Authors note: To the anonymous author, while your ideal of Benton possibly having Bi-polar disorder and slowly becoming a feral were does sound intriguing. Having Amanda drink to calm herself down doesn't make sense, even more when getting behind the wheel of a car. But on with the story.
As the Lawson’s and Andersons gather around there family in the emergency room, Lance takes this time to escort Frieda to a quiet corner to talk. While Lance has led Frieda out of ear shot from her friends, Tachibana was close enough to listen to what the two Knights were discussing.
“How are you handling the situation Frieda?” Lance asks.
“Fairly well,” Frieda answers; “This is not the first time father has flew off the handle.”
“Yes I have been briefed on Benton’s assault at Tachibana,” Lance answers.
“That’s not whole bit, Frieda responds; “there is more.”
Lance arches an eyebrow as Frieda tells her uncle what happened after Benton came home from his temper tantrum. She tells her uncle about Benton nearly wrecking the entire house and knocking out their butler and the entire staff quitting in protest.
“Wait! Jeffery was assaulted!” Lance nearly shouts for all to hear.
“Yes, but can you keep your voice down uncle? I know dad is in enough trouble as it is. I don’t want to see him hauled away;” Frieda pleads.
“Frieda,” Lances sighs; “I’m not sure I have the pull to stop that.” Lance sits down to be eye level with his niece; “I’m not going to lie to you, if Jeffery wants to press charges, the elder council will find out and will take over as it were. I gave your father an ultimatum; Tachibana and Sheriff Cooper heard it. Once that happens, I don’t think I can bail him out.”
“Then can you talk to Jeffrey?” Frieda pleads; “Convince him to not press charges.”
“I don’t know Frieda,” Lance shaking his head; ”I don’t know.”
Before Frieda could speak up another group of paramedics burst into the emergency room; wheeling a stretcher with Amanda Knight on it. She is seriously injured and clearly unconscious. A silent pal fell on the emergency room as everyone saw Frieda’s mother being wheeled into triage. Lance and Frieda immediately rush in afterwards before anyone could stop them.
The paramedics quickly going over the list of injuries. They inform the on call doctor that they smelled alcohol on her.
“Mom doesn’t drink,” Frieda yells.
The trauma staff notices the girl and man there; they quickly escort them out.
“That’s my mother,” Frieda screaming as a nurse drags her and Lance out.
Being made to wait in the ER room along with Eric and Spencer’s parents was uncomfortable; made more so that no one chose to speak up. It was an hour later when a nurse arrived.
“Frieda Knight?”
Frieda snaps to attention, “Yes? Is my mother okay?”
“She is stable for now,” The nurse responds; “You and your father can see her if you like."
Lance interrupts; “Frieda is my niece.” Looking at Tachibana; “I know today we were supposed to have that meeting.”
Tachibana interrupts, ”I already informed everyone. We will have it tomorrow morning; But have either of you called Benton? Should he not be made aware of Amanda’s injuries?”
“You think that’s wise to have Benton here with the Anderson’s and Lawson’s present?” Lance responds.
“It doesn’t matter,” Frieda answers, “I just texted him;” Frieda puts her phone away and walks to see her mother in an ICU unit. She sits down in a chair next to her mother and cries.
****
Minutes later Benton bursts into the Emergency room; clearly distraught over the text he received form Frieda; “Where is my wife!” He bellows; “Where’s Amanda!”
“Calm down Frieda is with her,” Lances speaks up; “We will see her in a bit. But I need to ask you a question and I need an honest answer. Does Amanda have a drinking problem?”
“What? No,” Benton looking alarmed; “Why are you asking me that?”
“Because the paramedics pulled her out of her wrecked BMW clearly drunk;” Tachibana speaks up.
“She drinks a glass of champagne during the many social events we attend;” Benton distraught as he sits down, “but other than that, she is a teetotaler. If anyone has a drinking problem it’s me.”
“Brave of you to admit Benton,” Tachibana answers. Looking at Lance; “Sorry, I overheard the private chat you had with Frieda earlier.”
“You heard what she said?” Lance blanches.
“That Benton decked Jeffery and nearly destroyed his home yesterday,” Tachibana answers; “That would explain why I entered your study to hand you the elder council’s edict, seeing it trashed the way it was.”
“Not my finest moment,” Benton grumbles; “Now if you excuse me, I want to be with my wife and daughter.” Looking at William Anderson who is clearly angry at seeing Benton; “at least while I still have my freedom.”
Both Tachibana and Lance let Benton go but William gets in his way. Before Benton could apologize, William pulls back his fist and knocks Benton flat on his ass.
“Touch my son again and I’ll do more than blacken your eye!” William shouts.
Evan, Maggie and Martha quickly rush over to pull William away. Evan speaking; “He’s not worth the effort, William. Let him go.”
Lance helps his brother up who is clearly surprised at the sucker punch Benton received; but knowing that his older brother deserved it and possibly many more.
“Come on brother,” Lance helping Benton still woozy from the punch; “Let’s go see how your wife is fairing.”
Tachibana approaches the two families; “I wish we got together under better circumstances,” She calmly responds.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Evan answers.
“As much as I would like to dispense with the usual pleasantries, I must ask you William,” Tachibana being serious; “Do you intend to press charges against Benton over him attacking your son?”