Chapter 17
After ordering to organize the mess he made, Gabriel packed a suitcase with his most comfortable clothes. He keep his cellphone to stay in touch with his son. He wrote some emails to Gabriel's associates asking them to put someone in his place while he was gone. He didn't know how long it would take for him to return to his duties, but he couldn't allow his company to fall, so he could take care of Nathalie in the hospital while she recovered without worries.
Before leaving, he went to say goodbye to Adrien. I knock on the door without an answer.
"I don't know if you're listening to me, Adrien, but I'm going to go to the hospital and stay there."
Adrien just leaned behind the door, trying to hear what his father wanted to say to him.
"Now you are free to do whatever you want. You don't have to keep doing everything I asked you to do. If you don't want to continue with any of your extra classes, you can do it. Your bodyguard will stay with you and take care of you while I'm gone. You can go whenever you want to visit Nathalie."
Gabriel leaned his head against the door.
"I'm so sorry Adrien, for everything."
That evening, Gabriel returned to the hospital. They had already made all the preparations he paid for. They even left a huge sofa for him to sit on. There was also a wooden chair along with a small table. He took the chair, pulled it closer to the bed and sat down. He took Nathalie's hand as best he could, careful of the numerous wires that were connected to it.
He once heard that unconscious people could hear everything that was said to them. He decided he would try it. For Nathalie.
"Nathalie, if you hear me. I... I'm sorry, forgive me. I should never have involved you in this" There was no response from her.
The first nights were the hardest. He slept intermittently, listening to the noises of the machines. Every time he closed his eyes, nightmares invaded his mind, one worse than the other. The only relief he found was that Nathalie was fine. It seemed that every time she breathed it was painful for her because her breathing became tangled at times. The sickly look with her sunken cheeks which he hadn't noticed before squeezed his heart.
As the days went by, Nathalie got a little better with all the medication the doctors gave her. But she still had a long way to go.
He always stayed when the nurse came for the routine checkup. He always watched as her arms and the rest of her limbs were moved in different directions. It was all done so that her muscles would work and not become stiff. When the nurse combed her hair, Gabriel noticed that it grew a bit since she was hospitalized. Over the weeks, the dyed part of her hair was starting to get darker, blending more into the original color of her hair.
That night the nightmares came back again. And it was the one he hated the most.
Gabriel found himself in a place very familiar to him: his lair in the mansion. In front of him was the capsule where his wife was and someone in front of her. When the figure turned, his eyes widened.
"Nathalie!"
He saw that the Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir were in her outstretched hands. The Kwamis of those Miraculous floated beside her.
"Are you sure about this?" He heard the Kwami of creation speaking "The price to pay is too great, it could even take your life."
"I love Gabriel Agreste and I don't care what I have to do so he can be happy again."
Gabriel seeing her intentions began to run towards her, trying to stop her.
"Nathalie don't do it!"
She spoke some words intelligible to him.
"I wish Emilie Agreste is alive again."
A blinding light surrounded them all. Nathalie lay on the ground unconscious. She was pale and looked dead. He took her in his arms and hugged her. Both Kwamis looked on in disappointment.
"Nath, no, no..."
He cried his heart out. It was late, too late ...
Gabriel woke up with heavy breathing. He was back at the hospital. Sweat covered his body and his heart pounding a thousand. He ran his hands over his face. What the guardian had told him had been haunting him all night. Out of a selfish desire he almost killed those people he loved so much.
Several nights passed. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. At the time, he began to neglect his physical appearance. He hardly he cared for himself. A bit of a beard started to come out and he was always disheveled.
But he was only interested in one thing: Being there for Nathalie. At dawn, he saw for a moment the woman who remained motionless. He closed his eyes once more, very tired. More than he had ever been in his life.
He felt numb. As if it were all a dream. He saw a silhouette. Whenever he was like this, he dreamed of Emilie. But the figure in the dream, had a different shape. She was a little taller and had a different complexion, in addition she was wearing a fairly long transparent silk garment that reached to the ground and framed her body, but at the same time it hid her attributes. She was looking at the window of the mansion. Her hair was loose, reaching a little bit past her shoulders.
