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Visions of You
Chapter 12
by Tami
Annandale, Virginia, near Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
Spike sat in the back of the ambulance with Booth and the EMT as it sped to the nearest hospital. The EMT ripped Seeley’s shirt open to attend to the wounded shoulder. Dark spots on Booth’s neck and chest caught the man’s attention. There were red patches where Booth had been scratching his skin at some point.
“This looks like a rash,” the EMT said, addressing no one in particular. “He may be having an allergic reaction to something.”
Spike leaned forward to look at the black spots and shrugged. They seemed harmless to him. He smirked at the thought that Seeley may need to bathe in a special soap when he got back home. Booth continued to scratch even as the EMT was examining the area. Then, a small bug jumped onto the EMT’s hand.
“Shit, you’ve got fleas!” the EMT exclaimed as the bugs starting crawling on him.
“Sorry,” Booth mumbled as he scratched another area of skin.
The whole scene was too much for Spike and he broke into a fit of laughter. Trust Booth to get fleas two seconds after he was turned into a dog and other various animals before Drusilla got him back to human form.
By the time they had pulled up to the hospital’s EMERGENCY doors at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, the EMT was scratching and slapping at himself to get rid of the fleas. The back doors of the ambulance opened and the EMT got out.
“The patient has a bad case of fleas,” the EMT told his partner as they pulled the gurney along.
Spike followed the gurney out and into the building muttering to himself, “Even as a dog, Booth’s a magnet for blood-suckers.”
A few minutes later, Angel’s car jerked to a halt behind the ambulance. He and Drusilla rushed into the building and met Spike in the entrance hallway. The three of them followed the gurney down the hall to a room.
“I’m sorry but you can’t go in there,” a nurse said when they tried to enter the room with the entourage.
“Beg to differ, luv, but we are,” Spike said as he made to push past her.
“What is your relation to the patient?” the nurse demanded.
“We’re family,” Angel growled low.
Assuming Angel was angry for not being allowed to go any further, the nurse advised sternly, “Well, you still can’t go in there. You’ll have to stay in the waiting room and a doctor will be with you in as soon as he can.”
Drusilla’s brows drew together at the tone of the woman’s voice and Angel had to squeeze her hand hard to distract her. Angel didn’t want to think Drusilla would do to the woman. Booth was more important at the moment than dealing with Drusilla’s antics. Angel glared hard at the nurse before turning and heading towards the waiting room with Drusilla in tow.
Spike glanced in the small window in the door. Three doctors and two nurses were examining Booth’s injuries. Seeley stared at the ceiling, replying to the doctors when spoken to. He must have felt as if he was being watched because he looked at the door and saw Spike in the window. A look and a small nod passed between them before Spike disappeared.
In the waiting room, Angel sat in a chair with his arms resting on his knees. Drusilla sat beside him twirling a strand of hair through her fingers as she talked about Booth’s injury in her own cryptic way. Angel had tuned her words out, but at the same time it was comforting. He’d be worried if she wasn’t talking. Spike joined them and threw himself into the chair on the other side of Drusilla.
“Where have you been?” Angel asked amiably.
“Just looked in on Booth to make sure he was good hands,” Spike replied.
“He was such a brave knight. Like a fairy tale prince, he was. All shiny and black, but there was no horse. A brave knight should always have a horse when they charge a castle and slay a dragon,” Drusilla said.
“Yeah pet, he was very brave,” Spike acknowledged.
“Little Alexander will be so heartbroken if he leaves us. He’ll cry and mourn and nothing will be the same,” Drusilla said mournfully.
Spike took Drusilla’s hand in his and stroked the back of it soothingly, “Nothing’s going to happen to him, Dru. He’ll be fine. Parker won’t lose him.”
Drusilla looked around her chair and then glanced around the room as if she were searching for something. “Where’s Miss Edith? I need Miss Edith.”
“She’s at Booth’s apartment, Dru. You didn’t bring her with you,” Angel replied, scrubbing a hand down his face tiredly.
“How could I leave her alone? All alone with no one to love him, he’ll be lost. No stars out to guide his way,” Drusilla said tearfully.
