Author's note: It took me some time, but I finally started a new story. I hope you'll enjoy it. Reviews (also critical) are always welcome!
Synopsis: When an old friend of Jack dies he has to face his past.
Disclaimer: Diagnosis Murder is property of PAX, CBS, Viacom and Paramount.
You can't erase your past
"Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you can't erase it."
E. B. White
Chapter 1
"No way! I can't believe that's how he broke his arm!"
"Well, it's true. His wife just told me," Mark said with a giggle. He was standing in the corridor of Community General Hospital with Jack, who was chuckling as well.
"Oh, there you are. We've been looking for you everywhere! Jack, this young man wanted to see you. He says he is an old friend of yours."
Mark and Jack turned around to Amanda and her companion.
"Hey Jack, long time no…" That's how far the 'old friend' got before Jack punched him square in the face, sending him to the ground. Amanda shrieked and Mark looked unbelievingly at his friend, whose mood has changed from laughing to downright furious within seconds.
"Jack, are you out of your mind? Why did you do that?"
"It's all right, doc," said the stranger holding his now bleeding nose while getting up from the floor. "I probably deserved that."
"You deserved that all right! And you better get out of my sight immediately."
Amanda handed the downed man a handkerchief, which was accepted gratefully. "Care to explain what this is all about?" she asked looking from Jack to the other man.
"Well, maybe I was a little exaggerating when I told you that I was an old friend of Jack. We had a bit of an argument the last time we saw each other."
"A bit of an argument? You call that a bit of an argument! You almost got me expelled from school so you could go on a date with my girlfriend. I can't believe you have the nerve to come here. I spent 24 hours in a prison cell, trying to convince the police that I wasn't into drug dealing and another two weeks convincing the headmaster to let me finish my final exam. Because of you I almost couldn't got to Med School."
"Oh, I remember that," Mark intervened. "Phil Miller, right?"
Phil only nodded and then continued. "Oh Jack, that was all a long time ago. And anyway, nothing bad happened. You are a doctor now, aren't you?"
"Just… leave me alone!" And with that, Jack turned on his heel and left, leaving behind the very stunned Mark and Amanda.
"Huh, didn't think that he would still be angry at me," Phil said while Mark and Amanda, who looked at him incredulously. "Well, would anybody of you be so kind and have a look at my nose? I think Jack actually broke it. He always had a mean right straight." That's what Mark got out of his stupor.
"Of course, follow me."
An hour later, Jack walked into Mark's office, having calmed down significantly.
"Mark, I want to apologise for my behaviour earlier. Phil's presence... it just triggered some very unpleasant memories."
"You shouldn't be apologising to me but to your friend. You broke his nose!"
"I already did that Mark. Everything's alright now. He won't even press charges."
"So, what did he want anyway?"
"He wanted me to do him a favour. I said no."
"You said no? Why's that?"
"You remember the first time we met?"
Mark nodded. "Yes, you were in a fight and one of your friends was shot. That's why you came here." Mark smiled upon the memory. The 16 years-old Jack had carried his friend into the emergency room. When Mark examined the injured kid, he noticed that he had already been bandaged by somebody else, which probably saved his life. As Mark was told later, it was Jack who took care of the boy. It was one of the reasons why Mark convinced Jack to study Medicine.
"The reason we got into that fight in the first place was that Phil had pissed off one of the guys the attacked us. Being friends with Phil always means trouble. Big time."
"You were not an innocent lamb yourself, remember?"
"Yeah, butI left all that behind a long time ago – thanks to you – and I'm not going to risk what I've got now just because of him. Funnily enough, he accepted it and left. Maybe he has finally grown up."
There was a knock on the door and Amanda came inside.
"Jack, I have bad news. Your friend Phil Miller was just brought in. Somebody shot him..."
"See what I mean? Where he goes trouble isn't far. How is he?"
"He is dead..."
