Disclaimer: not mine

A/n: I don't have an excuse. Sorry. Well, actually I lost interest. Phew, finally done

The Hippocratic Oath, in case you don't know, is an oath all doctors have to take… you can search about it in the internet.

Recap:

But the pilot was burning up, with a very high fever of 40.1 degrees Celsius.

Stranded

Chapter 3

In 15 minutes time, the prisoner named Kira Yamato was shifted to the infirmary and hooked up to several machines that showed his vitals. His fever had returned, probably due to the poor heating system where he was placed. His heartbeat was a little faster than normal, and his breathing appeared laboured.

"Will he be fine?" Nicol asked the doctor. The doctor was frowning slightly. He was a good doctor, a doctor who stuck to the Hippocratic Oath. He did not discriminate, a patient was a patient, it mattered not whether they were a civilian or a soldier, a natural or a coordinator, he treated them all.

"I'm not sure, I need o run a few tests, it would really help if I have his past records though." The doctor said, eyes fixated on the monitor. He jotted a few things down on his paper, and then called for a nurse to draw some blood for testing. Nichol thought for a while, should he? Well, it wouldn't hurt.

"Well, I think I can get the health records printed from a computer. I'll be back soon. Oh, and by the way, he is a coordinator." Nichol said lightly, tapping his boots against the metal frame of the bed. That earned a scowl from the doctor, Nichol immediately ceased tapping on the bed.

The good doctor then cleared his throat nervously, "Well then, get along." he muttered about inconsiderate boys acting as soldiers as he checked the IV. Nichol knew a dismissal when he saw one and shuffled out of the infirmary.

Athrun was standing outside. His face was devoid of his usual confidence and determination, he looked more like the boy Nichol knew he is. 'We're all children, but not anymore.' He thought sadly. Athrun looked like a kicked puppy.

"Athrun, you want to go in?" he asked carefully, watching the other boy's response. A response if there was going to be any, would be a lie.

"No, not really, I just thought that I ought to check on the status of the prisoner." He said. Nichol narrowed his eyes, and fought back an urge to ask him what was wrong. His friends always kept everything inside of him; he would share when he was ready.

"Fine then, I'll give you a report in the cafeteria when I'm done getting the records to the doctor." Athrun was reluctant, yet he wanted to go n so badly. He wanted to ask the doctor is he friends would be fine, but he couldn't do it. He wanted to tap lightly on Kira's shoulder and ask of his life. He wanted to ask inconsequential questions like everything was all okay, like, 'do you have a girlfriend?' but it didn't matter anymore.

They would touch down on PLANT, the Carpentaria base in 1 hour. The doctor would stay with his patient. Then, whatever happened to Kira would be out of his control. He may never see his friend again! 'Those Naturals! I knew they would abandon Kira, they don't deserve to be his friends!' Athrun thought angrily.

There was a young prune-like thing on the soil. Kira looked down on the soil and took a step closer, to get a good look at the strange object. The loamy soil squished under hi dress shoes. 'This feels like a dream…' he thought.

Then, he pinched himself. It did not hurt. 'Che, I am dreaming…' he mused. It was strange, that he knew he was dreaming. The seed was glowing slightly. It looked very much like something magical. Kira squatted down and studied it intensely.

Very slowly, a crack appeared on the uneven surface of the purple seed.

"It's growing!" exclaimed Kira. His voice echoed eerily through the empty dreamscape. A tiny spot of green appeared through the crack, it peaked out shyly, reluctant to reveal itself. The 'sky' brightened. The dusty grey giving way to a calm blue with cotton candy clouds. The plant seemed to notice it, it grew a little more. Now, a small stem and a leaf were visible.

Somewhere, a foreign voice asked 'will he be fine?' it did not seem to some from his dream. 'Is it from reality then?' pondered Kira seriously; he did not care much about the reality, though someone seemed to care for his physical well-being. The plant and this dreamscape was a lot more interesting.

Kira stared at the Plant curiously, tempted to poke it. So he did.

The Plant surface caressed Kira's finger gently, it felt like velvet. Then faster than ever, the plant grew, right before his eyes, each leaf touching his finger before reaching up towards the sunshine. A smile graced Kira's lips. 'It's so peaceful…'

Suddenly, a mild quake rocked his peaceful world. Kira's tranquillity was shattered and he was annoyed.

"His heart is slowing down!" a man's voice exclaimed. A bolt of coldness reached Kira's heart… 'Am I dying?' he thought in detached awareness. The plant wavered in his vision. Kira felt suddenly afraid. 'This cannot be! I'm dying!' Panic began to seep into his being. The blue sky changed back to its original dreary grey and the sun disappeared all together. The little Plant closed its leaves.

Then scenery changed. Kira looked around him. It was on the moon base, in the park near his academy. Partially obscured on his right was young Athrun and a younger him.

"There won't be war between PLANT and Earth. You don't have to worry."

"You'll came and join me soon, right?"

Young Kira nodded bravely and began to cry. 'I used to cry so much then' Kira thought, he was a little embarrassed at this realisation. Athrun looked so gentle, so kind, Kira wanted to go and hug him, but before Kira could take a step towards Athrun, the image faded away.

He shouted, "Athrun!!!" the anguish in his voice was unmistakable. Then the world disappeared around him, and he felt his chest being compressed none too gently, it was crude CPR, and they were trying to save him!

Athrun wanted to kill those Naturals, the Naturals that tried hurt his Kira.

"His heart is slowing down!" the doctor exclaimed. Athrun barged into the room immediately. His heart felt like a thousand needles were piercing it. Kira was dying! He's dying! The figure of his dear childhood friend was motionless, his chest had already ceased rising and falling with breath.

A nurse ran into the room pushing a trolley of equipment. A Heart Start kit was brought in and everything was attached to the boy.

"Get out! Get out! You're in the way!" barked the doctor, hooking up more cables. Athrun took a step back and ran out of the room. The pragmatic part of his mind was telling him, as much as he would like to see Kira, keeping out of the way for the time being was the best for his friend.

Meanwhile, the ship touched down on the Capentaria Base. He was to report immediately to Commander Creuset. Athrun paced along the corridor outside the infirmary. He was ignoring orders, but, who cares?

"Athrun!"

It was Kira's voice! It felt laced with pain, Athrun rushed into the room. His heart had started, and his breath was going in short pants. Not exactly the best state for a patient to be in, Kira was obviously distraught. Then his eyes opened, staring at the white light overhead.

The doctor looked at Athrun, perplexed.

"Kira," Athrun addressed, walking to wards the bed and he held his friend's hand, squeezing it gently to reassure him, "it's alright, you're okay. You're fine now, I'm with you. I'm with you. The Naturals will not hurt you again."

Kira only stared dazedly, not seeing anything, 'I'm captured, but Athrun is with me. He will not hurt me. He will not leave me. He will not… right? No, no… people hurt me. Flay hurt me. No I don't want reality. I wanted to stay there. There! Not here, I didn't I die? I want to die. Then, nobody can hurt me!"