I had hoped to update earlier in June but things were crazy (birthdays and cosplay), so sorry for the delay! I'm dedicating myself to this fic more considering the amount of watchers it has gained. Part of that is thanks to Arafel and her amazing fanart! And the comics she draws me for inspiration, |D.

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Toris was awakened by the snickering of those around him, and a gentle touch to his hair. There was a grating of a chair on the smooth tile floor before it toppled over with a clatter. This brought the young intern to sit up straight from where he had been leaning against a warm body, turning his head in time to see Ivan walking away towards the hallway that led to the patient's rooms. "Wh-what, ah, did I…?" He wondered, glancing around. He was met with amused smiles, including Alfred who he had been laying against.

"You fell asleep!" Feliciano offered, giving a yawn for himself. "Movie's over…"

"O-oh no! Where…" The brunette glanced around, finding no other orderly in sight save for Sarah who sat back at the safe room filing her nails. "Where did Shaun go?"

"Out to smoke," Gilbert bit at his thumbnail, "Wouldn't give me and Fritz one either, arschloch."

"Because they're unhealthy!" Feli spoke up again, frowning. Lovino gave a smirk,

"That's not why he didn't give him one. He didn't give him one because he's an—"

"A-alright!" Toris stood up, rubbing the sleep from his eye and trying to fix his hair. He undid it to do this, smoothing it back to re-tie. "S-Sorry about that Alfred. That was really unprofessional of me…" What could have happened if someone had wandered off while he was asleep! Toris' heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it in his ears. Even if Shaun was supposed to be here in case of something like that, it didn't mean it was alright to fall asleep. And on a patient! Of course Alfred only smiled as he stood, taller than the orderly. The American patted his shoulder firmly,

"No problem man! You should have seen the looks that Commie was shooting at me though!" He laughed, but the brunette frowned.

"That's not… Alfred, you shouldn't…" His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Shaun coming back from the safe room, giving a sigh. He glanced to the clock above it to see that it was about 9:40. "Looks like it's time for bed." For you all, he thought to himself. As for Toris, it would be another eight hours before he was allowed that privilege. Groans and protests erupted from everyone all at once, surprising the Lithuanian for a moment. It was Shaun who came to his 'rescue' with a loud and brash voice,

"Alright crazies, lights out!" He said with a clap of his hands. Pointing to Feliciano, he didn't even change his tone, "That means you had better get changed and out of here." The Italian looked saddened by this, but nodded.

"Hey, that's not fair at all! I didn't even get to visit with him!" Gilbert raised his voice. Lovino glared, undaunted by his brother who stepped in front of him to keep him from stepping forward.

"Screw you, bastard! He's my brother!" The older of the two shouted back.

"Well he's fucking mine, so practically that makes him my brother too! God damn eyetie!" The German tapped his forehead, and Lovino laughed.

"You just insulted Feliciano too, idiot!"

"H-hey, stop it you two!" Toris interjected himself as well, standing in front of Gilbert. Alfred on the other hand was laughing, seeming to enjoy the chaos. Shaun only sighed, grabbing Feli's upper arm and pulling him away from his brother.

"Now he's no one's! You two get off to bed before I call for Jeff to come help me drag your asses there and strap you down!" He demanded of them, drawing both of their glares straight to him instead of each other. For a few tense beats of his heart, Toris was afraid they'd both pounce and tear him apart with the force of those looks. Gilbert turned away first, cursing as he headed for the hallway. Both Feli and Toris breathed sighs of relief as he left. The Italian turned to his brother, reaching out to touch his arm.

"I'll come back tomorrow…" He winced as Lovino pulled his arm back before it was touched, heading off towards the hall as well.

"Toris, take him back to the brake room to change. His ride should be here at ten exactly." Shaun let go of the smaller brunette, moving off in the direction that the other two had gone, likely to make sure that they didn't change their minds and decide to fight. Feliciano's eyes were watering but he hid it well, giving a small smile to the orderly left behind.

"S-sorry to inconvenience you."

