|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:36 pm
Hospitals sort of scared Cassius. He was so glad to be out of the emergency ward for now. He didn't even know this dimwit kid that he brought there for something close to alcohol poisoning, but as the least emaciated person at the party, he had made his way to the hospital half-carrying this guy and feeling utterly exhausted and sober by the end of it all. So no, it had not been a good night. But s**t happened and such was life when you weren't drinking enough at a party.
Cassius had sat there for most of the early-morning sleeping, and when he woke up he decided to leave since he didn't even know this kid. He had brought him there, gave the doctors his information, cell phone, you name it and now he was free. Honestly it was by mistake that he fell asleep in a waiting room chair for a few hours. Now he just had to find his way out of the hospital, and get out of the damn emergency ward.
He wandered to a nearby door and found himself walking along many white hallways. Where the hell was the exit? He probably could have stopped and asked the many people walking by him, but Cassius was barely functioning. Before he knew it, he saw a sign that pointed to the 'Recovery' section. Maybe an exit would be in there?
He quickened his pace and pushed through the doors, only to find himself surrounded by rooms with many people in them. Crap. Now he was definitely lost. Perhaps he should ask someone who was actually awake? From the looks of things, many of the patients were asleep. As if things couldn't get any worse at the moment...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:02 pm
She was trying not to sleep. Jada hated the good morning cottonmouth that came with the inevitable sedation when she tried to sleep. She'd browbeaten the nurses (or rather, her mother had) into allowing her toothbrush and toothpaste. She still didn't have her favorite shampoo, or any conditioner, but she had enough elastic hairbands that she could play with her hair, and access to her magazines of choice.
The bed sucked.
The morphine did not.
She was reading, when she saw a flash of something outside. A visitor in the ward? This early? Nosiness made her lean forward a bit, to try and see if she could tell where the figure was heading. She leaned forward a bit too far, and her magazine fell to the floor with a quiet clatter. The young woman winced, looked over at her neighbor; Fallon was sound asleep, it seemed. Sighing, she slowly started to move out of her bed; she'd need to be quick about it, Nurse Cheerful would have a fit if she did her morning check-in and Jada was out of bed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:25 am
Just when Cassius felt like collapsing on the floor and giving up, he heard a noise not far from him. Was someone else really awake? They must have heard him stumbling around like an idiot.
He looked in to nearby doorways and saw many people still sound asleep. He followed down the hallway until realizing he had gone way too far from the noise. When he looked back towards the entrance to the Recovery ward, he noticed a door near the corner that he forgot to check for some reason. Perhaps that's where the noise came from? He crept backwards until finally making it to the room. And alas, he saw a girl awake, and a magazine on the floor.
Although, this wasn't just any girl. Those deep purple eyes, dark luscious hair and impeccable face made Cassius lean against the door in shock. Was he still dreaming? Why was she here!? And why was she injured?
"Jada?! Holy s**t. Are you alright?" This was too scary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:41 am
She was almost out of the bed, about to start to bend to get her magazine, when she heard a voice. She moved too quickly in response, hissing as something in her lower back shifted, and she fell off the bed.
It was one way to get her magazine.
She blamed the morphine.
Pulling back up, she stared at the door, mouth opening in a look of surprise. "Cassius?" That was his name, right? She'd been supposed to call him for a while. "What are you doing here?" She tossed the magazine up onto the bed and followed the action with her hands, pulling. herself up enough to get her feet under her. It was her own personal decision to move as little as possible, to stretch the skin and use as little pain medication. Everything as little as possible, so she didn't end up a scarred drug addict. "I'm surprised to see you here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 11:11 am
He would have run over to help her but it looked like Jada had everything under control as usual. Even so, Cassius felt a sadness wash over his face. Why was Jada hurt? It didn't look life threatening but it looked terrifying all the same. He suddenly felt so behind on everything. Had it really been that long since seeing her last time?
"I had to bring a drunk kid to emergency hours ago and I've sort of been here ever since then." Even if he originally was looking for an exit, now that was the farthest thing from his mind. Plus it'd be rude to say that anyways. "I am just as surprised to see you here. What happened to you?" He'd be lying if he wasn't curious.