“Dru!” Angel barked causing her to jump and cower towards Spike. “Nothing’s going to happen to him. Nothing’s going to happen to Connor. Everything will be just fine!”
“Parker,” Spike corrected.
Angel’s head snapped up to look at the blonde. “What?”
“His name is Parker,” Spike repeated. His eyes narrowed on his Sire. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Angel pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in the chair. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“That’s the second time you’ve done that. Are the memories that bad?” Spike asked.
“No. I don’t want to think about it. Parker will be okay. The doctors will patch Seeley up then we’ll end this case and go back home. And never go anywhere near them again to put either Booth or Parker in danger from associating with us,” Angel replied.
“Uh, hate to break it to you, Angel, but Booth has a dangerous job to begin with,” Spike reminded him.
“And we’re making it that much more dangerous. We’re the enemy, he should be nowhere near us,” Angel said.
“Bloody hell, Angel, you could say the same about Cassidy, Denise, Frankie and Chase!” Spike shot back. “What are you going to do? Go home and fire them all to keep them safe?”
“They know firsthand what’s out there in the dark. Booth doesn’t. Every time he’s around us . . . it’s too dangerous for him. He could get killed. Hell, he’s already been stabbed!” Angel said.
“He gets shot at all the time!” Spike snapped. “What? Are you going to take his gun and badge away from him?” He laughed sardonically. “I’d like to see you try that mate. Booth would slug you for it.”
“Excuse me?” a voice said from the doorway.
The vampires turned to look at a man standing in the doorway. He wore a white coat over his clothes with a stethoscope draped around his neck. Angel and Spike stood up to greet the doctor. Drusilla stood when Spike tugged on her hand.
“I’m Dr. Amundson. I’ll be operating on Mr. Booth shortly. However, before I do the surgery, do you know of any allergies or history of disease in the family? Is he allergic to any medication?”
“No, sorry, I don’t know,” Angel replied.
The doctor scratched his head as he thought about what to do with his patient, knowing so little about him. “I’m a little shocked that a twin would have such little knowledge about his brother.”
“Yeah, well, we were separated at birth. I didn’t know he existed until a few months ago when we met over a business deal.” Spike was ready with a smart ass remark when Angel jabbed an elbow in his ribs. “What are your qualifications for something like this?”
“Excuse me?” Dr. Amundson was taken aback at the question.
“How many surgeries have you done, Doc?” Spike asked.
“I’ve performed over a hundred surgeries,” Dr. Amundson said, his tone almost snobbish. “Your brother only has a minor shoulder wound. It should be fairly easy to fix.”
Angel’s expression turned grim as he looked the doctor in the eye. “It better be routinely easy. If anything happens to him in there or he develops a problem stemming from the surgery, believe me, being sued will be the last thing on your mind,” Angel growled.
Dr. Amundson gasped and took a step back when Angel’s eyes turned yellow for a brief moment before they changed back to deep brown again with a blink. The doctor excused himself and walked away. He wasn’t sure what he’d seen. “I have to stop volunteering myself for twenty-four hour shifts. I’m getting too old for this,” he said to himself as he went back to the operating room to perform the surgery.
“I’m hungry,” Drusilla spoke up behind them. They turned to look at her, surprised to hear her speak. They had tuned her out when the doctor showed up. She absently rubbed her stomach. “My tummy’s all rumbly.”
Spike looked at Angel. “Watch her. I’ll go see if I can nick a couple of blood bags.” With that, Spike left her staring at a painting hanging on the wall of the waiting room. Angel returned to his chair and flipped through a magazine.
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Spike, for all intents and purposes, tried to look like he belonged in the halls as he headed in the direction of the blood bank. He nodded to the few doctors that passed him. He watched the halls cautiously as he made his way to a reception desk where a small blonde nurse sat. He went up and tapped on the counter to get her attention.
“Excuse me, luv, can you tell me which way to go to donate blood?” Spike asked with his sexiest smirk.
The nurse looked up at the sound of his voice and her jaw dropped at the sight of him. Spike could feel her eyes undress him. By the way she was ogling him he knew she’d be dreaming about this encounter for years to come.
