Dex wasn't sure whether to cry or scream. A heightened panic ran through him the more he adjusted to being awake. Wallace sat by his bedside, holding his son's hand. Doctors and nurses surrounded the pair, checking assorted monitors and looking the young man over. Eventually, a doctor removed the tube and replaced it with a nasal cannula before leaving the pair alone.

"Dex," Wallace spoke softly, "Dex, hey."

He remained quiet, his eyes a bright green.

"C'mon, Dex, say something. Anything."

"W…Wh-" he stuttered before coughing.

"What is it?"

Dex looked away briefly, a number of images flashing in his head. His ears burned when he heard Helena's voice, and he tensed up when he recalled all the sights and memories he saw while he was under. Eventually, his father's voice replaced his grandmother's, which made everything hurt more.

"...Why are you here?"

Dex's voice was hoarse and low, a scowl on his face. Taken aback, Wallace stared at his son, blinking to process the question.

"...What?" he asked in disbelief,

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here because I'm your father, because I want to make sure you're alright. I love you."

Dex looked the man over, speechless.

"...Do you not know who I am?" Wallace asked softly, his voice cracking, "Are there things you're not remembering? I can get the doctor for you and he can-"

"I don't want you here."

"No," Wallace laughed nervously, "you don't mean that…you can't mean that."

"I don't want you here," Dex shook his head slowly, his voice firm.

"You just woke up from a coma. You don't know what's going on, you might not even know who you are or who I am-"

"Leave me alone."

"I'm not doing that, not until I make sure you're okay."

"Get out."

"Dex, please-"

"Get out!" the young man snapped suddenly, his voice loud and clear, "Leave!"

"I can't do that-"

"Get the hell away from me!"

"Calm down-"

"Shut up!"

"Dex…mein kleiner Bär…"

"Don't say that," Dex spat, "Don't you dare."

"Dexter Heller," Wallace replied in the same tone, "relax. You're not in any danger, no one's hurting you. You're in a safe place; nothing's going to happen to you."

"Why can't you just do what I'm telling you to do, you stupid son of a bitch? Is English that hard? Should I say it a different way for you to get it? Fine: Ich will dich hier nicht haben! Raus mit dir! Lass mich in Ruhe!"

"You didn't have to do that; I understand English just fine."

"Then go!"

"Dex-" Wallace looked towards the monitors, noticing the numbers rapidly increasing, "You really need to calm down. Your heart can't take much more of this-"

"I'll calm down when you finally screw off."

"Is that any way to talk to your father?"

Both men turned to look at the door. Ava leaned against the open doorway, looking them over. She pursed her lips before slowly walking towards the bed, standing between father and son.

"Can I help you?" Wallace asked.

"You can," she replied, "Give your son and I some space to talk, if you please. Thank you."

Wallace looked between her and Dex, who glared at him, before finally leaving the room. Ava watched as the man marched to the waiting area, his face in his hands as he sat on the sofa.

"Thank you," Dex sighed, leaning back in the bed.

"Certainly," Ava took a seat on the now-open stool, "How are you?"

"I don't know how to answer that."

"How do you feel?"

"Awful."

"What happened to you?"

"I don't know."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"I…" Dex closed his mouth, racking his brain for an answer, "I was with my grandfather, and then I…think I was with my mother. I don't remember anything else. Ava...what happened to me?"

"I wish I could give you a concrete answer."

"I've lost so much time: I'll take anything. Whatever you know, just tell me, please."

"Well," Ava took a deep breath, "according to Victor, you brought her back to life…and died doing so. Obviously, he was wrong about the 'death' part, but at the time, we all were pretty convinced."

"Does anyone else know I'm alive? How did you find out?"

"I don't know of anyone else besides your parents. I found out after talking with my friend: apparently you collapsed at the Metro Court Hotel and you were rushed here to the hospital."

"Oh…" Dex bit his bottom lip, "I see."

"You've certainly been through a lot since you came to town."

"Too much, if you ask me."

"I'm sorry."

"Why?" Dex looked at her incredulously, "Ava, you were one of the few people in the family who didn't look down upon me because I exist. You didn't know what Victor knew, and you didn't know he was going to do any of what he did. You have no reason to apologize."

"Aren't you sweet," Ava smirked, briefly glancing through the window behind her, "Mind telling me why you're so irate at your father?"

"If I remembered why, I'd tell you. I just…know I should be."

"Hopefully it'll come back to you," Ava stood up slowly, gently slapping his forearm, "Take it from me: you're in very good hands here."

"Great," Dex smiled before Ava walked towards the door, "Hey, Ava?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for visiting. It means a lot."

"Valentin, you're back!" Irina rushed to hug her brother as he walked into the hotel room. He felt her squeeze him tight, earning him a giggle from Anna as she came from behind, "Where did you go?"

"I had to pick up something important."

"Which was?"

"Me," Charlotte stood in the doorway, looking at the woman across the way. She had a hand on the door frame, staying by the black column.

