This part is written by my very good friend Rebelclawgm. Set after the scientists figure out how to bring Reed back to Type 4 state once again. I'll be writing that soon... if I don't get it up before this gets published lol. Anyway, please enjoy the adorableness.

Reed grimaced slightly as he was made to move again. The nurse, Madison, apologized for having to make him shift.

"It's just, how you were laying could cause more damage... Sorry."

Reed still wasn't quite used to the North American accent, which struck his ears as odd. He gave her a kind smile despite the growing ache he felt from having to move. And it hadn't even been that much. With a damaged spine and a paralyzed leg, there's not much moving a person can do.

"It's fine. Whatever's best. I know you're just looking out for me."

Madison snorted, an amused look crossing her face. "Yeah, from what I've heard, you certainly need some looking out for."

Reed couldn't help but chuckle, which he faintly regretted. Madison lightly patted his shoulder.

"Get some rest."

"But I just woke up... It's not even been half an hour... And I don't know when I'll wake again."

"Well, that's because you're healing from a lot. You need rest and more rest, and people to be there for you when you wake up."

Reed sighed lightly and gave a nod. The brown-haired American was right, of course. She began to head for the door but Reed called out to her.

"Hey, uh, Miss Madison?"

This earned an amused snort from Madison. She stopped and looked back. "Yea?"

"Speaking of people... Do you... Know where everybody is? I mean I wasn't by any means expecting them to be here, that's not what I meant, I know they have way more important stuff to be doing- But, like, have you seen them... Or....?" He trailed off.

Madison gave Reed a pitying look. "Don't worry. You haven't been forgotten. Venn and Giovanni were in here just a couple minutes before you woke up. Zip came and dragged them down to the cafeteria saying Venn needed food and exercise."

This helped Reed to relax significantly. Although he knew it was a completely irrational fear, in all his time unconscious in a hospital, whenever he woke up for a short minute or two and found himself alone, he would wonder how much time had really passed. And if his family had just... Forgotten him and left him there. He knew they would never do that to him, but just the thought made Reed want to curl up and hide. At least Venn was being forced to be somewhat responsible.

"I'm sure he'll be back pretty soon," Madison said. "Just rest for now. If he shows up, I'll let him know you were awake and asking about him, alright?"

