Kennedy- evening same day
I sat on the bed holding Willow as she slept while I watched Buffy and Faith. Giles sat in the corner, and Vi sat in the chair next to the bed. It's well into the night, so the room was dimly lit by the bathroom light. Buffy stirred and opened her eyes; looking at me across the way. She scanned the room then got comfortable again next to Faith. She stared at her differently. I couldn't quite place it, but it was definitely not she same way I had seen her any other day. It wasn't any other day anymore either.
They told us Dominic is premature, but for some reason is a little more developed then he's supposed to be. A pound or so heavier then he's supposed to be; six pounds, eight ounces to be exact. They've run tests and all that, but it sounds like the kid is going to make it and be just fine. At least that's what I got from the entire doctor lingo. I don't think Faith would be able to take it if he didn't. It's the only good we've had come out of the last couple of days; the light in the dark, so to speak.
"Kennedy," Buffy whispered but didn't sit up again. I gently moved Willow so she was on the bed and slid from under the rest of her. "Go and um… , check on Alex. Find out if there's anything new…Giles, go with her please," she suggested, and I nodded; standing up from the bed and kissing Willow on the forehead before I left the room. Giles followed.
We went down a floor and along the hall to the nurses' desk. The ICU was less hectic then the ER, a lot quieter too. "May I help you?" the woman asked. She was a different nurse then before, so there must have been a shift change. "Yes, we're here to see Alex Sanders," Giles said as approached the desk to my left. The woman smiled, "Oh, you just missed her. Umm…, she's being moved to the fifth floor. She has been stable since this morning when she got out of surgery. She's breathing on her own, and I'm sure the nurses up there would love to fill you in, Mr. Sanders," she assumed, and Giles gave her a funny look but didn't correct her. "She's in room, 503," she continued as she glanced on to the computer screen then back to us. Giles nodded, and we walked back the way we came to the elevator and to the new floor.
"Mr. Sanders?" I teased, and Giles smiled. "At least she's doing better," he claimed. The elevator door opened, and we walked out to see what seemed like some normalcy. There was a desk a few yards into the floor. It resembled a lobby a little nit more. I glimpsed up to a sign on the wall to observe visiting hours. Comparing it to my cell phone, I noticed we had till ten. This hospital is a lot more relaxed than other ones that I've been to back home. I haven't been able to visit Alex till now, so I'm a little excited. I wonder if she's woken up yet.
Giles stopped at the room as I reached for the knob. "Are you the father of Sanders?" a male's voice questioned as he approached us. Giles turned, "No, but I'm one of her guardians," Giles corrected him, and we both whirled around in his direction. "Ok, that's fine. She's stable, so she can have visitors. I'm sorry, but she hasn't woken up yet. She's breathing on her own. So we took the tube out of her throat before we brought her up here. Um…, she has a broken ankle and a few broken ribs that the looked to be appear to be impact wounds. She has a mild concussion. But there is barely any swelling, so we won't know of the full extent of the damage till she wakes up. Visiting hours are for friends, so you can stay as long as you want, sir," he informed us in detail then looked at me. "Oh no, she's one of my girls also. These two are practically inseparable," Giles declared as I walked past the nurse and Giles into the room.
There was a steady beeping coming from the far end. I walked in further to see Alex sleeping on the farthest bed. There was a noticeable, white cast on her right foot. She's going to hate that. She seemed peaceful as if nothing in the world could bother her right now. I'm going to bother her when she wakes up. If she has amnesia, oh, lets just say I'm going to have fun.
"Kennedy, why don't you stick around here," he advised as I peeked over my shoulder before he inquired, "I'm going to go get something to eat. Do you want anything?" I hadn't eaten anything since last night. "Yeah, I can eat," I admitted. "Ok…I'll text Nikki and tell her to come and hang out with you," Giles told me and exited the room.
