* * * * *
Sydney and Vaughn excused themselves for cups of coffee to allow the 'parents' to talk over what Karen had done. "This puts an interesting twist to this whole thing." Vaughn stated, as his cup of coffee began to fill.
"How do we report this?" Sydney asked. "How are we going to arrest them now?"
"Actually, I was thinking that it would make it easier."
"How?" Vaughn handed his cup to Sydney, who graciously took it, and took a sip. "Ahh… hospital coffee. Nothing this bad in the world. Enlighten me Honey. How will this make it easier to arrest them?"
"We can get the local authorities involved, for attempted murder."
"She's obviously out of her mind with grief. I hardly doubt that the locals will go for that."
"Why do you keep protecting them?" Vaughn suddenly snapped. "In just about every argument since you found Samantha, you have argued for them. What is your game Sydney?"
"Are you accusing me of being a traitor?"
"No! I just want to know why you keep trying to be on their side!"
"It's simple. She was a Project Christmas baby. I was too. I know what its like to live through hell, and have no say in the whole thing, because your parents predestined it. Now I don't disagree that Vicktor and Abigail need to be held prisoner in federal prison for treason, but Samantha has been through enough as it is. And she has no free will."
"You can't let your personal feelings get in the way of your job."
"They're not. My job was to protect Samantha. Yours was to arrest them. I'm doing my job. You're doing yours."
Weiss trotted over to them. "Hey guys. I got a call from Jack. He's gotten clearance from Kendall to allow Jack to take Derevko here."
"Wait, what?" Sydney asked.
"They're bringing Derevko here. Apparently Kendall and Jack, as tight assed as they are, heard your arguments, and agree with you that Samantha's mental health is extremely important. They weren't considering it until we wound up here."
"You haven't heard then." Vaughn said, looking at Weiss.
"Heard what?"
"Abigail tried to kill Samantha. She force fed the pills."
"Wow."
"We're going to hold off the arrests until my parents get here." Sydney said.
"I say we do it now."
"Did my dad say anything on when to take the parents?" Sydney asked, hoping a third party would be able to solve the spat.
Weiss looked at the couple. From Vaughn to Sydney, from Sydney to Vaughn. "Don't put me in the middle of this." He begged.
"We're not." They both assured at the same time.
"Jack didn't say anything. But if I had to pick, I'd say now. Samantha won't know the difference. She's going to be out for several more hours. Jack and Derevko will be arriving in an hour or so. Do it now."
Sydney looked at Vaughn, knowing she had been defeated. Leaning against the coffee machine, she stared into her coffee. Vaughn adjusted himself so that he could look into Sydney's eyes, hoping to get the answer he wanted. "Syd? We really do have Samantha's safety in mind. It's no longer just a question of her mental health. Her mother tried to kill her."
Sydney looked up at Vaughn. She knew what it felt like to have her mother shoot her. "Fine."
* * * * *