Kuki woke up early morning, the sun was just beginning to brighten through the window. She lifted her head, looking over at Wally who had a protective arm slung over her waist. Kuki smiled, he'd held her close all night, Kuki was so used to Billy rolling over the minute he'd got what he wanted. She lay back in her bed and rolled over to look at Wally. Even in his sleep he looked so strong, so calming.

It was early afternoon when Wally woke with a splitting headache, he groaned as he placed a hand to his temple, closing his eyes tight, trying to ease the pain. Then he remembered the goings on of the night before. He smiled and rolled over, reaching his hand out as far as he could on the bed. He lifted his head and opened his eyes, looking for Kuki. She wasn't in the bed. He frowned in confusion. Had he dreamt it all in his tipsy stupor? He rolled and looked in his waste basket to see a discarded condom and it's wrapper. No, not a dream. he sat up and listened, it didn't sound like the bathroom was being used, nor the shower. He sighed and hauled himself out of bed, grabbing last night's underwear from the floor and pulling them on and then walking out into his main hallway.
"Kuki?" He called. When he walked into the kitchen there was a glass of orange juice, two aspirins and a letter on the worksurface. He picked it up and read the beautiful handwriting that he recognised instantly.

Wally,

Sorry for heading out early. I need some time to think.

Thanks for helping me let my hair down.

Kuki x

He furrowed his eyebrows as he read it. She needed some time to think? About what? Did she regret last night?

He shook his head and picked up his cell phone and rolled his eyes at the number of texts and missed calls from Nigel and Hoagie. Obviously wondering where he disappeared to last night. He threw his cell onto the kitchen counter and knocked back the juice and aspirin that Kuki had thoughtfully left out for him. He then went and lay on the couch, turning on trashy TV and deciding to wallow in his hangover.

About an hour went by before his cell started to ring. He ignored it, grabbing a cushion and using it to muffle the noise. He moaned audibly when it rang again, again and again. "Do some guys not quit?"

He stormed over to the kitchen counter and picked up the phone. Glancing at the called ID as he pressed answer.

"Abby this had better be good. I've got a hangover from hell and I'm no….What?"

He drove as carefully and quickly as he could. The minute he parked in the lot he jumped out of the car, not bothering to fiddle with the keys and lock the door. He charged into the reception area and slammed his hands on the desk frantically panting out of breath. A kindly woman looked up from behind her computer and smiled at him.

"I'm here for Kuki. Kuki Sanban?" He panted.

The woman nodded and typed away on her computer before looking back up at him and raising her hands to point him in the right direction. "Take the first elevator to the second floor, take a left and she's in the first ward on your right."

Wally nodded and quickly said his thanks, speedwalking in the directions that she had given him. He impatiently waited for the elevator and paced while inside it waiting for it to reach the second floor. The doors barely had time to open before Wally had slid out of them and walked down the hall.

"Crud. Where did she say to go next?" He asked himself aloud, running a stressed hand through his hair.

"Wally!" Abby's voice was music to his ears. He turned around to see her head poking out of the ward that he'd just passed. He turned on his heel and marched over to her, she turned to lead him to Kuki's bedside. He searched the ward as he stepped in. "Is she okay?"

Abby shrugged. "They're not sure yet. They're checking for internal damages."

Abby pointed to the bed by the entrance, covered by a curtain. He followed her and held in his gasp of horror when he saw a large tube coming from her mouth, her neck was badly bruised and she had an exhausted expression. Wally sat down next to her and her eyes drifted over to him, widening slightly in relief when she recognised him.

Abby stood behind him as he perched on the bed and took her hand in his, pushing her fringe out of her eyes. "She's on really strong pain killers so she's a little dizzy and confused."

"What happened to her?" Wally asked, preparing himself for the answer.

Abby shook her head in dismay. "I only heard from the witnesses, she's a little too out of it to talk. Apparently Kuki was in the park and Billy turned up and grabbed her, there was pushing and pulling and then she said something to him that just made him crazy, he punched her so hard in the throat that he almost collapsed her windpipe. That's what this is for, to help her breathe. She collapsed at the park because of a lack of oxygen."

Wally ran his fingers over Kuki's swollen neck. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. Abby sighed as she watched him. "Sorry for calling you when you're not feeling well. I got called to investigate this and didn't want her to be on her own."

