Chapter one: Morning Jerry.
"Morning Jerry" Came the call as six or seven different people passed the man at the desk. He swivelled in his chair trying to greet each one in turn
"Morning Doctor...Greene...Weaver...Ahh morning Hal...Jeanie...Lil...Ackh forget it..." he ended finally and swung his chair around to face the front again.
In the lounge the two Doctors chuckled with each other.
"And yeah, before you ask Kerry this is my final shift. After that it's nothing but me, Rachel and free time." Mark Greene smiled at the thought of it alone.
Kerry, the other doctor who had in fact had no intention of asking him...yet again, simply nodded her head and smiled back with a:" Sounds nice Mark. Coffee?"
"What's this I hear?" Doug stated as he emerged into the lounge rubbing his elbow. "Mark Greene. On holiday?" he said in mock disbelief and reaching over put his hand on Mark's forehead.
"Quick Kerry, Mark's either very ill or has been replaced by a pod-person." he grinned as his friend swatted the arm away.
"Get out of it Doug..." Mark declared as he thrust a Cup at the other Doctor who so obviously found the situation funny.
It was Kerry who broke up the argument." What happened Doug?" she asked taking a sip of her coffee and pointing her crutch at the man's elbow.
Doug looked down at the offending limb. "Ach nothing some kid didn't like getting his shots and gave me a kick for my trouble."
"Yikes..." Mark mumbled into his own cup. "I take it you've been having fun?"
Doug chuckled again. "Oh yeah been on 5 hours now and it's just been one barrel of laughs after the other. I'm in the Peds room if you need Me." he said and taking his cup he retraced his steps and left the other two o chat.
Now, how I know all of this may make you ponder. But ill explain in good time. Anyway what's important is what happened next.
The hands on clocks everywhere reached the hour; Doug emerged from the lounge with his coffee and bumped straight into a man in a black suit.
"Oh excuse me..." he said but the man simply looked up at him and smiled.
"It is no problem, please Doctor Ross do not concern yourself." He simpered in a cool and calculated tone.
He stepped to the side and walked over to watch an elderly woman on a vent. Doug frowned to himself and noting Jerry watching him he made his way over wiping down his scrub shirt with his hand as he went.
"Jerry."
"Yes Doctor Ross?"
"That guy. In the suit. Do you know who he is?" Doug asked sliding into a seat beside the desk clerk and draining his mug.
Jerry shook his head. "No. Didn't see him come in. didn't see him leave either..." He stated, causing Doug to turn and look. Sure enough the Man had gone. "Creepy looking though isn't he?"
Doug blinked. "Uhh what?" he asked.
"I said he's creepy looking isn't he. I've seen him about a lot these last few weeks or so wanders around I guess he's a lawyer or something. Trying to get in on some mal-practice suites."
Doug smiled faintly" He knew my name."
"Well that's not hard is it? Since you wear a name tag and are probably the most likely cause of this hospital's malpractice suites out of any of us." replied another voice.
"Ha-ha Kerry." Doug said as he watched the woman limp off to deal with a chest Pain. "So Jerr...What ya got for me?" he added.
Before Jerry could answer with a negative number of patients, a small pale boy with startling green eyes and almost white blond hair appeared at the desk. Where he came from people would later say they had no idea. But there he was and I can vouch for that. How? You ask? Well, because the boy was me.
"Excuse me." I said and smiled slightly up and the large man who looked over the desk at me. Ok granted while I was mature for my age I was only 9 or 10 and only a head taller than the desk edge itself.
"Yes?" he asked.
" Sorry, I was wondering if you could tell me how much longer I was gunna be, it's just its getting kinda late, I've been here for a few hours and I gotta catch the train home before the last one leaves at 7."
"That's...eight hours from now..." Jerry said in suspicion.
"Oh...is it?" I chuckled. "Sorry. My watch must have stopped, I didn't mean to be a pain ill go back and wait." I looked over at Doug and gave both men a smile and turned to go.
"Hey...hang on "Doug called as he came around the desk and kneeled down to my height." Hey kiddo, I'm Doctor Ross." he said gently.
"Hi, I'm Matthew." I told him.
"See that guy there? His name's Jerry and he's in charge of the people who come into the hospital. "He said to me and turning he addressed Jerry this time, almost out of ear shot." I'm going to take him down to the peds room. Keep a look out for a family member or something."
I watched this exchange of words and nods happen. The presence of both of them felt warm, safe and I smiled slightly to myself as I stood basking in the warmth. It did not last long however. A cold chill filled the air around the desk suddenly causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.
"Doctor Ross. We meet again." A black suited man said smiling as Doug very nearly stepped backwards into him searching for the source of the voice.
"Ahh yes, Mr...Mr., sorry I don't believe I caught your name..." Doug replied sounding friendly enough but at the same time he inched ever so slightly closer to me. The black suited guy seemed to notice. He looked at me, then at Doug again.
"Ahh of course..." he said his dark cold eyes piercing into mine. I stood my ground and he looked away.
"Tempest. Mister Timothy, Edward Tempest, Doctor. Attorney at law. It is a pleasure to meet you at last. I have been visiting a client of mine. Well more a soon-to be client of mine. You see I deal with the dead Doctor," he chuckled.
"Ahh of course. The dead..." Doug repeated somewhat sceptically wondering if he should call security or psyche. He looked down at me.
"Ha-ha no, I should perhaps re-phrase that. I deal with the families of the deceased, setting affairs in order ECT ECT..."
Doug nodded "ah-ha, well not to seem rude but if you'll excuse me I have a patient." he looked down at me again to make his point
"So I see...Good day to you Matthew." Tempest directed at me as we passed and for a moment Tempest's eyes flashed with a mixture of spite and of hate.
"And you Mister Tempest."
"I trust I shall be seeing you shortly." He said softly, his face mask like with the same sickly smile.
I smiled back. "Oh I doubt that Mister Tempest. But I'm sure you can find other things to occupy yourself with." I said my eyes flickering to the many bloody and bruised looking people in the ER.
He followed my gaze then laughed at me. Harsh and cold." You see much little one but you don't quite see the full picture. Doctor Ross. I hope to see you soon."
Doug smiled, not a full smile that reached his eyes, but a patient one. "I certainly thin you will Mister Tempest with the comings and goings you have been making these last few days."
Tempest chuckled and reached out a hand to pat Doug on the shoulder. It was at this Point I gave a groan and held my stomach.
"I feel sick..." I said weakly
Doug looked down at me. I had gone a few shades lighter. He bent and picked me up. " It's ok Buddy, you're ok.." he told me comfortingly as he turned and walked off with me towards a room only a meter or so away from where we had been standing.
As we vanished through the door I felt, more than saw Tempests out stretched hand, which had missed its intended mark because fall an inch or less in time to pat a passing grey haired man with a mop.
He chuckled again to himself as he watched the door swing close and still chuckling he turned don his heel and marched off down the corridor his feet making absolutely no sound on the floor and his shadow stretched long and thin in his wake, menacingly.