Part 26 Ruined plans? Make New Ones.
Steve was tired, not just tired, weary. He felt like this a lot these days, even when he was getting some sleep, however disturbed. Since he had had only about two hours sleep the previous night his general tiredness was giving way to exhaustion. Still, he did not want to go to bed, did not want to even try to sleep. At least whilst he was awake he felt that he had some semblance of control. The mere thought of going to sleep to wake into another nightmare like the one the previous night nearly sent him spiralling back into panic every time he considered it. He had to admit, however, that eventually something would have to be done. For now he would do everything he could to keep himself awake how ever he felt. He even refused to take the sleeping pills that he had been happily using the last few nights.
Dr. Carter had been reluctant to force Steve to allow them to sedate him. She knew it may become necessary but recognised the importance for Steve that he maintain some kind of control at the moment. Another sleepless night would not help but if he did wake to another attack, having been forced to sleep, that could be even more damaging. Just in case there were further problems she left instructions that she be paged to come back in. She still did not know what to make of Steve's latest setback.
Steve had spent much of the day talking or at least being encouraged to talk. He didn't want to talk any more. He didn't want to have to think or feel or deal with anything. His thoughts were never better than jumbled. The only time he felt any sort of relief was when he was with Laura. Maybe it was because she didn't expect anything from him other than his company or possibly that he just felt that he was in some way helping her. He didn't know but he was sure of one thing; when she was around he could relax.
He knew that the therapy sessions and group sessions were there to help him but that put pressure on him to perform, to do all that he could to get better. Even in his emotional state Steve could not shake the compulsion to live up to other people's expectations of him. So he felt the pressure to keep up his side of the bargain and participate. With Laura there was no such pressure.
They played board games until long after everyone else had gone back to their rooms. Dr. Carter had seen the positive effect that the two were having on each other and had left instructions that they be allowed to associate as much as possible. Laura, having seen the state Steve had been in earlier had asked for and received permission to sit with Steve until he had settled for the night. She did her best in her own way to persuade him to try to sleep. When that failed she settled for getting him to lie back in bed and at least relax.. She sat in the chair by his bed and watched him, hoping that he would lose his fight and fall asleep.
Ryan was becoming increasingly incensed by the events of the evening. He looked down once again at the young doctor lying at his feet. How dare they interfere with his plans like this. A bunch of amateurs who dabbled in crime and a police detective still wet behind the ears and probably with an IQ to match his age if Ryan's experience of most of the police were anything to go by. How dare they! Ryan aimed a viscous kick into Jesse's ribs as he vented his frustration on the prone form.
Despite his unconscious state Jesse emitted a groan and instinctively curled over to protect the site of the pain but the movement was not pronounced enough to provide any real protection. Ryan noted the feeble attempt and kicked him again in the same spot. How dare they! He repeated to himself for a third time. Jesse emitted another groan and curled up more. The sound was enough to alert Ryan to the fact that if he carried on someone would come to see what was happening. He took a deep breath. This was no time to lose his composure and control. He had to decide what to do next.
For a moment he considered taking Jesse to replace his intended victim. It would serve the doctor right for interfering and he could definitely have some fun with him!
Then an evil grin spread across his face. No there was something that needed to be done anyway and the fact that Dr. Mark Sloan had interfered with his plans made the timing all the more perfect. It gave him the perfect excuse for getting rid of Steve Sloan with no one suspecting that it had anything to do with him being a patient at community general. He would make certain that Dr. Sloan knew just why his son had met his demise on this particular evening. Everyone would believe that it was just revenge for having his plans spoilt that had led to Steve's death and he could have some fun in the process. Up to now Ryan had been devising a tragic accident for Steve to avoid too many questions being asked but now it was perfect. Steve could be killed however he wanted and Mark's interference in the case would be blamed.
Ryan had a feeling close to elation as he realised how faultlessly this could all play out. He took one last look at Jesse and smiled to himself. Then he slipped out of the fire exit and back to his car. He had errands to run and plans to make.
Steve had been lying on his bed staring at the ceiling for over an hour. He could not, would not, allow himself to sleep. He looked over at the chair where Laura sat patiently and watched him.
"Are you going to sit there all night?" He asked concerned.
