Alright, next chapter! And I'd like to thank all the people who favorited and reviewed and are fallowing! You are all amazing and I'd hug you if I could! Also, if anyone is confused with the first nine or so lines of this chapter just ask me what's goin' on 'cause I would get confused as well. I just wanted to throw that out there 'cause it is a bit weird, but I didn't know any other way to do it *shrug*

Once again I don't own Germania and Rome, but it would be cool if I did XD

~~~ Chapter 2 ~~~

Why are you such a coward?!

Ba-bump.

'Vati? What's wrong?'

Ba-bump.

You will never stand up for yourself, will you?

Ba-bump.

'Don't hurt him!'

Ba-bump.

When will you finally grow a spine and man up?!

Ba-bump.

"Get out of my house!"

Aldrich gasped as he bolted upright in bed drenched in sweat. His breaths came out fast, ridged, and panicked. Blood rushed though his ears and his eyes were wide and wild. He looked around the darkened space to see that he was still in his hospital room, not that it was some sort of relief. The dim light that was coming from the window by the moon illuminated the room eerily. The blond swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat and tried to calm his intense heartbeat. He was sure that the patients next door could hear it.

He took his hand and dragged it down his face slowly until he was covering his mouth. It was the third time that week the German had that dream. It was bits and pieces of the past that still haunted him, refusing to leave him alone. He wondered when these nightmares would end so he could get a decent amount of sleep. Aldrich turned his head to look at the digital clock that sat next to the pathetic lamp and it read 2: 46. It was far too early in the morning, but the green eyed blond didn't feel the least bit tired and certainly didn't want to fall back asleep to that dream.

Slowly lying back down into the bed, he stared up at the ceiling cursing anyone up there that banished him to this fate. A fate where he was forced to relive the past that cost him his voice. It was truly a cruel fate that Aldrich would probably never escape from. Yet again, there was his 'doctor' who said he could cure his hyper-hypo? . . . whatever he had. The man seemed so childish that it was hard to picture him doing anything helpful.

A sigh escaping his lips, Aldrich closed his eyes and rested his mind. The extra stress on his shoulders would help no one. His shoulders physically relaxed against the stiff bed as he let his mind draw a blank.

The German laid there in a meditation like state until sun rise. The light rays hit his face making his eyes open slowly. He then got up from his bed to watch the morning sun from the windowsill. The window had a perfect ledge in front of it making it a nice spot for Aldrich to sit, but not too far for his I.V. to pop out of his arm. The sun ascended into the sky gradually bringing light to the dull world outside. Bright colors of red and orange slowly became more vibrant. For a moment, a small and fleeting moment, Aldrich felt at peace.

The blond continued to watch the sun crawl into the sky until it was midmorning. A nurse came into his room, expecting him to be asleep no doubt. The nurse had long, wavy, brown hair that was tucked behind her ears. A flower was placed in her chocolate locks for some reason Aldrich didn't know. She was also wearing the standard nurse's outfit: short white dress like uniform with matching white pants. She was pretty, most defiantly, but she wasn't really Aldrich's type. The nurse, which the blond never bothered to learn the name of, nearly jumped out of her pristine white shoes when she saw Aldrich out of bed. "What are you doing out of bed?!" the nurse yelled as she set a try of food down on the desk next to the empty bed. She looked worried for the blond's safety, but at the same time irritated that he was out and about.

Aldrich glared down the nurse through the corner of his eye. His green orbs pierced through his golden locks in an intimidating glower. The nurse's ferocity weakened at his brutal look but continued, "Get back in bed before you . . . hurt yourself."

The blond raised an eyebrow. Her hesitance showed that she didn't even have a legit reason for him to go back into that horrid bed. He was just looking out the window; it wasn't like he was jumping from it. Also, how could he possibly hurt himself by looking out a damn window?!

Sending another glare at the nurse, he turned his head back toward the window to observe the outside world once again. The nurse put her hands on her hips and said again, a bit more firmly, "Please Mr. Beilschmidt, get back to bed."

Aldrich remained unmoving.

The nurse huffed and walked over to the blond and folded her arms across her large chest, "Mr. Beilschmidt!" She sounded like she was scolding a small child, and Aldrich was not a small child. He narrowed his eyes and continued to stare out the window. He really didn't see the harm in looking out a window!

The nurse was just about ready to rip the German from the window and drag him back to the bed, but the door opened to reveal none other than Dr. Vargas. He had a smile on his face but it dipped down as he saw the sight before him. Augustus rushed into the room and went up to the nurse with a friendly smile and said in his overly peppy voice, "Whoa Miss Héderváry! What's up?"

