RIVALS - Chapter 15 December 12, 2000 By: Umali Umalific@hotmail.com *** I have changed the Authors Notes… PLS take a moment to read it. Thanks….. Serena had been on conscious for a good 4 hours now since her blackout. Immediately after Lita's injection the ambulance had arrived and whisked Serena off to the closest hospital. Followed by her worried friends, Serena was rushed to the hospital for a more thorough check of her vitals. She was indeed lucky, the amount that Lita had given her was enough to stop the reaction to peaking its fatal mode. Her breathing was still very shallow but it was far better than when the allergic reactions had begun. Doctors and nurses were still tending to her giving Serena a little more dosage of penicillin to help decrease the fever that was now attacking her unconscious body. Patches of monitors were placed on Serena for different gadgets. Heart monitors, Ivy tubes and breathing aspirators were just a few that hovered over her body. Worried and scared the group outside waited anticipating for a good news. "Mina have you called Elaine and her husband?" asked Rei "Yes, they'll be here soon" "How about her parents?" "They said that they'll call them" "What's taking them so long?" asked Lita sitting nervously in the waiting room. "Calm down honey, they'll be out in a moment" calmed Andrew. Darien stood waiting with every bit of anticipation as the others in the room. 'she's okay' he thought to himself. Mina and the girls around had trails of tears trailing down their eyes from previous cries. The men comforting them in the most possibly way. "She'll be okay" said Darien calmly, gaining the attention of silent room. Everyone turned to Darien watching him as he stood by the door. He waited with the others, a hint of worries also filled his handsome features. "She's a fighter, she wont let this keep her down." he said finally acknowledging their looks, smiling to all. "Darien" said Lita before being interrupted by the door opening. The group stood up and waited for any comments that can given regarding Serena's health. The doctor seemed grim but a small smile outlined his lips. "Doctor Mikawa" said Darien being the first to speak and recognizing the doctor as a friendly investor. "Chiba-san" said the surprised doctor. "How is she?" "Tsukino-san?" said the doctor before smiling "She's doing fine". Exhales came from everyone in the room and happy cries from the girls. "When can we see her?" asked Lita "She is resting right now" "Doc, let us see her" pleaded Darien getting the attention of Michael and Andrew who eyed him carefully. "The girls are her only family here" he said noticing the eyes of Michael and Andrew questioningly. "Yes Please" said Mina and Rei "Well I suppose you can see her for a bit. Come Ill take you to her" he said as he turned to walk through the double doors. Walking pass many nurses and other doctors, the crowd seemed to be a little more at ease. Though still frightened they were still relieved of the positive outcome. The doctor came upon the last room in the hallway. Entering one by one Lita and the others quietly followed the doctor forming a circle around Serena's bed. Everyone stayed silent as the watch her resting figure. The room was silent with the exception of Serena's soft breathing and the occasionally beeps causing everyone to stir a bit. "Why is it beeping?" asked Mina frightened. The doctor came upon the monitor and pressed a certain button relieving them of the horrible sound. "Its her heart monitor, It beeps anytime her breathing is abnormal. Which right now is an issue" "What do you mean by that?" asked Darien "Well first of all I commend all of you for giving her the penicillin. Without it she would severely damaged her kidney and liver who was losing its battle trying to fight off the toxins. Though it wasn't enough for the amount she had eaten, it substantially warded off any permanent damage that it may have caused." "You mean I didn't give her enough?" asked Lita as Andrew held his wife. "No. you did.. I'm sure being fatally allergic, she would know what she eats and never would have taken risks to eat so much oils. Serena's body in-fact can take small amounts of oily seeds from such nut baring plants But she took in more than usual. That I can see with such large traces of toxins in her blood. She needed more than her usual dosage." "Is she okay?" asked Mina "She's fine, her body is currently fighting off the unknown chemicals in her body" "Which explains her high fever" said Ami "That's correct" "But what of her shallow breathing?" asked Michael "Her breathing will even out soon enough. Her trachea had inflamed due to the irritation causing her breathing to be shallow." "Overall she is fine" said Darien staring at Serena's seemingly lifeless body. "She is, she will need a weeks rest so her body can resume its normal function" said the Doctor picking up her chart. "When can she go home?" asked Lita "She can go home by Wednesday but will require rest at home". Just then a nurse came in interrupting the