However Unlikely Ch. 22

Chapter Twenty-Two: Home

Bright sunlight streamed into the room, highlighting the mass of copper brown hair draped on the white bed sheets. The steady beeping of the heart monitor the only sound aside from the girls' breathing. A large man with wild dark hair sat across the room, head in his hands. The blond had been unconscious for two days now. Naomi walked into the room and sat next to him, wrapping an arm around him. His head came up, eyes searching her. She glanced to the girls, praying for a miracle.

Zia's head was in a fog. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she must have. Her eyelids twitched slightly in the sunlight. She shifted slightly. The last thing she remembered was running into the storm and - Her eyes flew open. She was alive and . . . where was she? She was suddenly aware of a rhythmic beeping. It was kind of relaxing. She looked around, turning her head slightly.

"Grigori," Naomi whispered, noticing the blond moving. Volkov's head shot up. She's alive, his heart all but exploded. They watched as the twelve-year-old shifted on the hospital bed, slightly disturbing her sleeping friend. The copper brown mop moved slightly, then suddenly jerked up.

"Zia?" she breathed. Her friend locked eyes with her.

"Eve? How . . . ?" Zia muttered. Eve’s hazel eyes filled with tears as she hugged her friend.

"You did it again, dummy," she whispered in Zia's ear. "You scared us both."

Zia weakly wrapped her arms around the other girl, barely noticing the two adults. Volkov nodded to himself as the girls hugged. She was better off here, away from that. He stood and walked out of the room; there was something he had to do.

Elijah sat in the waiting room with his head in his hands. He would have given anything to be human sized! As it was, he could only sit and worry. She had survived the cold and exhaustion, but hadn't woken up yet. What if it had been him? He swallowed, feeling sick. He heard a giantess nurse approaching, probably to give him more water or something. He felt her hand on his shoulder.

"Sentinel Bates," she said gently. "Zia Jones is awake now. And Dr. Volkov would like to speak with you."

His nodded and stood, following her to a conference room. The large human stood on the table, obviously feeling out of place. He had seen giants, but had never actually been in a room scaled to fit them. His dark eyes flashed up as the nurse lead a young giant man inside. So this was Sentinel Elijah Bates. Volkov's mind quickly characterized him, like it did with his patients. Early twenties, muscular, somewhat athletic, light auburn hair, grey eyes.

"Dr. Volkov," Elijah extended a finger to the man.

"Sentinel Bates," Volkov shook his finger, marveling at its size. "I want talk about devush - ah - Zee-ah to you."

Her name felt strange in his mouth. It wasn't surprising since he rarely used it. The young titan nodded and sat at the table, arms resting on the table. The foreigner took a step back, trying to collect his thoughts. He sighed and hung his head. How should he say this?

"I am . . . grateful for all you have do for her," he began, choosing his words carefully. "I am wondering if willing to help more."

The giant shifted slightly. It was an unconscious movement he probably didn’t even think about, but Volkov jumped back slightly. This was the most unnerving thing he had ever done. Sentinel Bates obviously cared about the girl, and he didn't want to upset the enormous man. He took a deep breath and braced himself.

"Would like for Zee-ah stay with you," he growled, his English slipping. "Would like her happy. She smile for you."

Elijah tilted his head, not sure if he was understanding the human correctly. His thick accent made his words difficult to make out.

"Stay with me?" he narrowed his eyes at the large human.

"Da," Volkov looked him in eye. "She has been wanting be with you since fat woman make me take her."

Elijah's eyes widened. Was he actually hearing this? Zia had been living with the coroner all this time? He sat back in his chair, head in his hands. That woman must have shoved her off on him the day he had tried to adopt her.

"Sentinel Bates?" Volkov was nervous. Did the young Sentinel not want her? Grey eyes flashed up, hope filling their depths.

"You mean it?" Elijah's voice was hoarse. "Does she still want to be with me after . . . ?"

He trailed off, unable to finish the thought. A part of him tried to rationalize that he had done what he needed to save her, but his stomach still rolled at the thought of what might have happened. Volkov's head twitched to one side.

"Ask her," he said simply, shrugging. He walked off, but called over his shoulder upon reaching the door, "Nurse will bring in paperwork and pen. Sign if want."

Elijah watched him leave. He was serious. Zia could come live with him, if she still wanted to. The nurse came in shortly after with a pen and some paperwork. Elijah skimmed it, taking note of important details, like Zia's birthday. He nodded to himself and scratched his full name on the bottom of the last page. After setting his pen down, he rubbed his temples. It had been a long few days.

Zia gradually gained her strength back, thanks to Eve's encouragement. She had asked her friend a few times how she had gotten to the hospital, but she kept avoiding the subject. Something was up with her. She stopped on their walk through the hospital's halls and turned to face her friend.

"Eve, please tell me what's wrong?" she looked her friend in the eye. Eve fidgeted slightly. She really did not want to tell Zia what had happened that day, afraid of how she would react, but those eyes! Eve bit her lip and hugged the blond.

"Elijah carried us here," she whispered. "He had to - You would've frozen otherwise!"

Tears sprang to her eyes and she squeezed the blond. She couldn't help apologizing as Zia sank to the floor, covering her face in her hands.

"I- I was- I was in his-" her eyes narrowed, then widened. I was in his mouth! she raged, cursing him. Wasn't that madman enough? Did he want her too? Complete the set?

"Zia?" it wasn't Eve's voice. Her mismatched eyes shot to his grey ones. There was a small smile playing around his mouth. Zia tensed; he had just been biding his time.

"Thank God you're okay," he breathed, glad that this walkway was built so giants could visit. "I was so worried." He reached out to her. She watched the incoming hand warily. It paused, and slowly turned to be palm up. His eyes begged her to forgive him, for everything: for leaving her at that place, for not finding her sooner, for the execution, for that day. She met his gaze. Her brows furrowed, and she took a step forward, and another. She kept going until she was in his hand again. Hugging his thumb, she let herself cry.

Elijah pulled his hand closer to his chest, comforting her as best he could. His eyes flitted to Eve. She nodded; Zia knew what he had done to her.

"Sent'nel," she whispered against his digit, well aware that he couldn't hear her. She rubbed her face against it, squeezing. He looked at her, realizing he was forgiven. He brought her up to his eye level.

"Zia?" he asked gently, getting her to look at him. "Would you like to go home now?"

Confusion flashed across her face. He was taking her back to the morgue, just like that? Her eyes searched his. He means "home with him," she suddenly understood. Volkov had signed her guardianship over to him. Tears of joy replaced their predecessors and she nodded, jumping upright and spreading her arms. Elijah gently cupped his hand to his cheek, slightly ashamed he hadn't shaved for a few days. A single tear slid down his cheek. She's safe now, the thought sprang into Eve's mind. Safe and where she belongs.