St. Ambrose Hospital

12:20 PM

Charlotte was standing in the ER, in front of the Ambulance Bay entrance. She had her hands in her lab coat pockets, watching the door.

An ambulance pulled up, backing up to the door, and three paramedics rushed out, unloading a stretcher. They ran into the hospital, one medic running into Charlotte. He swallowed and looked at her. "So sorry, Dr. King."

She held up her hand to silence him. "What do we got, boys?"

"36 year-old female, obvious head trauma and leg fracture."

"What happened?"

"Five car pileup on Colorado Ave."

"So more people are coming in?"

"It's nasty, Dr. King."

"Well, quit talkin' to me and get her into a trauma bay."

He nodded and they disappeared.

The ambulance was replaced by another one and a couple paramedics hopped out of the back, one scooped up a little girl with blonde hair, the other pulled out a stretcher, bringing it into the hospital.

Charlotte looked at the paramedics. "Injuries?"

"43 year-old male with a laceration on his abdomen and left cheek, he most likely has a skull fracture, his abdomen is distended also, and he's got an obvious ankle dislocation."

"And the girl?"

"She's a little shook up, and needs stitches on her forehead. Her fingers need X-rayed."

Cooper walked up behind Charlotte. "Hey, Beautiful. What's the emergency?"

"Five car pileup. More ambulances on the way."

He took the girl from the medic and pushed her hair out of her face. "Hi, I'm Dr. Freedman. That's a nasty cut you got there. Mind if I take a look?"

She nodded.

"You mind?"

She nodded again.

He carried her off, leaving Charlotte with the rest of the mess.

The little girl was sitting on the edge of an exam table, her hands clasped around her pink dress, crumpling the fabric.

Cooper had his back turned to her, getting the suture kit ready. "Was that your daddy?"

She straightened up, her shoulders shook a little, her eyes glazed over, and she stayed completely silent.

He turned around, pushing a tray over to the bed. "Can you tell me your name?"

She shook her head.

"I'm not a stranger. It's ok. I'm gonna be poking your face in a minute, so it might be better if we know each other's names." He smiled. "Nothing? Ok. You can talk when you're ready." He paused. "I'm going to inject some anesthetic along the edges of the gash, so it won't hurt when I stitch you up. It'll make the area all numb." He picked up the needle.

The little girl looked up and pulled away, shaking a little.

"Can you count to twenty?"

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven." She took a breath. "Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen." She swallowed. "Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty."

Cooper smiled. "Perfect." He paused. "What's your favorite color?"

"Pink."

"Do you have any pets?"

"Dog."

"And what's his name?"

"Buster."

"Do you know what kind of dog, Buster is?"

"A dog?"

He laughed and dropped his hands. "All done." He double checked his work and put a bandage over the stitches. He handed her a mirror. "Take a look."

She looked at her forehead in the mirror and went to touch it.

"Don't touch it. Let it heal." He took her hand and brushed his finger over hers. "Ouch. That looks like it hurts."

She nodded.

"I'll fix that up for you. How's that sound?" He paused. "I can go find out how your daddy's doing if you'd like?"

She looked away, her legs trembling.

"You sit tight. I'll go find out." He took off his gloves and pushed the tray of instruments to the side. He opened the door and walked out into the hallway.

Cooper walked up to Charlotte, who was standing at the central nurses' station in the ER. He leaned against the counter. "Hey, can you get me some information on a patient?"

"What for? And who's the patient?"

"I don't know who the patient is, but you remember the little girl and the guy on the stretcher?"

She nodded. "He's in OR two, right now."

"How's he doing?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I've been back and forth between the ER and the OR. The hospital is a madhouse right now. The place is crawlin' with police, weepin' family members are takin' up the waitin' rooms, and the ER is still buzzin' with overflow from the accident. I'm gonna be up to my neck in paperwork tonight. That little girl tell you her name? I'm gonna need it for the records."

He shook his head. "No. Other than counting to twenty, telling me her favorite color is pink and that her dog's name is Buster, I got nothing out of her."

"Stay with her. Last thing I need is a little girl loose in my hospital."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Do me a favor and find out some information on her father for me—the guy in OR two."

"I'll go see how the doctors are doin'."

