Been a minute, huh guys? Sorry about that.
Faith was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed impatiently. She was feeling more than a little embarrassed and just wanted to get her arm checked out. Damn weights weren't that heavy last month... she thinks. She turns and glares at Cordelia whose wearing a triumphant smile still.
"Are you ok, Faith?" Cordelia asks but her tone is mocking Faith.
"Why are you even here?" Faith snaps. Cordelia's smile drops to confusion. She knew Faith had to be angry, and little embarrassed, but something else was up.
"Really, are you alright?" she asks genuinely concerned. She tries to think back but nothing in particular is standing in her mind on what could have Faith even more on edge.
"I'll be better if you leave." Faith says angrily. Cordelia clinches her jaw and stands to leave.
"Excuse me for caring how you're doing. I'll make sure not too next time you hurt yourself." she snaps before walking towards the door.
"What makes you so sure there's gonna be a next time?" Faith asks. She doesn't deal with embarrassment well. Cordelia turns to glare at her.
"Because you always screw up!" Cordelia says before she can stop herself. She sees the hurt flash in Faith's eyes but Faith masks it quickly.
"Whatever." Faith mutters. Cordelia starts,
"Wait, I'm sorry, Faith I ju-" she tries to apologize.
"Weren't you leaving?" Faith asks her annoyed. Cordelia stands there a few long moments before leaving the room. She bumps into Amanda and Angel on her way out of the hospital.
"Cordy?" Angel questions confused and concerned. The look on her face tells him there's been a clash of the brunettes again and he's sure it's only going to continue to happen.
"Hey Angel. Faith's still in the exam room waiting." she says sadly before walking away. Angel and Amanda share confused looks before making their way to the exam rooms. Finding all of them empty with the doors open, they both sigh.
"So, I look upstairs and you check the streets in back?" Angel asks Amanda. The young slayer nods.
--
Faith was feeling hurt but her now broken arm had nothing to do with it. She probably really believes that too. Why wouldn't she? She's right. She thinks to herself. She knew she shouldn't be feeling this way but she can't help it. She always thought she was a screw up and hearing confirmation that people around her think it too wasn't easy. After Cordelia had left, Faith had waited for a few minutes before easing from the room herself. She was now sitting on the roof of the hospital, cigarette between her lips and wind blowing softly around her.
"Hey." she hears from her right. Turning her head, her eyes settle on the lady from the other day.
"Hey uh..." she starts only to forget the woman's name.
"Annie." she supplies. Faith nods.
"Sup?" she asks. Annie shrugs.
"Nothin'. Wonderin what you doin' up here? I heard you were released." she says. Faith cuts her eyes to the woman. "Doc was grinnin' so hard my jaw started to hurt. Naturally I asked what was up." she says. Faith nods.
"Naturally." she parroted. "Fucked up my arm. What you still doin here?" She replies. Annie shrugs again before motioning to the spot next to Faith, silently asking to sit. Faith nods her agreement.
"Doc's worried about me. Somethin about bein in critical condition days ago and he's not ready to let me go just yet cos somethin' could go wrong. I keep tellin' him I'm fine." she replies.
"A few days ago? You look pretty good for somebody who was critical." Faith replies. Annie nods.
"Yeah, shocked me too! I was just layin in the hospital, in all kinds of pain and then, it stepped. It's more like a dull throb nowadays then anything." Annie says honestly. "Like some kinda medical mystery or somethin'." she adds. She and Faith sit in a companionable silence for several long minutes. "Doc's probably lookin' for me so I'm just gonna head back in." Annie finally says. Faith nods.
"Yeah, me too. Gotta get this arm fixed up." she says. Annie nods and the two make their way inside. Neither of them notice Angel watching from a distance with a curious expression on his features.
--
"I thought we discussed taking it easy." Dr. Miles says in exasperation. Faith nods her head sheepishly.
"Yeah, sorry, Doc." She replies. He shakes his head and continues to put the cast on her arm.
"Yeah, yeah. Is there someone here to take you home?" he asks. She shrugs.
"Not too sure there, Doc." she replies honestly. I'm pretty sure Cor left and the runt is with Fang. She thinks.
"What about your friend Cordelia? Didn't she bring you in?" he asks looking at her worriedly. She nods.
"Yeah, but I ticked her off pretty good. Don't think she stuck around. I wouldn't'a." she replies shrugging. Examining her forest green cast, she swings her arm. "Ow." she says.
"That's gonna hurt for a while. Look, I'm gonna have to recommend you stay here if there's No one to make sure you get home safely. I care about my patients, Faith, and I don't think it's safe to be walking around at night." he says seriously. She nods, taking the information.
"Thanks for the worry, Doc, but I'll be fine. I'm a big girl and all. 'Sides, I only live a few blocks from here." she replies. He eyes her for a few seconds.
"Only if you're sure...." he starts. She nods.
"I'm sure." she replies.
"Give this to the nurse and she'll give you your prescription. You can get it filled at almost any pharmacy. Do you need me to call you a cab maybe?" he asks after handing her the paper. She shakes her head.
"Nah, I'm good." she says hopping down and towards the door. "Uh.. Thanks Doc." she says before shuffling from the room. She misses Dr. Miles' fond smile. That kid is something else... he thinks.
--
Cordelia waits for what feels like hours downstairs in the main lobby. This is taking forever! After Angel had come back down, he took Amanda back to the apartment before it got too late. He figured Faith and Cordelia needed to talk and didn't want the young woman walking alone. She may be a slayer, but she's also a teenaged girl. He'd said. Finally, she saw Faith walking off the elevator already picking at her cast. She rolled her eyes. So not surprising. She thought. She had to clear her throat to get Faith's attention. Faith was staring at her before moving to her.
"Look, C, I-" Faith starts. Di really wouldn't be happy with me so I'm gonna try to like... apologize. She thinks.
"I'm sorry about what I said Faith. I didn't mean it and it was out of line." Cordelia cuts her off. Faith shrugs.
"S'all good, Queenie. I was pushin' your buttons." she says. Close enough. She thinks. Cordelia shakes her head.
"It's not all good but... I'm sorry. Now, lets leave it at that and get you home." she says. Not feeling like arguing but not really wanting to ride with Cordelia either, Faith hesitates. "I've got a peace offering." Cordelia throws out. Faith's eyebrow raises on its own.
"Apple pie?" she asks. She does love her pie now....
"And a double cheese burger. Extra ketchup..." Cordelia prompts. Faith scratches her neck.
"Well..." she starts going back to messing with her cast.
"And if you stop messing with that, I just might find some tater tots in there...." Cordelia bribes. Faith is bought.
"Lets go then, C." Faith says happily before leaving Cordelia standing there smiling. While they're in the car, Faith suddenly hands Cordelia half of the slice of pie. She used her fork to cut it before eating. "Thanks for not leavin' me here." she says quietly. Cordelia nods, sort of touched by the sentiment behind the pie.
"You're welcome." she responds. The car ride is silent.