Max called us on Monday and said that Jane waived her right to the rest of the preliminary and agreed to go to trial. That reinforced the belief that she was just doing this to watch Doc and I go through the pain of testifying but she was within her rights, so nothing could be done about it. The trial would begin November 4.

In the afternoon, Doc drove me to Steve's clinic to get Scruffy's leg X-rayed to see how it was healing. I talked him into letting me hold her on the plate so that he wouldn't have to sedate her. He didn't like it, even with me wearing a protective apron, but he gave in after I promised him I would not sue him if I got cancer from radiation.

Steve was very pleased with how the squirrel's leg was healing. “How is she adjusting to confinement?” he asked me.

“Quite well”, I replied. “She doesn't like being in the carrier so much, but she does fine when I let her out after supper. She's accepted Doc and is on the way to accepting Alex and Deanna.”

“I'd like you to keep her inside for a while longer, if you can.”

“In or out of the carrier?”

“She's fine to be out as long as she isn't running around too much. That's why I don't want her loose outside, she'd be running around gathering nuts for winter.”

“But she needs to do that.”

“I know she spends a lot of the winter inside – or did before she disappeared on you. And that you will feed her. She will be fine.”

To my surprise, Scruffy did not run around like a maniac or try to go outside when given free reign of the house again. I think she knew she needed to take it easy on her injured leg. Heidi, Alex and Deanna's dog, learned real fast not to chase her when she didn't want to be chased. Jessie had learned that lesson long ago. I did not want either dog chasing her until she was completely healed.

Wednesday, we drove to the city for the first day of Watters' trial. Neither Doc or I were allowed to watch the proceedings until we'd testified. The Crown tried, but could not get the judge to allow Doc to testify before me. He was not a victim this time, so no leeway was given. I had to testify without him in the court room. Alex and Deanna were there, though, and that did help. I testified on Thursday. In some ways, it was harder than testifying against Jane. Watters had directly attacked me, I had fought for my life. Reliving that was very difficult. He was there in the room, beside his lawyer. He looked better than when I'd seen him in his hospital room. I had worried that if he appeared frail and on death's doorstep, I'd feel sorry for him, but I didn't. Apparently, he had gotten bail a while ago but was not allowed to return to his home. He was at an assisted living facility with people around him all the time.

Cross examination wasn't too bad. There wasn't a whole lot the defence could do – they knew the Crown had the recording of the fight thanks to me thinking to open my phone's recorder.

Doc testified in the afternoon for about an hour and a half. I hadn't seen his testimony at Jane's preliminary as I hadn't taken the stand yet, but since I went first at Watters' trial, I sat in the gallery to watch him. I sat beside Alex. Watching Doc was harder than testifying. I could tell by his facial expressions how difficult this was on him and the emotion in his voice as he told of racing to the hospital, knowing I was being attacked, was heart wrenching. Even worse was when he talked of finally getting there and seeing me lying on the ground, all scraped up and not being able to attend to me right away because Watters was injured worse, so he had to help him.

After Doc's testimony, lab people and the cops who took samples and such testified. The Crown rested it's case the next Monday. Watters was the first person to testify on the side of the defence. He couldn't get out of his wheelchair so he sat beside the witness box. His speech was better than when I'd gone to his hospital room, but he still could not speak in full sentences. He'd been declared mentally fit to stand trial, though.

They made it sound like he just wanted to take me for a ride to get me out of the hospital for a while and that I misread his intentions and attacked him. Never mind that he would have no reason to want to do that, given our past and that we had not spoke to each other in years. He claimed that the dungeon the cops had found was not for me, but for consenting women he was planning to meet from the internet. The Crown, on cross examination, got him to admit that he hadn't even tried to meet anyone from online.

After the jury was sent to the deliberation room, I walked up to the Crown's table and asked to see pictures of the dungeon. I had not seen them yet. Alex was talking to Doc and neither noticed me at first. Max found the pictures and I sat down to look at them. I wish now that I hadn't. Those images are forever seared into my memory. I just sat there feeling like I couldn't move, or even breathe.

Doc appeared beside me. He looked down and saw what I had been looking at. “Oh, God”, I heard him say.

