James was making her rounds around the hospital before her lunch break. She planned on heading over to the Matt�s to check if there was anything she could do for either Ross or Matt and to see if there was any news on Katie. Matt�s place had turned into the headquarters in the search.
She was being relentless in her search for Katie and Chandra, Jimmie Johnson�s fianc�, was beginning to take its toll as well as her crazy residency schedule and sleepless nights. Her friends, family, and co-workers were taking notice and going out of their way to make sure she was fine, taking breaks for herself.
She felt bad when they all did that. Dale had been babying her and spending his much-needed time off by her side. �They shouldn�t focus on me,� she thought, �They should be focusing on Katie and Chandra.� She felt especially bad when her patients noticed.
�Dr. Billie,� one of her child patients asked, �Are you sick?�
��What do you mean, kiddo?� she asked sitting on the bed next to the little boy.
The boy, Billy, had been her first patient James saw. She and Billy had the same name and were both NASCAR fans, particularly Earnhardt, so he immediately took to her.
Billy had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The doctors considered Billy to be a bit of a miracle because he had survived as long as he has. They had originally given him maybe a year at most, but it�s been almost two. They all knew, including Billy, that he wasn�t going to live much longer. He was so brave and mature for his age, for anyone�s. He was only five and so accepting of his fate.
�You look sick,� he said as he sat next to her.
�I�m just a bit tired, sweetie,� James responded.
�Will a hug make you feel better? My dad says my hugs always make him feel better,� he said.
James smiled, �I think so, Billy.� The two hugged as a nurse came in.
�Excuse me, Dr. Grace,� she interrupted, �There�s a gentleman here to see you.�
�Okay,� she said to the nurse. Back to Billy, she said, �When is your dad gonna be here?� His father was his only parent and living relative. His mother died giving birth to Billy. As for his father, he worked a lot to pay the medical bills.
�He said he�d be here after work,� he answered glumly. �Will I see ya again?�
�For sure, honey. I�ll come keep ya company while you wait for your dad when I finish, okay?� she said leaving the room. She gave him one last smile and left.
As she walked over to the Nurses� station, a man called out to her, �Dr. Wilhemina Grace?�
�The only people that call me �Wilhemina� are my family. If you insist on calling me by my first name, it�ll have to be Billie for short. I go by James though,� she said, turning toward the voice. She looked the man over and asked, �And you are Agent��
�Special Agent Dr Isaac Malone,� he answered. The man looked to be about in his early fifties with salt and pepper hair. He was wearing the standard company uniform, the dark suit, tie and white button up shirt. Just from that, his voice, and the way he carried himself made her think, �He�s a fed.�
She had been around company men all her life. The men in her family were company men as well as her friends� family and her friends. Her Gran worked for the State Department, a.k.a. CIA, her grandfather on her mother�s side was NSA and her father, best friend�s father, and her childhood friend were feds.
The agent smiled weakly. He offered her his hand, commenting, �I forgot you were a company kid.�
She shook his hand. �Yes. Now, what can I do for you, Doctor? Or do you prefer Agent?� she asked.
�Either one is fine,� he said.
�Well, Dr Malone, I ask you again, what is it I can do for you and the FBI?� she asked, feeling her stomach tighten.
�I was hoping I might have a word with you about Mrs. Kenseth and that day,� he said noticing her tense up.
�She looked away from him. �You�re taking over the case, aren�t you?�
�Yes, ma�am,� he answered.
�Johnson�s fianc� another woman you need to talk to me about as well?� she asked. Looking back at him.
He was taken by surprise. That information had yet to be given out to the media. She couldn�t have possibly known the disappearances were connected. They were seemingly separate incidents.
�Don�t be so surprised, Dr Malone. Like you said, I was a company kid and it also helps that my mother was a psychologist. I know what to look for. I knew it was a matter of time before the FBI would take over,� she said.
�You�re very observant, James,� he said. �That information has yet to be released to the public. We are taking over the investigation into the disappearances of the women. I�ve read over the files and such, but I wanted to get a new view on everything. I�m going around reinterviewing and reviewing.�
�Well, I won�t be off till after five or so. Afterwards, I�m going to head over to the Kenseths� place. Perhaps then?�
�I�m afraid it can�t wait. What are you doing for lunch?�
�Uh�Red�Dale Earnhardt and I are going to have lunch. Why the rush, Dr Malone?� she asked. Her next question squeaked out of her because she was afraid of the answer. �There�s been another, hasn�t there?�
�I�m afraid so, Doctor. She�s another one I need to talk to you about.�
�Who is it?� she asked quietly and breathlessly.
Isaac continued, not hearing James. �I�m told you are rather close to her as well.�
�Who is it, Doctor Malone?� she asked louder, trying to catch her breath.
�I�m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, ma�am, but it�s Ryan Newman�s wife, Krissie,� he sighed.
James groaned, �No. Not Krissie too.� James began to go weak in the knees. She placed a hand on the wall to help hold herself up.
�Dr Grace? Doctor?� Isaac asked as she started to look faint. James bent over, putting her head between her legs and one hand on her knee while the other was on the wall. James began to lose her breath again. Her heart started racing and her chest tightened.
She had completely zoned out Isaac. All she saw were his lips moving and yet nothing coming out. She went to stand, but her head started spinning, making her a bit disoriented and sick.
She tried to stand up, bracing herself against the wall. Isaac called for some assistance as she pushed off the wall. �No, I�m alright,� she said forcefully. �I don�t-- � she started saying, when her knees gave out on her.
Dale got there as Isaac caught James. �James,� he called out. Isaac helped her over to a nearby chair while Dale rushed over.
James sat down, hoping to regain her composure. Dale demanded to know what had happened. �Nothing,� James said, breathing deeply. Dale kneeled down next to her. He knew she wasn�t telling him the whole truth.
He looked over at Isaac when he said, �She�ll be fine. She just lost her breath there for a while.�
�Who the hell are you?� he said, glaring at Isaac, getting very protective of James.
�I�m Special Agent Dr Isaac Malone of the FBI. I was hoping to question Dr Grace here about the disappearance of Mrs. Katie Kenseth,� he answered.
�That�s it?� Dale eyed him suspiciously.
Isaac cleared his throat, �I also had the most unfortunate task of informing the good doctor here of Mrs. Newman�s disappearance as well.�
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