Author's Note: Thanks for sticking around!

I hope you'll like it^^

Read, review, and hopefully enjoy ;)


Josh and Aidan enter the house, now that their shift is finally over. Aidan throws his bag on the couch with a sigh, "What a day."

"You made the bargain, not me," Josh shrugs as he takes off his jacket.

"Ahahaha," Aidan mockingly laughs out loud. "You know that I will get back at you for that, right?"

"What? You said you'd take over my patient if I took over Ms. Morgan. I did. You did. Live with it," Josh argues.

"You think you're so smart now, don't you?" Aidan snorts.

"A bit," Josh grins.

"Well, at least Carter didn't try to exorcise me the way he said he tried with you," Aidan snorts. They walk into the kitchen.

"Yep, water in my face each day to baptize me, told me how my people killed his Jesus, and he threw the cross at my head couple of times. And for a senile guy his seventies he's still got one helluva aim," Josh nods, not at all too fond of that experience. And God knows he tried to be on good terms with Mr. Carter. Josh was always polite, he even wished him a blessed morning, but the old man never gave a damn, but instead went on with his mission of exorcising him.

"Wow, okay," Aidan knits his eyebrows at him. "Why didn't you ever mention it before?"

"... it hurt my perfect record," Josh jokes, because normally, there is no patient who doesn't at least like him.

"Seriously?" Aidan huffs.

"What? I liked the reputation," Josh insists.

"As the Patient Whisperer, yeah, I'm quite sure," Aidan snorts.

"What? It's better than other nicknames," Josh argues.

"You're still not over how they called you Baby Doll and Bambi, huh?" Aidan snickers.

"Because they don't fit, at all," Josh shrugs.

"True... deers are elegant, while you just run into things," Aidan grins. "But then again, if it's about deers running in front of a truck, it fits actually. I mean, that's bull's eye, pretty much. You are... Bambi."

"Oh, whatever!" Josh snorts. "Anyways, you know that I don't like to trade patients. I thought that maybe I'd break through to him, but I guess my religion actually really stood in the way. But when you asked for it, I said to myself that maybe it wasn't meant to be."

"At some point I'm glad he believed I'm just an atheist. So he pretty much gives up on me altogether coz I'm already damned, or so he told me. Immortal soul shit and stuff," Aidan rolls his eyes. "You, on the other hand, he still thinks he can turn."

Because, even though it is clear that Mr. Carter is convinced that Josh is a Jewish leprechaun seeking his gold, he actually asked for Josh to come back so that he can carry on with his mission of purifying him, or whatever it is that he thinks he is doing. Aidan stopped listening after the fifth time he talked about how he was a damned Infidel and shall burn in hell.

"Tell me about it," Josh snorts. Aidan bows down in front of the fridge to grab a blood bag. He hands Josh a juice, who takes it gratefully.

"Did he recite the Bible to you, too?" Aidan asks as he closes the lid and starts to pour the blood into his mug before putting it in the microwave.

"Numerous times," Josh exhales. "I got a new Bible verse every day... along with a cross at my head. Though I don't know if this is really how you either baptize or exorcise people... I mean... I'm Jewish, but... that doesn't sound right to me."

"I don't think he gives a lot on... reality," Aidan shrugs.

"True again," Josh grimaces.

"Well, still better than the evil witch," Aidan shrugs.

"Hm, she was not as hostile today," Josh puckers his lips.

"What did she do?" Aidan makes a face. "Or rather, what didn't she do?"

"Well, I don't know. She was not as awful as I had anticipated. Though I was honestly shocked at how she treated her niece. I mean, she comes in, bang, gets one of her stress balls right in the face," Josh shakes his head at the memory. He honestly had to let out a yelp once he saw the ball hitting the girl right in the face, after she greeted her as kindly as ever.

"Yep, she didn't quite grasp the concept of those. I think she really believes they relieve stress only if you throw them at someone. She has like... a whole bucket of them beside the bed," Aidan agrees.

"And oh my God, she won't shut up," Josh cries out. He is already a verbal ramble machine, he knows that, but she really puts a new edge to it if she is in her tantrums. Not once did Josh hear so many words coming out of a person's mouth at once.

"I know. I was not interested in her friggin' kittens and what food they have to eat so they don't get diarrhea, or a detailed report on what happens if they don't get the right food, gah. I almost puked right in her face, and I don't even eat. Blegh," Aidan grumbles.

"Yeah, that was the kind of conversation I really wasn't looking forward to," Josh shakes his head.

