Brian looked up from his position on the long, wooden bench that ran against the wall of the corridor. His expression was gloomy and fearful, as his shoes scuffed along the top of the floor.
He heard the large door, which led into Michaela's room, open, and waited until the young, friendly nurse had taken several steps into the hallway, before he tentatively voiced his request.
"Can I see Ma now? Please?" His voice quiet and as appealing as he could manage.
"I suppose so. The doctor's just finished, and she's nicely tucked into bed, so I'm sure he won't mind you sitting with her," Eva knocked back on the door; her request approved within moments.
"The doctor says that's fine, sweetheart," The young nurse ushered the boy into the room and guided him to a seat by his mother's bedside.
"Ma?" Brian pulled his chair closer and reached nervously for her right hand. He expected her to stir, as she would have, had she been merely asleep.
"You need to let her rest awhile longer, son," Dr Hodge continued to write in Michaela's notes for several minutes. His eyes flickered occasionally between the devoted child, and the detailed report in front of him.
"How come she won't wake up? Is she hurt again? Is the baby all right?" Brian frowned, trying to consider every possible alternative, hoping for a reasonable reply.
"Son, your mother took some medicine, very strong medicine, which she shouldn't have taken, and which is making her sleep." The Doctor crossed the room and rested his hand on the back of the child's chair. "Has your mother done anything like this before? Taken medicine when you don't think she should?" Dr Hodge was not sure whether he expected any sort of sensible response from the boy; however, was intrigued by the child's openness and genuine concern.
"No, sir. She's been really tired sometimes though, and she ain't normally like that," Brian thought carefully, remembering Michaela's short-temper and unusual fatigue.
"Well, now that's perfectly normal when a woman is expecting a baby. Son, we, need to contact your family. Dr Campbell, the doctor you came in with, said you were staying at the Radisson. Where are you from?" Dr Hodge knelt down to the boy's level, to appear less threatening.
"Colorado, sir. That's where my brother and sister are. It's really scary all this happening on my own. The man at the hotel said he was gonna wire my brother but what if he can't get here?" Brian's chin trembled as he turned back to Michaela, a petrified look of anxiety frozen onto his usually animated face.
"And what about your father?" Dr Hodge specified more precisely, his eyes narrowing slightly, as the child shrugged in confusion.
"Don't got a pa, sir. Not yet, anyway. Just me and Matthew and Colleen and Ma," Brian sighed, feeling more isolated as he stated their names clearly.
"Oh?" Hugo failed to conceal his surprise, having at least expected the child to state that his father was dead, if not some other plausible reason for his absence. "What about family? Isn't your mother from Boston?" He changed the subject swiftly, seeing the child's face slowly reanimate.
"Yes sir, she only came to Colorado when I was seven. She used to work here, with my Grandpa 'til he died," Brian pulled the corner of his mouth into a pout, and turned away from the Doctor once again.
"I see, so she is not your real mother?" Hugo felt several pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, realizing that the Michaela Quinn he'd discussed with his colleagues earlier was indeed the woman that lay before him.
"Uh-uh, my real Ma died two years ago. Dr Mike tried to save her. Ma asked Dr Mike to look after us, so she became our Ma," Brian tightened his grip on Michaela's hand.
Dr Hodge rose from his crouched position to his feet and turned around as he heard the nurse enter the room behind him.
"Sorry, Doctor, I didn't realize you were still here," Eva whispered, however remained in the doorway as she realized she'd disturbed them in conversation.
"No, that's quite all right, we're finished. Son, we need to contact someone to come and look after you for a while. What family have you here?" Hugo kept his voice low and placid, and waited whilst the young boy considered the question before eventually responding.
"When we were here last year, there was Grandma and all Ma's sisters and their families, but Ma said she didn't want Grandma to know we're here. She asked for Aunt Rebecca, that's her big sister. Can't you get her? She's real nice. She'll fix everything." Brian was startled at the sound of the older doctor entering the room after the nurse. The psychiatrist indicated for Dr Hodge to join him in consultation for several moments.
Brian watched the two men as they whispered amongst themselves, before they eventually turned back to him and the nurse.
"What's her name, son?" Dr Hodge pressed, whereas Dr Edwards appeared far less interested as he began unfolding several bandages he'd carried in with him.
