Chapter 36

"How are you feeling, Ptitska?"

Gil jumped awake, looking into Russia's face. He was back in his own room, and Russia sat in the chair beside his bed. He blinked hard, wincing, the images of people and soldiers flashing in front of him. His hands shook.

No… no no no not now… he could feel his heart beating fast. He looked at the clock. Hungary was supposed to be there with another dose soon. He needed it. He clenched his fists, trying to pass it off as fear as he shivered.

"Is something wrong?" Russia's voice was cold, a smile on his face.

Gil looked at him, his breathing growing harder as he shivered again, he was freezing. He shook his head, "No, I'm fine," he snapped. His voice had improved considerably since the previous week, and he could actually put some weight on his legs again, though he couldn't walk without help. He shivered again, trying to avoid Russia's gaze. He winced as Russia grabbed his face, turning it towards him. He closed his eyes, trying not to look at Russia, grateful for the bandages around his arms.

"Look at me," Russia ordered.

Gil kept his eyes closed.

Russia slapped him, grabbing his face again, "I said, 'look at me'!"

Gil opened his eyes, they were more red than usual, bloodshot and tired. He looked up into Russia's violet eyes, shaking.

Russia said nothing, letting go of Gil's face. He grabbed the white-haired country's right arm, tearing the gauze bandages away, grabbing at the bruised and marked skin.

Gil winced, inhaling through his teeth. He shivered again, closing his eyes and immediately opening them with a gasp. He turned to look at his arm, then up at Russia.

"How long has it been since your last dose?" Russia asked coldly, grabbing Gil's face again, turning it to look into the man's eyes.

Gil didn't answer, he didn't have to. Hungary walked in as if on cue. She carried a tray of fresh bandages and pain killers. She froze as she saw Russia.

"Oh, you're here," she tried to sound casual, carrying the supplies in as if nothing was out of the ordinary, "He's healing quite well. He can almost walk now-"

"You've been giving him the drugs?" Russia raised an eyebrow, surprised.

Hungary shook her head, "No. I just give him painkillers as needed, just like I would for anyone."

Russia smiled.

It sent a shiver down Hungary's spine. She didn't want to admit to fear, but she was terrified.

"Well, if you just give him normal painkillers… why don't you set the tray down here?" Russia motioned to the bedside table near his chair, "I can take care of him today. He is mine after all. I take care of what's mine," he smiled.

Gil shivered. He hated this. All of it.

"Oh, it's no trouble for me, Mr. Russia," Hungary smiled sweetly, picking up the tray, "I'm sure you have a lot to do and-"

"I would like to, please, set the tray here, Hungary," Russia's face held a smile, but his tone was an order, not a request.

Hungary picked up the tray, giving an apologetic glance to Gil. She set the supplies next to Russia and turned to leave.

"No, stay," Russia ordered again, lifting Gil's wrist and beginning to untie the bandage.

Hungary obeyed reluctantly, walking back closer to them, "Would you like help with the bandages?" She asked, hiding her hands behind her back. She didn't want Gil to see them trembling.

Russia shook his head, "Oh no, I know how to do this, don't worry." He unwrapped the bandage slowly, inspecting Gil's wrist. "This is healing quite well!" he smiled, satisfied, "Next time I'll loosen the handcuffs for you, as long as you ask nicely," he smiled.

Gil shivered again. Next time? He knew he couldn't avoid it, but he didn't want to think about it. He wouldn't struggle next time. He wouldn't give Russia the satisfaction of having to loosen the cuffs. He'd be careful.

Russia touched the healing wound around Gil's wrist, just hard enough to cause discomfort, but not pain, "Yes, this is healing very well!" He turned to the other wrist, repeating the process, also pleased with it's healing. "Now," he smiled with the same un-childlike innocent as usual, "The drugs."

"They're just painkillers for because he's injured…" Hungary tried to break in.

Russia smiled, turning to the tray and filling a syringe with exactly one dose of the painkillers, measured perfectly. "Well then, this should be enough, shouldn't it?"

