Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Sailor Moon =).
Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate it =). Seriously. For those of you who don't know, I've written another fanfic called Sweet torment. Also, I've written up a short profile with updates on my stories, if any. I also stopped looking over my chapters for discrepancies in the story, which I shouldn't have. I know there's at least one: Janice the secretary. In earlier chapters, I say she's there, in later chapters she miraculously appears! I'm going to have to introduce her somehow or take her out completely. It won't change the storyline though, so it's not a big deal if you don't go back and read it.
Anyways, I know you're all dying to see what happens to Serena and Darien so here it goes!
Chapter 14
Time seemed to slow as Darien watched the inevitable. He didn't even have the energy to ask why Seiya was there. He screamed her name, but there really was no point. He heard the tires screech. He saw her body fold into the impact of the truck's bumper and disappear under the stopping vehicle. Everything that happened afterwards seemed to move quickly.
"Oh my God! Serena!!!" he heard Mina scream behind him. Her face was full fear as she ran towards her best friend's body.
Darien's face was contracted in terror. What had he done?
"Darien! Call an ambulance!" Mina shouted, as she looked under the truck. "Serena? Serena? Can you hear me?" No answer. It was dark, but she could see Serena. Her legs were protruding on the other side. Mina feared the worst.
The truck driver was also in as much shock as everyone else. He stared far ahead, gripping his steering wheel, his eyes glazing over.
Darien's adrenaline suddenly kicked in as he rushed to the side of his beloved. He pushed Mina aside and bent down to peer under the truck. There she was, immobile. What had he done? "Serena! Serena! You have to wake up!" he shouted, pain resonating through his voice.
Seiya looked at him. "She said to call an ambulance! What are you doing?!" he screamed. Darien quickly ran to the other side of the vehicle. He had blocked out everything around him. "What the fuck?!" Seiya shouted at his back, while pulling out his cell phone to call for help.
'It's all my fault...' Darien told himself. 'Please let her be alive.' He bent down. He wanted to pull her out from under there, but he was afraid he'd break something else. He was sure something was broken. He stood beside Mina who was kneeling trying to get to her as well.
Just then, the truck driver got out of his vehicle, he too realizing what he had done. Darien's head spun at the man's movement. A sudden rage consumed him. He didn't have time to wonder where it had come from. All he knew was that that man had been going too fast on a slippery road. Darien's hands were suddenly around the man's neck. It was only natural he find someone else to blame.
"You bastard! You fucking bastard! I could kill you!" he screamed to the man. Tears sprung from his eyes. The man was in shock, his face becoming redder and redder. He was trying to breathe, but Darien was so strong. Tears fell from Darien's eyes as he realized that Serena could be dead. "Do you know what you've done?!"
"What the hell are you doing?!" Seiya shouted, trying to pull Darien's arms and fingers away from the truck driver. "Let him go! Killing this man won't do Serena any good!" he continued. With one big heave, he wrenched Darien away.
BAM!
Darien's fist went flying right onto Seiya's jaw. "Don't you EVER fucking touch me!"
Seiya's jaw was slowly reddening. He was starting to get angry. This guy had been on his nerves since day one. Enough was enough. "You think it's HIS fault she got hit?" he asked, pointing at the driver. "You and I both know you were the cause of this. It's YOUR fault she was crying, YOUR fault she ran onto the street, YOUR FAULT SHE'S DYING UNDER THERE!" Seiya shouted, tackling Darien.
"Ugh!" Darien groaned, as he felt himself being pushed back. It was slowly becoming a wrestling match.
"STOP IT!!!"
Both men were grasping each other's collars when they looked to see where the voice came from.
Mina looked at them both disapprovingly, tears in her eyes. "How can you fight each other when the woman you BOTH love is unconscious?! She needs us right now and if you two can't handle being two feet from each other, I don't think either of you deserve her." Mina glanced at Seiya and lingered longer on Darien.
Darien released Seiya's shirt first, ashamed. He felt Seiya's grip tighten and then quickly loosen. "This isn't over yet, Shields," he said loud enough so only Darien could hear.
