Without A Trace

Fifty-Two.

The next morning Ivy walks through the long hospital hallways. She smiles politely at the nurses as she passes the nurse station and walks to the room her husband is sitting outside of. She nudges him awake and kisses the top of his head, "Go on and go home, I'll be here for a minute until Aurthur gets here."

Michael rubs his tired eyes and looks up at his wife, "Tom doesn't want you here Ivy. You'll be really upset at what you see in there," he says as he places his hand on the back of her calf, rubbing it softly.

Ivy rolls her eyes at her husband, "You know I'm really starting to hate being babied. I know you and Thomas are trying to protect me but this shit is getting real fuckin old and im growing real fuckin tired of it."

"I know love but I really feel like its not a good idea you go in there. They're both intubated and I dont want it to scar you because it is really shocking to look at when you first go in there," Michael says standing up and grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair.

"You both seem to forget that shes also my friend and sister in law, not just my fuckin boss," Ivy says growing angry. "I'm not twelve Michael I'm a grown fuckin woman."

"Thats not what I meant Iv-," Michael starts as he pulls his wife into him.

"I don't really care what you or Thomas have to say anymore because im going in there reguardless. Neither one of you will fuckin sheild me from visiting my best friend," she says peeling away from her husband and walking in the room.

She stands there for a second taking it all in, pushing back the tears trying to form in her eyes. She makes her way over to her friends side of the bed and listens to the beeping of the heart monitor.

"Hey Cora...I wore your favorite shirt of mine today," Ivy says referring to the pastel yellow tshirt shes wearing. She pauses for a moment, "I found who may have done this Cor, and you'd be so proud of me," she says with a smile staring down at her friend. Coras pale face makes Ivy sick to her stomach.

"Don't worry about Tom. Hes doing his best and I see that in him but unfortunately Anna can't get over it. Shes been packing for a few days and is leaving the manor today," she says pausing for a moment.

She can't help but become overwhelmed by her emotions and tears start to form in her eyes, "We really need you to wake up now Cora. Because if you don't I dont think this family will be together for much longer. But I'm working day and fuckin night to find out who did this to you and I will not stop until I put a bullet in between his fuckin eyes," She says as the tears start to roll down her cheeks. She reaches for her friends hand and gives it a squeeze, "I don't even know if you're listening to me but I need you Cora this fuckin family needs you. Both of you. You and Lewis need to wake the fuck up or this family will go up in fuckin flames," She says through her tears almost sobbing at this point. "I can only do so much when its just me, I need you to give me any fuckin sign of waking up because we're all starting to lose hope-," Ivy is caught off guard and abruptly stops crying. She burns her gaze into her hand, feeling the pressure of her friends light squeeze against hers.

"Oh my god," She says with her eyes wide. A smile grows across her face and tears fall down her face. "Holy shit!" She says excitedly. She stands up suddenly causing the chair to knock over behind her. She runs out of the door and bumps into Aurthur. He turns to face her while apologizing for being in the way.

"Ivy you alright? Tom called a family meeting and-" Aurthur starts before Ivy cuts him off.

"Fuckin perfect," she says as she dashes down the hallway, weaving through people and finally making her way out of the hospital.

Aurthur watches her run down the hallway with a furrowed brow. He shrugs his shoulders and sits in the chair outside of the door, "I don't even want to fuckin know."