Gentle Reader,

Thanks to the coronavirus, you all get a bonus chapter because we're not supposed to be around people for like three weeks and I have nothing to do but write. The second part of this chapter will be up ASAP. Hope you like angsty Darcy as much as I do.

Please keep commenting, it makes me want to keep writing.
Love,

RobinDesBois

Face to...

They told William that, because he was not family, he could not legally go into Lizzie's room until everything had been checked.

This was why William had to wait an hour to get just an update on Lizzie, but was relieved to have something to do. He fought the instinct to call Gigi first and called Jane, knowing Lizzie's family had to know, and Jane was the best person to explain it to them and keep Mrs. Bennet from panic. After explaining everything he knew so far, which wasn't much, and telling her she didn't need to fly out, just call her parents, he called Gigi just to feel like he was doing something productive. He told her it wasn't necessary, but he was secretly relieved when she joined him at the hospital. When the nurse finally did come out to give them an update, it wasn't much of an improvement.

"Mr. William Darcy?"
"Here," both Darcy siblings called together.

"Elizabeth Bennet has woken up, and has given us permission to share her medical information with you," she said. "I'm going to need you to come into the back office with me." Darcy appreciated her respect for patient privacy, but was getting more and more anxious waiting for her to tell him how Lizzie was doing. Finally, they reached a small consulting room in the back.
"I'm afraid, Mr. Darcy, I don't have a lot of information for you as of yet. However," the nurse smiled slightly, "Elizabeth tried several times to leave her bed to find you to tell you how she's doing, so we decided to update you earlier than usual."
"That does sound like Lizzie, yes. How is she?" he asked.

"We know she's sprained the ankle, likely broken, but we've not done an x-ray yet." Her face took on a more serious expression. "The injury to her head, of course, is our first priority. We gave her a small dose of morphine to help her with the pain while we give her a CT scan and run the x-rays on her ankle, so she's pretty out of it, but feeling OK right now. That's everything we know so far, do you have any questions?"

"Yes, when can I see her?"
"It'll be a few hours yet on that, the machines we use are not in rooms accessible to anyone but the patient being treated and the designated staff."

"Will she be here overnight?"
"That will depend on the results of the CT scan. If she's got a mild concussion, it is possible they will release her today. If it's more severe, they may prefer to keep her for observation."
"Is there anything I can do to help? Anything at all?"

"Yes, actually. She was having trouble filling out these forms. That happens sometimes, with head trauma and severe pain, a patient can't focus on writing out their information. When we asked if she had someone who could represent her on the forms, she said your name. She was able to sign the form to that effect. Would you be able to do that?"
"Yes, ma'am."

William returned to the waiting room with a clipboard and about fifteen pages of forms, grateful to have something productive to do while he waited. He told Gigi she didn't need to wait with him, but she was adamant that he didn't need to face this alone.

Several hours and a few calls to Jane regarding Lizzie's childhood health and family history later, another nurse came out to update them.

"William Darcy?"

"Here," he answered alone, Gigi having fallen asleep on his shoulder.
"I have some updates on Elizabeth Bennet for you."
"Oh, thank God," he whispered, gently waking his sister so he could follow the nurse. "Gi, why don't you go get us some coffee from the cafeteria?"
"If you think it'll help."

"It can't hurt."
William followed the second nurse to the same waiting room.
"So, Elizabeth has a severe concussion," he began. "We want to keep her overnight, but it is mostly a precautionary measure. She's going to be out of it for a few days, and one of the side effects of this kind of injury is that she might be a little slurred in her speech. She's also broken her ankle, and will need to have a cast put on. The good news is that it's a clean break, so there should be no need for surgery for that, but we do want to make sure she's using caution. She shouldn't be putting any weight on it for a few days. In addition, the doctor's given her a prescription for some strong painkillers, which she will want to be taking for a few weeks, and that's going to add to her being out of it, so you should be prepared for her to behave a little oddly over the next few days. Basically, the most important thing is that someone be there to take care of her for the next week, since she'll have a hard time taking care of herself. Will all that be possible?"

"Yes, I will be able to take care of her, and if there's some sort of emergency she does have friends and family in the area."

"Excellent. Now, are you ready to go see her?"

"Yes. Wait, is there someone to tell my sister where I've gone?"
"I'll have the receptionist pass it on that you've gone back, she can also give her Elizabeth's room number."
"Thank you."

As soon as he saw Lizzie, William released all the tension that he had been carrying in his shoulders. Yes, she had several monitors hooked up to her, and an IV drip with a painkiller in it, but she was awake and she smiled when he walked into the room.

"Wiiiiiiiiiilliam. Hi."

