A/N: If you're reading this, I'm currently on safari and my legs have been chewed off by a lion. I am nothing but waist, up. No…I'm just being silly. If you're reading this, I'm actually elsewhere. I've gone to visit the family. I warned you about this last week. I also said that I wasn't going to update this week. Well…I LIED! Actually, I'm using the weekend to get something done instead of going on Zelda binges like I've been doing (the current selection is the Wind Waker, if you're curious, with some occasional fishing breaks for Twilight Princess. You'd think there'd be fishing in WW, considering it's ALL WATER. You dropped the ball, Nintendo…You dropped the ball…). So, by the time you're reading this, my brain has fried and turned into goo. Enjoy!

It took me a few days, but I had finally gotten adjusted to Germany's time and fully settled into Noiz's place. This penthouse was definitely something I could get used to. Coming from a girl that lived in a small house growing up and a small apartment in both San Diego and Midorijima, a big, spacious penthouse in Berlin with some immaculate views? Definitely an adjustment.

Although it was big and spacious and I could run around naked if I so choose, it was awfully empty. Not to mention, a girl could only entertain herself so much with a near unlimited amount of video games. What can I say? My boyfriend's a gaming otaku. Not really that surprised. I figured he was probably a gamer the day we met. We can sense each other.

It's probably safe to go out, right? Why not? Around the middle of the afternoon, I decided to go on a little adventure. It's not like Morphine knows I'm here. And I doubt they have any resources here. I'll be fine. I'm not even using my real name. As far as anyone knows, my name is Mika. The more and more I walked around Berlin, the more of a beautiful city it became to me. Hard to believe that Noiz left this so willingly. Granted, I don't understand a single word anyone is saying, but I was starting to like it here.

But…

Sigh…I miss Noiz. As much as I was starting to fall in love with Berlin, I had a piece of my heart back in Midorijima. I couldn't call him now. He's either sleeping or looking for Bolt and I didn't want to take him away from either one. I was going to call Theo and see if he'd come hang out with me, but he's working, too. I even left Agatha behind at Noiz's, so she could update and get some rest. I went into the café coming up on my right and scrolled through my contacts in my Coil.

"Full Bloom Floral," a comforting voice boomed on the other end, "How can I help you?"

"Mink," I let out a heavy, depressed sigh, "I need a hug."

"What's the matter, Angel?" he worried, "What do you need a hug for?"

"I have a certain organization on my tail," I confessed, making sure to keep my voice down, "Noiz sent me to Germany and I'm all by myself here."

"Hold on," Mink stopped me, "There's an organization after you? What organization would be after you?"

"Morphine…" I whispered.

"Angel," Mink gasped, "What have you gotten yourself into?"

"Nothing!" I assured, "I didn't do anything!"

"You must have done something to get on Morphine's radar," he figured, "What's been happening in the past three months?"

"Well," I thought it over, "I started dating Noiz. I got hit in a drive-by by someone from Ruff Rabbit, only to find out it was Yuki and that got him kicked off the team. One of our guys got hit in a drive-by and the kid that did it was told to by some guy. And…I came out of Rhyme retirement…Officially."

"You're a good girl, Angel," Mink scolded, "What did I tell you about playing Rhyme? It's nothing but trouble."

"I missed the camaraderie," I told, "I missed having that family relationship. I didn't want to go back home to get it, so the Ruff Rabbit boys filled the void. You can't tell me that if you had the opportunity to reunite Scratch, you would turn it down. You have to miss your team a little."

"Not really," he brushed me off, "They were more or less pawns to me. They helped me achieve my endgame. That's it."

"Bad analogy then."

"What would Morphine want with you?" Mink wondered.

"I don't know," I quivered, "I really don't."

"And all because you had to be with Noiz," he growled.

"Noiz had nothing to do with it," I snapped, "I played Rhyme long before I met him."

"But he made you come back," Mink's tirade continued, "And look where that's gotten you."

"I made that decision on my own," he was really starting to piss me off, "Noiz also flew me five thousand miles away from Midorijima to keep me safe, Mink. Could you ease up on him a bit?"

"Are you staying inside?"

"What?"

"Inside," Mink reiterated, "Are you staying inside? Are you keeping away from anything reckless?"

"I'm sitting in a café right now," I could hear Mink's blood boil on the other end, "I got bored."

"Go back to wherever you're staying," he demanded, "Go back. Go now."

"Why?"

"I know how Morphine is," Mink explained, "I want you safe. Now, go."

Hard to argue with Mink's logic. I knew he's dealt with Morphine before. Morphine was involved with Platinum Jail. I wasn't going to fight him, "Ok. On my way now."

"Good," he sighed out, "Keep me posted, Angel."

"I will."

Click.

