FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Ellen pulled up the drive to her cabin, turned off the motor, and climbed from her car, taking a deep breath and enjoying the mountain air. Her parents leaving this place to her was one of the greatest gifts they had given her, not that it in any way replaced their loss. She had only been eighteen at the time they were killed in a car accident and though it had been three years there were days when it seemed like yesterday.

Her father's company provided a large life insurance settlement which helped ease the bills. Selling the house in town had also helped. It provided some closure and gave her enough money she that she didn't have to look for a job any time soon so she was enjoying freelancing here and there, modeling, doing post ups, graphics, and other such things. She liked the work and loved setting her own hours

She started up the walk, taking another deep breath. She would ever get used to the clean air or the smell of the trees, the plants, the flowers she thought as she walked up to the front door. She looked at it and frowned: it was slightly ajar. She was generally careful to close things up. She shrugged. Perhaps it had not closed all the way; she had been in a bit of a hurry

She went through the front door and set her keys down on the breakfast bar when someone grabbed her from behind. She had enough time to make a muffled cry before a rag was shoved into her face and all went black.

She awoke in a haze, her thoughts muddled, head throbbing with a splitting headache. She lifted her head to look around and found herself in a small room, laying on a hospital bed. She sat up then put her hands on either side of her head, groaning at the vertigo. She felt as if she was going to retch.

When the feeling had faded she looked around the room. It seemed to be like any hospital room she had been in: sterile. There was a sink over in one corner with various cabinets that she assumed held medical supplies. There was a blood pressure/temperature machine hanging on the wall and a door that led into a bathroom. She looked around, puzzled. Had there been an accident? She really didn't remember anything beyond walking through her front door.

Ellen started to look around for a pull to call a nurse when the door opened and an older woman walked in, dressed in a nurses uniform. She smiled at Ellen. "Well, I see you're awake! How are you feeling?"

"Dizzy and my head is killing me," Ellen replied

The nurse nodded. "That's to be expected. You took a pretty nasty fall. I have something for the pain. Let me just get your vitals and the doctor will be in soon to check on you and give you an update on your condition."

"I fell?" Ellen asked as the nurse took her blood pressure and temperature.

"Yes, though as for why you'll have to ask the doctor. I'm only a nurse. He knows the the whole story and all the gory details," she said with a laugh.

Ellen laughed as well as the nurse went to get a small cup of water and handed her a pill. "Here, this will help with the pain."

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"My name is Edna, though you'll find a lot of the staff likes to call me Eddie. They think it's funny," Edna said with a droll look and Ellen laughed again, starting to like the woman

"Well, I'll call you Edna," Ellen said with a smile. "The doctor will be in soon?"

She nodded. "Yes, fairly soon I'm sure. He's probably looking over your charts and the like. Just lay back and rest and let the medication take effect."

Ellen nodded and lay back, relaxing a bit now that she had a better idea of what was going on. She was sure the doctor would explain things and she would be able to get back home. She had some modeling jobs coming up that she was pretty excited for.

She dozed off for a time and awoke to a knock on the door, followed by a middle aged man stepping in, dressed in scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck. She grinned at the sight, thinking you couldn't have gotten a more stereotyped look if you wanted

"Hello Ellen, my name is Dr. Dolton. You took a bit of a fall it seems," he said in a warm voice. He walked over and shook her hand in a warm, reassuring grip.

"I'm afraid I don't really remember anything," Ellen said apologetically

"That's normal with such cases," the doctor said soothingly. "You were found laying in a parking lot of a little corner store. The clerk found you and called the paramedics. That was four days ago I'm afraid," the doctor said with sympathy.

"Four days?" Ellen asked with alarm. "I have a modeling job to do tomorrow!"

Dr. Dolton sighed. "I'm afraid you're going to miss it, Ellen. You took a nasty knock on the head and we are still running tests to insure there was no damage."

Ellen looked at him with a frustrated expression. "This was an important job. It could be a big break!"

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ellen, but for a pretty lady such as yourself I'm sure there will be other, larger jobs."

She blushed a little "Thank you."

He smiled. "Don't mention it. Besides, you never know how things will turn out in the future. Modeling, art, motherhood? Who knows?"

She laughed. "Motherhood? Oh no, not me. I'm not suited for dealing with children!"

He smiled. "Well, one never knows what the future holds. Get some rest, I will have some food brought up for you soon. After that if you are feeling better we're going to take you for some scans to see whats floating around in your skull."