Andrew made his way onto the street, bringing the coats of his friends. Almost all the guests were outside. Sirens were heard at the end of the street.
--
"She's going to live right?" Darien asked the medics inside the ambulance. He had seen how they had taken her out from under the truck and onto the stretcher. They had been careful but not careful enough to his liking. He wished he could hold her in his arms, butholding her hand right now was enough. It felt cold, a little too cold. He looked at her pale face. Blood trickled down the side of her head. A few scratches scattered on her arms and face, but other than that, she still looked like the angel he fell in love with.
"She took a pretty nasty hit back there. Her heart's beating slower than normal and her breathing's shallower," said a dark haired woman sternly. "We think that the front wheels of the truck might have run over her legs. There might be a fracture or two. She also took a nasty hit to the head."
"But she'll live right?" Darien asked with sad eyes, almost pleading them to save her.
The woman looked back at him apologetically before looking at her partner.
--
"What do we have here?" asked a doctor.
A couple of nurses and the medics from the ambulance were either pushing or pulling Serena's bed. Darien was trying to keep up, still holding her hand.
"A truck hit her and possibly ran over her legs. She hit her head upon impact with the floor. Her breathing's shallow and her heart rate's not lookin' good."
"Take her to the ER and prep her for X-rays," told the doctor to a nurse. "I'm afraid you can't come in here, sir. We'll advise you if there are any changes," he said to Darien before walking through the red doors.
Darien wanted to hold on to her hand for longer, but before he knew it, they took her away.
--
Darien was sitting in a corner in the waiting room. The security guard at the other end had the TV on. Darien's face was all over it. The guard turned around and back to his TV, realizing that Mr. Shields himself was in the room. It would be a matter of minutes before the press would surround the building. News travelled pretty darn fast.
"Darien! How is she?" Mina asked frantically. Darien's frustration was cut short.
"I don't know. They took her away," Darien said solemnly. He was staring at his hand, the one that had held Serena's before they took her away from him.
"She'll be alright though?" Andrew asked.
Darien just looked up and Andrew saw the sadness that his eyes contained.
--
Minutes and hours passed until a nurse finally came out. "They've moved Miss Serena Lawrence to a room on the 7th floor. You may go up to see her. The doctor will be with you shortly."
They all sighed in relief. It was as if they were holding their breath. The small gang hurried up to the 7th floor and asked the receptionist where Serena Lawrence would be. They walked swiftly to the end of the corridor.
The doctor quickly came out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Are any of you members of her family?" he asked them.
"No... Her family doesn't live in New York. We're all she's got," Mina said.
The doctor looked at them carefully, debating whether or not he should tell these people what had happened to the girl. After a few seconds, he didn't see any real harm in it. "Miss Lawrence has a minor concussion, but those are usually common in these types of accidents. The blood she lost could have led to believe that it was worse, but luckily it wasn't. Her right leg is fractured. She will have to undergo extensive physiotherapy in order to regain function of it. I hope she's not a professional ballroom or ballet dancer because she won't be able to use her leg for such matters anymore."
Darien smiled. It reminded him of the dance they had shared tonight. How beautiful she looked, how her lips felt...
"She has to rest now. She's been through a lot. I suggest you all go home and rest yourselves," the doctor said to them.
"No. I'm staying," Darien said sternly.
"I'm afraid visiting hours are over. I will advise the patient that you were here. But she must rest now. You may come see her first thing in the morning."
The doctor didn't seem like he was going to tolerate them being there any longer and they all decided to head home. 'Morning is only a few hours away...' Darien thought.
--
Darien arrived exhausted into his apartment. He had so much on his mind. He had been so worried about Serena that he forgot about what had started all this. He wanted to see Serena desperately. He wanted to tell her everything. But it seemed impossible now. What was he going to do?
--
The next morning...
Darien had stayed up all night. He couldn't sleep. Every time he tried, all he would end up doing was toss and turn in his sheets. He resolved that a few cups of coffee would be enough to get him through the morning. He hurried to shower and change. He headed out the door to be at her side.
--
Darien walked into the hospital. He quickly passed through the gift shop and bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He entered the elevator and hurried up to where she was moved. He double checked with the nurse at the reception in case of any changes.
