Recovery

Sunlight pierces through the many windows of the infirmary, pastel
curtains twirling in the gentle breeze. The sunny atmosphere transforms the
tiny care unit into a bright airy looking bedroom. A welcome sight for the ill
and dispirited-
- but not for the sedated.
The breakfast smells provide a stark contrast to the overwhelming scent
of cherries that once were there. It was a dizzying scent riding on the wings
of a seemingly eternal night, a dizziness that makes the gut lurch. Neither of
the two particularly scents delight the stomach, but the heaviness of the
Sevoflurane remains there still and the grease rising from the bacon and eggs
downstairs do nothing to appease it. On the table sits a single cup of
chamomile laced with traces of mint.
What a welcome to the waking world!
Catt Hatter: *Catt groaned as she rolled her head slightly on
the pillow. While her mind scratched weakly at the idea of consciousness, the
signals her body was sending told her it would be better to stay asleep for at
least a little longer. Everything felt like the volume control on her senses
was up too high. Tthe scents were too strong, the bed sheets were too rough,
and the room, too bright.
Bbright? she thought, confused. Something was off about that, the
room she slept in didn't have any windows. She couldn't have fallen asleep in
the library, she was lying on her back, and on a bed. If she wasn't in her
room, then where was she? Fighting the urge to put it off any longer, she pried
open her eyes and squinted at the overly bright room. Her dry eyes and the
warm, but slightly blinding light drew a second groan from her throat.*
Mz.Hyde: Sleep well?
*Mz. Hyde had been at Catt's bedside since the two exhausted doctors rolled her
out of the OR, waiting for her to wake up.*
Catt Hatter:  I, think
so? *She grunted, letting her eyes close again.* Where am I? Why wasn't I
sleeping in my room?Did something happen...to...me...? *Her chest had gotten
tight, and her heart rate had begun to accelerate. What was she missing? What
had happened?! Why did her head- Her head. Something had happened to her head.
At the touch of awareness, the memories cascaded back into her mind.* 
I got shot!! *Her hands clasped at her head and she sat bolt upright, terror
spilling from her eyes.* She shot me!
Mz.Hyde: Catt! Catt! It's okay!
Catt Hatter:  SHe ShOT
me IN ThE HeaD! I- I-!! AAAHHHH!!! *She bent her head over her knees, curled
into a ball to protect herself. Her throat hurt from the force of her shriek. *
Mz.Hyde: CATT! 
*Mz. Hyde pulls Catt's head up and looked her in the eyes.*
It's okay. Everything is fine! It's just like when you went into surgery!
Catt Hatter:  *Catt's
wide, frightened eyes stared into Mz. Hyde's while she grabbed ahold of her
friend's wrists.* SurGerY?! SHe JuST ShoT ME!! I SHOULD BE DEAD!!!
Mz.Hyde: Just shot you? No, you were shot about four months
ago! You've been walking around this whole time thinking you were fine!
Catt Hatter: F-fOUR MothS AgO?! *She buried her face into Mz.
Hyde's shoulder and sobbed loudly, her breaths ragged and uneven.*
Mz.Hyde: H-hey...calm down! The worst part's over right?
Here!
*She reaches over and grabs the cup of tea.*
Catt Hatter:  Mn-ngh!
*Catt sniffed, not letting go. Her grip was tight and surprisingly strong in
her desperation.* Ahh-hh-hhng!
Mz.Hyde: Use your words Catt!
Catt Hatter:  Ngh, I-I
don't understand! F-four month-s? *She fought her words for air, pulling her
face off of Mz. Hyde's shoulder.* Th-e las-st thing I remem-ber is hit-ting the
floor after... Ngaa!
Mz.Hyde: Don't tell me you have amnesia!! Ugh!! All that
character development!! GONE!!
Catt Hatter:  PLEASE! No breaking the fourth wall while I'm having a
breakdown Mz. Hyde... *She sniffled. Finally starting to calm down, she noticed
the tea in Mz. Hyde's hand. Her eyes remained on the cup while her mind
continued to grapple with the situation.*
Mz.Hyde: Sorry...
*Mz. Hyde was quiet for a few minutes, letting Catt calm down a little.*
Catt Hatter:  *Still
staring longingly at the drink in Mz. Hyde's hand, her thoughts found enough
perchas to ask a question.* So... what happened after she shot me? Is Dr. Helen
okay?
Mz.Hyde: As far as I know, she's still stuck in Hela's mind.
