5. Adrien

Hi, readers! So, evidently, my schedule won't let me update on weekends. I'd love to, since no one really has that much time to read during the week. But, clearly I'll be damn to update on mondays and tuesdays for eternity (unless you prefer me to hold on and wait to the weekend… which I just can't do it, I need to update ASAP).

This chapter's special. Some of you may think that this should've been chapter 4, but last chapter allowed me to introduce some subtle conceptual elements that are necessary to tell the story I've planned. I'm not saying I'm Jorge Luis Borges, but my fics always have some metaphoric and allegorical elements, just because my stories are not based only on the argument, but on a central topic I'm trying to communicate. The argument, or the plot (I think is the right word), it's simply the way I'm able to tell this central topic in an intersting and enjoyable way.

This chapter drives the plot forward, but it also has some very important elements for the rest of the story, this time not so hidden. They're pretty clear actually. They're easy to spot if you're willing to see a little beyond what's written, I think. But you don't have to bother looking for it. On chapter 7, they'll be re introduced and acknowledged, and they'll do their very important part for the story.

Before we start, I'd like to thank everyone of you who posted their review. ElectricLoud, Darth Atrox (I don't take it as an attack, don't worry (Y) ), agustin163116 (Aerosmith's my favorite band, and I love Dream On, but I don't think I can come up with a good place to put it :( ), FanficFan920 (you'll get those chapters soon enough!), Boris Yeltsin, NotCryingGuy, MorenoX25 (again, ha), TheEquestrianidiot 2.0, knightofolympus777 (thank you! I thought it was far worse than that, haha), Red The Pokemon Master, LoudSin (they'll all have their character arc and development), ABL, Samtastic 3.0, TMNTGFKittySidekick01 (how do you even remember your own name?), OmegaDelta, TexasGunKing, thehardboiledhit, Zach the Red Raider, gibn89 and all the annonymous guest that reviewed as well. I actually never had this kind of impact with a story before, with 25 reviews per chapter mostly. Then again, it's the first time I publish a story in english. Might change that if I improve my writing.

And now, with the chapter.

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Chapter 5:Adrien

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Lincoln's second day in the hospital was way harder for him than the first one.

The fact that little after a failed breakfast and an odd chat with a particular doctor his five older sisters found out about his condition was really… dramatic. He had never seen them so desolated. When they first entered his room, they looked like they were seeing a ghost. They were shaking, and they didn't wanted to get closer. When he finally did it and they snapped away from their trance, they all hugged him. That group hug with inconsolable crying was Lincoln's hardest moment ever. They stood like that for a whole ten minutes, hugging him, crying. It wasn't just a simple crying, like some tears flowing down their cheeks. They were more like heartrending cries. He, crying as well, tried to calm them down, but it was no use. Even when they separated, it was difficult for Lincoln to see the state his sisters were and not crying a little more.

Leni was the only one that looked slightly grounded. She was crying, more than any time in her life, but she seemed to be trying to keep her volume down as much as possible. Luan wasn't remotely interested in controlling her volume. She was on her knees, with her hands covering her eyes, trying in vane to contain her tears. And her cries were coming from deep inside of her. Cries of pain, as she felt a cold knife sinking deeper and deeper on her chest. Just when she thought the blade had stopped penetrating, the wound started to hurt once again. She was hyperventilating. It was like someone was taking the air from her lungs. She was crying like a hysterical child, fragile, scared.

Right next to him, Lincoln had Luna, sitting in a chair. The rocker was holding one of his hands, caressing and holding it tight at the same time. She had a box of tissues on a nearby table, but in any moment they would have to ask for a new one. She was the most silent of the sisters, but only because she was out of breath just like Luan, and all her energies were busy trying to keep her breathing.

After not sleeping in the whole night and the tremendous emotional exhaustion that were both his chat with doctor House and that moment with her sisters had Lincoln really tired. He carefully rested on his bed, which wasn't easy at all considering Lynn was practically hanging from his neck. The younger of the oldest was hugging him with the strength of a judo grab, crying over his shoulder. He had his right arm around her –his left hand was Luna's property– and was trying to calm her, but the girl could only repeat on his ear "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" over and over again.

