"You blasted fool!" Ms. Rubins shouted as she stormed into Dr. Knight's office, past his secretary, slamming the door behind her. She strode over to where he sat behind his desk.

"Anita, what is the meaning of this?"

"You've rescinded on your part of the deal, and now we're both going to have hell to pay!"

"What are you talking about? I've done as I've been told."

"Is that what you call your sorry attempts at supporting the idea of sending that little brat to an orphanage? I've seen worms with more of a backbone than you!"

"Anita, please, I'm a neurosurgeon, not an actor."

"Well, we'll just have to see how good a performance you put on once the hospital board learns about your involvement with one of your nurses. Not to mention what your wife would say if she found out. . . ."

"What?! We had a deal! I help you by recommending that Jubilee not return to the care of Cassidy and Frost, and no one is to find out about my little indiscretion."

"Ah, but thanks to that old cow, she's going to return New York under the guardianship of that Summers couple. You were the one who suggested she be there during the interview!"

"What, that harmless old nurse? What difference could her presence make?"

"Well, Mr. Smartass, she threatened to have me fired if I didn't decide in favor of Jubilee going to the Summers. It seems her niece has some pull in social services."

Dr. Knight smirked. "Well, welcome to the wonderful world of blackmail, my dear. Not very comfortable being stuck between a rock and a hard place, is it?"

"This is *your* fault!"

"Oh, no. You're not blaming this on me. I backed you up, like I was supposed to."

"Then why the hell didn't you protest that couple taking her in?"

"First and foremost, I am a doctor. As such, I have to make recommendations that are in the best interests of my patient. Jubilation's returning to school was not, but I see no reason that she shouldn't go live with this couple. They seem genuinely concerned--"

"You fool! It doesn't matter if they're her real parents, back from the dead. Our orders were to send her to an orphanage."

"Correction, Anita: *your* orders. I held up my end of the bargain. And now, I wash my hands of the deal. He's *your* boss, not mine. This isn't my problem anymore. Now, if you'd kindly leave my office, I have work to do," he said, picking up his pen.

"Bastard! You're going to regret this. You and that nurse are both going to pay for crossing me!"

"Don't make me have to call security, Anita," he said, not looking up from his file. "Good day."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode out of his office. Steaming, she headed to the elevator and made her way down to the parking garage. Her scheming mind was already at work, figuring out how to blame this unforeseen turn of events on Dr. Knight's incompetence.

With a bing, the elevator came to a stop. The doors opened, and she stepped into the garage. She stopped a few feet in front of the elevator to sift through her bag in search of her car keys. She had just fished them out when she felt a large rough hand clamp over her mouth and another grab her around the waist. The keys clinked to the pavement as she was slammed against a wall. One hand remained over her mouth, and the other arm pinned her shoulders to the cold brick.

She found herself staring into the face of a short, stocky man. In the dim light of the garage, she could see his dark eyes glowering at her. He snarled, and for a moment she feared she were about to be mauled by a wild animal.

Suddenly, she gasped in recognition. It was the man who had been in Jubilee's room-- Logan, the girl had called him.

She tried to struggle against him, but his grip was like a vise.

"Quit yer movin'," he growled, his voice low and guttural. "I ain't gonna hurt ya-- least, not yet." Slowly, he removed his hand from her mouth.

She searched for her voice. "Wh-what do you w-want?"

"Consider this a warnin', darlin'. I know you're workin' for Shaw. I know he's payin' you to recommend sendin' Jubilee to an orphanage. An' I know he threatened the doc-- he's got somethin' to hold over his head to ensure you get his cooperation."

"I don't know what you're talk--"

"Shut up an' listen!"

She closed her mouth, and he continued.

"I also know that old nurse said some things to you, some stuff that is making you realize you have no choice but to give Jean and Scott guardianship of Jubilee. An' that isn't gonna make Shaw too happy. Not part of his plan, I'm sure. But I'm here to tell you that if anything happens to Dr. Knight or Nurse Peach, it's you I'm comin' after."

"I'm not afraid of you."

He laughed. "You should be, darlin'. Shaw tell you what happened to his lady friend, Tessa? She used to be quite a looker." Logan popped a claw out of his forearm. She jumped, staring at it wide-eyed as he moved it closer to her, gently caressing her cheek with its side. "Let's just say she won't be winnin' no more beauty contests." Trembling, she closed her eyes, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek. "So, you go tell Shaw that this round belongs to us. The doctor and nurse are off-limits. Or else, I use you as a pin cushion. We got ourselves a deal?"

Swallowing, she slowly nodded her head.

"Good," he said, retracting his claw and taking a step back. He handed her they keys she had dropped. "We look forward to your decision. Stop by any time with the forms to sign."

Keeping her eyes on him at all times, she slowly slid along the wall and then began to walk backwards into the parking lot. Her heel caught on a speed bump, and she stumbled. After she regained her balance, she looked up and saw that he was gone, having disappeared back into the shadows from which he had emerged.

She looked warily around. There was no sign of him. Grabbing her brief case tightly, she hurried to her car. It took her trembling fingers three attempts to open the lock. She got into the car quickly, and sped away, nearly running down a security guard on her way out of the garage.

End of Chapter 16
Jennifer Sorowitz '98