Ch. 7: Feelings
It took them almost fifteen minutes to reach to their destination, but Penn and Sashi finally arrived at the hospital. They made their way into the emergency room, where Penn showed his dislocated left shoulder to the nurse, much to her shock, before she immediately called up his aunt and uncle, with Penn and Sashi looking on. After a few minutes of chatting on the phone, the nurse hung up and turned her attention to Penn.
"Alright sweetie, I inform your aunt and uncle of your situation. Just sit down in the waiting room until they show up."
"Thanks, ma'am," Penn thanked the nurse, as he and Sashi went into the waiting room for Rose and Chuck, before he looked at his left shoulder. "Man, this really bites."
"It's not your fault, Penn," Sashi assured her friend. "If anyone is to be blame, it's Rippen."
"Still, I should have known Rippen was going to do that," Penn stated otherwise. "I'm not going to make that mistake ever again."
"If he does, I'll remind him with my fist," Sashi said, clenching her hand.
"That would certainly send a message to him," Penn said with a chuckle.
By now, ten minutes had passed since they arrived at the emergency room, but Penn and Sashi saw Chuck and Rose frantically running up towards them, before stopping right in their tracks, both having worried looks on their faces.
"Penn, thank goodness you're alright!" Rose yelled with relief, before becoming worried once more. "What happened to your arm?!"
"What did you do to it? Chuck expressed his concern.
"Don't worry, Aunt Rose and Uncle Chuck. It's no big deal," Penn then felt his left shoulder tingled, causing him to cringe from the pain.
"I don't think so," Rose said otherwise, just as a nurse approached her and her husband.
"Are you his guardians?" Both Chuck and Rose nodded. "Excellent! I need one of you to come with me and fill out the forms," she informed them, prompting Rose to turn her attention to Chuck.
"I'll go fill out the forms, Chuck. Just stay here with Penn and Sashi."
"I will, Rose," Chuck assured her, as his wife followed the nurse to fill out the forms, before facing his nephew. "Penn, care to explain what happened?" Penn took a deep breath and began his explanation.
"I was at the Samurai Dog World with Boone and Sashi to take back a castle that Rippen took over and when I saved him from falling to his death, he sucker punched me off from the same cliff."
Chuck gasped in shock to hear this, especially how Rippen would do something so heartless to Penn, despite his nephew saving his life.
"But you did go back to the Odyssey afterwards, right?" Penn nervously darted his eyes away from his uncle, before giving him his answer.
"Actually...I went back to finish the mission," Penn's response deeply horrified Chuck, while Sashi shook her head in disapproval.
"Why would you do such a thing?!" Chuck's shouting prompted everyone to stop what they were doing and turned their directions at him, Penn and Sashi.
"Sir, please refrain from shouting," one of the nurses politely scolded Chuck.
"Sorry," Chuck scratched the top of his head, as she and everyone went back to minding their own business, before Chuck turned back to his nephew, disappointed that he would do something so risky.
"Uncle Chuck, I always risk my life whenever I go out on a mission all the time," Penn defended his choice. "This mission was no different like the rest."
"You don't go out on most missions with a busted shoulder," Chuck countered. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking of stopping Rippen from taking over that dimension, even if I have to do so with one working arm," Penn justified his action.
Chuck simply shook head to this, before he turned his attention to Sashi.
"Sashi, what were you doing when this happened?"
"I was carrying on with the mission, Mr. Zero," Sashi replied. "I was the one who told Penn to head back to the Odyssey and allow me and Boone to finish the mission. We argued about it and I thought Penn listened after he agreed to go back...until he returned after about a minute, the liar," Penn could feel Sashi's glare as he heard her words. It was obvious she really hated that he lied to her.
Once he heard Sashi's explanation, Chuck sighed in exasperation by Penn's reckless actions. His nephew should have known better than to go out like that.
"Uncle Chuck…" Penn began, only for Chuck to look back at him and simply shook his head, prompting Penn to be silent, just as a nurse, as well as Aunt Rose, approached him.
"Mr. Zero, please follow me to the back right away."
