So now I'll have the Nia Hunters, flying badgers, evil, flying death eater gerbils, Galinda (Really, Detective Marx? You're sending Galinda after me?), dancing hyenas (Very creative, terahteapot! Does he know how to tango?), and flaming gerbils (WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU SET A GERBIL ON FIRE, THEDOCTOR24601?!) after me if I don't fix this?
As you can see, I have a special gift for bringing out the best in people. *Shrugs* It's what I do.
Special congrats and shout-out to Elphabalover101 for being the 250th reviewer. You say 'Wicked' like it's a bad thing.
A full week past and Elphaba's condition didn't improve. Galinda, Fiyero, Nessa, and Boq were granted an extension at the Grand Oz Hotel that the school would pay for. Frex checked into the hotel, wanting to stay close to Elphaba. Fiyero never left the green girl's side. He stayed in the hotel room with her, holding her hand and whispering words of love to her. It took the entire staff at the hospital to forcibly eject Fiyero from the room once visiting hours were over. The group found themselves a new home in the waiting room. The rest of the group had gone back to Shiz the week prior, leaving Nessa, Fiyero, Boq, and Galinda to find other means of transportation back to the school.
"Nessa, you need to eat something," Galinda said, offering the wheelchair bound girl a ham sandwich.
Nessa shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
"Nessa, please eat something," Fiyero practically begged.
"I told you, I'm not hungry."
"Nessie, I know you're upset and scared, but starving yourself won't help anything. You haven't eaten anything in three days, and I'm sure the last thing your father wants is both of his daughters in the hospital," Boq whispered comfortingly.
Nessa sent Boq a look that made the Munchkin shiver, and wonder if she was thinking of ways to kill him. Sighing, the brunette gave in and took the sandwich from Galinda.
"I hope you're happy," she sighed, taking a bite.
"Very," Boq smiled, kissing her forehead.
Once they finished eating, Fiyero announced that he was going back to the hotel room to take a nap. Boq offered to take Nessa out for a while, which the brunette surprisingly accepted. Galinda decided to take the opportunity to visit Elphaba. Slowly, she stood up and, brushing the non-existent dirt off her skirt, slowly walked through the double doors.
"Hi, Elphie," she smiled, walking into Elphaba's room. Sighing, she sat in the chair next to the bed and gripped Elphaba's hand. She noticed Elphaba has something sticking in her right arm. A… what did Dr. Montas call it again? An… an… IV. That was it! She couldn't remember what it stood for, but knew that it deliver medicine to Elphaba that the doctors believed would help her.
"We all miss you," the blonde whispered, stroking the back of Elphaba's hand. "I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, Elphie, please try and come back." She continued to absent-mindedly stroke the green girl's hand. "Your father seems to be the only one who is holding it together. In front of us, at least. Nessa doesn't do much except cry. She misses you so much, Elphie. I can't imagine what would happen if you…" Galinda quickly caught herself. "Remember when you told me that Nessa tried to explain colors to you?" she asked, changing the subject. "Well, I have decided to give it a try. And if I fail, no one else is gonna know," Galinda smiled. "So, pink. You were right. It is a perky color. Blue is like… it's calm and soothing, like the ocean. I know you've never seen the ocean, but just bear with me. And red, it's hot. Like a fire. Or like that chilly I had for dinner a few nights ago." The blonde chuckled lightly at the memory. "I suddenly wish I had listened to you when you advised me to order something else. Yellow is like listening to a bird singing in the early hours of the morning. Purple is like a soft, fluffy rug beneath your feet." The blonde wrinkled her nose at that description, but decided on it anyway. "Let's go with that. A fluffy rug."
Even though Elphaba couldn't respond, Galinda felt like the green girl was listening to her, and that alone was all the comfort she needed at the moment.
"Orange is like… like a… passing breeze. And green, which is the one I know you're waiting for, is like…" Galinda paused for a moment, wondering how she should describe green to her friend. "Green is like… a hug from a friend." Galinda leaned forward and gently leaned her head against Elphaba's chest. "And that friend is telling you that they miss you dearly and want you to come back." She slowly pulled away from Elphaba, tears spilling from her eyes before she could stop them.
"Elphie, I need you to come back. You're the only real friend I've ever had. My one true friend. I can't lose you." Galinda broke into a fit of sobs, not caring about the state of her makeup. "I just can't."
After a while, the blonde managed to pull herself together. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a makeup wipe and wiped the makeup away from her face, knowing she must look horrendible.
Looking at her friend one final time, she leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. "We love you, Elphie. And we miss you. Please come back."
Another week past and Elphaba didn't show any signs of waking up anytime soon. Everyone was starting to get edgy, wondering if the green girl would ever open her eyes again.
"I'm going to visit Fabala," Nessa said, excusing herself from eating with her friends in the waiting room and wheeling through the doors. Her sister was the same position as she left her the day before; her hair pulled back and her hands neatly folded over her stomach, the IV still in her arm.
"Fabala," she whispered, wheeling up to the bed and taking her sister's hand. "You're so cold." Sniffing, Nessa gently rubbed Elphaba's green hand in between her own. "I'm so sorry, Fabala," she whispered. She could almost hear Elphaba saying, 'Nessie, it's not your fault. You have nothing to apologize for.'
