Chapter 6

There was a long wait as the police officers arranged for a van to take the children to Rampart. Roy requested that his wife be allowed to accompany their daughter and Miss Marlow acted as if she didn't like the idea but then allowed it. The other two children were clearly frightened and worried about their mother asking several times to any one who would answer if they thought she was going to be alright.

Jenny was clearly aware she was in trouble for not coming home after school and was nervous about her parents. Roy was beginning to realize that she had a good reason for getting off at a different stop but one of his first fears about his daughter learning first aid had just come true. Some one came to her for help and the situation was over and above what she was or should at her age be trained to handle.

The fact that she was obviously safe brought some calm but why were they taking her into custody? What exactly had she done? What did she know that could get her into yet more trouble?

Roy helped his wife into the van after the children were loaded and then as soon as the van pulled out and headed off Roy started to run for home and his car. Roy was less than half a block away when he heard a police siren behind him and after he got a hold of himself he turned around to see Vince Howard driving a police car behind him. Once he was stopped Vince pulled up a long side of him and offered him a ride home.

Knowing Vince as a friend Roy was quick to climb in the open car door and he didn't think twice when Vince radioed in to his dispatch telling them he was delivering a passenger to his home, Then Vince Got Roy's complete attention.

"I could get in trouble for saying this so listen hard because I've only got time to say it once. Miss Marlow is the self proclaimed defender of the exploited child she's been the one to take on the movie studios that film under age girls and the parents that push their kids to try out for TV and Modeling to the point of driving them anorexic. She's been heard more than once to speak of your daughter as one of those kids and now she thinks she has a chance to prove it. I wouldn't take your son with you to the hospital and when she talks to you what ever you do don't get angry with her or lie to her." Vince pulled over in front of Roy's house. "I'm pretty sure your daughter will be sleeping in her own house tonight if you do what you're told."

Vince reached across Roy's chest and opened the car door for him and Roy just nod and got out knowing the ride and the conversation was over.

Roy got out and shut the door then Vince drove away.

"Where's Jenny and your wife?" Hank asked in confusion.

"Is Jenny okay dad? Please tell me Jenny is okay dad." Chris called and pleaded as he took a hold of his father's arm.

"Yes Jenny is all right, she got off at another stop to help someone," Roy started to explain as he ruffled his son's hair. "I need you to go pack an over night bag for yourself you only have five minutes. Now go hurry." Roy gave his son a gentle shove and watched as he ran into the house.

"What's going on Roy?" Hank asked as soon as Chris was in the house.

"They took Jenny into custody. Vince thinks she's being taken in response to the commercials she and Chris have been making. They let JoAnne go with her to the hospital but there's two other children with her and one of them looked like he's really been used as a punching bag. Their mother was taken in to Rampart just as we got there. The medic driving the squad said that it's going to be close and that the women was mixing drugs that don't go together." "I don't really want to take Chris to the hospital with me, can you take him home with you or to Johnny's I know he'll look after him?"

"He'll be taken care of," Hank assured his friend, "You just worry about what you need to do for your daughter and wife."

Chris came running from the house with three minutes to spare on his five minute time limit. He carried a small duffel bag in one hand and a sleeping bag in his other.

Roy knelt down in front of his son and placed his hands on his shoulders, "Your sister really is just fine. I couldn't see even the slightest scratch on her but the police took her into custody and took her to the hospital with two other children to be checked out and to talk with her to find out everything she knows. Your mom went with her and I'm going to go to the hospital to wait until I can bring them both home. I have no idea how long it will take. I want you to go with Captain Stanley here and he'll see to it that you're taken care of until I can come get you okay."

"Yeah dad, I'll be real good," Chris responded to his father trying to stand a little taller than he really was. "Dad, I'm real sorry about not watching out for Jen, I should have seen her get off at another stop and told you right away where to find her."

"Things like that happen son don't worry about it. Like I said your sister is just fine. She knows some things that she needs to tell the police that's all." Roy placed one hand at the side of his son's face and rubbed then he pulled him to his chest and held him tight. "Everything is going to be alright son." Roy said as he rubbed his son's back.

Finally Roy handed his son's sleeping bag over to his captain with a promise to call him as soon as he knew anything and then climbed into his wife's station wagon and headed for the hospital.

Hank loaded the sleeping bag into his truck then helped the young boy in after it before getting behind the wheel to drive. He was half way to his home trying to make small talk with the young boy but still Chris hadn't said a word. That's when he made the turn that would take him to John Gage's apartment.

