Disclaimer: I do not own or make money from death note.

Part 3

Sweat rolled down the side of his face and he pushed harder with a grunt. This damn thing would not beat him! He had a death grip on the handles at his sides, so hard his fingers had long since turned white. With a heavy exhale, Mello ignored the trembling in his leg and pushed up again. It fucking burned.

"What did I tell you about straining yourself?"

Mello grit his teeth against Nurse Ratchet's voice and slowly let his leg bend and the machine fall. He had fifteen more for his internal score and he would be done for the day, if only because he would not be allowed to continue.

His shirt clung to him with perspiration; his entire body hurt and muscles he did not even know he had were cramping. Focus, he told himself. Mind over matter. Thirteen more.

Breath in, breathe out. Push up and release. Over and over and over.

"Mello that is enough," she told him.

"No!" he growled at her "Just five more...four." Close, so close―the air whooshed from his lungs and and could have cried from frustration as her hands were placed on his knee in a warning gesture that prevented him from extending again.

"I can do it! Just a few more wont kill me," he insisted. He could. It did not matter what his body said. He could.

"And look at you? Soaked in sweat and shaking like a damn junkie. When I tell you not to strain yourself you will listen." Her voice was sharp and commanding, chastising him like a child. In a softer tone she added, "You can injure yourself so easily right now and if the injury is bad you might not be able to support yourself with a prosthetic. I know, have seen it."

Mello turned away. He knew she was right―how could she not be, she was the PT instructor? He wanted so bad for things to move more quickly. She said he was making excellent progress and within another few weeks he could try to walk with the prosthetic that was waiting for him. Weeks.

It was too long.

He had already started on the walking exercises with the parallel bars. Though she had only allowed him one try before deciding he needed to strengthen with the leg press and more isometric exercises first. It had been a blow to his already tattered pride. Why was he not strong enough yet? He had read online that others in similar shark attack situations were already using their damn prosthesis! What made him so different?

"I think you will do a few stretches on Friday. And if you behave, maybe weighted extensions. You really are doing great. I just wish you would see that." She shook her head exasperatedly at him and tapped his leg twice. He swung it over the machine on instinct, completely used to her non verbal cues now, and unlike his family she allowed him to get into the nearby wheelchair on his own. Though she had stayed close by just in case.

He should see about paying her extra, maybe after he started working again, for all the crap she put up with. She knew her job yet Mello could not reconcile that fact when he was in the moment. He needed to get out of the chair permanently and soon before he lost his mind.

"Now you can do a few of the hamstring stretches at home, but only a few. Alright? I will have someone monitor you if I don't think you are following my advice." She warned him again. He believed her. The worst case scenario would be to have his mother hovering any more than she already was.

"That will not be necessary." He grumbled quietly. She knew by now that he meant it.

"Good. Now get the Hell out of my office. You smell." She gently pushed him in the exits direction leaving him to wheel himself out. Mello really did like how she let him do everything on his own. It was almost enough to tide him over for the times he was at home. She had spoken with his mother about his need to build strength and confidence―which Mello disagreed on the last one―by doing as much as he could manage on his own. She had backed off alittle. Not enough for his liking however.

But as Nurse Ratchet had said, a few more weeks and he would be ready. He would be walking again in no time and there would be no excuse for his mother any longer.

.

"Mello honey, you really need to get out of this stuffy room. Why don't you come do that out in the sun-room at least?" She stood in the doorway with small frown lines wrinkling her face a little more than usual.

"It's quiet in here." Or in other words, leave me alone to study. Mello had opted not to start schooling until he was up and walking but he was taking prep courses to insure he would be ready. The material was rather easy but there was always a chance he would forget something so he needed to review. However, every time someone came into his room his concentration was blown.

"I really think you need to do something. All you do is study and go to physical therapy three times a week. I do not think it is healthy." She continued. He loved her, he really did, but she needed to stay out of it. Getting his life back in order was top priority, not some convoluted parental need to micromanage his free time.

"No I need to finish reading over this chapter and take the test on the site by Monday." He said without even a glance up at her. He heard the heavy sigh and the clap of her house shoes on the wood floor as she moved down the hall. When he heard no more noise for another minute he forced his mind back into the boring review course work.

