Splinter

"I spy something that begins with…"

"Balcony." AC 4293 promptly answered.

"Hey, how did you…?"

She gave him a meaningful look. "Because we had 'endothelial cell' last time and before that it was 'window'."

"Yeah, this street doesn't really impress with variety." FP 1564 admitted and sighed.

"That's an artery for you." AC reminded him, but then shrugged. "At least we're almost at the foot now."

"Yeah. Hey, how about a break before we head back up the vein?" He suggested.

"Oh, definitively."

The two erythrocytes had been walking together ever since meeting at the lungs and found themselves around the ankle. Both carried deliveries for cells of the left foot and due to it being such a long way down, they needed to follow some of the major arteries, the highways among the blood vessels, which was a bit of a shame, given that most of the interesting sights of the body could usually be found at the smaller ones. Here in this area apartment building simply followed after apartment building. In AC's mind, not exactly the definition of riveting.

Aside from being somewhat boring, the journey as a whole was also a quite tiresome, especially the return trip, and so before starting their trek all the way back up through the vein, most erythrocytes enjoyed a bit of rest; AC and FP were no exception. Shame there weren't steam baths at the feet like those at the nose though. Though after such a long walk, she would happily settle for a bench.

For now however they simply continued on until they reached the heel. FP waited on the street with both their carts, while AC made her delivery and collected the CO2. One down, one to go.

"I think it's down that way." FP muttered to himself, eyes on the map. He looked up, checking the roads around them. "Ah, yes. Only a few blocks now."

"Good, I could really use some glucose about now." Hopefully there was a vending machine somewhere nearby, not to mention that her feet were hurting.

But they had hardly gone a few steps, just turned around a corner, when suddenly the world shook. AC clung to her cart, struggling to stay on her feet same as everyone around her, some stumbling to the ground. It only lasted seconds, before just as sudden as it had started, the trembling stopped again.

"What was that?" FP asked troubled, looking around.

AC however didn't really hear him, distracted by something else up ahead. "Look! Over there!" Down the road was an area where buildings had either partially or completely collapsed, smoke rising from the rubble. Most striking perhaps was what appeared to be a mountain at the centre of it all.

Both erythrocytes hurried down the street, trying to find out what had just happened and what this strange, foreign object was, which could not possibly be something of the body itself. It was strange; usually when coming across an injury there were craters, holes, but this time there was something coming out of the ground, looking brown and somewhat fibrous and it had simply pushed any buildings in its way aside.

"Where did this come from?" FP 1564 whispered, when they had reached the edge of the destroyed area.

Cells were emerging from the rubble, platelets gathered, ready to repair what they could, but in the first moments of arrival, the two erythrocytes could only stare in awe. It just looked so unreal.

"Help!" The faint plea caught AC's attention, FP still staring at the mountain. It had come from somewhere further up ahead. Her eyes scanned the debris, until somewhere in the distance she spotted a small waving hand between the stones.

"Hang on!" And jumped down from the street into the field of ruins. On her way she crossed small trenches created by the tearing and compressing of the endothelial cells, before rushing up the slope at the foot of the mountain, almost jumping from rubble to rubble. Some pieces gave way beneath her feet, but she was quick enough to avoid losing balance. Footsteps behind her told the auburn haired erythrocyte that FP was following her.

"Help!" This time she heard it loud and clear.

Finally they reached the cell, trapped in the ruins of his home. "We're here! Just a second." AC assured him and took hold of a piece of rubble that blocked the hole. While she pulled, FP used his shoulder to push against it. At first it merely swayed, until it toppled and the two erythrocytes simply let it roll downhill.

She heard coughing and from the now widened hole a young, black haired cell appeared, covered with dust. "Thanks." He panted as soon as he was outside, before taking a deep breath. He looked around confused, taking in the scene before him, until he finally noticed the mountain, his eyes widening "Is that…?"

"I…I think that's a splinter." FP 1564 muttered.

