STOP! Before you proceed, the title isn't just for show. THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF THE SERIES. Though things will be explained, it just won't be as satisfying to read unless you get the whole story. So if you haven't yet, read part one, the Rescue arc, before you start this one!
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry I haven't written you in a while. I'm writing this from the hospital. Don't worry. I'm not hurt. But I really need to talk to someone about what's happened. It's been a long week. Where do I even begin? The last time I wrote, we were getting ready to go on a mission to take out a roving band of thieves. Remember how I told you that I wished we could get something a little more exciting? Bandits are pretty mundane, right? Well, I've come to appreciate the boring missions.
My friend, Gray, was really hurt this time. Very badly. It wasn't even during that mission. We never got a chance to go. We still don't know why any of this happened. All we know for sure is that an evil man had some kind of grudge against Gray, that went way too far. We had to rescue him, which we did. My team was incredible. If only we could have found him sooner.
We almost lost him, mom. When we first found him, he was so badly injured, and when he was awake, he was in so much pain. But he still fought to save us. That's an entirely different story, though. I'm still trying to deal with everything from then. Poor Wendy was so distraught that she couldn't help him. We had to make the choice of either going to a hospital in the nearest city, or risk a longer trip to find one better equipped to deal with his condition. He made the decision for us when his heart stopped on the train.
It was terrifying. We couldn't use magic to help him, so we took turns giving him CPR until we arrived at the station in Iris, where a team of medics were called ahead to meet us. They took him away, and I haven't seen him since.
I know we saved him, but, Mom? Why do I still feel like we failed?
ooooo
Dear Mom,
I'm home now. My team stayed in Iris for almost a week. Everyone else left soon after Master arrived. He came as soon as he got the call about what happened. After a few days, he told us to go home as well and recuperate. That we couldn't do anything more for Gray, and that we should let the doctors work. I think his decision had more to do with Natsu's constant harassment of the medical staff. Lyon was allowed to stay. He was well behaved throughout, and even helped Erza keep Natsu in line a few times. I could tell he was relieved that Master knew it wasn't his place to order him to leave.
Gajeel, Levy, and Panther Lily got to work right away on investigating the bad guy's lair. I don't think they really have any authority to do so, since they're no longer part of the Magic Council, but at this point, no one was going to say no to them. Warren left to return home, so he could tell the guild in person everything that happened. Porlyusica and Wendy were allowed to stay. Even though their magical methods weren't useful there, Porlyusica still has a lot of knowledge about different healing methods. Wendy insisted that she stay, to add to her own knowledge. She's still having a hard time dealing with her magic failing. I think she just wants to learn some backup skills, in case her magic couldn't be used again.
And Gray, he hasn't woken up. The doctors in Iris were able to get his heart beating again and properly treated his burns. It wasn't easy. They're so used to using magical tools and healing lacrimas. Very few on the staff are well practiced in non-magical medicine. It took some ingenuity, but he's alive so far. They're still at a loss about what to do with him. There are so many injuries, and he's been fighting a fever since before we even found him. No one's sure if or when it will happen, but everyone agrees that allowing him to wake up now would be cruel. They want to keep him sedated until his wounds heal. Porlyusica thinks that's unwise. They were short on non-magical drugs that could keep him under for that long. She wants to prioritize removing the seals that are blocking everyone's magic from helping him. But even she says that will be difficult.
I need to go, mom. Happy's tapping on my window.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Natsu's not taking this well.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
We heard from Lyon today. He says there's been little change. They put Gray on a feeding tube. He'd be out too long to rely on just the IV's. His color's improved. He was really dehydrated and half starved when we found him, but at least he's getting nutrients now. He's in an isolation ward. All those burns make him prone to infection, which he's already fighting. The doctors don't want to risk him getting worse. No one can see him but medical staff. Lyon said he'd go home for a few days. He misses his guild. I think it would be great for him to be with his friends right now.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Levy's back! And she brought a souvenir. Gray's going to be so relieved that they found his necklace. An old acquaintance of his found it among the bad guy's things. I don't even want to know why he had it, but we'll probably have to find out. For now, though, I wonder how Gray knows that person from the prison?
I'm so glad that Levy's here. I can really use her help with researching the seals. Gajeel and Panther Lily stayed to keep working on the investigation.
Erza and I are going by Natsu's house later. Happy will be glad for the company. Natsu's still upset about everything. We're going to see if he wants to go fishing or maybe take a mission. If all else fails, Erza's willing to fight him.
Erza hides it well, but I know she's hurting too. She's being way too accommodating, if she's willing to fight Natsu without him instigating it first.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Master came back a few days ago. He hated to leave, but he wasn't accomplishing anything there. He's now working on getting Gray transferred back to Magnolia when he's well enough to travel. I don't know how long that will be. We all feel this sense of abandonment. Like we just left him behind.
I just wish we could bring him home.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Natsu's doing a little better. He found himself a project to keep himself busy. Mira, Lissana, and Elfman cleaned up the mess that was left in Gray's home. Natsu stopped by while they were finishing up and said that it still smelled bad in there. Something had to be done about that. We ended up making it a team mission. My team all got together the next day, and ended up replacing the rugs and throwing out the furniture. Everyone at the guild chipped in to buy new stuff. Erza and I arranged everything. It's nice. I hope Gray won't mind the new decor. We were about to leave when Natsu found a small can of paint that was put aside. He told us to wait, then went back into Gray's bedroom. The bed was new as well, but not made yet. The mattress is still in plastic, so with no worries of making a mess, it wasn't hard to do one last repair job before we left.
