My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

Galinda slowly opened her eyes and sat up, looking around her. She blinked in confusion. "What the-" Where am I? She rubbed the back of her neck with a cringe. And why does my neck hurt so much? Then she realized that where she had fallen asleep was in a chair in what looked like a hospital room. When did I fall asleep? She thought back for a moment, vaguely remembering passing out in the chair after running on only adrenaline for nearly two days. She sat back with a sigh, also remembering the reason she was in the hospital room to begin with.

Elphaba was already awake, and she gave the blonde a somewhat bored look. "Oh you finally woke up. I was beginning to worry; you'd been out for so long."

The blonde looked over at the woman sitting up in the bed. "Well, can ya blame me? I hadn't slept in nearly two days."

"I suppose not." There was a pause before Elphaba said, "You can't be comfortable in those same clothes. You needn't feel obligated to stay by my side."

"I don't care. I'm gonna stay by your side anyway. But Ozdamn, maybe I should see if there's a cot or something for guests that they can bring in here. I don't know if my neck can take another night of this..."

"Is there anything I could do to help you?"

Galinda shook her head. "Nope. All you have to do is sit on that bed and relax so you can heal. I'll just ask a nurse or whoever comes in to check on you later."

"I don't need to be babied, Miss Galinda. I feel better already."

"You're so full of bullpoopie. You are not fine. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll heal."

"Your concern would be more touching of it were genuine. And since when have you taken a point to watching your language?"

The blonde stuck her tongue out at her. "My concern is genuine. Please believe that. And I've never really like cursing. It makes me feel...dirty."

"In what sense of the word 'dirty' are we speaking? Do you mean 'dirty' as when one does not bathe for a few days? Or do you mean the 'dirty' that takes place behind closed doors; more specifically, Master Fiyero's door?"

Galinda blushed a little. "I- I did not mean it in either of those ways, and you know it! I meant it in that it made me feel indecent or obscene."

"Ah, yes, of course. Silly me. You must feel indecent quite often then, in more than just the way you specified."

"Why is it that you must always twist my words? I didn't mean it like that for Lurline's sake!"

"I can't help it. It's in my twisted nature." Elphaba grinned slightly.

"Well, apparently so." She cracked a smile too. "And you wonder why you got on my nerves so much?"

"Got? Oh Miss Galinda, I may be bed-ridden, but that won't stop us from annoying each other, I'm sure."

"Hmmm. I suppose you're right. I guess we're doomed to annoy each other for all eternity."

Elphaba gave a short laugh, wincing when pain shot through her chest. "Y-yes...that doesn't seem like an ideal prospect, does it?"

The blonde's smile fell from her face when she saw Elphaba's wince. "Are you ok? Do I need to fetch a nurse?"

"I'm fine. Laughing just makes my chest hurt a little, that's all."

"Are you sure? They could probably give you some pain medication to take the pain away."

"Yes. I'm fine. Honestly."

Elphaba heard approaching footsteps and she looked up. "I do believe someone is coming."

"Perhaps it's the nurse coming to give you the medicine that you should be taking for the pain." She looked pointedly at Elphaba before standing to readjust the pillow underneath her cast covered ankle and then to help her sit up a little bit more. "Does that feel any better?"

Yes, she thought, but she said, "It's fine. Thank you."

"Good, I wouldn't want you to be un-" she turned to the opening door to talk to the nurse but nearly froze in shock. "F-Fiyero? What are you doing here?"

The prince looked at his girlfriend with a very similar look of shock. "Looking for you. What are you doing here?"

Galinda snapped out of her shock and moved around the bed towards him. "I'm watching over Miss Thropp, of course. What else would I be doing?"

Fiyero looked somewhat puzzled and still shocked. He grabbed Galinda's arm gently, trying to smile. "Galinda could I talk to you for a second...please?" He pulled her just outside the door. Elphaba longed to follow, but couldn't do anything from the bed.

Galinda looked up at her boyfriend, a little upset that she had been practically dragged from the room. "Ok, you've got me out here. Now what did you want to talk to me about?"

"What are you doing?"

"I already told you that." She gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm taking care of Miss Elphaba."

"You know what I mean. Why are you doing this? What do you think this will prove? You never liked her, and she knows that. So I ask you: what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to make up for everything I've done to her. I can't take it anymore, Yero. This person I've been all my life, she isn't me."

Fiyero put a hand to his head. "Stop. Stop right now. You...you're just tired. Look, I'll go get you a change of clothes and some food and when I get back, we are going to talk about this and you are going to tell me what's really going on." The prince turned to leave.

