Chapter 8
"Saving Arinia's Life"
The doctor continued to drive. "Come on, come on, gotta get to the hospital..." He muttered.
Arinia shifted again as the doctor continued to drive. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the outskirts of a town, the doctor parked the car close to the edge of town and went around to get Arinia and carefully took her out and positioned her in his arms and began to carry her into town to the hospital after he had removed his Team Magma pin.
He reached the hospital and threw the door open with a gasp. He walked up to the desk. The woman sitting behind the desk looked up, saw Arinia and gasped since Arinia was still gasping for a breath of fresh air.
She looked the doctor in the eye. "What happened to her?!"
"Maxie of Team Magma gave her tranquilizers and I think she had a allergic reaction to them!" The doctor cried.
The woman paged a doctor, who immediately came with a stretcher. "Here," said the non-Team Magma doctor, "Put her on this. You really shouldn't carry her."
The doctor from Team Magma placed Arinia on the stretcher and ran along side it all the way until the emergency room. The former Team Magma doctor stopped at the doors to the emergency room since he couldn't go in since he wasn't family.
The former Team Magma doctor paused for a moment. "Can I come with you? I may not be family, but I'm a doctor too..."
The hospital doctor frowned. "For WHO?"
"I got tricked into agreeing to be the doctor for Team Magma, I never wanted to accept, they forced me into it and I'm not proud of it. Ever since that first day, I wanted out after they made me accept.…." The doctor said shaking his head sadly, looked at Arinia and started to walk away.
The hospital doctor gave the stretcher to another doctor, who wheeled it in. "Oh..." He said, "Then, sure, you can come in..." He walked in to the ER.
The doctor nodded and followed him into the emergency room. Arinia was still gasping for breath while she was asleep.
One doctor brought out an oxygen tank and put the face mask on Arinia's face so she could get more air. Another doctor attached her to a heart monitor to see how her vital signs were. "My God, her heart...it's so fast...what did you give her!?" One of the doctors exclaimed.
"Nearly nothing, the last thing I gave her was a dosage of cough medicine since she was coughing hard. Other than that, I just let her sleep. She had been moving quickly when we're trying to escape from the Team Magma base and I think that's why her heart is beating as fast as it is......" The former Team Magma doctor told them sadly.
The hospital doctor nodded. "I get it...did you give her anything, ANYTHING at all besides that medicine?"
"Team Magma tried to kidnap her, and to calm her down, they gave her several tranquilizers. She had an allergic reaction to them," he explained.
"WHAT!? The poor thing! It's a wonder that she didn't die!" A doctor exclaimed in horror.
Yeah, definitely, it's a very good thing she didn't die..." The former Team Magma doctor sighed. "Do we move her into a room now?"
"Yeah, that's what we're about to do. We're going to keep her in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time." A doctor replied.
The doctors detached all the equipment from Arinia and placed her on another stretcher. Another doctor began to push the stretcher quickly into one of the rooms with the other doctors walking at the sides. By now, Arinia was no longer gasping for breath as they took her to the room that would be hers while she was in the hospital.
"Oh, and for a random statement, my name's Bernard," stated the former Team Magma doctor.
"You're still a doctor though." A hospital doctor stated looking at him.
He nodded. "Yes, but..."
"What about it?" The other hospital doctor inquired.
"Oh, never mind..." Bernard said, with a sigh.
"What are you going to do now that you no longer work for Team Magma?" A doctor asked out of the blue.
"Probably go to Team Aqua..." Bernard said, frowning.
"What's wrong with that? They're the only team in the region that's actually good." A doctor said, glancing at Arinia who was sound asleep.
"Nothing's wrong with that," Bernard replied quickly.
"I thought so." The hospital doctor replied.
"It's just that I'd love to go someplace that hates Team Magma and Team Aqua is a very good example of that." Bernard explained. By now, they had reached the hospital room.
"Very good reason." The hospital doctor said as he lifted Arinia and eased her into the hospital bed and covered her up to keep her warm.
Bernard stuck an IV needle in her vein in case she needed it and attached her to a heart monitor. Arinia shifted and began to wake up again after the IV had been placed in her left hand.
Bernard sighed with relief. "At least she's alive. Are you alright?"
Arinia nodded and then coughed.
"Do you need anything?" One of the hospital doctors asked.
"I don't know....." Arinia replied quietly. Arinia was starting to miss Mark and wanted him more than anything in the world right now.
