I was walking down the hall after leaving Beth's room when I saw Ann. We continued until we came to a stop three doors down from Beth's room.

We both nodded.

"How is she?"

"Sleeping. I just checked on her."

"I was hoping she'd be awake. I'm showing a house at eight but it's a half hour drive if I hit traffic right." She said clearly disappointed.

"I can stay." I told her as we walked to the elevators. "My uncle is in town. He wants to meet you and Beth."

She nodded but I could tell her mind wasn't on what I said. She looked behind me.

"Ann?" I said. She looked back at me. "What's wrong?"

She tried to smile. "Everything." She said softly.

I didn't know what to say to ease her discomfort. "Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head, paused, shifted her black denim and lace purse, then nodded. "Kind of. But I can't. I have to go. I have a long drive ahead of me." She sighed.

It seemed to me I had heard more sighs in the past few days then I had heard in the past one hundred years.

"I actually need to talk to you." I told her. "Could you be here around eleven thirty? We could have lunch in the hospital cafeteria."

"I'm sorry, Alex, unless you're interested in purchasing a house, I really can't. I took off yesterday to spend with Beth. I need to get some work done."

"I would be interested in buying a house. But I don't really know anything about the area."

"OK." Ann said doubtfully. "What's the price range?"

"Up to a a hundred and fifty thousand. But there are a few things I'll need the property to have."

Ann lifted an eyebrow but nodded. "I'll compile a list iñ your price range and meet you for lunch, here." She pulled out her cellphone and typed on the touch screen as she spoke. "I'm sorry Alex. I really do have to go. The company has been trying to sell this property for three years."

I was soon settled in a seat in the waiting room again. With nothing better to do I propped up my feet, relaxed my muscles and let my scenes wonder.

The scent of illness was thick in air. There was also strong antiseptic scents overlaying those of medications, human sweat, emotion, the carpet under my feet, I smelled a werecat faintly. There was a hint of eggs, ham, and biscuits. I could smell marijuana. I assumed it was medical because of the location.

My ears picked up the sound of countless IVs, and other mechanical devices. There were human sounds as well. Breathing. Heartbeats. Voices. I heard a woman crying softly, she was begging God to save her husband. I didn't bother to find her and tell her God seldom interfered. He gave free will and it was our purpose to live our lives.

Thankfully sadness was not the only sound drifting in the halls. There were men walked hurriedly down the hallway. I heard their conversation too.

"Is she, they, really okay, Mike?"

"She will be. Both of them. Just wait. You'll see. Karen looks bad but her arm and the bruises will heal." His heart skipped a beat, then calmed. "Ben, I've never been so scared. I thought I was going to lose my wife and my unborn child in the same night."

"The guy in the other car, how is he?"

"They're not sure he'll make it, yet. We're hoping for the best."

There was a pause then "What did you name her?"

"Karen named her Victoria Ashlyn." I had hardly caught the last comment because they moved so far away.

I sat meditating until I smelled Jeremy's scent. My mind clearer than it had been in days.

Jeremy carried a brown paper bag with a red logo on the sides. We sat with our backs to the windows.

He passed me the bag. Inside I found a cellphone, a small laptop, blank CDs, headphones, a tin box filled with micro SD cards, SD cards, adapters, and multiple thumb drives.

"Jeremy, I don't need all this."  I looked up at him

"They've been opened and programed. I can't take them back."

I rolled my eyes. I bet he opened them so they couldn't be returned.

"How's the human?" He asked, voice upbeat. I glared at him.

"I haven't been in since she woke up."

"Why?"

"Because I know she'll tell me to go." I said with more anger then I care to admit.

He just nodded. "And the other one?"

"I'm meeting her for lunch. She's a real estate agent and I may buy a house."

"Alexis." His voice dripped with warning.

"It's an investment, Jeremy." I said lightly.

He nodded. He didn't look like he believed me but at least he didn't push the issue.

"Real estate is a good investment. Maybe I'll go with you. I could possibly find a house to invest in as well."

I smiled, if I knew anything about Jeremy, it was that he could not resist making money or spending it for that matter.

By the end of the day Ann would sell at least one house, two if I found one I liked.