Deus ex Machina

 

By DRL

 

 

 

        His Excellency Treize Kushrenada hurried along the corridors of the clinic, his mind frantically trying to calculate the length of time he had been out.  He passed a pair of nurses in starched uniforms, who giggled girlishly as he passed and a formidable-looking female doctor in a pristine white lab coat, who unashamedly gave him an appraising glance, almost nodding with approval.  He was oblivious to both, however, his mind now focussed on one thing only – getting back to Wufei. 

 

        He had left the room where Wufei lay in anaesthetic-induced slumber for what he thought would be a moment only, to give news of Wufei’s operation, or such news as he had anyway, to their friends.  He had not wanted them to worry unduly, as he knew that Quatre Barton-Winner particularly was wont to do.  He had not counted on the nearest public telephone being so far from Wufei’s room, however, and consequently he had spent much more time than he had intended, and he half regretted his decision.  As it was, it had taken him so long to find the telephone that he had vouchsafed himself only sufficient time to phone the Maxwell-Yuys, theirs being the first telephone number to spring to his mind, entrusting to them the task of passing the news on to Quatre & Trowa Barton-Winner.

 

        As he walked the image he had been trying to expel from his mind returned again, unbidden.   An image of a post-operative Wufei, unseeing and woozy, waking up alone and confused.  ‘No,’ He thought, ‘That must never happen.’  He almost broke into a run, as undignified as that may have been.  He finally re-entered Wufei’s room to find that his worst fears had indeed been realised.  Wufei was sitting bolt upright in the bed, very much awake.

 

        “Who are you?  What do you want?”  He demanded, with a ferocity that surprised Treize, considering only minutes ago he had been strongly under the influence of a general anaesthetic.  Despite the obvious hostility, Treize could also detect an underlying panic in Wufei’s voice, and he mentally chided himself for ever having left the room.

 

        “It’s me Fei, I’m so sorry.”  He rushed to his husband’s bedside, taking the trembling hands in his.  Wufei wrenched his hands free and, balling them into fists, lashed out in Treize’s general direction.   His eyes were covered with a surgical dressing so he could see nothing, but he followed his other senses and found his mark.

 

        “Your’e a bastard Treize.”  Wufei cried out in a voice shrill with anger, “You left me – how could you?”

 

        Treize saw the blows coming but took no evasive action.  Wufei was in no condition to do him any real harm, even if he had really meant him any.  Instead he allowed the fists to connect with his unresisting body.  Despite Wufei’s obvious rage there was very little force behind the blows and Treize caught the tiny wrists in his hands, stilling the young man’s motion. 

       

        “Wufei stop this!” He said in a stentorian voice.  “You have to lay still or you may do yourself some damage.”  After a half-hearted attempt to free himself, which Treize effortlessly countered, Wufei slumped back against the bedhead as if suddenly remembering that he was supposed to be a convalescent.

 

        “You said you would stay with me,” Wufei said accusingly, his tone a little more moderate but still terse and angry, “You promised.” 

 

        Treize released Wufei’s wrists and, folding one leg beneath him, sat on the bed and placed a strong, comforting arm around Wufei’s thin shoulders.  Wufei leaned heavily against his husband’s body, but when he made as if to lay his head on Treize’s shoulder a bolt of pain shot through his head, drawing a sharp hiss from Wufei’s lips.

 

        “Are you in pain my pet?”  Treize asked, turning steely but concerned blue eyes on Wufei, who nodded gingerly.  As he did so, he winced with pain again and Treize rose with a swift and fluid motion which disturbed Wufei not at all.  “I’ll send for the doctor.”  He depressed a button that was mounted within easy reach of the bed, and then proceeded to fuss with Wufei’s pillows in an attempt to settle him more comfortably. 

 

        Within an impressively few minutes, a smiling Dr Scrivener entered the room, flanked by the same two nurses Treize had passed in the corridor, although he was unaware of this fact, not having previously registered them in his haste.  Now they were sober and professional in their manner, merely nodding a respectful acknowledgement of his presence in the room, their attention focussed on Wufei.  They gently ushered Treize aside as they set to work checking Wufei over with their various instruments and monitors, which they wielded with consummate skill.  Treize looked on in helpless bewilderment as they worked. 

 

        “Well now young man,” The good doctor said jovially as he stood beside Wufei’s bed, “How do we feel?” 

 

        “Sick.”  Wufei replied hoarsely.  He then proceeded to lean over to one side and retch violently. 

