She turns around and sees that he has a switchblade and backs away hoping that someone will show up. He lunges at her with the knife and
she kicks him in the groin and tries to run but he grabs her causing her to fall down. She bites the hand that's holding the knife and almost
gets away but not before he stabs her in the shoulder driving the knife in and pulling it out he's about to stab her in the heart when he hears
police sirens and decides to flee.

She slumps to the ground holding her shoulder and screams out in pain. Seconds later she starts feeling dizzy from the blood loss. The sirens
fade and start getting further and further away. ~No come back.~ She's about to scream out again but winds up blacking out instead.

A few minutes later in front of the store.

"I'm telling you I heard a scream we should call the police." A lady says.

Joannie and Cassie arrive and hear this. The police they had called were currently on the way.

"Where did the scream come from?" Cassie asks the lady and the man she's talking to.

"From out back." She answers.

Joannie and Cassie head back there. The man goes with them at the lady's urging just in case there's still danger back there.

They find Nancy unconscious with her shoulder still bleeding.

"Oh my God." Cassie rushes back to the front and goes inside to call an ambulance.

"Nancy? Nancy, come on, hang on. It's just a little blood. Wimp--see a little blood and you pass out, huh?" Joannie tries to joke, because
otherwise she'd scream and never stop.

The man takes off his shirt and wraps it around Nancy's shoulder to try to get the bleeding under control.

The paramedics and police soon arrive. The paramedics tend to Nancy while the police take statements. Soon the ambulance whisks away with
Nancy.

Cassie turns to Joannie. "Come on I'll give you a ride to the hospital." She says.

"Thanks. She'll be ok, right? I mean, the paramedics didn't look too frantic, did they?"

"She'll be fine, it was just a lot of blood is all, and it was only her shoulder. They'll have her fixed up in no time." Cassie tries to assure
Joannie and herself as she drives them to the hospital.

"Yeah. Shoulder wounds bleed a lot," Joannie continues the reassuring lies.

They arrive at the hospital in record time. A nurse is looking around the waiting room for a relative of Nancy's. She sees Joannie, and
recognises her from when Nancy had her appendix removed and approaches her with some forms.

"You are over 18 right?" She asks. "And you are Nancy Bradford's sister?" She questions wanting to be certain.

"Yes," Joannie answers to both. "How is she? She's ok, right?"

"I don't know, your family doctor is with her right now." The nurse tells her. "And I need you to fill out these forms if you're not up to
it I'll wait for your father to get here."

"No, I'll fill them out." ~Dad. I ought to call him. First I'll take care of this though; maybe by then the doctors will know how Nancy is
and I won't have to worry.~

The nurse hands Joannie the forms and Cassie goes to get them coffee and calls Jason and tells him what has happened. He goes ballistic and she
has to practically scream at him to keep him from going after Alan and convinces him to come to the hospital instead after he agrees she
returns with the coffee. She sits down beside Joannie and offers her a cup.

"I have to fill out these forms first," Joannie says. "Besides, I'm shaking so badly I'll just spill it everywhere."

"Joannie she's going to be all right, I know she was a scary sight, but she's going to be all right." Cassie tells her.

A little while later in Tom's office. He and Abby are there spending some quality time together when Donna comes rushing in.

"Donna I told you that we didn't want to be interupted."

"Sorry Mr. Bradford, but there's a police officer on line one he says it's an emergency."

Tom quickly picks up the phone. "Tom Bradford here...What?! Is she all right?!...I'll be right there." He hangs up all the color drained from
his face.

"Tom? What's wrong?" Abby asks.

"It's Nancy, she got stabbed." He tells her.

"But she had a police officer with her,' Abby protests. "How could that have happened?"

"He was on Alan's payroll." Tom says as his face clouds over. "We better get to the hospital."

"Do the kids know yet?" Abby asks.

"Joannie's at the hospital right now. I don't know about the other kids." Tom replies.

"We'll call from there," Abby says. "Let me drive; you're too shaken."

Tom nods and hands her the car keys. They soon leave for the hospital.

"She'll be all right," Abby reassures Tom. "She's a trouper."

"She better be," Tom says as tears threaten to fall.

Abby keeps one hand on the wheel and puts the other on Tom's leg, trying to give him some strength. She pulls up in front of the emergency room.
"You go in, I'll be there as soon as I park the car."

"Ok," he kisses her, gets out of the car, goes inside, and finds Joannie and Cassie in the waiting room. "How is she?" He frantically asks
Joannie.

"The doctors are with her," Joannie says. "Dad, I'm scared."

Tom sits down beside her and hugs her. "Joannie she's going to be all right."

A few minutes later Jason arrives and approaches Cassie. "How is she?"

"We don't know yet." Cassie says worriedly.

"And you?" He asks as he wraps his arms around her.

"We'll talk about that later. I'm not going to break down in front of her family." She says as she leans into his embrace.

A little while later Greg approaches the family.

"Greg is she all right?"

"Well it's going to take time for her shoulder to heal, but she won't need surgery."

Tom sighs in relief.

"However she's lost a lot of blood and they're out of her blood type in the blood bank."

"What type is she?" Tom asks. "I'm sure one of us can give blood. Or maybe more. How much will she need?"

"She's AB Negative, and she's going to need a lot more than one or two people can give. Tom I think you should get the rest of the kids here
ASAP." Max says.

"I'll do that." Tom goes to make the phone calls.

