Sitting in a chair while waiting for news on Starknights condition Moon Stone looked around the E.R. lobby seeing several people sitting in various spots throughout the lobby. He observed a young man in his mid thirties to early forties with a small child on his lap the child looked over to Moon Stone making a funny face earning a light chuckle from the police officer. Looking to his right he found several disheveled piles of magazines and discarded newspapers on an end table next to him.

“How much longer will that doctor be” he thought, getting up he stretched cracking his back and neck looking at the time he noticed it was two thirty in the afternoon, “good grief we have been here for nearly an hour,” he groaned out loud, “this is taking forever” he grumbled “I mean really how long does it take to get someone checked out for a concussion”?

Catching the attention of a nurse behind the receptionist desk she shot him a contemptuous glare locking eyes with him. Getting up herself she pointed to the door, “If you have a grievance with how long it is taking officer,” she whinged “there is the door!” sitting back down she picked up a stack of papers nest to her shuffled through them placed them into an ‘outgoing’ box and continued working adding under her breath, “no good acrid noisome officer thinks it takes only a few minutes too---” noticing he was suddenly standing right in front of her desk she cut her words short looking up from her work she bitterly finished, “What do you want?”

Smiling pleasantly to her he took a sucker from a tin near her computer opening it he nodded replying, “My name is Moon Stone what’s your name?”

“Frigid Gelid what’s it to you?!” she demanded looking back at her work she added, “I have work to do so bug off”.

“Nothing at all I was just wondering what your name was is all” he replied popping the sucker into his mouth.

“Oh, and before I forget that’ll be seventy five dollars officers!” Blinking a few seconds his eyebrows scrunched giving her a confused look she paid him little attention returning once again to her work. Shaking his head he turned to head back to his seat stopping in his tracks he heard Frigid clear her throat “Aren’t you forgetting something officer Moon Stone?” she scornfully called out to him.

“Um, not that I know” he replied turning back around with a sincere smile on his face, “I filled out all the paperwork when the paramedics brought in my---”

“The seventy five dollars you owe me for the sucker that you just popped into your mouth!” thrusting her open hand out to him she watched him gulp nearly choking on the sucker not caring if he choked or not she added, “well pay up”!

Taking the sucker out of his mouth he gulped knowing he didn’t have the requested sum of money hearing a door open he looked to his left. A doctor was coming out into the lobby her smile was warming and welcome her deep purple eyes seemed to shine like brightly polished gemstones. She had soft blue hair she wore a pink hair binder and lab coat typical of a doctor. Her soft skin looked almost milk white in the dim light of the lobby he watched her walk behind the desk for a few seconds. She laid a gentle hand on Frigid's shoulder giving her shoulder a soft squeeze. Noticing he was staring at the two of them she softly said, “Please don’t mind my girlfriend she has had a very rough night officer”. Turning her attention to her girlfriend the doctor continued, “Frigid, honey I could hear you through the door please calm down let me help you”.

“I-I...I’m sorry Gemmy” she looked away from her girlfriend watching for a few more minutes Moon Stone saw a few tears trickle down Frigid's cheeks, “I’m so upset I am taking it out on anyone that gets within earshot of me”.
Gently taking her hands into her own Gemmy whispered softly, “It’s alright the police will find your missing niece and they will arrest the person that took her”.

Wanting to know more Moon Stone chimed in, “What was the child's name”? Receiving a sigh from Gemmy he added, “I can’t help if you two don’t tell me who it was that was taken”.

“He-her name is Daisy Green she is s-seven years old” He heard Frigid Gelid say heading over to the desk he placed his pen and notepad onto the desk Frigid took a handkerchief from her girlfriend drying her tears she finished, “I don’t understand, why did you place your notepad and pen onto my desk”?

“Because I need you to write down what your niece looks like, what she was wearing the last time you saw her. Where you last saw her, I also need any information no matter how trivial it might seem to you as to who had contact with her last.” looking into Frigid's eyes he saw a slight glimmer of hope where none had existed before gently pushing the pen and notepad towards her, he added, “I promise we will find her and bring her home safely to you” locking eyes with Gemmy he finished, “to both of you”.