"It's the kind of conversation people should never have," Aidan agrees.

"I think we should put them in the same room so they just kill each other, he with the cross, she with the stress balls," Josh suggests, to which Aidan flashes a broad smile, "Tremendous idea. Let's just do that! Two problems less to deal with."

Suddenly Sally pops in the room, rambling, "Hey, guys. You are back. How was work? My day was boring as hell, as always."

"Hi Sally. Indeed we are. Work was exhausting. Sucks for you," Aidan mimics her tone.

"Oh, whatever, Aidan!" Sally grumbles. "I'm just trying to be nice and show that I care about you, and see how you thank me for that."

She looks at Josh, tilting her head, "Josh, what happened to your arm?"

"Little accident in the hallway, just a small cut. No need to worry," the werewolf assures her quickly.

"Oh, you're just so clumsy, poor little puppy," Sally sighs.

"Could we not call me puppy?" Josh grimaces.

"What? It sounds so lovely," Aidan snickers.

"Really, fanglomerate?" Josh retorts.

"Shuddup," Aidan grumbles.

Josh snickers as he leans against the counter, sipping his juice.

"And how was your day, other than almost dying from the cut?" Sally asks.

"Was alright, annoying, but alright... and for the record, I didn't die or was even close," Josh argues.

"Did you cry?" Sally grins.

"What?! No. Of course not," Josh shakes his head.

"Oh, you did," Sally says in a mockingly soothing tone. "Aww, poor little puppy."

"I did not Sally, now cut the crap," Josh grumbles.

"I think I heard a sniffle," Aidan grins.

"Seriously, Aidan? I can still step down from the bargain and take over my own exorcist again," Josh threatens him, narrowing his eyes at the vampire, who almost shrieks, "Hey, now don't play unfair here!"

"Who's your exorcist?" Sally frowns, so Josh explains, "A patient at the hospital. He tries to convert me to Christianity really bad by throwing the cross against my head. I traded with Aidan, because he is afraid of the elderly Lady who keeps him updated on her kitten's shitting habits."

"What kinda people creep around this place, you tell me?" Sally makes a face. She heard a few stories by now, but those are even more bizarre than the ones she sees on her hospital drama shows on TV – and those are fictional.

"Don't ask me," Aidan holds up his hands.

"Either way, we traded – because Aidan really wanted to get away from the creepy Lady. And I just thought about stepping down from that arrangement again," Josh goes on to brief Sally, but then turns to Aidan. "You know, Ms. Morgan said that she'd actually get photos of the kittens to show to you. She's been asking about you all day."

"She hates me," Aidan argues.

Why would she ask for him? Aidan was most certainly convinced that she'd do a happy-dance once he no longer took off.

"She wants to see if she manages to kill you with that," Josh grins.

"You can't do this to me, man," Aidan whines.

"Well?" Josh grins.

"Josh was totally brave and let me clean his cut like any other adult," Aidan tells Sally, before glancing at Josh in annoyance, "Happy now?"

"Think so," Josh snickers.

"Well, not so fun times for you, but... can either one of you change channels for me now, please? I'm bound watching this stupid channel in ages, and I'm tired of those... documentaries about... hibernation. I don't wanna know where bears hide their poo," Sally asks hopefully, dancing from one foot to the other.

"Oh, sure, sorry that I didn't think about changing the channel before we left," Josh nods frantically, already walking ahead into the living room. He really tries to think about everything to make it a little easier for Sally, but he seemingly forgot about it this morning. Well, darn.

Just why is his head so fuzzy these days?

"No bother," Sally assures him as she skips after him. Even though she asks for it, the female ghost doesn't blame them for forgetting it once in a while, especially since Josh is so overly nice and cute when he asks her how she wants it. He even buys her what Aidan refers to as "chick magazines" to spread out over the kitchen table so that she can read them over the course of the day.

"Which one you wanna watch?" Josh asks as he takes the remote from the table.

"Huh? News would be nice," Sally tells him.

"Did I forget to spread out the newspaper for you? Then I'm sorry for that also," Josh asks, now almost in exasperation. He honestly thought he didn't forget about that.

"No, no, just didn't feel like reading today," Sally holds up her hands.

"Ah, okay...," Josh sighs with relief. "Here you go, Miss."

"Thank you, Sir," Sally grins at him. Josh settles down on the couch, Sally does the same. The news start to ramble as Aidan walks inside, too, sitting on the back of the couch.

