'In The Still of The Night Shift (part III)':

'Knowing When To Say No'

Rating: PG. It's good clean and wholesome.
Archive: Go for it
Disclaimer: And yeah Warner, Michael Chrichton etcetera, I'm messing with the sandbox, wanna make something of it?
Author's Notes: Third part of my alternative reality story, set sometime around the end of series 5 and the beginning of series 6. Hence, Lucy's not in med student heaven, Carter's sanity is not under question, and Carol's still dreaming a dream of 'him'.

And I'd like to give another thanks to my beta, Samantha Caldwell, for all the nice things she seems to find in my work, so thank you! She's also a fellow fanfic writer, and has written some pretty neat stuff, so if you've got time, GO READ!

All comments, suggestions, nice and not so nice things can be sent to angelpixiedust@bolt.com.

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"Candy?"

Lydia picked up another dozen or so charts with her left hand, and turned to face the group of seven year old brats- school children in home-made superman, supergirl, bright-white-sheets-with-three-holes-that-were-*not*-bright-white-sheets-with-three-holes again. "You were hoping for something a little more exotic?"

They looked up at her through bits of elasticated eyewear. "Well, we were hoping for something a little more cool. Y'know, something that none of the other guys from school'll have."

Lydia frowned mistily. She was thinking about the costume Al had whispered to her about this morning. Shaking her head, she returned her focus to the brats- school children, which were now watching her expectantly. "Something, cool huh?"

There was a chorus of 'yeahs'. She hesitated making her way out from chairs, the band of school kids a few steps behind. "Lydia?" Kerry called out to her as she passed them by. " That gonorrhea in four still there?"

Lydia smiled, turning to face her band of hopeful super heroes. "You kids know what gonorrhea is?"

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Carter whistled an out of tune sing-song as he placed the last of the vials of urine into the tray. Urine samples had a coolness factor of say five seconds tops.

"Let me guess," Dave said, adding his own labeled urine container to Carter's, "You are whistling..." he said, pausing dramatically as he made a mark resembling an 'x' on the patient's chart, "Carter's theme."

Carter gave a slight nod of the head, "Actually it's Carter's 'only one more hour 'till home' theme." He paused, adjusting several of the vials and then picking up the tray of urine he made a beeline for halls, Dave tagging along. Carter turned to smile at him cheekily, "So, you're still dealing with the kittens in three?"

Dave nodded smugly, "Make that a bunch of grateful kittens in three. I just got invited to only one of *the* most exclusive parties in Chicago. Driving them to it after my shift ends."

Carter nodded, wondering why Dave managed to get all the hot patients, whilst he was left handling the OAP's with incontinence. "Yeah? What're you going to go as?"

Dave still had that smug grin plastered across his boyish Mediterranean face. "Oh you know, a Doctor."

Carter smirked as his eyes scanned the swarms of busy people, "Gee, your imagination really went all out on that one, Dave."

Dave's smugness refused to budge. "What can I say, the chicks dig a guy in white." Yeah, almost as much as they like a sucker in white, Carter thought sardonically as Dave rounded back into curtain four.

Carter's eyes managed to settle on someone who was not looking so busy. "Lucy." He called out to the petite blonde, who was quietly leaving an examination room. She blinked, searching her surroundings whilst questioning if, finally, she had taken the small side step into the realms of insanity, Carter's voice being the voice of her deranged mind. He repeated her name and she found him. The relief on her face unreadable to Carter.

"Carter?" She asked, eyeing the large tray full of yellow-y liquids that he was carrying hesitantly.

"How're you feeling?"

Lucy shrugged, "Well, I'm still feeling a little fuzzy, and my back's a little stiff from the exam bed, why?"

Carter smiled, "Good, good. But I was thinking, maybe you should take a break from seeing patients for a while."

Lucy found herself smiling. Maybe Carter wasn't so bad after all, she thought. "Well, OK. So, what would you like me to do instead?"

Carter returned the smile, "You know where the labs are right-?"

Lucy nodded, "Yeah sure, but-"

Carter grinned again, handing her the tray of fluids. "Great, lab two will be fine Lucy."

She had barely managed to register the fluids in her hands before Carter was off down the corridors and out of sight. She groaned. "Yeah, great, Lucy. Just great."

Watching him become just another blip on the horizon she sighed, resigning herself to her assigned fate. Plodding along slowly to the nearest elevator she questioned her ambitious career choices. Carrying bottled pee had never topped her list of future aspirations.

"Lucy!" Malik said appearing out of nowhere with a knowing smile. He removed a hand from behind his back and another bottle of urine fell onto her tray.

Lucy groaned, "But, why-"

"Y'see I really would take it down, but... y'know how it is, Luce." Malik's attention was quickly devoted to a nurse several rooms down. He smiled, semi-apologetically, before calling out to the nurse, and then, before the bottle of bodily waste had time to settle, she was watching his dirt tracks as he made a speedy exit.