From Arinia's bag, there was a beeping sound. "Say, what's that," Bernard asked, "Sounds like a cell phone."
"That's my pokegear." Arinia replied trying to reach for her bag but it was out of her reach.
Bernard reached into the bag, pulled out the PokéGear, opened it and handed it to Arinia.
"Hello?" Arinia asked.
There came a sigh from the other end. "Arinia, thank God you're OK," came Mark's voice.
"I'm fine, I'm not with Team Magma, but in a hospital somewhere......" Arinia replied.
"That's even better..." Mark replied.
"How are you feeling?" Mark asked.
"Tired...." Arinia replied yawning.
"Well, then, should I let you go to get some sleep?" Mark asked slowly. "If you're tired enough..."
"I'm tired but I really missed you." Arinia replied not knowing what to do.
"If you can get it, tell me the address to the hospital and what room you're in," Mark replied, "I'll come visit!"
Arinia looked at Bernard for help and he reached for her cell phone and she let him take it to tell Mark where the hospital was located and what room she was in since Arinia didn't know.
"Hey," Bernard said, "Write this down. The hospital is at 133 West Road and she's in room 15-B. That'll be on the third floor. Got it?" Bernard paused to listen to Mark's answer. "Yeah, that's right."
Bernard handed the cell phone back to Arinia and she took it eagerly now that Mark knew where she was.
"Hi, Arinia!" Mark exclaimed. "I'll be visiting the hospital soon. I'm leaving now. See you then!"
"Okay, I'll be looking forward to seeing you, see you soon, bye!" Arinia replied.
There was a click, and then the dial tone, announcing Mark had hung up. Arinia hung up too, and then the clock hit 6 o'clock and Arinia looked at it curiously since she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast because she had felt too bad to eat anything.
Bernard heard Arinia's stomach growl. "Hey, you hungry?" He asked with a smile.
Arinia nodded feeling a little embarrassed.
A hospital doctor pulled out a small communicator and pressed a button on it. "This is Mike, could I have some Jell-O and apple juice brought up to room 15-B? The patient hasn't eaten anything for a while." There was a pause. "Yes. Alright." He let go of the button.
"It won't be really FOOD," the doctor explained to Arinia, "It's just something to test that you can keep actual food down."
Arinia nodded but was starving since she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.
There was a knock at the door. "That was fast," the doctor replied, opening the door. He was right. It was a worker delivering the Jell-O and juice. He wheeled the food in and took it off the cart on a tray.
Arinia looked at it, too hungry to care if it was real food or not.
He placed the tray on her lap and a trashcan at the side of the bed. "If you can't keep it down and need to vomit, throw up in that, not on us." The doctor explained.
Arinia nodded feeling stupid that she wasn't getting a whole meal right off.
"Well, 'eat' up, just to make sure you can keep solids down." One of the doctors said.
Arinia started to eat and managed to keep it down, just as she was finishing her tray of liquids, the door opened again and Mark entered.
Mark smiled. "Good, I see you can eat. But, anyway, what's going on?"
"I managed to get her away from Maxie...." Bernard admitted quietly.
"So you're the guy who broke her out of the Team Magma base," Mark replied, "Thank you..."
"Glad to do. I'm just glad I could help." Bernard said.
"Well, anyway, Arinia, what do you want to eat now that we know you can keep stuff down?" One doctor asked.
"I've never been in the hospital before, so I don't know what's an option....." Arinia replied quietly.
"Ugh...do you have anything starchy? Like rice or pasta?" Arinia asked.
"We have rice, just not pasta." The doctor replied answering her question.
"Sure, rice works. And a lot of it!" Arinia said, with a nod.
The doctor laughed and said, "A lot of it, it will be then. Do you want grape juice and butter with it?"
"Yes! Arinia exclaimed, instantly.
"Then rice with butter and some grape juice it will be." The doctor replied.
The doctor paged in what she wanted, just like he had done with the Jell-O and juice.
Very shortly after, a worker came up with a cart with three big bowls of buttery rice and a big glass of grape juice. Arinia's eyes widened at the sight of all the yummy rice.
The worker put the tray on Arinia's lap with all the juice and rice. "Eat up!"
Arinia started to eat, enjoying every mouthful.
"How's the rice?" Mark asked.
"Great!" Arinia replied setting down her spoon for a minute and hugging him.
"Ease up on your grip," Mark gasped, "Or I won't be around much longer!!"
