Housekeeping

I'm going to get Victoria back to cleaning room here soon. They don't keep you in the medical ward for very long, overnight for almost all wounds. V will be back to cleaning before she knows it. No song for this chapter though, hope you still enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but V.

Thinking

Alternate Personality Speaking

Speaking

Chapter 4: Just let me squeeze it a little

Friday 11:30 PM

I was so tired. My eyes could hardly stay open and I was leaning precariously off the side of the chair. I rubbed my eyes and yawned softly to myself.

"Tired? I promise not to bite, come snuggle with me." He looked as tired as I felt. His hair was clinging to his forehead and I could see a thin layer of sweat covering his body. The nurse hadn't come back to change his IV yet or give him more medications. He must have been suffering.

"Crane just stop. You're wounded." My eyes closed for just a moment and when I opened them I saw that half an hour had passed by. A male nurse had pushed a small cot into the room and set it up against the wall on the far side of the room.

"You look tired miss. Thought you might like to lay down for awhile." He smiled at me before checking Crane's vitals and giving him a shot of pain medication.

"Stay away from our woman Alex, you touch her you die." Crane's voice was low and harsh. This must be the Scarecrow he talked about. Very sexy voice.

"Be nice both of you." I yawned and curled up on the cot. "Take your meds honey please." My brain had shut off and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I never saw Crane's face light up or his eyes blaze with dark fire at my slip up.

Saturday 7:31 AM

"Wakey wakey honey buns." I was pulled from my slumber by Crane's cheerful voice. My shirt had ridden up in the night exposing the underside of my bra and I quickly yanked it down. Sitting up I rubbed my eyes and tried to remember where I was.

"Honey buns?" I tugged at my hair to get it looking halfway decent. I really needed a shower and a tooth brush. I looked up and Crane looked a lot better then last night. The bags were gone under his eyes and his skin looked flushed with health. The skin around his stitches was still an angry red but all in all he looked better.

"Don't like it?" He pouted. "Are you going to stay for my sponge bath at least?" His eyes were possessive and raked across my body.

"Good morning everyone." A nurse with dark brown hair walked in carrying a small tub of soapy water. "Time for your bath Mr. Crane." His face fell a bit seeing me sitting in the corner. "I didn't know we had company. You need to leave now." He set the tub down harshly on the shelf and some soapy water splashed out onto the floor. Crane's face grew dark as he slowly turned to face the nurse.

"She can stay. Touch her and I'll eat your face off." Scarecrow was out and he was growling.

"It's ok. I need to take a shower anyways." I thought quickly on my feet. "Gotta look nice for today." I watched Crow relax against his bonds and look over at my wrinkled outfit.

"I think you look better this way. Makes you look as if you've had a rough night." He smirked as the nurse set his bed to a sitting position. He winced as the nurse began washing his body with a soft cloth. The nurse looked more then happy to be washing Crane in peace.

I slipped from the room and quickly slipped into the nearest elevator. The showers were empty and I enjoyed a long hot one while I scrubbed my hair with the lilac scented shampoo I kept in my locker. I was glad I kept a few days worth of clothes in my locker and slipped into a new outfit. Blue jeans with a purple t-shirt. My radio easily clipped to the front of my shirt and my name tag hung loosely from my neck. I didn't have a brush so I just slipped my hair into a ponytail while it was still wet and pulled it tight. I clicked my radio on. "V checking in again, Good morning."

"Morning V. You're still in the Med ward today. Once they discharge Crane start with room 4653. Patient in therapy all day."

"First room of the day?" I sighed and headed back to the med ward. The nurse was just leaving Crane's room as I arrived and he looked at me like I was a piece of trash. He stepped on my foot as he walked by and nearly spilled the dirty bathwater on me. I was pissed.

"Welcome back." He was squeaky clean and had freshly washed hair. A thin layer of antibiotic gel was smeared across his chest making it glisten. I was sure that if he wasn't restrained he would have his hands behind his head showing off.

"How was your bath." The cot was gone so I sat back down on the uncomfortable plastic chair. A bead of water slid down from my wet hair down my shoulder and disappeared into my cleavage. I flicked my hair off my shoulder and looked up at him.

