Hello all. Quite the few years we've all had huh? Well through trails and turbulations we all find ourselves right back here. Together. Welcome and I hope these updates work as your escapism.

*507 - Gunshot victim. This is how many of the doctors refer to Lelouch within the hospital.

Chapter Nine.

Kallen and Shirley were in the ICU. The pair had come up from triage to check in with some in-patients under their care. It had been several days since their 507 came in and it's been chaos and stress on all residents involved. After a long high-risk surgery, their patient rested in a medically induced sleep the last 8 days. In that time many "Journalists" have snuck into the wing trying to get photos of the comatose male. Unfortunately rumors of the males' special condition had gotten out, despite the long-winded meetings they all had to attend in rotating shifts. They were asked by police to keep the patient's name and condition under wraps to keep from making this case larger than needed in the media.

" All that fell on death ears... bunch of fucking moochers..." Kallen thought, vexed by the whole ordeal. Now Kallen, Shirley, and their team along with two on-site officers watch out for the patient's room at all hours of the day and night to make sure his door or room was never left unguarded. Kallen wanted to complain about it, but truth of it was she was happy to do it. Over the week, Kallen tended to the male, changing his wound dressings and clothes and in those days, Kallen noticed healing scars and bruises on the males back, chest, and arms. Some were very old and others more recent. He would talk in his sleep of someone named Suzaku and it would always follow with tears. In these moments Kallen would soothe him and in some odd way she bonded with her patient and felt for him. However this happened, whoever had done these things to him, were still around. This person seemed to remind Kallen why she became a nurse. She hated that someone so small was clearly being so horribly mistreated before they even had gotten to them.

And now even in his current condition, people come in here, a hospital, where people are supposed to feel safe and try to exploit him for their own gains. It made Kallen furious when she thought about it.

"Kallen?" Hearing her name called brought the nurse from her musing, she looked up from the paperwork she had been signing at least she thought she was. " You've been staring at that page for 5 minutes, everything alright?" Shirley asked, her large round tow-colored eyes filed with distress. Kallen sighed at Shirley and finished signing her last page.

"I'm fine." She answered, her tone a little more agitation than usual. Hearing herself she sighed again. " It's just been a long week, ya know? I mean coffee can only take us so far, right?" Shirley took her and Kallen's paper's and handed them to the desk nurse. Shirley gave the redhead a tired smile. That smile showed Kallen she agreed. The pair began to walk down the hall, both had patients towards the north of the wing.

"How much sleep did you get this morning?" Shirley asked. Kallen grumbled.

" 'Not enough' hours & 'How much longer do we have to do this shift' minutes." Shirley let out a soft giggle.

"Same, you know someone else tried to sneak in this morning?" Kallen groaned.

"Seriously?"

"Sadly, though this guy didn't make too far, and he was odd..." The brown-haired girl began to ponder. Kallen raised an eyebrow at co-workers perplexed look.

"He couldn't be any weirder than the guys we caught coming in here before, remember the guy who had the beard neck?" Shirley shuddered at the thought.

"Yes, he smelled like rancid cream cheese," She responded. " But this guy kept saying he wasn't media. Just needed to see him."

"God, I hope he isn't somehow getting fanboys from this."

"Me too, people can be so cruel to each other." Just as Kallen was to respond, they hear them. The pained wails of the inconsolable. The hall froze as many of the residents had never heard such pained howl.

"Is..." Shirley began to inquire.

"I think that's coming from our 507's room!" Kallen yelled. As the realization came over them, they took off down the hall along with several other residents. Kallen paged for Ohgi as they made it to the door. Bursting into the room, the sight that took hold of them was gut wrenching. Lelouch, their 507 had ripped the I.V. from his arms, causing intense bleeding as well as ripped his own feeding tube out, he was crying and screaming uncontrollably while holding himself. Kallen looked at each other then rushed into the room. Soon after Ohgi, Rivalz, and several others rushed in.

"Ohgi! He's ripped his I.V.'s!" Shirley alerted him as her and Kallen began to restrain the patient.

"Rivalz get the sedative! We're going to have to put him back under!" Ohgi commanded. The small male nurse nodded and raced out the room to get kit ready.

"Sir please you have to calm yourself!" Shirley pleaded, but the poor raven continued to scream. "Sir Please!"

"He seems to be in shock, he has been through a lot!" Ohgi deduced. Kallen looked at Oghi and then to the raven fighting against them. Thinking about what Oghi-San had said, the red head stopped holding down the raven and walked to the end of the bed.

"Lelouch-San..." Shirley and Oghi looked at each other and then to Kallen.

"Kallen what are you doing we need your help before he hurts himself!" Oghi yelled, but Kallen ignored him. Standing on the tips of her toe's, Kallen though erratic with his movements. The redhead got a hold on Lelouch's face forcing him to look her in the eyes. Steel harden blues full of fire pooled into dimmed violet filled with sorrow.

