Title: Aches and Pains - part a
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
Type: Romance, Alternate Reality
Rated: PG-13 (adult language)
E-mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Home Page: Casper's Sailor Moon Site
http://www.caspermoon.com
**********************************************************************************************
This is an alternate reality fic, but it's a romantic one between Usagi and Mamoru. I set it
in America, around D.C. so I used the dubbed names. If you've ever read any of my stories that
use the dubbed names, you know I hate the name 'Amara' so as usual Haruka is 'Alex'. I used
my characters in this little short story, so you may or may not recognize the names. They
aren't major characters though so you don't need to read any of my other fics to read this
one... though I wouldn't mind if you did......anyway! read the
story! have fun!
Oh yeah, I don't own Sailor Moon, yada yada yada....BUT ALIA AND THE KNIGHTS ARE MINE!
**********************************************************************************************
{Andrews Air Force Base, Washington D.C.}
{August 3, 1974}
"Look at him! He's the spitting image of you, General!"
"Ha ha! That's my boy!"
"Mommy, he's a beautiful baby."
"Yes, Linda, he is," the proud mother cooed over her baby. Her husband, a three star
general in the U.S. Army, didn't have his usual commanding presence, instead the mushy papa
was grinning like a loon. The couple's closest friends, Col. George and Linda Smith, had
arrived in time to save "The General" from bursting into the delivery room like a raving
lunatic. Never was there a couple more devoted to each other and to hear her pain had sent
the usually calm man into near hystarics.
"Come now, Lizzy, what are you going to name him?" Linda asked happily.
"They're going to name him 'General'" George quipped.
This sent the foursome into a burst of laughter. "No, no," Lizzy finally managed to say.
"His name is Darian Mamoru Chiba." She smiled happily.
"That's a good name, doesn't Mamoru mean protector or something?" George asked.
Linda laughed and hugged her husband, "You can be so charming at times."
"What? What did I say?" he asked as his three companions grew weak with laughter.
**********************************************************************************************
{fairfax, Virginia}
{June 30, 1977}
"Mr. and Mrs. Tuskino, you have a beautiful baby girl."
Mrs. Tuskino looked at her daughter for the first time with tears of joy in her eyes. She
cradled the small infant to her chest and stared in wonder at the soft blonde fuzz on the
top of her daughter's head. She looked on amazed as her daughter's eyes met hers for the
first time. The love she had inside her for the helpless bundle in her arms scared her.
"How can something so small, be so precious?" she asked her husband without ever taking her
eyes from her child.
Mr. Tuskino looked every inch as scared as his wife. It's amazing how love for a child can
turn two resonably sane people into nervous wrecks. The head nurse smiled at the picture
the cute little family made. "What will you name her?" she asked.
Mr. Tuskino smiled at his wife, "How about Serena Usagi?"
Mrs. Tuskino looked at her husband in adoration, it was the name she had wanted. She smiled
at him and then looked down at their daughter "My little serene bunny..." she whispered.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{August 24, 1982}
"Hey! I'm open! I'm open!"
Ten kids who were between the ages of 7 and 10 were playing basketball. The day was hot and
all were sweating profusly, but were still going on strong. One boy in particular stood out,
he had some pretty fancy moves for an eight year old. He passed the ball to his team member
who had so recently cried out that he "was open". The grin on his face was huge, not only
was he enjoying himself, but his team was winning!
"Darian!" his friend Andrew shouted and passed the ball. He nimbly caught it and dribbled in
close for a lay-up. As he made the shot, a kid from the other team trying to block him,
accidently crashed into him. He hit the concrete hard, when his forhead connected with the
ground, he blacked out.
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{August 24, 1982}
Mauve Tuskino dropped the plate she had been drying in horror. She ran outside towards the
scream, the scream she knew came from her five-year-old daughter. Serena sat in the grass
next to her puppy holding in her forhead. The puppy was licking at her leg and whinning at
her screams and sobs. Mauve dropped to the ground beside her and took a hold of her, lifting
her head so she could see what was wrong. There wasn't a scratch on her.
"What happened bunny?" she asked trying to comfort her daughter and figure out where she was
hurt if her forhead wasn't injured.
"My head hurts," Serena sobbed.
"Did you hit your head?"
"No," her sobs were beginning to quiet, though she still held on to her forhead.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{August 24, 1982}
"He's got a concussion and six stiches, but otherwise he's fine."
Lizzy Chiba breathed a sigh of relief. A bunch of Darian's friends had coming running to her
house saying he was hurt and she feared the worst. She'd found him unconcious on the
basketball court, his forhead bleeding profusely. "Can I see him?"
"Sure go right ahead."
"Thank you."
The first words out of her son's mouth were "Did I make the shot?"
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{August 24, 1982}
"She has all the symptoms of a concussion, but she says se didn't hit her head and there isn't
a mark on her. I honestly don't know what to make of it. It's possible that it was a
severe migrane, I'd like to run some more tests..."
