Hello, Doctor
Disclaimer: I own the plot and Jane so far…
Hey, guys! Here's the chapter a lot of you have been waiting for... or one of the moments because if you haven't already noticed, this story is a bit of a slow-burner. BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOY! :D
Chapter 12
"Daddy! We got to play on the big kid play structure at school today! The swings are so much bigger than the ones on the little playground!" I smiled at my daughter and took her hand.
"Oh yeah? Did you have fun?" I asked.
"Yes! And I saw Pebbles again today!" Kairi said and I gave her a puzzled look.
"Who's Pebbles?" I asked.
"He's a puppy dog! I met him under the slide!" Kairi said with a giggle.
"Was he a cute doggie?" I asked.
"Yeah! He looks just like you!" Kairi squealed and I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or insulted.
"That must be one good lookin' pup, then!" I said and waggled my eyebrows.
"No… he's pretty plain…" Kairi said and I frowned.
"You don't even realize you insult your poor father!" I said and feigned sobs.
"No! Don't cry! You have to drive me home first!" Kairi laughed.
I started to pretend cry harder.
Kairi giggled and squealed at my ridiculous display before I turned into a monster and chased her to the car. When I cornered her I swooped her up and off her feet before planting a big, sloppy smooch on her cheek.
"EW! Daddy!" Kairi cried and I laughed at her exclamation.
"I love you Kairi-cat!" I said before opening the car door and placing her in her car seat.
"Dad… when is Otou-san coming back?" Kairi asked.
I felt my face drop and I sighed. "Kai… your Daddy isn't a very good person…" I said sadly.
"What do you mean? You're not bad, Daddy." Kairi said with a smile.
I returned the smile before speaking again. "I drove Riku away, Kairi… I was mean to him and I blamed him for my own problems." I explained.
"Go say you're sorry! Go find him and tell him you didn't mean it! Tell him that you love him and that you didn't want him to go away!" Kairi whined, tears coming to her eyes.
I looked right at her and I knew she was right… these past two weeks have been torture… not because of guilt really… but because everything I saw reminded me of Riku.
And thinking about Riku would only remind me of how great a person he is. How much I actually liked it when he had his arms around me… how I loved having him around.
"Kairi… I think he needs time… he probably hates my guts right now…" I said and buckled her in.
"He doesn't hate you… he wouldn't hate anyone…" Kairi mumbled and I bit my lip.
"How about we go home, have some dinner, go to sleep, and I'll go see him in the morning? Does that make you feel better?" I asked knowing I would have to do that at some point anyway.
Kairi nodded and I kissed her head before heading home.
-Hello, Doctor-
Riku's POV
After two weeks of calling, I finally reached Cloud on his work cell.
"Cloud! What the fuck did you say to Sora? I told you, you would ruin it! Whatever you said to him didn't fucking help! He decided it would be better to erase me from his and Kairi's life! That's not what I wanted! Even if I had to suffer unrequited love, I would rather do it with Kairi around than without her! Why did you do that? You fucking bastard!" I yelled trying my hardest to reign in my tears.
The past days have been the worst days of my life so far. I can't stand not seeing Sora and Kairi. Everything was so much brighter when they were around.
I feel like I've been in a fog… the only time it even remotely clears up is when I have patients and even then… I don't feel good. I feel like a watered down version of myself.
I hated it… I wished that Sora hadn't come over that day. I wished things could go back to the way they were.
"Riku… look… it was for the best," Cloud said.
"Why do you say that? That's exactly what Sora said! You two don't know what's best for me! Only I can know that!" I snapped before taking a breath.
"I really want to beat the shit out of you right now…" I grumbled.
"Well it's a good thing I'm not over at your clinic then, isn't it!" Cloud said in a cheery voice that made me want to wring his neck.
"This isn't a joke, Cloud… y-you don't know how bad it feels," I frowned when my voice cracked.
"Look, I'm sorry… but this is probably going to work out better than you think. Let go, Riku… it's not that hard!" Cloud said.