"No, not at all!" Toris shook his head. He held out his hand towards the safe room, and they both began to walk. "Are those two… always like that?" The Lithuanian asked warily. One of them was Feliciano's brother after all. And what had Gilbert said about his brother?

"Sì, unfortunately! Well… Fratello's always hated me for putting him in here… But I couldn't take it anymore. It was putting too much strain on my relationship and work, and Dr. Antonio seems so nice! Don't you think?"

"Dr. Carriedo? Ah yes, he's very kind! I admire him already. I hope someday I can be as good as he is with … difficult patients. No offense, of course…" They reached the door to the safe room as Feli laughed, giving a shake of his head as they were buzzed through.

"None taken! As for Gilbert, he wanted to come here. At least that's what he said…" Reaching the door to the brake room, Toris hesitated.

"Do… do you want me to wait outside?" He asked with a tinge of pink to his cheeks.

"What? Why would you do that? Come on, we can talk while I change!" Feliciano smiled, pushing open the door and stepping into the brake room as if he belonged there. Toris followed him inside, sitting down on a bottom bunk bed. The Lithuanian opened his mouth to speak, but he was stopped in sudden surprise when the other dropped his pants, stepping out of them without a care. His shirt came next, and when those hands settled on his boxers, green eyes moved away quickly. D-did he have no shame at all? What if Sarah walked in! Swallowing, he spoke slowly,

"S-so…"

"Oh, right! I couldn't say it around fratello, but my partner is also my lover. He's also Gilbert's brother…" Feliciano pulled some clothing from a bag, slipping on a red silk pair of boxers. A pair of nice black slacks were next, and he leaned against the lockers as he slipped them on.

"O-oh, I see…" Then he's gay. That much was obvious from what he said, but the Italian's nonchalant attitude about it was what was surprising to the orderly. The way he said it without even a hint of awkwardness or shame… Could he ever…?

"You should meet him!" Feliciano burst out with, buttoning up his shirt now. Glancing back to the other brunette, Toris was surprised at the change that clothes could make. Before he'd almost seemed right in place amongst the others in his scrubs which matched his brother's, but now he was looking rather stylish and professional. Yet still that slightly goofy smile reminded him that he was the same, and the orderly smiled back.

"I-I have work…"

"Ohh, that's right! I almost forgot!" Feli was slipping on his socks, moving on to his shoes quickly. "He's always so eager to go he would probably be rude anyway! He doesn't like this place much…" Standing again, the Italian had fully transitioned. Stuffing the scrubs into the bag he'd pulled his nice clothing from, he slung it over his shoulder. "Thank you for letting me change!"

"Of course." Toris said s he stood. They headed for the door, "You said you'll be back tomorrow?"

"Mmhm! We're in town for business, and this time I'm determined to get Ludwig to visit his brother!" Feliciano made a fist, his expression almost comically stubborn. Toris tried not to smile,

"That's your…"

"My partner! He said that's what I should call him, because 'lover' is embarrassing." That hand which was a fist now waved as if dismissing such a silly notion. They reached the safe room, and the Italian stopped along with Toris. Suddenly the other had his arms around him, and Toris stood up straight as he was hugged.

"Ah!"

"It was nice to meet you, Toris! Will I see you tomorrow?" He asked excitedly. The brunette was blushing, as Sarah was smiling over at them.

"N-no, I'm off…"

"Awww… Well, have fun for me!" He let go, waving his hand. Sarah buzzed him through the door, and he stepped out. "Ciao!" He called to them, and the two orderlies waved back. Once he had vanished around corner, the female orderly turned to face him.

"He's something isn't he? Comes here at least once a month, stays from dawn until dusk. He does everything with his brother, and sometimes Gilbert. Such a sweet guy… such a waste." She sighed.

"W-waste?" Toris frowned slightly.

