OK, first, I want to thank everyone who reviewed, for the kind words, and putting up with my bitchiness last chapter.

Second, I want to apologise for said bitchiness. I really let my frustration get out of hand. I know people are reading and I have some damn loyal reviewers too. I shouldn't have let it get to me the way I did.

And final, one more sorry to how late this update is. I usually have a pretty strict every three days schedule. This week has just been killer for me. Working has finally caught up with me, making me tired every night I get in. Hence I was too sleepy to write. Also, the sleepiness gave my muse enough time to escape her bindings and try to run off to Mexico. But I caught her.

But basically, this means until I'm used to working, it may just be a once a week update, most likely Saturday or Sunday. I will try my best to do more, but no promises.

Enough rambling, on we go.

Chapter 10

He could hear the taunts of the leader all around him, could feel the fingers prodding around inside of him. He swore he could feel the icy claws of death trying to get him. Worst, was hearing that laughter. Not the laughter of a madman, someone perfectly sane, yet twisted for evil. It echoed in his mind, made him feel dizzy. He could once again see the scalpel, lifted up, covered in his blood.

He screamed.

Brainy flung himself upright, still screaming, throat aching, chest aching. He ignored the pain in favour of desperation. He had to get away, he couldn't die, not like this, not an experiment!

Arms are on his shoulders, trying to stop him from running. His mind his buzzing, trying to tell him something, but instinct is running his basic drives now. He tries to push, knowing he is in no condition to transform into his larger self. But the drip is to strong. Yet, it doesn't hurt, its almost gentle.

His brain finally pushes the panic down and soothes him with better facts.

You can move again. No drug is holding you back. You're not being hurt. There is a real IV in your arm. You're in the Legion's medical bay

Superman is the one holding your shoulders.

Brainy looked up at that last realisation, seeing that yes, it was Superman with his hands firmly, but carefully, holding him back from running.

Superman's look is full of concern, yet Brainy can't miss the joy that is there. It takes everything in him not to cling to Superman, showing how relieved he is to be safe again and that Superman is the one here with him.

Instead, he just lets his shoulders sag, making himself loose all the tension within him. He dully notes that he has a large bandage around his chest, which he doubts he needs anymore, as his self-repair should have settled in, checking his internal clock, three days ago.

Three days ago?

Finally, Brainy looks up again, questioning look on his face.

"Have I been offline for three days?" Truthfully, there are many more questions running rampant in Brainy's mind such as Superman's presence here and how the Legion found him. But for now he'll settle for the simpler things.

Superman gave an affirming nod, finally removing his hands from Brainy's shoulders, since Brainy was now aware he was safe and wouldn't try to run.

"Yea," Superman said, softly. "You were, for lack of better words, offline when we found you. Saturn Girl said is was some sort of conservation mode."

Brainy nodded, understanding now why he still assumed he was in that place.

"She's right. When I sustain an injury that cannot easily heal itself, either from being too large or it's being prevented from doing so, I, in a way, shut down, much like a computer would. It conserves my energy, and lessens the blood loss so that my vitals are less likely to shut down." His tone is scientific. Brainy feels uneasy talking about himself like a computer, but the familiarity of such explanations makes it easier to deal with.

Superman gives an uneasy nod, looking slightly pained at the rationale Brainy is giving. He sighs, running his hands through his hair, before looking at Brainy again.

"I was...we were all really scared Brainy," said Superman, looking directly into Brainy's eyes. "You were breathing so lightly and..and...we just couldn't tell at that moment. We couldn't loose you."

Brainy swallowed, feeling slightly neaseous. He was glad Superman had chosen to leave out the gory details, but that didn't stop him understanding that he had looked dead. Had possibly been close to dying. He knew he would have to talk about what happened. Or at least what worried him the most.

"I..I was scared," he admitted, looking down at the blankets, fiddling with them. "I didn't want to die. Not there, not so completely alone." His voice kept getting quieter, he felt like curling into himself. "I can't be so alone again. Not now, that I know what it's like to have true companionship."

The sound of slight desperation in Brainy's voice did not go unnoticed by Superman. It made his heart ache, just a little. He didn't know all the details of Brainy's past, but did know he had spent most of it alone. He had feared going back to being alone, or even just dying that way. Not caring if he would have to explain his actions, he carefully reached forward and pulled Brainy into a gentle hug.

"You're not alone," whispered Superman. "You're not there anymore. You're safe, in the walls of the Legion, among the people who care about you. We would have fought till our last breathes to save you. I would never have left there without you."

Brainy allowed himself a moment to process this information, head resting against Superman's chest. The Legion would have risked everything to find him. Superman would have fought on to find him. These words gave Brainy comfort. His other questions could wait. He could feel the pull of sleep tugging in the corners of his mind again. His body still needed more time to recover and he was mentally exhausted after mind had been busy keeping his vitals safe. Slowly, his eyes closed, lulled slightly by the rhythmic breathing from Superman.

Superman gave a soft smile, allowing his fingers to gently run through Brainy's hair, now that Brainy was asleep. There had been so much more he had wanted to tell Brainy, the main his own love for him. But now was not the time. Brainy had just gotten back from a terrible ordeal. He would need a few days to re-cooperate. Then he would tell him.

Superman gently lay Brainy back down, pulling the sheet back over him and stroking his face, he pulled back up into a sitting position. Then something dawned on him.

Brainy had been awake, no matter how brief a time it was. And he hadn't contacted the others, who were just as worried.

They were going to kill him.