AN: I'm going to be leaving town tomorrow and will be gone for a few days, so I'm not sure how long the next update will take. Sorry, Ill try to get it done while I'm gone but can't promise
Anyway~ Enjoy
Chapter 12: Threats and Promises
Isshin had quietly rolled Grimmjow down the hall, entering the small room that looked into his son's ICU. Ichigo had yet to make any progress and he knew that the boy may never wake up. He was a doctor after all, there was no one that could sugar coat things and give him false hope. And he couldn't bring himself to do that to Grimmjow either, though the young man seemed to understand without a word being said.
All the tests that had been conducted, all the machines hooked up to Ichigo and all the expert opinions were indicating that he had a fifty/fifty chance of waking up. The odds had been plaguing Isshin for almost a week now, but he refused to give up hope. The equipment that monitored brain waves showed a minimal amount of activity, but that was enough to indicate that he was still there, somewhere. His son was strong and he had a lot to live for, he would fight.
Grimmjow finally spoke up from where he sat in front of the small window, staring in at the man he loved. "Can... can I..." He hesitated, feeling his chest tighten and constrict around the words. He saw Ichigo's father nod beside him.
The older man walked around Grimmjow's wheel chair and pushed him toward the door that separated the small room from the one his son lay in. He heard the bluenette take a shaky breath as they entered the room. The smell of antiseptic and the sounds of the medical equipment keeping Ichigo alive greeted them as Isshin pushed Grimmjow to the small bed. He stepped a few feet back, giving the man a bit of privacy. He watched Grimmjow's wide eyes tear up as he took in the sight in front of him. The bluenette tentatively raised a hand and ghosted shaky fingers over Ichigo's pale cheek before taking a cold hand in his own and pressing it to his lips for a moment in a gentle kiss. A tear made a wet trail down the side of Grimmjow's face as he murmured in a soft whisper to his quiet, still lover.
The sight broke Isshin's heart all over again.
••••••
Ulquiorra woke to the sound of his phone, he glanced at the clock and realized that he had over slept. It was nearly nine A.M. Rolling over with a soft grunt of discomfort, he reached for his phone and slowly sat up. The display showed Nnoitra's number. He frowned a bit and flipped the phone open, remembering the last time the lanky man had called him. "Yes, Nnoitra?" He asked into the phone, climbing from his bed.
There was a low rumble from the other end of the phone, then "It's Grimm. Did I wake you?"
Ulquiorra gave a slight frown. "No, I am awake. Why are you calling from Nnoi's phone?" He asked, quick to the point as always.
He heard Grimmjow chuckle from the other end, but it was a humorless, dark sound. "Don't think mine made it out of the car. So. I would love a change of clothing, really getting sick of this gown. I also need someone to make sure Pan is alright..."
"I will be there in one hour. To the hospital within the next."
"Thanks. You still have a spare key, right?" Grimmjow gave another low chuckle. "Never mind, I'm sure you know how to get in without one."
"It will be no problem. I will see you shortly." Ulquiorra hung up and made his way to the kitchen, taking his prescriptions before heading to the bathroom for a shower.
••••••
The nurse gently pushed the door to the blue haired man's room. It was still fairly early and if he wasn't awake, she wanted to let the recovering man sleep. He had looked drawn and exhausted the night before, after he had been brought back to his room by Dr. Kurosaki.
"Oh, Mr. Jaegerjaquez! Your up" She said cheerily as she stepped into the room.
Grimmjow grunted a reply, his eyes trained on the screen of the smallish TV in his room. A look of horror mixed with something more violent crossed his expression. He had woken up a while ago, and seeing how Nnoitra was passed out on the couch, arms and legs hanging everywhere, he had switched the TV on for noise before gingerly making his way to the arm chair next to the hospital bed. He was getting sick of being there, sick of being confined and unable to do anything on his own. Hell, he had to have help just to piss most of the time.
