A quick update before I leave for work! Hope you'll still like this story and stick with it, despite the fact that the major problem has been solved. :) I mean, you know me - the trouble isn't quite over yet, although it'll be trouble of a different nature.

33. Injuries

They were both burnt, but not too badly. Fiyero had managed to shield Elphaba from most of the fire and he hardly even felt his own injuries. He was much more worried about her bullet wound. The moment he came bursting out of the castle, he started yelling for help and several ambulance technicians came running at the two of them, but Fiyero growled at them, looking around anxiously. He was searching for a flash of green, but the crowd outside the castle was dense and large and he couldn't see anything, anyway, what with the firelight bathing everything in an unearthly glow.

"Get the twins!" he insisted desperately, pleading the people he could see for help. "Get Fawn and Xalo – the little green girl and her brother! Where are the twins? Fawn!" he shouted as loudly as he could. "Xalo!"

"Fiyero?" Oscar called and he came running at the bodyguard, a twin on each hand, and Fiyero breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hold on, Fae," he whispered to Elphaba's ashen face as he ran towards the three and knelt down before them.

"Listen to me, you guys," he said seriously, but making sure to keep his terror and despair out of his voice. "Your mum is hurt and she needs your help. She's going to be just fine, okay? You don't have to worry, but I do need you to use your magic to heal her injuries."

Xalo looked dumbfounded at the sight of his mother like this and there were tears in Fawn's dark green eyes, but they both nodded, not saying a word, and sat down beside Elphaba. Oscar crouched behind them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders; and Fiyero reached across Elphaba's still body to take each of the kids' hands.

"I have faith in you," he said, his voice as steady as he could keep it. He didn't want to scare them even further. "You don't have to heal her completely; just a little would already be very helpful, so the doctors over at the ambulance there can take over. If you could just stop the bleeding, that'd be wonderful. Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes," Fawn said quietly. She looked up at Fiyero. "Will she really be all right?"

"Absolutely," he promised her, even though he couldn't know that for sure. It seemed to give Fawn the confidence she needed, though, because she nodded again and then she and Xalo held hands and both closed their eyes, calling on their magic. Fiyero watched them silently, praying that this would work and they wouldn't lose Elphaba. She couldn't die. Not now. Not after everything. It was almost over…

He tried not to think of the fact that he'd been supposed to protect her, that he was paid to keep Avaric from doing something to her, and that he had failed. If anyone should have caught that bullet, it was him. He was the one Avaric had aimed for in the first place, for Oz's sake.

He'd failed assignments before, but never to this extent.

A white glow from Fawn and Xalo's hands was enveloping Elphaba now. Fiyero could see the way Xalo's brow was furrowed in concentration, the way Fawn was squeezing her eyes shut and her lips were moving ever so slightly. The young girl reminded him so much of Elphaba in that moment that he had to look away, but looking at Elphaba herself wasn't much better. The pallor of her skin made her look like she was already dead.

She wasn't, though. She couldn't be. As the twins performed their magic, Fiyero focused on finding movement in Elphaba – any movement at all. Finally, he noticed the way her chest was still rising and falling ever so slightly and he focused on that, counting her breaths, which were way too fast, and trying not to look at the blood still pouring from the wound between her ribs.

He had some experience with bullet wounds, though, so he couldn't stop his brain screaming certain facts at him. A bullet wound between the ribs most likely meant the bullet punctured her lung. All the blood told him something else might be going on as well; maybe an artery was nicked… was there an artery near the lungs? He couldn't remember. He couldn't even think straight. All he could think about was that with this amount of blood, he couldn't fathom her surviving.

The twins opened their eyes. The glow had disappeared. They still looked worried and for a moment, Fiyero thought they were going to tell him their mother had died; but then Xalo said quietly, "We healed her a bit, but we can't do more."

"Was she shot?" Fawn demanded and Fiyero could only nod mutely.

Fawn bit her lip. "Then I think the bullet's still stuck inside her. I can feel something – something I can't heal."

Xalo nodded, looking pale. "I feel it, too. I think she's not bleeding anymore, but we're not strong enough to help her more."

"The ambulance doctors can help her now, can't they?" Fawn asked in a small voice.

Fiyero exhaled slowly and he looked down at Elphaba, who was slightly less ashen-faced now, no more blood coming from her wound and her breathing just a bit more regular than before. He cupped Fawn's cheek and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then pulled Xalo against him for a brief moment.

"You did wonderfully," he assured them. "Thank you. I think you just saved your mum's life."

Xalo didn't look very reassured. "Will she be all right now?" he asked in a small voice.

Fiyero gave him a fleeting smile. "We're going to try our hardest to make sure she will be," he told the boy before scooping Elphaba up in his arms again and carrying her back to the ambulance technicians for further treatment.

They greeted him with frowns on their faces. "You should have let us help right away, sir," one of them chided him as they took Elphaba from him and loaded her into the ambulance, checking her over and attaching her to all kinds of tubes and machines. Fiyero didn't even know what they were for.