Also sitting on the bed, holding Leni, was Lori. She couldn't stop crying neither, but she managed to speak to Lincoln between sobs.

"Linky… Whatever you want… Whatever… Just… Just tell me, ok?"

"Lori..."

"I'll take you to the mall and buy you as many comics as you want", she interrupted him. "I'll take you wherever you want to go. Just… Just tell me."

"Guys, please, just… Listen to me for a sec", he asked, trying to pull himself together so he could talk with them.

His sisters were still crying, and they refused to hear him. As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Lynn hugged him tighter, or Luan started to cry once again. It was all out of his control. Lincoln couldn't stand seeing his sisters that way. It was what he feared the most when the doctors told him what was going to happen. Not that he could blame his sisters. Just imagining how would he react if one of his sisters was in his place gave him goosebumps, and he felt a chilling sensation running up her spine. But still, he couldn't just see her that way. He was the Man with the Plan, a specialist on his sisters, he had to find a way to calm them. He doubted it would be easy, but he had to try.

"Girls, please, calm down."

If they heard him, they didn't let it show.

"Girls", he called them again.

Leni opened her eyes to see him, but no one else did anything. Luan was still crying disconsolately on the floor. Seeing her like that was broking Lincoln's heart, but it also gave him an idea.

"Knock, knock!" He screamed, trying to make himself heard above all the noise.

They all immediately looked at him confused. Lynn separated only the necessary to look at him, and Luan managed to control her crying, and was now just breathing hard. Having the attention of all his five sisters, Lincoln allowed himself to smile a little.

"I said, knock, knock", he repeated, his voice deliberately more calm than before. They all looked confused, not getting it, until Lincoln looked right at Luan. She, from the floor, was just as taken aback as her sisters, but after a few seconds her irritated eyes opened slightly, realizing it. Lincoln smiled at her and nodded.

"W-Who's there?" She asked, barely managing to speak. All those minutes of crying had caused her a sore on her throat, and it was difficult for her to pronounce the words.

"Ben", said Lincoln, again with his voice so serene and calm that it almost looked like an out of context dialogue. Luan tried to go on with the joke, but she was too affected to do it. She opened her mouth but the words wouldn't come out. It was Lori who finally played along with Lincoln.

"Ben who?"

"Ben trying to have your attention for a while now", he said, finishing the terrible joke. "Ok, now, I need you guys to listen to me, alright?"

No one laughed at such a terrible joke, but the surprise of it and Lincoln's serenity were enough to calm them so they could listen to whatever he wanted to say. The tears were still falling down from her eyes, now more slowly, but at least they were getting their breath back. Lincoln wiped his own tears and straightened himself up, lifting Lynn along. He hugged her tighter, gently squeezed Luna's hand and he lovely looked at each of his sisters. For a few seconds, he let his body speak for him. We wanted to tell them how much he loved them, and how hard it was for him to say what he was about to say.

"I know you're sad. I am too. And I don't mean to tell you that you don't have to be sad. I just want you to calm down a little."

"Calm down?" Asked Leni, looking at him without understanding. "Lincoln, you're… You're..."

She couldn't even say it. She hugged Lori to hide her new tears. Lincoln took a deep breath.

"Yes. I'm… I'm going to die."

It was like someone shoot them from the sky with an arrow of pain. They all felt a new stab on their hearts, and it hurt them just as much as the first one. Lynn throw herself at him once again, this time with her face buried in his chest and her hands squeezing his hospital robe.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" She yelled, tightening her grip on his clothes.

"Lynn, Lynn, relax", whispered Lincoln, putting one hand over her fist, softly caressing it. That calmed Lynn down a little, who still continued to wet his robe with her tears.

"Don't tell us to calm down, bro", said Luna.

