[FIC] In Sickness and In Heath, Section E {Chapter 20}
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:28 am
Sousuke climbed down the outside hospital wall carefully, looking at the dumpsters and maintenance van below. He had managed to get out through Kaname's window just in time, as the balloon had inflated to fill the entire room. He had waited anxiously by the window until he had heard Kaname cry out for help, and subsequently heard her stream of invectives after the balloon had reached the limits of its growth. She would probably be very angry. It was probably a good time to leave. It was difficult enough to be a visitor at this hospital. He had no wish to spend more time here as a patient.
Two stories down, and ten windows over, Sousuke finally found a means of entrance back into the hospital. It would not be good to be seen sneaking out of a health facility...something like THAT might draw attention.
He pried open the window, and stepped into a busy hallway. An old woman in a costly coat stood staring at him? "Uh--Window washer, madame!" Sousuke said.
The woman smiled, reached into her purse, and placed some paper money in Sousuke's hand. "It's so nice to see young people doing something constructive with their lives!" She walked away smiling, and said to someone who must be an acquaintence "Such a nice young man. And the windows look so nice, don't you think?"
He walked down one hallway until he realized that it ended at the door to the Pediatrics ward. He turned around to leave, when something caught his attention. Someone in a Bonta-Kun costume. He stepped closer to hear the conversation between a young woman and the person in the costume.
"It's very brave for you to go in there and face that danger!" The mention of danger certainly made Sousuke take notice. But, if there was danger, why was the woman laughing like that? She might be hysterical.
"Well, you know, anything to help those kids. See you later...I hope."
The man in the suit walked towards the door.
"Excuse me, Sir...did you say danger?" Sousuke asked.
"Huh...Oh, yeh...danger. Yes, very dangerous indeed. I may be fortunate to get out at all, much less get out alive." He laughed. Sousuke was impressed. This must be a true warrior, to laugh that way in the face of danger.
"Do you require assistance. I am a specialist!" Sousuke said.
"A Specialist? Oh, I see. Awfully young aren't you?" The man asked.
"I started at a very young age." Sousuke answered.
"I see. Very good. Sure, I could use all the help I can get. Are you new here?" the man asked. Seeing Sousuke nod his head, the man continued "Best let me go in first, then."
The man opened the door and walked in, Sousuke ten paces behind him. They walked ten feet. No trouble. Twenty feet. No danger. Twenty five feet. Nothing. Suddenly, a number of bodies rushed to the Bonta-Kun and took it to the ground. Sousuke drew his pistol and flattened against one wall.
He blinked. The attackers...they were children...in hospital robes.
A number of the children kicked the prone costumed-man. Others hit him with a wide variety of items from pillows, trays, arm rests, and even a bed pan. A full bedpan. A once-full bedpan. Some of the things the children said shocked Sousuke: could some of these children be related to Sgt. Major Mao? The man was indeed in danger, but not the kind of danger Sousuke had been worried about.
One little boy walked up to Sousuke and pulled on his sleeve. "Mister, are you a doctor. You look to young to be a doctor?"
"No. I am not a doctor."
"I hate doctors, they hurt people. They really SUCK!" The boy walked away, leaving Sousuke to stare in wonder.
Another boy walked up. "Why do you have a scar? Did your mama give you that scar. My mamma gave my dada a scar, THIS big" the boy said holding his hands six inches apart. "She said he would never do THAT again."
The boy made room for a little girl who looked up at Sousuke and asked "Are you the Police? You have a gun. Are you a robber? If you're the Police...can you shoot my brother...he killed my hamster."
"Can I try the gun?" A boy asked. "Me. Me too!!!" a girl said. "It will be just like on TeeeVeee." "No, me." "Me" "Me...me...me...me..."
One little girl walked up to the flabbergastered mercenary and asked "Are you here to play with us? Why are you with Bonta-Kun?"
Before Sousuke could answer, a boy piped up "I saw sumpin' on TV. They're probly Luv-vers." "Oooh" "What's luv-vers?" "Probly have a baby." "I LIKE babies."
This was more than Sousuke was prepared to take. There was no danger here that required his expertice. Time to head out.
