Hello All! I'm back with continuing this story. As promised, I am seeing this story through until it is finished. Almost there, but not quite. I do apologize for such the long wait and there's really no excuse for that. But hopefully for anyone who is still interested in this fic, please feel free to read and enjoy it!

When Maurice had woken, his vision came unto a small room, dimly lit by artificial small lights that hummed all around them and the smell of chemicals that wafted through the air. In any sense, these strange surroundings would have alerted and brought fear to an ape, but to Maurice, it was a safe haven for him and his friends, as he knew that they were going to be alright. Taking a glance behind them, Maurice could see just the smallest hint of the sun's rays peeking over in the distance.

Meaning that it would be morning for them soon.

Opening his mouth in a long yawn, Maurice adjusted himself, being meticulous as to not jostle the still sleeping Nova within his arms awake and feeling his bones creak in every movement. The last thought brought a small frown to his lips, signifying that he was getting further into his years.

Once he had gathered himself, Maurice had then turned his attention back to the other occupants within the room. Across from him, he could see that Koba was still by the other side of the bed, snoring softly as he leaned onto the bedside and rested his head onto his arms. Maurice couldn't help but huff to himself. In the recent events, the scarred bonobo had done much for them all and deserved some well rest. However Koba was as stubborn as ever and would not leave Caesar's side.

Maurice guessed that would only make sense.

Speaking of Caesar, Maurice let his beady green eyes wander up to the other ape and felt his breath caught in his throat. When Maurice saw Caesar, he was quite surprised to see that the chimpanzee was already awake and staring quietly off into the distant horizon. Caesar had been so quiet, Maurice had thought that his old friend was still resting. But of course, that was not exactly how Caesar was at all. If the chimpanzee could, he would already be moving about, no matter what pains and toil wracked his body. However, it looks like the other ape is settling down into a sense of calm to which Maurice was grateful for.

Letting out a small hoot, Maurice had caught the attention of his old friend, who blinked once before turning those hazel colored hues towards him.

"Caesar?"

A hint of a smile spread upon the chimpanzee's stoic features.

"Maurice." Caesar had signed back slowly.

Letting out a relieved breath, Maurice was thankful that his dear friend was alright.

"How are you feeling, my friend?" Maurice then asked, looking the other tired ape over.

He observed as the chimpanzee glanced down at himself and placed a palm onto the bandage that wrapped around his torso, right over where the wound would have been. Maurice thought he saw a hint of a frown upon Caesar's face. But as quickly as it had appeared, the chimp's features had gone back to its neutral position.

"Very tired and sore," Caesar huffed as he removed his hand and glanced back at the shaggy orangutan. "But I will live," he reassured.

Maurice only nodded in response, just glad to know that Caesar was okay and not leaving them anytime soon.

"We all thought we had lost you," Maurice signed with shaky hands, accidentally rousing Nova from her sleep, who rubbed at her eyes tiredly before taking notice of Caesar. "I am so. So glad to see you."

Guilt appeared upon Caesar's features, causing him to glance away in shame for a moment before he faced the orangutan once more.

"I am sorry, my old friend… I-"

Caesar paused as Maurice held his palm out, causing the chimp to stop in his apology. The orangutan quietly gathered himself for a moment before he regained enough composure to start signing once more.

"Do not be sorry, Caesar. We were just so worried about you," Maurice explained as Nova moved out from his hold and made her way over towards Caesar's bedside, taking a hold of his arm. "I am glad that you are awake and well now."

Caesar smiled warmly at the orangutan.

"Thank you, Maurice. I am glad that you and the child are doing well too," Caesar answered quietly, still a bit too tired to keep on signing but tilted his head down to offer a smile to Nova.

After a moment's silence, Caesar seemed to have perked up, as if he remembered something and glanced in Maurices' direction once more.

"How…" Caesar began as he glanced around the room slowly, "did we get here?"

Getting up from his spot, Maurice made his way on over to where Nova was still holding onto Caesar's arm. The orangutan looked at his friend once over before raising his hands.

"We were found by our human friends," Maurice answered.

Yes, their human friends. When Caesar had first come around he was greeted by Malcolm, who told him to rest up and that he was okay. But as to how it had happened, Caesar was not sure. How were they suddenly in the care of the only humans who were friendly to the apes?

Sensing Caesar's confusion, Maurice continued.

"After we had thought that we lost you. We did not know what to do. I did not know what to do," Maurice signed to the chimpanzee.

