Oh, it's bad luck to be you

[nred]

Who: Warren, Lizzie, Kya, Dot, Spike, Alex, Frankee, Eva
Where: Sunnydale General Hospital, Kya's room
When: Saturday, around noon

Alex carried a little boquet of flowers, and made his way towards Kya's room. He felt bad when he'd found out she'd been hospitalized, because he hadn't had any forewarning or knowledge of it. Just because he was a prophet didn't mean he was psychic, after all. Sometimes it just didn't work that way. Still, he felt bad.

Warren was also planning on paying a visit to Kya, because... well, because.

Lizzie was with Warren, and carrying a balloon that said "Get Well Soon". She was surprised to see other people heading towards the same room. "Hm, wonder if they know Kya too?"

Eva, a college student/lab assistant was in Kya's room, finishing up drawing a blood sample.

Alex held the door for the incoming crowd, Frankee and the other two people he didn't know. His eyes got a bit wide when he saw the blood sample going on. "Eww... bad time?"

"All done'" Eva said

Frankee didn't like needles, and for a second he felt a little woozy at the whole idea of blood, but was relieved when it seemed all was finished. He didn't want to get all nauseous here, people might think he was actually ill.

"We pick the best times to visit," Warren observed.



"Sorry... I'm running late today. I should have been finished by now." Eva backed away to hurry out, and bumped into a chair. Great, her clumsiness was back.

"Oh... hey Eva," Lizzie said, having met her a time or two. "I didn't know you worked here. How's Kya doing?"

"I got the job through the bio department at college." Eva said "She's... she should be awake by now. I guess she lost too much blood, and her body is still recovering."

Alex set the flowers down on a bedside table, then headed over to hold Kya's hand. He started talking quietly to her, ignoring the others in the room. "Hey, Kya.. it's Alex..."

"Poor lady," Lizzie said, frowning. "She's our favorite waitress at the diner- she's so nice." She looked towards Frankee. "Are you a friend of hers?"

"Yeah. I'm guessing our original theory was accurate," Warren said, frowning. "So..."

"I errrr... she came for dinner." Frankee said, feeling slightly on the spot. "I'm here for moral support." He looked towards Alex.

"Oh... the neck wound." Eva said "I mean... not that kind of dinner. She has a neckwound." she tried to clarify

"Her boyfriend's mother bit her," Alex said. "Kya, it's okay- you're at the hospital now. It's safe. You should wake up." He pressed his hands to her forehead.

Lizzie blinked a bit at that, but offered a hand to Frankee. "Lizzie Bothwell - and this is my boyfriend, Warren."

Warren nodded politely.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Frankee." He said, shaking Lizzie's hand. "Are you friends with Kya and Alex?" He asked, curious. He was still only just getting to know Alex's circle of friends, and with Alex being like he was sometimes it was hard to determine who Alex was actually close to, and who he just knew about.

"I don't know Alex," Lizzie said. "But Kya's our favorite waitress down at Sid's. She just got her job back too, poor girl. We heard she'd been assaulted, so we came down here to see her."

"Wake up," Alex said, touching her cheeks and her forhead. "I need to talk to you."

Kya weakly tried to brush Alex's hands away. She wanted to go back to where it was safe.

Alex caught her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Kya, come on.. it's okay. Talk to me."

"I think she's waking up," Lizzie said, peering a bit closer.

Frankee watched how caring Alex was being and felt his chest ache a little. He wanted to try and soothe him in some way but felt like his feelt were glued to the spot and that his arms were stiff.

"She won't leave me alone." Kya said, still waking up "Lemme go back."

"You can't go back," Alex said, a tinge of sadness in his voice. "Trust me, I know this - you can't escape into yourself."

Lizzie frowned, hearing what Kya said. "Is the vampire that bit her harrassing her?" she asked.

Warren absently thought, The things I have to do to get a goddamn decent meal...

Dot stood quietly, curiously subdued.

"I don't want to die." Kya said, to Alex. She knew he'd understand what she meant

"I know," Alex said. "You don't have to die. But you do have to accept the help that people are going to offer you. I know you don't like people watching you closely, but you're going to have to let them. Let those who love you walk with you, you understand? Let those who will come and keep an eye out, actually keep your eyes on you. Then you will be safe. It's your stubornness that's killing you, even more so than the vampires."

