((I promise it would get better, now here it is! I hope you guys continue to enjoy this story.))
Nepeta's neighbor, Edith James, pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and she pulled into a space in front of the main entrance.
"I don't think we'll need to go through the emergency room, we can just come in here I think and get you all checked out and get some information on Equius," she came around and opened Nepeta's door, helping the still shaken girl out of the vehicle. They walked across the blacktop and into the cool shade of the long awning leading up to the door. When they walked in the lady behind the counter did a double take and then picked up her phone.
"Yes…they just walked in. Yes ma'am, she seems to be alright other than a few cuts and bruises…of course I'll have a nurse set her up with a room right away ma'am," the lady put the phone down and smiled warmly up at them, "the police called ahead and left a description for you with us. You'll have a room ready within a few minutes of my next call, please have a seat while I call the nurses' station," the lady picked up her phone and dialed a short number as Edith and Nepeta went and sat down nearby.
"I really hope everything is okay," Nepeta whispered as she stared down at her lap, "it would be devastating if something bad happened to Equius while he was trying to help me again."
"This has happened before?" Edith's wrinkles deepened slightly with her look of surprise, "what happened then?"
"The same man attacked me. Ever since I was a freshman in high school he's hated me for some reason. I think it's because he's fiercely protective of his old best friend, that's why he did it the first time, he thought I was gonna steal away his best friend," Nepeta shuddered at the memory, ghost pains in her chest from the broken ribs, the injured lungs. She blinked as a pair of white shoed feet stopped in front of her; she looked up to find a friendly looking nurse standing above her.
"Ms. Leijon? Or is it Mrs. Zahhak?" the nurse asked, "We were given both names from the police," she explained as the two other women stood up.
"Either is fine, although Equius, Mr. Zahhak, and I are married," Nepeta replied as they started to walk down the hall towards a set of elevators. The nurse pushed the up button and one of them dinged open. The trio stepped in and the nurse selected the 4th floor and the elevator began to rise, "speaking of Equius, do you know how he's doing? He came in an ambulance, probably around 45 minutes ago? He had a – a bullet wound in the leg."
"Oh, that Mr. Zahhak! He's still in surgery, but last report we heard in the nurses' station was that he was going to be fine," the nurse, Jody, smiled at the relieved Nepeta, "he lost a lot of blood but the bullet missed major arteries in his thigh. He might have a little muscle damage, but with a bit of therapy he will pull out of it all splendidly."
Nepeta sighed heavily, kneading her fingers together in thought. She looked up when the elevator chimed and the doors slid open to the 4th floor. The nurse led them down the hall, where they stopped when they got to the nurses' station. The 4th floor head nurse had Edith fill out a small form and handed her a pass with "extended visitor" printed on it in red. She explained that Edith would be able to stay after visiting hours if she wished to, and that she could go into the private café to purchase food and beverages if needed. Their guide was handed a slip of paper with Nepeta's name on it and the room number. They turned back towards the elevators, passing them and turning around a corner into a quieter hall. They walked to the end of it, and the nurse turned into the corner room after putting the paper in a clear holder on the wall beside the door.
The nurse handed Nepeta a set of hospital pajamas, "if you'll just put these on, we can get you in to be checked out soon," she turned to Edith, "ma'am when she goes to get her tests done you can wait in here, there's the remote to the television, just keep it down, or you can go to the café which is on the 5th floor," she nodded to the two women and walked out into the hall.
"I'll just go put these on in the restroom," Nepeta murmured as she made her way into it. There was no way they're insurance would cover all of this, and how had she gotten into a private room? She wondered if Equius's father had already heard about this and was pulling the strings. He was the owner and CEO of a major robotics and prosthetics company that made some of the best products on the market. He'd wanted his son to take over the business, and although he did love robotics as much as his dad he'd wanted to learn what it was like to work as a normal person. He'd wanted to settle down in a little house and have a quiet life making his own way in the world. Their lives were simple, but they were happy. He did plan on someday taking over his father's work, and they would inherit the fortune and the property, but for now he loved his humble home he had made for himself and his family. She gingerly changed her clothing and sat down on her hospital bed.
"You know, Edith, you don't have to stay I'll be just fine on my own."
"Don't be silly child I'm not about to leave you alone after such a traumatic incident. Don't worry about a thing it isn't like I have anything better to do anyways, and I think you are pretty good company even after today's events. You are a very strong girl," Edith's gently lined face broke into a smile and she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders, "although it is rather cold in this institution. I can't imagine how the cold would be good for the sick and injured but that's the newfangled government for you, always butting in where they shouldn't."
