Hello Everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I updated but you know. Been really busy with my other fic Mail Order Kenshin. Just so you know I'm leaving this Friday to go to Argentina so I won't be able to update for two weeks instead of one. Sad I know but that's how it is. Well, on with the chapter! Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I don't own the Cheney Duvall M.D Series. I'm just a lowly fanfic writer who loves Gilbert Morris's works!

Chapter 3: Stitching an Arm (Weird title I know but I couldn't think of anything better if you have a better idea feel free to give it!)

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She couldn't breath. His eyes, usually formal and distant were now warm and beckoning. He knelt there holding her hand gently waiting for her reply.

"I-I don't . . .know what to say."

"Say you'll marry me."

"Aoshi I-I c-can't marry you." His eyes changed his expression confused. "I-I just got out of school. I finally got a j-job and- and I c-can't just throw that all aside. I-I want to be a doctor . . .not j-just have the title Doctor."

"You can be a doctor. You can work alongside me. We can work together."

"Aoshi . . .I c-can't."

"Yes you can. We can work through this."

"No. I can't. I worked hard to find a job and-"

"On a ship with a bunch of women and a man who's taking them all to get married. Nice job." Said Aoshi exasperated.

"It's a DECEENT job Aoshi! And I'm proud to have it!" Megumi retorted getting upset.

"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry. It's just, I want you working beside me. Not sailing half-way around the world." Aoshi had gone back to his calm demeanor. "I'll let you go for now, but I want you to seriously consider what I've said." He placed his hands on her slender shoulders and leaned down meeting her lips with a gentle kiss. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.

"Megumi, I lo-"

"He Doc I was wonderin' if-" The tall form of Sano appeared in the doorway. Megumi and Aoshi practically shoved each other away and stood there, Megumi staring at the floor blushing and Aoshi glaring at the intruder.

"Uhh, sorry, was I interrupting somethin'?"

"YES" "NO" Aoshi and Megumi said simultaneously. Aoshi looked at Megumi curiously.

"Oh, ok well um I was just wonderin' if the Doc could look at my arm you see I tried to sew it up but uh . . .I can't do much with my left hand."

"It's DOCTOR Shinomori and I suppose I could look at your arm."

"Oh, alright Doctor Shinomori, but I wasn't talkin' to you. I was talking to Doctor Takani."

Aoshi was stunned and Megumi looked up in shock of what had transpired. Aoshi glared at Sano before stating, "I need to get back to checking on Marcie. No telling when the baby will arrive. We'll finish out discussion later Megumi." With a curt nod to Sano, Aoshi stalked out of the room and out of the house. He strode down the sidewalk his shoulders stiff. Megumi turned to look out the window and watch his receding form disappear around the bend.

Sano just stood there watching emotions wash over Megumi's face.

"Doc?"

"Oh, of, course I'll look at your arm Mr. Sagara."

"It's Sano Ma'am."

"Right. Umm, well Just go into the study and I'll be there in a minute."

He shrugged and walked to the study. Must've had a quarrel. He reached over with his left hand to peel back the bandage he had secured over the incision. Crud! I tore it open again. Watched as the scarlet blood started bubbling forth again. He looked around frantically looking for something to cover it with.

"Tore the wound open again didn't you?" Megumi's business like voice came from the doorway. Sano grinned sheepishly.

She sighed. "Let me go get my medical bag. I'll be back in a second." Megumi disappeared. Sano did his best to cease the blood flow but it continued to seep through the filthy cloth he had used to bandage it with.

Megumi quickly returned with her father at her heels. "What are you doing?" He asked curiously.

"I need to sew up Sano's arm."

"Oh I see."

"I'm afraid I'm dripping on your carpet." Sano said worriedly.

"He has a cut?" Megumi's father questioned again.

"Yes, apparently he does. I'll probably need some water."

"I said I'm dripping on your carpet. Do you want me to go outside." Sano said again with more force as he looked down frowning at the luscious carpet beneath him.

"Do you want me to go get the water boiling?" Garrett asked again.

"Hmm, that may be a good idea."

"I'M DRIPPING ON THE CARPET!"

"YES, Sano we know! We don't care!" Megumi said exasperatedly. "Now, Father would you mind going and boiling the water."

"Not at all. Watch this Mr. Sagara I'm an excellent water boiler." Garrett winked at Sano before hobbling out of the doorway.

"Now, let's look at this cut of yours."

"It's really not that bad." Megumi eyed him for a moment before raising the sleeve on his right arm.

She practically gasped. The wound was atrocious the flesh around the incision was swollen with dry blood plastered around it.

"This wound is awful."

He shrugged. "I've had worse."

She looked at him scolding. "Here, we'll need to cleanse it with carbolic acid."

"I cleaned it last night."

"It doesn't matter it needs to be disinfected again." She took his upper arm in her hand. "It may sting a little." She poured the acid over the open wound. Sano didn't even flinch he just sat there letting her tend to his wound. At that moment her father returned.

"I've got the water boiling."

"Excellent. Take these tools and drop them into it. The need to be sanitized. She handed her father a needle and some wire. (A/N more like thread but you know what I mean.) She turned back to Sano and began cleaning his wound again.