Gil rolled his hands into fists, his whole body begging for more. It wasn't enough. His heart beat faster, his breathing quickening. He groaned in pain, turning away from Hungary as Russia pulled the needle from his arm.

"Was that enough, Gil?" he asked sweetly, smiling.

Hungary closed her eyes, taking a step back, "I… I think I should go…" she turned, stopping as she felt Russia's hand close around her wrist, tightly.

"Nyet. Stay," he ordered, pulling her back towards the bed where Gil squirmed, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. "Well, Ptitska? Was that enough?" Russia's voice was ice.

Gil shook his head, "You know it's not…" he whispered through grit teeth.

"And what would you do for more?" Russia asked, taking the bottle and filling the syringe with another single dose.

"What do you want?" Gil whispered, crying out in pain as faces flashed in front of him.

"Tell me your name," Russia smiled, setting the bottle down, holding the syringe near Gil's arm, agonizingly close to his skin, holding his arm down from moving towards it.

"Gilbert…" he whispered, knowing it wasn't the right answer.

Russia slipped the needle into his skin, but didn't release the drug, "What. is. your. name?"

Gil winced, setting his jaw, "German Democratic Republic." He gasped as the painkillers released into his blood. It wasn't enough. The images were worse, the pain increasing. He couldn't keep playing this game. He needed more. He looked up at Russia, his bloodshot eyes begging.

"You could try asking me, GDR," Russia smiled still, looking into Gil's face, picking up the small vial again.

Gil turned away, groaning in pain again as his body ached, desperate for more. He shook his head, "Nein…" He whispered through his teeth.

Russia looked up to Hungary, "Lizashka, why don't you tell him he doesn't have to do this to himself? All he has to do is ask me…"

Hungary bit her lip, looking back at Gil, sighing as his face met her's, "Gil…" she couldn't tell him to give in to Russia, but she couldn't watch this. She couldn't watch Russia doing this to him. "Please, Russia…"

"See?" Russia smiled, turning Gil's face to his own again, "She'll ask me. Is your pride getting in the way?"

Gil set his jaw, looking up at Russia with as much hatred as he could find through the pain.

"Look at yourself, Gil. What pride can you possibly have left?" Russia let go of Gil's face, taking the bottle of medicine again. He slid the needle into the vial, holding it up so Gil could watch him slowly fill the syringe to the top.

Gil shivered again, unsure how much longer he could hold on without giving in. He needed more. He felt sick, the burning smell infecting the room. He shook his head, he couldn't do this…

Russia smiled up at Hungary for a moment, before pressing the needle against, but not into, Gil's arm.

Gil winced, bringing his hand to his chest as his heart sped faster. He tried to breathe, tried for force oxygen into his lungs.

Hungary turned away, she couldn't see him like this.

"I believe," Russia said without turning to her, "That I ordered you to watch."

Hungary glared at the back of Russia's head, setting her jaw to keep the tears back. She brought her hands to her upper arms, gripping them, trying to force herself to look at Gil. She felt powerless, she hated feeling powerless.

"Well, GDR? I know you need this…" Russia's voice held a twisted compassion.

Gil shivered, looking back at Russia, staring into the face that only smiled in return. He closed his eyes, turning away, "Russland, bitte…" he whispered.

"What was that?" Russia grabbed his face again, turning it towards himself.

Gil winced, his heartbeat fast enough to draw a gasp of pain from him. He looked into Russia's face, setting his jaw, "Russia… please… please…"

Hungary closed her eyes, looking away, fighting tears.

Russia smiled, letting go of Gil's face and petting his cheek patronizingly, "Well done. That wasn't so hard, was it?" He slid the needle into Gil's arm and released the medicine.

Gil sighed in relief, the drugs working almost instantly. They still weren't enough, but he could feel his heartbeat finally starting to slow. "Danke…" he whispered, hoping it would please Russia enough to give him more.

"You're a fast learner," Russia smiled. He filled a syringe with another single dose and gave it to Gil without another question, "See? I reward fast learning," he smiled.