"Hello, Lizzie," he replied, smiling a little. A little morphine, indeed.
"William, you're very handsome. Like Michael Moscovitz, but like. Real. And you smell nice, too."
"Thank you, Lizzie. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I feel fine, but they said I can't get out of the bed without help. Right, Mary?" She looked up at the nurse who was filling out her information on the white board next to her bed.

"That's right, Lizzie, now remember you promised."

"Ok, Mary. William, isn't Mary nice? It's too bad she's married, though, we could've introduced her to Gigi."

"To what end, Lizzie? Gigi's been dating that girl Harriet."
"Oh, right. I forgot."

"Don't worry, Mr...Darcy, is it? I assume so, since that's the name she kept saying before you got here. This sort of thing happens a lot when we give out these strong painkillers. Especially with the creative types. We generally find it takes out their social filter, but it helps manage the pain, and right now that's what's important. At least she didn't change languages on us, that has happened." The thirty-ish woman chuckled.

"Thank you, Mary," he replied. "And please, call me William."

"William not Darcy, just like Miss Lizzie not Elizabeth over here." Mary gestured towards the bed.

"Yeah, that sounds like her. Is there anything I can do to help right now?" William always felt better when he was being productive, even if it was just filling out paperwork.

"The best thing you can do to help is stay with her, at least for a while. She's not stopped asking for you for about three hours now"

Mary collected her charts and left the room as William pulled one of the chairs up to Lizzie's bed, the side without all the medical equipment.

"William," she whispered, running her hand through his hair.
"Yes, Lizzie?" he replied, leaning his head into her soft hand.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Lizzie looked very serious.
"Of course." He placed a gentle kiss on the palm of her hand.

"When I was five, I stole Jane's crayons, and I told her that Lydia did it." William wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it wasn't this.

"What an absolute scandal." She looked so perfectly serious that he forced himself not to laugh.

"I knoooow, and Mom believed me. I have to tell them. Do you think they'll ever forgive me?" She bit her lower lip and it was hard for a moment for William to remember that she had a serious head injury and he probably shouldn't kiss her while she was still in her hospital bed.
"I think your odds are good," he said, schooling his face into his well practiced neutral position.
"Can I tell you another secret?" she whispered, more conspiratorially this time.

"Always," he smiled.

"When I first met you, I thought you hated me, and I hated you." William blushed a little at the reminder.
"I don't think that's a secret, Lizzie," he reminded her.
"Oh, right." Her head fell back on the pillow and she closed her eyes.

"And I never hated you," he added with another kiss to her hand.
"I do remember that!" she shouted, her face regaining some animation. "I remember you told me you loved me. And then I told you I hated you. Because I thought you were pretentientious."

"Maybe we could change the topic, Lizzie."
"No, I have a point." She pulled her hand out of his to cup his chin and tilt his face up so he was looking at her. "I thought you were pretentioulous, and I thought you were mean to George Wickham. And I don't remember how I could've ever thought that. Because you're so...nice, William, you're so nice. You saved my sister! You don't even like my sister!"

"Yes, I do, it just took me some time to get used to her,,,exuberance." He smiled with relief at the topic change. He was not fond of being reminded of the flaws in his previous behavior.
"You do like her now?" Lizzie's smile grew larger. "Aw, that's so nice. See, you're so nice! And you take such good care of your sister. Look, William, it's your sister!" Gigi walked into the room holding two coffees, handing one off to William.

"Lizzie! You're awake, how are you feeling?" She asked, giving her the best hug she could while navigating around her brother's chair and Lizzie's medical equipment.

"I feel fine, but they won't let me leave!" Lizzie leaned forward and whisper-shouted, "Gigi, do you think we can sneak me out of here? No one's looking, I think we can do it. How high up is that window?"

"No," William interjected. "Remember how you promised Mary you wouldn't leave?"
"Ah, right, Mary. Gigi needs to meet Mary! I'm sure they'd hit it off!" Lizzie reached for the remote with the 'call' button.

"Mary is straight and married, Lizzie." William was starting to smile again, gently pulling the remote out of her hands and setting it aside.

"Oh, right. She said that," Lizzie remembered with disappointment.

"What exactly did they give her?" Gigi whispered to William as she handed him his coffee.

"A little morphine," he explained. "She's a real lightweight, though, so I'm not surprised she's a little loopy. It's been...entertaining."

"And who is Mary?" Gigi was clearly trying now not to laugh.

"Mary is the nurse you're going to marry!" Lizzie shouted from the bed.

"Lizzie is convinced you'll love her," he couldn't help but roll his eyes a little. "I can't seem to get her to remember that Mary is married and that you're dating Harriet Smith."

