Laurel wouldn't let go. It took a lot of get her off of him. "He's says he'll never let me go. But he does all the time. He checks out all the time; he leaves me alone all the time!" she stated loudly, her eyes still closed as she vented.

Blaze didn't say anything as she gradually got Laurel off of Nic.

Laurel suddenly turned and forced her eyes open painfully again, "Why did you come get me?" she demanded, "I don't want to be here!"

Blaze said nothing as she put Laurel back in her chair. "Just rest," she snapped a little. "Both of you have had a rough time and just aren't capable of supporting the other right now - regardless of how much you both want to. So if you want answers, take some time for yourself and recuperate. Then sort it out when you both are feeling better."

Laurel paused before sighing and finding her sunglasses on the ground. She put them on and nodded, "I'll wait until he recovers," she replied quietly, "But then I need answers."

Kale watched silently.

Blaze appeared to be done talking. She turned and started walking out of the infirmary.

Kale let her leave without a word.

--

Over the next couple days, Laurel continued to nurse Nic though she purely did her job. She talked to him only when necessary and continued to read him to sleep. When she wasn't nursing Nic, she was down in the shooting range.

As the days passed as Nic got stronger, the nurse told Nic that he could start walking slowly around the room but he needed to be supported by Laurel. She told the same thing to Kale and Blaze.

So Laurel stood by Nic's bed as he moved his legs over the side and prepared to stand. She took his arm and waited.

Nic had barely said anything to Laurel, but then again what else was new. He took a few minutes to flex his feet and stretch his muscles before trying to stand.

Blaze waited to see how sitting up went.

Raven had tried to take some time out for himself over the last few days. But with Wolfe sulking, most of the babysitting fell to him.

Yue was still taking awhile to recover. At no point was it clear what she needed or wanted. She just seemed confused. And a little scared.

Laurel wrapped Nic's arm around her shoulders as she reached her own arm around his waist, supporting him. "How does it feel?" she asked.

Kale sat up fine, slowly moving his legs over the edge of the bed.

Frei let Raven have some alone time every now and again, she seemed to be hanging out with Rosen a bit as well.

James also seemed to be confused but finally, he seemed to reach a decision James' style. He promptly picked Yue up and threw her over his shoulder as he started to walk out of her room, "Let's go swimming."

Nic didn't say anything, but he seemed to be doing well as he shifted his stance a little.

So Blaze sat next to Kale, waiting for him to be ready to give it a try.

Raven didn't seem to be entirely comfortable letting Frei spend all that time alone with Rosen. But the time to himself did him well.

It took Yue a moment. "... Huh?" she asked dazed.

Laurel was patient with Nic, waiting until he felt ready to take the first step.

Kale sighed, "Alright..." he muttered before slowly standing. He grunted a little but didn't seem to be in pain.

"Swimming," James repeated, "We both could use some exercise."

It wasn't clear why Nic took so long. He didn't appear to be in any pain. But when it seemed like he wouldn't, he slowly started walking.

Blaze supported Kale, but not fully. She let him stand mostly on his own.

"... I don't want to swim," Yue told him.

Laurel walked around with him, keeping just enough support to keep him from falling.

It soon became obvious that Kale needed a lot of support as his abdominal muscles were still severely weakened. He managed to walk around for a little bit though.

"Then you can float on a floaty and get some sun," James replied, shifting Yue on his shoulder and patting her back before his hand drifted a little lower.

Nic was very precise in his movements. Never at one point did it seem like he was going to fall. After awhile he slowly made his way back to the bed.

So Blaze gave Kale the support he needed, managing to hold back any jokes that came to mind.

"... I don't feel like I'm falling," Yue noted. There was a bit of an echo in her voice of her old snippy self.

Laurel stayed with him just in case until he was sitting back on the bed. Then she let go and sat back in her chair with a sigh. She was thankful for the glasses to hide the dark circles under her eyes, she hadn't been sleeping well.

