Don't You Remember?
CHAPTER 3
A Phoenix Wright x Miles Edgeworth Fanfiction.
Author's Note: Finally, another chapter! I hope that it clears up any questions regarding why Phoenix is unwilling to tell Miles about the past! (I'm also sorry for the very late update! Schoolwork takes precedence, after all.) I hope you enjoy this chapter!
The cold touch of the stethoscope sends chills up Miles' spine.
Grimacing, he mutters, "Why on earth do doctors never heat up their stethoscopes before examinations?"
The doctor smiles amiably as he touches the device lower down his patient's chest.
"Because there are far too many mistakes already in the medical field. Imagine burning someone with a hot stethoscope!"
"I, for one, would much prefer something closer to body temperature."
"I suppose, but you'll have to deal with the bitter coldness of my stethoscope's diaphragm, because I'm not warming it."
Gesturing for Miles to turn around, the patient does, only for him to shudder again when the metal disc is pressed to his upper back.
"Diaphragm?"
"The round component of a stethoscope that's used to pick up the breathing sounds of the patient. Breathe in."
Miles takes in a huge gulp of air, letting is flow through him before finally exhaling.
"I suppose you learn something new every day."
After a few more cursory checks, the doctor removes the headset from his ears, giving Miles the all-clear- for his lungs, at least.
"Dr. Adams, I've been wondering something for a while."
"Shoot away."
"Nick isn't telling me anything." When the doctor displays a confused expression, he continues, "My primary emergency contact. The one who sprang into the room the other day."
"Ah, yes. Him." Adams nods. "Seemed like a nice fellow."
"He's very reluctant to tell me of my life before the accident, but I must know, if I am to get better."
"Miles, I told him not to tell you."
"What?"
Miles furrows his eyebrows.
"The success of your treatment depends on you recalling those memories on your own." Adams explains. "Even if Nick does tell you what happened, that may just cause more confusion for you, and you may never fully integrate yourself with those memories, no matter how you try."
There's a long silence in the room as the doctor continues with the check up.
"I see." Miles nods. "So he was just following your orders, was he?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I can understand that."
Still, I want to know.
"Everything looks good, Miles." The doctor places his tools back on a nearby cart. "Your injuries are healing steadily, and though your memory hasn't returned, your mind is very sharp, which is a good sign."
"No changes in medication?"
"Yes. I'll come and check on you after two days."
The conversation comes to a standstill, and the doctor busies himself with his notes. After completing his report, he leaves the room with a brisk wave.
"Nick, you've been sighing all week, and it's only Tuesday!" Maya looks worriedly into the lawyer's face.
He knew it was true. All the worries in Phoenix's mind because of his and Miles' predicament had occupied his mind ever since the first phone call, and he never was good at disguising emotions.
"I'm fine, really." He smiles. "Everyone has their down days!"
"Even on your down days, you've never been like this! There has to be something!"
Gulping, Phoenix looks into his assistant's eyes.
"Maya, Edgeworth is in the hospital."
"What? The hospital? No way." She shakes her head. "Health-freak, demon prosecutor Miles Edgeworth?"
"Yes, that Edgeworth."
"You're serious."
"Yes. That's why I've been kinda down these past few days." Phoenix sighs, easing into the office chair. "There it is. I said it."
"Nick! What are we doing moping around here, then?" Maya runs over and pushes Phoenix out of his seat. "We have to go! We have to visit him!"
"Alright, alright."
And with that, the Wright & Co. Law Offices closed its doors for the day.
"Mister Edgeworth!"
Maya ran into the room, enveloping the patient in a tight hug that elicited a muffled "Oof" from him. Nick couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. It wasn't every day he got to see Edgeworth as flustered as he was at the moment, gasping for air and glaring angrily at Phoenix.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay! Are you really? You almost look like a mummy with all these bandages!"
"Nick- H-elp-"
Maya finally released her vise-like grip on the injured prosecutor, a confused expression appearing on her face.
"Nick? But I thought-"
"Ah!"
Realizing that he hadn't divulged the information of Miles' amnesia to her yet, Phoenix pulls her out of the room with a muttered apology to Miles and closes the sliding door behind them.
"Maya! Miles has amnesia."
The girl's eyes widen at the news.
"What? Is he going to be alright?"
"I don't know." Phoenix swallows. "The doctor said that I shouldn't do anything to cause stress on his brain- I can't tell him direct facts about the past. That's why I asked he call me "Nick" instead."
"Oh no..."
"It'll all be fine. I'm sure of it. Edgeworth's tongue is as sharp as ever, and his mind is just as quick as before his car accident." Phoenix paused, repeating his words in his mind as if to convince himself the same. "It'll take time. That's all."
"So I shouldn't say anything to him? Want me to use a nickname?"
"As long as it's nothing about the past or my relationship with him." Phoenix nods. "I already told him you were coming, so you won't need an alias."
"Got it."
They reenter the room, a reclining Miles turning his head towards them in a relaxed gesture.
"So... your name?"
"Y-Yes! I'm Maya, Nick's assistant at the law firm!"
"Nick did mention someone of that name yesterday."
"I help him with organizing files and stuff! It's really interesting. My sister was his mentor."
So he's a lawyer. From how flustered he was yesterday, you would never have guessed.
"I see." Miles smiles slightly. "I'm sure I knew you before this happened, but it's a pleasure to meet you, once again."
Her enthusiastic reply was coupled with a relieved sigh.
"I'm so glad to see you're okay!" She grinned. "Nick here was moping around all week! Not really good for our lawyerly image, if you know what I mean."
"I'm sure."
Suddenly, Maya's eyes shift towards the small alarm clock on the metal bedside table next to the hospital bed.
"Nick?"
"Hm?"
"What time did I say my super important medium training was again?" Her tone quickly became nervous and careful.
"5PM, right? You mentioned that earlier-"
No sooner than Phoenix had finished his sentence, Maya was out the door of the room and running down the hallway, hurried cries of "I'm late! I'm late!" echoing after her.
This left the room in a surprised silence, both men still a little stunned at the dramatic exit that had just occurred.
"Well, that was... eventful." Miles chuckled softly. "You said she was spunky, but I never quite expected..."
"She's quite a handful sometimes, but a good person." Phoenix nodded. "She was so worried when I told her you were hospitalized this morning. She forced me to close office early just to come visit you!"
Miles made no reply as he stared holes into his lap.
"So you're a lawyer?"
"Oh? Oh, yes. I'm a defense attorney." Nick sat next to Miles' bed.
"Must be a rough job."
"Y-yeah, I guess. Not as bad as my original major, though. I was going to major in Fine Arts."
"Really? You'll have to show me some of your work sometime, then. I'm sure it must be quite impressive." Miles replied numbly.
"Not at all. There's a reason why I switched to law!" The lawyer laughed nervously. Clearly, his attempt to joke around had failed, because there was only his fake laughter filling the room.
"Nick?"
Phoenix gulped. Did he overhear Maya's and his conversation in the hall? He braced himself for the harsh question, but none came.
"Visiting hours will be over soon."
"Ah?" One glance at the clock signified that it was indeed getting close to the end of visiting hours, and Phoenix collected his jacket and placed the stool he had been sitting on back in its former place. "Alright, Edgeworth. I'll see you tomorrow! I hope Maya and I livened your hospital experience up a bit."
"Oh, I assure you, you have. Thank you for coming."
"Take care!"
With this remark, the defense attorney turned heel and strutted out the door.