Disclaimer: Still not mine. This story is written for entertainment purposes only.

Cain leaned against the windowsill, looking out over the castle's front gardens and main driveway, guarded by its spiked gate and leading around to the back of the castle. The suns were setting, and he vaguely wondered where three days had gone.

Behind him, DG shifted uncomfortably in her sleep, a hoarse cough racking her lungs and shaking her tiny frame as she pulled the blankets closer around herself. It was this most recent symptom that had brought a serious set to the doctor's face three days before, the one that had allowed the white-coated woman to confirm Glitch's diagnosis. Up until then, Wyatt had still held out hope that DG might have something other than the frightening illness that Glitch had explained to him.

"It's what's known as a mathimatikal virus," the advisor had murmured to his fiancée and the Tin Man as they sat in DG's suite, waiting for the doctor. "The older a person is when they catch it, the longer it takes for the disease to run its full course." He had sighed, his dark eyes tired and his face paler than it normally was, if that was possible. "In the case of Fangpox, after a standard of three days for the virus to become accustomed to its host, each stage of the illness increases by a day for every annual of the person's life. In DG's case, since she's twenty annuals old, it was twenty days of incubation. During that time, we saw symptoms that seemed unrelated to each other, because only the less severe ones ever occurred. Today, the twenty-first day, started the virus's active stage. Her symptoms have started showing up together, and she's starting to exhibit the more severe ones. After the virus's twenty active days, it will die off on its own, and it will take another twenty days for it to work its way out of her and for her to fully recover." The advisor had frowned, and the look in his eyes told Cain that the man was steeling himself for what he was about to say. "The symptoms, in particular the fever, can become so severe that a person will . . .die. The severity can increase and decrease over the course of the active period, but all it takes is two days of them being too strong. To date, no one over the age of ten has ever survived the illness."

Cain had wanted to punch the man out for talking that way, as though DG was just some nameless research subject or a numbered patient that only provided interest through an impersonal chart. He had managed to stop himself, however, when he realized that Glitch was masking his emotions the only way he could, by hiding behind the research.

They had debated over telling her, between giving her all the information about what she had or hiding it from her and pretending that everything would be fine. The argument had ended in a stalemate, to be left alone for the time being while they kept the young princess as comfortable as possible. But the truth still hung in the air that, should her fever rise too much or any of her other symptoms become too severe, they would need to take her to the hospital. There was only so much that a few people could do. Since then, Glitch had been trying to figure out how to get in touch with Raw, but the land of the Viewers was hard enough to locate without needing to find one specific individual. So they all had been sending mental messages toward the gifted Viewer, hoping that they found him and he would make his way back to Central City. Cain highly doubted that the furball would be able to do anything for DG, but he knew that Raw would want to be there.

DG shifted again, another cough rumbling in her chest, a thick sound that had Wyatt turning away from the window as the young woman curled up in her sleep, her lungs fighting to rid themselves of the viscous substance that had formed. He picked up a small suction bulb from where it was sitting on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, draping one arm over her shoulders as her eyes opened drowsily.

"Here, Deege, open your mouth."

She complied without a fight, as used to this as he was and too drained for the embarrassment that had fueled her tired argument the day before. The small rubber bulb made quick work of the gunk she had coughed up, and Wyatt emptied it out into the garbage can he had brought from the bathroom. Dropping it back in its place, he pulled a thermometer out of the glass of water it was sitting in, drying it and glancing at it briefly. "Alright, sweetheart, here you go." She opened her mouth again, closing it around the thermometer when Wyatt held it out for her, shifting it around for a moment to keep it in the right place. His hand rested on hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as the faint white light flickered between them. It was still new to both of them, having this strange connection that hadn't occurred between two people in over two centuries, if Toto's records were anything to go by. They had been learning about their magic, though their lessons were often separate due to the vast differences in their gifts. As a direct descendant of the Gale line, hers was constant, ready to be used or to even lash out on its own at a moment's notice. His was the shared gift, the one that came from her magic reaching out for him when she couldn't do so herself, and as such it only appeared when he needed it, and would then disappear until he called on it again.

