The next morning, Mrs, Hendry finds Abby in the teacher's lounge. "Hi, you have a minute?"

"Um, sure. Is something wrong?" Abby worries.

"I don't know, Is Tommy OK? He fell asleep in my class again today." she says. "Now I know I am not his favorite teacher, but he has never done this before."

"He fell asleep?" Abby repeats. "I didn't realize he'd been staying up nights. You see, well, I don't know if he's OK. His father had a minor heart attack a few days ago and it's shaken everybody up. I'll talk to Tommy and see if that's it."

"I am sorry to hear that." Phyllis says. "How are you doing?"

Abby shrugs. "Right now what's important is the kids and Tom. I can find time later to fall apart."

"Look, I know we don't know each other well, but if you need an ear, I am available." Phyllis tells her and writes down her phone number.

"Thank you. Dangerous offer, I have to warn you. I ever start spilling it's liable to be a flood."

"That's ok, I have an ark." she jokes.

Abby smiles and is about to say more, but the bell rings. "I'll talk to Tommy," Abby promises as she gathers her books and slips Phyllis's phone number into her bag.

"Thanks." Phyllis says

Later Tommy is leaning against his locker asleep.

Elizabeth is about to wake him when she sees Abby.

Abby motions Elizabeth to be quiet. Then she gently shakes Tommy.

"What?" he sees Abby standing there. "I am awake, just had my eyes close."

"Searching for inspiration?" Abby asks. "I hear you've been resting your eyes in class, too."

"Lot to think about." he states

"Tommy, you need to tell her what's going on." Elizabeth says worriedly.

"Elizabeth......" Tommy chides

"What? What's going on?" Abby asks, looking from one to the other.

Tommy just stands there.

"If you won't tell her, "I will." Elizabeth states.

Tommy finally relents and tells her about how he has been sitting up with  Nicholas.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Abby asks. "I would have helped with him. You need your sleep, and besides...."

"You have enough to worry about with Dad and besides what?"

"Besides, I don't think your staying up with him is going to help him much. What he needs is his father, well, of what he needs that's what he can get."

"I suppose, but he seems fine in the morning better than me actually." he says.

"Tell you what--tonight you sleep and we'll take Nicholas. Let me see what goes on at night and then we'll talk tomorrow."

Tommy sighs. "OK, but what are you going to tell Dad?"

"That the geometry teacher sent you home and he should talk to her later if he objects."

"The truth. He knows Nicholas has been scared. Besides, your father is real good at recognizing it when someone wakes up with a nightmare, so there's no point in hiding it."

"OK." he agrees.

"Tommy, why don't you go home?" Elizabeth suggests.

"Might not be a bad idea," Abby agrees. "You're not going to learn anything asleep."

"OK." he doesn't argue and puts his books back in the locker. "What do I tell Dad if he asks?"

Meanwhile Greg calls Tom and tells him that it wasn't a heart attack but actually an anxiety attack.

"Are you sure Max?" he asks.

"Yes Tom I am but you have to be careful what you eat still."

"This changes everything." Tom says not hearing what Max said.

"No it doesn't Tom you still have to watch what you eat to avoid a real heart attack in the future you're at risk."

"Sure Max, whatever you say." Tom hangs up and makes a mental shopping list. He gets dress and goes to the market.

Elizabeth laughs.

Tommy smiles and walks home.

When he gets there he smells bacon and eggs cooking.

"Dad!!!, What are you doing?"

"Having a late breakfast, what are you doing home?" Tom asks.

Tommy tells him what Abby told hom to say.
 
"She's going to kill you when she finds out what you are eating." Tommy says.

"Dr. Max called. He said it wasn't a heart attack, but an anxiety attack. So I'm fine. Care to join me?"

Tommy looks at those eggs and bacon dripping in butter. "Uh No thanks, I am having a heart attack just looking at that."

"Suit yourself." Tom says and enjoys every bite.

Tommy goes upstairs to sleep.

Nancy comes home from school and panics. "Dad what are you doing?!"

"I am eating." He says. "Now don't give that look, Max said I didn't have a heart attack."

