The more he rode, the more anxious he became. His mind kept going through all the times they were together. How many times has he seen that look in Glitch's eyes saying that he wished to say something more. How many times did he ignore his lecturing when he was just trying to help? How many times has he seen that hurt look on his face whenever he called him a head case or zipper head? And how many times has he ignored his pain? Too many. Far too many. He was no friend. He didn't deserve Glitch. And now, he could very well have lost him forever.

The tower came into view in the distance. He knew his horse was tired, but he pressed on. He was just about to the gate when the horses legs buckled, throwing him from the saddle. He didn't feel any pain, instead he shouted out to one of the guards and he righted himself and headed towards the door. "My name is Wyatt Cain. I'm here looking for Glitch."

They looked a little confused, "I'm sorry sir, who?"

"Glitch! Or Ambrose. Former Advisor to the Queen."

Now they looked worried. "Sir. We've been given instruction not to let anyone in if they came searching for the queen's advisor."

Cain felt panicked. He knew they were not going to let him in if he was forceful. "Please. I came from the queen's palace. I need to know what's going on."

"Sir, the man you seek was baring the royal seal. You must know that those who bare that seal are not to be questioned unless they come from even higher orders."

Cain felt like cursing these guards to the edge of the Oz. The higher orders would be from the queen herself. He suddenly had another idea. "Fine. I'll leave quietly. Where are the stables so that I can replenish my horse?" Good enough excuse.

The guard looked relieved. "Down that path. Not that far."

"Thank you." With that, Cain left. He led his exhausted horse to the stable, where he left him in the care of the stable hands. When no one was paying attention to him, he slipped around the back. He knew where the guard posts were, so he knew where to stay hidden and where to find a point of entry. Since the threat was over, no one would think anyone would need the secret passage anymore, therefore it remained unguarded. He slithered his way in, and once he was clear of the outer circle of guards, then all he had to do was blend in with the crowd. Everyone would assume that those who were inside the building had clearance to be in the building. Instead of asking for directions, Cain looked like he knew where he was going and followed his instincts to the medical ward. He kept an eye on the doors, and made note of the names. He wondered what name they put him under. He didn't have to think long when two doctors came out of one of the recovery rooms. Cain ducked behind a wall.

"What happens now sir?"

"Now we wait."

"But if his readings continue as they are…"

"I know. I know. But he was well aware of the risks. This is the first time a brain transplant of this magnitude has ever been performed. It wasn't meant to be a procedure that can be reversed. But since he was the queen's advisor, we have done everything we can. Whether or not the surgery was a success will be determined in time. If he doesn't awaken by tomorrow, then he's hardly likely to ever again. He did sign a release, agreeing that he understood that this procedure was completely theoretical. And if it should become the worst case scenario, then we are allowed to harvest his organs to help other patients."

They checked the charts one more time before leaving them on the door, and leaving. Cain felt cold. If the person who rests in that room really is the one he's looking for, then he could already be too late. He carefully and quietly slipped into the room and closed the door. Hooked up to all sorts of tubes and wires, he could make out the vague shape of the man who was his friend. His head was heavily bandaged, and he looked pale. He looked peaceful just lying there. Cain stepped forward to take a closer look. He reached down to feel a pulse on the wrist. Very weak.

Cain sat down, observing the face that has been the epiphany of kindness in his darkest days. The soft lips, the high cheekbones, the full lashes. How could he not see how… just how beautiful Glitch was. His heart was the most beautiful to Cain. Yet this beautiful person chose to fall for a worthless nobody like Cain. He began to feel tears prick his eyes. His own heart was overwhelmed by how much he regretted his actions towards Glitch. He succumbed to the temptation to reach down and touch Glitch's hand. It felt cold, but soft. He thinks about what he saw in his vision. How Glitch ran his fingers through Cain's short peach fuzz hair. He tried to imagine how these fingers must feel as he's doing that. Would it be gentle? Sweet? Would it make him feel comforted? Cain reminded himself that those days are now gone. He's screwed up big time. He didn't know what he was feeling for his friend, but he knew that whatever might have been is probably gone now.

What was he looking for, anyway? Was it really friendship that drove him to come out here? Or was it something more? He intertwined his fingers through Glitch's, and he could feel the warmth of his skin heat up the chilled fingers. Glitch was alive. He was the only one there for Cain. Why didn't he see it before? This tenderness could have been Cain's. He had a chance to accept everything Glitch had to offer, and yet he has been so utterly blind. Cain reached up to gently caress Glitch's cheek. He wished those eyes would open for him. Not even fighting the urge, Cain leaned foreword and kissed Glitch's forehead where the bandages ended at his brow.

Cain could now feel the exhaustion of the trip weigh him down. He hadn't slept the entire trip, and even though his Tin Man instincts told him not to be caught here, he couldn't bring himself to leave Glitch's side. Feeling his energy drain, he settled down and lowered his head to rest on Glitch's abdomen. He was out in a matter of seconds.

Cain knew he was dreaming. In his dream, he was following a sound. It sounded like pain. A whimper. Like someone was hurt, and time has done nothing to ease it. He looked around, determined to find the source. Soon, he found a hunched figure. There was blood everywhere, as if this poor soul had been beaten, and left for dead. Getting closer to the figure, he could see that it was indeed Glitch. He knelt down, gently cooing to the form. Glitch was trembling, and he wouldn't look up. Cain was afraid that if he looked away, Glitch would disappear. He tried talking to the figure. "Glitch?"

The form stilled and quieted. As if ashamed that his noise was bothering anyone.

