Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, not Brad, not Schu and not Nagi or Farfarello. Neither do I own the songs that I used for the fic; Breathing by Lifehouse and Whisper by Evanescence. This fiction was written for entertainment purposes only. (So please none of those legal craps, ok? 'Sides, I don't own a single cent. Neither do I get any by twisting plots and writing them down!) Pairings: Brad X Schu Feedback: Wanted! Let them scorch if you must or be generous and let them be soothing. A/N: I am sorry that I have failed to mention all of this in the last 2 chapters. Anyway, the song that I used for Chapter One: Inhalation was by Lifehouse entitled Breathing. As for this chapter, Chapter Two: Whisper is a song called Whisper by Evanescence. Dedicated to the nice people who reviewed my previous chapter, Cain and Seph Lorraine!! ^_^

Legend: *Song Lyrics* ~Telepathy~ //Thoughts or Memories// ________________________________________________________________________

Chapter two: Whisper

Crawford roused at the feeling of a certain weight pressed against his side. He woke up with his whole left side of the body numb. He opened his sleepy eyes and waited for his bleary vision to adjust to the room's lighting. He peered out of the partially open curtains. //Still pretty dark//. The luminous green glow of his alarm clock indicated that it was merely half past two in the morning.

He looked down to his left to see a mop of brilliant auburn hair glaring at him. He glanced over at the messed bedcovers and the dark discoloration on his midnight blue cover. //Schuldich's blood//Images from last night's episode came back to him, reminding him of the terror he felt for the German plastered against his side.

Crawford wouldn't have minded staying in that position if his left hand wasn't screaming out to him. The lack of blood circulation made his hand look almost bluish. In a normal circumstance, he would have just pushed the sleeping German off his side onto the carpeted floor just to annoy the younger male. Slowly, he shifted, trying to move the dead weight without waking Schuldich up. He only managed to get his arm out of Schuldich's grip before the younger man snuggled closer for warmth.

Sighing, Crawford forced himself to sleep. But the memory of last night kept him awake. Absently, his hands wandered down the back of the smaller German, trailing slow circles across the bare skin as if it could rub off the horror they just went through. He'll need to take Schuldich to see Clea. Later. Crawford didn't want to move, but sooner or later, he would need to leave.

***

Schuldich's mind ached again. He couldn't remember the last time it didn't hurt. Oh, it was in Crawford's arms. But Crawford wasn't there. He had been away for two weeks now and slowly Schuldich's state was deteriorating. He wanted Crawford's presence. He ached for it. The voices were overwhelming him yet again. Nagi had tried to help, but it didn't improve. He wanted no, he needed Crawford to be near.

*Catch me as I fall Say you're here and it's all over now*

In his mind, he replayed what the good doctor had said when Crawford took him before he left with Takatori for the States. Though he had more interest in the doctor rather than what she had to say. Rather, he was intrigued by her mind.

//"Mr.Schuldich, I will keep this matter just between us at Mr. Crawford's request. Este will not know of it. But I need you to.understand the severity of this matter."//

Most of what she had told him was lost in a buzz of nothingness. He had planned to pick her brain and find out, but he found cold steel instead.

//"What I am prescribing to you is a Psychotherapeutic drug. It's still being tested, probably illegal, but it is effective. Something akin to you power lock disintegrated after that incident. That means your telepathy may well be blown out of proportions. This may be fatal to your mind as it could collapse at anytime at all if not prevented."

"Woman, speak English, or German or Japanese for all I care. Just speak plainly," He was pissed and hurting.//

Schuldich remembered how the dark haired bespectacled woman looked like. How the shadows played on her pale face. He couldn't detect her nationality or age or race. It was like she didn't have her own identity.

//" I'll be frank with you Schuldich. Your power control for your telepathy was shattered in that accident. It wouldn't have gotten worse if you had come to me earlier. Your telepathy is still there, but hardly controllable. It could kill you and people around you if it got too much."

"Does Brad know?"

"Crawford is aware of it and the dangers. He has given me the green light to give you the drug," she said, slightly hesitant. She was hiding something.

