If Sam's looked back on that particular night in 'the old lady' in a year's time, she most likely would have been grateful to Tom for bursting through the door and knocking 'Ryan', if that was indeed his name or even if it was it certainly wasn't one of the many that Tom had called him (most of which were too rude to repeat), to the ground before he was able exact out whatever plan he had. Unfortunately for everyone who had to exist around Sam between now and then, or at least for the next week or so after that event, they couldn't skip all the days in between.
The first few moments after Sam had regained consciousness were pleasant enough, but following her attempt to lift her head off of the pillow she came out with a response that anyone who had drunk too much the previous night or had been around someone completely drunk was used to hearing. That or an ED nurse. Or a hung over ED nurse who had to work a double shift.
"My head hurts…"
From there it just kept on getting worse.
"Well I'm not surprised. You did drink half a bar last night, not to mention someone drugged you with sleeping tablets." Was the all too familiar harsh tone of Zoe's voice as soon as she became aware of Sam's consciousness.
"Sleeping tablets? What the hell are you talking about?" Sam mumbled as she placed a cold hand on her forehead.
"Let me spell it out for you. Not only did you clamp your lips around Tom's you got piss-arse drunk at some sleazy pub where a sleazy guy who probably lived in a dumpster around the back of the sleazy pub managed to drug your exceedingly alcoholic drink with more sleeping tablets than someone's supposed to consume in a month before Tom burst in with me behind him and punched the hell out of your 'Ryan'."
Sam appeared to have heard the word 'Ryan' at the very least as her reply was simply "I think I remember a Ryan."
Sam's confused expression quickly changed to resemble one that could have been read by a passing nurse as absolute terror as Zoe drew herself up to her full height, which with heels on was a threatening 5"8, and stared down at the defenceless hung-over doctor with an expression which looked like she could think of a few places to stick one of the needles that was located nearby that wouldn't be exactly comfortable for Sam.
"Are you seriously telling me," She began in a tone which could have made a corpse turn slightly colder than possible, "That you don't remember last night?"
Sam gave a small nod with an expression which now read terror and bewilderment.
"Oh of course!" Zoe shouted with a terrifyingly manic expression on her face, "Of-fricking-course you don't remember a damn thing about last night when Tom is relying on your testimony!"
Sam was beginning to become a tiny bit more aware of what Zoe was saying, and so did in fact register all of the last couple of sentences.
"Testimony?"
"Yes Sam, a testimony. Another words a thing people have to give to get someone out of the police cell they currently reside in as apparently the word of a doctor who witnessed most of what happened and has no amnesia isn't good enough!" Zoe snapped.
Sam had a feeling most of what Zoe said wasn't completely directed at her, but her pounding head was getting in the way of logical thought.
"Sorry." Was Sam could think of saying.
"Oh no. You're not yet, Samantha Nicholls, because if you don't remember what happened in the bar in the next six hours I am going to personally make sure you know exactly what feeling sorry is all about!" Zoe yelled before clopping across the ward and away from her.
Now that the yelling and ranting had stopped the pounding in Sam's head had finally decreased to a level that was bearable and she felt able to take in her surroundings. Sam struggled to sit up, as her entire body seemed to be punishing her for the ordeal she had put it through and found herself staring around the ED of ST James' hospital once again.
Naturally her brain was still feeling a little fuzzy around the edges after her drink-athon and sleeping tablet snooze, so it did take her longer than normal to comprehend this information. It had also taken up until this point to fully understand what Zoe had just said.
The realization of Tom being in police custody for protecting her hit her like a tonne weight and she quickly sprang off of the bed like a spring lamb and stood with a purpose in mind. Or rather that's what she attempted to do.
Reality was a little fuzzier around edges, not unlike her brain, as the aforementioned drink had taken its temporary toll on her motor skills and caused her to stumble into a nearby nurse's arms.
"Are you alright, Dr Nicholls?" The nurse, who was now holding Sam up by her armpits, asked in alarm.
"I'm fine... I think." Sam replied slowly as the nurse dragged her, with the help or a couple of overweight and underworked porters, back onto the bed.
"Dr Nicholls your IV has come out!" The nurse yelled in alarm as Sam just about became aware of a cold sticky red substance on her left arm.
Sam sighed and rested her poor aching head back down on the pillow. This was another reason to hate not having all her memory. Seeing as she wasn't exactly a teenage party animal she had no memory of ever being drunk and so no memory of how to cure a hangover quickly.
Upon deciding that sleep was the best course of action following the nurse's third attempt to replace the line of fluids running into her arm Sam finally closed her eyes and succumbed to what her body apparently desired after her drunken tirade. Tom, unfortunately for him, would have to wait.
Besides, the fractured memories she had in her head of the night before would be absolutely no use to anyone.
…
Note to self: I'm never going to write an update to a story late at night again. My writing style appears to have adapted to something that is a bad attempt at comedy. Sorry readers!
… on a side note:
Cholitam: there is a hamster armed with some particularly nasty teeth right by my bedroom door now. Hahahah! Beware cliff hanger haters!
This will have to be the last of the daily updates I'm afraid as until the summer holidays kick in there will only be weekend updates so I can keep up with my school work. A2s here I come…. Yay :/