Although talking to Mink made me that right combination of pissed and better, I still needed a hug. And I would've stabbed a man for one of Mink's hugs right now. No matter what negative, bitchy mood I was in, that was a surefire way of everything being ok. When I was still living in San Diego and I wanted to drive Yuki into a wall, I'd always call Mink. He'd always come over. And he'd always make everything better somehow.

"Hello," a very attractive blonde man sat next to me, "Is this seat taken?"

"No," I shook my head, "You speak English?"

"Yes," he nodded, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm sorry," I got up, "I need to be going."

"What's the rush?" the man took my hand, "We just met. I came over here, so I could talk to you. You're a very beautiful woman."

"You don't even know my name," I writhed out of his grasp, "I have to go."

"What is it?" he stopped me, "Your name…"

"Mika," my survival instincts kicked in, "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Could I walk you home?" he offered.

"Thank you," I shot him down, "But no."

I turned on my heel and left the café behind. What a creeper. No, I'm not going to let you walk me home. I already have Morphine on my ass. I don't need a stalker in Germany, too. I'll have to pass. When I got back to the penthouse, I threw myself on Noiz's unnecessarily big ass bed. I needed to go to sleep. It had gotten late and I was exhausted. I wrapped myself up in the comforter like a burrito and shut my eyes.

Two hours had gone by and I still couldn't fall asleep. I had taken three sleeping tablets at this point and nothing was working. I wasn't sure what had me so awake. If it was my creepy stalker from the café or if it was not having Noiz or if it was the looming darkness of Morphine floating over my head or if it was the fact that I shouldn't be here and I should be back in Midorijima looking for Bolt. But I knew in that moment sleep wasn't going to come easy for me. I grabbed my Coil off the nightstand.

"Hello?" the other end chirped.

"Hi, Theo," I greeted, "It's Mika."

"Hey, Angel," he said, "What's up? What do you need?"

"I need you to do me a favor," I bit my tongue, "Could you come over?"

"Sure," Theo agreed, "I'm on my way. Is everything ok?"

"Just come over," my voice broke a bit.

"Alright," he didn't dig any deeper, "I'll be there soon."

"Thank you."

Click.

Fortunately for me, Theo's building was across the street from Noiz's building and it wouldn't take him long to be at the front door. I turned the electric kettle on and made myself some tea. Maybe that would ease my nerves. It's not like Noiz kept any booze around here, so I couldn't do a shot of whiskey and go to sleep.

"Angel?" Theo let himself in, finding me balled up on the couch with a cup of chamomile in my lap, "What's wrong?"

"Could you…" I was taking a big leap here, "Could you stay with me tonight?"

"Um…" he blushed, "I don't know, Angel…"

"Please?" I begged, "I can't sleep. I've taken three tablets. I've tried forcing myself to sleep. Noiz isn't here. You're the closest thing I have to him. I just need someone to cuddle with. Please, Theo. You're my only hope for sleep tonight."

I could see it in his eyes. Theo was weighing the pros and cons in his head, "Wil won't get mad?"

"I'm sure he'd understand," I assured, "He'd probably be praising you for this. If not, I have my ways of making him understand. It'll be fine."

"Ok," he agreed, "I can do that."

"Thank you, Theo," I finished my tea and the two of us went back to the bedroom, "Really. I do appreciate this."

"You're welcome," he smiled a little, "So, how do you want to do this? Big spoon or little spoon?"

"You're taller than me," I pointed out, "I don't think I could be big spoon without being uncomfortable."

"Little spoon, it is then," Theo crawled in next to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, "And you're sure Wil won't kill me for this?"

"It's not like we're having sex," I settled him, "This is purely about sleep."

"Ok," Theo kissed the top of my head, "Good night, Angel."

"Good night."

That's exactly what I needed. I needed someone there to make everything alright. And fortunately, I had Theo for that. Don't get me wrong. I missed the hell out of his brother and I wished he was the one sleeping with me tonight, but Theo made a perfect substitute.

A/N: I want to cuddle Theo so hard. So very hard. He's just the cutest little thing. Theo is my favorite thing about Reconnect. Also, I had a thought that's been rolling around in the old noggin. Is there a good Noiz x Mink fic? Just out of curiosity? Because I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that. Noiz is such an insolent little shit and Mink is such a dominant papa bear figure. He'd knock Noiz down a peg or two and I need to see this. I'm sweating…Also, I missed Mink terribly. I had a dirty dream with Mink the other night and I haven't been able to get him out of my mind ever since. In other news, I also watched the first couple episodes of Dramatical Murder for the English dub and...my God, did I criiiiiiiiiinge...No...It's not ok...I like the voice for Ren, I like the voice for Clear, and I like the voice for Akushima. Aside from that...*has Vietnam like flashbacks* See you next chapter! xx