Montgomery Scott is a miracle worker (warp_speed) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-05-27 14:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, gaila, montgomery scott, varric tethras |
"She's stubborn like the rest of us."
Who: Gaila, Scotty, Varric
What: Hospital arrival
When: Day ago or something. Yesterdaytomorrowyear. I have no idea, anymore.
Where: New Orleans, LA
Rating: PG(13?) - maybe for language or people who go eww at hospitals but there's really nothing else to be wary of. Other than a pissed off dwarf and engineer having a phone convo.
Status: Complete
Gaila was laying in the hospital bed, looking pale, and breathing shallowly.
Scotty really hoped that Gaila's mother wasn't going to be around, when he went into the hospital and asked at the front desk if he could visit Gaila. He really hated hospitals. He couldn't imagine being in one, himself, and if Gaila was at all even remotely awake, she was probably mentally climbing the walls. Even if she couldn't physically do so.
The nurse shrugged, giving him the room number. They had an ID on her now and someone had cleared his name on the visitor list, so he didn't really give a damn. He was like honey badger.
Wow, that guy don't give a shit! Scotty looked a little impressed that he was cleared, after the chewing out that Gaila's mum had given him. He went up to the room, sort of preparing himself for the worst. The worst being like a melted Nightmare of Elm Street face, one arm burned to a cinder, maybe a lopsided leg...all resembling the color of mushy peas, broiled so there was crispy crunchy brown bits over the top of it.
He didn't knock in case she was asleep, but peeked his head around the door and worriedly stared at her.
He was just going to use the sort of stealth he reserved for...pretty much never...to tiptoe in so he was at her bedside, and could get a closer look.
Gaila's burns were mostly hidden by the blanket and her hospital gown, though there was bruising on her face like she'd headbutted been in a fight. She had her eyes closed and looked like all the fight had gone out of her.
He'd steeled himself for the rest of it, but hadn't at all prepared himself to face her when she looked so weak and defeated like that. With a frown, Scotty set his bag down as quietly as possible, and leaned over to give her a kiss on her forehead, being careful to totally avoid that bruise or anything else.
Gaila let out a soft groan, but that was her only reaction.
It was better than no sound at all, he told himself. He reached over to grab one of the chairs and scooted it closer so he could sit and wait for her to wake up on her own. It probably wasn't a great idea to strike up a conversation, while she needed to rest.
Especially when there was an oxygen mask on her face. Still, she seemed to calm at his presence.
That too, with that mask. He slouched down and folded his arms over himself, preparing for a very long sit in. He'd think about getting a room when the hospital staff decided to kick him out.
A nurse peeked in, "Has she woken yet?"
"No," he replied with a shake of his head, though it was more him mouthing the word than actually saying it. He spoke up at least to tell her, "I just got here."
"Oh. hit the call button if there's any change, will ya?"
"Aye, will do." He gave her a grin and thumbs up, like he'd do his part!
The nurse nodded, "She'll be okay, sugah." Then she darted back out into the hallway.
Well that really remained to be seen, didn't it? Scotty looked a little unsure and went back to the bedside vigil.
Gaila was hardly entertaining, laying like that, but Scotty's phone did in fact beep!
Beeping bad! He went for the phone to make it stop doing that. Phone, y u beep???
Someone was trying to call him!
"...well...shiiii---..." He tried to answer as quickly and quietly as possible, while standing up. If he was going to be yammering, he didn't trust himself to remain quiet enough while in the room. He was already heading for the doorway as he said, "Hello?"
Varric was on the other end of the line, "Tinker did you make it safely?"
"Oh, aye. I did," he reassured him, instantly. "Ye got the message, did ye? Sorry, it was belated. I was oot of me mind rushing about, tae make the flight. But I made it. She's nae awake, and she didnae look sae good."
"I'm sure she's fine, now that you're there. At least we know why she didn't call you back."
"Maybe, but she looks like someone gave her a once over. She's got a bruise on her face an' everything. I shouldae called her sooner or...." He scrunched his face up, berating himself, not sure what he could've done. So whatever Scotty had been saying, was left unsaid.
