DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sky High or any of its characters. I do not claim to know much about mental illnesses and certainly nothing about catatonia or schizophrenia. All of the craziness is gleaned from my own experiences and is, therefore, not totally bunk.

Warren and Layla sat down in front of an empty desk within the hospital walls. Pelefina Peace hadn't moved a single bit since Layla had called the paramedics, causing Warren to become sick with worry. She'd been through a lot over the years since her husband had been imprisoned, but never anything like this.

Now all was quiet as various doctors flipped through what seemed to be an endless bunch of pages that made up Pelefina's medical records. It was all there - a record of mood swings, delusions, and hallucinations that had occurred over the years.

CAT scans, CT scans, and electroencephalographs proved that Warren's mother had not experienced a seizure. When he heard that news he was slightly relieved but still overcome with worry. What had actually happened to the woman? Doctors couldn't answer him right away and he nearly ignited his arms from the impatient rage growing inside of him.

Suddenly, the door opened and a tall, lanky man in a white coat entered the room. Layla and Warren stood up, turning to face the doctor.

"Mr. Peace…?" The doctor held out a hand to be shaken. Warren took it, causing the doctor to wince from the heat of his hand.

"I'm Dr. Mathur and I'll be the doctor taking care of your mother during her stay here." He made his way around the desk, taking a seat across from Layla and Warren.

"What do you mean 'her stay'?"

"Well, obviously something is really troubling her psyche. It will take some time to treat her illness and from the way things are looking right now I would suggest her staying here under our close watch." Dr. Mathur leaned forward, his elbows on his desk, and tried to look as sympathetic as possible.

"I can watch her." Warren stated simply.

"Mr. Peace, I don't think you understand your mother's condition." The doctor was walking on eggshells now. He could see the look in Warren's eyes. There was so much anger and sadness in his expression but more than anything else there was love for his mother. Love can make people do crazy things.

"I can make sure she takes her medicine. I can make sure that she doesn't have any access to things that can hurt her. What the hell can you do that I can't do?" Warren had raised his voice almost to the point of shouting at the doctor seated across from him. Layla put a hand on his arm meaning to calm him down but she jerked it away. He was really burning up. She only hoped that he wouldn't ignite in front of the doctor.

"She'll have doctors, nurses, and trained professionals watching her constantly. If something should happen we will be right there next to her." The doctor pressed on. Having seen worry manifest itself in different ways, Warren's anger barely phased him. "I would also like to see your mother receive electroconvulsive treatments two times a week."

"She's already getting it once a week." Warren's voice had softened a bit. "Even that fucks with her memory. What's two treatments a week going to do?" For the first time in a while, he was truly frightened of what fate had in store for his mother.

"Well, it depends. There may or may not be memory loss, headaches, muscle cramps… I'm sure you're familiar with the list of side-effects from her previous treatment." Warren nodded.

"Will it help?" He asked in a barely audible voice.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" The doctor leaned closer, having not heard Warren's inquiry.

"Will it help? Will she get better?" He gritted his teeth together, trying so very hard not to get visibly angry.

"I'm sure her lucid moments will become longer and more frequent, but I can't promise that she'll ever be completely free of the psychotic symptoms she's been displaying."

"Well, then…" Warren suppressed the urges to scream or cry. He knew that would do him no good. "I guess it's best that she stay here…"

There was a heavy silence in the room. Dr. Mathur had been through this song and dance routine many times, but never had he come across someone so young taking care of his mother like Warren had. It bothered him a little bit, but he didn't show it. He approached the subject with a professional aura about him. It was funny how a psychiatrist could be so uneasy when it came to emotions.

"Would you like to see where she'll be staying?" Warren only nodded, standing up once he was sure that Dr. Mathur was finished with him. Layla followed suit, leaving the room right after Warren and the doctor.

"Warren!" A familiar voice called out. It was Pelefina, perfectly lucid and, even though she was messy and disheveled, she had the looks of a goddess once more. Warren smiled brightly, running over to his mother and giving her a big, tight hug.

