David gasped for breath behind the force of Tad's hands. "I'll kill you," Tad said. "I swear I will."

David managed to get out a few words. "I'm not worth anything to you dead," he said.

"Somehow I doubt that." Tad loosened his grip and David slipped away from the wall, massaging his neck.

"You're lucky I don't call the police."

"You're lucky I don't strangle you," Tad said. "Now sit down."

David didn't respond. Tad put his hands on David's shoulders and pushed him down into a chair. "Sit down!" David was silent. "And listen." Tad stood over him. "Despite what you may think, you're not God's gift to man."

"What's the matter, Tad?" David said, heartlessly. "Is this because Jake is more devoted to his job than his life?" he paused. "Or are you still sore over Dixie?"

Tad wanted to kill David right there. He felt his hands just itching to wrap around his neck. "You bring up Dixie one more time and you won't ever have to worry about practicing medicine again."

"I don't respond well to threats," David said. "You should know that, Tad."

"Well, you'd better start responding to something," Tad warned.

"If I were you, I'd be pleading for my life right now, because at this point, you're lucky you're still sitting there in one piece."

"What exactly is it that you want from me, Tad?" David asked.

"You know all too well what I want," Tad said. "My car is parked outside. If you know what's good for you, you'll come with me."

"I already told Jake my conditions..."

"You feel like bargaining with life, David? Is that the way we're going to play this?" He turned away from David, walked over to the desk and began digging through the drawers.

"What the hell are you doing?" David asked as he watched Tad empty everything onto the floor.

"Here." Tad pulled out a small bottle. "What's this one, David, huh?" David's eyes nervously widened. "Now I'm not a doctor, but something tells me that if you got injected with this... accidentally of course... I don't know, if you fell on the needle or something. It wouldn't be good. Would it?" Tad walked over and slammed the bottle down in front of him. "You don't think I can be as cold-hearted and thoughtless as you are? Why don't you try me?"



"They've been in there for hours," Greenlee said. "How come we haven't heard anything?"

"I'm sure the doctors have everything under control," Brooke said.

"Hey, mom?" Jamie asked, reentering the waiting room. "I thought you said your car was out in the lot."

"It is," Brooke said. "Second row."

"It's not there. We looked like four times."

Brooke checked her pockets. "Did I give you the keys?" she asked Jamie. He shook his head. "Where are they then?" Brooke continued to check her pockets.

"You came with Dad. Maybe he knows."

Brooke paused. "He took my car," Brooke said. "Tad ran out of here so fast... He took my car."

"What are you going to do?"

"What can I do? I don't even know where he went."

"Tad was just blowing off some steam when he left," JR said.

"He'll be back."

"Dad won't do anything crazy," Jamie assured Brooke. "He's just... venting."

Brooke shook her head and raised her eyebrows. "He could have 'vented' without the car, don't you think?"

"Who are we talking about?" They all looked towards the door.

Tad was standing there. "I didn't miss anything juicy I hope."

"Where have you been?" Brooke approached him.

"Who, me?" Tad said innocently.

"And why do you look so... thrilled?"

"Thrilled? Me?" Tad asked her. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

JR and Jamie looked at eachother as Brooke's mouth gaped slightly. "What do you have up your sleeve?" Brooke asked.

"Wait," Tad said as he walked over and sat beside Greenlee.

"You'll find out soon enough." He was silent for a moment before he turned to Greenlee and whispered. "Don't worry." "What are you talking about?" Greenlee whispered back.

"Jake's going to be fine. I took care of everything."