A/N: Don't let your thoughts think you can't write a good story. Maybe, it's not perfect but it's also no bad. To be able to image a story from beginning to end and put words to paper is truly an amazing talent. You can do it. íì´í
"Fourth," Paul called out the moment the doors to the elevator opened but as he went to rush out, Ken caught him and told him, "Hold the door open, I'll get him."
Fourth sat collapsed in the middle of the corridor, alone and howling, with the brown paper bag clenched in his hand. As Ken reached Fourth, he grabbed him by his arms and tugged him up.
"Quickly. We need to go." Ken demanded and Fourth struggled to stand.
"Ken." Paul cried out from behind and Ken came around behind Fourth and lifted him up from under the arms to make him stand.
Ken began to drag Fourth forward and through broken breath's, Fourth whimpered. "I don't understand."
"You've doing great, Fourth. A little longer and everything will be explained. But right now, we need to go." Ken told him, as they reached the lift.
Paul grabbed Fourth, as Fourth collapsed into his arms.
"It's okay." Paul reassured Fourth, rubbing his back. "It's going to be okay."
As the elevator doors open, Ken grabbed Fourth's arm and pulled him away from Paul, who in turn followed after them.
"Where are we going?" Fourth asked, finally realising their urgency.
"To Gemini." Ken said, and Fourth stumbled as Ken caught him.
"Gemini." Fourth repeated in shock and Ken nodded as they left the building and entered the waiting car.
The sound of the monitor beeped as Gemini lay unconscious in the hospital bed.
Ken held Gemini's hand with a death grip, fearing he might lose him any minute. At the end of the bed grandfathers lawyer looked on.
"Mr Grandfather has requested your assistant in this matter." The lawyer told Ken.
"But to pretend Gemini has died. I don't understand." Ken said, looking back at the lawyer. The older man, dressed in grey pin striped suit, looked troubled but maintained his professionalism.
"Mr Grandfather has been poisoned three times now. Once in the main house and twice while in the hospital. It was only the more recent incident that doctors were able to confirm the poisoning. It would appear the cookies eaten had a slow releasing poison that once consumed would take several days to impact the body. This was why it proved difficult to detect the cause."
"Gemini said something like this might happen." Ken murmured.
"Did he suspect something." The lawyer asked.
Ken realised he'd spoken out loud and attempting to backtrack to not reveal how they knew Gemini was going to be poisoned, he responded, "He was only speculating."
The lawyer paused, then continued, "We haven't been able to prove who's behind it but we suspect it's someone within the main house. Mr Grandfather changed his will hoping it might draw out the culprit. What Mr. Grandfather didn't expect was someone would try to also poison Gemini."
"What happens now?" Ken asked.
"Unfortunately, without any evidence, we're no further to knowing who's behind this." The lawyer replied.
"What about the cookies. Surely they found them in Gemini's room?" Ken asked. When he'd found Gemini unconscious in the corridor he'd feared the worse. All he could think about was Fourth's timeline Gemini had given him but he'd said nothing.
The lawyer shook his head. "A search of his room didn't produce any evidence. Either Gemini threw it away or someone removed it."
Ken's hand holding Gemini's began to shake and he squeezed Gemini's hand harder as he thought to himself, could it be possible Fourth had the evidence. But that meant waiting five months before they would know. Ken was desperate to tell someone but knew he had to wait for Gemini to recover.
Ken closed his eyes and slowly breathed in and out, attempting to control his emotions. As he began to calm, he said, "We're no closer to knowing the truth. And Gemini might still be in danger."
"I've spoken to Mr Grandfather, who is devastated by the turn of events. He has suggested to protect Gemini, we tell everyone outside this room he's died. Then we hide him until we can learn the truth."
"What! No!" Ken protested but no sooner had he responded he knew the reality of the future.
"Mr Grandfather also intents to fake his own death. He hopes that by doing this it will draw the culprit out."
Ken shook his head, silently knowing there would be at least a five month wait until they might know the truth. The thoughts in Ken's mind were bringing on a headache and he lay his forehead against Gemini's hand in his.
"He's going to okay through?" Ken asked, as he looked back up at the lawyer.
"Yes. They were able to treat him because you got him to the hospital in time. Had he gone unnoticed for another twenty-four hours in this condition it may have taken his life. But it's going to take several weeks before he's fully healed."
With his other hand, Ken rubbed the back of Gemini's hand in his. When Gemini had not turned up for class that morning, Ken had immediately attempted to contact him. When he'd been unable to reach him, Ken had gone to his bedroom after classes but there had been no response. At first he'd thought maybe something had happened to his grandfather, that was why he couldn't reach him. But as evening fell and Ken had still no heard anything, he'd decided to check Gemini's room once more before calling his family. Had he not done so, he would not have found Gemini unconscious in the corridor. The shock of finding Gemini near death terrified Ken and as he carried him down the elevator to the foyer, he was met by ambulance officers who were attending the emergency call.
"His family are going to be devastated." Ken said.
"It can't be help. Right now we need to do what it takes to protect Gemini. The best thing you can do is distance yourself from the family and stay by Gemini's side." The lawyer replied.
Ken stared down at Gemini, grateful his friend would survive.
