DISCLAIMER: This is Uber. Some physical similarities with characters on TV but that is as far as it goes. No infringement is intended.

WARNING: There is bad language, violence, annoying people, ..., what can I say, it is a dark tale. No sex.

WHY: O’Grady and Devyn do not seem to be finished yet. The characters have also appeared in The Consult and The Appointment. You may need to read those stories before this one to get the flow.

by phair

Part 1

Dr. O’Grady lightly rapped on the door as she inserted the pass key in the lock. She waited for an answer. Several silent moments passed before she knocked again.

"Come in?" A quiet voice from within questioned.

"I wasn’t sure if you would still be awake," O’Grady spoke softly as she pushed the door ajar but did not enter. "Want some company?"

"Yeah!" The answer sounded more anxious than Devyn intended, "I mean, okay, I guess."

O’Grady shut the door behind her but did not lock it. The action did not go unnoticed by the woman sitting cross legged on the bed. She nervously smoothed her hand on the thigh of the bright orange scrubs. All the patients committed by the state on the locked psychiatric unit dressed in the brightly colored prison issued clothes instead of the tan scrubs the hospital provided their own admissions. Just in case of escape. O’Grady sat in the only chair in the room next to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" O’Grady could not see the pale features of the woman’s down turned face.

"Warm, dry, fed," Devyn grinned and lifted her head a bit but did not make eye contact, "that’s an improvement over the last few days."

"How’s the arm?"

"Feels better with the cast," she held up the white plastered limb as if to prove the point. "A lawyer came here this afternoon. He wanted me to sign a paper to stay locked up for sixty days," Devyn risked a glance at the doctor waiting patiently for her to continue. "Can I stay here that long? I don’t have money or insurance..., and the cops are coming tomorrow to ask more questions, and...,"

"Do you want to be well?" O’Grady recognized the woman’s panic was barely controlled and interrupted the flow of questions to provide structure for the woman’s thoughts.

Devyn tried to ease her breathing. She focused on the doctor’s words as much as her tone of voice. O’Grady was so calm and controlled. It helped Devyn to quell her worries enough to nod a response.

"You have the bed for at least sixty days courtesy of the state," O’Grady smiled easily. "After that, it depends on your wishes."

"The lawyer said you got the charges dropped," Devyn stole another shy look at the doctor.

"That’s an exaggeration. I sent recommendations to the DA’s office. With inpatient treatment and outpatient services, I believe you have a good prognosis for community reentry." O’Grady paused a moment before clarifying, "Devyn, it’s part of my job to file reports on patients with pending criminal charges. The DA believed treating the underlying illness was in the better interest of the state than punishing a petty crime."

"Are you going to be my doctor?" Devyn finally met the doctor’s gaze with a desperate one of her own.

"No," O’Grady saw the woman’s shoulders immediately sag.

"I don’t have money right now but I’ll work hard when I get out," Devyn had tears in her eyes as she reduced herself to begging. "I’ll send you money every week, I promise. Please, I know you can help me."

"Try to relax, Devyn. This decision has nothing to do with money," O’Grady tried to reassure the woman. "I can’t be your doctor because I had an incident earlier today that would preclude me from being objective about your care."

"What’re you talking about?" Devyn rolled her eyes at the sterile excuse.

"I encountered," O’Grady chewed her lip trying to phrase the experience correctly, "something I can’t explain that seems to support what you told me in the ER."

"The handsome guy in the flannel shirt? He’s gone now, you know."

"I had a feeling he was," O’Grady was grateful she did not need to go into details regarding the occurrence. "So, it’d be foolishness for me to be directly involved with your treatment. It would be far too easy for me to miss an vital detail because of my personal history with your... unique skill. Besides, I think, you’ll do well with Dr. Waugh. She’s a very good clinician."

Devyn merely shrugged. O’Grady could see the woman withdrawing from the conversation. The doctor moved to leave and allow her former patient some privacy.

"Can I ask a favor?" It was only a whisper.

"Yes," O’Grady turned her full attention to Devyn who appeared to shrink under the scrutiny. "It’s okay to ask, Devyn."

"Would..., could you be here when the police come back?"

"You can have your lawyer here. I think he’d be better suited to be with you during police questioning," O’Grady felt badly that she could not do the woman this small favor.

Devyn drew her knees up to her chest. She rested her head on them as her arms wrapped around her legs. She knew this was as protected as she would get tonight. Her tears fell as the door locked behind the departing doctor.

* * *

O’Grady sat on the floor of her office scribbling notes. Her team of ten crammed into the compact space for the monthly case review. She used to have these meeting in the lecture hall but it dwarfed the small group. Her office allowed a much more familiar, although cramped, environment in which to brainstorm.

"...and, I think, the EZT seems to have been effective in stabilizing Joy’s mood swings," the resident was hesitant. "I would recommend discharge in...three to...five days?"

"Ving, make it closer to three," the charge nurse stated.

"Rationale?" O’Grady hummed from her spot.

"Her daughter’s Lab just had puppies and Joy really wants to help take care of them."