He soon returns. "David, Mary, and Susan are on their way. I couldn't reach Elizabeth, Tommy, and Nicholas. And the line was busy at home.
Greg can I see her? She must be terrified."

"She's still unconscious Tom and right now I need to get you all tested to see if you can donate blood." Greg says. ~Maybe I should call Daisy
and see if she'll get tested. I'm not compatible but maybe she is.~

Tom nods and all of them get tested. They find that Tom, Joannie, and Abby are compatible.

They donate as much as they safely can and aren't permitted to get up and walk around til they drink the orange juice and eat the cookies that
the nurses distribute.

"Can I see her now?" Tom asks one of the nurses.

"One at a time, but yes. But only for a short while, and remember that she's still out of it--she will be until we get all the blood into her,
if not longer," the nurse says.

"Thank you," Tom finishes his orange juice and cookie and heads over to the treatment room that Nancy is in. Tears well in his eyes again when
he sees her lying there looking very pale. They've already started administering the blood into her.

"Dad," Nancy calls out in a very dazed and terrified voice.

He's at her side in a second, he kisses her and strokes her hair. "I'm right here honey." She drifts off into unconsciousness again. He stays
with her until the nurses kick him out and he finds Abby and Joannie waiting outside.

"She came around for a second but she's out of it again." Tom says worriedly. "Which one of you wants to go in next?"

Abby remembers how upset Joannie was when Nancy had her appendix taken out. "Joannie can."

"No, Abby, it's OK," Joannie says, also remembering the fight they had in the hospital last time around. "You go."

Tom looks at them in confusion.

Joannie looks over at Tom for his permission to go first.

"Go ahead honey," he says.

Joannie gives her father a kiss and hurries down the hall to her sister. She sits down by Nancy's bedside. "Oh, Nance, if you wanted a room of
your own, you could have just said," she jokes.

Nancy moans and her eyes flicker open she thinks she sees Joannie there but she's not sure. Nothing seems real she feels like she's dreaming but
she's not. "Joannie what's going on?" She asked in a confused tone.

"You're going to be OK, that's what's going on," Joannie tells her.

"Ok," she manages to stay awake a little longer but drifts off again.

When Joannie goes to see her sister, Abby turns to Tom. "How are you doing?' she asks.

"Not too good, Abby. I don't think I can trust the police anymore and I want to tear this Alan guy apart. I know it was him it had to be." He
rages and his rage soon turns to sadness when he thinks about Nancy lying in the hospital bed.

Abby puts an arm around him. "I wish I'd never encouraged her to turn him in in the first place."

"Abby you didn't know. You thought she'd be safer that way." Tom says.

"Maybe I was just trying so hard to be helpful that I didn't think it through at all."

Tom hugs her and then looks into her eyes. "Abby listen to me there is only one person, well two to blame for this. That bad cop and Alan, and
I'll see to it that they both go to prison for the rest of their lives. You are not to blame for any of this."

David, Mary, and Susan arrive they had been at David's house hanging out when they got the call. All three are tested and only David is
compatible so he gives blood and afterwards goes to see Nancy. He sees that Joannie's there so he waits outside.

Joannie leans over, gives Nancy a kiss on the forehead, and goes outside. "Hi, David," she says. "Guess they told you what happened."

"Yes they did, how is she?" He asks frantically.

"She woke up once while Dad was with her and just again now, for a little. That's good, isn't it?"

"It's very good." He observes her more closely. "I heard you and Cassie found her. How are you holding up?"

"I'll be fine," Joannie says. "Nancy's the one we need to worry about."

"Did Dr. Max say whether or not we'd be enough for blood donating?"

"Not to me he didn't. Maybe Dad knows. Should we go ask him or do you want to see Nancy first?"

"Mary and Susan are trying to find Elizabeth, Nicholas, and Tommy." He looks in there at his little sister. "I want to go and see her first. We
can ask Dad after or you can if you want or would you rather me be there when you ask?"

"Would you mind? I'm scared to hear the answer. If she needs more it can't be good, right?"

"You bet," After he goes to see Nancy he and Joannie approach Tom and Abby and overhear Dr. Max talk to Tom and Abby.

"We need another donor. Daisy's not compatible. Has anyone reached Elizabeth, Tommy, or Nicholas yet?"

"No," Tom says. "The line at home is still busy."

"I'll go to your house and see if they're there." Jason offers.

"Thanks Jason."

Jason kisses Cassie and then leaves.

Jason soon returns with a very frantic Elizabeth. She's tested and is found compatible so she donates blood which is quickly rushed to her
injured sister. Afterwards she finds her family in the waiting room. She sits beside Joannie.

"Is this why you rushed out of the house?" She asks quietly.

"Sort of," Joannie admits. "I knew she was in trouble, but I didn't know how bad it was. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"It's ok, but she'll be fine. She has all the blood she needs now, right?"

"I don't know. I hope so, because this family's about all tapped out."

"Yeah," suddenly Elizabeth remembers something. "Joannie you got a call while you were out. You got the part." She tells her.

"I did?" Joannie repeats. "I did! That's great!"

Elizabeth manages a smile. "Yes you did," she hands her a slip of paper. "Here's the phone number they need to hear from you by noon tomorrow."

"Forget about tomorrow. Loan me a dime? I'm going to call them right now."

Elizabeth hands her a dime and at that moment Dr. Maxwell approaches the family and smiles.

Tom quickly notices his good mood. "She's going to be all right?"

