Finally after so long Chapter 6 is here!

Sorry, it took so long to get it posted.

There's been so much going on that I barely had time to write so it took longer than I thought.

Anyway, on with the show!


Darkness.

Coldness.

Pain.

There was nothing but darkness around Lucy. Icy darkness. It felt like pinpricks against her skin. However, every once in a while searing pain would assault her in the depths of the darkness. She would curl in on herself begging for the darkness to take her instead of torturing her.

Lucy felt like she was floating in an icy lake that soothed the searing pain but would cause a different pain in itself. It was like tiny needles stabbing her all over her body. She'd grit her teeth and fight against the needles and searing pain trying to get to the surface of icy darkness that surrounded her.

It felt like days that Lucy was lost in the sea of darkness but every now and then she'd hear voices penetrate the darkness trying to draw her to the surface. She wanted to reach out to them, to call to them. However, she didn't have the strength to do either.

"Will she be okay?" She heard a female voice say softly.

It sounded familiar. Lucy gritted her teeth as she tried to place the voice that she heard. A few memories flash through her mind of a small blue-haired girl with her nose always stuck in a book.

Levy!

That's who it sounded like to Lucy. She wanted to reach out to her friend. She could hear the sadness in her friend's voice and wanted to make it go away. She didn't like when her friend was upset. She wished she could hug her and tell her everything would be all right.

"She'll be fine. She just needs some rest. Don't worry, we're not leaving until she wakes up." Lucy heard another voice that she thought was familiar.

This voice sounded younger almost like a child. Lucy wrecked her brain trying to place the voice. Who did she know that sounded like a child? The flash of pigtails went through her mind. Who wore pigtails besides her? A flash of dark hair in those pigtails appeared. Then arms around a white cat. Who-

Wendy!

That's who Lucy heard. It had to be Wendy.

However, the thought of how are Levy and Wendy there came into her mind. She should be in her hotel room getting some rest before her job, shouldn't she?

That's when the pain flared and the darkness surrounded Lucy to pull her into its depths. She fought against the pull, she didn't want to go back into the darkness. There was no pain there, yes, but she wanted her friends. She didn't care that she was in pain, she just wanted to see her friends.

Something was trying to keep her in the darkness. She wasn't going to let it win. It was her body and she was in control.

It felt like forever but Lucy finally felt her hands curl around a soft fabric. She tried to move her hands again causing them to uncurl. Good. She could move her hands. She tries rolling her shoulders hearing the rustle of the fabric under her. Great. She curled her hands around the fabric again forcing her eyes open. The light burned her eyes after being in the darkness for so long.

Lucy blinked a few times letting her eyes adjust to the brightness of the light above. Her memory was foggy but she didn't remember the ceiling being made of wood planks. She remembered it being stark white. Her brows furrowed as she tried to force her mind to remember but trying to had made her head hurt causing her to groan in discomfort.

It took Lucy a moment before she moved her head to the side only to see the owner of the last voice she remembered hearing.

"Hey, Wendy," Lucy said with a tired smile.

Tears gathered in Wendy's eyes as she smiled back. "Lucy." She sniffled. "You're awake." It took everything she had not to run over and hug her friend. A look of confusion came over Lucy's face. Wendy tilted her head. "You don't remember?" She asked.

It took a moment before Lucy shook her head. "Last I remember was getting ready to take a nap before I had to go do the job I was on." She explained before scrunching her eyes shut. She felt like there was something that she was forgetting. But she couldn't put her finger on it. "I remember-" She groaned as her hand went to her head and a pain shot through it. Her eyes shot open. "Peppe! Where's Peppe?" She said shooting upright but wrapping her arm around her mid-section. "Ow!" She groaned.

"Easy, it's okay. You're at the guild." Wendy exclaimed as she rushed to Lucy's side. "Peppe's fine. He's with Bickslow and the others." She explained calmingly.

"How-" Lucy tried saying before she let Wendy help her lay back down. "How did I get here?" She asked.

However, before Wendy could answer the door opened. Laxus stepped into the doorway and leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed. Wendy smiled at him and went to open her mouth but he shook his head. He didn't want her telling Lucy it was him but Wendy rolled her eyes.

