Chapter 29 - The Hospital Again
-Hospital-
When the heroes got there they each walked in carrying one girl and another girl leaning on them. A few doctors accepted them instantly and took them to their rooms. Then the doctor that worked on Buffy the first time walked over to her just in time to see Buffy bend over in pain. The doctor could barely believe it, "You're back already?"
Buffy stood up instantly, "What? No, I'm fine. A few of the girls got into a fight and they needed help. I don't need help."
The doctor looked her over, "You're bleeding from your previous wound and I can already see at least three gashes. It won't take me too long to patch you up."
Buffy was about to protest when Angel smiled, "Thanks doctor. Please show her to her room."
Buffy glared at him but smiled back at the doctor, "Really, I'm fine."
Spike winked at the doctor, "She won't admit it but she needs medical attention."
Faith sighed and looked at Buffy, "Go, just so they'll be quiet."
Buffy sighed and followed the already walking doctor. She glared back at Angel, "You'll pay for this later."
Angel only smiled and watched Buffy until her and the doctor dissappeared into a room. Spike threw himself down into one of the waiting chairs, "God I hate waiting."
Faith sat down beside him, "It's better then almost dying."
Spike disagrred, "Are you kidding? Almost dying makes you feel alive. Waiting makes you feel obselete."
Angel sat down on the other side of Spike and started laughing. "You know what obselete means?"
Spike slugged Angel in the shoulder before a silence took over the waiting room. It took him a few minutes but Spike finally thought of something to say. He stared at Angel, "Someone should phone Willow. Make sure Dawn and Conner made it home." Angel nodded and took out his cell phone before dialing the already memorized number.
-Summer's House-
The living room had been surprisingly quiet until the phone rang. Willow being closest to the side table picked it up and smiled at the voice on the other line, "Angel, Hi." People gathered around Willow at the mention of Angel's name. "What's going on Angel? Where are you guys?"
Angel sighed, "We're at the hospital."
Willow started stuttering as she tried to hide her panic, "W...Why? I mean Buffy's okay right? The girls just need some band-aids?"
Angel tried to find a good way to break the bad news, "I wish it was like that Willow. We were attacked during training and we lost three girls. There's eight in the hospital now including Buffy."
Willow looked like like she was on the verge of crying, "Again? How many times is Buffy going to be in the hospital?"
"She's fine Willow. She just opened a few cuts plus her major one."
Willow sighed in relief, "What about the other girls?"
"We just got here, we won't know for a little while."
"Are you guys okay?"
Angel couldn't help but admire the innocence in Willow, "Yeah Willow, we're fine." After a pause Angel cursed himself for not asking this earlier, "Did Dawn and Conner make it home okay?"
Willow smiled accross the room at Conner, "Yeah, they're fine. Conner kind of had an itch to go back but we told him no."
"Good. Can I talk to him?"
Willow nodded and handed the phone to Conner. "Hi."
"Hey. Thanks for getting Dawn home. Normally you would have stayed no matter what I said."
"Buffy made me promise. I was even going to go back but..."
Angel cut him off, "It's okay Conner, we're at the hospital now, we'll be fine. I want you to stay and make sure nothing happens to everyone."
Conner pondered it for a while until finally sighing in defeat, "Fine. Just be back here soon."
"Alright."
Then both lines clicked. Conner walked back to sit next to Cordelia as everyone followed him with stares. Willow smiled until she remembered that she had to explain. She stood up and addressed the girls, "I want the potentials in bed now."
She waited until the complaining was done and they were upstairs to start the explanation. She took a deep breath, "Buffy is in the hospital again but just for touch-ups."
Conner kicked the floor, "Is she okay?"
Willow nodded and smiled, "Oh yeah. She's just patching up some cuts. They don't know about the girls though because they just got to the emergency room."
"When are they coming home?"
Willow shrugged, "It doesn't look like tonight Dawnie."
Dawn stood up, "We're going to see them tomorrow." Willow nodded and Dawn started walking towards the stairs, "I'm going to bed."
Xander followed her with his eyes as he spoke, "Must be hard being related to a super hero."
Conner thought about it and actually half-smiled, "It's not so bad."
Everyone from L.A. looked at him shocked. Cordelia turned to face him, "I can't believe you just said that."
Lorne giggled a little, "Hallelujah the kid has reformed."
Fred agreed, "We knew you'd come around."
Conner instantly went back to his 'cool' self, "Yeah well..."
Wesley could sense his uncomfortableness so he stood up, "Why don't we all get some rest. We'll start research and everything when we know everyone is okay."
Willow stood also knowing she would have to set the sleeping arrangements once again, "Good plan. The basement is free tonight and I guess Buffy's room is also vacant."
Cordelia stood up, "I'm in the basement." Conner smiled and started walking to the stairs. Cordy looked suddenly confused, "Where are you going Conner?"
"Buffy's room. I slept there last night so I'm going to sleep there tonight."
