"But... But L i... is..." Near winced, staring up at the other man in clouded confusion. His mind was trying to wrap around the idea, but he couldn't seem to form a thought, no matter how hard he tried.

He felt so heavy... had he gotten sick again? Why was L here... was this a memory? A dream? No... he wouldn't feel like this if it were a dream...

"You've been out for a while, you're not well." L murmured as he eased Near back against the pillows on the headboard.

He pet Near's hair and pulled the blankets up over him a little more.

"Near, you've been really sick lately, what's wrong?" L asked.

Blinking up at the man in a haze, Near began to mumble to himself. As B leaned in, he realized the boy was saying a number... thirteen. He was saying it over and over again...

It didn't mean anything to Beyond. He tried to rack his mind for a code that Near might have used with L, but he couldn't think of one.

Beyond smirked and shook his head. So L had taken security measures in case of something like this. He supposed that it was understandable given his...condition, but it was like the last taunt of a dead man. Infuriating, but amusing all the same. In the back, Treat screamed behind the medical tape on his mouth- trying to get Near's attention.

Near's eyes stared up at him, awaiting his reply... lingering longer then he should. Either he was reacting slowly due to the drugs, or he was holding out for a hope... or maybe it was both.

"Thirteen..." He tried one last time in desperation.

"...Is B." Beyond replied.

"...Beyond," Near practically growled, his eyes narrowing slowly. Beyond was surprised when the boy suddenly jerked forward and teeth were sinking into his ear. Sharp pain filled him.

"Gah!" Beyond hissed- grabbing Near's shoulders and trying to push to the boy back.

There was suddenly a blinding light and he looked up to find Next pointing a flash light at the two of them, looking horrified.

"Near!" Linda cried, almost dropping Zero, who was between herself and Matt with his arms around their shoulders as they dragged him, blood trailing him.

Trick let out a horrified shriek upon seeing him.

"Near, get off him!" Matt said in alarm. "Next, help!"

Beyond shoved Near off and stumbled back- clutching his bloody ear -as the ivory-haired boy rolled out of the bed. Since they were tied together, as Trick flailed about, Treat was shaken around mercilessly with his brother.

Wincing at even more blood, Next came over and helped Linda get Zero onto the bed. "His breathing, Linda-!"

"Next, I need you to find me bandages," She said.

"But-!" He cried.

"GO!" She snapped. "Matt, see if you can get an ambulance. I haven't had as much training as Oliver- there is no fucking way I can save him!"

"Just do what you can!" Matt breathed. "I have to find a cell, since B and Zero probably cut the phone lines!"

Beyond shook his head to clear it and got back to his feet with a grunt.

"Shit!" Matt turned to Beyond.

"Attack anyone in here and I'll make sure he doesn't make it!" Linda snapped at Beyond as she applied pressure to Zero's wound. "Next- the BANDAGES!"

The white-haired boy jumped and scurried off.

"You wouldn't." Beyond chuckled before taking a seat beside the twins. "Besides, I still have a bargaining chip."

Matt pulled Near up off the floor.

"Near, Near are you hurt!?" Matt asked urgently.

Near didn't reply, staring up at Matt with extremely clouded eyes. Matt noticed almost instantly that the boy didn't have his contacts in, so he probably was just seeing darkened blurs.

"M... M..." Near attempted slowly, but didn't get very far with it.

Next ran back in, avoiding Beyond and rushing back over to Linda, who began to work at saving Zero.

"I'm gonna set you on the bed Near and then I'm going for a phone." Matt scooped Near up into his arms. "Please, I'll be right back, okay?"

"What's the fuss?" Beyond chuckled before he reached over and started to pet Trick with his bloody hand.

"Zero was stabbed, you heartless bastard!" Next snapped at him, his fists shaking at his sides. "Aren't you supposed to care about him!? That's why you took him, isn't it... or was it just some stupid plot to get back at L-!? Well guess what... L is dead and he can't tell if you get revenge on him, so get over it!"

For a moment, silence followed his outburst.

"This isn't about vengeance Next." Beyond chuckled. "And Zero will be fine, Linda's not going to kill anyone."

"Shut up!" Matt snapped. "I'm getting a phone!"

He set Near down and covered him before running out of the room.

"Kill him, no... but I sure as fuck can't save him either!" Linda snapped.

"You're a... a... cold bastard!" Next snapped.

