It's been tough, but I finally pushed through my mental block and got some more plot to squeeze out. Like always please leave a review after your read, letting me know your thoughts! I'd love any small ideas or suggestions you may have. I've missed these characters and all of you! Enjoy~ Samron

"It looks like he's been stabbed."

"Help me out!"

"Okay."

"Put him there!" Laszlo ordered as he pointed to my rug in the middle of the living room.

Peter had just barely gotten him out of the bathroom and walked him quickly to wherever Laszlo directed. It scared me horribly to see all the blood that was dripping from him after just barely moving him. Peter lay him down on the rug and when he did he moaned out in pain. His eyes were barely opened and he looked to be in and out of consciousness.

"Zimmy, do you have a first aid kit!?" Laszlo asked loudly as he rushed to my kitchen and began to dig through the cabinets.

I was just watching helplessly, my jeans and Peter's flannel covered in blood I barely noticed that at all. I know I was calmer in the last few hours than I had been this entire week... but right now my calmness seemed wrong. Maybe I was in shock? Maybe I just wished I wasn't here anymore... Maybe this was just all a dream.

"Zim!" He yelled again, this time jerking me out of my thought process.

"Uh." I blinked and looked around, finally remembering what he asked. "Under my bed." I pointed sloppily towards my bedroom and he was in there in a flash.

"Where am I?" I barely heard Wade mumble as he pushed Peter away through his confusion.

"Shhh." Peter said and he held his arms down to keep him still. "You're safe now, just hold still."

I held my mouth with both hands as reality began to slowly come back to me along with my emotion. I felt myself shake with worry as I watched the large man in front of me struggle to live. My eyes swelled up with tears and my body shook with rage, sadness and helplessness. Was this really happening?

"Cumpà, dove sei...?" Wade's words were shaky and his eyes were full of tears as he reached out to nothing.

Laszlo's large frame quickly made it back to us as he rushed to Wade's side, now holding my first aid kit and a sewing kit I'd forgotten I had even owned. My brow furrowed as I watched him open them up and lay them out for easy access.

"Shhh, va bene. Sei sicuro ora." He said as calmly as he was able to.

Wade smiled weakly to the words that were spoken to him and Laszlo looked him over to evaluate the situation. He then glanced to me and this was the first time I saw such panic in his expression.

"Get me all the towels you can find! And get him something to bite down on!"

My eyes widened as I wondered why he might need that... but I didn't hesitate as I turned quickly to my linen closet to get what he had requested. I grabbed all of the towels I could into my arms and thought quickly on his second request. I owned a couple of leather belts, so I ran to my closet to grab one of those. I walked smoothly back to them and set all the towels down for Laszlo, and handed him the belt. He seemed to approve with my choice and grabbed it without hesitation, now putting it in Wade's hands.

"Prendi questo in bocca, aiuterà con il dolore. Va bene?"

Even though we had no idea what he was saying, we knew he was speaking gently to comfort his cousin. He then ripped the bloodied shirt off of Wade so he could see what he was doing. Peter looked up to me with worry as he continued to hold down the large man, I was crying by this time and Peter's pained expression matched what I was feeling inside. Was Wade going to make it? Were we going to be able to save him?

"Sì, mio cumpà." Wade mumbled out as he prepared himself, dry throat obvious as he swallowed and breathed in deeply. He seemed to be a little more aware of what was about happen as he took the belt weakly into his hand.

"Zim." Laszlo looked to me with heist. "Come over here and keep him distracted." He was now pushing all the towels he could down on the wound to try to slow the bleeding.

"Hold this." He commanded as Peter took over, applying pressure to the wound.

My eyes widened as I watched him take out a sewing needle and lighter, now pulling the needle through the flame in an attempt to make it clean. I blinked hard and shook my head as I forced myself over to sit behind Wade's head. I leaned into his view and smiled down at him in attempted to distract as Peter maneuvered himself over Wade, ready to hold him down. Wade looked up to me and his bright blue eyes were dull with exhaustion.

"Hey there." I smiled as I placed my hands on his cheeks. They were cold, but I made sure to keep smiling so he wouldn't feel my stress.

"Salve, cuore mio." He smiled fully up to me.

"That's not her, stupid." Laszlo quietly mumbled as he began to examine the large wound.

Wade glanced to him, then looked back to me with a goofy smile. "Forgive me, Zimmy. I didn't recognize you." His voice deepened with sadness.

