A/N: Chapter ten has arrived. This is the last of the "hospital" chapters. Next chapter I'm going to fast forward a little bit.
PacificTwist/azn anime addict47: Thanks so much! Glad you like it!
DrippingInk: I'm not really sure what I did differently between chapters 8 and 9…perhaps the "drama" was a bit too much for your tastes in chapter 9? I hope you like this chapter!
Lioness Blackfire: I feel the same way you do in that respect. I like the heavy stuff, but I get depressed so I sometimes avoid it. That's why I like a mix of humor in there. I'm actually not trying to make it a heavy story. It just so happens that Elpitha has a difficult past, and this story is about her trying to get past it and live a peaceful life. I'm glad you like it so far!
It was 11:15 p.m. on the fifth day of Elpitha's stay in the hospital and she had had it. She had behaved long enough and she wanted out. She had been planning it the entire day. Elli was planning on leaving at six, and the doctor would retire upstairs for the night at eight. That was her chance. Elpitha crept quietly out of bed and glanced around the room, finally resting her eyes on the closet in the corner. She knew her clothes were in there as well as some other hospital garments. Elpitha had spied something in there with a hood the last time Elli had gone in there, and it would be perfect to keep people from recognizing her right away. She took a step towards the closet, but fell. Had the doctor heard? All was quiet, and she pulled herself back up, using the bed for support.
"It's OK, I'm fine!" She thought defiantly. "I'm just a little dizzy from being in bed so long, and once I get home and have a good night's rest, I'll feel refreshed and not so weak!"
Elpitha had had many arguments with Elli and the doctor over her stay at the hospital. She insisted that she was well enough to go home, but they did not agree. She refused to let them hold that over her head, and so she sat on the bed, listening intently for any movement from the doctor before once again venturing towards the closet. She made her way more carefully this time and grabbed her clothing, quickly getting dressed and throwing on the hooded cloak. She would not let her dizziness prevail. If she made her way slowly and carefully, she would be able to reach home without anyone noticing. Once there, she would be able to gloat over her success, and they would have no choice but to acknowledge that she was cured. They would most likely nag her to come in to check up on her injury. That was perfect! She would agree to that. After all, she had to make some compromise, and agreeing to go to a doctor's appointment and then not showing up seemed like a perfect one to her. She tiptoed out of her room and entered the lobby, heading stealthily for the door. She took a quick glance up the stairs before quietly turning the door handle and exiting the clinic.
A gentle gust of air hit Elpitha in the face as she stepped outside. It seemed like such a long time since she had gotten fresh air, and she breathed it in deeply as she quietly climbed down the stairs. Looking around, Elpitha noticed that no one was outside. The crickets were in fine form that night, and the moon seemed to wink at her as she looked up at the clear night sky. It was a beautiful fall night. It was a bit on the cool side, being midway through the season, but that made no difference to Elpitha. She thoroughly enjoyed the cool breeze as she made her way down the lane and into the square. Luckily for her, the square was abandoned as well, however she had other worries. She was beginning to feel faint, and she still had a little bit of a walk to make it to her house. Elpitha was stubborn. She would not give in and forced herself to go on, staggering a bit in the process. All at once her strength left her and she fell, bracing herself for the collision with the stone paved floor of the square. Moments later, someone lifted her. Elpitha looked up to see a smiling face below a purple bandana.
"Hey there, beautiful! What are you doing all the way out here?" He asked, lifting her up a bit and allowing her to lean on him for support.
"I was..they let me out!" She said, trying her best to regain her ability to stand.
Kai laughed. "Nice try, babe, but I don't think Elli would have let you out in this condition! Come on. Up we go." He said, slipping his arms under her knees and lifting her. "Put your arm around my neck. I don't want you to fall."
Elpitha was too weak to put up much of a fight, and Kai was able to carry her back to the clinic. He gently put her back into bed, tossing her her hospital gown and, after a wink, leaving her to change. When Kai came back, he put Elpitha's clothes back into the closet, completing the illusion that she had never left. When he sat down on Elpitha's bed, he noticed her staring at her arm.
"What is it?" He asked.
"My arm. It's bleeding a little." She replied.