The nurse made her way over to the distracted man. "I hope you didn't strain yourself getting up on your own." She said quietly, seeing the man's sleeping friend. When Grimmjow didn't acknowledge her, she turned to see what was so fascinating on the screen. Video of a terrible accident was playing on the news, it zoomed in a few times, showing the damage to the car and what looked like bullet holes. The news caster was saying something about not having many leads. "That accident has been all over the news for almost a week now, terrible wasn't it?" She turned back to get Grimmjow's pain medication ready.
He grunted and quietly replied. "Yeah. It was." Something in his voice made the nurse look up at him curiously. Catching her glance from the corner of his eye, he continued. "That was mine. My GTR. The accident that is still trying to kill..." His voice trailed off and a pained, yet angry scowl creased his brows. He remembered most of the accident, much more than he wanted too. But this was the first time since waking up in the hospital he had really gotten to look at the aftermath. He took a deep breath and turned away from the screen.
The nurse put a hand to her lips, her eyes were slightly wide as she looked back at the car. She had been told he was in an accident, but the nurses rarely knew the details, just what was wrong with the patient and how to take care of him or her. She put the pieces together and realized he had to be talking about Dr. Kurosaki's comatose son. "I'm so sorry..." She whispered under her breath, not knowing what to say to something like that.
Grimmjow grunted a reply before shutting the TV off and grabbing the pills from her.
••••••
Renji fumed. He paced back and forth in his lieutenant's apartment so furiously that Ikkaku was starting to think he could see a trail in his carpet. It had taken twenty minutes to get the red head to calm down enough to explain what the hell he was so worked up about.
They had been laying low, knowing that the police were all over the place, still trying to figure out who was responsible for the shooting. Their guy that had been sent after that pale bastard in the Stingray hadn't made it, but they found out he was already dead when the police arrived, so at least he couldn't talk. They guessed that the man that killed him wouldn't talk, he was obviously a pro at what he did and wouldn't want to expose himself, so they hadn't been too worried.
But now, it seemed that blue haired freak had survived, and if the news was correct, he was on his way to recovery. They were terrified that he would talk. "He's a faggot too. Maybe he'll just off himself since his little gay boyfriend isn't recovering?" Ikkaku ventured, hoping to put his boss at ease a little.
The red head sent him an angry, doubtful glare. "He didn't seem like the emo type."
"Well... maybe we should leave town till things cool down? Give it a month or so, ne?"
Renji listened to his bald second's suggestion. It wasn't a bad idea. He had contacts, he could probably lay low for a year if he had too. He stopped pacing and nodded his head. "Start makin' calls. I want out of this city by tomorrow."
"Yes, taichou"
••••••
Ulquiorra pulled into the parking lot of Grimmjow's apartment complex. He had managed to get the leader of Espada to lend him a new car so he could move more freely and whenever the need arose. His new car wasn't bad, but it wasn't his Stingray. He promised himself that he would start shopping around for a new one when he got the time.
He made his way up the stairs and let himself into his friend's apartment. Ulquiorra was instantly greeted with a head butt to his thigh by Pantera. The cat gave a chirping meow and sat back down to look at the door expectantly.
Ulquiorra patted her head and went to locate where Grimm kept her food. He refilled her bowl and wandered around the place for a bit, looking for signs that anyone had been there. He found none and concluded that the red headed leader that had gunned Grimm and his man down seemed to be a little unhinged and probably hadn't even thought to go through this place or didn't care to do so.
He made his way down the hall and into Grimmjow's bed room. The bed was unmade, the blankets rumpled and kicked to the foot of the bed from the last time it had been slept in. He walked around it to a closet. Digging through the slightly disorganized space, he found a gym bag and made his way over to Grimmjow's dresser.
