AN: Ack! Sorry for the delay! I wasn't able to get to a computer cuz I was grounded, big time! I have the next chapter handwritten and ready for typing, but I'm not sure when I'll be let on the computer again, so please bear with me. In response to a suggestion, I will be having more journal entries later in the story. At the moment, both of the journals are in the characters' respective rooms so they can't really be writing in them when they're at the hospital now can they? Our characters will be going back to school soon, don't worry! I wouldn't let them miss out on their education! In response to a question, yes the IV did come off Yumi. I hate the things and thought she would too so I let it come off. Many thanks to all you reviewers! This chapter is dedicated to Drafonis! Thank you for your detailed review telling me what you did and didn't like so far. That sort of stuff is really helpful! And now, onto the chapter! As always, read, review, and enjoy!

It was in this way that the nurse found them. Skilled eyes scanned the pair and she immediately saw the IV dangling freely - it was no longer attached to the patient. Her nursing instincts kicked in and she started to walk out of the doorway and into the room, then stopped. It's not urgent, she told herself, the patient - who was she again? Oh yes, Yumi Ishiyama - would be fine without it for the moment. With that thought, the nurse moved quietly back into the hallway, leaving the two to each other.

"I'm sorry," Ulrich said quietly once Yumi's sobs began to slow.

"I should be the one apologizing," Yumi argued, "I interrupted your fun last night at the dance. Then, when you were helping me, you hurt your hands. Later you stayed up most of the night because I was afraid to go to sleep. Now, when you tried to help me sit up some, the thanks you get is tears. I'm sorry I've been such a horrible person." Ridden by guilt, Yumi pulled away from Ulrich and let the pillows take her full weight. Ulrich, in turn, straightened up to stretch his back, then crouched down so his face was level with hers and his forearms rested on the bed.

"You are not a horrible person," he told her slowly, as if she was hard of hearing, "Last night I chose you. I chose to go after you and help you and I chose to stay up and watch over you while you were sleeping. None of this is your fault. None of it." The intensity of Ulrich's eyes and words made Yumi take a mental step back and tears welled up in her eyes again. Unsure of how to respond, Yumi broke the hold his gaze had on her and instead looked down at the pillows that now supported her.

Ulrich, too, looked away and his eyes skimmed the room and fell on the reason for the move. Standing up, he stretched his arms above his head and winced at the ache they had developed. Lifting the branch, then Yumi, must have been too much, Ulrich thought as he lowered his arms. The brown-haired boy picked up the tray and set it back on the bed beside Yumi and took the now vacant place on the chair. As he tried to scoot the chair closer to Yumi's bed, the edge of the bandages on Ulrich's right palm caught on the gap where the armrest and its support met. When he stretched his hand to get his cup, the gauzy bandage wedged in tighter and stopped him short. Ulrich's tugging caught Yumi's eye and she watched him as he tried to free himself.

"Do you need some help?" Yumi asked, a hint of laughter in her voice. The sound was welcome to Ulrich's ears and though he was frustrated at being stuck, he smiled in response.

"I've got it," he said. With his free hand, he gripped the stuck bandage and tried to wiggle it out. When he did pull it loose, the end looked like it had been mangled. Yumi tried to hide a laugh behind her hand, but failed miserably. Ulrich heard her and turned his attention from the ripped and distended gauze bandage to Yumi. The situation wasn't very humorous to him, for pulling on the bandage had made his hand ache, but Yumi's laughter was contagious and he couldn't help but join her.

"I'll fix it," Yumi said, smiling at him once their laughter had died down. Obediently, Ulrich held out his right hand to her. Yumi's fingers deftly folded the bandage over ad tucked it into an already tightly wrapped section on the back of his hand.

"Thank you," Ulrich said, "Have you ever thought of being a nurse?"

"A nurse? I seem to get hurt enough without being around all of the sharp objects around here," Yumi joked, then she became more serious, "Besides, if I did, who'd help you guys in Lyoko?"

"By then Jeremy will have Aelita materialized and Lyoko shut down, right?" Ulrich said, sounding more sure of himself than he actually was. Yumi nodded in agreement hesitantly, then stronger when she remembered Jeremy's dedication to the pink-haired girl.

"Speaking of Jeremy, how'd he do at the dance last night?" Yumi asked.

"I don't know," Ulrich answered, "I didn't see him after we split up before the dance until we all came here."

"Jeremy and Odd cam?" Yumi said, curiosity coloring her voice.

"Yeah... when we got here the doctors called your parents while I called the guys... Sam wanted to come too but Odd told her to stay and enjoy the rest of the dance."

They all really do care, Yumi thought in awe. I guess I'm no longer just one of the team - I'm one of their friends.

"Your parents are in the room next door," Ulrich continued. Yumi nodded, feeling guilty that she had ruined so many peoples' nights. Trying to shake the sadness that threatened to overtake her, Yumi reached out her arm and took her cup from the tray. She took a tentative sip and gave a small smile as the warm, familiar liquid soothed her dry throat.

"Wonderful," she sighed. Her eyes locked on Ulrich's and she gave him a warm, true smile of gratitude. Ulrich returned the smile with one of his own and he, too, picked up his cup. Careful to grip it with mostly his fingertips so it wouldn't slide, he took a sip. Green tea wasn't one of his favorites, but he knew it was one of Yumi's. Besides, they both could benefit from its soothing abilities. As they started on the rolls, a clock chimed six times. In a matter of moments, the tray and cups were empty. Standing up, Ulrich put the empty cups on the tray and picked it up.

