Xander checked online to see when the clinic opened and noted that it didn't open unti 10 a.m. on Saturdays. When he told Cordelia that, he suggested they go to the emergency room instead. Reluctantly she agreed, the quicker to get everything checked she supposed.
When they arrived, they went up to the desk and asked to speak to a nurse or doctor, privately. For once, Cordelia did not want to use her family name to get herself any attention. After a short wait, a nurse came out and Cordelia explained the problem and why she didn't want her parents to know unless there definitely was something to tell them. The nurse agreed to take her back for an exam and was surprised when Cordelia grabbed Xander's hand and pulled him along with them.
"Are you sure you want him with, miss? The exam could be invasive."
"Yes, he's my boyfriend, I feel safer with him with me. Don't worry, he won't cause any problems, besides he's the one who insisted I get checked out."
"If you're sure." the nurse answered, leading them back into an exam room. She handed her a gown and told her to get changed and said she would be back in a minute. She just needed to fill the doctor in.
Xander politely turned around so she could get changed and then sat on the chair by the bed, holding her hand while they waited.
They didn't have to wait long as they soon heard a knock on the door and the nurse and a female doctor came in. "Hello, my name Dr Hernandez, I hear you had a scare of some sort."
"Yah, I went to sleep in my own bed last night and woke up in the woods behind my house, naked. My hair had leaves and dirt in it and I was dirty too, I went home and showered and washed my hair. Then I called Xander, here, he's my boyfriend and he came over. He convinced me to get checked out, in case something was wrong with me or maybe someone tried to kidnap me. My family has money, so it might be possible. But I don't want to tell my father unless I know something happened."
The doctor studied them for a moment, noting their body language. They were holding hands. The boy seemed more tense then the girl really, which was a bit of a surprise given what she had said happened to her. Maybe she wasn't really ready to face the possibilities. The boy's concern seemed genuine and something about them told her they weren't looking for free drugs or birth control. She decided to take everything they said at face value for now and do a through exam. Just in case there was something to find.
"Taking a shower may have removed some evidence, but checking to be sure of things is a smart precaution. I would like to include a gynocological exam to check for any unwanted activity. Has there been any sexual activity I should be aware of."
"No Xander and I haven't gone all the way yet. We've been together about a year and I'm not a virgin but I've only had sex once. It was over a year ago and a big mistake. I wish I hadn't done it. Xander's been good about not pushing me, he knows I've got some issues. That one time wasn't rape or anything, it was just impulsive and didn't feel good, either physically or anything else. I am on the pill. My stepmother insisted on it once I turned 15. Just in case kind of thing."
"I'm going to have the nurse take your vitals and draw some blood. We'll check for any known knock out drugs, as well as check to see if you have a virus or something. Getting sick could account for what happened, if you had a high enough fever, although you'd probably still have one if that was the case, but double checking doesn't hurt. Then I'll do the exam. Have you ever had one before?"
"Yes, last year during my yearly."
"Good then you know what to expect."
She looked at Xander, "if you could wait out in the hall, this will take awhile."
"I'll be right outside, Cor. I promise, I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded, already feeling a bit anxious at him not being nearby. Cordelia took a deep breath as he walked out, drawing his scent in and letting it calm her. The doctor noted that as well, thinking 'She really does feel better with him near her, that's good, as it's unlikely she would be so calm if he was the one responsible for whatever happened.'
She absently noted the nurse quietly tell her what the girls blood pressure was as she prepared her for the exam. While carefully checking her over head to toe and then doing the gynocological exam, she noted some scraps on her arms and scuffs marks on her feet, indicating she'd walk barefooted on a rough surface. The scraps on her arms could have been caused by branches in the woods. There wasn't as much as she would have expected, but maybe the wooded area wasn't that dense. After finishing the exam, she handed her a cup and directed her to the bathroom for a sample. Cordelia made a face and then went in, coming back out a few minutes later and handed it to the nurse.
