Title: Be Still My Heart What If
Part: 5/5
Rating: pg-13
Beta Reader: Scotty Welles
Disclaimer: Mine mine mine and mine. Hahahahhahaha
Randi laid the phone back in its cradle, still staring at the clock.
She'd just paged Dr. Greene; if he left now he could be here in about
fifteen minutes. He'd left work early, to go on some romantic dinner
with Dr. Corday, against Dr. Weaver's orders. Randi'd been sitting
right there during their fight.
She'd never heard Dr. Greene say things like that. He had been
deliberately mean, saying things that were cruel and unnecessary,
before he finally stormed out. Screaming that he wished she'd never
come to Chicago.
"Randi? Has there been any news yet?"
Randi looked at a pale Lydia and shook her head, still not trusting her
voice. Everyone had pulled together in the last hour, forgetting any
quarrels, or personal agendas. Even the usually childish Malucci was
being serious and quiet, speaking only when he had to.
Randi rubbed her eyes wearily. What she wouldn't give for a drink right
now? Carter she could've understood, Lucy, Lydia, Carol, even Greene.
But not Weaver. Sharp tongued, sharper tempered. The ER Drill Sergeant.
The phone cut through her thoughts. Randi snatched it up urgently; it
could be news. She could see everyone stop and move closer to hear.
"ER," she hissed softly as Dr. Greene's agitated voice spoke. "No,
Weaver didn't page you... Dr. Kovac... There's been an...accident, you
need to get up here now." Randi gripped the desk, her emotions
beginning to bubble up. "No, YOU look. As of 20 minutes ago, we're
short three doctors and one med student. So you get your fucking ass up
here now or I'll let a very pissed off Romano deal with you!"
Randi slammed the phone back down trying to calm down. She'd just told
off one of her superiors, that couldn't be a good thing. Although the
thing about Romano wasn't too far from the truth. From what she'd heard
Romano had been chewing out everyone and anything before he'd put
himself in charge of her surgery. She could just imagine what he'd do
to Greene if he decided not to respond to his page.
Now if they could just save Weaver.
Abby began to yank supplies off the shelves. She hadn't let her mind
think about Weaver too much in fear that she would end up like the rest
of the ER. Walking around in a shocked daze, holding a silent mass for
the woman that had brought order to their chaotic job.
The harsh redhead had been the one dependable thing in this place.
Everyone knew when she would yell, when she would be pleased, when to
argue with her, and when not to. You could expect her to be twenty
minutes early for her shift, except when it was the day after her day
off, then she'd be thirty minutes early.
She slammed the box of gauze back onto the shelf, trying to hold back
the watery feeling in her eyes. She didn't cry, she never cried. She
stared hard at the writing. Studying the white and blue box, the red
dripping...
She watched another drop of blood fall and splatter. Covering the black
writing. Her instincts screamed at her to just walk away but her head
was already lifting up. Searching for the source of the blood. The
glint of metal reflected from the top shelf confirming her suspicions.
"Uh...excuse me..."
The nearby cop looked over at her with disinterest. Clearly not wanting
to be bothered by the little lady as he'd referred to her earlier.
"I think I've found the weapon..."
The cop grabbed his belt, hitching it up with a bored expression, then
tugged at his crotch causing his pants to fall right back into the same
position. "Is that right, little girl?" The southern accent was now a
long drawl so heavy she could barely understand him.
"There's a knife up here covered in blood."
The young man flicked his police hat, causing it to fall back and
snorted with a small grin. "Sure there is."
Abby closed her eyes trying to keep from swinging at the bastard. Not
that it would be a bad thing, hell the other cops probably wouldn't
even care. They had been avoiding the guy since he'd showed up.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
Abby glanced over at Detective Murphy gratefully. "I found the weapon."
Murphy glared over at Jones, they were going to have a nice long talk
later.
