Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Return To Me ( Chapter 27 )

WARNING: LANGUAGE!

Note: Because of the amount of review responses to the last chappie, and the length of this chappie, I won't be able to respond to all. If I didn't reply to you here, I will add you in next chappie's review responses.

 

Kat: The blow up was bound to happen one day…it was only a matter of time.

MarikIshtar77: I need to figure out the best death for Eric….so many choices.

Caterfree: Robbie will be okay…I promise.

Uke Kit and Uke Io: I know it was a bad cliffie. Nobody died…I couldn't kill Robbie off.

Black kaytee: my chappie was too big to allow review responses. I reposted the chappie.

Tari Helyanwe: Robbie's not dead….I won't let anything happen to him

a-song: I can use that song at some point, but some lines fit them and some don't. The idea was good, though.

Broken Time: No, I didn't kill Robbie.

Kura Magician girl: Aten and the Robbie and the porn movie was priceless…I had to have the boys get into something of Seto's.

Valea: I don't know why no one told Aria about Isis' prophecy…maybe nobody wanted to worry her…but then again, Yami's magic did interfere with the magic of the necklace.

…..hi: I have plans for Robbie later on in the series. I need him for a little bit longer. After that…you will get your wish.

Gracemonkey: I'll have to look up the song.

Dragon Mistress: Evil cliffies are good.

 

Return to Me

 

Robbie cringed as Eric's target fell to the floor. A dying tree branch fell onto the ground, mixing with an already-dead victim's blood. Eric cocked the gun with a grin.

“Scared yet, Morgan?”

Robbie swallowed hard. Who wouldn't be afraid with the barrel of a gun pressing against their foreheads?

“Eric…don't do this.”

Eric narrowed his eyes and pistol-whipped Robbie sending him to the ground. “Because of you, I lost all respect!” Eric kicked Robbie's head again, making a new wound. “Because of you, Morgan, I'm the laughing stock of Domino High! I should kill you now, you fucking cripple!”

Robbie closed his eyes tightly, awaiting another shot from Eric.

“As far as I'm concerned, Morgan, I have what I want now! I'm now part of the greatest group in Domino! You're no longer useful.”

Robbie screamed as Jason and Eric attacked him again, kicking his bad foot and his stomach. The group stood around cheering for the two assailants. They clenched their fists and yelled at Robbie angrily.

“TAKE THAT FAGGOT!”

“BREAK HIS SKULL, ERIC!”

“BEAT HIM TO DEATH!”

“SLIT HIS THROAT!”

Robbie tried to curl up into a ball, but Eric grabbed him and picked him up by his hair. Robbie whimpered in pain as the blood trickled down his cheek.

Eric saw Robbie trembling in his grip. “Are you afraid of me now?”

Robbie looked at Eric with contempt. “Disgusted.”

Eric punched Robbie sending him to the ground. “Wrong answer.”

Robbie opened his eyes, his vision clouded over. The world began to spin. He rested his head on the bloody dirt beneath him, panting heavily, his body sore and trembling from the assault.

Jason looked down at the victim. “He's as good as dead here as anywhere, Eric.”

Eric narrowed his eyes. “True….but…..I'd much rather have him see his boyfriend before he dies. Aten will suffer, too. I'm sure the last thing he would want is to see poor innocent Robbie naked, bloody, and beaten.” A grin crossed the boy's lips. “That's what we're going to do. Dump him back home. We'll let Robbie take one look at Aten before he dies.”

Jason held up his hands. “Wait, what if he tells the cops where our meeting place is?”

Barnes chuckled. “I AM the Chief of Police, Mr. Ford. You have nothing to worry about.”

Eric leaned down and grabbed Robbie's hair. He released his grip and found his hand covered in blood. “Robbie won't be telling anyone about this, Jason. Not from the look of his blood loss!”

“DIE, ROBBIE, DIE!” the crowd shouted.

Robbie panted and closed his eyes. `No….must….not….'

“I think it would be best if Aten sees you before you suffer a major hemmorage, Rob. You don't look too good.”

