Chat was separated from his Lady and it worried him to no end. On the upper floors he successfully used his staff to free the people who were caught inside the building, then used his trusted weapon as a firefighter pole to lower the civilians to the ground on the other side of the building to an alleyway. He decided not to use cataclysm. Even if his final trick would be extra help, he didn't really have the luxury to spend time on recharge. He was almost done when he heard others yelling. His heightened hearing picked up on the word 'explosion' and he hurried the remaining people further from the building.
Not even half a minute later a tremendous explosion shook the entire building, but luckily they were far away from the center, so excluding some shattering windows and falling debris nothing major happened.
After the screams died out and frightened cries faded Chat Noir led the civilians out from the alleyway to the street where the police and firefighters took it over. That was when he heard it. He heard as a very familiar voice screamed through the chaotic noises. His head snapped in its direction and his eyes widened. There, Alya, his friend, Alya was screaming and sobbing disconsolately, kept down by at least three people. Chat couldn't hear the words clear. Even with his heightened senses wouldn't do a thing when her words died halfway giving place to hiccuping sobs. But whatever brought Alya to this state must be horrible. His heart sank and worry bubbled inside his chest.
One of the firefighters called out to him, and he automatically turned in his direction and started to walk to him. He asked for the hero's help to rescue the possible survivors. Chat was about to enter the remnants of the building when his ears finally made out the words – or rather the name – Alya was constantly repeating.
''Ma…Marin…Marinette…"
Like an ocean of ice-cold water washed over him. That was the exact force of the frightening feeling crashed into him. He felt himself physically sick. What…what happened to Marinette?
He looked back to Alya who was now crying in the arms of a stranger. He tentatively moved towards her, but the firefighter called out to him and he walked in the building's direction yet again. Like a zombie, his eyes wide and lifeless, his thoughts completely elsewhere, his body moved only by muscle memory. He barely heard anything that others said to him, but like some mysterious power took over his body, he could still do what he was asked for. But he couldn't look in the eye or respond.
What happened to Marinette?
His heart clenched into a tight knot. What…Just what happened to Marinette. He had to know. He had to ask Alya. He had to do something. He had to go. He had to go and find her. She should be somewhere here. Just lost in the crowd. Why would she be here anyway? They just got out of school and it was an office building. Why would she be inside? She was a student and neither her nor Alya's parents worked here. Why would she come here? But Alya…Alya was here as well… What happened to Marinette?
They found someone under a beton panel. A girl.
His heart stopped.
No. She wasn't her. He could breath again. But just for a moment.
What happened to Marinette?
Why this day had to be like this? All these other days, no, weeks were great. More than great. Great and confusing. Really confusing.
All started when Marinette had finally stopped stuttering around him. Of course, she was still nervous, but as time went she got more and more comfortable when they hung out. It warmed his heart. Their friendship blossomed and reached a new level. But that was also when things got more… problematic.
For some reason Marinette seemed to want to be his friend but at the same time kept a distance from him. The more he wanted the walls between them to disappear, the more thick they felt. The more he got to know her, the more he wanted to be near her. Her presence was something he sought for some unknown reason. And slowly but surely they got closer. The last week had been the first time ever that she herself had invited him to hang out. Just the two of them. No Nino, no Alya, no group, no other classmates, just the two of them.
This had been the first time she was really relaxed with him. The first time she had felt so close. The first time she had been so…herself. And it got him completely and utterly addicted. He had enjoyed him so much that he had gotten Nathalie to schedule two more game nights for that week with Marinette.
With every occasion they spent in each other's presence the time seemed to flow faster and his desire for her grew along with his realization. He always knew she was one of the kindest, sweetest, most talented person he had ever known, but she was also brave, sassy and incredible beautiful. He didn't know how he didn't see it until now.
The first time in months that he had seen the glimmer of real happiness in her eyes when she had looked at him, his heart had missed a beat. He had been lucky that they had just said goodbyes because there was no way he could have uttered one more word after that gorgeous smile.
She was radiant. Radiating from warm and kindness, and he could drown in them. He could drown in her forever.
