GL - Movie Night - Part 33
Title: Movie Night
Author: critic2000
Pairing: Olivia/Natalia
Rating: PG-13 to start, for violence (non-sexual) and language. I am not any kind of a medical expert so if there are some glaring errors, please forgive me.
Disclaimer: I don’t own the Guiding Light characters, they belong to CBS and Proctor and Gamble.
Summary: This is set in the spring of 2009. I’ve taking some liberties with the storyline, mainly Natalia never slept with Frank, hence no engagement etc. So our girls have been just continuing forward raising Emma and getting closer to each other though they are still technically just friends, but that will change… This is a hurt/comfort story so they are headed on a rough ride.
Author’s Note: This is my first fan fiction so please be gentle. This would not have been possible if not for the persistent nudging and awesome editing of my beta/great friend croftlara. Comments are welcome.
( Part 1 ) ( Parts 2 & 3 ) ( Part 4 ) ( Parts 5 & 6 ) ( Part 7 ) ( Part 8 ) ( Part 9 ) ( Part 10 ) ( Part 11 ) ( Part 12 ) ( Part 13 ) ( Parts 14 & 15 ) ( Part 16 ) ( Part 17 ) ( Part 18 ) ( Part 19 ) ( Part 20 ) ( Part 21 ) ( Part 22 ) ( Part 23 ) ( Part 24 ) ( Part 25 ) ( Part 26 ) ( Part 27 ) ( Part 28 ) ( Part 29 ) ( Part 30 ) ( Part 31 ) ( Part 32 )
Chapter 33
When Natalia’s lunch arrived, Olivia turned back from looking out the large window and rose from her perch on the windowsill to wake her. The porter had put the food tray on the table between the bed and the window so Olivia walked around to the other side of the bed and put her hand gently on Natalia’s shoulder.
“Honey, your lunch is here. Wake up.”
Natalia’s eyes blinked open and she smiled when she focused on Olivia’s face. “You’re still here.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Where else would I be? Are you ready for some lunch, I haven’t looked to see what it is yet but I’m guessing there will be Jello.”
Natalia chuckled, the sound washed over Olivia like a warm blanket. Thank you for not being angry with me for last night.
Olivia positioned the tray table in front of Natalia and made a grand display of removing the lid from the plate.
“Well I gather they’re still keeping you on a bland diet. Mashed potatoes, clear broth, crackers and green Jello, yummy. I promise when we get home I intend to make you a proper meal.”
Home.
Both Olivia and Natalia paused and avoided each other’s gaze as the mood seemed to change, they were not quite ready to talk about what home meant right yet.
Without another word Natalia picked up her fork and dug into the mashed potatoes and after the first taste of lumpy spud put her fork down. “Those may just be the worst potatoes I’ve ever eaten. When Rafe was eight he insisted upon cooking dinner for me, the potatoes were near raw and he hadn’t bothered to wash them and they still tasted better than this.”
Olivia looked at Natalia and couldn’t help but wonder, she had never heard Natalia complain like that, she was always thankful for whatever she was given, “You okay there?”
Natalia reached for her water and took a long drink. Am I okay? “Yeah, I guess I just woke up a little grumpy from my nap.”
Maybe because I kept you up half the night? “You’re allowed to be grumpy.” A thought came to Olivia’s head, “Ya know, I bet if I called Buzz he could come up with something simple yet really good and we could throw this garbage away?”
Natalia could not help by smile at her friend’s suggestion, “I’m not sure I should, Dr. Gunn probably wouldn’t appreciate me having outside food.”
“Well I’m not talking about greasy Buzz burgers here but maybe some de-lumped potatoes?”
“De-lumped, eh? Is that a word?”
Olivia shrugged then leaned down and whispered conspiratorially, “Seriously Natalia, think about it, I could dispose of this pile of…” She paused when Natalia gave her a look that meant don’t you dare swear, “ah, lumpy potatoes and we could sneak you in some of Buzz’s.” Natalia looked like she was close to cracking when Olivia added the coup de grace, “I was just thinking if I called Buzz maybe I’d ask him to send over something for me for lunch too but I just won’t worry about it.”
That’s a dirty trick. I know when I’m being manipulated but if it’ll get you to eat a real lunch, then I’ll play along. “Okay but just potatoes, no butter or salt, I don’t want to cheat.”
“Oh heaven forbid!” Olivia joked before picking up the phone.
While Olivia made the call, Natalia choked down her Jello and even tasted the broth before pushing away her tray table having to admit to herself that she was a little excited over the idea of some of Buzz’s cooking, even if it was just mashed potatoes.
Olivia hung up the phone after thanking Buzz, “He’ll be over shortly with it.” Reaching for the forgotten plate, she picked up the remnants of the meal and headed for the bathroom to flush the evidence as she said, “Just gonna get rid of this pile of lumpy white shit.” She drew out the word for Natalia’s benefit.
