(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 49
THE SLAYERS
Monday.
Dr. Adams scribbled out his next question on the yellow tablet and handed it to the silent young man staring out the viewless window.
# Would you mind if I wheeled your stepbrother in here with you? #
Zelgadiss read the note and smiled. His chest was wrapped to secure his ribcage, but otherwise he appeared fine. However, after witnessing two huge explosions in one weekend, he had completely lost his hearing. They had no idea whether it was permanent or not, though they were hopeful. To Zel, that meant that they didn't have the guts to tell him anything damaging. Who would have the guts to tell a seventeen year old guitar player that he'd never be able to hear again? So he had secluded himself in his room. Nurses had helped the kids pass notes and stay in touch, somewhat, but he kept slipping into slumber and wrote nothing in return.
"Sure, as long as he's quiet," Zel quipped. He winced and covered his eyes. Every so often the roar would return in his head, proceeded by a splitting headache. "And as long as it's a cost cutting measure…."
# Ha, ha! Consider it done, then. It's too soon for more pain medication, so see if you can sleep. Later. #
Zel dozed off again for an hour or so. When he opened his eyes, his head was quiet and he had a roommate, and a room-full of monitoring equipment.
"Hey, big brother…you look lousy. Yeah, don't mention it…don't mention anything at all. Actually, you can chatter on and all and it won't bother me at all…or sing…or…anything," Zel watched his friend breathe, unmoving, eyes closed, at peace. "I wish you'd try…at least. Hmm…let's see what your chart says. You know, I'm getting good at reading these now. See what our quality time together has brought me? Broken cheekbone, this explains why half your face is covered or purple. Torn shoulder muscles, blah, blah…from bullet entry/exit—that ought to keep you off the drums awhile. Bone bruising to chest…spleen damage…lots of painful stuff, right? Pages of head trauma…not good. Well, at least you're not complaining."
Zelgadiss flipped through the pages of Xelloss' chart while seated on the edge of his bed. He sighed and rubbed his scarred hand over his friend's smooth cold one. "I don't know if you can hear me, I can't hear me. I'm not even sure if what I'm saying is what I think I'm saying, which is mostly nonsense. I haven't seen anyone. I don't want to yet. God, Xelloss, my hearing was the ONLY thing I had going for me that I relied on. What if I can't hear again? I loved the Slayers and playing guitar. Oh, well… at least I helped destroy a couple shrines in the process. That ought to seal my fate, huh? Now I've out-done Val in bad-karma illegal whatnot. Goody for me.
"Did anyone tell you that Lina's been downgraded from critical to serious? Yeah, she's improving, no infection…she'll have a chest scar like the rest of us to boast about though.
"Gourry's fine but won't leave until Lina's okay and Sylphiel's rooming with Amelia, heh, heh… That's got to be fun, huh? They're probably talking about us too… Uh, who else? Martina…how did she get to be part of this? Had to be your doing. I know I left her at the Gas-N-Go. And Zangulus! What the hell was he doing at the shrine?
"Oh, and I bet you're wondering about our stuff…well I sure am! What about my sword? The staves and Gourry's sword? No one should ever give me anything with value… The staves should be in the trunk of my car, where ever THAT is. See? I've lost that, too! So's my worthless cellphone! Ah…well…I've got to tell you, you sure planned one hell of a spring break!
"What's that, you say? Oh, yeah I forgot…you don't make plans (ha ha, I know you so well, I can have a conversation with you when you're unconscious and I'm deaf). You sure wrecked Phibrizzo's plans! He was not happy when he figured out that you double-crossed him! He was crazy…blew himself up. He killed Gaav too. So he was your first stepfather… Shit, Xelloss, didn't life give you any breaks? Did he hurt you, too?"
He contemplated his sleeping friends' impassive face for a few moments. "And I thought I had it bad. But even if I am deaf for life, you'll still have me beat. You're safe now, though. Oh, well. It's been nice talking with you, heh heh, but I'm drifting even farther away… You know, I never used to talk so much—must be because I have such a good listener, eh? Well…good night, big brother."
Zel sank back into his bed. If only it really was his bed, not some sterile, rock-hard hospital cot. How long had it been since he slept in his own bed? Three days? No, longer than that…right? Thursday night. Even then, it was his bed in Xelloss' house, not his old room. That was far longer in the past.
Beyond that, where would he go? When Xelloss woke up (pleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease), would he still live with him? Rezo—no, his father was going to divorce the evil lady. Where would they live? It wouldn't be so bad, living with him now that he was his father, but how could he live without Xelloss? He'd gotten so used to the annoying pest, just like a real brother…
And so thinking, Zelgadiss Graywords drifted off to sleep.
~*~
Zel awoke hours later, thirsty. He reached for his water cup on the bedside tray, and found a note.
# Didn't want to wake you. Lina says hi. She took a turn for the worst, but now her lungs aren't congested- no pneumonia- so she's back on the mend. I'll stop by later. Got a message from Milgasia: everyone ok, where are they? Static… More when I hear more—LUNA #
Zel turned to look at Xelloss. Who are you? Not my friend, you must be a wax model, a changeling… Ah, Luna slipped a note on his table too. SIGH!
He turned to his side and stared out the window, pondering Milgasia's words. Where are who or what? Everyone ok… I hope that means Val, Filia, and Rezo. Now what? Buzzing? I hear buzzing. Great. Now I'll go mad listening to that sound…
His back was turned to the door, and so did not notice that his father and Val had stepped into the room. McGywn authorized the helicopter to land on top of the hospital building, so they had only been in the building a few minutes. All they knew was that Xelloss - coma, Lina - serious gunshot, and Zel – hearing; that is, not much. McGywn led the way, striding down the secured hallway, locating all of the kids. When he arrived at the two boys' room, he opened the door and admitted the father and foster brother, then left to find Dr. Adams.
"Yo, Zel! Hey I'm back! I gotta tell ya that island is a paradise… So … Zel? Zel? You all right, man? Zel?" Val began. He had started out buoyantly, but Zel's unmoving, cold reception caught him off-balance.
"Val," Rezo grumbled, "Are Xelloss and Zel both in here? I don't hear either one."
"Zel's ignoring me and Xelloss is asleep or something," Val answered as he stood by Zel's bed and shook his shoulder, "Hey! You gotta problem?"
Zelgadiss jumped at the unexpected human contact, "Gah! Whaa? Val?! Re…Father!" He grinned and grabbed Val's arm with one hand and handed him the notepad and pen with the other. "I can't hear at all so you have'ta write…"
He wasn't sure if he'd even said what he intended, so he wrote on the pad, # I don't hear anything. Time to test your writing skills. Tell Rezo. #
"VAL?" Rezo repeated.
"Um, Zel can't hear at all. He's given me a notepad to write stuff, but…I … I… I'll be back…I can't do this," Val sputtered and flew out of the room leaving two bewildered people behind.
Zel rushed to his father and wrapped his arms around him. He whispered into his ear, "I can't tell if I'm saying what I mean, but…I'm glad you're here, Father." He could feel his father shake and hold him for support. He knew he was probably saying something, but it didn't matter. They didn't need words, written or oral, to communicate the words of caring which they now shared.
They were still standing together when Val returned with a laptop computer. Zel saw the computer and understood. Val could type faster than write, and Rezo could type (although not read it) but not write at all. They'd all be able to communicate much faster now.
