The first thing that greeted Maiya as she entered the large house was a resounding sneeze that sounded like it had come from somewhere in the vicinity of the upstairs. Calling out she hoped she was wrong about her guess as to what had happened to her friend to make him disappear as he had. "Vincent, you home?"
The voice that came back was not the soothing tones she had been accustomed to in the last few years but was a ragged bass voice telling her, "Go away Maiya."
"Like hell." She muttered to herself as she grabbed her basket that she had brought with her in case this had happened and made her way up the stairs from the entry to the master bedroom. Knocking on the door she called out, "You'd better be decent Vincent because I'm coming in whether you want me to or not."
Inside the room Vincent smiled slightly at the demand knowing that she would follow through. The others in his combat group were always amazed at the liberties he allowed her, but they didn't understand the depth of their friendship, or how they had come to be so close over the years. The door cracked open enough for her to peek through to confirm that he was indeed decent for her, not that it would matter any to either of them, but it was a courtesy that they extended to each other that they didn't just barge in unless one or the other thought it was an emergency.
Seeing the pale man flushed red with fever laid out in bed with dead tissues on the floor since the waste basket was full was enough to tell her what had happened. "Vincent Valentine why didn't you call me? I would have been happy to come over and help you out and you wouldn't have worried your other friends needlessly by dropping off the map like that."
His body hurt, his head was aching, any more light in the room and his eyes would explode and yet through all of this, the sound of her voice quietly chiding him for his thoughtlessness was probably the best thing he had heard all day above the ringing in his ears and the traffic outside. It made him smile slightly as he leaned back against the pillows he had propped up for himself. "You are here now, so what will you be doing?"
"Its sick season and everyone's been coming down with one bug or another this year. I figured you'd be one of them with the way you push yourself for the WRO, so I came prepared." Pulling out a trashcan liner she did a quick empty of his waste basket and the floor before tying the bag shut and tossing it out of the room to be taken care of later when she left. Laying a hand against his forehead her eyes widened as she took note of his temperature.
Muttering about stupid macho idiots that think they can weather anything she set about settling him into bed comfortably, fluffing pillows, remaking the bed around her "patient". Sheets changed, blankets popped and aired, and tucked around him she added the comforter she found in his closet. Vincent was about to protest when she sent him a look that told him it would do him no good and her temper wasn't to be trifled with today.
Digging into her basket again she pulled out three bottles and one tablespoon measure. This time Vincent did protest his bass rumble nearly vibrating through her with its intensity. "No medications."
Eyes flashing Maiya turned to Vincent. "Oh? And you think that fever is going to break on its own? Or that chest and sinus congestion that is making it nearly impossible for you to breathe is going to simply wilt away under your formidable will? Or the Pain in your joints and muscles will just go away with the snap of your fingers?"
"I've been sick before, I've never taken medications before, I'll survive." His eyes bored into hers his desire to not have to take anything for this staggering to a halt under Maiya's formidable "Mother Hen" mode.
"You were probably sick for weeks, no one knew where you were and probably worried themselves sick wondering where you were, or probably needed you for something and you weren't there. This will help you get better in days instead of weeks, and I'm not going to hurt or poison you. Damn it Vincent I'm not Hojo!" The sudden inspiration as to why Vincent never took medications of any sort allowed her to add the last as a telling argument as to what she had figured out about her friend.
Vincent's eyes widened in shock as his closest companion, his best friend ripped his argument to shreds and then handed him the very reason he had been avoiding drugs all these years. Could it really be that simple? Laying back down again exhausted suddenly from both the argument and the muscle work of holding himself up on one elbow to argue with his "nurse" he was quiet for a long moment, his eyes not seeing anything in the room, letting Maiya know that he was thinking deeply.
She was about to give up on the argument when she heard his tired voice finally speak. "I trust you."
Her gentle smile returned and she figured out an easy way to keep him with her as she medicated him. "Ok, I'll explain everything before I do it, even show you the bottles and instruction labels so you can see that I'm dosing you properly." Seeing him nod tiredly she pulled out the bottle of pain killers. "This will help to ease the head and body aches as well as help bring down your fever." Showing him the bottle she pulled out a couple of the little pills before handing it over to him for him to read the labels. Once he was satisfied, she handed him the two pills and the glass of water that had been on the bed stand. Putting the bottle back, she pulled out the next. "This one is a decongestant and cough suppressant. Once it's had time to coat things down and go to work, you'll cough less but when you do, it'll be more productive getting the crap out of your lungs." She handed him the bottle to read again and when he handed it back she helped sit him up to take the medication.
