Darkwing groaned as the darkness slowly faded from his mind. His head was spinning, but he wasn't feeling any pain. His eyes fluttered open to the sound of small whimpers.
"Ngh… Ow…" he moaned weakly. "What hit me…"
"Dad..? Daddy! Daddy! You're awake!" Gosalyn cried out, grabbing his hand tightly. DW turned his head slowly to look around.
A Hospital, he thought to himself. What was he doing here? He tried to bolt up, but strangely, his body didn't cooperate.
"Where am I? What's going on!?" He snapped, looking around, turning his head to Gosalyn. Tears streamed down the little ducklings' face as she looked at him. "…Gos honey? What's wrong…?"
"Oh dad… I'm… I'm so sorry…!" She wailed, clinging to his arm. "It's all my fault!"
"Whoa, hold on now kiddo… what, you mean this…? Hey common… it's not the first time I've been in a hospital!" DW gave a small chuckle, but to this Gosalyn only sobbed louder. "…Gos? It's okay, really… Geez, did Nega nail me that hard? Man, they must have me doped up pretty good, I don't feel a thing!" He smiled at her, trying to calm her fears, and his. He reached over slowly and petted her head softly. From the way she was crying, he knew he was hurt pretty bad, but nothing could have prepared him for what she had to say next.
"Dad… it's all my fault…You're…" She sobbed, tears flowing down her already damp cheeks.
"Listen honey, whatever it is, you can tell me… I promise I won't be mad." Darkwing gently wiped away her tears and gave her a small smile.
"Dad… You… Nega… When you turned to look at me... Nega... he shot you in the back… the doctors said it… that it… severed your spine… that's why you can't feel anything…" She whimpered and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry… if only I stayed home!"
Darkwing froze in place, looking down at her. Slowly his gaze turned to his legs.
No. …No. This can't be… he thought to himself. It's all…It's all a joke! He tried to wiggle his toes. Nothing happened. He tried to bend his knees. Nothing happened. This can't be happening!
Fear and panic began to overtake his mind. He willed his body to move. Silently begged, and pleaded, and yet his legs did not move. His breathing became ragged as the terror began to take hold. Gosalyn pulled back and looked up at him.
"Daddy…? Dad are you okay…? Say something…" she pleaded quietly.
"NO!" He suddenly yelled, scaring her so badly she stumbled back. "NO! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING! I don't believe this!" He threw the blanket off and turned himself to the side of the bed. Never had it felt so hard to do so!
"Dad! Stop! Don't!" Gosalyn cried out as she rushed to try and stop him. He only pushed her away and slid off the bed. With all his might he willed his legs to work, to make him stand, but they only buckled under his weight, and he hit the floor, hard. "Daddy!" Gosalyn wailed as she knelt beside him, trying to help him up. He struggled against her, shaking his head.
"No! NO! I can walk! I'm not paralyzed! I can walk, let me go!" he screamed, struggling against her. His head suddenly began to spin as his breath shortened.
"Stop it dad! Please! Launchpad!" Gosalyn screamed towards the door. It swung open and Launchpad rushed in.
"DW! Hold on I got ya!" He quickly bent down and lifted Darkwing up and lied him back on the bed, all the while Darkwing struggled and thrashed.
"Let me go let me go! I can walk! I can walk damn you!" Darkwing screamed. Launchpad held him down on the bed, fear in his eyes as he watched his best friend thrash wildly. Slowly, Darkwing stopped thrashing about, and finally laid back limply. Then, he did something he told himself years ago that no crime fighter should ever do.
He cried.