Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling; I just like to play with them a little.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
PROBLEM PATIENT
"I'm right here, mate." Draco walked hurriedly into the room. His arm was in a sling, he was wearing a hospital gown and an irritated nurse was chasing him.
"Mr. Malfoy, you are supposed to stay in bed," the nurse exclaimed.
"I told you, I am visiting my daughter. Now leave," Draco growled at the young woman.
"Mr. Malfoy, it is against hospital policy to allow you to roam around when you are a patient. You will have to come back to your own room now or I will have to alert your healer."
"Go ahead." Draco waved a dismissive hand at her and turned his attention to his children.
"Daddy, what did you do?" Drake asked spying Draco's arm.
"Did you have to see the healers too, Daddy?" Angel enquired.
"I hurt my hand and the healers are trying to make it better," Draco explained simply to the children as he walked over to Angel's bedside and took a seat.
"How did you hurt your hand, Daddy?" Drake asked curiously.
"Oh, I did something silly." Draco wasn't willing to share any further details with his son.
"What?" Angel pushed for particulars.
"It doesn't matter. It was silly and I hurt myself, that's all you need to know."
"Mr. Malfoy!" Draco's healer entered the room with the nurse who had chased him before bringing up the rear.
"Yes," Draco answered in his best superior voice.
"You, sir, are meant to be in your own bed."
"I am visiting my daughter," Draco told him haughtily.
"Mr. Malfoy, how are we supposed to treat patients if they go wandering all over the hospital?"
"I am not wandering all over the hospital. I am visiting my daughter and I am not leaving," Draco told him in a patronizing tone.
"I'm afraid, I must insist."
"Perhaps we can discuss this outside?" Lucius suggested diplomatically. He had a feeling that the situation may escalate very swiftly if the healer didn't back down.
"I don't think that's necessary," Draco responded disdainfully.
"I do." Lucius gave him a very pointed look that warned him not to argue.
Draco sighed heavily. "Very well."
Draco stood and walked toward the door. As he got closer to the door, Ginny burst into gales of laughter, causing Draco to turn around and glare at her.
"What?"
"Oh-oh-you- do realize- you have- a hospital gown- on." Ginny managed through her hysterics.
"Yes," Draco spat at her. Did she really think him an imbecile?
Ginny was beyond answering by this stage. She was holding onto Angel's bed, gasping for breath. However, she seemed to be the only one in the room that found anything amusing and it wasn't only Draco who was looking at her as if she had taken permanent leave of her senses - everyone was.
"Gin, what's so funny?" Harry wondered if, perhaps, the lack of sleep had finally gotten to her.
"She's finally gone nutters." Ron shook his head.
"Oh-oh-" Ginny just couldn't get enough air to be able to talk so she simply pointed at Draco.
"What is it with you, woman?" Draco growled disgustedly as he turned on his heal and walked out.
Unfortunately, for Draco, everyone in the room then saw what had Ginny in fits of laughter and most joined her immediately.
"Good Merlin," Lucius muttered as Draco passed him on his way out the door.
Molly and Narcissa were both trying extremely hard to maintain some form of decorum. Until now they, along with Lucius, were the only ones not laughing.
"Mummy, why doesn't Daddy have any underwear on?" Angel asked through her giggles.
The tenuous hold on decorum that the two older witches held finally snapped and both joined the rest of the family in laughter.
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"Did it not occur to you to put your underwear on before you went roaming around the hospital?" Lucius hissed at Draco.
Draco frowned in confusion. "What?"
"You have no underwear on!" Lucius was totally exasperated with Draco by this time.
"But-"
"The gown is open at the back," Lucius informed him through gritted teeth.
Draco's eyes grew as large as saucers. He hadn't thought about the gown. He only wanted to get back to Angel and he had to sneak out of his room as it was. He very quickly reached around to the rear of the garment with his good hand and held it closed at his naked backside.
"Mr. Malfoy, I must insist that you return to your room immediately," the healer told him firmly.
"What ward has my son been admitted to?" Lucius took control of the situation.
"This ward. Your son's injury is not dissimilar to broom crash injuries, so we are able to treat him here. His room is at the end of the hall."
"Is there any way you can arrange to have my son placed in the same room as his daughter?"
"Miss Malfoy is a child. It is not protocol to mix adults and children in the wards," the healer replied jadedly.
"I did not ask about protocol. I asked if it were possible," Lucius growled at the healer.
"Certainly, it would be possible but it is not ideal particularly with the type of healing your son is going to have to endure," the healer answered intolerantly.
Lucius sneered. "And that is?"
