Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time on a Chain ❯ Chapter 23

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Time 25

Joey reached out to Mokuba, "Mo' quit playin' I don't like it."

Willow felt the cold across her back as Seto left her at a run, yelling for a Doctor. She felt like weeping,
she'd failed. Joey was hurt worse than they'd thought. Not a simple concussion but something much worse.
She'd wait for the doctors evaluation but someone was going to pay heavily.

The doctor came in and examined Joey while Mokuba sat by his side and held his hand. Seto returned to her
bed and took up his place at her back again but she could feel him trembling under her. She leaned against
him, giving him her weight as some sort of anchor. They both needed it.

When the doctor was done, he motioned for Seto to come with him but Seto refused, saying only that they
were all in this together and he didn't feel like repeating what the doctor said and getting it wrong. So the
doctor explained that Joey had bilateral detached retinas. This could be bad but since they had gotten to it in
quick time he felt that an operation would fix it quickly.

"Have you been experiencing any visual anomalies?"

"What the hell is that when it's at home?" Joey was understandably cranky. The doctor just explained that
he wanted to know if he'd had unusual tearing or odd 'floaters' or lightning flashes.

"Yeah, all the above."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I've been working on my art requirements for school. I thought it was just too much painting and other
work. I did several big murals, oil and acrylic. I just thought it was the fumes from the oils. How bad is it?"

"Could be worse. Since you've been experiencing symptoms for a while, I'd like a second opinion. We'll
keep your eyes bandaged until you see Dr. Tanaka. He's the best in Japan, which means he's the best in the
world. I'll call him right a way and see when he can work you into his schedule."

Seto snarled from where he was in Willow's bed, "Call him. Tell him that Joey is my ward and I don't care
what it costs. I want the surgery done as soon as possible. I'll pay."

The older man just nodded. "I'll tell him but it won't do much good, he plans his schedule around need not
money. Joey won't go sour, so he may have to wait a week or a bit more. We'll give him drugs to keep the
retinas from attaching wrong, but he can't wait more than that, so Dr. Tanaka may work him in quickly. I
hope for his sake that you don't antagonize the Doctor, he doesn't take well to rich people who want
everything their way and don't care about the consequences to others."

Seto sighed. "I'm sorry. Because Joey is my ward, I'm understandably concerned about him. I want the best
for him and the best doesn't include waiting around until he's inoperable just because some . . . person feels
like showing off their power. See what you can do and I'll stay out of it. I'm not at my most diplomatic just
now."

Willow patted Seto's arm where it rested on her waist and Mokuba just squeezed Joey's hand and gave Seto
a grateful look. Joey just lay back and sighed.

"How long before he comes to see me?"

"Tomorrow at the earliest. Don't worry, I understand that you are upset. I'd be . . . "

"Try terrified." Joey muttered.

"Yes, I think I would be. But this doctor is very good and very dedicated. So if you need immediate surgery
you'll get it. Now I'm going to give you a mild sedative. I know you've got a concussion but I feel . . ."

"No doc. I don't want it. I've been out of it for four hours and I don't want to sleep just yet. I'll be all right.
If I need anything Mo' or someone will get it for me. Thanks for your time."

Joey didn't want to sleep, he wanted to consult with Seto and the others. He didn't know what to do or think,
he needed time to get use to the idea he might be blind. He didn't need a round of nightmares to finish off a
perfectly awful day.

"What time is it?"

"Joey . . . "

Joey turned his blind eyes to Seto "Don't give me shit I'm not in the mood. What time is it."

Seto consulted his watch. It was just past five in the morning, he told Joey so and Joey yawned.

"I'm going to close my eyes until the nurse comes in to bandage them, don't let me fall asleep. I don't trust a
concussion."

So they took turns asking Joey questions and bugging him until the nurse came in to bandage his eyes. When
she finished and left they passed looks around and let him fall asleep but Willow stayed awake, watching
him to make sure that he was breathing like he should. Mokuba had fallen asleep with his head on the bed
by Joey's knees, clutching his hand. Seto had finally fallen asleep, his arms still around Willow, she wasn't
in the most comfortable position but she didn't care. She was in Seto's arms and that was all that she cared
about. The sight of him going down had scared her into nearly making a mistake.

She was going to see that someone payed for that fear, Joey's current predicament and anything else she
could think of. But right now all she wanted was for Joey to open his copper penny eyes and tell her she was
being a wous. She swiped at her eyes and sniffled a little.

"Hey Sword Girl. Don't cry. It'll be ok. Serenity had the same thing only it happened slowly. I'll be fine."

"Don't give me that shit." Willow wanted to believe him in the worst way but things usually weren't that
easy in her experience.

Seto grumbled behind her. "Wheeler's right. I remember now. That was why he needed to win a tournament
so bad."

"Yeah and that's one of the reasons Pop got so bad with me. He said I wasted the money on frivolities.
Prick."

"Well he's gone. They got him on a drug charge. So he's up the creek for a while."

"Drugs? Pop didn't do drugs. Drink like a fish. . . . Willow, you naughty girl!"

"Who me?" Willow's innocent face was lost on Joey but not on Mokuba or Seto. She smiled at Mokuba
who'd been awakened by the chatter and he smiled tremulously back.

Set grunted, moved Willow off his chest and announced that he was going to see about a private room for
them. He walked out into the hall and was soon heard issuing orders to someone who clicked away on heels.

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"I've gotten the head nurse to see about getting you two moved to a semi-private suite. It'll be more
comfortable for Mo' and me. And we won't have to rely on the vagaries of other patients' needs. I've
arranged for a private nurse for each of you. Don't look at me like that Willow, you need at least 72 hours of
that IV with antibiotics and I don't want Joey alone for a second."

"Mo' and I will go back to the apartment and get cleaned up. We'll also bring you two some clothing. Joey
doesn't need to be lounging around with an air-conditioned dress on." Joey made a disgusted face, he did
hate hospital gowns. "So. . . . we'll be back in about three hours. After you get settled that is."

Seto took over the arrangements to move them to their new rooms, he made sure that the people moving
them knew that Joey didn't need to be handled just guided. But he nearly drove Willow to homicide by
fussing about her leg, her IV, her modesty and anything else he could think of. Joey laughed until he nearly
choked.

