Ryan Sohmers & Nadeem Tarak

A silver kia pulled up to the emergency doors, followed close behind by the little blue truck. Both vehicles parked, and both drivers were soon stepping out to deal with passengers of varied states of injury.

Ryan's primary concern as Neji, but before he dashed off to get a wheelchair for the young man who's consciousness as wavering, he had a few stern words for Sasuke. "You are to stay in this seat until I return, you understand? I need to get your brother inside, then I'll be back for you. Keep your seatbelt on." With his eyes locked intensely on the other, it was clear that Ryan was not messing around. With that demand leveled, he was jogging through the sliding front doors and grabbing one of the many wheelchairs lined up for just such occasions. He hurried back to the back passenger side door with this, pausing only to extend the foot braces before opening the cardoor and reaching a hand in for Neji. "Hey, you still with me?"

At the truck, Nadeem had likewise scrambled out to grab a wheelchair, only he didn't have any orders to dish out, not that he would be willing to do such a thing anyway. Coming around to the passenger side door of his own vehicle, he opened it and offered a helping hand to his friend. "Hey, I know this isn't ideal, but just try to focus on yourself, okay? Let Ryan handle those two, and they'll be out of sight soon enough." The man did find himself glancing at the kia, where he knew Sasuke was sitting. He could only hope that he'd remain seated until Clarke was safely inside. "Jess, how're you holding up?"

Clarke and Jess

The ride to the hospital was a tense, quiet one, with both Clarke and Jess, unbeknownst to teach other, wondering if they should apologize. Neither one did, though.

Clarke could see Ryan rushing Neji inside from his vantage point in the passenger seat of the blue truck. His eyes were locked on Sasuke in the silver car, seeming to shoot daggers with his deathly glare. He almost didn't notice Nadeem approaching the truck with a wheelchair, but when the door opened, he had a few choice words to say. "I'm not sitting in a wheelchair. It's degrading." He remained seated in the truck.

"Clarke, please," Jess pleaded, her tone shifting drastically compared to her angered cadence during the argument. It now carried an air of sympathy.

Clarke muttered something indecipherable under his breath as he stepped out of the truck and did his best to walk toward the emergency door. He took a tumble at the curb, landing flat on his face and splitting open the skin on his chin. "Feck!" The pain, coupled with the alcohol, caused his carefully-feigned American accent to give way to his more crass, slang-filled Scottish accent. "Ahm plastered here, Jess." He admitted to his drunken state and didn't even try to get up this time. Jess cast a concerned glance towards Nadeem and bolted after her fallen friend.

"Uh..." Jess panicked, looking around for any nurse in the area. "He's gonna need a stretcher, Nadeem. There's no way either of us can help him up with his broken bones." She knelt down next to Clarke, who was also on the verge of panic. "If you can find a nurse, I'll keep him from moving and injuring himself more."

Neji

Neji was silent as he sat in the back of the car. He did wonder if Ryan thought that he and Sasuke hadn't murder if it had only been robbery and assaults. He nearly passed out before getting there.ah huhwas all he said as he let Ryan get him in the wheelchair.

Sasuke just snorted but forced his eye shut. He knew if he saw Clarke he wouldn't listen to Ryan at all. So he didn't see him glaring at him.

Ryan Sohmers & Nadeem Tarak

Ryan's thoughts were traveling the same path as Neji's, dread again gripping him as he logical mind traveled down the path of what was to come next. He'd come across Sasuke's old records well enough, and knew what the man was capable of. Now, Ryan could only hope Clarke and Jess were mistaken on this case, and Sasuke had not committed a second murder. And yet, if he had... what of his condition? The officer cursed himself for not getting the young man seen by a specialist, but there was no time to dwell on mistakes and missed opportunities right now.

"We need help! Four individuals involved in a knife fight, two of them with critical injuries." Ryan called out, as the glass doors slid open, allowing him to wheel Neji inside. His own hands were stained crimson from trying to staunch Neji's bleeding, and as he waited for a nurse to arrive, he did his best to put pressure on the shoulder again, and winced at the blood that had already soaked through the bandages.

