When they arrived at the palace, there were 4 medics waiting inside the door, A lot of them looked very nervous about being in the presents of the wicked witch of the west, but once they saw how scared and worried Glinda was, it didn't matter who Elphaba was. The medics transported her to one of the many bedroom suits in the palace, this one just two doors from Glinda's chambers. The medic team cleaned all Elphaba's cuts and set all the breaks. Elphaba was conscious through all of it, but barely, not enough to really know what was happening. Elphaba most likely thought she was being beat again. They changed her out of what very little scraps of clothes she had left and into a blue cotton night gown. Elphaba's hair was washed and brushed, then they checked her wounds again before tucking her in to sleep.
Throughout the long process, Drew sat outside the door waiting, after all the medics packed up and left, except Arielle who was staying in the room next to Elphaba's for a few nights just in case, Glinda walked out, exhausted. She sat down against the wall opposite Drew. "She's going to be okay. She wasn't it good shape at all, especially her hands, the medics weren't sure at first if those breaks would heal, but they did some serious setting and repositioning, they think her hands will be okay. Her feet and her face and her stomach and her legs, everything, everything was a mess. But she'll heal with time." Glinda told him. "Her body will heal, but she's going to be scarred more than just on the outside, probably forever." Drew said, rubbing his forehead. "You'd be surprised as to what she's gone through her whole life, she always makes a comeback, this one might be a bit longer, but I truly believe she'll get through it." Glinda assured him. "So can I see her?" Drew asked. "No she's asleep. Come back tomorrow maybe. " said Glinda. Drew looked up, "I quit my job." he told her simply. Glinda's eye widened. "Why?" she asked. "I was never cut out for a job like that, I'm not my dad, I like helping people not ruining their lives. I sent a letter to my parents, right after I sent one to my boss. Frankly, I'm nervous to go home. My dad will want my head." Drew said. "Well," said Glinda "You can stay here as long as you want, five doors up on your left." She told him, standing up and walking to her own chambers. Drew thanked Glinda relentlessly and made his way to his own suit.
The next morning, Glinda went to check on Elphaba, the palace was buzzing everywhere but that floor, which had been deemed off limits, considering only the few medics and themselves knew of Elphaba's presences in the palace. Drew stopped her on her way on her to Elphaba's suit. "Hey, Glinda, can I see her now?" He pleaded, still in the same clothes as the day before and looking as though he hadn't slept a wink. "Yes, but first I have to talk to her, I wouldn't want the first person she see's when she wakes up to be someone in a gale force uniform." Said Glinda, looking him up the down. Drew nodded and stepped back leaning against the wall.
Glinda creaked Elphaba's door opened and stepped in the room, flicking on the small lamp. Elphaba was still sleeping, a bit of the swelling had gone down, and she wasn't in a fit of sweats like she was last night. Glinda pulled the chair from the dressing table over to the foot of Elphaba's bed, waiting for her to wake up. Soon later, Elphaba blink her eyes a couple of times, realizing she was in a strange place, Elphaba began looking around rapidly, then attempting to sit up, Glinda stood and shushed Elphaba, trying to calm her. "Glinda... what.. where.." Elphaba stuttered. "Shush Elphie. You're with me, in my palace, in the Emerald City. The wizard and Morrible are gone. I'm in charge now. Once you're healed enough, we're going to clear you name." Glinda told Elphaba.
Again, Elphaba tried to sit up. "Hey, no. Elphie you must lay still." Glinda reminded her. Elphaba groaned loudly, resting her head back down. Glinda chuckled at her stubborn friend, who she was so glad to have back. "So, what happened? With the bottle and all...?" asked Elphaba. "Oh! that's right!" said Glinda opening a drawer in the nightstand and pulling out Elphaba's little green bottle, Glinda/Elphaba's hair clip and behind them, the grimmiere. "Thanks Glinda." Elphaba said, embracing her things. "So, it turns out, Elphaba.." Glinda began but was cut off by Elphaba. "You only call me Elphaba if you're about to say something important." Elphaba said nervously. Glinda tossed her hair awkwardly. "It turns out, the wizard is your biological father..." Glinda spit. Elphaba didn't say anything. "Elphie?" Glinda said concerning. "I'm good. It makes sense, and they're both gone now anyway, and neither of them were ever my dad. So it's okay." said Elphaba. Glinda nodded in agreement and smiled. "Elphie, Drew is waiting in the hallway, he wanted to see you if you're okay with that." Glinda brought up. Elphaba looked hesitant but gave a slight nod. "Are you sure?" Glinda asked, noticing the nervousness. "Yes, Just awkward that's all" Elphaba said. Glinda nodded and went to the door, opening it enough to beckon him in. "I'll leave you two alone then." said Glinda as Drew entered the room.
Elphaba propped herself up on the elbow, and Glinda shot her a look, making her plop back down on the pillow painfully as Glinda swept from the room. Drew informed Elphaba that he had quit his job, and that when he leaves here, he's going to home to face his family. After about ten minutes of small talk, Drew decided it was time for him to leave. "I'll come see you again next week maybe." He said. Drew bid her a farewell and turned to leave. "Hey Drew," said Elphaba. He turned on his heel and faced her once again. Elphaba lifted her arms and held them out to him, causing a sharp pain to her broken ribs, which she ignored. Drew looked at her quizzically. "Give me a hug, moron." said Elphaba. Drew chuckled and hugged Elphaba gently, being careful not to hurt her damaged body. "Thanks." Elphaba whispered into his shoulder. He let go and smiled at her, he shook his head slightly. "No, thank you." he said.