"I was so worried about you." He brushed her dark hair away from her eyes. "I thought you'd gone away for good." Warren had to try hard to swallow the lump in his throat. 'Happiness' didn't even begin to cover the joy he felt to see his mother awake and mobile. Even Layla was moved by his expression and actions.

"I would never leave you, Warren." Pelefina held her son close to her, almost crying herself. She had been informed that she'd fallen into a catatonic state for a brief period of time. She was also told that it would be in her best interests to allow Dr. Mathur to hospitalize her for as long as necessary. She was as eager to go through with that plan as her son was comfortable with the idea of putting his mother away, but even she knew that it was for the best.

"I'm staying here for a while, Warren." His mother pulled away from their hug slightly, now pushing his dark hair out of his face. "I'll be safe here."

Instead of protesting or getting angry, Warren pulled his mother close to him once more and buried his face in her long dark hair.

"I can take care of you." Warren pleaded in a soft voice. "I'll keep you safe."

"No, sweetheart. I need things that nobody at home can give me." She shook her head, her mascara slightly smudged from all that had happened during the day. "Not you, not dad… No one but the doctors."

"If you'd like, you can run home and get some things to personalize your mother's room." Dr. Mathur stepped up to Warren and his mother, interrupting a very private and emotional moment. Instead of cussing the man out, Warren nodded in silence then turning back to his mother.

"What do you want me to bring?" His voice was still softened with emotion but he had stopped his crying.

"Oh, honey, I'm sure you'll pick out all of the right things. If you get a chance, though, get the picture." He nodded with a smile, knowing just what she was talking about.

"We're back!" Layla announced cheerily, her arms full of miscellaneous things. Warren had assured her that every single thing she held was important to his mother. A nurse entered the room right after Layla.

"Do you mind…?" Warren eyed the nurse, wanting privacy for their meeting.

"Sorry, doll. You brought stuff with ya'. I'm just here to make sure it's nothing dangerous."

"Well, it's not like we brought a Swiss army knife and a kilo of coke." Layla snorted as she laughed to herself, her face going blank when she realized nobody else was laughing.

"No sharps, no drugs, and nothing that can be turned into a weapon." The nurse stated with her hands on her hips. "We can start by taking this to the front desk." She snatched up the gardenia plant in a coffee mug Layla had given Mrs. Peace for Christmas.

"But that's personal!" Layla protested.

"And it's glass. Glass cuts." The nurse huffed, a little peeved even though she was used to that whole routine. "I'll keep it up at the nurses' station so she can see it when she likes."

Warren laid everything left out on the stiff little cot that his mother would be using as a bed. There were books, clothing, his mother's favorite chewing gum, a deck of playing cards, and a picture. In the picture was a very happy Pelefina holding a very small Warren standing next to her husband and his father, Baron Battle. He smiled faintly at the picture. His memories of those days were few and faint, but they were priceless.

"I'll need to take this, as well." The nurse pulled the sash off of Pelefina's bathrobe, reasoning that it could be used to create a noose.

"It's eight o clock." Pelefina murmured, looking out to the end of the hallway at the clock. "Visiting hours are over… You guys should be leaving." Warren nodded sadly, giving his mother one last hug before leaving the room.

"Layla!" Layla turned after hearing her name. "Come here, sweetheart." Wrinkling her eyebrows, Layla was concerned as to why Mrs. Peace wanted to talk to her.

"Take good care of him, will you? Even when he says he doesn't need it." The woman sighed, her words coming out in a soft whimper. "I'm so scared for him. Please take good care of him for me."

Layla nodded, smiling just a little bit, and exited the room.

"What did she say?" Warren asked the question in a soft voice, stepping outside of the ward when a guard unlocked the door with Layla close behind.

"She's just worried about you." She leaned in close, wrapping an arm around Warren and planting a kiss on his shoulder. Layla was determined to carry out Pelefina's wishes. She would love Warren, come what may…