Chapter 2:
"How do you feel?" asked Lavi conversationally as he checked her ID bracelet against his notes. Again.
Lilly took a deep breath. She wasn't afraid. Not really. She was in capable hands, that she was sure of but as she lay on the crisp sheets of the gurney, she had to admit that she was scared. The mere thought of failure was…her jaw clenched.
"You know…an answer would be nice." he continued humorously. "I need to know how much more anaesthetic to give you."
"…"
"Ok ok. Relax. I know what I'm doing." He gave her a reassuring grin. "You know…that sleepy scowl of yours doesn't look very threatening at all."
"…"
He glanced at her. She was scared. That much was obvious. Her breathing was short and rapid and she was clenching the sheets so hard they looked on the verge of tearing. He frowned.
"Look. Yuu's our most promising surgeon, so it's going to be ok…alright?"
She didn't answer.
Sighing, he prodded her gently on the arm. "Does this hurt? Just nod or something."
Lilly shook her head, her vision slowly fading.
"That should do it then." He motioned to a nearby nurse. "Wheel her in Lena-lady."
The gurney began to rock gently from side to side and she was faintly aware of the lights getting brighter and brighter until it became almost unbearable.
She squinted, struggling to stay awake.
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a surgeon approaching and she caught a glimpse of a familiar face half hidden behind a mask before the anaesthetic took effect and she reluctantly allowed herself to succumb to the darkness.
Black eyes narrowed in concentration as fingers tightened around the thin metallic hilt. The scalpel glinted almost evilly in the light before it sliced downwards.
A split second pause then…red.
"My, if it isn't Lenalee Lee."
"Ah Ms Klaud, how are you feeling? Better? Oh it's good to see you again Miranda!"
"Y-yea. I guess it's been a while since I last saw …oh." A sharp intake of breath and the voice dropped to a whisper. "Who's this? What happened to her?"
"Well…"
Lilly winced and sat up, not quite daring to open her eyes. She wasn't sure what she will do if the operation really did turn out to be a failure but she wasn't about to lie there pretending to be asleep either.
"Ah! Miss Lai. At last, you're awake."
She swallowed. "The operation-"
"Why don't you open your eyes and see for yourself?"
She hesitated then gingerly pried open one eye.
"WOAH!"
"LAVI!" cried the nurse in exasperation pulling the redhead away from the shocked patient, "What do you think you're doing with that?"
Lilly turned at the sound of muffled laughter. At the other end of the ward was another nurse tending to a pretty, blonde woman with a cross shaped scar across her face. The nurse – German by the looks of things – started and turned hurriedly away when she caught her eye.
"Aw c'mon Lenalee. It was a joke!" he whined using the plushie as some form of temporary shield between him and the irate nurse.
"That wasn't funny at all. Look at her! The poor girl. How would you feel if I stuffed a panda of all thingsin your face?"
"She didn't mind…right Lilly?" He flashed her a winning smile.
His smile was infectious and she couldn't help but return it with a grin of her own.
"You'd better apologise or I'll make sure Bookman hears of this." the nurse said sternly although she too fought a smile.
The young anaesthesiologist blanched at her words. "You wouldn't."
"I would. You do remember what happened last time right?"
"…sorry."
"And Miss Lai."
She jumped. "Yes?"
"If you'll just stretch out your arm and I'll take your heart rate and blood pressure."
Lilly nodded, watching as the petite Chinese nurse deftly wound the felt band around her bicep.
"Usually Kanda will be here but he's been rather busy these past few weeks so Lavi has been filling in." She frowned at the monitor. "Blood pressure's fine but you're heart rate is a little fast. Probably because of this idiot here…"
"Hey!"
She shot him a look then turned back to the monitor. "But it's best to be safe than sorry." She made a note on her clipboard. "Now if you'll just turn your head…" A sharp click. "Hm and your temperature's fine too. So far so good."
Lilly let out a sigh of relief.
"However…"
"You're eyesight will be rather poor for the first few weeks so it's best if you avoid strenuous activities," finished Lavi.
"Strenuous activities?"
"Stuff like reading."
"Oh. Right."
They talked for a little more before the pair excused themselves and moved on to the next room, leaving Lilly pretty much left up to her own devices.
After several long minutes of staring aimlessly around the near empty ward she started to feel rather bored. There was still an hour till lunch which meant at least an hour till she saw them again and until then she'll have absolutely nothing to do.
She gave a heavy sigh and leaned back against her pillow gazing blankly up at the pale ceiling. Her eyes unconsciously traced the many cracks and bumps as her thoughts travelled to the day before…her stomach growled.
She looked down in mild confusion before remembering that at least 36 hours has passed since she last ate.
A sudden idea occurred to her and she cast a wary glance at the German nurse who seemed to be deep in conversation with the blonde woman she was tending to.
She sat up then silently slipped her feet into the provided slippers.
The nurse did not turn.
Grinning she stood then walked as quickly and quietly out the ward. She was just out the door when a voice called her back.
"Excuse me but where are you going?"
She turned. It wasn't the German nurse but the Matron who faced her, frowning and eyeing her suspiciously.
"I…I just wanted to take a walk." She replied smiling sweetly.
The Matron raised an eyebrow. She was a rather formidable looking woman, well into her fifties and had seen more than her share of hot-headed youngsters eager to escape the ward with dire consequences, so she wasn't about to fall for the old "I'm just taking a walk" explanation.
"I think it's best if you rest. You've just had an operation for god's sakes. If you need anything call one of the nurses here."
"But…"
"Yes?"
"But…I…I was told to see someone."
The matron looked sceptical. "See someone? Who?"
A pause while she wracked her brain for a name. Any name.
"…Yuu. Kanda Yuu." She blurted out.
"Kanda?" asked the Matron but she wasn't looking at her. Rather she seemed to be looking at someone behind her.
"Did you have some business with me?" stated a familiar...horrifyingly familiar voice.
Lilly felt ready to die.
Hm..any concrit?