“Thank you officer Moon Stone” Gemmy replied, taking the pen and notepad she jotted down anything she could think of handing it to Frigid, she added, “you’ll be pleased to know officer that your partner is doing well I’ll take you too her oh and about the sucker”?

“Uh, y-yes” he replied “I don’t have that type of money on me at this moment so I---”

“You don’t have to worry about it.” Putting a finger to her chin Gemmy tapped her chin adding, “Though you did take the last pineapple, banana cream” giving her girlfriend’s shoulder a reassuring last squeeze she finished, “Frigid likes those types of suckers they help take her mind off-well-of all that has happened” handing Frigid the notepad she nodded to her thinking, “please for the love of God find our niece and bring her home safely”.

Taking the notepad from Gemmy, Frigid Gelid also wrote down anything she could think of that might help to bring her niece safely home to her. Handing the notepad back to him she sniffed, “I’m sorry for my behavior officer I didn’t mean to come off as a cold mean selfish---”

“Think nothing of it I get treated far worse by those that I have to arrest” he interrupted watching Gemmy head for the door she turned pantomiming him to follow her, “Thank you for the information” following Gemmy into the doorway he looked over his shoulder finishing, “I’ll let Starknight know about this perhaps she can offer some insight into this case and while I am at it I’ll get you a bag of those suckers you like so much”.

“Thank you officer” she replied watching him follow Gemmy into the hallway.

Following her down the hallway towards Starknight’s room he passed a large desk with three nurses behind it all bustling about their duties none noticed him walk by. Arriving at room two twenty two Gemmy opened the door getting a very morose, sullen look from the sergeant. Starknight much to Moon Stones chucklesome pleasure was in a bed dressed in a pink polka dotted hospital smock her clothing was folded neatly on a chair next to her.

“Just how the hell long are you doctors planning on keeping me here?!” she demanded as the two walked into the room. “I have a job to do so either tell me that I can’t do that damn job or bloody well let me leave!”

Picking up a chart from a stand nearby Gemmy paid Starknight little attention turning her own attention instead to Moon Stone. Taking Starknights clothing off the chair he placed them neatly on her legs taking a seat next to her chuckling lightly to himself quickly earning a scornful eye-shot from Starknight. Watching Gemmy look over a few papers and x-ray pictures Starknight folded her arms over her chest, letting out a noticeable irritated

“Well officer Starknight it looks like you do indeed have a concussion you’ll have to stay off your feet for at least two days.” setting the papers down she took out a pen handing Starknight a clipboard and pen “here sign these and you’ll be discharged within the hour. You’ll also have to take some medication while you are out of the hospital and if you feel any dizziness or sickness of any type please come back right away”.

Grumbling under her breath she felt Moon Stone jab her side “now don’t be a grouch just sign the papers smile and you’ll be out of here before you know it,” he said, “besides this poor doctor has enough to deal with, without you making her life any more miserable than it already is so cool it with the bad attitude”.

“Excuse us doctor” Starknight grumbled glaring at Moon Stone, “there are a few ...words that I need to say to the rookie”. Watching Gemmy leave she continued, “how dare you tell me rookie how I should or shouldn’t behave here Moon Stone” getting up she glared at him adding, “first I don’t have a concussion and second I told you at the restaurant that I was perfectly fine there was no reason at all for you to waste the paramedics time by calling them for me”. Picking up her uniform she finished, “and third next time you decide to stop someone from robbing the Sweet Snacks Cafe or feel that it is a good idea to let them go do me a favor”.

“Yeah what’s that” he grunted folding his arms over his chest.

“DON’T”. She yelled calming down a bit she heard a knock on the door rolling her eyes in disgust she finished, “come in”.

Opening the door Gemmy walked in pushing a wheelchair she proceeded to set the brakes and lower the footplates patting the seat upholstery she smiled earning herself a disapproving frown from Starknight. Looking over the chair while still holding her uniform in her hands Starknight groaned giving Moon Stone a slightly pleading passing glance.