But Hela's not roaming free either! She's been locked up in Helen's room this
whole time with guards outside her door! You even guarded her!
Catt Hatter:  Wow, *Catt
chuckled.* I had no idea I was so magnanimous. It probably isn't healthy for
her to be locked up for so long though. Even prisoners have time outside in the
yard.
...
You gonna drink that? *she asked timidly, nodding at the teacup.*
Mz.Hyde: Oh! Sorry! This is yours! Chamomile with mint, I
think.
*She hands her the cup.*
But yeah...you decided to keep the bullet pieces in your brain...and your
health just got worse and worse...you kept talking about how you felt
fine...amazing even, because you weren't scared of anything.
Catt Hatter:  Thank you.
*Catt held the cup with both hands, breathing in the aroma.* Yeah, that sounds
like something I would do. Sorry if I was lying about feeling fine, I guess it
felt pretty good to not be worried about every little thing I was doing and the
potential ramifications.
*She took a sip of the tea, enjoying the heat and finally having something in
her stomach. Why was she so hungry, anyway?* Heh, you've still got the dress.
*She said, noticing Mz. Hyde's outfit. It was the dress Catt had given her on
that one day she was a child.*
Mz.Hyde: Hey! You remembered!! Do you also remember last
night?
Catt Hatter:  Remembered
what? Did something happen last night? *She took another sip of the tea.* Oh,
the dress. Yeah. You were wearing it at the street fair we went to. *She
scowled, that memory was off.* Were you a kid that day, or is my memory playing
tricks?
Mz.Hyde: Yes, I really was a little girl that day...but last
night! You couldn't eat or drink anything before surgery, so I stayed up all
night with you playing games! While we were playing Chess, you mentioned that
you learned a trick from your Dad!
Catt Hatter:  But, I
don't have a dad... *She stared down into her cup.* But I really appreciate you
staying up with me. Even if I don't remember, it means a lot.
Why were you a child?
Mz.Hyde: Nex screwed a potion she made for a prank and the
fumes turned everyone into kids...except for you...you weren't a kid for some
reason.
Catt Hatter:  Oh. Shame,
I probably would've liked playing with you as a kid. *She sighed, taking
another sip.* I don't actually know what it's like to be a child...
Mz.Hyde: You seemed to enjoy it too! And now there is
someone out there who knows what you were like!!
Catt Hatter:  What I was
like? I thought you said it didn't work on me? *She asked, puzzled.*
Mz.Hyde: Not me! Your Dad! If you remember him, that means
he exists! You have a family out there Catt!
Catt Hatter:  Maybe,
but... *she hesitated, doubts crossing her mind like stormclouds.*
Mz.Hyde: Buttt?
Catt Hatter:  I don't
think they exist yet, or even in this universe. *She ran her thumb along the
edge of the cup.* I don't even know where I came from before the trash-cave and
the hatt.
Mz.Hyde: Maybe as time goes on, you'll remember more.
Catt Hatter:  Maybe, but
I'm not really interested in that forgotten past. *Her ocean blue eyes met Mz.
Hyde's bright green ones pointedly.* I'd rather find out more of what I missed
during the months after the, shooty, thing... I mean, if that's okay. *She
dropped her gaze sheepishly, embarrassed.*
Mz.Hyde: Well...hmmmmm...oh! Dreamer and Nex left...and then
came back a lot older. Apparently, Dreamer was in an interdimensional prison
for 15 years. She looked... really unhealthy.
Catt Hatter:  Oh dear, I
hope she's okay. *She sipped her tea, it was almost half gone now.* What else
happened? More specifically, what else was I involved in?
I hope I didn't cause trouble...
Mz.Hyde: You didn't....well...at least not on purpose...you
may have caused a carriage accident that killed two.
Catt Hatter:  *Catt's
expression was grave, she shut her eyes.* Who?
Mz.Hyde: The two drivers.
Catt Hatter:  *Catt let
the silence drag its way past her thoughts. The relief of finding out it wasn't
any of her friends was quickly buried under her guilt. Her speech got caught on
the despair lodged in her throat as she asked,* Why wasn't I forced to have the
surgery as soon as that happened?
Mz.Hyde: We couldn't get you to get the surgery! You didn't
want it, and we couldn't force you under penalty of law.
Catt Hatter:  If
something like this ever happens again, you have my permission to force it on
the grounds that I am not sane! *She buried her face in
her knees, lamenting and feeling grateful for having such considerate friends
all at once.*
Mz.Hyde: It wasn't TOO bad...we got free ice cream and
organs out of the ordeal!
