Some stuff in this is from Lexi's headcanon~ Also Clair wasn't originally going to be in this but she found a way. And I'm glad. :D

It was bad enough when Lance was just overprotective, but Silver could live with that; even though he hated it he was more or less used to it and had accepted that it wasn't going to change anytime soon.

But ever since he'd found out about the incident with Team Rocket and Clair, a certain fear would nag at the back of his mind. He'd get himself killed for anyone he loved.

Ruffians were just ruffians, Silver could have more than handled them on his own. But of course, stupid Lance and his stupid knight complex had to come charging in. The men had knives, and by the time the fight was over Lance was bleeding and unconcious at their feet.

Silver had completely destroyed those bastards, of course. Beaten them within an inch of their lives with the help of his Pokemon. But of course the anger had to wear off sometime...or rather, Lyra and Ethan and Clair had to calm him.

He'd gone numb after that. No anger, no sadness, no denial. Just numb as they called the police to pick up the ruffians, then an ambulance to get Lance to the hospital. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, he barely noticed as Ethan and Lyra tried to comfort him, or Clair called him idiot to try to snap him out of it.

Now he sat in Lance's hospital room (Clair had none-too-gently explained that as Lance's boyfriend Silver was family and if the doctor didn't let him in she would make him), and it was finally sinking in.

He almost died trying to protect me. They could have killed him. Even now they're not sure when or if he'll ever wake up. Tears blurred his vision and he closed his eyes, taking Lance's hand in his own.

"Please wake up," he whispered. "Damn it, y-you said you'd be here for me, no matter what. I know death happens, but if you died because you just had to be stupid and protect me..." Angry sobs wrenched themselves from him, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Lance, please..." He sniffled. "I-I'm not leaving your side or getting any sleep until you wake up, got that?"

Hours passed, and his eyes grew heavy with exhaustion. Clair came in and put a hand on his shoulder. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes were puffy, and she looked pretty tired as well.

"Listen, you," she said. "Why don't you just go to sleep already? We're already staying the night so at least the doctor will wake us if anything changes."

"No." Silver sniffled. "Not until he opens his eyes."

"Idiot. You think staying up until you pass out is going to make him better any faster?" she scolded. Silver glared at her.

"I'm not sleeping until he wakes up. You of all people should understand," he snapped.

"Of course I do!" she snapped. "And he wouldn't want you risking your health because of him. Just...go to sleep, idiot."

"No. My mind's made up," Silver said firmly. "Go back to the waiting room with Ethan and Lyra, okay? I'll let you know when he wakes up."

"...fine." He knew she was only giving in out of exhaustion. "...try not to make yourself sick, okay? He'd hate that." She gave him an awkward pat on the shoulder, then headed back out. Once she was gone, Silver sighed, squeezing Lance's hand a little more tightly.

"Damn it...! It's not just me! Don't you realize what you're doing to Clair? She had to see you nearly get killed all over again! S-she's never gonna forgive me if you..."

Suddenly he felt Lance's fingers squeeze his, and moments later the Dragon Master opened his eyes.

"...Silver?"

Relief flooded him, followed by intense anger.

"You idiot!" he screamed. "I never needed you to protect me from them in the first place, and you just charged right in there like a fucking knight in shining armor! Do you realize what you've just put us through? What you've put me through? You could've fucking died because of your stupid knight complex!"

"Silver!" Lance squeezed his hand more tightly to try to calm him. "Silver, I-"

"You almost died." More sobs broke through and he felt Lance let go of his hand, reaching up to touch his cheek gently. That touch felt better than anything had all day. You fucking idiot, I love you so much.

"I didn't want to see you hurt for anything," Lance whispered. "I'd do it again."

"Do it and I'll never forgive you, ever," Silver said. "You think you can get under my skin and make me feel all sorts of crazy things for you and then just ditch me like that?" He laughed in spite of himself. "You stupid jerk."

Lance smiled weakly.

"I'm glad I mean that much to you," he said, stroking his cheek. Silver leaned into the contact, moving his chair a little closer to the bed.

"If you die on me, when I finally get to the afterlife and see you again I'm gonna beat you up," he said. Lance chuckled, reaching up to ruffle Silver's hair a little.

"I wouldn't be so overprotective if you weren't so reckless, you know."

"Hey, this time it wasn't my fault! They came at us out of nowhere," Silver reminded him. "And just so you know, I did knock them all out with only a little help from the Pokemon. So you didn't need to protect me after all."

"Heh." Lance grinned. "Maybe I should try to back off a little with that," he said.

"Yeah, you should." Silver smiled a little. "...I'm glad you're okay, Lance." Then he remembered what he'd sort of promised Clair. "I'd better go let the others know you're okay." He started to stand up, but felt a pull on his wrist. "Huh?"

"I'll call the nurse and have her let them know," he said. "You get some rest."

"But-"

"You're exhausted, Silver. You look like you were up half the night," Lance said. "Go to sleep." Silver opened his mouth to protest, but to his chagrin he realized he was about to pass out.

"Fine," he muttered.

"I'll ask the nurse to bring in a blanket for you," he said. Silver nodded, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. The last thing he felt before dozing off was Lance's hand squeezing his again, and he knew everything was going to be all right.