A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you all love this chapter :) Mostly just Natsu's thoughts. (Also, lol, another cliff-hanger ;D)

Also, guys, I'll be going on a little trip from the tenth through the seventeenth, so I unfortunately won't be posting any chapters until I get back. Sorry! (*laughs evilly at the fact that I left you with a cliffhanger and you'll have to wait a week for the next chapter* MWAHAHA ＼(-`‿´- )／)

Chapter Eleven

Natsu was starting to think Gray was in a coma or something. He'd been passed out for a little over a week, and although his breathing had calmed and his fever had gone down a lot, he was still asleep. Natsu hadn't left his side ever since the festival, and had been acting as Wendy's helper, tending to minor injuries and even helping with some of the major ones. Wendy had even lent him a few books on medicine and anatomy, and—to his surprise—he actually thought they were really interesting.

Right now he was stitching up a long cut on Erza's arm; the redhead tended to get injured a lot. It scared him a little that she didn't even flinch as he stuck a needle through her flesh, but he was semi-used to it considering Gray had a fairly high pain tolerance, so he figured it wasn't that odd of a phenomenon.

Cutting the thread, Natsu put the bloodied needle in the tray of water beside him and got up to clean his hands in the bucket of water that was reserved for hand-washing while Erza stretched her arm experimentally. "You're getting pretty good," she commented, pulling the sleeve of her shirt down to cover the stitches.

Natsu shrugged, drying his hands on a rag. "It's not as hard as I thought it was."

Erza shook her head, giving him a knowing smile. "No, it's hard; I think you're just naturally good at it."

"Nah," Natsu said dismissively, a slight blush dusting his cheeks at the praise. Erza shook her head again and left, thanking Wendy at the door.

"She's right, you know," Wendy said, turning in her chair to face him. "I didn't realize how much help I needed until you started offering it."

Natsu was blushing outright now, and he shook his head again. "Shuddup..."

Wendy gave him a fond smile before turning back to her work. Natsu sighed and put away a few things, tidied up a bit, and finally took a seat in the chair beside Gray's bed, having nothing else to do. It was nearing one in the afternoon, so the only thing Natsu had to look forward to was the possibility of more work and dinner. And, as always, that Gray would wake up.

He tilted his head slightly, watching as Gray's chest rose and fell evenly. The sunlight streaming through the window hit the right side of his face, casting half in shadow, and his lips were open slightly, letting out faint exhales every other breath.

Natsu sighed and sat back in his chair, running a hand through his hair tiredly. Why won't he just wake up already? It's getting boring without him... Natsu shook his head. What am I saying? Not having Ice Princess wailing on me twenty-four-seven is... good, isn't it? Frowning, he slouched forward, his hands clasped between his knees. I mean, sure I miss those irritatingly blue eyes, and that dumb smirk he always has that makes me think he knows something I don't, and that infernal eyebrow he's so fond of raising, and hearing his cool voice through those god-forsaken lips— Urgh, what am I saying?! I'm acting like a love-sick puppy!

Jolting, Natsu sat straight up like an exclamation point. Love-sick puppy... love-sick puppy... love-sick... The words rang through his mind on infinite repeat, and he slumped back in his chair and let his head fall back to look up at the ceiling. I don't... love Gray, do I? And how would I even know if I did love him, anyway? I've never been in real love before... But, then again, I've never felt like this with anyone before, either...

He sighed. I mean, I knew I had a crush on him, but I didn't think that I actually loved him. And what do I really know about love, anyway? It's not like I'm an expert on the subject... And how am I supposed to find out for sure? Is there some way to tell? Maybe I should ask someone... But who? I don't really know anyone that well except Gray and Wendy, and maybe Lucy and Erza... I can't ask Wendy, and Gray's obviously out, so I guess that leaves Lucy and Erza, then. But which one of them?

Natsu frowned. Either one will work. I guess I'll just ask whichever one I see first. He nodded. Yeah, that sounds good. I'll do that. Satisfied that he could put away that particular problem for the time being, Natsu turned his attention back to Gray's well-being. He really should've woken up by now. Is he actually in a coma? I guess there's no way to tell without all the machines and stuff we used to have... But surely Wendy would know? So he must be okay. He has to be okay. I need someone to go on jobs with.

