Chapter 28

Slowly, Gil opened his eyes, feeling a cold cloth touching his face. He turned slowly, seeing Lithuania sitting next to his bed. He was back in Russia's mention, and in his own room. His head hurt terribly, which didn't surprise him. He looked into Lithuania's face.

"You're finally awake," Lithuania's voice was quiet, almost emotionless. He dipped the blood soaked cloth into the bowl of water sitting on the bedside table, and wrung it out, bringing it back to Gil's head, "Can you speak yet?"

Gil didn't reply. He couldn't move his head.

"It'll come back, just give it some time," Lithuania nodded with a deep sigh, "You've really made a mess of yourself, Gil."

Gil couldn't answer, so he closed his eyes. He couldn't look at Lithuania's face. He saw pity. He didn't want pity.

"So you've been using drugs?" Lithuania asked calmly, dabbing at the wound, which Estonia had already stitched.

Gil opened his eyes, frowning at Lithuania, confused.

Lithuania sighed, "Gil… your arm… it's bad." He touched it gently, tracing his fingers over Gil's right arm, where infected track marks were left raw and open, the bruising covering half his arm. "You need to stop doing this to yourself."

Gil tried to pull his arm away, barely managing to move his fingers.

There was silence for a moment. Lithuania laid a gauze on the larger wound in Prussia's head, wrapping a bandage around it carefully, covering the entry wound on the other side. He started cleaning up the medical supplies, returning it to the bag. He looked back at Gil, who's face held an almost numb expression.

Lithuania took a deep breath, "Russia told me what happened…" He looked down, unable to look at Gil's face as the white-haired country didn't react. He sighed again, "The rest of the family went over the wall in Russia's car. They're all right." He couldn't say they were fine. They were far from fine, he could guess that, but at least they were alive, and away from Russia. "I doubt you actually care, but… everything that happened bothered Ivan… he locked himself in his room when he brought you back from Berlin and I haven't seen him since. He said the word 'Alexei', which isn't a good thing." He shook his head and looked at Gil's face again, realizing how thin he was. He glanced down at Gil's arm, closing his eyes with a sigh.

"I'm not encouraging you in this… but…" Lithuania paused. He didn't want to offer it as an option, but he could see Gil barely hanging on, "Do you want me to give you something?"

Gil looked into Lithuania's face gratefully, smiling slightly. He still couldn't move enough to move his head.

Lithuania sighed, nodding, "Ok. But just this once. I'm not helping you with your… stupidity. You have to stop doing this, Gil."

Gil looked away again.

Lithuania sighed again, reaching into the medical bag and pulling out a syringe and some of the liquid painkillers. "Is one dose enough?" He knew it wouldn't be.

Gil smirked, exhaling in a dry half-laugh, looking up at Lithuania.

"Two doses?"

Gil looked away, biting his lip.

"Gil, how much are you taking?" Lithuania was worried now. Two doses were more than enough. "Three? A full syringe?"

Gil closed his eyes, setting his jaw and swallowing hard.

"You can't be taking more than that…"

Gil didn't reply, just looked up into Lithuania's face.

"Gil you can't! You're going to kill your-" He stopped, closing his eyes, sighing deeply, "Gil you have to stop. You may be immortal but… look at yourself… you can't keep doing this."

Gil looked away again.

Lithuania sighed, frustrated. Gil's thick head was annoying, and he couldn't figure out how to get through to him. "If Latvia finds out…"

Gil looked back at Lithuania, his eyes more afraid than angry. They begged Lithuania not to tell Latvia.

"I can't hide it from him if you keep taking that much. He'll figure it out. He knows more than most people think he does."

Gil looked away again, biting his lip. He didn't want Latvia to know.

Lithuania sighed deeply, "I'll give you two doses, but nothing more."

Gil mouthed the word 'okay', and looked back to Lithuania, watching him fill the syringe.

Lithuania shook his head. He didn't want to do this, but he wasn't sure Gil could function without it, especially if he was taking that much. He took Gil's left arm, avoiding the infected marks on his right. He took a band from the medical kit and tightened it around Gil's upper arm, tapping on the inside of his elbow, trying to find a vein. He slipped the needle into Gil's arm, watching the other country's face as he let the liquid into his blood.

Gil sighed deeply, relaxing, closing his eyes.

Lithuania shivered, pulling the syringe from Gil's arm, discarding the needle and replacing the supplies back into the medical bag, untying the band around Gil's arm. "I'm never doing that for you again. Ever." He stood, taking the medical bag with him. He glanced back at Gil, "I'll come back in a few hours. Try to sleep, it'll help you heal faster."

