Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Author's Notes: Author's note: I apologise for any medical mistakes in this chap, I'm not a doctor so don't sue lol. Thanks for the reviews, as always feedback is greatly appreciated.

Twenty minutes later and the three of them finally arrived at the hospital. Running into the ER, they where met by a rather subdued Kennedy. Willow rushed to her side, and wrapped her arms around the stunned girl. Kennedy leaned into her arms, drawing comfort from her embrace.

"Where is she?" Buffy asked, desperately wanting some answers.

Kennedy cleared her throat, "She's still in resus, Trudi's here, she went to see if she could find out what's happening." she explained.

"Are you okay sweetie?" Willow asked, running a soothing hand through Kennedy's brown locks.

Kennedy nodded and gave her a small smile. "I will be once I know she's okay." She said, the rest of the group echoing her thoughts.

Trudi was on her way back from the vending machine, clutching her stale coffee wearily. As she turned back into the main E.R waiting room she saw Faith's neurologist leaving the resus room that held her foster daughter.

"Roger how is she?" Trudi asked.

"We've had to sedate and intubate her in order to stop her convulsions, and secure her airway. Her blood results show that the levels of AED'S in her blood are virtually non existent." he explained. "Normally this would suggest that she hasn't been taking her medication."

"Roger you know as well as I do, that Faith would never do that." she said firmly. "She takes her meds like clockwork."

The doctor had the grace to look sheepish. "I know, but it had to be said. Given the increase in seizures she's been having, and seeing as she has been taking her medication, it could be that her body has either built up a tolerance to the meds, or that it's a faulty batch." he explained, "If I could have a sample of her medication I can test it to rule out the latter. In the meantime I've started her on an I.V infusion of Sodium Valproate in order to build up the levels of AED's in her bloodstream."

Trudi looked at him anxiously. "How long will she be sedated?" she asked in concern.

"It will all depend on her blood results tomorrow, if they show a high level of AED's we'll be able to stop sedation without fear of anymore seizures. We'll keep her in ICU overnight for observation and in the morning if she's stable we'll move her onto a general ward."

"Can I see her now?" Trudi asked.

"Yes but I'm afraid we'll have to limit her visitors to family only." Roger explained apologetically, as he looked over at Buffy and the others, who where waiting patiently on news of their friend.

"I'll let them know." Trudi said, "Thanks Roger."

Walking back over to the small group, she smiled reassuringly as they all stood and rushed towards her. Holding up her hand, she halted the stream of questions that where being fired rapidly towards her. "She's going to be okay." She said, "They have her sedated, and are giving her medication to prevent anymore seizures." she explained.

The small group seemed to breath a collective sigh of relief. Trudi put her arm round Buffy's shoulders and gave her a hug, feeling the young girl shudder as she pulled herself together.

"Do they know what caused it?" Buffy asked, wiping her eyes.

"Her neurologist said the levels of anticonvulsants in her blood where dangerously low, it could have happened at anytime." she replied.

"But she always takes her meds." Kennedy said defensively.

"I know. He thinks it could be a faulty batch of medication." Trudi said.

"When can we see her?" Buffy asked anxiously.

"I'm afraid they're only allowing family in at the moment while she's in ICU they're hopeful that she'll be well enough to be moved to a general wards tomorrow." she replied.

Buffy heart dropped at the news, knowing that she couldn't wait that long to see her, she needed to see that Faith was okay with her own eyes. Trudi tightened her arm around Buffy's shoulders when she felt the small girl sag beneath her arms. "Buffy sweetie you are family." she said softly. "Faith would want you there."

"Thank you." Buffy whispered.

"I'll take these ladies home." Xander said, seeing the drained look on his friends faces. "Do you want me to bring anything in for you?" he asked Trudi.

"Thanks Xander but, I think I'm okay. Michael's gone to collect some thing's for Faith." Trudi said smiling gratefully. "Now you lot had better get yourselves home, I know Faith wouldn't want you worrying."

"Tell her that when she wakes up I'm gonna kill her for scaring the shit out of me." Kennedy said, reluctantly letting Willow and Xander drag her towards the door. She was disappointed that she couldn't see her friend, however the relief that knowing she was going to be okay made her feel giddy.

"I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that." Trudi stated dryly, shaking her head in amusement, as she watched them leave reluctantly. Her foster daughter was lucky that she had a group of loyal friends, and now she owed them her life. Turning to the small blonde beside her, she hugged her gently "Come on, lets go and see our girl."

On entering Faith's room, they where met by a nurse who was recording information from the numerous machines surrounding her bed. When Buffy caught sight of her girlfriend, she felt her reserve crumble, and fought back the sob that threatened to escape her throat.

She'd never seen Faith looking so small and still. The constant beeping of the heart monitor, and the mechanical rasp of the ventilator where the only sounds that filtered through the room. Trudi's hand on her back gently edged her towards the bed. She didn't know what to do. She desperately wanted to hold Faith, but was frightened that she would disturb the wires and tubes surrounding her girlfriend.

"It's okay, the machines look worse than they are." The nurse explained gently. "It's okay to hold her hand." Buffy looked over at Trudi, and saw that the older woman was smiling encouragingly.

"Go ahead Buffy, I'll give you a few minutes alone. I'm going to see if Michael's arrived." Buffy watched as the nurse left with Faith's foster mother, before turning back to face the bed. She took in Faith's pale features, and glanced at the heart monitor, the steady beeping comforting her.

She gently took Faith's hand in her own, and brought it to her lips. Placing a soft kiss on her knuckles, she raised her left hand and caressed Faith's forehead, smoothing her hair back from her face.

"Please be okay." she whispered, her voice breaking, the tears starting to fall as reality sunk in.

Tbc.