Is this destiny?

~ China, a private hospital in Ganzhou District ~

Later that night…

Sarah was typing on the laptop when she noticed that Master Hollow is stirring.

After a few groans and hand twitches, Master Hollow woke up in a panic. Luckily, Sarah was there, otherwise, he would get off the bed.

"Master!", Sarah called as she held onto his shoulders. She pinned him down while doing her best not to press on his wounds.

"Calm down. You just woke up after surgery. It's OK…", she did his best to reassure him that they are safe, even though she had no idea why he is trashing so much. Aren't people who wake up after a surgery drowsy?

It took him some time to realize that it's Sarah and to focus on what she is saying.

"Where are we?", he asked frantically.

Sarah exhaled in relief. At least he stopped trying to get up and he started asking questions.

"We are in a hospital. You were shot."

Disapproval on his face was obvious. "We need to go back."

"Master!", Sarah raised her voice at the unreasonable man who was trying to get up. "Did you hear what I said? You were shot. Twice. If I didn't bring you here, you would die. Even now, you are not stable. Calm down. Take a few deep breaths and try to remember. You were with Bo on the clearing, and the poachers came from the woods..."

"How is Bo?", Master Hollow interrupted Sarah.

Sarah exhaled. "Thanks to you, he is fine. But you got shot in your shoulder and in your stomach. Please, stay in the bed and stop resisting or your wounds will open up. No one knows who you are."

Master Hollow relaxed slightly and his eyes darted around the room. "What kind of a place is this? How did we get here?"

"It's a private hospital in China. You were bleeding and we had no other choice than to get you the treatment as soon as possible. I used the Wang family token to summon the helicopter and that is how we ended up here.", Sarah explained.

Master Hollow frowned. "Wang family token? Wang family from China? How did you get one of those?"

Sarah didn't want to go into details. "Gambling in Las Vegas."

Master Hollow didn't believe it. "No one gambles Wang family token away."

Well, Sarah had to admit that there is more to that story. "I won something in gambling, and I exchanged it for a token. Please, don't ask more."

Master Hollow agreed not to ask more about the token, but... "I want to go back."

"Back where?", Sarah asked in disbelief while gesturing to all the machines which are by Master Hollow's bed.

He ignored her exaggerated waving. "Home."

Sarah rejected. "You just had major surgery. Your life is in danger."

"My life is not in danger. Since when are you a doctor?"

Sarah looked at the defiant old man and exhaled in frustration. Why can't he sit still like other old people? She does not know how old Master Hollow is, but he is definitely more than sixty. "How about I call a doctor to check on you? And then we can talk…"

Master Hollow wanted to object, but then he realized that doctors probably checked him many times while he was unconscious. One more time won't make a difference and he can prove to Sarah that he is fine, and they can go back.

As much as he does not like it, he has to admit that he can't return home without Sarah's help. So, he needs to cooperate. At least a little bit.

…

About fifteen minutes later…

"When can I go?", Master Hollow asked the doctor.

"You had surgery and you should not move.", the doctor explained.

Master Hollow frowned. "What do you mean by: 'not move'? I am not crippled!"

Doctor's frown matched Master Hollow's. "You are not crippled, but if you don't take care of yourself you will bleed out."

Master Hollow was irritated. "How can you make such a diagnosis? You didn't do any checkup."

"Earlier today, my hands were inside your stomach. I know your condition enough to say with confidence that you need to rest.", the doctor responded.

Master Hollow took a deep breath and asked in a calm tone: "How long do I need to stay here?"

"Until you heal."

Master Hollow pressed his lips into a line. "How do I know when I healed?"

The doctor was not sure how to answer this. "It depends on your body. But you should avoid any vigorous movements while taking painkillers. Take it slow, nothing more than light walking. I would suggest at least a week unless you have someone to take care of you at home."

Master Hollow was not happy with the possibility of a prolonged stay in the hospital. He realized that doctor mentioned home care... "If I have someone to take care of me at home, when can I leave?"

The doctor looked at Sarah who shrugged. She does not know how to handle this old man who wants to leave the hospital at any cost.

"At this point you are stable. Weak, but stable.", the doctor responded. "The biggest complications would be if you move and your wounds open up, or if they get infected. In order to avoid that, you need to rest, keep your wounds clean, and to take medications regularly. The stitches are self-dissolving, so removal won't be necessary."

Master Hollow took that as he can leave anytime, his gaze turned to Sarah. "I want to go home now."

Sarah cringed and spoke through her teeth, unable to hide her irritation: "Can we at least wait until the morning? Going by day will be easier and I need time to figure out transportation…"

Master Hollow agreed and the doctor said that he will write down detailed care instructions for the patient and prepare medications needed. He is not in the business of forcing people to stay in bed.

Sarah could not believe this. She hoped that the doctor will persuade Master Hollow to stay in the hospital at least for a few more days.

"Why can't you stay here and enjoy proper care from professionals?", she asked Master Hollow when the doctor left.

"There is nothing better than going home."

"I am not changing your diaper.", Sarah announced.

Master Hollow frowned. "What diaper?"

Sarah gestured toward his middle region. "If you can't walk and you need to go, how will you do it?"

Master Hollow was shocked. Where is she pointing at? And there is no way he will let her touch him there. "I will hold it."

Sarah sneered. "That will lead to constipation."

"Let me worry about that when it happens…"

Sarah was sure that she is going to blow up at any moment. "How stubborn! If you get worse and die, all my effort is wasted!"

"No one asked you to save me!", Master Hollow snapped.

"If I left you there, your ghost would haunt me."

"That would be your conscience haunting you, because my ghost would go to better places than to follow you around…"

Sarah and Master Hollow were bickering for a while, but she saw that he is not giving in. Well, in the end, it's his life. She did what she could. She only hoped that she is not making a mistake by giving in to his stubbornness. But she is tired, and this arguing is causing her a headache, and she is missing Aiden, and she agreed.

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