Arinia didn't understand what he said and dropped him and went back to eating not looking at Mark.
Mark breathed heavily. "Thanks..."
Arinia glanced at him but said nothing and kept eating.
Mark caught his breath. "Give me a little warning next time you hug me like that, OK?"
Arinia gave a little nod but still said nothing. Arinia slowly ate her rice thinking that Mark was mad at her.
"Arinia...no, don't worry...I'm not mad at you. How could I ever be mad at you?" Mark said quietly.
Arinia set down her spoon again and looked at him not sure whether to look at him or hug him. Mark hugged Arinia and grinned. Arinia threw her arms around Mark's neck but not hard enough to choke him and buried her head against his chest and the tears she had been holding back when she was Maxie's prisoner finally broke loose.
"Oh Arinia.... Don't cry...... I'm here, don't you worry..... I won't let Maxie near you again......" Mark told Arinia while he tried to soothe her.
Arinia didn't say anything, just continued to sob.
"Oh Arinia....." Mark thought for a minute before he pulled something out from behind his back and said, "Look what I have here for you my love...."
Mark pulled the teddy bear he had brought for her out from behind his back and held it out to her.
"A...teddy bear..." She let go of Mark and hugged the bear tightly to her chest. "Thank you...Mark..."
"Do you like it Arinia?" Mark asked her.
"Of course..." Arinia replied smiling at him.
"You might want to finish your meal before it gets cold." Mark warned.
"Oh, right." She picked up the spoon and finished what was left of the rice.
Just then the door opened and 5 Team Magma members filed in and rushed to the bed and made a grab for Arinia.
A few Team Aqua members ran through the other door and surrounded the bed. Arinia looked scared and not sure what to do so Mark grabbed her and held her in his arms while this happened. The Team Aqua members took a few steps towards the Team Magma members. It seemed a fight would break out right there and then.
"Hand the girl over and no one gets hurt!" A Team Magma Admin said in very menacing tone.
"Uh-uh," said one of the Team Aqua members, shaking his head.
The Team Magma Admin pulled out a sleep dart and threw it at Arinia and when it hit her, Arinia cried out in pain before she slipped into sleep. A Team Aqua admin threw one of the other Team Magma Admins right out the door and a fight ensued.
Mark shook Arinia, "Arinia! Please open your eyes!"
Arinia twitched and opened her eyes a fraction of an inch.
"Arinia! Please wake up!" Mark cried afraid that he was going to lose her again.
Arinia opened her eyes all the way. "I'm...up..."
Mark threw his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead.
Meanwhile, Team Aqua was winning. The fight had led to the lobby and most of the Team Magma members were gone. After another twenty minutes, it was all over with Team Aqua emerging as the victors.
"HA! Take that, you lousy, stinkin' cowards!" A Team Aqua Executive shouted.
Now that Team Magma had taken off, they headed back to Arinia's room to see how Arinia was.
Arinia?" One of the Aqua Grunts asked. "Are you alright?"
Arinia looked up, "I'm fine......"
"That's good to hear," The grunt replied.
"I see a problem......" Bernard said speaking up again.
"What's that?" Mark asked.
"The Team Magma base is only thirty miles away and that could put her in danger....." Bernard said.
"Oh boy..." Another Grunt said.
"So what should we do about this?" Mark asked concerned.
"Get outta here in some way!" Bernard exclaimed.
"Where do you want to take her?" A hospital doctor asked.
"Team Aqua's base, which isn't much further, I think would be the safest place." An Admin replied.
"Then you have my leave to do so." The doctor replied with a nod.
Bernard nodded and unhooked her from her IV and helped her sit up and gently eased her into Mark's arms. Mark took her and leaned her head up against his shoulder. Arinia yawned and fell asleep again and Mark smiled since she looked so cute when she was sleeping. They took Arinia out of her room and carried her to the lobby where the doctor discharged Arinia from his care. The Team Aqua members now carried Arinia to their van they had come there in. When they reached it, Mark gave Arinia to a grunt and then climbed into the passenger seat and the grunt handed Arinia back to him. Bernard was invited to come with them since he had saved her, which was something he readily agreed to. Everyone boarded the van and a few minutes later, they were traveling back to their base where Arinia would be hidden to keep her safe from Team Magma. Arinia, not knowing what was going on since she was asleep knew next to nothing about what they were going to do and continued to sleep in peace as their van took them closer to their base with every passing moment.
