Junior wasn't sure what to expect as they entered the hospital. The place was falling apart. Light fixtures dangled from the ceiling, chunks of drywall were scattered across the floor, and plants had begun to cover the cracks in the floor.

He was hoping there would at least be a few people at the hospital. But despite his cries out, no one answered.

"Would you be quiet? You could give our position away." Alastor snapped at him. He strolled across the entrance room, looking around.

"Well what use is a hospital that doesn't have any doctors?" Junior asked. "Did we really come all this way for nothing?"

"We don't need a doctor, we need supplies." Alastor peered over his shoulder at him.

"Wait a second...are you saying we're going to fix him?" Junior asked.

"Yep. Is there a problem with that?" Alastor turned, crossing his hands over his chest.

"Well kinda. Neither of us is a doctor!" Junior felt panic well up inside him.

Alastor nodded. "Yes, but I know enough of the basics to be able to treat a blade wound. Now are we going to stand here or are we going to work before Joe bleeds out?" And with that, Alastor turned on his heel and started walking towards a staircase.

"B-but wait!" Junior stuttered. He had a bad feeling about this. He wasn't even sure if he trusted Alastor to help them let alone help perform medical procedures on his best friend.

"Hey come on bud, it'll be fine." Joe seemed to pick up on his hesitation.

"Are you seriously going to trust him like this? He tries to kill you on a constant basis! I don't think this is a good idea. What if it is just a trick, what if he tries to kill you while you're down?"

"Junior, we don't really have a choice right now. He's helped us in the past and that's enough for me." Joe gave him a weak smile. "If you don't trust him than at least trust me."

Junior wanted to trust Joe, but he could see the hesitation hiding in the hero's eyes as well. Neither of them really wanted to go through with this.

However, Junior helped Joe walk forwards to the staircase that Alastor had disappeared up. They slowly made their way up the flight of steps. Joe seemed to try and hide his pain as he climbed each step, but Junior knew it had to be terrible for him. He had never seen Joe this hurt. He could feel blood drip onto his gloves as he helped to support Joe.

After what seemed like a lifetime, the duo made it up the stairs. The doors to the second floor had been pushed open, welcoming them.

They limped out into the hallway. Junior felt a shiver go up his spine. He didn't enjoy hospitals regularly. This one was dark and empty which made it extra creepy. Joe gripped his shoulder tighter as if sensing the younger hero's unease.

Normally Junior would brush him off and say he was fine but he appreciated the comfort.

"In here." They heard Alastor's voice call from one of the rooms.

The two followed the voice and found Alastor. The room that he had chosen seemed fairly basic. It was a large, open room with barely anything in it. There was a small sink, some cabinets, a table, and a few chairs. It looked more like a waiting room that had mixed with an operating room than a normal hospital room. It might have very well been at one point...maybe the wall dividing them had fallen.

A variety of supplies were already laid out on the small table.

"Junior, I'm going to need you to help me gather supplies." Alastor told him. He was currently reading labels on a few pill bottles. "Can you find a few blankets or towels?"

Junior looked up at Joe. Joe nodded at him and leaned against one of the chairs, taking his weight off of Junior.

Junior scrunched up his fists. He had to be brave for Joe. He had to trust Alastor. It wasn't the first time they had placed their trust in him and it wouldn't be the last. It was time to cast his doubts aside and work. "Sure. I'll go get them."

He ran out of the room and looked down the hallway. There had to be a supply closet or something. He started going down the long hallway, opening every door. Finally he found one packed with blankets and towels. He grabbed as much as he could carry and ran back to the room.

Alastor lifted his head as Junior walked in. "Good, now lay some of the blankets out on the floor over there." He made a nonchalant gesture towards the middle of the room. Junior obeyed, laying out the blankets.

"Now see if that sink is working." Alastor was currently threading a needle that he had found in a first aid box.

Junior went over to the sink and turned on the faucet. After it made a few hissing noises to get the air bubbles out, a steady stream of clean water dripped out into the sink. "It works." Junior told Alastor.

"Good." Alastor said. "Wet some of the towels. And while you're over there fill up that pot with water. We'll use it to clean out the wound so it doesn't get infected."

Junior would have normally complained about the lack of using please but he let it slide as Alastor seemed currently occupied by threading a needle with his gloves on.

"Joe undo your hension and go lie down." Alastor said once he successfully threaded the needle.

"I can't." Joe said tiredly. He had resorted to putting all of his weight on the wall, clutching his wound tightly to avoid blood loss.

