A/N: I'm baaaaaaaack! Have I kept you waiting, wanting, wishing, wondering, dreaming, pleading, and or screaming? Well I hope so 'cause thats what I'm here for.

Once again, me no own, you no sue.

Tourniquet: Chapter 2- Hello

Toby groaned as he began waking up. He didn't want to open his eyes yet for fear of lay before him. He wasn't quite sure were he was or ever falling asleep. Actually, he really couldn't remember anything.

Am I dead? he thought to himself. No, no. That can't be right. I don't think you can feel pain if your dead, and I'm sure in a lot of that. My arm feels likes its been through a meat grinder. My throat hurts pretty bad, too, and I have a pounding headache.

He groaned again as memories started to flood his mind. He tried to get them out, but they just kept coming back. It seemed more like a nightmare than reality. He wished it was just a nightmare and he'd wake up and it would all fade away.

He was soon brought back to reality, though, by the sound of his name being called. He opened his eyes to reveal a small, light grayish room. He still had no idea were he was. He turned his head to find Mrs. Lovett knelt down beside the bed he was laying on. She looked like she'd been crying. He eyes were red and puffy and her face was tear stained. She looked like she hadn't slept in a few days either.

"M-mum?",Toby said. His voice was hoarse and barely above a whisper. Mrs. Lovett sighed and a smile soon light up her face.

"Thank God you're alive." she muttered as tears of joy rolled down her face. Toby gave her a weak smile, assuring her that he was okay for the most part, not wanting to worry her too much. She placed her hand on his. "I thought you were gone forever." she sniffed, and smiled at her adoptive son.

"Were am I?", Toby questioned.

"The hospital deary.", Mrs. Lovett replied. "You've been here for about three days now."

He looked at her in astonishment that he'd been out that long; and that he that he was even still alive.

"I'm just so happy that you're alive.", Mrs. Lovett said. Toby smiled at her again, but that soon faded away.

"You were helping Mr. Todd try to kill me.", he said coldly.

"What was that dear?", Mrs. Lovett said, surprised.

"You were helping Mr. Todd kill me. You locked me in the bake house on purpose and then helped Mr. Todd search. You lied. You told me that nothing was gonna harm me.",Toby said.

Mrs. Lovett took a deep breath and braced herself for what she was going to say. "Toby, you know I love you very much, but, just, well, when you found out what was going on, I panicked. I didn't know what to do, so I locked you in the bake house and when I told Mr. Todd of course he came up with the solution to all his problems. I never wanted to do those things to you, I swear. I wasn't in my right mind then. Oh, Toby, I'm so sorry!", she sobbed. Toby just gave her a dark glare.

Mrs. Lovett took another deep breath and continued again. "If it weren't for me you wouldn't be here now. I pulled Mr. Todd away just in time, then he turned on me. The only reason he didn't kill me is because he remembered that the judge was coming.", She sighed and shook her head wondering why she was telling him this. "Please, please forgive me."

Toby just stared at her for a while. Part of him wanted to stay angry at her for what she did, but a larger part wanted to forgive her. She was the only person that had really cared about him. She had some follies, but all in all she was a good person.

"I'll forgive you.", he said. "I'm still a bit angry for what you did but, I'll forgive you. You're the only person that has ever cared about me and I'm thankful for that. Thanks for saving me."

Mrs. Lovett smiled "Of course dear. I just couldn't let you die there. I can't imagine life without you. You're like a son to me. You're all I have left. I love you Toby.", she said and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"I love you too, mum", he said "But why did Mr. Todd kill all those people?"

Mrs. Lovett sighed. "It's a long story dear, maybe another day. Anyway, you better be getting some rest, all right."

She knew that he would learn the truth sooner or later, but this was not a subject that she felt like talking about at that time.

"But, mum." he pleaded.

"Now Toby,", she said "You heard me the first time, now you best be getting some sleep. You have a long recovery ahead of you darling."

Toby reluctantly laid back down. He knew that she was trying to hide something from him, but he was too tired to keep up an argument.

"That's my boy. Sweet dreams dear.", Mrs. Lovett said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Toby started to close his eyes.

"I love you, mum.", he said, and drifted off to sleep.