"Lelouch, do you know where you are?" The raven began to stiffen, no longer fighting them as he was focused on the nurse before, her voice oddly so familiar and comforting. Slowly he nodded than his eyes began to fill with unfalling tears, with a broken coarse voice he whispered;

"My... baby..." After those words, Lelouch began to sob uncontrollably " My baby!" he cried out. His head dropped from Kallen's hands. "M-my baby..." The room fell silent has Lelouch's broken voice filled the room. Pleading for his baby. The residents in the room looked at each other. The shame of being so stupid washed over them. Even Rivalz who had quietly returned held his head in shame. The raven had been under for 8 days, of course he the first would notice his large belly was down only to be replaced by horrifying scar. The leaps his mind must have made.

"Lelouch, listen..." Kallen whispered, gently lifting the raven's head so they were eye to eye. " You're baby... Their alive."

Lelouch sat quietly as the redheaded nurse wrapped his arm with graze. He doesn't really remember much after waking other than this nurse, Kallen, holding him so gently in that moment felt like he would fall apart without her. This woman felt so familiar, he felt as though he heard her voice in a dream somewhere. The room was slightly abuzz with residents cleaning the mess he caused with his outburst. After Kallen had calmed him down, she explained an emergency Cesarean section was performed on him during surgery. Since his child was a premature, they were housed downstairs in the NICU where they will stay until they mature enough to survive on the outside. Lelouch apologized for the way be behaved, but they seemed so kind and understanding to him and his situation, but it only made him feel worse. To cause such a ruckus over a misunderstanding.

He was so relieved to hear his child survived, but for some reason, Lelouch still felt so... hollow. He felt like he should be washed with so many emotions, but all he can think about was how he's baby deserved to come into the world under better circumstances. He should have been stronger, so they didn't have to suffer so...

"Are you alright Kururugi-San?" The doctor asked, bring Lelouch from his thoughts. The raven looked up from lap he didn't know he had been looking at so intently. Being called by his married name pulled harshly at his heart strings.

"Yes..." He said his voice still sounding harsh. "Please... Just call me Lelouch." Oghi noticed how empty the raven's eyes looked making his request but said nothing. Instead walked over to a white cabinet and pulling out brown liquid bottle.

"Seeing as you pulled your feeding out rather roughly. I assume your throat is soar." Lelouch nodded, blushing slightly. " Your lucky you didn't tear any of your esophagus tissue." He said pouring some of the medicine into the top of the bottle. "Taking some of this will help." Lelouch took the top from him and drank the think red liquid. It was bitter, causing him to make a face.

"Yes, it's quite bitter." Oghi laughed. "But it'll soothe you and the pain." Lelouch tried to give a small smile, but it quickly fell. His muscles felt weak, and he was emotionally drained. The aura in the room become thick, everyone around could feel the overwhelming sadness permeate the room from their patient. For once everyone looked at Kallen for an answer. Maybe she could lift his spirits somehow, seeing she was able to bring him back from such a catatonic state. Kallen felt all eyes on her, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

"Assholes, why me? I don't what to say!" Kallen thought for a moment trying to think of a way to bring the raven out of his stupor. Some of the nurses began to leave, having come to the common consensus that Lelouch would be move comfortable in from of fewer people. Once most of the others gone, leaving Oghi, Shirley, and Rivalz. Kallen thought for a moment longer, before it came to her.

"Lelouch, would you like to see your baby?" She asked in a gentle tone. A light flickered in the raven's eyes. Lelouch felt his heart pound in his chest at the idea.

"Yes." He breathed, he wanted to more than everything in the world. He needed this more than anything. Kallen smiled and nodded.

"You got it then."

Lelouch looked up at the pasting fluorescent light fixtures. Remembering faintly how he came into emergency to begin with. Kallen pushed him along down the long bright, white hallway with Dr. Oghi by her side. The hallway was loud much to the raven's discomfort. Lelouch tried to feel... anything, but he felt so many emotions rage within all the while feeling empty. A hole in his chest were the pain, regret, anxiousness, and hurt lived. This feeling was heavy, like chainmail. He was a person with worry, fear, doubt, and with grace. He worried for those who will be hurt by him, those who will be disappointed in him. Was he going to be enough for his baby? Would he only give disappointment?

Kallen noticed her patient looked rather distant, but hoped the visit to the NICU would make him feel better. Kallen was nervous she didn't know how Lelouch would react to seeing their child in such condition. The tubing, the machines, the darkness of the room. Time and time again she seen it be a little much to see someone so fragile hooked up to so many wires. But she knew this was good for him.

Carefully Kallen pushed Lelouch into the elevator Oghi coming in right behind them. Pushing the floor button, the trio quietly waited for the doors to open. When they arrived on the NICU floor, it was quiet, you could hear the faint echos of a fussy newborn, but other than that Lelouch swore you could hear a pin drop. The walls were painted with balloons and others affectionate art to give feelings of hope. Each room had a sticker on them, varying in colors.

"Yeah, it's always quiet down here, it's a good thing though!" Kallen spoke up, figuring the raven was curious. She began to push the male down the "It keeps the babies calm and the dimness helps the babies sleep." Lelouch looked around, looking into each room. Babies, so small and weak sleeping soundly in their oval shaped pods. Was his baby here? Were they in one of these pods? Soon the raven got his answer. Kallen stopped at a door to their right, opening it, revealed a small room with a clear pod, like the ones he seen before in the middle of the room. Oghi and Kallen kneeled down in front of Lelouch.

