Chapter III

"You're sure the head CT showed no abnormalities?" A woman furrowed her eyes at the doctor standing in front of her. The crows feet appearing at the outer edges of her eyes as she did.

Her instincts as a doctor hadn't deterred, even when she was contacted by the sheriff that her daughter and son were in a car accident. She dove her entire life into the medical career and it somehow weaseled its way into the grief she felt. The overwhelming grief of her sons death. It pinched her very nerves to learn the outcome when they arrived back in Caine.

The plane ride home was engulfed with hysterical sobbing from herself as her husband cradled her in his arms. The tender back rubs and kisses on her face were never enough to console her. The father of her children had also lost a son today. He fought back the tears more than she but on the inside he was broken. He was angry that he had left Caine for a ridiculous conference. So angry that when his wife exited the jet first, he punched the seat in front of him several times until his knuckles began to bruise.

Right now, her husband stood close behind her, permanently placing his hands on both of her arms and rubbing them gently for comfort. His eyes also watched the doctor, awaiting the response.

The noise behind them consisted of nurses chattering at their station, work phones constantly ringing, and the frequent 'ding' from another patient needing assistance in their room. The three of them stood in the widened hallway in front of the room entrance that belonged to a girl that has yet to awaken.

The prolonged stare from the couple made the doctor flip through the pages of his clipboard until he reached the printed results.

With a relieved sigh he spoke, "Mr. and Mrs. Vixon the re-"

"Doctor Vixon." Her spouse corrected for him before continuing.

"Right." His eyes glanced up at them. "Her scans were perfectly fine. No inflammation or internal bleeding. As soon as she wakes up, she can be evaluated to go home."

All she really had was a minor concussion, cracked ribs and bruising on her arms. Although she hasn't woke up from her sleep since she arrived, the paramedics and autopsy confirmed what had happened to the young boy that was with her in the vehicle.

"The cracked ribs could have been worse." He breathed out. "But the fact that Gray's arm was broken, indicates he was trying to shield the potential damage of her torso."

The woman cleared her throat and shifted her gaze to the young girl, feeling helpless. "I'd like those scans on my desk tomorrow, Dr. Burkhart."

Sadness boiled in her stomach at the thought of her son protecting her daughter. She knew the closeness they shared but she wanted them both lying in a bed right now with minor injuries.

The doctor nodded in response then noticed an older man approaching them.

The man had stopped to ask a nurse of the room number for the young girl but saw the doctor and saddened parents standing nearby. He gulped his breath, knowing exactly how these situations go. He was always prepared physically, but never mentally. The feet inside his dress shoes had to be forced forward in motivation of helping the grieving family. As he approached them, a strange feeling wafted over him for just a short moment. It felt very heavy and unfamiliar.

"Dr. Burkhart." He shook hands firmly then turned to the couple. He wore a black suit with a white collar to indicate his status in society.

"Hello, Father Harrison." The woman shakily reached out her hand to him and her husband followed.

The priest gave a warm smile, but it did not warm anyones heart at the moment. The silence between the group increased but Dr. Burkhart was signaled by his handheld device that he was needed elsewhere. With a quick goodbye, he treaded off down the hallway.

"I would like to stretch my dearest condolences to you and your family." Father Harrison spoke with sincerity, but the parents did not answer.

"Shall we go in?" The priest insisted on the three of them entering the room for more privacy to speak.

He was always unaware of how people would react in events such as this. It was different every time because some would be hysterical, some would be crying non-stop and some would even be in such denial. Those were the toughest cases to handle.

The mother slowly entered the room first then the father. When Father Harrison glanced at the room number plate, it read '13:18' and with a confused look on his face, he has never seen a room number arranged in such a way. Ignoring it, the priest proceeded to shut the door behind him which simultaneously made the mother jump with the soft click of the handle.

"I apologize for the sudden appearance. I hope you can understand that I am required to come to speak with you about the funeral and counseling." Father Harrison spoke softly as if he was being too loud, but the couple stood at the foot of the hospital bed. Their hands were clenched tightly on the railing as they stared at their daughter.

It was always a burden for Father Harrison to come so quickly after a family had just experienced a great loss. He believed that it wasn't necessary nor right to appear at the hospital or home so sudden, but the council of the church in Caine demands these situations be taken care of as soon as possible. Even though it doesn't allow the family to grieve properly.

The parents stifled the tears they shed for several moments until they decided to turn around. The mother held the hand of her husband tightly for stability as she spoke.

"The funeral will be held after Grace is released from the hospital." Her eyes shifted to her husband who nodded in agreement. "She will want to be there and since.." Her words trailed off as she grew tearful. Her eyes had reddened and swelled along with her button nose. Her free hand covered her mouth to keep from bursting into tears. Unable to contain herself, she buried her face into her husbands chest.

Mr. Vixon stepped in to take control of his wife's words, "Gray will be cremated." He stated as he rubbed the back of his spouse. "An open casket funeral is not an option for the condition of his body, but we will still have an empty casket to bury." By this time, his hand had moved up from her back and to her fine brown hair.

The priest nodded slowly, understanding the demands quickly and effortlessly. He has seen many empty caskets enter a grave and never questioned why.

Father Harrison waited a moment for the two to regain their emotions before he spoke. "Would you be willing to undergo counseling? I believe it will benefit young Grace immensely."

He was determined that counseling with the church or recommended licensed physician generally helps every young child he has come across. The avoidance of counseling showed no benefits and ultimately allows that child to retract and recluse themselves from society.

The parents thought for a moment, but didn't answer him. The terms of their oldest son passing hasn't completely sunken into their minds yet. Counseling was the least priority to them right now, but they knew it would be important.

"The church would be more than willing to counsel her through the difficult days to come." He gave another warm smile as before. "Is she baptized?" he asked. The question was rather pushy, but the church requires all participants to be baptized before joining.

"No." The parents answered in unison. Their family wasn't the type to spend their days worshipping in a church pew. Their doctoral backgrounds didn't allow them to pursue that path with their children and so they decided to leave it out all together.

As soon as they answered, the priest felt the same strange feeling as he did when he approached them before but this time it had lingered around him. He furrowed his eyes and licked his chapped lips before continuing about the details for the funeral.