Laura shook her head, no and mimed that she was just waiting for Steve to go to sleep.
Steve sighed "and if I don't go to sleep?"
She shrugged and pointed at the chair.
"Then you'll stay there all night?" Steve said.
She smiled and nodded.
Steve smiled back. "You are incorrigible"
She nodded again.
Steve lay back on the bed again and this time allowed himself to close his eyes. Reassured by Laura's presence.
Amanda looked at her watch again. Jesse had been gone for an awful long time and she was beginning to get concerned. She had just decided that she was going to have to get Mark to go and look for him when there was a squeal and a commotion at the back of the room over by the corridor to the restrooms. A young woman who had been heading for the bathroom came back into the bar. "Please somebody get help," she yelled. "There's been some sort of accident."
Amanda was out of her chair and moving before the woman had got the first word out. "It's OK I'm a doctor," she said calmly. "Tell me what's happened."
By now Amanda had reached the woman who garbled her reply. "I don't know this guy's just lying there, not moving. He looks hurt and.." She did not get a chance to finish
"Jesse!" Amanda interrupted as she rounded the corner to see her friend lying curled and unconscious on the floor. She rushed to his side where she was joined by Mark who had followed close behind her.
He too gasped as he saw his young protégé lying on the floor. "Oh God Jesse." He muttered.
Amanda felt for a pulse and checked that Jesse was breathing. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realised that he was at least alive. She began checking for injuries.
Nathan joined them. It had taken him a little longer as he had had to give instructions to Lucy just in case this was some sort of diversion. Someone had to keep a watch on Daniel. "Jesse," Nathan said "Is he alright?"
"He's been hit on the head," said Amanda. "Beyond that I can't tell. We need to get him to somewhere with more light so I can examine him properly."
"There's the manager's office," said one of the waiters who had joined them in the now very overcrowded narrow corridor.
"Could you help us get him in there?" Asked Mark.
The waiter nodded and he, Mark and Nathan gently carried Jesse through to a small office off the side of the bar, where they laid him on an old couch.
"I'll go and get Jesse's medical bag, I think he has it in his car." Amanda said and disappeared.
Nathan looked down at Jesse. "Oh God this is all my fault. Is he going to be alright?"
Mark was examining Jesse again now that they had light to see by. He looked closely at the wound on the side of Jesse's head. "Well he's probably got a mild concussion but I think he should be alright, yes."
"Thank God. You look after him. I'm calling this whole thing off." And with that he left the room.
Mark was too busy concentrating on caring for Jesse to notice the self recrimination in Nathan's words.
"Do you want me to call the police? An Ambulance?" The waiter asked.
Mark was a little surprised he had forgotten that the waiter was still in the room. He smiled at the question. "Not at the moment. The man who just left is a police detective and myself and the young woman who went to the car are both doctors at community general hospital. I think we're OK for now."
The waiter was a little nonplussed at the information. "I see.well .. is there anything else I can do to help?"
"If you could get an ice pack"
"Sure," and the waiter left the room.
This time Mark was left alone with Jesse who began to show signs of stirring.
"Jesse, Jesse can you hear me?" Mark asked.
As Jesse returned to consciousness he experienced two unpleasant sensations simultaneously, nausea and pain. He heard Mark's voice at first as though it was a long way away and then gradually closer, until he realised that Mark was right next to him. He opened his eyes and instantly regretted it as both the pain and the nausea increased. He quickly closed them again and groaned.
"It's OK Jess," Mark said. "Just take your time."
Jesse swallowed down the nausea and tried again to open his eyes, more slowly this time. It wasn't quite so bad although there was another stab of pain. He managed to keep his eyes open. "Where? What happened?" He asked confused.
"It's alright Jess," said Mark gently. "You took quite a blow to the head. You've probably got a mild concussion. Do you remember anything about what happened?"
Jesse closed his eyes and tried to think. It took a couple of minutes. Mark waited patiently. "We're at a bar right? We came to protect someone?"
"Yes a man called Daniel Simms," Mark confirmed.
Jesse concentrated again. "I was sitting at a table with Amanda. I got up to go to the bathroom and then.." Jesse paused. "And then I woke up here," he said.
"You don't remember anything about getting hit?"
"No," Jesse said dejectedly.