Val typed, * What you say makes sense, but your voice sounds weird. Not too weird. Toneless. Go ahead and talk, if you want. Computer is Adam's *
Zel smiled, then typed back, * I think I'll type as well, then. So tell me what happened? *
Val typed, * Too much to type… Wait until you can hear better. *
Zel shook his head, * What makes you think it's going to get better, Val? Tell me something! *
Val must have said something to Rezo, because he then typed, * She's in custody. No one hurt seriously. Milgasia is concerned. He wants to know where the evidence is…the discs! *
Zel said aloud, "I don't know. Lina had them. Luna's with her, ask her!"
Val nodded and left the room.
Rezo tapped out a note for Zel, *How are you feeling, son? *
Zel hoped that he would say the words that he was thinking. He knew Rezo couldn't read the typed words. "Headaches, sleep a lot, broken ribs hurt, pretty much hurt all over, when the pain medication wears off, sometimes I hear a buzzing…used to be a roar. Xelloss hasn't moved. Without Val here, we're the blind, deaf and dumb society. Go talk to him, maybe he'll wake up, huh? Careful of the left shoulder area; a bullet passed through him. "
*All right. I'll stick to his hand, when I find it, * Rezo typed.
Rezo found his way over to Xelloss' bed, sat on the edge and spoke quietly to the still boy.
Val banged in, "Lina can't be seen. I'm too germy, but Luna says Lina says she stuffed them in Xelloss' shirt before I grabbed him."
Zel looked at everyone expectantly. Rezo shook his head and pointed to Xelloss, while Val typed the message out to Zel.
Zel shook his head and typed, *See for yourself, he's in hospital garb and bandages. Find out who took off his clothes! *
Val nodded, * I dumped him on Dr. Adams. I'll start with him…* He handed back the computer, then left the room on a mission.
Rezo patted Zel's arm, then typed, * What do you need? *
Zel muttered furiously, "My hearing back, my car, my cellphone, the staves, my sword, Gourry's sword, my friends, my own bed, answers… my life…oh, and until I leave, a pair of pants would be nice."
Rezo typed, *I'll see what I can do. I need to speak to police. Have you been asked to give a statement yet? *
"No. Until you and Val walked in here, I've only seen one nurse and the doctor twice. I've been asleep mostly. Ahhh…buzzing again…like living in a hive of bees…" Zel said aloud.
Rezo patted his son's back. He wondered if any cause was worth the sacrifice of his two boys…
~*~
"I know they have to be in this room, Mr. Gourry. I hear voices too! Miss Sylphiel's holding the door, hurry… OH! It's Mr. Val and the Professor! Mr. Zelgadiss!" Amelia cried. She was being partially supported by a rolling chair on one side and Sylphiel on the other. Her left ankle and leg were encased in a heavy-looking walking cast. Sylphiel's right arm was in a cast hanging from a sling around her neck. Both girls were wearing full-length robes over gowns from home. Gourry was dressed in fresh clothes, bandages appearing from beneath his over-sized, button-down shirt. He looked stiff and in pain as he moved.
Val greeted them. Zelgadiss was seated on his bed with the computer. He tucked his blanket around his legs modestly and typed, * I've never seen you in a dress-shirt, Gourry. Nice robes girls. Wish I had one, hint, hint. Oh, I can't hear and Val says my voice is weird so you have to type to communicate with me. This will minimize the chat considerably. Oh, let me know if the doctor comes by… *
Gourry typed by way of answering, *Crakt collar bone so have a brace under this. Can not carry stuf. Did he wake up yet? They do not let me see Lina. I hurt all over, U 2? *
Zel looked at his friend and said in his toneless voice, "I hurt too, sorry. Luna wrote me this, take a look. Xelloss is still in a coma. Hasn't moved."
*Scary, isn't it, that Lina and Xelloss were both shot? * Val typed.
*But Lina was hurt worse than Xelloss! * Amelia put in. *How come Xelloss is in a coma and Lina isn't? *
*Someone told me you had something to do with it, Gourry? * from Zel.
Was he blushing? Zel couldn't remember ever having seen Gourry blush before. Whenever something embarrassing happened, the big lunk always seemed mercifully oblivious. It was one thing Zel had always admired, even envied in him.
*Dunno. I was there and I said something and she woke up. It was not anything. * from Gourry. His big fingers, unlike Val's, lost all dexterity on the keyboard, so it was a long and difficult process for him. Zel didn't mind. At least he was communicating with him, even if it had to be between the lines. There were still two (three, counting Filia—where was she?) friends he hadn't 'talked' to yet, and it was starting to wear on him.
*Sure, sure, we believe you (wink, wink) * from Val. Gourry pushed him gently, and Val poked him in the center of his head. That was the extent of roughhousing that they were capable of.
*Is your hearing ever coming back? * Sylphiel asked, her big, worried eyes catching his.
Val almost punched her, but said aloud, " How would he know? Be useful. Find the doctor! " He was being protective of Zel. Zel was upbeat right now and Val didn't want him going morose on them. He typed, *She's going for Adams. We need to know about the stuff, too. *
Amelia was trying to be brave and positive, but she was out of ideas. How to put a positive spin on any of this, was beyond her.
"It's okay. I'm not allowing myself to think about it. Repression and all that. Besides, I'm alive and conscious. There are others who…" *Where's Filia? What happened on Wolfpack Island? * he typed instead.
Val eagerly took the computer, * Milgasia wouldn't let her step off the helicopter. She handled communications for everyone. She did good. We dropped her and Milgasia off with the clan before coming here. *
*But what did you DO? *
*I would like to know, too. No one has told me anything. * Sylphiel put in.
Val and Rezo muttered together first, then satisfied with the story details, Val began to type about the flight, dropping off Xelloss, landing at Wolfpack, and finding Zelas, * McGywn's troops held off the few syndicate thugs hanging around, while I went after Zelas. I had a gun at her head, but Rezo stopped me from shooting her. He didn't want me to add 'murderer' to my rap-sheet downtown. That was hard, not to do it. Milgasia was there too—followed Rezo, I guess. He and Zelas got into an argument. He was furious about the birth certificate, which made me think there must have been something going on. She pretended not to know about it. He said he'd seen it, that I had it, and she laughed. Why are YOU laughing, ZEL?
* When you type, you could be me, you know…You don't type like you speak…That's all. Sorry. Continue. Please… *
* Yeah… funny guy. She said 'that's a secret' and told him to get a paternity test if he cared so damned much. By this time he was ready to shoot her, but I had the gun. McGywn and a couple police dudes came and arrested her for crimes of child abuse (for which he had evidence I guess) and other stuff and had her taken away. That was the exciting part. * Val sat back and resting his hands.
* I don't understand, * Amelia typed simply.
* Xelloss gave Val a fake, presumably, birth certificate with Zelas and Milgasia's names on it—the parents of our little Valentine here—to blackmail Milgasia into helping Lina. There was obviously enough truth there to make it work. Scary, huh? * Zel typed.
Gourry shook his head and said something like 'Zelas bitch', but Zel couldn't hear it.
* Problem is, Val's age, Gaav, Xelloss' age, Gaav, Zelas X Milgasia—none of it makes sense. The math doesn't work. Only Zelas can fit the puzzle together correctly. BUT, it's none of my business. The more everyone talks about it around Xelloss, the more it hurts him. Yes it does! He tries to make it a big joke, but it's his MOTHER! Remember that! He may not show it, but even he gets embarrassed. * Zel typed furiously.
Rezo had been pacing near the door. He was anxious about the missing discs. Sylphiel returned shaking her head, "The doctor's sleeping. He was up all last night and the night before, I guess. He wrote a note to you, Professor. Would you like me to read it to you?"
"Yes, please."
"It's short," she said breaking the seal along the edge. "It says…'I have them.' That's all, I'm sorry."
