Author's Note: This is a tribute to the 7/7 bombings in London. This was the first suicide attack in England and the worst terrorist incident in the UK since 1988. This was a dark day in British history and it and the people who suffered because of it should never be forgot.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia but I do own the OC.
It had started out as a normal summer's day. It was a Thursday, and everyone was trying to get to work. It was the rush hour and the tube and buses were packed, even more so due to delays. It was sunny and London was bustling with tourists and commuters, even though it was early. Arthur was making some tea and reading the newspaper, whilst a three year old Jasmine was watching Cbeebies. She got up and toddled over to him, mint bunny trailing behind her.
"Daddy, I don't feel well" She looked up at him, her brown eyes wide and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I think you should go up and get changed, then if you still don't feel better you can have some Calpol. Okay?" She nodded. "Okay daddy." She then ran off and he could hear her footsteps thumping as she climbed up the stairs. He rolled his eyes and went back to his tea. That was when he felt the pain in his chest.
Jasmine was upstairs, changing. She'd just finished putting on her green t-shirt again (as she'd put it on back to front) when she felt pain like she'd never felt before. She fell to the floor and curled up in a ball, whimpering. She looked down to see red seeping through her t-shirt. She felt tears fall down her face. She heard herself screaming, for daddy.
Arthur spat out blood in the sink. Great, something bad had just happened somewhere in England. He clutched the counter-top, knuckles almost white from pain. He wondered where- Suddenly he heard Jasmine screaming and he bolted, stumbling slightly on the stairs. "JASMINE!" he yelled, flinging the door open. She was curled up on the floor, unconscious. Surrounding her was a small pool of blood, which her t-shirt was soaked in. Arthur felt another shot of pain stab him and he saw Jasmine flinch and moan. He could see more bleeding start, this time coming from another part of her shirt. "Shit. Jasmine, love can you hear me?"
Jasmine made no attempt of response. Her breath was laboured and all colour was draining out of her tanned skin. Arthur felt something wet on his shirt. He looked down to see crimson blossoming on his shirt and the world started to spin. This was getting serious. Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile, fumbling over the buttons. He scrolled through his contacts, searching for the right one. Unfortunately, he couldn't just call an ambulance due to him being a nation, which would create some weird result in hospital tests. So nations had a special international government run medical system instead. White spots flashed in front of his eyes and Arthur started to panic. Finally he found the right number and hit the call button, crumpling onto the floor and leaning against the chest of draws, wheezing. He reached out his hand and slowly stroked Jasmine's head. "It'll be okay love".
"This is GOVCO medical system, London division. Please state your code of authorisation." Arthur gulped; his throat dry. "This is code: red, white and blue." There was pause, before a buzz and someone picked up the phone. "Hello, please state your emergency." He let out a sigh of relief. "Hi. This is Kirkland one, there are two casualties, including myself. Please send an ambulance and hurry!" all Arthur could feel was pain. The phone slipped out of his hand as his mind became clouded over and he slumped over. The voice on the phone was panicking, talking rapidly. But nobody could hear it. Great Britain had fallen.
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"Angleterre, can you 'ear me?" "Doc, are you sure he'll be okay?" "Arthur, please wake up!"
Arthur slowly opened his eyes. His head was pounding and his body ached. "Ow…" he groaned. Francis, Alfred and Matthew rushed over to his bed. "Dude, you're alive!" Alfred cheered and hi-fived Matthew. Francis kissed him, tears in his eyes. "I thought I 'ad lost you" Arthur could see he was now in a hospital, as everything was white. He pushed himself so he was sitting up. "W-what happened?"
"Some bastards set off some bombs. Zhe paramedics found you unconscious, curled up over Jasmine" Arthur looked around the room. He raised a bushy eyebrow. "Francis, where's Jasmine?" Francis' eyes filled with tears and he looked away. Arthur looked at the others. Alfred was avoiding his intense gaze and Matthew fiddled with his hoodie. "Well?" Matthew took a deep breath and came to sit by his bed. "Arthur, the bombs went off on the London transport systems." He said slowly, fighting back tears. Arthur paled and started to get himself out of his hospital bed. "Where is she? I need to see her!" Alfred gently pushed him back down. "Dude, just listen." Matthew continued.