Kale tired out faster than Nic and he didn't seem to like that. He seemed to be a bit more competitive than his usual attitude would suggest.

"Hmm?" James asked as he removed his hand. They were approaching the pool so he set her down, "Now, why don't you put on a nice bikini?" he grinned, acting quite a bit like his usual self.

Blaze chose not to comment on it for now.

Yue stared a little blankly at James. It didn't look like she was going to follow his commands.

The nurse came and spoke to both Nic and Laurel, telling them that Nic could move back into his room now as long as Laurel stayed close by. Laurel nodded and began gathering up Nic's belongings in the infirmary.

The nurse then pulled Blaze over and went over Kale's chart. His vitals were not good but were normal for him. His diet had always been very unhealthy but Kale had never listened to anyone and no one really bothered him about it. But as it was now, his recovery would be a lot harder if he continued to not eat the nutrition his body needed to heal.

Nic didn't have much. His scarf, shoes, and whatever else Laurel had brought him. But he didn't look too sure about the walk to his room. "... I'm going to nap," he decided as he laid back down.

Blaze said nothing the entire time. When the nurse was finished she paused for a long moment before nodding slowly.

Laurel looked at him, "Alright," and walked to Nic's room with all of his stuff. She looked at the mess she had yet to pick up since she ransacked his room earlier and sighed. After a moment she got to work cleaning it all up.

"I don't know, maybe he'll listen to you," the nurse shrugged before leaving. Kale didn't seem to like the nurse talking to Blaze without him.

After awhile, Blaze slowly went back over to Kale and sat down by his side like usual. But her expression was unreadable.

Kale watched her for a bit before giving in and just asking, "What did she say?"

Blaze was silent for a good while longer before her hand suddenly came up and hit Kale on the side of the head sharply.

Kale blinked, shocked. He stared blankly at Blaze for a long moment before slowly frowning.

Blaze took another moment to collect herself, irritation and anger showing on her face now. "... Liar," she told him quietly. "... Your body needs the same kind of nutrition the average person needs."

Kale blinked, "... I never said my body was different than an average persons," he replied, confused.

That seemed to get Blaze more irritated. "You made me think that was the case," she spat at him a little. "You talked about how 'sugar is the best thing for you' and how much energy it gives your body and other dirt."

That seemed to confused Kale more, "For me... and what I do, sugar is vital," he explained after a moment.

Blaze cussed a little as she ran a hand through her hair, trying not to wake Nic up. After a moment she stood to leave.

Kale sighed, "I don't see why you're so upset," he admitted as she stood.

Then suddenly she turned on him. "Nic's out of here and you're not because you don't give your body the nutrition it needs," she spat. "You're not healthy - you never have been. All the sugar is destroying your body! And if you die before I do, I'll make your last few days such a living hell you'll want to die!" And with that, she stormed out of the infirmary like a monsoon. She'd make Pepper very proud.

Kale blinked, eyes widening in shock at her words as she stormed out. He stared blankly after her for a moment before laying back down and staring at the ceiling.

A few hours later, Laurel returned and woke Nic, "Your room's ready," she told him.

"... Ready?" Nic asked, confused.

Laurel paused, "I tore it up earlier," she stated calmly before moving to help him sit up.

Nic... didn't seem too surprised. He seemed slightly hesitant to sit up, but he did. He took his time getting up, but once he was standing he started walking at a decent pace.

"If you can't walk all the way, I'll just carry you," Laurel stated simply as she continued to help him.

Nic kept walking quietly. He kept the same pace the entire trip, never complaining or stumbling. Just putting one foot in front of the other.

Laurel walked Nic into his room and over to his bed before helping him sit down. After a pause she sat down beside him and slowly rubbed her temples.

Nic slowly laid down on the bed. His expression didn't show it, but his body looked tired.

Laurel slowly got up and pulled the blankets back, maneuvering him under the covers before tucking him in. "We'll get you changed later," she told him, "Go back to sleep for now."

For a moment it looked like he might rebel against her order, but then he slowly closed his eyes.