Caesar kept his attention on the orangutan, seeing Maurices' features becoming somber.

"I tried to get Koba to leave. To move on. To live. But he would not listen to me and would not leave you behind. It was as if he had chosen to give up on living," Maurice continued, causing Caesar to be taken aback and look down at the scarred bonobo before glancing back to the orangutan on his other side. "It was then that I saw the human vehicles in the distance. I was scared. Feared for Nova. Feared for Koba. I have already lost so much in this war. I did not want to lose another friend." Maurice then hesitantly paused and gritted his teeth, confusing Caesar. "I… I was willing to do anything to save anyone. Even if I had to hurt Koba to save him. To force him to come with us and… and leave you behind."

It was at this point that Maurice had paused once more as his body started to shake and tears flowed freely down his cheeks. The moment of fear and desperation that he had felt was so overwhelming, he thought that they were all going to die. During his sorrow, Maurice then felt a hand being placed upon his shoulder, causing him to glance up at Caesar, who had a knowing and apologetic look upon his face.

Sniffing, Maurice reached up and placed his hand over Caesar's, a small smile spreading across his face before regaining his composure and continuing with his story.

"To my surprise, the humans that were approaching us. The ones that I had feared for, had turned out to be who I didn't think they were. When they had come to us, in their vehicles, two of the humans had called for the others to stop. The moment I saw who the humans were-" Maurice paused for a moment, a smile enveloping his teary face. "Our two human friends, the ones that were back in the city so long ago, were among them. The ones who were friends to us apes," Maurice reminisced, a look of nostalgia spreading upon his features. "They had found us, Caesar. Or rather, they were the ones that Koba was taking us to," Maurice signed as he turned to look at Koba's still sleeping form.

"Take us. So. That Caesar. Can be saved," Maurice finally spoke instead. "Take us to. Our human friends."

After Maurice had told Caesar of what had transpired, the chimpanzee had a look of disbelief on his face. The bandaged ape then let his head slowly turn to look down at the still sleeping bonobo and couldn't help but feel so much gratitude for.

Maurice watched as Caesar had reached a hand above Koba's head and let it hover there for a moment before reluctantly pulling it back, balling his fingers into a shaky fist as he did so.

"I have caused you all… So much trouble," Caesar had said quietly as he looked at Maurice, eyes becoming wet. "I'm so sorry."

Maurice simply shook his head and offered Caesar a warm smile, hopefully to bring some sort of comfort to the upset chimp.

"Do not be sorry, Caesar. You would have done the same for any of us, if we were wounded and needed something more than what apes have in regards to healing," Maurice reassured his friend. "What only matters now is that you are well and that we are all safe."

Thankful of Maurices' reassurance, Caesar reached out and placed a hand upon the orangutan's shoulder once more, with the shaggy ape patting his hand gently.

Caesar was ever so grateful for his friends who were there for him, even if he had done so many things to have hurt them or harmed them. But even after what he had done, hearing that Maurice held no ill-will towards him at all, was relieving. So, Caesar made a promise to himself that he would be a better friend, father and leader to the ones who were always there for him.

Especially…

At the thought, Caesar's attention slowly rounded back down to the scarred bonobo, who was still sleeping deeply at his bedside.

"How is Koba doing now?" Caesar asked Maurice, turning back to face the orangutan.

At the question, Maurices' gaze wandered over to Koba for a moment before looking back at Caesar once more.

"He will be fine," Maurice assured with a knowing look on his face.

Curious as to what look meant, Caesar was about to ask more but was interrupted when a soft knock had caught all of their attention. All of the occupants within the room had turned their attention to the source of the knock and they were all greeted by a familiar face at the entrance.

"Hello everyone," Ellie greeted in a quiet voice, mindful of the still sleeping individual within the room. "Hope I am not disturbing you all but I have to check on Caesar."

"Ellie," Caesar greeted in kind, to which the woman's face brightened with a gentle smile to her lips.

"Hello Caesar," Ellie greeted in kind as she made her way into the room.

The woman made her way to Caesar's bedside, mindful to step around the still sleeping Koba and then touched at the machine that was attached to the chimpanzee.

It was so curious, the humans. Often humankind would only create things to do harm to each other and many other living things in the world. However, Caesar and the other apes were also fascinated how the humans could also do nearly miraculous things to help heal and mend them as well. Humans were truly an enigma species, who are capable of causing great destruction around them, or creating great marvels and using them to heal.