Carter paced out of the ER into the winter night, flashing his ID badge
at the police barricade. He hadn't even bothered to put a jacket on
over his scrubs. He didn't have the energy. Peter had kicked him out,
promising to page him the second they knew something.
He saw Dr. Greene's van pull up, both him and Corday jumping out in a
rush as they saw the barricade. One of the cops stopping them demanding
to see there badges. He brushed his red-shot eyes, not wanting them to
see the tears that had been flowing on and off for the last hour.
They finally got their badges out and raced toward him. He could
already hear their unasked question, not wanting to be the one to tell
them. Not wanting to talk to Greene to begin with. The balding man had
yelled at her, told her to go back to Africa.
"Carter, what the hell is going on here?"
Carter glared at Mark and kept going. Let the bastard find out from
Randi, or Kovac. Kovac, the traitor, was working on Sobriki. Carter
stepped into the street, ignoring the screeching brakes and blaring
horns.
All that mattered was that one of the few people who knew him as a
person, knew him as the man he really is, was lying in an OR fighting
for her life.
Mark approached the front desk Elizabeth keeping pace easily. He
watched as a police officer walked by carrying a large bag with a long,
bloody butcher knife. The ER was strangely quiet, most of the staff
missing.
Even Randi's racy attitude was replaced by a quiet solemnness. She was
answering the phones on the first ring. That in itself told him
something was seriously wrong. "Randi, what the hell is going on around
here?"
The clerk stared at him for a long moment. "Maybe you should talk
to..."
"I'm asking you."
Randi sighed and slumped back, they were not going to like this.
Carter raised the cup of straight coffee and gulped it down in one long
take, the scalding liquid burning its way down into his uneasy stomach.
It made him feel something besides the numb that had engulfed him
shortly after she'd been taken up to surgery.
"Mind if we join you?"
Carter glanced up at Abby and Malucci, trying to figure them out.
Malucci's eyes were suspiciously puffy and red. His normal slouch was
now correct posture, standing straight and tall. He hated the young
man's brash and cavalier attitude but tonight he had shown that he was
capable of deeper emotions. "Has there been any news?"
Malucci slid in next to Abby, keeping his hands laid safely on the
table. "No, nothing."
"Guess who broke the news to the twins?" Abby smiled softly at them.
"Randi."
Malucci chuckled. He had been 'conveniently' standing near by when
they'd found out. Greene had actually suggested that this had to be
some elaborate prank to get back at him. When Randi simply turned away
and started to do paperwork, he'd paled considerably then made a
beeline for the elevators with Corday right on his tail.
"That must have been interesting."
"Lucy?" Mark sat in the chair next to the young med student. He wasn't
sure what to say or do. His own conscience was struggling with his own
guilt and regret from what he'd said to his colleague earlier. "It
wasn't your fault."
Nothing. Her glazed-over eyes were staring unblinking at the poster
that Romano had put up last year. 'God gave you life but doctors
preserve it.'
"Sometimes our job can be dangerous, and Kerry knew that when she chose
to go into emergency services. Your patient was just like all the
others and there was no way you could've known just how dangerous he
was."
"I saw Dr. Weaver this morning. She'd forgotten some files. I knew it
was her day off but I went after her anyway. She tried to ignore me but
I didn't let her... I was just so desperate for some sort of help...
For someone to actually take the time and answer my question's without
them getting impatient with me... If I hadn't forced her..."
Mark smiled remembering how Kerry had gone after Susan. "Lucy, you
didn't force Kerry into staying, in fact nobody can force her into
anything. All you did was offer her the chance to teach. A passion that
Kerry has always loved."
Lucy tore her eyes away from the poster to stare at him. She wasn't
quite ready to forgive him for his behavior earlier but she didn't
resent him as much as she had. Besides something told her that he was
doing a pretty good job of beating himself up over it.
She stiffened as Romano walked into view. His jaw was set in that way
that indicated he was struggling with his emotions, which was a bad
sign. His steps faltered in the doorway, deftly avoiding Lucy's gaze.
