"Jeff, it isn't that easy. I'm afraid the judge has made her decision and because that Flynn kid is maintaining that he's innocent…Alan and Fermat are going to be required to testify that that Flynn kid did this to them." Barrett said as he stood in the foyer of the hotel where Jeff and his family were staying while Alan and Fermat received the treatment they required for their burns and injuries received in the fire. Two weeks had passed since Alan's most recent skin grafting surgery and the results were remarkable.

"Barrett, have you even told the judge that both Alan and Fermat are not in the position to leave the hospital to testify?" Jeff asked as he turned to his sons, telling them with a look to take John back upstairs and get him settled since he'd just been discharged from the hospital.

"Of course I have Jeff, but the judge doesn't think the jury will throw the book at the boy without both boy's testimonies. It is vital to the case that they give their account of what happened. Neither you nor I can say anything and not even John can testify about what he knows because that would reveal your secrets." Barrett said as he watched Scott, Virgil and Gordon escort a slowly moving John to the elevator. "How are your boys doing?"

Jeff took the time to think of an answer, before he sighed. "Alan's doing better, but he's still in isolation. He can't leave the isolation ward until his surgeries are finished. The doctor won't allow it, and I'm not willing to check Alan out AMA for the sake of a trial. You've got to convince the judge that neither Alan, nor Fermat is going to be able to provide their testimonies at this time. They both are still much too injured to even think of leaving the hospital."

"I understand that Jeff, but the courts are only going to wait so long. We need to either get Alan and Fermat into the courtroom for their day in court or I'm afraid that Flynn boy will walk." Barrett said, knowing they were at a fairly crucial point in the trial. "I'm stalling as much as I can, but I'm at a gridlock. Please help me out."

Jeff pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off the headache he could feel. "Can't you get the other boys, Alan's friends and those that were hurt in the fire to testify on behalf of Alan and Fermat?"

"I wish I could, but they weren't the primary targets of the Flynn boy. Not even his little brother was the primary target. That Flynn boy had a personal vendetta against your son and his roommate for reasons not entirely known to us; even with his two lapdogs he'd receive only a slap on the wrist for his trouble. Alan and Fermat are vital to his lock up.

"Barrett, I don't know what you want me to do. Alan is in total isolation; his immune system is virtually non-existent while he waits for the skin grafts to help him re-grow his damaged skin. If he leaves the isolation ward and is exposed to any bacteria, it has the potential to not only make him really sick but it could kill him. Fermat can't even walk because he's got surgeries to try to repair the torn ligaments and muscles that happened when that beam fell on the both of them. Neither of them is fit to leave the hospital at this time." Jeff said as he felt his ire for his longtime friend and lawyer beginning to grow.

"I know that Jeff, but my hands are tied at this point. If we don't get something figured out and soon, I'm afraid that Flynn kid will walk and I don't want a menace like that loose in our society. Who knows how far he may go next time. God forbid he ever get married and have children what he may do if they make him angry enough." Barrett said.

"I-I think I may have a-a solution to our problem g-gentlemen." Brains said as he entered into the conversation having helped the boys get their brother settled before he'd gone off in search of his friend and employer.

"What is it Brains." Jeff asked as he sent a pleading look at his friend. He really also would prefer Alan not be in the same courtroom as Robert just because he didn't want his son to be insulted and called cruel words and names like he knew would likely happen if Robert was in earshot.

"T-talk to the judge, s-see if we can s-set up a camera s-system in the boy's r-room so that t-they may answer q-questions in front of t-the jury over a web l-link." Brains suggested, hoping that plan would work and would appease the courts so that Robert could get his just desserts.

"I'll talk to the judge, but I doubt she's going to go with it. If I know this particular judge as well as I think I do, I know she'll prefer the boys come in to gain sympathy from the jury for the injuries they've suffered." Barrett said as he tried to figure out the best course of action.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

"Can I at l-least be taken to visit w-with Alan via his intercom s-system? It'd be e-easier talking to A-Alan instead of over a web l-link." Fermat asked as he struggled to sit up in his bed. "Please?"

