32: Recovery

moondragon-1001: No sugar free? You're going to like this chapter. ^_^

bmw: When will Kevin wake up? Well...

TigerRain: Computers are pains in the arses... too bad we rely on them so much. More Kai/Ray/Lee? Eh... -_-

Gothic-Wolf: I agree. Great combination. ^_^

Jay Kamiya: I hate hospitals too. Bad experiences. _

the tigris: You bad bad person! Get to work! :p

Almost at the end of this story, oh ye faithful. This is the second last chapter. And I tell you, the road has been long and steady, but the end is almost in sight.

Disclaimer: Nope, still nothing.

There was a clean smell to the air, the kind that tickled your nose making you want to sneeze. The air was crisp and dry, yet cool without being cold. A warmth flowed over him, the surface he lay upon hard, his back aching from having lain there for too long. His stomach felt tight, yet no longer burned with pain. His eyelids glowed red with a light he knew had to be sunlight, not the artificial light he had been under for so long.

He forced his eyes open, the roof - was it the roof? - a brilliant clean white. He frowned, trying to figure out how he had come to be here… wherever here was.

"Well well, what do we have here?"

He blinked. That voice… "Lee?"

"Nice to have you back, Kev."

Kevin looked to the side, finding his longtime friend and leader slouching back in a chair by his bed, magazine lowered as his orange-yellow eyes sparkled. "It is you."

"Sure is, Monkey. Didn't think I'd let that Zika guy kill you did you?" Lee raised an eyebrow. "If anyone kills you, it's going to be me."

Kevin laughed. "I thought you would never come." He frowned. "What's with that shirt?"

Lee looked down at the dark baggy blue shirt he wore. "The nurses refused to let me walk around shirtless. They said something about me needing to keep my wound warm. Also, it kinda got infected…"

Kevin frowned. "Wound?"

"Don't think you were the only one who got shot."

"Oh come off it, Yin." They looked up to see Kai enter the room, parcel under one arm as he easily moved around on his crutches. "You only got grazed."

Lee smirked. "You're just not happy cause the doctors told you to cut back on the lead in your diet."

Kai had to smile as he made his way to his bed, leaning his crutches against the side as he sat down, tearing open the parcel and reaching inside.

Lee looked up. "Is that a Mars Bar?"

Kai shot a look at him. "Get your own."

Kevin smiled sweetly. "Kai…"

"You can get your own as well."

Kevin looked toward Lee. "So what have I missed?"

"Nothing much. Me and Kai getting shot, a shootout, getting rescued by the army…"

"You forget Ray shooting that other guy," Kai spoke up.

Kevin's eyes widened. "Ray… shot someone?"

"Killed him too."

Kevin sighed. "I always miss out on all the good stuff."

Lee looked up toward Kai, glaring at him as he realised Kai had finished his Mars Bar and moved onto a Milky Way. He returned his attention to Kevin. "Mariah told us about what you did. That was stupid Kevin."

Kevin slumped. "I know."

"However I would have strangled you if you hadn't done it." Lee smiled at Kevin's shocked look. "For once Kev, you did something right. If I had been in your shoes, I would have done the same."

"You're not… mad at me?"

"Actually, I'm proud." Lee raised an eyebrow. "Next time remember to keep moving."

"Trust me, I will."

Kai looked up at the clock. "We've got just under half an hour."

Kevin looked at him. "Til what?"

"Til we get mobbed," Lee answered, stretching, then wincing, rubbing his chest. "Gotta stop doing that."

"You'll split the stiches again if you're not careful," Kai said, dropping the Milky Way rapper beside the Mars Bar one, reaching into his parcel and revealing a Time Out.

Lee raised an eyebrow. "If I'm not mistaken, that has two-"

"Don't even bother, cause the answer is still 'no'."

Kevin gestured toward Kai. "So what happened to him?"

"Shot in the leg," Lee answered, glaring at Kai. "Looks like his sweet tooth is fine though."

Kai looked up, smirking before making a show of taking a bite of his Time Out, causing Lee to growl and give him the finger.

"Gah." Kevin narrowed his eyes, shooting a look at Lee. "He's teasing us, isn't he."

"Yes, and if he wants to get out of this hospital anytime soon, then I suggest he had better stop it."

Kai shrugged, finishing the Time Out and pulling out a packet of Skittles.

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "And this is the guy that whinges about Max eating too much sugar?"

"Where did you get those, anyway?" Lee asked.

"The cafeteria." Kai answered. "And no, Ray hasn't brought any yet."

Kevin frowned. "Ray's coming?"

"And the rest of 'em," Lee replied. "I'll make sure Max doesn't bounce on your bed."

"Could you get me those electric thingys that jump start hearts?" Kevin grinned. "That'd stop him."

Lee chuckled. "Probably would. But I think it would stop his heart as well."

"No loss," Kai spoke up. "He might have won the American Tournament for us, but Max is our weakest link."

"Nah. I still think its Tyson." Curiosity finally got the better of Kevin as he peeked under the sheet at his stomach. "Think they could put any more bandages?"

Lee lifted up his shirt, revealing his own collection. "I think it's their speciality."

Kevin frowned, noticing something else. "Um, Lee… why am I naked?"

Before Lee could answer, the door opened, a nurse coming into the room. Quicker then the eye could see Kai had the parcel under his pillow and the wrappers in his pocket. Kevin dropped his sheet, looking up at the nurse who smiled when she saw him. "Well hello. The doctors will be pleased to hear that you are awake."

Kevin smiled hopefully. "When can I get out of bed?"

"I'll have to find out for you." She looked at Lee, then toward Kai. "Just thought I had better inform you that your friends won't be visiting today. Their bus seems to have broken down, which also means you will have to stay another night. I'm sorry if that causes any problems, but I'm afraid that there is nothing we can do."

"No, that's fine." Lee looked toward Kai as the other rolled his eyes. "We're allowed out of the room, right? To eat I mean."

"Of course. Mr Dickenson has already arranged both lunch and dinner for you both in the café. Is there anything you need at the moment?"

"No, we're right thanks."

She nodded, turning. "I'll go see the doctor to see if you're allowed up. I won't be long."

As soon as the door closed, Kevin raised an eyebrow. "She's cute."

Lee looked down at him. "She's also about 10-15 years older then you."

"All I said was she was cute. You didn't have to jump down my throat. Why do you always do that?"

"I didn't jump down your throat. I just pointed out the fact she was older then you."

"I got shot in the gut, Lee. My eyes are fine, I can see."

"Don't you start, Kevin-"

They broke off as something landed on Kevin's chest. Looking down, they spotted a packet of peanut centred M&M's. They looked toward Kai, who was searching through his parcel before tossing another pack of the same to land next to the first. Spotting them looking at him, he shrugged.

"I don't like peanuts."

Bet you'd never think you'd see the day that Kai got a sugar fix. Well there's a first time for everything. :p