My beautiful, fantastic friends scattered across this amazing planet we call home; you have my deepest, most heartfelt thanks for all of your incredible support! I know that it has been way, way too long since I last wrote. As usual my only excuse is that life got crazy. My brother met the girl of his dreams and, 10 months later, he married her. She is the best, it's like she's always been my sister :). Within their 3 month engagement my mom separated from my dad and she, my sister and I moved out. On top of this we found out our youngest cousin, who is only seventeen, is fighting the battle of her life with cancer. And those are just the highlights, heh.
Then one day, during a quiet moment I carved out for myself, I pulled up good ol' Fanfiction to just escape to for a little bit and I saw a PM waiting for me. I was honestly surprised, it had been so long since I last wrote anything. It was so sweet and so supportive I found myself looking up the reviews for this little story of mine. I traveled back in time when I started reading all 595 of them, from the very first to the very last, and by the end you guys had me laughing and crying at the same time and I knew that I had to keep writing, no matter how hard it may seem at first. So here are the fruits of my effort. Seriously, love you guys!❤
"Ok, how about this?! What does Attila say when he walks through his front door?"
"Dunno."
"'Honey! I'm home!' Get it?! Cause he's a Hun and so he calls his wife...mwah-ha-ha...snort, snort."
Shang rolled his eyes and barely restrained himself from groaning aloud at Ling's rather pathetic attempt at yet another joke. Mulan and the other two laughed just enough to appease him but it was pretty obvious they were feeling just like Shang did; about ready to shove a sock in Ling's mouth.
"Or how about….how about….!"
"Ling, scout ahead and make sure the way is clear." Shang ordered and practically heard the inaudible sighs of relief from the others.
"But...isn't it Yao's turn? I'm pretty sure I did it last time."
Thinking fast, Shang responded, "It is Yao's turn but he just told me that he's feeling the beginning of a charlie horse coming on. I can't have him cramping up out by himself while scouting now, can I Yao?"
Yao froze for a moment as all eyes turned on him, then Shang raised one eyebrow pointedly and he realized what he was supposed to do. Letting out a miserable groan he grabbed his arm and said in the most pathetic voice he could manage,
"The pain keeps gettin' worse, Captain. Reckon I won't be able to move soon."
"Wait a minute! Don't charlie horses start in the leg?" Ling exclaimed.
Shang shot a glare at a sheepish looking Yao and answered Ling through clenched teeth, "Generally yes, but Yao's have always been a little odd. They tend to start in his arm and then move to his leg."
"But…" Ling started, looking confused, but Shang's patience had come to an end.
"Ling! As your Captain I am ordering you to run patrol! Now GO!" He barked.
"Yes, Sir!" Ling yelped before setting off at a brisk jog to put some distance between himself and his irritable Captain. He had no idea why the man was in such a bad mood but maybe that's how high status military men reacted to a war victory?
Shang sighed and felt some of the tension drain from his shoulders. A familiar black mount drew even with his white and his attention was drawn to the rider at the sound of a soft feminine laugh. Mulan sent him an impish little grin when he met her gaze.
"How are you holding up, Captain?"
"Was he seriously like this the whole time we marched?" Shang asked incredulously.
"Pretty much." She answered with another delightful little laugh, "Just don't get him started on women and you might survive to reach home."
Shang let out a theatrical groan and this time he earned a full out laugh that had Mulan throwing her head back in joy. Shang basked in the sound.
When Shang had asked if he could escort Mulan home, this was not the scenario he had imagined, but the Emperor had insisted on a proper armed escort for his new favorite warrior and had volunteered Ling, Yao and Po to join the duo; crushing Shang's hope of having a little privacy with Mulan to try and determine where their relationship stood. It had only been one day and already Shang's patience was wearing thin. He would get his chance to speak with her alone if it was the last thing he did. As it was, at least he got to enjoy her company in a less structured environment. She was gradually loosening up around him again and had appeared to forgive him for everything he had done and not done, at least...he hoped that was the case.
They had been riding slowly and taking frequent breaks due to his and Mulan's injuries, so they hadn't made as much progress as Shang had predicted, which wasn't the worst thing in the world in his eyes. It meant he got to spend more time with her, after all.
Ling had just made a reappearance on the horizon when Shang caught Mulan shifting in her saddle uncomfortably with a slight grimace before covering her slip up with a serene expression. However, she couldn't hide the paleness of her face or the sheen of sweat on her brow despite it being a cool day. She was in pain. He saw Yao and Po watching her with concern on their faces and knew he wasn't the only one who was seeing it.
"Captain Shang!" Ling greeted formally, having reached their little party.
"Report."
"All clear. No signs of trouble."
"Did you see a good place to make camp?"
"There's a stream coming up. We might be able to find something near it."
"Very good. You and Yao go see if you can find something. Report back when you do."