 

        The nurses reacted immediately, and only the timely action of one of them with a kidney bowl averted disaster.  The next few minutes were a nightmare for Treize, and he could only imagine how unbearable they must have been for Wufei.  For one reason or another Wufei had not eaten much during the 36 hours preceding his operation, so in theory his stomach should have been virtually empty.  Contrary to this logic, however, his stomach contents, such as they were, were copiously, violently and repeatedly ejected into the kidney bowls that the nurses kept producing like rabbits out of a hat.  The spasms of nausea that gnawed at Wufei’s gut wracked his body, causing him to double over, but any movement of his head caused him such intense pain that he cried out. 

 

Treize stood inertly by, powerless to assist or comfort Wufei in any way.  He had taken an involuntary step towards the bed when he had first heard Wufei cry out in pain, but Dr Scrivener, his ever-present smile for once stricken from his lips, had made it quite clear that he either stayed back or left the room.  He listened as Dr Scrivener barked orders that the nurses hastened to follow.  One of them left the room, returning with various hypodermic syringes filled with he knew not what.  All he knew was that they were pumping the contents into his poor dragon’s body, and his poor dragon did not like it one little bit. 

 

“Treize, where are you?” Wufei called out at one point, a desperate plea that rent Treize’s heart. 

 

“I’m here my love, I’m right here.”  He replied, frustrated with his helplessness.

 

“Treize, help me,” Wufei cried again, “It hurts so much.”

 

“I know it does my pet, but there’s nothing I can do.” 

 

Wufei called out his name once more and vainly reached out his hand towards Treize before another wave of nausea overtook him and he withdrew the hand and clutched at his stomach.   At this point Treize would have given anything, unto the half of his kingdom, to have been allowed to take Wufei’s hand, just to give him a modicum of physical comfort, but it was not to be.  Mindful of the fact that Wufei’s eyes were bound and he could not see, Treize could only imagine his poor husband’s fear and disorientation, being able to hear what was gong on around him but not to see.  He was not even able to see the kidney bowls he was retching into, a fact which made the nurses’ job doubly difficult.

 

        Eventually Wufei seemed to calm down, though whether this was a natural abatement or due to the drugs he had been given Treize neither knew nor cared.  He was simply relieved that Wufei’s suffering appeared to be over.  After a final bout of unproductive retching, he slumped back against the headboard, spent and exhausted.  Dr Scrivener turned to Treize, his smile having returned.  He drew the stricken Russian to one side, out of Wufei’s earshot, although Treize cast a few glances back over his shoulder, longing to be at Wufei’s side.

 

        “He should be alright now,” Said Dr Scrivener, “I’ve given him something for the pain and the vomiting”.  

 

        “Dr Scrivener, what the hell just happened?”  Treize asked in a voice tight with trepidation.

 

        “Oh, nothing at all to worry about Your Excellency.”  The Doctor said airily.  “The nausea is a common reaction to the anaesthetic, except in Wufei’s case it was a bit more extreme than usual.  I’m not quite sure why that was, but it’s almost certainly nothing.  Now the head pain, that is a bit more worrying, but it still doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”  He added quickly as he saw Treize’s eyes widen in horror.  “The operation went very well,” Dr Scrivener hastened to reassure him, “And I expect Wufei to make a full recovery.  You know that post operative recovery for an operation of this type is a lengthy process, and it can take up to two years before Wufei fully recovers his vision.  Then we can begin the laser surgery to correct the damage already done.”  Treize nodded.

 

        “Yes, I understand that Doctor, thank-you very much.  But tell me, when his eyes are unbound, will he be able to see?”  This was a crucial point considering Wufei’s recurring nightmare, which had made an unwelcome return during the past few nights, and Treize knew that this would be one of Wufei’s first questions.

 

        “Yes, of course.”  Dr Scrivener seemed surprised at the question.  “As I said, everything went well.  He won’t exactly have 20:20 vision, and at first his sight will seem much worse than it was before, but this is perfectly normal.  His sight will return gradually over the next few months, but as I said, it could take up to two years for full vision to return.  I don’t say that it will take this long, but if it does, there is no need for worry.”  Treize breathed a heavy, relieved sigh.

 

        “Thank-you Doctor.  When can I take him home?”  The second question Treize knew he would be asked.

 

        “Oh I think we’ll keep him here under observation for a few days, especially after this…” Dr Scrivener waved a hand casually in the direction of Wufei’s bed, where the nurses were settling their patient and clearing up after the recent drama, “You can probably take him home in 3-4 day’s time, so long as he experiences no more pain and his eyes show no signs of rejection.”  At Treize’s confused frown he elucidated.  “Wufei’s newly transplanted corneas will be treated as foreign bodies by his immune system, just as any other transplanted organ, and are subject to the same risk of rejection as his body attempts to combat and rid itself of what it sees as an enemy invader, so to speak.  Extremely effective measures are taken against this, however, which is why organ transplants are very successful nowadays.  It’s only a minor risk though, and nothing to worry about.”  The doctor beamed and it crossed Treize’s mind that if one was to believe everything this convivial man said, and he freely admitted that it was very difficult not to, so much did he inspire confidence, one would never worry about anything ever again. 

