Chapter 6.
An ambulance is rushing to the hospital. The door slams open and in comes rolling on a bed, Riley with a respirator in his mouth and Cordy and Faith at either of his side. The paramedic that is holding the respirator takes it off for a second, letting Riley tell Faith something.
"Call Graham," says Riley.
"I'm sorry, but you can't go any further," says one of the doctors. Riley is taken through some other doors, away from Faith's sight. Faith quickly grabs her cell phone, Riley's cell phone, and looks for the name that Riley called out.
"I think we should phone Angel," says Cordy.
"You do that," says Faith, still starring at the doors where Riley was taken through. Cordy puts her hand on Faith's shoulder.
"I'm sure he's going to be fine."
Faith turns her head back at Cordy and gives her a reassuring half smile. She takes a deep breath and sighs. Cordy then heads over to the phones to call Angel and Wesley. Faith then sits down in the waiting area and keeps looking in the cell phone for the name Graham. She finds it and calls the number. At first she is scared to talk to some guy she doesn't know, but she is doing this for Riley.
"Hello," says Graham on the other line. "Riley, is that you?"
"Hi, are you Graham?" asks Faith.
"Who is this? Where is Riley?"
"Riley's at the hospital in Los Angeles. He told me to call you."
"Give me the hospital name."
Five minutes later, Graham had all the information and is on his way to Los Angeles. His voice sounded worried to Faith, but she didn't ask why.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," says Graham.
"Okay."
"You're Faith, right?"
"How did you…"
"I'm the only one he told about his visits with you. You know he has a girlfriend."
"I know."
Later, Angel and Wesley arrive at the hospital. They find Faith and Cordy sitting in the waiting room.
"What happened?" asks Angel.
"I don't know. He was fine one moment, then the next he was shaking and he collapsed," says Faith.
"Who is he?"
"He's a friend of Faith's," says Cordy, not wanting to tell Angel that he is Buffy's current boyfriend.
"He helped me out when I woke up," says Faith. "He was nice to me. Didn't judge or nothing. Kind of like you, Angel."
"What's his name?"
"Excuse me," says a man trying to get through a crowded hallway to where Faith and Angel are. "Coming through." He walks over to Faith. "Where is he?"
"The doctors are…" says Faith, but Graham interrupts her.
"I'll handle this."
"What happened to him?"
"He's off his meds. The military organization gives it to us in our food. It has negative affects if not taken."
"What are you going to do?"
"Take him to some doctors that could help him. He's going to be fine." Graham heads over to the doctors and shows his badge. He explains that he has explicit orders to take Riley out of the hospital.
Graham then goes into Riley's room as he finishes talking to the doctors, who agreed to let Riley leave. Riley starts to come to. He is hooked on an ivy and turns his head to the side. Graham walks over to him.
"Graham," says Riley in a low voice.
"I'm right here, Ri," says Graham. "I sent for a helicopter, so we can get you to some doctors that can help you with this. It will be here in ten minutes."
"I don't want this anymore." He sits up on the bed.
"What are you talking about?"
"We're being drugged and it's not right. I didn't want this."
"If you don't take the meds, you'll be vulnerable, Riley."
"At least I'd be a man."
"Right." Graham nods his head, understanding Riley's decision.
Meanwhile outside, Angel and his crew are confused at the events that have occurred, especially Angel who has no idea who Riley, the guy Faith brought to the hospital, is.
"Military organization?" says Angel, remembering what Graham said. "What kind of stuff is this guy into?"
"It's an organization that fights demons," says Faith. "Just like you. They send out teams on missions to take them out."
"I always thought the government knew something about demons."
"They've always known things before we do," says Wesley. "This is quite interesting that they have made such an effort in creating force to battle demons and the sorts."
"Yeah, but there's gotta be catch," says Angel. He turns to his crew and didn't notice Faith walk off to where Graham had entered.
In Riley's room, Graham and Riley turn around to see Faith at the doorway. Graham walks over to Faith.
"Sorry for attacking and putting you in the closet," says Faith to Graham.
"I'm sorry that happened, too," says Graham. "Riley, five minutes." Graham leaves the room.
"I'm glad you didn't run off," says Riley.
"I wouldn't do that," says Faith. "Not anymore." Faith walks up to him.
"I'm glad you didn't." Riley grabs hold of her hand and smiles at her.
"This feels strange. I mean, now I'm the one who is visiting you at the hospital, but you're not in a coma. You're not going to go in a coma, right?"
"No, I'm not."
Faith is relieved. Riley thinks that it's funny that Faith is afraid that he'd end up in a coma like she did. He's also surprised that she actually cares for him like how Buffy would if she knew he was hurt.
"Riley, it's time," says Graham at the doorway.
"Okay," replies Riley as he starts to get out of the bed.
Faith steps aside as some nurses help Riley move off the bed and into a wheelchair. He is still too weak to walk. Graham then takes the control of the chair and rolls Riley out of the room. They both go pass Angel's crew and Faith stops right next to them.
Meanwhile at Angel investigations, Buffy, Xander, and Spike are searching for Angel and his crew. Buffy invited Spike because Xander's car would not start and Xander tried to hot wire Spike's car, but he came back to his crypt early and they got caught.
When Buffy mentioned that she was headed to LA to visit Angel, Spike decided to be nice and let them use his car as long as he gets to go with.
"Okay, Spike, do that thing you do where you smell people out," says Buffy.
"First, thought you didn't like that," says Spike. "And, second, I'm not your bloody hound."
"You're not," says Xander. "A pit-bull is prettier than you and nicer, too."
"Spike, just do it. I don't have time to mess around."
"Oh, alright," says Spike as he tries to get Angel's scent. Buffy and Xander follow him as he exits the building. He leads them to a nearby hospital and they all enter. "There he is."
"Good puppy," says Xander, petting Spike. Spike growls at Xander and he gets behind Buffy. Then they all walk over to Angel and his crew. They see that Faith is with them. "Oh, looks like Angel's got some 'xplaining to do."
"Bet you he's going to sweat," says Spike to Xander.
"Nah, Buffy will break him in two seconds," says Xander.
"Well, I won't mind that."
Angel turns around and sees them walking over to them. He notices that Buffy is really upset. Faith sees her and feels like running, but Angel grabs her arm. Buffy stops right in front of Angel, with her arm folded across her chest and stares at Angel and his crew.
"You son of a bitch," says Buffy.
"Not what I was expecting, but good start," says Spike.