ONE NORMAL LIFE / TWO EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

CHAPTER 35 – PAPERS, PAPERS, AND MORE PAPERS

"Okay, I promise to get some ice-cream on the way home. Yes, dear, I promise, I'll be leaving in less than half an hour, just have to turn over this file and check on my patient one more time...yes, the one who hadn't seen his wife in three years. I know...I will...bye," Dr. Turner said, hanging up his phone.

He was glad to be married to such an understanding woman, who wouldn't, however be quite so, if he was late for this birthday party!

"Wonder what I would be thinking right now if I had just seen a wife for the first time in three years, one I didn't even remember having," he mused to himself. He was happy that Elizabeth seemed so devoted to William. She'd have to be to still care about someone who didn't even remember her.


William looked down from his window wondering if he would be able to see Elizabeth leaving from this high up. He didn't suppose he could, but he still tried. He wasn't even sure that the door she would be leaving by would be on that side of the building.

He kept playing over and over again in his mind what she'd said to him. That she wasn't really his wife, but that she loved him, wanted him to come home, and would come again tomorrow. He replayed that and other things she had told him.

She had touched him, kissed him, even. He put his fingers to his lips and closed his eyes trying to remember what it had felt like. She'd hugged him and kissed him, oh so gently, but at the same time, with so much feeling, and made him feel in those few minutes, like he'd never remembered feeling like before in his entire life.

Like a man. Like a man who was desirable, at that.

He smiled, at the thought of that. Him, being desirable. His grin got bigger thinking about how that silly bint Cecily would react to the news that Elizabeth had told him that he'd been a good boyfriend and a good lover.

Lover?

Lover?

His head spun, "Surely, she didn't mean it that way!" he thought. They weren't even really married!

He looked over at the bed and saw the clothes she had left. It was late, but he thought he might try them on, just for a moment. He went into the bathroom and slipped into the pants. There were no undergarments, so he was extra careful with the zipper, trying to figure which way to make, er, things fit correctly. Next was the black T-shirt. He looked at himself in the mirror, which wasn’t made of glass, but rather a warped, sort of unbreakable metal, reflective thing. He looked at his hair. It was medium brown and very curly. Very different from the picture she had left him.

He went to the bed to retrieve it. It showed her looking very beautiful and..."What's a word for gleaming?" he thought to himself. She was wearing a long ivory white wedding dress. Something caught his eye and he looked closely at it. It looked like the necklace that she'd worn today. He'd have to ask her about it. Then he looked at what he supposed was himself. He was wearing a black tuxedo, but his hair was white in that picture. He stared at the face. No, he didn't look old, then why the white hair? Another thing he'd have to ask Elizabeth about tomorrow when she came.

He returned to the bathroom and tried with his fingers to 'brush' his hair into what it had looked like in the picture, but with no success. "Obviously, I must have drawn myself with much straighter hair," he thought.

He was still musing over all that had transpired and the feel of the new clothes when the door to his room opened, and Dr. Turner walked in.

The doctor stopped and took a good look at William, then smiled, "I almost apologized for being in someone else's room," he told him. "I see you've got some clothes!"

"Um, yes. Quite a bit different from what I'm used to. Or at least what I thought I remembered being used to," William said. "Elizabeth brought them for me.

"I see. And how did that visit with her go?" he asked, very happy at seeing William taking an interest in his looks.

William shook his head, "It. Was. Amazing. She's...I don't remember her, but in some ways I feel like I do, because..."

"You're attracted to her?"

William blushed, nodding, "Yes, but it's something else, too."

"Well, that's wonderful, William!" Dr. Turner said, smiling broadly, "Elizabeth seems like an exceptional woman and I'm so very happy for you; that she's your exceptional woman! I have a feeling that things are going to be all better for you from now on."

William nodded.

"Well, I must be going, I just came by to see how things had gone. My wife is expecting me home for my son's birthday party and is going to have my head if I don't get there and soon. With ice cream!"

"Thank you," William said, "for everything."

"You're more than welcome, William. By the way, I like the clothes, very modern," he said, as he opened the door, "I'll see you soon."


After he'd left William's room, Dr. Turner went over to the nurse's station and filled out the request for his patient to be transferred to 10 South.


"He is? You're there? You saw him? For real? Oh my God, that's wonderful!" Dawn squealed, when Buffy called her from outside the hospital, where she'd gone to get a good 'signal' on her phone.

"I can't believe I just saw him, spent time with him, touched him, hugged him, kissed him!" Buffy squealed right back.

"You hugged him and kissed him? I thought he didn't remember you? Oh my God!" she said, once again.