She laughed. "A bunch of mush!"

He grinned. "You never know. I will be back soon."

Dinner came and she found it to be several steps above any hospital food she had ever eaten. She settled back on her bed and picked up the remote to raise and lower the bed, as well as control the TV. She frowned as the TV came up with nothing but static on all stations save for one, which was a list of videos. She flipped through them finding nature films, some classic movies, old TV shows, and a few other odds and ends.

"No cable or dish?" she thought and sighed. Well, she wouldn't be here long, she figured, and turned on an old episode of the twilight zone. At some point during the show she fell in a deep, relaxed, sleep

She was dreaming, or she thought she was. Someone was rolling her hospital bed down a hallway but she couldn't quite open her eyes to see what was going on around her. They wheeled her into a room and several hands picked her up and set her on another table. A large machine moved around her, sending a small thrill of fear down her spine with the low rumbles and clicking noises it made.

"I think she will do well," a voice said, a voice that sounded familiar to her but she could not place.

"Yeah, everything seems to meet the requirements."

"A few more tests and a few more days of the regimen to see how she does."

"Okay," the other voice she didn't know said. It seemed to hesitate. "Doesn't it bother you a bit that she's your friends daughter?"

"That's not your concern and he'd have understood," the familiar voice snapped. "Stay to your work and leave me to mine."

"Yes sir."

She woke up back in bed with very faint memories of her dream. It seemed to fade away like smoke rings from a pipe. Trying to grab them just made them dissipate al the more rapidly.

She got out of bed and used the restroom, showered, and brushed her teeth, changing into a new gown. At least it seemed to be of better quality than the average one without an open back to let chills in and give everyone a view of her posterior.

Not that she had an aversion to being nude; she modeled that way after all, but there was a time and a place for everything

She had just sat down on the bed when Edna came through the door with a cart, the tray on it smelling of eggs, bacon, and pancakes. She grinned at Edna. "Hardly seems like health food!"

Edna laughed. "They figure that the few meals you eat in a hospital are hardly going to balance out the junk you probably eat on the outside so why bother?"

Ellen laughed and dug into her food while Edna busied herself about the room, cleaning this and that. When she finished breakfast Edna took her vitals once more. "Everything looks pretty good to this old nurse."

"That's a relief! When will I be able to go home?"

Edna shook her head. "That's not my call my dear. I'm sure Dr Dolton or one of the others will keep you updated."

"I hope so," Ellen said. "Can I make a phone call and let the modeling agency know I'm going to be out for a bit?"

Edna smiles. "Already took care of it for you. After Dr Dolton said you were upset I remembered seeing a business card for a modeling agency amongst your things when you were brought in. We had to identify you after all. I gave them a call and let them know you were going to be out."

Ellen smiled. "You're the best."

End laughed. "I try! Just remember that when they tell me to poke you with needles!"

Ellen laughed and settled back on her bed to watch TV until Dr Dolton came in. She hoped he'd have good news for her.

"Well, Ellen, things seem to be going fairly well though there are still some spots we're concerned with," Dr Dolton said.

"Concern?" Ellen asked worriedly.

The doctor nodded. "Yes. There are a few abnormalities in your brain. Now I think they've always been there and it's just part of the way your brain is, but the higher ups want to make sure," he said with a laugh. "Everyone's brain is different after all."

Ellen giggled. "My parents would have agreed with you that my brain was different. A daughter with artistic leanings and not hard science."

He smiled. "Well, you never know what will happen with children. It's an adventure, having a child, raising it, seeing what he or she will do with their lives. Nothing to compare it too."

Ellen laughed and shook her head. "You sound like you want me to have children."

"Well, it would be a pity if your genes were not passed on. Such a pretty lady with such talent! I'm sure your children would be amazing as well."

"And you just said that you never know!"

He laughed. "Very true! But I'm sure they would be wonderful."

She shook her head. "I don't want kids. I don't even want a relationship right now!"

"That's hardly a deal breaker."

She looked at him and burst out laughing. "Only way I know of to get children takes two, Dr. Dolton."

He smiled. "There are other ways, Ellen. But we can discuss that later if you like. Right now you just need to rest. Nurse Edna will be by shortly to draw some blood so they can run a panel."

She sighed. "And she seemed so nice too!"

Edna was quite efficient at drawing blood and Ellen barely felt anything. "All done!"

"That wasn't so bad!"

"Glad you think so! There will be more to come."

Ellen frowned. "Why? I should be fine to go home, right??"

