This was saved as Chapter 16 in my laptop. It's all a massive cluster in there and it's really confusing! I've got to take the time to re-title everything but that's not going to be fun. The original is only 30 chapters long but it seems like the new version is going to be a lot more!
Chapter 20: I don't want to miss a thing.
'Ah, Mr Vance?' Said the nurse as he approached the station.
Sebastian nodded and greeted the man, 'uh, yes, hello. Is… Ph- Rina, still awake?' He asked a little off guard at being addressed in such way. 'And, uh, remember, Seb is fine,' he added. The nurse nodded and looked at Rina's file; they had told all the staff that she hated being called by her first name and to use one that she preferred.
'She's doing really well. All of her tests came back with almost perfect results-'
'Sounds like her,' Sebastian smiled weakly as he heard.
The nurse didn't seem to hear him and continued talking. 'We're glad you're able to come see her, mental stimulation will be good. Although her blood pressure is on the balance between totally fine and a… little worrying,' he admitted. 'Hopefully seeing her boyfriend will calm her, she's been on edge since she woke up.'
Sebastian was speechless for a moment, 'no, wait. Not boyfriend,' he clarified, not really wanting to but knew it was wrong not too. 'Just best friend,' he said. 'Well… sort of,' he added not really knowing where he currently stood with Rina.
The nurse raised a brow, 'alright, Seb, the not-boyfriend-sort-of-best-friend, she's been asking about you, so I'll stop wasting your time. I'll be around if she needs something and make sure that oxygen mask stays on for as long as you can make her keep it on,' he said with a grin. The nurse had seen Sebastian around for the last few days and so their relationship was more casual.
He nodded and walked over to Rina's room, knocking on the door before opening it and looking around. Rina was lying in the bed but it was elevated upwards so she could look out the window. She turned her head and he saw a smile appear on her features. 'Sebastian!' She called out in a weak voice. He couldn't help but smile brightly and walk over to the side of the bed where she had lifted up a hand to him. 'You're here,' she grinned, reaching up to take off the mask.
Sebastian leaned over her, 'no, no, you're not to take it off,' he said simply. 'Come on, you've gotten me in enough trouble as it is,' he said as he sat in the chair next to her and pulled it forward. She reached up and brushed his hair to one side, holding his cheek for a moment before he took her hand in his good one.
'You got hurt,' she said looking at his cast.
'Worth it, after everything you do for me,' he replied honestly.
Rina giggled and pulled off her mask, not caring that he tried to get her to keep it on. 'Please, just a little while, it makes me feel so claustrophobic,' she said softly. Sebastian sighed in reluctance and then nodded. Rina grinned at him and with a couple of pained movements, she shimmied up over on the bed. 'Come on,' she whispered, patting the mattress.
Sebastian raised a brow, 'I don't think I'm allowed,' he said without thinking which made Rina snigger.
'Get on this damn bed, Sebastian Joseph Vance,' Rina said, narrowing her eyes. He flinched; full name basis meant that she was being damn serious. He gingerly got onto the bed next to her. Thankfully the bed was large, seeing as Rina had incredibly good insurance that was automatically linked to her medical file, set up by her mother when she was born. Sebastian found a position that was comfortable and propped himself up on his elbow.
'They said your memory was a little fuzzy,' he said softly.
She nodded, 'yeah, more involving the attack than anything before and it's a little fuzzy about the rescue and things, until I woke up properly. They said that I was in a medicated coma because-' she paused to catch her breath and Sebastian held the mask up to her face so that she could take a couple of deep breaths before he moved it away again. She smiled her thanks and continued; '-my collapsed lung could have possibly caused brain damage with lack of oxygen.'
'Something you continue to flirt with,' Sebastian teased as he held her mask up again and she took a few more breaths to make him happy. He already knew that, seeing as he was her medical contact and the doctors had asked him before performing any risky treatments.
Rina looks at him carefully and a small smile appears, 'that's new,' she said softly, raising a hand to gently touch the metal ring in his bottom lip.
A slight blush touched his cheeks, 'oh, yeah,' he chuckles, feeling embarrassed. 'Well, I had it for years and years before I got bored one day and took it out. While we were… apart…' he said awkwardly; not really knowing how to call the few weeks of no contact, 'I decided to put it back in, you know the stupid shit you do when you want to change something but not drastically like getting a tattoo or shaving your head,' he jokes.
Rina's grin becomes a little more teasing, though it's clear from her strained breathing that this whole interaction was taking more physical effort than Sebastian liked. 'I think it really suits you,' she said honestly. 'It's sexy,' she adds, her playfulness obvious. Oh, Yoba. Didn't realize I had a thing for facial piercings but apparently, it's right up there, she thought, praying that her cheeks wouldn't redden and give her away.
Sebastian's nervous laugh bursts out of him, making him wear a goofy grin. 'Easy, you,' he teases back. 'I'm keeping an ear and eye on your blood pressure. Any more of that and I'll take it out. It's clearly too powerful.'
