Control {The Umbrella Academy} *Complete*

Chapter 17

"He-help! S-s-somebody help PLEASE!" Diego ran into the house, Leta cradled close to his chest. Her body had gone limp. Tears were brimming in his eyes, arms quivering as he sped into the hospital. "HELP!"

Allison was the first to arrive, stumbling backward a bit in surprise at the sight. "Oh my God! What happened!" A look of horror was written across her face. Diego laid her down gently on the operation bed, hands vibrating at his side.

"Those psycho's who attacked us. They killed Patch. And she was just there, blood all over the floor."

"It's okay, it's okay, calm down." She walked forward, embracing her brother tightly. Pogo had entered now, removing medical supplies from under a cabinet.

"Miss Allison I need you to assist me please." She nodded, gently pulling away from her brother and moving over to him.

Lastly Luther made his way in, staring down at her with his mouth a bit open. He spotted the knife wound in her stomach and shoulder, attention pulling to Diego who was trying, and failing, to hold himself together. "Diego, what did you do?"

He shook his head, unable to take his eyes off of her. "Those monsters did this to her." The two stood in silence as Allison and Pogo stopped the bleeding, stitching up her wounds. Slowly Luther approached Diego. He couldn't move.

"Come on. They've got this." He muttered, pulling him gently by the shoulder, to the hall outside.

"We're lucky that you got her here when you did." Pogo muttered as he gave her a blood transfusion. "She was barely holding on. You saved her life Master Diego."

He nodded slowly, Allison putting her arms around his shoulders. Diego shoved her off, rising off the ground. They watched silently as he entered the room and sat by her side.

*~*

It's a strange thing to be conscious about, the rise and fall of your own chest, the purposeful filling of your lungs. Because you know if you aren't making sure it happens, it might stop.

She was choosing to breath, and she knew that.

Her eyes peeled open, the harshness of the sun an unexpected consequence. A small groan made its way out from between her lips.

How was she alive?

"Hey." Her fingers were met with a tight squeeze when she turned her stiff neck. A small smile rose in her cheeks.

"Allison. Where am I?" The woman softly smiled, nudging the sleeping man to her left.

"You're at the Academy. Diego found you." Leta glanced at her best friend as he stirred from his sleeping position. "Leta, what happened to you?" She squirmed a bit, Diego now fully awake, his attention glued to her expression.

"There were these two people. A man and a woman with masks on. They broke into the house and knocked me unconscious. And when I woke up..." she shuddered, rolling back her shoulders. "They tourchored us. For I don't know how long. It felt like forever."

"Wait, us?" Diego raised his eyebrows into his hairline.

Her face turned pale, heart skipping a beat.

A chill ran down her spine, "Klaus. He isn't here!" She yanked herself up, immediately falling back down with her hand laced around her gut. "We.. we have to find him. Those psychos could have him again, and-and he was hurt!"

"Like you?"

"Shut your face D. We've got to find him!" She picked herself up again, wobbling on her feet before stumbling towards the door frame.

"Calm down. You need rest." Allison moved forward a bit, putting out her hand sympathetically. "You can't go anywhere in your state."

"I don't care. I can't-" her words cut off. A sharp pain rocketed up her side causing her to shudder. Tears pricked at the side of her eyes but she continued to move forward. She could still see his terrified face, hear the ringing of gunshots in her ears. "I can't let him be alone."

She heard feet coming towards her, pinching shut her eyes and preparing to be taken back to bed. An arm hooked under her own, lifting her gently and relieving some of the pain coursing through her body. "Then I guess you'll need a hand." Her eyes cautiously wiggled open, turning her head to Allison. Leta held back tears as she looked at the woman.

"Thank you." She muttered, leaning into Allison's side.

The darker skinned woman pulled on a loving grin, adjusting her grip on Leta's arm. "What else is family for?"

They slowly moved forward, each step sending a new shock wave of pain down Leta's spine. She clutched onto herself, looking down at the ground. "He could be anywhere." The saddening thought just let itself free from her mind and into the air.

Allison gave her shoulder a squeeze. The two suddenly stopped in their tracks, Allison letting out a bit of an ironic chuckle. "A lot closer than we thought."

Leta pulled up her throbbing head, looking up with bleary eyes at the man stood in front of her.

His eyes were more sunken, arms a bit more defined, hair a bit shaggier, but it was him. "Klaus?" The tears that had been attempting to escape her eyes finally found their way over the edge as she looked at him. She didn't know if they were of joy, or because of the pain radiating throughout her body, or somewhere in between. But as she looked up at him a whole new wave of emotions flooded her head.

His mouth hung open a bit as he stared at her. The look was of longing and of fear. Almost as if he didn't believe his own eyes. "Are you? Are you alive?" His green eyes were drawing in disbelief.

All she could do was nod, unable to put together words to say to him. It seemed like she didn't need to, Klaus rushing forward at full speed and lifting her up into the air, cradling her close to his chest. It was obvious to him that she didn't need to be standing.

He tucked his head into her neck as she squeezed him with all her might. "We made it baby. We made it." He took in every bit of her, the discoloration on her forehead, the crooked smile, the icieness of her eyes, the warmth of her touch.

She did the same, running her fingers through his hair, a thumb over his temple, her eyes across every inch of his face.

Allison clasped a hand to her chest. That's what love looked like.

Klaus turned silently, Leta still protectively held in his arms. He walked forward and down to his bedroom where he gently placed her down on his bed. "I thought I would never see you again." He whispered. She grinned cheekily, grabbing one of his hands.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." He laughed. It felt good, he missed that.

"How long have you been here?"

"I don't know. Diego found me after you escaped. Maybe a day or so." He moved next to her and sat down gently on the bed.

"Only a day." He looked back at her and instantly relaxed. "It felt like so much longer."

Leta laughed a bit, playing with his fingers. "I wouldn't know. I was mostly unconscious."

Klaus reached around her shoulders and dragged her down to the bed, the two laying together in silence. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking his chin into the crook of her neck. His embrace was warm and inviting. He smelled of fire and earth and copper. Of course, she probably smelled a bit like blood herself. But she didn't care. They were together.

"You need to sleep." He muttered to her neck, throwing the blanket over the both of them.

She turned, Klaus wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into himself. The blond sighed contently, putting a hand to his chest and drawing circles on his skin.

"I have to say something first." He let out a chirp in acknowledgement. "I love you."

His chest clenched, dry eyes fluttering shut. He pulled her in closer and silently promised to never let her go.

"I love you too Lee."