Arthur stood in the window of Glen’s room. He could hear his son’s even breathing. He turned around and sat down on the window sill watching Glen sleep. ‘I can’t believe he’s this big.’ Arthur sighed as he remembered the golden haired little boy that would beg to follow him everywhere. ‘They’re all growing up so fast…too fast.’  Arthur looked up as Clay came back into the room, “Hey son, you’re back a little early?” Clay shrugged as he came over and sat next to his father, yawning, “One of mom’s friends came by and wanted to see her, so I gave him my last five minutes.” Arthur looked at his son with pride. ‘We only get to see Paula for fifteen minutes every four hours and this kid gives up five minutes of time for a perfect stranger.’  Arthur shook his head slightly in amazement, “Who was it? Did you recognize them?” Clay thought for a moment, trying to remember, “I think…oh yeah, the nurse said his same was Dr. Montanio.”

* * * * *

Spencer traced Ashley’s arm with her finger tip. It felt so good to hold her again. Ashley closed her eyes as she leaned back into Spencer’s chest. The silence was heavy as each knew it was time to talk about what was happening, but neither of them wanting the moment to end. “Spence, I need to know that my mom is okay. Have you heard anything about her?” Spencer sighed, “No, I’ve only heard about my mother, Ash…”, Spencer’s voice broke as she tried to explain Paula’s injuries. It was Ashley’s turn to comfort Spencer as she listened to what Paula’s doctor had told the Carlin family.

* * * * *

“Dad, are you okay?”, Arthur’s shocked expression had rattled Clay, “Do you know Dr. Montanio?” Arthur stood up suddenly and walked over to the door, “Listen, Clay, I want you to stay with your brother. I’m going down to the surgical center to check on your mom, I’ll be back soon.” Clay watched his father carefully, ‘There is defiantly something going on here and I’m sure I don’t want to know what it is.’  Clay slowly got up from his perch on the window sill and pushed the two chairs in the room together. He climbed into his makeshift bed and tried to go to sleep.

Almost as soon as Arthur closed the door to Glen’s room, his cell phone started to vibrate. He glanced at the caller id and didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Arthur, it’s me Zadie. Look, I don’t have much time, I just wanted to let you know that the woman that you wife assaulted, has hired an attorney. He’s already contacted me, she’s awake and I’m leaving the station now to get her statement.” He heard her sigh, “I don’t know what you can do with this, I just wanted to let you know that this situation may be coming to fruition faster then either one of us expected. Your wife could get served sometime tomorrow. Arthur, you might want to contact an attorney tonight.” Arthur, leaned against the wall, suddenly dizzy, ‘There is just too damn much going on for me to deal with this too.’

 “Arthur, are you still there? Are you okay? Arthur?”

“Zadie, I’m here. I’m still here…barely.” Arthur closed his eyes, breathing heavily, “You’ve done so much for me tonight I feel really bad asking you to do this too, but I don’t think that I can deal with a lawsuit right now. I have to do what I can to stop this now. Zadie, can you ask Christine if I can talk to her alone without her attorney? I know if I try to see her, things could get even uglier,but I just think that maybe if she knew the whole story, she would…I don’t know…this is all so damn crazy! I have no right to ask you to do this, I’m sure it would mean putting your job on the line. I want you to understand that I will not hold it against you if told me no.”

Zadie closed her eyes, “Arthur, I have a better plan…one that will hopefully keep both of us out of a jail cell.” Arthur’s eyes shot open, “You mean you’ve already been thinking about this?” Zadie couldn’t help it as a bitter chuckle escaped, “Arthur, I’m a detective for a reason. Now listen…”