Chapter Nine: The Good Doctor

Braginski Mansion, North of Moscow

I was dreaming again, but it was a scene from memory. The sensations were just as vivid as they had been that day, the view before me just as spectacular. I was standing in a field of dandelions, a breathtaking view of a jagged mountain range towering in the distance. I had been in Italy visiting Lovino and Feliciano; it was their idea to hike out here. They had been so excited to share this place with me. Lovino said that he liked to come up here when he got sick of the city noise and wanted "a bullshit free environment." I understood what he meant – the air up here was crisp and clean and there wasn't another person in sight.

Feliciano was swinging me in a circle and we were laughing. It felt like being a child again. Romano lounged in the grass a few yards away, reclining back on his hands. There was a rare smile on his face as he watched us being silly. Feliciano finally slowed down, out of breath, and stood there swinging our linked hands from side to side, singing. "Bella, Bella, dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss her fella."

I laughed. "I don't have a fella, Feli."

Romano looked skeptical but simply held up another dandelion and blew away its fluff.

"What are you wishing for on all of those flowers, fratello?" Feli chirped curiously.

The older Italian twin shot him a mocking look, but there was no malice in it. "If I told you then the wishes wouldn't come true, Veneziano."

"Aaaahh," Feli exclaimed in understanding. "I want to make a wish too!" He carefully plucked a flower from the ground and held it in front of me. "Make a wish with me, Bella!"

"Okay, Feli." I counted to three aloud and we both blew out a gentle gust of air. The seed pods became confused by the two currents of air and a few hit us in the face before drifting away. Feliciano beamed happily, amber eyes shining. "Vee~ We'll be friends forever, won't we, Sey-Sey?"

"Sure, Feli. Why wouldn't we be?"

Like a cloud drifting over the sun, his mood fell to brooding and his teeth sank apprehensively into his lower lip. "Luddy said so too. You won't . . . take a break from being my friend, will you? Even if I do something not very brave?"

I noticed Romano was now listening intently. He had never forgiven Germany for breaking his promise to his brother. I drew Veneziano into a hug. "No, Feli. I won't."

Romano nodded as if satisfied, then tossed some grass at his twin. "Look what you did, idiota, now we're all sad. Chigi. Why don't you tell her about that new pasta recipe you concocted? The one we had last week. Thank God I stopped you before you put butterscotch in it."

At the turn of a hat, Feli's mood was sunny once more and he began to animatedly describe the latest blend of ingredients he had mixed together in a time of boredom. It sounded nearly as complex as a chemical formula and the words twisted themselves together in my head until all I could hear was Veneziano's voice and Romano's laughter.

I woke up with the feeling that I had been punched in the stomach. I still couldn't believe they were gone. The same sick pain I had felt for months crashed into me and I ran straight to the bathroom, past a startled Spaniard who had shot up from the couch at my frantic exit. I ducked my head into the toilet, shaking, waiting for whatever was in my stomach to come up. When nothing happened after several awful moments of churning I sank to the tile floor, pressing my head against the cool stone wall.

It wasn't fair. Out of everything unjust in the world I couldn't think of anything worse than the fact that they were gone.

"Seychelles?" Spain called softly from the other side of the door.

"Fine, Toni. I'm fine," I said, but didn't move. I had to keep up the façade in front of Antonio and I wasn't quite up to the task yet. "Just give me a minute."

I took deep breaths, carefully pushing away the sadness. Needing to focus on something else I set my mind to what I needed to find out. I still didn't know why Alfred and I were here. Did they take him simply because he was a threat? Or did they want to use him as leverage or protection against an attack? Taking a superpower captive is a very dangerous course of action. Especially Alfred. Hell, the American was the nation equivalent of Hercules! So either they had a way of controlling him or they didn't plan on keeping him for long.

"We need him alive. For now," Prussia had said with that cruel smile, the same one I had seen in the war when he watched Arthur struggle or when he had anyone in his grip whom he could break like a toy. I shivered. It didn't sound like they planned to keep America alive, but how long did I have? What did they want from him before they killed him? In the conversation I had overheard, Thailand – seemingly the acting doctor here – had said that America wasn't responding to his own name and that he couldn't answer their questions. Was he even lucid? Dieu help me if I had to drag him out of here.

I needed to see him. But more than that, I suppose, I needed to find him. I remembered Lili complaining to me that her brother was such a stickler for logical thinking. Order of operations, he called it, thinking from A to B.

My heart thumped painfully. Lili. I'd been so concerned with thoughts of my brothers that I hadn't worried about the others who had been at the Gala. My friends. Estonia, Poland, New Zealand, Liechtenstein, Wales. Oh God, heaven help them if they've hurt Wales. Ireland wouldn't just kill them. He would torture and skin them. And if Wales were dead, or Zee –

I cupped a hand over my mouth to keep in the scream that was building there. 'Calm down,' I thought. 'You healed up just fine, remember? And they are all stronger than you. Focus on the plus side. For instance, all of your friends have really overprotective siblings.' Kind of like me. And those siblings should not only be able to take care of my friends but also come after those who had hurt them.

There would be a cavalry. I just probably did not want to be here when it arrived. The word whispered through my mind again: leverage.

That had to be why they wanted me. France was a powerful adversary and if they had me I was probably equivalent to the world's best bulletproof shield as far as he was concerned. And with America as well . . .

Three Allied powers, down just like that. England, France and Canada.

That only left one option, and it was a shitty one. Escape. With Alfred. And avoid getting caught before we could be rescued.