Penn nodded his head, got up from his seat and along with his aunt, followed the nurse to their destination, leaving behind Chuck and Sashi in the waiting room by themselves.
"Is there anything else that you haven't told me yet?" Chuck asked Sashi, causing her to take a deep breath, before she began her explanation.
"It began when we arrived at the Samurai Dog World…"
Penn and Rose continued to follow the nurse around, until they stopped in a room full of beds. "Please wait in here, ma'am. We'll be back soon," Rose took a seat as directed, before the nurse continued to lead Penn down the hallway.
They soon arrived right in front of a door labeled "X-Ray". The nurse then opened it and led Penn inside, taking him to the center of the room.
"Now remember, Mr. Zero, just lie down and don't move a muscle. The x-ray machine will do the job and it will be over quickly," the nurse instructed Penn.
"Um, alright," Penn simply said, getting onto the table underneath the machine, as the nurse threw a lead blanket over the lower half of his body.
"By the way, how did you hurt your left shoulder?" the nurse asked curiously.
"I...fell down after playing with my friends," Penn responded. Today had to have the record for more lies told by him in one day. He didn't like to lie, but he would have a hard time explaining to her that he dislocated his shoulder by falling off a cliff where he and everyone around him were samurai sword-wielding canines.
"I see. You must have been quite a ways off the ground," the nurse accepted Penn's answer, much to his relief, before she left the room and the x-ray machine activated and began to scan him from head to toe to capture a complete image of his entire body.
'This is going to be a long day,' Penn thought, as the x-ray machine continued to fully scan him from head to toe.
After thirty minutes of scanning, the x-ray machine deactivated, having served its purpose. The nurse then entered in the x-ray room to check up on him. She motioned her arm for Penn to get up, which he did and he followed her again, before arriving back at the hospital bedroom.
"Alright, Mr. Zero, you just get comfy over here until the doctor shows up a bit," the nurse informed him.
"Thanks, ma'am," Penn thanked her, lying down on the bed.
"We appreciate the help," Rose added.
"No problem. Glad I can be of service," the nurse appreciated their gratitude, before she turned around and left. Once the coast was clear, Rose asked her nephew something very important.
"Penn, how did your shoulder ended up like that?"
"...It's a long story, Aunt Rose and I'll explain everything when we get back home," Penn wearily responded, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversations.
"Alright, I understand, dear," Rose accepted her nephew's answer, respecting his decision for now.
Just then, the doctor finally showed up, holding a file underneath his arm, prompting both Penn and Rose to act natural around him.
"Hello there, Mr. Zero…" the doctor began, opening up the file to start his examination. "Before we began, I need to ask you some important questions."
"Sure," Penn said as calmly as possible, as the doctor looked over the x-ray pictures.
"Not to state the obvious, but this x-ray picture clearly showed your left shoulder dislocated from its proper place. Care to explain how this happened?"
"I was playing a game with my friends when I slipped and fell down...from a tree," Penn lied.
"Are you sure about that?" the doctor became quite suspicious of Penn's claim. "Just how high were you and your friends playing?" Penn pondered quickly, before answering the doctor's question.
"It was more than five foot fall. Yeah, I think that was it."
The doctor's expression, however, remained unchanged, as Penn couldn't figure out if he bought his claim.
'Oh come on, that was my most believable one! What, you've never had patients fall out of trees?! What more do you want, doc?!'
"Doctor, my nephew had a very rough day and he just needed some space," Rose interjected. "Just tell us how bad his left shoulder is already."
The doctor was taken aback for a moment, but sighed and relented, to Penn's relief.
'Score one for Aunt Rose,' Penn was thankful that his aunt was here with him, before the doctor spoke once more.
"It's not too bad and it shouldn't be too difficult to put the left shoulder back to its place. However, the procedure will be very painful and your nephew will need to be sedated before the procedure can be performed. No surgery is needed, so this shouldn't be too bad."
Penn let out a sigh, but was relieved that his injury wasn't anything too serious. Likewise, Rose was also relieved that her nephew avoided any serious injuries as well.