Jason and Eric picked up Robbie and dragged him to the white van. The driver sped off for Robbie's home.

Robbie's vision faded and returned as he felt two pairs of hands tug on his pants and tear his shirt open.

Their laughter rang in his ears as he laid helplessly on the floor of the van.

Everything went black…..

********************************

Miranda turned the page of her magazine. Her legs were comfortably tucked underneath her as she read. She looked around with a sigh. Robbie must still be at Aten's.

The house had been empty….something she was still not used to.

Soon Robbie will be married. It was decided that Aten would move in with her and Robbie. Not that she minded. She liked Aten a lot. He was like a second child to her. Besides, Robbie was still in high school and could not move out on his own just yet.

She turned the page again.

Married.

What would life be like with those two around?

All she knew is that there would be a lot more horseplay….but still a lot of love would remain in the house. It was agreed that Aten would stay in Robbie's room.

She heard a car door slam outside and she turned the page of her magazine.

`I wonder when Robbie's coming home tonight,' she thought to herself. `Knowing him, he's curled up with Aten fast asleep.'

She heard a knock sound on the door. “Come in, Robbie.”

The door didn't open.

“Robbie? Come in!”

The door didn't open.

Miranda put her magazine down. “Robbie, I said you could come in.”

Miranda heard the screeching of tires and she opened the front door, seeing the bruised, bloody, and naked body of her unconscious son. His arms were tied behind his back and his mouth was gagged.

“ROBBIE! OH MY GOD!”

Miranda quickly removed the gag from Robbie's mouth. “Baby?! Speak to me!”

Miranda pat his cheek and rubbed his hair. She pulled back her hand and saw it covered in fresh blood.

Miranda struggled to bring him inside. The carpets could be cleaned. They were the least of her concern.

She ran to the phone and called the Amubulance. “Yes…hello…My son is bleeding!....All over…I don't know what happened to him……No, he's unconscious…He's fifteen…..9220 Arendell Ave…..please hurry!”

Miranda dialed Aten's number and held a cloth to her son's head to stop what bleeding she could.

[Ishtar Res---.]

“MARIK! Get Aten over here!”

[Miranda?]

“Marik, go get Aten! Quickly!”

[Okay. ATEN! PHONE!]

Miranda grabbed a pair of scissors and desperately tried to sever the ropes the held Robbie's hands behind his back, but failed. “You're going to be okay, Robbie.”

[Robbie, I'm really sorry about---.]

“Aten, come over here!”

[Mom? What's wrong?]

“It's Robbie! I just found him on the front doorstep bleeding!”

[ROBBIE! I'll be right there, mom!]

Miranda hung up the phone and changed the towels behind Robbie's head. “Robbie, can you hear me?”

Robbie didn't respond.

Miranda threw a blanket over Robbie to warm his naked body. “Robbie….stay with me, honey….It's going to be okay.”

She hyperventilated as she saw her son continued to bleed from the back of his head.

“Robbie……..”

The door flew open and Marik ran inside. “Holy Shit! What happened?”

Miranda started to cry. “I opened the door and found Robbie like this!”

Miranda pulled back the covers to reveal the naked bruised teen.

Marik saw the boy's bound wrists and removed the dagger from the Millennium Rod. He grabbed the ropes and severed them, sawing through the twine. Marik pressed against Robbie's neck. “He has a pulse.”

Miranda held up her hand, cradling the back of Robbie's skull. “Look at this.” Miranda's hand was saturated with blood.

Marik growled. “Miranda, I know this is going to sound cold, but I can't be here right now.”

Miranda's eyes widened. “Why not?”

Marik looked at the blood…..that sweet…..red……blood. It was a delicacy….mortal blood. Mortal blood was sweet….and its effects were intoxicating. A little taste of blood was enough to make him violent…..and lustful. Two things to which he did not want to subject Miranda.

“It's Robbie's blood….I can't be around blood. It…does things to me that you should not see.”

Marik left.