"She didn’t tell me that. Why did she tell you and not me?" The resident riffled through his notes annoyed with the new information.

"Because there are some things that are just too personal to tell your analyst," the nurse teased.

"Very true, Anne. Ving, good report. Talk to Social Services about outpatient services and coordinate a discharge date. Anne, see if the daughter would bring in a puppy or two."

"For a warm and fuzzy visit?" Anne made a note on her stack of papers.

"That and," O’Grady allowed a big grin, "I like puppies." O’Grady let the laughter subside before moving on, "Suse, who do you have today?"

"The impenetrable Ms. Devyn Tannon," the stiffly, starched Dr. Waugh groaned. "If anybody has any suggestions then please jump right into the fray. I have gotten exactly nowhere. She has not said word one to me. Nothing, zip, nada; stop me if I’m going too fast for you people."

The room was silent. All eyes looked over to O’Grady. The doctor waited but her staff knew her too well. They could simply out wait her.

"Let’s have some suggestions," she gently coaxed.

"Ask the director?" Cooed a figure in the back.

"Funny, you’ll make a great comedian someday," O’Grady shot back in good natured banter. "Remember this is meant to be a learning experience and not a lecture series."

"Group encounters?" A medical student offered.

"She only goes to art therapy," Suse snapped in annoyance.

"Yes, but she helps George while she’s there. She even talks to him," the art therapist supplied.

"Is that my blind guy?" Dr. Howard seemed to have woken from a quick nap, "What’s he doing in art?"

"Good morning, Howard," O’Grady grimaced at the exhausted new father. "George has low vision and he enjoys the textures as much as the colors. Suse, perhaps you can coordinate your therapy with art and see if there is a chink in Ms. Tannon’s armor."

"And how long do we allow her to waste our time and money?" Suse saw a furrow crease O’Grady’s brow but continued, "Devyn Tannon is not cooperating. She’s uninsured and under police investigation. I, for one, am not entirely convinced she has more of a mental health problem than a legal problem. I think, we should transfer her to the County House of Corrections to let her finish her voluntary commitment there. They have a per diem counselor. That way she can get treatment while she reimburses the state all this unnecessary expense by picking up garbage on a tandem work crew."

"Tandem work crew?" Dr. Howard questioned with a yawn.

"Chain gang!" Dr. Waugh barked at the man she judged to be an idiot.

"Ms. Tannon is a patient in our hospital, regardless of who’s footing the bill. She needs our help just like any other patient. We do not, ever, make a medical decision based on reimbursement. Does everybody understand that?" O’Grady ground out the words that silenced her team. "Okay, let’s get back to work. Dr. Waugh, please give me a few more minutes of your time."

The room cleared out fast. O’Grady moved from her comfortable spot on the floor to sit behind her desk. Suse Waugh waited defiantly in the chair directly across from her. Once the door shut, O’Grady began.

"Want to tell me what that was really about?"

"We’ve known each other far too long to mince words now," Suse fixed her muddy brown eyes on the director. "To be frank, I think you’re ruining this department." O’Grady neither responded nor flinched at the accusation, "Look, it’s very noble to help the poor and weak but it’s also professional suicide. Do I need to remind you that this is a for profit hospital? The budget’s a mess! We can’t even add the Assistant Director position because of ...,"

"I withdrew the request."

"What?!" Suse was on her feet enraged but her clothes held their tailored crease, "I worked very hard for that job and you just cut it. How dare you?"

"Dr. Waugh," O’Grady kept her voice even in spite of her growing irritation, "my department has twenty two staff positions. There is one senior therapist, you, and one director, me. If we invent another management position so you can devote even more time to pushing paper than treating patients then my budget really will be in trouble."

"I’ll go over to the General, I swear it," the furious doctor waved a bony finger in O’Grady’s face.

"I’ll be sorry to see you go." O’Grady softened her tone to try to reach her associate, "Suse, you’re a gifted doctor. Don’t get jaded by ambition."

"Cut the crap!" Suse was on a roll, "You have some eye opening experience in the ER and the rest of us have to pay for it. Well, not me! If you want to crash in burn then you’re on your own."

"I’ll expect a written resignation in the morning," O’Grady’s expression remained flat. "Complete your next two scheduled shifts and I’ll buy out your notice. You can transfer all your cases to me."

Suse stood to her full height with shoulders squared. She swept back a stray shock of platinum hair that freed itself from the tight bun at the back of her head. Her bloodlessly thin lips twitched with the need to say just one more thing but her reason won the battle and she stormed out of the office with a mere door slam.

* * *

"Hi ya, Dev," George smiled as the young woman approached his table in the art room.

"How do you do that? How did you know it was me?"

"The light," George tilted his head slightly to catch the rays surrounding the blonde in front of him, "it makes your hair shine like halo. Like you’re some sort of angel," the big man grinned like a school boy.

"No, not angel, I’m afraid," Devyn frowned down at her orange scrubs.

"Don’t be sad, Dev. I almost can’t see the color of you clothes so it’s like not knowing you’re really in jail here," George innocently encouraged.

