Caiden slept for most of the day after Detective Carroll's visit. Abby was continually sneaking off to see if she was awake, but each time was the same as before. Caiden was sprawled on the bed with her cast leg propped up on a pillow and her other leg hanging off the bed. Abby and apparently Carter as well both wanted nothing more than to wake her up and talk to her.
Carter, what are you doing here? Abby asked turning the corner that led to the hallway where Caiden's room was.
Oh nothing I'm just checking to see if she's awake. Carter said knowing that he had done exactly what he had told her not to do.
Really, I thought you told me not to come check on her until later. Abby smirked.
Yeah, well I did, but Caiden's sister and brother are going to be here later and I well um... yeah. Carter trailed off not wanting to admit that he was feeling that Caiden was as much of his care and priority as Abby felt.
Sure. Right. Wait, they're coming today? Shoot! I totally forgot. Abby said with an apologetic look on her face.
It's okay don't worry about it, when they get here we'll show them up to her room explain what's going on and it'll seem like you knew they were coming all along. Do you remember what time they are coming. Carter said placing a reassuring hand on her arm.
Yeah, she's going to pick him up after school and they're going to come over here right after. Or that's what Kelly said. Abby explained.
Kelly is her sister right?Yeah and Braedin is her brother and Chelsea and Derrick, but they're not coming to visit. Caiden wants them to, oh I wish they could come by also, Caiden would be so happy. Abby said sadly, wanting Chelsea and Derrick to be here too.
That would be nice. Well we'd better get back down to the ER. Carter said, extending his hand to her.
Okay let's go. Abby took his hand the walked down to the ER together.
This is how the day would have continued had it not been for a huge MVA that came in around 1:30. Some semi-truck ran a red light and hit a car in the intersection, causing the bed of the semi to swivel around and hit a bunch of pedestrians in the crosswalk. It was really a terrible site, and the trauma just kept coming, keeping the ER occupied for three hours. Abby had finished with another trauma victim, pulled off her gloves and was heading to the lounge when she saw a boy and a girl who looked very lost. Abby approached the two.
Hi, do you need anything? Dr. Lockhart said politely, hoping that they had nothing to do with the trauma that had just occurred.
Um... yeah. I'm Kelly Adams and this is my brother Braedin, we're looking for our sister, Caiden, do you know where we could find her? Kelly said looking around the ER with wide eyes.
Yeah. I do. I'm Dr. Lockhart, I'm one of the two doctors who have been working with Caiden. If you want to follow me, I can lead you up to her room. Dr. Lockhart said, with a relieved tone, glad to know that these were people she had wanted to meet.
Okay that would be great. Braedin said eagerly.
Caiden has talked a bunch about you. Dr. Lockhart said.
Kelly was interested.
Yeah, she told me about you wanting to become a doctor, you're at NYU right, that's what she said.That's right. Kelly said with a huge grin on her face.
Being a doctor is pretty cool, what type of medicine are you interested in? Dr. Lockhart replied, knowing how cool it was to actually be a doctor.
Well, at first I was thinking about being an OB/GYN because I was always there when my siblings were born and I was so fascinated by it, but now I'm also thinking about ENT because I think the relationship between the ear, nose and throat is really cool. Kelly explained.
Yeah, I was an OB nurse for a while, but now I'm a doctor down here. ENT is a pretty cool medical field though, I'd have to agree with you on that. So, Braedin, how are you? Dr. Lockhart wanted to know a little more about Braedin as well.
Oh, I'm good. I really want to see Caiden though. I miss her so much, Chelsea does too, Derrick would, but he hasn't been around her enough to know who he is. He said shortly, Dr. Lockhart can tell how much he's missed Caiden.
What happened to Caiden? Kelly asked, wanting to prepare Braedin for what could be coming.
Caiden sustained a compound fracture to the right ankle, a broken left wrist, three broken ribs on her left hand side, a broken nose, a gun shot wound on her cheek; the bullet only grazed her cheek though, and several bruises. Dr. Lockhart explained.
Oh, but everything has been fixed right? Kelly said, she knew the injuries weren't serious, but she was still worried about her kid sister.
From what we can tell yes. Caiden's ribs were broken a while back and had begun to heal incorrectly, so we did operate on her ribs, and they should heal correctly now.Okay, do you know when she'll be discharged?It's hard to say. Caiden told me about how she had gotten her injuries and today she reported your stepfather to the police. We can't discharge her until he is in custody, so that she won't have to go back to live with him. The police want to send her into child services, as well as Chelsea, Derrick and you, Braedin, when Kurt is arrested, but I promised her that, that wouldn't happen.Wait, Caiden told you what happened? Kelly said really softly.
Yeah. Well, here we are, this is Caiden's room. Dr. Lockhart says opening the door for the two of them to go through. She noticed Caiden was still asleep.
Caiden, Caiden! Wake up, you've got some visitors. Abby said shaking Caiden up.
Tell them to come back later. She mumbled.
