Okay. . .(GAH!!!D8 dodges brick) I know its been a long time. . .but this past three months have just been hell. . .Don't ask.

Heh. . .

But sorry for the long wait and I hope this is the final chapter to this story. . .If not, the other one is probably gonna be pretty short. Like a 'hey, thanks for the help people' stuff. . .

Well, enjoy.

(gets smacked in the head with another brick)

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Chapter 9

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-

Moses and Chloe came back into the room just as the four others were coming back from Senels room. Moses was fuming mad with Chloe at his heels trying to calm him down.

"What happened to you Red? Someone rip on you're fluffy-ness?" Norma asked with a giggle.

"This damn towns what happened to me! All the people here just piss me off!" Moses exclaimed with a stomp of his foot sending Shirley and Chloe a few steps back.

"Whats making you so mad Moses?" inquired Shirley nervously.

When he didn't answer, she looked to Chloe who kept her arms folded and eyes closed. "Sandor overheard a man talking about Coolidge and Jay. He let his temper go and knocked him out."
Grune, Norma and Shirley all gasped while Will shook his head with that kind of expression that just made you think 'idiot.'

"What was so bad you had to try and commit homicide, Moses?" Will asked.

"They were badmouthin' Senel and Jay, sayin' they were weak and how they managed such a 'stupid task!'" shouted Moses with another angry stomp.

"But that's no reason to hurt the man." Chloe stated unfolding her arms.

"What would any of you have done!? Im not lettin' anyone get away with talkin about them like that!"

Moses complained a bit more and then went and sat down in the chair next to the door. Still heaving irritated sighs.

"So how is he?" Chloe asked, the annoyance of the older man leaving her face and returning back to the more important situation.

"Still a bit weak, but he should feel better in a few days." Will told her. Chloe gave a relieved sigh but then returned her gaze to the floor.

Norma noticed Chloe's unsatisfied aura. "Hey, C! Bet you can't wait till tomorrow! That's when you get to see you're honey!"

Chloe quickly looked back up with a red and pink blush spread across her face. "H-honey! What. . .what is that supposed to mean!?"

"It means you cant wait to see the guy half naked!" Norma said with another snicker, making Chloe go ever so red.

She elbowed Shirley in the arm. "I bet you got a treat when you saw that, huh Shirl?"

Shirley turned as bright as Chloe was after hearing this. "No! I didn't!"

"I find this conversation getting very inappropriate." Chloe said clearing her throat.
"Me too. . ." Shirley agreed.

She left the room followed by Will and Grune then Norma muttering while Chloe and Moses were alone in the room. Moses still seated.

He sighed defeatedly and then arose from the chair.

"Sandor, what are you so worried about?" Chloe asked him with a calm voice.

"It just makes me so mad how we weren't there. . .You heard that doc'. If we'd took longer, Senel could have died! And who knows what would've happened to Jay! He was damn near passed out when we found him!"

"But remember what Raynard said, he was feeling a lot better when they saw him."
"What if they didn't get all of the poison!? What if he's still in pain!? Senel really doesn't just come out and say that kinda stuff you know."

Chloe nodded her head a bit and exhaled a mouth full of air.

"You can be the judge of that tomorrow, when you see Coolidge yourself."
"Yeah, I guess so. . ." Moses pushed the hair hanging in his face aside and left the hospital.

Chloe looked around the empty room, ensuring no one saw her. She brought a softly clenched fist up to her chest and giggled silently. Another blush spread across her face as she followed quickly after Moses and the others.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was around midnight when Jay woke up in his snow colored bed. He had fallen asleep after the medicine the nurse had given him kicked in and made groggy.

Jay tried everything he could to keep himself occupied, he just couldn't go back to sleep. Every time he picked up a magazine he thought of the same thing, even when nothing of the subject partook to what he thought. When he had asked Moses about Senel, he didn't do anything but give a nervous smile. And the nurse didn't seem to help at all. . .

He closed an issue of an unknown article and tossed it onto the floor. After sliding off the edge of the bed, he put on the pair of house shoes laid beside his bed and made his way to the door.

He just couldn't go back to sleep. Not until he saw Senel. . .

Before going into the hall, Jay checked the hall to make sure no nurses or doctors were hanging around or walking down the hall. He wasn't sure what happened to people who got into trouble at the hospital, but he sure didn't want to find out.

Jay slipped out the door and into the hall after seeing it was empty. First, he had to find out what room he was in. Just busting in every room would be dumb.

Then he remembered the desk down in the lobby he would see nearly every time he walked through the door, maybe there were some records somewhere on that desk that told what room he was in.

After making it to the stairway, he heard a very faint sound coming from the other end of the hall.

Squinting, he saw an unknown nurse walking up the hallway focusing on an object in her hands.

Thinking quickly, Jay darted behind an open door to keep out of sight from the nurse.

Nearly every nurse was a girl in this hospital. . .

