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The next morning…

Darkdoom followed Nero down the hall toward the medical room.

"How did she take the news?" he asked sympathetically.

Nero sighed "She took it."

He pushed open the door.

Raven looked up from her bed, where the doctor was helping her.

"Good morning." Nero greeted both of them, walking over. Darkdoom followed him, not table to take his eyes off her legs under the blanket.

Raven saw where he was looking, but her eyes only dulled more. Darkdoom switched his gaze to her face, feeling guilty.

"To you as well." the doctor replied, turning and wiping his hands on a towel.

Nero put a hand on Raven's shoulder "How is everything?"

"Good." the doctor said with a nod "Everything seems to be fine."

Raven turned her head to the side and Nero gently squeezed her shoulder. The doctor gestured him to the side so Raven didn't see and Nero followed. Darkdoom spoke quietly to her as they moved away.

"What?" Nero asked softly, looking back at the assassin.

"There's nothing wrong except for the fact that she's losing weight." the doctor said "And not just because of trauma, she's refusing to eat." he set the towel on the table next to him.

Nero shook his head slightly, looking slightly angry "Thank you."

The doctor nodded and Nero turned to go back to Raven.

"Alright, come on Natalya." he said, pulling down her covers.

"Not today, Max." she said.

"Come on." Nero repeated.

"Max."

"Natalya." Nero said, stopping to look down at her "You're not going to sit here all day."

Raven sighed.

"Now come on." he carefully eased his hands under her. She gripped his wrist so she didn't slide and scooted herself up. Her legs hung completely limp.

Nero turned around towards the door. Raven held onto him as he walked.

"Max, I don't want to see anyone." she said.

"I'm afraid you don't really have a choice." Nero replied.

"No please, I don't want to see anyone." Raven said, face distressed.

Nero didn't reply as they walked out to the hall. Darkdoom followed them.

They continued down the hall and to the Shroud dock. Darkdoom pulled open the door.

The Colonel turned and looked right at Raven, then her legs, before at Nero.

"The Shroud is ready for takeoff."

Nero nodded and continued on through the entrance.

"I'm only half a human now, Max." Raven said, looking miserable "Please take me back."

"Don't be upset if people stare." Nero said "It'll take time to adjust."

Raven sighed, face still anxious. He took her to a chair and carefully set her down in it. There was suddenly loud chatting behind them and she struggled to look back, her hands squeezing the sides of the chair.

"Max, what are students doing here?"

"They're coming with us Natalya." Nero said, without looking over.

"Why?" Raven asked.

"To cheer you up." Nero replied.

Darkdoom sat down next to her.

"Where's Raven?" Shelby called running onto the Shroud. Raven looked at Nero in distress.

"Right here, Miss Trinity." Nero said, ignoring her.

"Max." Raven said, leaning her head back.

There were loud footsteps and Shelby came to the side of her. Raven looked away and put a hand over her eyes.

"Whoa!" Shelby said indignantly "Come on!"

Raven didn't move or say anything and Nero glanced at her irritably, eyes narrowed.

"Come on, Natalya. Cheer up." Darkdoom said, but Raven didn't reply.

###

Nero carried Raven to the car and sat her in the front seat. She scooted herself up, face resigned.

"Where are we going?" she asked, once the others and him were settled in.

"To a hotel." he said.

"Max. I don't want to be seen in public like this." Raven said, sounding angry.

"Well I'm sorry!" Nero half-snapped in reply. She looked away.

"What?" Nero asked forcefully.

"You're not listening to me!" Raven hissed.

"No I'm not. If you're not going to take care of yourself, then that responsibility falls to me." Nero replied "The doctor told me you haven't been eating much due to lack of appetite and trauma on your body. I need to take care of that."

"Not if you would have left me at H.I.V.E." Raven said, running her hand through her hair.

"Do you want to sit there all day?" Nero asked, not looking super happy at the moment.

"I don't want to be here where I can't even move anywhere. I can't do anything!" Raven replied fiercely.

"You couldn't have done anything at H.I.V.E. either!" Nero said forcefully.

Raven just looked away, letting out a deep breath. Nero pulled on his seatbelt and started the car without saying anything else.

