Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Thank you's: Two Bit's TwoBit, Moonjava, Bravewolf, Tracebo, DarkoBender, Lazaefair, and Ailcia. Thanks all of you for being such faithful reviewers to this story. Here is chapter 16 from Bender's POV…I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 16 – Good Things and Bad Things

Allison slid out the door leaving the nurse with a confused look, "Did I interrupt something?"

I felt the heat rise up and for some reason I felt extremely pissed off – well more pissed of than I usually am anyways, "Just get the hell out of here and don't come back in."

She swallowed, "Look, I'm sorry…"

I closed my eyes and let out an irritated sigh, "Just go…"

She nodded and walked out. Man I feel so pissed off and if I wasn't stuck in this god damn hospital I think I would be getting my ass outta here and smoking a joint. I just had too much information processed in my head and with my injuries and all I don't really think that it's good to get stressed. The pounding in my head was getting intense – so intense I needed to puke. I swung my legs over the bed and stumbled to the garbage can and released everything that had been in my stomach – it was mostly liquids, but that's not to say in didn't hurt like hell. I took a deep breathe and swished some water around in my mouth; I have been feeling all but good the last two days and I'm just getting damn sick and tired of being here. At least I get out in the morning; and I'll get to see Allison again.

I don't know why she just flew outta here like that; but to say the last few minutes of our conversation was awkward would be an understatement.

When she first walked into that room it almost took my breathe away. I can't believe she went through the trouble of actually talking to Dez just to find out where I am, and that she cared enough about me to try and find me. No one ever cared about me that much; everyone else I know would have just said, fuck him. But she didn't…after all that bull shit she went through on the weekend she still wanted to look out for me instead of herself. I usually don't think about all this emotional shit but fuck, no one has ever done that for me before. I think it was at that moment I realized I had the hots for her. I mean – I don't want to sound like an ass and say 'hots' but I don't really know any other way to put it.

I shifted slightly in my bed and stared up at the ceiling; I feel like such an idiot thinkin' about her but I can't really help it. Of course, I would never tell her; she would probably either have my balls or run off scared like hell…which I don't blame her considering her luck with those other two assholes. But besides that I'm kinda a chicken; see if I wanna get down a chick's pants I can persuade rather easily but when it comes to a chick that I actually like then I'm a big pussy. It's funny how it works out that way, but that's really just the way I am.

The door creaked open once again and in came another nurse; good thing it wasn't the one from before or I would have probably ripped her head off.

"Good evening, John," she said monotonously.

I gave her a nod as she approached my bed, "How are you feeling tonight?"

I smirked, "Like shit, how the hell do you expect me to feel?"

She let out a sigh and raked her fingers through her black hair, "I need to change your bandages,"

I nodded, "Okay but ya think maybe you can be a little gentler this time around? I don't need ya breakin' anythin' else…"

She narrowed her eyes as she pulled the bandages out of the package, "You cooperate and I'll be gentle, deal?"

I rolled my eyes and she adjusted my bed so that the head was risen up; I pulled off the hospital gown and grimaced from the pain that it caused, "Am I gonna have to do this when I get home?"

She nodded her head as she peeled off the ones from my body, "Yes you will. Usually with the broken ribs you don't have to change them this often but because of all the cuts you have to change them more to prevent infection."

I let out a breathe as they came completely off; my body felt like it was breathing again but at the same time shots of pain surrounded me with every breathe. I could not believe how much god damn pain I was in. She added some polysporin to the bad cuts and then began to wrap me up again. When she was finished she shone a couple of lights in my eyes to make sure I 'was responding properly' or some shit. She held up a few letters and shapes to make sure I was seeing properly and once the tests and questions were done I was finally left alone.

Through all the pain and hurt I began to wonder to myself if it was Dez that actually did this; I mean it's a complete possibility that he was just trying to get under Ally's skin but then again he isn't really the type of guy to lie. But how? He was pretty fucked up after I was done with him and I don't honestly believe that he was strong enough to inflict a beating this bad the next night; it just ain't possible.

I find it rather sad that our friendship came to this; maybe it was like that the whole time I was just too damn blind to realize it. I don't wanna start a war with this guy especially in the state I am in now, but how do I go about this without letting him just get away with it? Between him, my old man, and the rest of the so called 'Breakfast Club' I just don't know if I can handle anymore pain. Mentally is bad enough because it fucks me up and makes me even more bitter every time, but I'm at the point where I can't even take it physically anymore. I mean I'm not a small guy but there is only so much physical pain a human being can take before they become a shell of their former self.

I rolled my eyes at all of my philosophizing and smirked; I'm really starting to think this concussion is taking over my thoughts…

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I opened my eyes after another one hour sleep and sighed. The nurse standing at the end of my bed had her arms folded over her chest and looked like she was mighty proud of herself for coming in and waking me up; bitch!

"Good morning sunshine!" She said in half sarcasm and yet very enthusiastically. Morning people really get under my skin and this one made me wanna go get a sledge hammer or something. I grumbled in response and pulled a pillow over my head.

"You get to go home John," she continued sounding very happy; maybe it's because I'm leaving.

I threw the pillow off of my head and smiled, "Thank fucking god!" I cheered. She smirked and handed me a clip board, "Sign this."

I scribbled something that resembled my name and swung my legs over the edge of my bed, "Where are my clothes?"

She gave me an incredulous look, "You really think you wanna wear those?"

I smirked, "Well I sure as hell ain't gonna wear a hospital gown outta here!"

"Well we threw them away, they were ripped and full of blood."

I frowned, "Well what the hell am I gonna wear?"

