"Geese," A stout woman said entering the reception area and sitting behind a desk.
Kit frowned slightly in confusion, "I'm sorry?"
"Geese," The woman repeated, "What are your views on Geese flying backwards?"
"I didn't know they could fly backwards. Look, we're here to see someone, a friend of ours. We've been waiting here nearly half an hour and we'd appreciate it if you could let us in."
This time the woman frowned, "And who are you? Who is this person? If you wanted to go in and see them so quickly you shouldn't have started talking to me about Geese. We must have been talking about them for over an hour. It's ridiculous. Who are you?"
"I'm Kit and the two men sitting over there laughing at me getting told off about doing something I've not done are Sportacus and Robbie. We're here to see Robyn; she's our fiancée, daughter and niece, respectively." Kit replied indicating each of the two men behind him as he spoke.
The woman nodded and proceeded to write something down on a piece of paper, "Ok. How many rolls was it you wanted?"
Kit was about to make a very lewd comment to the woman about what she could do with her Geese and rolls but stopped short when a door on the far side of the reception area that had previously been locked opened and through it walked a man he recognised as Doctor Malone. The doctor acknowledged him and his companions with a nod before turning to the woman standing behind the desk.
"Mary," He began gaining her immediate attention, "These gentlemen are here to see a patient. They don't require any rolls or drinks from you at this time but I'm sure that they'll ask you should they change their minds."
"What about the Geese?" Mary asked rather disappointed.
"Remember what I told you about Geese flying backwards? If Geese fly backwards the whole world will fall to pieces. I want you to tell me something, Mary, why was the reception desk left unattended?"
Mary blushed briefly and averted her eyes as she replied, "I went to feed my pet alien, Bobbo. He was very hungry, nearly ate a whole tree."
"That's all very well and good but these men were left waiting for you. Remember that you're not allowed to leave the reception desk unattended. Remember the cameras?"
Struck by the mention of the word camera Mary began looking about nervously, "Cameras. I didn't mean to upset them, tell them I'll be good. Tell them that I won't go to feed Bobbo again unless there's someone watching the desk."
"I will Mary," Doctor Malone assured and turning to the three men sitting on the row of chairs behind him said, "Come along. Visiting time is wearing short and I'm sure Robyn will be glad to see you."
Doctor Malone opened the door that he'd passed through only minutes before and held it open so that Robbie, Kit and Sportacus could pass. They'd each noticed a sign on the door saying 'low security unit' which allayed their fears of what state they might find Robyn in when they saw her. When the doctor had shut and locked the door they followed him through a maze of corridors until they came to a large room with windows lining one wall. Sat in a chair in front of one of these windows was the person they'd come to visit. At the doctor's nod Kit and Robbie went over to see her while Sportacus hung back, confusion about what the doctor was doing here driving him crazy.
"Doctor?" Sportacus began, "Why are you here? I thought you worked at the hospital."
Doctor Malone turned to face Sportacus after hearing his name mentioned, "So did I. At the moment I'm the acting director of this horrid place."
"Where's Doctor Hold? I thought he ran this place."
"He did until he became a patient."
"What happened?"
"Well, as I suppose you know the safe house was being driven into financial ruin. The Greentown hospital took steps to take this place over but sent their financial teams in so they knew what kind of state the place was in. Looking over the accounts they were surprised to find that Doctor Hold had been trying to use an accountant which has been dead fifty years to help him with the accounts. From several notes written in crayon on a couple of pages they were also able to ascertain that he was using financial advice given to him from a dog."
"Oh dear. How long will you be acting director?"
"Until they can find a replacement which I can tell you won't be an easy task. There are tremendous staff shortages here and positions are hard to fill. With a great amount of thought we chose to let some of the jobs go to a few of the patients here. Believe me, when they say the inmates are running the asylum they mean it."
Sportacus was about to question the doctor further but the doctor it seemed had other plans as he walked away and passed through a door on the far side of the room. A little put out by this action Sportacus thought it best to go and see Robyn before their time in the safe house ran out. Keeping his eyes averted from all those that seemed intent to stare at him as he passed them he finally managed to get over to Robyn, in time for the bell to go signalling the end of the visiting time. Cursing under his breath he had just enough time to spare a look at his niece before orderlies entered the room and started to lead all visitors out of the safe house.
Watching her uncle's retreating back, Robyn felt a little annoyed that he'd wasted time talking to the doctor rather than coming to see her. She'd seen the look that he'd thrown her way before he'd been ushered out but she wasn't able to fully interpret it. It had been an annoyed look but she wasn't sure if it was meant for her after what Ellen had undoubtedly told him or whether he was annoyed at not being able to see her that time.
With nothing more to do in the social room she got up from her chair and ambled along to her room. Seeing Kit and her father had lifted her spirits considerably, before they'd come she'd missed both of them tremendously. Seeing her looking so well had evidently cheered them up as well. If only they knew that she'd made herself look better for them, she was still haunted by her actions in a coma and by a letter that had been delivered to her the evening before.