Chapter 37 - One goes home
AN: Shit, did it again. It's now fixed, heres the real stuff. I updated at like 1am or later.sigh. Thanks to all who reviewed. Sorry for the long wait. I really tried to get this up faster. Kyra, it's called common courtesy. Have some. You use an emoticon for sticking out one's tongue on one review and say the story moves too s-l-o-w on my other story. That's not constructive, it's ignorant. I've left less the favourable reviews myself, but I always try to come off friendly and polite. Never stuck up. No wonder so many people are giving up on FF.net. I've been discouraged by the reviews I got. Hell, I know I'm not a great writer, I'd like to improve. Being told the story has no plot and moves s-l-o-w is not helping me in that endeavour. Since I'd been told I used too much dialog by other people I changed some of it to just describing conversations. The story pretty much follows the exact plot of the movie. Did you see the movie this is based on? Yes? Well, that's the plot. I've just added my own girl in and changed the movie as little as I could and still have the new character fit it, and made my own ending to the story. The reason it took so long for me to update is because I didn't know if I was going to bother. I got discouraged by the reviews my three stories got. I've been told on another board I posted this story on that it's good, fresh and original so I know it doesn't suck.Anyways, I finally got over the melancholy mood the reviews I got put me in and got my ass in gear and wrote the story. I sound like I can't take criticism of my stories here I know, but I can really, if people could just go about it in the adult, reasonable way. I hope I don't come off like this when I leave a less then stellar review for people. For god's sake if I do someone tell me. It's never been my intention.
When 2pm came the doctor came back into the room and told them all she could go, but someone was going to have to sign her release papers. Vince went to do it.
"I mean it young lady, you are to stay in bed and not do anything till at least one week from now. And if those stitches open you come right back here."
"I get it." Nyssa said as she smiled. She was thrilled to be getting out of the hospital. Even if she'd been out of it for most of her stay, she still felt like she'd been there far too long. The doctor left the room with that and cornered the returning Vince in the hall.
"It's very important you keep her quiet for at least the first week. And you need to make her eat good food. She's still not healthy, no matter how much she'd like to think otherwise. And when I say quiet I mean quiet. No activity more strenuous then reading while sitting up." The doctor was obviously hinting to Vince that Nyssa was not ready to sleep with him in every sense of the word. Vince was touched the other man cared, and insulted the doctor though he wasn't smart enough to figure that on his own.
"I get it. No activity for one week. Then what, she can go for walks around the house, she can jump back into her normal activity level.How does this work?" The doctor was impressed that the other man thought to ask.
"Well, after a week she can get up, and walk around the house, go for outings, stuff like that, simple and easy. She should ease back into her normal routine."
"When can she drive on her own again?"
"I've never been asked that specifically before. Hum, I guess at least two weeks after she goes home. Why?"
"It's what she does. She loves to, um, drive." Vince didn't want to tell the doctor about racing.
"Most people who drive do enjoy it. Why do you know the young lady will want to drive right away?"
"She wants to be a mechanic and a race car driver. She loves her car."
"What kind of car is it?" The doctor asked out of curiousity.
"Well, she has her brother's Skyline and her own Mustang."
"I see. Well, no driving for at least two weeks. She needs to take it slow. For that matter I don't really agree with how fast you've jumped back into running around, harassing my nurses." The doctor smiled, but his eyes stayed serious.
"It's what I do best."
"What's that?" The doctor questioned.
"The opposite of whatever I'm told. She gets it from me." Vince smiled, proud of himself and pointed at Nyssa's door.
"Just make sure you tell her to do whatever you have to, to keep her quiet." The doctor walked off to finish his rounds. He spun back on his heel with an after thought. "Oh, and no matter what she says to you, she leaves here in a wheelchair and she stays in it till you get to your car. Then you'll need to carry her to bed. I don't want her to walk. She really can't open those stitches."
"Ok." Vince walked into the room. "You're set to go, but you leave in a wheelchair." He saw Nyssa's mouth open, belligerent look on her face. He held up a hand to stop her. "No buts, no negotiation. The doctor's orders." She crossed her arms with a mutinous glare. "You can glare at me all you want and it doesn't change." Vince smiled. She was getting better all the time if she was better enough to give him that bitchy look.
"Fine. I hate feeling like a helpless baby." Nyssa pouted. The team laughed, they were glad that Nyssa was obviously feeling better, and glad that she was coming home. Things were looking better as the team became whole again. Vince answered her.
