I AM able to get this up as some of my classes were cancelled due to the strange week. And a note, the story is set about ~1900, but I'm going to say that Oz is a little ahead in technology than anywhere on Earth at that time, which might explain any discrepancies. That, and it is Oz (and fiction), so I am making a bit up. Trust me, you'll understand.

And I might be able to get chapter 10 in now that my classes are cancelled, and I have a day off. We'll see... I am banking on that though, so this one does a bit more for character than plot. I think, at least. I'd be glad to know what you guys think though :)

Warnings: major injury, blood, implications of abuse

Elphaba had barely even gotten to her knees when she was pulled away by Kistosen. He held her tight. It was like a strong hug, but his arms were wrapped so tightly that she couldn't make her lungs release the air to scream the way they wanted to.

So she watched hopelessly as Ameya dropped to her knees in front of Nessa.

Gently, she adjusted Nessa's legs so they were straight, or at least as straight as they could be.

"Elphaba," Ameya whispered. "Fetch my kit from the library."

"Sister, shouldn't I..." Kistosen began.

"No," Ameya snapped. "She will do it. Go. Now."

Kistosen released Elphaba, who sprinted away as fast as her legs could carry her.

She scrambled around the library for five minutes, before finally locating the medical kit in the adjacent office.

"Thank you," Ameya whispered as Elphaba handed her the bag.

"Wha-what's wrong with her?" Elphaba whispered.

"I can't be sure at the moment," Ameya replied. "But they are definitely fractured."

It was only then that Elphaba noticed that Ameya was not using her right hand. It lay still in her lap. When she did lift it, her touch was ginger and shaky.

"We must get her to the hospital," Kistosen announced, stepping towards the door.

"Not necessary," Ameya whispered. "I can set it. Or at least, I should be able to. But first," she took deep, labored breaths. "I need to attend to... to my..."

Without another word, she rose and exited out towards the bathroom. It was a quarter of an hour before she returned. Her face had paled considerably, and her arms were hanging by her side. Her breathing was still labored.

"I think, uh, I think my arm might be...Well," she grimaced as she bent her arm and wiggled her fingers. "Elphaba, hand me that."

She pointed to a short splint in her kit. Elphaba handed it to her as instructed. Ameya took it with her good hand, and then gently lowered herself onto the sofa.

Holding her breath, Ameya ran a finger down her lower arm. When she located the break, she let out a small sound, but then released her breath.

"Elphaba fetch me a bucket of water, put on those gloves, and then I will give you instructions. You are going to assist me with my arm, and then with Nessarose's legs."

"But why?" Elphaba squeaked. "I-I haven't..."

"I will set it. I need you to plaster it," Ameya patted the couch. Elphaba slowly sat down beside her. "I know that you have no control over this power, and that is why I am not upset with you. But as this was your fault, your penance is to help me. I trust you."

"But how can you?" Elphaba asked, tears beginning to stream from her eyes. "How can anyone trust me? I- I can't trust myself not to... blow everything up. I... I broke your arm. I h-hurt N-Nessa."

"I trust that you have steady hands and can take orders. Now please fetch what I requested."

Elphaba did what she was told.

Following Ameya's directions, she cleaned a pair of very thin rubber gloves with rubbing alcohol. She splinted Ameya's arm,, wrapped it twice in gauze ,and then dipped gypsum bandages in the water. Carefully, she followed the path Ameya pointed out, laying the bandages around the injured arm until it was properly done.

The three sat in silence for a half hour as the cast dried.

"Kistosen, please move Nessarose to her bed. Elphaba, please gather the necessary equipment, and then fetch a clean towel from the closet.

Elphaba nodded, and followed Kistosen out of the room, grabbing a towel from the closet as she passed.

When they arrived, Elphaba quickly made the bed. Kistosen gently laid her down.

"Elphaba, please remove her shoes, socks, and braces, please," Ameya instructed as she entered the room.

Elphaba knelt down at the foot of Nessa's bed. She found herself thankful at the towel, as the metal of the braces had cut at Nessa's skin.

"Please wash and bandage the wounds."

As soon as the bleeding had ceased, Ameya sat down on the edge of the bed. In the same fashion as she had her own arm, she felt along the bones for the breaks. Again, Elphaba followed her directions until both of Nessa's legs were cast properly.

"Very good. Now we wait for her to wake up."

