PERSONAL SPACE: Hi! Thanks for reading so far! I've reached 2000 wievs for Friendship and Loyalty so... thank you so much!

Special thanks to my beta, InsertImaginativeNameHere for her advices and editing, and also to Zoe Perja who helped me with the very final editing of chapter 10 (and also for the errors you pointed put on chapter 9) since my official beta is on holiday (read: I need someone who cleans up my mess when I add things after the first editing). Thank you so much! Both of you are amazing!

Special thanks also to Goldacharmed for her rewievs!

Chapter 10: Don't Claire me, Murdock!

Matt was trying to shut out the rest of the world and meditate when he heard it.

He had listened to Claire's breathing become deeper as soon as she had fallen asleep, and was using that as a starting point to slip into meditation. It was harder than usual because of the fever and the drugs Claire had forced him to take in order to lower it. Actually, she gave him the choice between those and ice-water baths, and he had decided that he had enough of cold water for at least a year, if not the rest of his life.

It took him a while, and the second he managed to reach the target, he had heard it.

It was something that took him back months, to that damn morning. He was on a couch as well, and Foggy was crying.

Ignoring spins and the resulting sickness, he sat up.

-Foggy?- he called, his voice a whisper. He didn't want to wake Claire.

He barely remembered anything more than shattered images of what had happened in the last couple of days; she had told him he had slept for the most of time, but he was suspecting that the moments he was awake he had given her a rough time, and if he knew her well, she hadn't slept too much, too intent on taking care of him to pay the same attention to herself.

No answer came from Foggy, but now he could hear his sobs and his stifled weeping. His best friend was somewhere in the room, he knew that, all he had to do was locate him.

Matt tried to focus on the small space, searching for Foggy's heartbeat. He started to fight with the haze in his head. Eventually, he found him.

He was not far away, lying on what seemed to be something like a mattress. The shapes were not so vivid as if he were healthy, but was still better than the confusion he remembered from the day before. Slowly he stood and moving his hands to help himself to navigate in the room,all his concentration focused on not losing Foggy's position, hoping they had left nothing on the floor, somehow managing to reach for him.

-Foggy- he called again, starting to worry. He hated being unable to feel what was going on with him just by listening to his heart, but it would require energy he didn't have and, beside that, he had sworn he wouldn't do that to him anymore .

His hands found Foggy's arm and shoulder, and he could finally give his brain a break. He gently squeezed it, hoping for a reaction. -Foggy. Foggy, please. Say something...- he begged when he got nothing -You are freaking me the hell out. Fog...-

In response his partner's sobs increased, and Matt couldn't do anything but put an hand on his back, trying to make him feel he was there for him no matter what without speaking. He began to move it in big and slow circles, hoping somehow to be helpful.

He didn't know how long he had kept going with it, he didn't care, but eventually Foggy was able to calm down, slipping into a fickle and troubled sleep. After everything the blond-haired man had done for him in all those years of their friendship, Matt didn't feel like leaving him. He fought with his own weakness and even if he knew Claire would kill him, he stayed beside him.

Claire woke up the next morning after a full night of sleep. Only God knew how much she had needed it after the days she had passed with Matt.

She needed a shower too, but her sense of duty was stronger than that, so the first thing she did was going and check the Devil sleeping on her... floor near to his best friend.

She wanted to kill him.

Go and have that shower. Claire ordered herself. You can murder him later.

She took all the time she needed, knowing that Foggy was there to help, and when she came out, her killer instinct had almost evaporated completely. Almost.

Directing herself toward the kitchen, she looked for something to eat. On her way she stopped for a while, looking at the two men, Foggy on the mattress and Matt beside him on the floor. His hand was on his friend shoulder as if he was trying to feel his presence by touching him. They were cute, but only because they weren't currently causing her to lose her temper.

She wondered if Nelson was aware of his presence, and what had made Matt's move to the floor.

That didn't really matter now. She was worried about the blind guy's health.

She was tempted to wake him and make him return to the couch, but then she decided that she wouldn't risk another panic attack. She touched his forehead slightly. He was warm, but not so much as to alarm her, so she looked for the fleece blanket she had used the day before and pulled it gently over him, being careful to not disturb his sleep.

