Phlebolithasis
by
Minx Trinket
Summary: A mysterious illness infects both Sara and the Witchblade, an evil that must be vanquished from within.
Rating: PG-13, I guess.
Disclaimer: Deny profit; insert clever quip here.
Dedication: My heartfelt thanks to Bo, a sage of research and a man who knows his pickles.
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. IAN NOTTINGHAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Ian's bed, from above; Ian in it, between crisp white sheets. Asleep. He stretches, rolls over, reaches for a DARK-HAIRED WOMAN on the other side.
INT. SPORTS BAR - NIGHT
Packed bar, noisy crowd, watching the NCAA Finals on the TV. Three clean-cut college kids at the bar: JESS (handsome, athletic, male), MARK (nondescript, male), and BILLIE (petite, bubbly, female), engrossed in the game. They roar with the crowd as someone makes a foul shot.
Jess rubs his stomach absently, just below the ribs. He looks at his beer and grimaces. He taps Billie on the shoulder, leans over to say in her ear --
JESS
Gonna take a leak!
BILLIE
'Kay!
He walks away. Mark glances at him, then back at the game.
INT. IAN'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Ian nestles behind the woman, puts his arm around her.
INT. SPORTS BAR/BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
Mickey enters the empty room, still rubbing his stomach. He heads for a stall.
Halfway there, he collapses. He lies spread-eagled on the floor, twitching.
INT. IAN'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The woman rolls over. It's SARA. They both open their eyes slowly. Smile.
INT. SPORTS BAR/BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
Mickey heaves, wheezes, gasps, falls still.
INT. IAN'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Slowly, tenderly, Ian and Sara kiss.
INT. SARA'S APARTMENT/BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING
Sara bolts awake. She blinks.
SARA
Ugh. Eugh. EeeeeuuuuUUUuuugh!
She shudders and hops out of bed.
INT. SARA'S APARTMENT/BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
She gets a glass of water and chugs it. She spits into the sink, casts a quick glance at the Witchblade to make sure there's no glow, then reaches for her toothbrush.
She stops. She looks at the bracelet again, brings it close to her eyes.
INSERT - THE STONE
There's something there, something reddish.
BACK TO SCENE
She takes the bracelet off and holds it up to the light.
INSERT - THE STONE AGAIN
Inside, a small, red line with feathering ends. It looks like a tiny blood vessel.
FADE OUT.
END TEASER