When I opened my eyes again, it was to white walls this time, not the familiarity of my home. This made me increasingly uncomfortable, yet I didn't necessarily feel compelled to do anything about it.

I was drugged then.

With some effort I turned my head to the left and saw my suspicions to be true. An IV drip was hooked into my hand along with a heart monitor.

"Finally awake then?" I looked to my right and saw Rolf standing near the closed door.

"Am I in a hospital," I was surprised at how unused my voice sounded. I hated sounding so weak in front of my mentor and friend.

"Yes, apparently shock and a concussion don't mix well," he said casually.

As soon as those words hit me I remembered everything. If I hadn't been so drugged I probably would have tried to leap out of the bed.

"Is he alive?"

Rolf studied me for a beat and answered, "At the moment yes."

A small part of me was relieved, but that part was swallowed by the peculiarity in his answer.

"Is he going to be okastanding near the closed door.

"Am I in a hospital," I was surprised at how unused my voice sounded. I hated sounding so weak in front of my mentor and friend.

"Yes, apparently shock and a concussion don't mix well," he said casually.

As soon as those words hit me I remembered everything. If I hadn't been so drugged I probably would have tried to leap out of the bed.

"Is he alive?"

Rolf studied me for a beat and answered, "At the moment yes."

A small part of me was relieved, but that part was swallowed by the peculiarity in his answer.

"Is he going to be okay?"

At this, Rolf paused for a longer time. He seemed to be weighing his answers, this made me more nervous than I had ever been in my life. When he continued to remain silent, I grew impatient.

"Is he going to be okay?" I insisted.

"I don't know Kevin," he began, "The Doctors have all said it will only be a matter of time. We he was placed in a medically induced coma, so his body could have time, and so he wouldn't have to deal with the loss of his ear, at least until he was physically able. They took him off the medication so he should have woken up by now, but he has yet to."

My shoulders sagged, how could I have forgotten that gruesome detail? That bastard, dead bastard had cut of his Edd's ear.

"Shit, Eddy," I said with a sigh.

Rolf sighed as well and his eyes saddened, just a bit.

"Yes. We retrieved Eddy's body and are having the proper actions taken. He is being sent to his family with our deepest condolences."

"Dammit, it's all my fault, Rolf," I felt so dam tired. Tired of this life, of just everything.

"As soon as Edd wakes up I'm asking him to marry me and we're moving to England. I'm not dealing with this anymore, and I'm not running Rolf. There's nothing to run from," I sighed and stared up at the tiled ceiling. "You know I was never meant for this life, I've always been to soft hearted. Even dad knew it, he just didn't have any other choice."

Rolf slowly walked over to me and put a gentle but firm hand on my shoulder.

"I would want nothing more than you to leave this life behind and find your happiness. You deserve that, at least," he was gone.

With the only sound in the room the soft beeping from the monitor I was easily lulled to sleep.

The next time I woke up, there was a man standing in my room, I didn't recognize him. He was tall, very tall, a few inches taller than Rolf. I didn't feel threatened by him, though he was clearly strong enough to snap me in half, especially in this weak state.

"Eddy always knew that he'd die in a blaze of glory," the man said looking levelly at me.

It hit me like a bullet to the chest.

"You're Ed."

He merely nodded. I felt the heavy atmosphere, but I was still too tired to feel uncomfortable, or even nervous.

"I'm sorry," was all I could whisper.

Ed shook his head with a smile, "No, Eddy wouldn't want you to apologize. He'd just want you to tell people about how amazing his death was. He never wanted to go out normally anyway." He looked away and I could tell he was debating whether or not to tell me. I waited patiently for him to decide, it was the least I could do.

"Edd means…meant… means a lot to us. He's been really hurt and I'm glad you killed the son of a Bitch for do that to him," he sighed. "Take care of him please, for me, and for Eddy."

I nodded, "With my life."

He seemed satisfied by this answer, for he simply nodded and left. Nazz came in as soon as Ed was gone.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Alright I guess. How is Edd?"

"Still hasn't woken up, but the doctors have said he's healing nicely. They managed to avoid infection everywhere, but…" She paused her face grim.

"What?"

"He'll never be able to hear from that ear again."

I let out a heavy world weary sigh. I knew that was the case as soon as I saw him in that warehouse.

"He still has the other one, though right?"

Nazz nodded.

