"Oh, God, please no." His knees gave out causing the red-head to fall to the ground. The impact should have hurt but it didn't. All he felt right then and there was an incredible, indescribable pain in his chest. "Todd can't be dead." He whispered, eyes wide and pleading.

"Todd is not dead." Near reassured him as he toyed with his hair. "I apologize for running into you."

"Thank god." Matt breathed a sigh of relief and dug into his pocket for a cigarette. He lit the cancer stick with shaky hands. "Can I see him?"

"There's one problem." Near looked away. Matt could swear he saw anger in the genius's eyes. "He's refusing to take the medication."

"What do you mean he's refusing to take the damn meds?" Matt yelled, nearly dropping the cigarette held between his lips. "Can't you force him or something?"

"Legally, no. I can try and talk to him but if that doesn't work then I'll use force if necessary." Near replied completely deadpan.

"Let me talk to him." Matt moved to get to the door so he could see Todd but Near cut him off.

"No." Near said. "I think you've done enough."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Mello snarled. "Don't talk to him as if this is his fault."

Near ignored him. "I'm going to try and talk your friend out of killing himself. Wait here." He left them alone with unspoken regret and resentment hanging in the air.

"Ass." Mello muttered as he wrapped an arm around Matt's shoulders.

"No. He's right." Matt rested his head on Mello's shoulder and held onto the leather vest. "It is my fault. I don't know what I'll do if he dies." His voice broke.

"He's not going to die." Mello assured him. He hesitantly brought his other arm around to embrace the red-head. It was the first time they had embraced without Matt getting uncomfortable since the red-head's capture.

"I won't break. I promise." Matt held the blonde tighter.

"Matt, I need to tell you something." Mello whispered. "The guy that Jay killed, the one that…hurt you."

"What about him?" Matt asked softly, his heart rate accelerating.

"Some other friends of his found out about you. They think that you could –" He was interrupted b a sudden crash and shouting coming from Todd's room.

Matt released Mello and ran through the door, panic and fear for his friend mounting. He got there just as a nurse and doctor fled the room. Neither Todd nor Near took any notice of him. The snow-haired genius's hand was bleeding and a pile of glass lay at his feet. He glared venomously at Todd who looked like he was having trouble breathing.

"Damn you, you stupid bastard." Near yelled, quivering with anger and frustration. "Not everything is about him."

"For me it is. He is all I have left." Todd gasped for breath as he clutched at his chest.

"He doesn't love you. So what? Move on. You're not the first and you certainly won't be the last.

"What the fuck is going on?" Matt cut in.

As soon as he heard Matt's voice Near reverted back to his emotionless self. He pointed a bloody finger at Todd. "He'd refusing to cooperate. I can't talk him into taking the medication."

Matt went to sit on the edge of the bed. Todd leaned away from him as if the red-head was something toxic.

"Go away." Todd glared at Matt.

Matt chose to ignore the command. "Why won't you take the meds?" He asked softly.

"Don't be fucking stupid. You already know the answer." Todd gasped for breath and looked like he was on the verge of passing out.

"Tell me anyway." Out of the corner of his eye Matt could see Near grab two syringes and advance toward Todd. All he had to do was keep Todd completely focused on him.

"You're…an idiot."

"You're the idiot. You'll die if you don't take these meds and who knows how long you have." Matt responded vehemently.

"That's the point." Todd clutched at his chest again. He was clearly having difficulty breathing. "Just leave." He muttered weakly as he sunk into the pillows, his eyes closing.

"No." Matt grabbed his friend's hand and held tightly.

"Asshole." Todd whispered fondly before he passed out.

Near checked Todd's pulse and pupils. "Looks like I won't need this one." He tossed one aside and injected Todd with the other.

"What's that?" Matt asked.

"Medication to reverse the effects of the poison. He'll be perfectly fine with a few more doses." Near replied without looking at him. He reached up and absent-mindedly began toying with his hair getting blood on it in the process.

"Your hand is bleeding. Let me look at it." Matt got up from the bed and reached for Near's hand but the genius pulled away quickly.

"Don't." Near glared at Matt.

"Why are you so angry at me all of sudden? What the hell did I do wrong?" Matt demanded an answer.

"Look at what you're doing. Do you enjoy hurting people?" Near asked angrily.

"What the hell? Are you out of your fucking mind?" The red-head shot the other a bewildered look.

"You toy with people. We loved you." He pointed at himself and Todd. "You gave us hope that maybe you might return those affections when you left Mello but we were wrong. You made us crazy. Mello drank when you left him and when you left Todd alone with no one he tried to commit suicide."

Matt actually took a step back, afraid Near would physically attack him. "And you?"

Near looked away. "I capable of getting over it. The question now is; Can Todd? I don't think you understand the pain he feels right now."

"And you do?" Matt yelled. "I know how he feels. It was the same when Mello left me."

"No it's not." Near yelled at the top of his lungs causing Mello to rush in with a concerned look a his face. Near ignored him. "You knew Mello left you to solve this case and avenge L's death unlike you who left to go back to someone who could never…" Near drew a deep breath and once again reverted back to his emotionless self. "It doesn't matter anymore. I will ask you both to leave since you are no longer needed here."

"I'm not fucking leaving Todd here alone." Matt yelled. Mello held him back with a restraining arm as he took a step toward Near.

"Then I will have my men escort you out." Near said coldly.

"Come on. You can always come back later when tempers cool." Mello whispered in Matt's ear.

A scowl plastered on his face, Matt stalked out the building fighting back the tears. He didn't realize Mello was holding him until he turned around in the blonde's arms and cried onto the leather vest.

"He's right." Matt sobbed. "I'm an awful bastard who can't stop hurting people."

Mello stroked his hair soothingly. "It's not true. You-" He was cut off by his phone ringing. He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the caller id. "Fuck." He muttered. "Matt, I'm sorry but we have to leave."

Matt shook his head. "I can't leave without making sure Todd's alright."

Mello held the smoker by his shoulders. "If we don't leave now you'll die."