Author's Notes: First off, thanks for all the support everyone, the reviews are greatly appreciated. Second, okay, so I would update more often, but I can't. And Kat's to blame for that. She won't block me to let me work, and I can't have any distractions to write. But anyways, here's the next chapter, and I'm giving the warning: it's heavy stuff, but it happens in homes every day all over the world... It's a reality for millions of kids. Its not fair, but there are things we can try to do.

All the colors of the rainbow swarmed together on Emily's back. A potpourri of red burns, fading yellow bruises, deep black and blue bruises littered the little girl's back, sides, and chest. There wasn't a piece of her flesh that hadn't been touched by some type of pain. Her ribs jetted out under this skin, and Abby saw the bones had healed improperly. She moved her fingers down, searching for flesh that wouldn't make her cringe. She had at least two fractures that were fresh, only a few days old. She laid the girl down on the bed, her hands not wanting to feel her stomach. It was one big black hole, the aftermath of a kick to the stomach most likely. She had to. Her finger pressed, and she saw Emily bite down on her lip, trying not to cry out in pain. Sam held her hand and soothed her, Jacob watched in fear. She finally finished, her abdomen soft and tender, but she saw trouble spots. She would do an ultrasound after Emily got back from X-ray. Sam grabbed the gown from the edge of the table, she had brought it but forgotten. Abby pulled it over her right shoulder as Sam did to her left. Abby made the notes on her chart, and handed it over to Sam to finish hers. They would have to take pictures later, but right now they were to fragile to scare them with such thoughts.

Emily laid on the bed, hugging her teddy bear as tight as she possibly could. Her body wasn't shaking anymore, although Abby saw the distrust in her eyes. She didn't need to know the story behind her, she knew it personally. She turned her attention back to Jake, who was now spinning from side to side on the chair. She reached over to him and gave him her hand. He took it and slid off the chair.

"Your turn, kiddo."

He maneuvered his way on top of the second gurney in the room, Emily finally relaxing since the attention was off her for the moment. Abby saw Luka talking on the phone, an angry expression on his face, compassion written in his eyes. Jake knew the drill by now, and he pulled off his shift in one swift movement. The lump in her throat only got larger, she could almost feel the pain both were going through. She saw the distinct hand prints along his arms and shoulders, she could make out the fingers, the places where nails had dug into his delicate skin. His back was a mess of sores, cuts, scrapes, burns, and bruises. He was in worse shape than his sister, but he must have learned complaining got him nowhere. She saw his collarbone, it hadn't healed properly as well. She looked up at Sam, and both instantly were thinking the same thing. Who could do this to innocent children? Abby helped him lay down, and she checked his stomach, something didn't feel right under her touch. She would have to run an ultrasound on him, too. These poor children didn't do anything to deserve this treatment. Her mom had always told her she deserved it. Was this the same situation? Were they lead to believe they could never do anything right?

She sat down on the edge of the bed, brushing Jacob's hair out of his eyes. He moved away at her touch, but suddenly eased. She wanted nothing more than to take him into her arms and tell him she would never let anyone hurt him again. She didn't have that luxury. If she wanted to continue to be their doctor, she couldn't get emotionally involved, at least not yet. Although she had a feeling she already was, more than anyone else. She saw Sam nod her head from across the room. She had just phoned upstairs to x-ray and they were to come up.

"Jake, you and your sister need to go upstairs to x-ray. They're going to take pictures of your bones, so I can figure out what hurts and how to make it better."

He listened obediently and gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment and understanding. He looked so small in the white bed, like he was a stranger on a huge continent, left alone to survive for himself. She gave his hand a delicate squeeze and started to stand up, she needed to talk to Luka about what was going to happen.

"Will you go with us?"

His voice echoed in the small room, and she turned around, looking at his pleading eyes. She shifted a glance at Sam, and she was ready to go with them as well.

"If you want me to."

He began to bite on his bottom lip, the dimples on the sides of his cheek coming out. His blue grey eyes sparkled with tears that he was holding back.

"Yes, please."

She forced out a small smile, and it reassured him. He started to play with the edge of his gown, and glanced toward Emily. She was sleeping, her body rolled up in a tight ball, the teddy bear held between her arms. They would wake her in a few seconds, she would have Jake do it. She was frightened as is, and seeing strangers as soon as she woke up wouldn't help anyone. She mouthed one minute to Sam, and walked out toward Luka, sitting mindlessly by the phone.

"How's the mother?"

He shrugged his shoulders, throwing the pen he had been holding rather violently against the wall.

"She's in a coma in ICU."

The thought that it might be better for the children raced along her mind. Any mother that treated her children like that, or let someone else treat her children that was wasn't worthy of them. She shouldn't be the one to judge worth, but of that one thing she was certain.

"How are they?"

He looked absolutely ravaged after the last few hours. His hair was sticking up and the bags under his eyes were darker and larger. His eyes were bloodshot, not adding to this miraculous appearance. It was harder for him, she knew. He had lost two beautiful children in a war. He hated seeing any children suffer at all. He was a man with a huge heart.

"I'm sending them up to x-ray. There are a couple of unhealed fractures. I'll run an ultrasound when they get back. I felt some tenderness upon examination. It's pretty bad. Their whole bodies are covered in abrasions and bruises."

He knew the severity of the preliminary diagnosis. These kids have had it hard, too hard. She saw Sam ready to go, and she headed toward the room to go with Jake.

"Keep me updated, Abby."

"Tell me when Adele gets here."

She ran toward the room, and walked in. Emily was sitting on the gurney, wide-eyed and afraid. Jake sat next to her. Abby walked closer to them, kneeling down in front of Emily.

"Emily, we need to take you upstairs for a test. I promise it won't hurt and it's really quick. I'm going with you, is that okay?"

Her blonde curls jumped as she nodded her head. She put out her legs in front of her, and put her head on her knees, hiding in the softness of the teddy bear. She saw Sam taking Jake to his bed, and soon they were rolling out of the room. Jake was starring at Emily, protecting her from a distance. Emily was looking around at her new surroundings, body beginning to shake once again.