[FIC] In Sickness and In Health, section A {Chapter 16}

[dd]

It was totally dark.

Sousuke was warm in his location.

A slight but somewhat pleasant odor was present.

Once again, he went through mental relaxation exercise, successfully reducing his heart rate, respiratory rate, and his feeling of tension. The prelimary word he received about Kaname's condition, received from Captain Testarossa while he was in a cloaked Mithril Helicopter approaching the coastal waters of Japan, should be reassuring if taken at face value.

Appendicitis. Inflammation of the appendix. A commonplace disorder.
Appendectomy. Routine surgery. Extremely low rate of morbidity and mortality.

Sousuke's heart rate increased slightly. Kaname was not a routine individual. Should any adverse situation effecting her be comfortably accepted as being routine?

Appendicitis. The signs and symptoms, while sometimes highly characteristic, were by no means exclusive. Naturally occuring ailments could mimic the pain. Purposely instigated actions could produce similar features. Drugs. Experimental directed microwave technology. Even hypnosis.

The possibilities assaulted Sousuke again, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a less irritating position. He was on hospital grounds. That was to be expected, as Kaname was in this building. But with her being in a hospital, certain possibilities must be considered, no matter how unlikely.

Why was Kaname here? He knew the reported particulars...he needed to examine the larger picture. Was this what it appeared, a simple medical ailment. Was Kaname here as an act of providence...or was she here at someone's intent? Yes, a hospital was a place to receive medical attention and appropriate treatment. But...what opportunity would a hospital provide someone with designs on Kaname? Drugs of many types are present in a hospital. Countless instrumentsand machine, all capable of some form of examination, were available. Surgical exploration occurs routinely, and would not seem out of place. Tissue, blood, and other body fluids could be readily obtained and examined without undue scrutiny.

He was moving again. Good. He had no choice but to hear the conversation of two nearby individuals.

"...and I says to her...Yuki, if your diarrhea is that severe, you need to drink somethin' and you need to see a doc. She told me to screw off, saying it was her business if she wanted to suirt all over the place, if you know what I'm sayin..." The voice was male...squeaky...relaxed.

"Oh, I know. And how! My boy Kato, he had the runs big time last week. Practically had to bring him his food on the john. Yup, that and a pillow and blanket. And then he starts with this pukin'...I mean like he had a damn hose in his mouth...sheesh, I don't think his mom put the mop down all night..." Another male...lower pitched...probably with partial upper dentures.

To Sousuke's annoyance, the conversation continued, covering all sorts of colorful ailments involving a large number of faceless names. He had to continually fight the urge to grab his tazer.

Finally...blissfully...both the cart and the conversation stopped. The voices faded, growing distant. No other voices were heard. He carefully extracted himself from the laundry cart, attempting not to disrupt the fresh linens any more than necessary. It was time to see Kaname.

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Kaname reclined in bed, still feeling drowsy. The medicines she had been given still kept the pain away, and she felt no hunger and no thirst. She watched the television: all channels now showed soap operas.

She was too exhausted to think about the events that lead to her being in the hospital. But, she was certainly awake enough to be annoyed at the trash that was showed on the TV.

"Who writes this stuff?" She asked no one in particular. "I mean...C'MON?!" She shook her head in disbelief. No one actually had a life like these people. What utter nonsense.

One character, a young woman, was sitting in a room devastated at her terrible and dramatic situation. The plot was just too unreal for Kaname to have any sympathy for the girl. "That's not realistic...that's not what happens to people...a real life would have---"

She consciously intended to say "--more friends, fewer physical ailments, and no long-lost father intent on using her to generate a freakin' clone army!"

What she blurted out was "--accidents, chases, explosions, and......Sousuke."

She turned off the television with a sigh. Where was Sousuke? Was he safe? Did he ever think of her? Would she ever see him again?

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Having bypassed security, Sousuke had managed to keep possession of the weapons he had chosen for this mission. As it was a hospital...a reasonably safe location...he had limited himself to two grenades: white smoke and flash types. Watching the Short Stay Unit from his chosen position, he failed to notice suspicious activity. He shifted his pistol and ankle knife to more comfortable orientations. He considered his next plan of operation.

