Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ An Alternate Ending ❯ Revelations ( Chapter 16 )

An Alternate Ending

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

Part Sixteen: Revelations

(Trigun isn't mine. Wolfwood cares for Milly as Vash waits for the doctor.)

Vash knocked on the bedroom door, " I have the towels and water, Nick. "

" Good. Come in, " Wolfwood called.

Vash opened the door and slipped into the room quietly. Wolfwood had untangled Milly from the blanket she had gotten wrapped up in while she was having her seizure but was still holding her. She was wearing a plain while nightgown that he assumed Deb had put her in the day before since her work overalls were probably ruined. The nightdress looked about two sizes too small but Milly was pretty big for a woman.

" Um, " Vash started.

" What? " Wolfwood didn't bother to look at Vash. He noticed that Milly seemed a bit thinner than he recalled and that worried him.

" Since she has a fever, I didn't make the water too hot. I can get some cooler water if you want me to in case you want to use cold rags to help her temperature. I personally don't think the Lytenol is working, " Vash added the last part quietly.

" Well no shit. I didn't want to say it in front of Deb but Lytenol won't do anything for a fever. She needs aspirin, " Wolfwood gave Vash a quick glance. " Did you find a clean nightgown? "

Vash shook his head, " Not yet but I'll look for that while you clean her up. I found where the sheets are at though and I'll bring a clean blanket when you're ready for it. "

" Good, " Wolfwood eased Milly down to the floor. " What did you do with that lamp? "

" I found a paper grocery bag and put the pieces in it. I'll let Deb do whatever she wants with it later, " Vash set the bucket of warm water down then set the towels next to it. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a bar of soap. " I found this too. "

Wolfwood looked and nodded, " That's what I forgot to ask you to find. Thanks. "

Vash set the soap on top of the towels then backed up towards the door, " Is there anything else or are you ready for me to leave now? "

" Go ahead and find that nightgown. I really do need to get Milly out of the one she's in right now, " Wolfwood said as he stood up and walked to the towels and bucket. " Maybe you can go get me some clean clothes once that doctor gets here and tell Meryl not to expect Milly to be home for a while. "

Vash nodded, " Yeah. I think she'd want to know. Call me if you need anything. "

" I will, " Wolfwood muttered as Vash left. He waited a moment to make sure Vash wasn't coming back before grabbing two of the larger towels and spread them out on the floor next to Milly. He picked her up gently, leaning her against him as he started to remove her nightgown. He was careful of her injured arm as he slipped the garment off over her head before pitching it on top of the dirty blanket.

He gathered Milly up and placed her on the towels he had spread out before standing up. He picked up the soap before grabbing another one of the towels. He could hear Vash walking around as he dipped the towel into the bucket and got it wet. He looked over at Milly and shut his eyes. ~The miscarriage made her even weaker than she was because she was working so hard… and she was working so hard so Meryl could take care of us. ~

Wolfwood opened his eyes and picked up the bucket, moving it closer to Milly. ~Every way I look at this it seems that I'm to blame for everything that's happened since Tonim Town. Is hurting you all I can do, honey? Does everything I do end up causing you pain? ~

He knelt down next to her, putting the back of his hand on her sweaty forehead to check her fever. She was so hot, Wolfwood wondered just how high her fever was but dared not to think what would happen if it got any higher, ~Milly really needs something to cut this fever. ~

He pulled the towel around Milly to cover her then got up. He went to the door and opened it, finding Vash was pacing the hallway. " I thought you were going to wait in the living room, " Wolfwood's voice startled Vash. Apparently, he hadn't noticed Wolfwood had opened the door.

" I'm going to back and forth. I just can't sit still, " Vash explained.

" Oh, " Wolfwood nodded. " Since you can't sit still, I have a mission for you. Look in the kitchen and in the bathroom for some aspirin. Milly's really burning up and something more might happen if her fever doesn't come down. "

" Okay, " Vash nodded and went to the kitchen.

The seconds seemed like minutes as Wolfwood waited, the silence grating on his nerves. Vash's quick footsteps sounded a million iles away. He wondered where the doctor was and what could have been wrong with Milly. She seemed fine the night before.

He absently reached for a cigarette, realizing that he didn't have any after feeling his pockets. ~Damn. ~

" Mr. Wolfwood? " Milly's voice sound frail, shaky but it startled Wolfwood nonetheless.

He moved quickly to her side and went to his knees, " I'm right here, honey. "

She lifted her bandaged arm, " I was scared you weren't coming back. You left so early without saying anything to me. "

" I had a lot to think about, " Wolfwood took Milly's hand in his. " But I'm not going to leave you again. "

Milly glanced around the room although it seemed she was having a hard time focusing. " Where's Deb? "

" She went for the doctor. He got sidetracked on the way into town. She's coming back with him, " Wolfwood slid an arm under Milly and lifted her up. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

Milly cuddled closer, " I feel bad. "

" I know you do. Vash is getting you something to make you feel better. "

Milly gripped Wolfwood's hand tighter, " Do you think it's from losing the baby? "

" We'll have to see, " Wolfwood whispered.

