AN: Thx schoolmouse33! It was very encouraging! And thx to everyone who reviewed, I don't know why I was sad last chapter. I guess I'm just being...me.

I feel like everything about this story recently is so...heavy! Even this one. After this chapter, I think I'll do something light hearted and bright! XP

It's a little short...but I'm on a busy schedule and with the new story(Dark Words Leave the Truth Unspoken) out, I'm busy trying to write chapters for both! And keeping up with school and swimming...so its kinda short, but technically, I'm 23 minutes before midnight! I'm on time! XD

"I guess I could say I miss you a little. A little too much, a little too often, and a little more each day."

May whispered into Dawn's ear, holding back her frustration, and her tears.

"They're always right here May," Dawn comforted, pointing right at her heart.

May smiled sadly. "Yeah, I know. But it still hurts."

"They loved you dearly May. They gave everything up for you," Dawn said.

"Yeah," May muttered wistfully, turning back to Drew, who was still ranting about the rest of the Team.

"What!? Are you kidding me? I swear, you guys are all a bunch of idiots," May complained, leaning her head on Dawn's shoulder lightly.

Dawn winced slightly at the noise, closing her eyes from the bright lights. She awkwardly patted May's head as she tried to block out the sharp pain in her head. Concussions were quite annoying.

"Everybody makes mistakes Drew, it's their fault..." Serena said quietly, turning to face the green-haired trainer, hand still tightly clasped in Calem's.

"But this time," Drew hissed, "They took it too far."

"They did," Calem agreed, tightening his grip and smoothing Serena's hair back absentmindedly.

"I think...that if it wasn't Serena and May, you two wouldn't have been so mad and eager," Dawn mused, cringing at her voice and frantically rubbing her head to rid herself of the pain.

"What are you saying?" Drew demanded aggressively.

"Stop it, calm down Drew," Leaf scolded, shoving him back. "I think you mean that they're...more attached to May and Serena, right?"

Dawn nodded in agreement, swaying on the bed with May. May rubbed soothing circles on her back, worriedly looking her friend.

"Hmph," Drew huffed, turning and sitting down. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you do seem to care more about May than any of the other Sisters Drew. And Calem, Serena's like your...best friend. Of course your more attached to her. See, Ash is more attached to Misty and Marina, but more so Misty. Jimmy and Marina were best friends growing up, like you Calem, and Paul...well, he's kinda a loner. He cares, but not like you guys do. And Gary...obviously is more attached to me," Leaf explained, blushing at the last part.

"You just...like coupled all of us," May muttered, "Except...Dawn would go with Paul then, I guess."

Leaf nodded indifferently, though secretly, she was wondering how they would react, "Yeah, basically."

Calem looked like someone had just shot him with a taser, and looked down-right petrified. He almost dropped Serena's hand, but she held tight and refused to let go, even when he gave her a panicked look.

"What."

"Yeah, that's pretty much it," Leaf said again, leaning against the wall casually. "Didn't you hear the first two times I answered?"

Drew on the other hand...looked ready for murder. "How dare you! Say that! I-!"

"Are you saying I'm not worthy of your attention?" May asked angrily, but her eyes were dejected, as if Drew had just confirmed something that she had been thinking about. "If I was not injured, I'd be out of here in a flash. I would never stay longer in your repulsive presence. Hayden."

"Wha- No..." Drew stopped short. He hesitated to answer May's question. "No...I don't think that you're not worthy it's just..."

"Just what?" Dawn said tiredly. "You have no excuse for what you just said. Don't be rude. Just apologize and be done with it."

Drew gave her a heated glare. "That's not fair."

"How?" May asked, quietly now. Just barley above a whisper.

"Well..." Drew faltered again. "I guess that was kinda mean."

"Yes, it was," May agreed petulantly.

"I just...she can't just assume things! I care about all the Sisters equally. It's not fair to say I'm just attached to May alone, get it?" Drew said.

"Well, but it's true though. I'm the observant one," Leaf countered, tapping her head. "And the smart one."

"Hey!" Serena protested, though she gave a wane smile.

"Shhh, my head hurts," Dawn groaned, waving her hand to shut them all up.

"Go away now. Calem, you can stay if you can be quiet. Leaf, Drew, please leave for now," May immediately ordered in a hushed voice, motioning towards the door. "Please."

