Chapter Seven

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The day that had begun slowly, allowing everyone time to recover from the party the night before, soon slipped into a sort of busy that bordered on chaotic. There was a wave of illness that had spread through one of the communities in the area and the medical staff had been running since early morning. It was days like this that Maddie felt the most useless. Her colleagues were massively busy while she saw a normal round of clients. Yes, she was busy, but they were much more so. At times, Khenda allowed her to help out in small ways; checking people in, asking basic questions, handing out various items.

Maddie was in her office, preparing to meet with a family she had been seeing for almost the entire time she had been in Bendal. It was a mother of two young boys who had lost their father to a violent surge in the area just before Maddie had arrived. Jemima, Geru, and Mante. Jemima was struggling to keep her family together, to put food on the table, and to keep her boys from the world that had taken away their father much too early. As she skimmed through her notes from the last meeting, Ella popped in quickly; a bit to eat in her hand.

"Hey!" She called out to Maddie as she swallowed a bite. "Tonight's Harry's last night in Bendal."

"Is it?" Maddie raised her eyebrows, trying for ignorance.

"Is it?" Ella mocked; her eyes narrowing at her roommate. "Does this act work on the general public? Because I don't buy it." She sighed. "Anyway. Collins said that he and Khenda were planning on taking him out to Perini for some local food and, knowing your love for food, I thought maybe we could join them..." Her smile faded into a smirk. "Unless you had something more intimate planned for the Prince."

"Ella..." Maddie glared playfully.

"Come on! Don't you want a great story to tell your grandchildren?"

"My grandchildren?" Maddie laughed; pushing the folder to the side.

"About the time you shagged the third in line to the throne...on one hot sweaty African night?" Her voice lowered as she drifted into the office.

"Shhh!" Maddie waved her hand. "You act like all I would have to do is suggest it to him and he would..."

"He would," Ella interrupted with a smug smile. "I know he's proper and sweet and, truly, lovely. But he has a wild side. I can tell."

"You can tell?"

"I can tell."

"Of course," Maddie shook her head. "While I hate to kick you out of my office, as I think you could certainly benefit from some Mental Health attention, I do have people on their way to see me, so..." She waved her hand; dismissing her friend.

"Yeah, yeah," Ella moved through the door; Maddie following her. "So? Do you want to go or not? Collins wants to have a firm count." Maddie sighed.

"Yes. I would love to go to Perini with you."

"And the Prince..."

"And the Prince," Maddie laughed. "Now go! I know you are busy down there."

"We are," she nodded and began down the hallway. "The Prince is done with official functions at six. We're meeting at reception desk at half past!"

"See you then!" Maddie called back. And then, as she turned back towards her office, she heard the doors to the building fly open and a loud, piercing scream that would change the course of her day. She spun around and there, standing in the entryway was part of the family she was supposed to be seeing in two minutes. The mother, who had fought and fought to keep her boys safe, was holding, in her arms the bloodied, limp body of her youngest son. Maddie's heart stopped.

Her eyes flew to Ella; meeting her gaze for a split second before her training kicked in. The two women broke into a run; directly for where the mother had fallen to her knees; her son slumping into her lap. There was so much crying, so much blood.

"Oh my God!" Maddie couldn't help it as the words slipped from her mouth.

"Maddie!" Ella, for all of her wild, spirited nature, was a consummate professional. Her hands began moving about, checking for pulses and blood pressure and trying to stabilize the young boy though his mother refused to let him go. "Maddie!" Maddie's eyes snapped to Ella's; her mind snapping back. "Get Howard. Now. Run." Maddie rose to her feet and ran through the hall. There were people scattering towards Ella, towards the scene; but she stayed focused. Ella wanted the Cardiac Surgeon for a reason. When she found him, she reached for his arm and, seeing the look in her eyes, he followed her pace without question.

When they returned to the scene, the doctor went directly to the son, who Ella had managed to extract from the mother. Ella held her hands tightly to the side of his neck and she was covered in blood. Maddie's eyes scanned the small gathering of people and fell on the mother, Jemima who, in the shuffle, had been pushed off to the side. Focusing her mental capacities, swallowing back the sorrow she felt creeping into her throat, her eyes, she took a breath and moved towards her. This was her expertise, this was where her training was needed. Ella and Howard and the others would attend to the boy. Maddie would attend to the mother.