"Lincoln… We can't… You..." Was trying to speak Lori, but she couldn't even complete a single sentence.

"I know, it's hard for me too", he told them. "But listen: you can't let the rest of the girls to see you like this. They can't find out."

"They're gonna know sooner or later", Luna told him.

"I know, but not yet. They're too young. They won't… They wouldn't understand."

"Understand?" Said Luan, finally getting on her feet and getting closer to him with a look that showed both pain and anger. "What is it to understand? Lincoln, you're dying!"

"I know!"

"And you ask us to be quiet? To calm down? Our brother is dying and you want us to calm down?"

"Look, I know this isn't easy..."

"Easy? It's tearing us apart, Linc", said Lynn, just as she started to cry harder against his chest.

"I know, I get it! Okay?" He said, raising his voice.

"What do you want then?" Ask Leni, honestly, with concern on her voice.

"I just.. I don't know… I don't want to see you guys like this."

"You're dying! How do you want us to…?"

"I'M NOT DEAD!"

He shouted so loud that all his sisters jumped in their seats. They stood quietly for a few seconds, during which Lincoln tried to calm himself down and wiping new tears from his eyes.

"I'm not dead yet. I'm still here with you. And it hurts so much to see you cry. I don't want to see you like this", he said, hugging Lynn, who was still lying besides him. "I don't want to. I can't. I know it's asking a lot. But do it for me, and for our sisters, specially for them. You need to be strong."

"We can't be strong", said Lori, with a new tear falling down her cheek. "Lincoln, we literally can't."

"And the girls… They deserve to know, bro", said Luna, officially ending the box of tissues.

"I told you that…!" Started to shout Lincoln, but he stopped himself, closed his eyes and took a long breath. "Look, I talked with mom and dad last night, and they agree. We can't tell them yet. We need to wait."

"Wait what?" Said Lori. "For you to die? Do you think it'll make it any easier for them if they found out later?"

"No… I don't know… But..."

"But what?" Lori vehemently hurried him.

She immediately regret doing so. Lincoln's bottom lip started to tremble, and he did all he could so he wouldn't break down once again. Luna, noticing this, quickly stood up and hugged him along with Lynn. He let them long enough for him to calm down, and once he did, he gently pushed them away.

"Lincoln..."

"It won't make it easier for them, but it will make it easier for me. Okay?" He finally said. "I don't want to bid goodbye from them so soon. I-I don't, I… I can't. I just can't. I'm not ready for that."

"Lincoln… We can't keep something like this from them. They… They need to know."

"Lori, please, I'm begging you", he asked, almost desperately.

"Dude, I'd like to know if something happened to you", said Luna. "I'd hate it to be left out from something like this. You're his family."

His five sisters started to speak at the same time, telling him that he couldn't do that to their little sisters, that they had every right to know the truth.

Yes. He wanted to keep them away from the truth. What was wrong about it? People hide things from everyone else all the time, specially from the little ones. Lincoln knew, for example, that when he was little and his parents told them about the stork and the babies, it wasn't because they didn't trusted him, or because they deliberately wanted to confuse him. It was because he wasn't ready to understand the truth. It was the same thing. He didn't wanted to tell the truth to his little sisters because they weren't ready yet. He wasn't a fool. He knew he would have to tell them at some point. It was impossible to keep it a secret from them for so long, and he knew it was just avoiding the painful moment. But he knew them well. It was hard to imagine how would Lisa react, but her sister loved him too much to be unaffected. And that scared him. Such a hard hit at such a young age… With Lucy it was kinda the same. Theoretically, she should be the one who could take it easier, since she had a particular view of death. But Lincoln knew her better than anyone else, and he knew that behind that hair, a little sensible girl has hiding. There was no way that she wouldn't be devastated by the news. And he didn't even wanted to think about how would the twins react.

So yeah, maybe he was being selfish. Could anyone really blame him? Why should they judge him? What gave them the right to do so? He was the one who was going to die. He had received the terrible ultimatum. In time, all his sisters would be able to overcome the pain, to move on with their lives. He wouldn't. He was going to die. Why couldn't he delay such a sad moment as that?