"Glitch, it's me. It's Cain."

Glitch shook his head.

"Glitch, look at me?"

Again, he shook his head.

Cain knew he would need to approach him slowly, like a wounded and scared animal. "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you."

If anything, that made more silent tears fall down his dirty face. Without looking up, he whispered, "Y-you… c-c-can't. I'm… I'm broken. Dirty. I've been thrown… thrown away."

Cain felt his heart twist. Dream, or not, he couldn't leave Glitch like this. He slowly extended his arm, and gently brushed his cheek. He said more softly, "I want to help you."

Glitch still refused to look at him, and the tears still came. "Too late. Too late. Broken. I am… I am broken."

Cain tried again, "Tell me what I can do. Please."

Glitch shivered. Cain took off his jacket, and put it around Glitch's arms.

"You shouldn't." Glitch said, as he weakly pushed Cain away.

"Why not?"

"I am… broken."

"Does that mean you think you're not worth helping?" Cain asked, feeling wretched. Glitch merely nodded. "I don't believe you're broken. I don't care if you are." He reached out and gently caressed Glitch's cheek while forcing him to look his way. Glitch's eyes look so sad, and forlorn. Just as they had in the last dream Cain had. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. Please. Don't say you're broken." Cain was near tears at this point. "I'm the one who's broken. You're the only one who's kept me together. You're here because of me."

Glitch said nothing. He merely looked into Cain's eyes, as if he were searching for something.

"Oh, Glitch… what have I done?" Going on instinct, he gently pulled Glitch into an embrace. He was mindful of the areas that looked injured. Glitch was as tense and stiff as a board. Even so, holding Glitch in his arms felt natural. "I've been so blind. You've been in pain all along, and I failed to see it. I never deserved your kindness."

"I'm… I'm broken."

"You're incredible."

"I'm d-dirty."

"You're irreplaceable."

"I've b-been… th-thrown away…"

"I need you."

There seemed to be a cold air sweeping through the area. He recognized that feeling. "Oh, my God! What is that disgusting thing?" He heard a voice behind him. He knew that voice. It's one that's tormented him every night for months. Without letting go, Cain shifted his head towards the one who owned the voice.

"This is Glitch. He's my friend." Cain said calmly.

"Friend?!" His wife mocked. "That's the quality of your friends now? You're even lower than I thought. That is nothing short of repulsive. He better be a good lay. Maybe that's the only action you can get nowadays."

Cain was now furious. He let her say whatever she wanted about him, but when it's Glitch, he's had enough. "This man is the most brilliant and courageous individual I've ever had the honor of meeting. He is the only reason why I am alive today. Without him, I would've taken a dive off of a cliff. I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I couldn't do any better. I don't know how to atone for my past. But don't you DARE bring Glitch into this. He is probably the only one left who truly cared about me, and I've done nothing but let him down. You've done nothing but criticize me for ages. I've taken it calmly, because I thought I deserved it. But I've had enough. What more do you want from me!"

He saw the look of horror and outrage on her face, but he felt strangely liberated. There was a bright light off in the distance. And when it dimmed, another visage of his wife appeared. She looked kinder than the one in front of him. Prouder. As she approached, she smiled, "So you're finally being honest with yourself."

Cain couldn't help but open and close his mouth like a fish. "I don't understand."

"You've carried the burden of guilt with you so long, that it's poisoned your mind. After you were released from the suit, you had the purpose of revenge. But once the kingdom was saved, the guilt still ate at you like a disease. In doing so, it created this impostor." She waved her hand over the other woman, and in a flash, her face distorted into what looked like the wicked witch. Then she was gone. He felt unbelievably calm. She came closer, and knelt down in front of him. "If you were in your right mind, you would've realized that I would have never said those things about you. I know you did your absolute best. We can't be expected to control outside forces. The only thing we can do is accept the bad things that's happened in our past, and move on. You haven't been able to move on, because you never let yourself trust anyone enough to tell them your true fears. If you had opened up to Glitch, you wouldn't have gotten lost at the bottom of a bottle. But now you've found something worth moving on for." She turned her attention to Glitch, who was cowering into Cain's chest. "He needs you just as much as you need him. You deserve his love Wyatt. And you deserve to be happy. I love you, and I will always love you. Just as I know, and he knows, you will always love me. But you can also give him that same love." She reached out, and brushed some hair out of Glitch's eyes. "Are you afraid you're too late to help him?"

Cain gently tightened his hold on Glitch's form, but he nodded. "If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have gone through with this dangerous surgery."

"It was his decision, and you were only a variable to his problem. Don't let yourself take on that guilt as well. If you wish to help him, then you'll need to realize that it will take a lot of care. Be patient with him. The road will be hard for the both of you, but I see a bright future, where you two will be stronger and happier than ever." With that, she stood up and started to walk away. "Don't give yourself anymore nightmares, my love. There's nothing to forgive. The war is over, and you and our son are alive. Live your life Wyatt Cain. And be happy!" Then she was gone.

Cain turned his attention back to Glitch. "Am I too late, Glitch? Am I too late to help you?"

Glitch still shook in his arms, but he was more sagged. "D-don't… I don't know…"

A moment of inspiration hit him. He held Glitch's face, so that he could look into his eyes again. "I want to be there for you when you need me. Just like you were always there for me. I will work hard to be worthy of the friendship you've given me. And I will protect you from what you fear." As a way to seal the promise, Cain lowered his head to capture Glitch's soft lips with his own. His heart gave a fluttering jolt, and then he was waking up.

TBC