"I don't know. Ma just said Rebecca," Brian grew concerned, aware of the doctors' frustrations at his unhelpful answers.
"Son, that really doesn't," Dr Hodge was interrupted by the nurse's tentative voice behind him.
"Doctor, I do apologize, I was talking with Dr Campbell earlier. If the patient is the late Dr Quinn's daughter, then, her mother, Elizabeth Quinn, was a patient here a year ago. She's a widow, her daughter might be listed as a next of kin," The young nurse blushed at her presumptuousness, however, saw the young child's face brighten immediately.
"Yes, that's Grandma. I remember, Ma made her better when she was sick. Can you get Aunt Rebecca to come? Please, sir?" Brian looked back up at the younger physician, who had been astounded by the rapid pace in which events had transpired.
"We'll do our best, son. Dr Edwards, I shall be outside, organizing the relevant notification," Hugo waited for a nod of recognition from the senior physician, before he directed the nurse out into the corridor and followed after her.
Brian waited several moments in silence, as he watched the older doctor tie the twisted bandage to the edge of the far side of the bed. The young boy forced himself to remain quiet, until he was able to take in the exact nature of what was happening in front of him. It wasn't until the doctor tightly secured the bandage around Michaela's left wrist, that Brian felt objection was warranted.
"Sir, why you gotta do that?" He frowned in confusion, and could merely watch in silence, as the physician paced around to the side of the bed and repeated the restraint application. Brian's concern grew as the lingering silence increased, thinking he wouldn't receive a reply.
"Because, son, your mother has behaved very foolishly and we need to ensure she isn't likely to do so again," Dr Edward's reply was emotionless and curt. Brian's worry was strengthened by the sharpness in the man's voice.
"She ain't gonna like you tying her wrists like that. Why you actin' like she's done somethin' wrong if she's sick?" Brian grappled with the complex situation, as he slipped his hands tightly under his legs and again began to chew on his lower lip.
"I'm afraid that is her own fault. Your mother made herself ill on purpose, and we have to ensure she's not given the chance to hurt herself or her baby any further," The psychiatrist checked the woman's pulse and breathing a final time, before he made several short notes in her chart and departed from the room, without so much as a glance of recognition to the very bewildered and frightened child.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
"There ya go. Two whiskeys," Hank slid the small glasses across the table, and received his payment with a small chuckle of gratitude.
"Thanks." He dropped the coins protectively into the small black tin under the counter, and looked up as he heard the doors open across the room.
"Evenin' there, Jake. thought you'd decided to take a break from the warmth and charm of my little establishment," Hank grinned proudly and gestured around the noisy room mockingly. It wasn't the ambiance to which he was referring, rather the specific alcoholic-related beverages.
"Shut up and pour me a whiskey." Jake shook his head in frustration, trying to rid himself of the contents that had been plaguing his mind for the past few hours.
"All right, all right, no need to get nasty. Here," Hank quickly filled the nearby glass and sat it down in front of the barber with a small smirk.
"That ain't nasty," Jake dismissed harshly and downed the contents of the small glass in a single motion. "Another." He slid the glass back towards the bartender and watched as it was hesitantly refilled.
"Jumpin' off that wagon tonight, ain't ya," Hank muttered, as he watched Jake empty the second shot with equal speed.
"Maybe I am. You got a problem with that," Jake narrowed his eyes, and moved the glass in a deliberate movement back to Hank.
"Ain't me that's gonna have the problem, never did. You don't wanna get sick again though. Michaela ain't gonna be happy, she comes back and you're drinkin' again," Hank reluctantly refilled the small glass yet again.
"Don't drag her into this, she ain't even here," Jake downed the contents of the third shot in a single mouthful, as Hank picked up on the anger in his voice.
"Hey, calm down, all right. Take a seat. Poker game just about to start up, ya interested?" Hank placed the cork back on the bottle of whiskey, not about to refill Jake's glass any time soon.
"I, I dunno, don't really want," Jake shook his head, still lost in his confused thoughts.
"Well, ya ain't havin' anything more to drink for a while, so why don't ya just, here," Hank shrugged and offered a cigar to the barber. "Got 'em fresh in this morning, relax for a bit," Jake reluctantly accepted the cigar, and, after he retrieved another from the tin behind the bar, both men lit up.
"Thanks," Jake felt his thinking begin to cloud, as the warm veil of alcohol soothed him and dulled the painful images from his mind.