His sisters were clearly against him on that, since they were still telling him it was a bad idea. They were all talking at the same time, telling him what to do, what was for the best. They didn't accept his choice. Usually, Lincoln was very patient with his sisters. But the context had made him run out of patience.

"Shut up!" He yelled, silencing them. "Look, I'm not gonna tell them that I'm going to die, and neither will you."

"But..."

"No buts!" He interrupted Luan, who was taken aback by her brother's reaction. "It's my call! I'm the one in the hospital! I want it to be that way, and if you really care about me, then do it! For me!"

Something that he said must have hurt his sisters, for they looked like they had received a low blow, like they couldn't believe what they had just heard. Lynn slowly separated herself from him, something she hadn't done since they entered the room. She looked like she was about to say something, but Luna spoke first.

" 'If you care about me'? What do you mean with 'if you care about me'?" She repeated, looking angry. "Of course we care about you! We love you! Why do you think we're like this, you idiot?!"

"Luna!" Yelled at her Lori.

"I think you should leave", finally said Lincoln, crossing his arms and resting on his left side, not looking at any of his sisters.

"Lincoln, please ", asked Lori, getting closer. "Don't do this to us."

She seemed to be about to cry again, and that almost made Lincoln cry too, but he controlled himself.

"I didn't sleep last night, I'm tired. I wanna sleep", he told his older sister.

Lori looked at him. Her little brother, so fragile, so vulnerable. She wanted to stay right there with him, hugging him forever. But she noticed how teared apart by the news he was, just like them. She clearly couldn't blame him. Maybe he needed a time alone.

"We'll be back later, ok?" She told him, giving him a kiss on his forehead; she caress his cheek, but he wouldn't look at her. "We let you tell the rest of the girls when you're ready."

"Lori..." started Lynn.

"No one's going to say anything" sternly repeated the oldest. "Let's go."

No one had the strength to argue. Luna looked like she regretted speaking to her brother like that, but she didn't dare to say anything. Luan and Lynn got out of the room in silence, holding the impulse to hug Lincoln and barely containing a new wave of tears. Leni didn't say anything. She looked out of herself, like her mind was somewhere else. Lori was the last one out, dedicating one last look at her little brother.

Lincoln didn't feel good about the way he treated his sisters neither. He was pretty sure that there could've been better ways to handle the situation. But everything happened so fast, there were a lot of emotions, and his head has hurting just trying to assimilate it all. He wasn't lying when he told Lori how tired he was. As soon as he was alone, he sighed, all the pressure escaping from his body. He rested his head on the pillow, and before he realize it, he fell asleep.

His mother woke him up for lunch, which he ate almost in a trace, and he fell asleep immediately after. He slept the whole afternoon, not having a single dream, until Ms Loud woke him up once again, telling him that it was visit time and his sisters were about to come in. That really woke Lincoln up. He was happy to see them because he really missed them, specially his younger sisters. But a big part of him was also terrified. Terrified that maybe his older sisters hadn't kept their promise, or that the younger would've found it out anyway. Terrified that maybe he wouldn't stand looking at them without crying, and what would he tell them then? He would have to tell them the truth. And he wasn't ready for that.

His mother hugged him and told him that she would leave them alone. She got out of the room, and soon enough, his five younger sisters came in.

"Lincoln!" Yelled both twins at the same time, fighting each other to see who would get to hug their brother first.

"Wow, so much energy!" Told them, hugging them at the same time. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the hug. They weren't the most affective of his sisters but, maybe because of their age, it was more common for them to show so effusively their affection for him. He would normally shrug it off, but he really enjoyed those hugs, those "Thanks, Lincoln!", and most importantly, those little incomplete smiles.

"We brought you something!" They said at the same time once again, proudly pulling out a drawing of a stick figure with white hair, a beautiful princess dress and what seemed to be a snake around its head.

"Wow… I look so pretty here", he said.