“Hey! Language. That’s not necessary.” Natalia admonished.
Olivia turned back with a full Spencer eyebrow raise and steely glare, “Oh please. We can eat real potatoes and swear a little, that’s just who we are. We’re risk-takers, rebels, fringe people, damn the man Natalia! Damn the man!” Olivia raised the plate above her head and Natalia thought she might throw it to the floor.
“Wait! Don’t smash the plate!” Natalia called out while trying to stifle the smile on her face from Olivia’s bizarre little diatribe.
“Smash the plate?” Olivia lowered it while furrowing her brow. “Now that would just be silly.” With a brilliant flash of a smile she turned and walked into the bathroom with the offending vegetable.
From her place on the bed, Natalia couldn’t control her laughter. It hurt but it was welcomed.
Just then a loud crash could be heard from the bathroom followed by a litany of swearing.
“Olivia?” Natalia called out.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, I promise.” The sound of a broken plate being shifted around could be heard, followed by, “Yeah I’m gonna be a minute.”
***
It took a few minutes but Olivia cleaned the bathroom floor, careful to make sure no shards of the broken plate were left to avoid Natalia cutting herself should she walk around barefoot. Hmmm… that gives me an idea…
“Hey Natalia?” Olivia asked as she came out of the bathroom, “Buzz should be a few more minutes, why don’t I run down to the gift shop and get you some real pajamas and now that you’re up and walking around more, some slippers?”
Shaking her head Natalia answered, “Oh you don’t have to do that.” After all she would not want to put Olivia out even though it would be nice to get out of the hospital gown.
“Well I want to. Will you be okay for a few minutes?”
“Of course, Olivia if you have anything you need to do you know that I’m fine here, right?” I just prefer having you here that’s all.
Ignoring the question Olivia said, “I’ll be back before you know it.” And with that she disappeared through the door leaving Natalia with a grin on her face.
***
The gift shop was quite large and had a good variety of items from stuffed toys and gifts for new babies to flowers, convenience and clothing items. Olivia did not waste time finding the pajamas. She picked out a traditional pair of cotton pajamas in lavender though she did consider getting something more amusing like the SpongeBob Squarepants set but thought it wasn’t really Natalia’s style. After finding matching lavender slippers she stopped by the refrigerator case to pull out two bottles of water and an orange juice before taking her items to the cash register. The gray haired elderly lady manning the register smiled brightly, “Did you find everything you were looking for?”
“Ah yes ma’am thank you.” Olivia took a quick look around the store to see if there was anything else she needed while the cashier rang the items through. “Wait,” Olivia said, “I need to add one more thing.” She walked over to the fresh flowers and picked up a vase of pink lilies. She walked back to the cash desk and deposited the vase on the counter. “I’ll take these too please.”
“Oh they’re lovely aren’t they? We just got those in this morning.”
Olivia smiled, paid for her items and picked up the bag containing the pajamas and drinks in one hand and the vase in the other. She left the gift shop and headed back to the elevator, elbowing the button because she didn’t have a free hand. When the elevator arrived the door opened and inside was a pale boy in a wheelchair and a nurse standing behind him. She instantly recognized both the boy and the nurse from the other day. Olivia smiled and the boy gave a faint smile back as though he recognized her too.
The elevator ride was short as no other passengers got on before she reached Natalia’s floor. When she walked into the room Natalia looked over and noticed the bag and the flowers. “Did you buy out the gift shop?”
“Hardly.” Olivia walked over to the bed and handed Natalia the bag while she asked what she wanted her to do with the flowers.
“Can I smell them?” Natalia asked.
“Of course.” Olivia moved them closer to Natalia’s nose.
Natalia closed her eyes and smelled the flowers. When she opened her eyes she smiled and said, “They’re beautiful. Can you put them next to me on the table?”
Olivia did as asked while absently noting, “Ya know when I was sick I couldn’t have flowers on the cardiac wing.” Turning to Natalia she added, “I really didn’t think about it much at the time but they really do brighten a room, don’t they?” Though not as much as you do.
Quickly changing the subject Olivia asked, “Do you want to put your pajamas on now or wait until after lunch?”
The question was answered for them when Buzz came bustling into the room carrying two bags. “Hello my dear girls! Have I got potatoes for you!”
Both women laughed at the man’s antics.
Olivia took the bag of pajamas and drinks from Natalia and put them on the bedside table between the phone and the flowers as Buzz placed the food on the tray table and began pulling out plastic containers. “Okay so for the patient we have plain ol’ bland mashed potatoes.” He opened the container and it was filled with a huge portion of the steaming vegetable.
Natalia’s eyes went wide, “Wow Buzz, I think that’s enough for an army but I’ll do my best.” Buzz handed over a fork and watched as Natalia tried the mashed spuds. “Now these are potatoes. Thank you.” Natalia smiled and requested Buzz lean down so she could kiss him on the cheek.