The two left, Drew still humiliated and angry, while Leaf was smug and detached.

"Why the hell did you do that?" Drew asked, nearly smashing Leaf into the wall. She hit it with an 'oomph'.

"Because you needed to hear it. You haven't noticed how attached to May you've gotten?" Leaf said calmly. "Of course you haven't. Because your Drew Hayden, and with all of your talent and problems...arrogance isn't even on your radar. But you've been careless. And now, you can pay for it. You didn't go forwards to go after Serena. No, you wanted to go after May left. I wanted to go for both, but I was scared. And I'm guessing the rest of them were too."

"Sure," Drew growled, rolling his eyes. "But you know how embarrassing that is? You and Gary had it easy. That sexual tension, and one day you just, boom! You're dating. I don't even know how that happened. I mean, we all knew he liked you, but you pushed him away...and suddenly you just let him? No, it's not like that at all Leaf. Not for everyone else. It's not like that with me, okay?"

"Yeah, basically for you, you go out, get wasted, bring home a loose girl, fuck her, then throw her out," Leaf said showing how little she cared for this subject.

"No I don't!" Drew denied, immediately letting her go.

Leaf rubbed her arm irribtly, glaring at the green-haired boy. "Drew, yes you do. You used to go out with Gary and do exactly that. Paul was your superviser, Jimmy, Calem, and Ash had game night. What do you want me to say?"

"Jealous?" Drew smirked, but beneath the smirk was the shock and the unease Drew was really feeling.

"I was, yeah, but at least I can admit it," Leaf smiled. "When you can finally admit it to yourself how much you care for our favorite brunette, you go ahead and tell me, 'kay?"

And with that, Leaf strolled out of there, not bothering say goodbye. As she left, she could feel the fear radiating off Drew, but he didn't say a thing. He just let her go.

Leaf sighed and nodded. It was hard to do, but it was necessary. This was how things had to go if happiness was even going to be on May's radar. And she knew May wouldn't appreciate it, but Leaf just had to do it. Otherwise, the pair would never get anywhere.

It was quite the same with Serena and Calem, but Leaf was only going to subtly divert them. No use playing matchmaker so soon for everyone.

"I can't believe we just let that happen," Ash groaned, closing his eyes, as if in pain.

Misty snorted. "You're not the only one."

"You'rrre noooot the oooooonly ooone!" Marina sang loudly, ducking the swat aimed for her head.

"Hey! I think I'm a pretty good singer!" Marina smiled broadly, trying to break the tense atmosphere.

"Sorry Mar...but it's really not a time to be joking..." Jimmy said apologetically.

"It's not," Gary agreed quietly, staring out the window with a faraway look in his eye. "We all should have done something. There's no excuse. We failed. And...thing is, we could have easily done it. If we were all there to help May retrieve Serena, we would have been out of there a lot sooner. But we were all busy worrying about our own skins, and too busy worried about protocol. Technically we did the right thing. But in real life? With your best friends? It's just not right."

"Yeah, we regret it too Gary," Misty said, burning holes into Marina's turquoise walls. She clenched and unclenched her fists, looking downright miserable. "Just because your girlfriend is mad at you, doesn't mean that your the only one to talk."

"Leaf's mad at him?" Ash asked, scratching his head curiously.

"Yeah," Gary muttered spiking his hair even more with frustration. "May's one of her best friends, and Serena is her best friend. Serena and Leaf...are like...twins. May is like her older sister. But I think she didn't realize what was happen until May was already moving. And then...well, we all did nothing. We actually restrained them too. Of course she's mad."

"We deseeeerve iiit," Paul mumbled from the doorway, gulping down whatever was in his hand. "Almoooost theere."

"What the fuck! Paul why the hell are you drinking that?" Marina shrieked, stomping forward, towards the door, and wrenching the sloshing cup out of his hand. Everyone else looked shocked.

"Tryyying...tryingtooo kill myseelf..." Paul muttered under his breath, his words slurring together. "Almoost theere. Byyee!"

"Man, how many have you had?" Gary asked, the horror just setting in. Misty ran forwards to assist her cousin, taking the cup and dumping the white liquid down the drain. "More than 0.4% of that shit in your bloodstream can kill you."

"We don't need to factual stuff right now! Someone catch him!" Ash yelped, running forward.

