Project: Titans -- A Pokemon Story (OC x Piers)

Chapter 51 -- Piers' POV

Everything was hazy, disoriented and came in flashes. Gia's face, tenderly looking down on mine. Cradled in Obstagoon's giant arms, wind whipping in my face. Gia yelling for help once we entered a room basked in golden light. A steady beeping, close to my left ear. A prick on my right arm, heavy breathing. Something in my throat, blocking my ability to speak. Sobbing people, the sounds of a struggle and screaming.

After what felt like a lifetime of drifting in and out of consciousness, I finally woke up for good. I glanced lazily around the room, my head still fuzzy. It was starting to come back to me, in bits and pieces. The ride here, the hospital lobby, Gia's fight to stay in the room...

Obstagoon was fast asleep, snoring with his head in my lap, protectively growling in his sleep. I attempted to open my mouth and say something to him, only to realize my mouth was already open with some sort of strange tube shoved down it. I startled, trying to rise when a gentle hand was laid on my chest. "Sleep, Piers," the soothing voice of an unseen nurse said, so I rolled my eyes back and collapsed.

*********

When I came to for the fourth time since I'd been aware of my surroundings, I had learned my nurse's name was Molly and I had been in the hospital for almost two months. Two months? I wrote shakily on the pad of paper provided for me. I've been asleep for two months?

"I know it's hard tah believe," Molly sighed, her Scottish voice surprisingly soothing to my frazzled nerves; probably because it was so similar to Spikemuth's usual kick. "The firs' time yah woke up was two weeks in'a yer trea'ment. We had tae dose ya with some powerful anesthe'ics."
Is Gia okay?
"Aye, tah wee lassie's doin' fine."

I sighed in relief (or at least as well as I could with a tube down my throat). "Fierce young lass, she is," Molly smiled. "Nearly took off the doc'or's hand wi' her bare teeth." Really? I wrote, trying for a smirk. "Aye." Molly's eyes crinkled. "Refused to leave yer side, she did. Took four o'er nurses and tah doc'or to ge' her ou' so I could put in tha stitches. Last I heard, poor laddie's go' a black eye."

I tried to hold down my laughter (I couldn't without my chest hurting), but I couldn't help the stupid smile spreading across my face trying to picture a short little woman fighting off five other people, before remembering the way she took down the cops the night after the masquerade.

How is Marnie?
"Ah, tah wee one," Molly smiled softly, messing with my IV. "She came in all drookit from tah storm tha' rolled in over Wyndon. Many a nigh' I found her greetin' by yer side, made sure she fel' nice and comfor'able."
Where is she? I need to find her! Is she okay? Is Spikemuth okay? I struggled to write coherent sentences, eventually tossing down the notepad and struggling to get out of the bed.

A firm hand on my chest sent me back into the bed, before Molly's leering face entered my space. "Ya lis'en here, laddie," she growled, flared nose pressed against the mask covering my face. "Yer injured, and if yer even thinkin' how yer gonna ge' ou'a this here hospi'al, I'll gie ye a skelpit lug. Are we clear, laddie?" I narrowed my eyes and flashed her a symbol that needed no words to communicate. Molly scowled back, tossing my notepad back onto the bed before leaving me alone.

**********

A week later, the ventilator was no longer needed and I could speak with my nurses in a whispery voice. "Haven't seen Gia 'round the hospital," I said hoarsely one cloudy morning. "Where is she?"
"All guests have been asked to stay outside the patient's quarters until further notice," another nurse answered.

"Nah, I mean how come she ain't visited me yet?" I tried again, leaning over to make eye contact with the other nurse. Marnie and most of Spikemuth's population had already been in to wish for a quick recovery or bring me something from home. The nurse inhaled deeply, before saying flatly, "Miss Gia has been asked to leave the hospital grounds until further notice."

"She's been banned?" I asked, more in shock than anything else.
"She is a threat to the health and safety of the hospital staff here at Wyndon Capital Hospital."
"I see," I swallowed. "Well, then, guess I'll have to see her later, then."

*********

Later, meaning the next week when I was released from the hospital.

Immediately after I walked out the door, Marnie launched herself at me and tackled me to the ground, followed by all my Pokemon dogpiling onto me, trying to vie for a place to snuggle. Even Meowsie hopped onto my shoulders after I got up and nuzzled against my cheek.

"We were so worried, Piers," Gia muttered, looking down at her feet.
"I made sure she kept eatin' while she stayed with ya," Marnie said proudly. "Brought 'er food an' everythin' every day."
"Every day, huh?" I smiled at Gia. She said nothing. Awkward silence followed; I didn't blame her, all things considered.

"So, what happens next?" I asked, shoving my hands in my jeans pockets (that were still very dirty and frankly felt quite disgusting wearing them in public). "That earthquake was definitely not natural," Gia said after a pause, switching back into business mode. "It was likely caused on purpose; Espeon and Malamar said they saw no other people being caged in like we were. Plus, there was a figure I noticed running from the aftermath after...right after we..um..."

"Yeah," I said, swallowing. "I gotcha."
"Salamence wasn't able to catch the perpetrator, but he caught his scent. That should be enough to make our case."
"Our case?" Marnie said, confused.
"That's right," Gia smiled; the cruel, coldhearted smirk of a master businesswoman. "Didn't you hear? We're going to be paying Chairman Rose a visit."