She shrugged, "We could give you some hospital clothes…some pants and a sweater."

"Whatever just get me the hell outta here!"

She shook her head miserably, "I'll be right back." I smiled triumphantly to myself and stood out of the bed I had been laying in for the last 48 hours; I was damn glad to get out of it that's for sure! I walked slowly and carefully towards the mirror and took a good look at myself for the first time since I had been here.

I looked like shit.

Disgusting.

I sighed; I really hope that I didn't expect to look any other way. My eyes are sunken and bloodshot, I have a large cut across my eyebrow, my lips are bruised, my hair is tussled and knotted, and for some reason I looked very skinny. I mean with my cheeks sunken in and the flimsy hospital gown I looked like I weighed only 120 pounds.

I turned the hot water faucet on and began to splash my face with scolding water; the burning sensation felt great and for the first time in a few days I felt a little better. I felt cleansed and fresh…with the exception of the 'minor' injuries I had of course. But I didn't fucking care for the pain today because I was getting the fuck outta here!

After a few minutes of fixing myself up I was interrupted by a small knock on the door, "Hey did ya find me some clothes or what?" I poked my head out of the bathroom door and found Allison standing at the door, "Hey, you showed up…"

She nodded, "I said that I would."

I smiled, "So ya comin' to play nurse or what?"

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms, "I'll say yes if it makes ya feel any better."

I snorted and turned back into the washroom to brush my teeth, "That butch nurse is just getting me some clothes and then I can leave."

She let out a soft laugh, "You didn't wanna leave with the hospital gown on?"

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see, "I bet ya woulda liked that…"

"…Excuse me kids, butch nurse is back with the clothes!" My nurse said with a very angry tone.

I popped my head out the door, "Yeah thanks for those, eh?"

She scowled, "You know with that attitude of yours maybe I'll just make you walk outta here naked!"

I folded my arms, "Now as much as you would enjoy that I'm not about to give you a free show when it's so cold outside lady. So please give me the clothes."

She tossed them on the bed and turned to leave the room, muttering something along the lines of, "Damn bastard ya better not show up in my hospital again…"

I looked at Allison who was holding back laughter and I grinned, "What ya think I lost the charm?"

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We walked slowly down the street; she carried her bag and looked down at the ground as she walked. She looked nervous, uncomfortable, and maybe even a little impatient…but I couldn't help it, it was as fast as I could go.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked her as I limped along my way, trying desperately not to hurt my ribs as I moved.

"Nothing is wrong…I'm just thinking," she replied.

"About what?" I asked, actually genuinely interested.

"About everything…what are we going to do next?" She asked speaking clearly with each word; it intrigued me.

I gave her a smile, "Hopefully just mellow out for a bit. I don't think I can deal with any more fights ya know…"

"I'm sorry…" she started, accusing and blaming herself once again.

I furrowed my brow, "Why are you sorry?"

She shrugged; I could tell her eyes were getting wet and the last thing I wanted was to see her sad…I'm sick of seeing her sad and besides she looks much nicer when she smiles, "I just keep thinking that it's really my fault that all this stuff happened in the first place…"

I held up a hand as I stopped at a bench for a rest, "It isn't your fault; everything that I did, I did because I wanted to. Besides, it was worth it…" I paused as she raised her eyebrows at me, "…beating up Dez I mean."

She gave me an appreciative smile, "Is that all its worth?"

I shrugged, "What's it to you?"

She smirked, "I can tell that maybe you wanna say more…your eyes always give you away you know."

It was my turn to smirk, "You're crazy you know that?"

"So they say…you aren't going to hold that against me though are you?" She smiled brightly as she sat next to me on the bench. The sun was shining off of her hair and her eyes had sparks of mischief; she looked like her carefree self again and that in itself made me happy even if it was only temporary.

I nodded my head, "No…I guess I can say it's a trait I admire…" I let out a laugh as she smacked my arm playfully. With all the shit that happened this weekend I'm sure as hell glad that we at least had some good things to help blow over the bad things. But then again, don't they say most good things don't last forever? I dunno it's something like that.

She stood to her feet and adjusted her bag, "Let's get going now," she extended her hand to me; dark eyes bearing eerily into my soul. I blinked a few times and then reached for her hand as she gently helped hoist me up. I stood still taking deep breathes for a few minutes letting the pain in my sides go away; it is almost unbearable but then again they felt worse on Sunday. She frowned at my obvious discomfort and hooked her arm through mine and led me towards my house.

We arrived at the front steps about ten minutes later and she carefully opened the door for me. Before I could even step foot in the house the sound of a voice startled me,

"John is that you!" My mother sounded either pissed or happy I couldn't really tell.

I swallowed, "Yeah Ma, it's me."

She rushed into the kitchen and looked at me in disbelief; her dark hair was pinned back and her chestnut eyes were almost popping out of her damn skull. Here comes the lecture I guess…

"Where the hell have you been? I was beginning to think you ran away and joined a gang or something!"

I rolled my eyes, "Wouldn't be surprising if I did, would it?"

She shook her head at me, ignoring my comment, "So…what the hell happened to you?"

"Just got in a fight Ma, its no big deal I'm fine."

She smirked and folded her arms, "Yeah you really do look fine…you should go down to your room and rest."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, "Yeah whatever, let's go Ally."

She followed in pursuit as I walked down the stairs, "Close the door behind you."

TBC

End notes: It was somewhat of a filler, but whatever I needed it. So I hope that you enjoyed it anyways…feel free to drop a line if ya want; it would be greatly appreciated folks. ;)

TWBasketcase