In Charge

Chapter 6 – Protective

By Threshie

AN: Here we are in chapter 6. This fic is going well. Anybody who has read one of my AU fics before should recognize my going theme of using canon characters as much as possible rather than adding in OCs, hence Mikami is a nurse in this incarnation instead of a prosecutor.

Trivia: Chapter 5's title refers to Matt and Near trading some trademark behavior for a little bit. Specifically, Matt played with toys like Near, and Near wore goggles like Matt.

Disclaimer: Death Note belongs to Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.


Near was beginning to wonder if they had diagnosed him right.

He'd felt a lot better the morning after the surgery, but ever since then he'd gradually been feeling more and more ill. Not only that, but my stomach hurts. This man said that it could be a sign of a serious infection... He glanced sidelong at Mikami over the thermometer that the nurse had stuck in his mouth, frowning ever-so-slightly. ...But I am not sure that I trust his word on anything yet. He still seems...suspicious.

Matt seemed to be pretty worried about him; he wondered if the nurse had said anything about his condition to the redhead while he was out of earshot. I felt fine before the day that Matt had to bring me to the hospital, he told himself, ignoring the fact that the thermometer was beeping. There can't be anything seriously wrong with me...unless it is caused by the appendicitis.

If he had ever had appendicitis, that is.

If the doctor had diagnosed him correctly.

From what I recall, the man only did some very basic tests before sending me to surgery...and the human body is perfectly capable of running without even a healthy appendix, so if they diagnosed it incorrectly, there wouldn't be any side effects to reveal their mistake...

He snapped back to the present when Mikami plucked the thermometer out of his mouth, examining the readout critically.

"Hmm..."

"Does he have a fever?" Matt asked, leaning over his shoulder to look at the readout as well.

The black-haired man frowned, turning the thermometer off with the press of a button, and answered stiffly, "Yes, although it is a mild one." Near watched Mikami intently as the nurse sat the little device back onto onto the small tray of items he had brought in just a moment before. You hid the readout from Matt. I don't like that...

He felt his own forehead with one hand, being very careful of the IV needle still in his wrist. I can't tell if I have a fever...if I do, my hands are a higher temperature, too. He sighed, moving his hand from his forehead over to the side of his face to twist a lock of hair again. He wished that his stomach didn't hurt; that was the only reason that he had agreed to Mikami examining him. He had a nagging feeling that his complexion had nothing to do with why the nurse had visited again so soon...

--

Matt hovered by the head of the bed, watching Mikami's every move carefully. It surprised him how anxious he felt that Near's condition might be more serious than it had at first appeared. It's because if something happens to him, L would never forgive me for not taking care of him well enough...right?

He wasn't sure anymore. Most likely he was letting Near's childish stature and appearance get the better of him, and feeling protective because of that. Yeah...that's probably it. Near's a really small person, especially without all the baggy pajamas on... Thoughts like those reminded him of when he had carried Near to the car, and then into the hospital. He had been very light... "Petite"'s not a word guys like to hear people describe them as, but that's what he is, I'd say. Eheh.

Realizing that his mind was drifting into the realm of strange logic that it usually did when he was sleepy, the redhead hurriedly returned his attention to the present.

"I need you to cough for me," Mikami was saying, sounding more like a stern schoolteacher than a nurse.

Near didn't break the same unblinking stare he'd been watching the man since his temperature had been taken, asking flatly, "Why?"

Sighing in annoyance, the nurse said grumpily, "Because if anything happens when you cough, it could tell me something vital about your condition."

Near turned his intense stare to the dinosaur toy, which stood amidst the army men on the bedside table, and asked pointedly, "Such as?"

Matt crossed his arms, wondering if he should say anything. I know you don't like the guy, Near, but you're the one who agreed to let him do these tests. Besides...the quicker he's done, the sooner he can leave...

--

"Please, just cough and if anything happens, you'll know what pretty quickly," Mikami said, frowning. He was starting to look a bit frustrated...something that Near didn't regret in the least. I don't like you, Mr. Mikami. Why do you act so suspicious around Matt? Especially about my condition...

