Echo limped out into the lobby of the hospital. He had one crutch to help him walk until his leg recovered, if it ever did. He hadn't been allowed to leave his room for two days.

Wax stood waiting for him. His brown curls stuck up in all directions and he looked exhausted. He had a few new ectoplasm burns on his jacket. His green eyes were sad.

Wax smiled slightly. "Hey, Shale."

The nickname made Echo pause. He returned the smile with a larger one of his own. It had a ring to it. Much better than Echo. "Hey, Wax."

They stood there in silence as Wax's smile faded. He cleared his throat and looked away. "So... ah... Elizabeth..." he took a deep breath. "Elizabeth is dead..."

Echo's smile vanished. His expression turned cold, his blue eyes flashed. "She's dead?"

Wax nodded. He turned his attention back to Echo. "I'm sorry, Reich. I know how much she meant to you. She was so heartbroken when we had to leave you that night and... I don't think it got better when we found you alive. She went off on a case alone and didn't come back."

Where most people would have felt sadness, Echo felt anger first. "You let her go alone?!"

Wax blinked. "I didn't know she was going! She said she was coming here to see you!"

Echo closed his eyes for a moment. The sadness had come after all. He reached into his pocket with his free hand and squeezed the chunk of shale. "I didn't see her after that first day..." his voice cracked. "She didn't come here."

Wax pulled Echo into a hug. "I'm so sorry Reich... if I had known..."

Echo forced his emotions back into control and locked them all up. He became cold and calm. Standing near him, Wax could almost feel the secrets hidden in Echo's mind.

Echo pulled away from Wax, shrugging off the hug. "Call me Shale. I like it better."

Wax looked worried. "I don't think that's a good idea, Reich."

Echo glared. "Why not?"

Wax didn't have an answer for that. Instead he said carefully, "Reich... I'm worried about you. You're not the same as you were."

Echo snorted. "You'd change too if you thought you were going to die, but didn't so you were forced to live out the night in agony that was more than just physical."

Wax reached out to comfort him, but Echo jerked away. He started for the door without waiting for Wax. "C'mon,  Waxilliam. We have places to be."

Wax watched him go for a moment before he followed slowly. This was very unlike Echo. Wax vowed to himself that he'd find a way to bring him back. Even if it meant sacrificing his own sanity.