Hardly twenty minutes later more than one pair of shoes disturbed his studying again and Mello looked up in time to see three figures barge into his room.

"Oh Mello! Misa is so happy to see you again," she ran over and threw her arms around him, practically smashing her chest in his face. Urg!

"Misa get off," he pushed her to arms length and ignored the pout she sent him. She stepped back as Light moved the wheelchair closer, an obvious invitation for him to get off his bed. He was not liking the interruption. Heavy thawps against the floor drew his attention to the third person invading his personal space.

"What in Gods name are you wearing?" Mello's eyebrows shot up as he got a good look at Beyond. The raven haired man had on a pair of blue shorts, hideous green flippers and a red and white striped polo shirt. He also held a beach ball.

"We are going to the beach and you are coming with us!" Misa giggled and unzipped the light jacket she had placed over her shoulders―one that looked like one of Light's. A revealing black lacy bikini came into view and he groaned.

"I am studying-"

"Not anymore. Your mother called me asking if we could get you out of the house some time this week. We were already going to the beach and since you have not called me recently you have no choice." Light smirked at him and motioned to the empty seat.

Fucking Hell.

"I will n-"

"You will? Oh yay!" Misa squealed and latched onto him again. His irritation level skyrocketed until all he could see was red. Two seconds from throwing Misa across the room and not giving a fuck about the consequences, she was held back by Beyond who gave him a look.

"Do not cause a scene in front of your parents." Was Beyond's friendly advice tinged with warning. It dampened Mello's anger to know his father was home. The man was usually calm and laid back, and would even side with him most times, but if he went off seemingly unprovoked...things could get scary.

Digging nails into his palm to keep from snapping, Mello let himself be wheeled from the house ten minutes later. That was of course after he had changed into black swim trunks―the only form of shorts he had other than sleepwear―grabbed an extra Sock for his stump as well as two beach towels and any other necessity he could need there. Including water and a book. Of course the book was his review book but he would not compromise.

His mother watched him being loaded into Light's cramped car, waving as their eyes caught. He did not smile back. While he knew it was alright to be out in the sun, and even work out so long as he washed off, he did not want to be. He wanted to get his life back in order and going to the beach was not productive toward that end.

"Stop looking so glum," Beyond said in his ear. He and Beyond were crammed in the back with the wheelchair and supplies, while Light drove and Misa stretched out in the passenger seat. "We will be there soon and you can relax. Think of it as a ah-change of scenery for your studies." Beyond's grin looked even more manic up close as did the ways his eyes widened with whatever his thoughts were.

"I did not want a change of scenery!" He hissed to the raven. Red tinted eyes narrowed at him yet Mello felt no fear. It was why and Beyond got along so well.

"You are miserable there. We all can see it just from a glance. You do not have to enjoy our outing but appreciate we are getting you out of that tomb you called a room."

Mello jerked back as if slapped. Was it really so easy to see?

"Buckle up it's going to get bumpy." Was all the warning Light gave as the car dove over the roads edge and onto steep gravel and into the sand.

"Fucking Hell!" Mello slapped a palm on the window and the other on the seat in front of him as they bounced and jerked around the car like ping pong balls. A bottle of water flew under him as a particularly bad bump sent him in the air, and when he crashed down there was a loud crunch and his shorts suddenly soaked through. "Son of a bitch!"

Beyond started cackling beside him, smacking his face into the seats in front of him, but never missing a beat. The car jerked to a stop and through the silence was laughter.

"What the heck is so funny?" Light craned his neck back as he cut the engine.

"Mello w-wet himself..." Beyond snorted out. Mello felt the heat of embarrassment rise from his neck to his cheeks.

"The Hell I did. Ass slammed a water bottle thanks to your shitty driving." To prove his point he shifted until the still leaking bottle was pulled out from under him. He tossed it at Light who had to duck or be smacked in the face. God, he should have just let his father yell at him.

"Behave," Light directed to Beyond who was sent into another fit. Beyond had to be helped from the car after that. Or rather Light pulled him out and let him fall into the sand. They left him there as he laughed and only looked over as it abruptly stopped. The elder man held up a piece of sea glass and intently ran his fingers over the edges.