"... and here a special announcement for all hobby astronomers. There will be a full lunar eclipse in three days from now. That means that the sun will cover the moon at 12.00 p.m.. Here a photograph of a lunar eclipse four years ago. This phenomenon is not as rare as a solar eclipse, but still interesting to observe. For all those interested in astronomical phenomena, please see our website for further information. Now the weather announcements..."

"Hey, Josh? What does a lunar eclipse do to you puppies?" Sally asks, blinking at the werewolf curiously.

"Huh?" Josh frowns at her.

"Well, newslady just said that there'll be this lunar eclipse thingy. What does that do to you werewolves? Do you glow green or red or do you grow an extra tail or something? Oh, or do you really turn puppies?! That would be so damn cute!" Sally asks.

"How would I know? I didn't have that since I was turned," Josh shakes his head.

"Aidan?" Sally turns to the vampire. He knows a lot more about the monsters inside of them than they do themselves, at times.

"Hey, don't look at me. I'm no dogwhisperer or whatever," Aidan huffs.

"Hey, if there's no moon... then maybe you don't turn!" Sally suggests.

"Might be... that would be pretty sweet, thinking about it," Josh taps his chin mindfully.

He honestly never thought about that.

"Sweet would be werewolf puppies. Aww," Sally smiles broadly at the image of little puppies.

"If that is yet another attempt of yours to get us into buying you a dog, then...," Aidan grumbles, but the female ghost interrupts him, "Why are you so much against it, though?! I mean, a cute little puppy I could play with and..."

"Play with? How?" Aidan snorts.

"Aw, Aidan, that's mean!" Sally pouts.

"I don't wanna offend you, but as a matter of fact, you can't touch things. The poor mutt would just be bored outta his mind, would pee and shit all over the place, leaving us to clean up the mess once we come home after work. You couldn't even walk him. And I won't walk a dog. Is enough I walk Josh," Aidan argues.

"You are awful, Aidan!" Sally cries out, before turning to the werewolf almost soothingly, "Josh, he doesn't mean it like that!"

"What?" Josh blinks at her.

"Stop spacing out on us!" Sally cries out.

"Uh, sorry, I was just...," Josh mutters, and Sally scaffolds, "Spacing out. Hey, be at least mentally there when Aidan is accusing you."

"You're accusing me?!" Josh frowns.

"Just a comment," Aidan argues.

"Well, I'm sorry for not paying attention, I was just thinking about the lunar eclipse thing...," Josh admits sheepishly. "I never thought about it before, you see?"

"Okay, I let you think about it on your own," Sally sighs. Josh nods, more to himself, though, instantly back on the topic. Sally shrugs at Aidan, he shrugs back at her.

Sometimes it's better to leave Josh to his own thoughts.


The next morning, Aidan comes downstairs, now fully dressed after the shower. He finds Sally goofing around with what looks like a... stress ball.

"Hey," Aidan greets her, tilting his head at her.

"Hey," she replies, her eyes still focused on the yellow ball in front of her.

"... what are you doing with... a stress ball?" Aidan makes a face.

"Huh?" she blinks at him, but then shrugs. "Oh, Josh gave it to me this morning, said I could try to train moving it on purpose. This is actually fun! Look, look, I already manage like... an inch!"

"Hey, great success for you. At least you seemingly have something to do now," Aidan grins. Sometimes Josh really has the best ideas – especially to keep Sally occupied. And that is something Aidan is honestly thankful for at some point, because if Sally is occupied, she is less tensed and much easier to handle. Plus, it means their house stays clean and in one piece.

"Right!" Sally exclaims happily.

"... and where's your... benefactor?" the vampire asks.

"Huh? Kitchen, I think," Sally tells him, but then her focus is back on the ball. The way she figures, once she can move a ball, she can move a remote, or at least press the keys, and that means that the TV is finally hers.

And that means... she has a new goal.

Aidan nods, heading to the kitchen. He actually finds Josh there, hunched over the the table, head resting on the surface, arms spread eagle, almost. Aidan frowns at the odd sight. He crosses over to sit opposite to Josh, who is seemingly taking no notice of him. Aidan simply plops his own head down on the table as well, so that his cheek rests on the tabletop. That is when Josh actually starts to glance back at him, seemingly taking notice of his friend now. Aidan flashes a brief smirk, leaving his head leveled, though, "Morning."

"... mornin'," Josh manages to say.

"You okay there?" Aidan asks tentatively.

"Hm?" Josh hums.

"Well, you kinda hang here like a dead fish," Aidan frowns.

