I do not own Soul eater. Hey everyone it's been awhile. Finally able to take a break from school! It's so nice. You know read and review! Can't wait to here what you people think!

Chapter 20

Miley's return

Could have it be poison?

What they found terrified them. Miley was hanging from her wrist over a large vat. She was hanging loosely. It wasn't the worst of it. He could see injures from here. Stein's heart skipped a beat. He quickly checked for her soul. It was still there, the same as always. He took a deep breath.

"Miley," Marie grasped. "Oh, god is she?" Marie had seemed to have missed understood his sigh. He smile knowing that Marie care for Miley just as much as he did.

"Don't worry," He calmed his partner. "Her soul is stable. Her body will be a different story."

"Miles!" Mason yelled about to hurry forward. Stein had grabbed the boy's shoulder. He brought the weapon against his better judgment. He knew there would not be any real way to stop him from coming. He knew Miley was Mason's world, the boy had proved it many times in the past.

"Mason, stay down." He said gently. "Don't give away that you are her partner." He was not sure who was in the area. Many of the witches knew Miley by sight, but Mason was a mystery and he wanted to keep like that as must as possible. Mason attention was pulled away from him. The boy suddenly looked rather upset. Stein followed his gaze and understood why. All he could see was shadow, but the shadow was holding a sharp blade. He didn't think he could handle Miley being murdered in from of them.

Mason broke free of his grip and started toward the shadow. "Stay away from her!" The boy yelled. He hurried up the ramp that connected the walk way that the shadow was standing on. All Stein could do was follow the young weapon. This was why he didn't want to take the boy with them. He knew Miley would come first, but his actions may make the witches think the only option was to kill Miley. They reached the walk way watched at the shadow made slashing motion and then Miley fall into the large vat below. Stein discovered was full, with what he was not sure.

The next thing he heard was a second splash as Mason dived in after his partner. Stein started in horror. He was not even sure what the liquid was and now two of his students were fully submerged in it. He knew Mason would have dived in even if was acid. He really would do anything for his partner. He sighed and watch them brake the surface. Mason moved over the the edge with difficultly. He lifted Miley would of the liquid. "Take her, there stuff is rather thick." He panted. Trying to keep his head above the mysterious fluid.

Stein wanted to get a sample of it but he noticed, thought Mason was not under the surface he was getting farther away from edge of the walk way. The vat was emptying. Stein quickly handed Miley off to Sid and grabbed a hold of Mason by the front of his shirt. "What the.." Was all the boy could say before Stein place him safely on the wood. He could not get a sample but was able to keep Mason close. He did like the idea better. Once the boy was not longer in his teacher;s grip he headed over to his partner. Sid had laid small girl little away from the edge.

"Miley?" He asked.

"I'll handle her. Then I'm handling you." He scolded the weapon. Mason nodded in understanding he had shattered the promise he had made to him. He moved away from Miley so Stein could look Miley over.

Miley has a pulse. It was faint but it was there. Sid had laid Miley on her side, to make sure that there was nothing left in her mouth. Stein turned her on to her back to check her breathing. It was there, thankfully. It was faint like her pulse. "Miley," he said. No response. "Miley, can you me?" He went to check her breath it was gone. He took a deep breath, he tilted her head back. Miley's body took a great shuttering breath. The strangest thing she began to sit up. He held her shoulder, trying to keep her down.

"Dad?" She sounded normal. He was surprised Miley didn't seem aware of her injures. "Why are you here?" She also seemed unaware that she had been once again inches from dying, he was glad Miley was still Miley.

"Saving you, would a very good reason." He said simply. Not wanting the young meister to know that he had been upset. Miley didn't answer him. She went to stand up. He held her down. "You shouldn't stand. Your legs won't hold you." She looked right at them. Her eyes showing that he might as well be telling Black*Star not to yell.

"I have to try." She said simply. She held tightly to his arm. He watched her legs shake, her appendages where aware of the injures that her brain wasn't. She fell back to the wood walk away. "Okay, why do my legs not want to work." Stein shook his head.