"How about you tell me about your shower first. Think of anyone in particular while you scrubbed your body down." His eyes were glued to my chest and I sighed.

"You get to go back to your room today." I tried to change the subject. The smile was gone from his face.

"Was hoping for more time with you. What's a guy got to do to get closer to his woman?" His eyes were hooded and dark. I couldn't tell who was in charge at the moment.

"You know the rules Mr. Crane. Only 24 hours in the med wing." I leaned back in the chair hoping they would take him back soon.

"How about one for the road then?" He puckered his lips up and leaned as far off the bed as he could. "Common babe just give me a taste. Maybe just let me squeeze it a little."

"I'm not your woman Crane. And you're not squeezing anything on me." I scooted back just in time as one of his cuffs broke loose from the bed. He grabbed for me but stopped and glared at the doorway.

"Nice try. You seem more then healed enough to go back to your cell." Henry had his tazer pointed at Crane. His face was mottled red with anger and I knew he would shoot at any moment. "Get onto your duties V. I'll take it from here."

"Thanks Henry. Try not to pop any of his stitches, he doesn't need another trip back here." I quickly slipped from the room and grabbed my cart. Thankfully no one had moved it overnight so I didn't have to restock it. I stepped into the elevator and pushed 4 eager to get away from med ward. The halls were silent as I pushed past the rooms towards my first cleaning of the day. There were no guards stationed outside 4653 and I found the room empty.

"How the hell does he do this in just one day?" My jaw fell as I saw the sink stained green once again. There was paint all over the walls, he had drawn a crude female form next to his bed, and his sheets were stained with paint. He had given the "lady" on his wall red hair like mine so I scrubbed it off first. Next came every other wall then the floor. I stripped his bed and placed clean linens on top. The dye came easily off his sink so I knew it had to be fresh. After polishing the metal above the sink I gave the room a once over to make sure nothing was left behind. I left his room and was glad there were no nasty surprises waiting outside for me. "V finished with room 4653 awaiting next room."

"Nice timing V. You're needed at room 4217. Patient sedated ok to clean." I straightened the cleaning supplies on my cart and pushed it down to the other side of the hallway. Hopefully Edward would be out the whole cleaning time.

"Morning Edward." I softly greeted him as I began cleaning. The door shut behind me for security. He didn't move or respond he wasn't restrained so I assumed he would be out for awhile. I hummed to myself as I cleaned and scrubbed a few new riddles off the wall without reading them. I heard a groan from the bed as I finished with the metal above the sink. Edward was sitting up and leaning heavily against the now clean wall. He looked up without recognizing me. His eyes were glazed over as he pushed himself up and stood, scratching his red hair carelessly.

"Morning lover." He stumbled towards me. I slipped from his reach and hurried to the door.

"I'm not your lover Edward. Now stay back." I was firm in my speaking and he hesitated while I slipped my name badge into the slot. I slammed the door shut and leaned against the other side breathing a sigh of relief.

"Hey V? Are you mad at me?" His voice sounded sad. I looked through the peephole into his expressive green eyes.

"Edward I'm not yours. Try to grab me again and I'll spray Windex into your eyes." I was upset that I didn't finish cleaning sooner. This was too close of a call for me. Next time I might not be so lucky.

"Oooh a fire cat has awakened. Here's a riddle for you honey. What glows red like fire, is as elusive as the wind and makes my pants dance in delight?" He smirked and pressed his face up to the glass. I wasn't in the mood to joke around and slammed the cover shut making him cry out in surprise.

"Not in the mood Edward." I dumped the dirty towels into the bin and grabbed my radio to call in.

"Next time I'll make sure your little birdie doesn't fight back. He's sedated so often now that I can go stabby stab without a struggle." Edward's voice screamed from the other side of the door making my blood run cold. "No one takes you from me!" He was bellowing and it was starting to rile up the other patients.

"V finished with room 4217 assistance needed. Patient agitated and becoming violent. Please respond."