"Dunno," Josh tells him, shrugging his shoulders, though even that movement comes out rather sluggish.

"Rough night?" Aidan grimaces sympathetically.

"Dunno," Josh sighs.

"Are you just gonna continue to speak one word at a time?" the vampire questions.

"Maybe," Josh exhales.

"Wow, okay. That either means you're moody today, or you're actually really worse for the wear, huh?" Aidan frowns. He straightens back up again, tapping Josh on the lower arm, "C'mon, sleeping beauty, up and at them."

Josh lazily sits up also. Now with more light falling on his features, one can see dark circles under his eyes, which appear rather bloodshot.

"I think we're going for the latter, huh?" Aidan grimaces.

"I'm fine," Josh grunts, his face buried in his hands, which muffles his voice. He just wants to get over with this day, creep back under the bed and sleep it off.

"Sure, coz you just look like it," Aidan snorts, to which Josh glares at him blearily.

"If you want, I can call in sick for you," Aidan offers.

"I'm not sick, Aidan, just tired," Josh grumbles.

"Wow, the first real sentence, I'm impressed," Aidan huffs.

"Yeah, aren't I amazing?" Josh grins crookedly.

"But you really look worse for the wear, buddy. You kinda have... this vampirish complexion now, which means... you are definitely too pale for a normal person," Aidan grimaces.

"Shut up, Aidan. I'm an adult. I decide when I go to work and when I don't," Josh mutters.

"Hey, I don't wanna mother you or anything," Aidan holds up his hands in surrender.

"Good, coz that'd be really, really awkward," Josh makes a face.

"But really, if you don't feel so good, even if you're not sick... you could still call it a day," the vampire argues, but Josh is not at all too fond of the idea, "Aidan, I'm fine. I won't waste my free days for something like this if I can help it."

"Hey, suit yourself,"Aidan shrugs.

"And if I were indeed sick, then this might help us both, think about it," Josh suddenly says. Aidan turns around to him, "What now?"

"If I'm sick, maybe I get it on our two monsters in hospital so they catch it, too," Josh suggests. He manages a lopsided smirk, running another hand over his face.

"Hm, that's tempting of course," Aidan chuckles. "Even if it's kinda against policy to give patients a disease on purpose..."

"I think we'd do world a favor," Josh shrugs.

"True again...," Aidan agrees. "Did you eat something?"

Josh points at the empty bottle of juice and two packs of aspirin.

"Ah, the breakfast for the champions," Aidan winces.

"Got it right," Josh snorts.

"Hey, by the way, did you steal that stress ball from Ms. Morgan, the one Sally is playing around with, or what?" Aidan frowns.

"Not steal, she gave it to me," Josh corrects him, which only adds to Aidan's confusion, "Why would that female Scrooge give you something for free?"

"She gave me three of those. Told me to throw one at her niece once she came in, coz she felt tired, then one at Anabel coz she pisses her off... and one to smack you with," Josh explains.

"Oh, that evil witch!" Aidan grunts.

"I didn't, though," Josh shrugs.

"Really? She's normally very persistent," Aidan grimaces.

"I may or may not have told her that it's against hospital regulations to have such a bucket near the bed because it's blocking the staff from treatment," Josh tells him.

"Well, that's not too threatening for a witch like her," Aidan makes a face.

"I may have painted it in quite vivid pictures how she kicks the bucket and then all people just fall over the stress balls and she goes down in pain," Josh grimaces.

"What? Seriously?! You are usually so nice to your patients, and now you threaten them?!" Aidan breaks out. Because Josh usually gives him hell if he does that.

"Well, it didn't work so well on her, but at least she stopped using me to throw balls at other people," Josh shrugs. "Desperate times call for desperate measurements."

"So what was the next step?" Aidan questions. "If that didn't do the whole trick."

"... It's possible that I kinda threatened her that I'd switch with Felicity," Josh grimaces.

"What about her?" Aidan makes a face. He can't imagine how that would actually work as a threat. Felicity is a nice nurse.

"Kryptonite," Josh shrugs.

"What now?" Aidan makes a face.

"You wanna beat the enemy? Find the kryptonite. Felicity is Ms. Morgan's kryptonite," Josh shrugs.

"Why?" Aidan grimaces.

"Because Ms. Morgan thinks that Felicity has the evil eye. She's scared that she will... enchant her or something," Josh shrugs. "So when I told her that I have specifically Felicity as her nurse, she gave in and... behaved herself, mostly."