"Yes, Captain." Both men answered before setting off.
"Captain, we're making camp already? The sun isn't even touching the horizon." Mulan protested.
"You and I are both still healing. I don't want to push it and I would like to clean your wound and check on it while there's still sunlight to see by." Shang answered nonchalantly.
"Wait, what?!"
Just then a flare shot into the sky, barely visible against the sinking sun.
"Chien-Po, I'm going ahead to ensure there are no problems, follow with the supplies and make sure this one stays out of trouble."
"Wha…!"
Before Mulan could get another word out, Shang spurred his horse into a gallop and took off after Yao and Ling. He could just make out Mulan yelling something but she was soon drowned out by the sound of his mount's thundering hooves. Shang couldn't help but grin, he was sure Mulan would have a lot to say to him when she finally caught up.
By the time Mulan and Chien-Po made it to where the new camp was located, tents were raised and Yao was cooking fresh caught rabbit for dinner. Mulan was completely exhausted, despite the slow pace. She couldn't understand why her injury was taking so much of her energy to heal but she knew she did not like it, at all. Chien-Po had actually had to take the reins from her and guide her and Kahn for the last stretch of the ride because she didn't have the energy to keep herself upright in the saddle. The slow-throbbing ache in her side didn't help matters, either.
As soon as the horses had come to a halt Shang was there, gentle hands helping to guide her from the saddle to the ground. Mulan was vaguely aware of her feet touching the ground briefly before strong arms were wrapped around her and she was floating, floating into oblivion.
When Mulan arrived at the camp, Shang knew something was wrong. Her face had lost all color and she was slouched over as though trying to curl into the pain. He lost all sense of propriety, his only thought being to get her off the horse and somewhere more comfortable. He wasn't aware of the men watching him with knowing looks as he carried her in his arms to the tent the Emperor had provided for their journey.
Once there, he laid her down on her sleeping mat and checked her forehead for any signs of fever. She was warm, but not so warm that her life was in immediate danger. Still, her breathing was ragged and her face was scrunched up even in unconsciousness, which told him how much pain she had been hiding from him. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try to bring her temperature back down to normal.
Shang found himself wishing that Mulan had not turned down the Emperor's offer of supplying them with his own personal physician to oversee her injury during their journey. He didn't know the first thing about healing! Vaguely remembering something his mother used to do when he didn't feel well, Shang strode out of the tent and began barking orders.
"Yao, turn that rabbit into a stew! Ling, fetch cold water and cloths! Po, get the poultice the Healer sent with us!"
After seeing all three men hop to their tasks, Shang re-entered the tent and pondered over what to do next. He knew Mulan's injury was located on her abdomen, which would require her tunic being opened or removed in order to treat the injury with the poultice. When Shang had first suggested that he would check her wound, he had assumed she would be conscious and therefore able to maintain her modesty while he was doing so. Now he was stuck with an unconscious woman in a rough field camp and he was the only one he was going to allow to do this. Afterall he was the Captain and he was the only one who had seen her in a state of undress before. So, really, her modesty wouldn't be compromised anymore than it already was.
Mind made up, Shang dropped to his knees beside her and was reaching for the neckline of her tunic when Po lumbered into the tent, cradling the pack of poultice.
"Captain, I have the poultice you asked f… Uh, Captain, what are you doing?"
Shang quickly yanked his hand back, feeling his face heat up with embarrassment.
"Nothing! I wasn't doing anything!" He yelped, feeling like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Captain, I realize you are acting out of concern but did you state your intentions to the young lady before taking action?" Po questioned in his usual calm manner.
"Huh?" Shang replied, oh so eloquently.
"My sister told me its proper bedside etiquette; even if the patient doesn't appear conscious." Po answered with a shrug.
"Your sister?"
"Yes, she is the midwife of our village. Her husband is a very good healer as well."
"How far away from here is your village?!"
"At the pace we've been moving, perhaps two or three days."
Shang sighed in disappointment. It was too far away to be of any help to Mulan right now.
"Captain, my sister did ensure that I knew how to dress a wound before I left for the war. If you would like I could help you care for Fa Mulan."
"Got the cold water you asked for, Captain!" Ling called anxiously from just outside the tent.
"Okay! Okay." Shang muttered, trying to get his thoughts in order, "Chien-Po, if you'll take the water from Ling and sit with your back to us to prepare the poultice, I will prepare Fa Mulan to be treated. You will act as chaperone."
"Yes, Captain." The big man replied calmly and amiably.
Once the water was retrieved and the tent firmly closed once more, Shang turned his attention back to Mulan.
"Mulan, I do not wish to degrade you in any way, but in order to treat your wound we must remove your tunic. Please forgive us." Shang stated simply, before reaching for her neckline once more.
Hope you enjoyed it! More coming your way!