Nadeem was having a slightly more complicated time outside, with his charge attempting to walk himself into the building. "Wait, wait, wait! Clarke no, you really shouldn't-" Nadeem had attempted to grab the other's arm, with hesitancy stalling his actions just long enough for Clarke to blunder and careen face-first into the unforgiving pavement. Gritting his teeth as he heard the thud of flesh meeting harsh ground, he initially knelt down beside Clarke just as Jess was joining the fray, "Forget your pride, okay? Just let me help you." He'd seen how stubborn Clarke could be though, and with Jess now tending to him, he reluctantly nodded to her suggestion, "Okay, stick tight - I'll be right back."

Nadeem stood and sprinted for the doors, coming in just a few seconds behind Ryan and Neji. "We need a stretcher out there. My friend's fallen, and he- I think he's got some busted ribs."

Clarke, Jess, & *Doctors*

The hospital was abuzz with movement and chaos the moment Ryan called out for help. Two nurses rushed towards Ryan and Neji, making quick note of the shoulder wound that was profusely bleeding. "Alright, let's get him into room 4. Page Dr. Franklin." One of the nurses barked orders to the rest of the staff, suggesting that he managed the night shift. "I need two of you assisting the other patient. I don't care who. We need all hands on deck. And Nadine -" he called to the receptionist, "get the cops down here." With matters sorted, he returned his attention to his patient. He motioned for Ryan to step aside so he could take charge of the wheelchair. and wheel Neji into an empty room, while the other nurse kept pressure on his wound. Together they lifted him onto the table and got to work assessing the extent of his injuries. "What's his blood type? Do you know?"

"Clarke, let the doctors help you. Please. Do it for me, if it helps." Clarke's breathing quickened and he began to yell out in pain with each labored breath. The fall worsened the damage to his chest and abdomen, and the jagged edge of one of the broken ribs stabbed into his lung, coming dangerously close to puncturing and collapsing it.

It seemed like ages before the medics arrived with a stretcher, when in reality, it had only been mere seconds. They attempted to usher Jess to the side, but she resisted, now sobbing uncontrollably at the fear that she might lose her friend. A third nurse had to join her colleagues to pull the distressed woman aside and tried - and failed - to comfort her.

Clarke initially struggled against the attempted aid of the medics until he had used up all his energy. They rolled him over onto the backboard, being careful not to move his neck or spine in case it was broken. Her clutched his chest and abdomen, and noticing this along with Nadeem's description of the injuries, focused their attention there. He coughed weakly. More blood. They brought him into the closest available room and transferred him to the table.

Outside, the nurse led Jess towards to door. "Follow me," she said to Nadeem, guiding them to a seat outside the room, in close enough proximity for the attending medical staff to get information from him while they worked, while still having them out of the way... and inadvertently, in just the right place to see all that went on inside the room. A medic cut off Clarke's shirt to see the deep, dark bruising, a telltale sign of internal bleeding from the blow he received to his stomach hard enough to throw him into the railing. It was clear he needed surgery to find the bleeding and stop it, but first, a nurse exited the room and knelt down by Nadeem and Jess. "Can you tell me what happened to your friend, Ms. McKinney?" Jess recognized her as the friendly nurse who aided Clarke after he was stabbed earlier in the year, and judging by the fact that the nurse knew her name, the nurse hadn't forgotten her at all. But Jess was in hysterics and was unable to answer. The nurse instead turned her attention to Nadeem, waiting for him to explain the situation as best he could.

Neji & Sasuke

Neji didn't fight them. Sasuke might so Ryan would need to be with him and inform the nurses and doctors of Sasuke's mental condition so they could be dilligent. The only thing onh im was the stab wound. Jess hadn't done anything else or atleast hadn't had the chance but, their was surely muscle damage.

The doctor entered just as the nurses got Neji on the table on his stomach. Cut the shirt off we need to see the full extentHe said as he himself put gloves on and a mask.anesthia is probably bestHe said knowing his poking and prodding was gonna hurt. Once the kid was out he looked at the wound.it gone through the muscle, he'll need surgery to fix itHe said.

Sasuke stayed put his mind on Neji for the moment which was good it kept him calm. He had more physical wounds that didnt cause external damage other then bruising. During the fight he hadn't felt any of it but his back was scrapped and hurt like a bitch from being slamned.