"Yuck it up, Wheeler." Willow snarled, "Just wait until after your surgery. Mo' will drive us all crazy. See if
he doesn't."

But they didn't have to wait long to see that Mokuba was going to be just as bad as Set. He started in the
minute they were supposedly settled in their new quarters. He nagged the nurse about moving the furniture
and explained in exhaustive detail exactly what Joey liked to eat and on and on. Joey bore with it all with
patience and when Mokuba and Seto left, he sighed slightly and smiled in the general direction of Willow

"What?"

"Don't you like having Seto fuss over you?"

"Yeah. Stupid, but it really feels good to have someone care."

"Yeah it sure does. Mo' cares about me so much. I love him, I really do. Do you think . . . "

"Joey! Bite your tongue. Mo' will love you no matter what."

"But I'll be such a burden."

"Just make sure you're not." Willow ended the stupid conversation by asking the nurse for a pain pill. And
Joey stopped fretting, at least for a while.

When Seto came back Willow told him all about their conversation and Seto told Mokuba. They all
surrounded Joey, Willow slid behind him and wrapped her arms around him, then Seto got on the bed and
took both of them in his arms. Mokuba climbed into Joeys arms and Seto lectured Joey gently, telling him
that they all loved him and didn't care if he could see or not.

"Of course I would rather the surgery worked, but if it doesn't there are teachers out there who can teach you
to do almost anything."

"Except draw."

"Yes, I'm truly sorry about that. But I'll see to it that Weevil is punished for this."

Willow patted Joey.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about. You're strong. You'll make it. I'll see to it that you do.
Between the three of us there is enough stubbornness to out last anything."

"I know." Joey sighed, if he was blind forever he knew that Mokuba would care for and support him, but he
felt like such a loser just now. Depression was setting in.

Willow didn't like the look on Joey's face, she'd seen it on too many faces. He was slipping into depression
and she let Seto know it

"We have to keep an eye on him. He might do something unpleasant before we know whether it's going to
work or not. If not, we'll really have to keep an eye on him. Might not be a bad idea to put him on suicide
watch if it fails."

Seto put his arms around Willow and snarled. He was so angry that he didn't even feel the pain of Willow's
shoulder digging into the bruise on his chest. He only felt the pain of failure, he was supposed to protect his
family and he'd failed, badly.

"Seto! We don't have time for 'I'm a bad boy I should be whipped' games right now. You keep your head
on straight or I'll make you regret it and you really won't like it. No matter what, you have to keep in mind
that this is not about you, but about Joey. You keep your urges under control."

Willow eyed Seto sharply and he had the good grace to look ashamed of himself. It really wasn't the time for
self-indulgence and Seto knew that Willow would put up with no foolishness at all.

"Ok. I know you're right. But . . ."

"NO! You listen to me. We did everything right. Joey knew the risks involved. Probably better that you and
I put together. Now we need to concentrate on getting him better. " Seto eyed her leg pointedly. " Damn that.
There's nothing wrong with my leg that walking on it won't cure. I'm only putting up with this IV so that I
can stay here with Joey and he won't know I'm up to something."

"And that something is?"

"Making sure that he gets everything that he needs. I'll kill anyone who hurts him in anyway, and . . ."

Seto pressed his lips to her forehead in a tender kiss. "Don't get upset, I think the people in this hospital are
on our side. You want to go back to the apartment after you have all your IV, I'll take you. You'll want to
take a real bath and get some clothes that you pick out"

Willow sighed and settled herself against his shoulder, she really did want exactly that but she wasn't
leaving the hospital until she was sure Joey was being taken proper care of.

The next day the doctor came in early to examine Joey. He flashed a light in his eyes, looked at charts, and
questioned Joey closely as to what his symptoms had been and what he could see now.

Taking Seto aside he started to explain things to him but Seto stopped him saying that he might as well tell
everyone as it would be easier and make sure that everyone knew what was going on.

So the doctor explained that Joey's retinas had detached due to trauma. The detachment was bad, as Joey
was completely blind in both eyes. But he also told them that, due to Joey's youth and general health, there
shouldn't be any difficulty with the operation and he expected Joey to make a full recovery.

"As long as you do as you're told and stay in the correct position for the length of time necessary. That's
always the hard part." The doctor turned to Seto explaining. " In his case he'll need to stay flat on his face,
eyes down, for at least eight hours a day for three weeks. That'll make sure that the retinas reattach properly.
If he does that, I don't see any reason that he can't continue with excellent eyesight. He might even be long
sighted."

They all heaved a sigh of relief, knowing it was going to be a long haul but that they would make it. Joey's
sight was all important. His art was so exquisite that they hated to think what it would do to him . . . them
all, if he couldn't create anymore.

"You think it'll be ok? If the operation works, that is. You sure?"

"The only things truly certain in this world are death and taxes, but I'm as sure as I can be. And that's pretty
sure. I've got twenty years experience in this sort of thing. The tears are clean, there's no fluid under the
retina, and you're young, in excellent health and your guardian has the money to hire the best nursing staff
there is. If I had his kind of money . . . well, there would be a lot less blindness in this country."

"Doctor, if you operate on Joey today I'll see to it that you have a clinic that anyone would envy. I'll build it
to your specifications, anything you want."

"Your father won't appreciate you making that kind of offer for him." The doctor looked disappointed. With
the kind of clinic he wanted he could help so many people. He wished Joey's guardian was here.

"I'm Joey's guardian, my father is dead. I'm Kaiba Seto and I've got more money than is good for six
people. If you do the operation now. You've got your clinic. I guarantee it. My word is as good as money in
the bank. Ask anyone."

The doctor considered carefully, shuffling patients around in his head. If he did this surgery in the afternoon,
he could still do everything he needed to, if he cancelled his afternoon office hours. He called his nurse and
had her start cancelling appointments.

"I don't usually yeald to this kind of pressure but if you are as good as your word I'll be able to save the
sight of hundreds of people. So I just hope you're as good as your word. I'll operate on him this after noon at
two. Nothing by mouth. Have an IV in ready for the sedation. I'll talk to the floor nurse."

"He has a private nurse she'll be here in ten minutes. Just writeup what you want done. Mrs. Watanabe is
one of the best there is. I want nothing but the best for Joey. He's not only my ward, he's my best friend."

Willow eyed the doctor, he looked impressed and she decided that threatening him with getting a hand
chopped of if the operation failed would only make him nervous. She didn't want a nervous doctor cutting
around on Joey.

