Zephyr hung from the cliff about fifteen feet up. He looked up, panting. He was taking a short break from climbing to just hang easily.

"How's it look up there, Zip?!" Giovanni called from the ground. He held the rope looped through his belt, helping to hold Zephyr up.

Zephyr grinned and looked down at Giovanni. "Looking pretty nice! The view from up top will look gorgeous!"

Giovanni's laugh reached Zephyr and made his smile grow. He jerked down slightly as he shifted his position, preparing to continue up.

"Careful! I felt a little twitch!" Giovanni called.

Zephyr checked his harness and ropes. Everything seemed in order. He started climbing again. He stretched up, annoyed with his short stature. His fingers stretched for the next outcrop. He was a couple inches short. Adjusting himself, Zephyr went up onto his toes.

His foot slipped and he lost his balance. He dropped back down a few inches, jerking the rope slightly. With a hiss and a snap, the knot that had been tied securely to Zephyr's harness came abruptly undone.

Zephyr gasped in surprise. His brain wasn't quite processing what had happened as he fell. Giovanni shouted something.

Zephyr struck the ground hard, landing almost completely on his left leg. He heard several cracks, a loud dull boom, and felt pain fill his body. His leg remained numb. He felt a hand on his arm just before he fell unconscious.

-

Zephyr remained in a coma for two and a half weeks. He had fractured his neck, sprained several muscles, likely gotten a concussion, broken a couple ribs, and completely shattered his whole left leg. Despite being unconscious, his forehead was wrinkled, his breathing came in quick, pained gasps occasionally.

Venn stayed by Zephyr's side with Giovanni as often and as long as the doctors would allow. Lilian, who had become a rather close friend of Zephyr, stopped by several times.

Zephyr awoke at last when only his doctor, Dr. Vashti, was in the room. He groaned quietly, feeling the pain right away.

Dr. Vashti turned, holding an empty IV bag in his hands. "Evening, Mr. Woods." He smiled.

Zephyr looked over without moving his head. He felt the neck brace and wasn't about to fight it. "Evening..." he croaked. His vision was blurred, but a bright red box caught his eye on the bedside table. "What... what's the box?"

Dr. Vashti smiled. "Chocolates. Lilian brought them for you."

"Oh..." Zephyr shifted and let out a quiet whimper at the pain in his chest.

His left leg, oddly, didn't hurt at all. It felt like dead weight, not shifting at all even when he pushed it with his other leg. That wasn't good.

"I can't... feel my leg..." Zip felt groggy and light headed. He fought the feeling, wanting confirmation of what he thought was wrong with himself.

"That's to be expected. A piece of bone cut the nerves to that leg completely." Dr. Vashti threw away the empty bag. "You'll never be able to walk on it again."

Zephyr tried to reply. His eyes slid shut and he drifted into sleep again. He was exhausted for no reason.

The next time Zephyr woke, Giovanni was sitting next to him. He had been tracing circles on the bed with one finger. He looked up when Zephyr stirred.

"I'm really sorry, Zip," Giovanni said quietly, not looking up.

Zephyr moved his arm and took Giovanni's hand. "It's alright, Gio. I survived and I'll mostly heal. It isn't your fault."

Giovanni squeezed his hand. "Your heart was fluttering a couple days ago. We thought you were going to die."

Zephyr shifted position again, inhaling sharply. "But I didn't. I'm still here."

Giovanni managed a weak smile. "Yeah. Thank goodness for that."

They talked for several minutes before Zephyr grew tired. Giovanni made no complaint when he fell asleep again.

-

Zephyr was allowed to leave the hospital a month later. He was given a wheelchair, instructions to get arm crutches instead when he had healed enough, and the address for a place he could get a service dog. He was also told to not lift anything heavy, turn his head too quickly, try to stand, or use his useless leg.

With Giovanni pushing the wheelchair, they headed for the waiting room. Venn and Reed had just walked in when they arrived.

The moment Venn noticed Zephyr, he ran over. "Zip! You doing good?" Venn looked thin and tired, which didn't surprise Zephyr at all. He stumbled slightly as he walked.

Zephyr smiled. "I'm alright. Thanks, Venn."

Reed smiled as he reached them. "We'll have you up and walking in no time," he said. Ever the optimist.

Zephyr shook his head. "I dont think that's going to be possible."

"They said that about me too and now look!" As if to prove his point, Reed took a couple long, hopping strides.

Zephyr smiled. He wasn't going to argue with Reed if he was this happy. Instead, he felt his smile turn into a grin as he said, "Dr. Vashti recommended I get a service dog."

Venn grinned, laughing quietly. "Probably won't be a wolfhound like you're always wanting, but it'll be good for you."

Zephyr didn't say anything. He felt tired again. Deep down he was annoyed, but he knew exactly how he would heal. Pain laced up his back and he inhaled sharply.

Venn looked concerned. Reed gave Zephyr a sympathetic smile. Giovanni hummed quietly. The group headed outside with only Giovanni's humming surrounding them.