"Laxus brought you," Wendy said turning her head from the brooding dragon slayer that glared at her.

Lucy's eyebrows shot up as her jaw dropped in shock. "How?" She whispered.

Wendy giggled gaining a growl from said Dragon Slayer behind her.

Laxus sighed before looking away from the girls. He didn't want to explain how but both girls were now looking at him for an answer. He wanted to growl again but not at them. He wanted to growl in frustration. He fought the urge to shuffle his feet.

"It's no big deal," Laxus said refusing to look back in their direction.

Lucy's eyes widened as she looked him over. "Are you hurt?" She asked as she tried to sit up again.

Wendy snapped her head to look at Lucy. "Lay down, you're still recovering. I may have healed you but your injuries were bad." She scolded.

Laxus looked at Lucy and titled his head. "No." He answered in confusion. "Why would you ask that?" He asked.

Lucy pointed at him. "You're covered in blood. And a lot of it." She whispered knowing he'd be able to hear her being a dragon slayer after all.

Laxus looked down at his shirt and cursed under his breath. He forgot about that. He was going to go change but got sidetracked talking to his Gramps. They were just leaving his office when Laxus caught Lucy's voice and needed to see for himself that she was awake. Changing his clothes didn't seem as important as it was to see that she was okay. Which to him was strange but he had this urge to see her.

Laxus cleared his throat looking away again. "It's not mine." He said before turning to leave. "Rest up. You need it." Is all he said before walking away.

Lucy sighed and then grumbled before laying back down. "Talk about rude." She said.

Wendy looked down not sure if she should tell Lucy or not. However, she felt that Lucy deserved to know the truth. She knew she would feel bad but she'd at least understand his attitude.

Wendy sighed. "It was your blood that was on him." She said before hearing a soft gasp. She nodded. "Yeah, he didn't want you knowing but I felt you needed to." She explained before looking up and giving a sad smile.

Lucy stared at the door in thought, trying to process the information that Wendy had just dropped on her. For one, she was apparently injured badly enough that it left Laxus covered in blood—a lot of it. Two, Laxus had brought her to the guild. How? She had no clue, and right at that moment, she didn't have the brain power to try to figure it out.

Lucy sighed and laid her head back down on the pillow. All of a sudden she felt exhausted. She closed her eyes for a moment she just needed to rest her eyes for a minute. Blowing out a breath, she let her body relax.

Wendy smiled as she heard Lucy's breathing even out. She knew that Lucy was tired she could sense it in the way she moved. She was glad that she was okay. She didn't know what to do if something really bad had happened to Lucy to where even she couldn't heal her. That was her worst nightmare, not being able to help those who were dear to her.

"You should go home and get some rest." Wendy heard from behind her.

Wendy turned and saw Gajeel standing in the doorway. She wasn't surprised to see him since she did smell him but she thought he was going to Master's office or something, not coming to the infirmary.

Wendy smiled at him. "I'm fine. Lucy needs someone here for when she wakes up again. She's probably going to be in and out for a while." She said turning back to Lucy.

Gajeel moved from the doorway into the room and to her side. "I'll stay." He said taking a seat in the chair next to Lucy's bed.

Wendy raised an eyebrow. "You want to sit with Lucy and watch her sleep?" She asked trying, and failing, to hide the laughter in her voice.

Gajeel shook his head. He knew something like that was coming but he hated that he walked right into that one. He sighed and looked at the blonde lying on the bed. She was one of Levy's best friends so he still had the urge to protect and stay by her side until he knew she going to be awake longer than a few minutes.

"Not like that, Squirt. Shrimp would kill me if I didn't make sure she was going to be okay and that you didn't get some rest after everything you did." Gajeel explained giving her a sharp look. "Now, get home and get some rest. We've got this." He said nodding his head toward the door.

Wendy was about to ask who this 'we' was but saw Lily jump up onto the end of Lucy's bed. She sighed but nodded knowing nothing would happen to Lucy with both of them there. She probably could leave Lucy on her own but she didn't feel right about that.

"All right, I'll be back later then," Wendy said before looking over Lucy one more time and honing into her breathing and heart rate.

"Go, I've got her." Gajeel sighed shaking his head.