Voodoo dolls, Lucy thought vengefully, that's what I need, a do-it yourself voodoo doll kit.

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The girl sat up, throwing the occasional glance at him as he covered all the medical bases.

She was six years old, but only just, with lots of brown hair, two wide brown eyes, and small circular burns around her shoulders, bruises on her back, and not a word to say for herself. Not that Dave was expecting her to say anything. To give a lengthy description of all the 'why's' and 'how's' she was producing, but Dave figured that six year old girls usually responded well to the offer of free ice cream.

There's always an exception.

He got up, the examination complete, and a string of signatures and medical observations quickly transferred over to a waiting nurse. He turned to face the lady who'd brought her in, the girl's gym teacher. She had watched the ritual silently; unsure of what lines she could and couldn't cross.

"So she just collapsed in gym today, no complaints of headaches, or dizziness?"

The lady shook her head, "She's always been a little thin, never says much of anything. Poor thing."

Dave nodded, before turning to face the girl. "Hey Katie, Miss Matthews and I are just going to step outside for a bit, but we'll be right back, OK?"

Not even a shrug.

He sighed frustrated, and then held the door open for the lady. Turning to face her, he managed a small smile, something to help quell her unease. "Katie is suffering from dehydration, she's malnourished, emaciated, and has a bad case of diarrhoea. We'll tank her up with some IV fluids, and make sure she gets something to eat, but," He paused, glanced at the little figure inside the room, and then back at the teacher who was wearing a sincere face of concern. "-There's only so much we can do for her, without a guardian's consent." Another pause, "would you be willing to sign some forms, allow her into out custody?"

Miss Matthews sighed, thinking about all the lines she was crossing again. "Um, I really don't think..."

She was holding back. Dave could see it in her eyes. "Look, we'll do the best we can, but by this time next week, she could be out, and this'll happen five, six more times, before anybody who gives a damn gets it seen to that it doesn't." He paused, "Now you can either help her now, or we can let nature run its course."

Another sigh, and a weak, trying smile. "Her mother, her mother is the one you'll have to talk to. Sometimes it'll be two hours before she picks her up, sometimes three. And, um, I've seen her, well, she shouts...but I, I never thought that she..." She glanced up at the young doctor nervously, and then nodded. "Yes, I'll, uh, I'll sign them."

Dave smiled, "Hey it's OK. We'll do our best," he stopped, giving her his sincere smile, "and thank you, I'm sure Katie will someday appreciate it." He patted her shoulder warmly, before proceeding over to the nursing office, to do just that.

Rounding a corner, he could feel a pair of hands grab at him from behind, and then he was aware of darkness, and the slam of a door in front of him.

"Wha...?"

"Shhhhh, it's just me..." A female voice replied, before slowly and calculatingly trailing her lips across his back.

His mind raced. 'Just me?' could mean just about every nurse from OB right through to the ER. "Uh..."

She turned him to face her. "Don't tell me you've forgotten." The bleached blonde, with fast fingers inquired, an eyebrow raised.

He shook his head. "No, no, of course not, um, Man-"

"Macie." She replied before pulling his lips onto hers. "From the OR."

He had time to nod, and remind himself which Macie, before her lips were trailing down the front of his chest and he really didn't care anymore.

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Luka eyed the desk clerk warily. She returned the look, a hint of mischief lurking in the corners of her mouth.

"Your turn Mr."

He nodded, and then picked up another card. He let out a small triumphant smile, three queens; one more and he would be the proud owner of his own personal coffee-making slave.

Randy pouted at the new card in her hand, and Luka could almost feel the win on the tips of his fingers.

"Dr Kovac! Just the man I want to see," Mark said, a forcedly chirper grin on his face as he approached the administration desk.

Luka glanced up at him, and quickly revealed his hand to Randy. Her smile increased, and she placed her own next to his. Four Aces. His eyes fell.

"Looks like someone owes someone else a couple of porches, and a beach house in San Diego if I'm not mistaken." She grinned.

Luka smiled standing up, "Would you settle for a job change? I get to be desk clerk, and you get to play God."

Randy smiled looking up at him as she picked up several discarded patient forms, "Would I get any money, glory or personal satisfaction?"

Luka paused. "Two out of three is not bad." He returned his gaze to Dr Greene, "Uh, Chunni said you needed to speak to me. What is it?"

Mark paused as he listened to the deep European-Americanised accent, only too aware of the effect it had on the ladies, and wondering how he could posses one himself. "How would you feel about getting some fresh air, for oh say, " he motioned with his hands," An hour, two hours?"

Luka gave Mark a funny look. "Why would you let me do that?"

Mark smiled knowingly, "Because I just ate, and there's been an accident on the interstate. Four-car roller derby. Two already certified. Really messy stuff."

Luka smiled with acknowledgement "Ah, I'm on ambulance duty."

