Rose n bud 4 – leaves unfurl
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Warnings – none…except the slow burn continues… 😉
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Rosie sat looking out as drops of rain ran slow trails down the hospital window. Axl had stayed with her till it was clear the wound was minor, a divot taken out of the muscle above her clavicle that would heal easily with proper care. When a nurse had shown up to clean and dress it, he'd kissed her cheek, backing out of the room with a smile as she shooed him away.
Barely more than an hour after he'd gone, a delivery arrived for her, a huge spray of roses in a rainbow of colors fountaining from sparkling crystal vase. Moving carefully, she got up off the bed, staring, a pale smile slowly dawning on her careworn face.
Standing over the sun-bright bouquet, she inhaled slowly, rich perfume flooding her nostrils, soothing her nerves. Seeing a note card tucked in between the blooms, she reached for it, opening to find a typed note. "Sweet roses for sweet Rosie".
Rosie ran a hand gently over the blossoms, pulling out one that was shaded like watercolor from pale yellow to rich orange. The sweet scent was heady, and she held it close as she made her slow way back to bed, crawling gingerly back in, curling up on her good side with the rose cradled gently in the hand on her wounded side. Resting her hand on the pillow, the fragrance was like a gentle blanket, wrapping her in comfort as she drifted off.
…
Axl cracked the door, pausing as his eyes adjusted to the darkened room after the too-bright hall. When the concert had ended, he'd barely paused long enough to change t-shirts and wave at the band, hauling out of there like his ass was on fire, practically sprinting to the waiting car.
Walking towards her bedside, he saw the monstrous bouquet of roses, bright even in the dimmed lighting. Seeing Rosie curled up, he walked around to the side she faced, a soft smile washing his features as he saw the flower clutched in her hand.
Taking a moment to look at her, his smile faltered, her features tired and worn under the grime and blood that still stained her skin. His shoulders dropped, and he sighed raggedly, taking off his hat to run fingers across his scalp before putting it back on.
Turning quietly, he headed for the door, head bent. A soft hiccup caught his ear, and he looked over his shoulder, his breath catching at the sight of Rosie staring back, a look of utter devastation on her face.
"Hey there, nice lady." He swung around, coming back to her bedside, almost trembling himself with the desire to gather her up, do something, anything to wipe that pain off her face. "I hope you liked the roses."
She ducked her head a moment, sniffling and wiping at her face. "I do. They're beautiful." Her voice was rough, and she coughed hard, grimacing as the movement pulled at her sore shoulder.
Glancing around, Axl found a glass and pitcher, and pouring some water offered it, making sure she could reach it with her good hand. Swallowing thickly, she thanked him, and he put the glass back, close enough he could grab it again if she needed.
"How are you feeling?"
Rosie gave Axl a bland look. "With my hands."
Axl paused for a moment, blinking, then gave a soft chuckle, answered back by a quietly amused huff from Rosie.
"OK, so not on death's door, then?"
"Guess not." She agreed, pale smile slipping as she looked up at him. "Can…can you get me out of here?"
He pulled back, surprised. "You sure that's a good idea? I don't want you to end up worse off."
She frowned, shaking her head. "I…just really don't want to be here. Please?"
"Heh. Well, can't say as I blame you. I never liked being in places like this. Give me a moment to find someone, OK?"
Rosie nodded, leaning back in the bed as he excused himself to go grab someone. He was back in a moment with a nurse and a doctor, neither of which looked particularly happy. The nurse busied himself checking her vitals while the doctor checked the chart on her pad, then put it down in favor of checking Rosie's bandages.
"What's wrong, miss Rose, are our accommodations not to your liking?"
Rosie huffed, pulling on the rail with her good hand to sit up more.
"It's fine, really. I just don't need to be here."
"I'd prefer to be the judge of that." The doctor grumbled, only half-serious. "But…you do seem to be stable. We'll process your discharge and get you the meds you'll need. You will wait for the nurse to return." Her tone brooked no argument.
Rosie nodded, smile pulling at the edges of her lips. "Thank you."
"Yeah, doc. Thanks." Axl gave the lady one of his megawatt grins, to which she just rolled her eyes.
"Thank me by taking care of my patient." She gave him a pointed look. "I saw her tox screen. It was only her description of how you took care of her that allowed you in to this hospital, let alone this room."
Axl's eyes widened, his jaw dropping a little as he turned towards Rosie. She snorted in amusement. "There goes that horrible reputation…"
Recovering quickly, laughing as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, well, thirty years is long enough I guess…"
The doctor chuckled, patting him on the arm. "Your secret's safe with us." She gave him a wink. "Patient confidentiality, after all."
Axl laughed in earnest, bowing to the physician with a flourish of his hat. She and the nurse left as Rosie struggled to slide her legs off the bed. Axl was by her side in a minute, arms out ready to help.
"What do you need?"
"Well, pants, for starters. I think they're in the closet?"
She pushed the button to lower the bed while he went to the closet, retrieving the small bag her clothes were in. He came over to give her the jeans, making a face as he pulled out the remains of her shirt.
"Don't think you gonna want to put this back on, unless you're tryna mimic Slash's bare-chested look."
