"I've already said, absolutely fucking NOT!"

"Mind your language!" David exclaimed, glancing around the ward at the eagerly listening patients. "Max, you know this is essential for your arms to heal up properly!"

"Fuck that!" Max snapped. "I might as well go home now, because there is no way in hell I will go!"

"Max,"

"Suck a dick!"

"Language Max!"

"Suck two!"

Preston was laughing so hard he almost fell out of bed. The other kids old enough not to be shocked by Max's foul language were dying with laughter also as Max stared down the weary nurse. It had been announced to him that he had to go for his first treatment, and he was refusing point blank to come.

David sighed. "Max, why don't you and me have a talk. Outside." Max didn't trust David, but reluctantly followed him outside the ward and into the corridor.

"What is this really about Max?" David knelt down to Max's height. "Do you just not like injections?"

"Who bloody likes injections, apart from the doctors who get to stick people with them?" David gave a small chuckle.

"Yeah, that's one part of the job I will never do. Do you know why?"

Max shrugged.

"Because the doctor with the needle always has to look the patient in the eyes just before they put the needle in, to reassure them, and all they see is fear. And no doctor wants their patient to be afraid of them."

Max didn't know why, but David's words reassured him somehow, so he let David 'convince' him to head down to the treatment clinic, one floor below the ward. He sat in the waiting room, opposite a timid looking blonde man with a ponytail and a foul smelling boy from a different ward, who attempted to make conversation, but Max had none of it. He moved over to a coffee machine and made himself a cup. It had been ages, and the hot drink managed to bring a smile to his lips, though inside he was all nerves. Max was unwilling to admit it to David, but he hated hospitals, hated the smell, the feel, the fact that it was filled with old and sick people who were all going to die. He didn't just hate them, he was scared of the too, and even though he'd spent the last two nights in one, his fear was as strong as ever. It just reminded him, of those days, coming every day, praying for him to wake up, the lifeless, cold hand lying next to the lifeless cold body...

Max's hands began to shake so badly he dropped his cup of coffee. He turned to the door and hurried towards it, he just had to get out of here!

"Max?" He turned reluctantly to the sound of David's voice, as the nurse stuck his head through the clinic door. "Where were you heading?"

"Toilet." Max grunted, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Can it wait? The doctor can see you now."

Max gulped, and reluctantly followed David through to a scary looking room, with a white desk, fake white skeleton and several jars of medicine and chemicals, and pills, and huge, sharp needles...

Max took deep breaths as he seated himself on a chair and looked at the doctor. He had imagined a scary looking, old man with greying hair, small glasses and an evil grin, but what he got was a strong looking black woman with a 'do not mess with me or I will stick a needle where it'll really hurt' attitude. Though more badass and like himself, still a little scary. She gave him a scary grin.

"Hey, Max. I'm Bonquisha, and I'm gonna be your doctor for the rest of your time here."

Max gave a nod, but didn't speak. Bonquisha didn't really seem to notice Max's uncertainty, but David gave him a little concerned frown from the other side of the room. Bonquisha shuffled through some papers on her desk.

"Max, blood loss, needs heavy dose of Ichrogen Chlistorine. Right..."

Max felt sick as Bonquisha picked out a particularly sharp needle and filled it from a bottle. (I have no idea how injections work) She then turned to him.

"Now, this may hurt a little..."

That was all Max needed to hear. His deep breaths rose into panicked ones and his hands began to tremble violently on his lap. He felt his head swimming and gripped the side of the chair to prevent himself from falling off. He felt like he was going to pass out. Suddenly, David was there, in front of him, his face concerned.

"Are you going to be OK Max? Do you need a minute?"

"No, I, I'm fine" Max gasped as he struggled to slow his breathing. David frowned.

"He don't look so fine!" Bonquisha commented. Max took a breath and managed to steady his hands.

"Nah, I'm OK. Hit me with your best shot." He bared his arm towards Bonquisha. She approached with the needle as David stepped back again. Max bit his lip. he was tough, it was just a little prick with a needle, how bad could it possibly be?

He felt a sudden stinging in his arm and gasped at the shock of it. He expected Bonquisha to take out the needle, but it stayed there, he could feel it. Had something gone wrong? Was he going to die? Oh god, oh god...

Max knew he shouldn't look, but he couldn't resist one tiny peek.

He saw Bonquisha press the needle down, saw the amber fluid go into his arm.

That was the last thing he saw before he blacked out.

...

"Max, awake yet?" Max grunted slightly and opened his eyes. He was lying in the familiar feel of a hospital bed, and snapped his eyes open at once, terrified that all the other kids had seen him passed out.

Nope, he was alone, in a plain, whitewashed room. Well, not quite alone.

"Oh good, you're up at last." David said with a grin. Max scowled.

"How the fuck did I end up here?" He asked sharply. For once, David didn't scold his language.

"This is a private recovery rom, and after you passed out, I decided it was better to let you come round here, than in the main ward." Max gave a surly nod.

"Yeah. Well, thanks."

"Can you walk yet?" David asked. "You can probably go back to join your friends now, but if you want to rest a bit more-"

"No!" Max exclaimed, then collected himself a little, as he was still embarrassed about passing out due to a needle in the arm. "I mean, I'm good." He swung himself out of bed and got to his feet. He felt a little unsteady on his feet, but followed David back into the ward. Gwen was nowhere to be seen, but Nikki was sat on Max's bed, chatting to Neil about Vegas. Neil looked bored, but smiled a little as he saw Max.

"Hey." He said as Max pushed Nikki off his bed and climbed back in instead. "How was it? You were gone ages."

"Oh you know, the usual." Max grunted as Nikki jumped back into her own bed.

"What is the usual? What did they do? Take your brains out. Pump your stomach? Twist your guts until-"

"Shut up Nikki." Max snapped, still feeling a little faint. Even from the other side of the room, he could feel David's eyes watching him. He didn't really like the nurse, but was glad someone cared.

"Almost everyone here goes down for treatment at one point or another." Neil told him. "I get my dressing changed, Nikki's fine though, she'll probably be out of here soon."

"And back again." Nikki reminded him. "I always have accidents." Max saw something else in her words and sniggered.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, er, nothing." Max sighed and sat back into his bed, looking around the ward. No one really looked happy either, apart from Nikki and Space Kid. Preston was moodily flicking through something on his phone, Ered was staring at the ceiling, sighing dramatically. Nurf had gained a pencil from somewhere and was writing on the wall. Dolph was asleep, scowling. Nerris seemed really upset about something, and Harrison was sat next to her on her bed, talking softly, trying to cheer her up?

Max didn't really know them well enough, but decided it was enough. He'd never really had friends, kept himself to himself. But here, there were so many kids that seemed troubled, and some of them, relatable. And he had Neil and Nikki. For now, it would be enough.

Nerris being upset carries through to the next chapter, so keep that in mind for my next update :)