Aten ran into the house and screamed. “ROBBIE!!!” The teen ran to Robbie and brushed his cheek. “Robbie? Sweet Isis, talk to me!”

Aten rubbed Robbie's hair and pulled back his hair to reveal a bloody hand. “AH! ROBBIE! Who did this?”

Miranda shook her head. “I don't know! He was just laying on the front step!”

Robbie started convulsing.

Aten leaned down and pressed his forehead to Robbie's. “Love, please don't die on me! I'm so sorry for what I said!”

The ambulance sirens sounded down the street.

Aten ran to the door and allowed the medics to come in.

One man turned to Miranda. “Are you this child's guardian?”

“I'm his mother.”

“Tell us what happened.”

Miranda stepped beside Aten and told him about finding Robbie on the front step.

“You do realize that you shouldn't have applied pressure to the wound to stop bleeding on this type of injury?”

Miranda held onto Aten's hand. “I had to do something!”

“We have room for one person in the ambulance.”

Miranda turned to Aten. “You should go, Aten. I'll drive with Marik.”

“Are you his brother?” the medic asked.

“No, Robbie is my fiancé. We're supposed to get married next month.”

The medics shrugged as they stabilized Robbie's body on the stretcher.

The medics rushed Robbie into the ambulance. Aten turned his head and saw Mr. Gillam standing outside his house with a smirk on his lips.

Aten growled. //I will have to do something about that mortal later….right now, Robbie is more important.//

Aten sat in the ambulance and held Robbie's hand while the doctors worked.

“What is his name?”

“Robert Allan Morgan.”

“Date of Birth?”

“August 14th…..2004.”

The man turned to Aten. “Do you know his blood type?”

Aten shook his head. “No.”

The medic removed a needle and slipped it into Robbie's arm. He removed a vial of blood and labeled it.

“Do you know of any medication allergies that he has?”

Aten shook his head. “No. He's not allershic to anything.” Aten kissed Robbie's hand. “Robbie, please be okay.”

**********************************

Yami looked out of his temple in the Shadow Realm. The chill of the Shadow Realm surrounded him. How did he come to this? Alone in the Shadow Realm with nothing but cold and darkness as his companions?

The former pharaoh grinned as he saw the Curse of Dragon circling his temple. “My curse on Aria should be fulfilled any day now. She should be nearing her time. It should be soon….very soon. But my work is far from over. I have stolen the power of the Millennium Rod, which only I can restore. I have weakened the Millennium Necklace. But I have the other five Millennium Items to assure my victory. I cannot allow any of the holders of the Millennium Items to stand in my way.”

Mobius The Frost Monarch stepped beside his master quietly. “You are troubled, Great One.”

“I need to get my hands on the Tomb Robber's Millennium Ring. I must rid Bakura of his power to replace souls.”

“Why do you waste your time on him, sire? You are too great for him.”

Yami growled. “Because I know what he is capable of. I need to make his Millennium Ring nothing more than a cheap piece of costume jewelry!”

“What is that you wish for me to do, master?”

Yami growled low in his throat. “I need Marik and Bakura out of my way! That is what needs to be done!”

“Shall I eliminate them?”

Yami turned and slapped Mobius. “You can't kill a yami, you fool! The only way to do that is the Soulroom Sickness! Aria foiled my plan at the tender age of three! I will not risk my existence! If she or anyone smashes that Puzzle, Yugi will not put it back together this time! I can't risk trying that again. If I tried sealing Marik or Bakura in their Items, I will have both of those kids and their monsters breathing down my neck!” Yami grinned in satisfaction. “Of course, considering Aria's current state, she wouldn't want to risk her unborn child's life. The time for her to give birth to her child is soon. I will show Aria that I am a force to be reckoned with!”

Mobius bowed. “The others and I will please you, master.”

Yami crossed his arms. “My former High Priest is getting married soon. Otogi Ryuugi is doing the decorations. The police are still looking for Malik. How the hell could they miss him?! He's right under their noses! I guess I'll have to point them in the right direction. I could go walk into the precinct as a witness, but it's so much more fun to add a little bit of drama to the mix.”

