The bruising on her liver and kidneys had finally healed enough for one Gabrielle Ivanovitch, also known as Sailor Saiph, to be sent home form the hospital. Granted it was with the firm admonishment to avoid such dangerous ‘dares’ as the one that had landed her there in the first place. Since Gabbie was not one to normally bother with true dares, this was an easy promise to make.

It had been easy enough to catch a cab home and now that she stood in the sunlit living room of her aunt’s house, she sighed with contentment. She might have to wear the rib brace and she might be in a cast and on crutches for another month or so, but she was HOME. She was among her own stuff, and if she was alone, well, at least she had friends. And, miracle of miracles, no one had thought anything of the hen shin pen in her pocket or the cell phone.

“Well,” she mused aloud, “one side benefit of this senshi business. Not much in the way of possessions to worry about when checking out of a hospital.”

Sighing, she stumped into her bedroom and peeled her clothes off. She wanted a hot shower and warm, comfy pajamas right now. The brace around her ribs was at least removable, provided she was careful. Her leg though… With another sigh, she stumped back to the kitchen in search of a garbage bag, saran wrap and duct tape. Someday, someone would invent a cast that could go in the water without melting and causing trouble. Someday. But for now, Gabbie patiently wrapped her cast and taped all around to make sure not even a drop of water could get in. Then, fetching an old camping stool, she placed it in the tub so she could at least sit and enjoy the water.

Oh, and once the hot water touched her skin, she nearly purred as she washed her hair twice and scrubbed ruthlessly at her skin. As she bathed, she considered her situation. She couldn’t be expected to patrol with a broken leg. So, until the cast came off, she was effectively on vacation from being a senshi. Fine, that was plenty of time to think and plan and figure out if she even wanted to continue.

Rapid-fire visions of Khalla’s bloodied face, her Princess’ enormous blue eyes and Nealite’s scornful smiling face paraded through her mind. So did the thought of a wrathful Astruna. Oh, she knew it was her duty to start fighting again once she was healed. But she didn’t have the heart for it.

I’ve already helped kill one person, she thought. Someone that we might have been able to save. That witch was right, I’m a worthless coward. Tears welled in Gabbie’s amber eyes as her fingers brushed the thin scar on her cheek. She desperately wanted, needed to talk to Khalla, one of the cats, Elzo, anyone. She needed to pour out her heart to someone who understood. Too bad, so sad, there wasn’t anyone available right now. And that’s even if they’d want to talk to a failure like me.

Gabbie turned off the water and reached out for her towel. She couldn’t begin to fix this right now. Wait. Think. Heal. THEN make the calls you need. And hopefully someone would be able to help sort through the muddle. Once she was try and her plastic wrap removed, Gabbie pulled on a loose nightshirt and boy shorts and then went to her room. Flopping down on her own bed, she wriggled comfortably and then picked up her cell. Flipping it open, she ordered dinner and then left a few messages for the people she wanted to talk with. After that, all she could do was wait.