Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Just this plot meh.

(If anyone can find an occasion during the series where Seto actually smiles I'd love to see where cause I can't remember ever seeing him smile!)

Chapter 12

Seto was still sitting beside Joey the following morning having been permitted by the doctors to remain there until he woke up. He was dozing in the chair with one hand propping his head up and the other in Joey's.

Joey stirred and opened his eyes. He wasn't sure where he was to begin with but the smell of hospitals registered in his mind and he realised where he was then he remembered what had happened.

He was in pain from the bruises he had received from Ushio and his head hurt. He didn't know it but Ushio had broken two of his ribs and one had nearly punctured a lung but he'd been lucky. If he hadn't curled up it most certainly would have and he'd have died.

He moved his eyes round taking in the drips and machines before lifting his hand to rub one of his eyes which felt itchy. It was then that he realised that there was someone holding it. He looked to the side of him and saw Seto sleeping in the chair and his heart leapt.

Seto had come to see him and judging by the fact he was holding his hand, he knew it wasn't a formal visit.

"Seto?" he whispered not wanting to startle the CEO. Seto opened his eyes and looked at the one on the bed.

"Hey pup you're awake." He smiled which was a rarity for him as he hardly ever smiled.

"How come you're here?" Joey asked. "Does this mean…"

"Yes I'm sorry I turned my back on you, you want to be thankful to Yugi who came to tell me you'd been beaten up and between him and Mokuba I realised I'd been stupid to finish with you because of what might happen to the company as a result."

"He did?" Joey said amazed that he would have done something like that for him after what he did to them.

"Yeah he came round last night though I think something else was bothering him judging by the state he was in but I didn't ask him what it was. Maybe he was just really worried for you."

"I wish I'd kept quiet about him going to see Yami now." Joey said regretfully. "Yami's been nothing but nice to me since I was put inside but most of the time I blanked him because I was too wrapped up in myself to care much."

"Never mind pup you can make it up to him when you return."

"Yeah think I will." Joey said nuzzling into Seto's hand which had been stroking his face again. Joey was enjoying this show of affection, as the only time he did so was when they were alone. He winced however when the hand brushed against one of his bruises.

"Ow." He muttered and Seto frowned.

"How did it Joey?" he asked but Joey shook his head.

"If I tell, I'll get beaten again. It was my fault that he got put inside years ago and he was out for revenge. If I tell now he'll know and maybe he won't just beat me this time." Joey said fearfully. His telling days were over, they caused nothing but trouble and he only wanted a quiet life now.

"Tell me and I'll make sure he never touches you again." Seto demanded venomously. There was no way he was going to allow his pup to get hurt again, he would make sure of that.

"I can't." Joey said still scared of the repercussions. "Even if I do say his name what can you do? You're not the cops."

"True but I can tell them what you tell me or better still tell them yourself." He said seeing two detectives heading their way.

"Seto please I don't want to hurt anyone or be hurt again just because I got a big mouth." Joey pleaded and although Seto could see his point of view he was a little annoyed at him after all he would make sure the perpetrator was 'taken care of' properly.

The two detectives entered and Seto rose to greet them. He introduced himself and left Joey with them telling his pup he would be back later to see him, as he had to get back and take a shower. He wasn't used to sitting in a chair all night and he felt crumpled and dirty.

One of the detectives sat down on the chair Seto had recently vacated and the other remained standing.

"Hello Mr Wheeler I'm detective Shinobi and this is my college Detective Fukushomi. You'll be relieved to hear that the inmate who attacked you has been caught and is currently awaiting re-sentencing due to his actions." Shinobi said. "He denies the attack but was found at the scene standing over you. Did he say anything as to why this happened?"

"Yeah he said he was getting revenge for telling you guys about him." Joey said completely unawares that they were talking about two different people. He thought that Shinobi meant Ushio had been caught and he was glad he didn't have to name names.

"Well it seems his record finally caught up with him and he wasn't as innocent as he made out."

"At least he didn't kill me like that kid." Joey said and the detective looked slightly puzzled.

