Two Days Later

Gabriela Dawson's POV

Brett and I had just dropped off a patient who had been hit by a car and broken a wrist. On our way out, I noticed a familiar face.

"Naia!" I said and walked into her room.

Her forehead had been stitched up and she looked a lot less pale.

"Dawson." I heard Brett's warning tone but I didn't care right now.

"How have things been?" I asked. I don't know what I expected. That maybe she would speak to me now. That things would just magically be better.

Naia didn't say anything but she did give me a sad smile.

"Are you getting discharged today?" I asked. Right on cue, a burly man walked in and straight over to Naia.

"You little bitch, you coward!" He said. He didn't even notice Brett and I standing a little bit to the side.

"When we get home, I'm gonna give it to you!" He said grabbed Naia by the arm.

"Hey!" I said loudly but the man didn't hear.

"Oh why wait..." The man said and out of nowhere, socked Naia in the cheek.

"Hey!" I shouted and pulled the man off of Naia. He seemed taken aback.

"What are you doing?" He asked. I almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous he question was but I didn't.

"The question is, what are you doing?" I said, beside me, Brett announced that she would get some ice.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" He asked.

I was really confused, "Um, beating up a little girl?"

"Yeah right," He snorted, "I'm teaching her a lesson."

"A lesson? You just punched her in the face!" I said, feeling the anger start to bubble.

"Not hard, just to scare her into not doing it again." The man said. I started to suspect that this was Mr. Samual.

I decided to ask him. "Are you Mr. Samual?"

"Yes."

"Were you the one that gave Naia a concussion?" I asked. The man looked quizzical.

"Naia got into a fight with her foster brother Shane. Shane pushed Naia and she fell and hit her head, was knocked unconscious." His story seemed so real that I almost believed it.

"But then why'd you book it and leave?" I asked.

Mr. Samual nodded. "Yes, I did leave. My wife had to attend an extremely important meeting and she doesn't drive"

"So you left you foster kids alone, one of them unconscious." I tried to clarify.

Mr. Samual nodded again. "Yes, I did. I told Ellie to keep an eye out on Naia and call me if anything went wrong."

"So then why'd you have to teach Naia a lesson just now?" I asked.

"She keeps on picking fights with our foster kids. Gave little Thomas a black eye once. One of our past foster kids, Haley actually switched families because of Naia." Mr. Samual said.

I looked over at Naia who had a strange look on her face and a sad look in her eyes.

I knew the court would believe his story, and Naia did too.