I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING BY GAINAX OR PROJECT EVA

Ch. 2

Misato Katsuragi blindly walked down the empty hallways of the NERV hospital facility towards Lieutenant Ibuki's room trying to think of what to say to the injured girl.

What to say?... man I wish I knew more about her.

Let's see… Hi how you doing today?

That sounds so stupid.

Having a little man problem right now I see…

That's horrible.

She must be so alone, so hurt, even confused maybe… ARGH!

Ok, just calm down and say what feels right. Yeah that sounds like a plan. She slammed her fist into her other hand.

She reached her destination, and with an extent of her arm Misato hesitantly knocked on the door, but no one answered. Maybe she asleep… or maybe she… Misato decided to go in.

The door opened to reveal a worried looking Major Katsuragi. "How are you feeling Lt. Ibuki?" Misato had entered the room and was now standing next to Maya's bed looking at the bruises and cuts that seemed to cover the arms and legs of the young girl's body. How could this have happened? Why weren't section 2 aware of this?

"I feel fine" Maya said trying her best to put a smile on. Looking at herself she soon realized what the Major was eyeing. Oh god, look at me, I … I'm disgusting, she thought gloomily. She looked back at Misato; "sorry I'm so clumsy, I wasn't looking where I was going, and I tripped and f…" she was cut off by a hand quickly approaching her face.

Misato was infuriated at the blatant lie that the Lieutenant was trying to tell her. What…? Does she think that we believe that she could have gotten all this from a FALL? Her thoughts only made her 's rage consumed her as she threw her hand at the fallen girl's face. "NOT AGAIN" she heard "PLEASE NO MORE". As fast as her anger had consumed her it was gone, the Major's hand stopped inches from Maya's face as she saw the terror in her eyes.

"Why… I don't understand?" Whispered Maya as she began to shake, "was… was I not go…good enough for y…you?"

Misato placed her hand gentle on the girl's cheek and wiped away a tear that had started to fall. What was I doing? This girl has just been beaten and god knows what else, and here I am about to hit her. Shamed, all she could think to do was give her a hug and leave.

Maya watched in still in tears, as the Major left her room. As the door shut behind Misato, the young pilots eyes fluttered open.

Shinji looked at the lieutenant as she lay there, carefully moving his gaze over her body in shock of what he saw.

Maya's wrists, arms, and her left leg were in casts, she had many glass cuts on her face, wore an eye patch over her right eye, and he could only imagine what painful scars were hidden by her hospital gown. Not to mention the fact that she had many bruises on her upper body.

Shinji finally looked up from his examination of the bridge bunny's body to find her staring at back at him. "OH…" he said a little startled that she was watching him look at her, "umm… I uh… sorry." Fearing that he may have offended her Shinji got up and turned for the door.

"Wait" Maya wheezed "I … well could you stay a little bit longer?"

Shinji didn't know how to react to this, he hardly knew the Lieutenant, in fact the only reason he was even there was because he was the one that found her and he just wanted to make sure that she would be alright.

"wh… what?" seemed the only thing he was capable of saying at that point in time.

"Please just for a little bit." She pleaded

"I don't" the boy stopped and thought about what he would say. He had never been the most social person by any means. And he hated seeing the pain of others, especially of those he knew. "I… uh"

Maya was reaching out for help, she didn't care who it was she just didn't want to be alone. Her fragile psyche was teetering on the edge of insanity.

Shinji lived with two women both of whom were very different from the Lieutenant in that they never seemed to want him to be around unless they wanted him to do something.

Does she want me to do something for her? He asked himself, unsure that he could do anything for her.

"Please just…" Maya felt defeat as the words slipped from her; he doesn't want to stay… I can't blame him thou, I mean who would want too… GOD I'm so fucking worthless, why did I even ask him? I don't really even know him. He would probably just find a way to leave… he'll probably try and do something to me… am I just something to be used and then thrown away like… her thoughts were cut off when she noticed him coming closer

"I… will stay" Shinji offered to the girl. "I mean… if you still want me to?"

Maya was surprised at this turn of events to say the least. He is going to stay? Why? What is he gaining? Contrary to her thoughts, she was slightly relieved. "Thank you" she said softly

Shinji gave her a small, yet sincere smile as he sat back down in the chair next to her bed. Unknown to him his smile actually seemed to calm the girl.

Misato will understand… I hope he thought as he sat there.

All Maya could do was to stare at the boy, as her injuries were finally beginning to catch up with her. She was tired and slowly starting to drift off. With some fears about sleeping with another person in the room still lingering she managed to fall asleep.

It was still early in the evening, only around 7 P.M. and Shinji had been sleeping in that chair all day. He looked over to sleeping girl. She looks like she's in pain. He thought. Not known what to do in these kinds of situations he simply decided it would be better to just shrug it off, so he got up and took a look around the room.

