The Wish

Epilog to Dawning Dream

Making his ususal dawn rounds, Philip Waters decided to check on the one patient he had no idea if his doctors could help or not. Sarah Williams. Something about the girl touched his heart, reminding him of his lost son, that he could never help.

With a rose in hand, thinking of the power of the olfactory nerve, he stepped inside. It took a moment to register the empty bed, then he stepped out, turned on his heel and marched to the nurse's desk. "Camille, where is Sarah Williams?"

The former Mrs. Shutt blinked. "In her room of course."

"Did Aaron of Jeffery order some kind of early tests?" he persisted.

Sighing at men in general's density, Camille again stated that Sarah was in the room.

This was why he was bald, Philip decided. "Camille, I was just in there. Unless she's shrunk, she's not there."

Camille rolled her eyes, then strode into the room, looked around, then knocked on the bathroom door.

She exited, a bland expression on her face. "She's not there."

"I believe that has been established. The question remains where is she?"

"I'll call security. Maybe something on the cameras," the nurse suggested.

"I'll call Jeff," Waters stated, turning on his heel to return to his office, then paused. "If her mother calls- stall."

Before most of Chicago had had a cup of coffee, in either a china or cardboard cup, an impromptu staff meeting filled Philip's office.

"We've gone over the security tapes, and she's not on any of them," Krunk yawned.

"No one's seen her," Nyland added.

"Not even you?" Aaron snarked back.

"Hey, I never have- with a patient, at least not a comatose one!" The young doctor stepped as if to punch Aaron.

"Stand down," Waters snapped. "Nyland's 'love' life is not at issue, at the moment. Sarah Williams' location is. Jeff, you're the last doctor to see her, possibly the last person. Tell us about how she was when you left."

Jeffery shrugged. "Her brother found a book that had the song lyrics to the song on that music box of hers. So, I sang them."

Nyland and Krunk made faces which he ignored.

"She did react, but never opened her eyes. I left. End of story."

"Obviously not. Could she have snuck out somehow?" the chief of staff asked tiredly.

"Sure, " Jeff shrugged. "Remember that girl a few months back, the one on the fall program, not supposed to get out of bed? I caught her sneaking down to the chapel, the gift shop, anywhere to get away from Dr. Dinosaur. Hell, I helped her sneak."

"Did you?" Camille asked pointedly. "Help this girl?"

"No."

Camille hissed something under her breath.

"Yes, Camille?" Aaron inquired.

"I said, maybe Jeff's singing scared her into bolting."

Phillip interceded before there could be bloodshed. "That's enough. Right now, we have to find her, before she is hurt and keep this out of the press."

"Shouldn't we contact the press? " Diane Grad - Krunk asked. "If she's wandering out there alone, press coverage might find her sooner."

Glares silenced that option, and not a word was spoken until Jeff's phone buzzed. "Linda Williams," he announced. Then, heedless of Phillip's whispered advice, answered. "Good morning Mrs. - Linda. I was just going to call you-"

"Liar," Camille stated sotto voice.

A look of pure confusion crossed his face. "My what? My wish?" Blinking rapidly, he tried to recall what he'd wished for. At least as related to Sarah. A few heartbeats later, his face cleared. "And exactly how do I explain that? You are certain. All right. What, ah, yeah. I'd like that. My daughter has been asking about Toby. Okay." Hanging up, he stared at the faces looking at him in askance.

"Well?" Aaron prompted.

"Sarah is fine." Geiger rose, beginning to walk out of the room, but was blocked by Krunk and Nyland.

"I think you should explain," Phillip suggested.

"Apparently, she - " he paused, sorting words in his mind. "A friend showed up late last night. Night nurse must've just missed seeing - him. It was ah - just like a fairy tale. 'Handsome' prince arrives, wakes up the girl and - by now, elope."

"Just like that?" Waters asked, too mildly.

Jeff shrugged. "So it would seem."

Drumming his fingers on the desk, Phillip finally gave up. "There is a new policy - if you check in, you will not just leave without informing the staff. I want all the night personel, security, etc. in a meeting at the beginning of the shift, discussing laxness and so on. Jeff, did Ms-" he paused to smile evilly, "Linda, indicate Sarah's health condition or - if they planned on filing any kind of charges?"

Jeff shrugged. "If she's busy eloping, I'd assume that she feels fine. Didn't mention legalities."

"I see." Waters glared at the assemblage. "Not one word of this leaves this room."