Later that evening, grandfather came into see Gemini. Ken sat with his head resting in his arms against the bed. As grandfather entered the room, Ken sat up and greeted him. Grandfather came around to Ken and patted him on the back.
"Thank you for protecting and saving my grandson." Grandfather said, his voice full of sadness and regret.
"They say he'll be okay once the poison has left his body." Ken told him.
Grandfather nodded. "I know."
Ken realised he did know, having endured the same thing three times.
"Are you okay, sir." Ken asked, suddenly standing and offering the seat to him.
Grandfather nodded, and squeezing Ken on the shoulder, took the seat beside the bed. Ken moved to stand beside him as they both looked at Gemini, still unconscious.
"I really didn't think this through clearly. Did I?" Grandfather asked.
"It's not your fault, sir." Ken replied.
"Perhaps. The method it which I was being poisoned was a mystery for too long and now look. Had I known sooner I could have protected my grandson." Grandfather reached out and taking Gemini's hand caressed it gently.
"Sir, I have something I'd like to discuss with you." Ken hadn't plan to say anything until Gemini woke but with grandfather there and the severity of the situation, Ken's desire to speak to someone about Fourth came to a head.
"Of course." Grandfather said, turning to look up at Ken.
Ken gave a nod and retrieving the second chair from against the wall, pulled it up against the bed and began to tell grandfather a most unbelievable and extraordinary tale.
The elevator ride was the longest Fourth had ever experienced. Ken and Paul stood either side of him ready to support him at any moment. It had been a long and exhausting evening and fatigue consumed Fourth but he was determined to remain strong. As the elevator door opened, Fourth stared out into the corridor of the luxury hotel and came face to face with Gemini waiting for them. Fourth stared, unsure if he was still in his timeline or Gemini's, as Gemini stared back, his expression somber. The door began to close and Ken reached out and pushed the button to open them again.
"It's okay now Fourth," Ken reassured him. "It's all over now."
But Fourth shook his head, afraid to step forward. Paul wrapped his arm around Fourth's back and guided him, with a little force, out of the elevator. Ken followed, his eyes on Gemini's who stared at Ken briefly to acknowledge his friend. Ken frowned and gave a slight shake of his head, giving a side eyed glance at Fourth before looking back at Gemini.
Gemini let out a sigh as his eyes once more fell on Fourth. He hated seeing Fourth in this state. Only several hours had passed for Fourth having seen Gemini collapsed and unconscious. Now, he was standing there before him alive and well. The shock of the events had obviously traumatised him.
As Paul continue to pull Fourth along, Fourth pulled himself out of his embrace and came to a stop.
"Fourth." Gemini said, "I'm sorry."
Fourth's resolve began to crumble as he stumbled towards Gemini and reaching him began punching his fists against his chest, saying repeatedly, "I hate you. I hate you."
Gemini crushed Fourth against him and said, "I know. I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you."
Behind them, Ken and Paul approached and Gemini nodded to both and mouthed, "Thank you."
Ken nodded and turning to Paul said, "Let's give them some space."
Paul nodded and allowed Ken to lead them to a room to one side.
Fourth continued to wail and Gemini rubbed his back comforting him. When Fourth began to settle, Gemini pulled back to look at Fourth's tear strained face.
"I hate you." Fourth murmured again.
"I love you." Gemini replied.
Fourth dropped his head against Gemini's shoulder and as he sniffled, he murmured, "I love you too."
"I'm sorry, Fourth." Gemini apologised again.
"Mmmm." Fourth replied.
"I didn't not want to see you but it was necessary. Only now can grandfather and I live safely."
Fourth glanced at Gemini, and asked, "Did you find out who was poisoning you both?"
"We will shortly. Without any evidence we weren't safe from it happening again. But now, it's going to be okay."
"Because of the cookies?" Fourth asked.
"Yes. I'd eaten most of them after coming from the main house on Saturday and I'd entered your room without realising it again, so the bag got left in your room. Without it we had no way of proving who was behind this." Gemini told him.
"That means they've been in my room for several days." Fourth said.
Gemini nodded. "I'm so grateful you never ate any. I've been so stressed at the thought that you might also be poisoned."
Fourth shook his head. "I'd been staying in Paul's room. I was too scared to return to my room."
Gemini nodded. "I know. Ken has been keeping me up to date with everything."
"Then why didn't he tell me sooner. Why wait when this could have been avoided." Fourth pleaded, the knowledge the cookies had been in his room all along tormented him.
"All the events had to take place, Fourth." Gemini caressed Fourth's face, offering him reassurance.
Fourth let out a deep sigh of exhaustion and Gemini took his hand and said, "Come inside."
Fourth nodded and allow Gemini to lead him into the apartment. Ken and Paul were no where to be seen and Gemini took Fourth to his bedroom. Inside the room, Gemini closed the door and taking Fourth to the bed, pulled back the covers and helped Fourth to lie down. Tucking the covers back over Fourth, Gemini sat beside him and gently caressing his face with his fingers, told him, "Get some rest."
Fourth reached out and grabbing Gemini's hand, said, "You won't leave me. You won't disappear."
Gemini stood and pulling back the covers lay down beside Fourth, manoeuvring his arm under his head as he did. Fourth wrapped himself around Gemini, holding him tight.
"I won't disappear. I promise to be here when you wake up." Gemini reassured him.