"That's enough, thank you," Rezo said with a relieved smile. "Type it out for Zelgadiss, please. It means you all succeeded."
Zel read the message and looked at Xelloss lying on the nearby bed. "Hey, hear that? You did it!"
Sylphiel broke into tears and fell across Xelloss' still form. Grief and stress were overwhelming her. Amelia hopped over and tried to offer her friend some support, but she needed it as well and only managed to start crying too. Gourry noticed Zel flinch and hold his head grimacing.
"Ah, Amelia? I'm takin' ya out, Sylphiel too. Zel's head's hurtin'. We'll visit later. Rezo nodded and stepped away from the door. Val turned off the laptop, snapped it shut and carried it out. He returned it to Dr. Adams desk with a note, "Thanks—would have asked, but you were sleeping—Val."
He ran into Officer McGywn on the way out, "Just return'n someth'n we borrowed, Sir." Men in uniforms made Val nervous, even one he was learning to trust.
"I believe ya son. Been visit'n, have ya now?" McGywn asked smiling.
"Yeah, Zel can't hear noth'n and Xelloss is a vegetable. Seems hardly worth it now. If we'd known what we were do'n, how it'd turn out… we wouldn't have done it," Val said sadly.
"That's why ya were the only ones that could'a done it. Gaav, Zelas…they weren't expectin' a bunch of kids to bring 'em down. They were awatchin' one another, waitin' fer the adults to do somethun. Now, tell me about yer friends and show me their rooms," the officer said.
Rezo sat in a chair between the two beds. A nurse had brought Zelgadiss more pain medication so that he could sleep again.
"He was complaining about a buzzing noise, different from the one before," Rezo explained crisply to the nurse. She nodded and made a note on his chart. When Rezo spoke, people listened.
CLICK!
Now he sat listening to the TV news with the volume turned low. What kind of spin was Mayor Phil putting on this mess to protect the kids?
``````````````````IN THE LOCAL N E W S ``````````````````
"Two shrines, one near Atlas City, the other in Sairaag, now both destroyed. All evidence points to a common cause. The police have no leads concerning the first explosion, but the Sairaag Shrine was a suicide bomb…Several young people were injured and taken to Seyruun General Hospital…"
"In interviews with the public, conflicting pictures emerge…
'I think it's all those secret Cephied cultists stirring up trouble…'
'That's right! They've been hankin' fer those wetlands and makin' trouble fer the cities fer years!'
"The picture of religious groups at odds with each other becomes clearer as this reporter has learned of another police action on the obscure WOLFPACK Island resort community. This has been a hotspot of contention for the Cephied Believers extremist organization, led by Mr. Milgasia, for many years…."
"In an unrelated event a van load of teenagers destined for a recording date overturned on the highway near Atlas City. Two of the teens are in critical condition…"
`````````````````` WORLD N E W S EVENTS ``````````````````
"There has been a sudden increase in oil prices as rumors of turmoil in the oil conglomerate hierarchy continue to circulate…"
CLICK!
Rezo had heard enough, and switched off the TV and picked up his book to read.
Later that evening Xelloss' fingers twitched. Zelgadiss was talking to him and squeezed his hand. It wasn't exactly a squeeze back, but it was something. Zelgadiss was overjoyed. To celebrate, he found some old reruns on the TV to watch; telling Xelloss and Rezo what was going on. Rezo, who could hear the actual dialogue, but not see the action chuckled and almost wept a couple times when he had laughed too hard at his son's quips. Maybe Xelloss was smiling inside, too.
The entire evening had started on a pleasant note. McGywn had visited earlier and brought them good news. Zel's car was safe in a secured lockup. The two priceless staves had been removed from the trunk and were in a separate lockup. He tossed Zel his cellphone, with fresh batteries, "Just in case yer were miss'n it!"
"Lina had some valuable jewelry," Zel noted after thanking the man.
"Yes… she said someth'n about that, oh, sorry, I'll write this down…" he said, pulling out a note pad and pen. # The lad, Gourry, said he heard Dr. Adams say he'd take care of the jewelry. I'll talk to the Doc in a bit, when he tak'n visitors. Good night now. #
The staff had arranged for Val to stay with Gourry in his room and wheeled in another cot for Rezo to stay with his two boys. The concern wasn't so much with their health but a matter of security. McGywn wanted statements from the kids. The Mayor wanted the kids out of the media mess. The CIA wanted to be sure that the syndicate was out of the loop.
Here, it was another long night. It was as if they were in a different time stream. Time was measured in pain dosages, IV changes, and meal trays. Outside the hospital people worked and lived their lives, inside the kids were in a kind of stasis…waiting. Waiting for Zelgadiss to hear again. Waiting for Xelloss to wake up. Waiting for Lina to get them all together again. Waiting…
Tuesday.
Rezo had gone out for a walk with Luna. Val had been to the gift shop and found Zel some drawing paper and pencils, and a deck of cards for himself and Gourry. Zelgadiss was quietly drawing. Breakfast came and went. Gourry and Val visited and they played poker, using Zel's uneaten Fruit Loops for chips. Sylphiel and Amelia visited; Amelia pushed in a wheelchair. Zel told them to just talk together and not worry about him. He wanted to draw. For once, their incessant chatter didn't bother his concentration.
Amelia insisted that they stimulate Xelloss. If he moved a hand, he might do more. Ah, a NEW cause… Zel thought to himself as he watched Amelia and Sylphiel each take one of Xelloss' feet and begin to massage it.
Val and Gourry were saying something to the girls. Probably 'Why waste it on him? Hey I got feet too!' Zel smiled at the thought.
Gourry was tapping on Zel's shoulder and pointing to Xelloss. Apparently he'd moaned and moved his head. The girls were squealing joyfully—success. Some successes were measured in the oddest ways.
Dr. Adams ran Zel through another series of tests. He reacted to loud noises with pain, midrange with buzzing, and low sounds were ignored. Well, that was an improvement. Change was good, but for Zel, it was too slow to be encouraging.
The doctor was thrilled to hear about Xelloss' responses. He picked up Zel's note pad and wrote, # Keep up the good work, the talking and touching. More, more, more. There aren't nurses enough to spare. #
Zel replied, # Then bring in the dancing girls. That might be stimulating! #
He blushed when the good doctor cracked up and laughed, and scribbled rapidly to Adams, # For him…Xelloss! You know what I meant! Oh, can we borrow your laptop again? Faster for writing than this note stuff. #
The kind man shook his head and left, grinning all the way. He liked the two kids he'd gotten to know so well these past few months.
Lina was improving rapidly. Her friends would be allowed to visit after lunch. When Rezo returned, he handed Zel a sack of clothes, a toothbrush, tooth paste, and more notebooks (some lined, some unlined) and a mechanical pencil. Zel smiled, "Thanks. I was definitely feeling under dressed around here!"
He scrunched up his face at the clothes choices, when he sorted through the sack. Rezo shook his head and said- not caring if his son heard him or not - "Blame Luna if you don't like them, not me!"
Zel didn't understand. Oh, well, he had to admit that he did look nice in the blue shirt and black jeans, but he had trouble moving his arms and legs to get dressed, he was so taped and bruised and sore everyplace. At the end of the twenty minute struggle, though, he was happy to be in clothes again. He just bit his lip and moved slowly. He'd be able to maintain his dignity and see Lina again!
"Hey, Xelloss," Zel muttered to his silent pal. "I'm visiting Lina! She's better, so why aren't you? Don't you want to come see her too? I bet you do! All you have to do is say the word. "
But he said nothing. A nurse came in to tend to Xelloss. She changed his IV, reset his monitors, and turned him on his side. Zel must have been staring, because she was staring at him. "Are you brothers?" she asked.