Ryan Sohmers & Nadeem Tarak

Ryan stepped back from the wheelchair on the doctor's insistence, knowing that Neji was in good hands now. "AB positive." He answered promptly, knowing well by this time what his charge's blood type was, for this wasn't his first time rushing Neji through these doors with grievous wounds.

His attention had jumped quickly to the receptionist following the order to bring cops in, and had him digging into his pocket to unveil his badge. Looking down, Ryan held back a grimace for the smear of blood that would now require some serious washing of his clothes, but there was no time to find a restroom and wash the grime away. "Belay that order, I'm handling the case." With a flash of his badge to show that he as indeed a cop, even if he weren't in uniform right now, he could only hope that it was enough to stop Nadine from making the call.

Noting the number of Neji's room, and waiting just long enough for Clarke to be rushed by on the stretcher, Ryan jogged back out to his car and opened the passenger side door. "They just got Neji in a room, he's being treating. How are you holding up?" Even as he spoke, Ryan was holding a hand out to Sasuke, offering to help him up out of his seat, and guide him to through the hospital entrance.

Leaving it to the nurses to handle Clarke, while answering what questions he could on the man's injuries, Nadeem otherwise turned his focus on trying to console his distraught friend. He'd aided the third nurse in gently trying to pull Jess away from the stretcher, and ended up putting an arm around her in an attempt to both keep her in place, and to offer what comfort he could. He'd then followed dutifully inside, not about to abandon either of them in such a critical time.

Nadeem sat in the chair beside Jess, and now reached out to hold one of her hands. "Hey, hey, listen to me." He attempted an encouraging tone, "He's where he needs to be now, they'll take good care of him. Honestly, I think he was in worst shape last time, and pulled through just fine." Whether that was actually true or not didn't matter; he was just trying to find words to calm his friend. Soon enough, dark eyes were flashing to the nurse that knelt in front of him, and seeing that Jess was in no state to be answering prompt questions, he responded, "I got there a bit late, but he was in a scuffle with another man. He got kicked pretty hard, into the side of a bridge. Hard enough that we heard cracking at the impact."

Clarke and Jess

The nurses in Neji's room scurried to follow the doctor's orders, anesthetizing him so they could begin treatment. "Right. I'll page the surgeon," said one nurse as she removed her gloves and walked out of the room.

The nurse who spoke to Ryan seemed both shocked and relieved that Neji was a universal recipient, able to recieve any blood type. She nodded and hurried back to the treatment room to relay the news. "He's AB positive, Doctor. Do we give blood?"

Nadine looked at Ryan with a deer-in-headlights expression and put down the phone without another word. The receptionist's first day on the job was surely an eventful one.

---

The doctors examined Clarke, still fearing a broken spine. Every now and again he'd struggle, and although he did have the energy to break free of the medics' grip, he had plenty of energy to cough out out a incoherent cuss words. This gave them no choice but to sedate him, and within a minute or two, he was calm enough for them to continue the examination. More than calm, in fact; he was dazed out of his mind. He reached out to grab something that was there only in his imagination.

Jess calmed down with the help of Nadeem. The nurse laid a hand on her shoulder. "He's going to be alright. He's in the best hands here." She turned her attention to Nadeem now. "We suspect internal bleeding and broken bones. We're taking him to surgery. The doctor will come out to talk to the both of you after he hands Clarke off to the surgeon." With a mischievous but empathetic smile, she addressed Jess again. "I've forgotten the extension for security, and the cops are too busy tonight..." This assured Jess than this would not be a police matter, or at least, not any more than it already was. The nurse stood up and returned to the treatment room.

"I've tried to talk sense into him, but he never listens," Jess confessed. "He just gets himself hurt again and again. I know he needs help... but... I just can't do this alone." She wiped the tears from her face. "I always say I'm done enabling him, but I always go running back. I think... I don't know. I guess something in me just won't let me walk away and get himself killed." She looked away, seemingly embarrassed. "I don't know what I see in him, Nadeem. Maybe I like the danger and the thrill, or maybe I'm trying to save myself by saving him." She was a caretaker at heart. She couldn't stand to see pain. But she also was a thrill-seeker, willing to put herself in danger just for the adrenaline rush.

Sasuke

He waits. His body completely calm now and hurting. Luckily had hand't taken much hit thought his face and throat hurta nd his back. He ignored Ryans hand as he got out and was sielnt. He worried for Neji.

