Jou awoke to the feeling of dull pain in his legs chest and arm that grew steadily into a pulsing ache. He gave a moan and raised his good arm to cup over his eyes. Wait why was he warm and why did he hear voices?

Kaiba's head snapped up from talking to Mokuba who was sitting sideways on his lap playing with his game boy, when he heard Jou moan. He got up and sat Mokuba back in his bed.

"What's wrong Seto?" Mokuba asked curiously.

"Katsuya's awake, I'm going to go and get the doctor." Seto said as he stepped out. In a matter of mints Seto was back and he found Jou with his eyes covered buy his only good appendage. Seto went and stood on the right side of Mokuba's bed while the doctor went and stood on the same side of Jou's bed, blocking Seto's view of Jou's upper half.

"Jou, Jou are you awake?" the doctor said gently.

"Yah but where am I?" Jou asked not taking his hand from his eyes.

"You're back in the hospital. You gave-"

"WHAT? NO, NO, damn it! He's going to be pissed!" Jou sat up abruptly and swayed with the pain and unease from his injuries.

"Jou! Come on you can't leave yet! You're still considered to be in an unstable condition! You nearly froze out there on the bench!" the doctor said franticly trying to get Jou to lie back down. Jou had now taken out his I.V. and was trying to get off the bed and walk even with both his legs broken, the doctor obviously not strong enough to hold him back.

"No what if came to get me while you had me in here! Damn it! I'm going to be in so much trouble when I make it home!" Jou was wobbling on his cast feet as he tried to walk. The pain he was feeling was obvious in the way his face was contorted and the sheen of sweat that he was working up. He obviously had not taken notice of Seto or Mokuba.

Seto patted Mokuba's shoulder when his little brother looked up at him worried for Jou's state. Seto moved from the side of the bed and came up behind Jou and place an arm at the back of the blond's knees and another agents his back as he scooped Jou up.

"What the-!"

"Watch your langue pup, my brother is sharing this room with you." Seto warned as he laid Jou back down in the hospital bed. Jou's eyes were wide and he looked like he wanted to cry, badly. The doctor put the I.V. back into Jou's arm checked him over.

"Ok, you look ok right now, but don't try that again or I will have Jack and Mark come in and strap you down. I'm going to go and get some gloves; the box in here is empty so I can check your rips and tares again. I don't want you to get an infection and you should thank Mr. Kaiba, he paid off your bill for you so now you can be cared for properly instead of by the crocks down stairs." He then turned to Mokuba.

"I was on my way to get you, I need to take you down and get you ready for your tonsillectomy, ok?" Mokuba nodded. Seto stepped over to Mokuba's bed and picked him up, setting him down in the wheel chair next to the door. The doctor started to wheel out.

"Thanks Jeff." Jou said before the doctor was completely out the door.

"No problem but don't just thank me thank Mr. Kaiba too." With that Jeff left. It wasn't till Jeff had been gone for a good three mints did what he said sink in.

"What did he mean by rips and tears pup?" Seto asked as he sat down in the chair he had moved between the beds. Jou looked down his cheeks turning red and eyes shadowed by his hair in shame. That was all Seto need to know, his body moved of its own accorded as he stood up and sat on the edge of Jou's bed. He wrapped his arms around Jou's shoulders and pulled him to his chest in a protective embrace. He brought one hand up and rested it on the top of Jou's head.

Jou had never been held like this before. The way Kaiba was holding him was like he was trying to protect him. He couldn't resist any more. He broke down holding on tightly to Seto's shirt, he cried and Seto let him, holding the blond boy as tightly as he would allow himself. It was quite awhile before Jou calmed down again, and when he did he realized what he had done. He had cried his heart out on Seto Kaiba's shoulder and now Seto Kaiba was holding him still. Jou quickly broke away and curled in on himself best he could with his injuries. He cursed himself for being so stupid. Now Kaiba was sure to beat the pulp out of him.

Kaiba was appalled at the way Jou cowered in front of him hiding his face but Kaiba could still hear the sobs that Jou was letting out. Kaiba moved closer on the bed and pulled Jou back to him setting him down in his lap. He petted Jou's hair gently.

"Jou I'm not going to hurt you and he's never going to touch you again." Seto said sternly. Jou looked up at him. His black and blue face disbelieving.

"Why do ya care! You hate my guts! I bet you think this is the best thing that could ever happen don't you!" Jou accused as he fought to get away to hide but Kaiba was stronger and his grip unrelenting.

"No Jou I would never wish some thing like this to happen to you. And I care because I know how much it hurts and no one deserves that pain Jou. Especially you." Jou stopped struggling tears running silently down his face.

"How would you know what I'm going threw? You're the grate Seto Kaiba!" Jou said in a snide tone. He then flinched as if he was expecting something nasty to happen. Seto pulled Jou to his chest and began to rock gently.

"I was not always 'The grate Seto Kaiba', Jou, I'm human too if you can believe that. I know the pain of being abused, Jou. My stepfather would beat me every night when he got home and then he would commence to drinking."

"Guess you do know then." Jou said in a hushed voice.

"Yes Jou, I know I also know what it's like to be r-raped." Jou flinched and clung to Seto.

"I didn't say I was raped." Jou stated.

"You don't need to I know the sighs. I've had rips and tares checked before, Jou. You're not alone any more. I have already set every thing up."

"You. . . . you. . .what?"

"Once Mokuba is released you will come and stay with us. My privet doctor will tend to you." Jou's eyes were huge.