"Fabala, I need you to wake up. Right now!" Nessa said, squeezing Elphaba's hand. Wow, she thought. That sounded a lot less selfish in my head. "You're always talking about how you want to be a big sister to me. I need you, Fabala. I need you here with me. You can't leave me. You can't!" The brunette soon found herself sniffling, then crying and then sobbing. "Fabala," she whispered.
It was a beautiful fall day. The leaves were beginning to change colors and fall from the free.
Seven year old Elphaba slowly felt her way down the hallways of her home, a soft smile on her face as one hand slid against the wall, the other maneuvering her cane in front of her.
"Fabala!"
Elphaba stiffened, but softened as the sound of wheels rolling against the carpet reached her ears. Her lips curled into a smile as she turned around. "Nessie?"
"Where are you going?" Nessa asked innocently.
"Just out into the gardens," Elphaba said. Smiling, she knelt down in front of her sister. "Would you like to come with me?"
Nessa's face lit up in excitement and she eagerly nodded her head. "I would love to, Fabala!"
Giggling, Nessa quickly wheeled down the hallway to the door, closely followed by Elphaba. The Thropp girls made their way outside. Nessa wheeled down the ramp while Elphaba stayed on the porch, enjoying the feeling of the wind whistling through her hair. Extending her cane, she found the steps and slowly stepped down.
"Nessie?" she called, listening for her sister. "Where are you?"
"Over here, Fabala!"
Elphaba turned to her left and walked towards her sister's voice. She extended her hand and smiled, feeling Nessa intertwine her fingers with hers.
Hand in hand, Elphaba and Nessa went over to the large oak tree in the center of the gardens. Smiling, Elphaba helped her sister out of her wheelchair and the two girls sat under the tree.
"Ooh," Nessa smiled, admiring a butterfly perfectly perched on a flower.
"What is it, Nessie?" Elphaba asked.
"That," Nessa smiled, pointing at the butterfly.
Elphaba frowned. "What's 'that'?"
"There, don't you see it? The butterfly on the flower."
Elphaba's frown deepened. She never explained to her sister that she couldn't see.
"Fabala?"
"Yes?"
"What are you looking at?" Nessa frowned in confusion, her voice filled with innocence.
Elphaba turned towards her sister and gave her sister a small smile. "I have something to tell you."
"What's that?"
Elphaba hand slid across the grass until it bumped into Nessa's fingers. Grasping Nessa's hand, Elphaba gave it a light squeeze before continuing. "I'm blind."
"Blind?" Nessa asked.
Elphaba nodded.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I can't see," Elphaba explained calmly.
She remembered the conversation she had with her father on why she was different. She had been sitting at the kitchen table with Nessa, who was coloring and saying what color she was going to use for each of the different objects in the picture. Before Elphaba could ask what she meant, she felt her father carefully lift her into his arms and carry her away. He had told her that people normally see with their eyes. When she asked why she couldn't see, all her father did was hold her in his arms and stroke her hair.
'Is it bad?' she had asked. 'That I can't see?'
'No, of course not, Fabala,' Frex had said, kissing her cheek. He had wanted to protect her for as long as he could. He wanted to make sure she didn't feel like she was different. She was already different enough with her emerald green skin that she would always hear about, but never see for herself.
A sniffle and Elphaba turned her attention back to her sister, sitting on the grass next to her. "Nessie?"
Without warning, Nessa collapsed in her sister's arms, sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Fabala!"
Elphaba gently pulled Nessa closer to her and stroked her hair. "It's okay, Nessie. It's not your fault. I'm fine."
"But… but…" Nessa whimpered.
"Shh," Elphaba whispered, kissing her forehead. "It's the way I was born. Just like you were born unable to walk."
Another sniffle and Nessa began to slowly calm down. The younger Thropp slowly looked up at her sister, who was staring listlessly into the distance.
"I'll help you, Fabala," Nessa whispered, snuggling closer to her sister.
Elphaba gave Nessa a wide smile. "Thank you, Nessie. I'll help you, too."
"I love you, Fabala."
"I love you, too, Nessa. And I'll be here for you. Forever and always."
Nessa continued to sob as she remembered the day she spent in the gardens with her sister.
"You promised, Fabala!" she sobbed, looking at her sister's motionless body, lying helplessly in the bed. "You promised you would always be here for me! Remember that day in the garden? You promised! Don't you dare break that promise!"
Elphaba didn't move or respond, triggering more tears from the brunette.
"Fabala, wake up! Wake up! I need you here with me! We've already lost Mother! I can't lose you, too! It's been two weeks, Fabala! Two weeks!"
Nessa didn't know what she was expecting, but when Elphaba still didn't respond to her pleas, she cried even harder.
"Elphaba Melena Thropp!" Nessa shouted, hot, angry tears streaming down her face. Unable to stop herself, she collapsed on her sister's body, hugging her.
Galinda, Fiyero and Boq heard Nessa crying and rushed into the room. The stopped in the doorway, seeing the brunette crying over her sister body.
"Nessa," Boq whispered, stepping up behind the younger Thropp and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Nessa hissed.
Boq jumped back and hid behind Fiyero. Giving the boys a sad look, Galinda ushered them out, sensing that Nessa wanted some time alone with her sister.
Nessa slowly composed herself and sat up, wiping the tears away from her face. "You promised, Fabala," she whispered. "A promise is a promise. Forever and always. Remember that?" Sniffling, she took her sister's hand and held it against her heart. "Forever and always."