Faith coughed, reaching behind her and pulling out a stake. Her head felt heavy and she just wanted to sleep, but she felt like she needed to still be out patrolling.
She sneezed and was about to sneeze again when she felt someone or something push her from behind.
"Under the weather, are we, Slayer?" the vampire grinned.
"Can still kick your ass," Faith replied, straightening up. She turned and kicked out, throwing a punch right after, but missing.
After a somewhat lengthy fight, Faith finally staked him and shook her head, feeling dizzy.
Sam
Sam was just heading back to the impala when he heard suspicious noise from an alley. Something like a drunk having fallen over to anyone else, but not to the trained hunter.
He sidled up to the nearby brick wall and took a look down the alley, seeing a bent over figure.
Taking a moment to think it might actually be a drunk, he figured he'd better check just in case. He knew there was a vampire hotspot nearby, and whether victim or perpetrator, anyone was worth checking out.
He started to walk down the alley, waiting until he was closer until he alerted the woman to his presence. A hand on his crossbow, he turned to the side a little.
"Are you ok?" he called out.
Faith
"Peachy," Faith called back.
She held herself up against the wall with one hand, struggling to keep her eyes focused. If she ran into another vampire, she wasn't sure she was going to be able to fight it off.
Sam
Pretty sure she wasn't a vampire - yet anyway - Sam removed his hand from his jacket and jogged up to her.
"Hey," he said softly, before frowning as he registered the familiarity...
Faith
Faith looked up with blurred eyes and thought she saw -
"Sam?"
Sam
"Faith what's wrong?" Sam's eyes darted between hers.
Faith
"Nothing, I'm - "
Faith wavered on the spot and then passed out.
Sam
"Oh no. Faith??" Sam was suddenly... well, freaked.
He patted her face lightly.
"Faith? Come on, talk to me! Don't do this to me, not now."
He looked back down the alley, knowing how bad it would look if he just carried her out.
But he didn't know what was wrong with her, and he needed to get her seen to.
Carefully, he lifted her into his arms, and headed back for the impala.
Minutes later he was at the hospital and rushing her in. Luckily it was a small hospital, so a kid with the measles and a woman with a panic attack were the only patrons in emergency.
"Somebody help! I need help here!" Sam called as he entered.
Some doctors came to get her onto a gurney, and when the attempted to separae them Sam pulled out a badge.
"I'm detective Shaun Barrister, this woman is a material witness to a homocide taken place just a half hour ago. I need you to take good care of her and inform me as soon as she's awake..."
Faith
Faith was vaguely aware of a lot of talking around her, but her ears felt blocked and fuzzy, as though they were full of cotton wool.
"Start an IV, she's extremely dehydrated," the doctor said. "My guess is it's another one to the flu epidemic."
He turned to Sam.
"Sir, we're going to do the best we can, you can wait here. I'll have someone notify you when she's awake."
Faith felt the needle slide into her arm and her eyes shot open. She took in her surroundings and had a mild freak out.
"No no, no hospitals! I just want to go home. This isn't my bed. I want my bed!"
The doctor looked at her with concern. "Miss? Can you tell me your name?"
"It's 'Let me go home before I kick you in the face'."
Sam
Sam noticed the disturbance, and immediately made a break for the door.
"Claire? Claire? Calm down," he said firmly.
"You fainted. We just need to get you righ again, ok?"
"Excuse me sir..."
"I'm a cop," Sam flashed his badge again, "this is a material witness. All I care about is her wellbeing."
"Then please sir, I'll have to ask you to leave-"
Faith
"No hospitals, please!" Faith turned pleading eyes on Sam. "You have to get me out of here!"
"Miss, please!" the doctor inserted another needle full of something to calm her down.
Faith immediately relaxed, but her eyes were still round and full of fear. And still focused on Sam's.
Sam
"It's ok, you're fine," Sam said sterly as he was pulled from the room.
"I'll have you out of here in no time I promise."
When the door was closed in his face Sam kept a dedicated vigil at the window, not willing to let her out of his sight.
