A/N: Comment responses in endnotes.
Edited 1/7/2019
Coughing woke her.
Andromeda blinked open her eyes and winced at the bright fluorescent lights above. Coughing again, she tried to swallow but found she had no saliva to spare. Her mouth and throat were as dry as a desert.
"Here, this will help," a gentle voice said to her right. A hand urged something into her mouth; an ice cube. As the ice melted on her tongue, Andromeda took the chance to check out her surroundings.
She was in a hospital. The beeping heart-monitor attached to her finger made it obvious. The woman who gave her an ice cube looked to be a nurse. She was middle-aged, with grey-streaked hair and a name badge reading 'Marie'.
Mind hazy, Andromeda stared at the woman for a long moment before speaking. "Why am I in the hospital?"
Marie gave her a concerned look and grabbed a clipboard off the wall. "Do you not remember? Can you recall the year?"
"It's 2007," Andromeda responded automatically. Her mind felt like sludge, though was slowly waking up. It was then that she remembered. Her breath quickened, as did her heart. "Something happened. There were explosions."
"Yes," Marie drew out the word while looking over her clipboard. "You were found in city central by an emergency medical team."
Andromeda swallowed thickly. The attack was a blur. "Am I okay?"
"You seem to be. Just to be sure, we're going to check," Marie replied calmly. She began with a series of questions about her medical history. After that was a short physical exam. She left with a promise to return with a doctor and urged Andromeda to eat something.
She didn't need to be told twice.
The tiny bag of pretzels and water bottle handed to her were devoured as she waited for Marie to return. Her bed was surrounded by a privacy curtain, so she couldn't see much. Judging by the sounds, there were definitely other people in the room with her. At least two, as one was snoring and the other wheezed when they breathed.
It was odd, she thought, that her clothes hadn't been changed. Sure, her jacket was gone. This left her arms, which were all bandaged up, exposed. Her shoes were missing as well. There was no stereotypical hospital gown, though, or an IV.
She watched too many medical dramas.
"Andromeda Doe." The curtain around her bed was pulled aside to reveal a man, dressed in a doctor's coat. Marie was with him. In her hands were Andromeda's jacket, shoes, wallet, and phone. "Surface lacerations, minor bruising, a reported seizure," the man frowned, turned, and said something to Marie. The exchange happened too quickly and quietly for her to hear before he turned back. "No evidence of lasting trauma," he muttered something that sounded like 'overreacting EMT's'. "I recommend making an appointment with your doctor for an MRI, to be safe." He scribbled a note down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. "Give them this at your next appointment. Unless you're experiencing any unusual pain," he paused for a moment, allowing her time to speak. She didn't. "You're officially discharged. You can sign out at the desk."
He was gone in the blink of an eye.
"Let's get you going," Marie said gently, helping her shrug on her jacket and slip on her shoes.
"I had a seizure?" Andromeda burst as she watched the woman tie her laces. Marie paused.
"It was reported so, yes," she responded slowly, carefully. "However, there's no lasting evidence of one. Make that appointment if you want to be sure you're okay." When she saw Andromeda's distressed expression, she made a soft noise in her throat. "Don't worry dear. I'm sure it's nothing. With all that's been going on, mistakes are bound to happen."
Every inch of her body ached as she stood. Marie was quick to disconnect her from the heart monitor before leading her out of the room.
It soon became obvious why they were rushing her through so quick.
The halls of the hospital were littered with people in varying states of disrepair. Some had limbs bent at odd angles. Others had freshly stitched wounds. Still others were quiet, sitting or laying in silence.
Everyone was covered in dust and grime. Most had tear tracks cutting through the mess.
Andromeda signed whatever papers the nurse handed her in a daze. Her hand was shaking.
"The subway is still running," Marie advised once they were out of the building. The parking lot was full of cars. "Turn right once you reach the street and you'll make it."
And then she was gone, and Andromeda was alone.
For a moment she stood and stared at the ground. It was morning, and the breeze made her shiver. How long had she been at the hospital?
With that question plaguing her mind, she made the journey home. Just as Marie said, the subway was still open and running. She joined the other disheveled passengers on the long ride home.
And then she was walking into her in-tact apartment building. No-one gave her a second glance as she got a boost of energy, rushing the last bit of her trek.
Home. She was home.
Unable to help the hitching of her breath, she nearly collapsed. There was no way she was sleeping as she was, however, so she bucked up and stumbled to the bathroom. The shower heated up slower than usual. She undressed slower than usual. Everything hurt.
She was gentle with her body as she washed the day off. The hot water burned the tiny cuts the hospital missed, and some of the bandages that covered her more small injuries fell off. She didn't care. Every movement was pain, anyway.
Once done, she toweled off, pulled on some pajamas, and collapsed onto her bed.
She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Hours later, as the sun began its descent, she woke with a shout. In her mind, metal titans raged.
A/N: Sorry for the late chapter, the flu is sweeping through my house.
Comment Responses:
Jakson: Thank you! I strive for detail.
mostly a reader fangir99: Thank you so much!
angelmarie1995: I'm glad. Inserting an OC is difficult, so I'm glad I pulled it off. As for the terror twins, join the club! I love those two.
cupcakehearts: I hope so. I've got a lot planned for this fic.