"No," he said stubbornly. "Her kids have magic. They healed her."

That shut the ambulance technicians up and they focused on Elphaba again, telling Fiyero to stand back a little while they worked on her. After a while, they gave her an oxygen mask and one of the men hopped into the back of the ambulance with her. The other looked at Fiyero.

"You can ride with us," he offered. "We'll treat your burns as well."

Fiyero nodded, but then he caught sight of Oscar and the twins, and the look on the older man's face. He swallowed. "No," he said, looking at Oscar. "Let her father go with her. I'll take the twins and we'll follow you to the hospital in our own car – I can get my burns treated there."

"Thank you, Fiyero," Oscar said, near tears himself, and Fiyero squeezed the older man's shoulder for a moment before moving away. Oscar climbed into the back of the ambulance and Fiyero led Fawn and Xalo to their own car, only stopping briefly to inform some of the police officers about the two dead bodies inside the castle before getting into the car and driving off the castle grounds, following the ambulance.

The next time Fiyero saw Elphaba, she was lying in a white bed in a sterile-looking hospital room, with a tube in her mouth and her eyes closed. There was an IV emerging from her arm and a stand with several bags of fluids hanging from it standing beside her; when he looked closer, he realised there were more tubes and wires and he was starting to feel a little nauseous. He understood now why Oscar had told the twins gently but firmly that they would have to wait a while longer before they could see their mum. The sight of her on all these machines wasn't something Fawn and Xalo needed to see.

"Hey, Fae," Fiyero murmured, moving closer and brushing the backs of his fingers against her cheek. There were still some burns on her skin, but they weren't too serious. Her bullet wound had been the medical staff's main priority. She'd just come out of surgery and they were waiting now to see how she'd respond to that first operation before they'd take her away for a second one. The bullet had done quite a bit of damage and she wasn't out of danger yet; but without the twins, her doctor had told him in wonder, she'd probably have died of blood loss before she'd have made it to the hospital.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, blinking a few times when he suddenly couldn't see clearly anymore. It took him a moment to realise his eyes had simply filled with tears and he felt embarrassed at that, but at the same time he didn't really care. There was no-one here to see him, anyway. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

She didn't move and he took her hand, rubbing circles on the back of it with his thumb as he sat beside her for a little while. After about five minutes, a nurse came in and smiled sympathetically at him.

"I'm sorry, Mr Tiggular, you're going to have to leave," she said apologetically. "Miss Thropp needs to be prepped for her next surgery."

Fiyero nodded and pressed a kiss to the back of Elphaba's hand before carefully placing it back beside her. "I love you," he whispered to her and then he stood.

The nurse touched his arm lightly. "Don't worry," she assured him. "We'll take good care of her. She's not completely out of the woods yet, but the worst danger is over and this next surgery won't take as long as the first did. I'll come get you and Mayor Diggs the moment she's out to tell you how it went and you'll be able to see her soon afterwards. You could even bring your children then, if you'd like."

Fiyero started a little at that. "Oh. Um… they're not my children," he said, running his fingers through her hair. "Just… just hers."

"Oh." The nurse looked surprised. "I thought… Well, never mind that." She smiled at him again. "She's in good hands."

He nodded and, after casting one last look at Elphaba, left the room.

It had been a long night. He and the twins had arrived at the hospital to find Oscar pacing the waiting room, explaining wearily that Elphaba had been taken into surgery and all they could do now was wait for news. Fiyero had been taken to the ER for his burns to be treated and when he'd returned, a nurse had been talking to Oscar, asking him for information on Elphaba – her personal information, her medical history, and what exactly had happened to her tonight. Fiyero had stepped in at that point and explained everything.

He'd had to tell his story again to a couple of police officers early in the morning, who had come to take his statement. He didn't know everything that had been going on, though, only what he'd gathered from the things said between Elphaba, Duran, and Avaric during the fire. The investigation was still ongoing and they would need a testimony from Elphaba if possible, once she woke up, but for now they left them alone. They did tell him that the fire at the castle had been put out that night and that both Duran and Avaric's bodies had been recovered. They were the only casualties. An autopsy would reveal their definite causes of death.

The twins, scared and tired to the bone, had fallen asleep against Fiyero's sides in the waiting room chairs and Oscar had suggested they look up a hotel. Fiyero had agreed and taken Fawn and Xalo away, leaving Oscar at the hospital in case there was any news. After a couple of hours, they had switched roles and so Fiyero was here at the hospital now while the mayor was getting some well-deserved sleep… or was supposed to, anyway. Somehow, Fiyero doubted Oscar could sleep right now.

He spent the rest of the morning sprawled on an uncomfortable hospital chair in the boring hospital waiting room, drinking bad hospital coffee and flipping through old hospital magazines. How he hated hospitals. He couldn't focus on anything; every time he thought he heard something, he shot up straight, but there was never any news. Every now and then, a nurse passed through the waiting room; she'd inevitably give him a sympathetic, knowing smile and then move on without saying anything.