Leaving him braced against the pillows and headboard she put that bottle back before pulling out a small container of ointment. This one had no label, This one worried him a little before she started talking in that same matter of fact voice she had been using for her other medication explanations. "This is an ointment to help you breathe easier until the other medications kick in, and even after. There's no label on it because its an infusion I make myself of a couple different herbs commonly found in the kitchen. The support for the infusion is a white petroleum derivative and this is meant to be spread across your chest and between your upper lip and nose." Handing him the jar she let him open it and take a whiff, noting that he had noticed the very strong aroma of what seemed to be menthol but not quite. Handing it back to her he pulled the blankets down to allow her to work. As she started to spread the sticky substance across his chest she asked, "do you have a tea towel or something you don't mind getting dirty or saturated in this stuff, I don't think you want your sheets and blankets soaked in this."
Feeling just how sticky this was, and the slight burning yet cool sensation it was leaving across his chest Vincent nodded. "There is a linen closet out in the hall next to the bathing room." His voice rumbled bass again from the barking cough that had battered it the last few days. Maiya nodded and finished smearing the substance on his chest and his face before she left him there for the short moments it took her to take the empty water glass with her and go find the linen closet. He heard running water during that time and knew that he was going to be force fed liquids as well.
When she returned she had the towel she was looking for and the glass of water. Handing it to him with a look he quietly finished it off and let her finish the preparations to put him back to bed. When she was done he found he was more exhausted than ever and very much ready to sleep. "Take a short nap hon, I'll wake you in about an hour to check your temp and get you something to eat." The soft voice that was now out of sight range lulled him into an easy slumber as the strange concoction she put on his chest and upper lip started to work and eased his breathing.
About an hour later Vincent was hard put to wake up from his much needed slumber by the knocking on his bedroom door. It was when he heard Maiya on the other side that he remembered she was in his house and trying to take care of him. As she came in she looked him over and smiled. "Well for only having had about an hours rest, you certainly look better."
Noticing the tray she had carefully balanced across one arm with a few items on it he tried to sit up and found that he wasn't nearly as stiff and sore as he was earlier, making it easier for him to move on his own. Taking the tray and balancing it carefully for her so she could set up the legs on it he was surprised that she had even found the bed table. "What is this?"
"Some soup, crackers, and juice. Light foods that won't overburden your system but still give you enough energy to help you fight off whatever it is that you've come down with." Looking down he noticed that it looked like a hearty vegetable soup, usually he would be able to eat far more than the large soup cup she'd given him, but he had a feeling that she was being careful. Taking one of the crackers and starting in on the soup he found it well spiced and flavorful and said so.
"I make a large batch of soup every fall and store the majority of it for colder days and when people get sick. While you were asleep I ran home quick to get some and pick up a few other things since your kitchen wasn't too well stocked. I'm glad you like it, and can taste it despite being all stuffed up." Her smile turned playful with the slight tease and Vincent snorted lightly with a slight smirk of his own. By the time he was done with everything on the tray he was once again ready to sleep. Maiya moved the tray to the door and did a quick check of the room making sure he had everything he'd need within arms reach before leaving with the dishes to let him rest again.
From there they developed a pattern of visits and Vincent knew that she was staying at his house to take care of him and that her shop was closed for the duration. He felt bad about this as she wasn't making any money nursing him back to health and she refused any sort of compensation. "I'm your friend Vincent, I do things like this for my friends. I'll be fine, don't worry about a day or two, I consider this a vacation." Vincent snorted at the very idea that anyone could consider nursing stubborn sick men back to health a vacation.
He'd see her every four hours for a light snack or a meal, medications, small talk, and of course to monitor his symptoms. He was pleasantly surprised to see that he was indeed getting better faster under her care though he didn't think it was just the medications that were doing it. Overnight he got to sleep eight hours and exhausted as he had been from fighting the sickness for days before he never noticed when Maiya had come in to check his temperature and make sure he was still comfortable before slipping back out again.
