Ch. 12: Recovery

"Good, and how many am I holding up now?"

"Five."

The doctor nodded, pleased. "Now, if you could just read this small passage, then we'll get started with your physical reflexes."

Ace and the others stood outside of the room, peering in through the glass window. Two weeks had passed since their little adventure on the island and Duck had woken up from his coma three days before hand. He was now sitting in with the doctor who was examining him for any long-term physical or mental damages. So far, he had found none. All of them were exuberant to discover that Duck appeared to be making a fantastic recovery.

Duck, for his part, was still extremely dazed. He couldn't remember any of what had happened after the stone creature through him up against the wall and he had lost consciousness the first time. He secretly recalled the others talking to him, but he couldn't have said who said what or even the meaning of the words they spoke. He just knew that it was their voices that gave him a way back; although back from what he didn't even know. Darkness. That's all he could remember. Darkness and his team mates' voices. Oh well, he figured it didn't really matter. He was here and apparently alive, so what was there to really remember?

He had, however, been stunned to hear that he had saved them.

"But, how?" he asked when Ace explained to him what had happened, to his knowledge anyways.

"We're not sure, Duck." Ace told him, smiling widely at him. "But how eva ya did it, we'd prefa ya not ta try it again. Ya might not be as lucky next time, ya know?"

Duck nodded. Were they putting him down again? Thinking that he couldn't do something? No, they were just worried about him. Worried about his safety. Weren't they? He didn't know, and it hurt. He had wanted to make it so that they wouldn't have to worry about him, so that they could focus on saving the city instead of him. Had it worked? He didn't feel like it had.

"Okay." The doctor told him with a smile. "We'll keep you on another 24 hour watch just to be on the safe side, but I think you should be good to go home after that." He patted Duck on the back as Duck hopped down from the table he had been sitting on and almost falling backwards. "Wow, careful." The doctor told him as he grabbed his arm, preventing Duck from hitting his bandaged head on the corner of the table. "Don't overdo it. You're still not healed completely and probably wont be for a while. Even though you can go home, you're not to use your powers or go out into the field until we give the okay, okay? We'll release you tomorrow and then expect you to check in for a follow up in one week, got it?"

Duck nodded as the doctor helped him back into his wheel chair. Ace came forward when they came out and grabbed the chair, taking over the stirring. The doctor repeated his instructions to the whole team, knowing that Duck would be stubborn and try to push it.

"Don't worry, doc." Ace said, a slight gleam in his eyes. "He won't be do'n noti'n but resti'n for a few weeks at least."

The doctor nodded. "Good to know." Then his beeper went off. "Oh, have to go. You can get him back to his room, right?"

Ace and the others nodded and the doctor, nodding back, hurried off to save another life.

"Come on, Duck, let's get ya back in ta bed. Ya gotta be exhausted." Ace said soothingly as he stirred him in the direction of his room.

"Not really." Duck said, but his weary voice gave him away.

"Uh-uh." Ace said with a small smile.

Duck tried keeping his head up but it slumped to the side before they reached his room. Slam put one of Duck's arms around his neck and gently lifted him into his bed.

"Why doesn't he just admit that he needs to rest and not try and push it?" Lexi asked as she looked at Duck's sleeping figure with concern. "He's just going to do more damage to himself."

"Because he doesn't remember what we told him when he was in the coma." Tech explained. He was supporting Rev on his shoulder. Rev was being almost as stubborn as Duck in the sense that he refused to be pushed around in a wheel chair or use crutches; so Tech took to helping him hobble everywhere. He had been released the previous week but still came back everyday with the others to see Duck.

"He still thinks we don't view him as a member of the team, not a worthy one anyhow, and he wants to prove us wrong." Tech continued.

"That's bull, though." Lexi told him firmly. "Duck's way more important to us than anything, surely he's got to know that by now?"

But Tech just shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid he's gonna need to hear each and every one of us, including me, to say so to his face, while he's fully conscious, or he'll never believe it, or remember it for that matter."

"His self-esteem's that low?" Ace asked in disbelief.

Tech nodded. "Unfortunately his past doesn't help much with that, and with us always putting him down…well…I'm surprised he saved us at all. That is, I'm surprised he doesn't secretly hate each and every one of us."

"I t'ink he kinda does." Ace said. "When we were locked up in t'ose damn cells, he kept givi'n Slam and me t'ese really weird looks, like he couldn't turn his back on us for a second for fear of us stabb'n 'im in the back or someti'n."

"Why-now-though?-He's-fought-alongside-us-for-three-years.-Why-all-of-a-sudden-does-he-mistrust-us-now?" Rev asked.

"It isn't just recent, love." Tech said, looking at Rev's slightly pale face resting on his shoulder. "He's had these feelings for us ever since day one, he's just done his best to keep them buried and ignore them; try and tell himself that we'd never do anything to hurt him. But…that fear serum brought all of it to the surface. Burying something like that, little by little, over time is easy; try and bury it all at once and it's almost impossible."