He approached her. Gabriel noticed the red streak on the side of her hair and that's when he knew it.
"Nathalie."
She turned when hear her name. Nathalie didn't have her glasses, as if she didn't need them anymore.
"Gabe"
She approached him. The aura that she gave off was different from the one she always had. It was warm and comforting. As the empath he was, to a certain extent, he felt a certain relief. Although this Nathalie seemed much healthier than the one that was in the hospital bed.
He hugged her very carefully.
"Nath, what are you doing here?" He said, his voice cracking.
"I was waiting for you." Her voice sounded as sweet as honey.
"But you're in a coma" Gabriel looked her up and down, as if he couldn't believe it.
"I know, but my body is in a coma. But my conscience..."
"That means ... That, that ... you" He took his head with both hands. He could only think that the worst had already happened.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to me, I just can't wake up yet. As long as you take care of me, I'll be fine."
He was silent and held her for a moment. He needed to feel that she was there, with him.
But then on second thought, this wasn't real. He pushed Nathalie away from his side.
"You are not my Nathalie. The one I know is unconscious in the hospital."
The Nathalie he had in front of him approached him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"That doesn't mean I'm not tied to your memories of her" she replied softly.
He released her and leaned down, closing his eyes.
"No, you are just a figment of my imagination."
"I don't know if I am a product of your conscience, or if I am the real Nathalie. But I am part of you. ..."
Gabriel felt like he was leaving that fantasy world.
"You must be there for me ... Don't leave me Gabriel, I love you..."
Gabriel woke up after that last sentence. He got up from the chair feeling his joints quite stiff from been so long in the same position in the hospital's chair.
He saw Nathalie on the bed in the same position as the night before. She breathed calmly.
Gabriel walked over to her and sitting at the chair at her side, he took her hand. He ran his fingers over her knuckles giving her a little massage.
"Nathalie, I don't know if you can hear me, but I feel like trash, like the trash man."
He let out a laugh.
"I do not deserve you. You gave all for me and the only way I thanked you was leaving you in this state."
He watched her as if expecting her to answer him. He took her hand between his and kiss it delicately, as if a butterfly was landing on her hand.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness. But don't worry, I won't abandon you. I will fix my mistakes. I promise."
He put her hand on the bed. His voice cracking and his heart hurting, Gabriel shed a couple of tears when he kissed Nathalie's forehead.
Around those days Master Fu began to come to check on Nathalie and to supply her with the potions she needed so that the recovery was effective and it did not present side effects. Gabriel fixed the sheets when he realized that Master Fu and Marinette were there.
"I brought Master Fu over to check on Nathalie and see if everything is ok" said Marinette.
Duusu came out of one of Fu's pockets. He approached to his former wearer.
"Miss Nathalie" he flew up and settled into the sheets.
Meanwhile the Master checked the woman's body with the use of her aura.
"It seems that everything is going well for the moment. But I will come to check on her in a few weeks because I don't know if the damage she suffered could come back. I made the potion so it could be applied to her skin. Is easier to administer" He took one of Nathalie's hands and applied a few drops of the potion. Master Fu put the flask in his pocket and motioned for Duusu to return to his hiding place. Duusu kissed Nathalie on the cheek before hiding.
"Thank you master, I'll see you tomorrow" Marinette said.
Fu nodded and left the room. Marinette left to see Adrien and help him with a school assignment. After they left, the nurse on duty came to give the patient a bath so Gabriel left to give them privacy.
In the following days, Marinette would leave her house to go directly to the Agreste mansion to see Adrien. She was carrying a large bag to help Adrien get the other things they needed for Mr. Agreste.
Adrien was now ready to go. Marinette helped him carry the things to the car.
The gorilla took them both, at the request of Gabriel who had called him a couple of hours earlier. He left them in front of the hospital and would come back for them in about two hours. They both entered and reported in the reception, where they were allowed to enter.
When they got to the floor Nathalie was in, they saw that Gabriel was arguing with someone in the waiting room.
Someone Adrien knew perfectly well.