Kya nodded.

IT was at precisely this moment that Frankee realised why he liked Alex so much. He shuffled around people so that he was stood behind Alex, and softly put his hand on Alex's shoulder.

"So..." Warren muttered, to Lizzie, "Maybe we should just hunt this critter down and set her on fire."

"Will you please let them help you?" Alex asked. "Even if it means for a while you will be followed and watched closely - will you please remember that it is because they care about you and don't wnat you to die, and allow them to do what they will do to keep you safe?" He leaned into the hand on his shoulder, grateful for Frankee's support. "I don't have many friends. I don't want to lose one."

"Maybe we should," Lizzie said, frowning. "But... it sounds like a tough one."

"Well, that just means that it'll be more impressive if we take it out," Warren countered.

"I will." Kya said, quietly "I..." she frowned, trying to think of the right words to say

Frankee was half listening to the conversation Lizzie and Warren were having, and it made him frown slightly. He didn't like the idea of people chasing vampires. From what he understood they were uber strong and hella scary. He didn't want anyone else to get hurt.

"We should have another group meeting, see what we can plan out... maybe talk to Kya's boyfriend to see what he knows about this," Lizzie said. She didn't want to rush headlong into danger.

Dot frowned. "I'd like to help, but I'm not really sure how."

Alex squeezed her hand. "Take your time, we'll be here. And look.. some kids came to see you too. And Frankee's here."

"Hey Kya." Frankee said, simling a little. trying to put a brave face on things.

Warren waved. "Hey, Kya..."

Speaking of Kya's boyfriend, he was on his way into the room, with roses.

"Hi," Lizzie said. "We bought you a balloon..."

Lizzie showed her the cheerful 'get well soon' balloon.

Kya smiled a little at the balloon. "Thank you..."

"We can tie it to the bed where you can see it," Lizzie said, and tied it on the end of the rail.

"Bit crowded in here," Spike noted, setting the vase of flowers on the nightstand.

"When you get better you should come over again, we can have food and watch videos or something." Frankee said, trying to be helpful. He noticed the man who had just come in the room, and wondered who he was. Looked a bit like Billy Idol... hmmmm.

"It'll be fun." Kya said "Daytime. She always knows where I am at night."

Kya smiled a little when she saw Spike. He was always nice to her...

"Frankee and I will leave now," Alex said, looking to Spike. "But listen... she'll let you keep an eye on her now. She promised me."

Alex patted Kya's hand one more time, then just quietly slipped from the room into the hall.

Spike was tempted to say something sarcastic, but considering th circumstances, he stopped himself.

"Good," he said instead.

Frankee followed Alex, glad to be out of the room now it was so full.

"He's my best friend." Kya said, to Spike

"There's her boyfriend," Lizzie said to Warren, nudging his shoulder. She was scared to go talk to Spike by herself.

Alex, once out in the hall started shaking slightly. He reached out and hugged Frankee.

"Don't ever let that happen to you," he said.

Warren nodded, and cleared his throat. "So... did you kill the vampire who did this?" he inquired.

Frankee hugged Alex back, probably a little tighter than he normally would. "I promise, I won't" He said, his voice slightly muffled.

Dot looked startled at everyone's sudden exit, and slipped out into the hall herself.

"Kind of hard to sneak up on someone who can see the future," Spike said. "So, cant't say as I have. Who the hell are you?"

"Warren." Kya said "He's nice..."

"I'm Lizzie," Lizzie offered quietly, waving.

"Hi," Spike said.

"This stuff scares me," Alex said. "That's why I made Kya promise. She has to let them look after her, or she's not going to have much of a chance."

"It scares me too. But knowing you're looking out for me? Well, makes me feel a little safer." Frankee said.

Alex smiled at that. "I'll always look out for you," he promised.

"She can't come here, right?" asked Kya "I'm safe here?"

"I've been keping an eye on the place," Spike said.

"And others, too," he added.

"If you're going to go after her, we'd like to help sir," Lizzie offered.

Dot shuffled her feet, feeling a little out-of-place. Not comfortable in the room, not comfortable in the hallway..

"Don't turn me into a vampire." Kya requested, to Spike

"You mean that?" Frankee asked, suddenly becoming a little more serious. He kind of believed it, he just wanted Alex to say it. If Alex said it and Frankee could believe it, then maybe...

