Gods and Monsters

IX

St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

Peggy had calmed down a bit more as they pulled into the hospital car park. She quickly grabbed a tissue out of the glove compartment to wipe her hands on, removing any sweat.

"Charlie, when we get in there, you're going to have to sign a confidentiality agreement. And, seriously, you really can't talk about this, so please, do follow it."

"Of course, lead the way," he cheerily replied. "Oh and Peggy, what happened earlier, with the magic trick, I'll keep that between us, don't worry." She thanked him for this before exiting the car.

As the pair walked over to the elevator so they could get to Nick's floor, Charlie suddenly said, "Do you watch Sherlock, Peggy?"

The question stunned her for a second. What a bizarre thing to mention, "I-No, I don't. I don't really have much time for TV with work and everything. Why do you ask?"

"Well in the show, Holmes jumps off the roof of this very hospital. Hopefully, no one will be doing that today," he replied, chuckling as he carried on walking.

How optimistic, Peggy thought.

"I mean, technically what actually happens is–"

"Let's not get too far off the case here, Charlie."

"Oh yeah, sure thing. I'll tell you more about it later. You really should make some time to watch it, though, very worthwhile."

"Yep, maybe," Peggy replied dryly, keen to just get on with the case.

After stepping out of the elevator, the two of them turned the corner to the corridor where Nick's room was located. That horrible hospital smell was still irritating Peggy, although now it was combined with Charlie's 'natural scent.' They both peered through the window and saw Nick, still lying unconscious, alone in the room. Peggy struggled to hold herself together; the whole day had been such a blur and she almost slumped against the glass in exhaustion.

"Last time I was here, they served this awful strawberry yoghurt on a Thursday. Couldn't stand the stuff," Charlie whispered, whilst leaning over to Peggy.

"It's Tuesday."

"Oh," Charlie paused for a second as if he had been unaware and had to comprehend this new information. "Oh, that's fantastic news. Detective Campbell will be in for a treat of ice cream tonight then."

"Well, unless we get in there soon, he won't be eating anything at all."

Peggy reached towards the handle, hesitating for a second. Even though she'd seen him through the window, she wasn't sure how she was going to react when she entered the room, the horrible sound of Nick's breathing coming through tubes. They probably weren't even allowed to enter the room, but time was against them and nothing was going to stop Peggy now. After entering, she shut the door as Charlie approached Nick, still in his drug induced coma, and pulled something out of his pocket.

"Tell me, when were you last in the hospital Charlie? You must have been here a while if you memorised the menu."

"A few months ago — serious concussion from a pillow fight." He lifted the device from his pocket above Nick's head, lifting his eyelids and shining a light on him.

"I'm sorry, what? Who were you pillow fighting with? Bane?"

"Oh no, I believe their names were... Ivana and..." Charlie paused longer here. Peggy couldn't believe she was even having this conversation.

"I think her name was Martina. Ivana was built like a brick house — smacked me so hard I flew off the bed and got a concussion."

"I'm not going to ask anything else about that..."