"Smeegle, take your 'ring' and grab something to carry or push Mello until we find a spot." Light snapped at the so far unhelpful man. Beyond pocketed the glass and hobbled over to plant his hands on the back of Mello's chair. Apparently, wheelchairs don't like sand. Who knew?

The beach towels were dumped on his lap and the chair dragged backwards hard enough for Mello to consider having seat belts put on his chair if he was going to be continuously bothered. Hardly five minutes in the sun and he was overheated, had a headache and was dizzy. He much would have preferred to be in that room studying...even though he no longer felt safe there. He had tried rearranging a few things, putting them back in the original spot but it no longer felt like home.

The irrational portion of him wanted to scream and rage at his mother for doing that. What gave her the right to touch his sanctuary? His rational side however, pointed out that it was not his house. He did not pay rent anymore or his medical bills. He hated his rational side.

"Here! Right here, Light!" Misa shouted, turning heads that were not already fixated on him. Mello grit his teeth as he was lifted from the chair and onto a different chair, one that had taken up the space in Light's trunk apparently. It was a low to the ground beach chair they had thought to bring for him so he could relax and easily reach everything without having to bend. It was thoughtful, he had to say.

"There all settled MelMel!" Misa said after draping the remaining beach towel over his stump and dropped the cooler beside him. He scowled at her. She knew he hated how she messed with his name.

"I think you are missing this," Beyond dangled his book in front of him yet pulled it back every time he reached for it.

"Fine keep the damn thing!" He growled, crossing his arms and leaning back. He would just nap and call it a wasted day. When he got home those pictures he was keeping safe for Beyond would end up on FaceBook. He cracked an eye open as something dropped in his lap and found his book and no Beyond. About three feet away the raven haired man was using the sea glass to poke at a crab that had been unfortunate enough to catch his attention.

Light had just finished setting up the umbrella when Misa tugged on his arm with a high pitched whine, "I want to go in the water, Light!"

Water. Ocean. Blood. Mello closed his eyes tightly. Part of him wanted to scream at Misa for even wanting to look at the rolling liquid that held so many dangers. The other part cried to join her. He just, he couldn't. The immovable fear that struck his vocal chords dead would not let him. It whispered horrid thoughts to him: You will loose your other leg, your arms. What will be left? It is waiting for you to return...

He was being ridiculous, Mello knew that, yet the knowledge did not stop those thoughts. How long would it be like this? That the mere mention of the ocean sent him into a crash of watery flashbacks that were more noise and sense than vivid detail? It sickened him that he was so at mercy to his mind.

He was almost certain he would never go back in.

When he finally pulled himself together Light and Misa were gone and Beyond was dangling the crab from his finger where it had pinched him. There was an odd expression on his face as his head tilted to the side. Great, the cops were going to be called, Mello thought.

"Go torment small children or Misa, just do it away from me. I do not want to have my statement taken again." He commented dryly.

"Ehehehe you just gave me an idea. Thank you Mell-o." With the poor crab still dangling from his finger Beyond headed in the direction of the water.

Well fuck.

"Whatever," he mumbled. He didn't need them to hang around anyway. Especially not Beyond in this mood. He glanced around cautiously to see if anyone was watching him before sliding the beach towel away to check on the stump. He smoothed out the sock, checked under for any sand, and replaced the blanket over it. His heart raced and Mello felt as though everyone knew what was being hidden, that they were going to gather around and stare.

He turned to the side and dug out a bottle of water, downing half of it to clear his thoughts. Maybe he could 'talk' to Nurse Ratchet about it. She would probably yell at him, 'I'm not your damn shrink' and that would be the end of it. Did he need to talk about it?

No. He simply needed to solve the problem.

Seeing all the people, young and old, moving around on two legs made his chest twinge unpleasantly. It was not envy, not quite. It was longing.

With a scowl Mello flipped open his book to distract himself. He hated the beach now.

He got through a chapter and a half before a shadow blocked out the sun he was using to read. "Hey?"

Mello looked up at the disturbance and was surprised to see the familiar red head hesitantly leaned under the umbrella to view him. His hair was wildly wind blown and his bare chest had a few streaks of sand on it that Matt brushed off sheepishly before crouching onto the blanket.

"You can sit under here you know." Mello told him and unconsciously gathered the blanket closer to himself.