"Never mind. It was unlikely that you would. As I said it's quite a nasty blow you took."
Amanda returned with the medical bag and an ice pack that the waiter had given her. "Come on let's check you out properly." She said. "Do you think you can sit up."
"If you give me a hand," Jesse said, "But I'd arm myself with a bucket if I were you, just in case." He smiled.
Amanda smiled back glad that Jesse was well enough to joke. She picked up a waste paper basket. "Consider me suitably armed," she said moving to his side. She and Mark tried to help Jesse to a sitting position as gently as they could. They did not get very far before Jesse cried out in pain and clutched his side. Mark and Amanda exchanged worried glances. There was obviously another injury besides the blow to the head. Jesse took several deep breaths to control the pain, although even breathing, he realised, hurt. When he was ready to continue he nodded and, favouring the injured side, he managed to get to a sitting position.
"We're going to have to get your shirt off to look at your ribs," Amanda said, handing him the ice pack to put on his head.
Jesse took the ice pack gratefully and gingerly placed it over the growing lump on his scalp. "Why? Do you think there may be something wrong?" He asked jokingly.
Amanda wasn't sure whose spirits he was trying to raise; theirs or his own. "Just humour us alright." She replied.
Jesse winced as he raised his arm and Amanda gently unbuttoned and pulled back his shirt. Both she and Mark let out an involuntary gasp at the already ugly purple bruise that covered his left side.
"That good huh?" Said Jesse trying to look down at the injury for himself. It was a mistake. The sudden movement sent a stabbing pain through the side of his head and a wave of dizziness and nausea claimed him. Amanda recognised the signs and positioned the waste paper basket just in time. With each retch a new wave of intense pain swept up from his injured side as the damaged muscle tissue was forced to convulse.
Mark and Amanda could do nothing except watch and wait for the spasms to subside. When they finally stopped Jesse dropped back exhausted, breathing as deeply as he dared as he attempted to control the pain. Nathan re- entered just as Jesse collapsed back.
"I'm going to give you something for the pain but I can't give you anything too strong because of the concussion," Amanda said. Jesse nodded weakly.
Mark picked up the ice pack from where Jesse had dropped it and gently placed it back on his head. "And then we need to get you to the hospital," he said.
"No, We've got a job to do here," Jesse protested doing his best to sit straight on the chair.
"Not any more," said Nathan. "I've called this observation off. Lucy is talking to Daniel Simms right now to fill him in on what we've been doing and then she's going to wait with him until some backup arrives. They'll escort him home. I'm not risking anyone else getting hurt."
"But we don't even know if the attack on me had anything to do with the case."
"Doesn't matter. Our ability to remain inconspicuous disappeared the moment you were hit." Nathan said flatly, "and the chances are that you got hit because of the case Jess. It's too much of a coincidence otherwise. I should never have got you involved." The self recrimination was once again clear. This time Mark picked up on it.
"You wouldn't have been able to keep us out of it," Mark said. "Especially not after my talk with Steve earlier."
"We're persistent meddlers you know." Amanda tried to lighten Nathan's obviously heavy mood. The young detective was clearly blaming himself for Jesse's injuries.
"Yeah and I'm OK really" Jesse added, "I've got a hard head you know."
"You're all very kind but it's my case, my responsibility. I'm sorry."
Mark sighed, God this young man reminded him of Steve, did they teach this attitude at the police academy or something. "Before we start throwing blame about. Lets get Jess to the hospital and then try to figure out exactly what happened and why."
"I agree," Jesse said. The others were surprised that he was giving in to going to the hospital so easily until he added, "but I think we need to figure out exactly what happened before we leave here. There may be things that we need to look at." He paused before resolutely stating. "I'm not going to the hospital and being left out of this whilst you send me for X- rays and scans. I need to be here to help you figure out what happened. My injuries will keep. They are not life threatening. So we stay here till we figure out what happened."
Mark and Amanda wanted to argue but as a skilled ER doctor there was no one better to assess the clinical priorities of a patient than Jesse. The concussion was worrying but there were no signs that it was anything other than mild and he knew for a fact that they were less than five minutes from the ER at Memorial Hospital if there was a problem. One look at the stubborn expression on Jesse's face and they both knew that further discussion was pointless. Jesse would go to hospital once they had figured out what had happened and not before. So the best thing to do was to concentrate on working that out.
