Atobe didn't even realize his fingers had been shaking so badly until he found that he couldn't dial the phone numbers for ambulance. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself down.

//Tezuka is ok. He is ok. Now I just need to get him to the hospital for a check-up.// Atobe told himself and tightened his grip on the phone.

A golden hand reached out from the side and snapped the phone away from him.

"Tezuka?" Atobe turned to see Tezuka trying to sit up. "Stay there! Didn't you know you almost died?"

Tezuka looked pale but his eyes were sharp and coherent. "I'm not going to the hospital."

"YOU NEED TO!" Atobe started yelling. This guy is unbelievable! He almost died just a minute ago and now he's refusing to go to the doctor?

"I'm ok." Tezuka looked straight at him, "Don't make me repeat myself."

The two men stared at each other without balking. Finally, it was Atobe who broke away from the eye contact.

"Alright, we won't go to the hospital." Atobe agreed. "but YOU will go with me to a private clinic my uncle owned." Seeing Tezuka was about to protest, Atobe quickly continued, "Everything will be kept confidential. He won't say a word to anyone." Atobe understood the need for Tezuka to keep this private. "It's either that, or I will tell your parents EVERYTHING that happened, and let them take you to the hospital" Atobe added.

Tezuka's eyes widened in anger. "You will not say anything to my parents."

"No problem, my lips are sealed." Atobe answered, "Should we get going? Your parents might be coming home any minute now, and I don't want to slip anything to them ~accidentally~."

"Are you trying to blackmail me?" Tezuka said in a dangerously low voice.

"Not trying." Atobe 'smiled', "I am."

X X X
X

Atobe reminded himself to remain a distance between Tezuka and himself as they walked out of the private hospital. The check out had taken less time than expected. He received assurance from his uncle that Tezuka was ok despite what happened. There was no internal bleedings or anything like that. Physically, Tezuka should heal in a week or two. But emotionally, the doctor let that trailed away. . .

"It's only 8p.m.?" Atobe murmured. It seemed like such a long day today. He had already called Oishi and told him that he was 'misinformed'. Everything with Tezuka was fine.

"How are you going to hide the bruises on your cheek, though?" Atobe asked, a little concern.

Tezuka's fingers trailed over the bruises on his cheek and shrugged. "Fell off the stairs? Eichen used that once."

Atobe realized Tezuka had closed himself off again. He didn't like it but knew not to push the man any further.

"Just be careful, ok?" Atobe sighed, "Don't let them get too close or touch you. You know how you would react."

Tezuka's lips thinned but didn't answer.

"Hey, you got off school at 3p.m., right?" Atobe suddenly asked, "Do you stay for tennis practice?"

"No," Tezuka looked away, "I can't practice with my left hand yet."

Atobe silently scolded himself for bringing that up, but continued anyway, "OK then, I will see you at Seigaku's front gate at 3:10p.m. I will accompany you home."

"You what?" Disbelief in Tezuka's tone. Then anger. "Do you think I'm incapable of looking after myself?"

The fierce anger and hatred in the voice made Atobe took a step back. "No," Atobe answered quietly, "but . . . let me watch over you for a while at least. Please."

Tezuka seemed a bit stunned by the sincerity in Atobe's voice. Then he insisted, "There's no need. I will be ok."

"But I won't." came the unexpected answer from Atobe. "I won't be ok unless I see it with my own eyes that you're ok."

The expression on Tezuka's face was unreadable. He didn't say a word and they walked silently home.