Do You Really Love Me?

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh GX. I also do not own Caitlin and Lisa, but I am using them with permission.

A/N: Hey, everyone! I'm sorry the update took so long. Life decided to through me quite a few curve balls, but it's all good. This summer has been a trying one, but the Lord is good. - Once I get back to school, I'll probably update more often, but I won't be back at school until the end of this month. So yeah, if you don't hear from me for a while then that's why. I just wanted to give everybody a heads up.

Chapter 7 – A Patient, a Phone Call, & Some Advice

While Principal Shepherd and the rest of the faculty were having their emergency meeting, Jaden, Syrus, Chumley, and Caitlin hurried to the clinic to see how Mindy was faring. When they reached the room she was staying in they found Bastian, Lisa, Jasmine, Zane, and even Alexis gathered around Mindy's bed where she lay sleeping. Alexis got up from her seat across the room and hurried into Jaden's embrace. Silently she let her tears roll gently down her cheeks. Jaden looked up at the others who had been in the room longer than he had as he inquired, "Any ideas as to who attacked her?"

Bastian replied with a downcast gaze, "No one knows who attacked her. When Lisa and I found her on the trail this morning, we couldn't find any sign of a struggle. There are no visible injuries on her body."

Lisa added, "The only clue that we found was as to whom the attacker was is the fact that Mindy was wearing her duel disk and her cards were scattered everywhere on the ground."

Jaden said bluntly, "Whoever attacked her was the person she was dueling."

Lisa nodded, "Exactly."

Syrus asked, "Did the nurse say if she's going to be okay?"

Zane looked over at his little brother as he responded solemnly, "She examined her several times and found nothing wrong with her, but Mindy won't wake up."

Alexis loosened her hold on Jaden as she wiped her tears away, "I must have woke Mindy up last night when I went to see you, Jaden. She must have followed me to make sure I was alright."

Jaden gently lifted her chin so that her eyes would be level with his, "Lex, it's not your fault."

The school nurse silently approached as she came in with a clipboard in hand. She checked Mindy's pulse as she shook her head. She looked up from her patient to the students crowded in the room as stated, "There's nothing else that I can do."

Syrus inquired, "Will she be alright?"

The petite lady shrugged, "I don't know. All I know is that she is in a coma and that comas can last for days, months, or even years. I've already sent word to her parents of her condition as well as their family physician, and he has told me that if Mindy shows no signs of improvement in week then to send word to him and he'll send a plane to take her to a hospital in Tokyo."

Later on that day after the faculty meeting Rachel found herself once again in her room. After she had cleaned up the mess of fabric and stuffing that used to be her bunny slippers, the young woman sat down on her bed by the phone. He said to call him if something went wrong, and Jaden wanted me to ask him about that card Alexis saw in her dream. Is this what he sensed would happen? The red-head knew that there was only one way to find out.

She picked up the phone and dialed Professor Banner's cell phone number. After a few moments the phone started ringing. Rachel started twirling a strand of hair nervously after the phone on Banner's end rang a few times. When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and let out an exasperated sigh. My gosh, I'm acting like I'm a junior high school student!

"Hello?"

"Professor, I've got some bad news…"

"What's wrong, Rachel?" Banner asked concern evident in his voice.

Back at the clinic, the nurse finally shooed her patient's anxious visitors out and encouraged them to go get something to eat. Reluctantly all nine students decided to heed "doctor's orders," or in this case "nurse's orders" and go grab a late lunch at the Card Shack. Once everyone had their food they found a shaded spot outside for all them to sit and eat, they did so in silence.

Caitlin looked around and silently wished that there was something she could do to cheer everyone up. She didn't really know Mindy that well; as a matter of fact she had never actually talked to Mindy or vice versa. For several minutes Caitlin sat lost in thought before she glanced at Syrus. Concern and sadness were in his eyes, his gaze downcast. One look at his sandwich told her that he had barely touched it. Syrus does know Mindy well though, or at least better than I do.

When she had first arrived at Duel Academy, Caitlin had had her classic case of the nerves which had helped her feel like an outsider. Then Jaden, Chumley, Syrus, and Bastian had come along and took her and Lisa under their wing and they all had become fast friends. After that she had felt like she was truly a part of the group. I just wish that there was something I could do to help Mindy.

Syrus looked up from the sandwich he had barely touched to see a forlorn expression on Caitlin's face. He wanted to ask what was troubling her, but then again all of his friends were troubled. She's probably worried that someone else might get attacked like her or Lisa. I wish I could tell her that everything was going to be alright, that I'd protect her…, but she'd probably think I was being silly… What should I do? What can I do?

He glanced at a lone figure that stood quietly with his back against a nearby tree. It was Syrus's older brother, Zane Truesdale. He was just finishing his sandwich and by the direction he was walking in, Syrus figured he was heading for the docks. Wait a minute! I can ask Zane!

Syrus quickly said to Caitlin, "I'll be back. I need to talk with Zane. Okay?"

She looked up and nodded, "Okay."

With that Syrus ran off in hot pursuit after his big brother. It didn't take long for him to find him. Just as Syrus had thought, Zane was heading toward the docks.