Elphaba smiled while Glinda stood awkwardly in the doorway. Once Drew left, Elphaba said "Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it would be." she smiled. "Glinda come here." Elphaba said. Glinda hopped over to Elphaba and sat on the dresser chair once again. "Thanks Glin." Elphaba said. Glinda looked like she might cry, so Elphaba decided it was a good time. "And also, what the hell is on my foot?" She asked humorously. "It's a cast Elphie. Same as on your hands." Glinda laughed. "Your ankle is broken and foot sprained." Glinda told her. Elphaba rolled her eyes. "damn it." Elphaba muttered, making Glinda laugh again.
Over the next few days, Elphaba had received a lot of unwanted attention from the palaces medic, Arielle, her cuts were really healing, and all her bones were still set the way they should be. Elphaba really hated it when Arielle came, she only felt comfortable with Glinda knowing her near past. Glinda always stayed with her while Arielle did her thing, because Elphaba had to have Glinda do most of the talking. Elphaba's silence didn't even come across as her usual, sassy and stubborn, just shy. Which she hated, but couldn't help.
Elphaba felt like she had no control, she didn't have the use of her hands and she couldn't leave bed.
Glinda offered to push Elphaba around the palace in a wheel chair, just to get her out of bed, but refused before Glinda could even get the words out. Glinda didn't think she'd accept that, because it would remind her of Nessarose. Elphaba couldn't take that.
For Glinda and Elphaba both, the worst part though was the nightmares. Elphaba dreamed almost only of her time spent alone in the woods, and also of her time in the southstairs, but sometimes instead of Jeremy or even Collin, the other guard, It would be Glinda, or Nessa, or her father.
After a sleepless night for both girls, Glinda sat at the foot of Elphaba's bed. Elphaba was sitting up, pillows propped against the head board. Arielle the medic was sitting in the dresser chair next to the bed, unwrapping Elphaba's hands to treat her burns. "Try moving your thumb." said Arielle, hold Elphaba's fleshy burnt, broken hand in her own. Elphaba shook her head. "I can't" she muttered. "Okay said Arielle, flashing her a sweet smile. Arielle started tweezing off burned, dead skin. Leaving new, pale green healthy, fleshy skin underneath. It hurt like hell and Arielle and Glinda could easily tell from Elphaba's face that it hurt like hell, but it had to be done. Arielle finished with that hand and set it down gently on the bed, warning her to be careful of her arm while her hand was uncast. She unwrapped the other hand and did they same burn treatment. Arielle smeared gel stuff all over Elphaba's hand and wrists then put fresh casts on.
Arielle got the cast off Elphaba's foot, and wrapped a brace around her ankle immediately, so it would continue to heal correctly. Elphaba laid down on her back and let Arielle peel the deeply burned skin from the bottoms of her feet. Glinda moved and sat on the floor, under where Elphaba's head lied in the pillow. Glinda did her best to distract Elphaba from the pain. Elphaba winced and cried out quietly with every piece of skin. Arielle casted Elphaba's foot and ankle again. "Um, so I'm going to check your ribs put more cream on all the cuts.
Glinda helped Elphaba pull off the blue nightgown. Wincing when she had to lift her arms up. Elphaba had always been very self conscious of her stomach, but back then it was due to the extra little layer of baby fat that never seemed to leave. But now, it was because of her poking rib cage, cuts and scars. Elphaba sat with her arms across her body, embarrassed for Arielle, who she barely knew, seeing her in a very venerable state. "Okay, I need you to stand. Glinda, come stand on this side of her." Arielle said, pointing to the side of Elphaba with the casted foot. "Don't put your foot down Elphaba. If you tired and need to sit, tell me." Arielle said. Glinda got ready to support her as Arielle and Glinda both gently helped Elphaba stand. Once Elphaba was on her feet, though it hurt all over, especially the burns on the bottom on the supporting foot, but it also felt great. It felt like progress.
Glinda held onto Elphaba, who struggled considering Elphaba was a foot and a half taller than petite Glinda, and Glinda didn't want to hold Elphaba anywhere that would cause her pain, and there weren't many places to avoid that. "Take a deep breath for me and tell me if it hurts." said Arielle. Elphaba looked at Glinda and tried to fill her lungs. Surprisingly, she was able too, every time they had tried this before, she wasn't able to do it. Elphaba breathed out. "Okay, good. How'd that feel?" asked Arielle. "Fine. It felt like I was being pinched though." Elphaba mumbled. "Okay, your ribs are definitely starting to heal." Arielle smiled. "You can sit now." she told her. Glinda helped Elphaba lower herself back onto the edge of the bed. Arielle began rubbing gel cream type stuff on all Elphaba's many cuts. Elphaba couldn't help but think that if she had the use of her hands, she'd probably be able to heal most of these cut, and probably even mend her own bones, but for now, it would have to be done manually... and painfully.