Sighing, he took a deep breath and mustered up a tiny, very quiet cough. Mikami didn't seem to notice, though, so he coughed a second time and brought his hand up to cover his mouth in the process. Is that obvious enough for you? You are supposed to be paying attention while testing someone.

Mikami frowned, looking irritated, and said, "All right, next I am going to do a test that requires that I touch you. Please don't be alarmed."

Near sighed and sank back into his pillow, staring tiredly up at the ceiling. He could only stay awake for a little while right now before he ran out of energy and had to sleep again. And you are wasting what time I have with these stupid tests...I don't like you at all, Mr. Mikami...

"Fine. Please just do it and be done with it," he said flatly, glancing sidelong at Matt. Just as he'd suspected, the redhead looked decidedly unhappy about Mikami having to do this latest test. His blue eyes stared into Near's hesitantly, worrying, questioning. He is a nurse...albeit a very suspicious one. He wouldn't hurt me, especially not right in front of you, Matt.

Near couldn't very well say that aloud with Mikami standing right there, so he settled for thinking it.


I don't like this...is this really the only way that he can test if Near's condition's getting worse? Matt kept his arms crossed, watching unhappily as the black-haired man pressed a hand slowly on Near's stomach. The white-haired boy didn't show any outward sign of discomfort at being touched by Mikami, but he had shot Matt a long look just a moment before and it hadn't been a happy one. It's okay...I'm right here, he wouldn't dare do anything to hurt you. You know that, right?

It was Near, he reminded himself, of course he knew it. Hell, Near probably knew things he hadn't even thought of about this whole situation. Near's a genius, he thought, trying to reassure himself. If he agrees to be tested like this so easily, there can't be any danger in doing them.

A sudden gasp of pain from the white-haired boy jerked him back to reality. Mikami was pulling his hand away; he had been pressing on Near's stomach again.

Matt stepped forward immediately, "Stop, you're hurting him!"

The black-haired man glanced at him, looking none-too-guilty for causing Near any pain, and said simply, "I'm finished; it is just as I suspected."


"It—wh-what?" Near could hear the concern in Matt's voice, but didn't check to see if his expression matched; he had his eyes squeezed tightly closed at the moment. He struggled to draw a breath, pressing both hands over his stomach.

Mikami had pressed lightly and slowly the first time, but the second time his hand has seemed to dig in. It was swift, a sharp blow to the stomach that had been disguised as another press, and if he hadn't been left breathless from the intense pain it had caused, he would have told Matt to get Mikami away from him. That was no test—I refuse to believe that striking a patient can be allowed in a hospital.

"Mr...Kennedy, was it? I'm afraid that your brother's condition is very serious," Mikami was saying.

Near didn't like the sound of that diagnosis at all, especially seeing as how he didn't trust the person saying it. That can't be true...I felt much better until you started with these "tests" of yours...

Matt stared at Mikami in disbelief. Whatever he just did hurt Near enough to make him wince—h-he's still wincing from it! How can I believe that's a normal thing to do to test somebody's condition?

Near made a tiny little pained sound, something akin to a whimper but much shorter. Matt went over next to the bed and knelt beside it, worriedly patting his shoulder.

"I-it's okay...hang in there..." What did he do? He felt guilty for just standing there while Mikami had done this. Some guardian I am! He probably doesn't feel safe at all, even if I am in the room... "Near?" He asked more softly, seeing that the smaller boy had opened his eyes again.

"...I...I'm a-all right," Near said quietly, drawing a shaky breath; he was staring down at his hands, which were crumpling the hem of the blanket tightly. "You...h-hit me...why?" He switched to talking to the nurse without looking at him.

"I didn't hit you," Mikami frowned, stepping over next to the bed again; Matt resisted the urge to tell him to get away from Near, trying not to let his expression give his thoughts away.

You creep...what do you call it?

"I'm sorry if my last test was painful, but it was necessary," the nurse explained coldly, dark brows arching. "Judging from the symptoms, you have peritonitis—a very serious abdominal infection."

Matt turned back to face him, asking sharply, "Why did you have to hurt him to find that out?" A tendril of anger was weaving its way into his tone like smoke. I hate this—this isn't right! I never should've let him do these tests...

