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And thanks again to InsertImaginativeNameHere!

Happy reading!

Chapter 9:
Everyone in life should have a Foggy

-Matt! Claire!-

Foggy?

She had thought that Foggy's voice would help Matt calm down.

She was very, very wrong.

Matt started to freak out again, muttering something about a stick who had found Foggy and Karen and now was going to make him pay for his disobedience. She didn't pay so much attention to the delirious chatter, his health was all she cared about right now.

-Matt. Matt. Calm down- the adrenaline was giving him a sudden strength she couldn't fight for long. Her words were useless. She tried to reach the door, but the blind man pushed her to the floor with his weight, without hurting her. He just didn't want her opening the door. She tried to fight him but he was too strong.

-Guys! What's up in there? Let me in!- she could hear Foggy hitting the door.

-Matt! Matt!- she tried to get his attention once more, still fighting to get out from his grasp, raising her voice to overwhelm Foggy's, but his patience was wearing thin. Somehow she managed to free her hands. Claire took his head and forced the lawyer to look straight in her eyes, forgetting he couldn't really see her. She got worried about how hot his skin was. Fever was no longer just a suspect.

-Matt. Focus. Listen to my voice- she whispered near to his lips. Yelling at him was useless, so she was trying a different approach. It seemed to work. He stopped trying to move, even if he was still keeping her stuck on the ground, one of his legs twisted between hers to make her fall if she managed to make him lose his grip around her chest. -Are you listening to me, Matt?- she kept talking the same way, her voice so low she barely could hear it. She was forcing him to concentrate on something.

-Yes-

Good.

-Can you feel my heartbeat?- it was just a test to try his lucidity. Heartbeats were the easiest thing for him to listen to even with panic.

-No-. Shit. Don't freak out, Claire.

-Focus. I know you can-

No, he couldn't, and that was what was making his panic rise. Without his powers (even if he didn't like think about his abilities with that term), he couldn't tell how many people were at her door, nor if the fear he could hear in Foggy's voice was real.

All Matt could think was that Stick had found out about his forced escape and gone back to Hell's Kitchen. Now his mentor had found them and everyone was in danger simply because he couldn't handle some violence and a few murders.

The fog in his mind wasn't helping.

Nor was Claire's fight against him.

He had to prevent her from opening that door. Unless there was a wall between the two of them and Stick, they weren't safe.

He had to recover quickly.

He could hear Foggy's voice begging to let him in, almost hysterical right now. Maybe Stick was forcing him to say that.

While he felt terrible about it, he couldn't allow this to happen. He was sure his best friend would understand.

-Matt. Focus- Claire's voice was so low he was compelled to concentrate to hear it over Foggy's screams and the smoke in his head. -Look for my heartbeat. Come on-

-Why?- He was getting tired. God, he felt so tired.

The world on fire around him began to get unclear, as if there was some kind of wind making it blur. Lines started to became curves, bending in on themselves in a confused spiral of flames and black...was that ash?

Something was putting out the fire, the black was going to dominate.

No. Please. Not now.

He fought until he could no longer struggle, then he simply passed out, trapping her under his dead weight.

-Claire?! Matt! Open the door!- now she could clearly hear the tone of concern in the blond lawyer's voice. He was still punching the door.

-I'm ok, Foggy!- she called out to reassure him. -I'm coming. Please. Stop doing that!-

I'm coming was actually a big lie, but if he had kept on in that way, neighbors could wind up calling the police, and other troubles were the last thing they needed.

First, she had to find a way to slip out from Matt's body without hurting him. No way. Even in panic, he had done a damn good job, and if she wanted to get out, she had to use less gentle ways.

Sorry, Matt.

She grabbed his shoulders and bought her knees up to help leverage him off her.

It wasn't delicate and probably she'd just added a new bruise on her friend's chest, but he had left her no choice.

He fell with an unconscious moan, but he didn't wake up, fortunately. She wasn't sure she could handle one more of those panic attacks straight away.

Trying to calm down, trembling slightly from a combination of fear and tension, she walked to the door and opened the it, letting Foggy come in.

She had expected to be invisible to Foggy, that he would take care of Matt, instead he barely looked at him. His attention was fully on her as he came closer to her in order to check if she was ok.