"I'm sorry Fermat, but you can't leave your room until your own burns have healed." Mary said as she looked sadly at Fermat.

"S-So I can be taken f-from my room for baths a-and surgery, but I can't b-be taken to visit my b-best friend?" Fermat asked sharply, he'd had just about enough of being separated from his best friend. Talking via web link only satisfied the loneliness marginally; otherwise it drove him just about insane. "I w-want to go see my f-friend, you can't keep m-me here."

Mary sighed. No she couldn't force Fermat to stay in his room, because that would be unlawful restraining and that could cost her the job she's had at the hospital and has loved since she started at Massachusetts General as a CNA. Shoulders slumping, Mary went to retrieve a wheelchair. She knew it was against doctor's orders, but she couldn't keep Fermat in his room; not if it took away her nursing job.

"I-I'm sorry for being d-difficult. It's just hard t-to talk to my best friend t-through a computer. We've a-always been together. I mean w-we were roommates in the s-same school since we w-were both old enough t-to attend boarding school." Fermat apologized, knowing he wasn't making Mary's job easier with his obstinacy. "We've b-been best friends since I w-was old enough t-to walk."

"It's okay dear. I know that it's hard to be separated from your best friend. I had a best friend like that; she was practically joined to my hip throughout our childhood and on into college. We're still best friends to this day." Mary said even as she helped to transfer Fermat to his wheelchair.

"It's n-nice to know that t-there are people out there who k-know what it's like to be t-that close to someone." Fermat said with a sigh. He was beginning to wonder if he'd ever get out of there. He could only tolerate being away from his best friend for so long. It was a proven fact back home that opposites did indeed attract. Alan and he, they were as different as water and oil, but they naturally gravitated towards each other. Even if they were having one of their rare arguments, they would usually go to the other and apologize barely a few minutes after separating and instantly be thick as thieves again.

"Of course dear. Now what do you say we get you on up to visit your friend?" Mary asked with a motherly smile. Fermat smiled honestly back at the motherly nurse.

Fermat could barely contain his excitement to see his best friend and he smiled brightly as he and Mary exited the elevator on the floor above the burn ward that Fermat was in. Mary walked down several halls, and to be honest confused Fermat with what direction they were going in until the entered a hall where the air felt cool, not as stifled as the other halls.

Mary stopped Fermat's wheelchair in front of a window and the bespectacled boy looked through the glass to see his best friend doodling in what appeared to be a sketchbook. Fermat reached up and tapped on the glass, drawing Alan's attention to the room's window. Fermat smiled brightly as Alan gave a great big smile of his own and a large wave.

"I'll leave you two alone, I'll check back in periodically to see how you two are doing." Mary said before she locked the brakes on Fermat's wheelchair and handed Fermat the controls that controlled the intercom. Once Mary left Fermat, he pressed the button and spoke to his best friend for the first time in person in almost a month.

"H-Hi Alan." Fermat spoke, feeling happier beyond life that he was reunited with his best friend.

"Hey yourself Fermat." Alan said, a small smile staying permanently glued to his face. "What are you doing here?"

"W-What I can't c-come visit my best f-friend when I so c-choose?" Fermat asked, playfully pouting at his friend.

"No, I wasn't saying that. It's just a surprise to see you and not on a computer screen." Alan replied as he gestured at his laptop. "You sure had me surprised, I was half way expecting a call from you anytime now on my laptop."

"Y-Your words w-wound me Alan." Fermat said as he pretended to be stabbed in the chest.

"You need to stop hanging out with Todd, I'm just saying." Alan replied as he held his hands up in surrender. "One friend who's dramatic is good enough for me."

"After you." Fermat stated jokingly as he swept one hand out to the side as if expecting Alan to be the first to quit being dramatic. It took about a millisecond before both Alan and Fermat were practically howling with laughter. Once their laughing was gotten under control Alan was wiping tears from his eyes.

"That was beautiful, thanks I needed the laugh." Alan said as he ran his thumb under his eyes to wipe away the tears caused by hard laughter.