Faith
Sometime later, Faith was laying in the bed, still groggy, but feeling a little better.
A nurse came out to speak to Sam.
"Um, detective? You can see her now."
Sam
"Thankyou," Sam patted te nurse on the shoulder, diving past and into the room.
"Hey," he greeted, closing the door behind him for privacy.
Faith
Faith turned her eyes to the door, and smiled weakly at the arrival.
"Hey. Thanks. For before."
Sam
"Not a problem," Sam shrugged.
He was tempted to sit down, but knew it would look odd to an onlooker if a cop stooped to the same level.
"So what happened? Do you remember anything?"
Faith
"I um... was patrolling."
Faith shook her head, as if trying to clear it.
"I've just been feeling a little sick, is all."
Sam
"Is that normal?" Sam frowned, trying to remember something Wesley had told him about slayers and their health.
Faith
Faith smiled a little.
"I still get sick. Just... not as often. And not usually this badly. But there's been this flu thing going round. Whole bunch of kids have been taken to hospital already because of it."
Sam
Sam's face paled suddenly.
He glanced over his shoulder, wondeing if the doctors would let her out yet.
"One moment," he held up a finger, going to find out.
He found the nurse that had come to fetch him and took her by the arm.
"Can miss Janssen be discharged?" he asked, "she can use my insurance."
Faith
"Well," the nurse said, a little giggly and swept away by his looks. "She's not in immediate... I suppose I could draw up the papers."
Faith pulled the IV out of her arm and sat up slowly, feeling a sudden rush to the head.
Sam
"Thankyou so much," Sam smiled for her, "here's my card."
He handed it to her, then went back in to Faith.
"We're getting out of here," he informed her, "they're just doing up the paperwork and we'll be on our way. So have you been following this flu thing?"
Faith
"Just from what's been on the news," Faith said, shaking her head again. "It's only been since the other night. Kids getting sick with no real... symptoms beforehand. We were looking into it, but then I got sick and..."
She rubbed her eyes.
Sam
"I'll need to checkout the kids' houses..." Sam said thoughtfully, before catching on.
"'We'?"
Faith
"Xander and I," Faith said, trying to stand. "He's my Watcher. Sort of. More of a friend these days, really. I haven't spoken to him in awhile, but I needed the help."
She didn't mention the argument with Angel.
Sam
"Oh ok," Sam nodded.
"Do you want me to take you to him or anything?"
He knew he needed to spend some quality time alone with his laptop to research this thing. And maybe check if an doctors really were who they say they were...
Faith
"He's uh... he's in Cleveland," Faith said.
"No, I um... well, I'm a bit variable right now. I just need a motel."
Sam
Sam nodded.
"Sure thing. I know of one nearby actually, came past it on the way in." P>
Faith
"My car," Faith said. "It's near where you found me. It has my stuff in it. I can probably drive it if you drop me there."
She tried to sound confident while saying that, but she doubted she'd be able to keep her eyes open.
Sam
"You're not in any shape to drive," Sam said insistantly.
"No. I'll drop you off, get you signed in, then I'll come back for your car. Come on."
He headed outside and to the desk where the nurse had the papers ready. He copied down some information from his card and ID, then smiled as he handed it back.
Faith
Faith was slowly lowering her legs to the ground when she glanced up at the door and recoiled slightly in shock.
A demonic looking creature (or possibly a demon) with a bowler hat, white eyes and grey hair was floating past her door. His teeth were pointed, protruding from his mouth, and he had long claws on his wrinkled hands.
He nodded at her as he went past, tipping his hat.
Faith blinked a little, wondering if maybe she was hallucinating. No one else seemed to be aware of it. Or even able to see it.
She slowly walked over to the door and peered out, wondering where it had gone. Figuring she may have been hallucinating, she made her way over to where Sam was, silently mulling over it.
Sam
When Sam was done he turned to Faith.
"Ready?" his eyebrows rose, "car's out front."
Faith
"Yeah," Faith replied, shaking her head slightly.
"You didn't... you didn't see him, did you?"
