Well, despite the lack of reviews (I mean, the one isn't a review O_o)
I'm
going to continue to have my fun ;p
After the gruelling day of testing, Sam stepped outside the school and collapsed to the top step.
Ah, Yami! Ya think someone would have given a little warning this wasn't just a test but a whole day of them!
Al says you are a genius, why would this have been a problem?
The problem is finding the middle ground; making sure I don't make Yugi look better or worse than he is.
I see.
Is there somewhere Yugi should be, or something he should be doing?
They usually meet across the street after school. Yami directed Sam to the friends' meeting place. As they approached, there was a boy seemingly crying on the shoulder of a girl who only seemed to be humoring him by patting his back.
Tristan and Tea. Yami introduced.
"Uh, what's up Tristan?" Sam was trying his best to be 'Yugi' like, and with Yami's help it was so easy. He couldn't remember having such an easy time... well, even if he did, he wouldn't remember.
"He's worried about the exams, Yugi." Tea answered flatly.
Before Sam could blink the sobbing Tristan jumped and grabbed him by the collar lifting the little body to his level. "THESE ARE IMPORTANT, YUGI! I STUDIED MY LIFE..." He stopped short and slowly lowered Sam back to his feet, then fell to his knees and cried out, "JOEY STUDIED HARDER THAN I DID!"
"Tristan, these were only mid-terms! The big ones aren't till the end of the school year! CHILL OUT!" Tea grabbed him by the ear and led him to a bench. "Sit down and think about it..." she took Tristan's chin in her hand to make him look at her, she winked and reassured him, "Joey has to study harder than you!"
"Hey! I heard that!" Joey picked Sam up to move him to the side, then guided Tea out of the way to clear the way for a decent shot at Tristan.
"Joey stop! It was a joke!" Tea had stepped back into his line of fire and he backed off.
"I know," he walked to a grassy patch, took a deep breath and fell back flat onto his back like it was nothing. Sam grabbed his back and grimaced. "It's just been a long day. I tell ya, if it hadn't been for Mai the geometry would have killed me!" Tristan walked to his friend and straddled him. Looking down at the blonde boy he couldn't help the jab.
"So studying Mai's lines and curves were ya?" Sam slapped his forehead. If there was ever a line Al would kill to know... he looked to Joey for his reaction. He simply looked up at the smirking Tristan, became serious and straight faced answered.
"Sure! They were her notes."
"I give up!" Tristan walked back to the bench and plopped next to Tea, shaking his head and rubbing his temples. Sometimes Joey could really hurt.
Sam sat back and watched. The whole thing amused him. So fill me in, Yami; Tristan and Tea, Joey and Mai?
You're half right. Joey and Mai, most of the time. Tristan and Tea, no.
Typical teenagers. So, Yugi and Tea?
Uh, well... the spirit began to stammer and become embarassed, I mean, well...
YOU and Tea?!
Really, Sam, this isn't, I... well...
Does she know you...
No, I don't think... I'm not sure...
Yami, I'm sorry. I don't mean anything by this. This whole situation fascinates me.
I know.
"Hey Sam! Heads up!" Al came in in time to catch the two boys on the ground in a heap. "Tristan said something about Joey's sister and BAM! Oh, boy I wish I had money on this!" Sam glared at Al as Tea stood over the two yelling for them to stop
"Take it back, Tristan!" Joey growled.
"No... way!" Tristan managed to squeeze out as he tried to get the necklace off Joey had created with his arm.
"Tea, what did he say that was so horrible?"
"Well, hello Tea!" Al slid next to her to get a better look.
"Al!" Sam snapped.
"What? Who's Al..."
"Uh, Al, IA'll, I'll try and stop them."
"Yea, nice recovery Sam." Al smirked.
Sam cautiously moved toward the scuffle. The two of them could lift him as though he were a ragdoll, he couldn't imagine taking a hit from one of them. He tried to get closer when a shrill whistle came from across the street. The two boys jumped to attention, "The principal!" they cried in unison, then got a better look, "Oh, it's just Mai."
"Mai, my, Mai..." Al couldn't believe his eyes. As he looked her over, she was making her way toward Joey. "What a waste!"
"Al!" Sam was a little quieter about his scolding this time. No one seemed to notice.
Joey wrapped one arm around Mai and placed his free hand cooly in his back pocket. Whether he knew it or not, and most likely he did, his body language said it all; he was proud of his catch.
"So what's with all the bustle boys?" She asked as she patted the grass of her man's back.
"Tristan just has a big mouth is all..." Joey answered, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"You're just over protective is all!" Tristan snapped back, trying to straighten his neck out.
