Part 2 - The single Rose
I first became aware of a roaring in my head, a thick fog of noise. That and a rhythmic high pitched beeping. Such an awful throbbing headache, I would of cringed if I could have. I tried to open my eyes, but they just felt too heavy. Everything felt heavy, like my body was made of lead and was unable to find the energy to lift an eyelid let alone an arm or a leg. Patiently, I lay waiting for something to happen. As the noise in my head settled I realised I could feel that my hand was being held. Victor! I recognised the feel of those long tapered fingers as his thumb gently brushed back and forth over the back of my hand. Any anxiety I had started to feel faded under Victors soothing presence.
"No, there's nothing we can do for the moment but wait. We haven't had all the votes in. We are still waiting for Mr Coleman, Mr Taylor & Mr Lee. The plan hasn't changed." Mr Blackbourne. His authoritive voice peircing through the fog a little. He sounded stressed, but that couldn't be right. He always kept himself in control. What was going on?
"But from what you said..."
"Enough." Mr Blackbourne interrupted North. "This isn't getting us anywhere. It's not the place and its certainly not the time. We need to concentrate on Miss Sorenson and her well being. The other issue can wait." So North and Mr. Blackbourne were also here, but where was here?
"Agreed." I recognised the soothing tones of Dr. Green. "Sangs recuperation and safety is priority over everything else. We need to find this bomber Owen. Now! Sang and the team continue to be in danger while he's still out there." Bomber?! Dr. Green laying in the gloom. Victor prone on the floor, blood smeared on his forehead. Dr. Green checking for his injuries. Partial memories came flooding back. Images rushing through my head causing me to inch closer to full consciousness. My eyes opened a crack. Immediately my blurry vision met Victors scrutiny.
"Dr. Green!" Victors gaze hadn't left mine. His eyes lacked their usual fire and the hand that held mine grasped me a little tighter. A sharp intake of breath heralded the arrival of Sean and he took Victors place beside me. His face filled my vision, his soft green eyes looked tired, but he gently smiled.
"Sang, do you now where you are?" Frowning I found the energy to move my head a little. As I did so I could feel something move around my nose and cheeks. Oxygen tubes? My frown deepened. There were machines just behind Dr. Green and I made the connection in my head that this was where the beeping was coming from. My head flopped back on to crisp white sheets, the little strength I had gone.
"Errrr hospital?" My voice was barely a whisper. My mouth was dry and my lips tingled. I started to bring my fingers to my mouth only to grimance as I felt a pinch at my hand. I guessed I had an IV line there.
"That's right Sang. The academy hospital."
"Can I have some water please?" I managed to croak out.
"Soon pumpkin. I just need to check your vitals first."
"Ok." I breathed out. Sean was in professional mode. I lay sedately as he flashed a light in my eyes, checked my blood pressure, temperature and took some blood.
"How do you feel Sang?"
"A bit groggy I guess, tired. My head is throbbing some. What happened?"
"What do you remember?" Frowning I glanced around at North at my right side, Victor who had moved to the end of the bed and Mr Blackbourne where he was now standing next to Sean. They seemed to be waiting with baited breath for my answer. My lips continued to tingle and saliva collected in my mouth. Heat began to rise up my back and head. I could feel the blood draining from my face.
"I...I don't feel..."
"Do you feel sick?" I couldn't talk. Nodding I shifted position trying to sit up. Norths strong arm slid behind my back supporting me and I promptly throw up into a cardboard bowl that Sean held out for me. North held my hair back from my face, his other hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. I'd never been sick in front of anyone before. My family had never cared if I'd been ill. Being sick was something to be done in private with no one watching. I felt mortified.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry" I choked out, tears pricking my eyes.
"Don't worry Sang sweetheart. It's the effects from the anaesthetic causing nausea. There's nothing to be sorry for."
I frowned. "Anaesthetic?" I slumped against North feeling a little dizzy. He gently placed me back amongst the stiff pillows. Dr. Green and Mr Blackbourne exchanged looks and I know there was something going on, but I had no idea what. Mr Blackbourne gave an infinitesimal nod. Dr. Green pulled up a chair and took my hand in both of his giving it a gentle squeeze. I understood. I was to trust him.