"Why do you always have to push yourself?" He scolded going to lift her up. She shook her head.

"I'm just to much like my father I guess." She teased. "Give me a few minutes and I should be fine." She hated it when he babied her. She sighed.

"Not now Miley. You don't have to prove anything." He told her. She was trying to stand up again. "You know with those injures you're not going anywhere. You're going to be in bed for at least a week."

"Great which means you will hold me for two just encase." She muttered darkly.

"And people say I'm hard to understand." He chuckled. "Mason think you can carry her?"

"I do it any other day," The weapon said. "I should be able to do it today."

"Really, I walk." She said, she felt fine what was the big deal?

"Miley you totally missed that Stein said you legs are injured didn't you?" Mason said simply. She looked at him confused. "That's what I thought. You are hopeless sometimes you know that." He lifted Miley up.

"What are you doing put me down, Mason." She pouted. She looked down at her legs. She finally noticed the welts and bruises. She was rather shocked. "What happened to me?" She asked looking toward Stein.

"I was hoping that you could tell us." He said, inspecting her legs it would take a few days for them to heal, but she would be fine. "I guessing they knew who you where right away?" He questioned. She nodded at him.

"Seriously Mason, I can walk. Put me down please." She said. "This is getting really annoying. I'll be fine."

"Miley sallow your pride for once." Stein said knowing that fighting with her was pointless.

"But..." Miley was cut off by Marie who seemed fully ready for a fight.

"Miley, listen to your father. No more argument young lady," She scolded. "Your father is just making sure you are going to alright, you don't give him any trouble." Stein watch Miley flinched in Mason's arms. He smiled at least Marie took her mother position very seriously. He knew Marie wasn't afraid to let Miley have it when she was injured. He as a doctor, could not.

She seemed to be looking between him and Marie. "You heard your mother." He said with a evil smile spread across his face. "Going to argue anymore?" Miley looked defeated and sighed. "That's what I thought."

Several days later, Stein wished Miley wasn't such a go getter. Miley was like him and he hated. She hated being held in bed. "I'm so bored!" She whined. He hated that. Miley rarely whined but when she did it really annoyed him. He felt that vain that only Miley seem to aggravate.

"Miley you have been whining for the last twenty minutes. Keep it up and I'm going to give you a sedative." He warned.

"Can't I at least sit up?" She asked. He sighed. He really needed to get this report done.

"No, tomorrow. I want you to take it easy. If you over do it you'll be in here longer."

"Sitting up isn't going to kill me, this is why I hate being here." Miley muttered darkly. She wasn't a baby. It wasn't like she had broken a limb or anything. Stein was always like this. Did he do this with other students to or was it just with her.

"Miley, I'm warning you. I'm serious." He warned.

"I'm sorry, but I want something to do." She sighed again. Stein heard Miley getting up. He took a deep breath. He didn't look up from his paper work.

"If you are sitting up when I'm done, I will be calling your mother and I will let her deal with you." He warned. He heard Miley fall back on to her pillows.

"Why mom?" She inquired.

"It's very simple. I am held by an oath as a doctor not to cause you harm while you are in my care, while your mother is held by no such thing." He said simply.

"True but isn't mom a bit of a push over?" She asked. Stein rolled over to check her vitals.

"Don't believe that for a second. I just don't want to be the bad guy every time. Arm please." Miley held out her arm with out argument. No point she thought, she knew would just lose the fight.

"You just seem the type." She said, while Stein checked her blood pressure.

"Trust me I'm the lenient one of the two of us." He said while holding out the thermometer for Miley to take. "You should try and get some sleep. Once the bell rings you're not going to get any peace. Everyone was really worried about you." He told her.

"He...y D..ad." She muttered thought the thermometer. He held out his hand to silence her. He wondered what she wanted to talk about. She had that serious look in her eye. After her temperature turned out normal. Miley continued to what she said. "When should I start calling you Professor?" Stein would admit he was caught off guard. He hadn't really thought of it either.

