The problems with Murder
It was late on a Saturday afternoon when Mark, Jesse and Amanda were sitting in the doctors' lounge at Community General.
"I've gone almost nine hours without a break," Jesse said leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes.
"Yes me too it's been manic all afternoon." Mark replied sipping his coffee
"You know it's times like these that I'm glad that I don't work in ER!" Amanda said smiling at her friends "So I guess its BBQ Bob's for dinner tonight then!"
"Yes" the two men replied in unison
Alex then walked in to the lounge and flopped down on the sofa next to Jesse
"Uh! What an afternoon!" He said looking down at his blood stained clothes.
"Alex! What happened to you? You look like you've been in surgery!" Amanda asked surprised by his appearance. His normally neat hair was ruffled and he was sweating heavily.
"No I had some guy come in with an amputated leg. I had to stitch the end up and the guy wasn't that forthcoming even when he was drugged." Alex replied heaving himself off the sofa to make himself a coffee.
"Well you find that people generally aren't very co-operative when they've just lost a limb!" Jesse replied without opening his eyes.
"Hey Jess? You want some coffee?" Alex asked
"Yes please!"
"How long do you have to go?" Amanda asked her friends
"Only another hour, thank God!" Jesse said taking the coffee from Alex. Alex then sat down next to Jesse and sipped at his coffee thoughtfully.
"Alex? What wrong?" Amanda asked puzzled by her friend's vacant expression.
"I'm sorry. Nothing's wrong!" Alex replied taking a big gulp of coffee.
Jesse got up to add some more milk to his coffee.
"Alex?" he asked looking at the roster on the wall. "Yes?"
"Why are you still here? You were on the roster to come in a t six this morning. That was almost twelve hours ago! What are you still doing here?" Jesse said running his finger down the roster to Alex's name.
"Umm well I thought I would get some extra experience." Alex replied but the others weren't convinced.
The three sat and drank lots of coffee and were beginning to feel human again when suddenly the tannoy above them sprung into life.
"Dr Travis and DR Sloan to Trauma 3!"
"Oh no!" Groaned Jesse getting up and taking a large gulp of coffee.
"Amanda we'll meet you here in an hour." Mark said leaving the lounge after Jesse and pulling his coat back on.
"Ok guys see you later!" Amanda replied as the two men left the room! "Alex I've got an autopsy to do, would you like to come and help me?" She said looking kindly at him
"Oh yes please!"
Jesse and Mark hurried along the corridor, slightly more awake, and met Jane, one of the nurses, at the door.
"What happened?" Asked Mark peering inside. He could only see the body of a man lying on the gurney inside.
"Car accident. Only it wasn't an accident. Someone threw a brick off a freeway bridge!" The nurse replied helping the men into gowns! "I think you're going to need these it could be a very bloody procedure!"
"Right! OK! Lets do it!" Jesse said and the two men walked in. Mark gasped as he saw the man. Not only was his face covered with broken glass but he was one of Steve's old college friends Jake.
"Jake? Is that you?" Mark asked absolutely shocked by what he saw.
"Mmm hmm." The man replied unable to speak because of the excruciating pain he was in.
"Ok I'm going to need some morphine, a suture kit and some sterile dressings." Jesse said to Jane and then turned to look at the man. He must have been good looking under all the glass but Jesse knew that he would never look the same no matter how carefully he stitched the wounds up.
"Ok Jake I'm going to give you some morphine for the pain and then were going to give you a shot of anaesthetic to numb your face and then Dr Travis and I will start sorting you out. Ok?" Mark said to his patient feeling very sorry for his son's friend.
After a few minutes Jesse checked that Jake's face was totally numb and then began, with Mark's help, to remove the glass and stitch up the wounds. Both men were struck by how deep the wounds were and they both knew that it would take a lot of plastic surgery to get his face to look normal. Slowly the tension in Jake's body melted away as the morphine took effect. Jake was grateful that no glass had gone in his eyes and he cursed himself for having an old car that did not have a shatterproof windshield.
Half an hour later the two Drs were finished and Jake was able to talk carefully with his lips close together.
"Thanks Dr Sloan! How is Steve?" He said slowly.