He saw a chair near Jada's bed and took a seat, showing that he wasn't going to leave in two minutes or anything, unless she wanted him too. "Do you need anything?" It was always strange to run into somebody in such different circumstances. It felt like yesterday that he had seen her at the bookstore with her cheerful demeanor and quick come-backs.
Time really flew by, apparently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 4:37 pm
It was the perfect setup. She was seated back against the hospital bed, and didn't have to tell him. She didn't have to confess what had happened, she didn't have to be honest to anyone.
Not him.
Not herself.
"I'm sorry to hear your friend needed to come here." She settled back in the bed, her back still hidden from his silver gaze. Then she laughed, grinned. "I bet you were looking for a way to get out." She gave him a conspiratorial look. "If you find one in this wing, tell me. I want to make a break for it." she gave him a smile. The best one she could manage.
His question about what she was doing here was avoided, for now. "As for needing anything, not really. Though I wouldn't say no to a stuffed animal, a thank you card, solid food..." she let her voice trail off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:03 am
"No, he wasn't a friend." he quickly added, since it was the truth. If it was a friend he would have actually cared a bit about the situation. But, since he was no one to worry about, all he could do was move forward and know he did the right thing in at least bringing the idiot here.
Cassius then grinned at Jada's wanting to find an exit. If he was in her situation, he'd feel the exact same way. "Well, I'll do my best to find us one. But so far let me tell you, they make these places like a maze." Probably so people could not leave. It was like a horror movie.
He wasn't surprised that she continued to not answer his question. Whatever happened to her must have been bad. It probably wasn't his place to ask anyways. He didn't know Jada THAT well, and it was her right to keep the private things to herself.
"Well, I would look for the gift shop so I can bring you something handy. Although I may never find you or this room again." How pathetic, but grossly truthful. "I'm actually surprised you aren't sleeping or anything. If you want I can come back so you can rest." Since.. everyone else seemed to be doing that exactly.
He had no idea what time it was, but he considered it was very very earlier in the morning. No wonder he was hardly functioning- the last time he was up this early was probably on his birth day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:13 pm
That was so nice of him, bringing someone who wasn't even a friend to the hospital and staying with them. The dark-haired young woman gave Cassius a bright smile. "If you find one, you'll have to come back for me. We can commandeer a wheelchair and make our escape via vehicle." she smiled.
She shifted her weight, grimacing as she did so. "My roommate is supposed to leave today. I figured I'd give her a little bit of time to nap and enjoy the quiet." she smiled, leaning back in her bed. "Please don't leave. I don't mind company one person at a time. Unless you just want to leave." She shook her head at him.
Please don't leave. Jada glanced down at the magazine on the bed. "As I said, apparently I'm really loud when I try and sleep. Nightmares. Repressed memories. Who knows." it was a small, bitter laugh. "I am trying to give Fallon one night of peace. I can sleep when she's gone." she was tired, frankly. Exhausted. But she'd rather sleep during the day. She could worry about sleeping at night when she didn't have a roomie. "I'm already talking to the nurses about giving me her bed. It has the window view." She smiled at Cassius, reaching out for his hand. "It's good to see you. I'm sorry I never got around to calling you. And now I don't have your phone number."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:42 am
He wondered if it would get lonely for Jada when her roommate left. Even if she said she'd be able to sleep and all of that, the room would get much bigger and all too quiet. "Oh, good, I am thankful to stay for a bit then." He gave her a big smile and sat back in his chair lightly. Everything still felt so surreal. He couldn't help but notice such.
When she mentioned Fallon Cassius' ears perked. If this was the Fallon he met in the cafe ages ago, then the world really was a small place. He glanced towards the other bed to see if he could recognize her, but the way she was sleeping made it too difficult. "I've met a Fallon before." And if she was in the hospital too then that was equally scary. "She was so nice.." He just didn't understand. Why was everyone hurt?
"Don't have my phone number?" He dug around in his pocket almost too quickly and yanked out a card. "Well, here's this. Even if you need something right after I leave later, let me know. I'll come back right away." It was the least he could do. Poor Jada was sitting here wide awake while everyone else was passed out.
