2019-07-23 - Commotion in the ER

It's a scene when the responders get to Alexander's call to 911. There's two men swinging from the bridge by nooses, necks snapped. They're identified as one Hank Winslow and Jack Michaels, both locals. Lilith Winslow herself is coated in blood (lots of which isn't her own, they come to find out later) and limp on the bridge in her bra and panties. She's injured most notably and garishly at the hand, other injuries aside. She also has a noose around her neck and is connected to a rope... that's also connected to the bridge. She's either in shock or tranquilized because she's dead weight.

Alexander Clayton passed out from shock after putting pressure on his flayed open lower leg and making the call. Byron Thorne is also passed out with his wrist at a terrible angle, right nearby where Lilith lays. He's also cold and limp as a stone when moved. Magnolia? Oh Magnolia... she's shouldered with the burden of being the most conscious and responsive, even though her leg needs immediate treatment. It's snapped and the thick bone is slammed through skin. All PD questions have to wait. But the four of them are kept together at one side of the communal and large ER with their little respective beds and useless privacy curtains.

Three of them are still out. Magnolia is not. What the hell happened?

When the calls comes in about the incoming patients, Cherish is working the rotation in the ER. Groups of nurses and doctors are ready with gurneys to take all the various injured. Each one to be taken to their own private-not-private alcove. Each one gets their own crew of nurses and a doctor who ascertain their injuries, vitals and various information being called out as machines beep and IVs are started. Calls for portable xray machine is made, the poor tech going from one alcove to the next to shoot the images needed.

Cherish ends up with Magnolia, greeting her quietly, "I'm Dr. Renolds. Can you tell me your name and where you are?" A mental check as she starts to look her over, paying special attention to the injury of her leg.

Magnolia does not have a very impressive phone tree when emergencies happen-- particularly when one of the top people on her list is currently unconscious. Everyone look at Byron. That's right. It's you, Byron. You. So, messages are left, and Magnolia is left fretful on whether or not Bennie got the message, and whether or not someone read Lark the next chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

On her little bed with everyone else who was part of the Stone Bridge incident, her leg is elevated; she's happily on morphine at this point. And Dr. Renolds just interrupted Magnolia quiet-not-that-quiet singing 'Mamma Mia.' Oh, Mamma Mia, here we go again...

Magnolia looks up at Cherish. "Magnolia Louisa Jones. And how specific do you want me to be? We can start macro and get micro if you like? So, let's start with macro! The Orion Spur of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Solar System, the Inner Plants. Earth." She will keep going.

"Look. I've got to get in there." Kevin is doing his thing, where his thing is BSing. Currently, he's BSing an orderly outside the ER. "She's my girlfriend, and I just heard she's been hurt badly." Look, titles haven't been applied, even if it was eventually agreed that they'd actually had one date and a tentative agreement for a second. In fact, he didn't even know that Magnolia was a patient until he followed the ambulance to the hospital and saw her being unloaded. He was news chasing. Now he's news chasing and checking on a... friend? Titles are undefined at the moment. "I need to be able to see Magnolia Jones."

Among the first responders to show up at the scene of the crime were Michael and the Captain, piling out of a cruiser to secure the scene and give space for the investigators to start putting together what happened; the captain delegating while the patrol officer made sure the area was on lockdown. Though for his part, Mike was clearly distracted up until the moment Lilith was loaded in an ambulance, and followed quickly in her wake.

In the time that followed, the two police officers left the scene and those still investigating and turned their attention to the task of watching after and preparing to take initial statements from the victims and making sure that this wasn't all just a prelude to another attack. Given recent homicides, it was current policy to treat all threats as active, and so Mike ends up standing not far from the four beds, hands on his belt. Gun near at hand.

When the reporter shows up, he holds up a hand and says, "When the doctors say she's stable, and probably moved out of the ER. The doctors don't need you in their way."

Someone has her car, someone that is clearly no longer in current possession of her car. Which means that Vivian is unable to drive herself, plus a whole slew of other complications that go along with this. One being the entire last several days, and everything that fits inside that little box if insanity. But when she hustles into the emergency room she still manages to look put together in her designer jeans, boots and too expensive plain white tee. Those that know her, but are evidently too unconcious to notice at the moment, or have been spending very questionably intimate time with her, hi Isabella, might notice the tension coiling through her shoulders, the serious set of her mouth. She storms that ER like she has a bone to pick, and and she heads right for the charge nurse, pulling her wallet out to slap it down on the counter, both her regular ID and the hospital ID that lets her speak with psych patients when needed.

