Kiawna: Thank you everyone for your reviews! I love you all!

Orli: After this chapter I hope they still love you.

Kiawna: Orli shush!

Yami: Why? What do you plan on doing this chapter?

Kiawna: Never you mind. You will find out soon enough.

Orli: I know what she is doing.

Kiawna: ::shuts Orli's mouth::

Orli: Mmmmph!

Yami: ::sighs:: Let's just get on with the chapter.

Kiawna: Good idea. Here it is.

Chapter 7: Projects put on hold

Joey lay face down holding his ribs and coughing out blood. This was the worst his father had ever beaten him.

Flashback

"Why are you home boy?" His father asked while punching him in the face. Joey's hand automatically shot up to where his father had hit him. "Well?" He persisted punching Joey in the gut.

"I had to change my school uniform." He replied doubling over and holding his stomach. His father started to kick him. 'What happened?' He thought as his father started to kick him in the ribs repeatedly. 'He must not have got a job and went to drink.' He winced as he heard and felt a couple of his ribs crack, 'I will not cry though.' He just whimpered, "Dad, please stop."

"You lied to me. You said you wouldn't be home." He yelled, "And here you are." He gave one last kick to Joey's ribs as he said, "You better be gone by the time I get back." With that he left, slamming the door of the apartment.

End Flashback

Joey coughed again, sputtering more blood on the floor. He winced at the pain in his ribs while he reached for the phone. There was one person he thought of.

Seto heard the phone ring and picked it up. "Kaiba here." He answered. "Seto." He heard a familiar weak voice on the other end. "Help." His eyes went wide as he began to panic. It was Joey.

"Joey!" He yelled into the receiver. No answer. "Joey!" He called again, still no answer. He began to panic some more. He yelled one more time. "Damn it Joey answer me." For the third time there was no answer. Seto slammed down the phone, was out the front door and in his car faster than you could say Kuribou.

Seto got to Joey's in record time. He ran every red light and sped the whole way there. 'Damn it, this is all my fault. I should have went in with him.' He continued to curse himself as he ran up the steps two at a time to Joey's apartment. When he reached there, he just burst in through the doors.

The site that reached his eyes was not a pleasant one. There, lying unconscous beside the phone was Joey. "Oh my god, Joey!" He ran to Joey and made so Joey's head was resting in his lap. "Damn it Joey don't quit on me." He quickly grabbed his cell phone and dialed 911. When he was done that he called Yugi.

"Hello?" an older voice said.

"Yami! Go to the hospital and wait there for me."

"What? Seto, why? What's wrong?" The ex-pharaoh asked.

"Joey has been beaten up and I am waiting for the ambulance." As if on cue, the sounds of sirens were coming his way and he heard footsteps rushing up the stairs. "Never mind, the paramedics are here. Just go to the hospital, I am going to go with Joey."

"Alright Seto. I will get Yugi. You want me to call the others?" Yami asked. Seto agreed and hung up the phone. "Be careful with him!" He yelled at the paramedics as they lifted Joey onto the stretcher. "Or I will have you fired!" They did as they were told, not wanting to mess with him.

Ten minutes later they were at the hospital and Joey was rushed to the ER. Seto paced in the waiting room, waiting for the doctors to come out and tell him Joey's condition. It felt like it had been hours when he heard someone call him. "Seto!" He turned around and saw all of Joey's friends come towards him.

"What's his condition?" Ryou asked, with tear stained cheeks.

"The doctors haven't come out yet. He better make it. He looked pretty bad."

"What happened?" Malik asked, being held by his yami. Seto just shrugged and looked down. "I don't know." He whispered. "I dropped him off at his place, and a half hour later he is calling me. The only words he said were, Seto and Help."

Yugi placed his hand on Seto's shoulder. "He will be fine. He is a tough person." He said, doing his best to comfort Seto. "Where is Mokuba?" Seto's eyes shot up. He had forgotten about Mokuba in all this commotion. "Damn it." He said, "I can't leave though. I don't want to leave Joey."

"Don't worry Seto." Ryou said. "Is he at school?" Seto nodded. "I'll go get him."

"I'll come with you." Bakura said. Ryou was in no mood to argue with his yami, so he allowed the white haired boy to follow him.