Aidan nods, honestly impressed.

"God, paranoia must be a bliss for those two. To walk around being awful to people and don't get thrown into prison for it. I mean, they are racist, sexist, religiously offending, abusive... list goes on and on and on and on," Aidan rolls his eyes.

"They are sick, Aidan," Josh insists.

"Doesn't mean you have to act like a total asshole," the vampire argues.

"Well, for some it seemingly does. Those two... best example," Josh shrugs.

"Okay, so will you politely cough in their faces today?"Aidan asks hopefully.

"We'll see about that," Josh grins.

"Awesome," Aidan snickers, faking glee.

Josh gets up from the table, but staggers for a second. Aidan already is in a stance to take a hold of his friend, but Josh waves him off quickly.

"And you're sure about this whole... work thing?" Aidan grimaces. If he wasn't worried yet, he surely is now.

"Aidan, shush now. We already had that," Josh grunts as he straightens back up and pushes past the vampire.

"Hey, you almost toppled over, not me," Aidan argues.

"Right, which makes it kinda my business," Josh snorts dismissively.

"God, I'm trying to be a good friend here and you're just being a bitch," Aidan sighs. Suddenly an orange stress ball plops against his forehead. Aidan grimaces before turning to Josh who is already walking to the door.

"You did not throw a stress ball at me!" Aidan cries out.

"No, definitely not!" Josh agrees. He already takes off, taking in the vampire's threatening posture.

"Josh! Come back here!" Aidan yells.

"We gotta get to work!" the werewolf grins.

"Get back here so I can behead you!" Aidan curses

"I'm already outside. If you wanna catch a ride, you better come!" Josh tells him. "Bye, Sally."

"Bye!" she nods.

"Josh, hey, wait up!" Aidan grumbles as he hurries after him.

"Have fun!" Sally waves after him. Aidan just grunts as he opens the door, the stress ball raised in his hand. He throws it at Josh, who surprisingly dodges and catches the ball as he opens the car door. Aidan means to yell something, but suddenly something drops on the top of his head – another stress ball. Josh almost topples over in the car in laughter.

"You're so dead, man!" Aidan yells as he runs down the stairs to the car. Josh still laughs so hard he has to hold his stomach.

Bullet dodged... thanks to a stress ball.


Josh sits on his favorite bench, debating whether he can take a bite of that apple without choking on it. Maybe Aidan was right and he really should have stayed home. Josh has been dizzy the whole day and night, his muscles ache, his chest is tight, and only the thought of food makes him want to puke. He is that close from throwing the fruit across the lawn, but that is when Aidan appears to his left, still pissed over the stress ball incident. Josh instinctively covers his head with his arms, scooting away. Aidan smirks briefly before putting on a stern face again. He plops down next to Josh. The younger man withdraws from his position and sits up right again, though he is tensed, fearing his friend's reaction.

"Hey, I'm coming in peace, or well, you came, and I... but I sit in peace?" Josh holds up his hands defensively. Aidan just lets out a deep growl.

"Still so pissed, huh?" Josh grimaces. He knows that he did a number on Aidan for both Mr. Carter and the stress ball incident.

"You got no idea," Aidan grumbles in a low voice that makes Josh's skin crawl.

"Look, man, I just...," Josh means to apologize, but Aidan interrupts him, "Not talking about it."

"Even at the risk of getting hit really, really hard, I have to ask," Josh says tentatively. Aidan glares at him, but the werewolf goes on nevertheless, "Are you pissed at the fact that I threw something at you or that I actually hit?"

Both stare at each other for a few moments. And the slightest of smiles plays around Aidan's lips.

"I wasn't prepared for it!" he says eventually.

"So you see? Lucky shot, okay, two lucky shots. I never thought I'd really hit you," Josh defends himself.

"Oh, whatever, Josh," Aidan sighs, leaning his head back.

"I'm honest!" Josh insists.

"For a guy who can hardly walk in a straight line your pitch is dead-on," Aidan snorts.

"Little League. Only sport I was actually decent at," Josh grins.

"Yeah?" Aidan frowns. Josh hardly talks about his childhood – and Aidan honestly had no clue that Josh ever was in Little League.

"Hey, as I said. I can't walk a straight line, but if you batter out all the guys, you don't have to move at all...," Josh shrugs. That was the only thing that spared him to fail sports class – because in the other kinds of sports, Josh was just a royal loser.

"Uh-huh," Aidan puckers his lips, still looking pissed.