Nothing came of it.
**********************************************************************************************
{Dogwood Valley, Virgina}
{October 22, 1986}
"Hey, Darian!"
"Grandma! Grandpa!"
"Oh, look how you've grown!"
"Grandpa, look at this!" Darian pulled back his sleeves to show his "strong" muscles.
"Wow! You must be working out!"
"Lizzy, Samuel, come on, let's get you settled in! It's not every day you bring Darian to
visit!" Grandma said and hugged her daughter-in-law. "Let's go inside and leave them to carry
in everything."
"Can't argue with that!" Lizzy agreed laughing.
The two women went inside and the men began unpacking, Darian scooted out of sight. No way
was he going to carry anything in! He went wandering into the backyard and walked over to the
old oak tree in the center. One day he was going to be tall enough to reach the bottom limb,
and he was going to climb it! He reached up and... he could grab the bottom limb!
Immediately he began to try and pull himself up.
***
"Where's Darian?" Lizzy asked as her father-in-law and husband carried in the last of the
stuff from the car.
Samuel rubbed his lower back, "I thought he was with you."
"No, he didn't come in."
"He's probably out back," Grandpa said, "He wants to climb that tree you know. I don't think
he realizes that I've been cutting the limbs as he gets taller, he won't be reaching it anytime
soon."
"How high is the lowest limb?" Lizzy asked.
"I don't know, I guess a little over five feet."
Lizzy dashed towards the back of the house and ran out the back door. Her father-in-law didn't
realize how much Darian had already grown. His growth spurt had already started. A gasp of
horror escaped her, Darian was so high up... "Darian!"
"Mom?"
"Darian, get out of that tree!" she ran towards the tree as fast as she could, Samuel and his
parents tagging along behind.
"Look how high I am! Whoa!" He didn't scream when his grip slipped, or when he hit the
ground with a sickening thud. He screamed after that, when he looked down at his arm to see
bloody white sticking out of it at the elbow.
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{October 22, 1986}
"Will you stop that!"
"Stop what?"
"Stop rubbing your arm! You've been doing that since this afternoon! You are driving me
crazy! There is nothing wrong with it!"
"I know... it just aches a bit..." she lied, it hurt like crazy. She had barely controlled
the scream that had wanted to rip out of her nine-year-old body when the pain first began.
She was use to it though, but it wasn't usually this bad. Normally it was just a jammed
finger feeling or such, but she felt as though her arm was broken. There wasn't any point
in telling anybody, they'd just say she was imagining it...like she always did.
"Serena, let me repeat myself...THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR ARM! THEREFORE IT CAN'T
ACHE!"
"Geeze, Raye, you don't have to shout..."
"She has a point, Serena. To see you rub your arm continuely is making everyone a little
crazy...it's like when Mina taps her pen during class."
"I have a lot of energy," Mina protested. "It's more like when Amy chews her pencil."
"I don't chew my pencil! Lita, you sit right next to me, do I chew my pencil?!"
Lita placed a comforting hand on Amy's shoulder, "Yes."
Amy frowned and everyone else laughed. The five girls were sprawled across Mina's bedroom
floor in their pajamas. Popcorn, various chocolates, and the latest romantic comedy to hit
the big time were scattered in amongst the blankets and pillows. On Mina's dresser were
five plates with the remains of what appeared to be cake and ice cream.
After struggling to come up with something really nasty to do to Lita, Ami gave in and picked
up her pillow and wacked her on the head. "PILLOW FIGHT!" Mina yelled.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{April 3, 1996}
"Stay away from my sister!"
"She likes me, can't fault her for her taste."
Darian looked at the cocky boy in front of him, anger rising in his throat. This dirtbag dared
to follow his sister around, and attempt to claim her as his girlfriend?! Not while he was
around! Darian landed the first punch right between the bastard's eyes.
***
"Ow! That stings!" Darian hissed at his mother as she dabbed alcohol on his cut brow.
"I don't need you running around beating up my friends! Mom! Do something about him!"
Lizzy looked at her daughter, then back at her son. She leaned over and kissed his forhead,
"Thank you, Darian, for beating the crap out of that good for nothing."
"MOM!" Alia glared at her. She turned to Darian who sat smugly enjoying his mother's
disaproval of Alia's so-called 'friend' and slugged him in the jaw.
"DAMN!" Darian jumped up. Lizzy slapped a hand to his chest and ordered him to sit and yelled
for Alia to get out.
"Shit!" he muttered.
"What did you say?" Lizzy asked sharply.
"She hits harder than he does!" He rubbed his aching jaw and sighed, 'It was just his luck...
at least he knew that Alia wouldn't be hanging around that guy anymore...'
Lizzy narrowed her eyes at her son. "Sure." He looked up at her but said nothing. "Since
you're here in my clutches, why don't we talk."
"Okay... about what?"
"Don't you think it's about time you had a steady girlfriend? I do want to see you get married
before I die."
"Mom..."
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{April 3, 1996}
"Hey, Serena! You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" She rubbed her jaw again.
"Did the ball hit you in the jaw?"
"No. SANDRA! Watch what you're doing! It's headed right for you!"
"Crap!" Sandra said and returned her attention back to the game.
***
Serena stood in the girl's locker room braiding her slightly wet hair, she hadn't felt like
drying it after her shower. She looked up from her task to see her friend Raye come into the
locker room.
"Great game, Serena!"
Sandra looked up from her spot on one of the benches, "That was some save you made in the
second half, Serena, you played awsome today."
Serena smiled at them, blushing. She didn't consider herself the greatest goalie in the world
and didn't try to be, she just liked to play. Soccer was one of her favorite things, something
that she had discovered when she was seven and hadn't stopped loving.
"Hey, I heard that Brad was going to ask you out, Serena," one of her fellow team-mates teased.
Serena frowned, "I hope not..."
"What, girl have you lost your mind?! Honey, it don't get no better than that boy!"
"Thanks, Tambria, but no thanks, you can have him."
"I think I just might!" This sent the locker room full of girls into gales of laughter.
"Now come on girl, let's get serious. Why don't you want to go out with him?"
"I'm just not interested in going out with him, or any other guy for that matter."
"Serena's waiting for Prince Charming," Raye informed them.
"Shut-up, Raye!"
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{July 24, 2001}
"Darian! Where you headed?"
"Alex and I are going to Slim's."
"Finally got enough on the bastard."
"Damn straight."
"That murdering SOB is going down!"
Darian and Alex walked out of the 16th Precint, calm and in total control. "Jason, was right,"
Alex said as they got in her car. She started the ignition, "That cop killer is finally going
down."
***
"Oh, look at this! Amy this would go perfect with your dragon collection!" Mina cried enthused.
The girls were out shopping.
"It's beautiful," Amy said entranced by the teal and silver dragon.
"I'm sure Taiki would buy it for you," Lita said grinning. Amy blushed and looked down at her
engagement ring. Lita glanced at her own hand and smiled at the winking diamond engagement ring
and matching wedding band. She'd been married for three years, but had never lost the thrill
of it.
"I see that look, Lita," Raye said. "That means you lost the bet. You weren't suppose to think
about Ival for 5 minutes."
"I'm in love! That was an impossible bet!"
Raye laughed at her. She knew the feeling, she was sporting a set of rings on her left hand too.
Shawn was the love of her life and he meant the world to her. Mina grinned at their antics,
"Speaking of which..." she began. Serena looked at her friend and smiled smugly, Mina had
told her already. "Yaten asked me this morning!" Mina held out her left hand.
"WOW! What a rock!" Raye said gawking. The girls started laughing and congragulating Mina.
***
"YOU'RE NOT TAKING ME IN!" Slim pulled out a nastly looking 9mm and aimed straight at Darian. He
pulled off four shots before Alex could take him out.
"Shit! Darian!" Alex grabbed her walkie talkie, "We have an officer down! I need an ambulence,
I repeat, officer down at..."
***
"Hey, Serena? You okay?" Amy asked as her friend suddenly turned pale.
"Serena?" Raye asked, she'd never seen Serena so white.
"I think I need to go to the hospital..." Serena blacked out.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{Lincoln Hospital}
{July 24, 2001}
{5:36 PM}
"Is she okay?" Raye asked softly.
"We just aren't sure. A physical examination reveals no injuries, but her brain waves are
showing spikes that can't be anything but pain. All of her tests say she's in perfect
condition... I want to keep her in ICU."
Amy nodded and looked on helpless. The other three stood shell-shocked. "Can we stay with
her?"
"Sorry, but I'll only let one of you."
"Let me stay with her, guys," Mina said quietly.
***
"It's my fault."
"Stop beating yourself up, Alex. Darian knew the risks, probably better than anyone else."
"If I had been quicker..."
"You thought he was disarmed."
"We pulled three guns off of him the minute we walked in, we missed the 9'." Alex put her
head in her hands. "Oh, God! Please!"
Michelle, Alex's lover, placed her hands over Alex's. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
Alex looked up when the doctor came out. "How is he?" she asked jumping up.
"I'm not going to mince words with you, he's in pretty bad shape. He had four bullets in
him. One in the left shoulder, one in his left floating rib, one in his abdominal that
managed to miss his organs, and the last one went through his sternum just missing his heart.
I've got him in ICU, if he makes it through the night, it's a good chance he'll make it."
"Can I stay with him?"
The doctor looked her over, "Not if you are going to pass out the moment you see him."
***
Mina and Alex were shown to the same room. ICU was packed and their friends were sharing
a room. Serena's bed was by the window. Her blonde hair lacked luster and her usual
bright face was shadowed and sickly looking. Darian looked no better. His skin was pale,
making the contrast between his black hair and usually tan faced a shock. Mina pulled
up a chair beside Serena, and Alex pulled up a chair beside Darian. Each staring at someone
who meant a great deal to them, but who they couldn't help. They stayed all night. The next
day others would come in and watch, but Mina and Alex would both come back for the night
shift.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{Lincoln Hospital}
{July 26, 2001}
{2:18 AM}
Alex grinned when Darian's eyes fluttered open. He moaned, causing Mina to look up from
Serena. "Alex?" he croaked.
She was grinning at him so widely then utterly shocked him when she burst into tears. "You
jerk! Why did you have to scare everyone like that!"
Mina smiled at them figuring them for lovers. She heard a soft moan and looked back at
Serena. Her eyes slowly opened revealing their soft blue depths. Mina let out a cry, and
Alex and Darian both glanced over at her. "Serena! My God, we were so worried about you!"
Mina reached out and grabbed her in a close hug. Serena yelped in pain. "Sorry, Serena!"
"Mina!" she said when the dizzyness had passed. She looked around the room and noticed that
they weren't alone, "Where am I?"
"You're at the hospital silly!"
"How long?"
"You've been out for a little over a day."
"What happened?"
Mina looked down at her hands. "They don't know..."
Darian and Alex felt sympathy for the girl in the bed. At least Darian knew why he was in ICU.
He couldn't get a real good look at her, and he couldn't tell much from her voice. Her friend
was obviously very worried about her though.
"I'll go get your doctor," Mina told her. Alex told Darian the same. Both patients closed their
eyes; they were so tired. Alex came back with a doctor in tow.
"So, Mr. Chiba, awake I see."
Serena tuned out what they were saying, she had a massive headache. Darian reached up and
rubbed at his brow with his right hand; it was shaky. "With a massive headache."
"I'm not surprised. Do you know what happened?" he asked as he began examining his patient.
"Yeah, I'm guessing Slim got me."
"Darian, I'm so sorry!"
"Alex, don't worry about."
"We've got four bullets if you want them for souviners."
"No thanks."
"I'll send a nurse in to give you something for the pain."
"Appreciate it."
***
Mina was dragging in Serena's doctor as Darian's was leaving. They nodded at each other and
grinned. Mina could have been blind and still seen the sparks fly between Dr. Adams (Darian's
doctor) and Dr. Unger (Serena's doctor). Dr. Unger walked over to Serena's bed.
"How are you feeling, Serena?" she asked in a cheerful voice.
"I feel like someone tried to murder me and botched the job."
Dr. Unger laughed before turning serious. "All of our tests show nothing, according to them,
you're in perfect health. However, your brain waves are telling us that you are in severe
pain. So we get to do this the old-fashioned way, where does it hurt?"
Darian was only semi-listening to the conversation until she mentioned the brain waves. He
had always been interested in science and even being laid up in bed didn't stop his curiosity.
Serena thought a moment. "The worst pain is coming from my chest," she lifted her right hand
and pointed at her sternum, "In close second is this area here," she pointed at her left floating
rib, "My left shoulder is killing me, and if i didn't know better, I'd say someone shot me in the
stomach." She frowned, "And if I don't get rid of this headache, I'm going to go insane!"
Dr. Unger smiled at her, 'At least she's trying to remain cheerful.' She carefully examined
Serena in the places she had pointed out. She pressed in certain areas that would make Serena
cry out in pain and Darian grit his teeth. 'I must be feeling sympathy pains,' he thought to
himself, 'I sure wouldn't want anyone pressing on me in any of those places.'
"I'm sorry about that, Serena," Dr. Unger said, "You're an enigma though, I honestly can't
find anything wrong with you, but in certain areas you are sensitive to the slightest touch."
She frowned. "I want you to sleep some more, and later today, we'll run some more tests. I'll
send a nurse in with something for the pain."
Mina and Alex had left the room when Dr. Unger had begun examining Serena, once she left, they
returned. A nurse came in right after with two needles. She slipped one into Darian's IV and
injected the liguid. She walked over to Serena and slipped the remaining needle in her IV.
After she left, Serena breathed a sigh of relief, the pains in her body were calming and her
headache was leaving. Darian let out the same sigh, and the two fell asleep. Mina and Alex
left to call everyone who needed to be called, the good news was waiting to be spread.
**********************************************************************************************
I wanted this to be a one part fic, but notebook wouldn't hold any more writing, so... 2 parts
it is! E-MAIL ME! it makes me feel loved......
I apologize to everyone for not working on one of my other stories and having another chapter
of it done, but this idea came to me and I just had to roll with it, . I've started
college today! yeah! I had three classes today! I'm having a blast! ...so how does this
affect you? i have no idea, , i have no clue how much time i will be able to spend
on writing for fun... so cross your fingers and pray really hard,
~Artemis Luna Diana~
August 22, 2001
2:19 PM
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
Type: Romance, Alternate Reality
Rated: PG-13 (adult language)
E-mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Home Page: Casper's Sailor Moon Site
http://www.caspermoon.com
**********************************************************************************************
This is an alternate reality fic, but it's a romantic one between Usagi and Mamoru. I set it
in America, around D.C. so I used the dubbed names. If you've ever read any of my stories that
use the dubbed names, you know I hate the name 'Amara' so as usual Haruka is 'Alex'. I used
my characters in this little short story, so you may or may not recognize the names. They
aren't major characters though so you don't need to read any of my other fics to read this
one... though I wouldn't mind if you did......anyway! read the
story! have fun!
Oh yeah, I don't own Sailor Moon, yada yada yada....BUT ALIA AND THE KNIGHTS ARE MINE!
**********************************************************************************************
{Andrews Air Force Base, Washington D.C.}
{August 3, 1974}
"Look at him! He's the spitting image of you, General!"
"Ha ha! That's my boy!"
"Mommy, he's a beautiful baby."
"Yes, Linda, he is," the proud mother cooed over her baby. Her husband, a three star
general in the U.S. Army, didn't have his usual commanding presence, instead the mushy papa
was grinning like a loon. The couple's closest friends, Col. George and Linda Smith, had
arrived in time to save "The General" from bursting into the delivery room like a raving
lunatic. Never was there a couple more devoted to each other and to hear her pain had sent
the usually calm man into near hystarics.
"Come now, Lizzy, what are you going to name him?" Linda asked happily.
"They're going to name him 'General'" George quipped.
This sent the foursome into a burst of laughter. "No, no," Lizzy finally managed to say.
"His name is Darian Mamoru Chiba." She smiled happily.
"That's a good name, doesn't Mamoru mean protector or something?" George asked.
Linda laughed and hugged her husband, "You can be so charming at times."
"What? What did I say?" he asked as his three companions grew weak with laughter.
**********************************************************************************************
{fairfax, Virginia}
{June 30, 1977}
"Mr. and Mrs. Tuskino, you have a beautiful baby girl."
Mrs. Tuskino looked at her daughter for the first time with tears of joy in her eyes. She
cradled the small infant to her chest and stared in wonder at the soft blonde fuzz on the
top of her daughter's head. She looked on amazed as her daughter's eyes met hers for the
first time. The love she had inside her for the helpless bundle in her arms scared her.
"How can something so small, be so precious?" she asked her husband without ever taking her
eyes from her child.
Mr. Tuskino looked every inch as scared as his wife. It's amazing how love for a child can
turn two resonably sane people into nervous wrecks. The head nurse smiled at the picture
the cute little family made. "What will you name her?" she asked.
Mr. Tuskino smiled at his wife, "How about Serena Usagi?"
Mrs. Tuskino looked at her husband in adoration, it was the name she had wanted. She smiled
at him and then looked down at their daughter "My little serene bunny..." she whispered.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{August 24, 1982}
"Hey! I'm open! I'm open!"
Ten kids who were between the ages of 7 and 10 were playing basketball. The day was hot and
all were sweating profusly, but were still going on strong. One boy in particular stood out,
he had some pretty fancy moves for an eight year old. He passed the ball to his team member
who had so recently cried out that he "was open". The grin on his face was huge, not only
was he enjoying himself, but his team was winning!
"Darian!" his friend Andrew shouted and passed the ball. He nimbly caught it and dribbled in
close for a lay-up. As he made the shot, a kid from the other team trying to block him,
accidently crashed into him. He hit the concrete hard, when his forhead connected with the
ground, he blacked out.
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{August 24, 1982}
Mauve Tuskino dropped the plate she had been drying in horror. She ran outside towards the
scream, the scream she knew came from her five-year-old daughter. Serena sat in the grass
next to her puppy holding in her forhead. The puppy was licking at her leg and whinning at
her screams and sobs. Mauve dropped to the ground beside her and took a hold of her, lifting
her head so she could see what was wrong. There wasn't a scratch on her.
"What happened bunny?" she asked trying to comfort her daughter and figure out where she was
hurt if her forhead wasn't injured.
"My head hurts," Serena sobbed.
"Did you hit your head?"
"No," her sobs were beginning to quiet, though she still held on to her forhead.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{August 24, 1982}
"He's got a concussion and six stiches, but otherwise he's fine."
Lizzy Chiba breathed a sigh of relief. A bunch of Darian's friends had coming running to her
house saying he was hurt and she feared the worst. She'd found him unconcious on the
basketball court, his forhead bleeding profusely. "Can I see him?"
"Sure go right ahead."
"Thank you."
The first words out of her son's mouth were "Did I make the shot?"
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{August 24, 1982}
"She has all the symptoms of a concussion, but she says se didn't hit her head and there isn't
a mark on her. I honestly don't know what to make of it. It's possible that it was a
severe migrane, I'd like to run some more tests..."
Nothing came of it.
**********************************************************************************************
{Dogwood Valley, Virgina}
{October 22, 1986}
"Hey, Darian!"
"Grandma! Grandpa!"
"Oh, look how you've grown!"
"Grandpa, look at this!" Darian pulled back his sleeves to show his "strong" muscles.
"Wow! You must be working out!"
"Lizzy, Samuel, come on, let's get you settled in! It's not every day you bring Darian to
visit!" Grandma said and hugged her daughter-in-law. "Let's go inside and leave them to carry
in everything."
"Can't argue with that!" Lizzy agreed laughing.
The two women went inside and the men began unpacking, Darian scooted out of sight. No way
was he going to carry anything in! He went wandering into the backyard and walked over to the
old oak tree in the center. One day he was going to be tall enough to reach the bottom limb,
and he was going to climb it! He reached up and... he could grab the bottom limb!
Immediately he began to try and pull himself up.
***
"Where's Darian?" Lizzy asked as her father-in-law and husband carried in the last of the
stuff from the car.
Samuel rubbed his lower back, "I thought he was with you."
"No, he didn't come in."
"He's probably out back," Grandpa said, "He wants to climb that tree you know. I don't think
he realizes that I've been cutting the limbs as he gets taller, he won't be reaching it anytime
soon."
"How high is the lowest limb?" Lizzy asked.
"I don't know, I guess a little over five feet."
Lizzy dashed towards the back of the house and ran out the back door. Her father-in-law didn't
realize how much Darian had already grown. His growth spurt had already started. A gasp of
horror escaped her, Darian was so high up... "Darian!"
"Mom?"
"Darian, get out of that tree!" she ran towards the tree as fast as she could, Samuel and his
parents tagging along behind.
"Look how high I am! Whoa!" He didn't scream when his grip slipped, or when he hit the
ground with a sickening thud. He screamed after that, when he looked down at his arm to see
bloody white sticking out of it at the elbow.
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{October 22, 1986}
"Will you stop that!"
"Stop what?"
"Stop rubbing your arm! You've been doing that since this afternoon! You are driving me
crazy! There is nothing wrong with it!"
"I know... it just aches a bit..." she lied, it hurt like crazy. She had barely controlled
the scream that had wanted to rip out of her nine-year-old body when the pain first began.
She was use to it though, but it wasn't usually this bad. Normally it was just a jammed
finger feeling or such, but she felt as though her arm was broken. There wasn't any point
in telling anybody, they'd just say she was imagining it...like she always did.
"Serena, let me repeat myself...THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR ARM! THEREFORE IT CAN'T
ACHE!"
"Geeze, Raye, you don't have to shout..."
"She has a point, Serena. To see you rub your arm continuely is making everyone a little
crazy...it's like when Mina taps her pen during class."
"I have a lot of energy," Mina protested. "It's more like when Amy chews her pencil."
"I don't chew my pencil! Lita, you sit right next to me, do I chew my pencil?!"
Lita placed a comforting hand on Amy's shoulder, "Yes."
Amy frowned and everyone else laughed. The five girls were sprawled across Mina's bedroom
floor in their pajamas. Popcorn, various chocolates, and the latest romantic comedy to hit
the big time were scattered in amongst the blankets and pillows. On Mina's dresser were
five plates with the remains of what appeared to be cake and ice cream.
After struggling to come up with something really nasty to do to Lita, Ami gave in and picked
up her pillow and wacked her on the head. "PILLOW FIGHT!" Mina yelled.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{April 3, 1996}
"Stay away from my sister!"
"She likes me, can't fault her for her taste."
Darian looked at the cocky boy in front of him, anger rising in his throat. This dirtbag dared
to follow his sister around, and attempt to claim her as his girlfriend?! Not while he was
around! Darian landed the first punch right between the bastard's eyes.
***
"Ow! That stings!" Darian hissed at his mother as she dabbed alcohol on his cut brow.
"I don't need you running around beating up my friends! Mom! Do something about him!"
Lizzy looked at her daughter, then back at her son. She leaned over and kissed his forhead,
"Thank you, Darian, for beating the crap out of that good for nothing."
"MOM!" Alia glared at her. She turned to Darian who sat smugly enjoying his mother's
disaproval of Alia's so-called 'friend' and slugged him in the jaw.
"DAMN!" Darian jumped up. Lizzy slapped a hand to his chest and ordered him to sit and yelled
for Alia to get out.
"Shit!" he muttered.
"What did you say?" Lizzy asked sharply.
"She hits harder than he does!" He rubbed his aching jaw and sighed, 'It was just his luck...
at least he knew that Alia wouldn't be hanging around that guy anymore...'
Lizzy narrowed her eyes at her son. "Sure." He looked up at her but said nothing. "Since
you're here in my clutches, why don't we talk."
"Okay... about what?"
"Don't you think it's about time you had a steady girlfriend? I do want to see you get married
before I die."
"Mom..."