"And how are you feeling?" Ellie asked while she tended to the machine, causing it to beep several times.

"I… am well," Caesar responded.

"That's good to hear," Ellie replied back before straightening herself out and fully turned to face the chimpanzee, a look of concern etched upon her features. "You gave us quite a scare out there."

Again, guilt rose from within Caesar as he was reminded of how much trouble he had caused others.

"I'm sorry," Caesar apologized.

A tender smile broke across the woman's face.

"Don't be. We are always here to help," Ellie assured the wounded chimp. "It is what we should do for each other."

Caesar silently nodded in response to Ellie, relaxing into the bed that he was on.

Making her way out of the room, Ellie had paused momentarily at the doorway and turned back to face all of them.

"I'll get someone to get food for you all," Ellie spoke quietly. "In the meantime, if any of you need anything, someone will be on standby to assist."

"Thank. You," Maurice said to the woman, who smiled back in his direction.

"You are all safe here. I'll be back soon to check on everyone again."

And with that, Ellie disappeared through the door and out into the hallway, leaving the apes to the silence once more.

Taking a deep breath, Caesar had then looked back out the window, seeing the sun now peeking just beyond the distance, with Maurice following his gaze.

"Does she know?" Caesar asked after a long silent moment. "Were they all told of what happened to us?"

"To the best of our knowledge, yes," Maurice answered.

Nodding slowly, Caesar took in a deep breath, feeling like there may be more questions on the way. Even so, he will need to tell his human friends what had transpired to the apes, since their separation.

While on that thought, Caesar's gaze slowly fell onto Nova, who was idly playing with her long hair. A worried thought then crossed Caesar's mind.

"And what about the girl?" Caesar asked next. "Do they know about her? About the sickness that she carries?"

As much as Caesar knew how much his friend wanted to protect the child and keep her safe, they could not endanger the lives of their human friends. He knew well what this new strain of sickness would do to their human friends if they caught it.

Just like the Colonel.

Maurice understood Caesar's concern about Nova and what could happen, should they stay with their human friends. When they had finally freed themselves from the prison camp up north, Caesar had mentioned to the apes that the human leader, The Colonel, was afflicted with the same disease that had caused the human girl to go mute, after he had taken in her toy doll. So, the chimpanzee had every right to be worried.

"They said that it was alright," Maurice quickly assured Caesar. "I think our friends know what the condition is and have been very careful around the child. They've even interacted with her, except they were wearing things that covered their arms and faces."

As Maurice mentioned that their friends were taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves around the girl, it had brought a sense of relief to Caesar.

If only a little.

"It is still dangerous to our friends," Caesar continued, knowing well that what he said was harsh to the orangutan.

It wasn't the child's fault and they all knew this. However the longer they stayed with their human companions, the more danger that would put them all in and Caesar couldn't risk that.

"When I am well enough, we must leave," Caesar said finally, leaving no room for discussion. "I will not endanger our friends' lives anymore than necessary."

Maurice was about to respond to the chimpanzee but was stopped as Nova tugged at his arm, gaining the orangutan's attention. The girl moved her thumb in between her index and middle fingers and shook it.

The handspeak for the toilet.

"You are right. It is not fair to endanger our friends who have done so much for us already. When you are ready, we will then go," Maurice signed to the chimp before taking a hold of Nova's hand and guiding her out of the room.

As soon as the two had left the room, Caesar had let out a heavy breath as he closed his eyes and covered them with the palms of his hands. Why were things always so difficult and full of problems? He knew he needed to stay and rest more but at the cost of maybe causing his human friends to go mute was too much. He's seen firsthand what this new disease had done to humans and would not wish it upon the ones whom he grew to call friends. Not only that, he needed to get back to the apes as well, especially his youngest. Oh, how much he had missed his dear Cornelius, who was waiting for him.

Then a thought occurred to Caesar while he thought of Cornelius. Brief images of a younger ape with brilliant sky colored eyes smiling back at him.

"Blue Eyes," Caesar whispered, feeling his eyes becoming wet.

Caesar had then recalled the dream that he had before, with all of the apes they had lost along the way. He wondered why his oldest was not there among the familiar faces that were seen during that dream. Was this a curse for Caesar? To never ever be able to see his oldest child again? Why wasn't he able to say goodbye? He didn't understand.

"Caesar?"

Blinking away his tears, Caesar's attention quickly turned to face the other ape in the room.

"Koba."