If I had any idea when the Allies would be here then I could try to plan things better – but that left so much room for error. It would have to be just me and Al, alone in the snow. If only I had a phone. Toni didn't seem to have one anymore. The tomato-red Blackberry that Romano had given him was nowhere to be seen, probably lost or crushed. The others though, they might have phones. I would have to keep my eyes open. I didn't have a clue how close I was to civilization but I knew that any town I came to would be on high alert as soon as Russia discovered we were gone.

"Seychelles?" Toni called again, sounding worried.

I winced, taking another careful breath. "I'm coming, Toni, it's okay." I opened the door to find him standing there apprehensively, shifting his weight from foot to foot as his eyes checked me over for apparent injury. I must have woken him up when I ran to the bathroom because his hair was tousled with sleep and the dark shadows under his eyes looked even more prominent than they had yesterday. Guilt bit at me. "I'm sorry I woke you. You should go back to sleep."

The Spaniard shook his head, dismissing my concern entirely. "It is not a problem, Seychelles. But you look very pale. Tienes dolor? Is it your head? Thailand was not sure if there would still be any pain. Do you hurt?"

I began to answer then closed my mouth. This could be my chance to talk to another if the nations here and Thailand seemed the least threatening. I figured that I had nothing to lose. "Yes, there's still some pain, but I'd really rather not take any more ambrosia. I think I may be feeling sick now because of it," I lied. Anything to keep me from taking more of that stuff. While it worked wonders on injuries it left me little better than a vegetable and I needed all my wits about me.

Spain looked mortified. "Oh no, Sesel, I am so sorry! I will take you to see Kasem right away." He began walking toward the door, failing again to notice what he was wearing.

"Um, Toni? That sounds like a good plan, but I think we should get changed first." The clothes I had slept in were sticking to my skin, and it was warmer now than it had been before. He was shirtless. I still had no idea what time of day it was. Curious, I walked over to one of the windows and pulled back the corner of the heavy red drapes.

My stomach twisted. Toni had not been exaggerating. The ground was completely obscured by snow, which was falling even now. I could just make out the tips of the windows on what I hoped was the bottom floor of the building. There were a few smaller compounds outside, each equally submerged, and I noticed that the one to the right had glass walls. That must be the arboretum Spain had told me about. It looked like a small tropical jungle and I could tell by the dots of bright yellow that Russia's beloved sunflowers must grow in there too. Remembering my original purpose I squinted upward to try to gage what time of day it was. Judging by the brilliant light in my eyes I would say not long after noon. Drawing away from the chilling sight I turned back to Toni, who was gathering some clothing from his dresser.

"I recommend bringing a jacket, Sesel. Things cool off quickly here."

'I bet,' I thought unhappily, thinking of the snow that surrounded us.

"I will get changed in the bathroom. Let me know when to come out, bueno?" Toni asked brightly before closing the bathroom door behind him. I hurried to the dresser with the clothes that Russia's sister had picked out, selecting a long-sleeved black cotton shirt and dark jeans, slipping into them quickly. I knew there was no way I would be ready to make my bid for escape today so I did not take the hoodie with me, instead selecting a gray jacket that should keep me warm once the temperature dropped with the sun. I touched my abused hair, knowing even without a mirror that it must look awful. I found a stack of hair ties in one drawer and used it to throw my hair into a quick braid before telling Spain that it was alright to come out.

I bit back a curse when I saw him because his appearance surprised me. He had on a tight exercise shirt that left nothing to imagination and somehow drew even more attention to his muscular form than when he had been topless. Though I was more than willing to bet he had no idea of the effect his choice of clothing had, the last thing I wanted was to be caught gawking again, which was very hard not to do.

More colorful language ran through my head when he noticed my appraisal just before I could look away. A smile lit his tired face, and rather than anything lascivious he just looked flattered. 'Well, I suppose if it makes him happy, no harm done,' I mused reluctantly, melting a little at that smile. 'I just don't want him to get any wrong impressions. Our situation was complicated enough.'

If there was one thing I understood about my being here it was that I was under Antonio's protection, and against my better judgment I felt safe with him. At least, safer than anywhere else. But all I really wanted was to go home. Francis. Matt. Pushing the homesickness away I tied the jacket around my waist and followed him to the door. I tried not to look too interested in what he was doing with the key. After unlocking the door he returned the key to its place in his left front pocket.

Spain shut the door behind us, not bothering to lock it. We turned left down a tall hallway lined with pieces of art. I committed a few to memory so that I would know where I was if I saw them again. I didn't have much time to stare. Toni set a brisk pace, seeming in a hurry to get me medical attention, and I pushed away my guilt at lying. Knowing Thailand would ask me where I had pain I decided I'd say it was in the back of my head, where I had taken that awful knock on the ballroom floor. How many days ago had that been? Three? More?

We followed the hallway for quite a way before Spain took a sharp left. This hallway was shorter and I could actually see where it ended, but it looked much the same as the other one had. Finding my way around would be even harder than I'd thought. I didn't have much time to worry about that, though, because Toni had stopped in front of a wooden door with a small plaque on it, much like the ones we had passed so far. The writing on the plaque was in Russian and therefore useless to me, but there was a sign I recognized hanging just below it: a red cross and a sign of someone holding their index finger to their lips for silence. It was obviously a new addition and one that had been hand-drawn. I remembered Ivan telling me that he had converted this area into a medical treatment zone. What wing had he called it? The west or the east? I couldn't remember.

