A/N: So I have one more chapter after this, an epilogue which will hopefully be up in a few days. I've been thinking about maybe writing this again but from Ichigo's perspective, what do you guys think? Here's the next chapter so I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9:

Whatever Grimmjow was expecting to happen next, it wasn't to wake up. But then again what had he expected? Nothing, a paradise or maybe some form of hell he didn't know. The reality was however he had woken up in a hospital room. Thankfully it seemed to be the current Karakura hospital rather than the original this time.

He could hear the steady rhythm of a machine and turned to see it was a heart rate monitor. Feeling an odd sensation around his hand, he looked down to see someone was holding it in their own. Without looking he knew exactly who this was and sure enough looking up slightly his eyes landed on a head of orange hair, Ichigo.

The teen looked as if he was sleeping, Grimmjow could hear his slow, steady breathing and he hadn't reacted to him waking up. Slowly, careful not to wake him Grimmjow pulled his hand free and examined it carefully. It still felt strange, even without Ichigo holding it. His hand felt numb as it had when he'd injected the poison. He tried to make a fist but his hand wasn't cooperating, his fingers curled slightly, but he couldn't form a fist.

He had been too busy watching his hand to notice Ichigo stirring and it was only the sharp intake of breath next to him that jerked Grimmjow back to reality. Turning, his eyes met Ichigo's and he smiled. "So is this heaven?" Ichigo's lips trembled and for a second Grimmjow thought the teen was going to burst into tears but instead he started laughing. It was a rich, warm sound and he felt his own lips pull upwards in a smile and he relaxed back against the pillows. "What happened?"

Ichigo's hands encased his own again and he sighed, looking down at them. "I thought you were dead." He said quietly. "Nnoitra was the first to come in and when he saw you, he called for medical assistance. They took you away in an ambulance and I tried to come with you, but they wouldn't let me." The grip around his hand tightened and Grimmjow flinched at the sudden stab of pain but said nothing. "I had to answer their questions first, it took hours before I was allowed to see you again."

"It wasn't poison?"

He shook his head, finally looking up and he smiled. "No it was a type of sedative, but it could've killed you considering the dosage you took. If you hadn't been taken to a hospital, five more minutes and you probably would have died."

"Well, I'm glad I didn't." Ichigo just smiled, lifting Grimmjow's hand to press his cheek against it. "How long has it been?"

The orange head shrugged. "Two days I think, I haven't been keeping track of the time. After that guy shot himself, Ulquiorra was it? I haven't been able to think about anything but you, about you dying."

Grimmjow remembered something when Ichigo mention Ulquiorra's name, a flash of memory, a man stood over him wearing a surgeons mask, a snatch of conversation just before. Sitting up straight he gave Ichigo a serious look. "Ichigo listen to me ok, this is very important. Where is Nnoitra? I need to speak with him right now, Ulquiorra wasn't working alone."

"They know, they found the bodies a few hours after what happened." At Grimmjow's confused expression, he elaborated. "Ulquiorra killed them, at least that's what your partner thinks."

Grimmjow sighed and relaxed again. "Do they know why he did it?" Ichigo shrugged. "You were right, he was insane. How did we not see it before?" The teen flinched when Grimmjow banged his fist on the table with his free hand. "Sorry, sorry I didn't mean to make you jump." He let out a deep sigh and reigned his anger in. Scaring Ichigo wouldn't achieve anything but pushing him away. "How do you feel?"

"Me?" He asked in surprise. "I'm fine, or at least I am now you're awake. I told you he never hurt me so there's nothing wrong with me."

"I didn't mean physically."

Ichigo hesitated at that, his eyes lowering again. "Then no, I'm not ok. At least not completely anyway. But it gets better doesn't it?"

Grimmjow thought back to other people he'd seen, talked to before who had gone through a similar situation. "Yes." He answered slowly. "It gets better, but I don't know if you'll be the same as before, it takes a lot of time."

The teen nodded, his face unusually grey and it made Grimmjow's heart drop. Ichigo shouldn't have been put through this, he should never have been involved and it was his fault he was. If it weren't for him, Ichigo wouldn't have to deal with what was to come now.

"Ichigo…" He started and this time, it was his turn to look away because he couldn't bear looking at the orange head whilst he said this. "I'll understand if you want some time apart, if you don't want to be with me anymore. After what's happened I can't blame you, after all it was my fault you were kidnapped in the first place. I understand-"

He was cut off suddenly when Ichigo kissed him. "Do you really think I'd leave you after everything that's happened? What do you take me for?" Grimmjow opened his mouth to object but Ichigo silenced him with a look. "And I'm not staying out of gratitude either."

