Author's Note: So, I'm not at school today (long story), and I'm on a computer away from my coursework, and I have free time. With fast internet connection, I thought that I'd update again considering I finished the last chapter early this morning. Anyway, here's another one!

Oh, and a big shout out to my fiftieth reviewer, fleurchen!

Chapter Nineteen

There was somebody next to me. I was aware of that the moment that I regained consciousness, despite the grogginess that overcame me. Peeling back my eyelids, I turned my head briefly to look at the man next to me. My heart softened the moment I heard his soft snores, and I thought about how young and innocent he looked when he was asleep. It was no sooner than that had crossed my mind than his eyebrows furrowed in a frown.

I had been admiring him for some time before Will finally woke up. Looking away, I waited for the accusatory words that would no doubt accompany his return to consciousness. "Hey, you're awake." He said to me, and when I turned to see him, the smile that was on his face melted away all doubts that I had ever felt.

"I'm so sorry." I managed to say before the tears returned and I buried my head in my hands. Almost immediately, arms wound around me, comforting me while I cried.

"Shush." Will murmured, rocking me gently.

"I had to protect you." I told him, looking up through my tears, hoping that he would understand that I had to protect him. Or rather, protect myself from the heartache that I had been sure would happen. There was no way that my dad would have let me see Will, unless I spied on them for him.

"Xav explained." He was tight lipped when he spoke, and I wondered whether that was because I had left him or because of the information that I had shared with his brother. "I understand, you know. I get that you felt like you had to run. It's okay now, you're safe."

"I'm going to die though, Will. It would have been better if we hadn't have met." I managed to say, picking at a loose thread on the sheets, not meeting his eyes. It was a horrible thing to say, but it was true. At least in my eyes.

"You can still make it through this."

"I can't. I'm not strong enough. Besides, I can't even pay for the treatments." Embarrassment caused the blood to rise in my cheeks. I didn't know how I was going to pay for the medical bills, and I didn't want to have to rely on charities for the rest of my life. We were silent for a moment, before I added, "Please...Can you sit here with me?" I gestured towards the bed, wondering whether or not I was doing the right thing, or even if we would both fit on it.

Shuffling over, I used the control for the bed to make it so that I was in a sitting position, before Will got on the bed beside me. It was awkward for a moment, until he put his arm around me and I put my head on his chest. "You know, Yves kept offering to pay for your treatment when we found out where you were." He said after a moment, and I murmured some response. "Xav's sorry that he told us, but Crystal was apparently going to tell us anyway."

"Really?" I was half asleep, trying to stay awake.

"Yup." Will popped the 'p'. "She's a soulseeker and the reason I kept following you everywhere. I was always too late though." We were silent again.

"Will?"

"Uh huh?"

"Don't leave me?" I felt young as I spoke, memories resurfacing of having to leave him all those years ago.

"As long as you don't disappear again, princess." He whispered, pressing his lips briefly into my hair. "What did you do to your hair?" Asking in mock horror, moving his head away and lifting a few strands of my hair up, Will continued, "Is this a new fashion trend? Maybe I should get mine done like this?" It was then that I remembered my hair wasn't much longer than my chin and the roots had grown out - so I had mostly black hair with muddy blonde roots, and frizz that meant it got everywhere. I'd been told at some point that my hair might fall out, and the best thing to do was to not do anything with it, and not wash it. Which also meant that it smelt awful.

Lazily giggling at his comment, I replied with, "Would look great on you - what with your dark curly hair. Blonde is so your colour," and I returned my head to his chest.

We spent hours talking, trying to get to know each other. "I'm glad we met." Will murmured, running his hand up my arm, leaving goosebumps. Shuffling slightly so that I was more comfortable, I made sure that I didn't pull at the wires that came out of me (especially the hickman line, which was linked up to my chemo).

"How so?" I asked, rotating my head so that I could look at him.

"Better knowing you while I can, than wonder about what you're like." He shrugged, before holding the sick bowl up to me so that I could throw up. Running his hand through me short hair, he waited until I was finished before placing the bowl on the side. He'd been like that since he had turned up, and I loved it. I mean, my family hadn't tried to contact me (they no doubt knew about me being in hospital, what with the contacts my dad must have), and I didn't have anyone else.

"I guess." I managed, wiping my mouth with the tissue that he handed me.

"Are you okay if my family come visit you?" Will asked quietly, putting his arm around me again. Lifting my shoulders, I felt him exhale. "Good, because they're standing outside." Freezing, I watched the door open and a crowd of people came through.

"How many are there?" I muttered to him, talking rather than using telepathy as we'd figured out earlier that it made me feel worse.

"Every soulfinder has been found." He replied slyly.

"But I thought that there were two missing?"

"We got back from getting Cara and Chase two weeks ago."

"Oh."

I remembered the family. Trace was with a pregnant woman who had been introduced as Diamond, and a small child that I hadn't caught the name of. Uriel had his arm protectively around a small Hispanic. I thought her name was Cara, but I couldn't be sure. A fiery redhead accompanied Victor, presumably Chase. Xav was there with the exotic woman who had been at that train station so long ago. Yves and Phoenix were by the door, and Zed and Sky were by my side, laughing like crazy.

It was madness. And Karla smothered me. She seemed to think that because my mother wasn't here that she needed to take care of me. It made me feel worse than I had before, because it reminded me so much of that time ten and a half years ago when I had spent every waking moment with Will or with the Benedicts. It was strange seeing how the family dynamics had stayed the same, when I felt so out of place. Saul was wonderful, managing to direct Karla's attention elsewhere when he saw me get overwhelmed.

Will stayed by my side the whole time, fending off all of the awkward questions that I really didn't want to have to deal with - which didn't come up very often.

Eventually though, the nurses came by and kicked everyone out, telling them that they could come back tomorrow during visiting hours, and telling Xav that they would see him tomorrow when he came in for his shift. When they tried to get Will to leave, I clutched at him, showing my fear. The nurses caved, and Will was allowed to spend the night.

And that was how I spent my first night with my soulfinder. Wrapped up under a hospital blanket with him, with plenty of sick bowls nearby - just in case.

A/N: I'm warning you now - the next chapter will be flashes of Will and Grace's time in the hospital, so it's going to be confusing. Just thought I'd prepare you! Please remember to review, because I love to hear (well, see) what you think of this.