A/N: Ack! I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated! (bowing in repentance, over and over) I can only blame it on a nasty cold that bugged me for a month. Any who, if anyone's still reading, here's the next chapter. It's got a little bit of everything, I think.
Just a reminder, "tongari" = noodle noggin. Enjoy!
When It's Over
Chapter 4: Touch and Go
"Vash-the-Stampede-is-the-BIGGEST-jerk-in-the-enti re-universe!" Meryl kept repeating angrily, as she beat the dust out of the floor rugs with a piece of wire, using the rugs as a substitute for the source of her frustrations.
Much to her displeasure, she had realized that her anger had more to do with the fact that Vash was right on the money when he had deduced the cause of her agitation. How in the world was she was supposed to remain indifferent with him hanging around the entire time?
His sudden change of heart had completely thrown her off balance. Not that she wasn't pleased that he wanted to get to know Ai better, but she couldn't afford to lose control of the situation. The last time she let her guard down, it had ended in misery and humiliation. She resolved a long time ago that as long as Vash held onto Rem, she meant nothing to him but a replacement for the woman he could never have.
"I'll be damned before I ever allow myself to play second fiddle again," Meryl vowed to herself.
"Do you think I should go and talk to her?" Vash asked Milly as they sat in the small, but comfortable living room.
"Give her some time to cool off. After all, she can't stay mad at you forever."
"Wanna bet?" he replied jokingly.
Milly smiled in agreement. Senpai could be stubborn when she really wanted to be. But then again, she had every right to be under the circumstances. She just wished that Meryl would come out and tell Vash how she really felt about him.
"Tongari-san! Tongari-san!" Ai called out as she burst through the door and ran up to Vash, tugging on his shirttails insistently.
Vash smiled with fatherly pride at his daughter and bent down to her level, putting a hand on her head gently.
"Ai-chan, remember that I told you to call me Vash."
"I like Tongari-san better."
"It's Vash," he corrected her.
"Tongari-san," she reiterated adamantly.
Vash just hung his head in defeat. Why couldn't he ever win an argument with her?
"What's the matter, Ai?" Milly asked gently.
"Woody's bothering the girls again."
"Tattle tale!" Nicholas Wolfwood Junior taunted, sticking out his tongue at Ai from the doorway.
One thing the little girl had inherited from Meryl, without a doubt, was her temper, as she proceeded to promptly chase after him, while Woody kept teasing her.
"Are they always like that?" Vash asked in amusement.
"Unfortunately, yes. They kind of remind of you and senpai."
"THAT is a terrible thing to say," Meryl supplied dryly as she walked into the living room, carrying an armful of firewood. "You're still here, I see," she said, addressing Vash in an icy tone after putting down the wood.
"Sorry to disappoint you," he replied unperturbed by her cool reception.
"It's already too late for that."
"Senpai, please. Vash is still a guest," Milly reminded her.
"Sorry," Meryl replied contritely.
"I don't know if I should leave you two alone like this. And I've got to go into town and pick up some supplies too."
"Nothing is going to happen Milly."
"Not unless Meryl WANTS something to happen," Vash replied suggestively.
She turned to give him a death glare. "Don't hold your breath," she bit out.
Milly sighed. "I see that it's going to be a long day," she muttered as she left the house.
Meryl's back was turned to Vash, when he came up behind her. She flinched and pulled away from him when he touched her shoulder.
"Don't do that."
Vash mistook her reaction.
"Do I disgust you that much, Meryl?" he asked quietly.
His voice reflected a deep sadness that reminded her of the first time she saw him without his shirt on. He had said that no woman would want to see him the way he was with all his scars and metal implants. She wondered just how many women had recoiled in horror from the shocking sight. If anything, seeing him like that made her care about him even more. The physical scars must have been a constant reminder of the inner turmoil he must have kept to himself all that time that he was alone.
"I just don't think we should have any sort of physical contact. Ai might get the wrong idea," she replied quickly.
"That excuse might have worked if it wasn't so lame. What are you afraid of Meryl?"
"I told you. I'm not afraid of anything."
"Then why are you trying so hard to push me away?" he asked perceptively.
"Don't you have some skirt to go chase?" she replied bitterly.
Vash reached up to gently cradle her face in the palm of his hands. His eyes searched hers, trying to find an answer.
Meryl's feet were rooted to the floor. She should have backed away, but every cell in her body tingled with excitement as it cried out for his touch. Her heart pounded against her chest so loud that she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Why couldn't she move?
"Your eyes betray you, Meryl," he replied.
She jerked her face away from his hand. "Don't be so presumptuous. You know NOTHING about me Vash."