"Can't what?" Alastor turned from his work to look at the hero.

"Undo the hension. I've been trying." Joe looked down at his feet, not meeting their eyes.

"That's not a good sign." Junior said, remembering the last time the v watch had been on the fritz. Joe simply nodded in agreement.

"It's better than not having your powers I guess." Alastor said, he walked over to the blanket pile. "Okay, I think we're ready."

Junior watched Joe closely. He bit his lip and took a deep breath before peeling himself from the wall. Junior could see that Joe was doing a really good job hiding his fear from them. Junior himself was terrified of what was going to happen. He couldn't even imagine how bad it was going to be for Joe.

Joe finally made it to the blankets. He took off his helmet, letting it fall out of his hands on to the ground. He closed his eyes and laid down.

Alastor gave Joe some pills, saying something that Junior couldn't really hear. Joe nodded and swallowed them. He then lifted up his shirt, allowing them to see just how bad the wound really was. Junior clutched the wet cloth tighter in his hands trying hard not to look away.

"Junior, I'm going to need you to help." Alastor said meeting his eyes. He seemed almost apologetic about the situation.

Junior nodded, finding the courage to leave the sink and go towards his hurt friend. He grabbed the pot full of water and the dampened towels, bringing them to the duo.

"Here, let me see the pot." Alastor said, mentioning for the basin in his hands. Junior gave it to him without hesitation.

Alastor gripped the pot with both hands around the metal frame. He closed his eyes tightly. Suddenly lightning flashed from his hands, forcing Junior to look away.

It only hit for less than a second but the boom that followed was loud enough to shake the windows around them.

When Junior could hear again, he glared up at the blade master. "A little warning next time?"

"Sorry." Alastor gave him a small smile. The water was steaming in the pot. "We needed boiled water to clean out the wound so it doesn't get infected."

"I could have started a fire or something." Junior muttered as they sat around Joe.

"Where's the fun in that?" Alastor said as he dipped the cloth into the steaming water.

He began to dab the magnitude of blood off of the wound. Joe closed his eyes, putting his head back, but made no noise.

"Im sorry its so hot." Alastor said, noticing Joe's discomfort. "You'll thank me later though."

Once most of the dry blood had been cleaned away, Alastor inspected the wound. "It's actually not as deep as I would have expected. I'm surprised the blade is still hanging on. As long as it doesn't get infected you should be fine." He took out a bottle from behind him that looked like toothpaste. "I'm going to put some of this numbing gel on it to numb the area. I'm not going to lie though. It will hurt quite a bit."

"Let's just get it over with." Joe said, not opening his eyes.

"Okay, first we'll remove the blade." Alastor began to move his hand towards it.

"No." Joe said suddenly, making Alastor pause. "I'll do it."

Alastor sat back and motioned for Junior to do the same. They gave the hero some space.

Joe wrapped his hands around the knife gingerly. Junior looked away, forcing back tears as Joe let out a scream of pain.

The dagger fell the the ground with a clatter. Joe clenched his fists tightly, making a pained groan.

"Are you alright?" Junior asked a bit frightened by the scream.

"Just get on with it already." Joe hissed through clenched teeth.

"Okay, I'm going to need you to continue to clean the blood away so that I can see." Alastor told Junior, shoving the damp cloth in his hand.

Junior swallowed then nodded.

"Everything will be fine." Alastor said, looking him in the eyes and giving him a slight smile.

Junior returned the smile with his own. "Of course. This is Joe we're talking about."

"Um I'm sitting right here. Im not dying or anything. Can we get moving?" Joe gasped out.

Alastor nodded in agreement and took off his glove. He brought out the threaded needle and began to sow the blade wound up carefully. Junior dabbled at the blood that pooled around his handiwork.

Joe sat patiently with his eyes closed. Every once in a while a whimper would escape his lips but he did not move.

"Almost done." Alastor told him quietly.

And finally, after what seems like forever, the cut was sealed

Alastor sat back and Junior whipped away the rest of the blood carefully. His hands were shaking slightly, but he quickly steadied them.

"Is it over?" Joe bit out.

"Well almost." Alastor said. "That depends on you. Your head wound is not terrible but it could use stitches. Do you want them or not?"

"Would it make a cool scar?" Joe asked with a slight smile.

"Honestly I would be more worried about it getting infected. But no not really." Alastor tilted his head as if he was really thinking about Joe a scar would look on the hero's face.

