Heh, it's been a while, huh? High School is hectic…The only reason I'm writing this now is because I'm home sick. Wow. I only have time to write when I have the flu… Sad, isn't it?

Thank you again to all who reviewed, and for the constructive criticism. I really appreciate it, guys! Okay, enough of that, here's chapter three!

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It was him…

Devi could only stare. She couldn't think. She could only gaze at Johnny's motionless form. She tried to clear her head, to think properly. Months ago, Johnny had attempted to take her life. But he had stopped those men from attacking her.

He had saved her…

But he tried to kill her before…

These two thoughts buzzed around her head. She didn't know what to do. What could she do? Staring at him wasn't helping. His face was contorted in pain. He seemed to be begging for help, even though he was unconscious. Devi turned away, looking at her surroundings. It was still raining hard. On the ground lay the bodies of her attackers. If Johnny hadn't stopped them, who knew what they could have done to her…

Devi was torn two ways. Half of her wanted to help him, and the other half of her wanted to leave him there.

Could you actually leave him here to die?

"He'd deserve it," Devi silently answered herself.

But he saved you.

"So? He tried to kill me!"

That was a long time ago. Help him. You know you should.

"But… But…agghh! Damn you!"

Devi looked at Johnny again, and her expression softened. "This is pathetic," she said aloud, sighing. "I can't even win an internal argument…" She kneeled beside the fallen man, and, hesitantly, reached over to him. Her hand came to rest on his shoulder. She shook him gently.

"Johnny? Johnny, can you hear me?"

No answer. Devi growled to herself. He wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. What was she supposed to do now? Drag him home with her?

Actually, that's not a bad idea…

"What! NO!" she objected.

Oh, lighten up. You don't want him to die, do you?

There was a pause.

"I hate you…" Devi cursed her own mind.

Devi poked her head out of the alleyway, making sure no one was around. After she was sure that nobody would see her, she took the two knives that Johnny had dropped and hid them in the pockets of her coat. She knew that they shouldn't be left here as evidence. Then she gazed at Johnny again, and sighed angrily to herself.

"What the fuck am I getting myself into…?"

Devi pulled Johnny's form off the ground, and over her shoulders. She paused as she heard a groan escape his lips, then continued to settle as much of his weight has she could onto her shoulders. She was amazed at how light he was. But, after all, he was a thin man, and it would be much easier to carry him.

She began walking down the street, slowly at first. Her pace gradually became faster as she walked. As Devi carried Johnny through the rain, she could feel him shivering terribly. His breathing sounded pained and shallow, and every so often he would groan or whimper in pain. Devi stopped walking for a moment and turned her head to look at him. His eyes were still tightly closed and blood and sweat dripped down his face.

Devi quickened her pace, urgent to get him out of the rain.

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After what seemed like hours, Devi finally came to a stop at the entrance to her apartment building. After fumbling around her pockets for her keys, she opened the door and walked inside. She closed the door as quietly as she could, and looked around the dirty hallway, blinking in the sudden darkness. When her eyes adjusted to the dark she set Johnny down, softly, against the wall next to the elevator. She was about to press the button for the seventh floor when her emerald eyes caught sight of a sign on the elevator doors.

Temporarily out of order. Please use stairs.

"Goddamnit!" Devi yelled, giving the metal doors a swift kick with her boot. She ran a hand over her forehead, trying to think. Turning her head she looked over at the far end of the hall, where the stairs where located, then back at Johnny.

"Shit…" she sighed as she settled Johnny on her shoulders again. Devi shuffled down the hall and looked up at the shadowy, cold stairwell.

This was going to take a while.

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The door to Devi's apartment swung open, letting in the dim light of the hallway. Panting, she stumbled into her living room dragging Johnny in with her. She set him down on her sofa and locked the door. She ran a hand along the wall, seeking the light switch. A second later she felt the little knob between her fingers, and flicked it on. Light flooded the small living space.

Quickly, Devi took off her coat, threw it into her closet, not even bothering to hang it on the usual hook. She rushed back across the room, and looked down at Johnny again. He hadn't stopped trembling with cold, and Devi could see that his clothes were drenched. Carefully, she removed his trench coat and his boots. She noticed that, even beneath his coat, his clothes were still damp. No wonder why he was shivering. He was soaked to the bone.

As gingerly as she could, Devi took off his tattered black shirt, and gasped at what she saw. He was covered with bruises and cuts from the fight in the alley. He had a deep gash on his upper right arm from where the attacker's blade had slashed him. The left side of his ribcage had a huge mark from where he had been kicked. Devi ran her hand softly along his ribs, but could feel no broken bones.

But what worried her most was how thin he was. She could see nearly every bone poking out from under his skin. Devi felt a new wave of worry wash over her. She knew he had always been skinny, but he seemed much sicklier than the last time she saw him.

"Oh, Nny," she whispered, brushing a few bangs away from his face. "Johnny, what happened to you…?"

As her fingers came into contact with his forehead, Devi could feel the beads of sweat and blood and rain that were streaming down his face. She also realized how warm his skin felt. Curious, she pressed her palm to his brow.

He was burning up.

"Oh God." Devi stepped back from him, now even more uncertain of what to do. "Oh God, oh God, oh God…" she repeated, pacing about the floor.

She needed to help him. But what could she do? She didn't have any medical training or anything like that. Devi looked back at him again, her eyes filled with concern. After a moment, she hurried over to the sofa and carried him into her bedroom.

Devi laid him down on her bed, and headed off to her bathroom. She returned with white linen bandages, bactine, and a cloth, wet with cold water. She cleaned the gash on his arm and wrapped it tight with the bandages. Then she wiped the blood and sweat off his face, and pulled a few blankets over him. Johnny immediately curled up under them, unconsciously seeking warmth, something he never would have done if he was awake.

Devi continued to dab his forehead with the wet cloth until she saw Johnny begin to relax. Soon he appeared to be in a peaceful sleep. Devi sighed with relief, and looked over at her clock on her nightstand.

It was 3:00 am.

Yawning, Devi walked to her closet, and pulled out an extra pillow and blanket. She set them on the floor beside her bed, and, after making sure Johnny was comfortable, she lay down and fell asleep.

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Aha! Done with chappie three! Yaay! I feel somewhat better now. Anyhowl, Nny finally wakes up in the next chapter, and I should have that one up soon.

Remember to review!