A/N: For all of you reading this, here's the next chapter. I hope that this one is okay. It's a hard thing, bringing back a major character. I don't know if I did it right or now. Anyway, I hope this goes over well. Happy reading!!

Chapter Four

Karl

It had taken Julia's team only a couple of weeks to complete the cloning process. "He grew at an excessive rate," she told them, proudly, "A normal human being would've taken anywhere from months to years."

His vital signs seemed perfect, but he still hadn't woken up. Riku had visited him everyday. The young woman read to him, and talked to him, hoping he would hear her. "Hello, Frannie," Riku greeted the young woman with blonde hair and brown eyes, "Can I get in?"

"Of course," Frannie smiled, "So, what book have we got today?"

"It's a classic, and very popular in America… so I hear. It's one of Georgie's favorites. Lord of the Rings."

"That's a long one," Frannie laughed, as she led Riku down the hall.

They stopped at the last room, at the end of the hall. Frannie took out a key card, and inserted it. Then she typed in a code, and opened the door. Riku stepped inside. "Thanks, Frannie."

"No problem. You know what to do when you're finished."

Riku nodded. Frannie left, shutting the door behind her. Riku looked at the fragile figure laying in the hospital bed. He had an IV in his arm, and an oxygen mask on his face. He was pale, and his dark hair fell in his handsome face. Riku gently brushed a couple of strands away from his eyes. Then she pulled a chair close to his bed, and sat down. "Hi," she smiled, "You're looking well today, Karl. I've got something a bit different for us today. It's not Manga, as usual. I'm going to read you one of Georgie's favorites. Speaking of Georgie… Joel found that Collins guy. He's in an institution in New York. At least we're getting closer to having some answers, right.

"I sure wish you'd wake up, though. Well, on with the book, I guess. Lord of the Rings, by an author named JRR Tolken. I've never read it before. I thought that if I read it to you, it would be like we were reading it together. Here we go…"

Suddenly, Karl moaned. Riku looked at him wide eyed, "Ri… Ri…" he tried to say through the mask.

"Karl?" Riku put the book down, quickly stood up, and took his hand, "Karl, are you alright? Come on, open your eyes."

"Rik…" his eyes slowly opened.

He blinked a few times, and then looked over at Riku. "Hi," she said, quietly, and soothingly.

"You're… your face…" he said, in a horse voice, "You look… so much… like her…"

Riku tried not to let it annoy her, "Yeah, um… are you okay? Do you know who I am?"

"I… I've heard… your voice every day. For so long, it seems. You've talked so kindly… to me. Even though I… couldn't open… my eyes… I heard you… Riku. I never expected you to look so much… like her."

She could tell that every word took some effort. "Can I get you anything? Do you need some water, or…"

"Where am I?"

She hesitated, "You're in a hospital room. At the Red Shield."

His eyes widened. He sat up, and pulled off the oxygen mask. Then he ripped out his IV, "I'm…"

"Please… you shouldn't do that."

"Why? Why am I here."

He tried to stand, but fell to the floor. Riku rushed to help him back to the bed. "Calm down. You're safe…"

"I died, I know it. I felt the pain of that sword going inside of me. I felt my body crystallizing, and crumbling. Saya killed me! How am I here? Why am I here?!"

"I asked them to bring you back."

There was so much pain and confusion in his face. It took everything Riku had to hold back the tears that were building up. "What do they plan to do with me? Do they plan to experiment on me? Do they plan to cut on me? Why…"

"No one is going to hurt you! I swear it."

"Why would the Red Shield ever agree to bring me back?!"

"I told you… because I asked them to! I needed a Chevalier. They told me they could bring you back… that they could give you a second chance. It was my choice, and…"

"You chose me? Why?"

"You ask 'why' a lot, huh? I wanted them to. You deserved a second chance. I believed that you deserved a second chance! Why question it so much?"

He lay back down, not taking his dark eyes off of her. She pulled the blanket over him, "Calm down. I know this is a huge shock for you. It would be anyone, but… you're safe. I promise. Trust me. You have to believe me."

"I believe you," he said, looking surprised at himself, "I guess it was… you talking to me for so long, but… I believe you."

"I'm going to go get Julia. Just…"

"No… not yet. Please… read to me some more, first."

She hesitated, but then nodded, "Okay."

She sat down, and then she opened the book. She began reading. After a little while, he actually started to look content. Riku wondered if he'd ever felt that way in his whole life.

II

"So, he's awake?" Kai asked.

She turned the monitor so Kai could see, "Yes, he just woke up. Riku is in there right now. He seemed… a bit scared, but he hasn't been hostile, and he hasn't made any attempt to harm Riku. I would say we have a success on our hands."

