Chapter 12: Healing
In the days and weeks after the kiss, Haruka experienced a surprising burst of speed when it came to her recovery. Her hands seemed to heal up faster than anyone had expected; even Michiru was surprised when she changed the bandages two weeks after the attack had happened. Of course, she had changed them before too, but for some reason she never had paid much attention to how her patient's hands looked like, something that was probably to blame on the fact that the two women spent the time they had together with kissing and cuddling instead of talking about the healing of the blondes injury. "Looks like we can take the stitches out soon." The aqua haired doctor now spoke while studying Harukas hands. "If you want to, we can take those", she pointed to the line of black thread that ran over the back of Harukas right hand, "right now." Haruka shrugged and nodded. "If you think it's okay, I agree, sweetie." As always when Haruka used that affectionate nickname for her, the aqua haired woman couldn't help herself, but just had to smile from ear to ear. "Okay. I'll get the things I need then now, and get the threads out. You don't have to worry, it won't hurt a bit." Haruka nodded again, leaning back in her pillow. Michiru smiled at her again before she checked the blondes hands once more. "And next week, we can get out the other stitches too. Then you can leave and go home." While the doctor spoke, she rose from her chair, running one hand through her long aqua coloured locks. "If you'll excuse me for a minute…I'll get the tools I need to remove the stitches." "But hurry." Haruka pleaded, winking at her lover when she continued speaking: "I don't want to be without you for too long." Michiru smiled. "You're so sweet, Haruka." With that, she gently kissed her partner before hurrying out of the room and over to what she and the rest of the hospital staff called the "Tool Garage", although the official name for it was "Supply Room". She opened one of the cupboards and got out something that looked like a mini version of pliers, along with a pair of silver scissors. Putting the tools in the pocket of her doctor's coat, the aqua haired woman made her way back into Harukas room, where the blonde already was waiting for her. "Finally." Haruka smiled at her doctor, getting a smile from her lover in return while Michiru sat down next to the bed and took the blondes right hand into hers. She pulled out the scissors and the forceps – that was the real name of the mini pliers – and put them on the bed, causing Haruka to gulp when her eyes fell on them. "You will take the stitches out with that murderous instruments?" the blonde then asked, her voice shaking a little. Michiru gave her what she hoped was a calming smile and nodded. "Yes, but like I said…it won't hurt at all. It may tickle a little, but it won't hurt. Promise." "Okay." Haruka replied, though her face still looked slightly green. Michiru took the scissors and gently cut the ends of the stitches open, making sure that she didn't accidentally cut those that held the skin of where the last two fingers had been, before she put the scissors aside and took the forceps. "Hold still now, Haruka…I don't want to pinch you." she warned before she moved the forceps down to the first stitch and closed it around the black thread. With a short, though gentle jerk, she pulled it out, and much to Harukas relief, it really didn't hurt at all. Only five minutes later, the stitches were out, leaving nothing but a thin red scar behind that ran over the back of Harukas hand. Sighing softly, the blonde looked down on her hands, still not quite coping with what she saw there. "You'd think that I'm used to it by now." She softly spoke while Michiru gently took her hand into hers – by now, this was possible without hurting her. "You will get used to it, Haruka. And I will help you with it." The aqua haired woman promised, her thumb gently stroking the back of her lovers hand. "I know. And I'm grateful for it." Haruka replied before pulling her doctor close and kissing her. "I'll always be there for you." Michiru softly whispered into her lover's ear after the kiss, hugging the blonde like she had done so often in the past days. Haruka hugged back, letting go of her girlfriend a few minutes later. "You should get moving again and check on your other patients." She softly spoke, smiling weakly at the aqua haired doctor. "Before anyone suspects anything." Michiru nodded, sighing too. Thanks to the strange codex of the hospital, it was forbidden for her to start a relationship with a patient, at least as long as he or she still was there. As soon as the blonde would be allowed to leave, there was no need for them to keep their love secret, but until then, they couldn't tell anyone. Michiru knew that there was no risk that she could loose her job if anyone found out while Haruka still was a guest of the hospital, but it would damage her reputation a lot – and a good reputation was one of the essential things a doctor needed when she wanted to have a good career. Slowly, reluctantly, Michiru rose from her chair, gently kissing Haruka once more before she promised her to come back later. Haruka nodded in agreement, returning the doctor's kiss and looking after her when she left. As soon as the door had closed, the blondes gaze fell back to her hands again, which weren't bandaged anymore – there simply was no need to do that, the danger of infection was gone and the stitches would be taken out soon. She looked at the thin red scar that ran over the back of her hand, then her eyes travelled on and landed on the three fingers that still where there, before they continued their way and fell on the emptiness where a while ago a ring finger and a pinkie had been. Letting out a small sigh, Haruka avoided it to look at her left hand – that one looked worse than the right to her, it just seemed so wrong without a thumb – and turned the TV on, hoping that the program would distract her long enough until Michiru came back again.
