"Do you have anyone to take care of you when we discharge you from the hospital?" Dr. Pickens announces, straightening his collar. Standing tall with a clipboard in his frail hands, glasses pushed down to the tip of his nose, and his pristine white doctors jacket wrapped firmly around his slim figure.
Dani had been recovering in the hospital for a couple of days now, although it felt like a much longer time period to her. After suffering through the various hospital-prepped dinner meals, which had consisted of: lump mash potato and cold sausages, room temperature mushroom soup and a pleasantly surprising tasty pasta dish. Also, she hadn't enjoyed the interrupted nights sleep; with nurses constantly taking observations, it sometimes felt busier than the underground. Being unable to move from the same spot each day was aching her muscles. She felt ready to go home.
"Uh, I am not sure..." The blonde shuffling against the thin cotton fabric of the blanket, resting her casted arm on top of her lap. She had broken the bone in her arm as well as two smaller bones in her hand. Luckily they were able to mend them in surgery. Panicking at the thought of her family not being here to take care of her. Missing her mothers warm and soothing touch. "I could try to arrange something though,"
"Okay. Great," The male doctor swivels on his feet, the souls of his shoes squeaking against the marble floors, closing the door with one swift movement. The patient on her own again. Thankfully, she did have a television in her room, albeit she did have to pay for it, but it was worth the entertainment, better than staring at the same four white walls. Otherwise, she would have surely died from boredom. It was the least she owed herself.
Her belongings were returned to her a day after the accident on the motorway, one of the firefighters left on the scene pulled her bag out of the rubble and transported everything to the hospital, finding its way back to the blonde. To her surprise, the majority of her personal possessions was still in a neat condition. Hospital staff also let her borrow a spare smartphone charge so she could contact the family she has abroad. Taking the opportunity to swap phone numbers with the brunette that saved her. She couldn't be more grateful to the Italian.
Danielle knew she had to sort some type of aftercare, to help her during the recovery period at home. Clueless as to whom to contact. Grabbing her phone off the side table, texting a few friends from acting class, airing the question out to the group chat.
Stefania: how are you today?
A text message she hadn't seen or replied to just yet. It was sent 15 minutes ago.
Danielle: They might discharge me soon, once I have some aftercare in place!
Stefania: Excellent news, Bella! Do you have someone to look after you?
The blonde contemplates whether or not asking the brunette, she had already done so much already. Besides, they barely knew each other. Yet, she felt a connection between them. Her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Deciding her next message.
Danielle: I don't actually know many people here.
She shuts off her phone, placing it back to the side table. The smell of food lingering in the air, maybe tonight it is fish and chips? Her stomach growling in response to the thought. One of her favourite British meals was definitely fish and chips from the chip shop down the road. The grease and crispiness of the meal was the ideal combination to cure any hangover.
A dinner lady wheels the cart into her room, presenting a hot plate onto the table, matching cutlery set and a napkin with a dessert to follow. Smiling as she reveals the piping hot dish: fish and chips! It's not quite up to par with her local chip shop, but it'll definitely fill a gap.
Danielle scoffs down her dinner and rice puddling while watching a popular television programme in the background. Flicking through the channels once it was over and dinner had settled in her stomach. Her eyes feeling more and more heavy. The sting of tiredness present. She knew the nurses will be back in here anytime now to do their evening observations. Sleep was calling her. Her body still feeling the trauma from the accident.
"Hey Danielle," A nurse arriving on time, skipping over the bed, reviewing the numbers on the screens and writing them down into their tablet. "Good news - we can discharge you tomorrow morning after the doctor has been to see you," The nurse sits the tablet down, tucking the sheets of the bed under the mattress, lifting another blue, knitted blanket over her body. Reminding her to check her phone.
Stefania: If you want, you could stay with me and my roommate? Completely up to you though but you are more than welcome.
Grinning as she places her phone underneath the pillow, excited that she will be discharged tomorrow with a safe place to stay for a few days. Sleep soon finds her.
Stefania wonders down the familiar maze-like corridors; retracing her footsteps from the traumatic night of the horrifying car crash. Butterflies surging through her stomach. Excited to see the blonde once again. Hopefully in a much better condition since the last time she saw her beautiful face. Prominent scents of saline invade her nostrils, she must be close to her room. They had texted each other in the early hours of the morning arranging a time for the brunette to come pick her up from the ward.
"Hi, Bella!" The Italian announces with confidence, a smile overtaking the majority of her face. Strolling through the room to give the girl an embrace. Danielle has so much more colours in her face now - looking fit and able. She's beautiful.
"Hi!" Danielle laughs into her shoulder, smelling the fruity shampoo remaining in her brown hair from the shower she took this morning. "Thank you so much, again, for being so helpful to me,"
"Nonsense, it is my pleasure. Plus I know exactly what it is like to be alone in a country that you aren't familiar with," Stefania smiles softly, "we need to stick together," Pointing her finger out between them, lifting one of Danielle's bag onto her shoulder. Watching the blonde stand up from the bed. "Do you need an arm, or are you okay?" The brunette pushes her elbow out, allowing the blonde to cling onto her. Danielle gladly accepts.
Stefania and Danielle make their way out of the hospital, scanning for her little yellow car in the busy parking lot. Carefully shifting some of the clutter in her car, so the blonde can comfortably sit down in the passenger seat.
"It's not much, but it's home, for now..." Stefania places the blondes bag onto the living room floor of the apartment. "We have a spare bedroom through here," Gesturing for Danielle to follow her into the third bedroom. The room was pretty standard, a double bed tucked into a corner of the room with a nightstand and a lamp. Fairy lights hanging from the corners of the ceiling. A mirrored wardrobe on the opposite side of the room. It was cosy.
"This is perfect, hopefully I won't be in your hair for too long!" Dani speaks, sitting on the edge of the double bed, the fresh sheets feeling crisp under her touch. "Thank you,"
"Stop thanking me... You have been through so much, it is the very least I could do," Stefania lays her hand on her shoulder, squeezing sympathetically. Sending chills down her body. "Maybe we could get to know each other, on better circumstances?"
"I would like that, actually," Danielle smiles, gazing into the brunettes inviting eyes.
"Right, I will let you get settled into your room," Stefania lingers in the doorway, "Shout me if you need anything," With that, she leaves the blonde to unpack a few of her things. Remembering to text her family an update of her situation. Plugging her phone into the socket conveniently placed next to the headboard of the bed.
Danielle: Staying with a friend for a few days while I recover - will be more than okay! Missing you both.
Knowing she would have to videocall them at some point, to check in with her parents. It was tough though, being on different time-zones. Especially when she knew they were always busy with their jobs and looking after her siblings.
Danielle slumps into the bed, closing her eyes in an upgraded non-lumpy mattress. Thinking of home. Thinking of Stefania and her kindness. Thinking of her parents.
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I hope you liked this chapter. More Stefania and Danielle scenes to come! I am having so much fun writing this story so any likes/comments are much appreciated. Enjoy your day/night.
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You Saved Me - A Stefanielle Story
Fanfiction"It's not much, but it's home, for now..." Stefania places the blondes bag onto the living room floor of the apartment. "We have a spare bedroom through here," Gesturing for Danielle to follow her into the third bedroom. The room was pretty standard...