“Get me out of here, Doc”, I asked him. Max had said we could go and he'd call us when the jury had finished deliberating. He took me to the apartment. Alex and Deanna were coming, too, to stay the night with us while we waited to hear from Max. While Doc got supper together, he talked to me about what I'd seen. “Alex, I want to run.”

“Where to, Meredith?”

“The farm.”

“That's your safe place, isn't it?” I nodded.

“What's stopping you?”

“What it would do to Julian. I've run so much and it's hell on him. I'm trying so hard to not do that right now.”

“You are making progress, Meredith.”

“Progress on what?” Doc asked from the kitchen doorway.

“Tell him, Meredith”, Alex said to me.

“I want to run, Doc.”

“But she isn't”, Alex told him. “She doesn't think so, but she's doing well.”

“You are, hon”, Doc said as he came over to me. He sat down on the sofa and gave me a big hug.

“I don't feel like I am.”

“You are, Meredith. A few months ago, you *would* have run. You have done very well through Jane's preliminary and Watters' trial. We didn't even have to put you on Ativan.”

“Even taking your horse for a good run is better than retreating”, Alex said. “I know Julian may see it different.”

“I'm happy that she did that instead of retreat into herself, Alex. Supper is ready, let's eat. We can talk later, hon.”

Later, when we went to bed, Doc and I did talk a bit more. “I'm so scared that both Watters and Jane are going to get off, Julian.”

“If that happens, we'll deal with it. Watters isn't in any shape to be a threat to you anymore.”

“But Jane is. If she gets acquitted, she will be out for blood. If I had to pick one to acquit, I'd pick Watters.”

“If Jane walks and comes anywhere near the farm, I'll kill her, hon.” I looked my beloved Julian in the eye and could see the anger in his. He was serious.

“You'd have to beat me to it, Doc.”

“Meredith”, he said, changing the subject. “I think you should have a sedative tonight. Otherwise, I fear you won't sleep at all, you'll be on edge waiting for the verdict.

“You are right, Doc. I most likely wouldn't.”

“You'll take the sedative?”

“Yes, honey.”

“I think I better take your temperature. You aren't yourself.”

“Haha, Doc.”

We were up early the next day so we could be ready if the jury was in. Alex went to the hospital to do paperwork and check on his in-patients. He would go to the courthouse to hear the verdict when it came in. Deanna stayed at the apartment with Doc and I. We were all on edge all morning. Doc busied himself with light cleaning. Deanna helped him. I was not allowed to help due to my broken foot. To their credit, they involved me in conversation as they cleaned to help keep me occupied.

Doc made us lunch around noon. We were all feeling pretty stressed. I was going out of my mind. Finally, Doc's phone rang just before 2:00. It was Max. The jury was in. Doc and Deanna freshened up and we piled into his car to go to the courthouse. Alex met us there. My stomach was one big knot. I had Deanna wheel me to the ladies washroom and lost my lunch. I didn't want Doc or Alex to know but she told them when we re-joined them. Doc gave me a hug. Alex talked to me for a few minutes before we sat down in the gallery.

Finally, the judge came in and order was called. The jury foreman stood to read the verdict. I was shaking out of nervousness. Doc held my hand. He couldn't hold me in a hug as it's not proper courtroom decorum. I listened as the foreman ran down the list of charges and said “guilty” or “not guilty”. There were a few not guiltys and a few guiltys on the more minor charges. Then, the biggies. I held my breath. “Assault causing bodily harm. Guilty. Kidnapping …. guilty” I breathed a sigh of relief. The Crown wasn't sure of this one as to be considered kidnapping, the victim has to be taken from one place to another against their consent. The defence had tried to say that I gave consent to go from my room to downstairs when I voluntarily got into the wheelchair, but the Crown pushed the point that consent was not valid because Watters was posing as a porter and taking me to an appointment that didn't exist. Whew! Guilty. Then the biggest charge – attempted murder. This one, the Crown was really unsure of but they used the dungeon and torture instruments to indicate intent to kill. As well as his words that I recorded about me not liking what awaited me. “Not guilty”, I heard. I was in shock and collapsed against Doc. The world went blank.

