ANDY'S POV

After Emberly is out, I carry her back to my apartment. I let Jinxx know where she'll be. I don't trust anyone else to touch her right now.

I lay her down on my bed, my dark grey sheets an intense contradiction to her light blue scrubs. I pull the covers up to her chin and take my place beside her. I'm fuming at the chain of events that unfolded today. Because of Dr. Riley's carelessness, I doubt Emberly will agree to finishing her treatment. I could always force her under the claim that she isn't mentally fit to make decisions for herself but then she would just be more hurt. She'd never trust me again. I sigh. I decide to take advantage of the situation and get a quick nap in. I kick off my shoes and slide under the covers. I place an arm protectively around Em. I close my eyes and I'm out within minutes.

ASHLEY'S POV

I stand on the wall in the office of Dr. Bren Lovette, head of medicine. Dr. Riley sits in a chair across from Dr. Lovette. She had just told her side of the story, and of course, lied.

     "Dr. Purdy, would you explain what happened, from your perspective please?" Dr. Lovette asks me. I nod my head.

     "Of course, ma'am. We were in the middle of prepping Miss Emberly Vace for her fourth session of ECT. Dr. Riley here seemed a bit distracted by Dr. Biersack. She neglected to give her full attention to the patient, causing Dr. Riley to only give Miss Vace a fraction of the dose of anesthesia she was supposed to receive. She was not fully under when we shocked her and felt everything. She had a full seizure despite supposedly being given muscle relaxant." I say. Dr. Lovette pinches the bridge of her nose.

     "Dr. Riley, would you like to amend your statement after hearing what Dr. Purdy has to say?" Dr. Riley just glares at me and shakes her head. "Very well. Dr. Riley, I have no choice but to fire you. I have received far too many complaints regarding your work. You could've killed that patient today. Do you understand that? I want you to go clean out your locker. Your contract is terminated effective immediately and I will have to report your negligence to the board. Oh, and I expect you to apologize to Miss Vace before you leave. Dr. Purdy, you will need to be witness to that." Dr. Lovette says, then nods a dismissal, returning her attention to the paperwork on her desk. Dr. Riley rushes out of the office sobbing. I shake my head and slowly follow her.

EMBERLY'S POV

I feel an arm around me, like a steel vise holding me in place. I manage to open my eyes and I see Andy asleep next to me. I smile, despite the flood of memories from this morning. My stomach growls and I reluctantly slide out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping angel next to me.
That's how I've come to see Andy. He's my guardian angel. He pulled me out of my own personal hell and has helped me start to heal. I think it's a fitting image. My stomach growls impatiently and I laugh to myself. I don't want to take any of Andy's food so I quietly leave his apartment. Luckily, Jinxx is in the break room.

      "Hey, what time is it?" I greet him. He glances at his watch. "It's just now noon. You're just in time for lunch." He tells me. I smile and right on cue, my stomach growls again. "Where's Dr. Biersack?" He looks down the hall to the apartment door.

     "He's asleep. I didn't want to wake him." I tell Jinxx. He smiles knowingly.

     "He's been staying up really late to sit with you every night. He really cares." I nod. Jinxx leads me back into the ward. I grab my tray and sit at the large table to eat. CC is on my right and a girl named Meredith sits on my left. They're my two closest friends here on the ward.

     "What the fuck happened to you?" CC wants to know. Word travels fast in this place.

     "That bitch anesthesiologist didn't give me the correct dosage so I was awake for my treatment. It hurt like hell." I tell him. CC went through ECT, too. He's gotten a little better, but he still isn't where he needs to be to get released.

     "Dr. Riley?" He clarifies. I nod. "Ugh. I hate that cunt wagon. She's too busy flirting with all the doctors to pay attention. She gave me too much anesthesia during one of my sessions. Remember that?" He asks. I do remember that. He didn't wake up for four days. We were all worried about him.

     "Are y'all up for some cards after dinner?" Meredith asks. She chooses not to say much. She says she prefers listening and observing. She's bipolar, but she's incredibly sweet. CC and I agree. We eat the rest of our meal in silence. John appears at the doorway. He clears his throat.

     "Emberly, could you come with me please?" He sounds angry. I stand, and so does Meredith and CC. I approach John and he snatches my arm in a tight grip. I squeak out of surprise. "You need to come with me. Dr. Riley would like to speak with you." At the sound of her name, my blood boils. CC seems to sense the tension rolling off me. He follows John and I into the main seating area. I often come here to sketch or play music. There, seated on one of the rubber couches, is Dr. Flirts-A-Lot. Dr. Purdy is leaned up against the wall to my left.

     "Miss Vace, have a seat." Dr. Riley tell me. I snatch my arm back from John, giving him an angry glare as I sit down. I glance down the hall. CC is standing in the doorway of his room, so he's within earshot. He nods at me and smiles. I turn my attention back to the woman across from me.

     "What do you want?" I snap.

     "I'd like to apologize." She has trouble getting the last word out. I just laugh.

     "I don't accept." My voice is ice.

     "Emberly, she has been punished. Don't be rude." Dr. Purdy tries to keep it civil.

     "I don't give a fuck." I say in his direction. I stand, knowing how menacing I look. "You're lucky I don't sue your ass for every goddamn penny it's worth." I snarl at Dr. Riley.

     "I'd like to see you try." She snarls back, all traces of the forced apology long gone. "No one would believe you. You're nothing but a psycho who needs to have her head shocked just to feel okay." She mocks. Out of the corner of my eye I see CC take a step forward.

     "Oh please. There's nothing wrong with mental illness. So stop trying to act like you're better than everyone here because the chemicals in your brain aren't fucked up." I snap, taking a step towards her.

     "Oh hun, it isn't an act. I am better than you. In every way. I'll make sure Dr. Biersack sees it, too. He'll be with me while you rot away in here. How could anyone ever love you? You'd be better off dead." She laughs maniacally.

     "Fuck you, you stupid bitch!" I yell. I'm on her in an instant. I knock her to the ground with my momentum. I'm on her instantly, punching her in the face as hard as I can. Dr. Purdy is trying to pull me off but I'm fueled by rage. CC joins the scuffle and they still can't get me off. I'm merciless, laughing at her bloodied face. "Take that you cunt." I whisper at her.

The fear is evident in her eyes. I pull my right arm back to land another blow, but it's caught by a strong hand. I look up to see Andy. His face is unreadable. I stop fighting for a split second, giving Dr. Purdy and CC the chance to rip me off of her and pin me to the floor. I'm kicking and screaming, helpless to watch Andy gingerly pull the bitch off the floor.

     "You need to get to the ER to get that checked out." He tells her, his voice calm. I think I hear a hint of anger.

     "Such a gentleman." Her lustful tone is subdued because of the blood gushing out of her nose. He ignores her and I snarl and try to lunge towards her. She looks at me and smiles evilly. "You're gonna pay for this, you psycho bitch." She promises. "Have fun in seclusion." She laughs as she leaves the ward. I start pulling on the two holding me down. I can't see Andy anywhere.

     "Emberly, I'm disappointed in you." I hear his deep voice scold. He reappears in my field of vision. Kneeling down beside me, I can see he has a sedative. "I'm going to have to sedate you and restrain you until you are no longer a danger to yourself or others." He informs me.

     "NO!" My voice sounds feral. I struggle harder but to no avail. I feel the needle pierce my skin and my eyes get heavy. Dr. Purdy and Andy carry me to the seclusion room, but I'm unconscious before they start strapping me down.