Foggy opened his eyes, and his first feeling was...wet? He lifted his head from the mattress' fabric and noticed his tears had made it damp. Mentally cursing himself, he turned to rise, then he noticed the hand over his shoulder. He looked at it, and finally saw Matthew asleep next to him on the floor, an orange and green blanket covering him.

God, Matt.

He remembered his friend reaching for him after his collapse, how he had tried to ignore him even when Matt had informed him he was scared, his hand on his back massaging him in silence, waiting for him to calm down. He hadn't expected he would sleep on the floor to stay by him, and he felt a shooting pain straight in his heart.

He had to tell him everything.

-Are you awake?- Foggy jumped out of his skin.

-Don't sneak up on me!- he answered, whispering in order to not wake Matt, a hand on his heart pretending to be more scared than he actually was. He was rewarded by her rolling her eyes with an exasperated smile. -What time is it?-

-Half past get your ass off that mattress. I need you to keep an eye on Matt. I have to go and buy some foodstuffs. I left my groceries in that church. Can you do that for me?-

He was half asleep, so only few of her words actually made it directly into his brain.

-Yeah. Sure. Bye- Also his answer was longer and more articulate in his mind, but most of that took a wrong turn and found itself lost on the trip to his mouth.

Smiling, she allowed him the time to refresh himself in the bathroom and have a coffee before giving him a couple of instruction.

-When he wakes, make him eat something, there's an apple left, and take his temperature. Drugs are on the coffee table if you need them.-

Luckily Claire didn't ask why in Hell Matt ended up next to him.

-Yes ma'am.- he gave her a salute with a grin on his face.

She shook her head and waved at him, leaving the house.

Matt was freezing, and that was what woke him. He found himself on the cold floor, the fog in his mind was rising again, now that the effect of the drugs had almost worn off, but all these couldn't prevent him feeling (or more accurately, not feeling) Foggy's figure on the mattress.

-Fog?-

-Good morning, sleeping beauty!- his friend tone was as cheerful and loud as always, coming from the kitchen. His head protested with a sharp pain. He moaned, covering his ears with both of his hands -Oh, sorry buddy- Foggy lowered his voice, making him feel better.

Despite everything, Matt could clearly feel how forced that line was, as if Foggy was killing himself to sound...well, something akin to the regular Foggy. Matt heard him kneeling on his side, his fresh hand on his forehead. -your temperature is rising again, I think. How are you feeling?-

His partner was desperately trying to avoid the inevitable chat about last night, but, at least for now, he decided to play along with that.

-Better- he answered -but the spins are killing me. Is Claire still sleeping?-

-Nope. She went out for shopping... Her fridge is emptier than yo...- his voice cut off. He knew now Matt knew they were alone. Perfect time to face what had happened without other ears listening.

-So? What's going on, Foggy?-

He wasn't looking for it, but his friend's heartbeat increased so much that for a second Matt feared a heart attack. -Foggy? Are you ok?- he asked putting himself into a more comfortable (and warmer) sitting position on the mattress. -your heart is... I don't know... Going crazy-

-You promised me, Murdock!-

-It's not my fault! I can barely focus on my own, but yours is racing like a horse!- he explained, the concern making his voice harsh than he intended. -Sorry- Matt apologized immediately -but, seriously... What's going on? Is it because I left with Stick?- it was a weak guess, he knew that no matter what, that would never lead to a collapse of that kind. He was trying to push him into talking.

The other man remained silent, sit next to him. Matt waited.

-You have to eat something- he finally spoke, and he stood up, helping his friend to do the same and then taking him to the chair in the kitchen. -I'm going to take your temperature, let's see if you need some drugs-

-Thanks, mom-

-Claire's orders- Foggy explained, chuckling -You'd better obey... I bet she could be more dangerous than Karen when she gets riled-

-I don't really want to find out...- Matt smiled him back, biting the apple Foggy had put in his hand. He couldn't exactly remember the last time he had eaten. Oh wait. Yes, he could. He had a pizza the night before Stick's last punishment...and he had thrown it up.