"He's fine. He's a lieutenant for the Los Angeles Police. Dealing mainly with homicide. I'll get him to come and see you soon!" Mark replied looking down at Jake with sorrow in his eyes. "Anyway I had best be off now! I'm in tomorrow so I'll come and see how you're getting on."
"Thank you!"
Mark walked out and closed the door quietly behind him. He took off his gloves and robes and walked over to Jesse who was discussing Jake's condition with Jane and filling out his chart.
"Poor guy!" Jesse said. "He'll never look the same!"
"I know he's a friend of Steve's. They went to college together." Mark replied as they headed towards the pathology lab to meet Amanda. "You know I think I'll refer him to Mr Hurt the plastic surgeon."
"That's a good idea. You know it amazes me that one person's stupidity can cause someone else so much pain!" Jesse replied and held the pathology lab door open for Mark.
"I don't know what is wrong with people these days." Mark replied.
"Hey guys! What was that all about?" Amanda asked putting some files away
"Oh this poor guy came in with glass embedded in his face. Some idiot threw a brick off a freeway bridge!" Jesse said a touch of anger in his voice which showed he was deeply touched by what had happened to Jake.
"Oh my God that awful! I can't believe that!" she replied shocked as she got up and shut down the computer. "I hope you don't mind but I invited Alex to have dinner with us tonight? He just seems a little down."
"No not at all! Where is he?" Mark asked
"Well he just helped me do an autopsy on that stroke victim and then he went to say goodbye to one of his patients." She replied taking off her blood stained scrubs.
"Something's happened to him!" Mark said thoughtfully
"Yes I know. He was only scheduled to do a six-hour shift today. No one stays for that long if they don't have to, especially not the medical students they're normally off partying!" Jesse said
"I know he must be shattered! Jesse do you know what time he's meant to be on in the morning?" Amanda asked taking one last look around the lab to check that every thing was in the correct place and then led her friends out of the lab.
"He's in at twelve until three then he's got classes." Jesse replied shutting the lab door behind him.
"I'm in at ten. I'll see if he's here then." Mark said and then motioned to the others to be quiet as he saw Alex coming towards them.
"I'm starving! Lets go eat!" Jesse said quickly changing the subject as Alex joined them.
The four wandered out to the car park and chatted amiably about the day's events. Amanda noticed that Alex still looked distant and trouble but she didn't want to pry.
Steve was waiting for them at BBQ Bobs and they sat down to eat together.
"How was trade today?" Jesse asked Steve
"Lunch was really busy! Tonight has been a little quiet but it's picking up now!" Steve replied motioning to the waitress that they were ready to order.
"Oh Steve!" Mark said suddenly. "Jake came into the hospital today. The poor guy's had a nasty accident. You should go and see him if you have a chance."
"Oh my God! I haven't seen him in years. What happened?"
Mark and Jesse retold the story and Steve was shocked.
The conversation then moved onto work and the five talked about their day. They had all had long days and had a lot to tell and Alex was keen to tell the others about his first real patient and the others were pleased to see him happier.
"Where are our meals I'm starving!" Said Jesse looking toward the kitchen for his meal.
"I don't know! Would you guys mind helping me with a case?" Steve asked looking a little embarrassed.
"Yeah sure son what is it?" Mark asked sipping at his water
"Well there's been a string of rapes in L.A and unfortunately I've been assigned to the case! They all take place in broad daylight and in public places but there are never any witnesses." Steve replied fiddling absent- mindedly with the flowers on the table.
"We'd love to help but how come you're working on a case like this? It's a little.. Unusual for you not to be working with dead people!" Jesse replied, "I'm going to chase up our meals hang on!" He said getting up but the waitress was on the way to their table and he sat down quickly.
"Well the Captain thought I might like a change and there's very few murders at the moment. He has to give me something to do!" Steve said tucking into his meal.
"Alex do you want to help?" Amanda asked looking at him worriedly.
"Umm yeah sure whatever." Alex replied with little interest.
The others looked at each other quickly and Mark shrugged. All of them were convinced that something was up but no one knew what. Mark wanted to talk to Alex but he didn't want to pry. It wasn't long before the restaurant filled up with customers and Jesse and Steve left their friends to help run the grill.