 

“There is nothing more that I can do for him,” The doctor continued, “Except keep an eye on him.  All I can prescribe now, apart from a few painkillers, is some T.LC. which I think you can administer better than anyone here.  He has been through a harrowing few weeks so a great deal of rest and relaxation is just what this doctor orders.  Remember though, no heavy labour or vigorous activity when he gets home.  Light exercise is fine, but nothing arduous or strenuous.  This is very important because his sutures will remain in place for at least a year, and they must not be pulled or strained in any way, at least for the first few months of healing.” 

 

        “Yes Doctor.”  Treize said, although over his dead body would Wufei undertake labour of any kind, strenuous or otherwise.  He would lay back and be pampered and cosseted to within an inch of his life for the next two years if Treize had anything to do with it, and he certainly had.

 

        “Now we’ll leave the two of you alone Your Excellency.”  The doctor said in a lowered voice, leaning conspiratorially towards Treize.  “If you need anything then ring for assistance, other than that he won’t be disturbed until the morning.  Feel free to use the bedroom in the back if you would like to remain overnight.  Do remember though, no strenuous activity.”

 

        Treize looked at the doctor through narrowed suspicious eyes that searched the man’s face, trying to discern whether there was any underlying meaning to his words.  All he saw, however, was a round, jovial, kindly face, smiling openly and honestly as always.  Treize’s face broke into an answering smile, and, taking the other man’s hand, he wrung it earnestly and warmly.  He liked this man enormously, who had understood and dealt so well with his fiery dragon.  Even when the good doctor had fallen foul of the Chinese young man’s quick temper, and this not necessarily because of anything the doctor had said or done wrong but because of Wufei’s own insecuritys and uncertainty, Dr Scrivener had merely smiled through the tirade, waiting until Wufei’s temper had flared and quenched, then either continued the consultation or adjourned the proceedings, whichever he deemed best for Wufei under the circumstances.  This man, who addressed Treize as ‘Your Excellency’, but made it sound as informal as ‘buddy’ or ‘pal’, had also won Wufei’s complete confidence, no mean feat at the best of times, simply by being himself and accepting Wufei for what he was, not the spoiled and pampered consort of a wealthy and powerful man, which is what most others saw and treated him as, but merely as an ailing and frightened young man.

 

        “Yes doctor,” He said once more, “And thank-you, thank-you for everything.”

 

        Dr Scrivener waved away Treize’s thanks and, summoning his nurses, left the room.  Once the door had closed Treize turned to face the bed.  Wufei lay outstretched on his back, his head resting comfortably against a low mound of pillows and his ashen face turned away from Treize.  The sheets were pulled up and folded neatly under his armpits and his arms resting at his sides, uncovered.  He wore the standard issue white hospital gown, the loose sleeves of which stopped just above his elbows, and Treize looked at the pale skin of his forearms as they lay against the white sheets.  His heart sank as he noticed that they were hardly different in colour, and he slowly crossed the room and took one of Wufei’s frail hands in his.   He extended his free hand behind him, groping for the chair he knew to be there, and when he located it he drew it to him and sank down, perching on the edge of the seat so as to be as close as he could to Wufei.

 

        “Oh my poor, poor dragon.”  He said as he pressed the hand to his cheek.  Suddenly Wufei’s head rotated on the pillow until it faced him, the dressing-covered eyes seeming to fix him with a disconcertingly direct but empty glare.  Treize had thought Wufei asleep and in his surprise he dropped he hand he was holding.  It fell heavily, as if there were no life in the limb.

 

        “What happened Treize,” Wufei rasped hoarsely, “Did something go wrong?  Am I blind?”  This last question had a quaver behind the hoarseness that Treize hastened to dispel.  He took Wufei’s hand again and held it gently between both of his, raising it to his lips and kissing it lightly. 

 

        “No Sweet, you are not blind.  Everything went very well and you are going to be fine.”  He kissed Wufei’s hand again.  Treize felt the slender fingers tighten slightly around his own and Wufei attempted to sit up, using Treize’s hand as a brace with which to haul himself upright.  He gave up the attempt, having no strength left in his body.