**

Deb knocked on the door of the house she had tracked the doctor down to. A few moments passed before someone opened the door and she found that most of the well team as well as quite a few townspeople were there. She looked towards the person that opened the door and found it was a young lady. " I need to see the doctor right away, " Deb's tone was commanding but the young woman was unfazed.

" The doctor is busy, " The young woman said sharply. " You'll have to wait your turn like everyone else. "

" My turn was long before theirs. I'm the one who sent for the doctor in the first place, " Deb returned the young woman's tone.

" Then you should have been waiting for him when he arrived, " The young woman pointed to a spot on the floor next to a rather burly well team worker. " Take a seat and wait your turn. "

The burly man stood up, " Excuse me ma'am but aren't you the midwife? "

" Yes I am, " Deb snapped, still annoyed with the rude young woman. " What do you want? "

The burly man took a step back, " Then could you tell us how Ms. Thompson is doing? We all know what happened and we're all really worried. "

" She's very ill right now, " Deb cut her eyes to towards the young woman.

Another one of the worker walked to Deb and said quietly, " I heard she lost her baby. "

" It's true, " Deb nodded at the young man.

The burly man shook his head, " If that's the case then I guess my little case of the sniffles can wait until the doctor looks at that poor girl. "

The young man took a step back as well, " Same here. "

There was a wave of agreement from the other men and Deb crossed her arms over her chest. " Now, can you please get the doctor? "

**

Wolfwood sighed as he finished tucking Milly back into bed. He had gotten her cleaned up and the bed changed while Vash scoured the house for aspirin but only came up with a clean nightgown. Vash had to run to the store to get some since it seemed Deb didn't have any in the house at all. Wolfwood took that chance to get Milly dressed since Vash was out of the house and wouldn't accidentally barge in on them.

Wolfwood felt like he was going to collapse from the effort it took to get the young woman taken care of but he knew he had to be strong for her sake. He looked around the room and found a chair. He decided that he could still be strong for Milly even if he were sitting down. He got the chair and carried to the bed before setting it as close as he could and then took one of Milly's hands in both of his.

He narrowed his eyes when he heard the sound of footsteps in the hall. He recognized the sound of Vash's heavy boots and waited for his friend to knock on the door. The knock came, " I got the aspirin. Is she decent Nick? "

" Yeah, " Wolfwood called back. " Do you have water? "

Vash's answer was the sound of skittering footsteps in the direction of the kitchen. Wolfwood shook his head and waited for his friend to return. When he did, he said sheepishly, " Now I do. "

" Come in then, " Wolfwood let out a strained chuckle. ~Damn, he's over a hundred years old and still as ditzy as a teenager… ~

Vash opened the door slowly and slipped into the room. " I hope Deb gets back soon, " He said as he came closer to the bed. " This is scary. "

" Tell me about it, " Wolfwood sighed then looked at Milly. " Honey? Can you wake up for a minute? "

Milly's eyes fluttered open and she looked confused for a second. " How did I get back into the bed? "

" I carried you. You passed out while I was washing you, " Wolfwood slid an arm under her shoulders. " Sit up for a minute so Vash can give you something to make you feel better. "

" Mr. Vash? " Milly looked at the so-called Humanoid Typhoon. " You're here too? "

" He helped bandage your arm, " Wolfwood glanced down at the bandaged limb. Blood had soaked into the cloth a little but that was expected. Milly nodded then looked at Vash as he shook two aspirin from the bottle he had brought. Wolfwood took them from Vash's hand, " Open up, honey. "

Milly did as she was told, opening her mouth so Wolfwood could put the pills in her mouth. Vash offered the glass of water next and Wolfwood took it, holding it to Milly's lips as she drank from it. She emptied it and shut her eyes, " I'm so thirsty. "

" I bet you are, " Wolfwood let her back down to the bed. " A fever like yours can make you dehydrated pretty quickly. "

Vash took the empty glass from Wolfwood, " I'll go outside and see if I can see Deb coming back yet. "

" You do that. I'll stay here with her, " Wolfwood nodded.

Vash had barely turned on his heel when the sound of the front door opening made him stop. " Or maybe not, " He muttered.

Deb and the doctor were in the room a few seconds later. " I found him, " Deb said. " Could I ask you both to step outside until he's finished with her exam? "

Wolfwood narrowed his eyes, " I'd rather stay. She wouldn't be in this shape if he had been here on time. "

Deb glanced at the doctor, " He's right you know. "

The doctor growled, " I'm sorry if I got sidetracked by those other sick people. I didn't know that Ms. Thompson was this bad. You should have mentioned it when you contacted me. "

" I thought you'd be here before she got in this condition, " Deb hissed in return. She looked at Wolfwood, " You can stay but don't get in his way. "

Wolfwood nodded once, " I understand. "

Vash took a step towards the door, " I'd better leave. "

Wolfwood looked at the blonde-haired gunman, " Go tell Meryl what's going on and tell her to get over here so she can see Milly. "

Vash saluted, " Yes sir! "