AC felt a shiver going down her spine. "From the outside? Doesn't that mean…?" As if to answer her unfinished question, they heard distant, cold laughter and fearful screams of other cells.

"Oh, no." FP grabbed her by the shoulder, pulling the normal cell to his feet with his other hand. "Quick we have to get away from here!"

Even faster than before the three ran down the slope, AC having to slow down occasionally to avoid stumbling over her own feet. And then she heard it just behind her. "Look what we have here."

"AH!" AC leaped forth, straight down into a trench, hearing something like a claw hitting and smashing a piece of debris, probably where she had just been. Too close! She rolled, ready to keep running, when she spotted a white silhouette dash past her.

"Die bacteria scum!" She dared to glance over her shoulder and watched relieved how a neutrophil slice up a pink germ, a streptococcus, cytoplasm spraying. Saved.

At least for the moment, because AC could already see more bacteria emerging from around the splinter in all shapes and colours. And from somewhere behind her, she heard the distinct sound of numerous receptors activating. Hastily she waved over to FP and the normal cell. "Quick! Down there!" They were right between the fronts, in the middle of what would turn into a battlefield any moment!

Both didn't hesitate to follow her advice and took cover by her side, just before numerous neutrophils leaped over the trench, eager to engage the enemy. "Think we can make it to that road?" The cell asked nervously, catching his breath, fearfully pressing himself against the trench's slope.

"Across a battlefield?" Quickly FP shook his head. "I think we should wait. The white blood cells might get this soon under control." He was probably correct; right now they might only get caught in the crossfire or might run into another bacterium.

Still, they heard more screams of dying bacteria, roars and shouts by the leucocyte fighting them. From their little trench AC could see more bright red spouts. "I think I'll never again complain about how plain blood vessels are." She noted; this was certainly not what had been in her mind, when she had wished for something interesting to happen.

FP gave her a wry smile. "We know you will."

She shrugged. "Didn't you once say: 'It's the thought that counts'?"

"Sounds like something I would say." Her friend admitted, before suddenly craning his neck, a questioning frown on his face. "Is that a B-Cell?"

AC lifted her head as well. There was indeed one of the blue-clad cells, large cannon in hand and despite not having done anything yet, he was smiling triumphantly, or at least confidently. AC could read IgM on his weapon. "Well, the splinter went through the skin; maybe a dendritic cell notified him. Or he just happened to be around." In either case, she wasn't about to complain.

"Let's keep our heads down."

The sounds of battle continued on, with no side relenting as it seemed. Could it be that as long as the splinter was inside, the platelets couldn't close the wound properly, allowing new germs to constantly swarm in? If that was the case, how long would this battle last?

Eventually another blue-clad cell jumped across the trench. "Got the IgG!" He shouted, joining his colleague.

"About time; the neutrophils need all the help they can get." The first one replied, still firing from an elevated position near the erythrocytes.

Immunoglobulins: IgG and IgM Antibodies

There are different classes of immunoglobulins (Ig,) also known as antibodies, fulfilling different roles as part of the immune response. They are Y-shaped proteins, primarily produced by B-lymphocytes and plasma cells and can be found in bodily fluids or on the membranes of certain cells.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most common, making up 75% of all Igs in the serum. Their main functions are complement activation and agglutination, as well as opsonisation.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is a larger protein, having a pentameric structure in serum (five 'Y' forming an almost snowflake-like shape), but monomeric on the membranes of B-lymphocytes. They are the best Igs at complement activation, but can also cause agglutination and neutralise toxins. They are also important in the initial/primary immune response, before sufficient amounts of specialized IgGs have been produced.

AC could hear the bacteria again. "Ah, I'm melting!" One screamed in agony, in its last moments before death.

"Ha; complement activation for the win!" The first B-Cell cheered.

Then she heard others. "Get away from me!"

"I can't; we're stuck!"

Craning her neck, AC saw the second blue-clad cell grinning as well. "Looks like the IgG works too."