Or witness crazy mirror offices. But that's another story. Either way, she muscles her way right in, speaking right over Kevin, "Doctor Vivian Glass, there's a patient that has just been brought in, Byron Thorne. Which room is he in?"

Lilith is still out. Once the medics have her cleaned up for assessment and gowned, she's injured at the side below the ribs where a trajectory ripped through, likely a bullet graze. The rope bruising around her neck shows she was choked and yanked by force at some point and it's garish, even though the rope appeared to be loose enough to let her breathe by the time responders got her. Most of the blood was actually from Alexander's leg and her... hand. Oh, that little hand. Her middle finger has somehow been degloved of skin and some of the meat shows through tiny skips of bone in certain places before she's wrapped and treated.

And all the while she doesn't move, she doesn't stir from whatever state she's in, most likely tranquilized instead of just in shock. It takes a while for that thick and dark haze to come off of her, which may actually be to her benefit anyway. Hurt and mystery aside, one of those men swinging from the bridge is her father.

Ruiz was on a rare stint of active duty when this all went down, and the captain turns up in the ward in full gear, which likely turns more than a few heads. He arrives close on the heels of the patrol officer, sidearm prominent at his hip, bulky figure visibe through the glass window where he's conversing with one of the surgical staff out in the hall. There's some gesturing to the cots where the patients are laid out, and he doesn't look like he's in a mood to take any shit.

There is a moment of amusement to chase across Cherish's face at Magnolia's answer, "Micro is good enough. Your immediate surroundings?" Hearing the voices outside, she turns her head, and sends a nurse to speak for her. The older woman in scrubs holds up a hand, her voice calm and yet firm, "Everyone needs to stay back till they are cleared. You are all just getting in the way of them getting the help they need. You all will be updated as soon as we can give you information.

With that being dealt with, Cherish can turn back to Magnolia as she checks on the leg once the xray is taken. Comments are called out as an IV is started, and plans made for her to go to surgery soon to take care of her open break.

In each of hte other alcoves, nurses and doctors are taking care of those within - bandaging wounds, and with those serious, planing trips to the OR if need be.

Well crap. The police probably know Kevin, and it's going to be harder to BS them. Especially when he's got his phone in one hand with a note document open. He looks over at Vivian when she just bulls over him verbally, grimacing and cutting back a grumpy remark to instead go with, "Wait, Byron's in there too?" He looks over to Vivian, offering up a smile that is far too bright to be real, "If you're going in to see Byron, you can totally bring me along to see Magnolia, right?" And then he looks back to Michael, "See? It'll be totally fine. Back of the room, not jostling any elbows." To both of them this time, "Do you know what happened?"

It has been a while since she's driven that fast. The cherry red jeep practically drifts into a parking space before the brakes are slammed and its occupants get out.

Around a few minutes ago, Isabella Reede had snapped out of the inexplicable, burning, obsessive fever that has ensnared her on and off in the last few days, and with her present companion having received a call to the hospital, had elected to drive her guest there - after everything she had done for her, it was the least she could do. Diminished from her usual vibrance due to a few days of minimal food and rest, what remains on her sunkissed mien is a tight, determined expression, green-and-gold eyes sharp and focused - a return to the diamond-clarity that she depends on in her every day. Nowhere near the vision that Dr. Vivian Glass presents in her designer wear, she is clad in simpler attire: a soft, long-sleeved shirt, its sleeves reaching up to her mid-palms, with a wide neck that exposes one shoulder and reveals the deep crimson strap of something infinitely more expensive and European underneath, shorts with frayed hems that spent its previous life as an actual pair of jeans, thigh-high socks and closed-toe sandals. Her hair is in its usual tousled state, dark streamers of it swirling around her face and shoulders, spilling down her back in half-tangled whorls.

She lets Vivian handle the professionals at the desk, but she catches sight of a familiar, rougher figure speaking with another medical professional. Pivoting sharply, she moves in that direction in a quick clip, her expression emphatic in its urgency. "Captain de la Vega?" She doesn't want to interrupt, stopping a foot or two away from him, pausing so he can finish his conversation with the doctor before she continues.