He had a lot to think about. For a long time he had denied that he had any feelings for her. There was no way, he was in love with his Lady. They surely had gotten closer during their time as the crime fighting duo, and she let him in as much as their secret identities allowed, but they still couldn't cross a certain line. He hated this. All of this. All of this hiding from each other, the run offs, the taboos, the secured walls around her. But he knew there was no other way. She didn't want them to know, and he had to respect that. He could be more of himself with her than with anyone else, and this should have been enough, right?
He still loved her. His brave and fierce partner. But he couldn't deny any longer the fact that his heart missed beats, stopped and fastened at the same time when he caught sight of Marinette. He didn't know what to do. What should he do anyway? It wasn't as any of the two girls had feelings for him. Not as Chat and not as Adrien. Just his luck.
But his addiction was getting stronger, and as much as he wanted he couldn't spend more time with Ladybug, but he could with Marinette. He wanted to be with her. To look at those mesmerizing bluebell eyes and get lost in them. To hear her angelic laugh. To feel that warmth that always surrounded her. He wanted all of it.
He knew he was selfish. That he was abusing their friendship, using it as some kind of excuse to be near her. Of course, he still saw her as one of his closest friends, but still he felt somewhat guilty. But not guilty enough to stop.
Today was the day he would have asked her on a date. Well, a friendly date. He wasn't brave enough to ask her out on a real all-romantic-with-no-boundaries date. That would probably ruin their delicate friendship and he just worked too hard for it to throw it away like that. He had to be patient. One day, maybe one day she would like him enough to say yes to an actual date. But Adrien wasn't the kind to rush things. She will may like him more than a friend someday, he hoped.
But for some reason today wasn't the right day. Not even for a friendly date as it had turned out.
He didn't know why but Marinette had been staring a hole into the back of his head all day. He hadn't gotten a break. She had stared at him during math, during history, during literature, even during PE – what would have been flattering and frustrating at the same time any other day, but not today – her eyes fixated on him. He had felt himself like a deer caught in the headlight. He'd wanted to ask her so many times about it. He'd mustered up his courage more than one time, but every time he'd chickened out in the last moment. The determined, contemplating gaze of her frightening the shit out of him so he'd fled without a word every time.
His mind had raced with several scenarios for answering his main question: what went wrong.
Just yesterday everything had been alright. The grass was green, the sky was blue, she was beautiful and acted around him normally. But today – even if she was still beautiful – she had acted strange beyond everything he had ever seen from her to this point. And that was something big to say after all her weird behavior during their first few months of acquaintance.
Like a predator lurking around its prey. He sweated like hell. What have he done?
What if she'd found out about his feelings? What if she hated him now? What if she was going to hate him forever?
All those thoughts raced through his mind all day.
Until he heard the screams.
He'd just left the school with Nino. He really needed his best friend's opinion on this, so he asked if they could spend some time together. As it turned out he didn't really need to ask. Nino was always up to some 'dude time' and was interested in the case as well. But the harsh truth was his best friend had no better idea than him about all of this. He had talked to Alya when Adrien and Marinette hadn't been there, but she was just as clueless as they were.
When he heard the screams he immediately excused himself from Nino and ran to the nearest alley to transform. Just after he and Ladybug got there became clear that this one in fact wasn't an akuma attack, but a horrible yet average accident.
He didn't really wanted to get involved. Not because he was afraid, but because he had a really bad feeling about it, and he didn't want to let his Lady inside a burning building. But she was stubborn. As always. She stated without a blink of her eyes that she wouldn't leave innocent people inside when she could do something. Her bravery warmed his heart but at the same time also frightened him. He didn't want her inside. He wanted to say, he really wanted, but just as with Marinette, the words died on his tongue. He couldn't stop her, and he couldn't be with her to protect her from any harm.
He had a really bad feeling.
Chat Noir didn't see his Lady again after they parted, and this fact really worried him.
But not even close to the fact that something happened to Marinette.
Ladybug was a hero with a magical suit to protect her even if something happened. It didn't seem like it, but their suits were nearly indestructible. Even with an explosion, if she wasn't really close she shouldn't be hurt too badly. But it was completely different for Marinette. She was a civilian and if she got caught up in this…
No, he didn't want to think about that. Nothing happened to her. He couldn't bear to lose another important person in his life.
No, Alya should have mistaken… they lost each other in the crowd and she was just really worried about her best friend, but Marinette would show up unharmed and alright and they would hug each other with tears of joy. He had to believe that. He had to. Because if he believed anything other than this he wouldn't be able to stand anymore.