Agglutination

Antibodies fulfil several functions, one of them being agglutination. They attach themselves to cell membranes, like those of bacteria, connecting them, causing them to clump together/agglutinate. This helps with their disposal through leucocytes.

This however can also happen to cells of the body; when for example the wrong blood type is transfused, antibodies will agglutinate red blood cells, leading to haemolysis.

"Still, this could go on forever if the splinter stays." He continued. Well, that confirmed AC's suspicion and it didn't exactly cheer her up.

"Well, until it's gone, we have to try and hold the line here." The first B-Cell simply replied and resumed fire.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. "It's now or never." FP told her and the cell boy. "Let's go!"

AC nodded and jumped back to her feet, climbing out of the trench as quickly as possible. Dead bodies were now lying everywhere; sliced up, some looking as if they were glued together, others partially melted. You had to admit, the immune cells were incredibly effective, if gruesome.

They had made it halfway back to the un-ruined part of the foot, when the ground shook anew.

"Oh, come on! What now!" AC couldn't help but exclaim, both alarmed and annoyed, as she and her friend stopped in order to remain on their feet, while the normal cell boy just continued running despite stumbling and falling more than once.

"The splinter!" FP shouted. "It's getting pulled out!"

The auburn haired erythrocyte looked behind her. Her friend was right; the mountain trembled and ever so slowly retreated. Something or someone was removing it! They had to hurry, or the drag would pull them out! "Run!"

FP didn't need to be told twice and they picked up the pace. The cell boy proved surprisingly fast, but then again he hadn't spent most of his day walking down almost the entire length of this body and had never stopped. To her distress, AC could feel her legs protest, tired from all the walking and her last meal had been at the chest. She gritted her teeth. Oh no, not like this. She would not go out like this.

Then a new noise caught her attention, not the sound of battle or blood flowing out a wound. It was a rushing sound and once more, she dared to glance over her shoulder "Water?!" The splinter was gone, but instead of everyone getting sucked out the created hole, water streamed out of it. No, it was more like a tidal wave flooding the area. The wound was being cleaned! It would wash everyone it caught out!

"The staircase! Hurry!" FP yelled and she could see the same panic that she felt clawing into her chest in his eyes.

But she also saw what he meant, a flight of steps leading to hopefully saver, higher ground. The cell boy reached it first and ran up as fast as he could, practically on all fours. AC could hear the water closing in, desperately pushing herself harder, ignoring her protesting legs. There! She'd reached it!

Quickly AC rushed up a couple of steps and wrapped one arm around the balustrade, reaching out with her other hand, screaming with all she had. "FP!" The water was right behind him; soon it would reach his feet! They would never make it up the stairs in time! "FP! Hand!"

He too reached out. "A…!" The moment their hands touched, the water reached him. It overtook him.

She felt his hand grasping hers; she clung to it, pulled. And felt it slip from her grasp.

His beret disappeared between the waves. AC was forced to take a deep breath, getting submerged as well. She wrapped her arms and legs around the balustrade, desperately holding on, the water tearing at her like some ravenous beast, rushing in her ears like a thunderstorm. With every bit of strength she had left AC held on. That was all she could do, hold on and wait.

And finally the water receded again. AC gasped for air, panting, but didn't let go of the balustrade immediately. Her body was completely tense, her initial movements awkward and stiff. Eventually she managed to loosen her grip and simply slumped down to the stairs, shivering from the cold.

The water was gone. Cowering there on the steps she stared down at her hand, now only holding a single empty, white glove. FP was…

…FP was gone.


She searched. AC 4293 searched the area, shouted his name, her voice growing shakier and quieter each time as the realisation of what had happened slowly sunk in. There were no more cells. Only those who had run had survived, or others like the neutrophils, who had managed to hang on with their L-selectin. Everyone else was gone, cells and bacteria alike. It was so eerily quiet now with the wound closed. Like a graveyard.