After the doctor left Seto connected his computer to the web and did some research. The operation was a
scleral buckling and he found plenty of information on WebMD. They all felt better after he read off all the
information he found and they realized that the success rate for the operation was 90%; more, the quicker
the operation was done. As this one would be completed within 36 hours of the incident, the chances of
success were 95%+. As long as Joey cooperated with the regimen and didn't insist on being up and jumping
around as Seto put it.

"Seto, if it'll restore my sight and let me keep working, I'll do whatever I have to do. You know that I'm
stubborn. But if I apply that stubbornness to keeping in the correct position and not giving up. You know I'll
be ok. {I hope}"

Mokuba hadn't let Joey out of his arms since the doctor had gotten done with his examination, the doctor
motioned for Seto to step aside again and this time Seto did.

"You know that it isn't healthy for that young man to be so clingy with Joey. It could lead to things you'd
rather not deal with."

Seto eyed the doctor sourly. He didn't want to have to deal with it if the man was a homophobe. He wanted
him to operate, as he was the best, but if he was homophobic he was going to have to settle for second best.

"They are already lovers. Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not for me. I just think that Mokuba? . . . is a little young. How old is he. Fourteen"?

"He's seventeen now. And I've got my eye on both of them, as does Willow. Joey wouldn't think of hurting
Mokuba and Mo' certainly won't hurt Joey. I'm not too thrilled with this but I'm not getting in their way."

The doctor gave Seto a commiserating look. He had teens of his own and realized that Seto wasn't much
older than one of his sons. How this boy had managed to wind up in charge of the biggest toy company in
the world, as well as guardian of a boy not that much younger than himself, spoke of a strength of character
that was down right scary.

"Well, enough of me minding your business. I've got rounds and four operations before Joey. I'll see you
about four this afternoon. I'll give you a run down of the operation and everything you need to know to
make sure that Joey recovers fully at that time. Ja"

The doctor walked out leaving Seto wondering if he was doing the right thing. Willow walked up behind
him a put her arms around him. She wondered at the tension in his body so she started rubbing his shoulders
and back waiting for him to decide what he was going to tell her.

"The doctor might be either a homophobe or a workaholic. I need to check him out. I'm going to be in the
setting room for a while, keep an eye on Mo' and Joey for me, will you?"

"Sure, Koi. I'll keep both eyes on them." She patted Seto on the arm before turning to go back to stay with
Joey and Mokuba, swearing at the IV stand. "It'll be ok. You'll see. Joey's strong as a horse and if love
alone could fix it Mokuba would fix all our problems."

Willow went back to bed pulling the IV stand after her. This was annoying having the 'damn thing' trailing
after her, but she was well aware that if she tried to take out the IV or refused it, Set would have a fit and she
didn't want that. Not that she was afraid of him, she just loved him too much to distress him over something
like an IV that was good for her. She'd just put up with it, after all, it was only for another 24 hours.

Willow leaned back in the bed and thought about life and death and living. She couldn't believe how far
she'd come in such a short time. From a nearly suicidal, truly homicidal killer to a loved and loving young
woman. It was a journey that she'd never even contemplated making. She hadn't been sure it was possible.
But between them Joey, Mokuba and especially Seto had dragged her from the brink of insanity or death,
she wasn't sure which, into the arms of a loving albeit odd family. She smiled, she wondered what her old
Sensai would think of this.

If Joey didn't get his sight back, she'd spend the rest of her life helping Seto take care of him. She knew
Mokuba would do it himself, but she wanted to help. After all, that was what friends did, wasn't it?

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Seto sat in the apartment and rested while he waited for Mokuba to finish cleaning up. They'd been in the
same clothing for 24 hours now and he was glad to change out of the black trousers, black shirt and redlined
white trench coat he'd been wearing. Even though he owed his life, and maybe Mokuba's, to that coat he
was ungodly tired of it.

Mokuba had insisted on coming back to the apartment as they'd originally planned. He'd asked Seto to
come home before he did a check on the doctor saying, "If Joey finds out, it might scare him and he doesn't
need that. And if we have to find a different doctor it might be better if we don't leave tracks on the Hospital
computer."

So here he sat, wanting Willow in the worst way and awaiting for Mokuba to pack things for Joey. He'd
packed for Willow, but packing for her was easy. T-shirts and jeans and a jacket to hide her pistol. She was
easy, just not cheep, he'd laughed the first time she'd told him that and it still gave him a warm feeling. He
was sure she wasn't after his money. She'd proved it time and time again. He didn't think that she had any
idea of how much his present had cost, and she probably wouldn't care if she did. He wondered vaguely
what he could give her that would give her that 'light in the eyes' delight that he so wanted to see.

Mokuba came down the stairs carrying a duffel with Joey's things in it. He headed straight for the door and
didn't even bother to see if Seto was behind him. Seto really looked at Mokuba for the first time in a long
time. He liked what he saw. Mokuba had matured during their time on the streets and now after. He saw a
slight but wiry young man with a shock of black hair and a grim expression. He looked every day of his age.
He'd grown physically, mentally and emotionally in the last few months. He was going to make a good man,
a powerful ally and an ungodly deadly enemy. He was proud of his brother and meant to let him know it.

Willow smiled at the nurse, she was looking at the diamond heart at Willow's neck. She'd just returned it
and some of Willow's other things. Things that she'd had to turn over to security before she could go into
surgery.

"It's so beautiful. He must love you very much to spend so much money on a necklace."

"I'm sure he loves me. It doesn't make any difference to me if he buys me things or not. In fact I'd rather he
didn't I tend to lose things like this."

"Oh my god. If you lost that . . ."

Seto spoke from behind her. "I'll just buy her another just like it."

"But . . . It's so . . . "

"Pocket change, not even that."

Willow looked from Seto's smug face to the nurses awed one.

"Ok, what is the deal."

The nurse turned to her again and sighed. "It's worth about eight thousand dollars American, that's what."

"But that's good, isn't it? I don't understand this at all. He bought me something nice. It's pretty but all
anyone does is talk about how much it cost, like that's more important than anything else."

Joey chimed in just then. "It's about thoughts and feelings, not money. They don't understand that you
would have been just as happy if it was tin. They're so excited about the value that they don't see the cost."

