Page 40 of Patrick’s Seduction

Fallon felt Lydia take her by the arm, and picked up a few more words from her conversation.

“Get Buffy to meet us at HQ.”

Moments later, she sat in the passenger seat of Lydia’s dark blue BMW. As the engine roared, the loud noise intensified the pain in her head and drove her heart rate even higher. The beeping of her Apple Watch warning her of her high heart rate was unbearable by now, and she tugged at the watch strap and ripped it off her wrist, tossing it between her feet. Finally, the beeping stopped, and she leaned back in the seat, while the engine sound turned into a dull humming noise. The lights of other cars coming toward them blinded her, and she pressed her eyes shut.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d kept her eyes shut, until it got quieter around her. The sounds of other cars dissipated, and she finally only heard the humming of the BMW wrapping around her like a cocoon. Isolated from other sounds, it became bearable, and she let out a sigh of relief.

A moment later, the car came to a stop and silence surrounded her.

“We’re here,” Lydia announced, her voice much softer now, almost soothing as if she spoke to a child.

She appreciated it and opened her eyes. As she glanced around, she recognized that they were in an underground parking garage.

“This isn’t San Francisco General,” she murmured.

“I brought you to Scanguards’ medical center. We can help you here.”

Before she could ask why a security company operated a medical center, the passenger side door opened, and a hand reached for her.

Startled, she gasped, and spun her head to see who it was, but even before her eyes could perceive the person, she recognized him by the scent that drifted to her nose.

“Patrick,” she whispered.

He helped her out of the car, and put his arm around her, supporting her weight.

“Baby, you’re burning up,” he said, deep concern in his voice.

The sound of the car doors closing echoed in the vast space, sending another shockwave through her body, making her flinch.

With Patrick on one side of her, and Lydia on the other, they led her to an elevator. The doors already stood open with a gurney ready to receive her.

She didn’t protest when Patrick lifted her onto it, feeling relief spread in her aching limbs. She took a deep breath, squinting when she looked straight into the lights on the ceiling of the elevator. Patrick leaned over her, blocking out the light.

“Better?” he asked.

She was surprised that he’d realized without asking her that the light was causing her discomfort.

“Yeah.” Her reply was more breath than word.

She felt the movement of the elevator as it descended. In her addled mind she briefly wondered why a medical center would be below ground. She let her eyes drift closed for a while. At some point the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. She heard footsteps as Lydia and Patrick wheeled her along a corridor.

After a turn, a set of doors opened, and there were voices. The humming and beeping of machines, the familiar sounds of a hospital drifted to her ears.

“In here,” a female voice said with authority.

A warm hand touched her forearm, and she knew it wasn’t Patrick’s. She would have recognized his touch.

“I’m Buffy. I’ll take care of you, alright, Fallon?”

She wanted to nod, but the mere thought of moving her head sent another wave of pain through her body.

“Thank you, doctor,” she said instead.

“Just Buffy,” she corrected. “Tell me your symptoms.”

“Headache, it’s so loud…” She took a breath. “So bright… everything hurts. I’m so hot. A fever maybe.”

“Alright, Fallon, just rest now. I’ll examine you. You’ll feel better soon, I promise you.”