Pairings: KW/JC

Violence: Reference to spousal/child abuse.

Language: Nothing to bad

Sex: Nope sorry

Disclaimer: You already know this song and dance.



Past Ghosts, by Aeris Jade Orion



Part One...



Kerry Weaver, the former Mrs. Abasi Murdock,

collapsed on the sofa tiredly, having finally finished

unpacking the last of her things. The divorce was

probably one of the hardest things she'd ever gone

through, second only to her marriage.



"You need help with anything else?"



Kerry glanced over at her middle-aged friend smiling

at her. "No, I have it. Thanks for all the help,

though."



Jasmine plopped on the couch next to her. "It's no

problem. Besides this makes us even for all the times

you helped me out."



Kerry slapped her hand on the phone as it began

ringing. The last thing she needed was for it to wake

up her week-old daughter. "Hello...?"



Kerry closed her eyes listening to the other end,

missing the darkened look on her best friends face.



"Are you sure?...Well, can't you get someon..." Kerry

sighed heavily. "Look, I'm still on my maternity...

Fine."



Kerry slammed the phone down as Jasmine asked quietly,

"What's wrong?"



Kerry slumped back, making no move to leave. "They've

called me in. Can you believe them?"



Jasmine smiled reassuringly. "Tell you what, I'll

watch Alex for you."



Kerry took her hand, tugging on it. "You sure?"



Jasmine nodded, giving her a quick hug. "Of course I

am, this is just the opportunity I've been looking

for."



Kerry stood up. "All right, if you're sure?"



Jasmine laughed, pushing her out the door. "We'll be

fine." Thrusting Kerry's purse into her arms, she

shut and locked the door. Watching from the window

until the jeep drove away from the farm.



Picking up the phone, she dialed quickly. "Abasi,

it's Jasmine... She's gone..."







Kerry entered the African clinic, barely able to

suppress the anger she felt for being called in. The

minute she saw Mlungisi she would give him a

tongue-lashing that would make a lion run off

whimpering.



"Kerry, what are you doing here?"



"You should know, calling me in while I have a new

born at home to take care of."



Mlungisi frowned at her. "Kerry, I didn't call you

in."



Kerry froze, staring at him. "But if you didn't...

Alex..."







Kerry raced into the darkened house, tearing from room

to room in despair.



Slowly walking into the massive living room, she

watched as Mlungisi laid the phone into the cradle.

"The police are sending some officers over..."



Kerry's eyes stopped on the Tigger doll thrown

carelessly under the half-decorated Christmas tree,

and slid to her knees. She remembered the night she'd

found out she was pregnant, less than a week after her

divorce was finalized.



'Do you think you can stop me from seeing my child?

Even if the courts do grant you full custody I will

find a way to take her from you.'



Kerry curled up into herself unable to stop the flow

of tears. He had found a way after all...







Four years later...



She hated the Christmas parties, the way that everyone

looked at her like she didn't belong there, and in her

mind she knew that she didn't, not really. She may

work at County, she may even be one of their team, but

she wasn't one of them.



She never took part in the betting pools, or the

gossip. She rarely ever let them get away with

slacking off, and that made her the outsider. The

Hitler of County. She was very much aware of the

names, and the cracks at her expense despite their

attempt to keep them quiet.



"Ready?"



Kerry sighed unhappily, not wanting to look at the

cheerful man. Curling up on the couch, she made no

move to leave. "Actually, I'm not feeling very

well..."



John grinned at her, she sounded like a child trying

to get out of going to school. "Kerry, it's only for

a few hours..."



Kerry glared up at him, making him trail off quickly.

John wasn't stupid enough to keep at her. "John, why

is it so important that I go to a party where I'm not

even wanted, and will just end up sitting in the

corner by myself drinking beer?"



John went solemn. He couldn't deny that she wasn't

well liked, because they both knew she wasn't. At the

same time, John didn't want to leave Kerry here alone

Christmas week. "That's not true, they like you..."



Kerry smiled sadly at him; they both knew he was

lying. "John, just go on without me. Tell them I had

a headache..."



The phone ringing cut off their conversation. They

both dived for the phone, but Kerry came up with it,

glaring at John. "Hello..."



John stood back, not about to let her get away with

not going.



"I'll be right there..." Kerry hung up quickly, not

looking at John.



"Kerry, you are not getting out of this..."



Kerry stood up numbly, grabbing her coat. "John, I

don't have time for this..."



John asked quietly, "Why?"



Kerry turned tortured eyes to his face not sure how to

explain something like this.







John entered Carol's house quickly dropping the box of

refreshments, and gifts on the kitchen table.



"I'll take your coat."



John shook her off. "I'm not staying."



Doug glanced up knowingly. "You and Roxanne make up?"





John ignored him, not really wanting to deal with

their jokes right now.



"Where's Kerry?" Carol asked, throwing a glare at her

lover.



John walked briskly back into the living room. "In

the car..."



Carter started for the door as Carol cut in. "John,

what's going on?"



He sighed, knowing that they should know something,

but from what Kerry had told him, he doubted she

wanted her past spread through the ER. "She's had a

family emergency and I have to drive her to

Naperville."



Doug rolled his eyes. "Can't she drive herself?"



John glared at him, for the first time in his life

considering decking the guy. "She isn't in any shape

to be making that kind of drive." Turning, he opened

the door pausing on the porch as Carol grabbed his

arm.



"John, if she needs anything..."



He relaxed and nodded quickly. Running down to his

jeep he climbed in, glancing over at a pale Kerry.

"You okay?"



"Would you be?"



John started the car, and pulled into the street,

unsure how to respond. Truthfully, if he was in her

shoes he'd probably be a total wreck, and he

definitely wouldn't be handling this situation as well

as Kerry was.



He just hoped that she would be in as good of shape

when they got there.