A/N - So yeah, long time no see. I didn't mean to keep you hanging, but I've been busy. Exams and whatnot. So yes, feel free to read on. (Just as a side note, the reason Up sounds like a girl is because I still picture him as a bit of a wimp, I didn't think he'd just suddenly be tough again, there'd still be a bit of the 'soft' Up there...)
Specs ran back towards them, flustered, clutching the medical kit she had extracted from the storage area under the stage.
"I got it. What do we need? Or..?" Up's face confirmed her unanswered question.
"It's too late," Up sobbed, his voice cracking slightly. "There's nothing we can do now." He gulped. "She's dead." He closed his eyes, his face screwed up as he tried to regain the composure he had clearly lost a while ago.
"Negative." Megagirl's robotic voice sounded from behind them. "She is not dead."
"What?" Up's head shot up. "She's not? What? You've got it wrong!"
"I have not 'got it wrong,'" Megagirl replied, clearly restraining herself from a derogatory comment about the human race. "She is unconscious. With the supplies we have, she has a 12% chance of survival, and 7.2% chance of returning to full strength in time."
"Really?" Up was disbelieving, and as the robot nodded her metallic head he hugged Taz' still limp body in his arms.
"Uh, Up?" Specs tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "That's probably not helping."
Up apologised profusely, laying Taz gently down on the floor.
Specs knelt on the floor and pulled open the medical bag. She pulled out various bandages, wipes and implements neatly on a tablecloth which was lying nearby. Up hovered anxiously.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Up prompted gently from her elbow as she cut open Taz' dress around the wound.
"Up. I came top in my class. This is a relatively simple treatment, we just need to hope Taz is strong enough."
"She is!" Up insisted.
"I know," Specs continued, exasperated. "Just you heard the statistics, it's not great…"
"Taz doesn't obey statistics," Up replied, his voice stubborn. "Look at her, she's the best female Starship Ranger in the G.L.E.E. She's practically the definition of defying statistics. She's the toughest son of a bitch ranger we have here. She'll make it." Up made this little speech to Specs, though it was fairly obvious it was for his own benefit.
"Up. I know. But right now I need to concentrate. I have to make sure I get this exactly right. Maybe you should sit by her head and talk to her. She might be able to hear you, you know."
"Oh. Okay." Up walked around and sat but Taz' head, fiddling with her hair. He talked to her as if no one was in the room.
"So Taz," Up started nervously. "How are you doing? I mean, I guess not great, but you'll get better soon. You're the toughest son of a bitch I know, of course you'll get better. Do what you told me, and be tough. You know what, take the moustache, that'll make you tough, it's okay, I have a spare. I brought one just in case you ripped mine off again. You can have mine. I'll look like a fool taking it off though, but I guess you always make me look the fool, it's something only you can do." Up's voice lowered to a whisper. "That's why you can't leave me, I need you, even if it's only to make a fool out of me."
Specs was by this point trying to sew up the wound in Taz' side. The blood flow had stopped, and colour was starting to return to her face, although she still looked peaky.
"Maybe I'll let you beat me in a fight when you're better." Up continued, his voice teasing. "You'd normally have no chance, but I suppose I could let you win just this once…" His words had the desired effect.
"You wish," Taz muttered, rolling her eyes at Up the moment they were open. "I could beat you in a fight any day," She said with a weak smile before adding abruptly. "Not today though, but only because I don't want to ruin your tux," she teased and he glanced down at his bloodstained shirt and ripped jacket, chuckling gently.
"That was the least of my worries," he chided gently. "What did you think you were doing, scaring me like that?"
"The mighty Up? Scared?" Taz smirked. "I think that's got to be a first."
"Well it's the first time I've ever felt like this," Up said, before realising what had slipped out and clapping his hand over his mouth.
"What's that smell?" Taz asked, "because to me it smells remarkably cheesy." She reached out to nudge Up and finally noticed Specs, who was still sewing diligently. "What the hell are you doing to me?"
"She is sewing up your wound," Megagirl offered. "Your chances of survival have risen to 74%, due to immediate medical attention, lack of internal bleeding and mental strength of the patient. You should rest for 4 days to a week before you take part in any strenuous exercise."
"Right. Thanks?" Taz offered.
"It is purely my duty to inform you of any useful information. No thanks is required." Megagirl replied, and Taz nodded faintly.
"Did you manage to save the dress?" February had wandered over from where she had been while Specs was treating Taz, after she had announced that blood made her feel 'icky'.
"What the..? Are you serious?" Taz asked. The other rangers shook their heads in disbelief.
"Well did you?" February persisted.
"No. No we didn't." February's jaw dropped and Specs put her face in her hands. How that girl had managed to become a ranger she had no idea.
Up nudged Taz, then apologised as she flinched in pain. "At least you don't have to wear that dress again, it seems dresses only seem to lead to trouble with you."
Taz smiled. "Promise I never have to wear a dress again?"
"Except the wedding dress of course," Krayonder chipped in.
"I am going to kill that boy," Up growled.
"Not now," Taz reprimanded gently. "At least not until I'm there to help."
"Deal."
A/N - Also, you didn't think I was going to kill her did you? 1. I don't think I could do it - I'm a wuss. 2. I'm not actually sure where it would go from here if I did. 3. I'm not a good enough writery person to be able to do justice when killing her (if you want evidence for that, see my use of the word 'writery' above)