[b]Shannon - Haywood/Infirmary - O'Connor/Rob/Emma/Brianna/Valentina[/b]

Shannon's brow furrowed at the doctor's initial assessment of her. The idea that he'd say no to her hadn't even crossed her mind. She looked toward the little girl and the incapacitated nurse, realizing a desire to help that she just couldn't ignore. She cursed her arm for betraying her desires and she cursed the man who had almost destroyed her arm completely. Shannon was about to argue with the doctor when he leaned in toward her ear and whispered curt instructions. Shannon nodded a bit dumbly.

She walked up to the bed and swallowed down a lump in her throat. She examined the sickly girl intently for a moment before placing her good hand over hers. Shannon gave the hand a small squeeze and found it almost frightening how smaller this girl's hand was compared to her own. These small hands had pointed a gun at her. Had stabbed someone. What kind of world was this, where a little girl could become the... [i]thing[/i] laying before her?

"I'm Shannon," she eventually managed to say. Words then began to pour out of her. "Shannon Anne Greene. I don't like it very much. My friend used to make fun of me, called me Anne of Green Gables. You know the book, right? I never read it, couldn't even be bothered. Another friend of mine dragged me to this play adaptation. It was [i]so[/i] boring, I couldn't believe it. She really liked the book, but I don't think even she liked the play very much. I don't know if it was the acting, or..." She trailed off, blinking at tears. When did she start tearing up?

Shannon sniffed and wiped her eyes on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. It's really going to be okay."

---

[b]Lauren - Farm - Katie[/b]

"It's going to be okay," she whispered back. "If they're mean, we'll let them be."

Lauren pushed through the brush at a slow pace, cautious of whatever potential danger the farm held. Bull followed along behind her, a silent giant. When they reached the clearing, Lauren quickened her pace slightly. She stopped in the middle of the farmhouse's backyard and looked up at the house in an attempt to see into the windows. She thought she saw a flicker of movement for just a moment, but it was gone before Lauren could register it. Shaking her head, she placed Katie down next to Bull. "Watch her for a second," she said, her tone indicating she was in no mood for discussion. Bull only crossed his arms, letting out a deep sigh. He looked off to the side, his expression not unlike a grumpy ol' lumberjack.

Lauren stepped away from the pair to move toward the house. She tried to catch a better look of the inside, but the view between the boarded up windows was slim to none. With slight hesitation, Lauren went to knock on the front door.

Then, suddenly; [i]"Hey fucker, you better put your hands up or the knee's go first!"[/i]

The shout had come from the other side of the house, but Lauren began to panic anyway. She spun around toward Bull and wildly motioned with her hand for him to get down. As she watched Bull grab Katie and pull her back into he brush, Lauren dropped to her knees, pushing up against the side of the house. Her hands were shaking slightly and she formed them into fists in an attempt to calm them. She considered making a break for it into the brush, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Not a single part of Lauren's body dared to move, anchoring her to the spot.