I am so sorry for not updating much recently. I managed to hurt my hand which left me unable to type, and I've really not had the time.

-Angels Fall First-

Silence.

With the exception of the rain beating heavily against the thin glass windows the waiting room was silent. A slow creak was heard, the white door had been opened gently, and a thin figure entered. His expression was blank, the crimson eyes showing no emotion.

"…Jou?"

His voice sounded oddly loud, though he hadn't spoken above a whisper. Jou was sitting in the corner of the waiting room, though it was completely empty and he could have chosen any seat. It was the place he had occupied all afternoon, when the room had been bustling with activity. Slowly the room darkened and the people dispersed. The lights were turned on and nurse's changed shifts. Still Jou sat, just silently waiting.

"Jou? I--I saw the doctor. He said that Jiichan isn't responding to the drug treatments anymore. He doesn't have much time left…they want my permission to…to…"

Suddenly Jou was up from the seat, and within a second was by Yami's side holding him close.

"It's okay…everything will work out somehow…"

"Jou I can't. It's Yugi's grandfather, I can't make a decision like that!"

"Well, Yug isn't in any condition to make any decisions right now. Have they given you much time to think about it?"

"Um…yeah. They said they'll give him a week, and if there's no change then we have to decide."

Jou simply nodded and held Yami tighter knowing they both needed the comfort right now.

Yugi was currently on a ward in a single room, though nether had been allowed to visit him. Yami had tried to pass off as his brother, but a quick background on Yugi revealed he had no other family.

The doctors had managed to stop the bleeding almost immediately, and he had lost a surprisingly small amount of blood. The doctors would allow him to go home tomorrow…after a visit from a therapist.

Yami collapsed into a chair, his eyes rimmed red from tears he refused to let slip down his cheeks. He rubbed at them with the back of his sleeve, and saw Jou doing the same. This had been an emotionally trying day for the both of them, and they could only imagine what Yugi had been going through.

The door creaked open again; the doctor who had been assigned to Yugi entered the room and stopped to check his watch before yawning widely and going to the vending machine and ordering a coffee.

Yami and Jou exchanged glances before standing up and walking over to him.

"Excuse me, Doctor. But would it be possible for us to go see out friend now?"

The doctor swirled the black coffee before dumping a heaped spoonful of sugar into the plastic cup. Taking a sip he turned to them.

"Which one? I have many patients."

"Yugi Mutou; he looks like me only smaller."

Scanning Yami's form he drank another mouthful of coffee before speaking.

"Ah, that one. No can do, he's not allowed any visitors until he's had an analysis from the therapist. You can visit him tomorrow though, and he can go home by then." He noticed the pleading looks on their faces. "Listen, he's doing fine, visiting hours are almost over anyway, so go home, get some rest and come back tomorrow."

Sighing they nodded as the doctor's pager went off, he glanced at it quickly before downing the coffee and chucking the cup into the bin.

"Visiting hours start at nine, but he won't be done with the psychiatrist for about an hour after that. He'll probably be glad to have you there, and you can take him straight home." He smiled slightly and left.

Sighing Jou turned to Yami.

"Bring your car?"

"Yeah, it's parked somewhere. Think we should just go visit him anyway? I don't want him to be alone…I really don't think he should be after what he almost did…"

"There's security everywhere. We'll see him tomorrow, and you look like shit. Let's just go home and get some sleep."

"Yeah, suppose…you driving or am I?"

-

"-thirty am, expect lots of cloud and rain today with the odd thunderstorm over the Domino area. In local news a man who held up a liquor store today faces charges-"

"Yami? Yami man, get up! We're late! Come on!"

Kicking the crimson eyed teen in the ribs Jou pulled on a pair of baggy jeans over his boxers and sifted through the muddled contents of the floor to find a t-shirt that was passable. Yami blinked his eyes a few times, saw the digital display on the clock and fell out of bed.

"Ow...crap...floor. Why did I let you program the alarm clock? I said set it for eight thirty, not half nine!"

Yami joined Jou in the search for wearable clothes, and soon they were dressed and scrambling around for toast and car keys and on their way to the hospital.

-

Yugi was sitting up in bed, wearing one of those awful hospital gowns. His wrists were both bound tightly with gauze and they stung nastily. He had to keep from itching them, too. And they felt kind of numb.

