CHAPTER 41- A BIT OF INFLUENCE

They were almost to the hospital when Buffy’s phone rang.

"Buffy? It’s Dawn; we’re landing in about 15 minutes. Is Bernie picking me up?"

"Sorry, Dawnie, could you please just get another cab and meet me there? I’m in the cab with Bernie right now. Something’s happened with Sp…William and I’ve got to get back to the hospital right now."

"What’s happened," Dawn asked, alarmed.

"It’s a long story, but seems his new doctor has put moved him onto a chronically insane floor and given him mega doses of drugs he doesn’t need. I’ve just picked up his first doctor from a golf course and he’s coming back to the hospital with me to figure this out," Buffy said.

"Oh, God, Buffy! How’d this happen?"

"I don’t know, Dawn. I wish I did."

"Where do you want me to meet you?" she asked.

"Just go over to the ER waiting room and I’ll find you there, okay?"

"Okay, see you in about an hour."

The cab pulled up in front of the hospital and Buffy and Dr. Turner got out.

"Thanks, Bernie!" Buffy said, gratefully.

"You’re welcome. Just call me, if you need anything."

"I will."

Buffy and Dr. Turner went up to his office on the 10^{th floor. He went over to his fax machine first thing and took out the papers that Willow had sent him. Looking them over, his face grew darker by the minute.}

He then pulled up William’s online chart and took a look at it, calling the floor to verify what he had read. He also called the nurse’s station and talked to Gretchen Froesch about William. She told him how she’d questioned Dr. Polydefkis’ orders and that he had told her that she’d better comply if she wanted to keep her job and health benefits for her daughter.

"He said that to you?" Dr. Turner asked.

"Yes. And I’m so ashamed that I didn’t just tell him to stick it and call you or the nursing coordinator right then, it’s just I was so…so shocked. Especially when he brought up Chelsea. I mean I never even met the man, yet he knew about my daughter. I tell you, the whole thing just made my blood run cold."

"Don’t be ashamed. He totally took you by surprise, which is what he obviously wanted to do. As for him knowing about your daughter. I have no idea what would have given him that kind of access, or why he would have had it, ahead of time. It’s like…"

"He planned it," both Gretchen over the phone and Buffy, in his office, said at the same time.

"Who’s that?" Gretchen asked.

"It’s William’s wife. She came to get me on the golf course when she found out what was going on."

Gretchen was quiet for a moment, "Tell her I’m so sorry, would you please?"

"I will. Listen, I’m going up to the administrative offices right now. May I use your name?"

She hesitated for a minute, "You can. And if they want to, I’ll sign a sworn statement, as to what I’ve just told you."

"Good. That gives me a lot of back-up," Dr. Turner said. "One more thing, was there anything in William’s behavior last night that warranted this move?"

"Nothing, he was fine, up to the time Dr. Polydefkis had him moved. God, poor sap was even happy last night," she said, remorsefully.

"It’ll be okay."

"Dr. Turner, you might also want to talk to Lynn Russo and another nurse down on 8, Lynn dealt with the ‘good’ doctor this morning, and the other nurse noticed something funny about a few of Dr. Polydefkis’ patients."

"Good, I will. Thanks."

He turned to Buffy, "I need to get up to the administration office and give this to them right away before they leave for the day. Why don’t you wait for me down in the ER, so you’ll be there when your sister arrives?" Dr. Turner suggested, "I’ll come down there and let you know what’s going on."

"What do you think they’ll do? Will they fire him right away? Let you be William’s doctor again?" Buffy asked.

"I don’t know. I just don’t even know. It was someone from administration that wanted him on the case in the first place, so I don’t know what kind of influence got him here," he said, shrugging, "but don’t worry, I think I still have a bit of influence left up there myself. After all, I’ve been here for a hell of a lot longer than him, so I got some friends in high places, too," he said, winking at her.

"Now, I’d really better get up there."

"Right. See you downstairs," she said, as she got up and walked toward the door, "please, Dr. Turner…"

"I’m going to do my best, Elizabeth."

Buffy went downstairs and looked around the ER waiting room. Dawn wasn’t there yet, so she took a seat. About 10 minutes later, she saw Dawn walk in.

"Dawn!" she said, standing up.

"Buffy!" Dawn said, coming over and giving her a hug, "tell me. What’s happening?"

For the next 20 minutes, Buffy filled in Dawn on all that had happened to Spike since last night.

"That’s terrible!" Dawn said, "do you think Dr. Turner is going to be able to help?"

"I sure hope so, Dawn. All I know is he’s one of the good guys. I just wonder who’s pulling the strings. From what Dr. Turner told me, he was told just yesterday that Dr. Polydefkis was taking over William’s case from him. It had sounded like they’d gotten some big shot and wanted to start him working on something interesting. And what’s more interesting to a big-shot shrink than somebody who thinks they’re living in1880? But I think it’s something more, I think someone sent him to this hospital to be assigned to William’s case on purpose," Buffy said.

"Someone from Wolfram & Hart?" Dawn asked.

Buffy nodded, "Yeah, Willow also found Dr. Polydefkis’ phone records. They’re full of calls back and forth between them."

Dawn shook her head, "Angel!"

"Looks that way. What we can’t figure, is why does he want Spike? I mean, he’s already shanshu’ed, so there’s nothing he can do to change that. Willow said she couldn’t read the whole prophecy. There was something else that was too hidden behind security walls or firewalls for even her to break. So, that’s got to be it. I just don’t know what. All I know, is that I have to protect William from Angel."

"You know what’s strange?" Dawn asked, "you go back and forth between calling him Spike and William."

"Guess I do. He, William that is, took exception to me calling him Spike, thought it was a silly name, I guess. I’m trying to not call him Spike so much, so when I see him again, I won’t slip up. You see, when you see him, all you’ll see is the man that he once was, there’s no Spike there. But I also knew William a little. When we went away for that weekend, after Valentine’s Day that last year, before…before everything happened. I saw the man that he once was, but it was different. William being inside Spike, it was still Spike, know what I mean? But William is only William."

"It must be really strange," Dawn said, taking Buffy’s hand.

"It was, it is. It really is," Buffy agreed. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Willow’s coming!"

"Those are some pretty serious charges you’re bringing," Dr. Ogilvie said.

"They are. And in all my years of practice, I’ve never come up against a doctor seemingly so incompetent. I think these papers speak for themselves, plus what’s happened to William Worthington."

"And this nurse says she was threatened?"

"Yes, said she’s sign a statement if you needed her to. Plus there’s a couple of other nurses on the 8th floor who are bothered by what they’ve seen of his behavior toward his patients, and in particular, his overdosing of Mr. Worthington."

"Could you step outside for a moment, while we discuss this?"

"Of course. Please consider stopping Dr. Polydefkis from having anymore contact with these patients until you can ascertain his credentials," Dr. Turner said, as he went into the outer office of the president of the hospital.

About 10 minutes later, they called him back in.

"We’ve decided to call Dr. Polydefkis in to talk to us about these accusations that have been brought to our attention. In the meantime, we’re not removing him from these cases, but we’re noting on all his patient’s records, for nurses to call one of us on call right away if his drug doses exceed those recommended by the PDR."

"But what about his transferring William to 8 West, when I had him slated to move to 10 South, with no good reason? Putting him on so many meds, when he’d been on none, that he had a seizure?" Dr. Turner asked, frustrated.

"I’m sure there’s got to be some reasonable explanation. We’ll put in William’s chart that he’s not to be seen without a nurse present. In fact, let’s do that for all his patients until we sort this out."

"What kind of reasonable explanation could there possibly be?"

"Look, we’ve given you the main thing that you’ve asked for, and that’s protection for Mr. Worthington and his other patients. If Dr. Polydefkis doesn’t have a reasonable answer to these charges then we’ll see that Mr. Worthington is moved back to 10 North, reassigned to you, then you can move him to the step-down unit. I do have to say, that your desire to move him, as your last act as his doctor, is quite suspect in itself. Now it’s for us to make a final call. Clear?"

