A/N: Thank you all so much for being patient with this. I didn't feel like proof-ing it (I really just wanted tp uploaded it asap) so I apologise for any sort of grammar/spelling errors. Also, if you find that you need more detail, please ask and I'll keep that in mind for the future. Super thanks to all people who favored and alerted. Special thanks to Arid-Existence, Moonlit Wave, and ElementalFoxGoddess for reviewing. You three get cookies...

Reading Legend

normal

"talking"

thinking

SHOUTING

Expressing/Exaggerating

Scaring the Dark

Chapter 2: Cold and Hot

Link walked through the halls hurriedly. Allen Walker had left himself and the inspector in Cross' old room twenty minutes ago. He had already checked the cafeteria, training room, and even their bedroom that they had to share. The boy was no where to be found. As he continued walking, he thought he heard, or rather felt something coming from one of the rooms around him. He was in another part of the exorcists dorm. This end was for the exorcists that were considered juniors.

He would have been placed here is not for... Link's thoughts trailed off as he neared the room that he felt so compelled to. Being the gentleman he was, he knocked lightly asking permission to enter. There was no response. After his third try, Link's patience was wearing thin. He tried the door knob, and after a few turns he finally got the door to open. The only thing Link saw before he rushed forward was a small body dressed in black and red.

Catching the child before him, Link was shocked to see it too be Allen. The boy looked sickly pale but his breathing was even and calm. His body felt unbelievably hot. Link placed his hand on Allen's forehead, feeling very worried. Allen's body was hot, but his forehead was freezing. In fact, as he felt the boy's arms and stomach found that they too, were cold. But, his body was so warm...

"Walker?" Link called out softly, worry filling his voice. He would never admit it, but he felt that Allen was still a child and as a child, should be both protected and cared for. So as his personal watchdog, he wanted to make Allen feel comfortable around him. It may have been an order to find out as much as possible, but Link found himself questioning his duty more and more these days.

Shaking Allen lightly, Link resolved that he should take the boy to the infirmary and make sure nothing was wrong. The only thing for Allen's condition could be Cross' death. He was by far the most effected out of those who knew. The discussion earlier must have rattled him.

Yes, that must be it. Link told himself as he entered the medical wing in a calm rush. Locating a nurse whom didn't appear busy, the long blond walked brisk fully over to her.

"Excuse me ma'am. But could you look at Mr. Walker?"

The nurse, who had light brown hair tied tight in a bun turned towards him. Her hair matching eyes fell on Allen and she instantly led Link to an empty bed.

"Please lay him here, I'll be right back." she told Link who obliged her request. Link looked down at the pale boy who seemed to blend into the white bed. Sighing he stole a chair from beside a bed and sat down beside him. The same nurse came back with a clipboard and set away at checking Allen's temperature, scribbling noted down as she worked.

"Could you tell me what happened?" she asked kindly, her voice flowing softly.

"I'm afraid Mr. Walker was already unconscious when I found him."

"And his temperature?"

"That is the reason why I brought him." The nurse sighed as she wrote more information onto her paper. "I'm sorry that I could be of no help."

"Oh, no. Mr. Howard you are a great help!" she said, smiling brightly. "I'm going to go grab the head nurse, I'll be right back." and quickly turning away from the bed she headed off to find Matron (a/n: is that her realname? Or just a nickname or something?).

Link rubbed his face with his hand as his eyes fell on Allen's face. Really, just what was happening to the boy?

The first thing he noticed was that he didn't feel good. No, scratch that he felt like shit. Allen tried to open his eyes but found the glued shut by some unseen force. It felt intoxicating as whatever it was wrapped around him. It felt like he couldn't breathe and everything was spinning. He felt hands touch his shoulders and he pulled away from the touch. The hands reached out again and he screamed out. It hurt so much.

The sound of something smashing into the floor seemed to unglued his eyes as they shot open. He laid on his side, a strange blue liquid moving in softly in front of him. The tile felt cold against his burning skin and a blanket laid limply on top of him.

He felt something approach him and reach out to him. Allen flinched back. The closer that hand got to him, the more his body burned.

"Allen?" a soft voice asked him. He clutched his eyes shut as he tried to block it out. "Allen are you alright?" Fire seemed to swallow him as the owner of the voice set his or her hand on his shoulder. He pulled away quickly, wanting to get away from the heat.

"Please..." his voice sound rough and raw. Allen wasn't even sure if it was his own. The Grey-silver eyes turned up, meeting brown and green. "Go away..." his voice was softer this time as he looked down, seeing the needle that had smashed. "Please!" He was begging now. "Go away!" his vice sounded so beaten and sad. Allen dragged himself backwards until he hit the toppled bed. Laying across the floor, Allen hid his face into his hands.

"Mr. Howard?" the nurse asked timidly. She was just going to give him a shot to help with this fever but...

"Just leave him alone for now." Link said professionally. "I'll stay here and watch him. That is my job." his words sounded harsh and bitter. The nurse left quickly, attending other patients that had awoke because of the scene.

"Really." Link spoke to Allen softly. "You are such a mess..."

"Shut up." Allen's voice was strong but still quite.

"Why should I Walker?" Allen let out an irritated growl.

"Because you being rude." Link 'humphed'

"At least I'm not laying on the floor." Allen didn't reply and soon a silence fell over the two. "Walker what-"

"It cool."

"What?"

