Of Demons and Darkness

Bayleigh Aine

So young to have seen and suffered such heinous trauma; only nine years old and to have that natural child's trust in people who were supposed to protect her completely shattered and utterly destroyed rankled pediatric ER attending Hugh Morris completely. The little girl now resting easily on life support had nearly lost her life to her abusive father's attacks. If her mother had not intervened when she did, the young girl would have been murdered as well. With her father still at large, the battered youngling was placed in protective custody with LAPD for the time being.

"She's settled down very nicely, Dr. Morris." Penny Harris, the girl's ICU nurse commented as she stood next to the ER attending who had come up to see his patient. "Your trauma residents did an amazing job treating her."

"Thanks Penny." Hugh smiled warmly at the nurse's compliment. "Still listed as a 'confidential patient'?"

"As ordered by LAPD." Penny replied. "I heard her mother was a Naval Intelligence Officer?"

"You heard correctly." Huge confirmed.

"My husband is a Naval officer." Harris replied. "If there are any crimes involving the Navy or the Marine Corp, NCIS has jurisdiction."

"Ah...good to know." Dr. Morris said. "I'll let you get back to taking care of this precious little girl, Penny."

"Thanks, Hugh." Penny replied. "I'll let you know if anything changes."

Hugh smiled as he turned and left the ICU; returning to his post in the ER with a new incoming trauma announced overhead. It was going to be a very long day for him and the other ER staff.

****

"I hate hospitals, MacBride." Special Agent Clay Barringer grumbled to his amused partner. "Why are we on this detail?"

"Because Hetty ordered us to, that's why." Kerigan retorted. "Once she's out of the hospital, this little wee one goes into protective custody until her murderous scum-bag of a father either gets arrested or gets dead...I'm voting for option 'B'."

"Seriously, Kerigan?!?" Barringer exclaimed. "Why is your answer always maim or kill? Why can't we just arrest him and let the judicial system convict him?"

"Because the judicial system in this country is screwy, at best, Clay." Kerigan snipped. "The likelihood of him getting off on a technicality is just too high."

"But it is a system in which we work in one form or other MacBride." Clay stated as the duo checked in at the ICU nurse's station showing the staff their federal credentials.

"There are a couple of reclining chairs in the room for you, Special Agents." Penny Haynes, the little girl's nurse said sweetly as she moved them into the room with their young victim. "If you need anything at all, please let me know."

Penny flirtatiously placed her small hand sweetly on Clay's muscled arm and gave it a squeeze. Kerigan's eyebrows arched in moderate irritation at the gesture, crossing her arms suggestively across her chest; her small foot tapping noticeably on the tiled floor.

"We'll be sure to let you know, Ms. Haynes...thank you very much." Kerigan snarked as she nearly shoved the nurse out of her patient's room impatiently.

"Classy, MacBride." Barringer hissed. "Real classy. Jealous?"

"Oh no...not at all, Barringer." Kerigan sniped. "But if she lays one more hand on you, there will be a cat fight up in here."

Barringer laughed softly at his partner's dark ranting as he took her strong hand into his own and plopped down in a nearby recliner. Kerigan, not in any mood to brook her paramour's shenanigans, jerked her hand out of his and harumphed into her own recliner, her tiny foot resuming it's annoyed tapping.