She was the offensive and defensive fighter, being able to turn the magic itself into a powerful weapon or shield, and could bend it to do anything and everything she needed. He was a healer and a psychic, much like Raw only lacking the empathy, and had developed an elemental edge to his gift, being able to draw out the most basic forms of magic in the OZ. She gave off a brilliant white light when they practiced, while he had begun to glow with a dark green hue. He had continued to take his lessons these past few days, though he refused to move any farther from her than just moving to the next room, and Toto had gladly complied. Had he a choice, he wouldn't have left her side even for that brief hour every day; but there was always something playing at the back of his mind when he used his gifts, as though there was a purpose for it beyond gaining control of his light. He could never tell what it was, for his magic was still too weak, but he knew that it was important. So he kept practicing, remembering that DG's life had almost been sacrificed for the gift to come to him; though he would gladly give it up if it meant she would recover.

A gentle squeeze on his fingers brought his thoughts back, and he turned to find a question in her overly-bright eyes. "No, darlin', it's not me. Our magic's doing that." His other hand brushed her bangs away from her face, resting gently on her forehead and her flushed cheeks. He took the thermometer from her mouth, holding it so it caught the last of the suns' light. "Hundred and two," he sighed. "Higher than it was this morning." He dropped it back into its glass and wrung out the washcloth that floated in the ceramic basin, laying it across the back of her neck. "Are you thirsty at all? Can I get you anything?"

"Not right now," she murmured, her voice hoarse, and a small tear trickled from her eye.

"Deege, what's wrong?" He gently wiped the tear away, then rested his hand on the pillow above her head, stroking her hair.

"I'm just tired. I've been sleeping for practically three days straight and I still feel like crap. I go between being too hot and being freezing and I'm always tired and hurting and I'm scared because I don't know what's wrong. . ." her voice broke as another cough shook through her.

"Easy, darlin', I know this is hard. But it's one of those things that you've just got to work your way through and let it run its course," he leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead. "This is one nasty virus you've caught, but here in the OZ it's one that everyone gets eventually. You never caught it as a child, and then you were sent to the Otherside, so you didn't get it until now. But once you're through this, you never have to worry about it again. " He willed himself to look into her eyes, not wanting to make a promise he might not be able to keep but knowing that it was something she needed to hear. "You're going to be fine, Deege, I promise." His thumb grazed over her knuckles, the white light between them taking on a green tinge around the edges. "Try to get some sleep, okay? You need your rest."

She nodded, blinking away a few tears. "Stay here with me?" she murmured, sounding uncertain whether he would.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart," he replied, switching the hand she was holding so he could reach over and gently rub her back. "This feel alright?" he asked quietly, knowing that the pain the virus caused could be so bad sometimes that she couldn't bear being touched. She nodded again, her hand tightening slightly on his as she blinked drowsily. He sat next to her as she slowly fell asleep, then waited until her breathing evened out and her grasp went slack. Pulling another blanket up around her shoulders as the cool night air breezed through the window, he returned to his spot at the windowsill for a moment before a door opened and closed in the next room. His first reaction was to reach for his gun, but as the room became briefly illuminated by a subtle green light he knew that there was no need for it. Moments later the bedroom door opened, and a familiar face peered in.

"Tin Man learning gift well," Raw purred as he came into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and joining him by the window.

"Thanks Furball," Cain replied, leaning against the wall. "When did you get here?"

"Just now. Felt need from friends, wanted to return."

"How's the little guy, what's his name, Kalm?"

Raw nodded, "Doing well, happy to be with pride, with family. Missed mother, father, brother."

"The squirt has a brother?" Cain asked, allowing himself a small grin.

"Baby brother, only two annual old. Learning to walk, talk, make trouble like brother."