He grabbed Grimm's white gym shorts and a black wife beater, trying to choose clothing that would be comfortable for the injured man to wear. He also grabbed a pair of socks and boxers, remembering the last time he had helped the bluenette when he was getting sick. He grimaced slightly, Grimmjow was good enough looking, but he didn't exactly enjoy the peek he ended up with when he found out that the doctors had removed all his clothing before putting the gown on him. Grimmjow was his friend and that was just a little awkward.
He made his way back to the closet, tossing a pair of jeans and a black, zip up hoodie into the bag before sliding the door shut. He grabbed the key to Grimm's bike that he kept in a night stand drawer, knowing Grimm would need it eventually. Ulquiorra could get it out of storage for him later.
He walked back down the hall way and to the door. Pan glanced at him from her spot on the kitchen counter, than returned her stare out the window. Ulquiorra closed and locked the door behind him, heading toward his car.
••••••
Grimmjow looked up at the sound of the room door opening. Ulquiorra stepped inside and greeted him and Nnoitra. The lanky man had been in the middle of giving him shit about not waking him up to help him out of bed.
Grimmjow turned back to Nnoi. " 'sides, Doc said I could start movin around as long as I don't push it, so bite me"
When his lanky friend stood up with a sinister smile and slowly stalked his way toward him, Grimmjow leaned away and made an attempt to get out of the chair as quickly as possible. When that resulted in him only hurting himself, Grimmjow settled for trying to push the man away from him with his one good arm.
Nnoitra cackled like a mad man, enjoying Grimmjow's struggle as he leaned forward. Wasn't everyday it was so easy to over power his usually strong friend.
"Don't you fuckin dare" The bluenette growled at Nnoi, still struggling to keep the man at bay.
Ulquiorra, giving a small chuckle, and came to his injured friend's aid. He restrained Nnoitra, managing to get the taller man in a head lock faster then he could figure out what happened.
"What the hell?" Nnoitra struggled against his surprisingly tough friend, listening to Grimmjow laugh his ass off. After a moment, he gave up struggling and settled for lifting the smaller man from the ground. Ulqui may have been deceptively strong, but he was still pretty tiny. Hearing a small, rather unmanly squeak come from Ulqui, he chuckled and dropped him onto the couch. "That's what ya get fer takin his side."
Grimmjow was busy trying not to laugh, an arm wrapped around his aching and sore abdomen. He winced even as he attempted to stop so he could breath.
Nnoi gave a half assed apology, watching Grimmjow. He wasn't all that sorry for causing his friend pain in such a way. It was nice to see the man smiling, it seemed like so long since the last time he had smiled.
Grimmjow waved off the apology, leaning back in the chair and taking a deep breath. He thanked Ulquiorra for bringing his stuff and grabbed the bag from beside his chair, letting the crooked grin slowly fall from his face. Gingerly, he stood up, using the back of the chair for support and slowly made his way to the bathroom to change.
A few minutes later, he exited the small room, white basketball shorts slung low over his hips, the waist band of black boxers peeking over the tops. Stitched up wounds and plenty of bruising was visible on his left side and the scars that tracked along his abdomen and chest seemed to show more than was normal against his paler than usual skin. He held the black tank top in his right hand and made a face. "Uhh... Dammit." He huffed and tossed the wife beater in Nnoi's face. "Help me out, baka."
Nnoitra pulled the cloth from his face, curling his lip in annoyance until he realized his buddy's plight. Grimmjow had been able to get the gown off because it untied in the back, but without being able to move his arm much, he needed help getting the shirt on.
Laughing, he made his way to Grimm's side. "Man. Not only do I have ta baby sit ya, but I gotta dress ya too." His mirth was short lived. He let out a soft grunt when Grimmjow's big right fist collided with his gut. It wasn't a hard hit, but he certainly felt it. "Tch. Fine"
After several minutes of struggling and trying desperately not to hurt Grimm any more than was necessary, the tank top was finally in place and Grimmjow was dressed. He sighed and restlessly sat back down in the chair. He carefully stood up again a few minutes later. "I'm ganna visit Ichi" he said quietly, and carefully made his way to the door.
