The walls seemed to close in on Cinder as she slowly followed Yang to her father's room. She didn't know what to do, how to feel, her feet felt heavier with every step she took. As if her feet were slowly being turned to lead. When she all but stopped she felt an arm around her waist providing her with much needed support. She relaxed against her sister and began to move towards the hospital room. When they entered the dread seeped deeper into Cinder's heart as her stomach dropped and tears burned her eyes as they threatened to run down her face.
Laying in a stark white room behind a thin curtain was the pale feeble form of her father. Blake held her up as her knees knees wobbled and began to fail her. The insesent beeping of the EKG was the only sound in the room apart from her father's ragged breathing. When they made it to his side he had begun to come around and the moment he saw his daughters his soft golden eyes lit up but were quickly dimmed when the doctor began to tell him the news. With tears running down his face he reached for his girls' hands.
Blake and Cinder both reached for their father's hand and grasped it tightly only receiving a weak tighten in return. Yang slowly left the room, not wanting to interrupt the family in their final hours.
Blake had to be the rock. She had to be strong. She had there for her sister, she couldn't let the tears run free no matter how much her throat burned and threatened to cut her breathing. With Cinder about as useful as a deflated soccer ball and her father only hours away from death there really wasn't anything else she could do. She just didn't know what to do to cope with this other than to just be there for her family even though every bone in her body wanted to run and scream and pray that this was not really happening.
"I love you girls so much, Cinder the day I found out you were actually mine and not just some kid Salem had dropped on my doorstep has got to be one of the greatest times of my life. I'm sorry if I wasn't a good enough father to get you girls to get along but I've loved you both more than life itself... and Blake the day I found out Kali was pregnant with you and that I was going to be able to be a papa again has gotta be another one of the greatest moments of my life,"
Tukson paused and took a pained breath as he continued, "That's why what I'm about to tell you is going to be so damn painful." Tukson took another deep breath as tears burned his eyes. "I don't want you to look at me any differently than before, but there is something you have the right to know… something I don't want to die with… it's a secret I've been holding since your mother passed. Blake… I'm not your father…" The pressure that had been building in Blake's chest sank and formed an iron ball in the pit of her stomach. "You're mother had had an affair when I was still working as a sue chef and to this day I still don't know his name but Blake this doesn't mean I love you any less than before. I treated you like my daughter because you are my daughter in my heart. I raised you and I see you as my own. I will never stop loving you even in death."
The walls Blake had built to stay supportive for her sister had crumbled. Her tears had finally broken free and she remained statuesque as she tried to remember how to breath. She faintly heard Cinder call her name but the blood pumping through her had drowned out all noise other than the constant thump thump thump against her ears.
The voice inside her screamed OUT OUT OUT GET OUT and that's exactly what she did. She ran, and ran not thinking about the key she had swiped from the janitor in two seconds flat as she passed him or the consisted tapping of feet behind her, following her wherever she went. All she knew is that she needed to get out of the hospital and to high place to clear her thoughts.
She wound up on the roof of the hospital staring at the stars as she dropped to the floor, she sat there with her knees against her chest balling, faintly aware of the warm arm around her shushing her and cooing that everything was going to be okay.
"Why'd he have to tell me Ash? Why couldn't he just die with the secret? What's next? He's secretly been fucking Emerald this whole time?" said Blake as she wiped her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.
Cinder grimaced at the name and responded, "Well that tid bit wouldn't be news. It's obvious that dad and Em have had a thing for years. Just look at the way they look at each other and Em getting here so quick after the news? Please."
Blake snorted and leaned her head against Cinder's shoulder. "Blake, it doesn't matter if we are related by blood or not. You frustrate me more than anyone on this earth and only a sister can be capable of such a feat." Blake looked up at Cinder's face with fresh tears running down her face, "I will always and forever see you as my annoying little sister Blake."
