Kaiba walked to the podium with his head held high. He was about to announce his latest invention and a whole new tournament. A lot of hard work had gone into this holographic imaging projector. It was compact and barely larger than a cellphone. Cameras flashed as he tried to gather his thoughts. But things didn't go as planned. Suddenly things in the room seemed to sway. He tried to speak but it came out unintelligible, "Wabafa ushi oh…" Flashes of the cameras seem to brighten before things went completely dark.

"Seto!" Mokuba screamed as he ran up onto the stage, "Call an ambulance," he yelled to his older brother's secretary. Security did their best to keep the crowd under control.

A voice called from the crowd, "MOVE OUT THE WAY, I'M A DOCTOR!"

Mokuba looked up at the owner of that voice and was shocked to see Téa Gardener. She placed two fingers on his neck, there wasn't a pulse so she started to perform CPR. It wasn't long before the EMT arrived. As they loaded Kaiba into the Ambulance, she called out to Mokuba, "Mokuba, come with me. The EMT's need as much space in the ambulance as possible. I will get you to the hospital."

He climbed into the car and mumbled a thank you. "What's wrong with him?" Mokuba asked in tears as he sat in the car.
Téa swallowed hard as she kept her eyes on the road, "I won't know for certain until they run some test Mokuba. But from the looks of it he had a heart attack or a stroke. Has he said or did anything out of the ordinary lately?"

Mokuba thought hard and answered, "He did mention his left side of his body felt weak this morning. He warned me to avoid him in case he had the flu. He also seemed to be a little clumsy and confused this morning. After we ate breakfast, he asked me where his bedroom was. I knew there was something wrong with him, but I also knew he wouldn't listen if I tried to stop him from going to work. This is all my fault." Tears started to roll down his eyes.

Téa tightened her grip on the steering wheel, she knew how much Kaiba meant to Mokuba, "Mokuba, your brother is old enough to make his own decisions. Even if you would have tried to convince him, he never would have listened. This isn't your fault Mokie."

…..

The Surgeon came out after the surgery and confirmed that Kaiba had a stroke. Téa asked Mokuba to see Kaiba's medical records. Mokuba typed in a passcode on his laptop and pulled up Kaiba's records for Téa to look over. His diet (despite being skinny as a rail) was terrible, he never exercised, had high blood pressure, worked long hours, and had night terrors that disrupted his sleep. It was unbelievable that he could have this kind of trouble at 27.

"Mokuba, when your brother wakes up from this surgery, he has to start living better. This medical record is practically a recipe for a stroke. He is very likely to have speech and mobility problems. He is likely going to need speech therapy, physical therapy, and around the clock care. I know he will never admit to it, but he will probably need emotional support as well," Téa explained.

Mokuba nodded and asked, "Will you do it?"

Téa was taken back by his question and answered, "No offense Mokuba, but I don't think your brother will want me to help him with anything to do with emotions. He never really liked me to begin with."

"No no no, I mean help him around the clock. You just came home after you graduated at DCU (Domino City University) am I right?" Mokuba asked

Téa tried to answer, but she was interrupted, "Well yes but…"

"But, nothing. I am offering you a job here Téa. I trust you and although Kaiba probably won't like it, I know he trusts you too. Besides, you know that we will pay way better than any hospital will." Mokuba interrupted.

Téa thought about it. He was right, she needed a job. She looked down at her engagement ring from Yugi and thought, 'This could be a good start from us.' She then smiled and replied, "There is no denying that you two are brothers. You could sell a steak to a vegan. Okay, Mokuba I will do it, but your brother is not going to be happy about it."

"I know he doesn't want help, but he needs it," Mokuba then asked, "Would you stay with me here tonight Téa. I'm scared."

Téa nodded and replied, "What are friends for? Let me just call Yugi and let him know where I am."

…

The next day, Yugi showed up at the hospital with a dozen doughnuts. Téa stood up and gave him a kiss, "Thanks Sweetie." She took a bite and continued, "Mokuba just offered me a job caring for Kaiba. Are you okay with it?"

Yugi nodded and replied, "Sure, how is he doing?"

Mokuba answered, "We don't know yet."

Yugi clicked his tongue and said, "Well babe, I am not going to be home until really late tonight. I'm going out with the guys tonight. Don't wait up for me."

