Hey guys thank you for the reviews. Sorry for the late update. I hate being sick…Anyway here is the next chapter enjoy ;)

(In the infirmary)

"…and with a mighty yell I plunged my knife into the beast's eye!"

Pitch moaned when Patrick made squelching sounds, "Must you add sound effects?"

Patrick grinned at the expression of disgust on his friend's face, "But Pitch it adds to the story. I mean you have to get the idea of the sounds," Patrick waved his hand into the air, "The sights!" he continued excited, "Crimson red spurting into the air like a fountain, clear eye juice oozing from the monsters socket…" the spirit stopped when Pitch turned green.

"There goes what little appetite I had." The spirit placed his fork on the tray and pushed it forward.

"Really Patrick? The poor man doesn't eat much as it is."

A sheepish grin came to Patrick's face when Iris walked into the room, "Sorry, you know how I get when telling my adventures."

Iris rolled her eyes, she glanced at Pitch, "Sorry Pitch, I should have warned you about my husband's tendency to exaggerate things." Her wings rustled as she made her way over to the bed he was in

Pitch nodded, "He is like an old man recounting the 'good' ole days."

The woman laughed, "I know I have to make sure he doesn't start telling his stories at dinners."

"Hey, they're not stories they are accounts of sheer awesomeness!" Patrick pouted, then he brightened, "Oh so how was the conference?"

Iris smiled as she took the tray off the bed and placed it on the nightstand, "It is going well, I have managed to solve three different disputes." She chuckled, "Which reminds me, I have a mission for you."

Patrick brightened, "Really?" he glanced at Pitch, loving the expression of horror on his face "What is it?"

"I need you to find a source of flame for a village of fire spirits." Iris spoke, not noticing Pitch's face, "They are in need of a food source and if something is not found then they will go to war with the nature spirits that have moved into the forest above their village."

"I can handle that." Patrick was excited as he got to his feet, "I'll go right now and start gathering info."

Iris chuckled as her husband rushed from the room, "I swear he's like a child with candy when it comes to these adventures."

Pitch shuddered, "Yes, and guess who will get dragged along?"

"I know you are excited to get back out there Pitch, but first let's get those stitches out."

Pitch moaned, he had completely forgotten about the horrible pain in his chest till she had mentioned it. "You don't have to… I'm fine."

Emerald eyes glanced at Pitch, "Really? So Patrick sent for me for no reason?"

"Yes, he overreacted…" Pitch nodded, hoping that he had fooled her. To his dismay Iris was that easily tricked.

"Hmmm, I'll just check to be on the safe side." She chuckled when Pitch let out a sigh of defeat as she gently pulled the bandage free, "That's what I thought."

"No wonder it hurts." Pitch thought as he caught sight of the red lines spreading outwards from the inflamed wound. His attention turned to Iris who had walked over to the medicine cabinet, "So exactly how are you going to do this? Rip out all the old stitches and sew it back up with something different?"

Iris smiled, she could hear the fear underlining Pitch's words, "Something like that, but not as brutally as you so put it." She chuckled, "Though I imagine Patrick would have stitched your arm to your chest if I had let him re-stitch you."

"Hey! I would not."

Pitch smirked as his friend came back into the room, "I could see it."

"You make it seem as if I am completely incompetent." Patrick pouted, he flopped into the chair he had been sitting. Mismatched eyes watched Iris gather the supplies she needed "I may be untrained in the way of the medical field but in my defense I'm learning."

"Oh yes, the brace you made for me when we first met was ingenuous." Pitch smirked

Patrick nodded, "Damn straight, I'm thinking about getting the idea patented."

Pitch shook his head; it amazed him at how the man was completely unaware of his sarcasm. He jumped suddenly when he felt cold ice settle on his chest.

"Sorry about that Pitch," Iris spoke as she continued to cover his chest with a salve, "Forgot to warn you that it would be cold."

"Is it bad that I can't feel my chest now?" the spirit was more than a bit concerned that he couldn't feel her hand on his skin.

Iris smiled, "That's actually the idea." She spoke as she then grabbed a small hooked needle, "It is a salve I created years ago. It will numb the skin so that you will not feel the stitches being removed or being placed in. It takes about five minutes to completely numb the skin so it is useless in emergency cases." Iris laughed, "Though hopefully there won't be many more times I will need to stitch you up."

Pitch glared at Patrick, "With this moron dragging me all over the place I have the feeling I might as well get used to this room."

"You make it sound as if you've gotten hurt on every outing we've had so far." Patrick grinned

"I have." Pitch snorted, "The first time, spear in shoulder…."

"Not my fault." Patrick spoke quickly, "How was I to know the guy had a cursed spear for a guard?"

"Second time, chimera bite."