Eventually AC wandered off. She couldn't stay. Her mind was utterly blank, yet her body moved, slowly, almost automatically, but it moved. She had to keep going. She couldn't stay, not here. Not here. Her work, yes, she had to do her job, right?

AC didn't know how, but somehow she managed to find a CO2 box and a cart which hadn't been washed away. She doubted the box was hers, but that didn't matter. It needed to be brought to the lungs anyway. Just keep going.

Slowly she walked along the vein. She had to get back to the torso. Heart, lungs and to the next client. On and on. She didn't really register anything around her; sounds were dulled, as if they coming from far away or from behind a wall and her eyes were vacantly staring at her cart.

"Red Blood Cell? Are you alright?"

She blinked and stopped, suddenly awakening from her trance-like state, finding herself staring at a white neutrophil uniform just beside her. Lifting her head slowly she found herself looking at U-4989, meeting his worried, grey eyes. Somehow the erythrocyte managed to open her mouth, but failed to make any sound, much less words. She felt…empty. She only felt tears gathering in her eyes.

None of that escaped his notice. "AC 4293, what happened? You're soaked." He reached out, but hesitated to actually touch her. "Are you hurt?"

She couldn't answer. She just couldn't speak. So instead she let go of the cart and merely lowered her gaze to the lone glove still in her hand. She'd been clutching it the entire time.

"AC 4293?" This time his voice was lower, but sounded no less worried.

And finally she was able to summon her shaky voice. "FP…we were making our deliveries…there was that splinter…water…got pulled out." A first tear rolled down her check, her body started to tremble. "I managed to get to the stairs…I reached out but, but…he was washed away…he just slipped through my fingers, he…" And AC simply broke down.

A storm of emotions finally descended upon her mind and soul, tearing everything down, anything that had kept her standing until now, and she cried like she never had before in her life, her vision simply gone in an instant. FP 1564 was dead; her best childhood friend gone, ripped away. She hadn't been able to help him. She'd failed him.

Just when she was ready to collapse, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves securely around her and she was pulled against a much sturdier body than her own. Her beret slipped back when she pressed her head against his chest, one of her hands covering her mouth as she wept the other holding on to the white uniform, clutching desperately the fabric.

U-4989 didn't say anything; he simply held her and let her cry, one hand rubbing soothingly over her back, the other cradling her head.

AC didn't know how long they remained like this; it was as if time had simply stopped. But he never pulled away, never told her to stop. He just let her cry, gave her however long she needed.

He was warm compared to her, not cold and drenched like her own clothing, his chest rising and falling in a steady, comforting rhythm on which she tried to focus. It helped. Eventually, AC quietened down, a few last tear running silently down her cheeks.

It was so good to know that there was someone, that she wasn't alone.

She didn't wish to leave the warm embrace she found herself in, but knew that she had to. Additionally she didn't want to drag him into this; he was a neutrophil, surely he had more important things to do and she didn't wish to bother him. These things happen all the time, she had to deal with it...somehow. "I…I have to go." AC quietly mumbled, but given that the hand on her back stopped moving, he heard her. "My job…the CO2."

The embrace loosened and her beret was rearranged, back to how it should be. "And I'm going with you."

...

U-4989 truly didn't leave her side. He accompanied her all the way back to the lungs, helping her finish the CO2-delivery, even shielding her in the heart from all the other red blood cells. In the packed chamber he stood right behind her, arms like a ring around her to give the erythrocyte space, preventing others from bumping into her as best as he could. At some point along the way he also talked with someone over his transceiver, but AC didn't register what was being said.

After the CO2 had been dealt with he took her to the area just outside the lungs, right next to all the little shops and booths, insisting she took a break. Frankly she didn't have the spirit to object. She felt both hollow and heavy at the same time.

They sat down on a lawn in the shadow of a tree, as far away from the main road as possible. Only a bit later U-1146 suddenly showed up, offering her his condolences, to which she merely managed to mouth a near silent thank you. He handed them both a cup of fresh tea each, before turning to his friend. She barely heard him promise U-4989 to take over his patrol before departing again.

