Ray and one of the Officers were having an intense argument when Max reached them. The Police office was refusing to let anyone but Kai, to go to the Hospital. He wanted all of us to help him in describing the crime scene.

Max, the usual peacemaker in the team, resumed his role once more. "Please let a few of us to go at least. Let Hilary go as she wasn't even there when the bullet was fired. And Tyson and Kai share the same blood group. They may need him. The rest of us will stay only if you promise to drop us at the hospital after the investigation."

Ray tried protesting. "There is nothing we can do now Ray. Tyson and Hillary will surely be able to manage for a few hours." The officer conceded to his terms, but added in an afterthought. "But I think you should go too. "

"I'm fine." Max stated, stubbornness evident in his tone.

The officer questioned Ray and Kenny and listened to their version of the story before calling Max. Tyson, Hilary and Kai had already left. He went directly to the point. "So...two young ladies in their mid twenties attack you, huh?"

"Before you continue with your questions, I found out a few things that might help you." He raised his eyebrows. "Lead me to them then. "Max shows them the wigs and the gun. "That's exactly what the two women were wearing!" Kenny exclaimed.

The officer examines the gun before touching it. "No... There's no finger-prints on this. They must have been wearing gloves." "Ohh..." Max said, a bit deflated at the news. "Do any of you recognise the symbol?" He questioned.

A 3-D pentagon with numerous lines. The symbol was coloured with different shades of blue. The symbol looked familiar. Max's gaze blurred for a moment as he took a shaky step towards it. "Do you know what it means?" The officer questioned again.

"I-I've seen it before. But where...." Max started. "Try remembering it kiddo, it might be important. " the Officer pressed. "It's a Research University's symbol. An American university not very well known but yeah...that's the one." Max confirmed.

"And how do you know this?" the officer asked.

Max looked a bit offended by this question. "Because I'm half American and have lived most of my life in America. Besides, my mother had been invited as the Guest Of Honor Scientist for some research there. Around six-eight months ago."

"Who's your mother?" The officer enquired. "Judy Tate. She's the head scientist of the All starz, an American Beyblading Team. She was invited to help them in some research but she refused." Max replied.

"Is she famous?" the Officer asked. Max didn't know what to say. He never liked to tell people of his mother's fame. "What..Oh I-" he started but his vision blurred and tilted. He got hold of a table to support myself. Ray was the only one who noticed this.

"Is that even a question? She's one of the most famous of the American scientists and ranks twenty-seventh in world popularity." Kenny answered for him. "This could prove to be an important angle in the case, may state the reason for the attack being aimed at you..." The Police thought out loud.

"And do you know anything else about them? Something to make searching for them a bit easier." He questioned. Max tried remembering any more details, but started loosing focus. He also noticed that he was sweating profusely, was slightly struggling for breath and his legs were trembling badly.

Ray shouted at the Officer. "Can't you see his condition? He recovered from a Panic Attack not an hour ago and his head is hurt. Your investigation can wait till the morning. He needs rest!"

"The-they had been insisting mom for a collaboration for months together, something to do with Another Russian University, something about a collaboration. Was also informed in a newspaper, a Russian one..."

"When?"

"A few weeks before this Year's Tournament?"

And just to prove Ray's point, Max's eyes rolled in, his knees finally gave out and he finally collapsed, unconscious.

******

Tyson and Hillary were waiting in the Emergency Section of the hospital. The Doctor was yet to report them on Kai's condition. Hillary was way more anxious than usual, but he was sure that it's not everyday you see a friend getting shot to death.

It wasn't good for them to continue dwelling in their own minds, he decided. He started a conversation with her. "When did you learn nursing?"

She stared at him for a second to process what he was saying before shrugging, "About eight months ago, in this year's beginning. My... mom signed me up telling me it will always be helpful in life."

"True... How's she? Haven't met her in a while." Her shoulders stiffened at this enquiry making me wonder whether everything was all right or not. "She's fine." She stated. Tyson didn't dig in for more information, dismissing that they must have had a row or something.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Hillary suddenly started crying, the shock finally getting on to her, crossing her hands to stop them from trembling. Tyson pulled her closer, "Shh... Shhh Hil, Kai will be fine. You have done so much to save him, now shh-shh... everything will be all right in the end." he whispered, consoling her though he was reassuring himself more. Tyson hugged her close while she cried into his chest.

She hiccuped trying to control herself, "Gods above! What would've happened if I hadn't been waiting for you all?" she demanded angrily. Tyson had no answer to this. But she didn't wait for it. "I had taken a risky chance while first aiding Kai, Ty. Whe-when I was treating him, the cu-t I made to ease hi-s breathing, was....was the riskiest move on my si-side. If the cut has gone wrong then-then.." she once again started crying uncontrollably as Tyson hugged her harder.

"Of course it was very risky!" a doctor sternly said while entering the lobby.

We both stood up "How's Kai, doctor?" we asked together, fear evident in Hillary's voice. Tyson linked his hands with Hillary's to reassure her.

"What's your name?" She asked Hillary completely ignoring Tyson!

"Hillary" she blurted out.

