Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Hades ❯ All Hell's Breaking Loose ( Chapter 20 )

Caterfree: Bakura and Marik were thinking of making sweet music on the piano. Mmm…Yami love on piano.

Hahahoho: Thank you! *hands Bakura plushie*

Yami no Miko: It was a good cliffie, wasn't it?*is proud of self*

Shadow of Light: *hands Bronze Rod* Bakura and marik miss the bloody end. Mokuba and Jeanie will make great parents.

Valea: Gotta love bloodlusted Yami Aten.

Kura Magician Girl: Seto will need his summer home knocked down and rebuilt because of them two.

Beysie:*evil grin* more cliffies to come.

Anubiset: Yup, Aten turned yami. Aten freaks Robbie a little, but he's okay.

Sakiyama: Seto will really have to get that piano cleaned.

YoukoMia: I know I'm evil. That hasn't stopped me yet. I like evil cliffies.

I Is Me: *hands Yami plushie*

Broken Time: *hands Robbie plushie*

Motje: I made it a cliffie because I knew it would be a really great cliffie!

Seto lover and Bakurasgirl Lover: Bakura is a protective dad. Can't blame him.

All Hell's Broken Loose

Robbie stood frozen as Charlie pulled the trigger.

Yami Aten stood on his feet and raised his hand. A low growl emanated from his throat. "YOU SHALL NOT HARM HIM!"

Aten held out his hand and the bullet stopped just before it was able to touch Robbie's skull.

Robbie's eyes widened at the bullet between his eyes. His body trembled with fear as he saw the deadly instrument just about to touch his skin.

Charlie turned to the Egyptian boy. "What the fuck are you doing, you little bastard?"

Yami Aten curled his lip in a sadistic grin. "I'm giving you what you deserve. Watch!"

Charlie turned and watched as the bullet in front of Robbie's eyes turned around to face him.

"MULTIPLY!" Aten ordered.

Robbie watched in surprise as the bullets multiplied into the hundreds. One bullet became two…then four….then eight…Before Aten was done, one thousand bullets were pointed at Charlie.

Charlie dropped the gun and a drop of sweat fell down his face. "Oh. Shit."

Aten narrowed his black eyes. "FIRE!"

The thousand bullets speeded towards Charlie, riddling him, and burying themselves in his skull, mouth, chest, stomach, pants, legs arms, and hands. Robbie watched in horror as Charlie's blood sprayed on the furniture and over Aten's clothing.

Aten laughed as the man's body thrashed from the bullets burning into his skin. "WHO IS THE BASTARD NOW, YOU RA-DAMNED RAPIST?!

Robbie's jaw dropped as Charlie fell dead to the floor. He stood frozen against the wall, unable to move. Aten slowly walked to his victim and leered down at him.

The child picked up the gun and growled looking down at the man who had caused him pain… the man who held him down….the man who forced him to kiss him. Aten furiously grabbed the barrel of the gun, not caring that the metal was still hot from the discharge.

"YOU ASSHOLE!" Aten raged as he slammed the grip of the gun against Charlie's skull.

"YOU RAPIST!" Aten cried out, slamming the gun against the skull again. "HOW DARE YOU HURT HAYDEN! AND HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME HURT HIM!"

"YOU FUCKING GOD-DAMNED COCKSUCKER! YOU DESERVE WORSE THAN DEATH YOU RA-DAMNED PERVERT!"

Aten slammed the grip of the gun against Charlie's skull, breaking through and hitting the gray brain matter.

Robbie's face drained of color as he saw Yami Aten's ferocity. He was cruel. Granted, Charlie deserved it, but he had never seen how cruel this other side of his friend could be.

"How do you like being kicked in the head, you sick-o?!" Aten snarled as he slammed his foot against the corpse's skull.

Aten pulled back his arm and plunged his nails into Charlie's chest. Aten grabbed the man's bullet-riddled heart and pulled it out of the man's chest.

Robbie trembled as he saw the heart in Aten's hand. "Aten?"

Aten pulled out the bullets from the motionless muscle.

"Robert?"

"Aten……he's dead. He….He…He can't hurt us anymore."

Aten looked at the muscle in his hand. His eyes narrowed at it. With a hungry growl, he dug his teeth into it and bit off a part of the heart. He chewed on it with a satisfied rumble in his throat.

"Aten, that is disgusting!"

Yami Aten approached Robbie, much to Robbie's horror.

"I'm sorry, Yami Aten! I'm sorry!"

Yami Aten swallowed. "This man deserved worse than what he got." Aten's hair twitched as he wiped the corner of his mouth free of blood. "Be happy that I did not let him suffer. He deserved more than what he got."

"Hey, Charlie!" Vinnie called from Hayden's room.