*******************************************

Yami walked around the streets and looked up at the Crestwood Apartments, the home of Tristan and Otogi. Otogi was going to help Seto with his decorations and planning.

Yami narrowed his eyes. Seto and Yugi continued to be friends, despite his attempt at breaking up the relationship.

He had deafened Glenn in one ear and damn near killed the man. And through it all, Yugi and Seto's friendship continued!

Seto's friendships did not crumble, though his company was quickly falling down around him. If striking out at Glenn and Yugi did not work, he would change his line of attack….and use Malik as a scapegoat in the process.

Without Otogi, Seto's wedding would once again be stalled.

“You will pay for betraying me five thousand years ago, Seth. I promise you. I have a few calls to make. Then it will be my time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.”

***********************************

Otogi pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose as he sketched the last piece of the decorations he wanted for Seto's centerpieces. He sat back looking at his sketch and sighed.

He grabbed another helping of cheese and crackers and returned to the table.

“Hey, babe, what you up to?” Tristan asked as he stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Trying to figure out the centerpieces for Seto's wedding! I only have a couple more weeks to get this done!”

Tristan stepped behind Otogi and massaged his shoulders. “You'll get it ready, pussycat. Don't worry.”

“I just….I just want it to be perfect, Tris. Joey and Seto have been waiting forever to get married and I want everything to be so perfect….down to the doilies on the tables.”

Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Didn't Seto NOT want doilies?”

Otogi sighed. “Well, they're pretty and they go with any kind of décor! One or two won't hurt! They're strictly for decorative purposes only. You won't even know they're there!”

“Seto will notice. And if you thought he was pissed about the color of your tablecloth, he will be fuming that he has frilly doilies on his table covers.”

Otogi sighed. “I ran it past Seto and he said that I could have a few…but no more than five.”

Tristan's head snapped up as he heard a commotion in the apartment next store. “Those two must be at it again.”

“Thomas and Georgie? They are so cute together. Georgie has a cute little ass on him that I can't help but pat whenever I'm in the gym.”

Tristan shook his head. “That doesn't sound like a good commotion, pussycat.”

A moment later, a loud bang was heard against their door.

Otogi stood up, startled. “Who could that be?”

[Domino Police! Open this door!]

Otogi held onto Tristan. “What are we going to do?”

In the next apartment over they heard a cry of pain.

“Tristan….”

“Let me handle this, Otogi,” the tall brunet said as he walked towards the door.

He opened it and ten police officers swarmed into the apartment.

“GET AGAINST THE WALL! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!”

Tristan was thrown savagely against the wall. The officers ran into the kitchen, finding Otogi backed against the countertop shaking.

“TURN AROUND AND PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!” one policeman barked angrily.

Otogi shivered as the three policemen pointed their pistols at him. “What did I do wrong?”

One man grabbed him and shoved his head down to the counter. Otogi panted heavily as he felt the cold barrel of the metal pressed against the back of his neck. A pair of hands searched him.

“What did I do?” Otogi asked, tears coming down his cheeks in fright.

The barrel pressed closer against his neck. The steel was cold and hard against the back of his throat.

The searching officer stepped back. “He's clean.”

In the next apartment, the commotion became louder.

“Where is Malik Ishtar?” the policeman asked him as they picked up Otogi from the countertop.

They turned him around and pressed the barrel under his chin.
”Tell me where he is hiding.”

Otogi shuddered. “I…I don't know where he is.”

“I think you're lying to me. When people lie to me……I tend to lose concentration,” the man said moving the gun to Otogi's shoulder.

“No…please…..don't shoot me!”

The man narrowed his eyes. “Then, queer-boy….tell me where Malik Ishtar is hiding. We received a tip that he is hiding somewhere in the Crestwood Apartments. You wouldn't happen to know about that, would you?”

“No….I don't. I haven't seen him at all! I swear!”

The policeman grabbed Otogi by the collar and necklace and pulled him out of the kitchen. Tristan was pinned against the wall by three cops.