"Irina," Valentin looked between the two blondes, "this is Charlotte. She's my daughter, which makes her your niece. Charlotte, this is your aunt, Irina."

"Charlotte," Irina cooed softly, smiling at the young girl, "What a lovely name."

"You're my aunt?" Charlotte approached her slowly, looking around the room, "Anna said you have a son."

"I do."

"What's his name?"

"Dexter."

"Is he here? I don't see him."

"No, sweetheart, he's not."

"Where is he?"

"He's…" Irina took a deep breath, looking at Valentin, "He's a bit occupied at the moment. You'll meet him soon though, I promise."

"Ma petite," Valentin cut in, "Why don't you go take a nap in the bedroom? You said on the drive here that the jet lag was getting to you."

"...Okay, Papa," Charlotte sighed, walking into the small corridor in the corner, closing the door behind her.

"Before you ask, the cleaning staff washed the sheets," Irina sighed, sitting in the chair. Valentin and Anna took their seats on the adjacent couch.

"Where's Dex?" Anna asked.

"He's in the ICU."

"What?" Valentin asked sharply, "How? What happened?"

"Dexter, Wallace, and I all got into an argument shortly after you left. At some point…his heart stopped."

"Oh God," Anna hid her face in her hands.

"The doctors put him in a coma in an effort to save him. He's been laid up in the hospital ever since. Thankfully, his vitals are improving, but…it's still not enough."

"Does Victor know about any of this?"

"I've spent all of my time, until now, by my son's side. I haven't seen neither hide nor hair of my father."

"That's good..."

"I'm sorry," Valentin frowned.

"The only person who should be sorry is Victor. It's his fault my son's in this position, fighting for his life. He can claim all he wants that he did what he did for me, to give me this second chance he thinks I'm owed. And maybe he has a point, but that shouldn't have come at the cost of my child, and I'd give anything for that man to pay for what he did."

"Is that so?" Valentin perked up.

"Valentin," Anna whispered sharply, "she's going through a lot right now-"

"No, no," Irina cut in, "Valentin, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Anna and I, as well as some of our colleagues, are working to take Victor down. We want you to get involved."

"I'm in."

"Irina," Anna chimed in, "you should focus on your son. He's been through a lot in such a short time, and as much as we want your help, he needs your support."

"I appreciate your concern, Anna, but there's nothing else I can do. Dexter's with doctors, recovering from what happened, and that's it. If there's something I can do to help you and whoever else you're working with, I'll do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Great," Valentin smiled, "Welcome aboard."

"How can I help?"

"We're concerned that Victor will go after you," Anna replied.

"I can handle him."

"We don't mean he'll attack you. We think he's going to try and get you on his side."

"...What?" Irina raised an eyebrow, "That's ridiculous. He tortured my baby. How delusional is he to think I'd ever want to work with him?"

"He did so much to bring you back," Valentin said, "He must think you owe him your loyalty in return."

"I owe him nothing."

"In any event," Anna sighed, "there's a good chance he's going to do everything he can to get in your good graces."

"So?"

"Indulge him."

"...You can't be serious, brother," Irina scowled at Valentin, "You want me to work with him?"

"Hear me out: if you work with him, you have access to his plans. You have an 'in' with him that allows both you and us to infiltrate and take him down for good. We all have our reasons for wanting to stop Victor: yours is revenge, ours is justice and public service. If we can't strike from the outside, we strike from the inside."

"I get that, but I don't want to cozy up to my father," Irina shook her head, "I'd be betraying my son. He's a victim in all of this; working with the man responsible for the harm he's suffered is bad optics."

"You're going undercover-"

"That's not the issue! I understand I'd be playing Victor, but only you would know it. What if Dexter wakes up later today or tomorrow to find out that I'm marching in lockstep with his depraved grandfather? How would that look to him? I want to help you, truly I do, but my first and foremost priority is my child. I'm not going to break his heart…not again."

"Irina, please," Valentin's voice cracked, "at least think about it. I know you don't want to hurt Dexter, but as you said, there's nothing to be done since he's comatose. Taking Victor down has to take precedent. Please, dear sister, at least sleep on the pitch."

"Valentin…" Irina began before being cut off by a knock at the door. Anna walked over and opened it, revealing Wallace on the other side, shaken and emotional.

"Wallace," Irina sighed gently as the man entered the room, "what's the matter?"

"Um…" Wallace cleared his throat, "uh…"

"Is it Dex?" Anna asked.

"Yes. He's…he's awake."

"Oh, thank God," Irina sighed in relief while Valentin and Anna looked at each other, "He's going to be okay! Was he still awake when you left the hospital?"

"Yeah…yeah."

"Excellent," Irina beamed, walking past the trio. She had a hand on the doorknob as she looked at them all, "If you need me, I'll be with my baby."

"...Something the matter?" Valentin looked at Wallace as the door closed.

"Yeah…there is," Wallace gulped, his eyes red and bloodshot.

"And that is...?"

