Chapter 16 - Aftermath
NERV-infirmary, after the battle
Gendo Ikari got up from the bed, his face a mask hiding his pain. A bandage was wrapped
over chest and shoulder, showing a red spot. His left arm was in a sling.
"You should stay here, Sir, the bullet has passed through your shoulder" the doctor tried
to talk him into staying.
"Let me." He grabbed his jacket, carrying it over is shoulder with the still good arm.
"I have to see after my son."
At the door Ritsuko Akagi stood.
"He´s just out of the ER."
"And?" Fear was in his voice.
"He´s alive. A damaged lung, a broken shoulder and several other things, but nothing our
medicine couldn´t cope with."
"The others?"
"Touji and Hikari weren´t hurt after EVA-04 had built up an AT-field to protect them. Rei
and Asuka have suffered some wounds, but nothing critical."
"Good."
"Gendo... EVA-01 was damaged badly... the core is... silent."
He just nodded.
"Maybe that the best way..."
"What are you going to do now?"
"Looking after Shinji."
"And later?"
"The world does know now what really happened at the antarctis. I was involved, as I was
involved in many things. It´s time for me to face responsibility. I will face my sentence,
whatever it will be."
***
In front of Shinji´s room Asuka and Rei were waiting for the nurse allowing them to enter.
Rei was walking on crutches, her leg was thickly bandaged.
Asuka had one arm in a sling and a bandaged head.
Both were looking at each other with expectation.
Rei finally broke the silence.
"You do love him, don´t you?"
"How do you want to know this?"
"Because I love him, too."
"What? My Shinji?"
"Second... Asuka... I don´t wish to argue."
"... me, too... I am way too tired..."
"Good."
"..."
"..."
"Rei...?"
"Yes?"
"I am glad that you are still alive."
Rei tilted her head and smiled.
"Thank you."
NERV-infirmary, after the battle
Gendo Ikari got up from the bed, his face a mask hiding his pain. A bandage was wrapped
over chest and shoulder, showing a red spot. His left arm was in a sling.
"You should stay here, Sir, the bullet has passed through your shoulder" the doctor tried
to talk him into staying.
"Let me." He grabbed his jacket, carrying it over is shoulder with the still good arm.
"I have to see after my son."
At the door Ritsuko Akagi stood.
"He´s just out of the ER."
"And?" Fear was in his voice.
"He´s alive. A damaged lung, a broken shoulder and several other things, but nothing our
medicine couldn´t cope with."
"The others?"
"Touji and Hikari weren´t hurt after EVA-04 had built up an AT-field to protect them. Rei
and Asuka have suffered some wounds, but nothing critical."
"Good."
"Gendo... EVA-01 was damaged badly... the core is... silent."
He just nodded.
"Maybe that the best way..."
"What are you going to do now?"
"Looking after Shinji."
"And later?"
"The world does know now what really happened at the antarctis. I was involved, as I was
involved in many things. It´s time for me to face responsibility. I will face my sentence,
whatever it will be."
***
In front of Shinji´s room Asuka and Rei were waiting for the nurse allowing them to enter.
Rei was walking on crutches, her leg was thickly bandaged.
Asuka had one arm in a sling and a bandaged head.
Both were looking at each other with expectation.
Rei finally broke the silence.
"You do love him, don´t you?"
"How do you want to know this?"
"Because I love him, too."
"What? My Shinji?"
"Second... Asuka... I don´t wish to argue."
"... me, too... I am way too tired..."
"Good."
"..."
"..."
"Rei...?"
"Yes?"
"I am glad that you are still alive."
Rei tilted her head and smiled.
"Thank you."