Magnolia offers a pleasant smile because she seriously cannot feel anything beyond the occasional twinge of discomfort. So, she cheerfully informs Cherish that she's at, "Addington Memorial." Then she squints beyond Cherish when she hears her name being shouted. She recognizes it, but-- "Did someone just say I'm their girlfriend?" Then she settles back into her pillow and sighs out a breath. "Okay. But if you could show in the crazy guy shouting about me being his girlfriend, I'd appreciate it. He's actually babysitting my kid. Or he was. Maybe Bennie's babysitting Lark. But I'd like for him tell me that we're all good." Mags sighs. "I missed the Quidditch chapter tonight. I really like that chapter."

Having stepped out into the hallway to speak to Kevin and Vivian, Mike holds up a hand and says, "I appreciate both of you wish to see people, but they're still being worked on by doctors, and until they're moved out of the ER, and we've had a chance to speak to them, you're going to have to wait. That's for their safety and for the function of the hospital," he explains in an authoritative manner. Not being rude, just being definitive. This is not a discussion. "No statements at this time," he says to Kevin. "Now, given that you just said that she's your girlfriend, and we don't know what happened, allow me to do my job /in there/ and not have to tell you, and," he looks at Vivian, "You, repeatedly, that this isn't going to happen. Unless you have something relevant to the events that just transpired, please wait in the waiting room," at which point he gives a very firm two-finger point to move them along.

Resting in a bed next to Lilith's is Byron Thorne, still dressed in his suit and tie. His dark hair is disheveled, the bangs brushing down against his brow and he looks to be in a deep sleep. More than likely, he's been sedated. There's a bloom of blood that can be seen on his right sleeve, the splotch growing where any fabric touches its cuff. The sleeve itself has been rolled up to expose his snapped wrist, a piece of bone jutting out there. Whatever the hell happened at the Stone Bridge, he looked to be in a peaceful slumber. Peaceful on the outside, but there's this darkness that plagues his sleep.

Ruiz finishes having his little word with the doctor, and turns to shoulder his way into the room proper. His dark eyes rove from one face to the next, noting the number of people who seem to be hanging around. What the fuck is this, a party?

A familiar voice catches him from somewhere off to his right, just as he's about to open his mouth with something suitably acerbic to disperse the crowd. Instead, "Miss Reede." And the woman's the recipient of a look that, while patient, may not be so for long. If he manages to catch Michael's eye, he's going to give the younger officer a jerk of his head to signify, get all of these nonessential people out of here.

"How can I help you?" That's to Isabella, taut.

Cherish nods, "Good. We're going to get you fixed up, but it's likely going to mean a trip to the OR first." Glancing to the group, she turns back, likely glad to Mike when he seconds what her nurse just told people, and who went ignored. "I'll have a nurse check in with him, but we need to take care of you first, okay?" Orders will be given before Cherish might go and check in on the others, seeing who needs to go to the OR first, and who might just need to head towards a room once they are triaged and taken care of there in the ER.

"Excuse me?" Vivian glances at Kevin, not seeming to recognize the man, frowning, "You are...?" She actually was curious about an answer before the nurse showed, and then Michael made his very cop-like gtfo statement. It looks like Vivian might actually begin to argue when she notices that Isabella is making an end run towards someone else, and she just grabs Kevin's arm to start steering him a little further from the hearing of the authorities, "What was your name again?"

Lilith isn't fully with it, but suddenly, as Cherish walks away from Magnolia, there's a ramp up on the monitors she's affixed to with pulse acceleration and the woman's closed eyes start to flutter at the lashes with twitches. Whatever's happening with her subconscious must not be anymore pleasant than what's happened prior to this in the physical world.

And it's a good thing she's still sloppy with drugs, because when she wakes up, she A: Tries to scream but can't quite, her voice is more of a ragged and muted screech of desperate hoarseness in her state of disorient. B: She sluggishly starts to try to start unhooking herself, clearly not thinking straight. And C: She starts babbling Byron's name and talking about him being dead, she has to fix it.

With the medical professional suitably dismissed, Isabella approaches the ex-marine, her hands sliding into her pockets. She knows better than to ask about the details of an ongoing investigation and this is hardly the first time she's had to deal with the police since her return to Gray Harbor a month or so ago. There's a worried glance at all the other people crammed in the hallways, but the divergence is brief, her gaze pulling away from them to Ruiz's hard profile.

Unconsciously, her fingers bunch into the lining of her pockets, clenched within unseen fists.