"You'll need to rebuild that lock. But you can't do it alone. You'll need another psychic to help you. I would help you, but.my channels aren't compatible with yours," she spoke softly, but without any emotion.//

"Tch." Schuldich push the whole conversation from his mind. He kicked an empty beer can from the pavement. //Been a while since I had one of those//. He thought as he eyed the rolling can as it clanged against the tar.

8Speaking to the atmosphere No one's here and I fall into myself*

He was irritable and he was pissed. Brad Crawford had intentionally avoided him after the incident outside his office. But that was only for the following day because he left for America the day after that. So for the past one and a half weeks, he refused to take the drug in protest. He wanted to be angry with Crawford, blame him for his own demise, think of darker things when a presence brushed against his mind.

~Schuldich?~

~Eh, Doctor?~

~Naoe Nagi called me up, asking where you were. Crawford will be back soon!~

~Brad can just go fuck himself~

And with that he severed the link then dropped to the ground. He couldn't care less that the ground was damp or that he was spurting blood or that there was no way anyone can find him underneath that abandoned bridge. He wanted Brad. He wanted to tell the bastard just how much he loved him but he also wanted to hate him so badly. He just wanted to rot away in solitude. Doctor Clea had told him that the pills would lessen or rather, would weaken his telepathy. But he refused to take them, fearing that if he did; he would lose his telepathy for good.

*This truth drive me Into madness*

"And if there was no more telepathy, what use would Crawford have with an empty shell? This body nothing but a vessel for that talent," Schuldich slurred as the pain began to engulf his body. He was failing and soon, Brad wouldn't have any further need for him.

"Ah, Gott! I never wanted this 'gift'. Oh, how it had cost my life," his voice drenched with scorn. Then he continued, voice full of irony, " but now, that's the only thing of any worth that I have, eh? The only thing I have that is of any value! And You're taking that away from me, aren't You?"

Schuldich was having one of Farfarello's talks with God. They all had a bone to pick with Him. Farfarello, Crawford, himself.probably Nagi too. Slowly, he felt the steady hum of minds that he had struggled to keep at bay envelope him. His pupils dilated and his eyes rolled back into his head. He was that close to submitting to the dark cries. His hands were tainted by blood. They always were. Blood from his victims, from his family, from himself.

He wasn't sure whether God was laughing down on him or crying for him but it began to rain. The rain made up for the tears that he could not cry. He couldn't cry when his family was killed, he couldn't cry when his virginity was taken so brutally, he couldn't cry when his mind was so callously plundered neither could he cry when he killed. God only knows how much he wanted to.

*I know I can stop the pain If I will it all away*

Rivulets of dark red looked almost black in the dark as it spilled down his hands. He felt numb all over. A familiar feeling. He relished the deadened sentiment and ironic welcome into the void. Absently, he thought that red, maroon was very becoming of his fair skin as he looked blearily at his slashed wrists. Red would probably make him more attractive. Brad probably couldn't resist him even if he wanted to. He giggled lightly at that thought as his sanity corroded away.

Vaguely, he wondered what Brad would think seeing him like this. //Would he still think I'm pretty? Would he think of me as 'fuckable'? Shit! Fuck you, Bradley Crawford!//

Suddenly, Schuldich was presented by a visage of an imposing Angel of Death, glowering down at him with harsh bright light surrounding him .He felt as if he had died and went to heaven. //Pft! Yeah, right! Heaven! He's probably here to send me down to Hell//. Standing on the ledge, dressed in his favorite now-wet crème-colored Armani business suit was none other than the devil himself.

//Good bye, Cruel World! But You were a hard Mistress to please.//

With that he began to gradually slip unconscious with a soft smile splayed on his face as he slumped lower to the ground.

Brad Crawford made a dash down the muddy slope oblivious of the dark brown stains soaking up his pant leg. His breath was caught in his throat. He couldn't remember the last time he panicked like this. His blood froze and adrenaline rushed in his veins. He made a leap and skidded to a stop about half a meter away from the limp German.

"Schuldich!" he cried. Schuldich's body was cradled in his arms. He shook Schuldich, trying to rouse the German awake.

*Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain)*

"Wake up! Come on, Schuldich! I order you to stay awake," Crawford continued, his voice tinged with desperation. Clea has warned him about leaving Schuldich behind unattended. She had cautioned him not to let Schuldich slip unconscious.

Schuldich's eyes open into jaded green slits. Then he smiled. Crawford's heart broke. Schuldich was surrendering. His eyes began to close again but Crawford wouldn't allow it.

"Oh nonono! Stay awake!" he was slapping Schuldich's face lightly.

"Th.there's.so .many voi.voices," Schuldich rasped out, struggling to stay awake.

"I know. You have to fight them."

*Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name)*

"C-can't. I'm too.tired."

"You have to try! I'm here! It's gonna be alright!" Crawford's voice sounded gruff and grated.

"Are you here.to take me.away?" Schuldich small voice sounded painfully young to Crawford's ears.

"Yes, I'm here to take you home. Just stay awake, alright?"

In Crawford's eyes, Schuldich looked deathly pale.and young. Even his vibrant hair was dulled by the dark night and mud. Schuldich smiled faintly but proceeded to allow his eyes to drift shut.

*Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them)*

Schuldich's mind was almost entirely consumed. He had drifted into the silence of the cold void. He thought he saw a dark-haired Engel that would take him away, but he kept pulling Schuldich back. //No! No! I want to let go! I want to surrender! Stop pulling me!//

Crawford thought that Schuldich reminded him of a broken rag doll he had encountered on the first day he was in Rosenkreuz. Shattered against the black tar. How he had managed to carry Schuldich all the way up was even beyond him, but he did. Schuldich's eyes drifted shut.

"Schuldich! Schuldich, come on! Seigfried!" Crawford didn't even notice that he had slipped so desperate was he to rouse Schuldich.

Schuldich's mind snapped. That name! It was his name. No, that wasn't his name anymore! He had erased that name from his life a long time ago! But no one knew it other than.other than Brad! Suddenly, everything became too painfully real.

*Don't turn out the light (Never sleep never die)*

"B-Br.Brad?" Schuldich's voice was hoarse and dry from the harsh breathing.

"Ja, it's me," he answered, glad that Schuldich was awake.

Slowly, Crawford eased the German in the passenger seat after some complications with the door. He rushed to the driver's side and got in. He then ripped the dashboard open and pulled out the First Aid Kit. He took two thick layers of gauze and readied the brandy -that Schuldich had bought and forgotten about- since they've run out of antiseptic cream. He tried to wash away as much dirt and grime as he could before taking hold of Schuldich's chin.

"This is going to hurt like hell, but I have to do this," he said bluntly.

Schuldich merely nodded weakly. Brad smiled slightly, glad that Schuldich was awake and aware. //Oh, he'll get a bashing when he's all mended, but for now//.he had to stop the bleeding!

Crawford uncapped the alcohol and took a deep breath, both for himself and Schuldich, then poured the amber liquid on Schuldich's wrists. The gash was deep. Intentionally deep. The redhead gasped. He pulled one of his hands away and grabbed the brandy bottle to take several generous swigs of the liquor. Crawford recaptured the bloodied hands in an iron grip and refused to let the German take anymore brandy. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed Schuldich hard. Vaguely, he tasted Schuldich and unconsciously imprinted it in his memory.

He gathered his wits about him preparing his mind then he lowered his mental barrier. Schuldich's mind was clamped tight. He brushed his mind against the German's walls softly, as if to tell the younger mind to open up to him. Slowly, Schuldich painstakingly allowed what remained of his walls to crumble. Crawford gasped into Schuldich's mouth as the pain entered him and little sigh escaped Schuldich as the pain partially lessened.

*I'm frightened by what I see But somehow I know That there's much more to come*

Again, Crawford was in Schuldich's mind. He saw what Schuldich saw, felt a raw mixture of passion, pleasure and pain amplified by his own feelings. They were sharing a bond again. Reluctantly, he pulled his mind away and felt Schuldich's mind slip away from his. He was even more reluctant to break the kiss but Schuldich broke it, breathing harshly from lack of air, pain and shock.

