Angel on a Mission

Chapter 27

Gabrielle's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, the blinding brightness momentarily overwhelming my senses. As my vision adjusted, I began to focus on the stark white ceiling that loomed above me, the fluorescent lights casting an unflattering glow on the sterile surroundings of the hospital room.

The air was filled with a faint scent of antiseptic, a constant reminder of my current predicament. I blinked several times and turned my head to the side, straining slightly to see the clock mounted on the wall.

The numbers glowed back at me, reading 9:01 AM.

It was early in the day, a time when most people were just starting to stir, and the morning light barely filtered through the drawn blinds.

With a groan, and with great effort, I pushed myself up using my elbows, clutching my stomach as a sharp pain shot through me.

"Ow. That hurts," I muttered under my breath, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me.

I leaned my back against the headboard of the bed, desperately trying to find a more comfortable position.

As I surveyed the room, my gaze drifted down to my arm, where a clear IV fluid line was attached, slowly pumping something into my system.

I let out a heavy sigh, burdened by the weight of my situation.

Next, I directed my attention to the blanket draped over my body, its warmth contrasting sharply with the chill of the hospital room. I gingerly lifted the fabric to take a better look at what lay beneath.

My heart sank as I discovered that I was dressed in a thin hospital gown, a symbol of my vulnerability. As I lifted the gown slightly, I was met with the sobering sight of a large bandage that covered my entire abdomen. It was a stark reminder of the injuries I had sustained.

A frown crept onto my face as I took in the sight.

Though I had been aware that I had endured some sort of trauma, seeing the reality of how severely I was wounded was a shock that I hadn’t fully prepared for.

What had happened was still fresh in my mind; the memories were vivid and clear, and I felt that if asked, I could recount every horrifying detail.

But as I leaned my head back against the headboard, I closed my eyes once more, allowing the weight of reality to settle in. Healing from this was going to take a significant amount of time, perhaps more than I was ready to accept.

A wave of disappointment surged through me; I wasn't particularly happy about my current circumstance. I should have been much more careful. I had forgotten how incredibly fragile this human body can be, and the thought made me feel even more vulnerable.

I may be a divine being, but my current body is still that of a normal human’s. I needed to constantly remind myself that from now on to avoid getting myself in another situation like this one.

My introspection was abruptly interrupted by the creaking of the door as it swung open, and I turned my head to see Alexander walking in. He had a paper bag in his hand, and the moment he laid eyes on me, I gave him a small smile.

“Good morning” I greeted him.

"You're finally awake. I got us some breakfast. Your nurse will come by at 10am to give you your medication for your wound” he stated, his voice carrying an almost palpable sense of relief as he carefully placed the bag on the chair situated beside my bed.

"Okay. Thank you," I replied, my voice coming out hoarse and weak, as if the words had been trapped in my throat for far too long.

He reached into the bag and pulled out a water bottle, extending it toward me with his usual neutral expression. I accepted it gratefully, bringing it to my lips and taking small, cautious sips to quench my thirst. The cool water felt refreshing and soothing.

"I brought you some clothes as well," he said, gesturing to the bag he'd just opened. "I figured you'd want something more comfortable when you're discharged from here."

“I obviously don’t know your size but I assume that you’re the same size as Bella, so I just got you something she’d buy for herself” he added. I smiled.

"Thank you, Alexander," I replied sincerely, truly appreciating his thoughtfulness in bringing me something other than the hospital gown I was unfortunately stuck with at the moment.

He nodded in acknowledgment and settled down in the chair beside my bed. A moment hung in the air between us, filled with an unspoken understanding, before I broke the silence.

"What about school? You've been absent for days because of me," I pointed out curiously, wanting to know how my situation was affecting him.

Alexander leaned back in his chair and shrugged indifferently. "It’s not a big deal. Missing four days won’t affect me. Besides, I needed to be here," he stated, the sincerity in his voice surprising me.

I stared at him, a little taken aback by his words.

He needed to be here?

Before I had the chance to respond to his unexpected admission, the door suddenly burst open again, and a flurry of excited voices filled the room.