Ulqui and Nnoi shared a look before jumping from the couch and joining their friend at the door. "Should I get the wheel chair?" Ulquiorra asked softly.
Grimmjow shook his head a little. "wanna walk." he said just as quietly and exited the room, knowing Ulquiorra and Nnoitra would follow him. He crossed to the other side of the hall, so the wall was on his right side and he would have something to use as support if he needed it while he gingerly made his way down the hall.
Reaching the room at the far end, Grimmjow opened it and let himself in. He heard the men behind him quietly close the door as they entered the room. Standing in front of the window for a few moments, he looked in at Ichigo's body. He would never get over how unlike himself the boy looked in that little room. Grimmjow slowly walked over to the door that lead into the ICU room that held Ichigo. Punching the numbers he had been given by Mr. Kurosaki into the touch pad, he unlocked the door and entered the room. The door was usually unlocked during visiting hours, but he and Isshin had been going to see him at night, so he had been allowed to learn the code needed. It was still too early for visiting hours, but he felt he needed to see Ichi.
Pulling the small office chair from the counter against the wall to the bed, he sat down and grabbed Ichigo's hand. He knew he would be given privacy, his friends knew him well enough to realize when he needed to be left alone.
He held Ichigo's cold hand in his own, lowering his forehead to rest against his knuckles and Ichi's, he took a deep breath before letting tears sting his eyes. "Hey, Ichi." He said quietly. "Don't know if you can hear me, but I love ya... I should have told you that already. I'll be here to tell you again when you wake up." He sat quietly for a while, lost in his thoughts, brushing his fingers against Ichigo's palm. He vaguely heard the door behind him open, but didn't pay attention to it. "You just keep fighting, Ichi. I know you'll wake up when your ready too." He paused, wiping at his eyes a bit. "And I'll go hunting." He added in a whisper.
••••••
Dr. Kurosaki made his way to his son's lover's room. He had been visiting the man more and more, almost as much as he visited his own son. Something about him made Isshin feel closer to Ichigo, and the more he got to know Grimmjow, the more he decided he like him. Ichi had done well.
He peeked into Grimmjow's room, only to find it empty. He looked around for a moment, confused. The wheel chair still sat in the corner, but the bed wasn't made with fresh sheets, so he knew the man hadn't been released, and the few belongings Grimmjow had with him were still in place.
Isshin pondered a moment, Grimmjow's lanky, slightly over protective buddy was missing also. He turned and left the room, headed toward his son's room.
He opened the door to find two young men sitting quietly against the wall. He recognized them as Grimm's friends. They all must have been very close. He glanced through the window at the blue haired man sitting by his son. Grimmjow had changed out of the gown, he noted, he looked much more like himself in street clothing. The bluenette was currently sitting, head bowed, his forehead resting against Ichigo's hand where he held it in his own.
Isshin took a seat beside the other two men in the room, giving Grimmjow his space.
After a few minutes, he watched Grimm raise his head to look at Ichi's face. He opened the door and stepped in, quietly making his way to join the younger male. He could hear him talking in a quiet tone, though Grimmjow gave no indication that he knew or cared that Isshin was there. As he drew near, he caught Grimmjow's words; "...I'll go hunting." They were said with a finality and force that could mean only one thing, and he had learned enough about Grimmjow to believe he would do it.
Isshin grabbed his black beater, hoisting him from his seat to stand up on his toes. The chair fell back ward with a loud clatter and Grimmjow's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing in contained anger. He heard chairs scuff the tile in the other room and knew Grimmjow's friends were scrambling to get to them.
"Don't do it, Grimmjow." Isshin set his jaw and shook the younger man a bit. Grimmjow made no move against him. His left arm rested in a sling and he held his right out to the side in a non threatening way but his lip curled in a silent snarl, his honed muscles flexed and twitched and Isshin could see he was ready to defend himself if it came to that. "What happens when you get caught? Do you think you being in prison will help him?" He shouted in Grimmjow's face, pointing toward the bed with his free hand.