**********************************************************************************************
{Fairfax, Virginia}
{April 3, 1996}
"Hey, Serena! You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" She rubbed her jaw again.
"Did the ball hit you in the jaw?"
"No. SANDRA! Watch what you're doing! It's headed right for you!"
"Crap!" Sandra said and returned her attention back to the game.
***
Serena stood in the girl's locker room braiding her slightly wet hair, she hadn't felt like
drying it after her shower. She looked up from her task to see her friend Raye come into the
locker room.
"Great game, Serena!"
Sandra looked up from her spot on one of the benches, "That was some save you made in the
second half, Serena, you played awsome today."
Serena smiled at them, blushing. She didn't consider herself the greatest goalie in the world
and didn't try to be, she just liked to play. Soccer was one of her favorite things, something
that she had discovered when she was seven and hadn't stopped loving.
"Hey, I heard that Brad was going to ask you out, Serena," one of her fellow team-mates teased.
Serena frowned, "I hope not..."
"What, girl have you lost your mind?! Honey, it don't get no better than that boy!"
"Thanks, Tambria, but no thanks, you can have him."
"I think I just might!" This sent the locker room full of girls into gales of laughter.
"Now come on girl, let's get serious. Why don't you want to go out with him?"
"I'm just not interested in going out with him, or any other guy for that matter."
"Serena's waiting for Prince Charming," Raye informed them.
"Shut-up, Raye!"
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{July 24, 2001}
"Darian! Where you headed?"
"Alex and I are going to Slim's."
"Finally got enough on the bastard."
"Damn straight."
"That murdering SOB is going down!"
Darian and Alex walked out of the 16th Precint, calm and in total control. "Jason, was right,"
Alex said as they got in her car. She started the ignition, "That cop killer is finally going
down."
***
"Oh, look at this! Amy this would go perfect with your dragon collection!" Mina cried enthused.
The girls were out shopping.
"It's beautiful," Amy said entranced by the teal and silver dragon.
"I'm sure Taiki would buy it for you," Lita said grinning. Amy blushed and looked down at her
engagement ring. Lita glanced at her own hand and smiled at the winking diamond engagement ring
and matching wedding band. She'd been married for three years, but had never lost the thrill
of it.
"I see that look, Lita," Raye said. "That means you lost the bet. You weren't suppose to think
about Ival for 5 minutes."
"I'm in love! That was an impossible bet!"
Raye laughed at her. She knew the feeling, she was sporting a set of rings on her left hand too.
Shawn was the love of her life and he meant the world to her. Mina grinned at their antics,
"Speaking of which..." she began. Serena looked at her friend and smiled smugly, Mina had
told her already. "Yaten asked me this morning!" Mina held out her left hand.
"WOW! What a rock!" Raye said gawking. The girls started laughing and congragulating Mina.
***
"YOU'RE NOT TAKING ME IN!" Slim pulled out a nastly looking 9mm and aimed straight at Darian. He
pulled off four shots before Alex could take him out.
"Shit! Darian!" Alex grabbed her walkie talkie, "We have an officer down! I need an ambulence,
I repeat, officer down at..."
***
"Hey, Serena? You okay?" Amy asked as her friend suddenly turned pale.
"Serena?" Raye asked, she'd never seen Serena so white.
"I think I need to go to the hospital..." Serena blacked out.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{Lincoln Hospital}
{July 24, 2001}
{5:36 PM}
"Is she okay?" Raye asked softly.
"We just aren't sure. A physical examination reveals no injuries, but her brain waves are
showing spikes that can't be anything but pain. All of her tests say she's in perfect
condition... I want to keep her in ICU."
Amy nodded and looked on helpless. The other three stood shell-shocked. "Can we stay with
her?"
"Sorry, but I'll only let one of you."
"Let me stay with her, guys," Mina said quietly.
***
"It's my fault."
"Stop beating yourself up, Alex. Darian knew the risks, probably better than anyone else."
"If I had been quicker..."
"You thought he was disarmed."
"We pulled three guns off of him the minute we walked in, we missed the 9'." Alex put her
head in her hands. "Oh, God! Please!"
Michelle, Alex's lover, placed her hands over Alex's. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
Alex looked up when the doctor came out. "How is he?" she asked jumping up.
"I'm not going to mince words with you, he's in pretty bad shape. He had four bullets in
him. One in the left shoulder, one in his left floating rib, one in his abdominal that
managed to miss his organs, and the last one went through his sternum just missing his heart.
I've got him in ICU, if he makes it through the night, it's a good chance he'll make it."
"Can I stay with him?"
The doctor looked her over, "Not if you are going to pass out the moment you see him."