"What do you remember Sang?"
"Errrr I'm not too sure. There was a bomb wasn't there? Japanese class had just ended." I draw in a sharp breath as I remembered details. "Victor was hurt." I sought him out now. "Victor? Are you ok?" Norths gentle but firm hand kept me from surging forward. I couldn't believe that I hadn't asked him already. It should have been the first thing I did. Victors eyes glistened and I hated that I had caused him to be unhappy. He was looking pale.
"Please don't worry about me Princess. I'm absolutely fine. Just a few stitches on my forehead and a bandaged hand." I throw him a worried look. "Which isn't going to effect my playing at all." He added with a small smile and wiggled his fingers at me for good measure.
"Ok." I said in a small voice. I looked back to Sean and Mr Blackbourne. "We carried Victor into the corridor didn't we?" I shook my head in exasperation. "I'm sorry, I don't think I remember anything else." Leaning forward Mr Blackbourne pushed his glasses up at the corner.
"Do you remember what happened when I arrived Miss Sorenson?" Did I? Had Mr Blackbourne been there? I gave a small uncertain shake of my head.
"You were with us Mr Blackbourne?" A hint of panic flittered though me. I didn't like the idea of things happening that I couldn't remember. My fingers fluttered to my mouth. His steel eyes held a hint of sadness.
"Yes, but it doesn't matter that you can't remember. Please continue Dr. Green." Sean tilted my chin so that he had my attention again.
"When the blast happened you must have fallen on some glass. There was a piece stuck in your thigh. It had pierced a descending branch of your lateral femoral artery and you had begun to bleed out. We had to give you a transfusion and operated on you to mend the tear." His hand reached up and gently cupped my face. "You've been unconscious for around 24 hours. You're on pain killers, fluids, oxygen and have a catheter. But all in all everything seems to have gone well. After a few days of bed rest we can start to exercise the leg and you'll be up and around soon". He closed his eyes and swallowed. When he opened them I could only see sadness. "I have to apologise to you Sang. If I had examined you at the time..." My free hand stretched up to his mouth, my fingers covering his lips and I smiled into his eyes. I didn't like to see him so serious, so, sad.
"I'm ok. If you hadn't been there...Sean...thank you." A nudge at my arm brought be to the attention of Victor who held out a glass. North helped me to sit again. Sipping the cold, fresh water felt like heaven and I was giving a weak grin when the door burst open and rest of the guys tumbled in.
"Oy, Trouble! I leave you for five fucking minutes and you decide to wake up. Fucking typical." He didn't smile. Leaning up against the far wall he put his head back and closed his eyes. Kota moved to my left took my hand from Sean and leaned into me.
"I'm so glad you're awake Sang." His eyes seemed a little fierce beneath his glasses and they searched mine, looking I think for confirmation that I was ok. Holding my neck with his other hand he planted a small lingering kiss at my cheek. "We've all been here waiting for you to wake up."
"Hey Peanut"
"Hey Honey." Nathan unceremoniously barged North out of the way and promptly shoved one of my fingers in his mouth. I gave a half hearted giggle and he bent down dropping a kiss to my cheek.
"Hey Nathan. Careful with her." North almost bellowed, clearly feeling on edge.
"Dude, relax." Luke piped up. I felt the bed shift at my feet and looked down to see Luke sprawling at the end of the bed. He peeled the sheet back exposing a foot. He gently took it and bending his head down he quickly kissed each of my toes. His lithe fingers wrapped around my foot and he looked up grinning at me. He didn't look well though and had dark smudges under his eyes.
"Angelle mou, we missed you." Silas took a step forward to approach the bed. Nathan made room for him as he placed a gentle kiss at my cheek and then gave me a full on hug nearly picking me up off of the bed. Silas hugs were amazing even when I was so tired. After a grunt from North Silas put me down. They all seemed to need to touch me somehow and I them. My face immediately flamed as I became acutely aware that all I had on was a flimsy hospital gown, surrounded by my nine ridiculously gorgeous boys. In that moment I don't think I could have been happier. I was also starting to wilt. My eyes closed as I became a little dizzy. I felt Dr. Greens hand rest on my shoulder.
