(Post Dual Destinies. Apollo-centric, so if you're not a fan of the Apollo character, DO NOT READ THIS. Thank you!

When I upload, character names sometimes disappear. I'll try to catch it, but please bear with me. Thanks guys!

Apollo tried to suppress his pain, putting on a smile. He has finally fallen apart, and his life's hanging on a string. His family follows him as he's rushed to the hospital. Just what will the future hold?

Athena refuses to idly stand by while a loved one's in grave danger.)

—-

Athena watches with eyes that seem calm.

She watches as the ambulance team loads her friend into the back of their vehicle, increasingly uneasy about their patient's condition. She had to shut Widget off in order to prepare herself for the journey ahead, but the moment she shut him off, the screams came back. Nightmares none of them could see rushed back into the chambers of Apollo's mind.

The night's rain was so brutal, it felt as if rocks were falling from the heavens above. A little family, overwhelmed with fear, rode in the back of the ambulance. A sobbing Trucy and Phoenix called out to Apollo, wanting him to come back, wanting their nightmare to end so they could finish decorating their tree. Together.

Athena watched with eyes that seemed calm.

Her eyes continued to remain calm, even as they race Apollo into Intensive Care. His condition worsened during the ride to the hospital; he was very much like a fish in the middle of the desert, all the while choked by pain. As soon as condition hit an all-time high, one doctor mentioned the words 'cardiac failure' and Phoenix went through the roof, wailing please save my son, do whatever you can, just save him.

Athena watched all the while. She continued to watch, holding Apollo's hand as they raced him into his room, with Phoenix and Trucy still sobbing. Athena watched Apollo vanish into his room, even after she was forced to let go of his hand. She ushered her tiny family into the waiting room and continued to watch, her mind reeling with thoughts.

Even now, I can hear him. It's as if my powers are back to the way they used to be, when I was small.

Even now, I hear a handful of Apollos, screaming. Yelling as loud as they can.

They're yelling things I don't want to think about. I can't think about them.

If I do, I can't be strong. I can't be strong for , for Trucy-

I can't be strong for Polly.

—-

Athena watches and listens.

She's sitting on Phoenix's left side, caressing his back. Trucy's on the other side, head on his knee. He's weeping over how bad of a father he is, failing to notice any of Apollo's inner pain. Trucy can no longer speak, having lost her voice to tears. Every second is no different from an hour. They wait for what seems like years, desperately hoping for at least a little good news, while the world is battered by rain.

Athena's eyes widen. A doctor's approaching them, after what seemed like a thousand eons. Even though he's got his hands in his pockets, and has hair that looks as though it were dipped in a rainbow, he's solemn. She nudges Phoenix, both attorney and magician look up-

"I'd recognize your faces anywhere. It's safe to assume you're all with , isn't it?"

Trucy nods as if her life depends on it, sniffing. The doctor bows his head for a second, then continues.

"Name's Doctor Bowwe. Rein Bowwe, to be precise. I'm the one spearheading the patient's care."

Phoenix jumps onto his feet and latches onto the doctor's shoulders. He's paranoid, speaking quickly, anxiously. "Please, what's going on with my son? Is he all right?"

Rein clears his throat, bits his bottom lip, then continues. His scratchy voice is grim but gentle. He speaks slowly, as if Phoenix were made of glass and could shatter at any moment.

"Your son took the list of symptoms for apical ballooning cardiomyopathy, and checked off every last one. He's suffering from symptoms that mimic an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction, topped off with dyspnea and massive chest pain. Not to mention his body temperature's out of orbit. He goes from ice-cold one second to white-hot the next. To put it in terms public folk like you can understand…his heart's none too comfortable right now. It's like an enraged employee going apeshit berserk in the workplace."

Athena catches Phoenix before he can fall to his knees. "Can you help my big brother?" Trucy asks, tears flowing down her cheeks. nods, and while his eyes remain grim, he adds a dash of warmth to his voice.

"We'll do everything in our power to help your brother, little lady. Before I head back to 'im, there are a few more things you must know. is exhibiting signs that are far too close to what we call 'takotsubo cardiomyopathy'."

Athena speaks slowly, with a face as white as paper. "Broken Heart Syndrome."

Rein nods. "Right, little lady. Good for you. Now, you all know more than I do, apparently, but…since we've nailed that nail on the head, we can safely pin all of his symptoms to ongoing mental chaos. I have to tell you that cases like this are incredibly rare, like seein' a dinosaur walk outside your door. Patients only exhibit symptoms as strong as his if an emotional connection has been violently severed. Like the connection between twins, or somethin'."

He bows his head, bits his bottom lip and continues. "If I can't come out 'n chat with you all, I'll send out one of my nurses. But rest assured-you will be updated on the hour, every hour. Every thirty minutes if need be."

Bowwe bows, then returns to the room. Phoenix was silent throughout the doctor's explanation of the situation, but the second he turned his back, he found he could no longer suppress his tears.

"I didn't see it. I didn't see anything and now he's in danger. First Miles and now Apollo. Why? Why didn't I see anything? Why?"

Phoenix is no longer a legendary, formidable lawyer. He's a sobbing, shivering newborn, afraid to meet the oncoming morning. Trucy holds him, drowning in her own tears.

Athena, as calm as she can be, shuts her eyes.

—

I remember. I remember what it felt like, to be trapped in a world of your own making. To be trapped in a world of your own pain, tears and nightmares.

I remember. I was trapped in my own nightmares for years.

I remember what it was like, and I'm going to help you. I'm going to save you.

You hid because you thought hiding was your only option. But not any more.

I'm going to find you, and bring you home.

There must be SOMETHING I can do!