They both stayed silent for a while, and Matt let Foggy taking care of him. He hoped he wouldn't need drugs. He hated drugs. They dimmed his senses, making him feel... Like a real blind person would, even more than fever itself had.

-Matty?-

-Yes?-

-StickhasKarenHeforcedmetocomeheretobringyouhome- Foggy spoke so fast and low Matt couldn't follow him, but his heartbeat, raising again to alarming levels, told him that whatever it was, it was nothing good,

-Foggy. Foggy. Fog. Calm down. Take a breath- he heard his friend trying to obey. He put a hand on the blond's arm. -Try again. Slowly this time-

- Stick hai Karen atē usa nē ghara dē tuhānū laiṇa la'ī ithē ā'uṇa la'ī majabūra kītā mainū- Matt might laugh hard at his friend speaking - or trying to speak - punjabi, but the words Stick and Karen in the same sentence had frozen his amusement somewhere between his stomach and his throat, specially because he had no idea of what Foggy had said.

-English, please?- he urged.

-Stick has Karen- his friend finally said, and Matt could perceive he wasn't looking at him, his voice so unsure he could barely form words -he forced me to come here and bring you home-

Foggy had broken into tears before finishing speaking, so desperate that Matt's first reaction was to hug him, not daring to think about what he had been through in the last few days.

The blind lawyer held him close, trying to restrain his anger. He hadn't broken the deal, not willingly, at least. He had left everything in their apartment, Stick would have known that!

-I... So... Sorry... Matty... I didn't... He... Karen...-

-It's ok, Foggy. It's ok. Calm down. You're hyperventilating- Matt released him from the hug to let him breathe easily, but he didn't interrupt their physical contact. He could feel Foggy needed it -You did the right thing. You have nothing to apologize for. Calm down. Just breathe.-

Matt let him have the control of his breath back before leaving him to look for some water. That wasn't easy, but somehow he managed to do that without breaking anything. On his way back he met Foggy's hand, guiding him back to the mattress, where he laid. His head took the peace offer and stopped the spins,

-Thank you, Matty, but please, stay quiet... You have to rest-

-We have to go back to Hell's Kitchen as soon as possible-

-No-

-Foggy. Karen's in danger! If She get Stick angry...-

-I know. He will beat her. I've experienced that-

-Did he hurt you?-

-Nothing I can't handle. Listen to me, Little Horn. We have to go back, and you'll probably have to leave again with him, but, before that, you'll take your time to recover!-

-There is no time, Foggy-

-There is no time for what?- asked Claire entering the house with two bags in her hands..

-We have to go back to New...-

-No way, Matthew- she cut him off, dropping them near the couch -Whatever this Stick had done to you, it took me two days to bring you back and, still you've jumped when you've heard me, when you should have been able to notice me at least three blocks ago-

-Thank you, Claire- Foggy blessed her.

-Claire...-

-Don't Claire me, Murdock...-

-Let me explain, at least- he was practically begging her, begging both of them, actually.

Claire didn't want to allow him to explain, because he would come up with such a damn good reason that she would let him go, no matter what Foggy (or the nurse inside her) would say.

But she had to admit that part of her really wanted to know what had happened and who was this Stick that was able to mess Matt up in this way. She had seen him half dead more than once, neither Fisk nor Nobu were able to drive him on the edge of madness like he had.

The nurse sighed, then nodded.

-Just nodded- she specified when she realized he hadn't felt her, or whatever was the right verb to describe his different way of seeing. -But- Claire added -After that you are going to take your medicines and some painkillers...-

-Ok… Now can I…-

-Not so fast, Little Horn - she broke off, calling him the funny name Foggy had dubbed him. She cracked into a smile when she saw his reaction to that, a mixture between amusement and exasperation, his lips lifted in that adorable smile she used to love -You are going to let me check your bruises-

-But there is no…-

-Say that again and I am going to give her permission to anaesthetize and tie you up until you have fully recovered!- Foggy interrupted -Here is the deal, counsellor Murdock: we let you tell your story, you let her do her job with you-

-Do I have a choice, at least?- he dared to ask.

