Elphaba lay half awake in the hospital bed after the doctor had examined her again. He was talking to Fiyero and Galinda. From what she could hear she had a broken hip and wouldn't be able to walk for quite some time. "Just great", mumbled Elphaba to herself. "more relying on people", then she stopped and thought for a bit. All the sudden she felt sorry for Fiyero and Galinda, they were going to have to look after her again and help her get around.
"- You can take her home, she doesn't have to stay in the hospital." Elphaba caught the end of the doctors sentence. No she wouldn't put Fiyero though this.
"Fiyero..." her voice cracked. He was at her side in a matter of seconds. "What is it Fae are you in pain?"
"I...sort of..."
"Fae please tell me"
"Ok I am but that's not what I was...going to tell you, Yero"
"Elphaba what is it?"
"I don't want you to...to - i don't think you should have to look after me...maybe it's best if i stay here- at hospital that way...that way i won't be a burden on you"
"No Fae, never! I won't leave you here, and you're not a burden I love you and you will be lonely here by yourself"
"I don't know Yero...I..."
"Shh Fae don't be silly you are coming with me".
Elphaba smiled, she knew Fiyero was right she would be lonely and she would miss him too much. He kissed her.
Day turned into night, ELphaba slept while Galinda and Fiyero played chess in Elphaba's hospital room. "Check mate" mumbled Fiyero as Galinda sighed in defeat for the fifth time. "I feel sorry for Elphie Fiyero, I hope she's going to be ok". Fiyero looked over at a sleeping Elphaba, her face was relaxed but somehow she looked like she was in pain. "She really loves you , you know Fiyero, I don't think she's ever had love in her life before".
"I know, she had a tough childhood, her Father beat her"
"No! That's horrible!"
Fiyero nodded, Elphaba turned in her sleep and Galinda sighed. This was going to be a long night.
It was morning; Galinda had left to get some food for herself and Fiyero. Fiyero was sitting next to Elphaba's head holding her hand. She was still sleeping. Her eyes soon flickered open, "Oh Yero...thank Lurine it's you"
He smiled. "Who else were you expecting?"
"I um- I had a nightmare, Father...He found me with you, and he hurt you and then hurt me..."
He stroked her hair and held her close. "I want to go home Fiyero, home with you" she whispered.
"I know, I want you home with me too, ill check with William, maybe you can go home today" he stood to leave. Elphaba forgetting about her immobility tried to get up, she cried in pain as she collapsed back onto the bed.
"Fae, are you alright?" stressed Fiyero
"I'm fine Yero; I just forgot I can't move"
"You will be able to soon Fae, don't you worry"
Elphaba tried to pull him closer to her, he complied. "Yero I...I just want this to be all over...I wish none of this happened...I wish i didn't have to rely on anyone...I wish I didn't cry as much as i do now...I wish i could just be happy with you, just you and me and- and I'd feel safe..."
"I wish all those things too Fae, you have me though and I'm not going to leave you, remember that" he smiled.
Elphaba yawned and entwined her fingers around his, " I want to go home Yero".
"I'll check with the doctor, I'm pretty sure you can get discharged today". He placed his hand on her jaw and went to kiss her but she pulled back when his hand rested on a rather large bruise. "Ouch" cried Elphaba. Fiyero jumped back, and then mentally slapped himself for forgetting about her bruised jaw. "I's so sorry Fae...I forgot...I'm sorry"
"It's alright Fiyero just try be more careful next time" She smiled.
Fiyero, Galinda and the Doctor stood in Elphabas hospital room running over the fine details of what to expect with Elphaba's recovery and how to minimise her pain.
"Twice a day Elphaba will need to take two of these pain medication tablets" William handed Fiyero the bottle. The bandage around her ribs will need to be changed every 3-4 days. And most importantly Elphaba, no walking around, you will be very sore for a while and walking will only aggravate your pain, so only lying down or sitting up. Oh and also the hospital will provide you with a wheelchair but make sure someone pushes you around. In three weeks i'll get you to come back and we can start you on some physiotherapy"
"Is that all?" mumbled Elphaba
"Fae be nice" whispered Fiyero as the doctor left.
"Yero I'm going to go crazy not being able to move around...what- what am i going to do?"
"We'll take one step at a time my love ok?"
"okay"
Fiyero and Galinda stepped outside the hospital doors with Elphaba in a wheelchair. "Is anyone else...cold?" asked Elphaba
Fiyero pulled a blanket from the back of Elphabs's chair and then carefully placed it around her legs. "There you are Fae, nice and warm".
Fiyero's carriage wasn't able to hold a wheelchair so the three had to make their way down to the train station. Fiyero payed for their tickets while Galinda sat with Elphaba.
"Galinda, can i say something?" questioned Elphaba
"Of course Elphie! What is it?"
