Chapter 71

The handcuffs bit into Gil's wrists. He kept his head down. He didn't look out the car window. A cold chill went down his spine. He didn't have to look up to know he was back at Russia's house. He let himself be pulled from the car and half-dragged to the door. He kept his head down until he felt Russia's hand pulling up his chin. He didn't look up at Russia.

"What's wrong, Ptitska?" Russia's voice was worried, confused.

Prussia said nothing. I'm. Not. Your. Bird.

"Crying?" Russia took his hand from Gil's chin, brushing away the tears, "You need to be strong, Ptitska."

Gil looked up into the violet eyes that stared back at him, "Heinrich's dead. I got him killed…"

Russia pulled his hand away from Gil's face, confused, "Dead? He's not dead. Gil, I just got confirmation that he made it through surgery. No one told you?"

Gil closed his eyes, sighing in relief as he felt the pressure release in his chest. He wasn't surprised his boss hadn't told him, but he barely cared. All that mattered was there was at least no more blood on his hands. Not yet.

"There's more news than that for you. But it's cold, come inside," Russia opened the door with his back, motioning for Gil to enter the house.

Gil walked in, looking up at the grey walls and dark hallway. He felt cold, shivering as the infectious chill invaded his body. He hated it. He closed his eyes, craving the warmth of his city. The October wind bit at his back as Russia closed the door. He lowered his head again, keeping his eyes closed. He shivered again as Russia's hands, freezing even through leather gloves, snapped the metal off his wrists. He pulled his hands forward immediately, rubbing the sore, bruised skin. He forced himself to turn and look at Russia, who still stood behind him. The violet eyes were sad, even upset.

"GDR, you're shaking…" Russia put a strong hand on Gil's shoulder.

Gil winced. He hadn't noticed. He looked down at his trembling hands. They hadn't stopped shaking since his first dose of the drug he knew he was going to need, soon.

"Did my boss tell you… what…what did he tell you?" Gil tried to steady his voice. He tried to make himself sound strong, unafraid. He didn't want to be afraid of Russia anymore.

"He told me that you needed to be returned here. That you've been causing trouble? That you can no longer complete missions or train men… this is all true, da?"

"Because he gave me heroin!" Gil snapped, turning to look at Russia, his hands clenching into fists.

Russia took a step back, surprised, "He what?"

Gil looked away, crossing his arms over his chest, "He gave me heroin! And I need it now. I didn't ask him to give it to me. He just did. And I need it, Russland…" he looked back up at Russia, shaking his head. He didn't want to depend on him for anything, least of all an addiction that not even his will could conquer.

"I'll make sure you get it," Russia nodded, his expression concerned, worried. "He should not have given you this without my permission…" Russia's voice trailed off, slipping into his own language as he tried to decide on a plan of action.

Gil waited, shaking, for the gloved hand to strike his cheek. He kept his hands in fists, bracing himself to be forced to his knees.

Russia didn't move for a moment, then looked up at Gil, "Are you all right, GDR?"

Gil nodded, slowly, shocked.

"Go upstairs, GDR. I'm going to handle your boss."

Gil nodded again, walking down the long, dark hallway, to the staircase and ran up them towards his room. He hated living in Russia's house, but his room almost felt like home.

He opened the door, stepping inside to find Lithuania almost frantically changing the sheets and wiping tables.

"We didn't know you were coming until this morning. I'm sorry I've been trying to get this done and finish in time for you for when you did get back here-"

"Are you ok?" Gil asked, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder.

Lithuania jumped as Gil touched his shoulder, but he didn't wince. He looked back at Gil, nodding slowly, glancing at the bandage around his wrist quickly.

"Liet…?" Gil's voice was almost stern, more worried than angry.

Lithuania looked into the dark red eyes, sighing deeply and looking down, "I'm doing… better," Lithuania smiled sadly, nodding. It was the truth, "I really am… And Russia… he's almost been kind. He hasn't touched me since…" he nodded to the bandage on his wrist. He didn't want to say the words. He didn't want to admit them. Somehow, it kept it far away. It kept it from sinking in how real it really was, how close he'd really been to dying. He thought about it every day. He didn't want to. He looked up at Gil again, forcing a smile.

Gil smiled back, "I'm glad you're all right," Gil nodded.

Lithuania smiled sadly again, nodding in return, "Gil…."

"What?" Gil asked, almost absentmindedly.

"Please take care of yourself. Please…"

Gil nodded, "Sure," he shrugged, taking his hand away from Lithuania's back, looking at the tall dark-haired man in shock for a moment, "You… you let me touch your back. Are… are you hurt?"

Lithuania shook his head, "Like I said, nothing since it all happened. He hasn't even slapped me. It's… almost worrying? Maybe? I haven't decided yet."

"He's getting weaker…."

Lithuania nodded, "It's worse since you came back. He mostly drinks in his office, and every once and a while he'll want to talk to me. Gil… did he tell you?" he tried to change the subject.

"Tell me what?" Gil asked, curious, worried.

"Your brother-"

Gil shook his head, "I couldn't help. My boss didn't let me help him, I wanted to help him, I would have done anything for hi-"

"Gil, he's fine."

"What?"

Lithuania smiled a real smile this time, "Your brother is safe, as are all the prisoners. I hear he helped with the rescue. You should be proud of him, GDR.

Gil pressed his hands onto his face, sitting down on the bed. He wanted to let himself cry. He wouldn't let himself cry, not with Lithuania there. His brother was safe. Nothing else mattered, his brother was safe. He looked up at the dark-haired country with a long sigh, "Lithy?"

Lithuania nodded, "Hmm?" he continued, cleaning.

"Do you think West is going to be all right?"