"I-I never thanked you for-for what you did last night so-"

"Look Doc. Don't mention it. You're obviously a women not used to having to give thanks to someone, and I'm definitely not the type of man who likes to receive thanks so lets just leave it at that and forget about it."

She smiled at him warmly. He seems to just look right through me and understand me. How is he doing it?

"Here are the tools." Garrett had brought back the tools and sat down on the nearby sofa.

"Excellent thank you." With that Megumi rolled back her sleeves. "Sano you'll need to drink this to help deaden the pain. Take about two tablespoons."

He looked at her and grinned. "Got a spoon."

"Oh just drink some for heaven's sake." She said shaking her head. Sano grinned at Garrett before downing some of the bitter liquid.

"Thank you now, father you'll need to help hold him still. He doesn't need to be moving while I stitch." Garrett obliged and held Sano's shoulder while Megumi inserted the needle for the first stitch.

Sano watched her as she completed it. "Well, that's a very nice stitch Doc. Hadn't ever seen better."

Megumi used everything she had to keep her hands from trembling. I hope he doesn't figure out this is my first time ever stitching up an actual wound. She shook the thought away and turned all thoughts toward her work.

The men casually talked overhead. "You a betting man Mr. Takani?"

"Not generally why?"

"I bet a silver dollar that it'll take over thirty stitches to secure that wound."

"Are- aren't yo-you worried I'll th-throw the b-bet for my fa-father?" Megumi asked slowly.

Stutters when she's nervous. Sano quickly tucked the tidbit of information away. "No Doc, I think you'll do what you have to, to make sure your patient is well taken care of."

"I'll take that bet Sagara. It'll be under thirty stitches." Sano grinned and the men continued to talk on about different aspects of the government. Megumi began to sweat as she stitched. Her brow wrinkled and her face was taught. She was about halfway done when a droplet of sweat dripped from her brow onto Sano's arm.

It was then that Sano reached over and took a clean rag and wiped her forehead. "Th-thanks."

"Mmmm hmm." Sano said as he returned to the conversation with her father.

"Garrett." A musical voice echoed through the foyer.

"In here Daphne." Soon Megumi's mother appeared at the doorway and her expression dropped.

"What happened?" She asked alarmed.

"Megumi is just sewing up Sano's arm. Nothing to worry about Dear." Tanya appeared behind Daphne and snorted.

"Weall, if she'd jus do dat wid her clothes den she be just fine in da world. Don't unerstan er a tall. Wantin to be a sewing up arms more den clothes. What is dis worl comin to?" Garrett, Daphne, and Sano smiled but Megumi continued stitching.

"Did Marcie have her baby?"

"No Dear, but Aoshi wanted us to come back home for a couple of hours to rest."

"Probably a good idea." Garrett said as he sat staring lovingly at his wife.

"There I'm done." Megumi stated in triumph.

"Well, now Doc. Those stitches are mighty pretty." Megumi just shook off the compliment and began to clean her tools. "And Mr. Takani afraid I won, thirty seven stitches."

"Oh well, I owe it to you anyway. It's what I won on you during that match all those years ago."

Daphne stood confused in the doorway. "Don't worry about it dear." Garrett said reassuringly before standing to walk out of the room.

"Sano, would you be interested in going and checking the stock for the infirmary on the ship today?"

"Sure thing Doc. I was actually thinkin' of doin' something like that anyway."

"Oh no when will I get my packing done?"

"Don't worry about it, Dear. I'll take care of it." Her mother reassured.

"Yes, and I suppose I can fold bloomers as good as anyone." Her father said with a ####### in his eye. "You two go and check out the ship. By the time you return we'll have all your bags packed." Garrett said happily before sliding his arm around his wife and disappearing.

"Guess that means everything's good to go huh Doc?"

"I guess so." Megumi said smiling.

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There you have it the next chapter. I'm afraid I won't be able to update again for about two weeks. Because I'm going to Argentina! Woo hoo! But now I'm going to thank my reviewers!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* My Reviewers ~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~

Kakashi-fan- Yes Aoshi, won't that be fun to watch? Anyway thanks for reviewing hope you like this chapter!

Koishii Sweet- YAY! You're reading this story too! That makes me soooo happy! I hope you liked this chapter! I know that it's not very exciting right now but it will be!

Trupana- Yes it'll be fun watching the future interaction between the three of them but sadly you won't see much in this first fic. Because as I said in the first chapter this fic is the beginning fic for several more! Can't wait to have you along for the ride! Woo hoo thanks for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter!

Jaid Skywalker- You mean you've actually read the Cheney Duvall series! *gasp* that's incredible! I hope that I do it justice! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter!

Kenshinobsession- Glad you're enjoying it! Hope you like this chappie!

The Evil Witch- Glad you liked it! And I miss you! Hope you're having a great time . . .wherever you are . . .can't remember . . .lol! Hope you like this chappie when you read it!

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Well hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Remember I won't be updating for two weeks . . .so that gives you PLENTY of time to review right? Right? Well tootles! And remember to REVIEW!

~Kairi7~