"It's okay. Just relax." I smiled to him again, then glanced to Peter.

"Ready?" Laszlo said quietly and Peter nodded with approval while Wade took in deep breaths, now more awake as he shoved the belt into his mouth-biting down hard.

I watched as Laszlo began to dig into the wound with his hands to find the source of the bleed. Wade moaned out in pain and I began to feel my head spin.

"Ahh!" His chest boomed and his body struggled under Peter.

"Shhhh." I forced myself to hold it together as I stroked his hair.

"Un!" He cried out through his grinding teeth.

Laszlo worked fast, and as I watched him he obviously knew what he was doing. He had a spoon that he must have taken from the kitchen, and began heating the tip of it with the lighter. Once he heated it he shoved a couple fingers into the wound to expose the bleed and I made sure to look away before he cauterized the inside.

Wade screamed out again as he struggled to get away from the pain. His eyes were faded and he was obviously having a hard time staying conscious.

"Almost done." Laszlo spoke calmly as he continued to work with skill. He would sew, then burn, then sew and tie. He only had so much to work with, but it was apparent he had done this many times before. He almost looked like a different person while he worked, his face was so focused and the worry he wore wasn't like him at all.

"I fucking hate you!" Wade yelled out again as he continued to struggle now biting down on the belt harder than ever.

I barely saw a faint smirk flash on Laszlo's face as he continued to work.

"You have to hold still, Wade." Peter spoke to him with authority.

He was breathing so hard now, and grunting out every so often as he looked up to Peter as if he'd just realized he was there. He frowned and looked confused, then glanced to me once again. There were beads of sweat dripping down his face, and he was now even more pale than before.

"You'll be okay." I said again.

His eyes softened as he looked into mine, and I smiled as I continued to stroke his face . His eyes then rolled back and closed as his head went limp in my hands. I frowned and felt panic as my heart raced faster than ever.

"Wade!?" I screeched.

"He just passed out." Peter said sternly, trying to distract me from panicking. "He's gonna be okay." He then glanced to Laszlo, hoping to comfort him along with me.

"..." Laszlo continued to sew the wound, which wasn't bleeding as badly now. His hands were covered in blood, and his face in sweat. He was obviously stressed as he finished the last few stitches on his cousin.

"That should do it." He spat out some string from his mouth as he started to bandage the wound.

I sat back and watched the two work. There was blood all over my rug, Laszlo, and even some on Peter. I looked down at my own hands remembering I was covered as well, and for the second time I felt the heat rush out of my face and chest.

I was never very good with blood... I was one of those people who were super clumsy, which lead to more injuries than the normal person. But then added on top of that also couldn't handle the site of their own blood. Pathetic right? I knew that-but someone else's blood, I'd never really had to deal with. I closed my eyes because the room began to spin, and leaned forward in an attempt to steady myself. I could barely make out what was going on, and all I could do was hope that Wade would make it through.

"Get him up." I heard someone say.

"Zim?" Peter was concerned.

"Hmm?" I could barely say as I forced my eyes to look up.

"You okay?" He squatted in front of me, and I could smell the metallic scent stronger, once he was closer. "Zim?"

I felt so weird, and the room kept spinning.

"She might be in shock." The voice was far away.

"Dammit."

Then everything went blank.

I woke up to a familiar sound of purring. I always loved waking up to my kitty, so immediately I felt happiness when I knew she was there. The more I came to, the more I remembered what happened. Did I pass out? ...Again? Really? I was probably one of the most pathetic people I knew.

I barely opened my eyes because I didn't want to come back to my current reality. I was very weak and I knew I had to get up eventually; so I forced my eyes opened. There was my kitty, right in front of my face, nose to nose-just like she'd always woken me up. I had been moved to my tiny couch and now had a blanket on me. Kitty was on my chest as she stared me down; obviously wanting some love after being alone for so long. I smiled to her and reached out to pet her, but before I could the shock of all the blood on my hands and shirt brought me entirely back to reality.

"Shit..." I whispered as I sat up quickly feeling panic and stress about what covered me. I looked around the living room to find no one. I stood slowly and I was still a bit dizzy, but not nearly as bad as before. Just don't look at your shirt, Zim... just don't look... well, anywhere. There was blood everywhere!