"Yes," Alex said. "Of course I mean it. You look out for the people you love, that's what you do."

Warren nodded. "It's a lot harder to predict multiple attackers."

Frankee wasn't sure he could trust his ears. "You... you love me?" He asked, wanting to make sure he heard right.

"Maybe," Spike said. "You one of those OSI types, or just a concerned citizen?" There was something mocking about his tone, but not excessive, just Spike's standard tone of voice.

Alex nodded, looking as if this should be obvious. "Yes. You're my soulmate, after all. It'd be a little weird if I didn't love you."

"Just someone with a lot of fire," Warren said, "and a lot of people looking for a fight."

"The balloon and the flowers are really nice." Kya said "Thank you."

"That may be what it takes, then," Spike said. "I have no idea where she's sleeping, these days."

This was complete information overload for Frankee. Right now the only rational response in his mind was to kiss Alex, which he did.

Alex blinked in surprise, having not predicted -that- by any means. He'd never kissed-or-been-kissed before, but after the inital surprise, he kissed back somewhat awkwardly, but certainly not lacking in enthusiasm for the activity.

"How do you find where vampires sleep?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, we can worry about that. You're going to be keeping an eye on her, right?" Warren said.

"I am," Spike confirmed.

"Sorry." Frankee said after. "I didn't know what to say, and it seemed right. No one ever said anything like that to me before." He smiled, feeling a little goofy, and only just noticing the girl who had left Kya's room. His face went a little red with embarrassment.

Dot shook her head. "Don't stop on my account, i was just leaving." She made her way down the hall to the elevators. Couples always had to flaunt it, she reflected, sourly.

Alex blushed too, and ducked his head. "Heh... well, um..."

"Then we'll see what we can do to track her down. Does she have any hangout spots that you know of?" Warren asked.

Alex blushed too, and ducked his head. "Heh... well, um..."

"The cemeteries," Spike said. "Above ground places ... crypts and such. And, again, seer ... she just kind of shows up, says soem shit and leaves. Talk to Katie, she was Dru's captive for a while. She might know more."

Frankee couldn't help but laugh a little. He felt bad for making the girl leave, but it was a little bit funny.

"Seer?" Lizzie said. "Hm. Do we know any other seers? Might take one to catch one..."

"Alright, that's a start..." Warren turned to Lizzie. "Isn't Katie that chick that works at the goth club?"

Alex laughed too, because the merriment was contageous - and because he was super happy now. "I like kisses."

Lizzie nodded. "Yeah, she's a waitress at the Sunset. We could go there and ask her tonight."

"Sounds like a plan, then," Warren said.

"They're pretty cool, aren't they?" Frankee said, grinning a little. He couldn't think right now why it had taken him so long to get past the stupid stuff in his brain that wouldn't let him see why this was all a brilliant idea.

"Yes. Now I know why there's all this fuss about them," Alex said. "I think we should do that more often. Like, all the time. Well, not all the time because then we wouldn't get anything else done ever, but... you know."

"Be careful." Kya said, quietly

"We will," Lizzie said. She headed over to hug Kya gently. "We'll bugger off now so you can have some time with your boyfriend. But we'll do our best to help."

"We could definately do it a lot of the time, like when I'm not studying, or when you're not seeing Roni and helping save people and stuff." Frankee said.

Considering that Lizzie's accent was more suited to asking someone aroudn for tea and crumpets than saying "bugger of," Spike had to keep himself from laughing.

*off

Warren nodded. "Just get better, hm?"

"Alex woke me up." Kya said "So, nothing better to do, right? Be careful out there... you're a nice guy."

Dot, meantime, was amusing herself in the gift shop while she waited for Lizzie and Warren.

Alex pulled Frankee in to try the kissing thing out again. It was novel, and new, and made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Lizzie stepped out into the hall just in time to see the making out.

"Oh goodness, pardon me..."

Warren headed out after, sidestepping the man-on-man facial spelunking expedition in progress.

Frankee was completely oblivious to the extra company thing, definately liking the whole kissing thing, until he heard Lizzie speak. Oooops. They were getting in the habit of doing that... He pulled back, and couldn't help but laugh a little again.

Alex blushed again. "Um, maybe we should try heading home first..."