Now, it wasn't the biggest room in the world, it was a two person sweet with a retractable curtain separating them. It had a window next to the empty bed that had a very scenic view of the Geo-front, this caught Shinji's eye.

He like the scenery that NERV had put in the underground cave to make it look more like the outside world, it had trees, grass, flowers, and even a man made lake, this sit had many times before accompanied him when he himself was in the hospital.

This awe-inspiring site, though, did not hide his thoughts from him.

What am I doing here? He sighed

I mean I did find her… she looked so helpless… I wonder… if I had gotten there sooner would I be able to help her? She was just lying there in her own blood… not moving. He wiped away tears that were starting to form in his eyes.

There was nothing I could do for her.

That's not true if I hadn't taken so long I … I could have done something. Couldn't I of?

No I'm just a weak little kid.

Look at her; she is so strong still hanging on after what ever happened to her. I'm nothing. With that last thought still in his head he looked at the clock.

11:56. has it really been that long? The young boy thought, as he realized just how tired mentally he had become. I'll just rest here tonight. He lay down on the spare hospital bed and dozed off.

"I'm home" said a very happy Maya Ibuki. "Sorry I'm late I had to pick some things up at the store…"no response came. "Hunny, hello are you here?" Still no response. I wonder where he went? She thought, maybe he just isn't here.

With that she took a walk into the living room, her house had changed from normal colors to red, and blacks. She looked out the window and saw what looked like bloody rain tapping on it. The room it self had become all distorted, she tried to walk but her legs felt like lead. A creaking noise came from behind her.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN" Shouted a man. "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME HOURS AGO… WHAT… DID YOU THINK YOU COULD JUST COME AND GO AS YOU PLEASE?"

The girl coward slightly. "I'm sorry I was late I … just had to pick some things up at the…"

SLAP

The noise echoed through the now demonic looking apartment. Now on the ground she was helpless. The man started to pummel her with punches and kicks. She could hear her bones breaking, she tried to scream but nothing came out. She could do nothing. The man bent over close to her ear and whispered to her.

Maya jolted awake screaming and crying. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs. As she rocked back and forth crying she could feel the pain from her whole body try and pull her back down, but she didn't care.

The crazed girl looked around the room, but she could not find Shinji. I knew… he… he would leave, just like they all do. Maybe he was and I am 'worth nothing'. She proceeded to cry even harder then she had been.

Why… does everyone leave… I don't understand? She thought, still crying.

This of course, woke Shinji from his slumber. What the… taking a second to realize where he was, he looked at the clock, 3:12, it read. That's when it hit him MAYA he thought urgently. He quickly jumped out of the bed and slid the divider away. Only to find his superior crying in the fetal position. What do I do? How can I help her?

Not knowing what else to do Shinji said her name.

"Lt. Ibuki…" he waited, but no reply "Ms. Ibuki" again no reply. He stepped a little closer, "M…Maya" he knew it wasn't proper but he didn't have much choice.

That last time finally got her attention; she turned to see him standing next to her bed with a horrified yet worried face. Maya launched herself at him, grabbing him around the chest and pulling him closer to herself. She dug her face into his chest still streaming tears. She held him for what to him seemed like forever.

Shinji didn't know quite what to do, as he had never been in a situation like this before. So he did nothing, just stood next to her bed and let her cry into his chest. I'm so useless. Her she is crying into to me looking for support and what do I do? Nothing, I am so worthless, I should just leave. NO. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away.

"Why a… are y… you still he… here?" strained the young girl as she tried to talk. "Why… did… didn't y…you just l…leave?" now looking up at him but still holding on to him.

Shinji gave her a puzzled look of confusion, as to what she was asking. "You uh… asked me to uh st…stay, so I did." Said the boy almost ashamed of his pathetic answer. Well that was stupid! He thought. Little did he realize how much of an effect it had on her.

He stayed for… me?

Why would he do that?

I remember, he didn't want to when I asked, but he did anyway? She mused in her mind, he stayed because… I asked him to?

In all her relationships 'SHE' had always been the one giving and giving, but no one she could think of ever did something for her… until now that is. If Maya hadn't been so wrapped up in that thought she may have the small warmth comfort her ache body. She squeezed him tighter and whispered "Thank you" to the boy.

Maya remained this way crying into his chest for the next 15 minute until she finally released the boy. It had felt very comfortable to her, but in the back of her mind she knew that this would pass and soon he too could use her for his own gain. At this moment though she didn't care, it just was nice to not be alone.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

so i tried to make this one longer i really did, but i work so often and i got so much class scheduling and stuff i just lost track of time... my bad! i promise the next one will be longer.

Thanks for the comments they helped.

admittedly the first chapter did seem a bit unrealistic so for this chapter i tried to slow it down a little. please continue to comment and let me know your likes and dislikes. still looking for a proof reader, but for now my spell check is fine. ummmmmm... can't think of anything else really sorry for the delay again and heres to hoping the next ch. will be here soon.