When I came to, I was lying on the back seat of a car – Doc's car. He was sitting on the seat with my head in his lap. His stethoscope was hanging from his neck, the diaphragm was almost on my face. Alex was driving. “Whoa! WTF??” I said as I tried to sit up.

“Down, Meredith”, Doc said as he pushed me back down.

“I'm not a dog, Doc.”

Ignoring my sarcasm, he said “We're on our way to the hospital. You passed out in court.”

“I don't need to go to the hospital. I was just shocked at the verdict.”

“Where did you get your medical degree, Meredith?”

“The School of Hard Knocks.” He chuckled.

“Their medical degrees are worthless.”

I tried to get up again. Doc pushed me down again. “Let me up, Doc.”

“No, Meredith. You're going to the hospital.”

“I won't go in.”

“I'll carry you in if I have to. Want me to tell you what your blood pressure was when I took it in the courthouse?”

“I don't care what it was. I'm not going in.”

“It was 200/140, Meredith. And your arrhythmia is pretty bad.” Even being untrained, I knew that that b/p was pretty high.

“I don't care.”

“Well, *I* care. And you are going in.” He put the diaphragm of his stethoscope on my inner arm and inflated the b/p cuff.

“I'll certify you if I have to, Meredith”, Alex said from the driver's seat.

“For what??” I asked. “I'm not a danger to myself.”

“You are if you refuse medical treatment.”

“Her b/p is now 210/165, Alex”, Doc interrupted.

“That's not what it's meant for, Alex and you know it.”

“It can be used that way. You are so traumatized by the verdict, you can't think straight. Now, calm down. Your anxiety isn't helping your blood pressure.”

I sighed. They had me over a barrel. A tear escaped my eye. Doc brushed it away with his hand. I turned on my side and buried my face in his belly. He had lost most of the weight he'd gained at the safe house, but he's always had a few extra pounds on him, even though he eats a low fat diet. He stroked my hair. “It's okay, hon. You probably won't stay overnight, unless they can't get that b/p down. I want you to see Hampton, too.”

“I hate this, Doc”, I said, raising my head. “Watters got acquitted on the attempted murder charge.”

“I know it 'sucks', to use your language. But they got him on the kidnapping charge and assault causing bodily harm. He can still go away for a very long time.”

“Meredith, kidnapping carries a sentence of five years to life”, Alex said. “The Crown will be going for as much time as they can get. You can write a victim impact statement and read it at sentencing if you want. I'm pretty sure Julian is going to write one, as your spouse to be, and I can give one, too – with your permission – telling the judge how his actions have affected you both at the time and even now. It will all go to help him decide how much time to give Watters. But at the very least, it will be five years. Hopefully more and perhaps they will sentence him consecutively on the assault causing bodily harm conviction. Five years at his age is a long time. It will not be easy on him in prison, even if they keep him in a medical wing.”

“We're here, hon.”

“I'll go get a wheelchair”, Alex said as he parked the car.

“Get a stretcher please, Alex.”

A minute later a stretcher was next to the car. Doc opened his door and slid out, gently setting my head down on the seat. “You stay here, hon. We'll lift you out.”

They took me to a room in the ER. A nurse took my vitals. My b/p was now 220/170. My pulse was 120. “You have to calm down, Meredith”, Alex said to me.

The nurse had no sooner left the room when a doctor came in. “Hi, Meredith, I'm Dr Gary Adams. I see your blood pressure is quite high today.”

“Really?” I asked sarcastically. “I had no idea!” I was not in the mood for games.

“You'll have to excuse her, Gary”, Alex said to him. “She's been very stressed and today is particularly bad.”

“Is she your patient, Alex?”

“Yes, and also a very good friend.” Dr Adams gave Alex a strange look upon hearing that he was a good friend of mine, but didn't say anything about it.

“Gary, I'd like Oliver Hampton to see her. He's her cardiologist.”

“She has a cardiac condition, Julian?” Go figure that Doc would know the ER physician.

“Mitral Valve Prolapse. Stress makes it worse.”

“What's your relationship to her?”

“She's my fiance.”

“Oh, this is the infamous Meredith! I see she's as feisty as her reputation.”

