A/N: I'm baaaaack! Not that I was gone very long... Anywho, for those who care, in this particular chapter there is a scene which does not have to be taken as yaoi, but you definitely can take it that way if you like. So hopefully those who don't like yaoi will like it, and also those who do. Now I'll stop yabbering and give you the chapter. Voila! Here it is! *flourish*

Chapter 4: "Rain and Snow"

For the rest of the time that Near spent in the hospital, he waited for L to return, but the days came and went and the laptop sat on the bedside table, silent and blank. While he waited he amused himself with building a construction out of the things he found laying around the room.

In his minds eye he envisioned a majestic castle with tiers and bridges and a giant spire rising from the centre. It was elegant and commanding in presence. Beautiful. Of course, since he was in a hospital there were limited materials to build it out of, so it ended up a sturdy, if ugly, fort. Near surveyed it critically once he had completed it.

It was at that point that the nurse burst through the door. He looked up and smiled proudly at her, his stoic creation standing proudly behind him. There was no "How marvellous! You're on your feet! How do you feel?" to greet him.

"...Is that the bedside table?...and the... chair?"

"Yes I had to dismantle them so that they would fit together properly. But it's okay, because the computer can just sit on the windowsill... like this, you see?"

"You smashed apart the chair."

"Well I didn't have any tools so I couldn't exactly take it apart the conventional way-"

"How dare you? This is hospital property!"

"I'm- sorry?"

"Urgh... so selfish and just ...completely inconsiderate." she muttered hatefully to herself as she quickly began to dismantle his creation. Muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm sorry I- it's just a chair!" Near cried out, stung, his eyes swimming.

"Look, I only came in to tell you that you're being released. There should be a car waiting for you outside. Just get out of this room so I can clean up this mess you've made." she snapped.

"I said I was sorry." Near said, his hurt turning to anger. She began muttering to herself, still pulling apart his building.

"What gives you the right to just go ahead and ruin something that doesn't belong to you? Just walk into a place like you own it and-"

"I do own it." Near declared quietly, his eyes narrowing. She looked up.

"I'm sorry, what?"

He walked over to where she was kneeling on the ground and stood over her, his eyes gaining a peculiar cold, hard edge for the first time in his life.

"I don't know who you are," he began, his voice quiet and expressionless, "and I'm pretty certain you have no idea who I am. You most definitely didn't show it in your caring for me or rather the lack of any care and I'll bet this doesn't bother you in the slightest. No, the idea that you might have to do a little extra work is what bothers you, more than the fact that a child could die tomorrow. But what are you? A mere nurse in a shitty hospital miles from anywhere who has nothing more important to do with her time than whinge at children like me.

"And you know what? I don't care about your pathetically insignificant problems. I have much more important things to do with my time. You are completely worthless to me and frankly, the world would probably be better off without you in it. Not that your presence makes much of a difference."

The nurse just stared at him, frozen and faltering under his quiet, cold gaze. No child had ever spoken to her with such contempt before, hell, no person had. However she could find no retort anywhere in her mind so she just stared dumbstruck, as the boy shuffled over to the windowsill, carefully picking up the laptop and holding it under his arm.

"So if you'll excuse me." and with a small, odd smile he was gone.

xXx

Near sat outside in the rain for over an hour, waiting for someone to pick him up. His chest hurt, but he concentrated on taking deep, steady breaths, like L had said. His precious laptop he hid under his shirt, in a vain attempt to protect it from the rain, for in a couple of minutes he was soaked through anyway.

Eventually a black sedan pulled up in front of him, and he stood, opening the door and climbing into the back seat. It was even colder in the car than it was outside, because the driver of it had the air conditioning turned to full-blast.

After an hour in the car it finally pulled to a stop and Near stumbled out, still soaking and unable to feel his hands and feet. It took him a few minutes trying push open the heavy iron gates by himself, as the driver had left him there, alone. After a while he decided that he couldn't manage it alone, and grimly resolved that he would have to climb it. Pushing the laptop underneath the gate to the other side was the easy part. The bars were wet and slippery in the rain, and with every movement pain shot up his chest.

