Chapter XV: The truth about the girl in Blue.
They rush inside the emergency room pushing the gurney with all their strength. Behind them a paramedic runs with an ice bag containing the severed hand. They storm the Operating Room and begin their work. Two hours have passed since the left forearm of Wesley Wyndham-Pryce was severed from his body and the amount of blood lost has left him completely numb and unaware of his surroundings.
A beaten and bloody Spike walks into Fairfield Clinic's emergency room nearly an hour later, followed by Fred. She rushes in to the reception desk and looks around for a nurse. A large, white skinned female with a smell of old cigarettes sits in front of her with a smile on her face.
Nurse: "Welcome to Fairfield Clinic. How may I--?"
Fred: "Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. He was brought in just a couple of minutes ago."
Nurse: "Your name, please?"
Fred: "Winifred Burkle."
Nurse: "And your relationship with the patient?"
Fred: "I'm, uh..." (looks at Spike behind her with the corner of her eyes) "...I'm his girlfriend."
Nurse: (looks at her confused) "Oh, yes. Found him, Ms. Burkle. Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. Severed hand, massive blood loss?"
Fred: "Yes."
Nurse: "They just took him in for surgery."
Fred: "Can I see him?"
Nurse: (with a compassionate smile) "I'm sorry, dear. I'm afraid I can't let you. Dr. Thompson's one of our leading Doctors. I'm sure he'll be fine." (looks at her hesitation to wait) "You're more than welcome to wait for him in our waiting room down the hall." (stands up and points her in the direction)
Fred looks towards the room at the end of the hallway. She looks back at the nurse and smiles shyly. Spike sees her as she walks away towards the waiting room and limps after her.
Man: (from behind) "Excuse me."
Spike: "Sod off, pal... just... going to sit in the bloody waiting room."
Man: (he walks up to Spike) "I'm sorry, do you remember me?"
Spike looks at him. Blood is still dripping from his lips and limbs. He clutches at his stomach trying to stand erectly, but the pain is too numbing for him. He nods in agreement.
Man: "I-I'm Dr. Melman... I, uh, pretty much took care of you while you were here."
Spike: "Yeah, I know who you are."
Man: (he stares at him from top to bottom) "Is there... anything I can do? You pretty much look like you were just hit by a truck."
Spike: (slightly annoyed by his presence) "Not quite, but close enough." (sighs) "I'll be alright. Just need to get to the waiting room is all."
Spike starts to walk away from Dr. Melman. He limps towards the room where Fred's waiting and looks back. He notices that the doctor's gone, but, then again, the flock of people roaming the halls don't allow for much visibility. Spike shakes his head trying to retain consciousness and walks into the waiting room. He enters and finds Fred looking outside the window, alone.
Fred: "I do not understand why am I compelled to wait here."
Spike: (turns around and closes the door) "Maybe you've been wearing those shoes so long it may be starting to get you."
Fred: "Perhaps. These feelings that I posses are very untoward of me."
Spike: "I know."
He walks over to a chair at the other end of the room and sits down. She puts her hand against the glass and caresses her reflection. She turns around and looks at Spike with determination.
Fred: "I am leaving. I will hunt the creature that did this to me and deliver the pain it caused me tenfold unto it."
Spike: (looking at the roof) "It'll kill you if you do so."
Fred: "Death does not concern me. If it means that I am to fade in battle I will take it as a reward so long as I annihilate that creature."
Spike: "And what makes you think that you can kill it?"
Fred: (walks over to the door) "I do not have time to waste in games with you, half-breed."
Spike: (looks back up to the roof) "If you're thinking that sacrificing yourself like that for the sake of your Knight-in-shining-armor is going to make him acknowledge you any more than he already does you're gonna be wasting your time."
Fred: "I do not require his attention."
Spike: "Oh..." (struggles up) "I think you do... desperately even."
Fred: "You will be silent now or I shall--"
Spike: "What? Kill me?"
He slaps her in the stomach and grabs her neck, and she twitches and bends over in pain. He scoffs at her and walks back to his seat.