Gil felt sick. He hated this. How had he let this happen to himself? He hated this.

"Now," Russia continued, filling another syringe full of a single dose, "What's your name?"

"German Democratic Republic," Gil whispered, giving Russia the answer he wanted. My name is Prussia.

"Khorosho!" Russia smiled, giving Gil the drug, filling the syringe again with another dose. "Who do you belong to?"

"The Soviet Union… you…" Gil whispered still, closing his eyes, fighting tears. He hated this. I don't belong to anyone.

Another dose.

"And the wall, is a good thing, da?"

"Ja…" Gil set his jaw. No. It's not. It's not and I HATE IT.

Another dose.

"And the people that try and cross the wall? They're disloyal to you, and deserve to die?"

Gil closed his eyes, he couldn't say it. He needed the drugs, his body still begging him for more, his hands still shaking. "Ja, they deserve it…" he let the tears fall. No. Never. Never…

Another dose.

"And that… spy… the one you shot? She deserved her fate, da?" Russia smiled, filling another full syringe, holding it to Gil's arm.

Hungary bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Gil looked back at Russia, his eyes begging, "Please… please don't make me answer that… please… bitte…"

Russia slapped him, then grabbed his face, "I asked, you if the spy, the double agent, that you shot on my order, deserved it."

Gil looked into Russia's face, "Bitte…"

"And you said you didn't love her…" Russia smirked, shaking his head. He pressed the needle into Gil's arm, grabbing the man's white hair, holding his head back, "Say it. Say she deserved it."

Gil closed his eyes, tears falling down his cheeks into his hair. He couldn't do it. His hands shook. He gaged, the burning smell overwhelming him. He needed the last dose. He couldn't do it, "Ja… ja she deserved it…" Nein… Adelaide I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry….

Russia grinned, letting go of Gil's hair, pressing the syringe, granting Gil's body the drugs it needed. He smiled as he saw the smaller nation relax, the drugs taking effect quickly, "You've done well, GDR," he giggled, ruffling Gil's hair. He turned back to Hungary.

Hungary wiped her tears quickly, looking at Russia with hatred in her eyes. She shook her head, "You freak…" she whispered.

Russia stood, grabbing Hungary's neck, bringing her to her knees.

"Russland, Nein!" Prussia sat up, reaching for Russia, begging.

Hungary squirmed, bringing her hands to her neck, trying to pry Russia's fingers from her throat. She looked up at him, even angrier than before. "Go ahead… hurt me. Hurt me like you hurt the others…" she choked, Russia's grip tightening. "I dare you…" she whispered.

Prussia tried to stand, falling to the ground, his legs refusing to work. He looked up at Russia, "Russia please…"

Russia laughed, letting go of Hungary's neck to grab Prussia's hair, dragging him forward and throwing him back to the ground, "There. You'll have a better view from there." He smiled, grabbing Hungary's hair, pulling her head up as she coughed hard. He smiled, forcing her to look into his face. He pulled out his pipe.

Hungary stared up at him defiantly, "Go ahead."

"Russia please…" Gil knew he wasn't strong enough to fight Russia. He grabbed at the man's coat, "Please, Russia, do anything to me, but don't hurt her, please…"

Russia kicked him away.

Gil fell back, gripping his ribs where Russia's boot had bruised them. He winced, looking back up to Russia as he raised the pipe.

Hungary reached up, catching the cold metal before it hit her. She looked up at Russia, angry, "I'm stronger than your usual prey!" she snarled, delivering a well aimed punch below his belt.

Russia doubled over, staggering back in pain for a moment.

Hungary wrenched the pipe away from him, swinging it at his head.

Russia caught it, standing, giving the pipe a hard pull, letting Hungary trip in front of him. He kicked her back, smiling as her head hit the ground with a crack.

"Elizabeta!" Prussia reached for her, worried.

Hungary sat up, pulling her hand from her head, her fingers bloody, "Is that all you've got?" she snapped.

Russia kicked her down again, pressing her right hand into the ground with his boot.

