Loads of Broppy fluff! Please enjoy!
After another day in the hospital pod, Dr. Plum released Branch to Poppy's care. Branch had protested, insisting that he was fine and could take care of himself, but the doctor told him that he had to take it easy for two weeks. And Poppy wouldn't hear of it! As if that wasn't enough, Poppy had shown up in a cute yellow nurse's inform, with a little matching cap, bearing a purple cross, to top off everything. She was all ready for action. Overly ready, actually. Branch hated to admit it, but he was outnumbered by these overly cheery but hard-headed female trolls. And since he was not permitted to walk without crutches, he relented. His only condition that he demanded was that he be allowed to recover in his bunker. Poppy was more than happy to oblige.
And so, off to the bunker they went!
"Okay, now. Off to bed, Branchy!" Poppy told him as she stood behind him while he hobbled along on his crutches.
"I'm okay. I'm not ready for bed." Branch said.
"No, no, no, no!" Poppy scolded, holding up her index finger. "I promised Dr. Plum that I would nurse you back to health, and that means you have to do everything I say. And I say, it's bedtime." She said with her hands on her hips.
"Poppy, I know that you are my self appointed nurse, but-"
"Bedtime." Poppy interrupted. And with that, she scooped him up in her arms bridal-style.
"Poppy!" Branch squealed, eyes bugging out. "Wha-what are you doing?!"
"Time for dreamland." Poppy smirked, running merrily toward Branch's bedroom.
"Poppy, stop! Put me down! Hey!" Branch protested, flailing around like a fish out of water. "Let go of me! I'm not a baby! Put me down right now!" He demanded in his sternest voice. But she wasn't having any of it. She was really going to do this? Seriously? Branch tossed his crutches aside. "Oh, no! Put me down! I dropped my crutches!" He pretended to be worried.
But Poppy still didn't stop! She merely extended her pink hair behind her and rolled up the crutches inside her strands. How the heck did she have the arm strength to carry him around like this? She was so petite compared to his robust frame. Maybe it was her perky energy that never seemed to run out? She must have downed an entire ice cream sundae before coming to the hospital! Something! If this was not a sugar rush, Branch was almost scared to see her in a candy high frenzy! She didn't even release him as she thrust the elevator lever that slid down to the lower levels of the bunker, then hopped off with him still in her arms! "And...here we go!" She announced triumphantly. Branch gaped to see that they were indeed in his cozy bedroom.
"Okay." Branch rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Can you put me down now? I can make it the rest of the way."
"Nope!" Poppy said proudly, and using her hair to pull back the covers, she placed him on the bed, placed a huge, fluffy pillow under his broken leg, and covered him up with the blanket. "There we go. Now you can rest for as long as you need."
"Poppy, really, I'm okay." Branch winced as he sat himself up.
"No, you're not! See, you're in pain." Poppy argued.
"I'm fine. I don't need rest."
"Yes, you do!"
"Poppy, listen to me!" Branch raised his voice. Poppy flinched abruptly. "Look, I'm sorry." Branch said more softly. "I didn't mean to yell. Look, I appreciate your help. You're the best medicine I could ever have."
"Really?" Poppy's eyes lit up. "Awww, Branch."
"Yes. But, look. I don't need to be in bed. I should be out there," he gestured towards the ceiling, "setting traps and a new alarm system! You don't want the scrimps to come back, do you?"
"Branch, calm down." Poppy giggled. "I understand that you're worried, but you need to relax."
"Poppy, we don't want any more Jenny scenarios." Branch told her seriously. Poppy's face fell.
"No. You're right." She sighed sadly. "We don't. I have an idea!" Her pink features glowed with excitement again.
"What?" Branch asked suspiciously.
"You're the brightest and bravest guy when it comes to being safe. How about you draw up some blueprints or plans on how to keep the scrimps out? That oughtta keep you busy while you recover! How about it?"
Branch blinked, astonished. If this had been months ago, she would've just laughed at his warning and casually told him that the scrimps weren't gonna come back. She really was putting the work into listening better. Branch's face warmed with pride and gratitude. "You know? That's a great idea, Poppy! Thanks!" He smiled genuinely. "But, what's going to keep them out right now? What's to prevent them from invading the village right this second?"
