A/N: Hey guys! Thanks again for reading! I already have written down most of this story and I'll try my best to type the chapters and upload them daily. Thank you for the new followers and favorites! I greatly appreciate it!
Here is some Lucy and Levy BROTP love and more Gajeel and little sick girl moments for you! Enjoy! Next chapter would be released either tomorrow or Thursday!
Note: I think I'm going to have Ann Harbor, Michigan as the setting for Akane.
Chapter Three: The Girly and Co-workers
Two weeks ago in Akane.
"So?" Lucy grabbed her arm, averting her eyes from her large screen phone. She was working by skimming through her student's research proposal for the upcoming Junior Research Paper for her advance placement English class. This impromptu trip wasn't ideal for the overabundance of work she had to do, though she didn't really want to be cooped up in her apartment she shared with Lucy grading papers.
"What do you think?" Lucy, her best friend and roommate, had left Juvia and Gray to talk amongst themselves.
"Think of what?" Levy smiled at the almost tipsy Lucy.
"The doom and gloom Gajeel, of course." Lucy's grin widens and leaned in to set her head on her shoulder. "Juvia and I saw you two at the beach earlier." She batted her long lashes at Levy. Her light fragrant Lancôme perfume wafted to her small nose, and Levy loved it when it mixes with her rosy Givenchy.
"Not much to talk about." She hoped that her gimlet already flushed her cheeks, though her tolerance was pretty high. "He sat there and took a nap while I read my book. Nothing to say about it."
"The fact he came up to you and sat beside you says a lot about Gajeel." Lucy said, lifting her head from her bare shoulder and flashed a toothy grin.
"Oh! He's a man of words alright." Levy huffed, eyes returning to her phone to avoid Lucy's prying stare, and pretending to be reading the contents on the screen. "He's not so bad."
"Maybe you should consider—"
"Ah…no."
"Oh c'mon, Lev!" Lucy pushed the hand that cradled her phone down and Levy shot a defensive glare. "I asked you to come with us to relax. You've been stressing about AP testing, work and coaching since January. You need a break." Lucy repeated herself for the billionth time. Her roommate wasn't wrong. Her body needed some time off, but her restless mind couldn't come to terms to a vacation. It wasn't something she learned. If anything, reading was her only form of escape. And she didn't need to go to Akane to do that.
"I'm trying, Luce." Levy sighed. "There is so much work to do."
"No," Lucy shook her head. "You're making it feel like there is too much to do. Look, you need to take your mind off of it and focus on something else. Like the bands that'll be playing tonight and the rest of the week. Maybe consider hanging out with Gajeel again. He might be able to avert your attention from work."
"I don't know him." Levy shook her head. "He isn't a bad looking guy." Scary more like it with all those piercings and scars. "All I know is that he's friends with Juvia. That's all."
"That's the point of a date." Lucy clicked her tongue. "You need to go out to get to know each other." As persistent as Lucy was, Levy knew she was right. She needed this. Something new. Or someone in this matter. "He's a good and respectable guy. Military man."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah." Lucy took a swig from her frosted glass. "I don't know the reason, but he was discharged several years back. Natsu rarely speaks of him. Even though they're inseparable from what I hear."
"Where's Natsu anyway?" Levy set her phone screen side down and grabbed her watered down gimlet.
"Band practice." Lucy answered. "They'll join us soon."
"They?" She raised a twisted brow.
"Gajeel and Natsu." Lucy beamed. "Maybe the rest of the crew will be here too."
"They're in the same band?" Levy asked. "Dragonslayers?"
"Yep," Lucy nodded. "Gajeel is lead guitar and vocals. They're all vocals to be honest, but Natsu and Gajeel are the main vocals with the occasional scream from either Rogue or Sting."
"Are they performing tonight?" Levy inquired not realizing how eager she was for some answers.
"No," Lucy shook her head hesitantly. "Tomorrow night, Tuesday night for an acoustic session at Last Chance Saloon, and co-headlining at Fat Joes on Thursday night."