Antonio knocked twice quickly, shifting his weight back and forth on his feet. He had been shooting me worried looks all along the way though he had said nothing. I'd tried to keep up the charade by touching the back of my head a few times and even wincing, though the same guilt crept in again. 'You do what you have to do to survive, Seychelles. All else must come second.' Arthur had told me that while I was still his colony, during one of his lessons that ranged in topic from economics to strategy. I reminded myself of that and pushed the guilt away again. It wasn't just my survival I was here for. I couldn't let Alfred down.

The door opened to reveal a harried-looking Thailand. Kasem Chao was always a shock to the senses. Perhaps because it was impossible for me to predict day to day what he would be wearing and how he would be smiling. He had Kiku's reservation, Lili's caring and Italy's sensibility. Dark circles were more common beneath his eyes than the rest of ours' but now they looked like permanent stains made by a marker. Of everyone here I couldn't be more surprised by his presence. Thailand had a strong moral center as it was, but above all he had a deep respect for life. He was one of the few of us who had chosen to put himself through college while juggling his responsibilities as a nation. He had chosen to devote his life to the study of medicine and though I'd never really known why I had commended him for it. I'd wondered if it was the amount of war he had faced as a child, or if he had spent so much time patching up his explosive family that it became second nature to him to care for others.

But everything I thought I'd understood about him had been turned on its head, because he was here.

I made myself smile at him. His eyes widened when he saw us, eyes darting over me clinically as Toni's had before flickering to him. "Good afternoon Spain, Seychelles. What is the matter ana?"

"She's in pain, Kasem," Antonio told him, sounding more ominous than I'd expected him to. I glanced at him to find his eyes narrowed on the nation in front of him. So he was blaming him?

Thailand's eyes widened just a fraction before he turned to me, his manner instantly becoming that of a physician – reassuring, calm, and in control. "I am sorry that you are experiencing pain, Seychelles ana. Please come in, both of you." He stepped back to shepherd us inside, closing the door quietly behind him. I felt the fine hairs on the back of my neck rise when I took in the coarse white stone walls and hospital beds that I remembered from the first time I'd woken up here. I noticed one of the beds was occupied, though I could only see the outline of feet beneath the white blankets. Thailand walked past us a few feet to draw some curtains further together, probably trying to block out sound for his other patient. His voice dropped when he turned back to us. "If you will please follow me I will see you over there." He gestured ahead of us to the opposite side of the room where there seemed to be a large workspace with another cot and a few chairs. We followed him there and I stood, not sure where he'd want me to be.

"Please, take a seat, Seychelles," he requested, gesturing to the cot. I carefully hopped onto the edge, mindful of the few bruises I still had. A sleepy-sounding trumpet came from my left and I looked down to find Thailand's small elephant, Toto, curled up on a dark blue cushion, his trunk lifted in greeting. I smiled at him, wishing I had some fruit to slip him – something I did often at world meetings. All of the nations' animal friends knew to come to me for treats, because I could never refuse them. It seemed that at the moment Toto was more interested in his nap, though, because he lowered his head back to the cushion and was asleep almost instantly.

Spain did not sit in the chair Thailand offered him, instead opting to stand, leaning against the wall a few feet away.

"Right," Thailand said, drawing my attention back to him. "Could you please describe your pain for me ana, specifically where it is most severe?"

I laced my hands in my lap to keep from fiddling with them nervously. My voice came out clear and unwavering. "The back of my head is aching, but I would rather not take any more ambrosia. I woke up feeling very nauseous this morning and I think it was due to that." I saw Spain staring daggers at Thailand when I said this. I guess he really was holding Kasem responsible. I'd have to be careful not to get him in too much trouble.

Thailand's eyes, dark gold behind his glasses, were assessing me carefully, and I wondered if he saw the lie. After a moment he asked, "Have you experienced the nausea before?"

"Off and on since I . . . " I hesitated. What to call my waking up to realize I'd been taken captive? "Since I woke up in this room a few days ago. It hasn't been that bad, but I would prefer not to have it get any worse."

"Well, you should not have to worry about that," Thailand said after a moment. "I am hesitant to give you any more ambrosia as it is, and this sounds like a matter that can be taken care of by other medication ana. Ambrosia is used for repair of damaged organs and flesh, a general reconstructive or restorative medicine. Though since you are still experiencing pain that means that the wounds are not entirely healed, so I would like to administer something of a general checkup to make sure nothing else has gotten worse ana." Those cautious eyes moved between Toni and I. "With both of your permission, of course."

Spain was frowning, obviously unhappy with the idea, though I couldn't pinpoint why. All I knew was that Kasem could discover I was lying if he found nothing wrong with me. Though I got the feeling he wouldn't dare to call me a liar in front of Antonio, not with him looking so fierce. That unsettling something was still screaming from everything Spain did, every movement and word. And if Thailand was as perceptive as he seemed, I was willing to bet he had seen it too.

Finally Spain said grudgingly, looking at me, "If Seychelles if alright with it, I guess it would be for the best to find out if anything is wrong. But you do not have to do anything you are uncomfortable with," he assured me quickly, his voice stronger than I'd expected. I still had no idea what to make of this strange protectiveness Antonio was showing, but finally decided it would be better to not draw suspicion by saying no.

I turned back to where Thailand was standing a few feet away, staying out of the decision, though his eyes flickered between the two of us frequently, resting longer on Spain than on me. There was a small crease between his eyes and he looked as if he were trying to figure something out. Well, he was welcome to try. I couldn't make heads or tails out of this entire mess.

"Kasem," I said, getting his attention. "I'll let you do the check up but there are some things I'm not comfortable with. Okay?"