"Uh…" he pointed to his ears and shook his head, picked up the notepaper, and handed it to her with a pen.
She blushed at her mistake, and wrote, # Sorry…Are you two brothers? #
He nodded. It was easier that way.
She busily wrote some more, # You don't remember me, do you? From your last hospital stay? Course my hair was brown then, now its blond… #
Zel took the notepad and read the words. Oh, shit! She was the same nurse. The one that gave Xelloss the note with her phone number. He wrote, # Sorry. I do now. Hi. # Then he stopped. What was there for him to say?
# You guys sure get hurt a lot! And all the secrecy! Are you spies? # she giggled as she passed the note back.
# No. Can you tell me about coma cases, like his? How long? What helps? # he wrote, changing the topic.
She nodded, # Days, Weeks, Months, forever maybe, if he doesn't get better. Depends on the brain damage. He might just suddenly wake up and know nothing, or slowly re-awaken and be a different person. Every case is different. I'll check the brain-scan results here. #
She handed back the notepad, then flipped through the envelope attached to his chart. Forgetting that Zel couldn't hear, she said, "Look here, these dark spots. Blood, bruising, damage. If it heals, fine, if not…he's scheduled for another scan this afternoon. That's why I'm here, to roll him away. I'll let you know what the results are, okay?"
He stood frowning. He understood pictures and that she had little to add. He turned away to the window. More rain. He didn't hear her roll Xelloss out. Zelgadiss tended to be moody and morose. Now he had good reason to be.
'A different person', wasn't that what I'd wanted him to become? He bugged me so much; I just wanted him to change all the time. What kind of a friend was I, to not be more accepting? So my bad karma screws him up. If I hadn't tried to be friends, none of this would have happened! If I'd not bothered hanging out with these guys, they'd all be fine. Lina wouldn't be nearly dead! It's my fault. MY FAULT! I should go, get out of here, go somewhere far away and then maybe everything will be fine again. Alone. Yes, I should be alone where I hurt no one but myself…alone.
He turned. Xelloss was gone, god-knows-where. He was alone. He pulled open the drawer to the small dresser along one wall. The hospital stored bandages and cleaning supplies in all but the top one. There was stored what was left of his things: car keys, money, and wallet. His clothes had been cut to shreds to get to his wounds, and so, had been disposed of already. His coat was, thankfully, intact and hanging in the closet, alongside Xelloss' dusty, torn priest's cloak. Zel quickly threw on his coat, gasping in pain, jammed his jeans pockets full of his stuff, grabbed his cellphone, and paused. He considered just walking out, but decided to leave a note first so that no one got blamed for his actions. Done. He opened the door. Quiet, of course, but no people stirring. He slipped out unnoticed. Beige coat concealing him, blending him into the building, no one noticed the quiet boy walk past.
Gourry ran back into the hallway where Val was waiting for Zel and him to join the others on their visit with Lina.
"They're both gone!" he gasped. "Nobody's there!"
Val jumped. He loped into and around the room, found the notepad and read. "Shit! That asshole! Come on, Gourry. Grab our coats. I don't know where Xelloss is, but Zel's left the building."
Lina shouted, "His what?"
Amelia winced, "The note said that he wanted to 'free us from his karma for good', Lina. So Mr. Val took Mr. Gourry to go look for him. You don't think that he's blaming himself for all of this, do you?"
Lina growled, "Of course the idiot does…if he has nothing else to do but mope around and dwell on the past and… unless he found out something bad… Amelia!"
"Y…you don't think something happened to Mr. Xelloss?" Amelia cried.
"Maybe he… died!" Sylphiel wailed. "Oh, no!"
"Ah…shut up! Go, Amelia, find out what's up with Xelloss. Sylphiel, you can walk, snoop around and see what you can find out! Then you guys, hurry back!" Lina said, barking out the orders, then sinking back into her pillows, exhausted. "Zel, I'll kill you for scaring us like this…."
As it turned out, Zelgadiss did not get very far. As he exited the hospital, he ran into Luna and officer McGywn and about five security men lurking about.
"Aren't you supposed to be visiting my little sister now? She'd been looking forward to seeing you all so much, and –for some sick reason—you especially. What's the problem? Oh, you are not skipping out on her, are you? Not after all she's done for you in the past! You get you butt back in that building and up in her room before I GET MY HANDS ON YOUR SCRAWNY LITTLE NECK!"
Zel couldn't actually hear a word she had yelled. He hadn't needed to. He had only to imagine, based on past experiences. Zel gave a tiny 'yelp!' spun around, and ran back into the building—colliding with Val's studded vest.
"OUCH!" he gasped and looked up at Val and Gourry's angry expressions. There was no turning back now. Luna was behind him, Val and Gourry in front. Zel closed his eyes, sighed, and admitted defeat.
"Take me to Lina," he muttered flatly.
They walked, limped, and strode in silence. They rode the elevator to their floor, in silence. There, they met up with the friendly nurse, Amelia in a wheel chair, Sylphiel pushing her, and Xelloss on his gurney being returned to his room.
"Oh, good, Zelgadiss. Look at these pictures! See the difference!" The pretty nurse was holding out two sets of x-ray-like fuzzy brain scans for him to examine.
Zel understood enough to look where she pointed. Sure enough, the dark spots were fading, mostly.
Val interceded, "That guy can't hear, ya know. So, those are Xelloss' brains? Don't look so special ta me, but there's less of the shaded areas on this one. That good?"
She almost fainted at the nearness of the tall, fierce-looking punk, "Ahhhh, yes. Xelloss," gaining courage from the other kinder-looking kids, she continued, "The blood is clearing up, but some places are still damaged. It's progress. Good progress. He heals really fast! You know, most people die from blows to the head this serious. He must have really good luck!"
"Or someone's good karma is helping him, eh?" Gourry said, looking directly at Zel. Yes, I mean yours.
"See! I knew he was okay," Amelia said cheerfully. "And I knew all along that Lina was wrong. I just knew Zelgadiss would never run out on us. Not when he knows how much we all need him."
"Ya know, Amelia, he can't hear ya," Val reminded her.
"Yep, or I wouldn't have said it!" she grinned and rolled her wheels on ahead to tell Lina the good news first.
Zel plodded on. He knew Gourry was mad at him. He knew Amelia had just said something kind about him. He knew Xelloss was improving. And he knew Lina was going to kill him anyway. Oh joy!
As it turned out, Lina was too tired to kill, just feed. Amelia helped her eat lunch while they all chatted. Zel watched Lina's face, gratified to have her on the mend. To him she was the most beautiful sight. Her long red hair had been done up on top of her head to get it out of the way, so her creamy neck stood out against the pillow case. She was wearing dark red pajamas from home, he guessed from Luna. He could make out a bruise starting from the curve of her neck and making its way down, covered by the top…
"Zelgadiss? What are YOU staring at?" Lina growled.
Zel blushed and looked up into her glowing red eyes. What HAD he been staring at? Wait… "W-What did you say? Lina? I heard that… what you said…what I'm saying…I can hear…but there's lots of random noise too!"
He was grinning like an idiot. His karma had kicked in and gotten him out of a tight spot. His friends were thrilled and cheered and screamed so much that the buzzing started again and he got a splitting headache. So, his karma was funky that way. It giveth, and it taketh away. The nurses pushed everyone out of Lina's room anyway, saying, "She needs her rest. You can come back after breakfast tomorrow!"
