A/N: Sorry for the wait. Been busy with the Mass Effect series. Anyway, NEW CHAPTER!

Chapter 20: Aftermath

Angel slammed through the doors of the Crimson City Hospital with Nickoli and Patrick carrying Z-12 between them, the sword still in his stomach. Lynn and Patrick decided to inform Lilith and the other adults of the situation, taking Zver with them so he didn't cause a problem in the city. Angel practically tackled the front desk and barked "We need a doctor! My brother's been stabbed!" The receptionist immediately picked up the phone and called for a doctor while a nurse grabbed a gurney for Z-12. Angel had tears pouring down her face as they carted her brother away, doctors calling for health vials to offset the damage they would do removing the blade.

Angel paced a bit before moving up to Nickoli and barking "What the hell were you thinking!?" Nickoli had an offended look on his face as he replied "I was thinking I needed to save the two of you!"

"You promised me to go when I told you!"

"Did you seriously think I would just leave you and Z-12 behind?"

Angel brought her hands to the side of her head and snapped "How am I supposed to trust you after this!?" Nickoli dragged his hand down his face and replied "Because I'm your boyfriend! No matter how much you threaten to dump me, you… you… cyka!" Zer0, Maya, Krieg, Claptrap and Zver practically barged through the doors of the hospital as Angel slapped Nickoli across the face. Zver immediately jumped between Angel and Nickoli, the cyber stalker protecting Nickoli out of instinct as Claptrap rolled over to Nickoli. "Minion! Commander Lilith requests your presence on the battlefront! She wishes to speak with you."

Nickoli nodded and replied "Thank you Claptrap." He looked back to Angel, who basically snarled "This isn't over." Nickoli simply stared at her for a moment before walking out of the hospital without a word, Claptrap and Zver following him. Krieg was scolding Patrick for going on the mission while Patrick had his head held down in shame like a child would. Zer0 exclaimed "Maya, take Angel home and talk to her. I'm going to check and see if they've taken Z-12 out of surgery." Maya nodded and Zer0 headed to the desk, Maya ordering "Home, now."

Angel started heading home with her mother right behind her, Angel feeling the energy of her anger the entire time. Maya could feel her daughter's energy in multiple different ways; anger, fear and sadness all flowed and twisted together. They finally reached their home, Maya prepared to explode on her daughter when Angel dropped to her knees in the middle of the room and broke into tears. Maya took a deep breath, pushing her anger aside and going to her knees in front of her daughter. She pulled Angel into her shoulder and letting her let everything out.

Angel cried "I don't know what to do Mom, I just don't know. I'm mad at Nickoli for breaking his promise to me. But the only reason Z-12 is still alive is because Nickoli didn't keep his promise." Angel cried some more into her mother's shoulder before grumbling "I just… I just feel like I'm torn in two about this." Maya took a deep breath before she pulled Angel from her shoulder, staring her daughter in the eyes and advising "Sweetie, sometimes what's right is more important than a promise. As for your brother, he's just like your father, a fighter. He'll pull through this, just like your father would." Angel smiled and wiped her eyes off on the back of her hand, sighing "Thanks Mom."

"Oh, and once your brother is out of the hospital, the two of you are beyond grounded."

"How bad?"

"You may as well consider this a prison sentence, and I'm positive your father will agree."

Angel took a deep breath and sighed "Yes mother." Maya chuckled "Don't worry. I'm sure all of your friends are going through the same treatment. Now, to your room for the next… we'll start with 8 months until your father gets back with your brother."

O00000O00000O

Zer0 stood outside his son's room in the hospital, watching the doctor perform a few tests before exiting the room. Zer0 continued to stare at his son in the bed as the doctor updated "He's going to be okay, but there were a few complications." Zer0 sighed "What went wrong?"

"We were able to remove the blade, but the sword severed his spine. He still has most of his functions, but… he won't be able to walk ever again."

Zer0 brought his hand to his mouth and let his breath out of his nose, attempting to process what he was just told. "My son is paralyzed because he tried to stop a war." Zer0 thought as he watched his son sleep. He finally took his hand from his mouth and questioned "Can I sit inside the room with him?" The doctor nodded and replied "Of course sir." The doctor left as Zer0 entered the room and pulled up a seat to Z-12's right, sitting down and resting his elbows on his knees, intertwining his fingers and resting his chin on them.