She still felt a bit fuzzy.
Sam
Sam frowned, looking back.
"Who?"
Faith
"I thought I saw... nevermind, I must just be tired."
Faith paused.
Sam
Sam's face paled again.
"Was he coming at you?" he asked quietly as he led her out.
The last thing they needed was a reaper on her tail.
Faith
"No, he just walked past the room," Faith told him. "And... tipped
his hat at me."
She described what she saw to Sam.
Sam
Sam was at a loss, so he just shook his head.
"Maybe it was a spirit. Come on."
He pulled her by the arm, out of the hospital and to where he'd
parked the impala.
Faith
"Yeah."
Faith let him guide her to the car, her legs still a little wobbly.
Sam
They made it to the motel about fifteen minutes later, and Sam left
her in the car while he went to book a room. When he had a room
secured, he drove around to it and parked out front.
"Need help getting in, or can you walk?" he offered, holding the
room key up.
Faith
"I'm ok, thanks."
Faith opened the door and got out slowly, closing the door behind
her and making it to the door with little trouble. She closed her
eyes to clear her head for a second.
Sam
Sam waited and watched her until she made it inside the room.
Then, taking a look around, he headed back for her car.
Faith
Faith closed the door behind her and sat down on the closest bed.
After a few minutes, she stood and got herself a glass of water. She
went back to the bed and placed the glass on the bedside table before
taking off her jacket. She sat on the bed and took her shoes off,
then pulled her jeans off, laying back on the bed and sliding under
the covers, falling asleep almost instantly.
"Hot," she mumbled tiredly, throwing the blanket off her.
Sam
Almost two hours later, Sam made it back to the motel with the
impala. Having parked Faith's car in the motel parking space, he
parked around back. Seeng as he hadn't actually stayed anywhere for a
long time (just lived out of he car) he decided that while he was
checking on her he might as well have a shower.
He grabbed a small bag and slipped in a change of clothes, put a
flashlight between his teeth, then got out and locked the car. He
found his way around to the front and to Faith's room, picked the
lock, and slipped inside.
When he turned and saw her, he paused and covered his eyes with
his hand. Taking a moment to pull himself together, he made straight
for the bathroom and closed the door.
Faith
Faith woke up to the sound of the shower running and she sat up,
running a hand through her hair. She rubbed her eyes, reaching for
her glass of water, before taking a sip. She looked at the bathroom
door, figuring it was Sam in there.
Deciding she should get started on the research while the thing
was clear in her mind, she sat up, put her pants on and went out the
front to her car to get our her bag and laptop.
Back inside, she settled herself down on the bed, laptop beside
her as she sent a message through to Xander explaining she what she
needed.
Sam
Sam, towel wrapped around his hips, went to the basin to give
himself a shave. He'd just finished applying the cream and readied
the shaver, and gone to turn the water on... and nothing happened.
"Great," he muttered to himself.
He turned to look at the shower - nope, that would be too awkward -
then looked toward the door. Faith was still asleep, so if he was
quiet he could use the kitchen sink.
He tied the towel a little tighter, took the small mirror off the
wall, grabbed the shaver, and opened the bathroom door. His purple
vision wrecked from the bathroom light, he ouldn't see the rest of
the room, but the light fell drectly to the sink so he found his way
there no problem.
He set up the mirror, turned the water on, and got to work.
Faith
Faith looked up as the bathroom door opened, and was about to say
something when she found she couldn't actually get any words out.
She glanced down at her computer, and then back at Sam, staring
for a long moment, before looking down at the screen, trying to be
casual.
"Good shower?" she asked nonchalantly, like she wasn't aware he
was wet and in a towel.
Sam
Sam nearly jumped out of his skin, cutting himself with the razor.
"Sorry," he put his hand up, ducking back into the bathroom and
leaving a trail of shaving cream on the floor behind him.
"I didn't realise you were awake," he called.
Faith
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Faith called back.
She glanced at the bathroom and then back at her screen. Xander
had just sent her an email with some interesting links in it, so she
was surfing around trying to find what she had seen earlier.
