Spencer hunched in the corner holding her self protectively, the images of the night flashing across her mind. She rocked back and forth with her arms wrapped around her legs. Ashley wanted to run to her, pick her up into her arms and tell her everything was going to be okay but her legs were glued to the spot. A few male nurses came in and brought Spencer back to the bed, she didn’t fight them.

“Dr. Coolidge what is wrong?” Arthur stood in the door way, Ashley didn’t know how long he’d been standing there. He walked over and pulled her into a hug.

“Mr. Carlin I assume?” Arthur nodded, “Well from what I can tell you daughter is suffering from PSTD…”

“PSTD?” Ashley glanced up from Arthur’s shirt.

“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a severe case as well. I’ll give you some medicine for her but right now she needs something familiar. Take her home, for now we need to work on her attention. The more she is distant the worse things can get, next will be talking…in some cases people have never talked again. I’m not going to lie to you Mr. Carlin but things are going to be rough for a while.”

“I understand,” Arthur nodded. Ashley was over by Spencer stroking her hair and whispering soft words, “Ashley why don’t you go home and get some sleep. I’ll call you if anything changes.” Ashley looked up, unsure if she should leave but she knew Mr. C would do anything in his power to make sure they both were all right.

“Sure, I’ll see you later baby.” Ashley laid a small kiss on Spencer’s forehead. Her feet went slow but she began to walk away, all of a sudden she felt pressure on her arm. Looking down Spencer had a tight grip on her wrist, the blonde pulled her back and started shaking her head…telling Ashley silently that she couldn’t leave her.

“Spencer you have to let her go.” Arthur came over and tried to pull his daughter off Ashley but the girl had a death grip.

“Mr. Carlin this might not be something you need right now but I’m going to recommend that…” Dr. Coolidge stared at Ashley for a second.

“Ashley Davies.”

“Miss. Davies stay with Spencer for now, I’ll write a note for school that Miss. Davies will attend all classes with her.”

“Are you saying she has to move in with us?” Arthur asked in disbelief, not that he didn’t like Ashley, hell he loved her like a daughter but the girl living in the same house as Paula, not such a good idea.

“What I’m saying Mr. Carlin is if we can’t get your daughter passed the first stages of this, she could work herself up like she did tonight which may cause a heart attack. The EMT told me they were lucky to bring her heart rate down in time, so I suggest, if you don’t want you daughter back in here any time soon you allow her to have the one thing she feels safe with right now…” Dr. Coolidge put his hand on Arthur’s shoulder, “And that is Miss. Davies.” The doctor walked out.

“Why don’t you go home Ashley…grab some cloths and come back to our house.” Arthur sighed.

“Mr. C I…”

“Don’t worry,” He pulled her in for another hug, “I’ll take care of Paula…you just take care of Spencer, she needs you right now.”

“Thank you.” Ashley felt the tears sliding down her face again, he hugged her harder trying to let her know it was okay.

“I guess there’s just one thing left to say…” She pulled away and glanced up into his soft and caring eyes, “Welcome to the family.”