"You know he's gay right? And loaded, too! I heard his dad was some kind of Mafioso or something." She smiled even wider. Toris laughed,

"Just because he's Italian? You sound like my brother Raivis. He reads one too many romance novels…" The brunette leaned against the counter, glancing to the security screens. Shaun and Michael were in the halls now, checking that everyone was tucked in to bed. He couldn't help but think of how Ivan had stormed off without a word after the movie…

"Oh no, not me. Elizaveta reads those things, though. Anyway it's just talk. As if a mafia kid would be in this place. Wouldn't they just let him go on rampage and cover up after him? Feliciano's the sweet one though… Hey, do you think it's true?"

"What's true?"

"That it's always the people you don't expect! That maybe they are mafia kids and Feliciano got his brother put in here so that he could take over since he's not the oldest! If he—" Toris' eyes widened a little.

"N-no! I-I don't think it's like that at all! I mean, Feliciano seems genuinely nice…" He frowned. Sarah shrugged it off.

"Ah, you're probably right. It would have been cool though." She grinned. The brunette sighed, tucking his bangs back behind his ear.

"You have a strange definition of 'cool'…" Toris' eyes wandered back to the screens. "Any idea who I'm on with tonight?" He decided to change the subject. He wasn't interested in baseless gossip and people's private lives. He wanted to help the people here, and if he listened to all of the stories then there was no way that he could do that. Sarah merely pointed her hand to the door as she pressed the button with her other. Toris turned around to find Elizaveta walking into the room, glancing around.

"You just missed him." Sarah said as she stood up, heading over to the door before it closed. Liz's expression was sad as she sighed, moving out of the way so that the blond could leave.

"Again! Alright, goodnight Sarah!" She waved to the other as she left, letting the door close before she turned to Toris. Elizaveta was dressed in a dark-green summer dress, which hugged her above the waist tightly but hung loose to flow over her legs. On her shoulders was a coat that was definitely a man's—and a nice one at that, and she wore strapped black heels which made her even taller than she already was. Toris rose one eyebrow even as he blushed.

"A-a date?" He asked.

"What, this?" She pinched her skirt, lifting it a little. "Just a little get together with my husband. He knew I had to work tonight, but he just had to keep me out as late as possib…" She was cut off by a loud wolf-whistle from outside the safe room. Immediately glaring, her entire demeanor changed as Michael and Shaun approached. "You'll have to excuse me Toris, I should get changed. Don't let them in." She shifted her gaze to the brunette, who stood up rather straight.

"Y-yes ma'am. I mean okay!" Toris said wisely. Liz headed to the brake room while Mike and Shaun reached the door, knocking on it. The young orderly gave them a helpless shrug, but Shaun was pointing behind him on the counter. Turning to see the pack of cigarettes, Toris sighed. He picked them up and moved over to the window, opening it enough to slip them through.

"Aw c'mon, man!" Shaun tossed his hands up, bending down to pick the pack up off the floor. Mike patted his shoulder, shooting the brunette a glare.

"Don't sweat it, you know he's whipped. Kiss her ass good, Toris!" They both laughed as they started for the hallway leading out, but Toris called after them,

"At least that's closer than you'll ever get to her, Michael!" He closed the window, but he could hear Shaun's double as Mike flipped him off. Once they were out of sight he heard clapping, startling him enough to jump. Wide green eyes settled on Liz who was leaning against the wall of the hall leading to the break room.

"Y-you change fast… I didn't mean…!"

"Relax, kid!" Elizaveta giggled. "That was a good one. I'm glad to see you fight back! Most new guys fall right into their pranks, didn't I tell you? They try and one up them, treat the patients twice as bad, as well as each other. But don't push it too far…" She headed for the seat by the screens, the one that Sarah had been sitting in. Sitting down, she set her novel on the counter. "The patients aren't our allies or friends either…" Reaching out, she touched the screen of the hallway that was lined with doors, the rooms. Toris was quiet for a moment, sitting down in an empty chair that faced Liz's.