"Again, not my fault." The spirit chuckled, "I warned you to be careful, and you were the one that said you were fine till the poison nearly stopped your heart."

"Oh and let's not forget the latest, knife in chest."

Patrick grinned, "I didn't ask you to take the hit for me." He brightened suddenly, "Hey what about when we went to see all the Guardians? You didn't get hurt then."

Golden eyes glared at him, "No, but it was a hellish experience that was akin to that of torture."

Iris chuckled as she listened to the two friends continue to argue with each other. After a few minutes she interrupted them "Ok you two; you can finish your debate later. Right now Pitch you need to stay still ok."

Pitch shuddered slightly when she walked over to the medicine cabinet, "Are you sure I won't feel anything?" golden eyes stared at the curved needle in her hand.

"I promise Pitch." Iris smiled reassuringly as she began to gently remove the old stitches

Despite himself Pitch couldn't help but watch as Iris pulled the stitches from his skin, he watched with interest as each thread was pulled free. He shuddered when the wound opened and a yellowish liquid mixed with crimson began to ooze free.

"Are you ok?" Iris stopped, concerned that he could feel what she was doing

"Fine…" Pitch's voice was low

"Patrick, would you please bring me the brown bottle from the cabinet?" Iris didn't look up as she continued to wipe the wound with a rag, "I need to clean this wound properly before closing it up."

Pitch shuddered, knowing that pain was about to follow

"Sure." Patrick quickly complied, "So Pitch you want to play another round of poker later?" he spoke quickly trying to distract his friend.

"Ummm, I'm not really sure I should since I los… Holy Shit that burns!" Pitch yelped as fire erupted through his body.

Iris sighed sympathically, "Sorry Pitch, but I need to get the infection cleaned out before I re-stitch it."

"I know." The spirit spoke through clenched teeth as the sensation burned through him. Pitch sighed with relief when a moment later the pain subsided, leaving behind a dull ache. He watched as Iris then took another curved needle and threaded a line of silk through the eye.

"You may not want to watch Pitch." Iris spoke gently as she prepared to close up the wound

Pitch simply nodded and looked away, though it took all his will power not the look when he felt the slight tug of the needle as it weaved in and out of his numbed flesh.

After a few minutes Iris finished, "There, that should be it."

Patrick grinned as she covered the newly stitched wound with salve and a tight bandage, "So how much longer do you have to be at the conference?"

"I will be back in three days." She held up her hand when Pitch started to speak, "And no Pitch, you may not get out of the bed. It has only been two days. The tissue that was torn is still repairing itself and if you move around too much then it may not heal properly."

"But I feel fine…" Pitch stopped when emerald eyes turned on him

"The answer is no Pitch. I will not have you reinjuring yourself just because you are bored." Iris turned to Patrick who was grinning at the fact his friend was getting scolded, "And you, you are to stop forcing him to listen to your stories."

"Yes dear." Patrick looked at the floor

"Now you will need to change the bandage in a few hours. Place more salve on the wound then redress tightly." Iris glanced at Pitch, "And you are to eat something. Your body needs the energy to aid in the healing process."

Pitch nodded, knowing that it was useless to argue with her

"All right, I must get back to the conference." Iris kissed Patrick on the cheek and hurried from the room.

Pitch sighed and sank into the bed, "Well now what?"

"First off, I will order supper." Patrick smirked when Pitch rolled his eyes

"So what did you have in mind?"

Patrick grinned, "Beef Barley Soup." He sighed when Pitch looked at him confused "Dear gods I swear you have been sorely deprived."

Pitch shrugged, "Like I said before, I was lucky to get stale bread every other month."

"Well never again Pitch." Patrick's voice held a tone of anger, "Not while you are with me. I want you to know that whatever you need or want is available to you."

Golden eyes filled with gratitude, "Thanks…"

Patrick waved his hand, a light of color swirled around it then shot out the door. "There, I let the kitchen know to bring supper when it's time." He smirked and then settled back into his chair, "Now while we wait…"

Pitch sighed as Patrick got his 'story' look, "Must you Patrick?"

"Come on Pitch, I was at the part where somewhere out there an angry one eyed Ababia is waiting for revenge on yours truly."

A groan escaped Pitch when Patrick began his harrowing tale again, "Didn't Iris tell you…"

Patrick stopped his story, "You don't want to hear the rest?"

Pitch sighed in defeat at the hurt tone in the man's voice, "Go ahead." He shook his head as Patrick grinned and continued "I don't know if I can make it three more days." The Nightmare King thought as Patrick began describing how he had taken out the other Ababia that had come to avenge the first.

Please review and let me know what you thought. I look forward to your reviews. I know it is a little slow but I promise it is about to pick up ;) Till Next Time.