Fred: "How dare you?"
Spike: "Because I care."
Fred looks at Spike and feels her entire being become heavy. Spike reaches into his pockets and pulls out a box of cigarettes. He takes one out and puts it on his lips. He takes the packet and puts back on his coat, just as he takes out the lighter from the same pocket. He stares at it as he fiddles with it in his fingers. He takes a moment to ponder and sees Fred standing by the window again. He stares at her for a couple of seconds then lights the cig.
Spike: "Feels heavy, uh?"
Illyria stares into the darkness outside.
Spike: (cont.) "The weight of what she was... what she still is?"
Fred: (without looking away) "Yes."
Spike: (puts the lighter back in his coat) "Whatever feelings you have for him are only going to get you more grief, luv. It's not worth it."
Fred: "I do not have feelings towards Wesley."
Spike: "Really? Then why is it he's the only person that you call on a first name basis?"
Fred: (looks at him) "He has proven himself worthy of me pronouncing his name."
Spike: (stares into her eyes and pauses) "You have no idea how powerful those hazel eyes are, Blue." (drags from the cig and swipes his pants) "Those aren't yours... they belong to her."
Fred: "Fred's memories are assimilated with mine. They belong to me just as much as they did to her."
Spike: "I'm not talking about memories."
Fred: "What are you implying, half-breed?"
Spike: "You're falling for him."
Fred: (agitated) "I should tear your tongue from your mouth for--"
Spike: (slightly angered) "Do yourself a favor and drop the bloody act. You're in no position to be threatening people right now and you know it."
Fred looks at him and lowers her head. She turns towards the window and stares outside. Spike scoffs at her and sits down. He takes another drag and then turns it off on a magazine rack beside him.
Fred: "Perhaps you are right."
Spike: (sniffs) "What's that?"
Fred turns towards him shrouded in misery.
Spike: "Oh... right. Listen, Blue, Wesley'll always love Fred and there's nothing that you can do that will change that. He would've died instead of her if he'd had the chance."
Fred: "You love her as well."
Spike: (smiles) "Yes... I do."
Fred: "I've... I've become appeased with this world. It is unpredictable and unstable, yet compassionate and intriguing. It feels... small. But the vastness of emotions these primitives' possess is overwhelming."
Spike: "It just means they're human. They've got their souls... that's what allows them to--"
He looks at her for a moment and suddenly feels cold and nervous.
Spike: "Look, um..." (stands up) "...I'll be outside if you, um... I'll go get some fresh air and--"
Fred: (turns back towards the window) "You do not require air, half-breed."
Spike: "Right, I'll..."
He trails off and walks outside, limping with a faster pace than before. He passes the reception desk of the emergency room and heads towards the doors, when they open. Lindsey walks in and finds Spike face to face.
Spike: (surprised) "What the bloody hell are you--?"
Lindsey: "Any word on Wes?"
Spike: "Don't know. I haven't asked."
Lindsey: (looks up and down at him with a raised eyebrow) "Huh. What? Did you get hit by a truck or something?"
Spike: "Not quite... been meaning to ask Percy as soon as he wakes up."
Lindsey: "He's in surgery?"
Spike: "Last I heard." (pauses) "You wouldn't happen to know what the hell was that thing that nearly ripped us to pieces, would you?"
Lindsey: "Actually that's just what I wanted to talk to him about."
Spike: "Yeah, I figured you here didn't mean 'Get well soon' cards and flowers."
Lindsey: "Yeah, well, all the best florists close at 9 pm today... kind of hard to find any open ones at 4 am."
Spike: "Well, I don't know about you, but I'd like to move this snappy conversation to a more secure place."
Lindsey: (smiling) "That's okay, don't worry. Wolfram & Hart own the building."
Spike: (scoffs) "That's lovely, Cactus Jack."
Lindsey smiles and as ha passes right by Spike he slaps him in his arm. He doesn't respond, he just cringes at the pain emitted by the slap. He follows Lindsey into the waiting room, but finds it empty. Illyria's gone.
