Watchmen (c) Alan Moore and Dave Gibbins, I only entertain this absurdly fluffy idea.
Only character I own is Samantha Haley. And a few extraneous characters that no one will remember in the end.
Please don't kill me for doing this to Rorschach. It was something I had to get out of my brain. Rated M for language and violence, 'specially in the later chapters. Not sure if can actually be called "Mary-Sue"…but don't hate me…please?
Looking for constructive reviews, please.

Author's Note: This is kind of a filler chapter. I mean barely…more like a prelude. I just didn't wanna attach it to the next chapter, because that would just be too damn long.
1972


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Samantha's brow furrowed as she heard male voices enter her room. Groggily, she opened her eyes and turned her head toward the door.

"Ah, you're awake," Doctor Marks said, walking over to prop her up.

"Barely. Where's Kelley?" Samantha asked, pushing the doctor's helpful hand away.

"I told Nurse Harris to go home. She's been working too many hours and this hospital doesn't do overtime." Doctor Marks gripped her forearm and sat Samantha up forcefully. A twang sounded in Samantha's ribs and she gripped the doctors tie, bringing his face to hers.

"Touch me like that again, or invade my personal space like you did yesterday and I swear I will beat you senseless with the IV stand. You understand me, Doctor Marks?" she whispered through her teeth. Samantha released his tie and he stood sharply to loosen it. "Now, please, stand over there with the officer." Doctor Marks complied with little fight.

He picked up her chart, "How are you feeling today?"

"Shitty. I was beaten within an inch of my life, how would you feel?" Samantha snapped. She wanted Kelley to be there with her.

"I imagine I'd feel about the same as you," Doctor Marks said, writing something on her chart. 'I bet you wouldn't,' Samantha thought to herself. "I know we didn't have that much time to talk yesterday, are there any questions you'd like to ask?"

"What time is it?"

Doctor Marks check his watch. "About ten in the morning."

"How many broken bones do I have?"

The doctor looked taken aback. "I'm not...are you sure that's the first thing you want to know?"

"I wouldn't have asked it if it wasn't. How many, Doctor Marks?"

He contemplated continuing fighting the subject until his patient nodded toward the IV stand. He sighed and looked down to her chart to check. "Five ribs; three on the left, two on the right and your left orbital. You also had a severe wound in your left hand, a partially crushed larynx and the detached retina," he rattled off. "I don't think I missed anything. Why? Do you feel as if you have more?"

"A little. Probably just the muscle being sore. How did I get here?" Samantha questioned adjusting herself into a more comfortable position.

"You don't remember?" the officer asked. Doctor Marks threw him a dirty look, as if he was the only one allowed to ask the questions around here.

"No...I remember Kovacs calling the ambulance... I remember being on my bed...but I don't remember getting down the seven flights of stairs," Samantha recalled.

"The ambulance said you were still mostly conscious when they brought you here. I guess the pain must have just been too great," the officer offered. This time Doctor Marks turned to him to berate him.

"Doctor?" Samantha called. He turned a little to her with a questioning look on his face. "Stand down. I know you alpha male types. And I bet I can find a number of female patients of yours that might be willing to press charges on anything you might have done to them. He is a POLICE OFFICER. He's allowed to ask and answer questions." Doctor Marks went pale white. He gulped and turned away from the officer. "Good boy," Samantha mocked. The officer looked between the doctor and patient, unsure of what to do next.

"Will any charges be filed against my neighbor?" Samantha asked the cop.

"No. We've been to your apartment and we've seen that his part of the tale is true. He killed this man, who was trying to kill you. He saved your life and anything he did, was in self defense." Samantha smiled sadly and nodded. She had hoped that was the case. When several minutes of silence passed, he finally asked the burning question, "What exactly happened to you, Ma'am?"

"I can tell you, on one condition."

"What's that?" both men asked in unison.

"No interruptions. I want to get through it in one clean run. Write down any questions you have and I'll try to answer them afterwards, alright?" Both men nodded.

"It was a normal day. I got up, I did my morning things and then I went to work... But then...then the shit hit the fan...," Samantha started.