"Wow," Levy stretched her mouth. "I didn't know they were a big deal." She was surprised at the extent of the bands popularity.
"They're not to be honest." Lucy chuckled softly. "Another band had to cancel because of some issues and skipping this part of their tour. The Dragonslayers were hired as a last minute gig to fill up a void time slot."
"Still good nonetheless." Levy shrugged her shoulders. "You have to take what you can get."
"Take what?" Both girls turned their heads to the new additions to their party. Natsu greeted Lucy with a peck on the cheek and his hand pressed at the small of her back. "Sorry we're late." Levy turned away from the awkwardness to catch the stare of her savior from the beach. He didn't smile back, though he also too looked away once Levy caught his eye.
"It's okay." Lucy shook her head. "We're just hanging out—where is Juvia and Gray?" Her head leaned back and then forward to find the couple.
"We saw them leave when we came in." Gajeel answered. His voice was low and raspy; it was difficult to understand him at first from the bar noise. "She said they'll be back."
"I see," Lucy snickered. "Well, I guess we'll wait then. Oh and I didn't properly introduce you to my best friend." Lucy turned her body slightly and offered her hand towards Levy. "This is Levy McGarden."
"We met." Gajeel nodded. "Nice to meet you."
"And for all intents and purposes," Natsu coughed. "Gajeel's my best friend." Natsu slapped a heavy hand on his back.
"Don't push it, Salamander." Gajeel scowled.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Natsu smiled. "We're gonna get something to drink. You guys want anything?"
"My usual." Lucy answered.
"No thank you," Levy shook her head, blue curls framing her face danced. "I'm okay."
"You lookin' pretty low there." Natsu peered over her watery vodka.
"Oh don't trouble yourself." Levy smiled sheepishly. "I'm fine." She lied. Her tongue resented her words as it thirsted for the sharp clear liquid with the bittersweet lime.
"It ain't a big deal, Shrimp." Gajeel told her with an alarming tone. "Whatca drinkin'? Gin?"
"Gimlet with Grey Goose." Lucy answered for her.
"Wait-!" Levy exclaimed, though Lucy grabbed her hand and set it back on her lap.
"Okay," Gajeel shrugged his shoulders and both him and Natsu trailed to the crowded bar. As they turned away, Levy smacked Lucy in the arm.
"What the hell was that?" Levy sneered.
"Oh c'mon! Stop being scared of Gajeel" Lucy laughed. "It's my job to make sure you lighten up."
"I-I'm n-not scared of Gajeel." Levy fought a stutter. "I'm not interested…right now."
"When will you be interested?" Lucy laughed. "You were busy with graduate school and you lost Jet—"
"Lucy…" Levy pinched her arm. "Not now."
"—to that marketing woman he met on his trip to South Africa three years ago."
"Luce!" Why does she have to bring it up right now?!
"You need someone." She moved her face closer to Levy, narrowing her beautiful chocolate eyes into her honey orbs. "And it might be the alcohol talking right now, but I want to see someone make you happy."
"I know," Levy surrendered, looking down at the tiny pebble size ice cubes slowly melting into her drink. "I guess I've been working too much, right?"
"Hell yes!" Lucy cheered. "You need to worry about yourself once in a while. You care for your students and everyone else, but you need to pamper yourself."
"And you decided to set me up with your boyfriend's 'best friend!'" Levy made air quotes with her fingers.
"He's a great guy from what Natsu tells me." Lucy answered. "He also said he works too much. There! Something you guys have in common." She finished the rest of her second drink. "You never know."
"Know what exactly?" Levy exasperated a heavy and defeated sigh, drinking the last bit of liquid in her rocks glass.
"You might be a good thing for Gajeel."
"Afternoon shift: Please report in! All Afternoon shift employees: Please report in!" The intercom alerted Gajeel from his tedious work, typing updates on patient's current conditions into the computer. He quickly double checked the information on his tablet, making sure the update reached the cloud from his computer. As he did that, nurses and doctors in the spread out pediatric ward started to crowd around the central station.
