Don't own Bleach. This a short chapter even by my standards. I'm sorry about that, it's just how the Chapter came to an end. I might post this with the follow-up chapter to make up for it so you guys don't feel cheated.

When they arrived, Captain Ukitake was asleep, with a damp cloth on his forehead and a frown on his face. It was clear that he wasn't comfortable but that was the norm for when his illness flared up. Captain Kyoraku left shortly after they arrived, claiming that he could come by and visit another time. Daichi was tired and the day had only just started, the morning Captain's meeting was early and he had only a fitful sleep the night before.

Daichi sat at Captain Ukitake's bedside while he slept. It wasn't out of the ordinary for Daichi to take days to help the Captain while he was ill. The room was neatly decorated, much like Ukitake's home. He sat alone listening to the Captain breathing heavily. Is he getting worse? Daichi wondered as the Captain exploded into a fit of coughing. Jumping up, Daichi rushed to get a cup of water and came back and gently tipped the cup up to the Captain's mouth. "Easy there, Captain." he soothed.

Struggling, Ukitake sat up against the headrest of the bed, the damp cloth falling to his lap. The white-haired Captain smiled gratefully at his Lieutenant. His voice was scratchy with a mixture of sleep and the coughing, "Thank you." he rasped.

Tilting his head in confusion, Daichi looked at the Captain with a lazy smile, "For what?" he asked, "Doing my duty? You don't have to thank me for that."

Ukitake nodded, every time he had thanked Daichi for helping him, the Lieutenant replied the same way, saying he didn't need to be thanked but Ukitake hated feeling like a burden. "How is everything?" Ukitake asked, his voice was soft and raspy.

It was a loaded question, a question Daichi didn't know how to answer. To Daichi, things were falling apart. He could feel the tension in the barracks when Chiba and himself were in the same room, the Squad was undermanned, on top of all that, he had no idea how Rangiku was doing. Was she alive? What had Kurosutchi done to her? Those and more were gnawing at him from the inside but he couldn't worry the Captain. Like Kyoraku said, Ukitake was a natural worrier, Daichi didn't want to add to that. He kept his smile up for the Captain, "It's fine, the Head Captain just wanted to inform everyone that he intends to increase our defences in case the Giants attack again."

Ukitake frowned, "What aren't you telling me, Daichi?"

Daichi laughed nervously, his Captain could always tell when he didn't tell him everything. It annoyed him that he couldn't keep a secret from him but it was like having a surrogate parent to him so he very rarely tried to keep anything from him, "I don't want you to worry, you know how you get when you worry." Daichi looked at the sick Captain and saw the frown still on his face, "Fine, I don't know what I'm doing any more."

Ukitake sat up further, "What's going on Daichi?"

It wasn't often that Daichi had a heart to heart conversation, he never really needed one. Now, with his mind and heart colliding, Daichi needed advice, "I'm just..." he didn't know how to begin without sounding like a girl just starting the Academy, "I'm a fish," Daichi blurted out, "I'm a fish that got caught up in a net and dragged from his home and left to flop about on dry land. I'm flailing around trying to swim like I've always done but I can't and I'm trying to find my way back to the water but I just flopping around not knowing what else to do." Daichi said, his hand flapping around as if to prove a point.

A smile blossomed on Ukitake's face, making him look a lot healthier even though his health hadn't changed, "I see." he said thoughtfully, "I've known you for a long time and I've never seen you like this. You've always had this easy-going confidence that I was envious of, this way of instilling confidence in those around you." Ukitake had to stop to cough, Daichi passed him the cup of water which Ukitake took gratefully. He took a sip and placed it securely between his legs. "Maybe talking about it would help." Ukitake urged with a gentle smile.

Daichi smiled back, "If it's all the same to you Captain, I'd rather not." he told the Captain. When he saw Ukitake frown slightly, "Okay, when you're healthy again, I'll tell you."

Just like Kaien, the stubborn man, the sickly Captain saw that Daichi wouldn't say anything else about that. "Fine, that'll have to do." the Captain said as he reached for the cup of water and took a sip, "I need you to inform the Squad of what was said at the meeting today as soon as you can. There are also forms about Rukia rejoining the Squad that need to be signed and handed to Captain Kuchiki for his authorization."

Rukia rejoining the Squad was the best news he heard since this whole mess started. He missed her during her time in the World of the Living, maybe now he can finish training her, "Does that mean that Rukia will be coming back?"

Smiling slightly with droopy eyelids Ukitake nodded, "It's a possibility." the Captain agreed, "I suppose it comes down to whether she's convinced Byakuya that she's ready and able to fight."

That made Daichi feel uneasy. After everything she had been through recently, Daichi was torn about whether e wanted Rukia to go through what's going on now and wanting one of his favourite pupils back. Even though he wanted Rukia back in the Squad, he didn't want her to come back too early and get hurt again, "I suppose that's for the best." he said. When he turned back to the sickly Captain, he had fallen asleep. Daichi stood and grabbed the cloth and put it back on Ukitake's forehead. Daichi headed to the door with a whispered, "I'll be back later to check on you, Captain."