"Bone re-growth. Mr. Malfoy's hand was too badly broken to attempt straight healing. We've had to remove the bones and start fresh," the healer explained authoritatively.
"Why would that have an effect on whether he might share his daughter's room?"
"Bone re-growth is a painful business. I'm sure Mr. Malfoy does not wish his daughter to see him in that much pain."
"I feel that she would be a great deal more upset if she did not see him at all," Lucius countered. "My granddaughter is very close to her father."
"I see. I will speak with the staff on the ward and see if something can't be arranged," the healer was finally acquiescent.
"Good. I expect to hear from you within the hour," Lucius said tersely before turning to Draco. "For now, I suggest you return to your own room."
"I'm staying here," Draco said petulantly.
"Very well." Lucius sighed as he turned and walked back into Angel's room.
Draco followed him keeping a firm grip on the back of the gown. The occupants of the small hospital room were still laughing when Draco re-entered, but quickly began to sober themselves as each noticed the ominous look on the blonde wizards face.
"They're going to arrange for Draco to be moved into this room with Angelique," Lucius informed Narcissa as he took his seat next to her.
"Daddy, you're going to be with me?" Angel said animatedly.
"It looks that way." Draco gave her a small smile.
"Daddy?" Drake said.
"Yes, mate." Draco sighed already resigned to the fact that whatever Drake asked it would more than likely humiliate him more.
"Why don't you have any underwear on?" Drake asked frowning at him.
"Umm- the nurse told me to take them off." Draco answered slowly and quietly.
"Why?" Ginny asked sharply.
"What?" Draco responded frowning.
"Why would a nurse tell you to take your boxers off when your hand is injured?" Ginny asked harshly.
"I don't know! She did and I followed instructions."
"Which nurse?" Ginny asked covetously.
"I don't know," Draco almost whined.
"Why not?" Ginny demanded.
"I wasn't paying any attention," Draco said tolerantly.
"Oh, you just take your pants off for anyone, do you?" Ginny's tone was definitely accusatory.
"Gin, she was a nurse."
"You like the uniforms," Ginny goaded.
"Ginny, that's enough!" Molly had listened to as much arguing as she was going to for one day.
Ginny opened her mouth to say something more.
"Ginny, you heard your mother. It was uncalled for," Arthur said sternly.
"Draco, how is your hand?" Molly enquired kindly, as Ginny slumped into her chair crossing her arms across her chest.
"Boneless," Draco answered with shrug.
"They feeding you Skele-Gro?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, it's disgusting." Draco shook his head at the thought of the potion.
"Yeah, I remember." Harry sniggered.
A nurse walked into the room, she smiled at Angel before turning to Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy, we've arranged for you to be moved into this room."
"Good."
"If everyone but the two patients would like to step out into the corridor, we can set the room up for two."
"Of course! Perhaps, we should get a cup of tea while their busy in here," Arthur suggested.
"Splendid idea," Lucius agreed as he stood up. "Shall we?"
Two orderlies came into the small hospital room and began rearranging the furniture to accommodate another bed. They magically enlarged the room then set a tiny bed on the floor and used an engorgement charm to return it to its normal size. Once they had completed their tasks the nurse reappeared.
"Right, Mr. Malfoy, in to bed with you," she told him.
"I'm fine sitting here." Draco refused to move from his position, next to Angel's bed.
"Mr. Malfoy, we have moved you into this room so you can be with your daughter, but I insist that you stay in bed." The nurse was fast losing patience with him again.
"Daddy, you have to do what the nurses and healers say or you won't get better," Angel admonished.
The nurse stifled a giggle and raised her eyebrows at Draco questioningly.
"Very well," Draco grunted.
He rose from his chair and walked over to the other bed. The nurse had followed him to turn the bed down and help him in.
"I can get in myself," Draco told her in an irritated tone.
"Mr. Malfoy, you have one good arm. If you over balance you could fall, causing further injury to your body. Now allow me to do my job and assist you." The nurse had to muster all her remaining patience.
Draco sighed heavily. He was cursing under his breath at his own stupidity for placing himself in this position and about pushy nurses. Once tucked into the bed securely, his nurse bought him a steaming beaker full of Skele-Gro.
"Now, we have to drink all this down, Mr. Malfoy," she told him smiling condescendingly.
Draco took a mouthful and immediately the disgust showed on his face.
"This stuff is really nasty," Draco snarled.
"All of it, Mr. Malfoy." His nursed smiled sweetly again.
Draco managed to drink the rest of the potion, without losing his stomach. It burnt all the way down and he did not fancy seeing if it would burn all the way up as well.
"All gone?" The nurse was still smiling sweetly.
"Yes," Draco growled.
