Chapter 3: Storytime

Four days later

"Where the hell is Carter!" came the screech of Weaver. "He's late again!"

Abby looked up from the admit desk and saw that Weaver was staring at her. "I don't know," Abby said, "It's not my job to keep track of him."

The boss lowered her voice and straight to Abby said, "Maybe you could keep an eye on him. He's been acting erratic." And still quieter, "We don't want it to happen again."

"Don't worry," Abby responded, smiling, "It won't."

Kerry smiled back. "Thanks," she said and hobbled away.

But unfortunately the women hadn't been quiet enough. Abby pivoted and almost ran right into Morris and Pratt.

And Morris just had to stick his nose into the conversation. "So, what don't you want to happen again?"

"Well, I don't want you to ask me that again," she sarcastically remarked.

But Morris was persistent. "What? Does he have an anger problem? I could see him beating someone," he snickered.

Abby became defensive. "Carter's life is his business. Don't you have some patients to take care of?"

Pratt stepped forward. "You have to admit that he hasn't been acting like himself."

"He's been through a lot recently."

"Well, there he is again." Pratt nodded towards the door. "And it looks like he's been through another hellstorm."

Abby looked in that direction to find that Pratt was not lying . . . not even exaggerating. It looked as though Carter had been dragged to hell and back. He had stubble on his face, deep circles under his eyes and his body looked drained, not only of energy but also of mass. Abby had suspected that Carter had been losing weight, but since he was naturally thin, it had been hard to tell. Now, however, it looked as though his clothes were hanging off of him. Probably drinking his dinners, she thought to herself. Wait, he's coming towards me. She hadn't seen him since that night at his mansion when she ran out. And she wasn't quite ready to face him again. She tried to make herself look busy but it was too late. He was already at the desk.

"Abby," his voice was quiet and scratchy, "could I speak with you for a minute?"

"Uh, yeah." She put down her chart and they walked into the empty lounge.

"Listen," Carter started as he poured himself a cup of coffee, "I'm really sorry about the other day." He saw that she was staring at the floor and hugging herself. She's still afraid of me. He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. She flinched and took a step back, the same way he had with her at his house.

"Don't worry about it Carter. You're having a rough time. I understand."

She turned and started towards the door but stopped when Carter said, "I'm sorry I scared you, but you know I'd never hurt you, right?"

She turned to face him but found herself once again staring at the floor and hugging herself. "All I could think about was when my neighbor, Brian, attacked me."

"I didn't attack you-."

Her eyes shot up, "Well that's sure as hell what it felt like." And she stormed out of the lounge and into the washroom. She needed to be alone for a few minutes. Finally, she pulled herself together, wiped some stray tears from her eyes and walked out of the washroom.

As she made her way back to the desk to retrieve her chart, she overheard Pratt say to Morris, "Did you know that Carter was mugged a while ago?"

"Who'd you hear that from? The nurses? 'Cause you can't trust a word they say."

"No man, he told me."

"Well, if he said it . . . Can't say I'm surprised with that fat wallet."

Abby interjected, "Carter was never mugged."

"Maybe he just never told you about it," Pratt said, "Listen, I got it from the source-."

"He told you that he was mugged?"

"Well, he didn't really tell me. But I saw the scars on his back."

Abby's heart stopped.

"Pratt," she said, "Those aren't from being mugged."

Morris was interested now. "What are they from then?"

Abby was about to tell them but then stopped. It was none of their business. So instead of giving details she said, "He's been through more than anyone should have to go through . . . more than anyone at this hospital."

"More than Romano?" Morris asked.

"Definitely-."

"I find that hard to believe. I mean Romano had his arm chopped off and then he was crushed-."

"I know what Romano went through. Carter's been through more. Trust me." That seemed to shut them up. Abby tried to focus on her charts again, but she was interrupted by Pratt.

"So what did happen to him?"

Without looking up, Abby responded, "None of your damn business."

"Okay, then I guess we'll just have to ask Carter."

This got her attention and she accidentally dropped the chart she had been holding. "Fine!" she said, a little too loud, as she picked up the chart. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she mumbled to herself. "You guys better drop this whole thing after I tell you." She looked around and continued, "Let's go to the lounge." Luckily it was empty. "Okay, I'm going to make this quick, but you have to promise me not to mention this to anyone, especially Carter."

Both Morris and Pratt were waiting, wide eyed, for storytime. "Yeah, yeah, we promise," Pratt said with Morris nodding in agreement.

"Okay," Abby really didn't want to tell these idiots about this, but she also didn't want them to go to Carter. With all that he's gone through recently, he didn't need to be reminded of the accident. "Four years ago, on Valentine's Day, Carter's med student, Lucy Knight, was treating a patient named Paul Sobricki. Sometime during the ER Valentine's Day party he attacked them in Exam Room 3. It turned out Sobricki was schizophrenic but no one found out in time and so Lucy and Carter were stabbed repeatedly with an eight inch butcher's knife-."

"I remember seeing this on the news!" Morris realized. "And the chick died-."

"Her name was Lucy," Abby continued, "And yes she died. The entire hospital staff worked on both Lucy and Carter. But Lucy's injuries were too severe. She couldn't be saved. And they had to crack Carter's chest. He was lucky. He is lucky to be alive. And for four years, all of us who were here then have been trying to forget that awful day . . . especially Carter."

With a disappointed face Morris said, "That's it?"

Abby was confused, "What do you mean 'that's it'?"

"It wasn't much of a story." He walked toward the door.

"He almost died that day!" she shouted after him, "And it still haunts him!"

"Yeah, right," and he walked out of the lounge.

Abby muttered to herself, "Shit," but was consoled when Pratt remarked, "Don't worry; I don't think even Morris is stupid enough to mention it to Dr. Carter."

"I hope you're right."

I will forgive but I won't forget
And I hope you know you've lost my respect

You better watch out
If you don't know whats going on around you
You better think twice
Before you fly off the handle and lose it
You better join us
Before you get lost in the shuffle
You better rise against
The demons that are gonna try and hold you down

Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
The ones you love, the ones you love, the ones you love

Cause I'm not a pawn for you to play in your fucking game
I've got dignity and a dream that I want to achieve
The pressure, your troubled and you let me down
I'm not deaf and all I hear is your empty promises

Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
The ones you love, the ones you love, the ones you love

Does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love?
Yes it runs in your blood to betray the ones you love!
Yes it runs in your blood to betray the ones you love!
Yes it runs in your blood to betray the ones you love!

I will forgive but I won't forget
And I hope you know you've lost my respect

Yes it runs in your blood to betray the ones you love
Yes it runs in your blood to betray the ones you love

Song: Blood Papa Roach

Please Review! DMJ