by Teagen2
DISCLAIMERS:
Alternative Content Warning: This story contains scenes of a romantic nature between two women. This story is not for those under the age of eighteen.
Uber Warning: This story is an uber. The two characters are based off of the leading ladies of XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS.
Author's Notes: This story came to me as I visited my dad in the hospital. Then it became a longer one, when I had to stay myself. It has a tiny basis of truth to it, not entirely fiction. All POSITIVE comments are welcome. Negatives I will simply ignore. Send your thoughts to startrek@ellijay.com
I hate hospitals. The smell. The endless corridors. I am braving this fear for a friend. My friend Tiffany is in ICU. I had to come down. I finally find it in the maze of corridors. There are approximately ten beds, all full. I find her easily. She is the one nearest the door. I sit down next to her bed, placing the flowers my mom sent with me for her. Her eyes open. "Amy."
"Hi. How are you feeling?"
"Better. They say I'll be outta here in a few days." I smile and pat her hand. Ever since we were kids, Amy has been battling with her badly damaged lungs. Every time she goes to the hospital, I am afraid that she won't make it. Every time she has proved me wrong and I'm glad that this time falls into that category.
"Great. Can't wait to show you that new shoe store on Plamor Street." Tiffany was born to shop. Its her favorite pastime. It has rubbed off on me, somewhat any way. "Right now you get some rest. I'm gonna hang out here for a little while."
"Thank you, Amy."
"No problem." I smile as I watch her close her eyes.
I sit back in the rather uncomfortable chair. I glance around the room. Lots of different machines hooked up to different people. My eyes rest on the bed next to me. I look at the woman again and smile. She's rather cute. Actually she's gorgeous. No machines except for a few wires and a nasal tube are hooked up to this beautiful person. Long dark hair. Lovely face. I am startled as a nurse picks up her arm to take vital signs. She looks over at me and I smile. "What's wrong with her?" I ask.
"She's in a coma. Car accident."
"And her family's not here?" I frown.
"Doesn't have any. Couldn't locate anyone that knows her." I suddenly felt sad. "You know, you might be able to help."
"Me?"
"Talk to her. Many doctors believe that if a person is in a coma, they can hear when someone's speaking to them."
"Really? How?"
"Don't know, but if you get up the urge to say something, anything. Say it to her." she gestures to the woman.
"Kay." I sigh. This nurse must know me pretty well. I talk constantly. I never run out of things to say, at least that's what Tiffany always says.
I stand and move around to the other side of her bed, taking her visitor's chair. I continue to look at the woman's face. "Has anyone ever told you, you look like the actress who plays Xena?" No response of course. "I wonder if your eyes are blue too. I wish you'd open them so I could see." I smile to myself. I'm actually feeling quite comfortable talking to this stranger. "I'm Amy by the way. My friend's next to you on your right. She's asleep, so I thought I'd come over and talk to you for a minute." It does feel ackward having a one sided conversation. Like talking to yourself, but not.
I talked to the mystery woman for a good ten minutes about what I do for a living, that I'm a huge Xena fan. The nurse returned to check a machine. "Mame, do you know what her name is?"
"Ummm." She walks to where her chart is hanging. "Parker....Parker Simms."
"Thank you." She nods, finishing up her task.
"Parker huh?" I smile. "Whoa." I whisper to myself. Her right eyelid fluttered for a brief moment. For a second there I thought I imagined it. "That's a beautiful name. Interesting one, too. Well Parker, I'm gonna tell ya a little story I like to call the Warrior Princess."
In an hour I managed to explain the entire concept of the show, Xena, and all about the sidekick best friend Gabrielle. Some people say I look like her. Five four, short blond hair, but I don't see it. Once I got to the part of Ares and the Furies, Tiffany woke up. "I'm, really sorry, Parker. I gotta go, but I promise that I'll finish it. Not one to leave a story hanging, at least not for long."
After explaining to Tiffany about Parker, she was pleased. Now she can have a break from all my Xena updating that I do to her. Someone else to listen to me. It wasn't long before my time in ICU would be up and I'd have to go home. Then good news came, at least for Tiffany. She was being moved to a private room in the morning. For some reason my mind asked, 'What about Parker?' I had no idea where the thought came from, but I was looking forward to talking to her again. I felt so bad for this beautiful woman. One that had no family to speak of to take care of her. I told Tiffany I was going to continue to talk to her even though I won't be coming to her in ICU. She smiled at me and I knew she understood.
Strange how my attitude about hospitals changed in one day. I wanted to come today. Last night I went over, in my mind, exactly what I was going to say to Parker today. After a short visit with Tiffany, who was once again napping, I made my way to ICU and took the chair next to her again. "Hey. Its Amy again. Ready to hear the rest of the back story?...Okay here goes." I cleared my throat and began. "You know Xena convincing the Furies that Ares was her father got her outta that jam and ever since that ep people have been throwing that idea around as fact. Me personally....Well I believe its possible. I mean the way she fights and stuff. Its definitely a possibility in my book. But you've got that hitting on his own daughter stomach turner." I chuckle.