“Tristan!”

“Otogi! Don't hurt him!”

Otogi was pulled out of the apartment and placed against the wall. He looked at the room beside him and saw Thomas standing against the wall facing the cop.

“Where is Malik Ishtar?” the cop asked the terrified man.

“I don't know! I don't even know who he is!” the shaking man answered.

The cop shook his head. “PHIL!”

BANG!

“GEORGIE!” Thomas cried out, his scream rang through the upstairs, sending people into a panic. “You bastard! He was innocent! How could you do that to him?!”

The cop shrugged. “Simple…like this.”

BANG!

Otogi screamed as he watched Thomas fall in a heap. A stain of blood remained where Thomas' head had been. He covered his mouth in shock. “You can't do that! You're cops!”

The cop holding Otogi grinned. “Oh, we're cops…we're special cops. We're part of a great organization…..the Crusader Cops. We are part of the police department, but our job is to watch you fags closely. And it seems like we got a tip saying that Malik Ishtar was living here. He's responsible for all those dead gay teens. And some individual has erased all data from our computers regarding his identity or his whereabouts. I bet you Seto Kaiba had something to do with that. As much as I would like to thank him, I have a job to do. Now…..fruitcake….tell me where to find Malik Ishtar.”

Otogi watched as other men were dragged from their rooms.

The cop narrowed his eyes at Otogi and pressed the cold barrel against Otogi's forehead. “Where….is Malik…Ishtar?”

Otogi trembled and closed his eyes, waiting for the gun shot. He swallowed hard.

A series of fights began in the hallway between the apartment dwellers and the cops. The cop holding a gun to Otogi's head was quickly piled under a group of fighting men.

Otogi looked at the commotion in the hallway. “TRISTAN!”

“OTOGI! GO! RUN!”

Otogi pushed his way down the hall as he heard the cop that had held him at gunpoint bark a name.

BANG!

A gunshot sounded behind him and Otogi turned quickly. ”TRISTAN! NO!”

The police spilled out of Tristan's apartment and Otogi let out a scream. He pushed down the hall, being knocked into punching bodies and struggling men.

Otogi was thrown against the wall and looked up at the man who turned around. His tri-colored hair was spiky and his purple eyes glowed.

“Hello, Otogi…..”

Otogi screamed. “YAMI!”

The pharaoh reached out and grabbed Otogi's collar roughly. “I am going to make sure Seth's wedding never happens!...And I will start by breaking your neck here and now!”

Otogi screamed again and brought his knee up to Yami's groin. The people struggling in the hallway bumped into Yami, freeing Otogi from his grip.

The raven-haired man ran into the emergency stairwell and down the stairs. Two cops burst into the stairway, firing at him.

Otogi shrieked and ran out the emergency exit and down the street.

He ran quickly, the tears running down his cheeks.

He knocked on Ryou's house, sobbing loudly. “RYOU, OPEN UP!”

Ryou opened the door and saw Otogi sobbing. “Otogi! What's wrong?”

“Tristan……cops….raid…….dead!& #8221;

Ryou helped Otogi into the house and shut the door.

Bakura and Malik walked over to the man crying loudly.

“Dice-Boy? What's wrong?”

“Bakura…the cops! They raided our home! They raided the Crestwood Apartments! I was just planning Seto's final decorations when they burst in! They killed my neighbors!”

Malik ran into the kitchen and poured Otogi some water. “Here you go, Otogi. Sip it.”

Otogi sipped the water and sobbed. “They broke in looking for you, Malik.”

Malik gasped. “Me? But…Seto erased me from existence! Why were they looking for me there?”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “I smell a rat. You said Seto erased you from the database, right?”

“Yeah. I just said that.”

Bakura ran to the front window and looked out into the night. “Otogi, have you pissed anyone off lately?”

Otogi shook his head. “No….not that I can remember.”

“Nobody holds a grudge against you?”

“What are you getting at, Bakura?” Ryou asked.