Jesse looked from Mark to Amanda and knew that he had won his argument for the moment. He was relieved, despite his strong words he felt awful. It was difficult to say which of his symptoms was worse, the pain, nausea or dizziness. He did know that if they hadn't accepted his reasoning he wouldn't have had the strength to put up much of a fight.
"OK," said Mark "let's start with figuring out why you were attacked. If we assume that it wasn't anything to do with the case for the time being. What could it be?"
"A mugging?" Amanda suggested.
"Was anything taken?" Nathan asked.
Jesse put his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and a handful of lose change. He fumbled to open the wallet with one hand, the other was holding the ice pack.
Amanda moved to help him. Gratefully Jesse handed her the wallet so she could check it for him. She counted the bills. "$45," she said and then pulled out Jesse's driving licence, hospital Id card, credit card and ATM card.
Jesse examined the displayed contents. "Nothing missing," he confirmed, "and I didn't have anything else of value on me. My cell phone was in my jacket pocket and I left that at the table with Amanda."
Mark frowned. "So it wasn't a mugging."
"Unless he was disturbed," Amanda suggested, "before he could take anything."
"No, I don't think so. I had a word with the young woman who found him. She said that there was no one else anywhere around and the exits were clearly visible to her. If she had disturbed someone she would have seen them leaving." Nathan said. "I'm inclined to agree with Mark, not a mugging."
Jesse was going to nod his agreement but then thought better of it. He spoke instead, "And I don't think I have any enemies in this part of town. None that I know of anyway."
"What no jealous husbands or disgruntled patients?" Amanda couldn't help teasing.
Jesse smiled. "Maybe if we were closer to home.. But no I can't think of anyone who'd have a reason to want to hit me."
"Which leads us to conclude that either this was a motiveless random act of violence." Mark said.
Nathan interrupted, "which is extremely unlikely. Motiveless attacks are rare,"
"Or," Mark continued, "This is connected to the case which brought us here and if that is true it leaves us with more unanswered questions."
"Like how did the attacker know that Jesse was here investigating the case." Amanda suggested.
Mark nodded. "And why hit Jesse? We have no idea what this man looks like. If he walked past us on the street we wouldn't be able to identify him. It doesn't make sense."
Everyone sat quietly for a few minutes considering the questions. Finally Jesse broke the silence. "And my head hurt before I started thinking about this," he said.
Ryan left his flat carrying his medical bag. It did not, however, contain the usual selection of drugs, dressings and instruments that one would expect to find. It did contain a couple of hypodermic syringes which Ryan had carefully prepared, but these were not for the healing of the sick. It also contained a selection of electronic equipment necessary for bypassing the hospital security systems without being spotted, as well as one or two of Ryan's other 'toys'.
Ryan had changed his clothing and spent a short time refining his plans. Most of the groundwork for what he was about to do he had prepared earlier, knowing that he may have to break into the psych ward unnoticed so he could arrange Steve's little 'accident.' The fact that he was now going to make his being there a little more obvious and, he couldn't help but think, a little more enjoyable, required only slight changes to his strategy.
One of these little changes involved typing the note for Mark to find after the event. He had enjoyed writing that, savouring the thought of the emotional pain it would cause the good doctor when he found it. It almost made up for having his plans ruined.
Ryan got into his car and set off on the five minute journey to the hospital.
Laura stood up as quietly as she could and moved over to the bed. Steve's breathing had been slow and even for twenty minutes now and his eyes were closed. She smiled down at him. It looked like he was finally asleep. For the first time that day he looked truly calm. Laura felt better about the fact that she would soon have to go back to her room. The nurses had given her a lot of leeway allowing her to stay with him so long but she was still a patient herself and they had to consider her well-being as well as Steve's.
Laura decided that before she went she needed to check that he was really sleeping. She placed her hand gently on his cheek for a moment feeling the warmth of his skin and then she brushed the hair from his forehead. Steve did not stir. She pulled her hand away and watched him a few minutes longer.
The nurse entered to do her half hourly check. She indicated that it was time for Laura to leave. Satisfied that he would be alright, Laura nodded and went with the nurse to return to her room. Leaving Steve alone and sleeping peacefully.
