Gloria had been floating for she didn't know how long. Submerged in that feeling that only comes just before you fall asleep, and then again just before you wake up. Only she hadn't been able to fully cross and remain on one side or the other. At first, sleep had been welcomed with open arms, its gentle warmth soothing and comforting to her for reasons no longer known. Indeed, she had almost fully given herself up to it, only for something to drag her back onto the line between the two. She had hovered between the two again for awhile, before the gentle tug of wakefulness started to call to her. This time, she was able to answer and something moved her through the blackness.
The first thing her consciousness became aware of was an assortment of sounds. Faint beeping, hissing, and whirring all identified as machines. She tried to peer through the darkness, see exactly what was producing these sounds, but the veil wouldn't part. Powerless, she did her best to just listen, to focus on them. Those now familiar sounds were soon joined by two new sounds, one was heavy, the other lighter but both moved with a similar rhythm. Footsteps. These new sounds soon stopped, but they brought something else with them. Something it took her consciousness a little longer to recognize. Voices. One with an accent, and one with vaugely familiar, calm tones.
Gloria tried now to tune out everything else, to focus only on them. She could hear them, and though the meaning of the words were lost on her, she tried to listen anyways.
"So why can't they just fix her up with some chrome? You got her on your plan right? Shouldn't that be covered?"
"Trauma surgeons said that her 'ganics are too damaged. She won't make it if they try any transplants at this time."
"Jeez. What happened to her?"
"Want the whole story or the quick detes?"
"Pull the tooth."
"According to the accident report, she was peppered with glass and debris from the Animals shootout on the highway. Then thrown from the vehicle during the crash, and then spent too long cooking next to a CHOOH2 fire before her kid could pull her away and keep her breathing."
"Madre de dios..."
"Yup. But that's not all, the Scop-stain her boy was payin' to heal her only stuck her on a respirator, auto-defib, and heart monitor. Maybe a bounce back for kicks, but shit else. Definitely did not help the situation at all."
"Its a miracle she's still alive."
"She's gonna be alive and kickin' if I have anything to say about it."
"You sure? Sounds like her treatment's gonna be kinda pricey."
"Best part about the company giving me everything: I have a shit ton of money to spend for myself."
"Still, I don't wanna be the devil on your shoulder, yet. But you don't have all the detes yet. Might wanna slow down before you plan out the rest of your life, ya know?"
"Trauma checked his blood Jackie. It's a match. Less than half a percent margin of error. He's mine."
"Well then..."
"What?"
"Uh, nothing?"
"Just spill it already."
"At least we know where he gets the whole 'reckless when emotional' attitude from."
"Oh fuck off choom."
"okay, okay. Listen, I'm gonna go find a S.C.S.M., been feeling kinda thirsty just waiting around. You good on your own for a bit?"
"Yeah, go on. Bring me back a Nicola and a burrito if you spot them."
"Any kind?"
"Surprise me."
Again, she heard the heavy footsteps for a moment before they faded. She heard the lighter steps again too, though while the heavy grew softer, they grew louder. A loud scraping caught her attention, the veil thinning for just the briefest moment. Still, she was able to take advantage of the moment and continued to move forward through no power of her own. Her surroundings were still dark, but she could see the faintest hint of light on the horizon.
"Stupid chair. Heh, sorry. Guess that was kind of loud."
She chased the voice, the blackness turning into a soft gray as she continued to listen for it. An unfamiliar set of footsteps, and a new lighter voice were the reward for her efforts.
"How is she?"
"She's doing well for someone in her position. Though I came by to check how you're doing. Yeah, we cater to visitors too. Do you need me to get you anything?"
"Thanks, but I'm good. Got a guy already out for me."
What was that sound to come from both voices after that? Laughter. Once more, she focused on that and the veil parted even more, her surroundings grew lighter even as the sound of footsteps began and faded again. She hoped that one of the voices would come again, but the only answers she received came from the machines.
"Focus..." She told herself, surroundings still blank, but now a soft gray instead of the solid black. The feeling had changed too, no longer was it the heavy yet weightless feeling of floating. No, instead she felt more like she was laying down, wrapped in something soft and warm. Almost experimentally, she wiggled and tried to respond. "Uhn..."
