You See But Do Not Observe

HUNT

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN : HUNT

(Serena's POV)

Serena stayed up late that night, thinking about Sherlock. Thinking about how he would treat her if he knew what had happened to her. She was so scared he would reject her, leave her friendless like she used to be.

She didn't want to be friendless anymore. She hadn't even realized how awful it felt until the hole had been filled. She hadn't realized how achingly lonely she'd been until Sandy and Kayla and Greg and John and Sherlock had entered her life.

She didn't want to lose that.

But she also didn't want to admit that maybe all this was connected to her. It had been too good to be true the past few weeks. She had finally got away, and even now she wasn't safe.

When she finally fell asleep, faceless figures and shouts filled her head. She was tangled in vines, but, no, those were her blankets. She was awake and asleep and she couldn't tell which one it was most of the time.

The sun finally shone through her window, and she dragged herself out of sleep. Her sheets were wrapped around her legs, and she pushed them aside. Her feet seemed to wobble underneath her as she stood up.

Coffee. Coffee cured everything. The caffeine woke up her tired brain and made it possible for her to keep her eyes open. She drank three cups before realizing she had to go into work.

It took her over an hour to get there. Traffic was worse than usual, and she really didn't feel like walking.

As she walked up the stairs to the office, she imagined all the different ways she could hurt Daniel if he tried to make a move. Not that she ever would.

She opened the door and entered the room. Immediately, she saw a head of bobbing blond hair run toward her.

"Amanda!" Kayla shouted.

"Hey, sweetie." Serena smiled.

"Where'd you go?" Kayla asked as Serena scooped her up in her arms.

"I was here. I probably just missed you, that's all." Serena answered as she made her way to her office.

"Will you play with me? I was looking for Sandy, but he isn't here yet."

Serena looked at the girl. "Sandy isn't here yet?"

"Yeah."

Serena smiled again. "Sure, I'll play with you, but first I have to check something."

She walked toward Mary's office, still carrying Kayla, and passed through the open doorway.

"Amanda, hey. Just finishing up some paperwork. Hey, Kayla."

"Hi, Mary."

Serena shifted her weight. "Hey. Didn't Sandy have an appointment today?"

Mary looked at a clipboard. "He was supposed to be with Carson today at 8:30, but he never showed up. I'm not surprised. Traffic is pretty bad."

Serena shrugged. She was beginning to feel the onset of uneasiness. "I suppose."

She walked out of Mary's office and back into the main entryway.

"Amanda, what's wrong?" Kayla asked.

"Oh, nothing, sweetie. Why don't you go to one of the rooms? I'll meet you there in a little bit." Serena set down Kayla and watched as she skipped to another door.

She took out her phone. She had Sandy's mobile number in here, just like she had all her patients. She dialed and pressed the phone to her ear.

It rang three times.