"No, thank you. I'm glad you did." Wally replied. "I can sit with her if you need to get back to work."

Abby nodded her thanks. "I'll be back to see her later, and Wally…"

Wally looked up at Abby as she went to step out of the door. "If anybody asks, I didn't tell you to drive over here. Get a cab later, if you get pulled over you'll still have alcohol in your system."

Wally rolled his eyes with a smile. He nodded and watched Abby leave.

Hours slowly went by, Kuki would fall asleep and wake up, a little more alert that each time before. Wally didn't leave her side for a second, even when Abby returned after finishing her shift and offering to give him a break. He stayed put.

Wally rested in the uncomfortable chair next to her bed, his eyes fixed on her possessively as she slept. As it grew later Nigel and Hoagie also arrived. Trying to comply with the sign by Kuki's bed ordering only 'two guests at a time' Abby, Nigel and Hoagie would take turns to go and sit with Kuki and Wally.

Hoagie brought Wally a bag of chips in when it was his turn to come and see them. He handed them, over claiming that Wally needed them as he likely hadn't eaten all day, which was true. He sighed as he settled in to the chair next to Wally and stared down at Kuki with a sad sigh.

"Billy did that to her?" He asked quietly.

Wally nodded, clenching his fists at the sounds of his name. Hoagie shook his head in disgust and horror. "That's why you flipped out when he turned up and forced her out last night isn't it? You knew that he was hurting her."

Wally nodded again slowly. Hoagie chuckled, trying to lighten the situation. "And there I was just thinking that you had a grudge because he had Kuki and you didn't."

Wally leaned forward and caressed the hair on her forehead, trying to calm himself by looking into Kuki's angelic face. Refraining from snapping at Hoagie, he sighed and gave a smile, deciding to play along. "Well, that didn't help either."

Hoagie chuckled. "You've got it bad again huh?"
Wally looked up with a cocked eyebrow, asking what he meant.

"I haven't seen you this painfully lovesick since you both hung out every day when you were thirteen."

Wally rolled his eyes with a knowing smile. Hoagie pointed at him accusingly. "You're not even denying it!"

The two of them were sat for half an hour. Hoagie had slipped into the story of a cute girl where he worked and how he was trying to get her number. His voice excitedly loud and his hands waving animatedly.

"Hoagie, will you quiet down? You're giving me a headache." A croaky voice made them look down.

Wally beamed at Kuki who was now awake. He leant down and spoke softly. "Hey, you're awake."

"I'll go get a nurse." Hoagie smiled happily. Standing up and rushing out of the ward.

Kuki's breathing was laboured and raspy. Wally gripped her hand, now noticing that she'd taken the breathing tube out and held it in her shaking hands. He frowned. "You're meant to keep that in to help you breathe."

"It hurts me." Kuki replied in a childish moan.

Wally smiled and stroked her hair softly. He frowned as he spoke his thoughts. "You promised me this wasn't going to happen."

"I know." Kuki replied timidly, her eyes lowering themselves from his and focusing on the tube in her hands.

"It's nice to see that you're up sleeping beauty!" A plump, eccentric nurse sang as she walked in. When she saw Kuki she placed her hands on her hips feigning a stern voice. "Now why did you take that out when it's there to help you?"

Kuki shrugged shyly. The nurse chuckled and pottered over to Kuki's bedside. Asking Wally to wait outside while she checked Kuki's physical state. Wally complied and walked out to meet with his friends. He waited with them until the nurse arrived a few moments later and thanked him, allowing him to go back in again.

"Is she going to be okay?" Wally asked.

The nurse beamed. "She's recovering amazingly. She's refusing to have the tube back in so I've just given her on oxygen mask to help her with her intake. Give me a shout if you get any concerns. You've got a strong young lady there."

"Thank you." Abby smiled, rushing into the room before discussions of who was next to see her began. Wally smiled after her and motioned for Nigel to go in.

"Hoagie, fancy going and finding the coffee shop?" He asked. Needing to escape from confinement now that he finally knew that Kuki was okay. Hoagie nodded merrily and followed him down the hall. They took a seat at the cafe and ordered their drinks, then sat enjoying simple small talk about their past few days. When they finished their coffee they picked up a peppermint tea for Nigel, a normal tea for Abby and a vanilla frappe for Kuki. They slowly walked back and hovered in the doorway to catch their attention. Abby walked over to them and smiled thankfully when they handed her the cups. She placed them down on the table and felt in her back pocket when she felt her phone ring. She put it to her ear and quickly rushed out of the room before being caught using her phone on the ward. Wally immediately took her place on the seat next to Kuki, she beamed at him with exhaustion filled eyes. Shaking her head and scrunching her nose when Wally picked up the frappe and offered it to her. "Not hungry" She sighed.