Dr. Adams was waiting by Zel's room to talk. He sent the other kids away 'to rest' (they were getting restless from all this rest) and focused on Zel.
"It came back, for a little bit I could hear, but now there's all this buzzing and noise again," Zel complained.
Adams wrote, # That will happen. Sensory overload. I want you to lie down, take the medication, go to sleep…and don't leave the building! #
# Sorry about that. I got scared. Facing reality and my friends is hard. Easier to simply run away. Except around here! #
Dr. Adams chuckled, # Indeed? You knew Lina's sister as a child, didn't you? Not a guess, she told me about you. You've always been a troublemaker, haven't you? #
Zel shook his head ( Everyone knew he was as straight-arrow as they came, didn't they?), # No!!! She never understood about Lina and me. We were kids and had lots of freedom and fun. #
# Breaking into houses, sneaking into her room at night, hiding out and pulling pranks on the neighbors—that's what I heard. # the doctor smiled as he handed back the note to the angsty kid.
Zel smiled slightly, # Yeah, all that and more…#
The doctor patted his arm and turned to his other patient. He read Xelloss' charts and manipulated his arms and legs some. He spoke to him quietly. He rose to leave and he said, "Now, if I can just get you to wake up, maybe I can get you all out of here so things will quiet down again." He shook his head and left.
~*~
He heard screaming and moaning. He knew it. Zelgadiss sat up his heart pounding with the rush of adrenaline circulating throughout his body. At first he couldn't remember where he was. All right, the hospital. Who was screaming, then?
Nobody was in the room. It wasn't late. Zel checked his watch; it was only 6:00 PM. Rezo had left a note to say he had gone home to change clothes and check the mail, etc. He would be back around 9:00 PM. Fine. He slowly, painfully crawled out of bed and walked over to check on his roommate. Hmmm, his blankets are partially off. There, all covered up.
"Were you having a bad dream? Hey, I can hear myself talk again. Did I tell you? Yeah, maybe I'm going to hear again like a normal guy, huh? So was I dreaming, or was it you or me screaming a bit ago? Hmmm? "
Zel had brushed some loose hair away from his friend's face—Xelloss wrinkled his nose. "Ticklish?" Zel blew a stream of air on his eyelids—they fluttered, but did not open. "Hello in there! How long are you going to stay in hiding, huh? Lina says 'hi' and demands that you come see her tomorrow, got that? Don't say I didn't warn you either!
"What else, oh, yeah…Luna's here, staying with Lina. She scares the shit out of me…still! She's like a taller, older, meaner Lina—without the charisma and good looks. Well, she's not bad looking, I guess. Actually, I can't get up the nerve to actually look directly AT her face (kinda like the sun?). No wonder she still thinks of me as a kid, I must act like an idiot around her. But you charmed her didn't you? What was it she liked about you? Oh, yes, you cleaned her house…can dance well, what else? Oh, have…make that HAD a job. You'll have to find something less dangerous to do in the future. Karate and head injuries don't mix well. Hey, maybe Luna can get you a job…"
Xelloss moaned. Real sound. His hands gripped his sheets and twisted as if he was enduring incredible pain. Zelgadiss frantically searched for the call button and buzzed for help.
Xelloss was the one who was screaming. Zelgadiss had wrapped his arms around his friend in a struggle to keep him from falling off the 'bed'. The nurse saw them and shouted, "Hold on, I'll get the doctor!"
"Hold on? Shit, if he wakes up, he just might kill me. Oh, joy!" Zel moaned, but held his friend still.
Dr. Adams burst through the door and calmly instructed the nurse and Zel to follow his directions. Zel calmed down and started talking to Xelloss, insisting that everything was all right. 'It's okay, Xelloss' became his new mantra.
Medication to control seisures was administered as well as (what Zel recognized it to be) morphine added to the IV. "Get him to ICU. I want his brain activity monitored, and nurse, get my father on the line ASAP and tell me when the neural specialist is in! Zelgadiss, don't worry. Although this was unexpected, it's not unusual. I'll bring him back in a few hours…morning at latest." Then he was gone and Zelgadiss was all alone again.
He left a note, "Visting friends," and left the room.
"Gourry? Val? You guys still here?" Zel knocked at the semi-open door.
"Hey!"
"Yo! You okay?" Gourry smiled and slammed his cards onto the floor. "I'm out! Yeah, they won't let us leave just yet. Maybe tomorrow. I dunno. I'm loos'n weight so mom's bring'n dinner soon. Care to share?"
"Sure, thanks, but I'm not hungry. Xelloss… the doctor took him away again to 'monitor' him. He was screaming like he was in agony and woke me up. Seisures or convulsions, too…I'm not supposed to worry. So lets talk about something else, all right?"
"Glad you can hear again," Val tried. "Amelia and Sylphiel are com'n over after dinner and maybe call Filia. She's been go'n nuts call'n on the phone. Not call'n you, though, she doesn' know ya got yer hear'n back. Milgasia's driv'n over tomorrow for some big police powwow we're hav'n. Seems ta be some me-di-a problems. You pay attention to the news? Me neither. I don't wanna know what's happen'n outside. Bring yer sketchbook?"
"Yes. I'm drawing my friends. I'll start with you guys, all right?" Zel smiled a little.
"Like models? I don't haveta do nothing, right?" Val asked.
"Like what? Pose? No. Just be natural," Zel answered as he began to draw.
They talked and he drew until they were interrupted by Gourry's mother and her portable dinner containers. She had enough to feed the entire floor, or just Gourry and Val. Zel nibbled so Gourry's mother wouldn't feel hurt, all the while adding details to his friends' portraits.
"I'm so happy that your hearing is improving, Zelgadiss. And Lina's doing so well. I had hoped to stop by her room, but I've been told to wait until tomorrow," Mrs. Gabriev said.
"Is the door locked?" asked Zel cool as ice.
"Yes…"
"Well, then… Val? What kind of tools are you carrying?" Zel grinned.
Val grinned back, "All yuh need."
"Now, boys, I don't want you to get into any trouble here…" she began, but was stopped by Gourry.
"We wanna say hi too. If she's sleep'n or someth'n we won't stay."
Without further hesitation, the four gathered 'casually' around the door to Lina's room, while Zel tampered with the lock.
CLICK!
Val whispered, "Cool…Mr. Straight-Arrow breaks the law again…"
Zel stuck in his head, "Lina?"
"Zel? How did you…oh, yeah, you're James Bond these days…come in. Hurry guys. Oh, Mrs. Gabriev, hello! Is that a piece of pie? YES! They're trying to starve us to death here! So, Zel, I understand that breaking the law gets easier the more often you do it, is that true for you, too? Okay, I'll get off your back. I'm glad to see you. It's so boring watching TV. Is that a sketchbook? Hey, do you have one I could write in? Yeah? Go get it, buster and all your sins will be forgiven."
Zel hurried back to his room, found the lined notebook and a pen, then scurried back to Lina's—unseen.
He set the things on her bedside tray and listened to the light banter. He watched Gourry's face. Something had changed between those two. Gourry could look deeply into Lina's eyes without shying away. He hardly said a word to her, but he was communicating plenty. Once, Zel noticed, their eyes met and Lina blushed. She didn't stop talking, but she smiled. Lina. Lina and Gourry. Something happened when Gourry saved Lina. Something important. Gourry was in love. And Lina? Well, she wasn't fighting so hard anymore, or so Zel thought.
Mrs. Gabriev was talking to them all, "We'd better go before we're caught. I'm so pleased to see you smiling again, dear. I'm coming tomorrow and bringing the kids to see Gourry and you, if it's not too much."
