Molly burst through the doors of the Emergency Room, with Shay and Alice right at her heels. She skidded to a halt in the middle of the hallway, looking left, then right, then left again, trying to find the admitting desk. Once she had spotted it, she tore off towards it. She grabbed a hold of the counter to stop herself as she slid to a stop. Panting she asked, “McCu-….Kroll-McCutcheon….Shane…Where is she?”

            The admitting nurse peered over her glasses at the woman in front of her. She was distraught, she noticed; her cheeks stained with tears, her eyes red with worry, her hair a mess from nervous fingers combing their way through. “And who might you be?” she asked, as she saw another young woman and a young boy come running up beside her.

            “Molly Kroll-McCutcheon. Her wife. The officer said she was being brought here. Where is she?” Molly quickly said.

            “Let me see,” the nurse replied, as she turned to look at her computer screen. “She’s in Trauma Room 1. Let me get someone to take you to her.”

            Molly turned to Alice, worry and fear painted across her face. Seeing that Molly was about to break down, Alice dug in her purse and pulled out a few dollars. Handing them to Shay, she whispered, “Why don’t you go find a vending machine and get something for Molly to eat and drink?” Shay nodded. He knew something was wrong and that something bad had happened and though he wanted to stay and find out, he knew that Shane would want him to take care of Molly now, so that was what he would do. He took the money from Alice’s outstretched hand and headed down the hallway.

            “This is bad, Al,” Molly said, tears streaming down her face. “Really bad.”

            Alice took Molly in her arms and gently rubbed her back, softly cooing, “Shhhhhh. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. Shane’s a fighter.” As Molly sobbed into Alice’s shoulder, a man in scrubs came through the Waiting Area doors and approached them.

            “Ms. Kroll-McCutcheon?” he asked.

            Molly sniffled, and lifting her head from Alice’s shoulder, replied, “Yeah. That’s me.”

            “I’m Dr. Rodriguez. I’ve been working on your partner,” he said, as he took Molly’s hand.