Next chapter's up, people!

Tyson didn't flinch as a nurse accidentally brushed against his arm. A massive purple-black bruise spread from his wrist to his elbow, split down the middle by a deep cut, but it could've belonged to someone else for all the notice he took of it, eyes fixed unblinkingly on Max.

Judy Tate looked round the door, saw Tyson, sighed inwardly, and went back outside.

"No luck. He's still there." she said tiredly to Kenny.

"It's been seven hours, Judy! He hasn't spoke, eaten, or slept for seven hours!" Kenny cried desperately, pacing up and down the corridor.

"I know, Kenny, I know. You say you've tried to get him out of it?" Kenny nodded.

"I've tried six times, but it's like he just looks straight through you, like he can't hear you…" Kenny swallowed back a sob. "I did think of getting Hilary over, she can normally shake him out of anything and I mean literally shake him, but…" He trailed off. Judy looked up quickly.

"What?" she asked sharply. Kenny shook his head.

"It's probably nothing, but…when we were waiting for the ambulance…I didn't hear much but I think they had an argument. I know that's not saying much," he added hurriedly. "But I get the feeling it was more serious than normal. I don't think Hilary could help us much this time."

"Damn." muttered Judy. There was a moment's silence.

"What about Kai?" Kenny said suddenly. "You know how competitive those two are! If we could get them together-"

"Good plan, Kenny. But, unless you mean to show Tyson someone even worse off than he is it wouldn't work, I'm afraid." Judy said quietly. Kenny looked at her.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Judy sighed again.

"Tell me Kenny, would it mean anything to you if I told you Kai was subolic?"

"Subolic? No, what is it?"

"It's a shortened term for super-fast-metabolic-system. Also called S.F.M.S, for obvious reasons. It's pretty rare. Basically, people with S.F.M.S digest food much faster than normal people. Which is great if you're in a hurry, but it also means they gain and lose energy much faster as well. If they use up all their energy in a rush, they simply pass out until their bodies have recovered enough. It's called a subolic collapse. It's also made more severe if they haven't eaten for a while."

"And?"

"When I last saw him, Kai was heading towards one. Fast." Judy said bluntly.

"When was the last time any of you had anything to eat?" she continued.

"Umm…don't know. I haven't eaten all day, but I think the others had quite a big breakfast…of course, Kai didn't turn up until around noon…"

"Oh, the hospital was aware that he was subolic, Kenny. That's how I knew. They would have made sure he had something to eat, don't worry…but you say none of you have had anything to eat since this morning? Make sure you get something, okay? And you might as well take something in to Tyson."

"Okay."

"Oh, I just thought of something. Has Kai done anything physical, like fighting?" Kenny snorted with laughter.

"Yeah, just a bit! He threw Thomas across the room, fought a security guard and knocked down a steel door!"

Judy sucked in her breath.

"Yes, I don't think it would be a good idea to call Kai at the moment."

"Ray?"

"No, let them rest." Kenny pushed his wild hair out of his eyes and looked at Judy properly, seeing the lines of worry and stress carved deeply into her tired face. He kicked himself for forgetting the reason they were here in the first place.

"How's Max doing?" he asked tentatively. Judy sighed yet again and ran her fingers through her blonde hair, closing her eyes in weariness.

"Not good." Her voice broke. "H-his temperature is so high, his liver's malfunctioned. Twice." A few tears trickled from under her closed eyelids. "They say that if it gets any higher, there-there's nothing more they can do…" She started crying in earnest, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"So, we just have to wait and see what happens…" muttered Kenny. "Come on, Judy, let's go get a coffee or something. You look shattered."

Tyson drew back from the door, jolted back to his senses at last. He'd had no idea that Max was this ill. He walked slowly back to the hospital bed, emotions boiling under his blank face. How dare they say he was arguing with Hilary? It wasn't his fault she was an annoying, useless piece of-. He stopped himself, ashamed. Maybe when all this was over, he could apologise, but right now, Max needed whatever strength he had left to give, although the thought of food was making his mouth water…If Kenny remembered about him, it surely wouldn't hurt to just take a mouthful… He licked his lips, suddenly aware of a searing pain in his left arm. Ignoring it, he stared at Max again.

