Chapter Text
A breathy sigh can be heard bouncing off the seemingly endless white walls of the contrasting small room.
with eyes rapidly blinking trying to stay open so she could make sense of the situation, Honeymaren slowly came to. Looking to her right she saw her brother with what she would describe as both shock and relief evident on his face. Looking around and taking in her surroundings it finally dawned on her.
“oh…”
“OH MY GOD MAREN ARE YOU OKAY? HOW ARE YOU FEELING? ARE YOU IN PAIN???” Ryder spoke a mile a minute.
“w-wha, yeah, yeah I’m okay, just a scratch” it was a bit of a lie, it did hurt a little, but Maren knew how her brother would worry so she brushed it off.
“Just a scratch!? Maren you broke your dang leg!”
“oh, that’s right…” a moment of silence passed between the two
“so…is the dog okay?”
Ryder looked at her incredulously
“you got hit by a car, broke your leg and your main concern right now is the dog!?” he didn’t mean to sound so dismissive to the poor puppy, he probably would have done the same thing, but Honeymaren’s lack of concern for herself in this moment irritates him quite a bit.
Umm yeah…she went trough quite a lot to save the dog and if it turned out the puppy got hit too, well that would just add insult to injury.
“you can fix a broken leg, animals on the other hand are a bit more difficult to save”
Ryder sighs “the puppy is all right, no injuries just a couple scars on his leg but he’s doing just fine…. you did good out there Maren, saving that dog…. just….be more careful next time, okay”
“will do…. does Mo-”
“Nope, haven’t told her, god knows what she would do to us if she knew”
Honeymaren chuckles “We would probably be forbidden to leave the house at all in the next Ten years”
Ryder laughs at that, his red puffy eyes no longer shimmering with a threat of a tear, much to Honeymaren’s relief.
A moment later a woman dressed in scabs enters the room
“good evening misses Natura, feeling better, I hope? Is the pain medication working alright for you?”
Maren gives a court nod
“that’s great to hear…so your injuries…they are not major, just a few minor scars around your hips and abdomen area, but your left tibia has been fractured, the surgery has been successful and it should take in turn of 3-6 months to completely heal, no excessive movement is advised during this time. we will also provide you with both clutches and a wheelchair for your convenience, pain medication is also being provided. You will be able to be discharged as soon as tomorrow morning. Do you have any questions at this time?”
Maren again simply shook her head no
And with that the nurse set her dinner aside on the table and turned to head out the door, stopping just for a moment
“oh, by the way visitation hours are still on until 8pm, if you need anything misses Maren please feel free to ring for us” and with that the nurse left the room.
“that is such good news! And woah they’ll be giving you everything you’ll need for recovery too, man that’s great!” Ryder seemed really pleased
“yeah maybe too great...” honey questioned
“huh what you mean?”
“Ryder…isn’t this a little weird? Giving me everything seemingly free of charge? Not to mention how nice everything around here is, I mean look at that food” Maren said quizzically. Her brother looked at said food and it did indeed look extremely appetizing, honestly, he was kind of hoping that she would spare him some. she continued…
“I’m no expert, but this whole situation seems a little too good to be true…I mean seriously no charges? Ryder… what hospital are we in right now anyways?”
“Oh yeah…. Ummm…. About that…” Ryder straightens up with an uncomfortable chuckle, he knows his sister well enough to know she will not like the next few words that comes out of his mouth.
“Wemightbeinstvicentshospital” he says it super-fast, but Maren was able to make out the sentence
“wait wha-SAINT VICENT’S HOSPITAL, RYDER HOW THE HE-” the woman was cut off by the knocking coming outside her door
Oh yeah visiting hours are still on… “Maren I can explain, well, we can explain” Ryder said as he went to open the door.
As soon as it opened Maren saw to figures awkwardly standing by the door one of which she recognized as her best friend Ada but as for the other she had no idea. He was tall, blonde and built like a mountain, quite attractive too she dares say.
“oh, Maren I’m so happy you’re okay, your brother and I were so worried!” Ada rushes to her side giving her friend a hug, Maren winced a little in turn, the pains still lingering despite the medication.
“sorry”
“hey, no its okay. I’m glad me and the dog are okay too” Maren half chuckles.
“yeah about the dog…” the tall blond man speaks up slowly walking closer to woman in question”
“thank you for saving him, seriously…. I really can’t thank you enough…. I’m really sorry for what happened though, thankfully the nurse said it wasn’t anything too serious, but still a broken leg is no good, obviously” the man now stood by her right side. Concern evident in his eyes.
“ah so you’re the owner of that small puppy, how is he doing?” Maren simply asked
“he is doing great thanks to you! My name is Kristoff by the way. A-again thank you so much”
“hey, it’s okay man, I couldn’t let that car hit that pup”
“yes, and again I’m truly sorry, I got a little distracted and when I realized it was well… too late” Maren could see that that man now known as Kristoff was really sorry and he did seem like a good guy, well she isn’t that great at reading people, but he didn’t give her any sign of being a dickhead so….
“No worries man, really, it’s okay” she reassured him
“the name’s Honeymaren by the way”
“Honeymaren! I would say its nice to meet you but… well…” Kristoff gestures to her current situation and Maren can’t help but give a hearty chuckle. He was trying to lighten the mood and she can’t blame him for trying his best.
“Well, it’s okay-ish to meet you Kristoff” she replies earning a smile from the blond man and a confused look from the other two witnessing the weird conversation.
After a few moments of awkward silence between the four of them Kristoff speaks up again
“so…you are probably wondering what I’m doing here…well, like I said before I wont ever be able to thank you enough for your kind act, so as a way of showing my gratitude I will be paying all your hospital bills as well as any extra necessities needed for you to make a full recovery, it’s the least I can do”
Ryder is extremely thankful especially since he wasn’t even the one who hit his sister with a car, the person who did, well, they just sped off right after. But he knew his sister and she was as prideful as she was stubborn.
“no” was Honeymaren’s simple answer, it took Kristof by surprised clearly as he stood there confused.
“look, I get that you’re feeling guilty and all, but I can’t let you do that, it isn’t even your fault…. This is Saint Vincent’s Hospital we’re at, the most expensive one in this city, how or why I ended up at this hospital I don’t know since I’m not exactly the ‘Elite’ type. I can’t put the burden of paying for all these expenses on you. Shit, I’m not even sure how I’ll pay”
“that is very kind of you, but you need not worry. I can cover the expanses no problem. it was me who asked you to be transferred to this hospital. I kind of am part of the ummm…’Elite’ type” Kristoff cringed at that last sentence.
“no” honey simply responded again with a slight annoyance to her voice this time.
Very prideful indeed.
“Maren…” Ryder warned his older sister.
“what? I didn’t ask to be brought here, the hospital near our home was perfectly fine” she responded fully annoyed by now
“yes, but-” Ryder was cut off again
“and you…” she pointed to Kristoff
“this isn’t even your fault, so why are you going above and beyond for this is well, beyond me”
“like I said, this is the least I can do to thank you, and like you said yourself too the bill wont be something you will be able to pay and-” the man in question tried to stay his ground but also got cut off
“oh, excuse me mister perfect, and like I said, I did not ask to be brought here, and I also do not need your pity” she gives a slight huff
“look, I’m thankful that you came here to personally apologize, but right now I think you should leave” she continued.
“HONEYMAREN” her brother said now exasperated
“Can you PLEASE stop being so gosh darn prideful for once and appreciate the help you’ve been given!? He did not need to do all this yes, but he did it anyway BECAUSE he wants to help, and not for some other weird reason you might believe. Stop and think for a minute, it would have been okay if you got to the other hospital, but the bill wouldn’t be any cheaper. How would we also be able to pay? And don’t you think mom wouldn’t find out sooner?”
“He’s right Honey…” Ada chimed in
“And you’ve got school too, remember? We haven’t started yet, but with the hospital bills… no matter which one... it would be difficult for you to balance school and the amount of work you'd have to do. And you’d have to eventually give up on your scholarship to be able to pay, you know that” Ada reasoned
Maren groaned
“Fine…”
“grea-” the blond man got cut off again
“I’m still not happy with this whole situation, but…there’s no way out of this one without your help, so… I accept your help, but that’s it, after that no more got it? You’re a good man with a good heart, but I don’t like pity from anybody”
“No pity here misses! Thank you for letting me help”
“but with one condition though…” Maren said a lot less annoyed now
“o-okay….” Kristoff said unsure of where this was going
“you’ll let me see your dog, for the duration it takes for me to recover!” Maren said seemingly quite excited and a weight lifted off kristoff’s shoulders and with a hearty laugh he replied
“sure! No Problemo, it would be Sven’s pleasure anyway”
“Sven…” honey chuckled
“unusual name…I like it” she offered a small smile
Soon the group heard a knock coming from the door and the same nurse from earlier came into view
“I’m really sorry to bother, but I must advice that visitation time has ended”
“oh right, well…. better get going now huh, do you guys need a ride home?” kristoff asked
“yeah if its not too much” Ryder answered
“we’ll be back first thing tomorrow to pick you up okay sis”
“what about mom?” honey questioned
“Ryder can tell her you went to sleep at my place, right Ryder?” Ada already had a plan in mind
“RIGHT!”
“well, see you guys tomorrow, and ummm… kristoff…thank you” the brunet gave him a sincere smile
“hey, don’t mention it” the young man returned it and with that the three of them made their way to the door and out the Hospital for the night.