"Is she...?"
Romano raised his eyes to hers and pulled off the blue and white scrub
cap.
Carter smiled at Lydia's recount of the Halloween prank war. No one
could prove who the phantom prankster had been but the consensus was
that Weaver was responsible. Especially after she found her locker
super-glued shut.
Lydia's laughter faded off as she stared at the door. Gradually Malucci
and the others quieted everyone staring behind him. Carter swallowed
and turned around. Peter was standing there searching the diner for...
something.
Peter punched his hand and let out a sigh. Carter felt his heart
tightening against his chest and stood up to face his mentor. He
couldn't let himself believe that Kerry was... that she could be...
Lucy leaned her forehead against the large picture window that lined
the wall. Dr. Weaver's bright red hair glowed dully under the soft
lights of the room. She was so still, her body like a corpse.
"She's lucky." Elizabeth joined Lucy at the window. "If the knife had
gone in an inch to the right it would've hit her spine. As it is, he
almost nicked her heart."
"Will she be okay?"
"I think she will." Elizabeth squeezed Lucy's shoulder and nodded
towards Kerry's prone body. "Kerry's a survivor, and she has us here to
support her."
Lucy smiled with relief. Maybe things would work out after all.
Randi hung up the phone and smiled. She never had any doubt that Weaver
would survive. As her mother used to say, 'she's just to ornery to
die.'
Carter slipped into the dark living room, running his hand over the
soft, black leather couch. He dropped his coat onto the recliner next
to it and walked over to the stereo system. Kerry had left it turned
on. He reached up and pressed play. The soft music filling the
townhouse.
Since he was the closest person to Kerry, Dr. Kovac had left him in
charge of notifying any relatives. After checking her file, they'd
found that there were no emergency numbers listed. He walked to the
small room she used as an office.
He sat behind the large antique desk and pulled the address book from
the top drawer. He grinned to himself. She was always so meticulous,
even at home, and she would be coming back home. Maybe not right away,
but soon.
Part: 5/5
Rating: pg-13
Beta Reader: Scotty Welles
Disclaimer: Mine mine mine and mine. Hahahahhahaha
Randi laid the phone back in its cradle, still staring at the clock.
She'd just paged Dr. Greene; if he left now he could be here in about
fifteen minutes. He'd left work early, to go on some romantic dinner
with Dr. Corday, against Dr. Weaver's orders. Randi'd been sitting
right there during their fight.
She'd never heard Dr. Greene say things like that. He had been
deliberately mean, saying things that were cruel and unnecessary,
before he finally stormed out. Screaming that he wished she'd never
come to Chicago.
"Randi? Has there been any news yet?"
Randi looked at a pale Lydia and shook her head, still not trusting her
voice. Everyone had pulled together in the last hour, forgetting any
quarrels, or personal agendas. Even the usually childish Malucci was
being serious and quiet, speaking only when he had to.
Randi rubbed her eyes wearily. What she wouldn't give for a drink right
now? Carter she could've understood, Lucy, Lydia, Carol, even Greene.
But not Weaver. Sharp tongued, sharper tempered. The ER Drill Sergeant.
The phone cut through her thoughts. Randi snatched it up urgently; it
could be news. She could see everyone stop and move closer to hear.
"ER," she hissed softly as Dr. Greene's agitated voice spoke. "No,
Weaver didn't page you... Dr. Kovac... There's been an...accident, you
need to get up here now." Randi gripped the desk, her emotions
beginning to bubble up. "No, YOU look. As of 20 minutes ago, we're
short three doctors and one med student. So you get your fucking ass up
here now or I'll let a very pissed off Romano deal with you!"
Randi slammed the phone back down trying to calm down. She'd just told
off one of her superiors, that couldn't be a good thing. Although the
thing about Romano wasn't too far from the truth. From what she'd heard
Romano had been chewing out everyone and anything before he'd put
himself in charge of her surgery. She could just imagine what he'd do
to Greene if he decided not to respond to his page.