"What happened Kuki?" Nigel asked calmly.

Kuki shrugged. It was all in the open now so no need to make up lies and excuses. "I was sat in the park, just...thinking about stuff that's happened in the last few weeks and Billy turned up in his car. He was mad at me for not going home last night and grabbed my arm trying to make me go home. I told him to stop and that we needed to talk but he wouldn't, so I told him that I wanted to break up and…"

"Wait. What?" Wally choked. Kuki nodded slowly and pointed to her throat. "Then he did this."

Wally leant forward. "You broke up with him?"

"I tried." Kuki rasped timidly.

Wally ran a hand through her hair and spoke softly. "Why?"

Kuki smiled weakly. "I guess you guys just showed me that I deserved better."

Wally beamed down at her, ecstatic. Now she wouldn't be hurt anymore. Nigel, beginning to feel awkward and sensing that the two needed time alone, stood from his chair and made his way out to sit with Hoagie in the corridor. Wally smiled at Kuki, who stared back, Wally leaned closer and was about to press his lips to Kuki's before she jumped back.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for my girlfriend Kuki?" A voice spoke from down the corridor. Kuki's eyes widened and met with Wally. She shook her head, indicating that she didn't want to see him.

Wally stood and got to the door just as Billy appeared, he stood in the doorway and threw his hand on the frame, blocking Billy's way. Billy stared at Wally with eyes of stone.

"What're you doing here?" He spat.

Wally scoffed. "Could ask you the same thing. What'd you want?"

"I want to see my girlfriend!" Billy replied in a cold, harsh tone.

Wally widened his eyes humorously. His threatening scowl turning up into a slight grin. "Weird, last I heard, she wasn't your girlfriend anymore."

"Wally, what's going on?" Hoagie asked, he and Nigel standing from their seats as they felt the tension between the two.

Wally didn't answer them, he kept his gaze on Billy, his features returning to their frown. "She doesn't really want to see you right now, why don't you just go take a running jump?"

"You told her to do this to me didn't you? It's always been this plan in the back of your mind right?" Billy hissed, pointing an accusing finger at Wally. "You've always been jealous and wanted her for yourself!"

Wally rolled his eyes and shook his head. "She figured out you're a jackass for herself buddy. I didn't have to say anything."

"Why would you do this to me?" Billy shook his head in disgust. "I thought that you were a good guy!"

Wally shrugged without interest. "I was until I realised that you weren't."

Billy narrowed his eyes and scoffed. He tried to push past Wally, but Wally stood firm. He glared at him and tried to push his head between Wally's body and the door, shouting loudly. "Kuki! Kuki! Tell this guy to let me in will you? I need to talk to you!"

Wally pushed him back. "You've said all you need to, she doesn't want to know."

Billy narrowed his eyes and squared up to Wally, their faces and bodies inches apart.

"Guys, this isn't the place!" Hoagie exclaimed, trying to move them away from one another. They both stood firm.

"She's my girlfriend! I've got a right to see her!" Billy whispered.

Wally shook his head. "She's not your girlfriend anymore. You've lost your rights."

"Excuse me!" A firm nurse stated. Appearing from further down the ward. She glared at them both and spoke in a hushed voice. "I don't know what all of this is about but you're disturbing the patients."

"Sorry matron." Wally replied, his eyes still meeting Billy's glare. He grabbed the collar on Billy's t-shirt and spun him around with force, beginning to lead him down the corridor. "Billy's just leaving."

He stormed down the hallway, throwing Billy into the elevator, still gripping him tightly, ignoring his angry rants to get off, he shoved Billy out of the elevator, not letting go of his collar until they exited the hospital main doors and entered the parking lot. Here he let Billy go with a great shove, making Billy jog a few steps in order to gain his balance.
Wally glared at him, standing guard at the doorway. "She doesn't want to see you. Just stay away okay!"

He took a few steps backward preparing to walk back inside and return to Kuki's side.