'Oh, Yoba, you wouldn't!' Rina gasps in fake shock, holding her mask against her mouth with a dramatic head tilt. Sebastian rolls his eyes and they look at one another before bursting into laughter. The tension about their friendship evaporating and they both felt the stress release. Their laughing subsided into giggles and a comfortable silence surrounded them. Rina had no idea how much more time passed but she knew she had to broach a painful subject. 'What happened to my farm?' She asked quietly.
He sighed and took a moment, 'Marnie came over as soon as the monsters were cleared but, I'm sorry, I'm afraid that… there were a few… some of your…' he had to breathe in deeply. She knew what was coming, he just had to say it. 'We lost Elvis and Piccolo, also… Duchess,' he said eventually. Rina's eyes welled up and she sniffed heavily with a nod.
'Oh, Yoba,' she said as her lip quivered. She knew there was a possibility of losing some of her animals. Elvis was one of her ducks and the other two were chickens. All of whom she had hatched herself. Sebastian stroked her hair lightly as she tried to be strong, she would mourn them when she was at home. 'Marnie… she?'
'She's taken the rest of them back to her Ranch and is keeping them comfortable for you,' he explained, feeling his heart ache. 'While you're in here she's taking care of your other ones and the little bull is doing well, if a little shaken,' he added. Rina nodded and held his hand tightly as she processed it all.
There was a comfortable silence between them for a little while before he noticed that a tear had dropped onto her cheek. 'Rina… what's the matter?' He asked as he leaned over and brushed it away, worried that it was all a little too much for her.
She sniffed and shakily brought her hand up to her face to try and sort herself out, 'I'm sorry,' she mumbled. 'I just… I thought I was going to die,' she whispered, more tears falling down her cheeks. He hushed her and gently pressed her mask back to her face as he embraced her the best he could. He kisses her temple and she holds onto his hand tightly once more, her fingers entwined tightly with his. 'Please, don't call me Rina. Makes me feel more guilty,' she whispers to him.
'Guilty? What for?' He asked, confused.
Rina sniffed heavily. 'I thought I was doing the right thing by giving you time and then like, a few weeks later, you've risked your life to help me… and it feels like you're calling me Rina as I was such a bitch to youuu,' she said as she cried. Sebastian became worried about her blood pressure and desperately tried to soothe her. 'I was just trying to make sure that we both had our heads on right before we met up and then I got so busy on the farm and I heard that you were busy with work,' she took a deep inhale before continuing, 'I didn't want to disturb you but I needed to say sorry and I was just waiting for the right time!' She rushed out in one breath before her sobbing kicked in. Sebastian hugged as gently as possible without hurting her, hoping she'd settle. He encouraged her to take a few deep breaths with her mask on as he kept an eye on the monitor.
'Pheebs, Pheebs, no, it's fine. Honestly, I didn't know if calling you Pheebs would make you upset at me. I know I was an asshole, a first class, top of the league, absolute dumb shit,' he said making her smile a little as he pressed his forehead against hers. 'Don't apologize, it's me who needs to apologize to you. I'm sorry. Really, truly.' She breathed in with a small hiccup and it made them smile together. Taking a moment of quiet, Sebastian dried her face and helped her to have a small sip of water through a straw.
A nurse knocked on the door, she smiled softly as she saw them and apologized, 'I'm sorry, Mr Vance? There's a phone call for you,' she said quietly. All visitors had to make sure their phones were off, so he put his own into airplane mode instead. Sebastian nodded and gently got off the bed. He promised Rina he wouldn't be long and once he got outside the room he apologized to the nurse. 'I'm sorry, I know I'm probably not allowed on the bed-'
She waved his apology away, 'with any other patient I would probably agree but Miss Tyrell has been through a very traumatic experience. You both have, also, it's not like you're causing her discomfort or anything by being there. Just… be sensible and if she's in any pain make sure to give her space to perhaps move. The lacerations on her back were quite severe,' she said softly as she led him to the desk.
Sebastian nodded and thanked her as he picked up the phone. 'Hello?'
'Sebby, it's me,' Robin said quietly. 'I'm sorry but Mayor Lewis obviously heard about Rina's attack and well… he told her father,' she said bluntly. 'I tried to get him not to but he had already done it. So be prepared for that shit storm as it's coming,' she sighed.
'Fuck,' he replied just as bluntly. 'Okay, well… I'll handle it. I'll… make sure that he can't see her until I've had a chance to ask if she wants to see him,' he mutters as he rubs his eyes. 'Thanks,' he added.
'I'm sorry, sweetie. If you need me, just call me, okay?'
'I will,' he promised.
'I love you, Sebby,' she whispered.
He paused and smiled weakly. 'Love you too, mum,' he said before he put down the receiver. He looked over at the nurse who had collected him, she was now sorting papers. 'Excuse me, are we allowed to stop people coming to a patient's room?'