He hid the flowers behind his back. As he was about to knock, he noticed a head of black hair and his brows immediately narrowed. 'What's HE doing here?'
Seiya turned around at the sound of his footsteps. He decided to be courteous in front of Serena. "Mr. Shields. Good to see you again." 'I can't believe he has the nerve to show his face here after what he did,' Seiya thought to himself.
Darien frowned. "How's your jaw?"
Seiya frowned back as he remembered how he had to put some ice on it once he got home. "Why you..."
"Darien, please leave."
Darien turned towards Serena. Did he just hear what he thought he just heard? "What-"
"You heard me. Leave," Serena said, averting his gaze. She needed to be strong. She told herself she would be. If she looked at him now, she would falter and she didn't want to. Not a second time. She was awake all night thinking about him, thinking about how she found him with her. Her relationships were always too good to be true. She had cried for a while, but she didn't have any more left in her.
"You don't really mean that," Darien continued.
"Yes, I do! Now please go!" she shouted. She mustered up the courage to look at his face. What she saw hurt her, but her pride told her she was pretty sure it didn't hurt as much as what she had felt last night. He still looked perfect with the stubble visible on his jaw and his blood red eyes due to his lack of sleep. She couldn't forgive him. She wouldn't forgive him.
Darien was shocked to see all the anger emanating from her eyes. "Alright... If that's what you want..." he said softly, walking away.
Serena turned her head to look out the window. "Darien... Don't come back."
Darien paused at the doorstep. He shut his eyes in pain and briskly walked away. Forever.
'Well, I guess that's it then...' Serena hid her face from Seiya as a single tear slid down her cheek.
--
Darien hurried out, not before throwing away the flowers he got her. He went to his car and drove. He kept driving and driving. Flashes from last night surfaced in his head. It had all happened so fast. He didn't know where he was going. He roamed the streets of New York. He blew it. He didn't want to accept it, but he knew he did. He had tried so hard to be with her. He should've told her sooner. Why hadn't he told her sooner? Andrew had tried warning him. Why hadn't he listened?
Darien stopped at the peer and slammed on his steering wheel. He was so damn frustrated. Why was it so difficult to be with her? It was great at the beginning, wasn't it? Then, Seiya suddenly showed up. After that, his past resurfaced. Third time's the charm, right? And he wasn't going to stick around for that. Were all of these things signs? Signs he shouldn't be with her? As much as he hated admitting it, as much as it hurt, he would never try to be with Serena again. Was love really this hard? He had tried to be with her, but there was always something keeping them apart. Darien hugged his steering wheel and buried his face in his arms. He sobbed quietly, realizing that he lost the woman he loved forever.
--
Darien strolled onto his office floor. Andrew immediately popped out of his. "Dare, I thought you'd be-"
"Yea, well, surprise, surprise..."
"What happened?"
"She kicked me out, Drew. She kicked me out of her life for good."
"She's probably still mad-"
"You didn't see the look on her face when she said it," said Darien, turning around to look at his friend square in the eye. Andrew remained silent. "Life goes on Drew. Love shouldn't be this hard." Andrew looked at his friend dumbstruck. Was he giving up on Serena?
Darien turned to go to his office before Andrew could warn him.
"Hello, Darien."
Darien didn't expect to see her here. HER. She had the audacity to show her face. "What the fuck are you doing here Michelle?"
Surprised by his menacing tone, Michelle moved back into his office. "I-I came to... to apologize."
"You think an apology is going to fix this? You think an apology is going to get her out of the hospital? You think it'll bring her back to me?! You have always been selfish, Michelle. Well, you know what? All your years of practice have served you well. I'm all yours now, sweetie," Darien retorted, words filled with venom.
Michelle looked to the floor. "I don't want to marry you, Darien."
"What?" Darien said shocked.
"It's not right... We're not right." She paused to recollect her thoughts. "Last night, when she saw us, I saw the hurt in her eyes and it was like I woke up or something. I know how she felt Darien. I know because I'd have that look whenever you would leave me for other girls. I know how much it hurt her to see you with me and at first I didn't care, until... until I saw that you had that look too. It was one thing to hurt her, but I couldn't bear to hurt you." She paused. "We were good to each other back then." She smiled as she remembered their younger selves. "But not anymore."