"Aunt Amelie? What are you doing here?" Adrien couldn't help but think something was wrong.
"Oh Adrien, nice to see you again Your father and I were talking, nothing more."
Amelie seemed to be very defensive in those moments. It was as if she wanted to hide something. But Gabriel was not going to stay silent.
"Adrien, your Aunt Amelie thinks I'm not competent enough to take care of you right now and because of that… she wants to take you with her to England."
"But what about Nathalie?" Adrien said, his voice cracking.
"You will see her when she recovers, of course" Amelie replied, without an apex of care.
Adrien started to back away.
"I don't want to go."
Gabriel didn't know what to do. Amelie had all the legal ways to take Adrien with her. Like him, she hired the best attorneys she could find.
He needed a good idea right now.
He saw Marinette who was behind Adrien. He knew from Nathalie that Marinette's parents were very good and they both loved Adrien very much. It could be… the perfect idea.
"Miss Dupain - Cheng, does your parents have room for one more?"
"What do you mean, father?" Adrien was quite confused.
"I was thinking you could stay at the Dupain-Cheng's" Gabriel replied, looking defiantly at Amelie.
"What do you think you are doing Gabriel?" Amelie asked with a hint of anger.
"Being a father and seeking the best for my son. And I think this is the best for my son. But you will discuss it with my lawyers."
Amelie left, furious. Adrien was quite relieved.
"Make sure you pack everything you need to go when you get home. Your bodyguard will take you and help you if you need anything."
Adrien nodded and headed off to visit Nathalie. Marinette was behind him.
Meanwhile, Gabriel went to the bathroom so he could take a shower and change. He washed his face and noticed he looked terrible.
After contacting the Dupain– Cheng's to explain the situation, he went to the nearest machine to buy coffee. The television of the place was on and they were showing the news.
"And in other news, the designer Gabriel Agreste hasn't appeared in public for over a month. All is known is that his assistant, Miss Sancoeur, was hospitalized. We don't know much about what happened yet, but apparently it was something quite serious. Rumors says she has some kind of terminal illness, but we ask to stop spreading rumors like that until we confirm the truth."
Gabriel was not impressed by this. Of course, they were going to realize that Nathalie disappeared from public view once more, since she was who was always representing him. He denied at how ridiculous all those rumors were. He would have to go to clarify everything now. It was so annoying. But as long as they were both left alone, there was no problem.
Meanwhile both teenagers had entered the woman's room. Marinette had brought a comb which she used to comb Nathalie's hair. She did it carefully because she didn't want to hurt her.
Adrien took a seat on the other side of the bed and took the other comb that Marinette offered him and began to do the same as her. He noticed how soft the woman's hair was and carefully combed her red streak which was beginning to fade completely from her hair, from the growth and lack of care.
Nathalie had recovered a lot of color in her face and now she looked healthier, but she still had a certain sickly look. Adrien didn't know if she was going to wake up.
"What's going on Adrien?" Marinette stopped her task of untangling Gabriel's assistant's hair for a moment, noticing Adrien expression.
He set the brush aside.
"Do you think she's going to wake up?"
"Oh kitty, you must have faith. She will wake up and be healthy again. Master Fu told us; you must trust him."
She came around the bed and extended her arms. He got up and received her hug by laying his head on top of hers. Gabriel arrived and saw both teens. He cleared his throat a little. They both parted, flushed. They both noticed that Gabriel seemed much more composed than they had seen when they arrived.
"You look much better, Mr. Agreste. Do you need anything else?" Marinette asked kindly.
"No, but it is kind of you to be concerned, Miss Dupain-Cheng."
"I'll ask for breakfast. You shouldn't skip your meals" She walked out of the room. "Come on Adrien."
They both said goodbye to him. Gabriel felt bad because he knew that his son did not want to talk to him more than just to say hello. He realized that Adrien had made a good choice when it came to his partner. And he had tried to destroy their relationship out of his sick wish. He was a bad person. He hoped that one day his son could forgive him for all the mistakes he made. Although he felt that he did not deserve it.
He ate and put the dishes on a tray.
