After-Shocks

Author: Madisonne

Part: 2/3

Warnings: Slight angst

Disclaimer: For some reason, the people at Bandai keep on forgetting to return my calls... So, no, I don't own them yet. Operative word: YET! MWA HA HA HA HA!!! Ahem... Don't steal, or else I'll sic my demon-chibis on you. Stop laughing! They can strip a cow of its meat in one minute! Or is that piranhas? Hmmm...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

While half of him struggled valiantly to escape the dark comforts of slumber, the other half pitifully ached to remain incognizant of the world round him. Something prodded at him from inside himself, a quiet reminder of what had transgressed in reality.

After what seemed an eternity, his eyes slowly slid open. The sterile ceiling of a hospital room greeted him and, turning his head, he was slightly sickened at the IV drip they'd cathetered to his left arm.

His hearing had been damaged during the blast, which was why, he figured, the clamorous sounds of a busy hospital were dulled to his senses, a rather eerie, dream-like experience.

"How does that feel?"

"Better... Is it broken?" The voice sounded quite familiar to him.

"No, just badly strained."

"Good. Where's the general?"

'Zechs...' Pulling on his IV rack, he stood up and pushed his way through the cloth screen into the other room to see the blonde examining his bandage-swathed ankle. "Zechs?"

He looked up and smiled. "Hey."

The doctor bristled at seeing him out of his room. "General Khushrenada! You must go back to bed! You could be seriously ill."

Treize looked from the patient to the doctor and back. "Can I stay here?"

The doctor sighed. "Fine, as long as you sit." He pushed a chair next to him and gently prodded the taller man into it.

Once the doctor left, he spoke. "What a day, huh?"

Zechs smiled. "Yeah."

"We... We could have... Died..." His voice strained from attempted levity.

"I know..."

"When you didn't come out.. I thought..."

"I know. I thought so too."

"Why did you stay?"

"I had to. It was... Right." He explained.

There was a moment of silence; then, "I'm glad you made it out."

He gave a half-smile of sorts and focused on the ceiling. "So am I."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *