Yup...here's Chapter 7...sorry, can't really think of a witty intro for this one besides the standard "Thank you for your feedback" (which I really appreciate, by the way!) I'd glad people enjoyed the last chapter. Here's hoping you enjoy this one. Well enough of my jibba-jabba. Let's go!
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The Blitz Team and Leon made their way to the city hospital. Naomi stayed behind to watch the Base. She promised not to look into their databases and uncover any "secrets" she could use to her benefit. They trusted her.
When they reached the waiting room, they were very delighted to see the doctor waiting for them with Jamie at his side. But Jamie looked a little nervous. Not to mention, he had a brand new scar on his forehead.
"Jamie, are you all right?" Bit asked.
"Been better," he said, rubbing his forehead.
"The guys here were pretty worried about ya. But I knew you'd pull through," Brad said. Bit rolled his eyes. Jamie noticed Leon was with them.
"Leon! You're here, too?" he asked, happily.
"Just wanted to be at your side in your time of need. Just like how you've always been at mine," he said. He turned to Leena, "Well, aren't you going to say something?"
Leena looked down at the ground. "Um.." she started, but nothing followed. Why couldn't she say anything? Why was she nervous? She was happy to find out Jamie was okay, so why didn't she say anything?
Jamie was starting to feel slightly offended that Leena wasn't asking if he was all right. Didn't she care about his well being? Didn't she care about him at all? Well any offense he felt, he didn't show it.
"The doctor says I should be fine enough to work today, but he still recommends I rest first," Jamie managed to say.
"Then so be it. You relax all you want. We're not in a hurry to start Zoid battling again," Doc said smiling, patting Jamie's back.
"We're not?" asked Brad, unbelieving. The doctor stepped away from the group and motioned Dr. Tauros to follow him. When they were out of earshot of the others, he began to talk.
"What's on your mind, doctor?" asked Tauros.
"We had to undergo a long operation to remove Jamie's tumor. And even then, we had to apply radiation to shrink the rest. But I must warn you, that it has chances of returning."
"Oh," said the Doc, his mood suddenly killed.
"But if it does return, it won't be for a long time," the doctor reassured, "Just be sure to watch out for the signs when it does. If it does, I mean."
"Thank you, doctor," said Dr. Tauros smiling. The doctor smirked.
"Actually, I should thank _you_, Mr. Tauros," he said.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You'll see..."
"STRIKE LASER CLAW!" Bit yelled at the top of his lungs. The Liger Zero tore into its opponent, causing its command system to freeze.
"It's great to be back in business!" Brad said happily as his Shadow Fox shot up an enemy Zabat. "You can finish 'em off, Leena."
"Thanks, Brad," Leena said giving an evil smirk. After a long time, her trigger-happy needs were about to be satisfied.
"WEASEL UNIT TOTAL ASSAULT!"
From the control room on the hovercargo, Doc watched the battle intently.
"Hurry up and win you guys! It's gonna take all the prize money from this battle to pay off that darn hospital bill!" he said, eyeing Jamie. Jamie reached behind his back and sweatdropped while laughing nervously.
Leena walked along the corridor of the Tauros Base. The win from the battle earlier made her feel really good. It felt like an eternity since their last Zoid battle. Guess the whole thing with Jamie...
Jamie! She remembered the meeting in the waiting room that afternoon and how she barely said anything. Not even a "Glad you're better!" or "I'm happy you're all right!" She didn't even say "Hello!" What was with that? For the past twenty-four hours her mind was on nothing _but_ Jamie. So why had she acted the way she did?
Leena was so deep in her thoughts, she hadn't realized she stopped right in front of the control room. She glanced inside and saw Jamie, working at the computers. Exploring the databases, no doubt. That's Jamie alright. Just a few hours after leaving the hospital, even after the doctor suggested he rest when he got home, he was working. He probably even planned on making dinner tonight.
*He's acting like he never left. Just going back to business.* Leena thought. She smiled knowing Jamie was well. So why couldn't she let him know she was happy for him? She was being nervous around him and barely talking to him.
"This is silly," she said to herself, "I should go up to him and tell him how much I'm glad he survived and how much I missed him and how much...."
"...you love him," finished a voice. Leena nearly jumped ten feet into the air.
"Naomi!" she yelled in a whisper, making sure Jamie didn't hear, "Why are you still here?!"
"I never left. Besides, your father invited Leon and I over for dinner. And you know we couldn't possibly refuse," she said, followed by one of her trademark winks. Leena narrowed her eyebrows and growled in anger.
"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people like that," she said tersely.
"Sorry," Naomi apologized, "So, what'd you tell Jamie today?"
"Nothing," Leena said folding her arms and looking away.
"Nothing," Naomi repeated shaking her head, "I knew that's what you'd do. You've never been one to express how you really felt about someone other than anger. That's why it kinda took me by surprise when you confided that story in me this morning. But I wished you would be able to tell Jamie how you really felt."
Leena's face softened and she let her arms slide to her waist.
"I don't feel anything for Jamie," she said, but not very convincing.
"Oh please. You act like it's wrong to be in love with Jamie. Why is it so hard?" Naomi asked.
"It's just not that easy," Leena said in a soft voice, "Jamie and I have been through too much. I wouldn't want to jeopardize our friendship by falling for him."
"How is that jeopardizing?"
Leena didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything. The topic was making her mighty uncomfortable. Naomi breathed a sigh and looked at Jamie, who was oblivious to the conversation going on outside. He was too enveloped in his work.
"At least, tell him you're glad he's okay. Imagine how he must feel, everyone but his best friend asking how he was. And you haven't said anything to him all day. At least do that for him." As soon as she said her piece, she walked off and left the corridor. Leena knew she was right and proceeded to do what she had to do.
"This strategy could work, but it would require Bit to cooperate with Leena. And Leena will have to hold off shooting her guns throughout the entire battle. Brad marrying his Shadow Fox has a better chance of happening then those two things," Jamie said. He quickly deleted the strategy. No way would that ever work out. He stood up to stretch. "Man, I've been sitting here all day. Better get dinner started."
Two arms reached from behind him and brought him in close for a hug. Jamie nearly yelped.
"Um, Leena, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Apologizing," she said in a soft voice.
"For what?"
"For not talking to you when we met you in the hospital today. I acted like I didn't care."
"Yeah, I kind of got that feeling," Jamie said, but a smile came across his face, "But I'm glad that you do care. You didn't necessarily have to apologize, though. I know how you hate apologizing."
"Not when I'm apologizing to you." This caught Jamie off guard. She said it softly and intimately. He hadn't seen "sweet Leena" since she was younger. He started to get really nervous.
"Uh-uh-uh, Leena, what do you mean by that?" he asked in a tiny voice.
"What I mean is...Jamie, there's...Did you wonder if we...um..." Leena couldn't say it. She just couldn't say it. "I need to go." She quickly exited the control room and ran to her bedroom. She plopped on her bed and rubbed the temples on her head.
"This is too unreal! How could...how could I actually be falling for Jamie?! I mean, most people would expect me to fall for Bit! So why him?"
Isn't it obvious?
*Flashback: This Morning!*
"...but I would have much rather learned that another way," Leena finished.
Naomi was speechless. She absolutely had no idea what to say. She was seeing a whole new side to Leena. Finally she cleared her throat.
"No wonder your taking his tumor so much more seriously then the others. Bit and Brad have only known him for what? A year? Two years? Yet you and Jamie have been together through thick and thin. You're closer with him then you think. You really have a history together. You love him," Naomi said.
*End Flashback*
...closer with him...
...history together...
...you love him...
...you love him...
...you love him...
Naomi's words echoed in her mind. Yes. She loved him. Very much. She couldn't imagine feeling what she felt for Jamie with anyone else. She deliberated on her feelings for an hour. Yes, she loved Jamie. But did Jamie love her? Like a sister, yes, but did he want more?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
There was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she permitted. In walked Bit Cloud.
"Hey, Leena," he greeted, "Jamie told me you were in here. Are you feeling alright?"
"Not really, but it's nothing you could do anything about."
"Try me."
"No, really, it's nothing."
Bit shrugged. "Well, Leena, if you are feeling any sort of trouble, you can always talk to me. I'm willing to listen." Leena gave a half-smile.
