Naveen laughed weakly and turned his face away, his smile sad. "I knew he had to be... if Near was in the hospital and he wasn't around..."

"...It was a case in Japan." Roger sighed. "He took on the greatest serial killer in human history...but it took Mello and Near in the end...Matt helped too...actually,it was group effort on everyone's part. That's why they get along so well now."

"I figured it was my death that was making them all get along," Naveen admitted. "Nothing like losing a team mate to bring everyone else closer, right?"

"I don't think that Mello and Near working together would have been possible without...well..." Roger sighed and looked away sadly.

Naveen scoffed, looking at Roger. "They were working together before that... Near proposed to Mello, remember? They were falling in love before I died..."

"That was an unusual turn of events." Roger admitted. "So I guess you and your brother have a lot to catch up on when he gets back home with Mello."

"If Mello will let me see him," Naveen informed. "I'm sure he's afraid of Near's heart giving out as soon as he sees me."

"I'm sure you'll see him soon." Roger assured gently. "I mean, what are we going to do? Just pretend your not here?"

Naveen scoffed. "More like keep me around and present me as a Christmas present or something cheesy like that."

"Not at all." Roger frowned. "You're not some sideshow Naveen."

Naveen gave Roger a frown, but looked away again.

"...We'll move you to your old room and bring you up to speed." Roger nodded. "You'll see Near as soon as he's out of recovery, just like everyone else, I promise."

Naveen gave a small sigh and dropped his head into his hands.

Why couldn't thinks at Wammy's ever be simple...?

--Scene Change!--

It was almost a week before K deemed Mello well enough to get off of the pain killers. He still ached, but at least he hadn't broken his leg, so the splint wasn't needed.

To his - and K's - surprise, Near recovered extremely fast. In fact, he could have sworn he heard the woman telling Matt that it was as if his heart had never been unstable in the first place.

Mello had spent a good portion of the time between trying to work his leg out a bit to be sure that it wouldn't cause him trouble and he'd be right back out on the soccer field in no time. Surprisingly, this time around, it seemed more like Near was going to be released sooner than Mello would be, but it seemed that everyone was more content to let them out at the same time like before...not that Mello had been in the hospital that time.

Next came and went as did Matt - though Near would sneak out to go eat with the redhead, knowing that the last thing Mello wanted when he was tired and achy was a hyperactive Matt around him.

Mello had been asleep those time- since Near didn't want to deal with the headache of Mello's potential jealousy, even if Matt was strictly a friend. Matt was sitting across from Near right now- talking rapidly while he was pumped up on about six cups of coffee and not even touching his food.

"Why isn't Matt sleeping?" Near suddenly asked while Matt was going on about whatever - probably some game or something. "I thought Next was getting Matt to sleep more?"

Matt stopped mid-stream and blinked at Near curiously.

"...What do you mean?" He asked.

"Matt is pumped up on coffee and supporting a pair of bags under his eyes that could rival L's if his weren't mostly eyeliner," Near informed, before taking a sip of his water and eying the redhead.

"...Oh, seventy-two hours...right." Matt nodded.

"Matt only loses sleep like this when something bothers him," Near sighed, sitting back and crossing his arms. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I'm happy as a clam...fit as a fiddle...right as rain-" He went of on this tangent for a while.

"Matt hasn't lied to me in a long time," Near cut in after a few moments, causing the redhead to pause. "...The last time Matt lied to me was in New York, after Naveen died. He told me that Naveen had died quickly and painlessly..."

He turned his face away.

"It hurts when Matt lies," He whispered.

"...Ouch." Matt blinked. "I don't think I deserved that."

"What isn't Matt telling me?" Near whispered, giving the redhead a hurt look.

"I'm not...it's not something I'm keeping from you, okay." Matt replied- looking aside. "I have things...I know, I know...I never keep anything from you, but things are different now."

He sighed.

"...It doesn't mean I care less." Matt added.

"Like what?" Near asked, slowly reaching over and placing a hand on Matt's shoulder. "Matt... Matt knows he can trust me... so then... it must be about Next. Matt promised to keep a secret for Next, right?"

"Near, it's not about trust." Matt said- placing a hand over Near's. "I'd trust you with my life...have before."

"I know," Near whispered. "I understand... if Mello asked me to keep a secret, I wouldn't tell Matt either. Matt loves Next..." He pulled away, smiling weakly. "I'm glad that Matt and Next have each other."

"I'm glad you have Mello." Matt nodded before he reached under his goggles to rub his sore eyes.

"So am I," Near admitted with a smile, looking down at his half untouched plate. "Even after this whole thing with Naveen..."

Matt might as well have been shot up all over again after that response- it felt that way anyway.

"...Yeah, but Mels always seemed to have it in for you." Matt smirked.

Near frowned. "Oh, yes... because the fact that he broke my brother's heart for me makes it that much better. I can't imagine how Naveen felt..."

"...I don't think it's fair to make Mello drag through that though...not when he obviously loves you." Matt said.

"I don't blame him," Near sighed. "Maybe I should... but I don't. Its in the past, anyway. Naveen is gone."

"...Yeah." Was all Matt could muster.

Near looked down silently for a moment, before he pushed his plate forward. "...K said that she is going to release Mello and I today."

"That's cool!" Matt burst perhaps a little too enthusiastically. "So when is it? This afternoon? This evening? Right after lunch?"

Near frowned. "Um... as soon as I head back from here, I believe?"

"Right!" Matt slapped the table and laughed. "Haha! I gotta jump ahead and do something with Next real fast, so I'll see you there?"