Trauma Center [closed] [Trigger Warning: Blood]

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

Nik took the breathing apparatus off when Lei indicated that it was all right and immediately placed it on a try that she had set aside for that purpose. She gloved her hands once more and checked the boy's pulse on his wrist. Stable and relaxed for the moment. As the boy spoke, though, his heart-rate jumped and she glanced at him, understanding that it was from the same source at the tears on his face. The boy would be fine.


At the request for water, the doctor moved away briskly, her departure making her husband visible should the boy look towards where she had been standing. The man was fast asleep and bruised badly, but he was alive and right where he should have been. Taking a disposable cup from the counter, Nik filled the container with purified water and returned swiftly, depositing it on the bedside table.


"Let's sit him upright," she mentioned, looking back to the astrophysicist carefully. With his nod, the two of them helped the weak boy into a half-upright position and a couple of pillows were take to give him some leverage. Once she was sure he wouldn't drown if she gave him anything to drink, the ghostly woman handed Lei the cup, watching him carefully. Her expression was neutral as she monitored him, and though he cried it seemed like he was physically all right.


"Drink slowly," she commanded. "Take small sips or you might choke. That would be a terrible end to your miraculous recovery." Her joke was dry and somewhat reminiscent of gallows' humor, but the rueful smile on her face lent credit to the joke. Lei would be fine.

[Leiken Chu]

Lei seemed to hold a look of confusion upon his features as he observed Orion. He followed? Lei remembered him being there at the last light he saw, but he didn't remember much after that. Lei felt his cheeks warm a bit as he made an embarrassed sound despite himself. He exhaled a long sigh as he relaxed a bit. He looked toward where Orion motioned, his gaze seeming almost distant as he stared at vincent for a long period of time, then looking down ward. Fighting back the tears that swelled at the edge of his eyes.

Had they both stayed there with him the whole time? How long had it been? What time was it nwo even? he couldn't say but he was was deeply touched. how could two people care so much about his well being when he was such a disrespectful twat to them both at some point. Even if Vincent didn't love him, maybe he still worried, maybe he cared in a different way. Not with love, but the way that friends cared about one another. It hurt.

While Lei's heart remained broken, he felt something stranger, happiness. The fact that there were people there, who had stayed with him in a less than comfortable time, it touched him. lei's expression weakened as he began to shed those tears though this time it did not seem due to his a deep-set agony. "He wouldn't..let go? " he questioned with softer tone. "you all.. stayed...but i don't..understand why." he stated almost feeling relieved.

He looked toward vincent again, though this time he noticed the bruising, on the other man. Pain struck his expression beyond his own obvious reasons for being in pain. "v..vinny.." he stated suddenly. his heart jumping into his chest as he shifted on the bed. Trying to force himself up to move off of it so that he could go to vincent. however the soreness and weakness of his own muscles would not allow him to do so. He cried out slightly as he curled up where he laid. " h..is.. is he okay? " he questioned breathing out a soft pant.

His ability straining to try to take control of the situation, though it was far to weak with his body's weakness to do anything, "O.. okay." he spoke softly as he took the cup carefully in a hand sipping slowly from it as he trembled. His tears stinging his eyes. "Thank you. " he stated in a soft tone. Sipping lightly at the water between his tear-shaken breaths. He laid against the bed after he managed a few sips of water, letting the other man wipe his tears away with the wash cloth, "Di..did i hurt you too? Did i.. ?" he asked orion.

[Orion Urswick]

Orion watched as Lei's gaze turned to Vincent, and he felt a strong pang of sympathy. It was obvious that the boy cared about his trainer a lot, and he knew very well the feeling of someone you cared about being in such a condition. At least Vincent would be fine.

"That man has the strength of ten, I swear," he replied with a light chuckle. How Vincent had managed to carry Lei all the way to the infirmary in his state, Orion didn't know. "We stayed because we care about you, Lei, and wanted to make sure you were alright." He shrugged, seeming casual although the words were quite deep. He jerked his head to the side suddenly as a cry of pain from sometime in the past shot through his head, but shook it off as he followed Lei's gaze back to the other man. He helped sit Lei up when Nik suggested it, trying his best to be as careful as possible.

He smirked at the nickname for Vincent, but his expression sobered quickly at the look on Lei's face. "Whoa, whoa, none of that," he chastised, gently keeping Lei from pushing himself off the bed. "He's just fine. He's resting too. Which is what you need to be doing a better job at," he clucked.

He moved aside slightly so Nik could give him the water. "Oh, no, I'm fine as frog hair," he replied cheerily, trying to stay upbeat despite the situation. "I just found you both when... Whatever happened had already happened. I'm just being a nuisance and sticking around probably past my welcome." He smirked to himself, sitting back in his chair.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

Nik chuckled to herself, shaking her head at the boy's question. Of course those two had stayed; expecting them to leave was like expecting cats to swim at will. It just wasn't done. "Well, maybe that's your reason," she added with a cool smirk. "I stayed because where would you all be if I didn't? Honestly, the things people expect of doctors these days..." She shook her head with a helpless expression, though her eyes were laughing. She was joking, despite everything.