As Sousuke started to leave, a little girl with a very sad look on her face stepped up in front of him. Keeping her head down, she asked "You...you are dressed in black. And you don't talk. You h-have a gun. Are...are you Death?"
Sousuke was taken aback. "N-No, I'm not."
The girl looked up at him. "Am I going to die?"
Souske honestly said "I cannot say."
"Could you talk to me," the girl asked, and Sousuke saw tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yes. I can do that." He said kindly.
"Could you tell me a story?" She asked, a hopeful look on her face.
"I...I am not good with stories" What could he tell? Seeing the look in the girl's eyes, he said "I will do my best."
"I will go get my friends." She ran off, returning with a number of boys and girls. Souske saw Bonta-Kun stand up and straighten his costume. It appears Sousuke had managed to pull off a rescue after all.
"Story time!" The girl said with a smile. A chorus of replies kicked in, like a grove of cicadas. "Story!!!" "Yeh, let's have a freakin' story." "What yer waitin' for???" "Storeeeeeeeee...."
"Once upon a time..." Sousuke started. That much was easy. But what should he tell? He paused.
"Is that all? That's not a story!" one boy said. The young girl who had asked for the story looked at Sousuke and said "P-p-pleeeaassee..."
Sousuke started again. "Once upon a time, there were three mission specialists, separated from each other way behind enemy lines, lost in the jungle. They needed to build structures to sleep in, to keep them safe from the enemy..."
"What's a structure?" A boy asked.
"A structure is...like a house." Sousuke answered. "They must each build a house, and hope that the enemy would not reach them.
One specialist had not read his survival guide. He tried to build a house of branches and leaves. He did not set out warning lines with noise makers. He fell asleep."
"What happened?" asked a little girl.
The specialist was caught off guard. He did not hear his enemy approach. He had not masked his heat signature. They called for him to come out. He said 'No.' They asked again, saying they would kill him. He said 'No, I will not.'" They fired a warning shot and said for him to come out. He said 'no, not by the hair on my...'" Sousuke was about to say 'ass,' as the saying was one of Sgt. Major Mao's favorites. "Chin" he said instead.
"Ohhhh." One girl said, eyes bright with recognition. "Are specialists pigs?" The girl asked.
"Some can be, " Souske replied. "Not most."
"More story more story more story more story...."
"The second specialist was better trained. He sought good cover. He doubled back on his trail. He avoided areas of likely ambush. Finding a cave, he built a wall of logs, and covered it with rocks and leaves. He added plants to the mound to make it look natural. He knew when the enemy were in the area..."
A boy interupted him. "Were they wolves? Were the enemies wolves?"
"You may think of them as you like" Sousuke replied. "But the specialist had made a simple mistake. An MRE had fallen from his pack, and was on the ground near the cave."
"Who's Anne Marie?" A girl asked.
"Huh--"
"You said Anne Marie was on the ground."
"No, I said M...R...E..." Souske said.
"Oh" said the girl.
"Then quickly, the enemy..." Souske resumed the story, only to be interupted again.
"What's a M...R...E?"
"It is food" Souske said.
"OK"
"The enemy knew where the specialist was..." Again, interupted.
"Why didn't you just say food? That's what most people call food."
"Yes. The enemy called for the soldier to come out. He was trapped...there was no other opening to escape through. He told the enemy 'No.'"
"Yeh, with a hairy chin!!!!!!" One boy yelled. The other kids joined in, excited.
"Hearing his reply, the enemy threw fragmentation grenades into the cave and blew the specialist into small pieces."
The children stared wided eyed, silent. Finally, one boy said "That probably hurt, right mister?"
"Yes" said Sousuke.
Nurses. doctors, and visitors watched Sousuke and the children from a distance, amazed at how quiet the children were. They were sitting still!!! That must be such a wonderful touching story!!! One parent started to walk over to hear what kind of story worked like that, but a nurse stopped her. "This is very good for them. We shouldn't interupt."
Sousuke was emersed in his tale. "Then, the third specialist. He was very skilled. He made use of the land. He looked where he should look, and listened when he should listen. He found appropriate cover and left no evidence of his presence..."