"When did you become such a dick, Cloud?" I asked before hanging up. I didn't even want an answer.
-Hello, Doctor-
Sora's POV
I was sleeping peacefully when Kairi woke me up. "What's the matter, baby? Do you have nightmares?" I asked as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I looked at the clock.
I was almost two in the morning.
"Daddy… my tummy hurts…" Kairi said in a pitiful voice and I sat up. I crawled off of the couch and turned on the lamp. Kairi whined and pressed her face up to my thigh. She looked a little pale and she was slightly clammy against my skin.
I ran my hands through her hair and walked her to the toilet. I figured that maybe she was emotionally stressed. After my whole fight with Riku, I had been in a funk. My daughter got the brunt of it and it was probably wearing her out.
She hugged my leg again and I could feel Kairi's tears through my shorts. I mentally berated myself for being such a bad father.
"Go sit on the toilet and I'll see if I can find some tummy medicine," I said and was about to open the medicine cabinet when the sound of vomiting echoed through the bathroom.
I quickly turned and gently pulled Kairi over to the toilet. I handed her the trashcan and told her to vomit in it if she needed to throw up again.
I walked out of the bathroom and knocked on my bedroom door before entering. My mother was asleep so I shook her awake.
"What? What's happening?" My mother said as she woke.
"Kairi must have gotten a stomach bug. Can you take care of her while I clean the vomit from the bathroom floor?" I asked.
"Sure. Is she in the bathroom?" My mother asked.
"Daddy!" I jumped at Kairi's miserable cry before I could hear the sound of retching again.
"Why don't you stay with her and I'll clean the vomit?" Mom suggested as she got out of the bed.
"Okay. I'm coming, Kairi!" I called back to her as I moved to the bathroom again. The moment I came into view Kairi broke down into screaming sobs.
I felt my heart twist and turn at the sound and I moved over to her. I kneeled down and rubbed her back as she cried and vomited in the bucket.
"It's going to be okay, baby. You just have to let it pass," I said soothingly and my mother spoke.
"The other trash can is all the way in the kitchen isn't it?"
"Watch her, I'll run and go get it," I said and left the bathroom.
I bit my lip when Kairi started screaming for me again. I took a breath as I grabbed the larger bin. I needed to be strong for Kairi.
"Sora!" My mother called and I moved back to the bathroom.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"She has a bad case of diarrhea, she's still vomiting, and she's burning up. She's going to need fluids or she might become dehydrated," Mom said with a worried look on her face.
"M-make it st-stop please? D-daddy…" Kairi moaned, she must have been in so much pain.
I quickly cleaned up the bathroom and placed the trash bin by the door. "Do you think we'll need anything else?" I asked, I didn't want to have to leave her again.
A wave of sickness hit Kairi again and it was torture to watch. I wished that I could take her place… I ran a hand through her sweaty hair before grabbing the face towel and wetting it with bath water.
I pressed the cold towel to her forehead and ran my hands over her back again as her body convulsed from sickness.
"Sora… this can't be a stomach bug… I don't know what it is… but stomach bugs don't give children bloody stool," My mother said a frightened look on her face.
I ran a hand through my own hair and whispered that I would be right back to Kairi, which only elicited more frightened, painful sobs and screams from her.
I grabbed my phone and called the first number that came to mind. I started to panic as the phone rang over and over. "Please… pick up," I said.
It went to voicemail and I immediately pressed one for a message. "Riku! Please wake up and listen to me! I know you probably hate me and I don't blame you but Kairi needs your help… she w-wont stop screaming and she keeps vomiting and her fever is off the charts! She has diarrhea and there's blood in her stool… you have to tell me what to do, please! I'm freaking out so much I can't even think straight! What's happening to my daughter, please tell me! I can't lose her!" I panicked tears coming to my eyes as Kairi continued to cry out in misery.
"Sora, you need to calm down." A calm voice suddenly flooded my ears and I covered my mouth to stifle my horrified sobs.
"Oh G-god, what do I have to do?" I cried.
