Wally made his way to the front door, he turned to see Kuki behind him. She was really struggling to walk. He frowned. "Kuki, are you sure you're okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

She finally made eye contact with him, her eyes full of fear and terror. She shook her head vigorously. "No. I'm fine, it looks worse than it is."

He could tell she was lying. He sighed. Holding his hands out to support her as she hissed in pain, taking too much speed in a step. "Kuki, you could have broken ribs. You need to get them checked."

"No, I'm okay. I can't go to the hospital without Billy." Kuki responded.

"For fucks sake!" Wally growled, pulling out his keys and making Kuki jump with his change of attitude. "I don't give a shit about Billy, Kuki. Right now, you're in pain and need to get checked."

Kuki narrowed her eyes and pouted. She bared her teeth as she spoke. "Wally, I've told you I'm not going!"

She folded her arms defiantly and Wally was sure that if it didn't cause her pain she would have stamped her foot firmly on the ground. He couldn't help but smile slightly. It was just like the old Kuki that he used to know. He couldn't help but be happy to know that somewhere deep down, old Kuki was still in there.

"What? Why are you smiling at me?" Kuki raised an eyebrow, half in confusion, half in annoyance.

Wally chuckled. "You got your old, feisty self back there for a minute Kooks."

Kuki blushed. Wally smiled at her, if this were any other situation, he'd have given it to her, let her have what she wanted. Just to show her that she did have the strength, the ability to choose what she wanted. But right now, this wasn't going to be an option.

"I'm not taking no for an answer on this one Kuki. I'm taking you to the hospital." Wally told her, opening the front door. Motioning with his head. "Come on."

Kuki diverted her eyes away from Wally's stubbornly refusing to make eye contact. Her folded arms tightened around her body, despite the crushing pain that it caused. She looked back when she heard Wally sigh. He opened the door wider.
"Look Kuki, one way or another you're getting in that car and going to the hospital..." She stared at him in confusion as he began to roll up his sleeves. "...and I'm still more than capable of throwing you over my shoulder to carry you to it!"

"No!" Kuki shrieked as he stepped towards her. Wincing when the pain shot through her body by the sudden move. She sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'll go."

She sulked as she followed Wally to his SUV. He opened the passenger side for her and waved his hand, indicating for her to get in. It was a high vehicle, higher than Billy's. She hissed as she attempted to haul herself in, surprised at how difficult such a simple task was when half of your body was reacting to the most everyday movement. She tried to hide a blush as Wally took her elbow, supporting her weight and making it a bit easier. He rested his other hand on the small of her back to keep her balanced. Kuki sighed with pain as she finally sat, Wally closed the door behind her and walked over to the drivers side, hopping in with ease. He cleared his throat as he started up the car and pulled out onto the street.

The first few minutes were awkward, they sat in silence, Wally had his eyes glued to the road, Kuki glanced around the cars interior, followed by out of the window. She couldn't help but turn and glance at him, she mused over how much his side profile had changed since they were younger. He no longer had baby fat around his cheeks, his jaw was now chiselled and strong. The passing streetlights created shadows on his ever flawless skin. Kuki laid her head onto the rest and examined him thoroughly. He definitely wasn't the young, acne filled, thirteen year old she used to force to dress up and play tea parties with her. His skin was now flawless, even in the dimmed, unflattering orange lights. She shot her head back when his eyes glanced over to her, obviously spotting her staring in his peripheral vision.

"Soo…." Kuki sighed in embarrassment after being caught staring. Wally grinned and kept his eyes fixed on the road. Kuki ran a finger down the black interior dashboard. "I didn't know you could drive."

Wally shrugged. "I passed when I was sixteen."

"I haven't seen you in your car before." Kuki replied, looking over at him. "You always walked."

With a chuckle, Wally replied. "Any time you've seen me we've been at a pub. I don't drive if I'm going to drink."

"I wish Billy had that rule." Kuki sighed. "He's a scary driver anyway but after a few drinks...I never know if I'm getting out of it alive."