Now if they could just save Weaver.
Abby began to yank supplies off the shelves. She hadn't let her mind
think about Weaver too much in fear that she would end up like the rest
of the ER. Walking around in a shocked daze, holding a silent mass for
the woman that had brought order to their chaotic job.
The harsh redhead had been the one dependable thing in this place.
Everyone knew when she would yell, when she would be pleased, when to
argue with her, and when not to. You could expect her to be twenty
minutes early for her shift, except when it was the day after her day
off, then she'd be thirty minutes early.
She slammed the box of gauze back onto the shelf, trying to hold back
the watery feeling in her eyes. She didn't cry, she never cried. She
stared hard at the writing. Studying the white and blue box, the red
dripping...
She watched another drop of blood fall and splatter. Covering the black
writing. Her instincts screamed at her to just walk away but her head
was already lifting up. Searching for the source of the blood. The
glint of metal reflected from the top shelf confirming her suspicions.
"Uh...excuse me..."
The nearby cop looked over at her with disinterest. Clearly not wanting
to be bothered by the little lady as he'd referred to her earlier.
"I think I've found the weapon..."
The cop grabbed his belt, hitching it up with a bored expression, then
tugged at his crotch causing his pants to fall right back into the same
position. "Is that right, little girl?" The southern accent was now a
long drawl so heavy she could barely understand him.
"There's a knife up here covered in blood."
The young man flicked his police hat, causing it to fall back and
snorted with a small grin. "Sure there is."
Abby closed her eyes trying to keep from swinging at the bastard. Not
that it would be a bad thing, hell the other cops probably wouldn't
even care. They had been avoiding the guy since he'd showed up.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
Abby glanced over at Detective Murphy gratefully. "I found the weapon."
Murphy glared over at Jones, they were going to have a nice long talk
later.
Carter paced out of the ER into the winter night, flashing his ID badge
at the police barricade. He hadn't even bothered to put a jacket on
over his scrubs. He didn't have the energy. Peter had kicked him out,
promising to page him the second they knew something.
He saw Dr. Greene's van pull up, both him and Corday jumping out in a
rush as they saw the barricade. One of the cops stopping them demanding
to see there badges. He brushed his red-shot eyes, not wanting them to
see the tears that had been flowing on and off for the last hour.
They finally got their badges out and raced toward him. He could
already hear their unasked question, not wanting to be the one to tell
them. Not wanting to talk to Greene to begin with. The balding man had
yelled at her, told her to go back to Africa.
"Carter, what the hell is going on here?"
Carter glared at Mark and kept going. Let the bastard find out from
Randi, or Kovac. Kovac, the traitor, was working on Sobriki. Carter
stepped into the street, ignoring the screeching brakes and blaring
horns.
All that mattered was that one of the few people who knew him as a
person, knew him as the man he really is, was lying in an OR fighting
for her life.
Mark approached the front desk Elizabeth keeping pace easily. He
watched as a police officer walked by carrying a large bag with a long,
bloody butcher knife. The ER was strangely quiet, most of the staff
missing.
Even Randi's racy attitude was replaced by a quiet solemnness. She was
answering the phones on the first ring. That in itself told him
something was seriously wrong. "Randi, what the hell is going on around
here?"
The clerk stared at him for a long moment. "Maybe you should talk
to..."
"I'm asking you."
Randi sighed and slumped back, they were not going to like this.
Carter raised the cup of straight coffee and gulped it down in one long
take, the scalding liquid burning its way down into his uneasy stomach.
It made him feel something besides the numb that had engulfed him
shortly after she'd been taken up to surgery.
"Mind if we join you?"
Carter glanced up at Abby and Malucci, trying to figure them out.
Malucci's eyes were suspiciously puffy and red. His normal slouch was
now correct posture, standing straight and tall. He hated the young
man's brash and cavalier attitude but tonight he had shown that he was
capable of deeper emotions. "Has there been any news?"
