I am so sorry, you had to wait so long for this update. I have so much work at the moment, i didn't find the time to write. Now that the holidays are about to start i hope i'll be able to update my other stories as well. As always, special thanks to my wonderful beta. xx
It was early the next morning when Miranda woke up again. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that she was still in Andrea's arms. The warmth and comfort that somehow always seemed to radiate from her former assistant told her all she needed to know. It was absurd that she allowed the young woman to witness her breaking down like that, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to send the girl away now. She needed her calming presence beside her.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She felt Andrea carefully pulling back her hands. She hadn't even noticed that the girl was awake.
It seemed the nurse thought she had waited long enough for an answer and simply entered the private room. "Good morning Mrs. Priesley. How are you feeling?" she asked cheerfully.
"Do you think your mother raised you well, Carol?" Only Miranda had the ability to pronounce a name like a scorpion injecting its poison into its' helpless prey. "I assume that is your name, given that you are wearing it on that hideous uniform of yours."
Andrea felt a rush a sympathy for the paling nurse as she watched her struggle.
"I…yes. I mean, of course. I…."
"So why, pray tell is it that you think it acceptable to enter a room without being giving permission do to so?" Miranda cut her off.
"I…, well it is my job and…"
Andy wondered if she looked like the poor woman standing in the doorframe when she worked for Miranda, who was currently inhalinig a deep breath to continue for the second round.
Andy saw her chance and took it, hoping that Miranda would let it slip. "What Miranda means is that she would very much appreciate it if you could wait for a response to your knock before entering. That said, I am sure you have a reason for being here right now."
Andrea's sweet smile seemed to help the nurse recover, and she stepped in a little further. "Yes, I need to check the temperature and blood pressure. And she needs to have another infusion." She apparently thought that talking to the young woman instead of the patient would save her a lot of trouble and it worked...well until she mentioned the infusion.
"I will have no such thing." The tone of her voice allowed no futher discussion on that point.
"But…" the nurse started.
Andrea cut her off. "I would suggest you take the blood pressure and temperature now and leave the infusion here with me."
The nurse was too scared to argue. She even had half a mind to ask the young woman to take the temperature ad blood pressure herself, because she really had no desire to come anywhere close to the woman in bed. In the end she decided against it and approached her patient.
Andrea placed a calming hand on Miranda's shoulder, giving her a warning look. She felt real pity now for the nurse, whose hands were shaking while going over her tasks. Miranda made an impatient and annoyed noise, but otherwise remained silent. The poor woman fled so quickly that she didn't even tell them the results while the infusion hung, abandoned, from a tall rack next to Miranda's bed.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Good morning, Miranda," Andy finally said.
"Is that your definition of 'good'?!" The older woman gave her an icy glare.
Andy sighed and rounded the bed. "Where are you going?" Miranda asked, for a moment afraid that the young woman would leave her.
"I'm starting the infusion." She sounded determined.
"For the sake of courtesy I will repeat what I said earlier. I will not have another infusion."
Andrea nearly laughed out loud. The thought that Miranda would do something for the sake of courtesy was utterly ridiculous. "I heard what you said, but it looks like we don't agree on that point."
Before the older woman could tear her into pieces, Andy sat down on the bed and took hold of the older woman's hand. Miranda was too shocked by the girl's boldness to react. "Miranda, please listen to me. I understand you've had enough. You're unwell, you've had an operation, an emergency operation and you just want to go home. I know all that and we will try to get you home as soon as possible, but as long as you're here we should do whatever helps to make you better, including the infusion. Please allow me to start it."
Miranda shifted looking as embarrassed as the fashion queen ever could. She pulled her hand back, instantly feeling the loss of it. "Andrea, I…. the fluid…", she whispered very unlike herself, "I think I need the bathroom."
"Oh Miranda, of course. I'm sorry I didn't think of that. I'll get someth…"
"No! I will not…I need help getting there." Miranda cut her off, well knowing what Andrea was about to say.
