Chapter thirty-eight

Important decisions

Ruby woke up in a hospital bed. The last thing she remembered was that her and Blake were at Beacon. So how did she end up here? How long had she been asleep? Ruby tried to get out of the bed but she noticed that her legs weren't listening to her brain. She moved her blanket aside then tried to move her toes. Nothing happened so she tried again but still nothing.

"Why can't I move my toes? What happened while I was asleep? Why am I here?"

The rustling of the blanket must have tipped off the nurse who was in the room because they looked over at Ruby. "Oh, Miss Rose you're awake!"

"Let me go get Dr. Glassman. He's in charge of your care. Will you be okay with waiting just a little longer?"

"I suppose." Ruby tried to sit up on her own but couldn't.

"I'll be back in a moment."

Glassman had been notified that Ruby was awake and lucid so now the small group was heading back to her room. Once everyone was inside Tai went to his daughter's side and knelt "Glad to see you're awake Little Rose. How are you feeling?"

"Dad, why am I here? What exactly happened? I… I can't feel my legs Dad."

"Well, kiddo. You kind of got banged up pretty good."

"Did I let you down Daddy? I don't want to be a burden on you."

"You won't be Little Rose. You'll never be a burden on me."

"Do you remember about what happened Rubes?" Yang asked.

"I remember being at Beacon with Blake, I remember Adam and Blake fighting, I remember him getting killed and everything after that is a blur. Wait, where's Blake? Is she hurt? Take me to see her! I want to see Blake!" Ruby started trying to get out of her bed but she still couldn't sit up.

"Ruby, please relax. Blake didn't get hurt." Weiss said gently as she put her hand on Yang's shoulder.

Ruby settled down slightly as she plopped back into her bed. Great, she couldn't even sit up on her own. The brunette covered her eyes with the back of her arm. "Where is she then?" her voice became quiet and soft but it held a slight tremor.

It was bad enough she couldn't feel her legs but the thought that Blake, her crush who also had feelings for her, was gone was a thought she couldn't get out of her mind. As she started to spiral down that rabbit hole another equally soft voice was heard.

"I'm here Ruby, I'm here." Blake's voice came from the doorway. There she was, leaning against the doorframe, her amber eyes swimming with tears while her cat ears were laying flat against her head. The quietest member of team RWBY entered her leader's room and started to make her way to Ruby's bedside.

"Blake, you're okay. You're okay." Ruby's silver eyes were starting to swim with tears. For a brief, dark, moment Ruby thought that Blake had left. That she had been left behind. But Ruby banished the thought as Blake continued to walk towards her.

Blake's heart was pounding, whether because of the feelings she felt for Ruby or because she was worried about what Ruby would say Blake couldn't tell for sure. But all Blake wanted to do right now was to be by her team leader's side.

Blake went to Ruby's bed and gently sat down on it. "I'm glad you're yourself again." Blake gently kissed Ruby's forehead which caused the younger girl to immediately start blushing. Ruby gently laid her head on Blake's shoulder as her hand went to her crush's.

Glassman cleared his throat. "I'm glad to see you're awake Miss Rose. Now, I believe it's time to tell you what's transpired while you've been unconscious."

Yang, Blake, Qrow and Glassman started to fill Ruby in on what happened after the brunette's memory stopped. Ruby's eyes went wide and she started to shake once Glassman told her that she had said that she couldn't feel her legs. "So, you're saying that I can never be a Huntress? That the dream I've had my entire life is no longer obtainable?"

"That's not what I said Miss Rose."

"It's what it sounded like!" Ruby snapped, her voice became harsh but it was tinged with bitterness. While her voice sounded harsh, she was just trying to process the news that she had been told. Glassman knew that the girl's anger wasn't really directed at him but at the situation. Blake squeezed Ruby's hand gently to get her mind off the news.

"So, do I have any options?" Ruby asked quietly. She was still trying to process what she had been told and hoped that this would help.