"What's the difference?" the nurse looked puzzled "it's . . ."

"Very expensive to you, but to Seto? . . . He really could buy it out of what he calls pocket money. To you
it's a significant investment. Seto, give me your money clip, please."

Seto pressed the item into Joey's hand. He looked at Willow then shrugged, if Joey wanted his money clip,
ok. Joey took it and handed it to the nurse.

"Count it."

The nurse counted and then nearly fainted. Seto was carrying almost three thousand dollars in very large
bills with a few smaller ones thrown in.

"Oh me. I see what you mean. It's like my boy friend getting me a necklace worth sixty or seventy dollars. A
symbol of love, not a statement of extravagance. Well. It's still one of the most beautiful things I've ever
seen." She turned to Willow and hugged her gently "You take care of his heart now you hear?"

Willow understood the woman's meaning and just nodded and smiled.

"Hey, blind here. Not deaf. What the hell is going on." Joey turned his head toward them and frowned.

Seto shuddered, he was to blame for this. If he'd done as Willow told him and stayed out of it he wouldn't
have shot Willow, which wouldn't have slowed her down and she would have been in the right place at the
right time and . . . he felt as if his head was tearing his heart apart.

Willow felt Seto start to shudder. She tried to reach for him, but her IV got in the way. She started to pull the
needle from her arm but Seto saw and stopped her. She frowned at him and pulled away.

"No, don't do that. You can't take out that IV for twelve hours yet. You need the antibiotics. What are you
doing?"

"Trying to hug you, you dumb shit. Come here. I want you to hold me." Seto crept behind Willow and
pulled her to his chest. Her head came to rest on the bruise there but he didn't say anything, if she wanted
him to hold her, hold her he would, and thank whatever deity there was that she was still alive.

"I should have listened to you. I should have never touched a gun. I should . . ."

"Have been a better, a nicer. Whatever. Damnit Seto, you aren't responsible for the troubles of the world. If
I'd been smarter, I'd have insisted that you give me that pop gun and Mokuba too. Neither of you is
competent to shoot your way out of a paper bag. If anyone is to blame it's me. I'm supposed to be the
expert."

Joey snarled. "Seto, come here." At Seto's intelligent 'huh?' he added "Yeah. I wanna smack ya up side the
head."

The resounding 'smack' and 'ow' that followed that statement made them all laugh, even Mokuba, who
walked in on the smack.

"Big brother, are you blaming yourself for this mess again. You shouldn't, it was my bullet after all. If
anyone is to blame it's me. " He turned to Willow with a sorrowful face. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it.
Please? Forgive me?"

"Sure Mo' I know you didn't intend to shoot me. In fact you didn't, Seto did. It's all right. I mean, I even got
to come to a hospital this time and I didn't have to dig it out myself, so it's all good. Here, what's that?"

Mokuba smiled, "Book on tape. Or cd rather. I thought that you might like it, Joey. It'll entertain you when
I'm not here. Willow will be released in . . ."

"She will not. She'll stay here." Seto looked . . . pissed was the word Mokuba thought of first, but why
would Seto be pissed.

"Yes, I'll be staying right here until we're sure the last mercenary is in custody. There were some left . . . er
. . . standing? If you know what I mean. I'm staying entirely out of it, but the police are after this in a big
way. We should be free and clear very soon now. But until then I'm staying right here. "

Joey snarled. "Hey, blind here not deaf, or helpless. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." He
started to get out of bed but stubbed his feet on the half rail that was raised at the bottom of the bed. He
nearly fell out and only prevented himself from doing so by having Mokuba grab him by the arm.

Seto decided that they were only upsetting Joey and commanded both Willow and Mokuba to sit down and
behave themselves. Joey was going into surgery in a few hours and didn't need the aggravation of them
harassing each other.

Joey fussed at them for a while but it was clear that his heart wasn't in it. His face, what they could see of it
around the bandages over his eyes, was drawn and pale. He grumbled about not being allowed anything to
eat, not getting any analgesics for his headache and finally fell asleep. Mokuba looked at Seto with tears in
his eyes.

"Oh Seto, please tell me he's gonna be ok. Please. I can't stand the thought that he might be blind. What . . .
It'll break him."

Willow shook her head at Mokuba. She knew better, but how to explain to this tender hearted man-child that
Joey was so tough that he didn't even know he was. He'd come out of this one way or the other.

Seto looked at his little brother, then set up his lap top and pushed it to him.

"Search retinal detachment then scleral buckling. That's what Joey has and that's the operation that the
doctor is going to do. Read everything, you'll see. He's going to be fine."

Mokuba did as Seto told him to and spent the next hour or so reading everything he could find on the
subjects.

When they came for Joey Willow breathed a sigh of relief, she needed some time away from all the angst.
She didn't blame Seto for shooting her. Ok, Mokuba was trying to take the blame, but she'd seen the bullet
as they'd taken it from her leg. It had gone into the muscle about three inches. It was deformed from
ricocheting off the floor. But she knew the difference between a .25 and a .380 not to mention that Seto had
been using some highly unusual ammo. But who was she to deny Mokuba the chance to take part of the load
of guilt off Seto's shoulders.

"Willow, you know that I shot you, don't you?" Seto wanted to dodge this one so badly he could taste it.

"Seto, I saw that damn bullet when they took it out of my leg. I'm the one who told the Doctor to tell you.
You stop blaming yourself, it's over. If you really feel that bad buy me a nice new sword or something.
Maybe diamond earings. But if you don't stop angsting about this I'm gonna be really mad. We've got a lot
more on our plates than a pill in my leg. Get over it. If it had been anywhere else, that copper jacket piece of
shit would still be in there and I'd be running like hell for some reason or other.

"Instead, because of you, I'm in a dry, warm, bed with a damn IV in my arm and stitches in my leg. Here, if
you really want to help get me some water." When Seto brought her the fresh water, she sent him down to
the waiting room to sit with Mokuba saying that she was tired and wanted to take a nap.

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"Wakie, Wakie. Bath time. Come on Missy up and at 'em"

Willow eyed the male nurse with a very jaundiced eye, she wasn't letting a man bathe her, unless it was Seto
of course. She pulled the covers up to her waist and refused to let go of them.

"Look, Missy. I know that it's not usual for a man to bathe a woman, but considering our age difference, it's
not that big a deal. You have to have a bath, get that dressing changed and I'm sure you want clean clothes."