"He did?  You mean all that guilt was for nothing?"

"What guilt?" he asks.

"Dad I'm glad that you're ok but you put me through a lot that night." She says.

"Nancy, I don't have a clue what you are talking about."

"At first I thought you had it because I was having another episode because it happened right after."

Tom puts his fork down. "I'm sorry Nancy, I didn't plan it. Honest!"

"No I'm sorry of course you didn't plan it, so what all did Dr. Max say?"

"That I didn't have a heart attack and that is was an anxiety attack."

Mary walks in. "Dad you still have to watch what you eat, with anxiety attacks you are still at risk."

"Thank you Dr. Bradford." he retorts.

"Dad I'm serious."

"So am I." he says. "I am going upstairs to eat this in peace." he takes his plate with him.

"You don't love us." Nancy tries another tactic.

Tom ignores her.

"Fine ignore me I don't care anymore." Nancy goes to her room and slams the door.

Tommy wakes up and pounds on Nancy's door.

"Come in."

Tommy walks in her room in a dream like state. "Nancy, if you slam that door one more time. I am going to tear it off."

"Get out of my room Tommy."

"Fine, but I'll close the door gently so you won't have to slam it." Tommy does this and goes back to his room.

"No respect whatsoever for his elders." Nancy says under her breath.

Max decides to head for the high school and has Abby paged.

Abby walks into the principal's office in response to the summons and sees Max. "What's wrong?" she panics. "Is it Tom?"

He tells her it was an anxiety attack but that Tom still has to watch what he eats. "Now when I told him this all he heard was anxiety attack he didn't seem to hear that he's still at risk."

"It wasn't a heart attack?" Abby, too, only hears half the new diagnosis. "He had the whole family jumping through hoops for an *anxiety attack*?"

"Abby please one of you has to listen to me."

"Don't worry, Max, I'll make sure he watches what he eats. He plays at a heart attack, he'll have to live like he had a heart attack."

"Abby he didn't know til a little awhile ago himself."

"And what do you want to bet he's down at the grease pit right this second?"

"I'll go check it out." He leaves.

Later Elizabeth sees Abby pacing in the hall.

"What's wrong?"

"Max was here. Your father never had a heart attack."

"What?" she says. "He was faking?"

"Not exactly. Close, though. He had an anxiety attack. He panics and the whole world has to stop. Look what he put poor Nicholas through."

"That's just great." Elizabeth says.

"Tell me about it. What he did to all of us. When I get home I'm going to...I'm so angry, I don't know what I'm going to do," Abby admits.

"Well they did thought he had a heart attack." Elizabeth says in defense of her dad.

"True. Next time I see Max....Good thing I didn't tell my father Tom had had a heart attack or he'd threaten to sue for malpractice."

"I know you are upset, but tell me the truth aren't you a little relieved too?"

"No. Your father's never going to eat what he should. Now he'll think he can just move into the grease pit. And he's still at risk."

"Then we'll have to convince him otherwise."

"You, me and what army?"

"The Bradford Army, I wasn't going to say anything but...it makes sense now."

"What makes sense now?"

"I called Tommy earlier to find out what books he wanted me to bring home for him. He started mumbling incoherently about Dad, bacon, eggs and butter. I thought he was dreaming."

"I knew it. He won't need a heart attack. I'm going to kill him."

"Good thing you are adopting us, or we'd be orphans." she jokes.

"I hope I'm still adopting you. Unless your father's changed his mind about that."

Elizabeth shrugs "Who knows with him."

Max comes back.

"He wasn't there," Abby says to Max.

"No he wasn't."

"No. Mr. I-didn't-have-a-heart-attack is at home clogging his arteries with bacon and butter."

Elizabeth senses the awkwardness. "I'll go wait in the car."

"Wonderful." Max says in frustration wondering why his best friend is so selfish at times.

"You might want to stop by the house later," Abby tells him. "He'll need your help after I get ahold of him."

"Yeah he'll need it and I'll be by."  ~After I'm calm enough not to tear him apart myself.~

Abby says goodbye and follows Elizabeth out to the car. "Ready for the war?"