Edna hesitated. "You didn't hear it from me, but they do have some other concerns."

"Like what?"

"Like why you fell in the first place. They're worried it's some sort of new infection or something like."

Ellen looked startled. "What?"

The nurse sighed. "There I go, running my mouth and scaring the patients! It's nothing to worry about. They're not concerned for your health so much as wanting to identify it and insure that you don't fall again or that it doesn't spread."

Ellen sighed. "Nice as it is here I'd like to get home."

Edna patted her on the shoulder. "I know dear. Do you have a significant other waiting?"

Ellen smiled and shook her head. "No. Not interested right now. Too busy getting my career started."

"Well, I suppose there's time," Edna conceded. "Still, it would be wonderful to see you with a nice man and with several children, I think."

Ellen burst out laughing. "First Dr Dolton and now you! Everyone seems to think I should be barefoot and pregnant!"

"There are worse things!"

"Oh, I'm not sure of that! Having nine months of back aches and carrying around a bunch of extra weight. I'm trying to be a model besides"

"And that's well and good, my dear. Just don't put off motherhood for too long. You would do well with a couple of babies I think. You'd make a fine mother."

Ellen shook her head. "Maybe so. But that's for later."

Edna stood up an walked to the door. "You never know, Ellen. You never know."

By afternoon of the next day, Ellen was becoming rather irate. No one would give her a straight answer on anything, only that they "Wanted to be sure she was okay." She felt fine! The only thing that was not okay was not being able to go home!

"Edna, what's going on here?" she asked the nurse who sighed.

"Nothing bad, they just-"

"Want to make sure I'm okay. Yeah. Heard that. Okay from what? They won't tell me anything."

"Perhaps they don't want to worry you."

"Not telling me is worrying me and pissing me off!"

Edna sighed. "I will ask Dr. Dolton to give you some more information. Okay?"

"Thank you," Ellen sighed and laid back in the bed, staring at the ceiling. This had gone on too far. No doctor she had ever seen before was so..so...uncommunicative! She resolved to get more information this time.

Dr Dolton stepped in, all smiles. "And how's my patient?"

"Growing less patient by the day," Ellen grumped. "What's going on? What are you testing for? Why are you keeping me here?"

The doctor sighed. "It's complicated."

"Then dumb it down."

He stared at her. "Alright. We think you may have caught a virus that we've never seen before. We think it made you fall and we're trying to isolate it."

"Yeah I heard that before. So why can't I go home until you figure it out?"

"You may be contagious"

Ellen frowned. That would certainly be a bad thing and she wouldn't want anyone else getting sick. She stopped. "Wait, if I'm so contagious then why are you all standing about without masks and stuff on?"

Dolton smiled. "Just part of the job."

She shook her head. "No way. Dad was involved with biology and would take me into the lab sometimes. The first thing they taught me was universal precautions and there's no way in hell you're following them. What the hell is really going on?"

Dr Dolton held up his hands. "Easy, Ellen, it's just what I told you, nothing more."

She stared at him. "What hospital am I in?" The doctor seemed to hesitate for a moment and she asked "Western General?"

He smiled, "Yes, of course."

"You're lying," she said flatly. "Western General was closed three years ago when they merged with CHW."

Dr. Dolton sighed. "Ellen-"

"I don't know what the fuck is going on here but I want to talk to your boss and maybe an advocate or even a lawyer!"

Dr. Dolton looked down. "This is not an easy situation, Ellen, and no cooperating isn't going to make it any easier."

"That sounds like a threat."

"No, no, nothing like that. We have a job to do and it would just be easier if you would relax for a few days, alright?"

"I want to make a phone call."

"We're having trouble with the lines."

"Same problem you're having with cable?"

"It would seem so."

"This is a bunch of bullshit! If you don't get someone else in here real soon I'm going to walk out of here do you understand me?"

He sighed again. "Alright, Ellen. After dinner I'll make sure the director comes down to see you."

"He damn well better."

Edna brought dinner in to her, all smiles and light. "How are you feeling?"

"Great, the same as always, except I'm being held her as a prisoner!"

"Oh dear, you're not a prisoner!"

"Then why can't I leave? Why can't I make a phone call? Why did Dolton lie to me about where I was?"

"He didn't lie, he would never!"

"He said I was at Western General and it's been shut down for years."

Edna shrugged uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Ellen, but there's not much I can say about that."

"So you admit something's wrong!"