When they found the first body he felt himself physically sick. The sight was horrible, but the thought that he could find Marinette in this state was enough to his legs to give out, and he fell to the ground.
No, Marinette wouldn't be here. She had to be alright somewhere safe.
He wanted to continue, but the firefighters sent him away after this. They shouldn't have exposed a kid to such a thing anyway, no matter if he was a hero or not. His feet dragged him to an alleyway where he finally detransformed. He slid to the ground, breathing heavily. Adrien brought out his phone. He couldn't waste any more time, he had to know that Marinette was alright, so he called Alya.
The silent ringing was nerve-wracking. For a half minute there was no answer. This was strange, Alya almost always picked up her phone right away. But not now. Now the ringing went painfully long, torturing Adrien, then somebody answered.
''Alya?" He asked immediately, but there was no answer expect a loud sob. His heart stopped. ''Alya, are you there?" He tried for a few more times, but the person on the other end – who turned out to be really Alya – couldn't form a word. Then somebody took away the phone from her.
''Adrien, is that you?"
''Nino? Where are you? What happened?" Adrien asked urgently.
''Dude…" He started but his voice stopped half way then he took a deep breath and continued. ''We are in the hospital. Marinette is badly injured. Really really badly. It would be the best if you come now…while…" His voice died out again and Adrien heard his friend sniffed. ''Just hurry up dude. Come here as fast as you can." And Nino let out a sob as well, then the line went off.
He started to hyperventilate and clenched his hands to his heart. No. This couldn't be happening. It simply couldn't.
Plagg flew up in front of his face grabbing his cheeks.
''Kid. Kid look at me. Calm down. Breath in and out. Again, in and out." The kwami massaged his cheeks with his little paws. ''You heard him. We have to go."
After a minute or so he somehow collected himself, transformed and after asking the paramedics which hospital the survivors were sent, he raced through the city in a mad dash. He crushed into rooftops, chimneys and walls, but he really didn't care.
When he arrived at the hospital, he detransformed and went straight to the reception. They said him that Marinette was on the third floor in room 312. He ran up on the stairs, couldn't possibly wait for the elevator and quickly found the right place. It wasn't hard, after all Alya, Nino and Marinette's parents were there. When he reached them they all looked up at him.
''Adrien?" Sabine peered up at him from her place on a hospital chair. Her husband was stroking her back, trying to calm her down. Her eyes and cheeks red and puffy. ''You come to see Marinette as well? She would be so happy to know…" She chocked and was cut off by her own tears.
''Sorry son, but they wouldn't allow us inside anymore. Her conditions got worse. We could only see her for a few minutes too." Answered his silent question Tom in his wife's place, his voice steady but sad.
''Sorry dude." Said Nino as he hugged his girlfriend from the side with one arm, holding her hand with the other, comforting her as she sobbed. ''We will wait here. Can you stay or you have a photo-shoot or something else on your schedule? Do your father know that you are here?"
Photo-shoot? Schedule? Why the hell did he even bring up those? Who the hell actually cared about those things when Marinette was lying inside that hospital room, fighting for her life?! He didn't even give a damn about his father or anything else at this moment and ignored the last question answering the first one. ''I am staying."
They sat there in silent for ten minutes or so when Alya, still sobbing tried to talk. Her words came out as hiccups, barely understandable. ''This…shouldn't have…happened..I should have… get her out with me…But she was so stubborn…A hero even without the mask…"
For the last part everyone's head turned in her direction. Marinette's parents face turned into dread and Adrien's eyes widened even as a defensive confusion still clouded his mind, protecting him from a completely breakdown. Before anybody could say another word doctors ran to the room.
''What's the problem?" Asked one of them.
''She is bleeding internally. We have to get her into an operating room immediately!" Shouted another voice.
''Prepare her for surgery!" Yelled a female voice above the others.
In the chaos they could only watch as the staff took Marinette away from them, rushing her through hallways, carrying her behind large metal doors. They couldn't follow. They said they had to wait outside. They sat there in silence again. Nobody spoke a word. A dreaded silence that nobody dared to break, because nobody could say anything reassuring. Anything that would make certain that Marinette will be alright.
Suddenly two firefighters came up to them still in their uniform.
''We were informed that our brave young hero were here. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, right?" Asked one of them. Adrien raised his head towards them.
