Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 12

Dan was in court when Max called to let them know the hospital had confirmed the scan was clear and they needed to be at the hospital by seven thirty. Trusting her instinct Allie drove down to meet him when he came out to let him know. She was glad she did because he looked like he'd been holding his breath all day when she passed on the news, and he said with relief, "I was so scared they'd find it somewhere else Allie. She held him tight and whispered, "I know you were, but it's clear, she's going to be okay." She pulled back smiling to see Stacie staring right at her.

It was the first time she'd seen her since the shooting and her breath stuttered and her legs felt weak. Daniel caught her by the waist and turned to see what had caused the reaction. Seeing Stacie he had a vivid flashback to the blood spreading across Allie's clothes that day, and he instinctively pulled her closer to his body. At first Stacie looked shocked, and then angry. Allie was horrified to see her striding over and panicked, "Dan, please just get me out of here." Before they could leave she was behind them and shouted, "I see the winner takes it all Allie. Got the husband, got Carrie's husband and the kid calls you mommy." Daniel whirled 'round incensed and driven by his emotional state, "Winner! You malicious bitch, Allie nearly died because of you and your crew. You're not fit to breathe the same air as her. You think you know stuff, trust me, you know nothing." Allie grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. She'd never seen him so angry, she was desperate to get the look off his face and get them both out. "Dan, she's not worth it. Please don't waste your breath on her and let's get out of here." It was near the end of the day so there were less people around, but a few had stopped to stare. Dan seemed to snap out of it when he focused on Allie, and he ushered her out with Stacie following as far as the door shouting "Does it make you feel good Carrie's in a mental hospital because of you?"

They ignored Allie's car and Dan drove off as quickly as he could start the engine. He pulled over a couple of miles away, "You have to get a restraining order Allie, like tomorrow." She turned sideways in the seat to face him and said softly "I'll ask Michael to sort it I promise, but tomorrow I need to focus on Margie yeah?" He looked anguished, "Yeah, I know. It's just it's one thing knowing people say that stuff, but it's another being confronted with it in your workplace. I mean it Allie, I'll see her in hell before she ever speaks to you like that again." Allie shuffled over and hugged him. He relaxed and whispered in a haunted voice, "I had a flashback Allie to that day, the blood. I'm sorry I just lost it for a minute." Allie ran her hand through the back of his hair, "I'm here, I'm okay and Margie will be too. Just go back and we'll get my car."

When she got home and saw Michael waiting Allie burst into tears. He was petrified it was bad news about Margie's scan, so she quickly told him it was clear and explained what happened. He gently lifted her chin, "Daniel's right Allie, I'll get the restraining order application sorted tomorrow while you're at the hospital, and we'll get it place asap. We're never going to take the risk that any of those people hurt you ever again beautiful."

The next day Allie left early to get Margie and Max over to the hospital by seven thirty. Margie was shown into a room and quickly changed before a junior doctor appeared to insert a cannula followed by the anaesthetist to talk her through what would happen. Her surgeon then knocked the door and took her behind a screen to mark the correct side to operate on and answer any last minute questions.

Once she'd left the room Allie couldn't help comment, "Oh my god, can you imagine if they took the wrong one off?" Margie burst out laughing and Max looked aghast, "Allie!" Margie was still laughing and said "Wonder if it's ever happened?" when there was a knock on the door and Jeremy appeared. "Hey, Thought I'd come and say Hi, Robyn told me you were in today. Got to say Margie, I'm glad to hear it, but laughter was not what I was expecting." Max snorted, "Blame Allie and her bizarre comment about cutting the wrong one off." Jeremy grinned, "Oh, I got real familiar with Allie's random hospital observations. Remember the wonky incision?" Allie grinned, and since Margie and Max looked puzzled she explained, "Jeremy here lifted me up so I could checkout his handiwork. " She pointed up and down her midsection "For some reason I thought it would be all wiggly when actually it was as straight as a die, and of course I felt the need to tell him, perceived insult to his scalpel and stitching skills." Jeremy nudged her playfully, "Weirdest reaction to a surgical scar I've ever had."

He sat down on the end of the bed, "I can see they've got you all sorted with an IV so you shouldn't be waiting long now. Did Allie faint when they did it?" Allie laughed, "I told Margie when they took the biopsy what a wimp I was every time you came at me with a needle, but to be fair you did stick an awful lot in me, and for the record I never actually fainted." Jeremy came back with, "Only because I wouldn't let you look." He stood up, "I'd better get to my clinic, but I'll call in before I leave tonight Margie when it's all over and behind you. And hopefully, you'll be relaxing and enjoying the break." He grinned at Allie again, "Unlike Miss Allie here who never appreciated our hospitality and never let me go home without asking to leave." He winked at Margie, "See you later." An orderly appeared with a wheelchair as he left and Allie kissed Margie, "You'll be fine Margie, I'll give you two a couple of minutes and be outside."

She stepped out of the room and Jeremy had waited for her. He grabbed her hand, "Hey, I've sent you a message but I can tell you in person now. If you or Max need me today for anything, just call me or tell one of the staff and I'll be there okay?" Allie squeezed the hand he was holding "Thanks Jeremy, and thanks for just now, it really took their minds off waiting." He bent down to give her a quick hug then walked off shouting behind him, "Cut off the wrong one, really Allie?"

Max came out and put his arm around Allie as Margie was wheeled off. Once she'd gone into the lift she leaned into him and said, "How about we go grab a coffee Max. I couldn't have drunk one in front of poor nil by mouth Margie, but I'm gasping." He squished her shoulder "Yeah me too." Sitting in the cafeteria Max tilted his head at Allie, "That was nice of Jeremy. I think that's about the most I've ever heard him say." Allie smiled, "Well this is his environment, where he's comfortable. And let's face it, most people look quiet compared to Michael and Daniel." Max laughed, "That's true. I doubt most patients have the effect on him you did Allie." She shrugged, "He was so kind Max. He came to chat every night before he left for home. Even on his days off he would say he was calling for a file or to get something he'd left in the office, but I think most of the time he was actually just checking I was okay, because he knew I was finding it hard to come to terms with what had happened. I'm so glad we can be friends outside of here you know. And now he's with Robyn it's like he's family."