UPDATE 8/8/17:

Y'all we are at 2,500 views and I'm maybe crying? It's not a lot to some, but I never thought this would get above 10 views. I'd like to do something fun for 3,000, but this requires you to comment (which is apparently hella difficult for some of you. Promise, I don't bite)! So, comment your favorite moment in the story OR something you'd like to see in the next story. If you do, I'll write you a short with your choice of powers and an interaction of your choice with Noelle! Thanks for following! -Curly

update 6/8 - I had a commission done and they did AMAZING. Check out the cover photo or search it under Aura or Noelle on Tumblr!

Hey everyone! I had uploaded the first 9 chapter previously, but then went on a LOOONNNNGGGGGG hiatus. Here is the new and improved Healing Hands! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

The form beneath her hands squirmed and moaned, gritting its teeth in agony. "I'm almost done, you can do it", Noelle whispered encouragingly. It had been hours of tireless work, and she was proud of both herself and the patient for making it this far. With her eyes closed, she concentrated harder, throwing her last bit of strength into forcing her will on the stubbornness that resisted her. Finally, she felt the storm of energy beneath her calm and quiet. When she opened her eyes, she found the older woman staring at her with concern.

"Is it over?" She asked.

Noelle cracked a tired smile, "You made it through. If you'd like to be certain, we've set up a CT scanner and X-ray down the hall. But from what I can see, you can go tell that doctor to shove that 'three weeks to live crap' where the sun don't shine."

The woman stared at her in wonder, tears that had been brimming now beginning to spill over. "I can never thank you enough" she choked out, hugging her healer.

Noelle winced, the contact feeling like daggers. She slowly pried the woman off and looked at her with a serious face, "I appreciate that." She began to crack a smile." But I'm trying to figure out why you're still here with me. Your grandkids have lots of plans for you I'm sure."

"Yes, yes, I'll go now!" She began to grab her things hastily. Noelle walked to the counter and began collecting her own things, turning her back so the patient wouldn't hug her again. As the woman opened the door to leave, Noelle called over her shoulder, "And Ms. Lee.. Don't forget this is our little secret."

She sensed the nod of agreement given, and then her patient was gone.

She sank into her chair, letting every ounce of tension go. Her sessions didn't usually last that long, but the cancer had been in almost every major organ the woman possessed. The doctor had it wrong, that woman barely had three days to live, let alone three weeks, she thought. After the most allowable time had passed, Noelle called out to the attending nurse.

"Yes, dear?" Said the plump, older nurse as she came in the room. The woman had a deep southern accent, but it couldn't hide her quick wit or intelligence.

"I'm going to need help getting home. Could you call me a taxi and have one of your girls wheel me down to the entrance? I don't have any energy left in these old bones."

She was thankful when Betty simply smiled and nodded. After 40 years as a nurse, 2 of them spent working closely with this particular healer, she knew that Noelle wasn't kidding when she said she needed that much help. She had practically become a second mother to the poor girl, seeing that neither of them had any family left to speak of.

Noelle heard the orders given and then carried out by the girls at the desk, one calling the taxi and the other bringing the wheelchair. A haze began to settle into her mind, slurring her thoughts. Quite literally before she knew it, the taxi was pulling up in front of her apartment. "That'll be $2.50 ma'am." Noelle continued to stare blankly out the window.

The cabbie coughed expectantly. It was only after the awkwardness became tangible that Noelle suddenly looked at him.

"What?"

"I said, that'll be $2.50." She rammed her hand into her pocket, fishing for the five dollars Nurse Betty had tucked there. The cabbie continued on, ".. And not to step on toes, but I'd say that having me drive you around the block seems like a waste of your money. Not judging, just ya know, seems unnecessary". Noelle didn't have the energy to explain herself, so she tossed him the five and muttered for him to keep the change as she stepped out of the cab.

After stumbling up the stairs almost drunkenly (she was still not sure how she'd managed to take them for two whole flights), she finally reached her door. She put her hand up to the lock before realizing she had yet to actually get her keys out. Dumb. Another battle with her pockets produced them, and she turned the lock. She stepped into her apartment and headed straight for the bed. Food and a shower probably should have come first, but those took energy that she didn't have. Throwing off her clothes, she threw her naked body onto the bed. She slipped slowly into a hard sleep, feeling the warmth her body created on the cold sheets.

The first thing her consciousness told her was that she had to pee. The second thing it said was that her neighbors were all in their apartments, except for 4b. 4b worked night shifts at the hospital until 3 am. But since 2a was home, who was a taxi driver and left his shift at midnight, and the night guard in 1c was only just now moving around before his shift at 2, Noelle guessed it to be about 1 am, though she wasn't sure what day. She allowed her mind's eye to openly "see" everyone in the building. Years ago it had scared her to wake up and see the lights of the people around her, their "auras" glowing in brilliant colors. She had grown to find it comforting. Tonight, she saw almost everyone as yellow, which meant that they were safe and at peace. Sleeping usually did that to people. Not her, but regular people. But a subtle blue in one yellow figure called her attention. The figure it rested in tossed more than the others. She focused harder and, like adjusting the focus of a microscope, realized that 3c had sprained his wrist. Focusing her "microscope" again, she found the injured cells. Allowing her energy to flow out like tender hands, she worked the cells back to health. After several minutes, the blue light faded to yellow. The figure quit squirming.

Knowing her wards were safe, she tried to crack her eyes open, but they resisted. She wrestled with them, threatening to rip them off, before they finally listened to her and allowed her to open them. The world seemed different. It took several seconds to orient herself. She lay on her bed, having tossed and turned in her sleep so much that she lay on her back with her head at the foot of the bed and all the covers wrapped around her left leg. So much for peaceful sleep, she complained to herself. Glancing to the side, she saw that the clock read 1:30 a.m. The urinary discomfort had grown so that she was fully awake. It was time to do the unthinkable: stand up. She rolled off the bed as shamelessly as possible and brought her feet, and the blankets trapping them, to the floor. Her sense of her own body showed that her jello-legs shone a bright orange, and the feelings they produced proved that to be true. She tried to help her own cells, but only the surface of the pain reduced. I always wanted to go as a giant Cheeto for Halloween. She snorted at her own humor before realizing no one else could see the orange. Well, at least I know I'm hilarious.

After a bathroom trip and shower, her stomach decided food was the new top priority. No food in the house was safe. She was like a whirlwind through the kitchen, making a bowl of macaroni, 2 packages of Ramen, chicken fingers, and a baked potato. She ate one while she prepared the next, and before she knew it the hole in her stomach was filled. But she made and ate one more macaroni cup, just to be sure. Now that she was back in bed with a clean body and full stomach, and with her own aura having cooled down to a slight blue, everything was at peace. Rolling to her side, she grabbed her phone. Her calendar showed that it was a day after she had healed Ms. Lee's cancer. She knew that Nurse Betty understood that her recovery time would be longer, but she still felt bad being away from the hospital that long. Before she let the guilt take hold, she pushed away the thoughts of the potential patients she left behind. She was no good if she wore herself out. Fibromyalgia made sure of that. But with enough time and rest she'd be able to help again. With that thought in mind, she settled into bed. Closing her eyes, she prayed for sleep. She let her awareness spread and began to count her neighbors: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b… 2c…