Koda helped Alessandra into the hospital; opening the doors ahead of her and making sure no one got too close and risked banging into her arm. She still had it wrapped around herself, trying not to move it too much. She hadn't even managed to change out of her wrestling clothes. Koda led her through to the admissions desk.
"My friend, hurt arm." He explained. "Need doctor."
"Are you the patient?" The nurse at the desk asked Alessandra. She just nodded her head. "Have you lost consciousness as a result of the injury?"
Alessandra shook her head again. The nurse put a clip board with a form on the counter.
"You don't appear to be bleeding, and unfortunately we're kind of swamped here. If you could fill out this admissions form, we'll be with you as soon as possible." She answered. Koda didn't look at all happy with this resolution. Alessandra was hurt, and he wanted to get her treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the downside of holding the show on Friday night was Friday night admissions at the hospital for anyone that was hurt.
Friday and Saturday nights were easily the busiest nights for admissions in hospitals. The week was ending, and people were concentrating more on their weekend plans than on keeping safe. Road traffic accidents, sporting injuries among those who spent most of the week sitting at desks only to overdo it on their Friday night game, alcohol and drug related illness and injury...people did a lot of stupid things once their working week came to an end, and that led to a lot of people needing treatment. Most hospitals were stretched to cover, and went on a very strict case of prioritising the injuries and illnesses that were life-threatening, while others had to wait until someone was available. Koda took her to a chair in the corner, helping her to sit as gently as possible.
"You alright?" Koda asked her. "It hurt...?"
"I'll be fine." She answered, taking the form from him. He saw her fumbling with the form and the pen, trying to write with her left hand alone, resting the clip board on her knees. He eventually took the form from her. She had barely managed to enter her name and her date of birth.
"Nature of injury...shoulder and arm." He said, writing it out. "Insurance number..."
"No insurance." Alessandra told him. Koda just nodded, writing in none. Medical insurance was expensive at the best of times, and it was even more expensive when working in a high risk profession. Most insurance companies that would even insure wrestlers charged extremely high rates, well beyond the means of a lot of independent workers. It looked like Alessandra was one of the unlucky ones that had to just take her chances, and end up paying for the treatment herself. As Koda continued to help her fill out the form, he noticed her shivering. It was only then that he noticed a problem. Her outfit was designed more for aesthetics than warmth. It was only lycra, and it was quite revealing. It seemed that the waiting area was more than a little cold for her. He pulled in closer, putting his arm around her.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Eddie is bad man, bad wrestler." He told her. "You very good friend, teach me a lot."
"You much better man too." She answered.
Koda looked around to see if there was a doctor available, but he couldn't see anyone approaching. Alessandra rested into him to stay warm.
"I...see you before." She told him. Koda just looked at her, wondering if she was hurt more badly than he thought. Of course she had seen him before, they trained together most days. "Before you join gym."
"Before?" He asked her. She just nodded.
"I see you at bowling alley." She explained. "When mean kids were rude to you."
Koda remembered that day, but it wasn't one of his most pleasant memories. Riley had taken him bowling with his friends in an attempt to find him a hobby he could enjoy. When some local kids had made fun of him for the way he spoke, Koda had become deeply upset and left.
"You see that?" Koda asked her. She just nodded.
"I get very angry, teach those kids manners." She told him. "It not nice they make fun of you. I have trouble here too."
"You do that for me?" He asked her.
"I only come here one year ago." She told him. "I meet Carl in Puerto Rico, he offer me bookings here. I only know very little English."
She took a deep breath.
"I know what it feel like when people not understand me." She admitted. "I see way people look at me when I find it hard to think of right words. It make me feel...stupid when people not understand what I trying to say."
"You not stupid." Koda assured her. "They stupid for not seeing that."
They were interrupted as a doctor came over to them, taking the clipboard from Koda. He looked to it.
"OK, a shoulder injury, caused by a fall?" He asked. He looked to Alessandra, seeing the way she was dressed. "You're a little old to be playing superheroes aren't you?"