It felt like Wendy had forgotten he was a Dragon Slayer, too, and could hear all the same things she could. He knew he was no healer but he could at least keep track of her vitals. He wasn't that stupid.

Wendy sighed but nodded as she headed for the door. She didn't realize how tired she really was until now. She walked out of the infirmary and into the main hall of the guild hall. Everyone perked up at seeing her and she knew why. That meant Lucy was going to be okay otherwise she wouldn't be leaving and they knew that.

"Carla, let's go home. I'm told I need to get some rest." Wendy said with a tired smile.

Carla nodded and walked over to her before they both left the guild.


Laxus wanted to curse himself for letting Lucy see him like that. He didn't want her to know it was him who brought her to the guild. She'd feel bad for making him do that even though he'd do it over again in a heartbeat. She was family, he'd do anything for family.

Laxus threw off his shirt into the dirty hamper. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to get all the blood out of it but he would try. If he couldn't he wasn't never going to wear it again because it'd be a reminder of what almost happened and he didn't need that. He didn't think anyone would want that reminder.

Laxus stared at the shirt and decided no, just having that shirt would be enough of a reminder. He grabbed it and took it to his living room before throwing it into the blazing fireplace. He watched it burn as the tension in his body eased some. He let out a breath of relief as it continued to burn into nothing.

"That's a bit extreme, don't you think?" Laxus heard a female voice from behind him.

Laxus sighed. "No. It'd be a reminder of what almost happened. What I almost let happen. She almost died, Ever and it would have been my fault if she did." Laxus growled watching the flames crackle.

Evergreen sighed as she crossed her right leg over her left knee. She knew there was no talking him out of the thought. He just needed to go through the motions before realizing there was nothing anyone could have done differently to prevent what had happened. She watched him warily. She had her glasses off just in case. An angry Laxus was a dangerous Laxus and she didn't want to be his next target.

"Put your glasses back on." Laxus sighed dragging a hand down his face. "I'm fine. I just needed to get rid of that thing. Her blood-" He growled. He couldn't even think about her blood. "I couldn't stand smelling it." He finished.

Evergreen nodded putting her glasses back on trusting him to stay clear-headed. She understood where he was coming from. He would've been the same way with anyone else's blood too. She watched Laxus walk back toward what she knew was his bedroom. She knew not to follow him, not when he was like this. She'd normally be on his case for acting like this but she knew when to push and when to let it be.

Laxus walked into the bathroom before turning on the hot water in the shower. He watched steam fill the room as he stripped out of the rest of his clothes. He looked at his pants and growled smelling the scent of Lucy's blood coming from them. They were black so the blood couldn't be seen but he could smell it. He threw them toward the bathroom door figuring he'd throw them in the fire once he was finished in the shower.

Stepping under the scorching water Laxus let his muscles finally relax. He didn't realize he was that tense and stiff until now. However, he couldn't keep his mind from spiraling over the events that led up to this moment. He knew Lucy was in the same town as him and his team he should have kept a better eye on her than what he did. He thought having one of Bickslow's totems would be enough to watch over her.

Laxus was wrong.

Oh so wrong.

Laxus wanted to growl at himself. He should have lightning-traveled to her location instead of running with his team. Maybe he would have made it in time to protect her from getting injured like she did. Either that, or he was fooling himself. There was no way to change how everything went. He just had to live with the consequences of those actions.

Laxus made a vow right then and there that he would never let one of his guild mates down like that ever again. He would do everything he could to keep them safe even if it killed him.

And Laxus wouldn't let anyone get in his way of doing just that.


It didn't take long for the mission to be completed. Just a few hours. They'd stay the night in the town they were in before leaving for home. Lisanna was hoping it would have taken longer but of course, with Natsu, they sped through the mission. She felt all she did was just sit there and watch Natsu fight. Not that she minded but she wanted to get a hit or two in too. That's why she wanted to go on a mission because was tired of not doing anything.

They had just got back to Magnolia and Lisanna was dreading going to the guild knowing that something bad had happened to Lucy while they were gone. Natsu was following sluggishly behind her. He was still suffering the effects of being on a train. She was glad for that at the moment. As soon as he heard about Lucy she knew he'd go ballistic and she wasn't looking forward to that.