"Alright, thanks," Reed tipped his head back onto his pillow as Madison left the room, eyelids drooping. He hated how quickly unconsciousness pulled him back under its dark wings. At least the dull aching pain was beginning to subside again. He sighed and gave in to his, seemingly chronic exhaustion, once again.

~~~

Reed snapped to consciousness with a start, tears already running down his face. A sharp stab of pain had run up his body from one of the wounds in his lower back, but that wasn't why he'd woken in a panic.

Deep inside of him, he'd sensed a flickering, and it had jarred him awake. He didn't want flickering. Flickering was bad.

Somebody was at Reed's side in an instant, grabbing his right hand and squeezing it firmly.

"What's wrong, Ponytail? I'm right here."

Reed squeezed his hand back, heart pounding. He was gasping to try and regain control of his breathing but his mind was still whirling.

"Hey, what's wrong? Do I need to call for help? Talk to me."

Reed weakly shook his head. "N-n-no,"

Venn slowly nodded and sat down next to Reed, still hanging onto his hand. "What then? You alright?"

Reeds breathing had evened out some, and he gave a soft whimper, his amber eyes flicking up to look at his best friend through the tears that still made his vision blurry.

"I- I was flickering, I felt it. It woke me up. Ooh, Venn, I don't want to die again.." He squeezed his eyes shut, a shiver running through him.

"Oh, Ponytail," Venn reached down with his free hand, brushing the tears off his best friends face. "It was just a dream, you're okay."

"But-"

"I've been sitting here this whole time, and you haven't flickered once. You're perfectly fine."

Reed gave a shuddering breath. He hoped Venn was right.

"Hey, scoot yourself." Venn said suddenly, "I've hardly slept since you've been in here. I'm exhausted."

Reed really wasn't surprised. "It's been days, hasn't it?"

"..Closer to a week."

Reed didn't have the energy to be shocked or upset with him. Shivering again from nerves and a sudden sense of cold, Reed tried to push himself up with his arms, to move over. All he succeeded in by doing this was to trigger more shots of burning pain through his abdomen and down his back.

Reed gritted his teeth, the pain showing on his face. Venn quickly had a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down.

"Frick, wait- Ok, ok, stop. Don't do that, then."

Reed groaned quietly as his shoulders pressed back against the bed. "I'm sorry.." His eyes started burning like they might overflow again. He usually wouldn't have been like this, but his emotions were currently going haywire, between all the pain, medications, and stress.

"Stop that. It's not your fault. Besides," Venn managed to fit himself up on the hospital bed next to Reed, on top of the covers. Despite the lack of room available for him, he was able to just balance on his side on the edge, one leg hanging over. It would probably fall asleep from loss of circulation but Venn really didn't care. "I can make this work."

Reed gazed at Venn quietly. Venn smiled at him, the tips of his sharp teeth showing. He nestled as close to his shivering friend as he could without moving, or hurting him too much, and carefully wrapped one arm around his shoulders.

Reed gave a shaky sigh but relaxed, letting his head tip to the side.

"I should probably call somebody to come to check you out, just in case, shouldn't I?" Venn asked. Reed was still shivering but not quite as much. Venn's presence seemed to be calming him down, at least somewhat, which Venn was glad for.

Reed seemed to shrink at the idea. "Probably... But I don't want to deal with them yet. I-I'm fine now."

Venn cocked an eyebrow at him. "You sure about that?"

"Positive." Head resting on the arm that wrapped around his shoulders, Reed's fear started to melt away. He'd be alright, even if the flickering did start up. He'd be okay. Reed silently thanked God to have been given a best friend like this.

Reed's chest swelled with a sense of, quite literally, undying gratitude. Venn didn't have to be there, but there he was. Eyes closed, a small smile rested on Reed's face.

Venn saw this and smiled. "Okay, but if you get that flickering feeling again, you tell me right away." He quickly added, "I'm sure it was a dream, but just in case. I don't want there to be something wrong with you."

"Thanks, Venn." Reed murmured.

Venn nodded and then rested his head back, gazing up at the ceiling as Reed drifted back to sleep. Occasionally Venn could feel a shiver run through him, but they were subsiding, which he knew to be a good thing.

It was 11:47 P.M., the only light in the room coming from lights on machines and light from the partially opened door to the hallway. Before Reed could fully drift off, Venn tapped his shoulder.

Venn snickered. "Yanno that nurse that's been in here? Madison?"

"..Yeah?"

"She seems pretty nice, huh?"

"Uh, yea, she is nice... Why? What are you getting at?"

Suspicious and half awake is quite a combination to listen to.

The room was dim but not dark enough to hide Venn's smirk.

"Ooh, I don't know... Actually, that's a lie, I do know. When you get out of here, you should totally ask her out."

"What?? No!" Reed shot back in a somewhat surprised and horrified sounding whisper.

"Oh, why not? Seems to like you alright~"

"Because that's her JOB" Reed hissed.

"Yes, and it's my job as your best friend to get you a DECENT girlfriend."

Reed was about to argue against Venns obvious jab at Andrea but got steamrolled.

"I mean, I say she looks about our age, and I haven't seen a ring."

"Venn we don't even look our age."

"Aah, who cares. You look pretty old when you glare like that."

Reed couldn't help but crack a smile. "Okay Venn, you can say all you want. I'm not gonna do it."

Venn snorted. "We'll see abo-" Venn yelped and there was a loud thud as he fell off the edge of the bed onto the floor.

This was followed by a long string of something in Italian that Reed didn't really want to know the meaning of. He craned his neck to try and see Venn.

Reed bit his lip, holding back a laugh. He totally hadn't pushed him.

"Nevermind then," Venn growled jokingly as he pulled himself back up next to Reed. "Maybe I'll have to kill you so you don't ever get out of here. Ignore my brilliant ideas."

Reed smirked at him. "Would you really though?"

"No, you ungrateful suino." Venn snorted, trying to sound grumpy. "Now shut up and let me sleep."