After exiting Marty's room, John sagged against the wall and let out a long breath that he felt he'd been holding the entire time he had been in there. He couldn't fully understand why this boy got to him in this way; it wasn't as if McKenzie hadn't seen plenty of similar cases during his time as a doctor, but this seemed somehow different. There was something about Marty that had drawn John to him, but at the same time the doctor was a bit frightened. Many children who had been through experiences similar to Marty's never recovered, at least not fully. It was likely that he would be permanently damaged or at the very least would have a long way to go before he had gotten past what his father had done to him.

John couldn't help but wonder at what would eventually happen to Marty; someone from Federation Child Services was due to stop by later in order to evaluate the situation, but no one had any idea of what the outcome would be. While it was unlikely that FCS would order Marty placed back with his father after the police had eyewitnessed the whole thing, it was still a possibility. No other living relatives had been listed on the hospital forms, so the odds were that Marty would be thrown into the Federation foster care system.

Just as John was shaking his head in near despair, wondering what kind of a world would subject a child to such things, an official-looking man in a suit strode up to him, carrying several padds and a briefcase. "Are you Doctor McKenzie?" he asked, barely waiting for the young doctor to make eye contact.

Blinking as he switched his frame of mind to whatever was going to demand his attention next, McKenzie paused for a moment to survey the person in front of him. He was heavyset and balding, with glasses and white hair, and for some reason, John took an instant dislike to him. Forcing himself to school his features into a mild-mannered expression, McKenzie began, "Yup, that's me. What can I do for you, sir?"

"Marshall Richards, from Federation Child Services," the man answered, his manner still oddly abrupt. "I was sent to discuss a case with you- the child's name is...." Here he faltered, stopping to rifle through the padds for a moment before continuing, "McManus, Martin Columcille Isaac? I'm told he's your patient."

"That's right," John confirmed, suddenly wary. Marty had only been brought into the hospital in the last two days, and considering the extent of the boy's injuries, he had been led to believe that FCS wouldn't need to get involved at least until things had had several more days to heal somewhat. Frowning slightly, John asked, "I... wasn't expecting someone so soon- is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid there is; it's pushed McManus up on the priority scale." John bristled slightly at the brusque, seemingly unconcerned manner in which this man spoke of Marty, but he said nothing and allowed Richards to continue. Halting for a moment to push his glasses further up his nose, Richards went on, "It appears that the boy's father is demanding to have his son returned to him."

A confused expression flitted across John's face, and he shrugged slightly. "So?" That wasn't unusual in the least- in situations like this, the parents almost always petitioned FCS to get their kids back; it was usually out of a misplaced hope that the child would be returned before he had said anything incriminating, and very little often came of such requests.

The FCS liaison cleared his throat, plainly irritated at having been interrupted. "*So,*" he said rather solicitously, "it would appear that there could be legal reason to send the McManus boy back."

"*What*?!" John was appalled, and the exclamation slipped out before he could contain it. Shaking his head in disbelief, the doctor turned a horrified gaze on Richards, managing to say, "How can you? It was my understanding that FCS was supposed to keep these kids *away* from the people hurting them, not send them *back*. You can't- he can't go back there!"

Richards sighed, just barely refraining from rolling his eyes. "That would be the reason for needing to speak to him, *Doctor* McKenzie," he answered, making John's title sound like an insult. "It seems there was a problem with Ian McManus' arrest."

"What sort of a problem?" John was struggling to stay clam, a feeling in the pit of his stomach telling him where this was headed. *Jesus, no* he thought. *They can't send him back, not to that. Not after the way he came in, the things that were done to him....*

"It seems that the officer who physically arrested Mr. McManus neglected to correctly read him his rights. He hasn't been released yet, but it's very likely that if further, concrete evidence isn't gathered, he could be."

"Evidence?!" John was yelling now, unable to hold himself back any longer. A doctor headed down the hallway threw a puzzled glance towards the two men, and John flushed slightly as he tried to lower his voice a bit. "The police walked in in the middle of a Goddamn beating. Marty- Martin was almost *killed.* What more do you *need*?!"

"Please, Doctor, calm yourself," Richards said, looking startled and vaguely disapproving. "That's why I'm here- I simply have to get a statement from the McManus boy attesting to what happened- that would be enough to have his father held in custody."

John shook his head, feeling ready to explode. *This isn't happening- how can I put Marty through this so soon after what I just promised him?* "No," he said quickly. "No, you can't speak to him. He's not well enough yet."

"That's not really of concern at the moment, Doctor McKenzie," Richards responded crisply. "I'm sure he's recovered enough to speak to me briefly- as I said, a statement needs to be taken immediately."

"But-" John stammered, floored, "you don't- it's not as easy as taking a statement. He won't even talk to anyone, not willingly. You won't be able to just ask him about his father."

"I don't recall saying that he needed to be particularly willing, Doctor. I realize fully that this will most likely be... unpleasant."

"Unpleasant," John hissed. "That's the understatement of the year- it won't just be unpleasant, it'll be damaging, maybe permanently, and I won't allow it. Martin McManus is my patient, and I'm not letting you put him through this when he's nowhere near being emotionally ready."

"Doctor, I have orders here that allow me access to the McManus boy- with or without your... permission. This is a legal matter, not a medical one, and while I'm sure we're all acting in what we think are the child's best interests, your concerns for his readiness to discuss what has happened to him are irrelevant here." Richard's tone as he spoke was matter-of-fact, verging on cold.

Pinning Richards with a glare that could have cracked stone, John was seeing red, but he also realized that there was little to be done. This man had all of the necessary paperwork and title to allow him access to Marty regardless of what was best, and John knew that there was very little he could do, save for one thing. "I'm staying in the room," he announced sharply, "and if I see a problem, things are going to stop. He's my patient, and I won't let him be bullied for information by you or anyone else, not after what he's been through already."

"I don't recall the prospect of 'bullying' ever coming into things," Richards answered coolly, "but those conditions sound acceptable. Again, Doctor McKenzie, we all have young McManus' best interests at heart here."

"His name's Marty," John growled, turning to head back to Marty's room, "and if you really want to see him, follow me- his room's in here." Richards trailed after McKenzie, not understanding in the least this doctor's intense protectiveness of the boy but willing to put up with it for the time being.