"You have two major options. The first would be that we'd go in and try to both remove the bullet fragment and any possible bone fragments. We'd do this regardless but I will warn you that this may not restore your mobility. It may make it permanent. Even if it does successfully restore your mobility you'd be in Physical Therapy for months as you relearn how to walk." Glassman presented the first option as he walked to the window.

"What's the second option?" Ruby asked. She was a little terrified to know what it was but she needed to know what it was. She HAD to know.

Glassman sighed as he took off his glasses. "The second and riskier option would be to amputate your legs and replace them with prosthetics. We'd put bracers on over them that would plug into your damaged spinal cord so you'd be able to move both them and your hips. In this scenario we'd fit you with the same model that the Atlesian Knights have. Assuming that the General is okay with that?" he looked over at Winter who nodded.

Ruby absorbed her options and as she did so Weiss walked over and sat down at the foot of her bed. "No matter what happens Ruby you'll always be our team leader." Her partner said.

Yang walked over next and sat down on Ruby's right side next to their father. "Yeah, you'll always have us."

Blake gently squeezed her hand. "I'm not leaving you. No matter how hard it gets I'm not leaving you Ruby."

Ruby closed her eyes, took a deep breath then opened her eyes. "Doctor, I'd like you to at least try to save my mobility before we move onto amputation. I've spent my entire life fighting and I'm going to continue to do so. No matter how hard or how long it takes."

"Understood, if there's nothing else I'll take my leave." Glassman put his glasses back on then started walking to the door. As he grasped the doorknob in his hand Yang spoke up. "Doc, I've made my decision regarding what we discussed." There were raised eyebrows as Yang spoke up.

"I see, what have you decided Miss Xiao Long?"

"I'd like the surgery. I'm not giving up!" Yang smiled as her eyes gleamed.

"Understood, I'll make sure your surgery is the same day as Ruby's." With that Glassman left the room leaving team RWBY, Qrow, Tai and Winter alone.

"What surgery was Aaron talking about?" Tai asked Yang.

"When we went to get my arm looked at it revealed dozens of stress fractures. More than he had ever seen before."

Tai's eyes widened. "Your fighting style is causing the fractures to compound."

"Yeah, my Aura's been trying to heal them but there are simply too many."

"So, what does that mean for your career Firecracker?" Qrow retrieved his flask and untwisted the top.

"It means that if I don't get the surgery my arm will eventually give out. I'll be stuck with a busted right arm. Glassman said I'd be fine if I became a civilian but that's not what I want. I want to be a Huntress."

Tai looked at his oldest daughter. "You're sure this is what you want Yang?"

Weiss went next to her girlfriend. "I'll be by your side no matter what you choose."

Yang nodded. "It's what I want."

Winter started to head to the door. "It's past time that I check in with the relief efforts. I need to make sure that they are running at maximum efficiency. Weiss, keep me updated on your status alright?"

"I will."

Winter left the room and Qrow put his flask away. "I should probably tell Oz that Ruby's out of the woods. He did save your life kiddo."

He stumbled to the door and Tai was on his heels. "I'm going to feed Zwei and grab some things from the dorm room. Does anyone have any requests?"

Once the four told him what they wanted him to pick up Ruby and Yang's father gently shut the door behind him leaving team RWBY alone.

"So, what should we do?" Yang asked the group who considered their options. They couldn't go out of the room since Ruby was incapacitated for the time being so Weiss came up with the idea. "How about a movie?"

Ruby and Yang have made their decisions, Blake decided to stay by Ruby's side and Weiss is staying by Yang's. It's going to be quite a difficult path but team RWBY has resolved to walk that path together.

I've had this thought in my head for a few days of writing a non canon 'what if Blake had left' path for Blossoming Rose. It'd basically diverge from this point and show the impact that Blake's leaving would have on team RWBY. I'll be setting up a poll on my profile to gauge interest in whether or not there would be interest in that divergent storyline. It'll be up for one week so next weeks chapter will be the deadline for it.

Either way feel free to continue following, favoriting and reviewing.

Until Next Week

Dragondeathdrop