Whatever internal tumult that plagues her isn't visible on her expression, managing to retain her determined face in spite of the psychological toils in the last week. The dark circles under her eyes remain, the pronounced cheekbones of her sudden weight loss. And yet despite all of it, she manages to look more alive than the last time Ruiz had seen her.

"I'm not going to ask," she says quietly. "And I won't crowd, I'm willing to wait. I just...want to know if they're alive when they were found."

Mike's response causes Kevin to throw up his hands slightly, "Hey, hey... have I said anything about statements? I'm sure I'll get the official story later." He waves it off, "Look, I'm not going to get in anyone's way." Arguable. Definitely arguable. "I'm not looking for a scoop." Beat pause, "I mean, I'm not just looking for a scoop." Better not to lie to the cops if you don't have to. "So yeah, if you'll just let me know when you know something?" But he's been grabbed by Vivian, and he goes with it, smiling to Mike, "We'll just wait over here." Then he looks back to Vivian as he's dragged off, offering his other hand to her, "Kevin Walters, Doctor... Glass, right? You're here for Byron though? I keep meaning to check in with him, but I'm pretty sure that both of us have just been too busy."

Magnolia sighs out a breath, and she rests her head back against the pillow. She squints slightly at the ceiling, then her eyes roll shut. She reaches out, and then-- <<Would you stop telling people I'm your girlfriend?>> This is broadcasted into Kevin's head, even if Magnolia's mental voice is a bit muzzy. <<We haven't even had a real date yet.>> She looks around slightly as Cherish moves off. She spots Byron and Lilith from her spot on the bed. Then she rests her head back, and her eyes close once more. <<Who else is out there?>>

Cherish might have been turning away from where Lillith and Magnolia laid in their neighboring alcoves, but when she begins to freak out, the doctor moves quickly to her side, reaching for an arm to restrain her, while a nurse goes for the other. "Give her..." A sediative is prescribed, another nurse jumping to grab what is ordered to shot into the IV attached to Lillith. If she continues to fight, then soft restraints will be used to keep her from jerking things out.

"Good, yes, someone will definitely let you both know," Mike answers Kevin promptly as he is satisfied with their willingness to listen to reason. His hands relaxing, he gives them both a parting nod and then turns his attention back to his job.

With Kevin and Vivian seemingly sent along, Mike turns his attention back to the ER, as he swings back in he puts hands back on his belt along the front and nods at the captain in a sort of 'this one too' look at Isabella, gets the impression that he isn't being requested just yet and stands his guard. Hands on hips. Hearing Lilith's voice, he looks in her direction, and almost starts that way, but manages to retain some composure.

"Vivian." There is a frown cast towards Michael, despite the fact he, and everyone else, is just doing their job. There's a glance for Isabella, the frown easing off her features when she looks that way before she turns her attention back towards Kevin, "Vivian Glass, Byron's girlfriend." She crosses her arms over her chest, waiting and watching like a hawk, "He's been fairly busy, but never too busy for a friend." The answers are somewhat more clipped than would be her usual, and she seems to realize that as she glances back at Kevin, "I'm sorry. It's been a very busy last few days, I'm sure that all will be forgiven as soon as they let us all back there."

Though he's currently multitasking between coordinating with medical staff, keeping a beady eye on the reporters trying to weasel their way in, and catalogue everyone who enters and leaves the room, Captain de la Vega does manage to spot the fact that Isabella looks.. significantly improved from when he last saw her. His eyes tick over the woman briefly; head to toe and back again, expression unflinching when she asks her question. "I'm sorry, but you're going to need to be more specific. You've got two minutes, Miss Reede." It's a far cry from his demeanor when he ran into her on the houseboat.

"No... no... you don't understand, I have to put him together again, I--" Lilith's voice is ragged and whispery and thick with confusion and panic and pain, so much pain. She's no match at all for the nurse and Cherish managing her, though, and as more sedative or anti-anxiety is nipped through the IV, her words drop off and she stares at the nurse with big, sober, harried blue eyes as she stills. Then she rolls her head to look at Cherish, limp and compliant as a kitten to give one last bid, "Save him."

Then she's quiet again, not quite knocked out... but a bit hazy-eyed blotto instead of the intensity of horrified fear and intense, pained pleading. They might be playing safe with her sedative amount because it's not clear how much she was dosed to begin with, or what kind, not without blood tests results back quite yet.