***
Mina and Alex were shown to the same room. ICU was packed and their friends were sharing
a room. Serena's bed was by the window. Her blonde hair lacked luster and her usual
bright face was shadowed and sickly looking. Darian looked no better. His skin was pale,
making the contrast between his black hair and usually tan faced a shock. Mina pulled
up a chair beside Serena, and Alex pulled up a chair beside Darian. Each staring at someone
who meant a great deal to them, but who they couldn't help. They stayed all night. The next
day others would come in and watch, but Mina and Alex would both come back for the night
shift.
**********************************************************************************************
{Washington D.C.}
{Lincoln Hospital}
{July 26, 2001}
{2:18 AM}
Alex grinned when Darian's eyes fluttered open. He moaned, causing Mina to look up from
Serena. "Alex?" he croaked.
She was grinning at him so widely then utterly shocked him when she burst into tears. "You
jerk! Why did you have to scare everyone like that!"
Mina smiled at them figuring them for lovers. She heard a soft moan and looked back at
Serena. Her eyes slowly opened revealing their soft blue depths. Mina let out a cry, and
Alex and Darian both glanced over at her. "Serena! My God, we were so worried about you!"
Mina reached out and grabbed her in a close hug. Serena yelped in pain. "Sorry, Serena!"
"Mina!" she said when the dizzyness had passed. She looked around the room and noticed that
they weren't alone, "Where am I?"
"You're at the hospital silly!"
"How long?"
"You've been out for a little over a day."
"What happened?"
Mina looked down at her hands. "They don't know..."
Darian and Alex felt sympathy for the girl in the bed. At least Darian knew why he was in ICU.
He couldn't get a real good look at her, and he couldn't tell much from her voice. Her friend
was obviously very worried about her though.
"I'll go get your doctor," Mina told her. Alex told Darian the same. Both patients closed their
eyes; they were so tired. Alex came back with a doctor in tow.
"So, Mr. Chiba, awake I see."
Serena tuned out what they were saying, she had a massive headache. Darian reached up and
rubbed at his brow with his right hand; it was shaky. "With a massive headache."
"I'm not surprised. Do you know what happened?" he asked as he began examining his patient.
"Yeah, I'm guessing Slim got me."
"Darian, I'm so sorry!"
"Alex, don't worry about."
"We've got four bullets if you want them for souviners."
"No thanks."
"I'll send a nurse in to give you something for the pain."
"Appreciate it."
***
Mina was dragging in Serena's doctor as Darian's was leaving. They nodded at each other and
grinned. Mina could have been blind and still seen the sparks fly between Dr. Adams (Darian's
doctor) and Dr. Unger (Serena's doctor). Dr. Unger walked over to Serena's bed.
"How are you feeling, Serena?" she asked in a cheerful voice.
"I feel like someone tried to murder me and botched the job."
Dr. Unger laughed before turning serious. "All of our tests show nothing, according to them,
you're in perfect health. However, your brain waves are telling us that you are in severe
pain. So we get to do this the old-fashioned way, where does it hurt?"
Darian was only semi-listening to the conversation until she mentioned the brain waves. He
had always been interested in science and even being laid up in bed didn't stop his curiosity.
Serena thought a moment. "The worst pain is coming from my chest," she lifted her right hand
and pointed at her sternum, "In close second is this area here," she pointed at her left floating
rib, "My left shoulder is killing me, and if i didn't know better, I'd say someone shot me in the
stomach." She frowned, "And if I don't get rid of this headache, I'm going to go insane!"
Dr. Unger smiled at her, 'At least she's trying to remain cheerful.' She carefully examined
Serena in the places she had pointed out. She pressed in certain areas that would make Serena
cry out in pain and Darian grit his teeth. 'I must be feeling sympathy pains,' he thought to
himself, 'I sure wouldn't want anyone pressing on me in any of those places.'
"I'm sorry about that, Serena," Dr. Unger said, "You're an enigma though, I honestly can't
find anything wrong with you, but in certain areas you are sensitive to the slightest touch."
She frowned. "I want you to sleep some more, and later today, we'll run some more tests. I'll
send a nurse in with something for the pain."
Mina and Alex had left the room when Dr. Unger had begun examining Serena, once she left, they
returned. A nurse came in right after with two needles. She slipped one into Darian's IV and
injected the liguid. She walked over to Serena and slipped the remaining needle in her IV.
After she left, Serena breathed a sigh of relief, the pains in her body were calming and her
headache was leaving. Darian let out the same sigh, and the two fell asleep. Mina and Alex
left to call everyone who needed to be called, the good news was waiting to be spread.
**********************************************************************************************
I wanted this to be a one part fic, but notebook wouldn't hold any more writing, so... 2 parts
it is! E-MAIL ME! it makes me feel loved......
I apologize to everyone for not working on one of my other stories and having another chapter
of it done, but this idea came to me and I just had to roll with it, . I've started
college today! yeah! I had three classes today! I'm having a blast! ...so how does this
affect you? i have no idea, , i have no clue how much time i will be able to spend
on writing for fun... so cross your fingers and pray really hard,
~Artemis Luna Diana~
August 22, 2001
2:19 PM