Hank was relieved to see John's rover in his parking stall as he drove up and with out worrying about the sleeping bag lifted Chris down and walked him up to John's door hoping that he wasn't entertaining.

When John responded to the knock on the door Chris flung his arms around John's waist and started crying and Cap knew he had made the right choice.

It didn't take long at all for Chris to tell Johnny all that had happened through his tears and John was quick to move him over to the sofa where they could all sit down and talk. Cap filled in a few of the missed details and then there was the decision of where young Chris was going to stay. Johnny quickly accepted the responsibility for the young boy and Cap retrieved his sleeping bag before telling Johnny that he planned to be in contact with Roy as soon as Roy knew anything and then he'd tell him Chris was with Johnny and why.

00000

At the hospital the three children were quickly separated and each assigned their own evaluation team that included a doctor, a nurse and either a police officer or an agent from Child Protective Services. Dr. Morton was assigned to Jenny and Dixie was at his side as a favor to one of her favorite paramedics.

"Dixie," Jenny got her attention. "Is Tracy all right, she was really scared?"

"She is being looked over by Dr. Varner." Dixie told the young girl with her usual sweet smile.

"Could you go be her nurse, I know you can make her feel better and help her know that your doing all that can be done for her mommy. I'm alright any nurse can help for me."

Dixie turned to Miss Marlow sitting against the wall taking notes and noticed the stunned expression in her face before responding to Jenny's request. "Sure sweetheart, just let me find someone to help Dr. Morton."

Dixie stuck her head out the door and found a nurse walking by. "Sally would you please assist Dr. Morton with his exam."

Then Dixie was on her way to Tracy's room.

Dr. Early had claimed the right to look young Allen over since he had treated him a few days earlier. As he stepped into the treatment room he found the boy fighting the nurse's efforts to lay him down on the treatment table.

Dr. Early waved the nurse off and then pulled up a stool and sat in front of the young man placing his hands on the treatment table at each side of his patient.

"It's alright Allen no one is going to hurt you," Dr Early assured.

"My Mom doesn't have insurance, you're not going to let her die are you?" the Boy cried as he spilled his biggest concern. "Please help her, I'll get a job and pay for it if it takes me the rest of my life. Please don't let her die." The boy's tears were streaming down his face and his eyes pleaded with Dr. Early as much or more than his words did.

Dr. Early took the young boy's face in his hands carefully so he wouldn't hurt the injuries he had, "Your mother is going to get the best of care available at this hospital. She's being looked after by one of the best Doctors in the state. And as far as the medical bills we'll work something out later. But not having insurance is not going to keep your mom from getting the help that she needs. Do you understand me?"

Allen looked his Dr. over and Joe could tell that he was trying to decide if he was telling the truth, then finally he nod his head and started crying and Joe just pulled him into his chest and let him get it out of his system before he gave him a full examination.

Roy arrived and found his wife in the waiting area trying to read a magazine and went to her side. With his arm around her shoulders he watched all the nurses, technicians and supplies going in and out of treatment room 1 and was certain that the other children's mother was the patient there. His biggest concern came when he saw a nurse hurry in with several pints of blood. Finally Dr. Brackett stepped out and after giving some orders to a nearby nurse watched as his patient hooked up to every machine and tube possible was wheeled out and toward the elevator.

Roy watched the floor indicator above the elevator and knew by the floor it stopped on that the patient was being sent to surgery.

When Dr. Brackett noticed that his patient had reached her destination and knew she was now in the hands of the next doctor, he turned to see where he was needed next. That's when he noticed Roy and his wife in the waiting room and started in their direction.

As soon as Roy noticed Dr. Brackett coming in his direction he rose to his feet and JoAnne was soon on her feet at his side. Brackett waved with his hand indicating they should sit back down and was soon sitting at their side.

"That daughter of yours did it again." Kell started out, "She called in then pushed to talk to someone here at the hospital and by the time the paramedics were there I had all the information I needed to start treatment." Kell smiled and shook his head slightly. "The medics out of 36 couldn't understand why I was waiting on the phone with orders for them when they arrived."

"Can you tell us anything about our daughter?" Roy asked, "They took her into custody along with the woman's two children and we haven't heard anything since we got here."

"Was she hurt?" Dr. Brackett asked with concern.

"Not that I could tell," Roy answered.

"No not at all," JoAnne added, "On the ride in she was just worried about the other two children."

"I'll go see what I can find out," Dr. Brackett offered and then got up and left.