~My poor Father~ "Yeah...but Dad isn't going to know what hit him."

"The butter, the bacon, the eggs..." Abby enumerates.

Elizabeth sighs. ~How could he do this to us?~

Abby drives them home. "Want to have any final words with him?"

"No that's OK, I'll let you do the honors."

Abby takes a deep breath, then gets out of the car and into the house, in search of her errant husband.

Tom is in the kitchen doing his dishes when he sees Abby walking in. "Hi, did you have a good day?"

"Part of it. What was that you were eating?"

"Bacon and Eggs. Max called earlier, I didn't have a heart attack, isn't that good news?"

"That's not what he told me," Abby said. "He came to the high school. Twice." Abby goes to the refrigerator and starts removing all the unhealthy things Tom has bought.

"Abby, what are you doing?"

Nancy enters the kitchen and sighs in relief, but then she realizes what is about to take place and  retreats.

"Keeping you from making a stupid mistake again."

"Didn't you hear what I said? It wasn't a heart attack."

"This time. Max said that if you keep this up," she gestures to the forbidden foods, "it's just a matter of time."

"Or it won't happen at all." he says in denial.

"Are you willing to take that chance?"

Tom looks at his wife and then his loot. He walks over to the garbage can and holds it open for her. "Be gentle, when you throw it away."

Abby gathers the contraband. "You might not want to watch," she warns.

Tom closes his eyes. "I feel like playing TAPS."

Abby throws out the food and kisses Tom. "It's a far, far better thing you've done..."

Tom shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I was just hungry and when Max called I just lost my head."

"If you hadn't come to your senses, you would have lost a lot more than that. Max said he'd be by later; maybe you can talk him into modifying the diet he gave you a little. But not too much."

"Yeah, At least I can go back to work tomorrow."

"I'll bet you're looking forward to that."

"Beats hanging out here alone all day."

"I wouldn't have left you here alone if Elizabeth didn't need me in school. You know that."

"I know that." Tom states. "Speaking of the kids, did you call your father about the adoptions?"

"This morning. But are you sure you want to go through with it, now that you know it wasn't a heart attack?"

"Of course, that is if you still do."

"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"

"You said so yourself, it wasn't a real heart attack."

"Who knows what might happen? Tomorrow you may choke on the crow Elliot Randolph will make you eat."

Tom laughs. "That's true."

Nancy sits down next to Tommy. "Sorry I was a mean bossy big sister earlier did you get enough sleep?"

Tommy yawns and nods. "Was that Abby yelling at Dad?"

"Yes," ~And all power to her.~

"Good, I couldn't believe it whan I saw Dad eating that stuff."

"Me either, shocking him into stopping didn't even work.  He just ignored me."

"It was like all he could see was that bottomless pit he calls his stomach."

"Yeah I know."

"Hey, I don't hear any yelling. Do you think she got thru to him?"

"I'll check it out, will you watch my back?"

"Who's going to watch mine?" Tommy says.

"Sam." Nancy says and then goes into the kitchen. "Everything ok?"

"Hello Nancy." Tom says. "Yes, everything is fine except for one thing."

"That's good but what's the one thing?"

"There is a certain father that acted foolishly today and is hoping that a certain daughter will forgive him for what he said."

"Only if you forgive me for acting just as foolishly."

"You have a deal." he replies and hugs her.

She smiles and hugs him and then she hugs Abby.  "Thank you."

"I was just being selfish," Abby says. "I've gotten used to having him around."

"Yeah we all have."

Tommy comes in after his long nap.

"Everything's fine." Nancy mouths to him.

Tommy smiles.

Tom finally asks. "OK, whats going with you and why are sleeping during the day?"

"Well..." Tommy begins to say. "It's Nicholas."

"Nicholas! What's wrong with Nicholas?" Tom asks Abby.

Not knowing about the bad dreams Nancy stays to find out what's wrong with the littlest Bradford.

"He's been having nightmares. I was going to suggest we have him in our room tonight, but maybe knowing you didn't really have a heart attack will be enough."

"Nightmares? Why wasn't I told?"

