*All dragons are copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 10

An Arm For

An Arm

At the hospital, Gareth saw Sarrah waiting at the entrance. He landed right in front of her, "Is she alright? Where is she?!"

Sarrah didn't say anything as she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. They got on an elevator and went up to the third floor. When they got off the elevator, Sarrah spoke, "She's in room 306. Get in there before they take her to the operating room."

Gareth ran to the room and came in just as they started wheeling Hana out, "Hana?.." He whispered when they came near.

Hana opened her eyes slightly and looked at him, "Gareth, is that you?"

"I'm here Hana. I'm here." Hana smiled and closed her eyes. She had fallen asleep. Gareth looked up at the two nurses who were wheeling her out, "Can I come too?"

"Well..." The first nurse frowned a bit, deciding, "We don't normally let someone into the operating room when we have a procedure going..."

"Please! Please, let me come! You don't understand!!!"

Sarrah was at the door, "Calm down, Gareth. I talked with the doctor and she said you could come. You just need to stay out of the way."

Gareth felt like he was about to cry. He turned to look at her, "I can come?"

She winked at him, "You've got special permission. Now, you'll have to excuse me. Bill needs me back at the lab." Sarrah gently stepped onto the elevator and left. Gareth silently promised himself he would make it up to her someday as he got on another elevator with Hana and the two nurses.

They pushed the button for the lobby floor and wheeled Hana out when the doors opened. The operating room loomed ahead of them, promising either life or death for the one he loved, "Please make it through this, Hana. I'll be waiting for you when you wake up."

Peter sat in his cell, waitning for the Protector to get bored and leave, "Once you're gone, I can escape. If Hana did survive, then I have to get free! She's supposed to be mine!!! No one else's unless I say so!! C'mon you damn robot, leave! I'm just sitting here. How can that be so interesting for you?!!" Peter sneered at the robot once more. The thing just wouldn't go! He decided to try something, "Well, you won."

"Just keep quiet and sit there. I'm not much for conversations."

"Well, what else am I supposed to do?!"

"You could go back to plotting and scheming. Your body gives off some really interesting readings when you start thinking."

"What?!"

"Like right now. You're surprised because you didn't know I could read your body temperature so well."

"How did you--"

"It's my secret. I'm not telling."

An officer Peter had never seen before started walking towards them, "I'm here to watch the defendant."

"Request not accepted. He is under my supervision, and no one else's until trial."

"I'm taking over, Protector."

"Negative. I am fully capable of gaurding this criminal."

"You don't get it, do you?" The officer pulled out a small grenade, "I've been ordered to watch him, and that's exactly what I plan to do!" The Protector started running away from the cell, but something seemed to stop him. He fell over onto the ground. The officer smiled, "I told you. I'm going to watch him now." The officer was a griffin with red feathers and no wings. He pulled out some keys and unlocked Peter's door, "Peter Whitman, my employer would like a word with you." The officer pulled out a gun for emphasis, "You've caught his eye, my friend."

Peter had no choice but to go with the griffin.

"I know I said you could be here for this, but are you sure you want to? You could be in the waiting room watching the procedures like everyone else."

"I need to be here for her. Please don't make me leave." Gareth practically begged.

"Okay, but if you start feeling squemish, leave. I can't have any other problems while I work."

"I won't get sick."

"Very well. You know what I have to do to save her, right?"

"You told me already. You're amputating her arm and giving her a biomechanical one for a replacement."

"Correct, and when I'm done..."

"Someone needs to help her get used to the thing. She needs to learn how to handle not being able to feel what she's doing with that arm. I know! Please help her." He held the hand they wouldn't be working on, trying to imagine what differences he'd expect, "I won't lose you. You're too important to me..."

Sarrah watched Gareth from behind her mask, "I hope he's able to get through this." She started working on the green dragoness in front of her, "When we're done, I'll show him who I am. Since he's going to need to get used to her new arm, he'll need to know what's going on. Maybe I'll ask Babe to show who he really is." She glanced up at the clock one last time, "C'mon you guys. Gareth needs a bit of support! You said your concert would be over by now!"

"C'mon guys! We're late! I told we shouldn't have offered our autographs this time!" Kia shouted as she ran up the hospital steps. Ace wasn't very far behind her, followed closely by the rest of the group. They dashed to the observitory and looked through the glass just as the operation was starting. A large black mountain dragon was inside the room, holding the hand of the dragoness sleeping on the table. They all sighed when they found out they were on time, and sat down on the chairs provided. Kia sat down and noticed that Player hadn't taken a seat, "Player? Come sit down."

"No. I'm gonna stand up until I know for sure that those two are alright." Player wouldn't say another word after that.

Kia felt touched by what Player was doing, and stood up herself. She pulled Pik up and dragged him over to the window so they could stand by Player. The rest followed suit. The doctor said something that made the dragon turn to look at the window, and they all waved when he saw them.

Gareth was a bit overcome when he saw them all standing there. He looked back at Hana, then up at the doctor. She calmly said, "Gareth, I need you to get out now."

"What? Why?"

"We have to start administering the anethseptic. If any of it leaks we'll be fine, but you are not prepared in any way. Go up to the observation deck. I'll make sure to call for you when we're done with the operation." Gareth thanked her and made his way up to his friends. He was about to open the door and go in when a voice shouted at him. He turned around to see Shane and Emily running. A tear sprang up and fell to the ground when he saw them as well. None of them recognized him as he opened the door and walked, keeping it open for Shane and Emily as they filed in behind him. Kia walked forward and politely said hello.

"Hi, Kia. Thank you all for coming."

"Nonsense! That dragon is a close friend of a friend of ours. We were hoping that he'd be here as well, but it seems we found you instead. Who are you?"

Gareth laughed, "Oh, Kia. It's great to see you again."

"Sir?"

"Hang on a second, and don't tell anyone." Gareth changed into his human form. Everyone gasped, and Gareth laughed at them.

"GARETH?!!" They all said in unison.

"Yeah...I kinda changed a bit since we last saw each other."

"I'll say!" Kia exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Never found the time. Can we get back to watching Hana now?" They all settled down to wait as they watched the entire operation. While they watched, another dragon came in. No one noticed him at all except Gareth, and he stayed silent. None could take their eyes away as Hana's arm was removed. Gareth understood then why he'd been warned about being squemish. He very nearly threw up when they first started cutting.

Hours rolled by without notice. When Hana's arm was completely off, they pulled out a metallic replacement. Gareth was amazed at how life-like they had been able to make it look. Though it was without scales, it was the very same shade of green as Hana, seemed to have been shaped just for her, and, when it was all the way attached, the only thing that would have been able to give it away was the scar that would remain. Hana was rolled back to her room after that, and everyone waited all night for her to wake up