Chapter 5

Waking Up

Fievel woke up feeling warm. He was laying on something soft. He opened his eyes and saw a bright light above him. The light felt warm and comforting.

Well, it's not like I wasn't expecting to wake up here, Fievel thought to himself. He tried to sit himself up, but was stopped by the searing pain in his shoulder and chest. He yelped with pain.

"He's awake!" someone near him said. They walked over to Fievel and helped him up. Fievel let his eyes adjust to the light and saw that he was in a hospital room. He was lying on a bed and the person who helped him up was Tony. The light and warmth was coming from the sunshine through the window next to his bed. He put his hand on his shoulder and felt bandages that were wrapped around his upper chest and shoulder.

"Tony?" said Fievel quietly. "What happened?"

"You got stabbed by that creep, Hollows, Philly," said Tony.

"Yeah, I knew that," said Fievel. "What happened after that?"

"After Hollows stabbed you, your girlfriend ran and got a cop and a doctor and basically saved your life," said Tony. "You've been out for two days. We've all been waiting for you to wake up. I'll go get your dad." He ran out of the room and left Fievel alone. Fievel sat back against the headboard. He waited for about five minutes before Tony came back with Fievel's father and sister, Tanya, in tow.

"Tanya!" said Fievel, surprised.

"Fievel!" yelled Fievel's father happily.

"Pap-" began Fievel, until he was smothered by his father's bear hug. "AAUUGGGHH!" Fievel screamed out of the pain in his shoulder as his father hugged him. His father backed off of him quickly.

"Sorry," said Fievel's father.

"Tanya, when did you get here?" asked Fievel.

"This morning," she replied. "I came as soon as I heard what happened."

"When did you hear?" he asked.

"Two nights ago," said Tanya.

"How?" asked Fievel. He knew there was no way she could have received any kind of letter about it on the night of the day he was stabbed.

"I know a guy," she said slyly. Fievel gave Tony a confused look.

"She won't tell us either," he said with a shrug. She smiled and sat down beside the bed.

"So what's gonna happen to Mr. Hollows?" asked Fievel.

"Hollows was arrested and they're gonna exile him for life in a day or two," said Tony. "They questioned him pretty roughly. He confessed to everything."

"Okay," said Fievel. "What about Lorena?"

"No one's seen hide nor tail of her since the day of the stabbing," said Tony. "We've been looking, but she's disappeared pretty thoroughly." Then, as if on cue, Lorena walked in the room.

"Hi, Fievel," she said quietly. "We got him."

"Yeah, we did," he replied equally as quietly. "Tony?" Tony looked up.

"Yeah?" said Tony.

"Could we have a minute alone?" asked Fievel.

"Sure," said Tony. He started coaxing Tanya and Fievel's father out the door. "C'mon, let's go, Mr. M. C'mon, Tanya, let's leave them alone. Go on." He ushered them out and closed the door behind them and stood by the door and watched Fievel and Lorena.

"Tony," said Fievel.

"Yeah?" asked Tony. Then a look of realization came over his face. "Oh! Sorry." He left the room and closed the door behind him.

"So what happens now?" asked Fievel.

"I don't know," said Lorena. "I guess I'll go back home."

"What if you lived with my family?" asked Fievel.

"How would that work?" she asked.

"My little sister could share my bed with me and you could have her bed until we could get you your own bed," said Fievel.

"Okay, so what do I tell my boss?" asked Lorena.

"Tell him that you found a better life in New York and that you won't be returning," said Fievel. "And that he should send your stuff up here."

"Well, I don't really have any stuff," said Lorena. "I don't know Fievel. I'm just not sure about it."

"Oh, c'mon," said Fievel. "Ever since Tanya left, my mama's been running the household single-handedly. She could really use some help. Especially help from a professional maid."

"I'll think about it," she said. She turned to head for the door when Fievel stopped her.

"Lorena, can you come here?" asked Fievel. She walked over to his bedside.

"What?" she asked.

"In the last three days-" said Fievel.

"Five," interrupted Lorena.

"Sorry, five," said Fievel. "We've been caught kissing in an alley together, we've gone to lunch together, we caught a murderer, and you saved my life. I just want to say thank you."

"The kiss and the date were fakes," said Lorena. "And I did save your life, after you tried to give it up so I could escape with mine. So you're welcome, and thank you for helping me."

"You're welcome," he said with a smile. She turned to leave, but Fievel grabbed her hand and stopped her again. "One more thing. Come closer." She leaned in toward him.

"My turn," he whispered. He took her hand, put it on the headboard, embraced her and brought her closer and started kissing her. And she kissed back.

THE END

Author's note: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed my first fanfic! Please, please review!