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For the first time, I realized they had an IV indata on ic left whatsoever to speed lance at theindicated I was several floors above the earth I was utterly at the ht made me shudder and the little expensive box beep faster I clutched at Granuaile’s hand as she tried to back off and make room for the doctor

"Whoa Calm down What was that?" O’Bryan said

"Vitamin D deficiency Get me outside," I said

"Miss, I’ll need you to excuse us for a moment," one of the nurses said to Granuaile, and she tried to pull away again I held on

"She’s not going anywhere," I grated, "unless it’s outside withher to back off and let Granuaile stay where she was for now

"Perhaps we can arrange a trip outside a bit later," he said, "but I need to ask you soet you stabilized"

"I’m stable and conscious, Doctor, and of soundout immediately I refuse care Get this IV out of my arm now"

The doctor’s tone beca "Mr Collins, we haven’t even established your insurance information or a proper check-in yet--"

"There is no insurance infornusson and Hauk in Teh for you to call them and confirm that they are financially responsible forto remove this IV or shall I?"

Granuaile proffered her cell phone to the doctor "Here You can call thenore that Granuaile in his face? He couldn’t hack it He held up a defensive hand and annoyance tightened his voice as he said, "That’s not ht now"

"It isn’t?" Granuaile replied, still holding the phone up "You , or some kind of payiving you what you need so you can take care of it and get us out of here That way you can see patients who actually need you"

"Just let me ask Mr Collins here a couple of questions about his condition"

"No questions are necessary, Doctor," I said "Again, I refuse your care All that remains is for you to unhook me from this IV and all these monitors and settle the bill"

O’Bryan was visibly irritated now Doctors aren’t used to losing control of conversations in hospitals If I had any juice left, I would have sie and walked out, but since I was coh to get out of there If I simply yanked out the IV, he’d probably order e it in my weakened condition

I already knehat he wanted to ask: How did you get to be so drained of blood when I can’t find where or how it got out? And if I allowed him to ask me that, there was a fairly decent chance I would scream, "AN EVIL FUCKING VAMPIRE SUCKED ME DRY!" and then the restraints would come out for sure, followed shortly by a trip to a padded cell and little cups of Jell-O spiked with Thorazine I had to remain calm or I wouldn’t be able to help Oberon

"Mr Collins You are in no condition to self-diagnose--"

I interrupted before he could go any further "Granuaile, call Hal right now please and ask about the possibility of suing thistreatment after I have refused it"

"Now, hold on, that’s just--"

"The A lawyers on retainer unless you can use theonna be, Doc? Do you want to call et paid, or should I call my lawyers and sue you?"

Abruptly, I was too much trouble to deal with He clenched his fists and exhaled noisily, then turned to the nurses "The patient has refused our care Get hiaze to Granuaile and said, "Miss, if you will follow ive me that payment information, we’ll settle the paperwork"

"Certainly," she said, and this tio The nurses loos and re the IV They didn’t speak to otten pissy with the doctor

"Where are my clothes?" I said After I asked the question, it occurred to me that perhaps I didn’t have any I doubted they’d delivered me to the hospital soaked in blood, or else I would have had the police to deal with on top of the doctor Still, the nurse on htstand in the corner with a heinous plastic lamp on top of it As soon as I was free of their tentacular s over the bedside There I paused; I was still light-headed and weak from blood loss No doubt they had puh No et outside and away froray box of death

I pushed myself forward and rose cautiously to oas open, but I didn’t care The nurses could take shots with their camera phones and upload the as my face wasn’t in it

A wave of dizziness rolled overswells and not a thirty-foot-tall fist of Poseidon I could do this I shuffled over carefully and leaned against the nightstand for support as I opened the drawer Then I nearly fell over when Granuaile spoke from behind me

"Nom nom nom!" she said

I looked around for the cookies sheto and then realized, belatedly, that the roo on display was ht it looked tasty I blushed and retrieved the folded set of clothes, then turned around so that the hospital gown could afford me a shred of modesty The nurses exited silently and I asked Granuaile if the doctor was satisfied

"He’s pissed and Hal wants you to call hi dressed?"

She knew I’d say no Her mouth was quirked up to one side and she was quite clearly teasing e, thanks," I said I held up the jeans "Did you put these in here?"

"Yep You’re welcome"

"Thanks" I pulled out aa pale green It looked a bit et this?"