"Presents?" "Why would he have presents in the woods?" "Was it his birthday?" "Was it the enemy's birthday?"
"Sorry, my mistake. The word is spelled different. It means that someone is there..." Sousuke said.
"Who was there?"
"The specialist was there. And he had a good cover, a good field of fire, and good position relative to the wind. When the enemy came, he was prepared..." Sousuke remained patient after yet another stoppage to his tale.
"Was the enemy wolves? Wolves are bad guys, right. They eat the good guys in the story my father told me. They were pigs"
Sousuke was shocked that a father would tell his son such a tale. Longpig?! Cannabilism was not an appropriate subject for children!!! "No, no eating in this story."
"The story would SUCK if the wolves were good guys," one boy said, very proud of his advanced vocabulary. "Yeh, it would suck MAJOR LEAGUE!!!"
"I see," said Sousuke.
"Wolves are really like big dogs," one girl added helpfully.
"Uh---"
"Yeh, I like dogs!" A boy chirped.
"---the specialist..."
"My brother says the nurses here are dogs." That from a boy near the back.
"---the third specialist."
"My dog's name is Poochie." "My dog's name is Shadow." "My dog's name is Franklin" "My dog is dead. He's not alive any more..."
The children had gathered together and had forgotten Sousuke. He stood and brushed off his pants and headed out of the unit. The girl who asked for the story, seeing him leave, ran up to grab his hand. "Do you have to go now?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Oh... OK...I liked the story." She gave him a hug, and ran back to the other children who had all started playing specialists, wolves, pigs, and dogs.
Sousuke headed home.
**********************************************************
"Damn that Sousuke!" Kaname cursed. "When I see him again, I am going to feed him to the wolves!"
She had come into the hospital with appendicitis, but was in no danger from that. She had survived countless examining, cutting, poking, prodding, measuring, sticking, and other sundry uncomfortable, embarrassing, or annoying things...only to almost be killed by a freakin' balloon!
No, not wolves. Sharks. Tigers. Lots of hungry rats. Whatever she could find!!!
A nurse came into her new room, and let her know that a taxi was on it's way. It should be at the hospital by the time she finished checking out. Per hospital policy, the nurse had Kaname sit in a wheel chair. The nurse wheeled her off to the check-out desk.
During the ride, Kaname shuddered when she thought about Sousuke's 'gift.' Donors give the 'gift of life'...Sousuke on the other hand....
She mused. The hospital engineering department had been apologetic, but Kaname was actually impressed at their speed and handiness. They had the balloon punctured, deflated, and removed from what remained of her room before she could think of one hundred good curses for Sousuke. She was also quite pleased with the nurses, who made a few phone calls and had quickly arranged for another room for her. And, since she was on such a roll, the doctor walked in moments after she settled in. He told her of her tissue results, confirming what she already knew. He talked a while to see how she felt, more concerned about her encounter with the balloon than her recovery from simple laparoscopic surgery. And he had cleared her to go home!!! All this happened without Sousuke, of course!
Kaname sighed. "Something wrong?" the nurse asked, stopping her wheelchair. "Any discomfort?'
"No, not physical." Kaname said.
"Ahh...I see...your young visitor? He was cute, even if he was a terror! Is he your boyfriend?"
"Uhh--"
Seeing Kaname blush, the nurse smiled. "Here we are, check-out. We shouldn't have to wait too long, the line's not too bad this late at night."
"Great" Kaname said. "I can't wait to get home to my own bed."
While she waited, she thought of Sousuke. He HAD warned her after all. He had tried hard to help her feel better and he had been deeply concerned for her, she could tell. Of course, during his stay he had been very...Sousuke-esque...but very sweet. He had done so much for her. Flowers. Food. Gallantry. Honesty. Perserverence. Caring...
By the time it was her turn to check out, Kaname was feeling VERY good.
That is, until she saw her hospital bill and the estimates for repairs to her room....
The nurse looked over Kaname's shoulder, read the estimate, and shook her head as she wheeled Kaname outside.
