Life With Benefits

Chapter 5: I’m Alive?

Several hours later I woke up to be in an unknown room, the sound of a beeping just to my left with bright lights above me. There was a tube going down throat, every so often I could feel my chest expand a little then return to normal. I tried to speak but nothing came out but saliva running down my muzzle.

I heard talking In the next room over, as to what was being said I couldn’t tell. All I could guess from the voices I heard was it had to be Nurse Red Heart, and one of the other hospital staff going over a chart or some duties. The other voice sounded familiar to me, maybe one of the ponies there when I was giving birth to Lightning.

Either way all I knew was I had to get their attention somehow, looking around the room I spotted a glass of water on the bedside tray. I tried to reach for the glass of water hoping it would make enough of a noise they would come look into it.

My leg was too heavy to move and took a great amount of effort to even get it up on the tray, but I was determined to get one or both of them in here. Pushing the glass all I did was move it, frustrated I tried again, and again till I knocked it off the table. The sound of glass breaking caused them to come rushing into my room.

“Scootaloo are you awake?” A tan unicorn asked in a hurried breath, as he rushed in to see what caused the glass cup to fall.

I knew this stallion from anywhere, he was the cousin of Oakheart. One of my closest friends to date, I had met him shortly after I gave birth to Lightning. I had heard he was working somewhere close by but never thought he was a registered nurse.

“Pixel Scratch, is it alright to come in? Is she awake?” I could hear Oakheart from outside of the room.

Walking around my bed to avoid the broken glass, he walked up to me with what I assumed to be a damp cloth.

“Ya she’s awake, but don’t come in just yet.” He called back with a faint smile on his face as he patted my head and face with the cloth, “Could you go get one of the janitorial ponies real quick?”

Looking at the machine he checked my vitals. A few moments later he patted my shoulder as another unicorn stepped into the room.

Pointing over my bed he motioned to the other pony, “I’ll be back in a few minutes with a couple of doctors. They will determine if it’s safe to pull the oxygen tube out of you.” In my weakened state I tried to gesture for him to do it.

He brushed my mane before walking off, “Hospital policy Scoots, I’m too close to you to do anything. I could get emotional and make a mistake, besides I’m not a doctor yet. Still have a few years of medical training to go through first.”

As the janitor left the room several doctors and a few nurses came walking in. Going over my chart and checking several things one of the nurses passed a syringe over.

“Ms. Scootaloo, this is a simple relaxer.” One of the masked doctors said as his magic positioned the needle at my neck, “Once it's taken effect we will start to remove the tube.” I nodded showing I understood what he was saying.

I felt the needle enter my neck, and the cool fluid enter my vein. They stood there for a few minutes talking about how lucky I was to be alive. Holding my mouth open they began to slowly removed the tube, I gagged a little followed by some coughing as the tube finally came out.

Rubbing my shoulder as the others left the doctor smiled at me, “The drug will leave your body soon.” Pulling up my chart he looked a few things over, “When you are feeling a little better I’ll go over a few things with you.”

Walking out of the room I could see a faint movement of his neck. I assume it was him nodding on his way out.

“Keep your visit short though, in her state she needs as much rest as she can get.” He instructed the small group of ponies as he passed them.

Slowly a group came walking in just to see me. Silver Spoon, my little colt Lightning, even Pixel came walking back in. Right behind him was his cousin Oakheart.

I gave a weakened smile, “It’s good to see you again Oakheart, but how did yo-” He smiled as he looked at Pixel, “right, the two of you are always keeping up with each other.”

Looking over towards Silver and Lightning I saw another stallion behind them, his coat was a light grey. His mane was black with a few streaks of dark grey waves, they seemed to be like the waves in the ocean or waves of grass when the wind blows. He tried not to make eye contact with me and more times than not he often looked at the floor in shame, but even still I could see the horn on his head.

“Mommy!” Lightning nearly jumped up into my bed only for Silver to grab hold of him.

He struggled in her hold as she tried to calm him down, “Lightning, I know you want to hug her, but if you’re not careful you could hurt Scoots.” He pouted as he slowly stopped his flailing.

Scooting myself over a little I patted on my bed, “It’s alright…” My voice ached as I tried to talk, “let him up here.” Silver Spoon was hesitant for a moment, but helped Lightning into my bed so he could lay next to me.

He tried not to cry, but as he held onto my gown and blanket I knew he would soon enough.

“It’s great that you survived Scoots, I was so worried when they took you.” Silver Spoon nearly started crying as she gently held my hoof, “According to the reports you had stopped breathing and… and…” She didn’t have to say it, up till now I thought it was a dream.

But I had… I was… I thought back about that pony I was following. If that truly was who I thought it was, then why was I still here? Was it just not yet my time to leave, or was I given a second chance?

Either way I planned on making the best of this, I am still here and I still have a chance to be a better parent. And the mare of my life was standing next to me.

Weakly I gripped her hoof, “Who’s?” I tried to ask as I looked at the stallion in the corner.

Silver Spoon cleared her eyes of tears, “Oh, that’s Storm Winds.” She sniffled as she gestured for him to come over.

His ears hung low and his eyes barely stayed open, “I’m sorry ma’am, I should have done something more. I-I-” He was ashamed that he didn’t try to save me, or at least try anything more than he already did.

Nodding as I closed my eyes I faintly shook my head, “You did what you could…” I groaned feeling the relaxer start to leave my body, “the important thing is, you kept Lightning and Silver Spoon safe. That’s all I could ask for the most.”

Looking over I hoped to get a drink, but was quickly reminded that I had broke the glass. I groaned tapping the tray.

Pixel gave a chuckle as he quickly walked out the door, “Sorry about that, I should have gotten you a new glass while we were waiting.”

We all sat there talking about what had happened, from what the fire inspector ponies managed to discover it was mostly an accident. They had found the remains of a cigarette butt where the fire had started, somepony passing by just flicked it off to the side when they finished. Whom ever it was didn’t care to put it out, or even where it would land.

All they cared about was that they were done with their cigarette. Sadly they had yet to find out who it was, but the investigation was still open. Whomever they are I know this will be on their conscience for the rest of their life, and maybe they will think twice next time.