"One of the most important tests to determine if a patient has peritonitis is rebound tenderness—pain in the abdomen if pressure is applied and then quickly taken away," Mikami glanced down at Near, whose dark eyes were already staring intently up at him.

The look was one of dark, intense scrutiny; Near usually reserved it for Mello. He's got a right to be mad about this...

Mikami sighed, "That's why it didn't hurt the first time I pressed—do you understand? The only reason that the second time hurt is that I removed my hand more quickly."

Matt glanced at Near, too, wondering if perhaps he'd gotten defensive too quickly. Seeing the white-haired boy in such pain had been almost painful to him; it was like a slap in the face, in fact. I-I blamed Mikami pretty quick, without an explanation or anything...

Near met his eyes, deep, dark calm showing in his own as usual. What do you think, Near? Matt wondered, Do you think he's telling the truth? Or...maybe you're just thinking how I didn't protect you...at all... He bit his lip, breaking away from the intense stare to look at the toes of his boots.

"What will you have to do to treat this?" Near spoke softly, voice still trembling ever-so-slightly. Glancing back, Matt saw that he was looking at Mikami now.

"...If we don't operate immediately..." The nurse glanced at Matt grimly, "It could be fatal."

--End Chapter 6


AN: In case anybody's curious what kind of blue "cornflower blue" is, type "cornflower blue" into Wikipedia's search box—it has a little thumbnail to show you the shade. That's the color of Matt's eyes in this fic, although his are a more vivid, slightly darked shade of cornflower blue than the thumbnail's. I ought to draw a color picture of him without the goggles on to show you what my mental image is...because it's really cute. 3 Hehe.

And yes, "Mr. Kennedy" is a reference to Resident Evil 4. I figured if Matt had to come up with a fake surname off the top of his head, he'd probably think of a gaming-related one first. LOL.

For safety's sake, here's a disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil 4 or Leon S. Kennedy.

Sorry this chapter is so short--this seemed like the best place to cut the scene off. Also, FFN's formatting is being a pain, and that's why a couple of scenes are separated by --'s this time around. (Sigh) I wish I could just leave it the way I type it originally, but alas, FFN wants "uniform" formatting. Oh, well.

So, does Near really have peritonitis, or does Mikami just want them to think so? Chapter 7 is in the works now!

-Threshie


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In Charge Akugi! Volume 6

Akugi #21

Narrator: Near was beginning to wonder if they had diagnosed him right.

Near: If I have appendicitis, why am I growing kitten ears and tail?

Matt: (Pokes ears) "Y'know, I have no idea why these grew in overnight, but they're kinda cute." ^_^

Akugi #22

Near: (Coughs)

Mikami: (Doesn't seem to notice) "Will you please hurry up and cough?"

Near: u.u "I already did."

Mikami: "No you didn't. I didn't hear anything."

Near: "Then you ought to pay better attention."

Mikami: (SIGH) "Just cough again so that I can observe it this time!"

Near: "I refuse to do the same stupid test twice just because you don't do your job well enough."

Mikami: "You...!" (Fumes)

Matt: (Sweeeaatdrop) I wonder if this guy's gonna make the next test hurt to get revenge...ehehe.

Akugi #23

Mikami: "I'm finished; it is just as I suspected."

Matt: (Twitch) "What, that your stupid test hurts?"

Mikami: u_u "No, that your 'brother' here is an android." (Points at Near acccusingly) "I felt a fan in your stomach!"

Near: u.u "Now that you've found out, I can't let you live. How awful."

Matt: "!?" Did I miss something, here?

Akugi #24

Mikami: "Mr...Kennedy, was it? I'm afraid that your brother's condition is very serious..."

Matt: "You don't say it right--it's MEESTER Kennedy, not MISTER Kennedy."

Mikami: "...'Meester' Kennedy, will you please pay attention to the more important problem here?" (Twitch)

Matt: "Better. What were you saying again? Something about Near being serious?"

Mikami: "...." The world would be so much better off if certain people were deleted from the face of it...