Dr. Turner reluctantly nodded, "One more thing, actually, two. Elizabeth Worthington, his wife, wants William released into the care of her doctor back in California," Dr. Turner said.

"This is the wife he hasn’t seen in three years, who he doesn’t remember?" Dr. Ogilvie asked.

Dr. Turner nodded, "Yes, but they got on quite well yesterday. I saw him after she’d been there and he seemed happier and more hopeful than I’d ever seen him. She’s quite capable. She’s a teacher out there, I believe."

"Well, presuming he is in fact, on the wrong floor altogether, we’ll need proof of her marriage to him, as well as a Medical Power of Attorney document."

"I believe she’s getting those."

Dr. Oglivie nodded, "Have her come see me with them when she does. What’s the second thing?"

"She wants to see him and I agree. He was just starting to come around, talk to me, that’s why I was having him go to step-down," he said, looking pointedly at Dr. Oglivie, "her visit really cheered him. Now he’s been drugged, isolated…I can only imagine what this has done to his state of mind."

Dr. Oglivie looked thoughtfully at him, "Tell Mrs. Worthington to bring me those documents tomorrow and I’ll let her have her visit. I’ll put it in the chart that she’s to be allowed to see him."

"Thank you," said Dr. Turner, letting out a breath. That had been a long shot.

"Willow? Willow’s coming? That’s great! When Buffy?"

"She’ll be in at midnight. I have to ask Leroy if his cousin is going to mind three people sleeping at her apartment tonight!"

Just then Dr. Turner tapped her on the shoulder.

Buffy turned, "What’s happening? Are they letting you be William’s doctor again?"

Dr. Turner shook his head, and proceeded to explain all of what they’d told him.

"That’s not good enough!" Buffy said, "that maniac shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near William, or anyone else, for that matter. Nurse present or not!"

"I know. I feel the same, but they listened, and they’ve put these safeguards into place. It’s the most I could do right now. It’s better than the alternative, but not as much as we wanted."

"Buffy turned around, her shoulders slumped.

"There’s one more thing. They’re going to let you see him, tomorrow. After you bring in those papers. It’s going in his chart."

Buffy jumped up, "Are you serious? For real? Thank you so much! When?"

"Tomorrow, after you’ve shown them your proof of marriage and your medical power of attorney. I don’t know why they put this stipulation in there, I think they’re just playing it safe, since all this is going on."

"I’ve got to go. You’ve got my phone numbers if you need me, and I know you, if you didn’t you’d probably find my house," he said, smiling at her.

"One question, how do I file for Medical Power of Attorney?" Buffy asked.

"Got the license?"

Buffy nodded.

"I’ll type you a letter stating that I’ve been William’s doctor for the past 3 weeks and that he poses no threat to himself or others and that should do it. If you go to the courthouse on LaSalle Street tomorrow, they always have lawyers you can hire for the day there, or you can represent yourself. If you get a lawyer, they’ll file the paperwork for you and be with you when you go before a judge. It’s all very routine. I’ll have the letter for you tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, what time should I come for it?"

"I’ll be here by 6:30am doing rounds, but it probably won’t be ready…oh, nevermind, I’ll type it tonight at home. It will be waiting for you whenever you get here. That way you can get to the courthouse by 8:00am and get on the docket quickly. Tell you what, if your case comes up around 11:00am, or if you could request that time, I’ll come by and give my personal recommendation to the judge that William’s Durable Power of Attorney be turned over to and that his care can be continued in California under his own physician’s care."

"Again," Buffy said, reaching out to shake his hand, "thank you so much!"

"I’ve got a letter from Sp…William’s doctor at home," Dawn said.

"Can I see it?" Dr. Turner asked.

Dawn handed him the letter from her purse.

He took a couple of minutes to read it.

"It’s a good letter. Should be fine."

"Good evening, ladies. Nice meeting you…?"

"Oh, I’m sorry, this is Dawn, my sister, Dawn, Dr. Turner."

"Nice to meet you, Dawn."

"You, too. Goodnight," Dawn said.

6:00pm

Buffy asked to speak to Leroy and a couple of minutes later he came out.

"The front desk ladies are getting suspicious," he said, smiling.

"Why?"

"They think you’re my girlfriend, what with all the times you’ve asked for me in the past couple of days."

"Oh," Buffy said smiling back.

"What’s up?" he asked her.

She introduced Dawn, then quickly told him what had happened since she’d gotten Dr. Turner from the golf course.

"Well good, then! You got things movin’ in the right direction. Oh, by the way, Amelia said that would be fine for you and a guest to come over. She gave me a key to give you. She’s going out for the evening and didn’t know when she’d be back," he said, handing her the key.

"Listen," he continued," I gotta get back to work. I’m working until at least midnight, so I’ll check up on things before I leave. I’ll check out that website, too," he said, whispering.

"Thanks again. I thought you were only working until 5, I wasn’t sure I was even going to catch you now."

"Yeah, well, someone called off, so looks like I’m staying. I really should get an apartment in the city, like Amelia," he said, sighing. "Well, gotta go, I’ll call you after I’ve had one more look tonight. I’ve got your cell phone number and Amelia’s."

"Thanks, Leroy, I’ll talk to you later," Buffy said, waving as he walked back into through the doors.

7:30pm

Dr. Polydefkis pulled up in front of Lake Point Towers, one of the most prestigious addresses in Chicago. The attendant took the keys from him for his 2008 911 Silver Porche, and the doorman held the door and nodded toward him.

He took the elevator up to the 20th floor of the north building. Getting off the elevator, he opened the door to his half-million dollar condo. He loved living in the city, seeing the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, and the city. He felt like he owned it. He didn’t worry about money, either. His online sale of pharmaceuticals that he got illegally from Europe were doing quite well, as was his offshore bank accounts.

The phone’s message light was flashing. That was unusual, mostly his calls were taken by his voice mail, to either be returned, or for the most part, ignored. Very few people knew his home phone number.

He pressed the play button.

"Dr. Polydefkis, this is Dr. Ogilivie at the hospital. I need you to come up to my office tomorrow morning before rounds begin. Um, some things have been brought to our attention regarding your patients, in particular, a William Worthington, who I believe you’ve just sent down to 8 West last evening. Dr. Turner had some concerns, as did a few of the nurses on both 10 North and 8 West that need to be addressed. I’m sure you’ll want to clear up any misunderstandings as soon as you can. Until tomorrow morning then."

"Shit! If a couple of busy-body bitch nurses think they can get in my business they have another thing coming," Dr. Polydefkis said, as he pondered whom he could get to stalk them some night after they got off work.

He logged into the doctor’s website and accessed his patient’s charts. His eyes narrowed, as did his mouth, as he read about William’s wife; a nurse on 8 West had charted that she was very upset at finding out about the move and had demanded Dr. Turner’s phone number, but was denied. Then he saw the asterisk by his patients, and the notation about having to have a nurse come with him on his rounds. He then logged into the hospital’s main computer and changed it back to the way it had been. That should give him a few hours, at least.

"Shit!" he repeated, still thinking of how much he’d enjoy wreaking havoc in the lives of those nurses. "But first things first!" he said as he dialed a number in L.A.

"Wolfram & Hart," said a cheerful voice.

"Let me talk to Angel right now!" he barked.

"Hold on please," she said, coolly.

"Angel here."

"This is Dr. Polydefkis in Chicago, I think we have a problem."

END CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42 - RISKING MY JOB FOR A GOOD CAUSE

"Did you say his wife had been complaining?" Angel asked.

"Yes, she was just here to see him yesterday, right before I got assigned as his doctor, before I transferred him.

"What did she look like?"

"Blonde, I think. I never saw her, the nurses did."