Naji was out almost as soon as they administered the anestisia.

The doctor.Yes he said about the blood as he started to clean around the wound.

Ryan Sohmers & Nadeem Tarak

Ryan half expected the rejection from Sasuke, but he couldn't buckle now. Ryan kept a stern face as he addressed the young man, though it wasn't without sympathy or concern, "We need to get you checked out, and see if any of those injuries need treated." He'd taken a step back to give Sasuke room to get up and out of the car, but was still close enough to put a guiding hand on the back of his shoulder. It was a gesture of support as well as security, reminding Sasuke that he was there for him... and also there to make sure he didn't get into any further trouble.

As he tried to prompt Sasuke to walk through the doors and into the hospital, the officer lowers his voice, "They've already tried calling for the cops, as well they should have, but I've convinced them to hold off. Don't give them any reason to change their mind, okay?" This time, his tone was less commanding, and more gentle. "Once they've given you the all clear, we're going to sit and discuss what happened. I'm going to get your side of the story and theirs. We'll go from there, alright?" Even as he spoke, his gaze was frequently flitting towards the hallway where they'd wheeled Neji down, his worry for the younger one still keen on his mind.

-----

Nadeem had a bird's eye view of his friend, though he almost wish he didn't right now. Knowing that Clarke was being treated by the best Atroe had to offer, he pointedly kept his dark eyes away from the room where they were examining a newly sedated Clarke, and listened closely to Jess. "Sometimes... sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is to stand back and let them hit rock bottom, instead of letting them drag you down their with them." He gave her hand a small squeeze, and wondered if that advice was best for this situation or not. It did seem like Clarke was already at the bottom, after all. But, all the same, he didn't like the idea of Jess getting hurt by constantly putting herself in Clarke's line of fire. "Support and love them, but enabling their behavior just allows them to keep hurting themselves. He's got to be the one to want the change, and hitting the bottom is... unfortunately, what it takes for some people."

Clarke and Jess

Jess took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. “He has moments of lucidity, where he just enjoys life, like when we stayed out in the woods for a month,” she reminisced. “No city, no cops, no drugs, no alcohol, just me, him, and the wild things that prowl the forest. We climbed a cliff to see the stars better. No city lights to pollute the sky.” A fleeting smile appeared on her face. “I’ counted all his scars to help me sleep. No sheep jumping over a fence to count. I fell asleep before I could count them all, but” There was a hitch in her voice. “...half of them are from protecting his brother, and the other half are from protecting me.” She broke down in tears again. “He’s going to end up dead if he can’t learn to protect himself. That night in the woods - we were safe. Nobody needed to protect anybody. I feel like, if he and I are going to make this work, we have to leave the city.”

“Let’s get him to surgery,” shouted the doctor on Clarke’s case. A nurse showed up to usher Jess and Nadeem to the waiting room, no longer needing information from them.

Neji

Neji was wheeled away to have his own surgery now that they were sure he was stable enough for it. The blood transfusion they did first seemed to help and they had more for after if needed.

Sasuke was silent.i can't promise anythinghe said as calmly as he could about behaving. Doctors tended to jpiss him off.

Ryan Sohmers & Nadeem Tarak

Ryan led Sasuke into the main lobby, and guided him towards a nearby bench to wait for available nurses. A quick glance around assured that both Neji and Clarke were now out of eyesight and being treated, which at least took away some potential for Sasuke to become enraged again. If he temper unleashed for a second time, in the middle of a busy hospital, Ryan wasn't sure if he could dissuade Nadine a second time from calling the authorities. "That's the other thing." Ryan commented, "Once this is all said and done, we're going to see a specialist. You weren't you out there tonight."

"You know-" Nadeem was answering back, after giving a nod to the nurse as they were being relocated to the waiting room, "That's not a bad idea, Jess. There's plenty of land out there, and it's secluded. If you two are happy out away from this city, and he's removed from the kind of situations that get him in trouble, I can't see a negative to it." Well, he could - the Valley's wilderness was notoriously aggressive and violent, but then... so were many of its human inhabitants. "I'd be willing to help, if you wanted to do something like that."

Sasuke

He snorted.Try that it won't help The last time Itachi brought him he just ended up killing the doctor, but he wasn't about to tell that to ryan.