He fell forward again and rested his head in his hands. And maybe I do miss him a little... Okay, maybe a lot. I just wish there was some way to make him wake up faster. But no; all I can do is wait.

Natsu sighed. Waiting sucks.

Gray drifted in a gray haze, not really awake, but not really asleep, either. Sometimes he would hear voices; Natsu, Wendy, Lucy, Erza, and many others, but he wasn't sure if they were real or in his head. He dreamed sometimes, too. Mostly about Natsu, sometimes about Lyon and Ultear, and even Ur, once. He also relieved memories; some new, like meeting Natsu or dancing at the festival, and others old, like lighting firecrackers with Lyon and Ul in the backyard, and eating ice-cream on a hot summer day at the pool.

He was aware of what had happened to him—shot in the leg, fainted; all that good stuff—and he wanted to wake up, but he just couldn't seem to do it. He'd been gathering his strength for the past week and was hoping today's attempt at at least getting his fingers to twitch would go better than the last eight had.

Taking a deep breath—mentally, of course—Gray focused on waking his body up, attempting to wiggle his fingers or maybe even open his eyes. For several seconds nothing happened, and he pushed harder, focusing all of his energy on moving, even a little, to let them know he was there.

Finally, his fingers twitched, and Gray let out the mental breath he'd been holding. Yes! I did it!

"Wendy, did you see that?!" Gray's heart lifted at the sound of Natsu's voice.

"Hear what?" Wendy this time.

"His fingers moved!"

There was the sound of Wendy's chair creaking, and her voice was much closer when she said, "I didn't see anything. Are you sure?"

Yes! Gray shouted inwardly. I'm here, Wendy! C'mon, brain, let me wake up! He concentrated very hard, and this time it was easier to make his fingers move. Yes! I must be waking up!

"There! It happened again!" Natsu shouted, and Gray could practically imagine his hopeful expression.

"You're right!" Wendy exclaimed, and he could feel them both near him now. A warm hand slid in to his, and Gray was shocked to realize it must've been Natsu's, because it was too big to be Wendy's, and he'd definitely felt this palm before. "Gray," Natsu said, "if you can hear me, squeeze my hand."

Okay, Gray thought, he wants a squeeze, I'll give him one. Focusing even more intently then he had before, Gray squeezed Natsu's hand. He'd intended on squeezing hard to make the boy squeal, but unfortunately, all he could manage was a gentle push.

"He squeezed it!" Natsu yelled. "He squeezed my hand! Wendy!"

"He must be waking up, then. Although, it might take a while. I doubt he's strong enough to open his eyes right away."

Challenge accepted, Gray thought, tugging mentally at his eyelids, shouting at them to rise. C'mon, damn it! I know I've rested long enough!

Natsu leaned over Gray, watching him intently. He realized he was closer to the boy's face than he probably should be, but he could care less at the moment. "You should sit down," Wendy told him as she walked towards the door. "I'm going to get an apple. Want anything?"

Shaking his head, Natsu continued watching Gray, ignoring Wendy's suggestion to sit. But after about eight minutes of staring and nothing happened, Natsu realized that standing over him when he awoke would look highly creepy, so he reluctantly sat down, still on the edge of his seat, despite himself.

Eventually he slouched back a little, yawning. He hadn't been getting much sleep lately, and it was starting to get to him. "C'mon Gray," he murmured, closing his eyes. "Wake up..."

Natsu jerked away, breathing heavily. He'd had a nightmare again; that same bright light shining in his eyes, and the same searing pain across his back. He'd had it every night that week, and had yet to tell anyone about it. Letting out a sigh, Natsu sat back in his chair, running a shaky hand through his hair. He glanced around, but Wendy was still gone. I must not have slept very long, he reasoned, glancing around the room.

Now done re-orienting himself with the room, and assuring his panicked heart that he was safe, Natsu relaxed and finally glanced down to Gray. His hair was hanging over his forehead in messy waves—Natsu had discovered it got that way when un-brushed—and his skin looked less pale with the sun shining on it.

His irises were the same navy— Wait. Irises. Blue. Natsu jerked out of his seat, knocking his chair backward.

Gray's eyes.

They were open.

A/N: Boom.

Silver. Out. (~￣▽￣)~