" Do you feel like everyone is watching you? Because, because i don't feel very safe outside...what if...what if Father's guard comes...back...im frightened Galinda...i don't want to be"
"Oh Elphie, it's ok to be scared or frightened, you are human after all." Replied Galinda as she hugged her green friend. "You know Elphie, i was thinking maybe it would be good for you to go speak to a psychologist, it will probably help you feel better, emotionally i mean"
"Oh- i don't know Galinda...then, then i have to talk about myself"
"It's alright Elphie, I'll be here when you're ready to go".
The short train ride home was scary on all levels for Elphaba. "Fiyero...what if, what if one of these people knows my father..."
"Don't think about if Fae, don't stress your self out"
"But Fiyero...Elphaba shook with sobs...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry" she cried into his shoulder " I'm a nervous wreck...I'm acting so stupid". Fiyero just held her and whispered soothing things in her ear.
It took a while but the three finally arrived at the Vinkus. Elphaba was sleeping in her chair when Fiyero pushed the front door open. The door creaked and Elphaba's eyes flew open "Fiyero watch out! He's coming!"
"Fae...there's no one here, it's ok just you, Galinda and I"
"Sorry".
"Say Elphie, why don't i help you with a bath, you'll feel better" asked Galinda trying to take Elphaba's mind off things.
Elphaba nodded then went to stand up. "Elphie! Careful no! You can't stand remember" gushed Galinda as she stopped her friend from standing.
"How...how am i supposed to get up stairs then? See i told you i'd be a nuisance". Sighed Elphaba.
"Use the downstairs bathroom Fae, and you're not a nuisance, you're just a bit disadvantaged at the moment" replied Fiyero.
"Come on Elphie lets go" bubbled Galinda as she pushed Elphie's wheelchair along the corridor and into the bathroom.
"Now Elphie i don't want you to feel unconfutable or anything because..." Galinda turned around after shutting the door and realised Elphaba had nodded off. "Elphie, wake up" she whispered as she placed a small hand on her friends face.
"Oh Galinda...im so sorry, im just a bit tied i think" blushed Elphaba.
"It's ok Elphie. Now as i was saying before, i don't want you to feel embarrassed about me helping you with washing, after all we are both female, plus i want to help you Elphie" grinned Galinda.
"Thank you Galinda...thank you for everything, you really are my true best friend" smiled Elphaba as she leant over to hug her blonde friend.
"Look at me Galinda, I...I look like a mess" mumbled Elphaba as she looked at her naked body.
Galinda looked over at Elphaba, she was right, her face had cuts on it, her jaw was bruised as well as her ribs and hip, her bones were clearly evident through her green skin. " Oh Elphie, you shouldn't worry, all this will heal and then you will be your beautiful self once more"
"Thank you... My sweet...Um Glinda...?"
"Yes Elphie?" replied Galinda as she cleaned the dirt from one of the many cuts that littered Elphaba's body.
"What...what did the doctor say about- you know?"
"Oh, he said you had an infection there...the pain should stop in a few days and it will heal up on its own" smiled the blonde.
Elphaba relaxed somewhat, Galinda could see the relief wash over the green woman's face.
"A bit of good news for once hey Elphie" grinned Galinda.
"Yeah...it is good. You know it's strange to be able to sit in water i can't believe that stuff" Elphaba gestured over to the bottle Fiyero had been given a while back. "It can let me touch water".
"Hey Elphie...can i ask you something?"
"uh ok then"
"That guard-" Elphaba tensed once more and averted her eyes to the floor. "your fathers guard, is he the one that attacked you back at shiz Elphie?"
"Father...his guard..." mumbled Elphaba, she started to shake."No! Galinda he's going to get me- he's coming...he said he was going to hurt me again".
"Elphie- Elphaba, look, look at me!" said Galinda sternly as her friend began to cry. "Elphaba, look at me, i need you to calm down...he is not here, he cant hurt you Elphaba". Elphaba's tears continued to flow, she tried to breathe in despite the pain in her chest. "Elphie- Elphie, please don't cry, don't cry"
"I cant stop Galinda...im...im so, so scared, he's going to come back... Galinda please...My father- Frex he will stop at nothing...please Galinda," Elphaba's wet hands latched onto Galinda." G...Galinda... don't let me go- don't let go."
"Ok Elphie, I'm here, i won't let you go"
Galinda's arms held Elphaba tightly to her body. "Fiyero!" called the blonde. "Fiyero!"
Fiyero emerged from the door way looking rather confused. Elphaba spotted him from the corner of her eye. "Galinda...Father's guard...Father's guard- he's here...he's here" cried Elphaba as she pointed to a confused Fiyero.
"Elphie, Elphaba...that's Fiyero, look he's not the Guard, he's not going to hurt you".
"F...Fiy...Fiyero?"
