Who Blew Up the Ambulance Bay? Part I


Kerry Weaver stepped out of her car and slowly trudged through the foot high pile of snow towards the ambulance bay. As she walked, she noticed a siren not very far in the distance and searched her surroundings for any indication of smoke or fire. When she was satisfied that everything was clear she continued towards the hospital.



INSIDE:

"How are we supposed to break this to Kerry?" Luka asked no on unparticular. Next to him stood Mark Greene, John Carter, Susan Lewis, Randi, Cleo Finch, Abby Lockhart, and Helah Adams. All eight eyes stared unmoving at the large hole in the wall.
"Good question." Carter answered and flinched as a small piece of debris fell from where the ceiling used to be.



OUTSIDE:
As Kerry strode around the corner of the hospital she was passed by police car.
"You'd think they'd learn." She told the air around here. "I wonder which two gangs we have the pleasure of treating today."

Suddenly a gust of wind came and her hospital ID card fell from her coat pocket. Reaching down to pick it up, she missed the firemen who were walking away from the hospital.

"How many times is this now?" One of them asked.
"This makes three I believe. There was the car, then the bomb. I wonder what caused it this time." The other firefighter replied.
"Who knows? Maybe one of the interns was playing with matches." They both laughed.

Kerry shot up with a confused expression. She craned her neck but the owners of the voices were no where to be found. Arching her eyebrows she diligently walked towards the ambulance bay. When she got there she froze.

INSIDE:

"Whoever did this is going to be on nights until they retire!" The scream echoed through the large hole and into the ears of the Eight County General staff members. There was silence as all eyes shifted back and forth uneasily.
"Sounds like we won't have to break the news after all." Susan said wryly. There was another uncomfortable silence as the staff chewed their lips and fingernails. Finally, Carter spoke up.
"Well look at the time..." He checked his watch dramatically. "I've kept my patient waiting far too long!" With that he turned and ran from the front desk.
"Yea, he's right. I have sutures I should be doing." Abby rushed off after him. Helah simply pointed towards Abby and hurried after her.
"Oh there goes my pager. Looks like I'm needed in Exam 3." Cleo let a small grin touch her face before she hurried off down the corridor.

Mark, Susan, and Randi all looked at each other. Suddenly Mark's eyes widened.

"Susan..." He begged.
"Sorry Mark!" She replied with a smile and headed towards the exam rooms.
"You owe me!" Mark shouted as she disappeared. He turned to see Randi watching the hallway as well. Feeling his stare, she turned towards him.
"Sorry Dr. Greene, time for my break." She reached behind the counter to pull out her purse just as Kerry Weaver entered the ER.
"Mark! Would somebody please fill me in on what is going on here?" She headed towards him and he sighed deeply.
"The ambulance bay blew up." Randi replied from behind the desk. Kerry cocked her head and gave an exasperated look.
"Thank you Randi, I'm not blind. Now get back to work." She ordered.
"I'm on a break." Randi said, clutching her wallet to her chest.
"Not anymore you're not." Randi looked offended and slammed her purse back under the desk. "Mark can I speak to you in the lounge?" Mark just nodded and motioned for Kerry to go first. Once her back was turned he simply shrugged at Randi and followed.


Mark poured himself a cup of coffee as Kerry unloaded her belongings into her locker.
"Well?" She asked from behind the open locker. Mark turned and leaned on the counter.
"We're not sure how it happened. Witnesses say it just exploded. The fire department is fairly positive they can find the cause though. No one was standing close enough to be injured."

Kerry closed the door and put on her lab coat.
"Mark you do realize this is the second time in eight years this has happened to us?" Kerry began.
"Third." He mumbled.
"Pardon?" Marks head shot up and he cleared his throat.
"Third time, not second." He paused as looked at him in confusion. "It was a pizza delivery car. Some kid got stabbed and drove..." He motioned with his hand and whistled. "...straight through."

