Examination Room

[Admin]

[Maira]

Every beep of the EKG machine was a blow to Maira's own heart and she sniffed back the tears that threatened when she shuffled inside her sister's hospital room.

"Oh Neve..." she whispered haggardly, clutching her shirtfront while looking at Neve's sleeping figure, with the tubes coming out of her nose and her mouth, and the IV wires on her pale arms where she could see the blue veins.

Feeling like she probably couldn't stand, Maira gripped the back of the chair and swallowed hard.

[Tom]

Stepping forward Tom tried not to focus too much on the wires that were criss crossing and going in and out of her. He tried not to notice how pale she was, paler than usual, so pale he could see her veins. Ignoring the dark smudges under her eyes and the way her body seemed so lifeless. Instead he tried to remember how she teasingly called him Scrooge and laughed at his childish sulking. He was beside the bed now, too scared to reach out and touch her incase he broke her.

[Maira]

Maira took the seat opposite Tom and the other side of Neve's bed. She held out a hand but stopped herself, knowing that Neve's hand would be cold. Shaking her head, she placed her fingers right by Neve's hand instead and sniffed back the tears. "Come on, Neve... Get up and roll those eyes at me." She almost forgot Tom was in the room, tears flowing down her face.

[Tom]

They sat in silence for what seemed like hours but really only 20 minutes had passed since they entered the room. Standing up suddenly Tom decided he had to get out. Now. Striding towards the door he yanked it open and marched out of the room.

[Maira]

Maira whipped her head to watch Tom shoot to his feet and storm out of the room. Her brow furrowed in concern and then she realized to herself what happened. It's always like this...

She turned to Neve, sighing. "Sis, I told you. You can't trust other people. They always leave, remember?" she whispered, remembering the last man she'd been with, who left because she wanted Neve to stay with them. "Trust only yourself... And me. I'll never leave you."

[Neve]

There was a numbness in her body that Neve knew all too well. She muffled a groan and strained to open her eyes, blinking rapidly at the lights in the room--the unfamiliar place. She immediately saw the tubes from her nose and lowered her eyes to the IV wire in her arms. Geez... Not again.

She also spotted her sister's dark head bent over the bed and sighed inwardly, wincing at the effort. It was as if her lungs had taken a break and refused to let out air easily. Although she was numb to the pain, it was hard to breathe with the tubes in her nose. "Maira..." she whispered. When her slumbering sister didn't get up, she used her fingers to poke Maira's head until she stirred from sleep.

[Maira]

Maira snapped to attention and gaped at her sister's blue eyes. "Neve!" she struggled not to scream or throw her arms around her sister in great relief. "You're back. Oh God, I was so scared." She squeezed her hands.

[Neve]

Neve eyed her sister warily. "I don't know why? It's me with tubes stabbing my insides..." She frowned at the empty room, noticing someone was missing. "Where's Scrooge? I recall hearing his voice."

[Maira]

Gritting her teeth, she narrowed her eyes at her sister. I'm the one who's been staying here with you and the first thing you ask me is where that man went?

Refraining from not snapping a 'who cares,' Maira sighed. "He couldn't stay," she responded nonchalantly. "After he put you on the bed, he practically ran out of the hospital without a word to me. Who knows where he went? He's been gone for hours so I doubt he's coming back."

[Neve]

For some reason, hearing those words from Maira about Tom made her feel a bit confused and disappointed, like a balloon popped and the air released quickly out of it. "Oh really..." she muttered without much feeling.

She smirked despite the weakness in her body. "I guess he had other places to be. That's okay." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Maira. I'm tired."

[Maira]

Maira's heart broke a little more when she heard the obvious langour in Neve's voice and swallowed hard, pushing away the guilt. This was all her fault. She should've insisted that Neve stay with her at home instead of fighting. "Then sleep, Neve... Just sleep. I'm here for you." Without hesitation this time, she covered Neve's frigidly cold hand with hers. "Just sleep."

[Neve]

Not needing any urging, Neve closed her eyes to sleep again but not without picturing the tall man with amused hazel-green eyes flashing down at her. She sighed softly and drifted off to sleep.

[Tom]

Walking into the room the first thing Tom noticed was that she was awake, a grin spread across his face as their eyes met. "Hey Sunshine, how're you feeling?" He made his way over to the side of the bed and sat down in one of the chairs, sprawling out his tired body.

[Neve]

Neve didn't need to smell him to know where he'd been. His husky voice and haggard appearance was enough of a hint. She smirked at him in amusement. "Baby Scrooge..." she couldn't stay mad at him. After all, she'd probably run away too if she met someone like herself. "You came back. Why?"

[Tom]

He frowned in confusion at her question, "I was always going to come back." Running a hand over his face he leaned forward resting his forehead against the edge of the bed. His voice was muffled when he spoke again, "I just needed a drink."

[Neve]

Neve smiled. "Looks like you got more than just one drink..." she reached over to touch his hair but stopped herself, not sure if he'd allow her. Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment. "My sister just went out for a while but she'll be back. How did they allow you to come in, anyway?"

[Tom]

Tom smiled warily at her , "You underestimate the charm of Scrooge." He sat back up rolling his neck, trying to work out the cricks and looked at her properly. "You're looking a bit better, scared the hell out of me Sunshine."

[Neve]

That's what I do... Neve smiled warily. "Did I? Didn't mean to, trust me." She shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, Scrooge... Thanks for bringing me here."

[Tom]

He shrugged, "As long as you'll be okay it doesn't matter." A frown marred his features as he wondered what had happened for her to risk her life like that.