It's impossible for anyone to know what the last thing Lilith saw was. But after seeing nothing clearly for so long, before her eyes closed, cheek to the stone, she saw Byron unconscious. And she apparently thought he was dead for some reason. She had been lashing out and everything became the nightmare. The one that ripped them apart so many years ago.

What did she do?

Kevin starts a little as Magnolia's voice slips into his head, and he blinks in surprise, looking around for a moment before he responds in kind, <<Lia? Sorry, thought it might get me back there. You're okay?>> There's a pause, and he shakes his head, "Sorry, yeah, calling Magnolia my girlfriend's, um... a little early. I just figured she'd want to hear how her daughter's doing and they might let her boyfriend back." And then he focuses his attention on the mental communication once more, <<Vivian, um... Glass? Byron's girlfriend? And some dark-haired woman with jeans shorts who looks sick. Bennie dropped Lark off with your Mom. She's fine.>> Once more, his eyes focus on Vivan, "It seems like a lot of people have been busy. Chasing stuff with all bells ringing."

The fell, possessed light that overtook much of her eyes whenever she looked at him before has vanished; that would be the most visible improvement, though the young scholar-at-large looks fragile, still. But she's standing on her own two feet, and she isn't visibly struggling to collect her thoughts. Were she asked, she would count that as a win.

If his changed demeanor is perturbing by any means, the archaeologist doesn't show it. "Alexander Clayton, Byron Thorne and Lilith Winslow," Isabella identifies the group, though she doesn't mention Magnolia's name if not just the fact that she doesn't know that she was involved, having spent the last few hours in a pharmaceutically-induced sleep. There's a glance over her shoulder before she lowers her voice. "Alexander left Doctor Glass to look after me before he set off to look for Byron and Lilith. We haven't heard from him since."

"Sometimes, if they are awake. Usually it needs to be a legally binding relationship, or you listed as their emergency contact. Or..." Vivian glances around, eyes passing over Michael, and the hospital staff moving about their business, "A kind nurse. But no, it doesn't work." Even if she might have been about to play that very same card herself. Backed up with a fancy title, though, right? Either way, it clearly wasn't working.

Instead Vivian is trapped out here, without any updates and a whole lot of nervous energy begging to be burned off. One hand tucks into her pocket, pulling out a pack of gum that she offers towards Kevin before she pulls out her own piece, "I'm glad that her daughter is fine, and hopefully they will let us back soon.." She almost, almost doesn't bite the ring part, but she does give him a glance, "Yes. Bells ringing."

It's likely nothing personal; the captain is on duty, and as such, prepared to deal with things going to shit at a moment's notice. Which, in this town, they have an irritating habit of doing. He does manage to favour Isabella with something that intends - and almost succeeds - at being a smile. It doesn't linger on his austere face for long. "Yes. They are all alive." Not were. Are. Alexander included, out like a light in one of those beds. "Now I am going to have to ask you to leave, Miss Reede."

<<Broken leg.>> Then when Kevin lets Magnolia know where Lark is she sighs out a breath. <<Okay. You can't leave her there more than tonight. My mom is not the best caregiver. If I'm not out of here by morning, you need to pick her up. If you and Bennie are unavailable, you need to call my brother to go pick her up. He's over in Hoaquim.>> Then she backtracks to the rest of what he's told her. <<Tell Vivian that I found Byron. I did all I can to make sure he was safe. I got the ring out of the picture. Now, you got that handy notebook ready? I'm going to give you some details.>>

Cherish spends amoment with Lilith before she might move on to check on Byron, "He's okay. He's right there next to you, just unconscious. I'm going to check on him next.." The quiet words are given to the young woman as the sediative is injected into her IV. Gloves are pulled off, thrown to the side, and yet briefly might one hand touch Lilith's shoulder.

Soon, however, she's moving on, grabbing new gloves as she heads for Byron's alcove.

It could be the almost-smile, or the affirmative response, but that small, factual reassurance unwinds the coils of tension that have been left braided over the line of her shoulders since the second Vivian got the call. Isabella doesn't see the patients, situated as they are away from the crowd in the main hallways of the emergency room. A breath taken, deep and long, her exhale is equally quiet when she releases it.

"Thank you," she tells Ruiz, keeping her voice low, meant for his ears only before she pivots and starts back to where the rest are being ushered out to the waiting room. A hand reaches out once she's close enough to touch Vivian's shoulder; to indicate that she has returned, perhaps, as she seems preoccupied, but it could be an effort at reassurance also. It's hesitant, almost awkward, with her tendency to shy away from softer emotions. But Vivian had been there for her in a couple of very trying days, it was the least she could do to be there for her, now.

