A/N Yes, I know its been a long time. Like a year. I'm not sure. But I sort of went back to everything the other day and found Ch7 half written, stopping mid-sentence. So I finished it off this evening and decided to post. No guarantees on when it will be done, I found a plan for what's gonna happen on my computer so should get it finished, but really don't know when. Hopefully soon! Thank you to all my readers for being really, really, really patient. : )

Chapter 7: Frozen

"No change?" Sylia asked in a clinically detached tone.

"No. She's still repeating that dream in her head over and over again, sometimes she falls asleep but most of the time she mutters to herself. We've even had a few moments of clarity from her, she's manic depressed and aggressive but still quite normal. All she wants to do is get out of here but she refuses to talk to the doctors." The psychologist replied, gazing at Priss' chart. She exhibits antisocial and sadistic behaviour, but we believe that this is no more than an exaggeration of her normal character. If we can get her talking we could have her back to normal and out of here within the month. All she needs is one week of rational, sane behaviour and the agreement to see a psychologist weekly and she can go home. We thought it might be good for you to try and talk to her." He looked at Sylia, motioning her towards the door.

Without a word Sylia went towards the door to Priss' room at the mental institution. She stopped for a few moments, taking a deep breath and collecting her thoughts. /I wish Linna had been mature enough to come down here and see Priss. I have no idea what to say. My last plan for helping her didn't turn out to well. I suppose she just needs to be woken up. Here we go./

She walked through the door, coming to stand before Priss. "Hello Priss" she said emotionlessly.

Priss stared at the floor, shoulders bowed. "Hello Sylia" Priss hissed the older woman's name.

"I see you're having one of your moments of clarity," Sylia said sarcastically.

"Go away Sylia. I don't need to be used any more."

"Look Priss, the truth of the matter is, we need you. Nene needs you, Linna needs you." Sylia said in an authoritarian manner, "I need you" she added in a quiet voice.

"You never needed me." Priss said harshly.

There were several seconds of silence.

"I never saw you being extremely dependant." Sylia said sarcastically.

Priss didn't respond.

Sylia stood impatiently, waiting for Priss to say something. Inside, she was panicking. She might lose Priss. She needed Priss right now, well, technically, she needed the Blue Knight Saber but she didn't want to lose Priss.

"Just go away Sylia." Priss said, her voice broken.

"Not until you tell me how we can fix this. You need to be back on the team, beating the crap out of boomers."

"I just can't take it any more," Priss sounded on the verge of tears, "I just can't handle the pressure. I have two children. You never would have guessed that, would you. I can't even take care of myself, I can't handle taking care of someone else. I've barely said a word to Kail since he came back. I can't take it. I just can't." Tears were rolling down Priss' cheeks to fall unnoticed on the ground. Priss still hadn't moved at all since Sylia came in, still sitting, poised on the end of the bed, shoulders bowed with what seemed the weight of the world and staring devoutly at the floor.

"You're pregnant again Priss? Is that what this is all about?" Sylia tried not to let her shock at this news show in her voice.

"Yes. And I don't care who you tell. Leon was going to find out eventually anyway." Priss' voice was devoid of emotion.

"Don't worry Priss." Sylia searched for something comforting to add to that, "Don't worry Priss." Was all she could come up with.

Long silence.

"I'll make arrangements for Kail to come and stay with me." Sylia said after several moments.

Priss' head shot up. She stared daggers at Sylia. "I will not let you brainwash him!" She growled.

"Brainwash?" Sylia asked mildly.

"Yes. Brainwash." Priss responded, "And manipulate, and abuse, and use for your own sick pleasure!"

"You make me sound like some kind of paedophile!" Sylia growled back, trying to keep her temper.

Priss turned her face away from Sylia's, once again staring at the ground. She stayed silent

Sylia took a deep breath and steadied herself. "You can't leave him to fend for himself. Again." Sylia said coldly.

"Tell him to go and stay with Linna. She won't mind." Priss said quietly.

"As you wish." Sylia replied. "Priss-"

"Goodbye, Sylia" Priss interrupted.

And without another word Sylia turned and left.

Priss sat in melancholy reflection. Part of her growled in rage, wanting to scream and howl and tear down the walls around her to free herself. Another part of her wanted nothing but to sink into the blackest despair, to hide from the world and problems. And yet there was still a part of her that was thinking rationally. /I have to get out of here, get my life back/ she thought angrily. /I've treated Kail so badly. I need to do something.mother-like. What the hell am I doing?/

---

"Uh. Hi" Kail said unenthusiastically.

"Hi." Linna responded. "My name is Linna."

"I know" Kail interrupted, "Sylia told me."

Long silence.

"This isn't awkward." Linna stated sarcastically, "Look, I know you're probably feeling really weird at the moment, and its kind of strange how you wound up living with me, but we might as well try and get along. You can come and go as you please, help yourself to the TV and contents of the fridge, if you wanna talk about anything I'm here, if not then do what you like."

Kail stared at her, then nodded brusquely.

"You can sleep in there." Linna said, pointing towards the only guest bedroom in her small but nice apartment.

Kail started towards the open doorway.

"We're all going to try and help Pr-" Linna faltered at the name, "help your mother get better." She finished.

Kail looked at her curiously. Something here was not as it seemed. He may be young, but his trademark stoicism covered up the fact that he was really very perceptive. He turned and walked into the room, closing the door behind him, a thought formulating itself in his mind.

---

Kail tread quietly down the hall towards the kitchen. He paused as he passed Linna's door, he could hear the muffled sound of crying from inside. Her door was ajar and he silently peered inside. He saw Linna sitting on the edge of her bed, head in hands, her tears running down her arms onto her lap. He watched, silently, as she poured her heart out into her hands. She then became very still, took a deep, shuddering, breath. She looked at the wall across from her with red eyes and then violently hurled her pillow at it. "What am I doing?" she sighed to herself. She wiped her face on the back of her arm, straightened her shoulders and took a resolute breath. "Linna Yamazaki does not get put down by anything, or anyone. I'm fine. It's been this way for years." Suddenly her eyes widened and she turned to look sharply at the door. She saw Kail standing there, expressionless. "Kail-." she stuttered, "What-.is there something you wanted?"

"Why are you crying?" he asked simply.

"Everybody's got problems." Linna replied with a shrug.

"Fair enough" Kail shrugged, "but I'm starting to think yours have something to do with me."

"Maybe, maybe not," Linna replied quietly. She looked at him carefully, studying his shadowed profile and considering him deeply, "Are you sure you want to hear?" she said at last.

Kail stood for a moment, considering. "Yes." He said finally, "But not now. The time will come." And with that he walked away, padding silently down the corridor to his room, leaving a slightly stupefied Linna behind him.

/OK./ she thought to herself /That was odd. But he'll come to me when he wants to know, I think he should know everything, but only when he feels he's ready. It's a lot to take in. He should be able to handle it though, he has his mother's strength and a good deal more wisdom than she's ever had./ She slowly crawled back into bed, running over in her mind what she should say to him when the time comes.