Orphans Beloved: "Beth Rhymes With Death…"
Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved and Sheldon Swifties bits in my Buffyverse and Sheldonverse, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.
(Note-We'll see how this goes. Art gets an unexpected visit, creating unexpected complications.)
Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…
Part II…
Dyad Medical Facility, recovery…
"Ms. Duncan?" a young brunette nurse in blue scrubs eyed the quiet woman lying in hospital bed, regarding her. "I need to change your dressing, it'll only take a moment."
"Sure…" Beth nodded, starting to rise…
"Don't try to get up, it's still a bit soon for that." the nurse cautioned. "We'll get you in a chair for a bit today again but you should still be careful about sudden moves."
"Right." Nod…
"Dr. Nealon should be in later this morning."
"Uh-huh. Ok." Hmmn…Slight grimace as the nurse carefully removed the bandage.
"Sorry…"
"Just the tape on the skin. So you said it was a pencil…Yesterday, I mean?"
"That's right."
"What, am I that clumsy?" wan grin.
"Dr. Nealon prefers to talk to you about it himself, I'm told. I can't go into any details."
"I was just…" Hmmn… Grimace.
"I'll be done in a second, that's the worst, I promise…" smile.
"I'm ok. I was just kidding, he told me about Sarah…Guess I'd forgotten."
"I can't discuss that, Ms. Duncan. I have orders."
"Sure." Wave of hand. "Sorry."
"So…Would you like breakfast? You can have a light one today."
"Light? I'm starved. Please, anything you got."
Hmmn…And they told me she'd be demanding caviar and aged French champagne…Guess she is hungry.
"I'll bring the menu…I'm glad you feel like eating."
"The eye's a total loss, huh?" Beth eyed the nurse as she secured the new dressing.
"I'm afraid so. But…Well, I'm not to go into that…" the nurse, sheepishly.
"Other options, huh? Like my sisters…? Transplant, that sort of thing? Or can I regrow one or you grow one for me, in the lab?"
The nurse, worried look…Beth put up a hand, shaking head.
"Sorry…I get it…You can't discuss it with me. Dr. God wants to reserve all knowledge for himself, eh?"
Slight smile from nurse… "Well, let me get that menu, I'll be right back, Ms. Duncan."
"Beth…I mean, Rachel…" smile.
The nurse smiled again and headed out, pushing small dressing cart.
"How is she?" another nurse, passing her.
"She's better…Calmer…Wants to eat."
"Good…I saw on the monitor she responded to her name."
"Yeah…" pause. "But again with the Beth…Is that a nickname or something?"
"With Ms. Duncan?" shrug from the second nurse, the head for the floor… "She and God know…No one else, now that Leekie and that Dr. Duncan…"
"I don't want to know anything…" the younger nurse shook head. "I'm just doing my job. I don't know anything about the Manning girl and her daughter…I don't want to know."
"Sure." Shrug. Eyeing her as she moved on down the hall.
Best not to open my big mouth with that one…She's the sort to get promoted…And to remember loose lips.
In the room, Beth carefully sat up…Moving arms gently, looking round the room.
Clothes…Not yet…But…She looked over to the closets on the side. If they brought anything, they're there.
But, still wobbly and better to see what I can get from this Nealon character. She eyed the phone…
No, like yesterday…Not a good idea to try and call Art or Cos. They must monitor any calls.
Ok…It's clear from their attitude I am not some resurrection experiment. They really think I'm Duncan, the twisted sister helping Leekie run Dyad.
So…Sarah Manning got the ice bitch in the eye? Grin. Good one, sis…Though…I now bear the consequences, she thought wryly, wincing a little.
"But how…?" she murmured aloud.
Could I be Rachel? Gone crazy? Or could we all be linked and dead ones able to "take up residence" in the comatose or something?
I don't remember Duncan…Only Beth Childs.
Depressed, suicidal Beth. Sigh…
And yet, allowing for what they've pumped me full of…I'm off the meds and I feel…Better…
Which is odd, considering 1) Nothing's changed for the good regards my sit as Beth…Paul's a louse, Art's in danger due to me, Ally and Cos likewise…And 2) I'm dead.
And…3) In the body of my likely worst enemy in her lair under guard.
And …4) I'm short one eye. Thanks to a sis I met only as I offed myself.
She must be quite a gal…Grin.
And yet…I feel…Better. Better than I have in so long.
And if I am here…Really here…
There's a chance. A chance to start over…With this damned frost and that sob Paul out of my hair and very careful slow explains to my Mom.
But how…? And where did that bitch Duncan go?
Hell, lets hope. But best to assume she may still be in here, lying in wait.
Unless of course I am Rachel, just gone totally insane.
…
"So tell me again…How did she manage to escape two heavily armed guards, herself pregnant, then elude security and over four hundred personnel on this base? At ease."
"Uh…Colonel…" the Mark clone soldier, a soon-to-be demoted sergeant, standing in the office of Colonel Paul Dierden, sighed. "She caught us by surprise, sir."
"By surprise…Corporal." Colonel Dierden rose from his chair, glaring into the face of the corporal...A face rather familiar to him. "After I warned you to watch her every move and never take your eyes off her or your hand off your gun?"
"General Holcrombe…He seemed to think…Sir." Snap to attention at Paul's grim stare.
"And now he's in intensive care with a fair chance of pulling through. She must have been in a kindly mood." Frown. "And the base is being swept yet again?"
"Third time, on your order, sir. Yes, sir."
"The consequences of letting Ms. Helena escape are near catastrophic, Private." Paul, with emphasis on the "Private". "And not only for you."
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
"Continue sweeping the base…Patrols in every direction. I want every road, every trail covered. Every car or truck or bike or kids' wagon is to be searched. Use your own men and you've got carte blanche as to equipment and any extra personnel you need. Bring me Helena, intact, soldier and you remain in Her Majesty's corps. Or bring me her body…For your likely dishonorable discharge with recommendation for clemency…But bring me something, in 24 hours or less."
"Sir! Yes, sir!" grim-faced whirl round, the new private marched off.
"Sergeant!" Dierden called. "You keep your rank till this is over. I'll need someone in charge with some authority."
"Yes, sir!"
"You're right not to thank me. That was a temporary reprieve. Go!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
Jesus…Paul sighed. Clicking on laptop.
"You heard." he said, flatly.
"I heard." Mrs. Sadler's tense, grim face on screen.