“Seto's wedding is in two weeks. I HIGHLY doubt that this was an isolated incident. Ishtar's off at the hospital with Miranda, Aten, and Robbie. I want to check something out. I'll be back.”

Ryou stood up. “Bakura, I don't think this is a wise idea. Shouldn't you have somebody with you?”

“No, it's too dangerous.”

Ryou ran for his sweater. “No, I'm coming with you.”

“Ryou, this is stupid. What if you get hurt?”

Otogi stood up and hugged Ryou from behind. “Ryou, those men are armed and they are firing their guns at anything that moves!”

Ryou sighed. “I have to go with you, Bakura. What if Tristan needs me?”

“What if you get injured?”

“I'm willing to take that chance to help Tristan if he needs us.”

Bakura saw the determination in his Light's eyes and groaned. “Okay. But the moment I say `Go Home', you come straight home. Got it?”

“Yes, Bakura.”

Bakura helped Ryou with his sweater. “Malik, you keep an eye on things here.”

Malik nodded. “Okay. Be safe, Ryou.”

Malik hugged Ryou tightly and kissed him on the lips. He hugged Bakura and kissed him on the lips.

“Please be careful.”

“We will, Malik,” Bakura said running out the door with Ryou in hot pursuit.

***********************************

Aten, Marik, and Miranda waited in the waiting room anxiously. Aten looked up at the clock: 4:30 a.m. They had been waiting seven hours for news of Robbie.

Aten looked down at his engagement ring and turned it around his finger. `Robbie….please be okay.'

Marik looked over at his son, sensing his son's anxiety. He gave him a reassuring squeeze of his hand.

Miranda looked up as the doors opened. “Dr. Ginsby?”

The woman approached Miranda. “Miranda, I have Dr. Zira helping me with Robbie.”

Miranda stood up and held onto Ginsby's arms. “He's my only son! Please tell me he's going to be okay, Michelle!”

“He's stabilized for now, Miranda. We have him in the ICU and we want to give him some time for close observation. I just came out to tell you that we have stopped the bleeding and he's in the recovery room for now.”

Marik stood up to hold the worried mother before she could collapse.

“Thank God he's okay,” Miranda sighed in relief. “My little soldier is such a brave boy!”

Ginsby nodded. “Yes he is, Miranda. He was very brave….and very lucky. Just give him an hour or so to get his senses back and I'll come get you to see him.”

Dr. Ginsby left and Miranda looked up at Marik.

She gave him a little smile and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Marik.”

“For what, Miranda?”

“For just…..holding me.”

Marik wrapped his arms around her protectively and rested his head on her shoulder. She smiled as she felt his warm breath on her neck.

An hour later, Zira came out of the double doors to bring one of them to see Robbie.

Miranda and Marik looked at Aten.

“Son, you go first.”

“Are you sure?”

Miranda nodded. “Go on, Aten. We'll go next.”

The Egyptian stood up and walked behind Zira, his heart rate speeding.

Aten walked into the ICU slowly and covered his mouth, seeing his fiancé laying in the bed. A single tube was replacing the blood that Robbie had lost.

“Oh, Robbie,” Aten whispered sadly.

Aten slowly approached Robbie in the bed. He kneeled by Robbie's bedside and took Robbie's hand. “Forgive me, Robbie….I am so sorry for everything!”

The Egyptian squinted his eyes tightly, the tears falling onto the bedsheets.

//Look at him laying there……so peaceful.//

Aten growled at his yami. /You have no right to speak now! You made me do this to Robbie!/

His eyes filled with more tears. `I…..Did I do this to Robbie? Am I at fault? If I hadn't had that nightmare about grandfather, Robbie never would have left.'

//We did not do this to Robbie, Aten. It was your dreams which did this. You gave into the terror of your nightmare.//

/……Robbie./

//I suggest you discuss this with Chapman.//

Aten wiped his eyes dry. “I'm so sorry, Robbie. I wish I knew who did this to you. Whoever did this…..is going to pay with blood.”

