Well, here's the next chapter! A big thanks to Lamanth, hikari0205, SilverMoon Wolf, Elemental Gypsy, Crucialus (), shadowoftheredmoon and missy () for reviewing the last chapter! Luv you all!This one isn't so long, I'm afraid. Enjoy it anyway!

Disclaimer: (is poked by reviewers. Yawns.) What? You don't know the obvious? I do not own Beyblade. Now, lemme sleep, SATS bad for brain...

I open my eyes a crack. They close again, too heavy to hold open.

"Brooklyn?" I stir. Max's voice wakes me up slightly; my eyes are easier to hold open this time.

Max waited, biting his lip. Would Brooklyn remember what had really happened, or what Kai told him, or only remember the fear and panic? It was probably too much to hope that he'd remember what had really happened. He started trying to remember exactly what Kai had told Brooklyn.
I hear Kai.

"I've got to go to the hospital soon, okay? It's nothing to worry about…just a stomach ache."

"Kai…"

"Could you tell me where Kai is?" Max asks quietly. I try to sit up. Max helps me up and puts another pillow behind my back.

"Uh-huh…he said…he had to go to the hospital."

"Yeah, that's right." Max agrees. "How do you feel?"

"I'm tired…why am I so tired, Max?" There's a pause. I get the strangest feeling that Max is having to rack his brains. Normally I'd figure this out, but my brain feels like someone's put a thick layer of cotton wool over it. I can't think properly anymore.

"You battled Tyson, remember? It was a very big battle." I think hard; feel a memory sliding out of the cotton wool.

"Yes…I did battle Tyson. Who won?"

"I don't know, Brooklyn." Max answers. "Does it matter?" I shake my head.

"No. Not really." I colour slightly, embarrassed at what I'm about to say. "Um…Max? I kind of need the toilet…" Max laughs quietly and slips an arm around my waist, helping me up off the bed.

I am exceedingly embarrassed. Max is having to stand behind me and hold me upright, because I can't stand on my own. I finish and pull my zip up. I sink down to the floor, pulling the toilet lid with me and rest my head on the cool porcelain.

"You okay, Brooklyn?" Max says softly.

"I need Kai…" I mumble helplessly.

"I know, Brooklyn, I know…" I feel Max hug me comfortingly, his grip secure. A light turns on in my confused head. Max has to be gay. Or bi, at least. No straight guy would dare hug me like Max is hugging me. But there's no attraction, he's just doing it to try and make me feel better. I spin round and kiss him desperately. I don't know what I'm doing, but it makes my mind go blank.

Which is good.

Max isn't responding, but he isn't pushing me away, either. He's just waiting until I calm down. But I'm not going to calm down, not now. My hands slide underneath his top, stroking him feverishly. He's softer than Kai, nowhere near as many muscles. I feel him starting to pull away. I hold him tighter and shove one hand down his trousers. He reaches down and pulls it out. Taking both of my hands in his, he lays them gently in my lap.

"You don't want this, Brooklyn." I try to pull away. "You don't want me. You want Kai." I nod, feeling burning tears welling up, scorching the inside of my eyelids.

"I want Kai…" My voice wobbles. "When can I see him?"

"I don't know. I'll go and find out, shall I?"

"Please…" As he gets up, I turn away and put my head back down on the toilet lid, sobbing like a child.

Max closed the door quietly and went to the phone. He dialled Hilary's mobile number, hoping she had left it on.

"Hello? Hilary speaking."

"Heya, Hil, it's Max. Do you know when I could bring Brooklyn in? He wants to see Kai."

"Um…I don't really know…I'll hand you over to Ray, he might know."

"Okay, thanks."

"Max?"

"Yeah. When will Kai be okay to see Brooklyn?" He heard Ray clicking his fingers as he thought.

"I'm not sure… How is Brooklyn?"

"He's still pretty out of it, but I think…"

"You think he might get violent if he doesn't see Kai soon." Ray finished for him.

"Yeah." Max acknowledged. "So…"

"I really don't know, Max. Kai's only just woken up from the anaesthetic; he's still really shattered… Give it an hour, okay?" Max chewed his lip.

"Okay…" he said uncertainly.

I open my eyes as I hear Max coming back in.

"Well?" I ask quickly.

"An hour." Max replies warily.

"What?" I scramble upright, eyes wide. "I want to see him right now!"

"Sorry, Brooklyn. Not just yet." I clench my fists.

"I. Want. To. See. Kai!" I grit out.

"Brooklyn, you can't just yet, okay?" I grab the nearest hard thing to me, the soap-holder, and chuck it at Max. He doges, but not fast enough, the metal box leaving a dripping red slice down the side of his face. He looks at me calmly. "Brooklyn, I know you want Kai, I understand, but-"

"You don't fucking understand at all!" I scream, then fling myself at him.

Still slightly woozy from the soap-holder assault, he barely moves before I'm on him, punching and kicking. With a hiss of fury, I smash his head against the sink. He stops struggling, goes limp. Suddenly scared, I let go of him. He drops to the floor, his eyes fluttering slightly. Slowly, painfully, he pulls himself upright and puts a hand to his head.

"Ow…" he whispers. For some reason, that strikes a nerve. How dare he complain about a measly knock to the head when my Kai's in hospital? Fury floods through me, but this time it's mixed with something stronger.

Lust.

I go up to him and kiss him hungrily. He tries to pull away, but he can barely move, and the movement only inflames me more. I kiss him again, and fumble with his T-shirt, pulling it off.

