Okay so here it is! Chapter 2!

Incase anyone was wondering, when I had started writting this I had originally given it the longer tital you see at the top of each chapter but wouldn't let me use the ful title so I had to shorten it.

Finally: I don't own Eva!

Read, enjoy and review.

The Girl in White Bandages: The True Confessions of Ayanami Rei

Ch. 2 Many Bruises Not A Brain

I spent the next several days in rehab recovering the strength I had lost. It was grueling and painful most days because Ritsuko wanted me to push my body to its limits so I would get better faster. I said nothing of her regimen because I wanted out of the hospital. By the end of the week I was released from the hospital and told to report to my classes on Monday. I was also informed that I should expect to see Ikari-kun there as he had been assigned to my class in my absence.

I found the thought of being in class with Ikari-kun to be calming. I hadn't seen him since he'd come to see me in my hospital room earlier that week. Part of me wondered what he'd been doing since then. Logic told me he'd been getting settled in his new home and starting school. Still there was a small voice in the back of my mind asking if he had thought of me.

Next Monday morning I left my apartment and arrived early to school as was my usual habit, both of my arms, upper chest and right eye still in bandages. I must have been a sight to see, after all no one walked around openly in bandages, but no one spoke to me. I reached my desk without incident. I set my bag under my desk and assumed my usual position of an absent minded stare out the window. Having nothing better to do my mind began to wander as I waited for class to start. I didn't really like to think like this. It brought up too many questions and I started to wonder about things. If I let my mind go too far it would tend to wander down into the dark depths of my soul. I didn't like it down there, it was cold and depressing. I often questioned if there was even a point to my existence and why I didn't just kill myself already. I got so sick of me and my life I often just wanted to disappear, forever. That's what was waiting for me down there. However I found it impossible not to think. I had to wonder about myself, my motives for piloting, and Ikari-kun.

The Commander, you have nothing so you try to fill yourself with him, hoping that will give you what you want. You're like and empty scarecrow trying to fill yourself with straw. But now his son asks you questions that make you question your loyalty to the Commander and your reason for joining Nerv. Admit it, secretly you hate the Commander. You know he's got you by the collar and you don't like it.

Never.

Then why did you agree to pilot Eva? Even though you know what it cost you to do it. All the pain and suffering that could have been avoided.

Because I have nothing else. If I don't pilot I will be nothing. I will be lost and disappear.

True and why will you be nothing if you don't pilot?

If I refuse the commander will have me eradicated.

Exactly which means you're bound to his will if you wish to live? So I was right.

Shut up and go away. You don't know what you're talking about.

I forced myself back to the present when I heard Class Representative Horaki-san call, "Rise. Bow. Sit Down."

I went swiftly through the motions and returned to my seat. I glanced at the podium as the Sensei began to speak but upon hearing it was more of the same I focused my gaze out the window. I tried to ignore the voices of my classmates around me, yet I found it impossible not to hear the voices of the girl ahead of me speaking to the boy beside her. "You'll never believe what I heard about the new kid." She said excitedly.

"What? What did you heard about that Ikari kid?" He asked.

"I heard he's an Eva pilot. Can you believe it? That wimp in one of those things?"

"No way!"

I tuned them out and focused on counting the passing clouds. This created a hypnotic effect that almost put me at ease. Something flashed on my computer and I looked over to see that I had received a new message. Behind me I heard commotion erupt. I adjusted my gaze to see most of my class had gathered around Ikari-kun asking him about being an Eva pilot. From the corner of my eye I caught him glancing at me; questioning why I had said nothing about being a pilot earlier. It was simple. I didn't think it was important or worth the trouble. I glanced briefly at my classmates noting their reactions. Most seemed curious and star struck, except one. Suzahara-san looked furious about something. He said nothing but based on passed observations I knew he would soon enough.

As I was waiting to buy my lunch from the school cafeteria later that day my cell phone went off. "Rei, another Angel has been sighted. Inform the Third Child and return to Nerv imminently." Instructed Subcommander Fuyutsuki's voice from the other end.

"Yes, sir."

I clicked off my phone off and quickly made for the front doors where I had seen Ikari go along with Suzahara-san and Aida-san. When I found them they had obviously been fighting and it looked like Suzahara-san had just knocked Ikari to the ground. I walked up to Ikari and looked down at him, so that I was sure he could hear me. "There's another Angel. You should finish up here. I'll report in first."

I turned and walked off as fast as I could in the direction of Nerv. "Rei, wait for me!" I heard him call.

I heard him start running until he had caught up to me. He smiled weakly at me as we fell into line then looked ahead. We walked the rest of the way back to Nerv like this without either of us saying a word. We pulled out our plug suits and dressed in dead silence. It was a clumsy and awkward task for me to accomplish with only one good arm and the other in a cast so Ikari-kun was finished well ahead of me. He hurried out when he was done and went to Unit One. I walked out more slowly and found a chair waiting for me on the bridge.