Aten's hair spiked, unable to stop his fury from transforming him. Yami Aten growled and leaned down to Robbie's face.

A low growl emanated from the yami. Yami Aten grabbed the silver Millennium Rod in his hand tightly. He placed the Millennium Rod under Robbie's chin.

“You had to suffer for our nightmare. I will find whoever did this to you, Robert. Their blood will line the streets.”

Dr. Zira walked in and stopped when he saw Aten with spiky hair. “A---Aten?”

Yami Aten approached Zira. “Stay away from him.”

Zira swallowed hard and backed away. He rushed out of the room and went to the waiting room.

“Marik? I have an…..issue in the ICU.”

Marik sighed and grabbed the Millennium Rod. Aten must be insconsolable. Robbie was his life. “Here I come.”

Marik followed Zira to the ICU and entered the room. He stopped suddenly when he saw his son with spiky hair, the blond hair forming lightening bolt streaks in his hair.

“Father.”

“Son.”

Yami Aten approached Marik slowly. “I'm not your son.”

Marik looked at his son from head to toe. “I can see that. What are you doing here?”

“Robert was injured. Aten cannot deal with seeing him like this. So, that explains why I am here.”

Marik watched his son hold his own Millennium Rod. “Robbie will be okay. The doctors have taken good care of Aten when he was here.”

Yami Aten turned his head to Robbie. “Robbie did not deserve this.”

“No, he didn't.”

Yami Aten clenched the silver Rod on his hand and turned back to Marik. He held up the Rod defensively. “You are not to harm him! I will protect him!”

Yami Marik held up the Millennium Rod in front of him. Zira backed away, fearing a fight between the yami father and son. “Aten….I mean, Yami Aten, Zira must be allowed to examine Robbie. I know you want to protect him, but the doctor needs to do his job. You must understand this.”

Yami Aten backed away, sitting beside Robbie's bed. The yami's eyes kept a vigilant eye on Zira, a low rumbling sounding in the back of his throat.

Dr. Zira stood by Robbie's bedside, aware that Aten was keeping a good eye on his every move.

“How is he, doctor?” Yami Aten asked.

“Well, he's lucky to be alive, Aten. He has suffered a simple fracture in his skull. There's significant bruising along the upper part of his skull. We were concerned about bleeding in the brain, but there is evidence of bruising. He had an open wound on the back of his head which required about twenty small, fine stitches.”

Aten lowered his head and buried his face in his hands. Marik watched as his son's hair fell and a sniffle come from him. “Robbie…..”

Marik moved beside his son and put his arm on his shoulder. “Aten, boy, it's going to be okay.”

Aten turned and buried his face in his father's stomach. “Daddy, I don't want Robbie to die. Please say he won't!”

Marik caressed his son's hair gently. His son trembled against him with heart-wrenching sobs. “Aten, watch yourself. Deep breaths. We don't want you to work yourself into another heart attack.”

“Without Robbie, there's no point of going on anyway!”

Marik kneeled by his son's chair. “My son, that is not true.”

“Yes it is! I can't live without Robbie! We've always beened to-gedder!” Aten sobbed as his language slipped.

Marik nodded. “I know, boy. Ra will do what he wills with Robbie.”

“Please Ra, don't take him away from me! He's all I have!”

Zira pat Robbie's shoulders. “I have to bring in his mother, Aten. I think we should give them their privacy.”

Marik helped Aten stand on his trembling legs. Marik kept his arm around Aten's waist as he helped Aten out of the ICU. Dr. Ginsby told Zira that he was needed in another surgery and she would take Miranda back to see her son.

Dr. Ginsby, the Morgan's family doctor, walked Miranda back to her son as Marik continued to console his son.

“Aten, get a hold of yourself,” the yami father said taking his son by the arms. “No more tears.”

“But daddy, what if……Robbie….”

Marik leaned down. “Then we burn a black candle for Robbie and mourn. But for now, let's not bury him before he's even dead, okay? Robbie is in good hands with Zira and his family doctor. Dr. Peters looks like she has good credentials.”