"Well, you're far from helpless. But you are confined to bed for a week and that means no walking. Not even to leave the hospital. And just think, you get to have me 'n the rest of the team at your beck and call for the next week." Vince was smiling till he saw the evil glint enter her eyes.
"That has possibilities." Nyssa looked very intrigued at the possibility of having the team to wait on her. Everyone else groaned. They knew they were in for it; she was going to run them off their feet. "What am I gonna wear home?" She glanced at her hospital gown. She wasn't wearing it home. Her butt would be hanging out for all to see. Vince shared a look with Dom, he hadn't thought about that. Mia held up her bag.
"I thought of that, I brought you some sweats."
"Mia, have I told you lately I love you?" Nyssa asked with a smile as Mia gave her some of her own clothes.
"No, I think you were out cold for most of lately, so it's been awhile since you told me you loved me." Mia laughed.
"Ok, well you all vacate the room and I'll get changed." Nyssa watched as all but Vince filed out of the room. "You're not leaving?"
"No, what if you need help? The doctor said you were to take it easy for a week. I don't know if you should even be dressing, I'm sure as hell not leaving you to do it on your own." She sighed.
"I can put on some pants and a top without leaving bed." She gave him a dirty look.
"Yeah, go ahead, but I'm still gonna stay in case. Get used to it. I'm gonna be your shadow for the next week. 'Cept when I have to go to therapy." He spit out the last word with distaste. He hated the fact that he had to go to therapy as much as she hated being at his mercy for everything while she wasn't allowed out of bed.
"You have to got therapy? For what?" Nyssa didn't see anything about him that looked out of the ordinary. He hadn't told her how bad his arm had been hurt because he hadn't wanted her to worry.
"My stupid arm. They wanna make sure I get all the use of it back." He made a face.
"Well, that's a good thing right?"
"Yeah, but they push and pull and make me do stupid exercises. I hate it."
"Aw muffin. It's what, two hours a week?"
"Three." Vince said defensively, sensing she was setting him up for something.
"Yeah, well I can't get up on my own for a week. I assume that means I have to let people help me get to the bathroom even?"
"Yes."
"Well then, don't bitch about your three hours a week when you have to do something unpleasant when I have to allow this to happen to me all the time for a whole week."
"Ok. Fine. I see how you would find your situation worse. Can you get ready now so we can leave? The guys are waiting on us." She got dressed. She did need Vince's help to finish, she was still stiff and sore, and she made sure he knew she didn't like needing his help one bit. A nurse had dropped off her chair and they helped her into it. She couldn't stop the look of pain that flashed on her expressive face as they moved her.
When they were starting down the hall she looked up at Vince. "Where's Jess?"
"Floor below us." He answered.
"I want to stop'n see him."
"I don't think so Nyssa." Vince didn't want her to see just how bad Jesse looked. Vince and Brian shared a look, and Vince knew that Brian agreed she shouldn't see her friend.
"Yeah, well I do. So we're gonna go see him." The whole team knew that when Nyssa used that tone they may as well let her have her way. She'd just be irate and evil with them for hours, or even days if they didn't. She didn't act that way often, but when she did, it was something she felt really strongly about.
They got in the elevator and Brian pushed the button for the second floor. They all piled off and walked up to the door of Jesse's private room. "Can I see him alone, or just with Vince first please?" She asked the team. She didn't know what she was going to find or how it would affect her so she wanted to be alone. She didn't like anyone to see her crying.
"We'll just see you two at home then." Dom stated. Vince had his car; he had to figure they'd leave together in it. Vince nodded his acceptance of that plan. He figured taking Nyssa to see Jesse was foolhardy but he didn't want to argue the point with her any further. Dom and the others left, Mia with a very concerned look on her face, looking back over her shoulder.
Vince opened the door and pushed Nyssa into the room. When Nyssa saw Jesse with what appeared to be a million things plugged into his small form she started to cry. She'd prepared herself for a lot but not to see Jesse with machines breathing for him and monitors plugged into him. Vince pushed her up beside the bed and she took Jesse's hand.
