A.N. I'm back! Everybody cheer!

cricket chirp silence

Ah heh.. ^_^;; fine..

The near silent beeping of machines was what brought her into a state of consciousness, that she didn't really feel like being in. Her head pounded, sounding much like an oriental drum being slammed over and over. She wasn't sure what hell she'd awake to, so she didn't really wan to open her eyes.

Yet something probed her to do so and she slowly cracked open her eyes a fraction of a centimeter, wincing when a white light probed at her eyes and made them water, also making her open them further in curiosity.

She blinked and looked around the room. She was in one of the medical bay rooms…

How strange…she thought. And then it hit her like a ton of bricks and she groaned softly, putting a hand to her forehead, a bandage was wrapped there and around her chest, barely hidden by a light blue tank top she had been put in. She pushed the blankets heavily from her legs, smiling at the light gray shorts and the socks on her feet in an almost sedated fashion as she slowly made her way from the room, stumbling drunkenly, or at least it looked like she was drunk at some points.

She couldn't help but want to die at the pounding in her head, now it felt like a sledgehammer was banging on it.

I wonder is Cloud-chan feels like shit too… she thought and laughed softly to herself, not wanting to strain herself too much at this point.

She weakly stumbled to the living room door, pausing when she heard voices. She leaned on the door to listen.

"You must calm down Touma, I'm sure they are both fine." She heard someone say, her head hurting too much to decide who it was. she heard a muffled answer, and couldn't' decipher it.

"You must not think that way, it's bad for your health ya know?" she heard what sounded to be 007, his voice could comprehend, as it was so loud and joyous. So loud and joyous that it made her head hurt that is.

"You shouldn't be up."

"Ah!" she fell over with an off, clutching her heart, eyes wide as she stared up at 002 who smirked and held out a hand to help her up.

"Thanks a lot!" she said, semi-angry.

"Here." The orange haired cyborg held out a glass of water and two pills towards her, she took it with a raised eyebrow, and swallowed the pills, taking a big gulp of water afterward.

"You poisoned me, didn't you?" she asked suspiciously.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" now, slightly ruffled, he was about to leave but she caught his arm.

"What's with all the damage?" she asked, gesturing to the wreckage down the hall, as it had yet to be repaired.

"Fight." He answered simply.

 "Stop being so damn cynical and tell me what the hell happened!" eyes widened in shock for a minute at hearing the colorful language directed at him, he suddenly smirked.

"While you were downstairs we had an unexpected visitor, we need your friend to explain. She sounded like she knew him." Mitsuko's suddenly smiled real big.

"Thank you! All I needed to know!" 002 was about to leave again when she snatched him and gave him a big wet kiss on the cheek and then let go, giggling like mad as she opened the door to the living room.

"Hey!" he yelled, wiping his cheek vigorously, while at the same time blushing madly. She just winked.

"Thanks for the information and pain medicine Mr. Jet Boots!" she grinned and walked through, leaving behind a half angry half confused 002 behind with a lopsided grin on her face.

Attention seems to turn to her as she slowly walks into the room.

"Good morning." She winks and sits down by Touma who blinks and stares.

"What? Don't tell me my face has suddenly morphed into something hideous?! Or is it that I have something on my face? How bout between my teeth?" she grins and elbows him uncomfortable.

"You shouldn't be up.." 003 smiles nicely.

"What is it with you people? First 002 tells me that, and now you too! Oi vey!" she slaps her forehead and after a few seconds the pain registers in her completely spaced out mind.

"Ow!" she gently rubs the spot where she hit.

"How long have I been out?" she asks the stunned group.

"um.."

"Well?"

"A week." 007 smiles.

"And you look as lovely as ever." He adds with a wiggle of his eyebrows, 006 promptly elbows him as Mitsuko begins to laugh.

"Flatterer." She laughs, and then stops, noticing Touma looking at her.

"What?" she asks semi-calm.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? You stare at a pretty lady and tell her it's nothing?" she laughs at his blush.

"What wanna trade between me and Cloud? Ooo! How about a threesome!" Touma turns beat red and pinches the bridge of his nose. The rest just stare, some look rather amused while others look shocked.

"Kisama…"

"There, a weeks torturing all in a few minutes, don't ya love me Tou-san?" she grins, and winks flirtatiously.

"Did 002 give you pills of something?" Touma asks.

"Yep, pain pills, makes me feel so much better." She grins.

"Bad idea…"

"Why?" 009 asked.

"She doesn't feel pain, then we feel pain. Find your hiding places."

"I'm sure she's not that bad." 003 giggled and continued to feed 001.

"Yeah, not any worse than 007, I suppose." 004 smiled.

"Hey!"

"Well it's true!" 006 added.

"Guys.. I'm still here." 0015 says with a pout. She crosses her arms over her chest and continues to pout. Suddenly, a ball of fluff jumps in her lap and she is looking into the eyes of the little fox kit, Candy who proceeds to lick her face and bring her out of her pout.

"Hey!" she laughs.

"Go bother Cloud! I'm sure she's throwing a fit down there!" she blinks when a silence envelops the room.

"What? I hit a nerve didn't I?" 007 twiddles his thumbs.

"What is it?!" she asks, miffed that they aren't talking.

"Cloud.." Touma begins.

"Yes? Cloud what?!"

"Cloud is hurt.. really.. really bad.." 0015's face turns pale.

"And?"

"Dr. Gilmore and Dr. Kasumi says she doesn't have too much of a chance." Touma begins to struggle for his words, and tears begin to come form his eyes.

"A-And?" her voice is strained.

"H-Her wires are shot, and it'll take a long time to finish. And she was also wounded in battle, she was so close to dieing, and they've had to revive her a lot all ready.. and.. and there is eternal bleeding." Touma buries his face in his hands and lets his body shake.

"It's so complicated, they've done all they can.. and.."

"And what?!" 0015 looses it and screams, Candy whimpers softly and she lets her hold slip a little. Touma looks directly into his friend's eyes.

"There is only a one percent chance of her surviving through the next two hours.." 0015's face grows even paler and her hands fall limp to her sides, mouth open, and her eyes full of tears. She lets out a strangled cry and problems herself off the couch, spilling Candy and opening the door. It slams against the wall.

"Mitty!" Touma dashes after her.

"How awful.." 003 states with teary eyes.

"They're going to loose the most important thing to them…" 007 finishes.

"No!" 009 suddenly stands up.

"009!" 003 says, slightly shocked at his outburst.

"There is still a one percent chance!"

"He's right," 004 stands up straight, instead of leaning against the wall.

"As long as there is hope and will, there is always that one percent chance, there will always be a chance. Even if the odds are stacked against you, as long as you still believe.. there is always a ray of sunshine that will cross the border." Finished with his speech he leans on the wall.

"But what can we do?"

"We can pray." 005 speaks up, coming into the room.

"005! 008! We were worried." 003 smiles.

"Sorry, we were delayed." 008 smiles and sets down his pack.

"What's the use of prayer? It doesn't do anything." 002 snidely comments from where he had been listening.

"Don't say that!" 003 cries out.

"You heard 004, and he's right! All we really can do it hope! And all we really can do is pray! No matter what!"

"Besides, she isn't dead yet." 009 states, putting a hand on 003's shoulder.

"Hmph." 002 pivots and makes his way for the door, bangs covering his eyes as he angrily storms out and take off.

No one notices the lone tear on the floor.

TBC

A.N. OMG! Will 0014 make it? Or will she die! Who knows! R&R