"Buffy!" Angel thought angrily to himself, and now she was calling herself his wife! He’d wondered about her all these years, never a phone call or anything. Figures she’d get wind of dear old Spikey coming back. His wife? Well, he’d see about that!

"Get him out of there tonight. I don’t care what you have to do, only keep him alive and get him out. I’ve got a couple of guys who will be around to collect him. You just tell me what door you’re going to bring him out from," Angel said, thumbing through his rolodex.

"It could be risky for me, I may not be able to go back, you know," Dr. Polydefkis said, thinking of his nice life he’d just set up here.

"You do this and I’ll give you a $50,000 bonus and a jet out of here to anywhere you choose. Hell, I’ll even buy the apartment from you, always wanted to visit the Windy City."

The doctor thought for a minute, "Very well. There’s a basement service entrance in the back of West Pavillion, it’s not used at night, trucks deliver to there during the day."

"Sounds good. I’ll call you back with the time in a few minutes."

Dr. Polydefkis leaned back against his camel colored leather couch with his hands behind his head thinking. If they wanted him around shift change that would be good. There were more nurses, but they were usually preoccupied, giving report, and other things. Chances are they wouldn’t pay much attention to him up there. And hopefully by the time that the new nurses took over, they wouldn’t know about the change in the patient’s charts. He only hoped that the nurses on evenings and days had also not noticed it and passed it along to the other ones.

8:30pm

The cell phone rang, "It’s Angel, get him to that door between 2:45 and 3:00am. No later, understood?"

"I’ll have him there, Angel."

"And I need him alive. That’s important."

"Don’t worry. He’ll be alive. He may not be conscious, but he’ll be alive."

9:00pm

Buffy and Dawn sat in Amelia’s living room. They’d been there for about an hour, after having gone to Medici’s for dinner. Dawn had liked it, and had even bought a small, framed picture for her apartment back home. She’d moved out of the dorm last year and was now living on her own. Of course, Hank was paying the rent until she was out of school. It had actually been cheaper than the dorm, so he hadn’t minded.

Buffy had spotted a small drawing of a woman in the woods, standing overlooking a clearing below. She thought it sort of looked like her from the back. She bought it for William. It gave her hope.

It reminded her the first time Spike had taken her on the trail and she’d seen the desert far below and off in the distance. It wasn’t too far from the tree where they’d…and where he’d carved their initials. She had gone there often at first, after he had ‘died,’ but then, she’d stopped going there altogether; avoiding that trail, in favor of other ones, until the end of last Spring, when all of a sudden, she’d found herself inexplicably drawn to that spot. She’d just thought that it had been her mind allowing, with the passage of time, for her to finally be able to face ‘the tree’ without the grief. Now she wasn’t so sure that’s all it had been.

"I can’t wait to see Willow," Dawn said, "I haven’t seen her since they pulled up and dropped us off at Hank’s five years ago. Never even got to England," she said, wistfully.

"I haven’t seen her either. At least you kept in contact, I hadn’t even talked to her for a couple of years until a few months ago," Buffy said.

"I wonder if she’ll look different," Dawn said.

"I don’t know. She might. Little older, like all of us, except me, of course."

"Of course," Dawn said, rolling her eyes.

"Do you ever talk to Xander?" Dawn asked.

"I haven’t for a really long time. I suppose Willow does. I just sort of got the impression he was glad to be the living that normal life he’d always had visions of in his head. I mean, I did too, but it was more like wishing for something that I couldn’t have, being the slayer. But Xander, he always should have been the guy who got married, settled down, had a family. And now he does. I just don’t want to interfere with that by calling him and reminding him of…"

"Of you?"

"Well, yeah, me and all that I must represent to him. I think Xander is happy to leave all the demons, vampires, and witches…well, except for Willow, behind, or of the stuff of fairy tales. Don’t you think so?"

Dawn thought about it for a minute, "I don’t know Buffy, part of me agrees, but I think that it’s always going to be a part of Xander. I…I email him still."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I used to have the biggest crush on him. Even bigger than the one I had on Spike," she said, smiling mischievously at Buffy.

"I remember," Buffy said, smiling back, "so how is Xander? Is he happy?"

"Yeah, he seems really happy. We mostly talk about what’s going on in our lives now, although once in a while, if I catch him online and we’re using Instant Messaging, they’ll be some "remember this," and some "remember that," but we try to stay in the present, mostly.

"I understand," Buffy said, and she did.

"He asks about you," Dawn said.

"Well, next time you talk to him, tell him I said, ‘hey,’ okay?"

"Sure," Dawn said, and looked away.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Why didn’t you let him and Giles know what was going on with Spike?" she finally asked.

"It’s because of the very reasons I just mentioned. Even if I told him Spike was alive, what do you think his reaction would be? Do you think that he’d be eager to see him? Think he’d be curious to meet William? Dawn, he never much liked Spike, and pretty much despised him that last year, even when he’d gotten a soul. The only reason he ever tolerated him was because I asked him to. It just went against everything that he thought he should stand for as a man, and I understand that and respect that, even if I don’t agree. I mean, he didn’t look and didn’t want to look at the whole picture from my perspective, and certainly not from Spike’s. Why should I force that on him?" Buffy asked.

"And as for Giles. I’m afraid to let him know. I really am. William is helpless now. He’s not Spike and I’m afraid that Giles might want to study him like some circus freak. I don’t know. He tried to kill Spike not long before he…and he never, ever could see him as someone who was trying to become a good man, even though he went to get his soul returned. Giles just…didn’t want to see him that way, didn’t want to ‘feel’ any sympathy or empathy for Spike. And again, like Xander, I understand his reasoning, but in his case, don’t really respect it, and certainly can’t take a chance with him knowing that Spike’s alive. Does that help you understand?" Buffy said, looking at Dawn.

"Yes. I’m sorry, Buffy. I just…I didn’t think of it that way. I guess with Willow coming, Andrew knowing, you, me, Spike…Guess I was just looking for something of the feel from when we were all sort of like a family."

"I get that, and you’re forgiven," she said, smiling, "but for now, I’m all that William has. Pretend wife or not, I’ve got to get him out of there."

June 12, 2008

11:00pm

The nurse looked up at the order on the screen and frowned. There had just been an x-ray ordered for William Worthington at 2:45am. She wondered why he needed an x-ray at all, yet alone at such a strange time. She searched his chart looking for something that was nagging at her. Hadn’t that chart been highlighted earlier in the night, along with some other patient’s saying that Dr. Polydefkis was not to see them alone? She called the head nurse over and showed her.

Lynn Russo looked at it, sure she’d seen that too, and now was having an awfully funny feeling not finding it there. She was sure that it couldn’t have possible been straightened out tonight, yet. It had been put on the charts early in the evening, and now it was off. Well, she’d tell the midnight shift to make sure that Polydefkis wasn’t alone with any patients, anyway.

She looked at the order for the x-ray. It was for William’s elbow. She knew he’d been unconscious practically the whole day, so it wasn’t like he’d been complaining about it. She read that it had been hurt in the move coming down last night, when an orderly jerked it to restrain him. Well, that was true, but why order an x-ray at that time of night in x-ray department? When they had a machine they could bring upstairs? This had something wrong written all over it.

Friday

June 13, 2008

12:05am

"What the…?" Leroy said, as he looked at the online chart of William Worthington.

"Hey, someone’s here," Dawn said, as she heard the buzzer.

"Who is it?" Buffy asked.

"Leroy."

"Hey, come on in, can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"No thanks. Listen, something’s going on, I don’t know what, but you know how you told me how the administration was going to put all those notices on Dr. Polydefkis’ patient’s records so that he couldn’t see them alone, over prescribe, etc.?" he asked Buffy.

Buffy nodded, beginning to get that feeling in the pit of her stomach again.