"Damn you, Sousuke" Kaname said. The nurse smiled
***********************************************************
Kaname's anger had cooled again. Now her big problem was impatience, which she happily thought was better than being one of the inpatients. She wanted to get home. She wondered what thing she would choose to do first when she arrived in the welcome quiet and safety of her own apartment. Food? Something cold to drink. A nice warm bubble bath?
She smiled. No, she grinned rather wickedly. Even though it was getting kind of late and she should probably get cleaned up and go to bed, Kaname knew EXACTLY what she wanted to do. She didn't know why she had thought about it when she did, but that didn't matter. She was going to have some fun.
She tooks the papers out of her purse, and started to laugh. Let the cab driver think she was a bit wacked out...she didn't care. "Tessa...Tessa...Tessa...Tessa." She said expectantly.
************************************************************
Sousuke had just walked into his apartment a few moments before the lights on his communications console came on.
"Urzu 7, come in...Urzu 7 please answer." It was Captain Testarossa. Could she be calling with information about Sgt. Weber and Sgt, Major Mao?
"Urzu 7 here. Is this about the away team, Captain?" Sousuke asked hopefully.
"Hello, Sousuke. No, I'm afraid we haven't heard any good news or any bad news yet." Tessa replied
"Why are you calling this late, Captain? Is there an emergency?" Sousuke was concerned. He felt exhausted, and hoped his services were not required.
"No, Sousuke...I had called earlier...a number of times. I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing." Tessa said warmly.
"Oh. I see captain. I am very tired. So many things have happened in the last few days. I was about to go to sleep."
"I see. I won't bother you now then," her voice sounded disappointed.
"Thank you, Captain. I really do need the rest. I have no plans for tomorrow as yet." Sousuke said.
"That's good!" Tessa said. "Have a good sleep, then. That's an order!" she said cheerfully.
"Roger. Urzu..."
"Oh, Sousuke?" Tessa asked before he could sign off.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Sousuke...have you had a chance to finish your homework yet?" Tessa asked.
"Uh--not yet, Captain..." Sousuke replied.
"OK. Good night then."
Transmission ceased.Sousuke didn't even realize that he had not signed off with his call sign. He was too busy worrying: The papers! He had forgotten all about the papers. Where were the papers? Kaname?
Sousuke was certain he would not get much sleep tonight. He had to find those papers.
************************************************************
Finis
Two stories down, and ten windows over, Sousuke finally found a means of entrance back into the hospital. It would not be good to be seen sneaking out of a health facility...something like THAT might draw attention.
He pried open the window, and stepped into a busy hallway. An old woman in a costly coat stood staring at him? "Uh--Window washer, madame!" Sousuke said.
The woman smiled, reached into her purse, and placed some paper money in Sousuke's hand. "It's so nice to see young people doing something constructive with their lives!" She walked away smiling, and said to someone who must be an acquaintence "Such a nice young man. And the windows look so nice, don't you think?"
He walked down one hallway until he realized that it ended at the door to the Pediatrics ward. He turned around to leave, when something caught his attention. Someone in a Bonta-Kun costume. He stepped closer to hear the conversation between a young woman and the person in the costume.
"It's very brave for you to go in there and face that danger!" The mention of danger certainly made Sousuke take notice. But, if there was danger, why was the woman laughing like that? She might be hysterical.
"Well, you know, anything to help those kids. See you later...I hope."
The man in the suit walked towards the door.
"Excuse me, Sir...did you say danger?" Sousuke asked.
"Huh...Oh, yeh...danger. Yes, very dangerous indeed. I may be fortunate to get out at all, much less get out alive." He laughed. Sousuke was impressed. This must be a true warrior, to laugh that way in the face of danger.
"Do you require assistance. I am a specialist!" Sousuke said.
"A Specialist? Oh, I see. Awfully young aren't you?" The man asked.
"I started at a very young age." Sousuke answered.
"I see. Very good. Sure, I could use all the help I can get. Are you new here?" the man asked. Seeing Sousuke nod his head, the man continued "Best let me go in first, then."