“She's somewhat subdued right now.”

“I have a reputation here?” I asked. “Way cool!”

“No, not cool at all, hon”, Doc said, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. “You don't want to get a reputation for being contentious here.”

“I don't give a fat rat's arse, Doc. I want to go home.”

“You know you can't go home until your blood pressure comes down and your MVP settles down.”

“I'm going to order some IV medication”, Dr Adams said to us. “And I'll call Oliver and get him to come down when he can.”

“Doc, can you please start the IV? I don't want anyone else to do it.”

“Meredith, you can't...”

“You'd best let me do it, Gary”, Doc said to him. “Trust me, it will make your life over the next hour or so much more pleasant.”

“I'll second that”, Alex said.

“Okay, you *do* have privileges in the hospital. I'll get a nurse to get the supplies for you.”

“Don't trouble her. I know where they are. I'll come get a bag of fluids.”

“I'll bring the medication in when it's up from the pharmacy. I'm also going to get blood work done, I want to check for organ damage. And I want her on a heart monitor.”

While we waited for Doc to come back, I whined to Alex. “I am so tired of hospitals. I want to go home.”

“I know, Meredith. And you have had more than your share of them this year. But you need to be here. If your blood pressure doesn't come down, you could have permanent organ damage. You don't want that. And think of what it would do to Julian if you left. Remember how you were saying you wanted to run back to the farm but you weren't doing it because you knew it would upset him?” I nodded. “Running home now would upset him even more.” I sighed. “Do you want some Ativan? I can give you a small dose, just enough to take the edge off.”

“Just a small dose?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Okay.”

“Good. I'll go send for it.”

Doc came back just as Alex was leaving. They talked in the doorway for a minute. I couldn't hear what they were saying.

“Let me find the IV supplies and I'll get it in, hon”, he said as he put a bag of fluids on the bed. He began rummaging around in the cabinets. When he had what he needed, he approached my bed on my right side. “Max called while I was out there, that's why it took me so long”, he said.

“What did he want?” I asked.

“He wanted to find out how you are doing. He's worried about you. And he told me that the judge set sentencing for one week from today. He needs us to write up Victim Impact Statements to read in court. We're supposed to tell of how Watters' actions has affected us - you as the victim and me as your fiance and the person who found you. If you give permission, Alex can submit one as your therapist – to tell of how you've been psychologically affected.”

“Good. I'll tell the court what a prick he is.”

“It would be better to be factual and leave name calling out, hon.” I rolled my eyes.

“I'm ready to start your IV. Just let me wash my hands.”

A couple minutes later, the IV was in and the bag of fluids hung. Doc was so good at this. No pain at all. I wish all doctors were this good.

Alex came in with the medication to bring my b/p down and the Ativan. Doc injected both into the IV, then put me on a heart monitor.

“Just a couple hours, right?” I asked.

“We'll see what Oliver says, hon. It will also depend on your response to the medication. Don't be surprised if he wants to keep you overnight.”

“I'm not...” Alex shot me a look that could kill. I didn't finish my sentence.

“I'll be here with you, sweetie. You know I won't leave you here alone. Now try to concentrate on relaxing.” He disposed of the waste from the IV and sat down on the bed. He reached over to me and stroked my hair, while watching the monitor. I closed my eyes.

After a while, Dr Hampton came in. “How is she doing?” I heard him ask Doc.

“SHE is fine. SHE wants to go home”, I said as I opened my eyes.

“I'm sorry, Meredith. I saw Alex outside and he told me what happened. That's awful that Chad walked on the attempted murder charge. But right now, my concern is your health.” He looked at the monitor. “Your b/p is down a bit but not nearly enough. Can I listen to your heart?”

“Sure”, I said without emotion.

“Julian, can I have a moment alone with my patient?”

“All right, Oliver.” Doc got up. “I need to stretch my legs anyway.”

Dr Hampton listened to my heart and lungs for what seemed like forever, then sat down on the bed. “Meredith, I know you don't want to be here, but I'd like you to stay at least for the night, maybe one more.” I sighed. “I know. It's not fun. I wouldn't want to stay either. But it's for the best. I'd hate for you to be out there at your farm, half an hour away, and get into cardiac distress.”