''Why was she there?" Sabine asked the question, but she already knew the answer without anybody needed to tell her.
''You don't know?" The two men exchanged looks, figuring out this wasn't the right moment, but they couldn't avoid the question now. One of them sighed and answered. ''She saved a lot of people. She went inside without fear, freed victims caught up in this madness and bravely led them to safety. She went back to save a little girl and she made it. The little girl is alive and except some bruises and a broken arm unhurt thanks to your daughter." He even smiled at the end, but it was a bittersweet smile as he felt the weight of the situation.
Tom and Sabine responded with the same bittersweet smile that was mixed with tears of sorrow. Even if they always took pride in their daughter's bravery and passion for justice in this moment they wished that she had never ever wanted to save others. But that wouldn't be their daughter. Their daughter was brave and had never ceased to amaze them. But only… only for this time she should have been a coward.
One of the firefighters got a phone call and excused himself for a few minutes, the other standing there awkwardly, because he didn't know what to say. Nobody knew. So he was waiting with them for any news and hoped with all his heart it would be good news.
Adrien felt sick. His stomach in a knot, his breathing heavy, his heart beating with an unnatural rate. How could he let this happen? He should be the one inside that building, saving people until the last second. No. This couldn't be happening. This shouldn't be happening. He was gritting his jeans so hard he almost ripped holes into them when a doctor came out from the operating room.
The second they looked up at her all their hopes died. Her expression held the unmistakable grief that those carried who had to deliver the bad news.
The blond's eyes widened with terror. 'Please don't. Please don't. Please don't.' He silently pleaded that against all odds, against all this cruel reality, she would say Marinette was alright or she will be alright, or she was at least… at least…
''We did everything in our power, but still… it wasn't enough. I am really sorry to tell you this, but we couldn't save your daughter's life. I am-''
The doctor's voiced toned out like a distant noise to Adrien. He couldn't hear anything other than his own heartbeat. This…this wasn't possible. Marinette couldn't be dead. He couldn't lose her too. He couldn't possible endure one more loss. His vision blurred, his ears were ringing, he felt himself dizzy. Slowly he walked away from the others. He barely registered the firefighter who left just a minute ago passed by him, and looked at his partner who only shook his head and said 'she didn't make it'. Marinette's parents' cries became more and more distant even when he stopped walking for a few deep breaths. When he finally passed a corner and was not in their sight anymore, he sank to the ground letting his raging breathing free.
No. It wasn't possible. This was a horrible dream. He would wake up, go to school and Marinette would be there. Safe and sound. Unhurt and completely healthy.
Or he should be dead. Between earth and hell floating in an unsure place, living this dream until the gods decide what to do with him. He must got injured and be in coma, having this nightmare while Marinette was fine, waiting him outside or even holding his hand til he wakes up. Or never wake up ever again. Anything was better. Anything than this living hell. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't lose someone again. In the end Plagg's voice got him back to this cruel reality.
''…kid. Kid look at me. You are having a panic attack. You need to calm down. I need you here. We need to get her. I feel she is somewhere here."
''…who?" Adrien asked as he wiped away his tears. Just a few tears. He still couldn't process.
''Tikki, my other half. We have to get her while I can still feel her presence. If she goes back, we won't be able to find her and the earrings. And she needs us." Plagg said to last part in a tone that Adrien had never heard from him before. A tone that was so sad and so resigned.
''I… don't understand." He said even as he felt a large, terrifying feeling thumped on his inside walls, trying to break through. Trying to destroy the walls and destroy him along with them.
Plagg looked back at him, sadness evident in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more and just flew away silently. Adrien knew he should stop him but he didn't feel the power in himself anymore. His tears started to pick up and flowed freely as his inner walls started to crumble. He just followed his kwami through the hallways and couldn't care anymore if somebody saw the magical creature. Luckily, Plagg was smart enough on his own to hide from every curious eyes. Adrien just silently followed him, without a word and tried really hard to not think about anything. Not about their friendship. Not about his love for her. Not about the times he spent with her. Not about the events that occurred today. Especially not today. Because today was a day he wanted to erase from his life. A day so horrible he couldn't bear to even think about. So he rather didn't think about anything at all.
It was a safe plan. A good plan. Even his tears stopped. Until they reached room 312. His eyes widened. Why would they come here?