"Let's wait till you are at least back on your feet. Then we'll talk about it alright." He said simply. Miley once again had proven that she didn't think herself worth anyone's time. This wasn't about her messing up, she didn't think he want her to call him all of the time.

"I mean with the mission over, I'll need to get used to it again." She muttered while Stein checked her breathing. Everything seemed normal. He decided just to nip it in the bud, before Miley got out of control.

"You know, you can still call me dad outside of class." He said. "You know that right?"

"I can," She asked happily. Stein wanted to smack her in the back of the head. Why did she think she didn't matter? Why did she think that after the mission their "family"would just end? Could it just end? He didn't think that would work for any of them.

"Why would that change?" He asked. "I didn't already say I wasn't going to stop being your father, trust me you're not going to get your mother that easily. Even if you wanted to that's not happening."

The bell rang over their heads breaking the quiet moment that had fallen between them. Stein watched Mason entered the room. He decided that he would leave them be awhile. They deserved some time alone. He nodded to Mason on his way out. He noticed that Mason had a small bag. "I brought you photo for you," That was the last thing Stein heard before closing the door.

"Thanks Mason, your the best." Miley said as he sat down on the bed.

"Don't need to tell me twice Miles." He teased while giving her a wide smile. "Stein took off in a hurry." He noted.

"Probability needs a cigarette, he hasn't left me alone since we got back." She laughed.

Stein lit up as soon as the door was closed. He would never smoke inside the Dispensary . He was going talk to Marie. He just hoped Miley would stay lying down. He almost laughed. He took a long drag then headed down the hallway to find his partner.

Miley waited a good five minutes before sitting up. She knew she would be pushing her luck and if Stein found her sitting up she was dead. Right now she didn't care. She understood why he should keep her there for a few days. But he told her a week, a whole week, he was crazy! It was over kill. She really needed to move around little. She wanted to hug Mason.

"Shouldn't you stay lying down? Miley I wouldn't want you to get in trouble over me." Mason said.

"Oh please I can fall back quickly. If I need to." She threw her arms around him. "I missed you so much." He returned the hug happily.

"I missed you too." He muttered into her ear.

They where so close. She could smell him. She kept staring into his eyes. She loved those deep blue eyes. He brushed her hair out of her face. "I..." She couldn't say it. She wanted to say it. She knew that she loved him but she just couldn't say it. He leaned toward her then where a fraction on an inch apart so close. The door crashed open.

"Miley! I'm here to make you better! The one only Black*Star is here to save the day!"

"Black*Star, can you ever a room quietly." Tsubaki scolded. "How are you feeling better Miley?"

"I'm fine, they just want to hold me for a couple of days." She said. "Just encase."

"That's cool, better to safe then sorry." Soul entered with Maka just behind. Stein had been right, she wasn't to get much peace after school. She was glad she got to see them all again. She was happy that she made it back. She hadn't realized that she was worried that she wasn't gong to make it back.

"Man, I'm just glad to have you home. I thought Kid was going to blow a gasket. The only person who freaking out more then him was Stein."

"Stein was freaking out?" Miley asked confused. She never thought anything would break the calm composure. She couldn't picture him upset. No matter how hard she tried.

"Yeah, smoking like a chimney." Liz laughed. "I've never seen him smoke so much. Even for him."

"Oh," She hadn't any idea. He hadn't said he word. She wasn't sure what to think.

"We wanted to go get you but Stein said no. He only allowed Mason to go." Maka said. "Did you bring the stuff right Liz?"

"Of course I did. We get to spoil her with out Stein getting in the way. We have permission from Lord Death. We are going have you looking human before the sun rises tomorrow." Liz began brushing her hair. "Where is Kid?" Liz asked. "I thought he would be here."

"How is she?" Marie asked while cleaning off her desk.

"Bored out of her mind but she'll be alight. I just want to hold her a few days to keep so she doesn't push herself."

"Did you ever find out what it was?" Marie asked. Stein shook his head while leaning against his partner's cluttered desk.

"No I couldn't get sample. I decided Mason was a little more important. Which is why I'm keeping an eye on her.