"Well!" Amanda said getting up from the table and reaching for her bag. "I'd best get back. I want to see CJ and Dion before they go to bed. Give this to Steve will you?" Amanda said putting a ten-dollar note on the table "Do you need a ride home Alex?" She asked good-naturedly.
"No thanks. I'll be fine. I'd like to hang out here a little longer." He smiled up at her. "Say hi to the boys for me!"
Amanda got up and hugged them both and waved to Jesse and Steve as she left. Mark took full advantage of the privacy and took the chance to talk to Alex.
"Alex what's going on?" Mark asked.
"Nothing Mark. You know what I think I'd better go home and study!" Alex said quickly and got up and left leaving ten dollars on the table.
"But Alex I thought you...." Mark said calling after him but he was gone and Mark gave up.
"Hey what's up with Alex?" Jesse said returning to the table.
"I don't know! I just asked him if he was ok and he went really strange and just walked out saying he had to study!" Mark replied concerned. "I know something is going on I just don't know what!"
"What are you talking about?" Steve said walking toward the table with some ice creams.
"Oh it's just Alex. He's acting a little strange at the moment!" Jesse said taking the ice cream from Steve and almost knocking it out of his hands.
"Careful Jesse! Anyone would think that you hadn't eaten for a month!" Steve said quickly readjusting his grip on the sundaes. "I know he was a little quiet tonight but what do you mean by strange?"
"Well today he was stillat the hospital six hours after his shift ended and everytime we ask him if he's ok he gets all touchy." Mark replied taking his ice cream and Steve sat down at the table.
"Yes that does sound strange!" said Steve grimacing as he took too large a bit of his sundae and the cold went up his nose.
"Now son if you don't slow down eating I'll have to take that ice cream away from you!" Mark said with a twinkle in his eye.
The three men sat and talked until the last customers left and then they began to clean up the restaurant. Steve was over at the counter working out the days taking while Mark and Jesse wiped the tables down when suddenly the door burst open and a woman came running in screaming. Before she could say anything there was the sound of breaking glass and the woman fell to the floor.
It was late on a Saturday afternoon when Mark, Jesse and Amanda were sitting in the doctors' lounge at Community General.
"I've gone almost nine hours without a break," Jesse said leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes.
"Yes me too it's been manic all afternoon." Mark replied sipping his coffee
"You know it's times like these that I'm glad that I don't work in ER!" Amanda said smiling at her friends "So I guess its BBQ Bob's for dinner tonight then!"
"Yes" the two men replied in unison
Alex then walked in to the lounge and flopped down on the sofa next to Jesse
"Uh! What an afternoon!" He said looking down at his blood stained clothes.
"Alex! What happened to you? You look like you've been in surgery!" Amanda asked surprised by his appearance. His normally neat hair was ruffled and he was sweating heavily.
"No I had some guy come in with an amputated leg. I had to stitch the end up and the guy wasn't that forthcoming even when he was drugged." Alex replied heaving himself off the sofa to make himself a coffee.
"Well you find that people generally aren't very co-operative when they've just lost a limb!" Jesse replied without opening his eyes.
"Hey Jess? You want some coffee?" Alex asked
"Yes please!"
"How long do you have to go?" Amanda asked her friends
"Only another hour, thank God!" Jesse said taking the coffee from Alex. Alex then sat down next to Jesse and sipped at his coffee thoughtfully.
"Alex? What wrong?" Amanda asked puzzled by her friend's vacant expression.
"I'm sorry. Nothing's wrong!" Alex replied taking a big gulp of coffee.
Jesse got up to add some more milk to his coffee.
"Alex?" he asked looking at the roster on the wall. "Yes?"
"Why are you still here? You were on the roster to come in a t six this morning. That was almost twelve hours ago! What are you still doing here?" Jesse said running his finger down the roster to Alex's name.
"Umm well I thought I would get some extra experience." Alex replied but the others weren't convinced.
The three sat and drank lots of coffee and were beginning to feel human again when suddenly the tannoy above them sprung into life.
"Dr Travis and DR Sloan to Trauma 3!"
"Oh no!" Groaned Jesse getting up and taking a large gulp of coffee.
