7:00am

The hospital clock read seven in the morning. Nurses with carts and clipboards crossed the long hall in flurries of white that matched the color of the clean, stark walls. Hearing a door, Joey looked up from his seat in the waiting room.

"He'll be fine. He's coming out in a second. The thing he needed most was rest." Agent Smith sat down beside him.

Joey looked at him with honey brown eyes.

"You still don't get it, do you?" he asked warmly, reassuringly.

"This 'reading people' thing of yours is starting to get freaky."

"Part of our basic training requires a proficiency in behavioral analysis."

"Uh, I'm gonna act like I understood what you just said."

Agent Smith shifted so that he was directly facing him. "Listen, Joey. Mr. Kaiba was haunted by scars that ran deeper than just business. Because of the lies of that young man, he closed himself to everyone, not wanting to be hurt again. The fact that he trusted you with glimpses of what really happened, even if they were only vague hints, means that he has entrusted to you a rare bond, and it is your responsibility now to help him heal."

"I …"

"You'll do the right thing." Agent Smith smiled and stood up. "I'll keep in touch, son."

Before Joey could say more, ask more, call Agent Smith back, Seto entered the room.

"Seto!" Joey exclaimed, jumping up. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. … How long have you been waiting here?"

"Lemme just say that I'm not normally up at this hour."

They got in the familiar black car.

"So, should I drive you home?"

"Kaiba Corp."

"You're kidding. Please tell me you're kidding."

"I have work." After a few minutes, "Hey, you missed the turn."

"I know. We're not going to Kaiba Corp."

"What? Wheeler, you have no power to decide that!"

"Chill out! We're here."

He parked in front of a wide span of grass and trees. Large rocks were embedded throughout the landscape, and through the foliage came the glistening of water.

Joey hesitated but, seeing that Seto wasn't moving, grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. He tried to ignore the way his heart jumped at the touch.

"You're taking the day off. If you're not going home, then you're staying here." Noting Seto's glare, he mumbled, "At least for a little while."

Pushing through the trees, they emerged onto the shore of a vast lake. The water swayed warmly beneath the sun, and Joey found himself thinking of Seto's eyes. He'd never thought of the water in that way before.

"This is where I go when I want some peace," Joey said, gazing at the lake. He suddenly realized he was still holding Seto's hand, and sheepishly stuffed his own in his pockets. They both stood, staring at the rich blue before them. Joey wondered what Seto was thinking, as his own thoughts swirled around Agent Smiths words. He'd never been good at this sort of thing, but …

"Seto … about last night …"

"I wish you hadn't seen it," Seto said quietly.

"What … ?" Joey found his own voice was muted too.

"I didn't want anyone to know … that it was like that … that there was more to the issue than just business … hell, I even had Mokuba fooled … I put up the pretense because I didn't want anyone to see me so weak. I felt so worthless. He made me feel so worthless, the way he used me and threw me away like that …"

Seto was breaking down. The words were tumbling out of his mouth unguarded; he looked so fragile. Looking back, Joey would never know what impulse had seized him, but suddenly he was embracing him – he was hugging Seto Kaiba. He felt him stiffen, startled, but slowly he melted into the hug until he was limp in Joey's arms. Joey held him, felt him bury his head in the hollow of his shoulder, felt his breath on his neck.

"Don't let anyone tell you what you're worth, because you're priceless."

Seto straightened slowly. "Where'd that line come from? A fortune cookie?" he murmured.

"Shuttup," Joey grumbled, praying that his cheeks weren't red. "So, ha ha, it's funny 'cause I've been to the hospital more often than I've been to the arcades this summer!"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, er, the thing is that … the reason I needed a job was for my sister, Serenity. You know how she had an eye condition that was causing her to go blind, and how after her operation, everyone thought she was okay?"

Seto nodded.

"Well, she told me recently that one eye has regressed, and she may go blind in that eye if she's not constantly monitored, but she can't afford the hospital stay fee. I've been trying to earn it for her."

"And so you picked the highest paying job without even checking who it was for."

"I was in a rush!"

"How much does she need?"

"… You don't need to know. This is something I vowed to take care of, and I'm gonna take care of it."

"Hm."

Joey could tell that Seto was planning something, but for the moment he was willing to let it slide. The water was too beautiful.