As he climbed he couldn't help but know that something was awfully wrong. After all, he wasn't stupid, he knew that it was wrong to leave someone bleeding on the floor. He knew it was wrong to abandon someone in trouble, to neglect someone who needed care. To leave someone standing in the rain in front of a gate they couldn't possibly open by themselves. Forcing someone with a broken rib to climb said gate in the rain, where they could fall and injure themselves even m-

"No- !"

His drenched sock missed the bar and he slipped. There was nothing he could do about it, but in desperation he did manage to give his body one last heave to ensure that he at least fell on the right side of the gate.

He hit the muddy ground with a thud and a sob. All the pain he had felt before his stay in the hospital was back, searing through his body.

For an immeasurable amount of time he just lay there and cried until his eyes were dry, until his throat was sore. He didn't understand anything that was happening. He was so lost and alone. He kept trying to think of reasons. Reasons and reasons why people had started acting to him in the way that they had. Why Mello hated him now, why Roger was sick of him, why no one he came into contact with showed any kind of kindness towards him. It didn't make any sense.

He was usually so good at figuring out problems, but this time he was at a loss, and it terrified him. The only reason he could think of was that he must have done something horrible. Something to deserve this. Roger and Mello weren't completely irrational beings. They wouldn't have done something like this without a good reason. The only thing was, he couldn't remember for the life of him what he had done to make everyone hate him. Only Matt and-

"L!" he gasped, dragging himself over to where the black laptop innocently lay in the mud. He wrapped his arms around it, holding it close to his chest. Praying to a god he didn't believe in that it hadn't been damaged by the mud or the rain.

After a few more minutes lying still in the rain, he was able to drag himself to his feet and stumble up the drive to his home. The hallway was deserted when he entered. Something about being back here, in the hallway where it had happened made Near's stomach turn in anxiety. It made him tense and paranoid, but he fought the panic down.

Everyone was probably at dinner right now. The last thing Near wanted to do at the moment was plunge himself into a room of people and try to force food down his aching throat. Instead he made his miserable way down the white halls to the communal bathrooms, desperate to get clean and warm.

After choosing a clean white towel from the Towel Cupboard he gently lay the laptop on the bench that stood outside the shower cubicles. Eventually he stepped into one of them, gingerly stripping off his muddy clothes starting the water running.

For an eternity he just stood, letting the steaming water cascade over him, his hands and feet burning as the blood began to flow through them again. He stood, staring at a crack in a tile, mud swirling down the drain as the water washed his hair and his skin white again.

Then a screech and a bang.

Near froze and tensed, ears pricked for any sound, no matter how small. Nothing but the steady rush of water in his ears, and his quickening heartbeat. Then, the low thrum of a male voice, and a responding crow of laughter. There were other people in the bathroom.

He hoped that maybe if he waited for long enough they would go away, but minutes dragged by and the voices continued to echo around the room. It was either wait, or get out now, before the hallway began to fill with people coming back from dinner. For a few moments Near fought a struggle in his mind, but there was only one conclusion he could come to.

Near hesitantly turned the water off. At the change the voices stopped, and there was a silence. An expectant silence.

He decided the easiest way to do this would be quickly so he wrapped the towel around himself, aiming to quickly get to his room and a dry, warm set of clothes. The door swung open but he barely made two steps before he stopped in his tracks; frozen. Oh god. Not you.

There, sprawled on the bench top by the sinks, in black skinny jeans and combat boots was Mello. And behind him, one arm draped over the blond's skinny shoulder and the other playing with a cigarette lighter, was Matt.

Mello was here. Near's flight instincts by now had fully kicked in and he wanted nothing more than to get out of there as fast as he could. But before he made a step a realisation struck him. L's computer. Near's eyes widened in trepidation. It sat on the bench behind the sinks. He would have to pass Mello to get to it. Still, Matt was here too so maybe if he could just... They both looked at him as he stood there conflicted, water dripping from his hair, puddling about his feet.