"I'd like two of the three, but you're not doing it. I'm quite capable of taking care of my own sanitary needs
and I'm not sure I want a nurse changing that dressing just yet. In fact, just leave it alone. I'm sure it'll keep
til later."

The nurse started to drag the blanked out of Willows hands and she reacted like she did to any attempt to
take something away from her. She clutched it even tighter and reached for a weapon. Now, if you think that
someone like Willow is without a weapon at any time, change your mind now. She pulled a knife on the
man and scared him half to death. He left and came back with two big orderlies who took one look at
Willow and called security.

Seto arrived at the same time as security and coped with the whole mess with his usual arrogance. He
snarled at security to go the hell away, which they did. He yelled at the floor supervisor for allowing a male
nurse anywhere near Willow and sent the nurse to the locker room scared for his life. Then he took Willow
in his arms and started shaking. The orderlies, understanding that the emergency was over wandered away
on their own.

"What the hell. Seto, this is not your fault!"

"I know that. So why do I feel so guilty. If I had listened to you. If I . . ."

"If . . . if . . . damnit. If I had wings, I'd be an angel. If you had a brain, you'd be dangerous. Stop it. I'm
tired of this self flagellation."

Seto drew back and eyed Willow. "I haven't done . . . "

"I mean mental. It's just as damaging as the physical in it's own way. Stop blaming yourself for everything
under the sun. Worry about what you can change and forget the rest. So you accidentally. You hear me?
Accidentally shot me. Big deal. Great big fucking deal. I'm fine. I could do anything I want to. I already told
you. You don't listen to me you're so busy wallowing in guilt. I want you to stop it right now. It isn't doing
anyone any good. I've gotten worse for less reason. Now you need to concentrate on Joey. He's in bad
shape, no matter what the Doctor said. And Mo' is a real mess. Now what the hell are you doing back up
here instead of down with Mokuba."

Seto managed to look shame faced and smug at the same time.

"I had a feeling that I was needed here. So I came back up. It's a good thing I did too or I'd have come back
to find you strapped to the bed."

Willow snorted derisively "Me, bed, straps? Don't think so. I'm not so tame yet that I'll allow something
like that. So maybe it's a good thing that you came up after all. It wouldn't do to have to hire new nurses
first thing."

Seto put his forehead to Willow's, "We are so fucked up. I love you."

Willow kissed him and agreed. "Yeah we are. But we're fucked up together. We'll get better. You're too
arrogant for your own good and I'm too violent for others. Joey's nearly normal and Mo', poor boy, has to
cope with all of us. If it wasn't for him, we'd all be in a hell of a mess. Now go back down stairs and see
what's what. Scat. I promise I won't kill anyone while you're gone."

Seto went back down stairs and found Mokuba in the same waiting room he'd left him in. The poor kid
looked like he'd just lost his last friend. He was sitting in one of those ridiculously uncomfortable chairs
hospitals inflict on those waiting to hear the fate of family. He had a soda in his hand but he seemed to be
more interested in staring at it than drinking it.

"Here, either drink that thing, or give it to me. You heard anything yet?" At Mokuba's sullen shrug Seto
grumbled "Well, don't hurt yourself. Either you have or haven't. If you want, I'll go jerk the nurses chain
and see what I can find out."

"They said it wouldn't take too long. What if it's taking so long because there are complications. What if . . .
"

"Mokuba, you're doing the same thing to yourself that I do, and I must say it isn't the least attractive. You
can 'what if' until hell freezes over. It won't do you any good . . . oh. my. god. Just . . . shit . . . Mo' Willow
says we'll make it. If Willow says it, it's a true thing. You know her. I. . . Mo' I haven't had my head on
straight in so long it's a wonder to me that you'll even look at me."

"Seto, I'm not sure what brought about this epiphany, but could it wait a while. I can't do this now. "

"Mo' you don't need to do a thing." Seto put his arms around his brother and hugged him like he hadn't
done in years, not a quick squeeze, but a real 'hold me til I'm warm' hug. "I'm getting better at this, aren't I?
Look. Relax here and I'll go see the nurse. Then we're going back down to the room and wait there."

Seto went to tell the nurse that they were returning to the room and he wanted immediate updates on Joey.
When she told him that Joey would be out of surgery in ten more minutes ,more or less, he smiled at her.

"Why didn't you tell Mokuba when he asked?"

"He's not a relative. He's . . ."

"My brother, Joeys my ward, that makes him family. Let me at your computer. I'm changing some things in
it".

The nurse looked doubtful and Mokuba, standing behind Seto, waited for the explosion that didn't happen.
Instead Seto turned on a thousand-dollar smile that Mokuba was sure he'd never seen. The nurse melted like
chocolate in the sun, allowed Seto to change Joey's records and gave him a dazzled look when he thanked
her with another smile.

Mokuba blinked. What the hell had just happened? Seto had charmed that woman right out of her shoes.

"What are you blinking at like a toad in a coal hole?"

"Donno'. You sure you're Seto?"

"Willow . . . um . . . pointed something out to me. And I just thought of something Joey told me years
ago. So I had an epiphany. So shoot me."

"How about I hug you instead."

Everyone they passed thought it was so cute the way the brothers walked arm in arm down the hall to the
elevator. In the elevator Seto told Mokuba about Willow and the nurse. Mokuba couldn't help but laugh, in
fact he laughed so hard he started to cry. Seto just took him in his arms and held him while he let go. After
sobbing for a few minutes Mokuba dried his eyes, blew his nose, and asked what was going on with the
elevator.

"I stopped it between floors so we could have a few minutes privacy. I didn't think you wanted to have the
doors open on you. I better start it back up or someone . . ."

Just then the phone started to ring. Seto answered it and calmed the security man with a few words and
apologized for worrying them. When asked what the problem was he told the man the truth and started the
elevator again.

When they came into the room Willow started as she got a good look at Mokuba's face. Seto calmed her
with a few words and put Mokuba into Joey's bed, tucking him in and patting his cheek Seto sternly
commanded him to sleep, "I'll let you know when Joey comes back up. They'll keep him in recovery for a
while. We can't go in there. So sleep."

Mokuba settled down exhausted and did exactly that.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Willow eyed the new nurse with as much disfavor as she had the old one.