Malucci slid in next to Abby, keeping his hands laid safely on the
table. "No, nothing."
"Guess who broke the news to the twins?" Abby smiled softly at them.
"Randi."
Malucci chuckled. He had been 'conveniently' standing near by when
they'd found out. Greene had actually suggested that this had to be
some elaborate prank to get back at him. When Randi simply turned away
and started to do paperwork, he'd paled considerably then made a
beeline for the elevators with Corday right on his tail.
"That must have been interesting."
"Lucy?" Mark sat in the chair next to the young med student. He wasn't
sure what to say or do. His own conscience was struggling with his own
guilt and regret from what he'd said to his colleague earlier. "It
wasn't your fault."
Nothing. Her glazed-over eyes were staring unblinking at the poster
that Romano had put up last year. 'God gave you life but doctors
preserve it.'
"Sometimes our job can be dangerous, and Kerry knew that when she chose
to go into emergency services. Your patient was just like all the
others and there was no way you could've known just how dangerous he
was."
"I saw Dr. Weaver this morning. She'd forgotten some files. I knew it
was her day off but I went after her anyway. She tried to ignore me but
I didn't let her... I was just so desperate for some sort of help...
For someone to actually take the time and answer my question's without
them getting impatient with me... If I hadn't forced her..."
Mark smiled remembering how Kerry had gone after Susan. "Lucy, you
didn't force Kerry into staying, in fact nobody can force her into
anything. All you did was offer her the chance to teach. A passion that
Kerry has always loved."
Lucy tore her eyes away from the poster to stare at him. She wasn't
quite ready to forgive him for his behavior earlier but she didn't
resent him as much as she had. Besides something told her that he was
doing a pretty good job of beating himself up over it.
She stiffened as Romano walked into view. His jaw was set in that way
that indicated he was struggling with his emotions, which was a bad
sign. His steps faltered in the doorway, deftly avoiding Lucy's gaze.
"Is she...?"
Romano raised his eyes to hers and pulled off the blue and white scrub
cap.
Carter smiled at Lydia's recount of the Halloween prank war. No one
could prove who the phantom prankster had been but the consensus was
that Weaver was responsible. Especially after she found her locker
super-glued shut.
Lydia's laughter faded off as she stared at the door. Gradually Malucci
and the others quieted everyone staring behind him. Carter swallowed
and turned around. Peter was standing there searching the diner for...
something.
Peter punched his hand and let out a sigh. Carter felt his heart
tightening against his chest and stood up to face his mentor. He
couldn't let himself believe that Kerry was... that she could be...
Lucy leaned her forehead against the large picture window that lined
the wall. Dr. Weaver's bright red hair glowed dully under the soft
lights of the room. She was so still, her body like a corpse.
"She's lucky." Elizabeth joined Lucy at the window. "If the knife had
gone in an inch to the right it would've hit her spine. As it is, he
almost nicked her heart."
"Will she be okay?"
"I think she will." Elizabeth squeezed Lucy's shoulder and nodded
towards Kerry's prone body. "Kerry's a survivor, and she has us here to
support her."
Lucy smiled with relief. Maybe things would work out after all.
Randi hung up the phone and smiled. She never had any doubt that Weaver
would survive. As her mother used to say, 'she's just to ornery to
die.'
Carter slipped into the dark living room, running his hand over the
soft, black leather couch. He dropped his coat onto the recliner next
to it and walked over to the stereo system. Kerry had left it turned
on. He reached up and pressed play. The soft music filling the
townhouse.
Since he was the closest person to Kerry, Dr. Kovac had left him in
charge of notifying any relatives. After checking her file, they'd
found that there were no emergency numbers listed. He walked to the
small room she used as an office.
He sat behind the large antique desk and pulled the address book from
the top drawer. He grinned to himself. She was always so meticulous,
even at home, and she would be coming back home. Maybe not right away,
but soon.