many questions of doubts. "I'm sorry but it is time for another shot of penicillin" said the doctor. The group understood and casually walked up to Serena caressing her hand bidding her goodbye. Darien who was last in line waited till he was the only presence in the room. Slowly he walked up besides Serena and again like before caressed the lock of hair that obstructed her features. "Get well soon……..their still so much I want to know…" he whispered quietly to his hearts content all along caressing her hand. Darien's stared at her beautiful character. His eyes roamed her features noticing her pale but yet still visible rosy cheeks. Intently his eyes lingered on her lips and it was now the focus of his desires. A nudge was tugging at his heart wanting and aching to kiss them tenderly but his honor of not taking such sentimental gesture held him fast. His eyes down-casted and contently he stared at her soft and elegant hand. Still not being able to pass the thought of his aching heart to steal a kiss from her tempting lips. He quickly but gently lifted her hand and bid a soft butterfly kiss before leaving. "Be well" he ended softly taking one last look at her. While not looking and unnoticed Michael had popped his head in to see what was taking Darien so long. He witness the subtle movement Darien had made to move a lock of Serena's hair and another caressing her hand, one that he can sense was a sign of affection. He smiled then out of no where the scene before him caused his eyes to turn to large boulders. Closing the door quietly he grinned widely. Everyone had already started to disperse with the exception of Mina, Lita and Andrew. Andrew noticed his wide grin and slowly approached him leaving Lita and Mina talk. "And what are you grinning about?". Michael just smiled even larger. Andrew looked at the door and returned his eyes back to Michael. "What did you see in there?" he asked a still silent but widely smiling Michael "Come on what did you see?" asked a curious Andrew. Michael first glanced at the girls then back to Andrew. "Darien caressed away Serena's lock of hair" "and" "he told her to get better soon" "so" "well he also said that, their still so much he wants to know" "want to know? And?" "he said it while caressing her hand" he smiled widely watching Andrew's face turn brightly "and…. He gently kissed it" Andrews face turned even brighter. His features were of surprised but indeed happy. "ohhhhhhhhh" said Andrew with a smiled turning to the door then back at Michael. "well…well" said both Andrew and Michael who was now itching to popped their head in the room. The door opened and Darien was greeted by his friends who's faces had a little more shade of red. The two stared at him quietly trying to hold their knowledge of what had occurred. "what?" asked Darien to the two as he looked from one to another. "Nothing" said Andrew "Right Mike?" "Yeah, nothing at all". Darien wasn't satisfied and knew that his friends were up to something or at lease know something he didn't. "Why do I have a feeling that you know something and hiding it from me?" "Who us??????" "Yes, you" Just before the probing of questions started Elaine and Ben had arrived and fully ran towards the group. "Elaine, Ben" motioned Lita. "How is she?" asked Ben calming his breathing and holding Elaine's hand. "She's fine, she's resting" said Lita. "Her parents are worried. They didn't know weather to take the next plane here or not" "We told them that we would call them at once" said Ben "She's fine, she's fighting a fever now but she's doing good." "Her father actually wants to speak to the Doctor in charge of her" said Elaine. Darien noticed the doctor and casually speaks. "Doctor Mikawa" called Darien who motioned for him. "Doc this is Tsukino-san's housekeepers and would like to know how she's doing?" "Actually her father would like to speak to you Sir" "Sure, where is he" said the doctor looking at Ben. "Oh he's in New York we need to call him" said Ben. "Okay we can do that in the conference room" said the Doctor. Lets go over here. "We'll be here when you're done" said Lita to Elaine. The next day was quiet and as if Serena had been asleep for years she awoke to the startle of a new room. She opened her eyes to greet the semi-ly lited room. Taking noticed of the different floral designs that decorate the different walls. The television was playing silently as she noticed figures sitting. Focusing she recognized the two. "Elaine……" she said hoarsely. Elaine and Ben turned simultaneously and stood. "Serena" whispered Elaine "You've awakened" "We're so happy to see you" "hmmm… what happened?" "You had an allergic attack" "Don't you remember?" "That's right after the meeting" she said lifting herself up. Then the thought of that day we're running through her mind. The thoughts of everyone scurrying around. "How long have I been here?" "You were brought in yesterday afternoon" "and have been sleeping since then. Feel better?" "mmmm…much.." said Serena "You parent's want to speak to you as soon as