A/N: O my gosh, guys! I'm so sorry! I've been so busy this week, and I'm now just realising I haven't updated at all this week! I hope this chapter will suffice until I can update again - hopefully tomorrow or later tonight! Otherwise, Happy New Years!

The days in the hospital quickly turned into weeks, and those turned into a couple of months. Charles was amazed at how busy they had managed to keep him. Charles had stayed in well over five rooms, moving whenever the doctors found him farther along in the recovery process. Every night when Charles went to bed, his arms were beyond sore. He had spent most of his awake hours in physical therapy. They were working on strengthening the muscles in his own arms since they had recently become his new legs. Charles had to admit, it was definitely working. He could now lift himself out of his wheelchair onto his bed and accomplish other various tasks. He also was able to drive his wheelchair without tiring out.

Everyone had had his or her first visit seeing Charles. It was good for him to see everyone, no matter how much he wished they didn't have to see him how he was. But then again, they would have to get used to it since he wasn't changing anytime soon.

Even Hank had his first visit. Charles managed to project thoughts into the minds of anyone who Hank passed, making him appear un-blue. It was very reassuring to see the furry mutant again. He could tell that Hank had taken his place in his absence, and it was evident in the bags under his eyes. Charles had to mature at an early age, and he didn't want Hank to go through the same thing. He knew he needed to get home soon.

A couple of times Charles tried to convince Erik to go back home and help Hank, but Erik ignored him every time. Charles understood the horrors of Erik's previous life and didn't push the matter too much. If Charles had experienced the hospitals Erik had, he wouldn't want to leave anyone there alone either. Certainly not someone as close as a brother at that.

As Charles moved to various rooms, so did Erik. Charles persuaded all the nurses and doctors to let his 'brother' stay with him. With their last few rooms, Charles even managed to get Erik's couch upgraded to a sofa sleeper. Over the course of a few months, the hospital hadn't only become Charles's home, it had become Erik's too.

This made it surprisingly hard to leave when the day came. Charles had become accustomed to Sally the nurse bringing him and Erik breakfast each morning, Wednesday being his favorite – bacon and eggs with a side of toast. He rarely got bacon at home, always being afraid of burning himself with the hot grease. With his recent injury, Charles doubted that he would ever attempt it. Maybe I should convince Erik to make me some.

Not only would Charles miss the breakfast routine, but he had friends here. There was Ben, his trainer from physical therapy; Candi, the person who came and cleaned his room during the day; and so many other that he would miss.

Charles sat in his wheelchair and looked at his most recent room assignment. It was definitely the nicest of all of them. It felt the homiest. The hospital bed (which was low to the ground for people like himself) had a normal looking comforter on it. There was a TV directly across from the bed, which Charles took for granted. It helped him stay up to date on the current news. There was a table in a corner where he ate each meal every day, and a randomly placed couch squeezed against a wall. It was awkwardly placed since it had had to be added to the room arrangement for Erik's purpose. It was hard to maneuver around, but Charles accepted the challenge, figuring that not everything was going to be as simple as the hospital.

Charles turned his head when he heard the door open behind him. "You done saying goodbye Charles?" Erik said jokingly. He never understood why he got attached to things so often.

"Yes." He glanced around the room one more time, and rolled out the door.

"Hank has a car waiting outside. He said he tried to make it wheelchair ready in time, but he was too busy with other…things. We'll have to lift you in and have you sit like that for now."

And so it begins, Charles thought to himself. No more individual freedom. "Of course, if it's the only way…" Charles tried to give a weak smile, but couldn't.

xxxxx

Erik watched as Charles rolled his wheelchair down the hall ahead of him. Erik had to admit, he was quite impressed at what only a few months of physical therapy had done for Charles. Not that he ever had considered Charles weak; he just never stood out as the strongest of all people.

It still surprised Erik that Charles blamed him for none of what had happened. Even he, Erik, blamed himself for what had happened. He knew Charles looked happy and content with his situation from the outside, but Erik could only imagine what was bubbling over from the inside. Erik was only reassured when he saw his friend face when he told him he'd have to be lifted in the car.

"Of course, if it's the only way…" Charles had muttered out. Erik wanted to respond with something reassuring. He wanted to tell Charles that it'd only be a little while, and then everything would be back to normal. Erik wanted to admit it to himself, get rid of any sense of blame still controlling him.

It'd never change.

Charles would forever be confined to his wheelchair.

The two of them continued forward until they reached the main exit/entrance of the hospital. They walked about a block down the sidewalk until they saw a parked car, with a blue furry man in the driver's seat.

"Hello Hank," Charles greeted in his usual self – still to the amazement of Erik. "Well, who's going to help me in?" Charles said with a very forced smile.

"Stay in there Hank…I'll get Charles," Erik said as Hank had started to open the door, and Erik pushed it back close. Erik pulled open the back door, and gave Charles a look, saying something like are-you-ready-for-me-to-help-you and are-you-absolutely-okay-with-your-situation?

"So, will someone please get me into this car?" Charles said, trying not to sound as frustrated as he was. And with that Erik lifted Charles bridal style into the car. When Erik started to move the metal seat buckle, Charles gave him a glare that even worried Erik a little bit. "That I can manage myself."

Erik left Charles, put the wheel-chair in the trunk, and started to open the passenger seat when Hank stopped him. "Someone should sit back by Charles…just in case," Hank whispered, trying to keep out of Charles line of hearing. Erik took a glance back at Charles, and by the look of his face, he had heard everything that Hank had just said.

"I don't need any…" Charles tried to cut in.

"I'll sit by him." Erik mumbled, feeling suddenly a little scared to sit next to the 24 year old, who looked like he'd brake into a temper-tantrum any second. Erik refused to make eye contact with Charles for the rest of the car ride home.