Plagg flew inside and he reluctantly opened the door to follow him.
''Plagg…" Came his strangled voice, meant to be scolding but didn't have the power anymore in him.
''I can feel her presence here!" The black kwami flew across the room searching for something.
''Plagg… we should go…" Adrien forcefully wiped away his remaining tears.
Then they heard the soft but unstoppable sobbing.
''Tikki!" The cat kwami flew to her, pulling out the drawer she was hiding in and engulfed her in a hug. ''Look, I said she is here!" Plagg told the boy as he glanced up.
''Ladybug's kwami…" He whispered. 'Why is she here?' he questioned himself and a horrible thought occurred to him. The large, terrifying feeling that his subconscious suppressed to protect him until now finally breaking through his inner walls as he heard the red kwami's next words.
''Marinette…..Ma…Mari…nette…" Tikki sobbed out and the boy's eyes widened. This couldn't be. This couldn't be. This couldn't happen. No, he couldn't lose two persons in the same day. He couldn't lose all the love and warmth left in his life one single day. He couldn't bear it. No. He should have died inside that building or never come across love in the first place. Everybody died around him. Everybody left him. Why was he even alive? Just to lose everyone he loves? Why wasn't he the one dead?
''No…" Came out from his mouth after a long pause, barely a whisper. He had to steady himself holding onto the bed nearby. He clutched it, gripping it with all his might, trying to lessen this unbearable pain to no avail.
''Shhhh, Tikki. Calm down." Plagg ran soothing circles with his paw on the ladybug kwami's back, but she continued to sob.
''I…I have… I have to see h..her Plagg. I have to see her." She chocked out. The cat kwami didn't say anything at first, then he sighed, giving a sympathetic look to her.
''…you shouldn't-'' He started but was cut off by Adrien almost immediately.
''Come with me." The boy said, cupping the little red creature in his palms, rushed out from the room and ran across the hallway with a protesting Plagg in tow. He had to hide himself eventually and keep quiet before somebody could notice him.
He understand the little kwami. He understand her better than Plagg even if he was her other half. He understand her pain for losing her, her sorrow for not being strong enough, her need to see her one last time.
Many people was yelling at the boy as he swiftly avoided crushing into others as he ran with full speed, never stopping or looking back even once. He came to a halt in front of the huge, two-winged door and he felt Nino's and Marinette's parents' gaze on him. He knew that what he was doing was strange and he may was offending them with his behavior in the hour of dread. He didn't want to give them any trouble above all of this. But he had to do this. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. He had to show his best face to his partner. She was waiting for him and he would be there for her one last time. 'With your best face' he told himself as he wiped away his last tears.
He entered the room. Nobody was inside anymore. Metal hospital equipment everywhere, a metal table in the middle.
She was lying there. Shee was covered with something up to her neck. Probably to make it easier for her family to say their goodbyes.
Adrien looked at her. There was his partner, his best friend, his love. His brave, confident, amazing love, who didn't move anymore. She was quiet, pale and motionless. But even with some blood on her face she was still beautiful. The most beautiful girl he had ever known. But he couldn't help himself as his heart clenched at the thought of her face, blushing at him, her eyes bright, all of her being full of life. He couldn't hold his tears back anymore.
Tikki moved. She wanted to go to her chosen, but didn't have the power to flew to her anymore. Catching on this Adrien moved, carefully placing the red kwami to her holder's cheek. Her pale cheek, with no warmth anymore.
The little kwami dropped the earrings and hugged her with every remaining energy she had, nuzzling her little cheek to hers, sobbing and calling out to her. ''Marinette…"
She held her tightly. As much as her power let her. Nobody moved in the room. Grief, sadness, regret, guilt were all written on their faces. Adrien couldn't look anymore. He was useless. He was powerless. He was unworthy to be her partner. He couldn't save her. He should be the one lying there.
The little kwami continued to sob, the tears running from her eyes with seemingly no end, and Adrien closed his eyes as he couldn't bear the sight anymore. Then he heard it.
''…Tikki?" A weak, strained voice sounded from near. He opened his eyes, because he couldn't trust his ears. The girl lying on the metal table weakly stroked the little kwami with her hand. Her bluebell eyes looking at the kwami, her rosy lips slightly open.
''Ma…Marinette?" Tikki asked with disbelief as her eyes snapped to her holder's.
