"Welcome back, Kayla" Who: Kayla, Maddie, Neely, Raph and introducing Dr. Daniel Portman Where: LAGH When: Wednesday, July 7th
Kayla had been in a medically induced coma for over three weeks now, allowing her brain and body the chance to heal, but now it was time to wake her up. She'd been checked on regularly by Dr. Daniel Portman, a man in his late thirties with a mixed Scottish and American accent (although the Scot had almost lost the tongue of his native land, having lived in the country permanently for almost fifteen years now). He was currently standing over her bed, reading her chart as she slowly regained consciousness. Physically, Dr. Portman looked fit as a fiddle. Muscular, if a little haggard around the edges. There was something in his blue-green eyes, though... sadness, perhaps. He did smile, faintly however though it may have been, when Kayla's eyes opened and met his. "Welcome back, Kayla," he murmured, "You've been gone for a while now."
The Slayer blinked confusedly and for a moment, she honestly thought that her ex had put her here, but... pieces here and there told her otherwise. Little snippets of memory... a blonde that she couldn't quite remember the name of, right now. "Hi?" She smiled hesitantly and slid up into a sitting position onto the bed.
"I'm Doctor Daniel Portman," he told her, trying to exude a calm aura. The last thing he wanted was for her to freak out on him, otherwise that would render the tests he needed to do useless. "You were found at a construction site not far from where you live with your girlfriend a little over three weeks ago. D'you remember that at all?"
She shook her head slowly, blinking in a dazed sort of way. She wanted to remember, she did, but it was all so very hazy...
"That's okay. That's okay," he assured her. "Sometimes it takes a while to remember things. Now, I'm going to do a few simple tests. Reflexes, hand-eye coordination, check your pupils… I do believe there are some people waiting outside for you, so I'll try to make this as quick and painless as possible." He gave her a rare, charming smile. One which he only ever gave to set his patients at ease. It worked, of course, and he had completed his tests within fifteen minutes. He squeezed her hand and reassured her that things would take time, but... there was something in his eyes. Worry, perhaps?
Kayla considered asking him what it was all about, but before she had the chance her brother Raph practically leapt on top of her. He pulled back and gave her an apologetic wince, "Sorry, I'm just really happy to see you. ...You know. Awake." He blushed embarrassedly.
"S'okay," she croaked, still not entirely used to using her voice. She veeery carefully repositioned, sitting up in the bed, her blue eyes ticking to the doorway, two figures walked in as Dr. Dan (as she would forever call him) walked out. She recognised their faces, but it took a few more seconds to remember the names. Her cousin Maddie and her friend, Neely. She smiled, grateful that she remembered their names and then looked up at her brother, brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, before making a face. "I know. Stupid question to ask someone that's been in a coma for the better part of a month..." He chuckled weakly and met her eyes; his own a spectacular blue, just like hers. He wanted to make sure that she was still... semi-normal before calling Deanna and telling her the news. True, he'd call her anyway (since he wasn't cruel by nature, and she seemed genuinely nice), but... how Kayla seemed right now determined how much he'd cushion the blow for Deanna.
"...Groggy," Kayla admitted with a faint smile, before accepting a hug from both of the girls. Maddie, whom she'd hardly ever gotten along with, seemed ...well, happy that she was awake, whereas Neely seemed apprehensive. As if she was holding something back. Kayla looked from once face to the other, then brushed a hand through her short, dark hair: "What happened?"
"...You don't remember?" Neely asked, practically deflating on the spot.
"No," Kayla admitted with an apologetic shrug. Why she felt the need to apologise when she was the one hurt was anyone's guess. "Doctor Dan said it'd take time... for things to come back. I, uh... I know it's important, I just can't..." she rubbed her index and middle finger against her forehead, "can't remember."
"It's okay. It's not important right now. We just need you better first," Raph told her soothingly, before tilting his head (so that Kayla couldn't see his expression) and practically glaring at Neely, as if to say "Don't push her". He knew how important the information was. How much he, himself, wanted whoever did this to his sister to pay, but... he also knew that Kayla could be fragile, and the last thing she needed was undue pressure.
Neely nodded once, letting it go. ...For now.
An uncomfortable silence spread within the small room and it was, remarkably, Maddie who broke it. "Well fuck, woman. You almost saw Heaven. Do you have anything significant to say?"
Kayla took in a breath and let it out slowly, honestly giving that some serious thought, before smiling faintly and saying: "There’s no place like home?"