'You are allowed to ask for certain discretions, yes,' she said carefully. 'Seeing as you are her medical contact and she is still under our intensive observation unit, if there is someone that you feel wouldn't benefit her health coming, we can stop them from seeing her,' she explains.
Sebastian nodded, he would ask Rina for her opinion but for the time being, it would be best if there were no surprise visits. 'Her father will want to see her but they have a very… estranged relationship, you could call it,' he said carefully. 'He… can be very… intimidating,' he said trying to word it correctly.
The nurse grinned, 'they're our favourite kind of people, it's fun saying no to them,' she said conspiratorially making Sebastian chuckle. 'Don't worry, everyone has to sign in before we even tell them where to go, so he won't get very far,' she nodded.
'Please, give him my contact details, I'll talk to him,' Sebastian said not really wanting to do it but he would for Rina. The nurse agreed and they spoke about it for a minute or two before he returned to Rina's room, trying to make sure that nothing about the conversation showed on his face though he was going to be worrying about it. Sebastian smiled as he saw her and she shimmied back up for him to get onto the bed and they returned to the original position that was comfortable for them both. After a while he realized that she was avoiding looking at him. 'What is it?' He asked.
She sighs and finally catches his gaze pulling an expression of uncertainty. 'I lost my necklace,' she whispers. 'I didn't mean to, it just, I think it got lost in the mess at the house or when I was transported or somethi-' her panicked words were cut off as Sebastian pulled his own necklace from under his shirt and showed her that the pendant, the one he had gifted her for her birthday, hung next to the one she had given him. 'What?' She gasped, taking hold of it in trembling fingers and subsequently pulling him closer.
'It was just the chain that broke,' he explained as she looked at it, happiness over her features. 'I found it shortly after I found you so I made sure to put it in my pocket so I could give it back to you when you were better.'
'Oh, Yoba,' she said softly. 'I'm so glad I didn't lose it,' Rina said honestly. She took a few deep breaths and moved the mask away so she didn't have to hold it to her face. 'Thank you, Bastian, for everything. For finding my necklace. For saving me,' she whispered as she looked into his eyes.
'I would have done anything I could for you,' Sebastian said softly. Rina smiled as she gripped the pendant tightly in her fingers, her eyes didn't leave his for a moment.
'Anything?' She said in barely a breath.
He shouldn't. He really shouldn't… 'Pheebs,' he murmured as he leaned a fraction closer. She hummed her reply and blinked slowly; this close he could see all the varying and striking shades of green that speckled throughout her irises 'I shouldn't…' he said trying to convince himself. Rina didn't say anything to help as she had no idea what his mental conflict was about. She pretty much did the next worse thing and pulled open his shirt to tuck his necklace back inside, her hand lingering as she held eye contact.
The touch of her fingers against his skin was electric and he took hold of her cheek gently as he leaned forward and kissed her. At first, his lips only tentatively brushed Rina's before he felt her move a fraction closer towards him in reciprocation. The small movement swept away all fear as he caught her mouth with his, their kiss careful and slow. Rina tightened her grip on his shirt, feeling his fingers against dig in slightly around her jaw. The scent of his cologne, mixed with the slight bitterness of cigarette smoke engulfed her and she became lost in the warmth of his mouth. She could taste sweet coffee and felt her heart skip at the way his lips felt against her own. The feel of his piercing was teasing it created pressure that caused her heart beat to increase.
Sebastian wound his hand into her hair as he pulled her even closer still. Rina lost herself, all feeling of pain dissipate as she bit his lip ever so gently, tugging at the skin, causing him to moan and dig his fingers into her scalp. Sebastian couldn't help but smile as she arched into him at his touch and as much as he didn't want to stop, he could hear her blood pressure rising on the machine behind him. It was a harsh reality check and with a light, reluctant moan of regret, he broke the kiss between them; both breathing heavily at their shared moment of intimacy. Sebastian gently pressed his forehead against hers, his hand still wound into her hair as she clung to his clothing.
Rina kept her eyes closed, focusing on her breathing. She wasn't sure why it had just happened but it wasn't something that she regretted. Not after all that had occurred. There would be time to think about what it was all about but that wasn't now. Rina felt Sebastian tactfully move and lift her hand holding the mask, placing it back up to her mouth for her to breathe from. '…Don't… ever worry me like that again,' he whispered quietly as he held her. 'I don't think I could bear it,' Sebastian admitted. Knowing that the live stream he saw would haunt him forever. 'Promise me.'
'I promise,' she said softly. He exhales heavily and pulled her as close as he could without hurting her, he could see her eyes becoming heavy. His heart was thundering against his chest, he couldn't believe that he actually kissed her. Part of him wondered if he had taken advantage as neither of them were in a stable headspace.
'Sleep, I'll be here,' he whispers, feeling her head nod as she let her exhaustion overcome her. He mentally sighs. Great. Self-doubt. That's all this moment needed, he thought bitterly as he held her, praying that this day wouldn't be something she came to regret.
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