Note: I hope this makes sense. I'm so tired x_x I don't own The Strain.
In the waiting room of the hospital, all Quinlan could smell was medical supplies. It wasn't an unpleasant smell but he had certainly smelled better things.
The waiting area was empty all except for him and Bridget. The blonde had forced her way into the ER when she walked in, no one could stop her. So Quinlan leaned against the wall next to the doors, arms crossed and his hood covering most of his face.
"Um... Mr. Quinlan?" The doctor came out, sounding unsure about saying the name. When Quinlan approached him he started talking, "He said to call you that, you just don't seem like the 'Mr.' type. We have checked over both of the patients you brought in."
"How are they?"
"Augustin just left x ray, we were checking for a spinal injury. Thankfully, he doesn't have one and he seems rather eager to leave. He seemed confused several times when we were speaking with him and there was some vomiting which can be quite common with a concussion. He needed stitches but he should be fine." The doctor pushed his glasses up over his nose, "Miss. Swan has a severe concussion and blood loss. She keeps having panic attacks and trying to leave. She was saying something about energies around her... Do you know what she is talking about?"
Quinlan remembered she hated hospitals, hate being an understatement, but she never told him why.
"I know what she's talking about."
The two men turned to see Gus and Bridget coming out of the doors.
"Mr. Elizalde, you haven't been cleared to leave-"
"I'm not leaving the hospital, I just couldn't stand that damn room anymore." Gus had bandages wrapped on and around his head, spots of blood had made themselves visible through the white material, "I asked her why she hated hospitals and she said the energies trapped in here are bad, negative."
"The energy there, I can't take it. I can't go in a hospital without having a bad panic attack."
"What do you mean bad energy?"
"Scientists don't have a reliable way to detect this kind of thing yet and I'm not sure how to explain it." She thought for a moment, "Since I was little I have been able to sense spirits and energies around me. The energy at hospitals are so strong that it feels like..."
She thought for a moment.
"It almost feels like when you haven't eaten and you get very lightheaded and weak, I start sweating and I feel like I can't stand up. Then there is a prickly feeling, like when your arm or leg has fallen asleep only its all over. That turns into a panic attack which only makes everything worse. Its so much energy trapped in hospitals, that's why it makes me freak out so bad."
That made sense, at least to them it did. The doctor seemed more confused than concerned.
"Well, Miss. Swan was trembling, not letting anyone touch her. Her heartbeat is irregular, she has sensitivity to light and noise. We stitched her up and she seemed to calm down for a bit. Both of them are going to suffer from fatigue and drowsiness. They both need to rest, its safe for them to get some sleep now. The best treatment for a concussion is rest, physically and mentally."
That was when one of the nurses came running out of the doors that led to the ER, "Your patient Winter D. Swan is gone, we can't find her anywhere!"
Bridget shook her head when the doctor ran off, "She's probably at home. Whenever she is taken to a hospital she sneaks out when no one is looking."
Quinlan closed his eyes and nodded, trusting the blonde.
...
When they entered the apartment, the first thing they saw was Winter sitting on the floor against the wall. She had her black jeans on but her shirt and bra were on the floor beside her. On her upper body was the hospital gown. Her dirty feet were bare, the shoes were no where to be seen.
"Winter! Y-" Bridget was interrupted by Quinlan holding up a hand that silently told her to be quiet, stop talking.
The dark haired woman looked up at Quinlan with tears in her eyes, "Please, don't be mad at me."
Quinlan picked her up in his arms and carried her to her room. He gently placed her on the bed and pulled the pants off of her so she could relax more. When he moved to untie the side of the hospital gown to take it off so she was in nothing but her white panties he spoke in a quiet voice, "You could have waited, I would have helped you out."
"Its not that far from here, I was okay for the most part. I tried getting into someone else's apartment thinking it was this one but other than that I'm okay."
"Lay back, you need to rest."
"But the master-"
"Don't worry about him, you're injured."
"I heal fast, though."
"You can't go out hunting for the master in undergarments and bandages."
"But-"
"Do I need to tie you to this bed?"
She didn't respond and laid back so her bandaged head was on the soft pillow. As soon as she relaxed her body she was asleep.
Quinlan could sense her heartbeat, noting that it was a bit fast. He went to the bathroom to grab a washcloth and soaked it with warm water. Once he was back in the room with Winter he gently washed the dirt off of her feet, careful not to wake her up.
He climbed up next to her, covering her with one of the blankets on the bed and watched her.
Quinlan thought back to the very first time they met...
...
'Damn it all, these things jumping from roof to roof. I can't keep up with them!' He had thought to himself.
A panicked gasp caught his attention on the next building. Once he jumped on, he saw a woman kicking the strigoi in the chest. It fell back, its long tongue shooting out to grab her. She fell to the floor of the apartment roof and Quinlan shot the creature before it could try and drink the human.
He held the gun down and looked over the pale woman. She was still, unmoving. Wearing a long black skirt, black shirt, black boots, she looked to be a dark angel.
The wind blew her black hair out of her face and she looked up at him. That was when he spoke, "Did he injure you?"
"N-no... I'm fine. Just caught me off guard." She looked into his red eyes, "Thank you."
He nodded, reaching down to help her up. Her blue eyes never looked away from his.
"Does my hero have a name?"
He looked into her entrancing eyes, silent for a moment then he spoke without thinking, "Quintus Sertorius."
"Quintus?"
"Most just call me Quinlan."
"Okay, Quinlan. Thank you." She smiled and he almost went weak in the knees. No one had made him feel like this, no one except for his wife.
She looked away and started looking around as if searching for something. Quinlan looked down and saw a book on the ground, "Is this what you are searching for?"
"Yes, it is."
He looked at the cover and read the title, "Ancient Roman Mythology and Culture?"
She blushed, "Yes, there is a section on the goddesses. That was what I was reading before I was so rudely interrupted by that thing."
Quinlan smirked a bit under his hood, "Do you have a favorite, by any chance?"
"Diana, goddess of the moon and the hunt."
"And birthing. She is one of the three maiden goddesses who never married. She was often prayed to by women who wanted children."
She nodded, still looking into his eyes, "You are into mythology?"
"You could say that."
"Mythology and chasing vampires on rooftops?"
He chuckled, "I should return to my team."
"Thank you, again."
Then he was gone.
About a week later, he tracked down two strigoi and didn't realize where he was until he heard a familiar voice.
"You again?"
He turned around and saw the same woman, another book in her hands. This one was on Greek mythology.
"You, again." He said, "You should go inside where it is safe."
"I needed fresh air. Didn't think I'd see you again. I'm glad I did, though."
"You're glad to see me? A stranger on a rooftop? Do you know how dangerous I might be?"
"Who said I wasn't dangerous, as well?"
"Touché."
...
He had no idea how involved he would become with her. But he was glad he did. She showed him how to love again.
With her he didn't feel alone. He didn't feel like an outcast that others looked down upon. With her he felt loved and accepted.
Neither did he know what she was, who she was.
Watching her now, he swore to protect her. She was his Diana.