Chapter 7: Second Opinion

He fallowed her out to the parking lot. His eyes scanned the parking lot. His eyes fell on the DeSoto and something in the back of his head said, 'mine.' He walked up to the car pulling out his keys.

She was glad he at least recognized his car, but should he be driving? "Uh, why don't we take my car, and we'll come back for yours later…." she was cut off by a look that told her under no certain terms was that going to happen. She glanced at her car. She hated leaving it here, Especially since for all points and purposes Spike was a stranger. She seemed torn. She then looked at Spike, "Can you at least go slow so I can fallow you?" He smirked and nodded. Then jumped in to his car as she walked to her own, feeling a bit silly being scared of the guy she knew most of her life, but then she reminded herself that at least for the time being this was not that guy.

If she needed further proof she got it on the way to the hospital. As he seemed to play with her. He would shoot a head to the point she was sure she was gonna loose him but then he would fall back and let her catch up holding it for just a bit before shooting up ahead again. She bit her lip torn between irritation and amusement. This was definitely not the William she knew. This guy was dangerous looking and Spike definitely had as much abundance of confidence as the real William lacked.

Finally arriving at the hospital she parked her car and walked over to where he was leaning against his smoking a cigarette. She couldn't help wonder how William will react to Spike's treatment of his body upon his return. She opened her mouth to tell Spike that he shouldn't smoke because of this but closed her mouth deciding she already knew the lack of caring his response would contain. So instead she smiled, "Ready to see the doctor?" Happy when he crushed the half smoked cigarette under his boot. Giving her a non committal shrug as they headed inside.

As they approached the front desk, Buffy took the lead, "Hi, my friend here hit his head, and we need to see a doctor."

The nurse glanced at Spike then back at Buffy as if to ask if he was the one with the head injury. Buffy nodded. The nurse then took some quick information typing it into the computer. Buffy still had William's wallet so she was able to find his insurance card and hand it to the nurse. The whole time Spike just stood there looking around, not offering any assistance to the process. The nurse then looked him over determining the level of emergency of his injury. Getting quickly bored of her scrutiny, Spike smirked at her, "See anything you like luv?"

The nurse rolled her eyes clearly unimpressed, "Any bleeding, nausea, dizziness or headache?"

"Nope but got a bloody huge lump though." he touched the back of his head. Her nurse came from around the desk and looked over the back of his head. As Spike stood there with an impatient look on his face.

"But no dizziness or nausea huh? Well, a lump this big he could have a mild concussion but if he hasn't felt any nausea or dizziness he doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger…"

"Wait! He doesn't remember who he is!" the nurse gave her a look that said she should have said that earlier. To which Buffy flashed her an apologetic look.

"well, in that case, fallow me," she began walking ushering Buffy and Spike in to a examining room, "Because of evidence of sever head trauma the doctor will be with you immediately. Please take a seat. She pulled a white paper cover across the examining table and looked at Spike, "you on the table." she walked out.

Silence reined the small white room till the door burst open to revile a middle aged man with a kind face. He held a clipboard, "Mr. Pratt?" he looked expectantly at Spike.

"You tell me mate…" Spike said with a shrug.

Buffy sat up a bit straighter, "Yes, this is William Pratt…. He doesn't remember who he is…"

The doctor held up a hand to silence Buffy, "Um," he looked over the papers in front of him, "And you are Miss?"

"My name is Buffy Summers"

"Oh, I'm afraid because of the nature of the injury, only family is allowed in here during the examination, if you'll wait in the waiting room…"

"no! wait, He's my fiancé!" the doctors eyes dropped to her hands which she shoved into her pockets. He then gave her a skeptical look. "Ok, he's not but he's my brother's best friend I've known him since before I could crawl! Please…" she looked at the doctor with big doe eyes tears glistening in the corners.

The doctors face softened, "Ok, Miss Summers, you can stay." he then turned to Spike, "Ok, Mr. Pratt, lets start with the basics… I'm going to ask you some questions and your gonna tell me what you remember…"

As he questioned Spike he carefully examined him. His face was unreadable the whole time. The first few questions Spike had answers for his name, place of birth, age. All rolled off his tongue but when asked more intimate details of his life like, where does he live, when did he start smoking, does he have any siblings? there were blank spots that were beginning to prove to Spike that maybe Buffy wasn't the one wrong here. Finally the doctor was done examining and Spike was looking pretty rattled. "I would like to do a few scans and make sure we are fully aware of the extent of you cerebral trauma…" he gathered the clipboard making a few notes, "The nurse will be back to prep you for that…" he gave them both a reassuring smile as he took his leave.

Buffy sat quietly waiting for Spike to say something. But he remained quiet. Not looking at her just staring off in to space. Then as the nurse came in to prep him and inform Buffy this time she would have to remain in the waiting room. She watched him disappear down the hall as she slowly made her way back to the waiting room. "Hurry back William…" she whispered softly.