Grimmjow smiled, it was as if Ichigo had read his mind. "Ok then, I'm glad."

"You… Don't want to break up with me… Do you?" Ichigo asked hesitantly and Grimmjow chuckled, shaking his hand. Letting out a relieved sigh, the teen smiled and leant forward to kiss him again. "Good because I'm not letting you go, especially after what you did for me." His hand found the puncture mark on Grimmjow's arm and he covered it with a hand. "You really would give up your life for me?"

"Of course, and you know it." He nodded, absentmindedly drawing a pattern across his arm. "I love you."

Ichigo smiled brightly. "I love you too." Leaning forward their lips met again and Grimmjow threaded a hand in the back of the teen's hair. However after a minute or so his hand convulsed and without his consent tightened and Ichigo flinched. "Ouch, that hurts!"

Yanking his hand away Grimmjow stared at it in shock, again trying to flex his fingers but the movement was wooden, almost robotic. His hand still wasn't responding. "Shit Ichigo I'm sorry! I don't know what's wrong with my hand."

The teen was looking down at his hand too and carefully he took it between his own. "This is the same arm that device was attached to, isn't it?" Thinking about it carefully, Grimmjow realised he was right and nodded. "I'm going to get a doctor ok, you need checking over anyway and I'll mention this too."

He stood up, smiling reassuringly. "Don't take too long." Grimmjow said, trying to to sound too needy. He really didn't want to be separated from Ichigo, not just yet so soon after getting him back.

"I'll be two minutes top, promise." Another smile and Ichigo had left.

Resting back against the pillows Grimmjow looked down at his hand in confusion. Could the device really have affected him that badly? He remembered vaguely the doctor mention something about nerve damage during his last visit, but couldn't quite remember the details. After all, he had just found out he was being framed so he wasn't concentrating properly. Was this what the doctor had meant?

He didn't have long to dwell on the situation as suddenly Ichigo was back, the doctor following him into the room. He waited until Ichigo had taken his seat next to Grimmjow before starting. "Well first things first, I'm glad to see you're awake Mr Jaeggerjaques. How is everything?"

"Good, except for this." He showed the man his hand and what was happening when he tried to use it. "Is it to do with that device from before?"

The doctor sighed, carefully examining the small puncture wound left behind from where the device had attached itself to Grimmjow's arm. "Yes, I believe that is the most plausible explanation. As I said, it caused nerve damage so it's reasonable to believe this is a product of that. It seems to be similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which is unusual. If it is similar than we know what to expect, let's keep an eye on it for now and notify me of any more symptoms."

Grimmjow agreed and after taking a few preliminary observations and readings he left the two of them alone again. "You know," Grimmjow started, holding up his hand again to show Ichigo. "This could put a bit of a dampener on things."

The teen looked at his hand for a long time before laughing quietly. "Don't use that hand on my dick please, I like it the way it is." And then he dissolved into a fit of laughter again. Grimmjow couldn't help but laugh too, the absurdity of it compared to everything that was happening combined with Ichigo's laugher sent him over the edge and it took a long time to calm down again. When he did he looked at Ichigo to see the teen was wiping his face and realised he'd laughed so hard he'd cried.

Reaching out he brushed one of Ichigo's cheeks to wipe the wet track away. "Everything's going to be ok Ichigo, I promise. We'll get through this."

"Together?"

"Together." Grimmjow agreed firmly and he smiled.

Carefully as to not jolt him too much Ichigo slid into the bed beside him and curled up under the covers. He yawned, lying down next to Grimmjow and smiled. "Your bed's actually quite comfy."

"When was the last time you slept properly?" But Grimmjow didn't need an answer to know it had been far too long because Ichigo just shrugged and his eyes closed.

The orange head was asleep within minutes and since he didn't feel like sleeping anymore Grimmjow settled himself with running his good hand through Ichigo's hair as yanking on his hair again didn't seem like a good idea. He slept soundly however and after a half hour Grimmjow felt sleep creeping up on himself too and settled down next to Ichigo. There was just enough room for them both to share the bed and careful to keep his hand away from the teen, Grimmjow was soon asleep too.

Grimmjow didn't know how long he'd been asleep but he knew it wasn't enough when he was jolted awake by the sound of someone entering the room. Opening his eyes he could see through the window it was dark now so it had been at least a few hours as it was late morning when he woke the first time. Turning over, careful not to wake Ichigo as he pulled his arms free of the teen Grimmjow was surprised and also weary to see it was Isshin.

The man took a seat beside the bed, his eyes landing on Ichigo and after a tense moment he spoke. "Nnoitra has explained what happened to me. You really tried to kill yourself for Ichigo?"