Kerry walked over to the coffee machine and poured a cup.
"Do you think this is funny Mark?"
"No." He said too quickly. Kerry paused before speaking again.
"County General has a reputation to uphold. We're already struggling with our funds. We can't afford to have any more of these accidents."
"I understand that Kerry. But it *was* an accident."
"Are you sure about that?" She turned and sipped from her coffee cup. Mark looked at her as if she had just asked him to give up his first born.
"Kerry are you suggesting that somebody did this on purpose?"
"I don't know Mark. Did you see it happen?"
"I got there right afterwards..." He tried to explain.
"But you didn't actually see the explosion. I think we need to look further into this." She adjusted her glasses. Mark followed her around the lounge.
"Kerry you're making way too much out of this. It was just an accident."
"Do you remember everyone who was in the area when it happened?" Mark looked shell-shocked once again.
"Sure Kerry I remember, would you like me to interrogate them? Maybe drag out the lie detector test?" Mark questioned sarcastically.
"You know that's not what I meant Mark. Get the whole staff together and tell them there's a mandatory meeting tonight. I want everyone there, especially those who saw the explosion." She finished her coffee and pushed herself out the door. Mark just stood there and shook his head.

LATER THAT NIGHT in the Lounge::

"This is insane. I can't believe Weaver actually thinks one of us is responsible." Susan muttered as she sat down next to Carter.
"Well maybe one of us is." He replied curtly. Susan just glared at him with her mouth wide open. "What?!" Carter smirked and chuckled. "You never know. I mean, three times? Either somebody set the bomb themselves this time or that ambulance bay is cursed."
"I'm voting for cursed." Malik stated as he sat down next to Carter. Lydia sat next to him.
"Yea, maybe there's some kind of legend we don't know about." Lydia added.
"What? Like a mysterious death or two lovers separated by the automatic doors?" Susan mocked.
"Hey, it worked for the ghost on the fifth floor." Lydia replied.
"She has a point." Carter said and nodded as he pointed at Lydia.

Kerry cleared her throat and the room fell silent.
"Well I think you all know why I called this meeting tonight." There were mutual groans radiating throughout the room. "The ambulance bay in the ER has been, for lack of better explanation, blown up. The cause is unknown. The hospital is conducting an ongoing investigation into the matter with the Chicago Police Department as our guide. Officer Al Grabarsky will now say a few words on the subject. Al?"

Lydia's husband stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"As Dr. Weaver stated earlier, we will be conducting an investigation. However, this is nothing to worry about. Go about your work as normal. We will be questioning all of you on your whereabouts during the incident and we hope to get your full cooperation. Thank you."
"Thank you everybody, we will be contacting you about your interviews shortly. That will be all." With that the group stood and hurried out the door.



DOC MAGOO'S Later that night:

The mysterious stranger entered the restaurant, ordered a cheeseburger and coffee at the counter, and found a seat in the back booth. Soon another stranger joined the first.
"So what's up? Don't keep me waiting all night!" The first asked.
"Would you relax, they don't know anything. It's fine."
"Are you sure? Maybe she's just covering up information; you know how Weaver can be!"
"Yea I know. Look, I think we just need to lay low for awhile. This will all blow over soon enough." The second stranger ordered a coffee to go.
"This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't mean for it to get so out of control."
"Well it did didn't it? You always take things too far. I should have known never to trust you."
"Me? Hey! You were the one with the brilliant plan Romeo! I'm not going down for this."
"Well I didn't ask you to aim it at the hospital!" Realizing that people were staring, the stranger whispered. "Just calm down ok? If we lose our heads now then they'll be questions."
"There's going to be anyway isn't there? She's questioning the entire hospital!"
"Well I'll just have to lie won't I?" The stranger responded.
"Is that a good idea? I mean...your history..." The first stranger began.
"Don't worry about me ok?" The stranger shook his head and put it in his hands. "Damn, how did this get so messed up? This is insane. Maybe we should just tell her the truth."
"What?! Nu uh, not me. The cops will come after me in a minute. Weaver'll have my head."
"Then I'll take responsibility. Look I have to go. I'll be in touch." The stranger began to leave but turned around. "And don't forget, just lay low."
"Right, low. Got it covered."


TBC