"Yeah you can't really pull it off like Blue." Junior added, happy to hear Joe acting normally.

"Ouch well there goes my life goals out the window." Joe scoffed. "Go ahead then."

Alastor grabbed the numbing cream and slathered some on the wound just above his eyebrow.

Without waiting for Junior to clear some of the blood away, Alastor quickly stitched up the headwound. It truly wasn't that bad and only needed three compared with the main wound which had needed seven. Once he was done, Alastor broke the piece of string once more and allowed Junior to dab at the blood.

Junior worked to clear all the blood off of Joe while Alastor went to get fresh bandages.

"That wasn't too bad now was it?" Joe said in a raspy voice.

"How bad did that hurt?" Junior whispered, finally saying what he had been thinking the entire time.

"Alastor did a good job. It just felt a little weird. Like tugging or something." Joe muttered. His voice was getting weaker. "Man I could go for some food right about now."

Junior shook his head. "I think you hit your head way too hard."

Alastor returned with the bandages. "Why what is he saying?"

"He said he wants food." Junior told him as he sat down next to the pair.

"Not going to happen for at least 24 hours." Alastor glared down at Joe.

"Come on Alastor, I'll starve." Joe was clearly nodding off now. His eyes were barely in focus.

"I'm sure you'll manage. Now let's get you wrapped up. Can you sit up?" Alastor asked.

Joe did not look too pleased to have to move. He stiffly got onto his elbows and forced himself into a sitting position. He leaned over, letting his hair droop in front of his eyes.

"How do the stitches feel?" Alastor asked as he started to wrap the bandages around his stomach.

"Weird. It doesn't hurt as much though." Joe muttered. He was starting to slump over.

"Joe stop falling asleep." Junior pushed him gently.

"Sorry bud...my head hurts and I'm really tired." He droned out.

"Let Alastor finish and then you can sleep." Junior told him.

Joe looked up at him with a small smile. "I'll try my best."

"How's that leg?" Alastor asked suddenly as he tied off the bandage.

"Nothing permanent, just sprained." Joe moved his boot for emphasis.

"Just try to stay off of it then. There is not much else we can do about it now." Alastor started to tie a bandage a bandage around his head but paused. "Any way we can convince you to take your hat off?"

"Not on your life." Joe stated.

"I'll just go around it then...hopefully it doesn't get loose and get infected." Alastor rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, this hat stays on at all times no matter what the cost!" Joe said. Junior had to laugh at that.

"Priorities Junior. You'll learn one day." Joe said waving a finger at him.

"Says the guy who would rather run halfway across the world to get a cheeseburger rather than save his girlfriend. I don't think it's me who has a problem." Junior crossed his arms with a smile.

"Oh yeah right." Joe's face became serious. "We still gotta go save her."

"You need to rest. We'll see how you're feeling tomorrow but for now we'll set up camp here." Alastor told him.

Joe seemed like he was going to argue, but a large yawn broke him from that. He merely laid back on his pile of blankets and closed his eyes. "Okay. Wake me up when it's time for breakfast."

Joe was clearly out by the time his head hit the ground. His ragged breaths began to slow and his body relaxed.

Junior sat back, letting the previous events soak in. He had seen Joe get hurt so many times before. Something like this was bound to happen one day. However, it felt so weird to have it actually happen.

"...Does thanks even cover it?" Junior muttered to the demon.

"Not really." Alastor smirked. "But you're welcome anyway."

"Like..." Junior closed his eyes, Alastor could see the child struggling.

"It's fine. Don't mention it...like ever actually." Alastor smiled to himself. "I'd never live it down if the other enemies knew I saved Joe's life."

Junior was speechless. Everything that had just happened seemed like the least likely events that would ever take place. "Why are you helping us?"

Alastor breathed in. "I dunno. I was bored I guess. I was thinking about finding you guys for another fight anyway." He looked down at Joe. "Can't rightfully do that when he's in that state now can I?"

"I guess not...how long does this truce last for anyway?" Junior asked.

"Let's say until Joe says so." Alastor said. "Does that work?"

"Yeah I guess so."

"Its getting late." Alastor pointed out. "As long as we're here we should see if we can find some food."

Junior stood. "Do you think it's safe here? There are bound to be more enemies out there."

Alastor turned his head towards the two large windows. The setting sun illuminated his form."We don't really have much of a choice. Joe won't be able to travel. This is as good of a place as any."