Galinda grabbed his wrist to stop him. "I may be tired, but that's how I feel. I am going to change."

"Okay, Galinda. Whatever you say," he said skeptically. He pulled his arm away and continued walking.

The blonde stayed behind this time, fuming. She hit the hallway wall with the side of her fist, trying to calm herself before she went back. When she walked back into the room, she immediately went to sit in her chair, not necessarily smiling, but not fuming either. Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "You seem angry. I take it the talk didn't go well?"

She covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. "Please don't ask. I'd rather not talk about it."

Elphaba nodded. "If it's worth anything...I think that you may..." she trailed off, not finishing. She shook her head and looked up. "So, what does one eat around here?"

"There's that bagel I brought from the ca-" She looked up at the empty table. "Where'd it go? I set it right there." She got up and started to almost frantically search the room for the bagel.

Elphaba did her best to keep from laughing. "Miss Galinda, please don't alarm yourself. I...I ate that this morning."

The blonde froze, turning to look at her in shock. "Wait. You actually ate it? Without me having to force you?Are you sure you didn't just throw it away?" She picked up the garbage can by the bed and looked in it skeptically.

"I do eat, Miss Galinda. It's just improper for me to eat at the same table and time as you."

"I suppose you're right." She set the trash can back down. "Do you want me to go fetch you something to eat from the cafeteria?"

"N-no! Please...don't trouble yourself. I can wait for the nurse to bring me something."

"It's fine. Really. I don't mind." She was already halfway to the door. "Is there anything in particular you would like?"

"Miss Galinda, please! I don't need you to..." She looked down. "No meat..." she muttered.

"Alrighty then. I'll be back in a clock tick. Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone." She gave Elphaba a pointed look.

"I'm staying put," Elphaba said, putting her hands up in defense.

"Good. Don't move." Galinda gave her another skeptical look before she hurried down to the cafeteria and gathered up a tray of foods. Soon enough she was setting the tray down on the table beside Elphaba's bed. "Okee dokee. I wasn't sure exactly what you liked, so I just grabbed a little bit of a lot of different things. There's some bagels and other pastries, a banana, waffles, an egg omelette, grapes, an apple or two, and a glass of ice cold milk." She set the cup closer to Elphaba with a small blush. "It was the only thing I could think of that you could drink. What with your allergy and all..." She turned to sit back down in her chair.

Elphaba could only stare, her mouth slightly agape. "You...you got all this...for me? You didn't...you shouldn't..."

"I told you that I didn't know what you wanted. I just figured that the more options you had, the likelier it would be that you would actually eat something." She gave a small shrug of her shoulders.

Elphaba's eyes hadn't left the food. She hesitantly reached for an apple, her eyes finally flashing up to glance at Galinda. The blonde looked back at her. "What? Why are you looking at me?""

Elphaba withdrew her hand. "I...I can't take any of this. Not without your permission."

"Are you serious? I'm the one who got it for you, for Lurline's sake. Yes, you can eat the food. You have my permission." She rolled her eyes.

Elphaba reached for the apple again. "I don't mean to annoy you, but you have to understand my position..." She picked up the apple and looked at it uncertainly.

"I suppose I do. Maybe not completely, but at least a little. Just eat the apple already, would you?"

The green woman raised the apple hesitantly and prepared to take a bite. "Galinda, I have your clothes and lunch," Fiyero said, coming into the room. Elphaba, startled, quickly dropped the apple and looked away.

Galinda gave a little giggle at Elphaba, picking up the apple and rinsing it off in the sink before setting it back in the green woman's lap. The smile left her face when she turned back to follow Fiyero out of the room. "I'll be back in a minute or so, Elphaba. Will you be alright?"

"You act as though I'm a child around an open fire. I'll be fine, Miss Galinda," the green woman said.

"Alright then. But make sure you eat something. Some of that food better be gone by the time I get back. And I don't mean into the trash." She gave her a small smile before walking out the door and up to her boyfriend. "So what did you bring me?"

"I don't know. Clothes and some food," he replied, holding both out to the blonde. He sighed. "Look, I don't want to fight over this. Can't we both just agree that this is a waste of time?"

Galinda took the bag of clothes. "No we cannot, because it is not a waste of time! Do you really think so little of me that you don't care how I feel about all of this?"

"Of course I care! I just don't think you're being rational. Say you do win her good favor: what good will come of it?"

