Recap:

Sharp, violet eyes stared right back at her with intense emotion as if they were seeping into her own soul...her entire being.

It startled her.

It wasn't the fact that someone was hovering over her that scared her or made her as uncomfortable.

It was the fact that those eyes belonged to someone she thought she'd never see again.

Atem.

"Téa." Atem breathed and Téa couldn't help, but shiver at the mind-boggling idea of Atem being here. "Do...you...know who I am?" Atem hovered over her, stuttering and being cautious as if she were the most fragile thing in the world.

Of course, she knew he was, but this wasn't possible. He couldn't be here! This Atem was different somehow. She could see it in his eyes. Something changed. He wasn't the strong, assertive, confident Atem she had known. The hair on the back of her head stood up as she slightly shivered once more. She was so confused and frightened at the same time.

"Atem." She breathed in response to his question. At her response, she was even more startled to see two wet droplets of tears flood and drip from Atem's eyes.

He was crying.

"A-Atem?" She gasped. Atem began to sob, as he went down on his knees, placing his head face down on the bed as he grabbed and squeezed Téa's hand in an abrupt manner.

He was sobbing, he was crying and Téa could hear the wails of his cry. The almighty former Pharaoh of Egypt was crying! Never in a million years did she expect to see him cry like this. What was going on?! Téa didn't know what to do or what to say. She didn't know anything about this situation. It was then she realized where she was. She was in a hospital, on a hospital bed, wearing a hospital robe. Something had happened-to her.

Téa took her other hand and gently patted her friend's back. "Shh...It's ok." She comforted. What she was comforting him about, that she had no idea.

Atem looked up and straightened himself and wiped his tears away. "Téa..." He whispered almost inaudibly. He squeezed her hand that he hadn't let go of tighter. "I'm so glad you're ok." He sniffed.

Téa shyly smiled back, "I'm fine really." She put her finger to her chin. "Just very confused." She added. "What are you doing here? How are you still here? I thought you went to the afterlife!" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "I can't believe you're here!"

Atem's reaction was not one she unexpected. He squinted his eyes in puzzlement. "Afterlife...?"

"Yeah, you know..." Téa looked down, even more confused by Atem's reaction. "How you and Yugi dueled in the Ceremonial Duel and he defeated you so you could rest in the afterlife?"

He let out a loud breath of air. "Ceremonial Duel?" He gulped and gave a very small, forced smile. He patted her hand and opened his mouth as if to say something, only to yank it closed. He opened it again. "I'm going to let the nurses know you're awake. Please, don't try to sleep or lay down." He pleaded. "I'm also going to call your parents...and..." He coughed. "Solomon. They'll be happy to know that you're ok." Atem squeezed her hand once more and slowly let go turning to go, but not before he turned back to glance at her once more.

Téa forced a smile back at him as he walked away and sighed once he left the room. What on Earth was going on?

A couple moments later, a nurse walked in and gasped. "You're awake!" She exclaimed.

"Yes. Yes I am..." Téa exclaimed still a little confused. She looked at the nurse. She was a slightly plump women, with black hair and a lovely dark brown complexion. The woman was smiling broadly at her and Téa thought to herself that while this woman had a very beautiful smile, she didn't understand the meaning behind it.

"I can't believe it! This is such good news. Your family will be so overjoyed!" She piped, walking over to Téa and checking the machinery and tubes that were connected to her. "The doctors will be able to take this machinery off soon, so you can walk out and about. This is such good news!" The nurse began evaluating her, taking her temperature, blood pressure, etc. as she made short, casual conversation. "I'll ask them to send you in a big lunch! You're probably famished." The nurse told her as she turned to leave. "Now if there's anything..."

"Wait!" Téa reached her arm out. "I don't understand." She admitted. Something serious must have happened to her, but Téa seemed perfectly fine. She didn't feel any different or hurting anywhere. She hadn't gotten a chance to get up and look in the mirror, but she didn't see any bandages on herself. "What...happened to me?" Téa exhaled.

The woman's smile fell instantly into a pitied face. "Oh honey..."

Hm. Any ideas on what's going on?

Reviews would be wonderful!

~Startistica