Part 3

Meanwhile at home.

"So what now?" Elizabeth asks.

"We plan dinner." David says trying to get a little bit of normalcy in the house. "What does everyone want?"

"How bout Chinese food." Elizabeth suggests.

"Ok." David waits for the other opinions.

"How about we just skip dinner," Joannie suggests.

"Joannie we have to eat." David says.

"Maybe you do. I'm going upstairs."

"We'll save you some then." He replies.

"Don't bother."

"Ok we won't." Elizabeth says.

David glares at Liz.

"Sorry." She leaves the room.

Later Elizabeth makes a phone call.

"Hello." Gertie Wells answers the phone instead of her husband this time.

"Look don't hang up. Not if there's still an ounce of love for your grandchildren left in you."

"Elizabeth."

"Please hear me out." She tells her what's going on with Nancy.

Gertie talks to her awhile longer and then hangs up and finds her husband outside. "I'm going to Sacramento to visit our grandchildren."

"You're crazy. How can you do that?" Paul asks.

"No Paul, I'm getting over being crazy and it's time you did too. My Grandchildren need me right now."

"They need Joan, but she's not there, is she?"

"If Joan still had a choice she would be there. I still have a choice and I'm going with or without you. Your Granddaughter is in the hospital she wanted to take her own life. Now if that doesn't phase you. You just stay right here with your yardwork and I'll take a cab to the airport."

"I'll drive you, you stubborn old... But I'm not going. It's probably not that serious. Tom always did exaggerate, and now that he's all wrapped up with that mouthy new wife of his..."

"Tom isn't the one who called me and I'll go pack." She goes to pack and then he drives her to the airport. "Is there anything you want me to tell the children?"

"Tell them--never mind. They either know or they don't."

She shakes her head. "You're the stubborn old fool in this relationship. Now remember to take your medication and don't forget to turn the stove off when you cook."

"And you enjoy trying to forget what that house used to be like."

She shakes her head, gives him a kiss, and then gets on the plane.

A couple of hours later Elizabeth meets her at the airport. After they've greeted each other.

"Does your father know that I'm here?"

"Yes I told everyone. I didn't get a chance to tell Nancy the doctors won't let her have phone calls and no one under 18 can see her til the eval is over."

They go to the house.

And when they enter they run into Abby.

"Abby this is my Grandma Wells." Elizabeth says. "Grandma this is Abby."

"Hello." Gertie greets her.

"Hello," Abby says. "It's nice to meet you, though I wish the circumstances were different."

"So do I." She says. "How is she?"

Abby shrugs. "At least she's getting help now. We'll know more later on today or first thing tomorrow after they've done the evaluation."

~Hmm, she doesn't seem like the witch that Paul described from his phone conversation with her. She seems like a nice person.~ "That's good."

"I hope so. It was pretty close. She's had such a tough time of it. Come on, let's get you settled in before the other kids come in and besiege you. You'll be staying in Mary's room. Would you like something to eat or drink while you unpack?" Abby babbles a little with nerves. ~Why did she stay away? She doesn't seem as unfeeling as I thought she was.~

"Maybe later." They go upstairs to Mary's room. ~What do I say to the woman who has taken my daughter's place? It couldn't have been easy for her marrying a man with eight kids~

"Well...um, you know where everything is," Abby says. "I'll let you unpack and I'll let the rest of them know that you're here."

The next day in the sunroom.

"Do you think they'll let me in to see her?" Gertie asks Abby.

"They said they'd let family members over 18 in today. If you want, I'll call and make sure now's a good time, and then I'll drive you over. I think seeing you will do Nancy a world of good."

"Thank you and I hope you're right. She's bound to be a little apprehensive I'm prepared for that."

"I..." Abby hesitates, not sure she has a right to get between Nancy and her grandmother.

"Abby it's ok. I know I was wrong to stay away from them for so long and I want to make up for that. If Paul wants to be a stubborn old fool that's his business."

"They've missed you, you know."

"I've missed them too." Gertie confesses.

"I'm glad you came. I only wish their grandfather would have, too. It would have meant a lot to all of them."

"Well I keep hoping he'll come around, but..."

Later at the mental hospital. Nancy is waiting for her Grandma and Abby to show up. The doctors wanted to prepare her first before they arrived. But there's no way anyone could prepare her for this. ~Is she coming to yell at me or did she finally realise that she does love her Grandchildren?~ She continues to ponder while she waits.