"What do you mean?" he asked thinking that this was something Aomori had done that needed to be investigated.

"I told the police he'd killed a kid ten years ago and that's why he got put away in the first place." Joey said wondering why Shinobi looked puzzled. Surely they would know this if Ushio was caught unless…

"Who did you say it was you caught?" He asked.

"Your cellmate Yami Aomori." Shinobi said and Joey looked shocked for a few moments while the information sank in. If Yami had been found with him then it would definitely have looked bad for him given his past record. He knew then he had to say something, he couldn't allow Yami to take the rap for something he didn't do.

"It wasn't him," he said and Shinobi looked closely at him.

"You're sure? He was found standing over you and no one else was around at the time."

"Yes I'm sorry when you said you'd caught him I thought you were talking about someone else."

"So who did attack you then Mr Wheeler?" Fukushomi asked and Joey took a deep breath before replying.

"It was Ushio Tokonami."

The two detectives looked at each other before Fukushomi left the room to have a word with the guards out in the hallway and Joey watched one of them leave.

"Thank you Mr Wheeler." He said "He won't bother you again, you have my word on that."

Shinobi had been one of the police involved in the Chiba murder case ten years before but then he'd only been a constable back then but he remembered it well. Tokonami had resisted arrest leaving two of his colleges seriously injured in the process one of whom had been his best friend at the time but had been forced to retire due to his injuries which had been permanent. Tokonami had broken his back with an iron bar and he had been confined to a wheelchair.

Joey nodded and added as an afterthought "What will happen to Yami now?"

"He'll be allowed out of solitary and his privileges reinstated I should think. Thank you for your help Mr Wheeler." He said and stood up to leave.

Joey thought he would feel more scared than he did about dropping Ushio's name like that but he felt warm inside. Maybe it was because he'd cleared Yami's name he didn't really know but he felt glad.

Feeling exhausted suddenly for everything that had happened in the last couple of hours, Joey closed his eyes and fell into the first really peaceful natural sleep he'd had in months.

Yami heard a key in the lock of his cell door but made no effort to move. It must be lunchtime as that was the only time his door was ever opened. A guard came in and stood in front of him.

"Yami Aomori you are to come with me, the governor wants to see you." He said and Yami got up wondering what was going on.

He followed the guard to where the governor's office was wondering why he wanted to see him after all he hadn't been taken there over the attack on Joey so why now? Unless… he hardly dared hope that the real attacker had been caught he didn't even know if Joey was all right yet. The hope that the real guy had been caught grew as they approached the office. If it was so, then he was in the clear and could see Yugi again! He quashed the feeling of excitement as it rose just in case it was for something else and nothing had changed.

The guard knocked and a muffled 'Come in' came from the other side of the door. He opened it and motioned for Yami to go first while he followed. The door was closed behind them and Yami looked at the governor who was smiling slightly.

"Mr Aomori I believe I owe you an apology for the accusation made against you two days ago. We have learned that Mr Wheeler wasn't attacked by yourself, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Yes sir, I found Joey and was about to get help for him when the guards came." Yami said his excitement coming out in his voice.

"Well your privileges are hereby reinstated and your outside visitation rights have been allowed again."

"Thank you," Yami said unable to stop the grin. "Thank you so much."

"No problem I'm just sorry we didn't get the right person first. Now you will be returned to your cell and I'm sure your cellmate will be released from hospital soon and be back with you."

"How is he?" Yami wanted to know.

"He came out of surgery with no complications and is recovering well."

"I'm glad." Yami said pleased that he was going to be okay soon. He might actually get a chance to talk to him now. He thanked the governor and was led back to his cell. Now he could look forwards to seeing Yugi again and he hoped they wouldn't make him wait a week to see him.

Ushio Tokonami found himself being transferred back to the high security prison he had so recently left and knew that the pig had squealed again.

"You better watch your back little piggy, I won't be in here forever and when I get out I'm coming after you." He told the walls of his cell. "Next time you're a dead man."

TBC…