She also glanced to her husband as Orion did, a slightly amused smile on her face as she also helped the boy up. Vinny, it was? She'd never known this man to allow shortenings of his name before. Perhaps he ignored it, or maybe it was a sign of tenuous trust. How could say?


"Mr. Urswick is right, Lei," she added after giving him the cup. "Vincent will be fine; he simply hasn't slept well recently and is catching up on it. He will heal in time, as will you." Lei seemed very concerned, though from what the tall trainer had told her previously, Nik was not surprised. The boy cared deeply, and even after this (which had been caused by rejection, the man had said earlier) it was clear that he wanted to be close to the man. Perhaps it would evolve into something more acceptable, but the care her husband had for his students would never fade regardless. It may be good for the boy.


The analogy made the doctor chuckle, and her hand came to her mouth to hide the smile a little. A plain silver band rested on the ring finger of that hand, and a much larger one sat loosely on her thumb. "I have no qualms about having guests in the infirmary," she answered with amusement. "Just do not disturb my patients if they are resting, and vacate the beds if I need them."


Inwardly, she was thankful that the other man was there. He seemed to have a rapport with Lei that she didn't, and it was calming the boy even as he struggled back to full consciousness. It would have been much harder for her to treat him if Orion and Vincent hadn't helped; more hands were almost always useful, and friendly faces often sped recoveries.

[Leiken Chu]

"Ten?" he questioned weakly. Groaning slightly as he was shifted,but he was thankful for the help. He sighed, sniffing a bit as his tears had caused a minor runny nose case. He made a pained expression as he was held to the bed, but it was for the best. He exhaled heavily again as his body tried to numb the pain with little result.

"I'm sorry.." he breathed in "for the trouble." he exhaled slightly. "To..to think i am such... a burden. i.. apologize." though he was truly touched by the fact that they were there. He felt terrible that he'd brought everyone down into that. Lei couldn't help but to laugh lightly, between the woman's joke, and orin's remarks about him resting. "you..are the best doctor i've ever known." he commented toward the woman.

It was true, she really had been, she was always there and always sacrificing for her students. She even went out of her way to make sure they were well by warming them up or doing as she was then, joking, and talking with them; at least from what he could tell. He admired her in a way.

"Hasn't..slept? Is it..because of me? " he wondered. "he..eh.. He worries too much..even..if he doesn't care that way... i am happy he does at all. " he stated in a near whisper. It was the truth. Even if vincent couldn't love him he would be thankful that the man cared for him in any way at all. Be it a trainer relationship, friendship, or family type care. He didn't really care so long as he had him there. He trusted that man. If noone else he trusted vincent. How could he not after all he'd done?

Lei noticed the ring on the woman's finger, it looked familiar, though he saw the matching one near it. He didn't put it together right away. "Why .. do you have his ring?" He questioned aloud as he pointed a finger weakly toward her thumb. Not raising it far off his abdomen where it rested to do so.

"d..don't say that." he stated after tensing from a slight pain in his chest. "I ..want you here...stargazer..." he breathed out tiredly. his eyes half-lidding as he relaxed.

[Orion Urswick]

"Nik here was absolutely fantastic," Orion told Lei, giving an enthusiastic nod. "Wonderful woman, she is. This family definitely has you well protected, Lei." He, of course, knew about Nik and Vincent's marriage, but didn't know that Lei didn't. He just assumed. "You're not a burden, Lei," he added in a quieter voice. "This is what we're here for. To help you. It's what we love doing." Well, perhaps he couldn't speak for the others, but that's how he felt.

He pulled out of the conversation briefly as Lei seemed to speak more about Vincent and to Nik, but he kept his gaze sharp in case anything needed to be done. He kept looking to the other resting man as well, but he was as unmoving as a stone. He hoped that was a good thing.

When the attention was brought back to him, however, he looked back and gave a grin. "Stargazer, eh? I could get used to that name." His grin turned to a more genuine smile, and he added,"I'm here, Lei. Don't you worry about a thing." He did hope to get some sleep now that Lei was awake and on the mend, so he touched the boy's cot (not the student himself, as he remembered how he had reacted to physical touching before), and said,"I'm going to try to get some rest, though. But I'll be right here if you need me at all." He looked to Nik to make sure it was okay he used the cot near Lei's before settling down to try to get some sleep.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

"I do my very best," she replied graciously, giving a warm smile to them both. Gratitude from patients was always a wonder to her, especially because she rarely ever received it at the hospital and she never asked for it. It was one of those little miracles, and she never took it lightly. "And it was no trouble, Leiken - if the occasion person were not hurt or sick, why, where would all us doctors be at the end of the day?"