-Are you ok, Claire?- he asked hugging her tight -You seem... upset-

-I... I'm ok.- She answered after a second of surprise. Matt was right about him. He really was a good man -I will be, at least-

-Did he hurt you?- he stepped back far enough to look her in the eyes.

-No... It's just...- She took a deep breath to stop the trembling in her voice - When he heard your voice... he... just.. freaked out... he...- Air in. Air out. She attempted to find a way to keep talking without somehow panicking herself. The experience had left her more shaken than she had thought - blocked me to the floor... saying something about a stick... or a cane...I don't know... -

-How is he?- he inquired now she was calmer.

-Bad- Matt's medical situation helped her to quickly recover her cold-blooded strength. She mentally thanked Foggy for offering that distraction -I can't tell how much, because it's not physical. Not just physical, at least. He can't focus-

-Is he running a temperature?-

-I was about to take it when you arrived. But I'm quite sure he is.-

Foggy suddenly, without saying a word, went to the window and closed it, than he did the same for all the doors, except for the one the bathroom. He even used his jacket to block up the space between the door and the floor. Claire was looking at him, asking herself if he'd gone mad during the trip from New York.

She could deal with Matt, not both of them.

-Can I ask...- she began, but he cut her off.

-It's the fever. I didn't realize that before, back in college I just thought he couldn't handle it because of the spins, but now I think I know why... I mean. With this superpowers story...-

Ok. For being a lawyer, he wasn't speaking very eloquently right now, and she was getting really confused by the torrent of words coming out of his mouth.

-Foggy, Foggy, Foggy- she stopped him -Please. Explain yourself. Can you?-

-Wasn't I clear?-

Seriously? Ok. She could handle this. He was little more than a grown up boy.

-Matt chattering about a stick kidnapping people was clear. Now. Take a breath, manage all the files you have your brain, then speak. Can you?-

-Ok, ok. Understood. But he wasn't referring to a stick, anyway. Stick is a guy-

What? Ok. One thing at a time. Matt first.

-What were you saying about fever and superpowers?- she asked.

-When Matt had a fever, back in college, it was terrible. He only could lay in his bed, crying out in some sort of pain. He was completely out of control. He'd told me head spins are worse to him because he can't see the line between sky and earth...- she nodded and shuffled her hand, inviting him to move on. She'd already seen how bad they were -I'd always thought the pain came from that, you know-

-Yeah. Go on-

-But now he'd explained to me about his superpowers, I know he always has to stay focused to prevent being dominated by all the noises out there...-

She got it.

-But the fever could make impossible for him to do that.- she completed. Then, she added -And he's probably scared to death if this Stick blackmailed him by threatening to hurt you-

-... and you-

-We have to lower his temperature- she decided, her professional side taking charge of this crazy situation. Wait. One more thing.

-How did you find us? I thought you would call me back...-

-Yeah. I was. But Matt has been missing for a whole month... and you said...emotional collapse. I had to come and take him back home- he stopped and his cheeks went red -You'd say that's stupid...-

She couldn't avoid smiling, thinking that everyone in life should have a Foggy. Well, not really him, but someone who cared about you the way Foggy was doing for Matt.

He didn't give a shit he was blind or a damn urban superhero strong enough to survive by himself (when he wasn't passing out in some dumpster, or bleeding out in his own apartment, obviously).

-That's not stupid- she stopped him -Actually... it's quite cute of you. He needs someone like you-

-He doesn't. He can take care of himself-

-He needs someone who can help him not to lose his soul-

-I am not his priest-

-You are his family- she concluded in a way that stopped him to replicate to that. -You didn't answer, anyway-

-Well... you said Boston, near MIT... and I did some research. Matt told me you were out of town some months ago, before we took down Fisk, so I looked for your name in Boston and I found you rented this flat- He made it sound so easy, she was surprised nobody had found her sooner.

-I'm glad you're here- she smiled again. In the mean time she took Matt's temperature. She already knew by touching him it was high, but she needed a number -He needs you-

-He needs you too, right now- he corrected -And not just because he is ill-

No. No. No.

Not right now. Please.

