Chapter 14

Miles, having heard that Derek had finally woken up, hurried to the hospital. He reminded himself that he would have to be considerate, as the other was likely quite tired, but he worried about Phoenix and he knew he was short on time. Knocking on the door to the hospital room, he waited patiently for an answer.

Derek heard the knock, so he got up from his bed and opened the door.

"Ahh, hello." he said, letting Miles into the room.

He felt a little awkward, given the last time they'd met, and then the circumstances he'd ended up in the hospital himself as well.

"Hello," Miles greeted with a slight nod. "I could have let myself in. Please sit down."

"Okay." Derek sat at the edge of his bed, and waited for Miles to take a seat.

With the awkwardness hanging in the air, Derek asked carefully, "So...how are you doing?"

Miles looked away, clearly embarrassed by the question. "I should be asking that, seeing as you are the one in the hospital."

Derek replied in a bit of a sheepish tone, "Don't worry about me. Things like this happen if I get too exhausted. Nothing happened to me at all except for a nice sleep for a few days."

Derek gave Miles a small smile, trying to alleviate the tension between them.

Miles looked up, nodding slightly in acceptance. He wasn't sure how to deal with the situation, but he had to bear with it.

"Ibelieve I owe you an apology. Everyone has gone through a lot in the past few days, and I have not been easy to communicate with," he said stiffly.

"Hey, it's alright. Everyone goes through tough times sometimes..." Derek said seriously, not wanting to offend Miles in any way, but also wanting to show he cared.

"I do need to talk to you about what went on, however," Miles pressed on, despite how uncomfortable it all was for him.

Derek suddenly looked a little sad when he was reminded of Phoenix and he said, "Yeah, ask away. Hopefully we can figure something out that can help him."

Miles nodded, folding his arms and looking uncertain. "I have a few theories as to what might have gone on, but we need to know a few things first. Anything you know that may be useful."

"Well, I don't know exactly what was going on, since all Phoenix told me was to use my Healing Touch power to help him, and he did all the rest." Derek said, looking thoughtful.

"The rest? As far as you know, what did that involve?" Miles asked, trying to skirt around the subject somewhat.

"Well..." Derek tried to carefully remember what Phoenix told him before they got started, "He told me that he'd be using his magatama on you, and that when he started doing that, I should do the Healing Touch right when he asked you a question."

"The magatama...I assumed so, but this certainly confirms it," Miles shook his head, "Phoenix might truly be in danger, it seems."

"What?" Derek said, sounding surprised and very worried, "What's happening with him?"

"This may sound a bit... odd. I'm not certain I can bring myself to think much about it for fear of disbelieving it but... it seems..." he shook his head, finding it very hard to admit something so absurd, "It seems his soul is stuck within mine."

"...Stuck?" Derek asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Miles shook his head. "It has to do with the magatama. It does something with souls."

"So, what you're saying is...that Nick's soul...is stuck...inside you?" Derek said with a tone of wonder.

He realized over his time in his work that there was very little that he would disbelieve.

Miles looked away, nodding fervently. It was hard to admit, not knowing what kind of reaction he would get.

"What can we do to help? How can we get him back out?" Derek said, immediately jumping into how he could help him, helping people always being his first priority.

Miles shook his head. "I do not know. That is where I am at a loss."

"Did you talk to anyone who knows about this magatama thing?" Derek said, offering that suggestion.

"I did. His friend, Maya Fey. We attempted to channel him, but being that he's still alive" Miles shook his head, looking troubled.

Channel? Wow, they really have gone the whole nine yards with this supernatural stuff...Derek thought in surprise.

"Ahh, I see. So you think something about the magatama is keeping him in though?"

"It's... possible. I'm really uncertain as to the logistics of it. I was just pulled in to it, really," Miles commented, referring to the first time he had to use the magatama himself, "I still don't understand how it works. Nick just told me about it all in a rush." Derek asked, now wanting to more about the magatama itself and its workings.

"If you hold it and ask your target a question about something they seem reluctant to answer, you will be able to see these chains and things called psycholocks or something like that. Each time you disprove what they are saying or present evidence to the contrary, you are able to open one of the locks. When they are all opened, you will be able to know the truth of the matter because the magatama helps you see into another's soul. Or... well, that seems about right," Miles replied, sighing slightly.

"Oh." Derek was silent for a moment as it all fell into place.

Nick wanted to open up his heart and find the truth of why he was so depressed. Derek thought as he realized the truth.

"So, Nick...I guess he just wanted to know the truth." Derek said softly, trying not to sound uncaring.

"Pardon?" Miles questioned the other's line of thought, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I'd...come to the hospital when Phoenix called me and told me about the situation." Derek said hesitantly, "He was a wreck."

"He was?" Miles asked reluctantly, though he knew it to be true.

Derek felt like he was walking on eggshells as he talked about this, but he kept going, knowing that Miles had to know everything to be able to help Phoenix.

"Yeah. Kept saying things were his fault."

Miles frowned, looking troubled. "I should have known he would try to take it upon himself."

"But then he came up with this crazy plan to try to help you, since he so wanted to make things right."

Miles nodded. "Your healing touch... slows things down?"

"Yeah. So he hoped that if I did the healing touch when he used the magatama, that he'd be able to find out...what had been bothering you for a long time." Derek said with a small nod.

"And he tried to stop the chains from closing in." Miles looked down into his lap, shaking his head a little bit. "Thank you for the information. It might prove to be useful. Do you remember... exactly what he asked me?"

Derek thought hard and he finally said, "I think he asked you about what had been bothering you these last few weeks."

Miles nodded, standing. "I should let you rest. I am sorry you had to be involved in this."

"It's never a bother to help a friend in need." Derek said with a small smile, meaning it with all his heart.

Miles couldn't help but smile slightly. "Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome. Try to help Nick the best you can, alright?" Derek said to Miles as he walked to the door of his room.

Miles nodded once again. "I will. I promise."

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