Chapter 4

When Carter awoke, it wasn't from any nightmare. He slowly came to consciousness by the subtle beeping of the heart monitor. He opened to eyes and his vision wasn't obstructed by an oxygen mask. Groggily he lifted his hand to and felt a nasal cannula in replacement of the oxygen mask. There was also no pinch of the IV in his hand anymore. Happier he was getting better; he looked out the window where the morning sunlight was streaming through and smiled. He then looked for Dana and frowned when she was absent. Before he could wonder where she would be a knock at his door interrupted him.

"Good morning, Mr. Grayson." said the woman doctor. "I heard you're doing better today." She switched off the heart monitor and began taking off the leads attached to him.

"I guess, I am." he said. "Doctor?"

"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I'm Doctor Stevenson."

Memories flooded through Carter at the sound of her name. Steven, the boy he was looking for in the warehouse before it blew. While Dr. Stevenson was checking his vitals he asked. "How's the boy?"

She stopped checking his blood pressure and looked at him slightly confused. "I'm sorry. The boy?"

"His name's Steven. Did he get out of the warehouse?"

Realization dawned on the doctor's face. She removed the blood pressure cuff and looked at him with sad eyes. "Carter…" she started to say, using his name for the first time.

He already knew what she was going to say. "He didn't make it, did he?"

"I'm so sorry. The medical examiner said he was already dead before the place exploded." she placed a hand on his arm as he stared at a point on the wall. "I'll give you a few minutes." she said and before she left, she turned to him. "You have to remember that you tried your best." Then she left him alone.

Carter slowly pulled the nasal cannula off his face. He thought he should be sad and crying or at least shocked, but he wasn't. Instead he felt sick. He then rolled out of bed and stumbled to the washroom in his room as fast as he could, silently thankful the hospital gave him a pair of scrub pants instead of a gown. He fell to his knees by the toilet and emptied what little food was in his stomach. After what seemed like an eternity of dry heaves, he sat against the wall while his chest throbbed from the exertion. He felt exhausted and closed his eyes to rest.

He didn't know how long he was sitting there when the washroom door was opened and Dana was kneeling by his side. She cupped his sweat soaked face with her hand and tilted his head so she could see into his tired eyes. "Hi Dana." he said slightly slurred.

"What happened?" she asked. Her face lined with worry.

"Got sick." he replied and he closed his eyes. He heard some muffled voices and two pairs of hands grabbed under his arms and lifted him to his feet. They shuffled out of the washroom to Kelsey, Chad and Joel with the same worried expression as Dana. "Hey guys." he said as Ryan and Dana helped him to the bed.

When he was situated back in bed and the nasal cannula back in place, the rest of the group came forward. Kelsey rested a hand on his arm. "We were just on our way to training and decided to stop in to say hi. You get better, it's pretty boring around the base without you there."

"Yeah, you're the only one she can talk into going rollerblading. She's bouncing off the walls right now." added Chad. He then got a playful punch in the arm by Kelsey.

"I have a plan to get you out of here by tomorrow." whispered Joel.

"How do you plan to get by the nurses?" asked Kelsey.

"I will use my amazing good looks and charm." he said. Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Come on Joel." said Chad and he and Kelsey shoved him out the door.

"Get better, Carter." said Ryan and he followed the others out, except Dana who was still by his side staring at Carter.

"What?" he asked.

She crossed her arms. "What's going on?"

He knew she was talking about the incident in the washroom. Instead he got right to the point. "When's the service?"

Her arms dropped to her sides. "What service?"

He looked right at her, annoyance clearly on his face. "Please don't play stupid with me Dana. I'm not in the mood."

She bowed her head. "It's in two days. When did you find out?"

Carter was ready to snap. "I found out from a doctor. Not from my friends, but a complete stranger. When were you guys planning to tell me, before or after the funeral?"

"We thought when you were better." she said in a quiet voice.

"It would still be as painful even if I was still in the hospital or back at the base!" he yelled and then coughed.

"I'm sorry, I thought it was best…" she started.

"Don't think you know what's best for me!" he yelled. She looked up at his eyes and saw they were bright with tears. She went to walk to him, but he turned away. "Just leave me alone." he said quietly. She stopped and the hurried out the door wiping tears from her face and leaving Carter to do the same.

(TBC)