Good news is, this fic and almost all the others are okay! Bad News: my fic titled The Mourning Angel's Tears is totaled, I'll need to completely rewrite it. Not looking forward to it :-(
As usual; I do not own Disney or any of it's characters
I spend the rest of the 'day' learning where and who everyone is. I learn there are two massive men who are security guards for my section, one of which is named Oaken. I learn that Dr. Kai is the head doctor for this floor, with two other doctors; Dr. Yzma (the Hag), and a Dr. Pabbie (who apparently was out sick and was currently replaced with a Dr. Sweet). The head nurse's name is Gerda, a tall skinny woman, who reminds me of a nanny I had once. As far as I can tell (based on various conversations that I overheard) besides Kronk, the other nurses are Kuzco, Mowgli, Rapunzel, Belle, Alice, Tadashi, Hans, Attina, Kida, and Mulan. Most of them are in opposite parts of the building, due to having certain hallways to themselves (due to having multiple patients having rooms right next to each other).
I quickly learn that I am one of the only comatose patients in the private hospital. That's another thing I have learned; I am currently in the Arendelle Rehabilitation and Therapy Center. It apparently doubles as a private hospital for regular injuries, though specializes in issues to do with the brain. I think, it's rather hard to tell when no one will actually tell me anything. I am beginning to wonder if I ever will be able to move, I have tried to move several times more, but I am still completely immobilized. It is only after my 45th time trying to move my arms that I realize that I am not in any pain. My entire body was smashed to a pulp by a big rig, how am I not in pain right now? I can't help but wonder. And yet, I'm not in pain, not at all, the only thing I feel is the vibrations of people and objects in the current (and surrounding) buildings. Why? It doesn't make any sense, I mean, I was more broken than a limestone block under a jackhammer. I should be practically writhing in pain, shouldn't I? I continue to wonder at the lack of torment, when I hear the buzzing of the door, and I realize the day and night have passed and there are two people coming through the door. One of them I recognize as Dr. Kai, even though his steps are far away and on the ground floor. The other person with him is fairly shorter from what I can tell, and is trying not to walk ahead.
I take that back, the person with him isn't walking exactly. You know how people describe really excited people; they say that the person has a spring in their step? That was this person, not quite bouncing or skipping, but not walking either. Whoever it is, is clearly exited or nervous about something. I feel them both walk through the hospital (because calling it a rehab center is rather disconcerting for me), Dr. Kai leading the way, showing her certain things and the other following close behind. As they get closer I can sense more about the doctor's companion; it is a girl, probably eighteen-ish if my senses are correct, judging by her walk, she is probably one of those naturally happy people who make a lot of friends. As they get closer I sense something bouncing on her shoulders, and after several moments of wondering, I realize they are some kind of styled pigtail, not loose strands like normal, but done in a way that they solidly hit against her chest, and I can feel her hair bouncing with her step. Whatever it is she is learning about must be interesting, because they talk seriously several times, and I can swear the young woman with the doctor is taking notes on what he is saying. Then the doctor gently takes the girl's arm and guides her (to my utter shock) to my room.
The door opens and I hear Dr. Kai say, "And this is Ms. Anderson, she is the last patient you will be taking care of, but also a very important one. You will have to check her vitals several times a day and make sure that her machinery is in order. Dr. Yzma will show you how it's done."
The Hag (who has been waiting in the other hall) walks in and I can feel the tiny shiver that runs through the young woman at the appearance of the intruder. I can practically feel the false smile rolling off of the Hag, as she walks forward and holds out a clammy, bony, leathery hand for the poor girl to shake. To her credit, the girl doesn't flinch away and instead introduces herself with a cheerful ease.
"Hi," the young woman greets, "I'm Anna Christian, the new nurse."
Bubblegum. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I hear her voice. If the flavor of bubblegum was a sound, it would be her voice. Bubbly, sweet, unique… Elsa, stop waxing poetic! They are going to start talking again.
"Dr. Yzma," the old hag replies, her horrible voice a sickly sweet, "a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The Hag immediately goes on to show Anna the ins and outs of how to maintain the equipment keeping me alive. Between the Hag's tutorial, and the new nurse's inquiries, I learn more than I ever wanted to about what goes into keeping a coma patient alive. Honestly, I am beginning to wonder if just getting unplugged would be better than this indecency. Only two thoughts are going through my head, why me and honestly you old hag, would it kill you to be polite once and a while?! While the Hag is not outright disrespectful to the nurse, she is to me; continually referring to me like some kind of disgusting pet that a neighbor might have: hating my existence, while knowing she has to tolerate it. She doesn't outright say she hates me though, she just makes it quite clear by referring to me like I'm not here, and simply calling me 'the vegetable' or 'zombie'. I can feel Dr. Kai stiffen slightly as the tutorial goes on.