Hours passed and Alex didn't indicate that she'd ne coming to soon. They transferred her to a different part of the hospital again. It's a nicer room. I think Faith got a nicer room too. I'm pretty sure this was thanks to Angel. I was getting both antsy, and angry. I had to find who did this to my friends. I needed to go out and find Chloe and Tina. I especially wanted to go out and show the council who they were fucking with. Buffy hasn't spoken a word about what we were going to do about them, what we were going to do to them. You would think she would be the first person to jump on an idea after what they did to Faith and almost did to Dominic. I hover over Alex as Vi and Nikki peered up at me from the couch on the other side of the room. They had been into that playstation game for the past hour, and it's starting to get on my nerves. How can they be so content?
"I need to go out on patrol," I barked as I strolled past them to the door. "Don't think that's a good idea," Vi announced without taking her eyes off the game. "Why?" I sneered while twirled back in their direction. "Like Buffy is going to let any of us out of her sight with the council out there. She said we're lucky we didn't get taken either," Vi informed me. I haven't heard this, but it doesn't surprise me. "I'll go ask Buffy myself then," I stated as I left the room.
Faith's new room was a floor down, I marched down the hall and into the room to see Willow sitting there and talking to Xander. As I entered, I didn't sense Buffy or Faith anywhere. "Where are they?" I sort of growled as Willow stood and paced toward me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I buried my face into her neck. "They're downstairs with Dominic," she revealed, and I leaned back a little. She gazed into my eyes for a second while she pursed her eyebrows. "Your getting restless," she guessed, "I don't have to read your mind to tell how your feeling, Ken, it's written all over your face." I couldn't help but smile. "No calming thingie…Not right now I'm on a mission," I demanded as I took a step away from her. She chuckled. "Our missions have been cut short, slayer…, we got family to take care of," she asserted and sounded like part ordered, part request.
"I know…, but I need to get out of here before I go stir crazy," I confessed as I pouted. Her resolve and stern look faltered, and she smiled ever so sweetly. "Go find Buffy," she commanded as she took a step back towards Xander; not wanting to give me a yes or a no. "Ok, babe," I relented as I left.
I ventured to the maternity ward. The first thing you see is the ICU for babies. Buffy stood just outside with her arms crossed and smiling somewhat as she ogled the sight in front of her. I shuffled over to her and stayed beside her; discovering what she was smiling at. Faith sat in a rocking chair; holding Dominic. She was glowing. "What's up, Ken?" Buffy replied, and I faced her. "I'm getting a little bored," I divulged as I crossed my arms alongside her. "What do you want?" she continued, and Faith scrutinized us as she smiled something wide before focusing back on the baby. "To leave and go and check on the other girls. To go patrolling really, but I don't think…," I muttered, and she eyed me. "I don't want you guys patrolling just yet, not till I get word," she determined, and I thought for a second. "Word from where?" I griped, and she spun toward me. "Angel sent a tracker to Cleveland. I just want you guys to stay off the streets, so she'll have a clear view of whatever she needs to," Buffy confided, but I knew she wanted us to stay out of this tracker's way. I sighed.
Buffy studied at me for a long minute then spied back at Faith; who was still inside the small room. A nurse walked over to Faith, and mumbled something then noticed us. Faith nodded. Then the nurse gently took the baby, and Faith got up with a little help from one of the other nurses. We watched as she walked to the door and stepped out. Faith smirked wide as she reached us. "She said she got the call to make my room into a mini ICU for him," Faith updated us and chuckled a little. "They said they wouldn't do it, but it came down from upper management. I don't know how much more of this special treatment I can handle," Faith continued, and Buffy wrapped her arm around Faith's lower waist. I followed them to the elevator.
Buffy didn't say anything the entire way back to the room. When we got there, Buffy helped Faith back into the bed and Willow and I stepped off to the side; watching them again. Xander went somewhere, not sure where. As I stood there, Buffy swung to me. "She's going to need an extra change of clothes," Buffy notified before saying back to Faith; who spotted me, "Do you want something from the house?" "No, but I do want some food, fast food," Faith insisted, and I smiled, I glanced up at Willow, knowing she would come with me. I don't think Faith has eaten fast food the entire time she was pregnant. "Ok." I agreed. Buffy giggled a little as I heard keys jingle behind me. I'm guessing this was Buffy's way of saying, 'You can leave for a little bit, but I'm sending your girlfriend to babysit you.'
