**sensitive material - suicide attempt - student/teacher relationship**
Author's P.O.V.
It was one of the rare days that Dr Stein had to do whatever he pleased. He wasn't teaching and he didn't have any reports to fill out for Lord Death; he'd even finished his last set of experiments and was waiting for a new theory to grip his curiosity.
It was a rare day indeed, in the fact that Spirit couldn't remember a time he had willing gone to the Patchwork Laboratory to visit the genius within; he usually hid at every opportunity until the dark shadow of his previous Meister had long since gone. But there he was, hand raised to knock on the stitched doors as they swung forward, the owner gesturing for Spirit to enter.
The DeathScythe didn't question, he knew the scientist would have felt his soul wavelength before he got to the door. This was a visit he needed, not for himself but for his daughter.
Her friends were at a loss, Maka had grown distant, she couldn't resonate with Soul effectively and had drained her body in a single training practice without a thought. There was no question that she was on a destructive path but no-one could get through to her, find out her problems, help her. He was here to seek help from his... friend? Yes. After the last few years Stein had definitely done more than enough to earn that.
The scientist cleared his throat, seizing the scythe from his thoughts and held his usual blank expression. He took in the sight of his former weapon; his clothes were creased, a six o'clock shadow forming and his eyes were lined with shadows and wrinkles that weren't there the last time they spoke.
"Sempai? Is something troubling you?" He allowed a slight hint of concern weigh into his words, enough for the weapons eyes to water slightly.
"It's Maka. Don't tell me you haven't noticed anything strange." The older man's face hardened slightly; almost as if he was daring the younger to contradict him.
"You're right, I have, but I don't understand why you're here." Stein tilted his head, the light glinting off them so the gold-green irises could be seen, so his concern and curiosity were visible.
"I want you to see if you can help her, find out what's wrong so that we can sort this all out and have her back. She won't talk to anyone. Stein, please, she's my daughter. She's all I have left." A single tear made it's way slowly down the Death Weapon's face and the Meister said nothing, just nodded, straightened out his lab coat and headed for the door.
It was the weekend so naturally the students were out in the city, Maka's group would either be at home or at the basketball courts playing for silly bets. He decided to try Soul's apartment first, if Maka was distancing herself then she wouldn't be at the courts. As he walked thoughts danced through his head; why was she distancing herself? What happened to make her so destructive? She was always bluntly open and even when she wasn't it was all written across her face. You could read her life in her eyes and the crease of her mouth.
Reaching the door, he put out the cigarette that he had been unconsciously smoking and knocked on the door gently. His hand had barely drawn back when the door opened to reveal the white-haired weapon that was Soul Eater Evans, the weapon partner to the girl in question. Soul looked pale, even by his standards, but stepped back to allow the good doctor entrance.
"I take it you know why I'm here?" The scythe nodded.
"Spirit told me he was going to ask for your help." Stood here, Stein could see the toll this had taken on the young man. His eyes were dull, skin was pale and a tread pattern had been worn into the carpeting from pacing.
"Where is Maka?" Franken straightened slightly and looked round. Soul pointed a thumb towards a back room before putting his hands back in his pocket.
"Bathroom." The teacher nodded, motioning for the student to remain in the lounge whilst he spoke to the little Meister.
As he stood outside the bathroom he realised that he was at a loss as to what he was going to do. He didn't know what she was doing in there and didn't want to barge in at a moment that could be embarrassing for the pair of them. He decided to knock and go from there.
Raising his hand he rapped lightly on the white glossed door but received no answer. The doctor repeated this twice but earned the same results. He wasn't even sure she was in there until his soul perception confirmed the scythe's statement; Maka was indeed in the bathroom. Yes, her soul was there, weak but it was- wait. Weak? But that only happens- dots started connecting in Stein's brain and before he knew it the door was no longer an obstacle.
The scene before him was enough for the professor to stop and stare. Painkiller sleeves littered the side and the floor; the centre of which was occupied by a small figure, blonde hair allayed around her, eyes closed, shallow breaths and a fluttering soul wavelength. Rolling her onto her back, he could see the slight red stain on her shirt cuffs and the tears that were still wet on her face.
Lifting the frail girl up into his arms he ran towards the DWMA infirmary; placing her on a bed before finding the medication and equipment needed to pump her stomach. Stein opened the girls airways and inserted a plastic tube down into her stomach and administered saline through it, keeping a suction device close by in case of vomiting. After removing the majority of the offensive substance, the doctor poured a liquid charcoal mixture down the tube to help negate the effects of the remaining drugs. All he could do now was clean her wrists and wait.
Stein's P.O.V.
My mind replayed the horrific scene. It was nothing I hadn't seen before but the fact that it was a student I was very much fond of was the worst part. Why didn't I see any of this sooner? I should have acted or at least tried to talk to her. And now there was nothing to do but wait.
AN/ Comments make me write faster :)