Elizabeth jumped down from the back of the carriage after tying her horse's reins securely. Quickly she went around to the side, Dr. Adams stood, as any gentleman would do, to help her into the carriage. She passed him hastily and jumped inside, he shrugged and stepped in after her. As soon as he was settled, Elizabeth stuck her head out the window and called to the driver, "Sir! To New Bern as quickly as you can."

"Aye Ma'am."

The reins snapped and the carriage turned south. As the carriage rode on, the mists falling from the sky created a fog on the roadside, making the more distant lands invisible, and the view of the trees lining the fencerows, hindered. The riders had to brace themselves as the vehicle went along its way quickly. Elizabeth laid her chin in her hand as she gazed stoically out the open window. Dr. Adams did the same but periodically would glance at her, seeing if he noticed any change or movement. For several minutes they rode in silence. Dr. Adams grew impatient and straightened as he placed his hands in his lap offensively.

"So, you said it was your husband that was ill. What are his symptoms…and when did he start to feel this way?"

Elizabeth was broken from her worrisome concentration. "Yes, my husband William. I – I'm not sure when… it could have been a week or mere days. –" She started, not sure herself of what to say.

"Tell me the whole thing." He spoke mildly.

She sighed and finally consented. "We began building a stable, just outside of our yard in the back. As you know the weather had dramatically changed in the past couple of months. It could have been weeks since he started feeling this way…" she reflected. " But lately he doesn't want to worry me." She slightly smiled on the last part, and then became solemn again.

"Why's that?"

Elizabeth looked at him deliberately "I'm with child, Three months along."

"Oh" He said, sounding a little surprised for some reason or another.

She continued, ignoring his reaction. "Then a few nights ago he took a had fall from the roof…. It was raining so hard that night and I thought I was doing the right thing by getting him warm and dry but…. The fever- it just cam on so quickly and didn't take long for it to over come him." When she finished she was diligently preoccupied and toying with her ring on her finger, her face showed signs of much disturbance.

The doctor looked away and nodded.

"Pneumonia"

"Pardon me?"

He looked back into her sorrowful eyes. "Has he not been keeping his food down, and perspiring?"

She nodded silently then spoke, "He just began throwing up just before I left."

"A severe case of it. In the late stages, I can imagine." His words were compassionate, a new tone that Elizabeth had not heard from this man.

She made no sound, no nod, or hint of her even hearing what he said. But the tone in his voice, and his words were enough to let her know just how serious the danger Will was in. Again they sat in silence. The occasional SPLASH from the puddles outside and the squeaking of the wheels were the only sound that kept them from their dark thoughts. The Doctor had been studying Elizabeth for quite sometime before he spoke again.

"You're not like most women are you?"

Elizabeth looked at him from the corner of her eye. "What would make you say a thing like that?"

The man searched for the right words, "Your speech, tone of voice, if one met you one would assume you were of nobility. But your dress and actions are that of common standing."

"My actions?" she asked skeptical.

"Yes, the way you handle your horse, and jumping off carriages and such, not very ladylike if I do say so. Also, coming to a town across the inlet and away from your husband. No woman in her right mind would come without some sort of protection, in that far of a journey. " His voice hinting of distain, and yet he still leaned slightly forward as he spoke.

Her lips pursed and muscles tightened unnoticeably. "This may surprise you but that's not why I took a husband, sir. I can take care of myself jut fine."

He leaned back in his chair, but unscaved by her words. "And you mentioned your husband building his own stable, a man of wealth would never do that sort of thing… Yet you gave me the offer of doubling my pay, I'm assuming you have the means for it. " For a second his eyes left her face and was drawn to her hand which was in her lap, slightly palm up, noticing her scar.

"And your hand there…"

She looked down and quickly covered it in her cloak.

"That was a nasty wound, wasn't it? … And yet it looks as if it wasn't properly taken care of."

Elizabeth straightened and gave him a nod. "You're very observant Doctor."

He smiled, again with that same almost smug countenance. "I am, and as a doctor it's my job to make observations."

She smiled, but out of hostility, and remained quiet.

"Well…" He continued. "Aren't you going to elaborate?"

"And why should I?" she retorted, chin held up.

He quickly blew air from his flared nostrils. "I've been dragged – by you – into his carriage, dropped my duties in the court, and have a very long, very rough ride with a woman I've never met. The least you could do is explain yourself."

Elizabeth's jaw tightened in disaprovement. She cocked an eyebrow and hastily replied. "You sir, obliged to come, no one did any dragging. You also consented to leave your court. And I have told you everything you are at liberty to know about myself. Anything else is irrelevant."

