Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. I do own the crazy idea that I am putting the character through.

10 of 26 weeks, 74 of 182 days

"Where do you think he vanished too?"

"I dunno, but he was messed up pretty badly."

"Right!? I mean he was lucky to make it back. There was lacerations almost four inches long, deep gashes on his body. Half of his hair was gone, mostly burnt off. Which left nasty burn marks on his body."

The voices invaded the darkness. Echoing like a bell being rung next to his head. It hurt, badly. Unsure of how long he'd been out, Lahar tried to open his eyes. Only to find his body being unresponsive to the mental commands. Sighing internally, he wanted to take stock of the damage he'd just heard mentioned. With great care, he began to flex his muscles starting at his feet.

As he reached his quads and hip muscles, he found them stiff, sore and it made him want to cry out. But not one to be deterred, he continued up his body. Each place was in pain and he could feel sweat bead on his face and neck. Causing it to burn and sting on what was apparently the burns mentioned. He was royally messed up.

Relaxing to the best of his ability, Lahar recalled the last few minutes before he blacked out. He'd practically burst through the door to the house he shared with Doranbolt and Lucy. He'd seen them very close on the couch, barely able to register that Lucy looked like she had been crying and was distraught. It had something in him shifting as he took a step forward. He remembered he had tried to go for the inner pocket of what had been his white jacket, only to black out.

Now he was more or less awake, hopefully in a hospital. He was sure he could trust Doranbolt to take him to a hospital. But, if not, then he would so get the man back. Lahar was no fool, he knew his only real friend was pissed off at him. Proof had been there before he just took off, stupidly not leaving a note behind to tell anyone where he was going. So, if he had died, there'd been no one to look for him, or even mourn. That thought had Lahar going still. Yes, he had a family. Yes, they were an active part of his life. No, he was not an only child. There were two siblings, him being the youngest.

Technically he was the Heir apparent, due to his eldest brother being an idiot. It was part of why Lahar was the way he was. So, completely focus driven. Needing to be his own person. And it was getting him nowhere he was realizing quickly. In fact, it was actually making his life a complete mess, a thing he detested with almost every fiber of his being.

Figuring that if he couldn't open his eyes, sleep would be a good thing. Letting his mind drift back down into the blackness that was the back of his eyelids, Lahar fell asleep once more.

She was still in shock. Her emotions were all over the board. Anger, happiness, sadness, joy and then right back to anger. Her teammates had taken to avoiding her for the last two days. Happy was calling her Scary Kaju Lucy again. Which was preferable to Fat... but then again... Her eyes drifted back to the man lying in the room dedicated to medical needs. He had not stirred or responded to anything in the last two days. Wendy had done her level best, and even Porlyusica has said he needed his rest.

Slowly she got up and took the now dry cloth from his forehead and got it wet again. Wringing it out so it was just damp and placed it back. He was sweating once more. And his face was scrunched up in pain again. This, she was told, was a good thing. Meaning he was becoming more and more conscious.

"Where did you go? How did you end up like this?" she asked softly as she sat back in her chair.

Slowly her eyes closed as she dozed off. Wendy was due back for another round of healing and to bring her some food. Until then it was okay for her to catch a quick cat nap. Mest would probably come in with Wendy.

They looked at Lucy from the door, seeing her head resting on the back of the small chair, arms wrapped around her body as she slept. While they noted that Lahar was awake, finally, and watching Lucy. Neither wanted to speak. And standing in the doorway would get no one the answers that were needed.

So, in a single file, Wendy and Mest entered the small infirmary. Drawing the attention of one of its two occupants. Making Wendy smile gently in relief, while Doranbolt stared coldly at him. Clearly displeased, even if he too was thankful that Lahar was conscious and going to be okay. Before going to stand by Lucy and nudging her gently to wake her.

"uh..wha... Mest? Wendy?"

At the sleep slurred words from Lucy, Wendy chuckled, and Doranbolt placed a warm hand on the blond's shoulder.

"Yes, Lucy. You took another nap while waiting. And thank you for continuously keeping the cloth cool on his head," Wendy said, pointedly drawing both peoples attention to each other in various ways.

Both of them watched as brown and purple eyes met, only to look away. It was a cute kind of awkward.

"Let me change his bandages and do a quick healing on the deeper wounds. Then the questioning can begin, okay?" Wendy said, fighting to keep from smiling, Especially after noting that Mest was being overly protective of Lucy.

He had been watching Lucy sleeping for an undetermined amount of time when he had heard the door open quietly. He hadn't cared. But now, as he lay there, letting the little Wind Dragon Slayer heal him as she changed his wounds, Lahar was left in awe of how efficient she was. And that she was not trying to heal him completely. Since he had not seen her magic in action, other than the Grand Magic Games. And then it had been destructive. Just like the others, just on a slightly smaller scale.