"Maybe, for once, I'd look to do something that doesn't benefit myself. Ever thought of that?"

Fiyero blinked. "I...I don't know. It just doesn't seem...fitting for someone of your standing to try and...befriend someone like her."

"I'm not saying that I necessarily want to be her friend. I...I just want to be forgiven..." She lowered her eyes, her anger fading.

"Fine. If that's what will make you happy."

The blonde nodded her head. "Thank you." She moved past Fiyero, heading down towards the bathrooms. She shook her head at the lunch bag he held out to her. "No thanks. I'm not really hungry. I'll see you soon, Yero." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before continuing off towards the bathrooms to change clothes.


Sarima's eyes scanned the room numbers, finally falling on the one she was looking for...and something else as well. "Oh! Good afternoon, Master Fiyero."

The prince looked up at the woman walking towards him. He gave her a nod of his head. "Hello again, Miss Sarima. I have to be going, but have a nice day." He flashed her one of his dazzling smiles and walked past her, looking behind him so his eyes could wander up and down her luscious backside. He turned back around with a grin, tossing the lunch he had brought for Galinda in the trash on his way out of the hospital.


Elphaba, once alone, had already finished one apple and a bagel, and was moving on to the second apple. She hadn't realized how hungry she had been until she started eating.

Sarima went over to the room and gave a polite knock on the door. Elphaba looked up and dropped the apple, her mouth still full of food. She tried to muster a greeting, but only a muffled noise escaped.

After hearing a noise, Sarima slowly opened the door, sticking her head around to look inside curiously. "Are you ok, Miss Elphaba? May I come in?" Elphaba still couldn't reply, so she just nodded.

The brunette entered the room, and, after closing the door behind her, pulled a vase of pink flowers out from behind her back with a smile. "I figured you could use a little cheering up, and I thought these could help."

Elphaba finally managed to swallow. "Miss Sarima, you...you really didn't have to...I'm fine." She quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "P-please, sit down," she added, gesturing to the empty chair.

"I'll just set these here then." Sarima set the vase on the table by the window so that they would get some sunlight. She then picked the apple off the floor, handing it back to Elphaba before sitting in the chair. "So how are you feeling? How bad is it?"

Elphaba looked down at the apple. "It...it's not as bad as it looks. I'm still alive, aren't I?" She gave Sarima a half-hearted grin before she looked back down. "Besides...it's my fault this happened anyway. The important thing is that Miss Galinda is safe."

"Miss Galinda? You risked your life for her? Why would you even do that? She treats you horribly."

Elphaba looked at her. "It's my job. I work for her. I swore I would protect her from any harm, and besides... her life far outweighs mine."

"No, it doesn't. She's selfish and cruel. She treats you as if you're worthless. To me, that does not make her worthy of you risking yourself for her."

"Please don't talk about her like that. I shouldn't have yelled at her and I should have watched her closer. I was doing my job...and that's all." Elphaba looked away.

"Who cares if you yelled at her? She probably deserved it."

"Miss Sarima, if you came only to insult Miss Galinda, please just leave!"

Sarima's expression softened. "I...I apologize. I came to make sure you were all right." She leaned forward and took Elphaba's hand gently. The green woman looked back at her, her face slightly darker green. "Miss Elphaba...this was not your fault. You did nothing wrong."

Elphaba could only stare. No one had ever shown her this degree of sympathy. "Uh...I..."


After changing in the bathroom and running her brush through her hair quickly, Galinda headed back down the hall to Elphaba's room. She opened the door and stepped in. "Sorry I took so lo-" She looked up and noticed that the green woman was not alone. She looked at the vase of flowers and then at Sarima holding Elphaba's hand, and she blushed I little, feeling as though she were interrupting something. "I...uh...sorry. I didn't know there was anybody else in here. Do you want me to step outside real quick?"

Elphaba looked up at the blonde, her face turning darker. "M-Miss Galinda! Uh..." She quickly pulled her hand away from the brunette. "No! Miss Sarima was...leaving."

Sarima stood. "Yes...I was. Miss Galinda...would you mind if we had a word...outside?" She headed for the door. "Get better soon, Miss Elphaba."

Galinda followed the brunette out of the room after giving an apologetic smile to Elphaba.

Sarima closed the door before turning to the blonde. "Miss Galinda...does it seem right to you that Miss Elphaba blames herself for her attack?"

"N-no! Of course not."

"Then why are you continuing to let her think that way? I realize your position, but this was your fault!"

"You think I don't know that? I've been trying to change her mind since it happened!"