The color drained from Robbie's face as he watched Yami Aten throw the bloody, half-eaten organ on the ground at his feet.

"Aten, watch where you are throwing those things! Ew!"

Robbie followed Aten to the hallway where Vinnie stepped out of Hayden's room.

"What are you two doing here? Robbie, get downstairs and do the laundry! Aten, get in here! Charlie wants another video of you and Hayden gettin' it on!"

Yami Aten laughed. "I'm not 'gettin' it on' with anybody."

Vinnie cracked his knuckles. "Oh, really? And how do you expect to earn your keep, you bastard child?"

Yami Aten scratched his chin. "I can do magic tricks."

The man rolled his eyes and laughed. He held his side as he laughed loudly. "Oh, really? Show me a magic trick! Go on!"

Yami Aten grinned, his canines showing. "Okay. I can do this."

Aten put his two fists together. "Now, stand still, arms at your sides. Robbie, can you go into the kitchen and grab an apple?"

Robbie ran out of the hallway, his eyes trained on Charlie's corpse in the living room. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Here you go, Aten."

"Hold onto it, Robert. Are you ready, Vincent?"

Vinnie laughed. "Whatever, kid."

"Okay," Yami Aten grinned.

Aten looked at his two fists together and rotated his right fist down a little.

Vinnie screamed in pain as his legs buckled beneath him. His leg bone pierced through the skin.

Robbie hid behind Aten.

"Isn't this a neat magic trick? I can kill you and I don't need to lay a finger on you!"

Aten rotated his right fist a little more down and Vinnie's body started to twist. His bones started to pierce the skin.

"STOP! PAIN!"

Aten continued to rotate his fist and Vinnie's ribs poked out of the skin. Vinnie's body twisted and rotated as Aten turned his hand.

"ATEN! PLEASE!" Robbie cried as he grabbed onto Aten's shoulders.

Aten twisted his fists roughly and Vinnie stopped screaming.

Vinnie laid dead in the hallway.

"What do you need the apple for?"

"Nothing. I was just hungry," Aten said as he crept up to the body casually.

"Don't tell me you are going to eat his heart, too, Aten."

Yami Aten narrowed his eyes. "His heart is not worthy."

"What do you mean he is not worthy? He raped my mom!"

Yami Aten blinked. "He did nothing to me."

Robbie caught Yami Aten as he lost his balance on his feet. "Yami Aten?"

"Body is weak….."

The front door opened and the boys turned their heads. Dominic walked through the door.

Aten snarled and the Sennen Eye appeared on his forehead. "I should have known!"

Dominic gasped. "WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?!"

Aten stood at the entrance to the hallway. "I happened here….pharaoh."

Dominic removed his mask. Yami stood there, staring down the thin, sickly twelve year old.

"Did you kill Charlie, you little bastard?"

The yami boy grinned. "I'm quite proud of my work. My father would be proud, too, don't you think?"

Robbie ran into Hayden's bedroom and grabbed the cell phone.

[Hello?]

"DAD!"

[OH MY GOD! ROBERT! ROBBIE, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU OKAY?]

"Dad, you have to come! We're around the harbor!"

[Do you have an address, Robbie?]

Robbie looked around and saw a desk at the other end of the room. He ran over. "We're at 8574 Horatio Street!

[Okay! I know where that is! I'll let the others know! Be there shortly, son!]

Robbie turned off the cell phone and ran behind Aten. "Our parents are coming for us!"

Yami narrowed his eyes. "Your parents will not find you, Robert! Not where I am going to send you!"

Aten crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Yami spread his arms.

"Shadows Dark, Hear my Command!

Come forth, Do I Demand!

Listen to me and hear my Call

So that my Shadow Power

Will defeat all!"

Yami Aten staggered, but Robbie held him on his feet.

"Servants of Dark, Hear my Cry
Upon the darkest winds you Fly
Open wide the portal Dark!
Add Flame to My Fire with your tiny spark!
Transport me to the Realm of Death and Sorrow
Take me now, Gracious Dark, to the Realm of Shadow!"

Purple haze filled the room.

Both yami's Sennen Eye appeared on their foreheads.

"You are weak, Aten! You cannot win this!"

Aten struggled to stay on his feet.

"Aten, you can't do this! You can't even stand up on your own!"

The yami child panted as he leaned on his friend. "I can't….let….Yami…hurt…you."

Robbie hugged Aten and turned Aten to face him. "Aten, I don't care about Yami! I only care about you!" Robbie planted a kiss on Aten's lips. "Please…."

Yami narrowed his eyes. "So…it is true! I'm sorry, Robbie, but I cannot let you survive either!"

The Dark Magician and the Celtic Guardian stood behind Yami.

