The hospital doors slid open as they stepped inside, bright lights hitting them immediately.
Kate and Julia still had a grip on Ray, keeping him between them as they walked in.
For a second—
he went still.
Then suddenly—
he straightened up.
"Alright lads, where the fuck is the manager of this lovely establishment?" he announced in a full Scottish accent, looking around like he owned the place.
Kate froze—
then immediately grabbed his arm tighter. "Oh my God, no—please don't start," she muttered, trying to pull him forward.
Julia didn't even slow down, steering him straight toward the front desk. "…Ignore him," she said calmly to no one in particular.
"Right, get away from me you open cheeks!" he said, shrugging them off as he started walking toward the reception desk like a man on a mission.
Kate blinked, immediately reaching after him. "Oh my God—RAY—" she hissed, hurrying to catch up.
Julia followed right behind, already preparing for damage control, her pace quick but controlled.
At the reception stood a woman, maybe around Julia's age, looking up as they approached.
Ray stopped in front of the desk, squaring up slightly like this was official business.
"Hello lassie, where can I find this bastard that runs the IRS around here?" he asked, leaning slightly on the desk like this was a completely reasonable question.
The receptionist blinked at him, clearly thrown off for a second.
Kate immediately stepped in beside him, grabbing his arm. "We are so sorry—he's drunk," she said quickly, trying to pull him back.
Julia moved up on the other side, calm but firm. "We need help. He's been injured and—clearly intoxicated," she added, giving the receptionist a brief, apologetic look.
Ray just stood there, still expecting an answer.
"Right, why are you touching me, woman? I'm a married man, you five pounds cheap whore," he snapped, pulling his arm back like he was offended.
The receptionist froze for half a second—
then immediately shifted into professional mode, already reaching for something behind the desk. "Sir, I'm going to need you to sit down," she said calmly, like she'd seen worse.
Kate's eyes widened. "OH MY GOD—I'm so sorry—" she said quickly, grabbing his arm again and trying to pull him back.
Julia stepped in right after, her tone steady but firm. "He's not married, and he's not staying upright much longer," she said, already guiding him toward a chair.
Ray resisted for a second, still glaring like he'd been wronged.
The receptionist pressed a button under the desk. "I'm calling someone to assist," she added, still calm, eyes flicking between them and Ray.
"You will not get me alive!" he shouted, suddenly standing up and trying to walk off. "Fucking Americans, think they know it all. BACK IN MY HOMELAND—"
Kate grabbed his arm immediately. "Oh my God, NO—sit DOWN," she said, trying to pull him back, half-panicking now.
Julia stepped in front of him this time, blocking his path without hesitation. "…You're not going anywhere," she said calmly, one hand coming up to stop him.
Ray tried to move past her anyway.
The receptionist stayed behind the desk, watching but already on it. "Security is on the way," she said, still composed.
Kate tightened her grip on him, trying not to laugh and lose it at the same time. "Can you not start a revolution in a hospital?" she muttered.
"Right, my great grand-father was a man of principal. He did try not to hit woman, but I maybe not be so inclined if provoked. Out of my fuckin way."
He tried to push past again, completely serious in his own head.
Kate's grip tightened immediately. "Okay, that's enough—sit down," she snapped, actually pulling him back this time.
Julia didn't move, still blocking him, one hand pressing lightly against his chest to stop him. "…You're not fighting anyone," she said, calm but firm.
Ray wobbled slightly as he resisted.
From the hallway, footsteps were already approaching.
"Bring them on, fuckin finians—" he muttered, already slipping back into it.
"Hoorah, Hoorah, we are the Billy Boys—"
Kate let out a sharp breath, grabbing his arm tighter. "Oh my God, NOT here," she hissed, trying to pull him down into a chair.
Julia didn't even flinch, just shifted her stance and pushed him down with controlled force. "Sit," she said flatly.
Ray half-stumbled, half-dropped into the chair, still mumbling the song under his breath.
The receptionist kept her composure, though her eyes flicked toward the approaching footsteps again. "They're here," she said calmly.
"We will be alright lads, we will escape this prison. The fenians can't keep us here for long. Their women long for some scottish—"
Kate immediately clamped a hand over his mouth. "NOPE—absolutely not—stop talking," she hissed, trying not to laugh and panic at the same time.
