Word count, around 1000 words.
TW: Su1c1d themes, recovering
A reason to stay
Chapter II Reaching the clinic and some secrets
Shane’s memories were blurry—he could hardly recall how Gina had managed to drag him to the hospital. There was no way she could have done it alone.
He remembered the panic he felt as Gina struggled to drag him throug the forest. The only way possible to the clinic it was passing in front of Marnie's ranch, what if Jas saw him? The thought made his stomach hurts.
"No, p-please... No Marnie's...Jas can't see me...not like this," he mumbled.
"Don't worry Shane, she is not going to see you"
Gina's mind was working, looking for solutions.
The fastest route to Harvey’s clinic was through the sewers. She hesitated—she had promised Krobus that no other human would be there—but Shane needed her. His breath and his heartbeat were getting slowed, his body was getting cold. She needed to get him to the hospital as fast as possible, or he will surely...
She thought in all alternatives. This was the only option, the only one that can save Shane's life. Taking a deep breath, she entered the sewers while dragging Shane.
"W-where... are we going?" Shane slurred, struggling to form words. "This place smells... smells like shit."
"We’re taking a shortcut," Gina replied.
They reached the stairs leading up to the surface in the middle of town, but Gina realized she had no idea how to get Shane to climb them.
Just then, Krobus appeared from around the corner, happily eating his void mayonnaise.
"Oh, hi Gina, how are you... wait, what!?—" he gasped, dropping his food as he noticed Shane.
Shane blinked at Krobus as if trying to decipher a complicated puzzle. Then, without warning, he vomited all over Krobus’s feet.
"Awww! This is disgusting! Gina, you promised that..."
"He’s dying!" Gina interrupted him. "I wouldn’t have brought him here if it wasn’t an emergency!"
"Dying?!" Krobus panicked. "I don’t know anything about human medicine! I barely understand humans at all! What do I do with a dying human?"
"No, Krobus, no," Gina reassured him. "I just need to get him to the clinic, in town." She pointed at the sewer cover.
"Oh! That makes sense! Wait, he can climb by himself?" "I don't think so" "I’ll use my magic to get him up there. Give me a moment!"
Shane’s body slowly lifted off the ground, rising toward the exit. Gina hurried up the stairs. "I own you a big one for this, Krobus!"
When she reached the surface, Shane was sitting upright. He looked at her, his eyes unfocused, then collapsed.
Gina’s heart pounded in her chest.
"No, no, not now," she thought desperately.
"Shane, please, wake up!" she shouted. "Just hold on a little longer! Shane! SHANE!
His breathing was labored, his head hanging like a ragdoll’s.
It was Kent. He was standing outside, his usual routine before bedtime.
"Yes, please! I need help! He... he drank too much, and I’m trying to get him to Dr. Harvey's, but..."
Kent didn’t wait for more explanation. He rushed toward Shane and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him lightly.
"Hey, hey, can you hear me?"
Shane took a deep breath.
"Listen to me,..." Kent looked at Gina.
"His name is Shane" Gina said
"Listen to me Shane, you need to focus. Don’t fall asleep. Start counting for me, okay? Just concentrate on that. We’re going to help you."
"Come on, I need to hear you count," Kent insisted, while he lifted Shane in a fireman’s carry and started walking.
"One... Ugh!..three... four... six..."
"Good, good. Gina, go ahead. Wake up Dr. Harvey—we don’t have time to waste."
Gina didn’t hesitate. She ran ahead, grateful that Kent had military training, but she feels uneasy in his presence.
The first time she had met him, standing at her doorstep, she had felt shivers run down her spine. He had been a prisoner of the Gotorians, living among them long enough to know their features well.
What if he recognized something in her?
No one could know she was half-Gotorian. Not now. Not when she had finally put roots in Stardew Valley. Not when she had a place to call home, and people to call friends.
"Um, hello there. My name’s Kent." she remembered "I just got back last night... from overseas. My wife told me a new farmer moved in while I was gone."
She had frozen. She had no idea what kind of impact a traumatized soldier would have on the town. Would he recognize her for what she was?
Kent had looked at her strangely, as if something about her seemed familiar. Then he shook his head, as if brushing the thought away.
"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself... I'll see you around."
She had held her breath until he walked away.
But there was no time to think on that now. She had to focus on Shane.
She ran toward the clinic. Near the cemetery, she spotted Abigail, just finishing up her sword night training.
Abigail turned around. Her eyes widened when she saw Gina running toward her, and even more when she spotted Kent carrying Shane.
"Abby... Dr. Harvey... now!" said Gina between breaths.
Abigail didn’t hesitate. She was faster than Gina and she sprinted toward Harvey’s apartment, pressing the buzzer repeatedly.
"Yes," said a sleepy voice.
"Harvey, it's me, Abigail. We need help...it's Shane. He looks like he passed out."
There was a second of silence.
"Get in, I'll be down in a minute," Harvey said through the intercom. The door unlocked, and Abigail, Gina, Kent, and Shane hurried inside.
Harvey was still in his pajamas, speaking on the phone as he descended the stairs.
"Yes, Maru, I'm sorry for calling so late, but we have an emergency... Yes, thank you. I'll wait for you." He hung up and turned to them. "Alright, lay him down here."
They entered the room and carefully helped Shane onto the bed.
"What happened?" Harvey asked, his fingers pressing firmly against Shane's wrist, checking his pulse
"He was at the cliffs," Gina said, her voice shaking. "He drank a lot of alcohol—I think it was that Joja beer and..."
She stopped for a second.
"He tried... he tried to commit...he almost...the cliffs..."
She couldn't finish. Tears spilled down her face as she sobbed. Abigail immediately moved to comfort her.
Harvey's expression turned grave. He leaned over Shane.
"Shane, can you hear me? Can you answer me?"
Shane struggled to open his eyes, his head lolling slightly. His lips moved, mumbling weakly.
"Sixteen... seventeen...hic...twenty..."
He was still trying to count, but his words were slurred, his voice fading.
Harvey immediately checked Shane’s breathing, leaning in to listen closely.
"He's struggling to breath", he muttered.
He then lifted one of Shane’s eyelids, flashing a penlight into his eye. Harvey put a severe expression. His body was shutting down from the alcohol.
"This isn't good," Harvey said as he moved quickly around the room, grabbing supplies
"Did he vomit?" he asked, while retrieving a tube.
"Yes, I think twice," Gina replied.
Harvey nodded, his face tense.
He then carefully inserted a small tube into Shane’s nose, guiding it down his throat. Shane flinched weakly, his body tensing. Gina hold his hand, as a way to tell him that she was there, that he was no alone.
"How much did he drink?" Harvey asked.
"I'm not sure... at least a pack and a half," Gina said, unable to watch at Shane in pain.
Shane’s eyes open slightly, his gaze finding Gina. His fingers weakly tightened around her hand.
"I'm sorry, but I need you to leave," Harvey said firmly.
Kent and Abigail stepped out without question, but Shane's grip lingered on Gina’s hand.
"Shane, I need to intubate you to make sure you're breathing properly," Harvey explained, his voice calm but urgent. He reached for another tube, preparing to place it down Shane’s throat.
Reluctantly, Gina pulled away and stepped outside the room, sitting down with her hands over her face.
"Please, Shane... don't die."