David adjusted the drip that led into Erica's arm and looked at his watch.
"I know you're awake Erica, so you might as well stop faking. I reversed the sedative half an hour ago."
Slowly Erica opened her eyes.
"Why have you abducted me?" Erica asked, her voice weak and croaky but her eyes were like daggers glaring at David.
"I didn't abduct you." said David. "Jackson forced you on me. No, that's not true. We came to an arrangement."
"Jackson?" Erica asked, and then she remembered. "He left me! And then… and then…"
"And then you and a lot of other good people got shot."
"How long have I been here?" asked Erica, clearly still disorientated.
"Here, only a week or so…"
Erica looked relieved.
"…but you have been in a coma in Pine Valley Hospital for almost seven months. You were very seriously injured."
Erica was silent as the news sank in.
"Bianca and Kendall, are they alright?" she asked eventually.
"Bianca was shot in the neck and left paralysed, but I saved her. She can walk again with minimal aid."
"Paralysed?"
David carried on, ignoring her question.
"Kendall was unhurt, but Zack was killed outright. So was Greenlee and so was Angie."
"Oh god! I… I have to go. I have to get back to my girls."
"I can't let you leave until your treatment is finished Erica. There is still the question of nerve damage. I have you on a high strength pain killer at the moment. We need to gradually reduce your dosage to assess the effectiveness of the Orpheus treatment. That is why you are conscious, we need to work together on this."
"I don't care about any treatment. I need to see my daughters."
"Well I care." said David simply.
Erica's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Why?"
"Simple. Because if I don't get you back to Jackson fully healed he won't give me back my hospital!"
…