"Of course, I made your outfit" said Lola, happily.

"And the snake was your idea, Lana?"

"Of course it was!"

"It's so cute. Is it hugging me?" He asked, a little worried that the snake could've been chocking him to death.

"No, duh. He's keeping you warm! That's how reptiles show some love, because they're cold blooded" he explained, as if it was something obvious.

"Oh, now I get it! Thank you, guys", he said, hugging them once again. While he was doing it he heard a click and he felt goosebumps, like all the hairs on his body reacting to a very subtle electricity. Confused, he looked at his right. Lisa was standing next to his bed, with a strange apparatus on her hand.

"Don't worry, Lincoln" she calmly said. "This device is only checking your hormonal levels and your basic vital signs. A little precautionary measure to take on such an ambiguous place regarding medical safety like a public hospital."

"Lisa, come here", he said, lifting his little sister on his arms, something she didn't seemed to like at all. "Didn't you miss me?"

"Clearly, your absence changes the chaotic variables of our house, which affects my calculations and predictions about the possible outcomes of the most daily innocuous activities that one can imagine. The alteration of the factors inevitably entails a modification of the expected results that we came to get used to, and as a scientist, I usually feel more comfortable in controlled environments, where the variables are always constant and measurable. When the status quo it's altered as it is now, the theoretical model upon which I base my existence also suffers its consequences, which can be labeled as negative."

"All that to tell me that you missed me?" Asked Lincoln with a smile.

Lisa rolled her eyes.

"Yes", she finally said, letting herself hug Lincoln for a single second, before getting out of the bed and pretend to be checking her devices.

"Poo-poo!"

Lily, carried by Lucy, was looking at Lincoln, moving her little arms, trying to grab him. Lucy took her to her brother, who quickly lifted her in his arms.

"Lily! Did you missed you older brother? Did you?" He asked, with the voice one usually uses to talk with babies.

Lily was just laughing, caressing all his face with her little hands.

"Oh, and you brought you blanky!" Said Lincoln, pointing out the blanket Lily had in her hands.

"An-ky!" She repeated, stuffing some of her blanket in her mouth. She snuggled against Lincoln, half hugging him and half using him as a cradle. He was happy to oblige.

"How 'bout you, Lucy? How are you?" He asked.

It was right then when he started to sweat, when he noticed something was wrong. His sister was standing next to him, with her arms crossed behind her back. She was looking straight at Lincoln's eyes, as if she could read between his apparent security and happiness. It was like she could see right through her brother's eyes and look at the deepest part of his heart, reading his feelings like an open book. Lincoln was terrified of what she could read.

"Lincoln, are you okay?" She finally asked, with her usual monotone voice.

He feared the whole hospital could've heard how hard he swallowed. Was his cold sweating visible at simple sight? He felt it running down his forehead. The time had come. He had to tell them the truth. Lucy knew it. Didn't she? But what if she was only worried? She hadn't said anything that implied that she knew more than the rest of her sisters.

Just in case he was wrong, he decided to pretend that everything was ok.

"Me? Yeah, I'm alright. I mean, I'm still here, but that's just because..."

"Don't you lie to me, Lincoln", she interrupted him, grabbing him by his shoulders, which surprised Lincoln and scared Lily. "Tell me the truth. Are you okay?"

She sounded profoundly upset, but she didn't seem to know the truth. Lincoln stood momentarily speechless, not knowing how to answer her. He thought that he could get away with it, keeping his little sisters from knowing the truth by just avoiding the topic. He never imagined that he would have to tell them such a straight lie. As he was thinking about how to answer her, Lucy was violently pushed away from Lincoln by the twins.

"What do you think you're doing?" Asked her Lola, standing with her twin between Lucy and Lincoln.

"Yeah, why are you treating Lincoln like that? Don't you see he's in the hospital?" Added Lana, looking at her a little angry.

"I'm just asking him how is he", answered Lucy, who seemed a little surprised by her sister's reaction.

"He already told you he's fine!"