Steve was tired, not just tired, weary. He felt like this a lot these days, even when he was getting some sleep, however disturbed. Since he had had only about two hours sleep the previous night his general tiredness was giving way to exhaustion. Still, he did not want to go to bed, did not want to even try to sleep. At least whilst he was awake he felt that he had some semblance of control. The mere thought of going to sleep to wake into another nightmare like the one the previous night nearly sent him spiralling back into panic every time he considered it. He had to admit, however, that eventually something would have to be done. For now he would do everything he could to keep himself awake how ever he felt. He even refused to take the sleeping pills that he had been happily using the last few nights.
Dr. Carter had been reluctant to force Steve to allow them to sedate him. She knew it may become necessary but recognised the importance for Steve that he maintain some kind of control at the moment. Another sleepless night would not help but if he did wake to another attack, having been forced to sleep, that could be even more damaging. Just in case there were further problems she left instructions that she be paged to come back in. She still did not know what to make of Steve's latest setback.
Steve had spent much of the day talking or at least being encouraged to talk. He didn't want to talk any more. He didn't want to have to think or feel or deal with anything. His thoughts were never better than jumbled. The only time he felt any sort of relief was when he was with Laura. Maybe it was because she didn't expect anything from him other than his company or possibly that he just felt that he was in some way helping her. He didn't know but he was sure of one thing; when she was around he could relax.
He knew that the therapy sessions and group sessions were there to help him but that put pressure on him to perform, to do all that he could to get better. Even in his emotional state Steve could not shake the compulsion to live up to other people's expectations of him. So he felt the pressure to keep up his side of the bargain and participate. With Laura there was no such pressure.
They played board games until long after everyone else had gone back to their rooms. Dr. Carter had seen the positive effect that the two were having on each other and had left instructions that they be allowed to associate as much as possible. Laura, having seen the state Steve had been in earlier had asked for and received permission to sit with Steve until he had settled for the night. She did her best in her own way to persuade him to try to sleep. When that failed she settled for getting him to lie back in bed and at least relax.. She sat in the chair by his bed and watched him, hoping that he would lose his fight and fall asleep.
Ryan was becoming increasingly incensed by the events of the evening. He looked down once again at the young doctor lying at his feet. How dare they interfere with his plans like this. A bunch of amateurs who dabbled in crime and a police detective still wet behind the ears and probably with an IQ to match his age if Ryan's experience of most of the police were anything to go by. How dare they! Ryan aimed a viscous kick into Jesse's ribs as he vented his frustration on the prone form.
Despite his unconscious state Jesse emitted a groan and instinctively curled over to protect the site of the pain but the movement was not pronounced enough to provide any real protection. Ryan noted the feeble attempt and kicked him again in the same spot. How dare they! He repeated to himself for a third time. Jesse emitted another groan and curled up more. The sound was enough to alert Ryan to the fact that if he carried on someone would come to see what was happening. He took a deep breath. This was no time to lose his composure and control. He had to decide what to do next.
For a moment he considered taking Jesse to replace his intended victim. It would serve the doctor right for interfering and he could definitely have some fun with him!
Then an evil grin spread across his face. No there was something that needed to be done anyway and the fact that Dr. Mark Sloan had interfered with his plans made the timing all the more perfect. It gave him the perfect excuse for getting rid of Steve Sloan with no one suspecting that it had anything to do with him being a patient at community general. He would make certain that Dr. Sloan knew just why his son had met his demise on this particular evening. Everyone would believe that it was just revenge for having his plans spoilt that had led to Steve's death and he could have some fun in the process. Up to now Ryan had been devising a tragic accident for Steve to avoid too many questions being asked but now it was perfect. Steve could be killed however he wanted and Mark's interference in the case would be blamed.
Ryan had a feeling close to elation as he realised how faultlessly this could all play out. He took one last look at Jesse and smiled to himself. Then he slipped out of the fire exit and back to his car. He had errands to run and plans to make.
Steve had been lying on his bed staring at the ceiling for over an hour. He could not, would not, allow himself to sleep. He looked over at the chair where Laura sat patiently and watched him.
"Are you going to sit there all night?" He asked concerned.
Laura shook her head, no and mimed that she was just waiting for Steve to go to sleep.