"Well she's in for a long recovery and she probably we'll be in too much pain for the next two days to make sense but if all goes well you can
take her home Tuesday or Wednesday. But yes she's going to be ok."

Tom smiles and sighs a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you Greg." He hugs him.

Tom soon calls home again to see if Nicholas and Tommy are there.

"Hello?" Tommy says.

"Tommy, there you are is Nicholas still with you?"

"Yeah, he's upstairs; what's going on?"

"Nancy's in the hospital again, but she's going to be all right. I'll be home in a few hours." Doesn't want to tell him over the phone what
exactly happened.

"Again?" Tommy says "Why?"

"I'll tell you when I get home, not to worry she's going to be ok."

"OK, See ya soon," Tommy says.

"Ok, do you want me to bring anything home? I don't think anyone is going to be up to cooking."

"Yeah, thanks. What should I tell Nicholas?"

"Just tell him we'll be home in a few hours. Does pizza sound good?"

"Fine," Tommy says.

"Good," they talk for a few more minutes and then they both hang up. "They're finally home," he tells Abby.

"What did you tell them? They'll be worried, Nancy hurt again."

"I didn't talk to Nicholas and I told Tommy that she's here and that she'll be all right. I didn't want to tell him what happened over the
phone."

After visiting hours the Bradfords head home and grab some pizza on the way for dinner. They come in with the pizza and bring it in the kitchen
where a very hungry Nicholas and famished Tommy are waiting.

"It's about time," Nicholas says.

"Sorry Nicholas it's been a long day," Elizabeth says.

"What?" Nicholas asks, still not feeling too well.

She hugs him and puts some pizza on a plate for him and gets him something to drink.

Joannie goes upstairs and flops on her bed, too upset and tense to eat.

Tom takes Tommy aside and tells him what happened.

"Oh MY..." Tommy says. "I should have help her today."

"What do you mean?" Tom asks.

"She ask earlier if anyone wanted to go shopping with her; but I instead I took Nicholas to the zoo to get his mind off his hearing."

Tom smiles, "Son if you think it's your fault that your sister got stabbed I want you to stop that silly thinking right now because you are
in no way responsible for it," he says with conviction.

"If you say so," Tommy says still feeling guilty and grabs some pizza and leaves the kitchen.

Elizabeth frowns and goes after him with her own pizza. She finds him in his bedroom and sits down on Nicholas' bed. "What's wrong?"

"I just feel like I let Nancy down," he says. "I am also scared for Nicholas."

"You didn't let her down. How were we supposed to know that he was a bad cop? And Nicholas will be ok, the tubes will fix his hearing," Elizabeth
tries to assure him and herself.

"I should have went after Alan the night before the wedding but Abby talked me out of it," Tommy says with regret.

"And what if Alan would have won, we'd be visiting you in the hospital or worse. Do you think we would be less upset if it were you who got
stabbed? I don't think so. Tommy please don't go after him I don't want another sibling hurt," she pleads.

"Don't worry, I won't," Tommy says "Besides I wouldn't know where to look anyway. But tell me the truth; is Nancy hurt bad?"

"Well she lost a lot of blood so we were worried about that for awhile and donated some to her but she made it past that hurdle she has plenty
now, she'll be out of it till probably Tuesday and she'll be in a lot of pain for awhile. It was her left shoulder. But Dr. Max said she's going
to be ok." Elizabeth ponders something and finally voices it aloud. "I'm worried about Joannie though. She and Cassie are the ones who found
her."

"Brother...that must have been awful for them. Although I am glad she found her."

"So am I, otherwise..." Elizabeth is afraid to finish the sentence.

Tommy goes and sit next to Elizabeth on Nicholas's bed and says, "Sorry, I didn't mean for my mood to bring you down."

Elizabeth hugs him. "It's ok you're my brother."

"Man, this sure hasn't been a good way for Dad and Abby to start their marriage."

"Yeah really, I hope it survives the chaos of the Bradford family."

"Too bad we couldn't find away for them to spend a weekend alone away."

"Yeah, and there's no way they will next weekend. Not with Nicholas' ears and Nancy will still be recovering. Do you think they would trust
their care to us and even if they did they wouldn't go away with one sick little boy and an injured daughter at home."

"No," Tommy says. "Maybe we could plan on doing something for them for New Years Eve?" he says plotting.

A mischievous smile spreads on Elizabeth's face. "Little brother now you're talking."

"Yeah," Tommy says and whispers to her, "and we could have us a nice little party here too."

Elizabeth nods.

After talking to Tommy, Elizabeth goes and knocks on Joannie and Susan's door.

"Come in," Joannie says, her voice muffled because she's buried her face in her pillow and has not come up to call out.

"Hey sis how are you doing?" Elizabeth asks as she comes in and sits down beside her.

"You know, she was really bleeding," Joannie says, not getting up.

"Yeah but she's going to be all right. I can't imagine how scary it must have been. Do you want me to get Dad?" Elizabeth asks.

"What for?" Joannie asks.

"Because I figured you might need him right now," Elizabeth says.

Joannie laughs. "Like he has time for me."

"Well he better make time or he'll be in big trouble with me." Elizabeth says and then hugs her sister. "You can talk to me I probably won't know
what to say but I'll listen."

"I just keep thinking about her and all that blood," Joannie says. "I thought she was going to die. She's been missing Mom so much lately, and
I thought we were going to lose her, too."