Catt Hatter:  At the
cost of two lives?! It would've been better if we had robbed
them! *Her distress was muffled from fighting it's way past the sheets pressed
to her face.* They didn't make it home and it's all my fault!
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde was silent, not really knowing what to
say.*
Catt Hatter:  *Catt
breathed deeply to try and calm down. She shouldn't be taking her emotions out
on her friend, it wasn't her fault. She sat up, and gave Mz. Hyde an apologetic
look.* I'm sorry, it's not like you could've done anything about it. If you
could, I'm sure you would have.
Mz.Hyde: No, Catt. I'm the one that should be sorry. This
would've all been prevented if I had been there with you when Hela shot you. I
should've taken the bullet for you...I should've taken her out...I...I...
*She looks down at the floor.*
I should've been a better friend...
Catt Hatter:  *Catt
pulled her into a tight hug.* If you had taken the bullet, I never would've
been able to forgive myself, and if you had hurt her, you would only have been
failing her as a friend. It was my own naivete that let me get
tricked into her office, and my misestimation of her character that left my
defenses down. Helen is alive, I'm alive, you didn't fail anyone. No one could
ask for a better friend.
Mz.Hyde: 
Catt Hatter:  *Catt kept
holding her, gently rocking until the well of her tears were spent.* You don't
know how precious you are, do you. *she whispered.*
Mz.Hyde: Precious? Like a rock maybe.
Catt Hatter: More precious than any rock, even more precious
than the One Ring. You're alive, and you are my friend, that makes you
irreplaceable. *Her hand gripped her shoulder.* Know what that means?
Mz.Hyde: What?
Catt Hatter:  It means
you are infinitely precious, and, and beloved.
Mz.Hyde: .... Catt?
Catt Hatter:  Mm?
Mz.Hyde: Why do you love me so much?
Catt Hatter:  Because
you're alive, because you deserve it, because you've done so much to help me
ever since I first arrived. *She squeezed her tightly.* Beyond that, I don't
know. I just do.
Mz.Hyde: ....Catt?
Catt Hatter:  Yeah?
Mz.Hyde: ....I love you too...
Catt Hatter:  *With her
face buried in her shoulder, Mz. Hyde couldn't see the pink highlights that
came over cheeks. Catt smiled widely.*
Mz.Hyde: Are you okay?
Catt Hatter:  I, no
one's ever told me that. *She said softly, joyous tears beginning to well up in
her eyes.*
Mz.Hyde: *She breathes a sigh of relief.* 
I thought you would reject me again...
Catt Hatter:  "Again?"
*She asked concerned, sitting up to look her in the face.*
Mz.Hyde: I told you that I loved you before, and you walked
away. I waved goodbye at you...but I guess you didn't see me... I thought I
freaked you out...
Catt Hatter:  I am so
sorry! I don't even remember that... *Try as she might, the instance was beyond
her reach.* Was it after the day at the fair, or before?
Mz.Hyde: It was after the fair...and for some reason, you
were wearing clothes that weren't yours.
Catt Hatter:  What? That
doesn't sound like me, I don't like to impose on people efen for the most minor
things! *As she pondered the potential causes and reasons for her to have not
been wearing her own clothes, she noticed something. Turning bright red, she
pulled the blankets up to her chin, completely covering the lab-gear patterned
medical gown.* Umm... where are my clothes?
Mz.Hyde: Your clothes?.....*GASP* YOUR CLOTHES!!!!!
*She goes over to a curtain covering up an empty bed.*
I'm done!~
Catt Hatter:  Done? *She
tilted her head, confused.* Done what?
Mz.Hyde: Making your new wardrobe! 
*She pulls back the curtains to reveal a clothing rack.*
Catt Hatter:  *Dazzled
by all the new garments, Catt could barely speak.* You-, Wha-? For me? I-!
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde nods her head.*
Catt Hatter:  But I- I
couldn't! *Her fingers plucked at invisible strings in the air.* It's too much!
Mz.Hyde: You have ONE outfit, Catt and I thought you needed
a few more. Plus, it was a lot of fun!
Catt Hatter:  I-, thank
you! *She beamed.* I can't wait 'till I'm all recovered so I can try them all
on!
Mz.Hyde: Do you like them?
Catt Hatter:  So far,
yeah! *She grinned up at Mz. Hyde.* I love them!
Mz.Hyde: Awesome!
