Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ An Alternate Ending ❯ Bad News ( Chapter 15 )

An Alternate Ending

Part Fifteen: Bad News

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Trigun isn't mine. Wolfwood and Vash arrive at Deb's house in the nick of time.)

" Hello? " Wolfwood opened the front door to Deb's house. " Is there anyone here? Deb? "

" She wouldn't leave Milly alone, would she? " Vash asked from behind Wolfwood.

" No. I don't think so. The doctor is supposed to be here today so Deb's probably around, " Wolfwood heard footsteps coming down the hallway and found that Deb was indeed home. " Oh, there she is. Deb… "

" Mr. Wolfwood, " Deb said, cutting him off. " I need a favor. "

Wolfwood arched an eyebrow, " A favor? "

" The doctor hasn't gotten here yet and I need to go get him. Ms. Thompson seems to have contracted the flu… everyone on the well team has it. The doctor was sidetracked as soon as he came into town and it's dire that I go find him, " Deb explained before looking over Wolfwood's shoulder. " Is that the one everyone says is Vash The Stampede? "

" Yeah. He's Vash, " Wolfwood shook his head. " He's Meryl's… friend. "

" I see. The two of you come in and make sure Ms. Thompson is comfortable. If this flu gets out of hand, it could kill her in the condition she is in, " Deb looked toward the kitchen. " I may have something she can take for the coughing and the fever so you come with me, Mr. Vash. Mr. Wolfwood, go to Ms. Thompson. "

" Right, " Wolfwood nodded but Vash stopped him. " What is it, needle noggin? "

Vash looked at Deb, " Nick lost a lot of blood a while back. Would it be wise for him to be exposed to the flu? "

Deb sighed, " He's already been exposed. I'm sure everyone in town will be sick with it before the virus' finite life span is over. However, we can start taking medicine as soon as we start showing symptoms. "

" I'm fine, Vash. I've recovered completely from that, " Wolfwood narrowed his eyes at Vash. " Now, let me go or I'll knock you out. "

" Mr. Wolfwood! " Deb said firmly. " Mr. Vash is only showing concern for you. You may feel like you've recovered but you could easily get very sick. Now, how much blood did you lose? "

Wolfwood shrugged, " I don't know. I know I was almost dead. "

" He's right there, " Vash nodded. " I had to do some really fancy work to keep from losing him. "

" Are you a doctor, Mr. Vash? " Deb looked at Vash.

Vash shook his head, " But I know a lot of first aid and I learned a lot from the doctors that have taken care of me when I've gotten hurt. "

Deb nodded, " I see. Well, a person can survive with as little as two ints of blood in the body but they would be pretty weak and very lucky to be alive. "

Wolfwood and Vash exchanged glances then looked back at Deb. " So, " Wolfwood said.

" So what? " Deb arched an eyebrow.

" Can I go to Milly or not? " Wolfwood looked as sincere as possible.

" I already said that you've been exposed so it really doesn't matter so yes you can go, " Deb looked at Vash. " You can be a big help if you stay here and watch the house while I try to hunt that doctor down. If he comes here while I'm gone, tell him that Ms. Thompson had a miscarriage and she's also coming down with the flu. I've given her two Lytenol for the fever and that she needs to be checked over to make sure there won't be any other problems. "

Vash nodded, " Yes ma'am. "

Deb took a step towards the door when the sound of glass shattering echoed through the house followed by something that sounded like thumping. The noise had come from Milly's room causing Wolfwood to take off down the hall, Deb and Vash close behind. " Milly! " Wolfwood called as he opened the door, freezing in shock when he saw Milly convulsing in the floor next to what looked like it had been the table lamp.

Deb pushed past Wolfwood and went to Milly. She tried to restrain her so she wouldn't hurt herself, " No! I was afraid this would happen if I didn't get the doctor quick enough! "

" She's having a seizure from the fever, isn't she? " Vash asked.

" Yes! " Deb said as Milly moved closer to the remnants of the lamp. " Damn! She's strong! Help me! "

Wolfwood darted into the room, quickly scooping Milly into his arms as she continued to seizure. He held her loosely with just enough pressure to keep her in his grip. He had seen children have seizures from high fevers before and knew just how to hold Milly so she wouldn't hurt herself. He could feel something warm and wet against his chest and found that Milly had managed to roll onto one of the broken pieces of glass.

" Deb! Get some bandages! Milly's got some of that lamp stuck in her forearm and it looks like it's in there pretty good, " Wolfwood tried to move Milly's arm so the glass wouldn't get lodged in any further as she writhed.

Deb turned to Vash, " I'll go get the bandages but you help him dress her wound. I'm going for that doctor as soon as the bandages are in your hands. "

Vash nodded, " That sounds good. "

Deb dashed off and returned with a first aid kit, " When she comes out of the seizure, make sure to clean her up and put her back in the bed. I don't want either one of you taking your eyes off of her for one moment. "

Wolfwood looked at Deb, " We understand. Go! "

Deb took off, the sound of the front door slamming behind her as Vash got in the floor next to Wolfwood. Milly looked like she was out of the worst part of the seizure so Vash opened up the first aid kit. He got out the things he would need as he waited for the seizure to finish and, when it did, he started to remove the glass.

Wolfwood stroked Milly's hair, kissing her face as he whispered, " It'll be okay, honey. It'll be okay.

Vash carefully cleaned the wound and bandaged it. He stood up when he was finished and looked down at Wolfwood. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder; " I'm going to see if I can find a dustpan and broom so I can get that glass up. "

" Do that, " Wolfwood said as he kept his face close to Milly's shoulder. He didn't want Vash to see just how scared he was… or the tears that were threatening to fall.

" I'll shut the door and knock when I come back, " Vash said quietly as he walked to the door. " After I get the glass up, I can help you clean her up in case she… "

Wolfwood shook his head, " I'll clean her up. She did and I don't want to you to see my woman naked. "

Vash sighed, " Okay. I'll be in the living room after I get the glass up. "

" Whatever, " Wolfwood muttered. " Just don't leave. "

" I won't, " Vash could feel that Wolfwood was scared but didn't mention it. If he wanted to talk to Vash, he would do it when he was ready to.

Wolfwood waited until he heard the door shut before burying his face in the crook of Milly's neck, the tears he had fought pouring from his eyes as he sobbed into her hair.