Death Note belongs to Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Please support the official release.
Ch.1
As she struggled through the darkness, she started to hear voices. They were faint at first, but as she followed the sound, they became clearer.
"…can't come in. She hasn't woken up yet."
"More the reason why we should be there!"
"Matt."
She heard footsteps, followed by a door being opened. She tried to open her eyes, but nothing happened.
"You can't go in there!"
"Fuck you!"
"Mello."
"Watch your mouth! This is a restricted area!"
"Please Miss, just for five minutes."
"Near."
With every ounce of strength in her body, Vic slowly opened her eyes. She was in the Nurse's office, lying on an uncomfortable bed that smelled like disinfectant. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Nurse, trying to force Mello, Matt, and Near out the door.
"No. Don't go."
She tried to say something, but her throat burned. She could only watch as her friends were shoved out and the Nurse locking the door behind them. As the Nurse walked back to her desk, she looked over and saw Vic.
"Oh! You're awake." The Nurse rushed over and sat by her side. "How are you feeling dear?" Vic tried to say something, but all she could muster was a small moan. "I see." She grabbed a small cup of water and pressed it against Vic's lips. "Here." Vic took a small sip and tried once again to speak.
BAM! BAMBAM!
"I thought I told those boys to leave." The Nurse stood up and opened the door a crack.
"We want to see Vic." It was Matt.
"No."
"Please."
"No!" She slammed the door shut and turned back to Vic. "What were you trying to say dear?"
"…them in." The Nurse stepped closer and leaned forward.
"I'm sorry dear, I didn't quite catch that."
"Let them in." Every syllable burned like Hell, but Vic was determined to get her voice heard.
"Are you sure? You just woke up." Vic nodded. "Alright. But not for too long." Vic tried to smile in thanks as the Nurse stepped out. No more than five seconds later the door swung open and in came Mello, Matt, and Near.
"Hey Vic. How ya fellin'?" Matt asked as he and Mello took two seats on her right while Near sat on her left.
"Like shit."
"You look it." Mello quipped.
"Thanks." Vic turned a little so she could see Near. "Wha' happened?"
"You fell down the stairs. Linda found you barely conscious." Vic closed her eyes as she remembered her fall, and she noticed all the aches and pains all over her body, not just her stomach and head.
"Everything hurts." She groaned.
"Don't worry Vic, we'll help you get through this." She felt Near take a hold of her hand.
"Really?"
"Of course." Matt said. "What are friends for?" He placed his hand gently on top of hers. She opened her eyes to see three smiling faces looking down at her. She smiled back.
"Thank you."
"All right now, that's enough you three." The Nurse was back. "The girl needs her rest, so I think it's time you all leaved."
"When can I go back to my room?"
"Not for a while. You need to stay here, where I can keep an eye on you." Vic moaned in annoyance.
"I'll get more rest in my room. I don't like it here." She tried to make her eyes as big and pathetic-looking as possible. "Pleeeeaaaaaseeeee?"
"It's not a matter of comfort, dearie, it's a matter of being able to make sure you don't die. If you go to your room no one would be there to look after you."
"We'll take care of her." The Nurse stared at Matt, dumbfounded.
"What?"
"We'll make sure she doesn't die. Won't we?" He turned to Mello and Near. They both nodded.
"Do any of you know how to take care of a sick patient?"
"We know the basics. You know, taking temperatures, checking pulses. That kind of stuff."
"Are you willing to sit by this girl's side, day in and day out?"
"Yes."
"If she vomits, are you willing to clean it up?"
"Yes."
"Well, I guess it would be no harm. As long as Vic is all right with it." The Nurse turned to the girl. "Are you?"
Vic nodded.
"Very well. I'll come up every hour or so to see how you're doing. Until then, at least one person must be with you at all times."
"Okay." The Nurse looked back at the others.
"I suggest you boys take turns, so you don't miss many classes."
"Okay." They all said in unison.
"Alright. First things first. You three go upstairs and prep her room. While you're up there, decide who'll run the first shift. I'll bring Vic up shortly."
"Right." And with that, the three teens ran out the door. The Nurse smiled as the door swung shut behind them.
"I envy you, Vic."
"Huh?"