Julia didn't even react to the words, just grabbed his shoulder and kept him in the chair. "…You're done," she said flatly.
Ray mumbled something under Kate's hand, still trying to finish whatever speech he thought he was giving.
The footsteps reached them—
two hospital staff stepping in, already assessing the situation.
"Hello beautiful," he said, turning toward Julia with a crooked grin. "Want to taste some real scottish power? Them finians, aye? 3 second scum, and cum right? HAHHAHA—"
Kate slapped a hand over his mouth again. "OH MY GOD—STOP TALKING," she snapped, half dragging his head back.
Julia just stared at him for a second, completely unimpressed. "…I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that," she said flatly, not even blinking.
One of the staff stepped forward, already reaching for Ray's arm. "Alright, sir, let's get you somewhere safe," he said calmly.
Ray tried to laugh through Kate's hand.
Kate just held on tighter. "Take him. Please."
"Ya won't take me so easly!" he shouted, suddenly jerking up out of the chair—
"Hoorah!—"
Kate yanked at his arm, trying to pull him back down. "OH MY GOD—SIT DOWN," she snapped, half-laughing, half-panicking.
but firm.
One of the staff caught his other arm, steadying him before he could bolt again. "Easy, easy," he said, keeping his tone even.
Ray still tried to keep singing, completely committed.
Kate just buried her face in her hand for a second. "…I can't believe this is real."
—and as he was being dragged down the hall, he just kept going—
"Hoorah, Hoorah, we are the Billy Boys,
Hoorah, Hoorah, we are the Billy Boys,
Up tae yer knees in Finian blood - surrender or ye'll die.
We are the Brigtoon Billie Boys."
His voice echoed through the hallway, completely unbothered.
Kate stood there for a second, staring after him—
then slowly covered her face with both hands. "…I'm never recovering from this," she muttered.
Julia watched them take him, arms crossed, completely calm. "…He'll be fine," she said, like this was just another Tuesday.
Kate peeked through her fingers, still red from holding back laughter. "…He just declared war in a hospital."
Julia shrugged slightly. "Yeah. He'll sleep it off."
"Get away from me you cheap whore! My boys will get your husband and get their way with you—fucking FENIAN WHORE—" his voice carried from behind the closed door, still shouting.
Kate froze for a second—
then let out a breath that turned into a half-laugh, half-groan as she dragged her hands down her face. "…Oh my God," she muttered.
Julia didn't even flinch, just glanced at the door, then back at Kate. "…Yeah, they're definitely sedating him," she said calmly.
Kate looked at her, still processing, then shook her head slowly. "…We are never bringing this up again."
Julia raised an eyebrow slightly. "…Oh, I am."
"Alright, I'm still gonna fuck your wife when I wake up, aye?" they heard him mumble through the door.
Kate just stood there—
then slowly turned her head toward Julia, completely speechless for a second.
"…He's not real," she muttered finally.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose, shaking her head slightly. "…Oh, he's very real," she said.
Kate closed her eyes for a second, then groaned. "…I'm leaving him here."
Julia smirked faintly. "You won't."
Kate didn't answer.
…which was answer enough.
And as if he wasn't done—and being sedated wasn't enough—
"Did you lads drug me? You think that does anything to me, aye? I'm a fucking fortress of drugs. Want some lad? Aye? Good price for ya—"
his voice carried through the door again, still going.
Kate just stared at it.
"…A fortress of drugs?" she repeated slowly.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose, shaking her head. "…I think that's the drugs talking," she muttered.
From inside, there was some movement—muffled voices.
Kate covered her face again. "…I'm never letting him drink again."
Julia glanced at her. "…Good luck with that."
"Hoporah—Hoorah we are the Billy Boys! I WAS THE CHOSEN ONE, SUPPOSED TO DESTROY THE SITH—"
—and then—
silence.
Kate froze, staring at the door.
"…Is he—done?" she asked slowly.
Julia tilted her head slightly, listening for a second.
Nothing.
"…I think they won," she said calmly.
Kate let out a long breath, shoulders finally dropping. "…Thank God."
Julia glanced at her, faint smirk returning. "…For now."
Kate let out a long breath, her shoulders finally dropping.
She glanced at the door one last time—
then looked away.