Author's Note:

James: What the hell are you doing?

Jenni: Typing, leave me alone .

Meghan: Do you think if we sat here and poked her that she would kill us?

James: Indefinitely.

Jenni: TYPING. FOCUS. NEEDED.

Meghan & James: Let the poking commence!!!

Jenni: -.-"

All in all, the distractions are great. And highly annoying.

...In fact, they have been since I started this thing- why did I start it? Because I'm defiant and determined to beat the odds!! Aaa-hahahaha!!!

And yes, it will now stink because of it, I'll probably have to come back months later, read this, growl and change it up all over again- since I'm just as anal as Crawford when it comes to things like that.

Don't worry, I won't abandon it yet.. And I'll try to keep the updates frequent... xx

---

Ch. 2 - Ice

His body wouldn't stop shaking. Even when he attempted to clutch the thick blankets Aya had given him about an hour ago closer to his chest, every part of his body insisted on continuing its convulsive shaking. His teeth clatter noisily inside his head, a migraine tilting his world upside down. Basically, he was longing for the unconsciousness of before, or anything to get his body warmer and less shaky. Since the effects of hypothermia had long since worn off quite awhile ago, the cold was back, seeping into his bones with an unsettling ice.

The warm water that had seemed hot before had been replaced with hot tea, and he continued to sit convulsing randomly on the couch, trying to avidly watch the classic movie gibbering on in some unknown language on the television. Anything to try and distract him from the agony his body insisted on putting him through. Stupid Stupid STUPID rain...

Ken, Omi and even Ran came in occasionally to check on him, refilling his mug of tea and checking the thermometer they insisted on keeping in his mouth. It was still at 96 degrees farenheight, much better then the 83 degrees of farenheight of last night. Not that he remembered having his temperature taken anyways. He was long since knocked out when Aya came in with the thermometer and pillow for him. The rest of them had stayed up all night, taking shifts to watch his slumbering form as it went from calm to shaky to downright shockingly convulsive in the time it took for that aggravating sun to peek through the windows.

"Hey, Yohji-kun, think you can hold a fork?"

Yohji looked up, barely repressing an annoyed growl at the chibi Omi grinning ear to ear while holding a large plate of what looked like pancakes and eggs. His stomach decided to choose that one moment to remind him it hadn't eaten in awhile, and if it didn't get fed soon Yohji was going to be a very unhappy man. He sighed slightly, reaching out a hand for the plate and utensil appreciately with a grin of thanks to the cheerful boy.

"I'll manage even if takes me enough time to manage an Ice Age to do it."

Eagerly he tried to shovel the fork into the pile of eggs, managing to make a mess all over his plate from the silver utensil jumping about erratically on his plate. The charade continued, his food never quite making it to his mouth half of the time, and the other half of the time was spent with Yohji cursing like a wounded sailor while he managed to stab everything around the plate except the food. It wasn't long before he realized he had an audience, Ken falling outright on the floor in fits of side holding laughter, Omi trying to be more polite with his hands clenched over his mouth and Aya leaning on the doorframe with the hint of a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"I am oh so glad I amuse you."

With that, he tossed the fork on the floor mightily and proceeded to shovel food into his mouth more successfully via his hands.

---

"Daaaahlings!! How I have missed thee!"

Schuldig's loud, mocking drawl carried throughout the penthouse causing Nagi to merely roll his eyes and stand up from the couch where he was sitting. The small boy casually made his way away from the front door and into the kitchen in an attempt to avoid having to talk to the smirking redhead. On his way through the kitchen door, he passed an agitated looking Crawford who had obviously been interrupted from his cal reading of the morning news by the looks of a crumpled heap of papers on the kitchen table. Farfarello sat across from the papers, licking a kitchen knife he must have swiped from Crawford's plate. Nagi merely disregarded the Berserker, figuring he wasn't harming anyone else at the moment so he might as well be given his peace, opening up the fridge to pull out whichever can met his fingers first. Only to put it back and grab a non-alcoholic one. Schuldig kept way too many of those beers around in the fridge, leaving not enough room for Nagi's better drinks in the boy's opinion. More noise was coming from the other room and Nagi sat down where Crawford had been sitting, quietly sipping at the sweet carbonated drink in the can while the noises continued. I don't envy Crawford with that German. Schuldig just has that way of plucking every nerve from your body until you want to wring his neck. Nagi flicked his wide blue eyes to Farfarello, taking a moment to watch the scarred man lick the silver blade until all traces of the blood he had drawn from his arm with it were gone. After the blade was clean, he refocused on the outer world, including Nagi's blank stare all the while playing with the knife.

"Crawford is going to want that back." The berserker merely shrugged, sliding the blade into his belt as he stood up to walk towards the other room. Nagi shook his head at the amusing visual of the deranged madman walking out of the kitchen with a common kitchen utensil stuck into his belt. Oh, that's not obvious. Not obvious at all, Farf. He sighed resignedly, following the madman out into the other room, preparing for whatever show he might be greeted with. A brief flash of an idea left the visual of a Crawford wring the German's neck while dangling a couple of feet in the air brought a smile to his face, unsure whether it would be true or not the instant he walked out of the kitchen.

Schuldig was not actually being strangled by Crawford at the moment, but by the aggravated gleam in the American's eyes, he could tell he was getting close to that line. Crawford crossed his arms over his chest, thoroughly fed up with the German's game of keeping the briefcase he required constantly out of his reach. Crawford knew fully well that Schuldig knew he could grab it from him whenever he wanted, but something in the German's persona seemed to take that bit and run with it. He reminded Crawford of a five-year old with a lollipop, and the tall American figured he would let him as his fun. But that was enough fun, playtime was over.

"Alright, Schuldig, hand it over."

He stretched out a hand, uncaring and casual in the gesture. Schuldig merely smirked again from where he was twirling similar to a ballerina in the middle of the living room.

"Ya want it Braddy-kins?"

"Crawford. And yes. Playtime's over, hand it over."

"Whatchya gonna do? Ground me?"

Crawford raised an eyebrow at this, considering the thought with renewed interest. That could prove to be a wondrous idea indeed. Concern flashed in the redhead's eyes, realizing it had been a mistake to make that suggestion. He casually noted the arrival of Nagi and Farfarello into the room as he eagerly handed over the briefcase.

"You know I'm just joking with you, huh, Brad?"

"Mmhmm. It's Crawford." The American turned away, letting Schuldig catch the glimpse of the amused grin on his face as he walked towards the office Nagi normally occupied for the large computer on the desk. A snickering brought Schuldig's attention to Farfarello, and he only glanced at the kitchen knife slung through his belt. I don't want to know...

"Shut up, Farf..." He flopped on the couch with a grunt, good mood slightly chipped from being defeated in his games with Crawford. At least he didn't strangle me, ne? Nagi shook his head at the nasal voice in his head, dismissing Schuldig and Farfarello as he turned to his room.

---

TBC.. kinda..

No.. this ain't quite the end of the chapter- it's all that's loading .

::hisses at her computer screen::

Oo''

::tackles it off the desk with a loud warcry::

A HA!!! I GOT MORE TO LOAD!!! ::dances wildly about:: Take THAT you energy guzzling block of plastic that calls itself helpful technology to mankind!! I win again!

James: Ya sure she's alright?

Megan: Maybe we shouldn't have poked her so much...

All of Weiss: oO! ::backing away slowly::