He watched in horror as B's fingers moved from Trick's hair to Treats and saw the boy flinch. Instantly, Next's eyes flashed and he leapt forward, attacking.

Beyond rolled suddenly- coming over Next and smirking.

"Where did we leave off last time?" Beyond purred. "Did you really think I couldn't tell Yukito?"

"MMMPH!" Treat screamed- trying to lean closer to B and Next- to try and save the albinic boy.

"Get off of me..." Next hissed up at Beyond and the dark-haired man recognized a spark in the boy's eyes... but he'd seen them in the eyes of another.

Someone long dead... Someone whose eyes were very much his own...

Beyond frown and blinked in surprise.

Next took that opportunity to quickly headbutt B, making his head swarm for a moment. Trick gasped as the small boy somehow managed to throw the tall man off of himself.

"Next-!" Linda gasped in alarm, looking shocked and a bit horrified.

B rolled off on the floor- his head swimming and his nose bleeding from impact with the ivory-haired boy's forehead.

"NEXT!" Linda called again, wrapping her arms around Next's middle as the boy struggled. "That's not your mother! ITS NOT HER!"

"Kimi ga kare o koroshita!" Next shrieked, his eyes clouded. "Teme-!"

"Matt, get the water!" Linda snapped over to the redhead.

As she turned, she remembered that Matt had already gone to get a phone to call 911. Next was like a rabid animal in her arms, fighting and growling ferociously. The twins were both staring in horror- their eyes wide and fearful as they watched the white-haired boy claw at B.

To Linda's surprise, however, a sudden splash of water hit her and she looked over as Near leaned heavily against the bed, a glass of water in his hands.

Thankfully, it instantly calmed Next down and he looked alarmed, jerking out of her hands. He looked horrified at both himself and the situation.

Matt came running back inside with a cell phone against his ear.

"You know where it is, it's not on a damn map!" Matt hissed into the phone before looking at everyone. "What the hell happened!?"

"Matt!" Next cried, rushing over and throwing himself against the redhead, letting out a sob.

Linda gasped as Near slumped back to the ground, all of his energy zapped completely away.

"Fuck!" Matt snapped- wrapping around Next. "Hurry up and get here, people are DYING!"

He hung up and held Next tightly. Damn it, everything had gone to hell. They needed everyone back.

--

Mello moved to the entrance way, checking his surroundings for signs of security before going at ease and leaning against the wall in his disguise, waiting for the others to meet up. He had hoped to round everyone together to save C and One and then get their asses back to the jet since it seemed that Secret hadn't been caught yet. They could all get out of there then and back home court.

Not much later a young woman stepped up to him, dressed in a light gray dress. At first Mello wasn't sure she meant to be beside him, but then she leaned up against him and he recognized 'her' posture instantly.

Mello immediately place his hands on the girl's hips and leaned in- as though they were kissing.

"A dress?" He whispered into Ender's ear. "You look great."

"I always do," Ender replied, wrapping his arms around Mello's shoulders. "And I wouldn't be caught dead in one otherwise. Perfect disguise."

"Riiight." Mello snorted. "If C saw you know, he'd die. But before he gets the chance."

Mello pressed his lips to Ender's firmly, but for only a second.

"Had to make it convincing." Mello smirked. "Who else is with you?"

"Hi, daddy," Ninja pipped up at Ender's side, moving in to hug him. She was so small that they really just looked like one big family.

"I couldn't find Oliver," Ender breathed. "It frightens me."

"I'm sure he's alright," Ninja assured. "As it is, I called in some back up..."

"...Back up?" Ender asked her, turning to frown at their 'daughter'.

"A certain Japanese man who drinks far too much Lemonade," Ninja hummed.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Mello sighed- rubbing his temples. "Why him? Of all people, why him?"

"Because he was the closest," Ninja informed, calmly. "Now lets get out of here... have you managed to get in touch with Wammy's?"

"Haven't tried," Ender informed. "Don't want to get caught... if B has taken these steps, he's obviously out to get Near. The problem is that we don't know if he's going there himself or leading someone else there... but we can't take the risk."

"I hit a phone booth earlier and I couldn't get through." Mello informed. "Someone's blocked the calls or cut the lines there."

"Not good," Ninja hummed. "If everything goes according to plan, Matsuda should be meeting us here with them at any moment."

"With who?" Mello frowned.

He turned as he spotted three figured coming over. All three that he recognized immediately. A Japanese man and two of their comrades.