He nodded. "I understand, Seychelles. I will ask your permission before I do anything. Will that be alright?" I wondered if the question was directed more at Spain or at me.

Antonio was about to answer when a buzzing sound came from Thailand's pocket, causing him to quickly draw out a cellphone and hold it to his ear. "If you will excuse me for a moment please ana," Thailand said to us before answering the call. His face took on an expression of discomfort and maybe distaste as he moved the phone slightly away from his ear. "Yes, Prussia, Spain is with me -" A pause before Kasem continued, sounding irritated. "Of course I will ana." Thailand held the phone out to Spain. "Gilbert would like to speak to you ana. Apparently his "awesome self" refuses to be kept waiting."

I tried very hard to look as if I wasn't eavesdropping when Spain answered the phone. "What is it, Gil?" A pause while the albino jabbered into the phone. Spain was beginning to scowl. "I'm busy, you will have to make do on your own-" Louder jabbering. "I'm busy, Gilbert. It will have to wai-" Whatever he said next caused the scowl to intensify before Spain sighed through his teeth in irritation. "Fine then," he growled into the phone. "But you had better hope it doesn't take a minute longer." He hung up on Prussia then, handing the phone back to Thailand. The darkness was wiped from his face by the time he turned to me, which was more unsettling than if it had stayed. "I apologize, florecita. It seems I am needed and there is no getting out of it. I'll take you back and then we will return for your checkup later -"

"What if I stayed for the exam and then Thailand brought me back ?" I asked, fighting to keep my tone neutral. Just a suggestion, nothing earth-shattering. Except that this might be my only chance to talk to one of the other nations alone. I glanced at the Kasem, finding him looking at me in surprise. "If that'll work for him, of course."

Spain frowned at me, looking ready to refuse. I fought to keep my mouth shut. 'Don't try too hard to convince him.' Antonio looked at Thailand, eyeing him broodingly before turning back to me. He did not look happy. "Is that what you want, Sesel?"

I shrugged. Keep it casual. "It would be nice to get the pain taken care of," I said as gently as I could, anticipating the flash of dismay I saw in his own eyes.

After a long moment he began to nod. "Alright. If you are sure, florecita." He stepped closer to me, still speaking as he took my hand. I fought against the tension that shot through me at the touch. Thankfully that was all he did and after a moment I was able to focus on his words, which I'm sure were meant to be reassuring. "- take more than a few hours. Gilbert swore on all sorts of ancient codes that it wouldn't be any later. I will come back to you as soon as I can."

I think my smile was shaky but it was the best I could do. He unnerved me, dammit.

Spain misinterpreted my reaction. "Do not be afraid, Seychelles! Absolutely nothing will happen to you without your say-so. Correct?" His eyes flashed to Thailand, going from reassuring to frightening in an instant.

I saw the eastern nation struggle to keep his placid composure before managing to nod. "Of course ana. You have my word."

Spain smiled at me. "You see? Absolutely no worries. And if you experience any trouble or want me to return for any reason, let someone know and I will be back in a minute. Sí?"

I nodded. With one last warning look at Thailand, Spain left the room, closing the door behind him too loudly. Kasem winced, looking at the curtains that his patient was sleeping behind.

"Sorry about this," I told him quietly.

Thailand turned back to me in surprise. "Oh, it's no trouble at all, Seychelles. I should be the one apologizing. You should not be feeling much pain at all, and there should have been no lingering effects from the ambrosia." He lifted the stethoscope around his neck to his ears and held the opposite end out towards me, waiting.

It took me a moment to realize he was waiting for my permission. I nodded, jumping a little when the cool metal was placed over my heart. He listened carefully for a while before moving away. "All seems well there ana." A flashlight was shined into either of my eyes, followed by an inspection of my ear drums. "Well, I do not believe anything is wrong with your brain, which is very good news. Do you mind if I inspect the injury to the back of your head ana?"

I nodded though I did so with a sinking feeling in my gut. 'Just stick to your story, regardless of what he says,' I told myself as gentle fingertips brushed aside my hair. I flinched in truth when he pressed lightly against the center of the wound and realized that I did in fact still have pain, though it seemed to flare up only when provoked.

"Hmm," Thailand hummed thoughtfully, the crease back between his eyes as he moved away from me to a medical cabinet. "It seems the ambrosia was not as effective as I had hoped. The bruise is rather impressive. Do you have others still, from your fall?"

I nodded. "Yes, but those don't hurt very much unless I lay on them. And uh, I'd rather not, well . . ." I wasn't sure why I was having so much trouble communicating that I didn't feel comfortable showing them to him – he was a doctor after all – but he seemed to understand nonetheless.

"No trouble at all, Seychelles," he assured me, squinting at the writing on two pill bottles he held in his hands. "On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your pain?"

I didn't want to risk him giving me anything too strong, especially since I did not really need it, but I still had to be convincing. "It's about a five now I guess."

Kasem nodded, replacing one bottle in the cupboard and extracting a single oval-shaped white pill form the bottle he was still holding. "This ought to be sufficient then. I suggest you take it with water and take another later tonight once you've eaten. If the pain does not improve in an hour, take another one then ana. I do not believe you should experience any side effects from this; perhaps some lightheadedness at most." He placed the pill in one of my cupped hands and set the bottle on the cot beside where I was sitting. "I'll get you some water."

As he walked to the small fridge tucked into one of his cabinets I inspected the pill in my hand. It looked fairly similar to the ibuprofen I took for severe headaches, but I recognized that the numbers carved into the pill were done by a human hand, not a machine. "What is it?" I asked when Thailand handed me the bottle of water, cap already removed.