"I need you to fill up a bag of ice. When a wave of vomiting has passed, you need to take her quickly to the clinic. My brother is there right now, but I'm on my way. Use the bag of ice to keep her temperature down. Drive safely, Sora. I know just by the sound of your voice that you do stupid shit when you're panicked. Don't put Kairi in any more danger than she already is… do you understand?" Riku warned and I croaked a 'yes' before hanging up and running to the kitchen.
I filled the bag of ice and ran back to the bathroom. "Has the vomiting stopped?" I asked when I couldn't hear Kairi sobbing anymore.
"Sora, we need to hurry. She just passed out," My mother said, scooping Kairi up and leaving the bathroom.
I grabbed my keys and took a deep breath as I opened the door. We piled into the car and I drove carefully to the clinic.
I got out of the car and took Kairi from my mother before running into the clinic. "Someone help my daughter, please!" I shouted as calmly as I could. I needed to grab attention, not start widespread panic.
"Let me take her Mr. Smith, Dr. Uchida is already here to see what's going on." I sighed when I saw Naminé approaching with a gurney. I placed Kairi onto the small contraption and said a billion prayers in my head at once as they wheeled her away.
I sank to the floor and let out a sob before covering my face and taking deep breaths. I couldn't break down yet. I bit my lip and stood myself up again before sitting in the waiting room.
And for four hours… four very long hours… my mother and I sat in the waiting room asking any higher being who would listen to keep Kairi safe.
"Mr. Smith…" My head shot up and I woke my mother from her light doze when I spotted Naminé for a second time.
"How is she?" I asked desperately.
"She's stabilized," I looked over to see Riku removing gloves from his hands.
"What was wrong with her?" I asked.
"She had a Campylobacter infection… they're pretty vicious on kids with weaker immune systems. I put her on some fluids and broke her fever… she just needs to rest," Riku said.
"What's a Campylobacter infection?" My mother asked.
"It's a bacterial infection usually from contaminated food… has she eaten anything strange recently? Raw meats? Unpasteurized milk? Contaminated vegetables?" Riku asked.
I shook my head. "No… she's been eating everything I eat… so I would have gotten sick too, right?" I asked.
"What about at school?" My mother suggested.
"No… we would have had more infected kids here," Riku said.
"Is it only passed by foods?" I asked.
"Maybe there was an infected kid who came back to school too early? That's a possibility… Kairi doesn't have any pets…" Riku brainstormed aloud.
"Pebbles!" I shouted without realizing.
"Pebbles?" My mother and Naminé inquired.
"You can't catch the infection through rocks, Sora," Riku said.
"No! Kairi was talking about a stray dog on the playground yesterday. I thought she was only imagining it but maybe it was a real dog. She named it Pebbles," I explained with a blush.
"There you have it… that makes perfect sense. The bacteria was transmitted when she pet the dog. She probably didn't wash her hands before she ate and then got the bacteria in her digestive system," Riku said.
I didn't think I would ever look at a dog the same ever again. "Can I see her?" I asked.
"She's probably sleeping, but yes you can. Someone needs to fill out the paperwork though…" Naminé said.
"I can do that. Go, son…" I kissed my mother's cheek in thanks and followed Riku to the hospital room.
When I saw my baby sleeping peacefully on the gurney, my body couldn't hold itself together any longer. I sank to the floor next to her bed and cried. "Sh-shit… Kairi I'm s-so glad you're o-okay…" I wept quietly for a few minutes before wiping my eyes and taking deep breaths.
I turned to see Riku leaning against the doorway, his eyes closed in a light sleep.
"I'm sorry I woke you up so early screaming in panic… I was just so scared I didn't know what to do…" I trailed off and Riku sent me a soft gaze.
"As long as Kairi is alright," He said quietly. There was a tense silence in the room before I spoke.