"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about," the doctor asked, in case she wanted to confide something.
"No, just could you call Xander in, I guess I'm feeling anxious."
The doctor nodded at the nurse, who was on her way out with the samples to stop to let him know he could come back in.
Xander hurried back to the exam room, he'd been working himself into a knot of worry about Cordy. With everything weird that went on around Sunnydale, he couldn't be sure if this was something normal to worry about or something Hellmouthy. He been brainstorming other potential causes and the only thing he could come up with was maybe that weird yellow, pus demon from last night. Maybe it had been sick or maybe it was poisonous. If the ER visit didn't pan out, investigating that thing would be next on the list.
Xander knocked on the door to the exam room and he heard Cordelia call "Come in," opened it and moved into the room.
"Is everything ok?"
"Aside from a few scraps on her arms and feet she seems fine. The lab results will take a couple of days, but we should be able to call with the results Monday. In the meantime, I suggest you go home and rest. Nothing strenuous. And if you notice any other problems or it happens again, come right back, ok. The nurse will be back with your discharge paperwork in a few minutes, so go ahead and get dressed."
Once she was gone Xander again turned around so she could get dressed. While she dressed he explained his possible new theory. "I hope your wrong, Doofus, but you're right it probably is something that should be checked into. We can do it Monday, we both have third free before lunch, so that'll give us a couple of hours. I'm don't want to tell the others either until we actually have something to tell them or we find something noteworthy or hit a roadblock. "
"Ok it's your business, I'll keep it to myself, unless you or someone else is in danger. Ok?"
"Yah, thanks Xander, I appreciate you being here with me, helping me. I think you're the only thing keeping me calm right now." she moved into his arms and let him hold her. Again, there was something in her that seemed to relax as she drew his scent into her.
After a moment, he stepped back and said, "Once we're done here, why don't we stop and get a bite to eat. Then we can just veg at your place for the rest of the day, watch TV or movies, just hang out, nothing strenuous like the doc said."
"Sounds good," she answered, as the nurse knocked on the door.
"Here's your paperwork," she said, "Dr Hernandez said she didn't she find anything of concern, but wanted me to remind you, that if anything changes come back immediately. Somethings take time before they show up."
"Ok, we're going to get a bite to eat and then go watch TV at my place for the rest of the day."
"That's a good idea, having someone else around in case something happens. Well have a good rest of your weekend."
Xander and Cordelia decided on Denny's, it being only about eleven in the morning and carefully talked about everything except what had happened. Afterward they headed back to her place where they watched movies all afternoon, before Lupe called them to dinner..
Xander was a favorite of Lupe's largely because he was so enthusiastic about her food, but also, because the woman who been responsible for most of Cordelia's care as she had grown up, could see how much the two young people cared about each other and the respect Xander had for Cordelia. Lupe was by no means naive, she was also aware of the passion between them and was certain she knew they had not yet fully consumated their feelings. Something else that endeared Xander to her, as they seemed to be working to build something lasting rather than just having a high school fling.
After dinner, Lupe cleaned up and Xander and Cordelia returned to the movie room, "I was thinking, maybe I could stay the night, sleep on the floor by your bed, in case something happens."
"You'd really sleep on the floor when there's a perfectly good bed in the guest room?"
"That's just it, Cor, if someone did do something, they had to come into your house and room to do it. Which suggests someone human. If I'm in the room with you, I stand a better chance of being able to help you. I mean, I'm not that great against vamps, but against people, I know I can do some damage."
"You've convinced me, plus I'll feel safer with you here. Let me get you a blanket and pillow ok?"
Each took turns in the bathroom getting ready for bed. When Xander came out in just his shorts, looking as yummy as he had in the speedo, it was all Cordelia could do to keep herself from inviting him to share the bed with her. She could tell from the glances he made in her direction that he was thinking along those same lines. Despite this it didn't take either if them long before they feel asleep.