Nik shook her head at Lei's worries. "No, dear child," she answered, looking back to the man resting behind her. How long had it been since he'd slept fully like this? Months? Years? "There is often much resting on his mind," she mused. "While I am sure your troubles were part of his thoughts, they are very unlikely part of his dreams. You did not cause this." She looked back to him, blue eyes knowing. "He will always care for his students as if they were his children. It is his payment forward to having a mentor who could put up with him long enough to finally tell him that he was good enough."


Though Nakia had never met Vincent's trainer, she respected the man deeply. It was he who brought her foolish soldier into knowing that he had a gift and not a curse. That he was worth keeping around and that his life was worth living. The man behind her tried to emulate that as much as possible, and he did a good job of it most days. It was all she could ask.


Startled by the question, the pale lady looked down at the pair of rings on her hand. "The swelling on his hands," she answered gently. "Though his hands will heal, I do not want his wedding band to cause any lasting harm. So, I will keep it with my own until I can wake him and treat his aches." She also did not know of Lei's unaware nature; though they did not speak of it, may people knew they were married. Besides, they had come to Hammel at the same time, along with their daughters. Was that not proof enough?


She glanced to the 'stargazer' at his words and nodded; it was all right for him to stay for the night. Turning her eyes back to Lei, she gave a soft smile. "Rest, child. You will need all your strength to mend. We will be here when you wake."

[Leiken Chu]

"You do wonderful... I.. really am thankful." he stated despite the pain he still felt. "Family?" he questioned. Did he mean that they had all become part of some sort of family without blood ties? Or was there something he was missing? Either way he didn't put to much thought on it. The idea of family was a nice one, his family back home had little do do with him since he manifested his powers, and he couldn't really say that he blamed them.

"Does he have...nightmares like I do?" he questioned as he looked toward vincent where he slept. He look so peaceful, at least from that distance, it was a nice sight. hearing that he had the same amount of trouble sleeping as he did was almost twistedly comforting. He wasn't alone in h is troubles though they were widely different in scale. "Is that...why he is so stubborn and...won't give up on someone as messed up as me?" he questioned in a shaken tone.

"Wedding band...ah...that's right.. he's married." he stated in a pained and distracted tone. Leiken thought on it, the woman had one just like vincent's, but that couldn't be.. could it? Leiken looked to the doctor giving her a questioning gaze. Though to her words he exhaled heavily. The confirmation would have to wait.

Lei would nod slowly as the other man spoke to him so kindly. He was still fond of that man's voice, it was something he could have listened carry on about stars all night long, "Stargazer..seemed suiting." he noted to the other man. Smiling faintly despite himself as well to the man's acceptance of the name. Lei let his eyes slide closed as he listened to the woman's voice, "I hope so." he stated as he breathed out. It did not take long for him to fall asleep, his body was completely worn out, leaving little else to say.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

"You're welcome to any comfort I have to offer," she answered, standing. The boys would all need blankets, and she kept them in a cabinet nearby. She missed the question minor question, but returned with multiple blankets for each of them. The room was rather chilly, after all. Two she handed to Orion, and the rest she tucked around Lei, as if he were in a bedroom rather than an infirmary.


"Sometimes," she admitted. "Everyone does. Some just do more often than others." Her pale face was gentle and serene, and her cold hands worked quickly as she helped the boy lay down once more. "As far as I know, he's always been stubborn. He refuses to let something go if he wants it, even if what he wants seems impossible." That was how he'd won her over, after all.


"There is no more wrong with you than any other confused teenage boy," the doctor stated firmly, tucking the boy in tight under the blankets. "And I refuse to hear anymore nonsense about it. You have a good heart, and that is all that matters, Leiken Do Chu."


With the last of her mothering done, Nakia stood back, looking all of the man in the room over. Three men from three different walks of life, all here sleeping in her room with one thing tying them all together. It sounded like the beginning of one of her stories. With a light chuckle, she moved to the doorway and unlocked the door. A faint sound of scurrying feet made it through, but the door was solid so she couldn't be sure. Either way, it didn't matter. She lowered the lights to something more fitting for sleep, walked to her desk, and sat down with one small lamp lit so she could read in the dark room.


"Rest well, gentlemen. Tomorrow draws near, and you will all need your strength."



~~~



When morning next came, Vincent would be the first to rise. His arms were treated with ointment and bandaged, his wedding ring returned. He kissed his bride of nineteen years goodbye, and managed to give a hesitant smile to Lei as the boy blearily rose from his slumber before he left for the day's work.


Orion as well would wake and go about his business of classes, however he would not rise fully until later, keeping the boy company after his mentor had gone.


Lei would remain in the infirmary with Nakia for the next day, resting and recuperating and answering minor medical questions when he felt up to it. He slept often, which the doctor assured him was normal for a healing body. Once when he woke up, she gave him a note from his trainer which held four simple words:


"You have done well."