Get Well Soon (closed)

[DrStein]

Shadow stirred as sleep receded and left a groggy feeling. He tried to stretch out in bed, but felt a pain in his side. He reached for it only to feel a patch of gauze over the spot. His eyes opened and he found himself in a sterile white room... a hospital room.

His head sank back into the pillow as the memories came back. He had been attempting a bullet catch illusion when something went wrong. He wasn't sure what yet, but he remembered the band of the gun and then a searing pain just below his ribs. He was still alive though so the wound must not have been as bad as he had feared. He remembered his vision tunneling as he saw the blood seep out onto the ground and his own agonized screams became whimpers and then silence. He caught himself wondering just what kind of headlines he had made. Not a brilliant moment for his still-young career. Though with the right spin he could turn this into something useful.

Shadow looked around slowly. The young coyote was not one for decor this aggressively white. It was too bright, and right now it made his head hurt. The memories of his last hospital stay didn't help any...

He groped around for a call button. Hopefully a doctor or nurse would be available. He wanted to get out of here and get back to performing.

 

[ChaoticLove]

"You're patient's awake," the head nurse told her newest nurse as she pointed at the computer. Looking at the computer in question, Vixen smiled slightly as she saw which patient it was. This would be the first time she'd actually see him awake. "I better go check on him then," she said as she stood up and made her way to his room.

It didn't take her long to get to his room. Knocking quietly on the open door, she poked her head in and checked to make sure he had actually pushed the button. "You're finally awake. I'm your nurse, Vixen," she said as she moved into the room and made her way to his bedside to check his vitals.

"Are you in any pain? Do you want me to get your doctor?" she asked softly. He had had a hell of a close call but there wasn't really much she could do as a nurse other than make sure he was comfortable.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow blinked a couple times in mild surprise. The nurse was stunning! And she had the sweetest voice. "I've been worse," he confessed. "I just wanted to know what the damage was. When I'm expected to get out of here."

His hand went to the wound at his side again. It hurt to touch and he could feel stitches. But the pain didn't go very deep. Maybe he had just gotten winged and been more in danger from blood less than physical trauma? Still not a particularly pleasant thought, but better than the alternative.

Despite it all he caught himself thinking that it had been a while since he was last with a woman. He wondered if Vixen was single. Now was probably the wrong time to make a pass at her, but it couldn't to try later.

 

[ChaoticLove]

Vixen was a little worried about the fact that he had actually been worse, but she shook that aside as she checked at his chart. "Well..." she said as she read through his chart quickly, "There wasn't too much damage, but you did end up with some nicked vessels but it was just an in and out shot."

The white fox smiled slightly as she looked up at her patient, "The doctor just wants to keep you for another night or two. You hit your head pretty hard when you fell, so we just want to make sure you don't have a concussion." Her ice blue eyes sparkled brightly as she set his chart down and moved forward to check his bandages.

"I'm going to change these for you, clean the wound and make sure there's no signs of infection. That would just keep you here longer and i bet you're already itching to get out of here," she told him as she gathered what she was going to need. As handsome as he was, she was going to treat him like another patient, and that meant ignoring the fact that she was attracted to him.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow obligingly turned over on his side to make it easier to her to access the wound. This brought a quick, dull ache to his mid-section from a combination of tenderness and his joints being stiff from so many hours in a bed. "Ooh... Okay, mental note: don't flex too much for another couple days."

"I don't suppose you caught the show?" he asked. There were a lot of people gathered for that stunt. He smiled inwardly as he thought on just how unexpected it was to see him go down bleeding. Good thing he had all those bulletproof screens behind him at the time. No sense in getting someone else hurt over an accident.

 

[ChaoticLove]

Smiling at his comment, she looked over and nodded her head. "You'll be sore for a while yet. It'll take some time for you to be one hundred percent again. This kinds of wound is pretty much harmless for the most part but it's the pain that'll get you every time. I could get you some pain killers if you want," she offered lightly.

Vixen moved back to the bed and started to change his bandage, making sure to do so gently. "I didn't get to go, but I wanted to go. I was here when they brought you in, it looked much worse than it actually was. So...I'm kind of glad I wasn't there. I would have freaked out just as much as some of the other people did. I don't think I could ever do the things you do, even if it was something planned out as meticulously as these things have to be." It was her habit to chatter somewhat mindlessly as she went about taking care of her patients, for the most part it kept them both at ease.

"What got you started in it?" she wondered out loud as she started to bathe the wound lightly. It was looking good, there was no sign of any infection.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow smiled softly at the question. "Tell me what got you into medicine and I'll tell you my own super secret origin story." The talking seemed to make her more comfortable. And while the stinging sensation of having the wound cleaned and redressed wasn't unbearable or even particularly painful, the conversation made for a nice distraction.

