AN: Soo, this is ridiculously short. Also, this isn't actually one of the missions from the game. It's just a little interlude that I wrote in. Just our lovely little runner bonding with the doc. Still don't own Zombies, Run!, but this time I own the dialogue and, um, lay, of this chappy. Since it doesn't happen in the game.

/confused AN

Interlude 1: Five and the Doctor

She nodded to the bag on the ground before finally allowing herself to collapse on the ground; finally allowed to drift off into unconsciousness.

Five was slow in returning to consciousness. Even when she was mostly awake, her eyes still refused to open. She shifted slightly and instantly her muscles burned, causing her to wince.

"You awake?" A voice asked from beside where she lay. Five cracked one eye open to see a kindly smiling woman standing above her. She wore a faded white doctor's coat, and she had a stethoscope slung around her neck. Five's brain took a while to identify the voice as belonging to Doctor Myers; the one that had asked her to check out the hospital. Five wanted to say something to the doctor, but her mouth wouldn't work. The doctor didn't seem to mind however, walking across the small room to grab a metal folding chair before dragging it back and seating herself next to Five's bed.

"You did amazing work Runner 5." Was the first thing the doctor said. She reached over to a table standing beside Five's bed and offered a cup of water to the young woman. Five happily took it and sucked down the water, quickly following up with 3 more cups.

"Thanks." She finally managed to croak out. Myers smiled at her in a way that could only be described as motherly.

"You were amazing Runner 5." She said. "By the condition your body was in, by all rights you should have collapsed before reaching our gates, but you kept going. I'm impressed, and grateful." Five offered her a weak smile.

"Didn't want that Sam to loose another Runner 5." She muttered. Myers seemed taken aback for a second before she smiled her motherly smile once more.

"You're sweet Runner 5. What is your name, by the way?" Five hesitated, thinking.

"Five." She replied. Myers frowned.

"Five?"

"Runner 5." Five replied. "Don't remember anything before the crash. Calling myself Five I guess. Made it easier to focus on supplies." Myers blinked in surprise.

"You don't remember anything from before the crash?" Five just shook her head and Myers crossed her arms, sighing. "I guess it's to be expected. That was a terrible landing. I was amazed that you survived."

"I had a parachute on when I woke up." Five muttered. "Beside the crash. Must've bailed early." Doctor Myers nodded, seeming to agree with the theory before offering Five her hand.

"Well then Five, my name is Doctor Maxine Myers." Five blinked and took the woman's hand with a smile.

"Nice to meet you properly Dr. Myers." She replied.

"I must say, I was impressed at your stamina." Maxine said once they had gotten the introductions out of the way. "Since everyone here at Abel has to earn their keep one way or another, and since you've already got the title Runner 5, why don't you help out by being a runner?" Five nodded, smiling. "But for now, you'll rest, and let that head wound heal up. As the only doctor here in Abel, I'm not about to let my patients go gallivanting around and getting themselves eaten because they wouldn't rest long enough." Maxine gave Five a hard look.

"You're not going to be a problem patient, are you Five?" The runner smiled at the look that Maxine was shooting her.

"Of course not doctor." Maxine smiled.

"I think we'll get along wonderfully Five."