Edna shook her head. "So paranoid. Eat your dinner, I'll be back to get the tray later."

Ellen stared at the door after she left, then got up from the bed and walked over to it. She pushed on the latch. Nothing. She turned and went back to the bed and sat down, wondering what in the hell was going on. Something was really wrong here and it was starting to scare her a bit. She took the can of coke and looked it over. It was sealed. Safe, she reasoned, and popped it open and drank it down. There was no way she was touching any of the food. With the way things were going she didn't put it beyond them to drug it, whoever they were.

She sat, waiting for the director or whoever he was to show up. As she sat she started to feel a little drowsy and within moments passed out on the bed.

She awoke the next morning, feeling groggy, looking around bleary eyed. Edna was busying herself about the room, tidying things up, and there was a covered tray sitting on a cart that smelled like french toast. Her mouth watered and the scent and she sat up, pulling herself up with her arms, groaning.

Edna turned and went to her. "Easy, easy there, Ellen. You had a relapse," Edna said soothingly.

She sat there with her head in her hands for awhile. "Relapse. Yeah. Sure."

Edna sighed. "And what else would it be?"

"You could have drugged me!"

Edna glared. "That was uncalled for! You didn't eat any of your food and the can of pop was sealed. How dare you accuse me!"

Ellen winced. "I'm sorry, Edna, but something is wrong here!"

Edna looked around, then leaned over to her. "You didn't hear this form me, understand? You're under quarantine. They're not saying much but I get the feeling that you were infected by something on accident, something they didn't want to get out. There are government types wandering about, talking in code words, all of that cloak and dagger stuff. Now, just settle down and wait to see what happens, okay?"

Ellen sat back and looked at the nurse who looked worried. "You're saying like some bio weapon or something?"

She shrugged. "I don't know anything more okay? And I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ellen sighed. "Alright. Alright, I'll wait and see what happens I guess, but I think I deserve some answers even if they are not the top secret ones or whatever."

"Dr. Dolton is working on it."

She watched the older nurse. "I believe you."

"Thank you," Edna said and patted her on the shoulder. "Now, eat this french toast. I made it myself just for you, okay?"

Ellen laughed. "French toast is one of my favorites!"

"Well good! Enjoy!" Edna said and left the room

Ellen ate her breakfast, actually enjoying the meal. Government testing out some bioweapon that got away from them? That seemed plausible. She did worry about what it could be doing to her. Well, she reasoned, if it were meant to kill she'd probably be dead by now and it's not like there were any other symptoms, or a fever or anything.

She sighed deeply. Maybe this was all what they said and it would work out okay. She stood and put her plate back on the tray, then went to the bathroom to perform her morning ablutions. As she wiped herself she noticed that she was oddly sore. Frowning, she looked at the toilet paper for signs of blood or anything, but there was nothing there other than a clear jelly like liquid.

She stared at it. It was KY jelly, a lubricant like they used at the gynecologists. She stared at her hand, trembling. What in the hell had they been doing to her as she slept?

Dr Dolton came in later that afternoon to find Ellen sitting on her bed, face like thunder. She looked up at him with a murderous glare. He took a step back. "Ellen? What's wrong?"

"You know damn good and well what's wrong, doctor!" she spat.

"I'm afraid I don't! I know you're upset about being kept her but-"

"What the hell are you doing to me? Why the hell are you examining me here!" She said, pointing at her tummy. "I found let over lubricant. Whoever did the clean up was sloppy and I'm sore just like a visit to the ob/gyn besides. What the hell is going on, Dr Dolton?" She said, voice rising

He lifted his hands. "I'm sorry for that but they wanted to make sure the virus had not spread to your womb."

"What the hell kinda virus is this?"

"Something new. We're not sure-"

"Who the hell made it, Dr. Dolton and why? It's obvious I'm not in a normal hospital with normal staff. Edna is the only nurse I've seen, there's never been a rotation! You're the only doctor I've seen, there's no TV, no phone, and my door is locked. What the fuck are you doing?!"

He stared at her for a moment. "The virus was created by a government research lab. As for what it does, that I cannot tell you, only that it poses no danger to you and you should be fine in a few weeks. You cannot communicate with the outside because this place is secret. For the same reason, the TV is restricted."

She stared back at him. "And the proof of this?"

He sighed. "Let me look you over and I will see about getting some of the top brass down here to talk to you."

"Fine. Fine. Just watch where you're putting your hands."

He glared at her and quickly carried out a basic examination. "Edna will be in to do a blood draw so we can get a count. I would advise you to rest until then."