“Uh, any chance I skip this part of the E.R. doc”? She asked, “I feel fine. Really there is no need for me to be wheeled about like a sack of groceries in a cart”. Looking down at her uniform she added, “Moon Stone can you wait outside while I get dressed”?

“Not until you fully apologize to Ms. Gemmy for your behavior towards her” he replied locking eyes with her “besides its standard E.R. policy to bring you out front into the lobby in a wheelchair so stop complaining and hop to it already”.

Growing angry she pointed to the door staring into his purple eyes she all but shouted, “out” turning her attention to Gemmy she added, “you to doc sorry but I don’t want anyone to see me-well-uh in my” clearing her throat she finished, “well without my clothing on”

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before” Gemmy replied.

“I already told you sergeant I am not leaving until you offer Ms. Gemmy here a full and sincere apologize for your behavior towards her”. She heard Moon Stone chime in “so we can wait as long as you can but it would go faster---”

“Listen I will apologize to both of you,” she interrupted him “but not until I am fully dressed” opening the door she pointed to the nearly empty hallway outside of her room adding, “now please will you both just get out oh, will you please take that damn wheelchair with you”?

“Very well” Gemmy sighed, “if you need anything please don’t hesitate to ask”. Watching her shut the door behind them she turned her attention to Moon Stone, “is she always this....pleasant?”

“Well she does have a bit of a reputation at the precinct one of the other officers told me she is hard to deal with, though I am not sure why she is hard to work with” hearing the door open he added, “but that is not for me to discuss so if you can get the wheelchair ready we’ll be on our way”.

Getting the wheelchair ready Gemmy pushed it over to Starknight taking a seat in the chair she looked down pressing her hands to the wheels she gripped them tightly. Closing her eyes for a moment felt Moon Stone tap her shoulder opening her eyes she looked into his nodding to him.

“I am very sorry for my behavior today” she began, “it's hard for me to know when I need help I know that is no excuse for how I have acted towards you bo---”

“It’s alright I have been treated far worse than this” Gemmy interrupted offer Starknight a very sincere pleasant smile “besides there is one nurse here that got treated like crap last weekend her name was Lucy Shel---” Gemmy’s words were cut short by Starknight.

“Lucy Sheldon she works here?'' she asked “when you saw her last can you tell us how she got what appeared to be a black eye and bruises on her jaw” looking over her shoulder she quickly added, “please this is important we-er-I was sent to her house after picking up her son Snips from Canterlot High School when I got to her place I saw what was clearly a black right eye and bruises over most of her jaw”. Trying to stand up she finished, “Lucy had done her best to cover them with make-up but it was still easy to see the bruises”.

“She got them due to a drunk beating her however she gave as good if not better than what she got” Gemmy replied, placing her hands on Starknights shoulders she gently persuaded Starknight to remain in the wheelchair getting the message Starknight sat back down listening to Gemmy’s every word, “Oh, Lucy is a fighter that is for sure that drunk got his butt handed to him with a few fists and a foot too I might add.''

“Oh, I don’t recall seeing any damage done to her hands when I was over at her house” Starknight chimed in.

“Trust me she is a fighter it took me and five others to pull her off that bastard I thought for sure she would lose her job over the fight” pushing Starknight down the hallway towards the lobby Gemmy added, “but no the medical board found nothing wrong with what happened that night and labeled it all as self defense though I do wish I could have gotten in a few hits to the guys nuts before the other officers took him away to detox”.

“What actually caused the fight if I may ask?” Moon Stone asked clearly wanted to know more.

Getting to the lobby door a few minutes later Gemmy set the breaks, to the wheelchair turning her attention to a desk near the door she picked up a clipboard handing it to Moon Stone. Taking the clipboard he looked it over seeing it was a standard release form showing it to Starknight she smiled. Gemmy pressed a button opening the door for the two officers wheeling Starknight into the lobby she proceeded to wheel her up to the front desk setting the breaks once more. Getting behind the desk Gemmy looked to her girlfriend giving her a nod sitting down next to her she handed Starknight a pen.

