Lady stayed in the ICU for three weeks. The first couple were touch and go. Finally they got her stabilized. Vergil never left her side for more than ten minutes. He didn't want her to be alone. In all that time, she stayed in a comatose state. When she was able to breath on her own they transferred her to another unit in the hospital. Vergil would make sure she was comfortable. He would read to her, tell her the latest in the Dante/Trish saga, play music for her.
Dante would come by at least twice a week, but never stayed long. He just couldn't take it. Today he came by with some food, certain that Vergil hadn't eaten in the last couple of days. He found it kinda odd how attacked his brother had gotten to Lady. The only thing Vergil had ever been fond of was Yamato.
"So when did you and Lady become joined at the hip?" Dante asked as he handed Vergil a bag of food.
"When did you start dating Trish, the second time?" Vergil said taking a sandwich out of the bag.
"Umm, a couple of years ago. That long? Really? Hmm, where was I when this happened?" Dante said surprised.
Vergil gave him a sideways glance. "You are oblivious to everything when that woman is around. And we are not joined at the hip. We just share similar interests." The elder said, taking a bit of his meal.
"I am not oblivious." Dante snorted.
"Do you even know what that means?"
"Dude, I'm not going to bring you food anymore if your gonna be an asshole."
Vergil snickered a little. He missed his brother, to some extent. So had Lady.
Dante shoved a couple of French fries in his mouth. "So, are you two dating or what?"
Vergil gazed at her for a moment, then back to the sandwich in his hands. "No we are not." A tinge of regret played across his features.
"But you want to." Dante said as he licked his fingers.
Vergil didn't answer right away. "Yes." He finally admitted in a hushed tone. He sighed deeply. "But it would have changed our relationship and neither of us wanted that."
"Well no shit it would have changed your relationship, but sometimes you just gotta chance it. You know what I mean?"
"But what if it didn't work out? You can never go back to the way things were before." Vergil was actually surprised he was having this conversation with his little brother, but he was curious as to what insight Dante had to offer.
"So what? That's life, bro. It's a risk you take putting yourself out there, but sometimes the good out weighs the bad and its worth it. If it doesn't work out, who cares. At least you tried." Dante shrugged. "Hey, you gonna eat that?"
Vergil handed over his food. "This is coming from the man who has let the same woman come in and out of his life four times and is a complete disaster each time she leaves ."
"Like I said, the good out weighs the bad. Its better than being alone Verge." The younger said as he shoved the last bite into his mouth.
"I like to be alone."
"Yes, but trust me, you would like this even more." He smiled widely. "I hope she wakes up soon. I don't know if I can handle anymore heart-to-hearts with you." Dante stood and patted Vergil on the shoulder as he walked by. "I'm outta here. Let me know if anything changes."
Vergil nodded. "Thanks, Dante."
"Hey what are bro's for?" And he was gone.
**FFFFFF**
Months had passed and Lady's wounds had healed, but she still showed no signs of waking up. Vergil had the patience of a saint for most things, this was not one of them. He wanted, no, needed her to wake up. He wanted so desperately to look into her eyes, to hear her laughter again, to hold her, love her, just simply be with her.
"Vergil, how long are you going to stay here waiting for her to wake up?" Dante asked with concern.
"As long as it takes." Came the tired reply.
Dante was hesitant to ask the next question, but he knew he had to. "What if she never does?"
Vergil turned on him. "DON'T say that. You think I haven't thought about it? That I'm just hanging onto some vain hope that she may open her eyes." He turned his icy glare away from his twin and back to her, where it softened immediately. "I can't leave her here alone, I wont. Even if she doesn't want to be with me, I will not leave her."
Vergil may not have come out and said it, but he felt extremely guilty for what had happened to Lady. Dante could hear it when he spoke. He still hadn't said what had happened that night, but he knew it would do no good to ask. Vergil would have told him if he wanted him to know. "Look, I'm sorry Verge. I was just trying to look out for you. I'm just worried, ya know? I've never seen you like this, it's kinda freaking me out."
Vergil knew Dante had a valid point. Lady may never wake up and him being here for months on end could not be healthy for him, mentally or emotionally. He just couldn't bring himself to leave.
She had become his best friend. Lord only knew, he didn't let many people get close enough to him to even be called an acquaintance, let alone a friend.
It was his fault she was here. He shouldn't have left her by herself. It wont happen again.
He was so tired. Insomnia had gotten the best of him the last couple of nights. He didn't even realize Dante had left. He sat next to Lady's bed running his thumb over the back of her hand as he held it. The repetitive movement caused his eyelids to become heavy. Propping his arm up on her bed, he rested his head in his hand and slowly drifted off to sleep.