There were so many questions that he wanted to ask her, but weren't they all a little… personal? She hated gossip, so what if she thought he was just trying to get juicy details for it? Though mostly, it was himself that he wanted to figure out. As much as he analyzed himself, it was useless with only his own opinions. Elizaveta glanced over to the younger man, her expression a little worried. She stayed quiet though, until he finally looked up. Offering him a smile was all it took to get Toris to bit his lower lip, his voice coming out quiet when he spoke. He swallowed, throat tight, "It's… Overwhelming."

"I know it is." She answered.

"This is… I mean I want so much to help, but I don't know anything! I mean I know it but I've never seen it quite like this! I'm a … I'm afraid of everything around me." He continued, clenching his hands into fists in his lap. Liz nodded,

"That's normal."

"Is it? Did you ever think about quitting something even before you started? It's stupid." He shook his head before she could answer. "I won't quit. No matter what, I'm going to see it through. I believe in what I'm doing. If it gets me hurt then I'll learn my lesson, but if it works then I'm not going to give up just because it's hard!"

"That's good to hear, Toris."

"I want to be like Dr. Carriedo." He glanced up.

"Antonio?" Liz rose one eyebrow, smiling.

"Why not? I can grin and bear it too you know! I did it for most of my life, how hard can it be? I mean his method is a little extreme… and I don't know if Lovino really learns anything from it, but he puts everyone at ease." Toris nodded.

"Well, I can't argue with that much, I suppose. He also flirts with everything on two legs." She chuckled. Toris' cheeks colored.

"I-I noticed that, a little… Ah, who was that other doctor… Wong…?"

"Yao Wong?" She giggled now. "That grumpy old Chinese man?" Toris nodded. "Man's a mystery. He always does private sessions, and he hates group. Gets really uncomfortable when there's too many people around. I think he hates this whole place some days, but he'll never say it straight out."

"He said he was Ivan's primary…"

"Ohh, that's right. He's been here longer than Ivan has, but he took over him soon as he got here. Ivan's too unstable for group. He does alright in classes and things most days, but if you ask him anything about himself in front of others, he clams up tight and sometimes even gets violent." The female orderly leaned back in her chair, glancing to the screens again.

"I see…" They fell into another small silence, but this time Toris seemed to breathe easier. He didn't know what it was about Elizaveta that put him at ease, but he felt so much better after voicing his fears and talking to her. Licking his lips swiftly, he glanced up again. "E-Elizaveta… Um, do you know Feliciano?"

"Hm?" She blinked, looking his way.

"When you came in, Sarah said you just missed him. Feliciano had just left, so I thought… And you had punched Gilbert, so maybe you knew him too?" At that though, those kind eyes changed a little, as if a shadow had come over her perpetual cheer. "I-I'm sorry, it's none of my business!"

"No no… No, it's alright." She waved her hand. "You opened up to me, after all." With another smile, this one a little sad, Liz sat back up in her chair. "I know them, yes. I grew up with Gilbert and his younger brother Ludwig back in Germany. You probably wouldn't believe it, but I was quite the tomboy!"

"I… I can believe it." Toris chuckled. That was why he had been so surprised to see her in such a dress earlier.

"Well, we met the Vargas brothers later. There was a bit of a tiff when everyone found out about Ludwig and Feliciano…" She smiled fondly, but there was still somehow a kind of sadness about her. "But then I met the Weillschmidt brother's cousin… And I fell in love. Though we married, I didn't want to give up my career and he didn't want to lose his. So we have a kind of long-distance marriage." She held out her hand palm out and fingers splayed to inspect her painted nails—and ring—with a smile. Toris smiled as well,

"Thank you… For listening, and for sharing with me. Th-though I feel a little silly…" He admitted. Liz reached over, patting his leg.

"Don't. Really. We all have doubts now and then, believe me. Like when I hauled off and hit Gilbert. I was out for over a week on that one, by my own choice… I thought I wasn't fit for this line of work if I couldn't even see the difference between my old friend and a patient anymore. Of course I knew him then, but… He's changed, and I couldn't accept that. But Toris… there is a difference, you know?" She asked with a slightly worried frown.