Gil nodded, smiling as he realized he could move his head a little, even if it was painful.

Lithuania sighed again, walking out of Gil's room, closing the door behind him. He went back to the medical closet and replaced the bag. He walked up to Russia's room, knocking on the door.

"Mr. Russia?" He asked, trying to sound braver than he felt. He tried not to shake. He hated being afraid of him.

Nothing.

He knocked again, "Mr. Russia? Are you all right?"

Still no answer.

He tried the door handle. It was unlocked, which surprised him. Russia never left the door unlocked. He paused for a moment, then opened the door. He ran to Russia's side as the giant country leaned against his desk, two empty bottles of vodka beside him, and a glass in his hand. He wasn't wearing his scarf or coat, just a plain grey tee shirt and his usual pants and boots. The coat was lying on the bed, and the scarf was crumpled on the ground beside the desk. Russia was leaning into his hand, and Lithuania could see his shoulders shaking. He put his hand on the man's shoulder, trying to look at his face, "Ivan?" He whispered, worried.

Russia lifted his head to look into Lithuania's face. His cheeks were soaked with tears, his eyes red and swollen from crying.

"Ivan…?" Lithuania asked again, gently, taking the glass from Russia's hand.

Russia brought both hands to his face, trying to control the tears.

"Come on, I'll help you to bed…"

Russia shook his head, pushing Lithuania's hands away, "No, I'm not that drunk…"

Lithuania glanced down at the two empty bottles beside Russia.

"I've been drinking all day," Russia explained, "I'm not that drunk."

Lithuania sighed, "Are you all right?" he glanced at Russia's neck, the scars clearly visible. Some of them were bleeding. "You were… scratching at them again…?" He sighed.

Russia nodded, lifting his head from his hands, resting his chin on his right fist. He sighed deeply.

"Do you want me to get bandages for them?"

"I have some in here," Russia shook his head.

Lithuania nodded, "Is there… anything I can do for you…?" He tried to hide the trembling that found it's way to his voice.

Russia was silent for a moment, "When I got home today with GDR…" he paused, seeing Lithuania shaking. "You're shaking." He took one of the country's hands, letting it go as he saw him wince. "Did I hurt you today? When I got home?"

Lithuania looked away, nodding.

"Let me see."

Lithuania lifted his face again, his eyes begging Russia not to make him show him. He'd been forced to show Russia his back so many times just so the country could admire his work.

"Please, Myshka…" Russia's voice wasn't triumphant or angry.

Lithuania sighed, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt. He pulled it over his shoulder, exposing the deep bruises Russia had left across his skin. He winced as Russia touched the marks, his hand surprisingly gentle.

"I did this to you?" Russia looked up at him, concerned.

Lithuania nodded, "But I'm fine." He pulled the shirt back over the dark purple marks.

"I'm so sorry, Myshka…" Russia turned away, shaking his head.

"I know," Lithuania stood, trying to hide his shaking hands in his pockets. "I'll get those bandages for you." He walked to the side closet in Russia's room and took the bandages and a cloth from the shelf. He walked back to Russia, who allowed him to kneel next to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tie for his hair, pulling it into a low ponytail at the base of his neck. He sighed again, taking the cloth and reaching up to Russia's neck. He cleaned the blood off the scars and started to wrap the bandages around his neck.

Russia barely moved, letting Lithuania help him.

"Myshaka…?" Russia asked finally as Lithuania finished tucking the end of the bandage behind his neck.

"Yes?" Lithuania asked, picking up the extra medical supplies to return to the closet in the room. He shivered at the nickname a little. He'd grown used to it, especially during Russia's few sane moments, but he still didn't like it.

"Do you hate me?"

Lithuania paused. He'd never been asked that before, not by Russia himself. He looked into the giant country's face, and shook his head, "No. No, I don't."

"Spasiba… thank you…" Russia whispered, resting his head in his right hand again. He motioned Lithuania away with his left, "Now go. Leave me alone."

"Do you need anyth-"

"I said go," Russia almost snapped.

Lithuania didn't need to be told again. He walked out the door quickly, glancing back at the room. He rarely saw Russia like that anymore, it was almost comforting to know it was still there, somewhere.

…

Lithuania walked back into his room to find Poland curled up on his bed. He stepped towards the bed, stopping as Poland sat up, scrambling away, pressing himself to the headboard until he recognized Lithuania.