Kai leaned over and took a look for himself. "Yeah…must've been from that fall! Here…Elli left that bandage tape stuff here. I'll see if I can wrap it up for you." He said, grabbing the tape and wrapping it snugly around her arm, but easing up when Elpitha flinched slightly. "I'm sorry, baby. There. That'll hold her for a while."
"Thanks." Elpitha said.
"You're most welcome." Kai replied with a grin. Then it changed to a slight frown. "Listen doll, I'm all for sneaking out at night, but you really should be careful. You could have really hurt yourself, you know?"
"I know…I just wanted to go home…" Elpitha whispered, looking down.
Kai gently lifted Elpitha's chin, bending his head a bit to meet her eyes. He ran his fingers through Elpitha's hair, finally resting his hand on her cheek. "I know how you feel. I'd hate being locked up in this glorified prison myself, but it's the only way you'll get well. After all, I still want to take you out again." He said with a smile.
"I know." Elpitha said with a sigh. She leaned back, forcing Kai to let go of her face, and looked up at the ceiling. "Anyway, Elli's going to kill me in the morning."
"Nah." Kai said. "I won't say anything. I should leave you to get some rest."
"I don't mind the company." Elpitha replied. "I have trouble falling asleep here, and it gets lonely during the night. I think Elli's catching on. I'm almost certain she drugged me the night before last, and she tried last night and tonight as well."
"Alright." Kai said. "I'm a night owl myself, so I'll hang around at least until you fall asleep."
Elpitha didn't fall asleep, however. They talked so long that they didn't even notice the time flying by.
"I've been thinking a bit about you." Kai said suddenly.
"You have?" Elpitha asked, eyeing him warily.
"Of course!" Kai replied with a grin. "I've noticed you go on the defensive whenever I try to sweet talk you."
"Sweet talk?" Elpitha said sarcastically. "Is that what you call it?"
"Look, I know I come off as a bit of a sleaze-ball sometimes. I don't mean anything by it. I'm just trying to get people to loosen up. Know what I mean?" He said, grinning.
"Yeah, I guess." Elpitha said with a smirk.
"So…you don't have a boyfriend or anything, do you?" Kai asked.
"No. Not at the moment."
"So…do you want one?" Kai asked once more, grin still in place.
"Who? You?" Elpitha asked.
"Why not? I'm cute." Kai said, smoothing his bandana. "I have a great personality." He leaned back and grinned. "And I can carry you anywhere you'd like to go."
Elpitha laughed. "So what does it entail? Are we supposed to do a courtship dance or something?"
"How about that second date?" Kai asked.
"I guess." Elpitha replied.
"Does that mean you want me as your boyfriend?" Kai asked with a hopeful grin.
"How about we just see where it goes?"
Kai's grin widened. "Fair enough! Now, I know just the right kind of medicine for you." Kai said, leaning in very close. A door slamming made them both jump.
"What on earth is going on here?!" Elli cried. She was fuming, and Elpitha suddenly had the urge to hide under her bed. "Kai, what are you doing here? Did you get any sleep at all, Elpitha? I'm going to kill you both!"
"You're a good nurse." Kai said, and Elli nearly threw a nearby bedpan at him.
Elli stomped over, and the red on Elpitha's bandage caught her eye. She seized Elpitha's arm and glared at her. Then she grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off the bandage, examining Elpitha's arm. "Your cut has been opened. A few of the stitches are broken." She said in a voice of dangerous calm. "What did you do?"
"I…I…it was…" Elpitha stuttered.
"It was me!" Kai broke in. "You know me, always joking. I was trying to tickle her and I grabbed her arm a bit too roughly." Elpitha stared at him.
"I might have known." Elli said, dropping Elpitha's arm in disgust. She went over to the other side of the room, and began to rummage through one of the drawers.
"Hey…don't worry about it, Elli. I just need a need a new bandage." Elpitha said.
"You need a good spanking!" Elli spat.
"Hey, I'm all for that. After all, you have been very naughty, Elpitha." Kai said with a grin.
Both Elli and Elpitha glared at him.