"Now just laid down, relax and we'll take care of the rest," the doctor said to Penn, as a nurse came to the room and injected Penn with the sedation, putting him to sleep, allowing the doctor to perform the procedure.
"...And that's how it happened."
Once Sashi was done finishing up her story, Chuck could only stare at her, speechless of what occurred in the Samurai Dog World. He couldn't believe what Penn went through during his time in that world. Sashi herself was out of breath from having to explain everything.
"...It's a miracle that Penn managed to survive from such a long fall," Chuck finally spoke.
"I don't know how Penn managed to survive that fall either," Sashi confessed. "He didn't explain how he did it."
"The important thing is that Penn survived and made it back home," Chuck said.
"Yeah, I guess that is a good thing," Sashi agreed. "However, I doubt Penn would be lucky if something like this happens again."
"That depends on how bad his arm is and how long it will take for it to heal," Chuck said, before he became quite serious. "In the meantime, you, Penn and Boone should take a break from going out on missions until my nephew's arm is fully healed."
Chuck's suggestion, however, didn't please Sashi one bit.
"We can't do that!" Sashi argued. "We can't just go on a vacation because we felt like it. If we do that, Rippen will do whatever he pleases without anyone stopping him."
"You can't go out on missions if you're stressed out all the time," Chuck countered. "They don't relieve them, they build them up."
"I know!" Sashi shouted, only to regret it and looked down on the floor with shame. "...I know, Mr. Zero, but it doesn't change the fact that we can't refuse to go out on a mission without consequences."
"I understand that, Sashi, but you can't rush things all the time," said Chuck. "Just take things slow and relax, even if it's for that one moment."
Sashi stared at Chuck, not saying a single word to him, until she took a deep breath and responded back.
"I'll...think about it."
"That's all I'm asking," Chuck said with a smile, hoping that his advice had gotten through to her.
It felt like forever, but Penn started to regain consciousness from what felt like an overdue nap, his head feeling a bit groggy, as he started to slowly wake up from the sedation.
"Man, that had to have been the longest nap I ever took," Penn muttered under his breath.
"That's because you were sedated. Actually, you were only out for thirty minutes," Penn turned around and saw the doctor right next to him, with Rose sitting by his side.
"It still feels like a long nap," Penn stated, before he saw the sling on his left arm. "How long will I need to have this sling on?"
"Best case scenario, it'll take four weeks for your left shoulder to heal," the doctor replied.
"FOUR WEEKS?!" Penn was shocked to hear the doctor's answer; he can't believe that it'll take him four weeks before he can use his left arm again. Unfortunately for Penn, that also meant that Rippen could take over one world after another without anyone opposing him.
"Please sir, there are other patients sleeping here," The doctor scolded Penn.
"Sorry," he apologized, though Penn still remained worried over his new situation. But the doctor wasn't done yet.
"Besides, we also have to factor in physical therapy. That could be another month as well."
'Oh man, what do I now?!' he frantically thought. 'Rippen will take advantage over this! How am I supposed to stop him now in the next four weeks with one working arm?! What I did back there was dumb luck! If I don't find a way to stop him, every world will fall under his reign!'
"Is something bothering you?" the doctor asked, having noticed Penn's panicked look on his face.
"I-It's nothing, really," Penn insisted to the doctor, who stared at him for a moment, before nodding his head and went to check up on the other patients. Penn then laid his head down on the pillow, sighing heavily and stared at the ceiling.
'This stinks! I'm going to be on the sideline for a long time!' Penn thought, dismayed that he wouldn't be able to participate on any missions for such a long time. After a few minutes, he calmed himself down over his predicament. 'Maybe I'm worrying too much about this. I should just head home and rest.'
Penn then got up from his bed and with Rose's help; he was back on his feet.
"Careful now, Penn: Take it slow and steady," Rose said to her nephew.
"I will, Aunt Rose and thanks for the help," Penn thanked her, before the two left the hospital bedroom and headed back to the waiting room.
It was almost an hour since they have been in the waiting room, but Chuck and Sashi saw Penn and Rose coming out of the emergency room, much to their relief, before Sashi saw the sling on her friend's left arm, leaving her quite worried.
