Author's Note: I received a review from a reader that was displeased with the medical side of the story. I apologize for that. I don't know much about asthma, it was just an idea to get the plot out. The story is suppose to focus on Abby and her patient.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
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"Is Rose okay? Can I see her?" Victoria asks me, her eyes are filled with worry but everytime she glances at Miss Davis they fill back up with anger.
"She's fine but I think perhaps we should talk somewhere before you see her, I'd like to know what's going on," I state, it's not a question this time. I'm in charge here!
We go into the family room where Miss Davis huddles on a chair and Victoria plops down on the couch.
"So what's happening here?" I ask sternly.
"She kidnapped Rose!" Victoria hisses.
"You're sixteen and you have a two year old Victoria!" Miss Davis fires back.
"Exactly, my two year old! You had no right to take her! I knew it was a bad idea," Victoria yells.
"What happened ladies?" I ask calmly enough.
"I became pregnant when I was almost fourteen, Carol was furious that I wanted to keep the baby so I left. I moved to Detroit and started school there. I have a friend that I lived with, she took me in. But this month I moved back to see my mother. It was fine at first but that was fake. Monday I had a job interview and I left her with my mother alone. When I got back they were both gone," the young mother explains simply.
"That explains that cat thing," I say to Miss Davis.
"I brought Rose to my boyfriends house, he has a cat," she tells us softly.
"Can I see my daughter now?" Victoria inquires.
"Yes you may, but first I have to ask you… Will you press charges against your mother?" I say in a voice just above a whisper.
"Yes I will, is there someone here that will call the cops or should I?" Victoria asks seriously.
"Someone here will," I tell the girl sadly, "Miss Davis I ask that you come with me to the front desk."
Miss Davis stands up looking dejected and follows me to the desk. Frank catches my eye and shoots me a look of confusion.
"Frank call the police, this woman kidnapped a child and is going to be charged by the mother," I say tiredly. Leaving Miss Davis at the front desk I go back to the family room where Victoria is waiting and lead her to Trauma 1.
"You probably think I'm a screwed up person," she says accusingly.
I stop dead and laugh. Maybe from lack of sleep or maybe because I'm such a screwed up person myself, but her comment strikes me as really funny!
The young woman stands there and watches me uneasily, I calm down and look her in the eye; "I do not think you are screwed up. I honestly think you are a responsible mother. Young, but responsible."
"Thank you," her voice is full of emotion.
We arrive in front of Trauma 1 and I open the door with a flourish and a smile. Rose looks up from the coloring book someone brought her, amazement in her eyes.
"Mommy!" she squeals, jumping off the gurney and rushing into her mother's arms. It's quite an emotional scene so I stay in the backround.
"Victoria, I need some more information from you. Do you want to step outside?" I cut in politely.
"Sure, but call me Vicky," the teen smiles and gently carries her daughter to the gurney then follows me outside.
"Your sixteen right?" I ask, pulling out a pen and posing it above the chart.
"Yes, my birth date is July 19th, 1988." Vicky rattles off and I start writing it down.
"What about her father?" I ask in a weird tone.
"Oh crap! I gotta call him!" she exclaims, looking around for a phone.
"You still talk to him," I inquire happily, steering her to the front desk.
"Actually no, he left when Rose was 8 months old. But before he did he told me to call him if I ever needed anything. Of course I was too mad at the time and made it on my own, but when Rosie disappeared on Monday I was frantic, I called him up and he's been looking everywhere. He still hasn't cleaned up though, but he has sources, that's how I found Rose tonight, his friend found out," she tells me quietly
I nod and hand her the phone, she dials and so I decide to give her some privacy and go check on Rose.
Carter's in Trauma 1 with the toddler when I enter and she is shrieking with laughter as he swings her around. I smile and sit on the gurney. The two goofs soon settle and Carter places her beside me.
"I don't know your name," Rose states, cuddling close to me.
"I'm Abby," I inform her, wrapping my arms around the tiny person.
"Abby where's Mommy?" she asks sweetly.
"She's making a phone call right now honey, she'll be right back," I reassure Rose.
Vicky walks in on cue and looks a bit blank.
"He's coming."