"Oh, it's you." the redhead said disinterestedly, bringing an unlit cigarette to his lips. There was an edge to his tone though, that was kind of condescending. Contemptuous. An edge that told Near that the kindness he had received when he had been hurt was far behind them. Would not be shown again. Near wondered whether it was Mello, who had told Matt to act this way. Matt always did what Mello said...

Near did wonder why; why everything had changed, but it had happened now too many times for Near to be shocked. He instead settled on being merely hurt. It was a deep, festering hurt.

"What's with the face, Snow White? It's not like we're here to rape you." Mello offered after a moment of tense silence. Near couldn't prevent a crimson tinge rising to his cheeks at the remark. It wasn't the crudeness, no. After spending most of his life around Mello he had gotten used to that.

No, what had shocked him was the use of "Snow White". The name Mello had teasingly used for him all of his life at Wammy's. After a while Near hadn't minded it so much, besides, Mello wasn't only his rival, but also his friend. Hearing it now however, used contemptuously rather than affectionately- as an insult- hurt more than any broken rib Mello could have given him.

"If you're not here to assault me, then what are you here for?" Near demanded angrily, thankful that his voice did not shake or waver. He clutched the towel around him tight, his eyes darting to the bench just behind Mello and Matt, wishing that he could just get the computer and escape.

"We only came here 'cause Matt needed to smoke, and this is the only room in Wammy's-"

"With no cameras fitted." Finished Near quietly, working it out on his own. The realisation made his stomach twist again in trepidation, but underneath the fear were questions that refused to be ignored. Questions that hurt. How long had Matt been smoking? Why was Near the last to know?

"Okay then." He said quietly, too afraid to ask anything more. "Well I'm gonna go, now, so-" he made a move to the laptop, but Mello was faster than him.

"Whoa there, princess." every muscle of Near's body tensed as Mello grabbed him roughly by the shoulder, causing him to stumble back a few steps. "Why're you in such a hurry? We haven't seen you in a while. Besides, I still have a question."

As he spoke Mello withdrew a fresh bar of chocolate from his jacket pocket and ripped off the wrapping. He bit into it with a loud snap that made Near flinch, then looked up to meet Near's eyes.

Near held Mello's gaze determinedly, his jaw set. He looked a lot more brave than he felt. He felt vulnerable. So vulnerable it made him sick. There were no cameras in these rooms. Mello could do anything to him here, and no one would know. No one would know until they had found him.

"What's that?"

"He wants to know why the computer sitting on the bench is so very important to you." It was Matt who boredly voiced the query instead, tapping his cigarette so that the ash fell outside the window.

"It's not important to me." Near firmly denied, hoping his expression would back up his words.

"Oh, please." Matt sighed. "I know the deep and profound bond between a man and his machine when I see it." Matt informed him disinterestedly. Mello turned around to his best friend, a look of mild disgust on his face.

"That is just about the geekiest thing I think you have ever said." he declared.

"You wouldn't love me if I were any different~." Matt sang, not looking away from the window. Near took the chance to try and make a dash for the computer while attention was averted from him, but again Mello was too fast.

This time he caught Near by the hair, which made Near slip over in a puddle of water and fall onto his back. He bit back a cry of pain as Mello sat down upon his chest, pinning his hands firmly to the tiles, nose only a few inches from his own. Every breath was agony with Mello's full, crushing weight upon Near's broken rib. His vision swam.

"Get off me!" Near cried, trying to wriggle from underneath the blonde. His head was spinning. "Mello- I can't breathe-"

"Now now," Mello purred threateningly into his ear, "Let's not get panicky." he bit another piece from his chocolate bar.

Matt said nothing but leaned forward, watching the situation in mild interest. When Near threw him a desperate glance he didn't respond, just continued to watch the pair, cold and detached. Near fought the tears of terror and agony that threatened to well up in his eyes as Mello continued to speak. "I mean seriously Near, you're overreacting. We only want to know what the laptop's for and who gave it to you."

