Hi again! Considering that every time I've posted I've found mistakes from poor proofreading. From now on my sister is going to read each chapter before I post so any mistakes will be her fault. Yeah!
Thank you all so much for the really nice reviews – I blushed!
Anyway enough about me and on to Chapter Three! (Hi ho hi ho its off to work we go di de di de di de di de hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho!)
Chapter Three:
Jou was on his mobile as Seto sped through the streets of downtown Domino heading towards the Hospital. It didn't matter that he wasn't paying attention to street signs. It was past one on a Sunday morning, Domino might as well have been a ghost town.
Jou had already called Ryou and Malik who had decided to wait until they knew something further so as not to overwhelm Yugi. Privately he thought that was the best choice. No one really wanted to deal with a cranky Bakura or Marik at the moment. Right now he was speaking with Anzu who as soon as she had heard the news, started crying and promised to be there as soon as possible.
With a sigh Jou closed his mobile and settled back in his seat. His eyes held a dazed, hollow look as if he didn't know how he was supposed to feel. Seto glanced at him briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. His voice had been dead to.
"What is it?"
Jou shook his head, "Nothing. It's nothing."
Seto snorted as they pulled into the car park, "Liar. Do you want me to come in with you?" He switched off the ignition.
"Yeah."
"What will Yugi say?"
"I don't really think he'll care right now. But later he'll piece things together. I told him today that I was dating a guy so unless you don't want them to know…?"
"Come on."
Seto led the way towards the hospital administration desk and proceeded to bully the very nice nurses aid for information regarding Yugi's grandfather. The poor woman was in tears protesting that she really didn't know anything, no one ever told her anything by the time Yami came down to reception. He didn't even blink when he saw Seto there, both him and Jounouchi looking like they had hurriedly dressed. Now was not the time to gloat.
"Hey guys." He said with a tired smile. Jou immediately went to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Grateful, Yami squeezed his hand gently before turning to Seto. "Yugi's waiting this way."
Yami led them to the second floor waiting room where there was a small ball of agitated energy bouncing on a hard plastic chair. Yugi didn't even look up as they entered, just continued to stare at the top of his knees that were now level with his eyes. He didn't even look when Jou knelt in front of him.
"How is the old man?" Seto asked turning to Yami ignoring his glare.
"They haven't told us. Right now I'm more worried about Yugi. He hasn't spoken since we arrived, he hasn't even cried." Yami allowed a weak look to float across his face. "I don't know how to comfort him. Normally to protect him I'd just send someone to the Shadow Realm, but how do I help him now? I can't protect him from death and others dying."
"Jou will help him. He has a way of giving people just what they need."
"High praise coming from you, cousin. I hope our family plight didn't interrupt anything important."
"Don't call me cousin, and since you brought it up you are interrupting my supposedly first night of real sleep in a week."
"You have my sincerest apologies."
Jou rested his head on the shins of his best friend as he ignored the conversation between Yami and his boyfriend, silent tears running down his face. While Yami was fully dressed, Yugi still had his pyjama's on. The suns and moons made him look even more like a child and the image broke Jou's heart.
"Hey Yug'."
A small hand fisted in his hair and Jou placed his arms around Yugi drawing him down onto his lap just holding him as the boy began to cry.
Yami instantly stepped forward but Seto reached out a hand to stop him shaking his head. Together they watched Jou rock Yugi, whispering comforting words as they sat on the waiting room floor.
By the time morning arrived Anzu had come and gone with a promise to return as soon as more news was heard. Jou had moved from the floor onto one of the chairs and was now staring blankly at the wall. No words had been spoken about what had happened; Jou just let Yugi cry until the boy had fallen asleep. Sometime during the night Yami had left and returned with a set of clothes for his aibou and right now Yugi was changing while Seto attempted to find some decent coffee and phone Mokuba.
Yami and Yugi returned just as Seto was handing Jou a cup of coffee. Yugi's eyes were swollen and red from tears and tiredness. With a sigh he sunk into the seat next to Jou and rested against his best friend.
"Thanks for coming Jou."
Jou blinked the dazed look from his eyes and swung an arm around the little duelist's neck. "Anytime bud."
Seto rested a hand on Jou's shoulder and his boyfriend gave him a grateful smile.