"I don't want to do anything until Joey is back. I don't want to miss him."

The nurse just exchanged looks with Seto.

"She usually this uncooperative?"

"No she's usually worse." Seto turned to Willow. "Will you just cooperate! Joey won't be back up for a
while yet. You have time to get everything done so you'll look nice for him. Not to mention me. You're
getting a little. Um . . . "

"Strong?" The nurse interjected helpfully. 'Ripe? Um . . ."

"Ok, ok. I get the picture. I'll cooperate. But you get to wash my hair. And comb it out and . . ."

"Yes miss and very pretty hair it is too. You've let it get tangled."

Willow gave the woman a sullen look and snarled. "You fight overwhelming odds, get shot, fight some
more, go to the hospital, have an operation and see how nice your hair looks. If we're going to do this, let's
get to it."

The nurse looked at Seto who nodded, she flicked her eyes back to Willow who smirked smugly and started
getting out of bed.

"Wait, I need to get that IV out for you. You'll pull the needle out."

Willow held out her arm for the nurse to remove the needle, when she did Willow put her finger over the
tiny hole in her arm and pressed for a moment to stop the bleeding. The nurse put a bandage on it and
sighed.

"That's incredible. I don't believe you got shot and kept fighting. Where was security?"

Willow grinned at the woman. "Fighting in the back. I'm part of security anyway. Besides it was only a .380.
Not much and it was expended."

At the nurses odd look Willow explained that it was a ricochet and asked her name. When the nurse told her
it was Fannie Watanabe, 'Call me Fannie', she smiled and told her to call her Willow.

Fannie helped Willow take a shower and wash her hair. The real problem was that she couldn't quite stand
up yet, she complained that she could, but Fannie pointed out that if she ripped out a stitch Seto would try to
keep her in a wheel chair for days.

"I can do it, damnit. I'm not helpless here."

"Knock it off, Young Lady. Whining isn't going to get you anywhere. I'll wash that mess after I've brushed
it out and not before. If you want to spend the next hour or so trying to get the tangles out of wet hair, you
can leave me out of it, and I don't think that young man of yours has the patience to mess with it."

Willow mugged at the woman in the mirror. "You'd be surprised. He doesn't even pull . . . ow . . . not like
you. Could you possibly leave some on my head?"

Fannie dimpled back at Willow. "I'm sorry. Here. I'll spray some of this stuff on for you . . . who brought
all this stuff here?"

"Seto did. He . . . oh, there's my favorite scrunchie. He really spoils me. Not like I've ever been spoiled
before but . . . he's good to me."

They managed to get the washing and bathing done without wetting the dressing. Even thought it needed
changing, it didn't need wetting. That wasn't good for the wound.

When Fannie got the bandage off, Willow looked at the wound and relaxed. It was clean, dry and almost
invisible. The Doctor who'd worked on her hadn't needed to cut much, he'd used forceps to more or less
just pull the bullet out the way it had gone in.

"Seto, look at it."

"I . . . I . . can't! I'll get sick. "

"Seto! Look at it! Now!"

Willow's harsh command made him flinch, but he looked.

"That's it? That's all there is? Holy . . ."

"Shit is the word you're looking for. And yeah, that's all there is to it. Not much at all is it?"

The bullet had entered her thigh in the heavy muscle at the side, penetrating about three inches. Since it was
jacketed, it hadn't deformed much when it hit the floor and none at all when it entered her leg, so the wound
was small, barely larger than a pencil. The two stitches holding it closed were black and stark against her
skin but Seto stared at the wound with a sense of relief that made him faint. Literally.

"Oh . . . catch him. Quick. Damnt it. I can't believe he's that damn squeamish."

Fannie muscled Seto onto Willow's bed, with help from an awaked Mokuba. Willows snarled command had
dragged him from sleep but he'd lain in the bed just listening until Seto passed out.

Seto came too almost immediately and felt like a 'real fool' his words not anybody elsies. He looked at the
wound again and this time managed to examine it without further repercussions.

"Here. Sprinkle this powder on it, then put this gauze pad over it. Wrap this around her thigh and tape it here
and here."

Fannie supervised Seto as he cleaned and dressed the wound, deciding that he might as well learn now what
he was going to wind up doing until the stitches came out, or she missed her guess.

Willow submitted to Seto's ministrations with good grace and now, bathed, hair washed, and dressing
changed, she felt so much better that she found herself smiling at Fannie like a complete girlie girl.

Mokuba, now wide awake and recovered from his shock, nagged Seto to find out when Joey would be back
in the room. Seto agreed that it had been long enough for Joey to recover from the anesthesia, so he called
Fannie back from where ever she'd gone and asked her.

"I just went to see about him and find out where his nurse is. Jane is with him now, in recovery. She says
he's almost ready to come up stairs. He's starting to wake up. His doctor wants him to wake up in this room
so they will be bringing him up in just a few minutes."

Mokuba sighed in relief, if Joey was beginning to awaken it couldn't be too bad, could it? He wanted to get
his hands on Joey, he needed to make sure that he was ok. Mokuba looked up to see Willow and Seto both
looking at him sympathetically. He realized that he hadn't been separated from Joey for more than a few
minutes since the house had been blown up. He didn't like it. He felt startlingly cold and alone.

Twenty minutes later he felt much better in one way and worse in another. They brought Joey back up to the
room and rearranged the beds. Joey was on a special bed, still sedated, flat on his stomach strapped to the
bed with heavily padded velcro restraints.

Mokuba groaned this was bad, he'd counted on being able to crawl into the bed with Joey and cuddle up to
him. This was just plain weird.

"Why is he in that contraption? Why is he restrained? What's going on?"

The nurse who came up with him smiled and explained that Joey needed to be in that position for twelve to
eighteen hours a day for two weeks to make sure that the bubbles of nitrogen that were holding his retinas in
place didn't shift. Before she could finish explaining Joey started waking up.

At first it was just soft mutters and tentative attempts to roll over or touch his face. Then, as he woke up
more, the struggles got stronger and he became more vocal and coherent. Mokuba started to rub his back and
whisper words of comfort, calming him until he was conscious enough to ask intelligent questions.

"Why am I on my face? What . . . why can't I . . . I don' want to be restrained. I'm not violent. What . . .
Mo'? I don't like this."