Willow wandered towards the door. "Don't stay long," Buffy reminded me and I twisted swayed back to see them both gazing up in my direction. "Yeah, hurry up, I'm hungry…, and bring me my cell phone," Faith demanded before I shook my head. "Yeah, whatever you say Mrs. I'm spoiled," I teased as I trailed Willow out of the room.
It didn't take long to get back to the house. A few of the lights were on but not enough for anyone to take notice. Willow stuck her arm out; stopping me from walking up the porch steps to the door. I gazed up at her in concern. She jus closed her eyes and stayed there. I could feel this small charge come off her as she spread herself thin for a moment. "Just checkin', babe…," she assured me as she smiled and moved ahead of me while stretching her hand backward for me to take. I did as we advanced up to the front door, and she opened it.
I didn't hear anyone in the house, and Willow climbed the stairs to I guess Faith's room to pack some new clothes. Buffy didn't even open her suit case while she was in L.A., so she can just use what she packed. I walked into the living room to see Faith's cell phone on the coffee table. After grabbing it, I slid it in my back pocket. Examining the room, you can tell there was a bit of a fight in here. I don't even want to know what Faith's room was like at this moment. I hope it's not any worse than when the Drakos demons came. That aftermath was crazy messy. Now that I think about it, a lot worse than this, it took forever to get the demon blood stains out of the wall.
After I heard a soft thuds from somewhere in the house, I tried to sense where Willow was. She was still upstairs. "Willow," I called out and waited at the bottom of the stairs; wondering what she was doing. Then I heard them again and whipped around to the front door. There was someone outside. Felt like a slayer, one of the girls. The tingle was familiar, but I couldn't tell who.
I ran to the front door and opened it to see Chloe trying to get up off the ground. I quickly lifted her onto my lap as I sat on the steps. "My god, Chloe…Chloe…WILLOW!" I screamed over my shoulder, and I hear a rush of feet throughout the house. Chloe breathed hard and tried to sit up but couldn't really. Willow came bursting through the door, ready to fight something behind me. When she reached us and observed us sitting there, her hand flew up to her mouth in shock. "BABY…, do something," I cried as Chloe struggled to breathe. Willow knelt down and touched the side of Chloe's face. "This outta help," she predicted as her hand glowed before Chloe opened her eyes wider and searched around herself for a second. Then she practically jumped up off my lap.
"They're…Did they?" she gasped in panic then gaped at me. "You're ok, you're safe… You're home," I confirmed, almost not believing it myself. Chloe settled down after taking a minute to catch her breath. "Where the hell…How did you escape?" I responded, and she gawked up at me. "Not sure, it's all a bit hazy… I um…was being dragged out of this house, and there was this woman. She stopped them and told me to run, so I did," she described and focused on me; remembering something as if it clicked. "Where's Alex?" she asked, grabbing my arm. But there was almost no grip. "She's at the hospital," I exclaimed, and she looked down at the ground. "I'm going to go call Buffy…," Willow stated and pulled out her phone. "I'll tell you about her on the way. Come on, let's get you cleaned up," I suggested as I pulled her towards the house. Chloe hesitated for a second. When I touched her arm, she flinched. What in the hell did they do to her.
Alex- a few hours later
Why does it have to be so bright in here? I reached up and felt my face to feel a tube in my nose. Pulling it off and down I opened my eyes. My hand landed on my chest and I looked down to see a white blanket. This isn't my blanket, and what the hell is all this shit? I started pulling stuff off when I felt this sharp pain in my ribs then stomach. I pulled off the sticky thingies then looked at my arm. Pulling out the needle I looked up to see Nikki standing over me.