“Luv?” he prompted.
The nurse shook herself. “Uh, sorry. Blood bank’s that way.”
She gestured to the hall at his right. He nodded and walked away, giving her a wink over his shoulder. He laughed to himself when she immediately got up and ran for the bathroom; probably going to scratch an itch.
When he came to a solid steel door, he gave the hall a fleeting look before he slipped inside and shut the door behind him. Turning the light on, Spike found himself in a cold room. Freezers lined two walls. A long counter ran along the adjacent wall with a workstation in the center of the room. Not that the temperature bothered Spike, but it felt like they turned the air conditioning on full-blast in this room. Knowing that Drusilla wouldn’t wait long for her meal, Spike hurriedly rummaged through the stock of blood bags. Grabbing a few, he slinked out of the room.
Angel lounged in his chair, paging through a magazine while Drusilla occupied herself with a plastic fern in the corner. She sat in a chair beside it and ran her fingers over the soft plastic thistle. That’s how Spike found them when he showed up with three steaming, lid-covered Styrofoam cups.
“Bang up job watching her,” Spike commented dryly as he handed Angel a cup.
“She’s fine,” Angel mumbled before taking a sip from the proffered blood.
“She’s petting a plastic plant,” Spike said. He set his blood down and pulled Drusilla away from the plant before handing her the last cup of blood. “Any news on Booth yet?”
“No,” Angel replied.
“Mister . . . Angel?” a nurse said as she stepped into the waiting room.
Both vampires turned to see the newcomer. Spike remembered as her as one of the nurses in the operating room with Booth when they took him in earlier.
Angel tossed the magazine aside and got to his feet. “It’s just Angel.”
“Right,” the nurse nodded and made the correction in her notes. “I was told that you were family?”
“As good as,” Spike commented.
“Yes well, we really do prefer to have next of kin,” the nurse said uncertainly.
Angel’s and Spike’s brows furrowed. Booth had mentioned a brother and father at some point, but hell if they knew where they were.
“Right now, we’re the closest thing you’re going to get,” Angel stated. “What’s his prognosis?”
“Uh . . . well, he’s pulled through surgery and on the way to the recovery ward,” she replied.
“Where’s that?” Spike asked.
“What have you done with my --” Drusilla started to ask before Angel slapped his hand over her mouth and “Seeley-Daddy” came out garbled.
“Just direct us to recovery/discharge and we’ll find him ourselves,” Angel said. His tone was agitated more from Drusilla trying to bite his palm with blunt teeth than the nurse refusing him access to Booth.
“We really can’t recommend that you see him now. He’s still sleeping off the anesthesia,” the nurse said.
“Look, lady, I understand you are following protocol here, but we want to see him for ourselves,” Spike said.
“The patient needs his rest. I can’t allow you to disturb him. It might put his recovery back longer than it should,” the nurse said adamantly.
Drusilla growled at her. There was no mistaking the sound for what it was. The vampiress all but shifted into her demon visage. Angel dropped his hand with a stern look at her.
“Who is she?” the nurse demanded, gesturing towards Drusilla.
“She’s his . . . aunt,” Spike answered quickly.
“Looks a little young to be an aunt,” the woman commented to herself.
“I can take care of her, my Angel . . .” Drusilla said softly.
“No,” Angel said harshly then whispered, “No thrall and no killing the hospital staff.”
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Seeley felt groggy as he lay in the hospital bed. He could hear dim voices, but not much else. He tried to turn over on his side, but his body refused to cooperate. He tried to open his eyes, but his brain told him that sleep was bliss. There was a heavy weight on his chest that seemed immobile.
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“Sir! Ma’am! I can’t let you go in there! I strictly forbid you near that man. He’s my patient and not up for visiting with anyone,” the nurse demanded.
Spike and Drusilla ducked into the room followed by a henpecking nurse and Angel. Spike stopped short when he saw Booth lying on the bed looking like death warmed over. The human who resembled his Sire now looked like he could beat Angel in a contest of who was deader than the other.
“Sir! I insist that you remove yourself from this room immediately or I will call security!”
