Fragile Rose
Chapter Seven Broken stem
Yang burst through the doors of Beacon medical carrying her unconscious sister, who was barely breathing. Yang saw Velvet just starting her shift at the hospital (Velvet is a medical student). Yang ran up to her and yelled, "Vel! You have to help save her!" Velvet was shocked at Yang for yelling at her, but saw the little girl in Yang's arms, which made her blood run cold. Then Velvet's medical training kicked in and she said, "I need a crash cart here stat we have a injured kid." Velvet asks, "Yang what happened to her - and who is she" Yang starts crying a little while saying, "She's my little sister. She's only eight years old. Her name is Ruby Rose Xiao Long and she's had a heart attack." Yang takes a breath then says, "Ruby also got hurt when Pyrrha and Adam were fighting. She got trapped under them."
As Velvet and a team of nurses rushed Ruby to intensive care. Two of the nurses had to hold Yang back when she tried following them into the operating room. Yang tried to fight them, but Velvet made a promise to Yang that she would take care of Ruby. Yang put her faith in Velvet. She had never seen the rabbit faunus so confident before. Yang went back to the waiting room. Yang sat next to a collapsed Weiss sitting in a chair. Yang had forgotten about Weiss when she was running to the hospital. Weiss jumped up when Yang sat down next to her causing Weiss to say, "What happened? Is Ruby okay?" Yang sighed then said, "No, she's not good, but I ran into Velvet and she promised to protect Ruby." Weiss just gives Yang a hug then said, "Don't worry, Ruby will be fine." This caused Yang to snap back at Weiss, "Fine? What fucking part of this is fine!" Yang then storms off to the cafeteria to get something to drink.
Not long after Yang left, Weiss felt a tap on her shoulder she had hoped it would have been Yang but instead it was Qrow and Blake. Qrow just asks two things, "How's Ruby? Where's Yang?" Weiss tears up a little bit when saying, "Ruby is with the doctors right now and I tried to calm Yang down, but she just snapped at me, then ran off." Qrow sighs then heads after his oldest niece while Blake stays with Weiss. Blake gives Weiss a hug and a pat on the back. Weiss started crying a little she was sad about Ruby and more upset that Yang yelled at her. Blake says, "Don't take what Yang says to heart right now. She's just hurting. After all, hospitals are her least favorite place in the world." Weiss looks up confused and just asks, "Why?" Blake replies, "The reason behind how Yang is acting has to do with Ruby and her mom." Weiss jumps up saying, "We didn't call Yang and Ruby's parents."
Blake sighs she wished it had been Yang to tell Weiss this not her. Blake says, "Yang and Ruby's dad can be a little unreliable with these matters. It's best to let Qrow or Yang talk to him." Weiss looked confused and said, "What about their mom?" Blake just says, "That's complicated and it should really be Yang who tells you that." Weiss has one last question for Blake, "How do you know so much about Yang and Ruby? I've never seen you two hanging out." Blake looks away from Weiss to hide her face when she says, "We dated in high school but in our senior year we went through a real nasty break up and before you ask I don't want to talk about it." Weiss felt like something bigger was going on and she wished her friends would let her know.
Qrow spotted Yang sitting in the corner by herself crying into her drink. Qrow just sits down next Yang, but before he could say anything Yang starts talking, "I fucked up today didn't I? It's all my fault." Qrow hugs his niece then says, "It's not your fault. What happened to Ruby, if anything, it should be mine and those punks fault. I will make sure they get the book thrown at them hard." That made Yang smile a little but then Qrow said, "You should apologize to your friend back there." Yang just gives him a hurt expression, "Yang don't give me that look. Your friend Weiss doesn't know anything about Ruby and your life. Am I right?" Yang nods "You know what you have to do kiddo." Yang nods again, finishes her strawberry lemonade, and heads back to meet with Weiss. She knew her uncle was right.
When Yang made it back to Weiss she noticed Blake was there too. Yang couldn't look her in the eyes. It was too painful. Yang looks at Weiss and says, "Can you come with me Weiss? I need to explain and apologize for my behavior." Weiss turns to Blake who nods 'yes'. Weiss gets up and follows Yang back to the cafeteria. After getting another strawberry lemonade for herself and one for Weiss they sit down. "Before we start, how much did Blake tell you?" Yang asks. Weiss replies, "Not much, just your dad is unreliable in situations like this and you two dated. She didn't want to talk about it. Something about it being an awkward break up. She said I should ask you about your and Ruby's mom." Yang sighs, "Yeah, Dad wouldn't handle this situation to well. And that's putting it mildly about the break up being awkward. I don't want to talk about that either"
Yang takes a sip of her lemonade and says in a sad tone, "The reason I'm upset and dislike hospitals is because two of the saddest and most scary times of my life happened in a hospital." Yang takes another sip and continues, "Not long ago Ruby was in the hospital because she suffered a heart attack." Weiss spits out her lemonade and says, "How did she have a heart attack? She's just a kid!?" Yang replies, "Ruby was born with a weak heart. It was due to her premature birth." Yang starting to cry again before Weiss could ask a question. Yang says, "Me and Ruby are half sisters." Weiss was confused what did that have to do with anything? Before Weiss could get a word out, Yang said "Me and Ruby have different moms." Weiss then asks, "Where are your moms then?" Yang laughs dryly then says, "My mother? I don't fucking know or care. In my heart I only have one mom, Summer."