Yugi looked between the two of them and for the first time gave a real smile.
"I mean it Jou. I know Grandpa would be glad that you're here to. You're family." Yugi hugged him. "You're the best brother anyone could ask for."
Jou's eyes got suspiciously misty at that point and he hurriedly got to his feet.
"Ditto Yug'." He said roughly, swiping at his eyes before leaving the room.
Seto rolled his eyes and followed him.
Yami smiled as he took Jou's seat. "I think you just made him very happy Yugi."
Yugi's eyes turned solemn. "It's true Yami. I love you more than anything, but I don't know what I'd do without Jou. Now, I just wish someone would tell us what's happening with Grandpa. Surely it shouldn't take this long. If – if anything – bad – had happened they'd have told us. Right?" There was a slight quaver in his voice.
Yami squeezed him gently; "yes aibou, if that had happened we would have been told. Think of this wait as a positive thing. It means that there is hope."
"Messer's. Mouto?" A doctor with a clipboard stood in front of them, a solemn expression on his face. Yugi's face tightened.
Seto caught up with Jou just as he reached the hospital chapel. The blonde kept rubbing at his eyes as he turned away from Seto.
"What's the matter with you now? I would have thought Yugi thinking of you as a brother would be classified as a good thing."
Jou laughed bitterly. "It is. It really is. God I feel such a mess these days."
"You look it."
Jou made a face. "It's just, oh shit … It's all falling apart."
Seto leaned against the chapel wall, watching the light coming through the stained glass window rest on his puppy. Silence claimed the two teenagers. Jou fidgeted, running a hand across the dark wood of the chapel pew. Watching as it slowly changed to a warm dark honey as the room began to fill with light. A few of the candles lit by people keeping vigils during the night flickered.
Suddenly Jou let out a shout of anger and punched the wall. "Why? Why is this happening? What did Gramps do to deserve this!"
Seto snorted.
"What did you expect? He's an old man. His heart was bound to fail eventually."
Jou whirled on his boyfriend.
"Could you please attempt to not be an asshole about this?"
Seto's face tightened and he drew himself up to his full height.
"Considering the fact that I neither care for the old fool nor he for me, you should be grateful I'm missing work that needs to be done to be here for you. If that isn't enough I will just leave. But don't expect me to start spouting platitudes that would be false, pup."
Jou sighed wanting to find release for his anger but not wanting to say something he'd regret. Even after a year Seto was still skittery – like a wounded puppy. He'd spent the past year trying to get Seto comfortable being around someone who wasn't Mokuba, convince him he was someone who wasn't going to hurt him. He closed his eyes as a corner of his mouth twitched in a smirk. Waiting a moment he opened them and stared at his boyfriend. Silently he walked over to Seto and put his arms around his neck resting his body flush against his. Seto didn't respond, just stood staring over Jou's shoulder, eyes cool.
"I know," whispered Jou. "I know you're just here for me. But my family's falling apart, Seto. Again."
"Poor orphan pup."
Jou hit Seto's shoulder as the taller teen finally rested his hands on Jou's hips.
"You're hopeless," he whined. "Everything I've clung to for the past couple years is crumbling."
"Then do what you have to. Rebuild."
Jou sighed against Seto's shoulder before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. "I guess this time it'll be easier," he whispered against his lips. "After all, now I have you."
Seto smirked. "Yes you do."
"I love you, Kaiba Seto."
Jou felt Seto tense. That was the first time either of them had admitted being in love. Leaning his head against Seto's shoulder he placed both his hands over Seto's.
"Don't get all moody on me now, Seto. You know I love you even if this is the first time I've said it. Just as I know you love me even as I know that you'll most likely never say it."
Slowly the tension fled from Seto's body and he rested his head against Jou's. "I suppose that must be the reason I put up with you."
"Yeah yeah, like you're so easy to get on with."
Seto merely smirked as he brought Jou's damaged hand to his lips.
"We should get back. They might have heard something."
"As you wish."
When Jou and Seto returned to the waiting room they saw Yugi sobbing on Yami's lap. Jou immediately went to his friend's side and was surprised when Yugi looked up with a bright smile.
"He's all right. Jou he's all right."