They walked into the guild and it was silent and that's what got Natsu's attention. His head snapped up and looked around. It was somber. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the guild. His nose twitched catching a scent that he knew way too well.

Natsu didn't even realize he dropped to his hands and knees as he sniffed the floor going straight to the spot in the middle of the guild where everyone knew was where Laxus had landed with a bleeding Lucy.

Natsu smelled Laxus but he also smelled something that overpowered that scent by a hundred. It was Lucy's blood and a lot of it. Way too much of it.

Natsu's eyes widened as he growled. "Where is she?!"


When Wendy said Lucy would be in and out she wasn't kidding but Gajeel stayed nonetheless by Lucy's side, even when Levy joined them. It was a good five hours since Wendy left. It was the next morning and Lucy was still sleeping while Lily, Levy, and himself were a game of cards to pass the time.

Lily and Gajeel's ears twitched as a noise came from the hallway. Gajeel put down his card and turned his head toward the door as it slowly opened and a helmet-covered head poked through the opening.

"What do you want?" Gajeel growled lightly.

Bickslow put his hands up in surrender. "Just wanted to see how she was doing. Plus, Peppe wanted to see her. He's been worried since we got back." He said opening the door wider for said totem to fly in and toward Lucy.

Lily put his cards down and stood up on the end of the bed, his paw going to his sword. "Disturb her and I'll slice you in half." Lily declared.

Gajeel and Levy looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Levy tried to hide a smile but failed before shaking her head. Gajeel sighed sliding a hand down his face.

"Lily, leave it. The flying pest won't bother her." Gajeel said pointedly at Bickslow.

Bickslow shook his head. "Nope! He won't, I promise!" He stammered.

"He better not." Lily huffed before sitting back down and picking up his cards.

Peppe flew around Lucy inspecting her from head to toe, making sure she was really okay. He didn't like that she was hurt because of him. Bickslow could feel how the little guy felt, and it made him feel sorry for the totem himself. He knew Peppe shouldn't blame himself but that's not how Peppe saw it. He was the one that was possessed not anyone else.

Bickslow sighed as he watched the totem land on the pillow next to Lucy's head. He wanted to go home too but didn't want to deny the little guy the chance to check on Lucy himself. He stood leaning against the door frame for a few minutes before clearing his throat. He didn't want to rush Peppe but they needed to go.

"Come on, Peppe, we got to go," Bickslow said beckoning the totem with his hand. Peppe whined but flew up and over to Bickslow knowing if he didn't he'd get in trouble. "You can see her later okay, let her rest." He said as he walked out of the infirmary with the totem following behind.

Gajeel sighed before sitting back down and picking up his cards. He knew that everyone would come in to check on and to see how Lucy was doing but this was ridiculous.

It was an hour later and a few hands of cards later when the rustle of sheets sounded from next to them. They watched Lucy sit up and stretch her arms over her head before letting her arms fall to her sides. She rubbed her eye before looking around the room only stopping short when she saw the three of them sitting there with cards in their hands.

Lucy blinked a few times before opening and then closing her mouth deciding she didn't want to know. She shook her head before taking in her surroundings again. A frown appeared on her face. She was hoping it was a dream that she was in the infirmary but it seemed she was wrong. She sighed as she deflated. She was hoping to be home in her own bed.

"How are you feeling, Lu?" Levy asked placing her card face down on the table.

Lucy looked over at her and smiled. "I'm all right. Was just hoping it would have all been a dream that's all." She sighed.

Levy looked over at Gajeel. "Think we can take her home? Let her get a shower and get changed?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

Gajeel wanted to say no, that Wendy would be worried if Lucy wasn't here when she got back but he knew Lucy would feel better in her own apartment. He would just have to explain to the squirt later.

Gajeel sighed. "I don't see why not. I'll let Wendy know later that you went home." He said with a huff before getting to his feet and stretching his arms over his head.

Lucy perked up with a smile at that. She was overjoyed to be able to go home take a bath and get a change of clothes. Gajeel looked away from the bright eyes and smiled.

Lucy was about to get up when a ruckus sounded outside the door. Lucy looked at Gajeel since he had the super hearing.

Gajeel sighed and then grumbled. "Those idiots." He said walking to the door. He pulled the door open only for a large pile to fall to the floor in the doorway. "Seriously?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at the pile of clothes and limbs.