The Helpless Child and The Ultimate Obedient Fiend stood behind Yami Aten. Robbie turned and saw two monsters standing behind him. The Decayed Commander and The Robotic Knight.

Yami laughed. "Celtic Guardian! Attack Aten!"

The Helpless Child kneeled in front of Aten and crossed its arms. "I protect my master!"

The Child exploded.

The Robotic Knight attacked the Celtic Guardian the monster exploded.

Robbie felt Aten slipping, despite his best attempts to keep Aten on his feet. "Aten?"

Aten's head started to lower, his body becoming more limp. "Robbie…"

Yami laughed again. "Your monsters are not as strong as the Dark Magician! Dark Magician! Attack Aten! Dark Magic Attack!"

The Ultimate Obedient Fiend stepped in front of his master. "Master has no cards in his hand and the Helpless Child is gone. I am free to attack. I am stronger than the Dark Magician. I'm 3500 attack points strong!"

Yami screamed as his Dark Magician exploded. "NO!"

The screech of tires were heard outside.

Yami growled. "I will be back!"

The pharaoh disappeared as well as the monsters and the purple haze of the Shadow Realm.

Robbie wrapped his other arm around Aten and hugged him. "It's finally over."

Robbie heard footsteps of people running to the door.

Aten's head fell on Robbie's shoulder. His hair fell and Aten had returned to normal.

The blue-eyed boy gasped at the hot forehead resting against him. Aten's fever had risen.

"Robbie," Aten wheezed.

"Stay with me, Aten…come on."

The door opened and Seto and Daniel burst through. Seto looked down at the body.

"Charlie. I knew it was you! You god-damned bastard!"

Daniel saw his son and ran past the body on the floor.

The father with teary eyes brought his son into his arms. "My boy….my boy!"

Ryou and Malik ran into the house and saw the bullet-riddled body. Ryou's eyes looked up and he saw his son slowly slipping from Robbie's arms.

Ryou gathered Aten into his arms. "My boy! My baby boy! Aten! Aten?"

The boy wavered on his feet. "Where am I…."

Aten collapsed, falling forward onto his mother.

Ryou cradled him in his arms. "Oh my god, Malik! He's burning up!"

Malik touched his forehead. "Oh no! Look at those legs and feet! He's blown up like a balloon!"

Seto looked around. "Where is Hayden?"

Robbie sniffled as he hugged his father. "He's in the back room."

Seto ran to the back room and saw Hayden laying bound and naked on the bed, looking blankly at the ceiling. "Hayden! It's me! I'm here! Everything is going to be okay!"

Seto ran for the ropes and tugged at them desperately. "Come on, damn ropes!"

Joel ran into the room and tugged at the tight ropes.

"Hayden, everything is going to be okay, son," Seto said, tears filling his eyes and fear filling him as he saw Hayden covered in what looked like fresh blood and release.

Joel removed his pocket knife and sawed at the ropes. Seto pulled Hayden into a sitting position and hugged him tightly.

"Hayden, my Hayden!"

"……………"

Hayden didn't move. He didn't hug back. He made a low grunting sound in his throat.

Seto looked into the vacant green eyes. "Hayden? Are you there?"

"……………."

Seto sniffled and let a tear fall down his face. "Please say something."

"………….."

"Let's get you to the hospital, Hayden. Come on, son."

Seto grabbed Hayden's wrist to pull him off of the bed and Hayden let out a guttural groan. He struggled against Seto.

Malik ran to the door. "Seto, the kids need to get to a hospital!"

Seto nodded. "I know, Malik! Give me a hand!"

Malik helped Seto pull Hayden off of the bed. They pulled Hayden off the bed, but the boy could not stand on his own.

"He can't walk," Seto said.

Malik and Seto carried Hayden out of the room. "What happened here?" Malik asked as they saw the twisted body on the floor.

Robbie looked up. "Aten did that."

Malik looked at the body. "Remind me not to piss Aten off."

Ryou carried his son and paced frantically in the living room. "Aten's not breathing well, Seto!"

Seto turned to Daniel. "Can you take Ryou and Aten to the hospital?"

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Come on, little soldier. It's time to leave."

Ryou caressed Aten's hair. "Hold on, baby boy. For god's sake, hold on!"

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

Ryou ran Aten into the Emergency Ward while Malik helped Seto with Hayden. The staff recognized their familiar little patient in his mother's arms.

The staff quickly paged Zira, who came running into the emergency ward.

"Zira, it's Aten! We found him! Look at his legs! His feet! You have to help him, doctor!"

Zira opened Aten's right eye and examined it. "Aten? Can you talk to me?"

"……….."

"Nurse, get a stretcher for him."

Daniel went to the nurse at the front desk, holding onto Robbie's hand. "I need to see Dr. Michelle Ginsby."