Currently at the nurses desk.

"Can I help you?" A nurse asks Abby and Gertie.

"We're here to see Nancy Bradford. Her doctor said it would be all right."

"Sure come with me." She takes them to Nancy's room.

Nancy hugs Abby and then glances at Gertie unsure of what to say or do.

~Yep she's scared and apprehensive.~ She approaches her Granddaughter. "Can you forgive an old lady for being an idiot for almost a year."

"I don't know have you forgiven me yet?" Nancy asks quietly.

"For what?" Gertie asks in confusion.

Nancy doesn't say anything. The nurse pops in for a second. "Mrs. Bradford, the doctor would like to talk to you for a minute."

"Nancy?" Abby says, checking if her stepdaughter is up to being left alone with her grandmother yet.

"It's ok." Nancy assures her.

"I'll be right outside," Abby assures her, and then goes off looking for the doctor.

"Honey what is it? Talk to me please." Gertie urges her.

"Have you forgiven me for causing my mom's death?"

~Oh I can kick Paul right now.~ "You did not cause your mothers death. You two argued but that didn't cause it. You don't really believe what your grandfather said to you do you? He didn't know what he was saying that day."

"If it isn't true then why did you stay away so long?" Nancy asks her.

"Because it was hard being there with your mother gone, but I think it's time I got over it and was there for my Grandchildren." Nancy remains silent. "You don't know because you don't have children of you're own yet. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen and getting through that is a miracle in it's self. Despite that it was a big mistake not to keep in touch with my Grandchildren and I'll understand if you don't want me to stay. But please don't ever take your own life. Once your gone that's it there are no second chances, and the last thing I want to do is attend your funeral. I love you too much I couldn't handle that." Her eyes well with tears.

"I love you too." Nancy gets all tear eyed also. Then they hug.

"Thank you." Gertie says.

Meanwhile where Abby and the doctor are.

"Would you rather wait for your husband will he be here today? Or do you want to talk about the results of the initial evaluation now?" He asks her.

"As long as I'm here, I suppose--let's do it now. If Tom has questions he can call you, right?"

"Ok, as far as I can tell there seems to be a pattern going on here. It's too soon to make an official diagnosis but we might be looking at manic depression. If that is the case we'll have to keep her awhile to find out which medication would be best to treat it. And a psychiatrist would have to do that. I can't prescribe medication. However, that doesn't rule out therapy. She'll still need that
initially."

"A while? What do you mean by 'a while'?"

"That depends on how quickly we can find out which medication works, and we'd rather keep her here while we do that."

"Of course she's been up and down--it's been an up and down kind of year for everyone."

"I'm sure it has but she's the one who contemplated taking a whole bottle of sleeping pills. Look, it might not even be that we'll know more tomorrow. She might just need therapy and if that's the case and if she's doing better we'll know more about when she can go home."

"OK. I just feel like I'm abandoning her, leaving her here, you know?"

"I know it feels that way, but it's the best thing for her right now." When Abby doesn't say anything he continues. "Look you're not abandoning her. You did the right thing calling me yesterday, and right now I'm holding you up from visiting her. If you'd rather talk about this later."

"Maybe that is best, waiting to talk about it until my husband can get here, too," Abby says. ~Let him make some of these decisions for a change.~

"Ok."

Currently at the nurses desk.

"No you can't see her family only."

"But I'm her sponsor."

"Yes I know who you are and I know your history, which is also why you can't see her. People should be warned about you Mr. Casey and your methods."

"There is nothing wrong with my methods. My methods have kept countless people clean." He says.

"Yes they have. They've also driven some of them off the deep end. You're too demanding, and Nancy Bradford along with some others weren't strong enough to handle that."

"The only way to heal an addict to truly heal an addict is to tear them down and help them build themselves up again."

She shakes her head. "Not when they're not mentally capable of handling it. You can't see her now go home and if you have an ounce of decency in you. You'll quit being her sponsor."

"She'll think I abandoned her."

"Then for her sake tell her why you're quitting or just simply lighten up."

"Can I see her?"

The nurse thinks it over. "Yes, but I'll be in the room the whole time and you have to wait till her Grandmother and Stepmother leave."