"Thanks Bit."
"No problem." He took out a danish he was holding behind his back and took a bite out of it.
"Anyway," he said after he swallowed, "Dinner's ready. You hungry? I sure am and it's great to have Jamie cooking again."
No answer. Bit looked at Leena and his face completely drained itself of blood. Leena's eyebrow was twitching, her eyebrows narrowed, and her face giving him the deadliest of glares.
"Is that _my_ danish?! Did you get that from my secret stash of danishes?!" she demanded.
"Guess it's not so secret after all," Bit joked, sweatdropping. "......I'm outta here."
Leena chased him down the hallway. Bit ran while munching down the rest of the danish.
"Stop eating my food!" Leena yelled after him.
"If you just shared more often, we wouldn't always be doing this!" Bit reasoned. Unfortunatly he tripped and landed on his back with a huge thud. With Leena landing right on top of him.
"You moron," Leena spat at him, "I've really had enough of your games."
"You're awfully cute when you're angry," Bit said.
"What?"
Bit instantly clasped his hands over his mouth and blushed.
"What did you say?" Leena asked again, her anger now vanished.
Bit reached out and stroked her cheek.
"I said, you're awfully cute when you're angry. But then again, you're cute all the time." He brought his face closer to hers. *Here goes nothing...*
"I love you, Leena Tauros."
He kissed her.
In that instant, Leena's world came to a screeching halt.
He loves me? He LOVES me?!
The words repeated itself in her head. Bit really did love her. He felt real love in his kiss. Not fake love like the kisses of her past boyfriends or perverted lust like Rick's, but actual love. But she loved Jamie! Jamie was who she wanted to be with! How could she tell him? Should she tell him at all? What about Jamie? What was she to do?
Bit slowly broke the kiss and noticed Leena's silence. Now sitting up, he asked, "Leena? You okay?"
Leena's face was facing the ground. Droplets were falling to the ground. Her tears.
"Leena?"
Leena finally looked up. Her eyes were burning with rage, fury, sorrow, and sadness all at once. Bit flinched.
"Why...why must you complicate things for me?!" she sobbed. She got up, ran into her room, and slammed her door, leaving Bit all alone in the corridor.
End Part 7
Well? Whaddaya think? Please review!
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The Blitz Team and Leon made their way to the city hospital. Naomi stayed behind to watch the Base. She promised not to look into their databases and uncover any "secrets" she could use to her benefit. They trusted her.
When they reached the waiting room, they were very delighted to see the doctor waiting for them with Jamie at his side. But Jamie looked a little nervous. Not to mention, he had a brand new scar on his forehead.
"Jamie, are you all right?" Bit asked.
"Been better," he said, rubbing his forehead.
"The guys here were pretty worried about ya. But I knew you'd pull through," Brad said. Bit rolled his eyes. Jamie noticed Leon was with them.
"Leon! You're here, too?" he asked, happily.
"Just wanted to be at your side in your time of need. Just like how you've always been at mine," he said. He turned to Leena, "Well, aren't you going to say something?"
Leena looked down at the ground. "Um.." she started, but nothing followed. Why couldn't she say anything? Why was she nervous? She was happy to find out Jamie was okay, so why didn't she say anything?
Jamie was starting to feel slightly offended that Leena wasn't asking if he was all right. Didn't she care about his well being? Didn't she care about him at all? Well any offense he felt, he didn't show it.
"The doctor says I should be fine enough to work today, but he still recommends I rest first," Jamie managed to say.
"Then so be it. You relax all you want. We're not in a hurry to start Zoid battling again," Doc said smiling, patting Jamie's back.
"We're not?" asked Brad, unbelieving. The doctor stepped away from the group and motioned Dr. Tauros to follow him. When they were out of earshot of the others, he began to talk.
"What's on your mind, doctor?" asked Tauros.
"We had to undergo a long operation to remove Jamie's tumor. And even then, we had to apply radiation to shrink the rest. But I must warn you, that it has chances of returning."
"Oh," said the Doc, his mood suddenly killed.
"But if it does return, it won't be for a long time," the doctor reassured, "Just be sure to watch out for the signs when it does. If it does, I mean."