Téa frowned, 'he sure has been going out a lot lately,' she thought to herself. "Okay Yugi," I will have dinner in the fridge. You can just heat it up when you get home." She gave him a kiss and said, "I love you."

Yugi straightened his coat and replied, "I will see you soon. Take care."

Mokuba watched the whole interaction and thought it looked strange. He looked over to Téa who looked both hurt and confused. After Yugi left Mokuba asked, "Téa, is there something going on with you and Yugi. I have never seen him act so distant towards you."

Téa shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I noticed it too, I think he is just stressed out about planning the wedding. Cold feet maybe?"

Mokuba nodded. At that moment, the nurse walked up and said to Mokuba and Téa, "Mr. Kaiba is awake. We are evaluating him right now but you can come in."

Téa and Mokuba walked in, "Mr. Kaiba, do you know where you are?" they heard the doctor say.

Kaiba's eyes wondered around the room but he couldn't move and couldn't speak. The only sound that came out when he tried, was a wheezing sound. That was when he noticed Téa, 'What is Yugi's cheerleader doing here?' he wondered.

"Can you understand what I am asking you Mr. Kaiba?" the doctor asked.

When Kaiba didn't move or speak the doctor pursed his lips together and said, "Well, we know he can't move or speak yet. But I can't tell if he is comprehending what I am saying."

Téa looked him over and had an idea, she sat on the side of his bed and asked, "Kaiba, do you understand and what the doctor is saying? Blink twice for yes, and once for no."

Kaiba blinked twice for yes. She turned to the doctor and the doctor looked annoyed, "Excuse me Miss, but I am the doctor here. Chances are that was totally by chance. Try again."

If Kaiba could frown, he would have at that point. For once Gardener has a good idea and the doctor is questioning it?!

Téa rolled her eyes and asked, "Kaiba, is your brother's name Mokuba? Blink twice for yes and once for no." Kaiba blinked twice and she continued, "Okay Kaiba, now the last thing I am going to ask you to do is count. Can you blink 5 times for me?" He did and she turned back to the doctor. "He understands what you are saying. Now what do you need to tell him?"

"Mr. Kaiba, you are going to need many months of recovery and around the clock care. You are going to need to hire a physical therapist, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, and a nurse when you return home. Do you understand?" The doctor asked. Just like before Kaiba blinked twice. The doctor then turned to Mokuba and said, "I am going to give you time alone with him."

Mokuba walked up to his brother and said, "Seto, I am so relieved your alive. You had me so scared big bro. You need to start taking care of yourself."

Téa looked into Kaiba's eye and sensed he felt guilty about worrying his brother. She let out a breath and ran her hand through his hair soothingly, "Don't worry Kaiba, I am going to take care of you and your brother while you're sick. But he is right, you need to take a break and start taking care of yourself."

Kaiba stared Téa down and thought, 'What do you mean you are going to take care of us both? Please tell me Mokuba didn't hire you. She is going to annoy me to high heavens… Does she have to be touching me right now?"

Téa started to laugh. She knew what was bothering him, "Alright, you grump…I am going to stop touching you."

Kaiba's attention turned to Mokuba as he started to speak, "Téa just finished medical school a few months ago. I've decided to hire her to take care of you while I deal with the company in the morning. She has had years of on hands experience and I trust her," he paused for a moment to see if his older brother reacted and continued, "I am going to also have some therapist to come in and see you. Téa will practice the exercises with you a few times a day, but I want you to do it with a therapist at least once a day."

Téa looked at Kaiba and his eyelids appeared to be growing heavy. She stood up from the bed and said, "Mokuba, your brother is looking tired. Why don't you stay with him, while I go pick up some medical supplies that he is going to require at home."

Mokuba nodded and asked, "What store are you going to and what do you need? I can give them a call ahead of time and they can gather the supplies for you. I can also transfer the money to them before you get there."

Téa wrote out a list of items and handed it to Mokuba. "Hugo's Medical Supply Center," Téa answered, "I also have some things at home I need to grab. Do you want me to wear a smock when I am caring for him, or is it okay to wear regular clothes."

Mokuba answered, "Your practically family Téa, just wear what makes you comfortable."

She nodded and said, "I'll be back soon."