"Okay! Staff meeting!" Dr. Gildarts Clive, chief of pediatrics, raised his voice at the gathering crowd. Gajeel stood and stepped around the counter and joined Dr. Jellal Fernandez. "Afternoon shift is starting. Day shift is half way over. I appreciate the staff who decided to stick around for a second shift. Lately, with the expansion of this wing we're understaffed with recent transfers to our two new hospitals in the northern suburbs. For those who are joining us, please check with your supervisors on your new patient assignments and the tablets for their information. For those who are leaving, please do last minute rounds and update the system for the incoming shift. Docs, keep an eye on your residents rotations and maintain protocol—" Gajeel kept glancing over to the clock; 4:02 PM. Hour ten. Levy was off work for about an hour and she was probably coaching the swim team right about now.
"Staring at the clock won't make it go faster, Gajeel." Juvia whispered, standing right beside Gajeel as they listened to the chief.
"I ain't staring at the clock." Gajeel grumbled.
"Riiiiight," He didn't have to look over to see Juvia giving him a stupid amusing smile. "Are you seeing her tonight?"
"Gajeel has a date?" Jellal butted in and Gajeel shot him a guilty stare. "Oh! So the rumors are true." The neurosurgeon's mouth shaped into a comical O.
"Don't you have to pick at someone's brain?" Gajeel growled.
"Already did." Jellal snorted. "Emergency Buck shots to the head."
"You guys have nothing better to do." Gajeel crossed his arms.
"It's rare to have the mean looking, hardworking Nurse Redfox from Pediatrics the center of hospital gossip." Jellal added. "Especially if it has to do with a lady friend."
"Shut up," Gajeel hissed, catching the attention of the Chief. In which he gave a warning glance.
"Let's have a good shift, folks!" Dr. Clive dismissed everyone and the new shift nurses crowded around Gajeel and Juvia.
"Not a word of this." Gajeel sneaked in before the nurses meeting.
"A word of what?" One of the nurses asked, rolling up his dark green sleeves.
"Nothing." Gajeel coughed. "We have two new admins today from the recovery ward and ICU. If you'd turn to your tabs, Rooms 1441and 1445 are on security watch. 1441 is picking at her dressings and 1445 is pulling out her IV. I would like double rounds on those two patients until they are released. As for the other patients—" Gajeel glanced down on his tablet. "Patients in 1432, 35, 36, and 40 are going to be discharged this weekend being 1436 today. Ambulate them and ease off their respective pain meds. Other than that, the rest of the information are on the tablets. Don't forget to check in and update your tablets as soon as you are done with your rounds. Juvia will give you your patient assignments." A nurse raised his hand and Gajeel pointed at him.
"So, what's up with that pretty gal who came to see you last week?" He asked with the other nurses around them swooning.
"What girl?" Gajeel kept his composure, though the slight blush on his cheeks gave his emotions away.
"It's all over the floor." Someone added. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"Have a good shift people!" Gajeel ignored them and started to walk away. "I'll see you Monday!" Disappointed gossip escaped his team and he shook his head. "I'm gonna give Anya's meds before I leave." He said to Juvia.
"Okay," Juvia nodded. "I'll see you Monday." She paused as he gathered his stuff. "Tell Levy I said Hi." Gajeel's back stiffen and glanced behind him for a brief moment. He waved his hand and stomped silently around the corner.
Three rooms down and to the left was the familiar sight of purple. Anya was reading a book her sisters left for her the day before. The thickness of the book was frighteningly big, remarkable for an eleven year old to be reading. A picture frame of Anya's four sisters was next to her bed with a pitcher of tepid water and a teddy bear wearing a Magnolia Cubs jersey and cap. If it wasn't for the chemotherapy, Anya would have long black hair just like her sisters pictured and full rosy cheeks kissed by the sun from playing softball with them.