They all stood there, looking at Duck's calm, pale face.

"Think ya so damn smart, don't ya?" Duck said unexpectedly, his eyes still closed.

"Ya awake?" Ace asked in disbelief.

"Sorta." Duck mumbled.

"You don't really feel like this, do you?" Lexi asked, a pleading note in her voice.

"Well, how the hell am I supposed to feel? You guys are always calling me dumb and I know you think I'm as useless as a rock at times." He opened his eyes half way and gave them all a very stern and hurtful look from beneath his lids.

"We never thought you were worthless." Tech told him firmly. "Annoying and an idiot, but that's it."

"You-mess-up-sometimes-Duck,-but-we-all-do-at-some-point-so-it's-okay.-It-doesn't-mean-we-don't-love-you-any-less-or-anything." Rev said.

"Yeah, like I told ya before, Duck; ya family and d'at means ya wanted and needed." Ace said sternly. "Why can't ya see d'at?"

Duck was week, too week to really be having this kind of emotional conversation with them. But he knew the sooner they all got it out in the open, the better they'd all be. He closed his eyes again, tears leaking from beneath his long lashes.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled. "I don't know why…I guess I just feel like I can't ever do anything right so…" he trailed off and turned his head away from them.

Ace put a hand on his shoulder. "Ya okay, Duck." He whispered. "Get some sleep, we'll see ya tomorrow, 'kay?"

Duck nodded and gave a small smile. "See ya guys." He mumbled before sinking into a calming slumber. Lexi walked up and pulled his covers up a little more snuggly before whipping the tear tracks away and leaning down and giving him another kiss on the forehead.

Tech and Rev lead the others outside of Duck's room. Ace was the last to leave, giving him one last look before closing his door and walking after the others. Lexi stood waiting for him. He wrapped an arm around her and together they headed out after Tech and Rev; Slam had sneaked off to grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria before leaving.

Once the five of them were back at HQ; Ace went to take a nap, Lexi went to go listen to music and try and take her mind off of things, Slam went to the sofa and turned on the TV where the news reporters were still covering the events that had happened on the island and keeping the public updated on Danger Duck's condition. Honestly, Slam thought as he started flipping through stations, not really paying attention to what was on, how could Duck ever feel like that? The guy's gotten how many get well cards from over half the city, some flowers from even Misty Breeze; although he couldn't help but suspect that they had been from her manager and not her personally; and even a few boxes of chocolates from some of his more enthusiastic fans that hadn't appeared until he was close to death. This too struck Slam as suspicious, he never trusted people who all of a sudden started paying attention to those who were seriously injured. He couldn't help the feeling that they were just interested because they wanted to use the poor sap to get a quick jump to fame or something. He growled softly, if any of those sudden fans tried to use Duck for ANYTHING like that they'd have him personally, to deal with.

Rev and Tech had gone to Tech's room. Rev was laying on the bed while Tech tried his best to pick up some of the debris that littered his floor. Rev sat, propped up on some pillows, looking bemused as Tech got frustrated with a piece of a discarded invention that refused to move. He couldn't suppress a small chuckle as Tech first tried to use his powers to move it, then kicked it when he discovered that he was still too weak to move such a heavy piece of metal. Tech turned his head at the sound.

"Oh, you think this is amusing do you?" he asked, a light playful tone in his voice.

"N-no." Rev giggled behind his good hand.

Tech advanced at Rev and leaned over him, looking intently into his eyes. "Oh, really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Rev gasped.

"Rev, breath. You're starting to hyperventilate again." Tech said softly, smiling at his love's reaction to his advances.

Rev gained some control and blushed furiously. Tech chuckled as he carefully climbed over him to lay next to him. He put his arms around Rev's torso and positioned him so that he was laying on Tech's chest.

"Comfortable?" he asked, stroking Rev's dawn lovingly. Rev nodded and looked up, his eyes pleading.

"We still have at least four more weeks, love. I'm sorry." Tech said, a little sad tone in his voice. He knew what Rev wanted, it was the same thing he wanted. But he couldn't give him that, not just yet, not while he was still injured, and not while Tech himself was still as week as he was.

"That's-not-it,-but-thanks-for-helping-me-keep-my-mind-off-of-that,-I'm-not-suffering-at-all-now." Rev said in a quiet, slightly annoyed tone.

"Then what?" Tech asked, a little confused and bemused now.

"Do-you-think-Duck-will-ever-trust-us-and-feel-like-he's-a-part-of-the-team?" Rev asked his eyes searching, pleading for Tech to give the answer he wanted.

Tech smiled down at him. He was so innocent and sweet that it was hard to believe that he was a twenty-two year old man and not the nineteen year old kid he had met three years ago. Tech wrapped his arms around Rev a little tighter as he planted a kiss on top of his head.