“The only duress Booth will feel is by your nonstop yammering,” Spike commented. He was rewarded by a tight-lipped scowl.
“Miss . . .” Angel didn’t catch her name before. The nurse turned her scowl on him. “We promise not to disturb him. We just want to be sure he’s all right and be here when he wakes up. That’s all.”
“Fine but if you, or your family, do anything to delay his recovery. I will call the cops and have you all arrested,” she threatened before stomping out of the room.
“Well that went smoothly didn’t it?” Angel asked no one in particular. “Did you really have to badger her like that after she agreed to bring us in here?”
“The bint was asking for it,” Spike said defensively, throwing himself into a chair beside Booth.
“I thought for sure the Senior Partners were going to kill me in that alley. Now I know that my final death will involve my impetuous childe,” Angel muttered to himself.
“Put a sock in it, Angel. You’re life would be dull and boring without me in it. What with all the brooding you do when you think I’m ignoring you,” Spike replied.
Angel gave him a contemptuous look.
“Arguing over a recovering person is never a good thing,” Booth said groggily. His eyes were still closed, but the arguing had broken through the fog.
“Apparently you haven’t spent as much time with the pouf as I have,” Spike shot back.
“Mmm,” Booth hummed as his eyes blinked open. “Don’t you two ever quit?”
“Only for short breaks,” Angel replied from his position on the other side of the bed.
Seeley tried to sit up, but the pained groan that emanated from him in the process had both vampires reacting. Spike sat up in his chair. Angel gently pushed Booth back on the bed. “You just woke up from the anesthesia. Your shoulder is bandaged and your arm is in a sling so you don’t jostle it. Just lie still.”
“Did we get the bad guy?” Booth asked.
“You don’t remember?” Spike inquired.
Seeley shook his head negatively. “I remember going to the townhouse and fighting with someone. I remember getting wounded.” The very mention of it caused phantom pains to shoot from his shoulder and he tenderly touched the bandaged area.
“You went after the guy with a cross and stabbed him in the neck. It was a bloody awesome sight,” Spike said.
Booth’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I did?”
“Yeah, but then you passed out,” Spike filled in.
Booth tried to remember what happened. It was still a bit hazy. He killed someone with a cross? He passed out? He remembered that the guy was a demon master. There were demons in D.C.? Seeley looked at his companions . . . all three were vampires. They were demons. “Obviously.”
“What’s that mate?” Spike asked.
“Nothing, just thinking that there were no demons in D.C. In L.A. and Las Vegas sure, but D.C. . . .” Seeley replied. “But you’re here, so obviously there are demons in D.C.”
“You forget that Capitol Hill is full of demons,” Angel quipped, winking at him.
Booth gave a small smile at that. “You made a joke. Who knew you had it in you?”
“He’s full of surprises,” Spike said smugly.
“So when do I get out of here?” Booth asked.
“Whenever you can get out of that bed and walk out on your own without collapsing,” Angel said.
“Real funny,” Booth scoffed.
“A few days at least,” Angel amended.
“A few days! It was a shoulder wound. It’s not like I was near death,” Booth exclaimed.
“You fainted from the loss of blood. You’re staying here until I deem you fit to get out of that bed,” Angel ordered.
“You’re not my doctor, Angel. I’m not one of your childer. You can’t just order me to do what you want,” Booth shot back.
“You were stabbed and fainted on the floor!” Angel stated.
“I do not faint!”
“Fine. You passed out. The fact still remains that you are staying in that bed until I think you have completely healed,” Angel said, exasperated.
“Which for tall, dark and broody, means that you’ll be here until the next doomsday,” Spike commented. Addressing his Sire, he said, “We’ve talked about this Angel. You can’t just bark out orders at him. He’s a grown man and an Army-trained FBI agent on top of that.”
Angel turned hard eyes on Spike. “He’s staying in that bed until I feel he’s ready to get out of it.”
“Cut the bloody Papa Bear act. Booth can take care of himself. He’s done fine long before he knew we existed,” Spike argued.
“Can you two stop talking about me as if I wasn’t here,” Booth cut in. “I’ll stay here for a few days, but nothing more. I still have to fill out a report on the cases before I close the cases.”