 

[ChaoticLove]

Vixen smiled at his counter-offer and decided that there was really no reason why she shouldn't give a little information to get a little. "Well...I always liked playing doctor when I was younger. I used to help take care of my siblings when they were sick and my mom was at work at night. I liked being able to help people feel better. I actually really wanted to be a doctor, but then I saw how long I'd have be in school before I could even start practicing. I found out a nursing degree took less time, so I became a nurse. I can always go back to school and become a doctor, but I like being a nurse. I'll probably go back to get my masters and become a nurse practitioner. Which would make me almost just like a doctor. And that's my story!" It wasn't a very interesting one in her opinion, but he had asked.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow nodded in appreciation. "And here you are today. And for that I'm thankful. Well, a promise is a promise."

He cued up in his head what events to include and which to omit. He had a sense he could trust Vixen with more details than he did most people, but he just didn't want to go into the whole story. Yet anyway. People either couldn't wrap their heads around just how much he'd gone through or they ended up treating him differently. If there was one thing Shadow hated, it was being pitied.

"I was out with my parents one day and saw a busker. I was 6 at the time, and I wanted to learn. My parents scraped some cash together and I took lessons with the old guy. Got pretty good at it.

"After my... accident I decided to travel. Not sure what I was looking for, just that I wasn't going to find it at home. I hit Europe, Egypt, India, and Japan, not necessarily in that order. I busked to earn enough to eat and hop the next plane, picked up bits and pieces of the local language. Hindi was a bitch to learn. Anyway, last year I returned to the States and started my career in earnest."

 

[ChaoticLove]

The word 'accident' caught her attention and her hands stilled for a second, but Vixen wasn't one to pry. He'd tell her about it if he wanted to and she was willing to wait for him to be comfortable enough to tell her on his own, for now. "Sounds like you've lived an interesting life. I wish I could travel, just for a few months or so," she told him. It was a common dream people had, but she fully planned on doing it at some point.


Placing the last bandage in place, she smiled softly and patted his shoulder lightly. "All done, there aren't any signs of infection. It's healing quite well actually," she told him as she helped him onto his back.

 

[DrStein]

"I've always been a quick healer." Shadow looked up into Vixen's eyes and decided to just take a chance. You're only young once. "So I'm probably getting out of here tomorrow, then. You have any plans for tomorrow night?"

 

[ChaoticLove]

Vixen smiled slightly and looked away for a second. It wasn't the first time someone had asked her out before they got out of the hospital, but it was the first time that she was even tempted to say yes. She couldn't pass up the chance at seeing where this went. "No, I don't have any plans for tomorrow night," she said softly as she looked back at him.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow smiled at that. "Good. I was thinking of celebrating my release by going out for sushi and then going back to my place, mix up some margaritas, and watch an episode of Mad Men. Trouble is, I don't have a date to share that with. But if you're available..." She seemed interested so far, which was always a good sign. Truth be told, it had been months since Shadow was last with a woman. He'd been so focused on his career and come so far in such a short amount of time that he'd been neglecting parts of his social life. Not the first time he'd gotten like that, but it was always a strange feeling to just wake up and realize he hadn't spoken to several friends or gone on any dates in months because he was so caught up in his personal projects.

 

[ChaoticLove]

"Sounds fun. I'm in but you probably shouldn't be drinking alcohol so soon after getting out of the hospital. The doctor will tell you if you're allowed or not before you're released," Vixen told him after only a few moments of thought. She couldn't believe that she had just agreed to go on a date with him. Writting her adress and number down on a pad that sat on his bedside table, she handed it to him. 'You can pick me up there."

 

[DrStein]

"Dressy casual will be fine," he remarked as he noted the number and address. The rest of the day was fairly routine. He lay in bed watching the news and received a prescription for painkillers from his doctor. He would need to come back in 10 days to have the stitches removed. As Vixen had expected, he was not to consume any alcohol while on the medication.

The next day they released him from the hospital. Shadow didn't get a chance to see Vixen that morning, but he figured the wait would make things all the sweeter. He took a cab back to his apartment and started making a flurry of calls. He had to contact his insurance company, his crew, the owner of the theater he had performed at... It was a good thing he had already gotten everything prepared in case of emergency. The effect should have been perfectly safe, but so was Chun Ling Soo's "defying the bullets" routine until that fateful night. It turned out that debris had built up in the antique revolver they were using for the show. The gunpowder in the blank cartridge was enough to dislodge it and fire it like an actual bullet.

Shadow finished by leaving a message with Vixen, letting her know that he'd be by at 6:30 to pick her up. What followed was even more phone calls and planning as he looked for a way with his agent to spin this into good publicity. With any luck, this could actually turn out well in the end after all.

Five o'clock rolled around and Shadow realized he still had to get ready, but hadn't eaten since breakfast. "Hopefully I won't make a pig of myself at dinner," he thought out loud before hopping in the shower. He changed into a pair of jeans, an old white souvenir T-shirt, blazer, and cowboy boots. He had his usual collection of rings, bracelets, several earrings, and an eagle feather woven into his curtain of long, dark hair. He gave himself a quick Fonzie pose in the mirror before heading out. Vixen's place wasn't far, he would make it with time to spare.