"You old worrywart." Poppy chuckled, booping his nose. "Cooper and Darnell remembered what you had said about scrimps hating high-pitched noises. So they bravely snuck back near the berry patch and set up an alarm system. Their very own. Coopernell style!"
"Huh?" Branch stared at her confused.
"Well, Suki let them borrow a few of her loudspeakers, the jumbo ones." Poppy explained. "And one of her DJ boxes. They have it rigged up that should any predators even try to tiptoe inside the village borders, they'll have a literal BLAST of a greeting! Cooper and Darnell said that they got the idea from you, when you set up the trip wires near the berry patch! Then they took your idea and put their own spin on it! So, you see? You don't have a thing to worry about!" Poppy smiled.
"They...did that?" Branch arched his eyebrows.
"Yeah. I'm very proud of them." Poppy said fondly.
"Me too." Branch smiled. "Wow. That's great!" Then his face faltered. "What about-"
"No, no, no. No more worries. It's time for your medicine!" Poppy reached into her hair and pulled out a bottle of pills.
"I thought you were trying to make me feel better." Branch huffed.
"It will. And I am. Now, take it." Poppy handed him two blue little pills and a cup of cold water. "Well, go on. Bottoms up."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes, you have to! You wanna get better, don't you?"
"I am better." Branch set them aside on the nightstand. "I don't need these. And I don't need a bed. I need to be up and about." Branch said, starting to grab for his crutches.
"Ugh." Poppy rolled her eyes, taking his crutches. "Well, I see that I'm gonna have a time taking care of you! Are you gonna take you medicine like a good boy?"
"Really?" Branch grunted.
"Okay. I didn't want to resort to this method, but you leave me no choice." Poppy said. She used her hair to pull Branch down flat on his back.
"Poppy!" He gasped. She coiled her hair around him like a rope, holding him in place. "Unhand me!" Branch barked.
"Now, open wide." Poppy squinted.
"Are you for real?" Branch rolled his eyes.
"Wider." Poppy murmured with her sweetest smile. "Come on now."
"Poppy-"
"Mph. Little wider."
"No." Branch said stubbornly.
"Okay, tough guy. Have it your own way then."
"Poppy, what are you doing?" Branch asked nervously. Grinning evilly, she used one of her hairs to brush against the bottom of his left foot. "Poppy!" Branch chewed his jaw as hard as he could, determined not to give into her tickling antics. "Pop-noo! You're-stop! You're cheating!" Branch yelped with laughter, unable to contain himself. "Ohh, stop!" He begged loudly.
Poppy took her chance and dumped the pills and the water down into his mouth, then she stopped her tickling, and pulled him back up to a sitting position so he could swallow without choking. He glared at her. "Like I said, cheater." He muttered.
"Oh, don't get too comfortable yet, buddy. There's more!" Poppy smirked.
"M-more?" Branch instantly looked worried.
"Now you have to take this." Poppy showed him a bottle of muddy colored medicine and poured it into a spoon. Branch cringed at the sight of it. It looked like grime, and his stomach didn't believe that it was about to taste better either.
"If Dr. Plum thinks for a minute that I'm going to put that down my throat-" Branch began to protest. But the ends of Poppy's hair wiggled their strands at him in a claw shape, reminding him unpleasantly of his nurse's so called 'medical treatment' that she'd just put him through. Her hair came closer to his foot. "Okay! Okay! Give it to me!" Branch exclaimed. Poppy scooped the yucky looking concoction good old Dr. Plum claimed to be "good for what ails you". It tasted as foul as it appeared. "Bleh!" He gagged. "What the heck did she put in that stuff? It tastes like...a Bergen's unwashed sock!"
"Eewww!" Poppy gagged. "Well, this should actually make you feel better." She handed him a cupcake.
"Pops, you know I don't really care for sweets-" Branch slightly smiled.
"Come on, Branchifer." Poppy groaned. "It won't kill you to enjoy some cupcakes or candy, and cookies once in a while. Sweets are good for you, you know."
"Oh?" Branch arched his eyebrows.
"Yeah. They make you smile. Come on, eat it."
"Maybe later." Branch said, setting the delicacy on his nightstand.
"No, no, no. The instructions says that you need to eat when taking this medicine. Now eat up."
"I think they meant something more substantial?"
