"Jesus!" Matt grabbed Tai's head before it hit the floor – he glared at Joe "That's not bone!"

"It's not?" Joe mumbled, he looked bewildered

"Of course not look!" Matt yanked the whitish thing off of Tai to reveal a Nicotine patch, Joe turned crimson.

"Well what's it doing there?!"

"It must have moved when he was all caught up with Shellmon!" Matt snapped angrily, they were lucky enough to have a trainee doctor with them and yet the trainee doctor couldn't differentiate between bone and a nicotine patch! Matt tapped Tai's face, he stirred a little so Matt tapped it again a little harder. Tai mumbled something unintelligible then rolled onto his side and spewed all over Matt.

"For God's sake!" Matt jumped away disgusted, great, now he was going to stink of vomit. Joe meanwhile was sitting Tai up and feeling his ribcage. Matt noticed the others approaching, TK and Izzy carrying armfuls of fish and Sora and Mimi with nuts and berries. The four of them were talking happily with smiles on their faces until they saw Tai.

"Oh my God!" Sora gasped dropping all of her food onto the floor.

"Give him some air okay?" Matt said stopping her from getting any closer

"What happened?"

"It's the injuries from the fight with Shellmon, they're starting to take their toll," Sora looked close to tears and Mimi had turned away from the scene. Izzy on the other hand had started to get the fish cooking

"What are you doing?" Sora asked him "can't you see Tai's not doing good?"

"It's bruising at the most," Izzy replied "if the injuries were any worse than this he'd have passed out ages ago,"

"How do you know?" Sora asked starting to sound really angry "he might have punctured a lung or something!"

Izzy laughed, yes, actually laughed and shook his head

"Don't be so naïve, if Tai had punctured a lung he'd never have made it up the cliff, why don't you calm down and help prepare the food? He'll be needing something to eat to give him energy." Matt had to admit that Izzy was right even if he was being a little insensitive. He left Sora with the others and returned to Joe and Tai. Tai was sitting up now and seemed to have regained full consciousness although he still looked like he was in major pain. Joe on the other hand seemed to have calmed down and relaxed.

"What's the score?" Matt asked kneeling next to Joe.

"It looks to me like severe bruising and he may have cracked some ribs, but from what I can tell there's no major injuries, no signs of internal bleeding or anything like that." Joe was rummaging around his bag "we do need to wrap him up though," he muttered half to himself half to Matt "I've got some tape in here, I was supposed to use it in my exam later on but…well, what am I saying? That exam is over. Ah! Here it is!" he pulled out a small roll of flexible bandage and tape. "Give me a hand would you Matt?" Matt obliged and the two of them slowly and carefully taped Tai up. They had just finished when Mimi came over.

"Here," she said leaning over Matt and handing something to Joe. Matt could smell her perfume as she hovered over him and somewhat shallowly hoped that she couldn't smell the vomit he was covered in. She'd given Joe a box of painkillers, nothing strong or unusual just the sort of things people carry around when they've got a headache or the flu. "It's not much," Mimi sighed "but I hope it helps,"

"Thanks," Joe said giving her a warm smile, he handed the box to Tai "take two of these," he instructed "you can have some of my water if you want, hopefully they'll help a little, I think you need to have something to eat and then get an early night, you need your rest." Tai swallowed the pills dry and shook his head

"I'll be okay, I don't need to be babied, and I'll manage,"

"Nobody's babying you Tai," Matt said incredulously "you've got some real bad injuries man, you need to rest!"

"Alright, whatever," Tai said obviously not listening to a word Matt was saying, he was too busy rummaging around in his pockets. He pulled out a cigarette and hovered over the fire to light it. "Before either of you tell me I shouldn't be smoking I want you to know that I don't give a sh-"

"How you feeling Tai?" TK had joined them

"How does it look TK?" Matt snapped irritated by his brother's stupid question. Both TK and Tai ignored him.

"Basically TK," Tai said getting to his feet a little unsteadily "I just want to eat," and he helped himself to one of Izzy's fish and started to eat. Matt watched on feeling worried, maybe it was bravado or maybe Tai really was feeling a little better but either way he still needed to take it easy, the last thing they needed was a man down. With a sigh, Matt joined the rest of them and began to eat. The fish wasn't great, there were too many bones for it to count as a real mean but at least it was something.

It was as they were eating that TK began to play up.

"So you enjoyed the little feel over that Joe gave you?" he grinned at Tai, Tai laughed winked at Joe,

"Very nice, you know, you're welcome to give me a rub down any day Joseph," Joe smiled meekly but looked uncomfortable,

"I suppose that's why he was so eager to check you over earlier huh?" TK pressed struggling to contain his laughter

"Knock it off TK," Matt said seeing that Joe was really uncomfortable now

"Oh grow up Matt, we're just messing around!" TK protested through a mouthful of fish

"Well it's not very funny, Joe actually helped Tai out a lot, we don't need you to be making fun of him!" Matt snapped wishing that TK would just open his eyes a little and think of others "and you might want to learn some manners," he added watching TK stare back it him with his mouth wide open revealing mushed up fish and berries.

"I'm not making fun of Joe!" TK cried indignantly "I'm making fun of his job!" and he burst into a fit of giggles with Tai.

"TK I said KNOCK IT OFF!" Matt suddenly had found himself on his feet angrily. Silence fell and Matt felt his neck burn up in embarrassment.

"Geez Matt relax," Tai said butting in, in his interfering way "everyone's cool!" Matt lost his cool,

"You can shut up too!" he yelled at Tai "Joe helped you out back there and you didn't even say thank you! You just light up for a smoke! You should show some gratitude!" Tai's face darkened and he made to get up but TK stopped him,

"Don't waste your time on him Tai," he said scathingly "Matt just likes to be in control all the time and have things his own way. He's kind of a spoilt brat like that, but the thing is, he can't ever see that the only person out of control is him!"