"Please-" Near choked, black spots appearing in front of his eyes.

An expression of annoyance on his face, Mello stood and Near could breathe once more. His face was flushed and his breath came in short gasps, but he could see clearly once again. Mello went over to the laptop, picking it up and turning it over in his hands.

"So what's so special about it?" he asked, looking it over, as if for a clue.

"Its nothing special, it's just a stupid computer." Near spat, but his eyes were fixed on the blonde and the computer in his hands.

"Then why bring it to a bathroom?" Mello wondered out loud as he set the computer down, one side resting up on a step that led down to one of the showers. Then he raised his foot above it, preparing to stomp it into the gutter. "It just seems kind of pointless to-"

"STOP IT!" Mello paused, mid-stomp, looking up and raising an eyebrow. Near quickly looked away, more red rising to his cheeks as his lie was exposed. Mello stooped to pick the computer up, slipping the chocolate bar into his jacket pocket, his expression fed-up.

"Okay, Near, I'm getting bored of this." He stormed over to where Near was kneeling, grabbing a fistful of his hair. "WHO GAVE IT TO YOU?" he roared as Near cringed away from him.

Near wasn't sure what he should have said, only that he couldn't tell them the truth.

"No one gave it to me." he lied quietly.

"...No one-" Mello repeated hesitantly, letting go of the small, white-haired boy.

"I got it myself." Mello cocked his head to the side, thinking, a smirk gracing the corners of his lips.

"...Hold on, are you saying you stole it?"

"Wh- No!"

Mello raised his eyebrows, turning to Matt, who simply took a puff of his cigarette and shrugged. Mello turned back to Near, smirk turning to a sickeningly sweet smile. "Of course not." he purred.

"I didn't! I- I'm not a liar!" Near's hands balled into shaking fists at his sides.

"Oh, I know, Snow. I sure do believe you. But I think you should probably leave soon," his voice was quiet and sweet, but there was a malicious glee behind it that he didn't even bother to conceal. "You'll want to get to your room and put on some real clothes. Before dinner is over and everyone starts coming out." he tucked the computer under his arm, and Near knew that that was where it was going to stay.

Tears of fury and hate welled up in his eyes. He had no chance of getting it back now, that much was apparent. He wished he was strong enough to rip the machine from Mello's hands but he knew he wasn't. There was no way he could get it back now.

"I hope you die." he muttered venomously, then fled the room, having to leave his precious computer behind.

xXx

Later, back in his room Near wiped his angry tears on the white covers into which he burrowed. They were heavy and comfortingly familiar, but nothing could block out the festering rage that came from the knowledge that Mello had his computer. That L would think he had lost it, or broken it... That L might talk to Mello instead. He felt sick.

Still, slowly the pain in his rib became only a dull throbbing. He burrowed deeper into the warmth of the covers, closing his eyes. After all, there was no one that could hurt him here. This was his own room, the one he had to himself, where no one else would- could come. This was where he could feel safe...

But he slept with the light on, that night.

A/N: Another chapter, done and dusted. Whew! *wipes brow theatrically*Oh noes! Mello has the L computer! Whatever shall Near do? :O Find out next, on channel "Causing Near Pain" =P

Fun Fact: That scene with Mello originally didn't take place in a bathroom, but in the hallway. Course, then I realised Near was still covered in mud, and he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would go to bed soaking and muddy. He actually seems more like a clean freak to me. Probably something to do with all that white. Anywho, so I changed it to the bathroom. Which ended up working reeeeally well. Did you like it? Let me know, please! ;) Reviews are the reason I post this stuff, after all.

Speaking of which, more thank yous, this time to the awesome ~eternal-memorys and the fabulous ~Knut Case for their reviews on the last chapter!

And remember folks, don't eat anything that smells faintly of bitter almonds!~ 3

Love CANDY