Mark shook his head with another smile, and then Conni walked by, giving Luka a friendly nudge. "Have fun up there."

"Ok, I will," he said perplexed, quickly returning his attentions to their circular conversation.

Mark made a face. "Not exactly. We needed someone to man one of the copters, and um, I volunteered you."

Luka looked at him incredulously. "You mean I'm going to be flying in a helicopter? Now? Right now?"

Mark smiled, "That would be correct."

"But I-, I um," Luka began scanning his memories for one of those words that Dave would often use to get out of situations. "I uh- this is uh-"

"What he means is, he would prefer it if someone came with him," Abby ad-libbed, and they both turned to exchange looks with her. "Don't you, Dr. Kovac?" She asked, and he looked down at her questioningly. "Right?"

Luka turned back to Mark, figuring that his fate was already sealed anyhow, "Right. Someone to come with me," so dragging someone else along for company couldn't hurt.

Mark smiled at Abby's blatant attempt to get riled in, "Gee, and who do you suppose we could ask? Deb's off right now, Carter's got a patient, and Dave is nowhere to be seen. Hmmm..." He turned to look at a grinning Abby, rubbing his chin with mock thought. "Abby, what do you say? Want to keep Luka sane for a while?"

Abby shrugged with a light smile. "What the hell."

Mark smiled, and quickly gave them instructions on where they would have to go, and what would be expected of them. "You guys should be back here in half an hour tops. You both cool with this?"

"Does it matter if we're not?" Luka managed to mutter before Abby took hold of Luka's elbow, edging him towards the elevator before the rational side of Mark's brain had time to kick in. "Thank you Dr. Greene! You will not regret this. I promise."

Mark smiled as he watched them press the call button. "Just watch out for tall buildings, OK?"

Abby turned to smile at him one last time, before the metallic doors slammed shut in front of her. She could feel a surge of pure adrenaline; a touch of caffeine and all those happy hormones flow through her veins eagerly. Finally, something to look forward to. She turned to face Luka. "Man, this is so exciting."

Luka sighed, not even attempting to match her keenness, "Yeah, exciting." He repeated, the thought of it all already turning him a funny shade of green.

The doors to the top floor opened and Abby was the first to step out. She grinned pulling on the jackets the PA's there handed out with what Luka figured had to be an unlimited amount of enthusiasm. They were quickly briefed on safety precautions, and the do's and don'ts of treating a patient seven and a half thousand feet above ground.

They were escorted to the rooftop, and greeted by the sight of a whirring helicopter only meters away from them. From this high up, Luka could see right the way across Chicago. And if he bent forward, a lovely view of the ground.

"Exciting." He muttered again to himself.

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"Dr Greene, am I going to have to do this for you?"

He turned his head slightly, to catch a half smile dancing on her lips. He shook his head, returning his focus to the task at hand. "I can handle it, OK?"

Lucy stepped back a little, the contents in her hands swaying with the sudden movement. "Really? So what's it going to be?"

Mark pursed his lips, the look of intense concentration resuming residence on his face. His fingers rapped lightly against the tray, and his eyes again scanned through the possible options.

To hell with the four food groups.

"I'll have two chocolate donuts, an éclair, and a cup of your finest blackest coffee. Large, please."

The lady at the counter smiled efficiently, handing him his food and his change. Lucy followed behind him, managing to maintain status quo between drinking a large cup of hot chocolate, and carrying bottled samples. An impressive feat for a sleep deprived med student. Alas not something she could scribble on her prospective employment applications.

Lucy smiled, taking a seat with him at the back end of the wall. Far, far away from any sounds that might allude to the presence of an ER. She grinned, watching him wolf down the food with ease. "You do realise that your hips are probably going to hate you for that."

Mark paused momentarily, glancing up to look at her bemused expression. His lips outlined by dark brown smudges. "You not hungry?"

Lucy continued to watch the food disappear from the plate in front of him. She had a momentary vision of boils and pus and the stuff lurking between unwashed toes. "No. Not really. Well not anymore. And anyway they're all out of burritos. Again."

Suddenly, and almost too expectedly, the sound of beeping could be heard. Each automatically reached for their own pager, and then both proceeded to sigh.

Mark smiled, picking up the remainder of an éclair and the Styrofoam coffee cup. "Kid versus auto:-" he deepened his voice theatrically, "-Looks like this is another job for Batman."

Lucy returned the grin, leaning back against her plastic chair. "Sure does. Guess they're going to have to make do with an ER attending huh?"

Mark nodded, standing up and simultaneously stuffing the remainder of the éclair into his mouth un-self consciously. He waved Lucy a goodbye, and made a right out into the busy, festive halls of the hospital.

Lucy took several more quick sips of the coffee, before succumbing to the hazardous journey that lay ahead of her. Labs. At least she wasn't being underestimated, she thought wryly.

Kicking back her chair, and dumping the half full cup into the trash can she too re-entered the realms of County General; Halloween Night.

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