Kuki meant this as a joke, but there was a hint of seriousness in her voice.

"You mean he'll drive after he's had a lot to drink?" Wally asked in disbelief. Kuki clenched his jaw, annoyed again at the thought of Billy thoughtlessly putting Kuki at risk. He shook his head and muttered "Of course he does."

They were silent from then until they pulled up at the hospital. Wally rushed out so that he could help Kuki out of the car. They walked in and went to the front desk. The receptionist took little interest in Kuki's issue, she gave her a form to fill out which Kuki promptly returned. they were then asked to take a seat.

They sat in silence. After half an hour, Wally started to get impatient. Kuki glanced at him as he bounced his leg up and down, tapping his feet in an unknown rhythm on the floor. She was almost overjoyed when he stood up.

"I'm going to find a bathroom." He spoke softly. "I'll be right back."

Kuki nodded with an amused shrug. "Okay."

"Don't go away." Wally joked, knowing full well that Kuki couldn't stand up from the low sofa that he had helped her into without him lifting her out of it.

Kuki rolled her eyes. "You're hilarious."

He chuckled at her sarcastic comment. Kuki always used to get terrible mood swings when she was tired. It was now coming up to 10:35pm and her eyes were starting to droop. She watched him walk away and then gazed around the hospital, she knew exactly what question she'd be faced with, 'so how did you do this?'. She bit her lip. Billy was usually the one who would tell her what had happened to her, she'd repeated what she was told. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her nerves. Only opening them again when Wally sat down next to her, two cups in his hand.

"Found a coffee shop on my bathroom hunt" He smirked, holding up both cups. "Mocha frappuccino with coffee or vanilla without?"

Kuki smiled and held out her hand as she chose. "Vanilla without." She took the cup gratefully, realising how thirsty she was when she took a sip. "Thank you."

"I thought you'd go for that one." Wally smiled. "Still not a coffee fan huh?"

Kuki scrunched her nose in disgust and shook her head as she took another sip. Wally chuckled.

"Miss Sanban?" A nurse called as she walked in.

Kuki tried to stand but struggled, Wally was immediately by her side. He lifted her up gently. She glanced at him thankfully and proceeded to follow the nurse, stopping when she realised that Wally wasn't next to her. She turned to see that he'd sat down. He stared back up at her. "What?"

"You're not coming in with me?" She asked timidly.

He stared back in amazement. "You want me to?"

Kuki bit her lip nervously and nodded. Wally smiled and stood up. He walked over to her, looking down when she placed a shaky hand in his. Glancing back at her and smiling, acting as if nothing had happened. They walked into the doctor's room that they were led into. Kki sat down on the single seat and Wally leant against the back wall.

The doctor looked up at the two of them and then back to his files. "So...miss Sanban, what happened to you."

Wally looked up from the corner of his eye, hoping that Kuki would tell him the truth, but knowing full well that she wouldn't.

"I fell down the stairs." Kuki replied shakily. "I've hurt all of my side."

The doctor flicked through some of Kuki's files and then looked back up at her, giving Wally a quick glance of stone. "Okay miss Sanban, let's have a look."

Wally turned around quickly, scratching the back of his neck as the doctor instructed Kuki to slip out of her shirt so that he could see the full damage. He turned around again when the doctor sat back down, instructing Kuki to put her top back on.

"I'm going to give Miss Sanban an X-ray." The doctor boasted. "I think they're simply bruised ribs but I'd rather check."

They walked down the hallway, Wally and Kuki followed. They turned the corner and the doctor met them with a wheelchair. He motioned for Kuki to sit in it, she did as she was asked, sitting slowly to ease the pain.

Wally followed as the doctor led Kuki into a room, giving her a gown and coming back out. He waited outside as the doctor took the X-ray and brought Kuki out a while later, pushing her in the chair.

"Will you please take her to the waiting room while I analyse the scans, Mr…" The doctor asked.

"Beatles." Wally replied. "Sure."