"Ugh, do you always have to be so dramatic and spooky?"

The twins didn't realize it. They were too young to understand it, and they were too busy worrying about Lincoln to think about Lucy's feelings. But Lincoln clearly noticed how her little sister's semblance had changed, and how much had those word affected her. Lucy sadly looked down to the ground.

"Hey."

Lincoln stood up, putting Lily on Lisa's arms, and he got closer to Lucy. He stood in front of her and put an arm on her shoulder.

"Girls, don't be so rude with her. She's just worried like everyone else, that's all", he said, and then he gently shook her so she would look up. "Lucy, I'm alright."

"Do you swear?" She asked in a whisper.

Lincoln didn't let her see how troubled he was, and he didn't allow the doubt and pain of lying his sister to show up on his face.

"I swear", he finally said.

As soon as he said it, Lucy hugged him with relief. He hugged her back, and soon Lola, Lana, Lisa and Lily joined them. That group hug was certainly happier than the one he had with his older sisters that same morning, but it was just as painful to Lincoln. The only difference was, he couldn't let himself cry this time.

"Lori, you sure about this?"

"Yes. The doctor said this might help you."

"I don't know..."

"Look, no one's making you do anything, alright? If you don't like it, I'll be in your room. We can play something there later. Just give it a shot, ok?"

After thinking about it a little more, Lincoln finally nodded.

"Fine."

He opened the door and stepped into the playroom.

After being with all his sisters –the older ones entered after the young left–, Lori told Lincoln that she had talked with her parents and that she would be spending the night with him in the hospital, so their mother could have some rest and go to work the next morning. He told her that she didn't had to, he could take care of himself for one night, and she didn't had to loose a school day. But Lori told him that there was literally no way he would be staying alone in the hospital. Besides, one day of school wasn't the end of the world. Her parents had told her everything she needed to know, and later Lincoln's doctor spoke with her to explain some things.

He told her that Lincoln could use a little visit to the pediatric wing of that part of the hospital, where there was a place where kids whose clinical state allowed them to could play and have some fun. He told her that beside the games, it could really help Lincoln to have someone to talk to, someone who was going through the same things he was. It could give him some perspective.

Not so convinced, he finally decided to listen to his doctor and her sister. He entered, and he had to admit, it was better than what the expected. It was a really colorful room, with cushions, tables, blocks, games and even a little TV with an old console. There weren't many kids there. Two kids that seemed to be the same age as Lola and Lana, a little girl Lucy's age drawing something on a chalkboard and an older boy, a little older than Lincoln, sitting on a table working on something with some tools. He looked to be very focused on what he was doing.

Lincoln, not knowing exactly what to do, decided to go straight to the TV and the video-games console. He took one of the joysticks and looked at the games they had there. Nothing from the last generation of consoles, but there was an old copy of a racing game. He wasn't totally used to the controls, but it wasn't that much complicated, and soon he was taking the lead. He then took a close curve and his car suddenly crashed against a tree that wasn't even there in the first place.

"Oh, come on!" He said.

"Don't bother, the game's glitched as hell" said the older boy with a smile.

Lincoln turned around and looked at him. The first thing he noticed was that the boy was completely bald. He looked at that for an instant and quickly looked somewhere else. The boy seemed to be twelve or thirteen years old. He had green eyes and a little scar on his right eyebrow, which gave his smile a mischievous look. Although it actually only looked like the shadow of his real smile. Lincoln had never seen such a young boy with such a tired face. He had big eye bags under his eyes, which seemed to be glowing only because they had to, like it was an obligation. His shoulders were practically hanging from his body, like it was hard for him to just sitting straight.

He didn't knew what was that boy's condition, but Lincoln already felt sorry for him.

"Oh, well, thanks for telling me. Is there any other good game?"

"Not really", he answered, looking back at what he had on the table. "My name's Adrien, by the way."

"Lincoln", he said, trying to see what was that boy working on without standing up.