"Maybe where ever Mom is right now she was looking out for her, making sure someone found her. I'm sorry you had to see that though." Elizabeth
says. "But she's going to be all right Joannie she's still here to get on our nerves for many years to come and for us to get on hers."

"Nahh, I don't get on her nerves," Joannie laughs. "At least not if she knew what's good for her."

Elizabeth laughs also. "Well I get on hers but she tries not to show it."

Joannie flops over to her back. "That's what you think..."

Elizabeth glances at her in confusion and picks up one of the pillows. "Sis, explain yourself or you're in for it." She teases.

Joannie imitates Nancy imitating Elizabeth. "This is my long, beautiful hair and I have to, just have to spend hours in front of the mirror
brushing it. And then I'm going to talk on the phone to 15 of my closest friends..."

Elizabeth laughs. "She did not do that, did she? I'm going to kill her." She cringes at the last sentence. "Joannie I did not mean that."

"Keep that up and I'll make you take Susan's snoring so I can protect poor innocent Nancy," Joannie says and continues to imitate Nancy
complaining about Elizabeth.

Elizabeth attacks her with the pillow.

Joannie grabs a pillow off Susan's bed and fights back.

After the pillow fight and laughter: "Well I think I'm going to turn in it's been a long day and I'm pretty tired, goodnight."

"Good night, Elizabeth. And thanks."

Elizabeth smiles. "Anytime," she hugs her and then goes to her room to get some shut eye.

After the kids have finished their pizza, Abby and Tom go upstairs. "Want to talk about it?" Abby asks.

Tom's face clouds over. "I just want to know why that punk thought he had to hurt her. What sense he thought would come out of it. If anything
it hurts his case that the prosecutor has against him. She could've bled to death, Abby, if Joannie and Cassie hadn't of found her. If they
couldn't have found all of us to give blood." Tears well in his eyes.

"I don't think that dealer was really thinking much at all," Abby says, "and there were other people at the store--they would have found Nancy
if Joannie and Cassie hadn't. And you know Max would have found a way to get the blood. He wouldn't have stopped looking until he did. But
knowing all that doesn't help much, does it?"

"No it doesn't." He says as his tears start falling.

Abby puts her arms around him, trying to comfort him. "She'll be all right. Max said so."

"I know Abby, but it's still scary." He allows himself to be comforted.

"I know," Abby says, though she really doesn't, "I know."

They stay like that for awhile with Abby comforting Tom and after awhile they retreat to bed.

November 20
The next day the police show up to question Nancy. The lady in charge of the other nurses blocks their entry.

"You are not going to question that kid right now. She's still out of it and she's frightened and confused. And she freaks out whenever a police
officer enters her room. You can go now." She says.

"But we have to find out who did this to her so we can find them and put them in jail." One of the detectives says.

"Oh come on we all know who it was." She says. "Why don't you go arrest him so he can't hurt anyone else with his drugs or knife."

"We'd love to but first we need proof that it was him. And we're not going to get that if we don't get a chance to talk to your patient."

"One more time for the hard of hearing. She's not up to it yet, she's not thinking with a clear head right now."

Currently at Alan's house.

"I told you not to hurt her just to scare her a little." His boss complains.

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one she turned in to the police." Alan grouses.

"I don't care, I told you I'd get you a good lawyer, but right now forget it. I don't want you bringing my operation down you're on your
own."

"What do you care if I hurt her or not anyway?"

"Because hurting 18 year old kids is not what I"m about. I have kids of my own at home."

Alan laughs. "Yet you'll sell drugs to 18 year olds and younger, don't give me that. You're just worried about your own self."

"Alan you're fired and I suggest you get a good lawyer and don't even think about mentioning my name or you'll be the one they find at the
bottom of the Sacramento River." His former boss says as he leaves.

This scares Alan into turning himself in because he figures he'll be safer in jail.

The police go to the hospital and tell Tom and Abby that Alan turned himself in and confessed.

"That's good but what about that Police officer who was on his payroll?" Tom asks.

"Internal affairs is looking in to it."

"Is he in jail? Will there be a trial?"

"We don't know about a trial yet internal affairs is looking into it and no he's not in jail yet." They leave before Tom can ask further probing
question leaving Tom fuming.

"Tom, you can't expect them to tell you anything about a bad cop," Abby reasons, "any more than you'd tell the public about a journalist gone
bad. Professional ethics, or covering up for your buddies, call it what you will, we all do it."

"I know that, but I also know that there's a kid in there that doesn't even want to see a cop enter her hospital room right now."

"She's going to have to deal with the police sooner or later," Abby says.

"I know but not now, maybe in a couple of days." Tom says.

"You're right, that's probably best. She doesn't seem together enough to help the police yet, anyway," Abby answers.

Monday, November 21:

After work Abby goes to see Nancy, but when she gets there, Nancy is asleep. ~Oh, well, I'll just sit here and work. It's quiet, at least.
Every time I go to the bedroom for a little privacy I wonder whether Tom's going to track me down or if the kids are staring at the door,
waiting for Tom to track me down.~ She organizes the notes for her speech has begun rehearsing it aloud when Nancy wakes.

"Hi Abby." Nancy says.

"You're supposed to be asleep," Abby says. "Did I wake you?"

"Yeah but it's ok, I have plenty of time to sleep around here." She says.

Abby puts her work away. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Not really, how are you doing?" Nancy asks.

"Finally catching up on work," Abby says. "Do you know, this is the only quiet place I've found so far?"