I didn't know why I had to be present with Unit Zero still frozen in bakalite down below. There was nothing I could do if anything happened to Ikari-kun. Maybe they thought that if Ikari-kun was defeated and was unable or unwilling to pilot I could sortie in Unit One. It was also possible that they thought that if things became desperate there was a slight chance I would be able to successfully reactivate Unit Zero and go out as back up. None the less I was required to be there and I took my seat with out complaint. I watched as Unit One was placed on the launching platform and disappeared upwards. On the screen I watched the entire battle silently. Saying nothing, even when Ikari-kun had gotten in danger and as it ended I rose to my feet. Unit One was being brought back into Nerv to the sound of Ikari-kun sobbing. It wasn't until I was walking that I realized I had been clutching my hand to my heart the entire time. Why? I wondered.

As I was leaving the changing room I saw a group of Nerv guards escorting a red-eyed Ikari-kun down the hall. He glanced at me and started to say something but the guards nudged him sharply on. I was unable to figure out what he was trying to tell me. I shrugged and turned to leave.

Later that afternoon I sat in a chair in the center of Doctor Akagi's office. It brought me no pleasure coming here, it was too sterile, to clean but if I was to remain alive I had to. "How do you feel today, Rei? Does your arm hurt?"

"No." I replied flatly.

It was the truth. The painkillers were effectively removing any pain I would have felt. I was now on a lower does of it and I felt sure she would lower it again. "Do you think you'll be ready to pilot Eva again?"

"Yes."

She nodded towards the next room. "You know the drill. Strip and go lay down."

I nodded curtly and removed my school uniform carefully with my good hand. I went into the next room and lay down on the cold plastic table. The scanner's lights came on and they began to move, making their way up and down my body. I stared straight ahead silently and waited for the test to stop. Eventually it did end and I rose to my feet. I returned back into her office to dress. Once I was redressed I sat back down in the chair and waited for her to return. She said nothing when she walked back in but tossed the results in my lap. I picked then up and scanned over the pieces of paper. They stated that my injuries where healing at an appropriate rate but I still had a ways to go before I would be back to normal. "I keep my original prognosis. You'll be fit to pilot again in thirty days. You may go home now Rei."

"Yes, Doctor."

At the end of the week when I went for another check up with Doctor Akagi; I learned that Ikari-kun had run away I wasn't surprised he had. Considering the mood he had been in when I had last seen him. I could tell many of the Nerv personal were worried about the next attack. I was still in no shape to fight a third one. Sure I could walk around fine now but I was still in no shape to pilot Eva again just yet. Nerv was going to be in trouble if an Angel showed up anytime soon and they knew it. This however didn't concern me. I had seen both copies of Seele's and the Commanders plan based on the Dead Sea scrolls. Neither of them predicted an attack until after Ikari returned to Nerv to Pilot Unit One. So the chances of something happening otherwise were slim to none.

As predicted no angel appeared and Ikari-kun had returned as the third child. I sensed unhappiness from him the next time I saw him. I got the impression he didn't like being and Eva pilot at all. I think he did it for the praise of others, especially The Commander.

We didn't see much of each other. He was often busy with training tests with Unit One and I was constantly in rehab. The only time we ever saw each other was at school and even there we didn't speak.

The rest of my month long recovery passed with out incident. My cast actually came off four days earlier than expected. This pleased both the Commander and Dr. Akagi greatly. Doctor Akagi gave me new orders for my recovery, which included instructions, to swim at the Nerv pool facility so I could regain my strength and stamina. I reported there later that day. The head of pool care was a short young woman called, Cassie. I had read her file prior to going down there. She was a transfer student from America who was going to Tokyo III University and spoke rough Japanese with a heavy accent. When I first saw her she was carrying a drawing notebook and several manga volumes in her bag but Doctor Akagi had told me she was a prospective candidate to be hired by Nerv for care of the Eva's and me. However she was still a collage student for now and had to make some money, thus the reason she worked at the pool. She smiled and handed me a towel and swimsuit then directed me to the changing rooms. "If you need anything let me know. Okay?" She said kindly.

I nodded quickly and walked off. I changed and headed for the pool. I open the door to be greeted by the strong smell of chlorine. I ignored it and entered. The pool was empty and its surface shone in the afternoon sunlight that filtered though the windows. I laid my towel on a chair and got in. The water was cold and sent shivers up my spine. I took a deep breath and started swimming. Back and forth across the pool I swam over and over. I kept going until my body got too tired to swim anymore and I got out.

I went to school the next day in the full knowledge that this was my last day of freedom. Late today Unit Zero would be freed and moved to the Eva holding bay. Then I would be preparing for the reactivation experiment tomorrow. Still I wasn't bothered by the thought of getting into and Eva again. I trusted the Commander's work. It would not fail this time.

We had gym that day. I believed the gym teacher liked me to be healthy because I always scored well on every event. Today's even was pole vaulting. Not something I particularly liked but I didn't dislike it either.

Hikari watched breathlessly as Rei cleared the bar in on fluid motion and landed on the cushion on the other side. In Hikari's mind, Rei was undoubtedly the most athletic girl she knew but it seemed she was injured and unable to participate most of the time. Even two years ago when she joined the class Rei had been trying to hide her recently fractured wrist from everyone. However if Rei's body was well she easily put most to all the girls in the class to shame. She could probably be a professional athlete if the Eva didn't keep injuring her. Ironically it was her training to pilot the Eva and come back from all her injuries that gave her her athletic ability.
Okay, okay I know that was long tedious and boring but I promise the next chapter will be alot better. I'm just getting things going right now. As for this being Shinji/Rei fict you'll have to wait and see . . .