Before I knew it, two hours had gone by. I got up to Xena's daughter, Eve, being born. I didn't want to stop there, but I knew I had to go. The nurse came over and I expected her to say 'Time's up.', but instead she just smiled, did her checks, and moved on. I took that as an invitation to continue. So, I did. "See all the gods were trying to kill Eve because they thought she would bring about their destruction and you KNOW they ain't gonna have that. So Gabrielle feels she has to protect Xena and Eve from all the stuff that's happening....." I gasped as I saw her hand spasm. It rose off the bed an inch or two and then shook. "Parker?" Then she pulled her arm up along her side. "Hey." I motioned to the nearest doctor. "Come here." By the time the doctor got to Parker's side, she stopped moving.
"What is it, Dear?"
"Her hand. She moved it, then her arm."
"Good." she smiled. She took out a light and opened one of Parker's eyes, shining it in it. I was a little excited at the possibility that she was waking up. I watched as she waved a light back and forth. "That means she might wake up soon."
"What happened to her?" The doctor stopped her examination and put away her light.
"You don't know? Your not family?"
"Not exactly. I was told she didn't have any. Thought I'd keep her company." The doctor smiled widely.
"That's very nice of you." I shrugged. "She was in a car accident and her head hit the steering column. She slipped into a coma shortly after she arrived."
"How long has she been here?"
"Almost a week." the doctor sighed. "But that's the first movement she's made." I smiled. I was overjoyed that I was some kind of help to her.
I don't remember falling asleep, but I did. I said goodbye to Parker and went home to shower and change before I picked up Tiffany this morning. I decided since I had some time before the doctors were through and the paperwork was done, I walked down to ICU. My stomach fell into my feet when I saw Parker's bed empty. Fearing the worst, I grabbed the nearest nurse. "Where's Parker?"
"Who?"
"The woman that was on that bed." I gestured.
"She woke up this morning. She's been transferred upstairs." I sighed with relief.
"Thanks."
I had no idea whether they were going to let me see her or not. I got to the desk and asked which room was hers. I moved down the hall. When I got to the right one, I checked the name outside the door. This was it. I peered in. I was surprised to see her sitting up in bed.....talking to a man. Parker was smiling at something he said. 'She doesn't need me anymore.' I thought sadly. I chose to make my exit.
I met Tiffany at her room and wheeled her to my car. "I thought you were going to visit your friend." she said as I helped her into my car.
"She's not my friend. Don't even know her." I closed the door and returned the chair. I got in the driver's seat. "Is Billy home?"
"Yeah. He took the week off to stay at home with me."
"My brother's never that nice." I comment as I start the car.
"Never mind my brother. What's wrong?"
"Well, Parker had someone in her room, talking to her. They must have found a family member of hers."
"How do you know that?"
"They were acting friendly. Maybe it was her husband."
"I think you made a mistake in not introducing yourself." I look over, shooting her a look.
"Why?"
"For helping her. To let her know that there was someone here for her when she needed it."
"She doesn't owe me anything."
"I know that Amy, but...... nevermind."
Tiffany knows me enough to know that she was fighting a losing battle. I am stubborn. I wasn't going to make myself known if she didn't need me. What was I going to say? 'Hi, remember me? I talked to you about Xena while you were in a coma' I groan inwardly. "Here we are." Billy came out of the house and took Tiffany from there, leaving me alone again.
I stumbled through my door, tired. Miserable. I noticed the light on my answering machine. I hit the button. Amy, the hospital just called. "So." I say to the machine as I sit down on my couch. They wanted to know if I had a friend named Amy. "What?" I turned my head towards the machine. They left a name and number for me to call if I did. Call me." I grabbed my cordless phone and speed dialed Tiffany.
"Amy?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"Don't know. You want the number?"
"I guess." I jotted it down on a piece of scrap paper.
"You know that guy?"
"Never heard of him."
"You gonna call?"
"I don't know."
"Come on. I'm just bursting with curiosity."
"Then you call. I'm going to take a nap."
"Bye."
"Goodbye." I turned off the phone and tossed it on the coffee table. I stretched out and closed my eyes.
I awoke to a knocking on my door. I glanced over at the clock. It was nearly six. I unlocked and opened my door. I nearly fell backwards in shock. Parker was standing right in front of me. I looked up to meet her eyes. They were blue. "Amy?"
"Uhhhhh...mmmmm...yeah." I squeaked.
"I'm....."
"I know." I interrupted. "Come in." I watched as she carefully moved through the door. I automatically took her hand and coaxed her into the living room. She was walking very slowly and a bit wobbly. "What are you doing out of the hospital?" I sat her down.
"Doctors said I was okay. Wanted to run some tests, build my strength back up." She had the tiniest hint of an accent that I couldn't place. "So, I snuck out. I had to find you."
