Chapter 35 - Examination

We're escorted through endless corridors in silence. Westgate isn't among the detail, but their orders were obviously to keep their sights trained on me, so there was nothing we can do, my baby is too important for me to risk, and they know it.

We're shown into a large examination room. It certainly seems as well-equipped as anything I've seen in hospital. A largish area in the centre of the room is screened off, and our escort takes up position around that screen while Spike and I are ushered inside.

The space inside is cramped, but that's only because it's so full of people and equipment. I'm surprised to see Riley there, and it's obvious that he's not comfortable. My feelings on seeing Dr. Chan are different - pure relief - and she's obviously trying hard not to show me how scared she actually is. She greets me effusively, and helps me onto the examination couch.

I can feel Spike's agitation, and I keep a hand on his arm, desperate to keep him calm. While it's not ideal to have him wound up like this - I'm only too aware of the devastation that could be caused if he loses control - I know he's only like this because of how much he loves me, loves us. In a perverse way it makes me feel safe, even when I know I'm anything but.

Once I'm settled, I notice the two strangers for the first time. The other woman is dressed in a nurse's uniform. She's average height with black hair and stunningly blue eyes. She smiles nervously at me, and I know she's not comfortable with the arrangement.

The other person is a six foot African American, and my attention is immediately drawn to his hands. They seem completely out of proportion to his rather larger than average body, being small and delicate, almost feminine in appearance.

"I'll be just outside, and I'll make sure no one comes in unless there's a problem," Riley mutters, as he moves towards the gap in the screens, pulling them closed behind him.

Realistically, I know his promise isn't worth anything. I mean, because he's standing at the makeshift entrance doesn't mean a thing when you're surrounded by moveable partitions, but I know he means well.

"Shall we begin?" the tall man with tiny hands says, "I'm Dr. Jameson."

He holds out a hand to shake mine, and I reluctantly return the gesture.

"I understand you're not happy with your current situation," he continues, "but I have promised to treat you no differently from any other patient I've ever had, and I've only been involved with the military for a short part of my career."

I nod, not agreeing, just confirming that I've heard what he said.

He looks pointedly at Dr. Chan. It's obvious that he's not happy about her presence. He then turns his attention to me. "Before you begin your examination, I thought I'd tell you that I have some theories about how this pregnancy is progressing. A good deal of what I've come up with, is extrapolation from the test results done on your .. partner. Assuming your physiology is similar to his, would I be right in saying that you heal faster than a human?"

"Yes, but then I always have," I answer.

"Ah, yes. The Initiative records state that you thought you were some sort of mystical being called the 'Slayer'.

"I am the Slayer."

"And is your partner also a Slayer?"

There's a muffled laugh from Spike at that.

"No, I'm bloody not!"

"I see," he continues. "Well, excuse me if I just go with the facts I have in front of me.

Spike shrugs. To be honest, the man's irritating me too, but I'm determined not to show it.

"Now, there was evidence that human blood would increase 17's healing ability further. Is that also true of you?"

"His name is Spike."

He sighs, obviously I'm getting to him too.

"There is evidence that human blood increases .. Spike's .. healing ability. Is that also true of you?"

"Seems to be," I admit.

"Now, Dr. Chan's records show that your pregnancy is accelerated relative to a human confinement, and she had a concern that it wasn't even progressing in a linear fashion. Isn't that right?"

Dr. Chan looks at him, and then at me.

"Miss Summers, you must understand that I haven't disclosed any information to these people voluntarily. They raided my office, and took your file. I can only apologise for that .."

I hold out a hand and grasp one of hers.

"It's not your fault," I reassure her. "Anyway, I'd like to know what you think."

"Ok," she says, apparently taking a moment to array her thoughts.

"You remember the last time you visited me, I said I thought the pregnancy was accelerated. It was more than that, but I didn't have the data to be sure, so I didn't say anything. I hoped to have a better idea after your next examination. It seemed to me that, not only was your pregnancy moving faster than normal, it actually seemed to be accelerating. The early stages were pretty close to normal rate, but recently, things have been moving much faster."

"Now, my theory," Jameson takes over, "is that this is a direct consequence of your superior healing ability. The metabolic rate required to support healing at that rate, allows the process of development of the foetus to be faster too. If you ingest blood, this could easily have an effect on the rate too. In any case, I'd like to start with a simple examination to estimate the size of the baby. Then, we'll do an ultrasound, and depending on the results, we can go on from there."

"I'd like Dr. Chan to do the exam," I remind him. "You can watch if you like, but I want her to do it."

Jameson doesn't look happy at that, but he shrugs and takes a step back. It looks like he thought I'd change my mind once I'd seen how clever he is. As if.

The initial tests are simple, requiring an examination of my burgeoning belly, and listening to the baby's heartbeat. Of course, I can hear it most of the time now, a background noise that makes sure I can' t forget that she's there, even for a moment.

After that, there's the ultrasound, and, while Dr. Chan is in charge, Jameson's obviously itching to get his hands on the transducer. He requests her to move it around, making sure that he gets all the information he wants. There are more measurements then, and some raised eyebrows, but no information is forthcoming.

When it's over, Dr. Chan bends over her notes, scribbling and furrowing her brow. Jameson's obviously itching to say something, but he's quiet.

"Well, Buffy," Dr. Chan manages at last. "It would appear that I was correct. You should still have over a month to go, but from the size of the baby, it looks as though you're very close to term."

"How close?" I ask, as I feel something inside contract in fear or excitement.

"Well, that's difficult to predict, but let's just say that I wouldn't have any concerns for the baby if you were to go into labour today. However, I don't think that's likely. The baby's head is still a bit high for that, but that could change quite quickly."

Spike's hand tenses on mine then, and I know he's feeling my excitement. I squeeze back, and we look at one another, forgetting the others in the room for a moment.

"Dr.," Jameson interrupts our moment. "I think you should continue with the examination."

"I see no reason to do anything further," Dr. Chan responds.

"But we need to do an internal examination," he argues. "If you don't want to, I'd be happy to oblige."

"No," Spike interrupts, a second before me. "If Dr. Chan doesn't think it's necessary, then it doesn't happen."

"Really," Dr. Jameson says allowing his frustration to be obvious. "An internal examination is standard procedure for all non-human subjects and most of my human patients, come to that. We don't know anything about the likely success or otherwise of labour. She looks human, but what we can't see could be anything but."

"I'll vouch for everything being standard," Spike growls. "Now just leave her alone."

"I'll be talking to the Westgate about this, and if I don't get satisfaction from him, then I'll go higher if need be. This is an outrageous interference with normal practice. How can I be expected to provide the information needed if I can't examine the subjects? I was willing to accept someone else performing the examination, against my better judgement, I might add, but this.. is just unacceptable!"

At that point, he walks away, leaving me to pull my top down again. I stand up, and Spike puts his arm around me, holding me close. It's only then that I realise that I'm shaking.

Before we can move further, a screen is moved slightly, and I hear Riley's voice. I smile as I glance up to find his eyes averted to the side.

"Can I come in?"

"It's ok, Riley," I reply. "I think we're going to go back to our room."

He looks at us then, and nods. He quite obviously heard everything that happened, and his normally pale complexion is reddened, I assume by anger, although it could have been embarrassment. He moves the screens away, and we move out of the enclosure to find ourselves surrounded by the same escort. We walk back along the corridors, not speaking, but I know Spike's taking in every detail as we walk, just as I am.