"What did you mean by my father was too close to the Wizard?" Elphaba asked as she dabbed the blood from Kistosen's eyebrow.

"I don't think I should be the one to tell you that, Elphaba," Kistosen said. He glanced at Ameya, who was asleep in a rocking chair by the fire of Nessarose's bedroom. Before she had fallen asleep, she had fashioned a sling out of a spare piece of fabric, which showed bright white against the navy of her robes.

"No. You know better than anyone," Elphaba said.

"Well... It started after your mother and father got married. Your mother was the Eminent. Your father was an accomplished businessman who had many contacts within the emerald gates, as we call it. Back then, there was no worry. But then a few years passed, and the Wizard took over. That was when things began to change. Slowly, leaders of outlying communities were ousted, and new, more loyal ones put in their places. Then came Ozma. She had been our ruler for 29 years. For a while, she had worked with the Wizard, until one day she was gone."

"The Wizard had her killed?"

"We don't know for sure. But after she left, the Wizard disappeared. No one saw him for years and years. People began to forget about Ozma and the old Oz, and began to worship the Wizard. Only a few of us remember. Like your aunt."

"What were you doing in the nursery the night you got caught?" Elphaba asked quietly.

"Your mother told your aunt that she was scared of your father, and knowing his contacts within the emerald gates, we feared for your safety. Both of you. We didn't know how your father would raise you. We decided the night of the funeral to take you both and go to the Upper Vinkus and then up into Ev. I had been in contact with a few friends in Ev who would be able to make us disappear. But when your father caught me, your aunt had to fall back on the story that we had fought. But he never trusted it, and cut her off from the pair of you. Why he decided to let her in contact recently, I have no idea."

Elphaba nodded, staring into the fire.

A small moan from the corner brought Kistosen and Elphaba to their feet. Ameya opened her eyes, blinked, and then rose to her feet as well.

She took a seat on the edge of Nessa's bed. Slowly, Nessa opened her eyes.

"Hello. Can you hear me?"

A nod.

"Can you see me?"

Another nod.

"Can you speak?"

"Yes."

Ameya smiled.

"Can you tell me what your name is?"

Nessa paused for a moment before answering "Nessarose."

"Very good. Can you tell me what my name is?" Ameya asked, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Nessa looked Ameya over before shaking her head.

"Alright. Can you tell me what her name is?" Ameya asked, pointing to Elphaba.

Nessa's eyes grew wide at the sight of Elphaba. She shook her head.

"Okay. Can you tell me Nessarose, are you in pain?"

"My chest hurts. And my head a little bit. But mostly my legs," Nessa answered softly. Ameya nodded.

"Yes. I understand. My associate and I just set fractures in both of your legs."

"Will...Will I be okay?" Nessa asked, her brow furrowing in worry.

"Yes, my dear. You will be fine. Now, my associate and I are going to step out in the hall for a moment to discuss something, and then I will go locate some pain medication for you. I need you to rest, but please do not fall asleep. Can you do that for me?"

Nessa nodded, and then shifted, pulling her arms out so they lay over top of the quilt Kistosen had covered her with.

"What did I do? What did I do? What did I do?" Elphaba repeated frantically as soon as Ameya closed the door to Nessa's room.

"Breathe. Elphaba, you need to calm down. Breathe. In and out," Ameya said firmly. "This is to be expected as she hit her head. It is only temporary."

"B-but she doesn't know who I am!" Elphaba said. She slid down the hallway wall, burying her face in her exposed green arms.

"Elphaba. She does know who you are, but she just cannot remember. She will. What I need you to do right now is calm down enough that you can go find out what she does remember. Alright? Can you do that for me?" Ameya asked quietly, kneeling down in front of Elphaba.

After a few minutes, Elphaba nodded. Ameya offered her good hand to help Elphaba up, before opening the door once again.

"Alright, Miss Nessarose. I am Dr. Thropp and this is Miss Elphaba. She is my student, and she will be asking you a few questions. Is that alright with you?" Ameya asked. Nessa looked between her aunt and sister and nodded. "Very good. I will go fetch that medicine."

And with a flash of navy robes, Ameya was gone.

"Um, so... I am Miss Elphaba. Pleased to meet you," Elphaba said awkwardly. She extended her hand. Nessa cocked her head slightly in confusion, before shaking it.

"Can I ask you a question, Miss Elphaba?" Nessa said quietly.

"Of course."

"That doctor. Was she hurt? Her arm?" Nessa asked softly. Elphaba nodded.