Sitting on the floor next to her, Maddie reached out a hand and, in a soft but commanding voice, "Jemima. It's me. Maddie. Doctor Forrester. Can you...can you look at me?" She turned small, water filled eyes towards Maddie. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"They came. They came and threatened to take me and Mante, he..." Her sobs cut her off. "They shot him. He's just a boy! Just eight and they shot him like a man!"

"Jemima..." Maddie couldn't fight the tears that welled in her eyes. "Where is Geru? Was he there when they came or..."

"I don't know!" Jemima's cries increased as she thought of her oldest son. "I held him back but when I went to Mante to bring him...Geru left....oh God....I don't know what he is going to...." Maddie's eyes flashed wide as a multitude of scenarios flew through her mind—all of them including the little twelve year old boy stepping into something that would only bring more horror to this family.

"Collins!" Maddie's head turned around, looking to tell him of the wayward boy. "Collins!" She called out above the chaos and, within moments he was by her side. "Geru is...he was there when Mante was shot and he took off. She...she doesn't know where he is." The gravity of the situation registered on his face as he nodded to Maddie. Patting her on the shoulder, he hurried away from the crowd; leaving Maddie to her work and rushing off to his. Maddie turned back to Jemima and did all she could in that moment; hold tight to her hand and stay with her while they awaited news on both of her sons.

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It was a quarter past six when Harry returned to the complex. He had finished up what he considered a great day. He had been in meetings, but they had been productive and during the lunch hour he had been able to eat with groups of young children from the local schools and was treated to a musical show they had put together. Despite his growing sadness at having to leave the next day, he was in a good mood.

He pushed through the main doors and his smile instantly faded. He could see that there had clearly been an upset that day. The faces of those around him were somber. The laughter that he had grown used to hearing had taken leave of the hallways. There was a crew scrubbing at a large spot on the floor that he knew could have only been blood. An uneasiness settled in his stomach as he took steps towards Maddie's office. Standing outside her closed door were a tensed Khenda and Collins; deep in conversation.

"What happened?" Harry's voice, well soft and unassuming, surprised the couple as they looked up to him.

"Your Royal Highness," Khenda addressed him first.

"Sir," Collins nodded his head. Harry shook his head. The easy way they slipped into formality only indicated how shaken up they must have been.

"Something happened here today."

"Yes," Khenda nodded. "Something happens here almost every day."

"Khenda," Harry's eyes pleaded. "What happened? Is everyone okay?" He felt a slight panic build. "Is Maddie..."

"She's fine," Collins stepped in to reassure the young man. "She's...she lost a client today."

"Two," Khenda corrected him with teary eyes. "She lost two clients."

"Yes," Collins nodded; his stomach clenching. "She had been working with a family since she arrived; a mother and two sons. Their father died just before Maddie arrived and today..."

"Today the two boys were killed; one right after the other," Khenda finished. Collins reached out to stroke her arm. "It's been a long day for Maddie. For everyone but..."

"Wow..." Harry breathed, scrubbing a hand over his face and into his hair. "Is she..." He nodded towards the door.

"She's in her office but Harry..." Khenda's hand reached out, as if to stop him. But before she could say anything else, the door to Maddie's office opened and their attention shifted to her. She had just changed from her clothes that morning—clothes that were now soaked in blood—into scrubs that Ella had given her. Her hair was pulled back; her eyes blood shot and puffy behind her glasses, were tear free for the moment. She looked from Khenda and Collins to Harry, her breath catching slightly.

"Perini," she pointed at him, her lips turned up the tiniest bit. "We were all supposed to take you to Perini for dinner..." She exhaled.

"Yes," he nodded. "But Khenda told me what happened..." And the depth in his eyes, the genuine concern there cracked the control she had just worked to gain and she looked away from him; her eyes filling with tears—sobs aching in her chest. She tried for a moment to stuff it down but failed, miserably. "Is there anything I can..." He trailed off as she shook her head; surrendering to the emotions.

"Damn it!" She smacked her hand against the door frame as tears spilled from her eyes. There was this moment, this tiny moment, when Harry moved a fraction of an inch—as if to go to her. But, in that second, Maddie shook her head, waving her hand at all of them before she reached for a tissue. "I..." She wiped at her eyes and discarded the tissue. "I'm really sorry, but I'm not going to be able to go out with the group tonight. I am going to go out with Collins to the family and talk to....talk to their mother and..." She looked just at Harry. "I know it's your last night and..."

