Blake followed the doctor to the room where Roger was being treated. He looked ghastly, but was apparently breathing. His eyes were closed, and his hands lay gently at his sides. His tuxedo that had been cut off of him had been replaced with a non-descript hospital gown. His leg was immobilized in a plastic apparatus that seemed filled with air.

"Miss. Thorpe, I'm Dr. Ellis." He reached out a hand to her, but she kept one over her waist and the other at her shoulder level.

"How is my father?" She asked quietly.

"Would you like to sit down?" Dr. Ellis asked.

Blake said no, but moved to the chair robotic-ally. "How is my father?" She asked again as if he hadn't heard her.

"Miss. Thorpe…"

"Mrs. Marler. I was married this afternoon. My father gave me away."

The doctor was slowly losing patience. "Fine, Mrs. Marler, your father sustained critical injuries when he was hit by a moving vehicle we surmise. Based on the location of his injuries we have determined that it was likely a van or SUV type vehicle."

Blake's head shot up. "Ed drives a Volvo, not an SUV"

"Very well, at any rate, the most significant injuries are a cracked skull, a compound fracture to his left femur, and ankle, several cracked ribs, and a contused kidney. He will need to have surgery on his leg, and his skull if pressure should build up. Fortunately, he is stable so we can perform those surgeries tomorrow morning when our orthopedic surgeon has a chance to look over his films. We don't want to put him through any undue treatment tonight. Should the pressure on his brain increase, we will take him to surgery to relieve it."

"Is he going to die?" Blake asked quietly.

"Miss Thorpe, I'm sorry Mrs. Marler, your father is stable. After an accident of this magnitude, just the fact that he made it to the hospital alive is remarkable. In looking at his x-rays it seems his body has suffered trauma before, and come through it. Now I don't have a crystal ball, but unless there is a grave change in his condition, I expect a full, albeit slow recovery. We're going to have him moved to an observation room. Do you have any questions in the mean time?"

In Ed's room Ross stood in the corner as the police attempted to get a coherent statement from him. From what Ross could ascertain they had found him walking along side of the road, weaving in front of traffic. As he had a bruised bump on his head, they brought him in as a precaution.

"Excuse me, officer, I'm Ross Marler, I'm an attorney."

"Great, just what we need. We didn't manhandle him if that's what your angle is here. We found him like this."

"I believe you, and that's what I'd like to talk to you about. Could I see you outside?" Ross asked, indicating the hallway with an outstretched hand.

"We're done here for now. Dr. Bauer, if I have any further questions can I come to your home?"

"Home, I don't have a home anymore." He grabbed the pillow and rolled over onto his side, holding it firmly to his chest.

A nurse came in, nodding to the police officer and Ross.

"Would you mind staying with him until I come back?" Ross asked.

She smiled at him "I'm just about to discharge him. Other than being drunk and having a raised contusion he is medically stable His bump is superficial.

"Fine, Ed, you stay put. I will drive you home." Ross warned as he escorted the police officer outside.

"Thank you" Ross said. "Is my client being charged with anything?"

"Your client?"

"Yes, I've known Dr. Bauer for a long time, and we happened to be at the same social engagement tonight. What can you tell me about how he came to be in your custody?"

"We found Dr. Bauer weaving in and out of traffic. Concerned for his safety we picked him up. He had a nasty bump on his head, it was obvious he was drunk so we brought him in for his safety" The police officer shrugged as if it were a common occurrence, which it probably was.

Ross swallowed. "So, you're going to charge him with driving under the influence then? Are there any other charges I should be aware of?"

The officer knit his brow "Sir, he wasn't driving. We found him weaving in and out of traffic on I-72 on foot. He's lucky he is alive. If it hadn't been snowing, or a weekend for that matter he'd have likely been killed. We're going to issue him a ticket for public drunkenness and a fine for walking on a public highway, unless there is something else we should know?"