The man opened the door and walked in, Sousuke ten paces behind him. They walked ten feet. No trouble. Twenty feet. No danger. Twenty five feet. Nothing. Suddenly, a number of bodies rushed to the Bonta-Kun and took it to the ground. Sousuke drew his pistol and flattened against one wall.
He blinked. The attackers...they were children...in hospital robes.
A number of the children kicked the prone costumed-man. Others hit him with a wide variety of items from pillows, trays, arm rests, and even a bed pan. A full bedpan. A once-full bedpan. Some of the things the children said shocked Sousuke: could some of these children be related to Sgt. Major Mao? The man was indeed in danger, but not the kind of danger Sousuke had been worried about.
One little boy walked up to Sousuke and pulled on his sleeve. "Mister, are you a doctor. You look to young to be a doctor?"
"No. I am not a doctor."
"I hate doctors, they hurt people. They really SUCK!" The boy walked away, leaving Sousuke to stare in wonder.
Another boy walked up. "Why do you have a scar? Did your mama give you that scar. My mamma gave my dada a scar, THIS big" the boy said holding his hands six inches apart. "She said he would never do THAT again."
The boy made room for a little girl who looked up at Sousuke and asked "Are you the Police? You have a gun. Are you a robber? If you're the Police...can you shoot my brother...he killed my hamster."
"Can I try the gun?" A boy asked. "Me. Me too!!!" a girl said. "It will be just like on TeeeVeee." "No, me." "Me" "Me...me...me...me..."
One little girl walked up to the flabbergastered mercenary and asked "Are you here to play with us? Why are you with Bonta-Kun?"
Before Sousuke could answer, a boy piped up "I saw sumpin' on TV. They're probly Luv-vers." "Oooh" "What's luv-vers?" "Probly have a baby." "I LIKE babies."
This was more than Sousuke was prepared to take. There was no danger here that required his expertice. Time to head out.
As Sousuke started to leave, a little girl with a very sad look on her face stepped up in front of him. Keeping her head down, she asked "You...you are dressed in black. And you don't talk. You h-have a gun. Are...are you Death?"
Sousuke was taken aback. "N-No, I'm not."
The girl looked up at him. "Am I going to die?"
Souske honestly said "I cannot say."
"Could you talk to me," the girl asked, and Sousuke saw tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yes. I can do that." He said kindly.
"Could you tell me a story?" She asked, a hopeful look on her face.
"I...I am not good with stories" What could he tell? Seeing the look in the girl's eyes, he said "I will do my best."
"I will go get my friends." She ran off, returning with a number of boys and girls. Souske saw Bonta-Kun stand up and straighten his costume. It appears Sousuke had managed to pull off a rescue after all.
"Story time!" The girl said with a smile. A chorus of replies kicked in, like a grove of cicadas. "Story!!!" "Yeh, let's have a freakin' story." "What yer waitin' for???" "Storeeeeeeeee...."
"Once upon a time..." Sousuke started. That much was easy. But what should he tell? He paused.
"Is that all? That's not a story!" one boy said. The young girl who had asked for the story looked at Sousuke and said "P-p-pleeeaassee..."
Sousuke started again. "Once upon a time, there were three mission specialists, separated from each other way behind enemy lines, lost in the jungle. They needed to build structures to sleep in, to keep them safe from the enemy..."
"What's a structure?" A boy asked.
"A structure is...like a house." Sousuke answered. "They must each build a house, and hope that the enemy would not reach them.
One specialist had not read his survival guide. He tried to build a house of branches and leaves. He did not set out warning lines with noise makers. He fell asleep."
"What happened?" asked a little girl.
The specialist was caught off guard. He did not hear his enemy approach. He had not masked his heat signature. They called for him to come out. He said 'No.' They asked again, saying they would kill him. He said 'No, I will not.'" They fired a warning shot and said for him to come out. He said 'no, not by the hair on my...'" Sousuke was about to say 'ass,' as the saying was one of Sgt. Major Mao's favorites. "Chin" he said instead.
"Ohhhh." One girl said, eyes bright with recognition. "Are specialists pigs?" The girl asked.
"Some can be, " Souske replied. "Not most."
"More story more story more story more story...."
