"Danielle," Dr Stark said. It was now 7 AM. Danielle looked quite frankly, terrible. She was pale and looked exhausted. "You asked for me?"
"I did. I want to talk to you for a minute Dr Stark, but are Joanne and Rick still here?"
Right on cue, the 2 guards walked past and Dr Stark called them back. "Yes Danielle, they're right here."
"Hi," Rick and Joanne said together.
"Dr Stark, I know this probably goes against guard and patient relationships, but before these 2 leave, I really want to buy them breakfast in the staff canteen to thank them for coming in so fast when they knew I was in trouble. They've been amazing tonight and ever since I got here. Please can I have some money from the ATM in reception to do this?"
"Danielle," Joanne began. "There's no n…"
"I'll do you one better than that Danielle. You don't need money, I'll use my ID so they get it for free and there won't be 2 of them, but 3. If you want to go, I am more than happy to allow you to do so."
"The staff canteen?" Danielle's mouth fell open. Here was further proof that they trusted her.
"Indeed," Dr Stark said. "I think breakfast is the least you deserve for what you've been through tonight. Same for Joanne and Rick. Come on."
Dr Stark buzzed open Danielle's door. Joanne opened her mouth but Dr Stark said firmly, "end of discussion Joanne. Take Danielle's arm, one of you please?"
For the first time and to Danielle's enormous gratitude, they both did. She felt a huge rush of affection for the pair of them. Which only intensified when Dr Stark buzzed them through several doors and she heard the guards removing their equipment vests once outside the block. Yet further proof if she needed it, that she was trusted. This said to her at least, we're not your guards, we're your friends. She felt a sudden rush of tears and tried to quickly blink them away.
"Thank you," was all she could manage and knew by the way they both squeezed her arms, they understood.
…
45 minutes later they were back and Dr Stark approached Danielle in her cell. Danielle asked her how Adam had gotten her number. When Myers slipped past her to Danielle's side and pulled her into his arms, it didn't even occur to Gemma Stark to separate them. Not now, not this time. Instead, she simply passed Danielle a sleeping pill and water, persuading her to take it and get some sleep, assuring her she was not separating her and Michael. She was sure the killer gave her an almost invisible smile. She returned it.
An hour later Dr Loomis had arrived and told Dr Stark she should go home. She'd shaken her head and said "Not yet. But I will soon Sam, I promise."
She began to fill Dr Loomis in on what'd happened with the exception of what Michael had written to her, albeit a mere 3 words. She'd promised herself she wouldn't tell him this. Dr Loomis looked as horrified as she felt and silently slipped to Danielle's cell door, slid open the hatch and looked through. Finally she was fast asleep in Michael's arms.
"Who'd have thought," Dr Loomis whispered and Dr Stark was sure she could see the glint of a tear in his eye. "Turned out I was indeed wrong. There is certainly something left of Michael, Danielle Hayward appears to have found it."
…
"He's got to be joking!" It was 08:30 and Dr Loomis had just told Dr Stark what Andrews had just said. "That could do so much damage and I mean psychologically! Danielle. She…"
"I know Gemma," Dr Loomis said quietly. Dr Stark privately loved his British accent but had never told him. It made her think of the place so far away she'd always wanted to visit, but as yet hadn't done. England. Her brother had moved over there 2 years ago and Gemma desperately wanted to see him.
"That's why I'm speaking to you now," Dr Loomis continued. They were once again sitting in his office. "We need to find a way to stop this from happening, by fair or foul means. This can't happen. Yes Michael has killed 2 people in a short period of time. But Andrews would never understand even if we tried to tell him."
Dr Stark snorted. "Of course he wouldn't. He's a narrow minded, selfish prick."
"Quite," Dr Loomis agreed. "So we have to think of something, t…" He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Excuse me Dr Loomis," it was Andrews' secretary. What timing. "Mr. Andrews wants to see you again, now please?" The door closed behind her before Dr Loomis could even answer.
"Bastard," Dr Loomis muttered. "Thinks he can order us around whenever the hell he likes. Who are the doctors around here? The patients need us and he damn well knows it."
"Well no one is in the yard from our blocks right now," Dr Stark said, standing. Dr Loomis opened his mouth. "What are you…?"
"Danielle is asleep," Dr Stark continued as if she hadn't heard him. "Michael is with her as you just saw and the others are in their cells. The guards know their jobs. In short, I'm coming with you and if he doesn't like it…"
"Gemma," Dr Loomis tried quietly but Dr Stark glared at her boss so firmly he shut his mouth.