"Oh Mew," Marina cried as Paul collapsed, looking feeble, pale...and very nearly dead. "Someone get the others!"

"On it," Ash said stonily, running out of the room, his pounding footsteps echoed eerily, making them all feel a little more unsettled.

"Let's get him to the hospital wing. Jimmy, Gary, help?" Misty prompted. The two boys nodded and heaved their leader onto their shoulders and quickly started towards the already crammed hospital wing.

"What the fuck happened?" Calem asked tightly, glaring at all of them. "I may be mad, but I didn't ask you guys to kill him!"

"He tried to kill himself by drinking too much. I doubt he'll remember anything at all. It's his own damn fault," Misty snapped, gently, folding his limp hands on top of each other. Misty was all for the physical stuff...but she never wanted anyone to die.

Nobody should go through what she and May had to go through. Loose your parents as a child.

"What...what happened?" Dawn asked, swaying on her feet. May hurriedly assisted her as she squinted her eyes at Paul's shape.

"OUT! I need to...fix him," Dr. Hamilton ordered, "Except for patients, turn him on to his side James! Hurry up. Marina! Can you get me the trashcan? Yes, good."

Jimmy looked annoyed that Dr. Hamilton called him by his real name, but immediately did what Dr. Hamilton asked, letting it go for the serious situation.

And as Paul blinked, and immediately started throwing up, they all realized why she had him do that.

"NOW OUT!"

All of the non-patients scrambled out the door.

Dawn shot one last dazed, furtive look at Paul before wobbling back towards the bed with May, staring blankly as Dr. Hamilton worked.

"Is he going to be okay?" Dawn choked out, shuddering. May's cast thumped onto the bed helplessly, glaring daggers at her friend.

How dare he try and drink himself to death! How dare he!

"I can't believe Paul, smart, intelligent, good-decision making Paul, would choose to drink so much," Serena whispered quietly.

"I think he tried to kill himself sweetie," Dr. Hamilton answered, attaching him to an IV.

"Yeah, question is, why?" May said, slightly bitterly. "I mean, he didn't come after us, and we didn't really mind, right 'Rena? But he feels guilty, sure, but then he kills himself!? How dare he! That's just...he shouldn't leave us to deal with this mess he made. It's not right."

"Well, I'm not too concerned about that right now, sorry May. I need to keep him alive, no?" Dr. Hamilton said quickly, continuing in her work. "Now you guys should rest too. Broken bones and concussions all heal a little better when you have extra sleep."

May nodded, helping Dawn lie down first, before following in sync.

She closed her eyes with a sigh.

Everything had been a blur. Everything from Leaf and Drew's conversation, to getting Serena to safety, to freaking out about Dawn, to herself and her own thoughts and emotions, and Paul trying to drink himself to death...this was all too much.

Damn, Mew I'm thinking like a depressed person! Oh, that reminds me, gotta check up with Leaf, I should, I got to, I have to...zzzzzzzz

Ain't too proud to be-e-eg!

"What are you listening to?" Ash sighed, walking through the doors. Gary froze, reaching over to pause the video.

"Nothing!" Gary yelped, covering everything he had on the table.

"You were making a video for Leaf by lip-syncing to Ain't To Proud To Beg right?" Ash said with a half-smile on his face.

Gary stopped again. "What? How on earth did you know that?"

"I'm your cousin, practically your brother. I literally know you inside out, Jesus," Ash said dryly, twisting his cap.

"So? I'm...kinda arrogant. Ain't too proud to beg? Nah, I'm usually waay to proud to beg. But for Leafy..." Gary trailed off as a half dreamy, half sad face came across his face.

"Ew. That's disgusting," Ash said, making a face.

"Sure, and the way you and Misty act around each other is totally not disgusting," Gary rolled his eyes.

"She hits me," Ash said incredulously. "Why the crap would we be disgusting?"

"Ha! You didn't even deny your 'relationship'! See! I knew you liked her!" Gary laughed.

Ash just stared at him. "Like? What do you mean?"

"Oh Ash," Gary sighed. "I mean that you think she's beautiful and she's awesome, and you want her all to yourself."

"Huh?"

Ash looked extremely confused. "What do you mean? We're like best friends...I've known her since I was little. You have too. You just didn't think she was fun to be around. I quote, 'She's so mean and annoying!'"