'How are we going to complete a mission now that Penn has that sling on his left arm?' Sashi pondered about this, while Chuck approached Penn.
"Penn, how long will it take for your arm to heal up?" he asked. Penn took a deep breath, before answering back.
"Four weeks."
As soon as Penn answered his uncle's question, Sashi snapped back to reality and looked at Penn with astonishment.
"Four weeks?!" she shouted. "But you won't be able to use your left arm for a long time!"
"I know, Sashi and it sucks," Penn felt disappointed by this, prompting Chuck and Rose to console their nephew as best as possible.
"It's alright, Penn. It's nothing to be ashamed about," Rose insisted.
"Don't think too much about it. For now, let's just head home and you can get some rest," Chuck suggested.
"...Thanks, Aunt Rose and Uncle Chuck," Penn appreciated their concerns, before he, Rose, Chuck and Sashi left the hospital, ready to head back home.
Once they entered Chuck's car, they made the long drive back to their residence, though Penn was far from happy. He had to put on the sling for the next four weeks and allow his left shoulder to heal up, but it was such a long wait, especially when he and his friends have to save the world on a daily basis.
"Rippen will certainly do whatever he wants now that I have this thing on my arm and there's nothing I can do about it," Penn complained. "How am I going to save the day if I'm-?"
"Penn, just stop," Sashi cut her friend off, much to Penn's surprise. "You're making it sound like Rippen has already won."
"He might as well have!" Penn proclaimed. "I can't use my left arm for an entire month and I'm certain Phyllis won't bail me out again this time."
"Just leave the missions to me and Boone for now," Sashi insisted, before she saw Penn becoming uncomfortable with the idea. "You don't trust me?"
"It's not like that, Sashi. I certainly trust you!" Penn defensively said, before rubbing his head. "It's Boone that worries me. He's more of a hit or miss when it comes to completing a mission."
"I'll make sure Boone stays in line and focus on the mission," Sashi assured Penn. "Besides, you get sidetracked as much as Boone does on missions too."
"...You're right, Sashi. That does happen a lot," Penn admitted, giving his friend a smile as well. "I appreciate what you're doing."
As soon as Sashi saw Penn's smile, she ceased scolding her friend and smiled back in return, pleased that Penn, for once, was listening to her.
"Thanks for listening to me for a change," said Sashi.
"No problem, Sash. We're friends, after all," Penn responded.
While the two teenagers were chatting with each other, Chuck and Rose listened in on their conversation, both sighing in relief that they didn't start to bicker with each other.
"Thank goodness it ended on a good note," Rose quietly said to his husband.
"Yeah that could've been way worse," Chuck said, as he continued to drive the way back home.
It was almost getting dark in the neighborhood, but Penn, Sashi, Chuck and Rose eventually arrived home, as Chuck parked the car parked in the driveway, before they got out and made their way to the front door.
"If anyone asked, I fell down," Penn informed his aunt, uncle and Sashi.
"Agreed," they simultaneously agreed, before Penn opened the front door, just in time to be greeted by Sylvester, Tia and George.
"Penn, thank goodness you're alright!" Sylvester shouted with joy.
"Everyone was worried about you," Tia showed her concern.
"What happened to your arm?" George asked, prompting his parents to notice the sling that Penn had on his left arm.
"Well…" Penn began, only to be interrupted once more.
"How did it ended up like that, Penn?" Sylvester asked curiously.
"Please, do tell," Tia insisted.
"I want to know too," George added, just as eager to hear Penn's story as his parents were.
Before Penn could say more, Rose spoke up on his behalf instead.
"Penn was playing with his friends when he accidentally slipped and fell down from a tree," she told them, before giving her nephew a wink.
"Yeah, that's right. I got very careless when I reach to the top," Penn played along with his aunt's claim.
"You need to watch where you're going next time," Sashi scolded her friend.
"Alright, Sashi, I get it," Penn defensively said to her
"It's alright, Penn. Sashi just wants to make sure that you're safe should you play out next time," Chuck assured his nephew.
