It took a lot of convincing and arguing, but U-1146 found himself heading down the hallways of the vast infirmary. AE-3803 had been adamant, but after getting treated for her injuries, she then fought for her rights as a patient so that she could give up her own room for others who may have been hurt in the bacterial attack. Her leg was wrapped in a plethora of gauze and plaster, but the macrophages assured 1146 that the red blood cell would do fine as long as she rested for the next few cycles lest she accidentally pull out the stitches.

Relieved and somewhat gratified that she thought correctly, 3803 immediately sent her friend on an errand for beverages. Her reasoning was that the both of them needed to have a talk with a certain someone about certain things.

And so, U-1146 found himself holding two mugs of steaming tea in his hands as he walked back to a row of chairs. There, AE-3803 sat, her hands steadily twisting and pulling at each of her fingers until 1146 let out a small questioning hum. At that, 3803 looked up and graced him with a small, but nervous smile.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Neutrophil."

Her voice was low and hushed, almost as if she didn't want to awaken any of the current patients in the infirmary. She took a small whiff of the beverage, her smile lighting up her face and brightening her features. Unexpectedly, 1146 felt a sudden rise in heat in his cheeks. So sudden was the feeling that he reflexively brought the brim of his hat low over his eyes.

Just as 1146 mumbled a brief and serious "You're welcome", 3803 caught sight of his actions and found herself biting back a laugh. She immediately sobered, however, as she took a long and comforting sip from her tea.

Hmm, she would have to commend 1146 in adding just the right amount of sugar into her drink; she didn't think that he would remember.

Then again, what with the events and all that had happened so far, she shouldn't have been so surprised.

For a while, the both of them sat in relaxed and comfortable silence. Although there were definitely issues in the past and in their future that deserved to be rectified, that didn't mean that they would throw away their friendship right now. For now, they were doing just fine.

And really, wasn't that the best that they could hope for?

As the hours passed and patients from all over the infirmary were either cared for or discharged, one of the nearby macrophages attending to their normal cell approached them. Like the rest of the macrophages, she held a motherly air about her, one that was immediately comforting and familiar for both blood cells. As she bowed low before them and apologized for the long wait, both 3803 and 1146 exchanged worried glances before standing up from their seats.

3803, surprisingly, was the first to voice her concerns.

"Is NC doing all right? He isn't too badly hurt, is he?"

1146, meanwhile, held his tongue and fingered the rim of his mug with a pensive look on his face. Although not as expressive as his dear friend, he definitely held the same urge to protect and defend the normal cell like he had with other citizens of the body.

Even with past mistakes and the future looming darkly before them all, both of the blood cells resolved that they would finally resolve things.

The macrophage cocked her head to the side before daintily letting out a chuckle that lightened 3803's heart. If this were a serious matter, 3803 trusted the kind macrophage to give them the information straight and in a manner best befitting of the situation. As such, seeing this sort of reaction calmed her nerves, but also heightened her apprehension.

Would NC even be awake at this time?

"Why, yes! Mr. NC-1998 is recuperating well and is ready to accept visitors!" She cast a knowing glance at 3803, winking at her all the while. "I suppose a pretty red blood cell like you would manage to make sure that his spirits remain high!"

She clapped her hands merrily, oblivious to the choking noises that the neutrophil was making.

Fortunately, 3803 was there to lend a helping out to 1146—who sounded a lot like he was heaving up his lungs with the hacking that he was making. After her attempts to calm him down mostly worked, the erythrocyte thanked the kind macrophage for her helpful words and began to drag the neutrophil into NC's room.

Just when they were about to head inside, 3803 paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Behind her, 1146 kept his hand on her shoulder, a sure and steady presence at her side that steeled her nerves and allowed her breathing to calm and steady. She hadn't known it at that moment, but her movements had stilled and the fluidity in her movements had become stilted and rigid.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," 1146 reminded her gently.

Like her, he had become rigid upon seeing the door to their former enemy just residing out of their grasp. However, it had taken him merely a millisecond to regain his bearings and to allow his breathing to become calm and unlabored. Right now, there was no room for mistakes or misunderstandings. He may not have seen eye to eye with the former cancer cell, but he would do his best to make sure that all of them would get the ending that they all deserved.

There would be no more loose ends.

Whatever compromise and whatever they learned would be held between all three of them.

He would respect 3803's—and NC's—wishes.

Even if it would break his moral code to do so.

That, he would promise.

Finally, after a moment, 3803 breathed out long and loud before pasting a smile that no one saw on the smooth planes of her face. Her hand grasped the metallic coolness of the doorknob and it allowed it to swing open.