As she drew nearer, Jay noticed that she was holding a vial full of green liquid that didn't seem familiar to him. Shrugging, he decided it couldn't have been that important and made his way quietly down the stairs as soon as he was sure he was out of ear or eyesight of anyone.

When Jay was in the lobby, he caught eyesight of the desk at the front of the entrance and made his way over to it.

He kept his head low when he got to the desk, just in case someone were to walk by. After seeing no one was there, he fiddled through the mile high stacks of paper to which he had no idea what they were, but was careful not to mix up any important data.

After skimming for a couple of moments, he found a proscription folder tabbed in alphabetical order. He flipped to the C file and pulled the first paper he felt. Which was exactly what he was looking for seeing as it was the only paper in that file.

He read it silently to himself after ducking back down again.

-

Patient. 06943

Name: Coolidge R. Senel

Age: 17

Height: 5'7

Weight: 130

Time of submission: 14: 58:46

Time of surgery: 15:32:06

Fl. 3 Rm.25

Diagnosis: Internal bleeding, stomach wounds, high rank poison(unidentified)

Prescription: Surgical operation. Seven stitches. Another 3 days in hospital. No leaving room. Stay in bed with IV.

-

Jay read over the file again and again memorizing every word to letter. He carefully put the file back into its folder and checked the halls for any oncoming people.

Then he crawled to the staircase once again and made his was to the third story.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Senel peered again at the clock on the snow-white walls. It read fifteen after midnight.

He drooped his head back against the edge of the bed and watched the heart monitor as the line jumped up and down on the scream. He was lying on his back with his head hanging off the side in a rather bored manner.

As much as he would have lover to jump up and run out the room like a deranged lunatic, happy to get out of that place, he couldn't. Being hooked to another machine by the wrist by some stupid I.V. serves a problem.

Senel sat up feeling the blood beginning to rush and stay too long in his head, and sat on the other edge of the bed.

Bored. . .

Like he had never been in his life. . .

Like an evil curse that just wouldn't let him find anything entertaining in that damning room. . .

Not even the magazines were giving him fits. Especially not the ones full of shoes and ties.

Just as Senel sighed for the umpteenth time, the door to his back swung open and shut with a quit click of the tumblers.

"Jay!?" Senel said turning around to face him. Jay walked towards the bed a few steps and skimmed over Senel from head to toe.

"How are you feeling?" he said calmly.

Senel chuckled. "We hardly talk to each other for two days and that you're greeting!?"

"What do you want me to say? 'How's it hanging, homie?'" replied Jay sarcastically sitting on the edge of the bed next to Senel who had shifted positions.

"Um. . .Senel."

"Yeah?"
"Could you maybe. . .put some pants on?" Jay asked noticing Senel's dark blue boxers that were maybe two sized to big for him.

"Cant find em'."

"Oh. . ."
They sat in silence for a few minutes until Jay saw the stitches on Senel's left arm, stretching from the bottom of his palm to the end of the wrist.

"So, did that hurt much?" he asked pointing to where he was staring.

"Nah, I was out cold mainly the whole time." Senel lifted his arm and gazed at the wound. "Guess how many stitches!" he said with a smile.

"Um. . .I don't know. . .seven?"

"How the heck did you know!?" Senel gasped.

"It said so on you're file in the lobby." Jay answered with a sly smile.

"Oh really? So, did it say anything about how long Ill have to stay here?" Senel asked scratching at his IV.

"About three more days."
"Three days!?" Senel dropped his arm and went white. "That long! Why!?"
"Probably so you can rest. Surgery is a pretty big deal. You cant just walk off and leave after those doctors rip you open, you know."
Senel sighed. "Well, yeah. But still. . ." He pushed a few strands of silver hair from his face.

A light freezing breeze floated by the two sending shivers up their spines. Jay got up off the bed and closed the window that was making the room cold. The curtains stopped their fluttering and fell silently to the side of the windowsill.

He walked back to the bed and sat back down.

"There's another reason right there. . ." Senel moaned as Jay looked up at him.

"What is?"

Senel lifted up his right arm (the one with the IV) and pointed to where the needle was injected.

"Its like being on a leash. You cant go anywhere unless the doctor tells you you can. Im technically a dog here!"

"You're not a dog, Senel."
"Thanks. . ."

"Dogs have bigger ears."

Senel gave him a blank stare. Along with a silent scoff.

They stared at their feet for a while, obviously running out of things to say to each other considering the circumstances.

"Hey Jay. . .There's been something Iv been wanting to ask you, but, you know, couldn't because of that damn rat."
Jay looked up again. "Yes?"

"Why the hell wouldn't you have eaten for three days!?" Senel asked loudly making Jay lean back a few inches.
"What do you mean?"
"Right after you nearly passed out in that shed, you told me you hadn't eaten in about three days! Why?"
"Iv had a lot of things to do over the few days before the incident."

"But how did you survive!?"
Jay smirked. "You drink a lot of water."
"And that keeps you alive?" Senel asked. Jay nodded back. "Well, I guess that explains why you're so thin."