Val, Zel, and Gourry reluctantly said their goodbyes and followed her out. She continued to speak to her son awhile. Zel and Val moved on to collect Amelia and Sylphiel.
"Did ya notice anyth'n different about him?" Val asked.
Zel nodded.
"Someth'n happened. You were there when she got hurt…"
"Gourry carried her out then…the explosion…chaos…He won't talk about it. But he saved her life, later… after getting to the hospital. He didn't look so, how to put it…afraid of her, I guess. But he doesn't want to talk about it, so let's drop it, all right?" Zel sighed.
"Yeah, sure. Now tell me, would Xelloss have let you off so easily, huh?"
Zel smiled, "Ah, no. He would still be picking my brain for evidence pointing to some kind of growing romance and talk endlessly about it. I don't get it. It's just not interesting to me, as a point of conversation."
Val chuckled, "Maybe ya just haven't met the right girl. Ya seem to talk more than ya used to."
Zel stared at him, "There is no right girl for someone like me. They either feel sorry for the 'poor scarred boy' or feel 'safe' because I couldn't possibly have any feelings, or ignore me at best. Maybe when I'm older and around people who aren't so appearance oriented…Now, can we please change the subject?"
"Sure, Zel. I'll let ya off easy, cause yer so freaky look'n and I feel sorry fer ya," he teased and pushed the smaller guy out of his way. "Geez, you take yer self too seriously. Hey, girlies, you decent in there..or, can we come in?"
Amid squeals of delight, Zel could hear Amelia's voice, "Mr. Val? We're ready, if you want to come in."
Gourry joined them, offering each a slice of pie.
"Oooooooo, you're the best!" Sylphiel cried, oozing adoration.
Zel put his hands over his ears, wincing, "Please. Don't shriek."
Sylphiel wrapped him in a hug of surprising intensity. "I'll just whisper, okay?" she said quietly. "Oh, you're thin!"
Zel blushed, "Yes…I prefer my own cooking. I can't eat the crap here…"
"I KNOW what you mean. It's pretty awful. I'm hoping to lose some weight. What do you think?" Sylphiel asked.
Think? Zel simply blinked.
"Well? Do I look THAT bad?" she asked Zel again.
Val and Gourry were not going to bail him out. Okay, guys. I'm REALLY sorry about trying to split today. Now help. Ah, Gourry, come on. I KNOW we can communicate this way. Val? Gourry? Gah!
"You look fine, Syphiel. B-better than fine. Real good, but I thought you looked good before. You don't need to lose any weight. You don't want to look like a boy, do you? Aren't girls supposed to have curves? What? Did I say something wrong? YOU ASKED! Why ask me? Whaat do I know? Do you think I'm an expert or something?"
"You're HOPELESS Zel!" Sylphiel laughed. "Not every girl can be as lucky as Amelia, you know!"
Amelia felt Zel's cerulean gaze pass over her. Now she wasn't starving herself, was she? No, she looked fine. Same as usual, in spite of the bad food.
"What's wrong, Zelgadiss?" Amelia asked, smiling. She knew that Zel was fair game tonight, having tried to run out on everyone earlier. Her code of justice allowed for a little fair play. Her clothes were tasteful as always, but form fitting tops were distracting…
"Wrong? Nothing. Nothing at all. You look fine too; that is, except for the cast. How are you feeling, by the way?" He gasped, finally able to dig himself out of that hole.
"It's a nuisance, especially when I get an itch under the cast that I can't reach. How are your ribs?" she asked moving closer and pointing. "Which side?"
"Uh… both, actually. Five on the right and four on the left. It's hard to get dressed, which is why I'm wearing a button-down shirt. Ah, Luna picked it out. I don't usually wear this kind of…"
"Fitted clothes. I know. You usually wear baggy ones. But you look really good in them…that color makes your eyes stand out," Amelia added with a smile.
She was standing only a foot away from him now. Val was stiffling a laugh with difficulty.
"Yeah, but I think he's in shock!" Val sputtered.
Gourry took pity on him at last, "Ah, Zel? Are ya gonna draw Amelia and Sylphiel too?"
"Draw us? Like, our portaits? Really? That would be soo cool, Zel!" Sylphiel cried out, while Zel stuck his fingers in his ears. "Here, do Amelia first, while I fix my hair."
Zel complied. At least this way he wouldn't have to talk. Amelia sat regally, like a princess, especially in a long skirt and sweater. He noticed how delicate her features were and how large her eyes were. Her gaze was fixed on something in the distance, not dreamy, but poised and lovely. How could he possibly do her justice?
snap !
"Is something wrong, Zelgadiss?" she asked.
"No. My lead broke. I was pressing to hard. I have more. I'm nearly finished, so you don't have to sit much longer, unless you'd like a break?"
"No thank you, I'm fine. You haven't mentioned Xelloss tonight. I'm always a bit afraid to ask," Amelia said kindly.
"Yes. I can see why too. He's… being monitored for seisures and all. I'm told that its not uncommon and not to worry. Dr. Adams was going to call his father. His father was the doctor that sent Xelloss to the mental ward and treated him for an illness he hadn't had. My guess? His brain chemistry is messed up. Hopefully, someone can fix him up. If not…" Zel's voice faded away.
"Did you know Gaav was his first stepfather?" Gourryl asked, forgetting that Val and Sylphiel hadn't been around during the Ridkow village fiasco.
"WHAT?" Val shouted.
Zel jumped a foot and dropped his pencil. Oh…no…
"Yeah, it was news to me. You too, Zel?" Gourry continued.
Val grabbed Zel and spun him around. Nose-to-nose, he asked, "And ya haven't thought to mention it to me?"
Zel looked away, "No. I had other things on my mind. Besides, I thought it was Xelloss' job to tell you. He didn't have a clue about the guy, until the man burst onto the scene. He's the one who…Gaav beat Xelloss up and shot him. Phibrizzo blew Gaav away with a semi-automatic, then kidnapped Gourry. Now get your hands off of me and stop bulling me, Val. I'm not the enemy here!"
Val removed his hands; they were shaking, "Sorry, Zel. I don't wanna be like him, ya know. It's just…a shock. Another link…"
"We shouldn't be so surprised, actually. Thinking about it all, we're all living close together on purpose. So they can keep an eye on us. WE held, still hold, the inheritances of the syndicate. Naturally, keeping us in ignorance of everything and yet right under their noses was the perfect solution. Until…"
"Until you decided to be friends and start a band," said Gourry.
"Yes. And talk and break the rules and out-smart them all," Zel added.
"Gaav. He was a cruel man, and Xelloss called him the nicer but dumb one, huh?" Val mused.
"I don't think Xelloss ever wanted any of us to know how disturbing a childhood he had had. Xelloss is weird, but not cruel…he doesn't kill cats or bully kids…but he's emotionally wasted and naïve at the same time. I'm wondering if he's not hiding in that coma partially to prevent having to confront you… us about his past. Who knows what's going on in there? Maybe he has other half-brothers and sisters waiting out there…" Zel muttered.
"Ta kill him…" Val began, but the looks of horror he got from Zel and Gourry shut him up. "Nah, not that. So… why did Zelas protect him from a life of crime with Gaav, but not me? Whether or not she's my (shudder) mother…Why let him be tortured by Dubois later? I don't get it, any of it!"
"I hope he didn't get it either, " Gourry said quietly. "I like ta think he was just a kid with problems like any other. I know it's not that way, but… I'd like him to wake up and forget…"
"STOP! Don't say that! Remember, sometimes we get what we wish for, and regret it later, " Zel cautioned his kind-hearted friend.