-Nope- The sound of his friends' voices, answering him at the same time finally convinced him to give up.

-I want to fix a condition, counsellor Nelson-

-Speak up-

-In the meantime, Claire will check you over. You said Stick has hit you. I want to be sure you are ok-

-Deal-

Matt raise his right hand and let Foggy shake it. Claire laughed with disbelief.

-Are you two for real?-

-Nelson & Murdock, baby- the blond lawyer winked -Avocados at law-

-If I will ever need a lawyer, please remind me not to call the blind vigilante and his best friend. I'm not sure fruits will be allowed in court- she laughed, approaching Foggy. She was glad to see Matt laughing. He still was pale, and from the way he was moving she could guess his powers and strengths were not fully back yet, but at least he was able to stay conscious.

- Foggy.- she ordered -on the couch. Shirt off. Matt. Start talking-

-Are you so harsh with all the men you take home?-

-Only with the ones who mess up with crazy criminals and get beaten up-

Matt choose exactly that moment to cut off every joke. He started talking from the beginning, when he was 9. His voice was steady and calm, but Claire could tell how difficult it was for him because all the while he kept his face pointed toward the ceiling, his eyes shut, the hands closed in fists so tight the knuckles had turned white. By changing the order of the words this sentence flows better

Every once in a while, while she was checking on Foggy, she had met his eyes. He was as upset as her, so she guessed that he was probably listening to that story for the first time too. They both where touched by what they were listening to, but they didn't have the courage to say a word.

It was now harder for the blind guy to keep talking, and his voice had broken often, forcing him to take deep breaths before going on.

-That's all I know. That's why I have to go back-

-Matt, you are going to get yourself killed-

-Better me than Karen- he sentenced -How's Foggy?-

-He is going to be ok- she reassured him. -Foggy, how much time do we have?-

-To do what?-

-To get him in a condition where he won't die as soon as he goes back-

-Do you agree with him now? Seriously?-

No, she didn't, actually, but she knew Matt well enough to know he was going back to Hell's Kitchen no matter what, so the best thing she could do was treat him as best she could in the time they had left. She didn't want to wake up the next morning only to discover he had escaped during the night.

-We can't stop him, you know better than me. And we can't leave your friend in Stick's hands, so...-

-Thanks, Claire...-

-Shut up, Little Horn, I just making sure your death will not be on me. Have you taken your medication, yet?-

He hadn't, he actually didn't want to, but she forced him anyway. His fever had risen and she wanted avoid a second bath if it could be possible.

Matt was trying to think about what to do.

Claire was right about everything. Even if he had managed to get to New York, he would probably be unable to survive until the first mission (assuming that he would live after the incoming beating "made in Stick") in his actual condition, but he wanted to have Karen released as soon as possible.

-Foggy?- he called

-What is it?-

-Call Stick. I wanna talk to him-

He didn't really want to, but maybe he could convince him to be patient enough not to hurt her for a few days, plus, he had to admit he was a little bit scared. Stick had always told him he was a weakling because when he beat Matt harder than usual, pushing the boy to his limit, it had always ended with the kid unable to walk to the orphanage, and now, years later, he would have to confess he had collapsed in a church, and he had to let Claire out of the equation, or it would be difficult to believe that was a coincidence.

-Are you sure?-

-I have to-

Everything was getting confused around him, damn paracetamol. Fever was slowly dropping, but side effects were having a party in his already messed up head.

-I'll speak to him, ok? Why don't you sleep a little and let drugs do their job?-

But Foggy was right and the part of his mind still working was basically begging to listen to him and be quiet at least for a while, even if forever would be better. He fought with it for a moment, then it played the spin-and-sickness card and Matt decided to leave the table and the party.

-Leave Claire out of this-

-Sure. Don't worry, buddy. I'm on it-

-Ask...to speak…-

-With Karen. Of course. Sleep-

Matt didn't need a second invitation. A couple of minutes after he was already sleeping, and Foggy gave a sigh of relief. In all those years of friendship he had seen a lot of Matt Murdock, including how sensitive he had always been to side effects of medicines, so he was glad he was able to sleep despite the situation.