"Your name?"

"Could you have a seat, sir?"

Daniel narrowed his eyes. "No, I will not have a seat! My son needs to see her!"

Zira turned to the nurse. "Page Dr. Ginsby, Mandy."

"Yes, sir."

"And get my assistant up here to work on Hayden for me. Aten looks like he needs my attention." The staff put Aten on a stretcher. "Ryou, you stay here. When I get Aten stabilized, I'll come for you, okay?"

Ryou kissed Aten's hot forehead. "Love you, baby boy."

They quickly wheeled him to the emergency room when Aten's chest stopped moving and his head went limp to the side.

"Doctor! He stopped breathing!" the nurse gasped.

Zira growled. "People, this boy has congenital heart failure and a pacemaker. We cannot interfere with that! I want a CBC, stat! Get the Resuscitator on him!" Zira opened Aten's mouth as the doctor slipped the mask over Aten's mouth. "That will get him breathing for now. Bring over that ECG! I want to check his heart!"

"He's starting to breathe on his own, doctor!"

Zira sighed in relief. "Aten, stay with me, kiddo."

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

Seto wrung his hands nervously. Hayden's low grunts and groans could be heard through the ward. Malik put his hand on Seto's thigh. "He'll be okay, Seto."

"My son didn't even react to me."

"It looks as if they've been through hell," Daniel said, tapping his foot against the carpet. "I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't say anything much for a while about what happened."

Ryou crossed his legs and wrapped his arms around himself. "Bakura says he's on his way with Marik."

Dr. Ginsby came out of the double doors to the waiting room. "Hello, Mr. Morgan."

Daniel stood up quickly, wringing his hands nervously. "How is Robbie?"

"Mr. Morgan, we have to keep Robbie for the next five days."

"Why?"

The woman looked at Daniel, Seto, then Ryou. "Because your son is now a heroin addict, Mr. Morgan."

Daniel narrowed his eyes. "WHAT?!"

"Your son claims that he and Aten were given heroin injections with the same needle."

Ryou stood by Daniel's side. "They never changed the needles?"

"Robbie claims that the people who abducted him injected Aten and himself with the same needle."

Daniel lowered his head. "Heroin…."

Ginsby put her hand on Daniel's arm. "It's not severe, Mr. Morgan. I feel that Robbie is safer here rather than at home."

"Other than that, how is he?" Seto asked, joining the two men.

"Robbie is fine otherwise."

Seto crossed his arms. "Robbie wasn't…..touched, was he?"

Ginsby shook her head. "No, Robbie told me that nobody touched him." The nurse chuckled. "In fact, he double promised me that nobody put a hand on him."

Daniel sighed in relief.

"We'll get Robbie a room shortly. I told Zira what Robbie told me so he can treat the other boy better."

"What about my son?" Seto asked.

"How is Aten?" Ryou asked.

Ginsby turned to Ryou. "Zira's trying his best."

Ryou lowered his head and sniffled. Daniel put his arm around Ryou as well as Malik. "I just want my little boy to be okay."

The double doors opened and a male nurse ran to Ginsby. "Mrs. Ginsby, you have to help us with Hayden Kaiba! We can't get close enough to sedate him!"

Ginsby gasped. "Excuse me!"

Ginsby followed the male nurse through the doors.

Daniel sighed. "I had better go home and grab some things for Robbie."

Ryou put his hand on Daniel's arm. "Let's wait, Daniel. I'll have to go home for Aten's things, too. We can go together. I don't have a car right now."

The father nodded. "Okay. I guess I'll get to see what Robbie wants me to bring."

Marik and Bakura ran into the waiting room. Marik ran to his hikari and hugged him tightly.

"How is my son?"

Malik shrugged. "We don't know. All we know is that Zira is doing what he can."

Ryou threw himself at his husband and sobbed into his chest. "Aten……he's got himself such a fever, Bakura! His legs…his feet….they're all swollen!"

Bakura held his hikari close to him. "Shhh….baby. Zira is an excellent doctor. He's done well for Aten in the past."

Seto watched as Zira emerged from the double doors. He stood up. "How is Hayden?"

"The doctors had to sedate him, Mr. Kaiba. I came out to talk to Ryou and Marik."

Marik released Malik, trembling at Zira's voice. He stepped over to Ryou and put his arm around him.

Zira waved the two parents to follow him into the emergency room. They entered a room with a table and chairs. Marik and Ryou sat down, holding each other's hands tightly.

"Ryou. Marik. This is serious."

"What is wrong with my son, Zira?" Marik asked.

Zira sat down. "We are going to have to keep Aten here with us for at least six weeks."

Marik narrowed his eyes. "SIX WEEKS? FOR WHAT?"

Ryou covered his mouth. "Good gods.."

