Disclaimer: Same as Chapter 1.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for all your reviews and support--it's good to know that my humble little fanfic is being enjoyed! I've been updating a lot just because I'm high on the rush of creation : ) (3 chapters in 24 hours! Jeez!) I'll try to keep it going strong though!
Chapter 6: Numbers
It was nearly a quarter to 9:00 when Shinji and Misato found the room Rei was assigned to (3rd floor, room 325, Intensive Care Unit). It took everything Shinji had to keep from breaking the door down just to see if she really was alive--it seemed like he was dreaming and if he was, he wanted it to end quickly so that it wouldn't torture him anymore. He pushed it open as casually as he could and called her.
"Aya--" he stopped short when the first person he saw was Ritsuko. "...Oh, uh, hello."
The doctor turned around to acknowledge the presence of Unit-01's pilot and his commanding officer with a small grin. "Ahh, good. You're here, Misato."
"Well, of course I am!" she said with a tinge of indignace. "You really think I can overlook something like this?"
"Ritsuko... what's wrong with Ayanami?"
She turned her head to where Shinji's voice had come from; he had somehow walked straight past her and was now standing next to Rei, looking at her inert form with a mixture of relief and concern. The blonde's face dropped a little bit as she answered.
"Actually, that what I called you here about. She hasn't woken up yet."
"...What do you mean by 'yet?'" Misato asked with an odd look on her face.
Ritsuko turned her attention to her friend. "I mean just that-- all her injuries have healed, but she hasn't regained consciousness since she's been here."
"...But...she'll be okay, right?..."
"I don't know Shinji. At this point, it's hard to say if she'll come out of it." She nearly regretted what she said; his face seemed to fall like a brick.
"...Ritsuko...could I speak to you in the hall, please?"
The scientist turned around to see Misato gesturing toward the door, a suspiciously warm smile on her face. "I don't see why not," she turned to Shinji.
"We'll leave you two alone," she said indicating Shinji and the comatose Rei. She didn't see him narrow his eyes slightly.
Is Ritsuko making fun of her? he thought defensively.
The two friends walked out of the room as Shinji continued to stand over Rei, watching her protectively.
Ritsuko let out an audible sigh, as though the tension from a busy day's work could be relieved by exhaling. "Well, do you want to get some coffee? There's a pot in the waiting room further down--"
"How long has she been here?"
Ritsuko turned around to see a very ill-humored looking Misato glaring at her. Ritsuko immediately dropped her feeble attempt at small talk.
"Ritsuko, I'm asking you a question-- How long has Rei been in the hospital?"
"... approximately five days."
She suddenly felt Misato's hands at her collar, forcing her to raise her head, yet she did not look her friend in the eye.
"FIVE DAYS? YOU MEAN SHE'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE EXPLOSION?"
"...That would make sense,sinceshe was in a life-threatening situation."
"DON'T ACT SMART WITH ME, DR. AKAGI! I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED! WHY THE HELLWASN'T I INFORMED!"
Ritsuko stared coldly at the woman holding her by the scruff of her coat. "You don't have the authority to know that, Major."
"'Don't have the authority!' I'm the Chief Strategic Officer--if anyone has the right to know about these children, it's me! And I damn well deserve to know why she's even alive! You told me there weren't even parts recovered from Unit-00!"
"It's simple, Major-- the Eva automatically ejected the plug just before the explosion; it was a fluke, nothing more!"
"Bullshit! There's something suspicious about all this-- and it has to do with the girl lying in that bed, I know it!"
"...Or is THAT the reason I was kept in the dark, Dr. Akagi!"
Misato sighed and, with the air of a child grown tired of playing with a certain toy, let go of Ritsuko's coat. The scientist glared at the Major, just barely concealing the venomousanger seething just beneath her composed exterior. She then straightened her jacket and walked off, leaving Misato with her thoughts.
Rei Ayanami...just who are you, anyway? And why is the Commander making such an effort to keep everyone from knowing?...
After a few minutes, the Major walked into the room to find Shinji sitting near Rei's bed, a folding chair taken from its place near another like it. It took him a second to notice his guardian standing in the doorway.
"Oh...Misato, what's wrong?"
She had forgotten to get rid of the agitated look on her countenance that had developed from her conversation with Ritsuko.
"Oh, nothing," she said, forcing a smile into place. "I'm just worried about Rei, is all."
"...Oh...Yeah..."
"...Well, c'mon Shinji. We'd better get home."
Shinji suddenly snapped out of his daze and looked at Misato with an look that could only be described as disappointment.
"...What? B-but we just got here."
"I know, but...I've got the early shift tomorrow, so I want to get some sleep."
She was worried when he didn't say anything or get up.
"...Shinji?"
He was quiet for a moment as he pondered how to word his question.
"Misato...would it be all right if I stayed here?"
The woman was surprised, to say the least. The Shinji she knew may not have been what you'd call callous, but he definitely didn't go out of his way for other people.
"Shinji, you know that's not necessary... It's not like you can do anything right now, and you wouldn't get any sleep..."
"I-I know that. I wouldn't get in the way or anything, I...I just feel like I need to be here."
Misato hesitated, and before she could protest, Shinji pressed his case.
"Please, Misato...I can't leave her like this."
She looked over at the sleeping girl lying on the bed, looking so peaceful and helpless, an then at the boy standing in front of her. In his eyes, she saw it again...the look he had when he had begged the Commander to let him go and fight. Misato let out a sigh of surrender.
"All right. If you insist...but don't come crying to me when you get so tired that you can't stand straight," she said with a bit of her old mischievious tone.
"Thank you, Misato."
"You're thanking me for giving you permission to be bored out of your mind?"
To her great satisfaction, Shinji chuckled, smiling for the first time in days.
"No, really Misato... This means a lot to me."
"...I know, Shinji. I'll be coming back tomorrow, so see you then, okay?"
"All right. See you."
Shinji saw Misato still smiling as she shut the door, but as soon as she turned the corner, her frown from before returned. She didn't like the idea of leaving Shinji with this strange girl who had somehow done the impossible and cheated certain death. But she couldn't deny him the friend whose loss had crushed his fragile spirit.
"At least he's smiling now."
Rei...you had better not leave him again. I don't know if he'd be able to take it.