hacked title number 6

Layla shrugged. "If you want. I do not mind either way."

Geena smiled.  "I'll be in the living room on the couch if you need me."  She stepped out, closing the door behind her.  Quietly she made herself a bed on the couch and laid down. She curled on her side and hugged a pillow.  It hit her all over again and she tried not to cry.

It took a while for Layla to fall asleep, but her sleeping was inconsistant and dreamless.

Lex woke with a start, groaning in pain.  He sat up slowly, his head swimming and looked around.  Was Echo still here or was she out?

Echo didn't appear to be there, but some bakery pastries marked that she at least was there not too long ago. They were still warm.

Lex stared at the pasteries, but his stomach clenched.  He appreciated the gesture, but no food right now.  Feeling something wet, he reached back and touched his neck.  His hand came back red.  Still bleeding?  But how could that be?  He never bled this long.  He tried to stand.  His legs almost gave out from under him.  Lex moaned softly, admitting defeat.  He changed back into his old still damp clothes, folding the ones Echo had given him neatly.  Seeing the back of the shirt was stained with blood, he found paper and pen and wrote, "I owe you a shirt."  Leaving them in a neat pile, he headed out, walking slow and careful back toward the lab.
It was a long walk.  He was tired, weak, and light headed from blood loss, but finally he made it into the lobby of the lab.  Instead of going down like usual, he went to the receptionist.
"Could you please tell Docter Gaster Daedalus Proditor is here to see him?" he rasped, holding onto the counter.

Her eyes widened at the name "Proditor," but she did as he asked. After a few moments, a stuttering woman responded through the radio, and the receptionist turned back to Lex. "I'm sorry sir, but it appears the Doctor is out of the lab at the moment. His assistant said it was because of family matters. If you would like, Dr. Ally is available, or I can schedule you for an appointment with Dr. Gaster." She offered.

"I'll wait here.  He'll be back sooner or later," Lex said, still leaning on the counter.  "His family matter probably involves me."

The receptionist nodded. "If it's urgent, I can try to contact him on his personal phone."

Lex shrugged.  "Whatever.  I'll just... whatever."  He turned slowly, looking for a chair, considering with half a mind leaving.  Another drop of warm blood dribbled down his neck.

The receptionist saw and half stood, concerned. "Sir, you're bleeding!" Do you want me to call an ambulance?"

Lex flinched.  "NO!  No.  I just... I'm going to go.  Doesn't matter... just forget I was ever here."  He started toward the doors, shoulders slumped.  Gaster wasn't here.

Just before Lex left, as fate would have it, a disheaveled Dr. Gaster and a roughed up looking Ashton both walked in. Gaster seemed stressed out, and was wearing the same rumpled clothes from yesterday. They were deep in conversation, and both guys seemed a little short each other from lack of sleep and stress.

Lex stopped short.  He hadn't wanted Ashton to be here.  He stepped back to the counter, reaching behind him to grip the counter.  He needed it for support.  He didn't say anything, unable to meet their eyes.  He kept his head down.  He looked... broken.  The iron will that made Lex Lex, the iron rod in his spine had begun to chip away, splinter by splinter it was breaking.  There was nothing left.  Only a thread saying his desire to live was greater than his desire to stop and let the pain end.  So he was here, broken, ready to let Gaster do whatever he wanted, let him treat him as a lab rat if he wanted.

Gaster saw Lex and stopped talking. He walked over to Lex and watched him for half a moment before pulling him into a tight hug. He was too relieved that Lex was all right to scold him or yell at him. His son was safe.
Ashton was relieved as well, and suspecting the eccentric doctor would forget, he texted Geena that Lex was at the lab.

Lex almost collapsed into Gaster's hug.  His entire body shuddered violently.  He was tired.  So tired.

"Lex..." Gaster sighed, slowly relaxing, "please.... don't scare us like that again." His voice was gentle, and showed he had been genuinely worried about him.

"I don't feel well," Lex mumbled, swaying unsteadily.  "Please.  Just make it stop.  Please.  I won't run anymore."

Gaster looked Lex over and sighed. "You lost a fair amount of blood. Come... I'll sew that back up and get you some orange juice." He said gently. gaster led Lex downstairs, keeping aa comforting arm around him.

"Okay."  Lex leaned on Gaster like a lost little child.  He was home now.  Whatever that meant.

Geena came into Layla's room with a bagel and new clothes.  "Layla, you need to wake up now.  Lex returned to the lab."

Gaster did as he said, and redid the stitches on Lex's neck. However, instead of the room Lex had been in, Gaster gently offered the couch in his office to Lex while Gaster got something for him to eat and drink.
Layla woke some, but soon was wide awake when Geena mentioned Lex was back. She scrambled out of bed, nearly falling as she remembered how banged up she was, and asked Geena if they could go to the lab immediately.

Lex was confused but accepted the couch, sitting on it and staring numbly at his hands, picking at his fingers.

Geena held out the bagel and apple juice.  "Eat and drink.  You have time.  Gaster has to look him over and make sure he's okay."

Gaster came back after a few minutes with scrambled eggs, bacon, and OJ, and handed it all to Lex. "Please eat up." He said softly. "You'll feel a bit better when you do. Trust me." He sighed. "I have lost more of my own blood than I care to recall..."

Lex gagged a little on the eggs.  He was so hungry he didn't even feel hungry anymore, but he forced himself to eat because Gaster asked.  His hands shook as he drank the juice.

Gaster sighed. "Lex.... I owe you an apology." He said softly, running his hands through his hair. "I haven't been treating you well the past several days, and you deserve better." The doctor hesitated before telling Lex. "You... you aren't the only one with a negligent father. My own dad wasn't very caring. He wasn't outwardly cruel, but he favored my sister over me, and usually ignored me unless he had to talk to me. I am doing my best to not be like that, but sometimes it's a lot harder to always be there and be the kind of father I wished I had."