Noah comes over. "I'm here to see Nancy Bradford."

"Are you a relative?"

"Yes I'm her cousin Noah." He lies.

"Take a seat in the waiting room and you can see her when your Aunt and her Grandmother are done visiting."

"Thank you." He takes a seat in the waiting room and looks around. ~Hmm, doesn't look any different than the one I was in. I just hope there aren't the same bad influences.~

Meanwhile in Nancy's hospital room.

"If it is manic depression at least it can be treated." Nancy says. "Although I'm not very crazy about having to take medication or having my body used for experimentation of meds. I don't see why therapy wouldn't be enough."

"Because if it is that it's a physical as well as mental condition. That's why the medication would be a big help." Gertie tells her.

"How do you know?"

"My sister suffered from it. Unfortunately back then they didn't know as much as they do now. There weren't medications and help if you could find it left a lot to be desired."

"Mom, didn't talk much about her said she died before she was even born in some kind of accident."

"It wasn't an accident honey. She took her own life." Gertie says.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be it was a long time ago, but if they do diagnose you with it just do anything you can to fight it with therapy and yes the dreaded meds." She hugs her Granddaughter. "I have to get going now. I want to spend some time with your brothers and sisters. You take care of
yourself. I love you and I'll be back tomorrow."

"I love you too." Nancy returns the hug. Gertie goes into the hallway and waits for Abby to say goodbye to Nancy for the day.

After Abby and Gertie leave. Noah comes in.

"Hey I heard you had a rough day."

"What are you doing here? And how did you find out?" Nancy asks a little angry.

"I'm your cousin Noah." He grins. "Your sister felt sorry for me on my third try of coming to see you today so she told me."

"Which one?"

"Elizabeth, don't be mad at her."

"Oh."

"You know if you ever need to talk or anything. I mean I've been there, done that." He says.

They talk a while longer and then he leaves. After that her sponsor comes in.

"Look kid if you feel like I've been too demanding or anything with you. If I'm partly responsible for you being here say the word and we'll get you a new sponsor." He says.

"Well you have been sort of demanding, but I don't know much about NA. Hell I thought it was normal."

"For some people but you might need someone different."

"Can we not discuss this now?" Nancy asks becoming tired from the days events.

"But..."

"Sure, Mr. Casey was just leaving." The nurse ushers him out.

Abby and Gertie miss Tom by five minutes. He arrives at the hospital and goes to talk to Nancy's doctor before seeing her. He tells him the same thing he told Abby.

"I'm not so sure I want my daughter going through the medication tests. I mean anything can happen. What if she has a serious reaction to one of them."

"Mr. Bradford that's why she'll stay here the whole time."

"I need more time to think about this."

"After tomorrow we'll know for sure if it's manic depression or just a very bad case of the holiday blues."

"And if it's the latter?"

"She'll need therapy for a while and if all goes well we can release her Friday."

Tom goes to see Nancy and then he goes home.

When Tom gets home Abby pulls him into the study. "Nancy's doctor wants to speak to us," she tells him.

"I know I've already spoken to him before going to see Nancy today."

"And?"

He tells Abby what the doctor told him.

"I don't like it not one bit if it's manic depression there has to be another way to find a compatible medication than testing on her."

"Remind me again where it is you got your medical degree? Or maybe you just want her to rummage around in the medicine cabinet to find something suitable?"

"Abby that's the last thing I want."

"Then let the doctors treat her the way they think is best. Speaking of doctors, have you made an appointment for yourself?"

"Yes I start the day after tomorrow. And I'm not saying I won't let the doctors do what they think is best for Nancy. That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Since when do you like anything that involves something other than what you want?"

"Abby I'm going through a lot right now and the last thing I want is a fight."

"You're going through a lot? 'Of course I'll keep an eye on her...' and meanwhile I was the one who had to deal with everything from finding Nancy to your mother-in-law."

"You weren't the only one searching for Nancy yesterday. You're the one who found her and I'm very thankful that you did, and I know I screwed up big time but do you have to keep throwing it in my face especially now?"

"Oh, that's right. How silly of me to forget. She's *your* daughter, not mine, so only you're worried and upset."

"I didn't say that at all. Why do you have to be so hard on me all the time?"