Sylphiel and Amelia sat quietly together, listening to the guys. Sylphiel sniffed back tears. Amelia decide to change the subject, "I think he'll wake up and be ready to put all this behind him and move on, that's what I think! So, what about us doing something fun? Like…Clue? Daddy brought me lots of games. I'll go get some and be riiiiight back!"
And that's what they did. Val, Zel, Gourry, Sylphiel, and Amelia played board games past midnight on the floor, just like any other kids for a change. For the first time Zel looked at Amelia a little differently-- with respect. She was a pretty tough cookie, all right. He was lucky to have these friends, he knew. Right now he had his hearing back, a father, truly awesome friends…if only… if only Xelloss could have his life back, then he'd be satisfied.
"Zelgadiss? It's your turn to roll," Amelia reminded the day-dreaming boy.
"Hmmm? Oh, yes, of course. I say…it's Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with…the fork, I mean the rope…right? Am I right? I am, aren't I?" he grinned with certainty.
"Yes! How did you guess so fast?" whined Sylphiel.
"Because he's so smart! That's why you and Mr. Xelloss are taking some classes at the university next year. Isn't that so? Math and science?" Amelia asked.
"Um, I don't know. Zelas was looking into it…who knows?" Zel said closing his eyes.
"Zelas… I shoulda killed her when I had the chance," Val muttered as he stood up to go back to the room he shared with Gourry.
"I'm glad ya didn't," Gourry said simply.
"So, thanks for the games, Amelia. That was a good idea. It was fun. Good night, " Zel said with his half smile, and followed Val out the door.
"'Night everyone!" Sylphiel and Amelia cried out.
"Wow, I've never heard Zelgadiss say such nice things to you before!" squealed Sylphiel after closing the door.
Amelia beamed, "And did you get a peek at the picture of me? "
Sylphiel nodded, "Barely…it was great, what I could see of it! So, how did it feel having him just stare at you while you had to sit still? He broke his pencil over your face, I think."
"I don't know…sometimes I could strangle him and other times…well, he wouldn't like me to do either of those things, so I don't. I just like to hear him speak. His voice is so…"
"Sexy, I know. He doesn't even suspect, I'm sure. He totally unaware of how cool a guy he is, which makes him even more…"
"Interesting," Amelia finished for her enthusiastic friend. "Of course," she sighed, " If he does take classes at college next year, he'll be around all those mature women who'll make me look like a baby!"
"Amelia-dear! When he was looking you over tonight, he wasn't thinking 'baby', he was thinking 'oh, baby!' " Sylphiel laughed. "Oh, that sounded more like something Filia would say, didn't it?"
"Yes, or Mr. Val!" Amelia laughed. "I can't imagine Zelgadiss ever saying something like that!"
"No, me neither. More like…'Oh, Amelia-darling, you look fine tonight. Better than fine, really good', ha, ha ha..." she laughed. Amelia laughed too. "He's such a geeky nerd, Amelia!"
"I know…that's what I like about him…cause someday he won't be, and everyone will see him then. Now he's my secret hero and rock star guitar player," Amelia smiled and started changing her clothes for bed.
"But his scars…"
"What scars? Those marks? He can get those fixed, if he wants to, but I think they just add to his mysterious aura. Honestly! And his hair! I'd love to run my fingers though it, if he'd let me, but he'd probably faint, then think I was some kind of a pervert…then never talk to me again." Amelia shook her head, then smiled at a memory, "He's really strong. I broken my ankle tripping over that Mad Martina girl and then he just picked me up and carried me. He could have left me there."
"Good thing it was you he had to carry, you're so small," Sylphiel sighed. "I wonder if…"
"I'm sure Mr. Gourry could carry you," Amelia said helpfully.
"I wasn't thinking of Gourry…Anyway, I have so much to do at home! Like kimono orders…I have one for Val, a gift he ordered, nearly done and six more waiting and now…a broken arm!" Sylphiel complained.
"You helped me sew my Halloween costume, I can help you when we get home, okay? Good, now if you weren't thinking of Gourry, you know I'm going to ask WHO you were thinking about," Amelia pried a little. She remembered some of the Filia and Sylphiel conversations about boys in their classes. It seemed to her that Sylphiel dreamed about a different one every week…football player, basketball captain…whomever. But she also knew that her friend had liked Zel and Gourry for a long time. She had declared Zelgadiss 'the most gorgeous guy' in the fifth grade and languished in Lina's shadow—for he had room in his life for his friend Lina, and only Lina, back then. After his accident, Zelgadiss disappeared for nearly two years and Gourry shone more brightly. Sylphiel took on babysitting jobs at his house (still did) simply to get him to notice her, but once again…Lina was there.
Gourry was not confused or unsure. Gourry liked Lina, not Sylphiel, no matter how much she felt that he was perfect for her and that Lina ignored him. Actually, how Lina felt about anyone was a mystery to Sylphiel, but Lina had turned Xelloss down. Flat-out 'no'. And he was going to be an outstanding member of Sylphiel shrine, if he ever woke up…
"Miss Sylphiel? That's okay. You can think about anyone you want and not tell me. I didn't mean to be noisy, just interested," Amelia added kindly.
"Oh…Amelia… I'm so confused… After Zel had his accident, I couldn't accept the change in him. I'm not as good a person as you. I've always thought Gourry would be the ideal man for me, but he never notices me. And now…Amelia, promise not to tell anyone, please?"
"Miss Sylphiel? Maybe you should talk to him, whomever he is, first? See if he is interested, too, before committing so much time worrying about it."
"I don't know if I can! Ever! Amelia…" Sylphiel sniffled more and looked tragic.
Amelia frowned a little, "Oh, Miss Sylphiel, you don't mean to tell me you think you like Mr. Xelloss now."
"Y..yes. What's wrong with that? You don't think I'm smart enough?"
"Well, I don't think you two can even exist on the same plane most of the time. He's really out there most of the time. But, I think he's really nice and funny. Kiki said he was charming. Daddy says he's unstable and immature."
"My father called him dangerous and 'not for me'. I know all that, Amelia, but he's so cute and passionate and…" Sylphiel giggled.
"Impulsive and covered with scars inside and out and currently in a coma. Though, if he pulls through…WHEN he does, his life goals pretty much match yours so…if there's any justice in this world, I hope you get a chance!" Amelia cheered.
"Thank you, Amelia! I hope so too! I made myself a promise. When he wakes up, I'm going to tell him as soon as I get a chance."
Zelgadiss decided to simply get ready for bed, take more pain medication, and read the book Rezo had brought him. His father was already asleep. Xelloss wasn't back. He sighed and removed his shirt, found a sweatshirt and put it on. That took 2 minutes of excruiating pain. Next, he kicked off his pants and slipped into sweatpants. Two more minutes passed.
"I'm going to wear these for the rest of the week," he moaned.
He limped into the bathroom to brush his teeth and clean up. When he stepped out, Xelloss was being rolled back in. He looked quiet and still. A turbaned, sleeping teenager of indeterminable age and sex. A still-life of arrested youth.
The nurse reattached the IV, and monitors hummed to life.
"What can you tell me about…my brother," Zel croaked. The dry, stale air was irritating his throat.
"Your hearing is back? That's wonderful news. Well, let's see, he's fresh from the ICU where a neural specialist ran tests and has put him on some new medication. The swelling in the brain is gone, as are the worst of the damaged areas. He's on the mend. Now…buzzing again? When did you last take these? Time for more…now, don't complain. You're doing fine. What's that book you're reading? Chemistry? That would put ME to sleep! Well, I've got to check on the others…"
Swell.
