A/N: So this chapter is really really really, a thousand more reallys, short. Because I just randomly decided that I didn't want to write anymore. I've had a bad couple of days and I'm completely exhausted. So...you may not get a new chapter for, like, a week. I have a whole other fic in a whole other category that I need to finish or at least work on. I almost deleted every one of my stories because I was having a bad day. Then, when I woke up the next morning, I was really glad that I fell asleep before I actually got a chance to do it. So that's my explanation.

Parental Obligations: Of Doctors and Guilt

Edward Howard had gotten his medical license pulled when he got caught giving out medications to anyone that had money. Since then, he had been taking any work he could get to get his family out of the financial hellhole they were in.

When the boss called, you came running. It was just something you did, whether it was from the chance of a nice payoff or from fear of getting a bullet between your eyes for disobedience. The boss had a bad temper.

Gripping his bag, he knocked on the apartment. The door was answered immediately, almost as if the boss had been waiting for him. "Boss," Edward said, nodding his head in acknowledgement.

Kenneth tried to keep the anxiety out of his eyes. "Come in, Ed." He opened the door wider to allow the other man access and shut and locked it when the man was in. "Back here."

Ed followed Kenneth into the room and almost dropped his bag in shock. Even though he was a bit crooked, his mind started taking in the injuries of the young girl laying on the bed. Her eyes were almost swelled shut and her face was a myriad of different colors. Add to that the fact that there was a blood soaked bandage and the girl looked well and thoroughly broken.

"She fell," Kenneth said. "She fell and I think she might have a concussion."

Ed kneeled beside the bed and noticed that the girl had a small version of herself curled up beside her, sleeping. "Miss?"

"I'm awake," Elizabeth muttered. "I wish I wasn't, but I'm awake."

Ed smiled slightly and used his pen light to test her reactions. It was difficult because of how swelled her face was, but he managed to get the right reactions from her pupils. "There's no way to tell how much damage was done," he hissed when he peeled back the bandage. The gash in her head looked downright painful, "unless you get her to the hospital for tests. And this needs to be sewn up."

Kenneth tapped his foot impatiently, thinking. He looked between Elizabeth, Sam, and Dr. Ed. Ed looked quite serious about Elizabeth needing to go to the hospital, and Elizabeth just looked bruised and hurt. "Do you have what you need to sew her up?" he finally asked.

"What?" Ed shook his head. "I don't have anaesthesia—"

"She'll be fine," Kenneth said. "Just sew her up."

He left Ed in the room with Elizabeth and Samantha. "I—I don't think this is such a good idea," Ed muttered quietly.

"If you don't do it, he might shoot you," Elizabeth pointed out. She knew from the way Ed was acting that he was afraid of Kenneth. Add to that the fact that Kenneth had a temper and she could pretty much sum up Ed's fears.

Ed looked down at the girl and felt a stab of guilt. She was trying to look out for him while laying on a bed, looking like someone had played punching bag with her face. "It's going to hurt," he warned.

"I can take it," Elizabeth assured him, though she wasn't sure she could.

Ed threaded the needle. Looking around, he picked up a pillow. "You might want to grip this while I do this. It's really going to hurt."

Elizabeth tried not to cry, but she was pretty sure a few tears leaked out. She was just glad that Sam was asleep so she didn't have to hear or see her.

"Done," Ed said quietly. It had taken five stitches, and Elizabeth had barely made a sound. "So, what's your name?"

"Elizabeth," she gasped. "Elizabeth Monroe."

Ed patted her hand. He wished he could give her a lolly pop or a teddy bear, but it probably wouldn't help. "I'm Dr. Ed."

Elizabeth turned her head to look at him. "Better get going, Dr. Ed. Things to do, money to earn."

The guilty feeling increased as he stood up to go. "Bye, sweetheart. You were better than some of my grown patients. And that's with the drugs."

"Good to know I'm so well-behaved," Elizabeth said, attempting a smile. It was too painful and ended up looking more like a grimace.

Ed exited the room and almost ran into Kenneth. "She should really be taken to the hospital. Any number of things could have happened in the fall, and—"

Kenneth silently handed him a thousand dollars in cash. "Not a word to anyone about this," he warned. "Goodbye, Dr. Howard."

The title sounded like a mockery as well as a cold dismissal and Ed's stomach clenched as he left the apartment. The boss was good to those that worked for him, treating them fairly in their criminal activities, but everyone knew he wouldn't stand for disobedience. That, combined with his temper, made Ed's heart go out to the girl.

But he couldn't go to the police. Kenneth would eat him alive.

TBC…This is very brief just because. I'm too lazy to write anything else. Hmm, maybe I should combine those two sentences, but no. Anyway, Dr. Ed was the one Kenneth called. I think I might like Dr. Ed. Oh, yeah, and sorry if there are any mistakes. I usually read and reread and read the story again, along with having it beta-ed, but I only got it beta-ed. Maybe I'll read it tomorrow. I dunno.