Yami and Jou haven't stopped by yet, they probably aren't going to either. Yami must be so disappointed with me, and disgusted by what I've done. I've ruined everything haven't I? What if he never wants to speak with me? Why did I do that…why did I…

Yugi's hair was limp and down, one of the nurses had washed it for him but had been unable to get it into spikes. He began to play with one of the golden bangs. That was until he heard immediate scribbling.

"Do you do that often, Yugi? Play with your hair? Do you find it comforting?"

"Um…not really…"

"Tell me what does comfort you, what about interests, do you like scary horror movies?"

"Not really."

"What about movies about death or destruction?"

"No…"

"Do you like violent video games, fighting games?"

"No."

"Hmm. Yugi you're very quiet, is there something specific you want to talk about?"

"Not really. I want to be alone." No, I want to be with Yami…

"You're voice is very quiet too, and slightly shaky. Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me?"

"No thank you."

The doctor sighed, and scribbled more notes down. She turned the sheet over and started on the back.

"What about the boy who brought you in? Is he a friend?"

"Yes."

"How do you know him? Have you known him for a long time?"

"Well sort of…I've known him since I started high school, but we weren't always friends."

More scribbling.

"No? Did he used to bully you?"

"Yeah, sort of. But not as bad as the others, he was just doing it to make me stronger, so that I could stand up for myself. We're best friends now, though."

"Uh-huh. What about the other boy…Yami was it? Where does he come into all of this? Did he used to bully you too?"

Thoughts of telling the women all about the puzzle, and Yami being an ancient pharaoh crossed Yugi's mind, but he decided he didn't want to be locked up in a mental institute and decided otherwise.

"He has always looked after me; he's never hurt me…ever."

"Hmm, I see. Who do you live with Yugi?"

"Yami and my grandfather." Yugi felt tears prickling at his eyes at the mention of the elder man.

"Oh yes, your grandfather has been admitted to this hospital, right? I'm very sorry, but I'm sure he'll get better. You say Yami lives with the two of you? What about his own family?"

"He doesn't have any. He just lives with us, we're his family now. Jou stays with us too, quite often. He has an abusive father, and my grandfather doesn't mind him staying."

"Yes I have reviewed the files on Jounouchi Katsuya." She sighed, put the lid on her pen and put everything into her purse. "Well then, are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

"I'm sure."

"I'll be off then, Yami and Jou should be here somewhere, probably getting permission to take you home. Goodbye then, Yugi." Yugi waved slightly as she walked out of the door and down the hall, leaving him all alone.

He sighed and leaned into his pillows, noting that visiting hours had started over an hour ago. He had spent over sixty minutes talking to that woman, and there was still no sign of his friends. He could hear voiced outside his door, impatient ones at that.

"You talked to the woman! What number did she say?"

"57c, it's a private room on the third floor. It should have his name on the door…"

"Is this it?"

"Well it says Yugi Mutou, so I guess."

The door to his room slowly opened and a messy mop of blonde hair and warm honey eyes hesitantly peeked in…then broke into a grin before entering the room.

"Hey Yug! How's it going buddy? They treating you well?"

Yami had entered after him, and was smiling though it was forced. They both moved over to his bed and Yami instantly gathered him into a hug. Yugi gladly obliged and suddenly felt tears in his eyes, he couldn't stop from crying now. Jou joined in too, and they just held each other for a few moments, letting Yugi cry out his pain.

"Yugi, we can go home now if you want. You have to rest, but I suppose you'd prefer it at home rather than here?"

Yugi nodded slightly and accepted the clothes Jou handed to him. It took quite a while to get dressed; first they had to call a nurse to take the IV out of his arm, then they had to get his shirt on carefully without aggravating his wrist wounds which still stung badly. When Yugi was finally dressed he turned to Yami.

"Before we go, could we go see Jiichan? Just for a minute, I want to make sure he's okay."

Yami blinked a few times, and then remembered what the doctor had said. He wasn't allowed to sut stress on Yugi by telling him too much about his grandfather, and they extended to visiting the man. Smiling sympathetically Yami pulled Yugi into a hug.

"I'm sorry Yugi, but maybe when you're better, yeah? You need to go home and rest now."

"You won't let me see him? Why not? Why...Yami why won't you let me?"

Yami felt his heart break as he straed into the shining amethyst orbs, but he led Yugi out of the hospital and to his car.

"I'm sorry Yugi..."

-To be Continued-

Please review.

-Dagger