The Journeyman, Is this a dagger I see before me? No, its a bloody knife.

We had arrived back at my hospital ward at pace, but slowed when we heard the commotion from within. 
    BQ was calling for a nurse, everyone was calling for a nurse, the police or in one case their Mum.
Luckily this being the NHS under a Conservative Government, not member of authority was present to answer these calls.
  Xanthic, already in the lead increased his pace and burst into the ward through the double doors and demanded in a tone of voice so commanding it had an immediate effect.
  "Can someone tell me what is going on in here and the rest of you return to you beds."
It was incredible to see, but 12 adults put their heads down and shuffle away like four years olds caught out of bed by Dad.
  "Who are you?" Asked BQ, the only one who (I was later informed was too closed minded to anything other than his own little internal world to fully bend to conformity)
  "I am a Doctor and I am telling you to get bad into your bed."  Even my knees started to bend forcing me to reach out for support; the cold bony hands of Ludo who caught me snapped me back into reality - and sent a chill up my spine.
 
  "Is he really a Doctor?" I whispered to Ludo.
  "Yeah, I think he is.  He walked into the local university one day, solved a student infecting fungus problem, taught them something about space dimension and walked out with an honorary doctorate."
  "Oh, I always wondered how you got one of those."

  "Now what is the meaning of this fuss?"  Asked Xanthic in his best old school master tone as BQ sat back onto his bed.  BQ, with fingertips only, held forward his hand and dangling from it dirtied knife.  This one was nothing special just an old kitchen knife with a blunt blade, old dirty faded wooden handle with a rivet missing and a prominent bend to the last inch of the dull blade.
  Xanthic took it from him in a handkerchief flourished and then disappeared in a second.  With the knife gone the temperature in the room increased and the mood of the inhabitants dwindled in equal measure. 
 
 A nurse walked in, one of the big old fashioned matron types from films and TV in black and white, as broad as a sofa and just as well stuffed.  She looked around with a grimace of one drawn rapidly from an importance engagement for a trivial matter only to find that matter less trivial or none existent upon arrival. She was not happy and wanted a focal point to display this fact on and with a gaze that took in all her domain her eye settled on Xanthic in his most unhygienic oily black leather long coat, frayed and ripped through lifetimes of wear and toil.
  "Just who........"She managed to get out before Xanthic expertly turned upon his heels and faced her, a winning smile displayed across his expressive face; his eyes betraying the smile with his true emotions for her at this time but the smile was enough to win his faces argument.
  "Dr Smith, here for my rounds and you have urgent matters elsewhere that need your expert attention."  The smile was static throughout his speech.
  "Um yes, there are......."  The nurse looked confused, "Who did you say you were again?"
  "I am here to help." Xanthic turned to the nearest bed and picked up the clipboard and the medical notes it held, he lowered his head and read them.  "My work here is to save life, or at the very least prolong it.  Now go about your business so I can go about mine."  Xanthic dropped the clipboard and as it fell it hooked back over the bed and rested.

  We were left alone and I swear the nurse almost curtsied as she left.  I stepped forward to my allotted bed and began to search where I though the blade could have fallen; I lifted sheets and pillows and kicked my bag laying under the bed to one side but could not find it.  Xanthic stayed my hand by placing his on my arm and said into my ear not to worry about looking any further.  I obviously looked puzzled (or confused - which is my normal state with the majority of matters concerning Xanthic) into my hand he placed his handkerchief, it flowed across my outstretched fingers as soft as a mist rolling across a field, but when the last of the silken fabric brushed the tips of my hand a weight grew there and under that silk as it whipped away with a flourish and twirl by its owners hand, a knife appeared.  It was not the wooden handled kitchen knife of the one taken, but given was an antique.  It looked to my highly untrained eye to be a bayonette; I've seen similar but only on war films with Brad Pitt or Tom Hanks dashing around Europe at some point in recent history.  The blade I might add was as sharp as a brick and probably just as hard to stab someone with, at least with the weight I could do serious damage by hitting someone over the head with it.

  "The task before us still stands.  Somewhere close there is something feeding off innocents and we must locate it with haste and bring it to an end."  Xanthic looked into my eyes. "But for now you are tired, you are drained, have been drained by the very beast we search for.  This tells me it is known to you and you have met and have been recognised as a threat."  He looked over me, my hair, my face, my neck and body.
  "Our presence here has been noticed, it has attacked and lost.  So does that mean it will flee and find a new source of succour or dig in and fight for its territory?"

  A two tone alert siren sounded out of a voluminous jacket pocket.  Xanthic stopped talking, looked at his chest and put his hand inside his coat.  Silence soon followed and Xanthic looked up gravely.
  "It appears I have urgent business elsewhere of the upmost importance."
  "What's going on?  What was that noise?" I ask, totally unfamiliar with the alarm and not wanting Xanthic to leave me here alone.  This was also a concern to Xanthic himself as he continued.
  "Its a couple of hours until nightfall.  I doubt anything further will happen until the dark has settled over the land.  I will endeavour to be back here before that happens, but what I need you to do; what I need you both to do is find something to narrow down the suspects; without becoming the main course!"  He looked at Ludo and myself then again at Ludo.  "You keep her safe you hear me, whatever happens she is to remain untouched.  I cannot stress this point enough."
  "Lying, cheating and Under Fae I maybe, but I will do my best Sir."  Ludo puffed his chest out; not a good look in a hospital issue dust coat, but stood in the shadows as he was he almost looked handsome (If I was a female bear looking for a flea ridden and balding mate).

  Xanthic left; he rushed to the door but did offer warning again about being safe but covering as much ground as possible.  He told us both to guard the blade, it was and will be invaluable in our duties ( I felt with the rush I had escaped a dressing down from Xanthic for losing it in the first place.)  But before he left he whispered something into the ear of BQ who looked as if something he had long suspected had just been confirmed.

  "Bloody nurses." Hissed BQ, "I knew they were favouring the BUPA patients.  Wait until one of them comes in to change this bandage, I'll give 'em what for"
 
  I dressed into something more suitable for wandering corridors (and something less drafty in the rear in-case of quick exits), made sure I had the blade in my bag and shoulder to shoulder with Ludo we stepped out of the hospital ward to search for danger of demonic kind and leaving conversations between BQ and The Gent about informing the Daily Mail about the mistreatment of the honest working class in favour of workshy bankers and C list celebrities.  ( I think we were getting off lightly.)