"I don't think there was anything you could have done." Varric sounded disquieted.
He knew Varric was right, which was why he glumly responded, "Even if I had told her it wasnae the best idea tae go by herself, she would have done so, anyway."
"She's stubborn like the rest of us." The dwarf chuckled, "Like certain Scotsmen she wouldn't accept any idea she didn't have herself."
Squint. "What's that tae mean?" He shook his head as though to dismiss that, there wasn't much point in bickering if he couldn't thwap his short friend a good one, so they could get in another friendly scuffle. "Forget it. We're stubborn, fine. But I swear that I will just about murder whoever did this tae her. She got in a tussle with someone, that's for certain."
"Any idea how we could find them?"
Gaila knew. But she wasn't going to say, even when she woke up. She needed to put a bullet in Janice's head first. Okay, shoulder, then question her, THEN the bullet to the brainscan squish.
"She's oot of it. He's a pure bastard for doin' that tae. Bloody sick-o, burning a lass and throwing her in a river. This? This is why holidays arenae worth it"
"I hope they CATCH that bastard!" Varric spit.
"They'd better, because if I get me hands on them, there's nae goin' tae be much left tae haul away. I'll likely kill them." It wasn't exactly a lie either, he was getting angrier and angrier just thinking about it. Some guy was doomed, in his mind, to get a pummeling into mince. "We'd better nae discuss this right now. I dinnae want tae raise me voice tae much."
"Lets not say that where people could hear, just in case someone takes care of him for you," Varric cautioned.
"Why would I want that? It'd ruin the sense of satisfaction."
Of course, Scotty was telling himself, that was if Gaila didn't want that satisfaction for herself. This was a 'rules be damned' sort of moment, regardless who was involved. And he sometimes had a tendency to leap before he looked, anyway.
"I don't want you making friendly with Bart in prison. She needs you to not be in jail," Varric snorted.
"We'll see," he said, with the sort of tone in his voice that said he didn't want to discuss it further, but he wasn't counting out anything. There was still the matter of finding out who did that, after all. "Are ye goin' tae mind the pub for her, then? Or give everyone a bit of a holiday?"
"We need to keep the pub open. Too much time and it won't be able to open back up."
"Ahh, all right. I'm sure she wouldnae want tae inconvenience ye either. If it's any consolation, that scotch yer gettin' is of the very special sort? I'll deliver it tae ye, with bows on it. And maybe while I'm wearin' bows, just tae make it festive."
"I'd appreciate a very special sort of scotch." Varric laughed, "That woman is a handful!"
"Gaila? Aye. But it's a very worthwhile handful, since she means well sometimes and she has her sweet side. Not that I'm goin' tae gush on about it even further, since I dinnae know what will happen when she wakes."
Scotty thought it was better to not put all of his eggs into one basket, in this case. He would've been certain in an engineering sense, but not in a situation when it had to do with muddling through relationships.
Relationships were like space combat in a nebula.KHAAAAAAAAAN!!!
Varric nodded into the phone, then actually spoke, "I need to get going. Txt me if she wakes up?"
"I will. I'll let ye know as soon as I'm able," he promised. "Take care! There's crazies running amuck. This country is bloody insane."
Like Scotland wasn't? Suuuure.
Varric laughed as he hung up.
"Like..Scotland isn't..." Gaila had one eye open, and spoke raspily.
"What'd ye mean it...?! Oh, god. Gaila." He shoved the phone in his pocket and was over at the side of the bed in an instant, leaning over her so he could get a good look at her face. "I have tae press the nurse button...but first...I love you, I'm sae sorry ye got the shite kicked oot of ye. Who did it, so that I can kill him?"
He looked upset, worried, and like he hadn't slept in a week. And also like he hoped there would be an answer.
"I don't...remember." She tried to grab his hand, "Kinda a blur."
"Well maybe it'll come back tae ye." His hand held hers and he smiled, because he believed it would and he was hoping it would be a swift and terrible retribution. And maybe he'd let Varric have a piece of it, as well. Fifty-fifty worked! "I really started tae worry, but I wasnae sure if ye simply forgot tae call because you were havin' a good time, or if it was because...ye decided ye werenae coming back."