Crawford took a deep stabilizing breath then open his mouth to speak, "Better?"

Schuldich took a little longer than Crawford expected to coherently answer him. And shamefully as it was, it had actually stoked his ego. Crawford quickly bandaged Schuldich's wrists as thoroughly as he could. Then he started the engine of the black Mercedes sports and drove as fast as he could to Este's sanatorium.

The hospital itself was unlike most infirmaries. Este has a sadistic taste in everything. The building was large, aptly covered with black marbles and dark maroon and granite exterior. There was a gaunt and haunting aura surrounding the imposing building; as if too much pain and torture had tainted it.

It was unlike Bradley Crawford to rush into things headlong but it was uncharacteristic pf him to be impulsive and kiss Schuldich like that. And there he was, speeding at breakneck speed. The sleek black vehicle skidded into a stop at the entrance. He got out and yanked the passenger door in annoyance. As gently as he could muster, he hoisted Schuldich's battered frame into his arms. The gentleness of his touch was unbecoming for a killer and how, Crawford thought, would the German laugh about it if he weren't so half-dead.

*Immobilized by my fear And soon to be Blinded by tears*

Crawford's precise and brusque footsteps bounced of the sterile but unusual gray and red walls of the hall. The echoes rang and began to change. It became more erratic, more hastened, more.desperate. No one dared to approach the stoic man when a raging storm broils in his eyes. There a strange and ironic depiction was frozen in time. A man in pristine white smeared with blood trying to revive or rejuvenate, perhaps, a delicate but dying flame walking further into the darkness of the abyss.

Then, he ran. For all that he was worth, he ran. Fear was indeed a bitter little taste. He would embrace it, but not today. Today he needed to feel the sweet honeyed taste of hope. Something that he had never thought he would ever feel like experiencing.

A trail of blood red beads followed after their wake. And the sands of time flow after it.lesser and more strained.

"CLEA!!" Crawford's roar reverberated and rattled the core of everything with soul.

The doctor made her presence known as she emerged from the shadows as if she was made out of it.

"Crawford. Good. You found him," she said devoid of any emotion. She seemed to have pulled a stretcher for Schuldich out of the shadows as well.

"Damn it, Dominique! Save him or I swear I will burn this place down. With YOU in it!" Crawford's voice was edgy and desperate.

Then, she smiled. Her stoic features were shattered and changed then formed a delicate but apparent smile.

"You know I will," she said assertively. Then softly to herself, "even if it's just so that I can feel again."

*I can stop the pain If I will it all away*

Crawford believed in her. She had never betrayed nor failed him before. But that didn't dissuade the nervousness and the fear that disconcerted him. His eyes trailed after her as she pushed the stretcher into her mysterious dark room. Even from back in the time when they were still in Rosenkruez, she was dubbed the 'freak' among the other freaks. Though, she is without doubt one of the best Talent and psychic doctor out there despite being the youngest.

In the operating room, assisted only by the dim light of blue, she sets about to help heal Schuldich's wounds. Her black eyes began to fade as it slid close. Schuldich's heartbeat though weak, was still constant. She synchronized her body and mind to him and with him. A scalpel floated into her palms as she made a little incision just under his sternum. Blood flowed in tiny red rivulets that seemed purple in the muted blue lighting. Her hand slid above the cut and blood began to swirl upwards, like miniature waterspouts. Then a bright indigo surge of energy fled from her into his wound and spread across his body like wildfire making every vein in Schuldich's body glow blue.

His wounds healed almost instantaneously but the link between body and mind was weak. Cuts began to appear on her own body though they were like scratches compared to Schuldich's wounds. She could feel Crawford's anxiety, Schuldich's agony, and a whole amalgam of emotions flowing through her. She felt a whole lot of pain and suffering and she relished every bit of it. Her body reacted to the emotions, despite her euphoric response; her mind was in pain.so tears fell involuntarily.

"C-Crawford," she said between sobs.

"Clea! Is he alright," was the first thing that escaped his mouth as he burst through the double doors.

Despite her current situation, she couldn't help the small chuckle that slipped past her lips.