Steve sighed "and if I don't go to sleep?"
She shrugged and pointed at the chair.
"Then you'll stay there all night?" Steve said.
She smiled and nodded.
Steve smiled back. "You are incorrigible"
She nodded again.
Steve lay back on the bed again and this time allowed himself to close his eyes. Reassured by Laura's presence.
Amanda looked at her watch again. Jesse had been gone for an awful long time and she was beginning to get concerned. She had just decided that she was going to have to get Mark to go and look for him when there was a squeal and a commotion at the back of the room over by the corridor to the restrooms. A young woman who had been heading for the bathroom came back into the bar. "Please somebody get help," she yelled. "There's been some sort of accident."
Amanda was out of her chair and moving before the woman had got the first word out. "It's OK I'm a doctor," she said calmly. "Tell me what's happened."
By now Amanda had reached the woman who garbled her reply. "I don't know this guy's just lying there, not moving. He looks hurt and.." She did not get a chance to finish
"Jesse!" Amanda interrupted as she rounded the corner to see her friend lying curled and unconscious on the floor. She rushed to his side where she was joined by Mark who had followed close behind her.
He too gasped as he saw his young protégé lying on the floor. "Oh God Jesse." He muttered.
Amanda felt for a pulse and checked that Jesse was breathing. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realised that he was at least alive. She began checking for injuries.
Nathan joined them. It had taken him a little longer as he had had to give instructions to Lucy just in case this was some sort of diversion. Someone had to keep a watch on Daniel. "Jesse," Nathan said "Is he alright?"
"He's been hit on the head," said Amanda. "Beyond that I can't tell. We need to get him to somewhere with more light so I can examine him properly."
"There's the manager's office," said one of the waiters who had joined them in the now very overcrowded narrow corridor.
"Could you help us get him in there?" Asked Mark.
The waiter nodded and he, Mark and Nathan gently carried Jesse through to a small office off the side of the bar, where they laid him on an old couch.
"I'll go and get Jesse's medical bag, I think he has it in his car." Amanda said and disappeared.
Nathan looked down at Jesse. "Oh God this is all my fault. Is he going to be alright?"
Mark was examining Jesse again now that they had light to see by. He looked closely at the wound on the side of Jesse's head. "Well he's probably got a mild concussion but I think he should be alright, yes."
"Thank God. You look after him. I'm calling this whole thing off." And with that he left the room.
Mark was too busy concentrating on caring for Jesse to notice the self recrimination in Nathan's words.
"Do you want me to call the police? An Ambulance?" The waiter asked.
Mark was a little surprised he had forgotten that the waiter was still in the room. He smiled at the question. "Not at the moment. The man who just left is a police detective and myself and the young woman who went to the car are both doctors at community general hospital. I think we're OK for now."
The waiter was a little nonplussed at the information. "I see.well .. is there anything else I can do to help?"
"If you could get an ice pack"
"Sure," and the waiter left the room.
This time Mark was left alone with Jesse who began to show signs of stirring.
"Jesse, Jesse can you hear me?" Mark asked.
As Jesse returned to consciousness he experienced two unpleasant sensations simultaneously, nausea and pain. He heard Mark's voice at first as though it was a long way away and then gradually closer, until he realised that Mark was right next to him. He opened his eyes and instantly regretted it as both the pain and the nausea increased. He quickly closed them again and groaned.
"It's OK Jess," Mark said. "Just take your time."
Jesse swallowed down the nausea and tried again to open his eyes, more slowly this time. It wasn't quite so bad although there was another stab of pain. He managed to keep his eyes open. "Where? What happened?" He asked confused.
"It's alright Jess," said Mark gently. "You took quite a blow to the head. You've probably got a mild concussion. Do you remember anything about what happened?"
Jesse closed his eyes and tried to think. It took a couple of minutes. Mark waited patiently. "We're at a bar right? We came to protect someone?"
"Yes a man called Daniel Simms," Mark confirmed.
Jesse concentrated again. "I was sitting at a table with Amanda. I got up to go to the bathroom and then.." Jesse paused. "And then I woke up here," he said.
"You don't remember anything about getting hit?"
"No," Jesse said dejectedly.
"Never mind. It was unlikely that you would. As I said it's quite a nasty blow you took."