"I know, Uncle Chuck and don't worry, I'll be more careful from now on," Penn insisted.
"I'm glad you learned your lesson, Penn," said Sylvester. "You should really be more careful out there."
"I'm sure you need some rest after such a long day," Tia suggested.
"I can use some sleep after what happened," Penn agreed, before he let out a yawn. "Good night, everyone."
Everyone said their goodnights to Penn, as he went upstairs to his bedroom, closed the door behind him and laid himself down on his bed, ready to call it for the day.
'I should relax first before worrying about Rippen's next move,' he thought, before Penn closed his eyes and went to sleep.
The rest of the evening went by without any further incidents; after having dinner together, Sylvester, Tia and George went to sleep, with Chuck and Rose putting the dishes away, while Sashi sat on the couch and watch whatever was good on TV...or lack thereof.
'I swear TV isn't as good as it used to be. Whoever came up with these dumb shows should have been fired from day one.'
Sashi decided to get up and get something to drink. Just as she was coming up to the kitchen, she heard what sounded like Chuck and Rose talking to each other, as Sashi was not far from where the kitchen's entrance was. Out of curiosity, she listened in on what they were talking about.
"I'm telling you, Chuck. Penn was mumbling incoherently while the doctor put his shoulder back in its place," Rose told her husband.
"That happens when one gets sedated, Rose," Chuck simply said. "You've done it, I've done it, Brock's done it and Vonnie's done it. What's different?"
"He mentioned someone very important he wants to help and protect," Rose's statement caused Chuck to become curious in his wife's claim.
"Who is it?"
'Yeah, who was Penn talking about?' Sashi wondered as well. What came out of Rose's mouth, however, left her quite shocked.
"Penn was talking about Sashi," Rose replied, leaving Chuck deeply surprised by this.
"Why did Penn brought up Sashi's name?"
"He was rambling on how he might have feelings for her, how he wants to protect her, how he will save her no matter what and make sure that she was safe from any danger," Rose explained. "Of course, the doctor who was fixing his arm got uncomfortable listening to him."
'Penn has feelings...for me?' was all Sashi could think of. She couldn't believe what she was hearing; Penn was talking about her at the hospital? What was it about her that interested Penn? More importantly, why her, of all people? Her thoughts were interrupted by Chuck laughing in the kitchen.
"I think I'm starting to see a pattern right there..." Chuck began. "Vonnie and Brock fell in love while they were on the job and now the sidekick/hero pairing is happening again."
"...Come to think of it, I noticed that as well," Rose pondered for a moment, before smiling. "It's sweet that Penn thought of Sashi that way."
At this point, Sashi nearly gasped, having forgotten that she was holding her breath, before stopping herself at the last moment. Not wanting to alert Chuck and Rose, Sashi quietly snuck back to the couch and pretended that she was still watching TV. Though aware of this revelation, Sashi realized she had treaded into a territory she was not familiar with.
'I don't know anything about love, let alone experiencing it!' Sashi panicked, as her mind racing with many more questions. 'But how do I feel about Penn? Do I like him as a friend? Do I like him as a confidante? Or do I like him...like that? Think, Sashi, think!'
Sashi looked for any answer that would help explain her newfound feelings for Penn. After several minutes of this, however, she received not a single one to any of her questions. Sashi finally let it go for now, though she was just as nervous as ever.
"I can't confront Penn about this, not yet," she quietly said to herself. "If I do, it'll put us in a very awkward position. I don't want to make it difficult for Penn then it already is. I'll talk to him when the time is right. For now, I shouldn't worry too much about it."
With that, Sashi went back to watching TV once more, though her feelings for Penn were something she was going to have to confront eventually. Sooner than she thought, in fact.
A/N: So you guys enjoying the story? Sorry if it's a bit on the slow side this week but it is exams week and it's getting hectic.
Guest review this week:
redlinevcr: Um… you're welcome but that doesn't answer my question…
rainbowlopaz: Well he's told someone, even if he's unaware of it. Don't worry: we'll get there.
Thank you to those who reviewed. Your support keeps me going.
Till next time, Sal out!