"Why do you--forget it. You're right, let's not fight." ~Whatever we say he'll march right into that counselor and talk about, instead of his real problems.~

Tom sighs in relief. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with Abby right now.

~You knew there would be problems. You knew you were taking on a huge responsibility when you married him. And if it's more than you imagined? That's life.~ "The rest of them will be waiting to hear how Nancy is. Do you want to tell them or should I?"

He kisses her. "I'll tell them, or maybe we can both tell them?"

"Both of us, I guess," Abby says.

They get the kids together after dinner and tell them what's going on.

"So basically if none of the medications work we've lost her to the illness?" Elizabeth asks.

"Honey it might not even be that and if it is they'll be able to treat it." Tom says.

"One of the medications, or some combination, is bound to work," Abby assures Elizabeth. "It's not a matter of whether they can help her, but exactly which one is best for her."

"I sure hope so, and did Noah get to see her?"

"Noah?" Abby asks.

"Yeah a cute guy from down the street. He's the one that almost hit Sam and Nancy rescued Sam and that's how they met."

"The one she had coffee with the night before yesterday." Tom says.

~My stepdaughter is having dates in the loony bin and I can't even get a night alone with my husband. What's wrong with this picture?~ "I didn't see him."

Elizabeth shrugs.

Tom looks over at Joannie and curses himself for that night. Joannie hadn't been the same since. ~What am I going to do? Every thing I have tried with her has failed.~

Joannie gets up. "I've got some studying to do, then I think I'll turn in early. Good night, everyone."

"Goodnight honey." Tom says in a worried tone.

"Good night." Joannie stops by her grandmother long enough to hug her, and then disappears upstairs.

Moments later. Gertie knocks on the door.

Joannie opens a book and pretends she's studying. "Come in."

Gertie sits down beside her. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"No, not really. But if you want to talk...you know, catch up on everything you've missed...."

"I'd like that. Honey I'm very sorry for staying away so long."

"The way this family is, I don't blame you."

"What do you mean?"

"It's circus down there. This isn't a family anymore, it's a soap opera. Grandpa was smart not to come."

"Oh I see, your sister is getting all the attention and you're not getting any of it. I've been there before."

"I knew you wouldn't understand. Look, I've got to study."

"You're wrong I do understand. I know what it's like to be lonely in your own house."

"I'm not lonely, Grandma!" ~Great. Is she trying to tell me that she and Grandpa Wells are having problems? Isn't anyone in this family happy?~

"Then I guess I don't understand what's really going on. What do you mean about the family being a circus?"

"You know what I'd like?" Joannie says. "I'd like to lonely. Just once, just for a little while."

~It's not all it's cracked up to be.~ "Ok, but if you ever need to talk."

"Thanks, but what I really want is just to be left alone, you know?"

"Ok dear." Gertie kisses her and then leaves the room.

"Wait, Grandma!" Joannie calls out as the door is closing.

Gertie stops and closes the door. "What is it?"

"I was--well, I was wondering if there's anything you wanted to talk about. I may not be much for talking, but I'm a good listener."

"Well when I was talking about being lonely it wasn't in the present tense. My sister has been on my mind a lot lately."

"Your sister?"

"Yes she died when we were very young."

"Mom never said much about her, just that she'd died in an accident long before Mom was born."

"It wasn't an accident honey."

"Someone killed her?" Joannie asks, shocked.

"No, she did her own self in. She had given up hope when we couldn't find the proper help for her."

"Help? You mean--Grandma, do you--is what Nancy has hereditary?"

"Yes, if she in fact has the same thing my sister had."

"So why did Nancy get it and not Mary or Tommy or Nicholas? Why your sister and not you--you don't, do you?"

"No I don't, and there is no answer to who gets it and who doesn't."

"Why didn't Dad keep a better eye on us, then? Didn't Mom tell him this could happen?"

"Your mother never knew. And it wasn't till recently that anyone knew it could run in families."

"Have you told Dad or Nancy or even her doctors?"

"I told your father and Abby was there when I told Nancy. I haven't had the chance to talk to the doctors."

"What was she like, Grandma? Was she like Nancy?"

"In some ways. And not in just the depression." Goes on to tell Joannie what her sister was like. "In the last few weeks of her life I think I gave up hope too and stopped having anything to do with her. I'd give anything to have those few weeks back."