"Oh Jesse." She sighed out. The boy was pale and so quiet. She knew what she felt, she felt Jesse would be fine. But it was hard to believe it while she saw him like this. She managed to keep the tears quiet, just let them run down her face. She figured maybe Jesse could hear her, just like she'd heard Vince. "Jesse, you listen to me. You're the last one left now, I'm goin' home. You need to wake up and get better. We all hate the hospital, and as long as you're in here we're all gonna have to come back and visit you. Besides, you promised Vince you could make his car run 9's and no one else can tune a Maxima up that good. He'll have to buy a better car if you don't come home. Plus, I bet Manda'll even let you do up her car if you come home. If you can hear me Jesse, I love you. Get better soon ok?" With that Vince insisted they leave.
Nyssa held on to her composure till they got to his car and she was settled into the passenger seat. "Why Jesse?" She sobbed in the car. "Why not one of us? Jesse was innocent. He never did anything to anyone. It's not fair for Jesse to be lying up in that hospital." She cried.
"It was Tran. He's gonna be ok."
"I guess I know he's gonna be ok, but he's so small and he has so many things hooked up to him. I hate to see him like that. What about Tran? Did someone make him pay for what he did?"
Vince hadn't ever seen the vicious streak in Nyssa. She wanted to make sure someone had gotten revenge. "Brian killed him. Jess'll be ok Nyssa." Vince tried to reassure her. Nyssa looked up at Vince with a slightly startled look.
"Wait. You just called Brian, Brian."
"Well, that's his name." Vince said, looking at Nyssa like she was slow. He didn't get the big deal.
"Yeah, but you call him punk, or buster all the time. Never Brian. And you always sneer when you say anything about him. You've never said his name or said anything about him in a normal tone of voice before."
"Well, he saved my life, and yours in a round about way. Killed Tran, and he's gonna fix our story with the cops. Plus Mia loves him."
"Ok Vince. I think everything's gonna be ok." Nyssa sighed but it was a sigh of contentment. If Vince and Brian could learn to get along then everything had to be ok. That was almost like finding out the sky wasn't blue after all, it was green. She'd never thought she'd see the day when Vince and Brian got along.
They got home and Vince got Nyssa into bed. He brought her books and magazines and told her if she got up she was going to find herself tied to the bed. She had her cell phone and she called him 10 times in the first hour, even though he was only upstairs. He was so happy to have her home he didn't even care that he brought her a glass of water then 5 minutes later she phoned him for a glass of pepsi.
AN: Shit, did it again. It's now fixed, heres the real stuff. I updated at like 1am or later.sigh. Thanks to all who reviewed. Sorry for the long wait. I really tried to get this up faster. Kyra, it's called common courtesy. Have some. You use an emoticon for sticking out one's tongue on one review and say the story moves too s-l-o-w on my other story. That's not constructive, it's ignorant. I've left less the favourable reviews myself, but I always try to come off friendly and polite. Never stuck up. No wonder so many people are giving up on FF.net. I've been discouraged by the reviews I got. Hell, I know I'm not a great writer, I'd like to improve. Being told the story has no plot and moves s-l-o-w is not helping me in that endeavour. Since I'd been told I used too much dialog by other people I changed some of it to just describing conversations. The story pretty much follows the exact plot of the movie. Did you see the movie this is based on? Yes? Well, that's the plot. I've just added my own girl in and changed the movie as little as I could and still have the new character fit it, and made my own ending to the story. The reason it took so long for me to update is because I didn't know if I was going to bother. I got discouraged by the reviews my three stories got. I've been told on another board I posted this story on that it's good, fresh and original so I know it doesn't suck.Anyways, I finally got over the melancholy mood the reviews I got put me in and got my ass in gear and wrote the story. I sound like I can't take criticism of my stories here I know, but I can really, if people could just go about it in the adult, reasonable way. I hope I don't come off like this when I leave a less then stellar review for people. For god's sake if I do someone tell me. It's never been my intention.
When 2pm came the doctor came back into the room and told them all she could go, but someone was going to have to sign her release papers. Vince went to do it.
"I mean it young lady, you are to stay in bed and not do anything till at least one week from now. And if those stitches open you come right back here."
"I get it." Nyssa said as she smiled. She was thrilled to be getting out of the hospital. Even if she'd been out of it for most of her stay, she still felt like she'd been there far too long. The doctor left the room with that and cornered the returning Vince in the hall.
"It's very important you keep her quiet for at least the first week. And you need to make her eat good food. She's still not healthy, no matter how much she'd like to think otherwise. And when I say quiet I mean quiet. No activity more strenuous then reading while sitting up." The doctor was obviously hinting to Vince that Nyssa was not ready to sleep with him in every sense of the word. Vince was touched the other man cared, and insulted the doctor though he wasn't smart enough to figure that on his own.