"She wrestler." Koda explained gruffly, saving her from having to speak. The doctor just sighed and gestured down the hall.
"Alright, let's get that shoulder x-rayed and see what you've done to yourself." He groaned. "Just this way."
Kendall and Matt had finished their dinner, and had opted to walk back to the apartment instead of getting a cab. It gave them an opportunity to swing past the museum, and more importantly, the garden out behind it where they had started to set up for Fossil Fun Day. So far, a perimeter had been cordoned off with rope, decorated with flags, and a large sand-pit had been built in the middle, but had yet to be filled. Kendall figured it would be easier to bury the 'bones' if they were placed in the sand pit before it was filled with sand. A few port-a-potties had been set up in one corner.
"So, what do you think?" She asked. "We're going to set up some grills over there, and we'll have coolers for the food and drinks over there..."
"It looks like it should be a lot of fun." Matt said with a smile. "I'm really looking forward to it. It reminds me of the harvest festival back home...you know...without the booze."
"I'm just not looking forward to the cleanup afterwards." Kendall sighed. Matt just looked to her.
"Now that's not the spirit is it?" He teased her. "Come on, just imagine what it'll be like, all those kids running around, laughing, having the time of their lives. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
Kendall didn't look especially convinced, but Matt just smiled.
"Trust me, just try not to worry about it too much and enjoy the day itself." He assured her. "Believe me, the harvest festival back home is a complete hoot! Dancing, music, amazing food...sure the main street looks worse than it did the last time we had a hurricane, but we just deal with that when it comes. If you think about that too much, you don't have time to enjoy the day itself."
"I guess I'm just used to always thinking ahead." Kendall responded. "I've already got the tax returns for the museum done for..."
"For APRIL?" He chuckled as he took her by the hand, beginning to walk back towards the apartment. "If you look too far ahead, you miss what's right in front..."
He was interrupted as his foot hit something and he tripped, before either of them knew what was happening, they were both being soaked as water sprayed the area.
"Aw HELL, you tripped over one of the sprinklers!" Kendall yelled. "It's split..."
"It doesn't look too bad!" He told her. "I think I can tighten it up enough to stop it if you can get me a wrench."
Kendall rifled through her pockets, fishing out a key to the museum. She headed inside as Matt tried to stop the flow as much as he could. She came back a little while later, carrying a monkey wrench, handing it to Matt. He tightened everything up as much as he could, at which the spray stopped.
"I think that's it." He told her, looking for noticeable signs of any further leaks. He satisfied himself that it appeared to have stopped.
"So, this is looking ahead is it?" Kendall teased him. Matt just laughed, putting his arm around her as she locked up the museum before they continued on their walk back to the apartment.
In a motel, a man was sitting, flicking through the channels on the TV, looking for something to watch, while his companion hung up the phone.
"The pizza should be here in about half an hour." He told him. "And before you ask, no there's no chocolate or marshmallows."
"You know, when you put together this trip last minute, I didn't expect us to end up anywhere with a room service menu," the other man sighed, looking to the channel guide, "but I was at least hoping for a decent selection of channels. Damn it, they don't have the CW here, I'm missing The Flash!"
"It'll all be worth it when I make my challenge." The other answered with a smile. "How often are we likely to find a real legend like this for me to challenge my skills against?"
"So, do we have any ideas on how exactly we're going to find Sir Ivan?" His companion asked, tossing the remote aside.
"I still think the museum is a good bet." He replied. "He showed up in town right after that exhibit to Zandar opened up."
"So your plan is to just turn up and start asking questions?" His companion asked, going into a bag and pulling out some bourbon. "Hey, have you seen any 800 year old knights running around lately?"
The other ignored his companion's sarcasm and just put down a flyer for the Fossil Fun Day that he had picked up when they arrived in town.
"They're having some kind of huge event for kids there tomorrow." He replied. "That should be enough of a distraction for us to have a look around."
