Tragedy:

Chris looked up at the clock while she poured whiskey for a group of patrons. It was quarter past nine and Jeremy still hadn't called her. He had promised that he would call as soon as he and his family arrived in East City and she knew their train had arrived over an hour ago.

Why hasn't he called yet? Did he lose my number?

"You keep looking up at the clock," noted the man sitting next to her. "You waiting for a favorite customer to show up or something?"

She forced a smile. "I believe he already came and is sitting right here having a drink with me," she flirted. The man grinned. She glanced down at his drink and noticed it was almost empty. "Would you like more wine, sir?" she asked.

"Certainly," he answered, still grinning. She grabbed the bottle of wine in front of her and carefully filled his glass while another girl entertained him. While she placed the bottle back on the table she snuck another glance at the clock. Three more hours till her shift was over. Afterwards, she was free for the next few days to spend time with her brother and his family. It had been over a year since she last saw them and she was especially excited to see her seven-year-old nephew. Little Roy was growing up to be such a smart and handsome boy and was the family's pride and joy.

"Chris! Phone!" shouted Madame Viola suddenly.

Finally! Chris quickly excused herself from the group. Rushing over to the back room, she took the phone from Madame Viola and held it up to her ear. "I was starting to wonder when you would call," she said into the phone. However, instead of Jeremy's familiar voice she heard a female voice on the line.

"Miss Mustang, this is Officer Johnson from military police."

Chris froze. "W-What can I do for you, officer?" she asked nervously.

"There was a hit and run," she told her. "A family was hit by a car and you were the only family member we could find. We need you to come to East City General Hospital immediately."

Chris stood there, stunned. "Where? Are they OK?" she demanded.

"Please come to the hospital, Ma'am," replied the officer before she hung up. Chris hung up and stood there, trying to process the information before quickly spinning around.

Madame Viola was standing by the door behind her.

"What happened?" she asked in a concerned motherly tone. Chris bit her lip.

"There's been an accident," she told her. "They're asking me to go to the hospital…"

Madame Viola nodded in understanding. "Go then," she said. I'll have Martha cover for you."

Chris quickly thanked her before running upstairs to get her things. Then she hurriedly ran back downstairs and out the door onto the streets. "Taxi!" she called out, raising her hand. A car screeched to a halt in front of her. She quickly got in.

"Where to Miss?" asked the driver.

"East City General Hospital. And step on it!"

The hospital waiting room was full of people but Chris barely noticed them while she rushed to the front desk.

"Excuse me. My name is Chris Mustang," she said breathlessly to the nurse managing the desk. "The officer on the phone told me that my brother and his family were admitted here. Their names are Jeremy, Angela and Roy Mustang."

The nurse looked through her chart and pursed her lips. "Please wait here, Ma'am. I'll let the doctor know you're here."

"But…" began Chris but the nurse disappeared before she could get anything more out of her. Sighing, she began restlessly pacing the hallway. A feeling of dread was building up inside her. Please let them be okay, she silently prayed over and over.

"Miss Mustang?" asked a voice suddenly.

She spun around. A man in hospital scrubs was standing in front of her. "Yes, that's me," she answered, her voice slightly shaking.

"I'm Dr. Robinson," the man introduced himself. She noticed he looked tired and somber "I'm afraid I have bad news," he continued. "As you probably already know, your family was hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The woman was killed instantly while her husband is in critical condition. He suffered severe head trauma and is in a coma. We're doing the best we can but I'll be honest with you, the outlook is not good." He paused for a moment to take a deep breath. "I'm very sorry."

Chris could feel her world crashing down around her. This couldn't be happening. It had to be all a dream. She could feel herself becoming a little faint.

"You need to sit down," Dr. Robinson told her, grabbing her arm to prevent her from falling. He quickly called a nurse over.

"No…I'm ok," she mumbled. Leaning against the wall to steady herself, she asked, "What about their son? My nephew?" Dr. Robinson and the nurse looked at each other. Oh God. Please not Roy too… Chris mentally pleaded. She braced herself for what the doctor was going to say next but a childish voice suddenly called out to her.

"Auntie Chris!"

Chris quickly spun around and saw Roy running up to her. Following close behind him was a female police officer.

Oh thank God!

Chris quickly knelt down and Roy ran into her arms. She hugged the child tightly.

"Mom…and Dad…they're hurt," Roy mumbled into her neck. "A car was speeding towards us and Dad pushed me away…" He broke into a loud sob. Chris could feel her heart breaking again as he recounted what exactly happened.

"There, there," she told him, holding the little boy even more tightly. "Everything's going to be all right. You're with me now." Blinking away tears, she reassured herself, "everything's going to be all right."