AC didn't know how long they sat there silently side by side. Occasionally she would take a sip from her tea, feeling it warm her and with time her body began to feel less heavy, despite the images in her mind. At some point U-4989 gently placed a hand on her arm, his thumb brushing lightly across her membrane. The knot in her chest seemed to loosen a bit at that and she vaguely noticed her body moving a little closer to him on its own accord, until they literally were shoulder to shoulder. Truthfully right now she just didn't want to be alone; she needed to feel that she wasn't. And he didn't object, at least he didn't move away.

However she couldn't help but feel just a little uncomfortable. "I'm sorry." AC mumbled guiltily after a while, clenching her fists, the teacup now empty beside her on the lawn. "I dragged you into this. You don't have to do this." Surely he had duties, none of which could possibly include her. Not to mention that it had suddenly dawned on her how awkward this was. A leucocyte comforting an erythrocyte? Sure he'd tried to make her feel better before, but this went further than any of their previous interactions.

Yet he didn't seem to have any such reservations and gently grasped one of her fists, which were resting on her legs, almost enveloping it entirely. "Hey, I'm here now. I'm not leaving you alone like this." The fluffy haired neutrophil declared softly, greatly easing her guilt. "He was a close friend, wasn't he?"

She nodded. "We grew up together." Her throat tightened and she snivelled. "He was like my big brother and now…" The tears threatened to return any moment now, she could feel them gathering.

But then his hand let go of hers again, his arm instead wrapping itself around her back and he pulled her against his chest once more. AC could feel his head resting ever so lightly on her head, cushioned by her beret. "I know."

"Huh?" His statement briefly confused her.

4989 hesitated for a moment, before he started to explain. "We're neutrophils. Daily some of us die to protect this body." She felt his body tense up. "Some of them friends."

"Oh…" Of course he was no stranger to loss; he was one of the leucocytes, their job was to fight. Naturally that couldn't always end well.

He continued. "I know we're supposed to get used to it, after all it is in part our purpose, but frankly I never really could. I guess I should be glad that my closest friends, those I grew up with together are still alive, even if it was close several times."

"Bacteria?"

"Mostly; getting injured fighting them is a bit of an occupational hazard and 1146 especially has this knack for playing hero. More than once I thought him dead and several times he really was at death's door." His voice sounded a little shaky; he really cared for his friends.

Gently she squeezed the hand on her arm. "That close?" She asked softly.

"Too close." 4989 seemed to gulp. "Sorry; I'm trying to make you feel better and here I am making a mess of things." He groaned guiltily.

"No, it's fine." AC assured him; while not per se comforting, somehow it did make everything else he was doing and saying feel even more sincere. She was so glad he was here. She was so glad he understood.

"It almost happened to me once too, you know." He said low-voiced. "Getting dragged from the face of this world."

The thought made her flinch. "During a fight?"

"Sort of. There was an abrasion and I forgot to turn on the L-selectin right away. The draft would have pulled me out, if it hadn't been for a pipe I somehow managed to grab and hold on to."

"Did the others save you?" He was still here after all. Thankfully.

He shifted his body a little; was the memory making him uncomfortable? And yet he still shared it. "Well, the platelets closed the wound, but I just kept clinging to that pipe; hanging over that dark abyss had been terrifying." 4989 confided and paused. "And then I got to spend three days as part of the blood clot; what better than a healthy dose of claustrophobia after a near death experience."

AC knew that last part had been a joke, but it didn't change the fact that he had nonetheless been afraid of dying back then, the same way she almost had today. "Difficult to imagine a leucocyte fearing anything." She told him; they, 4989 in particular, turned out to be so much different from what she used to imagine.

"Hey, I too am only a cell after all." His voice turned to a conspiratorial whisper and she could just imagine him winking. "But don't tell anyone, alright?"

A small smile flashed over her lips. "Your secret is safe with me." AC assured him.

"Much appreciated."

