Survival of the Fittest
Scarlet returned, but stopped when she saw Tess and Charlie.
"What you doing?" she whispered, seeing the pair.
Tess and Charlie jumped.
"Nothing," Tess whispered.
"Oh no? Come on, Tess- tell me!"
"Tess and I were wondering if… if Sam would ever let that girl go back into care," Charlie explained.
"Back?" questioned Scarlet.
"Yes- that's where the madman originally got her from, and when she's better, that's where she'll go."
Scarlet looked in through the window, as Sam and the girl played around, Sam reading from the book, and the girl laughing.
"I don't think Sam'll let her, do you?" she smiled, entering the room.
"Dr Nichols- I've told Mr Jordan, and he says that he'll call the superintendent as soon as he can. He also says that he wants you to spend the rest of the time that she's here with her, as much as possible. So I've brought you these," Scarlet smiled, lowering a box of toys and books onto the floor.
"She has a name," Sam grinned, nudging the girl beside her.
"I chose one, out of the book- Jezebel."
"That's a great name," Scarlet laughed, leaving Sam and Jezebel alone, "I'll tell everyone to call you that from now on!"
"Thanks," Sam called after Scarlet had shut the door. Then the pair's attention turned to the box.
"I'm too old to play with toys…"
"How old are you then?" Sam inquired.
"I don't know- He reckoned I was fourteen, maybe fifteen, but I'm not sure…"
"Well, if you don't know, then how do you know you're too old- have you ever played with toys before?"
"No…" the girl sighed, ruefully, "I read about them, in books, but I never had any… I was too busy training… and learning… and being cut up…"
Her shoulders slumped and her face fell, as she smoothed the healing scar on her stomach.
"Hey…" Sam soothed, pulling the girl's hands away gently, "It's okay…"
She guided the girl to the box, and looked inside.
Soon, they were sat on the bed, playing catch with a ball. Sam was intrigued by the girl's amazing abilities. She could catch the ball one handed, with either hand, and even with her eyes shut. She could target anything, anywhere, and hit it in one go- yet again, even with her eyes shut. Just then, Nick entered the room.
"Mr Jordan, watch this," Sam smiled, turning to the girl, "Hit… the handle on the cupboard next to Mr Jordan."
The girl shut her eyes, and threw the ball, smacking it into the handle, and then catching it when it bounced back.
"Well, that certainly is impressive," Nick grimaced, "However, it's not exactly appropriate in a hospital, is it Dr Nichols?"
Sam laughed, and nodded slightly.
"Right, anyway- Superintendent Rippon just got back to me. She says that Jezebel's attacker has explained her reaction. She's never been fed real food before, so her body's rejecting it naturally. She can eat, but she'll need to be weaned onto food like you would a baby. But Yvonne has found out exactly how Jezebel's been changed."
"Well?"
"Well, she gave me this," Nick produced a sheet of paper, "It's a list of the alterations he's made."
Sam took it.
"Right, let's have a look."
Sam asked Nick to stand back a little, so as not to frighten Jezebel. She then read the list.
"Right- the chip in the ear, we've dealt with. Ribs strengthened with metal- seriously?" Sam lifted the girl's t-shirt slightly, and ran her fingers over the pale scars. "Yep, they're there. What else? Appendix removed, yeah, that's there. And… womb and ovaries altered to increase…"
"To what?" Jezebel whispered.
"To increase the amount of children you can have at once," Sam explained, handing the paper back to Nick.
"Oh…" the young girl whispered, looking down at her latest scar, "are there more?"
"Yes, but they're not very detailed. However, you're apparently reliant on a series of medication- luckily all of which we can supply to you for the foreseeable future… providing you live with someone with the ability to administer it."
Sam listened to Nick's words with a sinking feeling. She'd feel guilty when the girl went into care, but she'd get over it. Nick looked at her for a minute, and then sighed.
"Over to you, Dr Nichols."
He left the room, and headed to the staffroom.
Tess, Charlie, Scarlet and Zoe were all waiting for him.
"What d'you reckon?" Zoe asked.
"She's getting it, she's just not…"
"She's not decided to adopt her?" Tess suggested.
"Yes. And I know you all think there's something there, but if you're going to convince Sam, then you'll need to know three things. One, I'm not getting involved; two, try asking Dr Keogh, and three, Sam can use a gun, don't piss her off." He smiled, slipping from the room.
"He's right…" Charlie sighed.
"I know, maybe a bullet proof vest will help?" Tess smirked.
"I think Charlie means about asking Dylan," Zoe sighed, looking out the door and seeing him there.
"Scarlet, go and get him, would you?"
"Why me?!"