The nurse looked up at the Roman and smiled at him, "Well, Mr. Beilschmidt won't get back to bed."

For a moment, a wave of confusion passed over the Italian's face. Who was Beilschmidt? He looked over to the blond and back to the nurse, putting two and two together. Oh, so his last name was Beilschmidt? What was that, Russian? He'd have to ask later, but at least he had something to call his patient now. "What's the harm in looking at this beautiful day we're having?" Dr. Vargas retorted. Aldrich was close to thanking the brunet, but yet again he really couldn't.

Miss Héderváry opened her mouth to argue with the doctor but nothing came out. She was stumped. Augustus, noticing this, laughed at the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her out, talking the whole way. Aldrich tuned most of it out as he continued to gaze out the window.

When the door closed again, Dr. Vargas was still in the room. He smiled at the German whom didn't return his eye contact. The two just waited for one to break it the silence, but considering the blond couldn't do that it was up to Dr. Vargas. The doctor cleared his throat, gaining the green eyed man's attention. The brunet nudged his head in the direction of the patient's bed, silently telling him to get back to bed. Aldrich eyed both the doctor and the cot. He really didn't want to be in that thing again, but the look that Vargas gave was near impossible to say no to. Sighing, Aldrich got up from his seat next to the window and heavily sat down on the bed.

Augustus' face lit up at that and said, "Aw, so the barbarian can be trained!"

Aldrich jolted and glared at the other as if saying, "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

The Roman laughed at his own joke as he sat down next to Aldrich. He looked over at the tray of food Miss Héderváry brought over. He didn't touch any of it and didn't make any moves to try. Taking a deep breath, Augustus started to work his magic. "So, Mr. Beilschmidt, how about we start with your therapy, si?" The way Dr. Vargas said the other's name sounded awkward and almost wrong. It didn't quite roll off the tongue like everything else he said, but it wouldn't be the first time someone didn't butcher the blond's last name.

Clapping his hands and rubbing them together, Dr. Vargas continued, "Let's start with something simple. How about . . . your name! Yes, that seems like a good idea! Alright, do you remember what your voice sounds like?"

Aldrich raised an eyebrow, "I wouldn't be dumb enough to forget my own voice."

Augustus laughed at the other's expression and continued, "I was just making sure! So what I want you to do is picture yourself saying your name and then I want you to physically say it. See? Easy!"

Aldrich stared at him for a moment. That's it? Really? It just seemed all but too easy. Giving the brunet one last quizzical look, he decided to comply. The German closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He picked a memory, any old memory from his archive, and replayed it over and over in his head.

His name.

It should be simple.

After a few moments of the two sitting in silence, Aldrich took another breath and mouthed his name but nothing came out, just like every other time he's tried. The blond snapped his jaw shut and turned his gaze away from the doctor.

"Keep trying," Dr. Vargas urged. Aldrich sighed, it wasn't that easy. If he pictured himself saying words his voice wouldn't magically come back! This guy wasn't a real doctor! "Uh," the doctor hesitated. He searched the room for something then turned back to his patient. "Keep working on it. You look parched! I'll go get you a glass of water!" he said quickly. He then got up from his seat and dashed to the door, flinging it open and shutting it with a loud bang. Aldrich just sat there, stunned staring at the door where the doctor left. He was about to shift himself so he was properly sitting on the bed when the door flung open again and Dr. Vargas' head popped back in and he said quickly, "Practice!" and shut the door again.

The Roman left in such a hurry that Aldrich thought that the brunet was getting tired of him and wanted to get out of the room as quickly as possible. Did he think that Aldrich was a lost cause? The Roman probably rushed out to tell his friends how lame he was and how he couldn't even say his own name. Aldrich wouldn't blame him. He thought he was pathetic too.

Resting his head against the pillow, Aldrich was tempted to fall back into slumber and forget trying to say his name, forget Dr. Vargas and his stupid therapy, forget this stupid hospital, but he didn't. He wanted to show that cocky, loud-mouthed, overly peppy Italian that he could get his voice back and prove him wrong!

Aldrich practiced trying to say his name for another two hours, that flew by, before his stomach's needs became too loud to ignore. As he ate the food the nurse, whose name still escaped him, gave him. Now his throat was becoming really parched. Where was that good for nothing doctor with that water he promised?!

After another hour of practicing and being irritated as hell, Augustus entered the room once more, glass of water in hand. He came in timidly, like he was afraid of getting yelled at. He put a smile on his face as he entered, "Hey there."

Aldrich crossed his arms across his chest glaring at his doctor, "Where the hell were you?!"