"I'm fine, Crawford. Thank you for your concern," she said dryly. Seeing that her remark didn't seem to have any effect other than increase his anxiety, she decided to placate him. Slowly, she rose and neared the operation table.

"He's fine. He's heartbeat is weak, but stable," she said, her crisp manner returning ever so slightly. Her lips curved up slightly when she heard Crawford let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief. She decided not to spoil the moment for Crawford.

".You're hesitating, Dominique. There's a 'but', isn't there?"

She sighed.

"Yes, Crawford. At this moment, Schuldich's mental-physical connection is rather weak. I would try to bring him back, but.you see, psychic connections are almost like your blood type. Some are incompatible with others. My Talent and Schuldich's aren't on the same wavelength. I might endanger his life by even trying. Besides, even if I'm compatible, I don't have the energy to execute it."

"I'll do it."

"How do you know, whether.?" she said, already knowing what to expect.

"I just know. We've done it before. I-I shared a .connection with him," he said oblivious to her knowing smile.

"Very well," she said quietly then left the two alone.

*Fallen angels at my feet Whispered voices at my ear*

He sighed once again. Then ensued to touch Schuldich's face, an action he had restrained himself from taking so many times before.// Hmm, so soft. So pale//. He bent down and whispered into Schuldich's ear. Things he knew the German would react to. He whispered soft threats, past memories, future hopes. Things he knew the German won't hear. Then he entered Schuldich's psychic barrier yet again.

Getting past Schuldich's barrier was getting more and more easy with each try and this was getting more disturbing by the minute and rouse Crawford's concern. //If it gets any easier, I'm sure that wouldn't be good news. Could it be he's getting weaker?//

Voices bombarded Crawford ceaselessly. Pain was seeping into him from every inch of his body. He felt like a steel balloon. Absorbing all but releasing none. //God! Is this what he has to go through each day?//

Crawford tried his best to ignore the pain as he wondered for a bit. Then he saw what he was looking for. In a distance, he could see a blood red dot that reminded him of the German's hair. He heard Schuldich's voice in a slow, melancholic hum. His voice was barely audible above the screaming and wailings. Then as if Schuldich's mind wanted to contradict Crawford's thoughts, a sudden wall of utter steeling mind power erupted from the 'ground' that Crawford was walking on.

In sheer frustration and anger, Crawford slammed his fists onto the wall making his skin break. He was so close! He tried to go around the wall, but it seemed to stretch on and on as far as the eyes can see. He tried to climb it, but the steep and smooth surface made it impossible. Subconsciously, he was drawn to Schuldich's hum and with a renewed vigor he trailed the voice. He kept walking for some time, feeling close yet still so far apart.

Then he stopped. He knew that beyond the thick wall that separated them lay Schuldich because the voice was so close. But before he could be sure, the voice grew softer and softer then it fell silent. And the wall suddenly disappeared into the ground just as abruptly as it came. Crawford looked at the frail figure and ran towards it.

"SCHULDICH!!! NOO!!" he felt his heart fail. Schuldich was on the ground, his brandy-wine hair splayed across the ground and.wings? He had wings, but not plain, pristine white ones like ones people have always depicted on angels. No, his were burgundy with black tips. There was a dark figure of a woman next to him, crying as she reached out for Schuldich.

*Death before my eyes Lying next to me I fear She beckons me Shall I give in?*

"I am sorry, but his time is almost here," she said with woe and pain in her eyes.

"No! You are nothing more than an image concocted by Schuldich as his last defense. I will not let you, a non-existent being, ruse me into letting him go," said Crawford adamantly. He began to fret. The German needed help.

"I am real, Bradley Crawford," she said, but nothing more. Instead she neared a tiny dandelion and touched it with one hand. Right before his eyes, the plant shriveled and died.

"I refuse to BELIEVE you!"

She touched his face and a gash appeared across his cheek. He didn't even flinch. She sighed, "You have to believe me. He," she paused as she gestured to Schuldich, "does. Therefore, in his mind, I AM real."

"Why do you want him, Bradley?"