Marik spoke up for the first time since getting there, "Who did this to him? I swear, I will kill the person who did it." His voice was full of hate towards the person who did this to Joey.

"His father." Were Seto's only words as he looked at the door that Joey had gone through an hour ago.

"His father!" Yami said, also speaking for the first time since they got there. "So that is why he didn't want us going to his place." It all began to make sense to them. They had never been able to go over to Joey's place because he was always coming up with excuses. When really, he was trying to protect his friends or himself.

Yugi was sobbing into his darker half's chest now. "Why didn't we see it before? He was always coming to school with bruises on his face and arms." Yami was rubbing his back as Yugi spoke, "He always came up with the excuse that he was in a fight on the way to school or he fell."

"You mean he never told you that his father beat him?" Seto looked at Yugi with surprise. Yugi shook his head, as did the rest of them. Seto was about to say more when the doctor came out. Seto hurried to him, "How is he? What is his condition?" He asked.

"Mr. Wheeler has a couple of broken ribs, and is bleeding internally." Everyone gasped. "We have to operate, but." The doctor trailed off.

"But what?" Seto asked, his voice dangerous. The doctor stuttered a bit, "B- but Mr. Wheeler doesn't have the money to pay for the operation. This isn't the first time he has been in here. His father refuses to pay the bills."

"Give him the operation. Don't you know who I am?" Seto asked, his glare could have killed if glares could kill. As if the doctor's eyes just opened, he gasped. "M-Mr. Kaiba."

"That is correct, now if you don't get Joey into surgery, I will personally see to it that you will be fired." His voice was calm, but dangerous.

"But the bill." The doctor said his voice just as calm, but the look in his eyes told everyone he was frightened.

"I will pay the bill." Seto said. "Now get in there." The doctor nodded and without another word was in the room, preparing Joey. When the doctor left Seto whispered to himself, "Damn it Joey, don't leave me."

Everyone was sitting down by now. Malik and Yugi had fallen asleep in their yami's lap. Marik and Yami were staring out in space, thinking while Seto was staring at the door to the room that had Joey.

"We're back." A voice said. "Sorry it took so long."

"Big brother!" Mokuba cried as he ran to hug his older brother. "Ryou told me most of what happened. Is Joey going to be okay?"

"I hope so Mokuba." Seto said, pulling his brother into his lap.

"What is his condition?" Bakura asked, "Have they come out yet?"

"He is in surgery. And he has a couple of broken ribs." Yami answered for Seto.

"What! Why?" Ryou asked. "Why is he in surgery?"

"Because he is bleeding internally and the doctors had to stop it." Marik answered.

"Who did this to him?" Bakura asked, in the same tone Marik had.

"His father." Yugi whispered, having woken up from all the noise. "But don't do anything until Joey gets out and is awake." He pleaded.

"We won't Yugi." Bakura told him as he sat down on Marik's other side, Ryou sitting in his lap. "I swear though, I will kill him if I have to."

Mokuba looked at his brother, "You have been awfully quiet, Seto. You okay?" Seto was brought out of his thought by the voice of his brother. "Huh, yeah. I'll be all right. I am just worried is all." Normally Mokuba would tease him about being worried, but he understood.

Yami, you think Joey will be okay? Yugi asked Yami through their link.

Of course aibou. Joey is strong, a little thing like this won't bring him down for good. Yami answered, trying to convince himself almost as much as he was trying to convince Yugi. 'Don't make me a liar, Joey.' He thought, looking at the door.

It had been 2 hours since Joey had gone into surgery. Once again the hikari's were sleeping, as well as Mokuba. Marik and Bakura were discussing ways to get back at Joey's father.

"Hey, Kaiba. I am going to go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. You want anything?" Yami asked as he gently placed Yugi in the warm chair, being careful not to wake him. Seto just shook his head. "All right, I will be back in a few." With that, Yami left, leaving Seto to his own thoughts.

'I will never forgive his father if anything goes wrong.' Seto thought. 'Hell, I won't forgive myself. I left him, knowing what his father was capable of.'