"Like I have much else to do in this little prison you've made for me."

"If that's how you want to look at it then fine."

"It's what it is!" she spat at him again. "Now get the hell out of my room!" He shook his head and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

Edna came in and sat her phlebotomy case down on the end table and pulled out a band and swab. Ellen watched as she put the band around he arm. "Make a fist," she said.

Ellen did and Edna probed about a few times then cleaned off the area with the prep pad. She tossed the wrapper in the garbage and went to put the needle in.

"Edna-"

"I can't talk"

"But-"

"No. Nothing. They're accusing me of telling you too much. I'm not saying another word," she said, and inserted the needle. Ellen watched as her blood welled up inside the vial. Edna change to a second vial then withdrew the needle and put a cotton gauze there. "Hold that," she said.

Ellen put her hand on the gauze. "I'm sorry."

She sighed. "I know you are," Edna said quietly. "Just keep your head down, okay?"

Ellen nodded and lay back in her bed. Within moments the dizziness came over her and she passed out once more.

She awoke to the sound of her gurney being pushed down a hallway. She cracked her eyes open but could only make out the dim shapes of the walls, her eyes blurry. There didn't seem to be anyone else about the hallway, at least no one her confused mind would register.

They wheeled her into a room and shifted her to another bed and she tried to force herself to full wakefulness but failed. Frustrated, she tried to move her eyes about to see what was going on around her. Barely. She could move them only slightly.

She thought she heard someone walk into the room, two people perhaps. Whoever he or they were they were standing next to the bed looking down at her. "Ok, check her, but make damn sure you're careful and get everything cleaned up this time."

"Sorry, just a simple mistake."

"Yeah, one that has made the situation worse. Be careful and no fooling around with her!"

"I wasn't!"

"Better not be. Nothing, I mean nothing, can contaminate this in any way."

"I get it."

"Damn well better. Now get to work."

She tried to turn her head, tried to speak, but nothing would come out. It was as if she were a prisoner in her own body, able to feel, but not act.

Whoever it was opened her robe and placed her legs in the stirrups. She wanted to scream, to fight, but there was nothing she could do as he felt his fingers slip inside her feeling about, then the speculum. She commanded her legs to move, to kick, but nothing would happen, nothing.

She had no idea what he was doing, no idea how long he was down there. She felt him remove the speculum and then carefully clean her off. She wanted to scream but it was again denied her. She heard footsteps once more. "Well?" the first man said.

"It looks like she's quickened. We will need a few more days to be sure, but I think it's taken hold."

"Wonderful!" the man said, but there was no real joy in the voice. "And her genetics are compatible?"

"That we're sure of."

"As was I. But you never know until you check."

"Well, give her a few days and bring her back and we will see if it's taken hold."

"Very well."

"And give her an extra dose of sedative. I want to make sure sure sleeps till noon at least."

"Yes sir," the man said. She felt the coolness of an alcohol pad on her arm, then the bite of a needle. She screamed a silent scream, howling in side her head, until darkness overtook her.

Ellen awoke, feeling groggy as she opened her eyes, blinking them, trying to clear them.

She tried to remember what had happened to her but all she could catch was fleeting, dark, disturbing memories. With a groan she sat up, supporting herself by gripping onto the rail along the side of the bed, other hand on her head.

She sat there for awhile, waiting for the dizziness to pass, taking slow, measured breaths. After a time she felt stable enough to walk to the bathroom.

As she went about her ablutions, she noticed that she was cramping up fairly hard and it was nowhere near her cycle. She held one hand to her stomach as she went. Wiping herself, she again noted soreness where there should be none. She gritted her teeth. Those bastards.

She made her way to the chair that sat next to the bed and sat down, brooding. She had no idea what they were doing. They said just exams to make sure she was ok but it felt like rape. She shuddered. She had to get out of here.

The door opened and Edna walked in with a tray of food. "Good morning dear."

Ellen stared at her with cold dislike. "Yeah. Great morning."

"Now, now, I'm sure you'll be able to leave soon."

"After they're doing raping me?"

Edna stopped and turned. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm sore, I'm cramping, and I found left over lubricant," she said, teeth grit.

"Well I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

"How could being raped be reasonable?"

"Stop saying that! No one's raped you!"

"Then why do I feel this way?"

Edna sighed. "I'm not sure. I know they did exams, but I don't know the details."

"How the hell would you know?" Ellen demanded.