There was a pause, just enough time for her mind to wander back to the splinter. "I wish I could have saved him." AC confessed quietly.

Thankfully he pulled her just a little closer. "I know. Sometimes you just wish you could do more. Anything."

"Yes, but..." She just barely managed to stifle a sob. "It was my fault."

"What?"

"There was that cell, he was trapped in the ruins. I wanted to help and FP followed me." The haemoglobin twisted painfully inside her chest. "If I hadn't gone..."

Suddenly she was moved and before she knew it, they were eye to eye with each other, one of his hands framing her face. "It was not your fault." He sounded so serious, so decisive. "You only did what you thought was right and your friend chose to go with you, you didn't make him. And neither of you could have guessed what would happen. You tried to save him. You did NOT abandon him." Her vision went blurry and he pulled her back again his chest, this time embracing her with both arms, keeping her together. His head rested once more on her beret, while hers rested just beneath his chin, her fingers almost clawing into his uniform. "It was not your fault."

He had no idea how much it meant to her to hear him say that.

For a few minutes she just silently cried as he held her, as she tried to come to terms with her guilt, repeating 4989's words in her head. After a while she tried to look up to him, without really moving her head, her voice but a whisper. "How do you deal with things like this? Losing someone?"

He hesitated to answer. "I'm not sure." The neutrophil admitted. "Cherish my friends, I guess; they've always been there for me when I was struggling. I was never alone and they helped me through it." A moment of hesitation. "Red Blood Cell?"

"Yeah?"

AC felt him take a deep breath. "I…I'm glad you're still alive and though I didn't know FP, I'm sure he too would be glad to know that you've survived." The erythrocyte bit her lower lip, a fresh tear in the corners of her eyes, but despite the residual feeling of guilt concerning her friend, deep inside she knew he was right about FP. "It was not your fault." She wanted to cry again, but he gently squeezed her. "And I'm certain your friends are glad you're alive as well; they are still there for you. You're not alone either."

Yes, she wasn't alone, CT and AD were still there. Right now however it was 4989, who was here for her and grateful AC nestled just a little closer, closing her eyes, seeking the solace he so readily gave, appreciating his company. His own head, still gently resting on her beret, moved a little to accommodate her new position and they remained quiet for the time being. But their little talk had help a lot. AC felt a little lighter; even breathing seemed easier.

The comforting moment didn't last however. Eventually she felt him lift his head, his embrace loosening. "Um…your friends are here." 4989 sounded so deeply apologetic. "I don't want to freak them out, so…" And squeezed her arm carefully before letting go.

It took her a moment to realise what he meant, sensing him vanish and she opened her eyes again. To her distress finding herself all alone AC turned around, but he was already gone, probably having migrated through the thin gap she spotted between the two buildings behind her and the tree. The knot in her chest tightened again.

But he was right. When she looked the other way, the erythrocyte saw that AD 5022 and CT 2980 were walking down the road coming from the lungs, each with a box O2 in hands. She had to tell them, they had to know. Her chest hurt a little again.

Taking a deep breath AC got back to her feet. She walked to them, her legs still feeling stiff, but she neither waved nor shouted. Thankfully they spotted her anyway and came to join AC at the side of the road. How should she tell them? She wished 4989 was still here; she felt so vulnerable.

Her friends seemed in good spirits, however their smiles vanished once they got a look at AC 4293. CT carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, studying her with a troubled look. "AC? Hey, are you alright?"

And she told them. Her voice was low and shaky, she broke off more than once, but she managed to tell them. AD paled as he listened, he looked devastated, while CT was soon at the verge of breaking into tears. Once AC had finished, she then wrapped her arms around the auburn haired erythrocyte tightly, who hugged her friend back, trying to give solace, while seeking it herself.

But AC herself didn't cry, she couldn't anymore, even as her friend started to sob. Her own eyes felt completely dry by now. Without saying a word AD then simply embraced the two.

Suddenly it was only the three of them.

...neither ever blamed her.