"Elle!"

I turned to see Bella, Brooke, and Mika rushing inside, their faces alight with a mixture of joy and worry, like rays of sunshine breaking through a stormy cloud.

As soon as she laid eyes on me, Brooke, in an emotional whirlwind, immediately burst into tears.

"Brooke," I called softly, my heart sinking at the sight of her distress as she climbed onto my bed, wrapping her small arms around me carefully.

“Brooke, be careful not to nudge Elle’s stomach. That’s where her injury is” Alexander reminded little Brooke and even while crying, she nodded and was extra careful being mindful of my injury.

Then, Brooke looked up at my face.

"Elle, you're hurt!" she cried, her voice choked with panic as she buried her face against me, as if seeking comfort in my presence.

I gently stroked her hair in an attempt to soothe her.

"I'm okay, Brooke. It’s not as bad as it looks, I promise." I told her.

"But there’s so much bandaging," she sniffled as she pointed at the bandage that was peeking out my hospital gown, tightening her embrace around me as though she wanted to protect me from the pain I was experiencing.

Bella and Mika stood beside my bed, their expressions reflecting deep concern as they exchanged worried glances, their eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Elle, are you sure you’re okay?" Mika asked, her voice trembling slightly with apprehension, as if she was afraid of my answer.

I mustered a reassuring smile, hoping to calm their fears.

"I am now. It just looks worse than it is. The doctors say I’ll be fine soon." I said which was followed by a cough which couldn’t have come at a better timing.

Alexander chuckled in disbelief before handing me some water and as I drank it, he covered Brooke’s ears before looking at Bella and Mika.

“She has a gunshot wound. She’s not going to be fine anytime soon. She needs to heal for a while” he told them before removing his hands from Brooke’s ears and getting the water back from me after I drank some.

“You didn’t have to tell them all that. I’m going to be okay” I said with a slight pout.

“You don’t have to downplay your situation to them. They can handle it” Alex said and I just pouted.

Bella suddenly crossed her arms, glancing between Alexander and me with a knowing smirk that made me instinctively feel defensive. "Hmmm..."

I raised an eyebrow, curious about what she was thinking.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said in a sing-song voice, nudging Mika playfully, who chuckled in response.

Standing silently nearby, Alexander cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention.

"Brooke, let’s go get you a nice treat to lighten your mood," he said, gently trying to coax her away from the emotional scene.

Brooke hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between me and her brother, uncertainty flitting across her face.

"Will you be okay if I leave for a bit, Elle?" Brooke asked with a sniff.

I smiled warmly, wanting to ease her worries.

"Of course, sweetheart. Go with your brother. I’ll be right here when you get back." I assured her.

Reluctantly, she nodded before hopping off the bed, her tiny feet thudding softly on the floor. Alexander gave me a quick glance before leading Brooke out of the room, leaving me with Bella and Mika.

The moment the door shut behind them, Bella and Mika turned to face me, their expressions filled with curiosity and concern, their eyes wide with the urgency of the questions that bubbled beneath the surface.

"Okay, spill," Bella demanded, plopping down dramatically onto the chair next to me as if she were a detective ready to solve a case.

"Spill what?" I asked, attempting to feign ignorance about what they wanted to know, a slight smile tugging at my lips.

"What happened?" Mika inquired, her eyes glistening with worry.

"Who did this to you?" Bella backed her up.

I looked away, suddenly feeling uncomfortable at the probing questions, a wave of defensive energy rising within me. I can’t tell them. I shouldn’t tell them.

"I... don’t really want to talk about it right now," I replied with a hint of uncertainty in my tone.

Bella frowned, her concern deepening as she leaned closer to me.

"Elle, you were shot. You could’ve died. Doesn’t that scare you?" Mika said.

I sighed, the weight of reality settling heavily on my shoulders as I considered her words.

"Of course it does. But thinking about it won't change anything. I’m just trying to focus on getting better now." I said.

Bella and Mika exchanged a knowing glance before Bella, curious of my response, playfully asked,

"And Alexander? You two seem... different." Bella pointed out.

