Beep, Beep, Beep...

John Carter lazily reached out to switch off his alarm. 6am! He thought. Man, no one my age is up at this time. He stumbled into the shower and then had a shave. He got dressed in his warm work clothes as it was a particularly cold day. The winters in Chicago were always cold, but today were particularly chilly. He sneezed about 20 times whilst getting dressed and hoped that he wasn't coming down with something. As a doctor who dealt with sick people every day, he tended to ignore many of the symptoms. It was only logical that he would get a sniffle every once in a while, right?

He arrived at the hospital at 8am ready for his 8.30 shift. He went into the doctors' lounge to get some coffee and see what food was about.

"Hey, Mark" he said to the ER attending whom he had admired for many years.

"Hey Carter. You on?" replied dr Mark Greene who was busy in his locker.

"Not till 8.30" replied Carter through a mouthful of baggle.

"Well, when you're on, find me. We've got a trauma coming in and I'm gonna need your help."

"Will do"

"Thanks. I gotta go" said Mark, and he ran out the door.

Carter sat on the couch for a few minutes and gathered his thoughts for the day ahead. He closed his eyes. He was a wee bit sleepy, which was weird. He'd had a good night's sleep. Ah well. He forced himself to get up and ran off to find Mark and the trauma.

"Chuny. Achoo-where's Mark-achoo" he said to a nurse as she walked past.

"Trauma one. Are you OK. You don't look so good"

"I'm fine" and he raced off.

Mark met Carter outside trauma one.

"Carter" he said and took hold of both Carters shoulders. "There was nothing we could do. She died"

"What-achoo-was her name" Carter half choked. He was out of breath because of his cold. And the fact that he had been running so fast.

"Naomi Campbell...Are you alright?"

Carter nodded still catching his breath.

"You don't look too good" Mark put his hand to carter's forehead. "You have a fever. Here" he dragged Carter into the nearest available exam room and took his temperature. "Temp's 101. You're going home" he said to Carter matter-of-factly.

"Mark. I don't wanna. I just came here" Carter moaned, ending in a small sneezing fit.

"No excuses Carter. I think it's just the flu, but it could be worse. Your temperatures really high and you're sneezing all over the place. I don't want you to endanger your life or the patients'"

"OK" Carter hesitated a little and then went into the lounge to get his stuff.