Blake wrapped her arms around Cinder and cried heavily as she whispered "Thank you Cinder." They stayed there for a tad bit longer before Blake scooted away from Cinder. Much to Cinder's surprise.
"You need to go back down there to be with d-dad… if he passes away tonight I don't want him to be alone… I really can't face him right now, but you can go down there and keep him company." said Blake as she wipeda her face with the sleeve of her jacket, the color of dark green sleeve turning darker and darker the more tears she wiped away.
"Are you sure? I can stay here for a bit longer if you want." said Cinder with worry thick in her voice.
Blake shook her head, "You should go down there. I need to be alone to collect my thoughts anyway."
Cinder looked at her for a few moments before hesitantly getting up. "Alright, but if you need anything just call me. I'm going to be here all night." Blake nodded and Cinder placed a kiss on the crown of her head before saying goodbye and leaving Blake to her thoughts. With one last look back at Blake Cinder turned to open the door and walk down the steps and find her way back to her father's room.
When she opened the door of her father's room she saw Emerald and her dad having a quiet conversation. Emerald had both hand wrapped around her father's weak one as she pressed it against her face with tears in her eyes. Considering everything that was going on it seemed much too intimate to interrupt so Cinder quietly left the room and made it back to waiting room. She flopped onto a chair and pulled out her phone.
After staring at Winter's contact for far longer than she should have, she finally gave in and called Winter. Half surprised when Winter picked up in a panicked heartbeat, "Are you okay? You usually text me when you get home, I was starting to get worried something had happened to you."
Cinder took a deep painful breath and began to tell her everything that had happened, dancing around the part about Ruby and skipping to the part about her father's heart attack and how they couldn't get a doner. After she finished all Winter said was "I'll be right there." and hung up the phone.
Cinder stared out the window in the wait room lost in thought. Soon the sun had begun peaking its way up and the stars slowly began to fade away as the cool blue sky chased the shadows away.
Winter walked into the waiting room disheveled and unpresentable according to Schnee standards, but Cinder could really care less as Winder hobbled over to her and wrapped her up in a warmth of Winter's hug combined with the aromatic lavender perfume she always wore finally let Cinder relax enough to have a full breakdown. She practically blubbered into Winter's shoulder as she held on to her tightly. Almost as if she were going to disappear if she were to let her go.
Ruby's head pounded as the ringer on her phone went off. She reached over from underneath her covers and picked up the phone with a half mumbled "What?"
"Well good morning sleeping beauty I was just calling to tell you that you're friend's father is in the hospital. Now I know I'm breaking a heck of a lot of rules here by telling you this, but I really don't want another one of my patients to die today so here's what's going on." Ruby paid full attention and attempted to ignore the pounding headache as she worried over Tukson's wellbeing. "This man's heart is failing and he needs a new one, the one he has is practically dead already and it is going to be impossible to get him a heart on a normal transplant list. If you catch my drift."
"Don't worry Yang I know what to do. I'll head over there right now" Even if I know for a fact they probably don't want to see me. With that Ruby hung up her phone and got dressed in her best business attire. Which was a simple black pencil skirt with a matching blazer and red button up. She grabbed her suitcase case and headed out.
When Ruby arrived at the hospital it took her a few moments to rile up the courage to walk inside. She hated the hospital with every fiber of her being but she walked in anyway, she had to get that heart for Tukson. It didn't matter if the sisters probably won't forgive her for what she did, but she knew that saving Tukson was the right thing to do. He has been a friend of the family for years, he was at her parents funeral and also offering minor support from her whenever she would walk into the bakery. She haddn't known too much about Tuckson's personal life because he tended to keep to himself about those topics. He mostly just listened to people's problems, almost like a good bartender.
Soon she arrived at the Hospital director's door along with Winter of whom was impeccably dressed. "What in the world are you doing here runt?" said Winter as she glared at Ruby.
Ruby unphased by the insult responded with, "Probably the same as you. I'm here to convince the director into giving Tukson a new heart."
