AN: As some of you have noticed, I changed my title! I finally settled on one I liked. Thanks to all of you who proofread for me! It really, really helps! For some reason many of you think I'm going to give her anmesia... Am I really that evil? Don't answer that :P. You'll have to read and find out, I'm not going to tell you otherwise.Also, thanks Yumi-Code Lyoko for the web site address! It's nice to finally hear the whole song with the words! I'm not sure when the next chapter is coming... It's taking forever to write cuz it's really long! At least handwritten it is! Plus I have a paper due next Thursday and we're going on vacation again and I have colorguard and two jobs... the list just goes on! I'll try to get it done and get the next chapter posted. I think you guys will like it. At least, I hope you will! As always, read, review, and enjoy!

What happened? Where am I? Why is it so dark? What are all these wires and tubes attached to me? Why do I hurt so badly? My head aches, and my back too. What's wrong with me?

By the time Yumi's eyes started to adjust to the darkness, her heart was racing. In response, the machine that monitored her heart beeped faster and at a slightly higher pitch. The unexpected sound woke Ulrich from a dreamless sleep and the brown haired boy saw the wide eyes of the alarmed Yumi.

"Welcome back," Ulrich said softly to her.

At the sound of his voice, Yumi relaxed slightly and ventured her first question, "What happened?"

Slowly, Ulrich started at the beginning of his search and explained up until the point where they arrived at the hospital. He left out his encounter with Theo and the damage done to his hands.

"So now they need to keep you for observation until tomorrow and then you have to be careful and rest," Ulrich finished. Yumi silently processed this information, then touched her right cheek lightly and grimaced when even that slight pressure on the bruise brought pain. Also, she noticed the powdery feel was gone, which meant her concealer had been removed. It was then that she noticed the bandages on her palms.

"Yumi? Something happened to you before the dance, didn't it?" Ulrich said quietly, watching her face for a reaction.

"Yes," she whispered, a lump growing in her throat from tears that threatened to fall.

"You can tell me if you want." Ulrich said softly, trying to reassure her.

"I-I can't," Yumi said, her voice breaking. She closed her eyes, for she was physically unable to turn away from his sincere gaze.

"When you do need to talk, I'll be here," Ulrich promised, "You should try to rest now."

"Ok... Thank you for saving me, Ulrich."

"I didn't even do anything," Ulrich replied, "Just moved a branch and called the emergency services."

Knowing it was useless to argue with him, Yumi tried to go to sleep. Too many bad images and memories flew through her mind, including the previous night's bad dream, the incidents with Theo, and her recent accident. Unable to banish the images, Yumi sighed and opened her eyes. She knew she was safe here in the hospital, but she couldn't shake the bad feelings.

As if reading her mind, Ulrich slid off his bed and sat in one of the chairs beside her. He placed his bandaged hand over Yumi's and she started at the sight of the gauze.

"Your hand..." she said, "What happened?"

"I.... just scraped them up a little lifting that branch," Ulrich said, looking down at the other which rested in his lap. Gently, Yumi took his hand in both of hers and slowly unwrapped the gauze bandage. Ulrich winced but said nothing as the wounds reopened and blood started seeping from them slowly. When Yumi had it halfway uncovered, Ulrich looked up and watched. The IV in her right wrist impeded her slightly, but finally she pulled off the last part of the bandage.

Yumi's eyes welled up with tears as she saw the cuts on his palm. The vertical scores covered most of his palm - not even an inch was left unmarred. Ulrich's blood started to pool in the natural dips in his hand and as a drop fell onto the hand Yumi used to cup Ulrich's, her tears, too, started to fall.

"It's ok, Yumi," Ulrich said, "It doesn't hurt." He knew that was a lie, but he truly didn't want to be the cause of more of her pain.

"You didn't have to do this for me," she whispered, "I'm not worth it."

"Yes you are," Ulrich insisted. He pulled his hand from hers slowly and dabbed at the cuts with some tissues he found on a nearby stand. Then he replaced the gauze pad and tried to rewrap his palm using the other injured hand - he failed miserably.

"Let me help," Yumi said quietly. Ulrich hesitated, then nodded and held out the unwrapped hand to her. She picked up the white wrap and slowly wound it around the gashes, her own bandaged hands hindering her slightly. Occasionally, a tear would fall onto the bandage. Ulrich hated seeing her cry, but he knew he probably wouldn't be able to do much to stop it.

"Don't cry," Ulrich said softly. Then, mimicking Odd's voice, he said, "There's enough water out there without you adding to it." This elicited a slight smile from Yumi. Indeed, the rain was coming down as hard as ever ad looked as though it wouldn't be letting up for a while.

"You know, Odd and Jeremy came to see you tonight," Ulrich said lightly in an effort to cheer her up, "Maybe they could sneak us some good food tomorrow."

Yumi nodded once slowly in response. In truth, she could have cared less about the food. She doubted her appetite would be back by then anyway. Instead, she was acutely aware of the fact that she was still holding onto Ulrich's bandaged hand with both of hers as she rested her hands on the bed.

"Ulrich... I'm afraid to go back to sleep," Yumi confessed, "So many bad things have happened lately and I'm afraid that if I close my eyes, they'll all come back to me." Yumi let go of Ulrich's hand carefully and stared at her sheets instead of Ulrich, ashamed of what she had just revealed. For so long she had tried to be strong, just to throw it away now.

"I'll sit here beside you and make sure nothing happens to you," Ulrich promised, "And if it looks like you're having a bad dream, I'll wake you up."

"Thank you," Yumi said quietly, still not meeting Ulrich's eyes. He put his right hand lightly on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You can sleep now, you're safe with me."

AN: Poor Yumi.... Poor Ulrich! His hands are really messed up! Well, time for a spoiler!

' "Yumi, do something!" Aelita cried as the beam sped toward me. Too late, the others saw what was going on. The laser hit me in the torso, throwing me back several feet - and right in the path of a mega tank. It lost no time in charging a blast of its own and fired the wall at me. Once again, I flew into the air. This time, I landed at Ulrich's feet.'

There you go! I told you there'd be more action involved, you just had to wait for the right time. The next chapter is action-packed, you just wait and see!