He was querulous and cranky and he wanted answers. The nurse sat on a stool and wheeled herself where
Joey could have seen her if his eyes weren't bandaged.

"My name is Jane. I'm your nurse. Mokuba, Willow and Seto are all here with you. You are restrained to
keep you from pulling out your IV or rolling over on your back. Your eyes are bandaged so that you won't
roll them around too much. You'll only be bandaged for few hours, just until the doctor examines you again.
At that time he will make a final diagnosis."

"Oh. How did the surgery go?"

Everyone hung on the nurses next words.

"Well I'm only a nurse, but I looked at the chart and there were no surprises, nothing out of the ordinary. As
far as I can tell it's all good." She smiled at Mokuba, who was practically in her face. "I'm not supposed to
say because, like I said, I'm only a nurse, but . . . The doctors are all too conservative and want to wait too
long in my opinion. It puts a lot of unnecessary pressure and stress on families and patients. Interferes with
recovery."

Joey asked a few more questions, mostly about recovery, then drifted back to sleep. When he woke again he
was much more coherent and asked to be let loose. Jane pulled the straps loose with the unmistakable
scriech of opening velcro.

"There you go. Are you thirsty? You can't have any food just yet, unless you want luke warm soup through a
straw. Don't move your left arm around too much, that IV is hung from a standard right on the bed and you
could pull it out really easily."

"Ok. I am thirsty, but that soup sounds gross I'll wait until I can sit up and eat something solid. What can I
have?"

Jane smiled at Seto, who was twanging like a bow string. He would get Joey anything he was allowed

"You can have anything you want. I'd recommend something easy on the stomach at first. But after the first
meal the sky's the limit. You name it and I'm sure Seto will get it. Now, I'm going to give you a back rub
while we wait for the doctor to come. Ok?"

"Yeah, ok. But I want Mokuba. Where is he?"

"Right here, Koi. I was just waiting until you got it together a little. How do you feel? You want anything?"

"I want pizza, and a malt. Can I have that, . . I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

"It's Jane. And you can't have pizza until you can sit up and you can't sit up until the doctor says so. I'll get
you some water and maybe a soda?"

Jane efficiently rattled around and smiled at Fannie who was sitting by Willow's bed ready to keep her from
doing anything . . . at all

Willow eyed Fannie, she wanted to go to Joey, she needed to touch him. He looked so small laying on the
bed face down. Jane had made sure that he was covered so that he wouldn't get chilled, so he was covered to
his shoulders with a sheet. Fannie smiled, Willow didn't need a nurse she needed exercise, but Seto
wouldn't let her until the doctor allowed it.

Both nurses thought the whole bunch was just cute as kittens. They looked out for each other with a
fierceness that was sweet. Little did they know.

After getting Willow over to Joey the two left to get ice water and fresh sheets. Willow patted Joey on the
shoulder, smiled at Mokuba and pulled Seto against her.

"We got to get out of here. This place is driving me crazy."

Seto objected instantly, "We can't. We have to wait until the doctor comes and gives us instructions for
Joey. The minute I'm sure it's safe to move him we're going home. But until then, be patient."

"Patient shit. I've been patient most of my life. I want to go home." Willow whined, she thought seriously
about throwing a temper tantrum but Mokuba beat her to it.

"I want to go home too. I don't like hospitals, they smell funny. I want Joey where I can take care of him not
some strange lady."

Jane interrupted the tantrum before Mokuba could build up much steam.

"I'm not a strange lady. I'm a nurse. I know you all don't want to be in a hospital. It's no fun. However, Mr.
Kaiba has hired both Fannie and me to go home with you. After the doctor gives us the low down on Joey,
we'll make arrangements to get you all out of here and back home."

Joey grumbled. "I just want to sit up for a little while. My back is giving out. Can't I sit, just for a while."

Jane turned to Joey, stopped Mokuba from helping him sit, and patted him on the back.

"See why you need me. You can't sit up til the doctor says so. After that, you can sit up for eight to ten
hours out of twenty-four. If you want your eyes to heal well, you have to make sure that bubble stays in
place."

"I'm not sure what you are talking about. The doctor explained the operation but it didn't make a lot of
sense to me. What did they do?"

"They injected a bubble of gas into your eye to hold the retina in place until it reattaches. It's a simple
operation. Making sure the retina is in the correct place is the hard part. After that it's a matter of not letting
the bubble shift. So you have to stay face down so the bubble stays put. You'll get up to eat and bathe and
evacuate, other than that, any time you spend sitting up is not good. You understand?"

Joey groaned. This was going to be really hard. But he was going to do it. He wanted to see, he wanted to
draw, drive, walk the mall. See flowers. The benefits far out weighed the difficulties.

"Joey? You ok? Talk to me." Mokuba was getting nervous. Willow just smiled at Seto who made faces at
her over Mokuba's head.

"Mo' I'm ok. I'm just realizing that this is gonna be hard. I'm already bored. I'll be outta my mind in three
weeks."

The nurses looked at each other and silently agreed. Jane went to see if she couldn't get the doctor the kids
were getting restless and neither one of them wanted to try to deal with four teenagers on a rampage.
Especially since there wasn't an adult in sight. Both nurses understood about emancipated minors, most of
them had some kind of sponsor but none of these did. It left them a bit off center.

"Seto could you get me a soda. Joey isn't sharing." Willow needed to get Seto out of the room quickly,
before he realized what was possibly going on. He'd have a fit. When he left to get them all sodas, she
turned to Fannie. "You realize that we're all emancipated. We don't have sponsors because we're too much
for Children Services to handle. Seto owns Kaiba Corp., I work for an ultra secret branch of a government
agency, Joey is Seto's ward and Mokuba is his brother. We don't need and won't appreciate interference. Do
you understand?"

Fannie eyed Willow for a moment then glanced at Mokuba who was looking at her cooly, Joey was
clutching Mokuba's hand wishing he could see Fannie's face.

"Ok. I don't want to cause you kids any trouble. You've got enough as it is. But one sign that you can't take
care of yourselves and I'm dropping a dime."

"Costs a quarter now." Joey rumbled. "and it won't do you any good. I won't go and you can't make
Mokuba. You mess with Willow and you'll draw back a stub. So I wish you'd leave well enough alone."

"We don't want to cause you kids any trouble, but you need someone to take care of you."

