Christian could only think of one more place Kimber could be at apart from at home. At least he was hoping for that when he dialled the phone number of the McNamaras, "Sean? It's me," he stated after that, "is Kimber there with you?"

"With us? I think she's in hospital."

"She was here all right a little while ago," Christian answered sighing, "it looks like she'd left the hospital without the approval of a doctor."

Deadly silence ruled for a moment.

"Sean, are you still there?" Christian asked startled.

"Did you talk to her doctor?"

"No, but the nurse told me that the doctor was with her not long ago to fix her iv. I don't understand why did she run away like that. I'm worried Sean."

"Maybe she went home. Have you tried there already?"

"Yes," Christian nodded, "I have tried there first, but the answer machine picked up right away. Where could she be?"

"Maybe she's looking for you. What about the practice?"

"I've tried there too-nothing. It's like she's disappeared from the face of the earth," he sighed.

"Calm down! She'll reappear again soon. She can't be far."

"She should've never left the hospital," Christian said despairingly, "if something happens to her or the baby I'll never forgive myself! It's all my fault."

"It's not! How could you foresee her running away. What's with Gail? Did you speak to her?"

"No, she was sleeping when I arrived here," he paused a little, "you were right about your assumption...Gail has cancer."

Neither of the two man uttered a word for a moment.

"I'm so sorry Christian!"

Christian felt his eyes filling with tears, "she'll die Sean!" He said desperately, "and I had no idea of anything at all..."

"Are you still there at the hospital? Don't move away from there! I can be there in twenty minutes and then we'll look for Kimber together."

"All right," Christian answered tiredly. He was happy he didn't have to deal with the situation all by himself.

Sean turned to Julia after finishing the conversation with Christian, "that was Christian," he said slowly.

"Something happened?" She asked surprised.

"Kimber'd disappeared..."

"What?!" Julia looked at him appalled, "what do you mean disappeared? Was she...kidnapped?" She asked frenziedly.

Sean saw her becoming pale all of a sudden, "do you think she was kidnapped?" He shook his head, "Quentin's dead and Kit's in jail. What happened back then will never happen again," he said confidently, "don't worry about that!"

Julia ran her trembling fingers through her long blonde hair, "yes, sorry, I got reminded of the kidnapping for a moment there."

"Christian says she left the hospital by own accord. That's why he called. He thought she was here."

"When I talked to her on the phone the last time it didn't seem to me she was fit enough already to leave the hospital."

"What were you two talking about?" Sean asked curiously.

"I told her Christian knew about Sarah and Gail for sure," Julia explained, "she was nervous about it of course, but I reassured her."

"Apparently not enough," Sean said dryly. He inhaled deeply, "how could you tell her about that Julia?" He asked shaking his head.

"I'm...sorry, but I couldn't guess she was gonna react quite like that," Julia said changing her note.

"Where's Sarah?"

"She does homework with Annie. Why?" Julia was somewhat surprised by Sean changing the subject.

"I don't want her to hear any of this conversation," he said whispering.

"What's wrong?" Julia asked fazed.

"Christian had talked to the doctor," he cleared his throat, "you remember what I told you about the drugs I found in Gail's house?"

Julia nodded. She saw Sean's pained expression and she knew he had no good news to share.

"Gail has...cancer!" He said slowly.

Julia felt her heart squeezing together painfully. So her bad hunch didn't fail her, "poor Gail!" She said. She fought her tears, "I was hoping so much you were wrong. How does Christian take it?"

"He's floored," Sean said quietly, "that's why I wanna go meet him at the hospital. He shouldn't be alone. And then we'll look for Kimber together. You stay here in case she calls. Her car's still in front of the door. She'll maybe come to get it. And please," he added and looked pleadingly at Julia, "don't tell Sarah anything!"

Julia shook her head. She was still completely in shock after the horrible news, "but...somebody should talk to her soon and tell her what's wrong with her mother," Julia said quietly.

Sean nodded with a serious face, "although I think that's not our job," he said, "maybe Christian could help Gail telling Sarah and Max."

"It will be a shock for them," Julia warned, "but you're right, it would be time," she put her hands on Sean's shoulders and gave him a kiss, "I hope you'll find Kimber. And if she gives a sign to me, I'll call you. Do you have your cell phone with you?"

Sean nodded, "I could get delayed," he said sighing, "don't wait up for me," he turned around and left the house.