A/N: Alrighty.. This chapter is bought to you by pretty much the entire Crossfade album. If you don't own it, go buy it. Or at least look into getting it.

Thankyou so very much for all the reviews! As my dear friend Princess would say, "The 'gah' factor is just massive".. roughly translates to "Holy shit, I'm about to fall off my chair I'm so happy." Thankyou to everybody who has reviewed so far. Honest. Thankyou.

Vince blinked rapidly against the light, trying to bring his hand up to shield his eyes only to find that he couldn't move his arm. But it's my right arm that I can't move. Confused, he looked down and saw a restraint around his left wrist. Panic started to swell in his chest.

"What.. What's going on!" only now he was fully awake, he noticed his surroundings. He was in pre-op. The air was cold against his exposed chest, his heart monitor was going crazy and he was alone again.

The doors of the operating theatre swung open and a nurse decked out in blue scrubs hurried out, eyes wide and frightened. As soon as she saw he was awake she relaxed, her hand pressed over her heart relieved.

"Oh, thank goodness! I thought something had gone wrong," she took his hand in hers and smiled down at him, "Do you want to know why you're down here?"

Feeling the panic subside slightly, Vince managed a small nod. Every muscle in his body was tensed painfully.

"Ok, calm down big guy. My name is Tala Mackenzie." She smiled, stroking the inside of his wrist soothingly. "We're going to flush out the wounds on your arm this morning and take a peek at your side. Just to be sure everything's going ok." Her warm brown eyes darkened. "It seems that you're not being taken care of very well up there."

Vince squirmed, uncomfortable and nervous. Last time he had been in this part of the hospital he had managed to do more damage to his arm than the truck had already done. It was his fault that he had difficulty moving now. That's what he had been told.

".. You're only cleaning it up?"

Tala reached over toward the bench that ran the length of the wall, covered with medical supplies, and pulled a stool over to the side of the bed to sit down. "Yes.. Is there anything else you could think of that needs doing while you're under?"

He shifted restlessly. "I.. Um.. I can't move my arm," he fidgeted, "Is that normal?"

"At all?" her pretty eyes were wide, "But we fixed you up perfectly. You should be in Physiotherapy by now! Haven't the nurses been running you through your exercises?" at his blank look, she almost growled. "Should have known."

He watched her grow agitated. Suddenly he got the feeling that he wasn't at fault for the severity of his injuries.

"Am I in trouble? Did I say something wrong?" The hysteria was coming back. His chest tightened and the heart monitor started to scream shrilly beside the bed again. Vince screwed his eyes shut, gasping as his throat started to close up on him. White spots started forming on the inside of his eyelids and breathing became harder. I'm hyperventilating he thought dumbly.

"Vince! VINCE! Come on big guy.. That's it.. breathe.. Shh.." A voice broke through the chaotic rambling in his head, "That's it. You're doing good."

The monitor's beeping started to slow and air rushed into his lungs. The sudden pounding behind his eyes became apparent and the presence of another voice floated to his ears. This time, the voice much deeper and distinctly masculine.

"Vince, my name is Dr. Hewitt. I need you to open your eyes for me, young man."

Vince cringed, but did as he was asked. After the initial burst of light, he saw Tala standing beside him, holding his hand and looking pale, as well as an older man. Probably in his fifties, with a hint of white hair peeking out from beneath the hat on his head.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled in Tala's general direction. She must have gotten the point because her hand squeezed his gently in response.

"Alright, Vince," the doctor started, "Tala tells me that you can't move your arm. I'm going to try a few reflex tests and then we'll go from there, ok?"

"Yes, sir." His response was mumbled. Vince let his eyes flutter shut, suddenly tired and drained. He could feel the doctor squeezing and prodding his arm, but all that came of it was more pain. After a couple of minutes, the prodding stopped and Vince opened his eyes.

"Prep his arm for surgery. I want to try to fix this mess." And as soon as he'd finished, the doctor was gone.

Hesitantly, Vince looked up at Tala. Her caramel face had a smug little grin on it. "What?" he asked.

She shook her head slightly and carefully moved his damaged limb. "Whoever has been taking care of you these past weeks is in trouble."

Regret that he'd said anything started to creep up on him. "I don't want anyone to get in trouble on my account."

"Vince, they deserve to get in trouble. And to think.. If your friend hadn't said anything about your arm being infected to someone the other day, we wouldn't have known about this."

"My friend?"

Tala nodded at him, "Leon I think his name is. He'll be there when you wake up," she laughed at his wide smile and fitted a mask over his face, "See, now that's what I like to see. You smiling." She turned to say something to another nurse, then looked down at him. "Ok, we're off to see the wizard, Vince. Any requests?" she chirped.

He chuckled drowsily, "I want a pair of ruby slippers," he pondered it for a minute, "-and some Doritos."

Tala giggled, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I'll see what I can do. Take a deep breath and count backwards from ten."

Ten.. Nine.. Eight.. Seven.. seven.. shit…

"Stop picking at that, man."