He sat like that for a moment, Z-12 finally starting to come to with a weak smile and a forced "Hey Dad." Zer0 smiled and replied "Hey Z, how are you feeling?"

"Well… if I wasn't feeling great, I wouldn't be doing this."

Z-12 remained lying down, forcing Zer0 to question "What are you doing?" Z-12 groaned "Cartwheels. Am I not doing them?"

"No son, you aren't."

Z-12 let out a breath and groaned "Damn. Hey Dad, why can't I feel my legs?" Zer0 dropped his head and rubbed his neck, sighing as he answered "Because your accident left you paralyzed from the waist down." Z-12 reached out and took his father's hand, assuring him "Don't worry Dad, everything is going to be okay." Zer0 couldn't help but smile at his son's optimism, or maybe it was all the drugs in his system.

"Hey Dad, remember when you asked me if I could live with the man I am?"

"Yes, yes I do son."

"Well, I think-", Z-12 started before something came flying through the window and crashed onto the floor. Z-12 watched as a man that was as tall as his father stood up and brushed himself off, ignoring the shards of glass that protruded from his body. He wore a skin tight red and black suit and carried enough guns to supply an army. He wore a harness that had two pistol holsters on them and two sheathed katanas along with an assault rifle. Two SMGs sat on his thoughts with several ammo pouches along with a few different grenades and throwing knives.

He wore a mask that covered his entire head in red with large black diamonds on his face that lined up with the small white circles that had to be for his eyes. The man threw his arms up and cheered "Hell yes! What a fucking rush!" Zer0 groaned as he stood up "Wade, get out of here. I am in no mood for your bullshit." The man named Wade turned to Zer0 and sighed "Why does that seem to be the phrase of the day?"

"Wade. Leave."

Z-12 questioned "Wade? As in, Uncle Wade?" Wade looked to Z-12, then to Zer0, then back to Z-12, then back to Zer0, then into space (Deadpool: I'm looking at you, readers.) and finally back at Zer0. Wade questioned "Who is this?" Zer0 sighed "This is my son, Z-12. Z, this is your Uncle Wade." Uncle Wade walked over to Z-12 and exclaimed "I didn't know I had a nephew. Anyway, nice to meet you Z-12. I'm your Uncle Wade, but you can call me Deadpool."

Zer0 sighed "What are you even doing here?" Deadpool looked into space as he thought about what he had been doing all morning. He thought about being pulled through the horde of Maliwan, riding one of the drones like a skateboard while Not So Tiny Tina drove an armored Bandit Technical that was painted like something called a Butt Stallion. Deadpool returned to reality and replied "Not important. Anyway, why didn't I know you had a son? I mean, he looks older than Angel so… did you have a kid with another woman!?"

"No, you massive idiot. Z-12 is a clone of me, you were bound to see them out on the Maliwan battlefield."

"Oooooohhh… that makes sense. These shards are getting annoying."

Deadpool started to pull the large glass shards out of him while the smaller ones started to pop out, giving Zer0 an idea. Zer0 questioned "Hey Wade, you and I are the same blood type, correct?" Deadpool nodded and questioned "Whatcha thinking about?"

"Z-12 is in a bit of a situation and he could really use your help. I need some of your blood so I can try and get him to heal."

Deadpool drew one of his throwing knives and was about to stab his hand when Zer0 groaned "A medical transfusion, not a blood pact you idiot!" Deadpool slowly out his knife away with a sad look on his face, groaning "Fine, I guess I'll just…" He reached behind his back and pulled out a packet of blood as he cheered "use this pack I have on me!" Z-12 questioned "Why do you carry around a pack of your own blood?"

"Don't question you elders!"

Zer0 sighed "You'll drive yourself insane trying to figure your Uncle Wade out." Deadpool took the time to hook the pack of blood into the IV, giving his blood to Z-12 in hopes that it would heal his condition. Z-12 took a few deep breaths before slipping into a sleeplike state as Deadpool's blood began to mix with his. Zer0 took a seat and watched his son sleep with a smile, knowing that he was going to be okay. Zer0 sighed "Wade…"

"No. We aren't doing this heartfelt moment."