"You tell me this now?" Darien said incredulous. "She's in the hospital because-"
"I know that it's partially my fault she got hurt. I know that I should've never threatened you all those years ago, but I feel love and pain too, Darien. All I wanted was for you to love me again, like you used to. But I know that it's impossible now. Your heart belongs to someone else." Michelle began to cry. It was something that Darien hadn't seen in a very long time. "I'm going away for a while," she said wiping her tears. "I don't know where, but I need to find myself again." She moved closer to Darien. "You deserve happiness. I'm not going to tell anybody what happened. It was never my secret to tell." She looked at the man she loved for one last time. "I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me for all the horrible things I've done. Goodbye, Darien." She kissed him on the cheek before walking away.
Darien was stunned, yet he believed every word she said. He only wished that she realized all this sooner. But right now, he didn't know if he had the strength to continue an impossible relationship.
--
Serena was lying in her hospital bed, thinking about Darien. She felt conflicted. Did she do the right thing? Should she have given him another chance? Did she really have to end so drastically? Should she call him? All these questions would be left unanswered.
Seiya was watching her. It was clear that she had a lot on her mind. It was clear that she had Darien on her mind. It didn't matter though. She drove him away and all that was left was for Seiya to woo her back again. "Serena? You should eat something. You're going to need every ounce of energy to get that leg back on track."
"This cast isn't going to come off for a while. I have plenty of time to get some energy before physio starts," Serena told him solemnly.
"Of course you do." Seiya saw that it was going to take a lot to get Serena to love him again, like she used to.
"Knock, knock," Mina said, walking in with the biggest bouquet of flowers and balloons.
Serena turned and smiled. Mina always knew how to cheer her up. "Did you buy the whole flower shop?" Serena asked her best friend.
"Nope, but you know I would for you!" Mina came closer and glanced at Seiya. 'Why is Seiya here and not Darien?' "How are you feeling?"
"Excellent! I feel absolutely fantastic!" Serena said sarcastically pointing at her leg cast. She was clearly trying to put some sort of front to hide the pain she felt inside.
"I'm glad to see your knack at sarcasm is intact. It mustn't be as bad as it looks." Mina shifted her eyes to Seiya in a manner that told Serena she wanted an answer as to why he was there.
"Um... Seiya? Could you give Mina and me a minute?"
"Sure thing. I'll be outside if you need me." He got up grumpily and walked out, closing the door behind him.
"Since when has he been here?" Mina asked.
"A while."
"Seemed like it. Serena I was so scared yesterday. I saw you under the truck and you weren't answering me. I thought... I thought..."
"Well, I'm not. But I might as well be..."
"How can you say that? You're safe! You've got all your limbs!"
"Yeah... but I don't have Darien..."
"Well, I'm sure he'll show up soon."
"No, Mina. I mean I won't have him. Ever." Mina looked at her confused. "He came this morning and I just told him to go away and never come back."
Mina's jaw dropped. "Sere, why?!"
"I don't know. Actually, I DO know. I saw him kissing Michelle. He told me to meet him and when I got there..." Tears welled up in her eyes.
'I'm going to KILL him!' Mina thought with rage. But she wasn't entirely convinced that Darien would actually do it. "I'm sure that there's an explanation-"
"Mina, I'm tired of explanations. I can't take explanations a second time. My first ordeal with explanations is waiting outside as a reminder."
Mina glanced at the door. "But I KNOW you love Darien! Isn't that enough? Can't you at least try to forgive him?"
"I can't. I just can't..."
"Why not? You-"
"He BROKE my heart, Mina!" Serena shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. Mina's eyes widened at the brutal way she said it. "You can go get Seiya now," Serena said, wiping her cheeks.
"Sure, Sere... I need to call Andrew anyway. Will you be okay with him?"
Serena nodded. Mina left and Seiya came back to sit down. Serena took a good look at him. He still looked good with his jock physique. She noticed a bump on his jaw. "What happened to your jaw?"