“I can stay at the apartment here in the city.”

“Still, by the time you got here to the hospital, it could be too late. And we haven't had that trail ride yet! You can't die on me, dear.” I had to laugh. “Besides, you need the IV medication. You'll be getting it regularly until your b/p is where I want it. I know the food is pretty bad here, but Julian can get you something from the cafe. And you know he'll stay here with you right in your room. I don't have a problem with him lying in your bed as long as he doesn't get tangled up in your tubing and wires.”

“You make a pretty good case, Dr Hampton.”

“So you will stay?” I nodded. “Good.” He patted my leg. “I want you to try to relax. I know it's easier said than done, given the circumstances. What's left after this?”

“Jane's trial in November. And sentencing for Watters – apparently it's a week from today.”

“Are you going to give a Victim Impact Statement?”

“Yes, I think so. Julian is going to give one about how it affected him.”

“I will be happy to write a letter detailing how the stress has affected your cardiac issues.”

“Thank you, Dr Hampton.”

“I'm on call tonight so I'll be here in the hospital or close by. I'll stop in and see you after you are settled in your room.”

The door opened and Doc poked his head in. “Can I come in?”

“Absolutely”, Dr Hampton said. “Meredith has agreed to be our guest here for the next night or two.”

“How did you get her to do that?”

“I told her she can't die before we have our trail ride.” Doc looked horrified, but I laughed.

“Doc, he's joking! Well, kind of ...” I winked at Dr Hampton.

“I guess whatever worked”, Doc said. “I'm glad he got you to agree. Now we don't have to tie you to that bed.”

“You know, Doc – I'd probably like that.” His face turned beet red.

Dr Hampton laughed. “I have to go do rounds, but like I said, I'll stop by and see you in your room.”

“Are you my attending?” I asked him.

“I sure am. You'll be on the cardiac ward. Everyone there has their own room, though I know you have coverage for private anyway.”

An hour later, porters took me to my room. Alex left to go to the apartment for supper. He said he'd call Doc after he ate and if he was needed, he would come back to the hospital for a bit.

When I got up to the ward, it was past supper time so Doc said he'd go to the cafe to get me something. “No thanks, Doc. I'm not hungry. But go get something for yourself. In fact, stay down there and eat.”

“You aren't planning anything for when I'm gone, are you, Meredith?”

“No, Doc.”

“Good. Still, I'm going to speak to the nurses and tell them that if you buzz for someone to unhook you so you can go to the bathroom, they need to stand outside the door to your room until you come out.”

“Aw, Doc....”

“Don't 'Aw, Doc' me, Meredith. You have pulled that stunt too many times.”

“Come here, Doc.” He leaned over the rail. “Kiss me, honey.”

“You're diverting, Meredith.”

“Yes, I am. Now kiss me.” He gave me a kiss, then left to go downstairs. I didn't have anything to amuse myself with, so I closed my eyes. After a while, I buzzed for a nurse to unhook me from the cardiac monitor so I could go pee. She told me I could take the IV stand in to the bathroom with me. When I came out, there was no nurse at the door. I got back into bed and waited for someone to come hook me up again.

I was lying with my eyes closed again when I heard Doc's voice. “Why are you unhooked, Meredith?”

I opened my eyes and looked at him “I had to go to the bathroom.”

“Why aren't you hooked back up?”

“Nobody has come to do it yet. And there was no nurse at the door when I came back to bed.” He got a guilty look to him. I'd suspected that he wouldn't really ask a nurse to watch to make sure I didn't take off, which is why I had gone to the bathroom. I didn't have to go that bad, but wanted to see if Doc really had done that. He hadn't. He knows that nurses aren't babysitters.

Doc sighed and did it himself then handed me a bag. “I got you a couple slices of toast. Please try to eat it, hon.”

I was able to eat all but a half slice. I just couldn't finish. “I'm sorry, honey.”

“Don't apologize, Meredith. You ate more than I thought you would. Do you want the coffee I got you?”

“Of course.”

He laughed. “It's decaf. Oliver would probably kill me if I got you regular.”

“We always have decaf in the evening, Doc. But I want regular at breakfast time.”