Claire took the thermometer off him and cursed when she read it. She hadn't thought it could be so high actually. It was over 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

-Do me a favor- she went back to being an efficient nurse. She had to. She was not going to have this kind of conversation with Foggy. She already knew how important she was to Matt. She had been aware since the time she had told him she was leaving, the sadness in his expression, hidden behind his shy smile, was something she couldn't forget so easily. And the fact that she was able to bring him to reason with a single touch was a confirmation she hadn't needed. -We can't wait for drugs to be effective, actually I haven't given anything to him, not yet. But if things go as you said, we have to lower his temperature as quickly as possible. Trust me, you don't want to see him in panic. Go to the bathroom. Run the cold water. I'll be right back-

-Where are you going?-

-To the ice machine we have in the basement- she replied shutting the door behind her.

The first thing Foggy did once he was alone was obey her orders. The second one was call Stick.

-Are you with him?- the old man asked in his usual cold voice.

-Of course I am- he responded, he really wanted to lie, but his concern for Karen's safety made him tell the truth. Matt was still here with him and Claire, while she was alone with that crazy man and his band of ninjas.

-Bring him to me-

-Not a chance.- somewhere inside him, he found the courage to stand up for Matt -He is ill. He needs to rest and recover-

-He can handle it-

He didn't asked how much he was messed up, or if he was able to move.

Foggy started wondering if Stick was even human, or if he were born without his soul. He was the one who had trained Matt and who had been with him the last few weeks. Was even possible he really hadn't given a shit about his pupil?

-No way- Foggy wasn't going to let this go. Even if he was forced to betray him, Matt was still his best friend, a part of his family, and Foggy would get himself killed before putting him in danger.

He could have managed to do that if he'd found Matt in a good shape, but not with him like this.

Hell, he hadn't even chosen to escape from Stick. He'd collapsed in a damn church! -I'll take him to you, but only when he will be able to stand on his own feet-

Foggy heard Claire's steps and hung up the phone, ignoring what Stick was saying to him. It was probably some kind of threat, but he didn't care. His mind was completely focused on his best friend right now. He let the cold water fill the tub, and when she stepped into the room, she found him on Matt's side, one hand on his shoulder, the other putting his black shirt on his forehead, soaked with fresh water. He hadn't intended to use that, that clothes still reminded him of that damn night, but that was the first thing he had seen in her bathroom without searching her furniture.

He helped her put the ice in the cold water, and then the two of them took off Matt's clothes and lifted him by his hands and legs to put him in the tub.

The cold water woke Matt up with a scream of pure terror, the kind that made them wish they would never have to hear something similar again, not from him at least, while he started to scramble out of it in a way both of them had never seen before. It was like he was falling down into a basin full of piranhas. Foggy and Claire took his hands, one from each side, hoping he would not try to kill them.

-Matt. It's us- Foggy told him to reassure him, trying to keep his friend's head out of the water at the same time. He was screaming and making strange movements and Foggy didn't want him to swallow any.

-Your temperature is very high. We have to lower it. Please, hold on. Just a minute. Please- Claire begged, caressing his forehead to calm him down.

Foggy didn't know what the magic in her hands (or voice) was, but as soon as she spoke Matt stopped whatever he was trying to do (it was not clear if he was trying to get of of the water, kill them or both). Claire saw the window of stillness and immediately took his hand. She kept talking to him until he finally regained a bit of his lucidity.

He saw his friend take control of his body, forcing himself to stay still despite everything. Matt took deep breaths, closed his eyes. Foggy left him with Claire and went for some warm towels for him.

-Can you hear my heart, Matt?- Claire asked him.

-Barely- he answered. -It's hard...to focus-

-As soon as you are ready we'll get you out of this, ok?-

He didn't need so much time. When he came out, Foggy was ready to wrap him in the towel, rubbing his arms around his chest to warm him up as fast as possible.

Something was wrong with Foggy.

He didn't exactly remember what happened from the moment he'd heard his voice and the second he'd woken up in a tub full of water and ice, but Claire'd told him he had a sort of panic attack before passing out.

According to her, he was terrified about Stick kidnapping and hurting them.

It turned out it was all in his mind. Claire had called Foggy and he'd done everything possible to join them.

Matt believed her words without listening to her heart. He knew she was sincere and he still had some concentration issues even if the fever was now lower.