The lull of voices in the hall and the turmoil within his own dark mind slowly stirs Byron to near semi-conscious. His arm ached, he could feel that much, but it's that pain paired with the knowledge of what he'd done, that continues to haunt him. He thought he had heard Lilith at some point, but that was probably just a dream, a recent memory. Now Cherish's voice is dominant, sounding so close to his bed. His body shifts, indicating that he may be waking, but then it stills once more.

Kevin looks a little spacey for a moment, then his eyes sharpen up and he brings his phone up, tapping at it like he's sending messages and reading them. "Well, pretty sure we're way away from legally binding anything. I was hoping to find a kind nurse instead. One who didn't know that I work for the Gazette." Pause, "Unlike most of the cops in town." He fakes like he got a message, then notes, "She says she found Byron. Did what she could to keep him safe. And the bells are quiet." He goes back to the note app, thinking to Magnolia, << Sorry about the leg. Guess no dancing. I'll pick Lark up in the morning to take her to camp. And go for it. >> A pause, << And didn't know you could do this. Cool. >>

"Okay." Lilith tells Cherish with automatic response, finally turning her damn head to look over in the direction where Byron is, regardless of whether or not it sinks in that he's right there. When she actually sees him, she tries to focus on him with slow blinks, as if trying to figure out how real he is before she closes her eyes and turns her face the other way, slow and deliberate. Which... lets her see Magnolia there when her eyes open and she murmurs, confusedly, "Hi Mags. You're pretty. You have hair that glows sometimes, you know that?"

Lilith doesn't quite remember how she knows that or why she's saying it because she didn't register Magnolia as anything but coming at her, at the time. Her words are whispered and ragged and broken and... high. Things are definitely better that way.

The hand on her shoulder causes Vivian to start very slightly, glancing towards Isabella before she offers a smile, "I'm sure they are just fine." The reassurance comes easily, "Soon as they let us go back, we can check for ourselves and find out if Mister Clayton remembers where he left my car." She gives honestly zero about her car. But it's a light, joking sort of statement that is barely funny enough to count as funny. A hand reaches up, however, giving Isabella's hand a pat where it is on her shoulder before she glances at Kevin, nodding faintly, "Good, that's good. Do you two know each other?"

"De nada." That, too, is pitched low enough that only Isabella would catch it. Ruiz watches after her for a beat or two, then turns and prowls off, marking a path for the nurse who's been bustling about like a busy bee, tending to each patient. A few quiet words for her, hand to her shoulder. Eyes on the door, in case anyone else decides to stroll on in for a lookie loo.

<<I don't like to Glimmer.>> Those words are said almost whispered, like she's hoping no one overhears her. But she's already lit up like a fucking beacon several times tonight, so let the Dark Men come. Magnolia starts giving Kevin details on the bridge incident, but she doesn't tell him everything. She holds back little details, little tidbits. She gives him enough to get him an exclusive, and no one is going to know how he knows! Once she's done with a rough recap, she sighs out another soft breath. << I think they're taking me into the OR next. >>

As Cherish begins to move over towards Byron, already taking stock of his injuries, she is stopped by Ruiz, "Right now, I'm looking at two.." She gestures to Magnolia and Byron, "Who are going to likely need to go to surgery with their open breaks to be set. That one.." A point to Lilith, "We had to sedate after she got anxious. And the other there, is unconscious.." So, at least a little while yet before any might be questioned. "Whenever we send them to rooms, hopefully?" She answers him then. "But, if you will excuse me?" With a nod to him, she heads for Byron, checking on him next and preparing him to be sent to another OR to be handled.

Ruiz's quiet words has her smiling over her shoulder at him as she leaves like he asked; she has no qualms levying the full brunt of her usual glitter on someone, on-duty or no, regardless of whether they return it.

Once she's reached Vivian, her easy words affords her a tilt of her head. The attempt at the light joke is appreciated by one with the youthful proclivity of clinging to any excuse not to talk about her feelings, or have anyone talk about theirs. Isabella's lips quirk upwards in a slight, slanted smile. "Well, now would be the time to hope that Alexander's some kind of secret trust baby, otherwise I don't see how the hell he could afford paying back the full value of an Aston Martin if he lost it for good."