“They won't be sending regular with your tray, hon. I'd bet you're on a cardiac diet.” I made a face. “It's standard with any cardiac patient.”

“They may be able to have crap food sent to me but they can't stop me from getting good food from downstairs.”

“I will not enable you by bringing you unhealthy food, Meredith.”

“Fine. I'll go get it myself. I can walk.”

“Not on that broken foot.”

“It's getting better. And I have my crutches.”

“Meredith, why must you be so difficult?”

“YOU lay here in a hospital bed, Doc, and then tell me it's fun.”

“It's not meant to be fun, Meredith.”

“Well then, it's succeeded in what it's not meant to be.”

Dr Hampton walked into the room. “Hi Meredith, all settled in?”

“About as 'settled in' as you can be in a hospital room, Dr Hampton.”

“I know it's not luxury living, but you need to be here tonight.” I sighed.

“Meredith, I'm serious. Your b/p is dangerously high, though it is coming down. And your arrhythmia is bad.”

“Can't you just give me medication and send me home?”

“We are giving you medication but you need to be here so we can monitor you.” I sighed again. His pager beeped. He looked at it. “I have to go but I will look in on you later.”

When he'd gone, Doc said to me “Will you listen to him, hon?”

“I'll think about it, Doc. Why don't you go home? You'd be more comfortable there.”

“You know I always stay with you when you are in hospital. Don't you want me to stay tonight?”

“I just thought you would sleep better at home in a regular bed.”

“I wouldn't sleep well away from you, Meredith.”

“Doc! Scruffy! Someone needs to tend to her. I don't think she's comfortable enough with Alex and Deanna yet.”

“Let me call them.” Doc called and Alex told him he'd taken my squirrel to Steve's clinic. Steve would look after her until I was home and able to again. That put my mind at ease.

The next morning, as Doc had said would happen, I got decaf coffee with my breakfast. I was not happy. “Doc, please get me regular from the cafe.”

“No, Meredith. Like I said yesterday, I will not enable you.”

“Fine, I'll go down myself.” I threw my covers off and slid down to the foot of the bed to get off in the gap between the rail and foot.

“Oh, no you don't”, Doc said.

“Oh, yes I do.” I took the cardiac leads off. The monitor began to beep. I took the tape off my hand and pulled the IV cannula out. Doc grabbed some tissues from the box and handed them to me. I held them on my hand to stop the bleeding. A nurse appeared in the doorway.

“It's okay”, Doc said to her. “She's just having a temper tantrum. She'll calm down and I'll get her back on the monitor.”

“After I get my coffee.”

“Meredith, please. Be reasonable. You know you can't have caffeine right now.”

“I can have whatever I want.” The bleeding had stopped, so I limped to the cabinet my clothes were in. I got them out and began to get dressed. Doc didn't try to stop me but didn't help me either.

When I was finished dressing, I brushed my hair.

“What are you going to pay with?” Doc asked me.

“Money, of course.”

“You don't have your purse. It's in my car.” Damn. I sat down on the chair.

“Could you please go get it for me?”

“No.”

“Then give me your key. Mine is in my purse.”

“No, Meredith, I'm not enabling you.” Crap, I was in a pickle. “Now get undressed and back into bed.”

“I'm not doing that until I have a cup of real coffee.”

“You can't and you have no way to get it without any cash.”

“Then I will go home and have one.” I stood up.

“You can't just leave, Meredith.”

“Wanna bet?”

“I know you have done that before. But you need to sign out AMA if you insist on leaving.”

“Bring me the papers.”

Doc left the room. He returned a few minutes later. “The nurse called Oliver. He's in the ER with a patient and said to tell you he'll be up as soon as he can. He has to see you before you sign the form.”

“How long will that be?”

“He doesn't know. A while, most likely.”

“I'm not waiting.” I stood up.

“How are you going to get home?”

“Cab.”

“With what?”

“I have cash at home. I'll pay him when we get there.”

“Meredith, you leave this room and don't even bother going to the apartment – go to the farm. And I will not be joining you.”

This raised my ire even more. How DARE he threaten me like that! “That's your choice, Doc”, I said and walked out of the room on my crutches.