-How is he?- Claire inquired.

-Paracetamol 1 - Matt 0- he informed her -He has fallen asleep-

-Are you really going to call him? That Stick-

-Yeah. I don't want to push my luck too much. I've already done so once and here we are. So, yes-

Claire nodded. She hadn't said much since Matt had finished his story. She had checked over Matt's bruises and fever, then she went to her bedroom muttering something about changing the sheets and she had stayed there until… well, until that moment.

-Claire? Is everything ok?-

-It will be… I just need time to digest well… you know-

-I can understand... If you don't want to listen to the call I can go somewhere else. I can go out-

Once again Claire was impressed by Foggy's great sensitivity. She shook her head.

-No. Please, stay. I'll just go into my bedroom, ok?-

-You sure?-

She nodded again, wondering if he would suddenly have some kind of superpower too. The nurse had always thought herself quite good at hiding her feelings, but somehow she was completely transparent to him.

-No, wait. It's probably better if you take the room. That way I can keep an eye on Matt-

-Uhm… ahm. Right… ok. Thanks- Claire smiled at his embarrassment and sat on the couch, looking at Matt. He was sweating a lot, but she wasn't worried about that. She moved the blanket from him, and his unconscious sigh of relief made her lips curve into a smile. She was glad he couldn't feel her right now. His words were seared into her mind , she could almost see in his head the little Matt Murdock, with his sweet eyes, being trained into a soldier, into what would become first the Man in the Mask and then Daredevil.

She had told him he was the son of Hell's Kitchen, that he had became what that city needed, now she knew the truth.

-I don't give a shit! Matt is not going anywhere but here!- Foggy's voice suddenly came to her ears, louder and rougher than before. She raised from the couch and joined him into the bedroom. The lawyer was standing near the window, and he was getting angry. -And I want to speak with Karen in 5 minutes!- He finished hanging up the phone with an angry leap of his thumb. Her figure might have been reflected by the glass of the window, because he turned toward her almost immediately. -Sorry- he apologized -I didn't mean to yell-

-Is everything ok?-

-I don't know… I really can't understand this guy, you know? How in Hell's name is it possible that he doesn't care about Matt?-

-You are talking about the piece of crap who took a blind kid from an orphanage in order to make him a soldier, you know that, right?-

For the first time Foggy seemed to think about it.

-I guess that explains some things…- Foggy's phone started ringing. He picked up, suddenly tense. Moving only her lips without giving out a sound, Claire told him to put him on the speaker. He simply nodded. -I want to speak with…-

-Foggy!-

-Karen! Are you ok?- he asked, unable to hide the relief in his voice. But it was a male old voice that answered him

-You've heard her now, boy. Now move your fat ass and bring that fucking kid here before you need to find a new secretary too.-

That voice. That must be Stick. And the way he was speaking about Matt, as if he were an object, made her decide that she had enough of listening.

-Listen to me, asshole.- She spoke up - Matt can barely stand on his feet. He will be useless to you and I'm not letting him going anywhere, so, do us all a favour; release the girl, leave all of us alone and go back to your damn war!- and this time, she was the one hanging up the call. She raise her eyes only to see Foggy looking at her as if she were some kind of alien… and Matt's laugh from the living room.

-Awesome. Now he's gonna kill everyone of us- Foggy complained while they were reaching for Matt, who had woken up and was sat on the mattress.

-Oh, I don't know...that was cool, by the way.- His words made her flush, but for a second she could see a flash of anguish in his eyes, a blink he was very quick to hide. He was just trying to not be terrified for what she had just done, even if Claire already knew that it wasn't her best idea ever. -He's going to be pissed off, but he will be impressed, too. But, still, we have to go-

-Nope-

-I'm ok. I promise.-

-Then we are coming with you, and if you say no I will make you sleep for the rest of the week.-

-I understand now why you like her, Matty. She is Stick, only with boobs-

Thanks for reading so far! Rewievs are always welcome, positive or negative! They help me improve, I don't eat anyone, I promise :)