I'm back!! Did you miss me? Erm...who cares! I wrote a chapter!

Okay, see...my computer exploded and I have nothing left from my stories...so I don't have what I've written for my chapters...so I had to handwrite this, then transfer. I'm amazing...not!! Well, here ya go!

Please enjoy it!! You might not hear from me for a while...I'm moving.

Chapter 14: The Healing Process

Russ, Noodle, and Murdoc watched 2D's exanimate form.

"He looks so peaceful," Russ commented.

"He looks dead!" Noodle cried, distress heavy in her voice. "I can't watch him die, Russ! Can't you take me away...on holiday?" she begged.

"Oh, sista, I--I--" he looked to Murdoc, reluctant to take the girl. Murdoc shrugged and looked away. "Okay, Noods."

"Oh, Russ! Let's go make the plans now! Thank you!" she hugged first Russ, then Murdoc. Murdoc shrugged away from her.

"Go on ahead, Noodle. I'll meet you at the car." Russ told her, stepping closer to 2D's bed. Noodle nodded and ran off. "I'm sorry to leave you with this burden, Murdoc." Russ told the older man. Murdoc looked at him, his eyes shining with saline.

"I don't want him to die, Russ." Murdoc admitted. "He's my best mate."

"I know, man." Russ patted Murdoc's shoulder.

"It's not like it was the last time. This time it's bad. God, I miss him. He was always there. Any time I needed to talk--if he goes, who will I find to talk to that is just like him? Nobody comes close." Murdoc sighed, shining tears slipping from his eyes.

"He's gonna be okay, Muds."

Murdoc said nothing as Russ said his goodbyes to 2D. Murdoc sat and watched 2D for awhile, until a nurse came in.

"You must leave now, Mr. Nicalls." she told him.

"Can't I take him home with me? I need to be able to see him any time. I'm--scared."

"Erm," the nurse produced a card. "Call this number, they'll tell you what to do."

"Thanks, love." he took the card and left, calling the number on his mobile.

Two weeks later, 2D was laying in his own bed once more. There were IVs and breathing machines, but he was home. That was all that mattered.

Everything that Murdoc could help 2D with, he did. He constantly talked to 2D, fluffed his pillows, changed his IV, massaged his muscles, washed his face, even brushed his blue hair.

One morning as Murdoc was changing 2D's IV, the young man stirred, the arm that was free of all wires moving to scratch his head.

"Mum, mum. Why can't I move, mum? I want to get out of bed--my arm hurts--" 2D's eyes opened and he took Murdoc in, his eyes huge. "M--M--Murdoc? How long 'ave I been sleeping?"

"A long time, 2D. Months--Sweet Satan, you've come out of it!!" Murdoc quickly detached all of the wires from 2D's skin, quickly stopping the bleeding from his IV wound. He hugged the blue-haired man ecstatically.

"I have to pee." 2D began to get up.

"Let me help you. Your muscles are weak." Murdoc helped 2D get out of the bed slowly so he wouldn't be overcome by dizziness. He acted as a crutch to 2D so he could walk to the toilets.

2D emptied his bladder with a long sigh. "Thanks, Murdoc. I'm a bit hungry, as well."

"Let's go out, after you've dressed." Murdoc helped 2D dress, letting the black-eyed god do much of the work. Once he was ready, they drove to the nearest town. Murdoc pulled into the parking lot of a diner, and 2D felt in his pockets nervously.

"I don't have any money, I don't even know where my wallet is," he said.

"Oh, christ, Dullard, have I really been so cruel to you? I'm buying. Don't worry about it." Murdoc helped 2D into the restaurant and they were seated in a booth. They looked the menu over, and instead of immediately ordering a steak just to upset 2D, Murdoc decided on the fish and chips.

2D ordered vegetarian lasagna, tearing into it greedily once it arrived. He looked up at Murdoc every so often, as he ate slowly. 2D finished rather quickly, sitting back to watch Murdoc eat.

"Thank you, Murdoc. You took good care of me. You always have--picked me up when I'm falling." 2D closed his eyes.

"You know you're my best mate, D. I could never treat you as less. I've been taking you for granted, but I thought I might--we might lose you. Now, I know I have to try harder.

"I'm scared for you sometimes, 2D. I feel as though it is my duty to protect you from everything, but I know I can't."

"Murdoc, I'd no idea you felt that way." 2D said with astonishment. Murdoc looked down at his plate, feeling embarassed. "I'm sorry I've been so stupid--trying to kill myself at every chance I had. It completely goes against my beliefs, y'know."

"How many times did you try to kill yourself?" Murdoc asked. 2D sighed, shaking his head.

"A lot. Russ knows--he's the one 'oo's saved me life hundreds of times. I owe him big," 2D sighed again, his fingers massaging his temples nervously.

"So why didn't I know about this?" Murdoc demanded.

"I made Russ keep it secret--I begged him. I wanted to die something awful--but now I can't remember the reason why."

A small part, a purely evil part, of Murdoc's brain wanted to remind 2D of the reason, but the calm and sane part urged him not to. "It's best forgotten, mated." Murdoc assured him.

"Yeah. I don't want to die, Murdoc, I want to live!" 2D's voice was strangely intense, his eyes wide. Murdoc absently patted 2D's hand as his mind filled with thoughts. He was going to be all right!

"2D, mate," Murdoc interrupted the blue-haired man's uncharacteristic chatter. "I don't want to put you off or anything, but you've made me unexplainably happy!" Murdoc full beam grinned, unable to hold it back any longer.

"I'm going to be okay, finally!" 2D could not resist a smile. "I'm going to be okay!"

Welcome back 2D!!

2D: I was never gone...

Yeah...that's right...it's only a story!

Okay, you know what to do now, but in case you don't...review!! If you review, you'll definitely inspire me to write a new chapter!!