“I can call the bureau and tell them to send over the necessary paperwork,” Angel offered.
“No I’ll do it when I get out of here,” Booth said.
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Washington D.C., Booth’s Apartment, a Week Later
It was a little more than three days before Booth was allowed to leave the hospital. Angel had taken the prescription medications and instructions from the doctor while Spike helped Seeley get dressed. The agent ground his teeth in frustration at Angel’s overbearing attitude. Spike sighed and shook his head when Booth opened his mouth to speak up for himself.
“Just leave it, Booth. You have to learn to pick your battles with Angel. When he thinks he’s doing what’s best, you can’t sway him,” Spike advised.
“It’s just a stab wound, Spike. I can take care of myself,” Seeley said petulantly.
They entered the apartment at midnight and Angel shuffled him off to his bedroom immediately. The dark vampire stood and watched as Seeley undressed – helping him when needed – and climbed into bed.
“There’s an all-night pharmacy nearby. I’ll go have these refilled. You stay in that bed. If you need anything Spike and Dru are here,” Angel stated.
“Angel, for the last time: I can handle myself. I don’t need a babysitter,” Booth said irritated. He wasn’t a little kid. He’d been shot plenty of times. He didn’t need the constant supervision.
“Humor me,” Angel said gruffly before leaving him alone in the bedroom.
Out in the living room, Spike had just settled Drusilla on the couch with Miss Edith when Angel came in.
“I’m going out to the pharmacy to fill these prescriptions for him,” Angel said as he pocketed the slips of paper and the wallet that he had nicked when Booth disrobed.
“Angel . . . we talked about this, he’s fine,” Spike started to say. He sighed when his Sire gave him an inscrutable expression. “Do you want me to go with you at least? Pick up some snacks while we’re getting his meds?”
“Watch him,” the dark vampire ordered, heading for the door.
“Wait!”
Angel stopped with his hand on the doorknob. Spike hurriedly wrote a list of snack foods he’d want – which turned out to be a long list – and handed it to his Sire. Angel grunted at the list and walked out of the apartment.
“Daddy’s worried about Seeley. Thinks the demons will take him away. He thinks history will repeat itself and he will lose his redemption again. Seeley is his light shining in the tunnel,” Drusilla said as she listened to Miss Edith.
“Well, if he keeps it up, Booth’s likely to shoot him on principle,” Spike scoffed taking a seat beside her.
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Washington, D.C., Walgreens/CVS Pharmacy
Angel walked up to the counter and handed the prescriptions to the man in the white coat.
The pharmacist looked them over. “It’ll be a few minutes. We’ll call for you when they’re ready.”
“Thanks,” Angel said and walked away.
He walked up and down the aisles of the small convenience section of the store looking for anything on the ridiculously long list Spike had given him. A hundred and thirty-two years and Spike was still an anomaly to him. His childe ate food that Angel wouldn’t even eat if he were still alive. He was still contemplating the list of junk food when a voice spoke up beside him.
“Agent Booth?”
Angel looked up at the stranger. “Agent Johnson, remember? We worked on that robbery case last year. Guy was killed, no suspects for months.”
Dark brows furrowed in confusion. He didn’t know the man, but it seemed he knew Seeley from work. Deciding not to push his luck with the “twins separated at birth” story that he had given to the doctors at the hospital, he casually smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
“Yeah, I remember. How have you been?”
“Just fine. They got me working cold cases now,” Agent Johnson shrugged. “I hear you’re making a name for yourself with that mauling case.”
“Uh, yeah, just doing my job,” Angel said noncommittally. He could scent the pheromones pouring off of the man. A small smirk played across his lips at that. The man was aroused and flirting with him – er, Seeley. He could just imagine what Spike and Drusilla’s reactions would be when he got back to the apartment smelling like this guy’s arousal.
“Seeley Booth, come to the pharmacy window. Seeley Booth, come to the pharmacy window,” a voice sounded over the PA system.
“Uh, that’s me,” Angel said, moving away from the other agent.
“Yeah, well, it was good seeing you,” Agent Johnson said.