Zane stood on the dock staring out at the horizon. The tall young man usually came here when he needed to think. The sound of the ocean's waves lapping at the support beams of the dock and the feel of the salty sea breeze were very soothing. He closed his eyes for a moment to savor the feel of the gentle wind and the sound of the ocean's waves.

After a few minutes a soft, troubled voice broke his concentration, "Zane, can we talk?"

The tall youth turned to see Syrus looking up at him with a pair of troubled eyes. "What do we need to talk about?"

"Well," Syrus shifted uncomfortably as he paused momentarily before he continued, "it's about a …girl. I need advice about girls."

Zane was a bit taken aback. Once he thought about it, this was probably the first time Syrus had asked him for advice on something other than Duel Monsters. And it has to be about girls!

"What do you need to know about girls? I don't know much about girls myself, Syrus, but I'll try to answer your questions the best I can."

For a second Syrus struggled mentally on where to begin. He finally started out by telling him about Caitlin and how they had quickly become such good friends as well as how he felt about her, and his fears about she may or may not return his feelings.

For a few minutes after Syrus had finished, Zane smiled a small smile, "For starters, Syrus, rest assured that you're not the first guy to ever feel this way about a girl, so relax. Have you talked to her about your feelings for her at all?"

The small boy shook his head. "Well, why not talk to her about it? You never know, Sy. She just might feel the same way."

"But what if she doesn't?"

Zane sighed, "If she doesn't, then the two of you can always still be friends, can't you?"

Syrus thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Wow, Zane, I thought that you were going to tell me to go ask Bastian or Jaden for advice at first. It seems to me that you know a lot about girls."

"I only know so much about girls because of my friendship with Alexis. I have no girlfriend because my only passion right now is dueling."

Zane paused for a moment, "As for sending you Jaden or Bastian, I would only tell you ask them if I didn't know how to best answer your question."

Syrus smiled, "Thanks, bro! You're the best."

Zane didn't know what to say so he smiled in response.

Back at the Card Shack….

Bastian, Lisa, Caitlin, Jasmine, Chumley, Jaden, and Alexis tried to talk about more pleasant things other than Mindy's attacker, but they couldn't find many positive things to talk about. Jasmine rose from her seat and decided to head back to the Obelisk Blue dorm. Before she could leave, Alexis pointed out that it wasn't a good idea to go anywhere by herself while Mindy's mysterious attacker was on the loose. Jasmine thought about her words for a minute, "You're probably right, 'Lex."

Jaden thought for minute, "Well, why I don't I escort you and Jasmine back to your dorm, Alexis? Besides you need some rest since you didn't get much sleep last night."

Alexis sighed grumpily at this reminder, "Alright… Wait up then, Jasmine. We're coming with you."

After the three had left, Bastian turned to his remaining friends, "If you three are ready, then we can walk back to our dorms together."

Chumley nodded, "That's sounds like a good plan!"

Caitlin frowned, "What about Syrus and Zane? They went off somewhere to talk, but I don't know where."

Chumley thought for a moment, "Well, why don't I go look for Syrus and Zane?"

Bastian shook his head, "Not by yourself, my friend. Why don't we escort the ladies back to the Slifer Dorm, and then you and I will go look for Syrus?"

"That won't be necessary, Bastian," said a rough voice. The foursome turned and saw both of the Truesdale brothers approaching them.

Zane smiled a small smile, "Seems like your friends were about to form a search party, Syrus. I guess you were gone to long."

Syrus grinned sheepishly, "Yeah, I guess so. I'm sorry I worried you guys."

Bastian teased the shortest Truesdale brother, "It's alright. Now that we know you're safe, we can all head back to our dormitories with a peace of mind."

Zane turned to go as he inquired, "Is that where Jasmine and Alexis have gone?"

"Yeah, Jaden is escorting them back to the girls' dorm as we speak."

"I guess I'll head back to my dorm as well then. I'll see you all tomorrow."

With that Zane headed off towards the Obelisk Blue boys dorm. Syrus joined his friends as they all started heading back to their dorms. Caitlin walked beside Syrus as the two of them stayed a few steps behind the others. She really wanted to know what Syrus had talked about with Zane. Whatever they talked about, it seems like they had had a good conversation if the looks on their faces were anything to go by at this point. Silently Caitlin wondered if she should ask Syrus what they had talked about. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and noticed that his smile from when he had returned with Zane had been replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Syrus, is everything alright?"

He turned to face Caitlin as her voice snapped him out his thoughts, "Yeah, I'm just thinking about something that Zane told me."

"What did you two talk about? You were gone for a long time."

Syrus tensed up a little, "Well it's….something I've been meaning to…. That is I… Caitlin, will you ….meet me tomorrow down by the beach at noon?"

She blushed as she nodded in response, "Of course."

"Great!" Syrus smiled as he too blushed. He had never had much luck with girls mostly because he had lacked the courage to talk to them in the past. When he had talked to them in the past he had been unfortunate to be blown off and receive remarks about his height or he had been called things like "dork," "geek", and similar names. Caitlin however had already proved to be different due to the fact that she had pursued a friendship with him and seemed to like Syrus for who he was. I just hope that she doesn't freak out when I tell her how I feel.

A/N: Thank you, Raymanly73! As always you are awesome! Hopefully it won't be long before I update again. Thank you all for reading and thank you to those who reviewed and gave me a nudge keep on going. Until next time, peace out and God bless!