"Not a problem. Hey, it really true Sully had ya cut all his hair today?" Hank chuckled, trying to make light conversation.
"Yeah, so?" Jake cleared his throat and drew back on the cigar slowly.
"Got everyone mighty stirred up. Now, it's no secret me and Sully ain't exactly friends but, still, think him doin' something like that is mighty drastic, even for him," Hank leaned in closer, and the bemused smile of curiosity returned to his face. "Is it true he and the kids gone after Michaela and Brian?" He raised a single eyebrow and took a puff of his cigar as he awaited Jake's reply.
"How should I know?" Jake tapped his left hand harshly against the wooden edge of the bar, knowing full well, but not wishing to discuss it.
"Well you, ah, did the deed, so to speak. Reckon he musta told ya why he was doin' it?" Hank licked his lower lip, unable to resist obtaining some new gossip to pass around.
"Hank, it ain't anythin' to do with you. In fact, ain't anyone's business! So why don't ya just butt out, stop interferin' in everyone's lives!" Jake angrily tossed the half-smoked cigar into the nearby spittoon, and stood, knocking the chair loudly to the ground behind him. "All a ya! Just mind ya own business!" He turned to the dozen or so onlookers around them. "Just worry about your own lives and just leave everyone else to do the same!" He adjusted his footing, momentarily unsteady on his feet from the alcohol.
Hank frowned immediately when he saw the fury in Jake's eyes and heard the aggression in his voice. "Think you better leave, Jake. Go home, sleep it off," The bartender gestured towards the front porch. Jake let his eyes drift slowly from Hank's stern stance, to the Saloon entrance. He took a long time to decide on his course of action.
"Fine, got better stuff tucked away at my place anyway. Don't know why I was thinking I wanted company," Jake moved with a very slight stagger towards the door, Hank not satisfied until he'd left the premises.
"Just don't expect me to be holdin' ya hand if ya get sick again! On ya own this time!" he bellowed, although pretty certain that Jake had not heard his warning. Throwing a handful of hair back over his shoulder, Hank dismissed the events, and quickly turned his attention back to organizing the evening's poker game.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
The two doctors remained locked in hushed conversation at the end of the bed, as Brian kept vigil by his mother's bedside.
"From the examination I conducted, there was no evidence of cervical dilation or any other trauma to the fetus, however," Dr Hodge frowned and lowered his voice further, "there is significant internal scarring. Possibly indicative of previous delivery," Dr Hodge folded his arms across his chest, as the older psychiatrist absorbed the information.
"I wasn't aware of her having other children. Son?" He paced around from the end of the bed and addressed the quiet boy.
"Sir?" Brian's mouth twitched nervously as he leaned back from Michaela's bedside.
"Son, does your mother have any other children, of her own?" Dr Edwards forced any intimidation to drop from his facial expression as he waited patiently for the child's hesitant reply.
"No, sir. Ma and Sully were gonna be gettin' married, but she's been really mad at him, so don't think they are anymore. Then Ma said we were comin' here, and that's when I found out she's havin' a baby," Brian swallowed, seeing the look of fury cross the physician's face.
"Right," he mumbled, and rushed quickly back to Dr Hodge's side. Their conversation continued, still in a hushed, yet forceful manner. "Sounds like she's disgraced herself well and truly," Dr Edwards moved his head to the side, and tapped his fingers lightly against the edge of his gray beard. "and been trying to abort this pregnancy for months, from the physical evidence presented." He turned at the sound of the door opening behind him.
"Excuse me, doctors. Mrs. Dickinson has just arrived," Eva poked her head through the ajar door, and waited patiently for a response.
"Thank-you. Please, show her in," Dr Hodge gestured to the large room, as the nurse nodded and opened the door completely.
Brian raised his head at the sound of the nurse's voice, not having recognized the name until the tall, brown-haired woman stepped cautiously into the room behind her. "Aunt Rebecca!" His eyes widened in unshielded relief, as he sprung to his feet and ran across the room to throw himself into her arms in a tight embrace.
"Brian? I don't understand. Michaela?" Rebecca had remained suitably skeptical of the news, since the message had been delivered less than an hour earlier, however, now knew for certain that its contents were accurate.
