A/N: ok, forgive me if this chapter is a little boring and action less but the next one deals with the second possession so that'll be interesting. I've realised that the hardest thing to do in this is make sure that the fourteenth doesn't know what I do, him not having had the benefit of seeing everything the way I have. Quick reminder, when the Fourteenth says something at the same time as one of the other characters it looks "like his usual speak but it has quotation marks round it"

Disclaimer: If by this stage of the game, you haven't figured out that I don't own -man I don't think I'll ever be able to teach you.

11. Recovery

I had a monumental headache, something I did not think should be possible, but as if in defiance to me, it only got worse. There was a small amount of relief in not having to move. I could feel it in my nephew's muscles, that feeling you get after exercising hard and then resting, almost as if you have been stretched. I winced as Allen slammed his innocence into the door. Evidently, the barrier was still in place. I shared his frustration, I didn't want to be here any longer than I had to be.

"Ughh, it's not opening! How are we meant to get out of here?!"

baKanda sounded the same way I felt.

"Calm down both of you."

That small statement gave me a great degree of respect for Marie. I knew that he must have had a headache to match mine and couldn't feel comfortable without his headphones. His fingers were missing and in general, I imagine he couldn't be feeling too wonderful. The other problem with the wounds on his hands was the potential for permanent damage.

"But Marie we have to get those wounds on your hands closed up soon or…"

It seems that we are running on the same wavelength nephew

Though now was not the time I felt my spirits lift a little. It pleased me that my Allen and I were thinking along the same lines. Still the possession gnawed at me. I hadn't known that I was so close to completing my take over and it worried me. How many other things had I failed to notice? Now that I paid attention, I realised that I could feel something of what my nephew felt. I could smell a little of what was going on around me and I was sure when he ate I would have the memory of the taste on my tongue.

"A sorcerers' barrier cannot be penetrated from within. Wait for the science team to do their job."

It galled me to admit that he was right. All we could do was sit, and wait. I found myself enjoying sitting and doing nothing less and less. Not that it had ever been one of my pastimes but now I felt the need to do something more than ever before.

"Assuming, of course, that they are competent enough."

I don't know who you are but know this. I have one nerve left and you are getting on it.

"Who are you anyway?"

Our conversation was cut short by the door opening.

"…all"

I wasn't too interested in what Inspector Galmar had been saying before, only grateful that we could leave. It seems the science team had done there job. How I wished I was capable of making pointed statements, but it was the one thing I knew my Allen would not do for me. he was far to polite. I did wonder why they had let Galmar, of all people, come in first. Surely if they wanted to test the waters, they would send in a finder.

"Why are you all covered in blood?"

His daughter worked here, had he come to visit her and walked in once the shield fell, or was he an akuma. I knew he didn't have a wife, was she dead? No, it couldn't be. They had only blocked Allen's eye here, we had met him long before this fight.

"Inspector… Why are you?"

I blocked out the conversation at that point. my headache wasn't allowing for it but something caught my eye, a second crimson robed figure. This one slightly smaller. I wondered what they were, seems I was not the only one. Two Pimple was staring in the same direction. What did he know?

***

I had grown used to the panic that often surrounded Order members after they had completed a mission but, as always, I was relieved when the pandemonium went elsewhere. Everyone had been bandaged up and an assortment of the group now rested on the stairs. It was a little harder to relax than I had imagined, the inspector was gloomy enough for half a dozen others.

"You know… back when we captured Timothy's father… I knew his kid was in there too… but I went bursting in there regardless…"

I had nothing to say, I had done the same thing. The situation had been different but I too had changed a child's life irrevocably to meet my own needs.

"Emilia thought we should take in the boy ourselves, but every time I saw that forehead, I felt so guilty…"

Guilt? He barely knew the meaning of the word. I felt guilty, every time I saw my Allen smile when he saw one of his friends. Every time he felt the joy of life and every time he remembered me. Sometimes it was worse than others, but I was always aware of the fact that I was taking it away.

"If only I hadn't gone bursting in guns blazing…"

If only, if only. That was the most useless phrase in the language, you couldn't change the past, and I knew that so well.

"Isn't there some kind of alternative? Do you have to take him away?"

We do

"I promise, this time I will be there for the boy. I will protect Timothy from those akuma myself.

At least I wasn't a fool. Really of all the things!

"Galmar that's just…"

Began the child.

"Not happening"

Finished the rest of the group, myself included.

"you don't have to be so harsh about it."

I rolled my eyes, what did he expect. Everyone pitched in at that point, trying to explain things. Allen was typically kind, Marie too, was tactful and Kanda was the down to earth, rude honest that I had begun to associate with him. go do his confessions in a church indeed. Thinking about it he did, on a technicality, have three priests around him. he probably couldn't have chosen a better place to confess.

"Hey, by the way, don't'cha wanna arrest me or anything, Galmar? I'm G, remember?"

"Don't address me like that, how am I supposed to arrest a little brat like you? Ugh"

Don't suppose his conscious would let him arrest this particular child one way or another.

"Well I guess I better just leave, then."

"Huh?"

Was the man slow or had no one told him that the child would become an exorcist?

"Well Director-sensei is gettin' old and the other kids are still little, ya know? Can't have them getting caught up in another akuma attack, can I? so I guess I'll join up with you black cloak guys after all."

I'm sorry but had I missed something. When had Timothy got the idea that we actually planned on giving him a choice. I thought baKanda had been pretty unambiguously clear on that point.

"the name's Timothy Hearst, nine years old! I turn akuma into weapons with my innocence, Tsukikami! Pleasure to be working with ya exorcists!

Wonderful, another child, just what the order needed. They should start hiring babysitters as well as finders. His innocence had an interesting name. I couldn't remember too much Japanese but unless I was much mistaken the name meant possession god.

"However don't you go thinkin' you're getting' this sweet deal free~~~"

The time since the battle hadn't been the most pleasant in my life but I couldn't deny that feeling again thrilled me. there was a certain degree of gentleness in me as we watched the Director and the new boy say goodbye. She had a very easy way with people, in a way her gentleness reminded me of the way Mana had been, but only a little.

"You know, that Director… that natural way she has reminds me a little of Mana. Timothy's a little like I used to be too… So I can understand how he must feel…"

Really? That was interesting, I had slept for so long that I had missed that portion of my nephew's life. It was… nice, to have a reference point, to try and imagine what he had become after the defensive little boy that was the last thing I remembered.

"This must be the first time you've actually talked about Mana to anyone else…"

"Huh?"

I didn't know what to say to that and the peace I had been feeling was evaporating fast. Something was stirring inside of Allen though; I wasn't sure what.

"You may be right… I guess that means you're just like a piece of furniture to me these days Link."

I chuckled at that.

"Furniture?!"

Oh nephew, you know just what to say.