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Hela Hyde: *Helen sat with her back pressed against the door
to her room, dark lines under her eyes from want of sleep. She had heard about
Catts surgery and spent the night pacing because of it. How could she sleep
when her friend might die and it was all her fault?*
Catt Hatter:  *Helen
heard a small click, someone had unlocked her door.*
Hela Hyde:  *Helen
jumped to her feet at the sound, stumbling back from the door.* H... Hello...?
*She stuttered, caught off guard.* Who is it...?
Catt Hatter:  *Silence
answered her from beyond the door.*
Hela Hyde:  Hello...?
*Helen called once more, her hand reaching out to rest on the doorknob. After a
moment of hesitation, she pulled the door open, peering out and looking at the
hallway, the ceiling- and the floor for whomever had unlocked her door.*
Catt Hatter:  *On the
floor she saw a crescent of shimmering stone resting atop a folded piece of
paper. Picking up the bracelet and note she read,
This bracelet will keep you from being recognized as long as you avoid eye
contact. Your friend needs you. ~
The note wasn't signed.*
Hela Hyde:  *Helen
read the note twice, her mind buzzing with thoughts, then slide the braclet
onto her wrist. Clearly someone knew her and Catt were friends and wanted to
help... but who would be willing to trust her with such a device. Still
puzzled, but now filled with determination, she tucked the note into her pocket
and made her way to the infirmary, keeping her head low.
Helen reached the infirmary without any trouble, silently thanking whoever had
left her the bracelet as she pushed open the door and her eyes scanned the room
for where Catt may be.*
Catt Hatter:  *She saw
Catt reclined on a bed at the far end of the room, staring absently out the
window. Clouds had rolled over the sky since the morning and were threatening
rain. 
Having not noticed Helen come in, Catt dosed idly.*
Hela Hyde:  *Helen's
face lit up as she spotted her friend, letting out a pent up breath she hadn't
realized she had been holding.* Catt-! *She called, beaming, and was at her
friend's bedside in an instant, all her transgressions forgotten for a moment.*
Catt, I missed you so much! Are you alright? The surgery, how did it go?
Catt Hatter:  H-helen?!
*Catt's face lit up as she recognised her friend.* Helen! *She pulled her into
a tight embrace,* I'm, okay, I guess. The surgery, worked I guess. But now I
don't really remember much after, that. Have you been doing okay?
Hela Hyde:  *Helen
laughed softly, leaning into her friends arms.* I'm so glad to hear that, I was
so worried about you! I've been doing... *She suddenly trailed off and the joy
was sucked from her face, squeezing her eyes shut as guilt washed over her.*
It... doesn't matter how I've been... I'm so sorry, Catt... I hurt you and I
shouldn't have even left my room because I'm just going to keep hurting you!
Catt Hatter:  It matters
to me how you've been! *Catt took ahold of Helen's hands and pressed them to
her eyes.* You're feeling a thousand times worse than I possibly could about
what happened, because it was your hands! But I don't blame you Helen! I don't
hold it against you at all! And if you did hurt me again, I still wouldn't!
*She cried, urgently trying to comfort her friend. Certainly, she was scared,
but that wasn't important right now! Helen needed help.* You're my friend, and
always will be!
Hela Hyde: *Helen could only shake her head, choking on the lump in her throat and sputtering weakly while tears began to stream from her eyes.* I-I... h-had t-to... t-to w-watch... s-so m-many t-times... Y-You... A-And t-the b-blood... *Her body convulsed as the image came to mind and she fell silent.*
Catt Hatter: *Catt
held on and leaned in to comfort her, murmuring softly as her voice struggled
to fight it's way past the tears in her own eyes.* Shh, it's over, and it only
happened once. Shhh, I'm okay... I've got you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyde without a Jekyll: *Alice had heard Catt was going into surgery from
Alano, but she wasn't sure when it was. Best thing she could do now was ask the
girl herself and try to understand what this surgery really meant and what was
really at stake. Alice approached Catt's door and knocked hesitantly hoping
Catt was still there.*
Catt Hatter:  *The door
opened, but it wasn't Catt answering. With bags under his eyes, Sozo squinted
at the girl. One of the few people who was actually shorter than him.*
It's you. Hey.
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Hi Sozo.
Do you know where Catt is? *She tried to peer around him and see if Catt was in
their room.*
Catt Hatter:  That
would depend on what time it is... *He
rubbed his eye, and leaned against the door, standing upright as it
unexpectedly moved away.*
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Um...*She
looks at the ceiling hoping it would give her an exact time. The ceiling is a
ceiling and therefore doesn't respond.* ...morning?