"When I was your age, I would have given anything for friends like that." Vic knew what she meant. Before she had arrived at the orphanage, she had been an outcast, suffering from terrible loneliness. And she would have given anything for just one friend. If it hadn't been for those three, she'd probably still be an outcast.
"Thank you, Miss."
"Well, enough of that. Let's get you upstairs." The Nurse walked over and gently started to lift Vic off the bed. "Put your arms around my neck." Vic did as she was told, and soon, they were heading up the stairs like a pair of newlyweds. She couldn't help but be surprised by the old women's strength. "I may be getting on in years dearie, but I still haven't lost my physique."
They came to Vic's room, where Matt, Mello, and Near were waiting. They gaped in astonishment as they watched the Nurse gently place Vic on her bed with ease. They stood up straight as the Nurse turned to face them.
"Who's taking the first shift?"
"I am." Mello took a step forward.
After the Nurse explained what they were supposed to do, she sent Near and Matt back to class.
"See ya later V." Matt smiled.
"Get some rest." Near mumbled, twiddling a piece of hair between his fingers. Vic gave a small wave as they headed out, closing the door behind them.
"Now, if you have any questions, you know where to find me." The Nurse said as she too, headed out the door. "Oh and Mello," Said blonde perked his head up. "Take good care of her."
"I will, Miss."
"You better." And with that she shut the door and left the two of them alone. There was a moment of awkward silence as Mello took a seat next to Vic's bed. Vic noticed that her eyelids were starting to feel heavy again. She gently tugged at her sheets so that she could get under them. Mello noticed this and quickly stood up.
"Here." He pulled the covers out from under her. He then started to tuck her in, oblivious to the light blush that dusted Vic's cheeks.
"Mello…" He looked over in concern. "You don't have to…"
"Hush." He resumed his seat next to her bed and gently ruffled her hair. "Get some sleep." He smiled. The world dimmed as Vic's eyes slowly closed. And the last thing she heard before falling into a deep sleep was Mello's voice, whispering in her ear.
"Sweet dreams, Vic."
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Mello awoke with a start.
"Where the Hell am I?"
It took him a moment to even realize where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. He must have fallen asleep while watching Vic. Judging by the position of the moon outside, he'd guess that it was around 1:00 or 2:00 AM. He glanced at the bed next to him, and noticed that something was wrong with it.
Its occupant was missing.
He was wide awake now.
He jumped up and started heading out the door to form a search party, when he heard something. It was coming from Vic's bathroom. It sounded as if someone were vomiting.
"Oh crap."
He ran to the door and swung it open. He couldn't see much in the darkness, but he saw enough. A silhouette hunched over the toilet, barfing its guts out.
"Vic." The figure glanced behind her in surprise.
"Mello." She croaked. Then she doubled over in pain and threw up in the toilet once more. Mello rushed over and kneeled beside her. "It hurts, Mello. It hurts so much. Please make it sto-" More retching.
"Shhhh. Try not to talk." He used one hand to hold back her hair as she vomited and the other to gently rub her back. He could hear her weeping in agony as she kept getting sicker and sicker. "Vic," He whispered mostly to himself. "why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn wanna wake ya."
After about five or ten minutes of barfing and comforting, it seemed that Vic's stomach had finally settled down.
"How ya feeling, V?"
No answer.
He looked closer. Somehow, Vic had fallen asleep. He sighed and carefully positioned her upright. He placed one arm under her legs and another under her back as he slowly, ever so slowly, scooped her up in his arms. He heard a small moan from his bundle as he carefully lifted her up.
"You're okay. You're alright. I got you." He soothed as he carried her back to her room. He gently laid her down on her bed and tucked her back in.
"M…Mello." Vic whispered.
"It's alright." He cooed. "Go back to sleep." He watched as her breathing regulated and she fell back asleep. He very carefully reached out and brushed some hair out of her eyes, just the way he had when she had tripped and fallen into his lap. He then, very slowly and very, very gently, kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Vic."
Oh…My…God.
My first major piece of fluff! Whoooo! I'm so happy!
Vic's symptoms in the second half of this chapter are based on an actual situation in which I got a bad case of the flu years ago. And let me tell you, there isn't a more agonizing form of Hell.
Read and Review please!
-A.P.E