"Didn't take you long did it?" Billy jeered, making Wally stop in his tracks and turn to look at him.

Billy stood stationary in his spot. "You planning to take my leftovers right now or did you start fucking her before you put all those words into her head?"

Wally rolled his eyes. It took all self control possible not to blurt out the ongoings of last night. But he couldn't do that to Kuki. "Just walk away Billy. We're done, you're done!"

Billy started to walk away slowly. "I shouldn't known better than to even look at that fucking slut in the first place!"

Wally narrowed his eyes. "Say that again."

Billy smirked and turned around to face Wally. Happy that he'd received a reaction. "I should've known that she was such a whore and not even bothered with her after she was so easy after a few days of dating!"

Wally flew at Billy, thumping him straight on the jaw with a loud crack. Billy fell to the floor and Wally didn't give him time to move before hovering over him and delivering more punches, blind to the swings that Billy was sending back his way. He only came back into focus when two hands were placed firmly on his shoulders.

"Wally enough! Get up!" Abby shouted sternly. Wally continued to punch, curse and snarl. Abby's amazing strength threw him backwards onto the floor and knocked him back into reality. "Enough!" She replied.

Wally stared back at Billy, who was scampering to the floor, wiping his now bloody nose. He too stood up. Abby rushed over and pressed firmly on his chest and waist to hold him back, ensuring that he wasn't going to rush over to resume his Billy pointed a threatening finger at Billy. "Let's get this straight! You don't go near her anymore! You don't try to talk to her! You don't even look at her! You even try to think about her and I'll put your lights out! You smug, sick bastard!"

Billy scoffed and walked away slowly. Wally stared after him, shooting him daggers. Breathing heavily through the adrenalin. Abby turned to him and smacked him sharply around the head, bringing his attention to her. He rubbed the sore spot on his crown. "OW!"

"You are lucky that nobody called the cops on you, you idiot!" She snapped. "You want to spend the night in the cell? Get inside now!"

Wally rolled his eyes and did as he was ordered. They slowly walked inside in awkward silence. Abby broke it when they were alone in the elevator, her voice now sounded calmer. "What was he doing here?"

"Trying to see Kuki." Wally replied gruffly, noticing a ring induced cut on his forehead in the elevator mirror.

Abby raised her eyebrows. "Did you let him?"

"No!" Wally replied.

Abby couldn't help but smirk. The doors opened and they both walked out. Abby turned to Wally before he stepped into the ward. Pointing to her forehead to indicate to hi. "Clean up before you go in there and give her a breakdown."

Wally nodded and went to the bathrooms. He wet some tissue and dabbed at his face, examining the small red marks on his face where Billy had gotten his hits in. He sighed as he reviewed the fact that this was likely only a fraction of the pain that Kuki had likely gone through on a daily basis. He cleared up and went back to see Kuki in the ward.

She gasped when she saw him. "He hurt you?"

Wally shrugged cockily. "Don't worry about me."

He gripped her hand and Abby smiled, leaving them both alone in the ward. \She stood in the doorway and watched as Wally grinned at he looked down at Kuki, taking a strand of her hair and playing with it calmly.

Abby smiled again, walking out to meet her friends.

"What happened?" Hoagie asked as she went and sat down with them.

Abby shrugged. "I think Wally had enough of keeping his mouth shut."

Nigel chuckled. "Good."

Abby shook her head and rested it on the back of the wall. "I'm glad Kuki's finally seen the light too."

"How long had it been going on" Hoagie asked.

"Longer than we knew about I think." Abby sighed.

Wally appeared in the doorway, looking for Abby, she stood up and met him in the doorway. "Is she okay?"

"Seems to be." He nodded. "She wants to press charges."

Abby beamed. "Seriously? I'll call the station and get someone to come over."

The two of them walked to Kuki's bedside after Abby made the call. Abby sat in the chair and Wally perched on the edge of Kuki's bed listening in. Kuki looked at them both nervously.

"What happens now?" She asked.

Abby smiled and began to explain. "Well, some of my friends from the police station are on their way, they'll ask you a few questions about what happened, then go and find him to put him into custody while they figure things out."

"Will I have to see him again?" Kuki asked timidly.

Abby took her hand gently. "I can't promise you won't. They might want you to be in the same court room, or if he's out of custody you might pass them. But Wally, the guys and I will make sure that nothing is going to happen to you. I can promise you that."