Willow knew what was coming so she smiled at Cordelia, "Why don't you sleep in Buffy's room with him, Gunn and Fred can have my room because Xander is probably with Anya tonight, I'll crash in the basement and Lorne can..."
Wesley smiled, "Can take my place in Giles' room. I'll sleep on the couch."
Cordelia fake smiled, "Fine."
When she looked back at the staircase Conner wasn't there so he was probably already up in Buffy's room. Cordelia exited the room and went up the all too farmiliar stairs. Gunn, Fred and Lorne said good nights before exiting to their specific spots. Anya stood up next, "I think we should sleep now too Xander."
Xander stood up, "Okay."
Anya started to rub Xander's arm, "We haven't slept together in a long time."
Xander ignored the awkward looks because he was used to them by now and grabbed Anya's hand, "Let's go Anya."
Their good night's were said and were soon followed by Giles' which left Willow and Wesley alone for the first time since they had gotten back to Sunnydale. Willow turned to face Wesley, "I think we have some ice cream left."
Wesley actually smiled, "That would be nice."
Willow started walking towards the kitchen until she realized soemthing, "You're going to have some this time right? I mean I've had a lot this past few days and..."
Wesley smiled as she started to talk fast but interrupted, "I will. I'm craving something sweet."
"Good."
Then once again both of them walked to the kitchen. Willow grabbed the ice cream, two spoons and a chair which she put on one side of the kitchen island as Wesley sat on the opposite side. It looked to be a calm night at the summer's house on the surface but underneath everything was going wrong.
-Hospital -
Spike and Angel were now on opposite sides of the waiting room while Faith sat int he chair closest to Spike. She was actually about to drift off when the doctor and Buffy walked up to them laughing. The heroes listened to Buffy and the dotor closely now as Buffy calmed her laughing, "I never met a doctor that could make me laugh."
The doctor shrugged, "That kind of surprises me since you're always in the hospital."
"Well then, next time I come in here I'll be sure to make a reccomendation."
The doctor smiled, "I'll see you soon then." He was about to walk away until he stopped suddenly, "Or I hope to see you soon in an event where you're not close to dying."
Buffy smiled and looked at the ground, "Thanks doc, for everything."
Soon they were enclosed in a short hug. They said goodbyes and Buffy was left with a smile until she saw the looks Spike, Angel and Faith were giving her. Angel stood up, "What was that?"
Buffy actually put her smile back on her face and tried to look innocent, "What are you talking about?"
Spike and Faith actually had a laugh while Angel crossed his arms, "You and the doctor seemed friendly."
Before Buffy burst out laughing herself she started talking instead, "What was I supossed to do? Yell at him to hurry up every five seconds or just not talk at all? Plus you're the one who made me go get checked up."
"She's got you there mate."
Angel glared at Spike but shot his head back towards Buffy when she started to talk, "He gave me his number." When Angel was jealous he clenches his fists and tries to hide it which is exactly what he was doing now. Buffy sighed and smiled at the same time, "You know, you got to work on that jealousy thing, or the trust thing, I'm not sure yet."
Angel actually smiled and it got wider when Faith spoke, "Do you really have his number because I was thinking since you're not going to use it and I haven't dated a doctor in a long time it could be something."
"No. I was kidding."
Angel shook his head as the other three had another small laugh over it. They were interrupted when three doctors walked up to Buffy. The tallest one addressed her, "Are you the one responsible for the group of teenage girls that came in earlier?"
"My name's Buffy."
He nodded but then the doctor next to him named Kevin addressed her next, "Three of the girls are still unconscious. Kennedy was the most serious. She has a lot of bruises and cuts which we were able to treat easily but it was the many severe gashes all over her body that was the close call. She almost bled to death."
Buffy took a deep breath, "Where are the other girls?"
The last doctor who was pretty short finally spoke up, "Some of them are visiting their friends, a few are on bed rest and the others are still getting fixed up."
Buffy couldn't believe it. She was like she was drowning and a sudden tidal wave of guilt hit her. It was her fault anyone of them were there in the first place. The doctor even said she was responsible for them and now all she could think about is how this was her fault. She started to fidget and said the only thing she knew was the right thing to say in these situations, "Can I see them?"
The tallest one answered her question, "Of course."
Buffy half smiled, "Thanks a lot doctors, this means a lot."
They all smiled and nodded for a response and soon walked away. When Buffy turned back towards Faith, Spike and Angel they were all staring at her. Faith smiled, "We should go check on them."
Buffy nodded but now she was in more of a zoned state, "Yeah, you guys should. I have to go back and take care of the ones that didn't make it."
Spike stood up finally, "Alright then."
Buffy shook her head instantly, "You guys should stay here and keep an eye on the girls, I can do it."
Angel walked up to Buffy so he was right in front of her but spoke to Faith and Spike, "You two stay, we'll go."
Faith sighed, "Cool." She looked at Spike, "Bonding time."
Spike was already annoyed as he followed her back towards the rooms containing the girls. When they were gone Angel grabbed Buffy's hand, "Let's go." Buffy nodded and leaned on his shoulder as they began to walk.