"Yeah, but you like her," Gary stated again.

"Yeah, of course I like her! She's one of my best friends!" Ash said, exasperated.

"No! Not that type of like!" Gary said.

"Make up your mind will you?" Ash said. "You're not making any sense."

"Yes I am, your just too oblivious and stupid to get it," Gary groaned, turning the music back on and nodding along to it.

"Sure, whatever," Ash said dubiously.

"I'm serious. You have feelings right here," Gary pointed right at his chest, "You got so mad that one time we went out and clubbed, all together, and Misty was dancing that Rudy kid...you almost killed him."

"Yeah! 'Cause he was touching her and eugh!" Ash exclaimed passionately.

"Exactly, you only get worked up about Misty, see?" Gary motioned.

"Well, that's not true! I...well, I guess your right," Ash sighed, nodding reluctantly."But why are we even talking about this? Paul, Dawn, May, and Serena are all severely injured. This is pointless."

"Maybe so, but you need to hear it. I think there's a smart person underneath all this confusion. But you're hiding, you don't want to admit your attachment to Misty, just like Drew doesn't want to admit his attachment to May, or Calem to Serena, Jimmy to Marina, even Paul to Dawn. It's just how things are. So it's time to admit it, are you going to?" Gary smirked.

"What?"

Ash faked confusion so well.

"See? I knew it. Your expression, the way you nervously move, your pretending, lying. Ash, I'm one of your vest friends, I'm literally blood. You think I don't know what you do?" Gary laughed easily, but his eyes were dead-serious.

Damn, I need to stop watching that show with Leaf.

"See, here's the thing. You're mixing yourself up with the fake...well, not necessary fake, just the one everyone perceives you as. Get it? Perhaps you haven't even realized what you've been doing. But I have," Gary smiled almost sadly.

"You hide in this version of yourself. The dumb one, the silly, childish one. But in there, your smart. A genius. Why do you hide away? Because of your dad? He's an asshole, we already established that. Why do you insist on becoming the person he tries to make you be? You're so much more than that. It's affecting everything. Even Misty. She knows, but she also loves this part of you. Because that's what people do for love, you know?"

Ash looked thoroughly scolded and a bit of shock still lingering. "I...I guess I have been pretending a little."

"And Misty doesn't like me, so how can she love me? I'm pretty sure she...just deals with me," Ash winced a little at his own words.

Gary snorted. "You think? She has so much affection for you. She only treats Marina and the girls, and very occasionally her sisters that way. The playful hitting thing is just her way of keeping your attention. In your mixed up version of yourself, you don't exactly focus on things, you know?"

Ash awkwardly scratched his head. "Mixed up? I think I am who I am...but I may exaggerate things a little. I'm not dumb. I know what you guys are talking about..."

"Exactly what I'm talking about," Gary nodded.

Ash got up and walked towards the door.

"Don't leave until you are sure you know what I mean," Gary called. "Because this is important. Ash I'm serious! Identity issues."

Ash paused at the door, his cap shading his face. "Thanks Gary, for telling me all this, I think I needed to hear it. But I need to think about it on my own. Bye, see you later cuz..."

"Are you mad at us?" Marina asked tentatively, staring at Leaf's back. She crunched something hard, the sound reverberating around the room.

"Maybe slightly," Leaf sighed, but it was garbled because of the mouthful of pretzels she had just eaten.

"What's your birthday?" Cal yelled on the screen, angry and red in the face. Torres tried to stop him, but failed on the screen.

"I just don't understand why you guys had to restrict the people who wanted help. I know most of you froze and panicked, and immediately went to the EIA guidelines, and technically, you guys did nothing wrong...but it is still disheartening to see where you guys stand, you know? What we've built after all this time.

"You know we all wanted to," Misty said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"But we would have done something," Lucas said tightly. "That was your best friends too. We barley knew Serena and May, but we knew how good you all were together. You guys are the best of friends. You should have looked out for them. I just find it hard, that's all."

"We know, I feel this torrent of guilt every second I think about what happened Lucas," Marina sighed, staring blankly at the green walls.

"You know, I think they tried, but it was a very internal struggle, because they love their friends, but at the same time, being an agent means you know when to let go, to follow the rules. And the lines blur when the people you love are the people you work with," Barry said sagely.