"It is a variation of a popular pain medication. I've modified it slightly over the years to more effectively target the pain nations feel."

"You have?" I repeated, startled. I knew he had studied medicine, but I did not know he'd been experimenting with pills.

"Yes, and I give you my word that it has been very well tested. None of the other nations reported any side effects for you to worry about."

Hoping that he was right I swallowed the pill, then tucked the bottle with the remaining ones in my pocket. "Thank you, Thailand."

The nation smiled. "I'm glad I could help, Seychelles." As he looked at me, though, his smile began to dim, and his eyes became worried. He hesitated for a long moment before asking slowly, "Are you – adjusting – alright?"

Ah, so we weren't going to pretend nothing was wrong. "I guess that depends on how you define adjusting," I replied just as slowly, watching his expression.

I saw genuine concern in his eyes as he warred with himself about how much he wanted to risk revealing. "I know you are in a strange situation, Seychelles, and that you did not ask to be here ana. Suffice it to say that no one here will hurt you, and that no matter what happens outside these borders, you will be safe."

And I still had no idea why. Why I was safe, why any of this. I decided I might have more luck with a personal question than a general one. "Why are you here, Thai? What are you doing here?" I leaned forward a bit from where I sat, careful to not let judgment color my voice, only the soft pain of not understanding. I'd learned how to use emotions I already felt to mask those I didn't want to show.

His shoulders hunched – in guilt? - before his head sank into his hands. He looked tired. Almost as weary as Toni. I looked around again, noting the numerous pieces of paper with writing scribbled in every direction - whatever angle the paper had been facing when he paused to make note. As if every possible breakthrough was too fleeting to waste time turning the paper. Why such haste? One page had begun neat, a long list, and had been added to in margins and above words. They seemed to be chemical formulas. My hazy understanding of the periodic table was not enough to help me identify any of those I saw. What good was chemistry in war?

My back stiffened at a terrible thought. Dieu help them if they use chemical warfare. God forgive them, because I will not.

"Laos," Kasem Chao croaked, the sound startling me from the worry coiling inside of me. He looked positively haggard, the mask of carefully constructed self-assurance beginning to crack. The change was so drastic from the calm young man I had known that I could hardly reconcile the Thailand in front of me with the one in my memory.

Laos. The name stirred a vague memory in my mind of a very slim young woman whom Kasem was always translating for. I remembered him telling me that she had never learned English well. She had only been present at the first few world meetings I'd attended. Thailand drew a photograph out of his coat pocket and tilted it so I could see. Sure enough, that was the same girl – but the change was astonishing. Her cheeks were shallow, her once-radiant skin unnaturally pale. She was smiling, but it must have been very difficult for her. Her bone structure itself looked fragile.

"She can't walk. She can barely eat. She coughs blood and she falls into sleeps that lasts for days. Her heart beat -" His voice actually faltered. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, taking a breath before reopening them. "Her heart beat is so weak ana."

"What's wrong with her?" I asked, handing the photo back to him. I couldn't think of many things that would make a nation ill. Not that ill.

He looked positively miserable, his head still cradled in his hands. "I don't know. I've tried everything I can think of - every test, every cure - and nothing works." He looked half mad with worry and fear, the perfectly collected and composed young man from before gone. "Collaborative efforts with the world's best doctors -" He held up a few sheets of the formula-riddled paper and I finally understood what it was. "Countless hours in the laboratory - nothing -"

I was beginning to understand. "So you think she's too weak to handle another war?"

Kasem nodded, his eyes digging into the picture in his hands as if he were trying to sear it into his brain. "She can't be on the losing side. She can't. She won't - survive -" he choked "another calamity. If I could seal her in Plexiglas I would." His head suddenly rose and he looked at me in desperation. "Please understand ana. I am doing this only for her. The Axis can protect her, and Russia has the resources I need to find a cure - the ambrosia I need to work with -" The feverish light in his eyes dimmed, overtaken by somber anguish. His voice was rough, as if his vocal cords themselves were raw. "I can't let her die. She is - she is everything. She needs me."

"And for her you would let others die. Take part in their deaths."

Tortured but unwavering determination. A single nod of his head. "Yes." He stood up to pace across the room, walking from one wall to the other. "Russia showed me his plans. I made every change he would agree to to prevent loss of life. If he could force a surrender by threat rather than further violence ... lives would be spared ana."

Anger and unbelievable sadness was rising in me. "You forget. Some things people are willing to die for. Freedom is one of them. How could you possibly forget?" I wanted to shake him. "It is the ONLY thing we will consistently die for, Kasem!"

"That and love," he answered hollowly. "We all had a price, Seychelles."

I had no answer to that. I strived for some way to reach him, forgetting for a moment that my purpose was finding America. "I know you, Kasem. You wanted a real career, you wanted to do something separate from being a nation. You earned the right to be called Doctor, and now you are running the risk of losing that right-"

"I would lose EVERYTHING for her!" he shouted, and it was so unlike him that I physically jumped.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he apologized, sinking his head back between his hands.

The sadness, both his and mine, was almost unbearable. "Didn't you realize what you'd be giving up?"

Kasem looked at me with eyes filled with pain. "You've loved, Seychelles," he said in a quiet voice meeting my eyes directly. "You know ana. You know it doesn't matter."

My teeth dug into my bottom lip as I thought. 'Don't say anything rash.'

"I understand the willingness to die for the ones you love," I said slowly. "But letting others die? I'm not sure I can condone that. I thought life mattered more to you, Kasem."