Days passed and things stayed quiet for the most part. Business as usual. 4989 was frankly starting to feel a bit bored again, which to be fair was in part thanks to his current assignment. Acting as sentry at the right atrium of the heart, just were superior and inferior vena cava met, wasn't exactly an eventful occupation, but at least he wasn't alone.

"Not enjoying guard duty?" 2626 asked when he saw his friend stifle a yawn.

The fluffy haired neutrophil sighed. "You mean standing around, doing nothing?"

The other leucocyte merely shrugged. "Just enjoy the break, or would you rather swap with someone at the intestine?"

"Point taken." Constant fighting wasn't exactly what he was looking for either; some middle ground would be nice. Or a place where he could try out new weapons. Busy roads weren't exactly ideal and he had a few ideas he wanted to try out. Still, just standing here was starting to make him edgy, he wanted to move. "How do you feel about tea though?"

"Not a bad idea."

Thankfully there were a few stands and vendors around, even if not as many as in the pulmonary vein, providing an opportunity for erythrocytes to refresh themselves before entering the heart, something especially those coming from the inferior vena cava probably appreciated.

The two neutrophils kept to the side, not wishing to walk against the flow of cells headed into the atrium, though still scanning the area, given that they were nonetheless on duty. Somewhere along the way, something caught 4989' eye. "Hey; I think I see AC 4293." Plaits weren't exactly common and in combination with that dark, auburn shade, he could only think of one erythrocyte.

"Have you seen her since the splinter?" All his friends knew what had happened to her; 4989 had informed them while he'd accompanied the red blood cell back to the lungs, to let them know why he'd changed his patrol route.

"No." The fluffy haired neutrophil replied. "Mind if we…?"

"Of course not."

He was still worried about AC 4293. Losing her friend, watching it happen and nearly having died herself again had clearly been traumatic. Even to him the thought that she had only barely escaped death made his lysosome twist. And the way she'd talked about it, how she had clutched her friend's glove had even made 4989 concerned she could develop some sort of survivor guilt, something he himself wasn't entirely unfamiliar with, or at least the feeling that you could have done more. The idea that she had felt responsible too...

"…I'm sure he too would be glad to know that you survived." Had what he said help? More often he, someone who was usually considered rather emotional by his fellow neutrophils, had received comforting words or gestures than given them and he certainly had never tried to console an erythrocyte before. Well, AE 3803, who had quite a knack for getting herself into trouble, a little once when 1146 had been critically injured, but they had known he would recover so it hadn't exactly been the same thing. How was it that it always seemed like the nicest people had to go through the worst experiences?

Fortunately the erythrocyte was walking near the side of the road as well, making drawing her attention quite a bit easier. "AC 4293." He greeted her, putting on a warm smile, waving to make sure she saw them. "Hi."

She spotted them and much to 4989's joy actually made her way over to them, careful not to accidently hit another cell with the box she was carrying in her arms. "U-4989, U-2626; good to see you." Her smile while genuine still seemed a little weak, but nonetheless the fluffy haired neutrophil was glad to see it. She really appeared to be doing better.

Meanwhile 2626 replied. "You too, miss. My condolences for what happened." He added sympathetically.

Sadness snuck into her smile, turning it brittle. "Thank you."

"Just wanted to ask how you were holding up." 4989 piped up gingerly, still feeling concerned.

"It's been difficult." AC 4293 admitted, lowering her gaze, hugging her box a little tighter. "A part of me still kinda expects to see him again, crossing paths as usual, going on deliveries together." Now her eyes met his and her little smile returned, but this time he also saw gratitude in her expression. "Thank you…for having stayed with me. For what you've said."

Guiltily the fluffy haired neutrophil tugged a little at his cap, as if trying to hide his face in the shadow of the peak. "I'm sorry I left so abruptly that day, I just…"

Quickly she shook her head. "Don't worry, I understand. Truthfully I don't think I could have dealt with my friends going ballistic as well after everything that had happened."