"I doubt I will need any help from you, I am perfectly capable enough if handling this myself."
"But if we work together there is more of a chance to help Tukson other than just risking whatever we were going to do working on the first try. We should put aside our petty differences just this one time and help Tukson." Winter continued to stare at her until Ruby crumbled slightly and whispered, "Please Winter."
The look on Ruby's face briefly reminded her of Weiss, making her heart stop just for a second before she sighed and said, "Fine, but we better get this heart or else I will destroy you and the name you have built for yourself in every corner of this world."
Ruby simply nodded and they both opened one of the double doors to enter into the director's office. They entered to find the esteemed director Coco Adel sitting behind her desk writing on several documents. Coco briefly looked up from her paperwork to look at them and said "Who are you and what do you want?"
"My name is Winter Schnee and this is Ruby Rose and we would like to talk to you about the patient in room 403B."
Coco paused her paperwork to briefly type the number into her computer and look up the person they were talking about "Tukson Belladonna?" she said in confusion. "What about him?"
"We would like for you to move him up in the transplant list." said Ruby.
"...how far up?"
"All the way up." responded Ruby before Coco burst into laughter.
After a full minute of laughing Coco wiped her eyes as she said, "While I'm fond of your uncle and his team they really don't have enough pull in this hospital drag an old man on his deathbed all the way up the transplant list to waste a heart that could go to someone of whom could live another twenty years instead of another five."
Ruby looked to over at Winter and Winter motioned for Ruby to go first with her argument. Let's see you crash and burn Red. Thought Winter as she watched Ruby compose her thoughts for a few moments.
Ruby took a deep breath and placed her suitcase on Coco's desk and opening it to reveal its contents. When she turned it to face Coco her eyes widened and she whispered "No…"
"Yes… If you move Tukson up the transplant list I'll allow this hospital to be one of the first organizations with access to my designs. This is my latest prototype of the Rose-Dragon tech prosthetic of which Yang currently has and that you have seen in action."
"This means the reputation of the hospital would improve ten fold… but then again our own researchers are already close to something close to your tech Miss Rose. So something like this would only advance us so far."
"What if I offered to allow you exclusive access to my paten along with a hefty donation." said Ruby as she stared Coco down.
Coco crossed her arms in contemplation and said, "Tempting…"
"What if the Schnee company were to withdraw their donations to this hospital in favor of one doing more breakthrough and cutting edge research?" said Winter matter of factly as she casually looked at her nails.
"...Was that a threat Miss Schnee?" said Coco through grit teeth.
"What? Heavens no. I was simply stating that if this hospital has no use for cutting edge tested research then the Schnee company has no use in investing in a worthless cause."
"Alright. Fine. If you wanna play it that way, then yes Miss Rose we would gladly accept your offer to advance the hospital's research department, with your help of course." said Coco as she stood from her chair.
"And?" said Winter.
"And the man in 403B is going to receive the heart he needs as soon as the next available heart is here."
"It was nice doing buisness with you Miss Adel." said Ruby shook Coco's hand. Winter just nodded her head to Coco and left the room closely followed by Ruby.
As soon as they were far enough away Ruby exhaled a breath she didn't know she had been holding and said, "Oh my gods please tell me you weren't going to actually pull millions of dollars in donations from a hospital Winter."
"Depends of if they had let Tukson die without a second thought."
Ruby didn't know how to process the fact that Winter was possibly going to make a hospital go bankrupt so she continued with the next best thing. "Winter… I just want to say… Thank you for letting me help you in there...I know you hate me and you hate Yang and you just hate our family in general for everything that, that, that happened… I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you…"
Winter stopped and looked down into Ruby's big silver eyes and sighed, "Alright Alright you're welcome now will you quit with the thank yous'? Don't you have a department to update?"
Ruby frowned and said, "Yeah I guess I do now. I'll be seeing you Winter."