"Don't worry V. Guards dispatched with sedatives. Head to room 4786 for cleaning. Patient expired. Strip everything and prepare for new tenant. Stay safe." The radio clicked off and I hurried down the hall trying to calm my racing heart. How had Edward stabbed Jonathan? How did he get free long enough to do that? How did he get into his room? I started cleaning the room stripping everything and leaving a new pile of linens on the bed. After I was done I sprayed a floral deodorizer into the air and onto the bed to make it seem new. As I was leaving I almost ran into the one patient that made me shake in my boots.

"Oh hello there babe. Came to see me off to my next head shrinking?" He had a lopsided grin and the paint on his face was rubbed off in spots. He licked the scars on the sides of his mouth before trying to lean closer to me. The guards quickly grabbed him and shoved past me. "Wait I was just trying to be nice. After all I heard her little birdie was nearly gutted last night. Careful with that one, two heads aren't better then one." He laughed as he was led around a corner and out of sight.

I let out my breath and my lungs burned, I needed to remember to breathe. I fumbled with my radio taking three times before I could push the button on the side. "V finished with room 4786. Awaiting next room." I was leaning heavily on my cart 4653 always made my blood run cold when I saw him. I nearly fell when my radio crackled to life.

"V please head to room 4002 strip room patient transferred to observation ward." I walked slowly down the hall trying not to look up at any of the doors. I ignored any voices calling out and cleaned the room in record time. The rest of the day went by without too much trouble and I emptied my cart before radioing in for the day.

"V calling in, anything else needed?" I rubbed my aching wrist and tugged on my name tag.

"Nothing else needed, feel free to report to med ward if you need to rest V. You're on shift until Monday. Talk to you tomorrow."

I sighed feeling my hopes for my nice warm bed dashed. I trudged to the cafeteria and charged a nice large dinner to my account. I sat down at an empty table looking around at both patients and staff mulling around me. I looked down at my tray and pushed the fruit salad around with my spork before taking a bite. I took my time and sat for a few hours nibbling at my meatloaf and sipping my chocolate milk. The cafeteria was nearly empty when I dumped my tray.

"Aww leaving so soon?" A voice called out from across the room. Many of the remaining staff turned to see who was speaking and the conversations all but stopped. Looking over I saw Edward with a guard walking into the cafeteria. I knew I wasn't going to sneak away easily from him. "Come sit with daddy." He smiled as the guard pushed him down into a seat at an empty table. I didn't move until the guard returned with his food and two trays. The guard motioned me over and I sat across from Edward at the table. Apparently the other tray was for me.

"Hello Edward, late meal?" It was nearly eleven when he was brought in.

"Glad I waited. Almost missed out on this candle lit meal for two." He dug into his meatloaf without taking his eyes off me. I sent the guard a pleading look and he seemed to take the hint. Lifting the carton of chocolate milk to my lips the guard hit the table making me spill all down the front of my shirt.

"Oh no my shirt!" I pretended to be upset but was glad for an excuse to flee. Edward was shaking with rage and before I could stop him had driven his spork into the guards face. I screamed and jumped from my seat trying to get as far away as I could.

"You ruined the lady's shirt. What's black and blue and eats its own eyes with a spoon!" He was stabbing the guard over and over, blood spraying into the air. He would kill the guard if I didn't do anything so I did the first thing that came to mind.

"Oh god I'm going to faint." I lifted my hand to my forehead and stumbled to the side before collapsing to the ground. Before I could hit the linoleum I felt a strong pair of hands grabbing me and pulling me up against a chest. Before I could look up I was passed to a guard who scooped me up and pulled me away from the carnage. Peeking over his shoulder I saw 4653 standing there pulling the sleeves up on his shirt. He looked ferocious and Edward had paled.

"Joker what are you doing here?" Edward sounded breathless and was clutching his broken spork like a shield.

"Oh now Eddie you've been a very bad boy. Making the future Mrs. J faint and ruining her shirt." He clicked his tongue against his cheek a few times before taking a step forward. "I think you've had enough fun for now."

I heard screaming and scuffling as the guard rushed me out of the room and down to the medical ward. I really was about to faint this time. As my world blacked out around the edges I felt myself set onto a warm bed and a prick in my arm where the nurse had started an IV. I slipped into the darkness and tried to forget everything.