"Don't think you want to do that," she warned, and I huffed. "Whatever, this shit hurts," I complained as I continued to take off the small sticky circles, there was another rush of feet. A man appeared over me and to my right. "Alex, Alex, stop, you're ok…You're in a hospital," he explained as I gazed up at him confused. "What…, why? Stop touching me," I demanded as I moved away from him and stared at Nikki; wondering why she wasn't helping me. "Alex, we need this to monitor your heart," he continued as he attempted to put things back together. "Whatever, my heart is fine," I tried to declare independence. I tried to sit up but couldn't move past a sit up. "Ouch…," I whined as a shot of pain blared through my stomach, and I was out like a light.
Something really sharp touched my foot, and it woke me up. "Ow, quit!" I half yelled checked down at my feet, I saw there was a cast on one of my feet. Fucking A, that really sucks. "What hell did you do that for?" I growled at the doctor that stood at the end of the bed. "I was just checking for reaction, I didn't think it would wake you up. I had done it once earlier today, but you didn't move. So I had to come in and do it again," he divulged and weaved around to the end of the bed. I scanned past the man to see Chloe lying on the sofa. I reached up to feel the itchy sticky things were back on my chest. I rubbed my eye then rubbed the other one. "Are you in any pain?" he wondered, me and I glared at him and nodded 'No.'. Nikki and Ken traveled to the bed from somewhere in the room. I inspected the room some more to see it was a pretty big room. Bigger than any hospital room I've ever seen.
"Alex…, can you tell me what your full name is?" he interrogated, and I peered up at him. "Alexis Marie Sanders," I answered as he nodded in approval. "Ok…, can you tell me what school you go to?" he continued to bombard me with questions, and I rolled my eyes. "Why in the hell are you askin' all the questions for?" I snarled. "I can tell that her personality hasn't changed one bit," Ken joked then headedfrom the bed over to Chloe. "You had quite a bit of a fall. I'm checking you memory…What school do you go to?" he declared, and I huffed. "Um…Trake high, home of the bears," I grumbled; giving the perky shortened version, and he nodded. I guess he recognized the name. "Ok, good. What month is it?" he asked, and it seemed as if the question was the tie breaker in the last two minutes of the football game I found myself in. "April," I said confidently as he nodded, but didn't look to happy about my answer, can't win 'em all.
I watched as Giles came in, and they said something to each other. Chloe stood from the couch and skipped over to me with a huge smile. "Hey, you," she greeted, and I couldn't help but smile back. "Hi," I replied and placed my hand on her thigh as she sat on the bed. She flinched, and I caught the expression on her face of her not wanting to scare me. So I pretended as if I didn't notice. There were a couple of bruises on her face that were noticeable even though she has makeup on. She must have gotten them on patrol or something. Hmm, I wonder how long I've been here.
Kennedy stalked around to the other side of the bed and stood there; grinning evilly. She's up to something. "So can I still have your jacket…you lost the bet," Ken claimed, and I couldn't think of what jacket she was talking about or what bet for that matter. "What jacket?" I asked, and she grinned again. "You know, the black one,"." She specified, and I thought for a second. I had a black, leather jacket, but I would never put it up in a bet. It's my favorite jacket. "Kennedy, Really?" Chloe sassed, and Ken took a step backwards from the bed. I gawked up at Chloe in confusion. "What is she talking about?" I challenged; trying to get more information. "I don't know…Don't worry about it, baby," she requested while peering away from me for a second.
Chloe sniffled, there's something wrong. "What is it?" I commented as my hand found hers, and she gazed up at me. "I…I thought I." "Let's wait till she's feeling a little better ok?" Buffy appeared over Chloe's shoulder, holding it. "Yeah, anytime I'm going to get up out of this bed and start hoping around?" I scoffed before changing my tone, "What happened?" I smiled in the hope that the cheerful me would get some answers around here. "You were patrolling and ran into some pretty bad guys…They were human," Buffy half disclosed. I pursed my eyebrow because I knew she was lying about something. For a leader, she's not a very good liar. I have a feeling I'm the only one who doesn't know.