"Amanda we'll meet you here in an hour." Mark said leaving the lounge after Jesse and pulling his coat back on.
"Ok guys see you later!" Amanda replied as the two men left the room! "Alex I've got an autopsy to do, would you like to come and help me?" She said looking kindly at him
"Oh yes please!"
Jesse and Mark hurried along the corridor, slightly more awake, and met Jane, one of the nurses, at the door.
"What happened?" Asked Mark peering inside. He could only see the body of a man lying on the gurney inside.
"Car accident. Only it wasn't an accident. Someone threw a brick off a freeway bridge!" The nurse replied helping the men into gowns! "I think you're going to need these it could be a very bloody procedure!"
"Right! OK! Lets do it!" Jesse said and the two men walked in. Mark gasped as he saw the man. Not only was his face covered with broken glass but he was one of Steve's old college friends Jake.
"Jake? Is that you?" Mark asked absolutely shocked by what he saw.
"Mmm hmm." The man replied unable to speak because of the excruciating pain he was in.
"Ok I'm going to need some morphine, a suture kit and some sterile dressings." Jesse said to Jane and then turned to look at the man. He must have been good looking under all the glass but Jesse knew that he would never look the same no matter how carefully he stitched the wounds up.
"Ok Jake I'm going to give you some morphine for the pain and then were going to give you a shot of anaesthetic to numb your face and then Dr Travis and I will start sorting you out. Ok?" Mark said to his patient feeling very sorry for his son's friend.
After a few minutes Jesse checked that Jake's face was totally numb and then began, with Mark's help, to remove the glass and stitch up the wounds. Both men were struck by how deep the wounds were and they both knew that it would take a lot of plastic surgery to get his face to look normal. Slowly the tension in Jake's body melted away as the morphine took effect. Jake was grateful that no glass had gone in his eyes and he cursed himself for having an old car that did not have a shatterproof windshield.
Half an hour later the two Drs were finished and Jake was able to talk carefully with his lips close together.
"Thanks Dr Sloan! How is Steve?" He said slowly.
"He's fine. He's a lieutenant for the Los Angeles Police. Dealing mainly with homicide. I'll get him to come and see you soon!" Mark replied looking down at Jake with sorrow in his eyes. "Anyway I had best be off now! I'm in tomorrow so I'll come and see how you're getting on."
"Thank you!"
Mark walked out and closed the door quietly behind him. He took off his gloves and robes and walked over to Jesse who was discussing Jake's condition with Jane and filling out his chart.
"Poor guy!" Jesse said. "He'll never look the same!"
"I know he's a friend of Steve's. They went to college together." Mark replied as they headed towards the pathology lab to meet Amanda. "You know I think I'll refer him to Mr Hurt the plastic surgeon."
"That's a good idea. You know it amazes me that one person's stupidity can cause someone else so much pain!" Jesse replied and held the pathology lab door open for Mark.
"I don't know what is wrong with people these days." Mark replied.
"Hey guys! What was that all about?" Amanda asked putting some files away
"Oh this poor guy came in with glass embedded in his face. Some idiot threw a brick off a freeway bridge!" Jesse said a touch of anger in his voice which showed he was deeply touched by what had happened to Jake.
"Oh my God that awful! I can't believe that!" she replied shocked as she got up and shut down the computer. "I hope you don't mind but I invited Alex to have dinner with us tonight? He just seems a little down."
"No not at all! Where is he?" Mark asked
"Well he just helped me do an autopsy on that stroke victim and then he went to say goodbye to one of his patients." She replied taking off her blood stained scrubs.
"Something's happened to him!" Mark said thoughtfully
"Yes I know. He was only scheduled to do a six-hour shift today. No one stays for that long if they don't have to, especially not the medical students they're normally off partying!" Jesse said
"I know he must be shattered! Jesse do you know what time he's meant to be on in the morning?" Amanda asked taking one last look around the lab to check that every thing was in the correct place and then led her friends out of the lab.
"He's in at twelve until three then he's got classes." Jesse replied shutting the lab door behind him.
"I'm in at ten. I'll see if he's here then." Mark said and then motioned to the others to be quiet as he saw Alex coming towards them.
