The Universe's Mixer

Dean had brought her to the hospital, like she'd asked, and stayed with her until they took her through triage, where she couldn't believe nobody asked for a Team Advantage card or anything like that. Where she saw no branding. There were no Nike Swooshes, no Addidas stripes, nothing McDonalds, nothing Burger King. It did a lot to confuse her more.

The nurse had asked if she had insurance. Then asked if she had a job. Then told her that because she had neither, she could probably get something called charity care, which helped out those who didn't have the money to pay. Jennifer nearly threw up hearing that.

Since she wasn't bleeding, and didn't have any physical damage on her body, she'd had to wait for a while, but that was okay, because Dean was there holding her hand, quite literally. He didn't leave her side until they called her into the back and told him that since he wasn't related, he'd have to wait until she was admitted - if she was going to be - and visit her at regular hospital visiting hours. Jennifer hadn't wanted him to go, but she figured she would be okay. She was an adult, after all, and hospitals were supposed to be safe places.

Sitting in a lightweight cloth gown with no branding on it, in a room filled with beds divided by curtains - with no branding anywhere, Jennifer wasn't sure what she should think about all of this. The lack of normalcy fucked with her head. The lack of branding made her quite sure that she'd cracked. How could a world exist without branding? Without the companies paying for everything? Without a US Alliance card?

Her feet were cold. A nurse brought her a little pair of sock slippers with rubber tread on the bottom and didn't ask for any money in return.

Jennifer started to cry.

Lorne wasn't really having the best of weeks. It started first when Angel told the green guy what he needed to be done, and culminated in that loud, gutwrenching sound.

Bang!

"Should have kept with singing, Lindsey." Lorne lamented quietly. The lawyer was as evil as non-alcoholic drinks, but he had a voice. It was something that Lorne couldn't deny. The deed was done though and Lorne lowered his hat over giveaway green skin. He hailed a cab and slipped in, slouching into the back seat.

"Keep going, Cabby. Let's go to the airport." Then he could get out of here. Far away out of here. Falling asleep because of exhaustion, he tossed and turned a bit. It was a fitful sleep. But he didn't wake up until the cab stopped. Bright eyes opened and peered out of the cab, taking in the sights of the airport. No. Not an airport. Not even LA. Least not any part he had seen.

"Hey, where are--" Oh poop. The cabby left him. "Well. I guess you didn't want a tip." Mmph!He got out of the car and looked around for a minute, then looked back at the mysteriously empty cab. Hands in his pockets, Lorne started walking down the street. What a day not to be wearing your ruby slippers.