After the forced bath, he'd managed to sleep for a couple of hours, and now he was feeling better, even if Foggy and Claire didn't want him to get up.

But they couldn't stop him from thinking.

-I'm going to bed, Matt- he heard the nurse's voice near, her hand taking his. She was exhausted, he could hear that in her voice even behind the fog. He felt guilty. She had left New York because all of this, and he had just pulled her in again. -Foggy is going to take care of you tonight. Call me if you need help, ok?-

-Claire?-

-Don't say it...-

-I'm sorry-

He heard her lips skim over his forehead in a soft kiss. He could sense her smiling.

He really wanted to kiss her, hug her and leave the rest behind: Daredevil, Stick, whatever was keeping them apart. He squeezed her hand slightly, tempted to pull her to his chest.

He forced himself to stop and let her go.

-Good night- he whispered with a smile, mostly certain she hadn't seen anything of his internal fight.

-Rest- she commanded. -You are safe and Foggy is here with you-

-I'll try-

-No! Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.-

Matt smiled, getting the quote, then let her hands go and laid his head on the pillow of the couch. She'd wanted to give him her bed, but he refused. There was no need for that. A safe place, the people he cared about were more than enough for him to sleep well.

But he still had to talk with Foggy.

There was something really wrong with him, and now the fog was gradually dissolving in his mind, and that he was able to control his emotions, his fear, he could recognize all the signals coming from his best friend.

He was nervous in a way Matt hadn't witnessed since their first day at Landman and Zack, no need to use his heightened senses for that, being his friend was more than enough.

He didn't worry too much about that; out of their duo, Foggy had always been the more nervous one, and all the situations, with him missing, Claire's call, his panic and everything else that had happened had messed him up, probably.

But still, he could perceive that there was something else, something deeper. Matt tried to focus, but the immediate spin suggested that if he wanted to knew something more, he had to go the human way. No short cut, at least for now.

Foggy was in agony. And still agony was not the right word to describe his situation, and, for a moment, he had considered Matt's fever a blessing, even if that was making him unable to do basically everything. Foggy was glad he couldn't sense his heartbeat right now, otherwise, his friend would have already discovered his secret.

The blond-haired young man couldn't wait for Matt to fall asleep; he felt the need to stay alone and cry.

It was like he had a giant stone on his chest making it difficult to breathe. He was experiencing some kind of physical pain, as if someone had threaded a needle right into the center of his heart.

Foggy didn't know exactly how to handle the whole thing. The message Stick had left him had forced him to choose Karen over Matt, and while he knew it was the right thing to do, and he was aware that his partner would have done exactly the same thing, he still had no idea how to tackle the problem with him, mostly because he was fearing that the Devil of Hell's Kitchen would return to New York immediately. He knew his friend enough to be sure of that. To save them he would agree to leave again, and in his current shape, that would mean nothing but death.

Suddenly, he couldn't just hold on anymore; tears began to drop from his eyes and he just couldn't stop them.

-Foggy?-

Foggy didn't knew anything about Matt's secret. Not at the beginning, at least.

The truth had suddenly hit Karen while she was trying to eat something with the only arm they agreed to leave untied in order to let her eat. Unfortunately, it was the left one, and it wasn't simple try to have a meal with only one hand while you couldn't sit.

The surprise of the revelation made her drop the spoon, the food forgotten in the plate.

Another piece of the puzzle was now in its place.

Foggy discovered his best friend was the vigilante the night of the accident. Foggy probably found Matt somewhere, so badly injured she had jumped when she had visited him a couple of days later, and in that moment he had found out everything.

That's why they didn't speak to each other anymore after that. That's why Matt was so sure the fight was solely his fault.

Karen had always thought she had been the cause of everything, that somehow Foggy had discovered she had a crush on the blind guy that he was secretly returning, mostly because after that, both of them barely spoke to her too.

The blonde had thought that only a big issues like a woman could tear those two apart, but now that she was thinking about it, a blind guy who ran through the city beating people up, hiding some kind of special power, could be a more than valid reason.

That wasn't important right now, anyway.

She would kick both their asses once they got out of this mess, because she would, but now, all she wanted to know was if her friends were ok.

Thanks for reading! Rewievs, PM or whatever you like to use to let me know if you like it or not will be appreciated!