"I'll be right back," Ulrich said, "Do you want more tea? I can get more while I take this back."

"Yes, please," Yumi said politely. She wished she could make this all up to him, but she didn't know how - yet. This time when Ulrich left the room, Yumi was able to stay calm. Now that her mind accepted what her heart already knew - Ulrich would always come back to her - she was able to control herself. For the first time, Yumi looked around at the room. Ulrich's bed was parallel to hers with a chair on the side closest to her and a window on the far side. On the chair sat what looked to be Ulrich's jacket, over shirt, and cell phone. Exactly between the two beds sat a stand that held a box of tissues and a pile of black cloth. Brow furrowed in concentration, Yumi tried to figure out what it was. Suddenly it dawned on her - those were her clothes! They didn't look like the ones she had worn to the dance, though, so she could only assume her parents had brought the outfit with them, knowing she would want to change before she went home. But what was the object on top? It had a dark red hue. My phone! The nurse must have found it in my pocket and brought it up, Yumi thought. Her eyes continued to scan the room and saw a small couch whose back rested on the wall directly parallel to the one her headboard rested against. In the aisle between her bed and Ulrich's, another chair stood, empty now that Ulrich was gone. She couldn't see what was behind her, but she could only assume it was the heart monitor, which she was beginning to hate, and the stand that held her IV. The door was also beyond her sight, but she could only guess it was along the same wall as the couch, yet still behind her.

Yumi's observation ended there, though, as footsteps announced another person's presence.

"Hello Yumi," an unmistakable voice said cooly. Her heart clenched in fear and she knew she couldn't get away in her condition.

"Hello Theo," she replied, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"You've managed to get yourself into quite a fix," Theo observed, walking around the bed to face her, "but don't worry, I'm here to get you out."

"The doctors said I have to stay for a few days," Yumi said, stretching the truth slightly.

"I know what's best for you," Theo cooed, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to lose my temper with you before, I just couldn't control myself. I care about you, you know that, right? I love you and only want to see you happy. Will you please forgive me?" Theo looked at her pleadingly and Yumi felt sorry for him. He did apologize, she thought. Her mind argued that it was only a trick, but her heart was trusting.

"I forgive you," Yumi said hesitantly, not meeting his eyes.

"Great!" Theo said enthusiastically, "Now let's get you out of here and I'll take you out to dinner later to make it up to you!"

"I have to stay here," Yumi repeated slowly, "I might get to leave in a few days."

"A few days is too long," Theo complained. After he plopped himself in Ulrich's chair, Theo looked around the room. "A room all by yourself," he commented, "There must not be many people if they're letting you stay in a double room alone."

"I'm not alone, Ulrich's staying with me." She regretted those words as soon as they were out of her mouth, for she remembered Theo's order to stay away from him.

"Ulrich? I thought we discussed him last night," Theo said coolly, settling himself further into the chair.

"We didn't 'discuss' him, you told me not to be around him. I didn't have any say in it," Yumi reminded him.

"You told her what?" another voice said incredulously. Yumi shut her eyes and told herself this wasn't happening... the voice she heard couldn't b e Ulrich's, not now, please not now.

"I'm taking care of her now, Ulrich," Theo said, not bothering to look at the other boy. Had he, Theo would have seen the look of pure hatred that flashed across Ulrich's features.

"Taking care of her?" The disdain was clear in Ulrich's voice, "Where were you last night when she was hurt?" Mentally he added, where are you when X.A.N.A. attacks? Do you protect her then?

"I didn't know she had been hurt or I would have been there as fast as I could," Theo said, gazing at Yumi, then he glared at Ulrich. "How do I know you weren't the reason she was hurt? How did you know she was hurt and where to find her?"

"I saw her leave the dance after you upset her and after I talked to you, I went out looking for her. I called her cell phone after I had checked her usual spots, and I heard her phone ring, which is how I found her," Ulrich said curtly.

"Please stop arguing," Yumi pleaded, distressed at seeing the two go after each other verbally. She was afraid that if this went on for much longer, it might escalate into a brawl.

"He has no right to tell you what you can and can't do," Ulrich said gently to her, coming around to the other side of her bed so she could see him.

"I just want to keep you safe," Theo said earnestly, standing up so he was beside Ulrich. Yumi looked back and forth between the two, wishing she didn't have to make this decision. If I agree with Ulrich, Theo will be mad. If I agree with Theo, Ulrich will be hurt and will probably never trust me again. Would he tell Odd and Jeremy? What if they hate me too? What if they need me in Lyoko, would they still call me for help?

"I'm sorry, Theo," Yumi began. Already, Theo's face was hardening in anger. "I can make my own decisions," Yumi said, "Ulrich is my friend and I won't abandon him."

"So be it," was Theo's terse reply. Turning on his heel, he brushed past Ulrich forcefully and walked out the door.

Oh God, what have I done now, Yumi thought fearfully.

AN: Here's your spoiler!!!

'Her legs still felt weak and her back was aching, but the shreds of her dignity would not admit she needed help.'

Not much of a spoiler, but the next chapter is mainly a transition. You'll see... Anyway, please leave a review before you go! Thanks!