As they drove, Raven repeatedly heaved herself upright as it was hard without her feet to sit up. They didn't drive for long before Nero pulled into a parking lot. Darkdoom and the students hopped out as Nero went around to Raven.

"Diabolus, will you go check in?" he asked, knowing that Raven wouldn't want to be taken through the lobby, although she was going to be seen either way. His friend nodded and turned with the students.

Nero opened Raven's door, unsurprised to find her looking away, head on her hand. It was silent for a moment.

"What do you want me to do Natalya?" he asked, leaning against the door "I can't change your circumstances however much I'd like too, so the best I can do is try and help you feel better about it. But so far I'm not doing such a great job and I need to know what else I can do."

Raven didn't reply and she didn't move. Nero waited a few seconds until he saw Diabolus wave from the door. Then he reached forward and carefully picked up Raven.

"Do you want to call in dinner? Darkdoom asked, trying to avoid looking at her legs as they walked up.

"Sure." Nero replied, slipping in the door with Raven. Darkdoom followed as they went up the stairs, then he led them to their room and opened the door.

Raven stared straight ahead as they went in, trying to avoid eye contact with the students.

"So can we get pizza?" Shelby asked.

"Why not?" Darkdoom asked "If it's alright with Dr. Nero."

Shelby looked at Nero, who was setting Raven down on the couch. He gave a nod up at them and the student pumped a fist.

Raven carefully scooted herself back so she was against the cushion as Nero turned to leave.

Wing looked at her and debated on whether or not to go over and talk. He hadn't seen her for a while as she wasn't able to train him, but he didn't want to embarrass her. He knew she was very prideful and already felt terrible while she was incapable of doing anything. Shelby motioned at him to go and he shook his head.

They ended up not having to make a decision as Darkdoom went over to her and sat down beside her. He said something too quietly to hear, but Raven slowly shook her head. He smiled sympathetically and put an arm around her.

As they were waiting for the food to arrive, Nero had surreptitiously asked if the others would go and sit in the living room so Raven wouldn't feel so awkward. Shelby had even taken it upon herself to turn on the T.V.

When the knock on the door came, she literally jumped to her feet and went over. A few moments later, she was bringing over several boxes of steaming pizza.

"Ahh…" she said "Just smell it."

"Or set it down so we can eat it." Darkdoom said, raising an eyebrow. Shelby put the boxes on the table and opened them all up.

"Dinner is served." she said. Then she handed out paper plates.

Darkdoom put two pieces on a plate and handed it to Raven. Nero glanced over as she shook her head.

"Come on Natalya, you've got to eat something." Darkdoom said in amusement "Doctor's orders." he glanced at Nero "Both doctor's orders."

Raven scowled.

"I'm going to hold this here until you take it." Darkdoom said.

Raven silently sighed and took the plate. Nero nodded, although the assassin didn't start eating.

"Mmm…yummo." Shelby said.

Darkdoom and Nero kept one eye on Raven and were prepared to say something if she really refused. But she didn't and she ate slowly, mostly because she knew they'd have a fit.

After everyone had eaten their fill, there were still several pieces left.

"Put'em in the fridge." Shelby said "Cold pizza is still good."

"Only if you reheat it." Darkdoom replied.

"What time is it?" Nero asked, turning to look at the clock. It was almost ten o'clock.

"Don't tell me we have to go to bed." Shelby said.

"Soon." Nero said standing up and going over to the hotel phone "I need to make a few calls."

They cleaned up the junk food dinner and sat around for a little while, watching the T.V. or talking. Raven still didn't look at the students or try to join in.

When Nero ended the call, he shooed all the students to bed. He then spent a few more minutes contacting H.I.V.E. and making sure everything was okay there. After a bit, he shut his Blackbox and went over to Raven.

"Ready?" he asked.

The assassin slowly nodded and he leaned to pick her up. He carried her to her bedroom, which was separate because she had a harder time sleeping now and needed quiet.

Raven arranged herself best she could as Nero laid her down.

"The doctor said not to wake yourself up early." he said "So sleep in. We have no rush tomorrow."

"Easier said than done." Raven muttered, with a silent sigh.

"Call me if you need anything." Nero said as he flicked off the light and shut the door.

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