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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.

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From:

pythbox

[Sherlock tried that,] he confirms. [It didn't work.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[Dammit. Okay. What sort of quantity are they likely to come in? I don't suppose either of you have actually had a look at the Hellmouth to see if I was right about there being lots?]

From:

pythbox

[They are not congregating at the Hellmouth, no. I checked. Sherlock has been guarding the body of the original by night and so far no one has shown up to claim it. But Defenders don't appear spontaneously, or act of their own will; someone created that one and told it to go wherever it was going.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[Grand. That all we know?]

From:

pythbox

[Essentially, yes. Sherlock also reports that attempt to set the dead Defender on fire were unsuccessful.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[I can fire-wand underwater, I might be able to fire-wand these things, it's still worth a try - but yeah, that's not encouraging.]

From:

pythbox

[There's nothing in the records about fire either way.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[Has anything else unusual or demonic cropped up while I've been recovering from - what happened exactly? I remember jumping on it, it's a blur after that.]

From:

pythbox

[It threw you on the ground and stepped on you. Apparently that's all it took. And no, it's been quiet.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[It stepped on me. Well, that's embarrassing.]

From:

pythbox

[You could say that, yes.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[I do appreciate that if you are giggling right now you're at least polite enough not to brainphone it.]

From:

pythbox

[Not even slightly,] he assures her.

From:

cross_and_bow

[The doctors are saying they want to keep me for observation for a week. I think I can convince Charlie to turn that into a day, or two, and then I can start combing the town for where it came from.]

From:

pythbox

[Good luck,] he sighs.

From:

cross_and_bow

[Something wrong? Besides whoever's sending a Defender charging through Sunnydale?]

From:

pythbox

[You're in the hospital and I'm worried.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[I'll be fine, it's just a headache at this point,] Bella says. [But thanks.]

From:

pythbox

Giles ahems uncertainly.

From:

cross_and_bow

[Did you set out to find the Slayer without expecting her to land in the hospital at least now and then? I'm surprised I've made it this long.]

From:

pythbox

[Yes, actually. Slayers don't often make use of contemporary medical services.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[...Huh. Why not? Do injuries usually fall into the categories "instantly fatal" and "shrugged off in hours"? If that's it I may owe Amariah a few extra paragraphs' worth of thank-yous for the bayleaf and its friends.]

From:

pythbox

[Yes, that's about the size of it.]

From:

cross_and_bow

[If I'd died and there was a new Slayer now would you be involved with her or would they send someone else?] Bella asks curiously. [I assume she'd be easier to find than I was.]