There were a few other people in the waiting room, but not many. There'd been an old lady who had been called away fairly soon after Fiyero had settled down; her husband had come out of surgery and she could see him. There was a middle-aged couple sitting on the other end of the room now, along with a teenager. Fiyero supposed they had a child – and sibling – in surgery right now. They were talking over their drinks, appearing mildly concerned and glancing at the empty hallway across from Fiyero all the time. The bodyguard sagged a little more in his chair and trained his gaze once more on that same hallway, willing someone to come through there and tell him Elphaba was okay.

At some point, Oscar returned with Fawn and Xalo and both kids flew at him, hugging him tightly.

"Have you seen Mum?" Xalo asked urgently.

Fiyero shook his head. "Not since this morning, buddy," he said apologetically. "They're still working on her."

Fawn looked up at him. "How did she look?" she asked seriously. "This morning?"

Fiyero smiled. "Much better than before," he assured the little green girl. He wasn't entirely sure that was true, but he thought it would have been true if all the tubes and things hadn't been there. She'd had more colour in her face, at least.

Fawn looked slightly reassured at that and she and Xalo went to play with some toys and books in the corner of the room. Oscar sat down beside Fiyero and the two men just sat in silence for a while, waiting.

"Have you slept?" Fiyero asked at some point, breaking the silence.

Oscar shook his head tiredly. "Not really. You?"

Fiyero grinned, but the grin didn't reach his eyes. "What kind of question is that?"

Oscar gave him an understanding look and then they were quiet again.

Fiyero didn't really feel tired. It had been great to go to a hotel, shower, change clothes, and rest and eat a little; but he hadn't been able to sleep. Instead, he was functioning on coffee – lots and lots of coffee.

By the time noon rolled around, there was still no news and they were all starting to get hungry. Fiyero rose to his feet and stretched, his back popping, before turning to Oscar and the twins. He just opened his mouth to tell them he'd go pick up some lunch and ask them what they wanted when there were footsteps in the hallway behind him. He spun around, his heart pounding. There was a blonde, curly-haired nurse heading their way.

"Thropp?" she asked and Oscar rose to his feet as well, just as Fiyero said hoarsely, "Yes."

The nurse beamed at them. "I'm Blanca. Don't worry, Miss Thropp is doing just fine," she assured them all immediately and it was like the air suddenly returned to the room and they could all breathe again. Fiyero sagged, Oscar exhaled audibly, and the twins both burst into tears.

Oscar quickly put his arms around Fawn and Xalo and hugged them close as the nurse crouched down so she was at their level. "Were you scared for your mum?" she asked knowingly and Xalo nodded, even as his sister hiccupped a sob.

"I can understand that," Blanca said comfortingly. "But she's going to be all right now, I promise."

"Are you sure?" Fiyero croaked and Blanca straightened, touched his shoulder, and nodded.

"The surgery was a success," she said. "The bullet has been removed and all the damage that could be repaired has been repaired. She'll have to do the rest on her own, but she's a strong young woman. She'll pull through. She's been awake and responsive already and although she'll need fluid and medication through an IV for a while longer, most of the tubes have been removed and she's breathing on her own now."

Fiyero wasn't even aware he was crying until Oscar handed him a handkerchief. The mayor's eyes were also distinctively misty-eyed.

"She's asleep now," Blanca continued gently, "but you can see her if you want to – just for a little while, and you have to be quiet."

Fawn and Xalo nodded fervently. The friendly nurse smiled at them and held out her hands. "Shall we go?" she offered.

They each took one of her hands and she led the way into the hallway she'd just come from, with Oscar and Fiyero both hot on her trail.

Elphaba was, indeed, asleep, and the twins were quieter than Fiyero had ever seen them before. They both went to their mother's bedside and just stared at her face for a little while. Oscar stepped up behind them, an arm around each twin, and Fiyero stood at the foot of the bed. She did look better than before, he thought. He hoped Blanca was right and she would be completely all right again.

"What's in there?" Xalo asked in a whisper, pointing at one of the fluid bags attached to the IV in Elphaba's arm.

Blanca smiled at him. "Your mum needs a lot of medication right now," she explained softly, "and she has to sleep a lot, so she can't swallow all the time. That's why we give her the medication through a needle in her arm. Don't worry, she doesn't feel a thing of that," she added and Xalo nodded.

"Cool," he said, impressed, as he looked back up at the fluid bags above his head.

Blanca apologetically sent them away again soon after that. They stepped out into the hallway together and Fiyero let out a breath, looking at Oscar.

The older man smiled and clapped his hand on Fiyero's shoulder. "It's over, son," he said, heaving a deep sigh as if letting out all the tension he'd been holding since last night – or maybe even since a couple of months ago. "It's over."