The Tin Man chuckled at that, "Boys will be boys." His humor was short-lived, however, and he turned his gaze to the sleeping princess. "I don't suppose there's something you could do for her?"

Raw sighed, shaking his head.

"Gift is for healing wounds, cannot get rid of illness. If DG in pain, can comfort and help to sleep."

Cain mulled that over for a moment, and the Viewer felt a twinge that he recognized as heartache.

"How was it for you, Raw?"

Dark eyes regarded the human for a moment, then Raw's gaze fell to the floor.

"Raw wishes it not happen this way. Healers in tribe affected differently, virus never as severe as for others," he shuffled his feet. "Raw fifteen annuals when virus attack whole tribe."

Cain frowned, turning to face his friend.

"But Glitch said that no one over ten has ever survived."

"Glitch only know about humans. Records not exist for others, like Viewers. Raw became sick, but gift able to heal virus after five days. Went to work caring for others. Dark days, many in tribe die, many children become orphans and many parents lose children. Raw feel unfair that gift can heal own illnesses but not illnesses of others. Especially times like now, when friend fall sick." He looked back at the Tin Man. "Glitch tell Raw about argument."

Wyatt didn't need elaboration.

"What would you do? I feel like I'm stuck in the middle on this one," his voice was quiet, and Raw knew that it wasn't just so that DG could sleep. "Az doesn't want us to say anything to her; she thinks it would make DG worse if she knew what was happening to her. Glitch thinks that Deege needs to know what's going on."

"What Tin Man think?"

Cain's frown deepened, though there was only one answer that he could honestly give.

"I don't know."

Raw tilted his head curiously.

"Then what Tin Man feel?"

"That we should do what is best for DG. Whatever that is," he looked back toward the sleeping princess, suddenly realizing how small and frail she looked in the moonlight that streamed through the window. "I just hate having to give her this false hope, promising things to her that no one has any control over. She got scared today, because she didn't know what was going on. I told her that this was just a virus, one that everyone gets. I promised her that she'll be fine. I looked right into her eyes and made a promise that I can't keep. I've never done that to her before, and I hate that this is forcing me to."

"Hope helps DG, gives strength. Sometimes enough to help pull through."

"Look, Furball, what is there that we can do when there is no cure and no one over the age of ten has ever lived through it?" Cain took a step toward the Viewer, his eyes flashing in frustration and irrational anger. "Do you really expect me to believe that DG's going to be fine because of a lie I told her that gave her false hope?"

"False hope still hope, Cain, and hope not false if it gives strength," Raw didn't back down, his voice firm and his eyes glaring into Cain's. "Sometimes, it enough. When pride attacked by virus, Viewer of thirteen annuals survived that not healer, named Sol. Raw tell Sol he be okay, that he strong enough to fight virus. Sol find strength in what Raw said, even when Raw feeling guilty that he have to lie. Learned to hide guilt so Sol not know, always find strength to fight each day. Survived virus, and is now father with two sons. Raw's nephews good boys, younger one learning to get into trouble, like brother."

Cain took a step back, suddenly realizing what Raw was saying. The Viewer continued. "Raw tell brother untruth, promise not able to keep, because Raw not want to lose Sol. Best friends as cubs, Raw not want to be separated. Raw understand why Cain say same to DG."

"You think she'll be okay?"

"Raw not have gift of foresight, cannot say. But DG strong, and Raw not be surprised if survive."

Cain sighed, his eyes full of uncertainty that Raw could sense without his second-sight. DG shifted in her sleep, a quiet whimper reaching their ears. Raw glanced at the Tin Man, somewhat surprised when he didn't budge.

"She's starting to hurt again, there's nothing I can do."

Raw nodded and walked slowly over to where DG slept, resting a gentle paw on her shoulder. She jerked away from the touch at first, but the Viewer held her shoulder firmly and she gradually settled down.

"She better for while, Raw stay close to help when needed."

"Thanks, Furball," the Tin Man replied, a tired smile crossing his face.