"You don't have to hide from me." Matt said softly as he crawled across the beach towel to sit. Mello looked down at his fingers clenched in the blanket. Didn't he? A hand gently covered his own and though he was startled he merely glanced at the redhead.

"I already saw it at it's worst, remember?" And he let Matt pull the blanket away. Thankfully Matt left the blanket bunched just past the edge of his stump, as if knowing that he still wanted to be able to yank it up if required.

"I never really thanked you." Mello mumbled awkwardly. The feel of Matt's hand against his lingered and he felt the need to say something.

"You just did." Matt smiled at him and it instantly set Mello at ease. "What are you doing here by yourself, ah?" Matt gestured helplessly, and a little embarrassed if the sudden dusting of pink across his face meant anything, that he had no idea what his name was.

Matt had left the hospital before he could tell him. "My name is Mihael. Though everyone calls me Mello, as I prefer it."

"So why are you all alone, Mello?" Matt asked, fanning himself from the heat that the day brought. Mello handed him an extra bottled water that earned him another smile.

"I was actually dragged here by friends who thought I needed to get out of my room and away from PT." He frowned as he said it. So maybe it made him sound like a shut in, yet he had his reasons.

"I take it they bailed the second the water called to them?" Matt shook his head and took a swig of water. He even filled the cap and tossed some on his neck to cool himself more. Mello found himself watching where the droplets slid down the pale freckled chest to fizzle and disappear before they reached his stomach.

"Yeah. Something like that." He muttered distractedly.

"I meant to check in on you again. I just..." Matt trailed off with a sigh. "There are quite a few smaller bites and brushes around here but that was only the second time I have seen such carnage."

"Your family," Mello said quietly yet Matt still caught it and nodded.

"Dr. Prag told you huh? He's a nice guy. Though I guess you don't see him anymore do you?" Matt gestured to the stump, where the camouflage sock covered the puckered scar.

"No. I was transferred to PT a while ago." He took a sip of his own water, feeling the cool liquid roll down into his stomach. Mello closed the book in his lap and placed it on the other side of him. He did not want it to get ruined and he did not see himself returning to it for a while. Surprisingly he did not mind.

"How is that going, if you do not mind me asking?" Matt leaned forward, elbows on his knees and kept his attention of him even as a gaggle of girls sauntered by giggling at him. Well, they had one thing right. Matt was good to look at.

"I keep getting yelled at for pushing myself too hard," he smiled ryly at Matt. "Nurse Ratchet expects me to start using the prosthesis in a few weeks. Too slow for me."

"Nurse Ratchet?" The look on Matt's face was priceless and Mello had to laugh.

"It is something I have always called her since she does not treat me like glass. Swears at me all the time and hits me too." He grinned at Matt who shook his head in disbelief.

"That is almost kind of awesome. Though she probably hits your for calling her that." Matt pointed out dryly.

Mello thought on it for a moment before shrugging. "Still going to call her that." They both shared a laugh.

It was rather effortless to talk to Matt. He was just so easy going and friendly that one could not help it. They got in a discussion about the book he had been reading and when Matt discovered it was course review Mello found that Matt was going to attend the collage he had been planning on in a month. Though Matt would be majoring in computer sciences and Marine Biology.

Mello would have been majoring in criminal psychiatry and sciences.

"You can do the online classes for this one. I'm sure if you explain your situation they can give you a little leeway if you have a bad week and need an extra day for an assignment." Matt told him.

He had thought on it. He had simply been uncertain if he wanted the double load of PT and school at the same time. On the other hand it would be a great excuse not to go to the beach again. Or any public place until he was walking. "I will have to see if I can get into spring semesters. I won't make the fall deadline." It was a shame too.

"You never know." Matt said cryptically.

"Mell-o I see you have a friend." Beyond darted back under the umbrella and with red tinged fingers reached into the cooler for water. Light, or rather Misa, only allowed water to be brought. Probably watching her calories again. Like she would ever gain weight.

"Enjoying yourself?" Beyond tossed the empty bottle at him and it miffed Mello that there had been sand on it that landed on him.

"Yes. No thanks to you assholes!" He snapped and chucked the bottle back. It bounced off Beyond's forehead and rolled away into the sand. The raven haired man shrugged and glanced over as Misa stomped toward them.