He took Kuki and wheeled her down the corridor, glancing down at her. She was looking at her hands in her lap. Lost in a miserable thought. He sighed at the sight. Then had an idea, the started to run, down the corridor, Kuki looked up to view the corridors flying past her. She looked up at Wally and slowly started to smile. Wally swerved around the corner, picking up the pace as they moved further down the corridors, ignoring the reprimands of the nurses and dodging patients as they approached. They came to a halt when they finally got to the waiting room.

Kuki giggled and Wally smiled down at her. Rearranging her wheelchair so that he could sit next to her.

After another long wait they were finally on their way home. Wally glanced over at Kuki as he drove, she'd been in the car for a maximum of two minutes and was fast asleep. The doctor had given her some strong painkillers as he said that she was going to have a few rough night's sleep. The doctor's suspicions were correct and Kuki had bruised ribs. He'd issued her with painkillers.

When he pulled up Kuki instantly woke. She slowly pushed herself out of the car with Wally's assistance. He walked her to her front door and she smiled at him as she opened it and stepped in. She looked around nervously before speaking. "Thank you Wally, for taking me today."

"No problem." He smiled softly.

Kuki breathed in heavily, a little too heavy as it made her wince in pain. Wally frowned. "How are you getting up to bed? You won't be able to climb those stairs."

"I'll manage." Kuki shrugged. "I did last night."

Wally rolled his eyes. He held out his hands towards her. "Come here."

"What?" Kuki asked in confusion.

"I'll take you up." Wally replied. "I'll lock the door on my way out."

Kuki shook her head. "No, Wally don't be silly. I can get up fine."

"Go on then." Wally challenged, a small smirk on his face.

Kuki scowled. She always did hate it when he had that 'I'm going to prove you wrong' smile of his on his face. She put her head up in the air, holding the stair railing tightly as she slowly lifted a foot onto the first step. Breathing in with pain as she histed up the other one. She looked at Wally indignantly.

Wally shook his head. "Sure, It's midnight right now, you might get up there by the time you need to wake up. Come on."

"No, Wally I'm too heavy." Kuki protested as he closed the door behind him and approached her.

"Kuki please." Wally scoffed. He gently scooped her up in his arms, holding her bridal style. Careful not to squeeze her too tightly or move too fast. He slowly walked up the stairs. "You don't feel like you've put a pound on since you were ten."

He carried her into her room and gently placed her on the floor, waiting to ensure she got her balance before letting her go completely. He stood back and scratched the back of his neck with a slight blush forming on his cheeks. "Well, there you go...goodnight."

"Wait! Wally?" Kuki squeaked as he headed for the door, he turned around to look at her. She stared back at him with embarrassed, wide eyes. "Could you maybe, stay with me a little longer? While I settle down?"

Wally thought about it for a second, knowing full well that it wasn't a good idea. He sighed in defeat. "Sure."

Kuki beamed, she grabbed her pyjamas from the bed and walked into to en suite to get changed. Wally awkwardly stood in the doorway of the bedroom. After a struggle to change, Kuki reappeared. She jumped under the covers on her bed and lay down. Smiling up at Wally. Wally smiled back, he switched off the light, giving up the fight against his urge to go and sit by her on the bed.

"Wally?" Kuki murmured sleepily. Her eyes closed and her face pushed against her pillow.

Wally turned to look at her. "Yeah?"

"Do you think that you could come and keep me company tomorrow? I don't like being alone."

Wally smiled softly and nodded. "Sure."

He sat for a few moments, facing away from her and fiddling with his hands. He took a deep breath and spoke quietly. "Kuki?"

When he looked at her he realised that she was fast asleep. He shifted in his spot to stare at her. Wally crouched down on the floor next to her and took in the image, running his knuckles down the cheeks of her exhausted face. She sighed dreamily in her sleep. Wally smiled. he couldn't resist leaning forward and kissing her gently on her forehead, sweeping back the flopping messy bun. "Night Kuki."

He stood up and went downstairs, flicking the lock of the door before stepping out. Checking the door before walking away and hopping into his van.