His head was reeling. Maybe it was the painkillers he was on, they must be messing with his head. He had woken up half an hour ago and yet, couldn't bring himself to move incase he woke her. He watched her, his heart fluttering with every breath she took. He was loathe to admit it to himself but he had grown very attached to the newest additions of his crew, and he almost lost her. She almost lost him, and it brought her to tears.
Last night was the first time he realised just how close his brush with death was. Painkillers and harsh reminders of one's own mortality tend to do crazy things to your mind. This was Qrow's reasoning as he held her close to him and ran his fingers through her messy hair and kissed her head.
She was still asleep when the nurse came by with his morning medicine and breakfast. She smiled at the two lovebirds and Qrow could only grin weakly. He was enjoying having a pretend wife. After such a close brush with death, he really wanted to have as much close company as possible. He wished Ruby, Tai and Yang could be there too, but at least he had Winter.
She began to stir and spun away from him, wrapping herself in the blanket. And so it begins, he grinned and sat up to take his medicine. It was nice to see the always prim Ice Queen so dishevelled and vulnerable. Qrow smiled and began in on his breakfast, setting half aside for Winter when she woke up. He got up and stretched, wincing at the soreness of his stomach. No bleeding, so he hadn't split his stitches. He began to pace the room as his nurse had instructed him to.
It certainly helped his heart rate, but it made him think. His sister was truly gone. How would he tell Tai? How would he tell Yang? They were always at least a small threat to Salem's trade but would Raven make them more of a target? Why was Salem recruiting new clans to join her? Was something big going to happen?
Qrow began to worry. They should have never left the ship, surely Doc could have patched him up and then he would be there to help defend the ship if Salem attacked, they both would. With him and Tai and Winter and the girls to fight, they could maybe even stand a chance.
"Could you please calm down? Stress is definitely not going to help you get better." Winter sighed, sitting up and stretching in the bed. "I am glad to see you so full of energy though." She smiled.
"I'm not stressing." Qrow muttered, still pacing. Winter stood up and stretched, running fingers through her hair to try to tame it. She walked over to Qrow and fell into pace beside him.
"I do not appreciate lying, Branwen. It could help if you discuss your troubles." Winter offered.
"What are you, a therapist? I don't have time for a feelings session, Ice Queen." Qrow snorted.
"That's not what I was implying. Obviously something big is happening that I don't know about, something that now threatens my safety and the safety of those that I care about. I also know more than you do about the two days that you were unconscious. If we are going to take on this journey together then I have a right to know what we're going up against." Winter stood firm, hands on hips, following him with her eyes as he paced. She blushed slight. "But yes, it would also be easier if you didn't carry the burden of this stress on your own."
"Fine, we will talk about this. But not here." Qrow frowned at the door.
He had used up most of his energy already. He was loath to admit it, but Winter was right. Stress had made this walk harder than the ones prior. He walked over to the bed and half sat, half collapsed onto it. Winter sat beside him and held out a cup for him to take a drink. He complied
"You wouldn't happen to have anything stronger, would you?" He asked with a weak grin. Winter raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"I may, but there is no way I'm letting you skew your blood tests with it. The longer we're here, the longer Tai and the girls are left alone." Winter grabbed a scone from the breakfast tray and handed the rest to Qrow. "You need to finish this. You need it more than I do, I am fine with the scone."
She ate quickly and took a drink of water before wandering to the powder room to clean up. Qrow frowned, but ate the food nonetheless. He finished the rest of his water and the door opened. An unfamiliar doctor and nurse entered. The doctor smiled at him.
"Hello Mr. Branwen, how are you feeling today?" The doctor asked. Qrow frowned.
"I think you might have the wrong room, Doctor. The name's Gale." He smiled innocently. Winter came into the main room.
"Oh dear, why didn't you tell me the doctor arrived?" Winter gently smacked Qrow's shoulder. "Well doctor, do you have his results? We have a honeymoon to get back to after all." She smiled sweetly at the doctor and waited for a response.
"Well as glad as I am to see that you did get married after all, Ms. Schnee, I'm afraid I will have to cut your honeymoon short. You are both very wanted people." The doctor responded. The nurse began preparing a needle.
"You see," the doctor continued, "your father misses you very much Winter. So much so that he is willing to forgive your transgressions if you will agree to return and marry the suitor that he has chosen. Of course, if you refuse then he has agreed to let Salem have you for a fair sum. It's quite a generous deal, much better than the one Mr. Branwen will get."
"Which is?" Qrow asked.
"Instant death." Watts said as the nurse lunged forward to plunge a needle into his neck.
Qrow rolled of the bed and winced at the bright flash of light that followed. Winter ran over and helped him up. She grabbed their stuff and they quickly gathered everything together. Qrow was dazed, but glad that he was alive. The doctor and nurse were frozen to the spot, encased in ice and surrounded by a black glyph.
"I can't hold them forever, Qrow, you need to move." Winter pleaded.
He stood and grabbed his stuff. Winter was focusing hard and he guided her towards the exit. He threw some lien at the receptionist and announced that he was checking himself out. She tried to stop him and called for security but they were gone by the time security arrived. The doctor and nurse appeared, dripping wet and furious.
"Where did they go?!" He demanded. The receptionist was stunned.
"I have no idea." She responded and began sobbing.
"Where would they go?" He asked again.
"Why do you need to know?" The main doctor approached him. "He was my patient, not yours."
"You are making me lose my patience. Now you are going to tell me all that you know about the Gales or else you will all be slaughtered." Watts demanded. The nurse approached the Gales' doctor from behind and held a dagger to his throat. The man froze and began stuttering.
"I don't know much, but…"
A/N:
I don't know about you guys but I prefer to binge write and I prefer to binge read. So since I've spent the day writing, you are in for a treat.