"Well, besides all this hospital stuff, what have you been up to since I last saw you?" He couldn't tell if it was a strange question to ask, but he was hoping it was distracting enough for her. He didn't want to keep dwelling on what happened, since she probably didn't prefer that anyways. "Have you checked out any interesting books?" He smiled widened.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:08 am
"You are welcome to stay with me as long as you like. Certainly until a nurse comes by on her rounds who is willing to rescue you." which would be any of the nurses, Jada decided. At least any the female ones. Except the one who kept smiling at Fallon. For all that he looked like he'd had a long night at a party, which he must have if he were bringing drunk children to the ER, Cassius was delicious as always.
Men. You had to hate them sometimes.
"Considering the sheer number of people in this city, and the number of coincidences I've run across in the last 48 hours with people knowing each other, I'll lay five bucks on that being your Fallon." She nestled down in the pillow, eyes and face grown somber. "Cassius, she... she's in here because she was attacked. By a person." she shuddered; she'd dug out what information she could from Audrey in their moments alone together, but other than a person Jada wasn't comfortable saying more. "There are the terrorists, and the things that stalk the night, but to think that a person has started hurting another frightens me a little."
Morphine was loosening Jada's tongue more than she liked to admit. She watched him dig around in his jacket, pulling out a card. "Mr. James," she said slowly, teasingly; "Are you telling me when a young woman asks for your number that you give her a business card?" Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she laughed at him, quietly. "I can't decide if that is horribly impersonal or partially suave." It was kind of him to make the offer she had, and she nestled down against her pillow, watching him quietly. "Just say you'll come back to visit me, and I'll let you go without complaint. Especially if you say that you'll be bringing me either real food or a deck of cards to I can play solitaire."
She licked her lips, pondering. She wasn't made up or anything. Frankly, she felt like she looked awful. The fact that Cassius hadn't run away screaming was such a confidence-booster. He had no idea. Thinking about what else had happened as a result of that book made her shudder. "Actually, I bought said interesting book." she said, trying to cover up her shudder with humor, and stuck her pert little nose in the air. "The ones in the back certainly were feats of athletic ability, weren't they?" Pink-cheeked, she nestled into her pillows, trying not to look as mischievous as she felt. Probably failing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:06 pm
Terrorists? For all Cassius knew those 'terrorists' were probably Senshi. He glanced at Fallon again and sighed rather loudly. The world had always been crazy- but now things were put into weird perspectives. He was starting feel more like an adult especially when he saw two familiar girls trapped in hospital beds. It was so much easier when he was younger and naive. "Damn." He didn't even know what to say. Just damn.
"Still, I'm so sorry to hear about all of this.." His voice trailed off, and he hunched over and stared at the floor for a few moments. "I did notice a lot of strange and violent things were happening lately. It pains me to see they involved you girls." What if Cassius did something this terrible one day? He wasn't sure if he could handle hurting people he knew.. what if he had to? It was all too much to think about. But, Fallon and Jada were safe now and hopefully getting better. That was what mattered most. "I am just thankful you both are alright."
He felt himself lighten up a bit at her reaction to his card. "I like to stay very professional." What Jada didn't know is that it was rare for him to give his card out anyways.. so that's why he did only from time to time. Cassius was strange in his habits, but people usually ate them up anyways and never complained. "Of course I would visit again. Now that you have that horribly impersonal card of mine, it's very easy to reach me." He winked at her lightly. "Cards would be great, but not Solitaire. There are much better games out there then that." Thankfully!
Oh, so she had bought the book? Touche. "Well, it's a mixture of skill and athletic ability." His mouth curved and he enjoyed her reaction to it all. "You'll see one day that nothing's that hard to accomplish. It's all a matter of having fun, anyways." Oh, wasn't that the truth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:11 pm
"Not as thankful as we are." She stuck out her tongue at him, a childish action. She was obviously doped up at this point, her actions growing more and more relaxed. She hadn't meant to press the button that hard. Just a little. "I need to get them to move my morphine button." she confessed to him, tone conspiratorial. "Though, I like it. But not a lot. It makes you feel like you are floating on bubbles, and it hurts."