"Come on Wade."

"No, have you ever known me to do this kind of shit?"

"Well, there was the time with Lilith when-"

Deadpool pointed at him and growled "Don't mention that… EVER. I was just here to help save my nephew. That's it." Zer0 stood up and held his arms out, gesturing for a hug, so Deadpool responded "No."

"Come on."

"Not happening."

"You sure?"

Deadpool pulled a pistol and placed the barrel against Zer0's forehead, growling "Abso-fucking-lutely." Zer0 chuckled and sat down, sighing "I'll send out the call that he's going to be okay." Deadpool crossed his arms and replied "As long as no one else tries to hug me, I'll be fine."

"Maya will probably try, and I'm sure Angel will too."

"Fan-fucking-tastic."

O00000O00000O

Z-12 slowly began to wake up as his body adjusted to his new mix in his blood, eyes nearly blinded against the fluorescent lights of the hospital room. He was barely awake when he felt someone jump onto his, Angel's voice cheering "Z! You're alive!" Z-12 weakly patted his sister's back as he groaned "It doesn't make it easier to breathe when you're on top of me." Angel got off of her brother, only to be swarmed by his mother, who cried "Oh! My baby boy!" She had her arms wrapped around his neck and kissed the top of his head as she cried the same phrase over and over.

"I'm fine Mom. Uncle Wade saved me." Z-12 updated. Deadpool groaned "Why did you have to say that?" Maya immediately went to Deadpool and practically cried "Thank you, thank you so much Wade."

"Please don't. Your husband already tried to get emotional with me already and that didn't work out too well for him."

Maya decided against the hug and wiped her eyes, returning to her son's side with her husband and daughter. Z-12 turned his head towards Deadpool and complimented "Nice swords." Deadpool nodded and replied "Thanks."

"You any good with them?"

"Listen here you little shit."

Deadpool was cut off as Lynn and Nickoli walked in with Lilith behind them, Nickoli and Angel avoiding each other's gazes. Lynn and Z-12 did their own handshake, Lynn exclaiming "It's good to see you back with the land of the living." Z-12 sighed "Great to still be here." The rest of the group began to file in, minus Zver and Claptrap, and General Axton along with Krieg joined them, as well as the three clones. Everyone congratulated Z-12 on surviving and thanking Deadpool for stepping in and saving his nephew, Deadpool taking a spot on the other side of the assassin family.

Everyone was smiling until their ECHOs began to ring, answering bringing up a feed of Dr. Harloc with Lady Maliwan bound and gagged in a chair behind her. Angel had a look that was a mix of fear and rage until Nickoli put a hand on her shoulder, which seemed to calm her down a bit. The doctor smiled her skeletal grin and announced "Hello to all Crimson Raiders and Maliwan personnel, from this point on I will be running this show." Dr. Harloc turned and put a bullet to Lady Maliwan's head, the president of the corporation's eyes going wide with fear as the mad doctor pulled the trigger. Harloc set the pistol off screen and continued "And to end this feeble minded war, which I will win with a simple passcode. To all Zer0 clones, Passcode 21347… Double Zer0."

All of the clones, minus Z-12 seemed to falter before standing straight up, their eyes now a blood red rather than blue. The all grabbed their weapons and pulled them out, seeming like they were prepared to start gunning anyone down. Zer0 quickly grabbed his blade and practically sliced one clone in half while Maya Phase Locked another clone and threw him out the already broken window. One clone had a gun to Angel's head and was about to pull the trigger, but Z-12 grabbed one of Deadpool's throwing blades and threw it into the clone's eye. Through the confusion, Lilith pulled one of Deadpool's pistols and placed it on the side of Z-12's head.

Everyone was frozen in place, except for Angel, whose tattoos were a nearly blinding white as her fist clenched and began to develop a thin coat of ice.

A/N: Well now, hasn't this been eventful? PM or review any thoughts comments or concerns. Until next update.

-Chief