Chapter 25

Two days later L was sitting up with assistance, the feeding IV and transfusion bags gone. His face still bruised and battered, but at least his color, as it was, was back. Light still sat at his bedside, making him eat the hateful liquid diet he had to eat until his throat healed, although Watari supplemented it with strawberry flavored jello and very tiny amounts of whipped cream.

He had just been moved down to a room known as a step-down room, which was literally a step-down from intensive care but not quite a regular room yet. He could have visitors here and Light never left him.

His memory began to come back little by little, he remembered running into the warehouse and throwing Light out finally. He even remembered hearing the click behind him as the connection was made from the detonator and looking at Light for what he was sure was the last time. He frowned as light tried to get him to take another mouthful of soup and when he refused Light started making airplane noises, flying the spoon towards him.

"Here comes the plane to the hanger, but the hanger door is closed. Someone has to open the hanger door so the plane can get in!" L continued to stare at Light, his expression one of complete disgust. Light burst out laughing and dropped the spoon into the bowl.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry I was just trying to make it fun!" he said laughing and moving the table away from the bed.

"I may be injured, Light but I did not revert into childhood." L said, the disgust dripping from his still hoarse voice. Light leaned towards him, his fingers under L's chin.

"I love you when you're disgusted!" he leaned further and kissed him softly, careful not to hurt any of the bruises on his face.

"Well that would certainly explain your behavior." L answered and Light laughed again. He stared into L's face, remembering how he looked after the explosion when he really thought he might lose him and his entire body shuddered. L reached up and touched his face; he knew what he was thinking.

"I'm fine Light, please do not worry."

Light nodded and placed his hand on the hand that was on his face. Silent tears filled his eyes, the weight of the past few days finally leaving him.

"I'm sorry, I just..you don't know what it was like holding your lifeless body in my arms. L, I thought I had lost you for good. I almost lost my mind."

"Light-look at me. I'm here, I'm fine. I should be out of this den of pestulance soon as I need to get back to work. You're not going to lose me. But if you don't bring me some cake soon you're going to wish you had!" Light laughed again, his tears stopped as he shook his head.

"Not yet, L. That breathing tube did a number on your throat. It's no good if you can't enjoy it." The bruises on L's face made his pout look even worse.

"Stop pouting and put your mind to work and tell me how I'm going to explain in my report why my boyfriend showed up at a location that no one knew about and got caught in the explosion." L's head tilted to the side, his thumb coming up to his mouth and for a moment Light thought that was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

" Ah, yes. Well, I am sorry about putting you in that situation, but of course I had no choice. There was no cell service, I couldn't reach you, and there was no other recourse than to go there myself. I called the proper authorities but I had to make sure myself."

"I didn't say it was wrong, L, I just need to figure out how to cover it now".

"Tell them that L sent me." Light stared at him.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"As a matter of fact, I should tell them…L should tell them himself. That would keep you from having to face any questions".

"How are you going to do that?" Light asked confused.

"I'll have Watari bring my laptop, it's got a synthesizer in it, and we'll connect as usual, I'll just do it from here."

"They're going to hear the hoarseness in your voice, L someone's going to put two and two together." L shook his head.

"You know how this totally distorts my voice, they won't hear any hoarseness. I will need you; however, to make sure no one comes in while I'm in contact." Light nodded thinking it over.

"Very good, L. I think that will do nicely, thank you." Light said and then stood up smiling evilly.

"I almost forgot, you're in for a treat, my mother wants to see you. She's been waiting two days to make a fuss." L rolled his eyes.

"I take it telling her I'm unconscious won't work, will it?" Light shook his head and L sighed.

"Fine, but Light remember I haven't had the proper amount of sugar, I may not be able to control myself if she starts petting me." he said steeling himself and Light burst out laughing as he went to the door to usher Sachiko in to see him.

L had Watari bring in his laptop that evening and he prepared what he was going to say to the detectives. When Matsuda stopped by for his daily visit, the three of them went over everything that had happened after the explosion and what had been found so that L was completely up-to-date with where the case had ended. They realized just how weak L still was when towards the end of the conversation, they realized L had fallen asleep, his fingers still on the keyboard. Light moved the laptop and pulled the covers over him and L never noticed, he was that deeply asleep. Light smiled at him, bent down and kissed him and then he and Matsuda left the room to finish talking.

"Will you be coming in soon, Light? Everyone's asking," Matsuda said once they were outside and Light sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I know I'm going to have to very soon, but the thought of leaving him terrifies me, as if something will happen when I'm not here, he'll relapse or something. I know it's silly but.." Matsuda shook his head and patted Light's arm.

"I don't think it's silly, believe me I understand. But, it's not going to look too good for you if you don't show up soon. I mean, everyone knows what happened but maybe you could try to show up in a couple of days, I'm sure Watari will be here and L seems to be doing well. You're still on probation Light, and you have to watch yourself twice as hard being the Deputy Director's son."

"I know that, I understand that but they've also got to realize that…Ryuzki is my life! I could have lost him, I really could have and we just got our relationship back on track, everything is wonderful and I'm just so scared to be away from him."

"Light you don't have to explain it to me, I'm your friend I care about Ryuzaki as well and I know how you feel, I'm just trying to keep you informed. As hard as I'm sure it is, Light, you have to leave him eventually and get on with your career. You're just still in a sort of shock, it'll get better." Light listened and then smiled at Matsuda.

"When did you get so damned smart?" he asked the one everyone always made fun of.

"I just know what I feel and I always try to put myself in others' shoes to understand how they feel. Besides Light, and you know Ryuzaki's not going to let you stay home and fuss over him for long." Light laughed at that and vigorously nodded his head.

"You're absolutely right about that, Matsuda. It's just something I have to get over, it's not like he'll be alone, Watari's always here. Thanks, Matsuda." The young detective grinned and nodded at Light, decided it was time he left them and took off down the hall.

Light went back into the room and walked over to Watari who was sitting at the other side of the room, having a cup of tea and reading. He sat on the floor next to Watari's chair, which caused Watari to start at the sight; it was something that L did with him often.

"Is there something troubling you, Light?" he asked gently, closing his book.

"Watari, I'm going to have to go back to work soon, and I'm fighting the terror I feel at leaving L behind. It's irrational I know, but having almost lost him it's something I'm having trouble dealing with. Would you please humor me for a while and call me every couple of hours and let me know how he's doing? I know it's an imposition, but it will make me feel better." Watari looked down at Light's face, the fear, love and embarrassment all in his young features.

"It is not an imposition at all, considering I probably won't be leaving his side while you are gone. It makes it quite easy, actually." Light smiled gratefully and Watari patted his shoulder and then went back to his book, as Light leaned back against the wall and watched L sleep.