Chapter 21: Promises and secrets

Author's Note: I am so sorry to hear of the Boston Bomb tragedy. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims and all those who were injured in the attack.

I am sorry for my delay update I had my knee surgery so I was bedridden. And my mom wouldn't let me use the laptop. Finally got to use it since she finally went to work today.

So this chapter the Signum and Shamal conversation will be shortened and picked up at a further point to add to the suspense. Hayate and Nanoha have a brief chat. And Shamal has a phone conversation with a mysterious person.

Promises are agreements between people to hold back something. Secrets keep information between each other and themselves. But sometimes promises need to be broken. Sometimes secrets need to be broken. One can no longer hold something in because those secrets those promises can change reality as we know it once the truth had been known

Fate's P.O.V

I felt groggy when I first open my eyes. I could see nurses coming in and out of my room. There was an oxygen mask over my face and an IV hooked up to my hand. My chest felt tight and I was still slightly dizzy

"Ms. Testarossa I am glad to see you are awake"

I looked up to see Shamal-san to my right

"Shamal-san what happened"

'What do you remember?"

"I remember walking away and then I got dizzy and it got dark" I answered back

"Well it would seem your body couldn't take the stress and due to you all ready weaken physical state. It didn't take much for your body to give way"

"Oh"

"So don't worry too much okay. We will monitor your heart rate etc."

"Thank you Shamal-san"

"Of course Fate-chan it was my pleasure"

She was about to walk through the door when I said

"I remember you, you know"

"Excuse me?"

"Those years back when you saved me"

"Oh I see. I wondered if you would"

"As if I could forget the doctor who saved my life"

"Get some rest we will talk later okay"

She turns back to me and gives me a warm smile and with that she is out the door

Signum's P.O.V

I leaned against the wall opposite of Testarossa's room. I heard the door opened so I looked up and was met with Shamal

"How's Testarossa doing?"

"She is stable nothing to worry about for now she is just tired"

I wanted to question about the 'for now' part but her eyes told me to let it go

'Sigh'

"I think we need to talk Shamal"

"About what"

We were walking towards her office when I brought up the even that had transpired right before Testarossa collapsed

"About what happened before Testarossa fell. We both know something is going on"

"You are right but not here. Wait till we get inside my office"

"Fine"

We walked in silence towards her office. Both of us stressed by the day we just had. Theories running wild left and right in my mind about the situation at hand.

Shamal's P.O.V

We walked in silence. I knew saying anything out in the open was a bad thing. You never know who is listening and even though problems have decreased in this hospital you can never be sure. Especially since Scrya-san has made an appearance.

I know I am going to have to tell her the connection between myself and Testarossa. I could easily just say I met her after treating her for the car accident but knowing Signum she probably knows it is deeper than that. She always had this sixth sense when it came to me. I appreciate it because she knows when to back off but today is a day she does not plan on it.

Plus I am intrigued on how she knows of Scrya-san.

I reached my office with Signum a step behind me. I open the door and held over to my office chair and took a seat.

A tense silence engulfs us as I wait for her to make the first move.

"How do you know Testarossa?" Signum asks getting straight to the point

"Remember we agreed I would never tell you about "her" the girl who was at the hospital that had me so sad and you wouldn't tell me why you were at the hospital that day?"

"Yes I remember. You didn't want to talk about it and I couldn't tell you so we just agreed not to talk about the details"

"Yea um how do I say this Testarossa well Fate-chan is that girl. Well one of the girls"

"Hmm before I ask details I think it's only fair that I tell you why I was at that hospital that night"

"Go on" I suggested

"Long story short I found a girl who was raped in the school branch I use to work in. That girl was Takamachi-san"

"Oh my"

"Yea she specifically requested coming to this hospital. I thought she had family here but I later learned they did not work here."

"So why would she suggest this one of course there must be ones closer to where she lives or the school?"

"You are correct in that assumption. I don't know why she wanted to come to this hospital"

"How do you know Scrya-san"

"I actually do not. I can't say I am a hundred percent sure but his hair reminds me of the hair I saw that night. He also has the same physique as the man who did the raping"

"That would explain a lot"

"What do you mean"

"I am not sure yet but as soon as I know for sure I will tell you. Deal?"

"Hmm I guess so we will talk more about this when we get home tonight. I will go check on Hayate I am sure you have work to do"

"Thank you for understanding"

Signum got up and walked around the desk and lent in to give me a chaste kiss on my lips. Even though we all incredibly stressed and know something big is going on. We never let anything slow us down. That's something I love about her. Even when I feel like the darkness is crawling up around me just one of her kisses brings me back out of my hole.

I watched as she left the office. I put my head in my hands not noticing the tears in my eyes. That bad feeling is starting to creep back up into my heart. The same bad feeling I had when Fate-chan and Alicia-chan was brought into the hospital that day. I just hope I can do something to prevent something bad from happening. But once again I get that feeling that it is out of my hands.

I sigh and pick up the phone dialing a number I would never forget.

Nanoha's P.O.V in her room

I broke down crying. I knew at this point everyone would know. And that fact alone was getting to my heart. I was mad at myself for the way I regarded Fate-chan. She has done so much for me. Yet I regarded her as if she was insignificant. I didn't even mean it. I was just saying it without even realizing anything.

"Hayate-chan"

"Hai Nanoha-chan?"

I began to explain everything that happened that night to her. She sat down next to me in the chair my mom was previously in. I took a chance glance at her and she was crying. I reached out my hand to hold on to hers. I smiled over at her. I felt lighter like I got a weight off of my chest. I know my previous habits will be hard to snap out of but I knew in this moment that things would change.

"I am so sorry Nanoha-chan, I suspected this but what you just told me. I don't know what to say"

"It is okay Hayate-chan" I smiled

Hayate's P.O.V

When I saw Nanoha-chan smile at me it was different. It wasn't those fake smiles she always gives me but rather a true smile. No matter how saddened the smile was it was a real one. In that moment I knew Nanoha-chan was on her way to getting better.

"Hayate"

She dropped the honorific so I knew it must be serious.

"Yes Nanoha-chan"

"I need to speak with Fate"

"I don't know if that's a good idea I mean-"

"I need to its important"

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Come in" Nanoha said

"I'm sorry to disturb you Takamachi-san"

"Its fine Signum-san"

"Hayate I am just informing you that Testarossa Is fine and that she is awake"

"Thank you Signum"

With that Signum walked back outside the door.

"I guess you got your answer Nanoha-chan. Do you want me to come with you to see Fate-chan"

'No I need to see her alone"

"I understand. Well let me help you there"

"Thank you Hayate-chan"

"No problem" I smiled at her

Shamal's Office

"I believe that time has come" the person on the other line says

"I believe so. We must speak face to face"

"I will be there in 5 minutes"

"Till then"

"Till then Shamal-san"

"See you later Harlaown-san"

A/N: I thank you for pointing out the momoka mistake I don't even notice I was typing it that way while pronouncing in momoko. Nice catch!:)

Next chapter will consist of Fate and Nanoha talking, Signum and Hayate talking, Shamal and Harlaown-san and if I see it fitting Yuuno and Precia talking.

A lot will be revealed in the next chapter or the one after that it all depends on how each conversation goes. I will reveal some facts about fate and Alicia and some things about Shamal.

So tune in