CHAPTER 2: RECOVERY
Several hours later, Wolfwood's eyes slowly opened. He saw the girls standing over him, pulling the sheets up around his shoulders," What the hell?" he asked.
"Sorry about the surprise injection," said Angel," I can't take care of you both Autumn was beginning to wonder if you were going to bleed to death."
"Where's Vash?" he asked, sitting up.
"He's allright, I think he'll make it, you just need rest. Both of you do, lay back."
"What are your names?" he asked
"I'm Autumn, and that's Angel."
"I need to check on Vash," Angel walked out of the room. Vash was still laying down, and still unconscious. She sat down in a bearby lounge chair and touched his shoulder," I don't know who you are," she whispered," but I hope to see you alive sometime."
"So how is he?" Autumn asked, putting a hand on Angel's shoulder.
"He'll probly live, I hope so anyway!" she giggled slightly.
"Wolfwood finally stopped fighting the sedative I gave him. He told me he didn't like going to sleep in the presence of strangers. I told him we weren't strangers now, we're friends."
"Good thinking, Autumn," Angel said," well I can't believe I'm caring for Vash the Stampede. Who'd have thought he'd show up in my living room?" she sighed and touched his cheek," and I also didn't know that a legendary gunslinger would be so handsome!"
"Wolfwood's not bad either you know!" Angel looked at Autumn and laughed," You know if we're not careful they'll steal our food AND our hearts! They are rumored to be womanizers, you know!"
"Hopefully they'll take us with them!" Autumn said excitedly," Well, don't we need to get to know them first?" Angel asked skeptically," Well, they're not going anywhere for awhile," Autumn said matter-of-factly," That's true!" Angel replied," Why don't we put a bell next to their beds, they'll ring if they need us."
"Yeah, I think we both need sleep," Autumn said.
"I'm going to go check on the children first," Angel said rubbing her eyes," I'll be right back."
"Allright, I'll get our cots ready," Angel walked to the back extension she'd added to the house and opened the door quietly. She found all of the children tucked in snuggly, obviously by Benji. Benji was like a big brother to them all. He was a very kind boy. Every night he'd feed and tuck in all the others. She yawned and closed the door. Autumn put a cot in each of their new 'patients' bedrooms. Soon both girls were fast asleep.
TRIGUN
The next morning, Wolfwood woke with a splitting headache. It fel as if his muscles were so tense, they'd snap in two if he moved at all. He slowly raised his head,' I'm not too bad off' he thought. He sat up on his elbows gently as he could. IV's were connected to both of his wrists, he suddenly noticed that Autumn had slept in his room at his bedside. He reached down and ran his hands through her hair,' h She doesn't even know who I am, and yet she cares so much to sleep in my room,' he touched her cheek. He wished he had someone like her to care for, but he figured he'd just put them in danger. He tried to sit up, wincing, he didn't think he should. Autumn slowly woke up, she sat up and looked at Wolfwood. His eyes were closed tightly, she knelt on her cot," Wolfwood?" she asked," are you allright?" he drew a sharp breath,"I. . .I'm---bleeding," he managed. God, it hurt SO bad, he could barely speak or breathe. Autumn stood up and pulled the sheets down to see what he was talking about. Blood had leaked through the bandages and was running down his sides and chest," Angel! Come here, HURRY!"
"What?" Angel asked frantically entering the room.
"He's bleeding!" Autumn exclaimed.
"Okay," Angel looked at Wolfwood," are you allright? Can you speak?" she motioned for Autumn to get her medical tray. Autumn ran from the room and returned with a small cart.
"What the. . ." Wolfwood's fists clenched he grit his teeth and turned his head away from the girls.
"Wolfwood?" Angel asked softly, sponging at blood," It's not bad, just try not to move."
"I. . .can't," he gasped.
"Okay, hang on to my voice, this is a muscle relaxer," she told him," Squeeze I have a sedative, it's just risky to give it to you now, I'm sorry."
He nodded, it was so embarassing having to be taken care of, yet in a way he liked it. It felt sort of nice to be cared for. Soft skin touched his arm and held his hand, he looked at Autumn. He wished he looked more appealing to her; she was in fact, very attractive. He figured he looked pretty bad. Angel neatly stitched up the wound and rebandaged it," All done, now just take it easy. You're hurt, we can't help you if you don't let us," Wolfwood nodded, he licked his lips and slowly sighed," Thank you."
"No problem," Autumn pulled the sheets back around him. Angel went to Vash's room, he still hadn't moved. She sat by his bed and took out her book.
TRIGUN
Autumn ran her fingers through Wolfwood's hair, his heartrate had slowed back down to normal," You okay?" she asked.
"Yes, I'll be fine, thank you."
"Something's troubling you. . ." she started.
"I've killed so many," his eyes began to tear," I had to though, he just doesn't understand. This is the way I've had to live," tears streaked his face and landed on his pillow," I'm not a bad person, am I? I didn't want to, I swear!" Autumn cupped his cheek," No, Nicholas; you're not."
TRIGUN
Angel knew it, his eyes had fluttered thos perfect lips had twitched, she lay her book aside," Vash?" his eyelids teeth clenched. He moaned slightly, his eyelids opened," Where am I?" he slurred.
"My name is Angel, everything's fine," she told him.
"Wolfwood?"
"He's okay," she looked at the heart moniter's screen, his heartrate was slowing.
"Good," he closed his eyes, heartrate kept dropping," Tell him I'm sorry."
"STAY WITH ME!" Angel yelled, the moniter went black. One. Straight. Line. . .
SNEAK PEEK CHAPTER 3: DEAD OR ALIVE?
Angel is determined not to give up on Vash, she remembers the tragedy of July City and how it related to her own tragic childhood. She comes out of the flashback crying, she forces air down Vash's lungs and pushes hard on his chest. She looks at the moniter, still nothing. She pushes frantically, in another thirty seconds he'd be brain damaged, if they even got him back. . .
HOPE YA'LL ENJOYED! LUV YA'LL!