Sam
"That's ok! I'm ok," Sam called back.
He cleaned off his face with the towel, forgetting about the
shave, and quickly got dressed. He packed up his dirty clothes, then
fixed up the bathroom before walking out into the main area.
"So how's it going?" he nodded to the laptop.
Faith
Faith looked up, making a frustrated face. "There's not a lot...
Xander sent me some stuff, but it's hard, because, evidently, you
only really see this thing when you're sick."
She clicked around a little more.
"I don't know, it'd be easier if I had access to Wolfram and
Hart's database. How are you at hacking?"
Sam
Sam shrugged.
"Depends," he admitted, shrugging on a jacket.
"Anything like the fed's database? 'Cause been there done that."
Faith
"Bout the same, give or take."
Faith looked over at him.
"Could you give it a try?"
Sam
"Sure," Sam offered.
"Just, open the page for me and I'll get to it."
Faith
Faith's fingers flew over the keys and after a moment, she passed
the laptop over to Sam.
"So far, from what Xander's found, it only goes after kids."
Sam
"I was thinking about that," Sam admitted, getting to work on the
hack.
"It might be a shtriga. It's like a witch, that feeds off the life
essence of kids. Or mostly kids. Attacks them in their sleep. And
when it's not feeding it hides in plain sight in human form, so it
could be a doctor or a nurse or a parent or anyone."
Faith
"It wasn't feeding when I saw it though," Faith pointed out. "Xander
said they dealt with something like this before... a demon by the name
of Der Kinderstod. Goes after sick kids. He said from the description
it sounds pretty accurate, but he's contacting one of our other sources
for more information. Especially seeing as they're not sure if it's
actually a race or just a one off. Or a coincidence."
Sam
"We-" Sam stopped to correct himself, "I, don't really believe in
coincidence."
He bit his bottom lip as he brought up a few source files.
"But all the text we can get will surely help us out."
Faith
Faith looked over at her phone as it started ringing.
"Hmm, guess Angel's worked out we're digging around," she
commented offhandedly.
She picked up her phone and cancelled the call.
Sam
"Just in time. I'm in," Sam sat back.
He passed the laptop over to Faith so she could do her thing.
Faith
"Thanks."
Faith's eyes focused on the screen and she searched around the
database, looking for anything that might be interesting.
"Ok, so there's like... a few things that fit the description...
problem is... there are only slight differences between them."
She looked over at Sam.
"I have to get back into that hospital and get a better look."
Sam
"Ok, well, not tonight. We've both had enough fun," Sam insisted.
"Ad I for one, need some sleep. Even if your super slayer powers
mean you don't need any."
Faith
"Well, you get some sleep."
Faith sat up a little straighter.
"I'll be back in an hour or so."
Sam
"Faith the ward's closed," Sam grunted, going to grab his bag.
"You can't get in there without being seen or causing a
disturbance. And if it is posing as a person, it won't be
there anyway."
Faith
"Sam, get some sleep. No offence, but you aren't looking like your
usual cute self."
Faith stood up and grabbed her jacket.
"I'll sneak in, it's cool. Plus, I'm the only one that will be
able to see it out of the two of us, because I'm sick."
Sam
"Which is exactly why you shouldn't go alone," Sam rolled his eyes.
"But I know I can't stop you. So I'll be in the car if you need me."
He slung the bag over his shoulder and opened the door to leave.
Faith
Faith was torn between knocking him out and going alone, or letting
him come along so she could have some company. She decided on the
company angle, as knocking him out wouldn't really be an accurate way
to say 'Hey, thanks for getting me into the hospital tonight, strangely
attractive younger brother of the guy I was having casual sex with but
sort of developed weird vibes around you'.
Granted, that's a long statement of things she would never say, but
nonetheless, it was still more polite to not knock him out.
"Alright."
She slipped into her boots and followed him out the door.
Faith
Faith grabbed her car keys and followed him out the door. She locked
the room behind her and then got into her car, heading for the hospital.