Adrien keep working on it, until he noticed the way Lincoln was looking. He put his tools aside.

"Hey, wanna see something cool?"

Accepting the invitation, Lincoln stood up and stepped closer to the table. Much to his surprise, Adrien had an old wrist watch on his hands. It looked really old, made of metal, all bronze and with brown leather straps. Adrien has holding it upside down, with it's back unarmed, allowing them to look at the very complex gear system inside.

"What are you doing?" Asked Lincoln.

"This watch was my father's", he explained. "He died when I was a kid, and it's the only thing I got left of him. I always wear it. It's a nechanical watch, y'know? Really retro. But a few weeks ago I fell and it stopped working."

"So you're trying to fix it?"

"Honestly, I didn't knew it was going to be this hard", he admitted, frowning. "I was like 'Alright, I can do this, it'll be fun'. I knew this man in Morocco, Hamid, and he could make one of this in like twenty minutes. It was awesome."

"You've been to Morocco?"

"Been pretty much everywhere. I was born in France, actually."

"You're french?"

"Je pensais qu'il était évident", Adrien said, laughing seconds later after seeing Lincoln's confused face. "Yeah, well, I only lived there until I was five. After that, I started traveling a lot, and I had to learn English. I actually speak English better than French."

"So, you've been traveling a lot?" Asked Lincoln, sitting right next to him.

"Oh, yeah. Plenty. My mom and me. She was a teacher, you know? After my father died, she started writing some self help books, and boy, do those things sell. When I was five she decided that she was tired of living trapped in a routine and being stuck in out city. She sold our house and we started traveling around the world. Two years in Italy, two years in England, one year in Spain, one year in Morocco, one year in Egypt and then we came here. So here I am, fourteen years old and I've been living in seven different countries."

"Wow, that sound awesome", said Lincoln, with a dreamy smile, imagining himself traveling all around the world, meeting so many places and cultures.

"What if I tell you didn't even went to school, like ever? My mom home schooled me."

"No way! Dude, that's awesome! You've been traveling around the world, studying in your house?"

Adrien laugh a little, but Lincoln immediately noticed that he didn't sounded happy at all. He put his tools on the table and remained in silence for a few seconds.

"It's not as fun as it sounds."

"You kidding? I've never even leaved this state! It would be just incredible to travel around the world, meeting new people."

"Well, that's the problem, Lincoln", said Adrien, with sadness.

Lincoln lost his dreamy smile when he heard him.

"What do you mean?"

"I never had any friends. A met a few people here and there, but it's not easy to make new friends when you need six months to learn the basics from the local language. It's even harder if you don't go to school. Do you have any idea of what is like to be only you and your mom?"

Adrien was completely dumbfounded when Lincoln started to slowly laugh.

"No, I'm afraid I'm not."

And during the next twenty minutes, Lincoln told Adrien about his life in a family with ten sisters. The boy listened with attention, first surprised and them amused and laughing with Lincoln about all the crazy stuff that can happen when you live in such a big family. Then Lincoln started talking about Ace Savvy, ARGGH and King of the Rings, and they found that they had more in common than they initially thought. They soon forgot they were in a hospital, or that they even know each other until one hour ago. They talked like they had known each other for a lifetime. The rest of the kid's parents eventually came and took them to their rooms, and Lincoln was pretty sure that he had seen Lori on the corner of his eye checking on him, but she didn't interrupted him.

"Adrien, do you actually know how to fix this thing?" Asked him at one point, looking how complex the inside of the watch looked.

"Yeah. Well, kinda. Hamid taught me the basics. I've been trying to repair this thing for three weeks now."

"Did you made any progress?"

"Of course", he said with a smile, while he took a little nut, that was only 4mm in diameter.

"What is that thing?" Asked Lincoln, having trouble only trying to see it. It was just too small.

"This, dear Watson, is the missing piece", explained Adrien. "I managed to completely rearm the mechanical system of the watch, I've putted every piece in its place… Except for this one right here. I don't have any idea where this should be. But, hey, at least I know what's the problem!"

