Ow… where am I? Why does my back hurt, and… is someone holding my hand?

Wakko tried to sit up in order to look around, but pain and nauseating dizziness immediately stopped him.

Slumping back, he forced himself not to fall back into the pleasant black fog of unconsciousness. He had to figure out where he was. After several attempts, he finally pushed his eyes open again. The white blur that met them made his head hurt, but he kept blinking, trying to discern his surroundings. Judging from the overwhelming lack of color, he certainly wasn't home.

Finally, things slid into focus: a white bed, a tube running up to his nose… confused, Wakko looked down. His memory stirred when he saw the hint of a bandage under the blanket, just below his chest. The man with the gun, pain slicing into his back…

"What…"

To Wakko's surprise, his voice came out a croak, as if he hadn't used it for a while. He swallowed and tried again.

"W-Where… am I?"

He'd barely gotten the words out before a pink and black blur flashed beside him and a familiar voice rang out.

"Yakko! Yakko, he said something! Look, he's waking up!"

Wakko closed his eyes for a minute, then opened them to see his brother smiling down at him before leaning down and hugging him gently.

"Hey," he said in a rough voice, as if he was trying hard not to cry.

Wakko nestled into his shoulder, but after a few minutes a swell of pain and nausea made him moan as exhaustion began flooding his brain. Yakko immediately let go and laid him back, and the last thing he was aware of was his head meeting the pillow.

"Why do they always throw us out here when they check on him?" Dot complained as she slumped in her seat. Yakko tried not to roll his eyes.

"They're not throwing us out, sis," he said for what felt like the fiftieth time. "It's just one of those dumb rules hospitals have."

His thin hope that she'd accept a simple explanation vanished when his sister huffed and crossed her arms.

"Dumb is right! Who do they think they're messing with? If they don't start talking straight pretty soon I'm gonna pound on them, and then I'm gonna pound on our idiot brother for getting into this in the first place…"

Yakko sighed and rubbed his head, consigning himself to another headache. He quickly looked up at a movement, but it wasn't quite what he expected.

Kay stood nearby, shifting from one foot to the other. Once Yakko saw her, she shivered slightly and looked at the ground before slowly walking toward them. Dot finally noticed and stopped her rant, her eyes widening. Before either could speak, Kay smiled weakly.

"Hey," she said softly. Yakko was startled when Dot jumped up and ran over, hugging her leg. Kay looked surprised as well, but she knelt down and patted her back before looking up at Yakko. He was stunned at how drained she looked; dark circles were visible under her watery eyes and strain lined her forehead.

"I decided to stop on my way to work," she said, sounding as if she was apologizing. "I… I hope that's okay."

Dot stopped hugging her and looked up at her, looking as confused as Yakko felt. Trying to lighten the mood, he shrugged and gave Kay a grin.

"Why not? Two's company, three's a blast."

Kay blinked a few times, then smiled slightly before standing again.

"So, um…" she said, glancing toward the door. "How is he?"

Dot pouted as she headed back to her seat.

"I'd say you'd be better off asking the hospital people, but that's not working too good for us."

Yakko couldn't stop his tail from twitching with impatience as he frowned at the waiting room door.

Kay sighed heavily and bit her lip as she glanced at the floor.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to come sooner, but I…" She swallowed. "I wasn't sure if you'd want me around right now."

Dot sadly looked at her feet.

"I'm sorry I was mean," she said. Kay looked at her in surprise.

"Oh no, no, it wasn't you. I guess it just reminded me of…"

Her eyes grew distant for a moment, then she shook her head and rubbed her brow. Yakko thought he saw tears glistening in her eyes, but her hand swiped over them before he was sure.

"Uh… sorry. I… I haven't been very well lately."

After taking a deep breath, Kay looked up, but her voice was tight again when she spoke.

"I-I'm sorry, but I've gotta get to work."

She placed a hand on Yakko's shoulder and smiled.

"Call if you need to, okay?"

Both siblings smiled back and nodded, but after Kay left they looked at each other in confusion.

"That was weird," Dot said; Yakko nodded, already deep in thought. From what he'd seen from Kay so far, he was left in little doubt: she was hurting too, and deeply.

Wakko smiled up at his mother as she sat beside him, softly singing one of her many songs.

"Yes, you're the only one of you there are," she finished, making him giggle as she tickled his nose with one finger. She smiled lovingly at him.

