AN: I'm not quite sure how many milligrams a standard dose would be, so I'm assuming that 20mlg is the standard for PTV. Also, the method of actually taking it isn't detailed, so everything I've written is speculation.

In the weeks that followed Lisa's theatre visit, renovations on the hospital finally began. The teen was preoccupied mostly with shifting patients in and out of the hospital, helping the more able bodied folk into ambulances where they were promptly transferred.

It was very demanding on her fragile frame, and the intern's feet were beginning to blister from the strain she had placed on her soles. Each night she found herself soaking them in hot water, trying to ease the loose flesh that had been eroded by her pumps.

Eventually she'd taken to plastering band-aids on her raw heels, wincing whenever she caught the sagging, limp skin that peeled feebly away.

Diligent workmen came and went, lugging heavy equipment to and from the elevator. Ladders, paint, white sheets and tools littered the now empty halls, creating a remarkable echo that seemed to reverberate throughout the entire structure.

Dirt and muck marred the men's clothes, torn and tattered from frequent use. As they passed through the hospital, a dwindling scent of gloss and metal remained in the air, mingling with the heavy aroma of bleach. They worked long hours, leaving just after dusk had fallen.

A notice was given to all staff, informing them that they were forbidden from entering the third floor and the basement. The nurse had noted that nobody, hired or otherwise, had set foot in the dark expanse of the basement. She considered it somewhat odd, but merely assumed that they were going to work on one floor at a time.

Trips to the laundry room became more frequent for the young intern, and it soon became the only place that she could truly relax. The staff lounge had become a breeding ground for gossip, and listening to the soothing clunk of washing machines was more preferable.

She would spend hours just watching the multitude of colours whirling round the drum, finding the dizzying kaleidoscope rather somniferous. It lulled her into a drowsy, heavy-eyed state, leaving the intern yearning for sleep.

Kaufman barely aknowledged her, and when he did, it was usually to bark orders. Lisa wanted very much to speak with him, but she was so busy that the girl simply didn't have time. Her duty to the patients came first, even though her heart was screaming.

During lunch periods, she would often wait around for the austere director, hoping that he might join her on that same bench where they first spoke. On occasion, he would pass by and greet the girl, though it was with a cruel detachment one would give a stranger.

Gripping a cup of lukewarm coffee, the teen grew accustomed to disappointment, lowering her head as she dropped her tepid drink into the nearest bin.

Lethargy constantly ate away at her, like a greedy wave devouring soft grains of gentle sand. Caffeine did nothing to lift her sodden spirits, and though she welcomed the challenge that her job now brought, Lisa was unprepared for just how taxing it would be.

She was always exhausted. Even when attempting to study, which she had promised her mother she would do each night, the weary intern was unable to remain conscious.

One morning, whilst running errands for a patient, Kaufman requested that Lisa meet him in his office. This took the intern by surprise, and the neurotic teen found herself constantly rinsing moisture from her alabaster hands.

Despite the prominent chill, her body began to sweat acutely, borne from a mixture of both fear and excitement. Fumbling with her collar, the girl ran a hand through her lustrous hair, twisting her earrings as she reached toward the door.

Though intimidating, the nurse found herself more comfortable in the doctor's presence than she had been when they were initially introduced. Yet in spite of her newfound confidence, she still had difficulty letting her guard down.

She wanted to call him by his first name, but was afraid of what would happen if she did. The last thing she wanted to do was anger him.

Besides, She thought, choking on her own uncertainty. It's not as if we're dating. We're just...

What were they? Lisa couldn't answer. She simply didn't know. Closing her eyes, the teenager gathered her resolve, sensing the rough oak beneath her knuckles as she slowly rapped on the door, each one more amplified than the last.

'Enter.'

With a trembling sigh, Lisa turned the handle, the clicking latch sounding like a grenade that had violently exploded. Stepping inside, she softly shut the door, biting down on her lower lip as she waited for the man to speak.

A thick layer of noise settled on the air, producing an uncomfortable prickle that invaded her ears. The buzz and crackle of a soundless room seemed to oscillate, thinning out as the barely audible sway of clothing disturbed the hub of silence.

The man was staring directly at her, deeply scrutinizing the intern's threadbare appearance. Clearing her coarse throat, the young woman diverted her attention to an unusual plant sitting contently in the corner, having never noticed it before.

A tall glass jar was filled with milky water, a selection of thin stems protruding from the rim. Beautiful white flowers blossomed at the ends, looking so very brittle that merely poking them would tear the precious petals limb from limb.

'Bored already?' The husky man quizzed, almost impatiently.