“As for your question officer Moon Stone” she began as Starknight started to fill out the release form “though I can’t actually talk about it I can at least tell you that drunk will think twice before coming after Lucy again”. Taking the clipboard back from Starknight she looked over the paperwork handing it to Frigid who entered the information into her computer. “Alright I know I said it would take an hour to get you discharged officer Starknight but it looks” looking over the last of the paperwork she finished, “like we might be able to get you both out of here within ten minutes let us finish our work here and we’ll get you on your way”.

“Thank you” she replied looking to Frigid she added, “thank you both I am again sorry for how I acted”.

“Like I said think nothing of it” Gemmy chimed, “now we should be done in a few moments oh and officer Moon Stone”.

“Yes” he replied.

“If you really want to make it up to my girlfriend you can bring over a bag of suckers for us tomorrow or whenever you get the chance to do so”. Taking her girlfriends hand into her own Gemmy added, “I think we would both like that very much that is if it's not too much trouble to ask that of you”.

“It’s no trouble at all” he replied unlocking the breaks to the wheelchair he continued, “come on sergeant lets let these two get their work done so we can leave” wheeling her over to a nearby TV he set the breaks switched it on and sat down next to her taking out his notepad he handed it to her finishing, “Gemmy told me she and Frigid lost their niece she was taken from them so I was thinking---”

“That as long as I am on the bench we could look into it” she interrupted adding, “sure that sounds like it could help take my mind off of how bored I am going to be over the next two or three days”. Getting a confused look she finished, “when an officer regardless of rank gets benched due to a head injury the policy is to add at least one more day to the hospital’s recommendations to make sure there isn’t any further problems”.

“I see so you basically get desk duty for the next three days and I get partnered with someone else” grumbling under his breath he added, “great this is going to be loads of fun”.

“There is something I have been wanting to ask you Moon Stone” he heard Starknight began as the afternoon news came on “what did you mean at the docs when you said ‘I thought I had completely forgotten what the smell of burnt flesh smelled, like’ what I have wanted to ask you is this what did you mean by that? I also wanted to ask you about the tattoo on your arm I have as far as I know never seen something like that”.

“All I can tell you about the docs is that I have not always been interested in being a police officer as for the tattoo I can’t talk about it all, I will tell you though is I got it while I was overseas”.

“I understand” she replied turning her attention to the TV “lets see how the Canterlot Sliders are doing I’ll bet they found yet another way to lose”

“In this afternoon report the Canterlot Sliders have lost seventy two to one” announcer said as Moon Stone and Starknight watched the tv “their coach was seen being dragged off field after throwing a cooler at one of the team players of the opposing team” Shaking her head Starknight grinned listening to last of the report, “it took seven security officers to drag coach Iron Will off the grounds and into the lockers”.

“Officer Starknight” both heard Gemmy say behind them each turned in her general direction “your paperwork is done now you are free to leave”.

“Bout time” she thought to herself out loud she sighed “alright uh, do I have to be wheeled to the squad car too or can I walk?”

“No you can walk just no driving for at least two days. Got it?” Gemmy replied.

“I understand” turning her attention to Moon Stone she added, “well let's go rookie we need to get back to the precinct and see if we can help these two find their missing niece”

Getting up both officers headed for the door with Moon Stone giving Frigid Gelid one last reassuring nod getting outside a few minutes later he quickly located the parked squad car. Getting in he started up the car with Starknight begrudgingly getting into the passenger side. Shutting the door she turned on the car's computer connected to the precinct’s missing children database and began to search through the files stopping when she found the file she was looking for. Her eyes narrowed her jaw clenched tight as she read the report on the child squeezing her hand into a tight fist she trembled with rage.

“This child's file” she muttered, “it’s the same as” looking out the window she finished, “....mine”.

Next Chapter: August 3rd, Wednesday 3:00 PM (Applejack's chapter) part thirteen Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 14 Minutes