"This is ridiculous," Piper said. "After all this and they're just going to pawn you off on some other doctor. I wonder what we'll have to go through with him? More forms and long waits in the doctors' office? I'm with you. When we get home I'm going to start looking for a vanquishing potion for these guys."
"Now then," said the nurse coming into the room, "the doctor informs me you don't have insurance. That's a pity. I've been able to schedule an appointment for you for two months from next Friday at County General. The doctors there are.... competent. At least competent for someone without insurance. I'm sure you'll be fine."
"Listen lady," Phoebe said, "after all I've been through, I'm not waiting another two months only to go through this all again. I'm already here. I'll write a check for the full amount of the visit. Just tell me how much it is."
"A check," laughed the nurse, "how quaint. You honestly believe we would take money for a visit. That's one I haven't heard in a while. I'm afraid that payment for a visit like this consists of...."
"No, don't tell us," Piper said, cutting the woman off. "We don't want to know what you charge. You sure there isn't some way to work this out so we don't have to go through it again?"
"Heavens, no, dear," said the nurse. "There is simply nothing that can be done, I'm afraid. The doctor is a very busy man and he does have other patients. Now, if you'd get dressed I'll give you the information about your visit to County."
"This is just great," Phoebe said as she began to put her clothes on. "All this time and for what? So they can send me to County General and I have to wait for another two months to take tests I didn't want to take in the first place."
Her voice trailed off. There really wasn't anything she could do about it. She was going to have a talk with her doctor, of course. Maybe there was something he could do. For now, all she could do was keep her temper in check.
"Well, at least we can send your records over, dear," said the nurse. "They came in a few minutes ago."
Suddenly a man wearing a very expensive three-piece suit came into the room. He was carrying a folder with him.
"Miss Halliwell, I'm the administrator of this facility," he said without preamble. "I'm so dreadfully sorry about the mix-up. It was totally unintentional I assure you. Things like this don't happen here, really. This is a first-rate facility."
"Doctor, what is it?" asked the nurse.
The doctor opened the file and showed it to her. The nurse's eyes became very wide as she read something in the file. She turned to Phoebe and Piper.
"I'm dreadfully sorry, Miss Halliwell," said the nurse. "If I had known I can assure you I would never ever have agreed to sending you to County. Oh, dear, I do hope you aren't terribly upset with me."
"Uh, no, not at all," Phoebe said, looking at Piper who looked as dumbfounded as she was. "I'm sure you were just doing what the doctor told you."
"Oh, yes, quite right," said the nurse. "Oh, thank you for understanding. Thank you so very much."
"Now," said the doctor, "If you'll come with me, we'll get this straightened out right away."
Piper and Phoebe gathered up Phoebe's clothes and followed the man out of the room. The nurse handed Phoebe a robe to wear as they left. They entered the elevator and took it to the top floor of the building. When the doors to the elevator opened, they stepped out into a palatial suite.
"I'm sure you'll be quite comfortable here," said the administrator. "There's a private nurse in attendance twenty-four hours a day. Our chief resident has cleared his schedule for the entire day and is preparing to give you the examination and all the necessary tests. I imagine he'll be up here within the next few minutes. Now, if there's anything you need, simply pick up the phone and tell the operator. Whatever you need will be provided immediately. And again, please accept our most sincere apologizes for the misunderstanding."
"Thanks," said Phoebe suspiciously. "You guys sure have changed your tune all of a sudden."
"Just a misunderstanding, as I said," said the administrator. "If we had known, we would never have treated you as we did. Please, accept my humblest apologies for any inconvenience you may have suffered."
"What about payment?" Piper asked. "How much is this going to cost us?"
"No charge," said the administrator, "no charge whatsoever. Please, just make yourselves comfortable and we'll have this over as quickly as possible."
Piper and Phoebe didn't know what to say. They just looked at each other as the administrator hurried back into the elevator.