Pretty soon they were all sat in the hospital cafeteria. Tyson was telling the tale between bites of food. While Max and Ray (who was sporting a bandage tied around his head) butted in every now and again to add some bit of information that Tyson had forgot or neglected to tell.

Alice had convinced one of the doctors to page her as soon as Kai got out of the operating theatre. But Hilary and Kenny were just picking at their food in worry. Alice had to admit that she was worried herself, but it would be thoughtless to act that way in front of the teens. She had seen bad cases before, but none such as this. Doing that over a bunch of bitbeasts just made no sense to her. After all it had only been about ten minutes ago from these guys that she had learned what a bitbeast was.

Finally Tyson finished his story and after a few more questions, Alice turned off her tape recorder and put it in her pocket.

"Hey, do you reckon they'll catch Volitaire and his goons?" Max asked, he had finished eating a while ago. They were only waiting for Tyson to stop stuffing his face now.

"Well, I'll be honest with you. We've no clue as to where they've gone. And the permission to search his properties are hard to get."

"But" she added as their faces fell. "I am in charge of this case, so when we find them I'm going to personally make sure Volitaire goes away for a very long time. Kidnapping minors is a very serious offence. And since Volitaire is Kai's guardian, we can go as far as getting him for child abuse as well."

A thought struck her suddenly, and she paused with her coffee halfway to her mouth.

"How has Kai's childhood been?" she was wondering if there had been any previous abuse. After all, something this big has got to have some history too it.

"Kai's not really the type of person who likes to talk about his childhood." Ray said, knowing that he was seriously understating the matter.

"He's not really the sort of person who likes to talk at all" Max added with a slight smile.

Alice was relieved when her pager finally buzzed. Tyson didn't even object to leaving food still on the table, they all needed to know how Kai was.

"How's he doing doctor?" Alice asked, her face a picture of concern.

They were standing in Kai's private room. Paid for by Mr Dickinson.

The others were too shocked by Kai's appearance to say anything. He looked too vulnerable to be Kai, even when he had been tortured he hadn't seemed as vulnerable as this.

An oxygen mask covered his mouth. Various wires and plugs were attached to him. A monitor played out the steady beat of his heart by his side. An IV lead was attached to his arm.

As well as this, his head was bandaged, as well as his hands and feet. More bandages were concealed under the hospital blanket that covered him. He seemed so helpless just lying there.

"Your friend has had a tough time of it, but I'm glad to say that he's stable."

The doctor ran a hand through his black hair, clearly intimidated by the level of attention he was receiving.

"I'll state the inquires from top to bottom shall I?" he asked Alice.

She nodded and took out her notebook to jot the information down.

"The head wound was relatively minor as it only required three stitches. Back wounds indicate that he was whipped a total of ten times. He also broke his right leg, but it is a clean light break that should heal in no time."

"As well as that his wrists, hands and the soles of his feet are all burned. His whole body also seems to have suffered severe muscle trauma. The burns are consistent with electric burns and indicate that the patient was electrocuted."

"Excuse me doctor, but did you just say electrocuted?!" Kenny asked, his voice becoming shrill.

"Yes, and my name is Tom Gibbons. You can call me Tom. I am your friend's personal doctor now." He smiled.

Most of the group smiled back he seemed nice enough, Hilary was staring. Tyson dug her in the ribs, which of course started an argument.

"What I'm most worried about" Tom said thoughtfully, not realising that his words had succeeded in silencing the pair.

"Is not his resent inquires, but his scars. They may not be as noticeable as some, but they show he's certainly had a time of it."

Alice frowned, her concerns turning out to be true.

I would have updated sooner but the fanfiction net was overflowed.

Anyhow, you know the drill. Read and review.

Plus where the heck did i get Tom Gibbons and Alice Tompson's names from. Weird stuff popping in my head.