…
Danielle was woken at mid-day by a soft buzzing sound. Her phone. Immediately she felt a jolt of panic she couldn't suppress and automatically reached for the call button as she picked her phone up. Michael tightened his arms around her. She read the ID and immediately relaxed. It was Charlotte.
"Charlotte!" Danielle said in relief, putting it on speaker. "How are you girl?"
"Even better now that I'm talking to you," Charlotte said. "Listen babe, my parents and I want to come see you tomorrow and we need your consent. Dr Stark has already cleared it from her end, but…"
"Are you kidding?" Danielle said happily. "Oh my God! I'd love that so much! I haven't seen Colin, Emma and Dave for years it feels like!"
"Awesome! We'll be there at 11 AM tomorrow morning then? You can fill me in on any gossip then!"
"Like what?" Danielle asked, feigning innocence.
"Oh I think you know damn well what Mrs.!" Danielle couldn't help it when she started to laugh. It felt so good. It was also nice to know she could still laugh after everything that'd happened in the last 12 hours.
"I can't talk for long now," Charlotte said when both girls finally stopped laughing. "I'm about to go to work. But I'm excited for tomorrow, see you then!"
"You got it! I love you so much Lottie!"
"You too D, see you tomorrow babes." The call disconnected.
Danielle turned back to Michael, unaware of the huge smile on her face. The killer held her close, again leaning down so she touched his ears. Danielle couldn't help giggling quietly at this too. This was the closest she'd come to feeling happy in a very long time.
Though if she could've seen how the killer's eyes looked straight through the open hatch and out into the block, it may have been punctured slightly. Or if she had seen what he did. But as it was of course, she was totally oblivious of the pending danger.
…
Chancer tried not to laugh out loud. She'd only put her damn phone call on speaker phone! Stupid bitch! He'd heard every word of both sides of the conversation. He picked up his iPod and entered the password. He may not be able to get Danielle's number again yet, but this was almost as good. As he waited for the call to connect, he suddenly realised for the first time that Dawson's name had never been used in writing via the iPod. It was always "our client." Chancer now realised this was very probably deliberate to prevent a security risk.
He spoke softly. The microphone was so sensitive he didn't need to shout. "I need to speak to Mr. Dawson. Now." This time the man on the other end didn't question him and within seconds, Adam Dawson's voice was in his ears. "Hello?"
"Hello Mr. Dawson, I just thought you'd want to know that Charlotte is visiting Danielle in SG tomorrow at 11 AM with the rest of her family. Not sure if or how you want to use this information but there it is."
"Great," Dawson said softly. "Thank you so much Mr. Chancer."
Chancer grinned as he hung up. He wasn't sure what kind of bomb he'd just set to go off, but he had the feeling Charlotte Avery was now in very grave danger. If Danielle was as well with the information he'd just provided, even better. Perfect, in fact.
…
To Dr Loomis' and Dr Stark's surprise, Andrews didn't react at all when they both reached his office 5 minutes later. "Ah, Dr Loomis, Dr Stark come in," he said. Not rising from behind his polished desk. Dr Loomis felt another rush of dislike and hoped it didn't show. Glancing briefly at Dr Stark, he saw it also reflected in her expression. Without a word, the 2 consultants entered and sat down.
"Perhaps it is good you are both here for this," Andrews began. "I take it Samuel has filled you in Gemma? Regarding our meeting earlier this morning?"
"Yes Sir," Dr Stark nodded.
"Fine then. Since I spoke to you an hour ago Samuel, things have changed. It would appear at this moment; Glass Hill has no spaces and this could possibly last for the next few months. This being the case, I am therefore unable to transfer Myers at this time. So, I am ordering him to be placed in solitary with minimal food and water and no contact with anyone until he can be transferred to Glass Hill."
Dr Loomis had to fight every muscle in his body not to stand up and punch the suited little prick in the face. God this man truly didn't care about anything except money! Michael was just a number to him, not a person. Albeit Dr Loomis himself had considered Michael as "it '' only months ago, pure evil even. But a woman named Danielle Hayward had changed all that… He forced himself back to the here and now.
"Sir, that won't work. Michael needs his therapy with me and no contact would no doubt make his… urges worse."
"Well you have already proved your guards can't protect anyone from him," Andrews said evenly. "Do tell me. Do I have any other choice? You'll just have to go down there to talk to him if he needs it so much."
Dr Stark spoke up. "Sir, putting him in solitary could do unspeakable psychological damage. Not just to him, but to others on the ward."