"Why? I thought you hated me?" he asked innocently.

"Because I want to help, because I don't want anyone to go threw what I had to." Kaiba said gently.

"Kaiba?"

"What?"

"Can we be friends? To tell you the truth, I never did like fighting with you."

"I don't see why not. And I never really like fighting with you either." They were quiet for a little while, while Seto continued to rock with Jou tucked safely in his arms and he petted Jou's hair. Jou broke the silence.

"Kaiba -"

"Seto." Kaiba corrected.

"K, Seto, so I don't have to go back?" Jou said hopefully.

"No Jou you will come with me and Mokuba and stay with us." Jou smiled. Jeff came back in without Mokuba and smiled as he saw Kaiba comforting Jou.

"Glad to see Jou took my advice and didn't try and run." he put on a pair of gloves and motioned for Seto to set Jou down. Seto laid him back on the bed and stepped aside. Jeff moved and stepped on a petal that raised the back of the bed up. Jou knew what he was going to do and also knew that it had to be done. Jeff moved and closed the dividing curtain, leaving Seto on the out side. Jeff stepped out a got a bottle of some slave like medicine, a few long q-tips, and a pair of rubber gloves from the box he had brought in.

"Ok Jou, I know this is going to be uncomfortable, but I need you to pull your knees as close to your chest as you can ok?" Seto heard Jou give an affirmative. Seto stepped from behind the curtain to find Jou's pour face a deep crimson as the doctor stretched and checked the rips and tears that were associated with Jou's rape. Seto moved over and sat on the edge facing the wall behind Jou. He wrapped his arms back around Jou, who buried his face in Seto's shoulder and held on to the back of Seto's sleeve in a death grip with his good hand.

Seto hear the jar being open and felt Jou shiver as he gave an uncomfortable moan as the doctor applied the salve to some of the nastier tears in Jou's inner walls. Seto gently rubbed Jou's back and massaged the nape of Jou's neck.

"Shh, I know it feels . . . . Odd but he's almost done Jou." Jou just clutched tighter to Seto's sleeve.

"There Jou, done, and Kaiba when I came her I had just finished with your brother and he was put into recovery. He should be back in here shortly then give him two hours and you all can go." Jeff said as he threw away the swabs and gloves. Seto nodded, Jou stayed in Seto's arms winching at the odd feeling of the salve. Seto continued to rub his back in soothing circles to try and help Jou loosen up. Jeff left and Seto moved so he was at a more comfortable angle and rocked Jou slowly.

"Thanks Seto, ya didn't have to do that."

"I know how awkward it is to have some one do that." Seto said shifting at the memory.

"Could you. . . . Could you not tell Yug and the rest of 'em bout this?" Jou asked.

"I wouldn't tell them any ways. It's your choice if you want them to know." Kaiba said solemnly.

"Thanks."

A couple of hours latter Kaiba was gathering Mokuba's things, and Jou was slipping the tattered sweats back on and putting the grimy hospital gown back on, while Mokuba was putting on his usual baggy jeans from the gap and a old navy long-sleeved sweater. Seto felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach. Jou had basically nothing except for what he was wearing now and there was no way he was going to take Jou back to his own home if it meant Jou being in possible danger. Jou sat on the edge of his bed playing with the tattered threads of the sweats obviously not looking at them.

"Jou, is your deck at your house?" Kaiba asked, he knew that Jou's most precious position was his dueling deck.

"No, Yugi keeps it at his house for me." Jou said not even raising his head. Kaiba sighed and went back to gathering Mokuba's things.

/Why did I agree to this? It's so obvious that it's not going to work out! Look me! I'm sitting here wearing an old dirty hospital gown as a shirt and a pair of ripped up sweats and they're standing there wearing expensive designer cloths. Well I know what to do./

"Hey Seto?" Jou said raising his head but looking off to the side at the wall.

"Yes Jou?" Seto said looking up from zipping Mokuba's bag.

"Could you just drop me off at the corner of 5th street and Apple Lane?" Jou asked a little apprehensively.

"Why?" Seto asked confused.

"Because that's where I live."

"But if you cant that's ok! I'll just call my dad and have. . . .Him. . . . . . . pick . . . . . . . . Please don't look at me like that." Jou had added quickly but he tapered off as he looked at Seto to find him glaring daggers at him, finishing in a small voice as he found his cast feet very interesting to stair at. Jou heard Kaiba walk over to him and stiffened up waiting for the impact of a fist. But it didn't come instead he found himself being held in Seto's arms once again.

"Jou I could not willingly put you back there. But tell me why you would even want to go back."

"I don't belong with you and Mokuba, the best place for me is back home. That's where I belong." Jou said as if it was one of the most obvious facts in the world.

"No Jou, you don't belong there. You belong somewhere where you can be safe and happy and I promise that if you just give it a chance you'll fit in perfectly with Mokuba and me." Seto said gently. Mokuba came up and crawled onto the Jou's bed wrapping his shorter arms around Jou to. He had been band from speaking for awhile but that didn't mean he could talk in ether ways.

"Now are we all ready?" Seto said happily trying to get back some cheer. Both Jou and Mokuba nodded but Jou kept his head down. Mokuba jumped onto Seto's back and latched on for a piggy back ride when Seto bent down and scooped Jou up. He walked over to Mokuba's bed and Jou grabbed Mokuba's overnight bag with his good hand and placed it lightly on top of him while Seto cared them out.