"Well, Marik, Dr. Ginsby informed me that the boys were exposed to certain conditions that I believe threaten Aten's life."

"Such as?"

Zira opened Aten's file. "The boys were exposed to heroin injections through dirty and shared needles."

Marik gripped the Rod tightly. "WHAT?!"

"His abductors injected heroin into the boys with the same needle everytime they were given injections."

Ryou put his hands on Marik's shoulder. "Marik, let's listen to what he has to say."

Marik growled as he crossed his legs.

"Aten has what we call Endocarditis, or an inflammation of the inside lining of the heart. It's caused by bacteria and his heart is infected."

"How bad has the infection spread?" Ryou asked.

Zira took a deep breath. "How long was he missing?"

"Three weeks," Marik answered.

"We had to catheterize him and found blood in his urine. It appears that the infection may have spread to his kidneys."

Ryou squeezed Marik's hand again. "He didn't recognize me or where he was when I found him."

Zira nodded. "The infection may have affected his brain. He is still unconscious right now and will be. We put him on a morphine drip. We did find heroin in his system. Right now we are going to keep him on that until the withdrawal symptoms from the drug get out of his system. Marik, you look like you have something to say. What is it?"

Marik turned his head away from the doctor. "I….I wanted to bring him home."

"Marik, it is not possible. Your son is not stable in any way. He needs the hospital right now and he needs antibiotics intravenously. Your son, Marik, is going to need time to heal. He went into respiratory-cardiac failure. It was caused by not taking his medication. He also has inflammation of the sac of fluid around the heart. Your son needs to be here, Marik. If you take him home, off of his breathing machines, off of the heart machines, you won't see him live an hour."

Marik stood up. "I've heard enough. Where is my boy?"

"He's in the ICU now. I want to keep him there for a couple of hours. Robbie is being taken up to Aten's room. I know how those boys don't like to be apart."

Marik nodded. "Fine."

Ryou and Zira watched as Marik disappeared. The Millennium Rod fell to the floor with a clink. Ryou picked it up. "Will Aten survive?"

Zira nodded. "The next four days are critical. We have a room available, Ryou, if you want to stay."

Ryou looked down. A moment later, the Millennium Ring glowed and Bakura stood in the room.

"Bakura!" Zira gasped. "This is a private session."

"Ryou summoned me," the yami replied, kneeling beside his husband. "Ryou, baby?"

Ryou leaned forward and hugged his yami tightly. He buried his face in Bakura's neck.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?" Bakura looked around. "Where is Ishtar?"

Zira sighed. "He disappeared."

Bakura held up the Rod. "Ishtar, how could you disappear on Ryou?" Bakura cried out as the Rod's metal turned hot with Marik's rage inside. "You son of a bitch!" Bakura barked at the Rod.

"Aten has to stay here, Bakura. He has an inflammation of the lining inside and outside of his heart. There's evidence that the kids were given heroin injections."

Bakura's jaw dropped. "You gotta be shittin' me!"

"No, Bakura. I am not…..shittin' you."

Ryou sniffled. "We'll have to get Aten's things for here. Some pajamas, his monkey toy, his toothbrush, his comb, his brush, his sketch pad and some colored pencils.
Bakura nodded. "Daniel has to go for Robbie's things."

"Robbie is in Aten's regular room. Room 315. You know where that is."

"Yes."

Zira folded his hands. "Aten still sees Dr. Chapman, correct?"

Ryou nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Have him come in Saturday. By then, Aten should be ready to have a coherent thought."

Bakura nodded. "Okay."

"I was telling Ryou that he could stay in our special room that we set up for parents whose kids are in the hospital."

Bakura looked down. "Baby, do you want to stay here?"

Ryou looked up with sad blue eyes. "Tonight I want to stay with Aten. We'll see how he is by tomorrow night."

"Like I said, Ryou. He's going to be kept asleep so he doesn't have to go through the withdrawal. He may have flickers of consciousness, but he is not going to be awake for long."

Bakura kissed Ryou's forehead. "I will stay with you, baby, if you want me to stay."

"What about Aria?"

"Malik can stay with her. Miranda can stay with him, too, if she wants."

Ryou nodded. "Okay. I have the Ring, so you can go in to sleep if you need to."

Zira stood up. "You can stay, Ryou, but I suggest you go home and sleep tonight. Aten is not going to wake up tonight."

"No. My place is by his side. I'd be doing the same thing if it was Aria there."

Zira nodded. "Okay, Ryou. That is your choice."

Zira lead Ryou into the waiting room. He walked up to Daniel. "Robbie is in Room 315 now. He may be feeling some of the withdrawal effects, Mr. Morgan, so just be prepared."

Bakura remained with Seto while Daniel and Ryou went to see Robbie in 315.