"You were right… you know, when you called me a coward… I've never been very good at any sort of confrontation… not even in ones that weren't my business… I was too afraid to face you… to face myself and I blamed you for it. And for that… I'm really, really sorry. I know you probably wont believe me when I say that I missed having you around… but I really did… sure I felt really guilty about what I had said and done, but that's not what fueled my loneliness when you were gone. I just couldn't stop thinking about you… your smiles, your voice, your cool but caring attitude, how good it felt to be hugged by you… I'm not really sure what that means in detail… but I'm old enough to know that it means you are more than just a friend to me... does that make sense?" I asked.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Riku said and I felt my heart sink at the incoming rejection.
"No… I'm not joking…" I said.
"No, no… I'm sorry Sora. That wasn't aimed at you… I was cursing Cloud for always being right in the end. That stupid bastard can see the future or something…" Riku said and I gave him a puzzled look.
"I called him earlier today to vent and he told me things would work out better than I thought they would. And they did…" Riku explained.
"So you're not going to reject me for being a cowardly prick?" I asked looking Riku in the eyes.
"No… I'm not. I don't mind taking baby steps… as long as we get somewhere," Riku answered.
I blushed. "Where do you want to be?" I asked with a gulp.
"You'll find out later, Sora. Right now, I just want to hold you," Riku said and pulled me up before wrapping his arms around me with a sigh.
I felt my muscles relax and I nuzzled my face into his shoulder before returning the hug.
"This is going to sound so elementary but… what does this make us?" I mumbled into his shoulder.
"Well, I'd like to call you mine, Sora. But I'm a patient man and I won't force you if you aren't ready," Riku replied.
I sighed and pulled away from him to look him square in the eyes. "I'm not a girl! This doesn't make me any less of a man, got it?" I said firmly.
Riku pressed his forehead to mine. "Yes, sir…" He answered gently before pressing his lips to mine.
I gasped and pulled away for a second before relaxing and meeting him halfway.
It felt really strange at first. Part of my brain was screaming: 'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?' But when Riku's hand pressed against the small of my back to pull me closer, that part of my brain shrunk and a new feeling bubbled to the surface.
And it felt so good. It sent little tingles from my lips all the way down to my toes. I let out a small sigh and that must have given Riku a little bit more confidence because his other hand went into my hair to deepen the kiss.
I had no idea what I was doing… I didn't want to think of it like I was kissing another girl… it was more than that… it meant more to me than any kiss I'd ever had in a long time. I closed my eyes and bit his lip slightly as my hands moved to his chest.
My eyes shot open when I realized how fast his heart was racing. That motivated me to invest a little bit more into the kiss. I opened my mouth and let out a small noise when his tongue entered my mouth. It wasn't a scared noise or an angry one… it was a small noise of encouragement and I almost smiled when Riku realized I had given him permission to really kiss me.
I chuckled inwardly… I thought he was trying to eat me for a second until I shuddered at the feeling of his tongue sliding against a sensitive spot I didn't realize I had.
I pulled away and gasped for much needed air. "Whoa…" I said with a dumb look on my face.
Riku chuckled and held me close again. I hummed softly at the comfort I felt. "When do I take Kairi home?" I asked.
"Once the fluids are gone in that IV pouch, you can take her home. She can't go back to school till Wednesday and don't give her any rich foods, or dairy products like yogurt and cheese until she's comfortable enough to stomach them," Riku said and I nodded.
"I'm just so glad she's okay…" I said and turned to face her. I took her little hand and smiled when it felt warm against my skin… not cold or hot… but just right.
Riku wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his chin on my shoulder. "I promise you, I'm not usually this clingy… I just can't believe this is happening… I've dreamt about it… but I had already resigned to it never happening… I don't know if I want to punch Cloud or hug him…" Riku said and I growled.
"Why don't you punch him… really hard, in the face… and then you can hug me all you want," I grumbled with a blush.
"That sounds like a really good idea… actually. I say we invite him to lunch and execute our plan." Riku said and I shuddered when I felt his hot breath against the shell of my ear.
I cackled maniacally. "Yeeeees… that sounds lovely!" I said with a smirk.
Riku kissed the back of my ear and I shuddered a third time. "Can you please not do that?" I asked dryly and tried to wiggle from his hold.