"I'm not picking, I'm.. investigating."

"Bullshit. You're picking. Now leave Vince's dinner alone before I smack you! He needs that."

"How can he need it if he's asleep?" Silence, "Fine. I'll eat the Doritos."

A slap now, followed by muttered cursing. "You will not! He asked for those specifically, so leave them alone!"

Tala watched from the doorway with her hand over her mouth. The woman who she'd been introduced to as Letty, was giving the man beside her, Leon, the dirtiest glare she had ever seen. After not even a minute, Leon backed off and slouched into the uncomfortable chair.

"How come Vince gets to lie down and we have to sit in these fucked up chairs?"

Letty gave Leon an incredulous look, her mouth hanging open. "Because he's just had surgery you moron! He's still asleep for gods sake! Leave those Doritos alone, dammit!"

".. No he's not." Vince's voice croaked drowsily.

A small smile crept over her face and she watched, hidden in the shadows by the door as the bickering pair immediately sobered and rushed to either side of his bed. It warmed her heart to see that he had someone to wake up to this time. She brushed her fingers over her hip, the vague, lingering tenderness of an old bruise niggling at her. She had been there the first time he came out of surgery. He'd kicked her in his panic, leaving the area where his foot connected almost black. Tala didn't blame him though. The pain she'd seen on his face was explanation enough.

Letty's candy sweet tone caught her attention. "How are you feeling, boo? Can I get you anything?" Tala smiled wider when she saw Leon's hand brushing Vince's scruffy hair away from his eyes, then right a twisted tube. He however, remained a silent strength at his friends bedside. The change in his demeanour now that Vince was waking up was incredible. Gone was the antagonist she had seen not minutes earlier, instead replaced now with a man who exuded a more mature, protector type aura. He seemed older now.

"No thankyou," Vince's voice sounded small and childlike. "I'm tired."

So it wasn't just because of surgery she thought to herself. He was genuinely fearful of everything now. A sudden sadness swept over at the thought of how his injuries would affect his life.

He was displaying the classic symptoms of an anxiety disorder and from what she could tell, he was becoming dependant as well. He'd seemed so spirited the first day in the recovery room. Her aunt, Juliet, had kept her filled in on his progress. It seemed that she had taken a shine to him as well. Taking a deep breath, Tala stepped further into the dimly lit room. Almost immediately, Leon's heavy, almost dangerous glare was on her.

"What do you want?" he growled at her, eyes darkened with animosity.

Tala held up her hand in an innocent gesture. "I came to bring the big guy his ruby slippers." She replied, unable to stop the grin at his baffled expression.

"His ruby what?"

She held up a bag as she neared the bed and stood beside Letty. "His ruby slippers." She caught Vince's drug hazed eyes. "The wizard is going to need to see to you again, Vince." She said gently, knowing he would understand. The damage sustained to his arm would require another corrective surgery, at the least.

He blinked slowly, the drugs inhibiting him from moving very fast. "..My fault?" he asked thickly.

Tala shook her head gently and mouthed 'no', her fingers reaching to replace an adhesive tab that had come loose on his exposed chest. At his shiver, she pulled the blanket higher, up to his armpits.

"Here you go. As per request, your ruby slippers." She placed the bag on his thighs and took a step back. "I'm going to be checking in on you, big guy."

"S'not.. necessary.." he murmured, a heavy hand moving for the bag on his legs. Whether he meant the gift, or the checking in on him she wasn't sure.

Tala waved his refusal off. She had gone to her aunt, who had been off duty at the time, and told her about her encounter with Vince earlier in the day. When Juliet had been told of the slippers and Doritos comment, she had deemed it necessary to fulfil his request. Unprofessional as it was, the two had gone out and searched high and low to find red slippers in Vince's mammoth shoe size. It had taken a better part of the afternoon, but with it being toward the tail end of summer, they'd done it. Like shopping all afternoon was a task, she mused to herself.

He gave the fuzzyslippers a long, blank look, then turned his eyes toward her and a tiny hint of a smile was on his face.

"These are the ugliest ruby slippers I've ever seen." His voice was quiet, weak and tired, but the amusement in his tone couldn't be missed.

Tala giggled, "What can I say.. They don't make strappy red heels in a mens sixteen, do they."

"They do if you know where to look," Letty quipped, her face vibrantly beautiful when she smiled. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Leon's posture relax slightly with Letty's smile and hid a grin. He gave her a slightly more gentle look now than before.

"Sorry.. About bein' defensive.. It's just-"

"Say no more. The state he was in, I don't blame you." She looked at her watch, "I have to get going."

If anything, the trio looked disappointed. Leon moved around to the end of the bed.

"I'll walk you out." He offered, waiting for her to say her goodbyes before accompanying her out into the hall.

Once they were alone and out of earshot, Leon took her elbow in his hand and stopped her. His face was suddenly darker.

"Now you tell me what the hell is wrong with my brother." He let her go, "And no bullshit."