"Brooklyn, stop it…" The feeble protest doesn't register as I run my hands down his bare chest. He's so different from Kai, so much…weaker. I pull away to take a breath, then kiss him again, forcing his mouth open. Still kissing him, one hand tangling in his blond curls, my other hand creeps down and pulls down his trousers and boxers. Slowly, I began to move downwards, my mouth trailing over his collarbone, biting his nipples gently, and licking his flat stomach. My hands are in-between his legs, stroking him. He's hard, he can't help it. With a grin, I undo his zip and lower my mouth to his erection and begin working on it. He shivers as I suck at him. He's still trying to pull away, it amazes me. I mean, this is probably his first ever blowjob and he's trying to get me off! I come back up and crush his mouth to mine. He doesn't resist, limp everywhere now. I run a hand over his soft cheek, feel the tears there - "What would Kai think of you?" he whispers. I freeze, feeling as if cold water has been poured over me. Kai… I look at Max and snap out of my strange, lust-filled dream. He's lying on the floor, cheeks wet with tears, eyes dazed and unfocused, a small trickle of blood dribbling over his ashen face from my assault on him with the sink. I gasp with horror as I replay what I just did. I run over to him.

"Max? Are you all right? I am so, so sorry, I-I didn't mean to-" He flashes me a look that reads "shut up" as clear as day. He sits up slowly, rubbing his head gently.

"Fuck." I start to tremble. I've never heard Max swear before, no one has.

"M-Max?" I stammer. He waves a hand at me, shutting me up instantly. He turns to face me and I quiver at the mixed anger and pity in his eyes.

"You're going to listen to me now, and listen well." he says quietly. "Right now, you can't see Kai. Soon, but not now. And if you ever, ever do that to me again, you'll regret it." He sees my face - I think I look absolutely petrified 'cause that's damn well how I feel - and softens slightly. "Not that I didn't enjoy it. But I don't want you messing yourself up, okay?" I nod, choking up again.

"Kai…" I mew, turning away and burying my head in my hands. Max gently pulls me towards the window and tugs at my hands.

"Look, Brooklyn!" he whispers, pointing to something on the window ledge. Reluctantly, I look. A small, soft smile creeps over my face at the adorable sight of a mother blackbird feeding her chicks in amongst the mess of twigs that they called home. I love birds… With a pleased sigh, I settle my elbows on the windowsill and stare in bliss.

Max dialled Hilary's number again and got Ray.

"Is Kai ready yet?" he asked, keeping his tone as normal as possible through the splitting pain in his skull.

"Groggy, but he wants to see Brooklyn. Why? Are you okay?" Ray was always very perceptive around Max…pity he wasn't quite perceptive enough…. Max blushed and forced the thought from his mind.

"Oh, I'm just fine." Max's voice sounded hollow even to himself. Ray stayed silent, waiting for more. "In the last few minutes, he's only beaten me up, cracked my head against the sink so hard that I'm bleeding from somewhere I haven't had time to identify yet, and tried to fuck me. Next question?" There was a long, long silence.

"I think you'd better get him over here. And you'd better get checked out while you're here, too."

"No shit, Sherlock." Max ended the call, rubbing gingerly at his painful head. "Hey, Brooklyn? We can see Kai now!" he called. No answer. "Brooklyn?"

"In a minute…" came the dreamy answer. Max peered into the bathroom, to see Brooklyn gazing serenely at the brown, slightly speckled bird perched happily on his index finger. He smiled despite himself at the sweet sight.

"Brooklyn?" he repeated, a little louder. The bird cheeped in alarm and flew off. Slowly, Brooklyn's attention focused on Max again.

"Yes?"

"We can see Kai now." Max said for the second time. A large grin spread across Brooklyn's pale face.

"At last!" he exclaimed joyfully. He stood up, seeming to be fully recovered from his slightly…muddled state of earlier. His teal-blue eyes flew to where Max was unconsciously rubbing at his pounding head, and his contented face creased with worry and guilt. "I'm so sorry, Max, really, I don't know what came over me. Do you feel all right?" He looked concernedly at Max, who nodded automatically, wincing.

"It's okay, Brooklyn, you were upset. I'm gonna get checked out once we get to the hospital."

"Yeah, I know I was upset, but still…" Brooklyn trailed off, frowning. He didn't like not being in control, Max knew, and hated his chaotic mental state, but he hated being patronised and/or treated differently because of it even more.

"Trust me, it's okay."

Is it though, Max? I can see you're in pain; it's blindingly obvious to anyone with half a brain. (That rules out Tyson and Ray, then. No, that was mean…it only rules out Ray.) I chuckle softly, then immediately feel guilty. If Kai was here, he'd have cold-shouldered me for at least a few hours if I'd said that out loud…and probably if I hadn't…I swear he can read minds sometimes. Reading mine, now that's an achievement! I can't even work out what I'm thinking sometimes!

"Are we going, then?" I ask at last, when I snap out of my musings and realise that Max hasn't moved, his eyes glassy. He blinks and nods quickly, his eyes coming back into focus.

"Yeah, let's go." I follow him out, narrowing my eyes and resolving to keep a close eye on him until he get to the hospital.

Well? Opinions, please! I can't believe I'm even hinting at a Ray/Max... that pairing is pure fluff, and in my opinion is completely unrealistic. I mean, come on! They're SOboth uke! Anyway, review, please! (This update is for Lamanth, who threatened me with Tala-shaped cookies. Bleurgh.) Review!