Andrews burst out laughing. "Do me a favour! He's a damn killer! How would his not being there damage others psychologically? If anything, they'll be glad he's no longer around! Psychological damage? Give me a break! That statement makes me question your own sanity, Dr Stark."
Dr Loomis tensed in his chair. Son of a bitch. But Dr Stark of course remained calm.
"Sir, as you know, we of course can't tell you what our patients have gone through or say to us. But I need you to trust me when I say putting Michael in solitary is a very, very bad idea."
"Seriously Dr Stark? Explain to me why. If Michael Myers had been in solitary already, those men would still be alive."
Not necessarily, Dr Loomis thought and just knew his colleague was thinking the exact same thing.
"Sorry Sir, but if we do this, someone else's life could be in danger. One of our patients has already attempted suicide once."
"Oh yes," Andrews interrupted. "The blind one. What's her name?" He consulted his files. Dr Stark felt a rush of anger. The blind one? How fucking dismissive and patronising. Not to mention he had to check for her name? "Danielle," Dr Stark snapped before she could stop herself. "Danielle Hayward is her name."
"Right. Yes. Hayward. The one with the abusive boyfriend. Yes. But surely you're not telling me her life could be endangered if Michael Myers isn't there? If anything, surely it's the opposite? She'd be so easy to kill its almost laughable! She wouldn't even see him approaching for God's sake! Easiest kill he'd ever have."
"But he hasn't killed her yet," Dr Loomis said very quietly. "He's had his chance. She appears to be… bringing out his previously lost human side."
Andrews laughed again. "Seriously and you are 2 of my best psychiatrists? I think you're losing your damn minds!
Prick, Dr Loomis thought. Selfish, uncaring prick.
"Sir," Dr Stark said quietly. "If you have so many questions about why Michael should not be in solitary, might I suggest you come down to the block sometimes? You might get the answers you seek, then you might understand why Michael killed those men a little better. Plus how strong he is and how hard it is to regain control when he has the urge to kill, whether for a reason or not."
Andrews bristled. "How dare you talk to me like that? I am your boss and you will respect the decisions I make."
"Sir, if those decisions compromise someone's safety, wellbeing and maybe even life, I'm afraid we can't do that. You employed us to care for the patients. We are experienced professionals, so might I suggest that you show us a little more respect when it comes to their daily care? Ok it's your choice to transfer Mr. Myers, again a huge mistake, but we can't change that.
But while you are unable to do so, he is in our care and I can tell you now that putting him in solitary would cause tremendous damage. Plus let's not beat around the bush. Jefferson was a nasty sexual son of a bitch, and the guard… Well he got too close to Myers and we couldn't pull him back. God knows all the guards tried except Joanne who was looking after Danielle. That is her assigned duty."
Andrews looked at her, his mouth opening and closing with indignation, she'd dared to speak to him that way! Dr Loomis gave Dr Stark a mental pat on the back. Well said! Plus, she was right.
"You haven't heard the last of this Dr Stark," Andrews said eventually. "Your insubordination. But for now, I will take your word for it and trust your albeit insane judgement. But I will be keeping an eye out. I will get some of my staff to come down and check on your ward every so often and report back what they see. If I see anything I shouldn't, I will not hesitate to act this time."
"Yes Sir," Dr Stark and Dr Loomis said together and almost ran out of the room.
"Great!" Dr Stark said bitterly. "Stupid idiot! His staff members won't know what's hit them! I'd like to hear them report that back! Michael Myers is holding Danielle Hayward in his arms every night and he killed those people because they hurt Danielle in some way. I certainly wouldn't want to be the person who gave Dawson Danielle's number. They're a dead man if Myers finds out and gets hold of them. I for one won't stop him."
Dr Loomis didn't answer, he just simply nodded. That said everything, he didn't need words this time.
…
The next morning, Danielle was surprised when she realised that she'd slept all night, despite having slept most of the day before thanks to the sedative. Nor could she deny that she felt a lot better for it. At 10:55, Dr Stark and Joanne arrived to take her to the visitor's room. Silently, Myers slipped out past them and Rick let him back into his own cell.
"Just so you know Danielle, the visiting rooms are monitored and recorded," Dr Stark said. "But we only listen if we have a reason to do so, a very good one at that. We know that we won't need to come near your visit. There are signs in the room which warn its being monitored but of course you wouldn't see them which is why I'm telling you now. If you need anyone, press the call button built into the wall beside the door, it's the same as the one in your cell."
Danielle smiled at the doctor gratefully. "Thanks Dr Stark."
Dr Stark and Joanne both guided Danielle down corridors and through beeping doors into the visiting room, where Charlotte and her family were already waiting.