He crossed his arms and remained looking at her. The small quarrel was heightened with each personality. Elizabeth's independence is what was driving him to ask questions, almost offending him, that she was so outspoken. But to Elizabeth, the doctor's haughty attitude drove her to disagree with him. They were bound to butt heads. As they sat, their eyes remained locked, almost as if they were in a duel without words, neither willing to back down.

"I don't believe your reasons for quitting medicine." She said.

"I don't expect you to understand anything." He replied shortly.

Elizabeth burned and her fists balled up as an automatic response. "Is that an insult to my gender?"

"Take it as what you like." He said looking away once more.

She paused, even though there was obvious tension between them, she could tell this was a sore subject with him and aimed on hitting it. "Well lets see if I can scrounge up the truth…" she searched the air for answers. "It could very well be the money, but that's a poor excuse…" Elizabeth tired many scenarios just to see his reaction, nothing had made a difference until: " I know…one of your patients died."

Dr. Adams turned and glared at the young woman, his eyes were slits, and he swallowed hard. "Don't talk of what you don't know lass."

She nodded, almost proud of herself for finding his weakness. For the entire ride this man was set on driving her into the ground, trying to make her feel small, and now it was her turn. "So that's it, isn't it?"

He shook his head silently and turned away again.

"Oh come on." She breathed. "Well…. Aren't you going to elaborate?" she said, mocking the tone in his voice from earlier.

He turned quickly and almost yelling, replied. "Are you really not going to shut up about it until I tell you?"

She smiled devilishly and shook her head.

"It was my wife!" he shouted. Elizabeth was taken back…and took her place, sitting back. Dr. Adams paused again, and spoke quietly and solemn expressions on his face. "She died five years ago. She trusted me to heal her… she trusted me…." He hid his face, not wanting her to see the tears forming in his eyes. "I swore off medicine…" Then he looked at her and tilted his head slightly. "Mrs. Turner, do you know the difference in being a man of law and a doctor?"

She sat silently; her doe eyes were filling with tears as well.

"When you're a doctor…. They bury your mistakes."

Elizabeth bit her lip. She felt ashamed of herself. Usually Elizabeth was never like that, even when her and Will were children and they would quarrel, it never became out of hand or cruel. There was just something about this man that rubbed her the wrong way. It was something in his voice. But back in Port Royal she had grown accustom to dealing with men like this…assuming that a woman was an ignorant creature and had no place in a 'Man's World'

"Doctor, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken that way to you. I'm forgetting that you're doing me a service. You must think me ungrateful."

The hostility in his eyes faded when he saw her sincerity. He noticed that she now didn't look him in the eye as she had done before.

"No… No Mrs. Turner I don't think you ungrateful. But when I said you weren't like other women I wasn't lying. I don't think I've met one quite like you." He gave her a small smile. As Elizabeth returned it, there was a silent mutual understanding that all was well between them.

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As soon as Elizabeth entered the home she made her way to the stairs and spoke behind her. "Right this way doctor, follow me." But the doctor didn't follow; he walked at a slow pace behind Elizabeth, taking in his surroundings. While she took the steps, almost two at a time until she reached the bedroom door. She quickly knocked and entered to see Lucy asleep on the nearby chair. Her head lifted when she heard Elizabeth come in. But Liz paid no attention; her focus was directed to Will, still motionless in the bed.

"How is he Lucy?" she asked while stroking his matted hair. There was no answer from behind her. Liz turned, worried, to her friend. "Lucy?"

She looked into her eyes reluctantly. " He…. He's alive." She tried to give her a reassuring smile. Elizabeth looked back into her loves face and looked over him again and again, attempting to retain every part of his features. "He is worsening…" she breathed.

In the doorway, the Doctor cleared his throat. Lucy turned around. "Oh, hello, who might this be?"

Elizabeth stood from the bed and walked towards them. "Lucy, this is Dr. Adams, he's come to assist us."

"Very nice to meet you sir, thank you so much for coming." Spoke Lucy mildly.

"Its my pleasure." He said, feeling slightly out of place and awkward. Then he looked over to the young man lying on the bed. "Do you mind if I take a look?"

"No not at all, please." Elizabeth said, moving to the side so he could approach the bed.

The doctor set his bag on a nearby table; he removed his glasses from his coat pocket. Lucy took Liz by her shoulders. "Elizabeth you shouldn't be in here, we've discussed this. Come, we'll sit in the parlor." Lucy hastily tried to move Liz toward the door, who was slightly resisting. But the doctor spoke and they both paused. " No need to worry Mrs. Turner… I will do the best of my ability." As he said this, the understanding smile returned and Elizabeth nodded in agreement. The door shut behind the two women and Dr. Adams turned to his patient and took a deep breath. " Lord be with me… give me strength and save this boys life."