Amanda returned with the medical bag and an ice pack that the waiter had given her. "Come on let's check you out properly." She said. "Do you think you can sit up."
"If you give me a hand," Jesse said, "But I'd arm myself with a bucket if I were you, just in case." He smiled.
Amanda smiled back glad that Jesse was well enough to joke. She picked up a waste paper basket. "Consider me suitably armed," she said moving to his side. She and Mark tried to help Jesse to a sitting position as gently as they could. They did not get very far before Jesse cried out in pain and clutched his side. Mark and Amanda exchanged worried glances. There was obviously another injury besides the blow to the head. Jesse took several deep breaths to control the pain, although even breathing, he realised, hurt. When he was ready to continue he nodded and, favouring the injured side, he managed to get to a sitting position.
"We're going to have to get your shirt off to look at your ribs," Amanda said, handing him the ice pack to put on his head.
Jesse took the ice pack gratefully and gingerly placed it over the growing lump on his scalp. "Why? Do you think there may be something wrong?" He asked jokingly.
Amanda wasn't sure whose spirits he was trying to raise; theirs or his own. "Just humour us alright." She replied.
Jesse winced as he raised his arm and Amanda gently unbuttoned and pulled back his shirt. Both she and Mark let out an involuntary gasp at the already ugly purple bruise that covered his left side.
"That good huh?" Said Jesse trying to look down at the injury for himself. It was a mistake. The sudden movement sent a stabbing pain through the side of his head and a wave of dizziness and nausea claimed him. Amanda recognised the signs and positioned the waste paper basket just in time. With each retch a new wave of intense pain swept up from his injured side as the damaged muscle tissue was forced to convulse.
Mark and Amanda could do nothing except watch and wait for the spasms to subside. When they finally stopped Jesse dropped back exhausted, breathing as deeply as he dared as he attempted to control the pain. Nathan re- entered just as Jesse collapsed back.
"I'm going to give you something for the pain but I can't give you anything too strong because of the concussion," Amanda said. Jesse nodded weakly.
Mark picked up the ice pack from where Jesse had dropped it and gently placed it back on his head. "And then we need to get you to the hospital," he said.
"No, We've got a job to do here," Jesse protested doing his best to sit straight on the chair.
"Not any more," said Nathan. "I've called this observation off. Lucy is talking to Daniel Simms right now to fill him in on what we've been doing and then she's going to wait with him until some backup arrives. They'll escort him home. I'm not risking anyone else getting hurt."
"But we don't even know if the attack on me had anything to do with the case."
"Doesn't matter. Our ability to remain inconspicuous disappeared the moment you were hit." Nathan said flatly, "and the chances are that you got hit because of the case Jess. It's too much of a coincidence otherwise. I should never have got you involved." The self recrimination was once again clear. This time Mark picked up on it.
"You wouldn't have been able to keep us out of it," Mark said. "Especially not after my talk with Steve earlier."
"We're persistent meddlers you know." Amanda tried to lighten Nathan's obviously heavy mood. The young detective was clearly blaming himself for Jesse's injuries.
"Yeah and I'm OK really" Jesse added, "I've got a hard head you know."
"You're all very kind but it's my case, my responsibility. I'm sorry."
Mark sighed, God this young man reminded him of Steve, did they teach this attitude at the police academy or something. "Before we start throwing blame about. Lets get Jess to the hospital and then try to figure out exactly what happened and why."
"I agree," Jesse said. The others were surprised that he was giving in to going to the hospital so easily until he added, "but I think we need to figure out exactly what happened before we leave here. There may be things that we need to look at." He paused before resolutely stating. "I'm not going to the hospital and being left out of this whilst you send me for X- rays and scans. I need to be here to help you figure out what happened. My injuries will keep. They are not life threatening. So we stay here till we figure out what happened."
Mark and Amanda wanted to argue but as a skilled ER doctor there was no one better to assess the clinical priorities of a patient than Jesse. The concussion was worrying but there were no signs that it was anything other than mild and he knew for a fact that they were less than five minutes from the ER at Memorial Hospital if there was a problem. One look at the stubborn expression on Jesse's face and they both knew that further discussion was pointless. Jesse would go to hospital once they had figured out what had happened and not before. So the best thing to do was to concentrate on working that out.