"I want to say, yes." He said slowly. "I mean, he's not so stupid as to think that we'd ever do anything to purposely hurt him…however…it won't be easy for him. As I said before, he's kept these emotions in for so long that it's going to take a long time for him to sort through them and deal with them properly. But you've seen what he can do. If he can suffer from a concussion and internal damages from a molecular energy blast, and still find it within himself to transport all of us out of harm's way, then getting over these feelings should be a snap for him, if he keeps a positive attitude about him."

Rev smiled, looking a little more at ease.

Back at the hospital, a tall hooded figure walked into Duck's room. As the figure lowered her hood, and revealed her face, Duck opened his eyes.

"Hey, boss lady, here ta kick me off the team?" he asked unenthusiastically.

"Duck," Zadavia said, looking at him. "how could I get rid of you? You really pulled through and proved yourself this time. You showed me that I was indeed right in choosing you to be part of the Loonatics." She sat down on the side of his bed and squeezed his hand.

"Really?" he asked, looking suspiciously at her kind face. "No, 'you messed up big time, Duck.', or anything?" he asked her apprehensively. She shook her head.

"Duck," she said softly, "you not only proved yourself in wit with that brilliant plan to escape and free the others, but also in bravery and stamina by rescuing the others. You were, in short, brilliant."

He blinked a couple of times then pinched himself, hard. Did Zadavia just call him brilliant? Zadavia, the woman who had recruited him yet who was always yelling at him for one thing or another. Zadavia, who he was sure hated him and wanted to kick him off the team for being so useless, worthless, weak, idiotic. Did she just complement him and say that he did a good job and finally, at long last, proved himself? He had to be dreaming, right?

"No, you're not dreaming, Duck." She said calmly. "Yes, it's really me, and yes, I'm really telling you that I'm proud of you." She smiled down at him again. "You've been feeling pretty down lately, haven't you." It was a statement more of a comment. He nodded.

"I always manage to screw things up. Even that plan of mine you say was good backfired with a capital 'B'. And I don't even remember saving the others, which is typical I guess…my finest moment ever and I don't even remember it." He was looking at his lap now, unable to meet Zadavia's steady gaze.

"Duck, even though the plan didn't work out doesn't mean it wasn't a good one. It was very clever, and the fact that it failed was just because you did what the enemy did."

"Oh, and what was that?" he sounded a little bitter now.

"You underestimated your opponent." She stated simply. "You thought that Syfer would be asleep, but he was just as determined as you were to prove that he could do something right, so he forced himself to stay up in order to show that he could do something right, and he did. Stopping you and the others from escaping earned him a rare smile and pat on the back from the others. However, they underestimated you, thinking that you wouldn't be as strong as you are."

Duck finally looked up at her. "I'm not strong." He whispered. "I'm not brave or strong or heroic or anything like the others are. They're the ones you should be talking to, not me."

"I wouldn't be able to talk with anyone of you if it hadn't been for you, Duck." Zadavia said softly. "You saved them, and yourself. That's something to be proud of. And I know the others are just as thankful as I am. I know for a fact they've told you how they really feel about you. You may not remember, seeing as how you were in a coma when they did so, but each and every one of them purred out their hearts to you. Tech and Rev were in tears when they thought you were gone, and so was Lexi and Slam. Ace, well, you know him, he's not much of a crier, but even he wept. That is, after he tore the heads off of the villains who supposedly killed you. When they found out that you were alive, their top priority was to get you, Rev, and Tech back to the city as fast as possible to save you. Ace refused to leave your side until you woke up three days ago. He stayed here for two whole weeks waiting. They need you Duck, don't loose sight of that. You all have a special bond between you, that bond gave you the strength you needed to save them. Don't loose sight of why you saved them. You do know why you did so, don't you?"

"Because…I didn't want them to worry about the dead weight anymore." He mumbled. "I figured, if I saved them and then went away, they were free to save the city and not have to worry about saving me."

"Duck." She leaned forward and wrapped him in her arms. "Don't ever think that." She whispered. "No doubt you can be a blunder at times, however, most of those blunders turn out to work for the best so in a different light you're the most important member of the team." She released him and gently lowered his head back onto the pillows.

"I have to go now. But know that I'll always be proud of what you did. I'll talk to you again when I can." She leaned down and kissed his forehead before giving his hand one last squeeze and getting up to walk out.

"Hey, Zadavia." He said wearily.

"Yes, Duck?" she said, pausing and turning her head over her shoulder to look at him.

"Does this mean I'm not your least favorite anymore?"

She let out a low, soft laugh. "Duck, I never have favorites or least favorites, although it might appear that way at times." And with that she walked out of his room and out of the hospital. He stared at the door. He knew that he still harbored some negative feelings towards his team, but he also knew that they were less now and he could suppress them a little more easily. He smiled when the memory of someone saying something about him being like a brother to them came back. He couldn't be sure, because he couldn't remember who had really said it, but he would've bet his life that it was Ace. Good thing he would win that bet, otherwise the others would slaughter him for such a gamble.

See even Zadavia is proud of him! Now if he can just get over his self-pitty mode he'll be good to go right? right! let's see if he does or not...read on my fellow Loonatic lovers read on!