One day after she had started to care for him his fever started to drop steadily, allowing him to stay awake longer and enjoy the company of having Maiya over more. One of their conversations took them deeper into an area that neither were overly comfortable in, but it was just the two of them so they tried to at least make a go of it. "Over these last several years you've told me your story. You've learned about letting go, and starting anew. Have you tried to find someone?" Maiya asked, curiosity driving her, concern lay under that thin veneer.
"Kind of." Vincent wondered what brought this question on. "But I can always see it in their faces, their eyes; the pity, the fear, the outright lust. Its disgusting to me." His voice was smoother than the day before but still ranged bass as he spoke a frown decorating his face as he thought of the people he'd crossed paths with in the time since he'd left his primarily solitary life behind. He then thought about the woman sitting next to his bed. In all of the time that he had known her he had not once heard of her speaking of anyone in a relationship context. "What about you? I don't seem to recall you being overeager to find someone in your life."
Maiya blinked a couple times as her question was turned around on her before fiddling with a ring on her right hand. "That's probably because I've been married already." Seeing her friend's blank look of pure surprise she smiled slightly, though it held a deep note of remembered sadness to it. "It was a few years ago when I told you that I gained my accepting mannerisms because I had lost someone close to me because I couldn't accept something about them." Glancing up at Vincent she noticed that he was settling in for the story and nodding to show that he remembered the conversation.
How could he not. It was the conversation that had completely broken any and all of his reservations about getting closer to this one person. They had become much closer, and he was much easier in her presence than ever before.
"My husband and I hadn't been married long, but we had known each other for a few years. He was one of the technicians at the Mako reactor plant and I was who I've always been." Still playing with the ring on her right hand Vincent finally took a closer look at it and realized that it wasn't just an ornament, but it was indeed a wedding band. But why was it on her right hand? Thoughts interrupted by her voice he listened carefully as she continued her tale.
"The mako reactor was one of the safest places, I was constantly told. Safety checks run frequently and all of the machinery kept up to code in meticulous fashion." Blue gray eyes took on a grayer shade as she delved back into her memories. "It happened early one morning. I got a phone call from the safety administrator for the reactor telling me that Jal had been hurt and I was his emergency contact. I was told what hospital he was at and you can bet that I didn't care what state of dress I was in, I simply flew out the door to see him." A single tear tracked down her cheek as she closed her eyes, remembering the horror, she had been met with as she stepped into the room unprepared.
"In the room lay my husband. He was shielded from everything by a plastic tent that was filled with various things to try and bring him back from the brink he was on. The Safety Administrator had come down to the hospital to meet with me as I hadn't given him any time to tell me what had happened in the plant. According to the doctors I had gone into a state of shock and wasn't responding to anyone before I collapsed." Her slight, self depreciating smile told Vincent all he needed to know about what she thought about her feinting like that.
"I was told that one of the safe rooms that Jal used frequently hadn't been secured properly and when the reactor started its daily tests in that area, the alarms went off indicating some sort of containment failure. It was too late for my husband though. Refined mako somehow had escaped containment from the pressure valves located in the room and had sprayed him down completely." Sniffling slightly Maiya contained herself before continuing, anger in her voice this time.
"My husband, the person I loved most, lay there burned, and struggling to live while the Safety Administrator told me that due to negligence on Jal's part, the ShinRa company would not be paying for his treatments. I was furious." Maiya's eyes flicked around the room irritation was the only emotion left from that traumatic event now as she had time to remember and mourn. Vincent wasn't surprised at all that she had been so very angry. He had felt that fury too when his own love had died.
Taking a deep breath and calming herself again she looked up at her friend a weary smile gracing her face. "I dug deep and worked hard while he was hospitalized. It would take a while but I was allowed to make payments on his treatments so long as I didn't miss any. What I didn't know was that Jal could have gone home long before the hospital released him. Jal came home, healthy, whole, changed." Seeing Vincent's questioning look and knowing he wasn't going to like what he heard she started.
"He was far more aggressive than I had ever known him to be. Granted he could be a total cave man at times, but I figured that was something inherited for men." Her smile turned slightly teasing as she caught Vincent's narrowed eyes before continuing. "This was far worse. Never a quiet man when he had an opinion Jal became overbearing, dominating in conversations. He spent more time at work than he did at home, and while I never feared him raising his hand to me, his voice was plenty. Those were only some of the non-physical changes. Once, he had the most beautiful brown eyes, eyes that could tell you everything about him if you'd let them. After the accident they changed. We were together one night when I really noticed how far those changes went in his eyes. The chemical hadn't just changed their color, they GLOWED when he started getting upset. That was when I started to fear him as a person and not just his actions. He wasn't MY Jal anymore, at least, that's what I had thought."
