3.
"Hi, we're here for Sydney Bristow." Francie called to the receptionist in the hospital as they entered through the large automatic doors. "Which room is she in?" Without waiting for an answer Francie carried on down the corridor.
"Hey, I'm going to have to ask you to wait here while I find out where she is." The receptionist replied.
Still ignoring her, Francie pushed open the first door she came to.
The receptionist came out from behind the front desk. "Miss, you can't go in there."
Francie stopped when she realised she had the wrong room. "You don't understand, my best friend's been in an accident I have to see her!"
"If you don't come back to the desk I'll have to call security."
Will took Francie's arm. "Come on Fran, the sooner we see the receptionist, the sooner we'll find Syd."
"Ok" Francie said softly. He led her to the desk.
"Can I have your friend's full name please?" the receptionist asked.
"Sydney A. Bristow." Replied Francie.
The receptionist keyed it into the computer in front of her.
"Miss Bristow is on the 4th floor. You'll have to take these passes and show them at the desk on that floor." She handed Francie and Will their passes and watched as they filled in their names.
On the way to the elevator, the journalist in Will kicked in. "Why do we need passes to see Syd?"
"Don't go all news reporter on me Will, I don't care, I just want to find Syd. I don't know what happened or even how she is! They wouldn't tell me anything over the phone."
Will kept quiet but only because he could see how upset Francie was.
On the 4th floor they stepped out of the elevator, showed their passes at the desk and were led to a waiting room at the end of the corridor.
"I don't believe this!" Francie threw her jacket onto a chair in the empty waiting room. "Why can't we see her yet?"
"Calm down." Will told Francie, not feeling so calm himself. "They'll let us see her when she's ready." He took a seat and gently pulled Francie down beside him.
After fifteen minutes a door opened on the left of the corridor. Out of it came a doctor, followed by Jack Bristow and another guy Francie had never seen before.
"Jack." Francie stood up and rushed over to him.
Sydney's father looked as calm as ever and gave Francie a look as if to wonder why she was there.
Almost ignoring her he continued speaking to the doctor. "Thank you doctor." He said finally as he shook the doctor's hand then he turned to the young man.
"Mr Bristow." Will burst, unable to wait any longer "What happened?"
"Sydney was shopping late night in the mall when she was mugged at gunpoint. She was shot in her upper arm…"
"Shot? Oh my god" Will and Francie burst out in unison.
"The bullet just grazed her." The unknown man explained.
Jack continued as if he hadn't just been interrupted. "Most of her injuries where sustained when she fell down the escalator she was riding at the time."
"Jesus!" Will exclaimed. "Can we see her?" While he asked he noticed for the first time that the other man looked just as upset as he felt.
"Yes," the well-dressed man replied, ignoring the look Jack gave him, "but she's sleeping so you'll have to be quiet."
"We were just going to get a coffee anyway." Jack added stiffly, not bothering to ask Sydney's friends if they would like anything.