"The second specialist was better trained. He sought good cover. He doubled back on his trail. He avoided areas of likely ambush. Finding a cave, he built a wall of logs, and covered it with rocks and leaves. He added plants to the mound to make it look natural. He knew when the enemy were in the area..."
A boy interupted him. "Were they wolves? Were the enemies wolves?"
"You may think of them as you like" Sousuke replied. "But the specialist had made a simple mistake. An MRE had fallen from his pack, and was on the ground near the cave."
"Who's Anne Marie?" A girl asked.
"Huh--"
"You said Anne Marie was on the ground."
"No, I said M...R...E..." Souske said.
"Oh" said the girl.
"Then quickly, the enemy..." Souske resumed the story, only to be interupted again.
"What's a M...R...E?"
"It is food" Souske said.
"OK"
"The enemy knew where the specialist was..." Again, interupted.
"Why didn't you just say food? That's what most people call food."
"Yes. The enemy called for the soldier to come out. He was trapped...there was no other opening to escape through. He told the enemy 'No.'"
"Yeh, with a hairy chin!!!!!!" One boy yelled. The other kids joined in, excited.
"Hearing his reply, the enemy threw fragmentation grenades into the cave and blew the specialist into small pieces."
The children stared wided eyed, silent. Finally, one boy said "That probably hurt, right mister?"
"Yes" said Sousuke.
Nurses. doctors, and visitors watched Sousuke and the children from a distance, amazed at how quiet the children were. They were sitting still!!! That must be such a wonderful touching story!!! One parent started to walk over to hear what kind of story worked like that, but a nurse stopped her. "This is very good for them. We shouldn't interupt."
Sousuke was emersed in his tale. "Then, the third specialist. He was very skilled. He made use of the land. He looked where he should look, and listened when he should listen. He found appropriate cover and left no evidence of his presence..."
"Presents?" "Why would he have presents in the woods?" "Was it his birthday?" "Was it the enemy's birthday?"
"Sorry, my mistake. The word is spelled different. It means that someone is there..." Sousuke said.
"Who was there?"
"The specialist was there. And he had a good cover, a good field of fire, and good position relative to the wind. When the enemy came, he was prepared..." Sousuke remained patient after yet another stoppage to his tale.
"Was the enemy wolves? Wolves are bad guys, right. They eat the good guys in the story my father told me. They were pigs"
Sousuke was shocked that a father would tell his son such a tale. Longpig?! Cannabilism was not an appropriate subject for children!!! "No, no eating in this story."
"The story would SUCK if the wolves were good guys," one boy said, very proud of his advanced vocabulary. "Yeh, it would suck MAJOR LEAGUE!!!"
"I see," said Sousuke.
"Wolves are really like big dogs," one girl added helpfully.
"Uh---"
"Yeh, I like dogs!" A boy chirped.
"---the specialist..."
"My brother says the nurses here are dogs." That from a boy near the back.
"---the third specialist."
"My dog's name is Poochie." "My dog's name is Shadow." "My dog's name is Franklin" "My dog is dead. He's not alive any more..."
The children had gathered together and had forgotten Sousuke. He stood and brushed off his pants and headed out of the unit. The girl who asked for the story, seeing him leave, ran up to grab his hand. "Do you have to go now?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Oh... OK...I liked the story." She gave him a hug, and ran back to the other children who had all started playing specialists, wolves, pigs, and dogs.
Sousuke headed home.
**********************************************************
"Damn that Sousuke!" Kaname cursed. "When I see him again, I am going to feed him to the wolves!"
She had come into the hospital with appendicitis, but was in no danger from that. She had survived countless examining, cutting, poking, prodding, measuring, sticking, and other sundry uncomfortable, embarrassing, or annoying things...only to almost be killed by a freakin' balloon!
No, not wolves. Sharks. Tigers. Lots of hungry rats. Whatever she could find!!!
A nurse came into her new room, and let her know that a taxi was on it's way. It should be at the hospital by the time she finished checking out. Per hospital policy, the nurse had Kaname sit in a wheel chair. The nurse wheeled her off to the check-out desk.