"I…it was a joke!" Kai stuttered. Then he grinned hopefully. "…unless of course you want to…"
Elpitha shoved Kai off of her bed and Elli grabbed the feather duster out of the corner and attacked him.
"Ouch! Hey! I'm sorry! It was a joke!" Kai yelped.
Elli stopped and stared at him once more. "I think it's time you left Kai." She said in a voice of forced calm.
"Sure! I'm beat." Kai said, backing towards the door. "Of course, if you don't want to do it, and you think she really needs it, I can always…" Kai began.
Elli dropped the feather duster and grabbed a broom.
Jeff was on his way back to the store after a peaceful visit to the church. As he passed the clinic, he wondered if he should stop in and ask the doctor about his chronic stomach problems. Suddenly the door flew open and Kai came charging out with Elli in hot pursuit, swinging a broom at him.
"If I EVER catch you harassing one of my patients again…" Elli yelled, catching Kai with the broom.
"OUCH! I'm sorry! I'm going!" Kai cried, increasing his speed. He ran straight into Jeff, knocking him over. Jeff stood up once more and then Kai hid behind him. Elli followed, swinging at Kai and hitting Jeff in the process.
The doctor was just coming down the stairs when Elli entered the clinic once more, red-faced and breathing heavily.
"Good morning." The doctor said with a puzzled expression.
"It's a long story." Elli said. "Elpitha broke a few of her stitches."
"Ah." The doctor said with a sigh. "That girl can be her own worst enemy. I'll go wash up. Set things up for me, OK?"
"Yes doctor." Elli replied. She turned and entered Elpitha's room.
Elpitha was still in bed, and when she saw Elli enter the room, she sat up, preparing herself for the storm.
Elli didn't speak. She simply turned her back and began to take things out of drawers. When she had finished, she approached Elpitha. "The doctor will fix you up in a few minutes." She said a bit stiffly. "I'm going to make sure Kai stays away until you're well enough to fend him off."
"No, don't blame Kai." Elpitha said. "He covered for me. It was my fault. He actually helped me out."
"What do you mean?" Elli asked.
"I…I…tried to leave the hospital last night. I honestly thought that I was well enough to go home…but I collapsed in the town square and Kai carried me back here…I broke my stitches when I fell." Elpitha said timidly. She braced herself for the explosion. However, it didn't come.
"Oh, Elpitha…" Elli said reproachfully. She looked much more shocked, hurt, and worried than angry. This made Elpitha feel worse.
"I'm sorry…" She said.
Elli was at a loss for what to say. When she finally spoke, her voice was a bit cold. "Promise me you won't try that again." She said.
"I promise." Elpitha said quietly.
The doctor entered the room and sat on a stool next to Elpitha's bed. He picked up Elpitha's arm and examined it. Elli placed the tray of supplies on a small table near the doctor. She gave Elpitha a glance before turning to leave the room. However, Elpitha grabbed her wrist before she could leave.
Elli looked down in surprise to see Elpitha staring at the tray of supplies. She could feel Elpitha's hand shaking. Elli sighed and sat down on the bed next to Elpitha, putting an arm around her. She gently tried to calm her.
After the doctor left, Elpitha got what Elli termed "a good talking to," but what turned out to be a ranting and raving session on what would happen "next time."
Elli grabbed a mug, poured hot water into it, grabbed some sleeping solution, poured it in, tossed in a tea bag, and shoved it roughly into Elpitha's hands.
"So much for the pretense." Elpitha said.
"Drink it." Elli said with a glare. "You haven't slept all night."
When Elpitha had finally fallen asleep, Elli returned to her station behind the counter. The doctor was updating Elpitha's file.
"You know, I was really impressed with how you dealt with the situation before. You kept the patient calm so that I could work more efficiently. Elpitha's a nice girl, but a nightmare for a doctor to deal with."
"Thank you, doctor." Elli laughed. "We'll make a good patient out of her yet."
"Listen Elli…I hope you don't think I'm being forward…" The doctor said nervously.
"What is it?" Elli asked.
"Well…day after tomorrow is my birthday and I was wondering if you would like to come out with me…"
"I'd love to!" Elli said with a smile. It was turning out to be a good day for her after all.
Until next time…