Recap:

"I don't know why Mokuba stays with them and I don't really care, but... "Kaiba said, Max could feel his eyes on her, but she kept hers on the sky."But I can't stand Yugi and his bunch of loser friends! It seems that every time they seem me, they go into a speech on how I should be friends with them. And..." Kaiba stopped walking halting his speech, just realizing that he was sharing more than he had intended to. Max continued on for a few more steps until she realized Kaiba wasn't with her, she turned and looked curiously at him. He was standing there staring at the ground blinking in shock; obviously he hadn't meant to open up to her and was probably confused as to why he did it.

"It's okay to rant sometimes Kaiba, it's what keeps us human." Kaiba moved his sapphire eyes to meet Max's light blue ones they still registered surprise, but it was hidden. "And I don't mind if you rant to me, I can be a good listener." Max opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could her cell phone rang. Max frowned and reached in her pocket pulling out the small but loud piece of plastic.

"Harper!" Max said flipping open the phone and setting it to her ear, she listened for a second. Max's eyes widened in shock at the words that had been uttered on the other line.

"Talking" 'Thinking'

"Y-yes, I'll be there as soon as I can!" Max said and hung up the phone, she looked up at Kaiba who was looking at her concern obvious in his sapphire eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Kaiba asked almost appearing worried.

"N-no, it's not!" Max said swaying on her feet "George is in the hospital, he's just been shot." Kaiba walked quickly over to Max's side and gently grabbed her before she fell, he reached up and pressed a button on his jacket, the limo appeared next to the sidewalk seconds later.

"Come on!" Kaiba said steering her to the waiting vehicle, Max allowed herself to be led without question. They both climbed into the limo "Domino City Hospital and hurry!" Kaiba said to he driver, and he took off at the most legal speed he could push. Max sat there in a daze trying to quell the horrific images that were popping unbidden into her mind. The doctor had said that the wound was serious and that she should be here, Max paled her body turning into ice at the fact of loosing George. She couldn't think of him not being there, it was too painful to even try, not that she would even want to. The limo pulled to a stop and Max looked up, they were finally at the hospital, though it only took five minutes it seemed that every minute stretched into an hour, a painfully slow hour.

Max didn't wait for the driver to come open the door as soon as he stopped she threw open the door and ran out. Pushing through the glass doors and letting them swing shut behind her, she surveyed the lobby. The waiting room filled with the sick and the people waiting with the sick, and the front desk. Max walked quickly to the desk.

"I need to see George Harrison!" Max said urgency filling her voice.

"You'll need to take a s--"

"The only family I have left is upstairs dying and you have the nerve to tell me to sit down!" Max said anger showing through her voice though she kept her face a mask.

"I-I didn't know!" She managed to stutter out of her ruby lips.

"Well you would have it you used part of your brain, you didn't even have to use that much of it! Just type the name into the computer and tell me were he is!" Max said her voice eerily calm all the anger and urgency removed, making it sound rather hollow and emotionless. The woman got on the computer and typed in her request quickly to avoid another tongue lashing.

"Third floor, room 318." she said looking up from the screen to look at Max, finding that she had already left.

Standing in front of the elevator Max took deep breaths to try and clam herself, though it was doing no good. Breathing in the sick sterilized smell of the hospital made her feel even worse than she already felt. The elevator doors slid open with a resounding 'ding' Max squared her shoulders and stepped in turning around to meet the sapphire eyes of Seto Kaiba as he wordlessly followed Max into the elevator and stood next to her, she waited for him to step in before she pressed the button for the third floor. Max tapped her foot in impatience waiting for the doors to open so she could be with George, her hands balled themselves into fists as her stomach tightened giving her a sick feeling that wouldn't leave, no matter how far away she pushed it.

After a minute that seemed like an eternity the elevator opened with a hollow 'ding' Max all but ran out of the elevator her legs carrying her down the hall towards room 318. Two police officers and a doctor stood outside the door talking in hushed voices, they all looked up when Max stopped in front of them.

"Max Harper?" one of the police officers asked stepping forward a look of practiced sympathy on his face. Max nodded acknowledging the fact that she was indeed Max Harper. "We will need to ask you a couple questions." Max nodded in understanding thought she wanted to be elsewhere. "Do you own a gun?" She blinked in surprise at their uncovered accusation.

"No I don't!" Max said her tone gaining an icy edge.

"Where have you been the past few hours?" The officer asked.

"I was at an amusement park." Max said stiffly knowing how lame that sounded even thought it was the truth, the officer narrowed his eyes at her.

"Do you have any proof?" He asked haughtily.

"Yes she does." Kaiba said coldly setting a hand protectively on Max's shoulder. "I was with her the whole time; in fact my brother was there with us for most of the time if you don't believe me." Kaiba said looking down at the officer.

"M-mister Kaiba? O-of course we believe you! Its just standard procedure to ask these questions of a suspect." the officer seemed to shrink under Kaiba's harsh glare.

"Well go interrogate someone who is a believable suspect. And unless you have concrete evidence, I suggest you leave her alone." Max glanced over at Kaiba who was giving the two officers an accusing glare.

"Y-your right Mister Kaiba!" They both bowed backing away and turned walking down the hall at a pace that was faster than normal. Max sighed and turned to Kaiba with a rare softness in her eyes.

"Thank you Kaiba!" Kaiba nodded softly and removed his hand from her shoulder like he had just realized it was there. Max hardened her eyes again before looking at the doctor. "How is he?" She asked with a cold edge not trusting her voice otherwise.

"There isn't much we can do." The doctor said sadly, he was a man in his later forties. His light hair graying and balding on top, his kind brown eyes sad that he had to deliever the bad news "There was a lot of damage and blood loss. Vital organs were hit and even with surgery they wouldn't be repairable, the damage is just too extensive. All we can do now is make him comfortable and ease his passing." The doctor looked sadly at Max's unreadable face, her eyes were shut and she was trying to calm her breathing and keep up a cool demeanor. "I'm so sorry!" The doctor said laying a hand on her arm, Max tensed and pulled away from his touch opening her eyes.

"Thank you doctor. May I see him?" Max asked taking a deep breath, the doctor nodded and stepped away from the door.

"It will be good for him to have you there." The doctor said and walked away, Max stepped up to the door and squared her shoulders, tossing her head back she opened the door and stepped in. George was lying there in the only bed, all the color removed from his face making him look nothing like the healthy George she knew. Blood was slowly seeping through his bandages, staining the once white material a dark crimson. Max grimaced and put on a stony face.

"So I'm gone for a few hours and you go and get yourself shot!" Max said folding her arms and walking to the side of his bed. George sleepily opened his eyes and gave a boyish grin that came out as a pain filled grimace.

"Sorry Miss Max." George said tiredly, Max sat gingerly on the edge of his bed.

"Don't be! The doctor said your going to make a full recovery, so you can make it up to me when your better." Max said waving a dismissive hand. George smiled kindly at Max; though she could tell in his eyes he knew the truth and he just decided to play along with her ruse.

"Your right Miss Max!" Georges smile disappeared as he looked at Max "They were after your tech!" George said slowly his voice strained in pain.