"I forbid you to call me that! Only.only."

"Only he has earned the right to call you that, Crawford?? But he doesn't have his power anymore! He's nothing to you! Let me have him and you will be rid of another nuisance and burden for the rest of your life. He is annoying, he's vulgar, and he's nothing but trouble. He's a whore and slut, anyway," she said with a slight cynical and sadistic smile.

No sound was heard beyond the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. He had slapped her hard across her face causing blood to leak out of the broken skin of her lip.

"If he is to die, then it will be in MY hands! Now, if you have nothing better to say, I wish to save his sorry ass so that I can beat it out of him later! What he is to me is nothing of your concern and or anyone else's!"

She smiled and whispered softly in the wind before evanescing.

*Upon my end shall I begin Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet my end*

Crawford knelt next to Schuldich, feeling his pale hands grow colder by the instant. He wasn't sure whether the German would survive, but should he die, so would Crawford. If he were trapped in Schuldich's mind as it dies, his mind would die with Schuldich. He knew he should at least attempt to save himself, but he was reluctant to even move away from Schuldich.

Then he hugged Schuldich and just held him there allowing his own heat to absorb into the German's cooling body. He ran his hands across Schuldich's wings. He knew the wings were only a figment of Schuldich's imagination, but it felt so real. The whole world he was in felt so real.

"S-so, t-this is how it ends, B-Brad?" it was raspy and soft. So soft in fact that Crawford nearly missed it.

"S-Schu!" he said in shock and joy.

"W.where were you? I-I wa-waited for s-so long for y-ou." it was a struggle just to talk.

"Shh, I need to take you out of here! Don't talk," Crawford was so relieved. There was still a chance.

"H-have I tol-told you.that.I-I thoroughly. h-hate you!" he said to Crawford but not with malice. Just acceptance and perhaps.even love.

Crawford smiled. Not just any smile, but a genuine smile, " No, you haven't really. But I hope to hear a lot more from you after this."

Suddenly, both of them blacked out and when they came to, they were both on two different stretchers side-by-side with their hands and fingers intertwined. Crawford disentangled their hands much to Schuldich's disappointment. Crawford sat and subsequently helped Schuldich sit up. Being still unstable and weak from their escapade, the German nearly fell back is it weren't for Crawford's arms and shoulder supporting him. They heard a slight shuffling and looked to find Dr Clea Dominique standing in front of them.

"Hello boys. I hope you had a pleasant journey to and back," she said, her dry humor apparent.

Then she turned dead serious, " I had hope for you to wait for me to prepare both of you before you delved into Schuldich's mind. Both of your bodies suffered tremendous amount of shock as both of your hearts had actually stopped for a while. I have done some diagnostic check-ups on your vitals and there seem to be no damage, " she said pointedly at Crawford.

"Both of you do not exert yourself. Especially you, Schuldich. I'm don't come cheap. Crawford, Schuldich will be your ward until I deem you no longer need any further help. If I don't see any improvement, I will have your ass, Crawford."

"You can't. That one's mine, Doc!" Schuldich chipped out softly in attempt to lighten the mood, earning a glare from Crawford. Without a word, he lowered Schuldich back on the stretcher and ambled towards Clea but not without difficulty.

"I told you not to exert yourself, Crawford."

"Dominique, what happened here."

".will not reach Este's knowledge. Don't worry, I've taken care of it. Take him home, Brad. And treat him the way he deserves to be treated. And help him re-build his control."

"You feel too much, Clea."

"I'm an empath, Brad. I feel other people's emotions, so don't bother denying it. Just.thank Schuldich for letting me feel something for myself."

"Hmm," was Crawford's version of an affirmative. He gathered the sleeping German into his arms and headed towards the car.

They were heading home. And what a long way they have to go.

End of Chapter Two

***More A/N: I'm sorry for those who've been waiting for the continuation. I hope this chapter is not too long for you. I shall be taking some time off to study for my Major Exam (only 5 weeks left + another 3 for all the papers) and I promise I'll write more after that, depending on the feedback. ^_^ (Thanks to those who have given me reviews! This chapter is for you! ^_^)***