If this were simply a routine situation, he could just walk right in and see Kaname, who was located in a single occupancy room just thirty feet from him. If. To be safe, before he said anything to her...and before she said anything that would give away his presence there...he should be certain that there were no bugs in the room, and no watchers outside her window.
He thought a moment. Ah! Yes, that would suffice. He headed back down the hallway, a specific goal in mind.

Ten minutes later, he returned to the Unit and headed into Kaname's room, stopping at the foot of her bed. She appeared to be sleeping, but opened her eyes soon after he arrived.

"Doctor?" Kaname asked.

Sousuke...dressed in a full length surgical gown, large face mask, and opaque surgeon's cap...turned quickly to the door to see if a physician were entering. Realizing that she was in fact refering to him, he moved about her room, closing her curtain...looking behind framed pictures...checking under her bed...examining her phone.

"Doctor, what are you doing?" Kaname asked, a little louder. Sousuke looked at her a moment before answering. He was glad to see her. Glad to see that she was alive.

Sousuke had prepared well. He had an excuse ready. "Uh--there have been reports of security problems involving lawyers, lately. Rooms have been tapped so they could discover details that lead to frivolous lawsuits. How are you feeling this afternoon?"

"Better, doctor. What can you tell me about my condition?" Kaname asked, still reclining.

Sousuke weant to pick up a chart he had found a chart he had found at the nurses station, a chart labeled witha large "528," Kaname's room number. He opened the chart and spoke authoritatively "Yes...vital signs stable...heart rate 60...respiratory rate 14...blood pressure 125 slash 70...afebrile...all good."

"Thank you doctor, but what can you tell me about my condition?" Kaname asked, a touch of concern in her voice.

"Yes, of course." He turned a page, and talked as he read: "Of course. Abdominal scar healing well, no evidence of metastatic tumor..."

Sousuke stopped at that word, shocked. Tumor? But Captain Testarossa had told him it was appendicitis. Had she been trying to keep him from worrying during his trip?

Kaname was equally surprised. "Tumor. What do you mean *t u m o r*? Nobody told me anything about that."

Somewhat numb, Sousuke resumed reading and speaking: "Let me see what else it says here, Miss Chidori. Bowel movements copious and particularly noxious...mental status unclear, and psychology service consult-order placed...recommendations for reconstructivve surgery to correct facial abnormalities...social history includes sexual relationships with numerous women, including prostitutes..."

He grew more and more confused as he read. "Ah. Yes. The 'Surgical Pathology Report.' Let me read it to you. The orchiectomy specimen was received intact, and histological examination of the left testicle revealed em-bry-onal carcinoma."

"What?!...Testicle?!!! ...Doctor, just *w h o s e* chart do you have?" Kaname said, growing angry after having in succession been thoroughly embarrased, greatly confused, and aware that things did not apply to her.

"Room 528," Sousuke said, as if to claim he was not at fault. He then did what he should of done before, read the name printed on the side. "Uh, Hideki Haruma."

Sousuke had gotten the chart from the Old Chart Room.

Kaname sat up in the bed and said with acid in her tone "Just WHAT kind of doctor are you!"

Afforded a new perspective, she looked down and saw...that the doctor was wearing combat boots. Combat boots that had a scuff mark on the left toe shaped like a bird. A scuff mark like on Sousuke's boot.

"S o u s k e?" She asked quietly, almost timidly.

Sousuke said "Yes, Kaname" as he began taking off his disguise. He had his back to her, but could picture her smiling, glad to see him. He was taken by surprise when he was struck in the back of his head by something substantial, accompanied by an explosion of water and ice.

"SOUSUKE, did you do that on purpose?!" she asked hotly.

"What's going on in here?" A nurse asked, looking into the room.

"Miss Chidori knocked over her pitcher. I am helping clean up the mess. I assure you, it is not a problem" Sousuke said.

The nurse looked at Sousuke, drenched with water, a pool at his feet and ice all over the floor. She then looked at Kaname who said "It's OK nurse...this is my friend from school..."

The nurse stared at Sousuke a few moments more, then said "I'll go get you a mop..."

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more to follow shortly

[Taurec]

<grin> ... hard to keep up with ya

[pilot03]

this has been a very enjoyable series. I can't stop reading it.