"Yes Elphie, it's Fiyero. He loves you, he's not going to hurt you Elphie"
"Galinda...please don't let him see me like this" whispered Elphaba as she tried to get away. Galinda held her to stop her from hurting herself. Elphaba after much effort stoped trying to get away, she sagged against Galinda and cried softly.
Fiyero walked up to the tub were Galinda and Elphaba were. Together they helped her out, dried her carefully and Fiyero then placed her in the lounge room on a long couch in front of the open fire place with a blanket wrapped around her.
Elphaba fell asleep with Fiyero sitting next to her holding her hand.
Galinda walked back in from the kitchen with the tablets the Doctor told Elphaba to take. She set them down on the small table near the couch.
"What happened earlier Galinda?" questioned Fiyero
"I really don't know Fiyero she was fine then she freaked out. She was scared that her Father was going to find her and his guard would hurt her again."
"That basted!" cursed Fiyero
"Do you really think her father would organise someone to attack his own daughter?"
"I- I don't know Galinda...I just hope Fae is going to be ok"
"I think she needs to see a psychologist Fiyero, it will do her a world of good".
"You're right Galinda but i don't want to force her to go"
"You don't have to, why don't you suggest it to her, maybe if you tell her she might actually think about going. Anyway Fiyero im tired i think I'll go to bed".
"Ok Galinda, see you in the morning" Galinda left leaving Fiyero alone with Elphaba.
Elphaba's eye flicked under the lids. "She must be having a dream" thought Fiyero. He held her close. For a while Fiyero sat there staring at the wall, he was tired but couldn't fall asleep.
"Yero?" Mumbled Elphaba her eyes inched open
"Fae...im here"
"Don't let me go Yero, don't let me go, don't let me go..." Elphaba's words trailed off leaving behind a face full of fear.
"I'm not going any ware Fae, im staying here with you, i won't let you go"
" I'm getting sicker Yero...I...I cant do this anymore-"
" -Fae, i think you should go to a psychologist tomorrow, Galinda offered to take you. I think it's going to help you move on from all this trauma"
" I...I cant Fiyero...I..."
"Please Fae, I want you to get better...I love you so much, please go with Galinda tomorrow"
"I um- ok...i'll go" she turned to move onto her back but cringed as her hip reminder her it was still broken. "Ouch...oh Yero i just want this to...to be all over".
He smiled softly at her then helped her sit up, she cringed again. "Sorry Fae".
"It's alright".
"Here take these" he handed her the medicine that Galinda had brought in earlier.
"Thanks...what's it for?"
"Um i think it's supposed to be a temporary pain relief"
"Oh yay...temporary"
"I take that was sarcasm?"
"Just a little" smiled Elphaba.
"Ha-ha, i think it's time you went to bed Fae"
"I'm not tied...besides i can't sleep Yero- everything hurts".
He lifted her up gently and carried her up the stairs. "if i could Fae my love I'd take all your pain, id sooner be in pain then you... i cant stand seeing you hurt."
"oh Yero i don't want you to be in pain..."
"But I am you're hero after all".
Elphaba smiled and rested her head on Fiyero's chest.
"Now Fae, did you want to sleep in the other spare room by yourself, with Galinda or with me?" he wiggled his eye brows at the latter.
Elphaba giggled. "I think I'll stay with Galinda Yero as much as i would love to sleep with you...i think it's the right thing to do"
"Sensible as always right Fae?"
"Always" Elphaba smiled.
Pushing open Galinda's door he called out to the blonde. "You still awake Galinda.
"Yes Fiyero, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, i was just wondering if Fae could sleep in here with you?"
"Oh yes! Ok company"
Fiyero placed Elphaba down on the bed next to Galinda. "Ok Fae, ill see you in the morning, have a good sleep. He kissed her then left.
"Hows the pain Elphie?" asked Galinda.
"Err it's bad at the moment, I just wish it would stop, its driving me crazy"
"Maybe i can do your hair Elphie, it will take your mind of the pain" grinned Galinda.
Elphaba laughed. "No thankyou Galinda, but thanks anyway i think i just want to sleep...If i can"
"Ok Elphie, goodnight then"
"Night Galinda"
"Elphie?"
"Yes Galinda?" mumbled ELphaba
"Are you sure you're going to be ok? I mean if you're in pain or something or you want a hug im right here for you Elphie. I know im not Fiyero and all but i can hug you if you like" smiled Galinda.
Elphaba looked at her friend for a while, then smiled. "Thank-you Galinda my sweet, thank you for everything" mumbled Elphaba before she drifted off into a fitful sleep.
In the middle of the night Elphaba's whimpers woke up Galinda. Turning her head to her green friend, Elphaba was laying awake clutching her hip, holding back tears.
"Elphie...Elphie, come here" whispered Galinda as she extended her arms and held her green friend close. "I'm here Elphie, im here".