"So far, so good, then? Have you heard?"

"That you and David are going to New York to question Collins? I've heard."

"Not only are we going to see Collins, but Nathan Mahler has a house in New York. We're going to search it."

"Do you think Georgie will be there?"

"I don't know. God, Julia… I want it to be that easy."

"At least you know that Riku will be safe here. You both had better be careful, Kai."

Kai nodded, "Of course. Have you… been in to see your patient yet?"

"No. I think Riku probably wanted to come get me right away, but… I'm a little glad she didn't. They need some alone time. Especially since he just woke up. Our track record with this man isn't exactly one of friendship. Give it some time."

"Alright. When he's ready, maybe you guys can ask him some things about Mahler. He might know something."

"As long as it doesn't cause him to become violent… I'll certainly try."

III

Riku closed the book, "I think that's enough for today."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it," she smiled a little, "Will you let Julia give you a check up? And you need a new IV. That feeds you, you know."

"Feeds me?"

"Yeah, it… I don't know. It just… does. So…"

"Do you wish it?"

"Do I… huh?" Riku looked confused, "It would be good for you. You did just wake up. We have to make sure you're in tip top shape, right?"

"I will let them."

"Good."

He grinned a little, "And I will try to be nice to your family."

She gave a small laugh, "Good. I'm glad. Can you lay here for just a moment, while I go get Julia?"

"You mean now?"

"Why not?"

He frowned, "Alright, then."

"I'll be right back."

Luckily, Julia was reading charts with Frannie, so Riku didn't have to go far. "Hey, Julia."

"Hello, Riku."

"He's going to let you look him over."

"Is he, now? That's great. I've been anxious to see my patient."

"I've been anxious for you to make sure he's alright."

Julia smiled, "Alright. Let's go see how he's doing."

Julia put down the charts. "I'll finish this," Frannie smiled.

"Thank you, Francis," Julia said, and then she and Riku walked down the hall to Karl's room.

"Hello, Karl," Julia said, when they were inside.

Karl frowned at her. "He looks well, right?" Riku asked, hopefully, "He looks good?"

"He certainly does. Do you mind if I take a blood sample?"

Karl looked at Riku. Riku nodded. Karl looked back at Julia, and nodded. Riku sighed with relief, 'Thank goodness.'

"Great. I'll need your arm, please."

Karl stuck out his arm. He didn't even flinch when Julia stuck the needle in. "He took out his IV. I think he may need a new one."

"I'll take care of that right after this," Julia told her, "Are you feeling alright? It's normal for you to feel a bit groggy."

"I'm alright," he answered.

"How much do you remember?"

"Almost everything," he answered, with a bit of contempt in his voice.

"That's good," Julia said.

"Is it? I'm not so sure. There are a lot of things I would forget if I could. I can see why Saya was in such bliss when her memory was gone."

Julia took her sample, and put it in a Sterile bag. "Karl, I'll bring you another IV in just a moment."

He nodded, "She's not like her… is she."

"Like her?" Julia asked.

Riku looked confused as well. "Diva… thank God she's nothing like her," Karl said, looking relieved.

IV

"Why the long face, Georgie?" Nathan smiled, "Don't you like it here?"

"You know the answer to that!" Georgie sneered.

She hadn't seen the outside world in weeks. She'd only seen the inside of the houses they were in. When they moved, she wasn't told where they were going. Mahler had even went as far as putting a blind fold on her.

Right now, they were sitting at a lovely, long dinner table, in another lovely house. The houses were always lovely, but Georgie could care less. All she wanted… all she wished for… was just to go home, and be with her sister, her dad, and their friends. "You'll learn to love it," Nathan sighed, lazily, as he sipped wine… or what looked like wine.

He'd forced her to create Chevaliers by slicing her hand open and feeding unsuspecting humans blood. He used any trickery he could to get them there. 'Those poor people,' Georgie's mind screamed, 'It's all your fault! If you'd just listened to your father…'

"Your sister is going to love living like this as well. I can just see it."

"Please!" Georgie begged, banging her fists down on the table, "Please leave the rest of my family alone!"

"You know I can't do that. Riku is Diva's child…"

"We're Kai's children! We're Saya's nieces!"

"Diva's wonderful blood runs through your veins. Kai was a faux parent, and you haven't even met Saya. You and your sister are Diva's daughters… queens! You are Chiropterans. Whether you like it or not."

Georgie sneered, "We are not like her. We're not like you!"

Nathan smiled, "We'll see, dear… won't we?"