Disclaimer: Mention of Death

Also, I have the first chapter for GrimmHime two-shot out now. Check it out. It's called One Night of Fun. If you're interested of course.

Enjoy!

Player 1

Breathe in and then breathe out.

It's okay. This is another moment in your life basically telling me I am meant to be alone.

Two radiologists passed by talking about their day. How ready they are to clock out for the day after working a 12-hour shift.

Steady.

Orihime sat staring at the automatic doors of the surgical wing when Dr. Unohana sat beside her. She insisted on reattaching her IV after adamantly asking for her to return to the OBGYN side of the hospital. But Orihime refused. She needed to stay in the same spot until Ichigo returned from his surgery.

Do it. Decide. Is this the life I want to live?

Dr. Unohana raised Orihime's arm hooking her up to the fluids and medications after agreeing to let her stay in the waiting area. "Promise me you won't remove it this time."

Inhale.

She nodded, staring at the automatic door opening. Doctors and nurses wheeled out a patient, but it wasn't Ichigo.

Hold it.

Shining lights. The smell of disinfectant. Squeaks of sneakers. The loudspeaker blared calling for a doctor to answer extension 3198. Rolling wheels of the hospital stretchers.

Exhale.

The air conditioner was blowing high. Shivers all over her body due to the absence of clothing, only wearing her undergarments and the thin fabric of the hospital gown. Or it was the lack of movement sitting in the same spot for the past three hours.

Is this the person I want to love? Is this the best I can be? Can I be stronger? Nicer? More compassionate?

Think.

Breathe in. Breathe out and decide.

Orihime's eyes felt dry and moist at the same time. Unblinking to stay alert and to not miss any of the doctors, nurses, and technicians as they moved through the doors.

Even now. Keep breathing.

"Ms. Inoue?"

Make the choice.

Orihime slowly blinked at the automatic doors of the surgical wing. It wasn't until a heavy hand touched her shoulder that caused her to slowly shift her eyes away from the doors to the distraction.

Renji?

He crouched down to be at eye level with her. The sadness from learning about what had happened to Ichigo was evident.

Rukia was a few feet away from him dabbing her own eyes.

"What happened after our phone call? I was waiting for you guys, but when a nurse picked up Ichigo's phone… you can understand my shock."

Orihime turned away from him to stare at the doors. "He was fine one minute… and the next he just collapsed." She bit her lip stifling a sob. "All because he shielded me… what an asshole."

"Are you seriously mocking the fact Ichigo saved you and is now in there having surgery?" Rukia shrieked. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Turning her head toward the petite woman, Orihime noticed the dishevelment of her clothes along with three hickeys on her neck. She glanced up at Renji who was now standing next to her trying to calm her down. His clothes were primarily decent besides his shirt being inside out. Piecing two and two together, she smiled.

"Are you two sleeping together?" Their backs stiffened before looking back at her. Orihime smirked at their silence and then burst out laughing. "Nice. At least we know someone is getting laid while Ichigo is under the knife."

"Now wait a min-"

"Don't." Rukia grabbed his arm, stopping him. "She's not even worth it Renji."

"Still…"

"Why are you making a wrack it in the hospital?"

The three people in the waiting room turned to see an older man along with a slightly younger man walk in.

"Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Kurosaki," Rukia bowed in respect. Renji followed suit.

Yamamoto raised his hand acknowledging them, before moving over to Orihime who couldn't care less to give him any type of greeting.

"Ms. Inoue?" He took a seat beside her. She side-eyed him but focused back on the automatic doors in front of her. "It's good to meet you finally."

"Sure," Rukia growled at her disrespect, but she still did not care. "Do you know Ichigo too?"

"Yes. He is my grandson."

Now having her full attention, Orihime turned to face Yamamoto. She looked him over one time. He was older yet well put together for a man his age. Her eyes flicker to the man standing near him. He also looked oddly familiar.

"This is my son Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo's father." Orihime bowed her head in respect to him. He did the same in recognition. "I know you've been through a lot. The detectives informed us."

