Every Step You Take (Chapter 2)

It had been an ordinary day around Germany’s house.  Austria was sitting downstairs reading a book and Italy was making pizza, humming idly under his breath as he put the pie in the oven.
Craving company, Italy had remembered Germany saying something about cleaning his attic and skipped off to find him.
“Germany!  Germany!  Where are you?”
However, upon arriving at the top, Italy was greeted with a frightening sight.
Germany was pale and slumped backwards over an old-looking, green chest that looked like…his old toy box?  Panic rose in Italy’s throat.  Hurrying over to Germany’s side, he shook his friend frantically, but the blonde remained unconscious.
Italy screamed.

While trying to calm Italy down, Austria called an ambulance.  “Come on, Italy, get in the taxi.”  Italy was sobbing onto the unconscious Germany’s shirt and refusing point-blank to let go, so the paramedics finally allowed him to stay in the ambulance, being used to this sort of behavior.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Italy still had a vice grip on the blonde nation, and though having all but lost his voice; he shook his head violently at being asked to wait with Austria.  Austria tried to pull him off of the stretcher, looking a bit like a parent trying to take a child away from candy.  The paramedics joined in and eventually Italy was persuaded to get out.
“It’ll be okay, Germany,” Italy whispered hoarsely, running alongside the stretcher and holding his hand.  Eventually, when he could run no longer, he let the tears come as he fell to his knees in the corridor.
 The paramedics had to admit though they had seen many types of people in their time working at München hospital, none could quite compare with this determined friend (Lover? Relation?) of the newest patient.

“Italy.  Italy?”
A blurry face appeared into the brunette’s peripheral vision.  Austria?
His second thought was to wonder why he was sleeping in his clothes, and then wonder why it was dark outside.  With a start he remembered Germany and looked wildly around the hall.
“Italy, please get up.  I will not have you sleeping in a hospital corridor.  Think of all the germs.”
“C-can we see Germany?” Italy whimpered.
Austria pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Yes.  Let’s go see him now.”

“Germany!” Italy sniffled, finally permitted to see his friend.
His friend raised his head groggily at the shout.
“Italy?” said Germany.
“Oh Germany, I was so worried about you!  I thought you’d-you’d…” Italy fought back the tears pricking at the back of his eyes.
“Wh-what happened?”
“I-I think a chest fell on your head when you were in the attic.” Italy said.
“What the hell?” Germany muttered.
“Do you feel okay?  I was really really worried about you!” Italy said, giving him a tight hug.
“I’m just a bit dizzy and sore.  I’ve felt worse.”  Suddenly, Germany looked into the brunette’s face and his eyes unfocused for a minute.
“Germany?  Germany?”  Said Italy in alarm.  He shook his friend lightly.
Germany blushed and shook his head gently.  “Sorry, Italy.  It’s nothing.  Thank you for, uh…finding me.”
“I’m really happy you’re okay,” said Italy, giving him a soft smile.

Just then, the door opened and Austria, Prussia and a doctor walked in.  “You’re awake!  Thank god,” Austria sighed and ran a hand through his hair.  Prussia, however, was less easily reassured and hurried over to Germany’s bedside.
“Bro!  You’re not looking too hot!”
The doctor stepped forward with a small brown clipboard.
“Now, Ludwig, you remember all of these people?”
“Yes.  My brother Gilbert, and these are Roderich and Feliciano.”  He said, gesturing towards each of them in turn.
“How do you feel on a scale of one to ten?”
Germany winced.  “Maybe a six?”
The doctor nodded and made a few notes on his paper.  “Now, we need to test the impact of the accident on your early childhood memories.  Who was your best friend when you were young?”
Germany’s brow furrowed, as though he was trying to remember something just beyond his grasp.  It reminded Italy of when Germany was trying not to become impatient with him.
His friend’s face returned to normal.  “Well, I believe my only friend was my brother,” he said.  “Though…I think there may have been someone else once…”
“Can you elaborate?” the doctor asked, tapping his foot.  Italy thought Prussia looked nervous and had started shuffling his feet.
“I must have been quite young.  My memory is not clear.  That is all I can recall at the moment.”  Germany said.
The doctor’s brow furrowed, and he scribbled something onto his clipboard.  “Can you tell me of any other significant childhood events?  Parties, schools?”
The patient shook his head definitively.  “And you have no history of other head traumas?” the doctor asked.
“My brother says I got in a bit of fight when I was small,” Germany said lightly.  “I suppose it might be possible.”
The doctor looked baffled.  “Must’ve been quite the fight,” Italy caught him mutter under his breath.  “Very well,” the doctor said, straightening.  “I don’t understand why or how you’ve lost your childhood memories, but I think you will be alright to go home in a day or two.”

A few hours later, Hungary arrived at the hospital, apologizing that she hadn’t been able to come until now.  She and Italy sat in the waiting room with Austria, whom Hungary had convinced to eat something and then take a short nap in an empty room a few doors down.
“It was super scary, Miss Hungary,” Italy said through a mouthful of cake.  He felt a lot better after he had told Hungary of everything that had gone on since the accident and eaten a number of small pastries.  The brunette stifled a yawn and glanced towards the room where Austria was currently resting.
“It’s amazing how you made Austria go to sleep like that!  He doesn’t really listen to anyone else,” Italy said.
Hungary smiled.  “There was just no one else here to tell him to rest, I think.  It’s been quite the day.”
“He wouldn’t even listen to the doctor, though.  I think he likes you, Miss Hungary!”
A light blush covered her cheeks and she hurriedly offered Italy another biscuit.

“Italy dear, I understand you are upset about all this, but I think you would feel better if you stopped wriggling around and tried to get some sleep.”
Italy murmured an apology and attempted to lie still.  Austria had been sleeping like a baby for a number of hours in the makeshift dormitory for the four nations.  Prussia, after making a number of rude jokes and arguing with Hungary for what Italy thought could’ve been a solid half-hour, had also eventually drifted off to sleep.  He was snoring rather loudly.
“Italy, is something bothering you?” Hungary’s voice startled him a second time.
Italy rolled himself up in his blanket.  “I’m just…worried.  About Germany.  He’s been so strange lately…and why was my toy chest was in the attic?”
Italy could just make out a smile on Hungary’s face through the darkness.  “Germany will be just fine, I’m sure of it.  And I don’t know why your toy chest was up there, but…” she trailed off.  “Well, it’s not important.”
“Okay.” Italy sighed.  Then he added, “Can you sing to me?”
“Of course,” she said.  Hungary began to hum.  Italy didn’t know what all of the words meant, the language was an ancient one, but the tune was still beautiful.
Italy eventually began to drift off.  He dreamed of his childhood and the Holy Roman Empire.  He’d had the dream before, but he still cried as his love turned to face him, smiled, then faded slowly away.