"Okay everyone let's all calm down!" Sora came and put her hand on Matt's arm, it was supposed to be a comforting sign Matt knew, but he just wanted to shrug her off and tell her to mind her own business. "I think we're all a little stressed out right now, it's been a long and difficult day so maybe we should just think about getting some sleep, particularly you Tai." Tai shrugged and TK scowled, Matt sighed, he knew she was right but he was just so worked up right now! He hated the way TK acted around Tai, so out of character…then again…maybe it wasn't Tai that was making him act that way…

They were about to make their way back over to the tram when Izzy made a suggestion;

"I think we should have someone on guard throughout the night, we don't know what's out there and we don't want to be taken by surprise,"

"Good idea," Joe said "plus, help might come when we're all asleep!" Sure, Matt thought, he'd just about given up hope on the chances of anyone finding them. "How about an hour or so on guard each? I'll go first, then you Matt, Izzy, TK,"

"I don't think TK should," Matt said at once – his brother on guard? That was a joke!

"Why not?" TK asked "and don't give me 'because you're too young'"

"Fine," Matt said "because you're too immature,"

"What about me!?" Tai asked looking mortally offended

"How many times?" Matt said losing all of his impatience with this Tai who he was liking less and less by the second. Not that he really liked him at all. "You need to rest!"

"But I've got the strongest monster! Surely if we're going to get attacked we're going to want my Digimon to save us?" Next to him, his orange oversized Charmander puffed up his chest with pride. Geez, thought Matt, like father, like son. "Just let me do the first few hours and then I swear I'll go to sleep!" Matt really wanted to argue that it was foolish of him but decided not to since Joe and Izzy both seemed to be nodding in agreement.

So it was decided, Tai would go first then Joe, Matt, Izzy and then if needs be Sora or Mimi. Matt headed down to the water's edge to freshen up. He splashed water onto his face and ran it through his hair. He was so exhausted that he lay down onto his back and stared up at the stars. He didn't recognise a single constellation – not surprisingly really in a world where monsters speak. He heard footsteps approaching and looked to see Sora and Joe.

"Hey," he said sitting up

"We came to see if you were okay," Joe said and the two of them sat down either side of Matt.

"You seemed a little stressed," Sora agreed, stating the obvious

"I am a little stressed," Matt replied huffily "I'm stressed with my brother, Tai, these monsters, the crappy food, the lack of sleep I'm going to get, the fact that I haven't got a clue what the hell is happening right now!" he realised he'd been ranting and stopped "I just want to go home and play my guitar," he sighed.

"It'll all be over soon," Sora said sympathetically "just try not to let things get to you until then," Matt smiled at her. Damn she was pretty, he was so mad that he'd missed out on that date with her that would probably never happen now.

"I can't see the North star," Joe observed looking up at the sky

"No, me neither," Matt agreed "but then again, if you can't see the North Star you're in the southern hemisphere," he said it jokingly but a part of him wondered if it were true. Of course not. Stupid thought really.

"Come on," Sora said linking his arm and pulling him to his feet "let's go."

When they reached the tram coach Mimi had already fallen asleep, no doubt exhausted from the day's events. Matt envied her, he really wanted to sleep but he felt wide awake, buzzed from the argument earlier. It didn't take long for Joe and Sora to settle down on the seats and drift off and not long afterwards, TK and Izzy followed suit. Matt shut his eyes and tried to snooze a little but it was no use. I felt cramped and claustrophobic what with all the Digimon taking up space too. Quietly he got up and left the tram. He intended to walk a lap of the lake to clear his head and tire him out but just as he was about to set off he heard padded steps behind him. He turned to see Gabumon standing behind him, looking up at him with his head tilted.

"You go back in there," Matt said "you don't need to follow me,"

"I want to protect you"

"From what?" Matt challenged, it didn't reply but seemed insistent on coming with him so Matt sighed and gave in.

"I promise I won't bother you Matt," Gabumon said as they walked

"Really?" Matt muttered sarcastically, the Digimon semmed confused and didn't reply. Up ahead sat Tai and Agumon by the now dwindling fire. Matt was hoping to pass by unseen but Tai spotted him at once and lashed out;

"Are you checking up on me?!" he growled angrily

"No."

"Because I can manage by myself, I don't need you creeping around, looking over my shoulder!"

"I'm not checking up on you! I'm just going for a walk!" Tai seemed to accept this, he eyed Matt suspiciously then turned away. Matt was about to set off again when he was swept over with guilt. He could see it now, Tai was such a dominant character and he didn't want people to think he was weak, that's why he was such a jerk to Joe and why he didn't want Matt checking up on him. He felt a little bad now, for snapping at Tai earlier. It wasn't just his injuries that hurt but his pride too.

"Hey Tai, I'm uh…sorry about earlier," he had mumbled it but Tai had heard. He turned to stare at Matt

"What?!"

"I said I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean to snap at you like that and I guess I was being a little insensitive that's all. Besides it was TK I was mad at not you." Tai seemed to consider this for a moment then smiled at him

"Okay then, apology accepted!" Matt was taken aback, he hadn't expected Tai to be so easy going at all!

"Uh…cool," Matt replied with a shrug.

"So what's your beef with TK anyway?" Tai asked suddenly just as Matt was about to set off again. Matt was reluctant to reply but figured he might as well try to get along with Tai, and being aloof wouldn't help.

"Can I join you?" Matt asked indicating the fire and the empty patch of ground next to Tai.

"Sure," Tai smiled