"Oh! You just need substance. Got it." And with that, Poppy pulled out more cupcakes.
"Th-that's not what-"
"You'd better chow down on that before you puke!" Poppy warned him. "Now you get this cupcake-which I made myself, and it took great pains to make it just right-into your belly so it can settle." Poppy said.
"Okay." Branch relented. He took a bite. Mmm! It wasn't overly sweet, for once. It was light and fluffy, and seemed to contain an almost rustic sweetness to it. Branch was surprised, to say the least. "It's pretty good." He admitted. "Wait!" He chewed a little more. "Did you use blueberries in this?"
"Uh huh! Real, organic blueberries! Not the frozen kind. These are from the berry patch!"
"I like it." Branch smiled.
"See? Told ya it'd make you smile."
"Now, I could get used to these."
"Well, that's good! 'Cause I brought five dozen of them!"
"Wait, what?"
"I wanted to make sure you had plenty!"
"Poppy, one dozen would be enough. More than enough!"
"I like to take care of my trolls." Poppy smiled sheepishly.
"Well, thanks for that." Branch sighed. He suddenly felt weary.
"You need rest." Poppy said softly. She helped him lie back.
"But, I have things to do. Work that won't do itself." Branch said.
"Not today, Branchifer. You just got out of the hospital! Rest up!"
"But…"
"Nope!"
"Pop-"
"Nuh uh!"
"Pops-"
"That's not going to work." Poppy crossed her arms.
"Poppifer?"
"Don't even go there, Sweetie Pie." Poppy shook her head, patting his shoulder.
"Fine. I'll rest for one hour, but that's it! After that, got work to do."
"Sleep tight, babe." Poppy kissed his cheek. Branch rolled his eyes, with a smirk.
"Thanks, Poppy." He said happily.
"If you need anything, just hit my cowbell!"
"Got it."
"I'm gonna go make you some lunch." Poppy said and scuttled away out of the room.
Branch exhaled heavily. It was good to be home! Safe in his snug bunker, away from the hubbub and sugar-induced excitement. It had been too noisy and too exposed at Dr. Plum's. The lady in scrubs had also threatened to keep him in the hospital if he didn't let Poppy tend to his needs. Well, there was no way in heck that he was about to agree to that! He couldn't stand being in the hospital! Oh, the sweet relief of being in the private safety of his home!
And Poppy was going to be around for a while! She'd packed her bags so that she could plan on sleeping over at the bunker, to give Branch the full-time care that she insisted he needed. Branch personally felt that she was dramatizing all of this, making his condition out to be so much worse than it was. He'd studied the medical books in his library to understand how to tend to his own medical needs out in the forest or if he ended up really sick underground and nobody checked on him. This was nothing. So, he had a concussion, some scrapes and bruises, some lacerations. Nothing he couldn't take care of himself. Granted, a broken leg was serious, but his leg was on the mend now and he had crutches to prove it. There really was no need for Poppy to hang around.
But, he wanted her around! So she was being an exaggerated Mother Hen. So what? If she didn't, she wouldn't be Poppy. She went out of her way to be there for her family and friends, even if she was very extra about it. But that was one of the things that Branch loved about her. Poppy didn't become lavish to get special attention, she did it to help her friends have a good time, to make sure they enjoyed themselves. She knew the things that made her happy, and she wanted to share that with everyone she knew. Queen Poppy couldn't stand to see anybody unhappy! No one!
Well then, Branch guessed that he would have to put up with her babying. It was honestly satisfying that she was saving this special attention for him. But maybe he could get her to tone it down a bit?
Well, she was gonna be here for a while. Might as well make the best of her fussing. Branch actually began to feel a little sleepy, so he closed his eyes and drifted off.
"Lunchtime!" Poppy announced as she happily waltzed into his bedroom. "Oh, you're sleeping. I'm sorry."
"No, no. I'm awake." Branch shook his head and sat up, grunting.
"How ya feeling, babe?" Poppy asked, setting a tray of food on the bed.
"I told you, I'm fine!" Branch shrugged sheepishly.
"You feeling itchy?"
"Huh?" Branch did a double take. "What are you talking about?"
"Dr. Plum said that sometimes the cast can make your leg feel itchy inside. Something we're gonna have to look out for." Poppy explained.