A door opened and closed again, with a bit more force than when Raw had arrived, and the room glowed green for a moment. Cain frowned, not sure that he had sensed correctly. "The Queen and Consort are here?"

Raw closed his eyes, nodding when they opened again.

"With Glitch and Princess Azkadellia."

"Could you stay here with Deege? I don't want her to wake up and not have someone here."

The gentle Viewer nodded, pulling a chair over to the bedside and sitting down, and Cain quietly left the bedroom, blinking to let his eyes adjust in the brightly lit sitting room. "Your Majesties, Your Highness, Advisor. What may I do for you?"

In all honesty, he wasn't sure what to make of the royal family's visit. Az had, of course, been in to sit with DG several times in the past few days, giving Cain the chance to go to lessons or to simply get out of the castle for a reprieve. Glitch had stopped by, as well, mostly in the evenings when his duties at court were finished for the day. But in the three days since their daughter had fallen ill, neither the Queen nor the Consort had come to see DG. While a part of him wanted to be glad that the two finally seemed to be coming to their senses, as Az had put it, Cain couldn't help but wonder why they had suddenly decided to drop by.

"Commander Cain, how is DG?" Lavender Eyes asked quietly, and the Tin Man had to keep his eyebrow from rising on his forehead.

"Her fever's still high, and her other symptoms come and go. She's sleeping right now, but Raw just had to heal the pain that came back," he sighed. "At this rate, we'll be taking her to the hospital in another few days, we – "

"No, you won't."

This time, both eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Your Majesty?"

"You will not be taking her to the hospital. She is fine where she is."

Cain's gaze flickered briefly to the Consort and Az, and if their expressions were any indication then they were downright shocked by what the Queen was saying as well.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, if DG's symptoms become any worse she will need a doctor. Raw, Glitch, Princess Azkadellia and I are not enough to help her. Another couple of degrees and her fever could become deadly. She would be better off in a hospital." She can't possibly be thinking to uphold some sort of image with this.

"The illness my daughter has gives a very grim prognosis, Commander, surely as a parent you can understand my wishes to keep her close to home where she may have peace and be near her family."

What family would that be? Glitch, Raw and I would gladly follow DG wherever she might go. "Respectfully, Majesty, if my son were to fall ill with a disease that could possibly kill him, I would still give up everything I have if it meant getting the best care for him. Besides, there is always the chance that DG could pull through this, and getting her to a hospital where she can get proper care can increase that chance."

"You will remember, Commander, that this country is still unstable. Any sign of weakness on the part of this family could cause an uprising and destroy all I have been working for these past weeks. Should word get out that my daughter is ill, the media would turn into a circus, giving our enemies all the ammunition they would need to undermine the royal family. To show our strength, every member of this family must show how strong they can be, and sending my youngest daughter to a hospital for help with an incurable disease is a sign of weakness."

Cain felt he must have been imagining things, listening to what the Queen of the OZ, supposedly one of the most compassionate people in the Zone, was saying about her own daughter. As much as he would have loved to give the woman a piece of his mind, he knew that he couldn't risk losing his commission and being dismissed from Court. DG still needed him. So he took a deep breath, bowing his head slightly.

"As you wish, Your Majesty. I will continue to do all I can for your daughter," he murmured, bowing slightly.

"Thank you, Commander," the Queen nodded, turning to leave.

"Did you wish to see DG, Your Majesty?"

"No, if she is sleeping I don't wish to disturb her," she replied as she and the Consort left, not even looking back.

As the door closed, Cain was left standing in the sitting room, Glitch and Az similarly frozen in their tracks. The Tin Man finally turned, willing his feet to move, and returned to DG's bedroom. Raw was still sitting by the bed, and the look in his eyes said that he understood what had happened. The Viewer swiftly moved out of the chair, allowing Cain to sit down. He rested his elbows on his knees, sharing a look with Raw as well as Glitch and Az, who had followed silently behind him.