She looked up at him, terrified for a moment, before screaming in pain as he crushed her hand into the ground.

Russia grabbed her wrist, pulling her up, turning her arm to look at her broken hand, "Next time you try something like that again, I won't just break your hand," his voice was ice. He slid his hand up the pipe until he was holding it near the faucet, letting the crook of it cover his knuckles. He smashed it against her face twice, dropping her arm and leaving her on the ground.

Hungary didn't move.

Russia smiled, turning back to Gil, kicking his legs hard. "That's for trying to get in my way."

Gil cried out in pain, leaning over to protect his legs with his arms. Russia grabbed his hair, dragging him back towards the bed, away from Hungary.

"I'll be back tomorrow for your next dose, Gil. I hope it easier for yourself," he sighed, shaking his head, upset. He walked out of the room without another word.

Prussia dragged himself back to Hungary, moving her hair away from her face. He shuddered, "Liz…?" he whispered.

Hungary groaned in pain weakly, closing her eyes tightly.

"Liz, are you…?" It felt like a stupid question, so he didn't ask it.

She nodded slowly, forcing herself to sit up. She put her hand to her head, dizzy.

Prussia caught her shoulders, "Hey, careful… careful…"

Hungary looked up at him weakly, blood dripping from her face, "I'm sorry, Gil… I'm sorry I tried to-"

"It's ok. Please, it's ok… are… are you all right?"

She nodded weakly, looking back at her broken right hand, touching her face with her left, pulling it away, sighing at the amount of blood she saw, "I probably look like a mess, huh?"

"I've seen you worse," he shrugged.

She smiled, "Yeah…? That's good…" She leaned against the bed, drying to drag herself up, trying to stand, "I should go… find… Estonia… probably…"

"Are you sure you're ok to walk?"

Hungary nodded again, slowly, stepping forward carefully. She was dizzy, but she could still keep herself in a straight line. She turned back to look at Gil, "You need help…"

"I can manage."

"No, you can't…" She shook her head, walking up to him. She reached down, lifting him until he was standing with her help.

"Liz you don't have to-"

"Stop being so stubborn all the time, ok? That's how you get into these messes in the first place…"

"Speak for yourself!" Prussia rolled his eyes, letting her help him back to the bed. He crawled in, exhausted. "Danke…" he whispered.

"Yeah… no problem…" she whispered, bringing her hand to her head again.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Prussia asked, still worried.

She nodded, "Yeah, like I said… just need to see Estonia." she forced a smile.

"If you're sure…" he wanted to take her to get help himself, but he wasn't strong enough. He would hurt her more, not help her. He hated it.

Hungary nodded, "Yeah, I'll be fine…" she smiled at him again, turning to walk towards the door.

Gil watched her leave and turned back to look at the tray of painkillers. The bottle was empty.

A/N: So... Russia knows. That's a thing... That's now a thing... *winces* And Hungary being her BA self! Go, girl! (though perhaps pick your battles better next time...?) Russia was pretty dark in this chapter. He certianly can be when he needs to be. Some of you have asked if Russia has DID (Dislocative Identiy Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) and I think he has borderline DID. His "normal" personality and his truely snapped personality aren't QUITE distinctive enough to count I think, such as in this chapter... which one was it? Was it both back and forth? Etc... Russia is as fun to analize as he is to write.

Seriously though, Gil's in trouble...

As always, reviews and reviewers are dearly loved! Thank you guys so much for reading! And welcome to all the new readers that have been reviewing! I'm so glad you're here and enjoying the story! I hope it continues to please you all! I absolutely love writing this story! I hope it shows because it's so true! :D *hugs* As always, cookies and milk, and ice cream, and lemonade for reviewers! It's getting SO hot here... so I won't give any hot tea or blankets... so... yeah... thank you again for all the reviews and great PM conversations! I especially LOVE IT when people Psycoanalize my characters, so if that's something you enjoy doing... I'd love to hear your thoughts! They're all pretty messed up as I'm sure you've all noticed... XD Thank you!