"I'm starving! Lets go eat!" Jesse said quickly changing the subject as Alex joined them.
The four wandered out to the car park and chatted amiably about the day's events. Amanda noticed that Alex still looked distant and trouble but she didn't want to pry.
Steve was waiting for them at BBQ Bobs and they sat down to eat together.
"How was trade today?" Jesse asked Steve
"Lunch was really busy! Tonight has been a little quiet but it's picking up now!" Steve replied motioning to the waitress that they were ready to order.
"Oh Steve!" Mark said suddenly. "Jake came into the hospital today. The poor guy's had a nasty accident. You should go and see him if you have a chance."
"Oh my God! I haven't seen him in years. What happened?"
Mark and Jesse retold the story and Steve was shocked.
The conversation then moved onto work and the five talked about their day. They had all had long days and had a lot to tell and Alex was keen to tell the others about his first real patient and the others were pleased to see him happier.
"Where are our meals I'm starving!" Said Jesse looking toward the kitchen for his meal.
"I don't know! Would you guys mind helping me with a case?" Steve asked looking a little embarrassed.
"Yeah sure son what is it?" Mark asked sipping at his water
"Well there's been a string of rapes in L.A and unfortunately I've been assigned to the case! They all take place in broad daylight and in public places but there are never any witnesses." Steve replied fiddling absent- mindedly with the flowers on the table.
"We'd love to help but how come you're working on a case like this? It's a little.. Unusual for you not to be working with dead people!" Jesse replied, "I'm going to chase up our meals hang on!" He said getting up but the waitress was on the way to their table and he sat down quickly.
"Well the Captain thought I might like a change and there's very few murders at the moment. He has to give me something to do!" Steve said tucking into his meal.
"Alex do you want to help?" Amanda asked looking at him worriedly.
"Umm yeah sure whatever." Alex replied with little interest.
The others looked at each other quickly and Mark shrugged. All of them were convinced that something was up but no one knew what. Mark wanted to talk to Alex but he didn't want to pry. It wasn't long before the restaurant filled up with customers and Jesse and Steve left their friends to help run the grill.
"Well!" Amanda said getting up from the table and reaching for her bag. "I'd best get back. I want to see CJ and Dion before they go to bed. Give this to Steve will you?" Amanda said putting a ten-dollar note on the table "Do you need a ride home Alex?" She asked good-naturedly.
"No thanks. I'll be fine. I'd like to hang out here a little longer." He smiled up at her. "Say hi to the boys for me!"
Amanda got up and hugged them both and waved to Jesse and Steve as she left. Mark took full advantage of the privacy and took the chance to talk to Alex.
"Alex what's going on?" Mark asked.
"Nothing Mark. You know what I think I'd better go home and study!" Alex said quickly and got up and left leaving ten dollars on the table.
"But Alex I thought you...." Mark said calling after him but he was gone and Mark gave up.
"Hey what's up with Alex?" Jesse said returning to the table.
"I don't know! I just asked him if he was ok and he went really strange and just walked out saying he had to study!" Mark replied concerned. "I know something is going on I just don't know what!"
"What are you talking about?" Steve said walking toward the table with some ice creams.
"Oh it's just Alex. He's acting a little strange at the moment!" Jesse said taking the ice cream from Steve and almost knocking it out of his hands.
"Careful Jesse! Anyone would think that you hadn't eaten for a month!" Steve said quickly readjusting his grip on the sundaes. "I know he was a little quiet tonight but what do you mean by strange?"
"Well today he was stillat the hospital six hours after his shift ended and everytime we ask him if he's ok he gets all touchy." Mark replied taking his ice cream and Steve sat down at the table.
"Yes that does sound strange!" said Steve grimacing as he took too large a bit of his sundae and the cold went up his nose.
"Now son if you don't slow down eating I'll have to take that ice cream away from you!" Mark said with a twinkle in his eye.
The three men sat and talked until the last customers left and then they began to clean up the restaurant. Steve was over at the counter working out the days taking while Mark and Jesse wiped the tables down when suddenly the door burst open and a woman came running in screaming. Before she could say anything there was the sound of breaking glass and the woman fell to the floor.