Buckle into the emotional roller coaster I'm throwing you on. Also, I got a nice pic this time.

"The fever will subside after a few hours but he is stable now." The others sighed in relief at the doctor's words. "He's still a bit delirious so you have to be careful."

"Thank you so much." Shinju said quickly. "Did you find what was causing this?"

"The toxicology reports will come back soon. We will give you the results as soon as possible."

"Thank you." She opened the door to Sugawara's room and sighed. He looked awful.

A new IV had been hooked into his arm and little nubs in his nose pumped oxygen into him. His cheeks were still a flushed rose color and his eyes were ever so slightly unfocused.

She walked up to him and lightly brushed her fingers through his hair. "Hey…" Suga sighed, eyes going to her hand. "How do you feel?"

"Hot... And cold."

"Alright. Daichi, come here."

Daichi stood forward and handed her his bag, worried. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Of course he is." She whispered, covering Sugawara in his heated blanket. Sugawara groaned, breathing almost heavily. "Are you okay?"

"M-mhmm." Sugawara closed his eyes.

Daichi sat on the bed and eased a hand into Sugawara's hair. "Suga."

"Hm?"

"What happened to your IV?" Daichi questioned.

"Needle." Sugawara wheezed. "Hurts…"

"What hurts?"

"Stomach…"

"Alright." Daichi eased his hand under Sugawara's blanket and rubbed his stomach gently. It was filling out… amazing.

"Better." Sugawara coughed. "She… she…"

"She? Who is she?" Shinju questioned.

Asahi looked at her and then at Sugawara. "Is she your mom?"

Sugawara nodded and began to cry, making everyone tense. "Suga what's wrong?"

"M-my mom had a needle… she put it at the top of the IV bag. I… I didn't realize how… she…" Sugawara started to sob uncontrollably, holding Daichi's arm. Daichi held him closer. "I-I'm sorry I-"

"Quiet." Sugawara nodded and just held on tighter. "I'm just glad you're safe."

"We all are." Asahi stated.

Sugawara kept crying, Daichi's arms wrapped around him securely. "It's okay... What did she do?"

"S-she poisoned me. Twice."

"Your mom?"

"Y-yes. In the IV… and my cup…"

"Wait…"

"W-what?"

"Your cup? But Gin gave you that water."

Sugawara looked up, sniffing. "No. She gave him the stuff."

Shinju walked out, muttering. Asahi's eyes widened. "Was she trying to…?"

"Yes."

"Oh my God why… that's awful…"

Sugawara shivered. He was still so cold and shaken up. Right before he had passed out he had heard everything she'd said. Anything about his body and mind. Everything about it. She was awful. He started to shake, anger starting to course through his veins.

"Uh oh."

Daichi held Sugawara closer. "Let me go."

"Stop."

"LET ME GO!" He screamed, pushing him away.

Daichi winced, feeling Sugawara's nails dig into his arms. "Suga stop."

"She tried to kill me! Let me go!" Sugawara kept pushing, tears of frustration further soaking his rosy cheeks.

Daichi held him even tighter, preventing him from moving. "I know you're mad. That's okay. But you can't give into those two, okay?"

"She tried to…"

"I know. I know Suga. I'm so sorry."

"Why? Why would she do that?" Sugawara hiccuped.

"I don't know."

Asahi went around to the other side of Sugawara and rubbed his back. "I know it's probably really hard right now. But um… we're here for you. As long as you need."

Sugawara nodded. For the rest of the day he stayed quiet, occasionally crying or sniffling but not saying anything. He was too tired to say too much but he would listen. Every opportunity he had he listened and held onto someone. He was so scared. He just needed someone.

****

"Dai… please come back…" Sugawara whispered. He patted around the bed he was in, sniffling. "Where are you? Dai .."

"Shhhh." Daichi pulled Sugawara closer, his arm around Suga's waist. "What's wrong?"

"I had another nightmare." He admitted.

"Mm... Okay." Daichi turned him around. "Heh. I can't even see you." Sugawara sighed shakily. He could feel Daichi holding him and that was enough. He reached up and held the sides of Daichi's face, confusing him slightly. "You okay?"

"Can I kiss you?"

"Of course. But are you okay?"

"I'm a little scared."

"Because of your dream?"

"Yeah." Sugawara felt Daichi's lips against his forehead and relaxed. "Thank you."

"Mm." Daichi rubbed the smaller male's back. "We act like adults a lot…"

"Kind of like a mom and dad." Sugawara smiled.

"You're the mom then."

"Why am I the mom?"

Daichi laughed. "Because… one day I'll propose to you. Not the other way around."

"Hey… does that mean you wanna stay with me?"

"I would hope so." Daichi eased closer to Sugawara and kissed him. "What do you say? You want to marry me when we get older?"

"Aw Dai…" Sugawara hugged him closer. Of course he did. Daichi had helped him and protected him. He'd helped him getting up in the morning when it was hard. Daichi would calm him and hold him. He'd been there more than his own mother had.

He loved being with him. He loved how their palms pressed together while they held hands. Suga loved the feeling of his arms around him. He loved how gentle he was. He loved his smile and his eyes and his family. He loved every single part of Daichi. Which meant he loved the whole thing. He loved Daichi. He, Sugawara Koushi, loved someone at the age of fifteen, in the worst part of his life. And that was okay. He was okay with loving him. He didn't care that they were both boys and that Daichi wasn't perfect. He loved him. So much.

"I love you." Sugawara whispered. "Thank you for being there for me."

Daichi smiled at the words being spoken. He held the fabric of Sugawara's shirt lightly. "I love you too... And I won't let you be alone. Here or on the court. I'll be there for you when you need it. I can promise you that."

"I'll be there too. Even if I don't seem like I'm always going to be, I will."

"Great." He hooked his pinky finger with Suga's and smiled. "I don't break promises."

"Me either… you think we can beat my mom?"

"With my mom's persistence, definitely. You two are stubborn. And I love that." Daichi sighed. Sugawara yawned quietly and let his form relax completely against Daichi's.

"What about Asahi?"

"What?"

"He doesn't have anyone…"

"He does. Just keep an eye on him." Daichi pulled Sugawara's heated blanket over both of them. "I have a feeling about it."

"Who then?"

"You'll see soon enough." Daichi chuckled. A short while later he felt Sugawara fall asleep, pinkies still linked. He drifted off soon after, smiling.