Frozen Over

Chapter 10

The white walls were a familiar sight to Gray. It reminded him of his mother. As did the tears. Only one other time was Gray's face so stained. Only one other time was Gray so worn out and worried. Only one other time was Gray so distraught. 

And that was the time he lost his mother. 

He sat in an uncomfortable chair, hunched over with his head resting on his hands. He keep his eyes forward, and his mouth shut. There was nothing else to do now. 

"Gray?" Erza whispered, setting a hand on his shoulder and rubbing it. "You want anything?"

Gray looked up at the scarlet haired girl and smiled. A smile that reached for help. A sad and broken smile. He then shook his head, returning to his earlier position. 

Erza bit her lip in an attempt not to cry at such a sad sight. It hurt her heart, and she fell into the seat beside Gray, keeping her hand on his shoulder. 

The rest of the teenagers looked in a similar state as they stood looking down at the two. 

Lucy stood in front of the others, blocking their view of Erza and Gray. She smiled, tears still in her eyes, before whispering, "Let's go. They'll be fine up here." 

The blonde walked forward now, taking Natsu's hand and leading him toward the elevator. The male followed, not eager to go against what she said. Not tonight. It wasn't time for jokes. 

As Levy looked at the floor, she nodded and finally looked up at Gajeel. She nodded again, taking his hand and following him toward the elevator. 

Jellal sighed. He turned from the two and followed the couples into the elevator, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. 

Erza removed her hand from Gray's shoulder only to set her head on the same spot. Silent tears fell from her eyes. 

"Familiar, isn't it?" She whispered. It was the loudest she could manage. The crying had took away her voice, her spunk. She wasn't Erza anymore. 

Gray nodded, again not speaking. 

"It's not gonna be like that again, Gray," Erza said, attempting to reassure him. "You're not going to lose anyone again."

Small, silent tears trailed down Gray's face and disappeared into the hand that held up his face. He shook his head, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out. 

"Why's love a thing?" He whispered. His voice was more of a croak but quiet all the same. 

Erza shook her head, hiccuping before continuing, "Love is an amazing thing, Gray. I'm glad you finally started to feel again. It's been awhile." 

"It hurts."

"I know."

Gray sat up a little, letting his hands fall to his sides. He looked to Erza and continued to silently sob. He whispered, "It's my fault."

Erza quickly shook her head. 

"Gray, it wasn't. You didn't cause this."

"I should've drove her. I shouldn't have let her leave. I knew she was upset, Erza!"

Gray's voice raised in volume as he continued. Tears trailed down his face faster as he continued. 

"Why did I hurt her, Erza? Why?" 

Erza pulling Gray into her, not allowing him to talk anymore. She pushed his head into her shoulder, forcing him to stop. He wrapped his arms around her, crying into her shoulder. 

"Gray, you're the best thing that has ever happened to that girl. You would never hurt her. She would never hurt you. She won't leave you, Gray. I promise you," Erza whispered into his ear, weeping and taking short breaths between every other word. "Just promise me something, Gray."

Erza gently pushed him back to look into his dark eyes. Fear filled her eyes along with more tears. 

"Don't ever do that to yourself again," she whispered, grabbing his arm and touching the soft skin. "No matter how hard it is. Gray, promise me."

Gray looked down and nodded, "I promise."

〈・・・・〉

"Miss Lockser?" 

A young nurse came into the waiting room, holding a clipboard and flipping the first page. She then looked up to see several teenagers standing at the sound of the name she had just called. 

"Are you all-uh-here to see Miss Lockser?" 

The nurse's voice was timid, a bit afraid. It sounded as if she was scared to say something.

"I can-uh-only take one back to see the patient," she said, looking down at her clipboard to make sure she was correct is saying so. 

The teenagers all sighed in unison. They each looked at the black haired male who stood in front of them all, looking more frantic than the others. 

Gray nodded and attempted to take a deep breath but was only greeted by various short breaths. 

The nurse smiled to him before saying, "Follow me please, sir." She turned her back to the teenagers and began walking toward the two large doors that had the words 'Intensive Care Unit' in red above them. 

Gray followed her, silently reading the words. There was no way he was allowed back here, but if the nurse didn't say anything, neither would he. 

The young lady opened the door, allowing Gray to walk in first before closing it behind them. She, again, took the lead with her clipboard under her arm. Without turning to Gray, she said, "I bet you're wondering why we even allowed you back here."

Gray quickly looked up from his shaking hands and stared at the back of the girl's hair. He said in a raspy voice from a scratchy throat, "How'd you know?"

"We looked up a lot about Miss Lockser. She doesn't have any immediate family, so we went for the next best thing. An older girl, named Ultear, said a group of you were waiting in the waiting room," the nurse explained. "She said something about someone named Gray. May that be you?"

Gray nodded, although the woman could see it, and replied, "Yeah, that'd be me." 

The two then walked in silence until the nurse stopped abruptly. She turned to her left to a plain white door. To the side of the door, the number '24' was the only different colored object that wasn't white. 

"Go in. You can stay until visiting hours are up," the nurse replied with a smile before walking back down the hallway. 

Gray looked down at the door knob then at the small, square window near the top of the door. He couldn't make out anything in the window considering the type of glass they used for patients privacy. The teenager took another deep breath before setting his hand on the doorknob, allowing the cold chills to run through his body. He then twisted the knob and walked in the door, closing it behind him.

Author's Note: Here is the new chapter everyone has been wanting! This chapter didn't really move the story ahead much, I apologize. But I wanted to add in just a few things abotut Gray's past and that brother/sister relationship between Gray and Erza. I really hope you all enjoyed! Please leave a like or comment if you wish! I love you all.