"You're both being ridiculous!" Tea finally spoke up, "Joey, Tristan and your sister like eachother! She's happy! GET OVER IT!"
"Hey Sam, speaking of his sister, I have a few things." Al motioned for Sam to try and get away to talk.
Yami, what should I say?
Tell them you have to help your grandfather.
Easy enough. "Hey, guys! I have to get going, help grandpa..."
"Gotchya, Yug. If ya get away later, we're goin' to see Serenity today."
Serenity is his sister?
Yes, Sam.
"Sounds great!" Sam looked in Al's direction, the hologram impatiently motioning for him to run. "See you all later then!"
~~~~~*~~~~~
Sam tried to sneak in without Yugi's grandfather noticing. He had managed to sneak out, so maybe...
"Yugi!" no such luck, "How did the tests go today?"
"Great grandpa! No problem! I have somethings I have to do, be down in a while!" Sam said quick in passing. Movement in such a small body was smooth as silk. He easily made his way up the steps and into the room with out loosing breath.
"Ok, Al! Fill me in! Make it good!"
"Joey's parents are divorced..."
"This much I know, Al. So, many parents are divorced!"
"Well, this one's a big deal. You know his mother just up, took his sister and left?"
"Leaving him behind, uh?"
"Hasn't spoken to her since."
"How long ago?"
"Six years, at least. It's why he makes such a big deal over Serenity and invites his friends to see her. She's..."
"In the hospital. Eye surgery."
"Right. So he invites his friends to make it easier to ignore his mother."
"So I have to get them to speak? Erase six years of bad blood?"
"That seems to be it. Ziggy keeps spitting other things at us, and Yugi can only tell us so much. So I'm guessing that's it."
"Wait a minute! What happened to the fifty-one percent for Yami?" he couldn't figure out why this would come up now, but he wasn't about to ignore it.
"We're looking at that too. Could just be a bonus."
"Ok, so let's get Joey and his mom to talk..."
Sounds easy enough, Sam, but you have never seen them together.
"Could you be any more encouraging?!"
"What? Sam, I..." Al was confused.
"Not you Al! Forget it! Let's get out of here! Yami which way to the hospital?"
~~~~~*~~~~~
The spirit led Sam and Al to the hospital and straight to Serenity's room. Al didn't want to admit it, but Yami was coming in handy. They were the first in the group of friends to show. Joey had all ready been there about an hour.
"Hey, sis, Yugi made it!"
"Hi Yugi! Joey was just telling me about the mid-terms. How do you think you did?" She was quiet, calm and polite. This was Joey Wheeler's sister?!
"I think I did ok. I guess." He made his way to a chair to wait. If he had to get two people to talk, then both had to be there. This could be a long wait, or a long night if she is there. Sam wasn't looking to start trouble, but he needed to know, "Is, uh... well, is your..."
"No!" Joey answered sharply, knowing what his friend was going to ask.
"Joey, really! Sorry Yugi. She had to work a double today. She'll be here tomorrow."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"I'm sorry too, Yug. I didn't mean to snap at ya. I know how uncomfortable it is for you all, but just know it's appreciated."
"My sweet Serentiy! How's my lovely...huh?" Tristan had burst into the room with a hand full of flowers to be met with and angry glare from Joey. "I didn't know you'd be here all ready!"
"I've been here an hour, ya..."
"Joey stop! Leave him alone!" Serenity had grabbed her big brother's arm before he could move, "Honestly! I don't know why you have such a problem! He's good to me..."
"All right! I don't haveta hear this!"
Yami, why does he have such a problem with this?
I think it has something to do with they are supposed to be best friends.
I guess I would have gotten upset too if my best friend tried to date my sister.
I'd be upset if Al tried to date my sister as well.
Ha! You know, Yami, I'm liking you more and more!
"Hey Yug, ya wanna get outta here with me before I get sick enough to need the room nextdoor?" Joey stomped out of the room like a child. Tristan and Sam rolled their eyes, and Sam reluctantly followed.
"Perfect opportunity to get him to talk!"
"Al, did you see his reaction when I asked him the first time? I didn't even get the word 'mom' out! I'm just lucky there were no sharp objects in his reach!"
"Yug, ya comin'?" Joey called from the end of the hall.
"Yea! Sorry!"
He followed the boy to the cafeteria. It was quiet with few people. Mostly doctors on break. Al was right. Perfect. He tried to start with a less painful subject.
"So why do you have such a hard time with Tristan and Serenity?"
