"...I see. Your leg is in fact broken."

Nova rolled her eyes. "I could've told you that."

"Well, I just wanted to be certain." Gibson closed up the small white box that contained the medicines and things and stood up. "Are you feeling better now?"

"...Yeah, a bit," Nova said, under her breath. Although she hated to admit it, she felt much better than before. The dry, itchy sensations that covered her face were gone, and the stinging cuts and bruises eased under the influence of the gels put upon them.

Gibson grinned to himself, although Nova tripped him with her good foot to wipe that silly, victorious smirk off his face. Boy, did that work.

"Is anyone hungry?" Antauri placed the pot of spaghetti in the middle of the small living room table that sat right in front of the yellow female and the doctor. He quickly went back to get the plates before Nova could object to eating the saucy pasta. She crossed her arms and stared dubiously at the meal before her.

"Now, Nova, don't be like that." The table was so small that no chairs were required; Gibson took a seat on the floor right next to her. "It's scrumptious! You'll see."

"...Wait, you guys eat it hot?" She asked, taking the cracked plate full of pasta from the officer.

"Yes," Gibson said slowly, giving her an odd look. "Why? Do you desire for your dinner to be cold?"

"No, no," Nova said hastily. She placed it on her legs, taking the fork from Antauri. "I'm just used to eating it cold."

"Then no wonder you dislike spagghetti! How can you possibly enjoy it if you consume it when it is not appropriately heated?"

She decided not to answer that and took a bite out of the stringy noodles. Mmm. It was definitely a different experience eating this stuff warm. She coiled another, thicker chunk of spagghetti and put it in her mouth.

As much satisfaction she was recieving from her meal, she kicked Gibson's shoulder when she saw that he was smiling again.

He stood up, horrified, again griping over his clothing while Nova innocently turned away and Antauri silently ate his dinner.

Gibson had to excuse himself to change the shirt that was absolutely covered in tomato sauce.

It was Nova's turn to be laughing.


"How long do you propose to keep her here, Gibson?"

The black simian's voice made him jump ever so slightly; the doctor didn't seem to recognize his prescence until he spoke up.

"...Just long enough until her leg heals," Gibson replied. He gave Antauri a slight glance, then turned his attention once again to Nova, who rested peacefully on the sofa. The blue monkey walked over to the small closet a few feet away. "I know what you're going to say."

The officer sighed. "I am sorry. I do not mean to sound cruel. I just... do not know if we could trust her."

"I believe so," Gibson took out a long blanket and folded it just the right size. He quietly strolled back over to Nova, gently draping the cloth over her body. "...I believe my judgement of character is correct. Even though she may have a terrible reputation, I do not believe she is a terrible girl... just... troubled. Don't you agree?"

Antauri watched her evenly, fingers stroking his chin, eyes stern and observant. "I am not sure... yet. We will see soon enough, though, shall we not?"

"Yes-"

Two firm knocks echoed quietly within the thin walls of the apartment.

"Now, I wonder who that would be, and so late at night?" Gibson gave Antauri a puzzled look, heading straight for the door. He pulled up the small curtains that covered the windows and peered outside. He held in a groan and rolled his eyes in an exaggerated fashion before he composed himself and opened the door. "Mandarin."

"Dr. Gibson," A dark, red-orange monkey stepped inside, examining the corridor closely. He wore the same uniform Antauri wore earlier, but had the demeanor of a more hostile, demanding personality. He quietly turned to Antauri, papers in hand, and disregarded Gibson for a moment. "I have disappointing news. The gang in the lower part of the city has not been captured. They have escaped our grasp, and it seems they will not go without a fight."

Antauri sighed. "I see. Do you have any idea where they might be hiding?"

"Not exactly. Even though we have a few gang members held for questioning, they refuse to open their mouths for a single word."

The black monkey slowly looked down at Mandarin's gun. It glistened in the dim light.

"I am sorry, Antauri; we must have the answers... even if brute force is required."

Antauri closed his eyes and turned away, unable to say anything about the matter. Gibson knew he was the only one who could see Antauri shaking. "Hmm." His voice was calm and tight and still. "You... you torture them?"

