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

[pythbox]

[Where, exactly, do they go?]

[cross_and_bow]

[Away from the road. I'm following them deeper into the grove. They're still smashing hives as they pass them, but they changed direction, they were going along the road before.]

[pythbox]

[I have no idea what that's about.]

[cross_and_bow]

[Me either.]

Follow, follow, follow, follow the demonic automata!

They change direction again, going back the way they came, but farther from the road.

And then, right in the middle of the grove, is a pit in the ground, and they each jump into it, one at a time.

[...Giles, they all ran to a hole in the ground and jumped in,] Bella reports, stopping her truck and peering at the hole but not getting out of the cab.

[pythbox]

[Don't jump in the hole,] he advises.

[cross_and_bow]

[Not planning on it. Sherlock can see in the dark, I think I'll hang out here until dark when he can come join me and peer into it.]

[pythbox]

[Good plan.]

[cross_and_bow]

Bella implements this plan. At sundown:

[Sherlock?]

[eversomuchfun]

[Hello,] he brain-yawns.

[cross_and_bow]

Juliet summarizes the events of her afternoon. [Then they all jumped in the hole, and it's been all quiet since, and I didn't bring a flashlight and I'm not sure I can find this place again but I bet you can find me - maybe you can rent a car or if that's not an option I can ask Charlie if he can give you a ride, but that's a stretch, it'd be a long walk - oh, and bring me a can of gas - and have a look down here?]

[eversomuchfun]

[I don't think I can rent a car. I do think I can find you.]

[cross_and_bow]

[Do you need me to ask Charlie about a ride?]

[eversomuchfun]

[I think so, yes.]

[cross_and_bow]

[Well, this should be interesting.]

And she calls Charlie.

A conversation ensues.

[Charlie will be home in fifteen minutes. If you meet him there, he'll take you as far as the last mile marker I noted before I drove off-road and you can follow my tracks.]

[eversomuchfun]

[I will be there.]

[cross_and_bow]

Fifteen minutes later, Charlie arrives home in his police cruiser.

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock is standing beside the end of the driveway, with a can of gas, a flashlight, and a lot of squares. The squares are mostly hidden about his person.

[cross_and_bow]

Charlie makes a motion of his head towards the backseat of the cruiser. "In you get."

[eversomuchfun]

In he gets.

[cross_and_bow]

The drive is silent for the first ten minutes or so.

"So," says Charlie after that time. "You're a vampire."

[eversomuchfun]

"Yes I am."

[cross_and_bow]

"And you've been together with Bella for some time now."

[eversomuchfun]

"Yes I have."

[cross_and_bow]

"She's got a good head on her shoulders," says Charlie. "But I have wondered a few times if it's wise of her to be with you. Far as I know it hasn't proven a mistake yet."

[eversomuchfun]

"I think it's safe to say I have been an overall benefit."