Ch. 5

Cloud's POV

A doctor came over to me shortly after. "Is… is she okay?" I thought back to when her gasping stopped... had she still been breathing? "Did she make it?" I observed him disconsolately, trying to prepare myself mentally because… how would I be able to handle those same words again? All the pity and grief. Anger and despair. I stared desperately, clinging to the small hope, the chance for heartening words, news that she was okay, was alive.

"She's alive. She's in the ICU. She's relatively stable for now. We're monitoring her vitals. The disease progressed so rapidly it's amazing she's still breathing." With those words I could breathe again, function again.

"Is there--"

"--There's nothing you can do right now." he interrupted before I could continue. "She's still unconscious. Go home. We'll notify you if there are any changes."

"Can I at least see her first?"

"Yes. Briefly." He led the way and I followed numbly, praying she'd make it. From what I'd read if the disease reached her lungs her chances would be extremely low. I wasn't sure how her chances were to begin with…

We reached the room and it was a painful sight; hooked up to tubes, IV's, and a respirator she looked more machine than girl. I swallowed a lump in my throat. She looked like Kairi had… before she… died. I walked over and held her hand for a while... it felt so fragile.

"Sir you need to go now." I gently sat her hand down and left the room. She wouldn't even know I'd been there so I left a note.

Somehow I made it home safely. I don't even remember any part of the drive.

I went to her room just to take a look, see what it looked like, the things she chose to surround herself with. That's when I saw something sticking out from under the phone, a scrap of paper. Hesitant but curious I grabbed it; it read the name Axel in clear, bold handwriting.

Mentally cursing whatever bad luck was driving me to do this I picked up the phone.

Naminé's POV

Ugh my whole body aches, I thought groggily, opening my eyes slowly, wincing as the bright light above me shone down into my eyes. Where am I? the thought drifted around hazily in my head and I tried to open my eyes again this time opening them slowly so they were half-lidded giving them some time to adjust. I caught a red blob in the corner of my eye and for a moment my breathing stopped.

Kairi?

And then my eyes widened in realization, Does this mean I'm dying? Or am I already dead?

My breathing and heart rate went haywire because something started beeping and the red blob moved quickly over to my side where I finally registered what it was.

Axel?

I tried to give him a slight smile but it was probably more of a grimace than anything judging by how I no longer controlled, and could barely feel, my body.

"Hey kid," he called softly. I gazed at him and he seemed to understand or guess my unspoken question because he told me, "We're here in the hospital."

That brought me to recall the most recent events as I gazed around at my surroundings, (monitors, and wires, so many wires) and couldn't move but I could still feel but it was odd because all the senses seemed dulled, almost unreal, and that tingling feeling lingered. I looked at my hands and saw an IV sticking out and grimaced. Then I gazed at myself; I was wearing a hospital gown. My face heated immediately as the realization hit me someone had undressed me and furthermore these wires were all over my chest. I felt immensely… violated almost in the idea that my personal space, my privacy was gone.

"You did have female nurses and technicians from what I understand," he assured me which slightly relieved some of my anxiety. After I calmed enough to think about something other than my various states of dress I wondered what about my clothing? I anxiously shifted my eyes toward my gown and Axel watched intently, frowning slightly as I repeated the movement a few times.

"Try to speak," he ordered.

"My clothes," I managed to respond in a hoarse whisper surprised my voice hadn't been taken from me too.

"If you were wearing pants they would have been cut off probably. The rest of it I don't know."

I glanced around the room, seeing if my clothing was neatly tucked away somewhere when I saw a small dry-erase board on the wall with information and my eyes nearly bugged out when I saw the date the 20th I was certain I'd arrived on the 18th…

I turned to Axel my eyes wide with fear, "I've been here three days already?!"

He scratched the back of his head, "Sorry kid I was hoping to tell you that later when all this came as less of a shock."

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A/N:

ICU: intensive care unit.... not sure abt there visitor policy in general there but this is an au so go with it please.

this fic's likely to be put on hold for a little while the story's giving me a hard time here.

if you like this fic let me know if ppl don't really care for/abt it i may discontinue it.

the disease is GBS a friend had it in real life (was the 1st time i'd heard of it) I'm trying to depict it realistically. yes it can be fatal; he survived tho.

if for some reason you like this fic please check out my others (esp. 'Wrong' if u like this one i think you'll prob'ly like that one) 'cuz this one (Chance encounter) is prob'ly my least fav though i hope i did a decent job with characterization.