The going was slow. Alex paused at the door to the bathroom and shot Penny a brief smile of apology.
"Are you okay?" Penny queried in concern, standing from her chair and moving towards Alex.
"Groovy." Alex sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "Managed to convince them to take that damned catheter out." She laughed softly, "But there's no way in hell I'm calling for a bedpan!"
Penny sighed and shook her head in amusement. "Sounds familiar."
Alex stood up straight, wincing as she did so and headed back towards the bed. "Hey!" She spun at Penny as her words sank in and she then smiled sheepishly. "Okay … so I know my own mind."
"You are stubborn." Penny clarified.
"Maybe." Alex climbed slowly back onto the bed and fell back against the pillows with a loud sigh. "But I'm nowhere near as stubborn as John."
"Scott's worse."
"Really?"
Penny nodded, "But he has been somewhat quieter of late."
Alex considered this for a moment. "Where are they?" She then asked quietly.
Penny sighed slightly. "Alex, I … I don't know quite how to say this. I - "
"No." Alex breathed.
Penny reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the cell phone.
"Oh god, no!" Alex shook her head in disbelief and sorrow.
"We need to find him." Penny began carefully, "And soon."
Alex sat forward in the bed, with difficulty, and let her head fall into her hands. All at once trying to hold back the tears that threatened and thinking back over all that John had said, sure she must have missed something.
"Where is Henry?"
Alex lifted her head and frowned in thought. "I'm not sure."
Penny watched Alex in sympathy and reached out to place her hand on her knee. "Where were you staying? Perhaps there will be a clue and - "
"He was at the motel." Alex offered quickly, reciting the address and explaining the location.
Penny nodded and managed a small smile. "I suppose we will just have to hope that the police have left the scene."
Alex's frown deepened but she then realised Penny's meaning, trying to picture the motel's surroundings and where they might be able to safely hide their transport.
"We had better go and find them." Penny stood slowly.
"Wait." Alex reached out and grabbed her arm. "Don't leave me here."
"Alex, you need - "
"Please."
Penny regarded her thoughtfully, "The doctor was reluctant to let you go as early as tomorrow. I don't think - "
"Please!" Alex pushed the sheets off of her legs and turned to climb from the bed, groaning in pain as she did so.
"Okay, okay!" Penny placed her hands on Alex's shoulders and sighed loudly. "I can see there's no reasoning with you."
Alex relaxed slightly and gave a small shrug of apology, "I've learned from the best."
"Indeed." Penny stepped back and looked around the room for inspiration. "But we can't just take you … I mean … we can't risk them following us up to - " She left the train of thought with a sudden gasp and moved up the bed to press the nurse call button.
"What are you - ?"
"Trust me." Penny urged quickly and hurried across the room.
The nurse regarded Alex in concern as she stepped inside the door. "Yes?" She queried, stepping forward.
"I …" Alex could not think of a reason quick enough and groaned in dismay. She watched the nurse stepping closer and behind her Penny quietly closed the room door. "I'm sorry." Alex shrugged.
The nurse frowned in confusion and then gasped as she was grabbed from behind. She struggled against the arms that held her tightly, one locking her arms by her side and the other sliding around her neck.
Penny closed her eyes and pressed her arm hard into the woman's throat. The nurse was strong but Penny had surprise on her side. She groaned as the woman struggled and tried to wriggle free. It did not take long before the nurse began to tire and Penny closed her eyes as the pressure on the woman's windpipe achieved its goal.
Alex watched in horror as Penny carefully lowered the limp body to the floor. "Is she - ?"
Penny checked the nurse's pulse and sighed loudly. "Unconscious." She replied in relief, "And not going to enjoy the headache she will have when she wakes." Moving back a little, Penny regarded the still form in interest and then looked back up at Alex. "But, thankfully, about your size."
Alex frowned and then suddenly caught on. She slid carefully from the bed and pulled out her IV, pressing on the small oozing hole and watching Penny starting to undress the lifeless nurse.
"Here." Penny sighed in relief and held out the dress that had been difficult to remove from the limp form. She then turned her attention to carefully pull off the woman's shoes and tights and suddenly chuckled in amusement.
"What's funny?" Alex queried in intrigue, slipping off her gown and pulling on the uniform, trying to ignore the pain that the movement caused.
"Just that it's my first time." Penny smiled up at Alex.