Caiden, it's Kelly and Braedin. Wake up! Abby shouted.
Kelly? Braedin? Why didn't you say so? Caiden said, immediately not tired and looking like she hadn't been totally knocked out five seconds previous.
Hey Caid! Braedin said giving her a hug.
Hey Bray, how you been? Caiden said smiling.
Dr. Lockhart, can I speak with you a moment? Kelly asked softly, not wanting to disrupt the banter between the two practically long lost twins.
Yeah, do you want to go in the hall? Dr. Lockhart offered.
Okay, what's up? Dr. Lockhart said when they got into the hallway.
Listen, I don't know how much of what Caiden knew she told you, but I would like to add to the story, that I was... Kelly stopped, she didn't want to say it, it was too embarrassing for her, she felt ashamed about what happened.
I know. Caiden told me, she didn't know if she should or shouldn't and I told her that the more people knew, the better chance she had of getting rid of Kurt. Dr. Lockhart said.
Okay, I'm glad people know what happened without me having to say anything.Kelly, if Kurt ends up going to trial, you might have to testify though. Dr. Lockhart explained.
Yeah, I just I've wanted to tell people -er- someone at least for so long, but I just couldn't. It's my fault Caiden had to go through with this, if I had just been brave enough, Caiden wouldn't have had to deal with the same things that I did. I can't believe, well I knew she would do the right thing for Chelsea, but I just, it's just she's so brave to come in here and tell you what happened and now the police know, that's just great. Kelly said feeling as though she had totally messed up.
You know Kelly, it's not your lack of bravery or anything. It's a hard subject to discuss, so even talking now is an achievement.I guess. I just feel like I should have taken responsibility, I shouldn't have left it was my fault that this happened, I was too cowardly to take any initiative.It's not, you were afraid, if you blame yourself blame your rational, you were sick of him being inappropriate and you had no other options. Dr. Lockhart said not wanting thinking that Kelly needed to put any of the blame on herself.
Okay thanks. Kelly said.
No problem, if you need anything I'm going to go back downstairs, and if you need to talk, I can listen. Dr. Lockhart said.
Thanks, Dr. Lockhart. Kelly said and went back to talk to Caiden and Braedin.
Abby lingered outside the room watching the three kids. Caiden and Braedin were talking animatedly while Kelly was laughing at something they had said. She couldn't believe that the three of them, plus two others who had to be as sweet as these three, have had to go through with so much. Kurt Ralston was an evil man who deserved life in prison for killing the childhood of these three. Their mother, whomever, and wherever she was, deserved as much misfortune as possible, for putting her own children through this and not knowing what was happening to her daughters.
Carter! Carter! Abby shouted as she reentered the ER.
He left for the day. Sam replied.
Oh, when did he leave? She said dejectedly.
Um... about a half hour ago, he wanted to talk to you about some Detective Carroll guy, and told me to have you call him when you came back. Sam said.
Thanks, Sam. Abby said and hurried outside to use her cell phone.
She dialed his number as fast as she could. One ring. Hurry up Carter, she thought. Two rings. C'mon Carter where are-
He said scruffily into the phone.
Carter? It's Abby, sorry I missed you earlier, I had to talk with Kelly Adams about Caiden. Abby said quickly, hoping he would get right to the point.
Really? What about? Carter said. Nope, she thought, he is not going to just tell me what Detective Carroll said to him.
Well about Kelly's role in the whole rape, Kurt, abuse thing. Abby explained.
Oh yeah, well anyways, Detective Carroll called earlier. He said.
What did he say? Abby said in one breath.
Um... well he said that his boss has reviewed the case, and they believe that there is enough evidence to at least arrest him and put him on trial, so they're going to make the arrest tomorrow because Carroll was off-duty and needed to get home. Carter explained.
Wait, he said he was going to just wait on this? Abby was furious. How could he not realize how important this is to her?Abby, calm down, he had to go home, do the whole family thing, he was off clock. How many times do you hang around the ER just out of the goodness of your heart, so that you can work to save someone else's life? Carter reasoned with her.
Um... well okay never, but that's different. Caiden NEEDS him to do this for her ASAP.And he is going to. Just this is the AP part of ASAP.
This caused Abby to stifle a laugh.
Okay anyways, Abby, why don't you come over when your shift is over, we can talk some more about what's going on. Carter offered.
Yeah, that sounds great, I'm off at 6 so, I'll see you in an hour. She said.
Oh, Abby, don't tell Caiden about the arrest, we're not supposed to get her hopes up too quickly. He said.
Okay, fine. Abby said wanting more than anything to tell Caiden that it would all soon be over.
I'll see you later.Okay bye.
Abby hung up the phone and hoped more than she had ever hoped for ever that everything would be all right and that Caiden's hopes wouldn't be shattered because Kurt was for real going to jail and she would never have to see him again.
Sorry for taking a while on this. I'm back in school now and the teachers are like let's see who will kill themselves first over the amount of homework we've assigned. I'll try to update weekly over the weekends, but I can't promise anything.