"I'm sorry I was gone for so long," Dr. Vargas tried to explain, "There was this pretty nurse and then I got hungry and got some pasta for lunch, oh it was so good! And-"

The blond glared harder, "You're not helping your cause."

The brunet noticed this glare and laughed nervously, "Hehe, yeah. So here's your water!" The Roman handed Aldrich the glass with a dopy smile on his face.

Aldrich narrowed his eyes but accepted the water, his throat was still parched. He took gulp after gulp in silence. Aldrich chugged the whole thing down, or tried to at least. When he was down to his last few gulps, Dr. Vargas blurted, "You know you're very pretty for a man."

At those few words Aldrich stopped drinking and almost spit the water in his face. The Roman continued, "If I met you on the street I'm sure I would've thought you were a beautiful lady!"

That did it for him. He didn't necessarily do a spit-take but he did choke on the water. With difficulty, Aldrich swallowed the liquid that was in his mouth then began to cough up a storm. His face burned with embarrassment while he tried to clear his throat, from choking on water and from what his doctor said.

Augustus' smile widened and he patted the other's back trying to help him, "Yes, perfect! Cough just like that!"

The blond's throat was clearing by the time Augustus said that. Aldrich stared at the other, "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

By the time Aldrich's throat cleared, Dr. Vargas explained, "You have to start coughing like that more often!" The other gave the doctor a questioning look, so he explained further, "See, coughing strengthens the vocal cords. It's like when a baby cries when it comes out of the womb. I had to really make you cough, not like a fake cough, so I had to say something that could catch you off guard!"

Aldrich raised an eyebrow. That seemed like a legit reason and it actually made sense, but if the doctor wanted him to cough then he could've just asked instead of almost choking him!

Once he settled back into his bed, in the back of his mind he had a strange thought that he tried to fight down. In the back of his mind, he kind of liked the Roman's comment. No no no! He didn't! He's just crazy on top of mute that's all!

Augustus smiled and said, "Alright, so let's get back to your therapy. Have you practiced trying to say your name?"

The blond nodded.

"Good! So now that you got your vocal cords all worked up and you practiced, try again!"

Aldrich didn't see how simply coughing would help. He would admit that his throat felt sore, a good kind of sore, but he didn't quite know how that would help him. Guess he's gonna find out. Taking a ritual deep breath and closing of his eyes, he imagined himself speaking his name. Ritually, he opened his eyes and tried to replicate his memory.

". . . Al . . ."

His eyes widened.

He spoke.

It was quiet, barely audible and quite hoarse, but he spoke.

Aldrich scrambled, grabbing his throat. He was so close, oh so close. It's been years and he's finally said something. Aldrich began to hyperventilate. His chest rose and fell rapidly and his eyes were wild in fear and sadness. He was so close. He tried again to speak but his breathing was so quick and panicked that nothing came out.

"Beilschmidt. Beilschmidt! Calm down, please!" Dr. Vargas said placing a hand on the other's shoulder. Aldrich barely heard him. Now that he heard his voice, he thought he could do it again. He knew he could. He just had to keep trying, no matter what!

"Beilschmidt, you have to calm down. If you get too emotional with this then you'll revert back to the state you were in before. Please calm down!" The Roman was beginning to sound panicked and desperate. His grip on Aldrich's shoulder increased.

The pressure from the other's hand snapped the blond out of his frightened state. He took deep breaths, calming his now raging heart beat. Aldrich closed his eyes and fully leaned against the bed. He lost himself so easily; he became a desperate wild beast. He was ashamed he didn't have more will power than that.

Dr. Vargas took a deep breath and settled back in his chair. He smiled at the other and said breaking the silence, "Well, I think that should be it for today."

Keeping his eyes closed, Aldrich nodded.

Augustus got up from his chair and made his way towards the door. Aldrich was glad for that; he really wanted to be alone and think. The brunet turned the knob and stepped out of the blond's room, but before he closed the door giving Aldrich the privacy he desired Augustus said, "You know I mean what I said, about you being beautiful. I really think you are."

Aldrich's eyes snapped open and his face flushed in a deep crimson red. Without thinking, Aldrich sat up, grabbed the pillow from behind his head, and chucked it at the Roman. Augustus yelped and closed the door as fast as he could.

Aldrich was once again alone in his room feeling scared, desperate, and something else he never wanted to admit to others and himself.

Yay there's that chapter! Also, Aldrich wasn't really talking if you didn't know, he was thinking what was in italics. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

If you have any questions, comments, or just wanna chat leave a review! =)

See you next time!