"Oh… Liet… it's just you…" Poland's voice trembled. He pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them, looking away.

Lithuania sighed, walking up to the bed and sitting at the end of it. He didn't want to get too close to Poland. He didn't want to scare him.

"You can, like, come closer if you want," Poland's words were a little steadier, but Lithuania could see him shaking.

"It's ok, I don't have to," Lithuania smiled at him kindly.

"You can though…" Poland looked away, laying his head on his knees.

Lithuania understood. Poland wasn't going to ask him. He slid closer to the weak country but didn't touch him.

There was a long pause, as Lithuania just looked at Poland. His heart ached to see his childhood friend like that. He'd cried for Poland a few times, and he tried to keep back tears now. He looked so small, so weak, so thin. The black numbers on the blond's arm sent a weight into Lithuania's chest. He hated them. He hated what they stood for, and what they meant had happened. He looked away for a moment, trying to keep the tears back. He felt Poland's hand slip under his on the bed as the little country moved to sit beside him, resting on his shoulder. The weight of Poland's head was painful against the bruises, but he didn't care. He sighed, resting his own head on top of Poland's.

"Felek?" He whispered, concerned.

"Hmm?" Poland said, his voice tired.

"Are you all right?" he knew the answer but needed to ask anyway.

Poland sighed, "I don't like my room… it's dark and cold… just like…" he didn't need to say it, "I don't like being alone…"

Lithuania squeezed Poland's hand, "Do you want to stay here?"

Poland nodded without speaking. Slowly, he lifted his head to look at Lithuania, "Can I? Like, are you sure?" His voice was worried, but his eyes held the tiniest sliver of hope.

Lithuania smiled, nodding gently. He hadn't seen any kind of spark in Poland's eyes since the war. They'd always looked so cold, so dead, but the bright green eyes looking up at him had a tiny spark back. He was healing.

"Do you want me to sleep on the floor?" Lithuania offered.

Poland looked down, then back up at Lithuania. "You… could stay next to me? Just…" He trembled again, "Don't touch me? Please…?"

Lithuania nodded, squeezing Poland's hand again, "Okay. As long as it won't… hurt you."

Poland shook his head, "You won't. I trust you, Liet," he smiled, looking into Lithuania's face again.

Lithuania smiled, standing, letting go of Poland's hand.

Poland gasped, grabbing Lithuania's hand again, standing next to him, shaking, "Don't let go…"

Lithuania turned back to Poland, looking into his face, "It's ok. I just need to change… I'll be right in there," he nodded to the bathroom, "Don't worry. It's okay."

Poland swallowed hard, nodding. He let go of Lithuania's hand and wrapped his arms around himself, pressing his fingers into his bare skin.

Lithuania noticed for the first time that Poland was only wearing shorts, "Are you cold?"

Poland didn't respond for a moment, then nodded.

Lithuania led him to his dresser, where he took out sweatpants and a tee shirt for himself and motioned to the drawer. "Anything you want," he smiled at Poland, who looked up at him gratefully.

Lithuania took the clothes into his bathroom and changed. When he returned to his room Poland was sitting on the bed again, wearing sweatpants that were a little too big, and a pink tee shirt. The only one Lithuania owned. He smiled, almost laughing, and sat beside Poland.

"I didn't know you still had this…" Poland looked down at the tee shirt, then back up at Liet, the slightest ghost of a smile on his lips.

Lithuania smiled, "Well you gave it to me! Of course I still have it."

"It has ponies on it..." Poland whispered, the tiny smile still on his face.

Lithuania noticed, trying to hold back his excitement. He didn't want to push Poland too far, but it was the first time he'd seen anything like happiness on Poland's face since the war started. An idea sparked in his mind suddenly, "Felek?" he grinned.

"Tak (yes)?" Poland looked up at him, nervous until he saw Lithuania's smile.

"Would you like me to brush your hair?"

A big, real, smile found it's way to Poland's face. His eyes sparkled, "R-really?"

Lithuania nodded, "Really," his voice caught.

"Okay," Poland brushed tears away from his eyes with his wrist.

Lithuania smiled, almost running into the bathroom to grab his brush, returning to sit beside Poland, who turned his back to him slowly, trembling again. Lithuania reached forward and touched Poland's hair gently.

Poland winced hard, leaning forward, wrapping his arms around his head with a soft cry of pain. "Please…" He whispered, crying.