"Nothing a few days can't heal," he answered, smiling back. 'Curse Darien!'
"I'm sorry I ruined the party..."
"Please, Serena. It wasn't your fault. If there's anyone to blame, it would be Darien Shields."
Serena's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the way he said his name. She decided not to dwell on it. "I made you spend so much money on the center and I end up here. You must be angry with me."
"You know I'd do anything for you. And no, I'm not angry with you. Although, I'm pretty surprised at the total... I mean I didn't even get to see the place," Seiya added to lighten up the mood.
Serena giggled. "It was something. I'm sorry you missed it because of me."
They kept talking and talking, just like old friends.
--
Mina hurried to the nearest payphone. Damn hospitals and their stupid rule for not using cell phones! She hurriedly dialled Andrew's cell.
"Andrew Garner, hello?" said an all too familiar voice.
"It's over Andrew..." Mina said sadly.
"Mina? What? What do you mean?" he asked frantically.
"No, I didn't mean us! I mean Serena and Darien!" Mina said, exasperated.
Andrew sighed in relief. "I know... He came in this morning. He took it better than I thought he would-"
"What? Define better."
"He just walked in, told me it was over between them and went into his office. No cry of despair, no complaints... It was like he was okay with the idea, like he was giving up."
Mina's eyes drooped. Her best friend and her boyfriend's best friend were giving up on each other. "I guess we can't push it further. Serena told me the same thing. I don't think she has the strength to fight anymore."
"I guess it's really over," Andrew said. He was disappointed about it. They did complete each other nicely. She had made him a better man and he was thankful for that. But Darien did have a point: was love supposed to be this hard? He thought about how Mina and he got together, how smoothly things are still going between them and he was still madly in love with the girl. He just didn't understand why it couldn't be the same with Darien and Serena.
"I wish they could be like us, Andrew..." Mina said softly.
"I do too, Mins. I do too..."
--
Darien locked himself in his office. He sat in his chair. He looked at the mountain of documents he needed to look over. His mind couldn't help drifting back to Serena. He brought it upon himself. He knew in the back of his mind that it was his fault. His fault he didn't tell her, his fault she ended up in the hospital, his fault she wasn't in his arms right now... But, he also knew that it was over. There was no use dwelling on it. He pictured her smile, her laugh, the smell of her hair, the softness of her skin... It was time for them to become memories. It was time for her to become a memory.
'That's enough playing around. It's time to get back to work,' he thought resolved. It was time to get the company back together. It was time to get over her. It was time to go back to his old self.
--
Serena looked out her window. She had fun today with Seiya, surprisingly. He even offered her to be her physio partner. Everyone had come to visit her, Lita, Amy, Greg... They all bared flowers and gifts. Mina had told Serena's father that she was in the hospital. She had received a call from him earlier today. He was overseas though, stuck in a mini-hurricane, but would soon be on the first flight able to leave.
She had time to forget. Forget about him. But now, alone in her room, she couldn't help but think about him. A thousand questions plagued her mind. She wished she could go back. Back to where it all began. That day, she fell in the pool, eavesdropping on his conversation. She smiled at the thought. She would have done everything differently. But, would it have really changed their fate? Maybe they were destined to love for a little while, but not forever. Serena saddened. She didn't regret anything, but if she could, she would erase the hurt. God knew how much she was hurting and she knew that she had to let go. She was going to let go.
--
Author's note: I bet you all want to know what's going to happen next right? Has Darien really given up? Will he go back to being an arrogant jerk? Will Serena fall into Seiya's arms again? I know what happens, but I'd love to know what you guys think! =)
I had a bit of a writer's block for this chapter and it was also a bit shorter than the others. I feel like my story's wrapping up. I think I'll give it maybe three more chapters until the end *cries*. I don't really want it to end though, I guess it all depends on the ideas I put in it. I don't know when I'll be able to write the next chappie because schools bugging me again (damn school!) and I'm kind of into my other fic Sweet torment. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do! People seem to like it! Until next time my loyal readers! Keep reviewing! xoxo