"I get it. No activity for one week. Then what, she can go for walks around the house, she can jump back into her normal activity level.How does this work?" The doctor was impressed that the other man thought to ask.
"Well, after a week she can get up, and walk around the house, go for outings, stuff like that, simple and easy. She should ease back into her normal routine."
"When can she drive on her own again?"
"I've never been asked that specifically before. Hum, I guess at least two weeks after she goes home. Why?"
"It's what she does. She loves to, um, drive." Vince didn't want to tell the doctor about racing.
"Most people who drive do enjoy it. Why do you know the young lady will want to drive right away?"
"She wants to be a mechanic and a race car driver. She loves her car."
"What kind of car is it?" The doctor asked out of curiousity.
"Well, she has her brother's Skyline and her own Mustang."
"I see. Well, no driving for at least two weeks. She needs to take it slow. For that matter I don't really agree with how fast you've jumped back into running around, harassing my nurses." The doctor smiled, but his eyes stayed serious.
"It's what I do best."
"What's that?" The doctor questioned.
"The opposite of whatever I'm told. She gets it from me." Vince smiled, proud of himself and pointed at Nyssa's door.
"Just make sure you tell her to do whatever you have to, to keep her quiet." The doctor walked off to finish his rounds. He spun back on his heel with an after thought. "Oh, and no matter what she says to you, she leaves here in a wheelchair and she stays in it till you get to your car. Then you'll need to carry her to bed. I don't want her to walk. She really can't open those stitches."
"Ok." Vince walked into the room. "You're set to go, but you leave in a wheelchair." He saw Nyssa's mouth open, belligerent look on her face. He held up a hand to stop her. "No buts, no negotiation. The doctor's orders." She crossed her arms with a mutinous glare. "You can glare at me all you want and it doesn't change." Vince smiled. She was getting better all the time if she was better enough to give him that bitchy look.
"Fine. I hate feeling like a helpless baby." Nyssa pouted. The team laughed, they were glad that Nyssa was obviously feeling better, and glad that she was coming home. Things were looking better as the team became whole again. Vince answered her.
"Well, you're far from helpless. But you are confined to bed for a week and that means no walking. Not even to leave the hospital. And just think, you get to have me 'n the rest of the team at your beck and call for the next week." Vince was smiling till he saw the evil glint enter her eyes.
"That has possibilities." Nyssa looked very intrigued at the possibility of having the team to wait on her. Everyone else groaned. They knew they were in for it; she was going to run them off their feet. "What am I gonna wear home?" She glanced at her hospital gown. She wasn't wearing it home. Her butt would be hanging out for all to see. Vince shared a look with Dom, he hadn't thought about that. Mia held up her bag.
"I thought of that, I brought you some sweats."
"Mia, have I told you lately I love you?" Nyssa asked with a smile as Mia gave her some of her own clothes.
"No, I think you were out cold for most of lately, so it's been awhile since you told me you loved me." Mia laughed.
"Ok, well you all vacate the room and I'll get changed." Nyssa watched as all but Vince filed out of the room. "You're not leaving?"
"No, what if you need help? The doctor said you were to take it easy for a week. I don't know if you should even be dressing, I'm sure as hell not leaving you to do it on your own." She sighed.
"I can put on some pants and a top without leaving bed." She gave him a dirty look.
"Yeah, go ahead, but I'm still gonna stay in case. Get used to it. I'm gonna be your shadow for the next week. 'Cept when I have to go to therapy." He spit out the last word with distaste. He hated the fact that he had to go to therapy as much as she hated being at his mercy for everything while she wasn't allowed out of bed.
"You have to got therapy? For what?" Nyssa didn't see anything about him that looked out of the ordinary. He hadn't told her how bad his arm had been hurt because he hadn't wanted her to worry.
"My stupid arm. They wanna make sure I get all the use of it back." He made a face.
"Well, that's a good thing right?"
"Yeah, but they push and pull and make me do stupid exercises. I hate it."
"Aw muffin. It's what, two hours a week?"
"Three." Vince said defensively, sensing she was setting him up for something.
"Yeah, well I can't get up on my own for a week. I assume that means I have to let people help me get to the bathroom even?"
"Yes."