C'mon Max, bud! You can beat this thing! he thought. Damn hospitals! He hated waiting…

Kai stared blankly at the flickering fireplace. Dry-eyed, he shifted slightly in his chair. He was so tired he wasn't even able to settle down enough to try and sleep. He knew that if he didn't sleep soon, he would pass out. He welcomed the thought. At least when you were unconscious, you didn't have to think. Anika…

Ray sat silently. The pain from his leg had eased a little, but he still couldn't sleep. He was worried about all of them.

Kenny, having to deal with Tyson, stressed and tired.

Kai, exhausted and eaten up by memories.

Hilary, feeling guilty for no reason, badly shaken.

Tyson, shell-shocked, guilty, numb.

And Max, who, if appearances were anything to go by, was seriously ill. He sighed helplessly. Finally, at three o'clock, he drifted off.

"Mrs Tate? Mrs Tate!" Judy stirred and rolled over, rubbing her eyes furiously.

"What?" she said sleepily, swinging herself upright on the bench. A nurse stood in front of her. "Is it Max?" she asked, terrified. The nurse smiled.

"Relax, Mrs Tate. Max is doing well."

"You mean…"

"His temperature dropped two degrees during the night. He's out of immediate danger."

"Oh, thank God!" Judy leaned back against the wall and laughed tearfully. "Thank heavens!"

"Judy!" a deep voice called. Judy looked up to see Max's dad running towards her. She grinned widely. Suddenly, everything was all right again.

"You took your time, Gary!" she said happily, hugging him tightly.

"Yes, I was in Japan! How's Max?"

"Better." Judy said sombrely. Gary blinked.

"How bad?" he asked slowly.

"His temperature's around 104, now." Judy said.

"It was…?" asked Gary slowly.

"106." said Judy. Gary whistled.

"Oh, Max!" he said softly. "It's been hard for you, hasn't it, Ju?" He hugged her again.

"Damn!" he exclaimed loudly.

"What?"

"I almost forgot to tell you! Kenny says, do you want to come and see Max?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well, let's go!"

Any doubts Judy might have had about Max's health were brushed aside when she went into the room. One look at Tyson convinced her that Max was getting better. He was talking loudly to Kenny through mouthfuls of the biggest sandwich Judy had ever seen, and he had finally let the nurses clean up his arm. Smiling, she looked over to Max. She gasped in astonishment. Max's eyes were open and he was staring straight at her.

"Mum, Dad…" he mouthed through the oxygen mask. Kenny and Kenny tactfully backed away, leaving the family alone.

"I'm gonna go and phone the others now, okay?"

"Yeah, sure Kenny."

"You better think up a decent apology before Hilary gets here!"

"Mmm…"

"Miss Hilary!" came the voice of the receptionist. "Phone for you!"

Hillary yawned and swung herself sleepily out of bed. Two minutes later, she was shaking Ray's shoulder furiously.

"Ray! Ray, you idiot, wake up!" Ray stirred, and tried to bat her hand away. He peeled his eyes open, wondering what all the fuss was about.

"Ray, that was Kenny. Max is okay!" Ray struggled upright, his sleep-fogged brain trying to work out what she was on about.

"What?" he said groggily.

"Well, he's still ill," Hilary's face fell slightly as she spoke. "But, he's apparently out of any immediate danger, so, we should go and see him!"

"Y'what?"

"I said, we should go and see him!"

"Yeah, see him, okay…" Ray muttered, trying to wake himself up. He peeled off his top, too tired to feel embarrassed, dragged a clean one on, and tried to stand up.

As his wounded leg gave way beneath him, he stretched out a hand to save himself, only to realise, just in time, that it was the broken one. Snatching it back, he would've fallen if Hilary hadn't grabbed him round the waist. Bracing herself as she took Ray's full weight, Hilary staggered to a chair and dumped him on it.

"Maybe we should wait a bit…" she said doubtfully. Ray straightened up.

"No, it's okay, Hil, I'm awake now!"

"You sure?"

"Postive, but we might need to call a taxi."

"Why?"

"Because none of us can drive, at least, I don't think Kai can, and…" He trailed off.

