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Balloons

Dr. Yu Qing could hear the whispers as she passed.

"What's she doing with those?"

"Dr. Yu? No way!"

There was even one whispered "Holy shit."

Being the self-designated hospital hard ass had its perks but, if you broke the image for even a second, everyone noticed. Talked about it. Gossiped about it until it was blown out of proportion.

So what if she was trailing thirteen balloons behind her? Her brother had loved balloons since he was little kid. She had a lot to make up for so balloons were the only gift that would work.

Twelve of the balloons were bright and happy. Several were smiley faces. A few said things like 'Get Well Soon' and even 'I Love You'. The thirteenth Ballon was white with black lettering and simply said 'I'm Sorry'.

She just hoped he would forgive her.

She had royally fucked up.

It took some effort to get the balloons in to the elevator and more to get them out but her di-di was worth it.

As she entered, she noticed Nie Huaisang wasn't in the room which surprised her. He had been with A'Bin since he came into the hospital.

The next thing she noticed was her little brother was flushed. His eyes a little glassy looking. Did he have a fever?

She kept her smile in place enjoying how he lit up at the sight of the balloons. When he was three and she was nine, she had found him with his cheeks all puffed out and hopping off his little chair over and over.  When she asked him what he was doing, he told her he was going to grow up and be a balloon so he was practicing. The memory still made her smile. Even when things had been at their worst, she had always managed to have at least one balloon for his birthday.

She tied the floating mass at the foot of his bed. He looked at her and smiled. She was forgiven. She sighed in relief and if she wiped at her eyes, well, hospital air was dry.

His smile was huge as he lifted his arms, or tried to, so he could hug her. She grinned at him and kissed his forehead as she hugged him back. She was right. He was warm. Too warm.

"Where's your - hmm, I don't know what to call him. Where is Nie Huaisang?" There was none of the evasiveness she had shown earlier.

She nodded and smiled to everyone else in the room.

But she was watching Yu Bin. He looked tired.

"He went to shower and get clothes. He should be back soon though." Yu Bin was clearly pleased by the change in her attitude.

She moved so she was next to his hand. It hadn't gone down at all and the incision was an angry red. She released the velcro so she could look at his palm and was stunned to see the marks on his arm. It had been too tight with the recent swelling.

"How do you feel, Di-di?" she asked.

"Tired but I'll be fine soon." 

Yu Bin and his optimism.

"How long has your hand been swelling?" she looked him in the eye.

"Maybe lunch?" he had to think about it.

Now everyone else was paying attention.

"Why didn't you say something, Di-di?" her voice was soft.

"I thought... I don't know what I thought. Lan Xichen looked at it." He paused. "He said someone would come to clean it and ice it but no one came."