Gray sat up and rubbed his head. "What the hell, Ash Breath!?" He snapped as Natsu sat up rubbing his head while glaring at him.

"Don't 'What the hell' me, Ice Prick! It's your fault!" Natsu countered getting Gray's face.

Lucy sighed in exhaustion. She was getting tired just watching the exchange. It was a tad comforting that some things hadn't changed but now wasn't the time for bickering in her eyes. She just wanted to go home.

Gajeel growled grabbing the back of their shirts and picking them off the floor. He had enough of them. He carried them out of the room and over to the railing. He hung them over watching their faces pale as they looked down.

"Now, shut up, or I'm dropping you right onto Gildarts' table," Gajeel said glaring at both of them.

"We'll behave!" Both Gray and Natsu cried.

Gajeel huffed before putting them on the ground. "Now, I'm taking Lucy home, do NOT bug her! She needs her rest." He ordered before going back to the infirmary.

"If she needs rest then why are you taking her home?" Natsu asked slumping on the floor.

Natsu didn't want to see Lucy go home before she should. If she needed rest then in his eyes she should stay there at the guild.

Gajeel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because she deserves to be able to get a shower and a change of clothes. Not to mention, she's been here since yesterday afternoon." He explained before walking back into the infirmary. "Let's go before I have to deal with any more idiots today." He grumbled watching Levy help Lucy out of bed.

Lucy stretched feeling a few pops here and there because of lying down for too long. She tested her legs to make sure they could hold her weight and not give out on her before nodding. She was ready to get home. She felt dirty and just wanted her own bathroom and bed.

"I'm ready!" Lucy said giving a smile.

Gajeel nodded and led the way out of the infirmary, past Natsu and Gray, and down the stairs. He glared at anyone who looked as if to say something. He just wanted to get her home without getting bombarded by everyone. She could deal with all of that when she felt better.

The whole way to Lucy's apartment Gajeel kept his senses honed in on Lucy's vitals to make sure she was okay walking. Levy stayed by her side as they walked. Levy was keeping the conversation light so as not to overwhelm Lucy. His nose twitched as they got closer to her apartment. He smelled something off that caused him to stop in the middle of the sidewalk making the two girls walk right into him.

"Gajeel! What the H-" Levy's words died on her tongue as she studied his face. "What's wrong?" She asked instead.

Gajeel sniffed the air. He could smell the Thunder Legion. He knew they stopped here on their way to the guild but they didn't bring anything with them which he found odd. He also smelled Team Natsu, though their scent was faint, meaning it's been a while since they've been there. There was another scent that he couldn't place.

"Stay here. Something doesn't smell right." Gajeel said before going up to Lucy's apartment himself. Once he got there he saw the apartment was trashed. "What the fuck!?" He growled before going back outside.

"Gajeel, what's wrong?" Levy asked going up to him.

Gajeel looked over to Lucy. He didn't know if he felt okay with leaving her here. He looked back at the apartment and then back to Lucy. He hated not being able to make up his mind on something.

Gajeel sighed. "You have two choices. You can stay here but me and the Shrimp here, will be staying too or you can go stay with Levy until I can get Natsu, Laxus, and Wendy here to help figure out who just trashed your place." He said crossing his arms across his chest daring her to argue with him.

Lucy sagged in defeat. She just wanted to get a hot shower and sleep in her bed. Was that so much to ask? She didn't think so.

Levy looked at her and smiled. "We'll stay here and help clean up." She said before looking at Gajeel. "Can you get the others while Lucy's showering?" She asked.

Gajeel sighed not liking leaving the girls on their own but he knew he didn't have much choice. He nodded letting his arms fall to his sides.

"Wait," Lucy called. "Would it be better to wait at the guild so we don't disturb the scent?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

Gajeel shook his head. "No, it's fine. We can tell the difference in the scents. Don't worry, we'll figure this out while you get cleaned up." He said before walking back toward the guild.

Lucy looked at Levy and sighed. "Shall we?" She asked holding her hand out toward her apartment building.

Levy shrugged. "Sure, let's go."


And that's that Chapter!

I hope you're enjoying this story!

And thank you all for the support!