"Because we thought you'd had a heart attack. We were trying not to worry you."

"Terrific." Tom says feeling more guilty than ever.

"Maybe you should tell him you're going to be OK."

"Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him come home from school yet." Tom says.

Tommy looks at his watch "He should have been home an hour ago."

"I'll go look for him." Nancy offers.

"I think we all better go looking for him." Tom suggests.

"I'll check the arcade." Tommy says before taking off.

Nancy leaves in her car to check a few places and winds up breaking down.  She leaves the car after getting it in a safe parking space and goes looking for Nicholas.  She tries to shake off and overwhelming sense of fear that comes over her. She's unable to shake it off or explain it so she tries to ignore it.  "Nicholas!!" She calls out several times and also checks several places.

She finds Nicholas at the park. "Forget to come home?"

"No." he says.

"Well Dad and Abby are worried about you right now. I'll take you home."

"Is Dad really going to be OK?"

"Yes in fact he has good news for you when we get home."

"How good?" he asks suspiciously.

"Let me take you home and you'll find out."

"OK." Nicholas replies.

Meanwhile a few feet away.  "There he is, let's grab him."

"But he's not alone."

"No problem. She's just a woman."

Nancy and Nicholas head home when one of the thugs grabs Nicholas.

"Hey let him go!!"  Nancy screams and leaps at him.  The other one knocks her out.

Nicholas struggles with the men and kicks off his shoe in the process.

"Geez kid stay still." They put him in their van and drive away.

Nicholas fights with them to get out.

"How are we supposed to make him behave the boss said not to hurt him."

"Tie him up you idiot."

"Um ok." He tries to tie Nicholas up.

Nicholas punches him in the nose.

"Oww!!" They take him to the boss who becomes infuriated.

"You got the wrong kid you imbeciles!!"

"What do you mean we got the wrong kid?!"

"You got the wrong kid!!"

"Oh sh**, so what do we do about it?"

Meanwhile at the park Nancy is still lying unconscious.

Nicholas kicks him in the shin.

Meanwhile Tommy goes to the park and finds Nancy. "Nancy, wake up."

She groans and begins to stir.  "Nicholas, they got Nicholas."

Tommy slowly sits up Nancy. "Who has Nicholas?"

"I only saw one of them, the other one clocked me from behind.  Oh G-d Tommy we have to get him back." She starts crying.

"Can you stand?" Tommy asks.

She gets up and sways a little. She grabs onto Tommy for support. "Walk me to the police station?"

"Sure." Tommy walks her out of the park. "Hey isn't that Nicholas's shoe?", he sees laying on the sidewalk.

"It sure is."  They take that with them to the police station. While Nancy is looking at mugshots she asks Tommy to call David to pick up her car.  The police have already called the house and Tom and Abby are on their way.

One of the officers pulls Tommy aside. "Has a doctor looked her over yet?"

"No not yet." Tommy explains "When we found out my brother was taken, we came right here."

"I'll have someone take her."

Nancy looks up at them. "She's not going anywhere till I find the sob in these mug shots and don't talk about me like I'm not even here. Right now there's a scared little boy out there that we have to rescue."  She goes back to looking at the mug shots when Tom and Abby arrive.

Tom Rushes over to Nancy. "Nancy, are you OK?"

"Dad they took Nicholas. I tried to stop them." Her tears come again.

"It's going to be fine." Tom tries to assure her and himself.

"What if..." She stops in midsentence when she finds the snapshot of the kidnapper. "That's him!! He's one of the ones who took my brother." She tells the police officers.

"Ok let's move." One of them says and the police rush into action.

Nancy closes her eyes to fight off vertigo and to try to fight off passing out again.

When it passes she's relieved to find that no one noticed. "Can we help get him back?" Nancy asks the officers.

"No I suggest all of you go home, and you might want to go to the hospital and get checked out." He tells her.

"I'm not going anywhere til I know my little brother is safe." She argues with him while the other officers are busy working on the case.

"Abby, can you take Nancy to the hospital?" Tom asks. "I am staying here." he states.

"Sure."

"I'm ok." Nancy lies too worried about Nicholas to worry about anything else.

