Special Relationship

Chapter 2

The infirmary on the Ark Royal smelled strongly of antiseptic as an unconscious Darjeeling was wheeled into her hospital room by several paramedics in their blue surgical uniforms. One of the paramedics glanced at Darjeeling, who was lying in the stretcher with her right leg suspended by various slings, weights, and other contraptions. An oxygen mask covered Darjeeling's unconscious face, which made her appear as if she was asleep, while a tangle of IV tubes extended into Darjeeling's left arm. Her right arm was immobilized with plaster from shoulder to knuckles and was resting in a sling fastened around her neck. Additionally, a gauze bandage covered her left eye, which had been struck by fragments from her teacup. The IV tubes kept a steady drip of relaxants going into Darjeeling, causing her to mumble incoherent statements similar to someone who had too much to drink.

Outside Darjeeling's hospital room, Kay was talking to Assam, Darjeeling's gunner. Assam was carrying a clipboard loaded with various documents as well as a pen as Kay inquired about Darjeeling's state.

"Heard from the grapevine that Darjeeling got into a freak accident.", asked Kay as she followed Assam toward Darjeeling's room. "Also heard that Rosehip got her tankery license revoked for the third time."

"Rosehip rammed Darjeeling's Churchill with her Crusader. Rosehip's in some serious trouble; she lost her tankery license and they're putting her on trial for reckless endangerment.", answered Assam as she examined her clipboard. "If they find Rosehip guilty, I heard that she's going to be sent to Koala Forest for a semester."

"Oh wow, I didn't know you still sent your troublemakers there. I thought you stopped doing that years ago. Also, how's Darjeeling?", inquired Kay as she opened the door to Darjeeling's room.

"Darjeeling's not in the best condition. She shattered her ankle and broke her shin in several places.", replied Assam as she pointed out the places Darjeeling had broken her leg. "She also shattered her elbow as well and slashed her eye with her teacup.", replied Assam as she continued to sort the mountain of documents on her clipboard.

Kay entered Darjeeling's room and saw Darjeeling sleeping peacefully, muttering things to herself. Darjeeling appeared to have a smile on her face as she whispered nonsensical, sometimes even funny things in her sleep. Darjeeling was still in her tankery uniform as Kay approached her and gave Darjeeling a kiss on the forehead.

"Just a bit longer within your arms, Kay. A bit longer with your warmth.", mumbled Darjeeling as she nuzzled Kay's chest.

"How did you know I was here?", asked Kay in surprise.

"We've spent so much time together, how would I not know your scent, your warmth, and your touch?"

"Come on now, Darjeeling. Snap out of it. You know I want to talk to you when you're not all dopey.." instructed Kay as she gave Darjeeling a hard slap across her face.

Almost instantly, Darjeeling's right eye flew open as it darted around the room, taking in its surroundings. She tried to get up but a sharp pain in her right leg stopped her from sitting up. As her eyes saw her leg propped up in a sling above her bed, Darjeeling let out a gasp. She tried to feel her leg with her right hand, but realized that it was immobilized by a rigid plaster cast that covered her whole arm. She realized that she couldn't see out of her left eye, and felt her eye with her good hand. Instead of feeling the curvature of her eyeball, however, Darjeeling felt a gauze eyepatch covering her left eye as she finally noticed Kay sitting right in front of her.

"Where am I? What just happened, and what the hell are you doing here, Kay?", asked Darjeeling as she panicked, adrenaline rushing through her system.

"Relax, Darj. You'll be fine. You're in the hospital because Rosehip rammed your tank while you were on top of it. Just chill, ok?" comforted Kay.

"How long am I going to be stuck here? How will we conduct our joint training exercises?" questioned Darjeeling, as she shifted in her bed.

"Assam told me that you would be out in a few days. You really did a number on your ankle and your elbow, but the surgeons have fixed you up. You also lost your left eye.", informed Kay. "However, you don't have to stay here for the next few days. I figured that since our ships will be in the same port for the next couple of weeks for our joint training, I could bring you over to my house over at Saunders. The student accommodations at Saunders are way larger than the apartments here at St. Gloriana, so I figured that I could take care of you for the near future. Plus, the joint training will be taking place at Saunders, so you'd still end up having to go there anyways.", suggested Kay as she stroked Darjeeling's hair.

"I guess that could work. But what about my –", muttered Darjeeling painfully. The adrenaline had worn off by now and Darjeeling felt her ankle and elbow throb as if someone was hitting them with a sledgehammer.

Before Darjeeling could finish her sentence, Kay chimed, "Alright then, how about I bring you over to my place tomorrow? See ya tomorrow, Darj."