"Are you alright?" Dr. Oghi asked. Lelouch looked at him.

"This is them?" Kallen smiled and nodded.

"Your daughter's right over there, she's been waiting for you." The raven glanced over to the pod and nodded. He felt like he had been waiting his whole life for this moment. Carefully Kallen pushed him over to the middle of the room, his heart beating wildly. He was so excited and nervous wrapped together tight. Once Lelouch was close enough he let out a small audible gasp. There wrapped in a bright pink blanket was his baby girl. Flush rose pink cheeks, a tuff of curly black hair sat atop of her head like a silk crown and her skin was like porcelain. Lelouch swore she was radiating, wrapped in a heavenly glow. She was so tiny, and frail her tiny fist balled up in her blanket. Elbows furrowed with dimples, with wrists where creases sank. Lastly, Lelouch noticed a small white tube going up her nose. Lelouch was nervous at the idea hold her, but despite it;

"She's beautiful..." Lelouch whispered to himself. So much relief washed over him in that moment. He's baby was here; all the long fatigued filled days and restless nights were worth all of it. This moment, Lelouch had his baby, his daughter.

"We've been calling her Nozomu." Oghi spoke into the quiet room. "She's been one of the sweetest newborns we've ever had."

"True, never really cries," Kallen added. "She even smiles at many of the nurses, she has favorites too." Oghi nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, she was born just shy of 30 weeks, she's still preterm, but after another week or two you should be able to hold her." Lelouch placed his hand carefully on the pod. He watched her chest move up and down slightly.

Nozomu is strong like mom." Lelouch firmed.

"I'm not strong..." He mumbled; Tears began to roll down his cheeks. "I'm pathetic, I couldn't even bring her into this world peacefully." His shoulders began to tremble. The last thing he felt like was strong. He felt feeble, useless. She didn't deserve this, to be in this room. "I mean, look at where we are because I..." The raven began to sob, he was continuously waiting for the next thing in life to happen, for a change, and almost lost the most vital piece in his life. Kallen and Oghi looked at each other with somber eyes. They weren't sure what the truth was that brought this patient to their hospital, but it surely was significant.

"Listen, Lelouch..." Oghi started. " I won't pretend to know what you've gone through; I doubt I would know anything about how it felt if I did, but;" The doctor stepped forward placing his hand on the raven's shoulder. "You're both are here together, sometimes children with their fresh eyes looking at the world may be able to see that which an adults eyes pass over. Like the strength within ourselves." Lelouch looked from 'Nozomu' up at the doctor. Oghi in turned blushed and looked away scratching the back of his neck coyly. Giving inspirational speeches were Kallen's' thing "W-what I'm trying to say is, you're this little girl's whole world right now. The flaws you think you have she doesn't see, just you."

Lelouch looked back his baby girl. Just then long onyx lashes fluttered. Slowly Nozomu eye's opened revealing bright jade eyes. Her eyes searched the room before landing on Lelouch. She smiled as she began cooing, reaching out excitedly. This broke Lelouch, he began to sob quietly. This bubbling feeling taking over all overs, for once it wasn't sadness.

It was joy.

At this point in time, nothing else was supposed to matter, his baby was here, and she was full of life, untroubled by anything. Lelouch knew he had so much to figure out, but just for a while he wanted to stay in this moment. Lelouch smiled, placing his forehead against this cool plastic.

"Hi baby... It's mommy, you're here, we did it." Nozomu cooed, grasping at the air between them. Her virtuous eyes focused on her mother. That noise was music to him, he would never hear a more amazing sound. "Thank you for being here, just be strong, I'll hold you soon, ok?" The raven placed a gentle loving kiss on the glass. "I promised you... on that day."

Oghi looked at and was shocked at the sight of her. A few steps away she had silently begun to cry. Taking in the moment was hard, so much pain, but so much joy and hope being felt from the raven. Oghi walked over to her and put a hand comforting hand on her shoulder. He wouldn't tease her about this. The doctor took in the scene with Kallen. Listening to Lelouch speak lovingly to his baby girl. He was happy and proud; this was why he became a doctor. His team worked hard, and it paid off. Still even though he knew he should stay in the moment. He felt himself wonder, what was next for the male.

"Now that he's awake I'm sure the real circus was about to begin."

The echoing sound of heavy boots bounced off the dark brown painted walls. Overhead hanging fluorescent lights flickered as the figure walked down the long hall full of cells. Those within the cells sneered at the man as he walked by, or looked away hoping he wasn't coming to bother them. After walking for a moment, the guard stopped in front of one cell. Looking into the dark cell he could make out a figure sitting up on his bed his head hung has his hands laid lazily on his lap. Walking up to the cell the officer spoke.

"Hey inmate!" The officer yelled. "They wanted me to come down here and tell you about the update!" The inmates head lifted slightly catching the light, brown hair hung over their eyes. "Your husband woke up; the police are on their way to speak to them soon." A wicked smile formed on the inmate's face.

"About time."