"I apologize that you had to see my idiot son almost get arrested," Isshin spoke up. "We were able to stop the other patients who had witnessed the arrest. They turned over their footage and we scrubbed their phones clean. Along with anything dealing with you of course."

She looked away from him in shame. Remembering how this whole ordeal started.

A simple sex tape.

Snapping her eyes up, she looked over to Renji. "Senna?"

Noticing her eyes on him, he nodded. "We were able to deal with that too. Right now, the media is focused on Aizen and Ulquiorra's recovery. As a matter of fact, they're in this very hospital."

Orihime's eyes widen. "What? They're here? Right now?" The thought of her committing murder no longer crossed her mind. They were alive, and close by. She can finish what she started. "Where are they?"

"Hey, calm down," Renji raised his hands. "I feel the same way that you do, but it won't solve the issue were facing right now."

"Abarai is correct." All eyes went to Yamamoto. His hands tighten on his wooden cane. "Handling this through illegal means will make us like them."

Isshin sighed. "What he means is we do it the best way we know how. Hit them where it hurts. His pockets and his business. A win or no-win situation by rewriting the rules."

Orihime rolled her eyes annoyed. "He's a multi-millionaire bachelor and the owner of a conglomerate with a high influx of stocks benefiting our country. What makes you think we can take him down? He has the police departments in his pockets for goodness' sake. We have no one on the inside close enough to get to him. The man is untouchable!" All eyes were now focused on her. She narrowed her eyes at the suggestive look from Isshin. "No!"

"I didn't say anything," Isshin whined.

"You didn't have to." Orihime grabbed the handles of her IV pole and pushed herself onto her feet. "I refuse to go back to him… not after what he did to Ichigo. Better yet me." She shook her head trying to walk away. "Just no."

"But we have a plan this time."

She paused in her strides, slowly facing Isshin. "What could that possibly be? That man tried to kill your son!" Her voice trembled remembering the convulsion of Ichigo's body right before her eyes. "All because I was having his ba…" The word could no longer escape her lips. Her mind was so focused on Ichigo coming out of the surgery that she had momentarily forgotten what she lost mere hours ago.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "My… our… oh god!" The reality of her situation struck her mind with pure anguish.

The four people watched as the rush of tears and no sounds escaped Orihime's lips. They did not comprehend the situation at first until one of her hands touched her stomach over her gown.

Isshin turned away trying to calm his shaky facial features. Renji dropped his head in shame and Rukia felt her eyes tear up at the broken woman. Yamamoto closed his eyes absorbing the pain. Nothing like this was supposed to happen.

Orihime wiped her tears and tried to calm her broken heart. "I will handle it my way. I've considered myself the best at what I do. I didn't get that way by letting someone else call the shots. So let me do it myself. You're either going to let me do that or do you want to end up on the same surgical table as Ichigo?"

Her words lingered in the air, shocking the four people. They looked at her with disturbed and repulsed expressions. Orihime sighed in apology. "I will get Sosuke Aizen my way since I've known him longer. He won't see me coming since he believes I'm incapable of breaking the rules like he has. I shot him. Granted he didn't expect that."

Before they could answer, the automatic doors opened and the 'Surgery in Progress' sign dimmed. All eyes watched three figures walk out. One Orihime knew as soon as he took off his scrub cap.

Uryu Ishida.

The dread of their last interaction poured iced water down her back. Trying to hide, she moved slightly behind Renji who was close to her. The hand gripped the IV pole tightly to keep herself from crumbling.

The older man who shared a resemblance to Uryu approached the five people. His eyes glanced over each of them, landing on Isshin.

"Isshin Kurosaki. Imagine my surprise that the patient I was working on to help stay alive was your own son." He approached Isshin, raising his hand for a handshake. Isshin took it without hesitation smiling.

"Cocky as ever Ryuken."

"Neurosurgeons usually are." Ryuken took back his hand and glanced at everyone else. "Good news is, Ichigo is going to be alright. We were able to reduce the swelling by removing a piece of his skull and removing the blood clots, stopping all bleeders. He will be in the ICU for post-op care. You can see him -one at a time of course- but he will not be awake. Hopefully, he should be awake by tomorrow morning if all is well."