Robbie was laying on his left side, trembling. His face had broke out into a sweat.

"H-H-Hi……D-Da-Dad."

Daniel put his hand on his son's head and caressed his hair. "I was worried about you, my little soldier."

Robbie reached up with a trembling hand and grabbed his father's wrist. Robbie hugged his father's hand. "I'm…g---g----g---glad…you're…h-o-h----home."

Ryou watched the father shake his head. No doubt, the military man felt helpless for the first time in his life.

"Robbie, you just lay here and get better. Okay?"

"I-I-w-wanna…..se…..see….my….muh-m-mom."

Daniel watched his son's body twitch. The clubbed foot banged against the railing of the bed.

"Ow," the boy in the bed whimpered.

Daniel gathered the blankets around Robbie and in front of the railing so the foot would not hurt if it kicked the metal.

"Th…Tha---Thank---Thankkk-you."

"I'm going to get you some clothes. Is there anything you want from home?"

Robbie's eyes looked up at his father. "My…G-G-My G-I. J-Joe duh-doll."

"Do you want your plastic army men?"

Robbie nodded.

"I---I-w-wan----want----my---de---dec----my-deck."

Daniel saw tears coming down Robbie's eyes. "This is only temporary. You'll be back to yourself in no time."

"I---s-soun----I sound like-an---id---idiot."

Ryou rubbed Robbie's leg. "This will pass, Robbie. Just get some rest and your father and I will be back with your things."

"Aten…."

"Aten's in the ICU, son," Daniel said. "They are going to hold him there for a couple of hours."

Robbie looked up. "Want…..m-mo-mom."

Daniel sighed. "Okay. I'll bring mom tonight, but not for long. You need your sleep, soldier."

Robbie smiled. He released his father's hand and lifted his arm. With a shaking hand, he saluted his father. "Y-Y-Yes…..S-sir."

Daniel saluted his son. "Okay, son. I'll be back."

Robbie snickered. "F---F---Funny."

The tall, disciplined military man leaned over the railing and kissed his son on the cheek, much to Ryou's amazement. It was hard to imagine this man, whose entire life was based on rationality and discipline, would lean over and kiss his son's cheek.

"I'll be back, son."

Daniel and Ryou left, the military man remaining silent for the entire drive home.

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

Miranda and Daniel walked into Robbie's room and put the bag on the chair beside Robbie's bed. The boy had his eyes closed, his body still trembling as he slept.

Miranda kissed her son's forehead. She took a towel that was draped over the railing and wiped her son's sweat-covered face.

Dr. Ginsby walked in. "Hello, Miranda."

Miranda turned to Michelle. "I heard Robbie will be here for a few days."

"He will have to be."

"Isn't there something you can do to stop his convulsions?"

Michelle shook her head. "It's going to take time for that drug to get out of his system."

Robbie opened his eyes. "M-M-Mom?"

"Yes, baby, I'm here."

Robbie reached out and took her hand. He held onto it, squeezing it. "He's d-d-dead, mom. At-At-en-----Ki---kill---kill-ed hi-m."

"Who?"

"F-F-V-Vinnie."

Michelle stood by Robbie's bed. "How are you feeling, Robbie? Are you hungry?"

Robbie nodded.

"Okay. I'll some food brought up to you. Do you want cherry Jell-o or Lime Jell-o?"

Robbie smiled as his head gave a twitch. "Wan---t----Ch-Cherry."

"Okay. Cherry Jell-o it is."

Ginsby left.

"So-Sorr---y-I c-cannnnn---can't-sp---spea----speak, m-mom," Robbie stuttered sadly.

Miranda caressed his head. "Aww, honey. It's only until this gets through your system. Then you'll be out playing with your toys. And you and Aten will be out playing in the park."

Robbie sighed. "I…w-wa-want---to co-com-come-h-home."

Daniel sat on the corner of his son's bed. "I know you do, little soldier. But for right now, this is the best place for you to be. Dr. Ginsby is a good doctor. She'll take good care of you."

Miranda held her son's hand tightly as she sat on the bed beside him, rubbing his hair. "I'll have your room all ready for when you come home, Robbie. I packed you some of your toys so you can play when you feel up to it."

"Th-Thank you. At-Aten?"

Daniel shrugged. "I don't know where Aten is. I'll go see. I'll be back, Robbie."

Daniel returned to the Emergency Ward waiting room to see Seto and the others gone. The nurse informed them that Aten and Ryou's family were in the ICU. Seto and Hayden were also in there.

Zira let Daniel inside the ICU.

