our hospital facilities are nationally acclaimed

[cross_and_bow]

Bella wakes up a day and a half later, a medical miracle with a splitting headache. (Between what she knows about her own construction and what the doctors mutter to the nurses, the demon stepped on her, it broke her spine, she passed out from pain and shock, and she could have easily died if she weren't blessed or the Slayer - both were probably called for.)

[Sherlock? Giles?] she attempts, when she's solicited and received pain medication.

Comments

[cross_and_bow]

[Can you get to the original tunnel, with the handholds, or should I drive home and get you rope?]

[eversomuchfun]

[Yes. I can get to the original tunnel from here.]

He sets about doing that.

[cross_and_bow]

Bella's waiting for him at the top to help him out when he gets there.

And she hugs him, hard.

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock hugs back, a little surprised.

[cross_and_bow]

"You're okay," she sighs. "I'm so glad you're okay. I love you."

[eversomuchfun]

"I am glad I'm okay too," he says, hugging her a little harder.

[cross_and_bow]

Is this half-wrecked orange grove in the dark a suitable place for adrenaline-fueled makeouts?

Meh, probably not, she's gonna go for it anyway.

[eversomuchfun]

Brilliant plan. Sherlock supports it fully.

[cross_and_bow]

Bella puts up a busy message against Gilesly intrusion that says [All's well, out of squares but safe, will call when I get home].

And she kisses her boyfriend very very thoroughly.

[eversomuchfun]

Eventually, he gets around to mentioning, "I love you too."

[cross_and_bow]

"Thought you might. You've been calling me 'love' offhandedly for months now. Didn't quite have the nerve to inquire outright though."

[eversomuchfun]

"Well, now we are both enlightened."

Kisses!

[cross_and_bow]

Kisses kisses kisses. "I should call Charlie probably," she mumbles against Sherlock's mouth after a few minutes more, "tell him all's well."

[eversomuchfun]

"Yes," he agrees. "And we should refrain from kissing while you do that."

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah, otherwise probably difficult for him to understand what I'm saying." Kiss kiss.

She fetches her phone, dials her father's cell, reports that she and Sherlock are both uninjured and that she'll be home in an hour and a half.

Notably, it will not take even a full half hour to drive from here to any chosen point in Sunnydale.

[eversomuchfun]

"Ah," says Sherlock. "Leeway in the schedule."

That's promising.

[cross_and_bow]

"Well," says Juliet innocently. "I figured I'd give you a ride home, first, and who knows how long that could take." She hops up to her feet and behind the wheel.

[eversomuchfun]

"Who, indeed."

[cross_and_bow]

"Not Charlie."

When he is in the pickup, off she drives out of the ruined grove.

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock is grinning all the way home.

[cross_and_bow]

"I did recently get out of the hospital, so I don't know if it'd be wise for dessert to be had so soon," Bella says. "But we're creative people. I'm sure we can fill the time."

[eversomuchfun]

"There are many possible alternatives," he agrees brightly.

[cross_and_bow]

They arrive at the brick building.

Bella parks.

Possible alternatives are rendered actual.

[eversomuchfun]

Eventually, however, she really does have to go home.

[cross_and_bow]

She does. What a pity.

Before getting into the driver's seat again Bella hauls herself into the back of the truck to look for any squares she may have missed.

She finds - two.

There is one that got wedged under the can of gasoline, and another that tucked itself into a gap in the wheelwell housing.

She looks at the last two squares, frowning.

She offers Sherlock one.