Page 16 of Heal
Dyson closed his eyes. "You enjoy torturing us way too much."
"Probably, but I'm a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER would be and I don't ask questions." Beau numbed the area around where he needed to stitch.
"How are the kids that were brought in?" Carter asked.
Beau shook his head. "I'm not sure it's really hit them yet. I haven't seen them break down yet. It's almost as if they know they are just going to be thrown back into the system so they don't dare hope the nightmare is over."
"Sadly, it's true." Bryon sat down in a chair on the other side of the room. "Out of the four kids, it's likely that one or two of them will face more abuse in the system. Probably the younger of the kids."
Beau focused on what he was doing, trying hard not to think about the kids. He'd learned through the years to not let things bother him. He saw too much to let his emotions get to him, but there was something about this case, about these kids, that was different. He couldn't get them off his mind. Handing them back over to child services was going to be one of the hardest things he had to do as a doctor.
"I've got Matt looking into the files of other foster kids, looking for any matching information that might lead us to the other kids being abused, but so far he hasn't found a link," Bryon told him.
Beau had made sure to let the team know about Lisa telling him there were sex parties being conducted with other foster children. If the team could find out who was involved, they could act faster than the police in making sure the kids were rescued and justice was brought to the people who were hurting the children. "I'll talk to Lisa more and see if she has any other information. It wasn't the time to ask her a lot of questions. I've got an ultrasound scheduled for her this morning to find out how far along she is. I'll see what her mood is like after and talk to her if she's up for it."
"She's pregnant?" Dyson stared at Beau.
"Unfortunately." Beau sighed as he sat back, done putting a bandage on Dyson's side. "I have no idea how far along. She's not showing yet, but she's so malnourished that the baby could just be small. The infant's heartbeat is strong. I'm guessing from my initial exam and the feel of her uterus that she's several months along."
"Too late for an abortion then." Carter shook his head.
"Probably, but there are some great adoption options I'll help her look at." Beau hated thinking about what Lisa was going to have to go through. He wished there was more he could do.
"I wish we could get our hands on the pedophile who hurt these kids," Bryon said.
"You and me both." Beau stood. "Okay, Dyson, I'll check on you tomorrow. Right now, I want you to stay here and sleep." He unlocked the case he kept his medication in and tossed a pill bottle to Dyson. "Take one every four hours for pain if needed. I need to get some sleep, but wake me if you need me."
"We should all get some sleep." Bryon stood.
"Thanks, Doc." Dyson smiled.
"Anytime." Beau grinned. "You okay here or want to move to the other room?"
"I'll stay here." Dyson tightened an arm around one of the pillows.
"I'm down the hall if you need me." Beau stepped out of the room, leaving the others to talk. Bryon would debrief Dyson before they all headed to bed.
Glad he didn't need to be part of that, Beau fell back into bed, trying to shut down his mind, but visions of Lisa haunted him. Tomorrow was going to be a tough day and he was glad he could be there to help her get through it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Slow down. I'm not as young and energetic as you are." Beau grinned as Faith glanced back at him.
"You're twice as tall as I am. Your legs are longer. Don't tell me you can't keep up." Faith rolled her eyes.
"I'm old," Beau protested.
"True." Faith laughed.
"Hey…" Beau shook his head.
"You said it." Faith smiled as she slowed and fell into step beside him.
"You didn't have to agree." Beau grinned. There was something about just hanging out with Faith that brought his spirits up. No matter what he faced, she reminded him that there was good in the world. Somehow, she had come through the darkness and found a way to shine light on his and everyone else's life that she touched. She was amazing, and he was proud to be her mentor, but even more, her best friend.
"I promised you I'd never lie to you. You're old. It's a fact." Faith walked through the sliding glass doorway of the hospital.
"I'm thirty-six, that's hardly old." Beau touched his hair. "See, no gray."
