It's been a week since Kimberly came back in and still there wasn't much progress in her condition. The others had trouble sleeping, sometimes her screams kept them awake. Stormy lied awake gazing at the ceiling. She figured the others were doing pretty much the same. Softly she crept out off bed and peeked in the hallway. There wasn't someone at Kimberly's room at the moment so she ran over.
When she entered she saw her friend trashing around restlessly and wondered why there wasn't anyone of the nurses nearby. She slowly moved towards the bed and tried to touch Kimberly's forehead but Kimberly slapped it.
"Hey, Kim, it's me, it's ok" she said softly and tried again. Without any result this time as well. "Shh, I'm not gonna hurt ya" she grabbed Kimberly's arm with her good one and pinned it down while she sat on the bed. Kimberly looked at her with wide eyes.
"Stormy" she said terrified "That's impossible you're still in the nuthouse… Get away from me!"
"No, no, Kim it's really me" Stormy took Kimberly's hand and pressed it to her face "See I'm real… you're safe now"
"I'm… back?" Kimberly sobbed.
"Yeah" came the sad reply.
Kimberly started crying violently and Stormy lay down next to her and wrapped her arm around her. Kimberly tried to push her off forcefully.
"Careful, my arm!" Stormy started stroking Kimberly's hair. It took a few hours but finally she calmed down and fell asleep. Stormy wiped some sweat from her friend's forehead and lied down a bit more comfortably. It didn't take long until she fell asleep her self.
Flora arrived at the hospital before breakfast. She wasn't supposed to start for another two hours, but she always came early and stayed late. She enjoyed the work. At least that was what she tried to keep telling herself. The truth was the longer she was there, the longer she was near Stormy.
She has always been a little attracted to the furious Storm witch, she knew she should hate her after what happened to Bloom, these past weeks her feelings only grew, she just couldn't help herself. Her trainee period was far over half with only two and a half more weeks to go. She regretted having to go. Stormy would be released around the time she quits, and after that she wouldn't have any excuse anymore to be around her.
She sighed when she got changed. Should she tell her? No that would be a very bad idea, knowing Stormy. The best she could do was enjoy the last few weeks as much as she can. Determined she stepped towards the doc's office and knocked the door.
She got orders to wake the patients so they could get ready for breakfast. When she came to Stormy's room it was empty, so she checked the showers but she wasn't there either. The other patients hadn't seen her either…
She was under orders to stay out off Kimberly's room, but she just had to check… and Stormy was there, sleeping peacefully next to her friend. A sting of jealousy hit Flora. For a moment she just stood there looking at them until the doc arrived.
"Flora?"
"I… I'm sorry I was looking for Stormy…" she stammered.
The doc walked into the room. "Ah and I believe you found her" he roused Stormy. She yawned and looked at him with sleepy eyes. "Oh hi doc"
"Haven't I told you not to come here?"
"Sorry… I just had to try something she kept on screaming and all…"
"Get ready for breakfast, the physician is here in two hours to get that plaster off and after that…" he trailed.
"After that…?" Stormy asked while he stopped his words.
"You can clean the cafeteria now you arm is functional again" He smirked at her.
"What! Why!"
"For disobeying, now go!"
Stormy left the room mumbling to herself, she didn't notice Flora who still was there looking quite sad.
"Man, cafeteria duty really sucked! It's almost like detention!" she said when she dumped herself in the cough with the others.
"At least your arm is better now" Jude smiled
"Yeah…and I'm off those bloody painkillers"
"Does this hurt?" Jude asked when he softly poked her arm.
"No"
"Does this hurt?" He asked again only this time he pinched her arm.
"Not really but it's annoying"
"Does this hurt?" He said once more while he raised a fist. He was already bringing it down but Stormy pulled back in time.
"You idiot!"
"Sorry" He said casually. "So Stormy they say you slept in Kimberly's room tonight"
"Yeah"
"Did you do kinky lesbian stuff?"
"Hell no!" she snapped.
Jude turned towards his brother "She's denying"
"Dude!" they high-fived each other with big grins on their faces the images vivid in their minds eye.
Stormy just shook her head and grabbed a magazine.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's notes: Poor Flora.