Winter turned away from Ruby and Ruby watched her go, the guilt of everything eating away at her. Winter continued to walk until she reached the waiting room she had left Cinder in when she found it empty she moved on to look for Tukson's room. She slowly opened the room to find Cinder sitting curled up in a chair holding her father's hand as they were both fast asleep.
After a few moments of deliberation Winter strode up to Cinder and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek, slowly rousing Cinder from her sleep. "Cinder honey would you please wake up? I have some news that you might like."
Cinder mumbled something unintelligible and slowly opened her eyes to look at Winter. Blood shot eyes barely mustering the energy to give her a half hearted glare. "What is it?" said Cinder.
"Can you come into the next room with me so that we don't wake Tuks? I believe he needs his rest." said Winter as she helped Cinder out of her chair.
"What's so urgent that you need to wake me from my sleep Winter." said Cinder as she wiped her eyes.
"Well I wanted to tell you that I managed to get the hospital to put your dad higher on the transplant list."
All traces of sleepiness vanished from Cinder's face as the joy on Cinder's face increased ten fold. ""WHAT?" she yelled as a smile stretched across her face, "You mean to tell me that my dad has an actual chance at living? How'd you do it?"
As tempting as it had been to tell Cinder she had done it all on her own she knew that more lies would only hurt their friendship in the long run. "I didn't really do it alone… Ruby helped me convince the hospital director to move Tukson up the transplant list."
"Ruby?" said Cinder with confusion written across her face. "She has no resources that could help the hospital in anyway. How did she manage to help you convince the director?"
Now it was Winter's turn to be confused, "You seriously don't know what Ruby does for a living?"
"Isn't she some kind of engineer?"
"Well you're partly right. She is actually the creator of the Rose Dragon technology that is currently being using in a lot of Schnee electronics brands and is actually one of the leading researchers on prosthetic limbs."
"Holy shit… I can see how you two got dad up the transplant list so quick."
A conflicted look appeared across Cinder's face and Winter knew she had made a mistake by telling Cinder about all of Ruby's excellent qualifications.
"God how can you be so damn blindly in love with her? Did she fuck you silly to get your heart so fast? If that worked so well for her then why the hell haven't you fallen in love with me yet?" in her agitation the words spilled out of her than she could think.
Cinder stared at her best friend in shock, "Winter…"
Tears began to spring loose as the days events avalanched on her oh fuck it, thought Winter as she spoke, "God Cinder how can you be so damn blind to me being in love with you for years. You're the reason I keep coming back tho this stupid town, not my father, not the company, YOU! You're the reason I 'tripped' down some stairs and broke my ankle just before a big mission that was gonna delay me from coming back to you. How in god's name did that stupid girl capture your heart in a few days when I have spent the better part of my life trying and have gotten nowhere. Cin-"
Before she could continue Cinder had to cut her off, "No I'm not in love with her and yes I fucked Ruby, but she wasn't screaming my name as I did it. She screamed Blake's name…
...
~A.N.~
Well it's out and man this was a hard one to write. Also I would like to address a note of concern in the likelihood of Tukson not getting admitted immediately, it was mostly a joke for myself if that makes any sense. Basically it stems from a time of which a cousin of mine got a long deep gash in his arm and was bleeding profusely but the nurse in charge made us file all the paper work before letting a doctor see him and during that time we made jokes that not even a man getting wheeling in with a heart attack would get admitted and when we finally saw a doctor he saw my cousin and said "Wow this really bad you really should have been admitted immediately" and we just looked at him like "we tried" and his only response was "Well obviously not hard enough." and then it just became a running gag between me and my cousin. Anyway I hope ya'll liked it and it would be great if you left a review telling me what you think. And till next time peoples.
Guest responses:
Guest: While fluent in more than one language German is not one of them, I just used google translate and suggestions from a friend, but thank you for the correction. I'll see if i can use it later.
Demon420: Thank you I do try.
Guest4: I'm sure he has not returned the spear since he has taken a liking to it.