Chapter Two: The disappearance of Adrien Agreste

The first thing Adrien heard was a faint beeping. The young man opened his eyes to find himself staring up at a white ceiling, an IV bag barely visible at the corner of his right eye. His head was so fogged that none of this registered with him at first, until sharp images of Ladybug in tears flooded his mind.

With a light gasp, Adrien shot up from what appeared to be a hospital bed. His sudden movement forcing a jolt of pain to run up his right side. He winced and looked down, noting the bandages that no doubt covered his wound.

Looking around the room quickly now, he could confirm he was in a hospital. A private room of course, but a hospital nonetheless. He was panicked for sure, but the young model tried to steady his mind and remember what he could.

A blurred vision of ladybug as she ran away, luring the culprit from him after she hid him in the alley. It was in bits and pieces, but he remembered enough to alarm him.

"Plagg!" He called out in an urgent whisper. He couldn't be sure who could hear him.

"Adrien!" Plagg answered as the Kawmi flew out from a hospital drawer and rushed to his keeper, hugging his cheek. "I was so worried! You were out for days!"

This information only served to panic Adrien more. Days?! What could have happened in all that time? Was ladybug okay? Was she hurt somewhere? Could she have been injured that very night and he was helpless to assist her?

"Plagg, what happened while I was out?" He asked quickly.

The kwami shook his head, "I don't know. I've been here with you. I tried to turn on the news whenever those doctors left the room, but..." Plagg hesitated.

"But what?!" Insisted Adrien.

"...there's been no sign of Ladybug since that night. The news has been reporting on crime and some...murders. They have been questioning why Ladybug and Chat Noir have gone missing..."

Adrien felt his heart drop. He knew why Chat Noir was no where to be seen, but where was Ladybug? Where was she? Was she safe? Was she captured? Or...worse?

He looked out his hospital window and could see the night sky. He was in the middle of Paris for sure and after looking at the clock, could confirm it was well after midnight. It wasn't until he swung his feet over the edge of the bed that Plagg spoke again.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing?"

"We have to go and find her," Adrien replied evenly, a look of resolve in his eyes. Though even as he made up his mind, the wound at his side stung him painfully. He clearly hadn't fully healed.

"I know you're worried, but you have to rest! You're no good to her like this," insisted Plagg.

"If I can move, I can help her."

Plagg buzzed around Adrien, voicing his protest while the young man removed the IV from his arm. He was able to tune the kwami out as he rose from the bed and raided the hospitals cupboards and drawers. He first covered the IV mark and wrapped it quickly to stop the bleeding. Of course it hurt, but his concern for his love was enough to get him past it.

Luckily enough for him, his fathers assistant was diligent. Inside a closet next to his private bathroom, were a fresh set of clothes and a large duffle bag full of some personal items. He grabbed the clothes and emptied the bag, replacing the hand held video games, school work, and gadgets, (most likely packed to pass the time in the hospital when he recovered.) He left it all on the floor and packed his clothes, shoving in as many hospital supplies as possible. He made sure to pack bandages, wraps, hospital tape, and anything else they had close by.

If he was going to leave now, he had to make sure he could treat his own wound and perhaps be prepared if Ladybug needed some bandages herself.

"No..." Adrien whispered finally, closing his eyes tight as he tried to shake the thought of an injured Ladybug from his mind. She was okay. She had to be.

"Adrien, please, just get back into bed," Plagg pleaded once again, trying to point out the blood that had dropped to the floor when Adrien pulled out his IV. His partner was clearly not listening, but he had to try. He was in no condition to leave now, let alone fight. They still didn't even really know what they were actually up against.

"Plagg, transform me!" Adrien said simply, not giving the Kwami any more time to argue. The cat-like Kwami was forced into the ring that Adrien wore, transforming the boy into Chat Noir.

Once the transformation was complete, Chat took a deep breath. He could no longer see the wrappings for his wounds, but he could certainly still feel its faint sting. He was much more durable as Chat than he was as simply Adrien Agreste. So at the very least, the pain seemed to dull a bit.

"Sorry Plagg, but she's already been alone for too long," he declared softly. Grabbing the duffle bag, he made his way to the large hospital window and opened it up. Looking back only once before he jumped out, heading for the nearby roof of another building. This would surely cause a panic. People would be looking for Adrien Agreste and he may even come under suspicion. His identity could be questioned, but even thinking of all those possibilities, it would be worth it just to see his love again.

Nothing was going to be the same from now on and he knew that. Everything was going to change. Adrien Agreste was about to disappear, murders were taking place in Paris, and Ladybug was missing. That mad woman had changed their lives when she attacked that night, but he wouldn't let her hurt his princess. His life was never going to be the same now, but it would all be worth it if she was safe. As long as he could find her and hold her in his arms, he didn't care if everyone knew who he was, he didn't care that Adrien had to go missing. Making a dash from rooftop to rooftop, Chats first destination was the alley where he last saw Ladybug. Perhaps there would be a clue to where his love had gone.

"Don't worry, my lady. I'll find you," Chat muttered to himself as he rushed through the night, determined that he would not return to his life as Adrien until Ladybug was back in his arms.

A/N: I'm so sorry that this chapter came so late. My family has been through a lot in the last year and things have only just begun to return to a calm. It's been really hard for me.

But I'm glad I can get back to writing and back to the things that make me smile. I hope you'll continue to read the story as it unfolds and leave your reviews. I love to hear your opinions. :)