"The attack killed 52 people and injured over 700. The transport system is vital to London, as I'm sure you know. The attack it, it- oh maple I can't make this any softer. Arthur, the attack caused severe injury to her heart. It, it was worse because she's younger. It also caused deep lacerations on her chest and stomach, similar to stab wounds. She was in the surgery for over six hours. But, she's fine! Sort of…"
"What do you mean, sort of?" Arthur snarled. Alfred took over. "He means that the operation was a success. However, to try and speed up the healing process her body sent her into a coma. But the doctors are unsure how long she'll be like that, as the healing process in cities is different from ours." Arthur flopped back, drained. "W-when can I see her?" he whispered. "Zhe doctor said soon after you'd woken up and zhey 'ad run some tests on you. I brought you some of your clothes so you can change and I'll go and tell zhe nurse you're up." Francis, having recovered, dumped a union flag bag on the bed. Arthur gratefully took it and went to get out of his hospital gown.
After having his medical check the doctor led them all to the room where Jasmine was. Arthur felt his eyes fill with tears at the sight of her. She was hooked up to a heart monitor and an oxygen mask over her face. He could see bandages wrapped round her torso. She was completely still and pale; a shell of her former self. Arthur sat down in the chair next to her bed. He couldn't believe, didn't want to believe that the girl in the hospital bed was her. "We'll give you some time alone". Silently everyone filed out until it was the two of them left.
"'Ello love" he whispered, gently holding her hand. "They told me what happened. I think, that you're being very brave about all this. I want you to know that I'm proud of you and that I love you." For a while he just sat there, holding her hand, watching her breathing and the heart monitor. Finally the nurse came in and told him his time was almost up. He nodded and she left. "I've got something for you, love. Matthew thought you might want it when Francis packed my bag" he reached into his bag. "Flying mint bunny missed you!" He tucked the mint coloured rabbit next to her. "I'm really sorry, but I've got to go now. I'll come back tomorrow. I'll come back every day until you wake up. Bye for now love". He lent over a placed a kiss on her forehead, before smiling sadly and leaving.
Jasmine had been in a coma for over a week. Every day the hospital scanned her and they could see that her body was slowly fixing itself. The cuts on her torso were healing and slowly fading away, whilst her heart had repaired almost all the damage. She could wake up at any day. Arthur, Francis and Matthew spent a lot of time in the hospital, for fear they would miss her waking up. They were all there when she did.
Matthew had come flying to the cafeteria, panted and managed to excitably tell them she'd moved. Arthur had started crying when they walked into the room to see her eyelids flicker open. "Hi Daddy" she whispered, in a small voice which sounded nothing like her own. The doctors were all over her, doing tests and asking her questions. Her family sat round her.
"Hey dudette." She smiled at Alfred, whilst the doctor did a test with his stethoscope. "Hey." He pointed to her chest, then unbuttoned his shirt, to reveal a faded scar across his heart. "You got a scar, same as me." She peered down. "Oh. I didn't realise."
"Kumajiro misses you. He keeps asking about you" Matthew said, propping up mint bunny on the pillow. "I've missed everyone! I missed Bastille Day Francis, je suis desoleé!" The Frenchman ruffled her hair. "It does not matter, petite fleur. What matters is you are better." Arthur just locked his arms around her, holding her tightly to him. Jasmine buried herself into his shirt, taking in the smell of Earl Grey tea, books and slightly burnt food. All comforting scents, all reminding her of home.
"I missed you daddy" she whispered, so quietly only he could hear her. He looked down to see she was crying and a wet patch had formed on his shirt. "I missed you to Jasmine. I thought, I thought that- that I was going to lose you." He was crying to. "And I could never survive if I lost you Jasmine."
Jasmine gasped at the sight of her father crying. "Don't cry daddy, you're making mint bunny sad. He needs a hug to!" She passed him her green bunny. "I would never, ever, EVER leave you Daddy! And if I had to, I would tell you before I go!" Arthur gave her a small smile and just hugged her again.
Alfred, Francis and Matthew watched them. All of them were reassured that London was going to be fine, and so would England.
P.S. I suck at medical stuff, so just go with it if it's wrong.