Nancy laughs and then groans as the shoulder yells at her and screams *do not laugh*

"Do you want me to ask the nurse to get you some pain medication?" Abby asks. "Or I could go back to reading you my speech. It's guaranteed to
put you to sleep."

"Medication." She manages through the groans.

"Smart choice." Abby goes out and comes back with a nurse.

The nurse administers the medication and checks for alertness. Nancy answers half of the questions correctly.

"Hmm, well that's better than yesterday. You're doing good." She also checks her vitals and after turns to Abby.

"If she needs anything just press the call button and I'll answer." She tells Abby.

"Thanks," Abby says. When the nurse leaves Abby tells Nancy, "Why don't you try to rest a little? I'll just sit here and work, so if you need
something, I'm here."

"Ok, thanks Abby." Nancy nods off again after awhile.

Abby sits there for a while working, unwilling to leave Nancy alone just yet.

After awhile Nancy has a nightmare and starts saying. "No go away leave me alone." She says in a terrified tone in her sleep.

Abby puts her work down and goes over to Nancy's bed, making sure to only touch Nancy's good shoulder. "Shh. It's all right. It's just a
dream."

Nancy awakens trembling. "Is Alan in jail?" She asks Abby.

"Yes, he is. He turned himself in yesterday," Abby assures her.

Nancy sighs in relief and soon falls back to sleep.

Abby stays around long enough to make sure Nancy is sleeping peacefully and then goes home, first stopping by the nurse's station to ask them to
keep an eye out for Nancy's nightmares.

"We'll do that." The nurse assures her. The same one who had been in earlier.

Two days later, Tuesday, November 22:

Nancy is fully alert for the first time since the stabbing. Her shoulder still hurts a lot. Greg tells her it'll be like that for a few more days
and prescribes pain medication. The non addictive kind.

"Dr. Max, is anyone in my family here right now?" She asks.

"Joannie will be here in a few minutes and your Dad and Abby will be here later on today."

"Ok, and what day is it?"

"It's Tuesday," he smiles. "You've been pretty out of it for the past few days. Mostly because of the medication."

Her face clouds over. "Will I be here on Thanksgiving?"

"Not if you follow my orders and don't move that shoulder around a lot. If everything goes well you'll be sprung tomorrow, but I want you
resting in bed for another week and I'll come by Friday and show you how to move that shoulder around so that it heals right."

There's a long pause and then finally. "Is Alan in jail? Because it was him that stabbed me."

"Yes he's in jail. He turned himself in and confessed."

"Good," there's another silence.

"Well I have to go do my rounds if you need anything have one of the nurses page me ok."

She nods. He kisses her on the cheek and then leaves. Soon after Joannie arrives.

"Hey sis did you get the part?" Nancy asks her.

"Yeah," Joannie says, but she doesn't look happy.

Nancy observes her expression. "What's wrong?"

"The part--I really want it, it's really good, and it's community theatre, not the college. But Dad's going to go ballistic."

"Why will he go ballistic?"

Joannie looks around the room, just to make sure they're alone, and whispers in Nancy's ear, "I have a nude scene."

"What?" Nancy looks at her in shock. "Did you just say what I think you said? Or am I starting to go out of it again?"

"Not unless you're fainting from the shock," Joannie says. "And lots of actors do nude scenes. It's not big deal, unless you're a stick in the
mud like Dad."

"Joannie if you're happy about this part I am too, but you don't look very happy about it."

"Oh, I'm happy about the part. I'm not happy about having to tell Dad about it. Or worse, not telling him and him coming to see the play."

"Hmm, well maybe you don't have to tell him. He won't hear it from me I promise. So what's the role?"

"It's an original play so you wouldn't have heard of it. But how do I keep this from Dad? You know he'll want to be at my first real acting
job."

"I don't know, that'll be a tough one." Her stomach rumbles. "Hey Joannie did you bring any food with you?"

"Now, you know you're not allowed people food yet," Joannie teases. "I'll see if I can find some nurse with the institutional garbage, if
you want."

"But Joannie my shoulder hurts, and I'm in a weakened state if I eat this hospital food it will do me in." She jokes back.

"And after this," Joannie points to the IV, "the shock of real food might do your stomach in. I'll ask if it's OK for me to get you a pizza
or something, OK?"

"Ok, thanks Joannie," there's a short pause. "You can always not tell him about the play, or you can say um uh, I don't know..."

"Yeah, exactly." Joannie goes into the hallway to flag down some nurse and ask whether she can bring real food in for Nancy.

"Well as long as it's not spicy or anything keep it simple and don't let her move that shoulder yet. She can't start trying to move it 'til
Friday," the nurse says when Joannie asks her.

"I'll tell them to hold the jalapeno. Thanks!" Joannie hurries to the nearest pizza place and brings back a pie with all Nancy's favorites.
"Pizza delivery," she announces as she knocks on Nancy's hospital room door. "Anyone here order a pizza?"

Nancy laughs, "yeah in here. Thanks Joannie." She says as she enters with the pizza.

"Here you go," Joannie passes Nancy a slice. "Eat slowly. You get heartburn from it and Nurse Ratchett out there will kill me."

Nancy takes it with her good arm and eats it the best she can with one hand. Sometimes she forgets and almost uses her bad arm but soon
remembers when it yells at her.

After Joannie leaves Nancy calls home and Susan answers.

"Hello" Susan says answering the phone.

"Hey Suzy how's the world?" Nancy asks already tired of being in the hospital even though she's only been alert for 3 or 4 hours now.

