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]

The tunnel leads to the throne room, where the man who was originally sitting in a circle of dancing Defenders is pacing. He is most alarmed to see Sherlock approach, but if he can conjure up a new Defender on short notice, he doesn't do it right then. Instead he chooses this time to deliver insults.

"Interfering brat! Do you know what you've -"

[eversomuchfun]

That was a poor time to deliver insults.

[cross_and_bow]

Alas, the man will never have time to regret his decision.

The Defender disintegrates.

[Sherlock! The ones that I managed to lead away are dust - did you get him?]

[eversomuchfun]

[Yes I did,] he says. [Now I will see about climbing out.]

[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."