"He doesn't. And it's not what it sounds like. I mean, I didn't just walk in there and start hugging and kissing him. It just seemed natural when it happened. Actually, when I first saw him, I almost fainted. Me! Can you imagine? So, right away, he winds up preventing me from hitting the floor. He caught me! That's me! Grand entrance Buffy!"

Dawn laughed, "Well, I guess that broke the ice!"

"Yeah, funny thing is, it did. Otherwise, I thi sti still would have just been standing there staring at him, not knowing what the hell to say. But once he 'caught' me, and he had his arm around me, then it all just was easier," Buffy went on, her voice breaking, "Dawn, it's a miracle! Spike, he's alive! Did I mention that he’s alive? That he felt warm?"

"No, why would...you mean?"

"Warm, Dawn. As in human. He's a warm human," Buffy started crying.

"Stop, Buffy," Dawn said, sniffling, too, "Don't cry, you've found him, everything is going to be fine, now!"

Buffy suddenly saw Dr. Turner walk out the door, "Dawn, call you right back, Spike's doctor just walked out the door and I want to catch him, bye!"

"Dr. Turner?" Buffy yelled, running up to him.

He stopped as he heard Elizabeth calling his name and saw her running up.

"Elizabeth. I just saw William before I left. You seem to have done him a world of good. He even had put on the clothes you brought him."

"He did?" she asked, trying to imagine curly, brown haired William in Spike's clothes.

"I just wanted to thank you for letting me see William. I..."

"A little overwhelming, isn't it?"

She nodded her head, "Yes, but still so very wonderful!"

"I'm glad you stopped me, I wanted to tell you a couple of things that I didn't get a chance to. First of all, the hospital higher-ups have put another doctor in charge starting tomorrow," he said, then seeing her start to object, hurried on, "my hands are tied, it most definitely was not my decision. Having said that, Dr. Dimitri Polydefkis comes highly recommended in the field. But also, I've arranged for William to be transferred to the step-down unit on 10 South tomorrow. That means more off the floor and out of the room privileges for him and much more visiting time for you. Regular hospital visiting hours, just about."

"Thank you, that's great. But, how do I get him discharged from here? I'd like to take him home,” Buffy said, then added, “or treatment, by his doctor, of course.”

"Well, first of all, since he was involuntarily committed, you'll have to first prove you are, who you say you are, so that you can get durable power of attorney over his medical treatment. Then you'll have to have his doctor. Where is his doctor?”

"California," Buffy said.

"His doctor back in California to write a letter requesting that William be released into his care. It's either that, or wait until he's released from care here, which I shouldn't think, is too long in coming. I don't think he's a threat to himself or others. Especially now that he'll have you to look after him."

"What do I need to do?"

"Well, you'll need a copy of your wedding license for proof and a letter from his doctor about his being under his care. Think that should be sufficient in getting him released to you," he said, smiling, "now, I really don't want to be rude, but my son's birthday party is going to start without me, if I don't hurry on home.

"Oh, I'm sorry. And thank you for everything," Buffy said.

"Take care Elizabeth. I'll be checking in on William in a couple of days to see how he's adjusting. Bye now!"

"Good night, doctor."

"Buffy, that you?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, I'm back," Buffy said, deflated.

"What's the matter?"

"Oh nothing, just that I found out I have to show the stupid hospital my pretend marriage license in order to have Spike's medical stuff be turned over to my care, and to get him out of here. That and a doctor's letter saying that William is his patient and that he'll be in charge of his care, etc."

"Buffy, don't worry about the doctor. I got a friend who's a doctor and he'll do whatever I want him to!"

"But Dawn, I don't know this doctor and how do I know I can trust him and how do you know he'll do it for you?"

"Buffy, you're just going to have to trust me on this," she said, mysteriously.

Buffy had the vague thought that Dawn was getting around a bit more than she liked to think of her sister as getting around, but she didn't have the time or inclination to probe. "Mental note to self - probe Dawn's private life, when own private life gets straightened out!" Guess that would mean never, at this rate!

"Just tell me exactly what you want him to say, and he'll write you up a great letter. Heck, I'll write it and he'll sign it and he's legitimate, Buffy, in case they need to talk to him."

"Thank you," she said gratefully to her little sister.

"As for a marriage license...maybe you should've just gone with sister!"

"I got an idea who can help me with that, and I'd better get off and call him," Buffy said.

"Wait! Where are you staying tonight? Did you get a room? Do you want me to come back to Chicago?"

"Don't know, no, and not now, to answer your questions. Look, I'll try to call you later, when I know where I'm going to be for the night. Bye now."

"Bye, Buffy."