"The floor. It's nice and cold. It feels nice against my skin."

"Is you skin hot?" Link asked, deeming it the best time to begin asking questions. Allen only nodded. "But the nurse said you felt deathly cold. Care to explain?" Allen shook his head.

"I... I don't really know why. Could that be why she was so hot."

"Hot?" Allen nodded.

"When she tried to touch me, it felt so unbearably hot." Allen shivered at the memory. "It felt like I was on fire."

Though Allen tried to suppress his sobs, Link could still hear them. The watchdog stiffened as he listened to the boys tears. He reminded him of a broken, beaten child. Abuse in so many ways that even the child didn't know if it was even hurt anymore.

"Anything else?" His voice was cold, but an underline of concern and worry for the boy was apparent. Allen nodded slowly. "What is it?"

Allen curled up tighter. " I don't really know but, I think I felt 'him'." Link perked up and stared intently at Allen. "I can't remember everything but it felt like he was trying to comfort me. Because, because..." Another sob recked Allen's throat. "Because I feel so guilty about Master's death."

"Why?" Link asked before he could stop himself. He surprised when Allen's clear eyes fell upon him.

"If he never told me, told me what I am." He looked away now. "He would probably still be alive. He would be like, like Mana..." another sob.

Link felt his inner turmoil grow. Torn between rules and that still human part of him, the man got up and sat a few feet away from Allen.

"Link?" the crying boy asked, clearly confused.

"Listen, as far as we know, it's not your fault in any way." Link moved his eyes to stare into those pool-like ones. "Don't tell anyone, but me and the inspector suspect someone from central. The last thing he would do is have Cross killed." Allen's eyes opened with shock and his face seemed to burst with emotion as he slowly raised his head and shoulders with his hands.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it's not you fault."

"But, but why?"

"We don't know the motives yet." Allen shook his head harshly.

"No why?! Why are you telling me this?!" Some nurses turned towards the two, but one look from Link and they turned back to work. Turning back to Allen, Link spoke clearly.

"Because you deserve to know." Again their eyes met as Allen tried to understand. "You are the most likely suspect for this murderer no matter how much me and the inspector disagree. We truly belief that you are innocent Walker. Remember that."

Allen looked down, his eyes falling onto the needled liquid. The blue seemed to enter his pale features and, as he gazed at it, he could see that man's shadow beside him. Link watched Allen stare at his own reflection, remembering the incident in the hall way so many days ago. Everything was so much simpler back than.

"What about 'him'?" He asked coldly, reverting back to his old self. Allen flinched at his cold words and dipped his finger into the liquid.

"Nothing..." he said as if he was in a dream. His eyes seemed to glaze over as he drew circles in the liquid.

"Don't lie to me Walker."

"I'm not lying..." his voice seemed farther away now. Link turned to face him directly.

"Answer me." he stated. Allen didn't even flinch at the harsh words as the circles began to become other shapes. More straight, with intersecting lines. Wait...

"What are you doing?" Link asked with anxiety in his voice. A small, short laugh escaped his lips.

"Nothing." his voice had hidden joy, as if he was playing a game. The note-like shapes seemed to hold their place in the liquid, only dispersing when another was drawn over them.

Link didn't know what was happening but he knew it wasn't good. He reached out and gripped Allen's wrist.

A shrill scream filled the building. Allen tugged at his wrist, tears tumbling down his cheeks like waterfalls. It hurt so much! The fire was all over his entire body, burning him at every cut or crack he possessed. Link held on even as the screaming increased in pitch and volume.

"Walker! Calm down!" By now, a group of people, both exorcists and finders, had gathered around. The group that had went to Edo glared at Link, asking with their eyes what they were doing to their friend.

Allen continued tugging. He couldn't tell anything apart any more. Left was right and up was down. His mind was in a rush to try to find some sort of stable ground while his body began lurching away harshly. His right arm that Link held firmly suddenly went numb. Allen continued pulling with his shoulder.

Link held on even after he was positive that the boy had dislocated his right shoulder. Slowly he let go and Allen hit the turned over bed. His face was stained with tears that still ran and his eyes were filled with fear.

"Allen?" Koumi asked quietly, never seeing such intense fear in the boy.

"No!" Allen said wiping out his left arm at the scientist. "Stay away from me!" The boy had long ago entered hysterics and just the thought of being near that fire again made him want to get away.

Lenalee stepped forward, reaching out towards him. "Allen?

"No don't!" Link shouted but to late. Lenalee's hand rested on Allen's damaged shoulder. His fearful eyes soon filled with hatred and anger.

"I told you to stay the fuck away!" The female felt herself by throw across the room and held against the wall. Blinking open her eyes, she found crown belt forcing her body to the wall. The innocence surrounded Allen protectively. "Why don't you understand that I don't want to be near you!" his voice was filled with anger and his eyes made Lenalee feel more fear than even the Earls. "Why can't you humans just leave me alone." He cried out hugging his knees. Crown Clown soon released Lenaleeand retreated back to it's owner, wrapping snugly around him. Everyone watched Allen silently, shock filling even Kanda's face. Allen didn't notice any of them anymore. All he could see know was his beautiful innocence so pure and comforting and that black shadow kneeling in front of him.

"Allen?"

A/N: I apologize for any form of OOCat the moment. I'm still getting use to the character outside of Allen. I'm hoping I did a good Allen...