"Well, speaking of distractions, since I'm missing my favourite show, I guess the least I can do is enjoy a bourbon on the rocks." His companion said, throwing him an ice bucket. "Go and get some ice from the machine would you?"
The other guy just headed out of his room, heading for the ice machine. When he got there, he found a huge guy in a blue shirt scooping out some ice. He just waited patiently.
"You nearly done there?" He asked. Koda turned around and nodded.
"Have all I need." He answered. "Good night."
Koda headed into another room, finding Alessandra inspecting her injury. He had insisted on seeing her home once she was checked out at the hospital. He didn't expect her to be living day-to-day in a cheap motel.
Her arm and shoulder were taped up heavily. She hadn't broken anything, but there was some slight tearing and it was badly sprained. She'd been told she'd need to rest it up for a while, but other than that, she seemed to be alright. He quickly averted his eyes; she had taken off her T-shirt to have a look. She noticed him and pulled on her shirt gently.
"Sorry, so sorry." Koda rushed out. "Not know you...not dressed."
"It alright." She assured him. Koda took a fresh towel and started to wrap some of the ice, and handing it to her.
"You feel alright?" He asked her as she held the ice-pack to her shoulder. She just nodded.
"Been hurt worse." She assured him. Koda gestured to the door.
"I should go." He told her. "Have busy day at work..."
"You hungry?" She asked him. "Should thank you for looking after me."
She went to the fridge in her room and looked inside for something to offer him. She just sighed, looking disappointed.
"Not have chance to buy food." She told him. Koda just held up a hand.
"It alright..."
"Only have...leftover burgers." She told him. Koda just paused.
"Burgers?" He asked her. She just smiled as she pulled them out, placing them in the microwave.
Kendall and Matt arrived back at the apartment block, heading towards her apartment. As they got closer though, Matt just stopped.
"Uh oh." He stated. Kendall just looked to him curiously.
"What is it?" She asked him. Matt just sniffed the air.
"Do you smell that?" He asked her. Kendall hadn't noticed before, but now he mentioned it, something did smell incredible. "Shit, this...is bad."
"What is it?" Kendall asked him.
"I'd know that smell anywhere." He responded as he went to the apartment Tyler, Riley, Chase and now Ivan shared. He knocked on the door. "It's my mom's apple pie!"
Kendall suddenly realised their mistake. Mrs Griffin was helping with the Fossil Fun Day the following day, and Kendall had agreed to let her stay over at her place. They were meant to pick her up from the bus station! As the door opened, Tyler was in the doorway, holding a plate with some steaming hot apple pie, topped with ice cream that was starting to melt through it.
"Matt, you're just in time!" He mumbled through a mouthful. "Your mom's pie is absolutely incredible..."
"Mom, I am SO sorry!" Matt rushed out as he came into the room, finding his mom serving up more of the pie to Riley and Chase, who were clearly overjoyed with it. "Ken...uh...Ms Morgan and I were just...uh...finishing up preparations for tomorrow..."
"It's fine Matt, really." She answered. "I called your brother when I realised you must have lost track of time."
"I know I said I'd pick you up, but it just slipped my mind." Matt said apologetically.
"Matt, trust me, it's absolutely fine." She assured him, grabbing Riley. "It's given me time to catch up with Riley."
"So...I' forgiven?" Matt asked her.
"Of course you are." She answered.
"Forgiven enough for some of that pie?" He asked. Mrs Griffin just laughed.
"There's more on the counter." She told him. Matt headed over to get some more of the pie, while Kendall sat with the others. Riley just looked to her.
"Ms Morgan, why are your clothes wet?" He asked.
"Oh..we were walking back from the museum." Kendall told him. "We got caught in some rain."
"Rain?" Chase asked, looking to the window. "I don't remember any..."
"It was a very sudden shower." Kendall answered abruptly as Matt came back, handing her a plate and a spoon. "Thank you, this really does smell great."
As Matt sat with her, Mrs Griffin just got a knowing smile.
'Who do they think they're kidding?' She thought to herself.