 

[ChaoticLove]

"I'll see you later then," she told him with a slight smile as she made her way out of the room. The rest of her day was just as hectic as any other, but that was part of the reason why she loved her job.

Vixen didn't work the next day, so she was able to sleep in and be a little lazy. She had no clue what to wear out that night so she took the time to actually go out and pick up something. She came home to a message from Shadow, telling her what time he was picking her up. Glancing at the clock, she had a good two hours to pamper herself and she took every moment of the time to do so.

At a few minutes to six thirty, she found herself slipping into the simple red dress and black strapy sandals that she had bought. Her jewelry choices were kind of skimpy but she did have a pretty gold necklace that would look great with the outfit. She struggled with the clasp for a few seconds before it finally caught. Running a hand through her hair, Vixen glanced in the mirror and smiled softly. Her make up was barely noticeable but it emphasized her eyes in the nicest way. It always amazed her how much make up she could put on and still look like she wasn't wearing much. All it took was an experienced hand.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow pulled up to the apartment building and gave himself a quick once-over in the reflection of the glass front doors. He buzzed the apartment and made his way upstairs before knocking. Vixen opened the door and his eyes swept up and down her figure appreciatively. "You look stunning," he said softly. With a smile he offered her his arm.

 

[ChaoticLove]

When Shadow arrived, she buzzed him up and grabbed her purse. She was on her way to the door when she heard his knock on the door. Smiling, she reached the door and opened it. Vixen saw the way he looked her up and down and couldn't help but be pleased with the effort she had taken. "You look great too," she told him as she took his arm and closed her door, quickly locking it before they started on their way.

 

[DrStein]

Shadow acted the perfect gentleman as they came to the car, holding a door for Vixen. For him, class was shown in the details, the little things. He had a Warren Zevon playlist already going when the car started, the current song being in the middle of the first verse of Splendid Isolation. He had a thing for singers/songwriters.

The drive was only a few minutes down to the entertainment district to the Ringo no Ki, a small Japanese restaurant run by a family from Nagasaki. It was one of his favorite places. The inside had the usual bamboo hardwood floors, potted plants, and a fish tank. Other than that, the decor was very austere but had a simple, elegant beauty. After they were seated, Shadow only took a cursory glance through the menu, already knowing what he wanted. "Ever been here before?"

 

[ChaoticLove]

She thought it was sweet when he held the car door open for her. A lot of guys nowadays didn't do things like that. It made her feel special, which she felt every girl should feel at some point in their lives. The drive was a nice one, and while she didn't recognize the music, she still enjoyed it.

As they walked into the restaurant, she looked around and smiled at the sight. It was simply decorated but it worked the the small area. Looking over at Shadow, Vixen shook her head slightly. "I've been by a few times, but I've never been inside," she told him softly.

 

[DrStein]

"You won't find more authentic Japanese cuisine anywhere in town." As Vixen browsed her menu, Shadow just leaned back in his seat and watched her. A gentle smile danced across his lips as he studied her features. She had a natural, graceful beauty. He wondered if she was even aware of it herself.

Their waiter came by to take their order and Shadow placed his first. "I'll have the crispy panko chicken with tonkatsu sauce. And an order of California rolls, surf clam sushi, and red snapper sashimi. Put a bit of sea weed salad on the side as well."

 

[ChaoticLove]

"Then I'm glad I finally got a chance to try it," She said with yet another smile. She couldn't seem to help smiling, she actually felt like she had been doing a lot over the last day or so. Her attention moved to her menu, but she could feel his eyes on her as she tried to make her decision.

Vixen looked up at their waiter came and Shadow started out with his order. She was a little surprised by how much he had order, but it wasn't like hospital food was all that appetizing and he wouldn't have been released till after breakfast. So it didn't really seem all that unusual to her. Realizing it was her turn to order, she looked at the menu as she made her choices. "I'll have the tuna sashimi roll and the tempura vegetables."

 

[DrStein]

Their menus were taken and a pot of tea was brought out. Shadow poured them two cups and sipped lightly. "The authentic stuff is always harder to find, but it's worth it." He took one of Vixen's hands in both of his own and gently massaged it. He felt warm and calm around her. He loved to be around a woman with a strong feminine presence. It was peaceful... soothing... It helped him to forget the worst of the last few years.

 

[ChaoticLove]

She sipped her own tea as he took her free hand. "And of course you would be determined to find it. You seem like the kind of man who prefers the authentic, while others might make do with something less. You're different than most guys I meet...in a good way," she replied as she looked at him. He seemed so much better than he had in the hospital and she wondered how much of that was because he really felt better or just because he was out of the hospital.

 

[DrStein]

"Thank you," Shadow replied. "But good company is what makes all the difference. I wouldn't come here with just anybody." He raised her hand up and kissed it.

"Tell me a little more about yourself. Are you from here?"