*Kiley was sitting in the bathtub. Rogue had helped her into it only minutes before and then left her to relax. It was full of bubbles and the water was nice and warm. Kiley leaned her head back against the back of the tub, letting her hair cascade down to the floor. She closed her eyes in a sort of daze. Ever since the first dose of pain potion, the days had past in a haze, pierced by very little. She didn't feel like herself anymore. Kiley had heard the healer speaking to Milo of keeping track of her doses so they could be sure she hadn't snuck any. She, of course, hadn't said anything. She hadn't said anything when they talked of very slowly lowering her dosage. And she also hadn't said anything when Zimmerman had brought up the possiblity of sending her to a sort of home for mental defects. Milo had spoken, and on some occaions yelled, in her behalf. This was nothing like herion. At least with that she had been able to keep some sort of her personality. With this stuff she was totally out of it. In some corner of her mind kiley figured that they were mixing it with something else to make her sleep more, and she didn't like it. But there wasn't anyone to tell that would listen to her. So she just veged out in the tub, vaguely toying with the possiblity of drowing herself, onlyto discover that she didn't really have the energy to move at all.*

Milo was tired. Very tired. There was only so much stress a man could take before he was so alert he would not pass into sleep. Milo was in this category, he was suffering from chronic insomnia, brought on by worry and anger. He had almost killed Zimmerman when he suggest the mental asylum - he had sent him away. Kiley was delicate, but she would come round. She would come round....

He stood in the doorway, no longer with a carefree attitude of leaning in it. He was tall, erect , barely able to keep his blurry eyes open. Everything but Kiley was a haze. She was pristine in clarity, vivid - the only thing that mattered. The paradox was that by saving her he had killed her. He had killed her ability to speak, to eat properly and even to think. The kiley he had fallen in love with had turned into a vegetable. SHe was in there somewhere - a tiny seed that would bloom once the healing was complete.

The leg was still hideous but Zimmerman had done his best to remove the black ribbon. Skin would not grow so Milo had had to sew pieces of his own flesh onto her - but they simply rotted and cause more infection.

A phial of blue liquid was in his hands. The potion. The potion that had caused the mess. He whispered ever so sofly, "Kiley... its Milo."

*Kiley's eyes fluttered open when she heard Milo's name. The potion was starting to wear off ever-so-slightly and she felt like she coulld speak a little. There was so much that she wanted to say....the voice in the back of her mind was growing stronger.* "Milo." *She mumbled, sliding down into the water a little.* "Milo." *She said again, her eyes sliding shut*

He did not speak but moved like a ghost around to her side and pressed her eye-lids shut. He smelled the toxic potion in his hand, weaker than yesterdays dosage and was about to feed it to her. He stopped and moved away. He took a step back. What was he doing? Animals weren't kept like this. He poured the potion down the sink and placed the bottle on a shelf. He had a sudden urge to kiss her and leap into the bath for a split second but he suppressed it and instead pulled up a chair and sat.

*Kiley exhaled heavly, sending bubbles flying. Se tried to lift her arm up bubt she couldn't.* "Milo." *She said again, opening her eyes and looking at him. She took in a deep breath to prepare herself to possibly say something else. However the bubbles went into her mouth and she coughed, sliding a little farther into the water. Her mouth formed the word 'help' but no sound came ut. It was a step, however, from how she had been over the past few days.*

He clawed the foam from her mouth and cleared her airways with his wand. He sat her up with some great effort getting splashed with red hot water. SHe was improving...slowly. He suspected Zimmerman of keeping her in the state for his personal leisure. God knows what he had done with her when she was unconscious.

*The pain in her leg pierced the daze that she had been exising in as of late. She cringed, a flicker of emotion in her facial expression. She was coming down off the medication faster now that she was in some degree of pain.* "Where's Zimmerman?" *She asked slowly, afraid that he was close by to force more potion on her.*

He didn't know whether to tell her, "Er... I sent him away. he wanted to section you." He bit his tongue and regretted pouring away the potion. He stroked her head, "I don't know how to fix you," a tear fell from his eye and onto her skin. He wiped it dry and remained strong.