Isshin extended his hand to shake Ryuken's hand. "Thank you very much."

"Sure. Recovery will take time. About three months for the healing process and rehabilitation. I'll have a nurse come by to update you." He bowed his head to Yamamoto before walking away. Uryu and the other surgical resident followed along. Orihime shivered when they made eye contact, but he continued walking without saying a word.

Choosing not to share any more of the pain or relief she had been holding close to her chest, Orihime slowly walked away from the four people. They didn't notice as they happily conferred the news of Ichigo's successful surgery. She proceeded down the hall not bothering to wait to see him. Knowing he is alive is all that matters.

Isshin, seeing her walk away, left the three other people and quickly caught up to her. "Don't you want to see Ichigo?"

She shook her head. "I was with him through this whole thing. Let him wake up to familiar faces for once."

He nodded in understanding. "Still, come by. Ichigo would make a fuss if you're not there." She sighed in agreement. "Hey listen. I know it's not ideal, but I need you to think about our offer. This is the only way to stop Aizen and… get revenge for what he did to Ichigo. What he did to you."

"You can't win against him unless you break the rules." Orihime did not meet his eyes but nodded. "I'll… I'll let you know if I'm on board."

Walking away from Isshin, she tried to find her way back to the OBGYN wing of the hospital. Turning the corner to the trauma unit, she gripped the patient railing and collapsed to the ground. Orihime felt the weight of all that had happened in the past 10 hours hit her. The weakness of her knees and the throbbing headache from staying awake for almost 28 hours. Holding her hand over her mouth, she cried. Doctors, nurses, and other staff could only look at her with concern. She continued to cry for the many losses her one life was facing. The joy of Ichigo's survival. The sorrows of what will happen next in this misery she called a life.

"Now this is convenient."

She slowly pried her eyes open and blinked away the blurry tears to see the demon with bright blue hair staring down at her. Her heart started pounding and fear circulated throughout her body. Removing her hand from her mouth, she reached for the railing to pick herself back up.

Shaky and a little unstable, Orihime was able to stand without showing her fear.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Oh sweetie, language," Grimmjow smirked. "Did you forget?" He raises his hand in a gun-like gesture. "Pow… Pow." She watched him drop his hand. "You shot the boss who happens to sign my checks." He shoved his hands in his pocket and shrugged. "And his bastard kid. But I don't really care about Ulquiorra. You did me a favor there, sweetheart."

Orihime clenched her jaw. "That doesn't explain why you're here… in front of me."

He glared at her. "What, I can't walk around the hospital? Do you own this place?"

"No… but-"

"But what? It's best if you get your priorities in order before you question anything I do."

Uninterested in engaging with him, Orihime took hold of her IV pole and started to walk away. Grimmjow blocked her path stopping her in place.

"You know all of this is your fault. If only you just let me kill him, you would be mourning but alive. Your baby would have been alive too."

Hearing his mocking words, she raised her hand to slap him but lost her balance due to the trauma her body had gone through. It was finally starting to catch up to her. Grimmjow caught her body from falling onto the floor.

"Oh, don't act like the damsel in distress now," his fingers dug into her waist. "When he comes out of surgery, I'm gonna finish what I started and kill him."

"Please no," she pleaded as her vision became blurry from the pounding headache.

"And why not? I was ordered to do so."

"Please. Let me just talk to Sosuke."

"Hell no! So, he can rescind his order. Fuck no," Grimmjow pushed Orihime out of his grip.

"Please. I need to talk to him."

"Do you really think he'll welcome you with open arms after not only shooting him but his bastard kid? Those meds must have you losing your mind." Grimmjow smirked wickedly. "As a matter of fact, that might be entertaining to see." He grabbed her arm and started yanking her in the direction of the elevator banks. "Let's see what the boss will say to your proposition."

Orihime allowed him to drag her. Internally she knew this was her chance to save not only Ichigo but also destroy Aizen within proximity.

See in the next chapter.