-- Fini.
They rush inside the emergency room pushing the gurney with all their strength. Behind them a paramedic runs with an ice bag containing the severed hand. They storm the Operating Room and begin their work. Two hours have passed since the left forearm of Wesley Wyndham-Pryce was severed from his body and the amount of blood lost has left him completely numb and unaware of his surroundings.
A beaten and bloody Spike walks into Fairfield Clinic's emergency room nearly an hour later, followed by Fred. She rushes in to the reception desk and looks around for a nurse. A large, white skinned female with a smell of old cigarettes sits in front of her with a smile on her face.
Nurse: "Welcome to Fairfield Clinic. How may I--?"
Fred: "Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. He was brought in just a couple of minutes ago."
Nurse: "Your name, please?"
Fred: "Winifred Burkle."
Nurse: "And your relationship with the patient?"
Fred: "I'm, uh..." (looks at Spike behind her with the corner of her eyes) "...I'm his girlfriend."
Nurse: (looks at her confused) "Oh, yes. Found him, Ms. Burkle. Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. Severed hand, massive blood loss?"
Fred: "Yes."
Nurse: "They just took him in for surgery."
Fred: "Can I see him?"
Nurse: (with a compassionate smile) "I'm sorry, dear. I'm afraid I can't let you. Dr. Thompson's one of our leading Doctors. I'm sure he'll be fine." (looks at her hesitation to wait) "You're more than welcome to wait for him in our waiting room down the hall." (stands up and points her in the direction)
Fred looks towards the room at the end of the hallway. She looks back at the nurse and smiles shyly. Spike sees her as she walks away towards the waiting room and limps after her.
Man: (from behind) "Excuse me."
Spike: "Sod off, pal... just... going to sit in the bloody waiting room."
Man: (he walks up to Spike) "I'm sorry, do you remember me?"
Spike looks at him. Blood is still dripping from his lips and limbs. He clutches at his stomach trying to stand erectly, but the pain is too numbing for him. He nods in agreement.
Man: "I-I'm Dr. Melman... I, uh, pretty much took care of you while you were here."
Spike: "Yeah, I know who you are."
Man: (he stares at him from top to bottom) "Is there... anything I can do? You pretty much look like you were just hit by a truck."
Spike: (slightly annoyed by his presence) "Not quite, but close enough." (sighs) "I'll be alright. Just need to get to the waiting room is all."
Spike starts to walk away from Dr. Melman. He limps towards the room where Fred's waiting and looks back. He notices that the doctor's gone, but, then again, the flock of people roaming the halls don't allow for much visibility. Spike shakes his head trying to retain consciousness and walks into the waiting room. He enters and finds Fred looking outside the window, alone.
Fred: "I do not understand why am I compelled to wait here."
Spike: (turns around and closes the door) "Maybe you've been wearing those shoes so long it may be starting to get you."
Fred: "Perhaps. These feelings that I posses are very untoward of me."
Spike: "I know."
He walks over to a chair at the other end of the room and sits down. She puts her hand against the glass and caresses her reflection. She turns around and looks at Spike with determination.
Fred: "I am leaving. I will hunt the creature that did this to me and deliver the pain it caused me tenfold unto it."
Spike: (looking at the roof) "It'll kill you if you do so."
Fred: "Death does not concern me. If it means that I am to fade in battle I will take it as a reward so long as I annihilate that creature."
Spike: "And what makes you think that you can kill it?"
Fred: (walks over to the door) "I do not have time to waste in games with you, half-breed."
Spike: (looks back up to the roof) "If you're thinking that sacrificing yourself like that for the sake of your Knight-in-shining-armor is going to make him acknowledge you any more than he already does you're gonna be wasting your time."
Fred: "I do not require his attention."
Spike: "Oh..." (struggles up) "I think you do... desperately even."
Fred: "You will be silent now or I shall--"
Spike: "What? Kill me?"
He slaps her in the stomach and grabs her neck, and she twitches and bends over in pain. He scoffs at her and walks back to his seat.
