Frances Twist was in the emergency waiting area; sitting and fretting as the ambulance paramedics took Melissa Stovall to triage. After a few tense minutes, an attending physician approached Frances Twist.
“Frances Twist?”
“Dr. Twist,” Frances correcting the physician; “I am a doctor, and I expect to treated as one in this hospital. How is my friend?”
“Melissa is not your patient then,” the physician asking.
“She and her husband Martin are seeing me for marriage counseling purposes,” Frances looking impatient; “So I say again, how is my friend?”
“Physically she is fine,” the physician answering; “but we ran some blood tests and fond some hormonal imbalances.”
“Melissa is roughly two week pregnant,” Frances stating; “would that explain the imbalances? Is the fetus okay?”
“We didn’t notice any vaginal bleeding,” the physician answering; “so no to a miscarriage right now. But she did suffer a severe emotional shock. It’s why she is still a coma.”
“COMA!” Frances screaming; “she fainted in my office; there is no way she could be in a coma!”
“Look,” the physician sighing; “I really shouldn’t be telling you any of this-“
“Melissa’s husband is at the elder council building,” Frances seething; “there daughter is facing statue 1A charges, I also happen to be treating Melissa in a capacity as a therapist. So you better dam well disclose or I’ll have your job!”
******
Sheriff Douglas Cooper a were grizzly was hefting a drunk Martin Stovall like a sack of potatoes, to a shower stall located in the elder council. Grumbling all the while, “why wer-mers. Why do they constantly give me migraines?”
Tossing Martin in the shower stall and turning on the cold water tap; the were-grizzly takes the several pots of coffee from a were-cat attendant and smiles as a bottle of Aspirin was also placed in his paw.
“Oh bless you,” Sheriff Cooper smiles; as he cracks open the bottle and chugs a few pills at once. “I’ve been needing these little miracle tablets for a while now.”
“Save some for Martin,” the were-cat speaking; “he is going to need a few as well.”
“Tough,” Sheriff Cooper snorts; “he can drink the coffee until he pisses caffeine for all I care. But the Aspirin is mine.”
“Is the were-alert expected to last all weekend?”
“It will last as long as it is needed,” Sheriff Copper flexing his bear like paw; “once Julie is captured or we know without a doubt she is not in Moon Lake. Until then, help search or stay at home.”
“Do you want some smelling salts,” the wer-cat asking; “they might help wake Martin up.”
“Not a bad ideal,” the Sheriff commenting; “it will certainly help speed sobering him up as he pukes his guts up with the remaining rum in him.” Sheriff Cooper smiling as he looks at a wer-mer passed out from drinking way to hard, way too fast; “go get the smelling salts.”
*****
After her chiding and outright making a g job action threat to the Physician; Doctor Tora Tachibana was reviewing Melissa’s chart while Frances observed the nursing staff transport her to a hospital recovery room.
“Don’t be too hard on the physician, “Doctor Tora commenting; “he is still green and fresh out of residency.”
“So what is Melissa’s prognosis,” Frances asking; “will she wake up?”
“Stable,” Doctor Tora putting down the chart; “but she is not in a coma. Like I said, the physician is still green. I’ll be checking up on her. But tomorrow her file will be passed on to Doctor Maggie Lawson. Hopefully by then, Melissa will have regained consciousness.”
“Lawson,” Frances pondering; “where have I heard that name before?”
“She mostly did night shifts,” Doctor Tora speaking; “but her schedule was switched to do day work now.”
“No that’s not it,” Frances thinking; “I know I’ve heard the name Lawson, and I’m certain it was-“ Frances snaps her finger, “know I know; Eric Anderson is dating Spencer Lawson.”
“Oh,” Tora answering; “Maggie’s daughter.”
“Getting back to Melissa,” Frances changing the subject; “what of Melissa’s fetus?”
“Way too soon to tell,” Doctor Tora shaking his head; “you said she was only a few weeks pregnant?”
“Yes,” Frances answers; both Martin and Melissa have been struggling to repair their marriage for the sake of their second child. I would hate to think their work would come to naught if Melissa suffered a miscarriage.”
“I’ll have Doctor Lawson consult with an O.B.Y.N,” Doctor Tora making a note in Melissa’s chart; “but right now it is best for her to rest. Have you contacted Martin yet?”