Like he said, Yami was back a few minutes later with 2 cups, one of coffee and one of hot chocolate. He placed the cups on the table beside his chair and gently lifted Yugi back up and on his lap. Yugi stirred a bit, but didn't wake up. He just snuggled closer to Yami. He sighed and held Yugi tight. He didn't know what would happen if Yugi was in a situation like this. 'How can Kaiba be so calm.'

As calm as Yami thought Kaiba was, he was wrong. Kaiba was just keeping his calm exterior. Inside he was panicking and worrying. He had been panicking ever since Joey had called him. The length of time wasn't helping either. "Damn it what is taking so long?" He yelled. Startling everyone that was asleep, awake.

"Kaiba, the longer it takes probably means the better job they are doing." Yami said. Kaiba sighed. The ancient pharaoh was right. "I just can't stand sitting here worrying." He whispered. Trying to comfort him, Yami put a hand on Kaiba's shoulder. "He will be all right." Kaiba just nodded.

"Um.Mr. Kaiba?" Kaiba's head shot up. "Mr. Wheeler made it through the surgery all right. He is in resting right now. You may go see him, but please, don't make too much noise, he needs his rest." They nodded their understanding, before Seto pretty much ran to where Joey was recovering.

He burst into the room and was quickly at Joey's side. "Joey?" He whispered. He grabbed Joey's hand, "Come on pup. Wake up, let me know you are really okay." The others were quietly entering the room. They all sat in basically the same position they were in while in the waiting room. Mokuba sat at Yami's feet, not wanting to disturb his brother.

Seto laid his head down on the hand he was holding. He let a few tears drop to the hand, but made sure no one in the room saw it. He would only let Joey feel his tears. Joey just lay there motionless. Tubes were coming out of his body. 'Damn it Joey, wake up. Please." He thought as he squeezed his hand. He placed kisses on Joey's hand. 'Please, pup. Wake up for me?' He wanted Joey to wake up. He wanted to see his smiling face, his beautiful brown eyes. He didn't want to, but he did. He cried. His shoulders shook and he just let the tears flow.

"Seto?" He heard a quiet voice and then felt two small arms wrap around his waist, hugging him. "Joey will be okay. He is tough." Using his free hand, he pulled Mokuba closer, not wanting to lose him too. He never took his eyes off of his blond puppy, so he never saw three hikari's crying silent tears into their yami's chest. They couldn't stand seeing their friend like this. He didn't deserve it. Joey was nothing but kind and protective towards them. They all knew in their hearts that Joey was going to be all right, but they still couldn't help crying.

About an hour later, Yami quietly stated that they should go and let Joey rest. "Kaiba, are you going to come too?" He asked.

"I want to stay with him." He stated. Yami understood. "All right, would you like us to take Mokuba?" He asked, for the little boy had fallen asleep in his brother's lap. Kaiba nodded and gently gave Mokuba to Yami. "Make sure he gets to school tomorrow." Yami nodded and headed out to where the others were waiting. "Come on guys, let's get this little one to bed." Everyone agreed and they all left the hospital, silently agreeing to return after school tomorrow, with Mokuba.

Seto put his head back down. He wasn't going to leave Joey's side. He knew it felt weird, but he trusted Yami with Mokuba. Yami had been nothing but understanding and caring towards him, even though they were suppose to be rivals. 'I suppose we just decided on a friendship silently.' He thought to himself before falling into a deep slumber.

"Get in here, you worthless piece of crap!" He heard his stepfather yell. Seto slowly and cautiously made his way into the room where Gozubaru was. The cautiousness was all in vein, for he grabbed Seto and flung him to the floor, where he was kicked and punished for absolutely no reason. "What do I have to do to teach you to obey me?" Gozubaru asked, punching him. "How many times have I told you to always be where I can see you?" Seto winced as he was kicked again.

"I-I'm sorry." He cried. "It won't h-happen again." The cries were in vein as well. Gozubaru just continued to punch him and kick him.

"Why did I even adopt you? You are a useless being. You will never fulfill my expectations. You are nothing. You understand that? Nothing!" He gave one last kick before leaving the room.

Seto lay on the floor. Too scared to move. He was scared he might come back and start to beat him again. He regretted his decision for challenging his stepfather to a chess match. He wished he never won. He would have had a better life.

Suddenly he felt a hand on his head. "No, please don't hurt me anymore. I won't disobey you again. I'm sorry. Don't hurt me." He sobbed. He felt strong, gentle arms wrap around him and bring him close.