"Breathe evenly Sang. Let the oxygen help you. Right guys, we need to let Sang rest. You all can stay but keep the tone low. I don't want any stress in this room and that's an order. I'll be back later Sang. I have a few patients to check up on. Rest."
It wasn't hard to take Dr. Greens advise. I felt pretty out of it and as the day wore on I slipped in and out of fitful sleep. I was just exhausted and couldn't stay awake for too long. Whenever I woke at least half of the boys seemed to be there. Holding my hand giving me much needed comfort. With all the trouble I'd brought on the them, I didn't feel like I deserved it. I woke at one point to a rhythmic, gentle stroking over the back of my hand and fingers. Kota sat beside me. His brow furrowed in concern as he watched me. Gabriel was standing at the end of the bed. His expression haunted. He hadn't seemed his usual glib self since I'd first woken up.
"Are you ok Gabriel?" I quietly asked. He closed his eyes and snorted.
"Stuck in a fucking hospital bed looking as weak as a kitten and she asks me if I'm ok. You are so full of shit Sang!" Gabriel started to make his way to the door.
"Gabriel." Kota barked at him, but he didn't turn around. I knew what he needed from me, but I couldn't run after him this time. He was going to have to come to me.
"Do I sing in my sleep Meanie?" I whispered. He halted in front of the door, his back still facing the room, his head slumped and shoulders drooped. Turning his head towards me I could see that his eyes had welled up. He was blinking rapidly. Something seemed to have broken within him. He looked awful. I wanted my carefree, playful Meanie back.
"Fucking hell trouble" he took a step forward to approach the bed and before I knew it I was in his arms. His face pushed into my shoulder and neck. "This is so hard Sang, seeing you here like this." His face brushed up against my cheek. Turning his head his gorgeous lips gently grazed across my skin, his warm breath caressing my ears made me shiver. I could feel a blush travel over my face.
"It's harder if you're not here by my side Meanie." He pulled back a little so that I could see his face.
"I'm really sorry Sang. I didn't mean to be a shit. I'm just so fucking freaked out by it all. By what could have happened. Fuck it, by what did happen! I can't lose you. I can't live without you. I'm not even sure if I was really living before you came along. Just coasting, waiting for you." I trailed my fingers down his cheek not really knowing what to say. I found his words a little overwhelming, but I was glad he was with me. He warmed my heart. Gabriel stayed by my side until I dosed off again and I was grateful for it. I was grateful for all of them. I still felt unable to fall into a deep sleep. Instead I seemed to hovered always on the verge of waking. I heard parts of whispered conversations and the guys going in and out of the room. Occasionally I felt a hand at my wrist and assumed Dr. Green was checking up on me. I didn't have the energy to wake fully though and my mind wandered all over the place, the boys, school, my parents, Volto, Hendricks and McCoy. All the things I worried about. In the quiet my mind was a jumble of images. As I tried to rid myself of them I felt my head being pushed firmly to the side and into the pillow. A hand came over my mouth and loosely covered it. I couldn't see who it was, they were behind me, but my senses were assaulted by the smell of plum and jasmine. It made me shiver. From behind me came the distorted mechanical voice that I was coming to recognise.
"You need to be ready Sang. I'm going to come for you soon and take you away from them. I'm going to save you and take you back to where you belong."
There was a light touch at my forehead and I had the sickening thought that I'd just been kissed. The hands left my face. Full awareness had come quickly, but by the time I could look up and around me he and gone. All I saw was the door swinging shut. I wanted to scream, but my throat wouldn't allow it. All that came out was a surprised squeak. Not loud enough to alert anyone that I was in trouble. I started to look around for a panic button or a phone, but instead stared in shock at what I found beside me on the bed. I didn't want to touch it or the note that lay beside it. I started to shake just looking at it. He was invading my life. How did he know? I shut my eyes and turned away trying to block the image from my mind. I could still visualise it. A single red Chrysler Imperial rose.