Spike leaned against the wall of the outside of the airport and took another
drag on his cigarette. Damn it, where were they? He had figured that Buffy
and the rest of the Scoobies would be on the next flight out which had gotten in
an hour ago, according to the TV monitors around the airport. He had
positioned himself in the shadows by the door so he could watch their arrival,
but so far he'd yet to spot them.
Just then an ambulance pulled up. "Well, that's interesting." He muttered
dropping the butt of his cigarette.
As he reached into his pocket for another, he overheard the paramedics talking
about a young male with an LOC, whatever that meant. He shrugged it off and
continued to wait for a glimpse of Buffy. his Buffy, well, he hoped she'd be his
at least.
A few minutes later he heard a familiar voice shout out. He glanced at the
door to see Willow rush out beside a gurney and yell "Xander, wake up!"
"Bloody hell, what'd the wanker do now?" Spike muttered to himself, as he
watched the rest of the Scoobies rush behind the gurney.
Anya was already seated in the back of the ambulance and Willow jumped in as
well.
"I'm sorry, only one of you can ride in the ambulance with him." A paramedic
spoke up.
"I'm going." Willow growled wishing for the first time in a week that she had
her powers back.
"I'm his fiancée. well, I was." Anya said with a shrug.
"I'm coming, too." Buffy decided and vaulted into the back of the ambulance.
Spike chuckled at Buffy's determination.
"Wait! I don't wanna be left alone!" Dawn whined.
"You can ride with me, Dawn." Giles offered, holding car keys in his hand.
"I don't want to be left out, I'm ALWAYS left out!" Dawn wailed.
"Dawn, just get in already." Buffy said with a sigh. She turned to the
questioning paramedic and ordered, "Just drive."
"Better listen to the Slayer." Spike grinned, she was so cute when she was all
bossy.
A few minutes later the ambulance drove off, followed by Giles in the car.
Spike hailed a cab and ordered the driver to follow behind.
The cab finally pulled to a stop in front of County General. Spike paid the
driver and stood out and surveyed the hospital.
"THIS is it? Looks like a bloody dump." He muttered, lighting a cigarette.
He caught sight of a young woman in pink scrubs standing by the door trying to
light her cigarette.
"Need a light, love?" Spike asked stepping up to her.
Abby looked up and wasn't sure of what to make of the man all in black with
bleached hair in front of her. She nodded, her lighter had run out anyway.
"Thanks." Abby said, blowing out some smoke.
"No problem, love." He said taking in the short brunette and noticing her
scrubs. "You work here?"
"No, I just wear this stuff to confuse people." Abby snorted.
"Well, love, you don't have to be all bitchy." Spike said, not put off by her
snappy behavior.
"Why the HELL are you calling me love? I'm a nurse, not some damn sex toy!" Abby
snarled angrily.
"Well, I don't know your name, so unless I call you Nurse Bitchy, it ain't gonna
work." Spike said, trying to conceal his laughter.
"Gee, I'm honored." Abby said sarcastically, flicked her cigarette and turned to
head back inside.
"You treat your patients that way too?" Spike called out after her.
"Only if I inflict their injuries." Abby called back. She didn't need weird
guys hitting on her today, it was bad enough she had to spend the day hiding
from Carter. Plus, Luka had been giving her odd looks ever since she had kissed
Carter. He must have found out through the ER grapevine.
"Snarky bitch. Mustn't be getting any." Spike muttered as she retreated
inside. He finished his cigarette and followed her inside.
******
"So you DON'T have a cash register?" Anya asked, looking shocked and put out.
"No." Frank growled at her. Why couldn't she just sit down already?
"But what do you do with the ones who don't pay?" Anya persisted.
Frank was quiet for a second and then grinned and pulled a bat from under the
desk. "I use this!" He said proudly.
"A bat?" Anya asked. "And that works?"
"Isn't called the homeless helper for nothing." Frank bragged.
"Oh, so you beat those who can't afford to pay for medical care then?" Anya
asked looking interested.
"Not when I'm around." Kerry said crutching her way to the desk. "Put the bat
away, Frank or I'll beat YOU with it."
"Damn liberal." Frank muttered and put his bat back under the desk.
Anya looked at Kerry with interest. "So are you a doctor?"
"Yes, can I help you?" Kerry said turning to the young blonde.
"Does it pay well?" Anya asked her.
"I get by." Kerry muttered.
"Can you support your family on the measly salary you make as an emergency
physician or do you have to resort to other sources of income?" Anya looked
closely at Kerry.
"Who ARE you?" Kerry asked, the irritation clear in her voice.
"I'm Anya." She replied, blinking. "And you?"
"Busy." Kerry replied and crutched off down the hall.
"What happened to your leg?" Anya called after Kerry, who didn't turn around.
"Well, she's quite the commanding redhead." Anya commented.
*******
"We need to find out how he's doing." Willow said worriedly.
"Maybe Buffy's finding out?" Dawn suggested.
"Uh, I don't think she's asking about Xander, Dawnie." Willow said, observing
Buffy laugh at something the dark-haired doctor said.
"I'll ask someone, they might be more likely to give me answers." Giles decided
and headed off in search of the first doctor he could find.
********
Dave pulled his car into the parkade at County. He hadn't relished the thought
of coming back to this place at all, but he'd left his mug behind when he came
to pick up his stuff months ago. It had sentimental value, a present from his
former girlfriend and the mother of his child. He wanted it back.
He stepped into the ER while giving himself a pep talk that he'd just go get
his mug and leave. As he was on his way into the lounge, a person tapped him
on the shoulder.
Dave turned around and found himself face to face with Giles.
"Excuse me, but I'm wondering on the status of a patient?" Giles said,
adjusting his glasses.
"I don't work here." Dave said and turned around.
"Well, shouldn't you not be going into the lounge then?" Giles pointed out.
"Shh. you don't tell and I won't." Dave said with a wink.
"I really don't think you should be going in there." Giles persisted.
"What are you? Like the changing of the guard or something?" Dave asked,
slightly annoyed.
"Something like that." Giles replied.
"Whatever. Look, I used to work here and I'm just going to get my mug. Now
why don't you return to your tea time and leave me alone okay?" Dave said,
entering the lounge.
"Well, I can see why he no longer works here." Giles mused.
*******
"Oh, forget this." Willow muttered, "I'll find out for myself how Xander is."
She got up off of her chair and walked off down the hall in the opposite
direction Giles had gone earlier.
"Don't worry about me anyone, I'll be okay, sitting here. all alone." Dawn said
with a sigh. Well, she'd just go amuse herself if everyone was going to ignore
her.
She wandered down the hall and in a few seconds found a supply room. She
slipped inside and looked around. "Jackpot." She said with a grin.
Copyright Footer', 'This site is not affiliated in any way with "ER", its writers or production company, or NBC, and makes no profit from the show. The ERROS skin is by Brihana. The script is eFiction version 3.4.2© Tammy Keefer, http://efiction.org\r\n