A flinch. "It does. It is my own soul that is worthless. I allow myself to put her first. Always first."

I hugged my arms more tightly to myself, looking away. There didn't seem to be anything else to say.

Then something occurred to me. "Kasem."

He was staring at his palms, lost in thought. I wondered if he was imagining the blood that had stained them, both figuratively and literally. I called his name again and he looked up, freed from his trance. "Yes, Seychelles?" A vestige of his earlier composure had returned, and he didn't look so unstable anymore. That was hidden away, but not as well.

"You said everyone has a price. What was Antonio's?"

The nation turned away, trying to hide his flinch. My suspicion, and alarm, deepened.

"Thailand." I heard a bit of panic in my voice. "What was Spain's price?"

Still flinching, he brought his fingertips into a steeple, pressing it against the bridge of his nose. He didn't answer.

"What does Spain want?" I asked again, and I wanted to scream. Maybe I was screaming.

"Well, among other things, little devochka, his price was you."

Russia.

I turned, my heart hammering in my chest.

Ivan stood just ten yards away, head tilted slightly to one side as he observed us. How long had he been there? From how rigid Thailand had just gone I was betting he hadn't heard the door either. This was Ivan's house, though. I imagine he knew how to get around unheard. Even a secret passageway behind a bookcase would not have surprised me.

Almost half a minute passed in total silence.

"Well." My voice sounded strained to my own ears. "How terribly medieval."

Russia smiled, amused, though his eyes were watching my reaction thoughtfully. After a moment he seemed to let whatever he was thinking about go and asked me instead, "How are you feeling, Seychelles? Well, I hope. Anton'yo mentioned you needed to see our doctor."

I cleared my throat once before I could talk. "I'm feeling much better, thank you. Thailand is a good doctor." Even if he abandoned the doctor's code, I thought, but I worked to keep my face clear of my thoughts. I glanced at him, finding him frozen in place and even paler than before. Was he afraid Ivan would be angry at how much he had revealed?

"Good, good," Russia replied, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Why was I scared? I had never been afraid of Ivan Braginski, not ever. "Though I am surprised that Anton'yo left you to roam without him."

"I was asked to walk her back to her room once I had tended her injuries ana," Thailand said very formally, his mouth barely moving. And I had to give him credit that despite the choices he was making he still risked speaking up.

Russia smiled brightly. "I can escort the lady back to her room, da? You have other patients to attend to, after all."

Kasem's eyes flicked over to me, concerned. And bold. Russia was obviously his superior here, but he still felt the need to check with me before releasing me into his care. I didn't want to cause him further trouble so I stepped forward. "Thank you, Ivan, I appreciate that. I'll see you later, Kasem."

The pale nation nodded and disappeared behind the curtain that divided this room from his patient's. Ivan offered me his arm, looking as harmless as could be. "Shall we?"

Thailand let out a shaky breath, startled from Russia's appearance and still shaken from the topic of their conversation. He doubted Russia would do anything to harm her. Not physically. But Kasem had seen that look in his eyes before when something had piqued his interest. The outcomes were rarely positive.

Trying to shake away his worry the good doctor took a steadying breath before turning to his other patient. The noise seemed to have brought Japan out of his sleep somewhat, but a mix of ambrosia and dreams had him disoriented. His eyelids flickered as his brother took his pulse and lay a cool hand against his feverish brow.

"China?" Kiku said groggily. "I never apologized, did I?" He slumped back into sleep.

Thailand sighed as he laid a cool cloth on his brother's forehead. More hallucinations.

He wished China was here too.

"So what do you understand about your situation, little sunflower? Hmm?" Ivan asked as we left the infirmary, his head tilted to the side. I avoided his unnerving violet eyes because they reminded me too much of Matthew's and sent up a prayer that my hand would not shake where it rested on his arm.

"I am not entirely sure, Russia," I responded carefully. "I know that Antonio is my warden." Unfortunately I was afraid he was aware that I knew more than that. I wished that I knew how much of the conversation he had overheard.

"Warden is such a harsh word," he scolded lightly. "The Spaniard cares for you. He is your protector. He has ensured that you will be safe from harm."

Well, wasn't that a relief? But the subject of Spain brought my concern for him back to the surface. "Russia, what happened to Toni?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You can guess some of it, da? The twins."

Yes, that explained his broken mind, but not how he had gotten here. I didn't want to press my luck that far, though, so I simply nodded.

"It is fortunate we had Kasem here to see to your injuries." Russia seemed to lapse into his thoughts, his tone turning musing. "Do you know that he is the most informed of any nation about the way our bodies work and how we heal? So much more useful than the humans we train. He will not be gone in a mere handful of years, and unless he suffers a nervous breakdown he is far more likely than any human to survive this war." Russia remarked so calmly about Thailand's despair, misery and near or impending insanity. "He figured out some fabulous little tricks while he was tinkering with the ambrosia. There's one - ingenious thing - that keeps a nation perpetually weak."

America, I realized at once. They'd only have taken him if they knew they could control him. The thought that he had used the research Thailand was doing to cure his sister to kidnap Matthew's brother sickened me.

"How fortunate that he is in need of my help." Ivan smiled.

"You exploit his weakness the way you do Toni's." The blunt words were out of my mouth before I could take them back and I had a few seconds to think 'Well, this is it, I'm dead,' before Russia simply shrugged, not looking at all offended.

"That is what you do in a war," Ivan replied.

"But it doesn't make you many friends," I answered, more delicately this time.