"That's not it at all. I haven't give up on her, just the opposite."

"The opposite?"

"Sometimes I think that Nancy--and maybe Dad, too, I don't know--well, they'd do OK on their own, but if you dance around every time they have some new crisis they just get worse. Nancy was doing OK after..."

"After what?"

"After Mom died."

"Are you sure about that? Maybe she held it in."

"No. I mean, she wasn't all right, but she wasn't any worse than the rest of us. But lately--well, things have gotten crazy here and Nancy asked for a lot of attention and got it, and she got worse. So I figured that maybe if someone didn't give her all the attention she wanted, she'd get a little better. Reverse psychology, like Dad always talks about."

"And did it work?"

"No, but maybe that's because someone else was spending all her free time giving Dad and Nancy lots of attention. That's why Nancy's in the hospital, you know."

"And who is this someone else? Joannie I don't think your sister wanted it to come to that. Going through what she is going through is no picnic. Have you tried talking to her about any of this?"

"I talked to her lots, but it never helped any, she just got worse. And then when Abby started spending all her time with Nancy, and finally got her committed..."

"Which goes to show that she needs professional help if talking to her doesn't help. And Abby isn't what got her committed. It's the pills that got her committed." Gertie says assuming that the children know about that part.

"What pills?"

~Oh no.~ "I assumed your father and Abby had told you. You remember when your mom was having all that trouble sleeping and Dr. Max prescribed sleeping medication. Well apparently she never got a chance to finish them and your father never got around to throwing them away. Nancy found them and was contemplating taking them."

"What?" Joannie says and gets up from her bed. "How could she? What was she... She's not that stupid; she knows suicide doesn't solve anything."

"Maybe knowing that is what stopped her. No one knows for sure but her."

"Are you trying to hint that I should go see her?"

"No, that's completely up to you. But if you did what would it hurt?"

"Nothing, I guess. But she'll want to go into everything and talk and talk and talk and I'm just not up for that right now."

"That's when you use the good old 'I can't stay long but just wanted to see you for a minute speech.'"

"OK, I'll try it. Probably."

~Good.~ "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"I was going to ask you that. It can't be easy for you, being here."

"Well actually it isn't, but being away from my Grandchildren a day longer would have been worse."

"I wish Grandpa felt that way."

"So do I dear. I'd divorce him but then he wouldn't know what to do with himself. He'd be lost without me. He's lost without his Grandchildren he just doesn't realize it."

"You'd divorce him?"

"Well not really. He and I have been saying that for years and neither one of us has filed yet."

"I remember Mom used to say that to Dad, too."

Gertie laughs and then saddens thinking about her daughter.

"I told you what was on my mind," Joannie prompts.

"Parents should never have to outlive their children and I never thought I'd be going through it."

Joannie hugs her grandmother. "Does it help any that you've got us, or does being here make it even harder?"

Gertie returns the hug. "It helps very much that I have you and your brothers and sisters. Otherwise I wouldn't last five minutes in this house."

"Because of Mom? Or because of Abby?"

"You don't like Abby very much do you?"

"She's not Mom."

"That's not her fault. Honey no one will ever be able to be your mom except for your mom."

"Do you like her?"

"Yes I do. She really seems to care about my Grandchildren."

"When she's not busy fighting with Dad."

"Newlyweds fight dear that's how they get to test out the waters. To iron out their differences."

"You ought to hear Dad complaining about how Abby irons," Joannie jokes.

Gertie laughs. "It can't be that bad, can it?"

"Ever see a golf shirt stand up on its own two feet?"

Gertie continues to laugh.

"And we won't talk about cooking, or cleaning. Domestic she isn't; it's a good thing she can talk to us."

"Yeah I guess so."

"She's not that bad, I guess. It's like having another older sister, but one who has different ways of talking Dad into stuff."

"So she has him well trained again?"

"I don't know about well, but she's got him wrapped around--she's got him trained."

"Are you ok with that?"

"It's not my choice, is it? Dad's a grown man--he'll do what he wants to."

"Your opinion matters to me sweetheart, now spill."

"When it's just Abby and us kids, I like her. But I don't think I like her around Dad, or the way he is around her."

"Do they fight all of the time honey?"

"Not all the time, but an awful lot. Dad says that Abby's always telling him he isn't good enough and that he's always wrong. And as much as I hate to say it, he's right."