"My son wants nothing to do with me."

"You have permission to move past the doorway, you know."

Spencer gazed at Dex from the entrance of the ICU room, pursing his lips at the sight of his cousin laid up in the hospital bed. After a moment, he walked in and took a seat on the stool.

"You look like you went through hell and back," Spencer remarked.

"Funnily enough, I just did."

"Is it as hot as people claim it is?"

"Worse. Not only is it hot, but there's mountains of corpses everywhere, so it reeks too. The world's nastiest men's locker room."

"...Shut up," Spencer playfully swiped at Dex, causing both men to laugh. Spencer felt his spine stiffen when Dex's laughter led to a fit of coughing, "You okay?"

"I will be."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it…sorry."

"No, no, don't be sorry," Spencer waved him off, "You're the one stuck in here."

"How did you know I was here?"

"Ava told me. I thought I'd come by and check on you."

"We barely know each other."

"Why not fix that?"

"...Okay," Dex said slowly, "Does your father know about me?"

"Thankfully, no."

"Thankfully? I know I have my issues with him, but what issues do you have with him?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Lay it on me."

"Okay," Spencer cleared his throat, "So, obviously, you remember Esme."

"Sure. Why?"

"Well, prior to her death…he slept with her."

Dex blinked slowly, frozen in place, "...Spencer, I'm in the ICU. I woke up from a coma; I don't think you should be getting me all excited with a fake hit piece-"

"I'm serious, Dex. My father slept with Esme."

"...Wow," Dex laughed, "So he was judging me for being a 'waif' and all this crap…at least I don't screw barely legal women."

"That's what I said."

"What?"

"What?"

"You just said-"

"I told you what he did."

"I…whatever," Dex shook his head, "As gross as it is, finding that out made my day."

"You deserved to know," Spencer replied before sighing, "...I wish my father wasn't this way."

"I guess we have something in common. I feel that way towards my father."

"Really. How come?"

"My father…didn't look out for me the way he was supposed to."

"Did you ever confront him?"

"I did, when I was your age. In response, he shut me down and dismissed my feelings, saying that he was just protecting me and that he loved me."

"And how did you respond?"

"I cut him out of my life and joined the army."

"Wow," Spencer scoffed in surprise, "you just…cut him out that easily?"

"I was pretty pissed off."

"I see. Well, if it was easy for you, it'll be easy for me, right?"

"You're going to cut your father off over Esme?"

"Not just because of Esme: she's just the straw that broke the camel's back."

"There's other things?"

"Indeed there are."

"What is wrong with your father?"

"I could ask the same about yours."

"...Touché," a smirk broke onto Dex's face, "But in all seriousness, Spencer, if you plan to cut your father out of your life, be sure that you're doing it with a sound mind. I did it while full of rage and adrenaline, and once I calmed down, I let him back in."

"I am doing it with a sound mind. He crossed the line that should never be crossed, and this is his punishment."

"Cutting him out should be for your well-being, not to punish him."

"Is that what your motive was when you cut your father out?"

"Yes."

Spencer bit the inside of his lip, looking Dex up and down. Dex stared at him with a firm expression, his breathing shaky and deep.

"Why did you let him back in?"

"I don't know."

"If you don't know, then why haven't you kicked him back out?"

"...I don't know," Dex frowned, looking down at his lap. The thought sat with him for a moment or two before he looked back at his cousin, "Look, Spencer, you're the only one who can decide whether or not to keep your father in your life, and whatever you choose to do, I support you."

"Thanks," Spencer beamed, "and thanks for the advice. I'll take it to heart."

"Great."

"Feeling any better?"

"A bit."

"That's better than nothing," Spencer chuckled, his forearm against the hospital bed, "This will be totally random, but can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You're German, aren't you?"

"I am."

"So that means you speak German, right?"

"Fluently."

"Prove it."

Dex raised an eyebrow, "You want me to prove I can speak fluent German?"

"I'm trying to keep our conversation going, Dex. Humor me."

"Um…okay. Ask me something."

"How old are you?"

"Fünfundzwanzig: twenty-five."

"What am I to you?"

"Du bist mein Cousin: you're my cousin."

"What do you think of my father?"

"Er ist ein Trottel: he's a jackass."

"Tell me a story."

"We'd be here all day if I told you a story and translated it. Try something else."

"Alright," Spencer smirked, hearing the faint sound of footsteps approaching the room, "Who's standing in the doorway?"

"...Meine Mutter."

Spencer turned around to see Irina standing in the doorway, a hand on the door frame. Her eyes were bright with curiosity, fixated on Dex. The young man sucked in a breath at the sight of her, unsure of how to react. A heavy silence filled the room, crushing the atmosphere until a lone question broke the tension:

"Could I speak to my son alone?"

A/N: (According to online translations)

"Ich will dich hier nicht haben! Raus mit dir! Lass mich in Ruhe!" - I don't want you here! Get out! Leave me alone!

"Meine Mutter" - My mother