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the hospital would agree to it even if she were never in here. Jack was still technically her husband. Paxton shook her head. It was a whirlwind of information to take in. “I need to get out of here.”
    “I called your mother. She should be here soon.”
    “I don’t want her to come get me. I just need a cab,” she snapped. She knew her mother would only blame her again for what’s happening. She didn’t need to hear the words that she was already thinking. She just needed to be on her own. She needed to see Jack. Once she knew he would be okay she could leave and see that he gets the attention that he needs.
    “Alright, I will call a cab but I will not turn your mother away. She said she was coming and right now I think you need to let someone help you.” Dr. Keeler turned and walked out of the room.
    Paxton sat there thinking about what just happened. She was getting released and Jack was in the hospital. He signed the papers releasing the hospital of any liability from having Paxton do the surgery but he has to know the hospital still would not go through it. They can’t have a mental patient in the operating room let alone around a scalpel. She couldn’t imagine the lawsuits that could ensue if they did let her, not that she was going to even step foot in an O.R. She couldn’t handle it. She knew it would be too much. She just had to reason with Jack, get him to let someone else do the surgery, then she will walk away from him but first things first, she needed to get there. She started packing what little she had.
    ***
    Jack sat in his room. He waited for word from the hospital board. He demanded an outrageous request but they just had to let her do the surgery. Jack closed his eyes to remember the events of the day.  He was out driving around and thinking of Paxton and the reactions he has seen from her. She was broken. He could tell. She looked frail but when she stared at him, her grey eyes boring into him, he felt the hatred, the anger, and hurt. It was all in her eyes.  It was her eyes he saw when he swerved trying to miss the oncoming car. He drifted across the yellow line into oncoming traffic. The horn blaring brought him back to his senses. Jack then overcorrected, lost control and hit a nearby tree on the side of the highway. His car pinned his leg under the dash. He tucked one back otherwise he might be in danger of losing two legs. He knew he would need surgery to repair his leg.
    “Jack?” A voice came drifting in the room.
    “Please come in, old friend.” Jack tried to sit up a little bit more.
    “Please don’t feel the need to be presentable for me,” Jonathan quickly stated. Jack relaxed back down.
    “I came to discuss your surgery. You know I’m on the board here and I’ve been handling your request.”
    “There’s nothing to discuss. I refuse treatment unless she is the one giving it.”
    “I understand, however she’s in a mental facility. She is too unstable to be in the operating room. Quite frankly the board is torn about it. We all love her dearly but imagine the lawsuits that could come about if something went wrong.”
    “I signed the papers releasing the hospital of responsibility. I understand the risks. Dammit, it’s her only chance to come back,” Jack clenched his fists on the bed.
    “It’s not her only chance Jack. She can come back when she is ready seeing how it’s my understanding she checked herself into the facility. She is seeking treatment and once she is clear she has a job waiting. I will see to it.”
    “I don’t care. No one is touching me unless it’s Paxton. Let her prove she is not insane. Can’t you see she’s hiding in there because of me ?!” His anger boiled over.
    “Be that as it may Jack, she’s not cleared. Her doctor is keeping her there for a reason,” Jonathan tried to reason with Jack.
    “No, she’s getting released today. Check with her doctor. Dr. Keeler believes she is just hiding there. She’s too much of a textbook