The Liability (2023 - COMPLETE)

IV - Hospital

 Even before she opened her eyes, Juno knew exactly where she is. The cool air, the smell of antiseptic, and the beeping of various machines chimes her in. Once again, she has found herself in the pack's hospital, not that she is particularly surprised.

She can hear the staff talking to one another in the hall and the concerned voice of Luna. Since Luna Verdansky arrived in Washington five years ago, she has been a sort of mother figure for Juno. The younger woman is eternally grateful for everything Luna has done.

Juno has spent the last few years alone and the only one who has given her time of day is Luna Elizabeth. She has been more of a mother and friend to Juno than anyone else around.

Juno's eyes shifted around the room, taking in the sight. The clean lines and simple design of the room are reminiscent of all of the other hospital rooms she's been in. And there's been a few. The bed is uncomfortable and her head hurts. She is tired of the murmurs from the hall and she doesn't understand why they all can't just quiet down.

The door opened, revealing Luna Elizabeth. The blonde woman smiled sadly at Juno, tired of seeing her here. The woman wore a dark floral dress and a cream-colored sweater that shows off her baby bump. Juno hasn't seen her in the last few days and Luna Elizabeth is always a wonderful sight to see.

"How...how long was I out?" Juno asks hoarsely, attempting to slide into a sitting position. Much of Juno's torso and leg cried out in protest, the stitches and bruising not liking the way that they were shifting. Juno knew the feeling, seeing as though this was not the first time she had been brought into the hospital because of the actions of the wolves.

"Just a couple of hours, it's a little past noon," Luna responded, taking a seat in one of the chairs at the side of the bed. It was then that Juno noticed something on the overbed table. There was a folded piece of yellow legal paper with "June" scribbled in small block letters. She figures although the name is wrong, it is still likely addressed to her. Not many people knew her name, the teachers at school refer to her as June as well. Besides, the letter was placed in her room, who else could it be for?

School!

Juno remembers making her way to her bus and then...then she woke up here. She must have been attacked somewhere en route but the details are fuzzy. She knew that there isn't much that she could do and that the doctor would probably keep her out of classes for at least another day. Oh well, it's not like she needs her education anyway. There wasn't much that she could do with it.

Juno reaches for the yellow paper, wondering what someone could possibly have to say to her. The paper has been folded into quarters and she opens them with shaky fingers. Inside there is more block lettering that forms two small paragraphs. The note was brief but only adds to Juno's list of questions. Not that there will be an easy answer.

If only things could be different between the two of us. If only I were a different man... You are not the one with faults.

Terribly sorry I didn't find you earlier. I usually do.

-Percy

"Percy?" Juno asks, looking over at Luna. Surely she would know who the letter came from. Juno is confused by many of the things in the note. It is obvious that the writer is her mate, but he has never made contact with her. Juno did not know much about him, only having seen him from afar or in his wolf form.

"He was the one who found you," Luna Elizabeth responds simply, looking over the younger woman. Many of their interactions happen in situations just like this and it pains Elizabeth to see her like this. Unlike those here in Washington, she sees the humanity in the runt population and sees their pain. Luna has already seen a runt made to feel unsafe in her own home and it hurts to see much of the same fate come upon Juno. At least back home, there were people for the runt to fall back on, here Elizabeth was all that Juno had.