Disclaimer: I don't own Mai or Joey from Yu-Gi-Oh, even though I wish I did, I don't. So don't sue me. . And I dun own the song either. Fuel does.

Also: I know I don't have the entire song in here. I'm doing it sections at a time, so the parts are going to be a bit mixed up. That's okay though, cause it works.

Something to Hold

Summary

There are times when you should set a person free, they say. If you love them, let them go.

Or you can hold on and refuse to let go-ever.

Sometimes, when she lies and says she isn't hurt, isn't afraid, what she really wants is for someone to look her in the eyes and say, "Tell the truth."

Like he did.

She calls me from the cold

Just when I was low, feeling short of stable

She ran. In the pouring, freezing cold rain, she ran as though her life depended on it; and it did, to tell the honest-to-God truth. She had no idea where she was going. Hell, she didn't even care so long as it was away from it. The rain fell steadily around her as the curvaceous blonde escaped the horrid alleyway and made her way up the street. But she knew her fever and fatigue would overcome her soon. She needed help. That thing was going to catch up to her-it was inevitable-but where to turn? Who could she go to? The woman's ankle suddenly twisted at a strange angle as she was running and made her trip. She crawled to the corner of the alley, trying hard not to make any noise despite her pain. She couldn't go on anymore. Whatever the creature was, she was surely an easy target for it now…

Joey, a young man of about 19 was slowly making his way up the street, when he heard a noise. It sounded like a woman crying, or trying not to cry. 'It sounds really familiar for some reason,' he thought. He walked in the direction of the whimpering to find a woman with long blonde hair and short violet skirt lying against the wall of the alleyway. "Mai!" He gazed down at the female, who was only half conscious and making noises of pain in her confused state. She wasn't even wearing her lilac vest, and it was a chilling 28 degrees outside. Not to mention raining and sleeting just a bit too.

Although Joey was now used to the New York weather after having lived there for almost two years, he had a feeling Mai wasn't handling it as well as he was. Joey took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Then he noticed her foot was twisted in a grotesque way. There was no way she could walk. "Mai, can you hear me? Mai." She groaned and tried to look at him, but her exhaustion won over. All of a sudden he saw that her face was flushed pink. 'God, she's on fire. What's she doin' out here in the dead of winter? Poor Mai…' Joey thought as he touched her face. Then he spoke aloud. "C'mon, Mai. Let's get you back to my place, okay?" He very gently lifted her into his arms-careful of her ankle- and carried her down the street.

About a half-mile later he came to a stop at an apartment complex. Thank goodness for him, his was on the ground level. Joey wasn't sure if he could have made it up the stairs with Mai. She wasn't particularly heavy but she was dead weight and that made carrying her a bit difficult. He'd left the door open, and pushed with his shoulder to get inside. Joey belatedly remembered that there was no way he could get through the junk in the guest room to put her on the bed, so after a second's hesitation, he carried her to his own room and laid her down gently. He was about to get the first-aid kit when he saw her face, almost angelic and her cheeks a shade of soft pink, even if it was from her fever. And her features looked soft too, not harsh and unrelenting as when she was awake. Overcome with emotion, Joey suddenly reached out and caressed her cheek, amazed at how hot she was, then swallowed hard and drew his hand away quickly.

'What the heck happened ta her?' Joey wondered at the way Mai looked so fragile. The only time he'd ever seen her like this was almost two years ago during her Shadow Realm ordeal. He began cleaning a cut along her jaw and heard her whimper as he applied the disinfectant. Without thinking, he impulsively put his hand on the side of her neck. She seemed to relax once more at the touch of his fingers. After that, he took a washcloth and wiped her cuts and across her forehead to cool her down a bit. Thankfully, her ankle had only sprained, not broken, but she would feel it without a doubt in the morning.

Joey saw the way her clothes were clinging to her skin from the rain. 'Oh, shit. I can't leave her all wet like this. She'll get even worse.' He hesitantly untied her camisole, revealing a lavender lace bra that he had to force himself not to stare at. It wasn't right to take advantage of her while she was vulnerable, he knew that, but God she was…perfect. Blushing, he removed her skirt as well which gave away to a matching pair of boy -shorts. Her undergarments weren't wet, luckily enough. He took a towel and dried her as best her could. For the first time, he was able to look almost fully upon her; her legs, hips, hair, breasts, at all of her fascinating curves; and her face, free of makeup and as soft as velvet.

Joey felt the strongest urge to caress her, to feel her silken skin beneath his hand. She was more perfect than he could have known; much more beautiful than he could ever have imagined. He traced his finger down the middle of her back, watching as she arched against him like a starved kitten, sighing a little at his caress. Then, with some effort, he tore his gaze away from her and covered her as he went away to put her clothes in the dryer.