"What? Ah, of course I know! Still… I don't think that I can say there's too much difference. I don't think the fact that they're patients means we can't be friends as well. It just means we have to be there for them twice as much because we're all they have. Is that wrong?" He frowned as well. Liz smiled, patting his leg again before she sat back.

"No. But I'm going to need some tea if we're going to continue this talk. You brought some more, right?"

"Of course." Toris got up with a small smile, heading for the break room. His hands were blessedly still as he got the tea, heating paper cups full of water in the microwave residing in the brake room. He was so tired that it was hard to keep his eyes open, startling at the sound of the microwave beeping when it finished. Taking the cups out carefully he set the tea bags in them, stirring them with a spoon slightly as he added some of his own flavored powder. He was no less overwhelmed really, but at least now he had hope! He'd met a doctor he could look up to, and he had at least one orderly on his side. She knew several of the patients too, so he could ask her if he had any questions. He wasn't alone.

They made it two hours before it came this time. Instead of with a scream, it began with a loud crash. Liz jumped enough to spill her fresh cup of tea, cursing just as the shouting began. Several patients had been awakened by the noise, and none of them happy. Louder than them all was the one belonging to the Russian, though it was accompanied by several more loud bangs and crashes.

"Damn it!" Elizaveta stood up, shaking off her wet hand. "I have half a mind to just call security and drug the bastard!" Toris frowned in worry, standing up and setting his own tea aside.

"I-I can…" He paused as he saw her reaching for the medicine, pulling down a bottle and shaking out two pills. She placed them in a small cup, handing them to the younger orderly.

"I'm sure as hell not going. I'll punch him for making me burn myself! But if I hear you shout once, security it is. Got it?" She asked, frowning in all seriousness. Toris nodded quickly, happy to be trusted with this much.

"I got it." He waved away the cup of water, reaching instead for his cup of tea. "He should like this better." The brunette explained, heading for the door. Liz hid her smile as she buzzed him through, wishing him good luck.

"Fucking Commie!" Came a shout from the door across from Ivan's, followed by several bangs of fists on his door. "I was sleeping!"

"Alfred, that's not helping anyone!" Toris chastised, and the American fell quiet as the orderly opened Ivan's door. No sooner than it was opened than a hand grabbed his collar, pulling him in and spilling his tea on his hand as he was pushed up against a wall. The door closed beside him, and Toris winced. "C-careful—!"

"Do you like him?" A low, quiet voice asked him as Ivan buried his face into the brunette's neck. Toris had to hold the pills and tea to the right side as not to be crushed between them, his other hand on Ivan's chest. Somehow on this second day he'd begun to get used to the Russian's odd lack of personal space, so he wasn't quite as frightened of it anymore.

"W-who?" He asked in an only slightly wavering voice.

"Alfred." Ivan murmured, and Toris shuddered as those lips brushed his neck. Ivan's right hand slipped behind the orderly's head, pulling out his hair tie.

"I-I suppose so. I just met him, so…"

"Mn." Ivan seemed unhappy with his, fingers pinching at where they held the brunette's collar now. "Better… better than me?" Toris frowned, his face feeling heat up.

"Did you make all of that noise just to ask me that?" He asked. Ivan gave a huff of breath and a small shrug.

"Answer me." The Russian snapped quietly.

"I shouldn't! Here I brought you pills with tea and everything and all of that was just a…" Ivan pulled back enough to look up, violet eyes dark in the dim light coming in from the window.

"Tea? Toris… Toris brought me tea?" The blond asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, but I don't know if you should have it n—" Toris was cut off as Ivan let him go, smiling even more.

"Ura!" He held out his hands eagerly, as giddy as a child receiving candy. Toris hesitated for only a moment before he slowly handed the two cups over to him. Ivan tossed the pills into his mouth, taking a sip of the tea. Closing his eyes, his lips parted for a sound so small that the brunette thought he might have even imagined it. It made him blush for some reason, seeing his reaction to something he had made. The Russian's eyes half-opened, his smile ever so pleased. "Toris does like me…" He lifted the cup to his lips again, drinking the rest of the still-hot tea down without so much as a wince. "Ahh…" He gasped as he lowered the cup, tossing it aside as he grabbed Toris' wrist.