"And that about covers everything," Dr. Yzma says simply, "aside from all of that, A113 should be the easiest patient to take care of; after all it's not like vegetables can talk back."
If I could move right now I would flip you the bird you insufferable old witch, I grumble, even though no one can hear me.
"Umm," the nurse starts, sounding rather uncomfortable, "should you really be talking to about her like that? I mean she is technically in the room."
I can practically feel, Dr. Yzma look at the girl in slight mortification, "Patient A113 is in a coma; for all intensive purposes she is a vegetable; with minimal brain activity, and barely any functions of any kind. Patient A113 does not have the brain capacity for conscious thought, especially after the injuries she sustained, and most likely will never be able to fully communicate, much less understand anything even if by some miracle consciousness is regained. Do you any more questions? Good, I'll leave you both then."
I'm fuming in frustration, both at her obnoxious behavior and my inability to do anything about it. I feel Dr. Kai standing stiffly to the side, and my new caretaker shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably, as if trying to think if she should do something. She seems to come to a decision and clears her throat and turns to the doctor.
"Am I allowed to ask what happened to her?" the nurse asks quietly, and I feel Dr. Kai nod.
"I am allowed to reveal that she suffered several traumatic injuries from a hit and run accident, which involved her getting hit by several vehicles while on a bicycle. She barely made it into emergency surgery, and even then it took several hours to get her stable. Even though she received the best of care, she has been unresponsive ever since. Her family ordered her to be moved here for long term care with a private room after it became clear she may not wake."
I wince at the mention of the massive truck's flat silver grill smashing into me, and I can doctor shift, and the nurse stops. I assume he sent her a look. The girl fidgets again and then turns back to the doctor, "do you think she can hear us?"
"I do indeed believe that Ms. Anderson here can hear us," the doctor nods, "it is quite common for coma patients to be conscious of their environments, even after such traumatic injuries. Even if she is unable to respond, it doesn't hurt to show a little compassion, even if it is only with a little conversation. I'm afraid I need to go take care of a few of my own patients now, good luck, Nurse Christian."
The doctor turns and leaves, and I feel his footsteps fade away, while the nurse's remain rooted to the floor of my room. She then turns to face me and clears her throat a little.
"Not really sure if you can hear me… if you can, great, if not, oh well. But uh… Hi, I'm Anna," Anna walks up to me and shakes my hand.
It's like a jolt of electricity is shooting through my arm and up to my head, originating from my fingertips, probably because my touch senses are so, well, touchy now. Anyone? Meh, never mind. My fingers and arm is now tingly and I can't help but think; huh, she's left handed too. She lets go as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.
"Anyway, if you can hear what's going on then you already know that I'm gonna be your new nurse from now on. Pretty neat, huh?" I could hear the smile on the girl's face through her perky voice. She felt Anna walk around her and check certain devices, before stopping and staring at something.
"What's that doing there?" I hear Anna wonder aloud, and suddenly she grabs my hand again, but this time she puts something in it, something made of hard plastic.
She adjusts my hand and fingers, making sure the emergency remote will not fall out of my hand, or off of the bed. I can't help but feel rather grateful that she is acting so considerate of me. She holds one of my fingers longer than usual and puts it deliberately on one of the buttons.
"I know you can't see this, but this button," she pushes my finger gently onto it, "is the emergency call button; press it if you need a nurse or one of the doctors to come and check on you, and they'll come as quick as they can, okay?"
She lets go of my hand, but the tingling remains and I can't help but feel rather gratified at her consideration. I am not exactly sure if I will ever be able to actually push the button if I need it but it is nice to know it's there. I would be smiling if my lips could move on their own. The nurse continues to check various things, and then she suddenly stops. I feel her turn and look at what I assume it my face.
"I wonder if your hair is dyed. That really light blond is amazing; I mean I've never seen anything like it! I don't think anyone is allowed to dye patient's hair sooo, I guess it's your natural color. It's very beautiful. Is this weird? Should I be complimenting you like this, when your, you know? Why am I asking you this? Wait... ugh, now I'm confused."
Huh, I've never had a girl compliment my hair before, plenty of boys who didn't take my "ice queen" nickname to heart. I cannot help but wonder if she talks to everyone like this. The girl seems to get up her courage, and I get the feeling that I'm about to find out.
So as I said above, the only fic that was damaged by the crash appears to be TMAT. Since I also lost my internet completely, I will probably continue to update rather sporadically or whenever I can get a Wi-Fi connection. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I have to say I'm glad the damage was minimal.
-Peace out-
BatteriezNotIncluded