"Oh, I'm so glad they got you here, you gotta fix everything. Please, you gotta stop Ma bein' upset, and make the doctor take the stuff off her wrists and, please, Aunt Rebecca, pleasemake everything all right!" The petrified young boy clutched to her waist tightly.
"What are you doing here? Doctors please, is my sister all right?" Rebecca took several more steps into the room, the small child still snugly nestled by her side. It was then that she had the chance to glance down at her sister. Rebecca could see the color drained from Michaela face, and felt the apprehension rise in her chest.
"We estimate your sister to make a full recovery, physically. However, there are several complications which we should really discuss in," Dr Edwards was interrupted by Brian's chirpy voice as he proceeded to 'update' his aunt on the events of the day.
"We arrived this morning, Aunt Rebecca. Ma said she had to see this doctor, but I think he was real mean, coz when she finished, she was cryin' and hardly sayin' a word, and so I didn't know if something was wrong with the baby, coz Ma's havin' a baby, but I didn't know that until couple a days ago and so, we were back in the hotel, and Ma was really sick and yelled at me and so I left the room. Then when I came back she wouldn't wake up, so the other doctor brought her here." Brian struggled to catch his breath after such a long and drawn-out recant.
Rebecca's jaw moved slightly at several key points during Brian's summary, before she frowned and turned to the doctors, her face slightly pale. "Is this true?" she stammered, as her right hand rested on the child's shoulder. Rebecca wasn't sure which piece of information shocked her more; the fact that her unmarried sister was carrying a child, or the fact that she lay less than three feet from her, having no knowledge that Michaela had planned such a journey.
"Well, I must say, the specifics are new to me, however, yes your sister is pregnant, and yes, she was brought here this evening, after a suspected overdose," Dr Hodge informed the woman opposite him, taken aback when Dr Edwards interjected sharply.
"There is absolutely nothing 'suspected' about it. We now have substantial reason to believe your sister was attempting to abort her unborn child," Dr Edwards' voice remained emotionally detached and succinct.
Dr. Hodge quickly returned the interjection, and Rebecca had no time to defend their accusations. "Well, I, hardly think it's appropriate to discuss," Dr Hodge began, however both physician's looked up directly at the sound of the older woman's less-than-hushed voice.
"For mercy's sake! Will somebody please just start at the beginning; when was my sister brought here?" She felt Brian recoil at the frustration in her voice, however managed to reassure him with a tight squeeze of his shoulders.
"Approximately two hours ago, from the Radisson. She was unconscious when attended to by an on-staff physician and brought here immediately. She's not regained consciousness yet," Dr Hodge reduced the speed of his voice, in a deliberate attempt to sound more calm and controlled.
"But Doctors, my sister is a physician. She would be aware of the appropriate dosage of any medicine in her possession," Rebecca's mouth dropped open slightly, as the older psychiatrist again took over the conversation.
"That, is precisely our point, Mrs. Dickinson. Your sister self-medicated herself an alarmingly dangerous dosage of a sedative. Now, we don't yet know whether this was an attempt on her own life, her unborn child's, or both. In either case, you were contacted because your sister is to be placed under psychiatric detention, and the young boy needs to be taken care of." Dr Edwards gestured his left arm towards the child, who had pushed himself more firmly against his aunt's side during the very intense discussion.
"I, of course. I'm sorry. I just need a minute, I'm afraid I didn't quite know what to expect when I arrived, however, I didn't expect to find Michaela here, and I certainly didn't expect to hear any of this," Rebecca drew several deep breaths, as her troubled gaze alternated from Michaela, to Brian, and finally back to her sister.
"Please, take your time. We will know more once," Dr Hodge voiced softly, before he was interrupted by the nurse's attentive summons.
"Doctors, your patient." She had seen the woman's left arm move slightly, only moments before. Eva was also aware that the minute movement had gone undetected by the physicians engaged in the intense conversation.
"Michaela?" Rebecca turned, and also saw Michaela's left hand clench, as the two doctors arrived quickly to the right side of her bed. Brian hastily pulled Rebecca closer to the other.
"Ma! Wake up, Ma!" Brian leaned forwards to grip his mother's left hand. Both physicians remained silent as they waited for the woman to regain consciousness.