"Don't worry about it..."

"I have to go..." She took a breath; hoping to compose herself. "We just need to check on the rest of the family. They had an absolutely horrible...." Maddie swallowed. "Everyone else is still headed out—they need a night out. But I just..."

"Think nothing of it," Harry offered a small smile and a wave of his hand. He watched as she pulled on a light sweater and nodded to Collins. Collins kissed Khenda's cheek and then, nodding at Harry, he followed Maddie down the hallway and out of the complex; leaving Harry and Khenda to watch them go.

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It was five hours before Maddie returned to her office.

Five hours it took to travel to and from the home and to sit with the family.

Five hours of intense mental work; of intense therapy and techniques designed to immediately intersect the fall out that comes with a trauma such as this.

And when she returned to the complex with Collins to grab a file before heading home, she was more than a little surprised to find Harry waiting for her; right where she had left him outside her office. He was sitting in a chair that, even if it had started out comfortable, certainly couldn't have been at that point. She stopped in her tracks when she saw him; her mouth opening slightly.

"Am I seeing things?" She rubbed at her eyes; tired from the late hour and the emotional turmoil she had experienced that night. "Are you really here?"

"You're not seeing things," he rose to his feet and closed the gap between them. "I'm really here."

"But I...why?"

"I'm not entirely sure..." He exhaled and, for the first time since Jemima had burst through the doors, Maddie's emotions lifted. He glanced away from her in a nervous sort of way; a way that made her stomach flutter slightly. "I went with the group for a while, but I thought maybe you might...need somebody to..."

"That is..." She bit her lip; desperately wanting to stop crying. "You really are incredibly sweet, you know?" And the tears returned; her efforts to stop them all in vain.

"Hey..." And then, because he was done being proper and careful, Harry moved; pulling her into his arms. And she went, without thinking and without reservations. She stopped listening to the voices in her head telling her to be careful, be cautious. And instead, she stepped into his arms; arms that only took half a second before they wrapped around her in a warm, tight, comforting hug; a hug that made her feel safe and protected and taken care of.

She knew it was dangerous; that this was only fueling the feelings she had tried to stuff away. But she did it anyway. She needed this. And if he was willing to give of himself, she was taking. No matter what it meant for later.

They stood in the hallway like that for more time than Harry cared to count. He held her close and she cried. And, with the late hour and the long day, there were very few people around to see; nobody around who would question. When she finally pulled away, she smiled up at him—slightly embarrassed at her breakdown.

"Oh no!" She waved her hand at his shirt, turning to reach for tissue from the reception desk. "Look at your shirt!"

"Don't worry about it," he shook his head.

"But..."

"Hey Doc..." Collins' voice cut into the just seconds before he appeared around the corner. Coming to a sudden stop, he took in the sight. Surprised, and impressed, Collins nodded to Harry. "I'm sorry, I had no idea you were here."

"Yes, I..." Harry stammered, unable to find a valid reason for being there so late at night. Clearing her throat, Maddie stepped completely from his arms. Harry let his arms fall to his side; instantly feeling her absence.

"Sorry," Collins smirked; enjoying the awkwardness that had settled over the two of them. "I was planning on seeing Maddie home, but if you..."

"No, no," Harry spoke up, his proper upbringing taking over. "It's been a long night. You should go home, get some sleep. And...I have an early morning."

"Sure," Collins nodded. "Will we see you before you leave?" He could almost feel Maddie's eyes boring into the back of his head.

"You absolutely will," Harry nodded. Tentatively, he reached a hand out; squeezing her shoulder lightly before he glanced towards his security team outside. "Take care of yourself Maddie. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yes," she sniffed; her eyes met his. "Thank you, for..."

"Of course," he tried his best to remain nonchalant, to brush it off; but he had already given away too much. The only one still unable to see it all for what is worth was Maddie—the only one who should really be seeing. "Well," he clapped his hands together. "Goodnight. Maddie, Collins."

"Goodnight," Maddie smiled.

"Goodnight," Collins nodded. As Harry passed through the doors, Collins turned to watch for Maddie's reaction. "Mmm Hmmm." He saw exactly what he thought he would.

"Shut up," she demanded, not even looking at him. And for the first time that night, she laughed; a muffled sort of snicker. With an arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, Collins lead her outside. What a day it had been.


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