Chapter 2

A Week Later

After getting settled into a good routine, Kayla had all but forgot about her family problems, however that was about to change. Outside a woman stood on the sidewalk; she was trying to decide just how to approach Kayla about her mother. Deciding to just say it; she entered the ER and upon spotting Kayla with her back towards her speaking with a nurse calmly spoke, "May I speak with you?"

"No, I have things to do." She said walking away. This didn't seem to be good enough as her wrist was grabbed in a vise like grip. She felt a slight pain go through it, but didn't let it show.

Luka appeared at that moment, "Release her now" he all but shouted.

"Leave now" Kayla got out between clenched teeth. Luka stepped up and got her into an exam room, so he could get a look at her wrist.

Exam Room

Luka got her onto the exam table and began examining her wrist stopping when he found a very tender spot, "You should get an x-ray"

"If you think that's best." Upon looking at the x-ray, they both saw a bone chip in her wrist that needed to be removed. Bringing her back to the ER, he paged a surgeon. When Dr. Peter Benton entered the exam room, he spoke sharply, "Kovac, what's with the emergency page?"

"She's a member of our staff and she's in pain."

"Let me see the x-ray" After a brief exam, he decided to remove the bone chip now and if she felt up to it she could resume work that evening.

Two Hours Later

As Kayla woke from the sedative she had been given during the procedure Dr. Benton stood watching her. "How are you feeling, Kayla?"

"Groggy but otherwise okay"

"If you feel up to it you can return to the ER, however you will need to keep you wrist elevated and iced.

"What time is it now?"

"3:45 p.m."

"I'll just get changed then"

"Do you need a nurse to assist you?"

"No, getting dressed after shoulder surgery was harder than this"

"I'll come back with the sling and a new ice pack in about five minutes."

After she was dressed, Dr. Benton returned with the sling and ice. After helping her get the sling and ice pack properly positioned, he gave her a script for pain medication. At four p.m. Kayla was signing in at the desk when Luka spotted her, "Kayla, are you sure you want to work tonight?"

"Yes, I need the distraction"

"Tonight, you will be assisting Abby" Just then Abby spotted Kayla and informed her that they had a patient in exam two. As they walked to the exam room, Abby spoke, "Are you sure you're ok?"

"It doesn't hurt that much"

"If you need to take a break, just let me know" Two hours later, Kayla had found it quite easy to work one-handed. It was an hour to the end of her shift when her father's former boss reappeared, to her surprise, Kayla's arm was in a sling and an ice pack was covering her wrist. Looking up, Kayla was quite shocked to see her standing in the ER hallway. Kayla spoke, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What happened to your wrist?"

"You chipped a bone in my wrist"

"I'm sorry; I wasn't trying to hurt you"

"Well, you did. One of our surgeons removed that bone chip five hours ago."

"And you're working so soon?"

"What do you want?"

"Your mother's dying"

"What a surprise she's supposedly dying at least once a year." she said passively.

"No, this time is real. Kayla you need to come home"

"After she tried to kill me, No now leave or I will phone security"

At the end of Kayla's shift, she headed home after getting her meds at the pharmacy. Upon arrival at her apartment, she was shocked to see the woman and her father standing on her front steps, "Both of you, leave now or I will phone the police." She stated producing her cell phone to make her intentions clear, when without warning her father lunged at her and started beating her. At some point she blacked out.