"Does Abby realize that she does it?"

Joannie shrugs. "I'm not going to be the one to tell her

"I don't think it's my place to tell her. It's your fathers place. No one should have to get in the middle. That's too much pressure on the mediator."

"Maybe Dad will tell his shrink and they can have a family conference. Dad loves family conferences."

"That's what your mom used to say."

Meanwhile, David is visiting Nancy in the hospital.

"So what did Joannie tell you? Why is she acting the way she has been?"

"She needs attention." Is all David will reveal. "But she also wants her space."

"She didn't say anything about me at all?"

David shakes his head.

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Nancy she was nice to you before you left why can't you just let it go?" He asks.

"Because I'm worried about her."

"Well don't. Worrying about her or anyone else isn't going to make you better again. Concentrating on your own well being is."

"Maybe I don't care about my well being." Nancy says going through one of her lows again.

"If you didn't care you wouldn't be in here." He counters.

Nancy ponders his words. "I can't find an argument for that."

"Good, I have to get home now. Get some sleep ok." He kisses her on the forehead and then leaves.

She tries to sleep but can't. Writing in her diary sometimes helped her but she didn't bring it with her she had forgotten it at home. ~Oh no what if someone reads it?~

Elizabeth goes upstairs to ponder everything that's happened in the past few weeks. ~This is the worst Christmas vacation of my life.~ She throws a pillow at the ground. Before Nancy had left yesterday she had asked her to keep an eye on Joannie. She was worried about her and couldn't do it from the hospital. ~Yeah right, how am I supposed to do that? When she's avoiding the whole family.~ What she wanted to tell Nancy is that she shouldn't waste her time worrying about someone who didn't care about her at the moment. But she didn't want to make her feel worse so she restrained herself.

She looks for something that she'll want to wear back to school next Monday when she finds Nancy's diary. ~Oh no I've grown out of that kind of snooping. Then again it might give me a clue into what's been going on in that head of hers.~ She takes it, locks the door, and starts reading.

When she's done she's wishing she had minded her own business. Sure she missed her mom also, but Nancy had wanted to be with her again no matter what it took. She thought Joannie wanted her gone forever. She shakes her head. ~Ok she wanted to be with Mom yet she turned around and called Abby mom. Stop it Lizzie she had good reason for that she thought it was ok at the time. Maybe if I would have found this and read it sooner. Maybe if I wouldn't have teased her so much.~ She puts the diary back in it's hiding place and wonders if the doctors should
see it. She then unlocks the door and finds Abby in the hallway.

"Hey Abby I have a hypothetical question."

"Sure. Let's hear it."

"What if someone read something of someone else's that was private and she found some stuff in the thing she read would be helpful to other people who are trying to find out what's going on with them would it be bad to show it to those other people."

"Hmm. And I suppose this someone couldn't go and ask this someone else?"

"The someone else would kill the someone. If she, if the someone else, found out."

"And how badly do you think the other people need to know what's going on with the someone else? I mean, is there anything they could do if they knew, or is the situation being handled?"

"The situation is being handled if the someone else is revealing every thing that they'll need to help them."

"Well, then maybe someone ought to hold off showing other people someone else's private things, at least for a while." ~It's got to be a note or a diary or something like that. As soon as Elizabeth's out of the house next, I'm going to tear that room apart until I find it,~ Abby thinks. ~What's the worst that'll happen if I'm caught--I'll earn this wicked stepmother reputation?~

"Ok thanks Abby." Elizabeth says. "I have to run to the store do you need anything?"

"No, thanks anyway."

"No problem."

Abby waits until Elizabeth has left, slips into her room, and locks the door before looking for whatever it was that Elizabeth had found.

When Elizabeth gets home she goes to the kitchen before heading upstairs and finds Susan in there.

"Hey there."

After a short while Abby finds the diary. ~I shouldn't read this. Yes, I should; it's part of being a parent. No, it isn't; she's not a little kid.~

Meanwhile Susan and Elizabeth are still talking downstairs.

Abby opens Nancy's diary and reads a page or two at random until she comes upon her own name. ~No, I shouldn't do this. Oh, come on, make up your mind. OK, how about this? If they decide to keep her, I'll read it, but if she comes home, I'll talk to her.~ She closes the diary and puts it back where she found it. ~I just hope Elizabeth doesn't move it.~

Elizabeth soon returns upstairs but Abby is already out of her room.