"I see." Gigi was now laughing openly. "Well, it's a relief to see she seems to be feeling better."

"I think we'll have a better idea how she's feeling tomorrow, after the morphine's worn off and they've got her on something a little lighter," he sighed. "Knowing her, I don't know how I'm going to stop her from going to work tomorrow."

"William, can I tell you another secret?" Lizzie called from the bed.

"What is it, Lizzie?" He smiled at Gigi, giving her an amused, conspiratorial look.

"You've got to come closer," Lizzie was trying to reach for him, so William leaned in so his face was close to hers and she tilted her chin up and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"And on that note," Gigi laughed, "It's getting late. Do you need me to bring you anything before I go home tonight?"

"Bring me my bubble bath!" Lizzie giggled from the bed.

"In all seriousness, Gi, would you be able to bring me a pair of pajamas and something for both of us to wear tomorrow? Please?" William was never one to ask for help, usually, but he also didn't think Lizzie would want to be brought home in something unlaundered or a hospital gown.

"Sure thing. Take care, Lizzie." Gigi smiled and moved towards the door.

"Gigi, com'ere." When Gigi returned to her bed, Lizzie reached up her arm to wrap it around the younger girl's neck and kiss her on the cheek. "I love you, Gigi. You're the best. My third sister." William watched as Gigi tried to keep her face neutral, but he could see the emotions playing across her face. Gigi had wanted a sister ever since she learned what they were in preschool. She had eventually stopped asking their parents for one for Christmas, but he knew she wanted something he couldn't quite give her, and that Lizzie, in her drug-addled haze, had just unknowingly provided.

"I love you, too, Lizzie. Get some rest." Gigi gave Lizzie the tightest hug she could while leaving the latter's medical equipment in tact.
"God, you sound like Jane." Gigi smiled, knowing this was one of Lizzie's highest compliments, regardless of the tone in which it was said, and left to go collect their things before going home for the night.

After Gigi left, William called her parents with an update, reasonably sure he wouldn't need the buffer of Jane for better news, and listened to Lizzie's ramblings until she fell asleep. Gigi was back for a moment with their bag in about an hour, and he changed into something more comfortable and spent the night on the hard little couch under the window.

When Lizzie woke up, she was in pain. When she tried to move, she realized there were wires on her arm. When she opened her eyes and turned her head to look around her, a headache slammed into her with force, and she moaned. She tried to shift her legs, and the pain from her broken ankle hit her so hard that it made her nauseous. Thankfully, there was a bucket next to her bed.
William woke up to the sounds of Lizzie throwing up. He walked over to her bed and hit the "call" button for the nurse and asked Lizzie how she was feeling.

"Awful. What happened?" she moaned.

"What's the last thing you remember?" he asked, brushing her hair out of her face.

"I remember we went to see those tulips, and I was taking pictures." She paused to try to remember what happened next. "Then I fell? I shouldn't have climbed up on that bench."

"I shouldn't have called your name. I should've been closer in case you fell."

The nurse walked back in and removed the bucket, updated Lizzie's chart, and asked if they needed anything. Lizzie asked if she could have more painkillers, and he said he would have to check with the doctor. She turned back to William as soon as the nurse departed.

"No, William, you're not blaming yourself. I'm the one who climbed up on the bench, I'm the one who turned around, I'm the one who fell."

"I'm the one who wasn't fast enough to catch you," he insisted.

"I don't think anyone who isn't Clark Kent would've been. It is not your fault I fell." She tilted his chin up to meet his eyes.

"Maybe we just agree to disagree on this point for now," William conceded as the doctor walked into the room.

"Elizabeth Bennet, I assume?" she asked, smiling at Lizzie.

"Yes, doctor." As amusing as she had been last night, William was secretly glad Lizzie was feeling more subdued. It would make it easier to handle anything that came up and probably increase the odds that she would be released as soon as possible.

"And you're the William Darcy noted in this chart as being allowed to see her medical information?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Excellent," the doctor replied, turning back towards Lizzie. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Sore," she said.

"Where?" the doctor asked.

"Head hurts, ankle hurts, stomach hurt until I cleared it." The doctor nodded and made a few notes in her chart

"That sounds pretty standard," she answered. "We're going to get you some crutches to take home with you and a prescription for Vicodin. It'll make you feel a lot better, but it's also going to make you feel a little weird. It's a very controlled substance, so when you feel like you're ready to switch to over the counter painkillers, please do. I've written up orders for a follow up visit in three weeks. It's all in your release papers. You're doing well, Elizabeth, we should have you out of here in about an hour."

"Thank you, doctor," William replied.