"Do you feel better now?"

He smiled back at her and nodded happily. Her singing always helped.

"Good," she said, gently running a hand across his hair. Wakko felt his eyes growing heavy, but he looked up at her again.

"Mama?" he asked.

When she looked at him, he glanced at her slightly rounded stomach.

"Am I gonna be a big brother, too?"

His mother giggled and rested a hand on her belly.

"Yes, you are," she said, then her smile lessened slightly. "Don't you want to be?"

Wakko quickly nodded, but then looked at her worriedly.

"But won't that mean you can't sing anymore?" he asked. "Cause I'm too big?"

"Oh, sweetheart…"

She leaned down and gave him a tight hug.

"Of course not. You won't ever be too old for that."

Wakko smiled and nestled against her.

"I really won't?"

His mother chuckled as she tucked him back in.

"Whenever you need it, I'll be here to do it."

His worry completely gone now, Wakko sighed and closed his eyes, smiling as she gently kissed his forehead.

"Promise?"

"Promise," she said, her voice fading into the mist of slumber. "Sweet dreams…"

Wakko slowly opened his eyes, but his smile faded when he saw no one was beside him and he was still in the white hospital room. He groaned quietly as he stretched his legs and felt his stomach rumble despite his extreme discomfort. At least that part was apparently unfazed. A rustling sound made him turn his head and find a familiar doctor examining the equipment by his bed. The man looked at him and smiled.

"Hello there," he said. "How do you feel today?"

"Hungry," Wakko muttered, only half paying attention as he looked around. Why was he alone? Where were his siblings?

The doctor cleared his throat to hide a laugh and gave him a reassuring look.

"Don't worry," he said. "Your family's right outside. I just needed to look some things over."

He took one more look at the equipment, then nodded and jotted something down on his clipboard.

"All right, everything looks okay. Keep resting and I'll send them back in, all right?"

Wakko nodded, his hand quivering as he rubbed his eyes. The doctor smiled and left the room, then a few moments later the door opened again. The minute she saw him awake, Dot shot across the floor. Wakko barely had time to brace himself before he was hit by an extremely tight (and for him, painful) hug.

"Wakko!" she squealed. "You're back! You're back!"

Her brother shuddered as the shrill sound made his head spin.

"D-Dot…" he choked. "Can't… b-breathe…" Yakko quickly walked over, looking worried but also slightly amused.

"Easy does it, little sis," he said.

The crushing embrace immediately eased, and Wakko felt tears staining his fur as Dot nestled against his chest, clinging to him as if she was scared to let go.

"Y-… you idiot…" she whimpered.

Biting back pain, Wakko slowly wrapped an arm around her and looked up as Yakko sat down on his other side. Smiling, he placed a hand on his forehead and stroked it gently.

"Hiya, kiddo," he said tenderly. "How ya feeling?"

Wakko winced and smiled weakly; there was a slight improvement, but was more like feeling as though he'd been hit by a bus instead of a train. He was more interested in figuring out what was happening to him now.

"What… what's g-going on?"

His brother frowned, looking even more worried.

"You don't remember?"

Wakko shivered. He did remember what happened in the lot, but there was almost nothing between then and now. He had no idea how he'd ended up here and was extremely confused, not to mention scared. He in a hospital, he was hurt, and no one was telling him how bad it was.

"No… I do. I-… I just…" He took a slightly shaky breath and decided to get the question that frightened him most out of the way.

"A-am I… gonna die?"

Yakko smiled slightly and ran a hand through his hair.

"You're not gonna die, sib," he said reassuringly. "The doc said you gotta stay a while yet, but you're gonna be fine."

Well, there was one worry down. Wakko decided to ask the next one.

"Dot…"

His sister took a deep breath and glared at him.

"What?" she asked sharply.

"A-are you… mad?"

The scowl dropped instantly. After a moment, she whimpered and buried her face in his chest again.

"I'll be mad when I'm not so happy you're alive, you moron."

Finally! Sorry it took a while, been struggling with a nasty case of writer's block and unresolved plot holes. Never fear, I do my best with this story until it's complete. And just to clear up any possible confusion, I know Wakko was awake before, I just imagine things would be very hazy the first time, and he might not even really remember it. Just so you know. Hope you liked this new chapter and I'll update as soon as I can! Good night everybody!