I sighed out and held myself tightly as I slowly looked through my apartment, finally finding my clock hung on the wall. It was now seven in the morning? Oh god. I had been out for over four hours!? I closed my eyes and breathed deeply again... Where did they go? Wade couldn't move very far, so I just assumed where he was as I walked to my bedroom and slowly looked in.

The lights were dim, and Laszlo was sitting next to the bed where Wade slept. He was still breathing, his body was covered in sweat-but his color had gotten warmer! I felt relief rush through me as I breathed out openly and held my chest.

Laszlo looked over to me, obviously tired from all our stress we'd been through. "Peter went to get antibiotics." He spoke calmly. His hair was so messy now, and I could see his hands fidget while he sat still in his place. I knew it was either because he himself was about to pass out from exhaustion, or he was much more upset than he was letting on. It was probably both.

"Is he going to live?"

"I can't say-that's why we need those antibiotics."

"Should I call someone?"

He looked to me keenly, "Do not draw attention to our whereabouts. Especially without Peter here..." he sighed out as he looked back to Wade. "We're sitting ducks."

Was he worried? If he was worried then I should be worried... I felt anxiety rush through me as I bit my lip. He was right, we weren't safe anymore-Peter hadn't left us since I almost died two night ago. And now we were strapped down because of Wade's injuries.

He glanced to me and looked me over with a frown. "Clean yourself up."

I glared, "Don't tell me what to do!" ...obviously I was still angry with him.

He waved his hand up in frustration and didn't respond again after that. I grinded my teeth and thought it funny how angry I could become with him when Peter wasn't here. Was it because I was at his mercy now, instead of being under the protection of Peter? It was different because I knew Laszlo was on my side... but I still wasn't sure of how I thought either of these men. And I knew I still held resentment towards them, even though it almost seemed pointless now to hold in my bitterness. But I was only human, and I would have to push through all of that once I had the time to think.

"Sii gentile con lei, la mia cumpà..."

Laszlo's head snapped over with wide eyes to look at Wade, and I too felt my heart skip a beat after hearing his voice.

"Sei vivo?" Laszlo asked excitedly.

"Yes. Barely..." Wade looked to me with a smile.

"Hey there." I returned one to him.

"Zimmy." His sadness bled through his expression and I some how felt guilt for ever being mad at him.

"Lei è stata ha passato momenti difficili." Laszlo quickly mumbled.

Wade glanced to him then looked to me with a frown. "Are you okay?"

"Me?" I felt weird, not sure of what he said. "You're the one that got stabbed."

"I see." He smiled again. "I seemed to have gotten... on you." He cringed and Laszlo rolled his eyes.

"Well, it was worth it if you're alive." It felt like I was talking to an old friend, all this relief was something I hadn't felt for quite a bit-and it was very nice.

His tired eyes stared up to me, and he was obviously in pain. And it wasn't only physical... it was apparent he was sifting through his memory of all the wrongs that were in his life. It was interesting because I gotten to know these two men in such different ways, yet somehow suddenly they seemed so similar.

"Zim." He spoke with a shudder.

I felt myself about to cry, and I tried hard to keep the tears inside. Laszlo looked away with annoyance, but I was beginning to realize that might be his face for when he couldn't hold in emotion.

"Wade. It's okay." I forced out as I began to cry once more.

Wade's eyes became wide as his realization of what happened hit him hard again. "You know?"

"Yes. They both told me." I crossed my arms as I approached them.

"I should have said something sooner. I'm so sorry." He looked as though he wanted to cry, but he was too weak to even move.

Laszlo sat uncomfortably as he glanced between us.

"You should have." I smiled and swallowed my tears. "But, now is now... and I know... and..." I sighed. "You're alive."

His guilt was apparent as he barely glanced to get affirmation from him cousin, then to me again with relief and obvious guilt still mixed in. "I am still, so sorry." His already deep voice rumbled with those words.

"I know." I kept my smile strong, and walked to his other side to grab his arm. "Don't worry... okay?"

He looked up to me with such conviction, it made happy that he was guilty for his wrong doings... but what gave me the most gratification was that he was himself. He was okay... he was going to make it.

"This is why we like you." He said smoother this time as he glanced to his cousin.

Laszlo gave him a look, then another awkward one to me. "Ti sembra ubriaco."

"No, I don't." He chuckled as he gave his full attention to me.