Gabriel continued to look at Nathalie, hoping that she would wake up. He spend long hours detailing her.
In the bag, he found a sketchbook and some drawing supplies that he assumed Marinette found in one of the rooms in the mansion, since he recognized the hardcover of the sketchbook and its color. He settled into his seat and began to draw Nathalie. He detailed her face, remembering her look, the color of her eyes, all her expressions.
Gabriel drew her as he saw her in his dreams. He gave long, fine strokes to try to represent the dress she wore when she visited him. When he was satisfied, he set the sketchbook aside and continued to gaze at her until he fell asleep.
That night and the following nights he kept dreaming about her.
The dream universe expanded every time he dreamed. A thick forest with a valley was spreading around the mansion. She ran around like a nymph, a beautiful lady of the forest. She invited him to follow her to beautiful places.
He felt that he rejuvenated when he ran after her.
When he came to a pool of water, he realized that he looked young, like many years ago. The light blond hair, the face much younger and his body with much more energy. It was his look at 25 years old.
Nathalie stopped next to him. She too had changed. She had the appearance of the first time they met. Short hair and a younger face
"Do you remember when we met?" She sat next to him, looking at herself in the water mirror.
"Yes, I always considered that you had a strong character. The one of a woman who had been through a lot of difficult things in her life."
She smiled.
They continued on their way to the valley. They both frolicked on the valley floor surrounded by flowers. He caressed her face and she let herself be carried away by her caresses. But all joy was suddenly gone. While they were going back to the mansion Nathalie stopped and had a coughing fit, alarming Gabriel. She fell to the ground holding her chest.
"No, Nathalie, hold on."
"I can't breathe, help me" Nathalie at that point barely could pronounce words.
"I'll help you, I'll help you, hold on."
Gabriel woke up alarmed. He saw that the woman's mask had fallen out of place and that the machines were beeping quite loudly. He tried to settle it back, but she noticed her calm breathing. Apparently, she had removed it while she was in that deep sleep.
He pressed the help button and yelled for the doctor who was on his way. After being examined, the doctor took it upon himself to reassure Gabriel.
"Don't worry, Mr. Agreste. She's fine, but it seems like she's already starting to regain consciousness, just enough for her to do this kind of thing. However, we will keep an eye on it and do some studies."
"Thank you Doctor."
They left him alone. He walked over to her bed and joined his forehead with hers very carefully.
"Keep fighting, my love, don't give up. I will be here to greet you."
From that point on, he could no longer return to sleep. He went for a coffee from the machine. He wasn't a big fan of the drinks or food sold there, but he didn't want to be away from the room for long. He came back and drank his coffee with fervor. He couldn't leave her, he promised her. Even if it meant losing his entire fashion empire.
A couple of weeks later she continued with the dreams. Nathalie reacted much more and better to her surroundings. Nathalie's respirator was removed when her lungs finished healing properly. The doctors couldn't explain how she recovered so quickly since her lungs were badly damaged when she arrived. The doctor told him that according to her prognosis it was likely that she would wake up very soon. Gabriel couldn't help but feel relief.
He kept dreaming for several nights. He could say without fear that those were the most pleasant dreams he did not have for a long time.
One night in particular the dream was different. He had a bad feeling when he walked with the Nathalie of his dreams through the dark part of that forest. Suddenly, the Nathalie in his began to feel very bad.
"Gabriel, I'm not feeling very well" She grabbed her head with her free hand and fell weakly to the ground. All of her positive aura disappeared.
"Nath!"
He ran to her and took her in her arms, leaning her on her shoulder.
"What's going on?" He saw her disappearing into her arms little by little like dust. He began to feel a lot of despair. "No, don't leave me."
"Everything will be fine, trust me." The hand that was on his face disappeared. Nathalie's entire body began to fade.
"Goodbye" She closed her eyes and disappeared into the air.
"No, Nathalie no." The world began to destroy itself. Soon he too was consumed by darkness.
Gabriel woke up with frantic breathing. He was surprised to see the bed in the room.
Nathalie was awake, looking at him dizzy and quite confused.
Finally Nathalie is fine. Although there is still some things to solve.