Michaela heard the sound of slurred voices around her and was aware of the physical contact against her left hand. She could feel her head throbbing, almost deafening the sounds around her, and tried to free her hand from the foreign grasp. She couldn't. Again, she heard the echoed sound of voices, and felt herself more aware of her surroundings, enough to sense the firm pressure around both her wrists. Another few moments passed before Michaela was able to comprehend her restricted movement and pulled more sharply against the unknown restraints.
Brian turned back to Rebecca, when he saw his mother's futile movements.
"See ya gotta take 'em off." He hung his head and returned his attention to his mother. "It's all right, Ma. It's me and Aunt Rebecca." He took a step backwards and his chin began to tremble when he heard Michaela's disoriented and frightened moan.
"Michaela, it's all right. It's all right. Open your eyes," Rebecca arrived quickly by the edge of the bed. Without hesitation, she reached for her sister's forearm, with the hope that Michaela would open her eyes.
Michaela tried once again to pull her arm from the unfamiliar contact, as the darkness behind her eyes gradually lightened. However, the increased light only further aggravated the painful aching of her head, and she squeezed her eyes closed tighter in response.
"Michaela, come on. Michaela, please," Rebecca brought her right hand to her sister's forehead, and softly began to smooth her hair back along the top of her head.
Michaela felt the contact instantly, and spontaneously tried to withdraw from it. Although she managed to move her head slightly, the pain from her headache, as well as the residual effects of the sedative, had drained her of almost all physical energy. She still could not see beyond the blackness of her eyelids, and felt herself overwhelmed by instinctual fear, as she again tried to move her left hand. This time, she was more aware of the pressure around her wrists; something was preventing her from moving freely.
"No," Michaela heard the muffled plea escape her lips, as she tried again to turn her head from the unwelcome physical contact.
"Everything's all right, Ma. You're in the hospital. Don't gotta be scared," Brian pushed gently against his aunt's left side, in an attempt to get closer to his mother.
"Please, let me go. Let me," Michaela continued to fight against the restraints tied securely around both of her wrists, her desperation becoming more obvious to all in the room.
"Ma? Ma, it's all right," Brian tried to grab Michaela's left hand once again, but realized the physical contact only increased her panic. "Please sir, take 'em off! You're scarin' her!" Brian looked up towards the two doctors who watched silently from across the other side of the bed.
Michaela could hear the high-pitched voice through the drug-induced haze, and knew she recognized it; but could not be certain as to the identity of the speaker. That, however, was of minuscule importance, compared to the weight of the hand on her forehead, the immobilization of her wrists, and the unmistakable dull ache radiating from her lower body, indicative of internal physical intrusion.
"Are you just going to stand there!" Rebecca glared back up at the two physicians, who both remained quietly observant of the situation before them. "This is ridiculous! Michaela! Michaela, open your eyes. It's all right, it's all right," Rebecca tried once again to rouse her sister's lucid attention, to no avail.
She could hear a voice, closer this time, and feel hands on her shoulders. What was going on? Michaela felt the air constrict in her throat and allowed her lower arms to drop back to the bed in defeat; anything had to be better than the darkness behind her eyes.
"Ma?" Brian looked worriedly between his aunt's alarmed expression, and back to his mother, as he saw her eyes slowly open, and the desperate movements of her lower arms cease.
She heard the child's voice once again, more clearly this time, as her eyes began to adjust to the light.
"There, see," Rebecca forced her expression to neutralize, and removed any hint of panic from her voice as she waited several moments for her sister to orientate herself to her surroundings.
"Ma, it's Brian. Ya all right?" Brian managed to slip between Rebecca, and once again took his mother's left hand.
Michaela stared blankly back at the faces to the left side of the bed, before she slowly turned her head to her right, and saw the unfamiliar faces for the first time. Her eyebrows dropped into a mild cringe, as she took a sharp breath.
"It would appear someone has been rather foolish, wouldn't it?" Dr Edwards phrased his words crisply and unemotionally.
Michaela blinked twice, showing no outward indication of having heard the man's statement. She was consumed in trying to rationalize the physical sensations within her. It was then that she moved her head again, only enough to glance down at the white material restraints around each of her wrists. As she clasped each of her hands into tight fists, Michaela turned her gaze back up to the physician who had spoken several words moments earlier, her expression one of genuine perplexity and distress.
"Suitable punishment under the circumstances, I would say. Not about to have you running off and repeating your earlier antics, are we?" Dr Edwards cleared his throat, and turned to the doctor on his left, who took over the interrogation.