Joey snarled, "Look at my back. I got those scars from someone who was supposed to be taking care of me.
I'll take care of myself with help from Mo', Seto and Willow."

Willow interjected. "You've seen me. I've been taking care of myself since I can remember. The people who
were supposed to take care of me turned me into an assassin. So shove your people to help. Seto is all we
need."

"What the hell is going on here. I leave for two seconds and every one is all upset." Seto handed around
sodas and got hateful all at the same time. "Willow what's going on?"

"They're going to call social services on us. That's all we need."

"Won't hurt us any. The judge has already reviewed our case twice. Once when I took over Mokuba's care
and again when I got guardianship of Joey. This last little 'adventure' hasn't done us any damage. The judge
is satisfied that I'm doing the best possible job. Relax."

Fannie looked embarrassed. She just wanted what was best for these children.

Seto looked her right in the eye. "Get over the idea that we are children. I've been raised to be responsible
for a billion-dollar corporation, Mokuba has four college degrees, Joey is so street wise it's unreal and
Willow . . . don't even ask. If you're uncomfortable with the situation we can always get someone else.
You're the best I could find for the job. But Joey doesn't need the upset. Make up your mind."

"I see. I'm sorry I worried you. I think the best thing for me to do is shut up and do my job." Fannie decided
to keep her peace and make sure that Willow took proper care of herself. This Seto seemed to be not only
arrogant but right.

They settled into a guarded silence with Mokuba explaining what was going on to Joey in a harsh whisper.
Joey putting what he'd heard together with what Mokuba told him spent the next ten minutes trying to get
his nerves settled back down.

When the doctor and Jane finally arrived Jane gave Fannie a slight head shake that told her their concerns
had been answered. She mouthed 'later' and went straight to Joey and Mokuba.

The doctor waited as Jane got Joey seated on the edge of his regular bed with Mokuba beside him, still
clutching his hand. They held onto each other like orphans in a storm and attempts to separate them by more
that a few inches were met with stoney stares from Mokuba and out right hostility frm Joey.

"Nurse, close the blinds and dim the lights, please. Ok, let me get these bandages off and we'll take stock.
Here we go." The doctor removed the gauze patches from Joey's eyes and watched as he opened them.

His irises dilated even in the dim light and he turned his head to look at Mokuba. Then his eyes flicked to
Willow and then Seto

"Seto, you look like a racoon and Willow doesn't look much better. Mokuba, if you don't brush your hair
soon, owls are gonna nest in it."

"You . . . you can see?"

"Sure can! You all look so beautiful. I can't . . ." Joey broke down and cried. Willow clung to Seto bawling
like a calf. Mokuba wasn't sure who to hug first so he hugged the doctor then fell on Joey.

The doctor waited for them to wind down and when they finally did he flashed his light in Joey's eyes and
made a few notes on his chart.

"Ok young man I want you on your face again. I want that bubble to settle a little more. But another six to
eight hours should do it. I don' want you up except to use the bath room and eat. And make that fast. After
that I'd prefer that you stay face down as much as possible. You can read a little but no excessive eye strain.
No video games, TV, or drawing. I'd recommend two hours up in the morning for breakfast and a little
gentile exercise. Yoga maybe or tai che. No inversions of any kind, head stand and that. Another two hours
for lunch and maybe a walk, same for supper, but you could watch a little TV, a little. Also, sleep on that
special bed; not on your side or, especially, your back. Big no no. Stay on you belly as much as you can.
That is the key to getting your eyes to heal properly. If you do as you're told your sight should be fine."

Willow just reached out and hugged the doctor, Seto offered his hand, and Mokuba started in.

"Joey, right back on that bed, now. I want to take you home as soon as possible so flat and stay there."

"Yes Master. Any thing you say. Mo'? Just let me look at you for a second more. Please?"

"You can look at me all you want. The doctor didn't say anything about re bandaging your eyes. I'll lay on
the floor and we can talk. Ok? Back on the bed. Scat!"

Joey obeyed. He wanted to go home as soon as possible.

The doctor left with an amused smile on his face. With 'little mother' nagging him and his two other friends
and two nurses to see to him, he had no doubts that young master Wheeler would make a full recovery.

Willow got out of the bed and flopped on the floor next to Mokuba with Seto close behind. It looked odd.
All three of them on the floor like petals on a daisy, chattering away at each other and Joey. They looked like
a bunch of teenagers visiting a sick friend. Fannie got them pillows and Jane brought blankets then they left
them alone.

Seto grinned at Joey. "I pumped the doctor on the way here. If you do as well as the doctor expects we can
all go home tomorrow. So stay flat or I'll restrain you again. I want to get out of here."

"Not as bad as I do. This place stinks like I donno what. Willow, you ready to go home?"

"Sure am!" Willow smirked at Joey. "I just stayed so we wouldn't be separated. I didn't really need that
damn IV."

"Yeah sure. Get another infection."

Mokuba bopped Willow on the arm. "Don't need that. My heart can't take it. Maybe I should go back to
school and take medicine."

"Don't need to I'm more than qualified, just haven't served an internship. Remember?"

"Yeah. But . . . "

"Never mind." Joey grumbled, "If anyone else get's hurt anytime soon, I'm gonna kill 'em. Got that?"

Joey tried to glare at the others but it just looked silly.

Willow started to giggle. She clamped her hand over her mouth and poked Seto. He looked where she was,
he did a double take then he started to laugh too

Mokuba rolled slightly to try to see what they saw, when he realized what they were laughing at, he started
the giggle helplessly.

"What . . . what's so funny. Come on, share here." Joey couldn't figure out want was so funny until Fannie
held a mirror for him to see.

From the right angle it looked like he was looking through a toilet seat. He nearly hurt himself he laughed so
hard.

Six hours later the doctor told them to get out and go home, they were corrupting the nursing staff and
driving the orderlies crazy. The wheelchair race between Mokuba and Willow had gone over especially
badly. Not to mention the fact that Mokuba was wheeling Joey up and down the halls on that squeaking bed.
Seto wasn't even trying to keep them from causing trouble, in fact he was aiding and abetting as hard as he
could.

"Young man, you need to grow up. If you intend to take care of three kids, two of them in need of medical
aid, you better get with it."

Seto just smirked at the orderly, loaded everyone into the car and headed for home.


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One last chapter. Mostly just fluff and tying up lose ends.