Trigun is owned by Yasuhiro Nightow.
Recovery
When Knives and Stella returned to the inn Nick and Millie were already in the truck and ready to go, Meryl and Vash were stowed in the back. Stella healed Meryl while she slept and soon she too followed her sister. They slept hands clasped together while the brothers surrounded them.
'Your woman will be alright.' asked Knives, his eye riveted to Stella's sleeping form.
'Yeah, Meryl's a strong woman. Though at the time I thought I wasn't going to make it. I've never been so scared before. I thought for a moment that Luke was going to kill Meryl.' Answered Vash, his own attention focused on Meryl.
'Don't worry Vash; I would never have let that happen. What?' Knives looked over at Vash who was chuckling quietly.
'I'm just wondering where my brother went. You hated everyone, everything. And now you're looking after my Meryl.' He confessed.
'She isStella's sister. I have an obligation to protect her; otherwise Stella will never look at me again.' Groaned Knives, his face set in an indignant frown.
'Right, well I don't really care. As long as you don't go on murderous rampages I'm happy.' Grinned Vash.
----
They arrived at Nick's orphanage when the suns had begun to set. All three men carried their loved ones into the still and quite building. Nick greeted the nun who looked after the children while he had been away. She looked on at the precession with interest but said nothing.
They rested the rest of the night and late into the day. By the time Vash and Knives had left their rooms, Stella sitting by Meryl's side, kids surrounded Millie and Nick. Vash looked on with a small content smile. He had never seen Nick as happy as he did now.
"How long are we going to stay?"
"As long as it takes for Meryl to recover, and to hand in her papers to Bernadeli. Shouldn't be too long, why? You tired of the place already?" asked Vash, looking over at his brother.
Knives shrugged and turned toward the kitchen.
Vash smirked and made a beeline to the kids. As long as he was here he'd enjoy the energy and hopefulness of the kids.
----
Stella sat by Meryl's side after Vash had left the room. Meryl was quite in her mind and Stella wanted to be there to make sure she woke up. The rooms were small only enough for two to be slightly uncomfortable, but Vash had already made it homey by throwing his and Meryl's clothes about the room. Stella smirked lightly thinking of how far they had come. Meryl may have thought that she wasn't the kind-hearted woman that she had been acting but her time as Meryl Strife had changed her. She smiled far more easily, and she glowed with happiness.
"Mmm…" Meryl mumbled as she began to wake. Stella leaned forward taking Meryl's hand.
"Wake up sleepy." She cooed and rubbed Meryl's cool hand. The arm had healed to a degree but it was still going to be stiff and cool while the blood sealed and healed all the bones and muscle that had been torn apart.
"Where am I?" questioned Meryl as she gazed at the ceiling.
"We're at Nick's orphanage. He brought us here to recover."
"Mmmm…"
"Are you hungry Meryl?"
"Yeah, but later, I think I need to sleep more."
Stella smiled brightly as Meryl dropped off to sleep again, but not after sending her a message, 'I want to see Vash when I next wake'. That was one thing that she could do.