Things Fall apart.

They started to crumble when Suzuka went back to Sentinel and Aisha was called back to the Ctarl-Ctarl home planet. Then Melfina left him, tired of his drinking and flirting, and went to stay with Suzuka. Then Jim, now a young man met that Girl at Blue Haven and he left too. Gene was alone.

His missions became more dangerous then, his drinking more extreme, his actions more reckless. Gene was getting closer and closer to that dreaded number: 30. Life seemed to mean less. E was running out of time to make it big before he got old.

Then came the day that he woke up in the hospital bed, his bones aching like crazy, covered in bandages. “Where am I?” He asked, his throat dry. He looked around at the stereotypical hospital room, full of it's bland sterile dullness. At the left side of his bed, holding his hand tightly while sleeping, was Fred Lou. “What-”

The Nurse changing a bag of clear liquid giggled next to him. “You are in the First United Heifong Hospital.” She said pleasantly. “In the extended care unit. You've been out cold for almost a week now.”

“How did I get here?” Gene asked. “And what is He doing here?” He motioned to the man next to him.

“You were apparently fighting several very dangerous pirates at the same time and took multiple bullet wounds to the chest. Without any identification of money on your person you were in some deep trouble. The Doctor couldn't get authorization for advanced medical care. You would have died. But then.” She giggled and pointed to Fred, still sleeping peacefully. “This nice young man came bursting into the room, waving handfuls of money around, demanding that you be saved. He hasn't left your side since. It was very sweet.” She said.

“Oh...” Gene said, too distracted at the thought of nearly dying to even ask for the nurses name. Fred's head was resting on the bed next to his hip, leaning uncomfortably over in his chair. Gene didn't know how anyone could fall asleep like that, yet Fred looked perfectly content in his nap, his fingers laced with Gene's.

““If you need anything else, just ask.” She said and walked out of the room.

Gene stared at Fred. How had he known he was here? Why did he bother? “I would be dead right now if you hadn't shown up.” He muttered. “You're always saving my a**.” He squeezed Fred's hand back.
Things fall apart, Gene thought to himself, but they come together too.