"So we set up for the night. Then what?" Junior asked.

Alastor sighed, starting towards the sink. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

The demon ran the water, cleaning off the blood that stained his clawed hands.

Junior grimaced, looking down at his own bloodied gloves. He waited for Alastor to be done and then washed up himself.

"Okay, Im going out to find food. The city seems abandoned so it may take a while. Can you keep watch until I get back?" Alastor asked, pulling on his gloves.

"Yeah." Junior said simply. He watched the blood drain off his hands down into the sink.

Without another word, Alastor flew silently out of the room.

Junior turned off the water and walked over to Joe.

He grabbed the hero's helmet I'm his hands. Red caked the rim of it along with some scratches.

Junior sat down next to Joe, clutching his helmet tight in his hands.

"This was bound to happen to one of us someday wasn't it?" Junior asked Joe silently. "I just can't believe it really happened."

He felt tears well up in his eyes, but he quickly brushed them away.

He had to be strong...for the both of them.

...

Everything hurt.

That was the only thing that went through his mind as he regained consciousness.

It hurt to breathe.

Every breath in was painful. His side felt like it was tugging against him, burning with each in and out motion.

His head was pounding faster than his heart. It was a dull ache that started in his forehead and flowed to the back of his neck.

His neck was so sore, he didn't dare to move it out of its position. He couldn't tell if his stomach hurt from nausea or from emptiness.

He focused on breathing, trying to push the pain away from his clouded mind. He tried to pull other thoughts into his head. Where was he, why was he hurt, was he in danger?

But all of those thoughts seemed meaningless compared to the pain.

"Are you awake?"

Joe winced at the sudden loud noise. It pierced through his skull and made him bite his lips.

"How many times are you going to ask him that question?" Another voice rang in his head.

"When he wakes up." The first voice answered.

"He probably won't be in a lucid state, I don't think you'll be able to get a clear answer out of him for a while."

"But he's been asleep all day." There was the sound of motion. Someone was near his face.

"Yes, and I'd imagine he's going to stay that way for a while."

He wanted to open his eyes. He wanted to figure out what was going on. It hurt to even think about moving.

He let out a small groan of frustration.

"Joe?" The first voice asked. "Are you awake now?"

Was he awake? He couldn't tell. His head felt muddy.

He slowly opens his eyes one at a time. It was relatively dark in the room but the small amount of light leaking into the room still made him squint.

"Hey he's waking up."

Joe's eyes wandered to the side. Junior was kneeling next to him, smiling down at the hero.

"Good morning, or I guess, good evening." Junior said to him.

Joe blinked, not really wanting to greet him back as that evolved effort.

Joe looked slowly around at his surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of abandoned building. By the number of medical supplies am that surrounded him, it was most likely a hospital.

He caught sight of Alastor, sitting in the corner in a wooden chair, sharpening his sword.

Alastor gazed up at him from his work, but was back to sharpening the sword in a few seconds.

Joe shook his head, trying to make sense of everything. If he was in a hospital, he must have gotten hurt. Which would definitely explain why he was in so much pain. That much was obvious.

But how had he gotten hurt?

Joe quickly made a mental list of everything that hurt and quickly deducted that involved everything.

His head? Oh most definitely. His neck? Yes. Everything else? A big fat yes.

His side was in a weird state of pain that he couldn't really describe even to himself.

He rotated both feet, wincing as he moved his right one. Probably a small sprain. Nothing to really worry about.

Why did this feeling feel so familiar.

The memory loss, the pounding of his head, the way the light and sound hurt him physically, his empty feeling stomach and awful taste in his mouth.

There was only one explanation for it.

"What the fuck did I drink last night?" Joe bit out finally.

Junior gave him a weird look. Alastor looked like he was trying to suppress laughter.

"No seriously." His voice was raspy.

He tried to move but his side ached in protest. Joe pushed his hands to his pounding head. "Man Silvia is going to kill me, she hates it when I get that drunk. I promised no more crazy frat parties."

He couldn't control his mouth. It seemed to work all on its own, spitting words out that he didn't comprehend.

"Joe calm down" Junior told him, though the child still seemed confused.

"You didn't get drunk you got stabbed." Alastor said from across the room.

"Vey helpful Alastor. I thought we planned to ease him into it." Junior sent a glare towards the demon.

"Oh isn't it frustrating when someone says something when you tell them not to." Alastor sent a smug look at Junior.

Junior just rolled his eyes.

