, Xavier was arranged to stay in the next
ward. He wasn't too injured save for some bruises and a fractured left arm.
But Xavier was in no mood to stay put and rest. The moment they secured the bones in his arm, he ran over to check up on
Maggie.
The hospital staff let Jasper and Alyssa take over while Cyrus returned to the police station to deal with the murderous killer.
Abel was personally checking up on Maggie right now.
"Don't worry, Lyse. No matter what, Maggie is fine now. That's the best thing we could hope for," Jasper consoled Alyssa, who
leaned in his arms as he gently held her.
Alyssa gazed at Maggie with reddened eyes. Guilt filled her chest. "Thank goodness you thought of sending Xavier to her place
while I sent Cyrus to talk to her mother. What if we hadn't? What if. What if Xavier and Cyrus arrived a second later?"
Though these were all what-ifs, both Alyssa and Jasper were still apprehensive.
If those what-ifs had happened, they would've either caused the death of an innocent teen or a loyal friend on the battlefield.
Regardless, the loss of either one of them would be enough to make them feel guilty for the rest of their lives.
Jasper's heart pained as he saw how frightened and sad Alyssa was. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

He swiftly wrapped her in a hug, gently caressing her back, doing his best to offer solace. Heck, he didn't even know what he
was saying. All he wanted was to ease Alyssa's distress and prevent her from blaming herself.
Xavier felt helpless. "M-Madam, Maggie, and I are both alive and well. Don't cry! I'll cry if you cry!"
"I could've done better to protect her." Alyssa did her best to maintain her composure, yet a tear still fell down her cheek. "But our
enemy still finds a way past our defenses. I'm so stupid!" "If you're stupid, then I'm an idiot," Jasper teased before kissing
Alyssa's forehead. "We're a true match made in heaven."
"Tch... An idiot wouldn't have spent so much time looking so fit." Alyssa jabbed Jasper's abs and giggled. "You're more dog-like,
always following me around."
Xavier quietly chuckled.
Jasper's choice of words might be peculiar, but it was fine as long as it worked.
After Abel finished checking up on Maggie, he sighed and said, "Poor girl. She's so incredibly thin; it's obvious she's
malnourished. She's still in the stages of puberty right now. Why aren't her parents feeding her better?"
Alyssa and Jasper stayed silent, though their hearts ached in tandem. Xavier's eyes reddened.
"Look at those bruises on her neck. If her attacker had used any more force, he would've snapped the bone right through!" Abel
exclaimed before leaving, shaking his head.
Alyssa ground her teeth together, now consumed with fury. "Who else would've tried to kill Maggie besides the Schmidts?"