"Good. I'll be back with more later."
"I'll look forward to it," Draco answered sarcastically.
Draco watched as she walked over to Angel and began talking to her in a light jovial tone.
"Hello, sweetheart. How are you feeling now?"
"Good, but my head still hurts." Angel rubbed her head for emphasis.
"Well you did bump it terribly hard."
"Can Daddy and I have some ice cream?" Angel gave the nurse her sweetest look.
"I think we can arrange that," the nurse replied, winking at her before she left the room.
"Daddy, are you alright?" Angel noticed that Draco's face was contorted in pain.
"Yeah, sweetheart. I'm fine. Nothing ice cream can't fix." Draco tried to smile at her but only managed a grimace as stabbing pains shot through his arm.
"Does your arm hurt, Daddy?"
"Yeah, a bit, but it's alright." Draco tried again, to smile as if there were nothing wrong.
"Why were you and mummy arguing?"
"We weren't, sweetheart."
"Daddy, I heard you," Angel told him wryly.
"Oh, did you?" He really did not want to discuss this with his daughter.
"Yes. Is that why you hurt your hand?"
"Look, sweetie. I just lost my temper, that's all. Your mum and I were really worried about you, and sometimes when people are really worried about something they make other people sad. Do you understand?"
"I think so," Angel replied thoughtfully. "Did you and mummy make up yet?"
Draco sighed heavily. "No."
"Are you going to?" Angel asked with a little urgency in her voice.
"I hope so, but I don't know how-"
"You need to tell her you love her," Angel advised. "That's what Drake and I do when we make her mad, then she forgives us."
"I don't think it's going to be quite that simple," Draco admitted more to himself than his daughter.
A short time later the nurse returned with two bowls of ice cream placing one in front of Draco she sneered at him.
"Only because it would upset your daughter if I didn't give you any," she whispered harshly. The woman had quite enough of difficult patients for the day and Draco had been the main offender.
Draco did not bother to dignify the nurse's words with a response choosing to glare at her instead.
As they were eating their ice cream the family returned from the tearoom, full of chatter.
"Oh, they've got ice cream," Drake whined to anyone who would listen.
"Come here, mate. You can have mine, if you want," Draco offered.
"Thanks, Daddy!" Drake clambered onto Draco's bed, making himself comfortable beside his father before eating his ice cream.
"How are you going to get better if Drake eats your ice cream, Daddy?" Angel asked petulantly.
"I'll manage, sweetheart. Why don't you eat your ice cream and concentrate on getting yourself better."
The family spent the rest of the afternoon entertaining Angel. For the most part, Drake stayed on Draco's bed and the two had several hushed conversations throughout the afternoon.
Draco's nurse made a few more visits bringing with her steaming beakers of Skele-Gro and watching as he drained every last drop each time. She wasn't the only one watching him closely as he drank the vile potion. Harry was keeping a close eye on the blonde wizard, looking for signs of discomfort. He knew first hand the effects of that potion, but he had a hard time telling whether or not it was affecting Draco the same way it had affected him. Draco was keeping his features well schooled, so as not to let anyone know how much pain he was experiencing.
Towards dinner time there was talk of returning home for most of the visitors in the room. Molly was trying to convince Ginny to go home and get a decent night's sleep while she stayed with Angel, but Ginny would not hear of it.
"I think it would an idea if I stayed as well," Lucius said very quietly to Narcissa.
"Why, dearest? The nurses can surely-"
"As a referee between those two," Lucius said nodding towards Draco and Ginny. "Someone should be here, just in case."
"Of course, if you think it's necessary-" Narcissa responded tentatively.
"Yes. If they start again, it would frighten Angelique."
"Yes - yes, someone does need to be here." Narcissa agreed entirely once she had considered Lucius' reasons.
"Well, Molly, I think it's high time we got young Drake home," Arthur announced.
"Yes, we should be heading off. Now, Ginny, are you sure you'll be all right?" Molly fussed.
"Yes, Mum. I'll be fine. I'll even try to get some sleep. I promise."
"Good see that you do. Drake, come and get your cloak on."
"I don't want to go home!" Drake crossed his arms over his chest resolutely.
"Now, we can't stay here. The nurses will be kicking us out soon," Arthur told him reasonably.
"Come on now, there's a good boy," Molly said gently.
"No!"
"Drake, I won't ask you again," Molly cautioned.
"NO! I WANT TO STAY HERE."
"Drake, please honey. Go with Grandma and Grandpa. We'll see you tomorrow," Ginny pleaded with him tiredly.
"NO!" Drake dropped to the ground refusing to move.