I'm bored. Bored BOred BORed BOREd BORED! They exile me from my friends, take away all sources of entertainment, and leave me with a TV. After all this, all I want to do is talk to my friends—me and Zel have a LOT to talk about—and I can't even do that. We're heroes, right? So why are we being punished?
Oh, listen to me, going all Justice-freak. But it's a good point. Realistically, even though we took down the local chapter of the syndicate, eliminated a couple of big bosses, and liberated all our futures, no good can come of it for us. It had to be done, of course. It would have been our deaths—at least Zel, Xel, and Val's. But what now? Nothing we did was terribly legal. We've got all of these important people in the community in compromising positions, with reputations to preserve. Who can defend us? No one. There's going to be a big, sick cover-up, and some day it will be exposed and there goes our lives!
On a more short-term note, we've still got to go back to school and pretend nothing happened. People will ask about our spring break and wonder why we clam up and look like hell. And say good-bye to our recording date! We'll never make that. Hell, our whole band! Zel can't play, I can't sing, Val's a wreck, Gourry can't even carry his bass, and…and…
…And…
There's that, too. I can barely remember back then, when Xelloss was just this annoyance on the fringe. It just seems impossible to have life without him, now. The times we've all shared: meals, gigs, trips, parties…how can I ever let them go? I won't. I won't let him go! I WILL NOT LET HIM GO! I wish I could be with him right now. Dear gods, I'd do anything to get him back. Anything. Even friggn' MARRY him if I had to!
It's not that simple, though. There's no simple choice, no matter how difficult, no quick sacrifice. I know. But still, I would do it if I had to.
And here I am, useless and lethargic in this nasty little bed. I can just feel my muscles atrophying, not to mention my brain melting from this moronic television! There's only so many Brady Bunch reruns you can watch without getting violently ill. And they put my remote control on the table I can't reach! Where's that notebook Zel brought over? Those SADISTS! I'm going to blow this place to hell when I get out! I swear, if I had a few tons of C-4, I'd blow it up NOW! All I can do is stare, stare, stare at that glowing screen! If only I could get up…get up and press that one little 'power' button… But I can't even do that. Is this what the great Lina Inverse has been reduced to? An invalid?! No! No, I will not let it be so! I--!
I'm exhausted just thinking.
…
Man, how did we get into this? I mean, I've been in trouble before—all that time with Nahga—but this, this was big time stuff. Dear gods, what have we done? What have we done? Now I'm sounding like a daytime soap (curse the TV! Curssssse it…). But, hey, we brought down a few shrines, didn't we? That would look great on a resume. Dad would be proud of me, wouldn't he? I walked in his footsteps… Man…
It was inevitable, come to think of it. The whole conflict, I mean. With my father, Zel's grandfather, Val's step-father (wow, negative male role-models, eh?), Xelloss's LIFE, it had to happen. We had to get into it. But how did we manage to get out of it is the real question. And that brings us back to Xelloss. It wasn't ALL Xelloss, of course, but it was, in a way, simply the fact that he's our friend that saved us all…
Oh, gods, Xelloss! If you don't wake up soon, I'll kill you! You hear me, Xelloss?!
…*~*~*~ *…
"Lina?"
Zelgadiss shuddered, "Xelloss?" He scampered to the bed and looked at his friend, "Xelloss, it's me. Did you say something?"
"Zelgadiss? Is it still night? " Xelloss blinked groggily.
"Ah, no, I mean yes! It's night, but not still. It's Tuesday…no, Wednesday morning now. Want some light?"
"Wednesday…"
"Xelloss, it's all over. You did it! You beat Gaav, you brought back the evidence (wherever it is…), you're free of Phibrizzo, ah, what else? Zelas is under lock and key someplace…everybody's going to be all right!" Zel spoke rapidly, excitement overflowing sense.
"Lina?"
"Yeah, her too, although she took a bullet, as well. She's re-cooping down the hall. Want me to go get her?"
Xelloss nodded.
"All right. First, Rezo's here too. Let me tell him!" Zel scurried over to Rezo's cot and shook him awake. "Xelloss is awake and talking! I'm going for Lina. Come take a…hold his hand or something!"
Zel pulled his father over to Xelloss' side, checked that they were both on speaking terms, and flew out the door, ignoring all his aches and pains. When he reached Lina's room, he didn't knock. He tried the door, still unlocked, and blasted in. Lina was somewhere between nearly asleep and mostly awake, " For Gods'sakes, Zel! What are you doing! Shhh. Or you'll wake up Luna too!"
"Xelloss, he called your name first thing! I said I'd bring you. Can you walk?"
"Walk? I can barely sit up!"
"Then, let's roll," he smiled, unlatched the locks on the gurney/bed wheels, and began to push. "Grab the IV…" he cautioned her.
He had to mess with the door, but once he got it partway through, he ran to Val/Gourry's, "Hey! I know you're not asleep. Help me get Lina to my room…Xelloss is up and is asking for her, you idiots! What do you think?"
Val and Gourry practically bowled over the smaller guy to see who could get to Lina first. Val, being healthier, got to do the pushing, Gourry took the IV, and Zel skipped to Amelia/Sylphiel's room.
Without knocking, he crashed into the room. The astonished girls were sitting on their beds, in their pajamas, still talking.
"Mr. Zelgadiss! You should really knock…"
"Come on! Xelloss is awake!" Zel sputtered out breathlessly. He vanished instantly.
"Did he say…?"
"Mr. Xelloss? Let's go!" Amelia grabbed her robe and hopped to wheelchair.
Zel beat the bed brigade to the room. He held open the door for Lina et al to pass, and then slid past to Xelloss' side.
Rezo was holding the boy's hand and speaking to him in a low voice. When he heard the commotion entering the room, he said, "I think you have some visitors. You up for all of them?"
Xelloss nodded. It hurt to smile or nod but he tried. Rezo and Zel helped him sit up with their extra pillows stuffed behind his back.
"Ha, ha, heh, heh… Now, aren't WE a pair, huh?" Lina chuckled.
"Lina," was all he could say for an emotional few seconds. He glanced with his single uncovered eye at each of his friends, then asked, "Filia okay?"
Val stepped closer, "Oh, yeah, she's fine. She's comin' ta visit tomorrow, er…later today, I guess now."
"I had this weird dream…" Xelloss began. "You were all in it, but you were different. You (pointing to Gourry) were some kind of animal who'd found his courage, it had always been there though. And you (pointing to Zel) had this impenetrable skin, but found you had a heart inside. And you (pointing to Val) were…happy to find out that you had brains after all. And you…( looking at Lina) just wanted to go back home. And you (Amelia) were her cute little sidekick, and you (Sylphiel) were the good witch and Filia- you told me she's not here, right?—was the evil one, heh!"
Sylphiel was snickering, "That's not a dream, that's how the Wizard of Oz ended, Xelloss!"
"Oh, really? Then, try this… I was floating down this long tunnel with no end. Zelgadiss grabbed me and pulled me faster, telling me that the light was just up ahead. I saw it but it was so dim. Zelgadiss told me, "Lina's waiting…see? She's making it bigger." And 'BOOM!' the whole place got really big and the light too bright. The dream kinda ended there…except I heard voices, Lina and Zelgadiss', I think, then…and I'm sure of this part," he paused and looked at Lina. "You said you'd marry me if I made it through the tunnel… and Zel pushed me from behind so hard…then the next thing I knew…Zelgadiss was here in the dark telling me stuff. And now this…weird, huh?"
Lina covered her eyes with her hand, "You said it, buster! Now, about that promise…"
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val