"That tiny little piece is making the whole watch useless?"

"Well, that's how machines works, specially old ones. Every single piece has its function."

"Wow. How much longer do you think it'll take you to find where it's supposed to be?"

"I don't know… I don't even know if I'll even make it in time", he answered, sadly.

They remained in silence for a while. Neither one of them had talked about their conditions or their situations. They had actively avoided the topic, but not it seemed like they had no other option but to acknowledge it.

"How long…?" Started Lincoln, but he trailed off in the middle. Adrien still understood him.

"Seventeen days ago, they gave me two weeks, so I should've been gone by now. It could be any moment now."

"You don't look bad", said Lincoln, earning a sarcastic look from Adrien that made him smile. "Okay, you don't look THAT bad."

"I'm on a lot of meds But it's just a matter of time now."

"I see", said Lincoln.

He knew that there was nothing he could say. What? The same insipid words his doctor had told him? He knew very well that they meant nothing.

"They told me I have two weeks left. Maybe three."

Adrien silently nodded. Then, he tentatively put a hand on his new friend's shoulder.

"It sucks, doesn't it?"

"Yeah… It does."

"This days I've been putting a lot of thought on why this is happening. Why me. But in the end… I think it's not worth it to think about it too much, you knoe? Stuff just happens."

"I haven't even told my younger sisters yet", confessed Lincoln. Adrien sighed.

"That'll be tough. Look, Lincoln… I don't know if you care about what I have to say, but I'll say it anyway. When I die, most of the people I met won't even know. I don't have any friends to be worried about me, it's just my mom. It's a little sad to think that she'll be the only one to ever remember me when I'm gone. Since they diagnosed me leukemia a year and a half ago, I've been thinking about that a lot. And I'm pretty sure she's been thinking about it too. I would've loved to have friends, more people to share my last moments with. Because, what gives some sense to our lives? Our job? Out studies? I don't know, maybe for some people. But I think life it's worth living because of the people we met. Our family, our friends, people we share moments with. I only got my mom, but have a big, beautiful family. Tell them when you're ready, but don't miss your chance to be with all your sisters and friends. After all, you won't get another opportunity."

Once again, they stood they quietly. Almost quietly. Adrien was very respectful and didn't say anything when Lincoln started to softly cry. They were like that for a while, until Lincoln calmed down. He finally stood up.

"Thanks, Adrien. I… I think I'll go to my room."

"Okay. Take care, Lincoln."

Lincoln started to walk away, but he stopped right next to the door.

"Adrien?"

The boy, that had turned his attention back to the missing piece of his watch, looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Maybe it won't be for too long, but… I'll remember you."

Adrien smiled. He genuinely smiled. They stared at each other a few more seconds and then Lincoln walked away, heading to his room.

.

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I love Lincoln. What can I say? When I'm using OC it's a little harder, but when I'm working with existing characters (the very definition of fanfiction) I always try that the characters themselves drive the story forward. I put them in certain circumstances here and there, put them in an unexpected situation, but it's their job to react and move the plot. In this chapter I let Lincoln (my interpretation of Lincoln, that's it) to decide which way this was all going. I made their sisters visit him, and I introduced Adrien, but it was him who moved the strings. And I respect him as a character because of that.

A somewhat different case, perhaps, it's with the twins. They're not my favourite characters in the show, but writing them so worried about Lincoln, stepping up for him against Lucy (exaggerated response from them, yes), they're just too cute. Man, it's gonna hurt my soul to write their chapter.

So tell me what you think about this chapter. What you liked, what you didn't, if Adrien seemed like an intersting character or not (in two more chapters you'll find out why he's here for) and basically anything you want. I hope you like the story so far, now that's starting to gain some deph and the problems are starting to escalate some.

Keep reviewing, it's great to be on college or anywhere really, feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, check my email and read your reviews at the moment. They usually cheer me up. So, you know, if you read this story and you want to inspire me and motivate me, just tell me what you honestly think about it.