A/n: So...Yep. Another Story. I'm Preston, a Co-Author of this fic. I wrote the prologue, but the POV of Sammi will be written by my good friend Amylase. We dreamt up this fic about a day ago, and then we just got to it. Enjoy!
Hi I'm Amylase, a co-author of this fic. So a little bit about me: I like older men, animals, and am way overly obsessive about almost everything in my life. Jk about the older men part, but seriously a friend once suggested I make a new years resolution to not obsess so much... that lasted about 5 minutes. Like Preston said, we thought this up about a day ago and couldn't stop talking about it. So hope you like it!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The pictures were horrifying, psychologically damaging in their own way. He seemed fine, that last morning when Aidan and Josh saw Officer Gariety - a little slow, contemplative, but normal. The thought crossed his mind that Bishop was behind it, that he had decided to take things into his own hands and teach him a lesson. But that wasn't what happened. Bishop wouldn't have shown him the pictures of Garriety hadn't killed himself - it wouldn't have had the same effect.
Aidan would never know why he did it, perhaps he lost his sense of purpose, or he failed to erase Garriety's memory properly and he just couldn't cope with the knowledge of what the world really contained. Or, on a longer shot, maybe Bishop did kill him and only did it to get a reaction out of him. Whatever the reason, Aidan knew it was his fault. No matter what he did, no matter how he tried, he couldn't stop hurting people. Aidan sighed, his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes free of exhaustion and depression.
Bishop was becoming a problem, one that needed to be taken care of - elsewise, he would have to move again. And Bishop would follow him again, and the cycle would repeat. Aidan didn't want to go through that again, not now that he had friends, a home - a stable job. He would have to be dealt with. Deep in thought, he barely registered Josh's presence.
"Could this shift be any longer?" Josh groaned, rolling his neck.
Aidan's head snapped up, startled. "Yeah, I know what you mean."
"You ok?"
"I'm good. Just a little burned out. It isn't all that cheerful in the ER."
"Yeah...you're right. Hey, I know something that'll cheer you up. Come on!"
Aidan followed him reluctantly, allowing himself to be led out of the cafe, his cup of crappy hospital coffee left on the table.
"There's a new patient giving Doctor Rosenburg hell. She's driving him up a wall with her incessant chatter - and attached-at-the-hip-best-friend."
"And I'm interested, why?"
Josh paused only momentarily before grinning. "You'll see."
As they rounded the corner, Aidan heard shouting.
"This is all your fault!"
"It is not!"
"Carson, you know how much of a klutz you are - why would you have gotten on that ladder?"
"The light bulb was out! I went to Harvard, Sammi, I am perfetly capable of changing a light bulb."
"We both went to Harvard. That does not make you qualified to change a light bulb."
"Well...you're the one who wanted the vaulted ceilings to use as a movie screen for the projector you bought!"
"...Carson, the 'movie-on-the-ceiling' was your idea. Besides, I only agreed to take the place because you wanted the loft with window seats!"
"Wanted, not required! I am perfectly capable of changing a light bulb."
"Obviously not, seeing as you're in a cast."
"Not the point.
"It's entirely the point."
Josh grinned and lightly rapped on the door, sliding into the room with flourish and jello-cup filled jazz hands. The girl standing at the bedside, presumably Sammi, rolled her eyes and just looked at him with one eyebrow raised. Carson on the other hand, smiled openly and called out with childish glee.
"JELLO!"
Sammi turned to look at her with incredulity, giving her a look as if to ask 'Are you seriously encouraging him?'. Carson disregarded the blonde completely, sitting up a little straighter in the hospital bed.
"Don't be dissing my strawberry flavored Jello, Sammi."
"I'm not!"
Aidan stepped into the room awkwardly, feeling the part of an outsider. Josh, as observed, was actually...fitting in rather well. These girls, obnoxious and problematic though they may be, seemed to accept Josh in all of his awkward geekyness, with no prejudice or backhanded comments. Though the tall, leggy, blonde was shooting irritated looks at Josh, who was now doing his best Wookie impression, but they were no different than an older sister might give her brother.
"Oh, Sammi, speaking of which," Sammi turned her head back to look at Carson, realizing that she hadn't been paying a bit of attention. "Did you bring me some books?"
"Um yeah...yeah. They're in the car." Sammi was presently distracted, seeing Aidan for the first time out of the corner of her eye.
Carson followed her gaze and smirked, only a little, before calling Sammi's attention back into focus. "So, which ones did you grab?"
"Huh?"
Carson choked back a laugh. "Which books did you bring me?"
"I...don't know. I just grabbed the stack that was on your desk. I tried to wade my way in your room to get to your shelves, but your room was such a mess I couldn't get to the shelves."
"Sammi, keep your neurosis to yourself. The books from my desk are fine. Did you say you grabbed the stack from my desk? How'd you manage that?"
"Two trips. It's fine. I'll run and get them, then bring the second half up."
Carson gave a thoughtful 'hm', before turning her attention to Aidan. "So, who are you?"
"I'm Aidan, a nurse in the ER ward and Josh's roommate."
"Ah...I think I'll call you Edward." Carson snickered wickedly, sharing an amused glance with Josh.
"Edward?"
"You know, Twilight? You look like him. Well, how I imagined him. Not like Robert Pattinson. You're hotter."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't."
"Fine. But, as soon as I'm back on my feet, I'm doing two things: one, coming up with a cutesy nickname for you, and two, writing a romance novel about you."
Aidan cringed, having no idea what to do or say. Sammi, seeing his discomfort, sighed.
"Enough, Carson. Leave the poor guy alone and enjoy your painkillers while they last. It's not his fault he's hot. You," Sammi left the bedside and linked arms with Aidan "Come help me carry some books up?"
"Sure." Aidan smiled, suddenly very glad to be away from the crazy girl studying his face.
As they left, Aidan could've sworn he saw Carson wink.