"Well then, don't bitch about your three hours a week when you have to do something unpleasant when I have to allow this to happen to me all the time for a whole week."
"Ok. Fine. I see how you would find your situation worse. Can you get ready now so we can leave? The guys are waiting on us." She got dressed. She did need Vince's help to finish, she was still stiff and sore, and she made sure he knew she didn't like needing his help one bit. A nurse had dropped off her chair and they helped her into it. She couldn't stop the look of pain that flashed on her expressive face as they moved her.
When they were starting down the hall she looked up at Vince. "Where's Jess?"
"Floor below us." He answered.
"I want to stop'n see him."
"I don't think so Nyssa." Vince didn't want her to see just how bad Jesse looked. Vince and Brian shared a look, and Vince knew that Brian agreed she shouldn't see her friend.
"Yeah, well I do. So we're gonna go see him." The whole team knew that when Nyssa used that tone they may as well let her have her way. She'd just be irate and evil with them for hours, or even days if they didn't. She didn't act that way often, but when she did, it was something she felt really strongly about.
They got in the elevator and Brian pushed the button for the second floor. They all piled off and walked up to the door of Jesse's private room. "Can I see him alone, or just with Vince first please?" She asked the team. She didn't know what she was going to find or how it would affect her so she wanted to be alone. She didn't like anyone to see her crying.
"We'll just see you two at home then." Dom stated. Vince had his car; he had to figure they'd leave together in it. Vince nodded his acceptance of that plan. He figured taking Nyssa to see Jesse was foolhardy but he didn't want to argue the point with her any further. Dom and the others left, Mia with a very concerned look on her face, looking back over her shoulder.
Vince opened the door and pushed Nyssa into the room. When Nyssa saw Jesse with what appeared to be a million things plugged into his small form she started to cry. She'd prepared herself for a lot but not to see Jesse with machines breathing for him and monitors plugged into him. Vince pushed her up beside the bed and she took Jesse's hand.
"Oh Jesse." She sighed out. The boy was pale and so quiet. She knew what she felt, she felt Jesse would be fine. But it was hard to believe it while she saw him like this. She managed to keep the tears quiet, just let them run down her face. She figured maybe Jesse could hear her, just like she'd heard Vince. "Jesse, you listen to me. You're the last one left now, I'm goin' home. You need to wake up and get better. We all hate the hospital, and as long as you're in here we're all gonna have to come back and visit you. Besides, you promised Vince you could make his car run 9's and no one else can tune a Maxima up that good. He'll have to buy a better car if you don't come home. Plus, I bet Manda'll even let you do up her car if you come home. If you can hear me Jesse, I love you. Get better soon ok?" With that Vince insisted they leave.
Nyssa held on to her composure till they got to his car and she was settled into the passenger seat. "Why Jesse?" She sobbed in the car. "Why not one of us? Jesse was innocent. He never did anything to anyone. It's not fair for Jesse to be lying up in that hospital." She cried.
"It was Tran. He's gonna be ok."
"I guess I know he's gonna be ok, but he's so small and he has so many things hooked up to him. I hate to see him like that. What about Tran? Did someone make him pay for what he did?"
Vince hadn't ever seen the vicious streak in Nyssa. She wanted to make sure someone had gotten revenge. "Brian killed him. Jess'll be ok Nyssa." Vince tried to reassure her. Nyssa looked up at Vince with a slightly startled look.
"Wait. You just called Brian, Brian."
"Well, that's his name." Vince said, looking at Nyssa like she was slow. He didn't get the big deal.
"Yeah, but you call him punk, or buster all the time. Never Brian. And you always sneer when you say anything about him. You've never said his name or said anything about him in a normal tone of voice before."
"Well, he saved my life, and yours in a round about way. Killed Tran, and he's gonna fix our story with the cops. Plus Mia loves him."
"Ok Vince. I think everything's gonna be ok." Nyssa sighed but it was a sigh of contentment. If Vince and Brian could learn to get along then everything had to be ok. That was almost like finding out the sky wasn't blue after all, it was green. She'd never thought she'd see the day when Vince and Brian got along.
They got home and Vince got Nyssa into bed. He brought her books and magazines and told her if she got up she was going to find herself tied to the bed. She had her cell phone and she called him 10 times in the first hour, even though he was only upstairs. He was so happy to have her home he didn't even care that he brought her a glass of water then 5 minutes later she phoned him for a glass of pepsi.