Once Wendy finished he noted that he was receiving three pointed, patient looks. It had him feeling a bit uncomfortable. It was obvious they wanted to know just where he had gone without leaving word, and how he had gotten banged up so badly. Well, he had to be honest with himself, nearly killed.

"I...owe an apology to you... Miss Heartfilia. I was a rude, inconsiderate, overbearing, insufferable and complete asshole. What I said was beyond reproach," he started, stopping as his throat felt tight, dry.

He swallowed a few times as he worked his tongue to get some spit to form. When it didn't he felt small hands on his face turning him to look at Wendy. She held a small cup to his lips and only let him take only small sips until he felt his throat was moistened enough. Letting the feeling settle for a few seconds, he shifted his head back to look at Lucy, who seemed to be wearing a blank mask that he knew all too well.

"So, after the last blow up, I left originally to calm down. Only to find myself in a small bar drowning my anger in the bottom of a cup of strong spirits. There I had a conversation with a rather... unique person and mage. Given some advice I took to heart in my alcohol slushed brain," he said, pausing and closing his eyes. "From there I did some research. And without realizing it I was off on a self-imposed mission. Not saying anything to anyone like a complete rookie."

He stopped and waited, watching for any type of reaction from Lucy. She just gave a small nod of her head but said nothing. Through her eyes told him she was shocked, upset, and still angry. Whether at his words, or him leaving, Lahar didn't know. Either way, he would hopefully get her to accept his apology.

"My little jaunt took me out into the countryside, not too far from here. But it was what I was looking for that ended with me being so hurt like I was when I came back to the house," Lahar said, his voice going soft. "And if my jacket is here, there is a pocket on the inside that has what I was searching for."

He went silent, again watching and waiting. When he saw Doranbolt move away from Lucy and go to the other bed. Lahar knew that his jacket was there. The sound of fabric being moved reached his ears as he refused to take his eyes off Lucy. Though soon, his friend and partner was back in field of vision. Handing the small bag holding what he'd gotten. Holding his breath as he watched her take it and open it, glancing at the contents. The way her face paled and lit up at the same time as her now wide brown eyes lifted to look at him. It told him all he needed to know, so with a small smile he relaxed back into the bed and let his eyes slide shut.

She listened. She figured that their last fight was the reason he'd left. But it didn't matter. Already willing to forgive and forget since he was back, alive, and on the road to being okay... well as okay as he could be. It was Lahar after all. So, when he mentioned finding something for her, she stiffened, letting her mask stay in place until she held a small bag. The weight and shape had her heart beating a bit faster. Not wanting to get her hopes up, she opened it and looked in, before lifting just her eyes up to him.

Shock. That was what she was feeling as she watched him relax and close his eyes. Then anger welled up four times as strong as it had been before. The gift it was precious and thoughtful. But never would she want someone to end up like he had just to get something that would allow her to accept an apology. The means didn't negate the effect. No, it overbalanced.

"YOU IDIOT!" she screamed as she stood up.

Lucy watched as Lahar practically jumped straight up off the bed. Fresh tears in her eyes as he looked at her startled. Lifting her empty hand up, she wiped away the tears. Noting that Wendy and Doranbolt were looking at her with a leeriness that said she was practically in scary mode again. She didn't care.

"Luc..." Lahar started to say, but she cut him off with a snarl that'd do any dragon slayer proud.

"I appreciate the gift. But if you think that I would be happy over someone getting hurt just to get me something this valuable, than you do not know me from the next passing person," she hissed.

Watching as Lahar flinched back from her. It had her forcing herself to calm down. It would not due to upset him and make his wounds worse again. And it was a struggle to reign in her emotions. Yes, she had high expectations for someone when it came to making amends, but not ever did she want someone to nearly die to do it.

"You are supposed to be a smart man, Captain. Yet, you seem to have the same lacking ability to rationally judge that Natsu does. At least he knows his limits," she said finally, opening her eyes to stare at him.

The way his eyes dropped so he no longer looked her in the eyes had her temper cooling a bit more. She could see she had made her point and wouldn't keep nailing him to the cross he had built. It was obvious he was repenting and possibly learned his lesson. Moving the few short steps to the bed, she saw him tense. A product of the Lucy Kick she had delivered to him. Lucy sat beside him. Leaning in, noting how his body went completely rigid and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"I accept this apology, Lahar. Just do not do something so utterly foolish in the future, okay?" she said. "And when Wendy clears you to be mobile, you can watch as I make the contract with the spirit in the key."

Leaning back, she watched as wonder and confusion warred across his facial features. His shock was more than enough of a balm for her bruised and battered emotions. Giving him a silent nod, Lucy stood up and walked out of the infirmary, a small smile gracing her lips for the first time in two days. It was as if the cloud that had settled over her life had lifted and the sunlight had returned to her life. Just like after a bad dream, though Lucy couldn't explain why she felt like that.

TBC