Ryou and his family were surrounding Aten's bed. Ryou stood by Aten's bed, running his fingers through Aten white and blond mane. The boy's eyes were closed as he rested. Malik stood by the bedside, wishing he could hold Aten's hands, which were loaded with IV's. Bakura put his arm around Ryou's waist, holding his husband close. Aria stood at her brother's side with a tear coming down her face.

"Brother?" Aria asked as she reached out to touch Aten's sweaty skin.

No response came from the figure in the bed.

Aria put her hand on her brother's chest. "I wish there was something I could do, Aten."

Daniel stood beside Ryou and Bakura. "Robbie's in his room."

"How is he?"

"Shaking like a leaf, but that's the withdrawal talking. He's asking about you, Aten," Daniel said talking to Aten. "Robbie's waiting for you when you get out of the ICU, Aten. So, rest up, kiddo. My boy misses you."

Malik looked at the Rod in his hand. "Marik?"

Bakura and Ryou looked up from the boy in the bed.

"He's not coming out, is he?"
Malik sighed. He tapped it against the metal railing surrounding the bed. "Yami Marik Ishtar, get out here!"

The Rod remained dull in color.

"He's not coming out," Malik sighed.

Bakura narrowed his eyes and walked to the other side of the bed. "Ishtar, Ra-damn it! Get out here!" Bakura flicked the Rod's Eye with his finger.

Marik emerged holding his ears. "Itemri, what was that about?"

"Your son is lying here. Don't you think you need to get your head out of your ass and be here for him?"

Marik looked at the boy in the bed, IV's connected to his hands, a mask over his mouth forcing his lungs to breathe. His skin looked pale, a sheer blanket of sweat covered him.

Ryou reached out his hand to Marik. "Marik? Please come here?"

Marik kept his eye on the Egyptian boy as he walked around the bed slowly. The chorus of Aten's wheezing lungs interrupted his steps. Ryou reached out to him and took Marik's hand.

Ryou pulled Marik over and wrapped his arm around him. "He's going to sleep for a few days, Marik."

Marik squeezed Ryou's hand. "It's hard seeing him like this."

"I know, Marik. But it will only be a few days. He needs his rest."

Ryou and the others looked up at Marik. The yami's bottom lip trembled. "Marik, do you need to be alone with Aten?"

Marik looked up at his hikari. //Hikari, take everyone and get Umi. He's with Mako.//

Malik took Aria's hand. "Let's get Umi, Aria. Come on, guys. Marik, we'll be with Mako."

Marik waited for everyone to leave. Daniel moved over to Seto's half of the room. Marik pulled over a chair and sat by the bedside. "I'm glad you're alive, Aten."

The child wheezed.

"Why kill yourself, Aten? I'm sorry that you had to resort to such drastic measures, Aten." Marik reached up and curled a lock of Aten's hair in his fingers. "I love you, Aten. You mean everything to me. If you did kill yourself, you have no idea what that would do to me."

Marik stroked Aten's cheek. "I love you so much, my little blessing. I never get used to you laying in a hospital bed. It's the hardest thing for a father to see…his child needing help. I never want to let you go, my beautiful boy."

Marik sighed and leaned forward, rested his head on the metal railing connected to Aten's bed. He crossed his arms and rested his head on them. "Can you hear me, Aten? Let daddy know you can hear him."

Aten didn't move. His fluid-filled lungs were pumped to keep him breathing. His arms laid limp by his sides. Aten's eyelids fluttered.

Marik smiled slightly. "That will do, angel. You relax so you can get upstairs to Robbie."

Aten's eyelids fluttered. Marik raised his eyebrow.

"Son?"

Aten didn't react.

"Robbie."

Aten's eyelids fluttered.

"Son? You really care for Robbie, don't you?" Marik asked seriously.

Aten's eyelids fluttered.

"Aten? Do you love Robbie?" Marik asked.

A single tar crept down the side of Aten's cheek.

Marik sighed. "It's okay, Aten." The father wiped the tear off. "I'm not mad, son. It's okay. Don't cry. You'll be with him soon. Your heart seems to be beating well."

Marik grinned and leaned over. "Look at you, boy. You're so skinny!" Marik pat the flattened belly.

Marik grabbed a towel and wiped off the sweat from Aten's belly. "There we go, boy. All good."

Marik turned and looked at Seto.

The CEO was also sitting by Hayden's side, running his fingers through Hayden's red hair. The boy in the bed stared blankly at the ceiling, his body breathing calmly. His eyes not blinking.

"Hayden? Are you hungry?" Seto asked.

Hayden didn't react.

"Hayden, I know what you went through. I…I know how it feels to be used the way that you have been. It was not your fault, Hayden."

The boy laid rigid in bed.

"I'm going to bring daddy over tomorrow to see you. Mokuba and Jeanie will want to come over. You know, Hayden, you're going to be a cousin. Mokuba's girlfriend is going to have a baby."