"What? This?" he asked and kissed the back of my ear before giving it a lick. I jumped and tried a little bit harder to get out of his hold. Riku laughed and refused to loosen his hold on me.
"That's so weird!" I whined before I realized that I was whining and shut up. Riku laughed again and I stepped on his foot.
He let go of me after that.
"Kairi, what have I gotten myself into?" I asked and gasped when she made a small noise.
I watched her open her eyes and another wave of relief hit me when she smiled. "Hey, Daddy…" she said.
"Hey, baby… how do you feel? You scared the nilly out of me today," I said and brushed the hair from her forehead.
"What's a nilly?" Kairi asked.
"It's just a substitute word for another word that I would like to have used but deemed it too inappropriate for your angel ears," I explained with a smile.
I watched her eyes move to what I assumed was Riku standing behind me. "Otou-san… I missed you… he never says it but Daddy really missed you and his heart really hurted when you were gone… he even cried," Kairi said and I blushed.
"Kairi aren't you still tired? You should go back to sleep… and I think you must have put something in the fluids, they're making her delusional!" I said and tried to cover Kairi's eyes with my hand.
"Actually Ri-chan, while you were sleeping, your Dad apologized and told me the truth. He also told me that he likes me and now we are a couple. Isn't that cool?" Riku said in an excited voice.
"Yeah! Now I really have two dads! My family is perfect!" Kairi said and I didn't have the heart to quiet their enthusiasm.
"I glad you both are happy now… that's all I really wanted…" I mumbled.
"I'm happy Sora, I'm very happy," Riku said and I blushed when he leaned in to kiss me.
"Wait! K-Kairi is r-right there! I-I can't kiss you when she's watching us! That's indecent!" I said and moved to the other side of Kairi's bed.
"I wanna see! Kissy kissy!" Kairi giggled and I melted at her cuteness.
"Kairi wants a show… I say it's only polite that we give her one…" Riku smirked.
I shook my head and sat in the chair at Kairi's bedside. Riku walked over and kneeled in front of me with a happy look on his face.
"You're lucky that I really like it when you smile like that…" I grumbled before moving in slowly to place a kiss on his lips.
"So did Kairi wake up at…all?" I jerked away from Riku at the sound of my mother's voice and I closed my eyes as if somehow that would make everything freeze.
"Granma! You ruined it! Daddy and Otou-san were going to kiss!" Kairi exclaimed and I wondered how she could be so energetic after being so sick.
"Kids are very resilient," Riku spoke as if reading my mind.
"I told you all you needed was patience… I wasn't lying when I said I knew my son like the back of my hand… and my hand might as well have said 'GAY FOR RIKU' on the back of it…" My mother smirked and I grumbled.
"You guys love picking on me…" I said.
"I can think of other things I'd probably love more…" Riku waggled his eyebrows and I flicked his nose.
"Down boy…" I said before smiling. "The pouch is now empty and I think it's time for us to go home."
"Sounds good to me," Mom said with a smile and I laughed when Kairi was once more in a peaceful slumber.
"I have work tomorrow but I want to take you to dinner… are you free tomorrow night?" Riku asked.
"Well if you don't mind waiting until after seven, it should be okay…" I said.
"Prefect. I'll see you tomorrow, Sora," Riku said and I flushed when he planted a small kiss on my lips.
"Okay…" I trailed off before we went our separate ways.
A/N: I know you all are probably like... "Uh, where's the reply section for the last chapter's reveiws?" The truth is, I'm going on vacation tomorrow and this whole day has been devoted to preparing for it and it's been really exhausting! D: I'm literally about to fall asleep at this computer and it's not even 11 PM, so instead of updating after my vacation, you guys would have to wait a whole week, I decided you guys wouldn't mind if I skipped the replies just this once so that I could squeeze in one last update before I leave tomorrow... I'm not sure if I'll have Internet on this trip that's why... I have read every one of the reviews for chapter 11 and I REALLY appreciate them! When I get back from this trip, I'll be sure to reply to all the reviews for this chapter in the next update! THANKS SO MUCH!
