I was never satisfied with the explanation (or lack thereof) of what happened to Kotetsu after Episode 13 so I wrote a fanfic of what I thought might have happened. I'm no expert in medicine so if anything is wrong I apologize. This fanfic is the first one I ever started writing. Please rate and comment.

Hospitals are boring.

Kotetsu had been in a few in his day for various reasons, including staying by his wife's side, minor scrapes and bruises that required a little more than bandages, and more serious long term care.

The last time he was in the hospital was before he partnered with Bunny for the first time. He was attempting to rescue passengers from a private fishing cruise when his Hundred Power ran out.

Normally it wouldn't have been a big deal, but Kotetsu was not the world's greatest swimmer, and you can only get so far on muscles and flailing alone. In the end a piece of debris hit him in the chest and broke one of his ribs. This resulted in a pierced lung and a hospital stay of three days (thank God for hundred power's healing applications). It was one of the longest he had been in the hospital and still completely conscious.

Most of his stays were due to head injuries and he was released fairly soon after waking up. Each time he wasn't allowed to do anything fun while he was a guest.

Wheelchair racing had been frowned upon by the day nurses, and when he tried later at night he had his chair revoked and a threat of being restrained in the bed if he tried it again.

Using the oxygen mask he was given on his second most recent stay to blow up a balloon for a kid who was having her appendix out was also met with chastisement, although he was sure he got a smile as well.

Going outside was definitely not okay with any of the staff. Just a little walk in the garden (he might have thought about hopping the wall, but he never quite made it to the gates) and nurses went ballistic, yelling at him about ripping out needles and stretching stitches and on and on.

Nothing fun was ever permitted in a hospital and Kotetsu was inevitably left alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that mostly slid toward the morbid track, like wondering about how Tomoe felt when she was left alone while Kotetsu was off saving people he didn't know. Was she lonely or did she know that Kotetsu needed to save someone that day? Did she realize that the only way he could forgive himself, or at least keep going, was to save as many people as he could? No matter the injury Kotetsu always found himself going over these things in his head whenever he was left alone in a hospital

This time when he woke up he was groggy and mostly out of it. He knew two things for sure though, he was in a hospital (the smell was always a dead giveaway) and that Bunny was talking to him. Kotetsu had a hard time making out exactly what it was he was saying, but he had listened to Bunny lecture him enough to know what his voice sounded like.

Slowly, and with great effort, he managed to crack one eye open and then the other. Kotetsu tried to demand what had happened or more specifically when he could leave, but no sound came out and he felt like he was trying to chew on something.

Bunny gave him a confused look and then informed him that he had tubes down his throat, and he was in the hospital. Kotetsu was slightly confused as to why his partner insisted on informing him about things that he was perfectly capable of deducing on his own, but got an even bigger surprise when the blonde continued.

"Old man, what happened to Kotetsu? the currently mute patient wondered, "you are never allowed to scare me like that again!" Kotetsu raised his eyebrow in a clear, if silent, declaration of, Bunny you do know that I'm a hero and that's what I do, right? Barnaby just snapped, "You know what I mean. If you ever try to die on me again, or even look like you are dying I will never forgive you."

"Mr. Brooks it's alright now," the doctor stated in a clear effort to reassure the younger hero, "Mr. Tiger is on his way to recovering. Now I would like to run a few tests to determine what the next steps in that process will be, and the sooner Mr. Tiger can get back to sleep the better." Tiger threw his partner a clear look of pleading, Get me out of here please! Bunny was not amused, "Don't give me that look Old Man." So Wild Tiger threw him a glare that was accusing. Bunny I am a hero and I need to get out of here so I can go and get back to saving people, the look said.

"Yes, I realize that you are a hero, but you jumped in with no plan, as usual, and got yourself pounded into the ground and so you have to deal with the consequences. Plus I have to make a few phone calls and I know that not being able to input your usual snide comments will just drive you crazy. I'll be back in a minute," and Barnaby stepped out into the hallway to inform the other heroes of the good news that the veteran had awoken at last.

That left Kotetsu alone with the doctors and their tests. The first doctor introduced himself as a Dr. Lewis and his assistant as a Dr. Peterson. Dr. Peterson was a female and seemed far more interested in her charts and monitors than she was in Kotetsu.

Thinking this was a good sign, Kotetsu started to relax a little bit, until he spotted the needle. Now Kotetsu was a brave hero, but everybody has a weakness. His just happened to have a tiny, almost nonexistent, itty bitty fear of needles (he swears it hardly affects him. Any and all color loss to his skin or jumping of his flesh is always a reaction to something else). He was pretty sure that even Mr. Legend was not a fan of them.

As the offending piece in the doctor's hand got closer Kotetsu started to shiver because that was about as much movement as his body was allowing him. His eyes and face were always very expressive though (Bunny chastised him whenever he made a face at the cameras) and Dr. Lewis paused. Sighing, Dr. Lewis explained that Kotetsu was only on what he called a "sedation vacation." He was still far too injured to be allowed to function independently for fear he would fight the breathing tubes and injure himself more. When Kotetsu's eyes got even rounder and his heart monitor sped up the doctor was forced to continue.

"Mr. Tiger I cannot, in good conscious, allow you to further harm yourself due to stress and general carelessness. Even one injudicious move at this juncture could send you back to the beginning of your recovery. Given your past records in hospitals, and yes I have heard about the oxygen mask balloon animal, I just cannot allow you on your own. I also cannot afford to have a single nurse watching you at all times. This is why we will be putting you back under sedation for a short period. No I can't tell you how long you will be sedated," Dr. Lewis replied to the How long will that be? pleading look, "but I can tell you that the more you cooperate the quicker your recovery will be."

Sometime during the conversation the doctor must have used the needle in Kotetsu's IV because he could feel himself getting sleepy.

Sure enough, when he looked over the needle was empty. The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was a stern warning from Dr. Peterson. "Mr. Wild Tiger I must tell you that any and all use of Hundred Power in your recovery is strictly prohibited. The nature of your injuries made it necessary to insert a Swan-Ganz Catheter. Basically you have a tube through the pulmonary artery in your heart through to your lungs. Any acceleration of the heart could cause a fatal tear in the artery. Once the catheter is out your artery could become sensitive or even inflamed. There's no telling what your Hundred Power might do, so until you have permission you are not to activate. Do I make myself clear?"

When Kotetsu's response is a few lip movements and sleepy eyes Dr. Peterson scolds, "Remember, no talking. I will have this conversation with you again each time you wake up until I am sure that you have understood. Nurses also have a direct link to your heart monitor just in case. I too have heard of your reckless behavior, and I want you to know that no patient under my watch will be allowed to put himself at such risk. You have been warned."

With that sentence, and the knowledge that there would be very little fun to be had in the near future, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi drifted off into a dreamless sleep.