"Everything is okay. How are you feeling?" Susan asks.

"Not too good, but Dr. Max says it will pass."

"I hope so. I wish I could have been more of a help to you with Alan. Maybe none of this would have happened," Susan says.

"Susan don't go blaming yourself. The only one who should blame themselves is the bad cop and Alan."

"I suppose you're right Nance. So, have the doctors told you when they'll let you come home?"

"Tomorrow if all goes well."

"That's great." replies Susan

"Yeah, but I wish it was today."

"I know what you mean. Maybe you'll get to see a cute intern or two while you're stuck there at the hospital. That should help keep your
mind off Alan."

Nancy manages a smile. "Now that would be good."

"I thought that might help," replies Susan. "I had better let you go so you can get some rest. I'll talk to you later."

"Ok, talk to you later." They both hang up and soon after Nancy falls back to sleep.

After school Tommy goes to the hospital and sees Nancy is sleeping. He sits in the chair and wait for her to wake up.

After awhile she awakens and smiles at her brother. "Hey there."

"Hi; How are you feeling?" Tommy asks.

"Pretty damn awful." She groans. "How are you doing? How's Nicky's ears?"

"He is scheduled for surgery the day after Thanksgiving," Tommy says.

"Sheesh I go home tomorrow and two days later he comes in here. This family spends too much time in hospitals. We ought to have our own
ward."

"Yeah, but luckily he will go home after the surgery," Tommy says and then adds, "I am sorry I wasn't there to protect you from Alan."

"Tommy it's not your fault."

"People keep telling me that; but I still think I should have come with you shopping."

"Then they wouldn't have tried anything. They would've waited for another time and probably would've made sure I was dead. Tommy it's not
your fault."

"You are right." Tommy concedes.

Nancy smiles finally having convinced him. "Yes I am and don't forget that and stop torturing yourself over it, ok."

"OK…you win. But if I ever see Alan again all bets are off." Tommy says

Nancy sighs. "Ok fair enough."

"So how are you really feeling?"

"Not very good, my shoulder is killing me." She groans.

"Well your shoulder will heal. Luckily it wasn't your heart." Tommy says

"Yeah really." Nancy remembers that it almost was her heart but doesn't share this with Tommy. "So are Abby's parents coming for Thanksgiving?"

"I don't know; with Nicholas having surgery the day after thanksgiving; I kind of doubt it."

"Is he scared?"

"Yeah, heck I would be too." Tommy confesses

"As would I. Even though I've been through worse. Maybe I should call him, does he know why I'm here?"

"You can't call him; he still can't hear that well yet. Dad and Abby just told him that you had an accident and that you will be home soon."

"Wow is this little Tommy. Nancy you didn't tell me how cute he's gotten?" Cassie says as she walks in.

"Hey he's jail bait to you, hands off, besides you have Jason." She says to Cassie.

Tommy is in love "Hi Cassie."

"Hi sweetie." She kisses him on the cheek and gently hugs Nancy. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

"A new shoulder would be nice."

"I should be getting home." Tommy says nervously

"Ok, thanks for coming to see me." Nancy smiles at him.

Tommy gives Nancy a hug and leaves the room.

"He is one cute brother." Cassie says.

"Stay away from him. You're too old you'll corrupt him, besides you have Jason. Remember him?"

"Oh lighten up you know I love Jason more than anything."

"Then do me a favor don't lead Tommy on ok."

"Don't worry big sister it'll be all right."

They talk awhile longer and then Cassie leaves.

After Tommy goes home from visiting the Nancy. He sees his dad in the study. "Hi, Dad."

"Hi Tommy, come on in, where have you been?" Tom asks.

"Just visited Nancy at the hospital. I am surprised to see you here alone."

"Abby's in the kitchen with Elizabeth and Mary, she wanted to help with dinner. How's Nancy?" He asks.

"She seems OK; still in a lot of pain. Cassie is with her now."

"I hope they let her come home tomorrow." Tom worries.

"Me too." Tommy says. "Have you seen Nicholas?"

"Yeah he's watching cartoons."

"OK....maybe I'll go keep him company."

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure....I was going to ask you if I could come with you, Abby and Nicholas when he has his surgery."

"Of course you can." Tom says happy that Tommy wants to be there for his little brother.

"Good." Tommy says

They go join Nicholas in the den and watch cartoons with him.

The next day Nancy's released from the hospital with orders to stay in bed for the next couple of days. On the way home in Tom's car.

"Do you think he meant that I can't eat Thanksgiving dinner with everyone tomorrow?" She asks her dad and Abby.

"Well Nancy, if it'll hinder your recovery I don't think I can allow it," Tom says to her while driving.

"But it's Thanksgiving." She pouts.

"Tom, they can't have meant her to stay in bed all the time," Abby says. "One meal at the table, if she's careful, won't hurt her, I don't think.
We can at least ask Max, can't we?"

"That's not fair, you both know that I can't say no to two beautiful women." He smiles. "Ok I'll check with Max and if he oks it I'll allow
it but only if you're careful young lady."

Nancy smiles. "Thanks Dad, and thank you Abby." She says very grateful for Abby backing her up.

Abby looks back at Nancy. "Well, now we know how to get what we want out of your father--gang up on him."

"Exactly," she smiles.

"Hey I heard that!!" Tom says but winds up smiling too.

"And you love the idea," Abby teases.