Rosie made a face and sighed. "I guess I could just steal the gown." She grimaced as she reached for the pants, the movement pulling on her wound.
Putting a hand over hers, Axl picked up the jeans, gathering them up and kneeling slowly at Rosie's feet. When her face flushed, he just grinned and gave a cheeky wink.
Stepping gingerly into the pants, she put her good hand on Axl's shoulder to steady herself, letting him help her pull them up and get them fastened.
Her face was bright red by the time he stood, her eyes darting off to the side.
"Guess my reputation really is shot." When Rosie glanced at him, he huffed, scratching his chin. "Putting clothes back on a pretty woman. That's a first."
Rosie sputtered in laughter, groaning when the motion tensed her sore shoulder, swatting him with her good hand.
"Hey!" he laughed, bringing his hands up to block her assault, then dropping them when he realized she'd paused. He saw her gazing down and smirked.
"See something you like?"
He sucked in a breath when Rosie reached for his waist, exhaling softly when she picked up one of the sleeves of the flannel he had tied around his hips.
"Can I borrow this?"
Reaching for it himself, he untied the shirt, giving it a sniff before handing it over. "It's a little ripe from wearing all night."
"That's ok, it's better than the gown."
Axl looked at her. "You want help with that too?"
Rosie colored again, but nodded. He moved back so she could turn around, easing the hospital gown off her bad shoulder without exposing her front.
A long, slow whistle drew her attention, and the shy smile she turned him grew when she saw his unabashed delight.
"Rosie! You little minx, playing all sweet and innocent and here you've got more ink than I do!"
Standing at arm's length, he had a clear view of the black and white shaded lion's head tattoo staring dead center out of Rosie's back. There were a few touches of color, shades of blue and gold, curling through its mane, and eyes that reminded him very much of Rosie's own.
She just shrugged a little stiffly, slowly extending her bad arm. Eyes still on the ink, he looped the sleeve out and back, pulling the shirt up and over her bandage with care.
Holding the other sleeve open, he saw she had a flower on her shoulder as well. She pulled the shirt closed with her good hand, buttoning it up a bit before turning back around and sliding into her shoes.
"You're just full of surprises tonight, my painted lady. Anything else you'd like to share?"
Sighing, she brushed her fingers through her hair, trying to look a little more put together.
"I'd rather not share it at all, Axl. I'm really not that comfortable showing my skin."
Axl's gaze softened. "I understand. Hell of a surprise, though I have to say it really does suit you. You sure were brave as a lion when you took that shooter down."
A look of such anguish brushed over her features that Axl stepped forward, sure she was going to crumble. She leaned back, shaking her head, schooling her features back to calm once again.
The nurse pushed a wheelchair through the door, and Axl moved away to let him put it in position.
"Your chariot awaits!" the young man chirped. "And we'll be taking you out the service area to keep things quiet."
Rosie gave him a pale smile, letting him help her sit down and get settled into the chair. Axl picked up the rose she'd laid on the pillow, handing it over to her, and the smile she gave him was much warmer.
Looking over at the huge bouquet, Axl nodded. "I'll carry that for you."
Rosie tilted her head slightly to catch the nurse's eye. "Are there people on the floor who could use a little brightness in their day?"
"Always. Would you like to donate it? We can take care of it for you."
"Would that be alright, Axl? Would you mind me sharing it? I'd love for it to make others here as happy as it made me." Rosie dipped her head, eyes hopeful.
He shook his head with a smile. "Nah, Rosie. I'm glad you thought of it."
Quick as a wink, the nurse had them out the door, into staff areas and down to the dock where Axl's car waited, pulling the wheelchair up to the back door as Axl opened it. Rosie got up and in and Axl was about to close it, the nurse spoke up.
"Mr. Rose?"
An amused smirk flickered over Axl's face as he turned towards the young man.
"Yes?"
"Ah…" The nurse dropped his gaze, scratching nervously at the back of his head, ruffling the shaved section under his ponytail. Axl snorted, and the man twitched in surprise.
"Get on with it."
"CouldIpleasegetyourautograph?" the nurse breathed out all at once, pulling a sharpie out of his pants and holding it with a quivering hand.
Glancing over his shoulder, Axl caught Rosie's delighted face, and he rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation.
"Alright then. You got a pic or something?"
The young man rolled up his sleeve, showing off an intricate tattoo of the Guns 'N Roses cross and skulls. Axl laughed outright.
"Well, can't say you don't have good taste."
Signing carefully under the cross, he handed the pen back to man.
"When do you get off work, ah…Niko, is it?" Axl asked, looking at the nurse's name tag.
"Six A.M., I work the night shift."
"Well, Niko, if you can make it to our hotel before seven, you could add at least a couple more sigs to your collection."
Niko's eyes went big, only outdone by his huge grin. "THANK YOU!" He waved like crazy as Axl got in and the car pulled away.
Rosie sighed deeply, sinking into the plush seat, weariness written large across her features. Axl watched her quietly.
"Are you alright, Rosie, really? Is it time to help you get home?"