How strange. Jada decided not to follow that track, instead watching Cassius. "Well, you need to come back and visit me. With a taco, and a stuffed animal." her laugh was almost impish, even to her own ears. "I'll keep your card close to my heart, Mr. James." Jada playfully pressed it to her breast, giving him a smile at his wink. "Well, if not Solitaire," Jada pushed back up into a sitting position, "What will you teach me to play?" her head tilted. "Poker? Texas Hold 'Em? Chinese... ummm... slaps? I know that game."
She flushed at his smile. "Skill will come with practice." she looked very serious for a moment before her face went blank, coming back in a small scowl. "Not that I need practice. And I am... I am athletic. I have a personal trainer." she confided. Nodded at him. "Oh, Cassius, I'm getting bubbly." she stared at the black button. She was also getting mildly nauseated. "And hungry. Cassius, my kingdom for even a cracker."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:39 am
Morphine was fun when you weren't actually in pain, so he understood Jada's concern at the moment. It felt odd to comment on that detail, and he wondered just how much she had consumed. Would she even remember this visit? Either way, he didn't mind. If she needed it he wasn't going to stop her and that was for sure.
"There are all sorts of games." He then answered enthusiastically. "Depends on what kinds you want to learn. They are all easy once you get the hang of it. I'd probably start us off with a more competitive one-on-one kind, then we can go from there." Two player card games were also great because they took up the most time. Plus they were usually most fun. "If you have any requests, I'll oblige too." He wished that he had a pack of them now.
Cassius watched her carefully as she seemed to fade. At her request, he jumped from his chair and looked around. "Where can I get you food?" Of course the hallway was silent, and not a soul was to be heard. "I'll get you anything you want." Cassius didn't mind helping someone out, especially in this kind of situation. It was most annoying for him because usually he was well prepared, but right now he had no game plan to help Jada. That was both frustrating and frightening.
"I can't tell if bubbly is good or bad.." Ugh, what to do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:32 pm
"Bubbly is bubbly." Jada reached up, towards Cassius, offering her hand. "Just that. Maybe a little nauseated. I mean it in more of a sense that I'm not being myself, and I know it." Bubbly made her... babbly. He was offering to get her food?? "and don't worry about food, Cassius." she shook her head. "I'm not allowed to eat, and getting you to help me break the rules wouldn't be fair." She shook her dark head, patting the comforter on her bed.
"Sit down." she told him. "I'm sorry." That wasn't very nice of her. "I'm just very hungry, and the doctors won't let me eat yet. I'm losing weight, I can feel it." and if she lost weight, her debutante gown would hang on her instead of clinging to her like it had supposed to. And they'd have to take it in, and that would be... frustrating.
"I'll be willing to learn anything, Cassius." she nodded, giving him a big grin, pulling the attention back to the fun part of the conversation. "My experience is limited. I think I've played Solitaire on the computer. Hearts? And some game I always lose, because I am supposed to give up two cards, and accept two cards, and I always get the exact same cards I just gave up!" she shrugged. "I've never gotten to learn poker, or any of those games they have on TV."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:12 am
He took her hand genuinely and listened to her words. Poor thing. He couldn't imagine not eating. Food was his everything. Just hearing her talk about food was making him hungry. "Don't worry about anything." He wondered if she'd abide. Here she was stuck in a hospital and probably in pain, and yet worrying about how she was acting? "You are being just fine, Jada. I promise." Poor thing was probably tired, too.
"If you ever feel like you need to stop just let me know, and I'll sit here for a bit while you sleep." He'd seen that sort of thing before in movies. It always made the girls he took on dates cry and grab his arm. Romantic stuff was seriously such a gag. But in this situation- he understood why people did it. He wanted to make sure she'd get rested and recovered. That was most important right now.
Cassius was glad she was so interested in learning something new. It showed a refreshing eagerness that he remembered in Jada from their first encounter. "Well, we will have a lot of fun then!" He'd have to figure out a whole game plan to teach her things. "You are quite intelligent so you will get the hang of them all very quickly. Most card games are all about sneakiness and plotting- so they are very entertaining. There is never a boring moment."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