Lithuania smiled, "Yes, yes I do think so. He's a strong kid, and he was raised by the best, so I think he'll be all right." Lithuania put a reassuring hand on Gil's shoulder.

Gil said nothing, looking down, sighing deeply. He nodded finally, "I just hope America is treating him better than Russia is treating us…"

Lithuania nodded, "Though… it's changed since you were last here, Gil. Russia… it's just different. I hear they're talking about giving him a new boss. One with new ideas to unify the SU…."

"That sounds just lovely for us, doesn't it?" Gil said sarcastically, shaking his head.

Lithuania sighed, "It does, doesn't it?" He didn't want Russia to touch him again, ever. But a new boss meant new trouble, and he would protect them all. He didn't care that they all asked him to stop. He would protect them. He existed to protect them. It was the only thing that kept him alive. "Maybe it'll be a good thing?"

"You're trying to be optimistic?" Gil shook his head, looking away.

Lithuania sighed, shrugging, "Yeah… I guess so. What else am I going to do, give up?"

Gil turned to look at him again.

Lithuania sighed, the pain in Gil's eyes was almost physically painful to look at. He had no fight left, no hope. Nothing. Lithuania looked away.

"How did you survive this for so long, Toris…?" Gil leaned forward against his knees, pressing his head into his hands.

Lithuania sighed, "I can't answer that. I just… keep trying?"

Gil nodded, "Always. I won't give up… I can't give up…" Gil shook his head, trying to keep the tears back. He didn't want to cry.

"Good. Your little brother is going to need you."

Gil smiled, "You think so?"

"He's still a kid, he'll need you," Lithuania smiled, patting Gil's shoulder gently. He finished grabbing the last of the sheets of the bed and turned towards the door. He turned, looking at Gil, who still sat with his head in his hands, before stepping towards the door again.

"Toris?" Gil stopped him.

Lithuania turned again, shaking his head a little as he saw the expression on Gil's face, "What's wrong?"

Gil was silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to tell Lithuania, "While I was in Berlin, my boss decided the painkillers weren't enough. Russia promised he's going to 'deal with' my boss, and sure hope he kills him, but that doesn't change that… he gave me heroin, Toris… and… and I thought you should know so you aren't surprised if…" he sighed, "When," he corrected himself, "When Russia uses it against me. And probably you…"

Lithuania sighed deeply again, "We're going to survive this," he said to himself as much as Gil.

Gil nodded, "I hope so… I really hope so…"

…

Germany wrapped his arms around the dogs as all three of them attacked his face with licks, their tails wagging joyfully. He smiled, scratching them behind the ears, burying his face in the soft hair, especially the Golden's.

"Good boy…" Germany smiled still, nuzzling the little dachshund, "You missed me, didn't you?"

The shepherd responded with another giant lick up Germany's face, wagging his tail even more as Germany laughed.

Germany looked back over his shoulder at his bodyguards, the smile fading. They weren't exactly pleased with him. He didn't care. He was alive and everything had worked out. Everyone was safe, and the RAF leaders were still in prison, and he hadn't been exchanged as a hostage. He felt stronger than he had in a long time. He stood, giving the dogs each another pat on the head. He turned back away from his bodyguards just in time to see Italy before the little redhead crashed into him in a hug. Germany hugged back awkwardly. He wasn't good at hugs.

"You're safe! You're safe! You didn't get hurt did you?" Italy looked up at him, worried suddenly.

Germany tried not to laugh as Italy looked him over with a very concerned look on his face. "I'm fine, Feli, I promise."

"Ok good!" Italy grinned, "I made you pasta for when you got here! Your favorite kind of pasta! With the red sauce with the olives, and…"

Germany smiled, listening as Italy continued telling him all about dinner while leading him into the kitchen, Hans and Fredrick following close behind. He didn't bother to remind Italy that the red sauce with olives was Italy's favorite, not his. It didn't matter. It felt good to be home.

The phone rang.

Germany walked to it quickly, picking it up to hear the voice of his boss on the other end. He listened, shocked, and set the phone down without a word. He turned slowly, looking at his bodyguards, "The… the RAF leaders… they… they're dead. They're dead they killed themselves… All of them. All of them that we had in prison, they're all dead… I… guess except the girl. She survived… but… the others…" he didn't know what to say, unsure if it was better or worse that they were dead. Was it over? Did that really mean it was over?

"Ludwig?"

Italy's voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to see the redhead looking up at him, the same sweet concerned expression on his face.

Germany smiled in relief, "I think it's almost over, Italy. The RAF leaders are dead. I think we might actually be ok!"

Italy grinned, "Ve!" He grinned, grabbing Germany's hand and pulling him towards the dining room table, set beautiful with a steaming bowl of pasta already at each place.

Germany smiled.

A/N: I'm alive! Hello! My goodness, it feels like a long time! It hasn't even been a week, but still! Life is busy, I'm in a show, and I've been coming home exhausted again. But after some more thought/planning, I have a few plot runways ready for takeoff! New chapter coming very soon I hope! I know I keep saying that, but really! I have plans. XD It won't be that much longer until the wall comes down, but rest assured the story won't be over there! I have a LOT planned for post-wall, so no fear of it ending there! As I've said before, I want to get it to just about modern times. :)

Thank you so much for all of you who have continued to review while I've been very slow to update! I love all of you guys so much! Seriously! I hope you enjoy this chapter. The beginning is mostly set up, but it's setting up for a lot. Then some just plain happiness on the west side! Yay! Cookies and hugs and lemonade for all of you! Or maybe some hot apple cider? Is it cold enough for that yet? I want it to be fall. I love fall. XD Anyway, thank you all again for the reviews! Keep them coming, it does really encourage me to write more!