Neurology floor.
Liza and Hayley sit in Dr. Jensen’s office.
Dr. Jensen enters.
Dr. Jensen: Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just getting Adam settled in his room. His brother is with him right now.
Liza: This is Hayley Santos, Dr. Jensen. She’s Adam’s daughter. I want her to hear what you have to report.
Hayley: Hayley Vaughn, actually.
Dr. Jensen shakes Hayley’s hand.
Dr. Jensen: Ms. Vaughn. Mrs. Chandler, the news is hopeful.
Liza: Oh, thank God!
Dr. Jensen: But there are a few things you need to be aware of, so I’m going to take you through what we discovered. Just so you know, there were no fractures, which would indicate that the risk of brain damage is reduced.
Liza nods, her eyes filling slightly with tears in relief.
Dr. Jensen: There was slight hemorrhaging, but I’m ruling out surgery for now. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours, and I’d like to wait and see what happens. We could use steroids to bring the swelling down --
Liza: Swelling?
Dr. Jensen: When hemorrhaging and the swelling of the brain occur, as they have in this case, we sometimes involve steroid use to bring it down. What happens is that the brain is larger than usual, so it brushes against the skull. In this case, I’d really like to wait out the twenty-four hour period before pursuing any aggressive treatment. Now, if you’d like, you are of course free to get a second opinion, but that’s up to you.
Liza nods.
Liza: Dr. Jensen? What are the risks right now?
Dr. Jensen: Well, Mrs. Chandler, that’s hard to say. I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but in cases like this, we really can’t do much but wait and see.
Liza: And if this lasts more than twenty-four hours?
Dr. Jensen: Well, then the risks increase. But it might be best not to discuss those risks until we see what happens in the next twelve hours.
Liza: But then you can do more tests and find out about...
Liza stumbles on the words.
Liza: ...brain damage?
Dr. Jensen: There’s really no way of diagnosing the extent of brain injury until the patient wakes up. So again, we’ll have to wait and see.
Hayley: Can we see him now?
Dr. Jensen: Certainly. He’s in Room 204. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Liza: Thank you, Dr. Jensen. I really appreciate you being here.
Liza and Hayley leave the room. As they walk down the hallway, they see Jake and Trevor coming from the direction of the cafeteria.
Trevor: Hi, Tink. How are you holding up? I heard about your father, and I’m really sorry.
Hayley: I’m going to see him now. What are you doing here? Is everything all right with Janet and Amanda?
Trevor: No, no, they’re fine.
He exchanges a glance with Jake.
Trevor: I’ve just been just catching up with my man Jake here. But we’re done, and I’m headed home. You let me know if you need anything.
Hayley: I will.
Trevor and Hayley hug and Trevor leaves.
Jake: How are you doing, Liza? Are you holding up okay?
Liza: I’m holding up enough. Jake, I wanted to thank you for waiting with Colby last night.
Jake: Hey, my pleasure. You had your hands full.
Liza: Actually, I was waiting to hear --
Jake: It’s okay. I understand. Listen, I’m going to head up to pediatrics. I’ll talk to you later. Let me know if you need anything.
Liza: I will. Thanks.
Jake leaves.
Hayley turns to Liza.
Hayley: Liza, do you mind if I go in and have a little time alone with my father? I just need a little time.
Liza: Sure. Take all the time you need. But come and get me when you’re finished, okay?
Hayley: I will.
Hayley leaves.
David comes down the hallway.
David: Liza, I’m so sorry about Adam. I heard about it on the radio. Any news?
Liza: Spare me the fake concern, David. And stay away from Adam.
******
Colby’s hospital room
The nurse is there with Colby, and Jake enters.
Jake: How’s my princess?
Nurse: Just fine. She came through the night with flying colors. In fact, she’s ready to go home now.
Jake: That’s great! I don’t think the hospital is any place for a child to be when they don’t have to be here.
Nurse: I'll go get Mrs. Chandler.
Jake: Well, that’s probably going to be a little difficult now. Mrs. Chandler is with her husband down in neurology. Hang on a sec.
Jake goes to the phone and dials a number.
Jake: Mom? How are you doing?...No, no, she’s just fine, but I have a question for you. How would you like to have a visitor?
The nurse smiles.
******
The hallway outside of Dr. Jensen’s office.
David: I know this is a difficult time, Liza. And I can understand that. So I know you really don’t mean what you’re saying right now.
Liza: I mean every word, David. Adam is off-limits. If you come within a mile of him, I’ll make sure you never practice medicine again.
David: A mile? Well, then I guess you’ve freed me from medical practice before the result of your threat. But tell me: how do you propose to get me kicked out of medicine? I must confess, I’m very curious.
Liza: You only destroyed one copy of your videotaped confession, David. There are others lying around.
David gets a little nervous.
David: Well, I don’t think you come off too sympathetically either in that particular episode of programming, Liza. I’d be careful about what I did with that videotape if I were you. By the way, how’s Colby? I understand she’s a patient here too.
Liza: You stay away from my child.
David: I feel a little responsible for her, Liza. After all, I brought her into the world.
Liza: I mean it, David. Keep away.
David shakes his head, and continues down the hall.
Liza leans against the wall and closes her eyes.
******
Colby’s hospital room.
The nurse is cleaning up. Colby and Jake are gone.
Liza enters.
Nurse: Hello, Mrs. Chandler.
Liza: Where’s Colby? Is she all right? I thought you said she was fine. What happened?
Nurse: She’s still fine, Mrs. Chandler.
Liza panics.
Liza: Has David Hayward been here?
Nurse: Dr. Hayward? No.
Liza: Then where is Colby?
Nurse: Dr. Martin took her home.
Liza: Dr. Martin?
Nurse: Jake Martin. He took her home.
Liza: Trevor.
Nurse: What?
Liza: Oh my God. I don’t believe this. He’s not going to get away with this.
Liza storms out of the room.