The next morning they complete the 48 hour evaluation.

"Well?" Nancy asks.

"We'd rather wait for you parents to get here before I give you the
results."

"Why? I'm an adult now."

"I know that Nancy but it would be best if they were here with you." He says.

"You're not going to tell them about last night are you?"

"Not if you don't want me to, but I do have to tell them that you're still a danger to yourself."

"Can't you just tell them that today wouldn't be a good day for me to come home. I just had a rough night that's all."

"And why did you have a rough night?"

"I don't know. I was feeling fine again and then the depression hit with no warning. It's Manic Depression isn't it? It's all right you can tell me."

"Yes."

"Great." She grumbles.

"Hey this isn't something that's going to keep you in the hospital the rest of your life. We have medications that can treat it and you'll get therapy. You'll be able to lead a normal life, and once we get you the right medication it'll do wonders you'll see."

"If I had a more positive outlook on life would this have happened?"

"Yes it would have. This is something you were born with it just chose now to reveal itself."

"Even when you do find the right meds for me after awhile my body will build a resistance to them right?"

"Yes, and when that happens we'll put you in the hospital again so we can change them."

She sighs.

"It's no different than having to take medication for the cold, flu, heart problems, chemo. It's going to be all right." He assures her.

"Nothing addictive I'm a recovering drug addict, and if I'm going to be here awhile I want some more stuff from home to decorate with. You guys don't decorate very well around here. And if I have any bad reactions, if I start acting all crazy and everything don't let my family witness it."

"You got it, and your sponsor?"

"I don't want to see him. I want a different one."

"We'll do what we can but I don't think NA meetings are a good idea till we get you straightened out with medication and therapy."

"Can they bring my dog sometimes when my family comes to visit."

"I'll see if we can sneak him in."

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me kid."

Tom and Abby soon arrive and are led to where Nancy and the Psychologist are.

Tom hugs Nancy. "How are you feeling honey?"

"Ok for the moment, how's Joannie?"

"She's fine." Tom lies.

"How are you?" Abby asks, trying to gauge what's happening.

"I'm going to be here awhile." She tells her.

"Then it's manic depression?"

"Yes it is Mr. Bradford, but like I was telling Nancy it's something that is treatable."

"Right but I do want to schedule outpatient therapy after she goes home."

Abby nods. "Would it be all right if I talked to Nancy alone for a few minutes?"

"Sure, you can use this place." The psychologist leaves and Tom goes with him.

"So you'll be keeping Nancy here? But just until you get her set up with the proper medication, right?" Abby asks.

"How are you, really?" Abby asks Nancy.

"Last night was pretty bad, but I'm doing ok now. At least now I know it wasn't my fault that I'm in here."

"You can't help your family history."

"Yeah really, so will they let everyone see me now?"
 

"I think so, yeah. I'll ask. Nancy, you and I--we're OK on this, right?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"

"Well, when you said I could call a doctor for you, I think we both thought it would be a little couch time, some talking--not this."

"I know, but apparently I need more than couch time."

"I wish we'd known about your great-aunt sooner. Maybe we could have caught this sooner, without you having to go through so much."

"Yeah but we can't dwell on that it'll will only delay recovery." Nancy says. ~Maybe then things wouldn't have gotten so bad that Joannie is avoiding everyone.~

"OK, then. I'll go find out if the rest of the family can come see you. And whenever you want to talk, about anything, you just let me know, OK? There are a lot of things I think we need to talk about, but only when you feel up to it."

"Ok, hey think you can sneak Sam in here?"

"We could always try telling the staff he's the ninth kid."

Nancy laughs. "Good deal."

"He does sort of resemble Tommy around the hair do, doesn't he?"

"Yeah he does."

There's a knock at the door.

"Men are so impatient."

"But cute."

"Yeah, should we let them in."

Abby opens the door to let Tom and the doctor in.

"For now we're keeping her in a private room. Having a roommate at this stage is too soon, but your whole family can visit now. Nicholas will have to have an adult with him and it'll have to be in the lobby. As for Sam make sure that only Nurse Thompson sees him and not any of the others."

Tom stifles back a laugh. "Thank you."

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