"Gloria?" It was the familair calm voice, and she reached out with all her might to clear the veil. Her hands brushed against the softness, head tilting just slightly to better open an ear. "Woah, shh, shh. It's alright." Something cool, with a soft roughness brushed against her. A physical gesture to try and get her to relax along with the vocalized request. It worked. "That's right, shh, you're safe."
The veil finally lifted, the blank brightness now filled with blurry shapes as Gloria's consciousness finally passed into the waking realm. She blinked a few times, trying now to focus her eyes on the voice as well as her ears. Though her vision was still clouded, and her mind still groggy as it fought to stay in the waking realm, she could tell there was a man at her side. She blinked a few times, trying to will her eyes to clear. One of her hands tried to move up to assist, but it barely moved before the effort was too much.
"Don't try and move." The voice cautioned, and Gloria now understood that it was his hand resting on her own. His thumb sliding back and forth over her palm. The gesture was overly familiar, and now that her eyes were regaining a little focus, the man's face was familiar. Sure there were a few more scars and lines to dot it here and there, and she could see he had a five o'clock shadow coming in. Gone was the wild hair of youth, replaced with a more professional cut. Still, the soft gaze of his optics, and the gentle touches to her hand and face were warm as ever.
"Vin...ny?"
"That's right Gloria," a soft smile graced Vinny's face, "I'm here."
She made to ask another question, but it got caught in her throat and came out as a confused hum. Fortunately for her, he seemed to understand and responded.
"Told you, no matter what, that I'd be there for you if you ever called." His hand squeezed her own gently, and the room seemed to become clearer. Now, she could understand that she way laying on a bed, surrounded by the machines that had been making the noises when she was in the fog. She blinked a few times, trying to focus and collect her thoughts. "Gloria?"
Hearing Vinny call her name bought her a moment's lucidity from her thoughts and she asked what seemed the easiest question.
"Where," She struggled to swallow the dry spit clogging her throat, "where am I?"
"You were in a car accident, but you're safe now." She took a breath, a small sigh escaping her and fogging the oxygen mask as she tried to recall the accident. All she could see were flashes of color and dancing flames, nothing concrete until her memory shifted to a single moment before the accident. The person in the passenger's seat. She saw him clearly and something clicked. In spite of her own condition, maternal instincts kicked in and she asked about the only thing she could think of clearly now.
"David?"
A faint huff escaped him, "Kid's fine. Few minor cuts but nothing serious."
"Good." Relief, or maybe it was another round of medication flooded into her. It also brought along another brief moment of lucidity, and she struggled to use it. "Wait...you know...David?"
"Yeah, we met." The smile didn't fade, but Gloria noticed the faint darkening of his eyes. "Don't worry, he's back at your apartment."
Gloria tried to nod her approval, but the action caused an odd level of pain behind her eyes and she let out a small groan of discomfort. The faintest chuckle escaped Vinny, and she pouted, blurred gaze turned on him.
"Shh, relax." He always did find it amusing when she tried to look angry.
"Noo. Gotta get up." She whined, managing just the faintest wiggle of motion in her legs before her muscles said 'fuck that'.
"Gloria, you have more wires and tubes in you than an automated pumping station." Vinny traced one of the tubes on her arm, her eyes following his finger as best they could. "Just lay back, relax."
"Have to adult." She argued, though the tone was much more tired as opposed to angry.
"No, you have to lay back and recover." He reached behind her head and fluffed her pillow slightly. "If you want, I can get some music playin' or have something play on the TV."
"No TV. Hate ads." It was toddler logic at best, but Gloria couldn't seem to call upon higher brain function at the moment.
"Music then?" Vinny further punctuated his question by lightly tapping the small radio at Gloria's bedside.
The bedridden woman made a noise of affirmation and gave him a faint smile. "Not Body Heat."
"I see we still share the same opinion on music." He laughed, trying to recall what stations Gloria liked.
"The music's good, just bad memories." The smile vanished, her tired eyes closing briefly with the words.
"Hmm? Bad memories?" He clicked on the radio and set it to 91.9 - Royal Blue Radio.
"They like playing our song." She replied, eyes still shut as a soft jazz melody filled the room. He knew, no, remembered that she preferred soft music when she wasn't feeling well.
"Oh." She opened her eyes then, noticing Vinny's own were focused more on the radio instead of her. A habit she remembered him having whenever he was thinking deeply about something. The last time she saw him do that had been the last time they were together. The day that she...
"Vinny?"
