A/N: New chapter up, FINALLY! I know it isn't exactly cheery but Happy Holidays anyway! :D Haha I accidently posted this before it was ready and had to take it down, sorry XP

Keybladeboy, JDElliotForever, HazelInDespair, razmataz13drums, runs with fire, and My-Alphabet-Soup are all sexier than you.


Grief is one thing Bob Kelso has had to deal with for years.

But not since the unexpected death of Nurse Roberts had there been so much of it wallowed up inside the hospital at one time.

As chief of medicine, he had an image he was obligated to keep; an image of perseverance and resolution in times of hardship. It was his duty to lead everyone else through this. He couldn't falter. For the wellbeing of the hospital…he would not falter.

It felt impossible.

The emotional state of Sacred Heart was in shambles. Employees and patients alike were constantly on the edge of a mental breakdown, a good portion of the former not even coming in for work…especially for the night shifts.

Bob leaned his elbows on his desk's smooth, mahogany surface, his lined face buried into his worn hands. Could he honestly blame them? The panicked and fearful atmosphere was not quelled by police and detectives inspecting the halls, ruthlessly interrogating already hysteric people. Everyone seemed to be affected by Dorian's death.

Even him. Just today, he'd found himself avoiding one hall in particular, the third one.

The body had been found in the doctor's lounge.

His skin crawled at the use of the word, 'body'. It was filled with such emotional detachment, devoid of any feeling or sympathy.

"Sir…"

Any other day, Bob would have been annoyed at a sudden interruption of his thoughts, but considering the subject he was thinking about, he welcomed the intrusion.

He rubbed his eyes with a thumb and forefinger. "What is it, Ted?"

Like the majority of the other hospital workers, the lawyer looked terrible. All that was left of his hair was disarrayed and un-kept. Dark circles were clearly visable under his eyes from lack of sleep and talking to the detectives.

Ted slid a thin, beige colored folder towards him. "It's Nurse Martinez's resignation form."

Bob nodded. It wasn't the first person who had decided to leave due to the events in the past few days. "You aren't going to quit too, are you, Ted?"

The corner of Ted's mouth twitched slightly; a failed attempt at a smile perhaps?

"You know I'd never be able to go through with it, sir," he said. His voice came off oddly flat, even for him.

"I know," Kelso agreed for the sake of keeping up with appearences.

After the other man had left, Bob was alone in his office again. He looked at his watch before sighing wearily.

---

11:47 p.m.

---

The Janitor took a few quick glances over each shoulder before continuing down one of the only abandoned hallways left in Sacred Heart. Since two days ago, people have been instinctively staying in groups; safety in numbers after all. The late time didn't help either. Sacred Heart was the hospital that dreaded sundown.

The custodian gripped the handle of his mop tightly, bracing it in front of him, almost like it was a weapon. He struggled to keep his heartbeat normal as he closed the distance between himself and the bright, yellow police tape that was sectioning off the area in front of what used to be the doctor's break-room.

He didn't know why he wanted to see it…some morbid curiosity maybe? The need to see where the kid had spent his final minutes of life?

Deep down, the Janitor knew that neither of those were the reason.

He clenched his hold on the mop even tighter, making the rough, wooden handle scrape his calloused palm. He knew the real reason he came here tonight.

At last the Janitor reached the tape. Up close, the color seemed sickly, almost abrasive. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand uncomfortably on end. Did he just hear something? He looked around wildly, scanning down each end of the corridor with his eyes and saw nothing.

No cops, no doctors, no one.

Taking a steadying breath, he stepped cautiously over the tape and gaped at the room with horror.

Scooter died here

Blinking his eyes furiously, he tore his gaze away from the sight and walked back into the hallway. His stomach churned nauseously and he slumped against the wall, mop still held relentlessly in one hand. Janitors don't cry. Wiping his face hastily with one sleeve, he turned to leave before stopping in his tracks, heart climbing into his throat.

A lone figure stood silently at the end of the hallway.


A/N: Yep, cliffhanger! Please review and tell me how you like it! (By the way, I'm trying to get all the 'boring' characters' reactions done first to make room for all the Perry angst; no worries) :P And have a Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah! :)