My eyes opened slowly to the rhythmic beep...beep...beep.. of my heartbeat. I look around to see that I am alone. I try to move, but my whole body hurts. I lift my arm, it's in a cast. My other arm has bandages wrapped around the wrist and forearm. I can't even move one leg, and I see a lot of red among the bandages. A nurse comes in wearing pink scrubs and white keds, carrying a clip board, and fresh bandages.

"Oh, hello. I see you're awake. I'm going to change your bandages, then I have to check your mental status." He informed me, carefully changing the bandages on my head. They look red and stick, a sight that makes me want to be sick. I want to wonder what happened, but I already know the answer to that. Kristy. When the nurse had changed all the bandages he could, he began the 'mental status check', and a few other tests. He moved his finger in front of my face, and told me to follow it with my eyes.

"What day is it?"

"Saturday."

"Your name?"

"Karkat Vantas."

"three plus four?"

"Seven.." I said, groaning a bit. It was starting to hurt when I spoke.

"Good, your mental status seems fine. I'm going to alert your doctor, and your family should be here soon." He informed me. I began to wonder why at least Kristy wasn't here with me. I figured dad was at the Leijon's, informing them where I was. I looked out the window that was next to my bed, and saw Kristy with handcuffs, talking to a police officer. I smirked, and looked back ahead of me. Well, at least that bitch is getting what she deserves. I thought to myself. I closed my eyes, and I started to drift off to sleep. I was so tired.. so..tired..

I was in my bathroom, relapsing again, and hating myself for it. I had the water running. Dad was supposed to be home late, just like always, so I was alone with Kristy in the house. I heard a glass shatter downstairs, and I froze. Oh. Shit. She's drunk again... I swallowed, and put my razor away, and cleaned up my wrist as I heard a shrill shriek of my name being called from downstairs. I covered my arms, and carefully made my way downstairs, hoping she just was hungry, and wanted me to make her some food.

"Karkat... what are you even doing up in that bathroom?" She slurred drunkenly.

"I... I was gonna take a bath-"

"BULLSHIT. You're nott even wet." She giggled. She took a deep breath and looked around. "Where's you're brother?"

"O-on a date..."

"So... just you tonight? Yoou know.. the other night,, I saw you... and..what's her name.. making out.. and you, you were getting fris-kay" She giggled, then got serious. "I do NOT...tolerate that behavior in this house... unless it's your kinky, kinky daddy... I think you need a lil lesson on why you don't act that way.." She said, frowning.

"No, Kristy, I SWEAR, we didn't, she was uncomfortable, and asked me to stop, and I did-"

"DO NOT TALK BACK TO ME!" She yelled, tossing her bottle at me. I ducked, but it clipped me on the left side of my head. I fell to the ground, and she got off the couch, and kicked me in the gut. I coughed a few times, and she kicked me again. I got up, stumbled a bit, and held my gut. I was gonna be sick soon, those blows were hard.

"Now.. You.. are too young.. to be having.. sex...especially with her. She's not even...pretty, or.. appealing in the least. If you wanna do it... at least pick an easy one." She slurred. I growled a bit in defense, but couldn't muster any more than that. She walked over to me and got in my face, causing me to choke on the smell of alcohol.

"I bet if you DID do it, you would have been stupid about it... because you are stupid... Speaking of which, I got your report card today. How the fuck do you get a FUCKING C in math, huh? You had an A last semester." She said. She struck me across the face, and I stumbled back, stepping weird on my leg, and falling down. She grabbed another empty bottle off the table, and was prepared to strike me with it, but suddenly, the front door opened, and my dad walked in.

"Kristy, I'm ho-... Kristy.. how.. wha-.." The look of astonishment, fear, and sadness on his face was the worst part of it all. I leaned over, and spit up a little bit of blood from the kick, and My dad just stood, trembling in his place. He pulled out his phone, and called the police, while Kristy begged him to stop. I slumped over, and I remembered him asking for an ambulance as well, then racing over to me, and hugging me tight. I was unconscious after that, And then I woke up in the hospital.

I awoke again, but I didn't open my eyes right away. My face felt wet, and I realised I had been crying as I was asleep. I felt something in my hand. I looked over, and Nepeta had her head down, as if she were praying, which was strange, as she never was religious. She had her hand in mine, and I just gently squeezed it. She suddenly looked up, her eyes red, her cheeks wet with strands of hair sticking to it with tears. She gasped, and sort of lunged forward and hugged me, burying her face in my chest. She sobbed, and just held me.

"Oh, god, Karkat, I thought you...you.." She just sobbed again and held me tight. I lifted my arms, and placed them around her, and just hugged her gently, and all I could think of, was how happy I was she was here, and how sad I was to have to have her see me like this, to find out like this.

"Nepeta..." I said, just hugging her and closing my eyes.