"Yeah; after meeting one of your friends, I kinda figured they wouldn't exactly approve of me being around." It still frustrated him that leaving had been necessary at all. Would it always be like that? The original plan had been to get erythrocytes in general to be less afraid, not just AC 4293. He would think about that later. First things first and sheepishly he rubbed the back of his head. "I have to admit, I wasn't sure if I had really been much help in the first place anyway."

The erythrocyte' looked at him surprised. "What? No, of course you helped, I was such a mess." Her cheeks flushed, her gaze and voice lowering. "That you even took the time to keep me company; really, I'm grateful. Frankly I'm not sure what I would have done, or how I would have made it back all the way to the lungs, if you hadn't been there."

4989 felt mitochondria jump with elation. "Well, then I'm glad I could help a little." A noise suddenly reminded him that they weren't alone and he turned to his friend, still standing beside him. "What are you chuckling about?"

2626 grinned. "You, 4989; you have always been the heart of our little group."

"Oh, yeah?"

The other neutrophil nodded. "Yes; 1146 is the serious one and 2048 the most level-headed."

4989 looked at him questioningly. "And what does that make you?"

"The handsome one, obviously." His friend said straight-faced, in a very matter-of-fact manner.

"Those bangs cover half your face." The fluffy haired neutrophil promptly pointed out.

"Now imagine if they didn't."

4989 furrowed his brow. "Then how come 1146 is the one with a girlfriend?"

2626 merely shrugged. "Lack of effort on my part really."

"U-1146 has a girlfriend?" AC 4293 piped up surprised.

"Huh?" Oh right, she didn't know. Well, no point denying it now and frankly he didn't mind the switch to a more light-hearted subject. Perhaps it would be good for her too. "Yeah, you've actually met her once. It's AE 3803."

Her eyes widened, evidently remembering the other erythrocyte. "That's why he was so troubled, when I mentioned she had a parasite."

"Well, they weren't together back then, just friends, but they did finally realise their feelings after that incident." The fluffy haired neutrophil explained.

"With a bit of help from us." His friend added.

She frowned a bit suspiciously. "How did you help?"

"Ever since their first encounter, they had always run across each other regularly, but for them to actually admit their feelings and take that next step, it needed the right location." He was still proud that his idea had worked so well. "And so we got them to the retina with a view into the eye."

There was a sparkle in her own bronze eyes. "Oh…"

"You've been there as well?" 2626 asked curiously.

The erythrocyte nodded. "Only once, but it was absolutely gorgeous. I ended up lingering there way too long, but my client was thankfully very understanding; apparently that happens a lot." A bit embarrassed her cheeks flushed a little again, but like before she quickly recovered. "And sending them there worked?"

4989 nodded. "Well, they finally confessed their feelings."

"Plus we stuck around and made sure no antigens distracted them." The other neutrophil pointed out, before he sighed. "Would have been a shame if in the crucial moment 1146's receptor had gone off."

"Yeah, that could have ruined the mood." AC admitted.

The fluffy haired neutrophil chuckled amused. "A little."

2626 nodded in agreement and nudged him with his elbow. "Well, I'm gonna go get that tea now." He bowed his head to AC 4293, holding the peak of his cap between two fingers . "Good day, miss."

"Bye."

"Right behind you." 4989 told his friend as he went ahead, before turning to the erythrocyte again. "Sorry; technically we're on guard duty around here." He apologized; at least he now knew that she was recovering. That certainly was a weight of his mind.

"It's fine." She lifted the CO2 box in her arms a little for emphasis. "I got a delivery to make myself."

"Alright; well…see you around, AC 4293." And waved goodbye.

He was about to turn away. "4989."

And stopped. "Huh?"

She was smiling, for real this time. It really did look good on her. "Just 'AC' is fine."


Author's Note:

Friends aren't just there when times are good. The best of friends are also there when you need them the most.

And from what I've seen of 4989, especially in chapter 26, he is there for those he cares for.