"Y-You're welcome Alan." Fermat as he removed his glasses and used his hospital gown to dab at his eyes. A thought ran through his head and suddenly Fermat felt sobered. Alan seemed to take notice of his friend's seriousness.

"What's wrong?" Alan asked as he swallowed lightly, wondering what could have caused such a drastic change in his friend's mood.

"I just g-got to thinking is a-all." Fermat replied softly, glad the wall was separating him and Alan, because he didn't know if Alan would go berserk at this next bit of news.

"About what?" Alan asked, unsure if he really wanted to know or not.

"M-My dad was t-telling me that t-the judge is not b-backing down on her d-decision and s-she wants y-you and me t-to go to t-the courthouse and t-testify against R-R-him." Fermat said as he watched Alan's face visibly pale at the news.

"Fermat, how exactly am I supposed go before the judge and jury if I am in isolation? If I get sick…" Alan started to say, but cut himself off. Both Alan and Fermat knew the ramifications if Alan were to leave the safety of the isolation ward when his immunity was so low.

"I-I don't know Alan. M-My dad said your d-dad is trying to g-get a camera set u-up in your room s-so you can still testify b-but over a w-web link. B-But our lawyer is m-maintaining the j-judge's decisions." Fermat replied sourly

"That's just what I need. To go sit in a courtroom when I'd rather be in a bed recovering from my latest surgery." Alan said sharply. "Did your dad at least mention when I was supposed to go sit in front of a jury? Or what I was going to wear?"

Fermat sent a sympathetic look in his best friend's direction. Neither he nor Alan was obviously looking forward to baring their souls in front of a bunch of strangers. And Fermat knew Alan would be uncomfortable thanks to the clothing he'd be required to wear. Because this was a high profile case, Fermat had a suspicion that both he and Alan would be required to wear a stiff, hot and uncomfortable suit on top of the bandages they'd be wearing for the occasion. And then there was the matter of Alan's feet. They weren't even close to recovered fully yet and Fermat knew Alan wouldn't be able to wear socks let alone shoes. And what of his inability to walk? Making a mental note, Fermat promised himself to ask his dad those questions when his dad came to visit him around breakfast the following morning.

"No, h-he didn't. But I'll a-ask my dad when I s-see him tomorrow." Fermat said as watched his friend sink into his bed. "Anything you wanted to talk about?"

Alan shook his head as he pulled his blankets up beneath his chin until a small smile came to his face. Sending a look Fermat's way, Alan spoke. "Do you remember just before the fire at that soccer game - everybody's antics?"

"H-How could I forget?" Fermat asked as Alan brought up one of their fonder memories. "We'll h-have to do that a-again w-when we get out o-of here."

"Yeah if I can walk. It won't be very much fun for me if I get to watch all of you from my wheelchair." Alan replied with a cynical half grin.

"Y-You will be able to A-Alan. We just n-need to give t-the surgeries a chance t-to work." Fermat said, positively.

"I keep hearing that, but I just want to see results. I'm tired of lying in this bed. I want to get out there and kick a soccer ball, play basketball again, run on the track, walk…hell even swimming would be fantastic at this point. I just want to do something." Alan said as he picked imaginary fuzz from his hospital gown, trying not to look so down in the dumps to his best friend who could read him like a book.

"A-Alan…you will. J-Just be patient, if y-you rush yourself you m-may only succeed in h-hurting yourself. I-I'll tell you what m-my physical t-therapist tells m-me and that is that it'll h-happen when it h-happens." Fermat said, knowing he wasn't quoting his physical therapist correctly, but not caring at the moment.

Alan gave a soft sigh as he felt his happiness wearing off. "Can we talk about something else?"

Fermat went silent as he tried to think of something to distract Alan with so he wouldn't be focusing on his injuries and how long it was taking to get him out of isolation and onto the rest of his journey to recovery. "W-What about what type of d-dog you wanted to suggest t-to your family?"