Mika's eyes lit up as if they had just unearthed a delicious secret.

"Yeah, he’s actually being so nice and extremely attentive of you. It’s kind of weird, right?" Bella said

I chuckled lightly, a smile creeping onto their lips despite the dire nature of my situation.

"He’s been helping me a lot, that’s for sure. I’m just as pleasantly surprised as you guys are. I know we never really got along before this," I admitted, feeling a sense of gratitude swelling within me.

Bella smirked mischievously, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"So, does that mean that you’re warming up to each other? Is there a spark building up?" Bella asked.

"I’m thankful for his help and his company. He saved my life and I really do feel indebted to him. That’s all there is to it. It doesn’t mean anything more than that." I explained.

Just then, the door swung open again, and in came Brooke, excitement radiating from her as she was followed closely by Alexander, who carried a small tray of snacks as if he were delivering the finest feast.

"Elle! I got you a treat!" Brooke beamed brightly, holding out a small bag of cookies as if it were the greatest treasure in the world.

I took it from her, a smile blossoming on my face as I accepted the thoughtful treat.

"Thank you, sweetheart. This looks delicious." I said giving Brooke a gentle pinch on the cheek.

“Eat your breakfast first before eating the cookies. You shouldn’t have sweet without having a proper meal” Alex interjected handing me a salad that came from the paper bag he brought from earlier.

“Oh yeah. Thank you” I said with a warm smile.

Bella suddenly clapped her hands dramatically, embellishing the moment. "Oh, look at this adorable little moment! Elle and Alexander, sitting in a—"

"Bella," Alexander interrupted, narrowing his eyes at her, though there was a hint of embarrassment lingering in his voice as he attempted to keep a straight face.

Bella just grinned, clearly unfazed by his warning.

"I’m just saying! It’s cute! You guys look adorable together" Bella commented.

Mika giggled beside Bella, clearly entertained by their back-and-forth, while I sighed, shaking my head at their antics, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn't felt in a while.

Alexander settled back in his chair, crossing his arms in mock annoyance.

"You’re annoying," he declared, trying to sound serious as he gave his sister a frown.

"And you’re so obvious but still so in denial," Bella shot back playfully, sticking her tongue out at him like a mischievous child.

Brooke, blissfully unaware of the ongoing teasing, happily munched on her own cookies beside me, oblivious to the shared looks of amusement exchanged around the room.

The playful banter continued, with Bella making exaggerated gestures, nudging Mika, who had started laughing uncontrollably.

Alexander groaned, rubbing his temples in frustration, clearly overwhelmed by the playful chaos.

"You are unbearable, Bella” he muttered, a blend of exasperation and amusement evident in his voice, but there was no real bite to his words.

Bella smirked triumphantly.

"Yeah right” Bella teased.

"You are," he replied dryly, raising an eyebrow at his sister. Bella just ignored it and continued to tease him as I finished my salad while watching them.

Mika leaned in closer to me, a conspiratorial grin on her face as she whispered,

"But seriously, Elle, you and Alex—something’s different. I can feel it." She told me.

I sighed but smiled softly in acknowledgment of her insight.

"I don’t know. Maybe. We’re just getting along better than we ever have. I don’t think anything about us is too different" I said with a shrug.

Bella heard me and she gasped in a teasingly dramatic fashion, her eyes wide with excitement.

"That’s how it starts! First, you’re just getting along, and then—boom! You’re in love!" she stated dramatically.

With an exasperated smile, Alexander stood up suddenly, clearly done with the teasing.

"I’m stepping out. Don’t leave Elle alone" he declared, shaking his head in mock horror at the thought of his sister continuing with her banter.

Bella burst into laughter, finding amusement in his discomfort, while I shook my head, hiding a smile at the turn of events.

I allowed myself to relax, enveloped by the warmth and affection of my lovely friends, grateful for their presence amidst the turmoil of my recovery.

The noise of laughter and snappy banter filled the room, creating a sense of normalcy that felt almost comforting. It was a reminder that even in the face of adversity, moments of joy and connection could still shine through.