One week till ER's season premiere... could it be that last premiere ever? this is a short story, but my next chapter is almost done... I think hell hath frozen over... this rapid fire writing is freaky. DMJ
Chapter 20: For Heaven's Sake!
Luka stood in front of them again. He hated that he had to do this, but knew that it was necessary.
"What evidence do you have?" Kerry asked.
"He confessed to the Vicodin," Luka said as he took out the bottle. "And I took them from him, although I'm sure he has more. I've suspended him. What's the next step?"
Anspaugh spoke, "I'm hesitant to let him come back."
"But if we abandon him," Kerry replied, "he may just give up on himself. I say we do the same as before: offer to get him help in rehab or he's fired."
"I don't like this anymore than you do, but we can't keep letting him get away with this or he'll keep doing it."
"He's not getting away with anything," interjected Luka. "But I think that he has to know that this is it. If he goes to rehab and comes back, there can be no more chances. No more trips to rehab courtesy of the hospital, no more tolerance from us."
Kerry sighed, "You're both right. I suppose I am avoiding the gravity of the matter. I just don't want to lose him. I'll give him a couple of days to realize where he is. Then I'll call and let him know his options."
And that was that. No one wanted to deal with him in this way, but no one could deny that something drastic needed to be done. For the sake of the patients. For the sake of the hospital. For the sake of Carter's life.
We're damaged people
Drawn together
By subtleties that we are not aware of
Disturbed souls
Playing out forever
These games that we once thought we would be scared of
When you're in my arms
The world makes sense
There is no pretense
And you're crying
When you're by my side
There is no defense
I forget to sense
I'm dying
We're damaged people
Praying for something
That doesn't come from somewhere deep inside us
Depraved souls
Trusting in the one thing
The one thing that this life has not denied us
When I feel the warmth
Of your very soul
I forget I'm cold
And crying
When your lips touch mine
And I lose control
I forget I'm old
And dying
Song: Damaged People by Depeche Mode