Ross was both confused and relieved. "No, nothing else, I just wanted to make sure I had the facts if he was being charged. Thank you, officer." He pulled his wallet out and fished out a business card. "Take my card. If you do have any further questions for my client, I'd like you to call me first so that I can be there."

The office took it. "Sure thing, just make sure he sobers up. Good evening, Mr. Marler"

Ross leaned heavily against the wall. The police didn't know about Roger, that gave Ross some time to spin a story, and to pray that Roger didn't die. He hated his father-in-law, but in this instance, he prayed that he still had one or two of his nine lives left. He pushed off the wall intent on seeing Ed, but from the corner of his eye he saw Blake. He exhaled heavily and went to her, catching her in his arms.

"How's your father?" He asked as she crumpled into him.

"He's alive, he's lucky to be alive"

Ross held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. For a moment he forgot about Ed and the fact that he was being discharged.

At the Bauer house Michelle and Holly remained locked in a standoff.

"Where is my father" Michelle demanded when Holly requested that she take a shower and get ready for bed. "You told me you'd tell me when we got home. Well, we're home, now tell me."

Holly sank into a dining room chair but quickly popped out of it. She went to the phone to check for voice mail, but there was none. "Damn it" She swore. "Where are you, Ed?"

She turned towards Michelle. "Sweetie, you know your father is an alcoholic, right? You know that if he has even one drink that he could spiral back into an abyss created by it."

"Yes, but Dad doesn't drink, so why are you telling me this?"

Holly went to her and took her hands. "Come sit at the table with me, please"

"No, I'm going to damn well stand right here" She covered her chest with folded arms. "I'm getting tired you treating me like I'm a child. Now tell me what the hell is going on."

Holly formed a flat hand to slap her, but instead folded it into a fist. She sat at the head of the table ultimately laying her head in her hands. Tears fell freely form her eyes. When she lifted it she took several deep breathes before continuing.

"Michelle, you know your father is an alcoholic, right? Your mother must have explained why your dad never drank, right?"

"Yes, my mother never lied to me like some people"

Holly ignored the remark. "Well, your father, for reasons known only to him decided to start drinking tonight. My guess is that he took a taxi and is sleeping it off in his office because he doesn't want to face you and me."

Michelle thought for a moment. Her face forming many emotions at once, but then softened; she ran into Holly's arms. "I'm sorry Holly, I don't know why I acted that way. I guess I was a little jealous that you were paying so much attention to Blake." She wrapped her arms even more tightly around her. "I'm sorry for what I said about my baby brother. I'm glad I'm going to be a big sister." She let her go and looked up at her. "If you and Dad get a divorce, you'll still let me, see him, right?"

Holly kissed her forehead. "Michelle, no one is getting a divorce. I promise."

"But if you do, you'll still let me see him, and you, right?"

Holly couldn't speak but did nod her head.

"Is it alright if I go take a shower and go to bed?" Michelle asked after a long while.

"Sure, go on up"

Back at the hospital Blake and Ross moved back into the waiting room. "Did you see Ed?" She asked.

"I did. He's sporting a bump on his head, and will have one hell of a hang over, but otherwise he will be fine."

Blake frowned. "Did he admit to trying to kill Daddy?"

"No, he didn't. In fact, that isn't why he was brought in." Ross broke the news gently.

"What? Why not? I know that everyone in this town hates Daddy, but to let Ed go just because he is a Bauer, that is absurd."

Ross moved behind Blake and wrapped one arm over her shoulders. "Honey, that isn't why they brought him in. They found him walking along the highway. The police officer who brought him in did so to keep him safe. They charged him with public drunkenness and will fine him for walking on a highway, but as of right now he isn't a suspect in what happened to Roger."

Blake pulled away from him. "Like hell he isn't. I'm calling the police myself. I want him arrested, but I want to see him first."

In a huff Blake headed to the room Ross exited. Only when she arrived it was empty. Once again, Ed had managed to evade them.