Ok, My first fic... EVER... So please don't burn me... but feel free to leave flames... and please critique.

--

Disclaimer;; I don't own Tin Man... But I wouldn't mind owning Glitch and Wyatt...

--


--

It was over. The Wicked Witch of the West had fallen. DG couldn't believe it. She had defeated the Witch… with the help of her friends, of course.

Spinning slightly, she watched them walk out onto the terrace, Glitch with that reassuring smile of his, and Raw shyly kneading his hands.

Instinctively, it seemed, she turned to Cain. She could see him trying fitfully to maintain composure.

Maybe he was hurt?

Moving forward and resting her hand on his shoulder DG felt Cain stiffen even more under her touch then more still as she half hugged him. That's to be expected, though, not like he's a physical man. DG concluded, letting go. She smiled half heartedly up at him.

Beside him was Raw who was still nervously glancing around the plateau at Azkadellia. "It's alright. She's fine now." DG whispered, giving Raw a tight embrace and watching him give his warm smile that could brighten a room.

She turned then to Glitch, erm, Ambrose now, she supposed.

With his wild hair, zipper partly opened, and his lop-sided smile… he's still Glitch.

'He could never get rid of that goofy smile… even if he tried.' She thought fondly.

Glitch raised his eyebrows questioningly. "I know you're not forgetting me." He smirked in that snarky way of his. Laughing, DG through herself into his open arms. Squeezing him tightly DG felt him shaking slightly.

"We'd better head down" Queen Lavender said walking through the doors. "Make sure the O.Z. is still in one peace" Ahamo agreed ushering Az out. Glitch loyally followed them out, thinking DG was going with them… but her eyes were focused on Cain. Glitch turned around; shocked that he was the only one walking away. "DG?" he asked, turning everyone's attention to her.

Wide eyed, DG walked up to Cain's right shoulder. "You were shot." she whispered wide-eyed.

Gazing distractedly down at his shoulder; "It's nothing, princess." He said indifferently, giving a desperate look at the door. He didn't need her to see him in anguish; He was always the protector not the weakling.

"Nothing?" She asked gazing hard with a furrowed brow at the hole in his coat that was slowly seeping blood into the material. She looked desperately at Raw. "Can you help him?" Cain heaved a great sigh, "You don't--"

"Please." DG interjected. Obediently Raw walked up to Cain as he rolled his eyes beneath his hat. "Raw can't heal over bullet"

"You could use your magic, DG, to remove the bullet..." Glitch said wondering closer, receiving a glare from Cain. DG gazed up at Cain with her guarded expression. "Fine, kid." He relented. "Knock yourself out." He said, gesturing to his shoulder.

Trying to focus her energy onto the lesion, her mind twisted around it in every direction… but her psyche couldn't grasp onto it. DG just couldn't get through to the bullet.

"Erm..." DG's face contorted questioningly, poking at the jacket. "Yes?" Cain raised his brows. "You… err… need to remove your jacket so I can have contact with the bullet." She blushed.

Slowly and eyeing her wearily, he slid off his trench coat and unbuckled his holster giving her better access to the wound. Hearing Glitch give an exasperated sigh and turning away in annoyance at Cain. "The shirt too, pretty boy." He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes in aggravation.

Shyly glancing around the room "DG… I'll get this fixed later" He whispered awkwardly. "Do you want it to get infected or not!" She said petulantly.

Finally submitting, he unbuttoned his shirt down to his naval, giving her enough access to his shoulder.

Softly, as to not exacerbate his wound, DG's fingers numbly touch his collar bone.

In the background, Glitch's breath seemed to be stolen directly from his lungs. Why couldn't he breathe? What was wrong with him? Had one of his synapses disconnected?

Slowly, DG began to peel back the collar to Cain's shirt and Glitch felt like he had been cut open again. This time the zipper would appear down his chest. Glitch's mind was convinced that if he looked down he would see his clothes stained red but he was transfixed on one thing… DG's innocent glance up at Cain's face.

DG was calculating Cain's reaction, but his eyes were completely focused on a random object across in room.

Eventually, his shirt was hanging off his shoulder; I successfully managed that without causing him any significant hurt, she thought proudly.

"Alright, this may hurt." She said warning him. "Do your worst, Princess." He said catching her glance. It seemed to take a couple minutes but DG looked away, blushing. Standing up to her full height, she raised her hands flat to his shoulder, taking a second to feel the velvet-like flesh beneath her finger tips. 'So much for rough around the edges' DG thought, sarcastically. After regaining her focus on Cain's wounded shoulder a silvery light protruded from her palm.

Cain growled as he could feel the bullet circulating in his body. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, he made no other indication that he was suffering.

Glitch felt a guilty pleasure of sadistic joy at watching Cain suffer. Glitch would have gladly taken that bullet for DG, 'But noooo' his half-a-mind teased him. 'Cain always has to be the hero.' Glitch thought glaring at him.

With a sudden lurch, the bullet was released from its lodging in Cain's shoulder. Hunching over briefly like he was just relinquished from a vice grip, Cain hissed in brief anguish, yet regained his composer quickly. Straightening himself, he shifted his eyes form DG to Raw.

DG backed away and let Raw heal him. As Raw closed his eyes with his hands over Cain's wound, now… DG swore if she looked intently she could see the strings of flesh entwining together and pulling the wound closed.

'Gross' she shuddered.

As the last strings crossed, Cain let out his breath that he had apparently been holding, stifling the sting.

"Better?" DG asked.

"Y-eah" Cain stuttered slightly out of breath, his chest heaving, staring her down.

Glitch glared moodily around the room, like a child neglected... "Can we go now?" He asked slightly frustrated.

DG's attention snapped to Glitch "Yeah. Sure." She glanced back to Cain and rested her hand on his arm. "You're alright?" Seeing him nod, she thanked Raw for his help.

Hearing Glitch's aggrandized sigh, she turned to him with an impish grin then lightly sauntered over to him and guided him to the door. "Finally" Glitch over-exaggeratedly drawled.

DG pushed him playfully yet roughly through the door but Glitch locked both hands onto the door frame and refused to move. Laughing and smiling broadly at her childish antics as she tried stubbornly to push him through... But he was stronger than her.

Finally giving up, DG stomped her foot childishly. Laughing a deep uncharacteristic-Glitch laugh he playfully slung his arm around her shoulder, pranced out the door and practically skipped down the stair-well.