The mentally challenged, middle aged man had lived his entire life in the care of devoted parents. Their tragic death in a car accident had plunged him into a deep depression requiring a hospital stay. Only now, after weeks of treatment was he rediscovering the small joys life can give like making art and finding friends.

"You’re the best, George," she patted his arm and he blushed brightly.

"I didn’t think I’d have any customers this afternoon," Andy, the art therapist, finished the phone call that had kept him at the far end of the room. "You two don’t want to see the movie?"

"Movies are too fuzzy for me to see."

"I understand, George." The handsome therapist turned his attention to Devyn, "What about you? Art over theater?" His grin drove dimples deep into his dark brown cheeks.

"I, um, I," Devyn seemed to find herself tongue tied every time Andy talked to her, "if it’s okay, I’d rather...,"

"She wants to stay with us, Andy. Dev is safe with us guys," George spoke up.

"Devyn, as always, you’re more than welcome to stay," Andy flashed a perfect smiled.

"Thank, sir."

"You know, someday you’re going to just call me Andy like everybody else and I’ll fall over in shock," the man laughed. "Let’s pick a medium people."

"Acrylics!" George shouted.

"I’ll get them and you two set up your stations," Andy nodded approval.

The trio had barely set to work when Dr. Waugh entered the room. Devyn stiffened at the sight of her. Never in the young woman’s life had she encountered such darkness. It was as if all the light surrounding the doctor became trapped by her treacherous nature just like a black hole.

"Andrew," the doctor’s voice cracked, "they need you in the movie lounge."

"What’s wrong?" Andrew became concerned for his team mates and their patients.

"Anne got a finger in the eye. You need to be the sixth team member for group."

"What about you?" Andy tried not to let his dislike for the doctor overshadow his professionalism.

"I need to have a session with Ms. Tannon," Suse smirked. "Dr. O’Grady insisted remember?"

"Right," Andy was hesitant with his agreement. "George, Devyn, if you’ll excuse me. Dr. Waugh is taking over while I try to help out at the movies."

Devyn felt her heart race as the therapist exited. She would have run out of the room right behind him but she knew George was depending on her. Even though she feared Dr. Waugh, Devyn decided to stay with her friend.

"Dev, you still here?" George asked quietly.

"Right behind you."

"Ah, very sweet," Suse hissed at the pair. She waited just long enough for Andy to be out of ear shot before shouting, "Officer!"

A uniformed security guard entered the room. Devyn tried not to look at the menacing man but he walked right up to her easel. Standing with arms folded over his chest and legs spread, the man looked more like a threat than protection.

"Devyn, tell me what you are painting!" Dr. Waugh demanded.

"Andy doesn’t make us talk about our work," she tried to ignore the question politely.

"Andy isn’t here. So, tell me what you are working on!" Dr. Waugh stepped closer.

"I don’t want to talk about it to you," Devyn hung her head in defeat.

"Officer, Ms. Tannon is not cooperating. I think she needs some quiet time," the doctor’s eyes sparkled at the prospect.

The guard knocked over Devyn’s easel and made a grab for her. The young woman’s defenses snapped into action. She slapped the guard’s hands away and made a break for the door. She figured, if she could just get to Andy then he could make everything okay. She did not count on the doctor tripping her. The guard landed on top of her and dragged her arms behind her back.

"Oh God, please it hurts," the pain in her casted arm forced a yelp.

"Shut up," the guard grabbed a fistful of hair and slammed her face first into the floor.

"Don’t hurt her!" George was feeling his way around his easel but could not distinguish the figures struggling on the floor.

"Go back to your room, Georgie!" Dr. Waugh ordered. "Or I’ll send you to a place where big, dirty men stuff their huge pricks up your ass!"

"No, don’t! I just want to help Dev," George was wide eyed with the threat.

"George," Devyn gasped as the guard pulled her to her feet by her shirt collar and her painfully twisted arms, "go ahead to your room. I’ll be fine." Don’t let them hurt you too, she thought to herself.

"Come on," Waugh order the guard to follow her with Devyn.

The doctor lead them down an unlit corridor. Devyn did not struggle as the guard roughly ushered her along Waugh unlocked the last door on the left and entered. The guard pushed Devyn into the padded cell.

"Strip!"

"No," Devyn frantically looked around for a way out.

"Do you want my friend to help you remove your clothes?" Dr. Waugh nodded to the all too eager guard.

"Please," Devyn could not stop her tears.

"STRIP!" The doctor’s ghastly white face went flat, "You should remember how to do that well enough. After all, you’re a prostitute, right?"

"No, that was a mistake," Devyn blushed with the memory of an earlier arrest.

"You know what they say, once a whore always a whore," Dr. Waugh winked at the grinning guard.

"Bitch," humiliated, Devyn took one step forward preparing to defend her reputation.

It was all the guard needed. He tackled her. The pair crashed to the floor. Devyn felt the air rush out of her lungs under the crushing weight of the guard. She had no breath to fight him as he tore the clothing from her body.

"You get her naked and I’ll get the restraints," Dr. Waugh could not contain her laughter as she heard Devyn whimpering.

TBC