"Yeah?" He turned to face her, eyes now focusing on her with a gentle concern.
"I'm sorry." Simple as it was, those words seemed heavily weighted as they crossed Gloria's lips.
Vinny's head tilted slightly to the side. "Nothing be sorry about."
Gloria was no longer fully focused on her current situation. "I ran away."
"That's nothing to be sorry about." Once more, Vinny's hand reached out and gently stroked her head. "We can talk about it when you're better."
"I'm still sorry." Tears started to appear in the corner of her eyes, but she was powerless to wipe them away.
"Shh. Later." Vinny's hand moved from her forehead to a nearby tissue box. Plucking one from the box, he gently dabbed away her tears. "Right now you just need to rest, recover, and help me stop your kid from being more of a gonk cuz' his mom isn't around to sass him."
The removed tears returned, emotions now in control. "I'm a bad mom..." She whined.
He gently shushed her, once more drying her eyes. "No, you're a great mom. You're just stuck in the hospital for now."
"But...David can't cook." Her frown grew, "I can't cook here. I'm a terrible mommy..." She closed her eyes, thinking. "Wait, I know. Let's order in buck-a-slice."
It was Vinny's turn to look pained. "Don't make me have your doc to assign you a shrink too, It'd be easy. The guy looks like he'd be bribed with a can of coffee."
"Nooo." she whined, "Don't send me to the quacks. They suck."
"Then don't be a drama queen and say you're a bad mom." He gently poked her forehead. "Your kid hasn't joined a gang, isn't dead, and isn't a killer. So you out mommed all of Watson, and most of Corpo Plaza." The pained expression was replaced with his calm smile. "Oh, and you're offering to buy him pizza...even if it is buck-a-slice, that's A plus mom moves there."
She laughed a little, then coughed, "Don't make me laugh. Hurts." she said with the ghost of a smile.
"Nope. Only two things I want right now." He held up two fingers and gently wiggled them. "One, to see you get better, and Two. See you smile."
A knock cut off her response.
"Hey choom? I know you get unlimited visiting hours, but it's pushing midnight V." The voice came from somewhere on the far side of the room near the door. While Gloria still couldn't clearly see anything past arms length, she could tell the blob in the door was actually a person.
"Little V...You still, use your stage name?" Her eyes briefly shone with delight at the nostalgia to hit her. "That's adorable...V."
"Heh, don't know if I'll ever be able to call you that name again without thinking of this moment."
"I guess it is." He gently moved a few stray strands of Gloria's hair behind her ear, though his gaze was focused on the blob moving into the room. "'Bout time you got back."
"Whose that?" Gloria raised a finger, eyes fluttering in and out of focus as he got closer.
"I'm..." The faintest chuckle escaped the new man, "V's guardian angel, names Jackie." The big man smiled, hands clasped respectfully behind his back.
"Jackie, you are my brother in every way that counts..." Fond exasperation was on V's face and in his voice, "and I am gonna end you."
"Why do you hurt me like this?" Jackie frowned.
"Nooo..." The bedridden woman shook her head as much as the wires in her skin allowed, "don't hurt him. He's nice..."
"Aw, thanks chica." The frown was replaced with a smile, "see? She thinks I'm nice."
"I'm outnumbered here, aren't I?" V rolled his eyes, "anyhow. Back to your original point Jackie, you're right. It has gotten late." He leaned down then and adjusted Gloria's blanket. "Hate to leave you again so soon but I've got to get this one home and down for his nap." V threw a thumb at Jackie, causing Gloria to let out just the tiniest laugh. "You should probably do the same after the doctor checks your vitals."
Though she hummed in agreement, she couldn't help but frown as V's words fully registered. Those words also brought along a fresh batch of fatigue. "Will you...come back?"
"Tomorrow, I promise." V replied, patting the hand that was still above the covers as several doctors and nurses entered the room. "Just get some rest, alright?"
Another hum and a faint nod of her head was all she could manage as V switched places with one of the doctors. Still in the realm of conciousness, Gloria felt that being poked and prodded wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't pleasant either. The same went for feeling the faint brush of the tubes and wires across her skin, and hearing the beeping and droning of the machines. Some might not have been able to relax, let alone sleep with it all, but fatigue was a hell of a ailment. It easily overpowered everything else and clouded her mind once more. Still, in a moment of clarity she decided that, if this was a dream, that she wouldn't wake up from it anytime soon.