"Really? God, I'd have thought you spy-types did this sort of exciting thing all the time." Alex offered lightly.
Penny stood and gave a small shrug. "Seems I have been missing out."
Alex perched on the side of the bed and reached down to slip her feet into the tights, groaning as pain forced her to stop.
Without a word, Penny hurried forwards and helped Alex. She pulled the tights up over Alex's knees and then stepped back as Alex insisted on completing the task.
"Well?" Alex stood up as straight as she could and frowned in uncertainty.
Penny groaned softly. "Hmm … I suppose if we walk quickly, they might not look twice."
"That's comforting."
Penny shrugged and then returned to the form on the floor. She picked up the woman by the shoulders and groaned with the effort of dragging the body over beside the bed. With a sudden heave, she managed to throw the woman half onto the mattress and wedged her hips with her knee to stop her sliding off.
Alex hurried round and picked up the nurse's feet, swinging them up onto the bed and regretting the action immediately. She paused at the end of the bed and leaned on the base for support.
Penny covered the nurse with the sheet and stepped back to examine the illusion. With a sigh, she decided it would have to do and then crouched down to open the bedside locker. Gathering the few belongings into a plastic bag, she then turned to Alex. "Shit." She hurried to Alex's side and steadied her gently.
"Okay …" Alex clutched at her side and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the merry dance the room was doing around her. "Maybe … this was … was a bad idea."
Penny laughed suddenly, "Oh, it's too bloody late now!"
Alex lifted her head and looked at the form in the bed. The nurse was blonde and looked nothing like her. The trick would not last a second if someone came in and found her. And they would have to be long gone before then.
"Come on." Penny urged and headed for the door. She peered into the hall through the small window and took a deep breath before then opening the door. "You go first." She stepped clear of the exit and shot Alex a smile of reassurance. "I've got your back."
Alex nodded in understanding and let go of the bed. Her head was spinning as she moved towards the door and she saw the determination on Penny's face, wondering what the hell Penny would do if someone did challenge them on the way out.
"It's okay." Penny whispered. "Go straight through and off the ward. I'm right behind you."
Alex nodded and stepped from the room, her heart racing. Believing Penny's assurances was one thing but walking quickly yet casually was quite another. Clenching her teeth and keeping her eyes focused on the exit, she headed through the ward. Her legs were shaking and her hearing muffled, small bright dots dancing in her peripheral vision and she was half way along the ward when suddenly she realised to her horror that she was going to pass out.
Penny watched Alex sway groggily and quickened her pace a little. Keeping a close yet not too close distance, she was aware of the staff that sat chatting at the reception desk and began to pray silently that none of them looked up.
Alex kept going. The ground seemed to be wavering beneath her and she could hardly breathe but the exit was looming nearer and she continued forward in a somewhat drunken stupor.
The nurse at the centre of the reception desk looked up and frowned at the colleague that was approaching. She stood slowly and then caught sight of the visitor that hurried towards her.
"(Good evening.)" Penny smiled and then stifled a yawn. "(Where can I get a cup of coffee?)"
The nurse smiled, "(Second level. Restaurant.)" She then seemed to notice the departing figure behind Penny and called out to her. ("Can I help you? Are you lost?")
Penny's heart sank. She turned and saw Alex moving back towards her and the brief flash of panic that crossed her face and suddenly knew that they were caught. Aware that her hands were behind the desk and out of sight from the nurse, she gave Alex a quick thumbs down.
Alex turned to the nurse and smiled thinly.("No.") She glanced at Penny for reassurance and saw her lips move. "(Thank you.)" She copied quickly.
The nurse at the reception desk smiledand turned her attention back to her paperwork.
Alex glanced at Penny and saw the smallest of nods. She smiled in uncertainty and turned back to the door.
"(Thanks.)" Penny offered quickly, seeing the staff were now focused elsewhere and taking the chance to hurry after Alex.
Alex had slumped against the wall outside the ward and groaned weakly.
"Bloody hell!" Penny sighed and chuckled in relief. "I was sure we were goners!" She hurried next to Alex and watched her close her eyes wearily. "Alex?"
Alex shook her head slowly and gave a small moan before her legs gave way and she slumped to the floor.
"Alex!" Penny gasped and fell to her knees, catching Alex's shoulders before her head hit the floor of the corridor. "Oh crap! Alex, wake up!" She shook her gently and groaned in dismay. "Alex!"
Tbc …