“You too,” Angel commented, silently praying to get out of there without another mishap.
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Washington D.C., Booth’s Apartment
“What’s taking so long, Spike? He should be healed by now,” Drusilla pouted from her place on the couch. “I haven’t felt him in so long. I feel so warm when he’s inside me. Like summer, he is.”
“Don’t think he’s up for that yet, pet.”
“Please Spike? If I just went in there and tended to the wound, maybe he’d heal faster.”
“No, Dru. He needs to heal on his own.”
Drusilla slid across the couch towards Spike who stood beside it. She stood on her knees and leaned on the armrest, looking up at Spike through her lashes and purred. “Please, Spike. I promise not to hurt him. I’ll take tiny licks, like a kitten.”
“No, Dru. You’re just horny and he’s not up for your kind of healing,” Spike said exasperated.
Drusilla pouted and fell back on the couch melodramatically. “None of the puppies want to play with me.”
Spike sighed and sat down beside her, pulling her onto his lap. “I’m sorry, kitten. I’m just looking out for him. Angel wants him to stay human, pet. You have a tendency to forget sometimes. He’s injured, luv. What’s to stop you from draining him dry?”
“I’ll be very careful. Daddy always warns me to be careful around Seeley-Daddy.”
“We can’t take that chance, pet. You’ve been very good with him so far. But he’s injured. The allure of blood could be too much for you.”
A noise from the bedroom caught Spike’s attention. He slid Drusilla off his lap and went to investigate. Upon opening the bedroom door, he bit the inside of his cheek in frustration. Booth was trying to be brave, but couldn’t help a little whimper that escaped when he stretched too far to get
a drink from the water glass on the bedside table.
“What are you doing?”
“Damn it.”
The sudden sound of Spike’s voice startled Booth and he accidentally knocked the glass onto the polished, wood floor, shattering it. Booth cursed as Spike went to retrieve a broom to sweep up the broken glass and a rag to mop up the water. He left the room with the shards in a dust bin and came back with a new glass, having disposed of the rag in the laundry room along the way.
Refilling the glass, Spike said, “You should have called out. I would have helped you.”
“I don’t need anyone’s help. I can take care of myself. It’s only a shoulder wound, damn it. I should have moved closer to the nightstand to get that glass. I know that,” Booth said gruffly.
Spike shook his head and handed the glass to him. “You and Angel are just alike. Both of you are stubborn. You two would rather die than admit you need help.”
Just then, the front door opened and shut. Spike excused himself and went into the living room to see Angel in the dining room with his arms loaded with bags. Angel dumped the bags on the table, grabbed the medication and headed for Booth’s bedroom.
“I got your medication,” Angel announced as he set the bottles out on the nightstand. He set about shaking dispensing the appropriate doses as he relayed his adventure. “I ran into a co-worker of yours at the pharmacy, an Agent Johnson. He seems to have a thing for you. I had to make a beeline in here before Spike and Dru caught the scent of his arousal on me.”
“I got it,” Booth said as he took the pills from Angel. Angel bumbled around him. It was driving Seeley crazy. “Angel, please. Thank you for getting my meds. I got it now.”
“Angel!” Spike called from the living room. Angel came out of the bedroom with a harried expression. Exasperated, the blonde vampire gestured towards the couch. “Sit down and leave him alone. Give him some time to himself.” Spike turned on his heel and went to unpack the bags Angel brought in leaving Angel and Drusilla alone in the living room.
The minute Angel sat down, Drusilla was curled up against his side. He had an arm around her as she kissed his cheek and along his neck.
“How long will it take for him to heal, Daddy?”
“He’ll be back to his old self before you know it, baby girl,” Angel assured her.
“You forgot the Count Chocula and barbecued pork rinds!” Spike yelled from the kitchen.
“That’s because they didn’t have any there,” Angel replied as Drusilla teased his neck.
“They wash down great with a mug of blood though. What else am I supposed to use now? He’s got no Wheatabix. We ran out of Ritz crackers and now I got no Count Chocula or Rinds!”
Angel shook his head at his childe’s ramblings. “Spike, you are the strangest vampire I’ve ever known.” |