"Nancy Please, I can't worry about you and Nicholas at the same time." Tom nearly begs.

"Ok I'll go."

Moments later in the parking lot.

"Can we come back here after Dr. Max clears me?" Nancy asks Abby.

"If Dr.max says you can, sure."

"Thank you." They get in the car. ~Some protector I am. I should have gauged the whole situation first.~

Abby drives Nancy over to Max's office.

While he's checking her over. "So how did this happen?"

Nancy glances at Abby wondering if it's ok to tell him or if they should keep it quiet.

"Nancy, why don't you tell dr. max what's happened?" Abby suggests. "Otherwise he'll think we're just here to see his handsome face."

"Ok, Nicholas and I were headed home and..." She tells him the rest.

Greg goes pale. "Oh my.  Have you heard anything new yet?"

"Not yet. We were hoping to go back and wait for news if Nancy's OK," Abby says.

He finishes examining her. "Yes she's fine, and you young lady leave the bad guys to the police ok at least til you graduate the police academy."

"Ok." She says not really paying attention to everything he said.

"Greg, don't go giving her any ideas," Abby chides.

"Why not? The criminals would take one look at her and beg her to fingerprint them and...."

Nancy interrupts. "I don't mean to be rude but there are more important things going on right now.  Abby can we go?"

~What's got into her? Our being there won't help them find Nicholas--if anything, too many Bradfords underfoot will keep the police from doing their work.~ "Sure. Thanks, Max."

"Not a problem." He looks at Nancy and then says. "You know you did all you could you know that right?"

"Yeah." She says quietly. "But obviously it wasn't enough." She leaves the office and waits for Abby to join her.

"I'd better go talk to her," Abby says, and follows Nancy out. 'Dr. Max is right, you know," Abby tells her.

"If I had been more alert and careful, Nicholas would be safe at home right now."

"Nancy, you're his sister, not his guardian angel."

"I'm his older sister, which means that I'm supposed to look out for him and make sure nothing bad ever happens to him."

"Try to. There are no guarantees in this life."

"I know, but why did they have to take him? He's just a little boy Abby." Tears well in her eyes.

"Nancy, he's going to be all right."

"Promise?"

"Remember what I just said--no guarantees."

She nods and dries her eyes.  "You know maybe they found him already and we should get home or to the police station."

"Probably home. We'll just get underfoot at the stationhouse."

Nancy thinks it over. "Yeah you're right." They leave the hospital and head on home.

A couple hours later at the bad guys hideout.

"I say we pay his parents to take him back." One the frustrated kidnappers says.

The boss shakes his head. "No, we'll just drop him off at his house and split do you two really want to go to jail for Abduction and assualt."

"If they lock us up I'll press charges against the kid for assualt." The one with the still aching nose says."

"And the judge will laugh you all the way to prison."  He approaches Nicholas. "Where do you live kid?"

"How do I know you won't hurt my family?" Nicholas asks.

"We haven't hurt you have we?"

Nicholas thinks about it..."No."

"Then we won't hurt your family. They'll never even see us."

Nicholas gives them his address.

They take him home and drop him off.  The police are waiting and catch them and arrest them.

Mary runs out of the house and hugs her little brother. "Nicholas are you all right?"

"Yeah, but I lost my shoe." Nicholas replies.

She laughs. "Don't worry Nancy and Tommy found it."

"Good, Is Nancy, OK?"

"We were a little concerned at first but Dr. Max says she'll be fine, although I'm sure she'd really love to see you right now.  Let's go inside buddy ok."

"Ok."

When they get inside Nancy hugs him. "Are you ok? Did they hurt you?"

"Nah, I can take care of myself." Nicholas states.

"Dad!! Abby!! Nicholas is home!!" Mary shouts.

They come running and Abby hugs Nicholas.

"Abby, you are choking me." Nicholas replies.

"Sorry," Abby says, backing off.

"That's OK." Nicholas says.
 

A few nights later Nancy awakens in a cold sweat from a nightmare not aware that she was screaming.

Elizabeth gets out of bed, "Nancy, wake up."

