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"I'm sorry, Molly. I am. I... I was so worried-"
"I know." She said the words and she meant them. Having someone care this much about her was a revelation. But she'd spent most of her life working things through on her own. It was hard to let someone else take the weight on their shoulders and still feel like she had control of her own emotions.
Having Jacob share in her worries made her feel like she was... off balance.
"How about... what if you let me talk to Doctor Webb and we can talk it out after he's done?"
Jacob nodded slowly. "Whatever you want."
Swallowing down another rising lump in her throat, she turned back to the doctor. "So, we're going to see what happens for a few days and then if nothing changes, we'll do a scan?"
"We have a lot of ways to help rebuild connections in the brain. Sometimes when it gets jarred around inside the skull, the swelling makes it hard to reach our memories. When the swelling goes down, the memories come back. Now, it could be a rush with everything at once. Or," he gave her a smile that had her smiling in return, "sometimes it comes back in bits and pieces. Everyone's brain is just as unique as the person it's attached to. So there's no way to know what's going to work for you. And if it doesn't come back with rest and time, we'll do everything we can to recover your memories, but I have to caution you, Miss-"
"Molly," she smiled at him, "please call me Molly."
"Alright, Molly. I have to tell you that there is a chance that you might not recover your memories that were lost. Sometimes it's a physiological thing and sometimes it’s an emotional thing."
She nodded slowly. "That my brain would try to protect me from remembering what happened."
Doctor Webb nodded. "That's right. So I think the most important thing to remember is that we only have so much control over the biology, but medical advances give us incredible options to help."
Molly thought through his words, milling over his comments before she nodded and smiled at him again. "I understand what you're saying," she began, "but I've never had anything like this happen to me before. I'm willing to bet that I'm more worried... more upset than I'm letting on.
"That's probably because I'm not much of a... of a communicator. I spend most of my days and nights in front of a computer screen. I hardly talk to anyone face to face or on the phone. So I'm not sure how much you can tell by the tone of my voice or... or the look on my face, doctor. I just want you to know that I'm scared.
"But I don't know much about the brain or injuries I have, so you're the guy who knows all of this stuff. I'm going to go with you on this."
He gave her a look that seemed amused by her words, but he wasn't laughing at her or discounting what she said. His expression was also thoughtful.
"For someone who says they aren't good at communication, Molly, you certainly impress me in the way you are communicating with me. I hear what you're saying. And thank you for putting your trust in me. I think together." He turned and looked at Jacob for a moment before looking back at her. "And that looks like it will include Detective Rafferty. We'll get you through this."
He reached into the pocket where he'd returned the penlight and pulled out a card. Doctor Webb put it in her hand and smiled. "That's my card. The number on it goes straight to my service. It will get the message to me within minutes, unless I'm in surgery. If you feel dizzy or drowsy or anything other than your usual self, please contact me and we'll get through this."
Her eyes welled up with tears as she nodded. "Than-thank you, Doctor Webb."
"Anytime, Molly. Anytime."
He stood, but before he moved toward the door, he looked at Jacob. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
Molly smiled when Jacob held out his hand to the doctor and the two shook heartily.
"Thank you, sir."
The doctor nodded in approval. "You might just have to keep this one, Molly."
He started toward the door but stopped just a few steps away. Turning around again, Doctor Webb snapped his fingers. "You," he pointed at Jacob, "I've seen you at The Square."
Molly waited for Jacob to make the connection. It didn't take long.
Jacob grinned and gave her hand a squeeze. "You're in the west building like me. Something above the second floor."
Doctor Webb grinned, and it made his silver fox look even more appealing. "Sixth floor."
Nodding with approval, Jacob told her. "That's like the penthouse level in my apartment complex."
Doctor Webb opened the door with a chuckle. "Not 'like,' Detective. It is."
Molly laughed softly and it seemed as if the door had just barely closed when it opened back up again.