"What?" Ray looked at Hilary, deadpan. Suddenly, it hit her. Ray's right hand was broken, she knew that. But, his right leg was the one she'd stitched last night! So that meant that Ray not only couldn't walk, he couldn't use his hand for support, either! Ray's eyes glittered in amusment as he looked at her. Abruptly, she laughed too.

"Shall we go, Ray? Your loyal walking stick awaits!" She strected out an arm and Ray took it gratefully.

"Kai? You awake?"

"Yes. What is it?" came a cold voice from the lounge. Ray's heart sank. He knew Kai in this mood. They'd be lucky if he listened to them, let alone agreed to come…

"Why?" asked Kai, taking another mouthful of banana. "Why should I come?" As was normal when he was like this, Hilary noticed, he was speaking very formally.

"Because we want you to?" she said hopefully. Kai gave her a look of the utmost contempt, and turned away. Ray smiled grimly.

"Fine then, don't come. We'll be sure to tell Tyson that you were too scared." he said carelessly. Kai's eyes flickered back to Ray. He knew that he was being manipulated, but he couldn't bear to appear soft or scared to Tyson. Face impassive, he nodded his head once, throwing the empty banana skin into the bin.

"Very well. But I reserve the right to leave at any time." He swept past them and out the door.

The second he was gone, the other two collapsed into hysterical laughter.

"I-I reserve…" Hillary was laughing too much to even finish her imitation. Ray chuckled, composing himself .

"Did you call the taxi?" Wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, Hillary nodded.

"Miss Hillary?" The receptionist's voice blared from the speaker on the wall. "Taxi!"

"That was quick!" said Ray, surprised.

"The taxi place is only three doors down." Hillary explained. She stood up and slipped her arm around Ray's shoulder.

"Oh no! I am not going in there! It was too much being stuck in there for a month!" Kai spun around and tried to get back into the taxi, only to be stopped when Hilary laid a restraining hand on his arm.

"Please, Kai?" she pleaded. Kai shook his head violently.

"No. I can't go in there again." He spoke calmly, but both Ray and Hilary could see how tense he was. Ray looked at him closely. Was that…fear in his eyes?

"C'mon Kai, please?" Kai's temper flared and he leaned close to Hilary.

"I thought I made myself perfectly clear!" he hissed.

"But, Kai-"

"I said NO!" Kai yelled and, drawing his arm back, slapped her viciously round the face. Hilary stumbled back, tears coursing down her flaming cheek. Eyes blazing, Ray took a couple of unsteady steps forward, putting as little weight on his leg as possible, fists clenched tightly.

"Cowardly, jealous bastard!" he muttered furiously under his breath. Hilary pulled at his arm.

"Ray, don't, it's not his fault, I shouldn't have kept on at him…" she said desperately. Kai's eyes glittered with malice as he watched.

"Yeah, come on, Ray. Don't disappoint your girlfriend, now!" he said breathlessly. Ray eyed him coldly, controlling his temper with difficulty.

"I'd like nothing more than to beat you up, Kai, but, unlike you, me and Hillary have a job to do, namely, visiting Max. Now, if you really can't stand to come in, then so be it. We'll see you later." He turned away, then swayed as his leg gave out. Hilary grabbed him and the two of them walked into the hospital.

Kai stood watching them until they were inside, then swung round and slammed his fist violently into a low wall, screwing up his eyes in disgust.

"Damn bloody temper!" he swore. How could he have done that? He could still see Hilary's shocked, horrified expression as his palm thudded into the side of her face, the raw redness of her cheek. Ray's words echoed in his head.

"Cowardly, jealous-"

"If you can't stand to come in-" Is that really all I am? Kai wondered. Jealous, because they love each other, and the only person I ever loved- no Kai, don't think about her! He stopped himself mid-thought and looked at the hospital. Coward is right. he admitted ruefully to himself. I'd rather break my own arm than go in there…But I should probably find out how Max is, and Ray will never forgive me if I don't go in…Oh God, I don't want to do this, why am I doing this again? Oh God, oh God… Stop being stupid! What would Tyson do if he could see me? Laugh till he choked, probably. Now, just keep your head down, that's it, don't look at anybody...

Okay, that's that chapter done! LikeI said before,I don't really like this fic anymore, but you lot do, so I'm doing this for you! R&R, pretty please!