Buzz was thrilled that he could do something for this woman whom he considered a daughter; he couldn’t help but get choked up when she kissed him on the cheek. “Well you enjoy those. You need any more you let me know.”
Then turning to Olivia he said, “Now as for you,” Olivia arched her eyebrow and Buzz responded, “hey don’t point that thing at me.”
Natalia could be heard from the bed, giggling through a mouth full of food.
Buzz turned back to her, “Hey don’t choke eh?” This caused her to laugh just enough to spit potato before she could reach up fast enough to catch it.
All three occupants of the room shared a hearty laugh before Olivia cleaned up the expelled vegetable with a Kleenex.
Buzz controlled his laughing long enough to address Olivia again, “Okay lady so I brought you some chili and two slices of homemade bread, fresh out of the oven.”
A strangled noise could be heard from the bed behind him. When he turned Natalia had a hopeful look on her face, “Oh okay maybe I brought a couple of extra slices.”
Natalia smiled as he pulled out the container with the bread. When he opened it the smell was incredible. Natalia immediately reached for a slice and groaned with pleasure when she bit into it, “Oh my gosh Buzz, this is divine.”
“Why thank you. Enjoy, there’s more where that came from.” He turned back to Olivia and ordered as he handed over her food, “Sit down. Eat.”
Olivia sat down on the chair next to the bed and tore a slice of bread in half and dipped it in the chili and stuffed it in her mouth. She didn’t realize how hungry she was until this moment. A few bites more while Buzz made idle chit chat with Natalia before Olivia remembered Buzz had two bags with him, she swallowed a huge helping of chili then asked, “Hey, so what’s in the second bag?”
“Oh this?” Buzz asked lifting the bag and pretending to try and look through it, “Oh that’s just ice cream sundaes but I can’t imagine anyone here would want those.”
A sound akin to a whimper was heard from the bed.
Olivia added, “Well I’d be glad to take one off your hands but Natalia’s being good and not cheating. Say Buzz, what kinds are those?”
A huff of air filled the room.
Ignoring the sound, Buzz answered, “Well we have chocolate fudge of course, your favourite isn’t it Olivia?”
“Why yes Buzz, it is.”
“And then we have strawberry as well.”
“It’s a shame that one will go to waste,” Olivia responded, “Maybe you should eat it yourself.”
Natalia couldn’t stand it any longer and with a mouth full of potatoes managed to say, “You guys are just having way too much fun with this aren’t you?”
Buzz looked at Olivia and both nodded in sync and said, “Yep.”
Olivia looked at her friend after swallowing another large spoonful of chili, “Come on Natalia, it’s just ice cream.”
Buzz added, “Hey it’s strawberry, it’s healthy.”
Natalia gulped down the last of her piece of bread and looked toward the door, “Alright, just a little.”
Buzz smiled and pulled out the huge strawberry sundae complete with whipped cream and a cherry. He took the lid off of it and handed Natalia a spoon. “Have at it girl, you deserve it.”
And Natalia did, she spooned a large amount and stuffed it into her mouth closing her eyes at the sensation. “Mmm. Oh my gosh that’s good,” she said after she swallowed. Just as she put the second spoonful in her mouth the door opened and Lillian walked in.
Natalia froze as though she had been caught sneaking out after curfew, spoon still in her mouth. Both Buzz and Olivia began to chuckle.
Lillian was shocked, she looked at Buzz and chastised her boyfriend of late, “Buzz Cooper what are you doing bringing this girl an ice cream sundae?”
Buzz paled, “Umm..well…I…” He stuttered then glanced at Olivia for help, only she ignored him and looked down at her bowl of chili like it was the most interesting thing in the room.
Natalia snuck one last mouthful before Lillian, seeing her patient taking another bite, turned her attention on her, “Hey!” Lillian grabbed the sundae from the table. “This is not approved for your post surgery diet Natalia.” Feeling bad for having to do it, she walked over to the garbage can. “Soon enough you can eat all of the sundaes you want but right now, we need to stick to what the dietician sends up.”
Natalia glared and pointed at Olivia and Buzz, “They made me do it.”
While the accomplices laughed Lillian asked, “Oh really?”
“Yes, you wouldn’t believe how they forced me even if I told you.”
At that Lillian laughed. “Uh huh. Just try to stick to the meals we provide for now, okay? And that goes for all of you!” She added.
All three nodded their heads looking properly chastised.
“I’ll be back in a bit to change your bandage. You know, after the buffet closes?” With that Lillian walked out of the room pretending to be angry but secretly happy to see Natalia defying orders, Olivia actually eating and Buzz taking care of both of them.
Once the door closed and her nurse was definitely gone Natalia exclaimed, “Damn the man!” Which ignited a new set of laughs from the three risk-takers.
To be continued...