"Well, it’s not on there. But it sort of looks like it was amended, know what I mean? Like it was changed back? Never-mind, just a certain way we have of knowing when orders have been changed. Oh, and also, there’s an order for him to go down to x-ray at 2:45am. The x-ray lab usually only does x-rays for ER patients or patients needing emergency surgeries. Doctors don’t schedule regular patients that time of day, they’d wait until morning. That’s why I came over here, something’s going on and you might want to let Dr. Turner know or whatever it is that you’re gonna do. Not even sure I want to know," he added.

Buffy just looked at him with a combination of thanks and fright in her eyes.

"Oh, what the hell, ladies! What do you want me to do?"

"I don’t know? Can you get us up onto the floor? I’ve got to know if William is alright. More than that, I’ve got to get him out of there! Tonight!"

Leroy looked from Buffy to Dawn and back again.

"I’m so gonna lose my job," he thought, if this doesn’t work right.

"Come on ladies, get your stuff, we’re going back over to the hospital!"

Just then Buffy’s cell phone rang. It was Willow.

"Hey, Buffy, I just landed. Where am I going?"

"Willow, I’m so glad you called. Something is going on with William, at the hospital, right now...I think that they’re trying to move him out tonight!" she said, as she walked out into the night with Leroy and Dawn," meet us at the hospital. Down in…"

She looked at Leroy.

"Have her meet us over by the outpatient entrance."

She told Willow she’d find her as soon as she could, over by the outpatient door, then hung-up.

"What do you mean, someone’s trying to get William out of there tonight. Do you mean Dr. Polydefkis?" Leroy asked.

"Yes, among others, that’s what it looks like," Buffy said.

"But why? What did he do? Hey, I’m not helping some criminal or some international terrorist group am I, because, Leroy don’t play that way!"

Buffy stopped, "Leroy, there’s no way I can tell you the whole story. No way you’d even believe it or understand it. But one thing I can tell you with perfect clarity is that you are helping a good man, a man who has saved countless, innocent lives. People never even knew what sacrifice he made, but…that’s the only truth I can tell you," she said, looking him in the eyes.

He looked back at her. He didn’t know why the hell he’d involved himself in her and William’s problems, but he just couldn’t walk away now.

"I believe you, Elizabeth. I don’t know why, but I do. Just wanted to know for sure that I was risking my job for a good cause, for good people," he told her.

"You are, he is, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Buffy said.

"Yeah, well you’d also better call that Dr. Turner back here if you know what’s best," he added.

"Dr. Turner, sorry to disturb you…"

Buffy told Dr. Turner what was going on and where to meet them. Same place as Willow.

And now, for getting up to 8 West!" said Leroy.

END CHAPTER 42

Leroy took Buffy and Dawn into the building through a little known entrance through the parking garage. They took the elevator down to the basement and then walked over to laundry.

Looking around to make sure there was nobody about, Leroy slipped in, motioning them to stay in an area that contained candy and soda machines. He came back a few minutes later with two lab technician outfits.

"Which one of you wants to try to go up and get into William’s room to see how he’s doing?" Leroy asked.

"I’ll go," Buffy said, "I need to go!"

"Well, it will probably be okay, but what if one of the nurses recognizes you?"

"The only nurses that saw me were on this morning. You don’t think they’d be back for midnight’s, do you?" she asked.

"Not usually, but it does happen. If that’s the case, you’ll blow our cover," he said.

"I’ll go," Dawn said.

Buffy reluctantly nodded, "Please Dawn, tell him Elizabeth is going to come to get him out tonight, try to make him understand," she said.

Leroy found a computer and logged in to find out which patient had any lab work scheduled. Luckily there was a Mr. Otto down the hall from William. He was scheduled for lab work, and it hadn’t yet been done.

"Stay here," Leroy said, and he went off in search of lab supplies. He came back in about 5 minutes with all that was necessary.

Buffy didn’t ask how he had done it, she could guess.

He told Dawn what to say and how to act, then directed her over to the elevator that would take her to the 8th floor, "Get in, get out, and don’t get caught!" He then told her where to ditch the clothes and how to get back to the outpatient entrance to meet up with them.

12:45am

Dawn’s heart was pounding as she made her way off of the elevator and buzzed to be let into the 8 West ward. A nurse at the desk gave her a look and a brief look at her badge, and waved her through.

"You’re here to see?"

"Mr. Otto has some blood work that Dr. Hanford wanted for tomorrow," Dawn said.

"Okay, he’s down in 818, about midway down the hall," she said, and waved Dawn off.

Dawn slowly walked down the hall, until she got to room 814. She looked back up at the nurse’s station and making sure nobody was coming, opened the door.

She could see a figure lying over on his side; straps bound him around the waist and legs.

Dawn went to the side of the bed where he faced and looked down. In the moonlight coming in the window, his hair looked light, like Spike’s had, but on closer inspection, she could tell it was brown.

"Spike?" Dawn said, in a whisper, then quickly, changed it.

"William? William wake up," she gently shook him.

His eyes slowly opened, and he looked at her, but it was as if he looked right through her, he didn’t even register her presence.

"William, I’m Buffy’s, sister, Elizabeth’s sister, Dawn. You used to call me ‘Bit,’ or ‘Nibblet,’ do you remember me?"

On hearing Elizabeth’s name, William tried to focus both his attention and sight on the young woman kneeling by his bed.

Dawn smiled at him, and wiped some drool away from his mouth with the edge of a sheet, "Yeah, it’s me, Dawn, William," she said, encouragingly.

He shook his head.

"I know, you don’t remember me, but I’m Elizabeth’s sister. You remember Elizabeth from yesterday don’t you?"

He nodded, "Y, y, yes," he whispered, trying to make his mouth work.

"W, w, where’s Elizabeth? Said she…come back," he said, beseeching her with his eyes.

"She’s coming, William. That’s what I’ve come to tell you. She’s going to try to get you out tonight. Please. You have to try to stay strong, stay alert. We’re going to try to sneak you out. Tonight."

He looked at her, not comprehending.

Dawn leaned over and kissed his cheek, "We’ll be back later, William. We’ll get you out of here. Elizabeth loves you, she’s not going to leave without you!"

William couldn’t quite make sense of all that Dawn was telling him, but he could feel her emotion, when she used the words ‘love’ and ‘Elizabeth.’

She looked at him and saw a tear running down his cheek.

"I have to go. I’m not supposed to be here, I don’t want to get caught. She’ll see you later, promise. Elizabeth promises," she said, wiping his cheek and giving him a little hug.

"Don’t! Don’t go!" he said, as she neared the door.

His plaintive voice broke her heart, "I have to, but we’ll be back, soon. Don’t tell anybody I was here. See you in a while, William," Dawn said, and hurried out his door before she lost it, too.

Luckily, there was nobody in the hall. She let herself out, without needing to be buzzed out, and quickly went down the elevator, found the place to divest herself of her ‘costume,’ and went quickly over to the outpatient entrance.

12:45am

"Willow!" Buffy said, as she found her waiting for her outside the outpatient door.

"Buffy!"

They hugged each other tightly.

"Willow, I’m so glad to see you, so glad you came," Buffy said.

"Me, too, but we’d better catch up later. Tell me what’s going on."

After introducing her to Leroy, Buffy filled her in as best she could for the next 10 minutes, until Dawn came out.

Dawn and Willow hugged each other and then Dawn told Buffy how William had seemed to her.

"He’s all strapped down and mostly out of it Buffy, but he did seem to perk up when he heard your name. He knew who you were, I’m sure of it. He asked why you hadn’t come back and where you were…"

"Oh God, I knew he’d be upset when I didn’t come back!" Buffy said, upset now herself.

"Oh Buffy, you don’t have time for recriminations right now, especially, since not coming back today wasn’t your fault. He’s alive, he’s a bit doped, but not hopelessly, and I told him you were going to get him out tonight."