"We try not to, as much." Mandarin avoided the doctor's eyes, obviously annoyed that he would listen to such a solemn conversation. "But you know it must be done."

"...Why did you come here?"

"I wanted to ask you if you have any information on the whereabouts of this gang."

"I have a hint."

Mandarin perked a brow. "Do you?"

Gibson glowered deeply at Antauri, suddenly realizing where he was going. As kind and warm-hearted as his friend was, he knew Antauri would sell Nova out for the benefit of the police force. Even if Nova was annoying, Mandarin meant business. He could brutally abuse her more than those thugs did, even under her present condition. Gibson had a sole duty to protect his patients from any harm... this was why he had become a doctor in the first place.

Antauri caught his companion's look, but again turned away. "...Yes. I have..." His eyes rested on the sofa. Gibson's heart skipped a beat. Antauri then noticed the papers in Mandarin's hand. "May I see those, please?"

"Of course, of course." The orange simian loudly handed the files to the black one, and impatiently waited as he watched the other look through them quietly.

"...I am sorry, Mandarin." Antauri gave them back. "All the information I have.. you already know."

Mandarin snatched it back, eyes glowing with heated emotion. "I see." He began to walk back to the door. "I will see you tomorrow, then, Antauri. We have some... delinquents to search for tomorrow."

The blue monkey let out a deep, relieved breath from his mouth and smiled at Antauri gratefully.

"Who is this?"

Mandarin had stopped as soon as he saw the small figure on the couch. The two other monkeys' mouths were dry.

"Well?" The orange simian smiled dryly. "Oh, let me guess. You two could not have one of your own, so you adopted."

The three stared at each other, awkward silence hanging in the air. It only seemed to stretch, and stretch, and stretch. The words "It's not what you think!" were glued to the back of Gibson's throat, and as much as he would love to actually put it into words, he could only stare in mortification.

Antauri coughed and decided to end this before Mandarin came to his own false conclusion. "No. It is not what it appears to be. Gibson simply picked her up from an alleyway... I am supposing a gang had decided to leave her for dead. I am actually quite relieved that he brought her here. She will be released once she can walk again."

"Ah. I see." Mandarin's smirk vanished, and a suspicious glint entered his eye. "...Is she a hood?"

"Not that I am aware of." Antauri's voice shook ever so slightly. Gibson again was the only one who noticed this.

"Are you sure they were gang members? The ones who... did this to her?"

"No."

"You sound uncertain."

"I am."

Mandarin peered at her closely. "...Lovely thing, isn't she?"

"Yes!" Gibson blurted. He blushed when Antauri and Mandarin gave him an odd expression. "Err... yes. She is very lovely. I suppose even more so without all the bruises..." His voice drifted off, his face feeling hot and flushed when the two simians continued to stare at him.

The orange officer squinted at the clock that tick-tocked on the wall. He shook his head disdainfully. "What time is it, Antauri?"

"Close to midnight."

Mandarin sighed. "I should be off then. Take care, you two." This time when he headed toward the door, he didn't stop until after he touched the doorknob and tilted his hat toward the cop and the doctor as a way of goodbye.

Gibson fell to his knees, relieved beyond relief, when the door clicked closed. "It's been quite a night, Antauri."

"It has been." The black monkey sat down on a chair and rubbed his temples, stress showing on his face. "He will find out eventually, Gibson."

"Is she well known?" Gibson asked, voice hushed as though he suspected Mandarin was listening to their conversation.

"No," Antauri said. "She has only been arrested once, and that was for petty theft-"

"Your car."

"Just let it go, Gibson."

"I apologize! I just find it unbelievable that the girl would have the nerve to steal your vehicle when she was right in front of you."

"You are right." Antauri said slowly. "I let my guard down."

"Well.. she won't cause much trouble for us now, will she?"

"Actually... that... was not the only reason why I did not want her to stay with us."

Gibson watched his friend, wondering where this was going.

"I do not think it is a good idea... for a young lady to reside in the same dormatory as.."

"For the love of heaven, Antauri..."