The pat on her hand is returned with a faint squeeze on the psychiatrist's shoulder, before slender fingers retract. "I'll get us some coffee while we wait," she offers. "How do you take yours?" Green eyes fall on Kevin - a vaguely familiar face, something about the look of him triggering long-dormant memories from school and childhood. "What about you?" she asks, instead. "Do you want one, too?"

After marveling a little irrationally at seeing Magnolia nearby too (who apparently has angel hair, according to Lilith), the brunette woman drops her head back straight to stare at the ceiling, mute and still with her hand and finger wrapped for more reparative attention later. It's pretty nasty, but they've done what they needed to do to it for the time being and her side is gauzed and bandaged under the gown. Her neck bruising from rope mark and burns are just there. Those things take time (or at least a lack of an audience and the right hands) to heal.

She waits. She doesn't look around anymore, the haze of her eyes stays carefully on the ceiling, and when her lashes seem weighted, they slow drowse into blink before trying to fight anymore sleep. Apparently, it's something she doesn't want anymore than she probably wants to be awake, but the drugs, they help. She's a bit of a heap of doll parts and pieces gone limp like that, looking like she does, not at all the feverish and violent tempest the others witnessed.

Ruiz will apparently take the medical staff's guidance at face value. Questioning will have to wait; he nods to the woman, gets out of the way, and steps out for the time being to tend to some paperwork with hospital administration. Isabella is given a brief parting glance on his way by, glitter and all, before the captain disappears.

Though he feels some regret, Mike takes a moment when he sees that Lilith seems to be somewhat coherent and sneaks over to catch her attention and take her hand, he says a quiet, "You're safe now, Lilith," and after a moment, returns to his post. Taking up a spot along a nearby wall where he can keep watch, hands on his belt. His eyes roving over people as they come and go, alert to anyone who shouldn't be there.

Kevin starts as he finally recognizes that Isabella has joined the little group, "Oh, hi. No. Kevin Walters. Gray Harbor Gazette." He offers out his hand to Isabella even as he listens to Magnolia's voice in his head, "Um... good to meet you. Bad circumstances though." And then he's tapping at his phone again, "Sorry. Getting something down before I forget it." Once he's done typing, he thinks to Magnolia, << Take care, Lia. I'll get Lark settled. >> "Oh, thanks, but no. I don't much like coffee. I've got some writing to do."

Cherish will follow those going off to surgery, the others moved to a room. Once within surgery, she does her thing, using her own gift to heal some of the lighter wounds, while giving a good kick to the worse ones so they will heal without infection. All a night's work in the ER, right?

"The man is full of surprises." Vivian agrees with a nod, then she pauses to consider the coffee situation, "Yes, cream and sugar, please." It's a please, but it's spoken in the way of a quiet thank you. The mention of having some writing that needs to be done gets a curious look from her, but she doesn't question. Instead she slips off to go bother the nurse again, "Excuse me. We've still not gotten any updates."

A nurse will step forwards to answer the comment, "They are in stable condition. Once they are moved into rooms, and the police have spoken to them, they should be open to having visitors. Unless you are family, we cannot offer more information than that."

Kevin's offered hand is clasped with a grip that belies the fragile look of her at present, as if that ever-churning psychic corona manages to keep fueling her intractable need to keep moving no matter the circumstance. Isabella smiles; there's a rueful twist to her mouth. "Isabella Reede, Oxford. Good to meet you, too." A glance at his tapping on his phone. "I guess I'll let you get back to work, though."

To Vivian, the gratitude implicit in her words softens her demeanor. "He is." she confirms, regarding Alexander, though that rueful, and somewhat exasperated expression grows in visible prominence, flickering over her tired expression. "And coming right up."

With that, she'll go and fetch some brew.

It takes time to type out an article on a smartphone, but Kevin's going to make the attempt. He nods at the nurse when she delivers the news, "Thanks very much." Looking between Isabella and Vivian he nods again, then points over to the waiting area, "I'll be right there. Sorry. If there's nothing I can do for them right now, I've got a deadline in... an hour."

Lilith again seems confused about the general presence of certain faces, but... comforted by Michael's little interlude before she's taken back at some point for more attention to be put to her bandaged hand. It comes back out bandaged, like her side, so it's hard to see the actual damage (or lackthereof) but it was really gross before the ambulance team got a hold of her. Eventually Byron and Lilith are put into adjoining rooms. Ruiz has his time with all four and at some point, visitors are allowed so long as they abide by the nurses on rounds.