Weiss asks "Is Summer Ruby's mom? We should call her. I bet she would be worried sick about Ruby." Yang smiles a little then says, "Summer is already here. At least in spirit." Yang then frowns then says, "Summer died from a car accident, but she stayed alive long enough for Ruby to be born." Weiss just hugs Yang. She now understands a little why she acts the way that she does and why she yelled at her. Weiss starts crying saying, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Yang hugs Weiss and says, "You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't know." Weiss and Yang started crying together until Weiss said, "We should head back to the others." But before leaving the cafeteria Weiss asked Yang about the strawberry lemonade. Yang just replies "It was Summer's favorite. Last time I was at the hospital for Ruby, drinking it, it made it feel like Summer was in the room with us."
As the two girls made there way back to Qrow and Blake they saw Qrow talking to a doctor. Yang ran over as fast as she could go. Yang just asks, "How's Ruby" Is she okay?" The doctor turns to Yang and ask, "Who are you?" Qrow answers, in a annoyed tone, "She's Ruby's older sister. Now will you tell us what condition she's in and can we see her yet?" The doctor then became a little intimidated, but he knew he had to tell them anyways. "Well, for starters my name is Dr O'Malley and I wish I had some better news for you." Yang and Qrow's faces showed how worried they were. Dr. O'Malley said, "I have some good news for you. Ruby is stable and you can visit her, but for now I would suggest just family." The doctor takes a breath then says, "For the bad news, from the test we ran and the damage done to her spine, Ruby has lost the use of her legs."
Yang just fell to her knees and started crying. Qrow didn't know how to respond to this. He always saw his niece as delicate and she didn't really run around like the other kids. But now she wouldn't have a choice in the matter. Qrows mind then went into a rage. He was going to ruin the lives of those little bastards that hurt his niece. O'Malley felt bad for them. He felt even worse because he knew of a way Ruby could walk again but it's so expensive no insurance company would cover it. The doctor didn't want to get their hopes up out of fear for what they would do to him.
Yang feels a hand on her shoulder and turns to see Velvet with a smiling face, which angered Yang. She promised to save Ruby and she didn't. Instead she has a stupid grin on her face. But before Yang could react Velvet said cheerfully, "Did Dr. O'Malley tell you the good news? Ruby could walk again!" Upon hearing this Yang and Qrow shot dirty looks to the Doctor who started shaking in fear. He was terrified to say this statement, but knew he had no other choice, "Well there is a small chance. With a special surgery Ruby could walk again, but it's highly experimental with a long waiting list. Most insurance companies won't even cover it."
Yang felt her world falling apart. She was asking herself 'why was this world so cruel that it took so much from her family. Now fate has decided to take her sisters legs. What did Ruby ever do to deserve this life? She was so innocent.' Velvet tries to cheer everyone up by saying, "Why don't we go see Ruby and I know seeing her big sister would make her feel better." Yang nods 'yes' as Velvet leads the way. Yang started crying hard seeing her little sister hooked up to machines. Yang's first thought was that she failed Summer. That Ruby getting hurt was all her fault and her not being able to walk again was to tell the world how much she was a bad big sister.
(Back to Blake and Weiss)
Weiss was so scared. She saw Yang break down talking to the doctor about Ruby's condition. But then Yang cheered up a little when Velvet came and lead Yang and her uncle away Weiss tried to follow but Qrow stopped her then said, "Weiss I need you to wait here for Winter. She will be coming to give me some important information about the three who did this to Ruby." Weiss just nods 'yes' and sits next to Blake and waits.
(a hour later)
Winter comes into the waiting room and spots Weiss and Blake. Winter asks her sister, "Where's Qrow? He needs to hear this." Weiss replies, "He asked me to wait here for you. They went in to see Ruby." Winter went over to the nurses' desk and asked them to send Qrow down. About five minutes later Qrow was there asking for some news. Winter said, "Well I wish I had better news, but Black and Sustari lawyered up and already made out on a technicality. They also wish to press charges against Miss. Nikos, Mr. Arc, and you Miss. Belladonna." Blake jumps up saying, "That's bullshit! They tried to give Ruby drugs!" Winter just holds up her hand and says, "Unfortunately, we didn't find anything incriminating on them." Qrow was pissed about this but just asks, "What about Taurus?" Winter smiled and said, "He is in lock-up for five counts of assault on police officers here and at the station. But unfortunately Black and Sustari are saying Adam didn't do anything to Ruby. They have a witness that claims to have seen everything. they want to stay anonymous." "This witness is also responsible for lawyering Black and Sustari up." Qrow just punches a wall out of anger. He hasn't been this pissed in years.
Weiss, even though knowing the tension still asked "What's Ruby's condition is?" Qrow replies, "Ruby has lost the use of her legs. She would only be able to walk again if we had a small fortune to pay for an operation. That might not even work." Weiss just stood there in shock as Qrow says, "Ruby's in no condition to see anyone right now. Maybe later tonight, or tomorrow. You all can go home for now. We just need some space." Qrow walked away from them. Blake ran off inside, she was blaming herself for this mess leaving Weiss and Winter.
As the sisters where heading back to Winter's car, Winter could tell Weiss is in deep thought. Winter just says, "Weiss I know what you're thinking, and there is no way father would give them the money." Weiss, a little shocked that her sister knew what she was thinking, replies, "Why wouldn't he? She's a little girl. Plus she's my best friend's little sister." Winter now shocked just replies, "Weiss, I know how father is. And even if he would help Ruby, it would be so he could gain something. I think that little girl has been through enough in her short life she doesn't need our added family politics to it." Winter and Weiss don't say another word until they reached Winter's car. After a hug goodbye, Winter drives off. Weiss had one thought on her mind, that she would make her father help Ruby. She deserves to walk again.
End of Chapter Seven Broken Stem
Thanks for reading and I'm sure a few of you have been wandering what poor Ruby's fate was. Now you know. Ruby is still unconscious, but won't be for much longer. Please follow/ favorite this story and don't forget to leave a comment on what you think of this chapter or if you have any questions for me about this chapter. Until next time.