He actually laughed. "Who needs friends?" he asked, sounding honestly curious.

"Most nations."

Russia did not look impressed. "The main three who openly declare their friendship named their group after the fact that they never stop fighting with one another. Is that warm and fuzzy enough for you and your 'friendship'?"

I couldn't say much to defend the infamous Bad Friends Trio. Francis had told me himself that had been the driving force behind their choice of name, and looking at where they were now. . . it was easy to understand Russia's scorn.

"And besides, if I were concerned with friends it would not be so easy to wage a war, now would it? If I were friends with one of the Allies that might complicate things. Luckily, I am not burdened so."

My worry for my family returned, stronger than ever. It didn't sound like he felt any ties to those on the other side of this war, and that meant he had no reason to use restraint. "Russia." I was gambling. I knew that. I was gambling very heavily and I had no chips. "I would very much appreciate it if you could refrain from causing harm to France and Canada."

"... I will take that into consideration, little sunflower."

"I can offer you nothing. I know that. But perhaps I am wrong, but I don't think . . . it's not them you hate, is it?" There was pleading in my eyes. I knew it and I didn't fight it.

He met my eyes, that careful shield in place, masking everything. But he wasn't smiling. Maybe he respected me enough not to.

"I harbor no hatred for either of your siblings, Seychelles. If I can I will avoid dealing them pain."

I nodded. I could ask no more. I wanted to thank him, but he was the one who started this war. He could have my gratitude if he kept his word.

"You are a very surprising person, Seychelles," he said suddenly, his head tilted as he watched me again.

I blinked a few times. "I am?"

He nodded, strands of ashy hair sliding to cover his unsettling violet eyes before he shook them back again. "Da. I suppose I expected someone ... different. Less, perhaps."

I was too confused to get angry. "And is my ... difference ... a bad thing?"

A small upward tug at the corner of his mouth. "Perhaps not, so long as it causes no trouble. You are entertaining."

'Happy to be helpful,' I would have snapped to anyone else. But I was smart enough not to say it to him.

Russia considered her. She did not look like much, when considered as a threat. Unlike Alfred, she exuded no overwhelming air of capability and strength such that it almost seemed to come off of him in a shout. But he was also unreachable. He was so open about his weaknesses that indeed Ivan had sometimes wondered if it was all a front to conceal his true issues. But no. The American was just unscrupulously honest.

This girl, however, looked as though she could easily keep secrets. Her quiet considerations and movements spoke of subtlety, and of caution. Fear was there, but she was doing an honest job of masking it.

A good liar then, Russia deduced. But then, he suspected that was not all they had in common. "Besides," he began breezily, picking up their prior conversation thread, "I do not anticipate much trouble with the Frenchman."

"Why is that?" I asked cautiously, and I couldn't stop the hint of vindictiveness from slipping through. "France is a world power after all."

And anyone who took him for an easy target would have another thing coming.

"Because he loves you, da?" Russia said pleasantly, hands clasped behind his back.

I played it dumb, pretending confusion. It was as I'd suspected then: I was leverage. "Francis loves everybody, except for England, and, well, you."

He smiled, and it still didn't reach his eyes. 'Maybe that's what they mean, why they suspect him,' I thought now. 'He's kind as can be, but it doesn't ring sincere.' "Ah, but would he sell his soul to the Devil to get anyone else back from Ar'zur? Nyet, I think not, little devochka. You are the Frenchman's world."

This time I was honestly confused and more than a little lost. His smile suddenly touched his eyes, just for a moment, in a pitying way. "You really didn't know. That just proves I'm right, you see. Because if it were anyone else, he would have told them ages ago. I can see you do not believe me, but let me ask you - does he seem jealous when you're with other men? Does he get angry, even at the most innocent contact?"

I opened my mouth, shut it. "He's just overprotective. That's what family means - you watch out for the ones you love."

Something flickered across his eyes. "Ah yes. Love. You know there are said to be four kinds of love, yes?"

I nodded warily, watching him. "Eros, storge, phileo and agape, yes."

"And is it possible to feel more than one of these loves for any one person?"

"CS Lewis believed you had to. Look, I know what you're trying to get at, Ivan, but I don't buy it. France is who he is, and he's chock full of ideas about protectiveness and valor. The Musketeers were his, after all." I said that to lighten that atmosphere, but his thoughtful look never lifted as he studied me with those too-bright eyes. My unease deepened.

"Has he never looked at you in a way that you couldn't place?" Ivan pressed. "Given you a look that you have never seen him give another?"

I frowned. "I understand what I can about Francis, and I leave the rest to him."

He looked as if I'd switched a light on inside his head. It lit up his face in an endearing way, but I wanted to take the light back. "So that is it, then. Acceptance. The one thing that I'm willing to bet the rest of the world never offered him."

I sighed, too tired and too angry from what he had already told me to comprehend what he was babbling about. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Russia."

He smiled at me again, but this time the smile was genuinely tender, as most people looked when they gazed at a small animal - fluffy and benign but often amusing. "Do not worry about it, little sunflower," he said kindly, and there was nothing searching about his tone anymore. He sounded content with his own conclusions. We started walking again, passing through a hall lined with works of art. I noticed a preference for realism and pastels and I couldn't help but wonder who had been responsible for the decoration of the mansion. Ivan, one of his sisters, or someone else entirely, hired by them to fill it appropriately with their treasures?

"Little sunflowers . . . It is impossible not to adore you," he mused quietly, and for some reason I doubted that he knew he was talking aloud. And I did not think he was talking about me.