It was strange looking back at these two men. One so cold and bitter, along with one who avoided his responsibilities with immaturity. They looked so similar now that they were together, and it surprised me that I never thought of them as the same blood until now. Just to think if I knew they were related on that day whe-... when... they robbed the bank. When they came together to plan something so sickening to get a pay out of something that wasn't even worth what they were going through now. Laszlo changed through all of this and Wade never wanted to be apart of it in the first place. Yet, some how all three of us were here together... suffering the same consequences that were brought onto us for different reasons. Was the world cruel, or was it just a coincidence that all of us happen to be here today-even though we were never even meant to meet in the first place?

He was still covered in sweat and obviously wasn't comfortable. I knew Laszlo was trying his best to act normal as his cousin lay in my bed, with pain and with guilt. He tried his best to distract from what was reality, and that reality was somewhat on the fence. Wade was awake now, but he had just been through so much.

"You should sleep." I smiled, and felt myself restraining tears of... well, guilt? Worry? Overall stress from the last week?

"I agree." Laszlo pressed.

"I am sleepy." Wade smiled up to his cousin for the millionth time.

And that time is almost broke my heart. There were two men in front of me, so large and intimidating. But I needed to realize that they were only people... only people, just like me. And the way that Wade looked up to Laszlo just now, reminded me of the many times I had envied my friends when they looked at their mothers or fathers in similar manner. I'd never even had a father, and barely had a mother... so as an only child I found myself becoming jealous of those relationships...

I frowned as I turned around.

"Zimmy?"

"Get to sleep, okay?" I turned to him once more.

Laszlo kept a strong eye on me and Wade was already half out of it as he smiled fully once more. "Alright. I'll think of you while I sleep."

I kept my forced smile on while I turned around and left the room. How was it that I was getting emotional for someone who was still a stranger to me? I knew him only because of what we went through... and I knew Laszlo's whole story. Yet, I almost resented myself for feeling anything for them at all. They were both scum! And I should hate them... shouldn't I?

Shouldn't I!?

I continued to hold myself as I walked to my bathroom with intensions to clean myself up. I was still covered in Wade's blood, and once I opened the door to the bathroom all the blood on floor hit me like a brick. The smell, the look of it and overall just the entire situation. I felt myself wobble as I stepped over the dried blood on the floor. I sat on the toilet to relax and it felt nice to sit because I'd been so weak since I woke up.

Just a few months ago I was an average girl... I was boring and honestly thought of myself as a loser. Now I wasn't really sure of what to think of myself; I wasn't a loser anymore, but I definitely wasn't someone to look up to. Was it worse to have lived through so much and still feel the same about ones self, or to have gone through nothing and feel like you've not lived at all? Would I go back to my days before the bank? Would I go back to the times I didn't know any of these people in my life right now? I didn't know how to answer that...

"Zim?" I heard a voice that comforted me, yet I wasn't sure if I was entirely awake.

I brought my arms tighter up around myself as I shuddered with the thought of how I wished to be back in the safety of my past. How I wished my innocence hadn't been stained by the poison of these broken characters. Why did they even have a right to my life? Why were they even here!? I closed my eyes in sadness as I felt so tired and broken... I was alone in this situation, just like normal-and I didn't know how to move forward.

"Zimmy." It was Peter.

My eyes widened as I looked up to the doorway of the bathroom and saw Peter standing there, looking at me with concern.

What about him, my mind asked me directly... what about him?

"Hi, Peter." I felt myself relax.

"Hi." He smiled fully to me. "I'll be right back, okay?" He had a case in his hands as he walked out of my view once more. And my thoughts took over again.

Maybe it was worth it. Maybe what I had been through was worth something more than someone could ever pay for with money. I could keep asking myself where I would be instead of being where I am today... but I couldn't' answer that. All I can ask is, was this worth it? The silence set in, and I felt the chill of the cold room hit my bones and make me shudder.

Was it worth it?

...

"Hey." I heard Peter say again.

I looked up to him as he walked through the bathroom door again.

...

"Wade seems to be doing better."

"I saw him."

He hesitated. "Ah."

"I'm covered in blood." I said as I held my hands out to him.

His eyes went from my hands, up to my body and back to me once more. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up." His frown was apparent.

I stared at him with worry. "I don't know what to do."

"You don't have to do anything." He answered quickly as he leaned over me to turn on the water in the bath.

I stared at him as he grabbed one of my towels from the rack and then stuck his hand in the stream to make sure the temperature was good.

"Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"

"Okay."