Catt Hatter:  Ung,
she's probably out of surgery then. *He
shuts the door behind him and shuffles off down the hall, heading for the
infirmary.*
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Surgery?!
That was today?! *She quickly catches up to him and walks with him to the
infirmary.*
Catt Hatter:  Yesterday. *Upon entering they find Mz. Hyde sitting on the
bed talking to a bandaged Catt with puffy eyes.*
I'll, I'll wait out here. *Sozo said, picking a spot just outside
the door to sit down.*
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Catt? *She
says hesitantly in the door frame.*
Catt Hatter:  Um, yes?
*She asked, her voice still heavy from the news she had been told of her
actions over the past months. Whoever this heterochromic child was, she seemed
to know her name.*
Hyde without a Jekyll:  How are
you feeling? I sorry I wasn't there for you before the surgery I only just
found out about it from Dr. Lezo. *She searches Catt's eyes, checking to make
sure part of Catt's brain wasn't removed with the fragment.*
Catt Hatter:  Alright I
guess, just found out I killed two people in a carriage acc-incident and was
immune to a youth smoke-bomb Nex had made. *Of all the things Alice saw behind
Catt's eyes as she spoke, recognition wasn't one of them.
The prolonged eye contact with the strange child was making Catt self
conscious, she dropped her eyes to the now empty cup in her hands.* I'm,
guessing we know each other?
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Catt...*Her
voice was overflowing with concern.*...those things happened in the past... You
were there for them. You were there for me...Do you not remember what happened?
Do you not remember me?
Catt Hatter:  *She shook
her head sadly,* I'm sorry...I, don't remember anything after getting shot
except for the day I spent with Mz. Hyde as a child, and that only came back a
minute ago.
Hyde without a Jekyll:  Nothing...
Not who I am? What I--We did? Nothing? *She looked at Catt with desperation.*
Catt Hatter:  *Tears
slid quietly down her cheeks as she lifted her eyes.* I'm sorry.
Hyde without a Jekyll:  *Alice's
shoulders dropped and she looked at the ground. Maybe the answer, the solution
was on the floor? No. 
"I'm sorry." Catt always said those words but this time, this time
they felt heartless. Even as the tears rolled down her cheeks, it didn't fell
right. They felt like pity tears. Maybe it was the lack of context? What ever
was causing these false emotions, it didn't matter. The feeling--or lack there
of--still remained.
Who was this girl? Was this still the same Catt she knew? Was this herCatt?
This impossibly selfless girl? The girl who could never die? The girl who could
be surrounded by fear and not blink an eye? The girl who understood everything?
The girl who believe in fairy tales, the impossible, and hope?
No.
She didn't know anything, remember anything...not anymore. If she didn't know,
how could she understand? Alice could remind her of all that happened, but she
still felt guilty. Maybe it was for the best that she forgot everything,
everyone. Maybe it would be for the best if she never was to remember what
happened. Death isn't mercy, ignorance is. 
After a long pause the girl spoke overwrought by disappointment, exhaustion,
and sorrow.*
No, I'm sorry. You need time to rest and recover and I barged in here demanding
things from you. *She sighed.* I should--I should go now. *She never raised her
head to look at Catt and began to trudge towards the door. *
Catt Hatter:  *A sudden
rustle of fabric followed by feet slapping against the hard floor startled
Alice as Catt raced across the room to throw her arms around her.* You know me,
I'm sorry I can't remember right now! But please don't be so sad! *She cried as
the colour drained from her face. Her voice was breathless as her grip around
her lost it's strength.*
I never meant to hurt you, Alice. *She was unconscious before she hit the
ground.*
Hyde without a Jekyll:  
*Alice cycled through the emotions as fast as
humanly possible. Shock, longing, nostalgia, and then finally landing on a
bittersweet joy. She remembers. At once, though, she was
jarred out of her mind by the sound of Catt's body collapsing to the floor.
Alice whipped around concern written all over her face. But it quickly faded at
the sight of Catt peacefully sleeping on the floor. A small smile over came her
lips and Alice dragged her friend back to her bed. Gently tucking Catt in, the
girl closed her eyes and whispered.* I forgive you. I just hope you forgive me.
*And with that Alice turned and left Catt to rest.*
== Obtained From ==
Recover
Category:Main Plot
Category:Tales from the ER