The day began, as they tended to these days, with the splitting headache of a hangover and the district sensation that her pants were somewhere else. She let out a low groan and slowly stirred, becoming distantly aware of a gentle beeping.

"Patient regained consciousness at...10:27 am..." came a distant voice and the sound of pen on paper. "Name...Maria 'Spike' Tenenbaum...Age...Nineteen years old..." Spike blinked, raising a arm to shield her eyes from the bright, florescent lights...only to find herself trapped. She trashed, shaken from the grasp of sleep as she became aware of the fabric restraining her. Not a stranger's sheets, which was expected, nor a hospital bed, as was uncomfortably common, but thick, heavy canvas that strapped her to the bed. Wide cuffs around her ankles and thighs held her legs spread apart, and the heavy straightjacket kept her from turning over and sitting up. A tall, thick collar forced her gaze straight ahead, and an inflated bulb of rubber and leather filled her dry mouth.

"Well then," the voice said. "Let's have a look at you." There was the whirr of servos, and the bed lifted, revealing a sitting figure. She was tall, with a hairstyle that radiated deadly seriousness and an expression somewhere between morbid curiosity and mild distaste. Her uniform was latex, perfectly polished to a mirror shine; a medical blue pencil dress with professional-looking lapel and white sleeves. White-latex-clad legs terminated in tall, pointy heels.

"I'm Dr. Steph, and you're at Sleepy Beauty Special Hospital." she said by way of introduction. "Looks like you had quite the bender last night. We're lucky that our ambulance saw you passed out on the side of the road." she continued, ignoring Spike's struggling. "Let's see here...seems you've got quite the record. A history of underage drinking, petty mischief, handful of hospital visits...trademark teenage rebellion." She smiled over the clipboard, a predator's smile with no kindness in it whatsoever. "Just another runaway. How convenient." she continued as Spike's eyes grew wide with fear. "How nice it is to have a patient that won't be missed." Her smile only widened as Spike's squirming became panicked and frantic, frightened tears running freely as the Doctor smiled at her.

"I wouldn't be worried, dear. I've got an experimental regimen that'll do what all your parents and teachers and counselors failed...turn you into a polite, productive, *proper* girl..." Even the gag wasn't enough to muffle Spike's sarcastic response. The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "So, you think you're smart..." she said, checking a box on her clipboard. "We'll see how long that lasts." With that, she stood, caressing Spike's tear-streaked cheek and playfully ruffling her neon hair. "Enjoy your stay~"

With that, she rose to leave, leaving her captive struggling helplessly in her canvas restraints. The cell door slammed shut with awful finality.