"What does he mean I got stabbed?" Joe asked. He felt so confused.

"Do you remember anything that happened yesterday?"

"Well...I remember arriving at the town with you two and then we got separated by some fog." Joe rubbed his head. It hurt to think. "Everything past then is a blur."

Joe tried once again to sit up. He had to figure out what was going on. He ignored the weird tugging and pain from his side and pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Don't try to move too much. Alastor says you've got a concussion." Junior told him.

Joe rubbed his sore neck. That probably explained the dizziness and pain. "Why is he here?"

"We had a truce." Junior told him. "He said he wanted to help...you said you were okay with that."

Joe tried to sit up more, but the sharp pain in his side made him grimace and stop. Why did his side hurt so bad!?

Frustrated, he looked down towards his side.

The first thing he noticed was the blood. His blood. His outfit was dark red and ripped around his side where the blood had dripped and stained.

Several emotions welled up in him all at once. He tried hard to suppress them all.

But his lip still quivered as he fought back the panic rising inside him.

He was the hero dammit. The hero didn't get all bent out of shape by a simple...knife wound.

Captain Blue would laugh at him for even thinking about crying at the sight of tons of his blood staining his clothes.

Then again, he doubted Captain Blue was ever this hurt.

Ugh he felt sick.

"What happened?" Joe asked, swallowing dryly.

"We're not sure. We found you passed out with a knife sticking out of you." Junior looked back at Alastor. "Alastor seemed to know the guy though."

Alastor looked up from his work at the mention of his name. "Yeah. I've had a few fights with him before. The guy's name is Mist."

"Mist huh." Joe repeated trying to figure out if that name was familiar or not. Unfortunately he couldn't ever recall meeting a guy named Mist. "Well now I know who to thank for the hole in my side."

"Who stitched me up then?" Joe didn't see any doctors in this hospital. But he was still trying to get his vision to stop blurring in and out. It made him dizzy.

"That would be me." Alastor spoke up, looking happy with himself.

"Thanks." Joe muttered.

Suddenly, Junior stood up and came back with something grasped in his hands.

"We also found food. Mostly canned stuff from an abandoned grocery store and some vending machines. But its pretty good considering." Junior said, showing Joe an opened bag of chips. "You want anything?"

Just the thought of food made his stomach protest. Joe swallowed dryly, as the smell hit his nose. He bit his lip hard trying not to gag. "Not right now."

Joe must have said something wrong because both Junior and Alastor looked at him with horror filled expressions.

Joe blinked. "What?"

"Its official he's dying." Alastor said, throwing up his hands into the air. "I tried my best, but it seems he's beyond repair."

"Hey can I get the six machine when you die?" Junior said laughing.

"What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere! And no you can't!" Joe shoved Junior, letting out a laugh of his own. "I'm taking that plane down with me."

"I think that's the first time I've ever seen you deny food! You've even taken food from your enemies. Are you sure you're Joe?" Junior asked him.

"Yeah dude, I'm still me." Joe said, letting his tired head fall. "Just not hungry s'all."

"Nope, I don't believe it. He's a copy or something." Alastor said, poking Joe on the arm as if checking to see if he was a hologram.

"Cut it out." Joe tried not to growl out that statement. He didn't want to yell at his friends, but he was not in the mood for this.

Apparently the two picked up on his discomfort because they immediately stepped back.

Joe grabbed at his side which burned just to spite him. He gritted his teeth to avoid from groaning. But a very simple "Ow" escaped his lips.

"Here."

Joe looked up. In his hazy vision, he could make out Alastor's form. He was handing him something that looked like a water bottle.

Joe ripped the bottle from his hands without thinking. He chugged down the refreshing water as fast as his body would allow him to. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was until then.

He only stopped once the water was gone. He stared at the empty bottle in his hand, questioning its existence.

"Dang, I was going to suggest you take some painkillers with that water but I guess that works too." Alastor said, looking at him like he was crazy.

"Sorry." Joe gasped out. Jesh, what was wrong with him today? He couldn't think straight. Joe took the three small pills from out of Alastor's hands and swallowed them with no effort.

Joe stared up at the two. He blinked once and then said, "I think I'm going to pass out now."

"Okay?"

And with that, Joe felt himself fall back into the covers; his consciousness rapidly fading.

"I told you he wouldn't be lucid for a while."

Author's Note:

I won't be doing a chapter title for all of these. I'm doing a chapter title for the different scenes just like in the game