Fred: "How dare you?"
Spike: "Because I care."
Fred looks at Spike and feels her entire being become heavy. Spike reaches into his pockets and pulls out a box of cigarettes. He takes one out and puts it on his lips. He takes the packet and puts back on his coat, just as he takes out the lighter from the same pocket. He stares at it as he fiddles with it in his fingers. He takes a moment to ponder and sees Fred standing by the window again. He stares at her for a couple of seconds then lights the cig.
Spike: "Feels heavy, uh?"
Illyria stares into the darkness outside.
Spike: (cont.) "The weight of what she was... what she still is?"
Fred: (without looking away) "Yes."
Spike: (puts the lighter back in his coat) "Whatever feelings you have for him are only going to get you more grief, luv. It's not worth it."
Fred: "I do not have feelings towards Wesley."
Spike: "Really? Then why is it he's the only person that you call on a first name basis?"
Fred: (looks at him) "He has proven himself worthy of me pronouncing his name."
Spike: (stares into her eyes and pauses) "You have no idea how powerful those hazel eyes are, Blue." (drags from the cig and swipes his pants) "Those aren't yours... they belong to her."
Fred: "Fred's memories are assimilated with mine. They belong to me just as much as they did to her."
Spike: "I'm not talking about memories."
Fred: "What are you implying, half-breed?"
Spike: "You're falling for him."
Fred: (agitated) "I should tear your tongue from your mouth for--"
Spike: (slightly angered) "Do yourself a favor and drop the bloody act. You're in no position to be threatening people right now and you know it."
Fred looks at him and lowers her head. She turns towards the window and stares outside. Spike scoffs at her and sits down. He takes another drag and then turns it off on a magazine rack beside him.
Fred: "Perhaps you are right."
Spike: (sniffs) "What's that?"
Fred turns towards him shrouded in misery.
Spike: "Oh... right. Listen, Blue, Wesley'll always love Fred and there's nothing that you can do that will change that. He would've died instead of her if he'd had the chance."
Fred: "You love her as well."
Spike: (smiles) "Yes... I do."
Fred: "I've... I've become appeased with this world. It is unpredictable and unstable, yet compassionate and intriguing. It feels... small. But the vastness of emotions these primitives' possess is overwhelming."
Spike: "It just means they're human. They've got their souls... that's what allows them to--"
He looks at her for a moment and suddenly feels cold and nervous.
Spike: "Look, um..." (stands up) "...I'll be outside if you, um... I'll go get some fresh air and--"
Fred: (turns back towards the window) "You do not require air, half-breed."
Spike: "Right, I'll..."
He trails off and walks outside, limping with a faster pace than before. He passes the reception desk of the emergency room and heads towards the doors, when they open. Lindsey walks in and finds Spike face to face.
Spike: (surprised) "What the bloody hell are you--?"
Lindsey: "Any word on Wes?"
Spike: "Don't know. I haven't asked."
Lindsey: (looks up and down at him with a raised eyebrow) "Huh. What? Did you get hit by a truck or something?"
Spike: "Not quite... been meaning to ask Percy as soon as he wakes up."
Lindsey: "He's in surgery?"
Spike: "Last I heard." (pauses) "You wouldn't happen to know what the hell was that thing that nearly ripped us to pieces, would you?"
Lindsey: "Actually that's just what I wanted to talk to him about."
Spike: "Yeah, I figured you here didn't mean 'Get well soon' cards and flowers."
Lindsey: "Yeah, well, all the best florists close at 9 pm today... kind of hard to find any open ones at 4 am."
Spike: "Well, I don't know about you, but I'd like to move this snappy conversation to a more secure place."
Lindsey: (smiling) "That's okay, don't worry. Wolfram & Hart own the building."
Spike: (scoffs) "That's lovely, Cactus Jack."
Lindsey smiles and as ha passes right by Spike he slaps him in his arm. He doesn't respond, he just cringes at the pain emitted by the slap. He follows Lindsey into the waiting room, but finds it empty. Illyria's gone.
-- Fini.