"Yes." Grimmjow replied cautiously. This was not a conversation he was prepared to have currently. He'd figured after getting out of the hospital he and Ichigo would talk things through with Isshin, smooth things over but like this, he didn't have anything planned. He had to be careful about what he said or Isshin could take it very wrongly and the last thing Grimmjow needed was Isshin to be mad and in turn Ichigo to be upset over it. "That was the rules, either I lived or Ichigo did, I chose Ichigo. I didn't know it was a sedative."

"You didn't do it because I made you swear to save Ichigo, did you." Isshin wasn't asking so Grimmjow just shook his head in reply. "You really do love him?"

"Yes." He said quietly, he looked away from Isshin for a moment, his eyes landing on Ichigo who he could see wasn't quite so relaxed as before. But instead of calling the teen out of his fake sleep, he continued as if he hadn't noticed. "More than anything. I know it came as a shock to you, we were going to explain everything but… circumstances changed. I know there's a lot to talk about still and a lot of explaining. But I need to ask one thing of you." He looked back at Isshin imploringly. "Don't get mad at Ichigo, if you want to be mad, be mad at me. Ichigo doesn't deserve that, especially not now. He needs you, even if he won't admit it. He needs us all."

"Ichigo needs you more than me." Isshin replied, his voice less cool than before and his expression softened when he looked at his son. "And if you truly love him, which I believe you do now, I'll accept what has happened in the past. We'll start again, once everything's settled down and it can be a fresh start for us all."

Grimmjow smiled. "I'd like that."

With a sigh Isshin stood and gave Grimmjow's shoulder a quick squeeze. "Let Ichigo know I'll be waiting at home for him. He's safe here with you I can see."

"Sure." Grimmjow waited until Isshin had left before turning to face Ichigo again. "You can wake up now."

Ichigo shifted slowly and sat up, grinning at Grimmjow guiltily. "How long did you know?"

"Long enough." The teen suddenly surged forward and kissed him. "What was that for?" Grimmjow asked in surprise, steadying him so he didn't fall off the bed with the sudden movement.

Ichigo shrugged, his fingers going to the back of Grimmjow's head and he began playing with his hair. "No reason, I'm just glad I suppose. I thought dad would take a lot more persuading than that, especially considering our age gap."

Grimmjow groaned, closing his eyes and he allowed himself to relax under Ichigo's ministrations. "Don't make me feel older than I already do. I feel like I'm fourty after what's happened." The orange head laughed and kissed him again, his lips trailing down his jawline and Grimmjow let out a soft sigh at the touches. "Don't worry, you don't look a day over twenty-five to me."

"Don't try and kid me." Grimmjow warned halfheartedly. "I'm going to be thirty soon so that's plenty old as it is."

Ichigo hummed, looking at him thoughtfully. "Do you know what day it is?" Grimmjow just shrugged in reply, watching in confusion as Ichigo leaned over him to grab something. Looking to he saw it was his phone and frowned, he hadn't even realised it was there. "Airplane mode." Ichigo explained at his quizzical look. "Nnoitra put it on yesterday, he didn't think you'd appreciate getting contacted every few minutes once everyone found out what happened."

Grimmjow made a mental note to thank his partner later. "So what are you looking at?"

The teen was still staring at the phone and after a moment he said quietly, "It's my birthday."

"Really?" Grimmjow took the phone to see indeed it was, July 15th. "Well happy birthday Ichigo, sorry I didn't get you a present."

He laughed at that, setting the phone down again before cupping Grimmjow's face. Leaning down he kissed him firmly. "You already gave it to me by waking up" He whispered, kissing him again but more deeply this time.

There was nothing for it, Grimmjow couldn't contain it any longer and he grabbed Ichigo, pushing him onto his back before the orange head could do more than looked surprise at the sudden change around. The look soon vanished and he was smiling at Grimmjow, it wasn't a very seductive smile just a normal one but it made the teen just look too damn tempting.

It was as if he was seeing Ichigo for the first time since he'd been rescued. He looked healthier although not back to his previous weight yet and there was colour in his skin again. It had only been two days but already Ichigo was showing signs of recovery which Grimmjow was pleased to see. "Hey." Ichigo finally said, raising an eyebrow impatiently. "Are you going to stare at me all night or are you going to kiss me some more?"

Grimmjow just chuckled and leaned closer to the teen. "Impatient?"

"It's long overdue." Ichigo's voice lowered, his eyes focusing on Grimmjow's mouth. "Call it a birthday present if you want but I want you to keep kissing me until we both pass out from lack of oxygen."

"Now that I can give you." As he kissed Ichigo again, Grimmjow could only think that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world other than his arms. And he was determined to keep it that way, quite sure no-one would be taking Ichigo away from him anytime soon.