Soon, he cleaned up the first-aid kit, got himself a glass of water, and then came back to sit with Mai. He shook her softly. "Mai? It's Joey. Do you know where you are?" Her eyes fluttered a bit and then she gazed up at him with such a pained look that it made him ache for her. "Joey…?" She whispered, exhausted and obviously not aware of how she'd gotten there, so he shushed her as he moved hair back from her forehead. "It's alright, Mai. You're gonna be fine." He said as he looked around and realized he didn't have anywhere to sleep. The couch (actually it was a love seat) was too small for someone like him. His eyes turned back on the woman in his bed. Maybe he should stay with her. Besides, she might wake up and wonder where she was…

Quietly he sat down on the other side of the bed. He was so tired that he automatically took his t-shirt off- as he did every night- without realizing it. He checked his clock: 1:30am. Joey gazed at Mai for a second longer. Then, with a sigh, his head hit the pillow beside her and he fell into a deep slumber.

Mai thrashed about in her sleep. Sweat poured from every inch of her skin and she was still so cold she could hardly stand it. But it was more than that. She moaned and gave small cries of pain that couldn't seem to be controlled. Her nightmare was terrifying; she couldn't escape the creature that haunted her any longer...

"Oh God, somebody, anyone, please help me! Joey, make it stop, please! Somebody save me." Mai was in panic. She couldn't run anymore, her legs refused to move. She knew that the beast would find her this time. That thing that had chased her before was suddenly on her heels again…only this time, it was taking over her dreams. And nothing and no one could rescue her from it. She screamed aloud, tears streaming down her face, and begged one last time for her savior; for him. "Please, help me. Joey…!"

"Mai! Mai, c'mon wake up!" Joey shook her desperately, trying to wake her from the feverish dream. When she finally moaned and opened her eyes slightly, he looked at her, relief and concern mixed in his eyes. "Mai? Are you alright? What happened?" Joey asked her. "Joey?" She whispered weakly, then "That…th-that monster was chasing me again! It was going to kill me! And I called but you never came and- I-I," she was trembling as she spoke and suddenly she broke down into small sobs. Mai's shoulders shook tremendously at the effort of holding her tears back. She didn't want to be seen like this, so weak and helpless looking, but her tears seemed to have a mind of their own. She shook with self-disgust and fear and most of all…need. The feminine desire to be held and comforted was nearly overwhelming to her. So much so that she collapsed into his arms.

Joey pulled her to him instinctively as he wrapped his arms around her to make her feel safer. "Shhh. It's over now Mai. It's not real. I won't let anything hurt you. Don't worry, you're safe now. I promise." But that made her sob all the more harder. She clung to his shoulders as if he were her only lifeline while he rocked her in order to soothe her again. After a while, Joey noticed Mai had stopped weeping and was now resting her head on his chest. He took a strand of her hair and absent-mindedly twirled it around his finger. Then it hit him at just how intimately she rested against him, but at the same moment, it felt more right than anything in the world to him. Mai spoke after a moment or two. "Joey?" She lifted her head to meet his face and he could see she was fighting sleep. "Yeah?" "Will you stay with me, please? I need you."

Her voice sounded so tender and vulnerable and ridden with the haze of her fever. And remorse. How could he say no when she was so in need of protection and comforting? He didn't care anymore about what she'd done to him, not one bit. He'd forgiven her for taking his soul the second she held him in her arms. There was no question he'd forgive her, but could he forget? Maybe he could, maybe not. Though sometimes, he knew, forgetting wasn't always the best thing to do. Forgetting your mistakes is the best way to make them again. And he sure as hell didn't want to make a mistake like that a second time.

And can I be a friend

We'll forget the past

But maybe I'm not able

Without saying a word, Joey lay down with Mai's head resting against him. He turned over sideways so that he was facing her and brought his arms around her slender frame as she put her face into his warm neck. For the first time, he found that he was larger than her by a good bit now; at least a few inches taller and a few pounds heavier, though she remained the same. She was still shaking slightly from fear and sickness, so he stroked her hair some more.

Joey realized something just in that moment: He'd never once held her, or even touched her in any way other than a friend would for that matter, until tonight. And there wasn't a trace of awkwardness in either of them; it was simply a woman who needed protection- that somebody out there cared for her, wanted her, and maybe, just maybe even loved her. Thoughts raced through Joeys head- of holding her like this every night; touching her, watching as she surrendered beneath him, soft and warm; and knowing she was his forever. His eyes filled with tears as he kissed the top of her head ever so slightly, catching a whiff of her shampoo, and breathed those three little words he'd wanted to say to her for almost three years now. "I love you."

Mai snuggled in even closer; her little body desperately needing the heat and reassurance of his skin against hers. She hadn't even realized that she was lying in her underwear. She probably wouldn't have cared any way. She was safe now; nothing in the world could harm her, she knew. And the last thought she entertained in her mind before falling into the blissful realm of unconsciousness was how his smell, masculine and so right to her- how that alone could make her happy; and how his arms felt around her.

'He feels safe; feels like home. I'm actually home now…'

(Note: Awww. Ain't that sweet? Yeah, yeah, I know Mai would probably not do that but she's really out of it, remember. Anywho, please R 'n R.)

(Note2: For all those reading my fic 'Capsized', expect a new chappie soon. Hopefully with some T/Y or T/S or something not J/M XDD 'cause I promised y'all I would.)