Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda Series or its characters. I also do not own "Beauty and the Beast", "Les Miserables", or any other musical or piece of music mentioned in this story. This story is purely for entertainment purposes only.
Hello, everyone! Thank you again for your continued support! As always, please leave a review! I'd love to hear what you think! Enjoy chapter 31! ~Opal
Chapter 31: Missing You
Link's POV
Dr. Arnold and I got straight to work with physical therapy. He had me practice sitting up and walking. Every time we've practiced I have been able to feel myself getting better, and I'm looking forward to having all of my strength back soon.
Today's session was full of pain. Dr. Arnold really made me push the limits with walking; he even had me lift some weights. Sally kept on encouraging me to keep going, her soft and gentle words like a brief and highly-anticipated relief from my grueling exercise. Dr. Arnold was having me do crunches while lying on the ground. After the first two I felt an intense amount of pain shooting up from all areas of my body to my brain. I shouted in agony, forcing myself back down into a laying-down position with a loud thud.
"Link!" Sally gasped. "I think we should stop, Dr. Arnold!" She looked at him and then at me in alarm. "I don't think he can take anymore!"
I covered my face with my hands and was on the verge of tears; my whole body was throbbing!
"Miss Sally!" He yelled. "You can't keep babying him!" He rolled his eyes. "Link needs to fight through this, and if you continue to be so selfish he'll never heal, and it'll beyourfault!"
Sally's eyes widened. "...I just-"
"Think about this for a minute..." He calmed down. "If you allow yourself to get anxious and worried he will stop...if he's anything like I am when it comes to the woman he loves, he won't be able to bear worrying you."
She hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry."
"I'm just saying that none of us want him to stop; we want him to get better...and if he sees you looking emotionally hurt from the pain he's experiencing, he wouldn't allow himself to continue."
"SHUT UP!" I shouted, getting up and standing in front of him. "I appreciate what you've been doing for me, but Sally's done nothing wrong!"
"I..." He seemed a little taken-aback.
"I won't allow you to speak to her like that!" I replied. "After you calmed down you were fine, but don't youeveryell at her again."
"Alright." He shuffled his feet in embarrassment.
Sally didn't say a word, staring blankly into space as a couple of tears came down her face.
"I think that's enough for today." I looked at Dr. Arnold.
"Understood." Dr. Arnold walked out of the room.
As soon as he left the room I looked at Sally. Her hands were in her lap, and when we made eye-contact she looked off to the side as if she could hide her tears from me. I walked over to her and grabbed her hands, urging her to stand. She stood up and I hugged her. "Don't hide what you're feeling from me; we can get through this together..." She cried as I held her close.
"I just..." She mumbled. "...I don't want you to quit..."
"I won't." I spoke into her ear. "I promise."
We ate dinner together and soon it was time for her to leave again for the night. Thinking about how despondent I was last night I dreaded the thought of her leaving me. Even if just for tonight...if she stayed with me, I wouldn't feel so lonely. Even if she slept in a chair...just her presence; the sound of her breathing, would make me feel more at ease.
"...I...I guess I'd better get going..." She looked sad as she stood up from the chair she was sitting in. She came over to my bed and gave me a kiss. "Goodnight, my hero..." She smiled.
"Goodnight." I whispered, wanting so badly to say more. What do I tell her? Wait...I know what to tell her, just not how!
She picked up her knapsack from a hook it was hanging on and started to leave the room.
"...Wait..." I spoke up.
She whirled around and came back towards me. "Is everything okay?"
I began to redden. "...Please...please don't leave..."
Her eyes fluttered and she blushed. "You and I both know I can't stay...the hospital's policy-"
"I-I'll sneak you in through the window after it settles down..." My blush became more intense.
"Link...I..." She stammered.
I found the courage to speak more coherently to her. "They never give me medicine at night, and we can get you out of here before they check on me later in the morning."
Her blush became stronger. "...I..."
I stood up and walked over to her, taking hold of her hands. "Last night I felt so lonely, would you be willing to stay with me? You can sleep on the floor or in the chair...I just need you here with me." I gulped in anticipation for her reply.
She smiled sweetly at me. "Okay." She kissed me. "I'll be back in an hour." We both smiled and she left the room.
How I suddenly became brave enough to say that to her, I don't know...this overwhelming feeling came over me, and all I knew is I didn't want her to go home.
After what felt like centuries later she was standing outside my window. I opened the window and took her hand as she climbed onto the windowsill, and then I caught her on her way down in my arms. She chuckled and whispered quietly. "I feel like such a rebel!"
"Sweetest rebel I've ever known." I grinned as she reddened.
She playfully punched me in the arm and placed her hands on her hips. "Since when have you become a smooth-talker?"
I brushed it off with a laugh and punched her back. "I'm just stating the facts."
She walked towards the linen closet and grabbed another blanket, and then headed towards the chair. "I'm going to hit the hay." She yawned.
"Hold up, missy!" I said quietly. I stood up from the bed and stood in front of her. "Change of plans. I'll sleep in the chair, I insist that you sleep on the bed."
"That's very kind of you, Link...but you need the comfort of the bed far more than I do." She smiled and patted the chair. "This will be perfect for tonight." She pointed her finger at me. "Now march to that bed and get some rest, mister!" She sat in the chair.
"I can't sleep there." I snorted. "You're sleeping there, and you're in my way! That chair you're sleeping on is my bed for the night!"
"Very funny, Link!" She giggled. "No more games, you need to sleep!"
