The next day, Willow went under even faster this time. Anya was more than happy to take care of the store while Giles was in the back with Willow and Xander.
Giles then asked, "We need you to tell us when things started going wrong for Catherine and Gregory."
Willow frowned for a moment, and said, "The Crash happened, and the watch factory folded. Gregory made enough to support them during the Depression. Though, Catherine still worried about the bills each month. But something terrible happened."
-------------
"I need more suction here." Gregory called out. They were losing him, he knew. The patient was under anesthetic, but the operation wasn't going well. He then heard a murmur coming from the patient. The ether wasn't enough. "Nurse, he's coming around. More ether now!"
"But doctor, we just administered him a large dose."
"It's not enough. Now do it. We can't have him waking up like this."
The nurse nodded, and then placed the mask with the ether over him. She held it there to ensure he'd stay under. Then, Gregory noticed the patient thrashing, and struggling for breath. He knocked the mask away, but between the loss of blood and oxygen, it proved too much for the patient, who died in moments.
-------------
"The hospital knew it wasn't his fault, but they still fired him. It was either that, or he would lose his license. He tried to get work elsewhere, but nobody would take him. Catherine and Gregory went to a friend's holiday party that year, though neither was in good spirits. She then met someone there."
-------------
"Catherine, do you remember me?" A handsome man with blond hair smiled at her.
She frowned, and then asked, "Robert? Is that you?" He took her hand, held it up, and kissed it.
"Catherine, you're as lovely as you were. I've been so busy with Father's business these days. He died soon after the stock market fell, you see, and I've had to take over." He then noted the pendent upon her neck. "That is a quite fetching necklace. Where did you get it?"
She smiled, and placed her hand by it gently, "This was a gift." She held it out a little so he could admire it. Gregory glanced over from where he was talking to someone, and witnessed this conversation.
Meanwhile, Robert sidled closer, "So, how are you?" His hand reached towards her.
"Happily married," Gregory commented, before slipping his hand around her waist possessively. "And who is this?"
Catherine introduced them, "Oh, this is Robert, now head of Winters Corp. apparently. We knew each other in school. Robert, this is my husband, Dr. Gregory Herschel."
Robert backed away, "Ah, well then congratulations are in order, I see." He seemed to be deep in thought, before continuing, "Herschel, yes, I remember hearing about an incident at a hospital." Gregory visibly stiffened at the comment. "You know, if you are in financial troubles, I can help." His gaze slid over Catherine as he added, "Anything for an old… friend."
"We're fine, thank you," Gregory retorted in a clipped tone. He then guided Catherine away. "What was going with you two?"
"Nothing, he was simply someone I hadn't seen in a long time."
"And why was he eyeing your neck?"
She replied, "I was simply showing off your gift. The only thing of value we have anymore really."
"I don't trust him. Stay away from him." He sternly replied.
"He said he could help us."
"No, we'll find another way." Gregory stubbornly said.
-------------
"But he couldn't seem to find another way, and things got worse. Then…"
-------------
The man crept into the room, and attacked her. "For you," he whispered, and she screamed at the sight of Xander's face.
Giles then asked, "We need you to tell us when things started going wrong for Catherine and Gregory."
Willow frowned for a moment, and said, "The Crash happened, and the watch factory folded. Gregory made enough to support them during the Depression. Though, Catherine still worried about the bills each month. But something terrible happened."
-------------
"I need more suction here." Gregory called out. They were losing him, he knew. The patient was under anesthetic, but the operation wasn't going well. He then heard a murmur coming from the patient. The ether wasn't enough. "Nurse, he's coming around. More ether now!"
"But doctor, we just administered him a large dose."
"It's not enough. Now do it. We can't have him waking up like this."
The nurse nodded, and then placed the mask with the ether over him. She held it there to ensure he'd stay under. Then, Gregory noticed the patient thrashing, and struggling for breath. He knocked the mask away, but between the loss of blood and oxygen, it proved too much for the patient, who died in moments.
-------------
"The hospital knew it wasn't his fault, but they still fired him. It was either that, or he would lose his license. He tried to get work elsewhere, but nobody would take him. Catherine and Gregory went to a friend's holiday party that year, though neither was in good spirits. She then met someone there."
-------------
"Catherine, do you remember me?" A handsome man with blond hair smiled at her.
She frowned, and then asked, "Robert? Is that you?" He took her hand, held it up, and kissed it.
"Catherine, you're as lovely as you were. I've been so busy with Father's business these days. He died soon after the stock market fell, you see, and I've had to take over." He then noted the pendent upon her neck. "That is a quite fetching necklace. Where did you get it?"
She smiled, and placed her hand by it gently, "This was a gift." She held it out a little so he could admire it. Gregory glanced over from where he was talking to someone, and witnessed this conversation.
Meanwhile, Robert sidled closer, "So, how are you?" His hand reached towards her.
"Happily married," Gregory commented, before slipping his hand around her waist possessively. "And who is this?"
Catherine introduced them, "Oh, this is Robert, now head of Winters Corp. apparently. We knew each other in school. Robert, this is my husband, Dr. Gregory Herschel."
Robert backed away, "Ah, well then congratulations are in order, I see." He seemed to be deep in thought, before continuing, "Herschel, yes, I remember hearing about an incident at a hospital." Gregory visibly stiffened at the comment. "You know, if you are in financial troubles, I can help." His gaze slid over Catherine as he added, "Anything for an old… friend."
"We're fine, thank you," Gregory retorted in a clipped tone. He then guided Catherine away. "What was going with you two?"
"Nothing, he was simply someone I hadn't seen in a long time."
"And why was he eyeing your neck?"
She replied, "I was simply showing off your gift. The only thing of value we have anymore really."
"I don't trust him. Stay away from him." He sternly replied.
"He said he could help us."
"No, we'll find another way." Gregory stubbornly said.
-------------
"But he couldn't seem to find another way, and things got worse. Then…"
-------------
The man crept into the room, and attacked her. "For you," he whispered, and she screamed at the sight of Xander's face.