"Me?"
"Your voice." She looked at me with, dare I say, love in her eyes. "You were the one that talked to me for two days."
"Yeah." I smiled. "You remembered?"
"I sure do. I have a question for you."
"Okay." I said nervously. What was she going to ask me?
"Are Xena and Gabrielle lovers?" I eyes widened with surprise. My mouth opened, but closed again. She raised her eyebrows, wanting an answer.
"You rem...."
"Every word." I chuckled at myself, thinking about how I rambled on and on about some T.V show, one I happened to love. "So....."
"You want a soda?"
"Sure." I stood up and her eyes followed me into the kitchen where I pulled out two sodas. I returned with a cup and a straw in one hand. "I got you a Ginger Ale. Better for your stomach. I poured the ale into the cup. "Here you go."
"Thank you." She took a tentative sip.
"Well." I sat back. She sat back with me. Where to begin. "You remember the kiss." She nodded as she sucked on her straw. "Well, that episode changed a lot of people's minds about that very question. You either believe or you don't. You have the general fans, who don't believe. Then you have the alternative or subtext fans who do. Its really a matter of your personal point of view."
"Really?" she said as she gazed into my eyes. "I'll go with the ladder on that one." I laughed.
"Me too."
"Are you going to leave me hanging?"
"Huh?"
"Eve, the gods. Eli, twilight......You said you'd tell me."
"I did. Didn't I?.........Well. See when Eli got killed by Ares and Gabrielle......."
Parker sat and listened to me for over an hour without uttering a word as I brought her up to speed. As I rambled on, I gave her two more cans of Ginger Ale and fixed her dinner. She didn't eat much as I suspected she wouldn't. "Parker, you need to go back to the hospital."
"Not now. Please."
"You were in a coma for a week." I sat down beside her. "Do you remember the accident?"
"No." she yawned.
"Come on. You stay here tonight. Then, I'm taking you back in the morning."
"Will you go with me?"
"Of course I will. What about your husband?"
"My what?" She sounded very surprised.
"That wasn't him you were talking to this morning?"
"No. Just some case worker. I don't have a husband. Don't have any family really."
"My parents were from Sweden. They immigrated to the United States. Had me. Then they both were killed when I was nineteen."
"I'm sorry."
"Its all right. I'm glad you came along when you did."
"Happy to help. I found a captive audience to ramble on with."
"I would have stayed anyway."
"Really?"
"You bet." We shared a brief smile.
"Come on. You can sleep in my room."
I turned on the light as I helped Parker maneuver into the room. "My other bedroom is storage. You take my bed. I have an air mattress I can blow up and sleep on."
"That doesn't seem right. This is your house and you barely know me."
"Its fine. Now here." I hand her a shirt. "You can sleep in this." I left her to change as I changed into my own night wear. After much discussion, Parker talked me into staying with her in the room. I placed the mattress several feet away from the bed. I thought it was a good idea, considering she is still pretty weak.
The darkness in the room prevented me from seeing her. I had no idea whether she was asleep or awake. With my hands clasped behind my head, I stared into the darkness above me. I couldn't sleep. I wish I could see her. "Amy." I jumped, startled by my name being called. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah." I sit up and reach for the lamp on the nightstand. It blinds both of us temporarily. I rubbed my eyes until they focused. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." she grins. Then the expression on her face changes. "I just wanted to say something to you."
"What?"
"Thank you." I smiled. I wanted to cry at the tenderness in her voice.
"You are very welcome, Parker." I smile.
"I'd hate to think that I'd still be lying there if it weren't for you."
"I'm not about to take all the credit. You did the real work."
I threw back the covers and stood. I moved towards my bed. I was intent to stand. However, as soon as I made my way to her, she scooted over giving me the room I needed if I wanted to join her. Parker lifted the blanket and I made myself comfortable next to her. I was going to praise her. When I opened my mouth to do so, I closed it when she ran her fingertips down the side of my cheek. "I love you." she whispered. I looked her directly in her beautiful, blue eyes. She was serious.
"I love you, too." I watched as her mouth descended on to mine. It was a sweet kiss, very sensual. I have never felt one like that before. I chuckled when she lifted her lips from mine.
"What?"
"This isn't some crazy attempt to persuade me into not taking you back to the hospital is it?" She laughed.
"No.......Would it help if I tried?"
"No."
"Damn." she grinned. "I don't want to go back. I hate that place."
"Don't worry. Your not alone this time. I'll go back with you."
"You'll still tell me about Xena won't you?" she inquired.
"Yes, in fact, I'll bring you my lab top, so you can read some fanfiction."
"Fanfiction? What in the world is that?"
"Make yourself comfortable." We readjusted our positions. I placed my head on her chest. "I've been working on a new one myself. Its called 'Mystery Woman.'
"I hate hospitals. The smell......"
THE END