Lizzie headed for the elevator. "Well, at least we have a sort of plan now... and hopefully, we can find out where this vampire's lair is."

"Right. Or at least get her to appear," Warren agreed.

"She told me about your mother." Kya said, to Spike, once alone "I'm sorry... but- I don't want that happening to me. I like being alive"

"Yeah, I think home would be a great idea." Frankee said smiling, and for once being brave and taking Alex's hand in his. "Let's go."

Alex squeezed his hand, and headed for the elevator - which was just arriving. He caught a the tail end of the conversation between Lizzie and Warren. "Get who to appear?" he asked.

"It has its advantages," Spik said quietly, "and its drawbacks."

"The chick who did that," Warren said, cocking a thumb back at the room.

"I wouldn't be me." Kya said "I don't know what would happen, but I would die."

"Oh," Alex said. "Do you need help?"

Spike nodded. "It can be a very bad thing."

"Help?" Frankee questioned, squeezing Alex's hand a little. "Would finding a vampire be a very dangerous thing?"

"Heh... maybe. We have to find her, first," Warren said.

"Maybe I can help find her," Alex said. "Her name is Drusilla- she's Kya's boyfriend's mother."

Lizzie pushed the button when they got in the elevator, and headed on down to the lobby with the others. "We're going to talk to Katie," she said. "Katie was her captive once."

Frankee remembered Katie, he'd spoken to her about vampires before, on Alex's suggestion. He nodded in agreement, thinking it was a good idea to talk to someone who knew more than they did

"That is a good idea," Alex said. "Katie can talk to her. She understands."

Warren nodded. "Well, then, this should be easier than I thought."

"Just be careful," Alex cautioned. "She's still a visionary, no matter how vampiric or mad."

"Yeah, yeah," Warren said. "Worst case scenario, we don't get her."

"As long as she doesn't get us..." Lizzie said, shivering a bit. "Hey.. .where did Dot get to, anyhow? Did she leave without us?"

"Well, if she grabs one of us, that means she'll have to be close enough for everyone else to hit," Warren opined.

Frankee wondered if Alex meant Drusilla was like him, as in being a visionary, but kept quiet for now. This was not the place to mention it. "Yeah, she err... she looked like she was leaving, but she might be waiting downstairs for you guys." Frankee felt bad now if he'd made Dot leave.

Dot was still in the gift shop, trying to decide if she wanted to buy anything or not.

Alex pointed to the gift shop.

Lizzie looked over, and spotted the Dot. "Oh, there she is..." She started heading thataway.

"Well, then let's go poke-a-Dot and see if she's ready to go," Warren suggested.

Lizzie laughed. "Poke-a-Dot."

Alex waved to the kids, then headed towards the door. "We need to go home so we can kiss more, so goodbye."

Warren grinned to Lizze, and waved to departing people.

Frankee grinned a little sheepishly, waved goodbye and followed Alex.

"Hey Dot," Lizzie called. "You ready to go?"

Dot nodded and waved from her spot in line.

"What're you buying?" Lizzie asked, curious.

Dot held up a little stuffed elephant. "This is just the most adorable thing," she said.

"Aww!" Lizzie said, and looked to Warren. "I want a toy. "

"Like what?" Warren inquired, looking around.

Dot grinned. "I'll wait for you guys outside while you argue," she said.

"I don't know... like a little bird or something," Lizzie said.

"Well, I don't see any birds," Warren pointed out.

Dot finished paying for the elephant, then waited outside in the lobby.

"Me either. Maybe you can make me one?" Lizzie said, grinning. "Like a litlte mechanical bird."

"Hm..." Warren contemplated that, and followed Dot outwards.

Lizzie followed. "We're ready."

Dot laughed. "That was fast. Sorry I vanished on you, but I just wasn't feeling very comfortable in there."

"It was an uncomfortable situation," Lizzie agreed.

"Of course, it wasn't any better out in the hall," Dot groused. "I like to think I'm a good person, but public displays of affection just make me mad. Okay, not mad, but irritated. That's a better word."

"Heh, at least they weren't humping," Warren said.

"I'd have felt terrible about calling security," Dot said, and smiled.

"Well, I get publicly affectionate sometimes... but not overly so," Lizzie said.

Dot nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."