Hayden blinked, but remained still.

"Daddy really wants to see you, Hayden. We both missed you terribly. Did you miss daddy?"

Hayden blinked.

"Daddy missed you. I'll bring Jaimen over, too. We'll bring your cars so you can have something to play with."

Marik turned to Aten and handed him his monkey plushie. He put Aten's monkey doll under Aten's arm. "This is for you, little monkey. You always did love your monkeys."

Marik turned his head. "Are you staying here, Seto?"

Seto nodded. "It's just for tonight. Joey's coming over later. Mokuba said he would watch Jaimen tonight for me."

Marik sighed. "Aten's going to sleep. He's in good hands here. The doctors here know him too well."

Seto sighed. "Well, I don't think Joey or I should be away from him."

"Give them time, Seto."

The CEO stood up. "I just want him to get better."

Marik stood up. "I know. So do I." Marik leaned down and kissed Aten's sweaty forehead. "I'll be back in the morning, son."

Daniel stood up. "The boys need time. It's been hard on them all today."

Marik sighed. "Yeah. From what I saw in Malik's mind, Itemri and I have a bloodbath to clean up."

"You're going to dispose of the bodies in that house?"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "No. Dragons get hungry, you know. The Winged Dragon of Ra would love to see me again. I'm sure Bakura's Man-Eater-Bug misses him, as well."

Marik left the room and walked down to Mako's room.

Mako sat awake in bed. "Hello, my friend. Thank you so much for caring for my Little Minnow. The doctors said I could leave tomorrow."
"It was no problem looking after him, Mako. We're just glad you are up and about."

Umi hugged his father. "I'm so happy that I can go home with my dad tomorrow!"

Marik sighed. His son was not coming home. "Time to go home, Umi."

Ryou took Aria's hand and lead her out. Marik took Umi's hand.

"My friend, I hope your son recovers. I will see him tomorrow."

Marik nodded. "Thank you, Mako."

Marik lead the others out of the hospital. He turned to Bakura as Daniel drove them home.

"We get rid of the corpses tonight, Itemri."

Bakura growled. "Our monsters will eat good tonight."

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

Zira and the nurse wheeled Aten's bed to his room. Robbie opened his eyes to see Aten being wheeled into the room.

"A---At-Aten."

"Here's Robbie, Aten."

Robbie saw his friend connected to heart monitors, breathing machines and a feeding tube.

"A-Aten.."

"You boys are going to be okay," Zira said to Robbie, rubbing the boy's arm. "You three are lucky boys."

Robbie looked up. "H-How c-c-c-can I b-be-luc-lucky?"

"You're lucky to be alive, Robert. And you are lucky that you have each other to help you through this. If you need anything, Robbie, you press that button by your bed."

"It h-h-hurts, Doc-tor."

Zira sat on Robbie's bed and let the boy hold his hand. "Aten's told me a lot about you, Robbie."

Robbie smiled. "He's…my f-f-f-fr-friend."

"I know he is."

Robbie watched Aten breathe from his bed. "When-w-will he wa-wake up?"

"He's going to sleep for a few days, Robert. He's sleeping to keep the stress off of his heart. He won't wake up until the withdrawal symptoms are gone."

Robbie trembled. "That's g-g-good. Be-Because-th-this-s-s-su-sucks."

Zira pat Robbie's back. "I know it is, buddy. But this is only for a few days."

Robbie held Zira's hand. "I k-kn-know…"

"Did you eat?"

Robbie nodded. "Yes…..My m-m-mom f-f-fed me. C-can't ho-hold a f-f-ork."

"Okay. Well, Aten is here now, you can go to sleep, Robbie. If you need a nurse in the middle of the night, push that button, okay?"

"O-k-okay."

Zira stood up and checked Aten's IV connections.

"Goodnight, Aten," Zira said as he left. "Goodnight, Robbie."

Robbie blinked, his body trembling. "A-A-Aten?"

The heart monitors beeped and the breathing machines forced air in and out of Aten's lungs.

"A-Aten….c-c-an…you…he-hear---m-m-me?"

Aten didn't respond, his eyes closed in a morphine-induced slumber.

Robbie watched Aten sleep from his bed until his eyelids became heavy. Aten had saved him from certain death. Never in his life did Robbie imagine that he would have to face a bullet. Aten saved his life.

He watched his friend sleep. 'Aten is so brave! He…he was scary in his yami form, but I think Yami Aten does care for me. Even a little.'

Robbie smiled. 'He does care for me, then. I was dumb to think that Aten wouldn't care for me at all!'

Robbie struggled to keep his eyes on Aten, but he was quickly losing the battle.

"A-Aten---I----love----."

Robbie's eyes closed as he went limp.

Updates: Sunday