Sarima sighed. "Miss Galinda...perhaps you could try a little harder...and stop treating her like a pity project." She straightened up. "Farwell," she said before she left.

As soon as she was gone, Galinda collapsed onto one of the benches in the hallways. She buried her face in her hands as her tears flooded down her face as she mumbled to herself, "...my fault...sorry...I didn't mean..." It finally sunk in that the green woman was the way she was all because of her. Though she hadn't done it herself, it was her fault. It was she who had hurt her. Not those men.

She saw visions of Elphaba as she was on the ground that night and in the hospital bed in perfect clarity flashing through her mind. When the familiar sick feeling hit her stomach, she took off down the hallway to the bathrooms again, falling to the floor in front of a toilet. The blonde sat there heaving for a few minutes until there wasn't anything else left in her stomach to heave. She stood shakily, heading back to the room after a quick look at her pale reflection. Galinda took a deep breath to calm herself before she walked through the door, walking to her chair with a near whisper, "Sorry I took so long."

Elphaba looked up. "That's all right. Look, I'm still al-" Her gaze fell on the blonde's pale face. "Miss Galinda, are you all right? You're much paler than usual."

"I'm fine. You shouldn't be worrying about me." She turned away from her, hiding her face.

"Well, I can't help it. You look as though you've seen a ghost."

"I am fine, alright. Just drop it."

Elphaba was somewhat taken aback. "A-all right." She looked down at the half-eaten apple in her hands.

"Thank you." She turned back to sit in her chair. "So did you eat anything?"

Elphaba just nodded. "Miss Galinda...if you're upset at Miss Sarima...I don't know why she came..."

"It's alright, Miss Elphaba. But I would rather not talk about it if that's alright with you."

"Fine." There was a silence. "So...what do you want to talk about?" She poked one of the flowers uncertainly.

Galinda cracked a small smile at the sight. "So, she brought you flowers?"

"Yeah. It's weird...I've never been given flowers before. Perhaps they release poisoned pollen...I should examine them." She grabbed one and pulled it close to look at it.

With a light giggle, the blonde stood and grabbed the vase, moving over to add some more water to it. "I'm pretty sure there aren't any poisonous flowers in Oz."

"Ha! Not naturally. You'd be surprised what people can do..."

"Do you really believe that somebody would go through all that trouble to kill you? No offense." She set the vase back down on the table and leaned against the wall by the curtains, looking out the open window.

"Not me...you." Elphaba replaced the flower. "I have determined them to be no threat."

"Good. Although I'm pretty sure that bringing them that close to your face is not a very good way of assessing a threat."

"Well, you seem confident. Perhaps you have no need for me."

"I'm pretty sure that I do still need you." She chuckled. "Could you even imagine little me trying to take on somebody attacking me? I'd be squished like a bug. I may have a big ego, but I do know my own limits."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Who are you, and what have you done with Galinda Arduenna?"

The blonde stuck her tongue out at Elphaba. "You mean green thing. I'm being serious."

Elphaba laughed, and winced at the chest pain again. "I know...this is me trying to be somewhat decent."

Galinda turned back to her with a worried look. "You need to be more careful. You're just hurting yourself by laughing."

"Don't make me laugh then."

"I'm sorry...I don't mean to. Really."

"That's all right...I'm still alive." Looking to change the subject, Elphaba said, "So, did you send the letter to Nessa?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I finished writing it, but I fell asleep before I could send it. I'll go send it right now." She picked up the letter from where it had fallen onto the floor and headed for the door.

"Miss Galinda, you needn't rush off now. I...I was just asking."

"Well, I do need to send it if you want her to get it as soon as possible. I'll just be right back." She left the room and went down to the lobby. She handed the letter to the nurse working the front desk and asked her if she could mail it out for her. Then she made a quick stop by the cafeteria to grab a small pitcher of milk and rushed back up to the room. "I got you some more milk. We don't want to add dehydration to your list, do we?"

Elphaba was currently trying to lower herself into the wheelchair. At Galinda's entrance, she looked up and slipped, crashing to the floor. "Ah...no, we don't want that."

"Elphaba!" Galinda quickly set down the pitcher and moved over to help Elphaba stand. "Oz, I thought I told you to stay in bed!"

"I'm sorry...I have to use the bathroom." Elphaba lowered herself slowly into the chair, lifting her legs up onto the supports.

"You could have waited for me to return. I told you I wasn't going to be long." She moved behind the chair and started pushing it out the door and down the hallway.