"When'd you get so wise old guy?" Kenny smiled, nudging his friend.

Barry shrugged. "Never. I'm just observant. And insightful."

"Sure, Barry like that'll ever happen," Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Okay, thanks for the talk," Misty said in a small voice, slipping out the door. Leaf turned to catch her eyes at the last moment. Misty could see that she wasn't mad. She was just disappointed. But disappointment Misty could take. Because that was something she was used to.

Misty nodded, and Leaf looked satisfied. "Okay."

"C'm on Mar, we've got work to do," Misty sighed, giving her cousin a weak smile.

"Okay, I think we get it now. Thanks?" Marina said as Misty yanked her through the door.

"We've got to get in to talk May and Serena, see how mad they are, that is, after Paul is awake and not on the brink of death," Misty said.

"That's a good start," Marina nodded humbly.

"Yeah, okay got that down. Then maybe check out the EIA official rules?" Misty offered.

"That's wouldn't be dumb either," Marina agreed.

"Okay, so we should have this down?" Misty asked.

"Well Mist, stop treating this like a game, it's not. It's relationships and love, and friendship...you know, the heavy stuff you can't control," Marina chided.

"That's true," Misty mused.

"You're doing it again!" Marina said, pointing at her mouth. Misty rolled her eyes.

"Whatever Mar."

"I can't believe," Cynthia sniffled, "That I actually let that happen."

"Stop blaming yourself, we're all at fault, except for Bertha, but then she broke the rules. This is so frustrating! We're not supposed to do anything, but this is Team Eevee! But then again, we're not supposed to show favorites! Emotions! It's all wrong!" Aaron cursed, slamming his fist down hard.

"Well, I don't care at this point," Bertha snorted, holding her nose in the air as she walked out of the room, and slammed the door shut.

"We're in some deep shit here," Flint said tiredly.

"You think?" Cynthia said sarcastically, not even bothering to correct his cursing.

"We're in trouble all right," Lucian sighed as he pulled up some footage.

Paul's dramatic fainting spell played itself on the screen, all the fights, all the frustration, and all four of them watched as Dr. Hamilton worked. Suddenly, she pulled over and pressed the microphone button.

"Guys? He might not make it. He's stable and I've gotten the fluids into him...but he's very unresponsive. He wakes up, pukes, then immediately fades out of consciousness again. Just a forewarning...he might not make it," Dr. Hamilton said shakily.

Cynthia's hands were shaking so hard, she could hardly feel controls in her hand as she flipped through the rest of the live feeds, taking in Marina and Misty's conversation, everything that was going on.

But all she could hear was their words on the tarmac after they had finished the mission, battered, tired, worn, bloody, but also emotionally drained.

You are all fucking cowards.

"We're all cowards, afraid to face them. We've been hiding in here the last day you know," Cynthia said quietly, just stating the obvious.

"Yeah, so?" Aaron asked with raised eyebrows.

"We can't even face the people we're supposed to order around. The people we set guidelines for, and feel guilty for enforcing it. I just...don't get it. Is it normal?" Cynthia sighed.

"Yeah it is, if you're a coward," Lucian answered, turning back to his computer.

"I think I'm done here," Flint said, getting up and motioning towards the banged up Infernape. "I think I need to apologize, even if I wound my pride. And even if there is evidence I did no wrong. Because feelings matter. And we're all human, they'll forgive us."

Lucian nodded in agreement, getting up to follow him out.

The door swung close behind them.

"Shall we?" Cynthia asked slowly, standing up with a swoosh of her dress.

"What are you talking about? We're just going to go apologize and everything will be right as rain?" Aaron asked incredulously, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, not because we want to take advantage of them Aaron, but because we care, get it?" Cynthia said, more confidence in her voice as she started towards the door.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Aaron said nervously, staring at all the different video feeds again.

"Come on!" Cynthia called, her voice coming from the hallway.

Aaron shrugged. No harm could come from an apology, right?

"Alright! I'm coming!" Aaron called back, standing up to follow his fellow people out the door. "This is either going to great...or its going to backfire."

AN: Yay! It's done. The horrible...mean feels. The first thing May says is a quote. From somebody. I dunno who.

Lie to me...such a wonderful show. ;)

-Ange