Lance sighed; after a grueling couple of hours dealing with issue after issue with the paper, he was starting to feel frustrated.
“Too many tasks, and not enough me,” He shouts.
Looking at the time and seeing he has to leave for the hospital to get his bi-polar medical testing done; Lance shuts down his computer and secures his office. Walking through the bull pen as he heads to the elevator; Lance sighs with relief as the few remaining staff members leave him be.
******
A couple hours earlier
“So mother,” Frances staring at Angelica Carter; ”why do you want to see me and Samantha?”
Abigail feeling groggy was lying in a recovery bed. After having a hysterectomy to remove her ovarian cancer; the were-dog was looking at her daughter for the first time in decades. Seeing Samson also present along with Frances’s friend and lover Samantha; Angelica moans, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what,” Frances asks; “abandoning me when I was fourteen? For allowing dad to destroy our family with his religious rhetoric? “
“For not accepting your choices,” Angelica slurs; dazed and barely conscious.
“Mother,” Frances looking concerned; “are you all right? Do you need help?” Frances seeing her mother’s shallow breathing and hearing her slurred speech, she looks at her brother; “get the nurse here now. Tell them it’s a code blue!”
Samson runs out of the room as Frances’s looking back at her mother, “you’re not dying on me;” Frances starts chest compressions as a nurse and doctor with a crash cart rush in. Several other physicians also pour in forcing Frances, Samantha and Samson to leave and wait outside.
*****
Presently
As Lance entered the hospital to check in; he notices in the ER waiting room Frances and Samantha Twists looking inconsolable. With them was a deputy; not knowing that the deputy was Frances’s brother Samson, Lance leaves them be as doctor Abigail Robinson greats him.
“Mr. Knight. I’m glad you are here. If you could follow me we can begin with the exam.”
“That’s great,” Lance answering; “I was worried I was going to be late. I had a large plate of issues thrust upon me and I’ve had my fill for today.”
“Nothing serious I hope;” Abigail making small talk.
“Well my day started with having to fire DJ Woof at KPXX,” Lance begins; “a lunch meeting with Tachibana involving elder council business and hearing of Julie Stovall getting off of her assault charges. And to finish it off; more council business for tomorrow. An emergency session, dealing with the statue 1A charges, regarding Julie Stovall.”
“Sounds like you had a full day,” Abigail chuckles.
“A day I’d hopefully like to end on a good note,” Benton letting the doctor take his pulse and do a routine physical.
“Well if you test negative on your bi-polar testing,” Abigail smiles; “you can’t end the day better than that.”
“Oh I think I can,” Lance seeing Lila entering the room; “you might want to wait taking my blood pressure doctor. My girlfriend just walked in.”
******
Frances was sitting in the ER waiting room; with Samantha and Samson by her side they waited for a couple of hours over the status of Angelica Carter. When they see the attending physician approach, all three look nervous.
“Doctor Frances Twist?”
“Yes,” Frances answering; “how is my mother, what happened?”
“We managed to stabilize you mother,” the physician answering; “near as we can tell she tried to overdose on the morphine drip tied to her I.V. While she was in no danger from dying; we believe she did try to kill herself. I recommend a full psych evaluation-“
“Doctor Abigail Robinson can help you there,” Frances answering; “but can I request something?”
“If it’s with my power,” the physician answering; “I will do my best to accommodate you.”
“I request a security guard placed outside my mother’s hospital room. Under no circumstances does he allow my father to enter the room,” Frances seethes; “while I can’t prove it, I know joseph had something to do with this.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Yes,” Frances getting up; “please have Doctor Robinson begin the psych evaluation as soon as she is able to. And make sure my father does not try and interfere.”
“Make sure,” Samson looking serious; “that the security guard is a werewolf or a were-grizzly. Dad may be a were-dog, but even he would stupid to try and fight with either were.”
“I’ll do what I can,” the physician answers; walking away he leaves Frances with her life partner Samantha and her brother Samson.
Frances looking at her support she heads to the direction of the chapel; Samantha and Samson following close behind.
What are you planning to do sis,” Samson quickly catching up.
“I’m going to confront father,” Frances hiss; “this ends tonight.”
Samson stops Frances, “no sis; violence is not the answer.”
“I’m not going to physically attack him,” Frances shouting; “but If he tries to attack me; I will defend myself.”
“No,” Samson using all his strength to stop Frances; “go home. You and Samantha be with Ben. I will deal with father.”
“Angelica Carter is my mother to Samson; “Frances seething; “why can’t I let father know.”
“Because you are not a deputy,” Samson softening his approach; “technically I’m still on duty. So if dad attacks me…”
“You can arrest him for assaulting a police officer,” Frances thinking; “but you said violence wasn’t the answer?”
“That is true,” Samson nods; “yet-“
“If Frances wants to confront Joseph,” Samantha interrupts; “then I say put up a united front.” Looking at Frances and placing a hand on her shoulder; “I will be there with you. Joseph wouldn’t dare attack with me present.”
Frances smiles, ”thank you;” looking at Samson; “what say you brother?”
“Fine,” Samson grumbling; “but if he does get physically abusive, I will intervene!”
Frances nods as she looks at the hospital chapel doors. Opening the door and stepping into the room, they see Joseph praying with his worn and weathered bible in hand.
“Father,” Frances snaps; “what the hell is going on with mother?”