Buffy looked at her phone’s battery icon. Damn only 3 out of 4 bars left. She hoped she had brought her charger with her. She took a small phone book out of her purse and dialed the number.

"Lawrence McKennitt residence," said a female voice.

"Is Mr. McKennitt in?" Buffy asked.

"No, but he should be back shortly, he went to visit his mother in Julian. Is there a message?"

"Yes, this is Elizabeth Worthington. Please tell him to call me. It's very, very important. I'm in Chicago, but the number he has is my cell phone, so he should be able to reach me here. In the meantime, do you think it's alright if I try him at the restaurant?"

"Oh, quite alright, do you need the number?"

No thanks, I've got it. Thank you."

"I'll give Lawrence the message, in case you don't reach him, before he's left for home," his wife said.

"Okay, thanks. Bye."

"Bye, Miss Worthington."

Buffy dialed the number of The Rittenhouse Restaurant. She hoped he’d still be there.

“Hello, The Rittenhouse Restaurant, how may I help you?” a young voice asked.

“This is Elizabeth Worthington, I’m looking for Edna, or her son, Lawrence.”

“Hold on, let me check,” the girl said, and put Buffy on hold.

“Elizabeth?” said the familiar, elderly voice.

“Edna! Hi! How are you? Listen, I don’t want to be abrupt, but this is somewhat of an emergency, is Lawrence there?”

“What’s wrong, Elizabeth?”

“Oh, Edna…nothing’s wrong. Everything’s all right for a change, it’s…it’s William!”

“William? William?” Edna asked, confused.

“He’s alive, Edna. He must have…somehow he must have gotten away before the collapse, but he doesn’t remember anything, but he’s alive, Edna!”

“Alive? Are you sure, Elizabeth?” she asked, thinking the poor girl perhaps was finally having a nervous breakdown, “have you seen him?” she asked gently.

“YES! I just saw him, less than an hour ago. I’m in Chicago. He’s at The University of Chicago in the psych ward, because they think he’s crazy, only he isn’t crazy, I mean, if you were dead, then you weren’t and you didn’t remember anything about the past 100+ years, you’d be…”

Buffy stopped, horrified that about what just came out of her mouth, and to Edna, no less.

“Um, I mean, he’s been wandering around lost for what seems like 100 years…”

“Elizabeth,” Edna interrupted, forcefully. And with a voice, very much in control, said, “I’ll get Lawrence! Just tell him what you need and I’ll make sure he gets it done for you. You hear me Elizabeth? Whatever you need! You just bring William back home, where he belongs!”

Buffy was shocked beyond all pretense of sensible thought, “Yes ma’am, I will, I promise. Thank you.”

“Lawrence!” she heard Edna calling. There was a very long pause, at which time Buffy could hear some discussion, some heated, between Edna and Lawrence. Finally, he took the phone.

“Elizabeth, mother has just told me the miraculous news. I’m so very happy for you, but I’m sure you want to tell me what it is you need, so please, go ahead,” Lawrence said.

Gratefully, Buffy skipped the pleasantries and the false story, and just told him how William had been involuntarily committed to the hospital and, if she wanted to bring him home, she’d need to prove she was married to him, and since she had the same last name…

“Lawrence? Do you think…that you could possibly come up with some papers for me? Some pre-Sunnydale collapse, wedding license papers? I need those so I can have something called Durable Power of Attorney over William’s medical care. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’m going to him out of there.”

Lawrence shook his head to himself, but his mother was standing there staring him down, nodding her head.

“Well, it’s not something that I’m very comfortable doing,” he said, giving his mother a knowing stare, “but for William, it seems, us McKennitt’s are willing to do anything.”

Buffy didn’t quite know what to make of his statement, but didn’t care enough to ask.

“Thank you so much. We’re both so grateful,” she added.

“How soon do you need them?”

“Like now?”

He sighed. Everybody always wanted everything now, “I’ll ‘find’ the papers tonight and…how do you want me to get them to you?”

Buffy thought for a moment, “Could you FED-EX them to Chicago? I’m sure there’s an office I could pick them up at or something,” she said.

“I’ll call you when I’ve ‘located’ them and you can advise, how’s that?”

“That’s fine. Thank you so much. It means so much you have no idea, to have found William, to bring him home…”

“I know,” he said, “William is special. I’m glad that he’s, indeed, alive,” he looked over at Edna, “still alive.”

“Thank you.”

“Good-bye, Elizabeth, I’ll talk to you shortly.”

“Bye, Lawrence.”

“Papers, papers, and more papers!” Buffy thought. “But for you, Spike, I’ll swim in an ocean of papers!”

END CHAPTER 35