"Oh, well, no!" Branch boasted. Great, just another dreaded part of this predicament to look forward to!
"Good. I brought your lunch. And you're going to eat all of it." Poppy said firmly. Branch observed the food she'd brought him. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (NOT triangular cut), apple slices drizzled with caramel sauce, potato chips, and cookies. He could've done without the cookies, the chips, and the caramel sauce, and gone with the stuff that would actually give him proper nutrition. But he wanted to please Poppy.
"Thanks." He smiled, taking the tray to his lap, though leaning forward hurt his side. "I'm not sure though if I can eat all of it." He warned her.
"Oh, yes you will!" Poppy replied.
Poppy had hung out in Branch's room, asking him what jobs he wanted her to do, to help him out. He'd told her that she didn't need to bother, but there was no talking her out of it. So, she'd washed the dishes, grabbed him a clean pair of pants, his housecoat, and some fresh orange juice. Poppy was more than happy to do it. If Branch thought this was too much for her, he was underestimating her enthusiasm. She gained pure joy from helping out her man.
But this part? It kind of presented a problem."Branch, do you need me to help you?" She asked nervously, when she held out the pair of pants out to him.
"No. I've got this, Poppy. Thanks." Branch waved her off. Poppy narrowed her eyes. How was he going to get those trunks over that bulky cast on his leg? He couldn't do that by himself, and not after having endured a head injury!
"I don't think you do." She said. Branch glanced at her.
"What do you mean? I'm not crippled, Poppy."
"No, you're not. But you've been hurt. And, just how are you planning to get these over your leg?" She asked with her arms crossed.
"Same as I always do-" Branch said sheepishly. His pants did look so small compared the plaster hugging his leg. No, he was going to do it. He could do this!
"Uhm, Branch? I'm not-uh, trying to embarrass you, but...I really don't think that doing this on your own is a good idea."
"Don't worry about me. Old Branch has got this in the bag." Branch said confidently. "Uh, if you could turn around?"
"Oh! Yeah, sorry." Poppy blushed deeply and turned her back to him. She hoped he hadn't seen the color rise in her cheeks! She didn't want him to think that she'd wanted to see him-well, like that! She was honestly just trying to help. But as she thought about it, she realized that taking care of Branch meant venturing into scenarios that they as a couple hadn't quite explored yet! Not that she would do anything vulgar! But, could Branch really get his trousers over that leg? I guess I'll have to wait, and see if he needs help, she decided.
Branch looked down at his legs. His left one looked so small compared to his other one. His pants were narrower in the waist than on the legs, but even so, they didn't look like they could fit over that stupid cast without ripping! No, he would do this! He wasn't a kid. He was a man. He didn't need help with this!
He managed to slip off the pants he was wearing, though he had to yank them off over his injured leg! Now for the hard part. He leaned forward as far as he could, but it brought sharp pain through his stomach and he gritted his teeth, hoping that Poppy didn't hear his small hiss of discomfort!
"You okay?" She asked without turning her back.
"Sure!" Branch tried to say happily. He'd just have to endure it! Starting with his left leg, he clawed it through the pant leg hole. Okay then, step one, done! Now for the next one. He brought his knees toward his chest, which also hurt his stomach, and reaching down as far as he could, he began to pull the other pant leg over the cast. It already began resisting as he tried to get it passed his toes! Not now! Come on! Branch thought in irritation. The trousers just barely made it down toward his ankle and didn't want to budge anymore! "Come on!" Branch growled. His tummy felt like someone was scraping a bee stinger across it, and the gash on his forehead though bandaged, felt like it was being pulled open! It hurt! But no, he wouldn't let these little inconveniences beat him! I can do this! I've got this!
But, as he yanked harder, the pants shot in the other direction, smacking the wall and falling to the floor. "Great." Branch groaned. He quickly pulled the blanket over his bare legs and middle! "Uh, Poppy? Maybe you could get me another pair?" He asked.
"Branch," Poppy sighed, and turned back to him, "I'm worried that you're gonna actually hurt yourself again if you don't let me help you. That's what I'm here for! Please, let me help you!"
Branch looked away, hanging his head. This was stupid! Here he was laid up, unable to do something so simple as putting his own pants on! He needed help getting them around his waist, just like a little baby! He winced. "Guess I don't have much choice." He whispered miserably.