"DRAKE!" Lucius roared. "You will pick yourself up this instant. Apologize to your mother and you will go home quietly with your grandparents or you will feel the sharp end of my wand. Do you understand?"
"But I don't-"
"Drake," growled Lucius in a final warning.
"Yes, Grandfather." Defeated, Drake picked himself up off the floor and went to kiss Ginny goodbye.
"Well done!" Arthur could not help but compliment the other wizard on his handling of the situation.
"I've had some practice, Weasley," Lucius responded quietly nodding towards Draco.
"Ours was Percy. Worse than Ginny, that boy was." Arthur smiled as he shook his head.
Gradually all the visitors began making their way home. Molly took a very compliant Drake, after the sharp telling off from Lucius, by the hand and led him out quietly. When Narcissa left, Lucius requested that she send one of their house elves back with a change of clothes and some decent food for both himself and Ginevra.
Just after the hospital staff had bought Draco and Angel their dinner, one of the Malfoy's house elves showed up with meals for Lucius and Ginny plus changes of clothes for both of them, some personal items for Draco and some candy for Angel. Narcissa had sought out a set of lovely deep emerald green robes, she felt would fit Ginny and had left instructions that Ginny should feel free to alter them, anyway necessary for her own comfort.
Once they had all eaten Ginny and Lucius left the room, one at a time, to change their robes. Ginny had very little to alter on Narcissa's robes, as they were just about the same size. Upon her return to the hospital room, the nurse was giving Angel a sleeping potion to help her rest more easily. When she had finished with Angel she moved over to Draco's bed with his Skele-Gro potion and a sleeping potion.
"Right, Mr. Malfoy. The Skele-Gro first," she said with authority. "All of it now."
Draco tipped the beaker back and drained the contents. He couldn't help but hold it in his mouth not wanting to swallow the foul liquid.
"And swallow, Mr. Malfoy."
"Gone," Draco choked out.
"Good, now a sleeping potion." She handed him another beaker.
"I don't need a sleeping potion." Draco was getting positively furious with the nurse.
"Healer's orders. You are to take a sleeping potion," she told him somewhat impatiently.
"For Merlin's sake," Draco muttered under his breath before upending the second beaker and draining the contents. "Happy now?"
"Yes. Now, if you need anything through the night, just summon me. I should think that your pain will increase as the night wears on, so you should be aware of that."
"You mean it's going to get worse?" Draco whispered almost desperately. He'd been in almost constant pain for hours and was only barely controlling his responses in front of the Angel.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. The healers explained to you just how painful bone re-growth is. You're not even half way there yet," she told him with a sadistic smirk. "If there's nothing else, I'll dim the torches and I suggest that you both try to get to sleep." The nurse was already on her way out of the room, she paused to cast a dimming charm on the torches.
Ginny got up and tucked Angel in tightly and then she placed a kiss on her forehead. Lucius waited patiently for Ginny to finish her fussing over Angel before placing a kiss on his granddaughter's forehead and saying goodnight.
"Mummy, aren't you going to tuck daddy in?" Angel asked innocently.
"I think your Daddy's a big enough boy to tuck himself in," Ginny responded evenly.
"But his arm hurts and he can't tug the blankets up. You need to do it."
Ginny sighed affectedly and drew her lips into a tight line. If it would keep her little girl happy, she could throw a blanket over him. She walked over to his bedside and began adjusting the blankets around his hard body. He did look very pale and his eyes were missing their usual spark.
"Comfy?" Ginny arched an eyebrow at him.
"Thank you," Draco replied caustically.
"Good," Ginny acknowledged before turning back to Angel.
"Mummy, you didn't kiss Daddy goodnight!"
"Oh- I- I really think that your father will survive."
"No. He can't go to sleep without a kiss goodnight." Angel pouted.
"Merlin," Ginny mumbled as she turned back to Draco.
Coming up to his bed she slowly bent over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. Ginny didn't realize she'd had been holding her breath, until she stood back up again.
Draco had watched the scene between mother and daughter. He thought he knew what Angel was up to. It was her way of getting them to make up, after their argument this morning. As Ginny slowly bent over him, he felt his eyes flutter closed. As her lips brushed over his forehead, he felt as though his skin were on fire and he had swallowed a snitch, such was the unsettled feeling in his stomach.
"Goodnight-" she whispered.
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AUTHORS NOTES
Big hugs to everyone who reviewed :D
Over the past few days Rainpuddle13, Nokomis305, Cupid12203 and myself have been creating a Yahoo Group where we can keep all our works in the one place and unedited, as we intended them to be viewed. So if you'd like to drop by and take a look around -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/littleyellowduck/
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