possible" "Ill call them later" said Serena now noticing the balloons and flowers on the table besides her. "Who are these from?" touching the bouquet of beautiful red, white carnations with dark purple irises. "Their from Lita and Andrew" "and those" she said pointing at the bouquet of wild flowers. "from Mike and Mina". Just then a knock was heard. "I'm so hungry" stated Serena as her stomach growled approvingly to the thought of food. "Do you want me to get you something. "Come in". Entered a young man with beautifully arranged large long stem yellow roses. "Miss Tsukino?" "Yes" "These are for you" he said holding the large vase. Elaine politely took them from the young man and set them aside while Ben signed for the receipt. "Have a nice day" said the young man as he was tipped by Ben. "Who is it from?" asked Serena "I don't know but here's a card" she said handing it to Serena. Slowly Serena opened the small card. Within the card was a handsomely written note. My RIVAL, Yellow roses, a sign of 'friendship' and admiration. Are we still up for that coco? Be Well, Darien Serena smiled and in turn left Elaine curious and Ben in wonder. "Who is it from?" asked Elaine. Serena laughed again and caressed a petal from the roses that lightly took the room. Serena 's mind raced and remembered how they had given each other compliments before she had her attack. Faintly she remembered seeing him closely and staring at his wondrous blue eye. The reflection of worries and fright filled his sight as he looked down on her. His lips moved but not remembering a word said. She slightly blushed at the thought of how their closeness were. "from my RIVAL" she said giddily. "RIVAL?" asked Ben "Who's that?" "Darien" said Elaine as Serena nodded. Serena felt better as the day went on. Every hour her friends either visit one by one or as a couple. Lita had come by first and brought her some very tantalizing sweets. The fresh aroma of baked cookies and brownies joined the fragrantly stricken room. Elaine, Lita and Serena sat and talked with one another, enjoying the treats that Lita had brought along with the company. Within an hour later, Mina, Michael, Ami and Zen had entered the room. In minutes time came Rei, Jayson, Molly and Nate. The room was now filled with laughter and the reaction of sugar in their system was taking its toll. "Serena, who are those from?" asked Lita taking note of the beautiful yellow roses. "That's awfully a lot of roses" said Mina noticing that they were more than a dozen, perhaps two…. "an admirer" teased Rei "Who is it?" "Oh would you like to know" teased Elaine to the others. "Who are they from?" asked Lita to the silent Serena who stared at all. Eyeing Michael then to the men behind. "Their from Darien" smiled Serena knowing that she would get an uproar reaction from the girls and maybe even the guys. "WHAT?" said the girls "From WHO?" asked the guys. Serena and Elaine laughed at her friends surprise and waited for responses after they were done gapping. "Did I just hear you correctly? Did you just say these roses we're from Darien?" asked Rei. "Yeah Darien, our boss?" asked Zen and Nate, Serena nodded and Lita just kept her eyes glued on the roses. Michael in the meantime remembered what had happened in the room and smiled. 'that sly dog' he thought quietly 'I've got to tell Drew' "Did I miss something?" asked Lita to Serena then to the others. "What's going on Serena?" asked Ami "I don't know, I'm just a surprised as you all are". Lita removed the card as if not believing, Serena then chuckled.. "How sweet, their pet names" "Lita……… that is not a pet name" "What name?" asked the others waiting for any corny answer. "To my RIVAL" said Lita as the others laughed and rolled their eyes. "While were in this subject what's with this winking thing?" asked Rei "YEAH" said the others. Wednesday had finally arrived for Serena and not a moment too soon. Serena was beginning to feel helpless. She was doing well, her fever had dramatically gone down to its norm but still Serena was weak. Her immune system although stable was still fighting off the last of the alien toxins in her body.. Her complexion was regaining its true color and in no time Serena's cheeks blushed red naturally. Her roses by now were in full bloom and still Serena couldn't push the feeling she would get at the mere thought of Darien. Being so close so concerned so protective then sending her flowers. 'I don't just give flowers to anyone' rang in her mind as she snapped her hair to her catching trademark. 'hmmm' she thought 'could it be that this is a peace offering' she thought ideally 'or should I read different'. The door to her room opened and entered Elaine and the others ready to take her home. Stay tune for chapter 16…….. Hello everyone… I know I had promised that the chapters would be longer but a few things had happened that had greatly distracted my writing. If only I didn't make the mistake in sending in my wrong notes. BUT please take the time and read my notes. Thank you to all that understand.