"He's my best friend, next to you, but what if somethin' happened between us, I couldn't stand her still seein' him. Or what if somethin' happened between them and he hurt her. Then I'd haveta hurt him and there would go our friendship and I can't imagine Serenity would forgive me."
"But, Tristan is a good guy and he really seems to care about her."
"I know, it's just..." Joey's eyes began to well up. Sam felt badly, he thought this would be the easier of the two subjects, he was terrified with how he may react to the other. The boy rubbed his eyes and fought it back, "She's all I got, Yug, and I promised I'd take care of her as best I can." Sam was moved. Underneath all the tough talk and act he was a caring, loving human being.
"Hey Sam, as moving as this is, it's not entirely true."
Sam made like he was rubbing his cheek with his shoulder in Al's direction.
"He has a father, remember?"
"Say, Joey, what about your dad..."
"You hungry, Yug?"
"No, I..."
"I'm starved!" he shot up from the booth and did a quick walk-jog toward the ordering line.
"Al, look it up!"
"I'm on it!"
What's going on?
Anyone ever ask him about his family before?
Not that I'm aware.
Ever meet his dad?
Now that you mention it, no.
We're onto something!
~~~~~*~~~~~
Al opened the door to the world he had known for five years. The bright computer lights, the hustle and bustle of brainiacs scrambling to get Dr. Beckett home. He made his way toward Verbeena who to his shock, was showing Yugi around.
"Verbeena! What are you..."
"Albert he's so frightened. I thought he would relax more if I got him out of that room."
"Good intentions, but you know Sam will have a cow!"
"Well, Sam isn't here, and I'm in charge!" They looked at the man with the boy's curiosity, hands behind his back. Either afraid to touch anything, or wanting to ensure he wouldn't. He looked over and waved, keeping his hands firmly behind himself.
"Hi, Al! This is incredible!" The "boy" continued to make his way around the room, taking it all in.
"Don't worry, it's not like he's going to remember any of this anyway, right?"
"You have a point. But I need to speak with him. Sam's onto something."
"Yugi!" Verbeena waved him over, "Al needs to speak with you. Think you'll be ok?"
"I feel better. That room was a little depressing."
Al was about to kick himself, but Verbeena was right, the kid wasn't going to remember anything anyway and what Sam didn't know wouldn't make him mad. He led Yugi out into the warm night dessert air.
"This is beautiful! All the stars!" Yugi was in awe.
"Don't see many stars living in the city, huh?"
"No. So why is Sam there?" Al was shocked, Yugi got right to the point.
"Still all Joey. In order to help him though, we need to know more about him."
"Why doesn't Sam just ask?"
"He did. They went to see Serenity and he asked about..."
"His mother?" even Yugi knew better than to bring up the 'm' word.
"Yea, didn't go over well. Asked him about his father and he changed the subject and split. Any ideas?"
"No, never met his dad."
"What about Mai? She's his girlfriend, ever meet the parents?"
"No way! Would you take her home?!"
"Well, that's beside the point," Al began to flush, "So no one has ever been to his home? What kind of excuses does he use?"
"Excuses?" Yugi had never thought of Joey's reasons as excuses. "Well, 'tired', 'dad doesn't like people in the house when he's not home and he's away a lot', things like that."
"He ever seem, well, in pain?"
Yugi looked at him cock-eyed, "Pain? How?"
"To be blunt, beat up?"
"WHAT? What are you..."
"Take it easy, he's prone to fights, is he not?"
"So he says. I've seen him go after people..."
"Tristan included!"
"He doesn't like the attention he gives Serenity."
"We know. So he says he's been in fights, but you've only ever seen him go after people? Tristan the only one he's ever gotten a punch into that you've seen?"
"Yea, usually he's pretty easy to talk out of fighting." he was begining to fidget. He wasn't liking where this was going. Al had promised no one was going to get hurt.
"Yugi, you have been more help than you know. We're going to help Joey and you will be able to go home soon. I just have to run this information through Ziggy and Sam." Al began to walk away, when Yugi grabbed his arm.
"You promised no one was going to get hurt. Why all this talk of Joey getting beat up?"
"Well, if it's what we are thinking it's been going on a while and something is about to go down that..." He stopped and tried to walk away again til he noticed the tears. "Look, stay out here a while. Enjoy the air. Want me to send someone to talk to?"
"No, you're right. I'll be fine. I'll try and relax a while. Thank you though."
"No problem kid. See ya in a while." he walked back into the lab handing Verbeena the information for Ziggy and with out a word back into the chamber to find Sam.
tbc...