"I may or may not have dropped the crab into her bathing suit bottom." Beyond snickered and took off in the sand.

"Ah," Matt stared at where Beyond had been, "That was um.."

"Do not even ask me why I hang out with them. I personally think I lost my mind years ago and it is the only logical reason left." Well, at least no one had been naked this time. That was not something he ever wanted to see a repeat of. Especially since it had been Light.

"I doubt you lost your mind at all. The crazy ones don't know they are crazy." Matt said with a grin.

For a while longer they spoke of normal topics. What they enjoyed watching on tv, what music they liked. If they had a car, and so on. To be quite honest Mello could have probably talked to Matt all night if the redhead had not been called to take his friends home.

"Mello do you have any paper?" Matt asked quickly, already half crouched to leave.

"No but you can use this." Mello held out his book, hoping Matt was doing what he thought. Using the highlighter that had been keeping place, Matt wrote something in the inside cover.

"It's my cellphone number. I always have it on me. I wouldn't mind getting a call to hang out sometime," his phone buzzed again and he quickly said goodbye as he answered it. "Yes i'm on my way-"

Mello could not help the way he grinned while watching Matt run off across the sand. He had the red heads number. He might just give him a call sometime.

Misa returned with a shirtless Beyond fifteen minutes later, Light trailing behind with a sour expression. Clearly the raven haired man had been creating havoc again. "We are leaving now." Light said tersely. Mello did not take offense as Light had been staring daggers into Beyond as he said it.

It was a quiet, tense ride home and it started pouring as Light pulled into his driveway. In all honesty it cleared off the sand that had collected in the wheels of his chair. By the time he reached the front door, his mother frowning at his dripping wet chair and clothing, he was certain no mud or sand would be tracked anywhere.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Before or after they left me to go swim?" he asked, stripping his shirt and handing it over. The only thing not wet was his book. He had made certain it was protected. It was placed by his computer for after his shower.

"Mello I doubt they let you for that long." He scoffed at his mother. Really she had no idea. Truthfully she could think whatever the Hell she wanted to, he was done with it.

"I'm going to take a shower. There is enough room on the edge for me to do it myself. If I need help I will call." Mello heaved himself back in the wheelchair his mother had just dried down. The seat was still pretty much wet but it would not drip all over the place.

"Alright... take your phone just in case." she dropped it into his lap along with his towel and change of clothing. Thank god he had asked Nurse Ratchet to speak with her. This was one thing he did not want a repeat of.

It was not easy getting out of the chair and into the shower. Thankfully there were no edges so nothing dug into him as he pulled himself into it to sit down. Sure he had one working leg but there was a difference between injuring a leg and still having the ability to properly balance, and missing one from the thigh down. If he teetered the wrong way there was no stopping a fall.

The warm water all over him was comforting and eased the slight burn he had gotten from the partial sun exposure; he burned rather easily. He properly washed the stump, making sure all of it was clean even though he hated to touch it. The scars were disgusting.

Getting out was more of a challenge as everything was slippery. He had to half dry himself, then the tub floor, and climb out. He slipped the last inch of the way backwards but the chair was there to catch him. "Fuck!"

He took a few extra minutes to calm his racing heart before dressing himself. Irritatingly, his mother was waiting down the hall for him. She needed to get over the fact that she could not do every little thing for him. "I left the dirty stuff in the hamper. I told you I would be alright." He gave her a small smile and neglected to mention the almost fall.

He rolled in his room, closing the door without locking it, with the intention of studying. He settled on his bed, laptop and books spread out across him. As he opened the review book the neon yellow writing stared up at him.

He mulled it over for a few moments, even going back to his neglected reading, before he found he could not concentrate. His mind was stuck on the redhead who had given him his number. Matt was interesting to talk to, just from their first real meeting. The hospital did not count in his opinion.

Mello worried his bottom lip before he could not resist anymore; he grabbed his phone off the bedside dresser. He punched in the number and sent a text. He did not expect an immediate response so even though his eyes flickered to the phone every few minutes, he forced himself to study.

The response he received a while later however, made him smile.

-End Part 3-

AN: There should be another update by the end of the week.

Special thanks: Kathrin J Pearl, CatatonicVanity