Family

Recovery

Lucy startled awake. She looked around the room, and saw that she was in a bed. The walls were white, and there were a lot of machines around her. One of them kept beeping. Over and over and over and over, faster and faster and faster-

She suddenly realized that it was her heartbeat. She tried to calm down, but then she realized that she couldn't move. She tried to sit up, to move her arms and legs, nothing.

The machine started beeping faster, and her breathing became more and more ragged. She started to hyperventilate.

Just then, the door opened, and Gru walked in. He walked over to her. He normally calmed her down instantly, but right now, his presence brought little relief.

He laid his hand on her forehead, smoothing back her hair.

"Calm down, sweetie." He said. "You're going to be alright."

"Why can't I move?" She asked, still shaken.

"One of the henchmen that we went after shot with a dart." He began. "At first we just thought that it was a sleep dart, but it appears to have caused temporary paralysis from the neck down."

"Temporary?" She questioned. "So, it'll go away?"

Gru hesitated before replying.

"Yes. It will. But, the doctors don't know how soon. It could be days."

Days.

The word rang through her head. Days. How long would it be before she could return to the field?

She still felt shaken. Gru took her hand in his own, rubbing his thumb across the back of it. The gentle movement helped to calm her down.

Just then, the door opened, and she heard a voice.

"Mr. Gru, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

The person came into her line of vision, and she saw that it was a middle aged man, wearing a lab coat. He appeared to be a doctor.

Gru looked down at her, before letting go of her hand. His beautiful blue eyes looked so warm and familiar. Suddenly, she realized that she didn't want him to leave. She tried to keep hold of his hand, but she still couldn't move it.

"Please, don't go." She said, suddenly.

The doctor looked at her. Gru stopped walking towards the door.

"I'm sorry, miss," the doctor said. "But, after I complete your checkup, we need you to rest."

"I know, and I will," she insisted. "But, please, can he stay with me, at least until I fall asleep?"

She looked desperately at Gru, who gave her a small nod.

The doctor looked at her, and then at Gru. He sighed.

"Fine. I'll call for you when I complete her checkup." He said to Gru.

Gru continued to walk out the door, but paused right before exiting, and gave her a comforting look.

The doctor bustled around for a few more minutes, checking the machines and his clipboard. Finally, he left the room. Almost immediately after, Gru returned, and sat right next to her bed. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Do you mind?" She asked. "Staying in here, I mean. I just realized that I never asked you."

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now." He said, softly.