I don't own Eva, it is the property of Gainax. All the characters…blah-blah, you know, I am poor anyways. So what are they going to take? This isn't even my computer…^_^

For Fear of What?

The sun was low as it cast its last, few, dying rays upon Tokyo-3. The streets were abuzz with activity as people began their Friday nights. Scurrying about in fragile lives.

But not everyone was willing to go out and 'live the night life'.

Rei stood by her window looking out at the industrial part of her neighborhood. She felt restless; there had been no angel attacks for, what could have been weeks. She didn't know, she was home for recovery and was completely cut-off from the outside world, but that was the only way she ever lived. She didn't have any visitors, (not that she ever did), not even a call from Dr. Akagi.

Rei lay slowly down, careful not to arouse the beast of pain that slept dormant in her arm. She sighed as thoughts began flooding her mind; thoughts of the people she knew, but the person the appeared the most to her was no longer Commander Ikari, but his son. He was the only person to ever treat her nice, not like some puppet, or some doll, but like an actual person.

Her cheeks turned crimson as she began to wonder where the Third Child was at this moment. The images disappeared as she realized what she was doing.

"Why do I blush when I think of Ikari-kun?"

She said aloud to the empty apartment, half expecting an answer. She felt lonely and wanted companionship.

"Do I? Is that what I wish? A 'companion'?"

She spoke again to no one.

She looked up at the clock; it was 7:28 p.m.

She stood and moved to her nightstand, she picked up her medication and begun the perilous struggle to open the tiny, orange, container.

A knock at the door startled Rei, but she ignored the possible visitor, and continued grappling with the bottle.

"Ayanami?" Shinji's voice reached Rei's acute hearing, it was a voice of caring. "Ayanami? May I come in?" Shinji questioned the door.

Rei moved quicker in her attempts to obtain her medication using only one hand. But in her fumbling, Rei hit her fingers, pain shot through her arm and she let out a cry of pain.

Shinji worried by the screech, pushed open the door. Rei turned her head towards the opening door, the pill bottle dropped from her hand, medicine spilled out, scattering out on the floor, like a tiny multi-colored galaxy being formed at your feet. Shinji rushed in, looking for some sign of an attacker, but there was no such intruder, all he saw was Rei, knelt down, picking up the pills that had dotted the floor.

"Ayanami?" Rei's head was faced down concentrating on the tedious chore of picking up and cleaning off every single one of the tablets.

He looked at her, thinking of what to say, wanting to be a comforting person.

"You know, you can ask for help. I am…willing to help you."

Rei looked at him for the first time since he had arrived and nodded.

Shinji knelt beside her and started sweeping them into his hand.

"Ikari-kun?" Rei asked without slowing. Shinji looked up questioning like.

"Would…you help…me replace my bandages?" She felt relief as she got it all out. Shinji smiled, "Oh, of course I will." Rei picked up the last of the medication, setting two aside for now. Her hand hurt a lot, it was a throbbing, white, almost blinding pain, and she noticed she needed to wash her arm too.

Shinji returned with medical gauze and a washbasin, from the kitchen, he slowly unwrapped her arm in a very delicate manner, so as not to cause any further hurt. As he did this he stared at her flawless white skin, so creamy, and pure.

Rei looked down at him, wanting to say something, but no words would come to her semi-pursed lips. Shinji dipped the washcloth into the warm water and lightly began scrubbing her tender arm, very gentle. The water felt great, it was soothing and relaxing to Rei.

Shinji just stared, fixated on the way the hairs would be matted then bristle up as he wiped. Rei, while Shinji's head was turned towards his work, allowed herself a small smile, feeling good, and cared for. Shinji finished and looked up, catching this rare moment of emotion, locking gazes. Rei blushed and turned her head away, realizing she had made a mistake. "You have very beautiful eyes Ayanami." Shinji said as he faced back down, wrapping the sore appendage. Rei's cheeks darkened more so.

With out looking back up at her, he said, "Are you always so independent?" The color drained from her cheeks, as if she had been offended, she was taken back by the question. "Yes." Quick, simple, and straight to the point, Shinji would expect no other type of response from the First Child. That was the end of that topic and conversation; Shinji knew it before he asked.

"Thank you Ikari-kun." Rei said with an expressionless face. And with a hand on his shoulder slowly but efficiently ushered him out the door, Shinji realizing this simply said, "Okay, see you later Ayanami." He smiled and left. She closed the door with an exasperated sigh. Alone. Again.

She moved to the bed and laid down, head buried in pillows, thinking.

"Do I care for Ikari-kun?" she asked the empty room, hoping to fend off the loneliness, but it was useless, she couldn't keep it up all night, so she took the only other alternative; sleep. 9:16 p.m. it was time to sleep, "Good." She said as she drifted off to the nothingness that awaited her. No dreams, just sleep, until tomorrow. She would have to go back to school tomorrow.

Written by Fellheart 3/11/02-3/13/02