Lisa coughed, suddenly dry. It wasn't that she was mesmerized by the plant, but rather that she hadn't expected Kaufman to be the sort of man who took an interest in flora.

'Sorry.' She earnestly replied. 'It's just that I've never seen one of those before.'

For a moment, the doctor contemplated her response. With a subdued grin, he interlocked his fingers, leaning back into his chair. 'Yes, White Claudia is a rarity. It only grows near water. There's an abundance of it around the lake.'

'Oh,' The girl replied. 'I didn't know.'

'In any case, I have more pressing matters to discuss. Please, have a seat.'

He gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and hesitantly, the woman approached. Cautious, she slowly tucked her skirt beneath her as she sat, crossing both ankles and resting her hands in the middle of her lap.

'Don't look so scared.' He said, sounding slightly amused. 'I'm concerned about your health. that's all. You don't look well. Are you getting enough sleep?'

The nurse opened her mouth to speak, then changed her mind. Shaking her head, she clenched her fists and fought the urge to yawn, not wanting to appear rude. In truth, she was on the verge of collapsing.

Dark circles had appeared under her eyes, the ugly purple veins conflicting with her naturally ashen skin. Rosy cheeks further emphasised the discolouration, and an uneven sleep pattern had prevented her from rectifying the problem.

'Perhaps I'm putting too much pressure on you.' He began, opening his drawer in search of a particular item. 'You're still young, afterall.'

Panic struck the young woman as she listened to his words, dread welling up inside her as she pondered what he was about to say. Crossing her fingers, the girl prayed that he wasn't about to relieve her of her duty.

Please don't fire me. She repeated, over and over again. Please, please don't fire me.

Removing a small vial from inside the drawer, Kaufman placed it atop the desk, sliding it along the polished surface to the waiting nurse. Without moving to take it, Lisa examined the strange fluid inside, curiously wondering what it was.

'Take it.' He said, watching as the teen slowly reached for the bottle. 'It's a relaxant. In it's current state, it has to be injected directly into the blood stream.'

The intern balked, swallowing the lump in her throat. Removing the lid with a pop, she peered at the scarlet liquid swirling around inside. It had an unusual odour, floral but with a hint of copper. She gingerly sniffed it, then scowled at the repugnant stench.

'I'm not sure about this.' She confessed, placing the vial back on the desk. 'It seems a little dangerous. I don't even know what it is.'

The man observed her wearily. 'I'm a doctor aren't I? Trust me, it's in your best interests to accept my offer. You'll feel much better afterwards .'

Lisa was still dubious about the product, unable to stomache the concept of putting the abnormal substance into her bloodstream. The jar lacked a defining label, and she couldn't be sure exactly what the side effects were.

On the other hand, she was desperate to feel like her old self again, heavy eyes threatening to drag her into an endless oblivion if she didn't get the sleep she so desperately sought. Kaufman was a doctor, and an experienced one at that. He knew what he was doing.

'Take it.' He repeated, giving the bottle a shake. 'I give you permission to take a syringe from the storage closet.'

'But sir, isn't that stealing?'

'Consider it a favour.' He said, leaning forward to take the girl's hand. Placing the vial in her palm, he gently curled her fingers around the glass. 'Use it tonight, before you go to bed. Twenty miligrams should do it. I guarantee you'll feel the effects in the morning.'

His hands were warm against the humidity of the room, leaving a lasting heat on the intern's cool skin. There was something unusually suspicious about the exchange, but the offer was tempting enough to lure the nurse into taking it.

'You're a good worker,' He said, chair creaking softly as he laid both elbows on the arm rests. 'It would be a shame for all of your efforts to go to waste.'

Letting her gaze settle on the man, Lisa tightened her grip on the murky jar. In the dim light that filtered from the exposed bulb, the crimson liquid almost seemed to shimmer. Anxious, the teenager inhaled deeply.

'Can't you at least tell me what it is?'

Her persistent questions seemed to irk Kaufman, though the glimmer of annoyance soon faded, replaced with a friendly beam. 'It's an experimental drug called PTV. Quite harmless in small doses, it merely helps to relax nerves and encourage sleep.'

'And it's safe?' She queried.

'So long as you stick to the recommended dosage, yes.'

She blinked, thinking long and hard about her decision. The director was someone she wanted to please, even if it meant doing things that she might not entirely find agreeable. Eschewing her dismay, the woman lifted her chair to rise.

'Thank you, I'll be sure to use it.'

Pivoting on her heel, she reached for the door handle, vial safely cupped in her closed fist. As she began to open the door, the doctor called out to her, stopping the girl in her tracks. Pausing, she peered at him from over her shoulder.

'This is our little secret, Miss Garland. A gift. Keep it to yourself, okay?'