Misunderstandings Part 2
Cathy wrapped her arms around herself, hunkering down into the cold plastic chair. Why was the waiting room so damn cold? Of course, she hadn't had time to change out of her costume- she'd rushed out of the tent- followed the ambulance to the hospital. The rest of the performers had stayed behind- the show had to go on after all- they had to play this off- pretend it wasn't as bad as it seemed... Finish the show and get ready for the next one... she said she'd call when she had news. No point in all of them waiting for bad news...
Maybe it wasn't, she tried to console herself. People had fallen from great heights- farther than Trowa had fallen- and survived. Walked away even. And Trowa knew how to fall- he knew how to position himself in the air to minimize the damage...
Why hadn't she insisted on a net? Sure, it was all part of the show- death defying and all the rest- but she knew how Trowa was feeling... she should've insisted on a net... maybe if she had...
She checked her watch. Two hours. Two hours and no news. Maybe she should go back out to the nurses' station and ask again...
"Cathy?" Her head snapped up at the familiar voice and she blinked at the figures in the doorway.
"Quatre?"
A moment later a warm coat was wrapped around her shoulders and footsteps were hurrying down the hallway in search of coffee for her. She stared at her brother's lover as he sat down in the chair beside hers.
"Where were you?"
"Not that far away. How is he? Have they told you anything?"
He sounded concerned- he looked worried- but-
"That's not what I meant!" Cathy snapped, slapping his shoulder angrily. "Where have you been?! Trowa... he said- you fought... he wanted to see you but-"
Quatre caught her hand gently before she managed to hit him again. "I was on a mission for the Preventers. I meant to tell him about it. I truly did- but we had that fight, and I thought he'd need a few days to cool off a little- he usually did. I wasn't allowed any outside communication- and it went longer than they said it should. Rashid had orders to tell Trowa about it if he called- but he didn't! I just finished the thing a few hours ago- I was on my way here to see Trowa when I heard about the accident."
"What about the papers?"
"What papers?"
"The ones that said you were dating that other man? It was all over the gossip columns!"
Quatre looked blank. "I haven't seen them- I told you- I haven't even been to my office yet. They informed me that Trowa hadn't called and I was rushing right here to see-" He looked up towards the door. "Ah, thank you Rashid." Cathy accepted the cup of coffee that Rashid handed her. Quatre got to his feet, pacing towards the door, Rashid on his heels. His voice was low pitched; the language unfamiliar, and Cathy wondered what orders Rashid was getting now. A moment later and Rashid vanished again.
"What's going on?"
"Rashid has a few small tasks to do for me. Have you seen the doctor yet?"
"Only when we first came in. They said they'd let me know when- if- they knew anything..."
"How was he when you left the circus?"
"Unconscious- we didn't know if he hit his head on the ground or on something as he fell- none of us saw him fall..." Cathy shivered in spite of her jacket. "He wasn't bleeding- nothing obvious-"
"He's tough," Quatre put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting hug. "He'll be fine. I know he will."
"Maybe," Cathy sighed. "He's been... different lately..."
"Different how?"
"Apathetic. Depressed. I nearly hit him a few times during our act. I tried to push him out of it- tried to get him to call you- but he wouldn't. He said it was too late."
She heard Quatre inhale sharply. "Damn it. I never should've-"
Before he could finish the sentence, the light in the doorway dimmed. A doctor stood there, Rashid behind her shoulder. "Family of Trowa Barton?"
"That's us." Quatre got to his feet, pulling Cathy up with him, his arm still comfortingly around her shoulders.
"He's awake." The doctor smiled. "He's a very lucky man. A broken arm- a concussion- but that's all."
"That's all?" Cathy repeated amazed.
"That's it." The doctor smiled. "He amazed us too- that's why we took a bit of time making sure he didn't have injuries we couldn't see. We want to keep him here for another hour or so because of the concussion, but you can take him home after that."
"Can we see him?"
"Of course. The nurse is settling him into a room- you can go see him right now."
They hurried down the hallway, following the doctor's directions. Just as they reached the room, a nurse stepped out of it.
"Trowa Barton?" Cathy asked her.
"In here- wait-" the nurse added quickly, looking at Quatre. "Are you- Quatre Winner?"
"Yes," Cathy answered for him, impatient to see Trowa.
"The patient requested- that is- he said if a Quatre Winner was here-" the nurse turned slightly pink. "He didn't want to see him."
"What?"
"I'm very sorry." The nurse turned pinker. "He was most insistent. I had to promise not to let Mr. Winner in..."
"It's all right." Quatre stepped back and Cathy felt a lump rise in her throat at the look on his face. "If he doesn't want to see me, then-"
"Wait here." Cathy cut him off quickly and handed him his coat back. "I'll talk to Trowa. Just- give me a few minutes, okay? Don't go anywhere."
He managed a smile for her. "I'll wait."
Cathy squared her shoulders and pushed open the door.
TBC...
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