"If I had the energy, I'd be hating myself for letting this happen," I murmured.

"Kevin, you can't do that to yourself. Do not blame yourself for this. You did your best and got him back alive, that's all that matters, isn't it?"

I hid my face behind my hand and felt everything come crashing down. I sobbed without thinking and once it was out I couldn't stop it.

Nazz was by my side in a second and she was holding my other hand.

"I-I, What if I'd lost him Nazz," I sobbed miserably, "God, I- I'd- I don't even know what I would do."

She shushed me and drew me into a hug and I cried in her shoulder. I was too tired to care that I was showing to much emotion, too much of myself.

Everything hurt, my heart, my head, especially my shoulder and I was just so fucking tired. I wanted everything to be over. I wanted to be a kid again, when everything wasn't so dam complicated and painful.

"You and Edd are going to be okay. You're both going to make it through this and live your happily ever after," she said into my hair.

I felt comforted by her voice, she reminded me of when my mother would hold me when I had a nightmare.

"When can I see Edd?" I asked, pulling away and wiping my cheeks.

"Soon Kev, soon. The doctors say you should be up and around in a couple of day. The bullet wound in your shoulder is healing nicely. Thankfully it missed the artery and any tendons in your shoulder. Can you wait a few more days?"

I nodded and felt my eyes growing heavy. She helped me lay back down and with a small sigh I was asleep again.

"The police suspect foul play, as per usual, but it was handled," It was Rolf's voice coming from somewhere in the room.

Nazz answered, "Well, warehouses don't just spontaneously catch on fire."

"This one did," Rolf retorted.

"Alright, alright, as long as were scot free."

"The police suspect foul play, but they have no idea who. Any witnesses have either been paid substantially or been threatened sufficiently into silence. There will be no problems for either of them. Even if there are, we are not to tell Kevin. I do not want to worry him, and as of yesterday, it is not his responsibility anymore."

"So, it's official then? You're boss now?"

I couldn't hear Rolf reply for I had fallen asleep. Happy to know I had friends who always had my back.

The next time I was awake, Rolf immediately stood and said, "Edd's awake and he's asking for you."

I was awake in an instant and sat up, though somewhat slowly. He helped me stand and gather my IV.

Together we walked out of my room and down the hall. We both chose to ignore my embarrassment at having to wear the hospital gown.

We came to the room around the corner and down the hall.

I paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

What if-?

No I couldn't think like that. Whatever happens, happens and that's that.

I nodded and Rolf opened the door.

Edd looked pail against the hospital sheets. His face was a mix of yellow and purple as the bruises healed.

Bandages were wrapped entirely around his head but especially where his missing ear would have been. He smiled at me and I felt as if heaven its self was there in that room.

I don't think there was ever a time when I was happier in that moment.

When Rolf was sure I wasn't going to topple over, he left us in peace.

Slowly I made my way over to the chair and sat down with a soft sigh. I took his hand in mine and kissed it.

"Kevin."

His voice was even rougher than mine when I had woken up. It was painful sounding and I reached for the cup on the stand. He drank some and smiled.

"Hey, love, how're you feeling?"

"I'm alright, though hearing with only one ear will be a challenge. One I'm sure I can overcome with you," he said.

I brought my other hand to cup his face and felt every emotion from the past week and a half swallow me whole. For the second time in three days I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.

"Oh Kevin," He said and I watched as tears fell out his eyes and onto the sheet below.

"It's all my-," but before I could finish, he was kissing me.

"Don't. None of what happened was your fault," he whispered. "Even Eddy-," he choaked and I reached around and hugged him close.

"Eddy wouldn't blame you either," he finished.

"Thank you."

"For what?" He asked looking up at me.

"For being with me after all this. For understanding me, for loving me when I thought no one else would," I gently kissed him.

He hiccupped and laughed a little. In that moment I knew everything was going to be okay.

I banged my knife against my glass and stood. Everyone's eyes turned to me, and I looked lovingly down at my new husband who smiled widely up at me.

"Would everyone like to hear how we met?" I asked to the room.

There was a chorus of "Yeah!" and "Yes!"

I laughed and took a drink.

"Well, it started in a bar…"

And here we are at the end. Thank you all so very much for keeping with me, especially through the long hiatus. I was going through some tough things but I made it through and survived. I hope this story was as good for all of you to read as it was for me to wright. Thank you all again.