"I hear things," Edna said quietly.

"Being examined while I'm out of it doesn't seem to agree with the Hippocratic oath."

Edna watched her for a moment. "I'll see if I can find out more. Okay? I promise you that you're not being raped however."

"Fine. Fine. Just give me my food and go."

"As you wish dear."

She ate in silence, brooding, wondering what was going to happen next.

Several hours later Dr. Dolton walked in the room, all smiles. "How's my patient?"

Ellen looked at him with cold dislike. "You tell me. You're the one doing exams while I'm sleeping and probably drugged."

"It's nothing bad. I promise."

"Then why do I have to be out for it?"

He hesitated. "There's reasons."

"What the fuck are you doing to me!" she burst out. "I'm being held prisoner, not allowed to call anyone, and not told what's going on and all you give me is some hokey government bullshit!"

"Ellen, you need to calm down."

"Like hell! I want a lawyer!"

"Ellen, you're overreacting. I promise everything will be fine."

She leapt at him and slapped him across the face before he could react. "How's that for overreacting?"

He reeled back, holding his cheek. "If you keep this up we're going to restrain you!"

"What the hell would the difference be? A few more feet of movement?"

"It's not going to be like this forever, Ellen. We're working to get you better accommodations."

"Accommodations?" she spat. "Let me go home!"

He sighed. "We can't. Not right now."

"Damn you!" she screamed and leapt at him. They wrestled about until the door burst open and two large orderlies grabbed her off him and restrained her. "Knock her out," Dolton said in a horse voice.

"No!" she screamed until she felt the bite of a needle and everything went dark.

She had no idea how long she was out. There were no dreams, no memories, nothing. She woke up with a start, looking around wildly. She about broke down seeing that she was in the same room, same place, same situation.

Her stomach cramped up, hard, and she clutched it, groaning. The cramps faded after a few moments and she sat up a little straighter, breathless in relief.

The door opened and Edna came up with a tray of food. Ellen nearly retched at the thought of it and Edna sighed. "It's rice and boiled hamburger along with saltine crackers. It should settle your stomach."

"How the hell did you know about my stomach in advance?"

Edna shrugged. "Side effect of the sedative"

Ellen groaned, putting a hand against her stomach and Edna brought the cart over. "Here, take these," she said, handing her some crackers.

Ellen ate them and they did seem to settle her stomach. "How long was I out?"

"About two days."

"Two?" Ellen nearly shouted.

"Yes, they gave you a little much."

"Damn it what's going on?"

"I can't talk about it."

"But you know!"

Edna closed her eyes. "Some. It's okay Ellen, it will be fine I promise, if not what you were expecting to do with your life."

Ellen stared at the older woman for a long time. "Damn you."

"I'm sorry."

"Then get me out of here."

She shook her head. "Too secure. You'd never get past that door to say nothing of getting outside."

Ellen lowered her head, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. "Why me? Why is this happening to me?"

"I don't know. I need to go, they're paying attention to how much time I spend in here. I'll be back with lunch later."

Ellen sobbed for awhile and finally recovered. She ate her food mechanically, mind a blank. She was a prisoner and she didn't even know why. She stared at the fork she was eating with, glanced around the room, and carefully tucked it away.

Dr. Dolton came in a few hours later. "How are you feeling?" he asked politely.

"How am I suppose to be feeling as a prisoner?"

"I mean physically."

"My stomach hurts, I feel groggy, and I keep getting sedated!"

"I regret that but if you were just calm it wouldn't happen."

"Fuck you," she said. "You be calm being held as a prisoner, molested, and drugged!"

"Ellen, this is temporary and if you'd just relax things would go better for you."

She stared at him, eyes locked. "Fine. Fine I'll be a good girl and let you do whatever you want. That work for you?"

"I'd rather you be more willing but that's fine for now. Let me take your vitals."

She held out her arm for the blood pressure cuff and as he wrapped it around her arm she brought the fork down hard, aiming for his neck.

He moved at the last moment and the fork embedded itself in his collar bone. He screamed in pain and fell back, trying to scrabble away from her as she jumped out of bed and started towards him.

The door burst open and the orderlies grabbed her, wrestling her back onto the bed. "Don't sedate her! Just restrain!" Dr Dolton said, grabbing at the fork. He tugged it loose with a scream and put his hand there to staunch the bleeding as they secured her.

He walked over to the bed, and looked down at her. "Ellen, you need to stop it," he said, voice shaking. "You're going to harm your child if you don't."