Jesse looked from Mark to Amanda and knew that he had won his argument for the moment. He was relieved, despite his strong words he felt awful. It was difficult to say which of his symptoms was worse, the pain, nausea or dizziness. He did know that if they hadn't accepted his reasoning he wouldn't have had the strength to put up much of a fight.
"OK," said Mark "let's start with figuring out why you were attacked. If we assume that it wasn't anything to do with the case for the time being. What could it be?"
"A mugging?" Amanda suggested.
"Was anything taken?" Nathan asked.
Jesse put his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and a handful of lose change. He fumbled to open the wallet with one hand, the other was holding the ice pack.
Amanda moved to help him. Gratefully Jesse handed her the wallet so she could check it for him. She counted the bills. "$45," she said and then pulled out Jesse's driving licence, hospital Id card, credit card and ATM card.
Jesse examined the displayed contents. "Nothing missing," he confirmed, "and I didn't have anything else of value on me. My cell phone was in my jacket pocket and I left that at the table with Amanda."
Mark frowned. "So it wasn't a mugging."
"Unless he was disturbed," Amanda suggested, "before he could take anything."
"No, I don't think so. I had a word with the young woman who found him. She said that there was no one else anywhere around and the exits were clearly visible to her. If she had disturbed someone she would have seen them leaving." Nathan said. "I'm inclined to agree with Mark, not a mugging."
Jesse was going to nod his agreement but then thought better of it. He spoke instead, "And I don't think I have any enemies in this part of town. None that I know of anyway."
"What no jealous husbands or disgruntled patients?" Amanda couldn't help teasing.
Jesse smiled. "Maybe if we were closer to home.. But no I can't think of anyone who'd have a reason to want to hit me."
"Which leads us to conclude that either this was a motiveless random act of violence." Mark said.
Nathan interrupted, "which is extremely unlikely. Motiveless attacks are rare,"
"Or," Mark continued, "This is connected to the case which brought us here and if that is true it leaves us with more unanswered questions."
"Like how did the attacker know that Jesse was here investigating the case." Amanda suggested.
Mark nodded. "And why hit Jesse? We have no idea what this man looks like. If he walked past us on the street we wouldn't be able to identify him. It doesn't make sense."
Everyone sat quietly for a few minutes considering the questions. Finally Jesse broke the silence. "And my head hurt before I started thinking about this," he said.
Ryan left his flat carrying his medical bag. It did not, however, contain the usual selection of drugs, dressings and instruments that one would expect to find. It did contain a couple of hypodermic syringes which Ryan had carefully prepared, but these were not for the healing of the sick. It also contained a selection of electronic equipment necessary for bypassing the hospital security systems without being spotted, as well as one or two of Ryan's other 'toys'.
Ryan had changed his clothing and spent a short time refining his plans. Most of the groundwork for what he was about to do he had prepared earlier, knowing that he may have to break into the psych ward unnoticed so he could arrange Steve's little 'accident.' The fact that he was now going to make his being there a little more obvious and, he couldn't help but think, a little more enjoyable, required only slight changes to his strategy.
One of these little changes involved typing the note for Mark to find after the event. He had enjoyed writing that, savouring the thought of the emotional pain it would cause the good doctor when he found it. It almost made up for having his plans ruined.
Ryan got into his car and set off on the five minute journey to the hospital.
Laura stood up as quietly as she could and moved over to the bed. Steve's breathing had been slow and even for twenty minutes now and his eyes were closed. She smiled down at him. It looked like he was finally asleep. For the first time that day he looked truly calm. Laura felt better about the fact that she would soon have to go back to her room. The nurses had given her a lot of leeway allowing her to stay with him so long but she was still a patient herself and they had to consider her well-being as well as Steve's.
Laura decided that before she went she needed to check that he was really sleeping. She placed her hand gently on his cheek for a moment feeling the warmth of his skin and then she brushed the hair from his forehead. Steve did not stir. She pulled her hand away and watched him a few minutes longer.
The nurse entered to do her half hourly check. She indicated that it was time for Laura to leave. Satisfied that he would be alright, Laura nodded and went with the nurse to return to her room. Leaving Steve alone and sleeping peacefully.