The pain he'd seen earlier flashed across her face again, though she pushed it away quickly.
"I'm sorry, Axl. I don't mean to be so much trouble. I can go if you think it's what's best for you and your friends."
"Rosie, Jesus! It's not like that at all! I don't know how many people could've been hurt if you hadn't been there for us. I'm just afraid this has all been too hard on you."
He reached over, taking her hand in his. "I don't want to see you get hurt anymore, Rosie. You're really far too sweet and kind to be dragged under like this."
"It's ok, Axl. It's not been all bad. I've had so much fun. And being up on stage, twice? That was magical. I knew it wouldn't be forever."
There was an unfamiliar tightness in Axl's chest at Rosie's wavering words. "Do you really want to go home, Rosie?"
She gave him a side glance, face neutral, shaking it slightly. The tightness eased a bit, and he expelled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"I'd like to have you stay with me. With the band, I mean, for as long as you can. Will you stay?"
Rosie drew a ragged breath of her own. "I will." Scooting a little closer to her, he rested one arm on the backrest, beckoning her with the other, relaxing as she curled into his side, head nestled on his chest.
Making the hotel, he whisked her up to their suite with quiet efficiency.
"You hungry for anything, Rosie? I'm sure they didn't feed you well in that joint."
Rosie shook her head. "I'm not feeling like food right now. Thank you though."
"I understand. You want me to take that?" He held his hand out and she looked at him with confusion. "The rose. I could put it in some water."
"Oh. Yes, please."
She wandered off to the bathroom as he put the flower in a glass from the bar. His attention was caught by soft cry, followed by retching, concern drawing him close to the bathroom door.
Hesitating, he heard the commode flushing, more silence, and then…sobbing?
"Rosie?" Axl kept his voice low, knocking softly. "Rosie? I'm coming in, OK? I just want to make sure you're alright."
He opened the door slowly, looking around the spacious bathroom to find Rosie curled up on the floor, hands covering her face as she shook. The sink faucet dribbled water down the drain as he came over, crouching to gather her in his arms, rubbing her back gently.
"It'll be OK, Rosie. You've been through so much today, but I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. Let's get you cleaned up a little and get you to bed. Alright?"
He felt her whole body shudder as he helped her to her feet, moving her slowly towards the sink to grab a washcloth, running it under the warm water. She whimpered when he went to turn her toward the mirror, visibly flinching away.
"Easy, Rosie, it's ok." He turned so her back was to the sink and mirror, ducking down to wipe gently at the gunpowder and blood that still peppered her face. He had to rinse the cloth a few times to get it all off, the residue sprinkled across her neck. Even Rosie's hair felt grainy, but Axl figured that was a problem for tomorrow.
Finally satisfied, he handed her some tissues, helping her out and towards his bedroom.
"I thought…maybe you'd like company tonight?" Feeling her nod against his side, he kissed her forehead, letting go of her only to turn down the sheets.
"I'm afraid we'll be up pretty early, gotta long drive ahead of us now. You'll be able to rest on the bus though, actually get to try one of those bunks, see if it's as awesome as you thought."
He patted her back gently as she turned and sat down, slipping off her shoes and out of her jeans, leaving them crumpled on the floor.
"I'm just gonna get ready, I'll be back in a minute."
She sniffed and nodded again, rolling over slowly, turning towards his side of the bed. He tucked her in and got himself together, answering a few texts and setting an alarm as he settled in.
Rosie curled up against him immediately, still shaking as she gripped his t-shirt, heavy, ragged breaths racking her body. Axl just held her, rubbing her back slowly, deep voice whispering soothingly as he waited for the emotions she'd been holding back to finally run out.
It took her a while, and it hit him how different the previous night had been, when they'd separated, Rosie taking the smaller bedroom the suite offered. He thought she'd seemed a little reluctant; he certainly had been, though he believed he'd hid it well.
He'd spent decades alone, managing long, quiet nights with something like calm acceptance. Nothing had prepared him for how utterly alone he felt without Rosie tucked into his side, her soft presence warm and comforting, filling a void he'd worked years to keep subdued.
Having her here now, willing reaching for him, freely showing pain she'd kept at bay since she'd been wounded, feeling how much that meant to him, shook him to the core. He flashed for a moment on this afternoon, hearing the shot, seeing her blood spray back as she fell on the gunman, and his own chest clenched again, breathing turning rapid as he thought about how close he'd come to losing her, unconsciously holding her tighter.
A warm hand cupped his cheek, sliding up to rub one temple, move slowly across his forehead to rub the other. He felt Rosie slide her head back to glance up at him.
"Axl, are…are you alright?"
He forced himself to relax, blinking at unexpected tears, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm fine, Rosie. No worries, sweet lady."
Taking a deep breath and exhaling with slow deliberation, he rubbed her shoulder lightly.
"How about you? Do you feel a little better now?"
She nodded, head rubbing against his shoulder as she sniffled, her wandering hand sliding back around to curl against his jaw, thumb rubbing it absently. Fighting the sudden desire to lean into it, he took another slow breath, her touch so reassuring it nearly broke through his hard-won calm.
Dear god, he was totally fucked.