"Shh. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I will protect you and Mokuba." That voice. He knew that voice. He looked up at the person who was holding him so gently through blurry eyes. "Joey?" He whispered. Joey nodded. "But I thought you were hurt."

"It's all right. I will be okay."

"Joey."

"Seto." He heard his voice being called. "Seto, wake up." Slowly he opened his eyes. There, sitting up, with his hand on Seto's head, gently petting it, was Joey.

"Joey." He carefully hugged him, not wanting to cause him anymore pain. "Joey are you okay?" Joey just held him close and whispered. "I will be fine. I'm worried about you."

"Me? Why me?" He asked confused.

"Because you were saying, 'don't hurt me. Please stop' and stuff like that." Joey looked at his boyfriend with those beautiful brown eyes that Seto had wanted to see. Seto just buried his face in Joey's neck. Why was he doing this? He should be comforting Joey, not the other way. "Seto, what is it?"

"M-my father beat me when I was younger." Joey felt hot tears on his neck and held Seto closer. "W-when I saw you, I was so worried. I-I didn't want to believe that someone could hurt you. Like they did me." Joey was rubbing his back.

"Shush. I'm going to be okay. Just a few broken ribs, along with some stitches that I have to be careful not to rip out by accident."

"Joey, was it your father who did this to you?" Seto asked seriously. Joey looked down at his feet and nodded. "Damn it, why?"

"I don't know. Yesterday I found out that he was going to AA meetings. When I woke up this morning, he had left me a note and told him to leave a note if I wasn't going to be home, so I did. However, after you dropped me off at home to change my uniform, my dad just went ballistic and called me a liar. I didn't expect him home because he was out looking for a job." Joey's voice was getting weaker, he didn't want to cry. "I suspect that when he didn't get the first job he tried for, he went to a bar and started drinking. My dad never was patient." He felt the tears fall down his cheeks, then he felt them being wiped away.

"Joey, stay with me and Mokuba for a while." Seto said, holding Joey's cheek. "At least until your dad calms down or gets his alcohol problem under control."

"I-I don't know, Seto." Joey said, leaning into the touch. "What if he finds out where I am and he comes after you? I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."

"Nothing will happen. I will talk to your dad when he is sober."

"What if it takes more than a few weeks for my dad to control it? My sister is coming in the first day of break."

"She can stay with us. Gods know I have enough room." Joey smiled. Seto continued on, seriously again. "Joey, I just don't want anything bad to happen to you." He paused for a moment, then quietly added, "I love you too much to let anything bad to happen to you."

Joey brought his hand up to Seto's cheek, forcing him to look at him and whispered, "I love you, too. And I guess I can stay at your place for a few weeks." Seto smiled before he closed the distance between them in a long, passionate kiss.

Seto: HOW DARE YOU LET MY PUPPY GET HURT!!!

Kiawna: ::is hiding behind Yami from an angry Seto and reviewers:: Gomen Seto. Don't let the reviewers do anything bad to me.

Orli: Hey, it was your fault. They asked you not to let Joey get hurt, but did you listen, noooo. You just had to go and let his father beat him.

Kiawna: ::glares at Orli:: And whose idea was it? Who is the one that inspires me to write?

Orli: Umm..uhh.::also hides behind Yami:: Gomen!

Seto: ORLI!!!

Orli: Y-yes, S-Seto?

Seto: How could you inspire her to write something like that?

Orli: It was the mood I was in last night, all right?

Yami: ::sighs:: Will you two ever learn?

Kiawna: Probably not. ::peeps at reviewers and Seto:: I hope the end made up for the beginning though.

Yami: I didn't mind it one bit. The whole thing was written pretty well.

Orli: ::mumbles:: The stuff with you and Yugi you mean.

Yami: ::grabs Orli and holds him out for angry reviewers:: You were saying?

Orli: Eeep!

Yami: Okay, review please, she is accepting all reviews, don't worry. And here is a target for you to throw all your fruits and stuff at.

Kiawna: I accept all kinds of stuff!

Yami: ::sweatdrop:: I don't think you will be getting any gifts this chapter.

Kiawna: ::pouts behind Yami::