Happy goes there every day to feed Gray's fish. Natsu wants to go by once a week to take care of the house. I quickly volunteered to help him. I've seen his house. At least he's more like himself now. He's still pretty down, but he comes to the guild everyday and hangs out with us. We're going to start going on missions again soon. That should help bring things a little closer to normal for us.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
I really miss Gray. The mission just wasn't the same without him there.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
I noticed Juvia hadn't been in the guild much lately. I feel really bad. We all know how she feels about Gray. She must be so worried. She keeps begging Master to let her go see him, but he absolutely forbade her from going anywhere towards the north. She can't even take a mission out there. I understand his reasoning. She does tend to go overboard when it comes to Gray. I think we all agree, it's better to keep her away for now.
Erza's taken it upon herself to keep her occupied. Last I heard, she was keeping her busy with baking her favorite strawberry cake. I can see how that would benefit the both of them. Juvia loves to bake, and Erza certainly likes her sweets. This way, they can help each other cope. It's a win/win.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Laxus and the Thunder Legion finally returned from their extended mission in Bosco. I'm so relieved that we can get Freed to help with the seals. The sooner we can get rid of them, the better.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
I'm starting to hate cake, now. They just won't stop!
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Gray's being taken out of the isolation ward! I'm so happy! He's still not well yet, but the burns have healed over enough that the risk of infection has gone down. He's being transferred to the critical burn unit. He can have one visitor at a time, but only for five minutes. We'd have to get dressed in special gowns, masks, and gloves as well. He won't be awake. And it's a long journey to Iris. It'll be worth it anyway. Just to see him in person, and know for sure he's getting better. I can't wait to see him tomorrow.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
We saw him last night. We all took turns going in, and it was hard for each of us to leave. He looks so small surrounded by all that equipment. His doctor says they had to borrow a lot of machines from other cities, because of the seals. They can't use lacrimas to monitor him, but they need to keep a constant watch on his vital signs. The technology is so different from what I'm used to. Intimidating almost.
He was swathed in gauze and bandages all over, except for the burns. Something about them needing to breathe. It turns out his ribs were broken. I could slap him for moving around like he did. Then hug him afterwards. The idiot. The doctors wrapped his eyes as well. They've already determined that without magic, he won't be getting his sight back. His corneas were burnt too badly. This is going to cause a whole bunch of new challenges for him now. We're all brain storming ways to help him through that. Porlyusica is worried that if it takes too long to remove the seals, even magic won't heal everything. There's a window of opportunity to magically heal something before it's too late to prevent permanent scarring. The burns may be a lost cause.
He was so still. A machine was breathing for him, since the drugs he's on prevents his lungs from working properly. I told his doctor when he was first admitted that something was wrong with his voice. But with everything else, it wasn't a priority. Now she's saying that the tube down his throat is interfering with the healing of his vocal chords, but it's necessary. Maybe I can have Leo teach me how to lip read.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Leo is still a pervert!
ooooo
Dear Mom,
I'm such an idiot! I forgot all about Crux Ji-chan! With everything that's happened, I hadn't thought of him. But now that things are getting back to normal, I remembered. In that awful chamber, while we were taking care of Gray, Crux was trying to tell me something about the seals. He said they protected him! I can't believe I forgot that! I summoned him just a while ago, and he explained everything! I need to get this information to Levy as soon as possible. She'll make sure Gajeel gets it. But I just had to tell you first.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Gray had a bad day today. His doctor contacted us and said that the drugs he's been on aren't as effective as they used to be. They didn't notice until the machines monitoring him alerted them that he was in pain. I can't even imagine that. He was still unconscious, and he was in pain?! The doctor said that the drugs are very potent and highly addictive. That's why they're not working so well anymore. His body is adapting to them. They had to increase the dosage. He's stable now. I was so scared when I heard. I want to go see him again, but with Levy away, I need to help Freed with the seals.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
This stupid seal is kicking my ass!
I'm sorry. I'm just tired. And so frustrated.
I miss you.
ooooo
Dear Mom,
Porlyusica was right. Not that it mattered back then, since there was no other option, but still. The drugs aren't working any more. The dosages they're giving him are nearing fatal amounts. They're poisoning him. Unfortunately, theirs is a small hospital, with limited access to other drugs. They exist, but they have to be shipped in. The issue is that the new drugs can't be mixed with the old ones. They're counteractive. They need to wean him off the old drugs before they can start him on the new ones, because allowing them to interact together in his body would be deadly. It's gonna be a difficult time for him. He'll be awake for part of it. We're all planing to be there when that happens. We're not going to let him suffer alone. Not again.
Please watch over him, Mom.
So this is just a transition chapter. I wanted to get right into the Recovery Arc, which occurs after a passage of time. Instead of going on and on about the several weeks before then, I've written for your pleasure a collection of drabbles, detailing the highs and lows of that time.
The next chapter begins the Recovery Arc, but there's more to it than just Gray getting better. He got tortured nearly to death. It's gonna take a while to overcome something like that, if ever. Meanwhile, things are still happening outside of his sphere of influence that need to be addressed.
Again, thanks for your support. I'm so excited to share this adventure with all of you.
Next Chapter: Time passes, and Gray awakens to his new reality.