"H-hey, what are you…!" The smaller man protested as he was pulled along towards the bed.

"Toris has to make up for sleeping on another man!" Ivan proclaimed bluntly, pushing the orderly to sit onto the bed by the pillow.

"Now wait a moment—Iva—!" He had to cover his own mouth as he remembered Liz's warning about him shouting, but by that time the Russian had already laid down, placed his head on Toris' lap and covered himself with the waiting blanket. He turned onto his back to stare up at the blushing and flustered brunette, while he himself was grinning contentedly. Reaching up, Ivan gently took a hold of Toris' wrist, lowering his hands away from his mouth. With those out of the way, the back of his knuckles gently brushed reddened cheeks. Not even the darkness of the room could hide that heat, and he chuckled softly at it. "I knew it was a game…" Toris murmured, sounding almost hurt. Ivan's fingers played with a bit of the brunette's bangs. When he spoke his voice was sweet, and quiet. The way that one might talk to a child…

"They do what they want, Toris." Ivan tugged on Toris' bangs, and then went back to touching his face. "Even when we're sane, we're crazy in here… You take care of an old person or a sick person because they can't do it themselves. But we are neither of those things. Once we're here we're stuck. And they do what they want." Toris was alarmed at the sudden weight of those words, frowning.

"What do you mean, Ivan?"

"Sing to me, moy drug."

"But what did you…"

"How do you say 'please' in Lithuanian?" Ivan interrupted.

"Ah… Prasau." Toris said, uneasiness settling in his stomach. He touched Ivan's bangs, brushing them aside. The Russian lowered his own hand then, closing his eyes.

"Prasau, sing to me… Just until I fall asleep. I don't care what, I just want to hear your voice…" He relaxed then, smiling slightly. Toris cleared his throat, feeling it tighten up instead of loosen. He began to hum instead, a wordless song. It was a tune which had stuck with him throughout the years, something he remembered from his grandmother. It was soft and quiet, but he closed his eyes and stopped thinking so much about being embarrassed soon enough. The weight of the head on his lap was warm and comforting, his fingers playing with Ivan's bangs all on their own as he hummed.

A few minutes later he opened his eyes to find the Russian asleep as promised, his breathing slow and even. It was all he could to get up for himself, he was so tired! And the blond looked so... peaceful. He'd sounded so saddened when he'd spoken earlier, about being trapped. It was all that he could do to hope that his dreams were as peaceful as his expression. Toris laid Ivan's head gently onto the pillow. Leaning down close, he whispered again, "Spokoynoy nochi', Ivan."

Quietly he left the room, closing the door behind him. From across the hall, he heard a hushed voice ask, "He alright?" Smiling a little, he moved over to the door to answer back,

"Ivan's fine, Alfred." Toris said quietly.

"…Good." A shuffling came from the door as the American moved away from it, and a flop as he must have reached his bed. Content, Toris moved on. Elizaveta lowered her novel to buzz him in as he approached, smiling slightly.

"Sleeping?" She asked.

"Peacefully… I hope." Toris answered as he sat down, only just now realizing that he didn't have any tea left.

"Well I would be too if I had someone as cute as you to tuck me in whenever I raised a fit." She half-hid her face behind the novel as she smiled, watching Toris' face turn a shade of red. Laughing, she reached out to pat his leg again. "I'm just kidding, honey! Honestly, you're just too easy!" Laughing along with her, although a little shyly, Toris smiled as well. At least when Liz teased him he knew she wasn't judging him. Though what Ivan had said to him was still bugging him a little, there was no use thinking about it on this tired mind of his. He had a whole day tomorrow to try and figure things out a bit for himself.

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For extra notes as well as fanart, go here: http:/ sephielyajmaxwell. deviantart .com/journal/33278473/ (Without spaces)