"Thank you, doctor," said Dr. Tauros smiling. The doctor smirked.
"Actually, I should thank _you_, Mr. Tauros," he said.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You'll see..."
"STRIKE LASER CLAW!" Bit yelled at the top of his lungs. The Liger Zero tore into its opponent, causing its command system to freeze.
"It's great to be back in business!" Brad said happily as his Shadow Fox shot up an enemy Zabat. "You can finish 'em off, Leena."
"Thanks, Brad," Leena said giving an evil smirk. After a long time, her trigger-happy needs were about to be satisfied.
"WEASEL UNIT TOTAL ASSAULT!"
From the control room on the hovercargo, Doc watched the battle intently.
"Hurry up and win you guys! It's gonna take all the prize money from this battle to pay off that darn hospital bill!" he said, eyeing Jamie. Jamie reached behind his back and sweatdropped while laughing nervously.
Leena walked along the corridor of the Tauros Base. The win from the battle earlier made her feel really good. It felt like an eternity since their last Zoid battle. Guess the whole thing with Jamie...
Jamie! She remembered the meeting in the waiting room that afternoon and how she barely said anything. Not even a "Glad you're better!" or "I'm happy you're all right!" She didn't even say "Hello!" What was with that? For the past twenty-four hours her mind was on nothing _but_ Jamie. So why had she acted the way she did?
Leena was so deep in her thoughts, she hadn't realized she stopped right in front of the control room. She glanced inside and saw Jamie, working at the computers. Exploring the databases, no doubt. That's Jamie alright. Just a few hours after leaving the hospital, even after the doctor suggested he rest when he got home, he was working. He probably even planned on making dinner tonight.
*He's acting like he never left. Just going back to business.* Leena thought. She smiled knowing Jamie was well. So why couldn't she let him know she was happy for him? She was being nervous around him and barely talking to him.
"This is silly," she said to herself, "I should go up to him and tell him how much I'm glad he survived and how much I missed him and how much...."
"...you love him," finished a voice. Leena nearly jumped ten feet into the air.
"Naomi!" she yelled in a whisper, making sure Jamie didn't hear, "Why are you still here?!"
"I never left. Besides, your father invited Leon and I over for dinner. And you know we couldn't possibly refuse," she said, followed by one of her trademark winks. Leena narrowed her eyebrows and growled in anger.
"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people like that," she said tersely.
"Sorry," Naomi apologized, "So, what'd you tell Jamie today?"
"Nothing," Leena said folding her arms and looking away.
"Nothing," Naomi repeated shaking her head, "I knew that's what you'd do. You've never been one to express how you really felt about someone other than anger. That's why it kinda took me by surprise when you confided that story in me this morning. But I wished you would be able to tell Jamie how you really felt."
Leena's face softened and she let her arms slide to her waist.
"I don't feel anything for Jamie," she said, but not very convincing.
"Oh please. You act like it's wrong to be in love with Jamie. Why is it so hard?" Naomi asked.
"It's just not that easy," Leena said in a soft voice, "Jamie and I have been through too much. I wouldn't want to jeopardize our friendship by falling for him."
"How is that jeopardizing?"
Leena didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything. The topic was making her mighty uncomfortable. Naomi breathed a sigh and looked at Jamie, who was oblivious to the conversation going on outside. He was too enveloped in his work.
"At least, tell him you're glad he's okay. Imagine how he must feel, everyone but his best friend asking how he was. And you haven't said anything to him all day. At least do that for him." As soon as she said her piece, she walked off and left the corridor. Leena knew she was right and proceeded to do what she had to do.
"This strategy could work, but it would require Bit to cooperate with Leena. And Leena will have to hold off shooting her guns throughout the entire battle. Brad marrying his Shadow Fox has a better chance of happening then those two things," Jamie said. He quickly deleted the strategy. No way would that ever work out. He stood up to stretch. "Man, I've been sitting here all day. Better get dinner started."
Two arms reached from behind him and brought him in close for a hug. Jamie nearly yelped.
"Um, Leena, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Apologizing," she said in a soft voice.
"For what?"
"For not talking to you when we met you in the hospital today. I acted like I didn't care."