"C'mon, now stop being mad, okay?" Josh begs. Aidan turns to him, making a face again, but then actually cracks a smile, "I'm just teasing you."

"Oh, that's good," Josh lets a sigh of relief.

"I'll take my revenge eventually," Aidan grins.

"Oh, uh...," Josh stammers.

"Yep, when you least expect it, man," the vampire grins at him darkly.

"That is... disturbing," Josh makes a face, looking ahead. Aidan smirks, leaning back. Josh rolls the apple in his hands again, debating on whether or not he will keep that down.

"No Genie will pop outta that apple if you keep rubbing it," Aidan snorts.

"No shit?" Josh huffs. "And here I thought this would finally do the trick!"

"Just eat it already. Is making me dizzy watching you fidgeting around with it," Aidan grunts.

"I'm just... whatever," Josh sighs. No, food still sounds not like a very fruitful idea.

"You should eat something, coz juice with meds might be the breakfast for the champions, but... it's still no real breakfast, you know?" Aidan tells him, allowing concern to show once again, but Josh only rewards it with a snort, "Thanks, mom."

He sets the apple down next to him.

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about," Aidan grunts. Really, Josh is the lousiest patient... except for the Diabolic Duo they are treating right now.

"As I said, I decide on what I eat, Aidan. Stop hovering already," Josh grumbles.

"Well, normally you do. Though I start to get it why you do it. It gives you this certain funny feeling in the chest, hm? That you know better," Aidan nods, clapping on his chest.

"Aidan, leave it alone," Josh rolls his eyes. He is not five, for goodness' sake.

"Eat something or go home, Josh. You are really...," Aidan means to say, but Josh interrupts him, quite harshly this time, "Aidan, for all it's worth, knock it off already!"

Aidan means to retort something, but Josh suddenly fingers for his pocket to retrieve a tissue hastily. He holds it to his nose, not blowing it, though, eyes wide. Aidan frowns as Josh leans forward, one arm cradled in his lap while he holds on to the tissue on his nose and mouth with the other.

"You okay there? Sneeze got stuck or what?" Aidan grimaces. Josh shakes his head against the fabric, but that is when the vampire already smells blood which soon taints the cloth red.

"Whoa!" Aidan gapes. Josh comes back up again, tenderly removing the cloth to inspect the amount of blood seeping from his nose.

"God, didn't have that since I was five," Josh grunts.

"... uhm... am I supposed to freak now?" Aidan grimaces. He knows that nosebleeds are only rarely life-threatening, but to see his friend bleeding shuts out parts of his rationality.

"Just a nosebleed, Aidan, nothing to worry about," Josh brings out between the gulps for air.

"Well, you are the one losing blood," Aidan argues.

"That's over in a minute," Josh assures him. Aidan fidgets for his own pocket to produce a few more tissues he holds out to Josh, who takes them rather gratefully actually, "Thanks."

Aidan waits rather anxiously until Josh seemingly eases and removes the bloodied tissues from his nose, "Think it stopped."

"What the hell was that?" Aidan grimaces.

"Nosebleed," Josh dead-pans.

"No shit, Sherlock," Aidan huffs. "Are you prone to that?"

Because that is something Josh surely didn't ever mention to him.

"Only when I was very little. As I said, the last time I had a nosebleed out of nothing was when I was five years old," Josh snorts.

"And what were the nosebleeds for something?" Aidan frowns.

"I was a scrawny little weird Jewish kid who liked books. You really think the people loved me for that? I was number one on every bully's hitlist. I got so many hits to the face that I still think my nose would look much different now if it hadn't been punched so often," Josh huffs.

"But no one punched you this time," Aidan grimaces, his worry by no mean subsiding. Though Aidan feels like he got punched, right in the gut.

"Hm, well, I was kinda aggravated and took aspirin this morning, you know, blood thinner and all," Josh argues.

"You took aspirin before without that as a result," Aidan insists.

"I should simply quit the breakfast for the champions," Josh shrugs.

"Might be," Aidan tells him, "But you're sure you don't wanna have that checked out?"

Josh just glares at him, "Nosebleed, Aidan, nothing more."

"But...," Aidan means to say, but Josh doesn't want to continue the discussion, "I need to wash up."

He gets up hastily and heads back inside, searching for one of the bathrooms, leaving Aidan on the bench alone.

His revenge for Mr. Carter and the stress balls will have to wait.

However, that is when his beeper vibrates in his pocket. Aidan lets out a grunt. Emergency. Great.

So both will have to wait until later.