"I apologize...I suppose it's hard to give up independence."

"Asking for a little bit of help is not the end of the world, Miss Thropp." They arrived at the bathroom, and she pulled the chair to a stop. "Now, be honest with me. Do you need help or not? Because I am perfectly willing to help if need be."

"Galinda, I can use the bathroom by myself."

"Well, in the state you're in, who really knows? Go ahead. But I swear, if I hear anything that sounds like you're having trouble, I'm coming in there."

"Fine." Elphaba wheeled into the bathroom and was able to complete her task without too much difficulty. She emerged minutes later, her gaze falling on the blonde. "You waited?"

"Of course. I told you I would come in if need be. How else would I do that if I weren't even in the same room?

Elphaba shook her head. "I'm sure I have no idea..."

"Come on. I don't want to spend any more time in this dreary old bathroom." She started pushing Elphaba's chair. "Is there anywhere you would like to go?"

There was a pause before Elphaba said, "Outside...would be nice..."

"Alrighty. Outside we go. I suppose we could both use the fresh air."

Once they were outside, Elphaba raised a hand to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight. It wasn't exactly warm outside, and Elphaba's breath made small clouds in the chilly air.

Galinda gave a small shiver. "Perhaps coming outside wasn't the best idea. Apparently Fiyero doesn't know the difference between a summer dress and a winter dress..." She rubbed her arms, using the friction to try to warm them.

Elphaba took off her cloak and wrapped it around the blonde's shoulders. "You can go inside...I'd like to stay out here..."

"Thanks," she gave the green woman a grateful smile. "But you're not getting rid of me that easily. You can't stay out here for too long either."

"I'm fine...this cold air feels good...refreshing..."

"Yes, it may feel good now, but staying out in the cold for too long isn't good for your body."

Elphaba shrugged. "I've done it before...I can adapt easily. Don't worry about me." She closed her eyes and leaned back. "I do believe it may snow tonight..."

"Perhaps. It is winter after all." Galinda sat on the nearby bench and watched her carefully as she thought about everything that was happening to them. Why am I doing all of this? Is it only because I pity her? Or is it like Fiyero said, and I'm only doing this for myself?

Elphaba felt Galinda's eyes on her and her own dark eyes opened. "Is...is there something I can help you with, Miss Galinda?"

Galinda pulled her eyes away from her, looking down at the ground in front of her instead. "Nope. Sorry. I was just...letting my mind wander." It can't be because of any of those reasons. It just can't. I wouldn't feel as horrible as I do so deep down if it were.

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "You look deep in thought...anything you'd like to discuss?"

"Not really. There's some thoughts still that I would like to keep as my own. For now at least. Until I myself even know what I'm thinking..."

"It all sounds very deep and contemplative. I must say, I do hope it is more than simple gossip, or I will be sorely disappointed."

Galinda gave a small smile. "No. It's definitely not gossip. So you're safe from that for now."

"Then I must say I am somewhat impressed." Elphaba let out a sigh. "These past few days have been a little too exciting for me."

The blonde sighed as well. "I couldn't agree more."

Elphaba sighed again. "Yes...you look cold...shall we head back inside?"

"Yes, please." She shivered again and stood up with a little giggle. "Remind me to never ever let Fiyero pick out clothes for me again." She got behind Elphaba's chair and pushed her back into the hospital.

"I told myself I would no longer interfere in your relationship with Master Fiyero," Elphaba said as she began the process of moving back into her bed.

Galinda helped her back into the bed with a grin. "Oh, come on. I know you wouldn't be able to resist teasing about it or making fun."

Elphaba shook her head. "My interfering is what got us into this mess in the first place. I do not intend to repeat that mistake."

The blonde's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, and she didn't reply. Once Elphaba was safely back in the bed, she moved the wheelchair back over into a corner and went to sit in her chair.

Elphaba sighed yet again as she readjusted her injured leg on the pillow. "I do hope nothing else happens. I don't know how much more excitement I can take."

"I'm not sure how much more I could take either...Do you need me to fix the pillow?"

"No, I'm-" It was at that moment that the sound of slamming doors and angry footsteps caught their attention.

Galinda raised up her head at the sounds. She stood and moved hesitantly, but curiously, to the door. "I wonder what's going on out there..."

"I can't imagine..."

The door suddenly flew open, almost hitting the blonde. "WHAT IN LURLINE'S NAME HAPPENED AT THAT DANCE?"

Galinda stumbled back a few feet, staring wide eyed up at the man standing in the doorway. "Father?"