''It was a rough ride, huh?" She gave her a smile that lacked the power but was still warm and genuine.
''Marinette!" She cried again, nuzzling her whole body to her chosen's cheek. Marinette looked at her then looked up at the person who was standing now next to her. She looked up at him.
Adrien just stood there looking back at her. He didn't even blink, just stood there staring at her helplessly. Then his sobs chocked out, he hiccuped, his face becoming a completely mess. He fell to his knees, laying his head next to her as he sobbed.
She was alive. She was alive. She was really alive.
''Oh, kitty. I am so sorry. I didn't want to scare you." She told him weakly, bringing her hand to stroke his hair. He immediately took her hand between his and held it to his face, nuzzling his cheek to her fingers carefully.
She was alive. He could feel it. She was alive, and he couldn't get enough of it.
His uncontrollable sobs had to be loud enough to attract the others' attention, because the door opened and Tom Dupain came inside.
''Son… I know it's hard-'' He started but his words died on his tongue when he saw his daughter. ''Sabine…" He said barely above a whisper. When he didn't get a reaction he called again a little louder. ''Sabine."
For this Sabine Cheng finally came inside, immediately grabbing his arm for comfort as she still cried. She heard Adrien loud sobs but she didn't want to look at her daughter. Not her lifeless body as she was laying on that metal table. But when her husband nudged her in the arm she finally looked up and her breath was caught inside of her. They couldn't move. They were afraid that this dream would shatter, leaving only the cruel reality behind. Because this could be only a dream. They just said their goodbyes to her a few minutes ago. Their wounds still raw they didn't dare to move.
Alya and Nino entered to the room as well to comfort their friend. To make him feel that he wasn't alone with his sorrow. But as Nino looked at him his mouth flew open and he pulled Alya who was hiding behind him to see the scene herself. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight. Gripping Nino's arm she took a tentative step towards them, afraid as well to break this fantasy. Because her best friend was dead. She still could fell how cold her hand felt when Alya gave it a last squeeze. So how…
When the reality that this was actually not a dream finally set in, they wanted to ran to her, embrace her and hold her hand, kiss her cheek again, but eventually stopped as they heard her.
''Chaton. It's okay. I am not leaving you anymore. I promise." Marinette said, stroking his cheek with her fingers. ''Don't cry kitty." That was when they noticed the red thing next to Marinette's face and the black thing above Adrien's head that now landed in his hair stroking it to soothe him as well.
''It's okay kid. She would be fine. But Tikki is on the verge of disappearing." Plagg looked at his other half worriedly.
''Kitty, would you please put my earrings back?" She asked him softly, glancing at Tikki. ''I need them."
He looked at her, stood up and slowly took the earrings to put them back to their rightful place. ''Of course, my Lady." He managed to chock out between sobs. He took her hand in his once again and brought it to his lips, placing a light kiss on it. ''Anything you ask."
Nobody wanted to burst the bubble the two were inside, but they couldn't hold back anymore their tears of joy.
''Marinette!" Cried out Alya as she quickly got to her best friend's side. ''I am so sorry. This is all my fault!" She took Marinette's hand from Adrien who stepped aside to give them some privacy, but he didn't go any further than a few inch and knelt beside her again, laying his head next to her. He felt to warmth this way that was radiating from her once again.
Her parents and Nino invaded her personal space as well, fighting among each other that who should took a few step back to let her breath. Adrien was out of question for everyone as the two heroes held each other's hand as some lifeline. The blond's endearing gaze to Marinette wasn't unnoticed by any of them, and it sent a strange kind of warmth through their body. Like their unbreakable connection could be felt in the entire room and the miracle that just happened was related to this.
When the doctor came inside she couldn't believe her eyes and called for help immediately, after all Marinette was still in critical conditions. Unfortunately she saw the kwamis and as she already heard people's concern about not seeing Ladybug leaving the building before the explosion that afternoon she put two and two together.
It was unfortunate but still had some perks as it made things easier. After all she could heal best when she was transformed and it would be hard to be so while she had to remain in the hospital and keep her secret from everybody. After her parents learned that Tikki needed cookies to recharge they provided an enormous amount of them.
She healed fast, especially as her kitty never really left her side.
So the angst is officially over, next chapter is pure fluff and feels :)