Alan shrugged as he pulled his blanket up and tucking his chin down to snuggle a little bit. He kind of wished he could have a hug right now, that's all he had to say. Hearing Fermat cough lightly, Alan looked over to his friend to see him take a puff from his inhaler.

"You okay?" Alan asked with concern for his friend.

"Y-Yeah, just…you know s-still coughing that c-crap up from the f-fire." Fermat said as he felt the tightness in his chest relax.

"Still? But it's been like four months since the fire hasn't it?" Alan asked incredulously.

"Y-Yeah, but you have to r-remember, I s-suffer from asthma…my lungs a-are going to be affected f-for a while longer t-than yours." Fermat replied calmly.

"I'm sorry Fermat…" Alan apologized for more than just Fermat still carrying around a lingering cough.

"D-Don't be sorry Alan…it d-doesn't bother me." Fermat replied with a smile.

"But I am! Maybe if I'd just given Robert that money, none of this would have happened! It's my fault!" Alan replied sharply. His eyes were cold and if nothing else, Alan's eyes were scaring Fermat a little bit.

"You d-don't know that! Y-You still could have g-given him the money a-and we might still b-be here or worse!" Fermat argued back passionately. He didn't feel that Alan nor any of their friends himself included was to blame for their getting hurt in the fire or bringing Robert's wrath upon them. They were just marked targets, that's all there was to it.

"Gentlemen, is everything okay?" Mary asked as she rounded the corner, being able to hear Fermat raising his voice from a fair distance.

"Yeah w-we're fine." Fermat replied as he looked sharply back in at his friend, daring him to say otherwise.

"Sorry Mary, we didn't mean to be so loud." Alan apologized, hardening his eyes and refusing to meet Fermat's eyes. He knew what he believed and there wasn't a damn thing he could do to reverse his belief.

"Okay, well consider this your first warning boys. I don't want to hear any more argument." Mary chided as she turned to go back to the nurse's station to talk to the few nurses she'd befriended on this floor.

"Yes ma'am." Both boys said as Mary left. Once she had gone for several minutes Fermat felt it was safe to try to talk some sense into Alan. He had to get his friend to believe otherwise. None of this was his fault!

"Alan, l-look at me. Please?"

Alan kept his gaze directed at the foot of his bed solemnly gazing forward. Slowly he lifted his gaze to meet that of his best friend. Fermat was stunned at the look on Alan's face.

"W-What's wrong?" Fermat asked as he gazed into Alan's dull eyes.

"I'm tired…I just want all of this to be done." Alan replied, his voice carrying no hint of emotion in it. To hear Alan speak so…emptily…it shook Fermat to his core.

"Alan, y-you will done with this…s-soon. We'll b-both be done with this…s-soon." Fermat said as he tried to make Alan see the hope in their situation.

Alan remained silent for a few moments before he started to turn his body, turning his back to Fermat.

"I'm going to take a nap, you'd probably be thinking to head back to your room, your dad will be missing you." Alan said, his voice devoid of anything but the absolution of his loneliness.

Fermat sucked in a breath before he gave a sigh. Placing a hand against the window, Fermat tried one more time to talk to his friend.

"A-Alan, I know I h-have no right to assume t-that I know what's going o-on with you…but p-please keep f-fighting. We'll b-both be out of here and b-back home in n-no time." Fermat requested before he began the painstaking task of wheeling himself around the corner to get Mary's attention.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan lay on his side, his head buried beneath his blankets as he dwelled in his little man made cave. Not even his hair was visible and when one of the many nurses came in, one of them began playfully poking around to find Alan in the mass of material that he'd created. Alan stayed still, his fingers clutching tightly at the material to prevent it from being yanked from over his face.

He just wanted to stay in his solitude. He wanted to be left alone and he wanted to remain in his safe little cocoon until he deemed it safe to exit.

"Alan, come on darling. It's time for your anti-rejection meds and a bite of dinner." Candy said as she attempted to find Alan in his burrow.

Alan stayed silent and he pulled the blankets tighter over his head as he tried to ignore Candy. It wasn't that he didn't like her, far from it. He just didn't want to resurface right now.