"What did he say, then?" Buffy asked, looking at Dawn.

"He…he didn’t say anything, he got…he started to cry," Dawn answered.

Buffy turned away, trying to get control of her own emotions, unbridled anger at the doctor that had put him into this state, at Angel for trying to accomplish God knows what, and fear and sympathy for William.

Dawn put her hand on Buffy’s shoulder. "We’ll get him out. You saved him from the first by killing an ubervamp barehanded, how bad can this be then?"

"You’re right, Dawn. It’s not the worse we’ve faced, but we’ve got to have a plan."

1:05am

"Elizabeth," Dr. Turner said, walking up.

"Dr. Turner," I’m so glad you came," Buffy said.

Once again, introductions were made all around.

"What’s going on, Elizabeth?"

Buffy took a deep breath, "I have reason to believe that Dr. Polydefkis means to take William from this hospital tonight. We think that’s why he’s ordered a x-ray downstairs at 2:45am. Leroy here tells me that it’s not much farther to an exit from there. What’s more..."

"Why would he do that?" Dr. Turner asked.

"I, we, have reason to believe that Dr. Polydefkis is working for someone else that means William harm.

Dr. Turner looked at Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Leroy, who shrugged, while the others nodded.

"Who is he? Really? That someone would wish him harm?"

"I can’t explain it all to you, it’s a very, very long story, some, well, really, none of which you’d probably even be able to believe. But let me put your mind at rest, as I did Leroy’s. William is a good man. He’s done nothing wrong, nothing illegal, he’s not a terrorist, a spy, and he doesn’t work for any governments. It’s just that he…someone wants something that he has. Only he doesn’t know that he has it," Buffy said.

"And what would that be?" Dr. Turner asked, wondering if his strange patient William was some sort of unknowing mule for drug thieves, or diamond smugglers.

"It’s not something that can be sold or bought, if that’s what you’re thinking," Buffy said, reading his face.

He looked at her questioningly.

"William was given another chance at life. I thought he was gone for good, but he’s here now, and I think…that this person out there isn’t happy about it, and especially not about me and William," Buffy said, trying to explain.

"Ah…love triangle?"

"Not really, but it’s complicated…and the other person has a lot of power behind him, enough to put into motion this whole thing - getting a doctor to isolate him, moving him somewhere, and then…"

"You think this person wants William dead?" Dr. Turner asked.

"Looks like it," Buffy said.

"We should contact the authorities," Dr. Turner said, reaching for his cell phone.

"No, they couldn’t help, probably wouldn’t help, because I can’t give them anything more than generalities. You have to believe me, these men, this man, doesn’t work within the normal realm of everyday people. Dr. Turner," Buffy said, "I respect you for being a caring doctor and for coming here tonight. And if you can’t help us, I’ll understand, but please, please understand my position here. I am getting William out tonight before something happens to him that I can’t stop once it starts.

Dr. Turner looked over at Leroy, who this time nodded, "I think she’s telling the truth, otherwise, I wouldn’t be here either, man!"

"Okay," Dr. Turner said, taking a deep breath, "tell me what you want me to do."

END CHAPTER 43

Friday

June 13, 2008

1:25am

Dr. Polydefkis turned on 59th & Maryland and pulled into the hospital’s parking garage, took the elevator to the 2nd floor, then walked across the bridge to the patient’s side of the complex.

He took the elevator up to the 8th floor, and went to his office, quietly letting himself inside. He double-checked the fluid filled syringe in his pocket; something new he’d gotten from overseas. It was something prisoners were given, to put them into a coma-like state. Prisoners given this reported afterward, that they could hear and feel everything, only couldn’t respond to anything going on. Like being under general anesthesia, the kind that didn’t work like it was supposed to; the kind where patients said they could feel the operation going on, but were mute with terror and paralyzed. He smiled. It was just the kind of drug he liked. He’d have lots of fun with William before he sent him on his way to L.A.

Another half-hour and he’d go and administer the drug before the people from x-ray came and got him.

1:25am

Lynn Russo was coming out of the restroom when she saw Dr. Polydefkis coming off the elevator. She stepped back a moment into the doorway and watched him walk to his office, "That’s really strange," she thought. Somewhere in her gut, she didn’t have a good feeling at all, plus the order for William to have a x-ray at 2:15am. She walked back to her desk, tapping a pen against her leg, wondering what was up.

"I ought to call Dr. Ogilvie," she said to the other nurse on duty.

"Yeah, he’ll like that!"

"I know, especially if it’s nothing, but it doesn’t feel like nothing. I have to think about this," she said, frowning.

"Know who you could call?"

"Who?"

"Dr. Turner, he’s always been the most reasonable about late night calls, plus William Worthington was his patient, until yesterday."

"Susie, I think I love you," Lynn said picking up the phone.

1:30am

They were still outside the outpatient entrance trying to come up with a plan how they would get William out, when Dr. Turner’s phone rang.

"Dr. Turner," he answered.

As soon as Lynn Russo started telling him about what was going on, he motioned the others to be quiet, mouthing to them who it was.

"What other patients do you have on the floor now?" he asked her.

She listed the 8 other patients by name.

"You’re right Lynn, something is going on and it would seem that Dr. Polydefkis is up to no good, we, I mean I think he’s trying to get William Worthington out of there tonight and into someone’s hands who means him harm," Dr. Turner said.

"Who?"

"Listen, Lynn, I can’t go into it all now, in fact, I don’t even know the whole story, only that I believe it or I wouldn’t be here right now myself."

"You’re here?"

"Yes, I’m downstairs. I need you to do me a favor, which may buy us some time. I need you to switch the rooms of Mark Mason and William Worthington as quickly as possible. Can you do that? Good. No, don’t put it in the charts. Then I need you to do keep Polydefkis off the ward if you can. Don’t try to be a hero, just keep him out. If he does get on, he’ll think William is still in 814. And one more thing…"

"What?" Lynn asked.

"I need you to look the other way a couple of times when some people come and go tonight," he said, hoping he wasn’t putting all of their jobs in jeopardy.

"How am I going to know which people are which, with people from x-ray coming up for William in about an hour?"

He thought for a minute, "They’ll ask you if you’re going to the staff party at the Downtown Hilton next Friday, okay?"

"That’s the ‘secret handshake,’ she said, laughing.

"Yeah, off the top of my head," he said, groaning.

"Works for me."

"I’ll be up in a couple of minutes," Dr. Turner said.

"Listen guys," Dr. Turner said, "I think I’ve got a solution," he said and filled them in.

Once Dr. Turner had gone into the hospital, Willow motioned for Buffy. They walked over to the corner of the building.

"Buffy, wouldn’t it be better, if Dr. Polydefkis gets up there after all, to Spike, I mean William’s room, and looks at the other patient but thinks he’s actually seeing William?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, sure, but what are you saying?"

"I’ve got an idea," Willow said, and proceeded to tell her.

1:50am

"Come on Susie, let’s get these straps off, so we can put William in a chair.

"Wha? What’s…Elizabeth come?" William asked, groggily, thinking Dawn was still there.

"Come on William, no time to talk right now, let’s get you up. Good, now sit down, careful! Okay, good," Lynn said, pushing the wheelchair to the door. She looked out and seeing nobody about, pushed him to room 802.

Once inside 802, William sat in the chair while Susie and Lynn got the other man up onto a gurney.

The other patient, Mark Mason, was a malicious serial killer who had strangled at least 50 people over an 8-year period. After being sentenced to jail for life for at least a half dozen murders, and after serving a half dozen years, his lawyer got his case overturned on a technicality. His sentence was then changed to life in a mental institution with no possibility of his being released. There was a special unit of the Illinois penal system for people like him, but they were working on construction right then, and there had been no other place to house him. He had come to The University of Chicago psych unit under very heavy doses of sedatives and Thorazine, for maximal control and the safety of both the guards and hospital personnel. For this reason, he was being constantly kept in a semi-unconscious state, until the unit he was to return to was finished. The hospital had agreed to this arrangement for two reasons. The first reason was money; a hefty dividend was given to the hospital when it had to host one of the most hardened criminals in the state. The second was that one of the trustees of the hospital also sat on the board of trustees of the prison system.