Grimmjow's two friends skidded to a halt, effectively surrounding Isshin where he stood, holding the bluenette by the shirt. At the back of his mind, he wondered how they had gotten into the locked room.
He watched Grimmjow raise his good arm a bit, patting at the air. The two backed off a little, but they remained close and watchful. Isshin felt the man trembling, though he couldn't tell if it was adrenalin and anger or fear or pain, he doubted it was fear. He noted that Grimmjow's face had paled some, his jaw was tensed like he was gritting his teeth. Grimmjow said nothing, his gaze never leaving Isshin's face, his blue eyes were cold and filled with seething anger, yet Isshin could see the pain and guilt swimming in their depths. He relaxed his hold some, letting the man down a bit and off his toes. He took a deep breath and continued in a more calm and quiet tone. "Or what if something goes wrong and the bastard kills you instead? What would I tell him then?"
Grimmjow growled, Isshin could feel it vibrate low in the man's chest. He started to understand what Shinji had meant about the bluenette having a wild temper to match his wild hair. But he knew Grimmjow to be an honest man, his feelings for Ichigo were genuine and strong and thats what had driven him to wanting blood on his hands. "You will only be hurting him more if you do it." Isshin paused, searching Grimmjow's eyes. He saw some of the rage retreat, and watched sorrow take its place. "Promise me you wont do it... Promise him you wont do it."
Grimmjow finally lowered his gaze away from Isshin's face. He nodded; a quick, subtle movement, but it was a promise nonetheless.
The doctor released his hold on Grimmjow's shirt and the man all but collapsed, his lanky best friend catching him as he issued a low, airy groan. Shaking lightly, Grimmjow allowed himself to lean a little more weight onto Nnoitra than he would have liked to admit.
Nnoi didn't complain and he did his best to make it look like Grimm was more in control than he was as he stared Dr. Kurosaki down, his violet eye filled with threats and barely restrained anger. No one treated his best friend and brother like that. Especially when Grimm was too weak and injured to do anything about it. He saw Ulquiorra move his hand away from his weapon, warily eyeing the doctor as he came around to Nnoitra's side, crossing between Grimmjow and the older man to reach Grimmjow's other side.
"Grimmjow. Are you all right?" Ulquiorra's voice was soft, but his eyes were hard where they burned into Isshin, a man Grimmjow seemed to trust, even see as a friend.
The bluenette nodded his head. "I'm fine, Ulqui." His voice was a whisper.
Isshin sighed, he felt terrible about putting so much strain on the man's still healing and bruised muscles. It had obviously taken a lot out of him to be kept on his toes and standing straight, the way Isshin had been holding him. "Grimmjow..." his voice was soft and regretful. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you...I just..."
Grimmjow snapped his head up to look at him. His body may have been trembling slightly and weak, but he was not. His eyes were clear as he took a few deep breaths, steadying himself to speak. "I know your right..." his gaze flicked to Ichigo's still body, then settled back on Isshin. "I wont go looking for him...but if we run into each other...I can't tell you I will be able to keep my promise." His voice was deep and serious.
Isshin nodded, he understood Grimmjow's want for making the culprit suffer. He wanted the bastard who had done this to his son to suffer just as much as Grimmjow did, but he didn't want to see Grimmjow do anything stupid or get hurt. He was beginning to love the kid like he did Ichigo.
Grimmjow took a few more seconds to steady himself against Nnoitra before squeezing Nnoi's arm in a silent thank you and stepping away. He carefully took the few steps that would bring him to Ichigo's side. Bending over, he ghosted his lips against a cool, pale forehead "I'll be back to see you again, Ichi." He whispered against Ichigo's cheek before straightening and gingerly making his way to the door.
Isshin heaved a heavy sigh and righted the chair that had been knocked over, setting it by his son's bed, he lowered himself into it and closed his eyes.