"I'm up, I think, what happened?" She asks still trying to catch her breath.

"You were screaming, are you OK?"

"I don't know." She says still jittery.

"What were you dreaming about?"

Nancy thinks it over. "I have no idea I just remember being very frightened."

"Can I get you anything?"

"Some warm milk and do you mind if we turn the light on?"

"Sure." Liz says and turns on the light. She goes downstairs and accidentally drops a pan. Darn, I hope i don't wake anybody.~

Meanwhile Nancy is waiting for Elizabeth to return.

Elizabeth starts walking up the stairs with the warm milk.

Joannie sticks her head out her doorway. "That better be for me, now that you've woken me up."

"Sorry, its for Nancy."

"Then next time be quieter," Joannie grumbles and slams her door.

Elizabeth takes the milk into Nancy.

"Thank you, who slammed the door?" Nancy drinks the milk.

"Joannie." she sighs.

"She must have been half asleep."

"Or half awake." Liz jokes.

"It would have been nice if she had come in here.  We'd almost have a slumber party then."

"Yeah without the slumber."

Nancy laughs finally relaxing some. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"That's ok, I am sure I've woke you up enough times."

"That you did, but I don't mind."

"Then I don't mind either." Elizabeth replies. "You want me to leave the light on?"

"Yes please." Nancy finishes the milk and takes the glass downstairs to the kitchen and then she returns. "Night kiddo."

Elizabeth is fast asleep and doesn't respond.

Nancy also is soon fast asleep.

The next morning at breakfast.

"Sorry we woke you last night." Nancy says to Joannie.

"Sure you are. Kids. Up all hours of the night..."

"It wasn't like that at all." Nancy defends herself.

Elizabeth gently kicks Joannie under the table.

"No?"

"I had a bad dream."

"Elizabeth," Joannie hisses. "What was it, Nancy? All the makeup manufacturers went out of business?"

She laughs. "Could've been for all I know. I don't remember it."

"Good thing I'm naturally good looking. With all the beauty sleep you cost me..." Joannie laughs.

"Sorry about that."

"Sure you are."

"Sisters." Nancy teases.

Under the table, Joannie gives Nancy a small kick.

"Oh wise guy eh?"

Mary walks in studying. "Nancy stop being obnoxious it's bad for your complexion."

Joannie laughs.

"You two are so mean, but that's ok because all I need in the world is this spoon, this napkin, and Noah." She continues to joke.

"I'll tell that to Dad and Abby. They'll be relieved to hear you no longer need room and board."

"Hey!!"

Mary laughs.

After breakfast everyone leaves for school or work.

A month or so later

"Thank goodness the semester ends tomorrow." Nancy says out loud to no one since she's the only one in the new car she had bought two months ago from her modeling royalties. ~I don't think I've ever felt this tired before.~ She struggles to keep her eyes open on the fifteen mile stretch home.  Her sisters had yelled at her the night before when she came home exhausted and told her next time to call home for a ride when she was that whacked.  She had tried calling but the line was busy.  She rolls down the window halfway and also turns on the radio to stay awake.

Unable to stay awake she finally pulls over to rest her eyes for a bit.

A little while later a car full of drunken college boys rams into Nancy's car from behind.

Another driver pulls over to help with the accident victims.  His friend checks the other car while he checks Nancy's car.

"Two of them are dead." His friend announces after having tried CPR.

"Damn." He tries to open Nancy's car door but it won't budge.  "Hey help me here."  His friend helps him and soon they get the car door open.  The guy checks her for a pulse but doesn't find one.  At this point another car pulls over.  He yells for the new driver to call an ambulance and the police and then he and his friend get Nancy out of her car and start CPR.  They finally get a pulse and then try to get the bleeding under control.

Finally, the police and paramedics arrive and so does the coroner.  While the coroner and his assistances get the boys who died out and to the morgue.  One of the police officers arrests the other driver.

Officer Bernstein gets one look at the vehicles and pales.

Sometime after that the phone rings at the Bradford house.

"Bradford House of Stand Up Comedy," Joannie answers the phone.