"Thank you." *She said softly. On the second try, Kiley lifted her hand from the water to rest it on the side of the tub. Her hands were wrinkled from being left in the hot water.* "I'm not already dead." *She said just as softly as before only a little more up to speed.*

Milo thought she would die but he kept his reservations to himself, stopping himself from crying full bore. "Im going to keep you off the potion," he said suddenly, his voice like a knell. "I think your body could recooperate of its own accord- the potion is blocking a full purge."

*Kiley smiled weakly* "Good...." *Her smile faded as another jolt of pain went through her body. She sat up on impulse and reached for her leg. She whimpered slightly and opened her eyes. Only it wasn't ust physically that she had opened her eyes. Kiley came back to reality as the last of the pain medications had worn off. She was aware of how hot the water actually was and that her skin was a little red. She was aware of how sickly she looked....thin and sallow.* "How long's it been?" *She asked, looking over to milo, the light finally back in her eyes*

"Too long...." He paused, again being secretive for no reason. "2 weeks," he whispered hoping she wouldn't here. "Ill give you an update on whats happened."

He coughed and sat. "The Muggle UN building in Geneva has been destroyed and has caused open warfare and revolution in Europe. Sentinus is using all his powers to make a quick unison of all of Europe and form a great Empire under his name."

*Kiley hardly heard when he said about sentinus. She sat back in the tub, leaning against it* "Two weeks? Jesus....." *She reached up a nd gathered her hair. She let it sink into the water a she ran her hand over her face* "I was out for two weeks." *She thought that saying it outloud in a statement would make it seem real. It didn't* "And you did nothing?" *Her voice falthered as another stronger jolt of pain shook her frame.*

Kiley didn't even notice the breaking news. He stood up and was about to shout but he didn't. He sat down and looked at her. Wide awake. "Two weeks, yes. You were better like that Kiley. The potion could do its magic." he said it with a hint of regret. Cruel to be kind. That was his new bode. One had to hurt sometimes to be kinder in the long run.

Quantum Bonus. The Greater Good. Where had he heard that before? A strange voice said it in his head. Fire. Exploding. Quantum Bonus....

"Yeah I can tell that it did so much." *She spat.* "What's the real reason I was so drugged? Because I can hardly remember anything. Did you do that on purpose?" *Kiley reached up behind her, ignoring the pain, and grabbed a towel. She covered herself, soaking the towel, and tried to stand. Kiley gritted her teeth in pain.* "Go away." *She didn't really want him to go away, she was just embarassed that she couldn't even get herself out of the bath tub*

Milo helped her out and carried her to a chair. There he dried her off, like a father, not like a lover. He threw the towel into the bath and brought her bed robes. "There are bigger concerns. Sentinus! He controls europe!" He unfolded her clothes and prepared to put them on.

*Kiley grabbed at her clothes from him. She was so stubborn and set on doing things on her own.* "Stop acting like you care." *She grumbled, trying to maintain some shred of dignity.* "And I can't do anything about Sentinus." *She shouted.* "What would you like me to do?"

It was no use. He threw her clothes onto the floor and clenched his fists. "Ive been like a nurse to you for two weeks and you repay me with idiocy!" He kicked the wall like he often did in his tantrums but soon recovered and picked up the clothes again, preparing to control his temper to help Kiley in a time of need.

*Kiley was silent for a moment. She just stared at him, not sure how to react. She finally reached out her hand for his so she could stand on her good leg and get dressed* "Will you help me?" *She asked quietly, looking up into his eyes. She didn't want to appologize for what she had said because she wsn't sorry she had said it. She was sorry that he was upset, though, and she was prepared to go through the motions to make him feel better about it*