A/N: Posting this early before I leave for the weekend! Please enjoy and let me know how you like it! Working on chapter 4 asap!

"Yes?" Lin gruffly answered the phone that so rudely interrupted his pursuit of tea. Even though work had been slow as of late, and most of his time being consumed by a certain teenager, his personal cell phone had been interrupting him more often than it should have.

What an absurd thought that Oliver's parents would actually talk to their own son about his behavior or how he was doing. No, of course not; rather they harassed him about every little thing that concerned their son and his well being. If they wished to know something, why ask him? Lin was almost at his wits end.

Madoka couldn't get enough 'gossip' even though Lin repeatedly assured her that there was none. Day after day; one day being mostly the same as the last. But there was no reasoning with the woman. She was sure that something was up and insisted on knowing every little detail of Noll's day. 'Ah, Noll sighed! Did he! HE SIGHED! He is lovelorn, lovelorn I tell you!' There was no end to it.

There was no end to the people in the high society circle in which the Davis house belonged to that also wished to communicate their greetings and vie for time to socialize with the once again complete Davis family. Why all the calls rounded back to him, Lin had no idea. For once, he really wished he was buried in work so that he wouldn't have to deal with all the menial events that were occupying the majority of his time as of late.

It was just another call that he had to deal with…

Lin's eyes widened ever so slightly at the voice that replied. In his line of work, international calling was only common place and it was not like his number had changed…but bluntly the call was surprising none the less.

It was from Japan.

~x~

"My tea?" Noll all but spat in irritability upon seeing Lin return empty handed. Of course the interruption also disturbed his tapped rendition of Mozart's Requiem, which with all things considered, was practically flawless.

Yes, Naru had declined quite far in just a few months.

"I apologize, but I just received a rather disturbing call from Japan." Lin relinquished the information without a second thought; it wasn't in his nature to beat around the bush. With the mentioning of the Eastern country, Noll looked more interested than he had in months…Lin was amused but he had to forgo his momentary elation to relay the situation at hand.

"It was from a hospital…"

Naru's brows perked and his expression furrowed into that of concern. "A hospital?

"A nurse informed me that a young woman was brought into the emergency room. There was only my number listed as an emergency contact that was found on her person. " Lin took a breath, letting the weight of his statement fully fall upon the young man before him. "I explained that we had been in Japan until recently but were no longer in the country and therefore could not offer any assistance. I provided her with the numbers of Matsuzaki-san, Takigawa-san, and also the number for the school."

"It was…Mai?"

"I can only assume. The nurse didn't say, just that the number she called was an emergency contact." Lin replied as succinctly as possible.

"What had happened…?" Even though there was nothing he could do, and Lin had already passed the predicament onto the Monk and Miko…the tightening in Naru's chest was almost too suffocating to ignore…

Lin dipped his head slightly. He too had been taken aback when the voice over the phone had relayed the important first observer details…none of it being good. "The nurse could not give me any further information since she did not know nor had she been informed of anything different as of yet…but…the young woman was involved in a car accident and was severely injured. The woman…" Lin stopped. It wasn't just any young woman. It was Mai. The nurse did not know the name that went with the patient that had just been rolled in; she didn't know anything.

"Mai…was in a car accident…"

"The severity?"

"Reportedly, she is severely injured…"

~x~

If possible, Naru surely would have burned holes into his desk by now given the way he was looking at the finely polished wood after Lin had finally taken his leave. Color was slowly returning to his features but with the look the older man had given him just moments ago, he could only assume it had drained terribly fast. Apparently the nurse had asked for others she could call…family, relatives…friends…

Mai didn't have any family…

Lin relayed the contact information of the monk and the miko. They were close at hand after all…and actually in a position to be of some use. They had always been close to Mai. Naru knew that Mai thought of them as if they were family so it would only be fitting. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she had remained in contact with them in the time since he had left…

Not that he wanted to admit it, but Naru had been unreasonably stubborn in the half a year since he had left. He didn't want to think about the events, more than one that much was clear, that occurred in Japan. He wanted to put everything behind him and just move on. He refused to keep in contact with anyone from Japan since he had returned home. It was no longer a concern of his…so what was the point?

But now, Naru was regretting that resolve so much so that it hurt. What were Bou-san and Matsuzaki-san doing? Had they moved in the time he had been absent? Maybe they were on vacation somewhere or their numbers had changed. Sure, he was fully aware that the monk and miko could handle it; they were nearer and were actually nice to Mai…she would be fine with them…wouldn't she?

Would Mai be fine?

The question plagued Noll like he never knew something could. The nurse couldn't tell them any further information other than 'it was a serious accident' and that Mai was already in the ER as they spoke. What was the extent of her injuries? Was she hurt badly? What exactly was her condition?

Was Mai dying…?

Guilt couldn't even describe the emotions welling up within the boy. It wasn't just guilt…it was more…or at least Naru felt that it was. What ever it was, the guilt continued to rise and Naru couldn't help by worry about the brunette. He had always concerned himself with her before…it was difficult to just simply stop the sentiments now. Even worse, Naru could not help but think of the 'what if-s'…

What if he had been there?

What if he had actually kept in contact with her regularly?

What if…he had never left…?

Oliver Davis, if anything, was a scientist. He was ruled by the laws and logic of the scientific world…facts proven and understood with his own reasoning and knowledge. It was unlike him to be so…self-doubting…so indecisive. Rationally…logically…Naru knew he could just wait.

Wait…wait and call the hospital later to inquire on her condition. Even call the annoying monk and the caddy miko to make sure Mai was okay…or at least confirm her condition. He didn't have to do anything drastic. It was unnecessary…there were so many other options…but was that really good enough?

Would that really put his mind at ease?

Oliver was a researcher, stoic and reasonable. He was not some lax, sporadic person doing just whatever spontaneously came to mind. He was rational…

But…

~Chapter 3 End~

A/N: Ah plot...I am so glad I found you! Look forward to the next chapter!