 

        “Here, let me help you.”  Treize rose from the chair and sat beside Wufei on the bed, folding one leg beneath him as he had done before.  Placing his arms beneath Wufei’s armpits he gently lifted his husband until he rested with his back against the headboard, hastily re-arranging the pillows at Wufei’s back.  As soon as he was upright Wufei reached out for Treize and grabbed what ever part of him he could.  He pulled the older man closer to him and wrapped his arms about him, clinging to him almost in desperation, his face buried in Treize’s chest. 

 

        “Now you mustn’t cry Sweet,” Treize chided gently as he heard a muffled sob, “I will have to send for the nurse to change your dressing if you get it all wet.”  He disengaged Wufei’s arms gently and settled himself against the headboard.  He then took Wufei in his arms, cradling the small body gently.  Wufei tucked his head beneath Treize’s chin and wrapped his arms around his body once more, this time more gently and with less desperation.  Wufei’s hair was caught up at the nape of his neck in a pony-tail and Treize smoothed back some errant tendrils that had worked themselves loose.  They sat in companionable silence for some little while before Wufei spoke again.

 

        “When can I go home?”  He asked.  Treize smiled to himself as he realised that he had correctly predicted Wufei’s first two questions to him.

 

        “In a few days time my pet.”  He replied.  “Dr Scrivener wants to keep you here for observation for a while, but he is confident that you will make a full recovery.”  Wufei sighed heavily.

 

        “And I will be able to see?”  He asked once more.

 

        “Not very well at first,” Treize replied, “But remember, Dr Scrivener did warn us about that.”

 

        “Yes, I remember.”  Wufei nodded.  “Did you stay with me during the operation?”  He asked.  Treize shuddered at the memory.

 

        “Yes, I did.” He replied. “They allowed me to stay so long as I was scrubbed, gowned and masked but I was not allowed to get anywhere near the operating table, so I was not able to see anything.”  ‘Thank-goodness’ he mentally added.

 

        “I shouldn’t imagine you were champing at the bit either.”  Wufei said with a weak laugh.

 

        “You’re darn tootin’,” Trieze replied, mimicking Duo Maxwell’s American drawl.  They both laughed, and then Treize grew serious again.  “I didn’t leave you earlier, you know.”  He said.  “Well not for very long anyway.  When they wheeled you out of the theatre and into the post-operative recovery room I went with you and stayed there for around an hour and a half.  You still hadn’t woken up so they brought you back in here and I waited with you for around another hour.  I began to get a little worried so I rang for Dr Scrivener.  He told me that you would probably come round at any moment, and that I shouldn’t worry.”

 

        “That’s what he always says.”  Wufei interposed

 

        “It suddenly crossed my mind that the others must probably be wondering what had happened and how you were.” Treize continued. “They knew that the operation was scheduled for 9.00 this morning and it was about 9.30 in the evening by then.  I was then torn between staying with you in case you came round, or finding a phone to let them know that you were okay and that everything went well.  I couldn’t phone from the room, of course, because I couldn’t use my cellphone.  I decided to find the phone, and as bad luck would have it, you came round while I was out of the room.”

 

        “I’m sorry I blew up at you.”  Wufei said, and it suddenly occurred to Treize that this was the first time that Wufei had ever apologised outright for one of his fits of temper.

 

        “Don’t worry about it my pet.”  He said.  God, he had been around Dr Scrivener far too long.

 

        “You do know that I love you don’t you?”  Wufei asked with such gravity that Treize was momentarily alarmed.

 

        “Of course I do.”  He replied, “Why would you ask that?”

 

        “Because I do love you, I love you very much,” Wufei continued earnestly, ignoring the question.  “Although I don’t tell you so very often.  I know that I’m quite horrid to you sometimes and I can be a bit of a brat, but I don’t mean anything by it, really I don’t.  I don’t hate you or anything, even though I might say so.  You are so lovely to me Treize, all the time.  Even when I’m being horrid to you you are kind to me.  I just wanted you to know that I really do appreciate it, and I really do love you.  I would just hate to think that something might happen to me and I might never have the chance to tell you how wonderful I think you are and how dear you are to me.  I…, I just wanted you to know, just in case.”  Treize tightened his arms around his husband, holding him closer to him.

 

        “I do know it, my Dragon,” He said, “And nothing is going to happen to you, not while I still have breath in my body.”  He added.

 

        Wufei fell asleep shortly after, and Treize remained with him, drifting in and out of a fitful but untroubled sleep.  When the nursing staff entered the room the next morning, so moved were they by the sight of the couple asleep in each other’s arms that they discreetly withdrew and left them.  They were astute enough to realise that time spent in the arms of the man he loved would do Wufei more good than any medicine they could offer him.