Aten sniffled and rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, I knew what `credentials' you were looking at, father.”

“Hey, my eyes doth wander of their own accord. I can't help it if I….admired her `degrees.'”

“This is not the time to be thinking about sex, father!” Aten growled at his father. “My Robbie is lying in that ICU and I can't do a Ra-damned fucking thing about it! How can you make jokes at a time like this?!”

Marik raised the Millennium Rod to Aten's chest. “Don't…..use that tone of voice with me, Chibi Ishtar!”

“What do you want me to behave like? Father, Dr. Chapman keeps telling me to let people know how I am feeling. Right now, I'm upset and frightened….and I don't know where to turn.”

“Aten, Robbie will be okay. I know you are upset and scared---.”

“Frightened! Dad, he's been the only one I could really trust with everything! I couldn't experience this type of love with anyone but Robbie. Father, I love him…..and I don't want him to die.” Aten walked over to a chair and buried his face in his hands. “I guess you just don't understand.”

Marik sat beside his son. “You know, Aten….it wasn't long ago that I was sitting in this waiting room wondering if I would have to bury someone I loved….my own flesh and blood. I was more than scared….I was terrified. I was terrified I was going to lose you, son. I do know how you feel right now and it is a scary feeling.”

Aten sniffled and turned his head to his father. “The last thing I said to him….I called him a `fucking bastard', daddy.”

Marik put his arm around Aten again and held the crying teen.

“The last words we said to each other were words of hate.”

Marik kissed Aten's forehead. “It's okay, boy.” Marik wiped a tear from Aten's eyes. Aten sniffled, content to let his father hold him.

Despite the stares and crooked glares, Aten nuzzled his cheek into Marik's chest and gripped onto his father tightly.

“Daddy…..”

The blond yami's eyes scanned the room and he glared at each person giving them a nasty look.

Miranda stepped out of the double doors leading to the ICU and saw Aten holding onto his father.

Dr. Ginsby walked up to Aten. “Aten? Do you want to return to Robbie?”

Aten blinked and looked up at her. “Is he awake yet?”

“He's muttering and I can't understand what he's saying. Maybe you can help.”

Aten stood up and followed the doctor while Miranda sat beside Marik and was brought quickly into the yami's comforting arms.

Aten entered the ICU again with the Dr. Ginsby.

“Miranda told me that you and Robbie are going to marry, Aten. I don't think you have anything to worry about.”

“I want to stay here with Robbie.”

The woman nodded. “Understandable.”

Aten looked down at Robbie. The teen's mouth was hanging open.

“He was speaking?”

“He was muttering while his mother was here.”

“W------W…..”

Aten held Robbie's hand. “Shhh…I'm here, Robbie.”

“Wa….W…”

Aten rubbed Robbie's arm. “Robbie, it's okay. I'm here. Just relax.”

“Waga….”

Dr. Ginsby shook her head. “I don't know what that means.”

Aten reached out and ran his fingers through Robbie's hair. “I do. He's in pain. Robbie? Biyuwga'ak?” (Where does it hurt?)

“Since when did Robbie speak….this?”

“I've been teaching him Arabic for a long time. I don't know why he's speaking it now. It's not his native tongue.”

Aten held Robbie's hand. “Robbie, tell me where it hurts.”

Robbie's eyelids fluttered.

Aten's eyes filled with tears. “Robbie, please….that's it, baby. Open your eyes.”

Robbie opened his eyes weakly and turned his head towards Aten. A blank stare met Aten's eyes.

“Robbie, thank Ra you are alive!” Aten said as he kissed Robbie's hand.

Robbie blinked.

Aten kissed Robbie's hand repeatedly as his tears christened Robbie's white skin. “I was so afraid, Robbie!”

The Egyptian rubbed his dark-skinned cheek against his friend's cold hand. “I prayed to Ra that he wouldn't take you away from me. Ra has answered my prayers.”

Robbie blinked and moaned.

“Robbie? How do you feel?”

“Do….I……know….you?”