"Yeah, I kind of got that feeling," Jamie said, but a smile came across his face, "But I'm glad that you do care. You didn't necessarily have to apologize, though. I know how you hate apologizing."
"Not when I'm apologizing to you." This caught Jamie off guard. She said it softly and intimately. He hadn't seen "sweet Leena" since she was younger. He started to get really nervous.
"Uh-uh-uh, Leena, what do you mean by that?" he asked in a tiny voice.
"What I mean is...Jamie, there's...Did you wonder if we...um..." Leena couldn't say it. She just couldn't say it. "I need to go." She quickly exited the control room and ran to her bedroom. She plopped on her bed and rubbed the temples on her head.
"This is too unreal! How could...how could I actually be falling for Jamie?! I mean, most people would expect me to fall for Bit! So why him?"
Isn't it obvious?
*Flashback: This Morning!*
"...but I would have much rather learned that another way," Leena finished.
Naomi was speechless. She absolutely had no idea what to say. She was seeing a whole new side to Leena. Finally she cleared her throat.
"No wonder your taking his tumor so much more seriously then the others. Bit and Brad have only known him for what? A year? Two years? Yet you and Jamie have been together through thick and thin. You're closer with him then you think. You really have a history together. You love him," Naomi said.
*End Flashback*
...closer with him...
...history together...
...you love him...
...you love him...
...you love him...
Naomi's words echoed in her mind. Yes. She loved him. Very much. She couldn't imagine feeling what she felt for Jamie with anyone else. She deliberated on her feelings for an hour. Yes, she loved Jamie. But did Jamie love her? Like a sister, yes, but did he want more?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
There was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she permitted. In walked Bit Cloud.
"Hey, Leena," he greeted, "Jamie told me you were in here. Are you feeling alright?"
"Not really, but it's nothing you could do anything about."
"Try me."
"No, really, it's nothing."
Bit shrugged. "Well, Leena, if you are feeling any sort of trouble, you can always talk to me. I'm willing to listen." Leena gave a half-smile.
"Thanks Bit."
"No problem." He took out a danish he was holding behind his back and took a bite out of it.
"Anyway," he said after he swallowed, "Dinner's ready. You hungry? I sure am and it's great to have Jamie cooking again."
No answer. Bit looked at Leena and his face completely drained itself of blood. Leena's eyebrow was twitching, her eyebrows narrowed, and her face giving him the deadliest of glares.
"Is that _my_ danish?! Did you get that from my secret stash of danishes?!" she demanded.
"Guess it's not so secret after all," Bit joked, sweatdropping. "......I'm outta here."
Leena chased him down the hallway. Bit ran while munching down the rest of the danish.
"Stop eating my food!" Leena yelled after him.
"If you just shared more often, we wouldn't always be doing this!" Bit reasoned. Unfortunatly he tripped and landed on his back with a huge thud. With Leena landing right on top of him.
"You moron," Leena spat at him, "I've really had enough of your games."
"You're awfully cute when you're angry," Bit said.
"What?"
Bit instantly clasped his hands over his mouth and blushed.
"What did you say?" Leena asked again, her anger now vanished.
Bit reached out and stroked her cheek.
"I said, you're awfully cute when you're angry. But then again, you're cute all the time." He brought his face closer to hers. *Here goes nothing...*
"I love you, Leena Tauros."
He kissed her.
In that instant, Leena's world came to a screeching halt.
He loves me? He LOVES me?!
The words repeated itself in her head. Bit really did love her. He felt real love in his kiss. Not fake love like the kisses of her past boyfriends or perverted lust like Rick's, but actual love. But she loved Jamie! Jamie was who she wanted to be with! How could she tell him? Should she tell him at all? What about Jamie? What was she to do?
Bit slowly broke the kiss and noticed Leena's silence. Now sitting up, he asked, "Leena? You okay?"
Leena's face was facing the ground. Droplets were falling to the ground. Her tears.
"Leena?"
Leena finally looked up. Her eyes were burning with rage, fury, sorrow, and sadness all at once. Bit flinched.
"Why...why must you complicate things for me?!" she sobbed. She got up, ran into her room, and slammed her door, leaving Bit all alone in the corridor.
End Part 7
Well? Whaddaya think? Please review!