The doctor's stern face softened a bit. "I'm Dr. Jones, a pleasure meeting you. He's stable for the time being, thanks to you. You've made the perfect cut to release the blood filling up in his lungs and saving him from choking. The bandaging is also quite good. How many years of experience do you have?"

Hillary relaxes a bit knowing that not everything was going wrong. "None. I attended the program around eight months ago, ma'am."

"Hn. But that's all you could do. Though he is stable for the time being, we can't be sure for how long. I'll operate him the first thing in the morning. It would be better if you inform his family and the two of you stay in the lobby as its late for you two to go back home. Did you mention that your blood group is 'O+ve' Mr Granger? She asked, addressing Tyson for the first time.

"Yes, doctor."

We running low on the stocks of B+ve blood due to an accident yesterday, so we may need your assistance. If you could please follow me.. "

Tyson squeezes Hillary's hand gently once, before leaving with Dr Jones.

******

Tyson returned half an hour later, looking pale in the face. When Hillary inquired of his health, he casually dismissed it by saying, "They didn't need me donating too much of blood. They were short of only one bottle. You should have taken some rest by now. You didn't have to wait for me." and chided Hillary before volunteering himself to bring some blankets for themselves from the reception.

"Could we get two blankets to spend the night, Miss?" Tyson asked. "Sorry sir, but we have only one left." Tyson didn't look too bothered by it. "Oh... It's fine. Give it "
"As you wish sir."

Just before leaving with the blanket, a thought struck Tyson, "Are you, by any chance, Suzie?"

"Oh, no sir. She works part-time here, but may I ask you why?"

"We weren't able to contact any of the hospital landlines, so my friend called her and she sent us the ambulance, so thought of thanking her."

"You can meet her tomorrow by seven in the evening."

Tyson nods and heads back to find Hillary drifted into sleep curled on two chairs in a corner of the room. Tyson smiles at her now relaxes face as he covered her with the blanket he had brought. He sits opposite her, unable to keep his eyes of her, until she suddenly stirs awake.

"Jeez Hil! Calm down! You really gave me a heart attack! I'm trying to sleep too." he lies, trying to save himself from some embarrassment. "You were asleep when I got here. You were cold. So, I just covered you with a blanket." he continued.

Hillary sat up straight and looked at the blanket. Then, she questioned, "Where's yours?" catching Tyson red handed, as usual. He struggled to find an excuse. "I um-huh, they had only one so...." but he didn't need to, for she answered it for him. "You became all selfless and manly and gave it to me, huh?" She glared angrily.

Hillary was a feminist. She wanted herself to be treated and appreciated for being Hillary, for being a member of the students council at school, for being the regional champion swimmer and not for being a girl or something. She hated any preferential treatment for herself just because of her gender. This quality of hers made her more likable and more approachable that any other female into their class and be on a friendly basis with her.

Tyson improvised, "Hey, nothing like that, Hil! I swear!! You did so much for Kai so you surly deserved it..." Hillary didn't buy the reason. "You know I don't like such special treatments Tyson. You all helped Kai in whatever way you could. Now come sit here!!" She ordered patting the chair next to her.

Tyson gulps, contemplating of how badly would it hurt to be punched or to be hit by a mallet as he sits beside her. But Hillary wasn't planning no such thing. She threw the blanket around both of them, thus sharing it. I momentarily stared at her in shock.

"The blanket is a bit small for both of us but we have to manage. Hey! what are you staring at me for? Do you really think I couldn't show one tiny gesture of kindness towards you once in a while at least, huh?" Though she looked angry, the beginnings of a smirk was evident on her face.

Tyson blushed slightly, though Hillary couldn't see it in the semi-darkness."I -huh, it's-noth nothing like that!! I was just surprised..." he sheepishly answered, cursing himself for stuttering so much.

"What's bothering you?" she asked, abruptly. Tyson was scared she would enquire about the abrupt kiss. Thankfully she didn't. "What? Nothing's wrong! I-um didn't really understand wh-what you ment?" he felt like digging himself a grave for his stupidity. Hillary sighs, "It's a waste even to try to make you spill what's in your mind, Ty. You're acting weird at the moment, well I mean, weirder than usual. But you know what...never mind. Just shut up and sleep now and don't you dare snore!" She no longer tried to hide her laugh as she continued to tease him.

Tyson was happy with his achievement of making Hillary laugh for the day, inspire of all the events that took place hours ago. He didn't want to worry her so soon, but he couldn't ignore the problem lurking in the corner, ready to pounce on him, first thing in the morning. "Okay, ma'am! "

Both of them quieten and after few minutes. Hillary drifted into sleep almost immediately. But Tyson couldn't stop thinking. About many things. As he shifted slightly to have a look at Hillary's face, he had realised that he was sitting next to the girl he liked... Yes, he had finally figured it out.

Another voice, the pessimistic one which rarely talked, whispered "So does Kai..." He really shouldn't have eavesdropped on Ray's and Maxy's conversation yesterday, he reprimanded, but he was just being curious. He pushed those thoughts to the back of my head for the time being, trying to get some rest and enjoy the quite moment while it lasted. He couldn't do that for long either, after about an hour, he slowly removed himself from the blanket, careful not to wake Hillary and left the reception to call Mr Dickenson.

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