"Come on, William, lie down here," Lynn said.

"Wh…?" William looked at her, not comprehending.

"Look at me William," she commanded; "it’s only for a short time, I believe. Just do this for me now, okay? Good," she said as he lay down. She hated to put back on the straps, but she thought it was for the best.

"Good luck, William," she said as she walked to the door, to push the other patient out and to William’s room.

1:55am

Dr. Turner got off the elevator on the 8th floor and made his way over to the nurse’s station.

"Lynn," he said, motioning her over, "did you switch them yet?"

"Yeah, just got finished. What do you need me to do now?" she asked.

"I need Mark Mason’s chart for a minute. I need to pronounce him dead, as of this afternoon," Dr. Turner said, then explained, "it’s only for a little while. Just long enough to…never mind, you probably don’t want to know."

"Not really. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is my motto tonight as far as you’re concerned. And a certain patient."

"Good. I’ll change it back later."

2:00am

"You’ve got to be kidding me!" Buffy exclaimed looking at the morgue cart.

"Well, that’s what we use to get dead patients off the floor, so nobody else can see them, I figured it would be a good way to get William out without anybody seeing him!" Leroy said.

"He’ll freak, if he’s at all conscious," Buffy said.

Dawn nodded.

"Why don’t you get in there with him?" Leroy asked.

"Huh? How?"

"You could ride up there inside the cart, then the both of you could ride down together," Leroy suggested.

Buffy slid the lid down and looked in. Well, there might be room if she lay on top of him or vice versa. She was small, and he wasn’t very large. In spite of the forced intimacy, at least, hopefully, she could keep him calm.

"Willow," you’re going to have to be our morgue worker, Dawn’s already been up there tonight, so they might recognize her.

Willow nodded, "You ready, Buffy?" she said, as she finished pinning a nametag to her morgue worker’s lab coat.

"Dawn, you call Bernie. See if we can get him, otherwise, Leroy, you go and get your car and meet us by the old employee entrance."

"I’m ready," Buffy said and stood on a chair to get in. The lid slid over her and she swallowed hard, as she fought back a feeling of claustrophobia and the memory of fighting to get out of her own grave.

2:05am

The elevator door opened on the 8th floor and Willow pushed the cart through. She walked over to 8 West and buzzed. Lynn came to the door and looked at Willow skeptically.

Willow cleared her throat, "You going to the staff party at the Downtown Hilton next Friday?" she asked.

Lynn looked at her for a moment, then realized what she’d just said, more importantly, what it meant.

She opened the door for Willow, "Yeah, hear it’s supposed to be a good one," she answered, "room 802," she added pointing.

"Thanks," Willow answered.

She wheeled the cart to room 802 and opened it and pulled the car inside.

She slid the cover back and helped Buffy up.

Buffy stood up and hopped down.

William was facing the window away from the door, toward the window.

Buffy came around to the side of the bed and knelt down, gently stroking his face.

"William," she said, as she waited for him to open his eyes, "it’s Elizabeth, I’ve come to get you out of here, to take you home."

He didn’t want to open his eyes, didn’t want the dream to end, the dream that once again, Elizabeth had visited him, that once again she put her lovely hand on his face. Didn’t want it to be true, like the doctor told him, that he would never see her again, that he would never leave this place.

"William, please wake up, we have to get out of here now William!" Buffy said, more insistent this time.

Slowly he opened his eyes and saw her smile at him and nod.

"Elizabeth," he said softly.

"Yes, William, it’s me," she said nodding, as Willow undid the restraints, "I’m here to keep my promise to you, though not in the way I thought it was going to be, but a promise is a promise, right?"

He nodded.

"Can you get up?"

"I, I think so," William said.

"Listen to me, we have to sneak you out of here. You and I…we’re going to ride down together in this," she said, pointing to the cart that Willow had rolled over to the side of the bed.

He looked at it and violently shook his head no.

"You have to. We have to, William, there’s no other way," Buffy said, pleading with him.

"I can’t," he said, whispering.

"Why?"

He didn’t answer.

"Why William?"

"I’m…I’m afraid…of…of the dark and of…it looks like a coffin, " he motioned to the cart.

Buffy’s eyes filled with tears of understanding. The irony was heartbreaking, William, afraid of both the dark and coffins.

"I know, William. Me, too. But you want to get out of here, don’t you?

He nodded.

"Then you, rather, WE are going to have to put our fears aside for a few minutes until we’re out of here. It won’t be long, I promise. Maybe 5 minutes, and then, you’ll be out of here forever. I can take you home," she said looking him in the eyes, "what do you say?"

He just looked at her for a minute. Was she his dream? Would he say yes and then get stuck in some dark place?

She took his hands in hers, putting one on her face, "I’m real William, you’re real! Please have faith in me, please!" she said, kissing the palm of his hand.

He hand moved of it’s own accord, caressing her face and hair as he looked into those eyes that he remembered from yesterday. Eyes that saw him, "Are you really here?"

"I am, and what’s more, so are you, William, so are you. Now, what do you say we get the hell out of here?"

"Okay," he said, nodding.

"Hi William, nice to meet you. I’m Willow. I know you don’t remember me, but I’m Buffy’s, er Elizabeth’s best friend."

"Nice to meet you, too. Again, I guess," William said.

"How do you want to do this?" Willow asked, "William on the top or bottom?"

2:15am

Dr. Polydefkis rang for the night nurse. Lynn Russo came to the ward door, flinching inwardly at seeing who it was.

"Can I help you?"

"I’m here to see William Worthington, I wanted to make sure he’s alright before he has to go down to x-ray in a little while."

"He’s fine, he’s sleeping comfortably right now," Lynn said.

"Well, I thought I’d check up on him myself, if that’s alright with you," he said in a condescending voice he reserved for all nurses and most females.

"I’m afraid that you can’t see any patients tonight," Lynn said.

"What?" he asked, his face getting red, "I have full hospital privileges, I demand to see my patient!" he yelled.

"I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what’s going on right now, and until I’m satisfied, nobody gets in to see him. There’s been a notation made regarding this on his chart."

"At least open this door up and let me see the chart," he said, trying to sound reasonable.

Reluctantly, Lynn buzzed him through and followed him to the nurse’s station. He sat down and looked at the chart.

"Where does it say this?" he demanded.

She looked, knowing she wouldn’t see it, either, "It said it earlier, then it disappeared."

"You must be seeing things," Dr. Polydefkis told her.

"No, I wasn’t and neither was the other nurse who brought it to my attention. Since I can’t verify anything at this hour, I’m going to have to call Dr. Ogilvie at home and get his input."

"Go ahead and do that. I’ll just wait," he said.

Lynn turned around and Dr. Polydefkis quickly took out a small bottle and poured some liquid into a handkerchief. Coming up behind her, he grabbed her, putting it over her nose and mouth.

A few minutes later, Susie returned from checking on one of the patients, "What’s wrong?" she asked seeing Dr. Polydefkis standing over Lynn, who had her head down on the desk.

"I don’t know, after she let me in, I was looking over a chart and all of a sudden she said she felt dizzy and passed out," he said, with his hand on Lynn’s pulse.

As Susie came around to the other side, Dr. Polydefkis grabbed her from behind with one hand, putting the hand with the rag on her face.

Susie fought back, kicking over a chair, as the ether had partially evaporated from the cloth.

Holding onto her, as she fought and kicked, Dr. Polydefkis brought the bottle to her face and holding the top still with one hand, twisted the bottle, allowing the liquid to pour onto the handkerchief. Within seconds she was out cold.