I heard a game system come on behind Buffy and I stared past her. "Since no one wants to tell me what's going on, can I at least play a video game," I argued, and Buffy rolled her eyes. I went to laugh at the gesture but found that hurt worse than trying to sit up. So I stopped… "Ooo ooo, don't make me laugh," I snapped as I lifted my blanket up to see bandages around my stomach. "Yeah, there's two systems," Buffy claimed before consenting and treading over to the wall; where there was a TV attached to it and grabbed a controller. "I'm going to go check on Faith." Buffy declared as she handed me the playstation controller. "Huh…Faith is here too, what happened to her?" I gasped and gawked at Buffy as she took steps away, and back tracked to me. "She had the baby yesterday morning," Buffy affirmed, and my eyes widened. "What… I missed it….what the hell?" I scoffed and she jus smiled. "I'll take you to see them later, ok?" Buffy promised, and I sat back; getting comfortable on the bed again. Chloe got onto the bed and moved over, so she could have more room.
Next day-
It felt like my slayer healing kicked in, somewhat. I must have fallen asleep last night while trying to play the game. Chloe lay above me; asleep. I didn't want to wake her, so I didn't move. Nobody seems to want to tell me what happened. I feel a lot better, but everything is all hazy. I thought it was April, but from the game counsel system it says close to the end of May. So I have no idea what I've missed, what was so tragic, and all that bull shit that comes with Faith and I being laid up in the hospital.
Haven't seen Faith yet, but I'm pretty sure I can talk Buffy into taking me to her room today. "You're awake," Chloe chirped in excitement. I guess she felt me move. "Yeah, babe…I'm up," I clarified, and she situated herself so she could see me. Some of the bruises on her face cleared up a little. I scanned the room from what I could see to discover Vi and Nikki asleep on the couch. It's gotta be morning or something. "You comfy?" I asked her as she shifted her weight to one side of the bed. "Ehh…I've been through worse," she claimed and smiled. It was contagious, so I smiled with her.
Chloe snapped up quickly when someone walked in the room. She had this super red, alert display on her face till I guess the person came in the room. "Morning," someone said with a weird accent as they approached, and Chloe got off the bed. She watchedthe man warily. "I just need to check something," he stated. Chloe didn't take her eyes off him, and she scrutinized him as if she was daring him to make some sudden movements. "Could you step over there please?" he directed as they stared each other both down Chloe didn't budge. I looked over to see Nikki and Vi stand up with the same looked on their faces. I observed the man with an uneasy feeling. "How are you feeling, Ms. Sanders?" he inquired, and I noticed as he reached in his scrub pocket.
"I'm fine considering," I began as he took a needle out of his pocket. "Ok, well…I'm going give you this…It should make you feel a lot better," he offered, sticking the needle into the junction of the IV, "Chloe," Vi yelled as Chloe reached down to my arm and ripped out the IV. Nikki was up and over at the bed with in seconds, wrestling the man to the ground. I held my arm because it started bleeding. Chloe wrapped her arms around me, but kept me still. She put herself between me and the man on the floor. Vi joined Nikki and all three tumbled till they subdued the man, locking his feet and Hands in one of the hold Buffy taught is.
Vi reached up with the other hand and pressed the red button on my bedside. Seconds later three other nurses raced in and saw what was going on. They hit locks on the bed and moved the bed away from them with me and Chloe still on it. "Call security," Vi shouted; still struggling to hold him. "What the hell…?" I finally managed to say as one of the nurses rushed back out of the room. Another nurse gaped from me to Chloe as the other watched while Vi and Nikki kept the man on the ground effortlessly.
"She needs a new IV. This guy just tried to put something in that one," Chloe explained and then the nurse looked from us to the man and then took away the IV with whatever he put in it. "It's ok, baby," Chloe assessed while trying to comfort me, but it sounded more like she was trying to comfort herself. I felt Buffy walk in the room along with security; I tried to stare around Chloe as they dragged him out.
Buffy almost stomped over to the bed. "You two, ok?" Buffy said as she approached Vi and Nikki; who stood brushing their shirts off. "Yeah, we're fine," Vi conveyed as she peeked over at Nikki and nodded. "Someone mind telling me what the hell is going on now? WHAT THE FUCK WAS HIS PROBLEM?" I hollered; frustrated out of my mind.