Poppy frowned sadly at how dejected he looked. "I'll...go get you a new pair." She said, slowly trudging out of the bedroom.
Branch waited until he was sure she was out of earshot. Then punched his bed with both arms. Oooww! That made everything hurt worse! But Branch didn't care. He was so dang frustrated! How had he even gotten himself into this mess? Life just stunk right now! He pommeled his blanket until he hurt too much to keep it up.
"Branch! Are you alright?" Poppy cried in alarm when she reentered the room.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" He growled sharply.
"Oh, okay." Poppy gulped. It had been a very long time since she had seen him so angry. "Uhm, I thought it might be easier for you if I got a pair of sweats. They're more baggy, and should slip on and off pretty easy."
Branch glanced at her and felt his anger melt away. She was so considerate. "Thank you." He smiled warmly. "I...might need a little help." There was no point in denying it.
"Oh! Okay...uh, how do you want to do this?" Poppy bit her lip.
"I'll keep my waist covered with the blanket. If you could just help me get it over my feet to my ankles, I think I can handle the rest."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okie-dokie." Poppy shrugged.
This method worked out much smoother, and Poppy didn't have to worry about seeing his bare middle. As soon as she'd slipped the baggy pajama pants over his ankles, Branch pulled them up the rest of the way, though he winced a lot as he did it.
"Better?" Poppy asked, stroking his face.
"Much! Thanks." Branch breathed.
"You need to lie down."
"I'm good."
"Branch-"
"Kidding." Branch nodded, breathing heavily.
"Are you hurting, Sweetie?" Poppy asked with concern.
"It's nothing." Branch shook his head.
"Here, lie down. Go to sleep." Poppy helped him lie flat on his back and covered him back up after she'd elevated his leg. She sang sweetly, and in a little while, he was asleep.
Poppy cleaned up the lunch dishes, formed a plan for dinner, and started scrapbooking a get well card for Branch, singing happily. She again went over her scheduled instructions from Dr. Plum for Branch's care. "Medication? Check!" Poppy said to herself. "Lunch? Check again! Change of clothes? Triple check! Rest? check again!" Then she looked at the next set of instructions:
Treat Wounds
-Wash hands thoroughly
-Put on gloves
-Remove bandages and dispose
- Leave wounds uncovered for twenty minutes
-Apply cleanser to wounds (not barehanded)
-Apply fresh bandages to wounds
Poppy's heart sank. Could she really do this? She remembered getting scrapes and cuts tended by Dr. Plum over the years. Cleaning them always stung, even though the good doctor said that it would help her get better. It was never fun to go through that ordeal, and those were just minor little hurts. Branch's were much more serious! Poppy had hated those times at Dr. Plum's when she was on the receiving end of the task. Could she really do that to someone else, and make them feel that kind of discomfort? Granted, the doctor had always given her a sticker and a lollipop when it was over, but that was when she was a kid. She and Branch weren't kids anymore, they were adults! And there were some things that stickers and lollipops couldn't fix anymore.
Poppy's breath hitched when she realized just what she'd gotten herself into. She loved the idea of being there for Branch, filling his every need and want and trying to make him happy and well again. But she hadn't taken in what all that entailed! Like the situation with changing his pants. They'd worked it out, but that had brought up a slight speed-bump neither of them had thought about before it came. But this was different! Cleaning the wounds would cause him pain! Poppy shuddered. Earlier, she'd been so excited to take care of him, but now she felt very alone, and clueless. If only there was somebody else around who could do this part for her, anyone else! She'd seen Branch's creasing of his facial features and the way he'd curled up in on himself when he was hurting. Performing the tasks given to her, would increase his agony!
Tears came to Poppy's eyes as she sat the table dejectedly. "I want to make him feel better, not make him more uncomfortable!" She argued with the paper. "I can't do this! It will be horrible! He might even cry! Like he did at the hospital. I can't make him cry! No, I won't! I'm not doing this!" She slammed her hands on the table and angrily stomped away from it. But then, the physician's words crawled into her mind:
"Some of these jobs are going to be unpleasant, but they must be done if he's going to get better! Any skipping them could set his recovery back."
Those were the words her good friend had told her.