"Would it help to say that I'm sorry?"
"That all depends. Are you sorry that we spent the night together, or that you ever met me?"
"Neither. That's just your anger talking. You and I both know that. I can't change what happened, and I'm sorry that I hurt you, but for Ai's sake, can't we call a truce?"
Meryl considered him for a moment as she let his words sink in. It was obvious that Ai took a shine to Vash, even if she was unaware of his identity.
"I'm doing this for her sake, not yours. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And DON'T call me that!" she replied irritably.
Vash hid a smile of amusement, but kept a straight face.
"Come on, Vash. Wake up!" Woody prodded, while shaking a sleepy Vash as he woke up groggily.
"Is it noon already?" he murmured incoherently and put the pillow over his head.
"You said you would play with us," the four year old reminded him and proceeded to shake him again.
"All right all right. I'm up."
Meryl watched from a wary distance as Vash was being pelted with several dodge balls all at once as he attempted to escape the barrage, and being unsuccessful.
"It's nice to have Vash-san back, isn't it Senpai?" Milly commented from the doorway.
"That is a matter of opinion."
Milly sighed exasperatedly.
"Don't you think you it's time you told him the truth?"
"Why? So I can endure a lifetime of humiliation? No thank you."
"You don't know how he'll react. Why not give him the benefit of the doubt?"
"Because…because I'm afraid," Meryl admitted quietly. "I'm afraid that it'll happen all over again. I don't think I could take it."
"Senpai, isn't it true that you still love him?"
Meryl shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
"It wouldn't change anything. He'll eventually leave, like he always does."
"Then it's up to you to change his mind for him," Milly simply replied.
Meryl smiled at her longsuffering friend. "What would I do without you, Milly?"
Milly smiled back and gave her a thumb's up for encouragement.
"Miss Meryl! Miss Meryl! Come quick!" one of the boys yelled from the play area. It sounded like trouble.
Meryl ran over to the crowd of kids hovering over something. She was shocked to find that it was Vash himself lying unconscious on the ground.
"What happened Sam?" she asked the eldest of the group, as she knelt down beside Vash, checking his pulse.
"I don't know. We were just playing and then all of a sudden he fell down and stopped moving."
Meryl began to worry. His pulse was slightly weak, and he forehead was very warm.
"Sam, run and get the wagon and the Thomas from the coop. Woody, I need you to tell your mom that I'm taking Vash to the hospital."
"Is he…is he gonna be okay, Aunt Meryl?" Woody asked worriedly.
Meryl took his small hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he's going to be okay. I promise."
Despite her reassurance, Meryl was worried about Vash's condition. Somehow, he always managed to bounce back, no matter what injury he sustained. But she had a gut feeling that there was something seriously wrong with him. Unfortunately, she was met with resistance the minute she mentioned who the patient was.
"What do you mean that you can't help him?" Meryl demanded angrily.
"Miss, do you realize who this man is?"
"I know damn well who he is. What difference does that make?"
"I can't afford to jeopardize this hospital by harboring a notorious gunman. He's capable of anything."
Meryl couldn't believe what she was hearing. Some things never changed.
"You make me sick. Whatever happened to your ethics as a doctor?"
"I have a duty to protect my patients," the older man protested.
"Even at the cost of another person's life," she finished angrily.
Barely keeping a rein on her anger, she grabbed the doctor by the lapels of his jacket and jerked him roughly, so that he couldn't breathe.
"Now you listen to me, you bastard. That man in there is the father of my little girl. And if I have to tell an innocent 3 year old that her father died because a so-called doctor didn't do everything in his power to save him, I will personally make sure that you suffer a living hell."
She finally released him roughly. The doctor took several moments to regain his equilibrium before reluctantly agreeing to see Vash.
Meryl paced back and forth outside his room praying that Vash was going to be all right. Every second that passed seemed like an eternity.
"Miss Stryfe, I have the results of his tests."
She braced herself mentally. "Go ahead."
"We've managed to stabilize his condition for now, but he needs a blood transfusion right away. He has a rare anemia that will only deteriorate his condition rapidly if a donor match is not found soon."
"Would my daughter be a suitable candidate?"
"Possibly. We'll have to test her to verify a match. But I must stress in cases like these, a closer immediate relative is more likely to be a match."
Meryl's hopes were dashed as she realized the implications.
"You mean, like a brother?" she asked quietly.
"That would be the best case scenario, yes."
Meryl clutched her fists tightly to her sides. "I will find you, Knives," she vowed silently to herself.
To be continued…
Written by: Babboo (veggies4utoo ) June 12, 2003