The both chuckled until they heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty hall. Jay ran to the doorway to see who was coming. About five doors down, a male doctor turned and entered t door across the hall.

"You should probably head back, what if they come in and you get into trouble?" Senel said getting back onto the bed, starting to feel a bit tired from the medication.

"What do you think they do to people here for that sort of thing?" asked Jay.

"They might lock you in the morgue!" teased Senel.

Jay laughed slightly with an ounce of disdain. He opened the door after checking the halls again and slipped through the doorway. They both waved goodbye and Jay disappeared into the dark corridor.

Yawning, Senel pulled the covers over his head and laid back down in his bed. Still chilly from the opened window. It was quite uncomfortable sleeping with a cord stuck under his back, but after a while of shifting positions, he became more comfortable at a point.

When he was about asleep, a shock of pain ran through his wounded arm. He softly grabbed onto his wrist so not to upset the stitches. Wincing.

He knew it would leave a scar, but he already had plenty.

Maybe this one would be another easy one to cover. . .

- - - - - -(TWO DAYS LATER)- - - - - -

"Please, Will! You've got to get me out of here! These people wont let me do anything!"
Senel begged Will. It was Tuesday, and he only had another day left of recovery, then he could leave.

Jay had been let out the day before, on account of the fact there wasn't anything seriously wrong with him.

Everyone was in Senel's room around five o'clock. Killing time until visiting hours were over.

Moses sat on the bed next to Senel, who had found his pants under the bed, finally wearing them.

Norma rested at the feet of the two on the end of the bed while Jay stood next to her with Grune and Shirley at his sides. Will rested against the wall listening to Senel complain and Chloe stood by the door quietly.

"I already told you, Senel. There's nothing I can do." Will explained to Senel who had rested against the headboard, arms crossed. "The doctors need you to stay here until you make a full recovery."
"But they'll listen to you! You're. . .uh. . .well, you're older!" Senel whined pounding his fist into his pillow.

"They have to at least make sure you don't have any poison still inside you, Senel." Shirley told him with a barely visible blush.

Senel groaned dreadfully. "I go to sleep for a few hours in a small room, then wake up in another room!"
"But this rooms bigger, much bigger." Jay added to his theory.

"But its small! I just want to be outside. For an hour, ten minutes! I don't care!"

"You're not gonna go crazy and jump out the window again are you, Senny?

". . .no."

Moses grinned and pulled Senel into a rough headlock. "Just hang in there a while longer! You've only got a day left in this place n' then you leave with us!"

He gave Senel a playful noogie and then released his head. Senel laughed and then fixed his hair.

"You better not let those docs treat you too good, Senny!" Norma teased sitting up.

"What?" Senel asked her.

"Just think, if you're in here for too long, and don't get no exercise, you're probably gonna gain some weight!" she giggled as Senel's face went pale.

"That might be good for you!" Grune added, with a smile.

"Hey, Grune has a point there Senel! You only weight about, what, ninety pounds?" said Moses chuckling.

"I-I don't weight ninety pounds! I weight an even one-thirty." stated Senel proudly folding his arms.

Will shook his head, "Don't count the weights, Senel."

Senel took on a puzzled look. "Those things weigh me down forty pounds?" Everyone nodded. "You guys are mean. . ."

"There probably keeping you here because they think you're anorexic." stated Jay shrugging.

"This is no time to be racist, Jay." chuckled Senel.

". . .Um. . .Okay."

Norma got off the bed and walked over to Chloe while the others were still talking and laughing.

Chloe looked up from her view of her feet when Norma got about two inches away from her face.

"Aren't you gonna say something to Senny?" Norma asked her with a hushed but lively tone.

Chloe blushed. "What. . ? Say what?"

"Oh come on! Don't you remember what you told G-Girl?"

Chloe shook her head violently. "How would you know about that!? You were with Sandor that day!" she said with her voice still low.

"Jeez, C. We have rooms right next to each other, and G-Girl talks to herself louder than hell when she sleeps!"

"Oh. . .So you herd that. . ?"
"Yep!" Norma chirped. "Now get over there and keep that promise you made! I'll take care of the others."
Chloe thought for a moment, but then nodded. "Alright, Ill talk to Coolidge. Thank you Norma. . ."
Norma smiled as Chloe walked slowly to the side of the bed until she was a few feet in front of it, still unnoticed by the other six.

Just when Senel looked up to see Chloe staring down at her feet, Norma screamed.

"Come on guys!!! Lets let these two love birds have their privacy!!!!!"

Chloe turned red again, and turned around to begin yelling at Norma. Though when she turned to the others the room was empty.

Just she and Senel. . .

Thanks a lot Norma. . .Chloe thought to herself.

-

Okay…looks like this suckers gonna have an even ten chapters…

Sigh

Welp, lottsa reviews please. Ill try and get the next chapter up in at least a two week period.

Not too gung-ho with drawing right now anyway…