"Do you think it was poison?" She gasped. Looking at him with shock.

"I don't have any evidence to prove or disprove." He said. She reached over and took his hand.

"I guess, that you won't be home tonight?" She said. He gave her a small smile.

"No, I'll just be home late. I just make sure she's sleeping, she should be fine. There doesn't seem to be any damage." Marie stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm glad she's safe and that your home." She said her lips clothes to his ear. "Do you think the other girls are in danger?"

"No the witches know not to mess with them. They know that we would come them after all this." Something was bothering him, it was the set up. They wanted to sacrifice her, but they didn't have time. They didn't usually, this was bothering him, and he became very worried about the other missing children. He needed to do some research. Marie was going to have his head.

"I'm going to visit with her quickly." She said while packing all of her paper work away. He smiled at her.

"You may want to wait she's most likely have a party in there right now." He pointed out holding the door for her.

"It won't be long, I'll just poke my head in quickly." She ran her finger down her partners chest.

"She may not call you mom." He said quietly. He was trying to save them both the frustration of a meeting around people. "She doesn't get it yet." He sighed. Why did Miley have to be so stubborn? Marie gave him a smile, one he liked on her a great deal. It was devious one. It fit her.

"Don't worry she will." Was all Marie said before walking away from him. He chuckled Miley wouldn't see this coming.

Miley heard the door open. She was in trouble if it was Stein. Liz was sitting behind her brushing her hair. She couldn't fall back onto the pillows. She looked to discover Marie, was she in for it? Judging by Marie's face, who just seemed to happy. Miley had learned that nothing was ever as it seemed with her parents... could she call them that any more? Marie entered fully into the room taking in everyone

"Your father was right, you do have bit of a party going on in here." She teased. She sat on the bed and grabbed Miley's chin looking her over. "How are you feeling sweetheart?" Miley loved it when Marie called her that. Marie was the only one to ever call her that. Marie had referred to Stein as her father so it was still okay to call them that? Stein had said it was fine, but she still wasn't sure. Should she only call them that when no one was around? She wasn't really sure.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said fiddling with the blankets and looking away. Marie pulled her eyes to meet her own.

"Okay, honey." Marie said while landing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'll come check on you tomorrow. Also your father will be back in a few minutes. I love you sweetheart I'll see you later. Try not to give him to much trouble tonight." She gave Miley kiss on the top of her head this time and waved good-bye to the others. She left leaving the group of teenagers to stare at the door.

"I'm not sure if I would want Miss Marie as a mom." Liz said pulling the brush though Miley's chestnut locks. "I mean, sure she'd be a great mom, but she can be scarier the Stein when she wants to be. Remember when we went after Brew, she has us in detention for a month and all Stein did was tell us off."

"That's the magic tool known as the tempest right?" Miley asked. She knew that the Magic tools had to do with the hectic year before her arrival. She had read the name somewhere but she wasn't sure where.

"I wonder what you didn't get into to when I left you alone." Stein said from the door. Miley gulped he was leaning against the door frame. He didn't look angry but then again it was Stein you really could tell. "I do believe I told you to stay lying down, Miley." He scolded, it was scold he wasn't yelling or at least not yet.

"Probably nothing that was in your lab and you try lying down for a week straight." She pouted. She didn't make a move, Liz was still brushing her hair. Liz began to move.

"Geez Professor way to be a kill joy. She hadn't been home very long at least let her have some fun."

"She can have fun when she's out Liz," He said sternly. It was clear to everyone in the room he wasn't playing around.

"Fine but when you get out Miley, we will need some serious retail therapy." Miley nodded at the older girl. "See you later Miley." They all left. Miley sighed and fell back on to her pillows. All except Mason. He wondered if he should hold the weapon as well. He was exposed just as long as Miley was. He knew that Mason would say something if he felt off, while his daughter would just keep it to herself.

"Lay down Miley." She flopped down with a sigh. "If you behave, I'll let you out the day after tomorrow."

"Really?" She asked happily.

"Only if you behave." He said while finishing is paperwork. He didn't hear from Miley the rest of the night.