Johnny:
I can't help but pace, like a caged tiger, outside the fancy oak door of the bedroom -turned-hospital room, ranting under my breath – well, not quite under it – as I wear down the carpet, Dr. Montana's clipboard clenched in my hands.
"Stop that, Jonathan…you'll worry yourself sick!" Robert doesn't look so calm himself, brow furrowed in a mixture of guilt and pain.
"Worry myself sick? Worry myself sick?" I hiss, fiery temper getting the better of me. I brandish the clipboard at the purple-haired blader, quaking in rage. "Viral infections, mainly concentrated in the respiratory system - severe malnutrition and dehydration – Six cracked ribs – severe bruising, no doubt from a beating…beating …God!" Long-withheld stress and severe emotional seesawing catch up with me within minutes, and I don't cry – the Knight of the Flame never cries – but I go pretty damned close.
"It isn't your fault, Johnny, and you know it!" Robert grabs my shoulders and forces me to look up at him. "Enrique wasn't allowed contact with anyone for all this time…and you know what would happen whenever we contacted the Polanskis…" His own face twists in rage. "Terribly busy…can't be reached right now…on holiday, for fuck's sake…" He closes his eyes. "How could I have been so blind?"
Doctor Rosa Montana, a pleasant-looking brunette in her late forties, opens the door quietly and motions us in. Johnny and I gather around Oliver's bed, on the side of which Enrique is already seated. I rest a hand on his shoulder, and he looks up, sapphire eyes showing a fierce joy overlaid by exhaustion.
"Get some rest, man," I say, flashing him a quick grin. "Oliver won't get any better if you collapse…particularly not if you collapse on him."
He shakes his head, stubborn as always, but stands, allowing me to steer him to the door. I shove the taller boy out, waving him into the direction of the stairs before moving back inside.
"So, how is he?" Robert's voice is somber as always.
Doctor Montana adjusts her spectacles before reclaiming her clipboard from my possession. "I've patched him up, 'specially the ribs, come meglio posso, and the bruises should heal nicely providing nothing else happens. Enrique here managed to get some liquids into him, at least. What he needs most now is food and rest – and medication. I wouldn't propose waking him up just yet, though. He'll probably sleep through most of the day, but when he wakes up, give him these." She hands Robert several bottles and a paper, presumably with instuctions, before fiddling once more with the clipboard in her hands. "Care to tell me what happened to Oliver to land him in this kind of condition, Jurgen, Macgregor?"
I hesitate, realizing I don't actually know anything much about it. Robert shakes his head. "We'll tell you when we know."
Doctor Montana nods sternly, flicking a long lock of hair back behind her ear. "I'll be back tomorrow to check on him, capire? Try not to mess up anything while I'm gone. And get some rest yourselves – if you all drop...which you will, soon - who's to take care of him?"
There nothing for it but to nod back, as she gathers together her equipment and leaves.
Robert sighs again and shakes his head. "Doctors..."
I can't help but grin as I rearrange the blankets around the sleeping French boy in the bed. "Hey, don't diss her. She is your butler's daughter..."
Robert 'hmphs' and strides over, pushing me out of the room and closing the door gently behind him. "And she is perfectly right, you know. Get some sleep."
"And you?" I inquire, raising an eyebrow.
"I intend to do the same."
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Night fell over Rome, cloaking the mansion in shadows. Within, four young men slept peacefully for the first time in many months.
Perhaps things were beginning to come right once more.
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Whoo, long chapter! Am I getting any of them OOC? I just CANNOT tell…
Come meglio posso – as best as I can
Capire – understand?
I've re-checked and attempted to fix some translations.
Thank you all so much for reviewing the fic! I didn't think feedback would be THIS good, and I was pleasantly surprised! :D The chapter after this will be from Oliver's POV, then we can go into exactly what happened before this stage in the fic.
Here's a basic OC profile, to keep readers from confusion. I find my Rosa an oddity, to say the least:
Rosa Angelica Montana
Age: 47
Profession: Doctor
Appearance: Hazel eyes, light brown hair (not a hint of grey or white at her age, maybe she uses dye? LOL) reaching to mid-back. Wears spectacles and the usual doctor outfit, hehehe :) Slim-ish. She's a nice lady, but as bossy as any doctor gets.
Height: 5'7
History: Daughter of Robert's butler, Gustav. Recieved medical training in Italy and America, set up small proffesion in Rome. Trusted family doctor and friend to the Majestics. She's treated them all one time or another, for various injuries.
Liyanette: Your wish is my command. Hahaha :)
Nc_17: He's just so lovable, isn't he? *grin* 'Farther' can't fit in the plot as of yet. Maybe in future chappies ;)
^_^: Thank you!
Hikari no Yami: Hmm, I like those pairings (Goddess knows I've read enough of them) but I'm also fond of Kai/Tyson, and Kai/Johnny. I'm thinking about it. Their part may not be all that huge, anyway...like I said, I make this up as I go.
Fyredra: Thank you. I REALLY needed to know whether or not they were in character.
Christina: You'll find out! Teehee...his last name will have to stay Polanski though, otherwise I get quite confused...ah well. I've seen him named 'Espoir', 'Polanski', 'Les Demonde', and others. Argh :/
Mistress of Anime: Here's what you were waiting for. How is it? ^_^
This A/N is getting quite long, so see you soon in chapter 4!