He eyed the nurse's button for a moment, reaching out for it with his other hand, index finger extended to go SMUSH against it.
"I meant to call...."
The nurse came in, checking on the girl, "Just don't excite her and it'll be fine."
"Aye, no excitement. Understood." He gave the nurse a thumbs up and entirely focused back on Gaila, once more. "That's what I thought was odd. Ye usually call. But I couldnae be certain. I had tae have Kitty look intae it. I was tryin' nae tae invade yer privacy."
"Eh. I'll forgive you this time." God everything hurt. Even her toes hurt.
"Only this time? I must have racked up quite a list of infractions," he quipped, trying to get her mind off any discomfort, but certain it wasn't working. "Ye want me tae get the nurse an' see if they can give ye something?"
She grinned at him a little bit, "No...pretty floaty right now.."
"All right, miss floaty. I'm nae sure what I can do for ye, otherwise. Och! I brought the laptop for ye, when yer ready tae sit up." He was avoiding, for now, asking about the burns, and instead trying to get her mind off what happened, just for the time being. "Varric's runnin' the pub in the meantime, so all ye need tae do is rest up, so ye get tae go home. If ye want, I mean? If ye want tae go wandering the world, lass, this might have put a wee dent in yer plans."
"God, I don't know when I'll be ready...." She sighed softly, patting his hand, "I didn't get my wish..."
"What?" He gently took hold of her hand in both of his, looking a little confused. "What dae ye mean?"
"Nothing.." Her eyes flutter closed, "It's nothing..."
"It's something but this isnae the time for me tae ask ye tae explain it, like I usually would," was all he could think to say, in a hushed voice. There was something else he needed to say too, before she went back to sleep. "I'm sorry, for makin' you angry with the things that fly oot of me mouth, sometimes. I didnae ever mean tae chase ye away, with that. Or upset ye. I still love you."
"Love you...too.." How could she tell him she wished she wasn't who she was.
She'd have a hard time convincing him, if she found a way to say it. Because he'd respond that he loved her the way she was, and that he thought there would be a reasonable explanation for doing those things that she had finally remembered. Or, at least, that's what he wants to believe.
Scotty leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead again, not letting go of her hand. He sat back down, leaning forward, and decided to use the edge of the bed as a makeshift pillow for his face.
She moved her hand to Scotty's head to play with his hair.
She was rewarded with a sloppy grin. He turned his head enough that it was in plain view.
"Stoppit, I should be doin' that tae you. Ye need tae sleep so that I can get away with it, without ye knowin' me true smushiness for you."
"Mmm. Mine.."
"Yours, hm?" He took hold of her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers, smiling more at what she just said. "I'm nae goin' tae complain...but that works both ways, if that's the way you'd like it. Yer mine as well."
She tried to retrieve her fingers so she could play with his hair. Haaaaaair.
"Stubborn arse." He noticed and snerked a little at her persistence and let his fingers slip away. He folded both hands under his chin, peering at her. "You really were nae goin' tae stop, were you? Fine, then. Have at it, if it's what makes ye happy right now."
He worried it would put him into lullaby land when he was really trying to stay awake.
Stroooke....strooooke. She smiled dumbly!
He watched her and gradually began to chuckle at her dumb smile. Of course, his eyelids were getting heavy. And heavier. And it felt like his eyes were two centers of heavy gravity, pulling his eyelids shut over them.
"Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up.."
"I'm supposed tae be the one...sayin' that tae you," he pointed out, in a very low murmur. Before he did fall asleep, he clumsily took hold of her hand again, pressed a kiss against it, and let it go so she could continue on as she wanted to. "Get some sleep tae....oooo..." A yawn interrupted, momentarily. "....kay?"
"No...problem...." Gaila snerked, closing her own eyes.
He might've made a little 'yay' noise but it was so faint, that it was very hard to hear. Scotty was out like a light. He'd be murmuring physics stuff in his sleep, in less than twenty minutes.
Gaila smiled. His little yays were always so cute.