Lithuania set the brush down, kneeling on the floor beside Poland, trying to pull the blond's arms away from his face, "Felek, it's me. It's just me. It's ok… It's ok I'm right here…"

Poland looked up into Lithuania's face, wrapping his arms around his neck, sobbing on his shoulder, letting himself slide off the bed onto the ground beside Lithuania, clinging to him.

Lithuania held him. "Sh… sh… I'm right here."

Poland's breathing slowed, and he relaxed, brushing the tears from his cheeks. He turned away, "I'm sorry…" He shook his head, "I'm a mess…I can't even…" He glanced back up at the brush and reached up to run his fingers through his hair, almost grabbing onto it.

There was silence for a moment as Lithuania looked Poland, wondering if he would continue. "They… they cut it didn't they?" he sighed. He didn't want to think about it.

Poland closed his eyes, biting his lips inside his mouth. He nodded, then looked back up.

Lithuania sighed, the spark was gone. Poland's eyes looked dead again. He didn't speak, waiting for Poland to say something.

"I…" Poland looked down for a moment, then back up at Lithuania. There was a little bit of fight in his eyes, "I want to try again…" He reached onto the bed and grabbed the brush, "If you want to…"

Lithuania nodded with a smile, taking the brush from Poland's hand. He stood, helping Poland stand, and sat behind him on the bed. He watched as Poland turned his back to him, trembling.

"It's ok," Lithuania put his hand on Poland's shoulder gently.

Poland nodded, still shaking.

Lithuania reached up and gently touched Poland's hair.

Poland winced, biting back tears, but nodded.

Lithuania sighed, but gently brought the brush to the bright blond hair, trying to be as gentle as possible. He could see Poland was crying, "Are you all right?"

Poland nodded, brushing the tears away, "Tak…"

As Lithuania ran the brush through Poland's hair he saw the little blond relax, the tears stopping. Poland's hair was matted and knotted. Lithuania doubted he brushed it often, if at all. It needed it. He couldn't help but wonder when the last time Poland had actually been touched with kindness was. When the last time someone had taken care of him was. He'd been trying, but Poland had always pushed him away before. He brought the brush through the last few strands of blonde hair, smiling as the brush revealed no more tangles. He set the brush down, and smiled, resting his hand on Poland's shoulder.

"There," Lithuania smiled, "Done."

Poland turned to look at him with a grateful smile, a real smile, "Thanks, Liet."

Lithuania grinned, seeing the smile on Poland's face brought the choke back into his throat. He tried to swallow it.

Poland slid to the other side of the bed and wrapped himself in the blankets, laying down.

Lithuania smiled, pulling the remaining covers over himself, being careful not to touch Poland. "Good night, Felek."

"Night, Liet." Poland smiled again, barely, but it was there.

Lithuania closed his eyes, starting to drift to sleep. He smiled, feeling Poland's hand on his.

"Liet?" Poland whispered, his voice trembling again.

"Hmm?" Lithuania asked, more than half asleep.

"I… if I wake you up… I'm sorry…"

"Nightmares?" Lithuania felt Poland nod. "It's ok," he smiled gently, "Don't worry about it," he squeezed Poland's hand gently.

"Okay…" Poland whispered, squeezing Lithuania's hand back. He slept through the whole night.

A/N: Another chapter that's mainly not from Gil's perspective! I like writing for Lithuania too. This chapter is basically him helping everyone who needs it the most in this house. XD He's trying not to be mad at Gil, who's still recovering obviously, and the 'relationship' (non-ship guys!) with Russia is an interesting one. He doesn't hate Russia, even though he half wants to. He knows way too much about Russia to hate him. And Poland, poor little Poland. Psychologically speaking, Poland made a HUGE step forward by letting Liet brush his hair. Hopefully, I've made my ship for Liet clear with Belarus, but Poland and Lithuania are (or at least were) best friends since childhood. Lithuania takes care of people, especially his best friend. And Poland needs it. This chapter was fun to write, and we actually get some sweetness for a change! This is my gift to you all after the last chapter...

Reviewers are given hugs and cookies and cocoa! Thank you all for reviewing the last chapter. I'm sorry (not sorry) that I broke you all. I cried writing the last chapter actually. For those of you wondering if we'll ever see that family again... *refuses to give information because I haven't decided yet* Thank you all for being such loyal readers!

I am going on vacation for the rest of today and tomorrow, so I probably won't be posting a chapter tomorrow, but hopefully, you will all forgive me because this chapter is adorable/sweet instead of traumatizing. :)