This sudden speech made the younger girl laugh, "I don't think the government has anything to do with the building temperature. I think they keep it this cold to prevent germs from spreading or something like that."
"I would imagine these germs would be stopped from spreading with all these state of the art cleaners and medicines they have nowadays. They ought to have separate thermostats for each room or something with all that technology they have for that too."
"Well that would cost a lot of money you know," Nepeta looked up at the door when a knock resounded through the room. Their guide poked her head into the door and motioned that it was time for her tests, "I'll be back soon; if you want to go home and get anything you're more than welcome to anytime."
"I think I'll take you up on that offer sweetheart, these old bones don't take kindly to the cold. That's why Mr. James and I moved out here to the desert in the first place. Is there anything you want me to get you anything from your home?"
Nepeta's mind flashed the images of blood and she shook her head quickly, "no I'll be fine with what I have. Besides, the police are probably not done yet," she waved at the older woman as she made her way towards the elevators, following her guide nurse to the 6th floor into an examining room. She only had to wait a few minutes before a doctor came in.
"Ms. Leijon, or is it Mrs. Zahhak?" the older man asked as he checked his charts, "ah I see, Mrs. Zahhak, let's go with that. Now then let me see," he read the case and looked over at her with a frown, "let's just check to make sure there aren't any broken bones or any concussions okay?"
He checked in her eyes and ran his hands over her arms and legs, feeling for anything abnormal. When he didn't find anything besides some large bruises he heaved a sigh of relief, "I heard about what happened before, we had the files faxed over here. Five broken ribs, a fractured tibia, a concussion, and a punctured lung I'm amazed you survived such an attack. Now it happens again? I hope the man responsible goes to the worst prison ever for a very long time. Now then, before we do any x-rays we should probably do an ultrasound of your abdomen."
She perked up at this, "yes I think that would be a very good idea," they both turned to the door when a nurse peeked in and smiled when she spotted her.
"Ah, we have good news! Mr. Zahhak will be just fine. We got the bullet out, he's still in recovery but he will be moved to a room soon and you will be able to go see him before the evening, even if he might not wake up from the anesthesia until tomorrow morning at the earliest."
Nepeta smiled so widely it hurt the bruises on her face, "that's absolutely amazing news thank you so, so much!"
"Now then let's get you into a room for the ultrasound," the doctor murmured with his own smile, "we just have to be sure everything is alright, and then we can do some x-rays."
…
Nepeta sat silently in her hospital room, thinking about what had happened. Edith was still at home, so she was alone for the most part. She stared out the window and watched the sun slowly set. She had been to see Equius, and aside from being a little pale from blood loss, a thing that had been righted by the IV drips beside his bed, he had been alright. She was thinking about how they were going to need a bigger house, and a lot of other rather important things. She smiled at the small picture in her hand when she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in," she called, thinking it was just another nurse or Edith coming in for something. She was surprised at who it actually was.
"Long time no see I know. I started driving out here the minute I heard about this happening again," her visitor came over to the side of her bed and cupped her unbruised cheek in her hand, "this shakes me to my very core Nep, I'm so sorry about all of this happening again."
"Aradia it isn't even your fault! You drove all the way from our home town to see us? You didn't have to do that at all," Nepeta looked up at her old friend, her eyes tearing up, "you can't very well control things that are happening so far away from you, you should be home right now not apologizing to me."
Aradia sat down and smoothed her long skirt out, "I just feel like I could have done something. All of us do. I called everybody when I heard. I know that a few of the others are coming out here to visit as soon as they can get time off of work or school. I could just have a sub for my classes so it was no big deal to get out here quickly."
"Who else is coming?! You guys don't have to go through all this trouble."
"This is a really unfortunate reason for a reunion but I think it's a good time as any. It will surprise Equius when he wakes up and finds a bunch of us girls here won't it?"
Nepeta giggled, "of course it will! I think it will be nice you know. It will cheer him up; hopefully take his mind off things so he doesn't feel down. But really Ari who else is coming out here?"
"Let's see I called seriously everybody from out circle of people. Jake and Dirk live in LA, so they'll be on their way shortly. Who else lives close? I think…you know I don't remember. But I do know that within the week the whole gang will be here so we can all have a party, you know, a get well party!"
"Speaking of reasons to celebrate, I have some pretty good news to tell you!"
"Oh? What is it Nep?"
Nepeta gestured for her to lean close and she whispered the news into her ear. Aradia's eyes widened and she got a huge grin on her face, "No way really that's so cool! I'm going to cry because that's so amazing!"
"Yeah it really is. I can't wait to tell everybody!"