Angel

by Keruseyu

This story is dedicated to Cymarel, a good friend of mine.

Discalimer: I did not write any of the Tamora Pierce stories. If I did, would I be writing a fanfic?

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The faint swish of wheels filled the empty, dead hall. Kel stopped heaving on the wheels of her chair to rest, panting from the exertion of powering herself up and down the hospital hallways. She had used the back halls to menuever, and hadn't met anyone yet- patient or doctor. She continued on, heading for the double doors at the end of the hallway. She managed to push herself to them before stopping short. A low, sobbing noise echoed through the hallways, coming from the doors. She gulped and bravely pushed them open, revealing a hallway identical to the one she had just left. The noise sounded again, coming from the right side of the hallway.

The right hand wall was covered with doors. These doors sported bland metal doorknobs, each smooth and cold. These particular doors- unlike many in the hospital- boasted small windows at the top of each one, giving a view to those who were tall enough. Kel might have been able to jump and see through them- if she could use her legs. So she made due by hoisting herself up on the armrests. From there, she moved to the back of the chair. Being a small child- she was really very skinny from her chemo treatmeants- and the chair being very sturdy, she managed to peer into the door. It was luck- or perhaps fate- that it was the right door.

Inside the painfully blank room was a boy, perched with his arms around his knees on the window sile. He wore dark clothes that contasted vibrantly with his pale skin and big green eyes. Brown hair flopped, limp, againt his head. From the pinched look on his face, Kel supposed he hadn't eaten in a while. She debated bothering him. The argument was brief, resulting in her settling herself back onto her chair and knocking solemnly.

"Come in." The voice was harsh with either pain or hunger, of which, she did not know. She rattled the doorknob timidly. The large door was at least three times heavier than the double doors in each hallway. She turned the doorknob all the way over and heaved, mangaging to open it a few inches. She grinned and shoved again. This time it opened wide enough to permit her wheelchair. She rolled inside, closing the door after her, despite the fact that she was panting heavily.

"Oh, can't you nurses even open a freaking door without-" He turned, startled into silence. Kel smiled. "Hello!" Now that she got a closer look, she could make out the tear streaks on his face. He looked to be around 11, she guessed. "W-who are you?" He wiped the tears off his face hastily, embarrased to be crying in front of a girl. "I'm Kel." She held out her hand. He hesitated a moment, then shook her hand gingerly. "I'm Neal." He scratched his head nervously, fumlbing for words. "What are you here for?" He asked softly. Kel motioned towards her wheelchair. "Paralysis." The boy- Neal- looked puzzled. "They can't possibly keep you here for that, can they?" He asked quizically, his head cocked to one side. Kel faltered. She didn't want to tell him about her condition. "Do you have cancer?" Kel looked up, startled. He smiled. "Don't worry, I don't mind." She didn't want him to know. "How did you-"

He pointed to her kerchief. "Easy. So, how long do you have to stay? Do you only come for chemo, then go home?" Kel shook her head. "You mean you live here?" She nodded.

"Don't your parents come see you then? What are they like?" Kel tried to speak, but the boy continued chattering, unaware of her unease. She listened idly to his babble, searching for an opening. "NEAL!" He stopped and stared at her. "What?" He asked blandly. "They're dead." He blanched. "I-I'm sorry..." He stammered. Kel smiled. "S'okay. I don't remember them, so it doesn't bother me that much."

Their conversation went along like this for quite a while, until they were interrupted by Kel's frantic nurse. "KEL! Oh my goodness! Here you are!" The frazzled woman looked rather stressed, and Kel felt almost sorry for her. "Hello, Cheryl. How nice to see you!" Kel smiled at the nurse. "What in the world were you doing out of your room, young lady?" Kel's eyes flashed. "I have the right to move about freely. I've just never tried it, that's all." The nurse glared at Neal, who looked like he was about to laugh. She hmphed and began to wheel Kel's chair towards the door. "Seeya, Neal! Come visit me!!!" Neal smiled.

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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Here we go again! Thanks for all the reviews, folks! I wuv you all!