"Dear, you need to take your meds and eat your dinner then I'll let you go back to sleep." Candy coaxed before hearing a sigh from Alan. The younger nurse smiled as she peeled back Alan's blankets to see him staring up at her. She gave him a brilliant smile before she began to make the bed rise into a more comfortable position to eat dinner. "And it's your favorite."

Alan wrinkled his nose. He'd give anything for a pizza right now. He was getting tired of hospital food. When the lid was removed from his tray Alan had to disguise a gag at the smell of the meatloaf. He'd rather eat Wharton's mystery meat than eat this stuff!

"Come on dear, just eat a little bit and take your meds." Candy said as she noticed Alan's pale face and wondering if he wasn't feeling well. She'd have to make a note of how he was feeling. It wouldn't be good if he began to feel flu-like.

"Can I have something else? The smell of that meatloaf is disgusting." Alan said as he held up a hand to defend his poor nose from the onslaught of the terrible smell. The last time he'd smelled anything so horrifying, his friend Eddy hadn't washed his gym socks in several weeks and he'd wafted them beneath Alan's nose playfully to test how they smelled. Alan's eyes watered profusely after the whiff of the socks that could have some straight from the bog of eternal stench.

"Don't you want meatloaf? I thought you liked meatloaf?" Candy asked in puzzlement. Alan had selected the meatloaf out of the many options on the dinner menu this morning and he'd commented to Candy before her shift ended that he liked meatloaf.

"Not if it smells like that." Alan replied as he tried to use his blanket to mask the smell as he pulled it up over his nose…holding it tightly below his eyes.

Candy looked at the tray before she put the lid back on it. Alan obviously didn't want it and the only thing he'd kept from that tray of food was the orange jello. Before she left Candy looked back at Alan to see him eating the jello he'd kept. He had a healthy appetite, so he wasn't coming down sick. Thinking hard, Candy recalled that there had been notes stating that Alan had a sensitive nose when it came to certain medications and their side effects. Shrugging to herself, Candy left to return the tray to the kitchen and get Alan a sandwich instead. She'd check the medication list to see if Alan was still on the medication that made him have a sensitive nose.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

"I've got it okay? I can walk, I'm not an invalid." John snapped at Scott when the older brother tried to help guide John to the bathroom. The space monitor made the excuse that he had to use the restroom, when all he wanted was peace and quiet from Scott and Virgil who he, Gordon and Alan dubbed the smother hens. He'd been back at the hotel for a few hours now and already he wanted to either strangle Scott or go check himself back into the hospital to stay away from Scott. He hated when people fussed over him.

"You're limping though. What if you fall?" Scott asked as he tried to hold John's elbow. Gordon watched the exchange and rolled his eyes. Scott and Virgil were the best and worst when it came to any of them being in either the hospital or sick. Gordon could attest to that.

"Scott, just let the poor guy use the restroom without you pestering him." Gordon spoke up in defense of John, knowing that like all of them; John hated being fussed over and babied. It just wasn't in their nature to be the ones that enjoyed being pampered. The lift a wealthy lifestyle yes, but they were all independent and self-sufficient. All of them, including Alan. "He's a grown man, he doesn't need anybody to hold his hand."

Scott turned around to glare at the aquanaut. But Gordon provided enough of a distraction to allow John to slip into the bathroom and lock the door behind him. Once the lock clicked into place Scott looked back at the door before glaring at Gordon again. The aquanaut sent him a goofy smile and a shrug as if to say 'what can you do?'

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

John leaned against the counter in the bathroom and heaved a sigh. Now he didn't envy Alan for being babied, not that he really did. This whole having surgery and needing practically 24/7 care was tough; no wonder Alan had been sleeping a lot since being put in isolation. Despite Alan only lying in a bed, he tired easily most of the time and spent half of his days in isolation sound asleep and dreaming of a life outside of the hospital.