Tom laughs. They finally arrive home and get Nancy situated in her bed. She falls asleep instantly due to the pain medication. They leave so she
can sleep in peace.

"I'll bet you're glad she's home," Abby says to Tom.

Tom smiles. "Very glad. I'm glad you're home too." He says as he kisses her. "I've missed you today. During that hour that we were apart."

"Well, you're going to have to start missing me a lot more," Abby warns, "because they're beginning to complain at work that I'm not doing enough
to prepare for this conference."

Tom pouts, "Well, can they wait till after the holiday."

"Well, yes, I do have the weekend off, but next week I'm going to have to put in extra hours to make up for all the time I've taken off," Abby
says. "Not all of us can bring our work home, you know."

"I know," he kisses her. "But one day we are going to go on our honeymoon."

"Famous last words."

"We are going, I promise you." He says.

"It doesn't much matter, I suppose," Abby says, "since no matter where we go I doubt we'll see much of the scenery."

He smiles again. "Oh, you got that right."

"So--are you busy now, or maybe you'd like to practice that honeymoon thing?"

"I want to practice that honeymoon thing."

"I think that can be arranged," Abby says and leads Tom to their bedroom, where they have a lot of fun practicing for their honeymoon.

A few hours later Nancy awakens and tries to put on her robe so she can go to the bathroom. But can't due to her shoulder. "Dang it why can't I
master getting dressed with one arm. Hey are any women home?!" She calls out.

Abby kisses Tom and gets out of bed. "Our convalescent is calling," she says, puts on her robe and goes to Nancy's room. "You bellowed?" she
asks.

"Yeah, have you ever had the pleasure of trying to get dressed with the use of only one arm?" Nancy says.

"No," Abby says, "but if I offer you my two, you'll have three, and that should get the job done." She picks up Nancy's robe and helps her into
it.

"Thanks Abby." She heads for the bathroom, does what she needed to do and meets Abby in the hallway. "Are you parents coming for Thanksgiving
tomorrow?"

"No," Abby says sadly. "My dad says leaving Pasadena once a year is bad enough, twice is unthinkable. You know, this will be the first
Thanksgiving ever I haven't spent with them?"

"I'm sorry." Nancy says. ~Just like this will be our first Thanksgiving without mom. No that's different she still has her parents thankfully.~
"I kind of know how it feels, and in that case we'll just have to make tomorrow extra special."

"All I'm worried about is doing something different from The Bradford Family Traditions," Abby says. "Your father ought to have compiled a
rule book for me before the wedding so at least I'd have some guide."

"I'll be your guide. Probably won't be able to help actually cook anything but I can tell you what we usually have, but why go completely
with tradition? Why don't you just make what you want to make?" She says feeling guilty about that one day they went to the DA's office. ~I'll
never be the one who speaks for most of my siblings again.~

"It will be your first Thanksgiving without your mother," Abby answers. "I don't want to make it any more awkward than it already  will be."

"I'll sure be glad when things aren't awkward anymore so we can just be a family."

Nicholas comes out of his room wiping his eyes and says "Hey is everything ok?"

"Hey Nicky." Nancy greets him. "Long time no see."

Nicholas yawns and asks "What time is it?"

"I don't know I just woke up myself." Nancy goes back to her room.

Nicholas then asks Abby, "What time is it?"

"About two o'clock," Abby says. "What were you doing asleep in the middle of the afternoon?"

Nicholas shrugs "I don't know; the last thing I remembered I was playing with my toys."

"Well, I'm going to go downstairs to start some baking for tomorrow and I'll need someone to clean out the bowls--know anyone who might be
interested?"

"Yeah, me." Nicholas replies.

"I never would have guessed," Abby says. "Well, come on downstairs; we have work to do."

"OK." They go downstairs into the kitchen.

Currently in Nancy's room. She gets part of her housecoat off and works on the other she gets it off but accidentally moves her bad shoulder too
much and grits her teeth to keep from screaming since she doesn't want to scare Nicholas. He has enough to deal with, with his surgery coming
up the day after tomorrow.

In the kitchen: "Where do I even start?" Abby asks herself aloud. "Do you guys eat pecan pie?"

"Never heard of it. Is it good?" Nicholas asks.

"It's wonderful, but if you've never heard of it your family doesn't eat it for Thanksgiving. This is hopeless."

Mary walks in and asks "What is hopeless?"

"Thanksgiving," Abby answers. "I don't have any idea what this family eats for Thanksgiving."

"The usual stuff: Turkey and all the trimmings. What do you usually have?"

"The same, but that's where the problems is--when we say trimmings, we don't mean the same thing. I mean, Nicholas doesn't even know what pecan
pie is."

"Pecan pie?" Mary asks. "It sounds good. Look I have an idea. Why don't I write a list of what our trimmings consist of and you write a list of
what your trimmings are and we combined the two?"

"Do you think your father would allow any deviation from tradition?" Abby asks uncertainly.

"Well as long as we have mashed potatoes, I don't think he will notice the difference." Mary says trying to calm Abby's fears.

"You kids really have your father pegged, don't you?" Abby laughs. "OK, let's give it a shot." Abby writes down a list of the Mitchell family
traditions, from pumpkin soup through orange-cranberry relish and on to black bottom pecan pie.

Mary writes down: Onion and Celery Stuffing; Rolls; Veggie Tray with dip and  pumpkin pie.

Abby looks over Mary's list. "I don't think your father would object to two pies. And I never really did like chestnut stuffing, so I'll be
happy to cross that off my list. I might actually be able to do this."

