Most of the Characters belong to well others soo..... I'm only playing with them for a little while I'll put them back none the worse for wear when I'm done Scouts honor.... If anyone noticed or cared a few of the characters are revisiting you just can't seem to keep them locked up once they get be a part of a story they just want more so here is my attempt to give them more...

A sound drew her from a light sleep she jumped up immediately looking over to Karen's restless shifting on the bed.Stretching her hands above her head trying to shift kinks she groaned Lord that feels good she covered her eyes and rubbed.Frowning what woke her? Raine walked to the bed and laid the back of her fingers against Karen's forehead. Normal placing her fingers against the pulse in her neck she mentally counted.A bit fast but it was steady.

It should have made her feel a measure of comfort but it didn't still she couldn't understand why she wouldn't wake. A sound drew her from her musings listening there it was again it sounded like someone at the door glancing at her watch she was surprised to see she'd been asleep longer than she thought. She moved thru the darkened apt turning on a light near the desk,she peered thru the peep hole to tired to bother scanning hopefully it could only be one person anyway.

Throwing the locks she opened the door forgetting she was standing there in an oversized t shirt.

Raine smiled wanly "hello, Dr. Tate thank you for coming I wasn't sure who else I could call."

"Hi..um I came as fast as I could" Ed glanced down taking in her clothing or lack of "you know I've seen that show a few times its kind of funny."

Raine blanked "what..?? Ooo .." glancing down she realized she opened the door wearing her nite shirt.

I'm so sorry feeling a bit slow and self conscious she gestured to the front I guess the *Duh* in this case is more than appropriate."

Ed smiled looking around he shifted "can I come in?" Raine closed her eyes flustered, "again my apologies I'm not really with it tonite."

Ed frowned," I understand.How is she?" Raine pushed her hair back back off her face trying to be objective and finally settled for what she did know. I wish I knew." We took in a movie Friday she was quiet but with all thats happened lately that seemed reasonable. We stopped to grab a bite to eat on the way home and she was complaining that her head ached."

Ed nodded "how did she seem?"

"Well.." she sighed she seemed like "Karen I mean," Raine sat on the couch rubbing her arms briskly she suddenly stopped and met his gaze what I mean is there was nothing to indicate that her condition was anything more than a tension headache.She didn't seem concerned so I wasn't really worried."

"I asked her if she wanted to call it a nite" and she agreed.

"Then??" Ed ventured."I called Saturday and got no answer just her machine. Again there wasn't anything strange in that I simply felt she was trying to rest, relax maybe have a lazy day."

" Sunday I had a few errands to do but once I had finished I called to see if she was better I got her but she could barely talk and what she did say made little sense." Raine paused rubbing her temple it felt like it hadn't stopped throbbing in two days.

"So .." she trailed off.

"So.. What makes you think its something more than exhaustion say mentally and physically Ed prompted??"

"Rained sighed "I don't Dr Tate." Ed reached for his bag. "call me Ed ok," Raine smiled tiredly alright.

"Ed I don't know that its not something simple or obvious. I'm not a Doctor."

Ed watched her silently a moment "what is it that you do then? I mean do you have a job or something or do you just hang out?"

She appeared surprised well.."I paint actually she managed to say,um mainly oils.. the occasional water color, hanging out she gestured with her hand doesn't really buy food when your hungry."

Ed nodded," you have a point there." Raine's head lifted she had a distant look in her eyes.Raine heard her name as if from a distance.

"Raine? can I see her now?" She glanced at him and stood," of course she seems to be waking anyway."

" While your with her I'll get dressed," she gestured at her attire. She entered the bedroom and went to the closet getting some clothes then headed toward the restroom. she paused turning she gazed at Ed he was staring at Karen's still form.

"Ed?

"hmm."

"She paused I thank you for coming but does anyone else know you're here?"

"Do you know if you were followed?" Ed shook his head,"no I don't know I did come right over."

" But followed? he shrugged, "I don't think so but I'm not exactly an expert at knowing one way or another." Raine nodded she hesitated anger,sadness,concern all vied for predominance within him.

"You know she never meant to hurt you." He remained silent but stiffened at her words he continued staring at Karen's sleeping form. Finally he shrugged, "she used me, it was all a lie."

"She used you, she admitted. But, she said slowly was it really all a lie?" He didn't answer but her question reminded him that for a brief time everything had felt so right. He looked up realizing he hadn't answered only to discover she'd entered the restroom to dress.

He sighed setting his bag down on the dresser there wasn't time for this now. Later later he could think about this decide what to do figure out what was real and what wasn't and then confront Karen once and for all. Now though he had to try to be as impersonal as possible.

But later never came. Less than five hours after he arrived Karen quietly died.One by one her internal organs simply stopped functioning. So far he could find no reason for it no reason at all why a once perfectly healthy twenty three year old woman would deteriorate that fast.

Slowly he rose from beside the bed to tell Raine he stood there staring yet not seeing anything suddenly it occurred to him he was numb.Clinically he realized he was in shock. Dazed he reminded himself this is why he hadn't gone into practicing medicine.He forced himself to stand and move toward the door he entered the living room and searching the room he saw Raine standing at the balcony door.

She was still with one arm wrapped around her other,her hand was clenched in a fist pressed against her mouth." Raine.. Raine? I..its Karen.God I'm sorry there was nothing I could do. Ed stepped closer to see her face to make sure she was understanding what he was telling her."

She was crying silently somehow they seemed more intense for it as if she would never stop. She had known, he'd forgotten her empathic abilities. "Raine he hesitated then touched her shoulder "I'm sorry her condition worsened I called an ambulance but she went to fast."

Raine turned her head,"what happened?" He shook his head,"I don't know I'm sorry."

She shook her head,"I need to know..We have to find out why this happened."

Ed silently agreed.