"This is Nurse Evans at Sacramento General I need to speak to Mr. or Mrs. Bradford."

"I'm sorry, they're not home. Can I take a message?"

"Are you over 18? And are you a family member?"

"That's what they tell me."

"A Nancy Bradford was brought in 10 minutes ago.  I need to reach the next of kin."

"Nancy? What's wrong with her? Did somebody hurt her?" Joannie asks, remembering all of Abby's suspicions about Nancy's agent.

"Her car was rear ended by a drunk driver. The doctors are with her now but we need her insurance information."

"My dad has that. I'm not sure where he is."

Mary comes out of the kitchen.  "Joannie what's going on?"

"Do you know our insurance information?" Joannie asks a little frantically.

"Yeah Dad told me where he keeps it in case he's not here in an emergency, why? What's happened?"

"Nancy's in the hospital. She's been in a car accident." Joannie hands Mary the phone. "They need the information."

Mary gives them the name of the insurance company and then asks. "Is she all right?"

"You'll have to talk to the doctor." The nurse says. "I can't give out that information."

"I'll be right there." Mary hangs up. "I'm going to the hospital. Are you coming?" She asks Joannie.

"Of course I am. Take some change--we'll have to call home and let Dad and Abby know when they get back."

Mary goes to get some change and asks Susan to watch the kids and then she and Joannie leave for the hospital.  On the way there. "What kind of idiot hits a car that's not even moving." Mary rages not knowing yet that the other driver was intoxicated.

"A really bad driver?"

Mary shakes her head still a little in shock.  "I just hope it's not a head injury again, if people have too many it can cause problems later down the road."

"I hope it isn't something that will interfere with her modeling. I think Nancy would prefer brain damage," Joannie tries to joke.

Mary laughs.  Soon they arrive at the hospital and go over to the nurses desk. Mary gives them all the information they need.  "We want to see our sister." She says.

"The doctor's with her now. Just have a seat and he'll come talk to you as soon as he can."

They do this and a police officer approaches them.

"The other driver is in jail, and I don't think he'll be getting off lightly the two passengers with him died at the scene."

"In jail?"

"Yes he was drunk."

Mary tries to keep her temper in check.  "My sister Nancy, how did she look? It's not serious is it?"

"I'm no doctor but from the looks of her car she's lucky to be alive they were going over seventy. It would have been worse if she had been driving at the time."

"He killed two people?" Joannie says and collapses back into her seat.

Mary takes her hand and grips it for support.  "Joannie she's going to be all right.  Probably at the worst just needs to spend some time in the hospital."

"Hope they have cute doctors."

"Yeah really."

Meanwhile Dr. Maxwell arrives at the nurses desk.  "One of my patients was brought in here.  Her name is Nancy Bradford which examining room is she in?" He asks.

"Room 5, Dr. Maxwell. go right in."

He goes in there.  "How is she?" He asks one of the other doctors.

"There's no concussion but we still need to keep an eye on the head injury and we did a spinal tap the results will be back soon.  And her left arm is broken.  If she regains consciousness within the next half hour we'll have to sedate her. Otherwise she won't be able to handle the pain and if she moves around the cast won't set right."

"Spinal tap, why?"

"It's routine when a accident victim is hit from behind.  The nurses told me that two of her sisters are here right now."

Max nods.  "Come get me if she wakes up."  He then goes and finds Mary and Joannie.  "Hi girls."

"How is she, Dr. Max?" Joannie asks. "Is she going to be OK?"

Greg tells them everything the other doctor told him but a little more gently.

"When will they have the results from the spinal exam?" Mary worries.

"Very soon, don't worry it's only routine. Where's your Dad and Abby?"

"They don't know yet, can we see her?"

"In a little while I promise."

"Why can't we see her now? Is there something you're not telling us?" Joannie worries.

"Honey she's not awake right now, and she's not in any danger."  ~At the moment.~

"I don't need to talk to her, I just want to see her."

"Please Dr. Max." Mary pleads.

He sighs in defeat. "Ok."  He takes them to the examining room.

The other doctors begin to protest and Greg quiets them.

Part 2