During the ride, Kaname shuddered when she thought about Sousuke's 'gift.' Donors give the 'gift of life'...Sousuke on the other hand....
She mused. The hospital engineering department had been apologetic, but Kaname was actually impressed at their speed and handiness. They had the balloon punctured, deflated, and removed from what remained of her room before she could think of one hundred good curses for Sousuke. She was also quite pleased with the nurses, who made a few phone calls and had quickly arranged for another room for her. And, since she was on such a roll, the doctor walked in moments after she settled in. He told her of her tissue results, confirming what she already knew. He talked a while to see how she felt, more concerned about her encounter with the balloon than her recovery from simple laparoscopic surgery. And he had cleared her to go home!!! All this happened without Sousuke, of course!
Kaname sighed. "Something wrong?" the nurse asked, stopping her wheelchair. "Any discomfort?'
"No, not physical." Kaname said.
"Ahh...I see...your young visitor? He was cute, even if he was a terror! Is he your boyfriend?"
"Uhh--"
Seeing Kaname blush, the nurse smiled. "Here we are, check-out. We shouldn't have to wait too long, the line's not too bad this late at night."
"Great" Kaname said. "I can't wait to get home to my own bed."
While she waited, she thought of Sousuke. He HAD warned her after all. He had tried hard to help her feel better and he had been deeply concerned for her, she could tell. Of course, during his stay he had been very...Sousuke-esque...but very sweet. He had done so much for her. Flowers. Food. Gallantry. Honesty. Perserverence. Caring...
By the time it was her turn to check out, Kaname was feeling VERY good.
That is, until she saw her hospital bill and the estimates for repairs to her room....
The nurse looked over Kaname's shoulder, read the estimate, and shook her head as she wheeled Kaname outside.
"Damn you, Sousuke" Kaname said. The nurse smiled
***********************************************************
Kaname's anger had cooled again. Now her big problem was impatience, which she happily thought was better than being one of the inpatients. She wanted to get home. She wondered what thing she would choose to do first when she arrived in the welcome quiet and safety of her own apartment. Food? Something cold to drink. A nice warm bubble bath?
She smiled. No, she grinned rather wickedly. Even though it was getting kind of late and she should probably get cleaned up and go to bed, Kaname knew EXACTLY what she wanted to do. She didn't know why she had thought about it when she did, but that didn't matter. She was going to have some fun.
She tooks the papers out of her purse, and started to laugh. Let the cab driver think she was a bit wacked out...she didn't care. "Tessa...Tessa...Tessa...Tessa." She said expectantly.
************************************************************
Sousuke had just walked into his apartment a few moments before the lights on his communications console came on.
"Urzu 7, come in...Urzu 7 please answer." It was Captain Testarossa. Could she be calling with information about Sgt. Weber and Sgt, Major Mao?
"Urzu 7 here. Is this about the away team, Captain?" Sousuke asked hopefully.
"Hello, Sousuke. No, I'm afraid we haven't heard any good news or any bad news yet." Tessa replied
"Why are you calling this late, Captain? Is there an emergency?" Sousuke was concerned. He felt exhausted, and hoped his services were not required.
"No, Sousuke...I had called earlier...a number of times. I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing." Tessa said warmly.
"Oh. I see captain. I am very tired. So many things have happened in the last few days. I was about to go to sleep."
"I see. I won't bother you now then," her voice sounded disappointed.
"Thank you, Captain. I really do need the rest. I have no plans for tomorrow as yet." Sousuke said.
"That's good!" Tessa said. "Have a good sleep, then. That's an order!" she said cheerfully.
"Roger. Urzu..."
"Oh, Sousuke?" Tessa asked before he could sign off.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Sousuke...have you had a chance to finish your homework yet?" Tessa asked.
"Uh--not yet, Captain..." Sousuke replied.
"OK. Good night then."
Transmission ceased.Sousuke didn't even realize that he had not signed off with his call sign. He was too busy worrying: The papers! He had forgotten all about the papers. Where were the papers? Kaname?
Sousuke was certain he would not get much sleep tonight. He had to find those papers.
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Finis