Poppy hugged herself, shaking. This was going to be so hard! And she wasn't only going to have to do it once, she was going to have to do it multiple times during his recovery! Poppy held her head in her hands, weeping softly. Until, she remembered another detail from those doctor visits all through the years: she'd never been alone! Someone had always been there with her to hold her hand and tell her it was gonna be okay! Most of the time, it had been either her father the king or Cooper and DJ. She'd always had someone to lean on during those awful moments.
That was what she would have to do for Branch! That was why she was here in the first place! This was her job, even though things could become sticky. Determined to do anything for her handsome hunk, Poppy fiercely wiped her nose and dried her tears then stood up straight. "No, I'm a big girl now. I'm the queen! And it's my job to take care of everybody! No matter what it takes!" She declared confidently.
Poppy had lost track of time on how long Branch had been sleeping and reminded herself that he was supposed to be waken up every two hours so he wouldn't succumb to his concussion. She'd better check on him. Gulping, she took the elevator down to the bedroom, her medical supplies in hand. Branch was moaning in his sleep when she reached his bedside, and her belly twisted in knots at the thought of making him feel more miserable. But, it had to be done. "Branch? I'm here." She said softly. "Wake up, Sweetie Pie." She patted his shoulder. Branch opened his eyes with a sour frown on his face.
"Oh, hi, Poppy. I forgot you were here." He mumbled.
"I have to take care of your wounds." Poppy told him.
"Ah, what the heck? I already feel gruesome. Guess I can take a little more." Branch said dryly.
Poppy felt a jolt through her chest as he said that. He did look pretty miserable. And now, she wasn't about to ease his misery at all! She felt his forehead, checking for fever. None. Good! That meant no signs of infection! "Uh, I was thinking of making you chicken noodle soup for dinner. How does that sound?" She asked cheerily.
"Isn't that what you serve to people who are sick with colds or the flu?" Branch arched his eyebrows.
"I don't think it actually matters. All that I know is, that when you're laid up, there is no better food in the world to get you back on your feet!"
"Sounds good, actually. My grandma made the best! Her food was always to die for! Her chicken noodle soup was the bomb!" Branch's face lit up, bragging about his sweet grandmother and her prize delicacies. "The recipe is in the kitchen in the my cookbook, if you want to give it a shot."
"I'll do that!" Poppy smiled. "I'd be proud to make something that your grandma did! Though...mine probably won't be up to her standard." She said sheepishly.
"If you do exactly as it says, you should be fine. You can do anything!" Branch smiled tiredly.
"Thanks." Poppy spoke solemnly, and stared at the floor.
"Something wrong, hon?" Branch cocked his head.
"I just...let's just get this part over with. I have to take your bandages off."
"Ohh. Well, I've had experience with that. You got gloves?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, I'd better sit up then." Branch said, wincing as she helped him to a reclining position against the pillows.
"Dr. Plum said your wounds need some air." Poppy said.
"Yep. After you remove these mummy wraps, why don't you get started on the soup? By the time you're finished with it, I should be ready for the new gauze." Branch suggested.
"Okay! We'll do that." Poppy breathed in relief. At least she wouldn't have to hurt him for a while! With Branch's suggestions, she removed the tape from around his ears, his face, his head, his arms, and his stomach. She didn't linger on looking at his lacerations, anxious to get away from them as quickly as possible. She could check them more thoroughly when it was time! Branch said he would be fine until she got back down.
Poppy went to work on replicating Grandma Rosiepuff's famous chicken noodle soup, singing the recipe to herself as she read it. She could turn anything into a song! She hoped that she was doing this right! The onions stung her eyes, but she muddled through it, and soon the kitchen smelled absolutely savory!
Poppy finally felt satisfied after tasting the soup one last time. It was scrumptious! "Good! Now for-" she sighed. She'd decided to clean Branch's injuries and tape him up first, get the unpleasant task over with first, and then they would have the soup to look forward to when it was all over! She took a deep breath, then headed back down to the sick room.
"Poppy! Is the soup ready?" Branch asked excitedly. "I've been smelling it, and it's killing me! I've got to try it ASAP!"
"After we get you taped back up." Poppy said.
"Oh. Yeah." Branch made a face.
"I kept it on the stove though so it won't get cold."
"That's my girl." Branch gave her a thumb's up. "Well, let's get the grillin' done." He leaned back so that his nurse would have more access to the scars on his stomach.