"See, I told you this would work." Mary says "I am not busy for the rest of the day, would you like a hand?" Mary asks.

"I'd love a hand. But Nicholas here has first dibs on licking out any batter bowls," Abby warns.

"Yeah." Nicholas says seriously.

"Come on Nicky...you won't let me have one small lick?" Mary asks

"Well, only if it is a small one."

"Thank you." she says and smiles.

"Hey, Nicholas, you think you can handle a nutcracker?" Abby asks.

Mary asks "Uh...Abby; you didn't buy pecans that were already shelled?"

"Of course not," Abby says. "They're not as good if they've been sitting around shelled for who knows how long. Don't tell me you don't have a
nutcracker."

"OK, I won't tell you that we don't have a nutcracker." Mary says "I'll tell Nicholas 'Nicholas we don't have a nutcracker.'"

"A ha, but I had one, and I still do--I just have to find the right box in the garage," Abby says. "Or, Nicholas, if you think you're strong
enough I'll teach you how to crack nuts without a nutcracker."

"How?" Nicholas and Mary reply at the same time.

Abby shows them by taking two nuts, putting them into her fist and squeezing until one cracks. She then pulls the nutmeat out. "Think you
can do that, or should I find the nutcracker?"

"I'll try it." Nicholas says. He puts the nuts in his hands and cracks the pecans. "Cool" he says.

"I can't believe no one ever taught you that," Abby says, putting the bag of pecans down in front of Nicholas. "Must be too many girls in this
family."

Mary chuckles.

At that point Elizabeth walks in. "Hi everyone."

"Hi Liz." Mary says

"Hi Mary how's it going?"

Mary lies and says "Fine. You?"

"I'm good."

"Good" Mary says ~that makes one of us~

"You available for kitchen duty?" Abby asks Elizabeth.

"Sure but I was going to see if Nancy needed anything first, did she eat lunch yet?" Elizabeth asks.

"No, Abby answers. "She came out of her room for a few minutes, then went right back to bed."

"I'll go check." She heads upstairs and finds Nancy wide awaken and hugs her. "Welcome home. Are you hungry?"

"No, I'm Nancy." She jokes.

Elizabeth laughs. "Ha, ha, seriously."

"No, Nancy." She emphasizes.

"Shuddup, what do you want to eat, sis?"

Nancy laughs. "I'll wait for dinner, but I could use a snack to hold me over." Tells her what she wants and Elizabeth goes downstairs to fix it.

Later that night, Nancy knocks on Mary's door with her good arm.

"Come In." Mary says

Nancy walks in and shuts the door. "Hi Mary, how are you doing?" Nancy asks hoping she's not treading on thin ice.

"Should you be out of bed?" Mary asks

"It's ok as long as I don't strain myself." She sits down on the bed. "And you haven't been to see me in my bedroom yet so I figured the only
way I can see you is to come to you."

"Sorry, I just been feeling a bit sorry for myself." Mary replies

"I've done that once or twice myself."

"But my problems aren't life threatening. I should have been there for you." Mary says

"It's ok Mary really."

"No, it isn't OK, I shouldn't have been so selfish." Mary says emphatically

"Mary it's all right." She hugs her with her good arm.

"So are you ready for tomorrow?" Mary says wiping her eyes.

Nancy hands her a tissue. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to it actually. I need good times in my life right now. What happened was pretty scary."

"I just hope it will be peaceful." Mary says

"If it's not, I know of a way to stop people from bickering. Either Nicholas can pretend that his ears are even worse or I can pretend that
my shoulder has taken a turn for the worst," Nancy half jokes.

Mary laughs. "Who would have thought that last year Mom was here and now..." Mary replies, not able to finish her statement.

Nancy's face clouds over as tears well in her eyes. "Yeah, I guess you never know when..."

Mary holds her and says "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's ok," Nancy says as her tears fall. "If we can't talk to each other about Mom who can we talk to?"

"That's true; but Abby is trying so hard with this dinner tomorrow. I hope we can get through it without any hurt feelings."

"Yeah me too." Nancy wants to ask about the medical school but doesn't want to upset Mary.

Mary seems to read Nancy's mind and says "I have applied to other medical schools."

She manages a smile. "Good."

"I don't know if it is good but I'll give it another go at it. What are your plans?"

"To get better, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and not to flunk out of college."

"Sounds like a full plate."

"I can handle it I hope."

"You'll do fine, just remember you have a whole lot of people that are on your side, from Dad and Abby all the way down to Nicholas."

"Thanks Mary."

"Well since I am hoping to be a doctor, I hope you don't mind if I practice on you?" Mary states

"What do you mean?" Nancy asks trying to hide the shoulder pain but failing miserably.

"You are in pain aren't you?" Mary asks

"Yes," She groans.

"Have you taken a pain pill yet?" Mary asks in her motherly voice.

"Not since before dinner; I didn't think I needed it."

"Nancy, you are supposed to them every 6 hrs for pain, now where are they?"

"On my nightstand."

"Well, let's go get you one and get you back to Bed before Dad and Abby find you are up."

"Ok," Nancy says in too much pain to argue.

Mary guides Nancy back to her room and gets her settled before getting her a glass of water. "Do you want me to stay here until you fall
asleep?"

"If you don't mind." Nancy says groaningly.

"Of course, I don't mind." Mary replies and stays there until she falls back to sleep.

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