2:15am

"I could get on the bottom," Buffy said, shrugging.

William looked aghast, "No! I’ll…I’ll be on the bottom," he said.

"What was that?" Buffy asked, hearing a loud bang coming from down the hall.

"I don’t know. Let’s hurry," Willow said.

Willow laid a blanket on the bottom of the cart and she and Buffy helped William up and then into it. He was weak from the more than 24 hours of heavy drugs, and it took both of them, firmly holding onto him, to get him in. Buffy nodded at him and he took a deep breath and lay down.

Next, Buffy stood on a chair and knelt on either side of William’s legs then eased herself down, so that she was lying on top of him. Her face in the crook of his neck.

"Make yourselves as comfortable as you can, because it will be a little while before we can get you out. Not too long," she said, smiling at William reassuringly.

Buffy adjusted her arms, so that one was behind his neck and the other on the side of his head. He awkwardly put his arms around her back.

Willow started to close it up and at the last minute, they found that he’d have to turn his head in order for her to slide the lid shut. He turned his head toward Buffy.

"Okay, guys, this is it, don’t make any sounds or movements," Willow said and pushed open the door to his room and into the hall.

As she was coming out of the hall she saw a man coming down the hall, he stopped in front of room 814. Willow inhaled and proceeded forward.

2:20am

Dr. Polydefkis noticed a cute little redhead coming toward him with the Morgue Cart.

"What do you have there? I wasn’t aware of anybody dying up here today," he said.

Inside the cart William heard his voice, "That’s him, that’s him, hurt me, hurt me," he said.

"It’s Mark Mason, from 802, found him dead this afternoon," Willow said.

"And you’re just coming to get him now?" Dr. Polydefkis asked.

Willow shrugged, "Guess the order got lost," she said.

"You need to get dead bodies out of here quickly," he said to Willow, looking down at the cart, "otherwise they start to decay. Do you know what a body looks like when it decays?" he asked.

"Of course," Willow said, looking at him with some alarm.

"Describe it to me," he said to her.

"Describe it?"

"Yeah, describe it, the decaying process."

Willow didn’t know this was Dr. Polydefkis, but everything that she’d learned for all the years she’d lived in Sunnydale, plus her years of studying under the auspices of the coven, told her this was evil she was dealing with.

As she started to tell him all about it, she was remembering how to do a specific spell, should she need it.

"I see you’ve studied Williams & Williams Decomposing of the Human Body," he said.

"Yeah, great piece of work," she said.

He nodded, admiring her for her intelligence and wishing he had the time to take her back to his place.

You’re new, right?"

"Um, yeah, pretty new," Willow answered.

"Well how about you letting me take you out sometime?" he asked, leering at her.

"Sure, that’d be great," she said, thankful that she remembered the name on her tag, "I’m Lisa, just ask for me down at the morgue."

"I’ll do that, Lisa from the morgue. I’m Dimitri Polydefkis, by the way."

"Nice to meet you," she said, now understanding.

"Hey, before I go, how about letting me have a look at the body? Not many times one gets to see a mass murderer, dead or alive," he said.

"You know, I would," Willow said, trying to think quickly, "but as you pointed out, I didn’t get up here very quickly and the body is…shall we say pretty ripe? Honestly, he smells just like shit, which is what he lost when…and I’m about to take my break in about half an hour, I really don’t need to be smelling that right now."

Looking down at his watch, he shrugged, "Next time then, Lisa from the morgue," he said winking at her, as he pushed open the door to ‘William’s room.’

Willow hurried away down the hall.

2:25am

Dr. Polydefkis walked over to the bed and looking down, he saw the sleeping figure of ‘William.’ He jabbed him in the arm with the syringe and emptied the contents into his arm.

The man’s eyes flew open.

"Yeah, that’s right, you piece of shit, try to yell, try to cry out," he said, with a mad gleam in his eye, "you’re more trouble than you’ve been worth to me, that’s for sure. But I think you’re going to be well taken care of by Angel. Yeah, that’s right, Angel has plans for you and you won’t ever see anybody you know again."

Willow looked around the nurse’s station, but didn’t see the nurse who had buzzed her in. Finally, she located the buzzer for the ward door and let herself out. She had to put a paperweight on the buzzer, because it didn’t stay down automatically. She had a bad feeling about why the nurses weren’t about, but she couldn’t stop to investigate now.

She pressed the elevator button repeatedly; hoping it would soon come.

The elevator reached the basement and Willow quickly wheeled the cart to the laundry room, where they’d stored their things.

"We’re here, guys," she said, "pulling back the lid, just in time to see Buffy and William’s lips unlock.

Buffy looked up sheepishly, William looked confused.

"We have to go now," Buffy said to William, taking Willow’s hand as she helped her up.

Next, they both pulled William into a sitting position then brought a chair over for him to step down on. Shakily, he made it down and now stood between the two women, looking back and forth at them.

Buffy quickly took him by the hand and pulled him down an aisle holding laundry bags on both sides. She reached up and grabbed her backpack and quickly pulled out his pants and handed them to him, "Put these on," she directed, as she put her arm under his and looked the other way. Gratefully, he leaned on her and put them on, pulling them up, under the hospital gown that he’d been put into, after the move to 8 West.

Next, Buffy untied the straps in the back of his gown and handed him the T-shirt, once more, looking away.

She looked at him, pleased, "That’s better, huh?"

He nodded, they may be strange clothes, but at least they were clothes.

She took the hospital gown from him and shoved it into one of the laundry bags.

Looking down at his feet, she realized he had no shoes. This wouldn’t do.

"Wait here a minute," she said, and went down the aisle to where Willow stood waiting.

"Willow, I hate to ask, but….Spike, doesn’t have any shoes. Do you think…?"

Willow looked at Buffy, "You want me to conjure up shoes?" she asked, with a mock, shocked expression.

"Well, it will look pretty suspicious if someone sees him without any shoes," she said, shrugging.

Willow grinned mischievously, "Well, I don’t think this is the major mojo they were talking about granting me before I left, but I suppose this could be considered somewhat in the line-of-duty. Okay, what size shoes does he wear?"

"Uh, I’m don’t know," Buffy said, trying to think in terms of men’s foot sizes.

"I got an idea," Willow said, and with a few words, a couple of dozen pair of shoes appeared.

"William," Willow said, "come here."

William came down the aisle and Willow motioned over to the shoes, "We found these, you need some shoes, so take a pair."

"Whose are these? Won’t someone miss them?" he asked.

"I think these are shoes that are from the lost and found, I don’t think they belong to anyone," Willow answered.

He frowned.

"Please William, you can’t go walking around barefoot, if we want to get out of here," Buffy said.

He sighed, but began looking. He bypassed the Nikes, the Reeboks, and all the casual footwear, until he came to a pair of Doc Marten’s. He tried them on, then looked at Buffy and Willow and nodded, both thinking that some things never change.

"Good," Willow said, "now let’s get going!"

2:40am

Buffy, William, & Willow walked down the hall of the basement and took the elevator up to the second floor.

As the elevator door shut, William looked alarmed and grabbed for Buffy’s hand. He’d never stood in an elevator before, in fact, he’d only been in one when he’d been unconscious.

"It’s okay, it’s just taking us up to the second floor," she told him.

The door opened, and they started to make their way to the bridge that would take them to the other side of the hospital and to the outpatient door.

They took the stairs down to the first floor and started walking down the corridor to the outpatient sector. As they did they passed two burly looking men, with lab coats that said ‘x-ray’ on them, pushing a gurney. They looked over at the trio with a disinterested glance and continued on their way.

2:45am

Dr. Polydefkis buzzed the two men from x-ray into the 8 West ward, and took them to room 814.

He’d made sure that the nurses were still out, by once again, putting the ether soaked handkerchief to their faces and locking them in a utility closet. He’d noticed that someone had let themselves out, because he’d heard the buzzer going off earlier, and had seen the paperweight placed on top of the button. He figured it was Lisa from the morgue.