Poppy's face went pale. She had briefly seen his hurts when he'd been brought back to the hospital, but she'd been in panic mode at the time, just trying to rush him to the help he needed. And then he'd been cleaned up and doctored up the next time she'd seen him. This was her first time she was getting a really good look at his injuries and just how bad they were. Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted nothing more than to hug him until he was all better!
"Poppy?" Branch spoke, interrupting her frantic thoughts.
It was all too much. Poppy shuddered with horror. "Aaaww! Oh my gosh, your poor tummy! Branch, what happened to you?!"
"Oh, nothing much. Just some scrimp decided she wanted to adopt me." Branch said dryly. "But I wouldn't come willingly."
"I'm glad you didn't!"
"Or, could be that she probably thought I'd make her kids a really lovable chew toy. Scrimps kinda find me irresistible." He put on his smolder face.
"So do I. I got first dibs on you, so you're stuck here with me." Poppy told him.
"I think I can live with that." Branch smiled wearily.
Poppy bit her lip. She stared mournfully at the angry slashes across his abdomen and her heart began to pound deafeningly in her ears. She needed to clean those wounds that had marred her boyfriend, and cover him with more bandages to prevent infection, but they looked so big, and ugly, and deadly, and...so painful. "Branch, do I have to touch them?" She asked anxiously, her hands actually beginning to shake.
"Are you kidding? Since when have you not wanted to touch me?" Branch arched his eyebrows. "I've nearly passed out from the endless hugs you bombard me with." He teased. But Poppy didn't retort back or even grin. As a matter of fact, her eyes were beginning to well up. Oh, frosting. "Pops, what's wrong?" Branch asked, concerned. "Are you okay?" He tried sitting up.
"It's just...they look like they really hurt!" Poppy cried.
"Oh. Well, they don't. Not really." Branch smiled, hoping to set her mind at ease.
"Stop trying to be so macho!" Poppy sobbed sharply, stomping her foot. "It isn't funny!"
"Poppy," Branch sighed sympathetically, reaching out his hand for her. "Come here, Poppy." Poppy stood next to him, hanging her head, her shoulders slumped, and she was shedding hot tears. He touched her arm and squeezed it. "What's the matter, Pops?" He asked quietly.
"It's just that...when I think of how you got these injuries…" Poppy wailed breathlessly, "how you got those awful cuts, you could've been ripped to pieces, and you couldn't escape, and I wasn't there to take care of you, and you were trapped under that tree limb, about to be eaten or trampled, and how much they probably hurt, and-I could have lost you! And-and-they look so-I can't do it! I can't hurt you! This is horrible! I-"
"Shh. It's okay. Poppy, it really doesn't hurt that much. It's okay." Branch said softly.
"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you, Branch!" Poppy sniffled.
"You won't, honey." Branch said soothingly. "I've been in my share of tumbles and scrapes. Trust me, my belly is made of tougher stuff than that!" He patted his tummy for emphasis. Poppy didn't look convinced.
"Does it hurt much?" She asked.
"No." Branch smiled warmly. "I promise, you're not gonna hurt me. Hey," he reached over and lifted her quivering chin to face him with his hand, "seeing you sad like this hurts me more than any of these bumps or bruises."
"I'm sorry." Poppy said, trying to wipe her tears away. "It's just, I wanna take care of you. I wanna make you feel better! Not worse!"
"You won't make me feel worse. And you are taking care of me." Branch tried to assure her. "I promise you're not gonna hurt me, Poppy."
"You promise? You're not just saying that to make me feel better?" Poppy looked at him pleadingly.
"I promise." Branch said tenderly, leaning upward to brush her tears away. "No more tears. Alright?"
"Alright." Poppy nodded, trying to catch her breath.
"Now, are you gonna rain on me all day? Am I gonna have to do this myself? I can't move around properly, you know. I might end up tying myself in knots or worse, tying myself to the bed by accident!" He gasped in mock horror. "Can we hurry it up? I'm starved! I've been waiting forever to try some of that soup!" Poppy giggled. Branch's heart soared. She'd giggled! He'd made her laugh! It was joyful music to his ears.
"No, I'll do it." Poppy snickered, wiping at her eyes again.
I promise the next chapter will be more light-hearted!