Inside, the room was bright and the lone occupant in the room lay on his bed, a peaceful expression on his face. He was dressed in a patient's robe and his body was currently attached to a series of wires and tubes that were probably there to aid in the regeneration of the normal cell. As both the blood cells approached the dark haired cell, they lapsed into silence and watched as NC's chest rose and fell in a rhythm best described as hypnotic and steady.

"He looks so… helpless like this." 3803 murmured. Against her very own will, she padded her way to his side and brushed a lock of hair that brushed against his forehead. Her fingers were feather like, so very soft. "Back then…" She swallowed hard and 1146 immediately felt the urge to cradle her within his arms and protect her against the world. Against his better wishes, he waited until she said the word. "Back then, I would brush his hair. Like this."

Here, she took off her gloves and began to weave her fingers into his hair. Her brows were furrowed, her movements steady and firm as she concentrated.

"He never did like it when I had my gloves on," she whispered.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but her fingers remained curled within his locks of hair. 1146 looked away—he knew that if she wanted to share with him the memories that still haunted her, she would in due time.

For now…

"He certainly does look… helpless," 1146 muttered. Against his better judgment, he took up his vigil on the other side of the bed before hesitating and finally settling into an uncomfortable chair. "Could it be that in this state, he could be considered cute?"

3803 giggled. "Perhaps."

"Just so you know…"

Both 3803 and 1146 found themselves stiffening and paying attention to the body that lay on the bed that just so happened to be speaking to them.

"... I'd rather you not think that I was helpless or—" He gagged slightly as his eyes struggled to open. "—cute." He paused and looked at both of his saviors in a way that could barely convey his emotions; his eyes were far too emotionless and placid to entertain any type of emotion.

Just when 3803 was about to say something, NC held up a hand.

"Mr. Neutrophil… Miss Red Blood Cell…" This time, his voice wavered and his eyes flickered away from the both of them. He had spoken their… names.

Their actual names.

No nicknames.

No mocking.

Nothing.

Instead, there was heartfelt resignation and apology in his very tone of voice.

Whatever feelings and doubts that 1146 held against the normal cell, it had all but dissipated upon that sight.

Whatever NC was before all of this…

Whatever he could have been should he have chosen a different path…

That wasn't what NC was.

He was noncomforning, different, unique.

And, above all else—

He was not Cancer Cell.

As 3803 held tightly onto NC's limp hand, 1146 remained silent, but ever vigilant as his thoughts brewed and roiled faster and faster and faster AND FASTER in his head until—

NC looked up at 1146, the little smile he had on his face wavering slightly before disappearing.

"Are you… I won't blame you if you kill me, Mr. Neutrophil."

One of NC's hands clenched the bedsheets while the other loosely held onto 3803's firm grasp.

The redhead, confused and startled by the sudden desire for death, immediately fell to her knees by his side. Her eyes, golden and gleaming, were now brimming with shock and fear.

"Mr. NC! Mr. Neutrophil isn't any under obligation to—"

NC hushed her with a wane smile while his hand finally released her hand.

(1146 pretended not to see 3803 reclaim her hold on his hand, determination and a challenge in her eyes).

NC continued softly, steadily. It was as if he was talking about the current state of affairs in the body instead of the fact that he was willing to be put to rest for good this time.

"For what it's worth, I am glad that I got to spend so much of my time with the both of you—no matter how strained or terrible that time was." NC closed his eyes… and if a few tears leaked out of his eyes, none of the other occupants in the room saw fit to tell him. "However, that doesn't excuse any of my past wrongdoings… It is wrong of me to wish to live at this point knowing that my very presence will cause undue stress for you… Miss Red Blood Cell… and I suppose your job wouldn't be complete if I was still alive, Mr. Neutrophil." He laughed, too bitter but too resigned at the same time.

For a moment, 1146 watched as NC's chest rose up and down as he breathed. To anyone else, it would seem that NC was relaxed and finally at peace with himself. However, 1146 had good eyes and an even better understanding of his once nemesis.

NC was frightened—like the small cancer cell who ran away from the dangerous immune cells of his youth.

1146's memories rewound to cycles ago when there was still hope… still uncorrupted innocence of wanting a normal friendship…

My kind hearted killer…

1146 shook his head slowly.

"No… No, I wish you the best in your endeavors as a great normal cell, NC." At NC's flabbergasted expression that paired nicely with an embarrassed blush, 1146 couldn't help but chuckle.

If NC were a platelet, 1146 would have endeavored to steal a few pats on the head, but 1146 figured that there would be a next time when relations between all three of them weren't as tense or as new as they were right now.

Instead, 1146 laughed, the force of his raucous laughter had him buckling to his knees and falling beside the bed. Almost immediately after, he heard 3803 giggling slightly while NC began complaining about their rambunctious behavior and if they were both laughing at him for something that he had said or did.

1146 didn't answer.

He was too busy laughing.