Looking up into the mirror, John took in his own pale skin. He could really go for some time in the sun. He thought back over everything and did a mental calculation. It surprised him that Alan and Fermat had already been in the hospital for almost five months now. He wondered if Alan would need the remaining surgeries from Gordon and Scott or if his skin would heal the rest of the way without additional surgeries.

Turning on the faucet, John bent and took a sip from the faucet; enjoying the refreshing liquid dancing over his tongue. That was probably the only thing he hadn't liked about helping Alan with the surgeries and that was suffering from dry mouth. One of the many side effects of the medication he'd been on. Leaning back up, John used his wrist to dry his mouth and wipe away the excess liquid. He looked back into the mirror and catalogued his features, tried to imagine the same injuries Alan had all over his own body and he'd shivered with a grimace at the thought of having those same injuries. Nope he didn't envy Alan, if anything he wished he could take Alan's place. He'd rather deal with those injuries himself than for his baby brother to face them.

A knock on the door had John rolling his eyes and he sighed inwardly. He was never going to get a moment of peace was he?

"What?" John asked with exasperation.

"Do you need help or something?" Scott asked outside the door. He didn't see John flipping him the bird or the medusa stare. But he did hear the frustrated groan come from his younger brother.

"No, I don't need any help! I'm fine! And if you don't begin to lay off, I swear that when I get better I'll be kicking your ass!" John replied vehemently. He was tired of being babied the way he was. "Why are you treating me like a damn baby?! You never treated Virgil like this! God Scott, just give me some room to breathe!"

Scott, who was on the other side of the door made a face; but didn't say anything. This was his test for John. Usually John was mellow and even tempered…unless he was sick, injured or in pain in some way, shape or form. Then he would come incredibly close to biting off your head and you'd be better watching your back until he cooled off.

"I realize you're getting fed up John, but just answer my question and I'll lay off." Scott spoke up. "Are you in pain right now?"

Suddenly the door opened up and John stood on the other side with a glare to match that of their revered and often feared father when he was in his element in the office. Now Scott understood what his grandmother meant when she said that John and Alan both had their dad's eyes…Scott included. Their dad's eyes could be scary when he was angry and that went the same for Alan and John.

"If I answer honestly, can I trust that you'll back off and quit asking me every five minutes how I'm feeling?" John asked as he pushed Scott back and limped out of the bathroom, intending to go to his bed and get settled for several days' worth of smother henning.

"I won't promise anything, but that I'll try to not pester you." Scott stated as he began tucking his twenty two year old brother into bed. He only stopped when John slapped his hand.

"Fine. In answer to your earlier question, my legs do hurt…but!" John said and replied sharply to stop Scott who was heading straight for the pain medication to shove down John's throat. "…they aren't hurting bad enough to need a pill. I'll be fine for a few more hours."

Scott visibly deflated, but he kept his word and gave John his requested space. Sitting on the couch, Scott propped his feet up onto the coffee table as he grabbed the remote to flip through the channels,

John relaxed into his bedding, heaving a great sigh. Now that was more like it.

"Hey John?"

Closing his eyes and giving a great painstaking sigh, John looked over in Scott's direction only to smile when he saw that Gordon had risked pissing Scott off to appease John and he'd covered Scott's mouth using both hands.

"He promises to shut up before I break out the duct tape." Gordon replied in place of Scott as he had moved closer and was propped on his brother's knee so he could cover his mouth easier.

"Thank you Gordo." John replied as he got comfortable in his bed and prepared to take a nap. Lord knew he'd be ready to murder his brother if he continued pestering him. As much as he loved his older brother, he'd kill him or want to if John wasn't given a few minutes alone. It was only a few minutes of peace and quiet. Was that too much to ask for?

AN: Finally! I managed to get over the writer's block, at least for this go around. Finals are fast approaching in college and I feel like I've been beating my head against a wall. I am currently in the process of trying to finish two of my new stories Sleep Dear Little One and Fly Away Home one of which is being dedicated to a mentor of mine who just recently lost her son to illness. Though I never knew her son, I feel like I knew him just from hearing my mentor talk about him. Please keep my mentor and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this time while they try to cross this hurdle.

~Angel~