"I won't sleep until you move!" I crossed my arms. "Sleep on the bed!"
"I won't sleep untilyousleep on the bed!" She crossed her arms and pouted.
"Sleep on the bed!" I hissed. (Still being playful.)
"No!" She giggled again. "Don't you men hate it when women are onry?!"
"Yes! But you need to please sleep on the bed! I'm not sleeping there!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Maybe Fyer was right...we kind ofdoargue like a married couple!" She kissed me on the lips. "Going back to the previous subject, I am not going to sleep on the bed, you belong there."
"Then I guess neither one of us is getting any sleep tonight!" I grinned.
"That's where you're wrong." She put her hands on my shoulders. "Go to bed, Romeo!" She chuckled.
"Fine!" I walked to the bed and plopped myself on it.
"Good! Now to get some sleep!" She sat in the chair and covered herself with the blanket, shutting her eyes and immediately falling asleep.
"Guess she was tired..." I whispered to myself.
I laid in bed and tried to shut my eyes, but I couldn't. What's wrong with me? She's in the room, isn't that good enough!? I thought back to when Sally caught hypothermia and how I felt holding her and keeping her warm through the night. Part of me wanted to replay that memory, so I could feel that feeling again. I...I craved it. Link, you don't want to be so forward, you might scare her! The last time didn't have romantic intentions, it was to save her life! She's not in peril, she's asleep, and it would be rude to disturb her peaceful sleep! I tried my hardest to ignore the feeling, afraid of her freaking out like she did before...but what if...what if she accepts it? What if it makes her happy? More at peace like I am when I see her? I watched her as her face scrunched up and she grabbed part of the blanket and rubbed her face in it. "...Link..." she mumbled, a cute smile on her face. Maybe...just maybe I'm right...
I got up and walked over to her. My hands shook as I gently picked up her unconscious frame. I then proceeded to lay her on the side where I had been sleeping, since the blankets were already pushed out of the way of the sheets, and then covered her with the blankets. I went to the other side and slowly moved the blankets so I could get in, my heart pumping out of my chest. I was in and I covered myself with the blanket. I tried to resist holding her, still scared and unsure of myself, and then she woke up and looked at me. We made eye-contact and blushed. "W-What are you doing?" She said groggily.
"I thought this would be better, that way we can both have our way." I smiled nervously.
"Okay." She said, "But I have one request."
"Yes?" I frowned, afraid of rejection.
"I want you to hold me." She moved closer to me.
I smiled. "Your wish is my command." I whispered as I wrapped my arms around her.
She laughed softly as I held her, kissing me and then nuzzling her face into my chest. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I stroked her hair until she was fast asleep.
Nurse's POV
It was 4am and I was nodding off at my desk as I tried to file the paperwork of various patients. Why does my husband always get to sleep in?! Sure, he's a palace guard and he makes good money, but he always works a day shift! Hmph! It just isn't fair! And when I should be getting sleep during the day before work my 3 kids are always whining, fighting, and keeping me awake! I sighed. Needless to say, I didn't want to be at work tonight. Why just earlier yesterday afternoon I thought I'd finally get the chance to catch up on the sleep that I haven't had in days, when my four year old starts jumping on the bed and yelling at me!
"Momma! Momma! I want a pony! A pretty pink pony! Do pink ponies exist? Mommy...Mommy? MOMMY! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
"Genevieve, I am trying to sleep!" I moaned, and then my 7 year old son Ralph comes in...
"Mom! Robert took my slingshot again! He says he won't give it back! You need to talk to him! MOM!"
"CHILDREN!" I screamed. "LET ME SLEEP!"
"HONEY!" My husband shouted. "I'M HOME! WHAT'S FOR DINNER?"
God, I wanted to kill them! (Not literally, of course.)
"Betty-Lou?" The doctor spoke up, yanking me from my daydreams.
I yawned. "Hmmmm, wha?"
"Wake up, please."
"Oh! Yes, sir?" I was finally in focus.
"Our patient Link has been doing very well, but just out of precaution I'd like you to check on him and make sure everything's looking normal."
"Right away, sir." I stood up, my legs feeling wobbly from fatigue. He walked away and I stumbled momentarily, leaning against the wall to catch my breath. "Too...much...coffee...not...enough...sleep!" I mumbled to myself. I pressed on and got to Link's door. I knocked on it lightly, and after hearing no response, assuming he was fast-asleep, I began to walk on, but then I saw the doctor again.
"Betty-Lou. You need to go in there."
"Why can't you?!" I hissed.
"I'm busy with OTHER PATIENTS in more dire health! Don't make me fire you!" He whispered with irritation.
"Fine!" Another nurse ran up to him and alerted him to an emergency, so they ran off in the direction of another patient. I went up to the door and knocked once more. Still no response. I opened it slowly and closed it behind me. I then took a minute to rub my eyes and then walked towards the bed. I nearly screamed when I saw the truth!
"There's a woman in bed with him?!" I whispered in shock and shook my head. "How dare he ruin the sanctity of this Hospital?! How dare he bring a woman into bed with him?!" I was scared to look, but knew I had to. I yanked off the covers and saw that they were...just sleeping. I heaved a sigh of relief. And here I thought I had "walked-in" on something! He held onto her protectively and their breaths were almost in sync. So peaceful...it reminded me of my husband and I, but early in our marriage...before kids...how sweet it was. I knew that I should report this, but I didn't want to ruin it for them; they were doing nothing wrong, so I shut the door and reported back to the doctor that he was doing just fine.