"Yes. Her arm is broken," Elphaba stated, her eyes looking up at the ceiling.

"How did she break it?"

"She got hurt at the same time you got hurt, miss, " Elphaba inquired. Then she paused. "Do you remember it at all?"

"All I can remember is being thrown backwards from a chair," Nessa said, frowning.

Elphaba nodded.

"Can you tell me anything about yourself, miss?" Elphaba asked, leaning forward in her chair and resting her chin on her palm.

"I, uh... Hmmm. I think I have a mother and a father. And I think a dog, perhaps?" Nessa asked, looking at Elphaba for a sign of support.

"Can you tell me details about them, miss?" Elphaba muttered. Nessa shook her head.

"I cannot recall anything about them in particular, miss."

Elphaba rubbed her hand across her face, trying her best to ignore the tears welling in her eyes.

"Is-is... C-can you tell me anything about you that you remember?" Elphaba proposed.

"I am 17 years old, and I have brown hair and eyes. And I..." Nessa sighed. "And I cannot walk. I use a wheelchair. That was the chair I was knocked out of."

"Excuse me," Elphaba said quickly. Nessa's brow furrowed as she watched the green girl run out of the room.

Once the door was tightly closed, Elphaba collapsed sobbing. Ameya, who had been coming down the hall with the medicine, took a seat beside her.

"A-are you punishing me?" Elphaba sobbed.

"No. Of course not. I told you. I am not punishing you for making a mistake. You already served your penance," Ameya explained.

"Th-then why are you making me do this?" Elphaba spluttered.

"Because of anyone on the face of Oz, you are the person that Nessarose Thropp trusts the most. She cannot call to name who you are as of this moment, but she feels calm while you are around. I have been listening. If you were someone she did not like or trust, even in her state of amnesia, she would have had a subconscious reaction to them."

Elphaba continued to cry. Ameya stroked her hair. It was quite a few minutes before Elphaba was calm enough to return. But just as she went to turn the door handle, she froze.

"How can you trust me? After, after I did that? After I hurt you?" Elphaba muttered. Ameya was halfway down the hall already, but she heard every word. She turned on her heel.

"The last time I doubted someone, I lost someone very dear to me. You made a mistake. You did something out of your control. It can be remedied. But doubting yourself... Doubting yourself can be unforgivable."

Elphaba considered her aunt's words, and then turned the door handle.

"I-I apologize, Miss Nessarose. I-I was a bit overwhelmed," Elphaba explained, taking her seat by the bed.

"Did I say or do something to upset you?" Nessa asked worriedly.

"No, no. I just... It's my first day working with Dr. Thropp, and I just got overwhelmed. I am fine though," Elphaba said, trying her best to give a convincing smile.

"Oh. I thought I did something. I... I can't be sure, but I don't think I have many friends, and I worried that that might be why," Nessa muttered, watching her fingers interlace.

"Oh. I...I'm sorry, Miss Nessarose. But you didn't do anything. You are a very pleasant person to be around," Elphaba reassured her. Nessa smiled, but then yawned.

"Can you call Dr. Thropp? I am very tired and wish to go to sleep, but I do not want to do so if she does not see it fit," Nessa explained.

Elpahaba nodded and stood. She was just about to open the door when she heard Nessa say her name.

"Yes, Miss Nessarose?"

"May I ask you a question, Miss Elphaba?" Nessa asked. Elphaba nodded. "Is your skin really green, or am I imagining it?"

"It is actually green, Miss Nessarose," Elphaba answered.

"Are there a lot of green people in Oz?" Nessa queried.

She knows we are in Oz, Elphaba thought, before shaking her head.

"No one apart from me, miss."

"Not even your family?" Nessa asked, her brow furrowed.

"No, miss. No one except for me," Elphaba said, looking at her emerald hands. Nessa nodded slightly.

"Do you get lonely? Being the only green person in Oz?" Nessa asked.

Elphaba bit her lip, weighing the pros and cons of lying in her head. But in the end, she didn't feel it right to lie.

"Very... Uh, very lonely, miss. But, uh, I do have a, uh... I-I do get lonely, miss," Elphaba said, still not making eye contact.

"I'm sorry, Miss Elphaba. I would not wish anyone to be lonely," Nessa said sadly. "I-I think that I may be a lonely person. Perhaps we could be lonely together?"

"It would be my honor, Miss Nessarose."