"Ok." He paused. "Anyone not make it?"

"There are three casualties so far. Two DOA, one bled out on the OR table."

"So much for our lunch date."

"Yeah." She sighed. She was looking forward to having lunch with him today. "I'll see you later?"

"Page me when you get an update. I'd like to tell that little girl something."

"Yeah, course." She smiled and disappeared down the hallway.

Cooper nodded and took off in the opposite direction.

1:45 PM

Cooper was standing at the foot of the little girl's hospital bed, looking through her chart.

The little girl opened her eyes and yawned.

He smiled at her. "Hey, sleepyhead."

She curled her legs under her and pulled the sheet over her head.

"Hey, it's ok." He rested his hand on her little foot.

She violently jerked it back.

There was a knock on the door and Cooper turned his head. "Oh, hey, Charlotte. You have an update for me?"

Charlotte walked into the room and nodded. "They're still workin' on 'im." She looked around the room. "Where'd your patient go?"

The little girl slowly slid the sheet down, revealing her tear stained, flushed cheeks.

Charlotte ran her fingers through Cooper's hair. "How's she doin'?"

"Still won't tell me her name."

"She looks as scared as a cat at a dog pound."

"The accident probably traumatized her. You know, seeing her dad like that?"

Charlotte nodded. "As much as I feel for her, we have sicker patients that need a bed, Coop."

He looked up at her. "You can't be serious."

"She has two broken fingers, a few stitches, and a couple scrapes and bruises. Her head CT was clean, and she has no internal injuries. She doesn't need a bed."

"She was just in a car accident, and had to see her dad with half his face torn off—."

"You know I can't make exceptions."

"Sure you can. You're Chief of Staff, it's in your contract."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, Cooper. Take her to the OR waiting room and sit with her until someone claims her or her father gets out of surgery. She's takin' up a valuable room."

"Char—."

She kissed him on the top of his head. "This isn't up for negotiation."

He grunted.

"I'll try to get more information."

"You just went all boss lady on me, do I at least get a kiss?"

She leaned in close but pressed her finger against his lips instead. She pulled back and smiled. "I'm workin'." She messed up his hair and walked out of the room.

Cooper turned back to the little girl, who had since retreated back under the sheet. "Are you hungry?"

She nodded.

"How about I take you up to the cafeteria and get you a snack and then we can go sit in the waiting room until your daddy is all fixed by his doctors."

She was shaking, and a few muffled sobs escaped her lips

"It's ok. I'll sit with you—."

She shook her head.

"Do I have bad breath or do I smell? 'Cause I swear I brushed my teeth, took a shower, and put on deodorant this morning." He laughed, but still didn't get anything out of the little girl. He sighed. "How about I get Dr. King, the woman who was just in here, to take you to the cafeteria?"

She nodded. "Mmhmm."

"Ok. Stay put." He stood up and walked out of the room.

Charlotte was just walking down the hallway, heading for the elevator.

Cooper ran down to her, stopping just in time to not knock her over. He took a few breaths, his hands on his knees. "I know you're super busy being all sheriffy, but I need you to watch my patient for me."

"Why?"

"I guess she feels more comfortable with a woman. Please?"

She sighed. "Cooper."

"You're the one that said she couldn't take up a hospital bed."

"Get a nurse to babysit."

"Please?"

"Why can't you do this?"

"I already said that she probably feels more comfortable with a woman."

She rolled her eyes. "I really don't have time for this."

He rested his hand on her shoulder. "Pretty please? I'll make it up to you tonight." He winked, stealing a soft kiss on her neck, just below her ear.

She cringed from the contact and let out a breath. "What exactly do I have to do?"

"Take her up to the cafeteria and get her a snack and then just sit with her in the waiting room until her dad comes out of surgery. If we're gonna have our own kid someday, it'll be good practice."

"This—fine, but you owe me."

"Name your price." He smiled and pressed the down button for the elevator. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Love you."

"Love you too," she said with an eye roll, and walked away, towards the little girl's hospital room.

Cooper slipped onto the elevator and leaned back, the doors closing a few seconds later.

A/N: yay ch2! A lot longer than the first one, but we're getting into the drama. Who do you think this little girl is? Review and send ideas my way. thanks again to my awesome editor/cowriter.