"Whether it matters to you or not, you've done no obvious harm. Your baby is fine. However, you do have some explaining to do, doctor," Dr Hodge crossed his arms tightly against his chest, and awaited a verbal reply.
Michaela had gradually processed the events of the last few hours. She could remember a hotel room; remember feeling ill, and then the taste of a bitter liquid on her lips. Then, only darkness.
She turned her head sharply back towards the dark-haired woman standing over her, her eyes wide, as if to beg for an explanation.
"You're in the hospital, Michaela. The doctor's said you've taken some medicine?" Rebecca moved her right hand back to her sister's forehead and resumed to idly brush back loose strands of hair.
Then it was true? Michaela thought to herself, having recognized her sister minutes earlier. She could remember the sensation of the fluid passing down her throat. Michaela squinted in confusion at the sight of the vaguely familiar face above her.
"Ma? How come ya took the medicine, Ma? Why didn't ya tell me if ya were sick?" Brian leaned forwards, his attention drawn to his aunt, as she tenderly rested an arm on his right shoulder.
"Brian, how about if you wait outside, just for a few moments. Whilst I talk with the doctors?" Rebecca smiled encouragingly and waited until the nurse had picked up on her request. Silently, the child was led, rather reluctantly, from the room.
"Well? Have you anything to say for yourself? Any attempt, albeit futile and meaningless, at a defense would be better than nothing," Dr Edwards rubbed the edge of his beard as the room once again fell silent.
"Michaela? Tell the doctors. Tell them it was an accident. Tell them they've made a mistake," Rebecca squeezed her sister's left shoulder, as she realized Michaela still hadn't said a word since opening her eyes. "I don't understand, why won't she say something? Michaela, please?" Rebecca frowned, taking in her younger sister's blank and lifeless expression; Rebecca barely recognized her.
"Perhaps she has realized the severity of her actions. Whatever the case, she'll be kept under strict observation, as she has demonstrated quite clearly, that she cannot be trusted. And we cannot allow her to further jeopardize either her own health, or that of the unborn child." Dr Edwards gave an unshielded glare of contempt towards his patient, before turning to his colleague for further confirmation.
"Dr Edwards is quite right. There is evidence of previous self-harm, and I will not be taking any chances," Dr Hodge muttered grimly.
"You must be mistaken; my sister would never do what you've suggested. She would never hurt her own child," Rebecca kept her voice firm and even, as she vehemently defended her sister.
"Ask her yourself, then. Ask her if it's true." Dr Hodge gestured with his right hand towards his patient, who still, had not uttered a coherent word since opening her eyes.
"Michaela? Say something, please." Rebecca reached forwards to grasp her sister's left arm, her tone desperate and hollow. Michaela remained silent, and kept her head lowered. Her consciousness however, continued to appear miles away.
"You don't know my sister. Michaela would never do the things you say. There has to be more to this. Something we don't know," Rebecca looked back up towards the doctors, and alternated her gaze between them, as she pleaded for a rational explanation.
"Well, no such reason is forthcoming, is it? I'm afraid your sister has all but sealed her own fate. If there is no improvement, she will remain under psychiatric detention until the child is born, and then, matters will be reassessed." Dr Edwards was mildly sympathetic to the fear in the older woman's eyes, however knew professionally, that, any woman, a doctor no less, who had arrived at the point where she so violently attempted the destruction of her own flesh and blood, was beyond salvation.
Rebecca saw the hopeless look in the physician's eyes and heard the conviction in his voice. This was beyond her; she didn't know what had happened to render her sister to such an uncharacteristic state of silence, however, she knew she would do all she could to protect her.
"Michaela, I won't let them do this to you. I'll find somebody to help, I promise." She tenderly gripped her sister's arm, before she leant forward to place a gentle kiss on Michaela's forehead. Rebecca felt her sister's arm flinch under her hand, and quickly pulled back, hoping that a verbal acknowledgement would be forthcoming. The raw terror she saw in her sister's eyes caused Rebecca to remove her arm immediately, however, her mind continued to reel in an attempt to rationalize Michaela's non-verbal reaction.
"This isn't my sister. Something's wrong, you'll see. There's an explanation." Rebecca tightened her jaw, regarding each of the doctors in a stern, determined glare, before she turned and paced swiftly from the room.