Chapter Two

"Erica, I don't see what other options we have, here. Honey, you have to be realistic about this." Jack stated.

"You're not out of options, Erica." She heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Hayward... What the hell are you doing here?" Jackson asked, defensively.

"I called him." Erica admitted. "I overheard the doctors discussing Bianca's condition and I thought David might be able to help."

"Erica thought I could be of assistance. I am a doctor, you know." David reminded him.

He was incredibly obnoxious, Jack thought. The nerve of that man walking in here so nonchalantly with his hands in the pockets of his white coat, bouncing on his heels like Bianca's life wasn't currently hanging in the balance.

"Yes, a doctor who had his license revoked!" Jackson quipped.

"Had being the key word in that sentence. And shall we discuss why you were forced to stop practicing law?" David asked.

Jackson shot him a look. David was pleased with the response. Erica put her hand up in attempt to refocus the two men.

"Erica, you can't be serious..." Jackson's voice trailed off when he saw the look on Erica's face.

"My daughter is dying, Jackson," Erica snapped. "David saved my life... and I... I trust him."

"Have you lost your MIND? I won't allow this!" Jackson stated.

"Jack, I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice in this matter. I am Bianca's next of kin and I make the decisions. David, please..."

"We'll discuss Bianca's treatment..." David said, gesturing for her to come into his office.

"Erica..." Jack pleaded, grabbing her forearm to prevent her from going with David.

"Jackson, he might be the worst human being on earth but the man saves lives, okay? Please, Jack, don't take Bianca from me again."

Jack attempted to follow but the door was slammed in his face.

"When Bianca fell into her hypoglycemic shock, her blood sugar decreased so greatly that it her to become extremely dizzy and to eventually faint. When she fell, she hit her head and it caused trauma to her brain." He reiterated.

Erica inhaled a sharp breath in response to his words.

"A friend of mine, is a doctor at NYP. His name is Dr. Mitchell, he's a well known neurosurgeon. He has the capabilities, equipment, and resources to perform surgery to improve Bianca's condition but we're running out of time. Time is crucial in this situation, Erica."

"Wouldn't transporting Bianca be considered risky, David?"

David looked down. "Yes. There are many risks involved from transportation to the surgery itself, Erica. I know this is scary but Pine Valley doesn't have the resources in neurology that New York Presbyterian does. We need to transfer her to New York, quickly." David sighed.

Erica took a deep breath.

"How do we get here there?" She asked.

David explained the process in depth. Erica rubbed her hands together, anxiously while listening to him explain the process. The risks involved terrified her but she trusted David. For some reason, deep inside she knew that he wouldn't make any decisions that would be harmful to Bianca. He'd pulled off miracles before and she knew he was her last hope. He had connections that she didn't. No matter how awful he had been to her, he owed Bianca. They both knew it.

"David?" She spoke after a moment of awkward silence. "I will do this under one stipulation."

"I'm sure whatever it is can be negotiated."

"You come with us. I want you there." She said frankly.

He nodded. "I'll talk to my colleagues about covering my shifts..."

–-

Jack became frustrated. How dare they shut him out of this conversation? He was as important in Bianca's life as Erica was. After her own father's death, she'd turned to Jack. She considered him to be a father to her and he took that role seriously.

He sighed in irritation as he leaned back against the burgundy leather chair in his living room.

"Hi honey!" Krystal smiled and greeted him with a soft peck on the lips. "Any change?"

"No," Jack said sadly. "In fact, we were told today that it's time to make a decision."

"Oh no... I'm – I'm sorry, Jack." Krystal hugged him. "You need to rest. Why don't you sit down? I'll make you something to eat."

Jack slipped on his glasses. "I appreciate the offer but I have some work to do."

"Jack, I thought you took the week off to focus on Bianca?" She asked expressing her annoyance.

"Oh, this pertains to Bianca. You'll wouldn't believe the doctor Erica called to consult with Bianca's doctors today."

"Come on, Jack! The doctor can't be that bad. It's not like it's David Haywar –"

Krystal stopped mid sentence when Jack shot her a knowing look.

"You're kidding me?"

Jack took a sip of his tea. "Nope."

"I'll go get your books." Krystal said heading for the library.

–-

"Erica, did Bianca show any signs of her eating disorder returning?" David asked.

She looked down at her hands. "In hindsight, I suppose she did. She seemed thin but there was also a long list of other things I'd noticed. I assumed all of it was due to Marissa's death... I didn't realize she'd fully relapsed." She said, visibly ashamed that she'd missed the signs of her daughter's eating disorder.

David took her hand. "Erica, this is NOT your fault! A relapse is common after a tragic event. Bianca needed to gain some control back in her life and this was her attempt at doing so."

"David... I can't lose her. Not again." David pulled her closer to him, letting her cry into his chest.

"You won't lose her, Erica." He said, reassuringly rubbing her back. "I'll make sure of it."

David tossed his bag and his keys on the floor and immediately walked over to the bar. He decided to pour himself a stiff drink and convinced himself to watch something mindless on television to unwind.

It didn't take him long to begin thinking about Bianca, though. He desperately tried to console and reassure Erica but even he himself wondered if Bianca would make it to the hospital in New York, let alone whether or not the surgery would be successful. Besides, even if the surgery were successful there would still be a long recovery ahead of Bianca. He had to think about Erica, Bianca, and most importantly, Bianca's two young daughters and AJ.

He chuckled to himself when he saw a "Frozen" DVD on his coffee table. What had his life become? He had unintentionally learned every word of every song in the entire movie. He even sometimes found himself humming them at work. Finding out he had a son turned his world upside down completely but he didn't mind. His son...

"Dammit." he murmured, reaching for his phone. He completely forgot that he supposed to pick Oliver up from his mother's.

"You're late." Cara spit out.

"Listen, I'm going to have to take a rain-check. Something came up at the hospital and I was delayed."

"You were the one who begged for a relationship with your son, David."

"Yes, Cara, I am aware of this. Though I should add that a father shouldn't have to beg to have a relationship with his own son." He quipped.

He fought the urge to roll his eyes at the verbal lashing he received from the other end of the telephone.

"Cara, I'm a little busy at the moment. Please, for Oliver's sake, tell him that Daddy is very sorry but his patients needed him and I will see him when I return from New York."

"Return from New York?" Cara asked, assuming he was prioritizing a mini-vacation over his son.

"Yes, I have to escort a patient to a facility in New York. NYP, actually."

"So, I suppose I will have to tell Oliver that you won't be picking him up this weekend either?" She asked angrily.

"Unfortunately, no. Cara, I'm sorry but this particular patient needs me." He said apologetically.

"David, I am a doctor. Don't you think I understand this? But he needs you, too, David." She scolded before hanging up the phone.