"Gajeel!" Her voiced cracked when he entered the room. She fought the urge to cough and replaced it with a wary smile.
"How are you feeling?" He looked at the empty bin nestled between her leg and the metal railing. His eyes wondered to her monitor to check her levels.
"Better." Anya burped painfully. "I managed not to barf on the book." She wheezed.
"That's good." Gajeel placed his red stethoscope behind his ear and placed it over her chest. "Breathe for me." He ordered her and she complied, setting her book to her side. "Good, another one." He moved the cold metal circle around and listened to her strangely steady heartbeat. "Leaned forward—" watching her back rise and fall from her heavy breathing. "Good."
"Is it time for my medicine?" Anya frowned.
"You know it, girly." Gajeel smiled. "You ready?" He asked, sitting down beside her. She nodded and held out her arm with her IV sticking out. "Let me set up first, okay." He laughed and rolled his stool to the locked drawer nearby.
"Did you talk to Levy?" She asked him as he rummaged away. Since his impromptu date last week, Gajeel was only able to talk to Anya about his new girlfriend.
"I sent her a text this morning." Gajeel answered. "I'm gonna see her tonight."
"What are you guys going to do?"
"Go out and eat?" Gajeel looked over his shoulder to see a small nod and the buggy eyes giving him the incentive to go on. "Uh—watch a movie?"
"What kind of movie?"
"Uhhh, a romance-?"
"Nope!" Anya laughed. "You have to ask her if there is a movie she wants to see! What if she already saw it?" Gajeel knew she didn't have time to watch movies. Any spare time she gets, she'd read instead.
"What if she doesn't wanna?"
"She'll want to if you plan it." She smiled. "Plan tonight's date. Then, next time have her pick."
"Girls like that?" Gajeel turn his body half way to ask her and she nodded. "Really?" He turned back around and started prepping for her medicine. "Damn it, Gajeel. You're getting datin' advice from a fuckin' eleven year old girl." He grumbled to himself.
"You have to see her more." Anya instructed. "You work too much." True enough, though Levy was busy as well with her own job and other obligations.
"Then, who's gonna sing yer songs?" Gajeel pulled at the sterile packaging of the syringes. "Paul?"
"Haha," Anya erupted, craning her head back. "He's nothing but a pretty face."
"Hey! Then what am I?" Gajeel turned to her, rolling back to her side with the four syringes filled with the familiar liquid. "Ain't I a pretty face?"
"Nah," Anya laughed. "You're the mean looking nurse when someone doesn't want to move around." She was right. Gajeel was known as 'Ambulate Man,' because he'd tell all the nurses to ambulate their patients. And if the patient didn't want to walk around, Gajeel usually scares them with his signature glare. Only Anya and a few other patients could see through him as easily.
"Merciless, Kid!" Gajeel clicked his tongue and set a needle in position. "Alright, girly. No more games. Time for Taylor. Ready?" She nodded and they began to sing their usual song once again. Because of her vomiting, her injections would appear to be even more painful than the last dose. She wasn't keeping her food down and despite the nutrients from her IV it wasn't enough to give her the strength bear with the pain.
"I'm gonna be sick…" Anya reached for the bin after Gajeel injected the last contents of the fourth needle. As she hurled her body into it, her father came in with a tote bag of essentials.
"Anya!" He came around to the empty side of his daughter while Gajeel rubbed her back, feeling the tiny body heave stomach acid and oyster crackers.
"I'm fine." She heaved.
"She's feelin' nauseous today." Gajeel told him. "Her blood and urine tests are fine. Vitals are stable. She probably caught something or feeling the side effects of the chemo." His red eyes looked at the worried father. "She'll be fine. Juvia and the other nurses will take care of her."
"You're not staying, Sergeant?" Her father's eyes begged him. "You know Anya likes you as her nurse."
"Dad, its fine." Anya smiled at him. "Nurse Redfox has a date."