I searched for another topic, something less unsettling. If my brothers were brought up again I couldn't be sure that I would be able keep my emotions in check. "Antonio mentioned you have an arboretum here."

Russia looked pleased. "Yes, I do. I have more than forty different types of flowers. For all that my country has many native flowers that can survive General Winter's residency, but I find the world has so many beautiful flowers to offer that I simply must keep my own collection." Ivan began to name the many species of flower in the arboretum. I recognized a few but soon they blurred together in my mind until I could only nod politely. Better than him saying strange things about Francis. I tried to mark the way we were going, and I thought I might be able to find my way back in the opposite direction if I needed to, thanks to a few distinctive art pieces. There was one, however, that I did not remember seeing before. It was a very detailed portrait of Russia and his sisters and and a few other nations. I did not realize I had stopped to look at it until Ivan spoke. "Impressive, da?" Ivan asked, standing beside me as his eyes took in the portrait proudly.

'Impressive? What an odd word to use . . .' I thought before finally realizing what the painting was. These were his accomplishments, those he'd had under his power. The jewels in the crown of his Soviet Union. A chill went through me when I realized why Poland was not there.

I heard footsteps coming down the hallway toward us. Part of me hoped it was Antonio coming to fetch me, despite what I had learned in the time I'd been away from him. I could handle Thailand, but Russia was too observant. I'd already slipped up once that I knew of, and I couldn't afford to have him see through me. Ivan already knew that I was aware of their actions, and I had no idea whether or not he would tell Spain, or take some other action.

But it wasn't Spain coming down the hall.

It was Prussia.

I couldn't stop myself from taking a step back, but I did stop myself from taking another. My pulse was thudding in my ears and that familiar fear coiled in my stomach. Thankfully he seemed like he couldn't care less that I was there. His disinterested red eyes slid right past me to Russia. "Belarus and India are working on something, they seemed to think it was important. Natalya convinced Toni to stay but he sure bitched plenty. As for the awesome me, I am done with meetings today. Later, losers." Stretching his arms above his head Prussia continued on down the hallway and was soon out of sight.

Just when I thought I was in the clear I looked over to find Russia studying me with interest. Great, he'd seen my reaction. "Why do you fear him so?"

I shrugged, because I didn't have an answer for him. Wanting to avoid that discussion I searched for another topic. Ivan beat me to it, declaring suddenly, "You should join us for dinner tonight. Anton'yo is being selfish, hiding you away all the time." He looked at me expectantly, and I knew there was very little chance of saying no.

'Will you come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly,' I thought grimly. I didn't like the intelligence I'd seen flash in his eye. It would be much harder to fool him than to fool Toni. I forced the unease down and smiled back. "I would love to, thank you." If nothing else this could be a chance to see more of the house, hopefully locate the staircase and the doors out of the mansion.

"Fantasticheskiy," he said happily.

We came to a junction of the hallways, and I was fairly certain that straight led back to Spain's room. I looked down the hallway to the left, wondering what was there.

"You should not venture down there, Seychelles," Russia told me, startling me out of my thoughts. "The others would very much dislike to be disturbed, I think." I noticed that he drew me with a bit more strength in the opposite direction.

"O-Of course."

"Ah, here we are." It took me a moment to understand that we were back at Spain's door, which I knew would be open. "I will take my leave of you now, little sunflower." He opened the door for me and I said goodbye, my fingers crossed that I would not hear the turn of the lock once the door closed. I waited, waited . . . yes! Antonio hadn't given him the key.

That had been my other goal when I had asked Spain if Thailand could walk me back. Prussia had said that Spain was now in yet another meeting, and while I knew that I had no idea of when he would be back, this may be my only chance to look around on my own. It would be dangerous, of course, and I'd need a good excuse if anyone found me. Not to mention that Antonio would probably become twice as vigilant if I wasn't back by the time he returned.

But I owed it to America to try, because I was the only chance he had.

After dropping her off Russia returned to his family's wing of the mansion. When he passed Belarus's door he could hear the sound of thunks as she threw her knives at very small targets on the wall. Or there was an apple perched on a Baltic's head. Or hand. Or nose, so that they looked like a seal with a ball.

But the Baltics were gone.

For now.

Though that thought brought a sharp sense of satisfaction, Ivan spared a moment to think about Seychelles. She was very quick. Russia frowned intently, remembering how she had surprised him with her deductions, and how she had made him doubt his conclusion with that confused, doe-like look when he caught on. But no. He would not doubt the intellect he'd seen. She had not found out anything he would not have expected her or anyone else in her position to have discovered in time, but she had learned quite a bit in just a few days.

When he reached his door Ivan let his thoughts about Spain's little flower drift away. Even though she was smart, she was small. Seychelles would be no threat to him. Humming a snatch from a piece of Tchaikovsky's he opened his door and flicked on the lights. The main room held little interest for him, which is why it was never locked. He produced a special key, one of old brass, from one of the many pockets of his coat and proceeded to unlock his bedroom door. He inhaled deeply as he passed by the potted sunflowers he kept beside his bed, but they were not what put a smile on his face.

"Hello, my sunflower. Did you miss me?" Ivan asked pleasantly.

A sigh issued from somewhere off to the side of the room. It sounded incredibly weary, and he heard the clank of chains as the third prisoner shook his head.

"No, aru."

A/N: Reviews are more awesome than chocolate~ I'd love to know your thoughts.

Once again thank you to my beta, Mio. You're the best, hun.

Spanish Translations

Tienes dolor? - Are you in pain?

Russian Translations

devochka - girl

Fantasticheskiy - fantastic