Warnings: 5xR, yaoi (1x2), angst, after EW.
by M.E.
AC 207
[Visitor Hours: 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.]
The sign swung inwards with the door when he pushed on the glass. He didn't bother reading it, he really didn't care whether he was going to be allowed in – if they didn't let him in, he figured he could always climb through a window. In fact, that had been his original plan until Quatre had dissuaded him, explaining that the the hospital staff was not likely to appreciate it.
A soft snort of amusement at that thought – it was his experience that hospital staffs didn't appreciate anything that didn't involve jabbing someone with a needle.
Behind the reception desk to his left stood a red haired woman who would have been pretty if it weren't for the fact that her mouth appeared to be drawn tight in a perpetual look of distaste. Her eyes ran up and down his body, and she scowled at the ratty condition of his clothing. He met her glare for glare, then shrugged. Sure, his clothes weren't exactly in the best condition, but then he'd just finished an undercover assignment for the Preventers and hadn't had a chance to change yet.
The redhead finally took it upon herself to break the silence. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"Umm... yeah, I'm here to visit the patient in room 309."
The exchange that followed lasted ten minutes and involved him providing five forms of identification in addition to being subjected to a retina scan, and she was obviously not content with the excuse he gave when she demanded to know his mother's maiden name. However, even she had to eventually admit that there was no way she could keep him out, and finally let him go on ahead – though he could feel her glare burning its way through his shoulder blades as he crossed the room. The uncanny feeling didn't let up until he'd made it around a corner and out of her line of sight.
After pausing for a moment to recover from the effects of the Suspicious Receptionist From HELL, he set off down the hall, speeding up until he reached a pace that was a near run, one that he didn't let up until he literally ran into the dark haired man standing in front of room 309. For a moment, they both just stood there, locked in a sort of half-embrace.
Finally, the newcomer managed to extricate himself from the tangle, planting a somewhat messy kiss on the other's lips as he took a half-step backwards. "Missed you."
"Mm... me too."
He glanced nervously at the door, then back at the man who had been guarding it. "So... any improvement? Any change?"
"Improvement...? No, not really. Sorry." A pause as he reached out to caress the other's face. "Wufei was here earlier."
"Oh?"
"He stayed for five hours. Finally got him to leave and get something to eat."
"Heh. Yeah, that's Wu all right – doesn't know when to let up. Heero... is it okay if I go in?" A nod from the head of brown hair, and another quick hug before he pushed the door and entered.
Once inside his eyes quickly focused in on the frail form lying on the room's one, narrow bed, noting pale greyish tint to the skin. Smiling hesitantly, he stepped forward so that he stood in the middle of the room and in full view of the bed's occupant.
His throat was dry, and when he spoke his voice came out in an almost unrecognizable croak. "Hey, 'Lena, how's it goin'?"