Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I nor will I ever, own Detective Conan.

Truth Will Prevail

Third Truth

It was early in the morning when Ran found him. He was asleep, but woke quickly as he heard her shuffling footsteps. "Ran!" he said quietly as he sat up, "Are you okay?"

Ran shrugged and sat down in the chair by his bed. "I'm better. How's your arm?"

Shinichi's eyes momentarily flicked over to his shoulder. "It's been so long since it happened; there wasn't much they could do. It didn't heal quite right, but I should still be able to use it. Aches some though."

"Dad and mom are arguing a lot now," Ran said, "And mom's always acting really carefully around me, dad's trying to pretend it never happened, and the nurses are just as bad as mom. I hate it. And I hate that I appreciate dad's trying to pretend it never happened, because I don't want to be reminded, but I'm furious at him for not paying enough attention at the park, and I hate that he acts like it never happened, because it did! I'm mad at everything, even if it's stupid!"

"My parents are better about hiding it, but they're smothering me too," Shinichi admitted, "And I don't like it. Dad may be a mystery writer, but he doesn't know what it's like, but he acts so sympathetic and understanding and I don't want him too; I want to be mad, and I can't be mad because they're being so nice and I'm mad because they just don't know what it's like, but they act like they do."

"They don't understand," Ran said quietly, "They never will."

"I do. You do," Shinichi stated.

"Yeah," Ran admitted.

Silence filled the room for a moment. Shinichi slowly spoke, as if he was thinking aloud and maybe because he was nervous about her response. "We understand. As long as I know I have someone I can talk to, and you have the same, we can deal with everyone else. Together."

"I'll always be your friend," Ran promised, "Always."

"And I'll always be there for you," Shinichi replied, "No matter what."

The next morning the hospital buzzed. A patient was missing, and they couldn't find her anywhere. Yusaku stood in his son's doorway, a soft smile as he watched the two children sleeping. Sometime in the middle of the night the girl who had been kidnapped along with Shinichi, Ran, had come to visit, and at some point had been invited onto Shinichi's bed. Their hands were clasped as they leaned against the back of the bed, heads touching in the middle. They'd obviously fallen asleep while talking. He closed the door, and went to get breakfast. His son looked peaceful for the first time since he woke up yesterday. He wasn't going to disturb that, not yet.

End

Some of these are going to be pretty short and some will be a bit longer, but I doubt any are going to get as long as the first one. I'll try to make sure they're all good, though. Thanks to everyone whose reading, and thank you everyone who has reviewed so far!