"Miranda, you're too weak to…"
"Please, help me," the older woman whispered, looking so utterly defeated that Andy felt her heart clenching in her chest.
Andy was anything but comfortable with the situation, but knew she couldn't refuse the plea. She nodded and held both hands out to the relieved looking woman. "Slowly and carefully. If you feel any pain on the operation wound just tell me and I'll get you back to bed immediately."
Miranda tentatively took a hold of Andrea's hand, allowing the young woman to help her into a sitting position. She took a couple of deep breaths before she moved her legs over the edge of the bed, feeling her wound thump uncomfortably. Sensing Miranda's discomfort, Andy waited patiently. "You ok?"
"Getting there," she said, her unfriendly tone covering her discomfort. A tactic Andy witnessed countless times in her former boss.
A small nod indicated that Miranda was ready to move on. She just hoped her legs wouldn't give in like the last time she had tried to stand.
"All right. I'm going to put my arms around you and want you to hold on tight. I'll pull you up." Andy hesitantly slid her arms under Miranda's and carefully embraced her. She waited until she felt the older woman hold on and slowly pulled her up. Miranda let out a surprised gasp when she felt how unsteady she was on her shaking legs.
"It's all right. I've got you, and I promise I won't let you fall," Andy soothingly whispered. Miranda felt oddly warm and protected in Andrea's arms. She trusted the girl. It was absurd, she knew, to trust someone that she knew would leave her eventually like everyone else did... Like the young woman holding her close had done before.
When Andrea was sure Miranda was able to support some of her weight she loosened her grip and put one arm around the older woman's waist. Miranda leaned heavily on Andy for every slow and shaky step until they reached the bathroom on the opposite side of the room.
"Here we are," Andy said as they reached the door. "Do you need any help?"
Miranda look mortified. "No, I think I can manage."
"All right. I'll bring you in so that you can grab the handrail and give you some privacy then."
Miranda nodded, remembering what she had missed since Andrea left her. Her ability to read situations and make the people around her comfortable was something that once helped Miranda through countless exhausting days. Not that she ever admitted that to anyone, including herself, but the silent rides in the car beside Andrea always served to recharge her batteries.
Once Andy was sure Miranda had something to hold on to, she left the room to wait outside.
"Andrea," she heard Miranda call a few moments later.
The young woman entered the bathroom and found Miranda supporting herself with both hands on the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
"Miranda?" Andy asked silently and moved to stand beside the pale woman.
Miranda resumed staring at her reflection until Andrea reached around her waist. "Come on, we need to get you back to bed. You look like you're about to faint." The older woman didn't protest. Andy felt her weaken as she had to carry more and more of Miranda's weight the nearer to the bed they became.
When they finally reached the bed, Miranda let out a sigh of relief. Sitting on the bed she felt weak, dizzy, and very nauseated.
Andy was very quick, giving the older woman a kidney dish when she saw her turning green.
It was just in time.
While Miranda emptied her stomach, Andy went back to the bathroom to get a wet cloth and a glass of water. When she arrived back at Miranda's side she waited patiently until it was over and took the dish from her hand. "I'll take care of that. Here," she said as she handed her the wet washcloth.
With a few quick steps, Andy got rid of the kidney dish and returned to find the older woman obviously concentrating on her breathing. She wordlessly took the washcloth again and very gently wiped Miranda's mouth until it was clean again. Miranda apparently was too sick to move or speak, so Andy helped her to lie down again.
Sensing that Miranda wouldn't start talking anytime soon, Andy did something she never imagined she or anyone else could do and still live to tell the tale. She placed a very gentle kiss on the older woman's forehead, sat down as close to Miranda as the bed would allow, and started to stroke the silver hair. "Try to sleep," she whispered. "You desperately need the rest and I am right here. I'm not leaving you. Sleep now, I'm here". Miranda closed her eyes and blindly searched for the young woman's hand, holding it tightly when she found it, as if she was afraid it would suddenly disappear.
Not long after she fell asleep, Andrea started the infusion.