Vincent looked at the woman who was starting to become more and more distraught as she continued telling her story. He had no idea that the calm, decisive woman he'd known for years now had such a past with ShinRa. He also noticed that she was fidgeting more and more, trying to keep herself contained. He couldn't take this anymore. He had to do something to help ease her distress or she would fall apart here in front of him. Summoning up the energy he shifted over and gently took her by the wrist before pulling her out of her chair and onto the bed across his lap. Settling her there he noticed that she hadn't made more than the token objection to his offer of comfort. His right arm around her back he let her lean against him as she would on the rare occasions when life got to be too much for her. Neither seemed to care that he was still topless save for the tea towel that was plastered to his chest via the balm she had administered not too long ago. "Your past with your husband is painful, but does not explain why your wedding band is on your right hand."
Maiya knew she was going to get sick for sure, but couldn't stop herself from accepting the comfort Vincent offered. She didn't talk much about her husband after what had happened, merely redirecting attention from the question or avoiding the topic all together. It had become so ingrained that no one really noticed when she dodged their questions about her social life anymore. If Jal were still there, still alive, she may never have met Vincent, Jal would be comforting her in her times of duress. However she knew that her life in the here and now was vastly changed for the better starting the day she had surprised him in the trees those years ago. She had a friend, a confidant, a companion that she could lean on when life threatened to upset her stability. And she returned those willingly granted favors in kind as he needed them. The last 24 hours being a prime example of that.
Breathing deeply to try and get another grip on her rampaging emotions she also got the treat of Vincent's unique scent mixed heavily with the aroma of the salve she used on him, frequently. "When I began to fear Jal as a person I started pulling away from him. Wondering if the man he was now was the real Jal, and what happened to him at the reactor was just something that had set his inhibitions aside. Over time, we grew more and more distant. Jal spending more time at the reactor working, and I was at the shop later hours, driving myself to exhaustion so that I wouldn't have to do anything other than go home, clean up, and crash till the next day when we'd do it all over again. We were strangers in the marriage now and every time we had a confrontation about something, small or large, I always wondered if that would be the one time he'd snap and hurt me." Maiya closed her eyes and snorted very softly in derision.
"One day, he just never came home. The part of me that still loved the man Jal was, and still loved my husband worried while the rest of me relaxed in relief that there would be no confrontations. But I still worried. Days passed when I finally got a letter from ShinRa that Jal had been promoted beyond the plant and into the ranks of SOLDIER. I wouldn't see him for months after that letter. When he did finally come home from training on leave, he was much more peaceful. It was as if all he needed was an outlet for his aggressions that, while working at the plant, had no outlet. But I still feared him. His training was thorough, he saw through my evasions and knew that I feared him even more now than I did when he had left. I was subdued, allowing him every request, if only to keep the peace. It was the final straw. He loved me still, he said. But he couldn't take it that I was treating him like he was some kind of monster. When he left to go back to his assigned base, he wasn't angry, only resigned."
"I didn't know a lot of this until the day the ShinRa courier stopped into my shop and delivered the notice. As per his written instructions on file, I was his sole beneficiary should something happen to him out in the field. He had died while trying to help put down a riot that had broken out over one thing or another. It was that day when I realized exactly what I had lost. Ever since then, my wedding band has been a reminder of my mistake, one I can ill afford to make again, and refuse to, and my shop is still open thanks mostly to the money that came in from his insurance, and the sale of the house we used to have together."
While Maiya had spoken of her husband's death she had started to cry, and in his reassuringly patient way, all Vincent did was raise his hand to stroke her hair and down her back to reassure her that she wasn't alone and that it was ok. Times like these were when actions spoke so much more clearly than words ever could between them. Besides that, there was nothing Vincent could really say. This story was a piece of ancient history dredged up and told at the whim of his curiosity, and now that he knew, he understood that she didn't fear getting close to others as he had, but instead feared the loss that inevitably happened. Despite the sense of exhaustion that was again creeping up on him as if chiding him for his activity, he held onto his friend, wordlessly reassuring her that he would not be leaving any time soon.