"Here he is, one Mr. William Worthington," he said, as he watched the biggest man look at a description of the man that Angel had sent. He nodded and both men put him roughly on the gurney and secured him with straps.

They handed Polydefkis an envelope. He took a quick look inside. There was an open airplane ticket, a check for $500,000 for his apartment, and the rest was filled with thousand dollar bills. He smiled, "Tell Angel thanks and it was nice doing business with him."

"Yeah, we’ll do that. You sure this patient isn’t going to wake up?"

"Probably not for a couple of days, at least. I gave him a paralyzing agent," Dr. Polydefkis said.

"Wait a minute," he told the men, as he quickly wrote something on a piece of paper and grabbed some tape. He then buzzed them and himself through.

He waited for them at the elevator, "Good luck," he said, as they got on."

"Yeah," they said as the door shut.

Dr. Polydefkis then taped the OUT OF ORDER sign he had made on the outside of the elevator, and went to his office to gather the few things he had there that he didn’t want anyone to find. He knew that very shortly someone would find out about the nurses and the missing patient and he didn’t plan on sticking around for that.

2:45am

The wind was blowing hard and it had started to rain as Dr. Turner, Leroy, and Dawn waited inside Bernie’s cab for Buffy, William, and Willow. Finally, they came out the door.

William inhaled the smell of flowers that were planted around the entrance and was reminded of a kind of flower his mother always liked. He told himself he would try to remember the name.

Dr. Turner came out of the cab and over to them.

"William," he said, smiling, "I’m releasing you to the care of your wife Elizabeth, I’m sure she’s going to take very good care of you," he put out his hand.

William hesitated, then extended his, "Thank you," he said.

"And William or Elizabeth, if you have any questions, concerns, need my help or advice, please call me anytime. Promise me that you will."

They both nodded.

They were standing by the cab. Leroy got out to make room for the three of them. Dawn was up front with Bernie.

William hesitated. He turned to Elizabeth and whispered, "I don’t remember ever being in an automobile before," he said.

"I know, but it’s too far to walk, where…hey, where are we going?" she asked.

"I got a place you can stay as long as you like, it’s about an hour from my house in Indiana. Bernie will explain. I’ll meet you there in about an hour. As soon as I get my car, I’ll pull around and you can follow me. If you lose me, Bernie’s got directions.

"Come on, William, you can sit between Elizabeth and me" Willow said, getting into the car and pulling William in by the hand.

Dr. Turner motioned to Buffy, "So much for the Medical Power of Attorney and all that, huh? Look, no matter what his real story is, William, right now, is still a very frightened, confused man. Try to not get him over-stimulated. There’s so much he doesn’t remember, he may freak out if he’s exposed to too much, too soon. Here are some mild tranquilizers and some mild sedatives if he needs them," he said, handing her a couple bottles. "Like I said, don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions about how to proceed with his treatment. He can call me too, just to talk, it may help."

"I can’t thank you enough for all your help," she said, shaking his hand.

"You’d better get going it’s really starting to rain," Dr. Turner said, closing the door after she’d climbed in the back. Just then Leroy pulled up and Bernie nodded and put the car in gear. Dr. Turner gave the cab a pat and went walked off to get his own car.

Part of him wondered what it was about William and Elizabeth, and this whole case, for that matter, that had him ignoring all hospital policy.

The other part of him was more than satisfied that he’d done the right thing.

END CHAPTER 44

2:50am

"You ready?"

"Ready!"

"One, two, lift!" the bigger burly man said, as the two of them lifted the man on the gurney into the delivery truck.

"Good, let’s get to Meigs Field," said the second man.

2:53am

A severe thunderstorm had now developed in earnest. The air crackled with electricity seconds before lightening struck the hospital’s tower, sending all buildings into darkness for the few seconds it took the emergency generators to kick in.

Joe, the midnight engineer got on the radio and told all maintenance to put OUT OF ORDER signs on all the elevators.

Ralph Small walked up to the 8th floor and saw that the elevator already had a sign already posted. Figuring that one of the nurses had done so, he walked back to the stairwell and continued up to the other floors.

3:02am

"All the signs are up," Ralph said to Joe on the radio.

"Okay, thanks, I’m turning them off."

3:05am

Dr. Polydefkis finished stumbling around in his office, taking what he wanted, and now closed the door behind him. He patted his inner jacket pocket, and smiled as he made contact with the bulky envelope.

He carried two medium size boxes over to the elevator and pressed the button, "Waiting right here for me," he said, having not heard the elevator come up or down, as the door opened.

He took a step and fell 9 floors to the basement, immediately dying upon breaking his neck. His body would not be found until two days later when everybody taking the elevators or anywhere in the vicinity of the elevator, noticed the terrible smell.

Lisa from the morgue was responsible for the body. After pocketing the $50,000 in cash that she happened to find in his inner jacket pocket, she took out William’s & Williams Decomposing of the Human Body and identified the state of Dr. Polydefkis’ decomposition before releasing the body to the Lake Shore Funeral Home. Nobody claimed the body and he was buried in a pauper’s grave in Cicero.

Lisa put a nice down payment on a condo for her mother in the suburbs and bought herself a nice sports car she’d always wanted.

3:05am

William sat gripping Buffy’s hand as the Bernie turned from Midway Plaisance onto Stony Island. He felt his stomach churning as the cab increased speed once it reached the Indiana Toll Road.

"How you doing?" Willow asked him.

"I think I’m going to be sick," William said, after the first tollbooth.

Bernie stopped the car at the McDonald’s rest area and Buffy got out of the cab and helped William out. He leaned against the trunk of the car and threw up, as she held onto him.

"Maybe it would be better if he laid down," Buffy said.

Willow nodded and got up in the front seat with Bernie and Dawn.

Buffy let William get in first and then got in, closing the door. Gently, she pulled him over onto her lap.

"Try to close your eyes and get some rest," she said, stroking his hair, "it’s not too far."

William nodded, closing his eyes, as he tried to fight the feeling of nausea caused by the frightening sensation of speed he’d never experienced before. Still, in spite of being overwhelmed by everything, he felt comforted lying in Elizabeth’s lap, and was soon asleep.

Leroy had seen the cab pull over and had pulled over to the side of the road to wait for them. He now put his car back into drive as he saw the cab pull out of the rest area.

"How’s he doing?" Dawn whispered after about 10 minutes, when they were just at about the East Chicago exit.

"He’s out," she said, looking down on him.

"Poor Spike," Dawn said.

"Yeah," Buffy said, looking down at him with a mixture of awe and sympathy, "poor Spike."

"So, where are we going, Bernie?"

"Leroy’s house in the Miller Beach section of Gary?"

"Gary? As in Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana?"

"Yeah, just like the music man."

"Isn’t Michael Jackson from Gary?" asked Buffy.

"Ug!" Dawn and Willow both said.

"Hey, forget Michael Jackson, Gary used to be a very progressive town in the earlier part of the century. Well, last century. Best education system in the country. William A. Wirt developed the work-study-play model that the whole country still uses. Octave Chanute flew a glider plane off of the dunes in Gary before the Wright Brothers did at Kitty Hawk. Steel Mills made the town, but the loss of those jobs, plus a bunch of racial crap brought it down in the 70’s. Then in the 90’s, the politicians and Donald Trump thought they could bring lots of money into the city with gambling boats, but somehow, the benefits were negligible, so it’s still struggling, but it’s better.

"How do you know so much about it?" Dawn asked.

"I used to live there about 40 years ago, still have some family in the area," Bernie replied. "Anyway, sounds like Bernie lives right on the lake."

"Are we staying with him?" Willow asked.

"I think he’s got somewhere else in mind," Bernie answered.

END CHAPTER 45

CONT. CH. 46 - 50

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